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Chance Encounters #3
First Surrender
“Maybe she’ll strut over here and kill me. Put me out of my misery with a stomp of her heel.”
First Surrender
When Natalie Halstead receives the worst news imaginable, she puts her life on hold and comes home to Lawson to care for her little brother. She struggles each day to give him the best life that she can, a better life than she had while ensuring that her stepfather will be punished for his crime against her mother.
Sheriff Jackson Malec’s home has been inundated with dangerous crimes and he has taken the initiative to put a stop to it. Unfortunately, he still hasn’t found answers a year into his new role, forcing him to investigate new leads.
A lifelong drug dealer is about to go on trial for killing his wife and Jackson wants to know where he got his hands on the drugs that he gave her. In the process, he becomes entangled with a beautiful, but rage-filled, woman. She doesn’t trust cops and she doesn’t trust men. That hatred comes to a boiling point when the Sheriff’s Department offers the defendant a deal, more information in exchange for a lighter charge.
Losing her mother senselessly has already left Natalie splintered, but the threat of her stepfather getting out of jail to reclaim her brother is unacceptable. The Sheriff doesn’t let other people’s feelings dictate his decisions, but when this dark-haired, spit-fire, of a woman reveals the slightest bit of fear in her eyes, he’s doing everything to fix his mistake. His priority has always been to eliminate the danger in Rollins County but now he wants to protect this broken woman and her little brother even more.
Book Three in the Chance Encounters Series.
Content Explicit Sexual Content, Pregnancy Loss
Mentions Physical & Sexual Assault, Drug Use, Coercion/Rape.
First Surrender
When Natalie Halstead receives the worst news imaginable, she puts her life on hold and comes home to Lawson to care for her little brother. She struggles each day to give him the best life that she can, a better life than she had while ensuring that her stepfather will be punished for his crime against her mother.
Sheriff Jackson Malec’s home has been inundated with dangerous crimes and he has taken the initiative to put a stop to it. Unfortunately, he still hasn’t found answers a year into his new role, forcing him to investigate new leads.
A lifelong drug dealer is about to go on trial for killing his wife and Jackson wants to know where he got his hands on the drugs that he gave her. In the process, he becomes entangled with a beautiful, but rage-filled, woman. She doesn’t trust cops and she doesn’t trust men. That hatred comes to a boiling point when the Sheriff’s Department offers the defendant a deal, more information in exchange for a lighter charge.
Losing her mother senselessly has already left Natalie splintered, but the threat of her stepfather getting out of jail to reclaim her brother is unacceptable. The Sheriff doesn’t let other people’s feelings dictate his decisions, but when this dark-haired, spit-fire, of a woman reveals the slightest bit of fear in her eyes, he’s doing everything to fix his mistake. His priority has always been to eliminate the danger in Rollins County but now he wants to protect this broken woman and her little brother even more.
Book Three in the Chance Encounters Series.
Content Explicit Sexual Content, Pregnancy Loss
Mentions Physical & Sexual Assault, Drug Use, Coercion/Rape.
380 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 5, 2024
80 people are currently reading
286 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 2, 2026
First Surrender is the third book in the Chance Encounters series, and it may very well be my favorite so far. I didn’t think anyone could come close to owning my heart the way Nathan and Callie did—but then came Jackson and Natalie, and everything shifted.
What struck me immediately was Natalie. She’s unapologetically strong, guarded, and proud in a way that feels earned, not performative. Lately, I’ve read a lot of stories centered around softer, sunshine-type heroines—and while I love those characters too, there was something deeply satisfying about finally meeting a female lead who doesn’t bend herself to be more palatable. In a genre saturated with sunshine heroines, Natalie stands apart as someone who has learned how to survive by holding her ground. She doesn’t yield easily, she doesn’t trust freely, and she certainly doesn’t reshape herself to be more digestible for the people around her. That refusal alone makes her compelling. Natalie takes no nonsense from anyone, especially men, and the story never asks her to be smaller or sweeter to justify that strength.
The enemies-to-lovers dynamic is where this book truly shines, because it isn’t performative. Natalie’s resistance isn’t playful banter—it’s defensive, deeply rooted, and at times frustrating in a way that feels painfully real. Her “I hate men” stance may test the reader’s patience, but it also makes sense within the emotional logic of her past. Amber Cassidy doesn’t soften Natalie’s edges to make her easier to love. Instead, she asks the reader to sit with her discomfort, to understand it before judging it. She makes Jackson work for every inch of trust, and that slow, resistant tension gives the story its emotional weight. Their chemistry is intense but grounded, built not just on attraction, but on patience, restraint, and understanding. It’s hard to explain, but the connection between them feels alive on the page.
One of Amber Cassidy’s greatest strengths as a writer is her ability to create characters who feel fully inhabited—people shaped by their pasts in quiet, believable ways. Natalie’s reluctance toward men, rooted in childhood trauma, is handled with care and honesty. While her “I hate men” attitude can be frustrating at times, it also feels real. Healing isn’t linear, and Cassidy doesn’t rush it for the sake of romance.
And then there’s Jackson. A genuinely refreshing male lead. Instead of trying to overpower or manipulate Natalie into adapting to him, he does the harder thing—he listens, he waits, and he adapts himself to her needs. That dynamic alone sets this book apart from so many others in the genre. Jackson’s patience and emotional strength make him feel like a real partner, not just a love interest. He doesn’t demand Natalie’s vulnerability; he earns it.
When Natalie finally opens up, and Jackson meets her there with openness of his own, the payoff feels deeply earned. He gives his whole world to Natalie and Dec, without hesitation, without conditions. Watching Natalie slowly allow herself to trust, to love, and to be loved is quietly powerful. Watching Natalie slowly lower her defenses, not all at once but piece by piece, is one of the most satisfying emotional arcs I’ve read in a long time. Her growth never feels like a betrayal of who she is. She doesn’t become softer to be lovable; she becomes braver.
Amber Cassidy has a remarkable gift for translating emotion into language—layering character, chemistry, and internal conflict in a way that feels natural and deeply human. Her background as a writer shows in the care she takes with emotional development and interpersonal dynamics; nothing feels rushed, and nothing feels hollow. Every character carries weight.
This book doesn’t just tell a love story—it explores what it means to feel safe with another person after you’ve learned how dangerous vulnerability can be. And that’s where First Surrender truly excels.
I truly can’t recommend this book—or the series—enough. The first three books have easily earned a place in my all-time top ten, and so far, nothing else has come close to topping them. Now, on to book four ;)
What struck me immediately was Natalie. She’s unapologetically strong, guarded, and proud in a way that feels earned, not performative. Lately, I’ve read a lot of stories centered around softer, sunshine-type heroines—and while I love those characters too, there was something deeply satisfying about finally meeting a female lead who doesn’t bend herself to be more palatable. In a genre saturated with sunshine heroines, Natalie stands apart as someone who has learned how to survive by holding her ground. She doesn’t yield easily, she doesn’t trust freely, and she certainly doesn’t reshape herself to be more digestible for the people around her. That refusal alone makes her compelling. Natalie takes no nonsense from anyone, especially men, and the story never asks her to be smaller or sweeter to justify that strength.
The enemies-to-lovers dynamic is where this book truly shines, because it isn’t performative. Natalie’s resistance isn’t playful banter—it’s defensive, deeply rooted, and at times frustrating in a way that feels painfully real. Her “I hate men” stance may test the reader’s patience, but it also makes sense within the emotional logic of her past. Amber Cassidy doesn’t soften Natalie’s edges to make her easier to love. Instead, she asks the reader to sit with her discomfort, to understand it before judging it. She makes Jackson work for every inch of trust, and that slow, resistant tension gives the story its emotional weight. Their chemistry is intense but grounded, built not just on attraction, but on patience, restraint, and understanding. It’s hard to explain, but the connection between them feels alive on the page.
One of Amber Cassidy’s greatest strengths as a writer is her ability to create characters who feel fully inhabited—people shaped by their pasts in quiet, believable ways. Natalie’s reluctance toward men, rooted in childhood trauma, is handled with care and honesty. While her “I hate men” attitude can be frustrating at times, it also feels real. Healing isn’t linear, and Cassidy doesn’t rush it for the sake of romance.
And then there’s Jackson. A genuinely refreshing male lead. Instead of trying to overpower or manipulate Natalie into adapting to him, he does the harder thing—he listens, he waits, and he adapts himself to her needs. That dynamic alone sets this book apart from so many others in the genre. Jackson’s patience and emotional strength make him feel like a real partner, not just a love interest. He doesn’t demand Natalie’s vulnerability; he earns it.
When Natalie finally opens up, and Jackson meets her there with openness of his own, the payoff feels deeply earned. He gives his whole world to Natalie and Dec, without hesitation, without conditions. Watching Natalie slowly allow herself to trust, to love, and to be loved is quietly powerful. Watching Natalie slowly lower her defenses, not all at once but piece by piece, is one of the most satisfying emotional arcs I’ve read in a long time. Her growth never feels like a betrayal of who she is. She doesn’t become softer to be lovable; she becomes braver.
Amber Cassidy has a remarkable gift for translating emotion into language—layering character, chemistry, and internal conflict in a way that feels natural and deeply human. Her background as a writer shows in the care she takes with emotional development and interpersonal dynamics; nothing feels rushed, and nothing feels hollow. Every character carries weight.
This book doesn’t just tell a love story—it explores what it means to feel safe with another person after you’ve learned how dangerous vulnerability can be. And that’s where First Surrender truly excels.
I truly can’t recommend this book—or the series—enough. The first three books have easily earned a place in my all-time top ten, and so far, nothing else has come close to topping them. Now, on to book four ;)
January 19, 2026
dnf'ed at 11%
~i wouldn't consider these spoilers however someone might so this is a warning~
i HATE
when i see so many excerpts from a book and they all seem so well written and sound so good
and then i open the book and its just straight BULLSHIT
first of all i absolutely dont mind if a fmc hates men! in fact i kinda love it!! even if like they just hate all men and there seems to be no actual reason but like it has to have the right tone otherwise it just comes across as insufferable...which this did! the fmc in this book is giving "im not like other girls" energy and i cant find a better way to describe it? she took one look at him and hated him and then saw he was in cop uniform and doubled down which like yeah okay acab i fully agree but like shes being annoying about it!! and also these gang members were like making (really lame) side comments as she was leaving the court house and instead of like ignoring, she decided to get into a verbal altercation with the MOST LAME retorts possible and then when the cop came over and arrested one of the guys for having a warrant, she got all huffy that he was defending her when she can do that herself and he interrupted that she was "standing up for herself" like no actually u were just making a fool of yourself tbh
also i dnf'ed before finding out officially but her job seems like it is most likely stripper or lingere bartender or something and shes like "im not embarrassed its what pays the bills so i can support my brother" but like....i just already have the feeling it isnt gonna be handled with class and respect
~i wouldn't consider these spoilers however someone might so this is a warning~
i HATE
when i see so many excerpts from a book and they all seem so well written and sound so good
and then i open the book and its just straight BULLSHIT
first of all i absolutely dont mind if a fmc hates men! in fact i kinda love it!! even if like they just hate all men and there seems to be no actual reason but like it has to have the right tone otherwise it just comes across as insufferable...which this did! the fmc in this book is giving "im not like other girls" energy and i cant find a better way to describe it? she took one look at him and hated him and then saw he was in cop uniform and doubled down which like yeah okay acab i fully agree but like shes being annoying about it!! and also these gang members were like making (really lame) side comments as she was leaving the court house and instead of like ignoring, she decided to get into a verbal altercation with the MOST LAME retorts possible and then when the cop came over and arrested one of the guys for having a warrant, she got all huffy that he was defending her when she can do that herself and he interrupted that she was "standing up for herself" like no actually u were just making a fool of yourself tbh
also i dnf'ed before finding out officially but her job seems like it is most likely stripper or lingere bartender or something and shes like "im not embarrassed its what pays the bills so i can support my brother" but like....i just already have the feeling it isnt gonna be handled with class and respect
December 20, 2025
Jackson is the sheriff of Rollins County and he’s a grumpy workaholic who is tired of the drug and kidnapping problem in his town. He’s on a mission to try and find the bigger fish in the pond as he knows the guy he’s been watching is only a low level pawn. He meets Natalie at the hearing for said small fish and instantly they both dislike each other. She’s not too friendly towards anyone because of her traumatic life experiences and the fact that she’s never been able to rely on anyone. Years of mistreatment and negligence that went under the radar by the people who were suppose to protect her have made her wary of everyone.
Recognizing that she has had to carry so much at such a young age, Jackson can’t help but want to help her and her little brother. Natalie doesn’t make it easy but he continues to prove he is there for them both and continues to show up. When Natalie finds herself without a home he offers his and she’s very reluctant. That is until the devil is set free and then she has no other choice but to do so in order to protect her brother. This is the start of tumultuous relationship that changes all of their lives.
⭐️ 4/5 recommend
Recognizing that she has had to carry so much at such a young age, Jackson can’t help but want to help her and her little brother. Natalie doesn’t make it easy but he continues to prove he is there for them both and continues to show up. When Natalie finds herself without a home he offers his and she’s very reluctant. That is until the devil is set free and then she has no other choice but to do so in order to protect her brother. This is the start of tumultuous relationship that changes all of their lives.
⭐️ 4/5 recommend
August 30, 2025
this started off so good but then it got all muddled and gushy and the angst didn’t even exist.
i loved the idea of the sheriff trying to figure out what was happening in his small town, but i wanted more build up to the discoveries. it was thrown so quickly at us it was boring.
also, natalie didn’t want anything to do with jackson, but after a third of the book, they just flip personas and turn into two very different characters than what they were at the beginning.
many details where thrown in there like a grocery list such as pregnancy, miscarriage, jackson’s mother, drugs dec is hiding, arson, and it goes on.
i loved the idea of the sheriff trying to figure out what was happening in his small town, but i wanted more build up to the discoveries. it was thrown so quickly at us it was boring.
also, natalie didn’t want anything to do with jackson, but after a third of the book, they just flip personas and turn into two very different characters than what they were at the beginning.
many details where thrown in there like a grocery list such as pregnancy, miscarriage, jackson’s mother, drugs dec is hiding, arson, and it goes on.
November 8, 2024
💙 dislike to love
💙 forced proximity
💙 men hating strong FMC
💙 single sibling raising brother
TW: kidnapping, rape, pregnancy and pregnancy loss
There hasn’t been a book in this series I have not enjoyed and ate up in a day! I do feel like Malec and Nat were probably my favorite couple so far 💙 the angst and the banter of how much they disliked each other in the beginning but when Malec fell, he fell HARD for Nat and he was so patient, and so caring for Nat and not only for her but for Dec, ugh their relationship was so cute! HUGE TW tho and not to spoil the plot twist but there is mention of miscarriage so read at your own risk!
💙 forced proximity
💙 men hating strong FMC
💙 single sibling raising brother
TW: kidnapping, rape, pregnancy and pregnancy loss
There hasn’t been a book in this series I have not enjoyed and ate up in a day! I do feel like Malec and Nat were probably my favorite couple so far 💙 the angst and the banter of how much they disliked each other in the beginning but when Malec fell, he fell HARD for Nat and he was so patient, and so caring for Nat and not only for her but for Dec, ugh their relationship was so cute! HUGE TW tho and not to spoil the plot twist but there is mention of miscarriage so read at your own risk!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 12, 2025
Amber Cassidy does it again, this series has crack in them i swear!! I loved how our two characters, Natalie and Jackson, fought and had connection from the very beginning! loved the tension, the hate to love, bickering, past trama, healing, found family. The ONLY thing that wouldve made this better is if the bickering and tension between Natalie and Jackson continued along with them being all cute. but overall fantastic character development, having the previous 2 books plots intertwine into this one just made it even better! cant wait for the last book in this series
February 15, 2025
This series just keeps getting better and better! I wasn’t sure what I was going to think of a new comer like Natalie but she was a spitfire from the very beginning. Her and Dec showed up like they always belonged to the story. I loved getting to know Jackson and just how deeply he cares for his people and his community. The pacing on this story was top notch and the little cliffhanger at the end was perfect!
July 1, 2025
“You’re the family I always wanted, for me and Dec.”
Potentially my favorite book in the series now, I love love lovedddd watching Jackson and Natalie fall in love and I loved their banter even more. And watching him fall in love with Dec too was just so precious.
Sheriff Malec I’m head over heels for you
Potentially my favorite book in the series now, I love love lovedddd watching Jackson and Natalie fall in love and I loved their banter even more. And watching him fall in love with Dec too was just so precious.
Sheriff Malec I’m head over heels for you
November 6, 2024
Amber hits it out of the park every book she’s written. Found family, broken female main character, single adoptive “mom”/sister, suspense. Really great banter! Can’t wait for the next one!!!
November 7, 2024
Started and finished it today. Might be my favorite in the series so far. Sad I read it in a day but couldn’t put it down. I’ve been WAITING for this.
November 16, 2024
My new favorite author! I have read all 3 books, and I’m itching for the next one. Perfect romance suspense 🤌🏼
May 15, 2025
My favorite book out of the series !! It’s giving black cat golden retriever and I ate it up !! Soo good
July 18, 2025
wanted to love
While this story pulled on many heart strings, and I truly wanted to love it….I just couldn’t fall in love with the characters or the story line.
While this story pulled on many heart strings, and I truly wanted to love it….I just couldn’t fall in love with the characters or the story line.
July 31, 2025
I like Natalie, I loved Malec 😂😂
June 2, 2025
FMC is the worst, both physically and verbally abusive. Her nickname for him is officer small dick.
She slapped the MMC twice in the face for no reason well because she jumped to conclusions. Of course, they have hate sex right after, and she splits. After she leaves, he realizes she said no, no, no, at the end. For the next few days he calls off work worried that he fucked up and she didn't want it. She ends up coming to his house and when he asks about it SHE LAUGHS IN HIS FACE and leaves.
Her in the car on the way home.
"Every male of the human species feels like they have an automatic advantage over women as if our little female brains can’t pick up on their gaslighting and manipulation tactics. Jackson is no different. Instead of admitting that he partook in a consensual one-time fling, he twisted it in his mind that he coerced me. As if he is capable. I am a grown woman, and I know what coercion looks like. I’ve lived it. I don’t need him to dumb it down for me."
FMC was horrible to everyone (but Dec, her young brother). It's not written like a chip on her shoulder she is vile. She wears skimpy clothes serving coffee because it's the only job she can find. Yet she hates men and is terrible with customers.
I gave the first 2 books 4 stars because I absolutely loved them, but this one is terrible.
She slapped the MMC twice in the face for no reason well because she jumped to conclusions. Of course, they have hate sex right after, and she splits. After she leaves, he realizes she said no, no, no, at the end. For the next few days he calls off work worried that he fucked up and she didn't want it. She ends up coming to his house and when he asks about it SHE LAUGHS IN HIS FACE and leaves.
Her in the car on the way home.
"Every male of the human species feels like they have an automatic advantage over women as if our little female brains can’t pick up on their gaslighting and manipulation tactics. Jackson is no different. Instead of admitting that he partook in a consensual one-time fling, he twisted it in his mind that he coerced me. As if he is capable. I am a grown woman, and I know what coercion looks like. I’ve lived it. I don’t need him to dumb it down for me."
FMC was horrible to everyone (but Dec, her young brother). It's not written like a chip on her shoulder she is vile. She wears skimpy clothes serving coffee because it's the only job she can find. Yet she hates men and is terrible with customers.
I gave the first 2 books 4 stars because I absolutely loved them, but this one is terrible.
November 12, 2025
This book was pretty good. Out of the series it was my 2nd fav. I loved the enemies to lovers and how Natalie became more trusting and learned to trust that Jackson was there for her. Broke my heart when she left for Dec. I felt so bad for Jackson when it happened, thankfully the next chapter skipped to when she was coming back.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 30, 2025
5 stars
I ATE this book up. I fully read it in one day it was that good. I loved the characters, their relationships, EVERYTHING. Im a sucker for single parent meets found family trope and this one certainly delivered.
I ATE this book up. I fully read it in one day it was that good. I loved the characters, their relationships, EVERYTHING. Im a sucker for single parent meets found family trope and this one certainly delivered.
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