Reviewer: Holly Taking It All by Maya Banks
Series: Surrender Trilogy #3
Also in this series: Letting Go
Publisher: Berkley, Penguin
Publication Date: August 5th 2014
Genres: Fiction, Fiction
Pages: 320
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MAYA BANKS...I'M READY FOR THE NEXT RIDE NOW SAID USA TODAY. AND NOW, MAYA BANKS IS READY TO DELIVER. FROM THE MUST-READ AUTHOR (ROMANCE JUNKIES) OF LETTING GO AND GIVING IN--THE NEW NOVEL IN HER SURRENDER TRILOGY.
In her sensational Breathless Trilogy, New York Times bestselling author Maya Banks tested the boundaries of desire. In her new trilogy, there's only one thing left to do: cross them. And for a married couple taking steps to renew their marriage, the consequences of one single moment of inattention may come at a price the husband never expects...
Chessy and Tate have been married for several years. In the beginning, their relationship was everything she wanted. Passionate. All-consuming. She offered her submission freely and Tate cherished her gift with a tenderness that made her feel safe. Content. Wanted. Loved beyond all measure.
But as the years have gone by, Tate has become more immersed in making his business a success, and Chessy has taken a back seat to his business obligations. Growing unhappy with the status of their once blissful marriage, Chessy knows that something has to give, or they stand to lose it all.
Tate loves his wife. Has always loved her. Providing for her has always been his number-one priority. But lately she's seemed unhappy, and he's worried. Worried enough that he arranges for a night together that he hopes will reignite the fire that once burned like an inferno between them. But a business call at the wrong time threatens everything.
Chessy's safety, his concentration, his wife's faith in him as her husband--a man sworn to love and protect her above all else. Gutted with the realization that he's going to lose her--has already lost her--he readies for the fight of his life. Whatever it takes, he'll get her back, show her that nothing is more important than her love. And that if she'll allow him to prove himself one more time, he'll take it all. Everything. But he'll give back far more: Himself. His undying love.
This is a novel full of angst. Tate has been falling down in his job as husband to Chessy since his business partner bailed and he had to take over everything himself. For two long years she’s been neglected while he focused on work. While being neglected is never fun, for Chessy, who doesn’t work and looked to Tate to give her the comfort and security she didn’t get in childhood, it’s horrible. He promised she’d never feel alone or lonely, yet for two years that’s all she’s felt. When he bails on her for their anniversary and she catches him wooing a client instead, it’s too much. She refuses to live her life where she isn’t a priority and demands Tate realize that.
Tate is appalled when he realizes how far apart he and Chessy have grown. He was so focused on building his business he didn’t realize he wasn’t giving her what he should have been – his time and energy. Once she opens his eyes, he vows to do all he can to make her his number one priority. Again. Until he really drops the ball and it’s the last straw for Chessy.
I enjoyed the dark angst of the book. Chessy was frustrating in the beginning. For two years she sucked up her feelings and put on a good face. While it could have been noble, she came off as a martyr. Once she decided to put her foot down she really came into her own. While she seemed weak in the beginning, she proved she was only willing to be pushed so far.
Tate really screwed up. It was hard seeing him fail so spectacularly. When he made his second, huge mistake my heart nearly stopped. I didn’t think he could come back from that. To be honest, I’m not entirely sure how he did come back, but he did. In the end I believed in their relationship and felt Chessy’s forgiveness was true.
There were drawbacks. Tate’s pet name for Chessy is “my girl”. It was really over-used to the point of becoming annoying. I started to cringe each time it came up on page. My other frustration were the chapters from Kylie and Joss, the heroines from the previous two books. To be fair to Banks, this is a personal pet peeve. I really dislike when the previous characters get chapters in later books. They already had their books, I don’t need more from their points-of-view.
I also found the D/s aspects of the book to be kind of rushed. Especially in the end. I needed to see more in depth conversation to believe what Tate did to Chessy was truly forgotten on her part. I believe she forgave him, but I don’t see how she could have just gotten over it.
This was a compelling read. I couldn’t put it down. Definitely my favorite of the three.
4 out of 5
This book is available from Berkley. You can buy it here or here in e-format.
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