Customer Reviews

Wicked Surrender (Berkley Sensation)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Scheherazade Martin, or Scher has grown up in The Tavern playhouse. She was born there to an actress mother, and now, lacking acting talent, runs the theater troupe. Although she considers the fellow members as part of her family and she makes a decent living, she yearns for more. Watching those die around her because actors are treated like second class and don't get proper medical help, she wants a respectable marriage, children, and most of all security, something she has lacked her whole life.

For the past month, Viscount Blackstone, or Brandon, has had his eye on her. One glance and he knew she was something special. Brandon sets Scher on fire, but she knows the type of men who hang around playhouses. After being duped when she was sixteen, she is not about to let her lust take the lead. But he does funny things to her insides, and in that short month, his clandestine visits excite her very much.

Soon though, a respectable marriage proposal comes her way. The fourth son of a titled family, Kit asks her for her hand and although she doesn't know him that well - she sees her house in this future, with a yard and kids running around. Kit just happens to be Brandon's cousin, and Brandon is not thrilled his new found love is off the market. But he wants her to be happy, and he harbors a very deep, dark secret that makes him unable to give her what she needs. Kit and Brandon become her only allies as she is forced into polite society and ridicule and mockery become her daily life. Kit wants to marry her, Brandon wants her as a lover, and Scher has a big decision to make.

What really stood out to me in Wicked Surrender is our heroine, Scher. Yearning for only security and marriage in her life, she finally gets the chance with Kit. Now, she isn't really in love with Kit, and her heart beats faster for Brandon, but since Brandon won't offer her marriage, and Kit is a kind man, she chooses this path. Kit is not the perfect man, but he does offer kindness and in his own way, tries to stand up for her when society frowns down upon them. What I love, is that when Brandon pursues her, seduces her, begs her to be his mistress - she says no. He kisses her, does everything he can to get her in his arms, and she still says no. No, no no!! A heroine, who doesn't swoon at the first sexy man who tries to steal her away - I love it. She is engaged to Kit and that is it. She heeds to her convictions! Now, if Brandon had proposed marriage instead of just a mistress position, would she have broken it off with Kit without a thought? Maybe. But Brandon doesn't - for good reason you will discover, and the complicated trio move forward as best they can.

Scher does not have it easy by any means. Just because a respectable man offers her marriage, does not clear the way for her in polite society. It is quite the opposite. She suffers so much brutal treatment - the animosity and snobbery in this book really stands out. Jade Lee holds nothing back and the consistency in which she is treated - I kept expecting her to find an ally, other than Brandon, but Jade Lee gives her no easy way out.

My only complaint is that Brandon has a big secret, and I thought part of it is a little too dramatic. I know that is vague, but I don't want to give it away. I liked his secret, just the ailment that went along with it seemed a little overdone to me.

The sexual tension is revved up in this book, and although Scher is good at saying no to Brandon, this book does not lack romance. Their eventual coupling is nicely built up and not rushed. With all the historical romances I read, I feel Wicked Surrender offers a little something different. With a very strong heroine and dark, brooding hero, I definitely recommend this one.

Daughter of an actress, Scheherazade "Scher" Martin manages the small Tavern Playhouse theater troupe. Her position and that of her mom means she will never fulfill her dream of a loving respectable marriage as no member of the Ton will ever wed her. Her best offer comes from Viscount Brandon Cates to be his mistress with he providing a terrific compensation if she agrees.

Scher considers his offer, but his too young cousin Kit proposes marriage. Scher knows if she says yes to Kit she fulfills her dream; if she says yes to Brandon she accepts love. To seal the deal Brandon kisses her leaving both stunned with their reaction. However, he possesses a dark past in which he believes his Scher is his only chance for redemption yet Brandon also believes he is not worthy of such a great Lady.

The powerful fully developed cast, especially the lead triangle, makes for a deep exhilarating Regency romance. Scher and her two suitors have dreams, but also possess flaws that rip at their souls and hence their aspirations. Jade Lee provides a deep character driven historical as readers wonder whether Scheherazade will choose love or her dream.

Harriet Klausner

Wicked Surrender by Jade Lee
Historical Romance -Sept 7 2010
4 stars

Scheherazade Martin longs for respectability and security in life. As an actress and manager of a small tavern troupe, her status is society is akin to a prostitute and definitely far, far below of a respectable lady. Men offer her carte blanches, but not marriage. Scher is resigned to her lot in life and almost becomes the mistress of Brandon Cates, Viscount Blackstone...until his cousin, a young puppyish Kit proposes to Scher, promising to give her everything she ever wanted. But, can Scher learn to forget Brandon? Which will she choose? Him or her dreams?

To be honest, I was kind of weary of Lee. I have read her book Tempted Tigress before and it was kind of disappointing and not at all my cup of tea. But, Wicked Surrender definitely surpassed my expectations. Scher's character is fascinating - her desire to be accepted by society is something many of us can relate to. Not only that, the way she handled society's criticism shows her resilience and determination. Brandon, our tortured dark hero, is also another pleasant surprise. Instead of the usual alpha male swaggering and seducing, he's vulnerable and defeated to the point where he no longer has the will to live. Most romance writers will never write about such a downtrodden male character, which makes Lee's portrayal of him so touching and real.

The romance between Scher and Brandon unfolds in a smooth and even pace. With so many obstacles in their way - Kit, Kit's evil family, and Brandon's past, I ended up rooting for them even though (especially towards the end), it felt like a doomed romance. I must say that I am very satisfied with the ending. It's a good ending with a nice twist on Brandon's part. You really can't have it all, but as Scher and Brandon shows us, compromising can lead to pleasant and happy endings. If you are not a big fan of erotic novels but would like to give Jade Lee a try, consider Wicked Surrender. Lee's latest novel is a pleasant and enjoyable surprise.

Reviewed by Pauline from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club

I just finished Wicked Surrender and I feel a bit melancholy. Have you ever read a book and after you finished (or during) you realize that maybe now wasn't the best time to read it? I'm having that moment, because it's not the writing of Ms. Lee that's doing it, though, the story itself could be contributing to my dark cloud.

We meet our heroine Lady Scheherazade Martin (Scher for short. I called her Cher.) Where was I.. Oh yes! Scher is a Lady at The Tavern Playhouse and runs the troupe with efficiency. However, while she is considered a Lady, she's far from it and the knowledge of that fact has been getting to her more of late. She has dreams of becoming a respectable wife and mother, but not to just anybody, but to someone of the peerage. Scher's dreams I can understand. Her reasonings are not from what you would think - that she's looking for money. Really, she only wants respect and security that a marriage of wealth can bring her.

The man making these dreams difficult is Lord Brandon Blackstone. He wants Lady Scher to be his mistress, but the idea of becoming the mistress to a viscount doesn't even appeal to Scher and she refuses him. It's only when Scher is offered marriage by Brandon's cousin, Kit Frazier, does Brandon expedite his plans to win her over.

When I first started Wicked Surrender, given the name, I was expecting something.. well.. wicked, naughty. While Ms. Lee does give us some excellent scenes, the majority of the book is really sad to me. The trials and obstacles that Scher and Brandon must go through would exhaust anybody. Almost no one but our two lovers come out ahead in the end which is the reason my storm cloud was added to.

As my first Jade Lee novel, I would say that even given my mood after-wards, it was still well received. I liked her writing, her story telling and the fact that she could make me feel so deeply for her characters. I'm looking forward to Wicked Seduction when it releases in March.

I must say that it took me a bit to warm up to this book. Ms.Lee tends to write a bit dark however I loved her Chinese series and was curious as to how she would write in the Regency genre. Well she has hooked me for life! I hope that she has enough success with her Regency series to continue because she is phenomenal in this time period! Her hero and heroine are not perfect, which I like. Also, Scher (the heroine), is not having a good time of it; things do not look good and she is grasping at whatever means she can to improve her situation. One reviewer was disappointed at this but this is reality, not only in Regency England but today as well. Ms. Lee has a way of making a reader cry and I like that. I had my heart broken so many times in this book but in a good way.
The sequel is even better and I really encourage one to pick it up. Some loose ends in this book are tied rather nicely in the sequel.

This is the first novel by Jade Lee that I read and it will definitely be the last. Ms. Lee TELLS a story with little dialogue or action. Characters are clumsily moved from scene to scene to act out small portions of whatever is occurring. The story promised to be interesting, but Ms. Lee's execution was so poor that reading became an increasingly unpleasant chore and I resorted to skimming for the last hundred pages. Beware of some SPOILERS ahead:

1. When the story begins, all the main characters already know each other and are in some type or other of relationship. All this served to do was highlight the author's laziness and lack of writing skills: I felt that someone was relating a story because dialogue and plotting were so deficient. This is actually the worst problem with the book and why it felt so dense and torpid. Ms. Lee rarely SHOWS and when she does it feels clumsy, heavy, stiff, and forced.

2. The heroine is an almost virginal actress whose sole aim in life is to obtain respectability through marriage to an aristocrat. She is close to perfect and depressingly boring. She becomes engaged to a man she doesn't love or admire just to obtain respectability, while lusting after a man who won't offer marriage. She remains set on that path until, suddenly, she realizes that she loooooveeesss the HERO and being his mistress isn't so bad after all. This abrupt reversal became necessary, because the book was ending and there was no other resolution in sight. I guess the author wanted to show us that the heroine's love overcame her scruples, but it just didn't work.

3. The hero is tortured, noble, and loves the heroine before the story begins, so there is no growth, development, or excitement.

4. The "bad guys" are soooo baaaadddd and eeeevilllll that they were one dimensional props without any depth or nuances.

5. The love scenes were unremarkable and underwhelming. Excitement was conveyed through one. word. exclamatory! sentences. Purple prose and unappealing descriptions of smells, sweat, and dirt had me wincing and grimacing in disgust. Ugh!

6. Melodrama! Tears! Incessant mental lusting! More tears!

To summarize: reading this novel was anything but a pleasure and I had to make myself finish it. For character development, excellent dialogue, and talented writing I will remain faithful to Liz Carlyle and Lisa Kleypas.

Scher is an actress condemned to be forever shunned because of her birth ad background. So, will brains, guts and kindness help her overcome prejudice and win over her detractors? According to the author, no. There is nothingt uplifting or hopeful in this story. The characters are thrown into humiliating and ugly situations over and over. There is no respite from these depressing situations and the perpetrators never get their comeupance. In fact they win in the end. The pathetic moral is you cannot escape your circumstances so it's best to retreat and marry a man so he can take care of your problems. Iwill not be reading this author again.