Release Day Review: Stranded by Desire by Vivien Dean and Rick R. Reed (Mari's Review)

Release Day Review: Stranded with Desire by Vivien Dean and Rick R. Reed (Mari's Review)

BLURB

When their plane crashed, their desire took flight.

CEO Maine Braxton and his invaluable assistant, Colby, don’t realize they share a deep secret: they’re in love—with each other. That secret may have never come to light but for a terrifying plane crash in the Cascade Mountains that changes everything.

In a struggle for survival, the two men brave bears, storms, and a life-threatening flood to make it out of the wilderness alive. The proximity to death makes them realize the importance of love over propriety. Confessions emerge. Passions ignite. They escape the wilds renewed and openly in love.

When they return to civilization, though, forces are already plotting to snuff out their short-lived romance and ruin everything both have worked so hard to achieve.

BUYING LINKS:


Dreamspinner Press ebook: https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/stranded-with-desire-by-vivien-dean-and-rick-r-reed-7279-b
Dreamspinner Press paperback: https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/stranded-with-desire-by-vivien-dean-and-rick-r-reed-7280-b (buy the paperback and get the ebook for FREE!)
Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Stranded-Desire-Dreamspun-Desires-Book-ebook/dp/B01ICVXTTM 
All Romance: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-strandedwithdesire-2073034-149.html 

*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie in exchange for a fair and honest review. ***

Colby has been in love with his straight boss, Maine Braxton, almost from the moment he was hired, but he has no expectations that anything will come out of this, considering Maine is engaged to be married soon. A plane crash might prove that all he'd considered impossible, might be possible after all and that there's a chance at happiness for them. There are some things that might put a damper on their love story, though, like Maine's fiancée and a plot to take Maine's place as CEO in the family's business. 

I loved this book! It reads like the old Harlequin books I fell in love with as a teenager. Colby was reliable and confident and Maine, despite having to be in the closet due to his family's responsibilities, was sweet and eager. It was lovely seeing them realize that they could actually have a future together and while I'm not fond of cheating in books, in this case, I didn't mind it that much and strangely, it wasn't because the fiancée was a witch. On the contrary, Helen was awesome and I felt bad for her. However, it wasn't as if Maine could keep lying to himself and her once he realized that there was a chance of more with Colby. 

The crash plotline and the subsequent investigation were really interesting and it was nice to see how it all developed. All in all, the book was a really good collaboration, intriguing, romantic and sweet, with very low heat level, but entertaining enough so I could overlook that fact. Very recommendable! 

Rating: 4 Stars!!!

BIOS

Vivien Dean is a firm believer that love doesn’t care about gender. That’s why her titles encompass both GLBT and het, erotic and sweet, as well as a wide variety of genres. After growing up in the snowy and isolated Midwest, she went off in search of her creative muse. She performed on stage, wrote and directed indie films in Orlando, then met her British soulmate online. One wedding, two children, and ten addresses later, she resides in the Bay Area where it’s easy to indulge in her favorite pastimes—good theater, great movies, and amazing food. 

Vivien is a three-time EPIC eBook Award winner and collaborated with Pepper Espinoza to write as Jamie Craig for five years.

CONTACT VIVIEN
Website: www.viviendean.com
Blog: vivien-dean.blogspot.com
E-mail: vivien_dean@yahoo.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/vivien.dean.3 
Twitter: @VivienDean

Rick R. Reed is all about exploring the romantic entanglements of gay men in contemporary, realistic settings. While his stories often contain elements of suspense, mystery and the paranormal, his focus ultimately returns to the power of love.

He is the author of dozens of published novels, novellas, and short stories. He is a three-time EPIC eBook Award winner (for Caregiver, Orientation and The Blue Moon Cafe). He is also a Rainbow Award Winner for both Caregiver and Raining Men. Lambda Literary Review has called him, "a writer that doesn't disappoint."

Rick lives in Seattle with his husband and a very spoiled Boston terrier. He is forever "at work on another novel." 

STALK RICK
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/rickrreedbooks 
Twitter: www.twitter.com/rickrreed 
Blog: http://rickrreedreality.blogspot.com/ 
Website: www.rickrreed.com 
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/rick-r-reed 
Email: rickrreedbooks@gmail.com