Emily is young and naive. Fresh out of college, she dreams of true love while struggling to get a foothold in New York City. Marcus is wealthy, handsome, a charming British born billionaire who has everything – except the perfect wife.
When they meet, Marcus is immediately drawn to this vulnerable young woman. He sweeps Emily off her feet with romantic dinners and a picnic on his yacht. Head over heels, she agrees to a weekend getaway on his private Caribbean Island.
It’s perfect – golden beaches, crystal clear water, a staff to take care of every need. Emily thinks she’s landed in paradise. There’s just one problem – Marcus has no intention of ever letting her leave.
Isolated, alone, Emily gradually realizes that she has stumbled into her own private hell. Marcus has all the power and he is determined to transform her into his warped idea of the perfect woman.
And if Emily fails to meet his exacting standards… the consequences could be fatal.
The One – the shocking psychological thriller perfect for fans of B.A. Paris, Liv Constantine and Freida McFadden.
Previously published by the author.
What readers are saying about The One:
“This book was wild! …it was twisting until the end.” -Netgalley Reviewer
“…recommend this for anyone looking for a thriller that starts out with an excitement that only intensifies with each turn of the page.” -Booksprout Reviewer
“…tense, twisty and a real page turner of a read that will keep you up late! Some of the twists in this book left my jaw on the floor. And the ending blew me away. Outstanding!” -Netgalley Reviewer
“This one gave my Freida vibes and I loved it. A little mystery a little murder… I hope everyone picks this book up.” -Netgalley Reviewer
“…character-driven, intriguing, and kept me on the edge of my seat. The plot was unpredictable and had me racing to the surprising conclusion.” -Booksprout Reviewer
“I could NOT put this book down!! I ended up staying up way too late reading it… T.A. Caldwell’s storytelling had me in a grip! The One is definitely going to be on my ‘Must Read Again’ list.” -Netgalley Reviewer
“I absolutely loved this book - I couldn’t put it down and had to race to the ending! The writing is phenomenal… Intense, gripping, and unforgettable, this book kept me hooked from start to finish. It’s an instant favourite for me, and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for an unputdownable thriller.” -Netgalley Reviewer
Tracey Caldwell has been conjuring stories in her imagination since childhood and began to devour books at a young age. Tracey enjoyed writing short stories and poetry, but it wasn’t until 2018 that she attempted to write her first novel. After being forced into early retirement in 2020, she focused on becoming an author with her debut book, Sanshain, released in December 2021. With the support of her amazing husband, Tracey is living the dream in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. She enjoys her horses, two dogs, and a good book. Writing under the name T. A. Caldwell, she leans toward romance, but you shouldn’t expect the same trope in every story. She just can’t stick to one flavor, but you can always expect some action and plenty of spice in all her books.
Marcus simply terrified me from very beginning! This man was diabolical and I loved every minute of this intense story. Emily definitely captures your heart early on, as her age and naivety made her an easy target for Marcus’ charming antics. With his good looks, wealth & magnetic personality, most women couldn’t resist him. Unfortunately, getting involved with him sometimes has dangerous consequences!
I enjoyed the dual POVs that alternated back & forth between Emily & Marcus. Hearing the story told in Marcus’ diabolical thought process left my mouth dropped several times throughout this story! Overall a solid read that is perfect fans of domestic thrillers with an unhinged MMC. This was my first read by T.A. Caldwell but certainly won’t be my last.
I would like to thank Inkubator books and T.A. Caldwell for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
3,5 ⭐ - After the sudden death of his first wife, billionaire Marcus is looking for a new wife, the One. Emily who's freshly graduated from college, meets the British billionaire in a bar and soon decide to date..
Not long after, Marcus invites Emily to his private island, what could be more romantic than that? After spending a few days on this island Emily notices that everything is not what it seems and Marcus is not at all a charming British billionaire but a narcissistic control freak who's watching Emily's every move..
Will Emily be able to escape the island? and more importantly controlling Marcus?
this was an interesting read, on one hand there's a controlling narcissist/manipulator and on the other there's a young lady, perhaps a bit naive - which made her a bit unlikeable, although I was rooting for her to escape horrible Marcus!
I was thoroughly disgusted by the sex scenes. It was 50% of the book and used foul slang. I’m no prude but this was too much! It wasn’t just the sex, but the slangs that offends. The story wasn’t terrible, but I also hated the ending. I won’t be checking out more of her books.
BLURB: Emily Hanson, a recent college grad in New York, meets Marcus Sterling, a wealthy, charming British billionaire. After a brief romance, Marcus invites her to his private Caribbean island for a weekend getaway, but it soon turns into a nightmare when Marcus has no intention of letting her leave.
REVIEW: If you haven’t read a T.A. Caldwell book before, like me, this is a good place to start. This book begins as a romantic suspense (with a generous amount of spice I wasn’t prepared for 🥵) but soon turns into a locked-in island survival thriller with an intense game of cat-and-mouse. The secluded private island owned by the billionaire MMC is richly described with its multicolored water, white-sand beaches, and resort-style villa—it definitely felt like a paradise setting until it didn't. Although the story has over-the-top popcorn vibes, the themes are scarily realistic—obsession, gaslighting, control, manipulation, and mistaking love for possession are all woven in!
The story is told in dual POV, shifting between the POVs of Emily and Marcus, and they were SO different, which made the book more engaging. The book starts with a shocking glimpse of Marcus’s true nature and then jumps to him meeting Emily. Marcus’s POV gives you insight into what his real intentions are early on (though the extent of them is held back until later). He’s morally gray (at best) and a complex character—but reserve full judgment on him until the very end. While I understood why Emily was initially attracted to him, I did find her naivety very frustrating because there are SO many obvious red flags that she completely ignores. He invites her on an island getaway after two weeks of dating, and she barely questions it—you definitely need to suspend your disbelief. Once they arrive on the island, the pacing picks up and the tension builds as Marcus’s carefully crafted mask slowly comes off. There are a few spicy scenes—and as someone who’s not a big fan of spice, I didn’t mind them, as they never overtook the plot and instead emphasized Marcus’s increasingly controlling behavior. Marcus’s inner dialogue is probably the most disturbing as he reveals his twisted plans to mold Emily into his version of the perfect wife under his possession—if you’ve ever experienced a possessive relationship, be aware of possible triggers. What made me furious was the extent of Marcus’s reach—he has something over everyone around him, from his island staff to his business associates and friends in New York—and gets away with far more than he should. As far-fetched as it may seem, it’s not—we can all think of wealthy people in the real world who exert control in similar ways.
The short chapters and the abundance of dramatic dialogue make this easy to fly through. The majority of the story is straightforward without any shocking twists, but you’ll always be wondering how far Marcus will go next. The second half introduces suspicious characters, and I began to wonder (along with Emily) whether Marcus is truly the only villain in the story. The race-against-time climax is the most exciting as Emily is forced to make risky decisions and Marcus’s cards start to unravel—nothing groundbreaking, but there are surprises and thrills to keep you engaged. And the epilogue adds one final clever twist that shows no one is entirely innocent—and I thought it was a clever last impression to leave readers with! If billionaire psychopaths, locked-in settings, morally gray characters, and relationship drama are your thing, you may love this one!
Marcus Sterling wants The One, perfect and loyal wife. He had a wife before, but after her death it's time to move on. In bar one night he meet Emily, perfect and innocent, she's The One he was looking for all along. Emily can't believe her luck when rich, handsome and older man seems to want relationship with her. After few dates she agreed to go with him on short holiday on his private island. What she didn't expect is that romantic getaway is fast changing to controlling prison. Some truths go out, and she learn why none of Marcus girlfriends and wife survive his love. Lucas, Marcus bodyguard ,said he will try to keep her safe, but is he really? On island there is no one that she can trust.
Will Emily leave the island in one peace? Will Marcus let her go?
It was unique thriller with all spicy and erotic parts, disturbing and emotional. I could not put this book down, needed to know how will all end. I really liked the plot ,and hope that author write second part, as I want to know how it will progress with Lucas back in her life. The ending feels like there is a more story to come.
If you like disturbing and dark thriller, this book is for you ,I would recommend.
Thank you netgalley, booksprout and publisher for my copy,the review is honest and my own.
i like my stories to have connections. if you're telling me something that i deem important, i.e. multiple people having blue eyes, i want it to connect somewhere.
sadly there were no connections. i hoped that juan with his BLUE eyes & marcus with his BLUE eyes & lucas with his BLUE eyes, that there was some sort of connection, or pattern?? but they weren't related.
one of my biggest let downs was not having marcus be the father of juan, bc we know that marcus and carmen were involved at one point.
the other let down was the ending. and not knowing the truth of what lucas has done. i don't like ending my books with speculation. i like ending them with clarity and shock.
this story had so much potential.
also please leave the graphic sex scenes out of psychological thrillers. i want to read about gore and mysteries, not the graphics details of fucking.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This started out wonderfully, setting readers up for what seemed like a twisty, suspenseful ride. Then, out of nowhere, the plot was seemingly abandoned in favor of cringeworthy spice scene after cringeworthy spice scene.
Listen, I enjoy a spicy book as much as the next girlie, but this wasn’t it.its marketed as a thriller. Had it been properly labeled I never would have picked it up.
I received a complimentary audiobook from Podium Entertainment as part of their influencer program. While I was under no obligation to read or review it, I have a personal policy of not DNFing ARCs, even when I’m sorely tempted.
Unfortunately, the spice scenes felt poorly written, cringy AF and in need of stronger editing. I found myself speeding them up considerably just to get through them, which had the added effect of making the audiobook move much faster since they seemed to go on forever.
That said, the narrators did a solid job with their performances and worked with the material they were given. My bigger issue was with the production quality. The audio lacked the polished, professional sound I expect from a published audiobook and often felt as though it had been recorded around a dining room table rather than in a studio.
In the end, this was a frustrating read because the opening showed real promise. I kept waiting for the intriguing plot to reappear, but instead I was left with a story that prioritized endless spice over substance, leaving me disappointed by what could have been.
Wow, I really enjoyed this book and I was so invested in Emily and with what was happening to her! 👩🏼🏫 My heart broke for how Emily was treated and I have to say that Marcus is a nasty piece of work.. 😢😡 This story starts with Emily, who went on a night out with her friend, Gia, when she ended up meeting a gorgeous man, Marcus, at the bar. 🥰 Emily never expected that Marcus was a billionaire and had his own company. Marcus swept Emily off her feet and she agreed to accompany him to his island home. 🏝️What she didn’t know was that the nightmare started when she arrived on that island. Trapped on the island with no way out! 😩 But that ending - WOW… I’m speechless! 🤯🤫
I have to warn you that there is some sex scenes and abuse so I would recommend to avoid reading this book if this is a trigger for you. 😬
T.A. Caldwell done so good and I would like to read more books under this author. 📚
I would like to say thank you to Net Gallery and Inkubator Books for approved me to read this ARC. ♥️
This is a well written psychological thriller with strong characters in Emily and Marcus. The author does a great job developing the story and painting her scenes perfectly. She pulled me into the story and kept me on the edge from start to finish with the manipulation, control and suspense and moves the story fluidly delivering a fantastic read.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and are freely given.
This book has an interesting premise which is what made me want to read it. It was marketed as a psychological thriller. THIS IS NOT A PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER. There is not nearly enough suspense or drama to bring this under the umbrella of psychological thriller. If I had to put this in a category, it would be Erotica. If it were marketed as such, perhaps it would find its proper audience, but I’m not it.
This one just wasn't for me. Our MC is so naive and submissive that she's just not fun to read. While I know that Marcus is supposed to be a disgusting human being, he wasn't a fun villain and I just keep getting the icks.
Moving on to something more entertaining, but this may work for you.
Absolutely gripping from start to finish. Dark, emotional, and impossible to put down. The tension builds perfectly, and the story sticks with you long after you’re done reading.
4/5⭐️ - If you've ever wondered what a book would be like if BEHIND CLOSED DOORS met FIFTY SHADES OF GREY, then THE ONE by T.A. Caldwell is exactly that blend!
From the moment I read the synopsis, I immediately got strong B.A. Paris vibes, which felt fitting since it's marketed as perfect for fans of her work, as well as Liv Constantine & Freida McFadden, all of whom are among my favorite authors.
The book opens w/ a content warning encouraging readers to proceed w/ caution, & I have to admit, I love a good disclaimer. The 1st chapter is gripping, shocking, & absolutely savage. The story alternates between Marcus & Emily's perspectives, & the narrators do an excellent job bringing both characters to life.
Right from the start, readers are given a front row seat to Marcus's true nature. He's an absolute grade-A douchebag & there's no hiding it. At the same time, Emily's innocence & vulnerability make you want to scream at her to run the other way. It's easy to spot the Cinderella-style love bombing taking place, but that doesn't make it any less compelling to watch unfold. Before long, the relationship intensifies, complete with some VERY spicy scenes along the way.
What makes the story so engaging is the contrast between the 2 perspectives. You hear Marcus's thoughts & can't stand him, yet through Emily's eyes, you understand the naivety, hope, & emotions that cause her to fall for him so quickly.
By the halfway point, I was internally screaming. The tension & suspense were off the charts, & the story took some truly wild turns. While I felt the ending was a little rushed & descended into total carnage, the overall plot was wrapped up nicely. It was over the top, chaotic, & completely unhinged, but in a way that kept me binging.
An absolutely wild ride from start to finish, packed with suspense, tension, & plenty of jaw-dropping moments!
Thank you to Podium Entertainment, the author, & the publishers for providing an ALC in exchange for an honest review!
The One is an addictive, heart pounding, dark spicy thriller. Be warned that this one has some explicit se*ual scenes so if that's not your jam you might not enjoy this one. The setting was great, I loved the isolated, secluded private island. It made the story even creepier. This thriller is definitely a popcorn style thriller and you will have to suspend disbelief in some areas. The themes explored though were very realistic. The short chapters and non stop manipulation make this a really fast and easy read that is hard to put down.
Emily was a very frustrating FMC, she was so naive and avoided all the major red flags. She just brushed off so many things and it didn't make sense to me. Marcus is a very manipulative individual and his intentions are slowly revealed. The extent of his control on everyone around him is astonishing and scary. I just kept on reading to see how far he would go. The epilogue is a mixed bag for readers it will depend on you !
Overall, this was an entertaining popcorn thriller. Easy and fast to read.
🎧 The narration by Lisa Zimmerman & Rupert Channing was good. I always have a harder time getting into the stories with accents (Male narrator) just because I have to truly pay more attention. Once I got used to him I could understand easily. Lisa brought the fear and emotions to the story perfectly. Rupert played his part so well, his voice and tone just fit in making him feel controlling and manipulative. Great performance.
✨ Thank you to @podiumentertainment & @tacaldwell for my gifted audiobook. All opinions expressed are my own.
Marcus is an emotionally disturbed billionaire looking for the love of his life. He meets Emily at an event and she is swept off her feet; completely unaware of the horrors that await her. At his private island Emily discovers just how deep Marcus’s psychosis runs. She is isolated, abused, and, in the end, a changed woman.
The One is a dark, psychological thriller that keeps you guessing and turning the pages long into the night. I couldn’t put this book down until the very end. Both Marcus and Emily fascinated me. Marcus because of his psychopathy and Emily for her utter naivety. Even when Emily felt that she was wiser and jaded she fell into the same trap!
I will say that this thriller had a little too much spice for me, as I’m not used to spice in thrillers, however, it was an integral part of the story.
I highly recommend The One to anyone looking for a fun, exciting, spicy, thrill ride that will keep you up in the wee hours!
Well, this was a fantastic read. It is dark, dangerous and addictive. I have never read anything like this before, it is phenomenal. To be honest I imagine any woman falling in love with this type of guy. But I do feel Emily rushed into this relationship without any thought, even her best friend was getting the niggles. The story is carefully thought off, the author wrote this with a deep understanding of how it felt to be in an abusive relationship. I read this in a day and a half, could not put it down. I was constantly tense, and so many times I thought wtf. I hope there will be a second book to follow on, it would be very interesting to see how Emily’s future turns out.
Started out brilliantly, but then it seemed to turn into a slightly toned down version of 50 Shades of Grey with Narcissist Marcus controlling naive Emily through sex. I found myself rolling my eyes far too much! The overall plot was quite good, but it just became over-shadowed by the sex scenes. Swapping the sex for character development would be far more effective and I really can see the huge potential in the story.
As it is at this point though, it's too one dimensional for me.
2 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for an ARC of this book.
I was totally hooked from the start with the promise of an island thriller, but about a third of the way through, it just turned into a never-ending stream of explicit smut. That was way different from what I was expecting or the kind of book I usually enjoy. I had to skim and skip pages to get back to the story. I did finish it, but the ending felt a bit anticlimactic after all the build-up. I don’t want to spoil anyone’s fun, but this book just wasn’t my cup of tea.
Markus meets Emily. Emily is young, naive and a virgin and hoping to be loved. Markus is a worm, a crook and murderer. 😡
I enjoyed reading this one, I felt every emotion Emily did and I was trying to think of ways for her to escape. I didn’t expect it to end the way it did and this made my eyes roll. lol
Great book! Will look out for more from this author.
Not typically the kind of book I would read, the description sounds more like a romance novel and I hate romance novels. It is, but it’s more than that. It’s a story about crazy people. In the beginning I didn’t mind the story but as it went on I grew tired of what I perceived to be stupid situations.
Wow!! This book is Fifty Shades of Grey on steroids. It is a mixture of raunchy novel, a touch of sadism and psychological thriller, so if this is your thing you'll love it.
I really enjoyed reading this gripping psychological thriller which was told in a dual point of view by Marcus and Emily plus they are a type of story I absolutely love. Macus is a billionaire and lost his wife roughly six months ago when she drowned in the Caribbean. He is at a nightclub in New York when he meets Emily who is there with her friend Gia. She attracts his attention and they hit it off with him asking her out the next evening for dinner. He believes he’s found the one but she isn’t perfect yet! He invites her to his island which she finally agrees to go to but will he let her leave after the weekend? This is a totally thrilling read and I was hooked from the start of the story. Emily wants to meet Mr Perfect but she has hardly dated, barely managing on her wages each month and she is the total opposite to her friend Gia. I did like her character though as she was a totally innocent young lady not knowing what she was getting into. Marcus was a predator and preyed on finding the right one. The plot was well written and thought out. The text was very descriptive and everything was described in detail. The synopsis drew me to read this story and I most certainly wasn’t disappointed when I read it. I found I couldn’t put the book down as I wanted to know what happened next.
Blurb :
Marcus knows Emily isn’t perfect. Yet.
Emily is young and naive. Fresh out of college, she dreams of true love while struggling to get a foothold in New York City. Marcus is wealthy, handsome, a charming British born billionaire who has everything – except the perfect wife.
When they meet, Marcus is immediately drawn to this vulnerable young woman. He sweeps Emily off her feet with romantic dinners and a picnic on his yacht. Head over heels, she agrees to a weekend getaway on his private Caribbean Island.
It’s perfect – golden beaches, crystal clear water, a staff to take care of every need. Emily thinks she’s landed in paradise. There’s just one problem – Marcus has no intention of ever letting her leave.
Isolated, alone, Emily gradually realizes that she has stumbled into her own private hell. Marcus has all the power and he is determined to transform her into his warped idea of the perfect woman.
And if Emily fails to meet his exacting standards… the consequences could be fatal.
The One – the shocking psychological thriller perfect for fans of B.A. Paris, Liv Constantine and Freida McFadden.
The One is a domestic thriller that grabs you by the throat from the very first chapter and doesn’t let go. Marcus is the kind of character who unsettles you immediately—charming on the surface, diabolical underneath—and watching him operate is both terrifying and fascinating. Emily, young and eager to believe in love, is the perfect target for someone like him, and her vulnerability makes it impossible not to root for her.
The story kicks off when Emily meets the impossibly handsome and wealthy Marcus during a night out. Swept off her feet and dazzled by his attention, she agrees to join him on his private island—a decision that quickly turns into a nightmare once she realizes escape isn’t as simple as saying no. From that point on, the tension builds beautifully, and the sense of isolation is palpable.
One of the strongest elements of the book is its dual POV structure. Getting inside Marcus’s mind is as thrilling as it is horrifying; his calculating inner monologue left my jaw hanging more than once. Emily’s chapters, on the other hand, are full of fear, confusion, and heartbreaking hope, and they give the story the emotional weight it needs.
While the book includes romance-adjacent elements, this is no love story—it’s about obsession, control, and the dangerous illusion of “the perfect match.” Caldwell plays with the idea of soulmates in a way that is both clever and unsettling, blurring the lines between destiny and manipulation.
The pacing is sharp, the writing compulsively readable, and the twists—especially the ending—land with impact. There are some scenes involving sex and abuse, so readers sensitive to those topics should proceed with caution. I also felt the middle section slowed down slightly, lingering on the same internal conflicts a bit too long, but not enough to diminish the overall experience.
All in all, The One is gripping, sinister, and wildly addictive—a standout for fans of domestic thrillers with an unhinged male lead. This was my first read by T.A. Caldwell, and it definitely won’t be my last. A solid 4 stars from me.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Ok, let me start by telling how this book caught me off guard with unexpected and not entirely wanted hetero smut scenes. But thankfully, those were very few and brief, and it was easy enough to skim those, and I don’t think skimming them made me miss anything plot-wise.
The book’s last 2% made me stop and think if money is worth it all. Is it ok if you go through hell (for a short while) and then, in the aftermath, get rich beyond reason and are then set for life and for several generations to come? Is it really worth it? Does money – and a lot of money – make trauma go away? Does money – and a lot of it – undo the harm that has been caused? Does it make it all better afterwards? Does it heal? Does it help? Or is it just some capitalist nightmare in action, where you go through hell and then get nicely rewarded? Money isn’t real. Money is made up. Money is fake. So is the so-called power given by owning lots of money. Yeah, ok, no. It made me think too much – and it made me think about things that weren’t entirely relevant to the story.
Ok, back to the book. You start reading, and you kind of know where it will go. And it indeed does go that way. Except, it goes there badly, in ways way worse than you (me, that is) expected. The book crazy is even crazier than you first thought, and then it turns out that… there are more crazies, and some are even worse. So, that part was good. That part was twisty and good. And then there is friendship. That is beyond awesome.
Oh, and the book also made me stop more than once and think about love. Why is it always (in both books and in real life) that if love seems too good to be true, it is not true at all? What’s wrong with people that SUPER GOOD love is not possible? Like, at all? Why? Can someone please tell me, explain it to me like I’m 5 or something. 5 years old or 5ft tall, or something.
📚The One ✍🏻T.A Caldwell Blurb: Marcus knows Emily isn’t perfect. Yet.
Emily is young and naive. Fresh out of college, she dreams of true love while struggling to get a foothold in New York City. Marcus is wealthy, handsome, a charming British born billionaire who has everything – except the perfect wife.
When they meet, Marcus is immediately drawn to this vulnerable young woman. He sweeps Emily off her feet with romantic dinners and a picnic on his yacht. Head over heels, she agrees to a weekend getaway on his private Caribbean Island.
It’s perfect – golden beaches, crystal clear water, a staff to take care of every need. Emily thinks she’s landed in paradise. There’s just one problem – Marcus has no intention of ever letting her leave.
Isolated, alone, Emily gradually realizes that she has stumbled into her own private hell. Marcus has all the power and he is determined to transform her into his warped idea of the perfect woman.
And if Emily fails to meet his exacting standards… the consequences could be fatal.
The One – the shocking psychological thriller perfect for fans of B.A. Paris, Liv Constantine and Freida McFadden.
My Thoughts T.A. Caldwell delivers an absolutely chilling and gripping psychological thriller in The One—a story that dives deep into every woman’s worst fear and turns it into a page-turning nightmare you can’t look away from. From the very first chapter, the tension builds steadily, surrounding readers with a sense of unease that only grows stronger as the story unfolds.I was in shock by the way this book ended ⚠️This is a story that will take you in many different directions as you read it, as it contains several elements that may be triggers Thanks to Netgalley, T.A. Caldwell, Inkubator Books for the complimentary ARC
The one is a psychological thriller that grips your attention right from the start. We have a very wealthy man named Marcus. All Marcus wants is the perfect wife. His previous wife didn't make the cut and after her death, he's searching for the new Mrs. He meets Emily on a night out and she seems perfect. She has her doubts about him but he brings the charm. Their relationship progressed very fast, which he blamed on his busy lifestyle and before you know it, she's being whisked away to his private island to open his Caribbean home. The only way on or off is by his sea plane and there is no internet or cell service on the island. I can understand the appeal and why she fell for Marcus, but when his behavior started changing and he started becoming controlling, demanding, wanting to handle everything, including how she dresses, I probably would have been out. Emily was having the same thought process, except, Marcus wouldn't let her leave. He is her only way on and off the island. He also won't let her contact anyone. She's trapped. All she has to do is marry him, become his perfect wife, get back to mainland and come up with a plan. But will she even survive that long? This story was so gripping. I like to put myself in girls shoes just to get in their minds and see things from their perspective. I don't know, if all I have to do is listen and be a good wife and allow him to take care of me, then sign me right up! I really enjoyed this story and loved the ending! I can't wait to read more by T.A. Caldwell.
"The One" by T.A. Caldwell is a gripping psychological thriller centred around manipulation, money, and power. It explores how these elements can be weaponised against a young, naive woman who lacks life experience and knowledge.
This book is a must-read for every teenage girl who dreams of finding her own Prince Charming. Honestly, I get shivers just thinking about those perfect, rich husbands who believe they are at the top of the world! From start to finish, the story screams "toxic." However, you need to have some life experience to recognise the red flags. Unfortunately, Emily, a fresh college graduate, isn’t familiar with these warning signs. She deserves some respect for not being completely naive!
Emily is struggling to find her way in New York City while still clinging to her dream of true love. She meets Marcus, a handsome and wealthy British-born billionaire who seems to have it all—except the perfect wife. Marcus is immediately drawn to the vulnerable Emily and sweeps her off her feet with extravagant dates. Overwhelmed by her feelings, she agrees to a romantic weekend getaway on his private Caribbean island. Initially, the setting appears to be paradise, with golden beaches and clear waters, complemented by a dedicated staff. However, Emily soon uncovers the dark truth: Marcus has no intention of ever letting her leave.
While the twists may not come as a surprise, I was ultimately satisfied with the ending!
The One by TA Caldwell, Marcus is a billionaire with his own private island all the money in the world and yet the one thing he wants eludes him and that is to fine the one. Many times before he thought he found her but sadly they prove a disappointment. So when he meets Emily in the New York nightclub he is enamored with her and although there are things about her that don’t fit his cookie cutter Dreamgirl he knows she’s young and malleable and can be sculpted to fit his perfect woman. Emily is just as excited to meet and get to know Marcus But the version she gets to know isn’t the one she ultimately ends up with unfortunately by the time she realizes the truth she’s on an island in the middle of an ocean and the only other people there are Marcus’s loyal employees. there were many things I enjoyed about this book but while reading it the thing that confuse me is if they were leaving to go on a honeymoon why was she desperately trying to get off the island beforehand why not wait until she could possibly be around others I didn’t get that but either way this is a twisty well done story and although they were things that bothered me there were more personal dislikes than overall flaws with the plot. There is a suspension of belief but it seems that has become parr for the course and sometimes even makes for a fun thriller.#BooksSprout, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #IncubatorBooks,