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Mister & Missus #2
La condesa
La cautivadora continuación del best seller Mister, una apasionada historia de amor de E. L. James, autora del fenómeno mundial «Cincuenta sombras».
«Alessia observa a su marido con los ojos entornados.
"Tendrás que luchar por él". Las palabras pronunciadas por su madre en su llamada de esta mañana resuenan en su cabeza. Y eso va a luchar. Usando todas las armas a su alcance.
Le ama. De eso está segura. Le desea.
Y desea que él la desee.
¿Qué sucede después de que te encaje el zapato de cristal...?».
Maxim Trevelyan, conde de Trevethick, ha seguido a la mujer que ama hasta lo más profundo de Albania. Ha luchado por ella y ha vencido, y ahora tiene que casarse... a punta de escopeta.
Pero ¿puede un canalla reformado como Maxim convertirse de verdad en un buen marido o su mala reputación y los escandalosos secretos de su aristocrática familia destrozarán su recién lograda felicidad?
Alessia Demachi ha desafiado y burlado a secuestradores y traficantes y ha conquistado el corazón del hombre del que se enamoró, pero ¿podrá hacer funcionar este matrimonio? Enfrentada al escabroso pasado de Maxim, su intimidante familia y las miradas y susurros de la élite de Londres, ¿será alguna vez respetada como condesa y esposa de Maxim o será para siempre considerada como su antigua asistenta?
Desde las majestuosas montañas de Albania hasta el turbio glamur del Londres actual pasando por la idílica campiña inglesa, La condesa es una fascinante aventura de amor, anhelo y redención.
«Alessia observa a su marido con los ojos entornados.
"Tendrás que luchar por él". Las palabras pronunciadas por su madre en su llamada de esta mañana resuenan en su cabeza. Y eso va a luchar. Usando todas las armas a su alcance.
Le ama. De eso está segura. Le desea.
Y desea que él la desee.
¿Qué sucede después de que te encaje el zapato de cristal...?».
Maxim Trevelyan, conde de Trevethick, ha seguido a la mujer que ama hasta lo más profundo de Albania. Ha luchado por ella y ha vencido, y ahora tiene que casarse... a punta de escopeta.
Pero ¿puede un canalla reformado como Maxim convertirse de verdad en un buen marido o su mala reputación y los escandalosos secretos de su aristocrática familia destrozarán su recién lograda felicidad?
Alessia Demachi ha desafiado y burlado a secuestradores y traficantes y ha conquistado el corazón del hombre del que se enamoró, pero ¿podrá hacer funcionar este matrimonio? Enfrentada al escabroso pasado de Maxim, su intimidante familia y las miradas y susurros de la élite de Londres, ¿será alguna vez respetada como condesa y esposa de Maxim o será para siempre considerada como su antigua asistenta?
Desde las majestuosas montañas de Albania hasta el turbio glamur del Londres actual pasando por la idílica campiña inglesa, La condesa es una fascinante aventura de amor, anhelo y redención.
552 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 20, 2023
1622 people are currently reading
14842 people want to read
About the author
E.L. James
61 books58.6k followersAll you need to know should be on here:
http://www.eljamesauthor.com/
Please come talk to me on twitter: @E_L_James
If you are interested in the play list from either of these books - please visit my youtube channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/eljamesau...
http://www.eljamesauthor.com/
Please come talk to me on twitter: @E_L_James
If you are interested in the play list from either of these books - please visit my youtube channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/eljamesau...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 745 reviews
July 3, 2023
I regret not trusting my gut feeling. While the plot of the book was decent, the writing style left much to be desired. The execution felt sloppy and lacked the sophistication I expected from an adult book.
June 27, 2023
…. I am doing this for science
First of all, this being 'erotica' is not right. The only thing that would put this in that category is that these people had sex like two times every chapter. If you're here for FSOG "spice"... move along.
Second of all, I hated the first book in this duo and I knew I had to pick this up to see wtf was going on. This will likely be my last EL James book. The Missus is 400 pages and nothing happens. Alessia doubts Maxim's faithfulness to her because he slept with people before she was around every couple of pages and you believe that the ex who got her into this mess is going to do something... but quite literally nothing happens.
There's arguably no conflict in this that makes it make sense for existing. No repercussions for escaping her kidnappers, no one from the UK looking to take Maxim down (which was confusing because he has such a high status). Nothing. Caroline was the biggest conflict and it was more annoying than it was anything else. I'm glad we got to see fuck a duck return though. That was really just top-tier content for me.
So much was just poorly written. I'm actually shocked that this has 4 stars? I don't understand. Maxim calls Maryanne M.A repeatedly in one chapter and then never again? I figure it's the M from Mary and the A from Anne but I COULDN'T TELL YA. It came out of nowhere and left us just as quickly.
Basically, this book/duo feels like EL James asked ChatGpt to throw something together and then she circled back and changed things up to make it sound more like a human wrote it. Please let this be the last of it.
First of all, this being 'erotica' is not right. The only thing that would put this in that category is that these people had sex like two times every chapter. If you're here for FSOG "spice"... move along.
Second of all, I hated the first book in this duo and I knew I had to pick this up to see wtf was going on. This will likely be my last EL James book. The Missus is 400 pages and nothing happens. Alessia doubts Maxim's faithfulness to her because he slept with people before she was around every couple of pages and you believe that the ex who got her into this mess is going to do something... but quite literally nothing happens.
There's arguably no conflict in this that makes it make sense for existing. No repercussions for escaping her kidnappers, no one from the UK looking to take Maxim down (which was confusing because he has such a high status). Nothing. Caroline was the biggest conflict and it was more annoying than it was anything else. I'm glad we got to see fuck a duck return though. That was really just top-tier content for me.
So much was just poorly written. I'm actually shocked that this has 4 stars? I don't understand. Maxim calls Maryanne M.A repeatedly in one chapter and then never again? I figure it's the M from Mary and the A from Anne but I COULDN'T TELL YA. It came out of nowhere and left us just as quickly.
Basically, this book/duo feels like EL James asked ChatGpt to throw something together and then she circled back and changed things up to make it sound more like a human wrote it. Please let this be the last of it.
July 13, 2023
I don’t know what’s more exciting: the exhilarating visa and passport intrigue or just kill me now this book is awful.
August 1, 2023
This is the second book in the Mister & Missus series. You definitely need to read book 1, The Mister, to understand this book. The book starts off right where The Mister left off. The Mister ends in an HFN (Happily For Now.) There were still things unsolved fans wanted answers for. What happened to Bleriana? Will Anatoli make good on his threats? Is there more to Kit's death? Do Alessia and Maxim get married? Fear not, those questions are answered in this book. On that same line, this book left us with some questions much like the first book despite having an epilogue. It feels like this is an HFN. It makes me wonder if we will get a third book.
You might wonder why I took down one star. It's mainly due to the expectation that this book would solve everything and be a HEA (Happily Ever After). Also, the lack of action. In The Mister, there was the thrill of a chase. Alessia was being hunted by her traffickers and later on, she was kidnapped by her fiance from an arranged marriage. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time! In this book, the stakes weren't as high. A good chunk of things was solved due to Maxim's money, status, and connections. It was still exciting to be part of the life of these beloved characters again and be a witness to Alessia's transformation. It was exciting to see her blossoming into her role as Countess of Trevethick.
The questions I was left with are:
You might wonder why I took down one star. It's mainly due to the expectation that this book would solve everything and be a HEA (Happily Ever After). Also, the lack of action. In The Mister, there was the thrill of a chase. Alessia was being hunted by her traffickers and later on, she was kidnapped by her fiance from an arranged marriage. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time! In this book, the stakes weren't as high. A good chunk of things was solved due to Maxim's money, status, and connections. It was still exciting to be part of the life of these beloved characters again and be a witness to Alessia's transformation. It was exciting to see her blossoming into her role as Countess of Trevethick.
The questions I was left with are:
August 9, 2023
Over 400 pages nothing happens except sex every chapter basically and the writing style is terrible . I was rage reading by the 40% mark
June 22, 2023
Alright. I'll try to keep this short.
I LOVED THIS BOOK!
I think I loved it even more than the first one. Probably because we already had our happily ever after-for now in the first book. And this 2nd one was just an encore to make everything perfect.
Obviously it's not just one chapter and everything ends happily for our darlings. It's a pretty long book - so a lot is happening.
And I loved every single page!
It was sweet and funny and sexy and exciting and sad and heartbreaking and mysterious and just beautiful. So full of love and music and food and travel and farming and family and all the things.
If you loved the first one - you will love this second one too.
And if you haven't read the first one yet. Do it. But don't do it if you've only ever read Fifty Shades and you expect the same thing here. It's so different. Yes, it's the same Author and you will find some writing and story things that might sound familiar. But it's a different story. A British/Albanian Cinderella story. And it's just beautiful. So please read it if you dare. LOL!
The Missus had this epiloguey vibe for me and I just adored that. Even though we have fights and we don't get that insta everything-is-perfect thing. But it felt so sweet and epiloguey for me.
Anyway. We're already way over my keeping it short promise. Ugh.
This was the perfect second book for Maxim and Alessia and the others.
I loved it so much.
The only thing I didn't love - the music is SO not my type of music. The classical parts yes - but the other stuff - ew! LOL!
PS - can we talk about Ethan for a second???
💜
💜
July 21, 2023
3.5 stars
For some weird reason I seem to always enjoy Ms James’ writing 🤡😂
For some weird reason I seem to always enjoy Ms James’ writing 🤡😂
August 26, 2023
Right out of the gate let me make this clear; this is one of the worst books I have ever read. It's cringey, poorly-written, never-ending trash, but the most cardinal sin of all is how boring it is.
The plot picks up where The Mister ends; in a small town in a borderline fictional Albania, with Maxim engaged to be wed to Alessia. I did not reread The Mister to get caught up on what happened because a) my time on Earth is limited and I won't waste it by doing that and b) the story is so dreadfully obvious I really didn't need a refresher. I think for this review I'm going to make a rapid-fire list of my greatest grievances with this work. Let's go.
- There are several characters that it is revealed emotionally, mentally, and physically abuse their spouses. For each of those characters, this is brushed off as an aside, and completely forgiven or forgotten. If I had to assign a genre to this book it might be "slice of life'- there's certainly no plot to speak of, and the only world building that happens is a kaleidoscopes look at Albanian culture. The thing about successfully writing a slice of life is that you need characters to make sense, be intriguing, relatable, realistic. At least one of those. In this case the main characters are absolutely unlikeable because they laugh off proof of abuse, making them people I don't want to root for, Gross.
- She keeps saying "Uau" for "wow". It makes me cringe it makes me laugh. Whatever.
- A theme in E.L. James' books (and I have read all of them) is that every woman who isn't the main love interest is a stupid, often drug-addicted, slut. At one point in the book, Alessia and Max (I won't call him Maxim that's stupid) run into one of his ex-girlfriends. Max immediately launches into an inner monologue about how she's a washed-up, untalented, ugly junkie. It doesn't make the main character more attractive to routinely attack all other female characters, including Caroline and Rowena, or to absolutely non-character others, like Mary-Anne. It's as if E.L knew Alessia is a two-dimensional trad wife dream girl, and decided to write even worse people to make her shine. It didn't work, it just showed how misogynistic she is.
- Hate that, in a book where abuse is dismissed as nothing, there are several instances where Max gets angry at Alessia (for nothing I might add) and her reaction is "A frisson of alarm". Girl I'm alarmed too! The behaviour from Maxim is abusive, that's the long and short of it. He's demanding, uncommunicative, brooding, and sometimes physically controlling of her behaviour. It sucks to read an almost 500 page book where I'm supposed to ignore that.
- Literally too cringe to describe. At one point in a text message Max refers to Alessia as "My beloved wife". In a text! It's so horrible to read, it makes me squirm. This is a symptom of a larger problem of the writing being so unbelievable. People don't speak like that, they also don't behave like that. The world doesn't work like that. Again what's the point of a slice-of-life escapist book if the world it's depicting is not only incredibly unrelatable but also is embarrassing to read about?
-Speaking of uncommunicative, the entire book would be 25 pages if someone just found something out and immediately told the convened parties about it. The only semblance of tension is people trying to figure out what everyone else already knows. There aren't even any misunderstandings, it's just point blank refusal to speak, which doesn't really ramp up tension, it just makes the pacing crawl.
-Let's a have a baby to fix our relationship. LMAO
-At one point Alessia, who was sex trafficked and later abducted from her home, reunites with another young woman who was also sex trafficked. They cry when they see each other. Max's reaction is "Hell. Weeping women. Weeping women chattering in fast Albanian". Petition to have E.L James arrested.
These aren't all of the problems I had with this read. The biggest problem of all however is one I mentioned earlier; this book is straight up dull. Nothing happens. Characters don't grow, information isn't really discovered. There aren't conflicts. It just plods inexorably on, peppered with the actually criminal inner monologues of the two main characters. Max is an abusive asshole that says things no living human being would ever say. Alessia is a piece of wet paper towel that never answers the phone. The morale of the story seems to be that women are terrible. What can I say I utterly and absolutely despised it. I think it should be outlawed, I think E.L James should do community service. I want my life back.
The plot picks up where The Mister ends; in a small town in a borderline fictional Albania, with Maxim engaged to be wed to Alessia. I did not reread The Mister to get caught up on what happened because a) my time on Earth is limited and I won't waste it by doing that and b) the story is so dreadfully obvious I really didn't need a refresher. I think for this review I'm going to make a rapid-fire list of my greatest grievances with this work. Let's go.
- There are several characters that it is revealed emotionally, mentally, and physically abuse their spouses. For each of those characters, this is brushed off as an aside, and completely forgiven or forgotten. If I had to assign a genre to this book it might be "slice of life'- there's certainly no plot to speak of, and the only world building that happens is a kaleidoscopes look at Albanian culture. The thing about successfully writing a slice of life is that you need characters to make sense, be intriguing, relatable, realistic. At least one of those. In this case the main characters are absolutely unlikeable because they laugh off proof of abuse, making them people I don't want to root for, Gross.
- She keeps saying "Uau" for "wow". It makes me cringe it makes me laugh. Whatever.
- A theme in E.L. James' books (and I have read all of them) is that every woman who isn't the main love interest is a stupid, often drug-addicted, slut. At one point in the book, Alessia and Max (I won't call him Maxim that's stupid) run into one of his ex-girlfriends. Max immediately launches into an inner monologue about how she's a washed-up, untalented, ugly junkie. It doesn't make the main character more attractive to routinely attack all other female characters, including Caroline and Rowena, or to absolutely non-character others, like Mary-Anne. It's as if E.L knew Alessia is a two-dimensional trad wife dream girl, and decided to write even worse people to make her shine. It didn't work, it just showed how misogynistic she is.
- Hate that, in a book where abuse is dismissed as nothing, there are several instances where Max gets angry at Alessia (for nothing I might add) and her reaction is "A frisson of alarm". Girl I'm alarmed too! The behaviour from Maxim is abusive, that's the long and short of it. He's demanding, uncommunicative, brooding, and sometimes physically controlling of her behaviour. It sucks to read an almost 500 page book where I'm supposed to ignore that.
- Literally too cringe to describe. At one point in a text message Max refers to Alessia as "My beloved wife". In a text! It's so horrible to read, it makes me squirm. This is a symptom of a larger problem of the writing being so unbelievable. People don't speak like that, they also don't behave like that. The world doesn't work like that. Again what's the point of a slice-of-life escapist book if the world it's depicting is not only incredibly unrelatable but also is embarrassing to read about?
-Speaking of uncommunicative, the entire book would be 25 pages if someone just found something out and immediately told the convened parties about it. The only semblance of tension is people trying to figure out what everyone else already knows. There aren't even any misunderstandings, it's just point blank refusal to speak, which doesn't really ramp up tension, it just makes the pacing crawl.
-Let's a have a baby to fix our relationship. LMAO
-At one point Alessia, who was sex trafficked and later abducted from her home, reunites with another young woman who was also sex trafficked. They cry when they see each other. Max's reaction is "Hell. Weeping women. Weeping women chattering in fast Albanian". Petition to have E.L James arrested.
These aren't all of the problems I had with this read. The biggest problem of all however is one I mentioned earlier; this book is straight up dull. Nothing happens. Characters don't grow, information isn't really discovered. There aren't conflicts. It just plods inexorably on, peppered with the actually criminal inner monologues of the two main characters. Max is an abusive asshole that says things no living human being would ever say. Alessia is a piece of wet paper towel that never answers the phone. The morale of the story seems to be that women are terrible. What can I say I utterly and absolutely despised it. I think it should be outlawed, I think E.L James should do community service. I want my life back.
September 15, 2024
O lectură care aș fi vrut să nu se mai termine!
Ambii se dovedesc a fi o forță! Împreună, cei doi reușesc să treacă este piedici și momente dureroase, să se sprijine reciproc și, mai ales, să se iubească.
Recenzia mea completă o găsiți aici:
https://justreadingmybooks.wordpress....
Ambii se dovedesc a fi o forță! Împreună, cei doi reușesc să treacă este piedici și momente dureroase, să se sprijine reciproc și, mai ales, să se iubească.
Recenzia mea completă o găsiți aici:
https://justreadingmybooks.wordpress....
December 19, 2025
Bu kadar gereksiz ve kötü bir kitap yazmak da başarı olmalı 🙄
June 19, 2023
Four years ago as we closed the last page on The Mister, there has only been one question on everyone’s minds. What happens next? The ‘happy for now’ ending has only served for the endless requests from readers across the world to know what happens next after Maxim Trevelyan trekked his way across Europe to Alessia Demachi’s hometown of Kukës, Albania.
Wonder no more, dear readers. The next chapter of Maxim & Alessia’s story is here and we will see them go from boss/employee, earl/cinderella, Mister/Miss to husband & wife, lord & lady and Mister and Missus. Living beyond the fairytale and showing us what happens after the shoe fits and the happily ever after.
Maxim and Alessia were unlike any other literary couple—with a few exceptions—that I have fallen so hard and in love with in all my years as a reader. Their story resonated with me so much so with its realism in terms with many aspects of the story, it gave the readers—and myself—exactly what was promised to us by the author herself. A story which takes us back to the roots of the our beloved genre with a true strangers-to-lovers, slow burn, opposites attract, Cinderella-esque romance that will be a favourite of mine and other readers for many years to come.
Some consider The Mister to be a ‘cliffhanger’ of an ending. Not this reader. I very much see it in the ‘happy for now’ trope category. The outcome didn’t leave us wondering what would happen next in the sense of it being a mystery, as with an engagement the next step is of course, marriage. It was a case of actually reading about what would happen on the lead up to—and after—the big day itself.
This is where The Missus comes in. This is our chance to see what happens after the reformed rake got the girl, and after the ’happily ever after’ once the glass slipper had fit.
The Missus picks up immediately where things left off from The Mister, bringing us right back to where we left Maxim and Alessia four years ago. Mercifully we weren’t subjected to a major skip back in time to go the long way round to where we were left, Erika flawlessly continues the story with great ease and fluidity as if she hadn’t even stopped writing between the two stories. The transition is seamless. It feels like no time at all has passed for myself in the real world opening up this next instalment. I hope other readers feel the same as I do.
A return to Maxim and Alessia also meant a return to the familiar in terms of phrases and places both. Reading the familiar and favourite faces once more plastered a smile on my face, remembering how often we’ve quoted them in the time between both books. Praise must also be given here to Erika for injecting and executing a handful of new Albanian phrases, sentences and words for us to learn and in my case, attempt to pronounce. The same grace was also bestowed upon Albanian traditions and culture. Great time and care has gone into giving us the true essence of small-town, non-stereotypical Albanian life, culture and the people within both. I leaned a great deal from the inclusivity about Albanian culture and the wonderful country it comes from, which I am extremely pleased about. It’s never too late to learn something new. Even in a romance novel.
Several new elements are in fact added into The Missus, giving it the feel of an independent book while also being part of a series. Where it is not in standalone territory, the new elements within this book allow The Missus to stand on its own two feet, so to speak, beside its predecessor. For example, Maxim’s transformation from rake to gentlemen. A rake redeemed. Where we saw a few of his many exploits in The Mister, we witness is transition from playboy rake to the gentleman he was inside now brought to the surface. His transformation is an overnight miracle in the name of one Alessia Demachi. She was and is his reason to change himself and his now former ways, all in the name of love.
Alessia too, goes through her own transformation. This book is where she truly comes into her own and keeps on going. She showed incredible potential to be this person she is now when we first met her in The Mister—for example her determination to survive, to keep going when things got tough & to adapt to a new lifestyle—, and that potential has had time and ability to grow and be applied to various scenarios and circumstances in this book. Everything she was before was a bud waiting to blossom under the right conditions and environment, and those were very much written into The Missus and her character development is honest-to-book-gods off-the-charts! As she was Maxim’s reason to change, he is as much hers as is her own will and desire to change. Despite being from a family where the men speak and the women listen, there is no forcing Alessia to do anything against her will. Maxim stands by her side and is very much her equal, giving input and opinion as an equal rather than as someone of higher social status. With his support, she knows the person she was and wants to be as she was able to keep parts of both people rather than moulding herself into someone completely new. Her shyness, naiveté and reserved nature all slowly melt away over the course of this book, leaving in their place an admirable, inspirational and awe-inspiring woman and character.
Lord and Lady Trevethick are very much the dynamic duo. Together there isn’t anything they can’t face—and like with life in general, speed bumps and unexpected turn of events are aplenty—, and they’ll do it with trust, communication and plenty of trial-and-error. Just like any couple in any capacity would do here in the real world. Maxim and Alessia are two unforgettable and unique characters who only come around in the book world once in a blue moon. We all have our favourite couples from past, present and overall reads, though every now and then one or two come up who will be with us forever no matter how many characters or books come after them. Maxim and Alessia are those characters for me.
One thing that sets The Missus apart from The Mister in quite a big way, is the between-the-sheets action. Or rather, action everywhere. With the room to be more creative and adventurous in and out of the bedroom, Maxim and Alessia more than make up for lost time and I lived for every spontaneous, numerous, repeat performance moment. Among the many things Erika is an absolute mistress at doing, it’s giving us all the steam and spice created on the page. Part of this ties in with Alessia’s character development as she is often the initiator—no complaints there—, setting the precedence for women, literary or not, to go after what they want in the name of passion and pleasure. Some of the moments were quite creative and amusing both. Again, you learn something new every day.
With any read, comes either a bombshell or a climax (or two, or ten), perhaps a plot twist or two thrown in for good measure. This read had all three and will leave readers far from bored but thoroughly entertained with the unexpected revelations and surfaced secrets. When as a reader you think you’ve read everything that could ever be read, you’re sometimes proven wrong and I can hand on heart say that my own personal guesses as to where things could go or what might happen were proven wrong. And I loved it. Erika injected into The Missus moments that were very much a plausibility both in and out of the page, rather than being a tool for the storyline or plot. That essence of realism is what made The Mister resonate so well with readers, and I was very much pleased too see this carry on into The Missus as well. These twists and turns were far from ridiculous or unrealistic, and it was an experience I’m glad to have had reading them as each one came up along the way.
What also came up which I’m glad to have noticed was the nod in a few, subtle ways to a certain other book series. Certain words/phases very familiar to us Erika readers were slipped in slyly and I hope my fellow readers will pick up on those words/phrases that I have spotted myself. It was lovely to see these mini tributes, if you will, to such a beloved series.
It has always been said that ‘good things come to those who wait’, and after gladly waiting these last four years for the next chapters of Maxim & Alessia’s journey to continue, a very good thing came to this reader who waited in earnest. Going into The Missus open-minded allowed me not to compare this to The Mister in the sense of ‘will it be as good or better than The Mister’. Although part of this series, it was always my intention to view and think of it independently while within the series as their story continues. If I thought I was besotted and more with The Mister, The Missus goes one step further and currently owns my whole heart, body and soul. Its truly indescribable just how much I love every aspect of The Mister and now The Missus. I would need a whole other review just to talk about it, but I will say this:
Erika has braved the world outside of the familiar and fan favourite, and has come up triumphant and has more than demonstrated why she is so beloved by readers across the world for over a decade now. Her ability to tell a story, write a romance and show love in all of its forms is without a doubt unparalleled. She’s telling the stories she wants to tell, for her and not for anyone else or demanded by anyone else—which I admire and respect so much. Maxim & Alessia’s story as well as the world of The Mister and The Missus has brought together both fairytale and reality to give us something truly once-in-a-lifetime, something we can love and cherish for as long as we all live, and for us to pass down our love of to future generations and readers both. I implore any readers of romance, true romance, to pick up both of these books and discover the glorious magic within their pages. If The Missus is proof of what Erika really wants to get out here into our beautiful bookish world, then I cannot wait for what she has in store for us next in the coming years. I, for one, will be here at her side—albeit from a distance—ready to support someone who as a friend and an author both, deserves all the love in return for what she is gifting to us. Her.
Now that I know what happens in The Missus after remaining curious for the last four years, making friends along the way and creating endless memories from this wonderful ride, I know what I will personally be hoping for from our beloved author at some point in the near future.
I’m tickled pink to not only have found my favourite book(s) in The Missus but also as it currently stands, my top read of this year. Without a shadow of a doubt.
Before The Missus’ release, the question was already on the fingertips of many readers as to where things will go from here after we’ve closed the last page. It will not be down to me to spoil anything or to lead anyone into falsely thinking or assuming anything, but I will leave you all with this final thought…
‘The best things in life come in threes. Like dreams, friends and memories’ - Mencius.
Faleminderit, Erika. Unë jam shumë krenar për ju.
Wonder no more, dear readers. The next chapter of Maxim & Alessia’s story is here and we will see them go from boss/employee, earl/cinderella, Mister/Miss to husband & wife, lord & lady and Mister and Missus. Living beyond the fairytale and showing us what happens after the shoe fits and the happily ever after.
Maxim and Alessia were unlike any other literary couple—with a few exceptions—that I have fallen so hard and in love with in all my years as a reader. Their story resonated with me so much so with its realism in terms with many aspects of the story, it gave the readers—and myself—exactly what was promised to us by the author herself. A story which takes us back to the roots of the our beloved genre with a true strangers-to-lovers, slow burn, opposites attract, Cinderella-esque romance that will be a favourite of mine and other readers for many years to come.
Some consider The Mister to be a ‘cliffhanger’ of an ending. Not this reader. I very much see it in the ‘happy for now’ trope category. The outcome didn’t leave us wondering what would happen next in the sense of it being a mystery, as with an engagement the next step is of course, marriage. It was a case of actually reading about what would happen on the lead up to—and after—the big day itself.
This is where The Missus comes in. This is our chance to see what happens after the reformed rake got the girl, and after the ’happily ever after’ once the glass slipper had fit.
The Missus picks up immediately where things left off from The Mister, bringing us right back to where we left Maxim and Alessia four years ago. Mercifully we weren’t subjected to a major skip back in time to go the long way round to where we were left, Erika flawlessly continues the story with great ease and fluidity as if she hadn’t even stopped writing between the two stories. The transition is seamless. It feels like no time at all has passed for myself in the real world opening up this next instalment. I hope other readers feel the same as I do.
A return to Maxim and Alessia also meant a return to the familiar in terms of phrases and places both. Reading the familiar and favourite faces once more plastered a smile on my face, remembering how often we’ve quoted them in the time between both books. Praise must also be given here to Erika for injecting and executing a handful of new Albanian phrases, sentences and words for us to learn and in my case, attempt to pronounce. The same grace was also bestowed upon Albanian traditions and culture. Great time and care has gone into giving us the true essence of small-town, non-stereotypical Albanian life, culture and the people within both. I leaned a great deal from the inclusivity about Albanian culture and the wonderful country it comes from, which I am extremely pleased about. It’s never too late to learn something new. Even in a romance novel.
Several new elements are in fact added into The Missus, giving it the feel of an independent book while also being part of a series. Where it is not in standalone territory, the new elements within this book allow The Missus to stand on its own two feet, so to speak, beside its predecessor. For example, Maxim’s transformation from rake to gentlemen. A rake redeemed. Where we saw a few of his many exploits in The Mister, we witness is transition from playboy rake to the gentleman he was inside now brought to the surface. His transformation is an overnight miracle in the name of one Alessia Demachi. She was and is his reason to change himself and his now former ways, all in the name of love.
Alessia too, goes through her own transformation. This book is where she truly comes into her own and keeps on going. She showed incredible potential to be this person she is now when we first met her in The Mister—for example her determination to survive, to keep going when things got tough & to adapt to a new lifestyle—, and that potential has had time and ability to grow and be applied to various scenarios and circumstances in this book. Everything she was before was a bud waiting to blossom under the right conditions and environment, and those were very much written into The Missus and her character development is honest-to-book-gods off-the-charts! As she was Maxim’s reason to change, he is as much hers as is her own will and desire to change. Despite being from a family where the men speak and the women listen, there is no forcing Alessia to do anything against her will. Maxim stands by her side and is very much her equal, giving input and opinion as an equal rather than as someone of higher social status. With his support, she knows the person she was and wants to be as she was able to keep parts of both people rather than moulding herself into someone completely new. Her shyness, naiveté and reserved nature all slowly melt away over the course of this book, leaving in their place an admirable, inspirational and awe-inspiring woman and character.
Lord and Lady Trevethick are very much the dynamic duo. Together there isn’t anything they can’t face—and like with life in general, speed bumps and unexpected turn of events are aplenty—, and they’ll do it with trust, communication and plenty of trial-and-error. Just like any couple in any capacity would do here in the real world. Maxim and Alessia are two unforgettable and unique characters who only come around in the book world once in a blue moon. We all have our favourite couples from past, present and overall reads, though every now and then one or two come up who will be with us forever no matter how many characters or books come after them. Maxim and Alessia are those characters for me.
One thing that sets The Missus apart from The Mister in quite a big way, is the between-the-sheets action. Or rather, action everywhere. With the room to be more creative and adventurous in and out of the bedroom, Maxim and Alessia more than make up for lost time and I lived for every spontaneous, numerous, repeat performance moment. Among the many things Erika is an absolute mistress at doing, it’s giving us all the steam and spice created on the page. Part of this ties in with Alessia’s character development as she is often the initiator—no complaints there—, setting the precedence for women, literary or not, to go after what they want in the name of passion and pleasure. Some of the moments were quite creative and amusing both. Again, you learn something new every day.
With any read, comes either a bombshell or a climax (or two, or ten), perhaps a plot twist or two thrown in for good measure. This read had all three and will leave readers far from bored but thoroughly entertained with the unexpected revelations and surfaced secrets. When as a reader you think you’ve read everything that could ever be read, you’re sometimes proven wrong and I can hand on heart say that my own personal guesses as to where things could go or what might happen were proven wrong. And I loved it. Erika injected into The Missus moments that were very much a plausibility both in and out of the page, rather than being a tool for the storyline or plot. That essence of realism is what made The Mister resonate so well with readers, and I was very much pleased too see this carry on into The Missus as well. These twists and turns were far from ridiculous or unrealistic, and it was an experience I’m glad to have had reading them as each one came up along the way.
What also came up which I’m glad to have noticed was the nod in a few, subtle ways to a certain other book series. Certain words/phases very familiar to us Erika readers were slipped in slyly and I hope my fellow readers will pick up on those words/phrases that I have spotted myself. It was lovely to see these mini tributes, if you will, to such a beloved series.
It has always been said that ‘good things come to those who wait’, and after gladly waiting these last four years for the next chapters of Maxim & Alessia’s journey to continue, a very good thing came to this reader who waited in earnest. Going into The Missus open-minded allowed me not to compare this to The Mister in the sense of ‘will it be as good or better than The Mister’. Although part of this series, it was always my intention to view and think of it independently while within the series as their story continues. If I thought I was besotted and more with The Mister, The Missus goes one step further and currently owns my whole heart, body and soul. Its truly indescribable just how much I love every aspect of The Mister and now The Missus. I would need a whole other review just to talk about it, but I will say this:
Erika has braved the world outside of the familiar and fan favourite, and has come up triumphant and has more than demonstrated why she is so beloved by readers across the world for over a decade now. Her ability to tell a story, write a romance and show love in all of its forms is without a doubt unparalleled. She’s telling the stories she wants to tell, for her and not for anyone else or demanded by anyone else—which I admire and respect so much. Maxim & Alessia’s story as well as the world of The Mister and The Missus has brought together both fairytale and reality to give us something truly once-in-a-lifetime, something we can love and cherish for as long as we all live, and for us to pass down our love of to future generations and readers both. I implore any readers of romance, true romance, to pick up both of these books and discover the glorious magic within their pages. If The Missus is proof of what Erika really wants to get out here into our beautiful bookish world, then I cannot wait for what she has in store for us next in the coming years. I, for one, will be here at her side—albeit from a distance—ready to support someone who as a friend and an author both, deserves all the love in return for what she is gifting to us. Her.
Now that I know what happens in The Missus after remaining curious for the last four years, making friends along the way and creating endless memories from this wonderful ride, I know what I will personally be hoping for from our beloved author at some point in the near future.
I’m tickled pink to not only have found my favourite book(s) in The Missus but also as it currently stands, my top read of this year. Without a shadow of a doubt.
Before The Missus’ release, the question was already on the fingertips of many readers as to where things will go from here after we’ve closed the last page. It will not be down to me to spoil anything or to lead anyone into falsely thinking or assuming anything, but I will leave you all with this final thought…
‘The best things in life come in threes. Like dreams, friends and memories’ - Mencius.
Faleminderit, Erika. Unë jam shumë krenar për ju.
July 19, 2023
3.5 stars
"What happens once the glass slipper fits?"
This is the sequel to the Mister, in which Maxim, the Earl, falls in love with and rescues Alessia, his cleaning lady, from human trafficking. Now, after having pursued Alessia to her home country of Albania, Maxim has promised Alessia's father that he will marry her so that he can make sure he can keep her safe and keep her as his own.
Once they are married, Alessia moves back to London and has to step into the role of Countess, which is something that she is ill-prepared for. Maxim has a sordid past, of which Alessia is reminded constantly. Can Alessia step up and be seen as more than just Maxim's former cleaning lady by high society? His family don't accept her, and the press seem to be out for blood.
I thought that this was a great portrayal of how difficult it must be to fit into an aristocratic family, and was shown well through both of the characters' points of view. I liked that Alessia sought out to make her own path, and delve into her music and what it takes to be a modern day estate owner. There were some plot points that I thought were introduced and then they never seemed to go anywhere, which was strange. I really thought that there would perhaps be more action and/or conflict in certain areas.
An enjoyable easy read for anyone looking for a romance novel. You definitely have to read the Mister first though, otherwise you'll be completely lost.
Thank you to Penguin Random House South Africa for the gifted copy of this book in return for a review.
"What happens once the glass slipper fits?"
This is the sequel to the Mister, in which Maxim, the Earl, falls in love with and rescues Alessia, his cleaning lady, from human trafficking. Now, after having pursued Alessia to her home country of Albania, Maxim has promised Alessia's father that he will marry her so that he can make sure he can keep her safe and keep her as his own.
Once they are married, Alessia moves back to London and has to step into the role of Countess, which is something that she is ill-prepared for. Maxim has a sordid past, of which Alessia is reminded constantly. Can Alessia step up and be seen as more than just Maxim's former cleaning lady by high society? His family don't accept her, and the press seem to be out for blood.
I thought that this was a great portrayal of how difficult it must be to fit into an aristocratic family, and was shown well through both of the characters' points of view. I liked that Alessia sought out to make her own path, and delve into her music and what it takes to be a modern day estate owner. There were some plot points that I thought were introduced and then they never seemed to go anywhere, which was strange. I really thought that there would perhaps be more action and/or conflict in certain areas.
An enjoyable easy read for anyone looking for a romance novel. You definitely have to read the Mister first though, otherwise you'll be completely lost.
Thank you to Penguin Random House South Africa for the gifted copy of this book in return for a review.
January 30, 2024
1/5⭐
🤣"Conocerte probablemente me ha salvado el hígado."🙄🤦🏻♀️🤣
👩🏻🏫Emmm, primero avisar que tendré que explicar algo sobre Albania, o sea, mínimas conceptos de geografía (sarcasmo). Y segundo, lo que menos quiero es crear “hate” porque yo quería que éste libro me gustara. La portada es muy romántica.
🤔No recuerdo absolutamente NADA de “The Mister”, solo que le di 1⭐ pero leí ésta segunda parte como última oportunidad, a ver si evolucionó. Y no, todo lo contrario, dió marcha atrás.
Con éste libro me pasó que no conecté con ninguno de los protagonistas, mucho menos con la trama. Pero antes, tuve que informarme sobre Albania porque no me cerraban ciertos comportamientos de la familia de Alessia. En Euronews encontré: “Albania (el último secreto de Europa) tiene la que es considerada la tercera mayor diáspora del mundo, tras las de Bosnia-Herzegovina y Guyana(...) Kukës, una pequeña ciudad situada en el norte del país balcánico, una de las regiones más afectadas por la tasa masiva de emigración. “La Condesa” empieza en dicha ciudad. Maxim llega hasta allí para recuperar a Alessia. Y sigo citando: “Kukës ha sido catalogada, por algunos, como ‘una ciudad fantasma’. Hasta el 40 % de su población ha emigrado desde la caída del comunismo, en 1991. Incluso aquellos emigrantes que regresaron, están dispuestos a irse de nuevo.” Por último: “El sector privado se esfuerza, también, en intentar cortar la hemorragia de emigrantes. Un negocio textil de la zona emplea a 90 mujeres. Algunas acaban de regresar de Alemania o Italia, donde no pudieron encontrar trabajos legales, a pesar de que hicieron todo lo que pudieron por lograrlos.”
🙄En fin, ésta segunda parte está narrada desde el punto de vista de él, lord Trevethick, luego pasa a una voz omnisciente cuya narración me descolocó y me confundía. Me preguntaba: ¿Qué busca mostrarnos la autora? ¿Un amor entre un choque de culturas? Porque me daba la sensación que la protagonista en su tierra se comporta de manera distinta. “Gugleando” encontré esto: “Albania es un país predominantemente musulmán, pero también cuenta con importantes comunidades cristianas y ortodoxas. A pesar de la diversidad religiosa, los albaneses son muy tolerantes y respetuosos con otras religiones, y es habitual que personas de distintos credos convivan y trabajen en armonía.” E.L. James NO se enfoca en la religión pero ya entiendo por qué los padres se comportan como lo hacen.
🙄A Maxim lo continúe visualizando con el rostro del Príncipe Harry pero acartonado porque se dan escenas donde aparece nuevamente el ex novio, y se supone que Máxim prometió protegerla peeero se queda de cartón sentado mientras Alessia le abre la puerta a su ex prometido y secuestrador, Anatoli, el cual dice quererla, después de todo lo que le hizo.
👍La portada de éste libro como del primero, son BELLISIMAS. Lástima que de su contenido no puedo decir lo mismo porque es todo plano, no sucede nada y lo que sucede es para amargarse, sobre todo con los padres de Alessia, cuya madre “fundamenta” el maltrato de su marido. Investigué y entiendo por qué. E.L. James debería haberlo explicado. Lo único que ha hecho es agregar en los diálogos el idioma albanés pero en algunos de ellos ni siquiera traduce qué significa.
🙄En digital son más de 500 páginas de… nada. Creo que era innecesario éste libro porque no hay conflicto, ni historia ni emociones y mirá que tiene temas para desarrollar. Alessia es una joven vulnerable, insegura, triste, que tiene un pasado doloroso, que incluye la trata de personas. Es un personaje que necesita asistencia mental urgente porque llora mucho. Y sí, el tema de trata se da en Albania, con las llamadas “Pandillas”. Busco el mapa de Albania y me encuentro que limita con Montenegro y éste con Bosnia-Herzegovina, países cuyo tema de trata de blanca y tráfico humano es… tremendo. Lean la bilogía de Florencia Bonelli “Aquí hay dragones”que detalla un poco.
🙄Volviendo a la novela, entiendo por qué Alessia es sumisa a Máxim bajo la excusa de “protección” mientras están en Albania preparando la boda. Un alto porcentaje del libro gira en torno a la boda según costumbres albanesas. “Supuestamente” en The Mister, Alessia es valiente y acá “habla bajito”. No hay congruencia, la autora no lo explica y debería hacerlo hecho, de ahí que no conecté con nada ni nadie del libro.
Conclusión: Me ha parecido ABURRIDO. Me costó terminarlo, pensé en abandonarlo pero para opinar hay que leerlo completo. Reconozco que pasé páginas. No se salva ni siquiera desde el punto de vista de las escenas hot, no puedo rescatar ninguna frase romántica porque no la hay, más que entre diálogos recitan un poema. Maxim no me enamoró y Alessia es una chica con traumas y eso con sexo y una vida de lujos no sana. La amiga tiene un terapeuta pero Alessia no, con un marido lleno de dinero🤷🏻♀️
No sé, E.L. James cavó su propia tumba. Se supone que es una historia de la realeza, pero no la sentí así.
🤣"Conocerte probablemente me ha salvado el hígado."🙄🤦🏻♀️🤣
👩🏻🏫Emmm, primero avisar que tendré que explicar algo sobre Albania, o sea, mínimas conceptos de geografía (sarcasmo). Y segundo, lo que menos quiero es crear “hate” porque yo quería que éste libro me gustara. La portada es muy romántica.
🤔No recuerdo absolutamente NADA de “The Mister”, solo que le di 1⭐ pero leí ésta segunda parte como última oportunidad, a ver si evolucionó. Y no, todo lo contrario, dió marcha atrás.
Con éste libro me pasó que no conecté con ninguno de los protagonistas, mucho menos con la trama. Pero antes, tuve que informarme sobre Albania porque no me cerraban ciertos comportamientos de la familia de Alessia. En Euronews encontré: “Albania (el último secreto de Europa) tiene la que es considerada la tercera mayor diáspora del mundo, tras las de Bosnia-Herzegovina y Guyana(...) Kukës, una pequeña ciudad situada en el norte del país balcánico, una de las regiones más afectadas por la tasa masiva de emigración. “La Condesa” empieza en dicha ciudad. Maxim llega hasta allí para recuperar a Alessia. Y sigo citando: “Kukës ha sido catalogada, por algunos, como ‘una ciudad fantasma’. Hasta el 40 % de su población ha emigrado desde la caída del comunismo, en 1991. Incluso aquellos emigrantes que regresaron, están dispuestos a irse de nuevo.” Por último: “El sector privado se esfuerza, también, en intentar cortar la hemorragia de emigrantes. Un negocio textil de la zona emplea a 90 mujeres. Algunas acaban de regresar de Alemania o Italia, donde no pudieron encontrar trabajos legales, a pesar de que hicieron todo lo que pudieron por lograrlos.”
🙄En fin, ésta segunda parte está narrada desde el punto de vista de él, lord Trevethick, luego pasa a una voz omnisciente cuya narración me descolocó y me confundía. Me preguntaba: ¿Qué busca mostrarnos la autora? ¿Un amor entre un choque de culturas? Porque me daba la sensación que la protagonista en su tierra se comporta de manera distinta. “Gugleando” encontré esto: “Albania es un país predominantemente musulmán, pero también cuenta con importantes comunidades cristianas y ortodoxas. A pesar de la diversidad religiosa, los albaneses son muy tolerantes y respetuosos con otras religiones, y es habitual que personas de distintos credos convivan y trabajen en armonía.” E.L. James NO se enfoca en la religión pero ya entiendo por qué los padres se comportan como lo hacen.
🙄A Maxim lo continúe visualizando con el rostro del Príncipe Harry pero acartonado porque se dan escenas donde aparece nuevamente el ex novio, y se supone que Máxim prometió protegerla peeero se queda de cartón sentado mientras Alessia le abre la puerta a su ex prometido y secuestrador, Anatoli, el cual dice quererla, después de todo lo que le hizo.
👍La portada de éste libro como del primero, son BELLISIMAS. Lástima que de su contenido no puedo decir lo mismo porque es todo plano, no sucede nada y lo que sucede es para amargarse, sobre todo con los padres de Alessia, cuya madre “fundamenta” el maltrato de su marido. Investigué y entiendo por qué. E.L. James debería haberlo explicado. Lo único que ha hecho es agregar en los diálogos el idioma albanés pero en algunos de ellos ni siquiera traduce qué significa.
🙄En digital son más de 500 páginas de… nada. Creo que era innecesario éste libro porque no hay conflicto, ni historia ni emociones y mirá que tiene temas para desarrollar. Alessia es una joven vulnerable, insegura, triste, que tiene un pasado doloroso, que incluye la trata de personas. Es un personaje que necesita asistencia mental urgente porque llora mucho. Y sí, el tema de trata se da en Albania, con las llamadas “Pandillas”. Busco el mapa de Albania y me encuentro que limita con Montenegro y éste con Bosnia-Herzegovina, países cuyo tema de trata de blanca y tráfico humano es… tremendo. Lean la bilogía de Florencia Bonelli “Aquí hay dragones”que detalla un poco.
🙄Volviendo a la novela, entiendo por qué Alessia es sumisa a Máxim bajo la excusa de “protección” mientras están en Albania preparando la boda. Un alto porcentaje del libro gira en torno a la boda según costumbres albanesas. “Supuestamente” en The Mister, Alessia es valiente y acá “habla bajito”. No hay congruencia, la autora no lo explica y debería hacerlo hecho, de ahí que no conecté con nada ni nadie del libro.
Conclusión: Me ha parecido ABURRIDO. Me costó terminarlo, pensé en abandonarlo pero para opinar hay que leerlo completo. Reconozco que pasé páginas. No se salva ni siquiera desde el punto de vista de las escenas hot, no puedo rescatar ninguna frase romántica porque no la hay, más que entre diálogos recitan un poema. Maxim no me enamoró y Alessia es una chica con traumas y eso con sexo y una vida de lujos no sana. La amiga tiene un terapeuta pero Alessia no, con un marido lleno de dinero🤷🏻♀️
No sé, E.L. James cavó su propia tumba. Se supone que es una historia de la realeza, pero no la sentí así.
September 17, 2023
Gah, I have seen some harsh AF reviews for this book. I am not going to do that. Not my style.
Did I like this book? Nope.
Do I have a specific reason why? Again Nope.
Am I done with E.L. James? Maybe, TBD.
I read all the Fifty Shades books, and I didn't see the hype, nor did I see the point. The only things those books showed me is that we need better representation of the BDSM community. But I digress.
A lot of people really disliked The Mister and while I only gave it three stars, I found it enjoyable. It took me about a hundred pages to get into it, but I could tell it was going somewhere. I stuck it out and I felt like I was rewarded enough to read the second one.
With The Missus, I've got nothing though. It could be that it has been several years now since I have read book one and this one lost something for me. Maybe, I have grown as a reader and need more substance to call a book "good". I really don't know.
All I can say is this book did not work for me, and if the series continues, I don't think I will continue. If you enjoyed book 1 thoroughly, then I suggest you read this one because you might get something out of it that I didn't.
Did I like this book? Nope.
Do I have a specific reason why? Again Nope.
Am I done with E.L. James? Maybe, TBD.
I read all the Fifty Shades books, and I didn't see the hype, nor did I see the point. The only things those books showed me is that we need better representation of the BDSM community. But I digress.
A lot of people really disliked The Mister and while I only gave it three stars, I found it enjoyable. It took me about a hundred pages to get into it, but I could tell it was going somewhere. I stuck it out and I felt like I was rewarded enough to read the second one.
With The Missus, I've got nothing though. It could be that it has been several years now since I have read book one and this one lost something for me. Maybe, I have grown as a reader and need more substance to call a book "good". I really don't know.
All I can say is this book did not work for me, and if the series continues, I don't think I will continue. If you enjoyed book 1 thoroughly, then I suggest you read this one because you might get something out of it that I didn't.
July 17, 2023
It should be a crime for erotica to be this boring. Also, please Ms. James, at some point in the near future, get an editor that will tell you which details are important and which ones to cut out. Basically, it's the complete opposite of the way you've been doing it.
*Insert gif of Peter McNichol in Ghostbusters II saying, "Everything you're doing is bad. I want you to know this."*
*Insert gif of Peter McNichol in Ghostbusters II saying, "Everything you're doing is bad. I want you to know this."*
August 23, 2023
Took me forever to finish. The book lacks purpose.
November 30, 2025
A ver....
Si bien me reeee enganché con la historia y no podía parar de leer, siento que este segundo libro fue de relleno. Creo que no era necesario.
El primero estuvo muy bueno, pero podria haberlo seguido un poco más y ya.
Me encantan las novelas románticas, me encantó la historia y su narrativa tan llevadera, pero debo ser objetiva jajaj
Si bien me reeee enganché con la historia y no podía parar de leer, siento que este segundo libro fue de relleno. Creo que no era necesario.
El primero estuvo muy bueno, pero podria haberlo seguido un poco más y ya.
Me encantan las novelas románticas, me encantó la historia y su narrativa tan llevadera, pero debo ser objetiva jajaj
November 9, 2024
I loved the first book so much that I was scared of starting this one in case it didn't live up to my expectations. But it did! It was like those historical romance books where the rake with the aristocratic title is tamed by the sheltered and innocent heroine.
The fact that both maxim and alessia came from different worlds made this book so much more interesting. There was no unnecessary drama or conflict. And both of the main characters resolved their issues like grown ups instead of needlessly hurting each other.
Last but not the least despite the difference in social class I felt the two of them became a power couple in the end and Alessia blossomed into a confident young woman. I really hope el james writes more books like these .
The fact that both maxim and alessia came from different worlds made this book so much more interesting. There was no unnecessary drama or conflict. And both of the main characters resolved their issues like grown ups instead of needlessly hurting each other.
Last but not the least despite the difference in social class I felt the two of them became a power couple in the end and Alessia blossomed into a confident young woman. I really hope el james writes more books like these .
July 29, 2023
Um completo desperdício de tempo. Nem parece a mesma escritora dos livros do Grey. Este volume até é pior que o primeiro pois nem há história nenhuma 😳. As cenas não estão bem escritas, aliás passa de narrar um para narrar o outro. Não se percebe nada. Ainda bem que terminou 🙄
March 16, 2024
If EL James doesn’t have a hater, I’m no longer alive. This was was a burning pile of useless trash
July 19, 2023
Una lettura che non mi ha entusiasmato molto. Il fatto che l'autrice abbia utilizzato il pov in prima persona per Maxim e in terza per Alessia , francamente toglie molto alla lettura.⭐⭐⭐,5
avoid
July 4, 2023Has tons and tons of OW drama. The H is a philandering prick before he meets the h and hence it’s full of OW drama.
In fact this H and the H (Kane Black) from So Close by Sylvia Day should be in the same class of trashy heroes.
⛔️ they both slept with their sis-in-law before she married her husband (H’s brother). But here he also slept with her AFTER his brother died. 🤦🏻♀️
In fact the whole theme of the book is the h dealing with the insecurities from his past. And how everyone - I MEAN EVERYONE she meets has slept with or knows someone directly who has SLEPT with her husband. And then she learns to be kind of numb to it... not let it bother her... in fact one time he asks her "do you really want to know?" and she rolls her eyes and says no and he says "good girl" that's the reaction I wanted from her. My wife. None of the other matter.
PLEASE SPARE ME.
What is with these good authors churning and spitting out the same shit again and again? H a rich, playboy asshole. h is a v. And that's usually her whole personality. Never had an orgasm. Never been with anyone and that's her WHOLE personality. Love at first sight... marriage... OW drama. The End
In fact this H and the H (Kane Black) from So Close by Sylvia Day should be in the same class of trashy heroes.
⛔️ they both slept with their sis-in-law before she married her husband (H’s brother). But here he also slept with her AFTER his brother died. 🤦🏻♀️
In fact the whole theme of the book is the h dealing with the insecurities from his past. And how everyone - I MEAN EVERYONE she meets has slept with or knows someone directly who has SLEPT with her husband. And then she learns to be kind of numb to it... not let it bother her... in fact one time he asks her "do you really want to know?" and she rolls her eyes and says no and he says "good girl" that's the reaction I wanted from her. My wife. None of the other matter.
PLEASE SPARE ME.
What is with these good authors churning and spitting out the same shit again and again? H a rich, playboy asshole. h is a v. And that's usually her whole personality. Never had an orgasm. Never been with anyone and that's her WHOLE personality. Love at first sight... marriage... OW drama. The End
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 1, 2024
La primera parte de esta historia me gustó muchísimo y por eso tenía mucha curiosidad por saber que más tenía que ofrecernos la historia de Maxim y Alessia. La insípida narración, pero dulce trama de esta segunda parte no me ha marcado nada, pero resulta gratificante leer que el bien triunfa sobre el mal, sabiendo que ambos protagonistas tienen un arco argumental complicado. El pasado los persigue a ambos, pero están luchando para que su amor siga siendo lo mas importante, a pesar de que todos se empeñan en demostrar lo contrario. Diría que eso es lo más resaltante de este libro, pero más allá de eso, pues no.
Las constantes dudas de Alessia y la necesidad de Maxim de protegerla, no merecían treinta y dos capitulo, en mi opinión. Ya sabemos que se quieren, ya sabemos que se idolatran, pero no pude evitar preguntarme ¿Qué más?... así que por eso creo que este libro solo esta, bien. Y ya está.
Los secundarios son bastante planos, pero dan breves indicios de que algo se traen entre manos. Pequeñas apariciones de antagónicos que pueden sorprender en un futuro, si es que E.L. James cree que esta historia merece una tercera parte. No sé exactamente para contar que, pero si es que sale, definitivamente la voy a leer…
Para mi este libro y el anterior, a pesar de todo lo comentado, son un sí sólido y no dejaré de recomendarlos.
Las constantes dudas de Alessia y la necesidad de Maxim de protegerla, no merecían treinta y dos capitulo, en mi opinión. Ya sabemos que se quieren, ya sabemos que se idolatran, pero no pude evitar preguntarme ¿Qué más?... así que por eso creo que este libro solo esta, bien. Y ya está.
Los secundarios son bastante planos, pero dan breves indicios de que algo se traen entre manos. Pequeñas apariciones de antagónicos que pueden sorprender en un futuro, si es que E.L. James cree que esta historia merece una tercera parte. No sé exactamente para contar que, pero si es que sale, definitivamente la voy a leer…
Para mi este libro y el anterior, a pesar de todo lo comentado, son un sí sólido y no dejaré de recomendarlos.
July 12, 2023
Not my fave
I will start by saying the fifty series was my fave and reread it too many times to count. I reread The Mr at least twice before this book was released, I enjoyed it a lot. I was so excited for the second part. I bought the book, and let's just say, I was so bored with it that I decided to check out the audio version from my library in hopes it would help me get through this terrible storyline.... No luck. The man on the audio version sounded like count Dracula every time he spoke in her voice. It was ridiculous and laughable. Needless to say, since I purchased the book, I forced myself to continue reading but had zero interest in the story anymore...No major drama imo. So, I finally finished it and I can't think of one single thing that happened that brought me any excitement, joy, or entertainment.
I will start by saying the fifty series was my fave and reread it too many times to count. I reread The Mr at least twice before this book was released, I enjoyed it a lot. I was so excited for the second part. I bought the book, and let's just say, I was so bored with it that I decided to check out the audio version from my library in hopes it would help me get through this terrible storyline.... No luck. The man on the audio version sounded like count Dracula every time he spoke in her voice. It was ridiculous and laughable. Needless to say, since I purchased the book, I forced myself to continue reading but had zero interest in the story anymore...No major drama imo. So, I finally finished it and I can't think of one single thing that happened that brought me any excitement, joy, or entertainment.
July 9, 2023
No me voy a andar por las ramas, y la verdad es que tiene mucho merito escribir un libro, pero no puedo mentir sobre lo que pienso de esta historia. Ahí va mi opinión:
Más de 500 páginas de la nada más absoluta. Sinceramente me he tirado todo el libro esperando a que pasase algo medianamente interesante y eso no ha ocurrido.
Vale que el primero no me pareció una maravilla, pero por lo menos pasaban cosas, pero en este no ha ocurrido, a mi modo de ver, nada digno de mención para que me enganchase a la historia. ¡Una pena!
Más de 500 páginas de la nada más absoluta. Sinceramente me he tirado todo el libro esperando a que pasase algo medianamente interesante y eso no ha ocurrido.
Vale que el primero no me pareció una maravilla, pero por lo menos pasaban cosas, pero en este no ha ocurrido, a mi modo de ver, nada digno de mención para que me enganchase a la historia. ¡Una pena!
June 23, 2023
This is the book I hoped for and more
Once again I devoured an E L James book. I just didn’t want to put it down.
I had my hopes for Alessia after The Mister and Erika fulfilled them all. Plus a few twists of course. It tells the tale of Maxim and Alessia as they learn about their new love, it is utterly joyous. I also love the strength of the friendships and of the family bonds, tested as they may be.
Once again I devoured an E L James book. I just didn’t want to put it down.
I had my hopes for Alessia after The Mister and Erika fulfilled them all. Plus a few twists of course. It tells the tale of Maxim and Alessia as they learn about their new love, it is utterly joyous. I also love the strength of the friendships and of the family bonds, tested as they may be.
June 28, 2023
Great Read!!
I could not put it down!! Love the characters and the reality of story. Both books kept me enthralled. 😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊
I could not put it down!! Love the characters and the reality of story. Both books kept me enthralled. 😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊
June 29, 2023
Wow! SOLID 4.5/5 stars. Very good! Muchly! ☺️
June 29, 2023
Such a good sequel to the 1st book 🤩
I really hope she writes another one in the series so we can see where their lives take them.
I really hope she writes another one in the series so we can see where their lives take them.
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