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Russian/Kuzan Family #3
Surrender To You
An illicit affair ignites just as a nation threatens to fall apart.
Beneath her demure exterior, Kitty Radacheck harbours a fierce sensuality, untapped by a powerful husband she can never love. When an exuberant midnight romp leads to a stolen kiss from the mischievous young cavalry captain Apollo Kuzan, Kitty finds herself victim to a passion so devastating she can't keep herself away from his body, or out of his bed.
Apollo, in turn, knows that Kitty is off-limits, but he too finds himself unable to resist her charms. As the two come together for night after night of savage passion, their reckless liaison could cost them more than just Kitty's marriage – it could change the whole fate of the country Apollo is fighting to save.
C.C. Gibbs was born and lives in the USA. She is the author of over 40 romance and erotica novels, including the recent bestsellers Knight’s Mistress and Knight’s Game. Many of her novels were originally published under the name Susan Johnson.
This book is intended for mature audiences.
Beneath her demure exterior, Kitty Radacheck harbours a fierce sensuality, untapped by a powerful husband she can never love. When an exuberant midnight romp leads to a stolen kiss from the mischievous young cavalry captain Apollo Kuzan, Kitty finds herself victim to a passion so devastating she can't keep herself away from his body, or out of his bed.
Apollo, in turn, knows that Kitty is off-limits, but he too finds himself unable to resist her charms. As the two come together for night after night of savage passion, their reckless liaison could cost them more than just Kitty's marriage – it could change the whole fate of the country Apollo is fighting to save.
C.C. Gibbs was born and lives in the USA. She is the author of over 40 romance and erotica novels, including the recent bestsellers Knight’s Mistress and Knight’s Game. Many of her novels were originally published under the name Susan Johnson.
This book is intended for mature audiences.
290 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1985
13 people are currently reading
280 people want to read
About the author
Susan Johnson
268 books576 followersAnd it all began rather serendipitously. Long ago, as they say, in another time, when fast food hadn't reached our area and the only shopping was what the feed mill offered, I was reading a book that annoyed me .
My husband was lying beside me in bed, watching TV. Turning to him, I sort of petulantly said, "How the hell did this book get published?"
"If you think you're so smart," he replied, with one eye still on the TV, "why don't you write a book?"
So I did. And very badly.
I've since learned how to do, he said, she said, and a great variety of other adverb heavy, sometimes lengthy explanations of why my characters are saying what they're saying, along with finally coming to an understanding of what things like POV means. Point of View for you non-writers}.
Although, I still don't fully comprehend why it matters if you switch POV and I cavalierly disregard it as much as possible. So while my technical skills have hopefully improved, what hasn't changed is my great joy in writing. There's as much pleasure today in listening to my characters talk while I type as fast as I can, as there was the first time I put dialogue to paper--in long-hand, then, in my leather bound sketch-book.
My husband was lying beside me in bed, watching TV. Turning to him, I sort of petulantly said, "How the hell did this book get published?"
"If you think you're so smart," he replied, with one eye still on the TV, "why don't you write a book?"
So I did. And very badly.
I've since learned how to do, he said, she said, and a great variety of other adverb heavy, sometimes lengthy explanations of why my characters are saying what they're saying, along with finally coming to an understanding of what things like POV means. Point of View for you non-writers}.
Although, I still don't fully comprehend why it matters if you switch POV and I cavalierly disregard it as much as possible. So while my technical skills have hopefully improved, what hasn't changed is my great joy in writing. There's as much pleasure today in listening to my characters talk while I type as fast as I can, as there was the first time I put dialogue to paper--in long-hand, then, in my leather bound sketch-book.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 13, 2016
★★★★! The Russian/Kuzan Family, book 3 of 4. Captain Apollo Kuzan falls for the wife of his general in dangerous war times!
US EDITION SERIES INFO & REVIEW
Russian/Kuzan Family series
Book 3
Formats: Kindle & paperback in both US/UK
The Russian/Kuzan Family series takes us to a less used setting, the Russian Empire following three generations of alpha males with amber eyes. The Kuzan family is Russian Royalty, wealthy beyond belief, entitled, worldly and sophisticated. Their stories will sweep you off your feet with the glittering ballrooms of St. Petersburg and Moscow, hunting lodges in the country, private railroad cars, European shopping excursions and much more…
Susan Johnson aka C.C. Gibbs, is published by different publishers in the US and UK, hence the different titles and covers.
These are stand-alones, but most enjoyed if read in order:
Book 1: (Year 1874)
Seized By Love (US) / At Your Mercy (UK)
Book 2: (Year 1899)
Love Storm (US) / A Storm Of Desire (UK)
Book 3: (Year 1919)
Sweet Love Survive (US) / Surrender To You (UK)
Book 4: (Year 1877)
Golden Paradise (US)
CAPTAIN APOLLO KUZAN: 20 years/Royalty-Prince-army captain/$$$$/gold-blond hair/amber eyes.
KITTY RADACHEK: ~25 years/married/gold hair/green eyes.
Captain Apollo Kuzan (son of book 2) is a rich, sexy handsome prince and army captain who has triumphed on the battlefields as well as in bedrooms - all across Russia.
He knows that Kitty Radachek, the wife of his General, is very much off limits. Besides but this is not the time for romance. It’s 1919 and Europe has been wrecked by WWI and Russia is in turmoil.
Yet their attraction is electric and instantaneous. Their story is charged with danger and suspense!
It was interesting to read a book from this era. Of all the books I read I can only recall 7 books from the early part of the 20th century, but none from Russia. Though I did not rate this book and hero as high as its predecessors it’s still a 4-star book and an excellent read. If nothing else read it for the legacy of the Kuzan family that Apollo represents.
***
Hero rating: 4 stars
Heroine rating: 3.5 stars
Sex scenes rating: 4.5 stars
Sex scenes frequency: 4 stars
Storyline concept rating: 4 stars
Storytelling skills rating: 5 stars
Story ending rating: 4.5 stars
******************************
Overall rating: 4 stars
Would I recommend this series: Yes.
Would I re-read this series: Yes.
Would I read future books by this author: Yes.
Be sure to join CCGibbsFANS here on GR for the latest news:
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
(Public group for members 18 years and older)
August 15, 2017
★★★★! The Russian/Kuzan Family, book 3 of 4. Captain Apollo Kuzan falls for the wife of his general in dangerous war times!
UK EDITION SERIES INFO & REVIEW
Russian/Kuzan Family series
Book 3
Formats: Kindle & paperback in both US/UK
The Russian/Kuzan Family series takes us to a less used setting, the Russian Empire following three generations of alpha males with amber eyes. The Kuzan family is Russian Royalty, wealthy beyond belief, entitled, worldly and sophisticated. Their stories will sweep you off your feet with the glittering ballrooms of St. Petersburg and Moscow, hunting lodges in the country, private railroad cars, European shopping excursions and much more…
Susan Johnson aka C.C. Gibbs, is published by different publishers in the US and UK, hence the different titles and covers.
These are stand-alones, but most enjoyed if read in order:
Book 1: (Year 1874)
Seized By Love (US) / At Your Mercy (UK)
Book 2: (Year 1899)
Love Storm (US) / A Storm Of Desire (UK)
Book 3: (Year 1919)
Sweet Love Survive (US) / Surrender To You (UK)
Book 4: (Year 1877)
Golden Paradise (US)
CAPTAIN APOLLO KUZAN: 20 years/Royalty-Prince-army captain/$$$$/gold-blond hair/amber eyes.
KITTY RADACHEK: ~25 years/married/gold hair/green eyes.
Captain Apollo Kuzan (son of book 2) is a rich, sexy handsome prince and army captain who has triumphed on the battlefields as well as in bedrooms - all across Russia.
He knows that Kitty Radachek, the wife of his General, is very much off limits. Besides but this is not the time for romance. It’s 1919 and Europe has been wrecked by WWI and Russia is in turmoil.
Yet their attraction is electric and instantaneous. Their story is charged with danger and suspense!
It was interesting to read a book from this era. Of all the books I read I can only recall 7 books from the early part of the 20th century, but none from Russia. Though I did not rate this book and hero as high as its predecessors it’s still a 4-star book and an excellent read. If nothing else read it for the legacy of the Kuzan family that Apollo represents.
***
Hero rating: 4 stars
Heroine rating: 3.5 stars
Sex scenes rating: 4.5 stars
Sex scenes frequency: 4 stars
Storyline concept rating: 4 stars
Storytelling skills rating: 5 stars
Story ending rating: 4.5 stars
******************************
Overall rating: 4 stars
Would I recommend this series: Yes.
Would I re-read this series: Yes.
Would I read future books by this author: Yes.
Be sure to join CCGibbsFANS here on GR for the latest news:
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
(Public group for members 18 years and older)
March 17, 2021
I've really been enjoying Susan Johnson's Kuzan, Russian family series. With each book, the series seems to get better. At one point, I even thought about giving this book 5 stars (really rare for me)!
Kitty, Countess Radachek, has been married to Peotr, Count Radachek for 3 years when our story starts in Russia, December 1919. It was an arranged marriage by their families. She dreamed of love with her handsome husband, but he doesn't seem to truly see or be interested in her. Unbeknown to her, he already has a mistress and multiple children with that mistress. One night, after a dinner party welcoming the troops home (it's 1919 and Russia is in the middle of its Civil War), Kitty finds Captain Apollo, Prince Kuzan, in her bed. (Her husband had already left with the soldiers to go visit Nadia, one of his favorite paramours.) She goes to take off his boots when he wakes up, still drunk and thinking she's someone else, makes love to her. She resists but only half-heartedly, so it's not rape, but she still feels guilty afterward, as she's never cheated on her husband before. (Apollo reassures himself that it's okay because Peotr has been the opposite of faithful towards Kitty this whole time, though he feels bad because he slept with his General's wife & that's not even a line he wanted to cross!)
They pass 3 blissful days together making love and talking before Apollo has to go catch up with Peotr and the others. During this period of time, they basically fall in love. (That's just the beginning of the novel, lol. Not going to spoil the rest.) This is the first Susan Johnson novel I read where the hero fell in love so quickly with the heroine and there was no forcing him to marry her or any of that other nonsense!!
This was definitely not a book where I wanted to trade places with the heroine, even though Apollo was so godlike and hot because it was very turbulent times for Russia. Knowing the history of what happened under the USSR and all the prison camps for political prisoners and how aristocrats (which they were) were killed, that was definitely not where I would want to be! I was actually surprised they decided to stay in Russia, in the mountains, with Apollo's great-grandfather Iskender-Khan, who became a great-great-grandfather just like that (I was like damn, no one seemed to acknowledge how amazing that was).
I loved how protective & possessive Apollo was over Kitty. I was imagining them together, this beautiful couple with beautiful, golden hair. I loved that name Apollo & was glad that he had golden curly hair, which fit the image too. Another reviewer thought the name seemed really unrealistic for Russia lol. I would have liked to know how old both Apollo & Kitty were. I don't think we ever got that info. Also, if it's not sacrilegious to say, I would have liked a few more descriptive sex scenes--I got that they were doing it a lot, but I didn't get any details, lol.
This book seemed well-researched & historically accurate to me. Obviously, I didn't understand all the details, about the battles and other little things but it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story.
In the end, Apollo & Kitty emigrate to France, thank god. I wonder what happened to Iskender-Khan. Did he die or stay in Russia?
I'm kinda sad the series is over. Yes, I'm aware that there's one more book, but that takes place before this one, in 1877. I liked how the series followed the family through the sons. I never read books first off, set in Russia, but also this time period, so I really appreciated that.
Kitty, Countess Radachek, has been married to Peotr, Count Radachek for 3 years when our story starts in Russia, December 1919. It was an arranged marriage by their families. She dreamed of love with her handsome husband, but he doesn't seem to truly see or be interested in her. Unbeknown to her, he already has a mistress and multiple children with that mistress. One night, after a dinner party welcoming the troops home (it's 1919 and Russia is in the middle of its Civil War), Kitty finds Captain Apollo, Prince Kuzan, in her bed. (Her husband had already left with the soldiers to go visit Nadia, one of his favorite paramours.) She goes to take off his boots when he wakes up, still drunk and thinking she's someone else, makes love to her. She resists but only half-heartedly, so it's not rape, but she still feels guilty afterward, as she's never cheated on her husband before. (Apollo reassures himself that it's okay because Peotr has been the opposite of faithful towards Kitty this whole time, though he feels bad because he slept with his General's wife & that's not even a line he wanted to cross!)
They pass 3 blissful days together making love and talking before Apollo has to go catch up with Peotr and the others. During this period of time, they basically fall in love. (That's just the beginning of the novel, lol. Not going to spoil the rest.) This is the first Susan Johnson novel I read where the hero fell in love so quickly with the heroine and there was no forcing him to marry her or any of that other nonsense!!
This was definitely not a book where I wanted to trade places with the heroine, even though Apollo was so godlike and hot because it was very turbulent times for Russia. Knowing the history of what happened under the USSR and all the prison camps for political prisoners and how aristocrats (which they were) were killed, that was definitely not where I would want to be! I was actually surprised they decided to stay in Russia, in the mountains, with Apollo's great-grandfather Iskender-Khan, who became a great-great-grandfather just like that (I was like damn, no one seemed to acknowledge how amazing that was).
I loved how protective & possessive Apollo was over Kitty. I was imagining them together, this beautiful couple with beautiful, golden hair. I loved that name Apollo & was glad that he had golden curly hair, which fit the image too. Another reviewer thought the name seemed really unrealistic for Russia lol. I would have liked to know how old both Apollo & Kitty were. I don't think we ever got that info. Also, if it's not sacrilegious to say, I would have liked a few more descriptive sex scenes--I got that they were doing it a lot, but I didn't get any details, lol.
This book seemed well-researched & historically accurate to me. Obviously, I didn't understand all the details, about the battles and other little things but it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story.
In the end, Apollo & Kitty emigrate to France, thank god. I wonder what happened to Iskender-Khan. Did he die or stay in Russia?
I'm kinda sad the series is over. Yes, I'm aware that there's one more book, but that takes place before this one, in 1877. I liked how the series followed the family through the sons. I never read books first off, set in Russia, but also this time period, so I really appreciated that.
March 12, 2017
Nachdem ich versuche meinen SUB oder eher meinem RUB (Regal ungelesener Bücher) zu reduzieren, geht es auch den Liebesschnulzen, die ich anno Schnee günstig bei Ebay ersteigert habe, an den Kragen.
Susan Johnsons "Süßer Kuss der Leidenschaft" war für mich aber alles andere als süß.
Generell ist das Russland Setting nicht so meines.
Und nach der ersten Liebesszene bei dem sich der Protagonist Apollo Kuzan der Gattin seines Generals, der Gräfin Kitty Radachek aufdrängt, habe ich den Rest eigentlich großteils überflogen. Nein heißt für mich nein, auch wenn er betrunken war! Auch wenn die Autorin vielleicht den GEfühlszwiespalt der Gräfin, die ja unglücklich verheiratet ist, aufzeigen wollte und sich ihm aber dann doch hingibt weil er so toll ist, hat sie die Szene einfach nicht gut geschrieben. Wenn eine Frau mehrmals nein sagt, ist das für mich auch eine Vergewaltigung, auch wenn es ihr im Endeffekt gefiel. Also ging der Beginn schon mal gar nicht und brachte dem "Helden" alles andere als Sympathiepunkte.
Leider bleib es nicht nur bei der einen Vergewaltigungsszene, so gerät die Gräfin in die Hände eines feindlichen gewalttätigen Generals. Natürlich wird sie dann von Apollo gerettet und tadada - er ist ein Prinz. Mehr zu erzählen habe ich jetzt gar keine Lust.
In meiner damaligen Liebesromanphase ist mir schon mal Buch der Autorin in die Hände geraten, dass mich auch weder inhaltlich noch von der Schreibweise her überzeugen konnte.
Für mich bestand dieses Buch nur aus schlecht geschriebene erotischen Szenen, einer schwache Protagonisten und einem vergewaltigenden sexistischen Held zwischen denen es null Chemie gibt und uninteressantem Kriegsgeschwafel, wer mit wem kämpft.
FAZIT:
-> Absolut nicht lesenswert und leider genau der Grund warum Liebesromane oft so verschrien sind. Weg mit dem Schund! (SUB/RUB 1 weniger)
Susan Johnsons "Süßer Kuss der Leidenschaft" war für mich aber alles andere als süß.
Generell ist das Russland Setting nicht so meines.
Und nach der ersten Liebesszene bei dem sich der Protagonist Apollo Kuzan der Gattin seines Generals, der Gräfin Kitty Radachek aufdrängt, habe ich den Rest eigentlich großteils überflogen. Nein heißt für mich nein, auch wenn er betrunken war! Auch wenn die Autorin vielleicht den GEfühlszwiespalt der Gräfin, die ja unglücklich verheiratet ist, aufzeigen wollte und sich ihm aber dann doch hingibt weil er so toll ist, hat sie die Szene einfach nicht gut geschrieben. Wenn eine Frau mehrmals nein sagt, ist das für mich auch eine Vergewaltigung, auch wenn es ihr im Endeffekt gefiel. Also ging der Beginn schon mal gar nicht und brachte dem "Helden" alles andere als Sympathiepunkte.
Leider bleib es nicht nur bei der einen Vergewaltigungsszene, so gerät die Gräfin in die Hände eines feindlichen gewalttätigen Generals. Natürlich wird sie dann von Apollo gerettet und tadada - er ist ein Prinz. Mehr zu erzählen habe ich jetzt gar keine Lust.
In meiner damaligen Liebesromanphase ist mir schon mal Buch der Autorin in die Hände geraten, dass mich auch weder inhaltlich noch von der Schreibweise her überzeugen konnte.
Für mich bestand dieses Buch nur aus schlecht geschriebene erotischen Szenen, einer schwache Protagonisten und einem vergewaltigenden sexistischen Held zwischen denen es null Chemie gibt und uninteressantem Kriegsgeschwafel, wer mit wem kämpft.
FAZIT:
-> Absolut nicht lesenswert und leider genau der Grund warum Liebesromane oft so verschrien sind. Weg mit dem Schund! (SUB/RUB 1 weniger)
September 2, 2014
UGHHHH. ANOTHER ONE?! Why are all of Susan Johnson's heroines so pathetic and weak in character?! I DON'T UNDERSTAND!? DOES SHE WANT US TO HATE HER BOOKS THAT MUCH?! I have no respect for a woman who cheats and acts like she's innocent, "I never do this. I don't know what came over me. Oh my goodness..." - YEAH, BITCH. OKAY. ACT LIKE YOU'RE AS PURE AS FRESH FALLEN SNOW WHEN WE ALL KNOW YOU'RE DIRTIER THAN THE SNOWBANKS OF JERSEY. Also, how am I supposed to respect a hero who has no self discipline? "He didn't often sleep with his superior officer's wives..." BUT WHEN HE DOES, WHOOOOEYY, HE MAKES SURE TO DO IT 5 TIMES IN A ROW.
Why, why, why am I forced to read such drivel. My heart, my head...ugh. #ocd #gottafinishbookseries #evenwhentheySUCK
Why, why, why am I forced to read such drivel. My heart, my head...ugh. #ocd #gottafinishbookseries #evenwhentheySUCK
April 3, 2025
Basic, hetero, rapey. The author obviously did a lot of research on the setting, but the story is bland and so are the characters. There's no main conflict. I think the idea was that it would be an epic love story where the characters "conquer all," but it fell flat to me. I tried to be along for the ride, but when he sucked on her nipple after the birth of their baby, I was done and just tried to finish it as fast as possible. A woman in the early 1900s, living in the mountains of rural Russia gives birth to a baby and cares for it and allows her man to suck on her nipples? Is she not lactating? Does she not need to recover after having a baby with no medication? No? She's just ready for his probing tongue and throbbing manhood. Ok .. Oh btw, she's not like other girls: she's smart and is interested in farming
March 8, 2019
Apollo is visiting his commander's home after a victory in war. His comrades leave him to go seek pleasure elsewhere. Kitty, the commander's wife finds Apollo in her bed. When she tries to take off his boots, he ceases her and seeks to pleasure her and himself although drunk he thinks she is someone else. Read and see how this continues.
October 31, 2011
good-----
November 13, 2018
Excellent.
July 2, 2024
4.5 stars
Brilliant series and one of a kind
Brilliant series and one of a kind
January 28, 2025
Excellent story
April 16, 2026
#74 - 2026
Genre: Historical Romance, Russia
Genre: Historical Romance, Russia
February 13, 2014
One of my favorites!! A definite recommend :)
May 4, 2008
Book 3 in Kuzan Series. Good.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews