laurenjodi's review
4.0
Surrender to the Devil
3.5 Stars
Raised on the streets with the rest of Feagan's gang of pickpockets and thieves, Frannie Darling has grown into a strong and determined young woman. Keeping her distance from the men who frequent the gaming hell where she works as a bookkeeper, Frannie has no desire to marry or even take a lover until she meets Sterling Mabry, the devilish yet secretive Duke of Greystone, who makes her want to forget every vow she's ever made to herself.
Although well-written with likable characters, this installment in Heath's Scoundrels of St. James did not engage me as much as the previous books.
Frannie is a very sweet heroine and this is exactly the problem. She is simply too perfect for words and her chemistry with Sterling is lackluster. Sterling, in contrast, is much more compelling with his devastating secret, but even this turns out to be no obstacle as Frannie is so loving and accepting of all his faults.
The minor suspense plot involving Frannie's removing orphans from the clutches of the malicious Bob Sykes (yes, there are still allusions to Dickens' Oliver Twist on virtually every page), has potential, but never really adds any tension to the story.
The epilogue at the end is intriguing and I look forward to reading the stories that are referenced in it.
3.5 Stars
Raised on the streets with the rest of Feagan's gang of pickpockets and thieves, Frannie Darling has grown into a strong and determined young woman. Keeping her distance from the men who frequent the gaming hell where she works as a bookkeeper, Frannie has no desire to marry or even take a lover until she meets Sterling Mabry, the devilish yet secretive Duke of Greystone, who makes her want to forget every vow she's ever made to herself.
Although well-written with likable characters, this installment in Heath's Scoundrels of St. James did not engage me as much as the previous books.
Frannie is a very sweet heroine and this is exactly the problem. She is simply too perfect for words and her chemistry with Sterling is lackluster. Sterling, in contrast, is much more compelling with his devastating secret, but even this turns out to be no obstacle as Frannie is so loving and accepting of all his faults.
The minor suspense plot involving Frannie's removing orphans from the clutches of the malicious Bob Sykes (yes, there are still allusions to Dickens' Oliver Twist on virtually every page), has potential, but never really adds any tension to the story.
The epilogue at the end is intriguing and I look forward to reading the stories that are referenced in it.
geo_ix's review
5.0
I really loved this. I don’t even really know why I put off continuing this series, I think it was just a mix of having a whole heap of others books to read and that reading one more book meant it was closer to ending, but I loved it just like the others. The end few pages were a little cheesy and everything was up in arms until only the last few pages which I didn’t really like, but for the other 99% I was loving it. If I hadn’t needed to do stuff this would have for sure been a one sitting read (also if I didn’t start it an hour before bedtime on the first day lol) and it was really easy to quickly fly through this. Loved it.
thegeekyblogger's review
4.0
Read/Listened for Fun (Paperback/Kindle/Audio)
Overall Rating: 4.00
Story Rating: 3.75
Character Rating: 4.25
Audio Rating: 4.25 (not part of the overall rating)
First thought after finishing: Frannie Darling deserved love and I am so glad she finally found it!
Story Thoughts: I knew that Frannie's story would be a tough read. Her back story is heartbreaking and her plight for the orphaned children is heart-string pulling. I adored her part of the story and was really happy when she found love. It took a bit for to get into the romance between Frannie and Sterling but that all clicked about half way through the story. This was another fantastic addition to this series.
Character Thoughts:Frannie was the "scoundrel" that I was most looking forward too! She is a fantastic leading lady and has a wonderful heart. Her back story is heartbreaking but she over came it all. Sterling took a bit too like. Seriously, his attitude and I did not quite mesh. Though as Frannie fell in love so did I! I love when characters make me love them even though I am opposed
Audio Thoughts:
I wasn't sure if I would like switching over to one narrator but Susan did a fantastic job. She was FRANNIE! I don't think anyone else would be as good at getting her emotion and cadence. It just worked!
Final Thoughts: I need to get the last in this series soon!
Overall Rating: 4.00
Story Rating: 3.75
Character Rating: 4.25
Audio Rating: 4.25 (not part of the overall rating)
First thought after finishing: Frannie Darling deserved love and I am so glad she finally found it!
Story Thoughts: I knew that Frannie's story would be a tough read. Her back story is heartbreaking and her plight for the orphaned children is heart-string pulling. I adored her part of the story and was really happy when she found love. It took a bit for to get into the romance between Frannie and Sterling but that all clicked about half way through the story. This was another fantastic addition to this series.
Character Thoughts:Frannie was the "scoundrel" that I was most looking forward too! She is a fantastic leading lady and has a wonderful heart. Her back story is heartbreaking but she over came it all. Sterling took a bit too like. Seriously, his attitude and I did not quite mesh. Though as Frannie fell in love so did I! I love when characters make me love them even though I am opposed
Audio Thoughts:
Narrated By Susan Ericksen /Length: 8 hrs and 51 mins
I wasn't sure if I would like switching over to one narrator but Susan did a fantastic job. She was FRANNIE! I don't think anyone else would be as good at getting her emotion and cadence. It just worked!
Final Thoughts: I need to get the last in this series soon!
bookspam's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
michellesantiago's review
5.0
A strong 4.5/5 stars.
I listened to the audiobook edition. This was an impulse buy and I was glad I took a chance.
The narrator (Susan Ericksen) was fantastic! Enjoyed the story more listening than I would've just reading it.
Frannie and Sterling's story was romantic with a perfect ending.
I listened to the audiobook edition. This was an impulse buy and I was glad I took a chance.
The narrator (Susan Ericksen) was fantastic! Enjoyed the story more listening than I would've just reading it.
Frannie and Sterling's story was romantic with a perfect ending.
intensej's review
2.0
I skimmed this one. I don't know what it was about this book, but I had a hard time getting into it. I think the chemistry between the two characters felt forced. They meet once and are instantly in love. I feel like the Heath tried too hard for this to be a gritty romance book. It fell flat to me.
Content: references to sexual abuse of minors
Content: references to sexual abuse of minors
veronian's review
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Sterling kinda sucks for most of the book, but Heath got me on the epilogue AGAIN
seffra's review
3.0
2.5-3 stars
Oh well, this book was NOT even close to the first two and I couldn't believe it. It had all the ingredients to be a fantastic book but they didn't mix well enough for my taste. There were certain things that Heath could have done but decided not to work with but then did other things and it didn't compliment the characters or the story.
Sterling.... oh man....for the number of times he said he changed from the self-entitled aristocrat to a selfless being...I didn't see it. He was selfish until the very end. He only did his "kind deeds" to win Frannie's favour and get her in his bed...like dude!??? You wouldn't want to do them because you want to?? You wouldn't want to help those innocent children just because?? He got me mad soooo many times until I couldn't care much for his character.
I hope Jim's book is going to be better but I seriously don't like that he's in love with Frannie...the second guy to feel this way for her... :(
Oh well, this book was NOT even close to the first two and I couldn't believe it. It had all the ingredients to be a fantastic book but they didn't mix well enough for my taste. There were certain things that Heath could have done but decided not to work with but then did other things and it didn't compliment the characters or the story.
Sterling.... oh man....for the number of times he said he changed from the self-entitled aristocrat to a selfless being...I didn't see it. He was selfish until the very end. He only did his "kind deeds" to win Frannie's favour and get her in his bed...like dude!??? You wouldn't want to do them because you want to?? You wouldn't want to help those innocent children just because?? He got me mad soooo many times until I couldn't care much for his character.
I hope Jim's book is going to be better but I seriously don't like that he's in love with Frannie...the second guy to feel this way for her... :(