All I Am: Drew's Story

This Man #3.5

by Jodi Ellen Malpas

A new novella featuring Drew from the This Man trilogy

You don't need to read the series to enjoy this story, but if you're already a Jesse Ward fan, just wait till you see the advice he gives Drew about falling in love.

I thought I had control. I was so, so wrong...

I don't need a relationship. I have Hux, a decadent club where I quench whatever raw desire I choose. I take pleasure and I give it - no strings attached. So when Raya Rivers comes in asking for someone cold, emotionless, and filthy... well, no man ever takes his wicked pleasure quite the way I do.

Only Raya is different. Vulnerable. And carrying some deep sorrow that gets past all my carefully constructed walls and inexplicably makes me care. Now craving controls me. Ice has given way to red-hot need.

But Raya has no idea about my other life - my real life. That I'm daddy to an adorable little girl. My two worlds are about to collide with the force of a supernova. Once Raya knows the truth, will she be able to accept all I am?

Includes a special preview of THE FORBIDDEN, a standalone novel coming in August.

Genres: Romance, BDSM, Novella, Erotica, Contemporary Romance, Erotic Romance, Contemporary

115 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 18, 2017

About the author

#1 New York Times & Sunday Times Bestselling Author Jodi Ellen Malpas was born and raised in England, where she lives with her husband, her boys, and Theo the Doberman.

Writing powerful love stories with fierce, memorable characters is her passion – a passion that has taken her on an amazing journey into the world of romantic fiction. Her work is now published in more than twenty-six languages across the world.

Jodi's next release: The Invitation. Check it out on Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/...

Reviews

[Christy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars





“This woman could be my downfall. Could make me forget who I am. All I am.”

I am a HUGE fan of all things Jesse Ward and his This Man series, so when I heard a novella of one of his good pal’s Drew was coming out, I read it straight away. I only remembered a bit of Drew from Jesse’s books, but I loved getting to know him. And of course, seeing more of my Lord of the Manor!

Drew is pushing forty and the only guy in his group of friends who’s still single. He doesn’t do relationships. He has many reasons, but the most important is his daughter. Drew gets all he needs from Hux (a club similar to the Manor). One night at the club, he meets Raya. Raya is younger than him, and she’s looking for something particular. Someone cold, emotionless, and filthy. Drew can be all those things during sex.

The problem, when these two have sex, there is a spark. And it’s hard to be unfeeling when a spark is there. Raya is mysterious and Drew doesn’t know much about her life. Raya has no clue Drew is a father. I just sat there… waiting for all this to unfold and see how it would turn out. I wanted these two together despite all the odds. You could truly feel their connection, and after all Drew has been through, he deserves to fall in love with someone worthy.

I really did enjoy Drew and Raya’s story, but nothing made me quite as happy as seeing my very own Jesse Ward. He had a many of scenes throughout this novella and it made my heart so happy. Jesse is still… well, Jesse. And I couldn’t love him more.

“You’re pushing fifty, and the only reason you got out was because, by some miracle, you found a woman who could deal with your unreasonable arse.”
“I’m forty-six and I’m not unreasonable.” He nods, as if agreeing with himself. “I don’t know why everyone keeps harping on me like I’m some crazy ape man who has no reason.”
His bottle pauses midway to his lips when he clocks me and Sam staring at him with slightly agape mouths.
“I’m perfectly reasonable.”

All I Am was a short read, but it had a lot of story within such few pages. It was hella sexy and even a tad emotional. I adored Drew, Raya, and little Georgia. Highly recommend this one to all fans of JEM’s This Man series. You won’t be disappointed!

[Patty ~ Wrapped Up In Reading Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

*****FOUR STARS*****
{ARC Generously Provided by Author}



The burning ache within me amplifies, and my head swims with the memory of every second I had her restrained and at my mercy. But somehow, now I realize that it was entirely me at her mercy. Just like now. This woman is stirring something in me.







THIS MAN is one of my all-time favorite series and Jesse Ward will always top the charts as one of my most beloved book boyfriends. I was more than thrilled when I got to spend a little more time with The Lord of the Manor in ALL I AM: DREW’s STORY. I don’t think Drew ever really had a chance to shine before but now in his own book he comes across as extremely sexy and dominant. He’s the last of his friends to remain single and Drew has no plans of ever changing his status. Sometimes plans don’t always work out the way people want them to.



Drew still frequents a sex club at least once a week to get his physical needs satiated. A woman asks to be set up with him because she heard he was the best and that he’s cold and emotionless, which is exactly what she needs. The moment Drew and Raya meet, they both feel something intense stirring between them. Their first time together is better than anything they’ve ever experienced, but they go their separate ways because it was only meant to be a one-time thing. By happy coincidence, Raya ends up being one of Drew’s potential clients. He owns a real estate firm and Raya is looking to sell her home and she’ll be leaving the country once it is sold. There’s something about the look in Raya’s eyes that has Drew wanting to learn more. He’s unexplainably drawn to her and can’t seem to get her out of his mind. This tickles his friends because they know a thing or two about falling hopelessly in love and are both thrilled to see that cupid’s arrow has finally got a hold of Drew.







Will Drew get his head on straight and fight for his chance at love? Or will it all slip through his fingertips when secrets are revealed?



ALL I AM: DREW’s STORY releases tomorrow!!


Amazon: http://amzn.to/2qBBHdI
iBooks: http://apple.co/2oibIXG
BN: http://bit.ly/2pv54Bk
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2o00bjM
Google: http://bit.ly/2peh4aH

[⊱✿⊰ Alicia ⊱✿⊰ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Not What I Expected Stars



Not sure on this one, it has been a few years since I read the 'This Man' series and fell head over heels for Jesse. It was one of the series that got me hooked on reading erotic romance. So when I saw this was out I maybe got a lot little excited and set my expectations to high.



Unfortunately I found the characters hard to connect to and Drew just annoyed me at times. It was totally not what I was expecting although I'm not sure what I was expecting. I wasn't feeling the love connection between Drew and Raya or Drew's instant change in feelings towards emotions.

I am now questioning my love for the first books in the series, I may have to do a re-read soon although I'm a little scared now. Who am I kidding I'll still love Jesse.

I may have enjoyed this more if I'd read the first books more recently as this is a novella of the side characters that I can't remember well.

[Sophia Triad · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know about Drew, but I really miss Jesse...

That was what I was thinking before I started Drew's book.

So, well, hmmm. Drew. He was basically background white noise in This Man. He was there and he was not there at the same time. A good friend of Jesse that if he didn't exist in the world of The Manor, nobody would really miss him. He was not like Sam. He definetely wasn't like Jesse.

So, why would I really want to know anything about him? If he had a story to tell, it had to be spectacular. Something that would take him away from the mediocre status that he had in This Man. Otherwise what is the point?

Okay, I was disappointed...

It is a short story for sure. Not much depth. Not much character development. Not remarkable dialogues, no funny bits (except the scenes with Jesse and Ava).
Drue is too much miserable and full of self pity for my taste. Raya is too needy and too gullible.

I wasn't bored reading Drew's story. The author has definitely a style that it suits me. I love everything that I have read by her. But if I had never read Drew's story, I wouldn't have missed much.

Concluding: I really miss Jesse!

[MELISSA *Mel Reader* · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars!

-You made me feel like the world began and ended with me.



Drew Davies is a 39 yr. old gorgeous single man living in London. He's built one of the most competitive estate agencies in the city & had a passion for his work. He doesn't have much free time outside of the office & spending time with his daughter. He doesn't date, & since his best friend Jesse sold the Manor, he's been forced to find a new place to play & let off some steam. He now frequents the Hux sex club to fulfill his needs. This lifestyle suits him. He's all about decadent fantasy with no strings pleasure. He likes easy with no commitments, expectations, or drama. Just raw, carnal sexual experiences. Hux is relaxing & it's what he likes. He was burned in the past, & as a result isn't trusting of women. The only female he's ever committed to is his 7 yr. old daughter. Georgia is his world, & he reserves all his emotions for her.



One evening Drew is introduced to a woman named Raya who has certain requests at the club. She specifically asks for someone cold, emotionless & filthy, & you can't get any more emotionless & detached than Drew. She's told about Drew, but is shocked by how good looking he is when she meets him. She's extremely attracted to him, but wants a night to forget with no risk of feelings. He's come highly recommended, & she's ready to see all her deepest desires come to life.

When Drew lays eyes on the stunning Raya he's intrigued by the newbie. He quickly realizes he's going to thoroughly enjoy fulfilling her requests. Once he touches her, he soon figures out there is something different about her. It's electric between them. He's so lost in the moment with her & he finds himself wanting to know her story. She's beautiful, but there's a sadness about her. She's a mystery he wants to solve.



-"I can blow your mind."

-"You ready to get completely lost?"

-Raya radiates a soft, almost innocent sexiness that I've never encountered before. It's a powerful quality she holds, and it's even sexier because she doesn't realize she has it.

-She is just effortlessly sexy, and that's just one of the things I find so attractive about her. As well as her brutal beauty and the fact that she's found feelings in me that I never knew existed.



Suddenly Drew's having feelings of possession that are unsettling. Raya's become a complication he doesn't need, but he can't control how badly he wants her. He was content with his life until this incredible woman. They both feel a strong connection they can't deny.

Raya was t supposed to get attached to Drew. It was sex and nothing more. Now she is falling for Drew & wondering if they could be more.

This was a sexy fun novella that takes us back to the This Man series. It's about Jesse's friend Drew, but we also get some scenes with all the gang. It was a super sexy fabulous read!

[Jx PinkLady Reviews ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I fell in love with Jesse Ward along with hundreds of other romance readers. For me it turned into an epic series and so when I discovered a character from that series was going to have their very own novella, I waited with eager anticipation until I could dive back into the THIS MAN world.

It's a while since I read the series and hand on heart Drew's character is not one that I distinctly remember which perfectly illustrates that this sexy novella can be read as a standalone. The fact that Jesse Ward, the male protagonist from the first three books, is imprinted on my brain beautifully enhanced my reading experience and I delighted in each and every appearance by this much-loved hero and the part he played in Drew's story.

The narrative captured my attention with the sheer charisma of Drew. What he wants is clearly established and Raya Rivers, the female at the heart of this story, seems to be the perfect match for his I-don't-need-a-relationship attitude until he starts to see a different side to this woman and then he wonders if she'll accept everything about him and his life.

I often enjoy the predictability that romance novels offer me, that safe feeling of knowing that all will end well and the satisfying feeling of being able to work out what may or may not happen. Ultimately, I feel Drew's story became a little too predictable in the middle without having the intense push and pull of emotion that I anticipated from his story, his character development was also a little too rapid for me. I felt like Drew changed his outlook too quickly, hence the predictable nature felt like it had sped up. In reality, maybe the novella length did not have the capacity for what I desired from this story.

Despite my comments above, that are purely subjective, ALL I AM provided me with a light, sexy and entertaining read with an element I absolutely loved, perhaps the element I was also most looking forward to, which was revisiting Jesse Ward and his family. He still lights up the page with his charisma, personality and beautifully developed persona so that element alone makes this story an absolute must read for fans of the series.


Advance copy received via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review thoughts *

[Maria✦❋Steamy Reads Blog❋✦ · Rating 4 out of 5]

➦I listened to the audiobook of this goodie and, boy, did that make me feel fuzzy. Because, well... guys with accents.




➦Well, you get me. But I actually really loved this story even though it was one of the insta-love variety. It wasn't over the top filled with "OMG I SEE HER AND I JUST KNOW WE'RE MEANT TO BE" statements. There was a strong pull between these characters and I enjoyed reading about this man, who wouldn't commit to any woman and loves chains, falling for 'the one'. When he met the heroine I remember thinking:


➦I recommend this if you're a fan of This Man series -it's a great addition to it- and enjoy stories where characters finally find their one and only. Oh, and heroes who love a little BDSM play - nothing heavy here though!

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 "You ready to get completely lost...?" Stars!

Jodi Ellen Malpas returns to the This Man universe, to give us Drew Davies’ story, one of Jesse Ward’s friends in the original three books, it was good to catch up with this group of characters again.



ITs LIVE!

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2qBBHdI
iBooks: http://apple.co/2oibIXG
BN: http://bit.ly/2pv54Bk
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2o00bjM
Google: http://bit.ly/2peh4aH

Nothing massively new or unusual about the plot to be honest with you, two people looking for uncomplicated sex, come together for some commitment-free sexy-times at Hux club, but after that initial meeting both of them realize that they have more of a connection than just in bed.

I can do cold, emotionless, and filthy. With little effort. Actually with no effort…

Although Drew being a Daddy, gave it an added emotional element, and I really liked Reya's strength of character. And the added man-chat when Jesse and Sam were involved in things added to the overall entertainment factor.

"What are you scared of, Drew..?"
"You."

Saying to much more would pretty much give the whole novella away, so I will leave it at that. The author delivered a well written story, it was absolutely fantastic to catch up with Jesse, Ava and the rest of the Manor crew, if like me you loved the original series, you will love this little return, I certainly did.

ARC generously provided by the publisher via SocialButterflyPR in exchange for the above honest review.


**This review will also appear on Straight Shootin' Book Reviews -
https://straightshootinbookreviews.com

[Jennifer Kyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't buy the love between these two. I did miss the characters and it was nice to catch up!

[Pavlina Read more sleep less blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 hot stars

"Jesus Christ, this woman could be my downfall. Could make me forget who I am. All I am."

I enjoyed All I Am, Drew and Raya's story was intense,sensual,erotic,hot and sexy.There were so many great moments through the story that once I start it I couldn't put it down!

"Jesus,this woman is stimulating a curiosity in me that's waging a war in my head."




Drew and Raya have an amazing chemistry.You could feel their attraction for each other.Even though at the beginning Drew is a little bit guarded due to the fact that he has a daughter.But when these two were together you can feel their sexual tension.

I loved the plot, the writing is so beautiful and flawless,seriously I wish I could have more of Drew and Raya!


 

  

[Sonya ♕Chatterbooks book blog♕ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novella completely took me by surprise and I found myself trying to read at a snails pace just so I could savor all of this hot goodness! I’m seriously kicking myself for not having read the previous books in the series but rest assured, I will be rectifying that situation ASAP.

“Jesus Christ. This woman could be my downfall. Could make me forget who I am. All I am.”

Being a father to a little girl who he would do anything for, is the most important thing to Drew Davies. He loves his daughter unconditionally and being able to spend time with her and raise her the right way, is what has Drew going above and beyond to make sure she has the best life possible. Being around her mother on the hand, gives him a constant heartburn that no antacids can cure but he tolerates her.

When he’s not being a good guy four days a week, Drew likes to be tangled up in all sorts of sexual encounters at the Hux sex club where he gets a no strings attached arrangement with any woman that he wants. When he’s introduced to a woman who wants that very same arrangement, Drew is more than willing to be of assistance. But what happens when their one night of sexual bliss turns out to be something more?

Will Drew finally open himself up to the possibility of love?

“I can see nothing, feel nothing, sense nothing, except her. Rules vanish. Sense abandon me. Questions vanish. Craving controls me. And Raya’s is with me one hundred percent.

I really liked the fact that Drew and Raya’s connection to each other felt genuine, and when those two were in a room together? IT WAS HOT!! These two were passionate in everything they did but that wasn’t my favorite thing about this story. Seeing Drew interact with his daughter and feeling that bond between them, was the highlight for me. Although I haven’t read the previous books in the series, I still enjoyed this one and I think if you’re a fan of the series, you definitely can’t afford to miss out on this.

[Nicola · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been a while since I read JEM's This Man series, years in fact so I think I can be a little bit forgiven for my more senior moment when I spied this, racking my brain muttering, Drew? Drew who? And then penny dropped. Jesse's buddy with the daughter. Yes please.



If you enjoyed the series you're likely to love this little return because not only do we get to see Drew fall, but we get to see him do it surrounded by some very well-known faces. I kid you not the humour Drew, Jesse and Sam bring was as appreciated as the sexy-time, and with a good dose of cute coming from Drew's daughter it ticked all the boxes.

"Simple, straightforward sex, no added kink. I didn’t even know I had it in me."

Drew and Raya were lovely together, bringing the hot stuff and the heartfelt and, whilst yes, everything was very insta, All I Am is a short sexy fix, it worked and bridges the way nicely into The Forbidden.

Copy received courtesy of Forever via NetGalley for an honest and unbiased opinion.

[Sharon ∞❥ is an emotional book junkie ❥∞ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 - 4 ★'s

"You always find something when you're not looking for it."

To be honest, I wasn't sure how I would feel about Drew's book. I didn't find him too interesting in Jesse's books so I was hoping that JEM would work her magic and she certainly did.

Drew's doing the same ol' same ol' just obviously at another club while the other boys are happy and thriving in their long term relationships. (Jesse is a hoot btw!)

He has his daughter, Georgia, with that awful Coral (remember?) and she is the love of his life. He's not going to do anything to jeopardize their happiness so that means no relationships.

One evening he's given a new member who wants precisely that and someone who precisely is what Drew portrays, cold and unemotional. However, when him and Raya get together things are anything but!! Seriously, there are fireworks and they both are freaking out.



We don't get Raya's POV but she seems to be thinking about him as much as he's thinking about her. Drew was busting me up with all his not knowing what he was feeling and not knowing what to do about it. And going to Jesse and Sam for answers was priceless.

Poor Coral...not! If you thought she was bad before, you haven't read anything yet. Her only redeeming quality is that she's Georgia's Mom.

It was hilarious how Jesse and Sam tried to help Drew but ya gotta love how things wrapped up. The epilogue was sweet too. I just really hated that it wasn't longer.

♦ Note: There is an excerpt for Forbidden at the end. I knew there was a reason we got to know Annie Ryan. It makes you want to read it even more!



(Prior to review...)

[✰ Bianca ✰ BJ's Book Blog ✰ · Rating 5 out of 5]

We all remember Drew from Ava & Jesse's books. He and Sam were, and still are, Jesse's best friends. And towards the end of book 3 we found out that he was going to be dad soon - from that stupid woman who wanted to pretend it was Jesse's baby! Remember? I didn't completely remember, so I did a re-read through all 3 books! ☺



Drew is now 39 years old and his daughter Georgia is 7.
He has her four days a week and when she's with her mother, Drew likes to visit a sex club.
Ever since Jesse closed his club, Drew has been going to one in the city. HUX.
One night the boss there gave him the number of a girl who was looking for someone for a night. For a no-string-no-feelings-cold-emotionless-fu*k. Perfect for Drew.
But as soon as he sees and starts to touch Raya he suddenly starts feeling things.



He doesn't do feelings. All his feelings belong to his daughter!!!

Jesus Christ, this woman could be my downfall. Could make me forget who I am. All I am.

But he just can't stay away from this girl!
Jesse is convinced Drew's crazy in love - because Jesse knows these things! ☺
But Drew doesn't want his sex-club-life touching his family-life.
And also, Raya is so very secretive and mysterious and sad and...grrr.... he has to find out more about her!

WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH RAYA & DREW & GEORGIA???
WILL THERE BE A HEA???
READ THE NOVELLA TO FIND OUT ☺

════════════════════════





I LOVED THIS STORY!

Such a great novella!
We hadn't heard anything from the This Man world in such a long time! And now here they are! Drew, Sam, Ava AND JESSE!
And while Jesse is his usual adorable, crazy self - this novella is about Drew!
And he's going crazy too, just like Jesse did about Ava.
He never wanted to have a relationship - he has his daughter, his business, and his sex club, that's all he needs. But Raya is driving him insane! He can't stop thinking about her. And of course it might have been possible to forget her, but then she goes and hires Drew's company - not knowing it's Drew's!
Adorable!
It's so sweet, but also almost painful, to watch poor Drew fall in love with a woman for the first time in his life!!! I loved it!
And I also loved those many very erotic moments!!! Phew! (even though I don't need chains in the bedroom - at all! Drew loves them! And we love Drew!)
And those sweet daddy-daughter moments! Awww.
And we still hate the hell out of Drew's baby momma! Horrible person!
We also gets lots of awwws and laughs in with Sam and Jesse! *swoon*
Perfect novella!

ALL I AM was such an adorably beautiful & exciting & erotic & funny romance! Run to your nearest amazon for your own perfect addition to the THIS MAN series! Hurry, or Jesse will eat all the peanut butter by himself! ☺

P.S. I also made a little picture - but the quote I put on the picture is from way back in the book, so if you don't want to be spoiled - well it's not a spoiler, but it's still from the almost-end! I'll put it in a spoiler thingy:


♡ ♡
♡ ♡

[Leo (Queen of the Rants and Spoilers) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh Jesus, I couldn't hit 2 stars fast enough.
This is to show how my preferences have changed drastically and while I enjoyed the first 3 books of Jesse's craziness years ago, I just hated Drew now.
While Raya was deciding to sleep with him he was going to have sex with OW and heroine saw he chose this OW in front of her. What an asshole. Nothing happened with this ow because the heroine decided to sleep with him but if she didn't he would have slept with OW.
His constants reminders how he slept with hundreds of woman was pissing me off.

He started having feelings for the heroine so he went to the sex club because he needed to have a release but he got pissed because the heroine was there getting whipped by another man (does this remind you of Jesse and Ava?) He constantly pushed her away, he acted like a 20 year old instead of a 40 year old..
And when his daughter texted him telling him she "can't wait to see him" the heroine got the wrong idea and he instead of the telling her that she was his daughter he said that she was a friend, why the hell he couldn't tell her that the text was from his daughter? This was a childish shit.

Also theres baby momma drama, this ow took advantage of him years ago resulting in her getting pregnant the way he told her if he should lock his door so she couldn't raped him again, she was amused by this. I don't find any amusement on someone being raped. Sorry but I didn't find it funny.

“Should I lock my bedroom door so you can’t rape me again?”
She snorts, and it’s with amusement. “You wouldn’t be without Georgia now and you know it.”



Totally disappointed in this one..

[Jo - •.★Reading Is My Bliss★.• · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well this was a sexy morsel of a treat from Jodi. We all remember Drew from the This Man trilogy right? He was just there in the background with his mates Sam and Jesse but we didn't really get to know him as much as them. You may also remember that he enjoyed spending a lot of time at the Manor indulging in his sexual proclivities. And how can we forget that moment he found out he was going to be a father? It is a shame the mother of his child is bat shit crazy though...

The most important thing in Drew's life is his relationship with his daughter Georgia. He has a busy fulfilling life between being a father and working. He also likes to spend time at Hux, a club where he gets his regular no strings attached sexual pleasure. This is where he first meets Raya. A woman who comes to Hux to be pleasured by a man without all the baggage that comes with a relationship.

'Fuck me, I think I'm on the way to forgetting my own name, too. The smell of her is stimulating and debilitating all at once. The feel of her is electric on my skin, and I'm not even naked yet.'

Fortunately for Drew, he has the pleasure of intimately exploring Raya's body. However, his reaction to her freaks him out just a little, before he has even touched her he is feeling this intense connection to her. He is a master is compartmentalizing his experiences with different woman and never really gives them another thought but this girl has completely gotten under and inside him after one night. He needs to see her again.

'The rooms seems to shrink, taking the oxygen with it. My cock swells, my skin prickles with excitement, and my hand flexes around hers. And I just manage to find some breath to speak.'

Raya recently got out of a relationship that left her feeling mistrustful of ever being in one again. She is also dealing with the loss of someone close to her and just wants to forget everything by losing herself in some sexual pleasure with a man who makes her feel wanted. No strings, no feelings, no emotions, just fucking. She was not counting on how incredible it would be and how intense the attraction to Drew would be.

Drew has watched both of his mates fall to their knees for the women in their lives and he never thought it would happen to him so why can't he get Raya out of his head? And let's face it, he has a little girl to think of too. How would a woman react to knowing he was a father, surely they wouldn't want to be with him then right?

'I kiss her like I mean it. I relish the contact of our mouths and find a new kind of passion. A passion that's not part of the process of getting laid, but part of a burning need I've never experienced. To be close to a woman.'

I loved this glimpse into Drew's life and of course there were some star appearances from Jesse, Ava, Sam, Kate and the kiddies. If you are a This Man fan then this will be like opening a wonderful unexpected present!

[✰ Bianca ✰ BJ's Book Blog ✰ · Rating 5 out of 5]

We all remember Drew from Ava & Jesse's books. He and Sam were, and still are, Jesse's best friends. And towards the end of book 3 we found out that he was going to be dad soon - from that stupid woman who wanted to pretend it was Jesse's baby! Remember? I didn't completely remember, so I did a re-read through all 3 books! ☺



Drew is now 39 years old and his daughter Georgia is 7.
He has her four days a week and when she's with her mother, Drew likes to visit a sex club.
Ever since Jesse closed his club, Drew has been going to one in the city. HUX.
One night the boss there gave him the number of a girl who was looking for someone for a night. For a no-string-no-feelings-cold-emotionless-fu*k. Perfect for Drew.
But as soon as he sees and starts to touch Raya he suddenly starts feeling things.



He doesn't do feelings. All his feelings belong to his daughter!!!

Jesus Christ, this woman could be my downfall. Could make me forget who I am. All I am.

But he just can't stay away from this girl!
Jesse is convinced Drew's crazy in love - because Jesse knows these things! ☺
But Drew doesn't want his sex-club-life touching his family-life.
And also, Raya is so very secretive and mysterious and sad and...grrr.... he has to find out more about her!

WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH RAYA & DREW & GEORGIA???
WILL THERE BE A HEA???
READ THE NOVELLA TO FIND OUT ☺

══════════════════════





I LOVED THIS STORY!

Such a great novella!
We hadn't heard anything from the This Man world in such a long time! And now here they are! Drew, Sam, Ava AND JESSE!
And while Jesse is his usual adorable, crazy self - this novella is about Drew!
And he's going crazy too, just like Jesse did about Ava.
He never wanted to have a relationship - he has his daughter, his business, and his sex club, that's all he needs. But Raya is driving him insane! He can't stop thinking about her. And of course it might have been possible to forget her, but then she goes and hires Drew's company - not knowing it's Drew's!
Adorable!
It's so sweet, but also almost painful, to watch poor Drew fall in love with a woman for the first time in his life!!! I loved it!
And I also loved those many very erotic moments!!! Phew! (even though I don't need chains in the bedroom - at all! Drew loves them! And we love Drew!)
And those sweet daddy-daughter moments! Awww.
And we still hate the hell out of Drew's baby momma! Horrible person!
We also gets lots of awwws and laughs in with Sam and Jesse! *swoon*
Perfect novella!

ALL I AM was such an adorably beautiful & exciting & erotic & funny romance! Run to your nearest amazon for your own perfect addition to the THIS MAN series! Hurry, or Jesse will eat all the peanut butter by himself! ☺

P.S. I also made a little picture - but the quote I put on the picture is from way back in the book, so if you don't want to be spoiled - well it's not a spoiler, but it's still from the almost-end! I'll put it in a spoiler thingy:


♡ ♡
♡ ♡

[* Meli Mel * · Rating 4 out of 5]

♥ ♥ ♥ 4 STARS ♥ ♥ ♥

●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●

'Jesus Christ, this woman could be my downfall. Could make me forget who I am. All I am.'

●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●

Drew is almost forty years old with a seven-year-old daughter and he has never been in love. All of his friends have seemed to have found their "the one", that is something Drew is not interested in. He loves his no-strings meetings with nameless women at the Hux sex club. It's at this club where he receives a number of a woman named Raya who wants a sexy encounter without a commitment of more. This is just the type of woman he enjoys, so he doesn't hesitate in giving her a call.

As soon as Drew meets up with Raya, he is instantly attracted to her. After their first night together, they both realize that there is some intense chemistry between them. One night definitely isn't enough, however, they both still don't want anything permanent but they agree to hook up for just a little bit longer.

●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●

'I can see nothing, feel nothing, sense nothing, except her. Rules vanish. Sense abandons me. Questions vanish. Craving controls me. And Raya is with me one hundred percent.'

●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●

I loved this couple so much. I enjoyed getting to know Drew a little bit better and seeing his softer side whenever he interacted with his little girl, it was so darn heartwarming. I really liked the scorching chemistry between him and Raya as well. Despite this being a quick read, the pace in which things developed between them was really good to me. And of course, the steam was off the charts hot. Raya was really great as well. She had some things she kept hidden. It was really interesting to these two slowly let their walls come down. Overall, I really liked this read. In fact, it left me wanting a little bit more of these two. It also didn't hurt that were able to have a few moments of Jesse in this book. Still, love that man.

[Katy Loves Romance ❤️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars****

I ADORED Jesse lord of the manor, This Man series was one of my top favourite series back when I first started to read romance. So when I saw that Jodi has written Drew's story how can I not grab it with both hands?



This is I'd say more of a short story than a novella cause frankly there was quite a good plot in this read. It wasn't short and sweet and too sexy I really enjoyed it cause it had a good balance of everything.

So what's it about?
Drew is one of Jesses best friends and while This man series you can remember him as being the lonesome character but one whom loved the pleasure and all that's involved in the club. That no longer exists but he still delves into that lifestyle and that's how he lets off steam. He is a successful owner of his business and has a family that occupy his mind except for obviously someone to love. Well that's what he thinks. He just wants the pleasure. Yet he meets someone who wants cold just whom he is, yet sometimes you just meet the right person at the right time and everything just falls into place.

I'm not going to delve much more into the plot but let's say this was a HAWTTTT and sexyyy read. Drew is Alpha as ever just the way I like it. Raya is strong, but guarded and also a very sensual character, just perfect for Drew and I loved getting to know her. I loved how bit by bit those chains became loose and they found themselves as much as each other. And lastly Jodi's writing just kept me hooked to the characters, hooked to the storyline and hooked to the sex. It was an all round perfect weekend read for me. I devoured it in hours and it was also great to be back with theses characters that I just love so much.

Enjoy Xoxo

ARC generously gifted in exchange for a honest review

For more reviews and blog posts

[J. Grayland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Drew Davis is a 39 yo, sexy dominant who has everything he wants in life, he has a great job, a beautiful daughter and the sex club called Hux where he can quench his desire for sexual control with chains, he takes pleasure from women he beds but he also gives it back with no strings attached and that's the way he likes it, until he meets a beautiful but mysterious woman who wants his dominance for the night. But what Drew gets is an inquisitive lust to know more about this woman than he's ever felt before. WOW! I absolutely loved it, sexy characters, hot sex, comedic relief from his best friend Jess and an intriguing but too short story line. Drew and Raya needed a much longer story of their own. Brilliant narration by the sexy voice of Anthony Mark Barrow.

[Mirjam · Rating 3 out of 5]

“If you don’t have anyone, you can’t lose anyone.”

After swooning over Jesse Ward, the lord of the Manor and a short intake of Sam Kelt & Kate it’s time for Drew Davies’s story.
Drew, Sam and Jesse are best mates. I wanted Drew to have his HEA since we read about the twin’s birthday party.

Drew is a real estate agent with his own business and has a daughter, Georgia, who he adores.
Coral, Georgia’s bitch of a mother, snuck up on me, took advantage of my inebriated state, and nine months later I had a baby girl. Drew is not interested in a relationship, No commitment. No complications. Just raw, carnal fucking. I don’t trust women. Not when the mother of my child used me to get pregnant so she could try to pass it off as another man’s. Her obsession with Jesse led Coral to use Drew to get pregnant.

With the Manor gone “if you hadn’t sold The Manor, I wouldn’t be forced to find somewhere else to play.”, Drew now frequents Hux, a club just somewhere I come to fuck.
Leaving after a scene he is approached with a request from a Newbie, “She said she wants someone cold, emotionless, and filthy.”
When Drew meets Raya he is caught off guard, taken aback by the brightness of her expression. It gives her beauty a new edge, a warmth that makes my stomach flip. and he is seriously in awe.

But Raya keeps him at arms length, being guarded and clipped, but most of all “The no-strings thing is appealing.”



This was a nice, albeit too short, addition to the This Man Series
I think Drew & Raya's story could have been a longer one, them meeting, wanting each other, realising they were falling for each other, the nasty twist and the chase with Jesse & Sam, were too quickly dealt with.
And for the same reason I do think Sam & Kate deserve their own book.

This was a good read about Drew, him too having someone to share his life with. In addition, I liked reading about Jesse & Ava with their twins and about Sam & Kate.

Part of a series that has to be read in order:

[Bex (Beckie Bookworm) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.beckiebookworm.com/

Oh, What a delightful little gem of a novella this was, I enjoyed All I Am: Drew's Story so much.
This lovely little tale by Jodi Ellen Malpas was a pleasure to indulge in.
I haven't read the rest of the series this is attached to but this really didn't matter at all.

So this is about thirty-nine-year-old Drew and Reya who is much younger and the relationship that develops between these two after connecting through HUX.
A Decadent club which caters to no strings attached connections that Drew thinks he wants.
Reya is looking to forgot and having the same ultimate goals as Drew a union with no attachments the pair hook up.
Oh, how good intentions fade when reality steps in and give's fate a little push.
So loved Drew he was quite a gooey marshmallow when push came to shove.
His daughter was so adorable, what an absolute cutie.
loved Drews wide-eyed confusion and panic when he realises he's falling fast, it was too cute.
Oh, how the mighty fall.
His friends were so amusing with their teasing and I'm so going to have to read their stories, I can't believe I haven't yet.
Reya we know less about as this is written from Drew's perspective, but from what we see she is someone who because she has loved and lost now wants to bask in the anonymity of cold and unfeeling hook-ups and switch off her emotions.
So as you can tell I really enjoyed this and though it may not be a long read, it manages still to convey a strong emotional connection between Drew and Reya which in my opinion is so much harder in a shorter story.
This has unity in spades and then some.
love it lots like jelly tots


So give this a try if you're wanting something hot to hit the spot.
It definitely hit my hot-spot.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy off All I Am: Drew's Story by Jodi Ellen Malpas this is my own personal opinion.


Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.beckiebookworm.com/
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/

[crίѕтίŋα•●Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ●• · Rating 5 out of 5]

“My mind is lost. Gone.
Raya takes everything I have to give.”
- Drew Davies

* * *
“I’ve fulfilled her need to forget, but still feeling a deep, misplaced need to know what I’ve helped her forget.”
- Drew Davies

* * *
“Sometimes in life, things creep up on you and catch you off guard.”
- Drew Davies

* * *
“I can see nothing, feel nothing, sense nothing, except her. Rules vanish. Sense abandons me. Questions vanish. Craving controls me. And Raya is with me one hundred percent.”
- Drew Davies

* * *
“This woman could be my downfall. Could make me forget who I am. All I am.”
- Drew Davies

* * *
“You always find something when you’re not looking for it.”
- Raya Rivers

[Angela (Reading Frenzy Book Blog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

All I Am is a quick and sexy little spin off of Jodi Ellen Malpas’s wildly successful This Man series. The plot centers around Drew in this story. It’s been so long since I’ve read the trilogy that I completely forgot who Drew was at first, but there’s enough exposition that your memory will be easily refreshed. Drew is one of Jesse’s two best mates.

The novella is a bit of a thank-you gift to fans of the series. The story takes place seven years after This Man Confessed, and I must say it’s an awfully fun reunion with Jesse and crew. Drew is the only one who is still happily single and involved in the BSDM sex club scene. He’s a model single father to his young daughter, but he has a reputation for being cold and detached towards women. Raya Rivers is new to the club and she gets paired up with Drew one night. He immediately gets stars in his eyes, and so the story begins.

Raya has an air of mystery around her that makes her more interesting. Drew’s relationship with his daughter is delightful, especially as it contrasts to his dark sexual activities. Raya and Drew’s love affair is hot, fast, and rather predictable. While there may be some illogical events in the story, it’s an enjoyable romance—especially for a novella—and a special treat for those who want to take a trip back to the This Man world.

All I Am does contain some spoilers from the series so I recommend that you read all three previous books first.

Recommended for fans of:
This Man
Light BDSM

**ARC received in exchange for an honest review.**

[✦ Ellen’s Reviews ✦ · Rating 4 out of 5]

“This woman could be my downfall. Could make me forget who I am. All I am.”

Jodi Ellen Malpas at her best! Drew's story is perfect for fans of The Lord Jesse but any romance lover will absolutely devour this steamy short story.

Drew is one of the group of Jesse Ward's best friends from the 'This Man' trilogy. He is a devoted father to young Georgia and the very successful head of a London real estate agency. Since Jesse closed The Manor, Drew must go elsewhere to have fun.. He is most definitely NOT looking for a lasting relationship. His daughter and his business come first.

Raya is only interested in an emotionless, no-strings-attached session. But Drew is unlike anyone she's ever met and once he's been with Raya, Drew cannot stop thinking about her.

Anything more would give away this fun and sexy and engaging novella. This story is really not a standalone and probably should only be read and enjoyed after reading the 'This Man' series.

I LOVED Drew's interactions with Jesse and Ava and the whole crew from 'This Man'. This novella is funny, HOT and perfect for readers wishing for more from this fantastic series of books. Thank you Ms. Malpas! Adored this juicy short story.


(ARC provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.)

[Mg ♥ The Bookishmedialite · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Every cloud has a silver lining."

I have loved every single book in this series so I got a special kind of tingle when the author announced she was releasing Drew's story. Not only do I got to see more about Drew, but also a little more about JESSE & Sam.



Emotionless sex suits Drew Davis down to the ground. He doesn't have time for the complications of a relationship. It's not only that he doesn't trust women, is that his personal life has no room for anyone except Georgia, his little daughter.

Cold, emotionless, and filthy is his trademark. So when a mysterious woman asks for the very same thing, Drew is more than willing to be the one who delivers it. Alien feelings start to simmer within Drew, waging a war in his head. She wants to forget and he will be the one to help her. But when making her forget starts to consume him, and emotions he doesn't recognize start playing tug of war in his head–and heart, he knows the wall between his head and his heart is about to go down.

What happens when one night of sinful sex has the power to break chains?



The chemistry between Drew and Raya was devastatingly hot, you could definitely feel it. And while, yes, it was very insta-love, it kinda felt genuine so I loved it. But what I love the most was seeing Drew interact with Georgie and of course, every time The Lord and Sam made an appearance. The humor this trio brought to the story was as enjoyable as the sexy scenes.

All I Am is a page-flipping erotic romance that will have you swooning over a single dad and his friends. It will definitely leave you wanting MORE! If you're a fan of This Man series, you're likely to love this story, don't miss out on it.

We got Drew's, what about Sam? Here's hoping we get a little bit more about him.

[Federica Vantaggio · Rating 3 out of 5]

Malpas, parliamoci chiaramente: lo vedi quante chance ti sto dando?


Ho provato con la serie di Miller, poi con quella di Jake.
E non ho sentito minimamente quello che dovrei sentire.
O meglio, quello che ho sentito con il Lord.


Per quanto mi riguarda stai tirando un po' troppo la corda.
Vedrai che arriverà il giorno in cui questa corda si spezzerà.

Per adesso ringrazia il cielo che PassionFlix ha acquistato i diritti per Jesse Ward (*W* ancora non me ne capacito).

Che dire. Proprio perchè Drew faceva parte dell'universo del Lord mi ci sono voluta buttare senza esitazioni e si, devo ammettere che ogni volta che entrava in scena lui, la mia attenzione nei confronti del protagonista andava subito a farsi friggere.
Mio dio, quanto lo amo ♡♡♡

Si, la storia dei protagonisti Drew e Raya è davvero molto intensa.
La chimica fra loro è innegabile ma..
Il grande e potente ma di questa puntata è.......

.........la lunghezza della storia.

Ok ok, direte voi: è una novella.

Capisco, ma diavolo, allora adatta la storia alla novella e non viceversa!
Non puoi mettere un amore spassionato e senza confini che nasca e cresca in 50 pagine!!

Dagli il giusto approfondimento!!!
E invece niente! Questi ogni volta che si vedono si saltano addosso -e dico OGNI VOLTA-.
Perchè vi amate?
PERCHè?

Chiederei davvero a Drew cosa piaccia di Raya e viceversa!

Non posso nemmeno descriverli caratterialmente perchè non c'è un minimo di approfondimento psicologico!

Forse lui si salva grazie a quelle quattro apparizioni nella serie principale, ma lei completamente non pervenuta.

Bha, in tutto questo devo ancora capire se sono io che ultimamente sto sclerando o davvero non riesco a trovare libri che mi piacciano davvero

[Nida Kazi · Rating 5 out of 5]

IT IS THE BEST NOVELLA I'VE EVER EVER READ!

Whatever you write Jodi is Gold!

And also what an exciting ride. Worth the wait!

And we had more than 1 snippets of Jesse!

"I’m forty-six and I’m not unreasonable.” He nods, as if agreeing with himself. “I don’t know why everyone keeps harping on like I’m some crazy ape man who has no reason.” His bottle pauses midway to his lips when he clocks me and Sam staring at him with slightly agape mouths. “I’m perfectly reasonable."

BUT WAIT!
.
.
.
.
THERE'S MORE!




YES!

We have an excerpt from THE FORBIDDEN!

COULD THIS WEEKEND GET ANY BETTER?


•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

WE WANT JESSE! WE WANT JESSE! WE WANT JESSE! WE WANT JESSE! WE WANT JESSE!

Status from JEM:

Will we see Jesse in Drew's story? Yes! Check out this snippet from ALL I AM :-)

**********************************************************
Jesse’s eyes roll dramatically, his big chest expanding under his Ralph Lauren shirt on an inhale. “You practically trampled a guy.” He toasts me with his glass. “That’s a huge red flag, mate. Welcome to the world of crazy. If you want my advice-”

"I don't." I cut him off quickly, and he recoils, affronted. He's the worst person in the world I could take advice from when it comes to women. The man's a nutcase. ~ Drew Davies
**********************************************************

[Sanaa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars.

“This woman could be my downfall. Could make me forget who I am. All I am.”

Up until I got an email saying that I was invited to read an arc of All I Am , I honestly had no idea that Drew was getting his own story. *goes and hides* But omg was I ever exited to read it! I mean, how can I not after getting a glimpse of him from Ava and Jesse's story.

For a novella, this was amazingly written and developed. The story really flowed well and I was so glad for everything that happened the way it did. And the fact that we got more Jesse? I can never turn that down.

“You’re pushing fifty, and the only reason you got out was because, by some miracle, you found a woman who could deal with your unreasonable arse.”
“I’m forty-six and I’m not unreasonable.” He nods, as if agreeing with himself. “I don’t know why everyone keeps harping on me like I’m some crazy ape man who has no reason.”
His bottle pauses midway to his lips when he clocks me and Sam staring at him with slightly agape mouths.

I fell in love with Drew's daughter and Raya was an amazing character. Now I do wish that the story was longer because this was totally not enough Drew for me. And I'm actually really happy that the next book that JEM is releasing is going to be Annie's story!

An arc was provided in exchange for an honest review.

[Pilar S.C. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Es un cliché en toda regla, pero no por eso le doy tres estrellas (hay clichés maravillosos).

Le falta gancho, velocidad, sentimientos...

Me ha faltado sentirme dentro de la historia.