Beneath This Man
**Originally posted @ SinfulReads BlogREVIEW: When I started reading Beneath This Man I was very excited because I really enjoyed the first book. I honestly wasn’t prepared to what I would find in this book. Let’s start with this, I like Jesse, I think that even though he is a broken, sad and self centered man he keeps a certain charm. I also admit to liking Ava on the first book of the trilogy. I can’t say I feel the same way about her now that I have read book #2 and this saddens me.
This Man was sexy, and a great introduction. It sort of set the foundation to arouse the reader to go back for more, however now having read Beneath This Man I feel I was slapped in the face with an immature, self absorbed and insufferable man who seems to think with his dick is the answer to his problems. Now, Ava has gone from being a strong and independent, self sufficient woman to a doormat. I am so disappointed that I can’t even begin to describe how much this bothers me.
The plot is good, even the drama which most seem unnecessary is good at times. Though I could go without all the back and forth from Ava about Sarah who isn’t necessarily a big threat. The reason why I am so disappointed is because Ava let Jesse do everything she has fought to stay away from. Not only does she allow him to dictate her work (which to me is a sore subject) she also allows him to manipulate her, the whole “I can’t think when I am in his arms” got old fast. I really wanted to see more substance in their relationship, what attraction other than sexual there is, is she interested in helping him overcome something? the answer is No. Ava doesn’t want anything to do with Jesse’s issues, in fact she doesn’t want to deal with her own issues let alone help him with his drinking problems. I think the story took a weird turn on this book and I was left expecting and wanting something I wasn’t going to get.
Their relationship though steamy and almost always hot feels rushed and under developed. I know we see the same in other books but for some reason Ava’s inability to make demands and put her foot down just rub me the wrong way. I am usually into the whole dominating, frustrating and overpowering type of alpha male, Jesse didn’t do it for me in this book. There wasn’t enough drama other than the one Ava created herself, there wasn’t substance other than the sex which I totally loved. I wanted more, perhaps an actual threat to their relationship which was just Ava’s struggles with Jesse’s dominance and though that can add to the plot shouldn’t have been the main theme. I expected more drama and not necessarily the whining and complaining that Ava did, but something of substance. I am going to read the last book in the trilogy because I want to see where all this goes, I am hopeful the final book This Man Confessed gives me more of what I thought I saw in book one, I need more I want more.
