Beneath This Man

"This one was fairly interesting. Definitely had me wanting to know more. I liked it"

"I have a love/hate relationship with this series. There are so many things that aggravate me about the main characters and their actions and yet, like someone watching the aftermath of a car accident, I can't quite look away. <br/><br/>Some things I had serious issues with and almost made me give this a two star rating and made me stop reading several times:<br/>-- I can understand that Jesse doesn't think he's an alcoholic - which he clearly is if he has to have himself whipped to keep from drinking - but his friends being in denial?<br/>-- Ava's best friend doesn't act remotely like a friend, seeming to take Jesse's side. WTF? (at least in 50 Shades of Grey, which major aspects of this series seems to follow, Ana's best friend sticks up for her)<br/>-- the way he acts more like a stalker than a lover; there were times it made me uncomfortable; and I can see someone being more dominant in the bedroom but telling her what to do and not do nearly all the time (down to telling her when she can come) is just unappealing to me<br/>-- the EXTREME double standard - Ava can't go to her ex's house to pick up her stuff but Jesse can work with several women he's slept with because, hey, that's the nature of his business. <br/>-- And when she learns that when he disappeared for four days he was in a drunken stupor and because of that sleeping with several women - all in his efforts to forget her because he was getting too close. Aww, how romantic. She has issues with all the women he slept with before he met her (brought up many times) and yet she seems to quickly get over the fact that he slept with uncounted women when he disappeared for four days<br/>-- Ava suspects that something is up with her birth control (it keeps disappearing) but doesn't confront Jesse - ok, fine, but then doesn't pursue alternate birth control? What? At one point she says: I’m fighting to maintain a straight face when I should be furious at the potential of him hiding my pills, but I can’t be. He’s a ******* enigma, I don’t think I’ll ever work him out." Uh, yes you can be furious.<br/>-- various grammatical issues: "I’m sat here" for example<br/>-- The fact that Jesse is SO blind to Sarah's manipulations<br/>-- There are SO many issues and she doesn't seem to really hesitate in agreeing to marry him. And don't get me started on his first marriage proposal. Really? I can't imagine any way that this would be a desirable proposal but considering all the crap Ava seems to turn blinders on for, this is just another one.<br/><br/>The things that kept me reading and got me to yes, start the third book:<br/>-- her friend finally tries to take her side - but only once<br/>-- we did finally get to see some of why Jesse is the way he is with hints that there could be more to uncover<br/>-- there do seem to be some moments where they're less dysfunctional as a couple<br/>-- still some good dialogue<br/>-- Jesse's second marriage proposal<br/>-- finally near the end, after the whipping scene w/Jesse, Ava FINALLY starts to speak her mind<br/>-- start to see some real emotions from Jesse beyond a domineering a-hole ‘I don’t deserve you, Ava. Not after the life I’ve lived. I’ve never had anything I’ve valued or wanted to protect. Now I have, and it’s a bizarre mixture of total happiness and complete ******* fear.’<br/>-- LOVED what she does to Sarah after the whipping scene. <br/><br/>"

"<strong>Book 2</strong><br/><br/>I read this book with hope for Jesse and Ava. Jesse seems to be his own worse enemy. He refuses to believe anyone as pure as Ava could ever love him for him. She is constantly being watched and controlled. Little does she know someone is out there that she needs protecting from. The whipping scene was intense but I think Jesse found out what its lime to watch someone deliberately hurts themselves. It was an epiphany for him I think. Great book."

"the whole series is beyond worth it "