The first time I saw him was at a bar called Ophelia’s on a misty Thursday night. I was there to drown my sorrows after a trying day, he was there to escape the storm. After a brief yet incredibly cruel exchange, the handsome stranger bolted before I had a chance to tell him off. Incensed and two cocktails deep, I followed him out the door, determined to give the audacious Adonis a piece of my … mind.
Tearing after him in heels and barely able to keep up in the freezing rain, I ended my chase when I realized where he was going.
They say never to judge someone unless you know their story.
I never could have anticipated his…
And I never could have anticipated the way our paths would cross again—or that I would one day find myself falling for a man with a hollow cavity where his heart should be, a man as callous as he was beautiful, as complicated as he was mesmeric.
They say never to judge someone unless you know their story.
This one’s ours.
more
This may be my favorite Winter Renshaw book to date. Bennett is a broody business man and Astaire is a sweet teacher that believes in the good of everything. And when these two get together they have a fiery chemistry that includes tension and attraction and protection of themselves and others. Since this is a book written by Ms. Renshaw, expect the unexpected, the twists that come about in this book will throw you for a loop but always come back to the important message of family and love. I devoured this read and couldn’t put it down once I started!
Bennett Shoenbach really needed a woman like Astaire Cararro. Astaire, a kindergarten teacher trying to get over the loss of her fiance, meets the hard-hearted Bennett at a bar one evening. Let’s just say they DO NOT hit it off. Bennett is the sullen and jaded head of his family corporation and has a hard time being nice to anyone. And while these two strangers should never have to meet again, they continue to intersect in strange ways.
Winter Renshaw always writes a story that is emotional and unexpected. Just when you think you know what’s going to happen, there’s another piece of the story that makes it that much better. For all the ways that Bennett is harsh, Astaire is soft, despite her circumstances. And while you could see that as easily devolving into naive and pushover, Astaire has a backbone and insight to life that makes her formidable. Bennett finds that he needs Astaire’s brand of sunshine and rainbows to unlock his heart and be the person he never thought he could be. Not a bad lesson for all of us.
“The Cruelest Stranger” is the first book by Winter Renshaw that I read, although I’ve added some of her older books in my TBR list that I will read in the future because I really liked this one. It didn’t just have a hot guy on the cover, it also had a nice story that was my cup of tea because it’s an enemies to lovers romance.
The book tells the story of Astaire and Bennett, two people who couldn’t be more different if they tried. Astaire is in a bar waiting for her blind date. Thanks to the heavy rain, her clothes and everything is ruined, so she tries to fix her attire in the bathroom and misses the guy she has to meet. But she does meet another man, that she mistakes for her blind date. Bennett doesn’t want anybody to bother him while he’s drinking, and when Astaire is about to ask him if he’s the man she’s supposed to be meeting that night, he cuts her off with a venomous tone that chills her to the bone. After he walks away and forgets his umbrella, Astaire, like the good woman she is, follows him to give it back despite his treatment. She could have ignored the stranger that was cruel to her, but she didn’t. And this will change everything for both of them.
Astaire was a special woman. She’s a kindergarten teacher and she is a simple and mature person who always tries to see the good in people and in life. Speaking of which, life wasn’t kind to her. The blind date was a way for her to try to move on from the death of her fiancée who died a year before in an accident. Nobody knows when it’s the best moment to go on with their life after such a tragedy, but Astaire felt like it was time she tried to get in touch with people again, to try to find love again, despite she will always be attached to the fond memory of her boyfriend. When Bennett treats her like crap, Astaire doesn’t get mad because she assumes he’s had a bad day and since she follows him to give him back the umbrella, she reinforces her assumptions and forgives him for replying her as if she did something bad to him in the bar. It’s what Astaire does later that starts a series of exchanges with Bennett and that keeps the line alive between them. I liked that despite Bennett was truly an ass whenever he met Astaire (because he also assumed something about her from their encounter), she stood her ground with kindness and always tried to be sincere with him despite he didn’t believe her at first.
Like I said a while ago, Bennett was an ass ever since the first encounter with Astaire. He basically assumes the worst scenario possible as the reason why she approached him at the bar, which is terrible, but at the same time I get where he’s coming from. Bennett is a private person and he grew up in a family of wolves: his mother only cares about appearances and his older brother envies his success with women and with the family business he’s managing. This is why Bennett never shows his true feelings to anybody and questions everything and everyone. In his life he’s only dealt with greedy people who stopped at nothing to steal what he liked. Bennett makes assumptions before even knowing people better because he wants to save himself from rejection and delusion. Plus, he doesn’t think he’s worthy of being loved, since his so called family never showed affection towards him. In the end, people will always want money and nobody wants to stick around to be with him. He is annoyed by Astaire’s messages and casual meetings because he thinks she’s a fraud, but in the end he’ll see that it was just a defense mechanism and that he just imagined that she could be doing that, but he realizes that Astaire is really like that and she’s being honest with him. Basically, Astaire will make him see that not everyone is bad and that if he wants, he can be happy.
I would consider this story a slow burn, because the feelings between Astaire and Bennett grow chapter after chapter but not too soon. There isn’t insta love nor insta lust in this book, on the other hand, the thoughts of the characters are realistic and natural. I don’t know how to explain this… unlike some books of this genre where both characters think “omg he/she is hot” all the time, and say the usual lines during sex, this one showed that life isn’t only made of sexual thoughts. I mean, it didn’t revolve everything around the budding romance between Astaire and Bennett but also around other aspects of daily life. Their life was… normal. I mean, their actions and thoughts were normal in the way that seemed believable, not like those stories where it seems the characters only have one thing on their mind and it all comes down to that in the end.
There isn’t only romance in this book, but many other things that you’ll discover chapter after chapter. So my suggestion is read it and found out for yourself.
I was privileged enough to receive an advanced reader copy of this book from the author for a voluntary and honest review.
What a amazing story. Once I started, I couldn’t seem to put it down. Bennett and Astaire had me intrigued right from the very beginning. They were easy to relate to, and I felt as though I could connect easily with them. I felt this book was very well written, and the characters had depth, which is one of the things I enjoy most about books. This is one you will not want to miss!
This is a powerful and beautiful romance. Bennett and Astaire’s story will send your own emotions spinning as the story unfolds. These characters inspire strong feelings as the meet, their layers are exposed and their relationship evolves. I really loved how the author used foreshadowing in the blurb because if you are like me, you will initially dislike Bennett (and rightfully so, in my opinion). Once you start to get a look behind the curtain, your feelings change and you truly begin to understand him. Its story is a combination of enemies-to-lovers, polar opposites romance with a nice sprinkling of fate tossed in. The chemistry is great and the emotions run deep in this engaging and entertaining book.
Anyone who knows me knows that fictional mean boys make the world go round. THE MEANER THE BETTER!There is something about the spirited banter and the back and forth that has made me an addict. For that reason I loved Bennett Schoenback from the get go. He was cruel and heartless (oh the irony!) with a huge dose of cynical charm that I could not get enough of. At first his connection with Astaire was tumultuous at best but after getting to know one another, a love story was born. I thought this story was sexy, heartfelt, full of drama and emotional gut punches and I loved every minute of it!
What I especially loved about this story was the twists and surprises that added an edge to the story. While some were obvious, others knocked me flat out. I enjoyed The Cruelest Stranger so much because of these twist and turns. Renshaw’s story wouldn’t be complete without the hot fiery chemistry between Bennett and Astaire and the nerve wracking climax. This story was a win and I am so onboard for her next one! Bravo! 5 stars! ~Ratula
The Cruelest Stranger by Winter Renshaw a classic five-star read. This is a great story and one that will age like a classic film, one that you can go back to time and again as each time you go through it you will find something new to marvel at, it has a timeless beauty that will stand the testament of time. Never will I look at the rain in the same light again, this was a true beauty of read and one that surprised me as the more I read the more I was enthralled, as there may only be two true main characters in this story but there are so many others that play a massive part, some who are not here anymore, but still have a place in this world and some that will create a place in this world and make it so much brighter. I must say I was so proud that Winter Renshaw brings up the subject that she does in this story, I don’t want to go into detail as its not in the blurb so you will have to read this one to find out, but its so worth finding out more about, fate plays its part In all our lives and this story shows us that fate can be a cruel stranger, but she can also be kind. This has been one of the best reads so far this year (I know we aren’t far into it, but still) and I am sure that it will be one that will stay that way for the rest of it as well.
I have to say, Astaire was such a nice person, after starting this book I thought she was kind of strange, the way she looked him up and emailed him, but after a while you see how great she is. It is a bit of tragic to see, that Bennet had a reason why he dislike his family, they were pretty awful. This is a great story about a guy who had a lot of more depth than his cruel behavior let’s on to and about a lovely woman, who can bring out the best in him.
I received an ARC for an honest review.
Intense and poignant, Bennett and Astaire’s love story is a terrific read.
Excellent writing and vivid characterizations drew me into this story right from the beginning, and held me spellbound throughout. Bennett truly is, from his very first words, as cruel as the title forewarns, yet Astaire still somehow sees through his cruelty to realize that he’s just projecting walls to protect himself and others from further pain. They both survived horrible childhoods, though that’s about all they have in common. At first, anyway.
This intense romance explores the what-if side of coincidences. Without spoiling the book (too much), I will say that the coincidences started layering upon one other so much that it really stretched credibility, but it is fiction after all, so allowances have to be made. Nothing terribly original here, but the author’s writing style elevates the familiar tropes and makes this story absorbing and memorable.
If you can avoid rolling your eyes at either the surprise connections or the two-dimensional villains, this story resolves itself with a very happy HEA for all our main characters. I do wish the main villain had had more of a solid conclusion to his story, but we at least know his convoluted plot was not successful. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
Damn, just damn. This book was so unexpected. I think that’s what made it so good was that I had no idea was I was in for. The Cruelest Stranger was heartbreakingly beautiful. Astaire, the kindergartener teacher who only tries to see the positive in everything and everyone. After a chance encounter with Bennett who is nothing short of a jackass to her, Astaire follows him out of the bar to return his umbrella. Where she follows him to is completely unexpected and sets up the plot for the rest of the book.
Bennett, the arrogant and brooding asshole, who seems to only have a sliver of a heart behind closed doors. I thought he was unbelievably rude, but sexy, at the beginning of the book and then I fell in love with both him and Astaire.
This story was so well developed and had twists and turns that I did not see coming nor expect. If you do not believe in fate, well, you just might after this story. This is Winter Renshaw’s best work to date and I am so excited to see what else she puts out into the book world in the next few months!!
What a great story! Loved these two and was hooked from the first page.
Bennett has been conditioned to be emotionless while Astaire had two critical people in her life that helped her see the best in everything. Can Astaire be that person for Bennett?
A heart-wrenching and heartwarming enemies-to-lovers romance that will make you believe in fated soul mates.
One night in a random bar and both their lives change forever. He’s the biggest jerk she’s ever met. She’s sunshine and all the good things about life. He’s a pessimist but sees it as being a realist. She always gives everyone the benefit of the doubt and looks at the bright side of life. She’s the light to his dark.
You never know the pain that someone else is going through. Astaire knew that better than anyone. Even after all she has lost, she still believes in love and kindness. So when she sees a stranger that she believes is suffering, she reaches out. And so their story begins.
Bennett is a man who lashes out first because he expects the worst, which is exactly what he does when he meets Astaire. Coming from the family he has you can understand. Astaire is not deterred and refuses to be cruel like him. However, as much as he doesn’t want her in his life, he can’t stop thinking about her.
He’s a very wealthy business owner dealing with his own baggage. She’s a kindergarten teacher trying to make the most of life. An unexpected meeting changes everything. Their lives are intersected in more ways than they realize. Sometimes fate knows better than we do.
This is an emotional enemies-to-lovers, fated love story. Bennett doesn’t believe in that stuff or even marriage, but Astaire is about to change his life for the better. He is about to be schooled on all matters of the heart. They have amazing chemistry and a connection that’s unavoidable. He never expected her, but he’s never letting her go. Love is messy, but it’s worth it. Together they’ll both find the family they deserve.
Bennett and Astaire are total opposites, yet when fate lends a helping hand, they are perfect together. This is a beautifully written story which is heart-wrenching, heartfelt, and an emotional roller coaster journey throughout with added drama, twist, and undeniable chemistry, which all lead to having me totally captivated throughout this addictive page turner. I highly recommend this gifted authors’ work for all readers!
This is my second best book from Winter Renshaw after Cold Hearted. I loved that she nailed at creating a character that so cold and mean so that we hate him to the core but then boomhe’s the sweetest guy.
Bennett – He’s just a lonely guy, never received affection with CRUEL attitude to protect himself.
Astaire – All the kind and positive lady that we need to be so that this world could be a better place for everyone.
This is their love story with kindness is the main point for humanity.
Loved that how normal their life without elobrated OTT drama/crisis as long as we knew what was happening because sometimes I want to just read this kind of story simple, not over-rated but has an emotion to keep me on the storyline.
*ARCs received for an honest reviews