Blog Tour: Stranded with the One by Heidi McLaughlin

 

Title: Stranded with the One 

Author: Heidi McLaughlin

Genre: Holiday Romance 

Release Date: December 12, 2023 

Hosted by: Buoni Amici Press, LLC.

New York Times bestselling author Heidi McLaughlin takes you on a holiday journey . . . trains, planes and automobile style. Holly Saint and Christian Lane grew up together and were best friends until he fell in love with someone else. Now, years later they find themselves stranded—both trying to get back to their hometown for Christmas, that’s if Jack Frost will allow them. *Readers, please take note: this novel was previously published under the pen name, Darby Blake. The content is the same.*

AMAZON| APPLE BOOKS| NOOK| KOBO

 

Heidi McLaughlin is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of The Beaumont Series, The Boys of Summer, and The Archers. Originally, from the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in picturesque Vermont, with her husband, two daughters, and their three dogs. In 2012, Heidi turned her passion for reading into a full-fledged literary career, writing over twenty novels, including the acclaimed Forever My Girl. Heidi's first novel, Forever My Girl, has been adapted into a motion picture with LD Entertainment and Roadside Attractions, starring Alex Roe and Jessica Rothe, and opened in theaters on January 19, 2018, and is now available on DVD & Digital. To stay connected with Heidi visit www.facebook.com/authorheidimclaughlin or heidimclaughlin.com

Christian and Holly, once great friends, grew apart after he married Skye. It's been 12 years, and Christian is divorced. Holly and Christian coincidentally find themselves stranded on the way home, and vow to get home for Christmas together.


While the characters were engaging, I found this story to be lacking conflict or tension. It felt more like an interlude and not the whole story. Like, this could have been the beginning or end of the larger story. It ends abruptly with an option of getting more of their story only if you sign up for the author's newsletter.

The premise of this story was good. It was a case of "what if" - what if Holly had admitted all those years ago just how much she cared for Christian? What if Christian wasn't so afraid to stand up for what he wanted and ended things with Skye before it was too late to turn back? What if they had taken the chance to create the life they wanted and didn't waste the time? Unfortunately, they did waste time - Christian didn't end things with Skye until over a decade later, and Holly didn't admit her feelings until over a decade later.

I enjoyed this story but felt so many things happened too quickly, even for two adults who were almost lovers in high school. They go from never speaking to each other due to decisions Christian made to 1,000 degrees heat and getting it on anywhere and everywhere they could. So, while I did like this story and the engaging characters, I do feel it lacked a little something... deeper? It was a quick, short read so anyone who enjoys fast-paced, steamy short reads will enjoy this one.