A Night to Surrender by Tessa Dare

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My Thoughts

A Night to Surrender is the second book that I read from Tessa Dare. I read Any Duchess Will Do (the 4th book in the series) first because I love to start reading a series out of order (insert sarcasm here). This is also the first audiobook that I have listened to since last year’s audiobook debacle. Why go back to audiobooks, you ask? Well, I saw a Groupon for a free 2-month audiobook trial and well, tried it. This is the first “purchase” I have with the system.

A Night to Surrender is the first book in Tessa Dare’s Spindle Cove series which takes place outside of London in a seaside retreat for young ladies called Spindle Cove (or Spinster Cove as Lord Payne would say). The story centers around Susanna Finch, a retired war hero’s daughter, and the leader of the ladies at Spindle Cove. Apparently, Spindle Cove is “marketed” as a retreat for young ladies that are “painfully shy, young wives disenchanted with matrimony, and young girls too enchanted with the wrong men.” She meets Victor Bramwell, the new Earl of Rycliff who is there on a mission to get reinstated in the military and sparks MOST DEFINITELY fly.

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book! The hero and heroine Bram and Susanna are two very likable characters, both with an “affliction.” I also enjoyed meeting all the other ladies and interesting characters of Spindle Cove. I know this is a series so it was such fun to “meet” the future characters first. I was actually more interested with Miranda (because she loves to read and let’s face it, we love this type of heroine).

The story revolves around the formation of a militia to safeguard Spindle Cove from the impending threat of the French (?) for which Bram is set to make happen so that Sir Lewis (Susanna’s father) would use his power in the War Office to reinstate Bram (let us note that Bram was injured from a bullet to the hip). The formation of the militia was the condition. Susanna abhors war and doesn’t want her quaint little village to be overrun by males vehemently disagrees with this plan. Naturally, sparks fly as the two battle each other for the control of the village.

The story is funny and witty and I could not help but laugh out loud at some really humorous parts. The romance was believable and I could not help but fall for Bram myself! Again, Dare is able to incorporate steamy scenes in her stories that enhance the romance between the two characters (read scene where they do it under the willow tree – yowza!).

I am giving this listen 4 hearts because I thought Susanna was overshadowed by Minerva (A Week to be Wicked) and I loved reading about the scenes with Minerva in it (hitting Bram with a pouch full of rocks, hitting Colin when she found out he was sleeping with a married woman, etc.).

I am already starting to read A Week to be Wicked!

THE AUDIOBOOK

This book is narrated by Carolyn Morris and I love her! This is the first time that I have heard her narrate but her delivery enhanced Tessa Dare’s book. I love the different voices that she used in her narration most especially the interaction between Bram and Susanna. I was never bored and for once, my mind did not wander while listening and I was able to follow through the whole reading.

I also love that I was brought to tears at all the right moments and at times, I was unable to stop my laughter. The story in itself is a really fun read and Carolyn Morris’ British accent really helped the story along. I will definitely listen to more books narrated by her.