Playing with Surrender: A spicy opposites attract bodyguard romance

by Erika Wilde

470 pages, Paperback

Published March 18, 2026

About the author

Erika Wilde (aka Janelle Denison) is the USA Today bestselling author of over 50 contemporary romances for multiple print publishers.

Reviews

[FionaBluesBookCafe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Playing with Surrender is the 3rd book in the Players Club series by Erica Wilde. Each book in this series seems to get better and better. Tate and Stella were no different. I loved it and I look forward to book 4.

Blurb and such...
Why you need to #ONECLICK this book…
🔥Opposites Attract
🔥Protector Romance
🔥Close Proximity
🔥Good Girl/Bad Boy
🔥Dominant, Alpha Hero

He’s the man I can’t forget. I'm the client he can’t touch. But some rules are meant to be broken.

I’ve spent my whole life being a good girl, and where has it gotten me? Nowhere. So I do something reckless, just for me. I let my best friend drag me to The Players Club where I taste freedom for the first time…and a dark, intense stranger catches me watching what it looks like to truly surrender. With nothing but his voice and hands, he gives me the most explosive night of my life.

It was supposed to be one night of pleasure, until Tate Holland walks back into my life as my full-time bodyguard. Now, he’s professional. Controlled. Off-limits. But every look ignites me. Every command makes me ache. Every moment alone feels like one breath away from breaking every rule just to touch him again.

While keeping me safe, Tate sees the real me beneath the privilege. He challenges me. He believes in me even when my own family doesn’t. And I see the truth behind his walls, the darkness he’s too afraid to unleash, the guilt he carries. The man who thinks he’s too dangerous to love.

But I crave that primal side to him, and I want every piece he tries to hide.

When the danger escalates and betrayal strikes from someone close by, Tate becomes the one man I can trust with my life…and my heart. Now, all that’s left is for him to trust me with his.

Playing with Surrender delivers a spicy bodyguard romance with forbidden tension, a protective alpha hero, good-girl rebellion, forced proximity, and a love story where surrender isn’t weakness—it’s everything.

#erikawilde #protectorromance @theauthor.agency

[Donna Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stella and Tate! The connection these two have is right there from the start! The Sinners Club is where Stella might find a new groove that she wasn’t sure she wanted but wants to find out. Her exploration through the club leads her to the public rooms and observing. She also finds a stranger willing to help her explore. Tate can’t help but watch and observe the woman who captures his attention the moment she walks in. No details here but they definitely find something in each other they both have been missing.
Fast forward a bit and they find themselves thrown together in a semi professional fashion. Stella is being threatened and Tate is the bodyguard given the task to protect her. The more they are together, the more they find they never want to be apart.
There is so much I want to say about this book. First and foremost, I love the connection that happens here. Secondly, the support that’s given from each of them is what dream relationships are made of. Third, I love both of them. Stella is not a product of her environment. She is kind and strong. Tate is not a product of what his environment was. He has overcome so much and still feels broken. Stella is the perfect one to show him he’s not.

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

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my, The Sinners Club series just keeps getting sexier with each new book. Erika Wilde’s newest book in this series is Playing With Surrender. This author never disappoints with all aspects of her books. Writing style, beautiful and heartfelt characters that are well developed, sexy, even half the story takes place in the very exotic location of the exotic club, and fall hard for the women their hearts decide to love. I am totally in love with this series. Tate shows Stella what it is really like to surrender to him for one night and how freeing surrender can be with the right person. The connection is instant and so intense that keeping to themselves becomes almost impossible. The between-the-sheets scenes you wonder about? Well, whether you read or listen to Playing With Surrender you will definitely need a fan! No matter whether you’ve read &/or listened to an Erika Wilde book before or are new to this author I’m quite confident you will completely and utterly fall in love with Tate and Stella.🔥🔥🔥

[Elizabeth Hayman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely devoured Playing With Surrender by Erika Wilde; an easy 5-star read for me! As an ARC reader, I was hooked from the very first chapter. Stella is strong yet vulnerable in all the right ways, and Tate is the ultimate dominant, alpha protector; intense, commanding, and completely devoted once he lets his guard down.

The bodyguard/protector trope combined with close proximity created nonstop tension, and the good girl/bad boy dynamic made their chemistry absolutely electric. Tate’s need to protect Stella while also battling his own demons added so much depth, and I loved watching their relationship evolve into something real and powerful.

This was steamy, emotional, and addictive; everything I want in a romance. Definitely a must-read if you love possessive heroes and high-stakes passion!

[Riley]

I received an advance review copy and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This is my own opinion and I am not influenced by anyone.

Stella Hayward is a strong female but she needed a wild night. She meets a handsome stranger, Tate who shows her how. Later when Stella becomes a target, a security expert from Noble and Associates is assigned to be her bodyguard, Tate Holland.

Tate has what it takes to protect Stella but he is worried that he will ruin her with his dark side. Stella loves that Tate see her for who she really is. The chemistry between these two jumps off the page.

I love the world of the Players Club and the folks at Noble and Associates. The story is written and paced well. I feel like their world is real. There is action and suspense too and didn't want to put the book down at night. Playing With Surrender is another great addition to the series.

[Lyn Brownlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! So spicy
What a fantastic story.
This is book 3 in The Players Club Sinners series which follows bodyguard Tate and up and coming fashion designer Stella, meeting and spending one memorable night together.
Surprisingly this is not the end of their interactions together and their next meeting is very unexpected.
I absolutely loved both Stella and Tate, they were perfect for each other plus their chemistry and the spice was amazing.
This was a story of danger, revenge and kidnapping but also of a woman’s growth in believing in herself, standing up for what’s right and pushing herself to the limit with the pleasure she wants to experience with her body.
I adored the characters and storyline and am looking forward to more books in this series.
Thank you Erika and Booksprout for the opportunity to read this book.

[SJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tate and Stella are absolute fire together. The tension, build-up, and forbiddeness of their relationship were just delicious. Let me tell you, the whole good girl/bad boy opposites attract with this dominant pure alpha man just did it for me, and I ate it up. The spice balanced well with the suspenseful plot. This was so easy to read, I was entertained the whole way through.

Tropes:
Opposites attract
Bodyguard
Forbidden
One night stand
Close proximity
Dominant Alpha MMC
Primal Play
Kink
Bad boy/Good Girl
Dual POV

Check TW

Book 3 in the Players and Sinners series can be read as a standalone.

Thank you, TAA and Erika Wilde, for the opportunity to read this book.

[gabreadsbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exactly what I wanted from this book. It was sexy and romantic.

The dynamic between Abby and Tate is fantastic. I couldn't get enough of them. The romance really blossoms over time but the attraction is instant which created a lot of great tension between them. Their chemistry is also electric and undeniable. These two were passionate! I also liked that the romance really delved into how much trust and vulnerability is needed in romance. I thought the BDSM bits of the story played well into that theme.

The characters were also wonderful on their own. Watching Abby gain her independence and Tate heal from his emotional scars were great to read. They both had emotional journeys to go on which were satisfying.

A great read! Can be read as a standalone.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a seductive and spicy story. Erika Wilde writes great books, and this one is no exception. The story centers on Stella and Tate, two people who have an intense anonymous encounter and then meet again under very different circumstances. Tate has been hired to protect Stella, yet despite his work ethic, he finds himself unable to resist the intriguing woman. There was just the right blend of romance, suspense, spice and seriousness. The characters are both multi-faceted and their chemistry was off the charts delicious. I enjoyed every word of this one. Recommended.

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

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh. Em. Gee.
I am so in love with Ms. Wilde's stories!

Bodyguard. Off-limits. I'm swooning! I want a Tate!!!

He believes he can't have her!
She believes he can!

Will Stella win the battle or will Tate?
I was on Stella's side the whole way (you know, since I could jump into the pages myself! LOL!)

Suspense.
Great plot.
Great characters.
St.St.St.STEAMY!!!

Book 3 from her Players Club Sinners.
I sure do hope there are more than four!
I am in love with this series!

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was pure fire, and I couldn't get enough of it. I finished it in one sitting because I didn't want to put it down. Stella meets a sexy stranger at the Player's Club, and they have an incredible night. She meets Tate again when he becomes her bodyguard. This romance is forbidden and spicy and Stella wants it all. Tate believes he doesn't deserve anything because he is to dark.

This book has everything from the hot bodyguard, steam, and betrayal. It was good from start to finish and I enjoyed reading it.

[lf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely Fantastic!

Playing with Surrender is the third book in the Players Club Sinners series by Erika Wilde. I really enjoy this author and this book lived up to my expectations....running on all cylinders so to say. The story is filled with passion, seduction, intense emotions, forbidden fruit, longing, awakening, and a lot more. From the first page in the story of Stella Hayward and Tate Holland you are sucked into the pages and I guarantee you will not be able to put it down.

[Surrender2silk · Rating 5 out of 5]

book three in the Players Club Sinners series. stella has no control of her life. her parents tell her what to do, what to say and act. one night she decides to make sure own decision and have fun at the playing club. that where she meets tate. he shows her how to take control. the next morning he wakes up alone. when her father slide gets treated he hires bodyguards to take care of his family. that’s where she meets tate again. her new bodyguard. he knows she off limits. he can’t get her out of his mind. he hates how she puts everyone needs before her. he wants to keep it professional it when her life is in danger all bets are off he’s claiming his girl.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stella and Tates story is so good. Erika Wild never disappoints with the story, love, intrigue and just never wanting to put the book down, and always wanting more. Stella and Tate have that spark and you can’t help rooting for them. I can’t wait for whatever is next with Erika Wilde. This series has always been one of her best.

[The Rampant Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Want something spicy to read? This is it.

This book seemed to have it all from a s€x club to k!nk exploration including consensual primal and voyeurism. Add in an alpha hero/bodyguard, a good girl who wants to be bad and isn’t afraid of crossing that client line, and mix in a dash of dirty talk and call it a night.

This is a standalone in a series. It isn’t necessary to read in order.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved everything about this book. If you like really spicy romances. Then this a book for you. I finished it in 1 day. I can not wait for Erika’s next release.