Beautiful Stranger (The Last Roundup) (Silhouette Intimate Moments, 1011) [Paperback]

Ruth Wind (Author), Barbara Samuel (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2000 | Series: Intimate Moments, 1011

Fourth in the "Last Roundup" series, this is the story of teacher Marissa Pearce and her twin, Victoria. Marissa's concern for the niece of Robert, an American Indian, brings her close to him, but she has to overcome her insecurity about her weight, compared with her thin sister.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Silhouette (June 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 037327081x
• ISBN-13: 978-0373270811
• ASIN: 037327081X
• Product Dimensions: 6.4 x 4.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,119,813 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I'm Hooked!, June 8, 2000

By 

"kailin25" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beautiful Stranger (The Last Roundup) (Silhouette Intimate Moments, 1011) (Paperback)

I love romances, but it's so hard to find one that's really well-written, one that grabs me and hangs on to my attention throughout. This one did.

The heroine is the most perfectly ordinary heroine I've ever come across in a romance novel (except of course for one tiny detail). Not only that, but she's dealing with issues that I can understand. Yay!

And the hero--while undeniably rugged and handsome--is also ordinary. He's just a man, like any other man...flaws and all.

It's refreshing to read a story that doesn't rely on unrealistic contrivances to drag out the conflict. These are 'real' people dealing with real issues. They have their flaws and their foibles. And they work it out like adults.

This book isn't just about love-at-first-sight and it's not just about sex. Yes, there's instant attraction between the hero and heroine, but there's more to their relationship than their physical attraction. These characters genuinely talk about their likes and their dislikes. They actually have a relationship based on what they have in common--which is something you don't often find in a romance novel.

And the relationships the hero and heroine had with other characters also had a very strong realistic feel to them. I understood these characters' motivations and fears. In fact I felt I could empathize with them. I love that in a story! It's like meeting new friends...

Another thing I enjoyed about this book was the portrayal of the twin bond... It wasn't magical, it wasn't mystical...it just *was*. And that's how these things really work... It's yet another dose of realism that drew me into the story. The heroine and her twin actually seemed like two halves of the same person...and yet that seemed perfectly natural within the context of the story.

I am now on a personal quest to find anything else this author may have written. It's always a pleasure to discover another favorite! :)

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful story!, June 8, 2000

By 

pontmarie (SF Bay Area) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beautiful Stranger (The Last Roundup) (Silhouette Intimate Moments, 1011) (Paperback)

Ruth Wind/Barbara Samuel has yet to write a book I don't like. In this story, Marissa Pierce has recently lost a great deal of weight and has a bit more to go. Now men look at her as a desirable woman but it is Robert Martinez, the gorgeous uncle of one of her troubled students, whom Marissa wants.

To Robert, Marissa's privileged background is something that will always be there, just like in her mind, Marissa will always be the fat twin no one bothers to look at.

This is such a well written book, the characters are well delineated, Marissa and Robert, of course, but also the secondary ones, especially Crystal, Robert's niece. If you've never read Ruth Wind, give Beautiful Stranger a try.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A fast, entertaining read..., May 4, 2004

By 

M. I. "krushedvelvet" (Old Bridge, NJ United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Beautiful Stranger (The Last Roundup) (Silhouette Intimate Moments, 1011) (Paperback)

I love a good,light read... and though "Beautiful Stranger" was indeed light, it definitely was not fluff. Marissa has struggled with her self esteem her whole life...all that she really wants is for someone to really see her, not just her face, her body, or her money, but her...inside. Along comes Robert and wow, he is just what she needed. I loved that this book focused on their liking eachother, not just craving eachother. This is the kind of book that can be devoured in one sitting. It is full of likeable, realistic characters that I feel sure will remain in love once the luster wears off. Not quite a keeper,but definitely worthwhile.