Stranded Hearts

by Aquila Thorne

One dead car. One dangerously attractive stranger. And the road trip that changes everything.

Jennifer McRae

Moving across the country was supposed to be my fresh start.
Then Mavis—my ancient, temperamental Honda Civic—decides to die in the middle of nowhere, leaving me stranded with no cell service, questionable survival skills, and the growing certainty that something in the forest is going to eat me.
Then Mikhail Petrov pulls over.
Tall. Russian. Tattooed. Intimidating enough that accepting a ride from him should probably qualify as one of the worst decisions I've ever made.
Instead, it might be the best.
Because somewhere between a moose encounter from hell, a questionable motel, a broken-down truck, and far too many hours trapped together, the mysterious stranger I'm supposed to be wary of becomes the man I don't want to leave.
There's just one problem.
Mikhail is hiding something.

Mikhail Petrov

I came to Alberta for one my daughter.
After years of running from a past I'd rather forget, I'm finally ready to become the father she deserves. Picking up a stranded woman on the side of the road was never part of the plan.
Especially not Jennifer.
She's suspicious, stubborn, completely incapable of staying quiet, and armed with enough bear spray to take down a small army.
She also makes me laugh.
Makes me want.
Makes me imagine a future I stopped believing I deserved a long time ago.
But the closer we get to Wolf Creek, the harder it becomes to keep my past from catching up with us.
Jennifer thinks getting stranded brought her life to a halt.
She has no idea it may have put her directly in the path of mine.
And now that I've found her, walking away might be the one thing I'm no longer capable of doing.
Sometimes getting stranded is the only way to find where you belong.

A spicy romantic suspense featuring a stranded heroine, a protective Russian ex-mafia single dad, an accidental road trip, found family, danger, and a whole lot of trouble at Wolf Creek.

Stranded Hearts is Book 11 in the Changing of the Guards series, an interconnected romantic-suspense saga where family, secrets, danger, and love carry from one book to the next. The series is intended to be read in order.

403 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 30, 2026

About the author

Born in Southern Ontario, Aquila was raised on the outskirts of a small town. With nothing to do, she took to reading historical romance novels and vowed to write a book of her own one day. Fast forward 28 years and she did just that with her first Contemporary Romance titled Moonlit Night and a Series to follow. She still lives in that small town where she was born, her escape is within the pages of her writings

Reviews

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jennifer and Mikhail have a chance meeting on the side of the road where he rescues her. Interestingly enough, they are both heading to the same city to see the same people. Mikhail is going to be reunited with his daughter, Nora, and Jennifer is going to see her best friend, Kori. There is instant attraction, but it is tempered with caution. Unfortunately, for the group, Mikhail's past comes calling, the same past he was trying to extricate from his life, and they have to deal with that. Even though their relationship was new, Jennifer made it known that she was with him and they would resolve the issue together.

[Kellie Waldron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aquila Thorne did not disappoint.

Mikhail was trying to live his life with his daughter by his side. His past had other things in mind. But now he has Jennifer and how does he explain his past to her without totally freaking her out.

Jennifer was trying to get to the Lodge so that she could rebuild her life. Along the way her car had other ideas. Stranding her on the side of the road until Mikhail comes to by. Should she trust him.

Great story.

[Teleri Anoram · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent entry into the series…but why is everyone acting like they don’t all have mafia connections and special skills when it comes to the threats??? I know there are a ton of characters to mix n match but like no one considered calling Declan (even to consult) and Ella seemed less of a mama bear than in prior books.

The Jennifer & Mikhail meet cute and ensuing road trip was quite funny.

Quick and easy read

[Simone Haeseler · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a funny beginning and overall a really nice story. The way they met, the way they handled everything. The waitress Bree, the fox, very funny, till it turned a bit scary and dangerous. But like the beloved clan we know, they handled it very brave and hands on. A very nice addition to the series.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny at times. Dangerous at other times. I just can’t get enough of this series! Thank you Aquila Thorne for another great book!