Rules of Surrender
4 Stars

Synopsis:
Impoverished and cast out from her family, Lady Charlotte Dalrumple is forced to work as a governess. Ostensibly hired to teach Lady Ruskin’s Eastern born grandchildren in the ways of English society, Charlotte soon realizes that her real assignment is to turn their barbarian father into a true English gentleman. The only problem is that the outspoken and sensual Wynter Ruskin has every intention of turning the tables and seducing the prim and proper Charlotte.

Review:
Light and entertaining with some laugh out loud moments but the plot is insufficiently developed and the ending feels rushed. The embezzling subplot, for example, has potential but fizzles out, and its conclusion is predictable and contributes little to the story.

Dodd is a skilled writer with a talent for characterization. Winter and Charlotte have a vibrant chemistry, and even though there are one or two questionable scenes that may put readers off, for me, they were consistent with the Eastern influence on Wynter’s character. Moreover, Charlotte’s emotional conflict with regard to Wynter and her attraction to him seem to negate the idea that he truly forces himself on her. While, Wynter is obnoxious, chauvinistic and overbearing, Charlotte succeeds in putting him in his place and ultimately teaches him the true value of women and love.

The secondary characters are another strong point. From the children, who are sweet and engaging, to Charlotte’s ridiculous bully of an uncle and the bitchy Lady Howard, each plays a part in building the foundations of the story and contribute to the overall atmosphere. On a side note, the story takes place in Victorian times and there are hints at the superior colonial attitudes of the British Empire, which readers may find offensive but should be taken in context. One cannot ignore history and culture even when writing historical romances.

In sum, a fun and enjoyable read and I will be continuing with the series. ( )

Rules of Surrender by Christina Dodd is a 2009 Harper Collins publication. (Originally published in 2000 by Avon Books)

Lady Charlotte has a reputation as England’s most proper governess. When she is hired to teach Lord Wynter Ruskin’s children proper English etiquette, after having been raised abroad. Yet, upon arrival, Charlotte discovers it is Wynter that requires more training than his children.
Wynter has no desire reign in his barbarian ways. He would rather spend his time trying to seduce Lady Charlotte. As he worms his way into her life, Charlotte does experience desire, but Wynter has made it clear that love has nothing to do with it, and Charlotte will must be content with that...

Okay, somehow, I ended up with both a paperback copy of this book, which has been languishing on my shelf behind two layers of other paperbacks for a very long time, and a digital copy, I found languishing on my kindle for who knows how long.

I must have found the synopsis intriguing to have wound up with two copies of this book. But whatever it was that drew me to the story never materialized. The story was light in many ways, with the prim Charlotte constantly correcting the rude Wynter for discussing ‘breaking wind’ in polite company, but alas, deep into the tale, ‘forced seduction’ as it was once referred to, reared its ugly head, and I found myself squirming in my seat uncomfortably.

Wynter remained unapologetically macho until the bitter end, which was meant to be humorous, I’m sure, but well, these days, as we know all too well, isn’t a good look, and it’s not even remotely funny.

Apparently, I have a couple more books from this series on my Kindle, but I’m hesitant about following through with them. I like Christina Dodd, and read a few of her historical romances years ago, but I’ve had much more luck with her romantic suspense books.

Overall, I was a bit surprised by the construct of the book. I realize that it was originally published twenty-two years ago, but for some reason, I thought it would be safe from the content prevalent in the 80s and 90s. To be fair, though, the book wasn’t nearly as brutal as those from previous eras, and at the time of its original publication it was probably well received. Unfortunately, though, it doesn’t stand the test of time.

2 stars ( )

All societies have their rules. Those rules may not always agree, but to function as an accepted member of a society, it behooves a person to hew to the expectations and requirements that society has codified. Of course there are people who get away with flouting the rules but they are almost always a person who knows the rules before intentionally violating them. These rule breakers are generally either questioning the rules or just don't care about them. When someone who is a rule follower meets a rule breaker, sparks are sure to fly, as is the case in Christina Dodd's Rules of Surrender, an early Victorian set historical romance.

Lady Charlotte Dalrumple works for the newly established Distinguished Academy of Governesses. She is no nonsense and her nickname is Miss Priss. She is hired by the Viscountess Adorna Ruskin to civilize her grandchildren, recently come to England from El Bahar, a Middle Eastern country that evokes Bedouins and camels rather than the English niceties they must conform to now. But the children are not the only ones Charlotte must try to civilize, there's also Lord Wynter Ruskin, the Viscountess' long lost son who ran away from home at the age of fifteen after his father's death. Wynter hates the hypocrisy of English society and is only willing to conform to a point for love of his mother. Horrifyingly, Charlotte finds herself attracted to this rugged, heathenish man. And that's not all of her worries since this finishing governess post is in the same village that she grew up in and from which she ran after refusing a marriage her uncle had engineered for her. As Charlotte coaches the children on how to be proper English children, she falls for them and for their father and he for her despite their opposing ideas about civilization.

Charlotte is a completely forgettable heroine. Her love for the children is sweet but as for the rest, she's an uptight snob and her relationship with the domineering Wynter never did seem to move beyond teacher chastizing pupil even though we are told it does. Wynter is an annoying and horrible, smug, chauvinist. The flowery language he uses that is supposed to be as if a translation of a foreign language is grating and his casual misogyny is awful. He purposely baits Charlotte and has to be pretending that he doesn't understand English society because he didn't leave the country until he was fully fifteen years old. He might have forgotten the nuances in the intervening decades but he wouldn't be as ignorant to the big picture as he is written. In addition to the main plot line, there are also smaller plot lines and happenings that don't integrate all that well or are too easily resolved: embezzlement, a scandal that forces marriage, Viscountess Adorna's own relationship, another runaway, and the revelations of the past. I spent much (all) of the book wanting Wynter to disappear permanently, not a good situation for a romance. Add in what is essentially a wedding night rape and I just can't recommend this one. One barbarian hero outside of society's rules and one stickler heroine equals one truly disappointing romance. ( )

I liked most of this book because the writing is well done. It did not receive 4 stars from me because the hero is arrogant to the extreme and controlling. The heroine was too much of a pushover because she loved him anyway. ( )

Rules of Surrender
4 Stars

Synopsis:
Impoverished and cast out from her family, Lady Charlotte Dalrumple is forced to work as a governess. Ostensibly hired to teach Lady Ruskin’s Eastern born grandchildren in the ways of English society, Charlotte soon realizes that her real assignment is to turn their barbarian father into a true English gentleman. The only problem is that the outspoken and sensual Wynter Ruskin has every intention of turning the tables and seducing the prim and proper Charlotte.

Review:
Light and entertaining with some laugh out loud moments but the plot is insufficiently developed and the ending feels rushed. The embezzling subplot, for example, has potential but fizzles out, and its conclusion is predictable and contributes little to the story.

Dodd is a skilled writer with a talent for characterization. Winter and Charlotte have a vibrant chemistry, and even though there are one or two questionable scenes that may put readers off, for me, they were consistent with the Eastern influence on Wynter’s character. Moreover, Charlotte’s emotional conflict with regard to Wynter and her attraction to him seem to negate the idea that he truly forces himself on her. While, Wynter is obnoxious, chauvinistic and overbearing, Charlotte succeeds in putting him in his place and ultimately teaches him the true value of women and love.

The secondary characters are another strong point. From the children, who are sweet and engaging, to Charlotte’s ridiculous bully of an uncle and the bitchy Lady Howard, each plays a part in building the foundations of the story and contribute to the overall atmosphere. On a side note, the story takes place in Victorian times and there are hints at the superior colonial attitudes of the British Empire, which readers may find offensive but should be taken in context. One cannot ignore history and culture even when writing historical romances.

In sum, a fun and enjoyable read and I will be continuing with the series. ( )