Early Review of In Total Surrender (Secrets #3) by Anne Mallory

• Title: In Total Surrender
• Classification: Adult Fiction
  
• Genre: Historical Romance
  
• Format: Paperback, 384 pages
• Publisher: Avon (September 27, 2011)
• ISBN-10: 0062017314
• ISBN-13: 978-0062017314
• Author's Website: http://www.annemallory.com/
• Notes: Contains some violence. 

 
"Do you not know the tale of the wolf, Miss Pace?"

"No." Her voice was breathy, her fingers clinging to his, not trying to break free.

"And the lamb who poked and poked and poked?"

He drew her hand toward him, pulling so she was half-lying across the desks, only her elbows keeping her upright. "I don't believe I have," she answered. The brown of her eyes was slowly being swallowed by black, the center point spreading outward.

"The wolf ate the lamb." He leaned forward so his lips were close to hers, hot. "Because the lamb forgot that she was prey."

She didn't answer for a moment, checks flushed glassy eyes on his lips. Then her eyes rose to his, meeting them, unafraid as always with a look that made his hand tighten around hers--innocence mixed with desire. "Or perhaps the lamb didn't forget at all, Mr. Merrick."

You would think Andreas Merrick, one of the elusive owners of a gaming hell, would know when he's being played. Phoebe Pace has got her mind set on Andreas. He is perhaps one of the few people who can help her family get back on their feet. While you may wonder at the beginning why she would be so pursuant, she's got a bit of a secret. You may think she's laid all her cards on the table, but it isn't until later in the book that you learn she's had an ace up her sleeve the entire time. That's when everything she's been doing finally will make sense.

I have to admit I love it when some information isn't revealed till the end of a book. I felt this book, however, actually held a little too much back. I was very confused about many things when I started reading. Since this was my first book by Ms. Mallory I thought perhaps I had missed something from a previous book, so I read 'One Night Is Never Enough', the previous book in this series. I did not gain any added insight from doing so, but did enjoy the second book. As I got farther into 'In Total Surrender', some of the things which puzzled me started to finally make sense. So stay with this one. I believe Ms. Mallory wanted us to experience a little of what Andreas was feeling. 

I absolutely loved the chemistry between Andreas and Phoebe. The heat between the two sparked until they reached a combustible level where everything took a flame. Andreas' dark nature had a way of luring you in, and I loved learning about his background. I always love a tortured male hero story line. Phoebe had to carefully chisel away at the hard exterior that Andreas had erected, to get at the heart of the man underneath. By the way, I must admit, I found Phoebe a bit annoying in the beginning, but truly liked her by the end. 

On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale this one gets a STEAM rating - too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed. Overall, I gave this one 3 out of 5 roses.

Order of the series: 














1) Seven Secrets of Seduction
2) One Night Is Never Enough
3) In Total Surrender

One Night Is Never Enough (Secrets #2) by Anne Mallory

• Title: One Night Is Never Enough
• Classification: Adult Fiction
• Genre: Historical Romance
• Format: Paperback, 384 pages
• Publisher: Avon (February 22, 2011)
• ISBN-10: 0062017306
• ISBN-13: 978-0062017307
• Author's website: http://www.annemallory.com/

"Chatsworth, I see you are at the end of your night's credit," Trant said, after a moment of letting Chatsworth examine the hand he held. "But I'm feeling indulgent, and a bit reckless. What say we up the stakes?"

"Oh?' Chatsworth's eyes went from his cards to the pot in the center.

"Say my ten thousand..."

Chatsworth's eyes flashed and lit on his cards once more.

"To your...oh, what can you put up...say, a night in you daughter's company?"

Trent had planned very meticulously how he'd force Charlotte's hand. He got himself involved in a game with her father and several others. Waited till all but a couple of key players remained, and made sure Chatsworth thought he had a winning hand. He knew those remaining players would never speak of the wager no matter what the outcome. The only thing he hadn't planned was on Roman Merrick winning. 

Roman had secretly admired Charlotte from afar. He knew nothing could ever exist between the two. He was low born and she was a society miss. His intuition told him to be apart of the card game which included Charlotte's father. Over the years, Roman had learned to follow his instincts, for they always proved to be to his advantage. So while he truly wished to be somewhere else, he sat patiently and waited. When the final wager was made, he went after what he wanted and cheated to get it. He could have lost everything.

The moment the wager was lost was the moment Charlotte's world was irrefutably changed. What could be more humiliating then being lost by her father in a card game? If word got out she and her family would be ruined. She'd put up with her father's trying to raffle her off to the man with the most to offer on the marriage market, but this was intolerable. Her family was already in debt up to their ears and so what else could she do but honor the bet?

This was such a fun read. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The characters were fun and the passion between Charlotte and Roman was sizzling hot. I loved how they each felt restricted by society's rules and torn by their feelings. I liked both of the main characters and the secondary characters. While I was reading the song "Uptown Girl" by Billy Joel started dancing through my head.

On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale this one earned a STEAM rating - too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you look flustered and flushed and are grinning from ear to ear. Overall, I gave this one 4 out of 5 roses.

Order of the series:














1) Seven Secrets of Seduction
2) One Night Is Never Enough
3) In Total Surrender