Novel Review: Dare to Surrender by Lilli Feisty

Rating (Out of 5): ~4.5

Genre: Erotica/Adult Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing/Forever (Hachette Book Group)

Release Date: 2010

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells.

Goodreads Synopsis:

HE MEETS HIS MATCH.
SHE MEETS HER MASTER.

Art gallery curator Joy Montgomery has never liked her body's generous curves. And she's always been too shy to explore her wild side. But tonight, everything is going to change . . . Desperate to save her job, Joy approaches bad-boy artist Ash Hunter and asks him to exhibit his erotic work at her gallery. Ash agrees on one condition: Joy must pose as his model. But business soon turns to pleasure, as Joy experiences a passion beyond her wildest imaginings and Ash finds more than just inspiration in his voluptuous new muse.

The Cover:

This cover is all right. I don't like it quite as much as the others, but it still fits the book pretty well. The couple, the position, and the color all fit with the feel of the book, which I like. It's still embarrassing, and not quite as good, but overall it's not too bad.

Review:

"'Maybe it’s true. Maybe opposites attract… and then you have to look at the core to see what matches up.’” (Mass Market Paperback, pg. 247)

I absolutely love this book. It is definitely my favorite of Feisty’s so far (and I’ve really enjoyed her other ones).

I liked both of the characters. Joy makes a dumb decision in this book, and she tries to avoid it, but she deals with so much other stuff throughout the book. Her (mostly) horrible grandmother, her job, everyone telling her what a mess she is. I feel like I understood her a little, and I liked her a lot. Ash is going through some stuff as well, but he grows up in this book, finally gets to stand on his own, see what he wants.

Ash was good for Joy, and Joy fit with Ash perfectly. They can be really good for each other. And the D/s elements, oh my… They were fantastic. Perfectly done. Ash already knows what he wants in that area, and Joy is interested but a little new to it. But Joy easily, happily gives into it, and I loved that. There were quite a few very nice, sexy scenes in this book, and I loved all of them. They were really good.

The romance in this book is definitely one of my favorites, but I also really liked the character development. Joy and Ash went through quite a bit in this book, and they came out of it even better. And the ending was perfect.

I loved this book. It’s definitely a favorite at this point. And I really want Feisty to release another full-length novel, because I don’t think she has, and I really, really want to read more.

Novel Review: Deliciously Sinful by Lilli Feisty

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Forever (Grand Central Publishing/Hachette Book Group)

Release Date: 2011

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Things are cooking in the kitchen...and the bedroom.

Restaurant owner Phoebe Mayle thought she had it all under control. Sure, her new chef has a bad-boy reputation - and a chiseled body to match - but she's positive she can whip him into shape.

But from the moment Nick Avalon roars into town in his Hummer, he makes her whole world sizzle. Now Phoebe has lost control of her kitchen, and Nick has taken over her mind and her body. His insatiable appetite for pleasure leaves her breathless with carnal cravings only he can satisfy. Yet can their hunger for each other be a recipe for a love that lasts?

The Cover:

The cover is embarrassing, yes, but I also kind of like it. It's just rather fitting, I'm not sure why. The couple, the position, the way they're touching each other and undressing, the color--the whole thing just really fits with Phoebe and Nick, and I like that.

Quotes:

• "'I’m in charge of a lot of things. I have to be confident and sure of myself. The minute you back down, people start to run you over.’” (Mass Market Paperback, pg. 169)
• "'Every girl should go to Paris, at least once.’” (Pg. 205)
• "'And at the end of the day, you need to make yourself happy. And you’re the only one who can do that.’” (Pg. 207)
• "'You’ve been through a lot of loss in your life, Phoebe, and survived with a smile.’” (Pg. 277)

Review:

I surprisingly enjoyed this book a lot. I thought it would be good, but I was a little unsure by how much, and so I’m glad I really liked it.

I loved the attraction between Phoebe and Nick. The progression was nicely paced, it was apparent and very believable. They fought it a little too much at times, but they still fell into it really easily, and it was nice and intense at times. They were really good together, Phoebe had a frustratingly hard time accepting it, and I liked how they evened each other out. And the sexy parts were rather hot, and I really liked those. Some of them a little kinky, one in particular with a whisk (that so many people mention!). And while none of them mentioned or had a hugely apparent D/s element to them, I liked the subtle elements of it, particularly how Phoebe’s feelings were of the submissive variety, and how well that was done.

I liked the main plot line with the restaurant, and how that worked for Phoebe and Nick. There was a smaller plot with Phoebe’s niece, Jesse, and I really wanted to know where that went, but it kind of went nowhere, which bothers me. There was also a smaller plot with Phoebe’s brother in law and Nick’s friend, which I would have liked to see more of, but did like the little glimpses that were given. 

So far I’ve really enjoyed Feisty’s writing and stories and characters, a lot. Even when it’s not kinky, it’s hot. The character are well-rounded, the story well done, and the writing is pretty and easy to get into, the sex and attraction is well done, the humor is nice. I know she has at least one other novel out, so I hope to get my hands on it sometime soon.