Review: The Darkest Surrender by Gena Showalter

The Darkest Surrender
Book 10 in the Lords of the Underworld series

Author: Gena Showalter
Publisher:  Harlequin
Genre: Paranormal Romance
ISBN:  9781459213852
Release date: September 27, 2011
Author's website:  Gena Showalter

Possessed by the demon of Defeat, Strider cannot lose a challenge without suffering unimaginable pain. For him, nothing stands in the way of victory. Until Kaia, an enchanting Harpy, tempts him to the razor's edge of surrender.

Known among her people as The Disappointment, Kaia must bring home the gold in the Harpy Games or die. Strider is a distraction she can't afford because he has an agenda of his own—steal first prize, an ancient godly artifact, before the winner can be named. But as the competition heats up, only one prize will matter—the love neither had thought possible.…

*staring and drooling over cover*  Oh I'm sorry!  I'm supposed to be telling you how I felt about The Darkest Surrender. Let me just tell you that I LOVED IT!!  Every single page of this book was entertaining and it kept me riveted from beginning to end.  Now it's no secret that I'm a huge fan of Gena Showalter's work and have labeled her as my favorite author and there is a reason for that.  The proof is in The Darkest Surrender.  Not only is it well written, but it includes all of the great characters that readers of this series has grown to love and enjoy.

The book is centered around my favorite Lord of the Underworld, Strider.   He is possessed by the demon of Defeat and must win anything that is challenged to him or his demon gets cranky and inflicts him with pain.  He is paired with Kaia, a harpy that did something hundreds of years ago that brought much shame on her family.  She has much to prove and enters the Harpy games to restore her family's honor.  Now these two have liked each other for a while but never gave into the attraction and just remained friends.  But now things are different as Strider's feelings for her deepen and he finds himself doing things he never thought he would do. He knows how important this game is to her and does everything he can to show her support.  Kaia is touched by this and works harder because she wants to make him proud of her.  *swoony sigh*  These 2 were made for each other and Gena does such an excellent job writing the moments in which they fall in love with each other.  They are by far my favorite couple in this series so far.  They are fun, hot for each other, and work as a team. 

I'm giving The Darkest Surrender a rating of:

All in all people...THIS BOOK ROCKED MY SOCKS! It is definitely one my fave books of 2011 that I have read so far. So many great moments and Stider is the sexiest Lord of the Underworld!!  We also get to see all of the other awesome characters in The Darkest Surrender. Kaia and her sister Bianka have some really entertaining conversations and always make me laugh. William is one of my favorite characters in the series and does something hardcore in this book! Gosh I can't wait to read his book! I loved the sidestories that were going on as well as they seemed to be setting up some of the future books in the series. We know that Paris's book is next so we get to see him in action as well as Kane. There is so much that we don't know about Kane and I hope that we do in the next book. I'm anxiously awaiting for The Darkest Seduction so that I can revisit these wonderful characters again!  Now excuse me, I must get back to worshiping at my Gena altar again.  *chants*  Gena, Gena, GENA!!  

GIVEAWAY! 

Because I loved The Darkest Surrender SO much, I want to giveaway a copy!  Please read the instructions below to enter:

• You MUST be a follower of my blog, Hanging With Bells.

• This contest is open to everyone! If you're in the US, winner book will be ordered through Amazon.  If you're not, book will be ordered through Book Depository, so if they deliver to you, you'll get it! Click here to see if they do.

• You MUST answer the following question:  Who is your favorite LotU and why? 

Please include your email in your comment so I can contact you if you win!  Giveaway ends 9/21/11 at 12 PM EST.  Winner will be chosen using random.org and winner will be announced the same day on the blog.  Good luck!