TITLE: Submit (Surrender – Book #2)
AUTHOR: Melody Anne
GENRE: Contemporary Romance
PUBLISHED: May 31, 2013
RATING: ★★★☆☆
PURCHASE LINKS: Amazon | Barnes&Noble
MOBILISM LINK: Mobilism
Review
Arianna Harlow has a choice. Does she choose love or self-respect? Will she give up her freedom and become nothing but a shadow of herself?
This is the exciting sequel to the NYT’s and USA Today best-selling book Surrender. In Submit, Ari faces an impossible ultimatum. She needs to decide whether to accept Raffaelo Palazzo’s indecent proposal and stay at his side as his bought mistress, under his complete control in his world and in his bedroom. Rafe holds the keys to her mother’s happiness, and Ari must choose love for her mother or respect for herself and for the morals her mother instilled in her. You’ll find out that decision in this book and discover the unexpected repercussions of what Ari does choose.
In Surrender, we were also introduced to the dynamic story of Shane Grayson and Lia Palazzo. See where their story leads as the Surrender Series continues.
Watch as two strong, confident women make choices that will affect their lives forever.
Who will submit? Will it be the women or the men?
I personally had high expectations when starting this book. The first in the series offered lots of build up with a tense cliffhanger at the end. While reading I felt like I was watching a B-rated soap opera.
First there are two separate romances happening. Readers are aware of Rafe and Ari but are introduced to Shane and Lia. This would have been fine with just an introduction. However, the author does more than introduce us to more characters. She had added more drama. I personally felt this drama was unnecessary.
More characters trying to compete with being the main hero/heroine is hard for readers to comprehend. Something else to keep straight, at the end of each chapter readers are left wondering who they will be reading about come the next chapter.
I felt this book written rather simply. There is not a lot of build up for tense situations, no glaring climax to the whole story.
Books are supposed to have plots and sub-plots. This reader felt two different plots happening throughout the story. A major drawback for anyone that is looking for a nice weekend read.
"I don’t need your affection — only your submission," he replied with the slightest tilt to his lips. Confidence now emanated from his whole being as he watched her make her decision.
She was his!
Rafe still has the total power control. He desires women but does not respect then. For him they are just a means to relieve his sexual frustrations.
"My mother would rather lose everything than lose me. I may not want her to go through the pain of knowing she has nothing left — but she’d never forgive me if I gave up my soul."
Then it seems like Ari does not have any self respect. She is willing to sell her body just to keep her mother from finding out everything is gone.
Granted everyone has reached a low point in their life. No job, no money, borrowing from Peter to pay Paul and a tax collector (or landlord) knocking at the door daily. I can understand the low point. What I cannot understand is the no self respect. Ari is saying one thing then doing something completely different. The age old saying Actions speak louder than words is true.
When readers reach the end they are left with not one but two cliff hangers. Series are great but most series end with enough closing for readers to be satisfied. Sadly this book was lacking.