Veena’s review of Taking It All (Surrender Trilogy, Book 3) by Maya Banks
Erotic Romance published by Berkley 05 Aug 14
I never thought I’d ever be in a position to write a negative review on a book written by Ms. Banks, but sadly this book, in my humble opinion, just did not wrench my gut or make the emotional connection that it should have. We’ve known from the previous books that Chessy and Tate’s marriage is in trouble. Is it just business and the desire to succeed that is keeping Tate away from home at all hours? Or, horrors of horrors, has the unthinkable happened and Tate has actually strayed from his marriage vows with another woman?
Feeling emotionally adrift both as a wife and submissive, Chessy is afraid to ask questions for fear of what Tate’s answers will reveal. Tate meanwhile seems to be oblivious to his wife’s growing unhappiness until it all comes to a head on their anniversary when he stands her up to have drinks with another woman, a prospective client at the bar of the very restaurant where she’s waiting for him with a meal going cold at the table.
Finally clued in to what he is doing to his wife, Tate resolves to once again ensure she comes first in his life and vowing to better balance his professional and personal lives. But, of course, he’s a man and we know when push comes to shove he’s going to fail and so he does in spectacular fashion on all fronts as a husband and a dominant – that too in public. Can their relationship survive?
There are so many powerful elements to this story and yet it feels rushed and superficial to me. I never make the emotional connect that I needed to get vested in the story. Oh, yes, Chessy cries buckets of tears and her friends are all there for her and poor Tate tries to apologize and promise never to allow such a thing to happen again and then takes active steps to execute a strategy that would enable him to better keep his promises this time around.
All in all, the first of the three books in this trilogy is extremely well written. The second has the most powerful story, and this one just seems a bit contrived in order to create a trilogy.
Grade: C
Summary:
In her sensational Breathless Trilogy, New York Times bestselling author Maya Banks tested the boundaries of desire. In her new trilogy, there’s only one thing left to do: cross them. And for a married couple taking steps to renew their marriage, the consequences of one single moment of inattention may come at a price the husband never expects…Chessy and Tate have been married for several years. In the beginning, their relationship was everything she wanted. Passionate. All-consuming. She offered her submission freely and Tate cherished her gift with a tenderness that made her feel safe. Content. Wanted. Loved beyond all measure. But as the years have gone by, Tate has become more immersed in making his business a success, and Chessy has taken a back seat to his business obligations. Growing unhappy with the status of their once blissful marriage, Chessy knows that something has to give, or they stand to lose it all.
Tate loves his wife. Has always loved her. Providing for her has always been his number-one priority. But lately she’s seemed unhappy, and he’s worried. Worried enough that he arranges for a night together that he hopes will reignite the fire that once burned like an inferno between them.
But a business call at the wrong time threatens everything. Chessy’s safety, his concentration, his wife’s faith in him as her husband—a man sworn to love and protect her above all else. Gutted with the realization that he’s going to lose her—has already lost her—he readies for the fight of his life. Whatever it takes, he’ll get her back, show her that nothing is more important than her love. And that if she’ll allow him to prove himself one more time, he’ll take it all. Everything. But he’ll give back far more: Himself. His undying love.
Other books in this series:
