The Stranger: Just One Night Part 1

by Kyra Davis

Published by: Pocket Star

Heather’s Rating: 

Kasie knows who she’s supposed to be. But one passionate night with a mysterious stranger will teach her who she wantsto 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.

Book Savvy Babe’s Review:

I have conflicting feelings about this book.  Kasie Fitzgerald is a character that I understand in some ways.  I understand her desire to walk the straight-and-narrow, to keep herself to the expectations her family put on her, and to not give into her free-spirited side.  In keeping to expectations, she keeps part of herself locked away, part of herself that is proud of her sexual appeal and spirit.  When Kyra is on the cusp of an engagement, she takes a trip to Vegas and let’s herself be free for a night.  However, that tryst catches up with her back home and challenges her sense of self, making her question her life choices and future.

What I did not really like was the fact that through the entire book, Kasie is cheating on her long-time boyfriend.  She is indecisive and chooses to be weak and ignore her own inner desires.  I really hate that she was cheating, cheating has never sat well with me.  While I understood it, to a point, I was uncomfortable with Kasie’s situation, and hoping that she would get her act together.  Kasie does begin to acknowledge that there is more to her than a dowdy wife-to-be, and she stars making some progress, but she is terrified to be herself and remains conflicted.  I felt for her, even while I disapproved of her choices.

I found all of the relationships in Kasie’s life odd.  Kasie’s best friend was the one who suggested she cheat on her nearly-fiance.  I don’t really understand why a good friend would suggest cheating.  Having fun, a wild girls weekend…yes.  Cheating?  No, I don’t get it.  There are all sorts of conflicts in Kasie’s life, between her job and her new lover, her fiancé and his desire for the “perfect” wife, and Kasie’s conflict within herself.  I appreciate the complexities of the situation, but I did not love this first installment of the Just One Night series, and am not sure if I will continue reading the next installment.  There are times when some books are not the best fit for every reader, and I feel that Just One Night is not the best series for me.