This Man Confessed - By Jodi Ellen Malpas *Review*

This Man Series - Book 3 | Add to Goodreads| Amazon | Kobo | Nook |

The Manor, the very place where their passionate love affair began, fills with guests on what should be the happiest day of Ava and Jesse's lives. She has accepted that she'll never tame the fierceness in Jesse-and she doesn't want to. Their love is profound, their connection powerful, but just when she thinks that she's finally gotten beneath his guarded exterior, more questions arise, leading Ava to believe that Jesse Ward may not be the man she thinks he is. He knows too well how to take her to a place beyond ecstasy . . . but will he also drive her to the brink of despair? It's time for this man to confess.

I haven't had to suffer through such dramatics since high school. Ava is still a pushover and can't be decisive. Jesse is still overbearing and tyrannical. It's not sexy, it's exasperating to read. I skim read pages 200 to 350 (out of 436) which thankfully kept me from being annoyed beyond belief. I just couldn't handle the exaggerated behaviors of both characters. Jesse treats Ava like a child and she acts like one! She SULKS and he counts to three if he doesn't get what he wants. They call make-up sex "making friends" and label their sexual encounters all kinds of ridiculous names. In all honesty I read this simply to find out where their story finishes and whether they grew out of their childish ways...

***SPOILERS***

The pregnancy was forced and Ava didn't want kids! But suddenly she's okay with staying at home and looking after the kids. Like all good women should, right Jesse? If it weren't for the fact Jesse makes a great Dad (no surprise there...) this book would be a one not one and a half stars.

***SPOILERS END***

The epilogue saved the book from being solely an exercise in managing my annoyance. While Malpas writes well, her characters give me heart burn.