4 out of 4 stars
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The One is a romantic suspense novel by Belle Ami. It is the first book in The Only One series.
The story begins with the death of Adelia’s parents in a car accident. Adelia has a passion for horses and competes in Grand Prix jumping. After winning a competition, Adelia is approached by Karolin Bremen, whom she greatly resembles. Karolin invites her to a dinner party. There, Adelia meets Karolin’s twin brother Miles who happened to know her father, as both were involved in the green energy industry. Adelia and Miles quickly fall in love, though there is an ulterior motive behind this sudden romance.
Given their lifestyles, the characters travel a lot. The chapters jump around from California to Pennsylvania to New York. These changes in location and the passage of time are well handled. The story is told in the third person and provides a nearly full view of the various characters’ thoughts and actions. The reader is aware early on that Miles and Karolin have concocted some sinister plan with Adelia being the target. It's not her money they're after; they have enough of their own. Their plan is gradually revealed, along with the pieces of their history that led them to this point. It’s an effective approach that holds the reader’s interest. There are many erotic scenes, and I have to admit that I laughed a lot because of them, with lines like: “Instead of my horses being ridden, I feel like I’ve been ridden.”
This is the kind of book where everyone has a fascinating backstory. In particular, Miles and his sister were orphans who came from poverty. Miles worked hard to become rich, attain everything he ever dreamed of, and provide a suitable life for his sister. He and Karolin are understandably close given this set of circumstances, but their bond is also undeniably strange.
Adelia describes herself as a “sheltered, indulged only child.” But she seems very down to earth and her self-awareness keeps her grounded. We occasionally get to see her italicized thoughts. She tries to use logic and reason, but this is often combated by her lust for Miles. Fortunately, Adelia never lets go of the feeling that there is something mysterious about her parents’ car accident. She remains dedicated to discovering the truth. It's frustrating when she doesn't use her better judgment, but then she redeems herself by following her gut instinct.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. It was well written with great development in terms of both plot and characters. Even the more extreme plots points are all well justified and come across as believable given the great character work. The story also has a satisfying conclusion that sets things up well for a sequel. I’m interested to see what happens next. There are some instances of rape, so be forewarned. But if you’re intrigued by this two-fold mystery, then you should consider giving this book a try.
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The One (The Only One) #1
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I wonder if the author chose it for a reason, but indeed, I like the ring of it.
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