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.
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A Chance Encounter With “The Cruelest Stranger” Sets Their Lives On A Collision Path!
Still grieving the Loss of Her Fiancé,
She’s UnAble to politely decline a Blind Date!
Which leads Her to a Bar…
And an awkward encounter with “The Cruelest Stranger” She’s EVER Met!
To say SPARKS are Fly’n between Her & “The Cruelest Stranger’s” put’n it mildly…
But what neither Her or “The Cruelest Stranger” would know…
Is just how intertwined their lives would be!
I was granted, via B00|{$P®0UT, an ARC of Winter Renshaw’s “The Cruelest Stranger.” I recommend this book to others based upon its own merits. All opinions expressed within this review are uniquely my own & freely given!
Until next time… Happy Reading!
My Rating Sytem:
4: I like IT a lot. Great, Solid Story w/ few if any inconsistencies or errors. This is a HIGH Rating, & I rarely give OUT a Higher Rating.
If My Review is helpful to you, please check the box below~ Thank You.
Life is too short to be a cruel asshole and the world is too small so be careful who you’re being a cruel asshole to.
Fate drops down so many coincidences on Astaire and Bennett but he’s such an incredible jerk that there is no way that they’re supposed to even be in the same vicinity. Astaire is the sweetest person ever. She’s a kindergarten teacher that’s been dealt a crappy life. I was heartbroken for her, angry at him, and ultimately heart warmed by the whole situation.
This is a story that will stick with you for a while. I definitely have a book hangover.
Oh my me! This story is got all sorts of twists, all sorts of secrets and I enjoyed falling down the rabbit hole that Ms. Renshaw created!
First off, one of my favorite all-time movies is “All of Me” and this story is so reminiscent of that! It doesn’t hit you right away, but as you make your way through I saw it and I fell in love even harder!
This is the story of Bennett and Astaire, two strangers that meet and there is no love lost between them at the first.
Astaire is amazing! She has had a tumultuous childhood, but she didn’t let that define her. She finds the silver lining in all things. She is the epitome of grace, compassion, and love.
Bennett is such a jaded fellow. He keeps everyone at a distance, even when he obviously needs someone to be close. Luckily, Astaire fights to see the good in him, his gooey center as she says. The family dynamic that Bennett has is absolutely dysfunctional and to have him turn out the way that he did was a miracle in itself.
The side stories, the secrets, the lies and the love that grows between Alastair and Bennett will keep you enthralled and turning pages until the very end!!
OMG! What a wonderfully amazing book!. By far the best Winter Renshaw book book to date. I don’t even know where to begin. Astaire and Bennett are such a great pair. Ms Renshaw manages to captivate you from the very beginning and the way the story unfolds and the connection the two come to realize they share blew me away. I don’t think I have ever read a story like it before. The attraction between Astaire and Bennett was evident from the very start.The secondary characters were very well written and Honor was such a great girl. I loved how Bennett stepped up to not only protect his niece but Astaire as well. Underneath his rough and tough exterior was a man with a heart of gold. I absolutely loved the HEA! I can not wait to read more books like this by Ms Renshaw.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
Every time I read a book by Winter Renshaw, I think that it can’t possibly top the last one and every, single time I’m wrong! I don’t generally like to be wrong (who does) but this is an exception. I love to be wrong about her books!
This story about Astaire and Bennett has so many enjoyable twists and turns that you almost need a score card to keep up. There are evil villains and just maybe a happy ending.
If you pick this one up, you won’t be able to put it down, which is why I’m on my way to work feeling tired because I was reading half the night!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I couldn’t put The Cruelest Stranger down. Bennett is a definite piece of work, but he finally turns into quite a lovable person. Astaire is quite lovable and trying to adjust to losing her fiancé. They ran into each other all over town and Astaire accuses Bennett of stalking her. This story takes you on an exciting journey with a lot of ups and downs. But in the end it is all worthwhile. By far one of my favorites from Winter Renshaw.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I love Winter Rinshaw, so I was excited to see she had a new book out. I liked The Cruelest Stranger. Bennett is a complete jerk and meets Astaire at a bar and is a jerk to her. What I liked about the whole story was that Astaire wasn’t some weak women. She was a bigger person then Bennett and said what she had to while not stooping to his level. I loved the whole story.
in search of the Batman inside the monster.
I owe this author an apology. I receive her newsletter every day. I suppose I received it from another author I signed up for and got her as the “Author’s friends you may also like.” I ignored her books for many years. I would just pass by however, I never deleted her newsletter. lol. Until “The cruelest Stranger” caught my attention. I actually read the concept and liked it and added it to my Unlimited Kindle subscribe TBR list. Well! I am so glad I did. I loved it. The characters are interesting, well-rounded, and poignant. It is a story of Redemption and finally finding love and happiness.
This Enemies to lovers romance is the story of Bennet and Astaire. Bennet is a rich billionaire, who hates the world. His pessimistic, ruthless, and cruel. He is always in a bad mood and growls at everyone. Astaire is a starry-eyed optimistic kindergarten teacher who always has a smile for everyone she meets. She believes one should always counter someone’s anger with great kindness. Astaire does this when she mistakes Bennet for her blind date and he is very nasty to her because he thinks she is trying to pick him up. Astaire is taken back with Bennet’s venom and tries to talk to Bennet when she finds he has left the bar. Astaire then finds he has left his umbrella and sees this opportunity. Astaire takes the umbrella and follows Bennet only to find him going into a funeral parlor. Sorry, no spoilers. You will have to read the book to learn what happens next. lol. This book has everything. It will make you laugh, cry, get angry, and sigh happily. This book will make you angry. There were times when I wanted Astaire to just punch Bennet in the face or knee him in the groin with the garbage he accused her of. It was disgusting really. However, that isn’t who Astaire However, she does give him a piece of her mind. She is no pushover. lol. Bennet is hard to swallow at first. He is a monstrous little man. However, you will love how he fights his own demons and his hideous family to be worthy of Astaire. Great job. I am so happy I finally read one of her books after so long. I will definitely read more. She has a new fan. I’ve already bought “Best Man.” and I can’t wait to read it.
Wow
I just fell in love with Batman!
Bennett is something else. He’s brash, and rude, and cruel for the sake of being cruel.
Astaire(love her name!) is the most real, beautiful thing he’s ever stumbled upon. And not just beautiful outside. The woman lit up these pages with her sunshine, and heart of gold.
A chance encounter sets these two on a path to a future neither of them can see, or want.
Add in a villain they need to overcome, and side characters you want to love, and this has the makings of being a beautiful love story.
Highly recommend.
This is a gripping story of love, jealousy, betrayal, secrets and trust. When Astaire agreed to go on a blind date it had been exactly a year since her fiance died. Already dealing with that, she ends up getting soaked from a sudden rain storm, so when she gets to the bar she’s meeting her date ar, she goes straight to the restroom to fix herself. When she comes out she goes to the bar to wait. In walks a man matching the description Garrett, her date. When she tries to ask him if he is Garrett, Bennett gets fude and obnoxious. After he leaves, Astaire noticed his umbrella and runs after him to give it to him, because she was taught to always be kind to people, no matter how they treated her. But when he goes into a funeral home she returns to the bar. After finding out his name, and that the person who had died was probably his wife, she sends him condolences through an anonymous email. Which he replies to with a scathing rebuke. She emails him again to chastise him. This back and forth goes on for a while, but the more he interacts with him, the less of a dick he becomes, which he neither understands nor likes. The a secret is revealed that turns their world’s upside down. Astaire is sweet and kind all along, while Bennett is a cocky jerk in the beginning, but turns into a teddy bear with a heart of gold by the end. It belongs on your TBR list.
** spoiler alert ** He comes from a cold family. She was an orphan until she became a teenager. One chance meeting sends them spinning. Will he be able to open his heart to others? Will she get the family she has always longed for?
I’m definitely a sucker for this author’s books and this one was no different. I love how she takes these rough men with a heart of gold that need their walls broken down. I couldn’t help, but feel for both of these characters and loved how both stepped up and were determined to not let the past hold them back once they accepted what was in front of them! Great read!
The title says it all. Bennett was most definitely a cruel H. And Astaire was a sweetheart. An opposites, paths cross reads. I love Winter Renshaw and this book starts off great and captured my intention but didn’t quite keep up the momentum through to the end.
I love a slow burn, enemies to lovers story! This one had some unexpected twists, and complete 180° turns….but MAN, it is absolutely worth it! Bennett is such a freaking jerk, and you will love to hate him…but he might grow on you too. Such a beautiful story!
I’m seriously enjoying this one.
Astaire grew up in foster homes till she was taken in by Linda who helped her. When she meets Trevor she thinks she has her HEA. She loses Trevor a year ago and when she gets talked into a blind date, she reluctantly agrees. But instead of missing her actual date, she ends up meeting Bennett. But that doesn’t go well. What a heartless man he is! Tons of miscommunication between these two. While opposites, they do have something in common. But these two have an attraction and soon learn to appreciate each other. Definitely recommend this story!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I saw a lot of two star reviews, but personally, I really enjoyed it. It’s an enemies to lovers story and the story isn’t very deep but it was still a satisfying read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Great storyline and character development made this book a hot and enjoyable read!
Extremely entertaining, captivating and interesting sexy read. I could not put it down. Wonderfully written with strong, intriguing characters. I want to read more from this author.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Astaire is still feeling the death of her fiance that died the previous year and her adoptive mother, she has lots of loss in her life. She is a kindergarten teacher and one of her teacher friends set her up on a blind date. She ends up confuses him with another man, Bennett. She follows him and discovers that he is going to a funeral. Bennett is a successful businessman who has a dysfunctional family. He does not show emotions. Bennett has taken over the family business.
I can say that this author is a must read of mine. She created a story that had angst, sad moments, suspense, and great twists. I enjoyed it immensely. If you haven’t read this author’s work before, you must!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
One minute I wanted to slap Bennett and the next minute I wanted to hug him!