Stranded with the Mountain Man by Aislinn Kearns

Romantic Suspense
Publication date: ​03/21/2018
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Cliffhanger: No

I recently thought about this read when I was putting together the kickass heroines in Kindle Unlimited recommendations list, but totally forgot about it when I was putting together my lumberjack heroes recommendations list. So, to correct that error, I figured I better do a review to remind everyone that this is a great read! Seriously, here's why:   

Plot overview: Gia escapes her criminally awful husband, stealing his money in the process, proving she's a total badass. Unfortunately, her plane goes down and she's injured. But that's when the sexy lumberjack, recluse, VIRGIN hero steps in and rescues her. Romance and sexy times ensue. 

Trope bingo: recluse hero, lumberjack hero, woman on the run, survivor heroine, virgin hero, romantic suspense.  

There's seriously a lot to love about this book. First of all, Gia is not your typical damsel in distress. She fled an abusive situation, so that automatically makes me like her. But she didn't flee in the dead of night with nothing but the clothes on her back. No. She made a plan, stole the bastard's money, THEN fled. Any heroine who escapes abuse is brave, but Gia took it a step further. She was brave AND calculating, and that made me love her. 

Elijah isn't your typical grumpy, damaged recluse, either. (Not that there's anything wrong with grumpy, damaged recluses. I personally adore them.) He's living out in the middle of nowhere not to punish himself for terrible things he's done in the past, but because he likes it--and that's how he was raised. The wilderness life is what he knows, and it's all he has left of his deceased father. That made him a real standout as a hero, and it created a real, plausible conflict between Gia and Elijah that had nothing to do with the fact that her ex is tracking her down to kill her. It added depth to the story that you don't always find in "outrun the bad guy" type stories. 

And when I say the bad guy is tracking her down...he's REALLY tracking her down. He doesn't send henchmen. He goes into the wilderness after her. It was one of the best villain comeuppance tales I've ever read, frankly. It was SO satisfying to watch this a-hole suffering in the woods because he was so hell-bent on revenge and getting his money back. *chef's kiss*

This is a nice, quick read, too. Great pacing, great dialogue, a relationship that builds naturally without venturing into instalove territory...it's all really well done. And the sexy times are pretty hot, too. I mean, Elijah's a virgin, but that certainly doesn't mean he has any trouble getting the job done, if you know what I mean. Ahem. :) 

So, long-story-short, this one is well worth your time. Highly recommend. 

Does this book contribute to or help crush the romance stigma?
No rehab needed. This one's clean and sober. ​ 

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