Sweet Surrender

by A.M. LaMonte

What happens when a dazzling TV star falls in love with an ordinary woman?

When Meg leaves her boorish husband to return to her hometown, three kids in tow, she’s left picking up the pieces of her life, explaining herself to her mother, and most of all, facing all the broken dreams she had when she was younger.

She’s ready to move on, however, live a practical life, and build something for herself and her kids. The only thing standing in the way is Anthony Stone, a famous actor and her secret crush, who happens to be hiding from his own demons in her small town.

What begins as a simple connection grows deeper, and Meg finds herself sucked into a glitzy alternate reality that could easily tempt her away from the practical life she’s working toward. It begs the is it more important to plan for the future, or follow your dreams? When is it okay to do things for yourself? And most of all, is love enough to bring together two people with very different lives? Or will the pressure-cooker of Tony’s life blow them apart?

One thing is for Meg and Tony’s lives will never be the same.

220 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 7, 2025

Reviews

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meg is a divorced mom of 3 who meets her Hollywood crush, Tony, fresh off a divorce himself, in her small town. And of course romance ensues

First off I love the cover! It’s what made me want to read this. It is more spicy than I was lead to believe when i requested it.
But i thought it was very cute. And while I’m not a huge fan of kids in books, I actually would have liked more interaction with them.
Other than that it was quick and easy to read, kinda reminded me a little bit of a hallmark movie.

I received an advance review copy from BookSirens for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Fruzsina Bagin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of the novel via Booksprout, and am voluntarily leaving a review.

"Sweet Surrender" is a heart-warming contemporary romance novel that tells the story of Meg – a brave, determined woman who decides to leave her controlling husband behind and move back to her hometown with her three children. One night, at her friend's encouragement, she joins her at a local bar to finally relax a little. She is about to leave when she spots a man who looks exactly like her children's favourite TV star, Anthony Stone. Impulsively, she sends him a drink – unaware that this small gesture will change her life forever.

The man is indeed the famous movie star Tony, who is trying to rebuild himself after his own divorce and is seeking peace in the quiet town of Boulder. Although Meg's surprising move piques his interest, what really gets him is her sincere, straightforward demeanor when they meet again the next day in the park. From there begins a slowly unfolding yet deeply emotional relationship in which both are forced to confront their pasts, their fears, and the questions they are about to face.

One of the novel's greatest strengths is that, although the basic plot of the story may at first seem too good to be true – after all, let's face it, what are the chances of our favourite celebrity falling in love with us? – yet it's written so genuinely and authentically that the reader can easily believe it could happen to her.

AM LaMonte's great ability is to make her characters real, vulnerable, and therefore easy to relate to. I particularly liked that the novel shows not only Meg's maternal side, but also Tony's paternal feelings. The absence of his children and his love for them comes up several times, which makes him even more complex and human. It was good to read a love story that builds not on youthful naivety but on the journey of mature adults. "Sweet Surrender" is about second chances, self-discovery, and the transformative power of love – all crafted in AM LaMonte's sensitive, clear-cut style with vivid and memorable characters.

[Dionne Muller · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Sweet Surrender" by AM LaMonte is a contemporary romance novel that follows the journey of Meg, a resilient woman who bravely leaves her controlling husband and returns to the familiarity of her hometown with her three children in tow. One fateful night, while enjoying an evening out with a friend, Meg spots a man who bears an uncanny resemblance to the star of her children's favourite television show. On a whim, she decides to send him a drink, unaware that this simple gesture will set in motion a series of events that will change her life.

Tony, the recipient of the drink, is a man grappling with the aftermath of his own divorce, seeking solace in the anonymity of Boulder. Intrigued by Meg's bold move, he finds himself drawn to her and thus begins a slow-burning romance that simmers with intensity. As Meg and Tony navigate the complexities of their budding relationship, they must confront the ghosts of their past and the challenges that lie ahead.

The novel delves into the profound questions of when it is acceptable to prioritize one's own happiness and whether love alone is sufficient to bridge the gap between two individuals leading vastly different lives. With the pressure cooker of Tony's high-profile existence threatening to shatter their fragile bond, Meg and Tony must decide if their love is strong enough to withstand the storm.

"Sweet Surrender" is a tale of second chances, self-discovery, and the transformative power of love, masterfully woven together by AM LaMonte's engaging prose and vivid characterizations.

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meg and her three children left Florida and her controlling husband to move to Boulder. She was newly divorced and needed to be near her friend and her mom. Out with a friend at a bar, she locked eyes on a guy that looked a lot like the star of her children’s favorite tv program. Tony was getting over a nasty divorce himself and really missed his children. Tony and Meg felt a connection and began texting and seeing each other. Meg did not idolize him like many fans. He loved the way she wanted to get to know him as a person. When he asked her to come with him to a few celebrity functions it was hard to be in his world. I loved the way his housekeeper helped Meg prepare for functions and the way Tony was protective of Meg. He could not protect her from everything. Great characters and romance and interesting look at their two different worlds and how Tony was really uncomfortable in his.

[Mary Anne Wangen · Rating 3 out of 5]

What will happen if you meet your celebrity crush and they actually reciprocate your feelings?

Well, that's what this novel is about - Meg and Tony. I liked how the pace of the book was just right. It did not spend too much time on other events that would have just complicated the story. It was nice to read a story about adults/parents.

I would have loved to read more about the dynamic between Meg and her children and Tony and his children. Were the children agreeable to their romance right away? I understand the focus is on Meg and Tony, but it would have been better if the children were a little bit more involved.

Overall, the book was an enjoyable read if you like adult romance. Surprisingly, there is a lot of spice in the book. If there are bonus chapters about Tony and Meg's future, I would read those.

**Review is for an eARC.**

[Rebecca Billman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meg moves home to her small town after leaving her husband. She is trying to begin a fulfilling life for herself and her three children. When she moves back she runs into her celebrity crush Anthony Stone. They click right away and soon things heat up between Meg and Tony.

I really liked the connection that Meg and Tony had, but Meg is trying to start anew and calm, which Tony’s life is anything but.

I would recommend this to anyone that is looking for a good read and loves Hallmark movies like I do!

[Lindy D · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a well-written story of a man and woman who met in a completely normal way from 2 very different walks of life. The author gives us their 2 different perspectives from a divorced single mom with 3 children, and a divorced Hollywood actor with 2 children in Australia while he is in Boulder Colorado US. Their path to a relationship is a slow burn, but the path to a solid love is not a smooth one. The HEA in this story did not come easily nor was it a smooth path.. but love did find a way!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Tyocia Ziegler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book pulled me in from the beginning and I ended up reading it in a day. Meg, a recently divorced mother of 3 just happens to come across the celebrity man of her dreams in a bar one night while out with a friend. The sweet and spicy love story that follows will keep you reading through their ups and downs.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet Surrender is a good, and enjoyable steamy opposites attract holiday romance read. The story has a good entertaining well written world building story line. The characters are good, and they have good chemistry. This story is an entertaining read.

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

[Amanda Bannister · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this story! It was an easy read with a few life hiccups here and there, but it was relatable and very well written.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kenzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review

Second chance romance?! This book had me hooked from the beginning. Meg, a mother of 3, recently divorced, moved back to her hometown and is working for the school district. Meg’s main focus is her children. Tony, a big time celebrity, father of 2, recently divorced is lying low in a small town in Colorado. By chance Meg and Tony run into each other. Late night coffee dates, celebrity events, and home cooked meals?! I loved the back story of both Meg and Tony. You can see the relationship slowly build between the two. It is a true love story. This was like reading a Hallmark story but with spice! Thank you for allowing me to be an ARC reader!

[LG Milton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book and couldn't put it down. A great read from a talented author. Looking forward to the next book from this author.

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a fun romp! Imagine you're an ordinary former dancer and recently divorced mom and you lock eyes with your celebrity crush across a dingy bar. This could go so many ways, and LaMonte takes us on a relatable and toe-wigglingly cute journey as two people in the stormy waters of personal and public life, tack their way towards each other.
LaMonte especially excels at giving us appealing male characters, and this one doesn't disappoint!