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The Cavallo Brothers #3

The Ultimate Surrender

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On a sunny beach in the Seychelles, she stole his heart. Darryn Cavallo is a seasoned photographer and quite used to being surrounded by gorgeous, half-naked women without breaking a sweat but he isn't ready for the powerful feelings fashion model Hannah Sutherland elicits the minute he sets eyes on her. He’d once made the rookie mistake of falling for a model and it had ended badly, so when another photographer implies he's also been with Hannah, Darryn uses it as the perfect excuse to walk away. But when they meet again, Darryn can't ignore his instincts—Hannah is in danger. Lies and threats make targets of them both, and faced with a situation of pure terror, Darryn is forced to realize he'll do anything to protect her. And to keep her with him, always...

216 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 13, 2019

140 people are currently reading
117 people want to read

About the author

Elsa Winckler

118 books295 followers
I have been reading love stories for as long as I can remember and when I ‘met’ the classic authors like Jane Austen, Elizabeth Gaskell, Henry James The Brontë sisters, etc. during my studies, I was hooked for life.
I married my college boyfriend and soul mate and we are fortunate to live in the picturesque little seaside village of Betty's Bay, South Africa with the ocean a block away and a beautiful mountain right behind us. And although life so far has not always been an easy ride, it has always been an exiting and interesting one!
I like the heroines in my stories to be beautiful, feisty, independent and headstrong. And the heroes must be strong but possess a generous amount of sensitivity. They are of course, also gorgeous! My stories typically incorporate the family background of the characters to better understand where they come from and who they are when we meet them in the story.

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5 stars
89 (49%)
4 stars
46 (25%)
3 stars
31 (17%)
2 stars
7 (3%)
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7 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
Profile Image for Rosie Amber.
Author 1 book82 followers
May 16, 2019
The ultimate Surrender is book 3 in the Cavallo Brothers series of books which are set primarily in South Africa. Hannah Sutherland is a top model; with her busy schedule she has been missing from recent family events, but there are underlying incidents which make the family worry for her.

Two years ago she was on a photo shoot in the Seychelles, the photographer was Darryn Cavallo. It was love at first sight and they spent a few incredible days and nights together, but then things turned sour. Fellow photographer Steven White threatened Hannah and she got him fired. Since then he's been stalking her and threats on her life are increasing.

Bull headed Darryn chose to believe the rumours, rather than admit his true feelings for Hannah, but he can't forget her. When Steven White ups his game the Sutherlands and Cavallos unite to rescue Hannah.

A light romance with a sinister twist.
Profile Image for Abigail.
5 reviews
June 30, 2019
Obsessed!!!!

Ok, so I already love everything this woman right!! I'm a hopeless romantic, and I LOVE love, and juice scenses . So this whole series is for me for sure! She's an incredible writing, and literally carries you away in all of her books. But I think this series is my all time favorite series I've ever read!! I had already read the very first book in the collection about Caitlin and Don about a year ago and wanted more. When I found this series and realized it was another three books based on the same characters in then first one, I bought all three right then and there! Do yourself a favor and read all 4!! They are so worth the money and time. Trust me, you will get sucked in!!
Profile Image for 🦉Maggie Whitworth.
3,254 reviews113 followers
June 3, 2019
❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋💋
This is my first by this author, and it’s been a great experience.
I really enjoyed every page , in fact I must go back and read the rest in the series.

Darryn Calvallo and Hannah Sutherland make a wonderful couple .
The author has produced a real page turner that keeps you hooked in the story of these two love birds .

Having a little tension in there from another man stalking Hannah was great too , always good to had a baddie about .
I love the family support the two get and the fun comments from them all .

A really good book and I would happily read more from this author .

I received an Arc copy of this book and chose to post this review
Profile Image for Jin.
1,111 reviews3 followers
July 29, 2019
3 1/s stars...
Cavallo brothers and Sutherland sisters. Almost all the Cavallo brothers are engaged or married and his youngest brother is not ready to tie the knot.
Hannah Sutherland and Darryn knew each other before his brothers and her sisters married or engaged. She was a up an coming model and he was famous photographer. Sparks were flying while they were working with each other until one simple miscommunication pull them apart.
Nobody in their family really knew what happen between Hannah and Darryn but they suspected something was up. Hannah was trying in her hardest to avoid Darryn but it is not easy as it seems since her sisters are all his sister-in-laws.
Ever since that photoshoot, she feels she is being stalked and she has been getting threats and it is not just not toward her, it was toward all the people around her.
When it comes to Hannah, Darryn will do everything to protect her and when he finds out she needed a help, he flies to help her. But threat is getting closer and closer to her family and she won't put her family in jeopardy so she runs again.
Will they have their happy ending just like her sisters.
Thanks to netgalley and Tule publishing for my ARC in exchange for honest review.

Profile Image for Marsha Keeper Bookshelf.
4,290 reviews88 followers
June 15, 2019
Reviewed at Keeper Bookshelf

I’m frankly torn about THE ULTIMATE SURRENDER. And while on my own blog this one gets a 3.5-star rating I will probably round that up to a 4-star rating on other posting sites. Why? I don’t believe the book’s (author’s) rating should suffer because I greatly disliked one of the main characters.

Elsa Winckler delivered a riveting romance with touches of angst, danger, family and second chances. I enjoy her writing style and have loved the earlier books in this series. My problem was Darryn. He took the easy way out. It’s that simple. He made the choice to believe a lie without confronting Hannah. And maybe I could stretch and say I understood it because of his previous experience, but it was a crappy move on his part and I expect better from the Hero, even when they’re momentarily acting like a jerk. There are readers who will not see his actions this way, and that’s understandable as we all put our own interpretations on the written word. But for me, I could never like Darryn or be concerned about his happy ending.

THE ULTIMATE SURRENDER is fast-paced, intense and will keep your attention throughout. As I said, it’s still a good story even though I couldn’t like or love one character.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
Profile Image for Sheena ☆ Book Sheenanigans .
1,520 reviews436 followers
August 16, 2019


Rating: ★✬☆☆☆ (1.5/5 Stars)
Title: The Ultimate Surrender
Author(s): Elsa Winckler
Character(s):
Hannah Sutherland: Blonde
Darryn Cavallo: Black, Brown Eyed
Setting: Seychelles Islands, Africa
Tag(s): Romance, Contemporary
Content Rating: PG-13
POV: Third Person
Smexy Level: Warm
Favorite Quote(s): N/A
Overall Opinion:
Wow. Just wow pretty much sums this up and not in a good way. If you're looking for a VERY fast-paced instant love romance, look no further. It literally took three days for this 'great' set of lead characters Hannah and Darryn to fall in love, with barely any words not conversations that normally create realistic relationship, after non-stop hanky panky. This was an absolute waste of time reading and isn't worth the time not effort to finish it.
4,126 reviews21 followers
June 13, 2019
Elsa Winckler’s The Ultimate Surrender brings romance danger and suspense all into one story. The third of the Cavallo Brothers series bring photographer, Darryn Cavallo to the forefront. A fling earlier has Darryn and model Hannah Sutherland craving more from each other now. Not everyone wants to see these two reunited for the long term. Then the South Africa setting felt more exotic, adding to the appeal of the story.

Family is one of the best parts of the story as Darryn and Hannah work through misunderstandings, along with the danger that now surrounds her. With her high profile career, it is easy to see how this could happen. I guess I thought the rumors should not have been believed without first checking. It looked as if Darryn had wanted an easy out earlier. Both of the characters come with baggage but seem to be genuinely honest now with each other.

3.5 Stars
An ARC of the book was given to me by the publisher through Net Galley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Janine.
1,084 reviews27 followers
June 12, 2019
This is a fast-paced story about a model and photographer who first met in Seychelles and end up spending a few days together. Even though Darryn had feelings for Hannah, he knew they couldn’t have a relationship. But, when Hannah ends up in danger, Darryn is right there to help her.


I enjoyed the chemistry between Hannah and Darryn. They were a fun couple to read about. I liked the setting and the way the author told the story keeping me intrigued. This may not have been my favorite book in The Cavallo Brothers series, but it was still a good addition. If you’re looking for an exciting romance with a bit of suspense, this one would be a good one to read. But, I would recommend reading this series in order.
Profile Image for Kathy.
Author 36 books28 followers
June 13, 2019
This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

Although this is the second time I've read this book, I enjoyed it so much. The tension is palpable in the first half of the book - you can almost feel the villain watching Hannah the whole time. I loved that, but I also loved that it went onto the romance afterwards as that's what the book's about. The characters in this series are amazing. The sexual chemistry is smoking hot. I loved the bond that the hero and heroine shared in this book - it made me happy to read about. Although they're flawed people, they're real and good. You can't help sympathising with them.

Once more, a thoroughly entertaining and romantic read!
Profile Image for Sissy's Romance Book Review .
8,992 reviews16 followers
June 15, 2019
3.5 Stars
The Ultimate Surrender by Elsa Winckler is book Three in The Cavallo Brothers Series. This is the story of Hannah Sutherland and Darryn Cavallo. I haven't yet read the previous books, so for me this was a standalone book.
Darryn is a photographer and Hannah is the famous model. While on a photo they took their attraction to the sheets where they both felt more for each other but then another photographer Steven White told him that she has slept around. This of course broke them up but now in the present day they are facing each other again. This did have the drama of a stalker and was a second chance story...overall enjoyed this book.
Profile Image for Hannah Fielding.
Author 18 books636 followers
May 19, 2019
Gripping and romantic...

Throughout reading the series, I had been wondering about Hannah’s story - there is an undercurrent relating to her character that had me anxious.

This book delivers fantastically. Such suspense and drama! I loved the relationship that developed between Darryn and Hannah, but most of all I loved the gritty realism of the story: neither character is perfect, and their love is not without obstacles.

I must also mention the cover artwork – so passionate!

This series is a real tour de force; congratulations, Elsa, and I look forward to your next book
Profile Image for Carolien.
1,069 reviews139 followers
December 26, 2019
Elsa Winckler is such a versatile author. During the past year, I read some of her Afrikaans romances, her latest Christian romance series and now the Cavallo Brothers trilogy and enjoyed each one of those books. In the final book of this trilogy we learn why Hannah and Darryn had been so antagonistic to each other in the previous books and they now have a chance to sort themselves out. I loved this series and was sorry to say goodbye to the characters. (I would love to read a prequel on Don and Caitlyn). Thoroughly enjoyed this trilogy.
2,354 reviews14 followers
June 13, 2019
I honestly wished that I would have given the time that I spend reading this book to another more deserving book, and I have a good amount of those.. I couldn't stand the mc he was a jerk, and don't get me wrong I tend to like some jerks that I have read but then end up redeeming themselves I didn't find that with this character and I was disappointed that our female mc forgave to easily..

Rcvd an ARC at no cost to author..(netgalley) voluntarily reviewed with my own thoughts and opinions
Profile Image for Donnajo.
2,330 reviews
June 13, 2019
I voluntarily read a advanced reader's copy of this book for a honest opinion.

The Ulimate Surrender another great addition to The Cavallo Brothers series by Elsa Winckler. A fast paced romance with a touch of thriller mixed in. Great characters, plot and dialogue. A sure win on the romance meter.
723 reviews2 followers
July 30, 2019
This was the third and final book in the series and I struggled a little with liking the hero as I felt Darryn gave up too easily on Hannah at the beginning of the story. While they eventually got their happily ever after, it took some work. I enjoyed the tie in with the characters in the family and that added to the enjoyment of the story. I would definitely read another book by this author.
Profile Image for Coco.V.
50k reviews132 followers
Want to read
May 28, 2019
💝 ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 💝
888 reviews5 followers
June 14, 2019
The Ultimate Surrender is a fast-paced romance story. The beach setting is a match for a summertime read. It was hard for me to get sucked into the story.
Profile Image for Gwen Chester.
595 reviews9 followers
August 30, 2024
This book is the perfect love story between Hannah Sutherland a model that is gorgeous and knows her stuff and Darryn Cavallo a photographer who has been burned before by a model and still lets that anger from that experience creep into his future relationships.

Darryn is a seasoned photographer and is around half naked women all of the time and it does not affect him at all. But the minute he lays his eyes on Hannah he has powerful feelings for her. And the pull between them was amazing. It is like she knew what he was thinking even before he thought it. After the shoot they planned on meeting and getting to know each other. Three days later they finally emerged from her hotel room.

The minute he walks out of Hannah's room he runs into another photographer he went to high school with. Stephen White had always wanted to be just like Darryn. He even went into photography imitating him. He also wanted Hannah even though she had rejected him repeatedly. So, when he saw Darryn he implied that he had slept with Hannah by mentioning her tattoo. Which he knew of because some of the models were talking about their secret tattoos and where they are located. Darryn believed him and left the hotel mad, thinking that Hannah had lied to him. Then Stephen turned on Hannah and tried to attack her. She got away from him, called her agent and got him fired, and now he holds a grudge and has promised to make her life a living hell.

I got this book from Book Sprout and will be happy to leave my review.
Profile Image for Trish.
1,618 reviews7 followers
December 15, 2020
This is book three in the Cavallo Brothers series. It can be read as a standalone but since it’s a series about brothers you will have some spoilers for the first two books. I haven’t read the first two books and I really enjoyed this one. I've already put books 1 and 2 on my kindle. Darryn and Hannah are both stubborn so there were a few times where they both drove me crazy. There is a nice bit of suspense and drama too.

Darryn and Hannah first met two years ago on a photo shoot. Darryn is a photographer and Hannah is a model. The attraction is instant and they end up spending three days together but a misunderstanding happens and Darryn takes off leaving Hannah mad, sad, and confused. Hannah gets the individual who caused the problem between her and Darryn fired and he swears he'll make her life a nightmare. Hannah does everything she can to avoid Darryn but when her accidents start to look like they are deliberate Darryn rushes off to be with Hannah. Can these two very stubborn individuals find a way back into each other’s arms?

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Julie Barrett.
9,197 reviews206 followers
August 17, 2024
The Ultimate Surrender by Elsa Winckler
Story starts out with Hannah on a shot and she can't help herself. She's in a flowing dress and she just to twirl to make it fly up and encase her.
Little did she know who was watching. The photographer, Darryn shows up, she has to stay away from him. He photographs her with nobody else around and gets the perfect shots. Love hearing about their careers and family ties.
They do meet late but she also has a stalker that knows her every move.
She tries to escape but she surfaces again for the family. They connect on and off for many months and he knows she has his heart from the beginning.
She tries to elude the stalker and he tracks her down, burns down houses of place she was just at.
So terrifying but so loving as the whole family comes together to protect her.
So intense, as are bed scenes. Love travel scenes, all over the world.
Mention of the next book in the series at the end of this one.
Enjoyed this series because for the most part it took you out of the USA and love beach areas the most.
Received this review copy from Tule Publishing and this is my honest opinion.

1,605 reviews12 followers
September 12, 2024
The Ultimate Surrender is the third installment in The Cavallo Brothers series. The Ultimate Surrender is an ease to read book, entertaining/enjoyable, a definite page-turner, romantic/steamy, some action in the story, has wonderful characters, and overall an phenomenal book to read. I thought author Elsa Winckler does an amazing job with the way she breathes life into this book, and I think that she's amazing at storytelling. I couldn't set this book down for even a second because I wanted to know what was going to happen next to the main characters. I would HIGHLY recommend The Ultimate Surrender for anyone to pick up and read this amazing book. I will most definitely be checking out more books written by this amazing author.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
1,571 reviews21 followers
September 4, 2024
Another absolutely fantastic story in this series. The brothers and sisters are all together again to help Hannah solve her problems with a crazy person who was trying to kill her and anyone who comes near her. Darryn has been in love with Hannah for years but things just can't come together in their timing or words. When a surprise attack happens to a friend who looks like her it's time to call in the family for help. Has lots of action, love, steam, family, and other issues. they both need to find a happy median to follow. Darryn and Hannah need to listen to others for some much needed advice. Glad to see they get their happily ever after. Would recommend to others.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Elaine Coghlan .
1,491 reviews14 followers
September 6, 2024
The Ultimate Surrender ~ The Cavallo Brothers #3 by Elsa Winckler

Publisher Description
On a sunny beach in the Seychelles, she stole his heart.

New author to me and I can say it will not be the last. I found this book to be written in such a way as to be credible and such fun to read. All the characters blended well in the story to the extent that I wanted to read.
I will be purchasing the previous books, so I can complete the set.
I highly recommend it to all.

Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Easy-to-read, Entertaining, Happily Ever After, Page-turner, Romantic, Realistic,
and Wonderful characters.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
3,637 reviews17 followers
September 4, 2024
Darryn and Hannah shared a few days and a connection but he got scared, jumped to conclusions, and left; something he does repeatedly in this book. But Hannah is also stubborn and naive not telling her family about the man who is stalking her and running instead of telling them about his threats. This adds suspense to the story but she takes several foolish risks. Darryn is like a caveman at times, assuming Hannah should give everything up for him because he can’t handle being apart from her, never mind asking her what she wants. It was nice to catch up with his brothers and her sisters and their growing families in this steamy second chance romance.
3,199 reviews26 followers
December 16, 2020
The Ultimate Surrender was my first story by Elsa Winckler and I will definitely be reading more. It was well written and the chemistry between Hannah and Darryn was off the charts hot. Darryn as a photographer is used to being around beautiful women but there is something different about Hannah. But he doesn't trust easily so a misunderstanding has him rejecting her and walking away. He thinks all models are the same. But when he learns of her being threatened and in danger from a stalker, he is determined to protect her. 5 stars!
2,313 reviews26 followers
January 13, 2021
This book is nonstop intense from the very start. Hannah is a model and Darryn is a photographer. They have a connection during a photoshoot but something ends it. Now Hannah is in trouble and her family is determined to find her and help her. Darryn must accept his feelings for her and convince her to let him help her. This book was super good!! Loved the ride from start to finish!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Amanda Marlowe.
2,417 reviews25 followers
September 5, 2024
Hannah and Darryn meet on a beach, she's a model and he's the photographer. They are immediately attracted to each other and spend time together. Then a jealous colleague causes problems and Darryn leaves.
Hannah carries on working but hides away from her family. Can Darryn find out what the problem is? Does he want to?

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

A great romantic suspense from Elsa
651 reviews3 followers
September 13, 2024
Darryn & Hannah: Book 3 of The Cavallo Brothers: Photographer-model/ Instant chemistry/ action-suspense: Interconnected standalone. Elsa Winckler has finally given us Darryn & Hannah’s story, and she did not disappoint. This story was a page-turner with the build up, action/suspense, and spicy romance. Love this series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
10.8k reviews125 followers
December 15, 2020
This is the 1st book I've read written by Elsa Winckler; she has done a great job at writing a good book; I can’t wait to read more of her books.

The story line caught my attention at the very beginning and kept me interested throughout the entire book.

I loved the characters.

I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Judy.
1,997 reviews13 followers
September 7, 2024
Being a model is one thing , but men thinking they can touch you without permission is another thing entirely. Hannah and Darryn's family are intertwined by marriages. These two have a past but can they get past it and move on. Who wants to hurt her and why.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews

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