The One Who Undid Me by Amari NylixMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Spicy-hot read for after the kids go to bed!
The One Who Undid Me is the debut novel in author Amari Nylix’s spicy-hot Texas-set romance series, Austin Heat, and the HEAT promised in the title is definitely delivered. The two main characters are both trying to leave their pasts behind them, looking for authenticity in their lives; however, each keeps secrets from the other.
Jake Skyler, the up-and-coming NFL quarterback, is trying to move beyond his frivolous playboy-party-hearty reputation and become the leader his team needs and a successful career demands. Rakell McCarthy plans to leave behind her former profession as a very exclusive and very expensive escort for the rich and famous to pursue a legitimate modeling and acting career. Neither one was planning to meet the one person who makes their hearts pound and senses race, but there they are. She has no idea he is a celebrity quarterback who attracts women like a magnet. He hasn’t a clue she’s a highly sought-after companion to some of Europe’s wealthiest men. They only know each other from working out at the same Austin gym and regular people.
For Jake, his attraction to Rakell is immediate, and while she is flattered by the attention of the handsome guy, it takes her some time to warm up to him and override the caution she’s maintained to exit her former career by the end of the year. Their banter is lively, with Jake often on the receiving end of her barbed comments.
The characters, especially Rakell, have quite developed and complex backstories, and readers will get a good understanding of what is important to them and what makes them tick. Neither Jake nor Rakell seems to have experienced a normal dating life; even Jake’s early dating was as a popular high school quarterback and without the stress of much rejection or effort. They are often awkward with each other early on and their verbal sparring, while flirty and full of innuendo, seemed like unfamiliar ground to both. Their uncertainty made them seem more human and more relatable, and then the fact is their chemistry sizzles and eventually ignites. But they still have secrets they put off revealing to each other that lurk at the edges of their relationship and threaten to destroy their gradually growing trust and love. And the longer they wait to tell all, the worse the consequences could be. The suspense kept me greatly invested in the outcome.
I enjoyed the various settings, most specifically the familiarity of Austin, Texas, and the exotic allure of Santorini. The story provides both the comfort of a hometown and the excitement of distant and fabled destinations. The storytelling is compelling and easy to read, and though the language is blunt and raw at times, it rings true to the characters’ ages, experiences, and lifestyles.
I did feel the build-up went a little long, though; a lot of ground is covered. Surprisingly, the story does not wrap up completely, leaving readers with important questions unanswered, questions that will hopefully be answered in subsequent books in the series.
I recommend THE ONE WHO UNDID ME to readers of spicier romances who enjoy a football theme or a Texas setting.
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