I liked this book, but I feel like it had the potential to be so much better. Overall I think the plot was a little rushed, but I enjoyed the characters.

This is my first book by Jesica Frances, since reading Stranded, I went through several books of her catalog. Her writing is flawless and drags you into the story.

3 stars

First, didn't realize this ended as a HFN so that kinda lowered my rating a tiny bit. I did enjoy how the MC was an influencer who falls in love with the town sheriff. Wasn't a big fan of how big of an asshole the sheriff was upon their first meeting though. The murder also was a little too easy to figure out? And it wrapped up very quickly? I dunno, I might pick up the second book but not any time soon.

This one wasn't for me.

What I thought was going to be a mystery, quickly turned into a sex romp, with a bit of intrigue on the side.

The writing was ok, but nothing special.

I will not be looking to read any follow up novels.

If you are into having a love interest who is kinda an asshole who needs to get over himself, you may want to pick this one up. You have Connor, an influencer (youtuber? instagrammer? I don't think they ever really specify) and Rocky, town sheriff and asshole. Well, asshole if you want to have a relationship with him. Everyone else seems to be a fan, which tells you he is redeemable, but his and Connor's first interaction? Asshole.

That said, there is a sequel, and I want to read it. I want to see the two of them working for their happy ending, which we don't really get to see in this one.

When Conner Sherwood’s cheaply bought car breaks down just a few days into his cross country adventure, he’s quick to bemoan his fate. It doesn’t help that his car has dumped him in the small, seemingly boring town of Midsummer. Then, a chance meeting with the local sheriff leads to a night of an amazing sex, but a brutal blow off as soon as it’s over. For Conner, it just seems like another reason to loathe the little town. But a determined local wants to show him the positive side of Midsummer and Conner finds himself reluctantly agreeing. Doing so leads him into the middle of a murder and back to the attention of his one night hook-up, Sheriff Rocky Green.

Rocky isn’t usually the type to treat his lovers quite so crassly, but Conner has thrown him off balance. He’s attracted to the man in a way that goes beyond the casual hook-ups he’s used to. But Rocky can’t afford to get entangled with a man who’s just passing through, especially when the same man becomes a murder suspect. Conner and Rocky must find the real killer while trying to untangle their feelings for one another. It isn’t the adventure Conner was looking for, but it might just be the one that changes his life.

Stranded is the first in the In Midsummer series, but does have contained story so you can read it as a standalone, I think. I wouldn’t say the same for the other two books though. I enjoyed certain aspects of Stranded, but an annoying secondary character and a sloppy murder mystery took away some of the shine.

Conner and Rocky are a relatively fun couple. They have some hot sex and a lot of misunderstandings, but they work well together and they felt believable. Neither have the depth that I usually like and, as a reader, I would have preferred a more complex evolution of their relationship, but there’s enough to enjoy. Their chemistry is one of Stranded’s strong points.

Normally I enjoy secondary characters, or at the worst, I ignore them. This may be the first time I’ve actively disliked one and did so to such an extent that it actually distracted from the book. Let me say that I think most readers will like Love Fuller. She’s intelligent and devoted and sassy. Unfortunately, I also found her manipulative, aggravating, and something of a minor bully. She pushes Conner into various situations, often without thinking through the ramifications of doing so. She’s the type of person who believes she’s always justified in her actions regardless of the outcome. Love is a huge part of Stranded and I found her actions tended to be the most frustrating and hard to rationalize away.

The overall story to Stranded is built upon a lot of coincidence and contrivance. Too much of both really. At times, it almost felt as the characters (and this particular reader) were being dragged along to force certain story points, rather than allowing a natural profession of events. The murder, more often than not, serves an afterthought and wasn’t particularly clever, which is shame because it felt like a missed opportunity.

Stranded wasn’t a bad read, but the characters and story felt bent and stuffed to fit certain criteria. Had they been allowed to develop in a more realistic fashion, I think Stranded would have been much more enjoyable. That said, Rocky and Conner are a strong couple and I think their story will appeal to a lot of readers.

Stranded is the first book in a 3 part series focused around the relationship between instagram famous Connor and small town sheriff Rocky. I am not usually a fan of romance novels that do not have a HEA or even a HFN at the end but this might just be the exception to that rule! The story was entertaining, I liked both lead characters and I felt satisfied with the ending based on what had happened between the characters. I’m also dying for the next book!

Usually I am not a fan of single POV (I really wish we had Rocky’s POV for the beginning of the novel) but I didn’t mind it too much in this book and I am glad the second book will have Rocky! It’s hard not to want to see a romance from both perspectives.

Small town romance is one of my favorite tropes and Midsummer has a character all it’s own that I can’t wait to see explored more.

Love is a delight! My favorite character. She is one of the reasons I loved this book so much and the reason I was throughly entertained watching her run Connor all over town. I really hope we get more from her even though the next book will be Rocky’s POV. Hopefully she will be on his side, rooting him and Connor on as it seems like her matchmaker skills will be put to the test!

And the murder made for a great side plot! It seems like that will be a theme in the series, not only Connor and Rocky figuring themselves out but a little danger and intrigue as well.

Overall I really enjoyed the book and am dying to see what happens next. I think this would definitely be a series to read all in one go if cliffhangers aren’t your thing and just treat it as one really long book.

Jessica Frances' Stranded is a great romance mixed with a gripping mystery. My first time reading this author, I am pleased to have discovered this series.

First there is the romance. Connor is stuck in a small town as his car breaks down. His short stay leads to love as he hooks up with the local sheriff. Rocky is a fun character. He's openly gay, raising his daughter, and never has repeat partners. Until Connor.

I definitely enjoy Connor and Rocky together. Their journey is interesting and compelling. And it definitely isn't finished yet. Ugh. I am dying to know what happens throughout the series. Basically, it you hate cliffhangers, you might want to wait on this one.

Then there's the murder mystery, which leads to some interesting discoveries. Of course, Connor's a suspect and Rocky needs to prove him innocent.

This story involves a hot first kiss, a You Tube channel, and a good amount of sexual tension. It includes some fabulous secondary characters who add immensely to the storyline. In addition, the town itself is intriguing, with it's Hollywood connection and it's movie stars.

Told in first person pov, the character voice is well done, making Connor lovable from the start. Connor's voice is full of information as well as humor.

In the end, Stranded is an enjoyable read. It ends with a cliffhanger and now I am excited to see what happens next in this Jessica Frances' series. I definitely recommend this book.

From the onset, the introduction of Connor and his situation effectively hooked me. Having a voice easy to connect with, enough wit and sass to entertain, and then a crush on the sheriff, there was little doubt this was a book I could escape in.

Heat, humor, and a good old-fashioned murder mystery, all tied into a gay romance makes for a fun read. With a cast of intriguing and three-dimensional characters, the story unfolds at a fast pace and then leads the way to a plot that unravels gradually and kept me guessing. I can't wait until book 2, and I am so relieved I realized this was was a continuing series rather than a book with a solid conclusion.

Superb characters, a strong plot, and a well-written story make this book 1-clickable for sure.

Can't figure out whether to give this two stars or three.

I liked this story and I plan to read the sequel, [book:Separated|52806280], as I received both these via NetGalley (in exchange for an honest review/reaction), but things happen quite fast over a short period of time and the main crime felt a little too easy to solve for my taste. Kinda important when this is sold as a M/M crime romance.

***eProof given by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review/reaction***

I am very torn over this as I thought this is an ok read.

On the one hand, this is a fun, silly start to a M/M romance with crime/mystery aspects. Now, with the mystery being sold within the book (I think this is the case for each book in the series - one book equals one crime), but the romance will simmer over the course of the series.

However, on the other hand, I felt the mystery within this was quite easy to figure out, and the characters's relationships with each other grows unnaturally quickly (the first half of the book takes place over the course of a long weekend and, within a few days, we have characters becoming best friends and friends with benefits) and, for some reason, this rung false with me, even though I gave the book benefit of the doubt. Plus, the kiss and sex scenes - it's a little "Huh" when the kissing is sexier than the sex scenes.

But the biggest issue I think most readers are going to have is that, while the crime is a "crime of the week" (one crime per book), the main romance is going to simmer throughout the series. Some readers are going to like this and others... not so much. Plus, with the series looking like it's going to flip between the two romance leads every book, some readers might not like this narrative flipping between characters.

But this was the me a nice cosy start to a series. I do have book 2 in the series so I am going to read that next and, I hope, book 2 will build on one book.

The story blur was interesting enough that got me to read this book. The characters were good and intruding the story developed and it becomes interesting it develops little more and bam! What I really hate when the book ends with the cliffhanger.
I volunteered to review an ARC of this book for NetGalley

Stranded by Jessica Frances - 2.5/5 stars

TW: Violence, homophobic comments, murder

I received a free copy of this novel from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fairly cute and super cheesy romance about a queer internet star who gets stranded in the small town of Midsommer. I thought that the story was fun but I found myself skimming throughout certain chunks. It kept me more entertained during the romance than it did the murder mystery aspect of the story, which I'm not sure was done particularly well.

I did not particularly like our love interest, who is cold and rude to the MC. From kicking him out into the street immediately after hooking up at the beginning of the novel to stringing him along throughout the piece. I think that Rocky treats Conner so poorly and I rarely rooted for their romance. I didn't think that the relationship was healthy whatsoever. The third member of this love triangle (that didn't even become a triangle until over halfway through the novel?) wasn't any better for me. This big-shot movie star spots Conner once, invites him and Love (a side character) to tour a movie set, then invites Conner to tour the world with him. I felt no chemistry, no buildup, it felt very sudden.

The biggest problem that I had though was the lack of research that went into the careers of this story. The murder mystery and police procedures felt like a hallmark movie and very not accurate. I kept cringing throughout as I read anything revolving around Rocky's job. I felt the same about Conner's position in social media. It felt fabricated and made-up. I didn't enjoy Conner's sudden fame and how he was recognized everywhere he went, it didn't make sense.

Ultimately, it was cute and I enjoyed it for the most part, but there was some research that I thought could've gone into the novel to hook me more.

This was a really enjoyable read. There was enough snark, banter and steam to check of all the boxes of a great book! My reason for it being a 4 star is that I abhor cliffhangers. It's my own personal choice, and I usually avoid them at all costs. Since this was a review via NG, I didn't know that it would end without a resolution.

Stranded is packed full of mystery and drama. Whew! Jessica Frances takes us on a whirlwind on Connor’s first unintended stop on his road trip of exploration. Frances puts Conner’s life on a tilt-a-whirl and let me tell you the ride is awesome!

There are multiple mysteries. Frances creates an oddball assortment of secondary characters, some you already know are going to be no good. Then there is Love and she is everything her name is. Frances does have a unique choice for names and it makes you think if there is something more behind it.

I will say that Frances addresses homophobia quite a few times in this story. Along with other types of bullying for varying reasons because let’s face it bullies do not really need a reason for the person they pick on. None of these issues are solved in this book and some are not addressed yet, I have to assume they will be addressed in a later book so I am interested in how Frances will address it.

Frances has also created great chemistry between Rocky and Connor. Two men who are different places in life and are not heading in the same direction. BUT...damn they cannot keep their hands off each other.

I cannot wait to see what happens next….

I received an ARC of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.

This was a very enjoyable blend of romance and mystery and I'm glad that it's only book one. I'm already looking forward to my next visit to Midsummer. Conner & Rocky were engaging characters and I loved their interactions.

*I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by NetGalley*

Hmmm...well I’m intrigued enough to want to read book two but just barely. I almost didn’t finish a couple of times. In the opening couple of scenes, the dialog and characters were a bit over the top. All the characters seem a bit over the top honestly but a couple of them are likeable enough to have me sticking around for the next one. That will determine the fate of the series for me.

Sheriff A$$hole and Deputy D!ckhead were apt descriptions. The deputy’s character was way over the top. He clearly wants a relationship with Rocky even though he was messing around with someone else. Is that the reason he was such a douche? It seemed like a bit much…especially how much he insulted the sheriff.

The jury is still out for me on Rocky. The way he treated Conner the first time they met, what he accused him of, the subsequent lack of a sufficient apology, and how he expected Conner to just want a no-strings arrangement AFTER treating him like crap just didn’t work for me. Stressful job, past hurt, and protection of River notwithstanding, he was a big jerk and not likeable. I’m kind of pulling for Henry.

The whodunit…I suppose it was believable as I’m learning anything is possible these days, but it was a little hard to swallow.

Love (yes that’s her name) is another character that’s over the top but she was amiable and didn’t piss me off so much as just needed to take a breath occasionally.

If this turns into a triangle, I’m out. If the deputy doesn’t go away or get better, I’m out. If Rocky doesn’t become nicer (or act like a decent human being), I’m out.

J’aime bien les bouquins gays, bon d’abord parce que ça me parle un peu plus quand même que les romances hétéro dans lesquelles je m’identifie pas franchement, mais parce qu’en plus il y a toujours une palette de clichés qui me fait bondir pendant ma lecture, juste assez pour que mon côté fleur bleue ne prenne pas le dessus et que je ne me mette pas à rêver de prince charmant et de toutes ces conneries qui n’existent que dans ce genre de romans, précisément. Ça n’est clairement pas de la littérature érotique, disons plutôt un polar romantique, mais si vous êtes allergique à l’idée de lire trois ou quatre pages sur ce que deux mecs inondés d’hormones peuvent faire ensemble dans l’intimité, ne lisez pas Stranded. Bah non.

Un jour je vous ferais un article sur ce blog pour vous expliquer pourquoi je suis dans l’ensemble agacé que la littérature de pédés soit devenue un objet tendance, convoité et exploité par des autrices pour des lectrices, au point finalement de totalement nous déposséder de ce truc qui, sans misogynie aucune, est clairement une affaire de bonhommes.

Nous sommes donc à Midsummer, un petit bled paumé de l’Arkansas où Conner Sherwood est tombé en panne avec sa voiture alors qu’il venait tout juste de débuter un road-trip pour se retrouver avec lui-même et ses milliers d’abonnés sur les réseaux sociaux. C’est l’introspection américaine 2.0 ça, les enfants. À Midsummer, il n’y a pas grand chose, un gros millier d’habitants, et surtout Rocky Green, sorte d’égérie de Tom of Finland qui t’emballe notre je-suis-romantique-et-je-me-pose-trop-de-questions de Conner après deux œillades dans le bar du village.

Pour parfaire le cliché, Rocky est le shérif local, a une petite fille dont il a la garde et bien-sûr, c’est un cœur de pierre. Quand j’en étais arrivé là, je soupirais en me disant « mais bordel c’est pas possible » tellement dans cette histoire les homos étaient des clichés d’eux-mêmes : le passif superficiel et torturé qui finalement n’est rien d’autre que la fille, et l’actif viril intrépide et insensible dans le rôle du garçon dont il faut ravir le cœur.

Ce qui sauve l’histoire, parce que vous n’allez peut-être pas le croire mais j’ai bien aimé ce bouquin dans son ensemble, c’est que malgré tout, elle est bien écrite, que le développement de l’intrigue tient la route et que la petite enquête policière m’a plu ! Car oui, il suffit que Conner débarque à Midsummer pour que les cadavres s’empilent.

Je n’avais jamais lu Jessica Frances, c’est une autrice qui ne semble pas avoir été traduite en français, qui a publié essentiellement des histoires romantiques hétérosexuelles. Ce titre-là est auto-édité et surtout, il ne coûte que 99 cents sur les plateformes numériques, ce qui est un prix ridiculement dérisoire compte-tenu du travail réalisé par son autrice. Et comme je suis un peu maso et que Stranded est annoncé comme le premier tome d’une saga qui en contiendrait trois, croyez-bien que je lirais la suite.

Connor is a social media guru and he stranded in a small town. He has a passionate one night stand with a hot, sexy man and later finds out he's the sheriff. Rocky is a single father, grumpy and doesn't believe in relationships. Connor is considered a murder suspect after the guy that attacks him is killed. The book is funny, sweet, mysterious, romantic with likeable characters, murder and very special moment between Connor and Rocky's daughter that will have your have you smiling. This is my book by Jessica Frances and I'm looking forward to the next one.

Loved this book! Give me a grumpy hero any day. And the sexual tension...whew! I can't wait for the next book in the series!

I loved this story and I can't wait to read the follow up as there's a cliffhanger and I cannot wait.
Well written, entertaining and great characters.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.