'This Man' by Jodi Ellen Malpas is a steamy romance novel that follows the relationship between interior designer Ava O'Shea and the mysterious and domineering Jesse Ward. Set in London, the story is filled with passion, secrets, and intense chemistry between the two characters. The writing style of the book is described as captivating, suspenseful, and humorous, keeping readers hooked from the very first page.

Ava and Jesse's story is a rollercoaster of emotions, with unexpected twists and turns that leave readers eagerly anticipating what will happen next. The narrative delves into themes of love, control, communication, and self-discovery, making it a compelling read for fans of romance novels with strong character dynamics.

Characters:

The characters are complex but flawed, with Jesse depicted as controlling and Ava as caught between her desires and his dominance, leading to mixed reader reactions.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is generally engaging but has repetitive elements and certain stylistic choices that annoy some readers, while effectively portraying emotional depth.

Plot/Storyline:

The story revolves around an intense and unhealthy relationship between the main characters, filled with drama and conflict, highlighting themes of obsession and control.

Setting:

Set in London, primarily at a luxurious hotel, the setting contributes to the dramatic and opulent atmosphere of the story.

Pacing:

The pacing varies, starting off slow and becoming more intense, but is sometimes criticized for being drawn out and repetitive.

I hear the familiar sound of a wooden spoon bashing the edges of a ceramic bowl as Kate appears at the bottom of the stairs. She looks up at me with a tired expression. It’s an expression I’ve become ...

Notes:

The book starts slowly and is considered boring by some readers.

Listening to fast-tempo pop music helped one reader get through it.

The characters, particularly Jesse, exhibit problematic and unhealthy behaviors in their relationship.

Ava's interactions with Jesse often evoke fear, resembling traits of an abusive relationship.

Jesse uses possessive language, calling Ava "lady" frequently, which some readers found annoying.

There are significant themes of control and manipulation in the relationship, including Jesse hiding Ava's birth control pills.

Readers have compared the relationship dynamics to Fifty Shades of Grey, noting a similar toxic connection.

The writing includes a high number of repetitive phrases, such as Jesse's commands to 'watch your mouth.'

The book contains multiple steamy scenes, with some readers finding them both exciting and uncomfortable due to the context.

The end of the book leaves readers wanting more, as it features a cliffhanger.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings are high due to themes of abusive relationships, domestic violence, emotional manipulation, stalking, and reproductive coercion.

Has Romance?

The book features a high degree of romance, though it is complicated by the unhealthy dynamics between the leads.

explicit steam level

From The Publisher:

Named one of "The 20 Greatest Ever Romance Novels According to Goodreads Reviews" by O, The Oprah Magazine

Young interior designer Ava O'Shea has no idea what awaits her at the Manor. A run-of-the-mill consultation with a stodgy country gent seems likely, but what Ava finds instead is Jesse Ward-a devastatingly handsome, utterly confident, pleasure-seeking playboy who knows no boundaries. Ava doesn't want to be attracted to this man, and yet she can't control the overwhelming desire that he stirs in her. She knows that her heart will never survive him and her instinct is telling her to run, but Jesse is not willing to let her go. He wants her and is determined to have her.

Ratings (41)

Incredible (20)
Loved It (6)
Liked It (5)
It Was OK (2)
Did Not Like (5)
Hated It (3)

Reader Stats (73):

Read It (42)
Want To Read (20)
Did Not Finish (4)
Not Interested (7)

1 comment(s)

amirex539

Incredible

5 months

One of my all time favorites ❤️

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This Man

Jodi Ellen Malpas

Book 1 in the series:This Man