Wow!! Fantastic romantic suspense with twists and turns - unpredictable, fast-paced and with a side of a sexy romance. I loved it!

After meeting Marlie in Wild Child, I was curious about her story. Even though the hero is a jerk at first, you can still feel the chemistry between him and the heroine. When they finally cross that line of client & investigator to lovers, steam comes off the pages during the sexy times. Walls come down and they get to know one another. They fall in love with one another while trying to find her missing sister, a psycho, in the middle of danger, some mind games, and figuring it all out. I must admit that I figure out who the person was who was doing all of this right away. I just wasn't sure exactly why they were doing it. Sometimes Marlie kind of irritated me when she did stupid stuff. She would be told to do or not to do something, and do the opposite, problems would arise from it, and I felt she was being an idiot.She really made me want to smack her.The hero had some moments as well where I wanted to smack him and tell him to get a clue. I found myself cringing and reading with one eye open a few times because of what was going on in the story at the time. They get their HEA, after finding a killer. I felt these two were good together and I liked them.This was a good read.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a great suspense romance story from this author. I loved everything about this book, the story line, writing and the characters. This author has a fab way of writing so that your on the edge of your seat. This story flows really well and you will be reading long into the night. I can't wait to read more from this author on the future.
Highly recommended
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

First of all, a disclaimer, I am not a person who enjoys reading serial killer thrillers. I picked up this book, tried reading the prologue at least 3 times, before I could make myself read this book. Now, having said that, once I got through the prologue and kept reading, I loved this book. I have loved many of the books Bella Jewel has written and this one was no exception ( well, except for the whole killer scare you out of your mind part). There is strong writing, a scary plot, and a fabulous H/h couple. For me, the relationship between Margie and Kensai saved this book for me. I thought they had real chemistry and kept the book alive! Very enjoyable, but there are only a couple of writers that can write this type of story and get me to enjoy them. Bella Jewel is on of those authors. Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book for an honest review!

I received this ARC from St Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review.

Yet another breezy Bella Jewel read for a lazy weekend. I feel so fortunate to be getting such a steady supply of her books lately, they are fast-paced thrillers!

Marlie has had more than her share of tragedy and horror. Seven years ago she was kidnapped and tortured at the hands of "The Watcher". Now she lives in a cabin in the woods and works a dead-end waitress job rather than deal with the fame being the only survivor of a serial killer brought her. Things are perfect but she has a life and it's her own, until her sister, Kaity, goes missing too.

"All because I was being a good person. Life is a bitch like that."

This can't be happening. Twice to one family? When the police show little concern or interest in the case, Marlie hires crack private eye, Kenai and sets off on a road trip to bring her sister home.

This wouldn't be a Bella Jewel story without some sweet, dramatic romance to round the story out nicely. Ms. Jewel has delivered once again!



4 stars.

The Watcher was a really fun and quick, suspenseful read by Bella Jewel. This is the second suspense -filled novel read I've read by Ms. Jewel and it was just as great as the first book - 24 hrs. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and could not get enough of Kenai and Marlie. I felt their push and pull and chemistry was on point and I thoroughly enjoyed their relationship.

After surviving being kidnapped and attacked by a serial killer, Marlie Jacobson is now trying to put her life together. She is still so deeply affected by her tragedy and has yet to fully move on as her scars go beyond the physical. But when her sister is suddenly kidnapped it seems like her worst nightmares are not over. As a result, at her wits end and desperate to find her, she enlists the help of the best investigator in town - Kenai Michelson. But this surly and broody man has a huge chip on his shoulder and an even bigger grudge against Marlie. Can they work together to find Marlie's missing sister or will she have to work alone to face her nightmare once again?

All in all this was a great read. I enjoyed the hero and heroine's chemistry and despite wanting to get a deeper glimpse of their relationship, I enjoyed this. I look forward to my next Bella Jewel read! 4 stars ! ~Ratula

I would like to thank Netgalley and the SMP Romance Team for a copy of this novel for an honest review.

I liked this. I don't have as much experience with romantic suspense novels but I think the author did well with this one for the most part. The suspense portion was quite creepy and foreboding but I did see what was going to happen a mile away which was unfortunate. This may have been helped by slowing down the pacing a bit (it went insanely fast) or developing some the characters/plot a little bit more. In addition, while the book worked for me for the most part (being a relative romantic suspense newbie) but I do think readers more familiar of this genre may find it bored and predictable.

The Watcher by Bella Jewel

Marlie Jacobson, sole survivor of a serial killer, is finding her way back to normal again when she hears that her sister has gone missing. Not believing Kaitlyn is out and about having fun she hires Kenai Michelson to track her down. They set out together on a road trip that will lead them hither and yon with numerous dangerous encounters before they finally determine who has Kaitlyn and why she has been taken. There are flashbacks to Marlie’s time in captivity that are gruesome and horrible but she has, for the most part, overcome most of her weaknesses over the past few years. Her mother is not a motherly type and rather useless in helping her daughters so the burden of finding Kaitlyn falls to her sister. There is romance between Kenai and Marlie though he is rather dark, brooding and taciturn in the beginning. The ending is satisfying and also leads into what might be another serial killer book in the future. I am not sure that 72 Hours and this book are part of a series since the characters are not the same but each book does provide a hook for the next book to come. The story is told in first person from Marlie’s point of view most of the time and it works okay for the story. I am not sure that even a person unwilling to give up could do all that Marlie did or that Kenai, with his injury, would have been up and about the same day BUT it is fiction so perhaps some leeway can be given. The suspense was there, the story held my interest and I enjoyed reading it today.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC – this is my honest review.

4 Stars

I'm on the fence with this one, because while the suspense and build up was good, the end was just so freaking sappy, and I don't know if I am just in a mood, or what but lately I hate all nice and tidy, I don't know what is wrong with me. I was hoping Kenai would have been more rugged and I dunno not so blah for a hard ass he was just too easy to make soft. Marlie for someone who doesn't let anyone touch her much in 5 years she sure was quick to jump into bed with Kenai. I dunno something was just missing and some pieces just didn't fit for me.

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!

This is definitely a MUST READ!!!! I loved this book, I thought the suspense was going to kill me. I could not put this book down. Marlie survived a serial killer and now her sister has been taken. what will she do? With the help of Kenai they slowly start to figure things out, but will it be too late? This a very suspenseful story with a little romance tied in to it. I couldn't get enough of it, if you love a good mystery then you definitely need to read this one. It had me on my toes they whole time and kept my guessing what was happening and who was behind it all. I HIGHLY recommend this one!

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The Watcher By Bella Jewel.
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?
This was a really good read. With good characters. I loved how kenai and marlie were. I hope there's more to come. 5*. Netgalley and St Martins press.

4.5 Stars

Marlie Jacobson survived at the hands of a serial killer, but she still lives with the memories of her encounter every day and night. So when he sister disappears she fears the worst has happened, and hires the best private investigator she can find.

Kenai Michelson is known to be hard to get along with, but his skills at finding people are unmatched. Even though he and Marlie don't see eye to eye, he decides to work with her in locating her sister... he figures it will be easy money.

But someone is playing a much larger game, and when Marlie and Kenai are running around chasing leads, it seems someone may be chasing them as well...

This book had my gripped from the beginning. Marlie is tough, and has survived so much. Even when her anxiety and nightmares seem they will debilitate her, she keeps on fighting through. Kenai is hot, and broody. He knows he's the best at what he does and his rules for working with him are pretty strict... until Marlie happens. I absolutely loved Marlie's attitude and snark in dealing with Kenai... a fun element to have in such a serious and dark storyline.

With a fascinating plot and interesting characters, just enough humor and sexual tension, and some twists and turns you won't see coming, this book was an excellent and a highly recommended read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book for my honest and unbiased review.

I have to say, I enjoyed this book even more than the previous book Ms Jewel wrote in this (NOT her usual) genre.

Marlie Jacobson has been through hell and come out the other side, while she seems somewhat broken she is stronger than she knows. She learns exactly how strong she is when her sister disappears and she no one, not even the man she hires to find her, believes that her disappearance is more than it seems.

Kenai Michelson is the best around at what he does and he knows it. When Marlie Jacobson shows up asking for his help to find her missing sister he doesn't want to help. He thinks Marlie has "cashed" in on her tragedy, and that her sister is a spoiled brat who has taken off with her druggie boyfriend. He soon learns, or relearns, that things are rarely what they seem.

Together, Marlie and Kenai take off looking for Kaitlyn and soon learn that there is definitely more to her disappearance than meets the eye. Along the way, they will learn so much more.

I really enjoyed this story and recommend it to anyone who enjoys romantic suspense!!!

**** ARC kindly provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ****

Warning: I am not a robot! I have feelings, thoughts, likes and dislikes and this review is based on that. You should read the book to form your own opinion/thoughts. Read on!

Rating: 4.5 Intriguing Stars!

The cover, I really like it, looks mysterious with the cabin.

The story, Marlie is a survivor, she escaped a serial killer and is now living with the consequences of it, not just of her ordeal but of what humans think and do to her. Her little sister goes missing, she knows it isn’t a case of a runaway so she hires Kenai, he is the guru of finding missing persons. I enjoyed the book, I love suspense stories, it was intriguing, and I did figure out right away who was the bad guy and I was right, it kind of made me not turn the pages like a deranged woman. Also, Kenai is supposed to be a good investigator, so he should have instincts, right? People kept attempting to hurt Marlie and he never suspected anything nor after the first time was he watchful of his surroundings, it was odd.

The romance, i get it that she had already suffered so much, so the author gave her the opportunity to be open to feel something for Kenai. It was just super-fast in my opinion.

Marlie, survivor, big heart. After what she went through and what her mother was putting her through, she deserved a medal.

Kenai, he ran hot and cold and needed a bit of investigating training.

Overall, did I like the book? Yes, I did. I love suspense stories, so yeah. Would I recommend the book? Yes, it has its flaws but is enjoyable.

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.

I'm not usually too much into the mystery/crime type romance, but the first book was so good I knew this one would be too. You get drawn in and just can't stop reading. You get a bit of everything. love, lust, drama, crime, mystery. I really enjoyed all part of this one.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via netgalley for an honest review.

Holly crap…this was a great page turner for me. First of all I don’t usually read anything that is scary but when it’s Bella Jewel I have to read it. If I thought 72 hours was dark and suspenseful wow did Bella crank it up a notch for The Watcher.

Marlie Jacobson was kidnapped and tortured several years ago. She was able to get away from her kidnapper. Her mother capitalized on her nightmare and published a book tossing Marlie into the spotlight everywhere she went. Now her sister is missing only no one believes her when she says there is foul play involved.

Marlie hires Kenai Michelson a private investigator to help her find her sister. Even though he believes her sister is a runaway agrees to help find her. To see Marlie and Kenai go on this cat vs mouse type of chase and see how they get to know each other was a great story. Both have their past they are trying hard not to let the other in on. Marlie holds her past in and never truly told anyone what all she endured with The Watcher.

I loved Marlie she was a strong never give up type of woman. She was able to outsmart The Watcher overcome what she endured and was a stronger smarter woman for it. Kenai was so frustrating to me in the beginning I wasn’t sure if I was going to like him but in the end he won me over. To see Kenai transform from the cold standoffish brooding man to one that was understanding and protective was amazing to see. This story took me on so may twist and turns just as you thought they were on to something there was something else that would be exposed that blew that thought out of the water. I have to say some of the scenes tested my gag reflexes and Marlie was a strong woman to be able to overcome all she endured. All in all I have to say I cannot wait for another dark suspenseful mystery from Bella Jewel.

This books are getting better each time. A twist at every turn. I really like that even when you see a victim in Marlie, she gives as good as she takes. She has some balls! She can match Kenai's attitude which is always hi and not easy. But that makes him even more ruggedly sexy and appealing. An you will like his protective nature. This book has a good story with tough subjects and I liked the turn it took.