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Terms of Surrender
Subject: Danny Wilkes, navy pilot.
Current status: On shore rotation. Very intrigued by a sassy visiting lecturer...
Mission: Enter the astronaut training program.
Obstacle: Marissa Marshall, Ph.D. She's keeping Danny preoccupied with earthly delights...
Danny Wilkes might have outgrown his risk-taking flyboy days, but he still loves a thrill now and then. And nobody's thrilled him lately like fiery Mari Marshall. Sex with her is a bigger turn-on than any of the air maneuvers Danny's ever pulled. He falls head over heels...hard.
But Mari has bitter memories of being a military brat. She'll never enter that life again—not even for the best sex she's ever had.
It's a hell of a choice. Does Danny give up his skyrocketing career? Or let go of the only woman who revs his engine into the stratosphere?
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 24, 2011
6 people are currently reading
274 people want to read
About the author
Leslie Kelly
280 books406 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
New York Times Bestselling author, Leslie Kelly writes sexy romances and dark romantic thrillers. A four-time RWA RITA Award nominee, eleven-time Romantic Times Award nominee and 2006 RT Award winner, Leslie has become known for her delightful characters, sparkling dialogue, and outrageous humor in her romances, and for the dark grittiness of her thrillers. Since the publication of her first book in 1999, Leslie has gone on to pen more than forty sassy, sexy romances for Harlequin Temptation, Blaze, and HQN.
In 2009, Leslie began tapping into her love for dark suspense by penning several books under the pseudonym Leslie Parrish. The Black CATs and Extrasensory Agents series quickly put Leslie on the must-read list of romantic-suspense fans.
Tired of writing under various names, Leslie decided to go into her next genre--futuristic thrillers with a suspense element--under her real name. She released her dark, gritty Veronica Sloan books, and reissued the Black CATs series, as Leslie A. Kelly.
Leslie lives in Denver with her husband Bruce--her real-life romance hero. Visit her online at lesliekelly.com (for her sexy romances) or at leslieAkelly.com (for her romantic suspense.)
New York Times Bestselling author, Leslie Kelly writes sexy romances and dark romantic thrillers. A four-time RWA RITA Award nominee, eleven-time Romantic Times Award nominee and 2006 RT Award winner, Leslie has become known for her delightful characters, sparkling dialogue, and outrageous humor in her romances, and for the dark grittiness of her thrillers. Since the publication of her first book in 1999, Leslie has gone on to pen more than forty sassy, sexy romances for Harlequin Temptation, Blaze, and HQN.
In 2009, Leslie began tapping into her love for dark suspense by penning several books under the pseudonym Leslie Parrish. The Black CATs and Extrasensory Agents series quickly put Leslie on the must-read list of romantic-suspense fans.
Tired of writing under various names, Leslie decided to go into her next genre--futuristic thrillers with a suspense element--under her real name. She released her dark, gritty Veronica Sloan books, and reissued the Black CATs series, as Leslie A. Kelly.
Leslie lives in Denver with her husband Bruce--her real-life romance hero. Visit her online at lesliekelly.com (for her sexy romances) or at leslieAkelly.com (for her romantic suspense.)
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
June 3, 2012
This may be my first Harlequin romance I've ever read, and I'll definitely be back for more. This author will also be one I'll check out further. I can't remember if a Goodreads friend recommended this or I was drawn in by the cover.
The heroine Marissa is a psychologist, and the hero Danny is a Naval officer. I'm a psychologist and I have a THING for men in uniform, so I felt like this story was written for me! The setting is the Naval Academy--a location I researched for one of my novels--making me feel right at home.
Marissa is a new psychologist who paid for grad school via her secret career as "Mad-Mari", a self-help author whose titles include Why Do Men Suck? and Thanks, But I'll Just Keep My Vibrator . She maintains a popular author blog and her blog posts are included in the story.
I can relate to Marissa wondering if her graduate degree and independent spirit might intimidate guys. I also nodded when Danny finds out her profession:
"I'm twenty-nine. Just got my doctorate in psychology."
He gaped. "I don't know where to start. The doctorate at twenty-nine part, or the fact that you're a shrink."
The reaction was a familiar one. Especially the psychologist part. Everybody worried about that one, as if she would be head-shrinking them from their first meeting.
Marissa is hilarious. She rushes to an interview as a guest lecturer at the Naval Academy, and she's not feeling a lot of body confidence that day:
But the interview had come up suddenly and a borrowed skirt in her size had sounded fine, until she'd put it on this morning. It seemed the months of writing at home had added to her waistline, not to mention her hips and butt. The long pencil skirt fit like a casing on a sausage. And the sausage was trying to escape.
She shouldn't worry about her appearance, because Danny thinks her waist is small and her curves are kickin'. When he sees her teaching a class of midshipmen, he had the refrain from Van Halen's Hot for Teacher going through his head. Ha!
Danny is a good guy who looks GREAT in his whites *swoons*. Their physical chemistry is psycho-military hot. To Marissa, A first kiss was a critical thing. It set a tone, lifted a bar. Danny lifts that bar sky HIGH.
At times their banter is so sexy and fun.
He reached for a bread stick, offering her a sly look. "You mean you haven't told them you've been shagged to within an inch of your life?"
She gave him that look--that warm, sensual look that told him where her mind had gone. "You mean, I still have an inch left?"
He gave as good as he got. "You can have as many inches as you want."
Her eyes closed and her lips parted..."I could use a lot," she whispered. "I could use them right now, as a matter of fact. Damn, I should have worn panties tonight."
His hand tightened reflexively, and the bread stick snapped in half. "Don't," he warned her.
The beginning of the story is fantastic but I got a little annoyed by Marissa withdrawing from Danny a few times later on due to her fear of intimacy. This is why shrinks need their own shrinks. Girlfriend's got family issues that interfere with her relationship with Danny, and he's very patient to let her figure it out. The whole "I won't date military men because they cheat and are gone all the time" just didn't ring true for me in this story, for some reason. That conflict felt slightly contrived.
But I really enjoyed this story and highly recommend it! It's fun and flirty.
The heroine Marissa is a psychologist, and the hero Danny is a Naval officer. I'm a psychologist and I have a THING for men in uniform, so I felt like this story was written for me! The setting is the Naval Academy--a location I researched for one of my novels--making me feel right at home.
Marissa is a new psychologist who paid for grad school via her secret career as "Mad-Mari", a self-help author whose titles include Why Do Men Suck? and Thanks, But I'll Just Keep My Vibrator . She maintains a popular author blog and her blog posts are included in the story.
I can relate to Marissa wondering if her graduate degree and independent spirit might intimidate guys. I also nodded when Danny finds out her profession:
"I'm twenty-nine. Just got my doctorate in psychology."
He gaped. "I don't know where to start. The doctorate at twenty-nine part, or the fact that you're a shrink."
The reaction was a familiar one. Especially the psychologist part. Everybody worried about that one, as if she would be head-shrinking them from their first meeting.
Marissa is hilarious. She rushes to an interview as a guest lecturer at the Naval Academy, and she's not feeling a lot of body confidence that day:
But the interview had come up suddenly and a borrowed skirt in her size had sounded fine, until she'd put it on this morning. It seemed the months of writing at home had added to her waistline, not to mention her hips and butt. The long pencil skirt fit like a casing on a sausage. And the sausage was trying to escape.
She shouldn't worry about her appearance, because Danny thinks her waist is small and her curves are kickin'. When he sees her teaching a class of midshipmen, he had the refrain from Van Halen's Hot for Teacher going through his head. Ha!
Danny is a good guy who looks GREAT in his whites *swoons*. Their physical chemistry is psycho-military hot. To Marissa, A first kiss was a critical thing. It set a tone, lifted a bar. Danny lifts that bar sky HIGH.
At times their banter is so sexy and fun.
He reached for a bread stick, offering her a sly look. "You mean you haven't told them you've been shagged to within an inch of your life?"
She gave him that look--that warm, sensual look that told him where her mind had gone. "You mean, I still have an inch left?"
He gave as good as he got. "You can have as many inches as you want."
Her eyes closed and her lips parted..."I could use a lot," she whispered. "I could use them right now, as a matter of fact. Damn, I should have worn panties tonight."
His hand tightened reflexively, and the bread stick snapped in half. "Don't," he warned her.
The beginning of the story is fantastic but I got a little annoyed by Marissa withdrawing from Danny a few times later on due to her fear of intimacy. This is why shrinks need their own shrinks. Girlfriend's got family issues that interfere with her relationship with Danny, and he's very patient to let her figure it out. The whole "I won't date military men because they cheat and are gone all the time" just didn't ring true for me in this story, for some reason. That conflict felt slightly contrived.
But I really enjoyed this story and highly recommend it! It's fun and flirty.
June 15, 2011
Terms of Surrender by Leslie Kelley was pretty decent. Mari lives two lives, one as a blogger and author and one as an intelligent PhD holding counselor in search of a job. She goes to the Naval Academy for a job. Mari grew up in the military and hates it. She raised her siblings on her own, her father was serial cheater and her mother couldn't take it. She runs into Danny while parking her car and they have a hilarious conversation with wires crossed. She thinks Danny is a mechanic and they spend the day and night together.
Danny is an all American guy, he is a fly boy and wants to be an astronaut. He loses Mari's number and spends two weeks tracking her down but when she gets the job at the academy he goes to her. Mari is less than pleased she is still angry over his not calling and finding out that he is Navy but she soon finds out that he didn't mislead her but she still doesn't want to get involved since she doesn't want that lifestyle.
But well they still get together though Mari thinks it is temporary. Mari was too judgmental and still stuck in the past. I liked Danny a lot. The book being a Blaze was filled with sexy moments. It was not bad but Mari did irritate me sometimes with her hang-ups.
Danny is an all American guy, he is a fly boy and wants to be an astronaut. He loses Mari's number and spends two weeks tracking her down but when she gets the job at the academy he goes to her. Mari is less than pleased she is still angry over his not calling and finding out that he is Navy but she soon finds out that he didn't mislead her but she still doesn't want to get involved since she doesn't want that lifestyle.
But well they still get together though Mari thinks it is temporary. Mari was too judgmental and still stuck in the past. I liked Danny a lot. The book being a Blaze was filled with sexy moments. It was not bad but Mari did irritate me sometimes with her hang-ups.
September 12, 2020
Dreamy hero but I wanted to smack this heroine into next week. One of those "I'll never be with a military guy because of Daddy and Mommy" characters - even though this hero does absolutely nothing over the course of this story to warrant the tarring and feathering. And I can't forgive her stomping all over his feelings the same night he gets super-great-been-working-his-whole-career-towards news. Cupcake needed to crawl over broken glass and beg forgiveness and....nope, don't get that. Quick read though - plowed through it in one sitting. But ugh, this heroine....
February 20, 2012
One of my very favorite Harlequin authors so it is no wonder I liked this. Full of sparkling repartee and really intelligent humorous exchanges, the hero is a Lt. Commander in the Navy--a SEAL and one who has applied for the astronaut program. Now he meets Dr. Mari--the same woman who has published two books on the difficulties in understanding men as well as authors a blog under the site name of Mad-Mari. She is an "Army brat" so wants nothing to do romantically with a military guy, but Danny is just too beautiful for words and she think she can have him without endangering her vow to avoid those military guys. We all know how that's going to work . . . NOT!! Just a very fun read with lots of good people, some hot loving, and enough anxiety to keep the reader anticipating the crisis that will put this relationship in danger.
May 28, 2011
Once again Leslie Kelly deliverers you not just a hot, but enjoyable read. Its not only sexy but funny. This blaze will have you drooling for your own Navy Pilot.
Marissa Marshall has grown up a military brat and now PH.D. She also had some published books and a blog that she still continues to write on. But right now funds are running low from her book sales she has decided to go on a job interview at the U.S. Naval Academy to lecture a class for the summer. While on the job interview she meets a handsome man in mechanic overalls. Immediately she is attracted to him and has every reason to be. After her car battery dies he offers to have it fixed by the end of her interview.
Danny Wilkes is a sexy Navy Pilot that has dreams of reaching the stars. While at the U.S. Naval Academy he runs into the most beautiful and intriguing woman who he has ever come a cross. This beautiful woman he for sure wants to see again. Fixing her car battery isn't all he would like to fix. He fixes the battery and offers lunch on his boat. Will this woman take this opportunity?
I loved the plot! I totally have this thing for men in uniform and Danny is for sure swoon worthy. He's not only sexy but smart and funny. Marissa was not only challenging but beautiful. Both characters were so likable I couldn't wait to get it started. After their first meeting I was hooked. Leslie Kelly brings out the best and the worst in the them and I just couldn't get enough. Their is nothing like a book you can devour in one complete seating. I wanted more and more. Although I knew I know Blaze books aren't usually as long but they keep you wanting more and more.
Leslie Kelly will truly knock your socks off with this hot little read. I fell in deep into this fascinating read. Her style of writing will captured me from the beginning all the way to the end. I even found myself smiling and laughing out loud. She can bring an amazing amount of humor, passion and emotion to this story. If you never read Kelly, I strongly advise you do so. Until then you have no idea what a treat this will be for you. I loved it! I am excited to see what she will come up with next! This book was released on May 24th, so I think everyone should go out and buy it today and fall in love with Mari and Danny like I did. Happy Reading!
Marissa Marshall has grown up a military brat and now PH.D. She also had some published books and a blog that she still continues to write on. But right now funds are running low from her book sales she has decided to go on a job interview at the U.S. Naval Academy to lecture a class for the summer. While on the job interview she meets a handsome man in mechanic overalls. Immediately she is attracted to him and has every reason to be. After her car battery dies he offers to have it fixed by the end of her interview.
Danny Wilkes is a sexy Navy Pilot that has dreams of reaching the stars. While at the U.S. Naval Academy he runs into the most beautiful and intriguing woman who he has ever come a cross. This beautiful woman he for sure wants to see again. Fixing her car battery isn't all he would like to fix. He fixes the battery and offers lunch on his boat. Will this woman take this opportunity?
I loved the plot! I totally have this thing for men in uniform and Danny is for sure swoon worthy. He's not only sexy but smart and funny. Marissa was not only challenging but beautiful. Both characters were so likable I couldn't wait to get it started. After their first meeting I was hooked. Leslie Kelly brings out the best and the worst in the them and I just couldn't get enough. Their is nothing like a book you can devour in one complete seating. I wanted more and more. Although I knew I know Blaze books aren't usually as long but they keep you wanting more and more.
Leslie Kelly will truly knock your socks off with this hot little read. I fell in deep into this fascinating read. Her style of writing will captured me from the beginning all the way to the end. I even found myself smiling and laughing out loud. She can bring an amazing amount of humor, passion and emotion to this story. If you never read Kelly, I strongly advise you do so. Until then you have no idea what a treat this will be for you. I loved it! I am excited to see what she will come up with next! This book was released on May 24th, so I think everyone should go out and buy it today and fall in love with Mari and Danny like I did. Happy Reading!
January 13, 2012
Loved it. Loved the initial meeting. Loved the quick wit. Loved the dialogue and humor. Loved the heat. Loved the emotional connection. Leslie Kelly can most definitely write a romance. Kudos.
January 22, 2021
A book of highs and lows
3 stars
Navy pilot, Danny Wilkes, only has one mission in life and that's to join the American space programme. But as soon as he sets eyes on fiery Marissa Marshall he has another mission in mind and it involves both of them delightfully naked.
Mari and Danny strike sparks off each other and the sex is terrific but growing up an army brat, Mari is against a relationship with anyone in the military. So Danny has a choice - his lifelong career dreams or the woman that he's fallen hard and fast for.
I am a huge fan of Leslie Kelly's and am always excited when she brings out a new book. Unfortunately, this one didn't really float my boat.
I think, for me, the main problem was with Mari. There was something ballsy and brash about her that meant I just couldn't like her much or root for her. I'm not against strong females in a romance but she seemed a strange mix of mouthy forcefulness and needy uncertainty that seemed at odds with one another.
Danny was a better character but again, I wouldn't call him a perfect leading male character. The chemistry between Mari and Danny was fairly hot but not scorching and there were plenty of sexy scenes between the pair.
The story ran along smoothly although I did find myself being interested in the beginning while Danny and Mari weren't together. Then, when they got together it got quite boring. And again, they weren't together and it started getting interesting again. It was strange that it was unable to hold my attention from beginning to end. The ending itself was what you would expect but it certainly didn't make me sigh or even really make me remember it after I'd put the book down.
Perhaps I'm being overly harsh with this book because I have adored some of Kelly's previous books and so probably set quite a high standard for this one. Having said that, this book was still fairly enjoyable and is an easy read for a quiet afternoon. 3 stars.
June 14, 2011
Okay, football just ended for the spring season, but I still had this one in my purse. I ate it up last night. Danny is such a sweet heart and a fantastic flyboy...or Aviator Man. He is the picture on the cover and the type of man that women do throw themselves towards. That said, he is NOT the type of man to take any up on their offer, just because they offer. As a man of 33 he knows that he wants more in life and more from the woman of his life. He wants a partner. While the learning curve was steep for Mari (Mad-Mari), she eventually learned to trust the man she is with not the memory of the man that raised her.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
July 21, 2016
The title 'Terms of Surrender' is correct but also quite misleading. It does not mean the woman has to submit always and totally to secure her future. However, this little story also shows that the best thought through plans are not always what is in store for people. Furthermore, you cannot run from your fears - they always catch up with you eventually - nor can you let them run your life.
All in all, a lovely little story with an intriguing message put across in this no-nonsense tale in an easy and straight-forward way.
All in all, a lovely little story with an intriguing message put across in this no-nonsense tale in an easy and straight-forward way.
August 17, 2011
The idea is interesting but the execution is somewhat lacking something that would have made me care about Marissa's dilemma and fears. Danny, on the other hand, is way too perfect to be credible for my taste in romance hero. Also the blog entries became tiresome really fast. Sad because the idea of a strong minded heroine and an equally strong hero meeting and finding love, lust and happines appealed to me a lot.
August 3, 2012
Oh, WOW!! This was a fantastic read. I know I say that about just any Harlequin imprint I read, but I've never met a Harlequin I didn't love!! The H/h were so great together. The book was right up there on the hotness scale. I just love the Uniformly Hot! now long running series. Be sure to hunt this book up. I enjoyed every minute of it and hated to see it end.
January 5, 2013
I love it when Mari said, “There’s no place for cowardice when you love someone. All the old self-doubts and baggage can be pitched along the side of the road when it’s really right. Because loving someone means trusting them, expecting only a bright and shiny future, not looking for reasons to bail when the going gets tough.“
May 13, 2011
Very enjoyable read. Sexy. Funny. The hero (Danny Wilkes) is super sexy. The Heroine Mari Marshall (aka Mad-Mari) is smart but a tad burned when it comes to men and dates.
An outstanding Harlequin Blaze!
An outstanding Harlequin Blaze!
June 9, 2011
super hot. i loved the relationship between danny and mari. they were funny, flirty, sweet and really hot together. great story. i'm a sucker for a military hero, especially one in dress whites! yum.
Read
August 14, 2017Miniseries: Uniformly Hot!
February 24, 2012
This was a good book and it was based in my home state with cities that I know that is what I like best about the book!
July 2, 2012
Cute, fun read. HOT in places. Liked this Blaze Uniformly Hot series book and I am looking for more.
October 7, 2012
This was a good quick easy read that fits in well with the Uniformerly Hot series. The characters were hot and very likeable and the story was entertaining to the end.
December 24, 2012
The picture on the cover is what made me give this 3 stars, otherwise it's a bore.
August 13, 2014
3.5 cheeky beginning, interesting story, a bit anticlimactic.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews