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Desire and Surrender
After Alejandro de Bastitas returns to his ancestral home in Texas and agrees to an arranged marriage, he meets Angelique DuHon, the beautiful cousin of his new bride, and the two fall in love
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1986
2 people are currently reading
90 people want to read
About the author
Katherine Sutcliffe
42 books75 followersKatherine Sutcliffe was born an only child in East Texas. After working for a time at an oil company and as a headhunter for a computer personnel company, Sutcliffe decided in 1982 to quit her job and attempt to write a novel. Three years later she sold her first book, Desire and Surrender to Avon Books. She works eight hours a day, five to seven months a year. Sutcliffe also attempts to find a single CD that will provide inspiration during the writing of each book. In the past, she has used the soundtrack to Somewhere in Time and Kitarō's Silk Road.
In 1995 and 1996, Sutcliffe worked as the Consultant Head Writer for the soap operas As The World Turns and Another World. Sutcliffe was offered the job after Bill Graham, who searched for writers for Proctor and Gamble, mentioned to his wife that they wanted to refocus the soap opera stories on romance. His wife, who loved Sutcliffe's book, insisted that he contact her. During her time as a soap opera writer, she concentrated on developing the six-month story lines, which the breakdown writers would then develop into dialogue and individual scenes for the show. During this time frame, Sutcliffe also made a guest appearance on Another World, playing herself. She resigned from her position after the networks began to insist that she move to New York City to be more accessible.
Her historical romance, Notorious, sold out its first printing in a mere four days.
Sutcliffe lives near Dallas, Texas. She met her husband, an English geologist, while they worked for the same oil company. They have three children, Bryan, Rachel, and Lauren. Sutcliffe also raises and shows Arabian horses.
In 1995 and 1996, Sutcliffe worked as the Consultant Head Writer for the soap operas As The World Turns and Another World. Sutcliffe was offered the job after Bill Graham, who searched for writers for Proctor and Gamble, mentioned to his wife that they wanted to refocus the soap opera stories on romance. His wife, who loved Sutcliffe's book, insisted that he contact her. During her time as a soap opera writer, she concentrated on developing the six-month story lines, which the breakdown writers would then develop into dialogue and individual scenes for the show. During this time frame, Sutcliffe also made a guest appearance on Another World, playing herself. She resigned from her position after the networks began to insist that she move to New York City to be more accessible.
Her historical romance, Notorious, sold out its first printing in a mere four days.
Sutcliffe lives near Dallas, Texas. She met her husband, an English geologist, while they worked for the same oil company. They have three children, Bryan, Rachel, and Lauren. Sutcliffe also raises and shows Arabian horses.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 26, 2009
I have liked the four Sutcliffe novels I have read in the past for the most part. This book has been sitting on my TBR for yrs just because KS wrote it but I wish I had done my research more and realized that this was Sutcliffe's first novel.
It reads like a first novel with weird jumps in the storytelling and the action and there were a few sentences that just didn't make sense.
It also had a LOT of the aspects of the old skool hystericals i dont miss:
We have the beautiful innocent 18 year old (fourteen years younger than the hero).
We have a revolutionary war in the background.
We have Purple Prose.
We have random acts of violence (Commanche raid & capture, the Alamo).
We have heaving bosoms, oh excuse me, I meant "heaving decolletage" (page 85).
We have Bodice-Ripping (well technically, shirt ripping and dress slicing).
We have Forced Sex.
We have sex early on in the story.
We have Big Secret and Big Misunderstanding.
This was published in 1986 through the Avon "Ribbons" line, recognizable through the "ribbons" in the left upper corner of the cover. By 1986, historical romances were moving away from these bodice-rippers. Laura Kinsale made her debut in 1986 through this same Avon "Ribbons" line with her HIDDEN HEART which was NOT a bodice-ripper. By 1986, Catherine Coulter was already writing her comedic historicals which has less violence and epic scope.
Putting aside how "dated" this book might have been even back then, it was just not a good book. Weird jumps in the telling of the action: the heroine is standing there one moment, the next she has bashed the hero repeatedly with a poker in her hand. Huh? The balance between the romance and the history (the Alamo) gave me whiplash with its starts and stops. Also, the book went into Bat Sh!t Crazy territory when the grandfather of the hero shot the hero in both of his legs in cold blood just because of his politics and there was little punishment for his actions. WTF? The hero actually says later on that he will try to forgive him.
Every once in a while, especially toward the end, I did come across the wonderful emotional story-telling that I remember KS doing so well. It elevated the book from being the 1 or 2-Star read it was through most of this novel to 3-Stars but just barely.
It reads like a first novel with weird jumps in the storytelling and the action and there were a few sentences that just didn't make sense.
It also had a LOT of the aspects of the old skool hystericals i dont miss:
We have the beautiful innocent 18 year old (fourteen years younger than the hero).
We have a revolutionary war in the background.
We have Purple Prose.
We have random acts of violence (Commanche raid & capture, the Alamo).
We have heaving bosoms, oh excuse me, I meant "heaving decolletage" (page 85).
We have Bodice-Ripping (well technically, shirt ripping and dress slicing).
We have Forced Sex.
We have sex early on in the story.
We have Big Secret and Big Misunderstanding.
This was published in 1986 through the Avon "Ribbons" line, recognizable through the "ribbons" in the left upper corner of the cover. By 1986, historical romances were moving away from these bodice-rippers. Laura Kinsale made her debut in 1986 through this same Avon "Ribbons" line with her HIDDEN HEART which was NOT a bodice-ripper. By 1986, Catherine Coulter was already writing her comedic historicals which has less violence and epic scope.
Putting aside how "dated" this book might have been even back then, it was just not a good book. Weird jumps in the telling of the action: the heroine is standing there one moment, the next she has bashed the hero repeatedly with a poker in her hand. Huh? The balance between the romance and the history (the Alamo) gave me whiplash with its starts and stops. Also, the book went into Bat Sh!t Crazy territory when the grandfather of the hero shot the hero in both of his legs in cold blood just because of his politics and there was little punishment for his actions. WTF? The hero actually says later on that he will try to forgive him.
Every once in a while, especially toward the end, I did come across the wonderful emotional story-telling that I remember KS doing so well. It elevated the book from being the 1 or 2-Star read it was through most of this novel to 3-Stars but just barely.
April 26, 2009
*************2.5 stars***************
This book was pretty frustrating to read because for everything the author did right, she would do something to completely screw up the story. The book is representative of a typical 80's/early 90's historical romance with the cruel hero and young innocent heroine.
Pros of the story:
-Interesting setting and storyline: set in Texas during the beginning of the Mexican War in 1830's with a Spanish family who is caught in the middle of the war with conflicting loyalties. The hero is pro-Texas while his cruel grandfather is pro-Mexico.
-Love the idea of a Spanish hero. The hero is a very interesting character but his actions toward the heroine almost ruin the story.
-There was a very interesting bull fight scene that was written very well.
-There were points where the story was very interesting and pulled you in - this was usually followed by a very frustrating big misunderstanding.
Cons of the story:
-The hero uses "forced seduction" on the heroine multiple times during the story. There is one VERY disturbing scene that was rape to me: The heroine had just been kidnapped by the Comanche and had witnessed the murder of her aunt and uncle then the brutal rape and murder of her female cousin. After she is "miracuously" rescued by the hero, instead of comforting her he gets angry at himself for feeling sorry for her and forces her to have sex with him. Of course she resists at first but then is "overcome" by lustfull urges and goes along with it. The scene almost made me stop reading the book.
-There was an ongoing BIG MISUNDERSTANDING that was so frustrating because it could have been explained at any time. There were a few points where the heroine outright asked the hero and her mother what it was about and they wouldn't answer her. So of course right after the hero and heroine were finally married and supposedly in love, she finds out about it - but won't listen to details or an explaination from him, she just vows her hatred for the hero.
-Cue a few more misunderstandings, then the heroine suddenly decides she loves the hero, chases after him onto a battlefield and declares her undying love. This happens about five pages before the end of the book.
This book was mostly frustrating because the couple never spend anytime in the book actually together. They lust after each other, make hateful comments toward each other, become overcome by lust and shag, then que the big misunderstanding and hatred. Rinse and repeat a few times until an eternal love declaration about five pages before the end that we are supposed to believe. There is hardly any tenderness between the couple at all.
The book is getting 2.5 stars from me based on the good parts of the story and the interesting setting. If you hate big misunderstandings and forced seductions, stay far away from this book. If you think 80's bodice rippers are the best thing ever - then give this one a whirl.
This book was pretty frustrating to read because for everything the author did right, she would do something to completely screw up the story. The book is representative of a typical 80's/early 90's historical romance with the cruel hero and young innocent heroine.
Pros of the story:
-Interesting setting and storyline: set in Texas during the beginning of the Mexican War in 1830's with a Spanish family who is caught in the middle of the war with conflicting loyalties. The hero is pro-Texas while his cruel grandfather is pro-Mexico.
-Love the idea of a Spanish hero. The hero is a very interesting character but his actions toward the heroine almost ruin the story.
-There was a very interesting bull fight scene that was written very well.
-There were points where the story was very interesting and pulled you in - this was usually followed by a very frustrating big misunderstanding.
Cons of the story:
-The hero uses "forced seduction" on the heroine multiple times during the story. There is one VERY disturbing scene that was rape to me: The heroine had just been kidnapped by the Comanche and had witnessed the murder of her aunt and uncle then the brutal rape and murder of her female cousin. After she is "miracuously" rescued by the hero, instead of comforting her he gets angry at himself for feeling sorry for her and forces her to have sex with him. Of course she resists at first but then is "overcome" by lustfull urges and goes along with it. The scene almost made me stop reading the book.
-There was an ongoing BIG MISUNDERSTANDING that was so frustrating because it could have been explained at any time. There were a few points where the heroine outright asked the hero and her mother what it was about and they wouldn't answer her. So of course right after the hero and heroine were finally married and supposedly in love, she finds out about it - but won't listen to details or an explaination from him, she just vows her hatred for the hero.
-Cue a few more misunderstandings, then the heroine suddenly decides she loves the hero, chases after him onto a battlefield and declares her undying love. This happens about five pages before the end of the book.
This book was mostly frustrating because the couple never spend anytime in the book actually together. They lust after each other, make hateful comments toward each other, become overcome by lust and shag, then que the big misunderstanding and hatred. Rinse and repeat a few times until an eternal love declaration about five pages before the end that we are supposed to believe. There is hardly any tenderness between the couple at all.
The book is getting 2.5 stars from me based on the good parts of the story and the interesting setting. If you hate big misunderstandings and forced seductions, stay far away from this book. If you think 80's bodice rippers are the best thing ever - then give this one a whirl.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 8, 2021
Бая зле и съвсем през пръсти.
Обстановката в интересна - Тексас, Аламо, генерал Санта Ана, 1830 г., испанци и французи.
Яко е, че в сюжета липсва “голямото недоразумение”, което лично мен ме разсмива с опитите за разтягане на локуми. Не, тук си има истинско престъпление, доказано и недвусмислено, което е предпоставка за силен сюжет.
Обаче героите! Много зле и неадекватни реакции. И накрая жертвата се извинява на убиеца! Чудя се наистина ли навремето чак толкова не са считали дуелите за истинско убийство? Едва ли, предизвиквало е ответни реакции, просто авторката я е мързяло. А изневерите? Чак толкова едностранчива трактовка не бях срещала.
Сюжетът с право е сред забравените.
Обстановката в интересна - Тексас, Аламо, генерал Санта Ана, 1830 г., испанци и французи.
Яко е, че в сюжета липсва “голямото недоразумение”, което лично мен ме разсмива с опитите за разтягане на локуми. Не, тук си има истинско престъпление, доказано и недвусмислено, което е предпоставка за силен сюжет.
Обаче героите! Много зле и неадекватни реакции. И накрая жертвата се извинява на убиеца! Чудя се наистина ли навремето чак толкова не са считали дуелите за истинско убийство? Едва ли, предизвиквало е ответни реакции, просто авторката я е мързяло. А изневерите? Чак толкова едностранчива трактовка не бях срещала.
Сюжетът с право е сред забравените.
November 13, 2015
I am seriously behind on reviews, so I'm going short and sweet and let my shelves do the talking. Hero is a jerk, heroine can't stay put and no sexual chemistry between them. All that and prose like this:
"The shared moment was a communion beyond limit. It lifted them both, brought them together in a storm of such shattering fulfillment they each cried out from the painful, wondrous magic."
"The shared moment was a communion beyond limit. It lifted them both, brought them together in a storm of such shattering fulfillment they each cried out from the painful, wondrous magic."
October 16, 2014
Liked the conflicts among family members with some in favor of Texas and the patriarch grandfather was for Mexico in the battle for Texas independence. Impressed with the grandmother Isabella and friend Noble McGuire. Not happy with the outcome of hero's brother Tomas because I liked him, not impressed with mother Carlota and her desire to keep quiet and continue the conflicts, disliked how Angelique was so willing to give in to Alejandro sexually immediately, and had a hard time with their quick tempers and lack of wanting to hear the real truth even with each other.
June 25, 2009
This book was the best book I've read. I loved it so much that I named my oldest son after the character Alejandro. I would receommend this book to anyone who loves forbidden love and history.
September 21, 2010
Sweet romance culminating with the battle at the Alamo. Family conflicts, alpha male wants girl. I enjoyed it although it's not one of Sutcliffe's best.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews