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Brothers in Arms #9

Love's Surrender

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An erotic romance.
Book 9 in the Brothers in Arms series

Lady Vanessa Carlton-Smythe is from one of England’s most well-respected families and the daughter of an earl. She has lived an exemplary life—the perfect daughter, the perfect lady. Until one Christmas Eve, when she meets two men who unleash her secret desires. She can’t surrender her heart, only her body, and only for the next twelve days. After Twelfth Night, their affair must end and she will return to a life that is slowly suffocating her.

Veterans Nick and Oliver have been constant companions since Waterloo. They share everything, including women and a bad reputation. When Lady Vanessa catches them in a compromising position, they are seduced by the longing in her eyes. Cool, distant, unattainable—the more she protests, the more they want her. Vanessa’s desires prompt the two men to finally give in to their feelings and become lovers. When desire becomes love, can they convince Vanessa to leave her privileged life behind and surrender to them forever?

*Previously Published
**For Mature Readers 18+

ebook

First published December 7, 2011

28 people are currently reading
517 people want to read

About the author

Samantha Kane

54 books769 followers
Samantha Kane lives in North Carolina with her husband and three children, two boys and one girl. With a master’s degree in American history, she spent seven years as a high school history teacher before becoming a full-time writer and mom.

Series:
THE BIRMINGHAM REBELS
BROTHERS IN ARMS
THE SAINT'S DEVILS
THE 93RD HIGHLANDERS
MERCURY RISING

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5 stars
239 (33%)
4 stars
242 (33%)
3 stars
197 (27%)
2 stars
38 (5%)
1 star
6 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
Profile Image for Katrina Passick Lumsden.
1,782 reviews12.9k followers
December 15, 2014
I liked this one, but it seemed to move a little too quickly at times. Oliver and Nick coming together was too abrupt, and the ending scene was so chaotic that it was difficult to really enjoy the romantic conclusion.

This isn't Pulitzer Prize winning stuff. This is erotic fiction. So if you're in the mood for something worthy of a Pulitzer, look elsewhere. If you are, however, in the mood to read a dirty story about a hot threesome with likable characters and an engaging plot, you can't really go wrong with this one. So much erotica is focused solely on the sex, and I won't lie and say this book doesn't contain a lot of sex, but what sets Kane's work apart from some others I've read is her ability to actually give her characters personality, and to actually weave a story in between the steamy stuff. I liked this first book quite a bit, but there are a few in the series I will probably be rating higher simply because I liked the storyline and/or the characters a little more.

Contains m/m and m/m/f sex scenes with an insanely high steam factor, so if you're a pearl clutcher, don't bother.
Profile Image for Skylar.
591 reviews
December 15, 2018
3.5 A bit too short and fast paced with classic Samantha Kane mmf awesomeness.
Profile Image for Jenna ✨DNF Queen✨Here, Sometimes....
435 reviews49 followers
October 1, 2018
I have to say I was stunned to realize that I had missed this book. I've read all the others in the series, and was thrilled to have a 'new to me' BIA to read last night! It was a surprisingly short read, and I have to say I agree with some of the other reviewers' comments about the quality of this particular work.

I adore Samantha Kane, especially this BIA series. I've loved every single one of her MCs from the beginning and have enjoyed every one of their stories. While that held true here, this book felt a little like (*winces.... sorry SK...*) a very fleshy rough draft. Like, this was the idea for the story and she had to bang it out. Don't get me wrong... this WAS NOT poorly written! It was very well edited, and the details were spot on as is characteristic of SK's work. The steam factor was absolutely there, and the MCs were as lovable and compatible and tender with each other as always. But... I wanted more. More about the men's histories, which are barely hinted at. More about the way their relationship developed before they met Vanessa. And, I felt majorly cheated that we . I'll forgive her this time, as long as it doesn't happen again haha.

So overall, I would give this one a 3.5 stars... rounded up to 4 because it made me so happy to have a "new" SK to read. :)

**addendum -- reflectively it seems like maybe this book suffered from "christmas syndrome". While I loved that this story took place at the holidays, and that bit was endearing. However the rushed and aborted quality of the story is something I find common with seasonal books.
Profile Image for Jen Davis.
Author 7 books726 followers
May 16, 2012
3.5 Stars
My goodness, there is quite a bit of steam stuffed into these 100 pages! The story follows former soldiers Oliver and Nick as they seduce the virginal Vanessa into a threesome. The men have been sharing women for quite some time, but they have never acknowledged that there is an attraction between them as well. Once Lady Vanessa accepts their advances, however, that begins to change. And the sensual possibilities among the three of them are endless.

OK, the sex was hot. Especially when Nick and Oliver give into their feeling for one another the first time. I actually was drawn more to their relationship with one another than anything Vanessa had to offer. It's not that there's anything wrong with her, but they have only known her for a few days. The entire span of the story takes place in less than two weeks --and I'm just not a subscriber to the insta-love thing. But Oliver and Nick have been together for years. Their relationship was much easier for me to believe and accept thanks to their history together.

The menage wasn't the most believable true-love story for such a whirlwind affair, but I definitely enjoyed it for a little naughty fun. 3 1/2 stars.

*Book provided by author for review
Profile Image for ~ Lei ~ Reading Is An Adventure ~.
1,167 reviews251 followers
March 13, 2016
You guys were seriously right - How many pages is Location 1981 of 2068? I'm being generous in tagging it between 51-99 pages but if you know how many pages that is, I'll be happy to retag if you'd comment on this review.

So there wasn't much character development but Samantha writes such smokin' mmf scenes, it still ended up ok - it just won't be the reread I'd been hoping for; I had been interested in Vanessa since Retreat From Love (Brothers in Arms, #5) by Samantha Kane when she was jilted by Ashland for Anne & Brett.

Anyway only a 3-star for me and not a multi-time reread like Love's Fortress (Brothers in Arms, #7) by Samantha Kane .
Profile Image for Bonnie.
978 reviews
December 16, 2011
I love Kane's Brothers in Arms series, and this latest entry in the series does not disappoint. The only thing I didn't like about it, and the reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is that it is so short. Although short, it is still a good read.
Profile Image for ♥ I’d Rather Be Reading ♥.
2,749 reviews
November 23, 2023
- FMC: Vanessa
- MMC's: Nick, Oliver
- POVs Included: Multiple POVs (Vanessa, Nick, Oliver)
- Book Playlist (Brothers in Arms Book Series Playlist)

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SUMMARY: (SPOILER WARNING)

Lady Vanessa Carlton-Smythe has been lonely for some time. Being the daughter of an Earl is not easy. Her father disapproves of most matches and she is feeling discouraged.

But during a Christmas party she stumbles upon a couple of men with a woman and is scandalized and interested by what she sees. When she begins talking with them, they hit it off and begin a liaison that is forbidden and exciting.

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REVIEW:

I enjoyed this one at first. I loved the dynamic between Nick and Oliver. Like most of the men in this series they served together in the military and have been inseparable since. They have had a lingering attraction as they have shared women, and are only now exploring that further.

The steam between the three of them was hot. But also unbelievable. I have learned to suspend by level of belief with this series. But most of the books at least try to be somewhat realistic for the time period by having the woman marry one of the men before they start their threesome trysts.

But in this one they are just going off and randomly starting an affair with Vanessa before any promises are made. Based on the time frame this is supposed to take place, this is so unlikely.

Let's say I look past that though. Beyond that, the relationship felt rushed forward and didn't progress believably. I also didn't understand how her father suddenly agreed to let her marry who she wanted after being so picky for so long.

I did like that there wasn't a ton of drama. I think the length of the book was close to perfect for what this series is (erotica, plain and simple). Some of the books have started to take themselves too seriously and were getting too angsty and long. But I think a tad more time should've been spent on building the relationship here.

Overall, I did enjoy the steam, which was on point as usual. But the relationship and character development felt rushed and unbelievable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Letschat1974.
821 reviews10 followers
January 29, 2021
4 stars (enjoy Kate Pearce, Jess Michaels, Victoria Vale, Samantha Kane)

Sometimes you want to just have dessert as your meal...that’s what Historical Erotic romance is to me when reading these books.

my personal markers for a great read...1. smart and engaging writing, 2. Humorous, 3. sexy interactions and 4. stories with family/friends.

I love series around family members or a group of friends. I love the series even more when the author intertwines those characters throughout the book series (it’s a pet peeve when authors don’t do that because what’s the point of the series and introducing the characters if they are not going to interact throughout the series). Samantha Kane does a good job with past characters throughout her Brother in Arms series.

The development and interest in main characters and secondary characters was enjoyable (I think there’s enough written about next upcoming series book to grab your attention). I really did like the H/H/H for this book; very well paired as a couples.

writing style is easy to follow, humorous moments (secondary characters, the give and take dialogue enjoyable as well as action pack.

I did enjoyed how the writing of the book came along in the story telling.

Romantic/sexual content (kissing, oral, love making scenes) was throughout the book; well written detailed scenes. 5/5 hotness and steam (sometimes it was too much and the story was lost to me).

would recommend this book and the series.

You don’t have to read the series (main books) in order however, I think you lose the storytelling of characters.

NOTE: written in some of the stories is traumatic events (sexual abuse, sexual assault, PTSD, assault). Nothing in great detail.
Profile Image for Bewitch_me_please.
55 reviews
March 29, 2021
This book goes back to some of the basics after the previous book's ups and downs. The character follows Oliver and Nick as they fall and reel in Vanessa.
There is not much to build in this short-is story, besides the relationship between all three and that is what happens. Vanessa is being strangled by society and its notions and her family and its so sweet when Nick and Oliver take her out of that and give her a safe space with them to be herself.
The bedroom antics are of course super duper hot and it is just one of those lovely reads for a perfect lazy sunday afternoon.

Read this for:
A female character being freed from her societal role
Two hot military men
They marry and get their happy family
But before that there is a lot of wooing
There is a lot of seducing
There is a lot of hot steamy sex

Profile Image for Katie Lynn Wuebker.
7 reviews
March 12, 2024
This book was incredibly short, resulting in a lack of adequate character and plot development. I’ve read a couple of other books in this series which were much better paced with enough build-up to make the character realizations and relationships seem more believable (as believable as a MMF erotic historical romance can get, at least).

Vanessa, Oliver, and Nick are pretty one-note characters, and the antagonists in this book are just ridiculous in Kane’s attempts to layer them in such a short amount of pages. The dialogue is also just super cringe and clichéd.

All that being said, the intimate scenes were decent which is why I am rounding up my review of 1.5 stars.

Overall rating: I told myself I couldn’t DNF on page 60 after realizing how short it was/5.
15 reviews1 follower
July 27, 2019
Some say the the heroine is not strong. Some say she needed a support system. Some say she didn’t know what she was getting into. They’re all wrong if you read the series cover to cover you’ll see Vanessa observing these relationships. With little to fall back on she showed great courage and resilience. She knew what she wanted and reach for it. She didn’t act foolishly. She was very practical and also followed her heart. The whole point of the book is inner strength that is strengthen the cause you believe in wholeheartedly.
Profile Image for Oleta Blaylock.
766 reviews7 followers
November 29, 2025
This is Lady Vanessa Carlton-Smythe's story.

I have wondeered if this lovely woman would ever get her Happily Ever After. I didn't except she would find that connection with two ex-soldiers. This is a very entrtaining story and a quick read. I enoyed the developmen of the relationship between these three and the depth of feeling that the gentlemen develope over the Christmas holiday. This is a sweet story and very enjoyable. Perfect for Christmas.
1,749 reviews9 followers
November 8, 2018
Recency menage

This is a historical MMF menage story. It's a nice read, but I wish there was a little more to it. I would have liked another chapter or two about the wedding, and maybe an epilogue to hint at their future.
Profile Image for Pamela aka Scottieluvr.
198 reviews2 followers
May 5, 2019
RRRC - 2019 May Monthly Challenge - (Christmas Eve)

This was a fun and lascivious read. Nick, Oliver and Vanessa were delightful to watch as they developed their romance very slowly. The world building impeccable, as the historical premise stayed true.
Profile Image for Yomi Mi Ri.
1,199 reviews1 follower
June 11, 2019
Me gusta mucho cómo se maneja el tema menagé, que no sean solo un rato con este y otro con el otro (?), sino que los tres estén en una relación. Eh, solo he sentido un poco acelerado y conveniente ese final, pero agrada.
Profile Image for Mary Davis.
159 reviews11 followers
July 9, 2012
B&N Synopsis:

"Lady Vanessa Carlton-Smythe is from one of England's most well-respected families and the daughter of an earl. She has lived an exemplary life-the perfect daughter, the perfect lady. Until one Christmas Eve, when she meets two men who unleash her secret desires. She can't surrender her heart, only her body, and only for the next twelve days. After Twelfth Night, their affair must end and she will return to a life that is slowly suffocating her.

Veterans Nick and Oliver have been constant companions since Waterloo. They share everything, including women and a bad reputation. When Lady Vanessa catches them in a compromising position, they are seduced by the longing in her eyes. Cool, distant, unattainable-the more she protests, the more they want her. Vanessa's desires prompt the two men to finally give in to their feelings and become lovers. When desire becomes love, can they convince Vanessa to leave her privileged life behind and surrender to them forever?"



This wasn't my favorite of the series. I think the story felt rushed, and I think it was because we had no intro to the characters, really, before the first moment of witnessing the illicit act. It took me half the book before I felt I had even an inkling of the relationship between Nick and Oliver, because they acted as if they existed in their own reality, more so without any reference points to their past. The first incident that Vanessa witnesses - it was just odd. More so than just the fact that the whole menage idea is improbable - there was not enough of a setup to have that incident make any sense.

And honestly, watching two guys grope another girl, and I'm going to be so turned on that I instantly decide to take them up on an offer? It seems to me that more time was spent in other books in the series of the setup. This one fell far short of that - I had the same problem with Love in Exile.

So, I'm glad I have the book and read it, but I really hope that the next one has a better plot, is more thought out, and more focus is placed on the characters, not just on the menage/sex aspects.
Profile Image for Romancing the Book.
4,420 reviews221 followers
June 5, 2013
Samantha Kane is a new to me author and certainly one that I will be looking for more work by! She is simply amazing with her story lines and her characters. From the start of the book, I was swept away to another time period, to another place where I could become someone else. When a book can completely engulf me like that, I make it a point to praise it highly. This book gets that high praise and so much more!

This is the ninth book in the Brothers In Arms series, but it’s not overly confusing in anyway. The characters were wonderfully chiseled and came to life the more the story progressed. The friendship between the two men was outstandingly created and the relationship that progressed when Lady V entered the picture, really added the depth to the whole story.

Oliver and Nick are both characters that I fell in love with. I can’t pinpoint one specific thing about either of them that would make me like one more than the other. Both were filled with flaws, both had intense feelings for each other, as well as the beautiful Lady V. I could feel their emotions overflowing into me as the reader.

Lady Vanessa. Now her character, while wonderfully chiseled, left me a little flustered. I loved her…but hated her. She was a virgin in every sense of the word and she really was naive. A little too naive, in my opinion. But, when she gave into her feelings for the soldiers, the heat was on!

I definitely recommend this story of surrendering to a love that’s real; a love that will overcome any obstacle and with a passion that is strong and true. Ms. Kane’s uniqueness in writing will sweep the reader off their feet and shower them with characters that will steal your heart, and capture your mind until the last page is turned. I am highly anxious to go back and read books 1-8 in this series, as well as, looking forward to any more sexy, passion filled romance that this new-to-me author will create!

Reviewed by: Molly
Book provided by:Publisher
Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
Profile Image for Jewel.
1,941 reviews279 followers
January 14, 2015
3.5 stars

An enjoyable story. It was too short to get into much character development, but what was there I liked. I enjoyed Nick's interactions with Oliver more than with Vanessa, truthfully, but overall, I liked the story. One thing that would have sold me on Vanessa is if she would have stood up to her father sooner. She's been doing as was expected of her her entire life. Once she got a taste of what she wanted, I would have loved to see her stand up for that before she was forced to, if nothing else to show her strength of character. Better late than never, though. Plus, I think she gave her father the vapors, which was definitely a plus, as he has always seemed more concerned with the "right" match than his daughters happiness.
Profile Image for Tamela.
1,828 reviews27 followers
November 28, 2012
Sorry to say that I was very disappointed in this volume. I felt no connection with any of the characters and I didn't really feel any connection BETWEEN the characters. They all seem to just do things more to move the story along the to actually love or care for the others involved.

Read the first books but I can't really recommend this one. It was only fair and I was used to getting more from this author.
Profile Image for Katherine.
5,400 reviews42 followers
June 10, 2015
I liked the idea, found the characters dialogue & sensibilities too modern. Things also came together a bit too easily. I didn't buy that the heroine's proper father would roll over and let his daughter marry the hero.

Bought from kobo.
Profile Image for Esra.
Author 50 books86 followers
December 14, 2014
Zamanında Ashland tarafından reddedilen Lady Vanessa, Very'nin yardımıyla yine Waterloo'da savaşmış eski askerler olan Oliver ve Nick ile tutkularının peşine düşüyor..
Oliver ve Nick gruba yeni dahil oldular.. O nedenle mini bir yılbaşı hikayesi şeklinde çıktı kitapları karşımıza...
Profile Image for Laura.
Author 27 books41 followers
December 16, 2011
As always, Samantha delivers another story with well-rounded characters packed into a tight format. I only wished it had been longer, either that or I need to learn to read more slowly.
Profile Image for Jeri.
1,757 reviews42 followers
January 4, 2012
Once again, Samantha Kane hits one out of the ballpark! Touching story . Christmas-sy, too!
1,687 reviews
January 10, 2012
Just the antidote I needed after the last book I read. Not her best in this series but short sweet and a lot of fun.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews

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