Wicked Surrender by Jade Lee (Wicked #1)
Historical Romance
September 7, 2010
Paperback, 326 Pages
Berkley

Reviewed by Mandi

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!

She peered in his face and he read honest confusion. “You say you respect me, and yet you treat me like a trollop. You wait in my room, you try to seduce me with kisses and pretty words, and when I say no, you touch me anyway. Brandon, you are not this stupid! What are you thinking? What demons drive you to this madness?”

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.

Rating: 4/5

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This series includes:
Wicked Surrender
Wicked Seduction – March 2011

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