Book Review: The Stranger [Just One Night, #1] by Kyra Davis

Last 5 Books I’ve Read:

1.) The Recruit by Monica McCarty — 4.5 Stars
This was the sixth book in an excellent Highlander series by a favored author. I’ve been waiting for just the right mood to do this one justice. It is probably one of the best in this series and they’ve all been good.

2.) Tempted by the Highland Warrior by Michelle Willingham — 3 Stars
Another Highlander tale, but only okay. It starts really good, but then the story gets tedious and rather boring. I’ve read this author in the past and know this is not representative of her norm.

3.) Unveiled by Courtney Milan — 4.5 Stars
A new author for me and I feel like I’ve found a new favorite. This author does a seriously nice job with the historical romance. In this one, we have an illiterate duke. The sensitivity this author uses as the duke succeeds in spite of his handicap is extraordinary. Nicely done!

4.) A Most Scandalous Proposal — DNF
This just didn’t do it for me. A question … how many words needed to say something simple? How convoluted can you make a simple observation? Want to see an example? Try this book. Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for a copy of this book in return for an honest review!)

5.) Painted Faces by L. H. Cosway — 4.5 Stars
The blurb attracted me immediately – especially after seeing some reviews from friends. I loved the out of ordinary storyline. A romance between a cross dressing heterosexual man and a pretty quirky girl. I loved this story. The writing was good, not great, but the characters were wonderful. I turned Hope on to this little baby and she reviewed this on the blog on 01/12/2013.

My favorite book of the week:

Book: The Stranger [Just One Night, #1]
Author: Kyra Davis
Goodreads Rating: 3.55 from 110 ratings
Reviewer: Helen

2GeekGirls Blurb:

Heroine: Kasie Fitzgerald is a Harvard graduate and an “rising star” in her marketing firm. She also has had a long time boyfriend, but wants more. What? Not sure. She heads to Vegas to see if she can figure it out.

Hero: Robert Dade is pretty comfortable. He has a security company he is planning to take public. He isn’t looking for anything when he plans his weekend in Vegas. Just a bit of relaxing and fun … hmmm.

General Overview: What happens in Vegas? Well, not exactly.

Locale: Las Vegas & Los Angeles

Genre: Contemporary Romance – novella [about 122 pages]

Intimacy or Sex meter:

None
Mild/Moderate
Steamy
Erotic

Helen’s Rating:

Book Cover / Book Blurb = 3 / 5 = 4 Stars
Writer’s Voice = 5 Stars
Character Development = 3.5 Stars
Story Appreciation = 4.5 Stars
Worth the Chili = 4 Stars [$1.99 Amazon or B&N]

Helen’s Thoughts:

There are reasons I really shouldn’t like this book, and I’ll outline them below. But, I do. I like it quite a bit actually and am anxiously waiting on the next installment. One thing to note, all the comparisons to other popular books/series; Fifty series, Bared to You. I have to say, this caused me a bit of apprehension, but shouldn’t have after reading. This author has a voice very different to these others. Like Sylvia Day, she is much more polished in her story telling than my impression of E. L James. The story has very gritty characters and situations – more so than these comparison books. I absolutely think Kyra Davis is a stellar writer.

Three things I Liked about this book:

1.) I think the number one thing I liked most about this book is the authors voice. You don’t usually find an author of romance books so eloquent. She can provide an analogy to give the reader a crystal clear mental image to pull from. She does this over and over throughout the story and it is excellent each time. I immediately looked for more to read by her. She has some written some lighter mysteries – which is a genre’ I’m not a huge fan of – I don’t know. She is so good, I may have to get these a try. Kyra Davis is not an author I’ll forget – and I’m terrible at forgetting author names.

2.) The story. We have a girl who is encouraged to have a fling one weekend in Vegas. She puts on her best “look at me” gear and heads out to the Black Jack table where she meets her match. She wanted a one-nighter, he wants a bit more. She is memorable. Her business card falls out of her clutch bag and he finds it and tracks her down. This is probably a story told a million times in a romance novel of one sort or another. Here, it is a novella, so you get everything quickly. Hang on. The ride is phenomenal. It is the authors style in storytelling that makes this happen for you. Great characters.

3.) Kasie Fitzgerald. What a wonderful conflicted woman. I was able to really sink my teeth into both the primary characters of this book, but Kasie’s dilemma and internal struggle was remarkable. She wants more. Unfortunately, she is fighting herself every step of the way. She has a boyfriend who she loves. She has been with him for six years. She struggles with wanting and needing more. However, she’s not quite sure what that means. She seems so sure. So confident. She is so successful. Then she realizes it is all just a delusion. A “house of cards” and isn’t sure what to do. Follow her internal guide – her devil. Or, settle – as guided by her internal “angel.” I loved watching this internal struggle.

Three things I didn’t like about this book:

1.) This is a novella that will be one of a series. Okay. I’ve bitched about this format in the past. I frankly didn’t know this was that when I requested the ARC. If I had I wouldn’t have requested the book, wouldn’t have read the book and I would have missed a treat. Still not fond of this new gimmick or format, but loved the book. So, kill me. Why is this such a bad thing? Well, in this case, I’m not sure how many novella’s in the series … but each will be about 100 pages or so. They will cost about $3. So, by the time you read 400 pages, you will have spent about $12. This is one way the publisher is getting around the complaints about the cost of eBooks. Follow me?

2.) I hate these inanimate objects on the covers of romance books lately. I think it is to draw the association with the FSoG series, but come on. Seriously. What does this cover have to do with the book? What is the pull? And, if you aren’t a fan of the 50 books – and I’m not, you really have to make yourself buy or read it. In this case, this book is so much better and really not similar at all. Or, I didn’t think so. It is well written and the characters have so much more … character. They are real. Gritty. Believable.

3.) This last comments really gets to my first “don’t really like” comment, but will say it anyway. I wish the book were longer. Now, I have to wait until the second book and March to read the next in this series of novella’s and this is not necessary. Only about 122 pages – and the last 12 or so were telling me about the next in the series. Want the book to be longer and want the next one NOW!

In Conclusion:

This was a buddy read with my friend Anna – WHO LEFT ME IN THE DUST! She reads like lightning fast and sometimes I poop out on her and move to another book. Not this time! If it weren’t for her reminding me we needed to read this book, it would have sat in my TBR pile for who knows how long. I enjoyed this story. I can’t wait for the next one. What greater compliment can an author receive? Not sure, but will tell you, Kyra Davis has skill and is on my “authors to watch” list. Soon, if the next one is anything like this one, she’ll advance to my “Favorite Author” list. Yes, she is that good.

Happy Reading!

2GeekGirls gratefully thanks Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books via Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Helen

About the Reviewer

Helen – who has written 50 posts on .

I’m Helen the Geek and I love books! I am an avid reader and read all the time. I select a book to fit my mood. I know what I like and I know what I don’t like. I read to escape and relax, so I normally read books that allow me to live vicariously in the story. I’ve been a vampire, a prostitute, a saloon girl, a pioneer, a career woman. And, I bet if I tried, I’d find a book where I could be all at the same time! I’ve lived in the future, in the past, in a different today. I absolutely love to read.