A Night to Surrender

3.5

2/5

Take a shot every time Bram complains about being a man, or calling himself a real man, or telling himself that all Susanna wants is a real man, or complains about not feeling like a real man. Toxic mascilulinity at it's highest.

EDIT: 21/2/2025 - okay, this book wasn't AS bad. I still wanted to shoot Bram half the time he opened his stupid mouth, but hey, progress! Also, this book is now 3/5

The intro was the best part of the book. A horrible male lead with a bad attitude destroys the story.

Not my favourite by Tessa Dare, I think her Girl Meets Duke series is much better, but still enjoyed it. I'll likely still continue in the series as they're an easy listen on audio.

I haven't read romance novels since my early teens. I liked the idea a historical romance with a haven for women who don't fit in society so I decided to give this a go.

It's cute, but the least interesting part was the romance. Probably because I couldn't really stand the male half of the couple.

Maybe it is unfair that I started this book when I started a new job, and had just begun driving my 17 hour trek from Florida to Texas, but it took me nearly a month to make it through this one. I adore Tessa Dare's writing style. She is witty, her characters have personalities, flaws, and are relate-able. Oh, and her sex scenes are spot on. This book however... I was left wanting so much more. Bram was ok, Susanna was ok. They were just ok.

And I didn't care for the cove scene, because that sounded so uncomfortable. I liked Dinner the most! The silly little lamb, and he wasn't even mentioned at the end! Or maybe he was, and thats how done I was with this book when I finally reached the last few pages.

Delightfully humorous! I haven't laughed this much during reading a romance novel in a while. Tessa Dare is now one of my new favorite authors.

(Review originally posted at Fictionally Inclined.)

THIS BOOK. Oh my gosh, you guys. I cannot even tell you the last time I laughed this hard at a historical romance (and not in a bad way, just to be clear). Historical British humor is extremely difficult to convey. It is a subtle art, and not many authors have ever captured it in a way that seems authentic. It is either too understated or obscure, or the humor conveys a much more contemporary tone. I don't know how she did it, but Dare avoided this trap, and she did so tremendously. From the first page to the last, I seemed to laugh every other page. Yet A Night to Surrender was so much more than just humor.

Spindle Cove is such an original setting! I applaud Dare's imagination on this one. It is so different from the typical settings, but it is well thought out and completely believable. I am so excited to see what the rest of the series has in store.

The two mains were wonderful. Their banter was intelligent and funny, their chemistry tangible and smoldering. Speaking as a befreckled woman, I love that Susanna had more than just a “smattering across the bridge of her nose,” as is so prevalent in the romance world. Bram was occasionally frustrating (as men are wont to be), but overall, I loved him.

I loved all the secondary characters! There were several of them, but they were all so colorful and interesting. I particularly loved one of them, and I had it in my head from the beginning that she should wind up with one of the secondary men. Lo and behold, they actually have a couple of scenes focused entirely on them toward the end of the book! I may have squealed and flailed a little. I'll never tell. Except that I totally did. In public.

Only one complaint: It contained a soldier saying “I'll make men of them.” Cue me internally belting “I'LL. MAKE A MAN. OUT OF YOUUU!” for the next 24 hours. I do love that song, but it was rather distracting.

Quotes!

❝Susanna could have gleefully crushed its pages to powder with a mortar and pestle, labeled the vial with a skull and crossbones, and placed it on the highest shelf in her stillroom, right beside the dried foxglove leaves and deadly nightshade berries.❞

(Robinson Crusoe, anyone? Or your own personal book that you loathed like no other.)

❝Rather like the refrain of a song. A cheerful, stubborn sort of song. The sort of tune that persisted, dug a trench in a person's mind and kept merrily chirping there for hours, days...even when that person would rather be rid of it. Even when that person would slice off his own great toe just to turn his attention to something, anything else.❞

(Ha! Oh, the irony.)

❝Where two or more ladies are gathered, there will be food.❞

❝But when seduction is your aim, you can't go wrong with alabaster orbs.❞

❝Excellent vintage. Makes me sound almost intelligent.❞
❝Only a man could be so unkempt and manage to look more endearingly handsome than ever.❞

A Night to Surrender is a marvelously entertaining and romantic way to spend your time. I would definitely recommend it.

Endnote: I GOT #2 IN THE MAIL YESTERDAY. I am physically forcing myself to finish my other book today so I can read it. I can't wait!