Mi arrendo

I Surrender #1

by Monica James

Singapore ha strappato un pezzo di Ava Thompson, e se l’è tenuto.
Un istante è stato sufficiente a stravolgerle l’esistenza e si è resa conto che il suo ex non era l’uomo che credeva fosse.
Tornare a Los Angeles non sarà facile, perché “il suo cuore è stato maciullato, masticato e risputato all’infinito”, ed è convinta che le ferite non si rimargineranno più.
O, forse, non è così.

Jasper White entra in scena.
Ava ignora che sarà lui, in realtà, a cambiare la sua vita per sempre.

L’attrazione tra loro è istantanea, ma Ava la rifugge perché non vuole più avere nulla a che fare con gli uomini. Resistere a Jasper, però – con quei capelli spettinati “da sesso” e quei penetranti occhi cerulei –, è molto più difficile di quel che immagina.
Perché Jasper sa quello che vuole… e vuole lei.

Riuscirà Ava ad arrendersi ai sentimenti che prova per l’uomo che le sta imponendo di riaprire il suo cuore e amare di nuovo? E se l’amore non fosse abbastanza?

Genres: Romance, New Adult, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Erotica, Music, Drama

268 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 1, 2013

About the author

Monica James spent her youth devouring the works of Anne Rice, William Shakespeare, and Emily Dickinson.
When she is not writing, Monica runs her own business, but she always finds a balance between the two. She enjoys writing twisted AF stories, hoping to terrify her readers...just a little.
She is a bestselling author in the U.S.A., Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Israel, and the U.K.
Monica James resides in Melbourne, Australia, with her Unicorn, and her three crazy cats. She is slightly obsessed with red lipstick, heels, and crime documentaries, and is that person who always runs late.


Stalk Me:
Website: authormonicajames.com
Facebook: facebook.com/authormonicajames
Goodreads: goodreads.com/MonicaJames
Instagram: @authormonicajames
TikTok: @authormonicajames
BookBub: http://bit.ly/2E3eCIw
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2EWZSyS
Reader Group: http://bit.ly/2nUaRyi
Newsletter: https://tinyurl.com/mvjjk6k2

Reviews

[Monica James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, you guys win! I surrender!
Here it is... The BRAND NEW cover for I SURRENDER!

I'm absolutely in love with it!! Thank you Marisa-rose Shor from Cover Me Darling!!

Stay tuned, the rest are coming!

COVER REVEAL!

I SURRENDER SERIES by Monica James

Surrender to Jasper White.

Genre: New Adult

Cover Design: Marisa-Rose Shor, Cover Me Darling


I Surrender (Book #1)

Amazon- http://tinyurl.com/lvr8egh

B&N- http://bit.ly/XX2dj1

KOBO- http://bit.ly/1uGGQ05

Smashwords- http://bit.ly/1A7XBo1

[Patrycja · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am completely astonished and that’s a thing that rarely happens. I’m so into romance novels that there aren’t many things that can leave me speechless or perplexed, but I Surrender just blew my mind. I literally couldn’t stop shaking with emotions after finishing it about 3. a.m. Wow! Monica James just wowed me! Holly shit!



Ava is heartbroken after devastating break up with her boyfriend for 4 years. She loved him so much she left US to go to Singapore with him and now she thinks her heart is shattered into milion tiny pieces, she believes, she’ll never love again. Coming back to country is hard and going back to life before Harper even harder, but Ava never thought she meet someone so enchanting like Jasper.
Jasper is dangerous for her. Sexy, talented and caring, Jasper can make her break her promise to never love again.

I loved Jasper! He easily made it to my Top Ten List of Book Boyfriends. He has a little bit alpha male streak, which I adored. He oozes sex.

In few words chapter 29 has the best scene in the whole world! It’s smokin’!

“Ava this changes everything. What we shared wasn’t just sex, it was epic. You make me feel like a better man. I want to better myself so I am good enough for you.”

I Surrender is emotional roller coaster, filled with amazing romance, sexual tension thick as fog, well built plot and amazing characters that are funny, sweet and caring.

Reading I Surrender was like getting a gift. Sexy cover is like shining paper with big, red bow that screams „unwrap me”. Opening it is like going on a journey into wild woods, because everything is undiscovered and exciting at the same time, but still slightly dangerous. When you unwrap it you see only carton box and like a small child you’re disappointed, but you smile anyway. After one big carton box there is another one but smaller, and so on to the point you’re so frustrated you can’t take it anymore. After few more boxes you see small package in another shining, glittery paper and your heart start to beat faster, after opening it you see something you really wanted to have, which is amazing feeling.

I had similar situation with I Surrender, eye catching cover and great blurb were mine big red bow and colorful paper. But after unwrapping it I was a little bit confused and frustrated by firs events, which made me believe I wouldn’t like it, but after few chapeters I was hooked! I literally couldn’t stop reading.




Ava and Jasper’s story is fanatastic! It’s great mix of everything I love in romance novels. Monica James showed me she’s stunning storyteller, because she can easily capture emotions and create vivid world filled with deep emotions and sexual tension that made me tingle. Scenes between Ava and Jasper are perfectly written, and it’s absolutely amazing blend of physical and mental sides of relationship. It’s unbelieveable how few scenes can turn you on so much you, but still make your heart swell.


"Let it out. I'm here for you. I promise I always will be."

Overall, I Surrender is astounding begining of series that mesmerized me! I highly recommend this story for every fan of beautiful, captivating romances. It’s definitely something I’ll be rereading in near future.

P. S Monica I’ll giveaway my firstborn child to read ARC of Surrender to Me. Just so you know.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 I surrender to you stars. Totally love Jasper White. I saw this was a four book set so I knew if I ended up liking this first book I was in for the long haul and wouldn't be going anywhere. Sure enough, I loved this book and parked my happy ass in bed and swallowed all four of these suckers whole. Why did I like it so much? Simple. It. Made. Me. FEEL. I laughed, screamed, cried and rolled my eyes repeatedly throughout just this book alone so of course I wanted three more books of that.

Where do I start with Jasper? Oh, yeah, he's the tortured, creative artist. His past is broken and pretty crappy due to his home life sucking. The first time Jasper and Ava meet, the world shifts and Jasper knows he'll do whatever he needs to have Ava. Did I mention Jasper's a singer in a band? Yeah, he's like the bad boy with a soft center, a voice that wets panties and a devilish charm that melts even the biggest of icebergs.

"I knew you two would get along." Jasper smiles as I turn my head, looking at him while still stroking Oscar.
"And how did you know that? What are you, the animal whisperer?"
"Well, apart from that, I knew the little guy had spirit when I found him behind the clinic, hunting for food in the dumpster. I took him inside and within ten minutes, he picked a fight with a pit0bull, stole my dinner, crapped everywhere but his litter tray, but most importantly, he's a grumpy shit, just like you."

Ava is a mess! Literally, the chick is a mess. She's had her heart broken by the guy she gave up everything for and is coming home with her tail between her legs. She doesn't even know who she is without her ex and that's a major problem but also probably why I understood her so well. She fights the attraction she has to Jasper because they say they are going to be friends but she obviously doesn't realize Jasper totally set her up to be his. It's quite interesting to watch.

The two circle one another, build a really solid relationship and then move into the relationship territory. They are like fireworks, explosive, dangerous yet beautiful when handled properly. The love between them is real, consuming and complicated. It doesn't help that two very broken people are in love. The book leaves you wanting to know what the next step is and I totally jumped into the next book as soon as I finished reading this one.

[Tee loves Kyle Jacobson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Surrender....... I Surrender....... I Surrender....... HOLY F&^% do I surrender to Jasper!

Monica James is just straight brilliant and I can't say enough about her and how much I LOVED LOVED LOVED I Surrender! I mean it took me two days to read because I had a migraine and I worked but I kept reading and today at midnight I finished the most AMAZING book I have read in a while and that is saying something. I mean I have read a lot this year but this story started out with a bang and ended with a bang by the way Monica you are a cruel women with that ending HOLY F^&%!!!!!!!!!! That ending was ........ dare I say CRUEL!!!!!!!!!!!! Lord I need book two like I need air to breathe. I am sitting here in the dark typing this review because I can't get this book out of my head. Lord Jasper has invaded my heart and my mind! Dam Monica I need to clone him and then marry him like ASAP ;)

Ava has given up everything to be with her boyfriend Harper. She moves to Singapore with him so he can pursue his career. Then while in Singapore Harper decides Ava is not what he wants and dumps her and boy how he dumps her I swear if a guy ever did that to me he would be ball less! I mean I would beat him down no matter where we were that is how rude he dumped her. But enough ranting about the douche tool mother f&^%$#@ Harper. See where I am going with this about Harper he is no good. So Ava packs up and goes back home to her best friends house V and stays with her while she figures out how to heal from a broken heart. While staying with V Ava meets V's boyfriend Lucas and his band mates one in particular Jasper with Cerulean eyes and sweet baby JESUS he is hotter than hot he wears the letters H-O-T!

When Jasper and Ava make eye contact there is something there. Ava is not sure because she has sworn off men because she is still licking her wounds over that asshole Harper so she basically eye f&^%$ Jasper as he does the same. So as Ava gets to know Jasper she realizes two things one that Jasper comes with baggage and a part of that baggage is a girl that I hated right off the bat because she was trying to stake her claim on Jasper and he was not having it. But like I said Ava is broken and she just wants to be friends with Jasper and the closer the two of them get the more walls come down for Ava. As for Jasper he keeps his walls up and soon they crumble because Jasper wants Ava hands down and no one is going to come in between them.

But as Ava is making life choices for herself she finds herself in a pickle when things from her past come to haunt her. She will make decisions in my book are totally wrong but she has to make her way and making her bed and lying in it is a perfect thing for her. Jasper has to decide if he is willing to give his all to Ava because he is broken just like she is. So what do you do when you have two broken people trying to learn to love again and freely? Will Jasper give in and give Ava his heart and soul or will he walk and be a free bird? What will Ava do? Will she give herself to Jasper or will she walk away from the one man who can breathe life back into her dead heart?

This is a must read book! I mean dam I could not put it down and as I am typing this review I can't stop thinking about all the players in this story and what is going to happen in the next book. Monica for a debut you ROCKED IT GIRL! Love you to pieces and while I was writing this review the song Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls came on and it fits Ava and Jasper to a T so here is the link to listen to the song http://youtu.be/NdYWuo9OFAw

[The Reading's Love Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

RECENSIONE QUI: https://thereadingslove.blogspot.com/...


"Mi arrendo" è la storia di due persone rotte che cercano di imparare ad amare di nuovo liberamente. Entriamo nel mondo di Ava Thompson e nel suo cuore distrutto in tanti pezzi. Ava ha creduto troppo nell’amore, è stata ingenua troppe volte, ha sacrificato se stessa e la sua vita, i suoi sogni e la sua esistenza per seguire l’amore ma quell’amore che credeva fosse ricambiato, in realtà era solo un’illusione. È convinta che non riuscirà mai più ad amare, che dopo essersi spezzato il cuore non riuscirà più ad aprirsi ai sentimenti. Tornare a Los Angeles, la città natale dove ha vissuto per molto tempo senza la persona che ha amato, è davvero difficile per lei. Ma non sa che la sua vita sta per cambiare dopo l’incontro con l’affascinante Jasper White, un uomo pericoloso, talentuoso e premuroso che le farà cambiare idea sull’amore. Jasper ha catturato anche la mia mente e il mio cuore. È un ragazzo sensibile e incredibilmente paziente, è ignaro dell’effetto che ha sulle donne e non si cura delle loro manifestazioni di flirt. Lo vediamo dapprima mantenere erette le mura, poi lentamente sgretolarsi e infine avvicinarsi lentamente ad Ava. Lui la vuole a tutti i costi e nessuno riuscirà a mettersi tra di loro. Ava dovrà compiere delle scelte di vita per se stessa, decisioni a volte sbagliate quando il suo passato torna a perseguitarla, ma credo che alla fine deve seguire la sua strada, commettere gli errori e crescere. Jasper deve essere disposto a dare tutto se stesso ad Ava perché lei è rotto proprio come lei. La storia di Ava e Jasper è un mix di amore, passione, attrazione e tensione sessuale. L’autrice ci cattura con le emozioni che la sua scrittura è in grado di trasmettere. I personaggi principali sono ben caratterizzati e sembrano reali, sono divertenti, dolci e premurosi; mentre i personaggi secondari aggiungono equilibrio alla storia con l’umorismo e il loro supporto per gli amici…

CONTINUA SUL NOSTRO BLOG. VENITE A TROVARCI
https://thereadingslove.blogspot.com/

[Kindle Crack Book Reviews Cheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ava picks up and leaves everything – college, family and friends to follow her boyfriend to live in Singapore. Then he breaks up with her in a karaoke bar (such a huge dbag!) Ava is completely devastated from the breakup and returns home to LA and moves in with her best friend V. V. drags her track wreck of a best friend out on the town to meet her boyfriend who happens to be in a popular local band. She meets V’s boyfriends' band mate--Jasper. They have the whole insta-chemistry thing going on. Ava and Jasper decide they can only be friends since she is still nursing a broken heart from her break up with the overseas dbag. Then there is the issue of Jasper’s girlfriend! She learns that he is in an on/off again relationship with some blonde bimbo. Finally timing is right for the two friends to make a go at a real relationship. Ava emotionally sabotages herself and ends up pushing Jasper away. Their relationship is peppered with a lot of miscommunication related drama and trust issues. She is terrified to about having to have her heart broken again. Jasper has his own set of emotional baggage he is dealing with. Will she finally allow herself to love and trust again? Will Jasper figure out how to be in a “real” relationship? Will he stop kissing his ex? That’s just the start.

I loved the way this story developed. I felt like I was in Ava's head and heart as the story unfolded. Yes, there were times I want to drop kick her when she was in self-destruct mode. Arghhhh…She reminded me a lot of Kiera from SC. Stephens Thoughtless series. What is there not to like about Jasper…he’s hot, plays in a band, has cerulean blue eyes and works in an animal shelter! I loved that he was a straight shooter most of the time...except for some of his douchey behavior with his ex-girlfriend. I am hooked on this series. There is a cliff hanger. I Surrender....Monica James!!! I'm begging for book two.

This review will appear on www.kindlecrack.net, www.facebook.com/KindleCrack, Amazon, Twitter and Goodreads.

Review copy received by the publisher in exchange for a fair an honest review.

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW!! I am completely speechless. I have read hundreds of books but this one will always stick with me. I have cried happy and sad tears. My heart ached so much and then was happy. EMOTIONAL. SUPERB. BRILLIANT. Yes one of the best books I have ever read. I do not give many 5+ stars, but this is on that list.


We start with Ava, who comes home from Singapore after a heartbreaking break-up. She is a shell of a person. Her heart is truly broken and she does not believe she can or if she will ever get it back. She comes home to live with her best friend, V, she is a friend who is a little pushy but for Ava’s own good. Ava happens to meet Jasper one night and her life starts changing. Jasper is also a little broken. He grew-up in an abusive home and has no idea what a real relationship looks like or what it is like to love or be loved.


The two decide to start off has friends even though they have this extreme chemistry between them. Jasper falls and falls hard. OMG, you will love him. The couple have their shares of heartbreak, disappointment and learning. We meet jealously, self-doubt, pride, love, stubbornness and soul searching at its best. Just when I thought my heart was going to mend, it shatters once again. The way Monica James takes us through the relationship evolution is remarkable.This is a 3 part series and while the ending is not a major cliffhanger, Monica James does a fabulous job of keeping your head then heart spinning. I know people are not a huge fan of cliffhangers but this works 100%. There is NO WAY, she could have told Ava and Jasper’s story without it. So I am begging you to get off any ill feelings towards cliffhangers and READ THIS NOW!!! You will not regret it. I am so happy I got to read this and trust me I do not think there is any way you can’t not like this. Congrats to Monica James for a FANFREAKINSTATIC book.

[Melissa Goble · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread 2024 - This marks my 8th reread. I love this book more and more everytime I read it. It's my 'soul book' and I will forever be grateful to Monica for writting this love story but specifically Jasper White!

Reread 2023 - This marks my 7th time reading this book and I loved it even more if that's possible. I'm finally taking the time to annotate the entire series!

Reread 2022 - This is my favorite series of all time and my favorite couple of all time. Everytime I reread this book series I fall more in love with Jasper White. Their story is a lot but so worth it. ❤

Reread 2020 (x2) - I've now reread this for the fourth time!! If I could give this 10 stars I would. I constantly think about Ava and Jasper and just can't get enough of them. This time though I'm going to reread the whole series!

Reread 2019 (x2) - This is my third time reading this book as I love this series SO much!!

First read 2019 - Ava and Jasper are my favorite couple I think I've ever read about and I love seeing them grow as a couple and separately. Also, Ava's BFF Veronica is the best.

[Raquel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Para quem nunca ouviu falar desta autora, ela tem dois livros que foram editados cá em Portugal, e com muita pena minha não há mais, porque ela é uma excelente autora, adoro a maneira como escreve é muito simpática e muito querida para quem a segue. Falando do livro, como já tinha dito, ando a ler mais em inglês, para ler autores que não estão a ser editados cá, na esperança de que um dia haja alguma editora (TopSeller por favor) tragam esta autora, porque é fantástica... Bom sobre a história, achei a Ava um pouco sonsa, mas apenas no início, quando ela conhece o Jasper, minha nossa, nota-se logo ali uma química entre eles que não se consegue explicar. Odiei, mas odiei a Indie e o Harper, não confio naqueles dois sinceramente... Adorei a história!

https://aviciadadoslivros.blogspot.co...

[Beth Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved so many things about I surrender. I loved the snarky and very funny Ava and the swoonworthy Jasper. I loved watching their relationship progress and develop over the course of the book, and found myself cheering them on. I found Jasper, while somewhat damaged, to be very endearing. Several things he said stuck with me:

"You are your own worst enemy. Stop over thinking Ava, and let life happen. You start dissecting everything and life becomes pretty boring. So stop over thinking and start living."

"Never apologize for being you, Ava. True feelings that are raw, no matter how messy they may be, I will gladly take over superficial, insincere actions. You told me so much about yourself; about your vulnerability and your heartache and you didn't even utter a single word. Your tears told me everything. Sometimes those cheesy metaphors hold some truth."

"If you love something, set it free. If it comes back, it's yours. If it does not, it was not meant to be."

I didn't want the book to end and found myself yelling at my Kindle. This story will make you smile, laugh, and even cry at times. It's a rollercoaster of emotions but I found myself not wanting to get off of the ride. Can't wait to read the next book in the trilogy!!!

[Jacqueline's Reads]

umm... who's a COVER snob?! ME!! ... I like this cover A LOT! and the blurb sounds interesting... so I am marking it!!!

TBR July 30!!!



Singapore has stolen a piece of Ava Thompson.

It took one life shattering moment, for her to realize, her EX is not the man she believed him to be. Returning home to Los Angeles was never going to be easy for Ava. Her heart has been shattered to smithereens and she’s convinced it’ll never heal. Or, so she thought.

Enter Jasper White.

Unbeknown to Ava, Jasper White will change her life forever.

The attraction is instantaneous which troubles Ava, who has sworn off men indefinitely. But, she is finding resisting Jasper, with his tousled bedroom hair and piercing cerulean eyes, harder than she ever imagined. And that’s because Jasper knows what he wants, and he wants Ava.

But, can Ava surrender to her feelings for the one man who compels her to love again? Because, what happens if love does not triumph all? What happens if love isn’t enough?

[Cocktails and Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one. Jasper is to die for! Ava is a bit too whiny for my taste, but I'll overlook it for Jasper.

[Romanticamente Fantasy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 - Voto
.
Quando ho iniziato a leggere questo libro ero piena di aspettative: la sinossi, infatti era molto intrigante. Però nei primi capitoli mi sono ritrovata a mal sopportare la protagonista con tutti i suoi problemi e non perché non comprendessi il suo stato d’animo, ma per la confusione e la ripetitività delle argomentazioni che ci vengono proposte, tanto da confondere anche me.

Anche se il concetto dell’abbandono e della sfiducia nelle relazioni è a mio avviso un po’ troppo ridondante, alla fine la trama ha subìto uno scossone e le mie aspettative sono state premiate, tanto che non vedo l’ora di leggere il prossimo capitolo della serie.

La protagonista di questa storia è Ava, una ragazza di appena ventidue anni (anche se potrebbe sembrare più giovane a causa delle sue insicurezze) che di punto in bianco viene ignobilmente scaricata dal suo fidanzato in un paese straniero lontana da tutto ciò che ha abbandonato per stare con lui. Non le resta che ritornare a casa per leccarsi le ferite e cercare di riprendere in mano le redini della sua vita, ma non è così facile come sembra e Ava si ritrova su un’altalena di emozioni e stati d’animo da cui farà fatica a scendere.

«Non ti amo più, Ava».
Lo guardo senza parole, perché di sicuro ho capito male. Anche se, dallo sguardo distaccato, so che ho capito bene.
«Cosa vuoi dire? Come fai a smettere così all’istante di amare qualcuno?», gli chiedo quando finalmente ritrovo la voce.
«Succede sempre».
Tutto qui? È tutto quello che ha da offrirmi? «Certo, agli altri, ma non a noi».
Non sta accadendo davvero. Sto sognando di sicuro. Come può essere così calmo mentre io sto morendo dentro? Ma capisco che non è un sogno quando la sua unica risposta alla mia disperazione più totale è una spensierata alzata di spalle.
Non riesco a credere che, dopo quattro anni insieme, mi molli così, con una semplice scrollata di spalle e una secca spiegazione del cazzo. Sta scherzando, perché questo tizio che assomiglia al mio ragazzo non è di certo lui. Il mio compagno di quattro anni non mi sta di fronte, a debita distanza, mentre mi spacca il cuore in un milione di minuscoli pezzettini.
Si abbassa per darmi un bacio veloce e freddo sulla fronte. «Addio, Ava».
«Addio? Cosa? Cioè, lo stai facendo adesso? Qui?», gli chiedo allibita guardandomi intorno. «In un bar mentre c’è il karaoke? Fammi capire, non
vieni a casa con me per cercare di sistemare le cose?».
«Non capisco a che pro, Ava. Non c’è nulla da sistemare. Non posso stare con qualcuno che non ha degli obiettivi di vita».
Mio Dio, è così piatto e pragmatico! Il suo viso perfetto e i suoi capelli perfetti mi hanno appena insultata in modo decisamente imperfetto.
Non ho obiettivi di vita. Ma dice sul serio? Ne avevo eccome di obiettivi, ma li ho buttati nel cesso perché lo amo.
«M-ma…», balbetto.
Mi zittisce prima che riesca a supplicarlo di cambiare idea. «Senti, tornatene a casa e dimentica che siamo mai esistiti».
Sono davvero le sue parole di addio, queste?
Gira le spalle e se ne va così, senza voltarsi, come se non fossi mai esistita, mentre io mi sento morire.

L’altro protagonista è Jasper, il classico cattivo ragazzo, frontman di un gruppo musicale con un passato difficile alle spalle e con le fan che si gettano ai suoi piedi, ma le apparenze ingannano e subito scatta un legame tra i due che con il tempo costruiranno un rapporto di amicizia abbastanza particolare, sarà proprio lui ad aiutare Ava nella sua rinascita e andarle lo scossone che le serve per reagire.

" Abbasso la testa verso la ringhiera e lascio che le lacrime scendano in libertà. È la prima volta che riesco a farlo e che mi permetto di sentirmi completamente a pezzi. Non sarò mai più la stessa Ava Thompson, mai. E questo perché mi sono innamorata. Ma che senso aveva amare se poi doveva finire così?
«Ehi». Una voce bisbiglia e mi fa sobbalzare.
Mi volto e asciugo veloce le prove del mio dolore. Jasper è poco lontano da me, con la schiena appoggiata alla ringhiera, che mi guarda preoccupato. Non l’ho sentito avvicinarsi, chissà da quanto tempo è lì. Non riesco neanche a dire ciao, né a far finta che dentro di me nulla si stia spezzando. Questa volta, però, non è perché sono impietrita dalla sua bellezza, ma perché non posso più fingere che andrà tutto bene. Non posso garantire ai miei che ricomincerò l’accademia, né a Vi che tornerò a essere l’amica avventurosa e felice che ero. Ma, soprattutto, non posso promettere a me stessa che uscirò vittoriosa da tutto questo inferno. Fa solo un male cane, da non riuscire a respirare.
Jasper si accorge della mia disperazione e d’un tratto mi tira a sé. Mi stringe in un abbraccio caloroso, e io non posso che fare l’unica cosa naturale e logica: piangere a dirotto."

La vicenda è narrata dal punto di vista di Ava e forse è un peccato che non ci sia quello di Jasper, mi sarebbe piaciuto sapere cosa passava per la sua testa, quali erano i suoi pensieri e le sue emozioni.

Nel complesso il libro è una bella storia di rinascita anche se ho trovato la prima parte molto young adult, che essendo un genere che non mi attira molto forse non mi ha permesso di apprezzare in pieno lo stile dell’autrice. Il finale invece mi è piaciuto molto, forse proprio perché coincide con la crescita e la maturazione della protagonista che entra finalmente nell’età adulta.

Non mi resta che augurarvi buona lettura.
.
Sax - per RFS

[Irenepa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 - - lei troppo insopportabile lui troppo sottomesso. Mi arrendo

[New Adult e dintorni · Rating 3 out of 5]

CLICCA SULL'IMMAGINE PER LEGGERE LA RECENSIONE COMPLETA:

In realtà 3 stelle e 1/2
Questo è il primo libro che leggo di Monica James e ho scoperto essere anche il suo romanzo d'esordio. Ho iniziato a leggerlo, senza troppe aspettative, la trama mi aveva intrigato, ma non ero convintissima. In realtà fatta eccezione per qualche eccesso nel personaggio femminile è un libro che fa il suo dovere trascinandoti e coinvolgendoti nella storia, facendoti provare emozioni, che è poi quello che cerchiamo quando leggiamo.

Questo libro narra le vicende di Ava Thompson, una ragazza ventiduenne che di punto in bianco viene scaricata dal suo fidanzato in un paese straniero, lontana da tutto ciò che le è caro e al quale aveva rinunciato per seguirlo e stare con lui.
Ava ora sta tornando a casa ed è intenzionata a riprendere in mano le redini della sua vita, anche se non è così facile. Ha, infatti, grosse difficoltà a superare la cosa dal punto di vista emozionale.
Il protagonista maschile è Jasper White, il classico cattivo ragazzo, frontman di un gruppo musicale con un passato difficile alle spalle e con le fan che gli cadono ai piedi. Ma come sempre le apparenze ingannano. Fin da subito scatta un legame tra i due che presto diventerà un rapporto di amicizia seppur molto particolare, sarà proprio lui ad aiutare Ava nella sua rinascita dandole quello scossone che le occorre per reagire.
Jasper riuscirà pian piano ad aiutarla a ricomporre il suo cuore e a superare il suo dolore. Presto l'amicizia tra di loro, come potete facilmente immaginare, si trasforma in amore. Ma a causa delle insicurezze, in parte scaturite dalla recente rottura, Ava si rifiuta di esternare il suo amore per Jasper. Ha una paura folle di rimettere in pericolo il proprio cuore. Lei è il nemico di se stessa, pensa e analizza troppo situazioni e problemi tanto che anche quelle semplici diventano complicate. Troppi se. Non vi nego che più volte avrete voglia di sbattere l'ebook contro il muro, o meglio ancora di poter afferrare Ava e scuoterla fino a farle aprire gli occhi. Ma devo ammettere che la masochista insita in me adora quando accadono queste cose, perché significa che il libro mi ha completamente risucchiato.
Anche se il concetto dell'abbandono e della sfiducia nelle relazioni è un po' troppo ridondante, comunque l'autrice riesce nell'intento e io sono stata completamente assorbita dalla storia. Tra l'altro, quando pensi di aver perso le speranze con Ava ecco che la trama subisce uno scossone e le mie aspettative vengono premiate, tanto che arrivo alla fine arrabbiata di non poter leggere subito il seguito che mi aspetto con un ritmo più sostenuto e con dei protagonisti cresciuti e maturati.

[Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy crap this was an awesome read!!! Seriously an awesome read! So let me start off by saying I am pissed that I have to wait until Novemeber for the sequel but I will survive (I think). Anywho, the book starts off with a bad break up from Ava and the fool (seriously, who breaks up with someone in a bar!! Jerks do thats who) and the break up leaves Ava torn up and lost. What I love and respect most about this book is that it shows the healing process of a bad break up. Even though the ex refuse to use his name) is an asshole and a jerk and you want her to move on and forget about him and jump on Jasper, it is not like that. Ava truly thought the fool was her ever-after (even if she was the only one could not see his assholeness) he was her world and she had to heal from that. I love the healing process of it (not going to lie I wanted her to get over the ex on the second page and jump on Jasper). Jasper, wow what an amazing guy. He was not this cocky, look at what I can do type of guy. He was a talented artist who had a crappy childhood, but was sooooo sweet and caring that I wanted to jump in the book and be a character in the book so I can jump on him. I love the building of the relationship between the two. I really got to see a promising steady relationship form instead of boom bam there together and by page 5 the chick is pregnant. Now here is what caught me off guard and made me love Monica James. After Ava and Jasper get together and become boyfriend and girlfriend of course there will be bumps for them and they break up (due to Ava) and when Ava goes to apologize to Japser, he of course accepts the apology but does the unthinkable!! He tells her they should remain friends! I said "Say Whaaaaa!" Does Monica James not know the guy is suppose to beg the girl back and not the other way around! Obviously she is not following the formula BUT guess what I FLIPPIN LOVED THAT!! So kuddos to you Monica for breaking the mole. I loved that Ava has to find herself before she can ever love Jasper. So of course there is jealousy on both parts and drama happens and once again they are reunited! YAY!! fireworks the whole nine yards, but what is a good story without a cliffhanger and there is one. The ending really did make me hate reading such amazing books only for me to wait to see what happens. I am yearning for book 2 badly and I am hoping Jasper and Ava are together and dont have 10 years pass before they see each other or both found someone new because I cant stand the torment! Monica James you have done an amazing job and I look forward to reading more of your book!!

[politetemper · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh my, I just barely got through this book. I really wanted to see what happens in the end so i kept reading. I came sooo close to not finishing this book and the only reason i finished it was because of Jasper. Ava was unbearable, I couldn't STAND her. This is one of the worst female characters ever and she's supposed to be 22. I have more common sense than she is and I'm younger than her. She ruined the book for me and I hate when that happens. So often the heroine in books are just sooooo...urghhhh there's no good words for how annoying I think Ava was she got on my nerves and I really don't know how Jasper or her friends put up with her whiny bullshit!
Jasper was lovely..he really was. So sweet and considerate and gorgeous. I have no idea why he was interested in Ava, he could have got a lot better than her. Jasper was the only reason why I even considered finishing this book.
I would not recommend this book to others really because of Ava, it is a good book with a good storyline but Ava just ruins the book and I really hate that. I hate when the books have a good storyline, a good hero but a TERRIBLE heroine. It lets the book down.
All in all the book barely got 3 stars, because of Jasper that is. I probably won't read the sequel.

[Cristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

5++++++++ STARS!!!!

This book was absolutely AMAZING!
I could not stop, from the very beginning i was addicted to Jasper & Ava. There were so many emotions going on in this book. You experience highs, lows, sadness, loss, love, trust, everything!

Jasper is a kind loving soul with a very troubled past, which stems from his family. Upon meeting Ava, he has learned how to love and be loved, he has let emotion into his closed off heart.

Ava, is bright, beautiful, loving and deeply hurt by her ex. Upon meeting jasper, she was able to heal that hole in her heart but still guarding her heart at the same time.

Their love is amazingly natural and it will captivate you and swallow you whole, literally from start to finish you will be addicted to jasper and his blue eyes and his sexy dimples, and Ava will keep you guessing as to how she is going to handle all her feelings she has for Jasper.
This is a wonderful story and I can not wait to continue the journey to see what happens with Jasper & Ava in Surrender To Me <3

Bravo Monica you have delivered a magnificent book I look forward to following your journey my friend.
xx

[CasPerfitz~SLiTsReaD · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will not go over what the story is about cause you can read from the blurb that it is as hot as the cover. The story is well written enough to make you not want to put the book down from start to finish. Ava just got back from a very painful breakup of her boyfriend of 4 yrs. Enters Jasper. Ava and Jasper's hot and cold relationship is kinda giving me a whiplash. Ava's character irritates me in a way but I guess that is part of her trait (considering she has been dump in a very bad way, that hurts twice as much). And of all the places she has to go back to it has to be the place where her ex is, oh well... Jasper's character is hot though he got issues going too... he seems to be doing right except when he is not sharing with Ava his plans. I love what he said and did in the end... I love how the story ended. It is not so much as a cliffhanger just that their story continues on the next book. And I am looking forward to what happens next. Hopefully it is hotter and the wait is not too long. ;)

[A. · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF

[Hazeline Paddock-Ng · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Surrender by Monica James
Reviewed by Lady H

*****5 Unbelievably Amazing, Beautiful, Cerulean, Emotional, Heart-Wrenching, Passionate, Sexy, Frustrating, Singaporelicious and Sweet Loving Jasper Stars

“If you love something, set it free. If it comes back, it’s yours. If it does not, it was not meant to be.” ~ Jasper

First of all, let me tell you how long I’ve been wanting to read this book. Since July 31st when I read the book description “Singapore has stolen a piece of Ava Thompson”. I told my book blog I NEED to read this. Okay, give my a couple of days for the author to get back to me is what Chick said. I waited and waited and waited with bated breathe...Fuck! Enough of this waiting bullshit. My advice is, if you want something badly enough and done right the first time, HANDLE it yourself. No offense okay, Chick. I contacted Monica myself and voila! On September 17th, I received a copy of I Surrender from Monica in exchange for my honest review. At that time, I was already committed to review a few books and have datelines to meet, therefore I couldn’t get to it sooner but when I did, it only took 1 day for me to finish (Started at 7pm, stopped at 4am, finished it at 6pm, had to work if not I would have finished it sooner). I fucking devoured it!

This being Monica’s debut novel, I was awed and absolutely blew my mind. Since I was born and raised in Singapore (sole reason why I wanted to read it but now I would read it because Monica James is amazing), some of the not American terms, I totally get. There were a few typos here and there but not too bad that would take away my reading pleasure. And I LOVE the cover.

Ava Thompson, 22 years old gave up her life in the States and goals for her boyfriend Harper so he could pursue his dream of becoming a corporate hotshot at a multimillion dollar globally recognized company located in Singapore. After being there for over a year and dating for 4 years, this sonofabitch Harper broke up with her in a karaoke bar. A freaking karaoke bar! Are men such cowards nowadays that they don’t even have some form of decency to break up a relationship in private like umm...at home? This SOB couldn’t even call her a cab, he just left her there, heart broken into a million tiny pieces and he just walked away oh so casually like she’s some kind of worthless trash. “Go home and forget we ever existed.” These were his knife through her already shattered heart parting words. 4 fucking years, Harper!! That’s 1460 fucking days!!!!! Urghhh!! I hate this asshole, big time! I need to calm down, he’s so not worth it.

With a broken heart from a devastating break up, Ava caught the next flight home back to Los Angeles, CA. After seventeen hours and twenty minutes of hell, she’s home where she shouldn’t have left in the first place. Veronica, her BFF was at the airport to welcome her. She along with Ava’s parents hated Harper. I love and adore Veronica. She’s a little firecracker and an amazing best friend to Ava. She maybe slender but she’s far from fragile. She definitely do not hide her dislike for Harper. When she found out he broke Ava’s heart, the wrath and string of profanities was endless.

“That motherfucker! I always hated his ass, but now...now I want him skinned and barbecued filet mignon style!” ~ Veronica

“No honey, he was always a jackass, you were just too blinded by love. Well, you are better off without him...He is a good for nothing, sonofabitch dog!” ~ Veronica

After such an emotional mess, all Ava wanted was to go home, collapse and hibernate for a week. Veronica on the other hand hasn’t seen her BFF for over a year had other ideas. What Ava didn’t know is that from this night on, her life is going to change. This night, she’s going to meet the sinfully good looking and cerulean eyed, Jasper White.

Jasper is simply amazing, caring, smart, passionate, charming and perfect. He has the most beautiful soul one could ever have considering the shitty family he grew up with. He’s not only extremely good looking, he’s also very talented. He’s the lead singer of the band Passengers of Ego. Jasper has his own ugly past and with that he shuts out all emotional feelings and never wanted to have a real relationship with anyone. Until...one faithful night...

“Never apologize for being you, Ava. True feelings that are raw, no matter how messy they may be, I will gladly take over superficial, insincere actions. You told me so much about yourself; about your vulnerability and your heartache and you didn’t even utter a single word. Your tears told me everything. Sometimes those cheesy metaphors hold some truth.” ~ Jasper

“Ava, no one is sure of anything. Life throws us challenges and we have to either embrace them or turn our backs in fear. In my personal experience, what doesn't break you, send you crazy or homicidal are experiences to be learn from. I’m not pretending to know what Harper did to you, or how you feel. But judging by the way you are now, he broke you. Don’t let someone who doesn’t give a shit dictate how you plan your future. Because babe, it’s just that, it’s yours to plan. You can’t live your life for someone else; you will fade and become a shadow of your former self.” ~ Jasper

When Ava and Jasper first met each other, their attraction and chemistry was instant. Since Ava was trying to nurse a very shattered heart, she can only offer him her friendship and nothing more. Jasper may not like it but if that’s how he’s going to be able to spend time and hang out with her, he’ll take whatever he can get, even if they are only friends.

“Ava, I know you don’t know me, but when I want something, I get it. I feel like there is something between us. I know you’ve gone through a messy breakup and I’m well complicated, but I really don’t want to pass up this opportunity of getting to know you better. Whatever that leads, no one knows. but if we don’t pursue it, I think we will both look back with regrets.” ~ Jasper
“Yes, you’re right, but I can’t offer you anything more than friendship, you get that right?” ~ Ava

As their friendship progress, Jasper managed to slowly help Ava put her heart back together again. The ache in her chest slowly starts to fade. Because of the insecurities Ava has from the break up, she refuse to express her love for Jasper. She’s afraid to have her heart broken again. She over thinks and over analyzes situation or problem that are not complicated. Too many what ifs. This is where I wanted to crawl into the book, grip Ava’s shoulders and shake her silly. Ava, life is about taking risk. We grow stronger if we fall. You’re only 22, ok 23 by the end of the book, so just live your life, make mistakes and through that you come out a stronger, better and smarter person. Life’s too short not to take chances. Spread your wings, trust your instincts, have faith. If you fail, you fail, start over, your world is not going to end. But if you don’t give it shot, you will never know.

“You are your own worst enemy. Stop over thinking Ava, and let life happen. You start dissecting everything and life becomes pretty boring. So stop over thinking and start living.” ~ Jasper

“In your lifetime, there are a small handful of people you’ll meet and have an instant connection with. You may read about it or watch it play out on TV, but actually experiencing it, that's a whole different story. No movie or book can prepare you for that feeling of completeness with another. I was never a believer in kismet, but meeting Jasper White has altered that belief. Suffering the loss of Harper is something I will never fully recover from, but what if it was my destiny to experience that defeat to become victorious? What if Jasper is my victory prize?” ~ Ava

But how long can this friendship bullshit last before they start to realize they are indeed falling for each other? Hmm...I wonder (tapping my chin with my right index finger)...duh...not long of course. When all the sexual tension they have for each other finally ignited, it was fuck-tas-tic!!! For someone who’s closed up most his life, Jasper definitely do not lack being in the forth coming with his feelings department. God! I love this man!

“Ava, I’m falling for you. I don’t normally do that. It’s not something that has happened to me before. I distance myself from people, I always have. But then you came into my life and it was like you opened my eyes to everything. I know you don’t want a relationship because you are still trying to find your feet, and I am trying so hard to respect your decision but these feelings you evoke in me, they leave me breathless. I can’t stop myself; I have no control when I am around you.” ~ Jasper

“Jasper, I’ve wanted to kiss you for a long time too. I’ve just been afraid and I still am. But I’m more afraid of not living, than living in fear. I can’t promise you anything but I’d like to give it a go. With you. If you want to.” ~ Ava

“I mean it, Ava. There’s no competition. You are and will always be the only contender for my heart. I love you with everything I am, no one compares to you...I have loved you from the first moment I saw you.” ~ Jasper

“What we shared wasn’t just sex, it was epic. You make me feel like a better man. I want to better myself so I am good enough for you.” ~ Jasper

When life is all good and peachy, what happened? You get hit by a giant curveball. I went “What the fuck?” O_O??? I won’t tell you what happened cause what fun would that be if I feed you the story so get your ass out of here and go get this book and find out yourself. I stayed up till pass 4am but had to stop because unless there’s a HEA, I’m so going to bed so I Facebooked Monica. Her advice was “go to bed”. WTF??? A bloody CLIFFHANGER?? Honestly, I can’t say it’s a cliffhanger per se, more like hmm...anticipation what the future holds for Jasper and Ava.

“I love you so much. I surrender everything I am to you, Ava Thompson. All the good, all the bad I give to you. I surrender myself to you. Do what you wish with me, I submit to you, I am yours. Whatever choice you make, I accept it, I support and I will love you forever and a day.” ~ Jasper

“You are a good man. I have never met a more honest, extraordinary, amazing person as you. You saved me, Jasper. You saved me when I was drowning. You were my life raft; you pulled me out of my misery. Without you, I would be dead inside. So don’t you dare think you are not good enough for me. If anything, I am not good enough for you.” ~ Ava

I cried, I cried for Jasper and Ava but they were happy tears. I enjoyed observing their friendship which slowly became a relationship. Being in a relationship with your best friend is the best one could ask for because you understand each other and learn about each other as friends first. You know the good and the bad about each other and learn to accept each other for who you are including your flaws or any imperfections.

This book is absolutely amazing. Monica did an excellent job creating all the characters. My favorite of course is Jasper White. He has become my top 10 book boyfriend. The writing is beautiful and flows smoothly from sentence to sentence. I highly recommend it. Make sure you mark your calendar for book two of the series Surrender to Me that will be released on Oct 14, 2013.

Here are some interesting Singapore facts:

Singapore is a Southeast Asian island city-state (and the only city-state in the world that is also an island) off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, 85 miles north of the equator.

Singapore has a tropical rainforest climate with no distinctive seasons, uniform temperature and pressure, high humidity, and abundant rainfall. Temperature usually range from 72 °F to 95 °F. Relative humidity averages around 79% in the morning and 73% in the afternoon. April and May are the hottest months, with the wetter monsoon season from November to January. From July to October, there is often haze caused by bush fires in neighboring Indonesia.

Singapore has the world's highest percentage of millionaires, with one out of every six households having at least one million US dollars in disposable wealth. Acute poverty is rare in Singapore; the government has rejected the idea of a generous welfare system, stating that each generation must earn and save enough for its entire life cycle.

As of 2012, the population of Singapore is 5.312 million people, of whom 3.285 million (62%) are citizens while the rest (38%) are permanent residents or foreign workers/students. Twenty-three percent of Singaporean citizens were born outside Singapore (i.e. foreign born citizens). There are half a million permanent residents in Singapore in 2012. The resident population does not take into account the 11 million transient visitors who visit Singapore annually.

Singapore has four official languages: English, Malay, Mandarin, and Tamil. English is the common language of the nation and is the language of business, government, and the medium of instruction in schools. However, English is the native tongue for only one-third of all Singaporeans, with roughly a third of all Singaporean Chinese, a quarter of all Singaporean Malays and half of all Singaporean Indians speaking it as their native tongue. Twenty percent of Singaporeans, or one out of every five, cannot read or write in English.

[Novels On The Run · Rating 4 out of 5]

BOOK REVIEW by Michelle 11th January 2014:

RATING: 4.5 MONICA IS KILLING ME STARS!!


“Go home and forget we ever existed.”


Harper evicts Ava from his life with those seven words.

Four years of a relationship... over in seven words.

Enter best friend Veronica, aka V. I gotta say, I absolutely love V. She owns her own tattoo studio, Ink of Queens. She has an awesome boyfriend Lucas, who is in the band Passenger's of Ego.

Lucas and V are just right for each other.

They are a good fit.

They are uncomplicated.

Ava is suffering deeply for her relationship break up. She gave everything up to follow Harper to Singapore and watch him follow his career.

It took seven words to undo all that.

Enter Jasper. 5ft 10 inches of man, band member of Passenger's of Ego with the cerulean eyes.

Enter Indie, bimbo extraordinaire and all round pain in the arse. Indie plays the part very well. You will loathe the girl, but at the same time you can see from Jasper that there once was a girl that had potential.

"He's such a great guy and she's, she's just a Botox injection away from being Barbie's big sister. What they have in common is a mystery to everyone."

Now that is one big trouble maker.

I can't help thinking Indie has a story to tell. Jasper sees something in her. The girl he once knew.

Jasper has a broken soul, a family life that is deeply hurtful and a heart waiting to be loved. He is talented. He hasn’t had it easy. He wants to better himself.

Jasper laughs. "Well what do friends normally do ? Go get coffee, hang out, that kind of stuff. That's all I'm asking Ava. I'm an artist, I like to explore then write about it. You never know, if you turn out to be as interesting as I think you are, there just might be a hit song about you."

He likes Ava.


"Never apologize for being you Ava. True feelings that are raw, no matter how messy they may be, I will gladly take over superficial, insincere actions. You told me so much about yourself; about your vulnerability and your heartache and you didn't even utter a single word. Your tears told me everything."


Ava is a character who had all her firsts with Harper. He was her everything, even if she was blind to his controlling ways. Ava loved him, thought they were forever. She thought she was happy.

Jasper brings out another side to Ava. She wants to make herself first for once and she needs to understand what her confusing feelings are for Jasper.

Ava brings out a happy side in Jasper that few get to see.

"No because he's Jasper. Jasper doesn't do friends. I've never even seen him be friends with his so called friends but with you he's different. He's happy."

What is this thing that is between her and Jasper?

Does Jasper feel this thing?

The more the story goes on, the more I felt personally that Ava got very neurotic towards Jasper. There was this build up coming and it was about to blow.

When she was with Harper, from what I could make out, she was easy to please him and did what he said.

With Jasper she was like a volcano of neurosis flowing with sometimes quite extreme over reactions. She was becoming quite unhinged with her fears and retorts. I felt a bit sorry for Jasper.

They both had to contain the green eyed monster, but I felt like Ava was quite high maintenance.

Their friendship/relationship is fiery.

I felt like Ava was sabotaging her relationship with Jasper quite dramatically. I know she was hurt from Harper. I believe Harper just woke up and decided he didn’t want Ava anymore. He wasn’t cheating. He had just lost his love for her.

My heart did bleed out a couple times for Jasper.

"But with you, you see me, you really see me and that to me is more attractive than you will ever know."

Just when you think things are back on track...

Harmony was a character that just up and disappeared from the story. I did wonder where her friendship with Jasper went.

This is a roller coaster of angst and fiery emotion between two souls that want a HEA but are having so much difficulty reaching it.

"Ava I want you, all of you. Not just your perfect body," he says kissing my hip bones, " but you. I want to make you laugh everyday and I want to push you when you don't want to be challenged. I want to grow with you and discover where this crazy path leads us."


What I did like about Ava was she needed to sort her career out and she has a second chance at fulfilling her dream. She isn’t wasting that chance, but in true Ava style the volcano erupted again and let the lava overflow speeding towards a fiery pit of fierce emotion.

"I'm relying on you to complete me. I'm so lost; I need to find out who I am."

Jasper is quite a beautiful character. He has deep feelings for Ava early on, but he is trying to put all that straight in his own head too.

"Because of what you make me feel in here," he says pointing to his heart. "I can't control it and it scares me. I don't understand these feelings I have for you. They are irrational, and when I saw you with that guy, with his hands on you, that feeling turned to rage."


He is patient, but he also comes with his own flaws when it comes to other women. I had to shake my head a couple times at his insensitive behavior.

But then, Ava hurls back her own insensitive behavior...double fold.

I tell you what V and Lucas make it look super easy to hold down a relationship. V really does rock as a friend. She knows Ava well and she talks straight to her.

"You are both moping sad sacks of shit. I don't understand why the hell you don't talk to one another!"

I want V as my friend.

Can Jasper and Ava survive all the angst and emotion that is trying to drown them?

"I surrender," he whispers huskily, his fingers lingering on my cheek. Why do I feel there is a hidden message behind those two little words?

I am looking forward to Surrender To Me , things appear to be looking up.

But then I made the mistake of reading the first 1 % of Surrender To Me.

Monica, are you trying to kill me?

I've got whiplash.

* face plant *

The one thing is for sure, this trilogy is going to have me along for its character's bumpy ride.

Michelle

[D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Monica James rocked my socks with her debut novel I SURRENDER!!! Did she seriously create a rock boy hottie and not focus on his rock boy status!!! HECK YA SHE DID and it was amazeballs!!!! Jasper White may have been a rock god but that’s not who he was. This book boy was incredibly sensitive, incredibly patient—well up until Ava decided to lose her freakin mind. It was as if the roles had been reversed. In many books, the book boy is confident to the point of arrogance, he is alpha and asserts at every chance he gets. Not so in I Surrender. Jasper White is oblivious to his effect on women and pays no mind to the displays of open flirtation by them. One girl fell (literally) into his arms and he has had tunnel vision ever since.
There is no way Ava will ever open her heart for another guy after Harper ripped it open, stomped on it and tossed it like last weeks trash. Ava compromised and sacrificed everything for him only to have to find some way to pick up all the tiny pieces and put them back together. But how could she know that she would fall into the arms of the one guy who would dare to challenge her heart and her mind.
Monica James created chemistry between Jasper and Ava so intense that I swear the pages of this book hum with electricity. This chemistry was hot and sensual physically but the emotional chemistry tugged at my heartstrings—especially for Jasper. Jasper was quite a complex character. His past made him want forever with someone but his past also stopped it from happening. I loved his maturity yet he wasn’t a stick in the mud.
Ava. I had a love hate relationship with Ava. In her defense she is young and was somewhat naïve to Harper’s intentions. First love really does blind you. Good on her for not wanting to make the same mistake again but could she not tell the difference between Harper’s a**hat intentions and motivations between Jasper’s sincerity. There were a few times that I’m positive had she been standing within an arms throw of me, I would’ve nailed her with my reader. Can we say sometimes life is all about the risks? I wonder if she’s a friend with Kiera (Thoughtless Series)? I did like her spunky attitude though. She definitely wasn’t afraid to speak her mind when she was ticked off.
The only thing I noticed that may throw some readers off – and this is very minor, is the fact that James’ Australian slang comes out in a few of the colloquialisms and one liners. Ava is an American so there are certain words she would not use unless she was from a commonwealth nation (Canada, Australia, Britain). Not a big deal and does not affect the story flow at all.
Monica James did a great job of developing the story and hooking us into the story that it was a page-turner. The secondary characters played their roles perfectly adding balance to the story with humor and best friend support. There always has to be a b***h in the story and Indie held that honor with gold stars. Ugh I hate her but feel sorry for her conniving a**.

I can’t wait for book #2 (I will say there is a cliffhanger- eeeppp) but the story ended how it should end in my opinion. Is this a definite read? Hell ya it is. This was a fabulous debut by a young author who definitely doesn’t show she is a rookie. Get on it!!! D 4/5

[Nikki Groom · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, this is a tough one for me so i'll try and make sense of my thoughts and put them in some kind of order that you might understand!

I went into this blind, only the blurb as an indication of what to come. I hadn't read any reviews but as this is a best selling series I thought I was onto a winner.

I will be totally honest... The first 25% of this book did nothing for me. I didn't (and still don't) understand the insta attraction between Ava and Jasper. I understand that you can find someone overwhelmingly attractive instantly, but not the all consuming, 'I get you', feelings that these two had. Pretty much the first time these two talked, Jasper tells her that he basically knows her inside and out and I found myself rolling my eyes. Ava was so self deprecating and Jasper needed to 'man up'!! I just wanted to bang their heads together! I didn't feel a connect at all.
BUT... at the 25% (ish) mark, the story picked up, the writing really evolved and the characters developed beautifully. Yes, they are still frustrating at times, but aren't all characters like that sometimes?!
I started to 'feel' what they were feeling, and see what made them attracted to each other.
Ava really started to settle, and at 22 years old was starting to find herself and live a little.
You could see the transformation in Jasper, he started to believe that he is worthy to love and be loved and their friendship develops beautifully.
I was screaming at them 'You don't want to be friends, just fcuk already!!' and when they do give into the inevitable, sheesh, it is really very hot. There are sparks when it comes to Jasper and Ava, and there wasn't an intimate scene that didn't heat me from the inside.
There are also misunderstandings and plenty of trust issues to overcome, but Ava and Jasper and clearly made for each other and I knew they would come good in the end.

There are lots of characters that contributed to this book being what it is.
Ava's best friend 'V'is very cool. Straight talking and no nonsense she is my kinda girl. She is an awesome friend to Ava, and isn't afraid to call her out if she thinks she needs it!
Indie, AKA The Bitch. She is clearly very jealous and has a complicated relationship with Jasper. She can see that there is something very special between Ava and Jasper and is going to do everything in her power to put a stop to it. As much as I don't condone any of her actions, I felt sorry for her. She knew she would never be enough for Jasper but can't let go.

'I Surrender' is the first book in a trilogy so it goes without saying that it will leave you wanting more. It doesn't end with a 'what the hell am I gonna do now' moment. More like a 'that's not so bad but I really can't wait until the next' ending.

So, after a shaky start, I am really pleased that this book really developed into one I enjoyed. Jasper is a sweetheart, and I will definitely be investing in their continuation and starting the next book 'Surrender to me'.

4 Stars ****

[Abby P.Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ava Thompson thought she was gonna have it all with her first love.... Boy was she wrong!
After leaving everything behind and allowing herself to get lost in her relationship with her first "love" only to get shattered into a million pieces by him, all the way accross the world, Ava is broken. She doesn't think she will ever heal or get put back together... or so she thought...

Ava moves back to LA with her BFF Veronica (V) and swares off anything men or love related. She has lost herself after alowing herself to drop everything she had going for her to follow the man she "thought" she would spend her life with. So now here she is broken and lost and doesn't know how to put the pieces back together.

In walks Jasper White... Oh Jasper!... Super sexy with his bedroom blue eyes and his sexy messy bedroom hair and his sexy bedroom smile... ok you just want to take him to the bedroom!! lol
Oh, but Jasper is also a sweety who wants Ava more then anything. For the first time in his life he really wants to be with someone and try at a future. He wants to help put the pieces back together.

Ava trys so hard to resist Jasper, they even try to just be "friends", but how can you just be friends with someone who you have have such chemistry with?

This story will keep you page turning until the end! Will they be together? Will Ava make the right choice? Will Jasper win her over? Will Ava win Jasper over? They will make you mad, they will make you cry, they will make you swoooon! You can't help but to feel for them both!

The story has a great flow in the writing style and you connect with the characters easy. The secondary charaters are just as apart of the story and you connect to them as well... Love that!

( V and Lucaus spin off) wink** wink**

I really enjoyed this story very much and can't WAIT for the next to come out! It does leave you on a cliffhanger but the story in and of itself is so worth the read! Monica did a Amazing job with this book!!

I would Highly recommend this book to ALL my book buddies out there and give it a 5 star rate!
Amazing job! Loooved this book!!!

[Vanessa Pham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five breathtaking stars.

The emotions I feel from this book overwhelm me. As a reader, I was able to feel pain... Heartbreaking pain, and feel love at the same time. That was the best aspect of this book. This may have been one of the best emotional books I've read. Authors that tend to write romance novels tend to miss out on the emotional level of a relationship or they focus on the steamy scenes to being passion to their book, but this was different. The passion didn't come from the bed, but from the heart. I felt the connection between Jasper and it made me warm and giddy. It made me want love as well, but that's years away. So claps to James for a great emotional connection ! Beautifully done

I began this book a little hesitant and now Irealize that I shouldn't have been. The plot was nicely unique in its own way and very well developed. However, it was a little repetitive sometimes. It was a lot of back and forth between the two lovebirds. There was something that would always block their path to love.


At first, I thought Ava was a wee bit annoying, but by the end I was on her side. He was so beautifully characterized and the characters development was even more amazing. Jasper seemed like a tough guy at first, but it turned out that he was quite the romantic and sweet guy at heart. Both characters had their own faults and they would fight and come back and then work it out. I've never had such a strong connection to a story and it's characters alone. The feels that this books radiates to me is enough.

I was a little disappointed when the story ended because I wanted more, but there wasn't more. I have high hopes for this series's a this author. Continue your hard work and make me proud Monica James ! I seriously cannot wait. I would totally love to get my hands on it early. Out of curiosity, are you doing ARC's for book two of the I surrender series ?

[Dita · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first book from Monica James.
And wow...this book is full of angst, most of the times i want to slap Jasper and Ava.
Love how the book can get me so angry and got me crying in some scenes.
This is the story about two people who are afraid to love.
So to guard their hearts they pushed each other away and end up hurting each other.
Yup so many angst here, their on/off relationship is so frustrating, and sometimes their decisions really infuriated me.

Ava, this heartbroken girl just trying to guard her heart, i understand her, but i want to slap her for some stupid decisions that definitely hurt her more.
Jasper...OMG he's so hot, but his behaviour so confusing sometimes, he loves her but he's with someone else, i know where he's coming from but still i want to kick him most of the time.
See....full of angst and plenty dramas going on here.
Definitely going to read the next book, because i need to know what will happen to these two.

If you really love books with lots of angst..you need to read this one. You're so in for a ride.

[Josie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me say this book had my emotions all over the place, I loved the chemistry between Ava and Jasper but they were both afraid to surrender to each other but when they do it is one heck of a ride!!!! I do not want to give spoilers because it will give to much away, I uglied baby cried a couple of times, I wanted to jump into my Kindle and slap a troll and I laughed. OMG Ava's BBF Ava is hysterical I loved this girl so much. From page 1 the author Monica James had my attention I did not put the book down until I finished, is there a CH no there is continuation and I can not wait for Book 2, this is something that you have to read. This book has it all angst, love, laughter and drama, the writing in this book was so great and everything flowed just right, if you like books that a real life you have to take a chance and read this one, because there is no sugar coating things, it is about life and how to move forward

[Indy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, what an emotional rollercoaster! That said, this one performed better than expected. Had me comparing it at certain pts to S.C. Stephens and main hero def. reminds me of Kellan!

This novel has two very flawed emotionally vulnerable characters, one with enormous trust and insecurity issues, who have a type of insta-love but begin initially as friends. The sexual tension builds and they make attempts at a relationship with a lot of angst and miscommunication and darn stubborn pride issues getting in the way of HEA.

Finally towards the end they reach a conclusion of sorts, only to have it end on a cliffhanger to see what this next test will do to their relationship.

Engaging novel that was pretty well written and had me absorbed from beginning to end. Some steaminess, but definitely more of an emotionally charged novel with sexy flirtations.

Enjoy!

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a debut!!! 5+++++++ Stars!!

I Surrender by Monica James is a story that holds on tight, and drags you through every single emotion you could possibly experience in a story. The emotions are so raw, you cannot help but forget that these are characters in a book, and not real people. I won't spoil it for anyone, as I could ramble on and on about why I loved this book so much, but all I will say is, do yourself a favor and read this hauntingly beautiful novel.
For a debut, Monica James, you have outdone herself. The writing flowed elegantly, and the attention to detail dragged me into the world of Jasper and Ava from the very beginning.

Well done!!