In the final round of their twisted game, Francesca and Maxim have the ultimate choice to make: surrender to their dangerous attraction, or succumb to the many dangers driving them apart.
With her heart at stake, Francesca must weigh her family’s safety over her own, and trust that Maxim can truly triumph over his past trauma…
Or it will be game over for them both.
She’s done it again. Ms. Sky has broken my mind with the conclusion to Maxim and Frankie’s dirty and gritty, beautiful and bloody, dangerous and seductive story. I tell you the monster of a mobster will have you teetering between loving and hating him more than half way through the story (. . . And I love it). It’s beautiful torture, the twisted nightmare these two go through to find the end of their story – assassins, blood, bondage, a ring, and family.
By only having Frankie’s POV, the reader is subjected to all her insecurities and self-doubts, we are also let in on her loyalties, weaknesses, and truths. It’s a fine line between disconnecting because the character comes across as whinny and annoying or staying immersed in the story because the character is unsure and overwhelmed. Somehow, Ms. Sky finds that balance in her characters. She always finds a way of making the weak character show strength when strong character is weak.
This story will have you to the very end and after
** I am voluntarily leaving this review after receiving an ARC copy. **
Oh my black heart needed this book. It coudn’t have came at a better time! If you haven’t read Submit and Obey (books 1&2) it makes a lot of sense to read the books in order. You definitely don’t wan’t to miss out on Frankie and Maxim’s crazy world of Darkness. Frankie has come into her own by the end of this series. We watched her grow and become who she is , I love her character. We learned so much about Maxim in this story and I loved seeing how Frankie made Maxim become more human. He is pretty ruthless FYI. Also two new characters were given life and I am dying to know more about them and how they intertwine with Maxim and Frankie in the future so hopefully this isn’t the complete end of Frankie and Maxim.
But once Maxim and Frankie finally have learned to trust one another. They discover that they are Stonger together and are ment for one another.
Lana Sky has created a brilliant ending to a phenomenal story that leaves the doors open for new stories to emerge. I love her brillian mind so much. I will anxiously be awaiting the next release by Lana!
This was Book 3 of the “Club XXX” series and the author continued with the great storyline and characters that were created with such great detail and depth that I remained totally invested in this intriguing story!
What an amazing ending to this series! I do recommend reading them in order. Maxim and Francesca have been through so much, both together and before meeting each other. Maxim and Francesca have an intense chemistry but Francesca has her siblings to raise and keep safe. We also learn more about Maxim’s life growing up which makes you ache for him even more. This is an amazing read with lots of twists and turns, drama and emotion. The chemistry is intense and the story draws you in from beginning to end. I loved it!
There are no words totally surprised this was outstanding and every page and character was incredible way beyond what I was expecting, were talking heartpounding to the extreme that sets you on edge and consumes your every thought and emotion.
The intensity of Maxim is still there and we get to see some humanity in him at Francesca’s touch I love how she is able to read his expressions now as they try to find a way out and learn trust and become one.
Oh and the new family characters I’m so curious to know more. Just pure perfection in every word.
Well, this is the conclusion to Maxim & his Kotyonok’s (Frankie) story.
And what a SUPERB conclusion I found it to be.
I traveled with them through ‘Obey’ & ‘Submit’ & I cannot emphasize enough how beautifully satisfying this final book in their story was for me.
And being Maxim’s a major part of it, there is blood, death, threats, assassination attempts, rough & brutal carnal interactions between him & his Kotyonok GALORE. Things have ramped up, Maxim proposed to Frankie, his grandfather is squeezing his evil clutches around everyone, a threat from his past pops up & he is desperate to keep Frankie as well as keep her safe.
And Frankie, she is again waffling about her feelings for Maxim & her future like a madly wobbling Weebil. Overall I very much like & admire Frankie’s tenacity, her love for her siblings, her sense of family responsibility despite the damage done to her by her mother & the parental role Frankie was cloaked with while only a child herself. BUT, since Frankie’s is the only POV, a huge portion of this book is the thoughts & mental musings, insecurities & downright terrors (understandably) that swamp & overwhelm Frankie even as she craves Maxim, his dark hungers & his strength. But nothing Maxim has done or is doing answers the primary question she has: Does Maxim LOVE her? And then the important follow up questions: Is he capable of love? Will he ever accept her family?
Although I *personally* found Frankie’s chaotic internal thought processes a tad too much, it wasn’t anything that dampened my excitement about the characters or the plot & most of it added to the reader’s empathetic sense of the panic, desperation & confusion Frankie was experiencing.
And GAH!!! The last 25% of so of this book just SUCKED me in ever deeper, the plot, for me, exploded & I was reading faster & faster to see what happened next. And the end? STELLAR, SUPERB, SATISFYING to the Nth degree!!!
A brutal romance that as the layers of the anti-H are peeled away, allows the readers to see the heartbreakingly damaged HERO that lies underneath, that despite his upbringing, his nearly feral personality that ensured his rise to the top & survival, managed to cage his rage & anger & leave a spark of humanity waiting for the right woman to fan the flames . . . .
Ms. Sky knows how to draw her readers in, twist them around & around, surprise & shock them, gut their emotions & warm their hearts in wonderfully original ways (you MUST read just what a vicious & physically brutal young Maxim does for a hated childhood opponent) that MELT, literally MELT the hardest heart.
READ this book: You & your heart will be happy you did.
Surrender: XXX Maxim Book 3 (Club XXX) by Lana Sky
Francesca (Frankie) Marconi is has been taking care of her six siblings all by herself for a long time. She once worked three different jobs so she could support them but now she has someone that could give her more choices.
Maxim Koslov is a Russian crime lord with a dark and twisted sexual appetite who happens to own a sex club called XXX where nothing is off limits. He runs the western section of the city for his grandfather, but things have changed along with loyalties.
Surrender picks up where Obey left off. Maxim has started to take action against those that would rather see him on a slab. Family dynamics and loyalties are changing so Maxim must choose his family or Frankie? Without his family, does Maxim even have a future to give? Frankie has finally taken the hand that could change her future and the future of her siblings, but it comes with a cost that even she can’t imagine. She might already have blood on her hands but how much is she willing to spill to get what she wants? Will she choose Maxim or the safety of her family? Can Maxim give her both, but it could cost him even more than he could be willing to pay. Blood doesn’t always make you family, sometimes you have to form one of your own.
This final book in the series Club XXX was perfect in every way. From the beginning Maxim was so hard and gruff but it’s because of his past. A past that could have sent any other man to his knees or an early grave. He chose to survive it and use it to his advantage. What most men would call hard was his strength. Frankie was pushed down most of her life and to become mother to six kids. She never gave up because she had more than herself to raise and no one else could fill those shoes. When these two people meet neither thinks well of the other. Once they both start to trust the other bonds begin to form and they find they are stronger together. This book shows the give and take between these two and what each is willing to give in order to survive together. Each heroine Lana writes comes across broken at first, but she isn’t, really. She is so much stronger than they think. Stronger than her hero in a way. The hero needs them as much if not more to show them the way. It’s almost as if she tells them, “I’ve got this.” Together they unstoppable.
Absolutely loved this series.
“But, as always, he can never leave me with a solid choice—it always comes in the form of a game. The premise of this one, he proposes as a dare.”
So, Maxim has to be one of the most brutal alpha men I’ve ever read about but I wouldn’t dare expect less from Lana Sky.
“Mine,” he rasps. “You were made for me. And I will ensure the world knows it. No matter the fucking cost.”
Her characters are truly tortured, dark, and dominating.
You don’t know whether to be disturbed or turned on.
I have no idea if their story continues in her new book, Control, coming out in May but I have a feeling Francesca and Maxim will come full circle and get a true HEA.
However, I was left satisfied with the ending. I wouldn’t call it a cliffhanger.
It was perfect.
What an extraordinary end to a complicated emotional series. It was time for both Maxim and Frankie to make a stand for what they want and believe in. But are they on the same page? This is a part of the story that redefines family for both of them.
We get introduced to a new family member, who changes the game. You wonder what Dima wants: revenge? Money? Power? Or maybe it’s something more nebulous. But it’s Dima that’s the catalyst for both Maxim and Frankie to make choices with real consequences. You might think they already did, but did they really? Getting involved with Maxim was simple for Frankie, and holding her close was easy for Maxim. They both had a symbiotic relationship together sado/masochism at its core. They used each other, but now it’s time to deal with the reality that is chasing them. Do they have the strength?
““But tell me something. A hunter comes across a wolf and learns to care for it. He feeds it. Nourishes it. And then he locks it in a small cage because it is a difficult thing to care for a wild creature. To understand the freedom it needs. To trust that it will always return to you. That hunter may admire its beauty, and its power, and its brutal strength. But how can he trust that such a creature won’t turn on him? And the wolf, it cares for the hunter as well, you see. But even such a creature can sense the fear in the other. So it tries to deny its nature and pretend it enjoys its life within captivity. But instinct can only be ignored for so long… Until one day, the wolf lashes out from behind its bars, mortally wounding the hunter. And they both die, each never truly knowing the other.” “What are you saying?” The picture he painted is in my head, replaying in a morbid loop. Death. Death. Death. “I’m saying that love is in trust,” he warns. “Not fear.””
That above quote was said to Frankie, but it applies to Maxim as well. They are both scared of each other…what they mean to each other, what they would do to keep each other, and the huge changes to their respective lives. Even sister Daisy asks about the relationship. Is this all going away at some point? Does the lavishness mean anything? Does she have to call him Daddy? Frankie and her family have never known stability, so why would they believe it suddenly dropped on them now? And is it healthy for little Ainsley to trust Maxim so much? Can Maxim handle the chaos of 6 children and hide the destructive urges he carries?
The emotion bleeds from every page as Maxim holds on to Frankie for dear life. She’s become is lifeline…a support system that goes way beyond sex.
“”You want to know why I brought you? Because if I didn’t, I would have lost my $#@% mind, and I would have killed him. I would have lost control…” His voice breaks, followed by a laugh and then a sigh. “You say you don’t know me—but you do. You know when to ask me &@$% questions I wouldn’t tolerate from anyone else. You know how to use those #&@% eyes so that I can see myself reflected in them. You keep me here.” His tone deepens with unsaid meaning. Here. In the present, away from the horror of his past. ”
Frankie is wary. Can Maxim be who she needs long term? Whether he’s desperately trying to protect her family or trying ice cream for the first time ever, she is watching a man trying to change…FOR HER. Part of her just can’t accept it.
“A tendril of lingering doubt creeps in, feeding off the memories of him in that room. The anger. The repressed emotions. Again I have to wonder if this little game of give and take is more than he can handle. Is normalcy beyond his limits?”
When decisions are finally made, we as The reader sighs in relief. These characters are so likeable, even with the rough stuff! You want them to move forward from their startlingly brutal childhoods that defined them too long.
“This is the life I’m willing to sign up for. The trade, I’m finally able to make—a harmony of violence and security. Death and life. Blood and the purity left behind once it’s all washed away.”
“(Maxim says) “By hiding behind that name, I could lie to you and claim that it was all I knew.” The line of his jaw tightens as he captures my waist, dragging me against him. Near my ear, he confesses, “Even before I saw you in that dress… I knew what needed to be done. What I needed to sacrifice to keep you. I’ve done it.””
I loved all the psychological warfare used, and no one does it better than Sky. Some of the emotions you will feel reading this are dread, ecstasy, sadness, happiness and anxiety. Because you live these characters as you read this book. I felt gutted after reading it in only the best ways. I was pleased to find the next book Sky is releasing is Dima’s story. Because wow, he’s made an impression!
Looooooved how twisted this book was! From the very beginning to now, Franky has chosen to stay by Maxim’s side. And through it all we’ve gotten to see their character development and the things they would do for each other. Definitely my favorite of the three! Hopefully this isn’t an end to their story because these characters really grew on me and I would love to read more about them <3
What a way to bring Francesca’s story full circle!
And Maxim – the man, the monster
Their story? Far exceeded my imagination
I wasn’t sure what unholy nightmare gramps was going to rain down on Max after he disposed (?) of his uncle and set the wheels in motion to claim Francesa as his bride (book two).
I can say that none of the events that occurred where even in my realm of possibilities
Oh and the family members we get to meet in this episode
Holy crimson rivers!
I was on the edge from the moment I read the first page
This was like riding the log ride tilt a whirl ( I know it is two rides imagine them combined)
I thought I was prepared for the pain. The horror.
The inevitable bloodshed
I thought I had an inkling of what was coming –
I was wrong – Oh so very wrong
Everything quickly went sideways
Then suddenly the waters seemed calm again. Familiar.
I was able to breathe, relax.
Fool.
“What do you do after a man proposes marriage while towering over a dead, mutilated, body”
This picks up right where we left off
And if you can believe it Sky twisted the story even more.
I’m not giving recaps or spoilers
I do know if you enjoy darker mafia reads with a twisted happily ever after
This is one you won’t want to pass up
This does end on a happy for now –
Be real you and I both know he is coming back
I am excited to see who’s story is next
The final book of Maxim XXX and it was pure gold! The evolution of Maxim and Frankie is absolutely stunning and the plot is amazing. This book deserves every single penny and so much more than that. It’s fabulous !!!
The last book of the series and I feel sad because it has come to an end BUT i am really satisfied about how everything turned out and how it ended! Daddy Maxim shows a different side of himself and I love it!
Ps: Vadim makes me think about Klaus from the umbrella academy and I’m totally crushing on him tbh! Can’t wait to read more about him
INCREDIBLE DARK & GRITTY OBSESSION!
Oh my ever lovin F-Bombs. This is one helll of a continuation to this phenomenal series that was worth the wait. It had me hooked and riding the edge holding my breath and gasping in shock and riddled with nervous anxiety overcome with fear and pulled at my emotions as the story gets down and dirty deep into Maxim and Dima’s brutal past that pulls at my heartstrings and cringing in disgust. I loved it and had a really hard time putting it down. The writing is impeccable vivid and flows at a nice steady pace with mind blowing twists that are dark, gritty, fierce, explosive, demanding intense edgy, shocking and an array of heart pounding chaotic emotions. The chemistry is dark intense and hot. I lost my nails and dropped an awful lot of F-Bombs but I can guarantee that the explosive cliffhanger had me digging deep and screaming a whole lot louder like an obsessed crazy woman because that is exactly what this incredible series turns me into.
Surrender is the third and final installment of Club XXX: MAXIM series.
Now I have read and enjoyed the first 2 parts of this series so I was very excited to finally get my hands on the final part of it and to find out what happens next with both Maxim and Frankie.
As per usual Lana’s writing continues to amaze, she manages to create such a dark atmosphere filled with mystery and suspense which it just keeps you on the edge of your seat.
overall, i think that this was such a great ending to this series, I absolutely loved it and I loved the character development that got here, and all the plots and twists along the way, I also enjoyed the new characters that were introduced here.
I highly recommend this series for anyone who enjoys this genre of dark romance.
Unbelievable book 3
Maxim and Frankie are back for their end game. Same high heat, same intense drama and an added character that change the way the game is played. I cannot wait for the series spin off!
I read a free copy of this book and this is my voluntary review.
Lana Sky’s written words draw the reader into the story with delicacy and prose. Maxim is an OTT possessive Alpha male, who takes what he wants, when he wants, as he has been raised. Poor Francesca is still struggling in his perimeters and trying to deal with who they both are and who they are becoming because of one another.
As much as I love the main H and h characters, I kind of fell in love with Dima and need more of his story.
I recommend this series!
This is the third and final book in Maxim and Frankie’s story. You must read all these books and in order to get the most out of them. I am sorry to say goodbye to this couple but I am totally satisfied with how everything wrapped up. I thought that there was a special kind of beauty to this couple’s romance. Having both characters be incredibly strong and fierce but also wounded and burdened by baggage created a powerful and compelling dynamic that was incredibly easy to become invested in. Watching as these two learned to trust and rely on each other and simply daring to take a chance on love was incredibly moving. A wonderful and series that I highly recommend wholeheartedly to any reader that enjoys intensity, drama, emotion, heat, danger and darkness. Of my own accord I am posting a sincere review.
I couldn’t give Surrender enough stars! This was by far my favorite book in the trilogy, perhaps my favorite book of Lana Sky’s. The characters, plot and twists were perfection. The emotion and truths that were shared made the characters so raw. I was guessing through the whole book of what was going to happen and would be completely shocked of what was going on! You must read Submit and Obey first, but Surrender is the perfect cherry on top!