RECOMMENDATION OF THE MONTH: SURRENDER THE NIGHT - MARYLU TYNDALL

My previous recommendation of the Month was Surrender the Heart by Marylu Tyndall, the first book in the Surrender to Destiny series. As you might recall, I loved everything about that book, and it is with great pleasure that I give a heartfelt recommendation for the second book in the series, Surrender the Night.

A pampered British Lieutenant falls for a lowly Baltimore farm girl. Step into a breathtaking novel of adventure and romance set amid the War of 1812. During an assault by an enemy sailor, timid farm girl Rose McGuire is saved by the least likely of heroes—a British Naval Lieutenant. Now that he’s wounded, she’ll have to heal as well as hide him. Alex Reed is being aided and abetted by his enemy—albeit an innocent and attractive one. But he might be doing Rose more harm than good if his presence on her farm is discovered. As their love blooms, trouble looms. Will this couple survive another British invasion? ~ as per Marylu Tyndall's website.

This second book follows the story of Alexander Reed and Rose McGuire, familiar faces from Surrender the Heart. While its prequel saw battles at sea; in Surrender the Night the British are now making their way onto American soil, destroying homes and assaulting women as they go. One night, home alone, Rose is attacked by the vile Garrick character who tormented Marianne so in Surrender the Heart, but is saved by the intervention of Alex Reed, the very man who protected Marianne and allowed her to escape. However, during his defence of Rose, Alex is shot and left unconscious. Though harboring hate in her heart for the British who killed her parents and are threatening her freedom, Rose begins to nurse Alex back to health in grattitude for saving her from a terrible fate. Too weak to make his way back to his ship, Alex is forced to stay on Rose’s property. Placing her family at great risk by secretly harboring a British Naval Lieutenant during the War, Rose hides Alex in the barn, but Alex’s intervention in another unsettling situation sees him unexpectedly appointed as the Drummond’s servant, Alex’s identity of course only known to Rose. Right?

Enemies at war, neither Alex nor Rose can understand the other’s motivation for their help. Initially distrustful of each other, Alex and Rose are forced to spend time together to keep up appearances. In doing so they are also forced to admit (at least to themselves) that their perceptions may have been wrong, and they must question their own views of the war, as well as the so-called enemy. Each haunted by events from their past, feelings of inadequacy and guilt, the rising threat of an unavoidable battle between their countrymen and the unwelcome interference of a jealous suitor seems to build up to more tension than these two confused souls can take. Their hearts reaching out to each other, their souls forbidding it, can an American farm girl and an English nobleman surrender their fates to God and allow themselves to love?

Surrender the Night is a beautiful sequel to Surrender the Heart. We again meet up with some beloved characters from the first book, meet some lovely new ones, and get a glimpse of Luke and Cassandra’s story which will be told in Surrender the Dawn. Sadly, this third instalment is not available in South Africa yet, but here’s hoping it might be in time for my Christmas stocking? I truly adore this series and can’t wait to pick up the next instalment.

Marylu Tyndall has a knack for effortless storytelling. Her characters are really well developed and very believable. You as reader come to care about them a great deal, and when they find themselves in danger you find yourself holding your breath. The chemistry between the characters, especially between Rose and Alex, is very real and tangible as well, and the description of dramatic events puts you on the edge of your seat. The British invasion and description of the historic destruction of Washington is really well written, making you as reader feel that you’re experiencing the events first hand. The sign of a truly gifted author.

I also love how Marylu leaves interpretation of the titles of the books up to her readers. I interpret the meaning of Surrender the Night as surrendering the darkness of your past to God; giving Him all of your hurts, fears and mistakes and trusting Him to heal you. You have to let go of what you're holding on to in order to receive something new. You have to surrender the night to embrace the dawn - a life full of light.

Happy reading!