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Stranger in the Night
She hadn't even known his name
As an inexperienced drama student, Clare had been shocked and disgusted by the sudden and rough lovemaking of Luke, an older, handsome stranger. She had turned away from love—for good.
Now, nine years later, Clare was a famous actress. She valued her friendship with Macey Janson, a leading playwright and producer, because Macey was willing to leave it at that -- just friends.
But when chance suddenly thrust Luke back into Clare's life she faced a strange situation that was a threat to all her relationships
As an inexperienced drama student, Clare had been shocked and disgusted by the sudden and rough lovemaking of Luke, an older, handsome stranger. She had turned away from love—for good.
Now, nine years later, Clare was a famous actress. She valued her friendship with Macey Janson, a leading playwright and producer, because Macey was willing to leave it at that -- just friends.
But when chance suddenly thrust Luke back into Clare's life she faced a strange situation that was a threat to all her relationships
187 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 1981
1 person is currently reading
128 people want to read
About the author
Charlotte Lamb
261 books314 followersSheila Ann Mary Coates Holland
aka Sheila Holland, Sheila Coates, Charlotte Lamb, Sheila Lancaster, Victoria Woolf, Laura Hardy
Sheila Ann Mary Coates was born on 1937 in Essex, England, just before the Second World War in the East End of London. As a child, she was moved from relative to relative to escape the bombings of World War II. Sheila attended the Ursuline Convent for Girls. On leaving school at 16, the convent-educated author worked for the Bank of England as a clerk. Sheila continued her education by taking advantage of the B of E's enormous library during her lunch breaks and after work. She later worked as a secretary for the BBC. While there, she met and married Richard Holland, a political reporter. A voracious reader of romance novels, she began writing at her husband's suggestion. She wrote her first book in three days with three children underfoot! In between raising her five children (including a set of twins), Charlotte wrote several more novels. She used both her married and maiden names, Sheila Holland and Sheila Coates, before her first novel as Charlotte Lamb, Follow a Stranger, was published by Mills & Boon in 1973. She also used the pennames: Sheila Lancaster, Victoria Wolf and Laura Hardy. Sheila was a true revolutionary in the field of romance writing. One of the first writers to explore the boundaries of sexual desire, her novels often reflected the forefront of the "sexual revolution" of the 1970s. Her books touched on then-taboo subjects such as child abuse and rape, and she created sexually confident - even dominant - heroines. She was also one of the first to create a modern romantic heroine: independent, imperfect, and perfectly capable of initiating a sexual or romantic relationship. A prolific author, Sheila penned more than 160 novels, most of them for Mills & Boon. Known for her swiftness as well as for her skill in writing, Sheila typically wrote a minimum of two thousand words per day, working from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. While she once finished a full-length novel in four days, she herself pegged her average speed at two weeks to complete a full novel. Since 1977, Sheila had been living on the Isle of Man as a tax exile with her husband and four of their five children: Michael Holland, Sarah Holland, Jane Holland, Charlotte Holland and David Holland. Sheila passed away on October 8, 2000 in her baronial-style home 'Crogga' on the Island. She is greatly missed by her many fans, and by the romance writing community.
aka Sheila Holland, Sheila Coates, Charlotte Lamb, Sheila Lancaster, Victoria Woolf, Laura Hardy
Sheila Ann Mary Coates was born on 1937 in Essex, England, just before the Second World War in the East End of London. As a child, she was moved from relative to relative to escape the bombings of World War II. Sheila attended the Ursuline Convent for Girls. On leaving school at 16, the convent-educated author worked for the Bank of England as a clerk. Sheila continued her education by taking advantage of the B of E's enormous library during her lunch breaks and after work. She later worked as a secretary for the BBC. While there, she met and married Richard Holland, a political reporter. A voracious reader of romance novels, she began writing at her husband's suggestion. She wrote her first book in three days with three children underfoot! In between raising her five children (including a set of twins), Charlotte wrote several more novels. She used both her married and maiden names, Sheila Holland and Sheila Coates, before her first novel as Charlotte Lamb, Follow a Stranger, was published by Mills & Boon in 1973. She also used the pennames: Sheila Lancaster, Victoria Wolf and Laura Hardy. Sheila was a true revolutionary in the field of romance writing. One of the first writers to explore the boundaries of sexual desire, her novels often reflected the forefront of the "sexual revolution" of the 1970s. Her books touched on then-taboo subjects such as child abuse and rape, and she created sexually confident - even dominant - heroines. She was also one of the first to create a modern romantic heroine: independent, imperfect, and perfectly capable of initiating a sexual or romantic relationship. A prolific author, Sheila penned more than 160 novels, most of them for Mills & Boon. Known for her swiftness as well as for her skill in writing, Sheila typically wrote a minimum of two thousand words per day, working from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. While she once finished a full-length novel in four days, she herself pegged her average speed at two weeks to complete a full novel. Since 1977, Sheila had been living on the Isle of Man as a tax exile with her husband and four of their five children: Michael Holland, Sarah Holland, Jane Holland, Charlotte Holland and David Holland. Sheila passed away on October 8, 2000 in her baronial-style home 'Crogga' on the Island. She is greatly missed by her many fans, and by the romance writing community.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
October 31, 2017
Another very well done story by Charlotte Lamb. Unlike some of the more contemporary romance writers she takes time to develop her story and her characters.
Clare, the heroine, was raped at a New Year’s Eve party at 18, and has shut down her physical responses to men since. Of course she never seeks any therapy, and for the era, early 80s, that’s not so surprising. She’s an up and coming actress, and in a way, she channels her horrible experience, her cynicism and distrust in positive ways as she is no pushover in a career that definitely takes advantage of women. Interesting reading this in the post-Harvey Weinstein era as the media makes it sound like rape/sexual harassment in show business is just now rearing its ugly head when the casting couch has been going on for ever.
Ironically although she is shut down emotionally and physically with men, her long time best friend happens to be male. The hero is the long-suffering and patient Macey, famous playwright to her actress. They are kind of the dark side of When Harry Met Sally. Can men and women be friends?
The friendship/unrequited love is perking along until the evil villain comes on the scene again and acts as another catalyst to the hero and heroine. The villain tries to make his move on the heroine again which she is not up for. His smarmy presence as well as the hero’s desire to punch him into the next millennium releases the heroine’s emotions, and she starts to see the H in a different life. Sexually.
Sartorial alert: Villain wears a blue denim suit. I don’t know what it is with Harlequins and their men’s costuming, but please, a denim suit!
Well done secondary characters are an incredibly annoying older actress that is so OTT she not only steals scenes in the book but tries to get the heroine displaced in a play written just for her, and the potential OW with eyes on the hero.
Two scenes I would loved to have read.
One, I was hoping for the villain to come back on the scene again as it would have been so satisfying to see him flattened, but the coward left the country.
Two, to see Rowena, the older actress, get schooled as a minor character in the play.
Clare, the heroine, was raped at a New Year’s Eve party at 18, and has shut down her physical responses to men since. Of course she never seeks any therapy, and for the era, early 80s, that’s not so surprising. She’s an up and coming actress, and in a way, she channels her horrible experience, her cynicism and distrust in positive ways as she is no pushover in a career that definitely takes advantage of women. Interesting reading this in the post-Harvey Weinstein era as the media makes it sound like rape/sexual harassment in show business is just now rearing its ugly head when the casting couch has been going on for ever.
Ironically although she is shut down emotionally and physically with men, her long time best friend happens to be male. The hero is the long-suffering and patient Macey, famous playwright to her actress. They are kind of the dark side of When Harry Met Sally. Can men and women be friends?
The friendship/unrequited love is perking along until the evil villain comes on the scene again and acts as another catalyst to the hero and heroine. The villain tries to make his move on the heroine again which she is not up for. His smarmy presence as well as the hero’s desire to punch him into the next millennium releases the heroine’s emotions, and she starts to see the H in a different life. Sexually.
Sartorial alert: Villain wears a blue denim suit. I don’t know what it is with Harlequins and their men’s costuming, but please, a denim suit!
Well done secondary characters are an incredibly annoying older actress that is so OTT she not only steals scenes in the book but tries to get the heroine displaced in a play written just for her, and the potential OW with eyes on the hero.
Two scenes I would loved to have read.
One, I was hoping for the villain to come back on the scene again as it would have been so satisfying to see him flattened, but the coward left the country.
Two, to see Rowena, the older actress, get schooled as a minor character in the play.
December 5, 2016
It was a pretty great book, and especially in the context of the time it was written in, compassionate and insightful in its approach dealing with a woman who has been completely traumatized after a date rape at the age of eighteen.
I loved the hero in this one. He has been carrying a torch for her for seven years, because a platonic friendship with her is better than an empty sexual relationship with another. They are best friends, literally finishing sentences for each other, communicating through their eyes or the most subtle body language. They sense each other's slightest change of moods. They also admire each other respectively for their craft (he is a playwright, she is an actress). Finally, they even enjoy silence together.
What stands between them is the awful trauma of heroine's past assault and this book deals with the circumstances whereby the truth is torturously, slowly but surely, extracted from the heroine by the hero, giving her in the end the chance to finally lift the weight she has been carrying her whole life and begin living.
I loved how the hero was so kick ass, threatening to beat the weasel who was responsible for her assault to Kingdom come, reassuring the heroine that she should not feel guilt or revulsion for something that happened to her, and NOT something she asked for or deserved. He was so caring and passionate. Yes, he had his OTT moments too but that is par for the course in a Harlequin and the author made sure to stress that no matter how he felt out of control for his desire for the heroine, he would have never, ever forced her the way the weasel did, and would rather cut his own throat than harm her.
I was really, really disappointed by the abrupt ending, which seemed forced. I would have liked for the heroine and hero to spend some more time together before exchanging their I love yous and getting their HE A because as the hero pointed out, the heroine was still in enough emotional turmoil to not know what to do with all the feelings she had bottled up for ten years and he did not want to be her rebound guy, but her forever guy.
Wish the author had been able to prolong their story into the rehearsal and staging of the play they were both to be involved in shortly. The play was written by the hero with heroine in mind. It was kind of a Roman a clef, with him guessing about the traumatic event in her past that had affected her so much and writing a play around it. It would have been nice to have them officially fall in love during that time instead of abruptly, with the heroine getting jealous of some other woman making goo goo eyes at him and deciding to brand him before someone else did.
Overall, really liked it, loved the hero, but ending kind of spoiled it.
I loved the hero in this one. He has been carrying a torch for her for seven years, because a platonic friendship with her is better than an empty sexual relationship with another. They are best friends, literally finishing sentences for each other, communicating through their eyes or the most subtle body language. They sense each other's slightest change of moods. They also admire each other respectively for their craft (he is a playwright, she is an actress). Finally, they even enjoy silence together.
What stands between them is the awful trauma of heroine's past assault and this book deals with the circumstances whereby the truth is torturously, slowly but surely, extracted from the heroine by the hero, giving her in the end the chance to finally lift the weight she has been carrying her whole life and begin living.
I loved how the hero was so kick ass, threatening to beat the weasel who was responsible for her assault to Kingdom come, reassuring the heroine that she should not feel guilt or revulsion for something that happened to her, and NOT something she asked for or deserved. He was so caring and passionate. Yes, he had his OTT moments too but that is par for the course in a Harlequin and the author made sure to stress that no matter how he felt out of control for his desire for the heroine, he would have never, ever forced her the way the weasel did, and would rather cut his own throat than harm her.
I was really, really disappointed by the abrupt ending, which seemed forced. I would have liked for the heroine and hero to spend some more time together before exchanging their I love yous and getting their HE A because as the hero pointed out, the heroine was still in enough emotional turmoil to not know what to do with all the feelings she had bottled up for ten years and he did not want to be her rebound guy, but her forever guy.
Wish the author had been able to prolong their story into the rehearsal and staging of the play they were both to be involved in shortly. The play was written by the hero with heroine in mind. It was kind of a Roman a clef, with him guessing about the traumatic event in her past that had affected her so much and writing a play around it. It would have been nice to have them officially fall in love during that time instead of abruptly, with the heroine getting jealous of some other woman making goo goo eyes at him and deciding to brand him before someone else did.
Overall, really liked it, loved the hero, but ending kind of spoiled it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 1, 2021
Charlotte Lamb’s Stanger in the Night deals with a sensitive topic she’s approached several times: rape. No, it does not employ the controversial trope of “dubious consent” found in many Harlequins from the 1970s and 1980s. This is a healing love story about a traumatic assault that upended a woman’s life and almost destroyed her ability to find a romantic relationship.
On the surface, the set-up of Stanger in the Night might share some commonalities with Emma Darcy’s Don't Ask Me Now., which had an actual love triangle plot. Here, the heroine Clare is living a good life as a successful actress. She has a male friend Macey, a writer and producer whom she keeps at bay, however much he adores her.
Macey is also a nice guy, one of the most gentle and understanding heroes in an old-school Harlequin Presents. Not a “beta” male, mind you, but a decent man whose aura commands respect. He’s supportive, assertive–not domineering–, and quite sexy to boot.
Macey’s more possessive instincts come to the forefront when a fellow from Clare’s past comes back into her life. While she and this handsome man, Luke, share a past connection, it’s not what Macey thinks. Nine years ago, Clare was a student at a party where she imbibed a bit too much alcohol. The predatory Luke took advantage of Clare and violated her.
In the ensuing years, Clare’s built herself a solid career on stage and screen. Along the way, Macey has been there as a trustworthy friend. He’s never hidden his attraction, even though Clare has no desire for romantic entanglements. For years Macey suffered in silence from unrequited love, never pursuing her in a predatory manner. Macey knows that would scare Clare away, and he’d rather have her in his life as a friend instead of not being there at all.
At first, Macey thinks Luke broke Clare’s heart long ago, making him insecure and jealous. It takes some time for the truth to be revealed, and when it is, Macey provides Clare a strong shoulder lean on. He’s there for her to unload the emotional baggage she’s been carrying all alone for so long. What’s more, he wants Luke to pay for the brutal crime committed against the woman Macey loves.
As usual, Lamb’s strength is in her characterization. Clare and Macey seem like authentic people with genuine concerns. Macey’s love for her is evident, but Clare struggles to deal with her feelings of sexual desire for him. In the end, Clare must learn to put the past behind her and not allow one horrific situation to define the rest of her life. Love is an emotion she needs to experience in order to heal.
Charlotte Lamb readers might note the similarities between this book and her full-length novel, A Violation. Both stories feature a heroine named Claire/Clare who must deal with the aftermath of rape and how it affects her and the people in her life. Where A Violation read more like women’s fiction with a Happy For Now conclusion, Stranger In the Night is a true romance with a Happily Ever After.
The only flaw in this book is that A Violation had the luxury of being twice Stranger In the Night's length. So some scenes come off a bit rushed and condensed. Regardless, this Harlequin Presents by one of my favorite authors is a book I could not put down. It’s a keeper for an indomitable heroine and a wonderful hero whose love is strong but never forceful.
5 stars
On the surface, the set-up of Stanger in the Night might share some commonalities with Emma Darcy’s Don't Ask Me Now., which had an actual love triangle plot. Here, the heroine Clare is living a good life as a successful actress. She has a male friend Macey, a writer and producer whom she keeps at bay, however much he adores her.
Macey is also a nice guy, one of the most gentle and understanding heroes in an old-school Harlequin Presents. Not a “beta” male, mind you, but a decent man whose aura commands respect. He’s supportive, assertive–not domineering–, and quite sexy to boot.
Macey’s more possessive instincts come to the forefront when a fellow from Clare’s past comes back into her life. While she and this handsome man, Luke, share a past connection, it’s not what Macey thinks. Nine years ago, Clare was a student at a party where she imbibed a bit too much alcohol. The predatory Luke took advantage of Clare and violated her.
In the ensuing years, Clare’s built herself a solid career on stage and screen. Along the way, Macey has been there as a trustworthy friend. He’s never hidden his attraction, even though Clare has no desire for romantic entanglements. For years Macey suffered in silence from unrequited love, never pursuing her in a predatory manner. Macey knows that would scare Clare away, and he’d rather have her in his life as a friend instead of not being there at all.
At first, Macey thinks Luke broke Clare’s heart long ago, making him insecure and jealous. It takes some time for the truth to be revealed, and when it is, Macey provides Clare a strong shoulder lean on. He’s there for her to unload the emotional baggage she’s been carrying all alone for so long. What’s more, he wants Luke to pay for the brutal crime committed against the woman Macey loves.
As usual, Lamb’s strength is in her characterization. Clare and Macey seem like authentic people with genuine concerns. Macey’s love for her is evident, but Clare struggles to deal with her feelings of sexual desire for him. In the end, Clare must learn to put the past behind her and not allow one horrific situation to define the rest of her life. Love is an emotion she needs to experience in order to heal.
Charlotte Lamb readers might note the similarities between this book and her full-length novel, A Violation. Both stories feature a heroine named Claire/Clare who must deal with the aftermath of rape and how it affects her and the people in her life. Where A Violation read more like women’s fiction with a Happy For Now conclusion, Stranger In the Night is a true romance with a Happily Ever After.
The only flaw in this book is that A Violation had the luxury of being twice Stranger In the Night's length. So some scenes come off a bit rushed and condensed. Regardless, this Harlequin Presents by one of my favorite authors is a book I could not put down. It’s a keeper for an indomitable heroine and a wonderful hero whose love is strong but never forceful.
5 stars
October 12, 2017
This one was hard to warm up to. The heroine is brutally date raped in the first chapter and then the narrative picks up 9 years later in Nice, France. The hero is not the rapist - thank goodness. The hero is a playwright who has been in love with the heroine ever since they met a few months after her date rape.
The heroine is so frozen that she doesn't really register what the hero feels for her. The catalyst for their romance is the date rapist coming back into the heroine's life and the heroine finally talking about it.
Naksed's review has more spoilers and she also makes a good point about the rather abrupt ending. I also would have liked to see how the H/h handled the play he wrote about her date rape and the other poor actress who had a crush on the hero. Those threads were never tied off. Another whip lash moment: for all the the brittle sophistication of the H/h's dialogue, the heroine only has to say I Love You to break the impasse. That didn't quite fit with what came before.
Still, this was a good look at the effects of date rape and why women didn't come forward back in the day (and still don't, sadly).
The heroine is so frozen that she doesn't really register what the hero feels for her. The catalyst for their romance is the date rapist coming back into the heroine's life and the heroine finally talking about it.
Naksed's review has more spoilers and she also makes a good point about the rather abrupt ending. I also would have liked to see how the H/h handled the play he wrote about her date rape and the other poor actress who had a crush on the hero. Those threads were never tied off. Another whip lash moment: for all the the brittle sophistication of the H/h's dialogue, the heroine only has to say I Love You to break the impasse. That didn't quite fit with what came before.
Still, this was a good look at the effects of date rape and why women didn't come forward back in the day (and still don't, sadly).
November 20, 2017
Drier than a mouth full of crackers.
This book has the honor of being one of the most bland romances I've read to date by the late, great Charlotte Lamb. Even though the heroine experienced a "rough lovemaking" session (euphemism for a traumatic rape, gotta love the PC of it all—not) and the hero suffered unrequited love for seven years, I just couldn't empathize with their struggles because of the dry, clinical writing. I wanted to. I really, really did. So this definitely lacked a good measure of romance and angst for me. :(
This book has the honor of being one of the most bland romances I've read to date by the late, great Charlotte Lamb. Even though the heroine experienced a "rough lovemaking" session (euphemism for a traumatic rape, gotta love the PC of it all—not) and the hero suffered unrequited love for seven years, I just couldn't empathize with their struggles because of the dry, clinical writing. I wanted to. I really, really did. So this definitely lacked a good measure of romance and angst for me. :(
August 27, 2020
"Stranger in the Night" is the story of Clare and Macey.
Woah.
The book begins with a horrid rape of the heroine. She goes to a party, drinks too much alcohol, only to be traumatized for life by a horrible man. We then move 9 years later, when she's a successful young actress and the hero is her boss. She has always been a distant, cold woman, but all that changes when OM enters her life again..
Honestly, I was SO AFRAID that the creepy should-be-shot rapist was our hero. Thankfully, it turned out to be another man, who was semi rapey (she ends up consenting after being terrified) but equally angry and volatile.
I feel sexual violence could be treated with much more sensivity in romance, and while there is no victim shaming here, I felt the hero didn't respect her consent where it mattered. The book did have it's moments- like a patient hero, that is why I won't rate it lower.
SWE
2.5/5
Woah.
The book begins with a horrid rape of the heroine. She goes to a party, drinks too much alcohol, only to be traumatized for life by a horrible man. We then move 9 years later, when she's a successful young actress and the hero is her boss. She has always been a distant, cold woman, but all that changes when OM enters her life again..
Honestly, I was SO AFRAID that the creepy should-be-shot rapist was our hero. Thankfully, it turned out to be another man, who was semi rapey (she ends up consenting after being terrified) but equally angry and volatile.
I feel sexual violence could be treated with much more sensivity in romance, and while there is no victim shaming here, I felt the hero didn't respect her consent where it mattered. The book did have it's moments- like a patient hero, that is why I won't rate it lower.
SWE
2.5/5
April 11, 2023
This was such a nice surprise. Some spoilery stuff below, if anyone cares about being spoiled about HP content.
The story starts out with 18-year-old Clare being raped after a drunken night at a party. Years later, she's a successful actress, but has withheld herself from relationships because of her devastating experience. Then she runs into Luke, the guy who assaulted her, at a party. Her male BFF Macey, who has been friends with her for 7 years, is immediately protective as Clare tries to come to terms with seeing Luke again.
Charlotte Lamb gets full props for writing this in a way where you aren't really sure for awhile where the story is going. With most Harlequins, 27-year-old Clare would most certainly fall in love with the good-looking Luke. But no!! She recognizes what Luke did to her, defines it as rape, and is revolted by his advances. Instead, she gradually begins to realize that she has feelings for Macey,
who has been patiently biding his time, recognizing that Clare has some undefined trauma, and waiting for her to tell him about it. Her awakening sexual awareness of him, as well as the many hints dropped from the very beginning about his feelings for her, are well done. It's rare to find a HP hero who is as (overall) sensitive to the heroine's feelings as this; he even says to her, as things near the climax and he fears she only wants him because she is becoming aware of her own sexuality, that he would rather see her married to someone else than to settle for a brief fling and an end to their friendship. I mean...!! Practically sainthood in Harlequin land.
Witty banter, good relationship between the two of them before it turns romantic, and nice heroine character development from naive teenager to confident adult. I liked it so much, I went right back to the beginning to skim over the good parts when I finished it.
The story starts out with 18-year-old Clare being raped after a drunken night at a party. Years later, she's a successful actress, but has withheld herself from relationships because of her devastating experience. Then she runs into Luke, the guy who assaulted her, at a party. Her male BFF Macey, who has been friends with her for 7 years, is immediately protective as Clare tries to come to terms with seeing Luke again.
Charlotte Lamb gets full props for writing this in a way where you aren't really sure for awhile where the story is going. With most Harlequins, 27-year-old Clare would most certainly fall in love with the good-looking Luke. But no!! She recognizes what Luke did to her, defines it as rape, and is revolted by his advances. Instead, she gradually begins to realize that she has feelings for Macey,
who has been patiently biding his time, recognizing that Clare has some undefined trauma, and waiting for her to tell him about it. Her awakening sexual awareness of him, as well as the many hints dropped from the very beginning about his feelings for her, are well done. It's rare to find a HP hero who is as (overall) sensitive to the heroine's feelings as this; he even says to her, as things near the climax and he fears she only wants him because she is becoming aware of her own sexuality, that he would rather see her married to someone else than to settle for a brief fling and an end to their friendship. I mean...!! Practically sainthood in Harlequin land.
Witty banter, good relationship between the two of them before it turns romantic, and nice heroine character development from naive teenager to confident adult. I liked it so much, I went right back to the beginning to skim over the good parts when I finished it.
September 26, 2014
I love how the back blurb calls Date Rape "rough lovemaking" back in ole 1981.
This is a pretty good unrequited love story. Heroine is an actress. Hero is a playwright so we get b!tchier repartee than usual. Set in a villa in Nice, France.
This is a pretty good unrequited love story. Heroine is an actress. Hero is a playwright so we get b!tchier repartee than usual. Set in a villa in Nice, France.
January 25, 2023
You know how very occasionally you read a HP and you're excited all the way through because you know you've found yourself a keeper? For me, it's that. Next level writing, complexity, characterization and pacing from a category romance writer at the top of her game. This one is intense with zinging dialogue and leashed sensuality. The H, Macey is the intelligent, witty, controlled type who wears his alphaness lightly but is an absolute velvety dom underneath it all. The good type. The type who knows when to stop and when to call a stop. They do exist, although I suspect they are quite rare.
The first chapter is terrible. In the sense that what happens to the h, Clare, is terrible and an all too common real life scenario. An innocent whose burgeoning sexuality and romanticism is cynically taken advantage of at a party by an older man who is out for what he wants and won't take no for an answer. It's a rape. And the poor h is frozen inside and full of self recrimination for the next 9 years. It's stark.
"She had been less than nothing to him, yet he had been the formative experience of her whole life."
Luckily her professional life goes from strength to strength. She's an actor and the H was also an actor (they met in drama school and have been close friends ever since) although he's now a successful playwright/screenwriter and director. The bulk of the story takes place in the glamorous, gorgeous Cote d'Azur where they are holidaying in a private villa. It's clear that he's loved her for years but has accepted the friendzone.
All the careful, bantering, lighthearted friendship comes crashing down when they attend a party to meet up with grande dame actress who will be in the next play with them and whose godson turns out to be the vile rapist. The niece also has a passionate crush on Macey, although this isn't so much a typical ambiguous OW scenario as insight into what unrequited love *can* be like (rather than the restrained Macey version) and to enable the lance of jealousy that finally fells the scales from Clare's eyes.
The tension, the emotional push and pull, both within Clare and between the two of them as friends/lovers to be is beautifully, intelligently wrought. CLs experience shines through. It's character driven to the max.
I could have done without the one or two "little bitch" expressions. I get that Macey was doing this in extremis but it's not a way I'd ever be spoken to. And the other thing I take exception to (and I'd like to think CL would too, if she were around today) was after she is raped whilst under the influence of alcohol, Clare "realised now just what sort of girl he had thought she was...He had brought her here with him, believing her to be available, imagining she knew precisely what was in his mind. "
The poor girl is taking on victim blame.There is no "sort of girl". There are scenarios, levels of sex drive, curiosity and openness to new experiences which can vary from person to person or indeed within the same person at different times and the only underpinning characteristic of any and all sexual encounters is consent. How we were sold the patriarchal bs "nice girls don't" (and it's dangerous flipside: you are inviting rape if you deviate from this rule, as if anything a woman does is a reliable protector against rape) sickens me now.
The dismantling of the double standard and the control and policing of women's sexuality and behaviour is long overdue. Likewise upholding the primacy and necessity of consent.
The first chapter is terrible. In the sense that what happens to the h, Clare, is terrible and an all too common real life scenario. An innocent whose burgeoning sexuality and romanticism is cynically taken advantage of at a party by an older man who is out for what he wants and won't take no for an answer. It's a rape. And the poor h is frozen inside and full of self recrimination for the next 9 years. It's stark.
"She had been less than nothing to him, yet he had been the formative experience of her whole life."
Luckily her professional life goes from strength to strength. She's an actor and the H was also an actor (they met in drama school and have been close friends ever since) although he's now a successful playwright/screenwriter and director. The bulk of the story takes place in the glamorous, gorgeous Cote d'Azur where they are holidaying in a private villa. It's clear that he's loved her for years but has accepted the friendzone.
All the careful, bantering, lighthearted friendship comes crashing down when they attend a party to meet up with grande dame actress who will be in the next play with them and whose godson turns out to be the vile rapist. The niece also has a passionate crush on Macey, although this isn't so much a typical ambiguous OW scenario as insight into what unrequited love *can* be like (rather than the restrained Macey version) and to enable the lance of jealousy that finally fells the scales from Clare's eyes.
The tension, the emotional push and pull, both within Clare and between the two of them as friends/lovers to be is beautifully, intelligently wrought. CLs experience shines through. It's character driven to the max.
I could have done without the one or two "little bitch" expressions. I get that Macey was doing this in extremis but it's not a way I'd ever be spoken to. And the other thing I take exception to (and I'd like to think CL would too, if she were around today) was after she is raped whilst under the influence of alcohol, Clare "realised now just what sort of girl he had thought she was...He had brought her here with him, believing her to be available, imagining she knew precisely what was in his mind. "
The poor girl is taking on victim blame.There is no "sort of girl". There are scenarios, levels of sex drive, curiosity and openness to new experiences which can vary from person to person or indeed within the same person at different times and the only underpinning characteristic of any and all sexual encounters is consent. How we were sold the patriarchal bs "nice girls don't" (and it's dangerous flipside: you are inviting rape if you deviate from this rule, as if anything a woman does is a reliable protector against rape) sickens me now.
The dismantling of the double standard and the control and policing of women's sexuality and behaviour is long overdue. Likewise upholding the primacy and necessity of consent.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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February 13, 2022The Long Surrender and Stanger in the Night have similarities but as a HP Stranger in the Night is not holding my interest. Otherwise well written as always.
November 11, 2021
I am going through a serious Charlotte Lamb/older Harlequin books phase because frankly, they're new to me and I find reading books "set in the past" but are actually contemporary (since they were written IN that time period) to be fascinating. We read books written now about a previous decade and honestly, it never gets it quite right because the author goes out of their way to bring up all the defining characteristics of the era; however, they miss the nuances (like the h's wearing panty hose which was de riguer for women up until the early 2000's. Yeah, that's right, early 2000's. I remember this because I worked in a business setting and I remember when it finally became ALLOWED for women to go to work without hosiery. I lived in Florida where summer was like 100 degrees (that be Farenheit) and panty hose was a form of h*ll. Suddenly NOT having to wear panty hose was right up there with freakin' bra burning).
Where was I. Oh. So this story in particular was a toss up whether it was a 4 or 5 star read. There are some problems with it which tips it to 4 star but the way it ends simply makes it 5 for me. The main reason is, have you ever read a book where the h gets treated horribly by the H who walks away. Then the h find a nice guy and you really like him. Then the ahole H shows up and the h can't deny she's always loved him and meanwhile you're thinking "I would really REALLY love to read where the h gives the H the finger and goes with Mr. Beta." Well, this book started out making me concerned that after the h's horrendous rape in the beginning that she would end up with him when he returns partway into the story. I mean, I honestly got a little stressed and angry because if she felt conflicted about her feelings for the guy, I was going to burn the book. Well, delete it anyways. However, what we get is an interesting story that shows the mind set of its time period and what's REALLY scary is that mindset is STILL in evidence today.
The story starts very believably as the h is young (barely 18) and has left the rural area she grew up in to study drama in London. She is teased by her roommate for her lack of worldly knowledge which results in the h caving in to peer pressure by wearing a sexy dress and attending a grown up party of drama folks, etc. where she is promptly ditched by her roommate. She's uncomfortable and drinks too much. She is beyond a doubt barely standing up drunk. She's approached by an older, handsome man who gets her to dance with him. In her fog induced state she thinks "It's just like in the fairy tales where girl meets handsome, worldly guy and falls madly in love." The H tells her he's going to take her to another party. In her innocent (and very much drunk state) she stumbles along only to discover it's his bedroom. She's gets sober quick and fights him telling him no but hey, one thing the H can't stand is a tease who says no. The h is badly traumatized (of course!) and looks at him closely so she can remember his face.
What follows is a great story of a woman who could not speak up and tell anyone of what had happened. She hates herself for being "stupid and naive." She feels nothing but disgust and responsibility for what happened (she was dressed too sexy, she was pretending to be someone she wasn't, she had been drunk). Sound familiar? Yeah, because it still happens today. She feels that people will look at her different, that she was asking for it.
Meanwhile, she develops a lovely relationship with a male playwright/director whom she has TOTALLY friend zoned. What follows is his faithful friendship to her for SEVEN years of unrequited love.
What makes me want to knock this down to a 4 star read? At one point, the friend puts the moves on the h. In this case, she DOES encourage him but at the last moment, she freezes up because he's a little too aggressive and it reminds her of that night. She screams and fights and the friend gets angry and says that basically she brought this onto herself and now she's saying no. It brings back to her memories of what her rapist had said to her coupled with her own self recriminations. However, I am going to overlook this because as the h later realizes, the friend DOES stop and pull back. While angry and frustrated, he knows that no means no.
Anyway, really worth a read IMO. However, the r*pe while not especially graphic is very impactful so could be a potential trigger.
Where was I. Oh. So this story in particular was a toss up whether it was a 4 or 5 star read. There are some problems with it which tips it to 4 star but the way it ends simply makes it 5 for me. The main reason is, have you ever read a book where the h gets treated horribly by the H who walks away. Then the h find a nice guy and you really like him. Then the ahole H shows up and the h can't deny she's always loved him and meanwhile you're thinking "I would really REALLY love to read where the h gives the H the finger and goes with Mr. Beta." Well, this book started out making me concerned that after the h's horrendous rape in the beginning that she would end up with him when he returns partway into the story. I mean, I honestly got a little stressed and angry because if she felt conflicted about her feelings for the guy, I was going to burn the book. Well, delete it anyways. However, what we get is an interesting story that shows the mind set of its time period and what's REALLY scary is that mindset is STILL in evidence today.
The story starts very believably as the h is young (barely 18) and has left the rural area she grew up in to study drama in London. She is teased by her roommate for her lack of worldly knowledge which results in the h caving in to peer pressure by wearing a sexy dress and attending a grown up party of drama folks, etc. where she is promptly ditched by her roommate. She's uncomfortable and drinks too much. She is beyond a doubt barely standing up drunk. She's approached by an older, handsome man who gets her to dance with him. In her fog induced state she thinks "It's just like in the fairy tales where girl meets handsome, worldly guy and falls madly in love." The H tells her he's going to take her to another party. In her innocent (and very much drunk state) she stumbles along only to discover it's his bedroom. She's gets sober quick and fights him telling him no but hey, one thing the H can't stand is a tease who says no. The h is badly traumatized (of course!) and looks at him closely so she can remember his face.
What follows is a great story of a woman who could not speak up and tell anyone of what had happened. She hates herself for being "stupid and naive." She feels nothing but disgust and responsibility for what happened (she was dressed too sexy, she was pretending to be someone she wasn't, she had been drunk). Sound familiar? Yeah, because it still happens today. She feels that people will look at her different, that she was asking for it.
Meanwhile, she develops a lovely relationship with a male playwright/director whom she has TOTALLY friend zoned. What follows is his faithful friendship to her for SEVEN years of unrequited love.
What makes me want to knock this down to a 4 star read? At one point, the friend puts the moves on the h. In this case, she DOES encourage him but at the last moment, she freezes up because he's a little too aggressive and it reminds her of that night. She screams and fights and the friend gets angry and says that basically she brought this onto herself and now she's saying no. It brings back to her memories of what her rapist had said to her coupled with her own self recriminations. However, I am going to overlook this because as the h later realizes, the friend DOES stop and pull back. While angry and frustrated, he knows that no means no.
Anyway, really worth a read IMO. However, the r*pe while not especially graphic is very impactful so could be a potential trigger.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 19, 2018
I read this years ago, in high school, this is one of my favorites from Charlotte Lamb. It was very different from the usual Harlequins of its time. For one, the heroine is a victim of rape. This was also one of the first instances where we have a damaged, commitment phobic heroine, which is standard fare now, but not back then.
The description of the villain can easily be one for the standard Hero. He is tall, handsome, charming. A wealthy successful older man. The heroine is attracted to him and thrilled with his attentions. His kisses excite and arouse her. If this had been the usual Harlequin, there would have been a forced seduction (not quite rape), the heroine would have run away, and when they meet again, hero/villain would have forced her into a sham marriage for revenge, but they would have found their HEA anyway.
Well this was NOT that book. In this book, the charming handsome rapist is really the villain. After the traumatic night, the heroine escapes and she manages to get on with her life. Nine years later the heroine is a successful actress. And her best friend/colleague, is the Hero of the story. He has been in love with her for many years, but has carefully hidden this fact from her. The reader sees this in his tender treatment of her, his ambiguous statements and the way he bristles protectively when they encounter the villain. The heroine has kept her deeper emotions in cold storage this whole time and seeing her rapist is the catalyst that forces her to mature emotionally and sexually. Though She hates the villain, this is the strongest emotion she has shown for another man in years. It puts the poor hero in a panic.
The Hero was so sweet and supportive of the heroine. He knew she had suffered an emotional trauma that locked in her deeper feelings, but had not guessed exactly what is was. He had been prepared to have her friendship just so he could continue being part of her life. The heroine's reaction to the villain torments him when he imagines she is in love with the other man. He forces a confession from her and charges off to defend his true love's honor. He is a modern day knight in shining armor. I'm glad they got their happy ending.
The description of the villain can easily be one for the standard Hero. He is tall, handsome, charming. A wealthy successful older man. The heroine is attracted to him and thrilled with his attentions. His kisses excite and arouse her. If this had been the usual Harlequin, there would have been a forced seduction (not quite rape), the heroine would have run away, and when they meet again, hero/villain would have forced her into a sham marriage for revenge, but they would have found their HEA anyway.
Well this was NOT that book. In this book, the charming handsome rapist is really the villain. After the traumatic night, the heroine escapes and she manages to get on with her life. Nine years later the heroine is a successful actress. And her best friend/colleague, is the Hero of the story. He has been in love with her for many years, but has carefully hidden this fact from her. The reader sees this in his tender treatment of her, his ambiguous statements and the way he bristles protectively when they encounter the villain. The heroine has kept her deeper emotions in cold storage this whole time and seeing her rapist is the catalyst that forces her to mature emotionally and sexually. Though She hates the villain, this is the strongest emotion she has shown for another man in years. It puts the poor hero in a panic.
The Hero was so sweet and supportive of the heroine. He knew she had suffered an emotional trauma that locked in her deeper feelings, but had not guessed exactly what is was. He had been prepared to have her friendship just so he could continue being part of her life. The heroine's reaction to the villain torments him when he imagines she is in love with the other man. He forces a confession from her and charges off to defend his true love's honor. He is a modern day knight in shining armor. I'm glad they got their happy ending.
November 24, 2014
A nice read.I wasn't sure until halfway through the book, who would she end up with. I was so keyed up, i jumped to the last page just to the mystery... lol..
I enjoyed it.
I enjoyed it.
April 6, 2022
Read this a while ago but forgot to review it.
If you read HPs you surely have found some where the OM is the good guy but the jerk H gets the girl. Sometimes I want to see the good guy win.
All through this story I feared she’d end up with the attractive older man, rich, arrogant, a typical HP H. That’s the villain here, the creep who raped her years ago. It wasn’t until the real H, a bonafide good guy, tells her that he’s done asking. If she turns him down this time they are done, no more best friends. Excellent.
If you read HPs you surely have found some where the OM is the good guy but the jerk H gets the girl. Sometimes I want to see the good guy win.
All through this story I feared she’d end up with the attractive older man, rich, arrogant, a typical HP H. That’s the villain here, the creep who raped her years ago. It wasn’t until the real H, a bonafide good guy, tells her that he’s done asking. If she turns him down this time they are done, no more best friends. Excellent.
abrierto-to-read-hr-other
November 12, 2022She hadn't even known his name
As an inexperienced drama student, Clare had been shocked and disgusted by the sudden and rough lovemaking of Luke, an older, handsome stranger. She had turned away from love—for good.
Now, nine years later, Clare was a famous actress. She valued her friendship with Macey Janson, a leading playwright and producer, because Macey was willing to leave it at that -- just friends.
But when chance suddenly thrust Luke back into Clare's life she faced a strange situation that was a threat to all her relationships (
As an inexperienced drama student, Clare had been shocked and disgusted by the sudden and rough lovemaking of Luke, an older, handsome stranger. She had turned away from love—for good.
Now, nine years later, Clare was a famous actress. She valued her friendship with Macey Janson, a leading playwright and producer, because Macey was willing to leave it at that -- just friends.
But when chance suddenly thrust Luke back into Clare's life she faced a strange situation that was a threat to all her relationships (
July 16, 2024
This book made me so sad for Clare. Her whole adult life was shadowed by a horrible event that happened when she was 18. As happy and successful as she became, she had deep trauma and bottled it up to not ever be so vulnerable again.
I didn’t love the man she ended up with, he was too pushy and aggravating, especially in light of what had happened to Clare. And the perpetrator did not get what deserved; he just jetted off to Paris :(
I didn’t love the man she ended up with, he was too pushy and aggravating, especially in light of what had happened to Clare. And the perpetrator did not get what deserved; he just jetted off to Paris :(
March 4, 2021
While I’m sure for the time in which Stranger in the Night was written Lamb’s handling of rape and rape recovery was fairly progressive within the romance world, her thinly drawn and repetitive characters and rampant internalize misogyny create a story that is probably best left to die hard Charlotte Lamb fans and academics studying sexual violence in romance.
August 18, 2022
A surprisingly good book. Well developed characters, hero that had unrequited love and wasn’t an asshole. A heroine it wasn’t an idiot too much. I do wish that she would’ve gotten therapy earlier but being in a similar situation I can understand the desire to not get there if you’re not even know that’s an option. Something I would definitely read again. Delighted to have a read this.
November 25, 2022
I am giving this 4 stars for the sole reason that it didn’t go the direction I feared it was heading! I am so glad I didn’t read any reviews or the blurb before reading this. I was going to DNF if CL turned it into a redemption story for the rapist! I wish the h hadn’t made H suffer for so long; seven years seems excessive!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 18, 2025
The staunch H waits years for the traumatized h to finally respond to his romantic overtures, but it all blows up when the OM from her past appears and starts putting the moves on the h, jolting her out of her emotional blindness and shocking the H into action. Loved the H and really felt for both him and the h, who had a lot to work through.
September 3, 2017
Ik heb deze in het NL gelezen (Een schuchter ontwaken). Deze keer een niet ontzettend voorspelbaar verhaal, maar je ziet het einde wel aankomen.
June 9, 2020
Rating: 3.5 out of 5.
June 17, 2022
3.5 stars. Traditional vintage Mills & Boon, you know exactly what you're getting, a little piece of slightly dated fluff.
January 4, 2023
the story is well thought and executed but not edited hat well. For the first few chapters you do not know who the h will end up with.
October 4, 2023
Very, very boring novel. One of the worst I have read. Not romantic at all and filled with unlikeable characters.
The only good thing I can say about it is that it's like a PSA for women not to go out alone and drink with strange men. The FL, Clare, allowed herself to be swept by a stranger who took advantage of her while she was drunk. It gave her PTSD and now she can't be intimate with men.
It was convoluted and not an enjoyable read.
The only good thing I can say about it is that it's like a PSA for women not to go out alone and drink with strange men. The FL, Clare, allowed herself to be swept by a stranger who took advantage of her while she was drunk. It gave her PTSD and now she can't be intimate with men.
It was convoluted and not an enjoyable read.
March 10, 2024
Beta or Alpha; I don’t think of my romance Heroes like that.
Macey is a good man and Claire knows it. She’s been traumatized and at such a young age that it blocks her ability to really see him as a man, but there are times it shows. She’s too scared to really acknowledge it, until the man who assaulted her comes back.
His return pulls the band-aid and the blindfold off. On one side, it awakens her fears but she’s older so she has the strength to stand up to the rapist that she didn’t before; on the other side, she recognizes how the pain bound her emotions which blocked how she felt about Macey. At least, she figures out on her own how he has waited patiently to understand her and why.
This is one of the old school HPs I remember, before the bdsm type stories I found. I really feel it’s a slow burn but sometimes I like slow, sweet and romantic.
Macey is a good man and Claire knows it. She’s been traumatized and at such a young age that it blocks her ability to really see him as a man, but there are times it shows. She’s too scared to really acknowledge it, until the man who assaulted her comes back.
His return pulls the band-aid and the blindfold off. On one side, it awakens her fears but she’s older so she has the strength to stand up to the rapist that she didn’t before; on the other side, she recognizes how the pain bound her emotions which blocked how she felt about Macey. At least, she figures out on her own how he has waited patiently to understand her and why.
This is one of the old school HPs I remember, before the bdsm type stories I found. I really feel it’s a slow burn but sometimes I like slow, sweet and romantic.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 22, 2016
This particular heroine has amnesia and thinks she is eighteen. She plays with dolls.. thats right!!!! Freaking DOLLS.. and then when she gets her memory back, she gives up her dolls because apparently she is grown up for them,,, N this lady is the heroine of the book and gets a sexy guy too
Man why do guys like dumb girls
Man why do guys like dumb girls
August 28, 2014
What I like about that book it's that what I expect. It is not what happen. Heroine is afraid of having a relationship with any man because of a bad experience she has in her past.
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