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crtsjffrsn's review against another edition
3.0
Colby takes his job as assistant to CEO Maine Braxton very seriously. He would to anything for his boss. Not only because he's good at his job, but because he also harbors feelings for the man that he knows he shouldn't. After all, Mr. Braxton is engaged to be married to a woman after they get back from this trip. But that will only happen if they do make it home--their plane has just gone down in the middle of nowhere and it's up to the two of them to work together to find their way to safety...and to a phone. And while the experience leads Colby to rethink whether he can keep working for a man that he's falling in love with, it also forces Maine to confront some realities of his own life at the same time.
This is one of those stories about finding love right in front of you and how it can creep up on you when you least expect it. But it's also about being open to possibilities and not closing yourself off because of what others may expect of you or what you may expect of yourself. And sometimes that can be the biggest challenge of all.
This is one of those stories about finding love right in front of you and how it can creep up on you when you least expect it. But it's also about being open to possibilities and not closing yourself off because of what others may expect of you or what you may expect of yourself. And sometimes that can be the biggest challenge of all.
doseofromance's review against another edition
3.0
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was a sweet, short read. While I liked it overall there were a things that could be improved. I think the characters could have been a little more fleshed out and a few of their heart to hearts felt a bit formal.
I was also a little disappointed that at the end of the day Maine cheated on his fiancee instead of breaking it of with her first. While I understand it was supposed to show how invested he was in the relationship with Colby and he ended the engagement right the next morning it still felt wrong. I don't think waiting one more night would have hurt the story overall.
This was a sweet, short read. While I liked it overall there were a things that could be improved. I think the characters could have been a little more fleshed out and a few of their heart to hearts felt a bit formal.
I was also a little disappointed that at the end of the day Maine cheated on his fiancee instead of breaking it of with her first. While I understand it was supposed to show how invested he was in the relationship with Colby and he ended the engagement right the next morning it still felt wrong. I don't think waiting one more night would have hurt the story overall.
ctsquirrel's review against another edition
4.0
I was sort of hoping the epilogue would be in Tuscany, but I've got a soft spot for the Great Lakes too.
shile87's review against another edition
3.0
Audio - 4 stars
Story - 2 stars
It was just an ok story to listen to on a Sunday while doing chores.
Nothing special, same old , same old.
Story - 2 stars
It was just an ok story to listen to on a Sunday while doing chores.
Nothing special, same old , same old.
suze_1624's review against another edition
3.0
One I won in a bundle of books, though the plane crash/falling for boss trope probably would have had me buying anyway.
However, I was a bit disappointed. It did fit the Dreamspun/Mills and Boon style well - all unrequited love, “you’re the best, no you are” conversations. But I didn’t feel the love between Maine and Colby.
After the crash I thought there would be more working together and for a while I thought Colby was going to be the guy in charge. Though I was thinking stay near the plane, find Rooster, follow the track that went to the hut? But hey ho, they did get found quick which was fairly realistic.
After that it did get a bit towards the too good to be true area but it was fine.
However, I was a bit disappointed. It did fit the Dreamspun/Mills and Boon style well - all unrequited love, “you’re the best, no you are” conversations. But I didn’t feel the love between Maine and Colby.
After the crash I thought there would be more working together and for a while I thought Colby was going to be the guy in charge. Though I was thinking stay near the plane, find Rooster, follow the track that went to the hut? But hey ho, they did get found quick which was fairly realistic.
After that it did get a bit towards the too good to be true area but it was fine.
the_novel_approach's review against another edition
4.0
With a moniker like Dreamspun Desires, you should know that any story you will be reading under this umbrella will be a romance, pure and simple, with a definite happy ever after and maybe just a touch of implausibility thrown in for good measure. But you can’t ask for a better writing team then Rick R. Reed and Vivien Dean as is evidenced by their contribution, Stranded With Desire.
Colby has liked his boss for a long time. In fact, if pushed he would grudgingly tell you that most of his waking fantasies feature Maine in them, and it’s not a business discussion that is occupying the two at the time. However, Colby is also a realist and knows full well that assistants do not end up having the love they have for their bosses reciprocated—particularly when they are straight and engaged to be married. But that can’t stop a boy from dreaming. Maine is a driven businessman who has always put others first. Be it the company and maintaining it’s pristine reputation and profit margin, his parents’ wishes for him to be the CEO, or his fiancé’s feelings, Maine has lived a half life for longer than he cares to admit to himself. In fact, it would take an act of god or some life threatening disaster to budge Maine from the idea that his desires are not important and must stay carefully locked away.
Then the plane that Colby and Maine are taking home from a business trip crashes…and everything changes. Suddenly it is vital to Maine that he makes Colby aware of a secret he has carried for years. That revelation will create a whole new set of problems for both Colby and Maine, not the least of which is what to do when you are in love with your assistant but hell bent on continuing the predetermined path that keeps you sealed away in the closet forever. When the trek to find help after the crash turns deadly, both Maine and Colby must face the fact that their love may never see the light of day.
The best thing about this story, Stranded with Desire, was the two main characters and their incredibly sweet personalities. Not cloyingly sweet—rather, you really want to see these guys get their happy ever after. You cannot find fault with Maine’s thinking that he should remain closeted—he presents as a genuinely nice person, one who would never want to hurt anyone, much less Colby.
And Colby? He is definitely in love, but he is also Maine’s best friend—he wants this guy to be happy, and if loving his man from afar for the rest of his life is what he must do, well, then he is ready for that to happen. These are two selfless men who really deserve the love they have for each other, and that is what keeps this story from being just a glorified sickly sweet romance.
While the limited mystery element concerning the plane crash and corporate intrigue that Maine’s brother, Hart, provided was a minor plot device, it was still played well and added just enough tension to the novel to quicken the pace just when it needed it. The limited amount of sex was just right and did not overwhelm the real trajectory of the story, which was, essentially, when does a person stop living for others and start living for himself? This is the question Maine faces, and I am happy to report he chooses wisely in the end.
Stranded With Desire is a cute romance that is a perfect novel to curl up with when you just want a happy ever after with little to no angst involved.
Reviewed by Sammy for The Novel Approach Reviews
Colby has liked his boss for a long time. In fact, if pushed he would grudgingly tell you that most of his waking fantasies feature Maine in them, and it’s not a business discussion that is occupying the two at the time. However, Colby is also a realist and knows full well that assistants do not end up having the love they have for their bosses reciprocated—particularly when they are straight and engaged to be married. But that can’t stop a boy from dreaming. Maine is a driven businessman who has always put others first. Be it the company and maintaining it’s pristine reputation and profit margin, his parents’ wishes for him to be the CEO, or his fiancé’s feelings, Maine has lived a half life for longer than he cares to admit to himself. In fact, it would take an act of god or some life threatening disaster to budge Maine from the idea that his desires are not important and must stay carefully locked away.
Then the plane that Colby and Maine are taking home from a business trip crashes…and everything changes. Suddenly it is vital to Maine that he makes Colby aware of a secret he has carried for years. That revelation will create a whole new set of problems for both Colby and Maine, not the least of which is what to do when you are in love with your assistant but hell bent on continuing the predetermined path that keeps you sealed away in the closet forever. When the trek to find help after the crash turns deadly, both Maine and Colby must face the fact that their love may never see the light of day.
The best thing about this story, Stranded with Desire, was the two main characters and their incredibly sweet personalities. Not cloyingly sweet—rather, you really want to see these guys get their happy ever after. You cannot find fault with Maine’s thinking that he should remain closeted—he presents as a genuinely nice person, one who would never want to hurt anyone, much less Colby.
And Colby? He is definitely in love, but he is also Maine’s best friend—he wants this guy to be happy, and if loving his man from afar for the rest of his life is what he must do, well, then he is ready for that to happen. These are two selfless men who really deserve the love they have for each other, and that is what keeps this story from being just a glorified sickly sweet romance.
While the limited mystery element concerning the plane crash and corporate intrigue that Maine’s brother, Hart, provided was a minor plot device, it was still played well and added just enough tension to the novel to quicken the pace just when it needed it. The limited amount of sex was just right and did not overwhelm the real trajectory of the story, which was, essentially, when does a person stop living for others and start living for himself? This is the question Maine faces, and I am happy to report he chooses wisely in the end.
Stranded With Desire is a cute romance that is a perfect novel to curl up with when you just want a happy ever after with little to no angst involved.
Reviewed by Sammy for The Novel Approach Reviews
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