Reviewer: Connie Payne
Title: Surrender to a Scoundrel - Sequel to, To Marry the Duke
Author: Julianne MacLean
Publisher: Avon
ISBN: 0-0608-1936-7
Release Date: December 2006
Genre/Sub-genre: Historical Romance
Year/Setting: 1891 England
Overall Rating: 4.25
Sexual Content Rating: Sensual
Language (Profanity) Content Rating: None/Mild
Violent Content Rating: None
Julianne's Website:
www.juliannemaclean.com
Disreputable scoundrel, Lord Martin Langdon arrives at the Isle of Wright to enter the annual yachting race and to win the trophy for the third year running. However it seems as if he’s about to enter a second race, too. To gain the attentions of the unattainable widow Wheaton. If only for the sport.
Rejected by her father, prim and proper widowed Evelyn Wheaton holds herself aloof and reserved from the ton thinking to protect herself from further rejection. Underneath it all, though, she desires a match, a family. And if it must be without love, so be it. Her desire becomes well known given the number of suitors vying for her attention during Cowes week. But soon she only has eyes for one. Will he remember their brief past?
Realizing she’s the Evelyn of their youth, Martin redoubles his efforts during all the festivities to penetrate her shell before the other money hungry pups are able to. And in doing so he shows her how she really appears to the outside world. Something she’s not sure she likes and decides to change.
Evelyn begins the change by pursuing a relationship with Martin. A relationship that has no permanent strings, but has everything to do with friendship and satisfaction. Unfortunately her heart has other ideas and tangles itself among the threads of their tenuous yet comforting friendship.
Martin has always been a love them and leave them man. With the exception of one. It’s this one time that continues to haunt him, restricting him from ever having a deeper relationship past one night. Yet, Evelyn seems different. Is different.
Foolishly thinking to fight for her, mother nature steps in and takes matters into her own hands leaving destruction of all sorts in her wake, making him realize letting her go is the best thing for her. But will Evelyn’s newfound self-confidence be strong enough for her to decide to fight for the man she loves?
Martin and Evelyn are characters rich in emotional detail. Their pain and joys are moving. The secondary characters, the Radley’s, Earl Breckinridge (boo hiss) and Sheldon Hatfield (boo hiss) all play an integral part in Martin and Evelyn’s self-discoveries and subsequent relationship.
One disappointment; early on Martin showed a great sense of humor, which drew Evelyn out of her shell and made her laugh. Sadly it wasn’t displayed much after that.
That aside, Surrender to a Scoundrel satisfies. Julianne MacLean delivers a romance unlike any that’s been told. She takes the reader to a place in time where there’s excitement and passion waiting to be explored.
Connie
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