Sinful Surrender (The Elusive Lords, Book 1) [Mass Market Paperback]

Beverley Kendall (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2010

Lord James Rutherford fights the inexorable demise of his bachelorhood with every sane bone in his body. But the single-minded pursuit of the delectable Missy Armstrong entering her fourthLondon Season proves his undoing. Just as he's decided to risk the wrath of her brother--his friend--and right the wrong of their indiscretion, James discovers the consequences of a forgotten night of drunken passion has left yet another lady of ton compromised....

For Millicent 'Missy' Armstrong, being ruined by the man of her dreams is nothing to wring her hands and bury her face in her hands about. But when an offer of marriage isn't immediately forthcoming, and whispers of James's betrothal to another reaches her ears, there isn't an acre of land on the Continent far enough on which to escape. Then, in an abrupt reversal, James is back on her doorstep with the offer she'd yearned to receive...two weeks and one fiancée too late.

In the face of her unwavering refusal, James launches a war to win back her passion, her trust, and her love. A war as ruthless as it is seductive. With the wounds of her heartbreak still fresh and raw, can he convince her that far from the second choice, she has always been the only choice for him? 

Book 1 in The Elusive Lords series

Other Books in the series:

Book 2: A Taste of Desire
Book 2.5 (Novella): All's Fair in Love & Seduction 

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

Excerpt © All Rights Reserved.

In the dimly lit study, where the soft hiss of a fire dying played its own tune, James placed her solidly in front of him. "One kiss, you said. Well, one kiss is what you'll get if it will end this."


She stared at him with big round eyes. After a moment, a nervous half smile tipped the edges of her lush mouth.

Oh God, her mouth. Oh hell, her mouth.

What he intended was sheer madness. He knew in that moment he should halt this silly game of hers. But it was either this or commit unspeakable acts with her out on the dance floor. He could almost hear the report of the pistol when Armstrong buried a bullet in his chest. At this point, he would do anything to end her flirtation. Her infatuation. The bloody chase. In this instance, the ends did indeed justify the means.

One kiss.

Surely he had enough willpower to remain impassive and unmoved for the duration of one bloody kiss? Good Lord, no matter what other appeal she possessed, Missy was a virgin. He preferred his women with much more expertise in the sexual arena.

But what she'd lacked in experience she'd made up in passion. He dismissed the provoking voice playing tantalizing games with his mind.

"Well?" Now it was his turn to challenge her.


"Are you not going to kiss me?" She shifted on her feet, looking younger and more uncertain than her years.


"This kiss was not my idea. You're the one who won't stop until we dispel the mystery of whatever you think is between us. Go ahead, dispel away."

They stared at each other for several more seconds before Missy stepped forward and leaned until the silk corsage of her gown met the wool and satin of his jacket. James tried to ignore the shock of desire that pierced him and had him again rethinking his stratagem.

Tipping her head back, she placed her hands upon his shoulders, and when her eyes fluttered close, touched her lips to his. He remained still, afraid to move a single muscle--at least of those he could control. She pressed her lips more firmly against his closed mouth, her breasts flush against his chest. A jolt of lust coursed down to his loins.

Enough! He couldn't draw a decent sanity-giving breath.

He lifted his hands to remove hers. There, she'd received her kiss. Now, if God above took pity on him, she'd leave him in peace. But before he could remove the hands from his shoulders, her arms wound tightly about his neck, forcing his head lower. That was when she began the true assault.

About the Author

Beverley discovered her love of books while growing up in, the then, small city of Barrie, Ontario Canada. With her love of books and romance, she always wished that everyone would find their happily ever after. Add in her love of London, England set in a period when ladies strived to be genteel and dresses could barely fit through doors, and it was obvious she could write nothing but historical romances.

As the mother of one too bright and mischievous young boy, she pulls full-time duty on all fronts. When she's not working full-time, mothering, writing, reading or running The Season Book Review site, she's probably sleeping and dreaming of a time when she'll have time for her favorite hobbies: knitting, crocheting and sewing.

Beverley has lived on two continents, in three countries, two provinces, and four states. She stopped her nomadic existence and settled in the southeast. All things artistic feed her creative passion, but none more than writing. Readers can visit her at: beverleykendall.com or TheSeasonForRomance.com

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Zebra Books; First Edition edition (January 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1420108697
• ISBN-13: 978-1420108699
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #199,926 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Beverley discovered her love of books while growing up in, the then, small city of Barrie, Ontario Canada. With her love of books and romance, she always wished that everyone would find their happily ever after. Add in her love of London, England set in a period when ladies strived to be genteel and dresses could barely fit through doors, and it was obvious she could write nothing but historical romances.

As the mother of one too bright and mischievous young boy, she pulls full-time duty on all fronts. When she's not working full-time, mothering, writing or reading, she's probably sleeping and dreaming of a time when she'll have time for her favorite hobbies: knitting, crocheting and sewing.

Beverley has lived on two continents, in three countries, two provinces, and four states. She stopped her nomadic existence and settled in the southeast. All things artistic feed her creative passion, but none more than writing. Readers can visit her at: www.beverleykendall.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sinful Surrender - Beverley Kendall, January 5, 2010

By 

A. Schreiner "smexybooks" - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sinful Surrender (The Elusive Lords, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

Millicent Armstrong has gone about her seduction of James Rutherford all wrong. Three years ago, fresh on the marriage market, she literally threw herself on top of him, showing him quite well what she intended. James, a good friend of Missy's brother, Thomas Armstrong, definitely noticed Missy's newly formed figure, but as any good gentlemen, pushed her away (and made sure his coat hid the front of his pants) before things could go further.

Now, three years later, Missy is getting ready to enter her fourth season, and she has been learning the ways of subtle seduction, in hopes of garnering James' attention once again. James has been noticeably absent these past years, and Missy is ready to put her plans in motion. However, as they meet at her parent's estate, James is still putting Missy off even though a strong attraction for Missy exists. James has many reasons - Missy's brother would never find the rake, James, a suitable husband for her. Moreover, James does not know men who practice fidelity, and looking at his parent's marriage and the love lost between them, he has no visions of a happy marriage for himself in the future, no matter his bride. But his plan of staying far away from Missy goes crumbling down when Armstrong comes in with a new idea. He needs his sister married by the season end, and knows Missy has romanticized and idealized James in her head, due to him not being around. Armstrong's new plan is to have Missy observe James in society. Missy has never witnessed James as the rake, only the charming polite gentlemen. Let her get a good taste of his true personality, and she will accept another man's hand in marriage.

Society seems to want to pair James, with the icy, cold Lady Victoria Spencer and Missy with the very wealthy Lord Granville. Victoria has her own plans for James, which soon wreak havoc in James' life. He is also fighting the intense attraction from Missy, and can't help but feel lust as he tries to keep his feelings under control. Missy refuses to accept another man as her suitor, and her one track mind is making her desperate to land James as a husband.

Sinful Surrender is a strong debut novel by Beverly Kendall full of a very brooding hero and a young, over-eager heroine. For the promise Missy makes to herself at the beginning of the book to be a sly seductress, that doesn't last long. This pair has the most lust and romantic intensity I have read about in a while. Every glance, every touch, is so emotionally draining for them. They throw themselves at each other many times, only for James to push Missy away, knowing much is at stake should their relations get out of control.

At the beginning I didn't necessarily buy the argument that Armstrong didn't find James a suitable suitor for his sister. James and Armstrong are such good friends - why would he not? However, as the story progresses, you learn more of James' past and his ways with women - Armstrong is convinced James would never be satisfied with his virginal sister and his brother-sister protectiveness goes far. James is offended when Armstrong tells him he is not good enough for his sister, and being best friends, I would think James would be able to tell Armstrong his true feelings for Missy. However, with James skewed outlook on marriage, he believes he is not good enough for her as well.

Missy is a little immature in her feelings for James and I don't mean that as a criticism. She definitely has womanly advances, and knows what her body wants. But she is very jealous and almost pouts every time James pushes her away or shows up to an event with a beautiful woman on his arm. I think this behavior fits, for her being so young and so entranced by James. She also acts out, in public, and that reinforces her immaturity, and in a way brings her character around full circle.

James is very brooding and cranky throughout the book, which is a trait I always find appealing in a historical romance. He is really cranky though - to the extent at some points I question why Missy doesn't anger with him more? He never cracks a joke, nor has any lighthearted moments. Where is his charm? Where is his good natured side? He treats Missy so poorly at some points, I didn't always buy her lust or love would not falter. I do have to say though, his character stays true to form. From beginning to end, he is James - and you can take him or leave him (I for one, would take him...many times).

Sinful Surrender is very sexy and there are many twists and turns that keep this story quite entertaining to the very end. It is an exceptional debut and one I highly recommend.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Fabulous Debut!!", January 23, 2010

By 

Allison "allygal" "mosaic" - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sinful Surrender (The Elusive Lords, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

I don't usually read historicals and I don't do reviews. I had to post one for Sinful Surrender.

I won't bore you with a recap of Sinful Surrender, I'll just tell you it's one of the best debuts I've read in years. I'm not going to spoil the book, but it's goes beyond the regular the heroine is in love with her brother's best friend storyline. There are many twists I definitely did not see coming.

I loved James but was very frustrated with him part of the book. I understood that he had reasons for staying away from Missy--namely her brother forbidding him to have anything to do with her romantically. There is a second reason they can't get together even when he would like to but telling you that would be a spoiler.

Missy is not that young (21 yrs) in Chapter One, and she's either been infatuated or in love with James since she was around 10 yrs. She acts like a typical 21 yr old does. I was so happy when she stopped chasing him. I wanted him to have to chase her and I wasn't disappointed. In fact, he could have chased her a bit longer and I wouldn't have minded at all.

The secondary storyline really melds seamlessly into the main story line, and it makes sense. There are no villains in this book even though there is a character you might initially be tempted to despise. I actually even sympathized with this character in the end.

The sexual tension is extremely high throughout and there is no saggy middle. It's actually a very hot book.

The only bad thing about this book is that I have to wait a year for the brother's story.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I Loved It!, January 1, 2010

By 

Frances Li "Pinkiexli" (Monterey Park, Ca United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sinful Surrender (Kindle Edition)

This book was great! James and Missy's brother are best friends, and she has been in love with him since she was 10. Missy's brother knows that James is the worst kind of rake and would not make a good husband for Missy so he forbids James to encourage her romantically. James tries to discourage Missy by acting like the worst jerk. Can Missy's love withstand James's antics?

This debut by Beverly Kendall was excellent and I will be adding her to my must buy author list. I love an Alpha male that treats the heroine badly and has to redeem himself to win her love. If you're a fan of this theme like I am then this book is for you.