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Jesse Ward has stumbled through life drinking and indulging himself within the rooms of his high-class sex club, The Manor, numbing himself to the pain, grief, and guilt of his wrongs. Pleasure and alcohol are his medicine. Hedonism is all he knows.

It’s how he copes.

How he survives.

Until Ava O’Shea strolls into his office and knocks him back with her breathtaking beauty, ambition, and drive. It only takes one look into her eyes, one touch of her skin, and one word murmured, before his heart is kick-started, offering him something he never thought possible. A distraction from his daily torment. A semblance of peace.

Women never reject Jesse Ward. They fall at his feet, melt from his charismatic, devious smile, and obey his every salacious command. All except the one woman who unwittingly becomes his obsession and the only thing that can keep him from the brink of self-destruction.

He needs Ava and will do anything to have her.

Even hide every last skeleton in his large closet.

Because the truth could destroy them both.

582 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 15, 2022

969 people are currently reading
3287 people want to read

About the author

Jodi Ellen Malpas

48 books20.1k followers
#1 New York Times & Sunday Times Bestselling Author Jodi Ellen Malpas was born and raised in England, where she lives with her husband, her boys, and Theo the Doberman.

Writing powerful love stories with fierce, memorable characters is her passion – a passion that has taken her on an amazing journey into the world of romantic fiction. Her work is now published in more than twenty-six languages across the world.

Jodi's next release: The Invitation. Check it out on Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/...

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5 stars
2,196 (58%)
4 stars
893 (23%)
3 stars
409 (10%)
2 stars
149 (4%)
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77 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 561 reviews
Profile Image for Shabby  -BookBistroBlog.
1,864 reviews966 followers
November 8, 2022
I met Jesse Ward 8 years ago. He's been mine, I've been his ever since.
Then I travelled far and wide in booklandia. Meeting other handsome alphas, gorgeous swoon-worthy males. Some tattoed, some broken, some adorable. Some were created by Jodi herself. They all were gifted lovers, take-charge powerful men, stole my heart at numerous time.
But NOBODY...I mean NOBODY has ever come close to Jesse Ward.
He's the Ultimate #LordOfTheManor #MyLordJesseWard

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"I can’t escape. I can’t be free of this self-sabotage. I’m my own worst enemy. A failure. The deadliest kind of poison. Out of my mind in all ways. "

His absolute maniacal, crazy mad, deep love for Ava was unfathomable and immeasurable in This Man series. And I'd always wondered WHY?
What made him so paranoid?
why the insecurity?.
I mean He was the most delicious male specimen ever created in the history of Book Boyfriends, he could have any girl he wanted...including me. *hint**hint *
This book This Woman explains why. The root cause of his I stable soul and scared heart.
This book is not only Jesse's POV, It is So Much MORE!!. If I adored and loved Jesse deeply before, I worshipped him as I came to end of this book.

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"Cupid has rammed his fucking arrow through my heart, the sadistic bastard, and reminded me that I do, in fact, have one. "

His fragile heart has been broken so many times that he's now forgotten how to fix it. He lives dragging his tattered soul behind him, races through life as if on a death wish, indulges to the point of self-destruction.......till he meets Ava O'Shea "She’s magic. A cure. My savior? "

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Now he's like a child with death grip on his fave toy. Having tasted a fresh breath of promise, felt a golden ray of sunshine on his darkness enveloped heart, he doesn't want to let go and will move heaven and earth to keep it forever.

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"I love the feeling of my heart beating for the first time in forever.” As if it deserves to. "

The hilarious internal monologues and lopsided Justifications he gave himself for his Over The TOP behaviour was the most fun to read.

"Controlling? I’m not controlling. There’s absolutely no control anywhere to be found. "
OR
"I’ll convince her it’s a great idea. Just watch me. "


He questions his own motives, then proceeds to simplify them and answer them to HIS liking and "Nods agreeably"
#OhMyLord there's NO ONE like you.
But I want to be Ava and object of his steadfast desire for eternity.
I do know why Ava abandons, I do realize The Lord messed up, but still I wept for him. I wanted to cuddle him, save him from the misery.
Jodi has handled Jesse's POV with sensitivity and utmost care, my love for him has grown tenfold now. Queen of writing has rendered me speechless again.
And the craving for him got so bad I reread This Man.
*sigh** I'm on #CentralJesseCloudNine and I don't wanna come back from This paradise.
#WriteFasterJodi
5 stars for Yoga Pro Lord
Follow me on:
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Profile Image for trestitia ⵊⵊⵊ deamorski.
1,530 reviews448 followers
December 19, 2022

FIRST BUT NOT LEAST


I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW I STAND EVA... AGAIN AND AGAIN... JESUS FUCKING 'CRIES'...

Now... Zero baby.

There is noting much to say. It's been ten fucking years and I already read the series more than once.
Book #4 & #5 or new series from hero's pov is the new black but there is not much I enjoyed, I even didn't bother to start some of them. This one is good, though. I'm glad it's good because Jesse Ward is my favorite manipulative control freak alpha, so reading him as vulnerable and desperate and arrogant and so damn in love is smth. But it was hard to read when he cracked or cheated-ish on her, not bc I can't accept it but bc it's just sad.

I CAN'T FUCKING WAIT FOR #2 WHEN HE DRUNK HIMSELF INTO COMA.

{[(I'll add quotes later)]}

my work here is done
xoxoxo
iko



Nothing personel about Tyler Cook but he is not Jesse.
OK my cast is Chris Pine (current era) but that's not the case.
I'm still dying it's passionflix presents...
watever.
Profile Image for ✰ Bianca ✰ BJ's Book Blog ✰ .
2,310 reviews1,328 followers
November 15, 2022
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Ava + Jesse

We all know this story. Ava told it to us years ago.
And now it's Jesse's turn to tell his side of everything!
And I mean everything!
We start with a little look into teenaged Jesse and what happened back then.
And then of course we meet Ava for the first time and Jesse is done for.
It's like his heart is finally starting to beat again after so many years.
But we know it won't be easy to get to that happy end with Ava with all his secrets and his past and his enemies ....

══════════════════

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Oy! 🔥

Ugh! I usually don't like these 'his-side-of-the-story' books that come out years later. But we all love Jesse so much - we just have to read this and love it!
And I did love it. And hate it. Or rather hated parts and people in it - like we did before of course.
But it's somehow all so much more interesting when the guy tells the story.
I just loved listening to his crazy.
But I also kind of missed Ava's thoughts. We don't get anything from her - obviously. But it bothered me more than it usually does in these books. Ugh - that's why I hate single POV books. I need both my people to talk to me in my books.
And with Ava's thoughts completely missing here - we don't get the complete picture. We miss the falling in love thing completly in my opinion. If I were a new reader and hadn't read the old books - I would've stopped reading at so many crazy Jesse moments!
I read Ava's books twice at least - and even I was this close to stop reading a few times.
Jesse needed therapy so badly ages ago. Poor guy.

He said it best himself in the book:

Someone needs to have a serious word with me
because I'm trying myself and getting nowhere.


There's not much more I could say without telling you all the secrets. Which is stupid because you might think you already know everything. But you don't ....
(insert creepy Halloween laughter!)

This book is a 100% Must Read for all fans of Jesse!
I would not recommend this for new reades. Please read Ava's books first.
You will get the shock(s) of your life if you start with Jesse's side. LOL!

I loved reading this book and I can't wait to get the next ones in Jesse's POV.
Like I said before there are some moments where you want to stop reading or where you just want to hit him over the head with your kindle. (Especially that one time in the beginning when he has those stupid few days! Ugh - I wanted to k*ll him!)
But the poor guy has a lot of growing up to do - despite his age he's still a young boy. With his horrible parents and his lifestyle he never really had a chance to mature in a normal way. Which does not excuse his horrible behavior but we can understand him at least a little bit.
Okay - that's all. READ this book if you love Jesse and if you don't yet know him - get Ava's books and fall in love with them for the very first time. It won't be easy but it'll be worth it!

THIS WOMAN is a Must Read for all fans of Jesse and Ava - and if you haven't read Ava's side of things yet - run - don't walk - RUN to your nearest book dealer and buy those books! And then come back for Jesse's side of everything!
You'll get Sexy. Crazy. Sweet. Erotic. Insane. Adorable. Hot. Funny. Loco. And most importantly you'll get.... the Lord himself: JESSE WARD!! THIS SERIES IS A MUST READ!


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Profile Image for Jan.
1,233 reviews971 followers
Read
November 19, 2022
DNF 35%

Tell the same story twice, from different POVs, and making it interesting, is definitely a challenge.
This Woman from Jesses's POV failed big time.
It's repetitive and poorly executed.
On top of that, Jesses' character is very annoying. I can't take Jesses' immaturity anymore.
Therefore, I am out.
Peace, folks!☮️
313 reviews10 followers
November 18, 2022
I read This Man hundreds of books ago, and at the time I loved it. I thought it was awesome. Reading This Woman now, after having read so many good books since made me realize that I don’t like Jesse. A lot. And even if I tried to reread This Man, I doubt I’d be able to get through it because I don’t really like Ava either.

Points:

Jesse is an alcoholic
Jesse, being an alcoholic, has an addictive personality.
Jesse is addicted to Ava in that she gives him better relief than alcohol.

I hate Sarah more in this book than I did in TM, yet I still feel bad about how she is slut shamed.

I hate the amount of smut and sex. And let’s have anal, followed by vaginal sex without a condom! Yay UTIs!!!

And having been trapped by a woman, I can’t believe he actually has the audacity to rationalize stealing her birth control. Obviously I read this before, but it just seems so much worse reading about him dropping her pills down the drain.

Overall, I greatly disliked the book. And if I’m being honest with myself, If I hadn’t previously read This Man, I would have DNF’d this one. But morbid curiosity led me to skimming so that I could at least bash it properly.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for MELISSA *Mel Reader*.
1,444 reviews1,497 followers
November 17, 2022
5 Stars!
(ARC provided by Valentine PR)

5D9C84D6-23F2-4D8D-BF9A-BC948C996392

Jesse Ward had been on a downward spiral for years living a life of opulence and indulgence. He owned an elite club in London where he attempted to forget his regrets and cope with his memories any way he could. He felt helpless to his demons and consumed by his past. Most days he was a mess and thought he was beyond hope and broken. Then he crosses paths with a beautiful woman named Ava O’Shea. There’s a connection there he can’t dismiss or run away from. It’s so much more than attraction. These unexpected, intense, overwhelming feelings startle him and make him feel irrational. She’s ignited something inside him, and he desperately craves her. She excites him, and her touch drives him wild. He wants her to need him like he needs her. He’s not used to having to work so hard for a woman, and he’s suddenly in uncharted territory. He’s not sure if he deserves her, but he’s prepared to seduce her anyway. He feels an odd sense of contentment and belonging he’s never felt before, and he wants her to be his. Will she be his undoing or the one thing that saves him from his pain?

97C1421F-3CB1-4B80-9DC1-430AA0527BDB

This Woman (This Man- The Story from Jesse #1) by Jodi Ellen Malpas was everything I wanted and more! It reminded me how much I’ve missed Jesse Ward and his unique seduction. The Lord of the Manor never disappoints! We get a sexy story with angst, explosive chemistry, delicious pleasure and fabulous banter, but we also get so much more. We get into Jesse’s head since it’s written from his POV, and we also get some of his past. I almost felt like I was meeting Jesse for the first time. I just adore these characters and loved getting what felt like a new version of one of my favorite books. I enjoyed being back on Central Jesse Cloud Nine! <333

708800B6-901E-4A2B-8B1A-C8DCD774F259_zpsqkbfrd0n

***NOW AVAILABLE***
https://amzn.to/3XaADgW
Profile Image for Yvonne (the putrid Shelf).
956 reviews376 followers
November 13, 2022
Jodie Ellen Malpas is back with the man that started it all, Jesse Ward. The trademark emotion is back. This Woman is bleeding in authenticity, welcome back to Jessie Cloud nine!

This Woman is Jesse Ward’s POV from the This Man series. It’s the story that we always wanted but didn’t think we’d get. Not going to lie, I’m a slave for this series, and always have been. I must have read it around five times. Jodie Ellen Malpas weaves a tale of trauma and emotional pain, and it doesn’t fail to tug at the heartstrings. It leaves an imprint that doesn’t fail to leave an imprint upon the brain, leaving us thinking about the story for hours and days later. It’s a story that opens the never-ending conundrum of why people behave the way they do.

The first installment, This Woman, could be read on its own but to get into the thrall that these characters have upon you, it would be best to read the This Man series first. Jesse Ward delves into his deeply flawed character, and you get immersed in Malpas’ raw and gritty writing style. Alongside adoring Jesse, which is never going to change, we see the events that played a central role in his trampling and controlling-ish behaviour. The loss of his brother started the derailing and it set him up for a life of self-destruction and alcohol abuse.

“I’ll always win. She needs to get used to that. Especially when she’s the prize.“

Don’t get me wrong sometimes you need to smack this man around the head. He acts quite unreasonable and brutish but reading his POV makes perfect sense. The events that happened in his early years were traumatic and had a deep impact. A scar that never faded, it broke his heart time and time again, everything was fresh, still too fresh and raw that he needed something to make him numb – that thing was alcohol and random hookups. The reality is that it broke him further, he didn’t have any self-belief and didn’t think he deserved anything good. Then Ava walked into his office and the rest as they say is history.

If you think that you’re just getting This Man all over again, be assured this is a new story, a different side of Jesse, the reactions and reasons of a deeply flawed man, but one that is determined to grasp the future with both hands and trample it until it listens.

It might be over ten years since Jodi shared Jessie with us, but the love and frustration have never waned. Lovers of the This Man series should get their trigger finger ready because you are going to love every delectable page of This Woman.
Profile Image for Lisa Pearson.
413 reviews15 followers
November 15, 2022
THE LORD IS BACK…

After 10 years, the Lord is back. Telling the story of This Man and so much more in his own words.

Oh my goodness, This Woman is epic! I loved it! The prologue is set in Jesse past, it was so emotional and set the bar and feel of how this story was going to unfold from Jesse Ward’s pov.
Then we fast forward 21 years, we find Jesse at The Manor fighting his demon’s with Vodka and woman …And then Ava in walks …BOOM.

Obviously, if you’ve read This Man, you know the story. Wrong…Let me tell you, there is so much more to This Woman than a retelling of a story from the opposite pov. I always knew Jesse had the most tragic, saddest, broken story to tell. And he certainly does that, you get snippets of his broken past through flashbacks that really pull at your heartstrings.
There are so many moments in This Man that leaves you thinking…what!…why? You get a front row seat in understanding Jesse’s controlling and neurotic ways, his obsession and devotion to Ava. What drives him to behave is such ways, the internal battles he has with himself daily about his actions and crazy decisions. And of course the countdown… Jesse does make me laugh with his behaviour at times, he even makes himself laugh.
Getting inside The Lords head does show his behaviour in a whole new light, and I did find myself sympathising with him more. He’s such a desperate, broken man who finally feels he may have found his cure, and a path to redemption. Not that he ever believes he deserves redemption.

< She’s the impossible. The unthinkable. The cure. >

Now, let’s talk about the secondary characters we all know, love…and hate. You get to know so much more about these characters too, especially those in Jesse’s circle, Sam, Drew, John and Sarah amongst others. You even …dare I say it, feel a little more than hatred towards Sarah. You get more of an understanding on how she must be feeling when Ava rocks up, threatening the only constant in her life, other than The Manor …the man himself, Jesse. She too has lost massively in the past and under all that leather, is a broken, desperate woman too.

Obviously it was great reading parts with fun Sam and moody Drew. Some humorous parts with those guys. And, Motherf@cking John…love that guy. What he puts up with, with Jesse truly shows how much he loves and cares for him like a son.

As always with Jodi’s Ellen Malpas, her attention to detail is spot on. I found no inconsistencies between The Man and This Woman. And I know This Man like the back of my hand lol. We find out what Jesse gets up to in those “four days”, the women vying for him, we get it all, and some.
This Woman is superbly written and just shows you how much Jodi has progressed and grown as a writer over the last ten years, adding so much more to an already hugely popular book.
It is so much more than a retelling and covering the Hero and Heroines encounters. It’s like reading a whole new story along side the story we know and love. It’s like reading it for the first time again. The story maybe ten years old, but JEM has made it feel refreshing and new through the eyes of Jesse Ward

Driving back through the gates of The Manor with Jesse and Ava, felt like returning to my happy place.

So finally, for those cynical readers that don’t particularly like a story from the opposite pov, I urge you and recommend you to read This Woman. You will be hugely surprised.
Five amazing motherf@cking stars…end of! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Profile Image for Sentranced Jem.
1,187 reviews604 followers
November 30, 2022
Everything about Jesse Ward is perfect.
The Original Alphahole is back and I am here for it! I was more than ready to be catapulted to Central Jesse Cloud Nine.
I more than adore the This Man series. It's one of my go series when I feel like I'm in a book slump, it's the series that I turn to when I want to be completely swept off my feet.. It's Jesse and I love this character.
So it's really no surprise that I loved This Woman. A POV from the Lord of the manor himself? Sign me up!
Profile Image for Ilaria &#x1f338;.
738 reviews43 followers
November 19, 2022
Years ago I loved their story
This POV is
🥁
Boring
Addiction apology
Sex without protection first back door then front door 🦠
immature billionaire
Doormath silly young iwilllsaveyoufromaddiction complex
Well witten
2 tiny stars
Profile Image for Katherine Chaytor.
623 reviews76 followers
November 8, 2022
Jesse is BACK!!

Hold onto your knickers!!

This Woman is a total 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Epic read!

Jodi has given us not only Jesse’s POV, but basically a whole new story. That’s what it felt like reading This Woman. It was like meeting Jesse Ward for the very first time. I didn’t reread any of the This Man trilogy beforehand and I’m so grateful I didn’t. Yes I know I’m weird, but I wanted to read this with a clear mind. He charmed me again. I thought his mind would be utter chaos and it is, don’t get me wrong, but I totally had a better understanding of him.
For those readers that didn’t necessarily take to Jesse Ward and ‘his ways’ back in the day, I do highly recommend reading his story. You will find a totally different Jesse. One you can relate to, one that you can understand why he has ‘his ways’ and why, deep down he is one broken man…until he meets his Temptress, his beloved Ava.

“I can’t let you leave me,” I whisper, stroking down her arm and taking her hand. “I’m sorry.”

Oh Jesse 😩

So yes, Jodi has done it again and waved her magic fingers in writing a truly beautiful love story. We will now be talking about This Man, Jesse Ward for another 10 years no doubt. The Lord of the Manor is here to stay…and you won’t ever get over him.
Profile Image for Katerina.
358 reviews7 followers
November 17, 2022
Oh my poor Jesse 😭😭😭💔💔💔

________________________
Finally The Lord is here😭😭🖤🖤
Profile Image for Beeg Panda.
1,572 reviews552 followers
Want to read
October 22, 2022
🫣Chapter 1

April 2012
My nose wrinkles. My closed eyes clench. My waking brain pounds like a motherfucker. I open one eye and come face to face with an empty bottle, the damn thing practically touching my nose. I groan and roll onto my back, away from it. Good fucking God. My head feels like an army of soldiers is stomping its way through it.

I lift my hand on a sigh and rest it on my forehead, trying to compress the thuds. Painkillers. I need painkillers. And water. Get me some fucking water.

I drag myself up, resting back on my elbows, and peek around the room, searching for more evidence of my heavy night. I spy my clothes on the floor. But no others with it. No bra, no knickers. I hitch a brow in surprise. Don’t tell me I went to bed alone.

“Water?”

I startle and look at the bathroom door, finding a naked woman—her name escapes me—leaning against the door with a glass in her hand.

“You look like you need it.” Another woman appears behind her, also naked, except for the smile she’s wearing. I definitely know her name. Fucking hell, what was I thinking entertaining Coral again? The woman is in love with me. I’m not assuming. She’s told me. Repeatedly. I knew getting into bed with her and her husband to fulfill their wild fantasies was a mistake. Now she’s left him. Now, I have a pissed off copper on my back. And now she’ll take me however I come, always drunk and, last night, even with another woman.

“Want some help up?”

Make that another two women.

You’re a fuck-up, Ward. A total, uncontrollable fuck-up.

I fall back to the mattress and pull the sheet over my head. “Any more of you hiding in there?” I ask. Jesus, I can’t remember a thing.

I hear the bedroom door open. Then silence.

Then . . .

“Okay, the orgy’s over,” Sarah says, sounding as unimpressed as usual. She’s got a nerve. I bet she’s been thrashing man after man all fucking night. “Out.”

“I’m a paying member,” one of them retorts, as indignant as fuck.

“Not if I cancel it,” Sarah counters. I can hear the smugness in her tone. “No need to get dressed,” she adds, and I peek out from under the sheet, seeing her gathering up clothes from the floor at the end of the bed and chucking them at the women. She’s pissed off. Pissed off because there were three women in my bed last night, and she wasn’t one of them.

She escorts them out, slams the door, and then starts collecting up various toys from the floor and shoving them in a basket ready to be cleaned. “Why didn’t you stay at your rental last night?” she asks.

“It’s lonely.” I swing my legs off the bed and stand. And wobble. And groan. Fuck me, why do I punish myself like this? On cue, a million flashbacks parade through my sore head, reminding me of my wrongs. As if I need reminding. But in case I do, my scar twinges too, and I rub at it as I wander to the bathroom. I can feel Sarah’s eyes on my back as I go. “What time is it?” I call back.

“Too early for a drink.”

“Fuck you,” I mutter under my breath, flipping the shower on. It’s never too early for a drink. Never too early to escape.

“You have an appointment with your lawyer at three, remember? To sign the papers for your new place. I’ve arranged for the transfer.”

“When am I moving in?” I ask, stepping into the shower and standing there. Just standing there, letting the hot water wash away last night’s shame, at the same time wishing this water could wash away my regret. My past. Wash away me.

“A week Saturday. The developers have the launch night on the Friday, then it’s all yours.”

I look at the bathroom door when Sarah appears, leaning on the frame. She seriously needs to stop with all that stuff she pumps into her face. It’s having the reverse effect these days, making her look older instead of younger and fresher. “So my new apartment will be full of strangers wandering around messing it up?”

“It’s in the contract. The developer has assured us it’ll be left as good as new for you to move into.”

I set about washing my hair. “What else?”

“We need to talk about the new rooms. Décor, design, layout, equipment, that kind of thing.”

I work up a lather, closing my eyes and trying to enjoy the spray while Sarah bothers me. “John’s sorting the equipment,” I tell her. “As for the décor, call the company who did my new place.”

“You want the Lusso designer?”

“Yeah, why not? All that Italian shit looks great.” Really great. The penthouse I now own is fucking incredible, but the décor? Yeah, whoever did that knows what they’re doing. It’s good. Very good. Tasteful. And if The Manor is anything, it’s tasteful. Past the orgies and illicitness, of course. I smile as I rinse my hair, thinking Carmichael would be proud of what it’s become. Then it drops when I think about how disappointed he’d be by what I have become.

I flinch and shake my head free of those thoughts. “What’s the time?” I ask as I step out of the shower. Sarah doesn’t control her roving eye.

“Still too early for a drink.” She pulls a towel off the rail and chucks it at me. “I’ll call Rococo Union,” she says as she leaves me in peace.

I frown. “Who’s Rococo Union?”

“The designers of your new swanky penthouse,” she calls. “What should I say when they ask what kind of establishment this is?”

I go to the mirror and immediately look away from the drained-looking man staring back at me. My green eyes look dull, my skin sallow. “It’s The Manor, that’s it. No need to give them a rundown of everything that happens within its walls, Sarah.”

“Why? Are you ashamed?”

I don’t entertain her. She knows I couldn’t give a flying fuck what people think of me or my establishment. I just can’t be bothered to feed their curiosity.



As I descend the sweeping staircase to the lobby, John wanders out of the bar. His wraparounds are perfectly in place as always, but I know his eyes will be narrowed behind them. I reach the bottom and stretch my hamstrings, nodding to staff as they pass. “All right?” I ask.

His face remains impassive. “Stayed the night again?”

I give him a tired look but hold back my retort, because if there’s one man on this earth who deserves my respect, it’s John. “I’m going for a run.” I need to clear the cobwebs off. And the drink. And the sin.

I head for the doors.

“Just tell me,” he says, pulling me to a stop. I don’t turn around. “Why the fuck have you spent millions on a penthouse apartment when you crash here every night?”

It’s a reasonable question. I turn to face him, pulling my heel to my arse to stretch my thigh. “It’s an investment.” What else should I spend my money on? My car’s paid for, my bikes are paid for, this place is paid for, I don’t need to pay for gym membership, food, and drink.

Or sex.

And I certainly haven’t got anyone to leave my money to.

“We’re here for a good time, John.”

He shakes his head, and I know he’s thinking Uncle Carmichael would turn in his grave. “Or,” he starts, “perhaps you’ve bought it because a tiny part of your fucked-up brain, which makes a brief appearance most mornings when you wake up with a pounding head and a few women in bed, is telling you that you need to get the fuck out of this lifestyle.” He turns and wanders toward the bar.

Yeah, and maybe that too.

“Go on holiday, Jesse,” he calls back.

“I just got back from Cortina.”

“That wasn’t a holiday. That was a change of scenery.” He disappears into the bar as I drop my heel from my arse. He’s right, of course. But in my defense, I went with good intentions. A detox, if you will. Then I found the minibar and a few hot Swedish women. It spiraled from there.

My head is suddenly pounding again, and I glance around The Manor’s lobby. Opulence and grandeur stretch to every corner. From floor to ceiling. Every inch of this place drips sophistication. I look up the stairs to the private suites. Why the fuck wouldn’t I want to stay here every night?

Because it’s slowly killing you.

Run.

I turn and break into a sprint. And I don’t stop. Not for miles. My head empties and my body loosens, my mind focused on the feel of my feet hitting the ground constantly. Peace.

And that sense of freedom only intensifies the farther I get away from The Manor.


https://jodiellenmalpas.co.uk/this-wo...
Profile Image for Gi's Spot Reviews.
1,133 reviews1,361 followers
November 15, 2022
4.5 'My Cure' Stars


Lord, oh Lord, pun intended!!! I thought I knew This Man with how obsessed I am with all things Jesse Ward, well, seems I knew nothing! Utterly ADDICTIVE, heart wrenchingly POWERFUL and scorchingly SEXY, Ms. Malpas once again weaved her unique writing magic and blew my romance lover mind with This Woman! Just as Jesse, I am OBSESSED beyond belief, its EXQUISITE in every way possible!!!



Full Review to come...




ARC kindly provided by the author via Valentine PR for an honest review
Profile Image for Christine B.
547 reviews99 followers
December 5, 2022
This woman was amazing told in Jesse POV...The man who trample all over us. To read how much Jesse loved Ava...the laughter and confidence he felt with being with her. Seeing where all of Jesse's fears comes from...his dominace, protectiveness, brokeness & losses.

I love-ish this POV told by Jesse's made you fall all over the man who trample over our hearts. I can't wait til the next-ish book. Congrats of a book well done, it couldn't have been easy going back over all these emotions Jesse's character have!!!!
December 10, 2022
4 ⭐'s

I was sooo excited when I heard this book was coming out. I definitely wanted to get more of the juicy details and I just looovve me some Jesse.

And boy was this intense. My heart went out a bit to Jesse...he is a hot mess but it did explain a lot even if it was hard knowing what was coming.

It was weird getting the story from Jesse's POV especially when it came to Ava. I didn't exactly like her as much...lol. I wasn't happy with the way she treated Jesse and I felt really bad about that!

And of course, it ends at the worse possible place. But even more devastating is that the next book, With This Woman, doesn't come out until October 31, 2023!!
Profile Image for Jill.
236 reviews45 followers
November 9, 2022
DNF at 30%

I usually like alpha-men, especially when done right. But Jesse was definitely giving creep vibes with someone he saw once and already wants to claim her. There was no lead up to it bc they had one conversation and she had already denied him in the first place. Also, he acts like she’s a little girl and scolds her when she curses. I simply couldn’t continue.
Profile Image for Ang C.
755 reviews113 followers
Read
February 15, 2022
Not sure about this retelling of a beloved series from Jesse's POV. It rarely works for me when authors do this and too many years have passed since the series was published. I think I'll leave the lord of the manor and his story right were I left him and Ava.
Profile Image for Yamina -Women Who Stare at Books.
828 reviews71 followers
November 16, 2022
The lord of the manor is back and I love him even more!

The Lord of the manor is Back and gosh I missed him so much. Jesse Ward was my very first book boyfriend, I fell in love with him…the rest is history…

When Jodi Ellen Malpas announced that she wrote This Woman from Jesse’s point of view, I was so excited and could not wait to get hold of the book.
JEM nailed it again with This Woman.
I loved it. I devoured it. I couldn't put it down. It was a perfect mix of everything you could ever wish for in a sexy, addictive romance! It'll make you blush, and even break your heart at times, but then made you swoon and laugh out loud again. I love the relationship between Jesse , Drew, Sam and John.
I felt so many emotions for Jesse , I felt his pain, his turmoil… I felt how broken he was and how much Ava meant to him. She is his lifeline and his anchor that is why as far as she is concerned there is no limits, nothing and no on that can take her away from him. He loves her hard and his love can be overwhelming but he always gets his own way. I love their banter! AWWWW! So funny and sizzling! The sparks between them is FIRE! It was heartbreaking, exciting and all things inbetween.

What I have learned is that Jesse is his worst enemy and it was heartwrenching to read how he perceives himself.
I FREAKING LOVED IT!!
* Arc kindly provided for an honest review
Profile Image for Deanna❤Pink Lady❤️.
820 reviews845 followers
November 16, 2022
5 “Still Loved” Stars

I fell in love with Ava O’Shea and Jesse Ward, The Lord of the Manor, back in This Man. It was a love fest for the entire series. So when I heard that the author was going to retell the story from Jesse’s POV I knew I had to go in again. A sort of reread is always wonderful when you loved the original series.

This is an intense love story full of angst, secrets, passionate chemistry, cheeky banter and obsession. Being in Jesse’s head is exhausting and consuming. He is an over the top, obsessive, demanding, broken alpha. But knowing his past, it’s more understandable why his behavior is as such. His love and need for Ava is real and something that he’s never experienced before and it drives him scared and crazy. Until he meets Ava, his life is one of coping from his past. He drinks until he forgets and is obsessed with sex to numb his pain. But when Ava and Jesse lock eyes, their tumultuous and passionate love story begins and Jesse’s quest to be loved and accepted also begins.

Nothing better than being back on Central Jesse Cloud Nine!!

*Advanced copy provided by Valentine PR in exchange for an honest review*
Profile Image for PP's Bookshelf.
2,719 reviews393 followers
November 18, 2022
Have you ever read an amazing book that consumed you so much that you wish you could read it for first time all over again? Then you would get my feels about This Woman by Jodi Ellen Malpas. For oldies like me who have met and got ridiculously obsessed with Jesse Ward and haven't got over it even after so many years..this is like the ultimate gift. To revisit the epic story from the view point of the Lord of the Manor with never before seen secrets, heartbreaking details of his tragic past and an insight about his dark possessive heart when it comes to Ava O'shea. And for readers who have not experienced the romancelandia shaking phenomenon called Jesse Ward with all his infuriating, breathtaking, broken alpha glory...this is your chance. I can say with 200% conviction that you have not read romance if you have not read this series. And This Woman proved me right once again.

This is not an exact pov change. This story is almost a complete new one. Lord of the exclusive Sex club The Manor,Jesse Ward becomes obsessed with the designer he hired for his new rooms in his club. But unlike other women, she is not falling at his feet..but Jesse needs her to silence her demons.

People say you never forget first love and I didn't forget Jesse. Damn this man. He will make you go crazy and frustrated and obsessed and you will think what is wrong with you because you should not love his over possessive, over controlling, over obsessive ways with Ava but you cannot stop loving him! This story shows us the ugly angry demons in his past that has turned him into this heartless hopeless brooding man. And this story also shows how Ava came into his life as an angel. I love Ava. I love her fierce stubborn personality but let's face it.. this book is all Jesse. He does a lot of infuriating ridiculous upsetting things and I wanted to smack him a few times but my heart is just hopelessly in love with this complex man with his flaws. My heart breaks for him and I cannot help but swoon over his desperation for Ava. Sigh to have a man who so intensely and deeply wants..scratch that..need his woman. Jesse Ward is a legend. And meeting him all over again was surreal.

I reviewed an early copy voluntarily
Profile Image for 25 Readings Or More.
768 reviews161 followers
September 19, 2023
I'm sure we all agreed that Jesse Ward is the ultimate:
- book boyfriend;
- Alpha Man;
- obsessive and jealous man;
- control freak;
- seggs god 🔥🔥🔥
And we all freaking love him because he is also cute af, in a crazy way but still cute 😍😍😍

However being inside his mind was a rollercoaster....I knew he had his demons but reading about them was kinda hard.
His behaviours make much more sense now, reading how he thinks like, how scared he is of losing Ava...
But damn if it doesn't make me murderous his lifestyle, Sarah, Coral, Frija ect... 🤬🤬🤬🤬
In the end The Lord always drives me crazy in good and bad ways... and i wouldn’t want him in any other way 😌
Profile Image for tatireader.
276 reviews
June 6, 2024
“ I never seen a women so clearly”
the whole story in Jesse point of view and usually I don’t care when romance in particularly do the turn around. But I was going to reread This Man series, wait I can read it again in Jesse, nice to see Ava though Jesse eye how much he want her from the start to understand a little of alpha, manipulating control freak of a man also read this book in Jesse pov made the book fell very dark and lonely compare to the original Ava pov
Profile Image for ReadingTilTheBreakOfDawn.
1,858 reviews95 followers
November 16, 2022
Oh Jesse Jesse Jesse.
This book is for the readers who first fell in love with Jesse Ward during the This Man series. We always had hoped for Jesse's POV and now we get it and get to see what happened to Jesse in the past that brought out the Jesse we know with Ava O'Shea.

This isn't exactly a retelling of This Man, but it is Jesse's story of his past and his strong feelings and connection toward Ava. And man is it a trip! We start the story with Jesse's past and it just steam rolls you (as does Mr Ward) and helps you understand the way Jesse loves so fiercely, but also his coldness towards others. I was heartbroken for young Jesse. But fast forward to our Lord of the Manor and man, did that guy make some very questionable decisions, especially under the influence of alcohol. The women, the sex, his controlling ways. It just all adds up. But there's something about Jesse Ward.

This Woman is only the first book and we will get 2 more soon. I can't wait to read the rest of the journey from Jesse's POV. He's intense, controlling and I gotta say, although I loved him in the past and still do, you gotta remember this is fiction and I would never want to be or see someone in a relationship like the one these two are in. With all that said, give me more Jesse and give me all his crazy ass ways and every kind of reminder sex!!! 3, 2, 1, zero baby!
Profile Image for Csenge Szabó.
39 reviews
April 21, 2025
DNF
A 227. oldalnál feladtam. Ezt a csávót addig kellene ütni amíg él.☺️
Profile Image for JanFromNJ.
697 reviews9 followers
December 1, 2022
Some books you read thru rather quickly and move onto the next one. This is NOT one of those books. This Woman is one you dive into and stay a while. . . A long while.

As this book is released, we have been celebrating the 10 year anniversary of the original story - This Man. This book is told from Jesse Ward’s point of view and if you think it’s a retelling of This Man, you would be wrong. It’s much, much more. In fact, This Woman is a NEW STORY - it’s a deep dive into the head of Jesse, Lord of the Manor, and buckle up - it’s intense as hell.

In This Woman we learn more about Jesse’s relationship with his mates, Sam and Drew, and their banter will make you laugh. They are true friends; even brother-ish. There’s more from John as the big guy is always by Jesse’s side, cussing him out as usual when he needs tough love, but also giving us much more. We see Sarah and Jesse’s relationship much clearer and yes, we may feel some sympathy toward her too. She’s trying to hold onto the Jesse she’s always known who seems to be slipping away as he falls more and more for Ava.

But this story is all about Jesse Ward, his demons, the women from the Manor that obsess over him, his struggles with his past colliding with his present and his newfound love, Ava O’Shea. She’s unexpected. He’s confused by his immediate reaction to her. And mostly, Jesse is terrified of feeling anything more than lust for a woman. He’s terrified that she’ll discover what the Manor really is; his past mistakes; his regrets. And Jesse believes that everyone he loves is taken from him and is terrified Ava will be next. Yes, he recognizes early on that he’s falling in love with Ava.

Reading about the inner thoughts of Jesse, his tragic past, his struggles to believe in himself, to believe he deserves love, that he deserves Ava, is a lot to absorb and it’s a heartbreaking, captivating story. It’s all beautifully written. Congratulations Jodi on delivering this gut wrenching emotional ride. Thank you for giving us ALL of Jesse Ward - and so much more.

I was not ready.
Profile Image for Emma.
685 reviews7 followers
November 13, 2022
THE MOST INTOXICATING MAN EVER.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“I’m going to get lost in you.”
🤍

Top read of the year without a doubt. Maybe my favourite read by Jodi so ever.

Reading this story was like coming home. It was a comfort I didn’t know how much I needed. I felt 19 again. I felt giddy. The excitement was there from the first page.
The beginning of this book was a moment for me. And I’m sure for other readers it will be too. I was completely pulled in, like I haven't read this story before.
It was like reading This Man for the first time but better. I’m a reader who will always prefer the man's POV and Jodi is the best person to write from a man POV.
She absolutely killed it with this one.

This book shows you how Jesse copes, how he survives the life that he has and why he is the way he is.
Being in his head was consuming. His thoughts, his behaviour, the patterns he has with woman, drink and the closest people around him. It was truly brilliant to read. Even when the book has it’s moments of making me feel very emotional, I still had a smile on my face. Jesse's personality is amazing. I feel in love with him all over again, but not only with Jesse. But with Sam, Drew, John, Kate and even Sarah.
Seeing Jesse life though his eyes took me to a place Ava book didn’t. We don’t always get to be inside a damaged man’s head, it’s always the woman’s. I now understand Ava more. I’ve always had love her for and I still love her now all these years later.
I now feel like I understand how intense and how chaotic he made her life and why she did keep running.
Let’s remember how obsessed Jesse was. This man fell hard and fast and took over her life.

“She’s magic. A cure.”
(She really is.)

“she’s embedded in my brain, and I’m fucked if I can dig her out.”

This is not just another book told from a the males pov. It’s not the same story as This Man. This is Jesse’s story, his past and his present and THIS WOMAN. It was one of the best reads ever.
I loved every single minute it. I can’t wait for the next book.

HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND
Profile Image for Gerda.
774 reviews
November 18, 2022
Eight years ago I read "This Man" and loved the story and the MCs, now I don't really know how I feel about Jesse. Without knowing the whole plot I would have stopped reading after a few chapters, Jesse appears to be a stalker, an obsessed, jealous, violent, spoiled brat without moral compass.

The book retells the story from Jesse's POV and we get to know what he did while Ava was working. It is not a lot, he doesn't do paperwork at the manor but is pining after Ava all day long. Repeatedly reading the same thoughts in his brain is really boring. He is insanely obsessed with her, wallows in self-pity and self-contempt, and is a coward. He knows he has to clear Avas misapprehension about his "hotel" before one of his friends accidently does but always finds excuses why he doesn't.
For about 16 years Jesse has drowned his guilt and grieve in alcohol and women, I wonder why his good "friends" John and Sarah didn't start an intervention and got him to a shrink. Maybe it was better for business when drunk Jesse was available for the female members of the Manor.

Once you cut out Jesse's repetitive inner monologue the whole three-book-series of This Man told in Jesse's POV would fit in one "This Woman", but probably Jesse fan once again are cash cows for the author.
139 reviews3 followers
November 18, 2022
I need to start off by saying I adore Jesse ward, I didn’t even know this book was being written until I saw it on release day!! So I was so excited until I saw on another review that it’s only part one!! God I hate cliff hangers, especially when we know what’s going to happen I just feel this book would have been better if it covered their whole story rather than part 1. Obviously it’s a monetary decision but as a fan I’m a bit fed up.
I hate to say it but I honestly was so bored!! I know I can’t believe it either but it just dragged on and like I said before we know what happens so there were so many parts that didn’t need telling. And I didn’t feel for jesse like I should do after his side it actually read worse and I think the whole book was supposed to show us the other side of him and I think it failed. I’m really devastated and now we have to wait for another year!!!!
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