My choice is Rough
Surrender. What’s the question, you
ask? If I were stranded on a deserted
island, what is the one book that I couldn’t live without?
What is the attraction of the pre World War I period that so
captivates everyone? Is it that airplanes
and motor vehicles are in their infancy?
Or that the clothing styles evoke a hint of the freedom that women will
eventually attain? Find out by delving into Cari Silverwood’s
blockbuster of a novel where she weaves the story around the answers to just
those questions!
Rough Surrender
has it all, beginning with the gold toned Art Noveau cover of a bound woman in
ecstasy with the Egyptian pyramids in the distance behind her. How can you not love a novel that has a well
developed cast of characters, steamy erotic sex involving BDSM, a murder
mystery, and an exotic backdrop? In
addition to the riveting story, it is evident that Cari Silverwood spent a
great deal of time researching the 1910 time period for her novel because the historic
details are meticulously executed.
The novel begins with Leonhardt Meisner in a London brothel
taking his pleasure with one of the prostitutes. As Leonhardt is paying the proprietor Mr.
Smythe, there is an altercation when another client loses control and goes too
far with a whip. He wants to step in, but is prevented by Mr.
Smythe because the problem client is a Duke.
Leonhardt stops frequenting the brothel, when a prostitute’s beaten and
whipped body is found in the alley behind the establishment the day after his
visit. This only enforces the conflicting
emotions that Leonhardt suffers from because he is unable to reconcile his
enjoyment of sadism with his feeling that it is wrong.
A year later, Leonhardt is in Cairo where he meets his match
in Faith Evard. Faith has traveled to
Cairo to take part in the Week of Aviation, flying her Bleriot. A grisly murder has taken place in Cairo and
crocodiles have dragged the body into the Nile.
During the search for the body, Faith discovers the arm with a ring on
its finger and while shaken, maintains her composure. This impresses Leonhardt and makes him
determined to forge a relationship with her.
Faith’s childhood friend, Jeremy Henleyson, has arranged for
her plane to be housed near the aerodrome in his friend Mr. Meisner’s
warehouse. When Faith goes to check on her airplane with
Leonhardt, she discovers that the engine is missing. A search is instituted, but the engine
remains missing! While in the warehouse,
Faith discovers that she is sexually attracted to Leonhardt. Having a forceful and feisty personality,
she is determined to remain single and fights her attraction. Faith
refuses to submit to anyone, least of all a man! Can you foresee a bit of discipline taking
place with Faith on the receiving end?
In no time at all Leonhardt has concluded that Faith, even
with her feisty exterior, is actually a submissive. Leonhardt is intrigued because he never
dreamed he would find a woman who needs and enjoys his form of domination. Doing what every good Dom does, he pushes
Faith’s boundaries while paying close attention to her every move. I was amused that Leonhardt refers to Faith
as a vixen and that there are silver foxes on the ends of her nipple clamps,
along with tiny bells attached elsewhere for his musical entertainment. I’ll leave the where for you to snicker
about when you read that chapter! It’s
the author’s attention to the tiny details in Rough Surrender that makes it unforgettable! She also manages a number of well placed
double entendres that force you to pause and chuckle.
Leonhardt and Faith meet Hasim Massri at a party thrown by
the Prince in honor of aviation week. It’s
apparent that Hasim enjoys the same sexual kinks that Leonhardt does. A contest begins between the two Masters with
Faith as the prize. The tension between
the men is palpable. Will Leonhardt
share his lovely sub with another Dom?
Or will Hasim take Faith away from Leonhardt?
A chink finally appears in
Leonhardts armor. He’s terrified of
airplanes and flying! In an attempt to
figure out Faith’s determination to conquer the skies, Leonhardt decides to
take a flying lesson. His fear isn’t
quashed by spending an hour on the ground learning about the airplane with an
instructor. It begins to escalate when
he’s seated in the plane with goggles on and the engine sputtering. It
goes full throttle as he’s rolling down the strip of grass with the instructor running
beside him shouting instructions on how to take off. In spite of it all, Leonhardt somehow manages
to get airborne for a very few seconds.
When the airplane stops, Leonhardt is convinced that it’s a flimsy death
trap and while he’s around, Faith will never risk her life flying again!
To say that this novel is well written is an
understatement. Not only are the
characters of Leonhardt and Faith well rounded, but watching Leonhardt grow
into his role as Faith’s Master and her realization that she can be feisty and
her own woman, while submitting to Leonhardt was a pleasure to read! The supporting cast is equally well written. And I have to say that I’ve found a new and
improved use for my vast collection of calligraphy pens. Thanks Cari! Rough
Surrender takes you through the full spectrum of emotions. I laughed, cringed, sighed, snickered, and
finally cried when the story came to an end!
I’m hoping that there is a sequel
involving Hassim, Leonhardt and Faith in the not too distant future! While
I’m waiting for the sequel, I’m off to that deserted island so that I can jump
back in and reread my new favorite novel!
Originally reviewed on The Romance Reviews Website
Originally reviewed on The Romance Reviews Website
No comments:
Post a Comment