A sweet and quirky coffee shop owner finally lands the hunky SWAT officer of her daydreams. Unfortunately, not everyone is happy for them. Someone is willing to go to extremes to keep them apart.
Nikki Mays is a pen name that was created from her maiden name. She is a wife and mother, who lives in a small town in New Jersey. She has been with her husband for well over a decade and is surprised that he's still alive. She has 3 small boys that she loving refers to as her hellions. Seriously, they only look sweet and innocent. She began writing as a creative outlet after becoming a stay at home mom. She decided that she needed something exclusively for herself, not just being mommy. She has two crazy boxers that legitimately think that they're humans but graciously share "their" couch with the rest of the family. Besides writing and spending time with her little hellions, she enjoys cooking and baking. She has recently taken up gardening and made her loving husband plant her a mini fruit tree orchard, that unfortunately deer get to eat more of than she does. Life living in the woods can be a pain at times! Nikki loves to be stalked by her readers and encourages all interaction.
There are some typos and grammar issues but still overall this was a good read, with some nice dashes of humour thrown in.
The two main characters whilst insanely attracted to each other, seem to be the only two oblivious to the fact that the mutual attraction simmers powerfully in the air.
Mel at times in her behaviour and thoughts feels like a teenage girl rather than the grown women she is, luckily I was in a mood where I didn't find it grating or annoying. I did enjoy her interactions with her brother, as someone with siblings I can say yes siblings even as adults can behave like children when together.
Overall a good, and at times amusing one time read. My attention may have not been ensnared and I may have forgotten alot of what occurs already, but it made for a nice bit of escapism - allowing my mind to unwind and relax. Will be giving the next book a go since its on KU.
❝Love doesn’t have a time frame Mel. It just happens when it happens.❞
This was a good read. It was quite funny and I enjoyed all the characters so much. I just re-read the Rock Chicks series by Kristen Ashley and was in the mood for a more suspense type of story. What I got was the total opposite😅 though there were a bit of suspense with what happened with Mellie and Morris.
I had fun reading Marc and Mellie’s bickering and the others completed all the elements which makes this book more fun to read. I did notice some editing issues but they totally didn’t get in the way of my enjoyment of this story.
So now I’m hooked, Nikki Mays you now have a new fan 😁
This was cute! It has a very sweet hero, a bit of a sassy heroine and friends who made for some good entertainment. I’m more of a fan of a take charge hero and I think that’s why this book wasn’t more for me, but I really did think it was a good read. I know those readers who love the sweet guys will fall hard for Morris. I really liked the group of guys in this. I always get a kick out out a a group of friends that are as close as these guys are. I’ll definitely check out more in the series. I may get lucky and find out one of these guys make a great alpha hero.
No rating because I only made it to 15%. FMC is late 20s and sounds like an oblivious, hormonal teenager - IN ALL ASPECTS OF LIFE. Like a ditzy doorknob. MMC is ex military and SWAT but sounds like a bumbling (albeit sickeningly sweet) idiot. Too much inner dialogue. Snarky rainbows comes to mind. Just not my cup of tea.
This is my first book from this author and I grabbed it on audible. First I want to say this is the first time I've listened to a dual point of view book with only one narrator and I'm not a fan. The narrator had a great voice and did a good job but I just didn't love it. So that's something I now know to look out for and avoid.
The story itself was good and was exactly what I was in the mood for today. And I will be looking into more of this authors books in the future.
So I had started with the last book Cuffed an loved it so much that I had to start from the beginning and so happy that I did..I have found a new author, Nikki is hilarious and she has definitely found a new fan with me.. So we meet Morris who is attracted to his best buddies sister Mel, and Mellie was so funny..God you have to read this book it was great and definitely put a smile on my face. Enjoy!!!!
Mellie has been crushing on Morris Jackson since they day she met him. What she did not know though is that Morris wants to explore things with her but is nervous about it. Will two people who are meant to be together take a chance on each other or will the person who is determined to keep them apart destroy it before it starts?
This was quite funny. A ton of characters are involved for future books. I liked Mellie and Morris together, the chemistry sizzles with each turn of the page. Great series have a read a couple of the books.
This was a nice book. The H is jealous/possessive but it wasn't crazy and it wax sweet. The h owns a coffee shop and the H (I can't remember their names!!!! I'm effing oooolllllddddd aite?!) Has been lusting over her and vice versa. The brother is protective over her so that prevented the H from being with her/asking her out 😒🤔
There are funny moments that made me breathe out through my nose. No full on chuckle.
This was a good read. Morris and Mellie both like each other. Yet neither one has the ability to tell the other one. Finally it does happen and things are going good. Until someone is after Mellie. Luckily in the end the person is caught and they get their happy ending.
I really wanted to enjoy this book. I loved the premise. The blurb was great. But I just couldn't get into it. The writing felt ham-handed and juvenile, and the editing was really poor - both things that a good editor would fix, and unfortunately what this story needed to take it from what felt like an amateur first draft to a polished final published manuscript. Hope to see more polish from this author in the future as her stories could be great with the right editor to help make them shine.
I just loved this book. It was so well-written that it captured my mind and I was dragged along for the ride. Once I started reading I couldn't put it down until I read the last page.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Surrender to You (SAPD SWAT Series Book 1) By: Nikki Mays Great Series With An Awesome Balance Between Drama & S€X¥ Times!! From the Moment they met... They each felt Heat, Simmering attraction, & Undeniable Chemistry... Unfortunately, they also felt tongue tied! Sooo... Was it an wonder if took them Forever to get together... However, Once the blinders are off, things Are heating up nicely... Except the Stalker who's targeting her & escalating mightly!! Seems someone doesn't want this couple Happy... Will the Team provide a Safety Net & keep them insulated from a Stalker's Treat!! I was granted an ARC of Nikki Mays' "Surrender to You (SAPD SWAT Series Book 1)" via Booksprout; I recommend this book to others based upon its own merits. All opinions expressed within this review are uniquely my own & freely given! Until next time... Happy Reading!
I enjoyed the characters so much! I just wanted a quick and easy read, and that's exactly what I got. I did have a problem with the spelling and grammatical errors throughout the whole story, which is why I brought my rating down. It interrupted the flow of the story. It wasn't bad enough to quit reading, but definitely very noticeable.
So, my sister introduced me to this author and I'm very grateful for that. The story was very engaging, sexy and so funny in parts. I would definitely recommend and I can't wait to read book two.
That being said, the ONLY thing that detracted from the story was the grammatical errors...and there were lots. At times, it distracted me from the story. I know, I know...it's probably my own little quirk.
When Morris finally gets up enough nerve to ask out Mellie, it sets off a chain reaction that neither saw coming. They've been circling around each other for months, unknown to the other, but Marc, Mellie's sister and Morris' SWAT partner, finally arranges for Morris to come over to his house so he can get her alone for a second in order for him to finally make his move.
Mellie has been crushing on her obnoxious brother's partner for months now, but she turns into a brain dead idiot around him, so can't even let him know how she feels. Thank God her brother gets tired of seeing the two act like morons around each other, and takes things into his own hands. So things are swimming along and the two are falling in love. If only the guys at Morris and Marc's squad could figure out who keeps sending Mellie black flowers without notes attached. Will they figure it out before the harasser ramps up their game or will their beautiful relationship end tragically?
I loved the premise of Surrender To You - brother's friend is one of my favorite tropes. Unfortunately, I just could not get past all the typos and grammar mistakes. This story really needed more rounds with a PROFESSIONAL editor and before that quite a few rounds with a beta reader. It's painfully obvious this is a debut novel because it's so unpolished, both in content and grammatically. And then there's the fact that Mellie was a really, really annoying character. Her inner thoughts (and outer ones, too) were loud and obnoxious, and if the author hadn't stated she was closing in on 30, I would have sworn she was a teenager for all the maturity she showed. Sigh... I liked Morris and the other guys on the SWAT team, but Mellie drove me bonkers.
I do think this author shows potential, though, because the story line is pretty great. Here's hoping that for her next novel she employs the services of both a professional editor and a team of beta readers.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Surrender to You by Nikki Mays This is a new author for me and oh man this story was great. This story is filled with love from a HOT cop who finally has the courage to ask out his friends sister. Morris has felt a connection with Mellie since he first laid eyes on her and it been the same connection for her as well. Morris and Mellie both danced around each other and it was fun to see them fall in love. The secondary characters make a big impact and are so funny. Can't wait to see the rest of the group of friends fall in love.
Are we sure these people are adults? I mean, sometimes it was cute. Trying to make her seem like the “cool chic” was so overboard. Everyone is laughing hysterically but her jokes are horrible. Her thoughts on second was such a turn off. Slut shaming galore. She even called herself a slut for wanting to sleep with him...even though they’re dating. Meh. I finished...so that’s good. And since it says a SWAT series I expected some SEAT things, but all we got was a retelling.
Hes best friend and Co worker with her brother and has a thing for his coffee girl. But someone doesn't want them happy in this first book. Cute and hot.
*I read Book 1 & 2 back to back so this is a review for both*
(I’ve seen a lot of reviews for both books claiming that a good editor would help a lot. I don’t know if I had final versions or ARCs but there were a lot of mispellings and grammar issues. As a regular reader of review copies though, this kind of thing doesn’t really affect me but I wanted to put this out there as a warning to others who may be a little more discerning :) )
There are authors that write characters that could be straight out of Gilmore Girls (I’m looking at you Susan Mallery), always ready with a snappy comment. Then there are those characters who are sophisticated, never saying a wrong thing and who always make me feel like I need to work better at this adulting thing. Mays seems to have found a voice that is like that conversation you have with your bestie after a couple of glasses of wine. It’s unfiltered and sometimes graceless, but it is real for the homespun characters she’s created.
In Surrender to You, Morris has had a thing for Mellie for a while but since she’s his friend’s sister he tried to stay away. Unfortunately, his feelings are pretty apparent and after a while her brother is so tired of his awkwardness that he gives the OK. Mellie is just as dorky when Morris is around so there is a lot of fun to be have while the two are dancing around each other. And it doesn’t stop when they get together because these two definitely have a lot of personality. (Mellie fighting with her brother is the best thing ever!)
Addicted to You is a fun follow-up that has a lot of the same vibe. Damon is a pretty curt guy, but I love the way he and Michelle mesh. She’s so full of sass that it helps bring him out of himself just a bit. I got such a kick out of these two together, and their interactions with their friends are both sweet and hilarious.
The SAPD SWAT stories are delightfully fun romantic comedies with entertaining characters. I enjoyed how the couples got together & watching them piece together a life with each other. The friendships help make it a winner as well. It is quite obvious that Michelle and Mellie have been friends for ages because those two are a hoot together. The guys are your typical guy’s guys – giving each other a hard time, a little rough around the edges – but they have good hearts and are supportive of each other. The lack of angst is a real winner for me and overall I felt the suspense parts, while not a huge part of the story (especially the second), are done well.
The SAPD SWAT series isn’t going be for everyone, but I think that it will be a huge hit with the right audience.
**Review given honestly and freely after receipt of a reader copy. This opinion is completely my own and was not influenced in any way.**
Mellie & Morris start off very awkward - everyone knows they have a thing for each other, but it takes a bit for Morris to get the courage to ask her out. I found this reluctance or awkwardness a bit difficult to reconcile w/ his background & personality. The story also has a LOT of editing issues, which made it difficult to stay in the story at times (missing words, punctuation where it shouldn't be, missing punctuation in other areas, wrong words used...).
Aside from those issues, I did enjoy the story. I love the relationship Mel has w/ her brother, and also the relationships of the guys on the team. They all have distinct personalities & work well as a unit! The friendships are highlighted quite well! Mel & Marc's relationships w/ Michelle, Mel's BFF, are hilarious as well.
There's a lot of humor in the story - Mel & Michelle are both zany & get into various situations. Mel & Marc rib each other a lot, as do the guys w/ each other & w/ Mellie. And Morris is swoony - he's ALL IN & understands Mel's personality quirks because they're part of why he loves her! Their relationship is sweet & definitely steamy. There's also a mystery & some drama (outside the relationship, which is good for me!).
I'm intrigued by the rest of the team & would like to read their stories, but based on reviews stating the editing issues don't get resolved as the series goes on, I don't think that I will continue with the series. If editing issues don't bother you, however, I would definitely give this story a try!
When I saw this book, the title and the cover attracted me straightway. It has a very Lani Lynn Vale feel to it (and I love Lani Lynn Vale). When I read the blurb I was hooked. Who does not want to read about awkward shy girls and badass SWAT boys.
I loved Mellie’s initial awkwardness around Morris. She has some real moments when you just want to curl up and hide your face in embarrassment for her but as her character and story develops, you get to see this introverted, awkward women come alive into this sassy hilariously oblivious women.
Mellie and her brother Marc’s relationship is something else. The dialogue between these two had me giggling frantically as I devoured this book.
Morris is a swoon worthy hero if there was ever one written, I LOVED how Nikki Mays made him real. His acknowledgment of how completely bowled over he is by Mellie, his insecurities and own awkwardness around her makes him endearing from the moment you meet him in Chapter 1 but when he gets it together he gets it together :-)
With the introduction of secondary characters you are left wanting to know more about each of the men who make up the SAPD Swat Team (I just need to know who is next, Marc, Damon, JJ, Declan or Rocco?)
I also liked the lack of angst. It was just a slightly suspenseful, romantic good read which had me looking up the Nikki Mays on social media so I could follow her and be in the know as to when the next book will drop.
A Sweet Escape with SAPD's Finest Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Heat Level: 🔥
As a first-time reader of Nikki Mays, I found "Surrender to You" to be a delightful escape into a world of charming characters and simmering romance. The story follows Mellie, an endearingly quirky introvert, and Morris, a ruggedly handsome SWAT officer whose blue eyes could stop anyone in their tracks.
While I typically prefer heroes with a more take-charge attitude, Morris's sweetness and sincerity won me over. Mellie's sassiness added a fun dynamic to their interactions, and the camaraderie among the group of friends provided enjoyable entertainment throughout the book.
Although the plot offered a nice bit of escapism, with plenty of suspense to keep the pages turning, I couldn't help but wish for a bit more depth in character development and storyline. Additionally, the antagonist's motivations felt somewhat lacking in complexity, which detracted from the overall tension of the story.
Overall, "Surrender to You" is a good and cute read, perfect for those seeking a lighthearted romance to unwind and relax with. Fans of sweet, endearing heroes like Morris will undoubtedly fall hard for this book. While it may not have been exactly what I typically look for in a romance novel, I still enjoyed the journey and will consider checking out more in the SAPD SWAT series, hoping to discover a character with the alpha qualities I crave.
Mellie has had a crush on Morris since she first met him through her brother. Morris, too, has had a crush on Mellie since first meeting her. Once they come together, they find that they're better together. I loved Morris' protectiveness over Mellie, and I loved Mellie's sarcastic wit.
There were a lot of good things about this book. The plot/storyline was really good. The author did a good job of keeping me guessing as to who was trying to interfere with Morris and Mellie's relationship. I liked the side characters, as well. Mellie's relationship with her brother was fun, and reminded me of how much my brother and I fought when we were young (and that that was the foundation for our strong relationship now).
Unfortunately, there were some things that really bothered me as well. Mellie's inner monologue bordered on obnoxious at times. There was so much of it that it interfered with the story it seemed. This caused Mellie to be annoying in parts. In addition, there were some serious grammar issues throughout the book. I can overlook a few, but there were a too many, especially when it came to contractions and possessives, as well as homophones.
But again, there's a lot of promise here. I like the side characters enough that I am looking forward to Michelle and Damon's story.
So I thought I would really like this book based on the premise, but there were just a few things that prevented this from being four stars. The first thing was the editing. I really, really hate complaining about spelling and grammar mistakes because I think the point usually comes across, but they were just so frequent that the meaning was sometimes lost. The second thing was that there was a little bit of an emotional disconnect. I just didn't really feel the emotional connection between any of the characters. I think there just wasn't enough of a concentration on the feelings and expressions of the characters when writing their internal monologues. The third thing was the manwhore brother. It just made me want to avoid the rest of the series altogether so I wouldn't have to read about him and his exploits anymore. I know it's a classic romance novel trope but I just really don't like it, don't think it's realistic at all, and find it hard to redeem a manwhore character enough that I feel like they deserve an hea. Also, the friendship between Mel and Michelle felt more like a teenage girl friendship where they act all touchy-feely and say "omg" all the time. I think the last thing that bothered me wasn't a big deal but I do not like when writers write "omg" into dialogue instead of the actual phrase. It makes the dialogue flow really weird and feel really unrealistic.
Surrender to You is a sweet and sassy story by Nikki Mays. The story focuses on Mel ‘Melanie’ and Morris, two people who seem to bumble around each other, even though they are both harbouring an attraction to one another, but both are scared to make the first move in case they come across as silly. Enter Mel’s brother and the rest of his SWAT team, who push their SWAT buddy and friend, Morris, straight into Mel’s path with a lot of jokes and ribbing, but danger lurks around the corner, and it has Mel in the crosshairs.
Mel was a great character. She was quirky, often neurotic and snarky. She had a great relationship with people, especially her brother and I enjoyed reading about her relationship with Morris as it became something more. She was totally infatuated with Morris from the start, and it was hilarious when she got tongue tied around him.
Morris is the quintessential nice guy. He loves Mel’s quirkiness and just wants to protect her. The build up between the two is full of passion, fun times, some hilarity and some drama. This was definitely a cute read and a good start to a series.
Surrender to You is a fun, flirty, and suspenseful start to Nikki Mays’ SAPD SWAT series. It introduces us to Mellie, a quirky, accident-prone introvert who’s been crushing hard on her brother’s SWAT teammate, Morris Jackson—a rugged, protective alpha with a soft spot for her.
The chemistry between Mellie and Morris is instant and electric, but their romance is complicated by family ties and danger lurking in the background. Mays does a great job balancing laugh-out-loud humor, steamy romance, and a touch of suspense, making this a fast-paced and enjoyable read.
Mellie is incredibly relatable—awkward, sweet, and endearing—and Morris is the kind of hero who makes you swoon while also wanting to punch anyone who threatens his girl. Their banter is sharp, the tension is real, and the emotional payoff is satisfying.
While the plot follows some familiar romantic suspense beats, the characters and dialogue give it a fresh, engaging feel. If you enjoy protective heroes, sassy heroines, and a bit of danger mixed with your romance, this one’s worth picking up.
Would I recommend it? Definitely! Especially for fans of light romantic suspense with strong character chemistry and a good dose of humour.