Item: The One
Author: Gina

The One by Audrey J. Cole | Book Review ~ $10 Gift Card ~ #Thriller ~ @GoddessFish

A book blog tour from Goddess Fish Promotions.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Marianne & Judy at Goddess Fish for providing me with the information for this tour.

Book Details

The One by Audrey J. Cole | Book Review ~ $10 Gift Card ~ #Thriller ~ @GoddessFish

The One by Audrey J. Cole
Published by Rainier Publishing on 06/27/2023
Genres: Fiction, Thriller
Format: Audiobook, eBook, Hardcover, Paperback
Pages: 300

To save their marriage, Sloane must forgive her husband’s affair. Instead, she tries a more tempting option—settling the score. But will it prove to be a deadly mistake?

ER doctor Sloane Marks is shattered when she learns her husband Ethan slept with his partner at Seattle Homicide. She considers leaving him and joining The One, having gone to college with the popular dating app’s billionaire founder, Brody Carr. But at forty-two, Sloane feels she has no choice but to forgive Ethan if she wants a chance at creating the family she never had.

Months later, Sloane bumps into Brody, who’s recently returned to Seattle. In due time, Ethan worries she’s cheating. His suspicions are confirmed when he learns the rich app founder took Sloane on a freediving excursion in the San Juan Islands. Soon after, Brody’s famous wife dies in an accident. Ethan becomes the lead investigator in her death, which he suspects wasn’t at accident at all.

Caught between a distrusting husband and a powerful billionaire who protects his secrets at all costs, Sloane is in a fight for her life. And the only way out is to take matters into her own hands.

Source: Goddess Fish Promotions

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Excerpt from The One

“There are risks,” Brody says, “and that’s why you train and refine your technique. But some divers have gone much deeper than me. The world record for free immersion freediving, which is what I did, is one hundred and thirty-two meters.”

Sloane does a quick calculation in her head. That was over four hundred feet. It seems unfathomable.

“In free immersion, you have no propulsion equipment, and you can only pull on the rope to assist with the descent and ascent.”

Sloane feels a shiver creep down her spine at the thought of plunging to the dark depths of the ocean, aching for oxygen while enduring the crushing pressure. “I can’t see why anyone would risk their life like that. For what? Ego?”

Brody shakes his head. “Freediving isn’t about that. You do it for the dive itself. Mentally, you learn to succumb to the depths. Finding peace in the absence of all stimuli. Using the lack of light and sound to go inside yourself. The freedom of being one with the water, at a depth few people have ever reached, mastering your fears and surrendering to the darkness by allowing yourself to be carried into the deep.” He stares out the window at the water, as if forgetting she was there. “When you get to about forty meters, it feels like your natural buoyancy is reversing, and the ocean starts pulling you down. It’s a freefall that feels like you’re flying.”

Except you’re sinking, Sloane thinks.

“It’s an inner stillness that is unlike any other human experience. The only time I’ve ever felt pure joy. You let go of everything, even the urge to breathe. Your heart rate slows. Some divers have recorded a heart rate of only ten beats per minute.”

“That would induce unconsciousness.” Sloane gapes at him, and Brody laughs.

He shakes his head. “But in freediving, it doesn’t.”

Excerpt provided by the author/publisher for use in this post.

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Purchase Links for The One

Amazon – OneLink for every country

Bookshop/IndieBound

The One: A Thriller Shop on Amazon

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My thoughts on The One

“The One” by Audrey J. Cole is a psychological thriller that delivers unrelenting tension and keeps you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. With its twisty plot and foreboding atmosphere, this novel offers a thrilling reading experience that will leave you breathless.

The story revolves around Sloane Marks, an ER doctor whose world is shattered when she discovers her husband’s affair with his partner at Seattle Homicide. Faced with the choice of forgiving him or seeking revenge, Sloane embarks on a dangerous path that may prove to be a deadly mistake. As she navigates her tumultuous marriage, Sloane finds herself drawn to Brody Carr, the billionaire founder of the popular dating app, The One, who she knew from her college days. However, suspicions and secrets begin to unravel as Sloane becomes entangled in a web of deceit and danger.

What makes “The One” truly captivating is the unyielding tension that permeates every page. The author skillfully crafts a sense of foreboding that lingers throughout the narrative, keeping readers constantly guessing and questioning the characters’ true motives. The twists and turns in the plot are unpredictable and will leave you guessing until the final pages.

The characters in this novel are complex and flawed, adding depth and intrigue to the story. Sloane, caught between her distrustful husband and the enigmatic Brody, becomes a compelling protagonist who must rely on her own instincts and take matters into her own hands to survive. The dynamic between the characters is fraught with tension and suspicion, creating a palpable sense of danger that grips the reader.

Audrey J. Cole’s writing style is immersive and evocative, bringing the story to life with vivid descriptions and a keen attention to detail. The pacing is relentless, propelling the narrative forward and making it difficult to put the book down. As the tension escalates, the stakes rise, and you’ll find yourself eagerly turning the pages to discover the truth.

In conclusion, “The One” is an intense and gripping psychological thriller that delivers on its promises of unrelenting tension, twisty plot developments, and an edge-of-your-seat reading experience. If you enjoy thrillers that keep you guessing until the very end, this book is a must-read.

I received a copy of the book for the tour. This review is my honest, unbiased opinion.

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I love my Amazon Kindle Unlimited Subscription. So many books, so little time!

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About Audrey J. Cole

Audrey J. Cole is a registered nurse and a USA Today bestselling author of thrillers set in Seattle. Audrey J. Cole is a USA TODAY bestselling thriller author.

Before writing full-time, she worked as a neonatal intensive care nurse for eleven years. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two children.

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Purchase The One online from a local bookstore.

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Easy Amazon Info Link

Amazon – OneLink for every country

If the above link does not take you to your country, please send me a note. Using my link does not change the price you pay. Amazon pays me a minimal amount out of their share.

The One: A Thriller Shop on Amazon