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Savage Surrender by Natasha Peters
Robbed of her innocence, Elise Lesconflair becomes a woman of bold desires in a breathtaking romantic adventure that sweeps across continents. Caught in a web of twisted destinies, she journeys from the luxury of a French chateau to the horrors of a West Indies slave ship...from the exotic existence as pirate Jean Lafitte's mistress to unspeakable degradation at the hands of brutal men.Woven throughout the sultry landscape of her saga is Garth McClelland...mysterious, secretive Garth, a man whose worldly power is surpassed only by his insatiable lust for the ravishing Elise. Their romance soars to the peak of unquenchable passion, plumbs the depths as they fight treachery, intrigue...and their need for each other, until finally they unite in an inferno of rapturous love!
600 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1977
13 people are currently reading
1595 people want to read
About the author
Natasha Peters
16 books39 followersNatasha Peters is a pesudonym for Elizabeth Jordan, who also wrote as Anastasia Cleaver.
Her ideas for her books have taken her to many foreign lands in the East and West, and through the volumes of history and biography. She was also an actress, an artist, a singer, and loved to grow roses.
Her ideas for her books have taken her to many foreign lands in the East and West, and through the volumes of history and biography. She was also an actress, an artist, a singer, and loved to grow roses.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
September 25, 2020
There are only two modes when reading Savage Surrender:
Extremely Stressed Out:
Or Extremely Vindicated:
There is no middle because this is just a damn roller coaster! I don't think I've EVER been as stressed as I was reading this bodice ripper, but I've also never felt so vindicated on behalf of our kickass heroine, Elise.
Elise is AMAZING. She went from beautiful, willful girl whose innocence and beauty were taken from her:
To a pirate terror in New Orleans who captured British ships and reigned with her pirate bae.
Elise is so degraded but survives through all the horrors she faces. My jaw dropped at some parts - for example, the Sea Witch mirror scene, just made me feel sick. The atrocities Elise faced was like what Ginny experienced in Sweet Savage Love by Rosemary Rogers during wartorn Mexico, but on repeat. I think reading this has made me even more of a feminist.
Such a great hate-to-love dynamic between Elise and Garth. Their conversational insults and breathtaking fights are electric. Garth is a complete asshole but I loved it. Savage Surrender is one of my favourite bodice rippers.
My favourite Elise-being-Elise quotes:
"This is my last night of freedom, you know. I think I shall dance until dawn. Until noon tomorrow. I shall dance until tomorrow night, and then I shall fall into a faint and sleep - forever. Until I die, perhaps."
-
"Marry--you?" I gasped. I turned to my brothers. "Is this how you avenge me, then?" I demanded angrily. "Cowards! Weaklings! Diplomats, bah! How can you suggest such a thing? I would rather die than marry this sneering villain. Give me your knife, Honore." I extended my hand. "I shall kill him myself, as I hav e vowed to kill him. Brothers, indeed! I would rather have two children in my service than you. What's the matter with you? Have you gone mad?"
-
"I want-" I gasped brokenly." Kill Josiah Fowler, and-and bring me his head on a platter, if you can!" I laughed weakly, crazily. "Kill him! For me!"
-
"What have we been doing for the past three days, playing whist? If you're not my mistress, what are you, my sister?"
"I am a woman of independent means and independent spirit," I said. "I have chosen to avail myself of the dubious pleasure of your company lately. So? I would not ask what that makes me, but what it makes you, my friend. You have served me very nicely indeed, but I think I might even be tiring of you-"
-
"But you do want a hold over me, Garth, and you're furious because I won't give you one."
He smirked. "But I have a hold over you..."
"Only because I let you have it. I'm not ashamed of enjoying your lovemaking, and I am delighted that you enjoy mine. But that's all there is to this - this relationship of ours, my old friend. I am the one woman who shall never be at your beck and call, never torment herself because she's afraid of losing you to another, never want to kill herself when you have left her for good. I know better than to give my heart to one who has no heart."
YES GIRL YES!
Extremely Stressed Out:
Or Extremely Vindicated:
There is no middle because this is just a damn roller coaster! I don't think I've EVER been as stressed as I was reading this bodice ripper, but I've also never felt so vindicated on behalf of our kickass heroine, Elise.
Elise is AMAZING. She went from beautiful, willful girl whose innocence and beauty were taken from her:
To a pirate terror in New Orleans who captured British ships and reigned with her pirate bae.
Elise is so degraded but survives through all the horrors she faces. My jaw dropped at some parts - for example, the Sea Witch mirror scene, just made me feel sick. The atrocities Elise faced was like what Ginny experienced in Sweet Savage Love by Rosemary Rogers during wartorn Mexico, but on repeat. I think reading this has made me even more of a feminist.
Such a great hate-to-love dynamic between Elise and Garth. Their conversational insults and breathtaking fights are electric. Garth is a complete asshole but I loved it. Savage Surrender is one of my favourite bodice rippers.
My favourite Elise-being-Elise quotes:
"This is my last night of freedom, you know. I think I shall dance until dawn. Until noon tomorrow. I shall dance until tomorrow night, and then I shall fall into a faint and sleep - forever. Until I die, perhaps."
-
"Marry--you?" I gasped. I turned to my brothers. "Is this how you avenge me, then?" I demanded angrily. "Cowards! Weaklings! Diplomats, bah! How can you suggest such a thing? I would rather die than marry this sneering villain. Give me your knife, Honore." I extended my hand. "I shall kill him myself, as I hav e vowed to kill him. Brothers, indeed! I would rather have two children in my service than you. What's the matter with you? Have you gone mad?"
-
"I want-" I gasped brokenly." Kill Josiah Fowler, and-and bring me his head on a platter, if you can!" I laughed weakly, crazily. "Kill him! For me!"
-
"What have we been doing for the past three days, playing whist? If you're not my mistress, what are you, my sister?"
"I am a woman of independent means and independent spirit," I said. "I have chosen to avail myself of the dubious pleasure of your company lately. So? I would not ask what that makes me, but what it makes you, my friend. You have served me very nicely indeed, but I think I might even be tiring of you-"
-
"But you do want a hold over me, Garth, and you're furious because I won't give you one."
He smirked. "But I have a hold over you..."
"Only because I let you have it. I'm not ashamed of enjoying your lovemaking, and I am delighted that you enjoy mine. But that's all there is to this - this relationship of ours, my old friend. I am the one woman who shall never be at your beck and call, never torment herself because she's afraid of losing you to another, never want to kill herself when you have left her for good. I know better than to give my heart to one who has no heart."
YES GIRL YES!
September 18, 2020
This book went 99mph from start to finish. What a ride. I'm exhausted. Full review to come.
May 11, 2025
OH MY GOD. I don't throw the phrase "best romance novel ever" around a lot, and I honestly can't remember the last time I read a romance novel that literally made me let out a huge gust of a sigh by the time I got to the last page. SAVAGE SURRENDER starts off at 99 on a scale of 100, and proceeds to repeatedly break the metrics as the plot zooms off at breakneck speed. How do I even begin to summarize everything that happens in this book? I can't. So this is going to be a bullet review.
⚜️ I love this heroine. Elise starts out seventeen or so and definitely acts her age. I honestly loved this about her. She's so dramatic and hilarious, even when she's being a twit. And her character development was just amazing. This is a woman who refuses to bow to anyone. When she is abused at the hands of her tormentors, she tricks some pirates into teaching her how to fire pistols and duel so she can handle any further attacks on her person PERSONALLY. Girl, yes.
⚜️ Villain love interest. Her first encounter with the hero is non-con, which sets the stage for their relationship. He's a user and a taker. But he's also not without charm, and if you like that old skool style of alpha hero who doesn't take no for an answer, well, he's that guy. He tomcats around and is crude and manipulative and kind of awful. But he's also funny, and it's hilarious how out of touch with his feelings he is. I don't know how Natasha Peters did it, but she wrote a likable jerk.
⚜️ Enemies to lovers romance. The whole time I was reading this, I kept picturing the couple as Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher as Han Solo and Leia. He's an immoral mercenary, she's nobility and a firebrand. AND ALL THEY DO IS FIGHT. I ate that up on a silver spoon. The back-and-forths they had were profoundly epic. Was that romance toxic AF? Yes. Did I care? No.
⚜️ So much action. Whether it's treachery on a slave ship, gallivanting around and partying with pirates, or accidentally entangling oneself with the Southern Old Money equivalent of the Lannister family, there's so much going on. It's brutal and it's un-PC but it's never boring. I liked how characters kept popping up again when you least expected it, sometimes scarily, sometimes awesomely. For example, a slave that that Elise saves in the beginning of the book ends up being able to return the favor later, and he has a pretty cool trajectory character-wise that didn't feel stereotypical at all.
⚜️ That ending though. It was perf.
SAVAGE SURRENDER has been on my wishlist for years and I finally decided I was going to treat myself and buy some of the books I've been waiting for. I liked this so much that I immediately went out and bought several other titles from her backlist. It's such a shame that she didn't write more books because I think I'd gladly read everything she wrote. LOVE.
4.5 stars
⚜️ I love this heroine. Elise starts out seventeen or so and definitely acts her age. I honestly loved this about her. She's so dramatic and hilarious, even when she's being a twit. And her character development was just amazing. This is a woman who refuses to bow to anyone. When she is abused at the hands of her tormentors, she tricks some pirates into teaching her how to fire pistols and duel so she can handle any further attacks on her person PERSONALLY. Girl, yes.
⚜️ Villain love interest. Her first encounter with the hero is non-con, which sets the stage for their relationship. He's a user and a taker. But he's also not without charm, and if you like that old skool style of alpha hero who doesn't take no for an answer, well, he's that guy. He tomcats around and is crude and manipulative and kind of awful. But he's also funny, and it's hilarious how out of touch with his feelings he is. I don't know how Natasha Peters did it, but she wrote a likable jerk.
⚜️ Enemies to lovers romance. The whole time I was reading this, I kept picturing the couple as Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher as Han Solo and Leia. He's an immoral mercenary, she's nobility and a firebrand. AND ALL THEY DO IS FIGHT. I ate that up on a silver spoon. The back-and-forths they had were profoundly epic. Was that romance toxic AF? Yes. Did I care? No.
⚜️ So much action. Whether it's treachery on a slave ship, gallivanting around and partying with pirates, or accidentally entangling oneself with the Southern Old Money equivalent of the Lannister family, there's so much going on. It's brutal and it's un-PC but it's never boring. I liked how characters kept popping up again when you least expected it, sometimes scarily, sometimes awesomely. For example, a slave that that Elise saves in the beginning of the book ends up being able to return the favor later, and he has a pretty cool trajectory character-wise that didn't feel stereotypical at all.
⚜️ That ending though. It was perf.
SAVAGE SURRENDER has been on my wishlist for years and I finally decided I was going to treat myself and buy some of the books I've been waiting for. I liked this so much that I immediately went out and bought several other titles from her backlist. It's such a shame that she didn't write more books because I think I'd gladly read everything she wrote. LOVE.
4.5 stars
August 31, 2011
This book is what made my 13 year old self fall in love with trashy historical romance novels. It's gets 5 stars just because it was "my first"!
September 3, 2010
It took me a long time to get through. To me, it was one of those books you have to be in the mood for because of all the raping and pillaging and kidnapping etc. It was the same way for me with Stormfire.
I really did like it. It was written well and the h was a trooper. I didn't get Elise's and Garth's "relationship". He didn't show much sorrow or anything when she told him what happened to her on the first ship with the crazy captain. That's when I gave up on Garth. After that, there were many, many things that happened in the book that I would never believe they would end up together but it's a bodice ripper from 1978 so what can you expect lol. And just for the record, I like Jean way more than Garth.
If you liked Stormfire you'll like this book.
I really did like it. It was written well and the h was a trooper. I didn't get Elise's and Garth's "relationship". He didn't show much sorrow or anything when she told him what happened to her on the first ship with the crazy captain. That's when I gave up on Garth. After that, there were many, many things that happened in the book that I would never believe they would end up together but it's a bodice ripper from 1978 so what can you expect lol. And just for the record, I like Jean way more than Garth.
If you liked Stormfire you'll like this book.
August 22, 2020
I've been putting this book off for ages, and I don't know why. It's harder for me to stay engaged in a story lately. I get bored easily unless what I'm reading is truly incredible. This is the first book in a while where I felt like I couldn't put it down. It was six hundred pages but the pace never lets up and I felt like it was over too soon.
The hero, Garth, is way less of a jerkface than Seth from Dangerous Obsessions, but that doesn't mean much. He was still unrelentingly cruel and closed off. He was a fascinating character, and I loved his dynamic with Elise, who, though in love with him, was more likely to claw his eyes out than admit her true feelings. They verbally and physically fought their affection for one another throughout this novel. They are both two alphas fighting for dominance and fighting their own tenderness for one another and it was very interesting to see how their relationship played out. You could never guess what they would do, whether they would kiss or kill one another.
And speaking of Elise, oh my gosh. I adore her. One of my favorite heroines of all time. She's so fierce and funny and brave. Just a great character. Natasha Peters always writes great female leads who have personalities just as huge as the hero's. Somehow, despite all the horrible stuff she went through in this novel, she comes out of all of it a better person who shows kindness to everyone.
Everything got a little crazy near the end of the novel, and it was a little bit too much, if you know what I mean. The plot got a tad unrealistic. Also, the last separation between Garth and Elise was just forced drama. I could have done without it. Those are my only two complaints, though. Other than that, this book was amazing. I definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys bodice rippers and who isn't easily triggered by violence.
TW: non-con, sexual assault, physical abuse, miscarriage, graphic murder, and racism.
The hero, Garth, is way less of a jerkface than Seth from Dangerous Obsessions, but that doesn't mean much. He was still unrelentingly cruel and closed off. He was a fascinating character, and I loved his dynamic with Elise, who, though in love with him, was more likely to claw his eyes out than admit her true feelings. They verbally and physically fought their affection for one another throughout this novel. They are both two alphas fighting for dominance and fighting their own tenderness for one another and it was very interesting to see how their relationship played out. You could never guess what they would do, whether they would kiss or kill one another.
And speaking of Elise, oh my gosh. I adore her. One of my favorite heroines of all time. She's so fierce and funny and brave. Just a great character. Natasha Peters always writes great female leads who have personalities just as huge as the hero's. Somehow, despite all the horrible stuff she went through in this novel, she comes out of all of it a better person who shows kindness to everyone.
Everything got a little crazy near the end of the novel, and it was a little bit too much, if you know what I mean. The plot got a tad unrealistic. Also, the last separation between Garth and Elise was just forced drama. I could have done without it. Those are my only two complaints, though. Other than that, this book was amazing. I definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys bodice rippers and who isn't easily triggered by violence.
TW: non-con, sexual assault, physical abuse, miscarriage, graphic murder, and racism.
April 7, 2015
Holy bodice-rippers, Batman! I suppose I'm still a bit wet behind the ears when it comes to this genre, but thanks to some fellow ripper-readers, I feel my edu-ma-cation has become more enhanced. But Lordy, I was not expecting a ride like the one Natasha Peters took me on. Elise Lesconflair (our sassy heroine) started out a tad bit whiny for my taste in the beginning, but I forgave her all those childish fits after I read this 600 page whopper of craziness. I won't spoil the fun for those who've yet to read this "classic", but there's about five gallons of crazy running through these pages, and alas, our heroine has come armed with only a one gallon bucket. Not to say, that I didn't enjoy it. Oh, I did, and in spades. One reviewer stated it best by describing this book as a soap opera. Think Days of Our Lives on crack...with a dash of speed...and a pinch of heroine, and you've got "Savage Surrender". Now...on to her next book "Dangerous Obsession". I understand this is a sequel of sorts, and all I can say is that it's got a LOT to live up to. *buckling seatbelt*
December 11, 2013
Garth wasn't a bad boy hero, he was simply an abusive a-hole. As a hero he had absolutely no redeemable qualities and the author doesn't even attempt to justify his actions because they can't be justified. Tortured heroes lashing out I can accept, alpha males with bad attitudes but ultimately respect for their heroines I can grow to love but this guy should have been shot within the first two chapters. This one was an epic fail
September 18, 2024
Savage Surrender by Natasha Peters (1977) is a bodice ripper masterpiece.., an epic love story of Elise and Garth. Their romantic adventures exceed those of Steve and Ginny in Sweet Savage Love by Rosemary Rogers, which was published 3 years earlier.
💔 Adventures is the key word here… there are 600 pages of numerous cruel, shocking, gut wrenching devastating “adventures” … meaning rapes, slavery, physical trauma, poverty, illness, emotional abuse etc for Elise … she suffers far more than Ginny. Thankfully, there are wonderful good interludes for Elise tho not many.
💔 Setting: France, west coast Africa, Louisiana, and eastern U.S. 1810-1817 including aboard ships and the War of 1812.
💔 The story is told exclusively from Elise’s point of view (1st person) and it works beautifully. She’s a 17 year old, spoiled and immature French girl, daughter of a famous general and goddaughter of Napoleon… with a hot temper who meets her match with Garth McClelland.., he’s a wealthy American, 30 years old. Their accidental meeting has long term consequences for how the story revolves.
💔 The author’s written a compelling story of how Elise matures because of all the adversity she’s faces tho she’s still has a raging temper for most of the book. Nevertheless, the love of two men in her life especially that of Garth keeps her from giving up. She’s not one dimensional.., she’s kind to the downtrodden, and is full of inner strength. Garth comes across as a cold, jealous, ruthless man… cruel and uncaring most of the time, tho in the background he’s looking out for Elise most of the time .. as he rejects her. They hate each other, endure long separations, and when together have rough passionate sex. Both are fascinating flawed characters .., the mark of an excellent author.
💔 Overall, a splendid HR on the scale of War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy .., plot driven with a painful soaring romance as it utterly shreds your emotions.
💔 Not sure why Savage Surrender isn’t as popular these days as Stormfire or Silver Devil.., perhaps the writing in those books is more lyrical? I don’t think so. Sadly none of these three bodice rippers are available as an ebook.
💔 Savage Surrender sold millions of copies after its release … I can definitely see why. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
💔 Cover possibly by Don Stivers.
💔 Adventures is the key word here… there are 600 pages of numerous cruel, shocking, gut wrenching devastating “adventures” … meaning rapes, slavery, physical trauma, poverty, illness, emotional abuse etc for Elise … she suffers far more than Ginny. Thankfully, there are wonderful good interludes for Elise tho not many.
💔 Setting: France, west coast Africa, Louisiana, and eastern U.S. 1810-1817 including aboard ships and the War of 1812.
💔 The story is told exclusively from Elise’s point of view (1st person) and it works beautifully. She’s a 17 year old, spoiled and immature French girl, daughter of a famous general and goddaughter of Napoleon… with a hot temper who meets her match with Garth McClelland.., he’s a wealthy American, 30 years old. Their accidental meeting has long term consequences for how the story revolves.
💔 The author’s written a compelling story of how Elise matures because of all the adversity she’s faces tho she’s still has a raging temper for most of the book. Nevertheless, the love of two men in her life especially that of Garth keeps her from giving up. She’s not one dimensional.., she’s kind to the downtrodden, and is full of inner strength. Garth comes across as a cold, jealous, ruthless man… cruel and uncaring most of the time, tho in the background he’s looking out for Elise most of the time .. as he rejects her. They hate each other, endure long separations, and when together have rough passionate sex. Both are fascinating flawed characters .., the mark of an excellent author.
💔 Overall, a splendid HR on the scale of War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy .., plot driven with a painful soaring romance as it utterly shreds your emotions.
💔 Not sure why Savage Surrender isn’t as popular these days as Stormfire or Silver Devil.., perhaps the writing in those books is more lyrical? I don’t think so. Sadly none of these three bodice rippers are available as an ebook.
💔 Savage Surrender sold millions of copies after its release … I can definitely see why. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
💔 Cover possibly by Don Stivers.
May 29, 2022
I'm so happy to finally have read another 5-star book (this is my 3rd of 151 books this year). Wow! What a story! Thank you Irene for reading this, and then recommending it to Nenia, whose 5-star review made me want to read this book. I had never heard of it before.
This book takes place before, during, and after the War of 1812. It's set in first person narrated by Elise. I was surprised because every historical romance I've read (I think) has been set in third person. First person gives it that extra flair and better connection with the main character. There is also a thirteen-year age gap between the hero and the heroine.
I loved Elise, our heroine. In the beginning, I either wanted to be her best friend or act her in a movie. (Though as I read more of the book, I'm not sure I'd want to weep constantly several times or have all the horrible things done to me by men--pretend I was being raped, beaten, etc.) I loved how feisty, passionate, dramatic (main reason I'd want to play her~ she'd go from "I hate you! How could you do this to me!" to "Oh, Uncle Theo, I'm so sorry! Please forgive me.") she was, and even her fiery temper.
This book is the epitome of the trope "I hate you-I love you". Elise told Garth so many times how she detested him, when she really loved him all along.
These were my thoughts during the reading that I recorded in my Keep notes:
I will never understand the arrangement of a marriage between a rapist and his victim. I understand that the family wants the rapist to marry the girl because he was the one to take her virginity, but it's not fair to force a marriage since then the rapist will just get to keep on raping the girl. This was also done in that book by Kathleen Woodiwiss (The Flame & the Flower)
Damn, the hero has no remorse for his actions (rape). Might have to take off a star for that
This is the classic tale of the woman pushing away the man because she is in love with him and desperately wants his love but he doesn't seem capable of love/can't give her the love she wants.
Garth says he's not jealous, but I'm pretty sure he is.
Damn, the author really is putting Elise through hell...I started to have to count on my hand how many men raped her: Josiah Fowler, the other sailors on the Charleston Belle (she was gang-raped), Arnold, Jake, the two brothers she was sold to, Starker, Hennessey (not to mention Garth twice, but notice I didn't put him on my original list.)
Quotes I liked:
"Yes, you are a little savage, lady, and I must admit that the prospect of marriage to you rather frightens me."
"Marry—you?" I gasped. I turned to my brothers. "Is this how you avenge me, then?" I demanded angrily. "Cowards! Weaklings! Diplomats, bah! How can you suggest such a thing? I would rather die myself than marry this sneering villain. Give me your knife, Honoré." I extended my hand. "I shall kill him myself, as I have vowed to kill him. Brothers, indeed! I would rather have two children in my service than you. What's the matter with you? Have you gone mad?"
There's so much to say, I don't even know where to start. Garth was an asshole, but Natasha Peters also straddled the line by making him likeable. Garth is one of those heroes who will never confess to the heroine that he loves her. It took the last ten pages of a 600 book for him to confess that he had always loved her and had been such a fool. Elise frustrated me with her stubborness and refusal to tell Garth how she really felt, the terrible things that had happened to her, etc. She also took forever to say "I love you" to him too.
This book is definitely not safe; Elise is raped by multiple men, becomes the mistress of a pirate (Jean), marries another man (Jacques), and Garth was married to another woman when he first met Elise.
Short Overview:
Garth was an American spy in France, pretending to be a wealthy marquis (who ironically, Elise meets at the end of the story), when he came across Elise bathing naked outside (I knew she was going to meet the hero then!) and rapes her. Then her brothers force him to marry her. When soldiers come looking for a spy, Garth flees with Elise. He leaves her to board a ship, but she follows him on that ship. Here a five-year adventure to America begins.
Unless I misunderstood, it was also implied that Elise slept with more men in New Orleans. Though this book was long and definitely frustrating at times (especially all the times they ignored & refused to talk to each other!), I loved it. The only time I was bored was when the pirates were telling their story to Elise. I was smiling while microwaving food just thinking about this book.
I'm sad it ended. I wanted an epilogue at the very least. I want to know things like long will they continue living in France?
This book was like a saga. It was so good I'll definitely have to check out some of Natasha Peters's other books. Hopefully, they're just as good as this one, and I can get more five-star reads.
This book takes place before, during, and after the War of 1812. It's set in first person narrated by Elise. I was surprised because every historical romance I've read (I think) has been set in third person. First person gives it that extra flair and better connection with the main character. There is also a thirteen-year age gap between the hero and the heroine.
I loved Elise, our heroine. In the beginning, I either wanted to be her best friend or act her in a movie. (Though as I read more of the book, I'm not sure I'd want to weep constantly several times or have all the horrible things done to me by men--pretend I was being raped, beaten, etc.) I loved how feisty, passionate, dramatic (main reason I'd want to play her~ she'd go from "I hate you! How could you do this to me!" to "Oh, Uncle Theo, I'm so sorry! Please forgive me.") she was, and even her fiery temper.
This book is the epitome of the trope "I hate you-I love you". Elise told Garth so many times how she detested him, when she really loved him all along.
These were my thoughts during the reading that I recorded in my Keep notes:
I will never understand the arrangement of a marriage between a rapist and his victim. I understand that the family wants the rapist to marry the girl because he was the one to take her virginity, but it's not fair to force a marriage since then the rapist will just get to keep on raping the girl. This was also done in that book by Kathleen Woodiwiss (The Flame & the Flower)
Damn, the hero has no remorse for his actions (rape). Might have to take off a star for that
This is the classic tale of the woman pushing away the man because she is in love with him and desperately wants his love but he doesn't seem capable of love/can't give her the love she wants.
Garth says he's not jealous, but I'm pretty sure he is.
Damn, the author really is putting Elise through hell...I started to have to count on my hand how many men raped her: Josiah Fowler, the other sailors on the Charleston Belle (she was gang-raped), Arnold, Jake, the two brothers she was sold to, Starker, Hennessey (not to mention Garth twice, but notice I didn't put him on my original list.)
Quotes I liked:
"Yes, you are a little savage, lady, and I must admit that the prospect of marriage to you rather frightens me."
"Marry—you?" I gasped. I turned to my brothers. "Is this how you avenge me, then?" I demanded angrily. "Cowards! Weaklings! Diplomats, bah! How can you suggest such a thing? I would rather die myself than marry this sneering villain. Give me your knife, Honoré." I extended my hand. "I shall kill him myself, as I have vowed to kill him. Brothers, indeed! I would rather have two children in my service than you. What's the matter with you? Have you gone mad?"
There's so much to say, I don't even know where to start. Garth was an asshole, but Natasha Peters also straddled the line by making him likeable. Garth is one of those heroes who will never confess to the heroine that he loves her. It took the last ten pages of a 600 book for him to confess that he had always loved her and had been such a fool. Elise frustrated me with her stubborness and refusal to tell Garth how she really felt, the terrible things that had happened to her, etc. She also took forever to say "I love you" to him too.
This book is definitely not safe; Elise is raped by multiple men, becomes the mistress of a pirate (Jean), marries another man (Jacques), and Garth was married to another woman when he first met Elise.
Short Overview:
Garth was an American spy in France, pretending to be a wealthy marquis (who ironically, Elise meets at the end of the story), when he came across Elise bathing naked outside (I knew she was going to meet the hero then!) and rapes her. Then her brothers force him to marry her. When soldiers come looking for a spy, Garth flees with Elise. He leaves her to board a ship, but she follows him on that ship. Here a five-year adventure to America begins.
Unless I misunderstood, it was also implied that Elise slept with more men in New Orleans. Though this book was long and definitely frustrating at times (especially all the times they ignored & refused to talk to each other!), I loved it. The only time I was bored was when the pirates were telling their story to Elise. I was smiling while microwaving food just thinking about this book.
I'm sad it ended. I wanted an epilogue at the very least. I want to know things like long will they continue living in France?
This book was like a saga. It was so good I'll definitely have to check out some of Natasha Peters's other books. Hopefully, they're just as good as this one, and I can get more five-star reads.
special-unread-plot
May 13, 2022The hero deserved to burn in hell, he seduced many virgins, had many bastards and raped the heroine and forced her have sex with an other man to get some documents.
But I guess they deserved each other. The heroine knew that the hero seduced innocent girls and ruined them and that he had many bastards that he didn't care about and that he was a cheater. Even with this knowledge she chose the hero instead of her much more honourable suitor that had all the qualities. The heroine was a doormat and the hero was a weak man with no will that let his dick lead him. He was no possesive alpha even if the author wrote him as one, his actions made him the opposite of an alpha. But to be honest I liked that he had cold grey eyes and was blonde, not the typical dark hero.
There's 2 things I hate the most in both books and reality, it's when a man have had virgins other than the love of his life and when he has bastards. So even if I read this book a 1000 times and at different ages I will never like it.
But I guess they deserved each other. The heroine knew that the hero seduced innocent girls and ruined them and that he had many bastards that he didn't care about and that he was a cheater. Even with this knowledge she chose the hero instead of her much more honourable suitor that had all the qualities. The heroine was a doormat and the hero was a weak man with no will that let his dick lead him. He was no possesive alpha even if the author wrote him as one, his actions made him the opposite of an alpha. But to be honest I liked that he had cold grey eyes and was blonde, not the typical dark hero.
There's 2 things I hate the most in both books and reality, it's when a man have had virgins other than the love of his life and when he has bastards. So even if I read this book a 1000 times and at different ages I will never like it.
dnf
June 19, 2024DNF @ pg. 91
This book was a lot of fun until it wasn't. It was a great bodice ripper with fun banter and a wonderful fiery heroine with a bad temper, but the chapter with the brutal gang r@pe and murder of an enslaved woman was just too much for me! :( It was definitely accurate to the historical atrocities perpetuated on enslaved women, but it just felt overwhelming when it was followed by another really tragic murder.
Will try another book by this author, though, apparently they are not all like this! And I liked everything before it got too much for me.
This book was a lot of fun until it wasn't. It was a great bodice ripper with fun banter and a wonderful fiery heroine with a bad temper, but the chapter with the brutal gang r@pe and murder of an enslaved woman was just too much for me! :( It was definitely accurate to the historical atrocities perpetuated on enslaved women, but it just felt overwhelming when it was followed by another really tragic murder.
Will try another book by this author, though, apparently they are not all like this! And I liked everything before it got too much for me.
did-not-finish
June 13, 2024BR with Corvina Q
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We decided not to continue after chapter 4 (very traumatic content).
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We decided not to continue after chapter 4 (very traumatic content).
September 10, 2018
If you can stomach the first 60 or so pages of Elise being a spoiled, annoying, immature teenager that shrieks her every criticism or discontent, this is a really intense bodice ripper worth your time. Elise is really evolves over the course of the book into a thick skinned survivor that dishes out as much shit as she takes. She in fact has some of the best barbs and put downs in the book when faced with her love/hate interest, Garth or any of her collection of antagonists. Whether she is facing rape, pirates, scandal, being sold into slavery, torture, beatings, war, or trial for murder, she manages to keep her spirit and eventually save herself. The other perspective of this survivor's tale is that this is one of the darker bodice rippers I've read since the female protagonist is put through relentless tormenting experiences and hell with very brief reprieve for romance. I don't see Garth as being as cold as some other reviewers have assessed, but he is less of an alpha and more of a lovable asshole who flirts through teasing and bullying banter. Elise is his equal in spirit, drive, courage and hunger for adventure, but he doesn't know how to express or process his feelings towards her so it comes out as shallow lust or put downs. He takes way longer to mature in his communication but I don't take this as a significant downside to his character. It made him human and very realistic. He comes around eventually.
So much story and action is packed into 600 pages and about a decade of time passes but it never drags or feels like filler. If I had to make a complaint, it would be that like many bodice rippers or romance novels of this period, there are not very many women supporting other women in this story unless they are old maids. Nearly every woman Elise encounters that is her peer hates her out of jealousy or competition. It would've been nice to see Elise make a friend who wasn't a dude.
So much story and action is packed into 600 pages and about a decade of time passes but it never drags or feels like filler. If I had to make a complaint, it would be that like many bodice rippers or romance novels of this period, there are not very many women supporting other women in this story unless they are old maids. Nearly every woman Elise encounters that is her peer hates her out of jealousy or competition. It would've been nice to see Elise make a friend who wasn't a dude.
January 30, 2014
So this book is as old as I am. Really.
For years, when I have talked about reading, my mother has brought up this book as if it was the only book she ever read. Finally, I promised that I would read it... and was able to obtain a copy.
The story is about a privileged woman, who after being raped, was forced into marriage with the man who did it - after a traumatic sea voyage, she tries to make a life for herself in America, but faces hardship after hardship which she must overcome.
What I discovered was that this book is an enigma to me.
I didn't find either "main" character particularly likeable. Elise was spoiled and bratty, then after being tormented as she was, she could still only muster hostility toward this man that she supposedly loved. Garth was an abusive, jealous, untrusting monster.
Other than my dismay over the main characters (I mean, why did I care what happened to them?? Except I totally DID!) I felt that the ending was abrupt. It felt more like an epilogue than a "next chapter."
In spite of that, I could not read it fast enough. It was stressful, upsetting at times, and action-packed. As it was a historical novel, it obviously held up nearly 37 years after being published. I actually really liked the pirates (the good ones).
I equate it to Bertrice Small's (well most of her books, but mainly) Skye O'Malley series. They even have a similar beginning.
I think that if you like books of overcoming adversity and finding personal strength, you'd like this. I think if you like adventure-y romances, you'd like this. It's also good for fans of historical romances.
For years, when I have talked about reading, my mother has brought up this book as if it was the only book she ever read. Finally, I promised that I would read it... and was able to obtain a copy.
The story is about a privileged woman, who after being raped, was forced into marriage with the man who did it - after a traumatic sea voyage, she tries to make a life for herself in America, but faces hardship after hardship which she must overcome.
What I discovered was that this book is an enigma to me.
I didn't find either "main" character particularly likeable. Elise was spoiled and bratty, then after being tormented as she was, she could still only muster hostility toward this man that she supposedly loved. Garth was an abusive, jealous, untrusting monster.
Other than my dismay over the main characters (I mean, why did I care what happened to them?? Except I totally DID!) I felt that the ending was abrupt. It felt more like an epilogue than a "next chapter."
In spite of that, I could not read it fast enough. It was stressful, upsetting at times, and action-packed. As it was a historical novel, it obviously held up nearly 37 years after being published. I actually really liked the pirates (the good ones).
I equate it to Bertrice Small's (well most of her books, but mainly) Skye O'Malley series. They even have a similar beginning.
I think that if you like books of overcoming adversity and finding personal strength, you'd like this. I think if you like adventure-y romances, you'd like this. It's also good for fans of historical romances.
April 25, 2023
When this book was good it was great and when it wasn't it was painful. This book could have used an editor and cut down one or two of the arcs in this book reducing the page count to probably 400ish pages. Definitely a book that pretty much screams "take me as I am, or don't take me at all". I guess I never really bought the romance between Elise and Garth. He treated her horribly, like he is literally the worst. I loved Elise though, she starts out brash, naïve, and young, very much so a pampered 17 year old French aristocrat. After all of the trials she endures in this book, she develops into a strong and independent young woman. I wish she wouldn't have fallen in love with Garth. Garth is pretty bad, he is a southern, white plantation owner, chauvinistic, a***. He doesn't really even show remorse for all the suffering he directly or indirectly caused Elise.
This story was a tale of epic proportions though. I liked all of the interesting places and people Elise encounters. Elise pretty much goes through her own version of Homer's Odyssey, where Elise is Odysseus. She has to go through all sorts of trials and tribulations before she makes it back to France.
Side note, I liked the pirates, because pirates are cool. I also liked the fight between Lafitte and Garth. The whole "I am going to send you to Hell" and "Only if you hold the door open" back and forth was great. This book has great banter.
Major trigger warnings through out this book: rape, violence, slavery, and pretty much if you can think of it, it's in this book.
This story was a tale of epic proportions though. I liked all of the interesting places and people Elise encounters. Elise pretty much goes through her own version of Homer's Odyssey, where Elise is Odysseus. She has to go through all sorts of trials and tribulations before she makes it back to France.
Side note, I liked the pirates, because pirates are cool. I also liked the fight between Lafitte and Garth. The whole "I am going to send you to Hell" and "Only if you hold the door open" back and forth was great. This book has great banter.
Major trigger warnings through out this book: rape, violence, slavery, and pretty much if you can think of it, it's in this book.
May 1, 2023
self note
"not safe; Elise is raped by multiple men, becomes the mistress of a pirate (Jean), marries another man (Jacques), and Garth was married to another woman when he first met Elise. "
- H was married to the ow for most of the book.
Best part of the book is during their last separation (3 years), the h slept with multiple men (not raped).
"not safe; Elise is raped by multiple men, becomes the mistress of a pirate (Jean), marries another man (Jacques), and Garth was married to another woman when he first met Elise. "
- H was married to the ow for most of the book.
Best part of the book is during their last separation (3 years), the h slept with multiple men (not raped).
July 5, 2011
I agree with many of the reviews Ive read about this book - Ive not quite read anyhting like it before lol - Having said that I did love it - It was just non stop - one thing after the other after the other - and I did hear myself cry "oh come ON!!! - Not again" on a couple of occasions - but having said that - I know I shouldnt - but i really really enjoyed it lol.
February 22, 2024
Bodice-rippers are not for the weak. I’ve fairly new to the genre. The sheer amount of violence, sadistic brutality and rape I’ve read about make this book akin to a psychological historical thriller rather than any kind of romance, dark or otherwise.
I was kind of at a loss for words after finishing this novel. If I take this as a story of the strength, resilience and survival of a young woman through the viciousness of war and pirating in the 1800s, then this is the most touching piece of work I’ve had the privilege of reading. I had to put the book down a few times because I couldn’t fathom the utter torture, violence and grief this women was forced to endure at such a young age, in such a brief period of time. Her resilience was empowering. When she was tired of being bested by sick men, she tricked pirates into teaching her how to fence and shoot pistols. She learned to manage accounts and learned how to manage a plantation so that she could earn her keep and retain her independence (which she sadly never got).
If taken as a love story then I think this shit fails so miserable at that. The anti-hero main lead, Garth is just so utterly irredeemable , so unfathomable awful and undeserving of any goodness. He’s not even one of those villains who would sacrifice or aid the Heroine. He’s so disgustingly selfish and self-serving. When he does deem to offer some deference to Elise, like letting her stay at the first slaver’s ship, his lazy efforts are a pittance overshadowed by his ulterior motives, aka sleeping with Elise.
He didn’t even wanna divorce his wife for Elise. All he ever did was beg her to be his mistress and I’m pissed he almost convinced her.
Then, fast forward 3 years, and apparently off-page he develops all the wisdom and clarity needed to be a father and husband??? Fuck off with that shit.
I was especially furious at Garth, cause JEAN existed. Jean who didn’t rape Elise. Jean who loved Elise without expectation. Jean who helped Elise heal from her grieve. Jean who was always there for Elise. Jean who believed Elise was innocent and send agents to search for her— MEANWHILE THAT DUMB MOTHERFUCKER GARTH BELIEVED THE LIES AND WENT ON THINKING ELISE A MURDERESS.
And don’t forget JOSEPH . Sweet, sweet, honourable Joseph who was the only one brave enough to threaten Garth for hurting Elise, who threatened Garth and demanded he respect Elise. My goodness, Joseph deserved everything!!!!!!!!!!
Garth is just not my kind of hero, and I have not even an ounce of belief that he’s ever stay faithful to Elise, no matter what he promised her.
Before-reading:
WHY is it so difficult or expensive to get bodice-rippers here in Canada??😭 I’ve spent more money on torn, musty, yellowing bodice-rippers than I ever thought I would ever spent on even new physical books 🥹
I was kind of at a loss for words after finishing this novel. If I take this as a story of the strength, resilience and survival of a young woman through the viciousness of war and pirating in the 1800s, then this is the most touching piece of work I’ve had the privilege of reading. I had to put the book down a few times because I couldn’t fathom the utter torture, violence and grief this women was forced to endure at such a young age, in such a brief period of time. Her resilience was empowering. When she was tired of being bested by sick men, she tricked pirates into teaching her how to fence and shoot pistols. She learned to manage accounts and learned how to manage a plantation so that she could earn her keep and retain her independence (which she sadly never got).
If taken as a love story then I think this shit fails so miserable at that. The anti-hero main lead, Garth is just so utterly irredeemable , so unfathomable awful and undeserving of any goodness. He’s not even one of those villains who would sacrifice or aid the Heroine. He’s so disgustingly selfish and self-serving. When he does deem to offer some deference to Elise, like letting her stay at the first slaver’s ship, his lazy efforts are a pittance overshadowed by his ulterior motives, aka sleeping with Elise.
He didn’t even wanna divorce his wife for Elise. All he ever did was beg her to be his mistress and I’m pissed he almost convinced her.
Then, fast forward 3 years, and apparently off-page he develops all the wisdom and clarity needed to be a father and husband??? Fuck off with that shit.
I was especially furious at Garth, cause JEAN existed. Jean who didn’t rape Elise. Jean who loved Elise without expectation. Jean who helped Elise heal from her grieve. Jean who was always there for Elise. Jean who believed Elise was innocent and send agents to search for her— MEANWHILE THAT DUMB MOTHERFUCKER GARTH BELIEVED THE LIES AND WENT ON THINKING ELISE A MURDERESS.
And don’t forget JOSEPH . Sweet, sweet, honourable Joseph who was the only one brave enough to threaten Garth for hurting Elise, who threatened Garth and demanded he respect Elise. My goodness, Joseph deserved everything!!!!!!!!!!
Garth is just not my kind of hero, and I have not even an ounce of belief that he’s ever stay faithful to Elise, no matter what he promised her.
Before-reading:
WHY is it so difficult or expensive to get bodice-rippers here in Canada??😭 I’ve spent more money on torn, musty, yellowing bodice-rippers than I ever thought I would ever spent on even new physical books 🥹
April 6, 2011
From start to end, this book was disturbing. I knew about what to expect with this type of book, however, some scenes are better forgotten. Very graphic.
June 11, 2014
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His fiery blade pierced me
to the quick, but the anguish I felt was beautiful and thrilling.
hahahahaha "His fiery blade"....so good :)
September 14, 2019
This book is so so hard to rate. Why? Firstly, I think people have to appreciate the era in which it was written. There should be no uproar or insult felt on the strong topics of race, slavery, rape, the lack of rights of women in general etc. The book was written and designed to illustrate the abominable treatment of females. Yet it clearly showed that despite females being the “weaker” sex, the heroine was exceptional in overcoming all adversities and being better for it.
Second, despite my intended lack of prejudice to the sensitive scenes involving rape and physical assault, I did find myself cringing quite often in horror. Some parts in the book were more traumatic than others. The only reason the heroine survived was purely on strength of character hence the 4 star rating.
Third, it was so atypical as a romance novel. I think I only felt that the hero could be deserving of the main character at almost 75% into the book. Perhaps a better insight into the driving forces of the hero’s actions or his reactions to the heroine was needed. But then again, it would have decreased the spotlight on the heroine and her life trials so perhaps that was truly not the author’s intention.
Finally, it was great to read an old classic before the world was so hung up on censorship, LGBTS, racism and appropriateness. Begin reading this book with an open-mindfulness and I assure you that you will enjoy it with whiffs reminiscent of Gone with the Wind.
A strong 4 stars.
Second, despite my intended lack of prejudice to the sensitive scenes involving rape and physical assault, I did find myself cringing quite often in horror. Some parts in the book were more traumatic than others. The only reason the heroine survived was purely on strength of character hence the 4 star rating.
Third, it was so atypical as a romance novel. I think I only felt that the hero could be deserving of the main character at almost 75% into the book. Perhaps a better insight into the driving forces of the hero’s actions or his reactions to the heroine was needed. But then again, it would have decreased the spotlight on the heroine and her life trials so perhaps that was truly not the author’s intention.
Finally, it was great to read an old classic before the world was so hung up on censorship, LGBTS, racism and appropriateness. Begin reading this book with an open-mindfulness and I assure you that you will enjoy it with whiffs reminiscent of Gone with the Wind.
A strong 4 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 6, 2017
This book is exactly as problematic as you would expect when it comes to casual racism, misogyny, problematic depictions of black people (and just about everyone, maybe), and sexual violence as written by a white lady in bodice-ripping 1977. Other reviewers have already covered this in detail.
What I wasn't expecting was for this to be a real page-turner and to be cheering on Elise. Sure, she still ends up with the wrong guy (c'mon Jean!!!!), but along the way she buckles down and she's a tough survivor. In a nice change of pace, all of her anger and fear and rants throughout the book about men are speaking for a modern day reader and totally justified. She says just about everything you ever wish one of these stupid romance heroines would say when faced with controlling abusive shitty behavior. I was still hoping for a different ending, but I got what I got, which was an entertaining read that exceeded my low expectations.
What I wasn't expecting was for this to be a real page-turner and to be cheering on Elise. Sure, she still ends up with the wrong guy (c'mon Jean!!!!), but along the way she buckles down and she's a tough survivor. In a nice change of pace, all of her anger and fear and rants throughout the book about men are speaking for a modern day reader and totally justified. She says just about everything you ever wish one of these stupid romance heroines would say when faced with controlling abusive shitty behavior. I was still hoping for a different ending, but I got what I got, which was an entertaining read that exceeded my low expectations.
April 17, 2020
What can I say? I loved this hot mess, all 600 pages full of sheer entertainment. Review to come!
November 8, 2010
First of all, I really liked this book. It was so over the top LOL funny in some spots. Oh the drama of the heroine, Elise, throughout the book never stops. On pages 343-344, the MIL had cut up the dress she was to wear to the ball, so in response she wears a sheer flimsy black nightie and sticks roses in her cleavage. The Hero isn't really much of one and he along with many other unsavory characters rape her. In fact, Elise is raped more times in this book than any other book I have ever read including Stormfire. Jean LaFitte, who is a soft hearted pirate, was a more endearing character than than Garth. Despite it all, it was a good read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 8, 2013
I'm at a total loss as to how to rate this book. I loved it. I hated it. I cried. I was annoyed. I was disgusted. There was a lot of eye rolling and I wanted to throw the book several times. This is definitely not a happy story or joyful romance. I never understood Elise or Garth... they have to be the most idiotic stubborn couple I have ever read about. But no matter how aggravating, it kept me interrupted until the end.
April 21, 2012
Loved this book! Read it 3x starting in High School thru my mid 20's I'm not bi on love stories but I loved this1
June 25, 2014
Got annoyed - ended up just skimming...
October 27, 2023
Published at the height of the bodice ripper craze, "Savage Surrender" fulfills all the requirements of the genre, but falls frustratingly short. The novel follows a bruising relationship from 1810-1818 between Elise Lesconflair, a spoiled and pampered French aristocrat and Garth McClelland, an older American adventurer and sometime spy. Written in the first-person, à la Jennifer Wilde, who provided an enthusiastic blurb for the novel, "Savage Surrender" is one of those books where a lot happens: Elise and Garth's first meeting is followed by a rape, a forced marriage and then a host of catastrophes, most of which fall on Elise in between sparring with Garth, who disappears for stretches, then returns to rape her and utter Rhett Gable-like sneers before the next degradation occurs. Elise endures a slave ship; an interlude with pirates; a misguided marriage; kidnaping; slavery; multiple rapes; and multiple brushes with death. Meanwhile, events like the Battle of New Orleans and the fall of Napoleon drift by in the background. Frustratingly, the novel shows glimpses of possibility. Peters tries to infuse a spirit of feminism into Elise, who gets in some good ripostes to Garth and who refuses to be a victim, despite all the things that happen to her. In that sense, there is a kinship to Rosemary Rogers' Marisa in "Wicked Loving Lies," who, in what is one of the most memorable instances of the genre, basically and deservedly tells off the hero (and the reader) for judging her or for looking down on her. But unlike the antiheroes of early Kathleen E. Woodiwiss, Rosemary Rogers, or Christine Monson, Garth is so unheroic and so cardboard that he goes beyond alpha to silly. Also, the catalogue of misfortunes that befall Elise are just one too many, so that they wind up merely being excessive, with prose by a writer who is too smart and too talented to fall into campy excess or parody, as was the case with Janette Seymour (aka Michael Butterfield). While all fans of the first generation of historical romance should still consider reading "Savage Surrender" for completeness, it is more enjoyable as a flawed classic than as a standout example of the period.
July 15, 2025
Oh, how I absolutely loved this. 😭😭😭 This has to be one of my favorite romances I’ve ever read. And it’s so jam packed with action and adventure. It kicks off at 100 miles an hour and keeps going that way the entire book.
Garth is one of the most horrendous MMCs I’ve ever read and dear lord do I LOVE him. He is not for the faint of heart. The man is an outright rapist, so like, be warned. I have no idea how Natasha Peters made him likable and made me root for them to be together. Even after he did things that made me hate him, I always ended up forgiving him, just like Elise.
One of my favorite scenes from when Elise is allegedly (not really) whoring her way around New Orleans and he is unfathomably jealous:
”I could strangle you," he said through his teeth. "I could twist your little head right off your stupid neck. You're nothing but a slut, a brainless flirt—"
I raked my fingernails across his naked back and sank my teeth into his shoulder. He writhed and ground his loins into mine.
"Slut." He pressed his hands around my throat. "You don't accept gifts from me because you're the first woman I've ever met who has a fair idea of her own worth," he hissed. "You're nothing, Elise. I should have tossed you to the sharks long ago."
A spark of anger flickered through me. "You did. You tossed me to human sharks and I survived. I came back from the dead, Garth, and I'll haunt you. You'll never be free of me. Never."
THEIR LOVE WAS SO SICK AND TWISTED. They played such horrible mind games with each other right up until the very end. And ugh, the ending was so perfect. When he asked her to be his mistress I was READY TO SCREAM like EIGHT YEARS OF THIS GAME WASN’T ENOUGH FOR YOU, GARTH??? But he was, of course, just messing with her.
Oh lord. Such a beautiful story. An absolute masterpiece. 😭😭😭😭
Garth is one of the most horrendous MMCs I’ve ever read and dear lord do I LOVE him. He is not for the faint of heart. The man is an outright rapist, so like, be warned. I have no idea how Natasha Peters made him likable and made me root for them to be together. Even after he did things that made me hate him, I always ended up forgiving him, just like Elise.
One of my favorite scenes from when Elise is allegedly (not really) whoring her way around New Orleans and he is unfathomably jealous:
”I could strangle you," he said through his teeth. "I could twist your little head right off your stupid neck. You're nothing but a slut, a brainless flirt—"
I raked my fingernails across his naked back and sank my teeth into his shoulder. He writhed and ground his loins into mine.
"Slut." He pressed his hands around my throat. "You don't accept gifts from me because you're the first woman I've ever met who has a fair idea of her own worth," he hissed. "You're nothing, Elise. I should have tossed you to the sharks long ago."
A spark of anger flickered through me. "You did. You tossed me to human sharks and I survived. I came back from the dead, Garth, and I'll haunt you. You'll never be free of me. Never."
THEIR LOVE WAS SO SICK AND TWISTED. They played such horrible mind games with each other right up until the very end. And ugh, the ending was so perfect. When he asked her to be his mistress I was READY TO SCREAM like EIGHT YEARS OF THIS GAME WASN’T ENOUGH FOR YOU, GARTH??? But he was, of course, just messing with her.
Oh lord. Such a beautiful story. An absolute masterpiece. 😭😭😭😭
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