ARC Review: One Night:Promised by Jodi Ellen Malpas

Paperback, 480 pages

Published July 17th 2014 by Forever (Grand Central Publishing)UK

Published August 5, 2014 USA

Synopsis:

Livy notices him the moment he walks into the coffee shop. He's heart-stoppingly stunning, with a blue-eyed gaze so piercing she's almost too distracted to take his order. When he walks out the door, she thinks she'll never see him again. Then she finds the note he left on his napkin . . . signed M.

All he wants is one night to worship her. No feelings, no commitment, nothing but pleasure. Every defense mechanism Livy has adopted during her solitary life is at risk of being obliterated by this confounding man. He's obnoxious but well-mannered. He's a gentleman but aloof. He's passionate but emotionless. Yet the fascination is so powerful, Livy can't deny him... or herself.

M awakens something in Livy, something deep and addictive that she never knew existed -- and that she fears only he can satisfy. But she senses that behind the fast cars, fancy suits, and posh apartment, he's aching inside. To have him, body and soul, she'll have to brave his dark secrets. Delving into his world and breaking down his defenses become her obsession - an obsession that could shatter her heart beyond repair..

My Review:

"He's rich, he's stunning, he's refined, if a bit standoffish, and he wants me for twenty-four hours?"

One Night: Promised is the incredible Jodi Ellen Malpas' new book. Many of you have read her This Man trilogy and fell in love with the Lord. Her writing was flawless as usual but I couldn't help but feel a tad bit disappointed. I liked the book but I didn't love it. The last half of the book was much better in my opinion than the first. That ending...I think it's safe to say that I want the second book now.

So why the disappointment? Well I wasn't a fan of Olivia at all. Although, my opinion of her changed at the end of the book, it still doesn't change the way I felt about her in the beginning. To me, she was obsessed with a man she barely knew. She never gave any guy the time of day, until him. What about him was so intriguing? Sure, M is profoundly beautiful but other than that he's mysterious. Is that what she liked about him so much? I just couldn't see it. Then, once they've met a few more times he tells her he wants her but only for twenty four hours. This girl knows it's a bad idea and she knows he's going to break her into pieces, yet she goes with it anyway.

"Beautiful things should be savored, Livy, not rushed."

It would be okay in my opinion if she didn't have love on her mind from the beginning. I'm all for a woman wanting to express their sexual side but if you know a man only wants you for a night and some hours, and you're the type to fall hard...my god don't do it! Well..technically she wasn't that way before she met him but still...if you know you can't just be someone's love toy and you promised yourself to have a little more self respect...umm, isn't the answer obvious??

So the more I read on, I saw his appeal. M really does worship her body. It's all about her. I can see now why she's falling for him. But again, he tells her his offer still stands, so why would you stay?

"Damn women and their deepness, and damn men for their hollowness."

This book really got me thinking on another level completely. What would I do if a handsome and mysterious man wanted me for twenty four hours only, what would I do? Well, considering I'm married with two young children and one on the way, my answer would be no. Hypothetically, of course, I think I would have to say no. I'm like Livy, I want more than just a night. It's just the way I am made. I wish I didn't have to think that way, but I do. Livy thinks like me, only M's pull is so strong, that she honestly has no choice but want to be with him.

"I want you to make me feel alive."

One Night: Promised, is the story about Livy. She's a girl who takes care of her grandmother and is also a bit shy and somewhat reclusive. During her shift at the coffee shop she's working at, she meets a terribly handsome man that makes her a puddle of smut. He leaves his name on a napkin, well more like his first initial, M. He's awakened in her a part of herself that she thought never thought she possessed. It's through M that she is able to feel alive, to just feel like there's more to life than just the bad. But M has secrets. And we all know what secrets can do...

M takes being a mysterious stranger to a whole new level. We really know nothing about him, although he knows Livy's name and where she works. We don't even get to figure out his name until a little ways into the book. What we do know is that, he rarely smiles, he's rich, insanely gorgeous, and that he wants nothing more than to bed Olivia.

"I know a bad thing when I see it, and standing behind me is a man who could crush my logic."

I was definitely on my toes the second half of the book. There are some shocking revelations and then some not so shocking revelations. The reader will be pleasantly surprised and I'm sure that the story will be a fan favorite in no time. The sex scenes are off the chart hot, the plot line is one I guessed but I still enjoyed, and the characters pleasantly got better as the story read on. It still may take awhile for me to totally love Olivia, but I definitely liked her spunk in the second half. Some secondary characters to look forward to are the grandmother (even if she does need to mind her own business) and Olivia's best friend, Gregory. He was great! I wouldn't mind seeing some stories from his POV.

Overall, the book has kept me interested enough to read the second one. The ending really had me gasping and wanting to throw my iPad across the room! But I have to applaud Malpas for delivering us some new characters to gush and love over. Make sure you check the book out for yourself and fall in deep with M.

"Each and every moment will be etched on that beautiful mind of yours forever. Every kiss. Every touch. Every word."

About the Author: Jodi Ellen Malpas was born and raised in the Midlands town of Northampton, England, where she lives with her two boys. Working for her father’s construction business full time, she tried to ignore the lingering idea of writing until it became impossible. She wrote in secret for a long time before finally finding the courage to unleash her creative streak, and in October 2012 she released This Man. She took a chance on a story with some intense characters and sparked incredible reactions from women all over the world. Writing powerful love stories and creating addictive characters have become her passion - a passion she now shares with her devoted readers.