Review & Giveaway: Giving In by Maya Banks

Giving In (Surrender Trilogy #2) by Maya Banks

Publication Date: May 6th 2014 by Berkley Trade

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

About the book:

Kylie sees the way Jensen looks at her. The dark promise in his eyes. That rough edge of dominance she knows he possesses. But dominance is the one thing that frightens her above all else. She and her brother barely survived a childhood steeped in violence and abuse. She could never give up total control and submit to a man. Especially a man like Jensen. Could she?

Jensen sees the shadows in Kylie’s eyes. Knows he has to tread very carefully or risk losing any chance he has with her. All he wants is the opportunity to show her that dominance doesn’t equal pain, bondage or discipline. That emotional surrender is the most powerful of all, and that to submit—fully to him—will fulfill the aching void in her heart in a way nothing else ever will.

My Thoughts:

Kylie wants nothing to do with her boss, Jensen, yet he can’t seem to stay away or stop pushing her buttons.  He’s intense, and domineering, and everything that Kylie avoids in a man. She grew up with an abusive father who was intense, and she still has nightmares from his treatment. 

Jensen is taken with Kylie even though she’s so prickly and abrasive with him. He knows her behavior is more of a protective mechanism, and he wants get beyond her shields.  She presents a challenge and he’s not one to back down. Jensen knows some of her history and it kills him to know that Kylie holds herself back because of it. 

Giving In is categorized as a BDSM read, but I’m not sure I’d call it that.  While the first book in the series sounds like it had a dominant/submissive romance, this one did not, IMO. It’s true Jensen was a dominant, and up until Kylie he’s only had those types of relationships, but Kylie at this point would run for the hills if he tried anything like that. She’s so skittish that Jensen must forgo his tendencies, but if that means gaining Kylie’s trust it’s worth the sacrifice to him. Jensen was very sweet and all about making Kylie happy.  Even when Kylie warms to him, she still has trouble overcoming her fear, but Jensen was determined to make things work:

"You're going to have to work a hell of a lot harder than that to scare me away. You and I are inevitable, Kylie. I've accepted that. Now you have to as well."

This story was entertaining, but I have to say Jensen and Kylie’s romance didn’t knock me off my feet.  I had a hard time buying their intense connection, and it went from zero to I-can’t-be-without-you in a short amount of time.  But like I said, I did enjoy this story overall, and it was relatively free of drama that would frustrate me.

3.5 Suns

Connect with Maya Banks:

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The publisher has generously provided a copy of Giving In to one lucky Waves of Fiction reader. The giveaway is for US Residents only.  Simply fill in the rafflecopter for a chance to win. Good luck!

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