Couldn't sleep at night. Wanted to read something with a big font (The Princess Bride has such a tiny font). Started this book. What can I say. Another wonderful example of tstl heroine. 
I was yelling in my head, "Don't, you moron! Don't go out alone at night!" And of course Santana went out and got hurt. No brain activity at all. And did she learn? No. She did it again and again. It was painful to read. After all that I started to question Maddox's sanity. How could he love a woman so dumb?

Blind Date is another thriller from Bella Jewel that will have you sleeping with the lights on and seriously questioning dating sites.

Hartley lost her husband 4 years ago in an accident. Her BFF Taylor cons her into getting 'back out there' and sets her up on some blind dates via a website. The first two? Total duds. However, on date three she meets Jacob and there are sparks. They click and begin to see each other but obviously, Hartley wants to take things slow. However, strange things start happening. Her late husband's t shirt is on the kitchen table one morning with no explanation. Then she wakes up to find their wedding video playing on the TV. Jacob and Taylor convince her that its due to her sleepwalking combined with her reentry into the dating world. While that seems the most logical answer, Hart is skeptical.

There is also her rude neighbor, Ace. He is a detective and despite Hart's attempts to be polite by saying 'Hello', he continues to treat her like she is invisible. They slowly begin to get to know each other a little; of course, all this is taking place while weird things are happening in her home...

I thought that the villain was very obvious; however, the suspense of the story lies in the how and why more so than the who. I read Blind Date very quickly as well because I needed to know how it would all turn out. Hartley's struggle to determine what is real and what isn't was engrossing and heart stopping because as a reader, you know she isn't crazy! Jewel manages to give you something expected and yet still keep you on your toes in ways you didn't imagine. I am really loving her romantic suspense stories because they are all unique in some way that is totally unexpected for me!

 

• POV: 1st
• Tears: no
• Trope: secret identity, stalking
• Triggers: none
• Series/Standalone: stand alone
• Cliffhanger: no
• HEA: yes

...then you will probably like Blind Date!

 

 See full review on The Book Disciple

Marlie wakes up and her body aches and her head is pounding. Another lonely dragging day. The doctor told Marlei she is physically completely healed and it’s all in her head. But had the doctor had his entire body beaten by a bat? Marlie feels it every time she moves and mostly in her legs mostly. Am ache that seems like it will never leave, a soreness in her muscles Marlie couldn’t seem to stretch out. But there is nowhere else Marlie would rather be then her one room cabin she had bought three years ago. Marlie had left her home in Denver when she became famous for being a serial killer's survivor and was Marlies own personal hell. Then Marlie's mother wrote a novel about her ordeal with a serial killer. After a while Marlie couldn’t take knowing her mother’s happiness came from Marlie’s pain. Marlie didn’t know why she stayed as long as she did but most days Marlie didn’t know her own name. Intense therapy and people screaming for her story on the street made Marlie’s traumatized mind close down. Instead of supporting Marlie her mother made it about herself. Her mother didn’t help Marlie when she was suffering, she didn’t comfort Marlie when she woke up screaming from the nightmares. Marlie sees his face every time she closes her eyes. Marlie’s therapist assures her it won’t be that way forever. At the cabin the solitude seems to help also Marlie feels safe. Out here the job Marlie had was a waitress. She didn’t have to work the book was still making money and after giving her mother a lot of money Marlie still had a couple million in the bank but she wouldn’t touch it she didn’t think she ever would. Marlie hadn’t been home in a couple of years but her mom and sister Kaitlyn/Kaity visited Marlie . Kaity had suffered and thought she would never see Marlie again and suddenly Kaity didn’t matter anymore. Kaity hadn’t been doing that good lately per their mom. Marlie had a friend named Hannah and Marlie called her and asked her to keep on eye on Kaity. Kaity was the only think Markie had left. Kaity and Marlie had gotten close when their father died and their mother went a little insane. Then Hannah called Marlie  told her that she had recently learned Katy had started doing drugs and now she was missing. She went over to Kaity’s today and her apartment had been trashed. It had been eighteen hours and Hannah can’t find Kaity nor had she heard from her. Kenai is a world renowned investigator and Marlie’s only hope to find Kaitlyn and Marlie got him to take her case.

I liked this book s lot. This was well written and the pace was very good. I also liked the plot. At first I didn’t like Kenai at all he was being a butt. I  loved that Marlie stood him up and gave Kenai attitude right back. This story keeps you on the edge of your seat. It definitely keeps your attention right from the beginning. I didn’t like Marlie’s mother she didn’t deserve the title of mother more user and selfish.  Both Marley and Kenai had a lot of pain in their past I was glad they grew to care about each other and learn to lean on each other I loved the twist and turns of this story and i recommend.

I gobbled up 72 hours by Bella Jewel and the end gives a little glimpse into The Watcher. Needless to say, I was making grabby hands right away!

The Watcher is the story of Marlie, the lone survivor of a serial killer. The story takes place 7 years after her escape and centers around the disappearance of her sister. So, right away I start thinking who might be responsible. By chapter 7, I have a list:

1. Kaitlyn's boyfriend and drug dealing buddies. This seems the obvious choice, and it is what the cops think is most likely.
2. The mom...I know, not what you would think, but this woman made MILLIONS off Marlie and maybe she is willing to do something to her other daughter so she can sell that story too.
3. Hannah. Ok, I don't really have any reason to suspect her other than she seems too nice to be real. How jaded does that make me?
4. Someone obsessed with Marlie/her story who kidnaps her sister as a way to get to her.

It doesn't take long for my brain to start being suspicious of everyone. But, while I am being suspicious, Marlie is trying to find her sister the only way she can: hiring a professional named Kenai. Kenai is a giant dickwad. He is rude, callous, and just plain mean. But, he agrees to take the case and suddenly he and Marlie are on a road trip to track down her sister. Kenai might be a giant douchecanoe, but he is hot...

The story is told from Marlie's POV, so you don't know why Kenai is so gruff. That makes understanding him as a character really difficult and he is the type of character you really need to understand. Without knowing why he is so cold you are left just seeing a jerk. A hottie for sure, but still a jerk. That made him a tough sell as a hero in my book. But, once he opens up, and once Marlie opens up to him, it all makes sense. I still struggled with understanding him since the book is strictly Marlie's POV except for maybe 2 chapters near the end. I think this is why I struggled with really believing in them as a couple. The suspense, mystery, and danger are all so well written, but the romance kind of falls flat for me. The creepiness factor of this story is high! Bella Jewel does an excellent job of building suspense and keeping you nervous. While some aspects of the plot seemed obvious to me, there were still lots of little surprises that I wasn't prepared for.

Narrated by Joe Arden and Maxine Mitchell, the audio is perfection as well. These two are a powerhouse team of narrators and have done many books together previously. Joe Arden doesn't have much to read because, as I mentioned, Kenai's POV is only like 2 chapters, but Maxine Mitchell does an excellent job. I enjoyed having both the book and the audio so that even on my 40 min drive to and from work, I didn't have to stop the story!

With the unknown danger a constant threat waiting to pounce, The Watcher keeps you reading long past your bedtime as you desperately try to solve the puzzle!

 

• POV: 1st
• Tears: no
• Trope: kidnapping
• Triggers: Marlie survived a serial killer; her time with him is only very briefly described, but her PTSD is still very present in her current life
• Series/Standalone: stand alone
• Cliffhanger: no
• HEA: yes with epilogue

After the Dark by Cynthia Eden, Taken by Cynthia Eden, The Enforcer by Helenkay Dimon...then you will probably like The Watcher!


See full review on The Book Disciple