Barely recovered from his own injury and still reeling from the murder of his partner, police detective Gray Montgomery will do almost anything to bring the killers to justice. But his department in Dallas isn't getting anywhere with the investigation. Worse, they've cut him out of it. Frustrated and determined, Gray teams with his partner's father, a retired cop, to follow the trail to Houston and the doorstep of one Ms. Faith Malone.From the moment he lays eyes on Faith, Gray's gut tells him she is innocent, even if she does have ties to the murderer. Sweet, delectable Faith brings out every protective instinct he's got, and stirs some very dominant tendencies as well. But Gray has never found a woman who can handle his dominant side, and he is sure that innocent little Faith can't, no matter how much he wishes otherwise.Faith has never found satisfaction in her relationships, either in or out of bed. She needs something more than the men she knows have been able to give. She wants someone to take control - not only for a night, not just in bed, but in all aspects of the relationship. When she meets Gray, she recognizes a man who can fulfill her every fantasy, if only she can figure out a way to prove she is the woman he needs...With Maya Banks' second New York print release, I realize I just may need another bookcase in the next year with a few shelves reserved for her work! This author's accomplishments in the writing arena grow with every new release, and this reviewer never ceases to be impressed with Ms. Banks' imagination and skill.Sweet Surrender is a story ripe with potential for sequels, with a solid cast of supporting characters as intriguing as the hero and heroine. Yet for all the interest she stirs in the secondary characters, Banks easily manages to prevent them from overshadowing the main characters. Do we want to see more of hunks Connor, Nathan, Micah, and Damon? Heck, yes! But this book very definitely belongs to Gray and Faith.Gray is your typical tortured hero - only he never feels typical. Not one little bit. Not only is Gray fighting to capture his late friend's killer, but his own internal demons. He struggles with guilt over a necessary deception, concern that he wants more from Faith than she can give, and fear that he might lose her forever. For a man as in control as Gray is, that internal struggle is perhaps more worrisome than the murder investigation he is conducting. But once he sees Faith for who she truly is and decides what he really wants, the doubt falls away and the man we've caught glimpses of throughout the story shines through.Faith is absolutely beautiful. She is warm and giving, qualities that are bound to make a submissive desirable to any man, but which beckon to Gray as sweetly as any Siren's song. In the beginning, she is simultaneously unsure of what she really needs from a relationship, and afraid to admit what she suspects it is. As she begins to explore her submissive side, she learns more about herself than she ever expected. And she soon discovers that what she needs can only be found in the arms of one man.Through it all, Banks tells an intriguing tale of suspense, with an action packed climax guaranteed to keep you biting your nails!I absolutely adored Sweet Surrender!! This story ran my heart through the wringer more than once, ultimately leaving me with a more than satisfying ending - the kind of ending that makes me believe in real-life romance. I will be crossing my fingers for many sequels to this fantastic story of love and suspense!