REVIEW: Gentleman Sinner by Jodi Ellen Malpas

In Gentleman Sinner by Jodi Ellen Malpas, Nurse Izzy White has tried to leave her horrific past behind to focus on a career and her friendship with her roommate Jess. And with an upcoming holiday planned taking them from dreary London to exciting Vegas, she can’t wait for her last few shifts to end. But when Izzy steps in to help a young woman lying hurt in an alleyway on her way home from work, her world changes in an instant as she meets a handsome but scary looking man who swoops in and saves the day. And Izzy somehow knows this isn’t the last time she’ll be seeing Theo Kane.

He flips me a devilish wink, and once again I’m laughing.
“For a big dude, you’re cute.”
“For a little female, you’re quite fierce… And second to your natural beauty, that’s my favorite thing about you.”

Theo’s insistence in seeing Izzy and taking steps to protect her should annoy her. But it doesn’t. She’s never really felt safe as an adult, so to have the guy everyone seems to fear but who is nothing but kind and giving to her watching out over her, Izzy is forever thankful. As she gets to know Theo better and learns of his severe aversion to being touched, she knows he’s every bit as damaged as she is. And she’s not sure that it’s a good idea to get too involved with a man with questionable business dealings, either. But Izzy can’t imagine walking away from Theo and the newfound love they share, whether it’s a good idea or not.

“Theo, don’t be a hero,” I say, wondering what on earth has gotten into him.
“I’m no hero, Izzy. I’m a damaged man… But you can fix me.”

Powerful and sweepingly romantic while at the same time full of fiery passion, Gentleman Sinner was an unforgettable love story by uber talented Jodi Ellen Malpas.

‘Under the iron body and hard face is a soft, loving heart. I have that heart. It’s mine.’

Trigger warning: View Spoiler »Physical assault, murder. « Hide Spoiler

What is it about the alpha heroes Jodi Ellen Malpas creates that makes them irresistible? In this case we had the gentleman sinner, Theo Kane, who was a charming, polished giant of a man with a seriously rough edge. Even though he scared pretty much everyone he met, you could just tell that he was so much more than his intimidating exterior. And that softer, gentlemanly side definitely came out around Izzy. Their connection was instant and so strong that those around them were wowed by it. Let alone Theo and Izzy being knocked off their feet with the magnetic draw they had.

Izzy and Theo’s pasts were rather dark and bleak as we learned the details about what they had endured over the length of the book. I figured some of it out, but to get their memories of the specifics was simply heartbreaking. But I think that darkness they’d been through meant that Theo and Izzy cherished what they found together even more and it helped them understand each other on a level that not many around them could. As you would expect from a JEM novel, this had a steamy erotic feel to the love scenes and even had some light BDSM. It didn’t overpower the core of the story, though, but instead enhanced the bond between Izzy and Theo.

Speaking of that bond, I have to say my favorite part was that even though Theo had an aversion to people touching him, it was heartmeltingly sweet the way he gave Izzy huge bear hugs, making her feel safe for the first time in her adult life. *dreamy sigh*

Two damaged characters tried to make each other whole again in Gentleman Sinner. Filled with raw emotions that ranged from the deepest rage to utter elation, Jodi Ellen Malpas wove together an incredible must-read tale that fans will certainly embrace.

Book Info:

Publication: February 5th 2019 | Forever |

An all-the-feels novel of fierce love overcoming a dark past from the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling THIS MAN series.

Izzy White knows of the darkness in this world. After all, she escaped it long ago. Determined not to let her past beat her, Izzy has a secure, stable life with a job she loves in nursing. But one act of kindness will completely upend everything she’s so carefully built-putting her right back in the crosshairs of danger she’s been so desperate to avoid.

When Theo Kane shows up like a knight in shining armor, Izzy can’t help thinking she’s been saved from one threat and exposed to another. His imposing physique, the harsh lines of his face, and the wariness of everyone who comes close are just a few clues to Theo Kane’s notorious reputation. The man is positively terrifying. But with Izzy, he’s tender and a complete gentleman, and her fascination with the mysterious beast of a man becomes too powerful for her to walk away.

As Theo’s demons come to light, running becomes even more impossible. And yet staying together could doom them both.