Title: Stranded With Desire
Series: Dreamspun Desires 15
Author: Vivien Dean & Rick R. Reed
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Novel (228pgs)
ISBN: 978-1-63477-256-3
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (1st August 2016)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 4 ½ Hearts
Reviewer: Pixie
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.
Purchase Link: https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/stranded-with-desire-by-vivien-dean-and-rick-r-reed-7279-b
Review: When Maine and Colby’s plane crashes in the Cascade Mountains their true feelings for each other slip the tight leash that both men have held for two years, their passion ignites but it takes another near death experience for Maine to see the truth of his future.
This is a lovely story of accepting love and forging your own path. Colby has been working for Maine for two years and somewhere along the way he fell in love with his boss, he’s always kept a very tight leash on his feelings though because Maine is straight and set to be married. But Colby discovers that Maine isn’t as straight as he thought when their plane crashes.
Maine has always been gay but he lives the life other people expect of him, he’s slightly insecure in his abilities but is determined to push forward being the best man he can be. Crashing and near death experiences has him re-evaluating his own needs and acting on his feelings for Colby.
I really enjoyed this story as it has that great Mills & Boon/Harlequin smoochy feels, with just a dash of angst that is quickly resolved. The entire story is played out over about four days so it does move pretty quickly along, once Maine and Colby admit their feelings it’s pretty much full throttle for both men. We have a pretty fleshed out story and there’s some great daydream scenes from both Colby and Maine that show what they both long for.
There are moments of tension as Colby has to put his faith in Maine as Maine meets his fiancé to admit the truth to her, and again later when Maine confronts the board. I do admit to wishing we could have seen a scene where Maine told his parents as it did seem strange that he never told them before he told the board. There is a great undertone to the story of nasty dealings but even that is quickly resolved, but you do have to suspend disbelief of getting the preliminary report back for the crash so quickly.
Vivien Dean and Rick R. Reed work fantastically together in this joint venture and I hope that they will pair up again in the future.
Overall this is a great read for those who love Mills & Boon or Harlequin romances, for those who love a touch of tension, underhand dealings and true love winning out.