From #1 New York Times bestselling author Rachel Van Dyken comes the next standalone rockstar romance in her Seaside Pictures series…I had his posters on my wall when I was sixteen and when I accidentally got pregnant in high school–his was the face I dreamt of when I closed my eyes at night.Now, over twenty years later, that dream’s turned into a reality.Not only is Drew … reality.
Not only is Drew Amhurst in my tiny town of Seaside, live and in the flesh…
But he’s mentoring my rockstar son.
Drew says he’s mine for a week.
And he made me three promises.
“No strings attached.”
“No falling in love.”
“It’s only seven days.”
He’s confident that he can help me rediscover myself both in and out of the bedroom, and I’m confident that he’s too arrogant for his own good.
And at the end of seven days, he swears he’ll walk out of my life the way he came into it.
The only problem is, the more I get to know him, the more I want to surrender the last pieces of my heart and beg him to stay.
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Drew is officially my favorite character from Seaside. Rachel Van Dyken slayed this book with the heartfelt moments, tears from laughing so hard and Drew and Bronte getting their sense of belonging.
Drew has lived quite the life of a rockstar and has lots of baggage from all the choices he’s made. Bronte has been a single mom for a long time and just worries about taking care of their kids. They may seem like an unlikely couple but together they are perfect for each other.
There are text conversations, banter, sexual tension, fears they have to get over and relationships that are formed. Drew’s humor and heart steal the book as he fills the hole in Bronte’s family and her heart. This book sucked me in and I couldn’t put it down.
This is Book #4 in the Seaside Pictures Series. It is a standalone with a HEA. This is a rockstar/single parent romance.
This was a quick, sweet, funny, and swoony read. It is about second chances and taking chances when you haven’t had the best luck in life or love. There were sexy and emotional moments. Drew is a rockstar with a troubled past. He is now clean and Bronte has caught his eye. Bronte is a single mom who has had her heart trampled on by her ex. She also happens to be the mother of Brandon, Drew’s protege. Drew and Bronte had a great instant connection. Afterall, Bronte has been swooning over Drew since she was a teen. They have met before but this time, something clicks with them but it won’t be an easy road to love.
This book has a lot of heart and inspiration. I loved the family feels and connections. There were great characters. Drew and Bronte had a lot of chemistry. I loved the way Drew treated Bronte. He was so patient, caring, and kind. My only issue is that I felt that it was a little too easy and rushed. It felt like something was missing, and I was looking for more to the story. It was a good read overall and I loved the epilogue. It was a great culmination of their love story.
***ARC generously provided in exchange for an honest review.***
The Beauty and the pain that is Drew Amhurst, along with the pain and sadness of Bronte Connors. Drew has lusted after Bronte since he brought her son Braeden under his wing as a musician and band mate. When they cross paths again, Drew leaps at the opportunity to be close to her. Drew was her teenage crush in high school she had his posters on her wall but to ever think that he would be series about her…the each have a lot to learn and share the baggage along the way.
Rachel Van Dyken has away to make you feel with the characters and you hold your breath when they break apart only to see if they are going to be put back together whole.
Let me just start by saying that you will not be able to put this book down!
Drew Amhurst is the ultimate fictional man, who made me swoon and sigh big time!! He has inspirational words and men could seriously take a leaf out of his book, if you get what I mean!!
From the beginning I found myself grinning and my smile didn’t leave my face till I finished!!! The witty banter was amazing and I honestly just wanted to live in this story and not come back out into the real world!!!
I loved the way Drew gave Bronte the ultimate week any mother would want!
To be free! But is Drew hiding something from her?? How does Bronte navigate the way she feels?!
Such an epic story! A definite highlight of my week and this book should be on your absolute must read list!!
Rockstar, Drew Amhurst’s poster used to hang from Bronte Conner’s wall as a teen. Now her son, Braden is his protégé. Drew, frontman for the band Adrenaline, always had a thing for his protégé and bandmate’s mom but, obviously she was off limits…right?!? After getting ahold of Bronte’s number, Drew starts some fun and flirty texts with her. When Branden goes away on vacation will his mentor be able to resist his mom for a week. This was absolute magic! Omg, Drew is that sexy/snarky rockstar we all love! These two together were perfect and I loved the comedic parts between Drew and Bronte’s Daughter. A fun and feel good romance. This is book 4 in the seaside pictures series but can be read as a stand-alone. Told in dual POV
I know I’m not alone when I say that I’ve been waiting for Drew’s book. I think there are many fans of RVD and the Seaside/Seaside Pictures series that were waiting for this guy to meet his match and in true RVD fashion, she struck the exact right note!
Drew Amherst is one of the lead singers of Adrenaline and of late, he’s also been the mentor for Braden Connors, the newest it guy to hit the music scene. Drew has had a tumultuous past, a lot of which he wishes he could forget, and that has caused him to be misunderstood, feel a tremendous amount of guilt and shame and on many occasions, it makes him feel very much alone. He wants to be happy like everyone around him, but he’s not and he’s not sure exactly how to get to that place.
Bronte Connors is the mother of Braden and she also has two daughters, one of which is already out of the house and then Amelia who is still at home. Bronte was a young mother who was left divorced and alone to raise three children. She’s done a great job, but in the process she’s neglected herself and put all of her focus into her kids. It’s time for her to focus on herself, but will she really do it? Oh and let’s not forget that Bronte has had a crush on Drew since high school!
When Braden leaves for his honeymoon, he doesn’t want his Mom to spend her birthday alone, so he gives in to the suggestion that Drew spend time with her even though he’s repeatedly asked him to stop hitting on her! Once the two start spending time together are they really going to be able to just be friends? Or will it turn into something more?
I absolutely adore this group of people! This can be read as a standalone, but to have the other band members in the story, it just made me smile. That text conversation was EVERYTHING! Amelia is also another bright spot in the book. Her relationship with Drew is awesome and the whole Not-Dad thing was inspired. I enjoyed watching these two people who have been so broken in the past help one another to become closer to whole again.
Great work by RVD and you definitely need to pick this one up. It will be a great summer read!
**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title in exchange for an honest review**
It has been far too long since I spent time in Seaside and I have honestly missed being there. Surrender is the fourth book in the Seaside Pictures series and can be read as a standalone.
Surrender was such an easy book to read. At 75% I forced myself to put my kindle down to enable some much-needed sleep otherwise I would have read the book in one sitting. The story grabbed my attention in the very first chapter and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.
Bronte and Drew are perfect for each other and I adore them. It has been fabulous spending time with them both and I love how natural they are around each other. I am certain that the majority of the time I had a huge smile on my face when witnessing their interactions. I hated that they both had demons that they needed to put to rest but I felt that being in Seaside, surrounded by their incredible family and friends was the perfect time to try and move forward….. preferably together.
I can’t help but love the times when Rachel Van Dyken adds group chats to her stories. They usually have me laughing out loud and the texts in Surrender did exactly that – they were brilliant!
This is a must read. I have loved reading a book that hasn’t been too heavy and has kept me engaged throughout, although I do feel that everything happened very quickly between Drew and Bronte but maybe that’s an age thing and they simply felt the need to grasp every opportunity with both hands. I award Surrender 4.5 stars and hope that it won’t be too long before we head back to Seaside again.
I love my visits back to Seaside because it always feels like I’m coming home to catch up with family and friends. Rachel Van Dyken not only gives us great characters and great stories she also gives us towns to fall in love with, towns to wish we called home. This book is rockstar romance at its best!!
I don’t think you need to read the previous Seaside books to enjoy Surrender although I’m sure that once you pick up one of these stories you will want to read the rest of the series.
Surrender is a beautifully written, captivating love story centred around Bronte and Drew, it’s a second chance romance and it’s an emotional story about needing that special person to mend your broken heart. Bronte and Drew both have their own demons but they are both realise they need each other to move on, the chemistry is sizzling and their love touched me on so many levels, they really stole a piece of my heart that I’m sure I will never get back. You know you are reading a very special book when you instantly gel with the characters and you find yourself immersed in their journey to heal and find a HEA and Surrender is certainly a very special read that I’m really not sure my words could ever do it justice so all I’m going to say is please one click this must read !!!!!
* I received an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. *
Rachel Van Dyken did not disappoint with this Rockstar romance. I loved the dynamic between Bronte and Drew. The storyline of Drew being the protégé of Bronte’s son made it pure comedy. I would sometimes forget that they were in their late thirties and she had children who were grown up.
I do feel wish there were more in-depth conversations about their past. We do learn about some hurdles they both faced but I felt like I never really got the whole picture of what happened especially with Drew. There were hints but I still felt I am left with questions in the end. This made me think there is more in the first three stories that discuss his past that I missed.
If I could change one thing about the book, I would have started the story with a prologue. It felt a little strange starting with them both already being attracted to each other and I did not read the first three books in the series to know whether the character’s storyline began already. Either way I think if we had gotten a little backstory about them before that point maybe the storyline would have been more seamless.
I did enjoy this book and the dynamic Bronte and Drew had with all the characters. I will be checking out the first three books to see what I missed out on. Great job Rachel Van Dyken!
Surrender is exactly the summer read everyone needs!! Drew has a crush on his protégé’s mother. Yeah I know it sounds like an age gap romance, but trust me it’s not. Bronte had Braden when she was in high school. Her ex has made her feel like she’s lacking. Drew makes it his mission to help “Bronte get her groove back”. Hee daughter, the master manipulator, is helping on the plan.
Drew has been through extremes as a rock star, and still struggles with the guilt and jealousy towards Will and Angelica. The obstacles both these characters need to work through seems large, but together they can do it.
Surrender is the fourth full-length novel in the Seaside Pictures series by Rachel Van Dyken! You can read each book as standalone. I still need to read the first one and a few novellas. I need to get one that! I did read Provoke though and that is where you first get a glimpse of Drew shamelessly flirting with his protege’s mom, Bronte. And now, five years later…
One week. Drew has one week to show Bronte a good time and I don’t just mean in bed. He wants to make her smile. To laugh. To let her be wild. To have a birthday week that she will never forget. She deserves it. She is a single mom of three. Two are fully grown and one sixteen and a spitfire. Amelia wants to give this to her too. Bronte was only sixteen when she became a mom and now was the time to let loose. Give in. With her teen crush. The one who she never thought would be standing in her kitchen making her breakfast. She had the posters. She had the lunchbox. And now, Drew was here and she wanted him. All of him. Demons and all. But, what will happen when the week was over?
Awe!!! I am truly and absolutely in love with Drew. Holy shit…he is hilarious, sweet, insightful and sexy. I knew their story would be good but it was so much more than that. It was everything. I loved their connection. Their banter. Their sparks. And his relationship with Amelia? The best! They cracked me up. Hard. I can’t even with those two.
Overall…it’s my favorite of the series. Drew and Bronte made me swoon, laugh, and cry. I will say it again, I love Drew and I just might have a girl crush on Bronte. Lol.
Quotes:
“On a scale of one to ten, how offended would you be if I asked you to just wrap those legs around my face?”
“And strangle you?”
“Sweet death, take me,” I growled and then reached for her.
“Amelia’s in the other—”
“We have an understanding.”
“Huh?”
“I talked with her, told her I was going to get you pregnant and be her new daddy.”
“WHAT!”
“You stare at me a lot.” She chewed her lip nervously.
“Because each time I look at you, I see something different,” I confessed.
I read an advanced copy for an honest review.
Drew Amhurst is a rock star legend. He’s also burnt out and tired if pretending he’s happy when he’s really not. He’s got major writer’s block and goes out to clear his head. He winds up having a chance encounter with Bronte, Braden’s mom.
Bronte has had a crush on Drew since high school, then I’ve got in the way. Unplanned pregnancy which lead to a miserable marraige. After being a mom to 3 kids, she’s lost her identity of being anything but a single mom.
Drew proposes a week if her time, to “get her groove back”. To feel more like Bronte and less like only mom.
This story is about 2 broken souls, who with each other’s help learn how to feel more whole. With amazing snark and hilarious text messages from the band members, extortion from Bronte’s daughter and an Easter egg that will have you laughing out loud.
An incredible story, that will leave you with giant grin on your face.
Rockstar romance, yes please! Oh my hotness!!!! This book has all the feels in it. Wow!
I have read the other books in Seaside and so getting to dip back into the world of these characters and finally get a chance to really get to know Drew.
Oh Drew…
If you haven’t read an of the other Seaside books, don’t worry, you will not be lost. You will however find more books you want to read.
I truly love how Rachel Van Dyken wrote this book, the dialog is so on point it is like you are watching a show or movie play out in your mind. I love the humor she brings to the pages. The group texts, are simply THE BEST!
This book took me only a few hours to read because there was no way I was going to put it down.’
I think I should start this review with a confession: I wish I lived in Seaside.
The Seaside and Seaside Pictures series are my absolute favorite from RVDs books.
I guess It’s only fair to also mention that I have been holding my breath and rooting for Drew to get his HEA since Steal.
I wholeheartedly loved this book. From the second I picked it up and started reading, I just couldn’t put it down.
I also have to give it extra credit for having not only the always hilarious mandatory group chat scene, but also the Amelia – Drew car scene which is quite possibly the best thing I read this year.
6 stars and a not-your-dad joke
True undeniable talent! I don’t know how Rachel Van Dyken does it. She can write serious mafia, intriguing paranormal, laugh-out-loud comedy, hot sexy Rockstar, and all of it with romance. There hasn’t been a book she has written that I didn’t just love. Surrender is the latest in the Seaside Pictures books and it was AMAZING! The appearance of the other band members make it feel familiar, but it is a completely standalone book like the rest. Drew was funny and sexy yet still the tortured artist while Bronte (BTW I love her name) was the responsible mom that just needed a good time and Drew was just the man to show it to her. I read this in one sitting because I just couldn’t put it down. Thank you, Mrs. Van Dyken, for yet another 5-star spectacular read.
Drew Amhurst is struggling. Struggling with recording new music. Struggling with writing new music. Struggling with watching his band mates and friends all living their best lives while he sits alone being jealous of what they have. Bronte Connors has always had to be responsible. Raising three kids basically on her own and then having her husband abandon them has left little time for Bronte to have her own life. Now her teenage crush Drew Amhurst wants to spend a week with her and show her how to have fun. How can Bronte possibly give up her control and let her hair down? How can Drew spend time with this beautiful woman and not surrender his heart to her and loose what is left of himself in the process.
Surrender is a beautiful story of second chances and falling in love with the person that puts your broken pieces back together while helping you realize all that you are and more! Bronte and Drew have this undeniable attraction that is as sexy as it is sweet. But they are both fighting their own demons and need each other more than either of them realizes and what a tidal wave it is to watch! You need to read this book for the bribes, Amelia, the group texts, the surprises and Ryan alone. This story just hit my sweet spot in so many ways! I would surrender to Drew in a heartbeat if he turned that sexy grin my way!
Tracey, Life Reads With Friends