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)

God I love this man.

I love all 3 of these books. I have them in print and in Ebook and autio. I love the audible book , now I get to listen to it driving into work coming home sitting in traffic. can't get enough of Jessie.

Drama and HOT!

Edita is one of my favorite narrators. I will listen to almost anything that she reads because she is just that good.

The second installment of the This Man Trilogy has more drama than the first book, which was equally good. I will not give away spoilers, but Jesse and Ava have got a long way to go. Their love is strong, but the obstacles (other men and women) keep threatening their relationship. It has been a roller coaster ride of love, sex and drama.

This story is very well written with well developed characters. You even get a good sense about the support characters like Kate, Sam, John, Drew, Victoria, Tom and others. This book along with the rest of this trilogy are well worth the credit. LISTEN TO THIS BOOK :)

Oh how I love this series ...so hot!

I have listened to this book over and over again throughout the years and it just never gets old. I love this author and the narrator. I thought I should finally say how much I love this book just incase there is someone that hasn't listened to this extra hot romance.

Jesse and eva

loved it every page better then the 1st. I'm already getting the paper back. 😍😍😍

My favorite series

such an amazing and talented writer. this is my favorite series to read. Jessie's and Ava's story is magical.

Love it

Really great read!!! loved the reader and I was completely glued to this series... at home and at work

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!!!!

Much of the same but greater

Jodi Ellen Malpas has done it again with this sequel. I didn't think a second book would give me more anxiety from the first book, but it did. I have been married 35 years to a very dominating but wonderful man. His dominance doesn't hold a candle to Jesse's. The story line is expanding from the first book. Jodi has given us more depth to both Jesse and Ava. Also, there is more development in the other characters to include some that are added this time around. I couldn't wait to finish this book, not because I wanted it to end, but because I needed to find out where they were going with their story. Jesse is a gorgeous, sexy, rich wacko. I don't know that I could put up with him like Ava does. Afterall this is fiction. However, there is so much truth to it. I really enjoyed it and will start the next one soon. Thanks Jodi and Edita. Great Job!

Loving a Reread (listen anyway)

Loving this even more than I did when I read this series. Jesse and Ava were made for each other. Such a perfect story with all the ups, downs, and sometimes more that makes a series perfect for me.
Love the author and the narrator is perfect for this series.