Review and Giveaway: Falling In

Falling in (Surrender Trilogy - Book 1) by Lydia Michaels

Publication Date: 10/07/2014
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley Books
Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance
Pages: 400
ISBN-10: 0425275078
ISBN-13: 978-0425275078

(Received for an honest review from Berkley Books)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Indiebound

Lydia Michaels on the WEB: website, twitter, facebook, goodreads

Excerpt from, Falling In, courtesy of Amazon's Look Inside feature

Synopsis:

The beginning of the emotionally charged and highly erotic contemporary romance Surrender trilogy, in which love and trust are the most dangerous games of all… 

With a dark past that would have shattered most people, Evelyn “Scout” Keats is doing what no one in her bleak world thinks possible—getting off the streets and leaving her impoverished life behind. She’s a new maid at the luxurious Patras Hotel and aims to keep her job no matter what. But that doesn’t mean she’s going to sacrifice her dignity, or let anyone into her heart. The risk of losing either is just too great.

When hotel tycoon Lucian Patras discovers Evelyn in a compromising position, he uses everything at his disposal to seduce her—a proposition that both surprises and frightens her.

Ignorant to her true circumstances, Lucian relentlessly pursues Scout as a prize to be won. But he is soon given an unforgettable lesson in love and sacrifice when he learns how far Scout has gone to gain her independence and discovers that there are some things money can never buy.

Thoughts:

Falling In is the first book in Lydia Michaels' Surrender Trilogy. Readers who are looking for a novel that has a smidgen of dominance, lots of hot steamy moments and a bit more depth than you'd expect, will love this one! Michaels' is out to prove that writing an erotic novel doesn't have to be all about the sex. There can be a lot of substance and heart as well. Scout Keats is a heroine readers won't soon forget and her billionaire lover is alpha to the core. A steamy first book in a series!

What I liked:

I like characters with strong personalities good or bad and Lydia Michaels certainly satisfied that craving with her hero and heroine in Falling In. Both Lucian and Scout leap off the pages in this book. Lucian is a strong alpha male, very dominant and somewhat of a jerk. Let's face it, most alpha's have that tendency. Scout on the other hand, has been dealt a very rough hand in life and she has risen above it. She is determined and self sufficient. She never needed anyone to take care of her before and it isn't likely she needs someone now. I loved the fact that Michaels isn't afraid to take chances with her characters. Erotic novels are often completely based on sex, but Michaels had a more character driven idea in mind and she really pulled it off.

This is of course a Cinderella story. Poor girl meets a prince and lives happily ever after. Visions of Pretty Woman did appear now and then, but Michaels was able to stave off those perceptions by making the relationship between Lucian and Scout more about how they each were able to change each other. Lucian is a powerful man, who came from money. He has no idea what life on the streets is like. Scout challenges him at every turn, her views on life are so different from what he's used to and it was amazing to watch how he changed throughout the story. Scout on the other hand knows nothing of luxury and the finer things in life and seeing her blossom and realize that having good things in life doesn't make you weak was a joy to read.

All that being said, this is an erotic novel. The sex scenes are lavish and very hot. These characters do dabble a little bit in the submission arena, but that part of the book does not take over the entire plot, as in real life, it has it's place. Michaels doesn't shy away from expressing exactly how strongly these two characters feel for each other. Their passion in and out of the bedroom is the driving force of the book and don't forget for a second that this book is part of trilogy or the cliffhanger will sneak up and getcha!

What I didn't like:

Lucian stays a jerk for most of the book and I wanted him to be a little nicer, a little more likable, earlier on in the book. As I said he is alpha to the core and I liked him in spite of his hard head. There were a few of those deja vous moments when I felt like I had read this whole scenario somewhere before, but that was more a long the lines the overused plot of poor girl/rich boy thing than anything else. Still a very good book.

Bottom Line:

This is an erotic novel with a lot more depth and substance than readers may be used to from this genre. It is character driven and relies on the strong personalities of the main characters to drive it. It's hot and steamy and it's heartbreaking at times. A very good start to a new series!

Falling In is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

About the Author:

Lydia Michaels writes all forms of hot romance. She presses the bounds of love and surprises readers just when they assume they have her stories figured out. From Amish vampyres, to wild Irishmen, to broken heroes, and heroines no man can match, Lydia takes readers on an emotional journey of the heart, mind, and soul with every story she pens. Her books are intellectual, erotic, haunting, always centered on love. She is the author of the Surrender Trilogy, including Breaking Out and Coming Home.

Giveaway Details:

The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of Falling In by Lydia Michaels.

~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, October 24th.

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