The Surrender Wall

by Melinda R. Morgan

She’s a gorgeous, high-end event planner who dodges feelings like a pro—and never mixes business with pleasure.
He’s a charming C-level executive who builds empires and avoids commitment like it’s contagious.
Together? They sidestep feelings like it’s their full-time job.

But what happens when banter turns to tension, sarcasm turns to chemistry, and one thunderstorm kiss changes all the rules?

She doesn’t want to fall.
He doesn’t want to fail.
But sometimes, love isn’t planned—it’s built. One brick at a time.

The Surrender Wall is a sizzling, closed-door romantic comedy packed with slow-burn sparks, sharp wit, late-night texts, stolen hoodies, wooden spoon drama, and the kind of emotional intimacy that lingers long after the kiss.

Perfect for fans of Larson’s Wager, Alex Undercover, and Liam’s Proposal.

Genres: Romance

450 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 25, 2025

About the author

Visit Melinda's author website:

http://www.melindarmorgan.com

I am a mother of four adult children, stepmom to five adult children, and grandma to 20 grandchildren. I LOVE Coke Zero (seriously LOVE it!) and peanut M&M's. I spent five years as a single mom when my children were all very young.

That was then. This is now. I have been married to the love of my life since 2002, I have a BS in Liberal Studies, a teaching license, and an MS in Education and Administration. In 2016, Ron and I relocated to Utah, where I am continuing my 25+ years in education. I have taught high school, elementary school, and middle school; and believe it or not, I am most at home with those crazy, insane middle schoolers! Tweens and Teens! Would someone give me an "Amen" please?

Recently, I have begun a new romantic comedy series, and who knew I would love writing in this genre so much?

Besides my day job, I am also a classically trained pianist. Music is a huge part of who I am and how I express some of my deepest emotions. I also enjoy kayaking, taking long walks, and hanging out with my children and grandchildren.

I write in order to connect with others--soul to soul, heart to heart. I listen to and perform music in order to connect with and ignite creative energy. I like to put it this way:

Music puts me in touch with my emotions. Words, put my emotions in touch with my readers.

n book one of An Unlikely Romance, I get to combine my enjoyment of kayaking with my addiction to romance. I hope you will love reading the series as much as I love writing it.

Reviews

[Jasmine (Jazzie) [Jesus Loves You!!] · Rating 4 out of 5]

*3.75 stars*

“We're very close to crossing a line.”
“Then drag me over it. Because I'm already halfway gone.”

⋆౨ৎ《Now playing: All You Wanna Do from Six: The Musical》˚⟡˖ ࣪

~°❀My Thoughts❀°~
Now, before I go and say something that might make someone think I didn't like this book, just know that I did. It was a very good book. But it dealt with some difficult and mature topics that I wasn't fond of reading. Don't get me wrong, I think the author handled the topics well, it's just that I don't like reading difficult topics like that because it makes me sad. Definitely check out the trigger warnings and content warnings I have listed below, though, because I know it's definitely a touchy topic for a lot of people.

The romance definitely started off as physical attraction big time, though more so on his part, but it was obvious as the book went on that it moved from last to an actual emotional connection and to them falling in love, which was very nice to see. Although I will say that it did get steamy at times. Not spicy, mind you, because this is a no-spice book, but like, there were scenes that edge the line of possibly becoming spicy had it just had a few more details, in my opinion. Due to that, for any of the clean book readers thinking about reading this book, I'd definitely recommend carefully reading over the content warnings I have listed below to make sure the content falls within your reading comfort zone. But anyway, there were also some aspects to the romance that made me giggle and kick my feet, like her stealing his hoodies and all the GIFs they texted each other. 🤭 (I seriously need those in books more!)

The only other thing I have to note is that at times a good bit of the side characters seemed to have similar personalities and voices. I was still able to differentiate between them, and lowkey it may have just been a me thing, but still.

I did love the whole “surrender wall” scenes and stuff with the therapist. I don't go to therapy (‘cause who needs therapy when you have books?!) but I will say that those scenes helped me with something I was kind of struggling with. Well, is helping, I guess I should say.

Also, if you like Tudor history or Six: The Musical and K. Howard is one of your favorites or if you just like Katherine Howard in general, you might like this book. Does this book actually have anything to do with K. Howard? Well, no. But certain things and topics in this book reminded me of her, like Vanessa's childhood and whatnot (which is why I chose All You Wanna Do as the song for this review), so I figured it deserved a mention.

But yeah, like I said, it was a really good, and nicely written, book.

⋆౨ৎ《All you wanna do
All you wanna do, baby》˚⟡˖ ࣪

~°❀Characters❀°~
Vanessa: She's not really the type of FMC that I like reading. She uses she um… “womanly assets” to persuade and and almost manipulate male characters in a way, which I didn't like. Like, after finding out about her past I'm not surprised by her doing it, and I do like that she doesn't actually like doing it, but still… Besides that, she was very relatable. Especially with the fact that she struggled to let down her walls and let people in, and talk about her feelings. I did love her non-profit though, and what she does for those girls. And I liked being able to see her more caring and softer side, too. Plus, she's a bookworm, which I loved even though she does read spicy books….

Layton: He's the typical upper management, flirty, lowkey possessive guy that you see in a lot of Contemporary novels nowadays, but he wasn’t bad. I liked him as a whole, I guess. I loved the fact that he likes reading, especially poetry, but the fact that he dog-ears books made me rather annoyed with them. (Thank goodness Vanessa had the good sense to be outraged at him doing that when she found out)

⋆౨ৎ《I think we can all agree I'm a ten amongst these threes》˚⟡˖ ࣪

~°❀Book Cover Rating❀°~
7/10

⋆౨ৎ《All you wanna do
All you wanna do, baby
And ever since I was a child, I'd make the boys go wild》˚⟡˖ ࣪

~°❀Content Warnings❀°~
(Warning! 🚨 Before you go any further, there is a chance that something I've said about the content will possibly be a bit spoilerish, so please proceed with caution! Also, if I missed any content, please let me know so I can add it!)

☆Trigger Warnings:
This book deals with a lot of sexual assault (none of it is on page), there's also a time that a character thinks another character was going to slit her wrists with a knife.

☆Faith based/Christian:
The closest is a mention of sins, a prayer, the heavens, and the saints in heaven, a mention of Lucifer (none of them were said in a Christian context, though). The Lord's name was said in vain more than once.

☆Other Religious Content:
A character gets called a goddess (mainly because of her looks); a character wonders something “in the name of Hades”; mentions of yoga; a character does something similar to yoga; a mention of the devil; a character says “devil take me” once; “holy gods” is said once (more so like a swear word; a character says he is going to worship a lady's body and soul all night; mentions of demons; mentions of gods in heaven; a lady is called a witch once.

☆Violence:
Mentions of sexual assault, rape, and human trafficking; mention of a character being kidnapped; playful threats (like, the characters were joking or teasing when they said the threats); a character saying a place looked like somewhere that you would hide dead bodies at; mentions of bar room brawls; a character jokingly wonders if another character is trying to kill him; a character tells another character about how she saw a person get struck by lightning, and then it's described a bit (up to semi-detailed maybe?); a character says that she had experienced an abusive childhood; a character receives threatening notes; mentions that a character was kidnapped; a character receives a note that says someone will be killed if they don't meet the person at a certain time and place; a character tells a girl not to take her own life; a character threatens a character with a gun, which later gets shot; a mention that a character thought another character was going to slit her wrists with a knife;

☆Sexual Content/Romance:
Fade to black scene between a non-married couple (in chapter 23); mentions of sexual assault, rape, child porn, and human trafficking; kissing on the lips (with and without tongue), neck, cheeks, and collarbone (up to almost detailed); mentions of mouths and tongues “exploring”; falling in love; mentions of and noticing a person's looks; a character feels another character's abs; mentions of a lady's breasts; mentions of sexual assault, rape, and human trafficking; mentions of a character being “sold to the highest bidder” so to say; many instances of the word “sexy” being used to describe a person and/or how they looked; mentions of a character seducing ladies; another character is described as seductive; mentions of a man's private parts (he was kicked there); mentions of hooking up; a character jokingly (I think) asks someone if they are going to hook up; mentions of making love; a mention of a lady's unmentionable clothing; a character moan and another character said that he wanted to make her moan and that he will lose his mind is she continues to make noises (to which she replied that she can't be held responsible for them due to a certain reason, and then he said he wants all the noises); characters touch other characters’ bare skin (or wants to); a character thinks about climbing onto a character's lap; a character says that if he goes inside he might not be able to stop at only kissing; a character reads spicy books (it's hinted at that Layton when Vanessa's book, was at a spicy scene. Then he read off the title which was A Court of Mist and Fury, although Vanessa does say that it isn't a series she would have chosen for herself and that it was her online book club's pick); a character straddles another character's lap; many mentions of a character being hot, sexy, pretty, or beautiful; it’s said that one of the characters might have a son (he wasn't married to the son's mother); mentions of birth control and a guy saying he “took precautions” too; a mention that a lady had cheated on her ex-boyfriend; a character nips another character's earlobe; mentions of a character's parents being pleased by her womanly “assets” so to say; many mentions of characters “lighting fires” in other characters; a character tells another character not to wear certain clothing in front of him because it's essentially a temptation for him; a character wears another character's clothes; a character changes clothes in front of a character of the opposite gender; a character is pregnant; mentions of characters blushing; characters lay and sleep in the same bed (nothing happens); a mention of characters almost having made love to each other before being interrupted; characters ended up physically entangled with each other; mentions of a character wanting to undress another character; a character mentions that she was sold to a child pornographer; a character undresses themselves in front of a character of the opposite gender; a character undresses another character; lots of characters touching other characters’ bodies; a character plans to seduce another character;

☆Magic:
None

☆Bad Language:
Mentions of curses as in bad language but they are never actually said; the phrase “speak of the devil” is said once.

Hell, Damn, A*s, and Bad*ss are said many times.

☆LGBTQ+:
None

☆Drugs/Alcohol:
Mentions of wine, beer, and whiskey and of characters drinking it; characters go into bars; mentions of drunk people.

Mentions that a girl had died due to drug overdose; mentions that a girl gave another girl drugs to “make her listen”.

☆Miscellaneous:
Mentions of a girl stealing; mentions of characters living on the streets. Characters go to therapy multiple times. Characters get food poisoning and ends up throwing up (not detailed).

⋆౨ৎ《Cause all you wanna do
All you wanna do, baby
Is touch me, love me, can't get enough, see》˚⟡˖ ࣪

~°❀My Age Recommendation❀°~
18 years old and older due to the mature and sexual content listed above.

⋆౨ৎ《All you wanna do
All you wanna do, baby》˚⟡˖ ࣪

~°❀Part of a series?❀°~
No, it is a standalone.

⋆౨ৎ《Is please me, squeeze me, birds and the bees me》˚⟡˖ ࣪

~°❀Will I read the rest of the series/more from this author?❀°~
I will most likely read more from the author!

⋆౨ৎ《Run your fingers through my hair
Tell me, I'm the fairest of the fair》˚⟡˖ ࣪

~❀Would I re-read this book?❀°~
I might someday, although some of the content in this book I typically try to avoid for the most part, which means The Surrender Wall will not be very high on my reread list for a time.

⋆౨ৎ《Playtime's over》˚⟡˖ ࣪

~°❀Books similar to this one❀°~
To be added. If you have any recs for books you think are similar to this one, please let me know!

⋆౨ৎ《The only thing you wanna do is…》˚⟡˖ ࣪

*I received a free copy of this book from the author. A review was not required. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Sophie Toovey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always enjoy Melinda Morgan’s books, and The Surrender Wall is no exception—it might even be my favourite yet. From the moment Vanessa was introduced earlier in the series, I was intrigued by her polished exterior and the sense that she was hiding deeper wounds. This story beautifully unravels that facade, offering a tender, honest look at the long-term impact of trauma and what it truly means to trust again.

The chemistry between Vanessa and Layton is undeniable, but what stood out even more was the emotional depth of their connection. Layton’s patience with Vanessa, her cautious steps toward vulnerability, and the way they slowly learned to understand and risk their hearts with each other—it was all so moving. I was especially touched by the “surrender wall” analogy—the idea of giving someone bricks from the walls we’ve built to protect ourselves. It’s powerful, and so true.

Grams was a standout supporting character, bringing warmth and wisdom to the story. I also deeply appreciated the focus on Vanessa’s work with abuse survivors, and the sensitive, respectful way this theme was woven through the narrative. Her strength wasn’t diminished by love—it was deepened by it.

The fade-to-black scenes were handled with grace, and the whole book felt life-affirming and redemptive. A definite five-star read for me.

[Maria Merced · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this story. This was my first read from Melinda as an ARC. Thank you so much for this opportunity Melinda!

I read really spicy stories, but this one satisfied me very well. I LOVED Layton. He was soooo patient with Vanessa.

One of my favorite characters was Grams. She reminds me of my own grandmother (RIP).

This story is filled with good banter, a bit of angst and suspense.

Trigger warning: the story centers in non-profits for child SA by family and non family members, but it was well written. No details about it, which for me, suits well.

I will definitely continue reading from this author.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Layton and Vanessa’s book was really sweet. I loved seeing them both get their own happy endings after their appearances in the previous books.

I wasn’t sure how I initially thought about Vanessa, but she grew on me after we learned more about her backstory.

Meanwhile, I’d loved Layton since Liam’s book and was so happy to see Gram turn her scheming onto him.

They felt like a good balance for each other and had plenty of chemistry and banter.

This one did feel slightly different from the others with the interludes, but I think they worked well.

While this was still a fade-to-black, closed-door romance, it felt like there was a bit more ‘spice’ compared to the others.

I think Liam’s book is still my favourite, but I really enjoyed this one. Hopefully, we will get to see more of the Graham siblings and Grams and her meddling again in the future.

[DeLana Becker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author Melinda Morgan and the BookFunnel for this ARC of The Surrender Wall. First ARC for me and hopefully not my last. It started out a little slow but then grew into a wonderful, powerful and suspenseful story. Vanessa was such a strong FMC with such an emotional past. It was great to see the growth of the main characters. The fun, flirty banter between the characters was also captivating. I do feel like we could have learned more about Layton and his past, but overall a great story. I have not read the others in the series prior to this one (worked well as a standalone) but I do plan to read them now.

[Emily Glorius · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn’t usually the kind of book I go for, but I’m really glad I read this one. I actually enjoyed it a lot. It’s super emotional, with a lot of healing for both Vanessa and Layton. I especially liked the therapy scenes—they felt raw and real and gave me a deeper, more personal understanding of the characters. Even though it’s emotional, there’s a nice balance with humor and sweetness that keeps things light sometimes. The rooftop scene was definitely my favorite moment. And Melinda’s writing style is just amazing. The way she describes everything makes the story so vivid, and she has this way of pulling you in, so you just want to keep reading.

[Elayna Matteoni · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is a deeply moving sweet romance that tackles dark emotional themes with compassion, humor, and hope.

I loved Vanessa and Layton’s journeys from guarded souls to blooming trust. These are portrayed with careful sensitivity and authenticity. The clever dialogue, layered character dynamics, and moments of levity from supporting characters like Grams elevate it far beyond a conventional romance.

I had a great time reading this and you will too! 🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻

[Alexis · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely beautiful book. I feel so much for young Vanessa but what she’s done to better herself is absolutely amazing. Her and Layton together are 🥵🔥🔥. Grams is so sneaky on hooking her grandkids up. I love that woman. This book I would recommend to anyone.

[Joanne Farley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Please be mindful of the trigger warning for this book. It deals with childhood abuse, but it is handed with care throughout.
Vanessa and Layton have both been hurt in the past and that makes them guarded with everyone. They meet and feel the attraction to each other. What follows is a slow burn to romance between the two leads. You will get plenty of banter between the two and Layton's grandmother is a first class character.
This book is heartfelt, realistic and heartwarming. It is sure to become a favorite with readers.

[Laurs · Rating 4 out of 5]

*ARC REVIEW*
this isn’t my usual kind of book, but it was a decent read.
- slow burn romance & very PG - the story line was cute & loved getting to know the characters 🖤

[Tara Arriola · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to ARC this book.

While this is a stand-alone interconnected book - my recommendation is to read the series. All of the books are good and the relationships between the characters carry over and make it more enjoyable.

All I can say is Grams - stay out of my kitchen. And can I have a glass of that sweet tea?

[Lottie Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Melinda R. Morgan for providing this ARC of The Surrender Wall in exchange for an honest review.

Summary
Vanessa Powell is not exactly looking for love. A traumatised war widow, she’s built metaphorical (and perhaps a bit emotional) walls around herself- literalised through the local legend of the “Surrender Wall,” a place where townsfolk leave bricks symbolising what they’re ready to release. Enter Layton Brooks: kind, patient, entirely unexpected. As they navigate grief, healing, and the slow, soft burn of something new, the wall becomes more than a metaphor... it’s a gentle invitation to trust again.

Honest Review (Spoiler warning: mild spoilers ahead)
Now admittedly, I went into this book without having read any of the other Unlikely Romance stories (don’t worry, they’re already climbing my TBR as we speak), but, it was stated that this could be enjoyed as a standalone, and my gosh, they were right.

What instantly stood out was the quiet beauty of the story’s premise. The idea of the Surrender Wall? Utterly captivating. It felt symbolic without being heavy-handed, and Vanessa’s hesitation to give up a “brick” really hit home. It made me think, why are we so reluctant to break down walls we've built, even for those we love? Or perhaps more poignantly, why don’t we leave space to build a door?

This is a closed-door romance (and I love that it explicitly says so, thank you), but in the best way... there’s something wonderfully Elizabethan about it. You’re left to your own imagination, which oddly made it all the more intimate. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll happily devour something with a bit more spice, but this was tender and deliberate in a way that felt meaningful.

And Grams. Honestly. What a legend. I feel like every reader has (or wants) a Grams in their life... a little wild, a little wise, and always the emotional backbone of everything.

I adored this book, truly. There’s something so quietly powerful about the way it handled healing, grief, and hope. If the rest of the series carries the same magic, I’m in for an emotional (but lovely) ride.

[Danielle Hughes-Francis · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who usually tends to favour open door spicy books, this book did not need the spice at all! In fact I think the spice might have over ruled the beautiful story. The message this book give you is so powerful and is so important. Even though it’s a romantic comedy it definitely has some serious and important issues which was written carefully and respectfully. As someone who also has control issues in order to protect myself aswell as difficulty trusting people this really hit home and felt really relatable.

Tropes - ▪️Forced Proximity▪️Fiercely Independent FMC
▪️Closed Door Spice▪️ Fade To Black ▪️He Falls First ▪️Thunderstorm Kisses ▪️ Slow burn

The Surrender Wall focuses on Vanessa and Layton. Layton - is the CFO of his families business. Vanessa - who is a successful Corporate event planner who runs a non-profit to helped abused girls. Layton’s meddling grams pairs him up with Vanessa to help her plan their huge 50th anniversary event but grams has an ulterior motive. Vanessa has secrets and struggles to trust people, especially men & has her walls of Protection built high. Layton avoids commitment at all costs whilst building an empire. Together they side step their feelings for each other like it’s their full time job.

The banter and chemistry between Ness & Layton was sizzling and so brilliantly written. I could feel the attraction and angst through the page and it’s delivered to us readers impeccably. You really find yourself rooting for them both so much. The thunderstorm kiss scene was chefs kiss. Like Vanessa i have a real fear of thunderstorms so I really related to her and her feelings at times.
the plot was exciting, and educational too.

The meaning behind ‘The Surrender Wall was outstanding, beautifully explained and so relateable too. I loved everything about this book and will definitely be recommending to anyone who will listen.

[Cherilyn (Cherwhatyouread) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trigger warning: the topic of human trafficking/child abuse/exploitation is a reoccurring topic in this book.

Context warning: There is a fade to black scene, and continued mentions of the couple sleeping together. Lots of innuendo.

I enjoyed this story. It was interesting to get Vanessa’s backstory which explained her behavior in Laron’s Wager.
Then Grams is at it again, except this time-Layton knows her scheming and tries to avoid it and keep her in the dark of how things are going. Grams forced Vanessa and Layton to plan a celebration for the company, neither which want the other’s help. Vanessa and Layton are both independent characters who had to learn how to break down the barriers that kept themselves safe and how to support each other.

Favorite Quote:
I stood there, staring at the closed door like a man trying to solve a puzzle without all the pieces. Then I turned and walked toward the elevator. But I already knew. I didn’t need the last piece. I wanted more. More than her laugh. More than that moan. More than flirtation or sparks or perfectly timed glances.

“Sometimes you are deliciously irresistible. Still a menace, but an irresistible one,”

“That’s the risk, isn’t it? Of real connection. Of letting someone in. We don’t surrender bricks because it’s safe. We surrender them because it’s sacred.”

[Brittany Molebash · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Surrender Wall follows Vanessa and Layton as they are put together to work on a project for Layton's family company. Vanessa has past trauma that prevents her from easily letting others in, and Layton has always felt as the "black sheep" of his very successful family.

This is a sloooow burn, he falls first, closed door romance. I enjoyed the little therapy snippets thrown in here and there, which helped you really get to know the characters. It also was kind of refreshing being a closed door and not having really smutty scenes. Sometimes, when there is a good plot, I am ready to get on with the story rather than intermission with a smut scene 🤣. This book had one of those plots. It wasn't just the plot of "will they or won't they" get together but there was a whole story going on of someone sending mysterious letters to Vanessa and trying to figure out who they were coming from all while trying to run her non-profit and her full time job of event planning and trying not to fall in love all at the same time! 

It was funny, flirty, serious at times, and dealt with some hard issues in a very respectful way. I definitely recommend giving this one a read.

[Mel Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review
.
.
.
The Surrender Wall by Melinda Morgan is a beautiful, tender exploration of healing, vulnerability, and learning to let go—brick by brick.

Vanessa and Layton’s journey felt raw, honest, and unexpectedly comforting. The connection between them grows in such an organic way, made even more real through hilarious banter, late-night texts, awkward but sweet therapy moments, and meddling family members (looking at you, Grams 👀💞). I loved watching them slowly chip away at the emotional walls they’d built—some moments broke me, while others made me laugh out loud.

This book gave me:
Forced Proximity
Irresistible Banter
Late Night Vulnerabilities
Meddling Grams (iconic)

Although it’s part of a series, it absolutely stands alone. The writing flows effortlessly, and the characters are so believable you feel like you've known them for years.

I devoured this story and highly recommend it to anyone who loves emotionally rich romance with a healing arc and unforgettable characters.

[erica culpepper · Rating 5 out of 5]

With a mixture of lust, wit and romance, The Surrender Wall had me from start to finish.

Vanessa is an extremely talented event planner with a keen eye and a gift for knowing what her clients want and need at their events. We would all be so fortunate to have her in our roladex.

Layton. Smart, handsome, and a powerful CFO of the family biz to boot. Armed with charming wit and a matchmaking grandmother that always gets her way, he never thought a party planner was going to be the death of him.

As everyone prepares for the company's big anniversary event, Layton is forced by Grams, much to his resistance, to assist Vanessa in all details big and small, including visits to venues, listening to live bands and, of course, engaging in the best banter with a woman he can't stop thinking about.

But of course, Vanessa has her own secrets amidst it all that she hides very well, considering she can't stop talking to a man who intrigues her in all the right ways. With so much chemistry between them, it's a wonder they can get anything done.

Such a great read! Thanks Melinda Morgan!

[Madison · Rating 5 out of 5]

“𝙂𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙩𝙮,” 𝙄 𝙨𝙖𝙞𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙢𝙮 𝙪𝙨𝙪𝙖𝙡 𝙨𝙬𝙖𝙜𝙜𝙚𝙧.

“𝙊𝙝, 𝙄’𝙢 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚.” 𝙃𝙚𝙧 𝙫𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙨𝙢𝙤𝙤𝙩𝙝 𝙖𝙨 𝙨𝙞𝙡𝙠, 𝙚𝙛𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨. 𝙉𝙤 𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣. 𝙉𝙤 𝙙𝙤𝙪𝙗𝙩. 𝘼𝙨 𝙞𝙛 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙢𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙜𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙪𝙩.

Layton and Grams are BACK!! I fell in love with these two in Liam’s Proposal, and Layton getting his own love story with Vanessa!! *chef’s kiss* 💋 Perfection. No notes.

The banter and chemistry between Layton and Vanessa was so well-done. I could feel the attraction through the page as if I was standing in the room with them. Plus, the emotional growth they both go through is an added layer to understanding who these characters are and what drives them.

Not to mention, the meaning behind the Surrender Wall… I won’t give it away here, but man… did it make me feel all sorts of emotional!! This book was so much more than a love story.

You’ll want to read this if you enjoy:
-Thunderstorm Kisses
-Banter
-He Falls First
-Meddling Grams (she’s the best)
-Fade-to-Black
-Forced Proximity


This book releases on July 25th & you’ll be able to catch it on Kindle Unlimited!! 🩷

[Lynda Malone · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Surrender Wall

Two emotionally scared & guarded hearts. That is how our two main characters are described and it is so fitting.

Vanessa has been through so much in her life but instead of letting it destroy her, she allowed it to give her strength. Layton took hold of the black sheep label and ran with it even if he hated it. When these two collided neither one of them expected the other to "get" them.

Both closed off emotionally, not allowing anyone to get too close but time and forced proximity, thanks Grams, made them start to see things differently. 

Melinda has written a beautiful story that handles some very dark topics.

The depiction of abuse is handled with compassion and it shows you that with the right help, a path to a healthly and fulfilling life can be found. The banter between Vanessa and Layton is 🤌 just perfect, it had me chuckling along and don't even get me started on Grams.

Grab a copy of this as soon as you can. It a winner. 5 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Emmy Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Surrender Wall by Melinda Morgan
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

Wow. That was a doozy—in the best way!

Vanessa and Layton both carry emotional scars and past trauma. They’ve built walls and are terrified of letting anyone get too close—but watching them try is so worth it. The banter between them is fantastic, and their text exchanges had me laughing out loud! 🤣

There’s a nice thread of suspense woven through the story, and the BookTok callouts? Hilarious and spot on.

The Graham family dynamic is another highlight. Layton is lucky to have them—especially Grams, the meddling matriarch. I loved her, and I can't wait to see more of her meddling in future books.

While The Surrender works perfectly as a standalone, there are interconnected characters from previous books that I’m now dying to go back and read.

This was my first time reading Melinda Morgan, but definitely not my last. Big thanks to the author for the eARC—opinions are completely my own!

[Tiffany Stanfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you for trusting with one of your ARCs!

Not only a title but a symbol, The Surrender Wall!
Melinda writes with the perfect amount of detail, the character development continues throughout the story and there is a true plot with many different events to add to the development of the characters. There is minimal spice but the story is worth it!
Banter = ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Vanessa is a strong and feisty woman but closed off…for good reason.
Layton is all business.
Add a meddling matriarch in the form of “Grams” that is continuously stirring the pot…and I am here for it!
This story isn’t just about a fire that ignites between two people who try so hard to hide it but also there is a lot going on in the background.

[Ali U · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW ****


I loved this book ! it was beautifully written. Vanessa is a head strong fmc who rose above her past and devoted her life to helping other girls like her. I looooooved the chapter 55 mention too! 🤭

Layton and Vanessa letting one another in was so sweet , I cried. his protectiveness over her and their chemistry can definitely be felt.

Also I love grams! she so sassy and fierce and knew exactly what she was doing setting them up. the ending had me in tears too because of the beautiful partnership to help boys and girls in who come from abusive homes and need the support . awe inspiring ! such a good read !! so grateful for i had the opportunity to be an arc for this book.

[Lexi Newbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Surrender Wall
Melinda R Morgan
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wow! I am absolutely lost for words! My emotions were a roller coaster through this whole book. I absolutely LOVED Vanessa and Layton’s story. I connected so well with Vanessa. She is such an inspiring woman, running a non profit for girls that suffer abuse, harassment, etc. she’s so strong and independent and even though she faces her own struggles she is always there for everyone. Watching her grow and overcoming her own personals struggles was inspiring. I was on the edge of my seat the whole book wondering what was going to happen with the letters. Melinda, i absolutely LOVED your book and I’m so thankful I got to be apart of your ARC team. I look forward to reading more of your books! Happy release day!!!

Make sure you guys order your copy! 5 Star read for sure!! You will not regret it!!

[Alicia Algarin · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review

This was a very good read, full of humor, suspense, flirtation and attraction from the main characters.

I loved how Layton felt the need to care and protect for Vanessa from the get go.

I loved how they incorporated therapy journals in this read, as it is so important to be able to work through the issues life may throw at us at any given time.

Grams meddling in Layton's love life had me laughing out loud.

This was definitely a sweet read with the right amount of flirting and spiciness.

I definitely look forward to reading more from this author. Thank you Melinda for the opportunity to read your story.

[Louise Marshall-jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surrender Wall by Melindar Morgan

This book is part of a series but very much a standalone story.

It follows the lives of Vanessa and Layton and how a celebration event brings them together knocking down walls they had both built to protect themselves.

The characters in this book are believable and lovable. You feel like you know them personally and have been friends with them for years.

The story is well written and flows well.
My only gripe with this book was the interludes which I felt were not needed or maybe at the beginning some explanation as they felt a bit random although relevant to the story.

One of my favourite quotes from the book was
“I think sometimes surrender is how we heal. Like your surrender wall. Removing one brick at a time.”

[Lariza · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Surrender Wall is a different pace from what I’m usually reading, and I’m glad I took that chance!

This is a romance with a touch of comedy to make this read enjoyable. I loved the banter between Vanessa and Layton. As you read, you get enough backstory to fully understand the characters and their heated chemistry. I also loved learning the true meaning of the title for this book. I found myself relating to a lot of the topics discussed.

For a story with closed door spice, I feel that it was written perfectly by Melinda and would definitely recommend.

[Allison H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I deeply, madly, emphatically kind of love this book! It pulled me in right away and I read 3/4 of the book in one night! The flow of the storyline was seamless and I kept saying "just one more chapter". I loved the perfectly, imperfect journey both Layton and Vanessa went on together and as individuals. Their banter and teasing were my favorite, followed by some of the sweetest, tender moments. The side characters were equally as entertaining and they added the perfect balance to the whole story. (Grams is amazing!) I especially appreciated the strong family bond that is shared. Thank you to the author for allowing me to be an ARC reader for this wonderful story. Loved it!

Forced Proximity
He falls first
Mental Health/Trauma
Closed Door Romance (it's good 😉)
Slow Burn 🔥
Strong Family Bond
Protective, Supportive MMC
Strong, Independent FMC

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Surrener Wall is a perfect blend of humor, romance and suspense. The description of the effects of abuse on women is powerful and shown in a compassionate light. The development of her characters brings them to life and make them realistic; someone you could relate to. I loved the relationship between Vanessa and Layton. He was patient and compassionate even when Vanessa pushed him away. The little bit of suspense was drawn out then exploded. If you are looking for a sweet powerful romance, this is yours.

[Kelly Minnigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

.Wow…So grateful to have received my ARC! This is my first book from this author & I thoroughly enjoyed it. The “wall” was just so beautiful explained & relatable on so many levels. The closed door romance was beautifully written. I generally like a bit more spice in my books but I honestly was not missing it at all here. I love how this book was written. The family dynamics & characters were all important but not overwhelming, so the focus for me was always on the MMC & MFC, which I truly appreciated. My heart was full & so very content in the end. Ready to read more.

[Katie Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Surrender Wall by Melinda R Morgan
Release Date: July 25th

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️

🫦HEA
🫦Enemies to lovers
🫦Forced proximity
🫦Breaking down walls
🫦He says it first.. sort of
🫦Trauma turned power

I finished all 450 pages in less than 24hrs if that tells you anything… This story resonated with me in a lot of ways as I think it will for countless readers. It’s a beautiful combo of cheesy rom-com and thriller, which I loved! There is a pretty heavy focus of the (off page, but IRL) SA millions of women and girls.
MMC is a gorgeous, casual type of guy. He’s lived his life as the “black sheep” of the family despite maintaining all of the love and connection of them all.
FMC is a bada** entrepreneur and non-profit owner. She strives to prove people wrong with every move she makes and does well to maintain a safe distance from everyone in life until…
Great read, for sure!

#surrenderwall #melindarmorgan #arc #arcreader #books #bookreview