Stranded Stranded Book 1
M/M Romance
Dreamspinner Press
July 14, 2013
204
Reviewed by: Linda Tonis
Member of the Paranormal Romance Review Team
Kendall Monroe is not having a good day; his hit show is closing due to the producer’s lack of foresight. Kendall is a Broadway star and leaving a hit show due to negligence is heartbreaking. His other problem is his partner of almost ten years, Johnny Harker. Johnny is also famous, he is a bestselling author, but lately due to their careers there has not been much loving going on. Does Johnny still love him? Are there any good parts left for him on Broadway?
While contemplating what to do now that he is not performing, he thinks it is the perfect time for Johnny and him to take a vacation and once again reconnect. Johnny doesn’t agree. He is writing a new manuscript and is not willing to stop. A call from Kendall’s agent, Sal, changes everything. Kendall is offered the starring role in a new movie called “Stranded,” and when he brings it up to Johnny, Johnny thinks it is a great idea. So convinced that there is nothing between them anymore, he accepts the role. Begging Johnny to accompany him and being refused just adds one more negative in their relationship.
The character Kendall will be playing is a man handcuffed to the steering wheel of his car and left in the desert to die. Of course, the fact that Kendall suffers from claustrophobia does not make this role any easier for him. But he is a consummate professional and will do whatever is expected of him. Unlike so many celebrities, Kendall believes that you should treat people the way you want them to treat you. No matter how many times he begs Johnny to come out to see him he refuses. His excuse is that Kendall will be working all the time and Johnny can only write in New York where he has reference material available to him. Kendall believes that Johnny is probably having an affair.
Kendall’s acting and his ability to know what should or should not be done makes his relationship with his director, Lyman a good one. He has the ability to bring out the best in people, and filming, although filled with long hours and days is not filled with ego filled personalities.
Then someone begins leaving flowers and notes for Kendall. He now has a fear of being stalked and wonders what will happen when he has to film on location in the desert. Make believe becomes reality when he is kidnapped, handcuffed, and left to die in his car in the desert. For days he sits in his oven of a car finally giving up and accepting that he is going to die. Only, the man he was convinced didn’t love him any more comes to his rescue. They lost their way for awhile but their love never changed. Who is after Kendall and why?
This is a book filled with romance, suspense surprises and amazing characters. Kendall is a man you can’t help but respect and love. Although an M/M book with some explicit sex it is much more than that. It is a beautiful romance. It is also a whodunit. I need to explain that I have read many of Andrew Grey’s books and although they are M/M I loved every one. If you go beyond the sex you have stories of strong and loving men. If explicit M/M sex upsets you then you do not want to read his books but if you can get beyond that then they are beautiful love stories. This is another home-run for Andrew Grey.