Published January 21, 2014
Publisher: Intermix
Format: e-book, purchased
Genre: adult erotic romance
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble
Rating: 4.5 STARS
(From Goodreads) The conclusion of the savage, sensual Surrender trilogy in which betrayal, pain, and vengeance threaten to destroy a passion between two damaged souls…
Evelyn “Scout” Keats thought she finally found her long-sought happiness in billionaire Lucian Patras. But even though Lucian has always treated her like a queen, she has discovered she is nothing more than a pawn in his own secret game.
Worse, her long-time friend and supposed shining knight, Parker Hughes has also used her for his own interests by playing a part in Lucian’s game. Everyone’s honor is suspect, and no one can be trusted. It is Scout’s worst nightmare come to life.
As she struggles to comprehend the cost of a broken heart and the value of love, she must choose, once and for all, how much her pride can endure—and how much she is willing to risk to be truly happy.
One thing I will say about Lydia Michaels' Surrender Trilogy - it was frustrating. But, by the time we reach Coming Home, the frustration is all the good sort. I never doubted that Lydia would give Lucien and Evelyn their HEA. Getting there, however, was quite a bumpy road. And, I guess that's okay, because otherwise, what would be the point in reading their story, right?
Evelyn now knows everything that both Lucien and Parker did to keep her in their lives, and she's decided she doesn't need either of them or their overbearing, controlling, manipulative ways. She's going it alone, and has a job and an apartment and possessions that she legitimately earned. She thought that would make her happy and accomplished. But, Evelyn is slowly learning the hard way - which is sometimes the ONLY way - that home really is where the heart is, and her heart is not at her grocery store job or her crappy studio apartment. It's in the penthouse suite at Patras Hotel with Lucien.
I always say that I love a tough chick. Those wishy washy sorts that need a man to save them are my least favorite sort of heroine. Perhaps that's why I loved Coming Home so much. Evelyn's moxie and determination to make it in this hard world despite her lack of skills is admirable. It was also frustrating as hell for awhile, mostly because Evelyn continued to miss the big picture. I get that she felt she had something to prove, especially given where she came from. But, it made me insanely crazy that she thought the only way to get from point A to point B was alone.
Lucien has come so very far from the overbearing douchebag we met in Falling In. It's hard to believe this is the same guy who made that awful proposition the first time he met Evelyn. Lucien is as alpha as they come. He has money and power and has fallen in love HARD. He wants nothing more than to shelter and protect and care for the woman who holds his heart, and it's killing him to stand back and let her do her own thing. I loved that he went against his own grain for her. I love that he struggled with it so much. And, I even love that he wasn't always successful.
Evelyn has always pretty much been alone. So, this isn't anything new for her, really. For Lucien, though, everything she asks of him goes against his nature. So, in my mind, Lucien sacrificed so much more for Evelyn. It made me so mad that she didn't see that for such a long time.
Eventually, though, my faith in Lydia Michaels paid off. And, although Evelyn and Lucien were back together, their road was still not without potholes and pitfalls. There was the aftermath of the Parker debacle for both of them to deal with first. And, that had to have been difficult for Evelyn, especially. To know that the only person who was your friend knowingly put your life in danger for his own self-serving needs would destroy me.
There's also Slade - Lucien's former friend and Parker's co-conspirator. Turns out, Slade's been keeping a secret from Lucien, and it was that secret that was the driving force behind every underhanded thing he did to keep Evelyn and Lucien apart. I loved that this secret threw me for a loop. I didn't see it coming, and yet, when it was revealed, I could've smacked myself for not seeing it sooner.
And, finally, all the loose ends in regards to Evelyn's mother are also tied up in Coming Home. That's the part of this story that always makes me feel so sad. I can't even imagine what that's like.
As always, Evelyn's and Lucien's chemistry is the best part of this series. Whether they're having angry sex or sweet sex or dirty sex or passionate sex - it's ALL good sex. And, by the time we reach Coming Home, the depth of their feelings for one another colors it all.
"Her life was compiled in seasons. there were warm months and cold, but nothing took relevant shape until she'd met him. He made everything matter. He made her matter."
I'm so sad to reach the end of their story. I could've read more and more from them. But, the ending was satisfying and sweet. I couldn't have asked for anything better.
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