Under His Influence [Kindle Edition]

It isn't very often that I don't finish a book, and it is even rarer for me to post a review of said book. Even if I'm not loving it, I'm too curious about something that I trudge through just so I can KNOW how it all ends. This story wasn't what it advertised it to be, it contained things I do NOT like, and it brought in a whole new genre mid-novel. Because of this gross misadvertisement and horrible plot I feel the need to warn others.

To get out of a date with a co-worker she's not all that into, Anna Rice lies and says she has plans. But wouldn't you know it? He's at the bar she just walked into! Trying not to panic, she walks up to a handsome stranger and smiles and asks if he could pretend that they were meeting up for a date so she can save face. They hit it off and soon Anna is completely swept off her feet by John Stone. Even though Anna has her head in the clouds and is in total bliss, something doesn't sit right with her best friend Mimi Leblanc. No matter what Mimi says or digs up on him can deter Anna. Determined to protect Anna, Mimi continues her investigations and uncovers a shocking truth about John!

**SPOILERS**

This book was just odd. I can't think of a better word to describe it. There were several things not really working for me in this story, but I kept at it thinking it'd all come together somehow. I reached the 55% mark where it all went completely WEIRDO and I decided I had had enough.

Anna is a weak heroine. She has no ambition, no likes, no personality. She just seems to exist. She is fanciful and a helpless romantic. As I watched her "courtship" with John I got the feeling that something wasn't right. They rushed head first into things, which wasn't so bad, but Anna gave up her identity (which wasn't much because she didn't have much personality to begin with.) Immediately, John commandeers her life and tells her to quit her job, what to do, etc. etc. Asked what she wants and she responds by saying "I want what John wants."

As John is courting Anna, I thought "well, this is a romance story so hopefully we'll get to know John and we'll see how perfect they are for each other. Hopefully we'll see how they truly discover themselves with each other." Nope.

As John takes over Anna's life and is hostile to Mimi when Anna's not looking, I thought "well, okay. Maybe this is a book is about how abusive relationships start and how Anna gets out of it." Nope

**BIG SPOILER. DON'T READ ON IF YOU REALLY DON'T WANT TO KNOW.**
At 55% into the book, we learn that John is an alien. Yes, you read that right--ALIEN. He can read minds, doesn't need to sleep, can influence others by kissing them, needs to make babies with a "brood partner" and wants "brood partners," made a mistake in choosing Anna too soon, wants to get busy with Mimi thus making her a "brood partner," has to fix the hole in the ozone to stop his fellow planetarians.

John--Ugh! He is an abusive alien ass. He's not playful, or "Dominant", or into BDSM, or anything else. He's manipulative, controlling, and abusive to the women (as in plural). I did peak at the end to see that he does redeem himself somehow, but I really didn't care to read about it and the complete mess he made of everyone's lives. (Because it all turns into He loves her, who loves that guy, who loves that girl, who loves him.)

Anna--waste of space.

Recommendation: Proceed with caution. This ISN'T a romance story. This is a story of Alien invasion meets Stepford wives. Not what I wanted at all.

UNDER HIS INFLUENCE is a dark erotic novel that crossed some lines that prevented me from enjoying it. It involves relationships that are deceptive, manipulative, emotionless, and at times tainted by fear.

There are four main characters in the novel. At first it seems like our hero and heroine are Anna and John, with Anna's co-workers Mimi and Liam filling friend roles in the background.

Anna is a sweet young thing. John introduces himself as a hedge fund manager, but he's clearly hiding something. He sweeps Anna off her feet with unnatural charm and rushes the relationship along at a frightening speed. Anna is too naive to be suspicious, and the early scenes of their courtship are creepy and compelling. I couldn't tell if John was a hero or a villain, but he was definitely sexy.

Mimi is convinced from the beginning, in a kind but condescending way, that a handsome, rich, older man like John couldn't REALLY be interested in silly little Anna. She ropes Liam into helping her investigate John and tries to convince Anna to end the relationship.

It's hard to say more without giving away serious spoilers, but I think a little more advance warning is necessary. Like I said at the beginning, stuff happens that really killed my enjoyment of the book but will probably increase its appeal for a niche group of readers. So I do suggest you read on to the...

*****SPOILERS*****

It's not clear at the beginning but there is a supernatural element to the story and John is not fully human. He doesn't possess the full range of human emotions, love being conspicuously absent, which is why he finds it so easy to discard Anna halfway through the novel to pursue Mimi instead.

As a reader of romances, I do get frustrated when suave, worldly heroes fall for TSTL heroines reeking of childlike innocence...but as Mimi emerges as the novel's true heroine, her smug sense of worldly superiority and her conviction that Anna can't handle complicated and evil John while she, Mimi, has the strength of character to take him on was frankly revolting.

It turns out that everyone has their justifications. John isn't quite as evil as he seems during his cruelest moments, Mimi really does care about Anna, and Liam's around to pick up the pieces. John completely lost his appeal for me after he dumped Anna, but readers looking for creepy, sordid erotic fiction with a paranormal bent will find plenty to savor here.

I picked up this book via NetGalley hoping for a little paranormal romance. I expected a vampire, demon, fae, ghost, or some other wonderful brute of a man to whisk the main character off her feet. That is not what this book contains. None of those paranormal beings appear in this title.

Ms. Elyot has created an interesting mix of storylines. In the opening chapters I experienced a lot of Bridget Jones, a touch of Rosemary's Baby, and a dose of Sleeping with the Enemy. The London setting and British lingo was a lot of fun to read. I smiled when the characters entered the lift (elevator), reached for their torch (flashlight), or curdled up on the couch to watch weepies (sappy movies).

Sadly the book took an odd turn around the half way point. A big turn and I didn't like it.

* * Big Spoilers Ahead. * *

I attempted to skim my way to the end but had two big problems with Under His Influence - the first being the personality of main male character. We all like dominant males in our stories. An alpha to take charge and convince the female that she really IS meant to be his life mate. Unfortunately John Stone is an abusive ass. There is a difference between alpha and abusive. And I'm not talking about the BDSM scenes. No - this guy is a controlling jerk. I think the author meant to portray him like this. I just don't care to have my pleasure reading contain these types of people.

Second - ummm, he's an alien. An alien. Nice. If I had gotten even a slight hint of that in the ebook description, I would not have picked it up.

It started out as a fun, sexy tale set in London, but turned oh so wrong.

I feel badly writing such a harsh review since I received this title free as a review copy. I do think the author and publisher need to rework the description... and maybe the last half of the story. I REALLY enjoyed the first 45%.

More of that please.