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The Dirty Suburbs #3

Dirty Stranger

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Isla

I'm paying alimony to my idiot ex-husband, my business hardly makes enough to keep the lights on and I'm literally holding my car together with duct tape.
Scratch that, I'm holding my life together with duct tape.
So I won't go on a date with the mysterious, new-in-town barista who makes my morning soy hazelnut lattee just the way I like it...He'd better stop trying to hypnotize me with those honey eyes and those bulging shoulders that stretch the jersey of his coffee shop uniform, because I have enough on my plate and the last thing I need is yet another liability.

Reuben

The cinnamon-haired yoga chick who orders the soy hazelnut lattee every morning won't give me a shot. She thinks I'm just some college boy with student loans trying to get in her pants. Well, she's right about one thing.
From the moment she first sauntered into this coffee shop with her long legs and her sad eyes, I've wanted to toss her onto the polished wooden counter and show her just how much of a man I am.
There's so much more to me than meets the eye. I'm just trying to make her fall for me before my secrets make it to town.

"Dirty Stranger" is book three in the "Dirty Suburbs", a series of full-length, stand-alone romantic comedies about the residents of small town Illinois.

252 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2017

658 people are currently reading
395 people want to read

About the author

Cassie-Ann L. Miller

71 books879 followers

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5 stars
472 (50%)
4 stars
298 (32%)
3 stars
134 (14%)
2 stars
19 (2%)
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3 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
408 reviews18 followers
May 8, 2018
Cheers!

So happy reading this book. Love the positivity of Isla and Reuben's determination. Their love story is so encouraging, there's always a happy ending of you allow yourself to have one. Cheers to the author Cassie-Ann!
Profile Image for J.L. Leslie.
Author 60 books689 followers
November 8, 2019
I've read a couple of the Dirty Suburbs book so was excited to read Dirty Stranger. I wasn't let down! This book has humor, romance, and a nice little twist thrown in there too! Isla is a hard-working woman who got the crap end of the deal in her divorce. She's struggling to make ends meet while paying alimony to her ex-husband. Needless to say, she doesn't have time for a relationship...especially one with a stranger she meets at the coffee shop and certainly not with one she believes is a college student looking for a good time. Turns out, looks can be deceiving and this stranger is not who she thinks he is. I really enjoyed how Reuben always seemed to be there for Isla, even when she didn't want to lean on him and tried denying her feelings for him. They have explosive chemistry together and I was rooting for them the entire time! The secrets surrounding him kept me reading and wondering what he was hiding because I knew it would be big! I truly love this series and will be reading more from it!
Profile Image for Ciara Kelly.
1,168 reviews9 followers
February 26, 2017
Refreshingly Great

Sorry to admit this, but this book was much better than I expected. Island is like my new hero, and that's not something I say lightly. She was strong and independent, but broken and all me too. And don't get me starred about Reuben... Holy hotness
Profile Image for Nicky.
1,271 reviews19 followers
August 11, 2021
Oh Isla. Dear, stubborn Isla. I’m wanted to like you but you blew it at the end. For a woman everyone lauded as so selfless, she certainly had nothing to give Reuben, who gave her everything.

OK, so when this whole thing starts, Isla and Ruben see each other and are immediately attracted to each other. Only she assumes he’s a broke college student. And since she’s struggling herself, having to pay alimony to her worthless ex-husband, she feels she doesn’t have time for Reuben. But Reuben proves to be persistent and finally makes his way into her bed. And then into her heart. And then into her business when she finds out that he’s actually a billionaire investor. She finally begins to relax and believe they could have something special. But then she gets a surprise that puts all of that at risk. And she decides she can’t trust him after all.

This is where Isla loses me. The “surprise” throws her for a loop. And she immediately believes the worst about Reuben. Meanwhile, Reuben is off dealing with a dire family emergency and Isla can’t even be bothered to take a phone call to let him explain himself or even to tell her that he is at a family member’s death bed. So not only does he have to deal with that terrible situation all by himself without the woman he loves, he has to worry about how he’s going to explain the misunderstanding to her. And even when he does, he still has to grovel and prove to her that she can trust him. Like I said before. Too stubborn. We didn’t even get a scene where Isla at least felt bad that she made the poor man go through his family tragedy all alone.

And her friends weren’t much better. They didn’t even encourage her to talk to the man and get his side of the story. They were just ready for her to move on. I’m really trying to like this series. But it gets so predictable with the unnecessary and overblown drama that shows up 74% into the book and resolves itself by the man turning himself inside out to fix things when half the time the problem is the woman simply being super stubborn and unwilling to just listen. Nevertheless, these couples do get their happily ever after. But sometimes it’s not quite as satisfying as you would think it would be.

394 reviews5 followers
February 23, 2017
Not even her meditation and yoga can overcome the anxiety suffered by gorgeous redhead, Isla, when her awful lawyer informs her that due to her taking her husband back a few times after he had cheated, she condoned his behaviour and therefore, he was entitled to ALIMONY from her. Considering that he hadn’t lifted a finger to help her with her failing yoga studio, she’s facing bankruptcy because she has to pay the cheating liar. Stopping into the café next door to her studio, she orders her usual coffee, but is stuck nearly dumb by the beauty of the hunk standing behind the counter. Reuben gives her the coffee (while sneakily writing his name and number on her cup) with some charming chat up lines, which Isla tries her best to ignore, since she figures he is just a hot college student working a part time job. When he also shows up behind the bar when she’s on her girls’ night out (and sends the girls a classy bottle of champagne), her friends force her to go thank him and they end up going to his hotel room together. From there, Isla figures it’s a one night stand situation, but Reuben has the opposite in mind – he’s intrigued and addicted. Both Isla and Reuben have been burned by their last partners – can they open themselves up to what seems to be a wonderful thing? And what happens when their pasts come back to haunt them? Great plot with some fantastic dialogue, and of course, hot encounters in the bedroom, yoga studio, and pretty much anywhere else the urge hits them.
Profile Image for Kristiej.
1,538 reviews100 followers
July 30, 2017
4.5 out of 5

And yet ANOTHER book I read quite some time ago. But I enjoyed this one so much I remember a lot more of it and I promptly purchased more in the series.

I loved Reuben the hero - loved him. He's kind of an entrepreneur but doesn't tell anyone that he is kind of buying up many of the businesses in town. He just goes in and starts working at them from the ground up. The working world would be a much better place if bosses were to get a clue and do some of the nitty gritty work. But this leads to much humour when our heroine Isla keeps seeing him doing these menial jobs and just thinks he's a down and out dude who needs the work to make ends meet.

But Isla has too much on her plate to think about getting involved with Reuben the way he seems to want to. Her business is iffy and she has this giant pain in the ass aka ex-husband to whom SHE is paying alimony to HIM - which is so wrong 'cause her business is iffy and she simply can't afford to pay him.

It's cute and it's funny and I love both Reuben and Isla and now I'm wanting to read it again now. But I have two or three others in this series to read too. What to do, what to do?

Thumbs up on this one
Profile Image for Rebecca Barber.
Author 17 books311 followers
July 19, 2017
HOW THE HELL DID ISLA STAY CALM?

There is not enough soy-hazelnut-lattes or meditation or yoga which could possibly keep me calm (and quite possibly out of jail) if my ex-husband, and seemingly lord of the douche canoes expected me to pay him alimony while the business I built myself had a leaky roof and I lived on Ramen!

Thank God for Ruben!

Ruben saves the day and Isla - and this is one heroine who deserves to be saved and spolit and treated like a goddess.

This book made me feel everything - at some points I wanted to shake Isla until she got angry and fought back, I wanted to scream at Ruben cause he was hiding something and I wanted to throw things at them until they figured it all out!

Vote 1 Ruben!
930 reviews3 followers
January 18, 2019
I liked it

Ok so I liked this one but not as much as the other books in the series. I wasn’t crazy about Isala with all that peace and love nonsense. I agree with Sammie get mad scream do something besides being so passive. She annoyed me for most of the book. Ruben wasn’t the best hero either. In my opinion he was a little cowardly and weak. For me the most intriguing part of the book was the continued mystery about what happened with Grace and Daniel. I’m about to read Jakob’s story next in Dirty Farmer and hopefully enjoy the journey with the other books. Hopefully we will get more clues about what happens with Grace and Daniels marriage.
Profile Image for Joni.
920 reviews6 followers
July 12, 2017
4.5 Stars

Swooning over Reuben. This guy is everything right ladies? He's perfect and filthy rich. Isla is leery though. She got burned by her ex and she's afraid her heart can't take heartbreak again.

After finding out about his past that he kept from her, she must break it off. Reuben is out of town at his dying brothers bedside when he learns his secret has been revealed to Isla. He must return to fight for the love of his life.

This book is romantic and very swoon worthy. I highly recommend this gem.
Profile Image for Stacy J..
1,345 reviews12 followers
September 27, 2019
Isla is trying to keep everything together. She is a woman who has been hurt in the past but isn't letting it define her future. If she can keep her business open. The one bright light in her day is the mysterious Reuben who keeps showing up different places. However a man is not the complications she needs.

Reuben is both working hard but yet drifting. That changes when he meet s Isla. He wants to be her night in shinning armor if she will have him but he just has to get past some of her first assumptions first.
Profile Image for Alejandra Guerrero.
1,736 reviews6 followers
April 25, 2025
Not bad, but, in the end Isla immediately thinks the absolute worst of the man she "loves", without even giving him the chance to explain, while he's in the middle of an emotional crisis next to his brother's death bed. Not cool, woman! It's like she's being a bitch just to create unnecessary drama. Entertaining, sex scenes were good, except for a few cringe worthy word choices (cringy for me; other people might not find them too bad, but there's something about the word "serum" to refer to semen that's just... Ugh).
117 reviews
January 9, 2024
Please believe Me

Wow what a surprise! A twin that has your same DNA and a child that's not yours.
A woman that wants to be in the family yet would sleep with your brother. What money will do to people. This his not just a good romantic story, but also shows the greed for money. It's not in the story line, but why would she lie about the child. You can a whole new story from this.
Profile Image for Jennifer Lovins.
1,061 reviews4 followers
January 5, 2018
Unexpected

Once I started this book I didn’t want to put it down. Islam has just gotten out of a bad marriage, but has to pay her ex alimony. She is trying to keep her business afloat. She meets Rueben. She fights her attraction to him. Will Rueben win her over, or will something in his pass keep them apart?
Profile Image for Melissa Swafford.
748 reviews
April 17, 2019
I loved this book, I couldn't put it down. I resented anything that took me away from it. Isla & Reuban we're completely developed characters that I enjoyed going on this journey with. There was hot scenes, romance, angst, & girl time with previous characters from other books. I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Christina Rybka.
1,129 reviews17 followers
June 21, 2019
Funny and sweet

Reuben an Isla both come from different places but they seem to gravitate towards each other the both fall quick and hard for each other. Reuben has some secrets but before he can explain they come out. Can Isla forgive him? The book will make you laugh and all the characters and storylines are great.
Profile Image for Nonna 2K.
1,348 reviews11 followers
June 19, 2021
The Addiction Continues

Isla and Reuben made for a cute, quick read. They made a cute couple and I love how Isla became a stronger person through this story. I didn’t see the surprise that came near the end of the story, but it was interesting to read. Onto the next part of this saga...
Profile Image for Alina.
264 reviews
February 22, 2017
This might contain spoilers.

I do love a stubborn heroine, one who isn't an easy catch. I love it when she's feisty and determined to do everything in her own way. My favorite heroines are all from this category. However, I can only tolerate as much. And this "heroine" really made my blood boil. At some point, I didn't know if I wanted to bang her head against the wall or bang my own head against the wall. I tried, I really tried! And I really wanted to like this book! But...heck.

Isla was really irrational. She was way too fucking stubborn, so stubborn that she was at a point of starving herself. Alright, Reuben didn't tell her who he actually was, but every time he tried to get close, she pushed back. He could have told her, maybe. But it was crystal clear he was a really good businessman, one who did not do business based on who he fucked or fucks. And when he offered to help her, she chose to "starve" herself because she thought he was not honest. Ok, cool. Let's say I can understand it. What I can not understand is her judgmental behavior. At first, she did not want to get to know him ONLY BECAUSE she thought he was just some poor college guy who worked in a coffee shop and didn't even have a car. And the only reason she slept with him was because she thought it will be a just one-time thing and she didn't think his bank account or job mattered. Christ!

I liked the guy. I did. He was burnt by his own brother and the whole "family" was basically taking the other brother's side. 'Cuz, yeah. That's what a good family is supposed to do. Instead of trying to understand his side, they just pushed Reuben to forgive his brother and "get over it". He was a fighter and although he had his flaws, he really cared about Isla. He was willing to try again for her.

This book had way too many characters. So many friends, so many city residents, the brother of a brother from another mother, the brother-in-law, the ex-brother-in-law, the mother, the step-mother (who by the way, was way too criticized, when in fact, she was the one who made the step to repair that so-called family). Maybe these characters will have their own story and this is why the author tried to present them but they were so many and so pointless in the story that seriously at points I was like "Edward...who is this guy? God, do I have to skip back and see again?"

Isla kept talking about her ex-husband. Alright, woman, we fucking get it! Zayn was a douche who burnt you and now is trying to take advantages of you. He really hurt you but, please...can we move on with the story? I swear to God, "Zayn" was brought into the discussion every two pages. It got old really fast.

If I were Reuben, I wouldn't forgive Ryan. That's not something you easily forgive, forget or get over. Especially not when Ryan was who he was. And the twist at the end really did nothing for me. Isla again showed irrational stubbornness. And when she said she would have believed him...nope. She wouldn't have believed him.

You'll probably enjoy this, as I've seen other people really praise it. It just...I really should stop letting the cover influence my decision on choosing books.
2,617 reviews25 followers
February 24, 2017
this was amazing book you wrote! its about a woman who is recently divoriced and paying her ex alot of money so he can live like a king while she hardly gets by. she meets a man who wants her really bad. thanks for giving me a chance to read this book!
Profile Image for Jade Royal.
Author 115 books1,549 followers
August 24, 2017
Cassie strikes again

I am definitely a Dirty Suburbs fan. I get a new kind of guy every time. Tattoo artist, football professional, and now business guru professional and investor. Time to dig into book 4!
Profile Image for Ann L.
4,848 reviews39 followers
February 26, 2018
Book three in the Dirty Suburbs series, and I loved it, the characters are really likeable, ok Reuben is pretty swoon worthy, I couldn't put this down.

I received a copy of this book and I voluntarily leave my own honest opinion
2,555 reviews14 followers
January 11, 2020
Another great book

Love this series! It incorporates the new characters in with the group you have already read above. Makes you think of family and small town living outside a big city. They are a hit to me :)
Profile Image for Kim Gauger.
3,329 reviews6 followers
July 16, 2020
Cute

Super cute book... But pretty much the same story with different characters. I loved the chemistry that was immediate with these two. I.just had a hard time staying interested. Cute though
61 reviews
September 23, 2020
Delivers as always

I REALLY love Cassie-Ann Millet books. I like that the female MC are all different but have their own insecurities and strengths, and so so the male MCs. It just feels so REAL.
63 reviews
February 28, 2021
Amazing!

I don’t know how she does it but she just ties this series together like a TV series you have to binge watch or you will for a slow and painful death! This one did not disappoint at all!
1,164 reviews6 followers
February 11, 2024
Reuben and Isla

I think they are my favorite couple so far, sure he had to jump through hoops for her but it was a fun story until a vengeful ex came to town and lied to Isla.

They do get their HEA but it came after a lengthy separation. Good read!!!
Profile Image for Patricia Cordovez.
496 reviews6 followers
June 23, 2017
Another great one

This is Isla and Rueban's story. From page one it hooks you until the end. Thank you for another great book
Profile Image for Bev Ross.
1,007 reviews12 followers
January 26, 2018
Awesome book

I loved Isla! Reuben was pretty kick-ass too! I'm glad he finally forgave his brother even though it was a nasty thing his brother did!
Profile Image for Bex’s reading corner.
1,051 reviews14 followers
May 12, 2018
Much better than I anticipated. Made me laugh, made me wonder and love the main characters
Profile Image for Joy Boutwell.
1,618 reviews17 followers
May 19, 2018
This is the first book I've read by this author and I really enjoyed it.
Profile Image for Luna Lovesbooks.
166 reviews
March 1, 2019
5 stars!

This is my favorite of the all Cassie-Ann’s books I’ve read so far! I loved reading Reuben’s pursuit of Isla 💗
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews

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