Reviewed by Dee
TITLE: Surrender Your Heart
SERIES: Surrender Trilogy #1
AUTHOR: Raven J. Spencer
PUBLISHER: Self-published
LENGTH: 144 pages
RELEASE DATE: July 31, 2015
BLURB:
Penny can’t believe what happened to her: One day she’s studying sociology and paying her tuition with her job at a local café, the next she wakes up in a luxurious house which is the property of a rich and enigmatic woman. Carter Forbes is ready to lay the world at her feet, but what will she expect in return? As she uncovers Carter’s reasons to create this unusual situation, Penny can’t deny the attraction between them. Can she reconcile her desire with her beliefs about herself, or is this passionate affair doomed from the start?
REVIEW:
This story is told in first person present tense; a writing style I often struggle with. However, Raven J. Spencer did a fantastic job of narrating the story in such a manner. It’s also told in dual point-of-view, something I loved as it allowed me to get into the heads of both Penny and Carter.
The story revolves around a tried-and-true plot – Stockholm syndrome/love thy captor. But what set this story aside is the fact the abductor is female! Albeit a millionaire complete with all the things riches offer, including a luxury home on an island, complete with a yacht.
Penny is working as a waitress, stressed out and trying to get by. After a busy shift and an unexpected $1,000 tip, she goes home has a wine, then wakes up in some unknown location. Needless to say her life is turned upside down overnight.
Carter is smitten with Penny, obviously, or she wouldn’t have gone to so much trouble to whisk her away and also lavish her with gorgeous clothing and surroundings. Penny’s growing attraction to her captor quickly has her falling for Carter.
One thing that struck me as odd while reading this story was Penny’s numerous references to her situation being like what happened to people in fictional stories. For me, it kept reiterating yes this is fiction, none of it’s real. I can’t say if that was a good thing or a bad thing. I can say it stopped me from over-analyzing the story. Because, well, anything is possible in fiction.
As the story progresses, it becomes apparent not everything is as clear as one would believe at first glance. There are a few twists and turns to keep a reader turning the pages. And it comes to light Carter had a very genuine, and one could say caring reason, for abducting Penny! Although I found what Carter did for a living, and her reasons for taking Penny to be somewhat conflicting.
I’ve tagged the story as erotica due to there being some adult content, but most scenes are rather brief.
I’d most definitely recommend this story. Even though it’s the first in a trilogy you can rest assured it doesn’t end with a gaping cliffhanger – thank goodness.
RATING: 
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