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The Watcher
NOW YOU SEE HER . . .
Seven years ago, Marlie Jacobson was kidnapped by a serial killer and lived to tell about it. But it was actually her mother who told the story, in a bestselling book that made Marlie famous. Today, she s known as the girl who slayed a killer. The one who got away. Now, there s just one thing Marlie wants to get away from: her past. But when her little sister disappears, her worst fears comes rushing back with a vengeance
NOW SHE S GONE.
Kenai Michelson is a world-renowned investigator. Dark, brooding, and dangerously good-looking, he s the kind of man Marlie would normally avoid at all costs. But Kenai is her only hope in finding her missing sister. Together, Kenai and Marlie follow a trail of clues that leads them toward the truth and into each other s arms. As her trust in Kenai grows, so does their fierce connection. But will their desire turn deadly as they close in on a ruthless enemy who s watching their every move?
Don't miss The Watcher by Bella Jewel!
"
Seven years ago, Marlie Jacobson was kidnapped by a serial killer and lived to tell about it. But it was actually her mother who told the story, in a bestselling book that made Marlie famous. Today, she s known as the girl who slayed a killer. The one who got away. Now, there s just one thing Marlie wants to get away from: her past. But when her little sister disappears, her worst fears comes rushing back with a vengeance
NOW SHE S GONE.
Kenai Michelson is a world-renowned investigator. Dark, brooding, and dangerously good-looking, he s the kind of man Marlie would normally avoid at all costs. But Kenai is her only hope in finding her missing sister. Together, Kenai and Marlie follow a trail of clues that leads them toward the truth and into each other s arms. As her trust in Kenai grows, so does their fierce connection. But will their desire turn deadly as they close in on a ruthless enemy who s watching their every move?
Don't miss The Watcher by Bella Jewel!
"
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 30, 2017
75 people are currently reading
2473 people want to read
About the author
Bella Jewel
102 books7,453 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 244 reviews
May 19, 2017
LOVE this cover. Great use of graphics. Great 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*
CHRIST-ON-A-CRACKER I thought book one was amazeballs but this one surpassed even that! Fantastically well written and paced. Interesting and unique plot. It had twists and turns (I did Sherlock who the baddie was quite early...go me). It was dark. It was twisted. It was gag worthy. It had a couple of hot sex scenes. It also had two extremely likable main characters. Although I wanted to nut punch Kenai (how in the hell do you pronounce that name??) for the first 30% of the book. He was a massive asshole. That said Marlie was da bomb and stood up to him and gave him attitude right back. That helped to soften my dislike for Kenai.
I am now chomping at the bit for book three. Two HUGE thumbs up from yours truly.
June 22, 2017
REVIEW ALSO ON MY BLOG
⚛ THE WATCHER - KITTY KATS CRAZY ABOUT BOOKS ⚛
THE WATCHER: Is a standalone ‘Romantic Suspense Novel’ by Bestselling Author Bella Jewel. Spoken in 'Dual Perspectives'
The ’Prologue’ sent those cold chills down my back, like an ice cube chilling me to the bone. And from here on in I’m hooked already.
By helping a gentleman who had dropped his briefcase, she walked over and helped him pick it up, then BAM he’d held a rag over her nose, before she knew it she was waking up bound in a moving van.
The terror he subjected her to, a deranged man whose one weakness were females beautiful hair, like a kleptomaniac he had to collect locks of hair from his victims and the only way to do that was to scalp them. Bloody scalps were his pretty little trophies in every colour imaginable.
Through sheer will and survival instinct she managed to get away by slaying the serial killer.
She’s the one that got away, the girl who survived, thirteen others weren’t so lucky.
➼ I was suddenly a survivor.
The girl who got away.
The brave one.
The one who got a second chance at life.
SEVEN YEARS LATER: Marlie left her hometown of Denver seven years ago and is trying to start afresh in a backwoods town working as a waitress. But one phone call has her racing back to where she never wanted to go again.
➼ “I’m the girl who got away.
I’m the girl who slayed the serial killer
I’m the girl who wants to disappear.”
Her sister Kaitlyn is presumed missing, her place is trashed, no sign of her. The police have no leads. The only one person who can help her is the one person she doesn’t want to ask. Kenai Michelson a renowned tracker, the best of the best.
➼ “ If I go back there, all the monsters I've put to bed will rise up once more.
All the memories, all the nightmares, all the familiar fear and desperation.
They'll all come back."
The hunt for a killer is on!!
❦ TO SUM IT ALL UP: ❦ I’ve pretty much read everything this author has released but I’ve got to say this new step she’s taken into this genre is my most favourable from her. It’s the perfect blend of dark and gritty, terror, suspense, nail biting action, throw in a little romance and it covers everything a reader could ever ask for. This had me sitting on the edge of my seat many a time, a game of cat and mouse, Who is ‘The Watcher?’
May 1, 2017
She had survived a monster, slayed the beast and tried to pick up the pieces of her life in private. That wasn’t to be as her mother capitalized on her ordeal with a book that made millions and destroyed any sense of privacy Marlie ever thought she had. It may also have brought her demon back to life as her younger sister goes missing and all clues point to the nightmare that Marlie knows too well.
Kenai Michelson is the best of the best, if someone or something needs to be found, he is your man, but he doesn’t come cheap, nor does he take frivolous cases. When Marlie came to him to find her sister, it was her determination steel will that made him take the case. Together they will travel across country in search of her sister, grabbing at the bread crumb clues and learning to trust in one another with more than her sister’s life.
Has sister become the victim of the killer long thought dead? Has she disappeared willingly to get out form the shadows of Marlie’s fame? Has her mother’s greed played a part? So many questions, so little time and only threads to grab at for clues.
As romance blooms, the detritus of the past threatens the present and the future. Hang on tight, this ride is a killer with more twists than a barber’s pole and more danger than a pit of vipers…and the clock keeps ticking down…
Bella Jewel’s THE WATCHER is filled with emotion, edge of your seat suspense and some of the most twisted evil to grace the pages of a great read, because someone has kept their friends close and their enemies closer and no one was the wiser.
I received an ARC edition from St. Martin's Paperbacks in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks (May 30, 2017)
Publication Date: May 30, 2017
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Page Count: 320
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Kenai Michelson is the best of the best, if someone or something needs to be found, he is your man, but he doesn’t come cheap, nor does he take frivolous cases. When Marlie came to him to find her sister, it was her determination steel will that made him take the case. Together they will travel across country in search of her sister, grabbing at the bread crumb clues and learning to trust in one another with more than her sister’s life.
Has sister become the victim of the killer long thought dead? Has she disappeared willingly to get out form the shadows of Marlie’s fame? Has her mother’s greed played a part? So many questions, so little time and only threads to grab at for clues.
As romance blooms, the detritus of the past threatens the present and the future. Hang on tight, this ride is a killer with more twists than a barber’s pole and more danger than a pit of vipers…and the clock keeps ticking down…
Bella Jewel’s THE WATCHER is filled with emotion, edge of your seat suspense and some of the most twisted evil to grace the pages of a great read, because someone has kept their friends close and their enemies closer and no one was the wiser.
I received an ARC edition from St. Martin's Paperbacks in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks (May 30, 2017)
Publication Date: May 30, 2017
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Page Count: 320
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
May 30, 2017
NOW LIVE!
Amazon * B&N * Kobo
I am loving this author writing Romantic Suspense so I hope she does much more in the genre. I was already a fan of Bella Jewel from reading her MC books but this book takes my love for her writing to a completely different level. It's intriguing, dark, and had me entrapped in it's suspense for a few hours.
Marlie and Kenai were brilliant together and I loved their strength. They both had a lot of pain in their past but they learned to lean on one another for support and I was obsessed with them because of that. Kenai was broody but oh so sexy, and Marlie was just the girl to get him to soften up to the world. I really liked this couple and I was actually sad when the book came to an end because I wanted more of them.
Bottom line, if you're looking for an amazing Romantic Suspense that will keep you on the edge of your seat than this is the book for you. It is part of a series but you will have no problem reading this as a standalone.
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
Amazon * B&N * Kobo
I am loving this author writing Romantic Suspense so I hope she does much more in the genre. I was already a fan of Bella Jewel from reading her MC books but this book takes my love for her writing to a completely different level. It's intriguing, dark, and had me entrapped in it's suspense for a few hours.
Marlie and Kenai were brilliant together and I loved their strength. They both had a lot of pain in their past but they learned to lean on one another for support and I was obsessed with them because of that. Kenai was broody but oh so sexy, and Marlie was just the girl to get him to soften up to the world. I really liked this couple and I was actually sad when the book came to an end because I wanted more of them.
Bottom line, if you're looking for an amazing Romantic Suspense that will keep you on the edge of your seat than this is the book for you. It is part of a series but you will have no problem reading this as a standalone.
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
May 31, 2017
3.5 Stars
I’m the girl who got away.
I’m the girl who slayed the serial killer.
I’m the girl who just wants to disappear
Several years ago, Marlie Jacobson lived through a nightmare no one should ever have to face. As the only victim to escape the deranged serial killer known as “the watcher”, the outside world labeled her lucky to be alive. The best-selling book written using her pen name meant she found herself in the enviable position of being financially set as well.
Looks can be deceiving and despite the assumptions the rest of the world has made about her, Marlie’s struggled to get through each and every day of those years since she escaped. Her one saving grace has always been her sister and the strong relationship they shared. When her sister goes missing, Marlie will do everything in her power to insure her safe return.
Even if it means staring down a threat she thought she’d left behind. Even if it means hiring Kenai Michelson, a brute of a P.I. who doesn’t even attempt to mask the disdain he feels for her.
“The police could take months, even longer, to find anything. Kenai is amazing. He could find your sister and Chris in half the time.”
I shoot her a look. “So you want me to make a deal with the devil?”
She meets my gaze. “I guess it depends on how much you want to find Kaity.”
From the moment I read the prologue, I found myself with some pretty high expectations for this book. Marlie’s a likeable protagonist and I truly felt for the struggles she’s faced. Her life had been destroyed by a madman, regardless of the fact she’d escaped, and she couldn’t seem to find a way to dig herself out of it. Once Kenai arrives on the scene, I got that little bit of love/hate, push and pull thing I was looking for.
So why the three star rating? It comes down to the fact that I needed a little more of everything. More romance, more suspense and more character development in general. Marlie��s past abduction was done really well but the present day mystery and the quest to find her sister could’ve used a little work. I also think the love story had huge potential with all of that angry disdain floating around, but it never quite got there.
I’m giving the story idea and writing in general a big thumbs up, in spite of the fact I needed a little extra of everything. I felt like I was reading a novella for a story that would’ve been better served as a longer book.
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
I’m the girl who got away.
I’m the girl who slayed the serial killer.
I’m the girl who just wants to disappear
Several years ago, Marlie Jacobson lived through a nightmare no one should ever have to face. As the only victim to escape the deranged serial killer known as “the watcher”, the outside world labeled her lucky to be alive. The best-selling book written using her pen name meant she found herself in the enviable position of being financially set as well.
Looks can be deceiving and despite the assumptions the rest of the world has made about her, Marlie’s struggled to get through each and every day of those years since she escaped. Her one saving grace has always been her sister and the strong relationship they shared. When her sister goes missing, Marlie will do everything in her power to insure her safe return.
Even if it means staring down a threat she thought she’d left behind. Even if it means hiring Kenai Michelson, a brute of a P.I. who doesn’t even attempt to mask the disdain he feels for her.
“The police could take months, even longer, to find anything. Kenai is amazing. He could find your sister and Chris in half the time.”
I shoot her a look. “So you want me to make a deal with the devil?”
She meets my gaze. “I guess it depends on how much you want to find Kaity.”
From the moment I read the prologue, I found myself with some pretty high expectations for this book. Marlie’s a likeable protagonist and I truly felt for the struggles she’s faced. Her life had been destroyed by a madman, regardless of the fact she’d escaped, and she couldn’t seem to find a way to dig herself out of it. Once Kenai arrives on the scene, I got that little bit of love/hate, push and pull thing I was looking for.
So why the three star rating? It comes down to the fact that I needed a little more of everything. More romance, more suspense and more character development in general. Marlie��s past abduction was done really well but the present day mystery and the quest to find her sister could’ve used a little work. I also think the love story had huge potential with all of that angry disdain floating around, but it never quite got there.
I’m giving the story idea and writing in general a big thumbs up, in spite of the fact I needed a little extra of everything. I felt like I was reading a novella for a story that would’ve been better served as a longer book.
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
May 27, 2017
From the moment I read the prologue, I just knew that this story was going to take me on one hell of a ride. A serial killer who hunts women just for the fun of it and does unspeakable things that would give you nightmares for years to come, and a woman who faced such evil, is what had me turning the pages at warped speed.
It’s been seven years since Marlie Jacobson escaped the horror of being kidnapped and tortured. Going through something that traumatic is bound to leave scars and for Marlie, those scars are not only physical but painfully emotional. Now living a normal life as best as she can, Marlie is trying to move on and not let fear overtake her life. But that all comes to a screeching halt when she learns that her younger sister has disappeared.
Knowing she has to get the best Investigator to work with her on her sister’s case, Marlie enlists the help of Kenai Michelson. He’s cocky, extremely brooding, and quite frankly a real a**hole but he’s the best at finding missing people and when you’re running out of time, that’s the only thing that matters. With a haunting past of his own, Kenai agrees to help in the search that will hopefully bring her sister home. But little do they know, is that their search will now become a deadly cat and mouse game.
Who will survive?
I enjoyed this one more than 72 hours if I’m being honest and I loved how this author made you feel like you were a part of everything that happened to Marlie. Her fears was real, her paranoia was more than justified and I’m glad that all of her emotions that she was going through, was not glossed over. Did she make crazy at times with her stupidity? Hell yes! I was itching to smack that girl so hard in a few situations but I’m glad she pulled herself together.
My only complaint is that the story was a bit predictable and I lost that element of surprise when it came to finding out what was going to happen next but I still enjoyed it despite that. So if you’re looking for a light sexy psychological thriller, this one is perfect for you.
May 14, 2017
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
This book was just okay for me. I didn't love it and I didn't hate it but I am still rather disappointed because I had really expected to love it. After reading Bella Jewel's previous book, 72 Hours, in a single afternoon, I really expected this book to be a similar experience. I felt somewhat detached from the story and was never completely pulled in. I did want to see how everything would work out but it was never a book that was too hard to set aside.
Marlie spends each day living with what happened to her when she was kidnapped. It is really a miracle that she is alive today after her ordeal. She was taken by a serial killer and none of his previous victims survived. She made it out but lives with the ramifications every day. She leads a simple life in a small town and never wants to return to the town where her nightmares happened. When she learns that her sister is missing, she knows that she must do just that.
Marlie hires Kenai, a private investigator, to help her find her sister. They start out on their trip to find her not caring for each other very much. Things change as they work together for a while and they soon become a couple. I have to admit that I was never sold on Marlie and Kenai as a couple. I didn't really feel a lot of chemistry between them and they seemed to go from hate to love before I could blink.
This book was really a mixed bag for me. I really enjoyed some parts of the book. My favorite parts were the parts that described her ordeal with the serial killer. Some of those scenes were truly frightening yet entertaining. There were also parts that I didn't care for as much. Some of the action scenes with Kenai and Marlie were a bit too far fetched and didn't seem realistic. I was also really disappointed that I was able to figure out who the bad guy was really early in the book so when the big reveal happened in the book, there was no surprise for me.
I do think that a lot of people will enjoy this story more than I did. It had a lot of good moments for me despite the problems that I had with it. I would definitely read more from Bella Jewel in the future.
I received an advance reader edition of this book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts
I figured out who the bad guy was in this book very early on so when the big reveal happened it wasn't any kind of surprise for me. I wasn't completely sold on Marlie and Kenai as a couple and I had a few other issues with the book. There were parts of the book that I really did enjoy so my feelings are pretty mixed with this one.
This book was just okay for me. I didn't love it and I didn't hate it but I am still rather disappointed because I had really expected to love it. After reading Bella Jewel's previous book, 72 Hours, in a single afternoon, I really expected this book to be a similar experience. I felt somewhat detached from the story and was never completely pulled in. I did want to see how everything would work out but it was never a book that was too hard to set aside.
Marlie spends each day living with what happened to her when she was kidnapped. It is really a miracle that she is alive today after her ordeal. She was taken by a serial killer and none of his previous victims survived. She made it out but lives with the ramifications every day. She leads a simple life in a small town and never wants to return to the town where her nightmares happened. When she learns that her sister is missing, she knows that she must do just that.
Marlie hires Kenai, a private investigator, to help her find her sister. They start out on their trip to find her not caring for each other very much. Things change as they work together for a while and they soon become a couple. I have to admit that I was never sold on Marlie and Kenai as a couple. I didn't really feel a lot of chemistry between them and they seemed to go from hate to love before I could blink.
This book was really a mixed bag for me. I really enjoyed some parts of the book. My favorite parts were the parts that described her ordeal with the serial killer. Some of those scenes were truly frightening yet entertaining. There were also parts that I didn't care for as much. Some of the action scenes with Kenai and Marlie were a bit too far fetched and didn't seem realistic. I was also really disappointed that I was able to figure out who the bad guy was really early in the book so when the big reveal happened in the book, there was no surprise for me.
I do think that a lot of people will enjoy this story more than I did. It had a lot of good moments for me despite the problems that I had with it. I would definitely read more from Bella Jewel in the future.
I received an advance reader edition of this book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts
I figured out who the bad guy was in this book very early on so when the big reveal happened it wasn't any kind of surprise for me. I wasn't completely sold on Marlie and Kenai as a couple and I had a few other issues with the book. There were parts of the book that I really did enjoy so my feelings are pretty mixed with this one.
June 2, 2017
3 STARS
The Watcher is book 2 in a brand new romantic suspense series. We got a sneak peek into this heroine at the end of 72 Hours, and while I wasn't blown away with the first book, I was intrigued enough to give this one a shot. I enjoyed The Watcher a lot more than I did the previous book. The suspense plot was a lot more engaging and the characters better developed.
I'm a fan of the enemies to lovers trope, and the MCs certainly had that going for them.
After surviving a nightmare at the hands of a monster and barely escaping a brutal death, Marlie just wants to disappear. Unfortunately her mother writing a tell all book about her horrific experience ensured that she was thrown into the spotlight and stayed there. Living as far away from the town that carries haunting memories helps, but when her sister goes missing, Marlie finds herself back. Desperate for answers and with the police unwilling to help since they believe her sister simply ran away, she turns to a tracker who is known as much for his grumpy disposition as he is at finding missing people.
The story is told predominantly in Marlie's POV and unlike the heroine in the first book, she had plenty of depth. This is a woman that survived her own nightmare and lived to tell about it. She still can't burn the memories from her head or escape the nightmares that leave her in a cold sweat at night, but she never lost any of her inner strength. She was a fighter and you see that come out more and more as the story progressed.
The one thing that I found repeating in this book as with the last one, is I wasn't much connected to the romance. Kenai was sexy and broody, but at times he felt more like an accessory. I wanted more development for him. I wanted more of his POV. We only get a peak into his head towards the very end, and I couldn't help wanting more. I was completely hooked on the suspense, and ultimately that's what kept me turning the pages. The romance, while steamy, just didn't hook me.
Having said that, if you enjoyed the first book, you'll definitely enjoy this one. There's a hook for another book in the end that intriguing enough. I wanted to give this series another shot and I'm glad I did, since I did enjoy this much more.
ARC courtesy of publisher in exchange for an honest review
Find me on:
I'm the girl who got away.
I'm the girl who slayed the serial killer.
I'm the girl who just wants to disappear.
The Watcher is book 2 in a brand new romantic suspense series. We got a sneak peek into this heroine at the end of 72 Hours, and while I wasn't blown away with the first book, I was intrigued enough to give this one a shot. I enjoyed The Watcher a lot more than I did the previous book. The suspense plot was a lot more engaging and the characters better developed.
I'm a fan of the enemies to lovers trope, and the MCs certainly had that going for them.
After surviving a nightmare at the hands of a monster and barely escaping a brutal death, Marlie just wants to disappear. Unfortunately her mother writing a tell all book about her horrific experience ensured that she was thrown into the spotlight and stayed there. Living as far away from the town that carries haunting memories helps, but when her sister goes missing, Marlie finds herself back. Desperate for answers and with the police unwilling to help since they believe her sister simply ran away, she turns to a tracker who is known as much for his grumpy disposition as he is at finding missing people.
The story is told predominantly in Marlie's POV and unlike the heroine in the first book, she had plenty of depth. This is a woman that survived her own nightmare and lived to tell about it. She still can't burn the memories from her head or escape the nightmares that leave her in a cold sweat at night, but she never lost any of her inner strength. She was a fighter and you see that come out more and more as the story progressed.
The one thing that I found repeating in this book as with the last one, is I wasn't much connected to the romance. Kenai was sexy and broody, but at times he felt more like an accessory. I wanted more development for him. I wanted more of his POV. We only get a peak into his head towards the very end, and I couldn't help wanting more. I was completely hooked on the suspense, and ultimately that's what kept me turning the pages. The romance, while steamy, just didn't hook me.
Having said that, if you enjoyed the first book, you'll definitely enjoy this one. There's a hook for another book in the end that intriguing enough. I wanted to give this series another shot and I'm glad I did, since I did enjoy this much more.
ARC courtesy of publisher in exchange for an honest review
Find me on:
May 8, 2017
Seven years ago Marlie Jacobson was kidnapped and tortured by a serial killer but Marlie was the one that ended the killer's reign when she fought back and killed the man torturing her. Now Marlie lives all alone away from her family to hide from being in the public eye after her mother had written a book detailing Marlie's nightmare which has brought up a bit of resentment between the two from using her ordeal for profit.
However, when Marlie receives a phone call from a friend back home that her sister is missing Marlie puts her resentment towards her mother aside and returns to do whatever she can to find her sister. When the police seem to be stalling on the case not believing there is any danger Marlie hires Kenai Michelson, a world renowned investigator. Marlie insists that Kenai take her with him to investigate the disappearance despite her anxiety and pain she deals with daily determined to find her sister no matter what it costs.
The Watcher by Bella Jewel is a romantic suspense read which of course meant that the main characters in the story would also begin a relationship while they working on the case. Unfortunately that would be the one small issue I had with the entire story, I just didn't care for the overly explicit sexual content even though there wasn't too much involved. I think maybe for me I just would have preferred with Marlie's trauma in the past a cleaner romance between the two would have set better with her personality.
However, with that complaint aside I completely enjoyed the story of the kidnapping and the characters chasing clues to find out what happened. This is my second read by Bella Jewel and I rather enjoy her writing style finding myself completely engaged in the suspense rather quickly. I had my guesses from early on too and was somewhat right but it took the story unfolding to completely get to the right conclusion so it kept me engaged all throughout.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
However, when Marlie receives a phone call from a friend back home that her sister is missing Marlie puts her resentment towards her mother aside and returns to do whatever she can to find her sister. When the police seem to be stalling on the case not believing there is any danger Marlie hires Kenai Michelson, a world renowned investigator. Marlie insists that Kenai take her with him to investigate the disappearance despite her anxiety and pain she deals with daily determined to find her sister no matter what it costs.
The Watcher by Bella Jewel is a romantic suspense read which of course meant that the main characters in the story would also begin a relationship while they working on the case. Unfortunately that would be the one small issue I had with the entire story, I just didn't care for the overly explicit sexual content even though there wasn't too much involved. I think maybe for me I just would have preferred with Marlie's trauma in the past a cleaner romance between the two would have set better with her personality.
However, with that complaint aside I completely enjoyed the story of the kidnapping and the characters chasing clues to find out what happened. This is my second read by Bella Jewel and I rather enjoy her writing style finding myself completely engaged in the suspense rather quickly. I had my guesses from early on too and was somewhat right but it took the story unfolding to completely get to the right conclusion so it kept me engaged all throughout.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
June 11, 2017
Marlie Jacobson was abducted by a serial killer 7 years ago. Unlike others, she managed to escape with her life.
Today, she's known as the girl who killed a killer. She just wants to forget, but she has nightmares and flashbacks.
Her sister, Kaity, has disappeared. Marlie is certain that another killer has taken her ... someone with a lot of knowledge about what Marlie went through. But that man is dead...so who is this copycat?
She hires Kenai Michelson, a very well known private investigator. He's tall, dark and handsome and brooding and rude. Under different circumstances, Marlie would totally avoid this man ... but he's the best at what he does. And Marlie wants her sister back.
They have the slimmest of leads, but they follow them as far as they go. It seems that no matter where they go, they are being watched. Someone wants Marlie to pay for escaping what was supposed to be her destiny.
This is a terrific Romantic Suspense with a blending of contemporary romance and murder. The characters are cleverly defined, even though Marlie and Kenai are both damaged in one away or another. Marlie's mother is a harridan .. the author has described her so well, I could probably identify her walking down the street.
Lots of action, lots of violence. CAUTION: LANGUAGE AND GRAPHIC SEXUAL SITUATIONS.
Many thanks to the author / St. Martin's Press / Netgalley for the digital copy of this book. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Today, she's known as the girl who killed a killer. She just wants to forget, but she has nightmares and flashbacks.
Her sister, Kaity, has disappeared. Marlie is certain that another killer has taken her ... someone with a lot of knowledge about what Marlie went through. But that man is dead...so who is this copycat?
She hires Kenai Michelson, a very well known private investigator. He's tall, dark and handsome and brooding and rude. Under different circumstances, Marlie would totally avoid this man ... but he's the best at what he does. And Marlie wants her sister back.
They have the slimmest of leads, but they follow them as far as they go. It seems that no matter where they go, they are being watched. Someone wants Marlie to pay for escaping what was supposed to be her destiny.
This is a terrific Romantic Suspense with a blending of contemporary romance and murder. The characters are cleverly defined, even though Marlie and Kenai are both damaged in one away or another. Marlie's mother is a harridan .. the author has described her so well, I could probably identify her walking down the street.
Lots of action, lots of violence. CAUTION: LANGUAGE AND GRAPHIC SEXUAL SITUATIONS.
Many thanks to the author / St. Martin's Press / Netgalley for the digital copy of this book. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
May 24, 2017
Check out this and my other reviews at My Blog, Facebook, Google+, Twitter and Pinterest
Copy received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
★Book Basics★
Genre : - Cont. Romance
Series : - second in the series, can be read as a stand alone, no cross over characters from book 1.
Love triangle? -
Cheating? -
HEA? -
Would I read more by this author/or in this series? - Yes
Rating - 4 stars
★Review★
Ok, so I am actually really liking this new direction Bella Jewell seems to be taking. This new series is very different to what I have read of hers before.
Book 1 I enjoyed, although I was torn between a 3 and a 4, I think overall I preferred this story more, so will go with a 4.
I really liked both main characters, even if the hero was a bit of a jerk to start.
The descriptions of the heroine when she was with her attacker, creepy and awful but it dragged you in and you really felt for all she had been through.
And yes, it was full of suspense and sexual tension and it dragged me in.
However there were a few things that stopped it being a 5. I disliked how the heroine was all "oh I survived as I refused to break. Other begged, gave up..."etc. Now I know you want your heroine to come across as strong, but for me it edged to close to victim blaming and left a bad taste in my mouth. Not that I think this is what the author intended AT ALL.
And the sex scenes, did not feel natural and organic. They felt out of place. As if they suddenly turned from a couple on the hunt of a kidnapper, to people with no cares in the world, getting jiggy with it, get their rocks off and go back to being tortured souls.
And the villain is not hard to guess at.
But it is a very decent, solid 4 stars.
Copy received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
★Book Basics★
Genre : - Cont. Romance
Series : - second in the series, can be read as a stand alone, no cross over characters from book 1.
Love triangle? -
Cheating? -
HEA? -
Would I read more by this author/or in this series? - Yes
Rating - 4 stars
★Review★
Ok, so I am actually really liking this new direction Bella Jewell seems to be taking. This new series is very different to what I have read of hers before.
Book 1 I enjoyed, although I was torn between a 3 and a 4, I think overall I preferred this story more, so will go with a 4.
I really liked both main characters, even if the hero was a bit of a jerk to start.
The descriptions of the heroine when she was with her attacker, creepy and awful but it dragged you in and you really felt for all she had been through.
And yes, it was full of suspense and sexual tension and it dragged me in.
However there were a few things that stopped it being a 5. I disliked how the heroine was all "oh I survived as I refused to break. Other begged, gave up..."etc. Now I know you want your heroine to come across as strong, but for me it edged to close to victim blaming and left a bad taste in my mouth. Not that I think this is what the author intended AT ALL.
And the sex scenes, did not feel natural and organic. They felt out of place. As if they suddenly turned from a couple on the hunt of a kidnapper, to people with no cares in the world, getting jiggy with it, get their rocks off and go back to being tortured souls.
And the villain is not hard to guess at.
But it is a very decent, solid 4 stars.
December 18, 2018
3.25 -3.5 stars
Well written, good level of suspense.
I knew who was a villain approx. 20% before it was officially revealed, maybe because I like to watch Criminal Minds…
The book is much darker than 72 Hours.
Many detailed flashbacks about h’s past when she was held by the serial killer.
Bloody detailed flashbacks…
Some plot holes, some inadequate acting.
You know these horror movies when a victim hears someone outside and does not call the police or locks the door, but goes out and cries Who is here? And then Boom -> dead…
The hero supposed to be a professional, but acted as amateur sometimes. As I said - too much Criminal Minds for Alex…
Romance level low IMO. I didn’t feel any chemistry, the hero was a major a$$hole at the beginning and their 1st sex took me by surprise.
Good epilogue though.
I will definitely read the next book.
Well written, good level of suspense.
I knew who was a villain approx. 20% before it was officially revealed, maybe because I like to watch Criminal Minds…
The book is much darker than 72 Hours.
Many detailed flashbacks about h’s past when she was held by the serial killer.
Bloody detailed flashbacks…
Some plot holes, some inadequate acting.
You know these horror movies when a victim hears someone outside and does not call the police or locks the door, but goes out and cries Who is here? And then Boom -> dead…
The hero supposed to be a professional, but acted as amateur sometimes. As I said - too much Criminal Minds for Alex…
Romance level low IMO. I didn’t feel any chemistry, the hero was a major a$$hole at the beginning and their 1st sex took me by surprise.
Good epilogue though.
I will definitely read the next book.
May 30, 2017
Release Date: May 30, 2017
5 stars!
Great suspense-thriller-romance!
Loved the characters, writing, and storyline.
The author had me on the edge of my seat right till the very end.
Marly was one strong, brave woman and Kenai was the perfect man for her and her mission.
I kinda guessed who the perp was about the 80% mark, but even though I knew who the "bad guy" was, the author had my so engaged I couldn't wait to read how she would play out the final scenes.
Great story!
Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
5 stars!
Great suspense-thriller-romance!
Loved the characters, writing, and storyline.
The author had me on the edge of my seat right till the very end.
Marly was one strong, brave woman and Kenai was the perfect man for her and her mission.
I kinda guessed who the perp was about the 80% mark, but even though I knew who the "bad guy" was, the author had my so engaged I couldn't wait to read how she would play out the final scenes.
Great story!
Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 25, 2017
Oh I liked this I really did. This exceeded my expectations in comparison to 72 Hours. After reading 72 Hours and seeing a glimpse of Marlie and what happened to her. I needed this book. Lucky me I got an ARC.
Marlie Jacobson the one who get away, the brave one. The one who was used by her own mother for fame is trying to live a normal life. Her past has caught up with her because she has found out that her sister Kaitlyn is missing.
And so Ms. Jewel creates a wonderful web of action, suspense, romance and keeping you on the edge of your seat. By starting out in Denver we travel and see what a cat and mouse game has been created. The heroine’s pain, fear and strength really came off the pages. Made me the bleeding heart that I am. I guessed some things but not the depth of how twisted the minds can be so yes unexpected peeps. Unexpected.
Marlie is such a strong female character. She is brave, fierce and once again faces all of her fears. There was no point in time where I didn’t like her or feel for her.
Kenai Michelson is one of the best trackers there are after losing his sister he has made it his life mission to help as many missing people as he can. The one person he never expected to see in his office is Marlie.
Kenai is a strong Hero and he did everything in his power to help her. Even play devil’s advocate. What I wasn’t particularly keen on was that they antagonised one another so much it ruined most of the interactions they had with one another. And boy was he a judgemental sod. HE improved so HE is forgiven.
Now you all know me and when something bothers me I can’t seem to let it go and there were things that bothered me. I’ve spoiler-ed them just in case.
I recommend this book and I can’t wait for the next one to come out. If these are anything to go by then it should be a hit.
Review can also be found @ http://jerisbookattic-reviewblog.blog...
May 2, 2024
The Watcher by Bella Jewel is a solid thriller with a perfect side of romance. Being somewhat dark, I would recommend checking triggers. Marlie is a serial killer surviver, having slayed the beast herself. Years later, she finds herself dealing with the disappearance of her sister. Enter the dark and broody Kenai; he is there to investigate the disappearance, but he discovers more along the way. Very well written, this book is engaging with an ample amount of creepiness and action and ends with an unexpected twist.
The audiobook is narrated in dual by Maxine Mitchell and Joe Arden. Maxine, as usual, hits just perfectly with her performance. You are drawn in emotionally, and you feel like you are right there with the characters. Maxine has a great male voice, one of my favorites, and I loved her creepy performance of “The Watcher." Maxine does the majority of the narration for this book, but Joe comes in with a great performance, making this audiobook a perfect example of how great dual narration is.
The audiobook is narrated in dual by Maxine Mitchell and Joe Arden. Maxine, as usual, hits just perfectly with her performance. You are drawn in emotionally, and you feel like you are right there with the characters. Maxine has a great male voice, one of my favorites, and I loved her creepy performance of “The Watcher." Maxine does the majority of the narration for this book, but Joe comes in with a great performance, making this audiobook a perfect example of how great dual narration is.
July 8, 2017
Bella Jewel managed to snare my attention right from the first page with The Watcher when she throws you into a nightmare, a nightmare that actually happened to our heroine, Marlie, when she was kidnapped and tortured by a serial killer. But some how she manages to kill her captor and escape. Now it's years later and still haunted by her experience...and it all comes streaming back when her sister goes missing and she can't help thinking that he is back and punishing her...but he's dead, right?I loved this book! Jewel gives you a perfect mix of thriller and romance as Marlie goes on the hunt for her missing sister with the surly and silent Kenai, the private investigator she has hired to help her. Although both the romance and the mystery/thriller aspect of this book was fairly obvious from the beginning, that didn't stop me from enjoying the book. I really liked Marlie's character and the way Jewel built up the suspense. As for the romance, I love a grumpy taciturn hero who slowly has his walls broken down by the heroine.
The reason I enjoyed this book, despite the predictability of it, was because once I started I couldn't stop, I read this in one sitting. It easily drags you in, you want to know what has happened to Marlie's sister, even if you have already guessed, you want to see Kenai and Marlie get together, even though you know it will happen eventually. And you want to see them catch the bad guy, even though you have already guessed who it is. So, if you like a serial killer mixed in with your romance (and who doesn't?!) I highly recommend you give this a try.
*ARC provided by publisher
Reviewed by Suzanne❤ ♡ Don't want to miss any of our posts? Subscribe to our blog by email! ♡ ❤
May 29, 2017
What an absolutely amazing read! Oh my gawd! The opening of this book literally took my breath away and gave me chills. I was not expecting to feel the terror and horror that Marlie suffered through. So many times as a reader I read the words but never actually experience the emotions. Bella Jewel must have a seriously dark streak to bring such a villainous creature to life. I’m so glad she does.
Marlie is still recovering years later after having been held captive by a monster. He exposed her to things that a person wouldn’t dream of even in their worst nightmares. When her sister goes missing she is panicked and finds no solace from the steps the police are taking. Needing the best in the business, she hires Kenai a tracker with an impeccable reputation but an awful personality. He’s bossy and moody, and he doesn’t like Marlie at all.
As they work together to find Kaitlyn they slowly begin to realize that the other is not what they seem. Soon they are sharing their pasts and relying on each other for safety and comfort.
This story moved fast. I started prior to bedtime and read for hours before realizing I had been awake half the night and was beyond the 50% mark. I didn’t want to put it down! There is no getting bogged down, lost in the details, or skimming to get through a tedious scene. I consumed every word and loved each one of them.
I enjoy suspense thrillers – the crazier the villain the better. However, I have read very few romantic thrillers that I was completely happy with. Usually either the mystery or the romance takes center stage and the other is left lacking. Not so with The Watcher. It was a perfect balance of all ingredients.
I will soon be checking out the previous book 72 Hours. If it’s a fraction of what this one was I’ll be a very, very happy reader.
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review and honestly people, if you like romantic suspense thriller type stories this is a definite read.
POV – mainly Marlie’s but toward the end we have some of Kenai’s
Abuse – only that caused by Marlie’s captor
Triggers – no rape, but again, Marlie’s captor is evil but not in a sexual way
Marlie is still recovering years later after having been held captive by a monster. He exposed her to things that a person wouldn’t dream of even in their worst nightmares. When her sister goes missing she is panicked and finds no solace from the steps the police are taking. Needing the best in the business, she hires Kenai a tracker with an impeccable reputation but an awful personality. He’s bossy and moody, and he doesn’t like Marlie at all.
As they work together to find Kaitlyn they slowly begin to realize that the other is not what they seem. Soon they are sharing their pasts and relying on each other for safety and comfort.
This story moved fast. I started prior to bedtime and read for hours before realizing I had been awake half the night and was beyond the 50% mark. I didn’t want to put it down! There is no getting bogged down, lost in the details, or skimming to get through a tedious scene. I consumed every word and loved each one of them.
I enjoy suspense thrillers – the crazier the villain the better. However, I have read very few romantic thrillers that I was completely happy with. Usually either the mystery or the romance takes center stage and the other is left lacking. Not so with The Watcher. It was a perfect balance of all ingredients.
I will soon be checking out the previous book 72 Hours. If it’s a fraction of what this one was I’ll be a very, very happy reader.
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review and honestly people, if you like romantic suspense thriller type stories this is a definite read.
POV – mainly Marlie’s but toward the end we have some of Kenai’s
Abuse – only that caused by Marlie’s captor
Triggers – no rape, but again, Marlie’s captor is evil but not in a sexual way
April 12, 2017
**ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review**
I love romantic suspense books. My love for reading started with Thrillers, and I already read over a hundred books in the suspense genre. So I have high expectations. I enjoyed 72 Hours, so I was looking forward to this book. This book has the typical romantic suspense plot: woman is kidnapped by a crazy killer, escaped, but her life is still consumed by those horrific events. It is not easy to make this plot very original, so I was curious to see how Bella would give it a twist.
For me the story needs to be somewhat unpredictable. If I already know who the bad guy is pretty early on in the story, then I won't enjoy the story as much as I would've if it was a mystery. However the author did try to put me on the wrong foot a couple of times, but I didn't fall for it. Kenai is suppose to be the best in the business, but that was debatable in my opinion. I didn't like his cold and rude attitude towards Marlie, thankfully it got better when he and Marlie had a good talk. As for their relationship, it didn't pull me in that much. I liked that their was a lot of action and things going on. There was also great character development. I also liked Bella's writing. Overall it was an okay romantic suspense read for me. For me this plot has been done so many times, and I have read it so many times that it is really hard to impress me. I think new to the genre readers will probably enjoy it more.
I love romantic suspense books. My love for reading started with Thrillers, and I already read over a hundred books in the suspense genre. So I have high expectations. I enjoyed 72 Hours, so I was looking forward to this book. This book has the typical romantic suspense plot: woman is kidnapped by a crazy killer, escaped, but her life is still consumed by those horrific events. It is not easy to make this plot very original, so I was curious to see how Bella would give it a twist.
For me the story needs to be somewhat unpredictable. If I already know who the bad guy is pretty early on in the story, then I won't enjoy the story as much as I would've if it was a mystery. However the author did try to put me on the wrong foot a couple of times, but I didn't fall for it. Kenai is suppose to be the best in the business, but that was debatable in my opinion. I didn't like his cold and rude attitude towards Marlie, thankfully it got better when he and Marlie had a good talk. As for their relationship, it didn't pull me in that much. I liked that their was a lot of action and things going on. There was also great character development. I also liked Bella's writing. Overall it was an okay romantic suspense read for me. For me this plot has been done so many times, and I have read it so many times that it is really hard to impress me. I think new to the genre readers will probably enjoy it more.
October 7, 2017
umm... I was looking for a good mystery plot with a hint of romance in it and this book had so many good reviews and an interesting summary so I thought I'd give it a try... But seriously... this book is very childish. The banter between the main characters is annoying and it doesn't come across as sincere at all. You'd think the Kenai is a teenager rather than a 30 year old and Marley... well, is that really how someone who went thru what she did would behave? Like a kid? and what's up with all the cursing? A hero who's cursing all the time isn't hot and a hero who's constantly telling the heroine to shut up and keep quiet isn't sexy or alpha .. it's just plain abusive and rude. Maybe there is some good mystery in this book, but I just couldn't get over how annoying the characters were so I just didn't finish it.
April 28, 2017
ARC kindly provided by St. Martin's Press VIA NetGalley.
Bella Jewel is really doing a great job with this romance and thriller combo. I love it!
I enjoyed 72 Hours, and had really high expectations with this one... I was not disappointed.
Apparently, she is equally good when writing Mc romance, actually any kind of romance for that matter, or thrillers.
If you love suspense, action, feels, angst and amazing chemistry between the two main characters, you will love this. Everything was so well balanced.
I highly recommend it!
Bella Jewel is really doing a great job with this romance and thriller combo. I love it!
I enjoyed 72 Hours, and had really high expectations with this one... I was not disappointed.
Apparently, she is equally good when writing Mc romance, actually any kind of romance for that matter, or thrillers.
If you love suspense, action, feels, angst and amazing chemistry between the two main characters, you will love this. Everything was so well balanced.
I highly recommend it!
June 2, 2017
This book is hilarious! I know you didn't expect me to say that, but it's such a train wreck that it is indeed funny. This will be a truly spoilery review, so consider yourself warned, I'll go over the entire thing (edit: I didn't, I stopped detailing it at about 60% and hid the actual ending just in case).
Let's get started:
The book starts with a flashback, our heroine in the clutches of a serial killer. That is well done, there's this disgusting monster she's trying to get away from and from the get go I was anxious, gripping the edge of my seat rooting for her. She gets caught and he smashes her knees with a baseball bat, and when I say smash, I mean obliterates her bones, he hits her several times crunching her bones. Little later he messes up and she wakes up from being drugged earlier than expected, taking him by surprise, so...she knees him in the groin.
I KID YOU NOT.
She justifies as some sort of superhuman strength born from despair and describes an unbearable pain..so ok, I'll go with it. I'll accept she found some unknown source of strength within herself and moved her useless untreated legs with enough force to knock a man down and then smash something on his head to knock him out. How the fuck she got high enough to reach his groin, I'll never know. He comes to, she has a knife, he dies.
Anyway, this was just the prologue, let's get to the story itself.
First chapter cuts to years later, we learn Marlie, that's our heroine, became some sort of morbid celebrity, she escaped the serial killer, she killed him and survived the horror, not only that, her mom forced the publishing of a book telling the story and it was a phenomenon so she's now filthy rich. Not that she wants the money, she's still traumatized, wants anonymity so she ran from her home town, Denver, and lives alone in Colorado Springs in a shitty apartment working as a waitress. The only person she cares about is her sister, Kaitlyn. Younger sister she left behind in Denver with the insensitive money-grabbing mother.
That's our context, now for the facts.
Kaitlyn is missing, Marlie goes back to Denver facing her demons to try to find her sister, the police thinks the girl just took off and won't do much. She won't accept that, she knows something is wrong, she'll do anything for her sister, anything, except contact the apparently famous private investigator known to be rude (oh no!) but the best there is at tracking people.
Why would she?
Her sister is only missing and the guy might be the best but he is a jerk!
She's never met him, but she's heard about it!
Give the girl a break! She can't do it! *dramatic eye roll*
Marlie goes to her sister's favorite cafe, asks if anyone has seen her but *shock* nobody knows anything! Oh my, she needs to go see The Jerk. *oh no!*
Yes, you guessed it, he is rude to her! They have a battle of wits worthy of the best high school cafeteria out there and he finally agrees to help her. He has contacts, he knows what he's doing, so she needs to shut up and pack her bags, they're going on a road trip.
Where, you ask? I don't fucking know because at this point the investigation makes no sense, but they have to go!
They go to the missing girl's apartment and it's trashed, but there's a neat clue on the table, a note giving them their first direction, Los Angeles. *hyperventilating, this is so exciting! Not.*
The road trip starts, they battle again with intelligent banter such as "shut up", "you're so broody", "forget it" and so on. They'll spend the night at a hotel, he's shirtless, oh my God, he's so hot! Cue full description of sculpted body covered in tattoos. But he's a jerk! Can't forget that.
Little pause for nightmare time, honestly these are very well done and they occur every time they pause for the night, they are horrific flashbacks of the time she spent in the clutches of The Watcher (yes, that's where the title comes from, it's how the serial killer was dubbed, why? No clue! It's not explained and it doesn't make sense, but who cares?).
Back to being awake, they keep arguing about anything and everything, they go to a club, the contact is not there, they go to Vegas to find this guy.
Who?, you might ask, please don't ask, I don't know either.
They're driving, they're bickering and boom, shots fired! They're being shot at! Wow, what? Yes! They're driven off road with two flat tires, they're stranded. She freaks out.
They argue, he hitches a ride to buy tires and leaves her alone in the middle of fucking nowhere with no cell signal where they'd just been shot at, but that's ok. Those shots where designed just to delay them, he knows! And she needs to stay in the tuck, right? He's back, new tires, off to Vegas.
Marlie thinks: "I have time, I'll go down to the cassino, play in the slots". Cute guy wants to buy her a drink, she accepts, she's flirting with mysterious man opening the chance for Kenai to show up and act jealous. *ooooohhhhhh* . He throws her onto his back and carries her off. NO ONE STOPS THEM.
Another club, "don't talk to anyone", he tells her, "don't move, stay here at the bar", and he's off to whatever it is he's doing. Weird guy talks to her, she asks about her sister, he says he knows nothing,
- "Bye, Marlie", but wait a second, she didn't tell him her name so, oh my God, she needs to rush after him into the night to ask what he knows! Surely he'll tell her! Except, no he doesn't, he has friends with him, they taunt her with her past and then beat her up only to be interrupted by Kenai, The Jerk. He turns into Bruce Lee and bam, she's saved. *swoon sarcastically* She freaks out.
Hotel, kiss, nightmare, best friend calls with a convenient address in Vegas for them to check out. An abandoned warehouse, her sister's dress is inside, Kenai suddenly realizes this might be a trap *He's so clever!* , run! Shots, shots fired, oh no! They make it out of there. She freaks out.
Rush back to LA, where they'll find her sister's boyfriend, the suspect.
Repeat previous club scene, except for Marlie being beaten, but the boyfriend knows nothing!
AAANNNDDDD, she freaks out.
They need space, they need to rethink everything, oh my, this is such a complicated case! They have to go to a cabin in the woods. The cabin is beautiful, a little drama, tantrum and sex. Marlie realizes she forgot her phone in the car, it's the middle of the night, she won't wake Kenai so she goes out alone, but wait, the interior light of the car is on, the doors are open! It wasn't like that! "Hello? Kenai? Is that you?" Yes, stupid, he teleported from the bed in his sleep and got there before you. "Oh no, I better run...someone is chasing me." She falls, a voice threatens her, Kenai shows up. She freaks out!
Kenai sees no one, thinks she has PTSD (why would he even think that? How many times has she freaked out so far?), she throws a tantrum, he finds footprints, she's right, there was someone there!
*Run, call for help, call the police, find a more secure location, something!*
No, let's take a shower, a blow job seems like a good idea, we're alone in this cabin in the woods, we've been shot at twice now and someone is outside but surely they won't do anything while we indulge. *Have I mentioned he's so clever? Awn!*
See what I meant when I said funny? Because at this point I'm laughing out loud, what kind of ridiculous thriller is this?
I'm done, this is about sixty percent of the story. Want to know the ending?
Then comes the epilogues, like four of them. It's like it never ends!
As I said, it's kind of hilarious, in a very depressing way, the two stars are for the well written flashbacks, the actual gruesome bits were the only good parts and isn't that just sad?
Let's get started:
The book starts with a flashback, our heroine in the clutches of a serial killer. That is well done, there's this disgusting monster she's trying to get away from and from the get go I was anxious, gripping the edge of my seat rooting for her. She gets caught and he smashes her knees with a baseball bat, and when I say smash, I mean obliterates her bones, he hits her several times crunching her bones. Little later he messes up and she wakes up from being drugged earlier than expected, taking him by surprise, so...she knees him in the groin.
I KID YOU NOT.
She justifies as some sort of superhuman strength born from despair and describes an unbearable pain..so ok, I'll go with it. I'll accept she found some unknown source of strength within herself and moved her useless untreated legs with enough force to knock a man down and then smash something on his head to knock him out. How the fuck she got high enough to reach his groin, I'll never know. He comes to, she has a knife, he dies.
Anyway, this was just the prologue, let's get to the story itself.
First chapter cuts to years later, we learn Marlie, that's our heroine, became some sort of morbid celebrity, she escaped the serial killer, she killed him and survived the horror, not only that, her mom forced the publishing of a book telling the story and it was a phenomenon so she's now filthy rich. Not that she wants the money, she's still traumatized, wants anonymity so she ran from her home town, Denver, and lives alone in Colorado Springs in a shitty apartment working as a waitress. The only person she cares about is her sister, Kaitlyn. Younger sister she left behind in Denver with the insensitive money-grabbing mother.
That's our context, now for the facts.
Kaitlyn is missing, Marlie goes back to Denver facing her demons to try to find her sister, the police thinks the girl just took off and won't do much. She won't accept that, she knows something is wrong, she'll do anything for her sister, anything, except contact the apparently famous private investigator known to be rude (oh no!) but the best there is at tracking people.
Why would she?
Her sister is only missing and the guy might be the best but he is a jerk!
She's never met him, but she's heard about it!
Give the girl a break! She can't do it! *dramatic eye roll*
Marlie goes to her sister's favorite cafe, asks if anyone has seen her but *shock* nobody knows anything! Oh my, she needs to go see The Jerk. *oh no!*
Yes, you guessed it, he is rude to her! They have a battle of wits worthy of the best high school cafeteria out there and he finally agrees to help her. He has contacts, he knows what he's doing, so she needs to shut up and pack her bags, they're going on a road trip.
Where, you ask? I don't fucking know because at this point the investigation makes no sense, but they have to go!
They go to the missing girl's apartment and it's trashed, but there's a neat clue on the table, a note giving them their first direction, Los Angeles. *hyperventilating, this is so exciting! Not.*
The road trip starts, they battle again with intelligent banter such as "shut up", "you're so broody", "forget it" and so on. They'll spend the night at a hotel, he's shirtless, oh my God, he's so hot! Cue full description of sculpted body covered in tattoos. But he's a jerk! Can't forget that.
Little pause for nightmare time, honestly these are very well done and they occur every time they pause for the night, they are horrific flashbacks of the time she spent in the clutches of The Watcher (yes, that's where the title comes from, it's how the serial killer was dubbed, why? No clue! It's not explained and it doesn't make sense, but who cares?).
Back to being awake, they keep arguing about anything and everything, they go to a club, the contact is not there, they go to Vegas to find this guy.
Who?, you might ask, please don't ask, I don't know either.
They're driving, they're bickering and boom, shots fired! They're being shot at! Wow, what? Yes! They're driven off road with two flat tires, they're stranded. She freaks out.
They argue, he hitches a ride to buy tires and leaves her alone in the middle of fucking nowhere with no cell signal where they'd just been shot at, but that's ok. Those shots where designed just to delay them, he knows! And she needs to stay in the tuck, right? He's back, new tires, off to Vegas.
Marlie thinks: "I have time, I'll go down to the cassino, play in the slots". Cute guy wants to buy her a drink, she accepts, she's flirting with mysterious man opening the chance for Kenai to show up and act jealous. *ooooohhhhhh* . He throws her onto his back and carries her off. NO ONE STOPS THEM.
Another club, "don't talk to anyone", he tells her, "don't move, stay here at the bar", and he's off to whatever it is he's doing. Weird guy talks to her, she asks about her sister, he says he knows nothing,
- "Bye, Marlie", but wait a second, she didn't tell him her name so, oh my God, she needs to rush after him into the night to ask what he knows! Surely he'll tell her! Except, no he doesn't, he has friends with him, they taunt her with her past and then beat her up only to be interrupted by Kenai, The Jerk. He turns into Bruce Lee and bam, she's saved. *swoon sarcastically* She freaks out.
Hotel, kiss, nightmare, best friend calls with a convenient address in Vegas for them to check out. An abandoned warehouse, her sister's dress is inside, Kenai suddenly realizes this might be a trap *He's so clever!* , run! Shots, shots fired, oh no! They make it out of there. She freaks out.
Rush back to LA, where they'll find her sister's boyfriend, the suspect.
Repeat previous club scene, except for Marlie being beaten, but the boyfriend knows nothing!
AAANNNDDDD, she freaks out.
They need space, they need to rethink everything, oh my, this is such a complicated case! They have to go to a cabin in the woods. The cabin is beautiful, a little drama, tantrum and sex. Marlie realizes she forgot her phone in the car, it's the middle of the night, she won't wake Kenai so she goes out alone, but wait, the interior light of the car is on, the doors are open! It wasn't like that! "Hello? Kenai? Is that you?" Yes, stupid, he teleported from the bed in his sleep and got there before you. "Oh no, I better run...someone is chasing me." She falls, a voice threatens her, Kenai shows up. She freaks out!
Kenai sees no one, thinks she has PTSD (why would he even think that? How many times has she freaked out so far?), she throws a tantrum, he finds footprints, she's right, there was someone there!
*Run, call for help, call the police, find a more secure location, something!*
No, let's take a shower, a blow job seems like a good idea, we're alone in this cabin in the woods, we've been shot at twice now and someone is outside but surely they won't do anything while we indulge. *Have I mentioned he's so clever? Awn!*
See what I meant when I said funny? Because at this point I'm laughing out loud, what kind of ridiculous thriller is this?
I'm done, this is about sixty percent of the story. Want to know the ending?
Then comes the epilogues, like four of them. It's like it never ends!
As I said, it's kind of hilarious, in a very depressing way, the two stars are for the well written flashbacks, the actual gruesome bits were the only good parts and isn't that just sad?
June 2, 2017
Amazing!!! I loved this suspense/thriller book. I couldn't put it down. I had to keep reading to find out what happened next.
My first Bella Jewel book and I am hooked. She ended this one with the possibility of another book to follow. And I really hope she does.
Thanks NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.
My first Bella Jewel book and I am hooked. She ended this one with the possibility of another book to follow. And I really hope she does.
Thanks NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.
July 7, 2017
Genius!
*slow clapping*
The Watcher is a bit different than other books I've read by the author, but damn... I had my suspicions about Who Shall Not Be Named So I Can Keep This Review Short And Spoiler-Free, but still, I just had to know more. Suspense and romance perfectly balanced in a brilliant story, I almost quite literally couldn't put it down!
*slow clapping*
The Watcher is a bit different than other books I've read by the author, but damn... I had my suspicions about Who Shall Not Be Named So I Can Keep This Review Short And Spoiler-Free, but still, I just had to know more. Suspense and romance perfectly balanced in a brilliant story, I almost quite literally couldn't put it down!
October 19, 2017
Despite being abducted, kept as prisoner, tortured +almost being a murder victim, I appreciate Marlie's spunkiness. I like the fact that although she couldn't face the big crowd, she has a job in the small town where she lives after her terrible ordeal rather than staying at home and dwell in the past. I enjoy her conversations with Kenai, where she'll be provoking him an he'll be grunting/growling/huffing in replies. The case, not very interesting. Marlie hires Kenai, the best tracker money can buy, but to me, Inspector Clouseau could have done a better job in finding and saving her sister. He looks as if he has no clue on what's going on and where to go. The way the perpetrator works/attacks don't make sense since 'it'
Anyway, it's an okay read, doesn't give me the heebie-jeebies, a lot of scenes that don't make any sense, a weak plot but a strong survivor. Hence the starts are for Marlie.
Anyway, it's an okay read, doesn't give me the heebie-jeebies, a lot of scenes that don't make any sense, a weak plot but a strong survivor. Hence the starts are for Marlie.
May 27, 2017
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:
Kaitlyn's boyfriend and drug dealing buddies. This seems the obvious choice, and it is what the cops think is most likely.
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.
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?
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:
Series/Standalone: stand alone
Cliffhanger:
HEA:
After the Dark by Cynthia Eden, Taken by Cynthia Eden, The Enforcer by Helenkay Dimon...then you will probably like The Watcher!
The Watcher
June 29, 2017
This will be a quickie mini review as I'm still traveling and continue to find myself pressed for time. I listened to this audiobook at the beginning of my road trip, and it made the miles fly by. Joe Arden and Maxine Mitchell did a good job with the character performances and held my attention quite well throughout the story.
Marlie Jacobsen was a tortured and sympathetic heroine. Surviving a horrible tragedy and being taken advantage of by her mother, Marlie's ability to cope with her life was admirable. When her sister goes missing in an eerily similar way to Marlie's own sadistic disappearance, Marlie doesn't hesitate (much) to go back to the place of her nightmares to save her family. She showed determination and a great strength of character to be involved in the investigation, which made her face her past and recurring nightmares.
Kenai Michelson is a dangerously good-looking private investigator, who got into the business of finding missing persons after his own family tragedy. He doesn't want anything to do with Marlie Jacobsen, the woman who profited from her tragedy when so many never make it home. But Kenai jumped to many incorrect conclusions about Marlie and he had to open his eyes and stop believing everything he hears or reads. Other than the quick jump conclusions, I enjoyed Kenai as a hero. He was a somewhat broody alpha, but his understanding and protective instincts were slowly transformed as he got to know our heroine.
The budding relationship between Marlie and Kenai was entwined with a truly horrific suspense plot. It appears that Marlie's own tragedy has come back to haunt her, and the pair is racing the clock to save Marlie's sister, while trying not to get killed themselves. While I found the identity of the villain to be predictable, it didn't bother me overmuch because the author really got into the head of the dark and twisty (and psychotic) bad guy. There were also a few unexpected revelations about the story that made the situation and nature of the killer so much worse. I think this story contributed to the bad dreams I had in the unfamiliar hotel room the first night of my road trip!
If you are a fan of the darker romantic suspense stories, then I definitely recommend this book to you. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from the publisher, Tantor Audio.
May 21, 2017
Posted on Les Romantiques - Le forum du site
Reviewed by Rinou
Review Copy from the Publisher
1,5/5
I discover the author with The Watcher, that you could call a psychological thriller. Marlie, only survivor of a serial killer, is convinced her sister has disappeared and not just run way, and she hires a private investigator specialist of missing persons to find her.
I’ll begin with a rant. Those who have read my reviews know that I don’t like first person POV, and I don’t like the (bad) surprise when nothing in the synopsis suggested this style. And what’s more here the text is in the present tense, which can be okay when speaking, but first person + present tense is a style I find especially unpleasant to read.
Marlie, the heroine, always seems to hesitate between being strong and break with her memories. I thought that given what she went through it was a post traumatic behavior totally believable.
Kenai, the hero, is shown as dark, closed, insensitive, and as the story is at the first person we never know if it’s the real deal, except for one moment late in the story. In consequence he also seems contemptuous toward the heroine until she stops her sarcasms and she gives him a piece of her mind.
I never really had the feeling they had anything between them apart from a strong attraction, and I must say I didn’t believe in their couple.
As for the investigation I had guessed who was the responsible person very quickly, I was only hesitating about the exact reason. Some developments went nowhere, and Kenai didn’t seem up to his reputation as an excellent detective. However Marlie’s nightmares about her kidnapping and her confrontation with the serial killer, then the scenes with the current culprit, are well written and chilling (and could shock sensitive readers).
So it’s a novel which fell flat for me, too bad.
Reviewed by Rinou
Review Copy from the Publisher
1,5/5
I discover the author with The Watcher, that you could call a psychological thriller. Marlie, only survivor of a serial killer, is convinced her sister has disappeared and not just run way, and she hires a private investigator specialist of missing persons to find her.
I’ll begin with a rant. Those who have read my reviews know that I don’t like first person POV, and I don’t like the (bad) surprise when nothing in the synopsis suggested this style. And what’s more here the text is in the present tense, which can be okay when speaking, but first person + present tense is a style I find especially unpleasant to read.
Marlie, the heroine, always seems to hesitate between being strong and break with her memories. I thought that given what she went through it was a post traumatic behavior totally believable.
Kenai, the hero, is shown as dark, closed, insensitive, and as the story is at the first person we never know if it’s the real deal, except for one moment late in the story. In consequence he also seems contemptuous toward the heroine until she stops her sarcasms and she gives him a piece of her mind.
I never really had the feeling they had anything between them apart from a strong attraction, and I must say I didn’t believe in their couple.
As for the investigation I had guessed who was the responsible person very quickly, I was only hesitating about the exact reason. Some developments went nowhere, and Kenai didn’t seem up to his reputation as an excellent detective. However Marlie’s nightmares about her kidnapping and her confrontation with the serial killer, then the scenes with the current culprit, are well written and chilling (and could shock sensitive readers).
So it’s a novel which fell flat for me, too bad.
April 2, 2018
DNF 47%
Very very annoying heroin.
Sometimes ridiculously overreacting from heroin.
Good plot though.
Sexy and hot hero.
Very very annoying heroin.
Sometimes ridiculously overreacting from heroin.
Good plot though.
Sexy and hot hero.
May 21, 2017
Marlie Jacobson was still trying to get on with her life 7 years after being abducted and tortured by a serial killer and some days are better than others but the nightmares still haunt her day in day out. The killer is dead because Marlie killed him and escaped but it doesn't stop her wariness of others and a huge fear that something terrible will always be lurking. So when Marlie receives a call from her sisters best friend saying that her sister is missing her worst nightmares have become reality it has de ja vu written all over it.
Marlie hires none other than Kenai Michelson, known as the best tracker in the business to find her sister. Kenai is extremely good looking, obnoxious and rude and tells Marlie he isn't interested in the job, but when Marlie stands up to him and gives him a piece of her mind because she knows he is her only hope he changes his mind and decides to help.
They both need to work together to follow the clues but something isn't quite adding up. As the days go on in searching, the two of them go from being argumentative with each other to actually working together and allowing the chemistry radiating from them to do it's magic, but what they don't realise is it's about to become a whole lot more dangerous for them in doing so. Can they work it out before it's too late?
Bella Jewel is one of my go to authors and I just can't seem to get enough of her books, this one was no exception I just didn't want it to end. Kenai is one of those alpha males that we all hate to love. A Broody and obnoxious alpha but seriously sizzling hot and protective. Marlie initially comes across as slightly weak but we quickly get to see her character become brave and strong to reveal a woman that can hold her own. The writing style is flawless and has enough pace to keep the reader invested, leaving a satisfied reader but yearning for more. The story itself reads and feels different to Bella's usual MO which I had also said about her last novel 72 Hours. It seems to be 3 Romance suspense/thrillers that Bella Jewel has signed up for with St Martins publishers and I for one am loving them. Each of the books are standalone and this is the 2nd one. I am eagerly awaiting the third one which I believe is called Blind Date and I really hope more are considered beyond that.
Marlie hires none other than Kenai Michelson, known as the best tracker in the business to find her sister. Kenai is extremely good looking, obnoxious and rude and tells Marlie he isn't interested in the job, but when Marlie stands up to him and gives him a piece of her mind because she knows he is her only hope he changes his mind and decides to help.
They both need to work together to follow the clues but something isn't quite adding up. As the days go on in searching, the two of them go from being argumentative with each other to actually working together and allowing the chemistry radiating from them to do it's magic, but what they don't realise is it's about to become a whole lot more dangerous for them in doing so. Can they work it out before it's too late?
Bella Jewel is one of my go to authors and I just can't seem to get enough of her books, this one was no exception I just didn't want it to end. Kenai is one of those alpha males that we all hate to love. A Broody and obnoxious alpha but seriously sizzling hot and protective. Marlie initially comes across as slightly weak but we quickly get to see her character become brave and strong to reveal a woman that can hold her own. The writing style is flawless and has enough pace to keep the reader invested, leaving a satisfied reader but yearning for more. The story itself reads and feels different to Bella's usual MO which I had also said about her last novel 72 Hours. It seems to be 3 Romance suspense/thrillers that Bella Jewel has signed up for with St Martins publishers and I for one am loving them. Each of the books are standalone and this is the 2nd one. I am eagerly awaiting the third one which I believe is called Blind Date and I really hope more are considered beyond that.
June 23, 2017
*****Goodreads First Reads Winner*****
Totally blown away! What a fantastic read! It may even be one of the best books she's written! Heart pounding nonstop fear and it is epic. You literally can't tear your eyes away. The danger is lurking around every corner and the snark is hilarious. This book literally has you on the edge of your seat completely scared for her character and totally in love with her savior. This could not have been a easy subject to write about but it was a spellbinding read and I was held captive in many ways while reading this. I tell you after reading this book you will definitely double check your locks on your windows and doors in your home and in your car and you definitely will pay more attention to your surroundings and the people you associate with. Definitely one of the top best reads for me in 2017! I hope when book 2 comes out I will get a chance to read it!!
Totally blown away! What a fantastic read! It may even be one of the best books she's written! Heart pounding nonstop fear and it is epic. You literally can't tear your eyes away. The danger is lurking around every corner and the snark is hilarious. This book literally has you on the edge of your seat completely scared for her character and totally in love with her savior. This could not have been a easy subject to write about but it was a spellbinding read and I was held captive in many ways while reading this. I tell you after reading this book you will definitely double check your locks on your windows and doors in your home and in your car and you definitely will pay more attention to your surroundings and the people you associate with. Definitely one of the top best reads for me in 2017! I hope when book 2 comes out I will get a chance to read it!!
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