Book Review and Giveaway: Letting Go, ends 3/17

Letting Go, by Maya Banks (Surrender trilogy, book #1).

Josslyn Breckenridge surveyed her appearance in the mirror, nervous though no one would see her. Except Dash. She knew without confirming that he'd be here, just as he'd been here on this day for the previous two years, waiting to take her to the cemetery to visit and put fresh flowers on her husband's grave.

The flowers were on the counter beside her, just waiting for her to pick up and carry out of the house. But she hesitated because this year ... This year was different. 

This book is erotica similar to Fifty Shades but with a much more interesting back story: Joss has been widowed for three years now. She had a great marriage with the love of her life, Carson, but there was one thing always missing, and she was afraid to ask him for it. Now, she has to decide if she wants to pursue that, and if so, how she should go about doing that.

Official synopsis:
Josslyn found perfection once, and she knows she’ll never find it again. Now widowed, she seeks the one thing her beloved husband couldn’t give her. Dominance. Lonely and searching for an outlet for her grief and wanting only a brief taste of the perfection she once enjoyed, she seeks what she’s looking for at an exclusive club that caters to people indulging in their most hedonistic fantasies. She never imagined that what she’d find is the one man who’s long been a source of comfort—and secret longing. Her husband’s best friend.

Dash has lived in an untenable position for years. In love with his best friend’s wife and unwilling to act on that attraction. He’d never betray his best friend. And so he’s waited in the wings, offering Joss unconditional support and comfort as she works past her grief, hoping for the day when he can offer her more.

When he finds her in a club devoted to the darker edges of desire, he’s furious because he thinks she has no idea what she’s getting herself into. Until she explains in detail what it is she wants. What she needs. As realization sets in, he is gripped by fierce, unwavering determination. If she wants dominance, he is the only man who will introduce her to that world. He is the only man who will touch her, cherish her…love her. And the only man she’ll ever submit to.
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There were a lot of things I liked about this book and a few I did not.

Likes: The story was good, like I mentioned before. It was a little 50 Shades-esque in that Joss was super "innocent" and had never been initiated into this world before, so Dash has to teach her everything, but it also has different elements as well. There's a host of supporting characters too that will get their own novels in books 2 and 3 of the series, out in May and September 2014.

Dislikes: Joss almost seems TOO easily manipulated at times. She and Dash get into a fight later on in the book, and within four days, he misses her so much that he's practically groveling at her feet, which of course wins her back. He calls her "honey" a lot as a term of endearment, but I found this a little annoying, as it repeats a lot throughout the book. She also makes the switch to seeing him just as a friend - her dead husband's best friend, actually - to a "virile man" as I think she calls him at one point.

Overall, though, I enjoyed this story, and would recommend it to anyone who likes or is interested in this genre. I already have Giving In (book #2) to review as well, so check back closer to May for a review and giveaway of that novel too.

3.5 stars out of 5.

*Disclosure: I received a copy of this book for reviewing purposes. The opinions expressed here, however, are my own.

GIVEAWAY:

Enter via the Rafflecopter below. Contest ends on Monday, March 17th at 11:59pm EST, and winner will be emailed on March 18th and have 24 hours to respond, or an alternate winner will be chosen. Winner will receive 1 paperback copy of the book. U.S. residents only, please.

Good luck!

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