When the power goes out, Kate is on the hunt. However, mysterious gifts begin arriving to strangers. As a journalist, the person responsible is certainly giving Kate something to report on.

I absolutely loved this book. Generally, suspense books have a dark theme behind them, but this is a completely refreshing twist.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this and give my honest opinion!

5 Glorious-I-Wish-We-Weren't-Socially-Distancing-Because-Everyone-Would-Be-Getting-Hugs Stars!

To be perfectly honest, I didn't go into this with high hopes. I'm a gal who likes dark and twisty mysteries and thrillers, but I completely loved this!!

I love Kate Bradley, her optimistic attitude and her tenacity are incredibly admirable.

Additionally, I think that the concept behind the idea is amazing. What if a this actually happened in NYC? Could we spread kindness like a pandemic? I will definitely be thinking about this book a lot going forward and try my best to spread some more kindness in this world.

Cue the music, "what the world needs now, is love, sweet love...."

A special thank you to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and Dete Meserve for providing me with an ARC.

Since I have never read one of Dete Meserve's books before I didn't realize that this is actually the 3rd book in the Kate Bradley series. It is about Kate who is a reporter who's father happens to be a politician. Kate moves back to New York City where someone is doing good things like giving out gift cards and leaving small presents. But this somebody wants to stay secret. Kate can't let it go and wants to find out who is behind all this.
Like most of the others I just can say that this is a real feel-good story and a very enjoyable read!

Thanks #netgalley #Lake Union Publishing #Dete Meserve for this ARC

#NetGalley #The Good Stranger #Lake Union Publishing

The Good Stranger is the third book in the Kate Bradley series. Kate leaves California for a job in NYC, she is a bit upset that her new boss wants her to write about politics. He thinks she is perfect for that job because her father is a well know politician. Kate is trying to adjust to life in NYC which is a bit intimidating to her. Then Kate learns of someone doing good deeds, giving out gift cards, leaving purple and white balloons and flowers. They have paid off the debts of some, and they don't want their identity exposed. Kate starts receiving messages to let the story go, then her apartment is broken into and most of her things damaged. Kate as curious as ever can not let it go. A feel good story that will make you smile and feel good. Be kind to everyone, it is contagious.

Note: I missed the first 2 books in the Kate Bradley series and read this as a standalone story.

Kate Bradley has moved from LA to NY to take on a new role as a national news correspondent. When a widespread power outage plunges downtown NY into darkness, Kate is wary of the chaos which is set to follow. But what comes next is not at all what she expected.

Under the cover of darkness, a series of kind events follows. It began with purple balloons and bunches of purple flowers. The random acts of kindness continues with pre-paid lunches, gift cards and even care packages anonymously delivered to the homeless.

This was a much-needed easy read that left me with a nice warm and fuzzy feeling. This feel-good story is a perfect read for those quarantine days at home.

3.5 ⭐

Special thanks to Netgalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Kudos to Dete Meserve, author of "The Good Stranger" for writing such an intriguing, memorable, entertaining, suspenseful, and thought-provoking novel. The genres for this novel are fiction, women's fiction, mystery, and suspense. The timeline of the story is in the present and goes to the past when it pertains to the characters or events. The author describes her dramatic and colorful cast of characters as mostly kind, friendly, and likable. Some of the characters are complex and complicated.

 Kate Bradley is now in New York City and is a national news correspondent. There are stories of strangers leaving mysterious gifts to others. Kate and her co-anchor Scott Jameson, try to investigate what is going on. Kate starts getting threats when she starts investigating. Things seem to get more dangerous.

During our trying and difficult crisis, Dete Meserve has written a wonderful book that is a reminder that all acts of Kindness are special. Kindness is contagious. I appreciate that the author vividly describes how strangers and people can make a difference in our world. I highly recommend this thought-provoking story and eagerly await the next book in the series.

The Good Stranger by Dete Meserve was just what I needed. After reading several heavier books, I was happy to sit down with a book that concentrates on the good that can be brought into all our lives with a simple kindness.

At the time I read this book the whole nation was in the middle of a quarantine due to Covid-19. There is a lot of sorrow right now with the deaths we have experienced. There are the deaths of friends and relatives, our jobs, time with our families, activities outside of our homes and basically life as we knew it. We now have a new normal and that is pretty hard to swallow.

As in The Good Stranger we see a lot of kindnesses happening all around us. One woman posted she needed her yard mowed and found someone to do it in a few days but, woke from a nap to find someone came, mowed and left. What a blessing for her. Police are doing drive by happy birthdays, graduating seniors are having drive through graduation parties and the list goes on. Kindness in times of sorrow.

This book definitely struck a cord with me during our time of self-isolation. I am thankful that we live a a country that is filled with people helping people. That is what this book was about. It warmed my soul. It will warm yours too.

I received this book from the publisher for a fair and honest review. Thank you!

A perfect book, for our current situation.Reading it, took my mind away from all the sadness and tragedies we are seeing in our daily lives. A real “feel good”
story.
Dete Meserve really nailed it in this one! Kate Bradley leaves her comfortable life and great news journalist job in LA, and heads to Manhattan, an unfamiliar city, where she sublets a friend’s apartment and starts a job at a new network. But, disappointed when she’s expected to focus on political news, due to her connection with her Senator father, she’s not sure this is going to work out.
Then amazing things start happening in the city, with balloons, flowers and good deeds, and she is in her element, taking on a partner that has a popular following, with his adventure series.
This story has everything, mystery, adventure, human interest, romance and the connections people make by caring and helping others. It’s just needed, when we see what’s happening in today’s NYC. This gave me the hope that we can return to our lives and maybe see more the good that we have been missing. I loved it!
My thanks to #NetGalley #LakeUnionPublishing and to #DeteMeserve for the ARC All opinions are my own.

Kate is a reporter, and has just moved from A to New York to start at a new job with ANC. Shortly after arriving, a wave of acts of kindness spread across the city. Gift cards are being left on people's car, flowers on doorsteps, some people are finding their debts are being paid off for them, and no-one knows who are behind the acts of kindness. Kate is desperate to find out and cover the story for her station.
I started reading this not realising that here are two previous Kate Bradley books, but nevertheless this reads well as a standalone novel, although I will go and seek out the previous books in the series now. I really enjoyed this, and it reminded me of our current situation where the sense of community is being reawakened with people looking out for each other again, and is a stark reminder that being kind is so important and can mean so so much to the person on the receiving end.

I love Dete Meserve's books. Her writing is wonderful and are always uplifting, heartfelt and truly always keep me wanting more. The Characters are well thought out and true to life and the plot,as well as the writing, flows wonderfully.
A very quick read and a book you won't want to put down! This is the 3rd book of a series. 5 stars

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

A sincere thank you to the publisher, author and Netgalley for providing me an ebook copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is not my usual genre, I’m more of a crime/thriller reader however this story intrigued me. I absolutely loved it, truly one of the best books I have read. I am extremely pleased and grateful to both for opening up my mind to something totally different.

A modern day sort of Robin Hood story. No one is robbing the rich to give to the poor, but someone is giving to the needy - and not just money but tokens of appreciation from bunches of flowers, to prepaid coffees, restaurant meals, even rental payments for those who are desperately trying to make ends meet.

Kate is the newest journalist in town. Her background as being a Senator's daughter does not help her in her career. The channel is coercing her to cover political news whereas her interest lies elsewhere. Kate has to uncover this story so that she can keep the lead on this one, and maintain readers interest and most importantly ensure that her boss is happy (he is not upto now).

When Kate gets threatening mail and videos asking her to stop the pursuit of uncovering who is gifting all this to the poor, she is even more determined to get to the source and particularly to find out the story behind it all.

Trying to get to grips with living in New York for the first time, getting over a break up with her boyfriend Kate is befriended by Scott a host of another show and together they team up to try to sort this riddle.

An interesting premise (which will be nice to be duplicated) and a romance in the budding made this an enjoyable read.

This is the third book following Kate Bradley, a reporter and daughter of a senator. She is spunky and strong and honest. She has doubts about herself, but seems to always be able to find the good in others.

In this book, Kate has just left all she knew in LA and moved to New York City. Kate feels like a small fish in a very large and crowded pond. Then, she finds a good mystery and of course has to try and solve it.

Along with Kate, there are several new characters introduced. They are largely superficial and lack much depth, except for Scott, another reporter at the network. We get a little more of him, and I hope that we will see him in any further Kate books.

Overall a fun and easy read.

I loved this book. I actually read it all day because I couldn’t put it down. I pretty much cried happy tears during the whole thing you’ve got to read book.

An entertaining and well written mystery. Good plot and well crafted characters. Mystery fans will love this book. I received an arc from the publisher and this is my unbiased review.

The Good Stranger is a wonderful book ,especially for our time. Kate, a news reporter, comes to New York City to work with a new publication. After a few missteps and getting to know "how we do it in New York" she starts to roam the streets looking for something new. What Kate finds is a person or persons who are doing many good deeds to and for people they don't know. The giving begins to snowball and starts to effect others to do good things, from strangers to strangers. This a good story, uplifting, about giving not asking for anything in return and the great feeling it is to take care of a stranger.#NetGalley#LakeUnionPublishing# TheGoodStranger

This is a great book to read in a time of crisis. The main character is a reporter for a major TV network, newly arrived in New York. She follows the story of a mysterious woman who anonymously makes life-changing gifts to total strangers and tries to find who she is. The book reads like a mystery, but only good things happen in the book. There's also two sub-plots, one in which the main character meets a handsome new boyfriend. In the other sub-plot, the main character's widowed father finds new love.

If you're looking for a good book that moves quickly and keeps you guessing, this would be a great pick!

The Good Stranger is a story of hope, love, and light! Who says we should only solve mysteries about people who do bad things? Kate Bradley finds it a mystery that "a stranger" does good things for people in her neighborhood. Heartwarming and feel-good novel! I read this during the COVID-19 quarantine and was definitely uplifting and hopeful.
Thank you NetGalley, Lake Union publishing and Dete Meserve for reader's copy of this book. This review is my own and is not influenced in any way.

This is a heartwarming, feel-good read. I raced through it. Dete Meserve writes a very visual story. I could see this as a movie. No wasted words. No scenes that don't advance the plot or inform character. Prepare to be charmed!

A required book to read now!
Reporter, Kate Bradley is in NYC working as a national news correspondent.
When a power outage occurs one evening, Kate learns that someone is leaving surprises for random people.
It's balloons,gift cards, or payoffs of loans.
Kate is determined to solve this mystery and it becomes her mission.
Yet, she is also receiving some scary notes that concerns Kate. Who is this person or persons and why are they doing these amazing good things for people? Should she continue to search for answers or is she in danger?

This is just a perfect story for anytime and especially these current times.
The whole world needs hope and encouragement. As one note in the novel said: "We are all connected."

I love Dete Meserve's books. They are uplifting, heartfelt and truly always keep me wanting more.!