Dark Surrender by Erica Ridley
TRAPPED IN DARKNESS . . .
Violet Whitechapel committed an unspeakable crime to save a child. To escape the hangman’s noose, she takes refuge in a crumbling abbey with secrets darker than her own. When its master offers her a temporary post, Violet cannot say no. Just as she begins to see him in a new light, her past catches up to her and endangers them all.
THEIR PASSION BURNS BRIGHT . . .
Alistair Waldegrave keeps his daughter imprisoned in the black heart of his Gothic abbey. As he searches for a cure to the disease the villagers call demonic, his new governess brings much needed light into their lives. But how can the passion between them survive the darkness encroaching from outside their sheltered walls?
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
“Dark Surrender” by Erica Ridley is another fine example of this author’s ability to create stories that stay with the reader. Her books are atmospheric and ripe with chemistry and tension between her characters.
What first caught my attention about this novel was the way the characters were introduced using a bit of mystery and intrigue. I was immediately taken with the main character and the recalling of her past that began to emerge as the story progressed.
The dialogue was well handled in this novel, seeming appropriate for the setting and the tie period. The dark and Gothic feel of this book was not as strong as expected, but I thought it worked for the individual story.
I did contemplate whether or not the main character would have become taken with her mysterious love interest so soon when she’d previously been treated so unfairly by men, but in the end that didn’t make much difference to the overall story.
There were a few unexpected plot twists and a lot of tense moments that made for good reading. I would recommend this book to those who enjoy a bit darker and more complex romance.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from Netgalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.
