Toni's Review of Season for Surrender by Theresa Romain ***3.5 Stars***

 Honor Among Rogues

Alexander Edgeware, Lord Xavier, has quite a reputation—for daring, wagering, and wickedness in all its delightful forms. But the wager before him is hardly his preferred sport: Xavier must persuade a proper young lady to attend his famously naughty Christmas house party—and stay the full, ruinous two weeks. Worse, the lady is Louisa Oliver, a doe-eyed bookworm Xavier finds quite charming. Yet to refuse the challenge is impossible—he will simply have to appoint himself Miss Oliver’s protector…

Mischief Among Misses

Louisa knows her chance for a husband has passed. But she has no desire to retire into spinsterhood without enjoying a few grand adventures first. When Lord Xavier’s invitation arrives, Louisa is more intrigued than insulted. And once inside the rogues’ gallery, she just may have a thing or two to teach her gentlemen friends about daring…

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With a proper woman who wants to be wicked and a scandalous man trying to be noble, things are going to get very interesting this season.

During Louisa’s first season, she got engaged, broke the betrothal and then survived a scandal.  Now she is tired of being the proper maiden.  She desires some adventure, so she decides to accept Lord Xavier’s invitation to his infamous Christmas house party.  With her handy list in hand, she is ready to take his manor by storm.

Alex has always tried to be what others expected of him.  Be it womanizer, gambler or all around wicked rake he has it covered.  That is all he has ever known; how to play a part to convince everyone around him, even his family, that he is content in his station.  After a disastrous bet with his cousin, he decides he has to change the whole hedonistic feel of his annual house party.  While his guests are ready to expect the unexpected, they will be surprised to experience a quiet uneventful (safe) holiday away from the bustle of London.  It’s too bad that his guests have something else in mind.

Season for Surrender is a pleasantly sweet historical romance.  It has a touch of spice, a spunky heroine and a seemingly innocent house party gone awry.  I met Louisa in a prior novel by Ms. Romain, Season for Temptation.  Even though the circumstances of her downfall were not her own, I’m so glad how she handled it with dignity and grew from the experience.  I adore the woman she has become and I’m thrilled that Ms. Romain has continued with her story. 

In my opinion, you can read this story alone, but Season for Temptation is just as sweet and entertaining as Season for Surrender.  Ms. Romain did a great job with both Louisa and Alex’s characters.  You can see how they are made for each other and I loved how Louisa kept surprising Alex and his house guests.  She is a gem.  She also did a great job with Alex.  You could see how he is deliciously wicked, but you could also see the heart he didn’t even know he had.

The supporting cast was just as enjoyable.  They were quirky, lively and rich.  They also didn’t overpower the plot, but enhanced it beautifully.  While I’m not 100% sure, but I can see Alex’s cousin getting the next story if Ms. Romain decides to continue these books.  Jane is a little spitfire and I can see some great adventures in her future and a few grey hairs for Alex.

Season for Surrender is a very pleasant historical.  If you like your books with a touch of steam, but not overly naughty and characters that are fun and make you want to root for them; you will likely enjoy this novel.  Ms. Romain has done it again with Season for Surrender; she has taken the holiday season and made it even more amusing and delightful.

Are you interested in why Louisa's first season wasn't a success?
Click here for my review of the first book in the Seasons series.

Thanks for reading! ~Toni