Sandy M’s review of Take a Stranger No More by Beth Kery
Historical erotic romance eBook published by Samhain 29 Apr 08

I was so excited to get this book! A new Beth Kery book! I’ve been singing her praises since I read Exorcising Sean’s Ghost, which I absolutely loved, last year. It so pains me to say this, I really didn’t enjoy Take a Stranger No More all that much.

The reason I’ve really liked Beth’s last two books I’ve read is because of the storylines, especially Sean’s Ghost. She has a tense, emotional quality to her writing that calls to me. She also gives enough of a story to go with all the erotica we read nowadays so it’s not entirely erotica, something a lot of authors out there don’t do. And that’s the biggest thing wrong with this current book for me.

The story of Max being Kit’s guardian, wanting to do what’s best for her, not wanting her to get caught up in his carnality just isn’t enough to make the erotic scenes not seem gratuitous. Even the added elements of the St. Clair servants, Max’s adoration and servitude to Kit’s parents, Kit’s friendship with Audie just didn’t help enough either. This book lacked the emotion, the intensity, the mystery, the romance of Sean’s Ghost. The same can be said of her Fire Angel. Those two books typify Beth Kery to me.

I also didn’t care for the fact that Audie and Kit were forced to have sex at Max’s whim — with his permission. They’re friends. They’ve been friends for a while. Yes, Max is Audie’s master during his service to Max and must obey him, but I just didn’t care for Max demanding and commanding Audie to do the things he did to Kit, let alone the fact that Max shouldn’t want another man’s hands or mouth on his woman, no matter how he felt about the situation. Some of the things Max commanded Audie to do just didn’t sit right. I realize that’ just Max, it’s his way to get his point across, to teach Audie, but a few of those little details were just a tad much.

I do like the characters themselves to a point. Max is the alpha hero I always like, and I do like Max a lot. I like how he tried to protect Kit even though he desired her. I like Kit. She went for what she wanted even though she was discouraged at every turn. Audie’s grief and guilt for letting Max down is a nice emotional touch. They’re all likeable characters. It’s just the storyline that doesn’t work. Maybe because it’s a shorter book? I don’t know. I’m just disappointed I can’t give this one a better grade. I’m still looking forward to the next Beth Kery, though. I always will.

Grade: C-

Read Shannon C’s review here.

     Summary:

     Once a servant…now the master.

     Kit Chevalier has a serious problem. She’s loved Max St. Clair, her sinfully handsome guardian, since she was a child of six and he a young man of nineteen. But now he stubbornly refuses to notice that she’s grown into a woman. Armed with a few shocking secrets from Max’s servant, Kit sets out to persuade him she is no longer a child.

     Long ago, Max was a servant himself, indentured like all St. Clair princelings to a noble family in order to teach them humility…and how to best pleasure their masters in bed. Once indentured to Kit’s parents, he is now pledged to protect Kit—and her virtue—until he can honorably hand her off to a suitable husband.

     And hand her off he will. Quickly, before he loses his weakening resolve to keep his own hands off her. The last thing he wants to do is expose the fragile beauty to the carnal appetites of his ancient line.

     But Max underestimates Kit’s resolve—and the passionate fires that burn within her are every bit a match for his own.

     Read an excerpt.