Jodi Ellen MalpasRessenyes

This book was amazing, it sucks you in from the beginning and doesn't let go. Theo and Izzy's chemistry is of the charts, they are really made for each other. I can truly say at this point, this is my favorite book I have read so far.

Good series overall but MMC is crazy

This is the second book in the BELMORE SQUARE series featuring a rakish hero and the lady heroine that he falls for. The hero has been the acknowledged writer of his sister's writings, but his own desire for being a writer was ignited when he began the journey to unmask the highwaymen causing havoc in Belmore Square. As a bachelor loving his single life, the hero didn't expect to fall in love with the heroine, his sister's sister-in-law. Now the hero must solve the mystery of the highwaymen before he can have his happy ending with the heroine.

This second book in this particular Jodi Ellen Malpas series is a solid addition that brings romance and mystery together in an entertaining story. The book can be read by itself, but it would be better if read in order. The characters were likable, and the story is a solid one. There were instances where I would have liked a bit more details for smoother transitions, but overall, it's been an enjoyable read.

** Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions and thoughts in the review are my own. **

A Gentleman Never Tells by Jodi Ellen Malpas
Belmore Square series #2. Historical romance. Can be read as a standalone but the couple in the first story are included as siblings.
Frank Melrose believes he can take his father’s printing business global. Yes, he is disappointed that his sister is awarded the top job, but he knows he can find the stories to continue to increase the print count. He focuses on the mysterious highwayman that is robbing the ton. He’s trying anyway. Tara Winters has him a bit dazzled. So much so that he’s willing to give up his philandering ways.

This was a fun book. Frank and his family is not used to titles but their sister has married into it and now there is just that much more scrutiny over them and their business dealings. Frank has made use of his handsome good looks and status with daughters across the land. Until he sets his eyes on Tara and suddenly those other dalliances have lost the appeal. He doesn’t know quite how to handle that. At heart, he’s a good guy although maybe out of his depth with both finding the story in journalism and what to do when love hits him.
Secrets abound as well as mischief.
Entertaining, steamy and heartwarming.

A very interesting start to a mysterious man and a down to earth woman who knocks him for a loop. Not many answers are found until towards the end and some you have to wait for the rest of the books to discover. Jesse is a very alpha, possessive man determined to make Ava his if only she doesn’t see the darkness of his past he tries to keep hidden.

this book was a big disappointment to me. I hated the back-and-forth between Olivia and Miller. At one point I had to stop the book and read a whole other novel just to come back to this one and try to finish it. I couldn't make it I got 70% and it was so annoyed with it I had to skip to the end. I was sad this one was not any good because there's a lot of people who raved about it and I loved Jesse in this man.

Not sure I like the number of reversals in this. They're together, they're not, they are, they're not. I almost got whiplash.

Some of the controlling aspects of the hero irritated me, but I liked that he also got explicit consent for the sexual encounters with the heroine.

Oh Jessie...sigh! I loved this series. The epilogue had me laughing hysterically.

One Night with the Duke is a great read - especially for Bridgeton fans! If you love period piece dramas and the Regency Era, this book is for you! Easy to read, great character development. Highly recommend!

El desenlace del intenso romance entre Ava y Jesse se acerca. Un final lleno de secretos, mentiras, suspense y de su incontrolable y arrebatado amor… Tengo los nervios a flor de piel. Hoy es el día más importante de mi vida, a partir de mañana seré suya para siempre. Aunque estoy haciendo lo correcto, necesito un momento a solas, porque algo no encaja, Jesse oculta demasiados secretos y quiero saber cuáles son antes de dar el paso. Es hora de que mi hombre confiese.

Ava y Jesse se conocieron en Seducción, el primer volumen de la trilogía Mi hombre. Su aventura continúa...
He visto cómo lo miran todas. Lo desean, harán lo que sea por conseguirlo. La respiración se me acelera y siento que no podré aguantar mucho más.
Estoy perdiendo el control, y esto empieza a asustarme. Estoy histérica, avergonzada, muerta de celos. Y muy, muy excitada.

Tres... Sé que él no me conviene.
Dos... Mi instinto me grita que salga corriendo.
Uno... Pero si sigue mirándome así...
¿Qué haré cuando llegue a cero?
Indomable, controlador, autoritario, implacable, dulce, provocador...
Es peligroso.
Es enigmático.
Es absolutamente adictivo.
Es mi hombre.

This wasn’t bad. Camille was kind of annoying. Jake was pretty damaged. But it was sweet when they fell for each other. The movie should be good.

2 stars because I like the prologues for both MC's.
After that the whole thing went downhill for me.
HIGHLY repetitive thoughts and both Danny and Rose got on my nerves with their stupidity.
Apparently they both have trouble with using logic in any of their thoughts or lives.

Yes, the sex scenes are steamy, but the story was boring and I felt like a freaking ping pong ball with all the back and forth of both mc's. They drove me nuts.

Only a couple of editing errors and nothing serious. But the story sucked.

dnf

4.5 stars

This was different than previous books by this author and I have to say, I really liked it. Maybe, even more than her other works. There was a Griffin few to her writing that drew me in. I liked the dark undertones and falling under the spell of a world that should not be appealing but was.

Strong characters and storyline. It ended on a happy for now ending which is not my favorite. I liked it but I wanted more of the future. I'd like it if the author continued writing mafia. Getting mafia and an over the top alpha type mail would be a dream come true.

4 stars

I've heard so many things about this book., Both good and bad so I was skeptical going in. It was good. Was it a masterpiece or the greatest thing since sliced bread? No. However, the shortcomings were not enough that it prevented me from enjoying the book.

I'll definitely be reading the next one.

4.2 stars

I'm mixed on this review. On one hand, I love it, and on the other I want to shake the characters. There are times this relationship is really unhealthy but then its also sweet. Yet, even with my frustration, the author has done her job because I have drank the potion and fallen down the rabbit hole because I am compelled to keep flipping the pages.

I'll be reading the next book but am a little concerned that it will be more of this unhealthy and manipulation followed by swoony and sweet.

4.3 stars

I enjoyed this book much more than the others. It didn't seem as unhealthy or like the characters were having a childish fit when they didn't get their way.

The epilogue was my favorite part.

4.5 stars

I will be the first to say I struggled with this series, I loved parts of it and wanted to scream at other parts. However, this book changed all that. This book was none of the childish behavior or manipulation to get one's way. Instead, it was refreshing to see Jesse work so hard at making Ava remember everything. It was nice to see him have to explain some of the ridiculousness of his previous behavior.

I was thoroughly entertained with this book. It was the best of the series and a perfect way to end it.

4 stars

This took me a little bit to get into but once I did I was consumed trying to unravel the mystery. This was romantic suspense at its best. I liked that it tied back into the first book. I did not know it was going to end on a cliffhanger though. It will be interesting to see how it concludes. Also, the smexy times?!?! Hot.

Horrible male lead. He's pretty much a rapist. I finished the book thinking he'd get better. Nope, he just hides her birth control, cuts up an expensive dress and then gets totally trashed when she finally stands up to him after finding out his "big secret" that everyone knows except Ava.

Will not be reading the next one. The sex scenes were mentally scarring, not hot. I was actually cringing at several points. Not because of the sex (pretty vanilla) but because of the context and the dialogue. I think if any man tried that sh*t with me I would be calling the police.

Izzy White seems like a rational person but she makes so little effort to get to know Theo Kane, either to meet with him, and when she does have dinner with him, there's not much dialogue. So there's something a little creepy ... gothic maybe ... about the first half, as it is painted like the characters succumb to some supernatural force.

This approach is the opposite of those romance novels I'm drawn to where the protagonists engage in a talk fest - many of the historical romances these days are full of clever dialogue. This is a contemporary novel, some of it set in Las Vegas, and in some ways it is appropriate, as their affair starts like a holiday encounter.

I'm only half way through at this stage, so I know there are personal traumas still to be revealed, and deeper understandings. Not sure if I'll see this one to the end as I can see it is a long audiobook - 14.5 hours.

This is more a 2 3/4 star, but that's not an option! I read The Protector maybe 18 months ago when I moved into romance. My reaction to that was similar - I liked it and didn't like it - it's both touching and superficial, unusual and formulaic at the same time - but The Protector was better than this one if you want to dip into Jodi Ellen Malpas.

(Later) I did persist to the end, and it did grow to become more holistic?! but a little bit repetitive. I was hard to know where it was going, but there was enough interesting about the characters to pull me along.

Jake Sharp and Camille Logan - I read this book about 18 months ago when I first moved into romance novels as a COVID hobby. I have to give this top marks for being memorable - which is something I can't say about 75% of the many romance novels I've read since. Didn't think much of the story, but the drama between Jake and Camille transcends that.½