Surrender: A BDSM Workplace Romance

by Christina Sterling

She needed an escape. He needed control. But in a world of secrets and power, giving in might be her only chance to survive.

Serenity has spent her life barely scraping by—trapped in a cycle of poverty, neglect, and fear. When she takes a job at an exclusive, secretive club catering to the city's wealthiest elite, she thinks she’s found a way out. What she doesn’t expect is him.

The White Envelope is a playground for the powerful, a place where dominance and desire collide without judgment. Declan never expected a woman like Serenity—shy, untainted, and completely out of her depth. But when she shows up battered and broken, desperate for sanctuary, his possessive instincts ignite.

If she stays, she’ll have to play by their rules. If she runs, she risks falling into the hands of an even greater danger.

And if she surrenders? She might just find out how much his dark desire can set her free.

Genres: BDSM, Romance

Kindle Edition

Published March 31, 2025

Reviews

[Kaitlynn L · Rating 3 out of 5]

TW: parental abuse, drugs, some violence, and BDSM

This book follows the love story between Serenity and Declan. Serenity is from a family of drug and physical abuse and after a fallout, eventually she had enough. She interviewed at “The Envelope”, the sex club, where she would meet Declan, who is one of the owners of the sex club. This story navigates their story, how close they become, and obstacles that they face.

The book was fun to read and interesting to see the scenery and overall place setting of the book be a part of the DMV, which I am from. I did like the character development from all of the characters and how each of them grew in their own way. I also appreciated the epilogue to see where the characters ended up and also potential new beginnings.

There were some things I did not like about this story. There were some parts that felt rushed in a way that didn’t make sense or came unexpected, in a negative way. The men glorified the idea of virginity. In the novel it mentioned typical romance book cliches that you would normally see, however, in this particular novel, it didn’t really click that well. The writing at some parts were unrealistic and cringey at times, however, I do understand that this is a fun read. I would say that this book in particular would be suited for people who want a good time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Christina Sterling for the opportunity to read an Advanced Reader’s Copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest opinion.

[kymagirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Serenity (h) grew up in chaos. She’s broke, exhausted, and out of options when she takes a job serving drinks at The White Envelope—a members-only underground BDSM club where the rules are clear, and consent is everything. She never expected to catch the eye of Declan (H), the cold, commanding owner who sees right through her defenses. What starts as protection turns into trust. What begins as submission becomes a path to healing. But as Serenity explores her sexuality and confronts her past, she also faces real danger—from jealous rivals, toxic family, and a predator who won’t let go. A dark, steamy, age gap,emotional, and unexpectedly tender erotic romance that follows a young woman’s journey from survival to self-discovery—set inside an exclusive underground kink club—exploring trauma recovery, dominance & submission, found family, healing, self-worth, and the strength it takes to choose yourself first.

[sycokittykat - Stefanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

byWhen a job at a sex club gives you a safe haven

This book was so much fun to read.

We gave Serenity who grew up always wondering where her next meal would come from because her parents preferred booze and drugs. When a friend suggests a job at a sex club to the virgin girl everything gets interesting.

When she ends up running from home the only place she feels she can safely go is the club. When the Madame sees her she immediately takes her in.

However, when the CEO sees her he is immediately interested. So now Serenity finds herself living with the grumpy CEO but she also discovers his protective side. For the first time in her life she allows herself to relax.

This is a story about survival and overcoming those things and people that hold you down. As Serenity finds safety she also finds confidence. However, what she offers the grumpy CEO is so much more.

I'm so in love with these characters and I can't wait to see what's next.

[Feral_n_Rogue Alpha Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surrender - Christina Sterling
Wow! Absolutely Perfect!
This beauty and the beast retelling will have you reading it in one sitting. The story is absolutely perfect from beginning to end. I caught myself giggling and feeling joyful at times but then sweating and worried at other moments. The tension that was building was so very delicious. The progression of the story and setting (BDSM club) is perfection. I loved every moment of the relationship that was built between Serenity and Declan over the chapters, and the dynamic was hot and played out even better than I expected. The character development was insane. I couldn’t have wanted a better situations to play out. Did I cry a little… yes, but they were happy tears. I’m obsessed with this one for sure! Cannot wait for the next one after the little cliffhanger.

[Tiffany Lanier · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is definitely a five star in my opinion. I read the entire book in one day. This is hands down one of the best books that I have read in quite sometimes. I felt like I knew the characters and that I was part of their story. There is some spicy parts in it but it keeps your interest. I love the epilogue at the end and how it told everyone’s “where are they now”. A lot of books leave you hanging and trying to figure out what happened. Christina Sterling, you are amazing and I hope to read more of your books!

[Dani McCulloch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surrender is a story about a woman named Serenity who lived with her parents until recently. She had to leave with the clothes on her back after her step father assaulted her after her hours were cut and she couldn’t fund their drug habit anymore. Serenity turns to the most unlikely people and from here she learns that in order to heal and rest, she needs to surrender a little control to someone else.

I loved Surrender! Serenity is one of the strongest FMCs. She had the odds stacked against her but she just kept going. I loved that Declan knew exactly what she needed, that being a gentle and guiding force in her life would set her free. This book will leave you hot and bothered and healed right along with the characters. Sometimes all you need is someone who cares

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have yet to find a book Christina has written that isn't amazing.
This book follows Serenity and Declan. In their romance, they face a lot of challenges, including mental health. Yet they learn about each other and ensure the other is good at all times. I love how this book has representation for disabilities.

Representation:
❤️ ADHD
❤️ Anxiety Disorder
❤️ Deaf/ HOH

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, I so enjoyed this. Serenity definitely found her match in Declan, who I LOVED. He’s so broody and controlled, which makes him the perfect owner of a BDSM club.
As a Beauty and the Beast retelling all the push and pull of the Classic was there and he truly became a knight in shining armor.
I BLEW through this book and couldn’t put it down to get to the resolution. It’s a perfect example that sometimes when we feel we have nothing, everything we need is right in front of us for the taking.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loving this Beauty and the Beast retelling. Wish I could find a Declan to swoop in and save me from life.

This was my first time reading Christina and she did not disappoint, I will be reading her other books now. 😍

[Pearl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting read. I think my favorite part is how the author handled Serenity’s ADHD and anxiety, I liked seeing her learn to manage it, and I love how Declan was very hands on with helping her with it.

They were times when it felt like the story was going in and out, but overall I really enjoyed it. I do think it would’ve been great to see more of Ella though, especially when Serenity was still adjusting to Declan and The Envelope.

Also, I hope we get books for Daniel, Cassidy, and Harrison!

[Brittany Trynor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bdsm slight or possible triggers for some serenity a women who has anxiety and adhd issues and family problems.. this is hers and Declan story .

[Natasha Durgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me hooked from beginning to end! I love the way Serenity was able to blossom and change into the woman she became.

[Sonia Almeida Dias (Peixinho de Prata) · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an entertaining book. The dynamics between the 2 main characters was fun and interesting. The ending felt a bit ruched and over the top, but apart from that it was a good read.

[Kim Whitehead · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story.

[Sharkie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my Gosh! This book literally made me so happy while reading it. I love everything about it and caught myself giggling at times. I love their character developments, especially Declan and I love that he always did his best to be the best partner for her. I really wish it was possible to read this book for the first time again. I really recommend this book to reader who want spice but balanced with plot, and this book is the epitome of it. This book is spicy beauty and the beast type of story, where the mmc owns a sex club and the fmc works for him:) and it's also a HEA so it's a must-read!

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! Check the trigger warnings - I love the character development for both of the MCs. The strength of their bond is fantastic. I’m super glad I had time to just sit down and read this because I wouldn’t have been able to put it down otherwise. Loved it. It’s on my to-read-again list for sure!

[Kara Daigle · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re looking for a spicy romance that’s full of passion without the darkness, this is the perfect read!

Serenity is on the run from her past with nothing to her name—only to stumble straight into the arms of a beast, or rather, Declan. He’s grumpy, guarded, and impossible to read, but little by little, Serenity begins to break through his walls.

Declan never expected to find love again, but when fate brings him someone who feels like she was made just for him, he’ll stop at nothing to protect her—both from her past and from herself.

I devoured this book in just a few hours and absolutely loved it!

Also, Christina… that cliffhanger epilogue?! I need the next book ASAP!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Jennifer Dawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!!

Couldn't put it down. The relationship between Dec and Serenity is beautifully intense. While their story is not vanilla, it's focused on the growth of the love story and the characters as individuals with their k!nk being just a part of that journey. Can't wait for Daniels story!

[Joleen Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet escape into the story of a broke, innocent girl and the billionaire dom who made her life into a fairytale. I loved their dynamic and how he was her knight in shining armor and then some. Such an easy and exciting read that made my day!!

[Brianna Whittaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ugh.. the way it ends on a cliffhanger drives me nuts ! But I loved this book! The way it had me feel every other emotion. I can’t wait to read more from Christina sterling! 🩵

[Kailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved how this one turned out!! Draws you in from the beginning.

[Ashley Fields · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! Christina Sterling is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.

Serenity and Declan are great together. The chemistry, the care & love, the GROWTH that both of them go through by the end of the story.. oof. So good.

I was lucky enough to snag an ARC for this & binged it in a few hours. Highly recommend!

Side note: I loved the little cameo featuring Rico & Santiago from 'Choices'. 🥰 I wish we saw a little more of them and what they're up to, but it was a nice nod to Christina's other book.

[Michelle Frater · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let’s get one thing straight—if you picked up this book expecting a classic Beauty and the Beast retelling, you’re in for a surprise. The only beastly thing about Declan, our brooding MMC, is his temper. Instead, what we have here is a sizzling, high-stakes billionaire romance with a touch of BDSM and a whole lot of chemistry. Serenity is our virginal (because of course) FMC, trapped in a cycle of poverty thanks to her addict mother and deadbeat stepfather, who treat her as nothing more than a source of income to fuel their habits. Desperate for a way out, she takes her friend Ella’s advice and interviews for a waitressing job at The White Envelope, an exclusive sex club. But when her stepdad turns violent, the club becomes more than just a job, it becomes her refuge. Declan, the club’s enigmatic co-owner, has a strict no relationships rule after a devastating loss, but when he finds Serenity staying in one of the club’s rooms, it’s as if the universe handcrafted his perfect temptation and dropped her right in his lap. And let’s be real, the setup is virtually perfect. A virgin working in a sex club? Forced proximity under Declan’s roof? We know where this is going, and trust me, the slow burn is delicious. I absolutely loved watching Serenity’s shy innocence be replaced by curiosity as she discovered her own desires, with Declan as her ever-so-willing guide. The tension between them is electric, and when it finally ignites? Absolute fireworks. But what truly surprised me was how the power dynamic shifted. As Serenity’s confidence grew, so did her need for something more. She didn’t just want to remain under Declan’s spell, she wanted to see past the dominance and control, to see the man underneath. And that’s where this book really got me. When Declan finally let his walls down, it was Serenity who took a step back, realizing her own worth. Their emotional growth despite their separation, the slow deepening of their connection meant they truly earned their happily ever after. Their reunion, built on something deeper than just physical attraction, just made their love all the sweeter. If you’re looking for a steamy, emotional, and slightly kinky billionaire romance with a heroine who comes into her own and a hero who learns to love again, this one’s a must-read!
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jennifer English · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was everything I didn't know I needed. I've been struggling to read lately, even some of my favorite authors I'm struggling to finish their newest releases. But this book dug its claws in from the very start and didn't let me go until I finished it, all in the same day.

Its based on the premises of it being a Beauty and the Beast retelling, and I can see a few similarities but its not it in the sense of him not really being all that beastly, even in the beginning. Declan is a Dom who has weakness for virgins, Serenity is a poor, abused young woman who happens to be a virgin who comes in to Declan's orbit. When he finds out she is going to be staying at The Envelope he makes the decision that she will stay with him, and he wasn't nice about it either. But almost from the beginning he does all he can to make her comfortable, he works to control his temper and he makes sure he doesn't press his dominance on her, so not so really beastly at all.

Slowly, Serenity learns who she is as a person, outside of being abused, what she actually wants from her life and also begins to learn who she is sexually, all with Declan's help. Then she realizes she needs to learn who she is without him and sets them on a course to woo each other, to make their love stronger and make them both better people overall. There is a small little WTF that happens towards the end that pushes our lovers back together faster then planned and then we get a couple of HEA epilogues that leaves me wanting to know Daniels story so bad!

Even with the overall sexuality of the book, what with working at a sex club, the light BDSM that's portrayed though out, there's actually very little sex involved, though there are plenty of spicey scenes. Normally, that would bother me, as I am a devout smut lover, but I think it worked really, really well for this book.

[Allie Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Surrender was an interesting read. I feel like the main characters and their relationship were both underdeveloped while also being somewhat developed. I knew Serenity and Declan - but I also didn't. Knowing that this is a Beauty and the Beast retelling, it felt too obvious that Declan was the Beast because the story kept reminding the reader that he was an angry beast. In the beginning, that made his character more erratic - which made it confusing why a seemingly broken character like Serenity would start to fall for him and put herself in D/s situations with him. It seemed like the author had an understanding of BDSM and D/s dynamics, but then Declan knowingly wasn't following the things he knew he should be doing to set up a D/s dynamic. Domination and submission were inconsistently utilized in the story, and I was unsure if they were trying to create an actual dynamic with each other or not. I would've loved to see one develop! I did appreciate the vanilla relationship that Serenity forced herself and Declan to grow, and I also appreciated Serenity's perspective of dealing with ADHD and anxiety (despite also feeling like it had a frequent spotlight, like the reader might have forgotten she was neurodivergent). I loved how Serenity learned ASL for Declan's sister - and how that came into play later. That was cleverly done; it didn't feel forced. So, overall, the book had the bones and some of the walls put up to make a solid structure, but it was missing details that could've tied everything together better.

[Miriam_Reads94 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to Arc read this story, so first off thank you to author for allowing me this privilege, I really enjoyed this book and the storyline.

I was a little thrown for a loop while reading this book, because it was stated to be a beauty and the beast retelling, but I didn't get that feeling at all. I did really enjoy the story either way. I loved watching our Virgin, Serenity, explore her sexuality with the help of a moody, broody Declan. For being such a dom, he was so gentle and loving towards her in her exploration of all the things. There was tension, drama, and love, but I found the spice to be lacking. Most books set in a BDSM S*x Club are way wilder. This was a vanilla bdsm S*x Club book.

This book does touch on some sensitive subjects. For one Serenity struggles with ADHD and Anxiety. Serenity's Mom and stepdad struggle with alcohol and substance abuse. And at one point Serenity gets assaulted by her stepdad. These topics are written in a well way, and the author is sensitive to these matters. They are also written true to how they may affect real people so the story isn't confusing.

All around awesome storyline, amazing characters, and incredible cliffhanger to get you ready for the next book in the series. It leaves you with a happy ending and a question of what could come.

[SJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Surrender

Dedication
"For the book girlies who knew the Beast would be better in bed…"

Spicy Beauty and the Beast retelling, sign me up! Can a BDSM book also be sweet? Yes, 100%. Christina Sterling had me at the dedication. I loved the story and how it played out. I seriously inhaled this book. There was a sweetness to the story that captured my attention. The anticipation of the MCs growing connection had me eagerly awaiting that moment when they finally give in to their feelings.

This one is for you if you're into:

Age-gap
Sex club
Workplace romance
Millionare
Retelling
BDSM
Check TW

Serenity is quiet and reserved. Her character had a difficult life. She's young and inexperienced but is hardworking and intelligent. I found I could relate to her ADHD and anxiety challenges.

Declan is a powerful beast of a man. He's grumpy and possessive. He's harsh and abrasive when he speaks but underneath it all he's kind and caring.

I loved their relationship, how they grew to know and care for one another. Even though their backgrounds were vastly different they found common interests and connection. I loved how their relationship evolved and felt the sparks between them.
Excellent writing and story. I'm looking forward to more in the series.

[SassyCM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me start by saying I liked Surrender BUT based on title and description I was expecting something totally different from what I actually got in the end.

But positive things first: Declan and Serenity are definitely likable characters and they work well together, even coming from different worlds. The story is easy to follow and Surrender is a perfect quick and easy read to switch off your brain. The book has some spice and a nice HEA.

Now to the points that to me are misleading.

"Beauty and the Beast retelling" - There are absolutely no parallels between this book and BatB in my opinion. Which is not bad, since it's still a good story, but I simply don't see where it would be linked.

Based on the title I expected a lot more spice. There was some but compared to other books in the same genre Surrender is pretty tame. Which, again is not a bad thing. I would say it's a pretty good book for people either just getting into spicy romance or wanting a bit spice in their stories but not too much.

[Polli.p · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great story but very long winded. Feels like it needs a good edit to cut and shape the plot, as well as pick up the odd spelling mistakes. Begins with promise but loses focus and then chooses another direction. Has some great ideas that needed a bit more research, and others, like Serenity's ADHD, that were overplayed.

As for the claim that it's a Beauty and the Beast retelling, I think that's a bit too far. This is more of a grumpy/sunshine, age gap with hints of BDSM, virgin trope. Yes, at the outset Declan had anger issues, but he still provided her with food, shelter, clothes, a job and all the emotional comfort he could. He didn't sound like he had the usual Beast traits of being spoilt, selfish and unkind. Nor did he come across as the Dom he claimed he was.

That said there's a warmth to the writing and through the plot holes lays a potentially exciting read. High 3 stars.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kaitlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Christina Sterling does it again with *Surrender*! This book pulls you into a world of secrets, power, and vulnerability, and I couldn’t put it down. While I did feel it could’ve been steamier compared to her other works, I understand why it wasn’t—the tone was perfectly set for the story Sterling wanted to tell.

Declan and Serenity’s journey was captivating, and I found myself deeply connecting with Serenity’s mental battles. Some of her struggles really hit home for me, making her story all the more impactful. I’ll admit, when Daniel and Harrison were introduced, I got a little too excited thinking it might turn into a “why choose” situation, but it wasn’t—and that’s okay! It just makes me even more eager for the next book to dive into Daniel’s story.

If you’re into spicy, emotionally charged romances with a touch of Beauty and the Beast vibes, this one’s for you. Sterling delivers a satisfying HEA while leaving you wanting more from this intriguing world.