Wow... a bit unexpected -- the good kind of unexpected -- even as the current-trend erotic-romance trilogy formula is apparent. For a 26 year old grad student in NYC, Karina often acts and talks ten years younger, behaves too naively and far too carelessly in NYC. For a 36 year old successful artist, James often acts and talks twenty years older, behaves too reservedly and too coldly, for reasons that are suspected, but only confirmed by the end. This is is based on the first 20-40 pages and would have turned me off as a poor use of precious little reading time if I hadn't decided to see this story through.

Slow Surrender a mildly erotic romance with minimal bondage, "punishment" which really isn't punishment as we've read in other similarly written books, nothing closely resembling a contract and a way out at every step of the way -- truly a consensual relationship, albeit a bit far-fetched as he remains very secretive and she is okay with that. While this story is just as formula-driven as proceeding erotic romance trilogies, I was surprised by the ending, even with knowing this is the first installment of a trilogy (why is the trilogy format being endlessly perpetuated?!?!?! What happened to the stand-alone romance??).

Three and a fraction stars, but not rounding up to a four-star rating. Too risky of behavior of Katrina in the beginning (meaning a too-far fetched beginning). Sweet, playful and sensual in the middle (the best part of the book). Both their behavior is too high-schoolish at the end. Reminiscent of Cinderella, in a reversed sort of way, was an interesting spin.

This installment is mostly about her, in nearly every way! I anticipate the second installment will give us his back story (even while it remains in her POV) with the concluding installment, I suspect, about them and their eventual forever after. No HEA right now, because this ends with a cliffhanger ending (IMHO) -- too many unresolved issues and tension still heavy. The ending does not feel like a natural break in the story which is why I feel the ending is a cliffhanger.

Bottom line: Do I recommend this book? If you like romance, then yes. If you like mild eroticism, then yes. If you like the girl being pampered and cared for and the guy (mostly) a gentleman, then yes. If you want something new or different, then no. ( )

Loved the book!! Wish it had a different ending though...I'm a sucker for HEA! ( )

ABOUT THE BOOK:

From the moment waitress Karina meets him in a New York bar, she knows James is different. Daring. Dominating. Though he hides his true identity from her, the mysterious, wealthy businessman anticipates her every desire and fulfills her secret fantasies. Awakened by his touch, Karina discovers a wild side she hadn't known existed and nothing is off limits.

She aches for more . . .

What begins as an erotic game soon escalates to a power play that blurs the line between pleasure and pain. Even as she capitulates to James's sensual demands, Karina craves more. She wants his heart, his soul. She wants his love . . . and she'll break all the rules to get it.

MY REVIEW:

So this was my first book by Cecilia Tan and it definitely won’t be my last. I totally digged the whole premises of this story and found it engaging, hot, and often times—hilarious.

So you’re probably wondering why four stars and not five, right? Well that’s two fold. One, when this story started it was gripping and had me on the edge of my seat. I thought the scene was well placed and I was curious to see where it’d go. But soon after that I saw that it was going like most of the books I’ve read this past year did. Of course those books are popular, but they are only popular because they haven’t been overdone. But it’s getting there….like vampires.

The other thing with this that sorta had me sighing in a not so good way was the relationship secrets here. I wanted Karina to stick up for herself. I didn’t want this to just be about sex. But she let “James” basically take their relationship to a joke level with how he kept turning it around to sex. And then the cliffhanger! Don’t get me started…

All in all, Ms. Tan has written a very steamy book, one I think will sell like a wildfire goes through dry brush. I hope the series does pick up it’s own originality but I totally recommend to read it. Just make sure you have cold water sitting nearby…oh, and ice. Lots of ice. ;)

Four out of five stars. ( )

So I have mixed feelings about this book! On one hand I enjoyed it and on the other hand, not so much. I think it could have used a little more character building before having Karina just jump right into his limo and bow to James' demands/requests. Then she continues to do so throughout the whole book. I also figured out James' secret by around the third or fourth chapter so the big reveal towards the ending kind of fell flat for me. I don't know if that was the plan or not, but with the way they did the reveal, I'm thinking not. Last thing that did not appeal to me was the cliffhanger. With all that being said, this book did keep my interest throughout the whole thing, and now that I've read this one I will find myself reading the next when it comes out so I can see where Karina and James go from here. I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley for an honest review. ( )