Review: Sean and Samantha's story is a great second-chance romance!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 12, 2014
*I was given a complimentary copy of Blissful Surrender for an honest review.I’m a big fan of The Bliss series. BJ Harvey’s writing in this series is very funny, sexy, and emotional. I was pretty excited to get my hands on this particular book because Sean Miller’s character from Temporary Bliss. He was mysterious and his sexual tendencies had me very curious. BJ Harvey didn’t disappoint me with Blissful Surrender. She builds this wonderful story with complex characters that pull you in as soon as you begin to read.Sean Miller is a pretty serious guy with a unorthodox personal life. Sean is a powerful lawyer by day, owner of a fetish club Throb by night. Even as his professional life thrives, his personal life is a mess. Sean’s brother Ryan is a gambling addict. And he can’t seem to get over his first true love Samantha “Sam” Richards. Sam Richards hasn’t laid eyes on Sean in ten years. After giving up the one person who meant the world to her, she is realizing her dream of being a Chicago police officer. But doesn’t have any meaningful relationships in her love life, except for a friends with benefits situation. What happens when these two former lovers unsuspectingly meet again? Hopefully high drama and hot sex!Samantha Richard’s character has a hardened heart. After years of being a Chicago cop, she’s seen it all. She also has a mother who has help Sam build up this wall against any man who loves her. Personally, toxic mother/daughter relationships in books really resonate with me. Sam’s mother never gets over her husband’s abandonment and dooms her daughter with her hateful rhetoric. I felt so bad for Sam. How do you defy someone who gave you life, but clearly is not the right person to help build healthy relationships. Sean Miller’s character suffers from the same problem. After dealing with deep personal loss, he is left with his brother Ryan who is a mess. His addictions are now effecting Sean’s business, but he is having a hard time dealing with this situation. Sean won’t just abandon the only person he has left. When Sam and Sean finally come together, I’m so freaking happy! I want them to overcome all these toxic people and situations and I think BJ does a good job of a making this happen. I do wish she would have written in some type of conflict/resolution with her mother toward the end of the book. I really would have enjoyed Samantha telling her mom to shove it.The sex in Blissful Surrender are pretty hot. Sam and Sean have great chemistry, no matter how much Sam tries to deny it. He knows all the right buttons to push with her and the reader ends up with some hot sex scenes! We also get some great flashbacks from Temporary Bliss from Sean and Makenna’s relationship.Blissful Surrender is another great addition to the Bliss series. BJ delivers a great story with a deep back story, complex and complicated characters, and steamy romance. She also gives the reader a nice glimpse at the past characters from previous books. And as always BJ’s hilarious banter between the characters and laugh out loud one-liners are just one of the many reasons I love her books. I give Blissful Surrender 4 out of 5 stars!Written by Dee McGee - Booze, Bookz, and Bad Boyz