This Man - A Review
To all who are reading this,
If you read yesterday's blog entry (Book Lovers Survey Tag), then you will know that my current read was This Man by Jodi Ellen Malpas, an adult contemporary novel (2013). Well, I finished it 6:14pm (GMT) today.
I thought that because I had mentioned it in the blog post, then I probably should review it now that I had finished it!
There may be spoilers. 18+.
Blurb
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 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.
I had first heard of author, Jodi Ellen Malpas, when I saw an article on Facebook about how the author left her husband, because she had fallen in love with 'the fantasy hunk' from her novels. Malpas had originally self-published this book in 2012, before being picked up for mainstream publication. The article was published back in 2014 by The Daily Mail. I had only seen this maybe a week or so ago. Click here for more details. It got me thinking how something like that could happen, and I reassured my partner that I would not be leaving him for some fantasy man from any of my books.
Anyway, I spotted This Man at the library, and was drawn in by the simplistic cover, depicting the beautiful calla lily. Now, this style cover is the current trend for contemporary romance/erotic novels. Also, it didn't help that a little yellow label shouted that this was, 'the hottest book of the year'. The blurb didn't sound bad, and I'm not averse to these kinds of books. I took it home with me.
When I started reading it, I was maybe a chapter or so in before I realised the connection to the book and the Daily Mail article. And now that I've finished the book, I'm in no immediate hurry to leave anyone for Mr Jesse Ward.
The novel follows Ava, a twenty-six year old, single, modern interior designer for the company Rococo Union. She's living with best friend, singleton and cake designer, Kate in London. Ava is hired to work her magic on rooms at The Manor, a stylish hotel. The brief? 'Sensual, intimate, luxurious, stimulating, invigorating...' This brief comes from manager, Jesse Ward, who inherited it from his uncle.
The brief of the interior design very much sums up the relationship between Ava and Jesse. What it neglects to mention is the controlling aspect of his personality. If I was Ava, I would have kicked him out the door, even when he tried to make his one hundred and one apologises. Every chapter or so, there is arguing, warnings to 'watch your language' which is very reminiscent of a parent telling a child off, being told what to wear, whether she should drink on a night out with friends, what to do, how often to spend time with each other, when to have an orgasm. There is nothing that sexy about Jesse - in fact, he's downright annoying and controlling - he's very much a dominant in and out of the bedroom. Not that there is any kink of any kinds, unlike the Eighty Days novels by Viva Jackson and the Fifty Shades series by E.L. James. Jesse's only kink seems to be the repetitive line, 'I love you in lace'.
Another thing is that Jesse never truly tells Ava his age - progressively through the novel, Ava asks him and he increases it by one each time. He reveals that this is so she doesn't think he is too old for her. We end the novel knowing that he is 'thirty-ish'.
Although, having said this, there are reasons for Jesse's attitude, but you would have to read the book for that. It has left me curious, I can't deny that.
The novel is Ava's journey into this cataclysmic, self-destructive relationship between herself and Jesse. It's well matched with the contemporary style of the day - working class girl meets handsome, rich, well proportioned guy. It's easy to follow and if you put the book down for an hour or so, it's simple to carry on with. I read most of it yesterday, before continuing and finishing it today.
There were elements of the novel that I liked - the British humour and the straightforward writing style made it easy to follow. Ava is likeable enough - she has a sparky personality. The background characters are well rounded and add elements to the novel, such as best friend Kate, who begins dating Jesse's friend, Sam. This couple are wild and funny. The sex within This Man was well written and explosive, barring Jesse's attitude and constant jibes about language.
It is the first book in the series, following on with Beneath This Man and This Man Confessed. I will continue to read the series, to see where we end up. There is potential for more here, and for this love story to continue and bloom like a beautiful calla lily.
You can find Ms Malpas on the Internet in the following places:
Facebook
Twitter
Amazon
Website
Yours, with eternal ink,
Zoe
---
Currently reading: Fire After Dark by Sadie Matthews
If you read yesterday's blog entry (Book Lovers Survey Tag), then you will know that my current read was This Man by Jodi Ellen Malpas, an adult contemporary novel (2013). Well, I finished it 6:14pm (GMT) today.
I thought that because I had mentioned it in the blog post, then I probably should review it now that I had finished it!
There may be spoilers. 18+.
BlurbYoung 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 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.
I had first heard of author, Jodi Ellen Malpas, when I saw an article on Facebook about how the author left her husband, because she had fallen in love with 'the fantasy hunk' from her novels. Malpas had originally self-published this book in 2012, before being picked up for mainstream publication. The article was published back in 2014 by The Daily Mail. I had only seen this maybe a week or so ago. Click here for more details. It got me thinking how something like that could happen, and I reassured my partner that I would not be leaving him for some fantasy man from any of my books.
Anyway, I spotted This Man at the library, and was drawn in by the simplistic cover, depicting the beautiful calla lily. Now, this style cover is the current trend for contemporary romance/erotic novels. Also, it didn't help that a little yellow label shouted that this was, 'the hottest book of the year'. The blurb didn't sound bad, and I'm not averse to these kinds of books. I took it home with me.
When I started reading it, I was maybe a chapter or so in before I realised the connection to the book and the Daily Mail article. And now that I've finished the book, I'm in no immediate hurry to leave anyone for Mr Jesse Ward.
The novel follows Ava, a twenty-six year old, single, modern interior designer for the company Rococo Union. She's living with best friend, singleton and cake designer, Kate in London. Ava is hired to work her magic on rooms at The Manor, a stylish hotel. The brief? 'Sensual, intimate, luxurious, stimulating, invigorating...' This brief comes from manager, Jesse Ward, who inherited it from his uncle.
The brief of the interior design very much sums up the relationship between Ava and Jesse. What it neglects to mention is the controlling aspect of his personality. If I was Ava, I would have kicked him out the door, even when he tried to make his one hundred and one apologises. Every chapter or so, there is arguing, warnings to 'watch your language' which is very reminiscent of a parent telling a child off, being told what to wear, whether she should drink on a night out with friends, what to do, how often to spend time with each other, when to have an orgasm. There is nothing that sexy about Jesse - in fact, he's downright annoying and controlling - he's very much a dominant in and out of the bedroom. Not that there is any kink of any kinds, unlike the Eighty Days novels by Viva Jackson and the Fifty Shades series by E.L. James. Jesse's only kink seems to be the repetitive line, 'I love you in lace'.
Another thing is that Jesse never truly tells Ava his age - progressively through the novel, Ava asks him and he increases it by one each time. He reveals that this is so she doesn't think he is too old for her. We end the novel knowing that he is 'thirty-ish'.
Although, having said this, there are reasons for Jesse's attitude, but you would have to read the book for that. It has left me curious, I can't deny that.
The novel is Ava's journey into this cataclysmic, self-destructive relationship between herself and Jesse. It's well matched with the contemporary style of the day - working class girl meets handsome, rich, well proportioned guy. It's easy to follow and if you put the book down for an hour or so, it's simple to carry on with. I read most of it yesterday, before continuing and finishing it today.
There were elements of the novel that I liked - the British humour and the straightforward writing style made it easy to follow. Ava is likeable enough - she has a sparky personality. The background characters are well rounded and add elements to the novel, such as best friend Kate, who begins dating Jesse's friend, Sam. This couple are wild and funny. The sex within This Man was well written and explosive, barring Jesse's attitude and constant jibes about language.
It is the first book in the series, following on with Beneath This Man and This Man Confessed. I will continue to read the series, to see where we end up. There is potential for more here, and for this love story to continue and bloom like a beautiful calla lily.
You can find Ms Malpas on the Internet in the following places:
Amazon
Website
Yours, with eternal ink,
Zoe
---
Currently reading: Fire After Dark by Sadie Matthews
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