Review: Immortal Surrender by Claire Ashgrove

Immortal Surrender (The Curse of the Templars #2) 

by Claire Ashgrove

• Mass Market Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Tor Books (September 25, 2012)

Goodreads Description:

Farran de Clare, loyal member of the cursed Knights Templar, wants nothing to do with predestined mates. Even the Almighty won’t turn him into a fool again—he’d rather sacrifice his soul. Yet in the scientist Noelle Keane, a devout atheist, Farran meets the seraph designed for him.

Ordered by the archangel Gabriel to protect Noelle, the possessor of a sacred relic that could give Azazel incredible power, Farran swears to do his duty—but in name only. Fighting an attraction that grows with each day, he’s determined that he’ll never pledge himself to her.

As they war over her future, their mutual passion ignites a conflict far more damning. But before Noelle will agree to eternity with him, she demands the ultimate sacrifice – his heart.

**************************

Review:

I have to admit that I often judge a book by its cover. I shouldn't, but I do it anyway. I really dislike the cover of this book and even more so the cover of the first book in the series and based on that I would never have read these books. However, I got bored one day and was just given an e-copy of the first book so I decided to read a little bit and put it down if it sucked...it didn't. I was immediately drawn in to the story and couldn't put it down. I knew by the time that I finished the story that I would follow this series closely and eagerly anticipate each book release.  

If you haven't read the previous book in the series (you should!) the gist of it all is there is a fight between good and evil. The Knights Templar (the good guys) are cursed. They are immortal but defeating the bad guys actually weakens them and over time they will be overcome with darkness and join the baddies. The only thing that can stop the darkness from taking over is their predestined mate. 

Each book is about a knight finding his mate and the troubles the couples go through before they find happiness with each other. Of course, the good vs. evil thing comes into play with the Knights fighting demons and fighting their own deterioration into darkness, but in my opinion that takes a backseat to the romance aspect. 

I really like both Farran and Noelle but insecurities, distrust, and just plain stubbornness hold them back from happiness so long that sometimes I just wanted to cosh them on their heads and shake some sense into them. They would make progress and then take two steps back. It made for some exciting reading though. Just like the first book I was unable to put this one down. I read it all in one sitting because I just had to know how things would turn out. I loved the ended but was left wondering about certain characters, what they were up to, what their fate was, etc. so I will be anxiously awaiting the next book and hoping that some of my questions will be answered.

5/5

*I received this book from Netgalley. Any opinions expressed are my own*