The Stranger

by Cassie Mint

I’m forbidden from ever speaking to my brother’s arch rival.

But once a year at the masquerade ball, I spend the night in his arms.

Not like that. We’re clothed the whole time, unfortunately, spinning around the crowded ballroom. But I guess it’s for the best, because if Beckett Yates ever saw beneath my mask, he’d never want to touch me again.

As far as he’s concerned, I’m the mysterious stranger who meets him in the rose garden each year.

As far as I’m concerned, one dance in his arms is better than a lifetime with another man.

There’s no way this ends well. No way I can have the man I love.

But I’ll reach for my mask tonight all the same.

The Stranger is a short and steamy instalove story, starring a stern rival and his star-crossed love.

Genres: Romance, Novella, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Smut, Forbidden Romance

60 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 12, 2023

About the author

Cassie writes outrageous, OTT insta-love with tons of sugar and steam. She loves cookie dough, summer barbecues, and her gorgeous cat Missy.

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Reviews

[Bookiemonster · Rating 4 out of 5]

*chefs kiss*
Loved this so much!

[april ♡ probably reading smut - safety reviews · Rating 2 out of 5]

2/5

TROPES:
~age gap
~brother's rival
~instalove

SAFETY:
Virgin/celibate: virgin heroine, unknown past for hero
OM/OW drama: none
Cheating/sharing: none
HEA?: yes!

[AvidReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5🌟

[Lolina ⋆ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the concept of the masquerade, and the doomed love aspect to their situation- but I wasn't too big on the yearly meetings with one another (it was giving me November 9 flashbacks lmfao 💀💀).

I felt like there was a lot of potential with this one, especially at the beginning of the book, which I loved.

I didn't really like how the story progressed, and felt like the time jumps took away from the romance for me, considering how short the book was- (I loved how the conflict was solved though).

This wasn't my favorite- but it was a nice lil cleanser from my recent reads (I did however LOVE the side characters, I would read a book about Anthony any day- he was hilarious towards the end).

[Averie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is about a couple who ends up meeting every year at the annual masquerade. They look forward to this day every year, in hopes they spend the night with their mysterious stranger.

I really enjoyed this one!! I am a good sucker for a masquerade, so I really enjoyed this one :)

TROPES: hidden identity, kindle unlimited, masquerade, rivaling families, novella

[Kate V · Rating 2 out of 5]

Beckett and Sophia dance at a masquerade party for years but do not reach the point of togetherness until the fourth year. Family drama and some angst pour from this novella and the smut wasn't all that great.

The Stranger was a miss for me mainly because of the time jumps between Beckett and Sophia's relationship. It created a surface level chemistry for me that didn't feel romantic.

[ize ‧₊˚ ☁️⋅👼 ‧₊˚ ♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

not a fan…

[Ignacia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sophia and Beckett meet at a Masquerade ball where they feel a strong connection but don't recongnize each other.
They continue to dance together at each ball year after year where she figures out who's he pretty quickly and discovers that he's none other than her family's rival.

A decent novella with a good amount of romance and steam. For a story this short I felt it was well written (and developed) in plot and pace.

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wasn't enough

This book falls short. Seriously Beckett and Sophia only Dance at a masquerade party yearly. On the third year she lets him go downtown on her. The fourth year he gives in to her family, has sex, marries her.

This is unrealistic, I know it's fiction but they really don't have any real connection. When did they get to know each other? They never met any other time but the yearly party?

[riley ☠︎︎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would be really good as a longer book🩷

[Amara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm begging this author to write this as a full length novel. But darker. More detailed. More....dirty. Maybe make her brother a bad guy instead of a puss. One extra star just for the rabbit hole my mind went into of what this story COULD be.

[Natasha Tucker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sophia and Beckett meet at a masquerade ball. They have an instant connection. Beckett what’s more than just a dance at the ball, she is his forever. Sophia realises the next day who Beckett is, her families business enemy. So she avoids all possible contact with him. As the years pass they meet every year at the ball. Beckett wants so much more and won’t give up. When the truth is revealed Beckett will do anything to Sophia and her family she is his forever. Sweet, steamy romance with amazing chemistry, a completely obsessed hero, and a lovely HEA.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[cole ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

...I’ve been in purgatory without her, and feeling her in my arms again after all this time—it’s almost too sweet to bear...

[Tamara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mhm, it was okay. Reminded me a bit of Romeo and Juliet to be honest.

[fulano · Rating 4 out of 5]

The premise hooked me in immediately, but the character’s chemistry together kept me reading. I do wish there had been more time spent where both the hero and heroine were “together together”, or just one epilogue, but it was a fantastic story nonetheless!

[inès ˚｡⋆౨ৎ˚ · Rating 3 out of 5]

{ 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬 }

just thought of sophie and benedict the whole time 👠

i really liked the masquerade trope and the yearly meetings. they were always so excited to meet one another and beckett always did his best to please sophia, like he was so whipped already.

the thing is everything happens so fast. so yeah, i know it’s supposed to be happening fast because it’s more a novella but with only a meeting each year, it’s not realistic to be in love already with somebody that you don’t even know in real life. if the author wanted to write a book like this, it would’ve been better for the characters to meet more often.
on the other side, these short stories where the characters fall in love immediately is something typical of cassie mint so i wouldn’t want her to change that but still. not my thing i guess 🤷🏻‍♀️.

good book with this PERFECT trope, but there’s better…

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Stranger
This book is short, some steam and a standalone [I would give this book 3.5 stars]

This book Follows Beckett and Sophia.. You will find Brother's Arch Rival, Masquerade Ball, Hidden Identity, Slow Burn and more..

Backett works hard, He is sassy, sweet, kind, caring, Badass and knows what he wants, He has an Arch Rival in business which keeps him working harder, He goes to a Masquerade ball every year and dance with a women that he falls hard for and he is going crazy that he can only see her once a year but they don't know who each other are until he finds out and works hard to get her into his life

Sophia is smart, kind, caring and knows what she wants, She loves her family, Her brother took care of her and her mum when their dad died, She loves going to the Masquerade ball for one reason and that's to have two dances with a stranger that she can't stay away from but she does find out who he is and she still goes to the ball so she can get her dance but will not tell him who she is because she thinks he might not want her when he finds out, When everything is out in the open about who she is then beckett finds a way to makes things up to her family and his Arch Rival so they can be together which is sweet

This book is packed full of:
⦁ Awesome characters
⦁ Masquerade Ball Romance
⦁ Brothers Arch Rival
⦁ Hidden Identity
⦁ Some steam with Open-door in the Office and Open-door in a building where anyone can see or hear
⦁ Both meet every year at the ball to dance
⦁ Slow Burn
⦁ Hero takes care of his woman
⦁ A wee bit of Age Gap
⦁ Virgin Trope
⦁ A wee bit of a Grumpy/Sunshine
⦁ Possessive Hero/ Touch her and you die Trope
⦁ Love at First Sight
⦁ Sweet Strong Hero
⦁ Fast Read

I really enjoyed the romance between Beckett and Sophia.. I am glad that everything worked out and they got a happy ending.. I can't wait to read more books by Cassie mint because her books are always sweet and fun reads

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cassie Mint is one of those authors where even if what she's written isn't your cup of tea, it's still really damn good. Even a "bad" Cassie Mint is so much better than so much that's out there. She tends to blow my ratings system all to hell - and I don't care, lol! This was a solid 3.5 stars, but that's still a really good rating for her!

So, our story starts at a masquerade ball where our FMC needs to get away from it all and goes into the garden where she (literally) runs into our MMC and has a dance with him in the garden and again in the ballroom. However, she runs away before he can discover her name. She realizes who he is the next day - her brother's biggest business rival. Oops. Well, she never told him her name or let him see her without the mask, so he's not going to look for her, right? He looks alright, but she's impossible to find. Fast forward to the next year, repeat. And to the year after that, repeat. But in year 4, after he's spent the year making her brother's professional life a shambles and getting the family blackballed in society, she reveals who she is and shows him just how awful he's been. He makes her a promise and a huge grovel... *swoon*

I've read a lot of Cassie Mint in 2022 and the one thing I love about her work is that she writes novellas with plots with characters who are flawed and loved and she still doesn't skimp on the steam. She is so very good with that steam... She's definitely become a go to for when I want a short read with an HEA - a perfect palate cleanser for when I've had too many feelings or a super long book.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I saw Cassie Mint had another book coming out I jumped on the opportunity to read! Her books are always quick, easy reads that aren't missing any sort of plot or spice and keep you hooked from beginning to end. After reading her Very Merry Mob series, I will forever recommend her books to everyone!

This story follows Sophia and Beckett on their journey to love and their own happily ever after. When they meet at a masquerade ball, neither know who the other is. It is only the next day that Sophia realizes who she was spending time with that throws a monkey wrench in her path to a happily ever after. With Beckett being her brother's enemy, how could it ever be okay that she fall in love with a man who feels so right for her?

Despite the short length of the story, we do get a couple of years packed into their tale. Almost the entire story follows a different year of the masquerade ball after their initial meeting and the attraction between these two never dies. It is only after the both realize who the other is that the drive to solidify their relationship once and for all begins and that certainly is never lacking. The chemistry between these two is off the charts and you really get some great character development and willingness to change and make changes that some novellas can tend to lack.

If you are looking for a quick, spicy, billionaire love story with a guaranteed happy ending, add this one to your list!

[Dawnmarie Burke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet story about family loyalty, obsession and yearning. Sophia attends a masquerade ball once a year with her family and wears a mask to hide her identity. While in the rose garden she encounters Beckett and the sparks fly between them as they dance in the garden and then inside they are drawn to each other. Sophia doesn't know who her masked man is but when she figures out that it's her older brother's biggest business rival she's torn. Sophia knows that they can't be together but she continues to dance with Beckett at the masquerade ball. Beckett knows that Sophia is his future he just has to find her but until then he will attend the masquerade ball since that's the only place he can see her and dance with her. They do this for a couple of years until Beckett sets out to destroy her brother leaving Sophia no choice but to confront him at the masquerade ball. I don't want to say anymore and ruin it for anyone else with spoilers. You really need to read this cute story to see if Beckett can win the heart of his masked lady Sophia. I would recommend reading this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Anna M_82 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Obsession. Hidden identities. Secret moments of passion. Pining. Beckett would burn the world to the ground to find her. Little does he realize he’s burning her world in the process. Her brother’s rival and nemesis because her secret love affair. One night a year at a masquerade ball they are able to be together in secret. The rest of the year he spends searching for her, unknowingly taking his frustrations out on her brother and his empire.

I couldn’t get enough of Beckett and Sophia. This book was the perfect novella length but this was a couple I would have loved more from. Without it being longer it’s still one of my new favorites! Beckett has pining, obsession, groveling down to an art form! Once he realizes what he’s done and what it could mean for a future with Sophia, he does a complete 180 and goes above and beyond to fix what was broken. If you love obsessive OTT alpha males, get this book today because you are going to crave Beckett!!

I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[R · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is like a modern fairy tale. Two soulmates hiding behind masks but know that they are THE ONE for each other. The familial obstacle. The HEA. Just add a lot more steam than your average fairy tale.
I like how Sophia’s brother is not an ass brother. I mean it’s not like he is pushing her to hate Becket. Anthony genuinely loves his sister and his family and they all want to keep their dad’s (and possibly his dad before him) legacy afloat. The siblings are close. It’s just that true love never runs smoothly.
My one gripe, the masquerade is once a year. Ok,
SPOILER
If Sophia could gwo see him after she busted her ankle, I kinda wish she had done that during year one. Then it could have sped this along. He would have wanted to send that olive branch in year 2. But this is a nit pick on my end and not worth counting a star off in any way.
Lovely story.

Please note, this does have some heavy, some would say graphic, sexual moments. If looking for a rating of G, this ain’t it.

[**Elle**Bee**Double U** · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good story.
The course of the actually story is over 5 years. Once a year Sophia and Beckett 'meet' at a masquerade ball. For Sophia she knows after the first meet who she's meeting and the repercussions that would occur should her family learn about it. But Beckett is still in the dark through the five years, though not without searching for his angel and trying to discover who his woman was.
Honestly though...I'm not sure what was missing for me with this one but there was just something. I kind of felt a bit cheated that we don't get to see the brother's reaction to his younger sister being with his 'enemy' and newest business partner. Plus we actually never know what it is that Beckett and Sophia's brother actually do for business. I really think this is something that should've been mentioned.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sophia runs into Beckett's back in the garden of a yearly masked balls. They talk and he asks for two dances. They do not know each other but he feels familiar to her. The next year, he is searching for her at the ball. When they do meet again, she knows who he is but does not tell him who she is for fear that he will not like her. They meet the next year but don't get their two dances. Will they meet a fourth year? Will he find out who she is? Will her identity end their relationship?

I enjoyed this story. I liked that it was told each year by either Sophia's or Beckett's point-of-view. I liked how the sexual arousal/desire was kept simmering each year. I also liked Beckett's solution to their problems. I loved this ending.

I look forward to more of Ms. Mint's writing.

[Sam Perez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sophia & Beckett meet every year at a masquerade ball. On the first year Beckett promises to find Sophia and after the ball Sophia realizes who the man she danced with is: her brother and family's biggest rival. She doesn't want him to figure out her identity because she feels like it will end what they have. As the years go on Beckett gets angrier that Sophia won't tell him who she is so he takes his anger out on his biggest rival. At the next ball he understands that he's made a huge mistake.

I liked this one lol it's hard for me not to enjoy a Cassie Mint book honestly. I liked how pissed Beckett was getting and how unfazed Sophia was. I am also always a big fan of grand gestures and Mr. Beckett delivered on that front.

[Zo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Go read this now … and wallow when you realise you don’t have your own Beckett

5⭐️

I’m sat here gutted that this is a novella. The way I couldn’t get enough of this the need to continue to keep reading. The plots, the tropes (and ofc spice) were so good. Brother enemy, forbidden love, tension (and no miscommunication just angst 🤩) it was a perfect short read with everything I enjoy and I will not shut up about this until further notice. Cassie is severely underrated in my opinion and this book just further my case as I can’t believe bootok/bookstagram are not raving about this. I love spice as much as the next person but I need a heaping dollop of a good plot to go with it and Cassie’s novella’s always deliver that I think there are less than 2 books that she has written that weren’t my cuppa tea!

[Candi Sellick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked Beckett. He was legitimately taken with his mystery lady and worked tirelessly for years to find her. Such a love-sick puppy. But I took off one star for Sophia. She irritated the heck out of me when, a little over halfway through the book, she got angry at Beckett for various reasons. Girl, you can’t tease the guy and lead him on for years, but then get mad when he does things without knowing who you are. Frankly, it got to the point it seemed he was the only one putting any effort into their being together. But annoying heroine aside, the book was enjoyable. I especially loved the masquerade theme and how it enhanced the mutual pining. It added a lovely touch of mystery to the romance.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enemies to lovers

Beckett and Sophia meet at a masquerade ball and it's basically instalove. They don't exchange names, but Beckett vows to find Sophia. The next day, Sophia recognizes him as her family's enemy. Beckett has no idea, so all he has of her is two stolen dances each year at the masquerade ball.

Sigh. I found this short story to be so romantic. I especially liked Sophia. She loved her family, but allowed herself those stolen moments. I also loved how she stood up to Beckett when the situation called for it. They made a great pair.

This is a standalone with dual POV. It's a safe read with some explicit language. It's a quick read yet still has tons of depth. I definitely recommend it.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really well written instalove story you can read in an hour. I enjoyed the chemistry between Sophia and Beckett from the start. Although they meet at a masquerade ball, Beckett knows Sophia is his and begins a long search for his masked lady. I was very frustrated by the timeline of this story and a little put off at first by Sophia acting immaturly and almost gave it 4 stars because of that, but the writing is so good and the characters so perfect for each other that I felt it still deserves 5 stars. The main characters get their hea, and Beckett proves himself to be worthy.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[RomanceIsMyJam · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn’t hate this. It is unrealistic and because it’s short it’s instalove. It has a mafia vibe to the story, but it’s just a businessmen rivalry thing.

I don’t know how Beckett doesn’t find out who Sofia is, but she knows him right away. And five years of masquerade balls and nothing else….really?
It wasn’t like Sofia’s family were hiding her. Come on.

I guess at least they didn’t get right to bang town. Beckett tried to redeem himself. It did make me laugh because the whole story made Anthony seem like an idiot.

Beckett’s past is eluded to, but never explored.
The story is to short. Would have liked an expanded story.