Surrender of a Siren: A Novel

• Publisher:   Ballantine Books
• Number Of Pages:   400
• Publication Date:   2009-08-25
• ISBN-10 / ASIN:   0345506871
• ISBN-13 / EAN:   9780345506870

New author Tessa Dare takes passion to the high seas in this steamy tale of a runaway bride and a devilishly disarming privateer. Desperate to escape a loveless marriage and society’s constraints, pampered heiress Sophia Hathaway jilts her groom, packs up her paints and sketchbook, and assumes a new identity, posing as a governess to secure passage on the Aphrodite. She wants a life of her own: unsheltered, unconventional, uninhibited. But it’s one thing to sketch her most wanton fantasies, and quite another to face the dangerously handsome libertine who would steal both her virtue and her gold. To any well-bred lady, Benedict “Gray” Grayson is trouble in snug-fitting boots. A conscienceless scoundrel who sails the seas for pleasure and profit, Gray lives for conquest–until Sophia’s perception and artistry stir his heart. Suddenly he’ll brave sharks, fire, storm, and sea just to keep her at his side. She’s beautiful, refined, and ripe for seduction. Could this counterfeit governess be a rogue’s redemption? Or will the runaway heiress’s secrets destroy their only chance at love?

STORY BRIEF:
Sophia's parents arranged a marriage for her to someone she didn't love. She will receive her trust fund money when she becomes 21. She manages to get 600 pounds, which she will live on until she can inherit the rest of her trust fund. Gray owns the ship Aphrodite. His brother Joss is the captain. Sophia arranges passage on their ship to take her to Tortola in the Caribbean. She uses a fake name "Jane" and tells them she is a governess planning to work for someone on the island. She is an artist and creates pictures of Gray and others on the ship during the voyage. Gray used to be a privateer (a pirate with the blessings of England to plunder ships from enemy countries). Now he has a legitimate shipping operation. Joss is angry with Gray over past incidents. Gray is trying to mend their relationship and wants to do what Joss asks. Joss asks Gray not to kiss or seduce Sophia during the voyage. The main conflict between Sophia and Gray for over half of the book is Sophia wants to lose her virginity to Gray. Gray refuses because he told Joss he wouldn't. Gray wants her but doesn't let her know it. She thinks he is rejecting her. REVIEWER'S OPINION - CAUTION SPOILERS:
My major problem was I didn't like the reasons for conflict - lies, misunderstandings, and logic I didn't understand. Gray avoids Sophia because he told Joss he would. Later when Gray and Sophia became a couple, Joss was fine with it. I didn't understand the logic of Joss's initial request and later change of mind. The next conflict is Gray being mad at Sophia for lying to him about her identity. Another conflict was her decision to leave him but not telling him why. She decided that his life would be better without her, without giving him a chance to discuss alternatives. Another conflict was letting him believe she had left him, when she really hadn't. I also found it hard to believe that a judge believed a lie. I was also uncomfortable with the logic of Sophia's action at the end. She believed she would be tainted and rejected by her family and society, yet she gave away her money. The consequence could have been destitution unless she lived with missionaries or got some kind of a job - neither of which would allow her to pursue her passion in life which was her art. There was nothing special or different about the conversations. I'm sad to say that I wanted the book to be over. On the positive side, I enjoyed the character Davy and the events surrounding him. I also enjoyed the action scene involving Gray and another ship. DATA:
Story length: 384 pages. Swearing language: moderate. Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: 6. Total number of sex scene pages: 25. Setting: 1817-1818 Gravesend, United Kingdom, the high seas, and Tortola in the Caribbean. Copyright: 2009. Genre: high seas regency romance.

I enjoyed Tessa Dare's first novel, Goddess of the Hunt, but would have given it four stars instead of five. Surrender of a Siren, however, earns five stars and a glowing recommendation. Skillfully written, imaginative, and deftly plotted, it is enjoyable from start to finish. Sophia is a realistically flawed heroine whose evolution and growth can be witnessed throughout the book, and Gray is sufficiently flawed and haunted to make him an imperfectly lovely hero. Highly recommended!

For all practical purposes Sophie Hathaway may act like a proper miss of early 19th century British society, but underneath her façade is a woman who has big dreams. She wants adventure and romance, where she will be swept off her feet but some sex hungry man who will have his wicked way with her. Sophia has this fantasy of being ravished by her painting master, Gervais, which she tells in great detail to Lucy in Goddess as well as in Siren to reformed privateer and rogue, Benedict "Gray" Grayson. Gray will be tested to the limits because he has given up all vices. And that means no longer seducing women. Too bad for Gray because the moment he meets Sophia, he will have a bad case of blue balls because of his new direction in life. Sophia has jilted her fiancé at the altar and ends up at the docks where she will book passage on a ship to Tortola. Her new role will be a governess to a family there. Sophia must find Captain Grayson of the Aphrodite so he can allow her on his ship. She meets a Captain Grayson in a tavern and tells him her name is Jane Turner. Captain Grayson doesn't believe her for a minute, mainly because she doesn't look like any governess he's seen. Sophia is a bit vain and even though she is wearing her maid's old dress, it's her fancy gloves that almost do her in. Grayson tries to talk Sophia out of going on this journey. There is actually a deeper reason Grayson doesn't want Sophia on his ship. This voyage to Tortola is where Gray turns respectable. And with Sophia on it, he won't be able to stop from seducing her. After much persuasion on Sophia's part, Grayson let's her come aboard. Sophia is almost home free and can spend her days painting and appreciating the rock hard cannon like muscles and charming yet dangerous look Gray has to him. Sophia is not amused when she finds out Gray is not the captain of the Aphrodite but only the owner. The captain is Gray's half brother, Josiah, who is the illegitimate son of Gray's father. Josiah is black, a child born from Gray's father and Josiah's mother who was his slave. Josiah is not happy with having Sophia as a passenger but Gray promises Josiah he won't touch her. It's going to be a very long voyage for Gray. Sophia makes quite the impression on the crew and because Gray can't give into his urges, he is very cranky. Sophia is still an innocent, even with all her romantic talk, and has no clue why Gray is so surly towards her. One minute Gray is flirting with her, the next he is rude and keeps his distance. Rather than Sophia moping around because of the way Gray treats her, she paints and draws the men on the ship. And because Gray expects Sophia to be as uncomfortable as he is, he is not happy that she is ignoring him. Because Sophia pushes him from her mind, Gray becomes more enthralled with her and from that, things progress in a way where he can't stop himself from having Sophia. And Sophia is very happy in experiencing that passion she has always long for and with a man like Gray. The main question arises about Sophia's true identity and whether she can tell Gray her secrets. She knows Gray will be more then displeased if he finds out her identity is a sham. Plus there is a small problem of the unpredictable weather almost destroying the ship and Gray's reputation that may get him arrested and killed. I had a rousing good time reading Surrender the Siren. The majority of the action happens on the ship but there is never a dull moment. Tessa had a wonderful talent at keeping the reader engaged and she excels at this with her characters. Not only was it enjoyable watching Gray and Sophia fall in love, but it was just as nice when they were in separate scenes. Gray's relationship with his brother Josiah really grabs you and Sophia is able to charm everyone from the cook to the barely teenage cabin boy who forms a crush on her. And those scenes where Sophia draws Gray are exquisite. Surrender the Siren is a bit of a role reversal. The hero Gray should be the one to ravish and plunder the virginal Sophia, but it is the other way around. The delight in reading such a book like this is watching these two interact with one another. Gray is trying to act the gentleman; Sophia is trying to figure out the best way to seduce Gray without looking like a fool. These two are just so delicious together. Lusty love on the high seas comes to mind with Surrender the Siren. I could almost feel the wind in my hair and taste the salt in my mouth. Gray and Sophia are two people who were lost, adrift in their lives until they found one another. What more could you want in a romance? Katiebabs
Goddess of the Hunt

Wanting to experience a grand adventure, real life and true passion, Sophia Hathaway jilts her fiancé and disappears. After packing up her paints and sketchbook, the pampered heiress assumes a new identity and secures passage on the merchant ship Aphrodite. Sophia pretends to be a governess named Jane Turner heading for Tortola to begin her new position. With these actions, Sophia knows she has been labeled as a fallen woman. She is about to learn that the real world is far different from the romantic fantasies she imagines. Benedict "Gray" Grayson used to be a privateer. This is to be the ship's maiden voyage as a respectable merchant ship. No longer will Gray be a conscienceless scoundrel who sails the seas for profit and pleasure. Gray immediately knows that there is more to the lovely governess than meets the eye. He also understands that everyone is allowed their secrets. But when Sophia's perception, kindness, sass, and artistry begins to stir his heart, Gray simply cannot resist her. ***** FIVE STARS! Time wise, this story begins immediately following the ending of Lucy's tale, Goddess of the Hunt. Sophia was a secondary character in the previous book and I had been hoping she would get her own story told. I believe this adventure to be even better than the last. Author Tessa Dare has a wonderful writing style that allows the story to flow smoother than a calm day at sea. An enticing plot with engaging characters, this romance is pure delight. ***** Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

www.mediafire.com download (Report broken link)

Bookmark Surrender of a Siren: A Novel

Hyperlink code: