Beneath This Man

By: Jodi Ellen Malpas

Narrated by: Edita Brychta

Length: 19 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

Book two of the number one New York Times best-selling This Man trilogy.

Jesse Ward drowned her with his intensity and blindsided her with his passion, but he kept her away from his dark secrets and broken soul. Leaving him was the only way Ava O'Shea could survive. She should have known that Jesse Ward is impossible to escape - and now he's back in her life, determined to remind her of the sensual pleasures they had shared.

Ava is equally determined to get at the truth beneath this man's steely exterior. That means letting herself get close to the Lord of the Manor once more. And it's exactly where Jesse wants her - within touching distance....

©2013 Jodi Ellen Malpas (P)2013 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"I couldn't tear myself away." (FictionVixen.com)

"This Man by Jodi Ellen Malpas really hooked me right from the beginning. It's erotic and passionate and romantic...it'll also leave you wanting more." (BookishTemptations.com)

"This Man was a sexy, infuriating, wild ride. The back and forth in this book gave me whiplash...I cannot wait for Beneath This Man!" (TheBookListReviews.blogspot.com)

Still Swooning....

If you could sum up Beneath This Man in three words, what would they be?

Roller Coaster Ride

What other book might you compare Beneath This Man to and why?

This book series is a bit similar to "50 Shades" in the rich, obsessive and possessive playboy chasing the woman. The most noticeable difference is the lead female character from this book compared to the lead female from "50 Shades". The differences between the two women is that the lead female character from this book is older and way more independent. Ava tries to escape from the rich playboy but eventually gives in as he is quite overbearing without completely relinquishing who she is. I love strong women. I also love it when the strong woman sometimes allows a man to be a man. There are definitely enough differences between the two books to keep me interested and anxious to see what will happen next.

Which scene was your favorite?

The most note worthy scene for me is after Jesse gets lashed in his office and Ava in her own way tries to show Jesse how what he did made her feel by enduring the same punishment intentionally. Again - "Good Girl"

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Crazy Love

Any additional comments?

I was extremely disappointed to find that the third book to this series is currently unavailable for Audio. I did some homework to find out that the third book "This Man Confessed" is going to be released for Audio in the United States on January 21st 2014.
Be patient ladies "IT'S COMING"

LOVE, LOVE, LOVED IT!!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes!! This book was so captivating. The first book was good, I became as involved as I had ever be in a book. This second book was even better. I become emotionally involved crying, laughing and feeling the couples pain going through their trials with them. This second installment really had me hoping they would find a way to be together.

What other book might you compare Beneath This Man to and why?

I can't compare it to any other book as this was the best love story I have read.

What about Edita Brychta’s performance did you like?

Her exquisite detailing and the ease of creating the story so that the reader is able to visualize everything happening. It's impossible not to become inthralled in the story.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The moment that moved me the most was Jesse's whipping and then the whipping of Ava herself. Her love so deep that she would hurt herself for Jesse. But this wasn't the first time the book caused me to cry. It was so easy to become emotionally tied to this book.

Any additional comments?

I can't wait for the next book. I'm so glad I purchased the second one as soon as I did.

Crazy couple!

Narrator Review:
Edits Brychta continues to do an awesome job of narrating this series. I highly recommend!

Story Review:
What a freakin' train wreck this book was. I'm not sure I even have the words to express. If you managed to get through book one and wanted to continue, then you already know this couple is messed up. I admit, it was more messed up than I was expecting.

I listened to the audio version and I had to keep stopping and walk away to calm down. This book was so frustrating and I can't tell you how many times I wanted to shake the both of them. There were so many times Ava needed to stand up to Jesse and demand answers and draw a line.

The constant women showing up was ridiculous. The author overdid this, in my opinion. I'm sorry but no man can be that good, in every way that every single woman falls in love with him. I hate it when authors do this. Just once I want to find a book where the woman has every man fawning over the woman and the Hero has to deal with it.

I'm sure this won't be a popular opinion but I don't even blame Jesse all that much. He's been a playboy for 20 years, having complete access to all kinds of women at his sex club. He's never been in a relationship and has no clue what one is. He needs a strong woman to rein him in and show him how she wants to be treated. He's so completely in love with Ava, he just doesn't see any other woman as a threat. That is the one thing the author expressed without a doubt and truly saved this book for me. If she hadn't expressed that, I think I would have chucked this series out the window.

Jesse did trample and bulldoze his way, no doubt about it, but Ava was not left without her own weapons. And Sara. Man am I tired of Sara. Finally towards the end Ava started to grow a backbone and I did a little victory dance when she put Sara firmly in place. It was a little too late if you ask me, but still necessary. I loved that last scene and felt like finally we are getting somewhere. I look forward to book 3.

Awesome book!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. It was definitely one that you don't want to stop listening to or put on pause.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Ava. Even though she is younger than Jessie she learns how to stand up for herself.

What does Edita Brychta bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Narration was perfect. Great voice. Perfect fit for this book.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The ending, when Jessie's personal thoughts are revealed.

Any additional comments?

The book ended much too soon. I believe that some more loose ends should have been tied up. For instance, the meeting of her parents, what happened to the person that slipped something into her drink, what did she do about her job. I believe that more could have been added, but the book was wonderful.

JUST WOW

What did you love best about Beneath This Man?

Every word spoken in this trilogy I loved especially Jesse Ward. What an awsome character and I just love Ava!

What other book might you compare Beneath This Man to and why?

I think this triolgy is better than 50 Shades because it's so much less of BDSM and more loving and sparks!!! I love this there really isn't anything to compare it to.

Which character – as performed by Edita Brychta – was your favorite?

I love that it's a British narration because the story is written that way and it makes the characters and the feels so alive. Just beyond good!!

Exhausting

Exhausting at times holding your breath at times but couldn’t wait to keep listening. Lots of sex

Not my first listen and not my last

The This Man series is one of the first books in what I call alpha-crazy-mad-intense genre I’ve enjoyed and it was past time to add the books to my Audible library.
Although I prefer American English, I do enjoy Edita Brychta’s crisp British accented voice and I think she’s perfect for the female part of this book. I would have loved for this to be a duet with a male voice for Jesse and the other male characters.

Better than the first book

Finally able to see the bigger picture in book 2 of this series. I prefer it over Jesse’s point of view in This Woman.

I WAS RIVETED!!

What a stellar follow up from This Man! Book 2 was excellent from beginning to end. I seriously didn't want this book to end. I have developed an unhealthy attachment to this series and these characters, and I can't wait to see what happens next. I'm totally in love with Jesse and all his neuroticism, but, I got pretty ticked off with him in this installment--quite a bit is revealed, and it made me want to spit nails, but, I pressed on :-) I laughed, I almost cried, my mouth kept flying open in disbelief, and I found myself literally holding my breath during various moments in the story this time around. The relationship between Jesse and Ava is so incredibly intense it's insane, but, I truly adore these two together. This is such a well written story, and although it's comparable to 50 Shades, I enjoyed it 10 times more. I highly recommend Beneath This Man, it's a keeper and definite repeat listen!!

ALMOST A TRAIN WRECK, BUT NOT QUITE

OH MY GOODNESS! Well, book 2 in this series certainly did not disappoint! I understand why so many who review this series jokingly say that they will need therapy post this reading because this romance is like a train running the tracks at break neck speeds that, many times, seems like it will come crashing out of the railings, but never quite does. This "coming close to the edge of a cliff, but not jumping" feeling is all because of the masterful writing of Jodi Ellen Malpas. What leads she has given us!! Readers need therapy because this romance is one you want to follow, but is not just unconventional, dysfunctional, unhealthy and implosive, but it's also cushioned by the aspects in the relationship which are tender, loving and sweet, and well, just feel right. And, it's all because of JESSIE WARD…lol

So our leads have endured 5 tortuous days without each other in a bad break up stage. Ava is sick and dejected, but Jessie is true to his over-the-top nature and is completely in meltdown mode. Ava cautiously comes to Jessie's side while he's down, but when Jessie regains his strength and wits, a better description is that Ava is swallowed by his side.

So, through out the book the relationship between Ava and Jessie is like a tight band of tension that represents Jessie's dominant will over Ava. Sometimes, the band loosens with Ava's prodding and opposition, but mostly, the band always bounces back to Jessie's corner of advantage. My feelings toward Jessie teetered from wanting to physically restrain him and beat him to feeling softness toward him because of his tender love for Ava.

In this book, Jessie's possessiveness of Ava has increased exponentially as she is his shiny, beautiful toy that he doesn't want to share with anyone and he will TRAMPLE anyone who impedes him from having his way with Ava. Yes, there's still more of the "sleepy sex,"reminder" sex, and "sense" sex; but you also have to add "sleepy" sex, "retaliation", sex, "al fresco" sex, "make-up" sex and "TRUTH" sex (which was introduced by Ava). Haha!!! That was one of my favorite parts in seeing Ava become more assertive. If you didn't realize already there is A LOT of sex in this book…I mean A LOT!

Even though I was hoping that Ava would acquire more control, power or influence in the relationship, sooner in the book (the first half seemed to be a series of Ava negotiating and ultimately losing the battle with Jessie's strong will), however, toward the latter part it becomes evident that Ava's strategy with Jessie was working toward the side of progress. After a major incident and turning point in the book where Jessie flies off of the handle and self-destructs in a bloody way, Ava responds in a manner that most sane people would not endorse. Yet this action initiated a series of deep talks between the pair and it spills out that Ava has much more control that she realizes. In addition, Jessie starts sharing parts of his heart that he has neurotically and protectively kept hidden for fear of losing Ava's love and affection.

Kate- I have mixed feelings about Ava's best friend. I don't like how she become secretive regarding her club activities and how she did not seem like the strongest advocate for Ava during major fighting scenes between Ava and Jessie. Toward the end, she did seem like a better friend….but just barely, in my eyes.

Sarah-OH I was so happy when Ava FINALLY put her in her place toward the end of the book. I wanted to see Sarah suffer more, but oh well, we have to be civil here…lol

Ruth Quinn-I can't wait to see what part she plays in book 3 as her pushy character was brought into this book for a reason.

Narrator: Edita Brychta is absolutely one of the best in the business. Her performance has been excellent for all characters. She has made this audiobook superb!!

So, the end of the book was absolutely fabulous!! And, even though I was "crazy mad" during many parts of this book, I also was able to "make friends" with Ava's love for her man, Jessie Ward…..that's all a part of living in "CENTRAL JESSIE CLOUD 9," I suppose.

NOW TO BOOK 3, THE FINALL INSTALLMENT!!!!