Sweet Surrender [Paperback]

Maya Banks (Author)

Book Description

Release date: March 4, 2008

The author of For Her Pleasure makes readers surrender to erotic romantic suspense. It doesn't get much hotter.

Dallas cop Gray Montgomery is on a mission to find the guy who killed his partner. So far, he's found a link between the killer and Faith, a beautiful stranger-and if Gray has to get close to her to catch the killer, so be it. And closer still when the killer makes his own moves on the vulnerable young woman.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A must-read author...[Maya Banks's] storylines are always full of emotional situations, lovable characters, and kick-butt storylines." -Romance Junkies

About the Author

Maya Banks resides in Texas and has published three previous erotic novels. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 344 pages
• Publisher: Berkley Trade (March 4, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425219437
• ISBN-13: 978-0425219430
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.9 x 8.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (138 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #320,429 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Maya Banks lives in Texas with her husband, three children and assortment of pets. When she's not writing, she can be found hunting, fishing or playing poker.

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#43 Overall (See top 100 authors)

#14 in Books > Romance > Romantic Suspense

#17 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Romance > Suspense

#18 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Erotica

#18 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Romance

#20 in Books > Romance > Contemporary

#14 in Books > Romance > Romantic Suspense

#17 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Romance > Suspense

#18 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Erotica

#18 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Romance

#20 in Books > Romance > Contemporary

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

50 of 61 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars An exercise in frustration March 5, 2009

By Aficionado

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I really wanted to love this book. It had all the elements I enjoy: strong alpha hero, an intelligent and strong heroine who has a submissive streak sexually, and a suspense plot to keep things interesting.

There were parts of this book I really enjoyed. I liked the hero and heroine a lot. Both characters were engaging and well-drawn, and on paper were ideal for each other. The problem is in the execution.

In what I'm guessing was an attempt to build sexual tension, the author kept the hero and heroine dancing around a mild flirtation for about the first 1/3 of the book. Now, I love sexual tension in erotic romances when its done well. One of my pet peeves is authors who have the h/h jump into bed right away without giving the reader a chance to want them there. Frankly, we don't see enough sexual tension in erotic romance, in my opinion. Unfortunately it wasn't done well in this book. The hero kept the heroine at arms length to the point of acting like a beta male, nowhere near the take-charge alpha the heroine (and I) was looking for. Worse, conversations and scenes between them became boring after awhile. There was no real tension, just a sense of marking time.

There was also the fact that for a submissive, the heroine spent an awful lot of time trying to control the relationship and force the hero to take charge (I can't say that I blame her. He was annoyingly passive sexually for the first half of the book). To be fair, the author addressed the heroine's attempts to control things; the hero points it out in what becomes a turning point for them.... Unfortunately that still means that for more than half the book you have a supposedly submissive heroine acting anything but submissive sexually and a supposedly dominant hero who has to be knocked upside the head before he will begin taking charge.

Toss in a disappointingly thin suspense subplot and the whole book became an exercise in frustration for me. I would also have liked to have known ahead of time that the book includes a menage scene. It's not a deal-breaker for me; they're fine in pure erotica, but I avoid them when I'm reading for romance.

I do think this author has a lot of potential. The erotic scenes (once we finally got them) were very, very hot. Unfortunately they came so late in the book that we never really got a chance to watch these two work out their d/s relationship. They talked a lot about what they were looking for but we never really get to see it play out.

I was excited about this book based on the reviews and the blurb, but I'll be cautious about trying this author again. Read more ›

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A deliciously fun Adventure Into a New lifestyle! December 21, 2011

By Tilly Slaton

Format:Kindle Edition

It has been a very long time since I've read an erotica book. I was a little shocked haha .. I guess I feel old. Regardless, this book was super cool and I really like the story and the characters.

The author did a fantastic job bringing the characters to left. The diversity of personalities is a wonderful change.

Sweet Surrender is a book about the relationship between Faith and Gray.

Faith is a sweet and kind woman who is disappointed and unsatisfied with the relationships in which she has found herself. Although the men in her life have been kind and respectful, they have also been entirely too passive for her tastes. She craves a man who will make the decisions for her. She craves submission and to be taken over by the passion that only a real man can give her.

Gray is a cop that is grieving over his dead partner that was murdered. Taking some leave from work, he relocates to Houston where he inserts himself into a security business where Faith works. She is his only lead and he must get close to her in hopes of luring the murderer out into the open.

Fighting the attraction (I just love it when they fight it haha), they both constantly turn away from each other. Avoiding lust filled eyes and sexual tension, the relationship becomes firework worthy explosive.

Deciding to take control of her sexuality, she searches for a way to dive into a new lifestyle. The House is an establishment that hosts a scrumptious amount of room to fulfil almost any fantasy a person can dream of. Need.

Gray refuses to let Faith put herself in that position and walks into The House to bring her home kicking and screaming if he has to. What he finds, sends lightning shooting through his body as well as rage.... Trying to prove to Faith what she does and truly does not want, Gray opens up a moment between them that are unable to ignore.

This book has extremely strong sexual content. Mild violence. Forewarning, this is an erotica book that is surrounded by an alternative lifestyle. Read at your own lust filled bravery!

I recommend this book to any lonely housewife. I recommend this book to anyone in general that needs a little spike for their fantasies. I recommend this book to anyone that is searching for something they may feel ashamed of. Read more ›

41 of 53 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Sweet Surrender April 18, 2008

By Kelly VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Gray Montgomery is working on the biggest case of his life. His best friend and partner Alex was murdered, and he cannot rest until the perpetrator is brought to justice. The Dallas police department has been working on it without any forward progress, and Gray decides to follow the lead Alex's father uncovered. He takes a leave of absence from the police department, and goes undercover in Houston to find out what Faith Malone knows because their suspect was last seen in the company of her mother.

After just spending a few moments with Faith, Gray instinctively knows that she had nothing to do with the hit on Alex, but stays in hopes of finding a lead on her mother. Gray finds himself incredibly attracted to Faith, but fights his feelings because of her involvement in his investigation, and he is afraid she couldn't handle his darker sexual tastes. Little does Gray know that Faith craves a strong dominant man. She finds herself thinking about him constantly hoping he is the man she has been looking for. When Gray and Faith finally give into their desires, and it is explosive.

Maya Banks became a must buy for me after Colters' Woman, and her subsequent books never fail to hit the mark. I am always excited to see what she has coming out next. This book was sexy, erotic, and thrilling. I am hoping to maybe see this developed into a series. It sure was set up to. Superb read!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars You need a little Faith when times are Gray January 26, 2012

By Shari

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Detective Gray Montgomery is on a mission to find the killer of his partner. After a long recovery and no leads, he takes the advice of his partner's father and follows a lead that takes him to meet Faith Malone, a stranger. With only one goal, to catch a killer, he denies the passion and attraction he feels for Faith. Faith is the sweet, feminine woman he longs to dominate, but he thinks she is only playing games.

Faith is a young woman finding out what she really wants. After many relationships, she knows she wants a man to take care of her. A man she can surrender her heart, body and mind too. When her latest relationship ends amicably, she starts researching BDSM on the internet and finds The House and Damon the owner. Damon leads her through The House cumulating in a spanking by a Dom that does nothing for her, until Gray arrives. Gray showing up changes everything and now she knows what she wants.

But there is a real threat to Faith and Gray must man up and decide what he feels for Faith is more than a game or even a mission.

Sweet Surrender was a good beginning to a series I am looking forward to reading. Most of the love scenes happen towards the end of the book, but they are hot and fast, one coming upon the last one fast. No pun intended. The book is erotica and has some deep sexual scenes including M/M/F, anal sex, bondage, and spankings. If this isn't your cup of tea, then this book won't interest you.

The plot had a few transparent scenes. You know the bad guy up front and his connection to Faith. Faith is the innocent, young girl, but not so young as to not have dated. You assume she is in her early 20s and Gray is in his 30s. Faith was adopted when she was an adult by Pop Malone, gaining a brother Connor.... There is also Micah and Nathan who work for Pop and act like brothers to Faith. Hoping the next books are about this hot guys along with Damon.

Not an outstanding, hold onto your seat and douse yourself with water book. It was fun, but just not something I took too seriously. No deep emotions evoked. No tears. Just a fun book and series that I hope gets better with each book. Read more ›