What do you think?
Rate this book
LaCasse #3
Complete Surrender
Raymond LaCasse had just completed his studies in Paris and was on his way home, to the French Caribbean island of Martinique, little did he know sharing a taxi with a beautiful stranger would change his life in ways he could have never imagined. His couldn’t get the beautiful woman out of his mind, long after she had collected her belongs and left the taxi they’d shared on the way to the airport. Who was this gorgeous woman? He wish the drive had been longer, so he could have spent a longer time in her company. He’d get his wish, but not in the way he’d imagined.
Gabrielle Descotte, a model by profession, had agreed to assist her brother in carrying out an illegal feat. She loved her brother dearly and would do anything for him, but when she met his intended target, Raymond LaCasse, she swiftly had a change of heart. She now had to choose, her brother or the man who occupies her every waking moment, to the exclusion of all else.
Divided by loyalties and bound by a desire that drives them into each other’s arms, Raymond and Gabrielle find themselves in a convoluted web of deceit and danger that almost destroy their new-found love and tear them apart….
Gabrielle Descotte, a model by profession, had agreed to assist her brother in carrying out an illegal feat. She loved her brother dearly and would do anything for him, but when she met his intended target, Raymond LaCasse, she swiftly had a change of heart. She now had to choose, her brother or the man who occupies her every waking moment, to the exclusion of all else.
Divided by loyalties and bound by a desire that drives them into each other’s arms, Raymond and Gabrielle find themselves in a convoluted web of deceit and danger that almost destroy their new-found love and tear them apart….
Unknown Binding
First published January 26, 2014
5 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
About the author
Ju Ephraime
34 books231 followersJu Ephraime (http://www.juliaeantoine.com) is the debut author of State of Ecstasy. Her latest novel, One Hell Of A Ride is published by ENVISION Business & Computer School, August 2nd, 2017. Her books are available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, ENVISION, Books-A-Million, IndieBound, and many other retailers.
Ju's books have received great reviews from many different sources, including Midwest Book Review and Readers favorite. Several of her titles have made the bestseller list on Amazon, the most recent being, Golden Heat and The Elusive Highlander. The Elusive Highlander maintained that status for several weeks.
Ju earned her graduate degree from Northeastern University. She has a varied background, but for the past 13 years, has settled in the area of higher education. You can find her on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Goodreads. Ju lives with her family in Connecticut.
To sign-up for her newsletter to receive ARCs, gifts, gift cards and Swags:
http://www.juliaeantoine.com/Contact-...
Follow her on BookBub for sales and discounted books:
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/ju-ep...
Ju's books have received great reviews from many different sources, including Midwest Book Review and Readers favorite. Several of her titles have made the bestseller list on Amazon, the most recent being, Golden Heat and The Elusive Highlander. The Elusive Highlander maintained that status for several weeks.
Ju earned her graduate degree from Northeastern University. She has a varied background, but for the past 13 years, has settled in the area of higher education. You can find her on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Goodreads. Ju lives with her family in Connecticut.
To sign-up for her newsletter to receive ARCs, gifts, gift cards and Swags:
http://www.juliaeantoine.com/Contact-...
Follow her on BookBub for sales and discounted books:
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/ju-ep...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
January 30, 2015
Complete Surrender (LaCasse #3) by Ju Ephraime is a steaming hot romantic mystery full of desire, passion, mystery and danger set on Martinique. What more does a reader need, this book has everything and made me think of those exotic James Bond location scenes. am so hooked on this author's visual style.
Raymond LaCasse meets his dream woman by pure chance in a taxi in Paris. Her beauty fills his soul with passion and lust. Then he meets her again on his home Caribbean island of Martinique. This must be destiny.
Gabrielle Descotte, a model by profession, hides a dark secret from Raymond as their lust blossoms into love with some very hot sex. But her past caches up with her and danger tries to split them apart.
Divided by loyalties and bound by a desire that drives them into each other’s arms, Raymond and Gabrielle find themselves in a convoluted web of deceit and danger that could destroy their new-found love.
I loved this book and could not put it down. If you like steaming sex, gorgeous hunks, mysteries and Martinique then this heady cocktail of sexual desire will satisfy your needs. Very highly recommended.
Raymond LaCasse meets his dream woman by pure chance in a taxi in Paris. Her beauty fills his soul with passion and lust. Then he meets her again on his home Caribbean island of Martinique. This must be destiny.
Gabrielle Descotte, a model by profession, hides a dark secret from Raymond as their lust blossoms into love with some very hot sex. But her past caches up with her and danger tries to split them apart.
Divided by loyalties and bound by a desire that drives them into each other’s arms, Raymond and Gabrielle find themselves in a convoluted web of deceit and danger that could destroy their new-found love.
I loved this book and could not put it down. If you like steaming sex, gorgeous hunks, mysteries and Martinique then this heady cocktail of sexual desire will satisfy your needs. Very highly recommended.
August 5, 2016
This is a great story which has everything you want in a mystery and steamy thriller. The engaging and likeable characters hook you in and from then on you are truly gripped. The descriptions are excellent also and I was totally immersed in the environments the characters were in. It’s well-written and a perfect, exotic book to escape these long, dark winter nights.
February 11, 2014
A very intrequing story. A smooth and soothing read. It has just enough of low laying sinister element with her brother and his background. This is the third title in the LeCasse series. It is set in the beautiful island of Martinique. I mean who does not love a great story set on a beautiful island with a hot Alpha male!!
Starts off with a brother/son of the LeCasse family who has been away to school and work in France. He is finally going back home. His family is one that is bonded tightly together. And also a big name on the island.
On his way to the airport Raymond meets a woman by way of taxi before he leaves France. He comes to find out that their coats were switched, a little to late. He is able to contact her and make arrangements to switch the coats back. She makes arrangements to fly to is island. She is in desperate need to get her coat back. But she cannot say why. And is afraid to lose a chance with Raymond if he found out. She does not want to involve him with what is happening to her.
Needless to say, he is attracted to her, and her to him. They have a very strong attraction to each other. They have a fling during her stay on the island. She meets his family. They fall in love. But, Gabrielle has a trouble maker of a step brother who seems to bring trouble.
Itwas a touching, very sexy and sensual story. I loved the chemistry between the two lovers. The strong bond of family. Over coming all of their troubles together. His protectiveness for her. So in the end they could not live without one another.
I truely enjoyed this author and the story.
I will be reading more of her books.
Highly recommended!!!!
Heart warming, but a curious plot line.
Looking forward to see how they continue in the story line.
Go, get it..... Two thumbs up!!!
Enjoy <3 Kimberly
Starts off with a brother/son of the LeCasse family who has been away to school and work in France. He is finally going back home. His family is one that is bonded tightly together. And also a big name on the island.
On his way to the airport Raymond meets a woman by way of taxi before he leaves France. He comes to find out that their coats were switched, a little to late. He is able to contact her and make arrangements to switch the coats back. She makes arrangements to fly to is island. She is in desperate need to get her coat back. But she cannot say why. And is afraid to lose a chance with Raymond if he found out. She does not want to involve him with what is happening to her.
Needless to say, he is attracted to her, and her to him. They have a very strong attraction to each other. They have a fling during her stay on the island. She meets his family. They fall in love. But, Gabrielle has a trouble maker of a step brother who seems to bring trouble.
Itwas a touching, very sexy and sensual story. I loved the chemistry between the two lovers. The strong bond of family. Over coming all of their troubles together. His protectiveness for her. So in the end they could not live without one another.
I truely enjoyed this author and the story.
I will be reading more of her books.
Highly recommended!!!!
Heart warming, but a curious plot line.
Looking forward to see how they continue in the story line.
Go, get it..... Two thumbs up!!!
Enjoy <3 Kimberly
February 7, 2014
Full review at For Your Literary Pleasure
Euphraime gives the reader a lot of detail and backstory in her novel. While I wasn't sure if it was entirely necessary for the story it definitely builds a greater understanding of the characters. It gets off to a shaky start, I took awhile to get used to the overly formal writing style. The romance between Raymond and Gabrielle is insta-love with both claiming to be in love after having mind blowing sex and not much else. There isn't too much development by way of the two getting to know one another but their erotic scenes are steamy hot - they go at it like jack rabbits. I didn't like Raymond very much because he seemed largely preoccupied with sex and Gabrielle as an outlet for it rather than as a person. Within the first fifty pages I had been told he had an erection on four separate occasions... I actually could care less. Gabrielle I was sure about, she seemed to be easily swayed and a little naive - I don't know how she didn't figure out Pierre's game earlier, I certainly did. It's an interesting read and based in Martinque makes it a nice change from the typical North America based romance novels.
xxx Literary George
Follow me on Facebook
Euphraime gives the reader a lot of detail and backstory in her novel. While I wasn't sure if it was entirely necessary for the story it definitely builds a greater understanding of the characters. It gets off to a shaky start, I took awhile to get used to the overly formal writing style. The romance between Raymond and Gabrielle is insta-love with both claiming to be in love after having mind blowing sex and not much else. There isn't too much development by way of the two getting to know one another but their erotic scenes are steamy hot - they go at it like jack rabbits. I didn't like Raymond very much because he seemed largely preoccupied with sex and Gabrielle as an outlet for it rather than as a person. Within the first fifty pages I had been told he had an erection on four separate occasions... I actually could care less. Gabrielle I was sure about, she seemed to be easily swayed and a little naive - I don't know how she didn't figure out Pierre's game earlier, I certainly did. It's an interesting read and based in Martinque makes it a nice change from the typical North America based romance novels.
xxx Literary George
Follow me on Facebook
March 30, 2014
Raymond was in a hurry to get to the airport, unaware they were stopping to pick up another passenger. He didn't appreciate the delay…until he saw this particular passenger. She immediately mesmerized him with her unusual eyes so he didn't notice their coats had gotten mixed up until he was already in flight. Since his phone, license, and other important items were in his coat, it was vital he get it back. Her phone was in her pocket, but it was locked so he couldn't answer it. Maybe if he could call his own phone when he landed, she would answer and they could make arrangements to fix their little mix up…and he would be able to see her again.
This was the first book in the LaCasse series I've had the opportunity to read. Now that I have, I'm going back to read what I've missed! The storyline is adorable, the hero and heroine unique, and the supporting characters an added bonus. Everyone meshed together perfectly and I can't wait to read more about the other characters. Ms. Ephraime gave us a VERY sexually compatible hero and heroine with Raymond and Gabrielle. The sex was sensual and explicit, and kept my eyes absolutely glued to the pages! I thoroughly enjoyed Complete Surrender and highly recommend it! And now…I'm going back for the rest in the series that I've unfortunately missed! 4 1/2 Stars!
This was the first book in the LaCasse series I've had the opportunity to read. Now that I have, I'm going back to read what I've missed! The storyline is adorable, the hero and heroine unique, and the supporting characters an added bonus. Everyone meshed together perfectly and I can't wait to read more about the other characters. Ms. Ephraime gave us a VERY sexually compatible hero and heroine with Raymond and Gabrielle. The sex was sensual and explicit, and kept my eyes absolutely glued to the pages! I thoroughly enjoyed Complete Surrender and highly recommend it! And now…I'm going back for the rest in the series that I've unfortunately missed! 4 1/2 Stars!
February 9, 2014
I received this book to give an honest review. I love stories like these especially when they involve family. It just adds a special touch to the story. I really do love Foxx and Wolfe they just seem like they could have their own stories. :) Now the reason I am giving this book a 4 instead of a solid 5 like I was hoping to is because I believe the two main characters fell in love way to fast. And the fact that it seemed Raymond really got too many erections way too many times. I understood he was really into Gabrielle sexual but it seemed more about sex with him. I would have liked to have seen more of a relationship build between the two characters rather than I meet you, let's have sex, I love you, more sex, let's get married. What about showing her around the island? Maybe doing something at the beach?
I do enjoy this author's writing style and I like how she adds her own touch into the story line. I do plan on reading more in this series because I am liking the family that is in twined with this story of Raymond. I did enjoy the bit of mystery that surrounded Gabrielle and her brother I thought that was a good touch. Overall good read.
February 10, 2014
Complete Surrender is another breath-taking novel. I am in love with each of the Lacasse brothers characters. Foxx, Wolfe, and Raymond all scream sex appeal, masculinity, and devoting partner in their own separate ways. I love the family theme that has developed throughout the story and how each looks out for the other. Raymond and Gabrielle have a heated start from the beginning, in the shared cab-ride, to the end when they…I’m not doing a spoiler, so y’all will just have to read to find out what happens. I can give one insight, you definitely won’t be disappointed. There was romance, intrigue, mystery, and whole lot of heat in this book. Complete Surrender is not a book where you can put it down and go back a week later. This book will keep calling your name, pulling you into the storyline, loving the characters, and having you go back to read the next chapter ten minutes after you put it down or walk away from your computer. Great job once again Ju Ephraime on another potentially award winning novel!!
February 6, 2014
This story was very broken in many ways. I'd give it a 2.5 with the saving grace being only the erotic scenes in the book. The dialogue was horrendous and the plot very shallow. But the sex scenes were written with great detail and passion. It made the book feel unbalanced, as if the author wanted to write only of sex but knew readers needed a storyline. Unfortunately the storyline of switching coats provided no suspense and the ending fell flat. I did not completely enjoy the book. It could have used a good editor and a readers eye before release because so much is missing. There's instant love, sex and marriage proposals. There's bad guys that we don't really understand, there's a lack of backstory with characters except for knowledge of their jobs. Only the sex scenes were truly great. The rushed dialogue, meaningless banter and flat plot and characters would make this a book I can't recommend.
March 11, 2014
Complete Surrender is a well written book.
The story is filled with passion between the Raymond and Gabrielle, the main characters. Raymond met Gabrielle by coincidence, or was it? Sharing a cab to the airport will bring them closer than they'd ever imagine. In the rush to catch their respective flights they take each others coat, mistake they realized once they are in the air. Raymond and Gabrielle fall for each other rather quickly after they meet again to do the exchange. He will eventually find out why the mistake happened in the first place when he finds himself entangled in a crime that could cost him dearly, of course all without his knowledge.
I will recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a fast turn of events in a story.
No complains about the storyline. However I felt it was a little too fast paced between the main characters. Personally I like a little more of the cat and mouse chase. Overall, a good story.
The story is filled with passion between the Raymond and Gabrielle, the main characters. Raymond met Gabrielle by coincidence, or was it? Sharing a cab to the airport will bring them closer than they'd ever imagine. In the rush to catch their respective flights they take each others coat, mistake they realized once they are in the air. Raymond and Gabrielle fall for each other rather quickly after they meet again to do the exchange. He will eventually find out why the mistake happened in the first place when he finds himself entangled in a crime that could cost him dearly, of course all without his knowledge.
I will recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a fast turn of events in a story.
No complains about the storyline. However I felt it was a little too fast paced between the main characters. Personally I like a little more of the cat and mouse chase. Overall, a good story.
February 8, 2014
The story begins with enough intrigue and tension to keep my interest. The heat and steam flying off the pages had me questioning “Is it the pages or is it me?” The right level of tension in the hands of a skilled writer as Ephraime, made this an enjoyable and sensual read until I got to the real reason for the coat switcharoo.
The storyline with the naive Gabrielle and her adopted brother Pierre is weak and for this weakness I minus one star for credibility. I am just not buying that storyline.
The LaCasse brothers Wolfe, Foxx and Raymond are fun and sexy characters I liked spending time with them. I was able to see the characters as portrayed.
The location, Martinique added to the excitement as one always associate French men with high levels of testosterone.
January 30, 2014
I don't usually read love stories, but this one had me fascinated. I liked reading about Raymond and his close family. He came home to a loving family in Martinique. The beauty of the country was described in such vivid detail, that it made me want to visit.
I enjoyed the mystery that was happening at the same time. What was in the coat that Gabrielle was so insistent on having returned to her? She was falling in love with Raymond, but she was still worried about the coat.
This was a fun read.
I enjoyed the mystery that was happening at the same time. What was in the coat that Gabrielle was so insistent on having returned to her? She was falling in love with Raymond, but she was still worried about the coat.
This was a fun read.
August 25, 2016
I really enjoyed this story. It wasn't just the lust at first site that turned into love and a happy ending despite the danger, mystery and intrigue surrounding the coat swap and Gabrielle's brother but it was the interesting characters that supported Raymond and Gabrielle's love story. The intimate scenes were pretty hot too.
If you enjoy love stories with a little mystery and danger along with a solid family support system with interesting characters you will enjoy this story.
If you enjoy love stories with a little mystery and danger along with a solid family support system with interesting characters you will enjoy this story.
April 12, 2016
I was provided a copy of Complete Surrender in exchange for an honest review.
To start with, this book is written in 3rd person; very rarely can I get into a book written from this point of view, much less enjoy it. This is also the case with Complete Surrender; there is a total disconnect between me and the characters in the 3rd person writing style. Secondly, the book is extremely overly descriptive, and repetitive at times. I was also gifted with the actual copy currently available on amazon; unfortunately, I was surprised by the number of errors I found.
I was told Complete Surrender can be read as a standalone, even though it’s the third in the LaCasse series. I do not agree; there’s a huge amount of interaction with the two brothers, whom were the main characters from books 1 & 2, and even though I was given the backstory, I felt lost. The brothers, and the family, are in more than half the book! This is why I typically won’t start in the middle of a series.
The steamy love scenes were the only promising thing for me in the story. With the rest of the book; I was ready for it to be over, and couldn’t get into it.
Unfortunately, I have to give Complete Surrender 1.5 stars, I really didn’t like it, but maybe if it wasn’t written in 3rd person, it could have been better....Sara
http://www.boundlessbookreviews.com
https://www.facebook.com/BBReviews
To start with, this book is written in 3rd person; very rarely can I get into a book written from this point of view, much less enjoy it. This is also the case with Complete Surrender; there is a total disconnect between me and the characters in the 3rd person writing style. Secondly, the book is extremely overly descriptive, and repetitive at times. I was also gifted with the actual copy currently available on amazon; unfortunately, I was surprised by the number of errors I found.
I was told Complete Surrender can be read as a standalone, even though it’s the third in the LaCasse series. I do not agree; there’s a huge amount of interaction with the two brothers, whom were the main characters from books 1 & 2, and even though I was given the backstory, I felt lost. The brothers, and the family, are in more than half the book! This is why I typically won’t start in the middle of a series.
The steamy love scenes were the only promising thing for me in the story. With the rest of the book; I was ready for it to be over, and couldn’t get into it.
Unfortunately, I have to give Complete Surrender 1.5 stars, I really didn’t like it, but maybe if it wasn’t written in 3rd person, it could have been better....Sara
http://www.boundlessbookreviews.com
https://www.facebook.com/BBReviews
July 29, 2016
"Complete Surrender (LaCasse)" by Ju Ephraim is a lovely romantic story with some drama and suspense to spice it up.
Set on the beautiful Carribbean island of Martinique it has a magic feel to it, brought alive by the author with great detail and knowledge of the Creole culture.
Two strangers accidentally end up with each others coats, a lucky coincidence since there is some sparkling chemistry between them. Unfortunately for the lovers there are some sinister complications in the way of their romance.
Ephraim has created a great central conflict for the love story and very interesting characters to carry the drama.
I don't often read romantic stories but I really enjoyed this book with its smooth writing and exotic location.
A very pleasant read that has enough tension to make for a well rounded experience.
Set on the beautiful Carribbean island of Martinique it has a magic feel to it, brought alive by the author with great detail and knowledge of the Creole culture.
Two strangers accidentally end up with each others coats, a lucky coincidence since there is some sparkling chemistry between them. Unfortunately for the lovers there are some sinister complications in the way of their romance.
Ephraim has created a great central conflict for the love story and very interesting characters to carry the drama.
I don't often read romantic stories but I really enjoyed this book with its smooth writing and exotic location.
A very pleasant read that has enough tension to make for a well rounded experience.
September 19, 2016
Bravo for the novels of Ju Ephraime. I had the pleasure of reading Complete Surrender, the third in her four book series, and I was blown away. I got so caught up in the book that I was late to my job on the third shift. From the first chapter the heated attraction between the hero, Raymond, and the heroine, Gabrielle, was quite apparent, but the author played it along, while giving the reader a glimpse into the mind of Raymond's strong desire for Gabrielle. When he was finally able to have his way with her, the scenes were steamy and hot. I love every minute of it. Kudos to Ephraime for writing these exceptional scenes. Even the description of the island, its people, and the creole language, were well done. I’m now off to pick up the other books in the series, if this is an indication of what I’m in for.
March 10, 2014
I won this book as an early read program and thought it was a romance, but it was more heavy erotica.
The story line was ok. I could guess the secrets and what would happen in the next chapter so that was disappointing.
The romance between Raymond and Gabrielle was written well.
The author repeated words, sentences, thoughts, actions which slowed down the reading and made it boring to get through. I think the book would have ended up being half the size it is if it had been edited properly.
This might be a book others would enjoy, but I didn't.
Since I love to read, I've never given a book a rating below 4 until this one.
The story line was ok. I could guess the secrets and what would happen in the next chapter so that was disappointing.
The romance between Raymond and Gabrielle was written well.
The author repeated words, sentences, thoughts, actions which slowed down the reading and made it boring to get through. I think the book would have ended up being half the size it is if it had been edited properly.
This might be a book others would enjoy, but I didn't.
Since I love to read, I've never given a book a rating below 4 until this one.
August 31, 2014
A romance set in the Carribean. Throw in suspence, drama and a touch of Creole and we have Ju Euphraime's new novel Complete Surrender. The sex scenes between Gabrielle and Raymond are written with such detail and passion the steam literally rises from the pages. If you like heat in your romance books then Complete Surrender is for you.
September 24, 2016
Such a great read. I downloaded this book to read while on holiday. It was the perfect steamy romance to enjoy while sunning myself in Spain. It has a good flow and is easy to read. No formatting issues. All in all I would recommend this book.
Read
February 13, 2016Please see Boundless Book Reviews for the review.
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/3...
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/3...
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews