The Surrender

Arlington Hall #2

by Jodi Ellen Malpas

He’s a tantalizing man of mystery. To solve him she could risk everything in a scorching romance by the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the This Man series and The Invitation.

A pawn in a man’s callous game, Amelia Lazenby is trying to heal after being betrayed by the wealthy and scorchingly sexy Jude Harrison. Now he’s saying all the right things, whispering apologies as sincere as his kisses, and refusing to let her walk away. It’s hard for Amelia to resist a force as strong as Jude. Before long, he’s making her pulse pound, her head spin, and giving her the rapture she craves.

But once she surrenders, Amelia can’t help but fear she’s risking her heart all over again. This time, maybe even more. Jude is every bit as mysterious and possessive as she remembers. His ex-lover is back to wreak havoc on their lives. And Amelia’s own ex has returned from the past, knowing more about Jude than Amelia can imagine. As the secrets and shocking revelations keep coming, Amelia must decide what she’s willing to sacrifice to stay with the man she loves and above all else…can’t resist.

Genres: Romance, Second Chance, Audiobook, Contemporary Romance, Billionaire Romance, Contemporary, Dark Romance

345 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 2, 2025

About the author

#1 New York Times & Sunday Times Bestselling Author Jodi Ellen Malpas was born and raised in England, where she lives with her husband, her boys, and Theo the Doberman.

Writing powerful love stories with fierce, memorable characters is her passion – a passion that has taken her on an amazing journey into the world of romantic fiction. Her work is now published in more than twenty-six languages across the world.

Jodi's next release: The Invitation. Check it out on Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/...

Reviews

[Jodi Malpas]

Available now!

Download today or read and listen for FREE with Kindle Unlimited
https://amzn.to/4iB6FwR

Audiobook: https://bit.ly/4hCui6M
Narrated by: Shakira Shute

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/thesurrendergr

[Casey Reads 🌸 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the first one, so I was so excited for this. This author is so good at writing absolutely toxic love stories. I both loved and hated their story and relationship. 🖤

They are so toxic this whole book and I think they both actually brought out the most toxic version of each other. At no point was I jealous of their love story. But this author’s writing is intoxicating. I couldn’t put this down. I felt like I was there feeling the emotions too. There is also tons of spice, like with any toxic relationship.

Many of the side characters were absolutely psychotic and I was like ‘is anyone sane?’ But wow was it fun to read. 😂

I could see the lead in to the next book from a mile away as the hints were dropped very early on, but I am excited for that!!

[Katie Friday · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jude is a man who makes She’s All That style bets with an ex lover to sleep with random women and Amelia isn’t even the first. I can’t decide if I’m more shocked this is just his personality to lie and bet on women, or more than one woman fell for (shudders) ‘hand sex’.
Positives, the book is breezy as hell. Read it in a day. I still fucking love JEM.
Negatives, I hated the characters they both are the worst and not in a fun This Man kind of way but it a ‘change your name and move countries’ kind of way.

This is rant about geography. Feel free skip. It just enraged me.

Let’s talk about the wedding reception at the start of the book. As a Londoner myself, this was deeply confusing. They got married on Regent street over looking Piccadilly Circus. That’s like getting married in Times Square. Did they get married at the Angus Steak House, McDonalds, or the Hard Rock Cafe? Not classy and definitely not something rich people from london would consider.
Amelia says she’s moving to Plaistow in West London. Well Plaistow is in East London and trust me, it’s a huge difference. She’s a successful wealth manager, the most East she’d live is London Bridge. Why am I pulling this apart? Because every one of these details pulled me right out of the story. I haven’t even gotten to the bit where there’s so little grovelling from the Jude after the super fucked up thing he pulled in the last booked and it was so deeply unsatisfying I felt the author must hate these characters too. Jude is so creepy and weird I couldn’t get on board with any of this.
I felt so bad for his driver Harrison who had to listen to all Jude’s nonsense then drive them around CENTRAL LONDON in what could only be bumper to bumper traffic surrounded by thousands of tourists and pedestrians while the two insane main characters had wild rough sex in the back of the car.

[Karina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I needed absolutely everyone to die. Especially her parents. good lord they were annoying. the amount of things this man hid from her was also not ok . and she was too easily forgiving

[Kae C · Rating 1 out of 5]

i feel like i’m an anomaly who didn’t enjoy this book AT ALL which is such a shame as i really liked the first book.

Amelia is too led by her front to realise that she’s stupid and Jude is… there. all they know is spicy activities, arguments and no development whatsoever.

i had to DNF after reading the chapter with that awful dinner with her friends. The fact that Amelia was so upset with Charley for questioning Jude like he rightly deserved? In my option, Charley didn’t do enough!!! Whack him again!!!!!!!!

[Mel (whilemelwasreading)]

Listen. I didn't love book one of Arlington Hall. It was okay. But the way the cliffhanger was written in the end- it helped make things make sense- and I couldn't NOT pick up this second book. I needed answers.

The answers really were just... not enough. I just didn't love this. It felt like the same drama over and over and over and over again. These two drove me bonkers... like shit or get off the pot y'all. They couldn't communicate if their life depended on it. But they sure could f*ck through the whole book. All the drama, even with the parents... it just felt so juvenile to me. It really just didn't work for me. I mean, also, asking her to chop carrots when she just got 10 stitches in her hand like HUH?

Leaving this unrated. I'd recommend trying her Unlawful Men series instead.

[Lisa Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hey Jude… 🍹

After finishing book one, The Invitation, I was left thinking Jude Harrison had some serious redeeming to do to get back in my good books lol. As I wasn’t too fond of him after that ending…
Oh boy does he redeem himself!

The Surrender more or less picks up where The Invitation finished. Amelia is heartbroken and Jude is trying to win her back.
Once Jude loosens up to the thought of romance and love the floodgates open! Jude certainly had me swooning at times. We get plenty of 🌶️ love scenes, too.
We see a different side to Jude in this book, his jovial funny side, plus more of his vulnerabilities as he opens up to Amelia about his family. This is where my fondness for Jude really started to grow. His anger and temper are still evident, though, there is definitely something fuelling those emotions. And I couldn’t help but feel he was still hiding something, there was still an air of mystery surrounding him. 🤔

Amelia soon falls head over heels for Jude…again. Everything is aligning for her, her love life, her career, and her family. She feels she in the best place she’s been in for a long time. She’s happy! What could possibly go wrong… 🫣

Again, the secondary characters are brilliant with some great humour thrown in as always. Amelia’s family and friends are just hilarious at times. I really enjoyed their banter. 😁

JEM isn’t called “the Queen of the epilogue” for nothing, she delivers a blinder!! Loved how she brought this whole story together in The Surrender. Thoroughly enjoy it.
As I mention in my review on the first book to this duet, there’s no denying there are some similarities to other books by this author, but that’s probably why I enjoyed and loved it so much, you gotta love “classic” JEM.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[KJ Pointer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow wow wow, I sped through this! I needed to know what happened to Jude and Amelia following that cliffhanger and this had me on the edge of my seat. I’m an emotional reader and I cried so hard during this book (it’s probably just me) but Jude is such a broken guy, I mean he’s slightly toxic and in the real world you probably wouldn’t entertain him but I couldn’t help but fall in love with him. This was also seriously spicy and the perfect conclusion to Arlington hall. I seriously hope Abbie is getting a book! I’m just going to sit here and manifest that!

[ReadingTilTheBreakOfDawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will preface this review by saying I am a huge Jodi Ellen Malpas fan. I love the way she takes flawed characters and makes us fall in love with those flaws and takes us on a journey of ups and downs in the most craziest of ways. A playboy alpha that likes to play games has met his match in a woman that he has great physical chemistry with. But as soon as they give in to that connection, another secret is revealed and she runs (as she should). Will Jude be able to reel in the woman that has left him insane with desire? The Surrender is book two in the Arlington Hall duet and picks up right where The Invitation, book one, left off.

After finishing The Invitation, I was left feeling all sorts of ways. I felt that book had too many similarities to a previous JEM series and fell a bit flat for me. But with the ending, Malpas still had me hooked and I had to know what was going to happen with Jude and Amelia. Can you not love a book but need the next one? I am living proof of it. Where oh where could our obsessed characters, Amelia and Jude take us next? All I know is that Jude Harrison had some major groveling to do to win back Amelia.

The Surrender picks up right where book 1 left us and Amelia is destroyed after finding out she was just a pawn in Jude and Catherine's games. But Jude is obsessed and will do anything to get her back. I wanted that push and pull with major groveling in order to really come back from book 1. But these two are just over the top, have no communication besides the physical and honestly, Jude needed to grovel so much more than he did. He needed to open up the floodgates of communication if he truly wanted Amelia in his life. And that did not happen. Because, ahem, these two really like sex with each other.

Amelia and Jude are 2 grown adults that needed to grow the heck up and learn how to communicate and make things clear. Not only with each other, but with their families and lovers. With the drama of Amelia's father and her ex and Jude's with his brothers and his ex, these two could've communicated earlier on and not had so many secrets that kept them from progressing in a healthy relationship. Rather we got stupid drama because of lack of communication and sex with more and more sex. Like A LOT of sex. Because that is apparently what pushed their relationship forward.

With all that said, what really made me continue on with this story was the great audio narration from Shakira Shute. Since this book was told completely from Amelia's POV, she really gave us an emotional young woman on the verge of success but made us feel her vulnerabilities that I might not have felt by reading with my eyes. Shute's performance along with Jude finally allowing Amelia to see all his truths in the last quarter of the book almost made me forgive the abundance of sex we got to connect the characters. Despite the crazy ups and downs of their toxic relationship, I liked the ending, no matter how predictable it was.

Overall, this was not a favorite of mine from JEM, but still kept me hooked. Plus, I really did enjoy the audio narration. Too much drama and not enough groveling and true connection between the characters. Getting together and breaking up as often as these two did made me more frustrated than anything. Hiding personal information and not communicating is not healthy in any sort of relationship. BUT...there was a little info drop in book one that came to fruition at the end of this one and I really hope Malpas goes with it and takes us on a ride with 2 characters in a future book.

[Sharon ∞❥ is an emotional book junkie ❥∞ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️'s

Well, as intense as the first book was, this is even more which I can't lie that I liked but maybe it could've been toned down in this finale.

Plus, there was sooo much going on! I felt like it was This Man series crammed into two books. I certainly wouldn't have minded if there were more books.

Good news is that things are set up for a spin off and I'm totally onboard!

[Megan ~The Never Ending Book Basket · Rating 5 out of 5]

I dare you to not love this book. I dare you to not love Jude and Amelia and every passionate, unforgettable, and unadulterated moment they give you in this book and in every breath of their story. I dare you not to feel like you experienced the most fiery, consuming, and utterly fantastic, full of emotional twists and turns, love story with everything you get in this book.

I fucking dare you.

To say that I was ready for The Surrender by Jodi Ellen Malpas to be in my life is a complete understatement. Ever since reading The Invitation earlier this summer, I have been counting down the days until this follow up book. I have been desperately needing and wanting more Jude and Amelia, desperately thinking about what would come next for them and needing every answer to all of my questions, and hoping with all of my heart that those two would find their way despite everything stacked against them. And this follow up book for them delivered all of that and more. It delivered everything.

EVERYTHING.

I could not put this book down. Just like the first one in this duet, I was hooked. From the very first page, I was in it with Jude and Amelia. I was emotionally invested. I was literally living and feeling and breathing every breath of their unforgettable and fiery story. But more than that, I was rooting for them to find their way because there is something so right about the two of them. This book definitely puts them both through the wringer in more ways than one. It forces them both to face some hard truths about themselves, about their feelings for one another, and about the future. It is definitely not an easy ride for those two, but through it all you know that they are worth it.

You know that their love and their passion and what they make each other feel is beyond worth it. You know with every fiber of your being that they have to find a way to one another because no other ending would be acceptable or worthy of them. You know that with your whole heart through every page of this book, and that is one of the things I loved most about what I got with these characters and what this author created through their story.

Jodi Ellen Malpas completely wowed me with this book. And I’m not surprised at all. There’s a reason she’s one of my favorite authors. She’s written some of my favorite books ever. Some of the most memorable characters I’ve ever met that. I still think about to this day. And I have no doubt that Jude and Amelia will be right up there because those two are memorable. They’re dynamic. They push each other so far over the edge that it’s glorious. They make each other feel everything. They make each other question everything. They make each other mad in the best way. Their love is complicated and messy and raw and flawed, but it is so so beautifully them. It is authentic and deep and you feel it in your soul. You feel it in every breath of every moment that this author creates throughout this book and the first book in this duet and it is truly exceptional.

I cannot say that enough.

The tension, the love, the emotion and feeling and heart behind it all with what Jude and Amelia share is tangible on these pages. You feel it, you breathe it, you can literally touch it at times because of what this author gives you with them, and how she connects you into the thick of what they share. She shows you how these to lay it out on the line, when it really matters, when it’s really fucking hard, and when they’re scared out of their minds. And through it all she shows you that they are destined to be together. That through every hurdle, that through every hard conversation and truth, and that through every emotion they have to process, that they have to find their way. They are soulmates. They are endgame. They are meant to be. You feel that, you believe in that, and that combined with everything you get with this couple pulls you and them through everything they go through.

Getting to experience that with them, getting to experience that level of connection as their love story unfolds, and comes to the most epic and beautiful conclusion, and just getting to live in love with them as they fight like hell for one another and their love is just the best. Really it’s more than the best, it’s utter perfection. And getting to live that love story and every moment in facet of their journey towards one another and their much deserved ending is truly nothing short as spectacular.

I feel like when I read this book and as I was experiencing everything with Jude and Amelia, I practically wasn’t breathing. And I mean that because their story is so utterly consuming and unforgettable, and just filled with such tension and feeling and heart that you are just in it with them. You are in the thick of it, living every breath of this book, and it steals your breath away. Because these two make you work for it in the best way. They make each other work for it yet in the same breath it’s so inherently right and easy seeing them together because they just fit. They may drive each other crazy, they may push every button and break every rule, they may make each other feel things they never thought were possible, but they also get each other. They love each other with their whole hearts. They see each other in the truest and realist of ways, and they show up and fight when it really matters. When it means everything.

And all of that passion, all of that fire, all of that connection explodes in the most dynamic and unforgettable love story in this book. The way that this author just allows, you to live through that experience with them is breathtaking. It really is. You don’t stop with them, you keep going and going, feeling and living and experiencing every breath of what they share, and it just pulls you so fiercely to them and the love that they share. And that is what sees you through every twist and turn this story throws at them and you because you know that no matter what they are worth it, their love is beyond worth it, and getting to see them reach that much deserved happy ending is truly worth everything.

I think one of my favorite aspects of this book was just getting more Jude and Amelia. It’s suffice to say that I love those characters fiercely and that I could not get enough of their story. I was hooked from the first book and could not stop thinking about them Throughout the time waiting for this follow up book, and reading this book itself. I just love those two. I’m invested in them. I believe in them and what could be. I love that. They’re both flawed, they both have their fears and insecurities, and they both work together to find the truth in at all. To feel and given to what they share. To just live and bask and celebrate what’s between them and what they both so desperately want together.

I truly could not get enough of what those two so vulnerability and authentically left on the pages of this book as they peeled back the layers of one another, as they exposed their fears and hidden things from the past and what they truly wanted and desired. I felt like I really got so much of who Jude and Amelia truly were in this book. I got that in the first book, but this one truly pulled back those layers. It allowed them to see each other so really. So deeply. So authentically flaws and all.

These characters aren’t perfect. Their love isn’t perfect. It’s messy and complicated and flawed and it has highs and lows just like the two of them do. But what this book and this whole duet shows you is that that love they share is incredible. That love is indestructible. That love is undeniable. That they are incredible and effervescent, and just everything. There is something so right about the two of them, what they make each other feel, what they make each other hope for and getting to see them navigate the ocean of emotion that they share together, getting to see them navigate the scars of the past present and future and how that all weaves together, and getting to see them show up and fight for each other, even when it scares them out of their ever loving minds was utterly incredible in this book.

There’s nothing these two won’t do to see their love through and even in those moments when you can tell it scares them, when you can tell that they don’t know what to do with all that they feel, and when they don’t know what comes next, there is always the truth in the fact that they feel everything for one another and that love cannot be denied. I loved getting to experience that with them through every second of this book and this whole story with them. I loved getting to see them fight with their whole hearts for what they wanted. I loved getting to see them even in the hard moments. Even in the moments when they fucked up, even in the moments when they said or did the wrong thing, even in the moments when they weren’t sure how to fix it. Even in those moments, I loved them because they were there, showing up, feeling it all, and loving each other through it all. Scars and all, flaws and all, they were there, with fierce hearts, that loved each other, no matter what. They continued to show up, they continued to push to show one another that there was no denying what they felt, and they continued to do the work to make it better, even when it took everything out of them. Even when it scared them shitless. Even when it tore them apart, while simultaneously making them feel everything. And even when it made them question everything, they were still there, feeling everything, and showing up and fighting when it really mattered.

And that honestly just blew me away.

It made me love these characters more than I thought possible, and it truly had me desperate for every breath and moment and morsel of their love story. The way that Jodi Ellen Malpas creates the story, this utterly fierce dynamic with these characters in their love story, and the way that she just allows you to experience every breath of what these characters share in the most wholeheartedly, true and real way is absolutely everything. And it is just part of what made me love this book and this whole duet, and what makes the story one of my favorites that I have read this year.

I truly cannot say enough good things about The Surrender. It delivered everything that my heart needed with these characters. It kept everything I loved about their love story from the first book. But it multiplied it a million times over. This book was fiercer, it was spicier, it was deeper, it was more consuming, and it had even more twists than I saw coming. It had more emotion to it, it had more glorious tension. It just made me love these two more. It also push them more as they fought for the love that was so true between them.

And I loved it. I fucking loved it so much. I literally cannot say it enough.

I was enamored by Jude and Amelia. I couldn’t get enough of them and what they made each other feel. It was crazy and passionate and threw them through the wringer every turn of that page, but I loved it. Because it just felt like them. It felt right. It felt like pure passion. It felt like two people, two forces, so meant to be finally finding their way, despite everything that tried to stand in their way. It felt inevitable. It felt beyond right. It just felt like them. In the best, most unforgettable, fiercest way possible. And I loved every second of getting to be a part of it with Jude and Amelia.

Jodi Ellen Malpas has just completely out on herself with this book. I can’t say that enough. I could not get enough of this world. All of the characters, all of the twists and turns, just all of the feelings and emotion and fire she put into this duet was absolutely incredible. I have not been consumed by a book and a world and a story and characters like these ones in quite some time. There’s truly nothing like this duet and I was here for every single second of it. I am sincerely hoping this author plans to write more in this world because I need it. Desperately and with my whole heart. And there is one particular story that I really need as soon as possible. (IYKYK) this author, definitely creates an incredible, consuming, an unforgettable world with these characters, and you will love every bit of what you get with them.

I promise you that.

Every word of this book gave me everything. I really can’t say it enough. I know I sound like a broken record at this point saying that about this book, these characters, and their incredible love story, but it’s just so true. This book and their love story was absolutely unforgettable. It was full of life, connection, and so much heart, and I loved every second of it. Getting to see these characters work their asses off, dare each other to no end, and fight like hell to show each other that they were meant to be was absolute perfection. They did it in a way that was wholly them, that was truly consuming and unforgettable, and in a way that had me on the edge of my seat with a heart feeling every breath of their love and connection, and I fucking loved it. I loved it so much and I could not have asked for more with their story and journey. It was wholeheartedly theirs, and getting to see these characters be true to themselves, each other, and their love, through every single page of this book was everything and more. And I cannot say enough how much I am just blown away by what I got with them.

It was everything. Every damn thing and more.

Jodi Ellen Malpas definitely leaves at all on the pages of this book and I can’t say enough how incredible it is. What she creates with her words with these characters, their love story, and their passionate and fiery love story is something you won’t forget. It is stories like this one that make me the romance reader I am and I will never stop loving Jude and Amelia, their love story, what they make each other feel and what they give each other, but mostly what they fight like hell to share together. This story is not only one of my favorite reads of the year, but it is definitely one. I know I won’t soon forget. I cannot tell you enough how much I loved every part of this book, the one that came before it, and just this entire world.

And I know you will love it too. Just prepare yourself to be utterly consumed in the best way by everything these characters give you, and be prepared to love every second of it. Because these characters leave it all on the pages of this book and their story, and it is nothing short of everything.

Jude and Amelia utterly wowed me with their love story, the depth of their connection and feeling and love, and everything they went through to get to where they end up in this book. And I loved every damn word of it. So so much. So when you read this book, when you experience every breath of what these two give you, and every ounce of what they feel with their whole hearts, I dare you not to feel the same about them and their incredible love story.

I fucking dare you.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed For Saucy Review
On Kinky Korner

4.5 stars

I really enjoyed this book as a whole. It was a great story and conclusion to Jude and Amelia's story. There were a few things that absolutely drove me mad. At one point. I was so frustrated with the amount of sex in the book. I shouted, "ffs let her eat her bloody pasta." I can laugh now, but I almost stopped reading and would have if the story had been bad.

But the story and characters were what kept me going. The story was emotional and completely heartbreaking, especially when all the secrets are revealed. I thought Amelia was a pushover to start with, but then she wasn't. She was strong, vocal, and stood for no nonsense.

I, of course, can't reveal anything else. But know its great and the truth after the cliffhanger from book one was worth waiting for. This book is a huge recommendation from me.

[Karen Denise Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

The epitome of toxic relationships. Jude and Amelia battle it out in the second half of Arlington Hall. And despite all the drama and breakups and makeups and breakups and makeups and ex's...I did fall in love with this couple.

Maybe it was because I had already started to love their drama, but the feelings were solitified and the flaws were accepted. An enjoyable fast paced read with ups and downs and major groveling that won my heart in the end.

4 stars

[Inge Mosch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book of the Arlington hall series. It immediately continues where book 1 stopped, so it is really necessary to read book 1 first.

This book gave me emotional whiplash. My feelings were flying in all directions. I've mentioned before that it seemed unlikely to me that there was anyone more unhinged than Jesse from they my man series, but Jude managed to knock him out of first place. The secrets and twists were great and made the book great! I loved it immensely and Jude's and Amelia's HEA was really the best! I've finished the book in just a couple of hours, I couldn't put it down!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️/5

[Hanife · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating 3.5/5

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐ These characters drove me insane at times. Jude could've been more open from the beginning and saved a lot of heartache. And for the love of God, get rid of Katherine. You can't be jealous and possessive and then let that woman walk around all willy nilly. But Amelia going from love to hate in 2.5 seconds gave me whiplash. For the life of me, I couldn't understand why she was tiptoeing around Nick's emotions. He clearly didn't respect her boundaries, but still she treated him like some kind of victim until she realized what an asshole he was. Also she should've done something violent to Leighton. He was the absolute worst. Anouska is actually a character that irked me many times, a shady character that one. The ending was very cute though, so bonus points for that.

[Daisy Nijs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Miss Malpas, you took my heart, you broke it, you crushed it and left me gasping for air more than once…!
The conclusion to Amelia and Jude’s story is not the two of them just riding of into the sunset.
I loved Jude’s groveling, can’t blame a girl for that. But after what he did, you’ll definitely agree with me.
And even with everything that’s happened, the chemistry, the tension, it is so palpable, even when Amelia is trying to be strong. He’s just that irresistible.
Arlington Hall, a wonderful place, founded from the best intentions, but Jude has been through so much in the past that made him into the man he is.
I can say that Jude has earned a spot right next to Jesse for eternity.

[Sentranced Jem · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're a fan of Jesse Ward from the This Man Series (Hello Mr. Should-be-a-red-flag-yet-wow! Man), then The Surrender by Jodi Ellen Malpas featuring Jude is definitely worth checking out.

[tatireader · Rating 2 out of 5]

this was insufferable realize I can’t take romance audiobooks seriously and characters were the worst then there were in book one

[Madison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spicy? Yes. Healthy? Absolutely not.

After that wild cliffhanger in book one, I grabbed The Surrender hoping for redemption.

Jude is deeply flawed, but at least he owns it and tries to do better. Amelia, on the other hand, made it hard to root for her. She ran from every hard truth and held onto her secrets while demanding full honesty from him.

Their relationship stayed built on lies, and that ending felt way too easy after all the chaos. Something was missing to make this all come together.

[Maureen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am a fan of JEM, but this series is a NOT for me.
I did not like either Amelia or Jude.
JEM started writing Amelia as a headstrong female character, but then the character started turning rather juvenile, with each chapter.
Amelia was basically emotionally abused by Jude and she had NO spine to walk away. I guess victims always runs back to their abuser.
With Unlawful Men, we had humor to make them easier to read.
This is the first of JEM’s book that I had to toss.

[Philippa - (The British Bibliophile) · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Return for another 'relax & unwind' with a second jaunt to the place of pleasure and plenty, Arlington Hall. Five stars, fun and fornication, it has it all. Test a tipple or wet your whistle, The Amelia or even the Hey Jude goes down as smooth as their namesakes. Prepare for items not listed on the menu or in the facilities available, for those will be hand-delivered and carried out by the owner, Mr. Jude Harrison, himself for your satisfaction over, and over, and over. Arlington Hall really does have the owner's touch all over it...as does Miss Lazenby.' - The British Bibliophile

Dearest subjects of the Queen of steamy love stories with an edge, alphas and their ladies, you are henceforth summoned back to where it all began. Arlington Hall.

Their love story was so fraught with tears, tantrums, terror, taboo, teasing and titillation, one book was not enough to contain it all within its pages. For this journey, it was a two-book job.

The Surrender is book two in Jodi's Arlington Hall duet series--shown through the eyes of Miss Lazenby--which as you can surmise, cannot be read as a standalone novel. To get the full effect of not only what the hall but its bombarding blond bombshell owner, Jude Harrison, you must first check out book one, The Invitation, where you will first check into the hall where you will be shown around as to what it has to offer but more precisely, what will have you wanting to return here in book two for more banter, bangs and begging between Miss. Amelia Lazenby & Mr. Jude Harrison. For those of us who have already immersed ourselves in their world, this next instalment is a welcome return to it as we once more to the trips we would be making between the cultural, classy, colourful surroundings of London, and the comfy, calming, charming milieu of South Oxfordshire.

But would we stay there once we made out return? Or would we hightail it out of there, rain-soaked and sobbing like a certain someone did before? The only way to find out, was to check back into Arlington Hall.

Introducing us to a brand new series gave us an opportunity to explore a new fictional world with main characters at the helm. With the introduction of The Invitation, said new fictional world full of Jude Harrison, Amelia Lazanby, Arlington Hall and more was delivered to us from the author who writes them like no other. Jodi's ability to continuously craft and create worlds for us that we not only immerse ourselves in, but come to cherish as if they were real places we could actually visit (minus actual real-life locations such as London, South Oxfordshire, Miami etc...), to meet such characters who feel more than flat personalities written for the page, who feel as real as we ourselves are.

Jude and Amelia's world became another instant fictional home to those of us who instantly fell in love with everything in it. Now with The Surrender, it was time to return to our newest home after a little while away from it.

Two months have passed since we said a temporary goodbye to Jude and Amelia--longer for those of us who were lucky enough to read an advanced copy of the book that introduced us to them--, and in that time there have been more than a plenty books released that have passed through our hands. The question is, did we forget about anything that transpired in the first half of this duet? There is only one answer to that, and that is 'of course not!'. Jodi creates nothing less than unforgettable characters and their stories in books that stay in the forefront of your mind and in your heart, proudly so, unmoved despite how many books we read in between each of her releases. Jude and Amelia were no different. Their story, alongside that stomach-dropping cliffhanger stayed with us every single day until the time came when we could see if things were either patched up, or torn apart for good.

Though, it wouldn't be any fun for Jodi or for us if they went their separate ways, now would it? Of course not. They were always going to get back together, it was just a matter of where, when, and how many times it would take before their limbs were entangled with each others once more.

Jodi's literary mastery would make their reunion one for the books--literally--, and now the time is here at last to see how her creative wordplay would have it play out.

Being played in a game that you never asked to be a part of would always end in tears, especially when you are the key piece being used. Amelia Lazenby was such a piece. She was the pawn in Jude's game, moved around the 'board', used and betrayed by the man who moved her and now that she's free of him and the hall, her focus is now split between her career and healing herself from her most recent heartbreak. The cause of the heartbreak, one wealthy, unfairly dishy Jude Harrison, won't be forgotten without a fight both inside of her head, heart, or in the flesh.

Leaving the safe, serene and sacred grounds of Arlington Hall and South Oxfordshire, Jude makes the journey down to London to pursue where his lady fled to with only one goal in mind; to win Amelia Lazenby back with and by any means necessary.

The chosen weapons in Jude's arsenal? Words. As a master of saying just the right things in the right way, leaning in close to her ear by whispering apologies to appease her broken heart, he bleeds sincerity from every pore and lets it drip onto Amelia's waiting body as she readily soaks both it up as much as she does the kisses he gives, ones that he is only too happy, ready and willing to give to her as many times as he needs to until such a point where she is placid, pliant and unable to walk away from him ever again. As force as strong as Jude is? Even someone such as steadfast, strong-willed Amelia finds it hard to resist his unequalled allure.

Resistance, as Amelia is soon to quickly learn, is futile when it comes to anything Jude Harrison. Not before long, she has succumbed to all that he is and is back within his orbit as he once more makes her pulse vivaciously pound, the head once so firmly screwed onto her shoulders now rapidly spins, and no expense is spared on his part as he repeatedly gives her rapture so heavenly the only name out of her mouth are not that of a divine God, but his. Just as omnipotent, in her mind.

Surrendering to Jude does of course, come with a price. Amelia is once more putting her heart on the line and is at risk of having it broken a second time by the man she has chosen to welcome back into her life. Everything is elevated higher this time around while she gives him a second chance, including the heightened fear of her heart being broken to such an extent that it won't be able to be repaired enough for her to function as she was, or as the person she would be while living with it. It is a risk, however, that she is willing to take on for the sake of the one she loves above all.

A few speed bumps lie in the way of their smooth road back to a contented couple. Firstly, Jude is still as mysterious and possessive as she remembered him to be and second, his ex-lover is back in the picture and is wreaking hellish havoc on their lives. To top it all off, Amelia's own ex has returned and holds information about Jude close to his chest than she ever imagined he would.

As closely-guarded secrets are spilled and horrifying revelations play on repeat without signs of stopping, Amelia is once again in a corner with her arm twisted behind her back as she's forced with no choice but to make a decision. Does she willingly sacrifice something in order to stay with the man she has come to love, is unable to resist and cannot see her life without? Or does she surrender to what may separate them for good? The answer, of course, lies within the very pages of this very book.

The Surrender is a superlative literary example--much like its predecessor--from an author who is equally as so herself. Jodi has yet to craft a story and characters therein, that have been anything less than the are crème de la crème within the world of literature today as we know it. Jude, in his own unique way, has joined the ranks of her beloved alphas by more than earning his place there, with Amelia stepping up alongside the band of diverse heroines that we, Jodi's loyal readers, have come to champion for who they are as an entirety, or for a particular quality or trait they possess. Here I think we can all agree which that is for Amelia. She stands out as not a forced lady boss stereotype, but as a force of nature we can applaud and adore.

Her story, much like Jude's, needed to be spanned out across two books in order for us to see her under maximum exposure. Literally. We see her in stages; BJ (before Jude), DJ (during Jude), AJ (after Jude & WJ (with Jude). As you can tell, one book would not have been enough.

If there had been a third to make it a trilogy? I certainly wouldn't have minded.

What has been created here with this book completing the Arlington Hall duet, is material that eternity itself would not be enough time to talk about it in but at least here with this review, I can put across a good percentage of what I would need longer to say.

Everything we saw that Amelia was carries over here into The Surrender wile adding more to her still filling cup. As the title suggests, it isn't long until she surrenders to Jude. That said, in her surrendering is also the element of acceptance. She's able to accept him for all of his flaws, vulnerabilities & all. In giving him a second chance, she's able to have her own in looking for the root cause to why he is the way he is, how it came to be & how she can help him move forward. Despite her habit of occasionally fleeing when the going gets tough between the two of them, she ultimately sticks around for a man, deep below his many layers, that she knows is worth cementing herself in his life permanently for.

He may be shrewd, crude and a little bit rude at times, but he wouldn't be our Jude Fuckboy Harrison otherwise.

Speaking of the man himself, this is how you give a man like him a redemption arc! Doing what he did in the unforgivable way he did it only made us thirst to find out how and why he came to make that choice to break our Amelia into a million pieces. She forgave him quicker than I personally would have, but I too did eventually surrender and succumb to the Jude Harrison effect. I am merely human, after all. His unreasonable possessiveness is perfectly balanced with his admiration for her while he supports her driven ambitions. What. A. Man. His and Amelia's dynamics are what make them work as well as they do, without a doubt.

At his core, Jude is as realistically broken as a fictional character could get. He deals with his grie in the way he sees fit to do so at the time, goes after what he wants with Amelia (with mixed results), isn't afraid to own and beat his fists on his chest regarding his possessive obsessiveness, but that side of him is contrasted and complimented with his many redeeming qualities. His care and devotion to Amelia , his being unafraid to grovel as many times as necessary (oh how we LOVE the grovelling!), or even his proof of putting his own life in the hands of fate--something he's actively avoided doing after what his loved ones went through--if it means that at the end of it he gets his girl. He let her into his heart, and he started to make his life better.

It also helps that Jude is the absolute master of dropping the right words and lines at the right times. The things that come out of his mouth! Capture it, can it, sell it!

Getting to know Jude and Amelia has been nothing short of extraordinary in every brilliant way possible. Questions that were raised in The Invitation were swiftly (or slowly) answered here in The Surrender, and it was worth every grunt, growl, scream, gasp and tear to get each one of them. Jodi really put us through the wringer here (as she did her characters), really giving us the full-on experience as if we were the ones in their shoes instead of us sitting comfortably on the other side of the page reading it all happen word by word. Did I love it? Unequivocally, yes.

Even the scene--you'll know which one when you get to it--that completely caught me off guard and made me gasp and weep harder than I did at the cliffhanger for The Invitation. Yes. I loved that part too. How could I not? That, by far, was an ovation-worthy moment of plot twist mastery done best by our JEM.

From comical moments comparing carrot girth/lengths (which thanks to Jodi, I will never look at the vegetable in the same way ever again), to the most frequently and uninhibited moments of euphoria in which there was no need for Amelia's 'I NEED A HUG THAT LEADS TO SEX' jumper (because the girl got it good and often without it), The Surrender is evidence of literary brilliance if ever there was a book--and series--to showcase it immaculately.

Everything that transpired was worth it times ten for where we got to in the end. A life-changing event for the pair was wrapped up just-so, and handled with the ease of a duck taking to water on Jude's part. I was genuinely floored at how their roles were switched, with him being the calm one and her the one not quite so (with good reason why). It worked though. Because it gave us a wholesome, heartwarming, emotionally beautiful scene that stands tall as one of the best endings not only of a Jodi Ellen Malpas book, but out of all the books I have ever read. Period.

Sidetone...Nick is an arse. It has to be said.

As does the future potential for a spin-off novel following the path of Jude's brother, Casey, and Amelia's friend Abbie. There's definitely something there that can be further explored should our beloved author willingly choose to give them their own story someday. Never say never!

For now, we applaud the story and series that brought us two main characters who rightfully earned their places in the JEM 'hall of fame', so to speak, with their unforgettable story and journey to a more than well-earned happily ever after.

There was talk among my fellow readers, that Jude Harrison might be the JEM alpha to finally dethrone the ever-trampling Jesse Ward. Well, I am proud to say that is not the case and with good reason, too. Jude has not in face, de-throned Jesse as Jodi's most popular male. Instead, he takes his seat at the alpha table that by the grace of the bookish gods, may we always have a seat at so we can rotate around each and every one of them, time & again, for our pleasure.

Jodi, I am, as always, ever-thankful for so much more than simply coming across your books and the stories/characters within them. I am thankful for YOU. Without you, we wouldn't have anything that you have written for us to cherish, to adore and hold dear to our hearts. There are not enough words to say how proud each and every one of us is of you, because it wouldn't come close to how we want to say it to you. We're just the luckiest to have you as our forever author, inspiration and hopefully, friend. May this, your 30th book, receive endless love as you yourself deserve to get and get tenfold. What a way to mark a milestone number of books than with a book that more than does it, and your efforts as a whole, justice.

Here's to the next 30+ books, and to the ever-gloriously expanding Jodiverse. You bet I'm going to be here for each and every one of the novels born forth from your fingertips that we will be lucky to have come our way. You're stuck with me now. Strap in for all the future love, lady!

(Also, yes, I'm still going to drop a not-so-subtle--yet polite--request for a future re-release of this series but from Jude's POV. Once more, pretty please and very, very muchly thank you!)

Adieu, Jude and Amelia. You & Arlington Hall, were definitely worth five (million) stars.

See you all very soon in Jodi's next release, Every Silent Lie, coming November 6th!

[Amber | aambuurreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

The continuation of Arlington Hall was an absolute rollercoaster! The scandal, the drama, the delicious toxicity... I will devour it every single time, especially when it’s written by JEM. She has such a gift for capturing these tropes and spinning them into stories that feel addictive and unforgettable.
And Jude… my groveling king. Watching his edges soften, his walls crumble, and his relentless pursuit of Amelia had me hooked from the very start. The game of chase, the push and pull, the constant back and forth... it could feel exhausting in the wrong hands, but JEM makes it electric. She builds tension so perfectly that you can’t stop turning the pages, bracing for the inevitable drop.
The chemistry between Jude and Amelia is off the charts, igniting every scene. And those sweet, unexpected one-liners from Jude? They had me swooning, teary-eyed, and falling just as hard and just as fast for Jude Harrison as Amelia did.

[L Jo · Rating 1 out of 5]

God she’s an idiot and he sucks

[Ves Pringle · Rating 5 out of 5]

After that soul-shattering cliffhanger in The Invitation, I knew The Surrender would have me in a chokehold. And my goodness… Jodi Ellen Malpas did not disappoint. I picked it up and didn’t put it down until the very last page — devouring every single word.

Jude Harrison absolutely shattered Amelia Lazenby’s heart (and mine) at the end of book one. Going into this sequel, I needed an epic grovel. I needed him to earn his way back. And the beauty of this duet closer is that he truly does. He persists, he pushes, and he proves himself worthy of Amelia’s love — and of my forgiveness too. Watching him grow, open up, and finally lay himself bare was everything.

But what I really adored were Jude’s moments. Those little quirks and lines that made him unforgettable. The way he’d toss out “I f***ing dare you” — part challenge, part obsession, part declaration. The way he’d ask for a hug, sometimes one that led to sex, sometimes one that didn’t. It was vulnerable, it was raw, and it was so Jude. Those details cemented just how unique his character is. He’s obsessive, possessive, and messy, but also deeply broken and desperately in love. And when he finally surrendered his feelings? It was impossible not to fall right along with him.

Amelia, meanwhile, held her ground. She’s fierce, career-driven, and determined not to lose herself to Jude’s chaos. But the connection between them is undeniable. The push and pull, the banter, the sharp-tongued comebacks, the vulnerable moments that sneak up and hit you in the gut — it’s an intoxicating mix. The spice is off the charts, but so is the emotional depth. They’re both messy and flawed, carrying baggage that could drown a weaker couple, yet they find a way to fit together perfectly.

JEM balances the angst with her trademark humour and warmth. I laughed out loud more than once, only to be tearing up the next chapter. There are plot twists you won’t see coming, betrayals that cut deep, and supporting characters that bring such a rich, found-family vibe. Amelia’s support network shines, though I’ll admit her father frustrated me — I wanted him to truly see her. And yes, that one baddie? Still wreaking havoc, still despised.

And then there’s the audiobook. Shakira Shute is nothing short of phenomenal. A queen. A powerhouse. An absolute goddess. The way she delivered the raw emotion, distinguished every character, and made me forget this was a solo narration — flawless. Her performance elevated the story and pulled me even deeper into Jude and Amelia’s messy, addictive world. Without question, this narration goes straight to my top listens of 2025.

What JEM does best is write beautifully broken characters who worm their way into your soul. Jude and Amelia are chaotic, fiery, passionate, and deeply human. Their story is one of heartbreak, forgiveness, surrender, and ultimately, a love that consumes. After finishing, one word echoed in my mind: EPIC.

If you love billionaire romances with obsessive heroes, feisty heroines, explosive chemistry, emotional rollercoasters, and narration that’ll blow you away — The Arlington Hall Duet is an absolute must-read. Jude Harrison may have just dethroned Jesse Ward for me. Yes, I said it. Long live Jude Harrison. 👑🔥

⭐ 10/10
💔🔥 Emotional, messy, addictive.
🎧 Don’t walk, run to grab the audiobook.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second instalment of the Arlington Hall duet, The Surrender, picks up a week after the events of the first book, with Amelia licking her wounds. She was a woman caught between two men. Her ex Nick who she didn’t want but who had the approval of her family and who turned up the most inopportune moments and Jude, an intense and enigmatic man who not even her friends liked. It was obvious he had yet more secrets to be revealed and despite barely scratching the surface of his deceit, Amelia was still attracted to him.

Once his reasons for initially pursuing her had been exposed, Amelia hadn’t expected Jude’s relentless attempts to contact her, and his lurking presence outside her place was reminiscent of a vampire, compelling her to go to him. Talk about stalkerish behaviour – why didn’t she just block his number but then again where would be the fun it that. But for Jude what had originally began as a bet soon developed into an obsession. Jude was like two separate people. When he was with Amelia, he was almost playful and carefree, acting like a man in love and I loved the carrot scene between them. But then he’d flip becoming more intense and secretive. As a character Amelia was strong to begin with but the more time, she spent with Jude the weaker she seemed to become. As a couple their relationship reminded me a little too much of Jesse and Ava. I did enjoy the overall flow of their story and the epic twist at the end which I didn’t see coming, and I have been left intrigued by what exactly happened in Paris with Abbey and Casey so perhaps a return to Arlington Hall is in the cards.

[onemorechapterisaid · Rating 5 out of 5]

If The Temptation wrecked me, The Surrender completely obliterated me.

This book is the very definition of pain, passion, and obsession colliding. I felt everything—Amelia’s heartbreak, her hope, her desperate need to protect her heart while knowing Jude Harrison is the one man she can’t resist. And Jude… 🥵🔥 Jude is temptation and destruction wrapped into one impossibly magnetic man. Possessive, dangerous, intoxicating—he’s chaos, and yet somehow the calm she craves. I’m obsessed, and I’m not even sorry.

The push and pull between them is brutal and beautiful at the same time. Every secret that dropped had me gasping, every twist left me reeling. Just when I thought I knew what was coming, Jodi Ellen Malpas flipped everything upside down.

By the time I hit that ending, I was broken, breathless, and begging for more. This series is pure emotional warfare, and I’m surrendering right along with Amelia.

[Erin Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Star Review The Surrender (Arlington Hall #2) by Jodi Ellen Malpas

Ebook/Audio
The Surrender is the conclusion to the Arlington Hall duet and is Amelia Lazenby and Jude Harrison’s continuing story. If you haven’t read The Invitation then STOP as it must be read first.

After what happened in the first book, Jude had a lot to make up for. In fact he grated on my nerves a number of times to be honest in these books.

As more secrets are revealed, and both their ex’s re surface the complications only become worse.

Amelia wasn’t looking for love but Jude’s determination and obsession is hard to ignore. However she also needs to do us on work and this is causing more stress.

There were a number of twists and turns and I was surprised at times. The writing was strong and overall I enjoyed the story.

The narration by Shakira Shute was spot on for these characters. Not only is her voice easy to listen to but her performances brought all the passion and drama.

[ashlin.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jodi really tried my patience with this one, but in a great way! I was loving Jude getting his redemption but then he kept screwing it up! If he would just tell everything already, Amelia would be all in! But of course, that wouldn't make for much of a compelling story to keep you intrigued so I loved every second of her emotional turns.

After reading The Invitation I was so ready to see Jude get his comeback after deceiving Amelia. Even through all of the secrets, he truly did love her and just wanted to give her everything. I loved how strong Amelia was in general. She knew what she wanted for her life and even though she felt like she had given her heart up too easily, she wasn't afraid to also pick up the pieces of said broken heart when she found out each new secret. Jude was his pushy yet romantic self. He was also so lost without her. I really enjoyed Amelia and her dad hashing things out and seeing their relationship get to a good place. The rest of the family and friends had me cracking up just as they did in the first book. I was glad Nick finally got what he deserved too but I did NOT see that twist coming. Nor the twist with Amelia's best friend... but I won't spoil things. Just know that there are many twists in this one and even though Jodi makes you really not like Jude a lot, his reasonings will break your heart and make you love him so much!

I was also approved for an ALC of this one which was done by Shakira Shute. Her accent made the story so amazing. She really had me picturing everything from the story and I adore when a narrator can do that, especially for books that are based somewhere else where they speak with a different accent. It just adds a great touch to the book.

Thank you so much Netgalley, ValentinePR, and Brilliance Publishing for the advanced copies in exchange for my honest review!

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really nice conclusion for Amelia and Jude.

There is alot of back and forth with them. Amelia tries her best to stay away, but she just can't resist Jude and he can't seem to let Amelia go no matter how many times he hears it.

I enjoyed the push and pull as these two try to navigate a new relationship and as secrets are revealed, you feel for these characters. I did find the spicy scenes to be a bit too much at times and at one point, it started to feel like that was all there was to their relationship - a lust attraction. Thankfully Jodi was able to prove it was more.

This book moves fast and Jodi keeps the story entertaining the entire way. I liked how things played out and that she stuck true to who these characters are and didn't have them doing out of character just for the sake of added filler.

An entertaining duet!