Terms of Surrender: A Dark, Intense Contemporary Romance

by Nicole Gregory

Emma Sinclair lives by rules.

In boardrooms.
In negotiations.
In the careful economy of every breath she takes.

She survives by staying ahead of every variable—
by never wanting what can’t be measured,
never needing what can’t be controlled.

Until him.

He is inevitability given flesh.

A man who doesn’t challenge her authority,
but offers her something far more dangerous:
the freedom to set it down.

What begins as a careful exchange of power
deepens into something darker—
and far more intimate.

Trust sharpens.
Longing takes root.
Secrets surface.

And Emma must decide how much of herself she’s willing to risk—
not just for pleasure,
but for truth.
For trust.
For love.

Because surrender is never just an act.
It’s a choice.

Terms of Surrender is a high-heat contemporary romance featuring emotional power exchange, slow-burn intimacy, and corporate intrigue. Intended for mature readers.

486 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication April 2, 2026

About the author

Nicole Gregory writes emotionally intense contemporary romance about power, trust, and the courage it takes to choose vulnerability.

Her debut series, The Terms Series, explores high-stakes relationships shaped by negotiated power, explicit consent, and intimacy that must be earned.

Terms of Surrender, the first book in The Terms Series, releases April 2, 2026.

Reviews

[SJ Whelan · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Review of an ARC received from the author*

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
Slow-burn, steamy, emotional, raw

First and foremost. I think my favourite line to come out of this book was directly from Nicole Gregory herself…
“My husband wrote a book, so I wrote a better one”
That gave me a good laugh at the end of what was a fantastic debut contemporary romance novel from the author herself.

Written phenomenally, you’re eased in to the storyline of Emma and the irresistible force that is Mr Holt.
It is a slow burn story to start you off before leading in to intertwined lives full of business, lies, heartache, connection and devotion before leading an emotional area of vulnerability from our main FMC that within itself is can be classed as taboo depending on who you asked. Morally grey I should say.

In saying that, the scenes that are steamy and taboo of nature are written so beautifully that there’s no vulgarity leaping off the pages. It’s honest, informative and as if asking for you consent as a reader too. Im amazed at how well Nicole was able to portray this from mind to paper!

All in all, I absolutely loved this novel and I applaud Nicole’s efforts because this is a phenomenal debut for what without a doubt will be a fantastic series.

Thank-you for the opportunity to be an ARC reader for Terms of Surrender. I can’t wait to read the next instalment of The Terms series.

[Faiza BEGUM · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to start by expressing my gratitude to Nicole Gregory for letting me be part of the journey with her debut novel, Terms of Surrender, from beta reading to ARC.

This story marks a compelling introduction to what promises to be a richly layered series. At its heart, it’s an exploration of control, trust, and the courage it takes to reveal the parts of ourselves we usually keep hidden. Emma Sinclair is a commanding CEO whose life revolves around precision and discipline, yet the novel doesn’t present her—or Damien—as flawless. Both characters carry the weight of difficult childhoods, and the book thoughtfully examines how past trauma shapes their relationships, sense of power, and vulnerability. It’s a nuanced portrayal of how survivors navigate intimacy while acknowledging the lingering marks left by their pasts.

The romance unfolds gradually, built on emotional depth and mutual understanding rather than instant attraction. While there are BDSM elements, this first installment feels more like a careful introduction, laying the groundwork for the dynamics that will develop in later books. Nicole Gregory skillfully introduces themes of consent, communication, and structure, giving a sense that future installments will dive even deeper into these aspects as Emma learns to recognize and embrace her desires and limits.

What stands out is the author’s ability to handle steamy and morally complex scenes with sensitivity and grace. The intimacy is provocative without ever feeling crude, written in a way that respects both the characters and the reader. Nicole captures the tension between temptation and restraint beautifully, creating a narrative that is at once thrilling, emotional, and thoughtful.

Overall, Terms of Surrender is a remarkable debut. The characters are vivid and multi-dimensional, the emotional stakes are high, and the storytelling is compelling from start to finish. I’m excited to see how Emma and Damien’s journey unfolds in the upcoming books of the Terms series. Nicole Gregory has delivered a debut that is both emotionally resonant and irresistibly engaging.

[Lindsayrosereads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terms of Surrender by Nicole Gregory is a strong start to what looks like a deeply character-driven series. At its core, this story is about control, trust, and what it means to let someone see the parts of yourself you usually keep locked away.

Emma Sinclair is a powerful, disciplined CEO who survives by controlling every aspect of her life. What I appreciated most about this book is that the characters are not perfect. Both Emma and Damien carry the lasting impact of difficult childhoods, and the story does not shy away from exploring how abuse and trauma shape the way people approach relationships, power, and vulnerability. It offers a thoughtful look at how survivors rebuild themselves while acknowledging that the cracks from the past never fully disappear.

The romance builds slowly, grounded in trust and emotional connection rather than instant passion. The BDSM elements are present, but this first book feels more like laying the foundation for that dynamic rather than diving fully into it. Consent, communication, and structure are introduced carefully, suggesting that later books will explore those dynamics in greater depth as Emma begins to understand her own wants, needs, and boundaries.

Overall, this is a compelling debut from Nicole Gregory with layered characters and emotional depth. I’m very interested to see where Damien and Emma’s journey goes next in the Terms series.

Readers who enjoy the Crossfire Series and Stark Trilogy will enjoy this book.

Thank you to the author and Dear Future publisher for letting me read this book before it came out!

[Angelica T · Rating 4 out of 5]

***ARC REVIEW***
Slow burn to hot and heavy. As the book unfolds, you’ll dive into a world about control, trust, connection, testing of limits, and peeling back the layers that no one else is meant to see. The main and side characters are presented with backstories, which allows you to connect to them more. The way Nicole writes, you will love, question, and hate characters.

Emma, CEO of Elion, is strong-willed, intelligent, driven, and beyond protective of those she cares for. Is it a front? What lingers deep inside of Emma? Her team, devoted and close to each other. Damien, CEO of Falkirk, is extremely successful, powerful, handsome, and a heart of gold. What secrets is he hiding? His team divided. Their businesses collide, will they flourish or will they fall?

Please note this book is spicy, as BDSM comes into play. It’s not laid on thick in this first book, more so a slow introduction to allow it to build throughout the series.

Overall a great read! I can’t wait to see what happens with Emma and Damien, as well as some side characters!

Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes:
Slow Burn
Strong Female Character
Strong Male Character
Secret Relationship
Rescue Romance
BDSM
Domestic Violence
Found Family
Sisterhood
Toxic Masculinity
Misogyny

[Monica Minniti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meet Damien and Emma. They both are leaders of their companies. Both shoulder incredible responsibilities. I can’t even start to break down how and why they meet- but they do and the roller coaster of emotions is a wild ride. Check your triggers. This book is beautifully written and explores the true core relationship in a healthy dom/sub relationship. I can’t wait for the next book. Just a fab read. Spice is 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ and stars are 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

[Beatriz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terms of Surrender was a really interesting read, and I enjoyed it very much.

Damien is a complex character: hot, powerful, with a heart of gold. The kind of man who would do whatever it takes to protect the people he loves.

I’m very excited to see what happens in the second book... and need to know more about his brother.

Thank you, Nicole, for the ARC opportunity.

[Alona · Rating 5 out of 5]

First I want to say thank you to Nicole for giving me the opportunity to ARC read this! Secondly, WHAT A GREAT DEBUT BOOK!!!!

I was hooked! This is a slow burn but heats up at just the right time! I loved the dynamic between the main characters and the storyline kept me wanting more! I can’t wait to see how the rest of the series plays out

[Lillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in one sitting as I absolutely could not put it down! The characters are very intriguing and you can’t help but to be captivated by Emma and Damien’s journey to each other. I’m very excited to learn there will be more books coming!

[Carrie Banks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down. Damien Holt is just too much of all the good things. I am eternally jealous of Emma, but I love her too. The tension and the spice are top tier, and the plot is plotting right up to the last page.

This is a must read but only if you have a strong heart.

[Su2108 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC from the author

I really, really enjoyed this book and simply devoured it!

The pace of this novel speeds up from slow-burn to hot within only a few chapters.

Mystery, wrongdoings, emotional angst and spice all combine to make this a really deep and compelling story.

All in all a great debut for Nicole Gregory and I, for one, am certainly looking forward to reading more from Damien & Emma in the Terms series