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Love at First Sight
Love At First Sight by B.J. Daniels released on Jan 25, 2000 is available now for purchase.
251 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2000
About the author
B.J. Daniels
519 books1,275 followersB.J. Daniels started her life in Houston, Texas, before her family moved to Montana at age five. She grew up in a cabin in the Gallatin Canyon near Big Sky and later on Hebgen Lake near West Yellowstone. Because of her love for Montana, most of her books are set there.
Born into a storytelling family, all she'd ever wanted to do was write stories. After a career as an award-winning newspaper journalist, she wrote and sold 37 short stories before she finally wrote her first book, ODD MAN OUT. Since then she has won numerous awards including a career achievement award for romantic suspense.
She lives in Montana with her husband, Parker, two Springer Spaniels. When she isn't writing, she quilts, boats and. makes rope/fabric baskets. She always reads, loving to lose herself in a good book.
Born into a storytelling family, all she'd ever wanted to do was write stories. After a career as an award-winning newspaper journalist, she wrote and sold 37 short stories before she finally wrote her first book, ODD MAN OUT. Since then she has won numerous awards including a career achievement award for romantic suspense.
She lives in Montana with her husband, Parker, two Springer Spaniels. When she isn't writing, she quilts, boats and. makes rope/fabric baskets. She always reads, loving to lose herself in a good book.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 13, 2012
4 Stars! ~ Karen's being used as bait to catch a killer. Rebel cop Jack doesn't like it. So when Karen gets hit on the head and loses part of her memory, Jack tells her that she's his wife. He knows she'll believe him because the sparks between them really sizzle. He fears two things, that he might not be able to keep Karen safe, and that when she learns that he lied to her, that she'll never forgive him.
I really enjoyed this story ... Ms. Daniel really knows how to create the rough, tough but sensitive hero ... Jack could be my bodyguard any time!
I really enjoyed this story ... Ms. Daniel really knows how to create the rough, tough but sensitive hero ... Jack could be my bodyguard any time!
February 8, 2025
This book has some tropes that aren't normally my thing, but maybe I need to start reading some of the 'older' books (this one was originally published in 2000 I think) because this seemed to have more development of the romance, the relationships, and the mystery. This attention to development meant that there were several twists to the mystery and a number of potential murderers (and you couldn’t be sure up until the climax who it was). The falling-in-love-quickly aspect was well done, not like a lot of books where 'insta love' seems to mean 'insta attraction' aka an excuse for a primarily physical relationship. There was even a plot twist in this book that at first I didn't care for, but as the mystery unfolded, it made sense. I even enjoyed being back in the day of telephone booths!
May 18, 2019
It's your standard romance novel with a little bit of crime intertwined. Enjoyable, quick read if you are not asking for much.
July 1, 2020
2.5 really
I'm still learning what I like in romance. While I love B. J. Daniels, I find I dislike the "amnesia" trope.
Decent, but not for me.
I'm still learning what I like in romance. While I love B. J. Daniels, I find I dislike the "amnesia" trope.
Decent, but not for me.
April 17, 2018
Entertaining, but Overstuffed Romantic Mystery
March 6, 2000
In her latest novel, B.J. Daniels takes an "everything but the kitchen sink" approach to storytelling, throwing in far more elements than can be comfortably handled in such a short book. Terrible blind dates, long-kept secrets, matchmaking aunts, murder, grave-digging, amnesia--even a secret baby. Then there's a love story. The setup is so bizarre and unwieldy it's almost impossible to describe what the story's about (which is one of the reasons the back cover copy is so misleading). The gist of it is: When an old friend is found murdered, Karen Sutton realizes she may be able to identify the murderer. The determined Karen throws herself into the investigation and goes chasing after a man she thinks is the killer--only to run into Detective Jack Adams. It may indeed be love at first sight, but she's going to need more than his love. When she becomes bait to catch the killer, she's going to need his protection.
While I would love for books to be this ambitious, in this case the story's strong points are often buried by its excesses. The first few chapters, while often funny, are also really goofy, with a series of far too coincidental encounters taking place one right after another. The back cover dutifully informs the reader that the heroine is struck with amnesia, but that aspect takes so long to appear--and then does so out of nowhere--that it seems like a bizarre afterthought in a story that didn't need one more twist. Even if the "man pretends to be married to woman who can't remember otherwise" plot hadn't been used in an Intrigue just last month (#552, "A Night Without End"), I doubt it would have worked here. It adds nothing except to give the heroine a sudden personality transplant. The spunky, determined Karen of the first half bears little resemblance to the starry-eyed, lovestruck version that appears after she loses her memory. Compared to "A Night Without End" and even this month's "Forgotten Lullaby," the heroine's reaction to find herself married to someone she doesn't remember--simple acceptance--doesn't ring true.
Daniels' tale does have more than its share of strengths. Boring is not a word anyone would associate with it, as Daniels' plotting will keep readers on their toes from start to finish. Jack is a solid hero bound to win a few hearts, strong, sexy and charming. Though everything wraps up a bit too neatly to be believed (Unless Missoula has a population of ten, the way all the characters happen to be connected to one another is ridiculous), the mystery element is the book's strongest, a puzzle many will be eager to solve. Unfortunately, the wildly shifting tone is its weakest. The climax is so taut and suspenseful, the final image of the villain so wonderfully haunting, that it seems completely out of place with the wackiness that started the story.
While nowhere near as good as the moving stories full of in-depth writing Daniels used to pen ("Hotshot P.I." "Undercover Christmas" "Odd Man Out") but seems to have moved away from, readers seeking a fast-paced, lighter tale with a dash of mystery shouldn't go wrong here. I was certainly entertained by "Love at First Sight." I also didn't believe a word of it.
March 6, 2000
In her latest novel, B.J. Daniels takes an "everything but the kitchen sink" approach to storytelling, throwing in far more elements than can be comfortably handled in such a short book. Terrible blind dates, long-kept secrets, matchmaking aunts, murder, grave-digging, amnesia--even a secret baby. Then there's a love story. The setup is so bizarre and unwieldy it's almost impossible to describe what the story's about (which is one of the reasons the back cover copy is so misleading). The gist of it is: When an old friend is found murdered, Karen Sutton realizes she may be able to identify the murderer. The determined Karen throws herself into the investigation and goes chasing after a man she thinks is the killer--only to run into Detective Jack Adams. It may indeed be love at first sight, but she's going to need more than his love. When she becomes bait to catch the killer, she's going to need his protection.
While I would love for books to be this ambitious, in this case the story's strong points are often buried by its excesses. The first few chapters, while often funny, are also really goofy, with a series of far too coincidental encounters taking place one right after another. The back cover dutifully informs the reader that the heroine is struck with amnesia, but that aspect takes so long to appear--and then does so out of nowhere--that it seems like a bizarre afterthought in a story that didn't need one more twist. Even if the "man pretends to be married to woman who can't remember otherwise" plot hadn't been used in an Intrigue just last month (#552, "A Night Without End"), I doubt it would have worked here. It adds nothing except to give the heroine a sudden personality transplant. The spunky, determined Karen of the first half bears little resemblance to the starry-eyed, lovestruck version that appears after she loses her memory. Compared to "A Night Without End" and even this month's "Forgotten Lullaby," the heroine's reaction to find herself married to someone she doesn't remember--simple acceptance--doesn't ring true.
Daniels' tale does have more than its share of strengths. Boring is not a word anyone would associate with it, as Daniels' plotting will keep readers on their toes from start to finish. Jack is a solid hero bound to win a few hearts, strong, sexy and charming. Though everything wraps up a bit too neatly to be believed (Unless Missoula has a population of ten, the way all the characters happen to be connected to one another is ridiculous), the mystery element is the book's strongest, a puzzle many will be eager to solve. Unfortunately, the wildly shifting tone is its weakest. The climax is so taut and suspenseful, the final image of the villain so wonderfully haunting, that it seems completely out of place with the wackiness that started the story.
While nowhere near as good as the moving stories full of in-depth writing Daniels used to pen ("Hotshot P.I." "Undercover Christmas" "Odd Man Out") but seems to have moved away from, readers seeking a fast-paced, lighter tale with a dash of mystery shouldn't go wrong here. I was certainly entertained by "Love at First Sight." I also didn't believe a word of it.
May 11, 2020
She’s seen something she shouldn’t and he’s determined to keep her safe.
I’ve never read a BJ Daniels book, so I’m glad I remedied this. The author’s writing style is concise and kept me interested throughout. I read this in an afternoon and I enjoyed myself. The story moved at a good clip, and it’s got just enough mystery to be interesting, and even better, I didn’t figure out the mystery until the end.
I have to admit I wasn’t a fan of Karen’s. She seemed almost too perfect to be true throughout the book. She likes to eat but she’s athletic. She’s got a perfect figure. Then there were times when I wondered why she did some of the things she did. It was as if she didn’t trust Jack. Jack has his own issues. I wasn’t sure a cop would willingly go to a graveyard and dig up a grave…that seemed a little off to me.
Those things aside, this book did keep me entertained and I enjoyed the read. I’m on the hunt for more by this author. Why not give this one a try?
I’ve never read a BJ Daniels book, so I’m glad I remedied this. The author’s writing style is concise and kept me interested throughout. I read this in an afternoon and I enjoyed myself. The story moved at a good clip, and it’s got just enough mystery to be interesting, and even better, I didn’t figure out the mystery until the end.
I have to admit I wasn’t a fan of Karen’s. She seemed almost too perfect to be true throughout the book. She likes to eat but she’s athletic. She’s got a perfect figure. Then there were times when I wondered why she did some of the things she did. It was as if she didn’t trust Jack. Jack has his own issues. I wasn’t sure a cop would willingly go to a graveyard and dig up a grave…that seemed a little off to me.
Those things aside, this book did keep me entertained and I enjoyed the read. I’m on the hunt for more by this author. Why not give this one a try?
August 31, 2019
With a chance meeting with a former school colleague, everything in Karen Suttons predictable "play by the rules" life gets turned upside down.
While the first third of this book is a little predictable if you hang in there this storyline quickly becomes a gripping page turner.
A great holiday read
While the first third of this book is a little predictable if you hang in there this storyline quickly becomes a gripping page turner.
A great holiday read
February 11, 2022
I wasn't sure I was going to like this book. It did eventually grab a hold and draw me in. I kept changing my mind on the killer more than once.
Jack fell in love with Karen the first time he saw her. He's now trying to keep her safe while trying to find a killer.
Jack fell in love with Karen the first time he saw her. He's now trying to keep her safe while trying to find a killer.
Want to Read
July 19, 2020elibrary
July 3, 2022
Great read.
November 4, 2013
This book and several other B.J. Daniels came with my Kindle. I usually don't read Hqn romances, but these are short and surprisingly very good. I did not figure out the villain. The plot had several misleading clues and I didn't see the real villain. Only one plot devise had me really shaking my head. Come on, amnesia for only a bump on the head? Really?
Karen is the victim of a blind date who dumps red wine on her dress. As she tries to find the ladies room she is lost an comes upon a scene involving Liz, a friend, and a mystery man in the hotel corridor. Liz turns up dead.
Jack sees Karen the next morning and pegs her as the girl next door type. Not really his type, but... Jack pulls her over for speeding and learns that she is an eye witness who may be able to ID the murderer.
The attraction is electric and Jack will do anything to make sure Karen is safe, even if it costs him his job and even if he has to lie to her.
Karen is the victim of a blind date who dumps red wine on her dress. As she tries to find the ladies room she is lost an comes upon a scene involving Liz, a friend, and a mystery man in the hotel corridor. Liz turns up dead.
Jack sees Karen the next morning and pegs her as the girl next door type. Not really his type, but... Jack pulls her over for speeding and learns that she is an eye witness who may be able to ID the murderer.
The attraction is electric and Jack will do anything to make sure Karen is safe, even if it costs him his job and even if he has to lie to her.
Want to Read
August 21, 2016I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/14138321
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/14138321
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews