Sandy M’s review of Letting Go (Surrender Trilogy, Book 1) by Maya Banks
Contemporary Romance published by Berkley 4 Feb 14
I really enjoyed the premise of this first book in Maya Banks’ Surrender trilogy. A woman has lost the love of her life, she’s trying to move on, knowing she’ll never find that kind of love again. But what she’s always wanted that her deceased husband couldn’t give her is what she’s now going after. Little does she know it’s been right in her backyard, so to speak, all along.
It’s been three years since Josslyn’s husband died, three years of such deep grief. But now on the third anniversary, while visiting Carson’s grave, she tells him it’s time to move on, to stop being a burden to their friends. Dash, Carson’s best friend and business partner, has always been there for her on this day each year, but now she’s letting him go so he can also move on and not have to deal with her any longer. What her husband could never give her because of his past, Josslyn has decided to now experience – being dominated. There’s something deep inside her that needs to let go, needs to be submissive.
Dash has been in love with Josslyn for the entirety of her marriage. And Carson knew. Their friendship was solid, though; Carson knowing that Dash would never cross the line. The last three years have been another kind of hell, but he’ll wait as long as he needs to to have Joss. That comes to pass now that she’s left him behind, and when he discovers what she’s up to, his possessive streak takes over. Seeing her in a local club where anything and everything goes pushes all of Dash’s buttons, and he whisks her away to find out what the hell is going on. He can’t believe what he hears when they talk – she wants to be part of his world.
Of course, it takes Josslyn a bit to wrap her brain around the fact Dash is just what she wants in her life. But once she learns more about the lifestyle and because she trusts Dash, they begin their journey together into a D/s relationship. What I like most about this book is the fact that this relationship is not one of those where the heroine is totally, absolutely submissive, not allowed to speak or choose which clothes to wear for the day, can’t go anywhere without permission, and other similar things. Dash definitely needs to be in control, but when Joss asks questions or wants to be the one to initiate lovemaking, he’s all for it. Besides being the usual alpha and sexy Maya Banks hero, that’s what I like the most about Dash.
The secondary characters and whose book is up next are Joss’ sister-in-law Kylie and Dash’s new business partner, Jensen. Kylie lives in a black-and-white world after suffering through the same childhood past as her brother Carson and Jensen is just as strong and dominant as Dash. Very intriguing, indeed. Chessy, Josslyn’s best friend, and Tate, her husband, have been together for a while, but things have cooled off and Chessy isn’t sure why, so it will be interesting to see how things go with them in the third book. My one nitpick is all the repetition throughout the book. It’s a lot. This is the second book I’ve noticed this in, and I’m hoping it’s not becoming a habit for Maya. Trust your readers, they don’t need repetition to keep characters or story elements straight. I’m also not sure I get or believe Dash’s vulnerability at the end of the book. It doesn’t seem true to his character that we’ve gotten to know so far.
That being said, I still enjoyed getting to know Dash and Josslyn.
Grade: B
Summary:
Josslyn found perfection once, and she knows she’ll never find it again. Now widowed, she seeks the one thing her beloved husband couldn’t give her. Dominance. Lonely and searching for an outlet for her grief and wanting only a brief taste of the perfection she once enjoyed, she seeks what she’s looking for at an exclusive club that caters to people indulging in their most hedonistic fantasies. She never imagined that what she’d find is the one man who’s long been a source of comfort—and secret longing. Her husband’s best friend.
Dash has lived in an untenable position for years. In love with his best friend’s wife and unwilling to act on that attraction. He’d never betray his best friend. And so he’s waited in the wings, offering Joss unconditional support and comfort as she works past her grief, hoping for the day when he can offer her more.
When he finds her in a club devoted to the darker edges of desire, he’s furious because he thinks she has no idea what she’s getting herself into. Until she explains in detail what it is she wants. What she needs. As realization sets in, he is gripped by fierce, unwavering determination. If she wants dominance, he is the only man who will introduce her to that world. He is the only man who will touch her, cherish her…love her. And the only man she’ll ever submit to.
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
