In "Austin Heat" by Amari Nylix, Jake, a former football star looking to escape his turbulent past, and Rakell, an escort seeking a fresh start, find themselves drawn to each other in the vibrant city of Austin, Texas. As their passionate relationship blossoms, they must confront their own demons and secrets, risking everything for a chance at love. With sizzling chemistry and heartfelt romance, "Austin Heat" is a captivating tale of redemption, desire, and second chances.

I really tried to get into this one but had to DNF. It just wasn't for me. I would give the author another chance though.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. WOW...this novel really keeps the spice flowing. It also comes with a very interesting plot playing in the background. Jake and Rakell really mesh and it just gets better as time goes by. Definitely read this book.

Firstly, who doesn’t love Texas? The answer is no one. So off the bat I was into this book. And then it’s a sports romance too, love that. Sometimes with books I don’t like when a character is hiding something big from their counterpart. And both of these characters are doing that, so that wasn’t my favorite plot point but outside of that I liked it a lot! The story was cute, they were a believable connection, and obviously the spice was great!

Thank you to NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book. It was a little slow, but lots of spice and all around a good read.

Jake is a pretty boy NFL star looking to put his less than stellar history with women behind him, which is easier said than done when all his mistakes are chronicled in the media. Does he have any chance of finding a down to earth girl when his reputation precedes him? Rakell is a high dollar escort, desperate to get out of the business and pursue modeling and acting. Her career choices have made her closed off to men, until Jake walks into her life. Neither is aware of the other’s job. Will he be able to break down her walls, and will she be able to trust someone so similar to her clients once all their truths come to the surface?

I’m usually a sucker for a sports romance, and this one sounded right up my alley. While the romance was a bit more of a slow burn than I anticipated, the spice was definitely still there. Unfortunately, there were a few aspects that didn’t work well for me. It felt like the plotline of them lying to each other about their work (particularly Rakell) was too drawn out. Rakell was extremely difficult to read, and she required immense patience and tenacity from Jake while he was pursuing her. I found her somewhat difficult to relate to or pull for. It did not seem like she was really ready to be in a relationship. I also was not aware this book was going to end in a cliffhanger, but that one is on me. I did really enjoy the supporting cast of characters, and I thought they brought a lot to the story and atmosphere. Overall, this one was just okay for me, but I do find myself wanting to continue Jake and Rakell’s story for the conclusion.

Thank you to Amari Nylix, AuthorBuzz, and NetGalley for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

This is a good book. The two main characters are Rakell and Jake. Rakell works for an escort agency. Jake is a football player. They meet at the gym and there is an instant attraction. Jake tries really hard to get Rakell to notice him. They each have issues but together they work them out and fall in love.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy of this book. Due to no fault of the writing I did find it difficult to get through this one. I’ve read a lot of hockey romance in the past and didn’t anticipate having an issue getting through football.

I really enjoyed the writing and story. This was my first book from this author and won't be my last

I didnt love this book but didnt dislike it either! Austin heat definitely brings the heat for sure. I appreciate being sent this arc and i cant wait for more by this author

really an interesting starplayer quarterback × escort and it was not cliche or typical romance erotica book,

loved the way author ventured around topics such as black racism, escorts' rights and the life they live, how they feel about it, women and feminism in general, a little bit of autism and Jake had been a softie I would love to have *sniffling back tears* and Rakell is just the right character to tackle the complexities and nuances of Jake the NFL player,

was a little disappointed because the ending for me was a little abrupt, I would have wanted Jake to venture and talk about Rakell's life and how they go about it, it could have been an inspiration for many others but I am happy if the author thinks this had to be it

would love stories about other characters as well

DNF. I couldn't even get to 10% I really wanted this book to be decent and to fall in love with it since it is about my hometown and how great Austin is but all I could see was the "bro" culture of Austin. It was really disappointing and I imagined I would find the characters on Rainey Street chasing after the girls on bachelorette parties.

As hard as I tried, I couldn't get into Austin Heat, so I probably wouldn't recommend it to my customers. I didn't like the main characters at all. I can usually push through and finish a book but this one I couldn't.

This was a DNF for me. I made it halfway in and then just gave up. The story was going nowhere and both of the main characters were starting to get annoying. A lot of the descriptions of what are supposed to be current 20-something’s felt outdated and what a boomer aged person might think current 20-something’s are like, For example their clothing choices and the Karaoke bar scene where Rakell was singing 70’s and 80’s songs. She’s 23? Not realistic. But when I really had to stop reading is when the author used the three most unsexy words during what could’ve been sexy scenes: Hole, slit and vagina. Yikes.

Austin Heat follows an escort Rakell McCarthy (who is leaving the business) and NFL player Jake Skyler (who is trying to redeem his pretty boy reputation and be a normal guy) falling for each other during off season without either of them being honest about what they do for a profession. One of my favorite things Jake and Rakell said to each other was “hey you” and “yeah you”. This was an easy read, definitely loved the spice and the characters were both likeable.


Thank you NetGalley!

I don't remember what the blurb was that made me interested in reading this book, but I am sorry that I wasted my time. I like Jake Skylar the male protagonist. He is now the lead quarterback on a new NFL franchise, after 5 years as backup. While he exhibited a lot of immature behavior when he was first drafted, he has matured into a star quality player. He now is looking to find a nice woman to settle down with. He spots ex-Aussie, Rakell at the gym and is mesmerized with her. She doesn't recognize him, so he decides to keep his identity a secret, since for the last 5 years, woman have been using him for the publicity. She has her own secret; she has been working as an escort to build up her savings and her carrier as a model and actress. She keeps giving him mixed signals and after a while, I just found her annoying. I thought I was reading a story, but what there is of the story is just filler for between their bouts of sexual activity. After a few of them, I just got so bored that I skipped over them. And then the book ended with a cliffhanger. I thought that each book in the series would center on a different player, but apparently I was wrong. And, not that I am a big football fan, but there was not a single game played in the book. At this point I really don't care what happens to Rakell and I hope Jack finds someone else, but that isn't likely. It is also not likely that I will read the next book.

The tension in this book is WILD! The build up to Jake and Rakell connecting is incredible and intense..I found myself yelling enough already! The wait was well worth it though and the heat was unlike anything I’ve read in a while. Of course I have to mention that Jake is a professional football player, adding to the hotness of it all. Don’t miss this one if you love hot and spicy romance!

I have to be honest, I struggled with this story. It didn’t grab my attention once o started, even though I had high hopes. I tried a few times to read this and it didn’t work. However, just because it wasn’t for me doesn’t mean it isn’t for someone else. So I encourage those to give it a read and form your own opinion because it may be one of your favorites.

"Austin Heat" by Amari Nylix is a scorching tale of mistaken identity, irresistible attraction, and the complexities of finding love amidst secrets. With enticing characters, sizzling chemistry, and a captivating plot, this steamy romance will leave readers reaching for a cold drink to cool down.

Jake, a former quarterback seeking a normal relationship away from his turbulent past, crosses paths with Rakell, a woman longing to leave her escort persona behind. Their instant connection is electric, but as their relationship grows, they discover they are linked more deeply than they thought, with secrets threatening their future.

Nylix's engaging writing style blends humor, anticipation, and romance seamlessly. Through vivid descriptions, the vibrant city of Austin comes alive, adding an extra layer of richness to the story. While embracing familiar tropes, "Austin Heat" adds freshness and heart to create an enticing and addictive read.

While a few plot points could have been further explored, "Austin Heat" delivers on its promise of a passionate and steamy romance. Perfect for fans of contemporary romance, this book will make you laugh, swoon, and keep turning the pages in anticipation.

The plot sounded wonderful but its execution didn't land. I didn't like the hero Jake in this and he never grew on me as the book progressed.