Two Week Surrender

by Hayson Manning

Savannah Williams is getting out of dodge and heading to Hawaii. She’s done with men thinking they can control her. She didn’t expect Walker Hammond to swagger his gorgeous butt into her diner and look at her like she’s his favorite candy and he wouldn’t mind a taste. The same man who threw her away years earlier without a backward glance. He may want a taste, but he can want as much as he likes.

Walker Hammond is back in town for two weeks only. He crosses a line when he pays off Savannah’s debt. This quick-thinking businessman who never sticks a relationship has a fake plan. If Savannah can teach him to be domesticated, the debt will be wiped, and he’ll walk away. But he didn’t count on her curves, her attitude that fires his blood or the way she makes him feel alive, for the first time in years.

With explosive heat building between them, they agree to friends with benefits until the rules change. One wants a shot at love. One wants freedom. Who will surrender?

Genres: Romance, Novella

74 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 5, 2017

About the author

I love Princess Bride, Game of Thrones and Naked and Afraid. The Big Bang Theory but will take Wolowitz over Cooper. Star Trek not Star Wars. Undercover Boss, Secret Millionaire--any story that shows the little guy making it. I follow the Buffalo Bills like a religion. I am spellbound by showjumping and equestrian eventing. I love curling up and reading all books--no genre is off-topic. I like ironing, I hate peas, love donkeys, I play a killer game of Scrabble. I'm a kiwi who has lived most of my life in Australia and now am in the US. I will often be heading towards the fridge for another Diet Coke. I eat nothing with legs and believe wine goes with everything, oh and I'm an expert at finding new and inventive ways to avoid exercise.

I live in the sparkly beach side suburb of Redondo Beach in California with my infuriating shoe-dropping husband and my two boys who speak in mystifying grunts.
I'd love to hear from you at haysonmanning@gmail.com

Reviews

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two Week Surrender by Hayson Manning was a freebie contemporary romance novella that wasn't bad but not overly memorable either. Sort of a small town girl ready to get out of dodge but that bad boy comes back into her life and wants to settle down. As the cover suggests with this one there are some steamy moments, characters were just average and nothing really that would stick with me down the road and make this one wow me.

For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/

[Madhuri A · Rating 4 out of 5]

loved the book, the story was engaging and short. There were some dialogues which truly hit me hard and had conflicting emotions. I really loved the way Trace cherished her in the end and her banana cake.. I wish I could taste them too...;P

[GetInMyEyeballs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two weeks to surrender, by Hayson Manning, is a second chance romance told in the dual POV’s of Savannah and Trace.

Savannah is at her wits end with her current life situation and desperate to make a change. After a failed marriage and the move of a long-time friend, Savannah is ready to move on to bluer skies and greener pastures.

Trace is passing through town and on the recommendation of a friend, makes a stop at a local diner. Not realizing this is the diner his former summer fling owns.

Like any second chance romance, this book has all the feels I love. The instant attraction upon meeting again but the lingering hurt as well. Trace is quick to come to Savannah’s rescue, making it easy to set up the “I’ll help you with that if you help me with this” situation. The time frame and boundaries are set to ensure no one gets hurt or falls in love and of course, the misunderstanding and the reunion.

This is the first time I received a free copy of a book to review for an author from Voracious Readers Only and went into it totally blind. Overall, I have to say I enjoyed the book.
I was able to connect very quickly with Savannah’s character. There was enough background given that I felt invested in her. Unfortunately, with Trace, I didn’t feel the same, which made it harder for me to understand where he was coming from and why he was so set in his ways. For that reason, I am giving this book 4 stars and would recommend it if you’re looking for a quick read.

This book does give off strong vibes of being a part of a larger series and after finishing Two weeks to surrender and doing some research, there is a character introduced, that is part of a series. I have added a couple of Hayson Manning books to my ever-growing list of books I want to read.

My favorite quote is:
“Blessed is being able to read in a car on windy roads”

[Brita Mackay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meet Savannah and Trace our FMC and MMC in Two Weeks to Surrender by Hayson Manning. This book is also told from their POVs.

Our FMC Savannah, she's at her wits end with her current life situation, and she is desperate to make a change. Her marriage has failed, and her long-time friend has moved, Savannah is ready to move on herself and find her own blue skies and greener pastures.

Our MMC Trace is just passing through town and stops at a local diner on the recommendations. What he doesn't know is that it is owned by the woman he once had a summer fling with.

Of course, like any good 2nd chance romance, it has all those feels. The instant attraction, but the lingering hurt. Trace is fast to come to Savannah's rescue setting up the “I'll help you with that if you'll help me with this” situation. Time frame and boundaries are set to make sure that no one gets hurt or, heaven forbid, fall in love, then we have the misunderstanding and the reunion.

I get the feeling that this book is going to be part of a longer series. I am going to add some Hayson Manning books to my TBR list as I want to get a better feel of their writing. But as for Two Weeks To Surrender, I would suggest it. It is spicy and fun second chance, friends to lovers romance read.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice read to finish off my day! It is short, sweet, and steamy. I was sucked in from page one and did not stop until the end. Okay, I stopped long enough to feed my husband dinner. But, I was right back to reading so that I could get more laughs from Savannah and her sass.

Trace was compared to a certain Duke and the author was dead on.

This is a story of two people who had a short summer fling when they were younger and now that they are older can Savannah get Trace to see that they belong together or will he hold to his mantra that he will remain single and not stay with one person.

If you want a second chance, friends to lovers romance then I suggest you pick up Two Week Surrender.

I received a copy of this book for my honest review from Voracious Readers Only and the author.

[Samantha Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two Week Surrender is a slow burn romance that delves deeply into themes of trust, vulnerability, and second chances. The story follows Savannah, a fiercely independent woman with a guarded heart, and Trace, a charismatic business owner carrying his own emotional scars. Their two-week agreement—where Savannah agrees to domesticate Trace—sets the stage for a passionate yet tumultuous relationship.

At the centre of the novella lies the tension between Savannah and Trace, driven by their individual trust issues. Savannah's past heartbreaks have left her wary of letting anyone in, while Trace, scarred by childhood trauma, struggles to believe in love. Manning masterfully unpacks their insecurities, showing how their chemistry battles with their reluctance to open up.

A captivating read for fans of contemporary romance, will leave you rooting for this imperfect but lovable couple.

[Emmy Gairn · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many authors try to make their main female characters independent, strong and funny, but few achieve it as well as this author. The characters internal monologue genuinely made me snort in places and I was so happy that she didn't back down over the booty call thing.
This was my first read from this author, but it won't be my last.
I received a free copy of this book through voracious readers only.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a solid 4 star rating!! Savannah who is running a diner on its last leg after a divorce which left her with nothing after catching her unfaithful spouse. She can bake but she cannot cook to save her life. Enter Trace, her young lost love who ducked out on her many years ago. Could they have another go of what they once had……..or will history repeat itself and be doomed before it can start?

[Madhavi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written and engaging! The story is short, yet it keeps you entertained right till the end. I could almost smell Savanna’s banana cake every time it was mentioned.

One line that truly broke my heart was from Savanna’s POV: “My mum couldn’t stay, my father didn’t want to. Trace didn’t, Hugh wouldn’t.” It was powerful and raw. I’m so glad the story ended on a hopeful note. A lovely read overall! Would recommend it to anyone who loves to read romance!

[ERICA YOUNGS · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from Voracious Readers only.

This book was fun! The funny comments the characters make are some of the things I would say. The book was a wonderful short quick read. I enjoyed the second chance love theme. Everyone has that one person who got away. I would highly recommend this book if you are looking for funny and steamy.

[Loren · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable read overall. The premise of repaying a commercial loan with "domestication" is a bit contrived and hard to swallow for me. Not the worst way to force characters to spend time together but still farfetched. The pacing was a little weird as well. This book was pretty fun and easy to read otherwise. There is a lot of good emotion and some entertaining spicy scenes.

[Amanda Navarro · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved the story line and where it could go. However, I felt it was too short and could have used more details. I felt this book was more to the point. I felt there could've been more back story or more details to things leading up. I loved the surprise, super sweet but I feel like it would have been amazing to hear how it happened.

[K.J. Sweeney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two-week surrender is a fun and quick read. This novella that tells the story of Savvanah and Trace. They had a brief and hot relationship when they were both in their late teens, but Trace got cold feet at the thought of commitment and ran away. Now, years later, Savvanah finds herself with a broken marriage and a failing business, when Trace walks back into her life.
I enjoyed this second chance romance. I'm not completely convinced by his reasons for leaving in the first place or the very flimsy excuse he gives her for sticking around, but they are still fun together and this was an enjoyable, if very quick read. I'd be very interested in reading more of Hayson Manning's books.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Voracious Readers. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.

[Samantha Martignetti · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the characters and plot of this book. It was a quick and easy read! Will be checking out more by Hayson. I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only.

[Kpok · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet little romance story with good main characters. I enjoyed Manning's descriptive writing - she set the scene and the characters well. I would have liked a bit more character and plot development, some parts seemed rushed to me, but otherwise a fun read.

[Holly Trullinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this! It was such a fun, romantic read with a little bit of spice and a little bit of drama! Loved the turnaround at the end with Trace and the diner! Such a cute ending and I loved the cake recipe at the end! Can’t wait to try it!

[Ashlee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick easy read, enjoyed the love story. Recommend to anyone who likes easy reads to relax your brain!

[Chloe Burkhart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this book in a few hours. Had my attention from the beginning straight into the story. Not as long as I thought but still had me read in one go.

[Felicia Seay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was great. Short, but sweet. I laughed and cried.

[Lyndsay Fiorentino · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and spicy romance. Very quick read-good when you're in need of some spice and a feel good story. I was given a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only.

[Natalie’s_world_in_books · Rating 4 out of 5]

The bound series
Romance novella
Short,sweet with abit of spice

[mrs louise hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story well wrote the people were fantastic. Your just hoping for people to come together through the book. They have more ups and down then rollercoaster . Dr to one book to keep

[A.Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and sweet rom-com. It’s what I was looking for my mood today.

[Rhiley Jade · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute but not exactly memorable. Typical plot of 'bad boy comes back to small town to try and redeem himself with the good girl he left behind'.

[Grace P · Rating 4 out of 5]

TW: Open door scenes, Language

Thank you to Voracious Readers Only and Hayson Manning for the free copy!


If you’re looking for a short, fast-paced second chance romance, with a small town feel to it and lovably flawed characters, then Two Week Surrender by Hayson Manning is the next book you should be putting on your never ending TBR list.


Savannah (or Savvy) is the owner of a struggling diner in Montana; between her absent cook Billy-Bob and her ex husband who is, quite frankly, not worth mentioning, she’s more than ready to sell the diner and move to Hawaii. Her plans, however, are completely derailed when Trace Miller arrives in town. You soon learn that Savvy and Trace don’t exactly have the greatest history, which is explored in more detail as you watch them slowly and reluctantly fall back in love with one another. 


Savvy is by far one of the most relatable characters I’ve ever had the joy of reading. Between her obsession with Bridgerton, the Duke of Hastings, baking, and her cat, Murray, I absolutely love this girl. Her relationship with Trace isn’t exactly perfect, but I was always rooting for them simply because I wanted her to be happy. And if anything was going to make her happy, then it was always going to be Trace Miller.


For such a short book, I was impressed by the level of smut. The chemistry between Trace and Savvy was never more apparent than when they were having sex, and these scenes were always steamy and attractive as hell without overtaking the book. 


To read the full review for Two Week Surrender, as well as many more, check out our blog at fortheplot5.wordpress.com!! Whilst you’re there, why not take a look at our new discussion piece? Or maybe even drop a like and comment on our Instagram, for_the_plot1814 - now also on Threads! 

[Amy ~ Love At 1st Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love about every romance trope there is, especially when they’re executed well. In Two Week Surrender, new-to-me-author Hayson Manning flawlessly melds two tropes in one story. Friends with benefits and second chance romance. What could be more delicious?

Savannah Williams is ready to leave her hometown and start fresh. New job, new life, new everything. But just when she thinks she has it all figured out, in walks Walker Hammond, the man who threw her away 8 years earlier. Time hasn’t changed the effect they have on each other either. When Walker steps in and pays off Savannah’s loan, he comes up with an interesting “repayment plan”. But can they both walk away once the debt is paid?

I love friends with benefit stories, especially when they’re pretending there’s no “more” to the relationship. It was fun to watch Savannah and Walker try to live in a domestic relationship without getting intimately involved. Both had resigned themselves to believing a happily ever after wasn’t for them. But the connection between them only intensified because of their history together. They remembered well how good it was between them. Want it or not, they were getting a second chance. The question is, would they realize it before it’s too late.
A short, sexy, and funny read about two people who needed to discover themselves before they could discover a life together. I love Ms. Manning’s clever, witty writing style. She’s wickedly funny and naughty. This may be a short read but it’s fast paced and filled with humor and spicy sexual tension. I look forward to reading more in this series.

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is about Savannah who is shocked when the one person that she didn't think she would ever see again walks into her diner. Walker left her many years ago without a look back. He turned his life around and was doing quite well for himself. Savannah, on the other hand, is struggling to stay afloat with the diner. She has been under the control of others like her father and her ex husband that she wants her independence and doesn't want any help.

Walker crosses the line by paying off Savannah's debt to the bank for the diner. She is not happy that he paid her debt and plans on paying him back. Savannah and Walker come to an agreement that will help her debt be wiped clean if she can teach him to be domesticated. She reluctantly agrees but asks him to teach her how to be wild. It is a two week plan because Walker will be heading back home after that.

I recommend that you read this great story. Find out what happens with Walker and Savannah. Will they give into sexual tension they feel? Is Savannah able to wipe her debt clean with trying to domesticate him? Will Walker walk away from her yet again and leave her heartbroken? This is a must read!

[Sharon Mariampillai · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay Read

I received an advance review copy for free from Voracious Readers Only, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you, Hayson Manning, for the opportunity to read your book. This was an alright read. The title of the book I have is called “Two Weeks to Surrender,” and the name of the hero’s name is changed to Trace. However, the premise is the same. In this book, Savannah is ready to move on with her life. Then the man who left her eight years ago, Trace, comes into her diner and storms back into her life. For two weeks, Trace and Savannah live together as requested by Trace, and thus begins their relationship again. I thought the story was okay. It seemed like your typical good girl/bad boy story. I thought the characters were okay as well. I didn’t really have that much of a connection to them. I did find their romance cute. Also, I thought the ending was good. I thought that was best part of the book. I cannot wait to read other books by Hayson Manning. I think she has great potential as an author that I would like to read in the future. Overall, an okay read.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story of second chance love it is so very sensual and moving as Walker arrives back in town Saddle Creek Montana and meets up with Savannah who is still as feisty as ever but she has been married is now divorced runs a diner that is not doing too well and she has decided to sell and move to Hawaii and just because he can her ex is being a pain and Walker cannot help himself where she is concerned.

So Walker comes up with a plan determined to help Savannah without being obvious where by she thinks she is helping him but it must be a hands off not touching the hired help but that doesn't go too well when they are so drawn to each other you could light up Montana with the electricity that shoots between them.

This is one hell of a good story it has everything, it is sexy, fun, emotional and a must read. MS Manning writes stories that will pull you in from the first page and keep you turning those pages she will have you smiling, laughing ,sighing and shedding a few tears of joy with her fabulous stories if you haven't read one of her stories I can highly recommend them.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nothing gets the pages turning and heating up like an unresolved past coming back and filling out a pair of tight jeans and a tee shirt! Hayson Manning knows when to bring on the humor and moderate it with just the right amount of angst and reflection for a great story and characters that stand out. I found myself not only relating to this book but enjoying how this author worked around what could have been an overpowering scenario of anger and awkwardness. Ms. Manning deftly focused on building on the positive elements of attraction that still existed for this couple. This novella felt more like a resolution versus a second chance as both Walker and Savannah still held feelings for each other and it was the right place and right time to be the couple they were always meant to be. A quick read with lots to recommend it Two Week Surrender is a perfect one-book stand!