Full Surrender by Joanne Rock
Contemporary Romance
Released: August 21, 2012
Harlequin
Reviewed by May
“Are you familiar with the idea of-“ She cleared her throat “-sexual healing? You know, recovering mojo by having sex with someone you trust?”
Yes, you read that right. Play the Marvin Gaye and let’s get this sexual healing on the road! Ok, all jokes aside the premise of this book is indeed that Stephanie had a fling and that was her last good memory before being kidnapped while overseas on a journalism assignment. She’s not had any luck starting up relationships or being intimate with a man since then. Wanting to get her mojo back, she meets Daniel at his ship and proposes that they try to recapture the magic of their 5 days together.
Now I like this premise for a shorter length story – the author had a very specific story and focus, and it was filled with enough emotion, tension, and chemistry to keep me flipping pages and curious how she’d work it all out. The author did not add too many supporting characters or try to throw in villains or extra twists which worked for me, keeping it a more focused romance story.
I wasn’t wild about the heroine’s back story. The author has her trembling and having panic attacks and generally freaking the heck out randomly. It has been 5 years, she’s been in therapy, and while yes I’m sure it was quite unpleasant and scary to be held – she was not tortured or brutalized repeatedly or sexually assaulted. She was kidnapped, beaten once, and held. I can only imagine how awful that would be, but I didn’t understand how it caused her to be unable to have a relationship. Why is this affecting her sexual mojo? I wasn’t convinced.
She goes on to tell about how she’s fine now, she’s putting it in the past – but she isn’t at all. Which is it? This, along with the drama with the heroine’s mom took away from my enjoyment. The mama drama felt unnecessary to the story and it took away from time and space that would have been better showing us more about why these people love each other.
What I really liked is that while both characters know that the other is the one that got away, neither is quick to admit it. She doesn’t fully realize how much she loves him until they’re together again – meanwhile he doesn’t want to admit to her (since she has no idea) the depth that her kidnapping affected his life – or what he wrote to her after she was safely back home.
I had a hard time believing that just home from six months away on a Navy ship, that Daniel would drop his family time entirely to be with Stephanie at first. When they arrive at his parent’s estate he doesn’t ever go to the house and see his own mother – instead he just gets right into bed with Stephanie in the gatehouse. It would have made me like Daniel more if he’d taken a time out and gone to see his mom and dad – you know? That said, we get into his head enough to see that they really just want to make the most of every minute, and neither wants to let go or lose the other person. I really appreciate that they value the connection that they share, and that they don’t squander it.
If you are into the reunited lovers, the one who got away type trope, then I’d definitely recommend checking this out. Rock brings back some of her past couples (Daniel’s brothers and their lady loves), but it’s done in a really great way so that if you’ve never read the other books or don’t recall it won’t be a problem. If you want to check in on those couples you’ll get the chance – but they stay firmly on the sidelines so that the main couple can find their happily ever after – one embrace at a time.
Grade: B-
Recent Reviews:
Goodreads
Leave a Reply