Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Surrender of a Siren by Tessa Dare Narrator: Gabrielle Baker
Series: Wanton Dairymaid Trilogy #2
Published by Tantor Audio on March 19, 2019
Genres: Historical Romance
Length: 13 hours, 15 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Publisher
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble
Desperate to escape a loveless marriage and society’s constraints, pampered heiress Sophia Hathaway jilts her groom, packs up her paints and sketchbook, and assumes a new identity, posing as a governess to secure passage on the Aphrodite. She wants a life of her own: unsheltered, unconventional, uninhibited. But it’s one thing to sketch all her wildest, most wanton fantasies, and quite another to face the dangerously handsome libertine who would steal both her virtue and her gold.
To any well-bred lady, Benedict “Gray” Grayson is trouble in snug-fitting boots. A conscienceless scoundrel who sails the seas for pleasure and profit, Gray lives for conquest—until Sophia’s perception and artistry stir his heart. Suddenly, he’ll brave sharks, fire, storm, and sea just to keep her at his side. She’s beautiful, refined, and ripe for seduction. Could this counterfeit governess be a rogue’s redemption? Or will the runaway heiress’s secrets destroy their only chance at love?
Historical Romance is my total brain candy; it’s my escape, my leave the world behind and soak in a bath with a glass of wine and melt the world away kind of reading. Surrender of a Siren has your typical Rogue of a male lead and the virginal Lady trying to get away from the trappings of society.
Sophie is running away from home and a marriage she doesn’t want. She wants adventure and to be loved for how she is and not just some stepping stone that her family is using to move up in society. When she discovers that on her 21st birthday the money that would be used for her dowry will be hers to control, a haphazard plan forms to sail on a ship bound for a sugar plantation and hide there until her birthday, when she will gain control of her fortune.
Gray is trying to go respectable. He was a pirate privateer during the war seizing and looting ships in the name of the crown. But now that the war is over, he needs a new way to make a living on the seas. In his new legitimate life, he has converted his ship to have passenger cabins and passed the role of Captain to his brother while he is the owner of their newly formed shipping company. He is trying very hard to leave behind all of his roguish ways be respectable but when he meets Jane Turner (Sophie in hiding) thoughts of her consume him and makes that plan very difficult.
The romance between Gray and Sophie has moments that are endearing and cute as they circle each other the sexual tension between them building, it also has moments where I want to pull out my hair. Sophie is pretending to be someone she is not and Gray can be an asshat at times. I liked how Sophie challenged him in a lot of ways but hated a few of the things she said that tricked him.
Overall it is an old school Historical Romance (Rogue/Virgin) that definitely gets to where it is going and does have some very cute moments to go along with some frustrating ones. It is the second book in The Wanton Dairymaid trilogy and you do not need to read them in order as this stands alone well. If you like books which involve trials at sea, I think this would be a fun read.
“You ought to take care how you bat those eyelashes, sweetheart. One of these days, you’re likely to knock a man overboard.”
Narration:
Gabriella Baker did a decent job with the characters given to her to portray. I think I might have struggled more with Gray had she not softened some of the harsher words he said to Sophie. She was able to make the book come to life.
Listen to a clip: HERE
About Gabrielle Baker
Gabrielle Baker is a highly respected and experienced British voice actor with her own studio at her home in Kent, England. A trained actor, she has become a bestselling audiobook narrator for award-winning authors around the world.
Gabrielle has a natural RP British accent and is also experienced with accents such as Dublin, Cork, Scottish, Australian, and most regional British accents. More than anything Gabrielle describes herself as a “storyteller,” and her love and passion for audiobooks has seen her rise in the industry over the last few years. She has a strong following of listeners and authors who seek out her work, and she has been described as ” . . . an auditory joy!”
About Tessa Dare
Tessa Dare is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of fourteen historical romance novels and five novellas. Her books have won numerous accolades, including Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA® award (twice!) and the RT Book Reviews Seal of Excellence. Booklist magazine named her one of the “new stars of historical romance,” and her books have been contracted for translation in more than a dozen languages.
A librarian by training and a booklover at heart, Tessa makes her home in Southern California, where she lives with her husband, their two children, and a trio of cosmic kitties.
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I love the cover on this one. I just don’t read much historical romance. But you do a great job with the reviews Robin.
Thanks Anne and I agree the cover is so pretty.
I think I only tried a book by this author but maybe I have another one. It’s nice that we don’t have to read in order lol, I always like that
I used to be a stickler and wouldn’t read anything out of order, but I find with HR that it is my one genre that I can easily do that with most of the books. Then if I like a certain series go back and start at the beginning or just read the ones with the tropes I prefer.
I just love Tessa Dare and I also love historicals that take place at sea – they add a unique kind of historical element. Haven’t read the first book yet either! So I guess I have some catching up to do. Great review!
Tessa Dare has a fun kind of wit in her stories. I did love that Sophie read the Dairies of a Wanton Dairymaid and was not innocent to the happening between a man and a woman.
I used to gobble up books in this genre. Then I got caught up in horror and thrillers and fell away from it. I really should try some again:)
It is my go to genre when I just want to kick back and let the world drop away and not have to think about anything too much. I really want to try a few horror books as I think they might be fun but I haven’t really dipped my toe in them yet.
I like Tessa Dare a lot, but I haven’t come across this one before. I’ll keep an eye out for it!
I love most of the Tessa Dare I’ve read, but some of her older stuff isn’t on audio and I’m glad they are finally getting to it as that is my preferred way to read books while commuting, grocery shopping, cleaning house etc.
I do wonder if the good moments are worth the frustrating one. I do love a good Historical romance but I think I would probably try another Tessa Dare book before reaching for this one.
Her Castles Ever After is one of my favorite series but I also really enjoy the Spindle Cove books if you are looking for some fun ones to start with. This was still fun especially it you like tales at sea, but those two series are some of my favorites in HR.
Thanks for the great review. This series is on my list to try. I believe it was rerelease of her earlier work, which might account for some of the rough edges. I loved Spindle Cove and I wish there were more of those.