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O olhar de Jensen... Sombrio, cativante, magnético. Não passou despercebido a Kylie. Ela sabe que ele tem um lado dominador, tão duro quanto fascinante. Mas Kylie jurou a si própria nunca ceder. Se há algo que a assusta acima de tudo é a dominação, pois viveu, juntamente com o irmão, uma infância aterradora, repleta de maus-tratos e violência. Seria uma loucura, uma irresponsabilidade abdicar do controlo, submeter-se assim tão completamente… não seria?
Jensen é um homem atento. Pressente o sofrimento de outros tempos nos olhos de Kylie. Sabe que tem de avançar com o maior cuidado, ou arriscará destruir qualquer hipótese de a amar como deseja. Precisa apenas de uma oportunidade - quer mostrar-lhe que dominação não é sinónimo de dor, servidão ou disciplina. A entrega emocional é algo bem mais poderoso, e ele sabe que, se ela estiver disposta a tanto, encontrará o êxtase por que tanto anseia.
Mas a principal luta de Kylie é consigo própria e os seus demónios. A vida de Jensen seria mais fácil com qualquer uma das mulheres que tão ardentemente o desejam. Não fosse o seu coração… esse caçador solitário, ávido e irremediavelmente perdido.

304 pages, Paperback

Published August 25, 2015

505 people are currently reading
5813 people want to read

About the author

Maya Banks

245 books21.5k followers
Maya Banks is the #1 New York Times, #1 USA Today and international bestselling author of over 50 novels. A wife and mother of three, she lives in Texas.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 562 reviews
Profile Image for KristenReviews.
845 reviews4,993 followers
May 8, 2014
Swept Away By Romance Joint Review For Giving In by Maya Banks

Kristen – 4 Stars
Kathleen – Huge 5 Stars



What worked

Kristen says: I don't want to go into too much detail about what worked for me because I don't want to give certain elements of the plot away. I will say, however, that I was pleasantly surprised by the direction the author took the characters, one character in particular. I didn't see that aspect coming and it was refreshing.
This story isn't overly steamy and I appreciated that considering the context of the main characters' backstory. The few loves scenes that took place toward the end of the book, however, were full of passion, tenderness, and sensuality.

Kathleen says: One of the things that worked so well was the fact that Jensen didn't back away from Kylie. He understood why she acted the way she did, he wanted her and went about getting her in just the right way.
I also liked was that Jensen was a VERY dominate alpha male, that alone was one of Kylie’s worst fears. He knew what her fears were, so Jensen gave Kylie exactly what she needed until she finally felt safe with him and then the trust came. Some of the scenes regarding this matter were breathtaking. Jensen was always there for Kylie. She had plenty of meltdowns and he always knew the right thing to do to pull her through. He was so tender and caring and would just hug her and talked soothingly.
Jensen and Kylie were perfect for each other even if they were total opposites, and there is a reason for that, you'll have to read it to see.

What didn’t work

Kristen says: I was somewhat disappointed with how rushed the climax of the story felt and the predicable, martyr-syndrome choice the hero made. It felt very clichéd, especially for a Maya Banks book. That said, with as many books as Banks has written, there's only so many conflict devices one can use.

Kathleen says: I felt that there was too much thinking going on. The only bad thing about this was that SOME of it was a bit repetitive.

Best scene(s)

Kristen says: My favorite scene will probably seem strange to others, but I couldn't stop grinning when Damon and Serena, from The Sweet Series, made a cameo appearance in this book. I loved seeing them again. They're my favorite Maya Banks couple and it made me want to read their book, Sweet Persuasion, all over again.

Kathleen says: The first night they slept in bed together, and all they did was sleep. Once again, Jensen was so perfect. He made her feel safe and the fact that Kylie did feel safe was truly a wonderful thing.
The first time Kylie saw Jensen naked, OH MY! This was one HOT scene. What followed next only got better and HOTTER!
I loved the scene when Kylie first admits to Jensen that she loves him. This was a huge thing for Kylie to do. It showed that she was finally ready to commit to Jensen.
At one point, some serious trouble takes place between Jensen and Kylie. One of the best scenes was when Kylie decided that she was going to take control of the situation and she doesn't back down. It was so wonderful see Kylie take charge. It really showed us how far she had come since they started seeing each other. This scene continued on to another favorite scene of mine which was a highlight of the book and the emotions this brought on between Jensen and Kylie were priceless to this read. I REALLY could feel their love pouring off of the pages.

Favorite Quote(s)

Kathleen and Kristen say: “This is no goddamn game, Kylie. Not me. Never me. You are not a game. You aren’t a challenge, a notch in my bedpost. I don’t fuck around. I haven’t fucked my way through countless women and I’m not some bored bastard who sees getting with you as a victory.

Favorite characters

Kristen says: I knew after I finished the first book that I'd love the hero, Jensen. There was something magnetic about his character right from the start. What surprised me, however, was how much I ended up loving the heroine, Kylie. I wasn't her biggest fan in the first book but she won me over in her own. She was a strong, self-aware, and fun character. I ended up admiring her tremendously.

Kathleen says: My favorite character, hands down, is JENSEN. I LOVED HIM TO PIECES! He was perfect in every way. He was patient, kind, caring, tender, sexy and always putting Kylie first. Oh, he did make a mistake, but I felt that this added a lot to the overall story line and brought out the best in Kylie in the long run.

Overall Thoughts

Kristen says: I'm happy to say that I liked this book much more than I did the first. Although there were aspects that felt a bit clichéd, it wasn't enough to hamper my overall enjoyment of the story.
One of the things I love most about Maya Banks, regardless of the sub-genres she writes, is that I'm always guaranteed a character and plot driven story. Giving In was no exception. It has a plot that's intriguing, dialogue that's engaging, and characterizations that are tangible. I believe most readers will be more than satisfied with this book. ~ 4 stars

Kathleen says: We got to know Jensen and Kylie in book one, Letting Go, and I was definitely surprised, I had no idea that this story would go in the direction it did. Because of that fact, this was an AMAZING read for me. I give this book a HUGE 5 Stars! I loved the all characters and was happy that it included Josslyn, Dash, Chessy and Tate. We were given a glimpse into how Joss and Dash are doing now that they are married. It also set us up nicely for book three, Taking It All, which will be Chessy and Tate’s story. Just the bit that was added into this book about what is going on between them grabbed my attention in a big way. This is a must read for me.
I highly recommend this series to anyone who loves a deep emotional read with excellent characters and some steamy love scenes. ~ Huge 5 Stars!

Note: These books need to be read in order to grasp the whole story line.

ARC provided to Swept Away By Romance in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for ♥Rachel♥.
2,271 reviews923 followers
May 9, 2014
Kylie wants nothing to do with her boss, Jensen, yet he can’t seem to stay away or stop pushing her buttons. He’s intense, and domineering, and everything that Kylie avoids in a man. She grew up with an abusive father who was intense, and she still has nightmares from his treatment.

Jensen is taken with Kylie even though she’s so prickly and abrasive with him. He knows her behavior is more of a protective mechanism, and he wants get beyond her shields. She presents a challenge and he’s not one to back down. Jensen knows some of her history and it kills him to know that Kylie holds herself back because of it.

Giving In is categorized as a BDSM read, but I’m not sure I’d call it that. While the first book in the series sounds like it had a dominant/submissive romance, this one did not, IMO. It’s true Jensen was a dominant, and up until Kylie he’s only had those types of relationships, but Kylie at this point would run for the hills if he tried anything like that. She’s so skittish that Jensen must forgo his tendencies, but if that means gaining Kylie’s trust it’s worth the sacrifice to him. Jensen was very sweet and all about making Kylie happy. Even when Kylie warms to him, she still has trouble overcoming her fear, but Jensen was determined to make things work:

"You're going to have to work a hell of a lot harder than that to scare me away. You and I are inevitable, Kylie. I've accepted that. Now you have to as well."


This story was entertaining, but I have to say Jensen and Kylie’s romance didn’t knock me off my feet. I had a hard time buying their intense connection, and it went from zero to I-can’t-be-without-you in a short amount of time. But like I said, I did enjoy this story overall, and it was relatively free of drama that would frustrate me.

A copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Kathleen.
691 reviews89 followers
May 5, 2014
Dual review with Kristen posted at: Swept Away By Romance

What worked
Kathleen says: One of the things that worked so well was the fact that Jensen didn't back away from Kylie. He understood why she acted the way she did, he wanted her and went about getting her in just the right way.
I also liked was that Jensen was a VERY dominate alpha male, that alone was one of Kylie’s worst fears. He knew what her fears were, so Jensen gave Kylie exactly what she needed until she finally felt safe with him and then the trust came. Some of the scenes regarding this matter were breathtaking. Jensen was always there for Kylie. She had plenty of meltdowns and he always knew the right thing to do to pull her through. He was so tender and caring and would just hug her and talked soothingly.
Jensen and Kylie were perfect for each other even if they were total opposites, and there is a reason for that, you'll have to read it to see.

Kristen says: I don't want to go into too much detail about what worked for me because I don't want to give certain elements of the plot away. I will say, however, that I was pleasantly surprised by the direction the author took the characters, one character in particular. I didn't see that aspect coming and it was refreshing.
This story isn't overly steamy and I appreciated that considering the context of the main characters' backstory. The few loves scenes that took place toward the end of the book, however, were full of passion, tenderness, and sensuality.

What didn’t work
Kathleen says: I felt that there was too much thinking going on. The only bad thing about this was that SOME of it was a bit repetitive.

Kristen says: I was somewhat disappointed with how rushed the climax of the story felt and the predicable, martyr-syndrome choice the hero made. It felt very clichéd, especially for a Maya Banks book. That said, with as many books as Banks has written, there's only so many conflict devices one can use.

Best scene(s)
Kathleen says: The first night they slept in bed together, and all they did was sleep. Once again, Jensen was so perfect. He made her feel safe and the fact that Kylie did feel safe was truly a wonderful thing.
The first time Kylie saw Jensen naked, OH MY! This was one HOT scene. What followed next only got better and HOTTER!
I loved the scene when Kylie first admits to Jensen that she loves him. This was a huge thing for Kylie to do. It showed that she was finally ready to commit to Jensen.
At one point, some serious trouble takes place between Jensen and Kylie. One of the best scenes was when Kylie decided that she was going to take control of the situation and she doesn't back down. It was so wonderful see Kylie take charge. It really showed us how far she had come since they started seeing each other. This scene continued on to another favorite scene of mine which was a highlight of the book and the emotions this brought on between Jensen and Kylie were priceless to this read. I REALLY could feel their love pouring off of the pages.

Kristen says: My favorite scene will probably seem strange to others, but I couldn't stop grinning when Damon and Serena, from The Sweet Series, made a cameo appearance in this book. I loved seeing them again. They're my favorite Maya Banks couple and it made me want to read their book, Sweet Persuasion, all over again.

Favorite Quote(s)
Kathleen and Kristen say: “This is no goddamn game, Kylie. Not me. Never me. You are not a game. You aren’t a challenge, a notch in my bedpost. I don’t fuck around. I haven’t fucked my way through countless women and I’m not some bored bastard who sees getting with you as a victory.

Favorite characters
Kathleen says: My favorite character, hands down, is JENSEN. I LOVED HIM TO PIECES! He was perfect in every way. He was patient, kind, caring, tender, sexy and always putting Kylie first. Oh, he did make a mistake, but I felt that this added a lot to the overall story line and brought out the best in Kylie in the long run.

Kristen says: I knew after I finished the first book that I'd love the hero, Jensen. There was something magnetic about his character right from the start. What surprised me, however, was how much I ended up loving the heroine, Kylie. I wasn't her biggest fan in the first book but she won me over in her own. She was a strong, self-aware, and fun character. I ended up admiring her tremendously.

Overall Thoughts
Kathleen says: We got to know Jensen and Kylie in book one, Letting Go, and I was definitely surprised, I had no idea that this story would go in the direction it did. Because of that fact, this was an AMAZING read for me. I give this book a HUGE 5 Stars! I loved the all characters and was happy that it included Josslyn, Dash, Chessy and Tate. We were given a glimpse into how Joss and Dash are doing now that they are married. It also set us up nicely for book three, Taking It All, which will be Chessy and Tate’s story. Just the bit that was added into this book about what is going on between them grabbed my attention in a big way. This is a must read for me.
I highly recommend this series to anyone who loves a deep emotional read with excellent characters and some steamy love scenes. ~ 5 Stars!

Kristen says: I'm happy to say that I liked this book much more than I did the first. Although there were aspects that felt a bit clichéd, it wasn't enough to hamper my overall enjoyment of the story.
One of the things I love most about Maya Banks, regardless of the sub-genres she writes, is that I'm always guaranteed a character and plot driven story. Giving In was no exception. It has a plot that's intriguing, dialogue that's engaging, and characterizations that are tangible. I believe most readers will be more than satisfied with this book. ~ 4 stars!

Note: These books need to be read in order to grasp the whole story line.

Profile Image for Lover of Romance.
3,712 reviews1,125 followers
July 27, 2021
I will admit I was expecting to like this so much more than I actually did. I was kinda disappointed in this one because it didn't turn out into what I was expecting or desiring. It wasn't a horrible story or anything, I liked the relationship as a whole, and loved seeing the heroine overcome some of her issues, but it just didn't feel fully resolved for me. Like I felt like we just skimmed the surface of their issues and I hated seeing the hero being neglected in some of his needs which as a dominant he needed. And there was this teaser of them trying but just never happened and I felt very disappointed and let down. But what keeps this book at such a high rating is the fun banter and the alpha hero and seeing how emotionally they connect on a deep level. Maya Banks still provided a solid story it just didn't get up there to what I wanted or needed in it.
18 reviews
May 11, 2014
This book...I had such high hopes for. I read some reviews on here saying how well the main character was written and yes, to a point I agree with that but she's still very generic. The story itself wasn't all that bad, it had its moments which is why I gave it two stars and not one. It's rushed, insanely rushed, has tons of plot holes, and leaves much unresolved. The writing as well is pretty bad.
Profile Image for Geo Just Reading My Books.
1,487 reviews337 followers
November 18, 2023
A real fascinating story. Two characters with background stories, that are trying to make peace with their fears.
Profile Image for Anna's Herding Cats.
1,274 reviews319 followers
May 11, 2015
Wow that is one seriously bad cover. I love Banks and look forward to her reads but dang. Can we PLEASE move AWAY from covers like this? Random objects and color splashes just aren't appealing at all.

Update/Review:

While I wasn't wild about the cover of this one what was inside the pages of Giving In totally made me ::shiver:: and in such a deliciously good way.

The gist is that Jensen and Kylie work together. And they drive each other mad...in different ways. Jensen has been totally flummoxed and enthralled by the closed-off prickly Kylie and Kylie...well, Jensen just sets her on edge and pushes all her buttons. And not in a sexy fun way until a work dinner ends with a horrible flashback that sets the two on a heartbreaking, sweet and sexy new path as they deal with undeniable attraction, losses and all of the things from their pasts that have left them both so very damaged.
"I won't play games with you," she whispered.

His eyes lost the playful, flirty glimmer and his expression grew suddenly fierce and very serious.

"This is no goddamn game, Kylie. Not to me. Never to me. You are not a game. You aren't a challenge, a notch in my bedpost. I don't fuck around. I haven't fucked my way through countless women and I'm not some bored bastard who sees getting with you as a victory."

She was speechless. Utterly speechless. Her hands shook so hard that she had to put her water glass down because liquid sloshed over the rim, spilling onto the table.

"What do you want from me?" she croaked.

His gaze was direct and unflinching. Grim and unrelenting. "You. Just you, Kylie. And everything you have to give."

I really wasn't sure about Kylie. This girl is broken. And she lashes out and is just a hard women to love and after meeting her in the previous book...yeah I wasn't loving her. But as Jensen starts to break down her walls...I fell. She really ended up breaking my heart a bit. She's had a hard life from the start. Lost everyone that meant anything to her and is really trapped emotionally by abuse she suffered when young. Flashbacks, panic attacks, and doubts she's worth anything to anyone anymore. I mean. Broke my heart. But she has a strength to her too and I liked seeing her try. Seeing her overcome parts of her past and trying to get past everything. And when she did start to come out of her shell she really shined and was a pretty great heroine.

And then there's Jensen. Who honest to god I wanted to lick. All over. Holy freaking hot hero. *swoon* with a side of *pant* Banks just writes incredible heroes. Jensen is a quiet one. He sits back and observes and pretty much everything that comes out of his mouth will turn a girl into a puddle. He wasn't perfect and had a major freak out at one point (and I so wanted to shake him even if I got it) but I really adored him and that he knew what he wanted and was willing to do whatever it took to get it. He was patient and understanding, sweet and tender and just sexy.

He stroked her face again, pushing her hair back as he stared into her eyes. "It means that if we decide to take that step that I will willingly put myself in a vulnerable position so you feel absolutely safe. Whatever that takes. But baby, it doesn't have to be now. It doesn't have to be soon. It will be whenever you're ready for it to happen. I don't want you to ever be pressured to offer me something you're not ready to give. We have all the time in the world."

"You'd wait that long?"

She tried to keep the doubt from her voice but knew she failed miserably. Still, he didn't look offended or angry at her skepticism. If anything his look grew even more tender.

"For the right woman, I'd wait forever."


I really liked these two together. They both have a somewhat off sense of humor and compliment each other nicely. The heat and chemistry between them were nice though a little different. While the physical intimacy of the relationship moved slowly things outside of the bedroom relationship-wise moved very quickly. That wouldn't always work for me but with them already knowing each other some of that near instant emotional connection was believable and worked for me overall.

This one is BDSMy in a way but not your typical BDSM read. The D/s is more emotional in bent instead of physical since that would be a trigger for Kylie and her past. I liked the different feel of the sexual side of things. Things were sexy and heated up even if they went slow at the same time. If fit the two and their situation. There were some harder scenes as triggers were hit for both of them and they definitely got my pulse pounding as they dealt with the fall out and trying to work around each other's triggers. It made for some very interesting scenes as Jensen who was a total Dom gave up control to help Kylie feel safe. Different but, again, I liked it and it worked for me.

Overall, I enjoyed Giving In quite a bit. Banks surprised and delighted me with a sexy and emotional romance as two damaged souls found each other and started to slowly heal one another. I'm definitely looking forward to the final story in the trilogy and seeing what's in store for the next couple. I think fans of Banks will enjoy this one.




Reviewed for herding cats & burning soup.
Profile Image for Nonieღserenity2bliss.
2,028 reviews377 followers
January 6, 2015
I think I need a break from Maya Banks. I don't find this one even the tiniest bit interesting. Both characters are just too emotionally exhausting. Finishing this one was a major chore.
Profile Image for Gina.
2,069 reviews72 followers
June 12, 2014
Why did I read this? After my negative feelings for the first book of this series, I didn't intend to read the next two of the trilogy. Darn library displays! The problems I had with the first book, however, weren't about the core story or characters but all about the execution. The execution of the story is much better in this one, but I had serious issues with the core story itself. Kylie is the office manager for her deceased brother's consulting firm. The firm is now run my Dash, her brother's original business partner and long time best friend, and a new hire/partner, Jensen. Jensen is immediately attracted to Kylie (see the first book) when they meet, but is warned off by Dash and others. Kylie's violent, abusive past and the death of her brother have left her fragile when it comes to any relationships - friendship or otherwise. Jensen has his own dark past to deal with and sees a possible soul mate in Kylie. Good start to a romance - except Banks had me thinking these two needed some extensive, years long therapy rather than a relationship with each other or anyone else. I didn't get the romance at all, especially since its left in an unhealthy place by the last page. I just hope Kylie and Jensen get some of that counseling they talk about in the last chapter.
Profile Image for SusanMichelle.
19 reviews
June 23, 2014
I used to love Maya Banks. I may be completely tired of the genre she writes in. However, this book had nothing I wanted to read beyond the first few chapters. The overuse of the pet name 'baby' got on my nerves.

I pre-ordered the book because I was more intrigued with Kylie and Jensen in "Letting Go" than I was of the main characters. So, I thought it would be more interesting. But nothing about either grabbed my attention. They both just fell flat which, in turn, made me fall asleep...every single time I tried to read this book.

Sorry, but it's just not for me. I am glad however, there are some great 4 and 5 star reviews. She did an excellent job on other books, this trilogy just isn't cutting it for me.
Profile Image for Makeba Stewart.
935 reviews19 followers
December 18, 2016
This was the second book in this series about Kylie and Jensen. Jensen is Kylie's boss and he wants her, not only in his bed, but in his life. Kylie has been grieving the lost of her brother, but Jensen help her out of her funk. That's not the end of their struggle. They both have a dark past. This was a good love story, the characters were good and sex scenes were good also. I wish there were more sexual tension in this story, cause I love sexual tension. Nevertheless, this was a good reads.
Profile Image for Benedita Santos.
81 reviews25 followers
August 31, 2015
Nem parece que estive a ler um livro de Maya Banks! Não consegui criar empatia com este casal, ao contrário do 1° livro :( Foi um "vira o disco e toca o mesmo" sempre a repetir-se o mesmo. Enfim, uma desilusão...
Profile Image for Liz F.
719 reviews
September 10, 2016
Review originally posted on Kindles & Wine

Gah! I’m so happy I read this book! I didn’t fall in love with the first book in this series, but Giving In was so much better! Do NOT let the cover fool you. This book is super hot and was a lot of fun to read. Read on to see why I liked it…

Kylie, the heroine in Giving In, was originally introduced in Book 1. To be honest, I didn’t really care for her all that much in Letting Go, but she sure does get a great comeback in this book! I enjoyed getting into Kylie’s head. She had an awful, awful childhood with a horrible father. What made me really like Kylie was that she KNEW she was messed up in the head because of her childhood, but she just deals with it the best way she can. For her, that means putting on a bitchy façade and creating this shell around herself no one can penetrate, because if no one can get close, they can’t be close enough to hurt you. Now, that’s no way to live a life, but again, that’s what I liked about Kylie – she’s just doing her best to keep breathing and moving. As she progressed throughout the story, it was so satisfying to watch her develop a desire for change, a desire for a real life, lived fully. I mean, if Kylie’s story doesn’t move you, I have no idea what will!

Her counterpart, Jensen, was really great, but man, he was so damn pushy! I wanted to throttle him and tell him to leave poor Kylie alone, but sheesh, he was so good at getting her riled up! He knew all of the buttons to push to irritate her and to get under her skin. I actually liked it because it was one part cute/adorable and one part Jensen knowing that Kylie needed something to kick-start her emotions, to be pushed out of her comfort zone where she insulated herself against feeling or experiencing anything. It was awesome to realize that Jensen saw something in Kylie that even she didn’t see in herself. I felt like Jensen also had a bit of a transformation in this story. Once he falls for Kylie, the way he changes himself to try to help her was just the sweetest thing ever. And, okay, sure, it helps that he’s handsome as all get out and rich to boot, but he’s a lot more than that, and I found that the “more” was even better than all of the surface stuff!

The only thing that I didn’t love was the amount of coddling Jensen did to make Kylie feel comfortable. I felt like it was a bit over-the-top and it took me right out of the story for quite a while. It’s unfortunate because Kylie and Jensen are great characters and have really rich histories.

Other than that, I really liked Kylie and Jensen together. They had a lot of chemistry and even more heat! I didn’t feel like this was a story that was heavy on the BDSM aspect, at least not in the traditional sense. Some elements of BDSM are there, but they aren’t used in the typical manner, so I think readers may be pleasantly surprised at the direction the author takes Kylie and Jensen. Fear not, though – the Sexy Times are ahhh-mazing! LOL! As usual, Maya Banks brings intense sensuality to pretty much every interaction between the hero and heroine. I was absolutely begging for more because it was so delicious!

Bottom Line

I thought Giving In was a much more alluring story than Book 1 of the series, which is not necessary to read in order to enjoy this book. Lots of heat and intense characters made this a great read. I think fans of damaged heroines and imperfect heroes will enjoy this book.

Rating: B+

Review copy courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley
Profile Image for Jessica .
2,637 reviews16k followers
May 15, 2014
Seriously, every time I pick up a book by Maya Banks, it's nearly impossible to put down. I finished this book within two days, which has been very rare over the past couple of months seeing as how busy I've been lately. I was a huge fan of Letting Go, the first book in this trilogy, but Giving In blew that one out of the water.

Kylie is damaged. Coming from an abusive childhood and losing her brother and best friend, the only way Kylie can cope with life is closing herself off from others and fending for herself. Jensen can see Kylie's haunted past in her eyes and feels a ferocious need to protect her. Even though he's a dominant, Jensen finds himself wanting to give Kylie the power and protection she deserves, which means giving her complete control over their relationship and showing her not every guy is out to hurt her.

Wow. Normally Maya's books are fast and furious when it comes to the relationships, but Kylie and Jensen weren't like that at all. Kylie is seriously damaged from her past and is scared of ever trusting anyone. Jensen is determined to make her his and protect her from her demons, so he's willing to take it slow and gain her trust. I love how Kylie just can't seem to let herself go with Jensen right away, but rather needs to take things slow and force him to work for her trust. The give and take of Kyle and Jensen's relationship was so sweet and built a relationship that was real and not solely focused on the physical side.

As for the two main characters, I absolutely loved them. I loved how even though Kylie was very vulnerable and damaged, she was a determined woman who could hold her own in the business world. And Jensen? Oh, Jensen. Could a guy be any more perfect? He would literally give up everything for Kylie and he was just so gosh darn sweet. Jensen never pushed Kylie and always put her safety and comfort first. He also has his own demons that Kylie coaxes out of him, showing how they both learn to trust each other and truly let another person into their lives. Oh, and I loved how Joss and Chessy are still huge supporters in Kylie's life and support each other as they fall in love with the incredible men in their lives. I love nothing more than a romance with a great support system from some feisty best friends.

Can you tell I loved this book? Kylie was impossible not to love and I couldn't help but swoon over how sweet and caring Jensen ended up being. Yeah, he was pretty intimidating when he was introduced in Letting Go, but he is so much more than that. Any fan of Maya Banks has to pick up her newest trilogy. I can't wait to finally hear Chessy and Tate's story in the final installment of this irresistible series. August can't come soon enough!
64 reviews
August 9, 2014
Maya Banks should stop wasting time with new trilogies if this is the level of standard.

What I didn't like:
Jensen constantly calling Kylie 'baby'. Using endearments once you're in a relationship or at the very least your courtship is welcomed is one thing; but using it when the other person is openly antagonistic towards you is simply presumptuous and condescending. I don't consider myself a hardcore feminist, but if I was I could have a field day with this book.

Kylie, the main female character. On one hand she's described as a strong, intelligent woman with walls around her to keep people away, but then she lets Jensen walk all over her and simply accepts it. The discrepancy made it especially difficult to relate to her.

Jensen, the main male character. He was just another carbon copy of a dominant male with a tortured past. My only impression: What an overbearing prick.

The plot. I flicked through several pages in an effort to reach the end as soon as possible. No surprises, no memorable scenes, no moving dialogue.

What I liked:
...
Profile Image for Erica.
1,289 reviews702 followers
March 1, 2014
4.5 stars

I really enjoyed Letting Go, the first book in the trilogy, but something was missing. Whatever that was was found x 100 in Giving In, and I just loved it to pieces. Since I read the synopsis for Giving In, I was totally stoked for it, because after the banter between Kylie and Jensen in book 1, I knew their story would be something special. And that is just what is was.

I continue to love the characters - Chessy, Joss, and Kylie - what a great group of friends. And the men of this series are pretty great too. Kylie grows so much as a character in this one, and I just loved seeing her break out of her shell.

Jensen and Kylie . . . they are seriously just made for one another. I loved the balance of the sweet moments paired with the super hot moments between the two of them.

Oh man, I am so psyched for Chessy and Tate's story. I cannot wait for it. Maya Banks is one of those must read authors- every time I see she has a new book coming out, I get excited and it put on my auto buy list. Giving In was no exception to that awesome Maya Banks regularly produces.
Profile Image for Becca.
2,003 reviews27 followers
April 24, 2014
This series gets better and better. I absolutely loved the story of Jensen and Kylie. Two tortured soul who found each other. Both stubborn in their own ways. Jensen wants to use his dominance is showing Kylie trust but after years of abuse at the hands of her father, Kylie has a hard time letting her guard down for anyone.

Both suffer from their pasts, both learn to let down their guards...but will it be enough?

I really enjoy this series and can't wait for Book 3 due to release in August 2014.
Profile Image for book .
509 reviews3 followers
May 13, 2014
Working my way through this book and it's a difficult task. There are endless pages describing one thought and after a few pages and no dialog it gets a bit boring.

But I'm still working on finishing it

Read the first 18 chapters and I got to say that this is the worst maya banks book I've ever read! It's the worst dialog, all supportive and confirmation nothing more interesting and surprising. You can actually predict every damn word shared!!!
Will not bother finishing it.
Profile Image for Carla Marques.
540 reviews3 followers
November 15, 2016
Ligeiramente melhor do que o primeiro mas mesmo assim não me convenceu!!!!
Neste livro temos a Historia de Kylie que em pequena sofreu nas mãos do seu pai e Jensen que é um Dominador e se apaixona por ela.
Opinião completa em:
http://aviciadadoslivros.blogspot.pt/...
Profile Image for Lisa.
1,426 reviews119 followers
March 22, 2014
4.5 out of 5 stars

I received a copy of this story for an honest review for Amber's Reading Room. Pictures used as part of this review are used for fun and do not belong to me.

 photo GivingInCollage_zps47897a28.jpg

Kylie Breckenridge is alone and intends to keep it that way. As a child she faced the ultimate betrayal from a violent and abusive father. As an adult she suffered the tragic loss of her hero brother, the one who rescued her from a living childhood nightmare. Kylie is broken and won’t risk opening herself to more pain from anyone, let alone the man that now sits in the top spot of the company her brother built.

Jensen Tucker sees something in Kylie that no one else does. He sees a strong fighter that needs encouragement instead of the constant coddling her friends give her. If he can only get her to stop looking at him like he was the devil incarnate, he may be able to convince her that he lost his heart to her the moment he laid eyes on her. He’d do anything, even suppress his Dominant nature, to make her happy.

“You’re going to have to work a hell of a lot harder than that to scare me away. You and I are inevitable, Kylie. I’ve accepted that. Now you have to as well.”

After the release of Letting Go, book one of The Surrender Trilogy, I heard a few complaints from other readers that they didn’t like it because it was not as hardcore as some of author Maya Banks other works. To me this isn’t an issue – it’s actually part of the reason I love Banks as a writer. In one series she can write stories so insanely hot I feel like my face is melting because I’m blushing so hard. In other series, much like The Surrender Trilogy, Banks focuses on strong emotions and character growth that quickly invests me in her characters and makes me care about them on a personal level.

Giving In is a touching love story of two people who were horribly damaged as children, two people who find the strength to embrace who they’ve become and what actually makes them happy. Giving In is the kind of romance that doesn’t need a love scene every other page, it wouldn’t make sense for the characters. That said, the loves scenes Banks wrote in Giving In are still pretty stellar.

“I trust you. I love you. Don’t hold back. Not with me. Show me who you really are. Because that’s the person I love.”

Overall Giving In was a solid read. The one small issue I had with the story (and it is super small) is that even though a couple of characters mentioned that Kylie should seek help from a mental health professional, the suggestion was repeatedly blown off. I would have loved to have seen the character seek help and understand that doing so wasn’t a weakness.

“It only stands to reason that since we’re both such fucked-up individuals that we stick together and be fucked-up together.”

The Surrender Trilogy will conclude this summer with Taking It All, the story of Joss (the heroine from Letting Go) and Kylie’s best friend Chessy and her husband Tate. Author Banks has laid some solid ground work for this troubled pair and I’m psyched to see a romance focusing on a married couple that have already found love with each other but struggle to maintain it. Also, Chessy has been such as strong, loving, and supportive character in Letting Go and Giving In that I’m really excited for a story that focuses on her wants and needs.

Giving In should not be read as a stand-alone. If you haven’t already checked out Letting Go, you’ll need to read that first. This trilogy is definitely worth checking out.

Happy reading.
Profile Image for Dark Faerie Tales.
2,274 reviews565 followers
January 10, 2017
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: Can two damaged people get over the demons of their past and find love?

Opening Sentence: “You look like hell,” Jensen Tucker said bluntly from the doorway of Kyle Breckenridge’s office.”

The Review:

Kylie is broken, guarded and unwilling to have a relationship with anyone due to the abuse she had suffered at the hands of her father. She is finally coming to terms with the fact that she hasn’t dealt with the death of her brother all that well, and she didn’t handle Joss moving on very well either. Jensen, as you may remember, is the new partner at the firm. He also makes Kyle highly uncomfortable, partly because he is dominant, but also because he is highly intuitive. Jensen also rocks Kylie to her core when he approaches her about taking on a new contract and helping come up with ideas to restructure and eliminate money being wasted for a new client.

They meet for dinner to discuss her ideas, and Kylie once again is blown away when Jensen agrees with her ideas and compliments her on them. She is shocked when he tells her that he would like to see her become an additional partner in the firm. However, when she sees a man who reminds her of her father, Kylie has an immediate panic attack and is sure that Jensen will be completely scared away from her. To her dismay, he doesn’t abandon her and helps her through it. She finds herself trusting him more and more and actually think about the possibility of a relationship.

However, Jensen has his own secrets and when he gets in deeper and deeper with Kylie to address her issues, he begins to show more and more destructive ways. When his demons rise in the most unexpected way, will Kylie be able to get pass what happened? Will Jensen be able to forgive himself? Will they be able to trust each other?

You don’t necessarily have to read all the books in this series, however, I suggest that you do read them in order. You get introduced to all the major players in book one, you also get a good sense of what is going on. I have really enjoyed this series, I love the friendships and the couples. For the most part, even though this book is about dominant/submissive, it’s really light compared to other books within that genre. In this particular book, it’s almost non-existence as Jensen is more than willing to put aside all of those behaviors in order to make Kyle comfortable.

Overall, I enjoyed Kylie and Jensen as a couple. I felt that they dealt with their issues in a mostly good way, but that lacked something when delivering the issues. I would say there are Trigger warnings about this book, it does contain descriptions of abuse, incest, and rape. I did enjoy the book and look forward to reading the last book in the trilogy.

Notable Scene:

Terror blistered through her eyes and her breath quickened. her pulse stuttered and panic slammed into her. He could see her struggling for breath, her nostrils flaring with the effort.

“Listen to me, Kyle. I understand you far better than you think. You value control in all things, because you once had that control taken from you. I’m going to give that back to you. Tonight. I’m going to sleep here, with you, so that you know you’re safe. I want you to rest. One night without dreams, or at the very least someone to comfort you when the dreams torture you. And so you are in absolute control and so you know have nothing to fear, you’re going to tie my hands to your bedpost so that I am, in effect, helpless.”

FTC Advisory: Berkley/Penguin provided me with a copy of Giving In. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Profile Image for Shauni.
1,061 reviews27 followers
June 21, 2014
Originally reviewed for Tea and Book.

In Book One of her Surrender Trilogy, Letting Go, Maya Banks failed to impress. I was even hesitant to read Book Two, Giving In, fortunately for all of us, she figured out what was wrong and in Giving In writes a much better story. As an ardent Maya Banks fan it was hard for me.. wondering if the book was even worth reading.

The Surrender Trilogy focuses around six friends (or three couples). One the widow of another's business partner (Josslyn and Dash from Letting Go). The the former sister in law of the widow and the partner who replaced the deceased (Kylie and Jensen - Giving In) and finally a married couple who are good friends with the first two couples.. (Chessy and Tate in Book Three - Taking It All). Each couples delves into some area of Dominance and Submission. But that is not the strength of these books. It's the relationships, the tangle of emotions and feelings and the strength it takes to grow.

Kylie is a woman frozen in time. Abused as a child she had no one except her brother. It was them against the world. Even when he married he found a woman who would also love and care for Kylie. Only his death has left them all devastated. Now Josslyn has fallen in love and found a new way of life and Dash, her brother's best friend and business partner has found a new partner. Leaving Kylie alone and having to really face her reality for the first time in her life. It's hard enough sometimes to get up and go to work but now she has a arrogant new boss that is "replacing" Carson. Enough is enough. Only Jenson, said sexy new partner is determined to push Kylie into finally living life and that's the last thing Kylie wants.

Jenson knows the basics of Kylie's story but he doesn't see an abused woman afraid of her own shadow, who needs to be cosseted and pampered. He sees an amazing woman with a great brain. A sexy woman who just needs to open her eyes and live. And Jenson is determined to be the one who wakes her up. After all he has demons of his own that he has mastered.. or so he says. But demons or not Jenson always gets what he wants and he wants Kylie.

One of the best parts of this book was the fact that yes Carson was dead BUT we didn't have to deal with the elephant in the room. Letting Go was almost more about Carson than Josslyn and Dash. Giving in has more of a perspective. Yes Kylie is grieving but what she doesn't realize and what Ms. Banks subtly implies (ok, what I read into it) was that in a way Carson's death is good for Kylie. She has been cosseted too long. He bought her house, he gave her a job and her only friends??? You guessed it his widow and two best friends. He was smothering her and not allowing her to heal.

Another interesting fact, this was a softer gentler BDSM book. Jenson knows Kylie's history and the more physically intense aspect would really stress her out. He doesn't want that, he wants her emotional surrender. He wants to be the one, to have Kylie trust him unconditionally. And in order to do that, he is willing to give more of himself than anyone would expect.

A much stronger book than Letting Go and consequently a much better book. I knew Maya wouldn't really fail us.

Shauni

Profile Image for Nikki .
804 reviews114 followers
May 1, 2014
An abusive childhood has shaped Kylie into the woman she is today. Afraid of the world, men, a lot of things, she has sheltered herself in her work and two close friends. She never ventures past the security she had built around her. The loss of her brother and only protector still keeps her up at night along with the vicious nightmares of being back in her childhood home. When her boss hires another man to take her brothers place she strikes out in fear of the change and the dominance this man represents. She may have to work with him, but she certainly doesn’t have to like him.

Jensen may have dominant tendencies but he’ll control them for Kylie if that’s what she needs. All he really wants is a chance to show her the real him. The man behind the stoic mask. His unwavering support slowly draws Kylie out of her comfort zone but her leeriness is always a constant companion. As they get closer Jensen will have to battle Kylie and her demons if he stands a chance at winning her heart.

Going into this one I had high hopes because I loved book one and the set up for Kylie and Jensen was perfect. Yet after reading Giving In I’m left with a feeling of emptiness. I think my main problem is that this book seems like a lot of other books, even Maya Banks own work. There was nothing that set it apart from its counterparts and I’m getting tired of reading the same story line again and again. The abused heroine, the dominant hero, they are all blending together.

As far as the characters go, if I get past the unoriginality I felt towards them I liked them well enough I suppose. I’m not cold-hearted, I felt bad for Kylie’s plight and her need to rise about her childhood and finally move on with her life. I thought Banks stayed true to her characters throughout the book and it was well paced with Kylie’s progression toward a healthy relationship. She was a hard character to fall in love with because she was often bitchy and rude, not only in this book but in the first one as well. Jensen wasn’t nearly as “in your face” as I wanted him to be but I guess that’s also true to his character and determination NOT to upset Kylie more than he had to. His back story didn’t really engage me but as a man I thought he had good intentions and his patience level with Kylie was off the charts.

The climax of the book felt rushed and understated. It was as if Banks wasn’t sure where to go with what she had started but needed to finish up the book quickly. For a book with such touchy subject matter there wasn’t nearly enough angst or darkness for me. I wanted something big to happen and it just…didn’t.

I will read book three simply because the characters are already married and that’s not the norm for my reading material. It will be interesting to see how Banks shows us their relationship since it was cemented long before the book begins.

While I’ll always adore Maya Banks, I feel as though she’s cranking them out too fast and the pizzazz is suffering as a result.



I give Giving In by Maya Banks 2.75 stars
Profile Image for Pretty Sassy Cool.
293 reviews40 followers
December 16, 2015
2 stars.

This review also appears on Pretty Sassy Cool.

In this second book in the Surrender Series by Maya Banks, we have Kylie and Jensen’s story. I have to say up front I was disappointed with this book. The story and characters never made much sense nor did their emotional journey resonate.

Basically, you have two damaged characters with horrific abuse and trauma backgrounds who are working together. Jensen is the ‘alpha, dominant’ male boss and Kylie is the PA, with no life beyond her job. Both characters have had awful childhoods filled with horrendous abuse, rape and beatings. Jensen appears to be a man who participates in a BDSM lifestyle as a dominant, though the acronym BDSM does not appear in the book. There are many references to dominance and submission, but it is never explained or explored within the framework of the story.

There is an element of insta-love and sexual attraction that comes out of left field at the very beginning of the book. This may be a function of the fact that this is the second book in a series and some of the character and relationship building has taken place before, but I found it inexplicable and off-putting. It made it very hard to believe in the growing romance. There are other things that made little sense to me, such as the decision of Jensen to give total control in the bedroom to Kylie. cue the raised eyebrows What? He is a dom. I guess the idea is that you will do anything for love even reinvent your essential self. * eye roll*

There is the thinnest of plots, which is always a problem for me. I need some plot and character development along with my smut, thank you very much. The conflict was totally driven by past abuse and continuing PTSD-like responses to the action. It was repetitive. Adding to that was the irritation I felt at these characters, who are intelligent and clearly realize that they have issues, never addressing their problems through therapy until the very end of the book. It just didn’t make sense.

I would love to say that the smut was epic, but it wasn’t for me. I think it was because I had a hard time caring about the characters, so their eventual physical connection was anticlimactic.

So overall this book did not work for me.

--
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Profile Image for Anna McFarland .
465 reviews1 follower
March 24, 2020
Book 29 giving in by maya banks
Title g
Titles so far a b c d e f g h k l m o p r s t w y
Authors so far a b c e g h w

Rating 3.5/ 5

Summary: Kylie has sworn off any man who could possess power over her and is a dominant alpha male. After being abused and raped Byers dad by her dad too many times she doesn't want to be put in a vulnerable situation again. Jensen is the definition abdominal alpha male dominant alpha male or at least one of them. He knows the Shadows that hot Kylie's eyes haunt Kylie's eyes yet he still wants her. He is willing to give up does dominance in the bedroom to have her. Can she learn to trust him?

What I thought of it: well I liked it better than the first one. Jensen and Kylie just seemed to click better. Plus they have a sense of humor and a playful relationship at least at some points. Plus I think it's so sweet that he is willing to give up all control in the bedroom so she can feel safe with him. Yes when I first read that job Jensen Thailand self to her bed tide himself to work babe I was shocked tied himself to her bed I was shocked. When I understood the relevance of why he did that it melted my heart. Little did I know that it would serve its purpose at the end of the novel. The best part is one of the three girls when the three girls are drunk and that is when Kylie decides to seduce him I'm tying to the bed anti into the bed and tie into the bed tie him to the bed if he decides to leave. Brilliant brilliant brilliant. I just wish there was more sex though. These are supposed to be erotic novels yet you don't get much of the sexes. The breathless trilogy had like sex scenes every couple of pages. Granted I don't expect the book to be entirely about sex but I wish there was more you know? And I hope to God Tate has a good reason for ignoring and neglecting his wife Chelsea Chessie. Book 3 will come soon enough
Profile Image for Audel.
412 reviews9 followers
January 26, 2015
Second tome d'une trilogie de romance érotique.

Dans ce tome, on assiste à la mise en couple de Kylie et Jensen dont la rencontre a eu lieu dans le tome précédent. Ce tome vient confirmer la nature plus profonde et mature de cette trilogie par rapport aux autres livres qu'on peut trouver dans ce genre t notamment par rapport à la trilogie de la même auteure : A fleur de peau.

En effet, nos deux héros ont un passé assez sordide derrière eux et l'auteure va s'intéresser ici à la reconstruction à travers la romance de Kylie et Jensen. Ainsi, les personnage secondaires du tome précédent ne servent ici qu'à rendre l'histoire plus cohérente car on est pour l'essentiel focaliser uniquement sur Kylie et Jensen avec une prédominance du point de vue de Kylie nous faisant presque oublié, tout comme l'héroïne, que Jensen aussi doit se battre contre ses propres démons.

kylie va donc découvrir qu'un homme qui garde le contrôle de la situation en toute circonstance peut avoir un côté rassurant voir sécurisant. Par ailleurs, elle a conscience que continuer à vivre dans son passé n'est pas une solution viable sur le long terme mais elle ne sait comment aller de l'avant.

Jensen va découvrir jusqu'où il est capable d'aller pour la femme qu'il aime : a quel point il peut être un autre et surtout la facilité avec laquelle ces changements vont s'opérer.

Le récit prend le temps nécessaire pour la cohérence de l'histoire, l'héroïne étant complètement hermétique non seulement à l'amour mais aux relation avec autrui de manière plus générale. ce qui rend finalement son inexpérience purement anecdotique.

Ce roman est un véritable hymne à l'amour et un message d'espoir très fort !
Profile Image for Paige.
1,906 reviews13 followers
May 8, 2014
***Details***

I enjoyed GIVING IN much more than book one in the surrender trilogy. The relationship between Jensen and Kylie was much more balanced and the gag moments were less frequent.

Jensen is tired of the distance Kylie has kept since he became a partner with Dash. With Dash on his honeymoon, Jensen challenges Kylie with a prospective client and puts the potential he sees in her to work.

He sees the scared woman hiding behind the tough exterior and with a past of abuse from her father, he knows he needs to tread lightly to gain her trust.

Jensen, to me, is a mellow dominant. I’m not even sure I would really consider him one. Which might be why I liked this one more than LETTING GO because he didn’t necessarily baby Kylie to the extent of gagging.

He gave up control in the bedroom in order to make Kylie comfortable, but wanted emotional control outside of the bed. I felt he was very reasonable and I liked the comfort he gave Kylie while she began to come out of her shell.

The big mess up at the end came from demons from Jensen’s past that nearly make it impossible for Jensen to forgive himself. In the end, they both agree to seek help together and that’s probably for the best.

I enjoyed the set up for book three and can’t wait to read about Tate and Chessy.
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