Surrender to Me

Lady Astrid Derring has been alone for years, abandoned by her wastrel husband. She has survived hunger, threadbare gowns and has endured public humiliation. She thought her husband dead - but an anonymous letter confirms he is indeed alive in Scotland and is engaged to be married to a wealthy heiress under another name. Astrid has hidden her emotions all these years under a façade of cool demeanor - schooling her expressions to only cold, unfeeling demeanor. Yet the public scorn she has faced in London's drawing rooms has only been tolerable by her supporting friends. However, she will not permit her husband to ruin an innocent woman's life and allow him to commit bigamy. She sets off to Scotland to stop the wedding and confront her husband for the fraud he is. On the way, her coach gets set by Scottish highwaymen and is almost killed, but for the timely arrival of Griffin Shaw. Griffin hears women screams and dashes to the rescue, killing the brigands but sustaining a blow to the head that leaves him unconscious. Astrid can't leave her protector by the roadside and manages to get him into her coach to take him to a nearby posting inn. Griffin Shaw has traveled all the way from Texas to Scotland to see if he can find answers to his mother's dying words. He hasn't counted that along the way he would find a snooty, cold and unfeeling English woman, who disdains his offer to assist her at every turn. The fact that she is a Duchess should deter him along with her lofty demeanor - but there is something that draws him to this distant and forbidding woman. Astrid has had her emotions so tightly locked for so many years that the openly spoken, rugged Texan makes her bristle over his coarse manner, always rubbing her the wrong way. Yet, she cant deny that for all his ungentlemanly conduct that Griffin has gone out of his way to protect her and finds that oddly touching, since she has never received one ounce of care from any of her relatives, specially not her absent husband. Her icy reserve is soon melting at the heated manner in which Griffin looks at her. Some readers may think that the manner in which Astrid succumbs to Griffin's sensual assault and loving manner may be contrary to her behavior. Her mouth says one thing - but her body another. She becomes a wanton in his arms, having never realized the beauty of carnal pleasures. Her proper façade descends, as she is humiliated and horrified that she has allowed herself to behave in such an un-proper fashion. The relationship between Astrid and Griffin is explosive. Astrid thaws under Griffin's attention and she melts every time he touches her. The plot in SURRENDER TO ME is fresh and so different that I swallowed the book in a day! Very fast paced story, with two flawed characters, but Astrid more so than Griffin, this is a rare gem of a book - set in the Regency period but away from the glittering ballrooms and tea parties of the Ton that one is accustomed in novels of th

If you like your English romance mixed with a little bit of Texas, then this is the book for you! Surrender to Me is the story of Astrid, the Duchess of Derring, was abandoned by her husband in order for him to escape forgery charges the the hangman's noose. He leaves her penniless, and Astrid scrimps and saves to keep her home and respectability while resisting the nefarious offers that come to her from less honorable gentlemen of the ton. Astrid is cool and collected; a proper Duchess, with a cold heart years in the making. When she finds out her husband is in the country, and planning to wed under an assumed name, she makes plans to journey to Scotland to stop his wedding. Of course, it's not that easy. As Astrid's coach is attached by rough Scottish highwaymen, Griffin Shaw saves the day. Having come to Scotland based on the near-death ramblings of his thought to be mother, he journeys from Texas and his life there to find what his true heritage is. Griffin rescues the carriage, after taking a blow to the head, and Astrid and her maid lug him into the carriage so they may find a doctor to tend him. Astrid is immediately attracted to Griffin, and he knows it. I always love a good plot, especially one that comes full circle as this one does. Astrid finds her husband, but someone else has plans to stop the wedding before she can talk sense into him. As Astrid leaves his room, a widow, she is seen and Griffin knows she must leave the area in order to escape the authorities who are looking for her. Along the way they Astrid is taken hostage by a Scottish clan, rescued by Griffin, and are forbidden to leave the castle where they are "guests". They escape only to come across another clan, this one the people Griffin was looking for. During this, Astrid and Griffin come to realize they care for each other more than either will let on. I dearly love Sophie Jordan's books; I can never put one down! She writes her characters so intricately you know their inner thoughts before you read them on paper. You become involved emotionally and hate and love them at the same time! Definitely one to pick up!

I thought this story was wonderfully written. Griffin Shaw is so deliciously sexy and Astrid sourly so, but she grows on you. I would not have been able to resist Griffin as long as she did. Wow, though one of their love scene was rather steamy, I had to fan myself. First time I read a scene such as that one in a romance novel, and enjoyed reading it. Hope to find more great characters such as Griffin in other of Sophie Jordan's books.

Lady Astrid Derring was the evil sister-in-law in 'Too wicked to tame'. This is the story of how she finds her redemption for her past actions through the love of Griffin Shaw. I have no problem with Astrid being a cold hearted woman - you'd be too if you'd gone through what she had. I think it's what gives the book its 'ahhhh' factor- the fact that at last she finds someone who will love her for herself. I loved this book.

Lady Astrid Derring has not lived the easiest of lives. Her mother ran off with Astrid's dancing instructor leaving her with an impossible father who eventually married her off to the disreputable Duke of Derring. To avoid the hangman's noose for forgery, her husband takes off for parts unknown leaving Astrid penniless, alone and the subject of vicious gossip. For five long years, she has gone to great lengths just to survive, unsure of and indifferent to whether her errant husband is dead or alive. Then she receives an anonymous letter telling her that Bertram is alive, assuming someone else's identity and engaged to another woman. Astrid resolves to go to Scotland and confront Bertram, if it is indeed him. Almost to her destination, Astrid's coach is besieged by ruthless highwaymen. Before she is physically assaulted, Griffin Shaw comes to her rescue and dispatches the brutes, but not before he is injured in the process. Since the heroic stranger saved her life, Astrid returns the favor by helping nurse him back to health. Once Griffin is on the mend, Astrid makes the short trip to deal with Bertram. While there, someone knocks on the door and Astrid must hide, never suspecting that she would witness her husband's murder. Griffin, a Texan visiting Scotland to locate his relatives, intercepts her while she is fleeing the scene and thus begins their adventure together. Astrid's character grew by leaps and bounds from beginning to end. Because of her past, she is cold and standoffish and trusts no one. She has done things she's not proud of, including committing an unthinkable act against her sister-in-law only to realize too late how sorry she was for her transgressions. I must say that Ms. Jordan does an impeccable job of redeeming her. Not only do we learn that Astrid is remorseful, but we also begin to understand and sympathize with why she did the things she did. And it takes her interactions with Griffin, who is also unable to forgive himself for past actions, for her to comprehend that she is not a bad person and is completely worthy of another's love. I have such high admiration for Griffin, who is honor-bound and a complete gentleman. He is smart and protective, not to mention he has the patience of a saint when dealing with Astrid. His perseverance pays off when he finally melts her icy façade and discovers the warm, loving woman beneath. It is no wonder that Ms. Jordan's star is on the rise -- her books are beautifully written and incredibly romantic. Surrender To Me is a wonderful adventure, rich with emotion and searing passion. It is a terrific addition to her booklist and also to my keeper shelf. I highly recommend it! ~Andrea 4.5 stars Reviewed at www.romancenovel.tv