The Blind Date

Format:
audiobook

This book is available in a box set that includes the first 3 books of the Love Unexpectedly series.

Publisher’s Synopsis:
Years ago, when Ryan Stewart saw Shawna Ferguson, it was love at first sight. Unfortunately, he wasn’t a free man, and his deception caused him to lose her after a weekend that changed his life.

When Shawna’s sister and brother-in-law set her up on a blind date, she has no idea it’s with Ryan, with whom she’d spent a weekend she wishes she could forget. She reluctantly agrees to finish the date with him, but doing so leaves her vulnerable to his charms and the heat he ignited in her that very first night.

Point of view:
3rd person. Alternating between Ryan & Shawna.

Rellim’s Thoughts:
This is the first book in Delaney Diamond’s Love Unexpectedly series.

Content Warning (contains spoilers):
Normally I put these at the end. However, cheating is a major theme throughout the book and will be discussed in my review. Additionally, Shawna is attacked by a neighbor.

I finished but this was terribly problematic. While it takes a bit because the first half of the book alternates between present & six years in the past – the gist is that Shawna and Ryan had a multi-night fling 6 years ago while he was in a committed relationship with someone else. Shawna broke things off as soon as she learned of it.

Current day – She’s been set up on a “blind date” with Ryan. It’s blind to her but Ryan actually maneuvered it. Additionally throughout the book he manages Shawna. Disregards her boundaries. And never presents himself as a changed man. Some of his behavior *might* fly if this had been labeled a dark romance – but in a contemporary, this is filled with relationship red flags.

Additionally, their entire relationship is sex. They have no meaningful discussions. Anytime Shawna initiated one, Ryan just redirected. The only positive things they say about each other are physical or sexual related. There wasn’t any romance for me, nor did I believe they’d last or that Ryan wouldn’t cheat on her as well.

Narration:
Michael Pauley was easy to listen to.