Title: The Stranger
Author: Kyra Davis
Series: Just One Night #1
Publisher: Pocket Star
Genre: Adult Romance
Rating: 3 stars
Source: NetGalley
from Goodreads…
Kasie knows who she’s supposed to be. But one passionate night with a mysterious stranger will teach her who she wants to be. You should sleep with a stranger, her best friend whispers in her ear as they take to Vegas for one last pre-wedding fling. Despite her best intentions, when Kasie Fitzgerald enters the casino and sees him, a man whose tailored clothes belied a powerful, even dangerous, presence, she loses herself to the moment. Maybe it’s the dress, much shorter than she’d ever normally wear, or the Scotch, but something makes her give herself over to him more completely than she’s ever done with a man before.
It was supposed to be just one night. But right as she’s thinking she wants more, he shows up in her office with an agenda. As the billionaire CEO of a company that’s engaged her PR firm, his demands just became her reality…and he desires so much more than just some attention in the boardroom.
Well, you know my rule for cheaters. This book got off on the wrong foot with me because, well basically, Kasie is heading off to Vegas to cheat on her boyfriend of six years. Seriously? That’s how we start? Behind the eight ball baby, gotta lot of ground to make up with me. My thought on that is, if you feel like you need to cheat, you probably, at the very least, need to take a break from your relationship. I get he’s not exciting but he’s exactly who you chose, missy. You are not allowed to mark the qualities that drew you to him, against him when you get a little antsy. And, I don’t like how she never, until this point, gave any indication that she wanted something or someone other than David.
I think this could’ve been a very compelling “finding your true self” sort of story had Kasie been less wishy washy. In my opinion, if she’d been straight forward and cooled things off with David officially, I wouldn’t have minded the back and forth between the two men. I also didn’t love how she slept with both guys in less than a 24 hour window. That’s gross. I know that shit happens in real life but she’s supposed to be a mature adult, not a horny college kid. If I had to guess Kasie’s zodiac sign, I’d place her as a Libra – always weighing her options, and having trouble making up her mind. I really did not enjoy how she became “set” on whichever man she last spent time with. Her emotions are entirely too easy to manipulate, and it makes her weak.
Mr. Dade is a very powerful man. Sexy, older, accomplished, very self assured. I completely understand Kasie’s attraction to him. He is everything her current beau is not…and then some. Honestly though, I’m not certain what he sees in Kasie. I’d think her level of indecision would be a huge turn off for him, unless he’s viewing her as his ultimate challenge. Perhaps I needed to see Kasie identify more with her rebellious sister, instead of refusing to acknowledge her existence. Maybe if I saw a little more of Kasie wanting to be more like her big sis and fighting that urge, then I’d buy this sudden change in relationship direction. We get a little taste of that at the end of this book but not enough, in my opinion.
Structurally this is a very well written book but until the final 10%, it was almost as boring as David. The characters are well defined, albeit annoying as fuck but well defined. And the cliffhanger, oh yeah, there’s one of those and it’s really good. In fact, it might be the best part of the book. As exciting as the ending is, I’m not sure I’ll complete this series. In all honesty, I’m not certain I care enough about Kasie and her plight to care how she gets out of this sticky situation she suddenly finds herself in. Some may say I’m judging this book too harshly because of its cheating element. Maybe that’s the case but cheating is the whole premise of this book so it’s kinda’ hard not to factor that in. And the cliffhanger, not a fucking happily ever after anywhere in sight…I know life isn’t all flowers and unicorns but god damn, at least throw me a bone.
What is it with the cheating? Break it off first! It’s not like anyone just CAN’T help themselves or accidently fell on top of some hot guy and couldn’t stop.
Not sure if you’d consider it cheating but I just finsihed Hard to Love by Kendall Ryan. It was ok… but he’s doing porn and sleeping with her at the same time. I have a problem with that. If you want to do porn, fine, it’s your choice, but that would be a deal breaker for me.
Keep the great reviews coming, it helps me narrow down by TBR pile.
I know, right?!?! And in this book, it’s premeditated – she couldn’t even blame it on a drunken, i wasn’t really in control of my actions sort of thing. It takes a fair amount of effort to have sex, at some point during the removal of undergarments you have to realize what you’re about to do.
I don’t know about the adding porn performer into the mix, I’d guess or I hope the non porn performer knew about his day job!
Not a big fan of the cheating books either! I was surprised to see that you were reading this after I looked up the plot summary and saw what it was about. I will probably remove it from my TBR pile as well. Petra, I just finished Hard to Love by Kendall Ryan last night. I actually liked the book. I was shocked that he went back to making porn after sleeping with her as well but I kind of got over it. He is doing it to make money to take care of his sister and Alexa knew what he did when she got involved with him. That being said, I would have been mad as hell and left his ass too! Since you are not a fan of the cheater books, stay the hell away from Accidentally on Purpose by L.D. Davis. That is a serious mind fuck!
Being completely honest, I kinda’ felt obliged to do this review. When I got this book from Net Galley several months ago, I was still new to that system, and silly me, I didn’t research this book as much as I try to do now. Lesson learned. I figured since I’ve had it for so long, I’d take one for the team and give it a go. Geez, the lengths I go to for you guys!!
Duly noted on Accidentally on Purpose…thanks for the mind fuck heads up!
Tania, you’re right. She did know about the whole porn thing ahead of time. And, I understand that he was trying to take care of his little sister, but…. really, going to a shoot that day after just having slept with her?! His ass would have been kicked to the curb.
When I read cheating scenes I get so pissed off, the scene in Reflected in You by Sylvia Day, when she thinks she’s caught Gideon in his office? I almost had an aneurysm! Fuck, that was an intense scene!
I know Petra, that RiY scene where we don’t know what he’s up to made me nervous – but deep down I knew he’d never cheat on her, I didn’t know what the fuck was happening but my brain would not let me think he was cheating!
“The Stranger” being removed from my TBR list as we speak. I’m not a fan either of the cheating books. Until Physics comes up with a theory on how you can accidentally fall and land on someone’s dick, no cheating books for me. Great review as always.
Preach it. and thanks for the love
Yup definitely not for me! Thats one of the reasons why I had so much trouble with Undeniable. Not to mention Thoughtless. And even Ava going out with Ren in RC Revenge had my blood boiling!
To quote you ” You Know I hate a Fucking cheater!”
NEXT Book!
oh Teena, don’t even get me started on Thoughtless. There is nothing easy at all in Undeniable and I didn’t love the cheating but since everyone knew what was going on when they entered the relationship it was tolerable for me – still pissed me off but didn’t give me the violent, Kindle throwing emotions Thoughtless did. And holy shit, I didn’t even think about Ava and Ren – goddamn, i’m gonna have to go back and re-read that one.
I should put “You Know I Hate a Fucking Cheater” in my signature when I respond to authors and publishers who request I review their books! I’m actually getting a bit of a reputation for my cheating hate, I actually had one author tell me up front, there’s no cheating in her books, she hates them too!! Maybe our message is getting out there!
I didn’t really think that Ava was cheating with Ren. Mind you, I did read them all last year. I better dust off the files and reread those Rock Chick books in preparation for for the final book.
Ava didn’t actually do anything other than go out to dinner with Ren….BUT Luke is Luke and that is NOT ok. Ava was very mixed up to start with…..she annnoyed the hell out of me with her wishy washy indecision for the first half of RC Revenge.
I must say I am with you Lola…I feel a RC marathon coming on!!!!
So Scandal….its a damn hot night here in the land ‘Down Under’ and I am awake AGAIN! Are we all meeting for virtual coffee again!?
Teena, when Luke tells Ava he wants to bury himself so deep inside her she can feel him in her throat, I think my panties exploded.
And, the coffee is waiting for you baby…and to help cool you off a bit, we got snow here overnight – wish I could share it with you!
LOL @BUT Luke is Luke and that is NOT ok.
I know what ya mean but then again when Ava saw Luke with Jules in coffee shop and he called her babe and the way he looked at her, that broke my heart. He should use that endearment only with Ava.
I know – I wonder if Babe is just so ingrained in Luke, he says it like he’s breathing?