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Blind Date
Blind Date is a sexy, pulse-pounding romantic suspense from USA Today bestselling author Bella Jewel!
A KILLER IS ON THE LOOSE--AND HE'S DYING TO MEET YOU...
After the death of her husband four years ago, Hartley Watson is finally ready to meet someone--and maybe even have a second chance at love. But then, just as her dating life seems to be getting started, Hartley is struck with a horrifying realization: Someone is watching her. Entering her own home. Even knows the intimate details of her life. How else to explain the strange deliveries, or the sudden appearance of mementos from her dead spouse--ones that she had kept for so long in storage?
If only Hartley could know for sure whether what is happening to her is real or if her grief is making her lose touch with reality. Those around her aren't convinced that she's being stalked, nor is the wonderful, supportive man Hartley's started dating. The exciting new life she has created for herself is slowly becoming a nightmare. . .How can Hartley seek protection when nobody believes that she's at risk--and the only one in the world she can trust is herself?
A KILLER IS ON THE LOOSE--AND HE'S DYING TO MEET YOU...
After the death of her husband four years ago, Hartley Watson is finally ready to meet someone--and maybe even have a second chance at love. But then, just as her dating life seems to be getting started, Hartley is struck with a horrifying realization: Someone is watching her. Entering her own home. Even knows the intimate details of her life. How else to explain the strange deliveries, or the sudden appearance of mementos from her dead spouse--ones that she had kept for so long in storage?
If only Hartley could know for sure whether what is happening to her is real or if her grief is making her lose touch with reality. Those around her aren't convinced that she's being stalked, nor is the wonderful, supportive man Hartley's started dating. The exciting new life she has created for herself is slowly becoming a nightmare. . .How can Hartley seek protection when nobody believes that she's at risk--and the only one in the world she can trust is herself?
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 1, 2017
62 people are currently reading
2046 people want to read
About the author
Bella Jewel
102 books7,454 followersHeya!! My name is Bella, I'm a new aussie author and I am as crazy as they come. I'm playful, friendly and always up for a chat so stop on by x
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 185 reviews
August 4, 2017
3.5 Stars
4 solid stars for this story until ...
The killer reveal at the end which fell VERY flat.
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The chemistry, banter, back stories of the heroine and the hero was very well done. The heroine was very likable and relatable and the suspense of a killer stalking and torturing Hartley through the loss of her husband was very creative.
How sadly unoriginal to dark book fans the killer reveal...
4 solid stars for this story until ...
The killer reveal at the end which fell VERY flat.
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The chemistry, banter, back stories of the heroine and the hero was very well done. The heroine was very likable and relatable and the suspense of a killer stalking and torturing Hartley through the loss of her husband was very creative.
How sadly unoriginal to dark book fans the killer reveal...
July 28, 2017
YES!! I finally got accepted for a review copy!! Knew they would get sick of me requesting, requesting, denied denied (until now)!! woohoooo!! Lover this author!!
A KILLER IS ON THE LOOSE--AND HE'S DYING TO MEET YOU.
BLIND DATE: is a sexy, pulse pounding romantic suspense standalone novel by Bella Jewel. Towards the end of the book it's spoken in 'Dual Perspectives' Ace & Hartley
Hartley Watson. I’m coming for you. I’ve been watching her for a while. She's not like the weak willed woman I've played with in the past. I have to take this slow, break her into tiny pieces before I attack.
In this we meet thirty three year old Hartley Watson a widow of four years after losing her husband the love of her life, in a tragic car accident. Until recently she’s not gotten over his death it’s not until her friend pushes her back into the dating scene through a dating site called ‘Blind Date’ that she’s actually been out with another man.
The first two were busts until the third one Jacob
Not so long after she’d just jumped back into the dating scene unexplainable items were being left around her apartment of her late husband's she just put it down to sleepwalking episodes which she’s known to suffer from.
First it was her late husband's shirt left out on her kitchen counter
His laptop which hasn’t been seen for a while suddenly turns up out of the blue
A hot cup of coffee sitting waiting for her and a loving note saved over from her husband
Now she’s scared and questioning if she’s losing it.
In the meantime she strikes up a friendship with her arrogant neighbour, Detective Ace, a man until recently didn’t even know she existed. A man so blind to his surroundings to the point that he didn’t even know she was his neighbour. Until now..
Now he's out to protect her, to hunt for the person who is tormenting her. A killer on the loose are the two connected to hartley?
This evening another body was found. The third murder like this in the past year. The police are investigating if it's the work of a serial killer, due to the familiar pattern with each victim.
❀ MY THOUGHTS: ❀ I really enjoyed this one probably more than the previous ones in this series, it had a wee bit more grit than the others gave me, the only reason why I didn't rate this 5 stars is that we knew right away who the stalker, killer was if the title doesn't give it away as soon as you meet the guy in the book you knew straight away that it was him. Don't get me get started on Ace though, he made the perfect book boyfriend, a blind arrogant asshole that had me claiming him as mine by the end of it, he carried all the feels one could wish for when losing oneself in a book. I really hope we get another book similar to this genre this author is dipping her toes in.
July 25, 2017
Basicaly all the covers in this little series are the same, so I am just going to copy and paste my previous comments since they pretty much apply to this cover as well. I LOVE this cover. Great use of graphics. Excellent representation of the story. Good composition. All that said, it loses a star because the author's name should NOT be the most prominent text on a book cover. EVER. PERIOD. Not only that but it is placed in the middle of the cover where the title should be. GAAH..that makes this OCD graphics designer CRAZY! *lol*
While I enjoyed this one overall it was my least favorite of the trio. First, it took FOREVER for this one to get going. The first half of the book was so slow, and NOTHING happened but pages and pages of pointless blind dates. Secondly, it was blatantly obvious who the baddie was from the minute they were introduced. Unfortunately, because of that, the whole mystery aspect fell a bit short for me. Lastly, I wasn't a fan of the romance in this one. It felt underdeveloped, and for the first half of the book, I hated Ace. I mean the guy was an ass. Now the hero in book two was an ass as well, but at least I felt he had an interest in the heroine. In this one, the hero didn't even know who she was despite living next to her and interacting with her often. I also could have done with the pages and pages of them talking about how wonderful their dead spouses were. I get it they were the most perfect of perfectest people to have ever live. Dead spouses usually don't bother me, but it's a bit hard to connect to a couple if they are always talking about how perfect their previous love was.Now, I know that all sound like I hated the book, but despite those issues, I found myself sucked in and turning the pages. This author's venture into romantic suspense has been a great success, and I have enjoyed all three of the books she has published so far. I hope we get even more in the very near future. Two thumbs up from yours truly.
December 18, 2018
3.5 stars
Interesting suspence .
I wasn't quite fond of the romance side of the story. The hero was supposed to come across as moody silent type... I found him plain rude. After I learned about his past, I forgave him some of his actions, but I wouldn't be attracted to such man from the beginning, so it's my personal issue.
I liked heroine's dialogues, but not her inner monologues. And since almost the whole book was written from her POV (except a couple of chapters at the end) I read how handsome, ripped, dark and sexy the hero was and zero to none about his attraction and his feelings toward her. I like to read about a man worshipping a woman and not only a woman ogling a man.
Safe.
No epilogue 😭😭😭
Interesting suspence .
I wasn't quite fond of the romance side of the story. The hero was supposed to come across as moody silent type... I found him plain rude. After I learned about his past, I forgave him some of his actions, but I wouldn't be attracted to such man from the beginning, so it's my personal issue.
I liked heroine's dialogues, but not her inner monologues. And since almost the whole book was written from her POV (except a couple of chapters at the end) I read how handsome, ripped, dark and sexy the hero was and zero to none about his attraction and his feelings toward her. I like to read about a man worshipping a woman and not only a woman ogling a man.
Safe.
No epilogue 😭😭😭
July 11, 2017
Hartley Watson hasn't been on the dating scene for years and isn't looking forward to getting back out there even though it's been four years since her husband passed away. With a little push from her best friend though Hartley has agreed to going on a few blind dates but if they turn out terrible then she is going back to her single life.
While restarting her dating life Hartley keeps finding reminders of her husband around her apartment which she can't explain. The first few times she chalks it up to her own sleepwalking thinking maybe the stress brought her to bring his things out but now she's sure someone is messing with her. Hartley finds herself turning to her less than sociable neighbor who is a police detective for help finding out what is going on.
Blind Date is the third book I've read by Bella Jewel and I can honestly say with each of them the story is always so easy to get caught up in and completely engaged with what is happening. The book is a romantic suspense so you know that there is going to be some page turning thrill ride along with a budding relationship but the stories always seem to get me completely hooked even knowing the formula.
I will admit it took me a while to warm up to Hartley as she seemed to be a bit too particular with her judging her potential dates but on the other hand I sympathized a little too so once the thriller starts I really liked her. Another slight complaint with this one was that for me I quickly came to my own theory on the whodunnit side and ended up being right so I wasn't quite as shocked as I could have been. Still a fun read though and would recommend Bella Jewel to any fan of romantic suspense.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
While restarting her dating life Hartley keeps finding reminders of her husband around her apartment which she can't explain. The first few times she chalks it up to her own sleepwalking thinking maybe the stress brought her to bring his things out but now she's sure someone is messing with her. Hartley finds herself turning to her less than sociable neighbor who is a police detective for help finding out what is going on.
Blind Date is the third book I've read by Bella Jewel and I can honestly say with each of them the story is always so easy to get caught up in and completely engaged with what is happening. The book is a romantic suspense so you know that there is going to be some page turning thrill ride along with a budding relationship but the stories always seem to get me completely hooked even knowing the formula.
I will admit it took me a while to warm up to Hartley as she seemed to be a bit too particular with her judging her potential dates but on the other hand I sympathized a little too so once the thriller starts I really liked her. Another slight complaint with this one was that for me I quickly came to my own theory on the whodunnit side and ended up being right so I wasn't quite as shocked as I could have been. Still a fun read though and would recommend Bella Jewel to any fan of romantic suspense.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
July 26, 2017
*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
Had me hooked from the start.
I m really enjoying this series from Bella Jewel every book as had me gripped from the start to the end and this book was the same. The characters were great and it actually had my shouting at my kindle in parts cause I was getting so frustrated in a good.
This story is about Hartley. She has been through a horrible 4 years she lot her husband Raymond in a car crash and was finding it hard to get on with her life. Taylor Hartleys best friend had signed her up on a dating website a blind date website she wasn't interested but Taylor really wanted her to try and get her life back. All Hartley did was work work and work she was training to be a midwife and worked in a hospital on placement and as a waitress so her life was busy but it didn't stop her brain from goin to Raymond.
Its very hard to write a long review for this book cause it would be hard to spoil it. The story is a lil predictable in parts but it's still really good. I was dying to know how things were goin to go and I did have doubt about how was cause Hartleys torment. My heart went out to her. The person causing al the torment hit her hard and where it hurt. The person just didn't know how strong Hartley was.
I would highly recommend this book. Like I said Bella Jewel really knows how to do suspense. I m really hoping she does more of these books. I luv her MC but these are just as good. I recommend any of her books.
Had me hooked from the start.
I m really enjoying this series from Bella Jewel every book as had me gripped from the start to the end and this book was the same. The characters were great and it actually had my shouting at my kindle in parts cause I was getting so frustrated in a good.
This story is about Hartley. She has been through a horrible 4 years she lot her husband Raymond in a car crash and was finding it hard to get on with her life. Taylor Hartleys best friend had signed her up on a dating website a blind date website she wasn't interested but Taylor really wanted her to try and get her life back. All Hartley did was work work and work she was training to be a midwife and worked in a hospital on placement and as a waitress so her life was busy but it didn't stop her brain from goin to Raymond.
Its very hard to write a long review for this book cause it would be hard to spoil it. The story is a lil predictable in parts but it's still really good. I was dying to know how things were goin to go and I did have doubt about how was cause Hartleys torment. My heart went out to her. The person causing al the torment hit her hard and where it hurt. The person just didn't know how strong Hartley was.
I would highly recommend this book. Like I said Bella Jewel really knows how to do suspense. I m really hoping she does more of these books. I luv her MC but these are just as good. I recommend any of her books.
July 26, 2017
I’m worried about Bella Jewel. This author has a deep, dark, twisted mind.
Hartley has just started dating again after the death of her husband. It hasn’t been going very well. When she finally makes a connection with a sweet even tempered man, she also begins a hate relationship with her next door neighbor. He’s rude, moody, and the most un-neighborly individual she has ever met. The only good thing is when it looks like Hartley might be losing her mind, he’s there to help her out.
I loved Ace’s broody attitude and his big bulky body. The way he stepped in when things started going south for Hartley. Hartley made a couple of stupid and ridiculous decisions that didn’t lead to anything happening but that I thought was out of character for someone being hunted by a serial killer. I did love her strength though when the going got tough. Both of these individuals have significant loss in their lives but they both believe there can be more than one love in a person’s life. I never felt that either of their characters took second place to their previous love.
While I don’t think this book had as much as a shock and surprise factor as the previous books, Ms. Jewel can write a scary psycho scene that will chill your blood. Add in a little romance and you’ve got yourself a winner.
ARC provided by NetGalley
Mostly heroine’s POV with just a scene or two in Ace’s
No other woman drama – other man doesn’t really cause any drama
Potential triggers – This is about a serial killer who targets Hartley. While nothing of a sexual nature takes place, there is violence.
Epilogue – no real epilogue and nothing to let us know what happens with this couple in the future.
Hartley has just started dating again after the death of her husband. It hasn’t been going very well. When she finally makes a connection with a sweet even tempered man, she also begins a hate relationship with her next door neighbor. He’s rude, moody, and the most un-neighborly individual she has ever met. The only good thing is when it looks like Hartley might be losing her mind, he’s there to help her out.
I loved Ace’s broody attitude and his big bulky body. The way he stepped in when things started going south for Hartley. Hartley made a couple of stupid and ridiculous decisions that didn’t lead to anything happening but that I thought was out of character for someone being hunted by a serial killer. I did love her strength though when the going got tough. Both of these individuals have significant loss in their lives but they both believe there can be more than one love in a person’s life. I never felt that either of their characters took second place to their previous love.
While I don’t think this book had as much as a shock and surprise factor as the previous books, Ms. Jewel can write a scary psycho scene that will chill your blood. Add in a little romance and you’ve got yourself a winner.
ARC provided by NetGalley
Mostly heroine’s POV with just a scene or two in Ace’s
No other woman drama – other man doesn’t really cause any drama
Potential triggers – This is about a serial killer who targets Hartley. While nothing of a sexual nature takes place, there is violence.
Epilogue – no real epilogue and nothing to let us know what happens with this couple in the future.
July 28, 2017
4.5 Stars!
I really enjoyed this. I've not read this author before but I saw a few reviews on one of her other romantic suspense books, and the response was enough to have me watching out for her next release. I'm so glad I did because it was almost perfect. The only reason I wouldn't give it a full 5 stars is because you know right off who the killer is. Even knowing it, I was still very much enthralled with this story.
This was well written and I loved the maturity of the characters. Hartley surpassed my expectations in a heroine. I like that she really only had one TSTL moment which she owned up to immediately. Ace as a Hero is actually one of my favorite types. Big, intense and broody. Both had lost their spouses and usually I don't like that dead exes play a big role, but I never minded in this book. Maybe because these two don't start out romantically involved.
The romance wasn't big in the story but I still felt the attraction with Ace and Hartley. I didn't really feel like I was missing out in the romance aspect of the story. Really the only thing I would have liked different is if the killer wasn't predicted early on. I'm excited to read more from this author. ARC provided by NetGalley.
I really enjoyed this. I've not read this author before but I saw a few reviews on one of her other romantic suspense books, and the response was enough to have me watching out for her next release. I'm so glad I did because it was almost perfect. The only reason I wouldn't give it a full 5 stars is because you know right off who the killer is. Even knowing it, I was still very much enthralled with this story.
This was well written and I loved the maturity of the characters. Hartley surpassed my expectations in a heroine. I like that she really only had one TSTL moment which she owned up to immediately. Ace as a Hero is actually one of my favorite types. Big, intense and broody. Both had lost their spouses and usually I don't like that dead exes play a big role, but I never minded in this book. Maybe because these two don't start out romantically involved.
The romance wasn't big in the story but I still felt the attraction with Ace and Hartley. I didn't really feel like I was missing out in the romance aspect of the story. Really the only thing I would have liked different is if the killer wasn't predicted early on. I'm excited to read more from this author. ARC provided by NetGalley.
August 17, 2017
I won this in a Goodreads Giveaway and am thankful for the win and the opportunity to review.
Honest review: I have not read this author before. Based on this I would be willing to give her another try. This book was enjoyable but had a few things that really held it back from more stars for me.
First I don't enjoy reading first person present tense. Sometimes it works better than other times. Here I didn't really feel that it added anything to the story. Also if you want to tell a story in first person present no fair switching into the hero's POV at the end because you need to tell something that is happening but which is not happening to the heroine, the main POV character. The challenge of first person is telling the whole story from one POV. If you can't, then don't use that POV especially not present tense. If the author had switched between the hero and the heroine from the beginning then it wouldn't have been such a glaring change.
Second the writing was sort of bare. There was no description at all. I don't need to read pages of what the hallways looked like but even in 1st person there should be more than we got here. It almost read like a screenplay.
Third I didn't believe the relationship between the two main characters. I didn't feel much connection between them. I felt like each of them had good bones but the stories needed to be fleshed out more. There was not much between them except the mystery.
Let's talk about the mystery. It was obvious who the bad guy was from the get go. There was not enough tension in the story because of that. The hero and heroine were both sort of stupid not to catch on quicker that she was being targeted by the serial killer that they had both recently thought about and he was a cop. And then the killer should have been at the top of the list because he was really the only one who had any opportunity to get into her house.
As I said I'd be willing to try this author again. I think she just needs a few more books under her belt.
Honest review: I have not read this author before. Based on this I would be willing to give her another try. This book was enjoyable but had a few things that really held it back from more stars for me.
First I don't enjoy reading first person present tense. Sometimes it works better than other times. Here I didn't really feel that it added anything to the story. Also if you want to tell a story in first person present no fair switching into the hero's POV at the end because you need to tell something that is happening but which is not happening to the heroine, the main POV character. The challenge of first person is telling the whole story from one POV. If you can't, then don't use that POV especially not present tense. If the author had switched between the hero and the heroine from the beginning then it wouldn't have been such a glaring change.
Second the writing was sort of bare. There was no description at all. I don't need to read pages of what the hallways looked like but even in 1st person there should be more than we got here. It almost read like a screenplay.
Third I didn't believe the relationship between the two main characters. I didn't feel much connection between them. I felt like each of them had good bones but the stories needed to be fleshed out more. There was not much between them except the mystery.
Let's talk about the mystery. It was obvious who the bad guy was from the get go. There was not enough tension in the story because of that. The hero and heroine were both sort of stupid not to catch on quicker that she was being targeted by the serial killer that they had both recently thought about and he was a cop. And then the killer should have been at the top of the list because he was really the only one who had any opportunity to get into her house.
As I said I'd be willing to try this author again. I think she just needs a few more books under her belt.
October 17, 2017
Hartley Watson didn't think life could get any harder after losing her husband in a car accident 4 years ago she still struggles with the loss, until she finally gives in to her best friend's determination to get her back out into the dating world by signing her up to an online dating site called blind date. After a few uncomfortable dates with unsuitable men Hartley meets Jacob and they seem to be getting along until strange things start happening around Hartley's home and she comes to the realization that someone is not only watching her every move but infiltrating her life through her dead husband. Turning to her broody, hot neighbor detective Ace Hennesy for help where together they embark in a race against the evil plans of a serial killer, finding an emotional connection along the way. I really liked this although the story line was very predictable it was still an interesting read, the characters were likable and compatible with each other and the sex was hot. Narrated by Joe Arden and Maxine Mitchell.
July 14, 2017
thoughts prior to reading :
I discovered this author twice by accident with her til death series in 2014. there was a free book sale and I picked it up and forgot about it the. when I was scrolling for my next read I stumbled upon it again and for fun I searched to see if it was available for audio and it was also for free so I snagged it. I can't wait to see how this author has improved in 3 years of writing. I'll be reading this one very soon!!
thoughts during and after read:
literally a few tiny story crumbs have been placed but at 50% nothing at all has happened
I accepted this book was going to have like a girl on the train vibe with everything coming together in the last bit of time.. so I then started to enjoy it.
I think the book is good as a suspense book...to me I didn't need to romantic sex element but it was okay. I enjoyed the sexual tension that vibrated through the book.
to me both main characters did not stay true to their backstory being strong/ being weak etc they kinda of both belly flopped to include their basic personality changes... that was so weird I had to reread to make sure it wasn't a different character.
I enjoyed the book. and I am glad I had the opportunity to read it
I discovered this author twice by accident with her til death series in 2014. there was a free book sale and I picked it up and forgot about it the. when I was scrolling for my next read I stumbled upon it again and for fun I searched to see if it was available for audio and it was also for free so I snagged it. I can't wait to see how this author has improved in 3 years of writing. I'll be reading this one very soon!!
thoughts during and after read:
literally a few tiny story crumbs have been placed but at 50% nothing at all has happened
I accepted this book was going to have like a girl on the train vibe with everything coming together in the last bit of time.. so I then started to enjoy it.
I think the book is good as a suspense book...to me I didn't need to romantic sex element but it was okay. I enjoyed the sexual tension that vibrated through the book.
to me both main characters did not stay true to their backstory being strong/ being weak etc they kinda of both belly flopped to include their basic personality changes... that was so weird I had to reread to make sure it wasn't a different character.
I enjoyed the book. and I am glad I had the opportunity to read it
July 30, 2017
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Copy received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
★Book Basics★
Genre : - Contemporary Romance
Series : - 3rd in the series (can be read as a stand alone)
Love triangle? -
Cheating? -
HEA? -
Would I read more by this author? - Yes
Rating - 3
★Review★
This one so far, has been my least favourite of the new Romantic Suspense series Bella Jewel is writing.
I found the heroine very hard to warm to. She was a bit judgemental of others, and in all honesty, that fact that she was a widow, seemed to be as if that should be enough to make her a sympathetic character, as opposed to actually being written sympathetically.
I felt also, that in this book especially a bit of hero POV at the start might have helped to get to know him or at least understand how he was portrayed at the start.
Took awhile for the story to actually take off.
Anyway, the suspense part of the plot, it is not a surprise who the antagonist is, but then I am not sure if it is meant to be a surprise to the reader.
Toward the end, in all honesty, I found the heroine rather annoying, it got a touch repetitive, and the heroine all "I have to be strong, I have to save us, I must be strong, I WILL save us" and on and on. When in actual fact, I felt it was her friend who was the "strong" one and saved the day, if we ignore the ridiculousness of the heroine apparently almost carrying her friend for over 10 miles while seriously injured!
Then at the end, the heroine and the friend come up with this awesome never before heard of idea that will change the world, as you know, the book had to end on a really positive life affirming note, Which iirc was pretty much how book 2 ended, only it was the heroine and the sister changing the world due to their "experiences" in that one.
You know, it sounds like I hate these books, I don't, I actually enjoy it, but it is becoming a little bit predictable after the third one, the heroines all sort of meld into one, I have to read about how "strong" they are over and over. I was left vaguely disappointed on both the romance aspect which was rushed and unbelievable, and the suspense part that was not really all that suspenseful as there was no element of surprise.
A decent 3 stars however.
Copy received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
★Book Basics★
Genre : - Contemporary Romance
Series : - 3rd in the series (can be read as a stand alone)
Love triangle? -
Cheating? -
HEA? -
Would I read more by this author? - Yes
Rating - 3
★Review★
This one so far, has been my least favourite of the new Romantic Suspense series Bella Jewel is writing.
I found the heroine very hard to warm to. She was a bit judgemental of others, and in all honesty, that fact that she was a widow, seemed to be as if that should be enough to make her a sympathetic character, as opposed to actually being written sympathetically.
I felt also, that in this book especially a bit of hero POV at the start might have helped to get to know him or at least understand how he was portrayed at the start.
Took awhile for the story to actually take off.
Anyway, the suspense part of the plot, it is not a surprise who the antagonist is, but then I am not sure if it is meant to be a surprise to the reader.
Toward the end, in all honesty, I found the heroine rather annoying, it got a touch repetitive, and the heroine all "I have to be strong, I have to save us, I must be strong, I WILL save us" and on and on. When in actual fact, I felt it was her friend who was the "strong" one and saved the day, if we ignore the ridiculousness of the heroine apparently almost carrying her friend for over 10 miles while seriously injured!
Then at the end, the heroine and the friend come up with this awesome never before heard of idea that will change the world, as you know, the book had to end on a really positive life affirming note, Which iirc was pretty much how book 2 ended, only it was the heroine and the sister changing the world due to their "experiences" in that one.
You know, it sounds like I hate these books, I don't, I actually enjoy it, but it is becoming a little bit predictable after the third one, the heroines all sort of meld into one, I have to read about how "strong" they are over and over. I was left vaguely disappointed on both the romance aspect which was rushed and unbelievable, and the suspense part that was not really all that suspenseful as there was no element of surprise.
A decent 3 stars however.
August 3, 2017
Blind Date
Bella Jewel
5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Another winner for Bella Jewel!! Once I started reading this one I couldn't stop until I was finished. It had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I couldn't wait to find out who the killer was. She had me questioning and second guessing all the characters in the book.
I can't wait for another Bella Jewel novel to come out! I'm addicted. Thanks NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.
Bella Jewel
5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Another winner for Bella Jewel!! Once I started reading this one I couldn't stop until I was finished. It had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I couldn't wait to find out who the killer was. She had me questioning and second guessing all the characters in the book.
I can't wait for another Bella Jewel novel to come out! I'm addicted. Thanks NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.
August 7, 2017
First book by the author, it was pretty good, a page turner especially the banter between Hartley and Ace, laughing right now as I recalled them. The stars given for this book was for the both of them, the thriller part of the story was so-so for me. Okay, get this book and read it.
Hope you'll enjoy the banter moments as much as I did.. Btw, Hartley's stalker + wannabe killer, I kinda suspected it was him from the beginning.. Nope it wasn't the Butler.
Hope you'll enjoy the banter moments as much as I did.. Btw, Hartley's stalker + wannabe killer, I kinda suspected it was him from the beginning.. Nope it wasn't the Butler.
January 28, 2018
Predictable yet solid storyline with superb writing. Too bad I don't feel the chemistry from Ace's part because at some point he was this nonchalant a-hole but in the blink of an eye he became the classic protective Hero. Not exactly a smooth transition. Could be better.
August 3, 2017
The plot was predictable you could tell who the killer was from the beginning so didn't feel any build up or excitement in this plot. I didn't feel the chemistry between main leads and the hero and heroine talking about their dead spouses was sad but put me off. I couldn't help but think they would always be second best.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 2, 2017
After the death of her husband, Hartley is not really ready to jump back into the dating scene, even after a few years. But with her best friend constantly hounding her to get back out there, she takes a chance and promises to go on three blind dates through a website her friend finds.
And then the stalking begins......things are mysteriously moved in her apartment and she's getting a very dreadful feeling. How lucky is she that her neighbor, Ace, is a detective for the police department. Unluckily, he is a moody bastard who hasn't given her the time of day since she moved in. But maybe her need for protection stirs something in him, because he jumps at the task and begins investigating her past, present, and of course, the three men from her blind dates. There were many suspects.
A good, quick read and I really ended up falling for Ace, even if he was a jerk at first! LOL!
I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley for an honest review.
And then the stalking begins......things are mysteriously moved in her apartment and she's getting a very dreadful feeling. How lucky is she that her neighbor, Ace, is a detective for the police department. Unluckily, he is a moody bastard who hasn't given her the time of day since she moved in. But maybe her need for protection stirs something in him, because he jumps at the task and begins investigating her past, present, and of course, the three men from her blind dates. There were many suspects.
A good, quick read and I really ended up falling for Ace, even if he was a jerk at first! LOL!
I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley for an honest review.
July 7, 2017
Bella Jewel is the queen of romantic suspense!. 5 stars.
Holy lord this one is a rollercoaster. I didn't have any expectations when I dug into reading this book. Bella is one of my favourite authors, her signature broody alpha males and feisty fearless ladies are some of my favourite ever so I wasn't worried but I was for sure curious.
Hartley Watson is still trying to deal with the tragic death of her husband when her friend Taylor decides to intervene and help Hartley out with her non existent dating life. After an extremely rocking start.. a balding older man and a guy who's not over his ex she finally starts enjoying the dating life. Things seem to be sinking right into place when suddenly creepy things start popping up leading down a very unsure slippery slope.
I really enjoyed Hartley as a character. She's strong independent feisty and snippy in the most hilarious ways. Her little comments and eyes rolls at Ace had me chuckling to no end. I admire her strength. How she held herself strong even though she lost her husband and how she dealt with all the crazy shit happening. She was extremely likeable, relatable and sweet.
Ace was a whole lot of broodishly broken handsomeness. There is so much under the surface with him. I honestly didn't expect his story to be what it is. My heart broke for him and what he's been through. I understood him more when I realised what the cause of his moody standoffish behaviour was about. He isn't your whisper Sweet nothings gentle loving hero but I loved him for her.
I love the pace of the story.. nothing was rushed or forced. The relationship grew throughout the story at a believable steady pace. It was nice for a change for it to not be wham bam done within the first two chapters. They helped eachother heal slowly and in typical Bella fashion.. with a bang ;).
The story had a tonne of twists very smartly woven throughout the story making the suspense heavy and the surprises bigger.
I must confess though that the big reveal wasn't much of a surprise... I guessed who it was from the moment she met him and I knew gut deep I was right. However it didn't ruin anything if anything I was more excited that I was right feeling Sherlock like and all.
It's a great storyline with a rollercoaster of emotions to boot. Bella nailed this story and I love the different style of book. I enjoyed the characters and the chemistry was off the charts. I didn't dislike anything .
I kindly received this ARC from netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Holy lord this one is a rollercoaster. I didn't have any expectations when I dug into reading this book. Bella is one of my favourite authors, her signature broody alpha males and feisty fearless ladies are some of my favourite ever so I wasn't worried but I was for sure curious.
Hartley Watson is still trying to deal with the tragic death of her husband when her friend Taylor decides to intervene and help Hartley out with her non existent dating life. After an extremely rocking start.. a balding older man and a guy who's not over his ex she finally starts enjoying the dating life. Things seem to be sinking right into place when suddenly creepy things start popping up leading down a very unsure slippery slope.
I really enjoyed Hartley as a character. She's strong independent feisty and snippy in the most hilarious ways. Her little comments and eyes rolls at Ace had me chuckling to no end. I admire her strength. How she held herself strong even though she lost her husband and how she dealt with all the crazy shit happening. She was extremely likeable, relatable and sweet.
Ace was a whole lot of broodishly broken handsomeness. There is so much under the surface with him. I honestly didn't expect his story to be what it is. My heart broke for him and what he's been through. I understood him more when I realised what the cause of his moody standoffish behaviour was about. He isn't your whisper Sweet nothings gentle loving hero but I loved him for her.
I love the pace of the story.. nothing was rushed or forced. The relationship grew throughout the story at a believable steady pace. It was nice for a change for it to not be wham bam done within the first two chapters. They helped eachother heal slowly and in typical Bella fashion.. with a bang ;).
The story had a tonne of twists very smartly woven throughout the story making the suspense heavy and the surprises bigger.
I must confess though that the big reveal wasn't much of a surprise... I guessed who it was from the moment she met him and I knew gut deep I was right. However it didn't ruin anything if anything I was more excited that I was right feeling Sherlock like and all.
It's a great storyline with a rollercoaster of emotions to boot. Bella nailed this story and I love the different style of book. I enjoyed the characters and the chemistry was off the charts. I didn't dislike anything .
I kindly received this ARC from netgalley in exchange for an honest review
July 25, 2017
4 years after the death of her husband Hartley Watsons friend Taylor convinces her it's time to move on and get back into the dating game. Hartley is not keen but agrees to let Taylor find 3 dates for her. The first 2 guys aren't up to par but the third seems a bit more successful And it brightens Hartley's mood.
Hartley lives next door to a hot but very moody and ignorant cop called Ace and more than once Hartley has gave him a piece of her mind. When things start happening in Hartley's apartment it's Mr Moody Cop that intervenes and helps although his sarcasm and mood swings haven't gone un noticed even if Hartley is grateful for the help. The question is will Hartley find love in her life or will whoever is tormenting her break her in the process?
First of all let me say I have absolutely loved Bella Jewels last 2 romantic suspense books, however even though I did enjoy this one somewhat, it still fell a little flat for me. I just found it to predictable from quite early on in the story. The characters each played their part well although I found Hartley a little weak at times but she matured towards the end of the story. Maybe it's just me but I didn't really get the usual enjoyment that we get from Bella Jewels writing but there's probably at least one book from our favourite authors that we didn't click with and I think this one is it for me. I am however definitely looking forward to see what Bella writes next.
Hartley lives next door to a hot but very moody and ignorant cop called Ace and more than once Hartley has gave him a piece of her mind. When things start happening in Hartley's apartment it's Mr Moody Cop that intervenes and helps although his sarcasm and mood swings haven't gone un noticed even if Hartley is grateful for the help. The question is will Hartley find love in her life or will whoever is tormenting her break her in the process?
First of all let me say I have absolutely loved Bella Jewels last 2 romantic suspense books, however even though I did enjoy this one somewhat, it still fell a little flat for me. I just found it to predictable from quite early on in the story. The characters each played their part well although I found Hartley a little weak at times but she matured towards the end of the story. Maybe it's just me but I didn't really get the usual enjoyment that we get from Bella Jewels writing but there's probably at least one book from our favourite authors that we didn't click with and I think this one is it for me. I am however definitely looking forward to see what Bella writes next.
August 15, 2017
2 stars - Romantic Suspense
*The heroine was super annoying and the hero was a broody asshole for most of the book.
*The "romance" between the H/h developed late in the story and was blah/boring.
*The killer was obvious, and it was really frustrating that the heroine and detective hero were so clueless.
*The heroine was super annoying and the hero was a broody asshole for most of the book.
*The "romance" between the H/h developed late in the story and was blah/boring.
*The killer was obvious, and it was really frustrating that the heroine and detective hero were so clueless.
November 26, 2017
A romance / thriller but also a quick read. Enjoyable because it was well written and well pacing. but i figured out who it was, it felt very predictable. The little romance oart was fresh, that was the bonus in this story. grieving and second chances.
December 29, 2017
I've read this author's other romantic suspense books and freaking loved them, so I was really looking forward to reading this one! It sounded amazing and my kind of read! I grabbed a copy of this book as soon as it released and I actually stopped my current reads to read it lol! I'm so happy I did because this book was amazing! It was different in a way to what I was expecting, but I love a plot that takes me by surprise! The plot also developed at the perfect pace and it kept me interesting and wanting to read on to find out what was going to happen next! The suspense aspect added a lot and it made me love the book even more! I loved that there was plenty of action too! There was also plenty of sexual tension between the main character and one of her love interests and a few seriously hot scenes between them! I also had my suspicions as to who the bad guy was, and I can say that I was right! The characters were also amazing and made this book even better! Hartley was the main character, and in this book she was getting back into the dating game after the devastating loss of her husband! This made my heart go out to her! I loved Hartley in this book too! She stood up for herself and didn't let people push her about! I could also understand why Hartley was scared! She was in danger and then went through a lot and had to do something horrible to protect her and her best friend! I just respected Hartley a lot and she came a long way in this book! I would say that there was a bit of a love triangle in this book in a way! Ash and Jacob were Hartley's love interests! I will say that I felt like Ash was the main love interest, but Jacob did bring something to the plot as well! I loved Ash in this book! Yes, he was a complete ass to Hartley at the beginning, but he had been through a lot and was dealing with a lot! Ash was also seriously hot and was very protective of Hartley! I also loved how far Ash's relationship with Hartley progressed! They both helped each other and showed each other that you can get a second chance at love! This book was mainly written from Hartley's point of view, which didn't surprise me that much because this author's other romantic suspense books were written from only the female character's point of view! I loved this book being written from Hartley's point of view, and I loved that a few chapters were written from Ash's point of view too! I'm also really sad that this book is a standalone! I understand why it is because the plot was wrapped up nicely and all the questions raised were answered, but I would love to read more on Hartley and Ash! Or is it Hartley and Jacob? Lol! I also hope that this author releases more romantic suspense books! I can't see any other ones coming out from this author on Goodreads apart from the ones that have already released, so I really hope that she release more! I'll be honest and say that I would be at the front of the queue to buy it if she did lol! The cover for this book is also perfect for it! The couple definitely suits the characters of Hartley and Ash and the window symbolises a lot too! I love how well it suits the covers for this author's other romantic suspense books too!
July 14, 2017
Blind Date by Bella Jewel
“Blind Date is a sexy, pulse-pounding romantic suspense from USA Today bestselling author Bella Jewel!
A KILLER IS ON THE LOOSE--AND HE'S DYING TO MEET YOU...”
Wow. Bookish Friends I’m slightly disturbed. This story is creepy, I liked it enough to finish it but I’m still slightly disappointed. The reason why, because the romance in this one was so lacking. Hartley went on a bunch of blind dates, after her late husband passed away. She wasn’t ready, but her best friend thinks she is and organizes all these BLINDS.DATES. She was forced to go ON! Who does that, what bff makes their closest friend go on some dates, from people they haven’t even meet? From the INTERNET! It seems creepy and nuts to me!
This story is a rollercoaster, I had massive expectations, because The Watcher is AMAZING!
Ace is the broody slightly broken cop/neighbour living next door, who Hartley finds trust and a safety net in. I really would have loved this more, if there were more romantic encounters with these two.
They both struggle with their past, and slowly heal together but still…
Ace is a good detective that helps her when a creepy stalking F*cks with her life, with pretending to be her late dead husband. She honestly thinks she is losing her mind and her the dude ends up dating doesn’t believe her and the same with her best friend. The only one who does believe her is
…. ACE!
Bella can normally nail this genre, she has previous books. They were both legit fantastic! This one, it was more suspense then suspense romance, I wanted more romance between the two main couples. It’s very slow to burn, slow everything. When they did finally do the deed, it was nearly over and then Sh*t hits the fans and we are fighting for our lives to see what happens.
I must say though, I guessed the crazy killer from the moment we found out, it is a good written story I just wanted more. I did love trying to figure out who the killer was, it was fun. I love suspense, but I love romance more and this was lacking in that area. Yes, they have good chemistry.
Arc was given to me by the publisher for an honest review
“Blind Date is a sexy, pulse-pounding romantic suspense from USA Today bestselling author Bella Jewel!
A KILLER IS ON THE LOOSE--AND HE'S DYING TO MEET YOU...”
Wow. Bookish Friends I’m slightly disturbed. This story is creepy, I liked it enough to finish it but I’m still slightly disappointed. The reason why, because the romance in this one was so lacking. Hartley went on a bunch of blind dates, after her late husband passed away. She wasn’t ready, but her best friend thinks she is and organizes all these BLINDS.DATES. She was forced to go ON! Who does that, what bff makes their closest friend go on some dates, from people they haven’t even meet? From the INTERNET! It seems creepy and nuts to me!
This story is a rollercoaster, I had massive expectations, because The Watcher is AMAZING!
Ace is the broody slightly broken cop/neighbour living next door, who Hartley finds trust and a safety net in. I really would have loved this more, if there were more romantic encounters with these two.
They both struggle with their past, and slowly heal together but still…
Ace is a good detective that helps her when a creepy stalking F*cks with her life, with pretending to be her late dead husband. She honestly thinks she is losing her mind and her the dude ends up dating doesn’t believe her and the same with her best friend. The only one who does believe her is
…. ACE!
Bella can normally nail this genre, she has previous books. They were both legit fantastic! This one, it was more suspense then suspense romance, I wanted more romance between the two main couples. It’s very slow to burn, slow everything. When they did finally do the deed, it was nearly over and then Sh*t hits the fans and we are fighting for our lives to see what happens.
I must say though, I guessed the crazy killer from the moment we found out, it is a good written story I just wanted more. I did love trying to figure out who the killer was, it was fun. I love suspense, but I love romance more and this was lacking in that area. Yes, they have good chemistry.
Arc was given to me by the publisher for an honest review
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 11, 2017
Amazing Ace or is it Grace, nope, Ace!
First I need to say that this "group" of books - because that's what they are. They are all complete standalones - absolutely no connection with one another. When you see the books together, the covers look as though they are written as a series and I'm pretty sure Bella Jewel meant for it to stand out as her "Romantic Suspense Books" but I changed it up (in my head of course) to "Psychos In The Woods" - does that mean each book is based on their stories in the woods - NO! Blind Date actually takes place in the city, so - you'll have to read the book(s) to know why I chose to name these books. I have read each one and I must say that going from strictly MC Bella who was my hero just for that! - proved that she can change genres flawlessly. I mean, without fail! I have found each book in this "Psychos In The Woods" group unbelievably creative in storytelling, in character development, in making sure each detail is there for the reader to see the whole story, no questions asked.
As I started to read the "Prologue", I immediately thought to myself - "here we go again, game on!" It was chilling and creepy and gave you that instantaneous sense of unease. So I can officially say that, yes, the book was another of Bella Jewel's addicting reads that began from the very first page to the very end.
We first meet Hartley, a woman who is lost in life and has forgotten how to live it. She has been through too much pain and she has succumbed to living life day after day, numb and feeling hopeless. Then you have her best friend Taylor, who is constantly trying to get her (Hartley) out of her funk and chip away at some of that wall that Hartley has built. She succeeds.
Then comes Ace! I'm not even going to say one word about Ace because why bother ruining the story. You really HAVE to read this gripping, angsty, suspenseful, and dark romance novel.
The story is full of unpredictability which I LOVE because many suspense novels can be pretty predictable - don't get me wrong - Bella doesn't shy away from telling you the obvious, which is another reason why I LOVE this book. (Does this make any sense?)
Yes, the author pretty much states the obvious yet manages tons of unpredictability. That sums that up - and don't forget - she throws in the sexy, hot and juicy too. (*ponders, I might have to go back and reread a few parts after I write this.)
“What am I feeling right now then?” “You’re nervous because I’m sitting here without a shirt. You’ve looked at my body three times now. I’d bet any money your heart is racing. You’re also terrified by what just happened. You’ve rubbed your hands over your shorts twice, before fumbling them together in your lap.” I blink, and then glance down to where my hands are indeed fumbling together in my lap. “I didn’t look at you three times!” I did. I really did."
So all in all, if you're looking for an incredible "Romantic Suspense" book - look no further. You've come to the right stop. And if you haven't read the others, do so - as I said above - each book is completely different than the other. Bella Jewel has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that she is in fact a genius in this particular genre, I only cross my fingers and toes that she continues writing more books in the "Psychos In The Woods" group.
OUTSTANDING READ!
*this review is affiliated with The Book Bistro
First I need to say that this "group" of books - because that's what they are. They are all complete standalones - absolutely no connection with one another. When you see the books together, the covers look as though they are written as a series and I'm pretty sure Bella Jewel meant for it to stand out as her "Romantic Suspense Books" but I changed it up (in my head of course) to "Psychos In The Woods" - does that mean each book is based on their stories in the woods - NO! Blind Date actually takes place in the city, so - you'll have to read the book(s) to know why I chose to name these books. I have read each one and I must say that going from strictly MC Bella who was my hero just for that! - proved that she can change genres flawlessly. I mean, without fail! I have found each book in this "Psychos In The Woods" group unbelievably creative in storytelling, in character development, in making sure each detail is there for the reader to see the whole story, no questions asked.
As I started to read the "Prologue", I immediately thought to myself - "here we go again, game on!" It was chilling and creepy and gave you that instantaneous sense of unease. So I can officially say that, yes, the book was another of Bella Jewel's addicting reads that began from the very first page to the very end.
We first meet Hartley, a woman who is lost in life and has forgotten how to live it. She has been through too much pain and she has succumbed to living life day after day, numb and feeling hopeless. Then you have her best friend Taylor, who is constantly trying to get her (Hartley) out of her funk and chip away at some of that wall that Hartley has built. She succeeds.
Then comes Ace! I'm not even going to say one word about Ace because why bother ruining the story. You really HAVE to read this gripping, angsty, suspenseful, and dark romance novel.
The story is full of unpredictability which I LOVE because many suspense novels can be pretty predictable - don't get me wrong - Bella doesn't shy away from telling you the obvious, which is another reason why I LOVE this book. (Does this make any sense?)
Yes, the author pretty much states the obvious yet manages tons of unpredictability. That sums that up - and don't forget - she throws in the sexy, hot and juicy too. (*ponders, I might have to go back and reread a few parts after I write this.)
“What am I feeling right now then?” “You’re nervous because I’m sitting here without a shirt. You’ve looked at my body three times now. I’d bet any money your heart is racing. You’re also terrified by what just happened. You’ve rubbed your hands over your shorts twice, before fumbling them together in your lap.” I blink, and then glance down to where my hands are indeed fumbling together in my lap. “I didn’t look at you three times!” I did. I really did."
So all in all, if you're looking for an incredible "Romantic Suspense" book - look no further. You've come to the right stop. And if you haven't read the others, do so - as I said above - each book is completely different than the other. Bella Jewel has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that she is in fact a genius in this particular genre, I only cross my fingers and toes that she continues writing more books in the "Psychos In The Woods" group.
OUTSTANDING READ!
*this review is affiliated with The Book Bistro
August 17, 2024
The Blind Date is about Hartley a widow who lost her husband four years ago. Her friend thought it was time to start dating again so she sets up three blind dates for Hartley. Shortly after the dates some strange things begin to happen to her. Her neighbor Ace who is a detective believes a serial killer is stalking her.
…
Four years ago Hartley said goodbye to her husband. She’s been on a long healing road not yet ready to meet new people. At her friends insistence she sets up a blind date with three guys. Hartley begins dating one of the guys.
…
Bella Jewel writes a slow building story about a woman’s journey to build a new life for herself after her husband of ten years died. Just when she’s ready to move forward with a new guy someone decides to target her. Her neighbor is a detective whom Hartley seeks help from. This was a predictable story. It was easy to pinpoint who the killer was. The only unknown factor was why.
…
This read like a cozy murder mystery with its breezy light and humorous dialogue toning down the dark situation Hartley was in. The focus was mostly on Hartley’s love life. There wasn’t an investigation only some questioning. There was no police procedure. There was Ace protecting his neighbor and asking questions.
…
Four years ago Hartley said goodbye to her husband. She’s been on a long healing road not yet ready to meet new people. At her friends insistence she sets up a blind date with three guys. Hartley begins dating one of the guys.
…
Bella Jewel writes a slow building story about a woman’s journey to build a new life for herself after her husband of ten years died. Just when she’s ready to move forward with a new guy someone decides to target her. Her neighbor is a detective whom Hartley seeks help from. This was a predictable story. It was easy to pinpoint who the killer was. The only unknown factor was why.
…
This read like a cozy murder mystery with its breezy light and humorous dialogue toning down the dark situation Hartley was in. The focus was mostly on Hartley’s love life. There wasn’t an investigation only some questioning. There was no police procedure. There was Ace protecting his neighbor and asking questions.
August 1, 2017
4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
*thank you to the author and publisher for providing an arc**
Blind Date was a great suspense story that has you wondering who can be trusted and who can't be trusted. Bella Jewel will keep you on the edge till the end and still have you wanting more! Hartley hasn't been on a date since her husband died 4 years ago. So when her friend pushes her into the dating scene again with 3 blind dates she has some obvious doubts. Her first date is horrible, the guy not only lies about his age but has some views on women and relationships that Hartley is not okay with. Her second date is a little better but she knows that they would only be good friends. On her third date she connects with Jacob and thinks maybe this is someone she can start a second chance with and decides to give him a chance. But she keeps running into her sexy next door neighbor and can't help but feel a pull of attraction even though he is rude and keeps to himself. Ace keeps to himself and throws himself into his job. He is a detective working on a serial killer case that he can't find too many leads on. But when his next door neighbor, Hartley, starts having weird things happen to her that are linked to her deceased husband, he begins to wonder if she is the next victim. Ace and Hartley begin to form a weird friendship and soon Hartley knows that she can rely on Ace for anything. He makes sure that she has round the clock security and even checks in on her himself, but will it be enough? And will they be able to deny the attraction the feel for each other or will they decide that maybe they both deserve a second chance?
*thank you to the author and publisher for providing an arc**
Blind Date was a great suspense story that has you wondering who can be trusted and who can't be trusted. Bella Jewel will keep you on the edge till the end and still have you wanting more! Hartley hasn't been on a date since her husband died 4 years ago. So when her friend pushes her into the dating scene again with 3 blind dates she has some obvious doubts. Her first date is horrible, the guy not only lies about his age but has some views on women and relationships that Hartley is not okay with. Her second date is a little better but she knows that they would only be good friends. On her third date she connects with Jacob and thinks maybe this is someone she can start a second chance with and decides to give him a chance. But she keeps running into her sexy next door neighbor and can't help but feel a pull of attraction even though he is rude and keeps to himself. Ace keeps to himself and throws himself into his job. He is a detective working on a serial killer case that he can't find too many leads on. But when his next door neighbor, Hartley, starts having weird things happen to her that are linked to her deceased husband, he begins to wonder if she is the next victim. Ace and Hartley begin to form a weird friendship and soon Hartley knows that she can rely on Ace for anything. He makes sure that she has round the clock security and even checks in on her himself, but will it be enough? And will they be able to deny the attraction the feel for each other or will they decide that maybe they both deserve a second chance?
August 3, 2017
I really enjoyed blind date by Bella Jewel. It was a thriller/mystery/creepy stalker turned serial killer book that was refreshing to read instead of my usual books. Hartley lost her husband years prior to the story and she's developed into a strong character. Jacob was a nice guy. And Ace - Mr Alpha Detective was just what the story needed. The story moved quickly with just enough detail, the characters were well-developed but the ending was a bit too predictable for me. I'd recommend to anyone looking for a faster read and enjoys a bit of a thriller.
I rate this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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I rate this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#bookstagram #booklover #bookworm #booklife #booknerd #bookaddict #bookaddiction #bookstagrammer #bibliophile #bookish #booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #instabooks #read #reader #fangirl #fangirling #samthefangirl #love #blinddate #bellajewel #review #bookreview
August 20, 2025
I picked this one up on audio because I saw Joe Arden’s name listed as a narrator—turns out he only voices a very small part (a little misleading, not gonna lie). Still, this ended up being my very first romantic thriller!
The story follows a widow who’s finally ready to dip her toes back into dating through a blind-date setup… except what starts as a shot at romance quickly spirals into something much darker. It’s more thriller than romance, but definitely easy to follow. While the suspense wasn’t full of shocking twists it leaned a bit predictable I still found myself entertained.
I don’t think I would’ve enjoyed it as much in ebook or paperback form, but as an audiobook it worked really well. The narration kept the pacing up and made it more engaging.
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.5/5 stars)
The story follows a widow who’s finally ready to dip her toes back into dating through a blind-date setup… except what starts as a shot at romance quickly spirals into something much darker. It’s more thriller than romance, but definitely easy to follow. While the suspense wasn’t full of shocking twists it leaned a bit predictable I still found myself entertained.
I don’t think I would’ve enjoyed it as much in ebook or paperback form, but as an audiobook it worked really well. The narration kept the pacing up and made it more engaging.
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.5/5 stars)
July 31, 2017
Blind Date by Bella Jewel
Blind dates are suggested to Hartley “Hart” Watson by her friend Taylor – to get her out of grieving for the husband of ten years that she lost four years before. Little does she know that someone evil has his eye on her AND that person will be one of the men she eventually dates.
I knew who the bad guy was from the beginning and found the book rather predictable. I found the romance between Hart and Ace one that didn’t quite seem to work but it did for them – started with rudeness and grew from there.
I guess I felt this story was predictable and short but for some it would be an entertaining read – I was hoping for more.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC – This is my honest review.
2-3 Stars
Blind dates are suggested to Hartley “Hart” Watson by her friend Taylor – to get her out of grieving for the husband of ten years that she lost four years before. Little does she know that someone evil has his eye on her AND that person will be one of the men she eventually dates.
I knew who the bad guy was from the beginning and found the book rather predictable. I found the romance between Hart and Ace one that didn’t quite seem to work but it did for them – started with rudeness and grew from there.
I guess I felt this story was predictable and short but for some it would be an entertaining read – I was hoping for more.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC – This is my honest review.
2-3 Stars
October 4, 2018
Blind date by Bella Jewell.
Hartley Watson is saying goodbye to her husband at his funeral. Little does she know someone is watching her. Four years later her best friend talks her into going on a blind date. She agrees to 3. The first one is a disaster. The 2nd one is worse. Taylor her best friend talks her into the 3rd one. Jacob seems ok. He's a gentleman and good looking. But after a while odd things start to happen. Is someone doing these things?
Omg an absolutely fantastic read. I loved the story and some of the characters. There were some characters I didn't like. Jacob being one of them. I loved how Hartley and Ace were. Wow didn't expect that. 5*. Highly recommended.
Hartley Watson is saying goodbye to her husband at his funeral. Little does she know someone is watching her. Four years later her best friend talks her into going on a blind date. She agrees to 3. The first one is a disaster. The 2nd one is worse. Taylor her best friend talks her into the 3rd one. Jacob seems ok. He's a gentleman and good looking. But after a while odd things start to happen. Is someone doing these things?
Omg an absolutely fantastic read. I loved the story and some of the characters. There were some characters I didn't like. Jacob being one of them. I loved how Hartley and Ace were. Wow didn't expect that. 5*. Highly recommended.
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