A contemporary fairy tale with a dirty, sexy twist! TOTAL SURRENDER is a modern, sinfully seductive take on Beauty and the Beast.How far would you go to make the man that destroyed your family pay?Maddux Wilder is a man consumed, a beast in a three-piece suit. Rich and powerful, he built his empire with one thought in mind: revenge.After years of patience and planning, the wait is finally over. … patience and planning, the wait is finally over. Tonight, Maddux will finally watch Theodore Cole’s kingdom crumble. At a lavish ball in the New York City castle the Wilder siblings call home, the man that killed their parents will atone for his sins.
If only he’d planned for her.
Arabella Cole is Theodore’s only child; his cherished and sheltered daughter. She’s an innocent, captivating beauty that would do anything to save her loving father, including sacrificing herself.
With her freedom gone, she must surrender to a man she hates. A man that makes her want things she shouldn’t. A man that awakens deep, forbidden desires.
But everyone knows that roses don’t bloom in darkness.
Enter Maddux Wilder, a man that doesn’t believe in fairy tales.
Can the beauty tame the beast or will revenge cost them both everything that matters most?
(TOTAL SURRENDER is a STAND-ALONE, enemies to lovers fairy tale romance. No cheating. No cliffhangers)
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4 Star
Review by Allyson
Late Night Reviewer
Up All Night w/ Books Blog
Enchanted Fairytale modernized in the 21st century.
Maddux Wilder is known for his calculating and brooding moods which makes him no Prince Charming whatsoever. When it’s time to seek revenge on his enemy who stole his life, he finds a sweet seduction instead. Arabella Cole helps save her father with the ultimate sacrifice, but was it the wisest choice?
At first, I was skeptical on how this author would spin this fairytale since the beginning was verbatim as the classic. As the story unraveled, however, Erika Wilde twisted the storyline just enough that the plot and characters grabbed you by the seat and took you for a spin.
“I want you to be the beauty that always calms the raging beast inside of me.”
I enjoyed Arabella’s personality. Her fight. Her stance against men – aka, Gavin. Overall, this is an enjoyable, sexy fairytale that will have you fantasizing about beasts and beauties.
Erika Wilde’s seductive spin on Beauty and the Beast is wonderful.
I was captivated by Maddux’s gruff and forceful personality…he’s a true beast in business and in the bedroom. Hot and dominant, and oh so yummy! And that’s what Arabella thinks when they first meet. He’s lightyears ahead of her in experience, but she’s got a fiery streak hidden under her demure librarian exterior, and Maddux may just have found his perfect match. I love these two!
Their story is sexy and suspenseful, with fun little moments added in. Bella’s sassiness and humor is delightful, and it kept the story from becoming too dark or too serious. 4.5 stars!
TOTAL SURRENDER is the first instalment in Erika Wilde’s contemporary, adult DIRTY SEXY FAIRY TALE erotic, romance series, a series re-telling the fairy tales of our childhood. This is thirty-two year old, billionaire tech giant Maddux Wilder, and twenty-five year old, digital data analyst Arabella Cole.
Told from dual third person perspectives (Arabella and Maddux) TOTAL SURRENDER follows the implementation of a revenge plot against Theodore Cole, and his right hand man Gavin Scott. Fourteen years earlier the Wilder siblings lost their parents to a deliberately set fire, a fire that continues to destroy their sense of well-being and peace. In an effort to take down the people responsible, Maddux Wilder, along with his brother Hunter, and sister Tempest, exact a plan of revenge against Theodore Cole beginning with an invitation to their charity ball. What Maddox never expected was to come face to face with Theodore’s daughter, Arabella Cole, an innocent in every sense of the word. Unaware of her father’s propensity for trouble, Arabella offers up herself for payment of debt, a debt she could very well pay with her life. What ensues is the building relationship and love between Arabella and Maddux, and the potential fall-out as Arabella becomes collateral damage in the war between the Wilders and the Coles.
Arabella Cole has no idea just who or what kind of man is the father she loves. Meeting Maddux Wilder, a man who draws our heroine like a moth to a flame sets up our heroine to take the fall for sins of the past. Maddux Wilder had no intention of involving Theodore’s daughter but when opportunity strikes Maddux is willing to accept Arabella’s offer as payment for debt.
The relationship between Arabella and Maddux is one of immediate attraction but Arabella is oblivious to her father’s past, and the heinous crimes committed with his partner Gavin Scott. Falling for her ‘captor’ Arabella starts a slow seduction of our story line hero, a man who is tempted beyond the payment of debt. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense.
We are introduced to Maddux’ siblings Hunter and Tempest, as well as Arabella’s father Theo, and his partner Gavin Scott. Hunter’s story line is next in Absolute Pleasure.
TOTAL SURRENDER is an adult retelling of Beauty and the Beast wherein Arabella exchanges her freedom for her father’s, and in the end Beauty does tames the Beast. The premise is entertaining and engaging; the romance is unconventional, dramatic and intense; the characters are colorful, energetic, innocent and broken. TOTAL SURRENDER is a captivating tale of innocence, seduction and happily ever after.
5 star review Total Surrender by Erika Wilde
Where do I start? Total Surrender is the first book in Erika Wilde’s latest series and if this book is anything to go by, she has another winning series on her hands.
Vengeance, that is what Maddux Wilder and his siblings are out for, determined to destroy the man they hold responsible for their parents death, Theodore Cole.
His daughter, Arabella is going to be the one to pay though. I loved Arabella, she is feisty, sassy and smart.
Maddux is totally focused on the end goal and yet it appears that despite himself, Arabella is going to get to him.
What happens when Arabella succumbs to the dark and deep desires that Maddux evokes in her? Will he destroy her or will love triumph?
I was absolutely captivated by the story Erika Wilde wove and there was nothing that I didn’t like about this story.
Maddux owns a tech company and considers himself a beast. He has worked fourteen years to take down the man responsible for his parents death. Now the time has come and it’s going down at a charity ball they throw every year. Arabella is a beauty who’s about to have her world turned upside down. When she eavesdrops on a conversation between her father and Maddux, she offers herself to help cover her fathers debt. Maddux doesn’t expect for the walls around his heart to crumble. Arabella still doesn’t know exactly what her father did or his business practices but she starts to fall for Maddux. Can they get over their pasts to have a future?
Excellent story with a little suspense and steamy sex. A man who is out for vengeance and a woman caught in the middle. Can’t wait to read the rest of this series.
* Voluntarily read and reviewed this for the author *
Sinful Surrender is a phenomenal contemporary romance by Erika Wilde. Ms. Wilde has provided readers with a well-written book. The characters are outstanding…and a little angsty and vengeful. Maddux waited a long time to take out the man that killed his parents, now is the time. Arabella Cole was excited to get to go to the Wilder Way charity ball, until she learns Maddux is going to ruin her father and offers herself instead. Maddux and Arabella’s story is loaded with drama, sizzle, action and suspense. I enjoyed reading this book and look forward to my next book by Erika Wilde. Sinful Surrender is book 1 of The Sinful Series but can be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.
Sinful Surrender is the journey of the beast being tamed by the beauty. Maddux is a man bent on revenge. He is a man with a mission to destroy the people who killed his parents. Bella lives in a fairytale where she will find her Prince Charming and live happily ever after. Unfortunately Bella’s father is one of those that Maddux is destroying.
The characters are contrasting personalities. Maddux’s exterior is very much alpha and gruff. He has hardened his heart to fuel his revenge. Bella is soft and forgiving. She sweeps into his heart and becomes what was missing.
Together they are a hot couple. At first he uses sex as a threat. It is a power play for him, a way to control her. Quickly it becomes so much more when she wants him as much as he wants her.
In this modern retelling of Beauty and the Beast, Maddux is a complicated character. He is calculating and laser focused on revenge. As we see though he is also fiercely loyal and honorable. Bella’s spirit around him us so light, loving and freeing. She gives him the security to become the prince she needs.
Maddux’s brother and sister are well established as they are the subjects in the other books. I can’t wait to read their stories. The Wilder siblings are an interesting group.
This standalone story is full of romance and steam. It had me reading straight through. I mean a story with revenge, murder, kidnapping, hot sex, love and happily ever after, what’s not to like.
Intrigue, loyalty, murder, hot sex, and complex characters are some of the things that make up this delicious story. Erika weaves a tale that captivates the reader from the first to the last word. Well done Erika. I will definitely be reading the other books in the series.
It covered all the emotional elements a loBe story could offer.
If you want to read something HOT than this book and this author is for you! I ended up buying the series!
5* Plus!
I’ve read 2 of Erika Wilde’s other books before this one – from another series – and I’m not sure why I didn’t get round to the 3rd one yet. Guess life and so many Advance Copies got in the way because I really had intended to carry on with her.
And then something about this book, Sinful Surrender, called to me. Was it the cover, or the title or the splurb? I really can’t say. Perhaps a combination.
All I do know is that I have thoroughly enjoyed this story with its well contrasted set of characters and interesting story that has its ups and downs, of course! And a beautiful and very unexpected ending!
Kudu’s to he author for a most entertaining book. I would really like to read more from her.
I just love books that do a take on a fairy tale romance. This story is a take on Beauty and the Beast…my favorite!
Maddux Wilder, along with his brother Hunter and sister Tempest, have spent the last 14 years waiting to exact revenge on the people who were responsible for their parents deaths…..Theodore Cole and his right hand man Gavin Scott. The day was finally here….the Wilder Way charity ball where Theo and Gavin’s world would come crashing down.
As Maddux is delivering the news to Theo and Gavin that he now owns them, a female crashes the discussion in the form of Arabella “Bella” Cole, Theo’s beautiful and innocent daughter. When Bella realizes what is going on she offers up herself as payment because of her dad’s heart problem. Maddux is intrigued and jumps at the chance to defile his enemy’s sweet daughter. What Maddux never realized was while Belle may be sweet and innocent, she also has a little dirty side to her 😉 . What starts out as a fun cat and mouse game quickly turns into something so much more.
It will take a lot of soul searching for Maddux to believe that he could really have a future with daughter of the man who destroyed his whole life but once he realizes what Belle is offering him the scary beast of man may have just found his happy ever after.
I loved this story! I loved both of the characters and together they scorched! Great start to this fun series!
OhMgee. I absolutely enjoyed listening to this audiobook. It’s so good from start to finish. I absolutely love Maddux and Arabella. I love how story kept getting better and better. I need my very own Maddux.
I loved this modern day twist on Beauty and the Beast. It was sexy and steamy and Arabella’s witty banter with the camera’s had me laughing out loud. It was an entertaining read!
4.5
I really liked this story. I think it was well written and had great characters. My only wish was there was more in depth writing on Arabella and Maddux’s feelings for each other. I feel like there just wasn’t enough spark between them with what was wrote to be love. Other than that it was really great!
I love Erika Wilde books, but this one is amazing! Just when you think it is all going to be a happy ending, another twist happens that leaves you breathless. I loved Maddox. Who could not love him? Rich, sexy and very masculine, he won my heart in chapter one. Arabelle is a sweet girl, who has been sheltered. Falling for Maddox is easy for her to do. There is an innocence about Arabelle that makes her seem fragile. Their relationship is fast and so strong. But the forces against them seem stronger at times. I know there was a chapter or two where I could barely breathe.
Lia Langola is amazing in this narration. Maddox is a complex character and Ms. Langola brings him to life. Arabelle is very sweet and but yet has a strength to her that Ms. Langola narrates so well. Ms. Langola has a great alto voice that her male and female characters are easily seperated, yet both smooth. Ms. Langola’s performance is flawless during the suspenseful scenes, and she leaves you hanging on the edge of your seat. The narration of this story, enhanced the experience of the book.
Absolutely loved this modern day retelling of Beauty and the Beast. This story was hot, sexy, explosive and downright swoon-worthy. Maddux and Arabella were brought together by a tragedy but thrived because of passion they had for each other. This story is definitely one that will have you devouring page after page of this beautiful fairytale.
Ah the lure of an attractive cover and an irresistible preorder price! Although I had read Ms. Wilde before, I should not have bought this book. The title: TOTAL SURRENDER; I dislike domineering alpha males in a story where BDSM is inescapable; fairy tale retellings leave me cold; I don’t particularly care for revenge tropes. Pretty reckless of me, right? I expected a DNF early on due to my own stupidity. Yet, I kept on reading.
While the writing did not induce a case of the vapours, it is very, very well written, and the editing is excellent. The story moved along well, and while the plot is far from original, the characters who, at first glance appear stereotypical are not; the execution is brilliant. Both Maddux Wilder and Arabella Cole surprised and delighted me all the way. He’s definitely an alpha, forceful yet not abusive; he understands boundaries and respects them. He exudes charisma and, even if he’s not my favourite type of hero, I really liked him and I would have succumbed to his charms as well. That is a tribute to Erika Wilde’s superb characterisations. Arabella is a victim of circumstances but she is not a wimp; her motivations are logical, her decision is her own, and for once I could go along with her reasoning because if one is to be stuck in such an unsavoury situation, she could do much, much worse than Maddux. She’s very philosophical about the whole thing.
I was surprised that the romance was a slow burn and had none of the cringe-worthy moments I anticipated. The dialogues are excellent, and so are the inner monologues; they can be so tedious, which was not the case here; they’re fun and provide insight into the characters’ minds. Maddux is so not a dick even if he is a real dominant. E. L. James ought to read this book and see how it’s done. There was some light BDSM, which I expected, so it did not bother me. Maddux and Arabella’s chemistry is off the charts, and the sex scenes so well written, I did not even skim.
I also liked the interactions between Maddux and his brother and sister, Hunter and Tempest. The characters are multidimensional and fun to watch, even the villains. TOTAL SURRENDER might be the best take on the Beauty and the Beast I have read in a contemporary romance. If you are a fan of everything the book description promises – unlike me, and I gave five stars – you will be ecstatic!
Dirty sexy version of Beauty and the Beast
Arabella is excited as she is attending the one event she has read about in the society pages for years, the annual Wilder charity event. But she’s accompanied by her father and the one man she wants nothing to do with, his colleague Gavin! Hoping to experience everything the event has to offer, Arabella sneaks away and is found by one Maddux Wilder, the event’s host. She never imagined in her wildest dreams that the evening would end the way it does
Maddux has worked hard to be in a position to take revenge on the people who left him and his siblings essentially orphans. He’s now ready to do exactly that but Arabella throws a spanner into the works when she eavesdrops on their private conversation with Maddux. Offering herself to Maddux in exchange for letting her father go with the full realisation that Maddux requires her TOTAL SURRENDER
A really great story along the lines of Beauty and the Beast with filthy undertones Looking forward to Hunter’s story next
This book draws you in from the very first page.. Often a novel will have the lead character out for vengeance, and his/her siblings will be supportive more than they will be vengeful.
Not so with the Wilder siblings. The beginning of the book detailed the need for revenge that they all felt very strongly.
I did like all of the Wilder siblings and Bella.I liked how she stood up to Gavin. I also admired that she never automatically assumed her father was completely blameless in whatever grudge Maddux was holding on to.
Maddux got to show Bella his vulnerable side, as well as his true character.
This was a fast paced romantic suspense. There was danger involved and maybe a little intrigue. Maddux and Bella had great chemistry and witty conversations.