Review: Stuck Landing by Lauren Gallagher (Bluewater Bay #11)
Note: This ARC was provided by Riptide Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
Wolf's Landing director and producer Anna Maxwell isn't entirely sure if she's ready to jump into another relationship after her last one ended on less than friendly terms, but there's nothing about having a crush on the show's stunt coordinator, former Russian gymnast Natalya Izmaylova, right? Then a night out drinking leads to them ending in bed together and it's a night neither one of them can get out of their head. Anna's wary about where that one night could let to. She's afraid Natalya's on the rebound, plus they work together on Wolf's Landing. The thing that bothers Anna the most is Natalya's bisexuality, believing that a bisexual woman whiles away her time with a lesbian until a man comes along. Her feelings become deeper the more they're together, but can Anna overcome her biphobia before she risks losing Natalya forever?
I've been a fan of the Bluewater Bay series from the beginning, and I can't quite believe that in the span of just over a year, we've already got an eleventh book and it's also the very first F/F romance to be added to the mix. Stuck Landing is written by Lauren Gallagher, who has contributed three other titles--Starstruck, Lone Wolf (co-written with Aleksandr Voinov), and Rain Shadow--plus a story entitled Just Another Day to the Lights, Camera, Cupid anthology, using the L.A. Witt name. Anna Maxwell is a very familiar character to fans of the series and after reading about how she was desperately trying to make her relationship work in the tenth book, I was happy that she finally gets her turn at the happily-ever-after her best friend, Levi Pritchard, enjoys with his fiancé, Carter Samuels, both of whom reach a milestone here.
I confess that I had no idea that biphobia was actually something that existed and I love when I'm able to learn something new through the books I read. This aversion to bisexuality, bisexual women in particular, is one that Anna has in the story, and it's one of the biggest reasons that she's not able to go all in when it comes to her non-relationship with Natalya. It was interesting to see her be more relaxed when she tried not to be stuck in her head the whole time and simply allowed her time with Natalya to flow freely. Admittedly, there were moments that I couldn't help but feel frustrated with her stand on bisexual women, but three cheers for her friend and bodyguard Jeremy Rose and Levi who helped her open her eyes to how she was trying to torpedo what she shared with Natalya and made her see much needed sense.
Being the Bluewater Bay fan that I am, Levi and Carter's love story was the one that not just hooked me but reeled me in as well, and I was thrilled that the next milestone in their relationship was part of this book. It was a surprise since I would have thought something that momentous would have it's own book or maybe a novella, but I'm happy either way. I actually got teary-eyed a time or two when Levi and Carter spoke of their love for each other and how much their lives have changed from the moment they first met. Another bonus was seeing past characters that had a connection to the Wolf's Landing show were mentioned and fans get to see how most of them are doing with their respective relationships. I love that the series is branching out and can't wait where it takes readers next. I'm giving Stuck Landing 4.5 stars. ♥
Release Date: 14 December 2015
Date Read: 14 December 2015
Learn more about Lauren Gallagher.
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