Millicent “Missy” Armstrong is entering her fourth London Season, but not for lack of suitors. Since her debut three years ago, Missy has received twenty marriage proposals. But she is interested in only one man—her brother’s best friend, James Rutherford. As a child, Missy looked up to James. As a grown up, her admiration has blossomed into the longings of a beautiful, sensuous woman—and she won’t rest until James admits his love—and desire—for her…
James Rutherford rues the day he let his physical weaknesses get the better of him by kissing Missy. His best friend has made it clear that Missy is off limits, and though he’s avoided her for three years, he hasn’t forgotten the feel of her soft lips pressed against his—and it seems neither has she. For no matter how much James tries to discourage Missy, he keeps winding up in her arms, sharing heated caresses that promise the most delirious pleasure…

Sinful Surrender by Beverley Kendall
January 5th, 2010
Historical Romance
Paperback, 352 pages
Zebra
Book received from author

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 for him. 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.

Rating: Four Stars

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