GRR Reviews Starstruck Cowboy by Elizabeth Rose

Luke will do anything to buy back his family ranch rather than let it go to his (evil) half-brother. That's why he became a stuntman, and now, a leading man on a Western B-movie. But his co-star is a diva and there is ZERO chemistry. When his director/producer announced they will film at an Arkansas ranch and asked Luke to seduce the daughter to lower the price even further, Luke wasn't sure what to do. // Star regretted ever getting married to one that almost ruined her family ranch, and even working hard from sunup to sundown hadn't put a dent in the debt. Letting a film crew to use the ranch may put a dent in the debt if she can convince the producer to cough up more money, but rolling the truck due to an impromptu race because the other driver (who turned out to be Luke) was a jerk that will not yield was definitely not in the plans. Star hates Luke's guts, and nothing Luke say will change her mind... But to save her family ranch, she may reconsider. Until they realized they share a link they did not suspect. And in the end, they will not be able to get their dreams... Unless they sacrifice something.

Oh, love the ending, which is "gift of the magi" twist. Sorry, that's all I'm going to say about it.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 4.5/5

NOTE: Tropes are now in the "Labels" below.

GRR Reviews The Cowboy's Match by by Blake Andrews

Trent was a bachelor and had no intention to be married, but he also can't stand to see his family ranch managed by someone else. Yet when his parents yet again ask him to settle down, and he just got another speeding ticket, he decided a change is necessary, which is when he found the PRETENDR service... a dating service for people who just need FAKE relationships.  // Sally is tired of her family's grief as her sister Jodi, who's married with three kids, got all the attention, while she remained single, yet successful in her career as a (shy) librarian who enjoys conducting children's story hours. When she also found the PRETENDR service, it was a dream come true... Get a fake BF to convince her family to back off. // Will Trent and Sally's relationship be fake... or as real as they wanted to be?

Sweet, but there wasn't much tension. Things just keep happening, and happening... and nothing seems to derail it. There's no darkest hour or climax.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 3/5

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GRR Reviews Zane by Kimberly Lewis

Kellan left her city life behind to get away from her criminal BF, who treated her like a possession, and even beat her. She drove into the countryside, and ended up in a small town. After trading away the MB for a rusted pickup and her city wardrobe for boots and jeans, she almost fitted in... Except for one hot sexy cowboy who hated her guts... by the name of Zane... // Zane was having a bad day... his pickup overheated, stranding him and his horse, and then this MB sped by, covering him in dust. Finding the owner, who claims to be "Andi Ford" (like the pickup) assimilated into town, Zane knew Andi is trouble... but when she took up waitressing at the only bar in town, and a couple folks got too handsy, Zane will protect her... But her secret was never too far away...

The ending was telegraphed for a while, and it's... tolerable. But the big Hollywood chase was rather lame, complete with the cliche "he shot away my mirror!" 

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 3/5

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GRR Reviews Her Flyboy Billionaire Boss by Holly Stevenson

Kate enjoys being a flight attendant, but with her father recently suffered a stroke, not even her salary is enough to cover his long-term care and rehab. When Kate was suddenly offered a position as a corporate flight attendant, at THREE TIMES her current salary, she can't refuse. But one look at her boss, the company CEO Lincoln Pierce, and her heart goes pitter-patter. Linc was desperate when his existing attendant is retiring to hug her grandbabies. Kate would be a perfect replacement until he realized he wanted her... but Kate, desperate to hold on to the job, decided a romp with the boss is a VERY bad way to advance her career. Is it stormy skies ahead for this couple?

Not bad, good push-pull, and plenty of reluctance in the romance, with a bit of hot-and-cold, but reasonable. Having the prince as a complication leading to grand gesture was a good twist but he's introduced very late. The grand gesture, however, is right on the mark.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 4.5/5

NOTE: Tropes are now in the "Labels" below.

GRR Reviews Only a Kiss with a Billionaire by Ellie Hall

Emma is a programmer who also likes to bake. She's left without a job when her ex (who was also her boss) stole her work, broke her heart (by cheating), and left her in debt when he also convinced her to invest in the company (that went under without her). When an ad called for a temporary position of personal assistant on Christmas Day at a local gym, she can't refuse. She didn't expect her boss to be... a rich playboy model like Will. // Will started as a model, and parlayed that into an international franchise of gyms and nutritional supplements. But when tabloids caught him at parties, he was dubbed playboy. His manager/agent told him to get a girlfriend, but no way he's getting his evil ex Veronica another crack at him. When Emma showed up as his temporary assistant... Will also hired her as his fake girlfriend, and she named a figure just enough to clear her debt, not that she'll explain what the figure meant. Emma went with Will to London (where he's actually based)  they learned about each other a little more... But complications soon arose... and no one can be trusted...

I like the twist and the push-pull, but the standard "billionaire wooing" like "jet to Paris to have lunch" is a bit of meh. The "opposites attract" thing is fun, as these two are complete opposites... But the final reveal was great.


Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 4/5

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GRR Reviews Red Hot Stakes by Mia Madison

Gabby likes Luke's kids, enough for them to invite her to their birthday party. But when the twins flat out asked their father to marry her at the party, things got very very awkward. But when Gabby saved one of Luke's kids from drowning at the lake, Luke decided perhaps he can get to know Gabby a little better... Gabby is younger (by about 10 years), never married, but can cook and more. Finding Gabby to be under-employed, Luke was glad to offer her a job as a combination nanny / cook / personal assistant position. He really does need an assistant to help him research his next book. There shouldn't be any more, but Luke may be amenable to change his mind...

I like the push-pull, but I'm not sure about the kink aspects as that felt very... tacked on. And the darkest hour felt very... forced (basically, Gabby had to go to PTA meeting in Luke's place, heard some bad news, brought it home, and Luke decided to "shoot the messenger").

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 4/5

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GRR Reviews Only A Night With A Billionaire by Ellie Hall

Penny got an apprenticeship position with the head royal baker in London. But getting lost in the palace and having a Cinderella moment admiring all the beautiful ball gowns lead to a case of mistaken identity: she's NOT princess Penelope... but when the queen greeted you as a niece, how do you say no? And when it turns out she's to meet no less than Prince Oliver and participate in a royal version of "The Bachelor" with 3 other princesses, Penny fainted on the spot. She had a crush on Oliver for years. Being picked as the future queen of Concordia alongside Oliver is a dream... or a nightmare, as she's sure her deception will be revealed any moment...

Okay, I like the tension, but the rescue scenario does NOT work at all. How can a train, having outrun an avalanche, FAILED TO NOTICE that it is SEVERAL CARS short, one of which contains the king and queen to be? And who uses ladders for rescues nowadays? It's rescue baskets and winches! And finally, what a deus ex machina. I knew there is going to be a twist, but it felt... forced.

Category: Contemporary / Royalty

Overall Rating: 3/5

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GRR Reviews The Virgin Club by Kayley Wood

Emma and her besties vowed to keep their virginity "for the one". Emma dare not hope for the best, for in her experience, "what goes up, must come down". When her besties both found love, Emma was left alone. After a meltdown fueled by ice cream and alcohol (consumed solo)  Emma declared on her anon blog that she intends to lose her virginity by her 24th birthday, which is a month away. And that's when her blog went viral. Her besties knew Emma had a crush on Logan, the new guy at work, who somehow figured out Emma's the virgin of the blog through experience, so they engineered a blog entry to create a fake "competitor" to Logan to force Logan's hand. The fake competitor was based on Emma's temporary boss, Alex, who's also extremely hot... and VERY VERY rich... AND hates Logan's guts. At first, the plan seems to be working. Logan's interested... but then Emma's curse struck... And this time, Emma may lose a lot more...

This romcom certainly had a couple twists and turns I didn't seem coming, and that's good. You'll have an explanation for everything, including why Alex is hot and cold.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 5/5

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GRR Reviews Maybe Series Collection 1 by Ella Miles

NOTE: This collection is no longer available, in favor of the new collection, which includes 3 more books and a new title.  I'll give each of the books separate ratings.  The overall rating is 3/5 as an average of all three.


Maybe Yes (book 1) -- Kinsley Felton grew up rich and beautiful. She was a model for Seventeen magazine, and she graduated from Yale... but with a mostly useless degree. She can inherit an empire her family had built for a hundred years, if she accepts what her family asks of her... Such as marrying the chosen heir to the empire. But she wants to learn to love by herself... And she thought she had just found the man... Until her grandfather called her and changed EVERYTHING... Her father is dead, and she needs to be wed ASAP to make sure the line of succession will continue. And she needs to meet him ASAP.

I saw where the plot was going pretty early on but the journey there was enjoyable. 4/5






Maybe Never (book 2) -- Kinsley Felton had fallen for Killian... except he wasn't what she thought he was... but an FBI undercover agent who had been infiltrating her family for years. Convinced of her family's innocence, Kinsley refused to take a plea deal. And Killian found himself crossing the line to save Kinsley from herself. But the truth they discovered will shock them both, and sent them on the run around the globe...

This one, I have trouble to stomach. An FBI agent, OFF the case, went to investigate? Took a witness on the run and went rogue?  3/5









Maybe Always (book 3) -- Kinsley has finally learned the truth about her family, and it was devastating. And she is still in love with Killian. To save his career, she had to leave him. To save her soul, she had to bring down the cartel... From the INSIDE. That means going undercover as herself. // Killian knew why Kinsley ran... she is planning something dangerous. He needs to save her, but he has been arrested by the FBI and dumped in prison. Until fate reunited them once again...

I have trouble stomaching this one too. Turned sadism into sex in the guise of torture? That's pretty sick. The rest of the plot was okay.

3/5

GRR Reviews Second Chance Grill by Christine Nolfi

Mary is an MD who had to take a sabbatical after a drunk driver killed her best friend. When she inherited a restaurant in Liberty Ohio, she thought it was the perfect out. But the restaurant was struggling, the cook had been fired, and the entrees without the cook are not edible. Elsewhere in town, Blossom, who has leukemia in remission, do NOT want Meade as her stepmom, which means she had to find his dad, Anthony (the town mechanic and handyman), a new girlfriend fast, and the new lady in town, Dr. Mary, will do very nicely. But Mary had promised to help run a clinic in Cincinnati as she had promised her dead best friend, and her stay in Liberty was only for a year. Mary does like Anthony, but does she like him enough to change her plans? When Blossom's leukemia came back, what will Mary and Anthony do?

It's a heart-warming tale, with some bits of romance. You read it for the relationships and the quirky small town, not necessarily for the romance.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 4/5

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GRR Reviews Valentine's Day with a Firefighter by Ellie Hall

Trip Hawkins is back in his hometown. His family resort is thriving. But he can't quite get over the one thing he wanted to reclaim... His girl Sadie. So finding her stuck in the elevator and had to rescue her was... interesting. // Sadie never was over Trip, who left her behind. She works at the resort handling the new website campaign... And was just paged to the office when she got stuck in the elevator. Being rescued by Trip himself was awkward. Finding out that someone posted a singles ad in her name and linked it to the hotel's "couples promo" was mortifying. Too busy to uncover the saboteur and saving her job, Sadie has no time for Trip, who wanted her back...

Sweet, short, but not much else. I don't feel too much of the chemistry.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 3/5

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GRR Reviews Let Me Show You by Alexandria House

Nolan is the smart McClain brother with business sense, and runs a well-known club with rumored connections to everyone. But due to people keep trying to get close to him only to get closer to his more famous and rapping brother, he had resorted to dating only white European blonde bimbos (who have no idea who he is)... Until he ran into Brigette... who's as black and as driven as he is. Brigette changed her name to leave her old life behind. As an up-and-coming actress, Brigette has a part in the movie that will take the world by storm, funded by the McClains. Brigette knows she should NOT be close to Nolan, who's not only her boss (and later, her director, because Nolan had to fire his *** to protect her), but Nolan only ever dated white women... and she refused to be a notch on his bedpost for the movie's publicity. But when her past, in the form of a crackhead mother, came back to haunt her, she will need his support and strength to get through the crisis...

While the plot had been seen before, it's how the different author put the different touches that demonstrate the difference between *meh* and *GREAT!*, and I really do like Alexandria House. The banter is excellent, and character revelations are done a little bit at a time. You will get more out of the novels if you read them in order, but each stands alone as well. The big McClain family help each other out, while fight at other times. Both Nolan and Brigette are damaged, in ways that are NOT obvious at first. And the slow reveal is what will draw you into those characters.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 5/5

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GRR Reviews The Passionate One by Jeanette Lewis

Erin started the "Billionaire Bride Pact"... the group of girls vowed at summer camp to not settle for anyone less than a billionaire. As an up-and-coming actress with sights set on Broadway, Erin has no time for her best platonic friend Matt. Matt, desperate to get out of the friend zone before she leaves, has a plan this time. Unfortunately for Matt, Erin's breakout performance and a new co-star in the form of billionaire actor playboy Brennan Avery put a damper in his plans... How can Matt show Erin that fame and fortune are not all she seeks?

A bit too slow to start, I do like the triangle aspect, as Brennan is everything that Matt is not, and for a little while, you do wonder how can he pull it off. But it's really about Erin realizing her dreams can include the right guy.

Category:Contemporary

Overall Rating: 4/5

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GRR Review No Time for Love by Raine English

Kingsley is a member of "No Brides Club"... where six friends agreed to put themselves first, not to let love ruin their careers. As one of the best real estate brokers in Manhattan, she has no time to dawdle. When her favorite aunt died and left her an animal sanctuary in the middle of nowhere, along with a manager that prefers it that way, Kingsley had to see for herself... But what does a city slicker do with an animal sanctuary in the countryside, even though Dylan is swoon-worthy ruggedly handsome? // Dylan does not want to be an accountant, but a wildlife biologist. Finding this animal sanctuary work is just his luck. He can roll in the dirt with the old bear, the wolves he raised as cubs, and the whole menagerie of animals. But when the owner died of a heart attack and left the sanctuary to her city-slicker niece, it left him with unsavory choices: run back to his parents... or convince the city slicker that country life is better...

Nice, very nice. Good layering of conflict and guilt, and see-sawing back and forth on which stuff have to take priority. Kingsley was SLOWLY swayed to take it easy, while Dylan had hidden depths that had to be revealed. The grand gesture was instantly recognizable. I just have a question... Who paid for the renovations on the Victorian?

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 5/5

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GRR Reviews Marry Your Billionaire by C J Anaya

Madelyn (who prefers "Midge") walked away from her trust fund and her Hollywood father when he forced her to choose between joining him vs. her own destiny as a writer. Six years later, she's within a few credits to graduate when her scholarship got canceled and she was forced to talk to him... He needed her as a temporary contestant on his latest reality TV creation: Date a Billionaire.  Strange thing... she had just advised a billionaire, Brody, to NOT get on national TV, as choosing among 20 women is NOT really going to repair his damaged reputation (spread by one bitter Felicia). // Brody found Midge to be absolutely fascinating. He doesn't date (too busy), but he had to date for publicity, so they are arranged by his assistant... except one of them, Felicia, after failing to entice him, decided to spread rumors about him instead. After realizing Midge is the director's daughter and will be one of the contestants, Brody decided that he will participate after all to woo Midge. But his nemesis, Felicia, will also be on the show. And Felicia does NOT play fair... and she has an accomplice as a fellow contestant, who has her own agenda...

Part of the book was great, but some of the twists seem way too convenient. And the darkest hour really doesn't make any sense and can be attributed to the "sensitive ears" trope (i.e. taking things out of context and chose to interpret it as betrayal). Brody doesn't really have that sort of problem, does he? Have him suddenly flip about betrayal was out of character, or perhaps, not foreshadowed enough.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 3/5

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GRR Reviews The Honey Trap by Karli Perrin

Sophia works for the Honey Trap Agency as one of the senior bait girls, after having her heart broken by her cheating boyfriend. When a wife walked in with a unique proposition, offering 10X the normal rate, she can't turn it down. Her assignment: honey trap hotel tycoon Mason Hunter. But Mason isn't the cheating type... and he wanted Sophia for real... which is when Sophia realized she's caught in a trap... set by the wife who's actually separated... and she's actually in love with Mason...

Like the various twists and turns the story was going, but the resolution could have been better, IMHO.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 4/5

NOTE: Tropes are now in the "Labels" below.

GRR Reviews Let Me Please You by Alexandria House

Kat was surrounded by alpha brothers and divorced. The entire family are overachievers, and Kat was no exception. Being a taller woman, Kat found only one guy that matches her... Tommy, her brother's bodyguard, who's even taller. But for Tommy, Kat's his boss' little sister and definitely off-limits... Until she made her intentions VERY VERY clear...  She has needs, and they are both consenting adults...

Ah, a bodyguard romance that is NOT romantic suspense. That's unusual in itself. But also, the family is Black-American, and that means a very different romance culture and very different vocabulary. The book however, feels a little thin on the details. I guess this used to be a portion of a different book (McClain brothers Book 3), and should be enjoyed together.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 4/5

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GRR Reviews Married by Mistake by Lindsey Hart

June is in Vegas with her bestie trying to get over her cheating ex... (who was getting it on with a guy). Her last memory was playing poker with a very handsome guy... So when she woke up in his bed naked, and her outfit in tatters, she figured she had a one-night-stand... Except for the ring on her finger... and a matching ring on his... and a marriage certificate on the nightstand. And he's still as gorgeous as sin and makes her... ladybits throb. But she remembered NOTHING... AND she's in Vegas to get over someone, not to get married. And the guy, Brock (who's obviously well-to-do), then made her the most outrageous proposal... STAY married to him for two more days, and he'll show her (and her friends) good times that perhaps she will consider staying with him... forever. Who the **** does that?!?!

Okay, this is supposed to be rom-com, so some craziness is to be expected. And married by mistake would be one of them. The problem is the plot seems to meander a bit, and the MFC did the "run away to sort my feelings" trope. The darkest hour was a letdown... Basically, MFC Googled (tm) MMC, found out he's rich, decided he can't be trusted (why? just for keeping secrets?) and did a runner. Some bits are funny, some bits are hot, but there isn't really a "theme" to the whole book.

Category: Contemporary / Comedy

Overall Rating: 3/5

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GRR Reviews Borrowing a Fiance by Kat Bellemore

Melinda had been managing her parent's cafe for over a decade. She's getting grumpy because she wants to go to college. When her younger sister, who did go to college, announced an upcoming marriage, she reluctantly agrees to attend with her best platonic friend Daniel. But when pressure mounted, she announced that Daniel is her fiance and they intended to marry soon. Now caught in her lies, she doesn't know how to get out of it... // Daniel had been to prison, and got back out, knowing what he did (he was forced, but he knew he could have found another way) and he had been living properly since. He's not the kind of guy a girl takes home to meet their parents, but when Melinda asked, he can't refuse. But be her fake fiancee? That's not exactly a burden, but he doesn't really want to lie...

Now that's an interesting way to handle fake fiancee, by layering the problems with expectations, desires, envy, only to find nothing is as it seems. And even the darkest hour was handled properly, instead of "sensitive hearing and ego", it's "you don't need me now that you got what you wanted". Wow, that's some deft plotting. Can't spoil the plot, so I'll stop here. But read this.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 5/5

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GRR Reviews Second Chance Hero by Kimberly Readnour

Zach was a phenom pitcher in college, but he had to let Lacey go to concentrate on his career. He tried to let her down easy, but it was a betrayal nonetheless. Five years later, with a Cy Young under his belt, he's doing great, until Lacey walked into his press conference. Zach knew what he wanted... Lacey back in his life. But Lacey, still raw from the betrayal, is determined to avoid him at every step... When Zach suffered what may have been a career-ending injury... Will they let each other go again to "do the right thing"? Or will they fight for what they have?

Good push-pull, and all the baseball terminologies are great, as are the reporter stuff. Zach's darkest hour was also nicely handled, with all that self-sacrificing ****, even as another complication from Lacey arose (which I won't spoil, but you can see from the tags). I guess the question is, is Zach really a bad boy?

Oh, and I enjoyed learning the term "cleat chasers". Yes, it means what you think it means.

Category: Contemporary / Sports

Overall Rating: 4/5

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GRR Reviews Hope For Christmas by Holly Stevenson

Hope, a popular yoga instructor for MyHeartChannel, has a special engagement for a week in the resort at Pine Ridge Colorado, teaching lessons to live students instead of merely to a camera. Owen is an ex-marine who lost his best buddy to war and still suffers from PTSD. He would have never come until his mother dragged him there, hoping yoga would help him calm himself. When a creepy guy confronted Hope after a session, Owen stepped in as pretend boyfriend/bodyguard. But Owen was convinced he's broken, and not worthy of Hope. Yet Hope is drawn to the protective yet gentle Owen... But when circumstances seem to conspire against them... It will take a miracle, and some Hope... for this Christmas to go right.

The stalker situation is okay, though repeating the same gag (security showed up just late enough to apologize) is a bit "meh". It also seems they missed a charge... Assault with a deadly weapon. IMHO, the sudden on/off hot/cold by Owen could have been handled a little better, but I guess it was there to plant doubt in Hope's heart. But why does Hope seem to have low self-esteem for herself that she cannot trust Owen, and decided to treat Owen's attitude as a betrayal not merely once, but twice?

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 4/5

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GRR Reviews Design for Love by Julie Archer

Piper can't live with her brother and his flatmates, and she's glad to have found a house-sitter / housekeeper position... Until she realized the house's owner was the hot rock star that she had always had a crush on... //  Mal wanted a home to go to. When he decided to cut his latest tour short, he found himself attracted to his temporary house-sitter... Then she came up with a way to save his reputation... But can he convince her to stay with him... forever?

Short, sweet, but not much else. 3/5

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 3/5

NOTE: Tropes are now in the "Labels" below.

GRR Reviews Healing the Billionaire by Eliza Boyd

Hailey had started CumberCakers, her cupcake business, after her husband left her to pursue her dreams many years ago. When her ex-sister-in-law asked her to come dog-sit for her across the country, she used the chance to also schedule an interview with a national vendor. Unfortunately, the 150-pound dog bowled her over, leading to her dislocating her shoulder... just as she found that the visitor was none other than her ex-husband Jared... // Jared decided to let Hailey go as he needed to find his own way, and he did. Now he's a billionaire, and seeing his ex-wife just made him want her back, even as he decided to take a vacation from it all. Helping her make her cupcakes is just a bonus, but is his penchant for secrecy means he'll let her go... again?

Uh... while the cupcake stuff is good, the conflict can be summed up as your typical "I can't say what I really feel" versus "I don't want to hear it".  A bit exasperating, IMHO.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 3.5/5

NOTE: Tropes are now in the "Labels" below.

GRR Reviews The Billionaire and the Therapist by Kim Koby

Natalie changed her name and her life to get away from her stalker. Starting over in Texas is proving to be harder than she imagined. So when a widower billionaire father John offered her room and board AND 200K for a year to help his daughter. she can't refuse. But the daughter witnessed the death of her mother and had stopped speaking altogether. John was grateful to have found Natalie, even though he is certain she's keeping a secret. As they get closer to each other and witnessed his daughter's slow recovery, will that secret tear them apart?

Uh, sorry, the ending was a total fakeout. The threat was dealt with in a single sentence. I feel robbed. Same with John's father's threats about having her investigated. Nor did we ever figure out how did the stalker figure out where Natalie went, despite she has changed her name, moved across the country, AND taken up residence in John's exclusive town. The book has too many of these WTF? moments.

Category: Contemporary / Romantic suspense?

Overall Rating: 2/5

NOTE: Tropes are now in the "Labels" below.

GRR Reviews Not the Bodyguard's Baby by Lorin Grace

September, once America's sweetest voice, is suffering severe post-partum depression, but she recognized the symptoms, and to get herself well, she had to leave her baby with someone she can trust while she checked herself into treatment under an assumed name. The only one that came to mind was Adam, one of the four sons running Hastings Security... // Adam was surprised when a baby was left at Hastings security asking him to take care of the baby... Adam knew the mother, but they never got together that way... What could have caused her to leave her baby behind... AND named him as the father? Is she in danger?

Ah, nice twists and turns, as the mystery slowly revealed the circumstances to her pregnancy and subsequent events... AND let's just say there's an antagonist, AND he got what he deserved. AND you get a serious lesson on post-partum depression.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 5/5

NOTE: Tropes are now in the "Labels" below.

GRR Reviews Wanting Secret Baby by Suzanne Hart

Naomi wanted love, and a baby, and a family. Alex was her bestie's fiancee's little brother, and notorious party hardy guy and heartbreaker, fond of telling women "there was nothing between us other than ****ing". Naomi knew Alex's reputation, which is why she has to resist him. But when they have to be respectively bride's maid and best man, and he really wanted her, and he can tell she wanted him too... They indulged for one night... then everything changed... and not for the better...

Wow, this story managed multiple twists of tropes, from reluctant lovers to secret baby to reunion. Yes, I did kinda spoil the plot. The story did last quite a while, and at times, felt a bit too long. But it's very nice push-pull, with no obvious plot-holes.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 4.5/5

NOTE: Tropes are now in the "Labels" below.

GRR Reviews The (Half) Truth by Leddy Harper

Tatum is about to become a sous chef, but being dumped by the restaurant owner's son, and watch him go on to woo some other floozie hurts. So she made up a story that she's dating her bestie's cousin Jason. However, Jason had just moved to town and hadn't heard the story. Jason was intrigued by Tatum and agreed to have some NSA action to test the waters. But Jason was taking a women-break... As Tatum's lies started to snowball, and unravel... Does Tatum really have a relationship with Jason? Was lie, truth, or merely half-truth? When the lie bubble finally breaks, will their relationship survive?

Hmmm... The setup is quite good. The somewhat insecure girl sets up a lie, got in over her head, and not even the hot guy who eventually fell for her can get her out of it... It's all confused feelings until the end. Good comedic parts.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 4/5

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GRR Reviews Her Billionaire Boss by Laura Ann

Ivy is upbeat despite drowning in medical debt due to her mom's lost battle with cancer. She has a good job at the local resort, converted from a castle by the rich billionaire brothers. Eli, her boss, is one of the brothers, and a real man-candy. Except Eli had sworn off all women after encountering golddiggers at every turn. Eli found himself drawn to the upbeat Ivy, despite they are complete opposites, not to mention she's his employee. When he discovered her debt, will he decide that she turns out to be a golddigger after all?

Not too bad, but nothing really outstanding either. The angle was expected, no surprise there, and the push-pull is pretty standard fare.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 3.5/5

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GRR Reviews Her Brilliant Cowboy Billionaire by Erica Penrod

Jamon is a cowboy turned billionaire when his invention for rehabilitating horses took off. But a Texas Cowboy is not exactly Billionaire Cove material. He hired Gemma as a PR consultant to poilsh his image.  Gemma was used to billionaires who already knew money. This rags-to-riches guy is seriously challenging her sanity. But Jamon's life is not all grins and giggles... "Relatives" and "friends" came out of the woodwork, all wanting money. Jamon's brother who developed an addiction to opioids due to an old injury, just keeps coming back like a bad rash, despite quitting rehab only 2 weeks in. When Jamon's brother took drastic action to force Jamon for money, can Jamon save Gemma?

Sorry, but "Jamon" is a horrible name for a Texas cowboy. Jamon is a VERY Jewish name, and Jamon in Spanish means "ham". I seriously doubt any mother in Texas would name their boy Jamon, who must have been teased mercilessly in school. The plot is also a bit... infantile. Bad guy tie her up to a tree? Really? Faint even without sighting any blood? Oh, come on.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 2.5/5

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GRR Reviews Her Homebound Billionaire by Gigi Marlowe

Alexandra "AJ" is a renowned architect and interior designer. Her friends set up an encounter for her and their friend Patrick, who's a reclusive billionaire that deals in cybersecurity. AJ was too busy for love, and fending off client advances is a part of the deal. Patrick, on the other hand, knew what humans do to each other, for he had to crawl the Dark Web often, and handle the devastation later. AJ's honest personality is attractive to Patrick despite his tendency to mistrust any strangers. But when Patrick thought he saw something, he chose to interpret it as betrayal...

Uh... the darkest hour is basically your standard "sensitive eyes" (i.e. I **saw** what you did // completely misinterpreted)  and that's really lame. And none of the tech expertise was USED in the book. The MMC was your just your regular generic hunk with a tendency to misinterpret things.  At least it's short. (100 pages).

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 2.5/5

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GRR Reviews The Aimless Billionaire by April Murdock

Brandon found his affluent existence completely meaningless. His friends are shallow and materialistic. Determined to find himself before he "settles down" to join his father's business, he went "undercover", to live his life plainly, by attending a music festival and just live like a normal man... // Jessie is a blogger who loves music and was just awarded a backstage pass to a music festival by a magazine in exchange for some local coverage, which hopefully could turn into more. She had saved every penny to travel to that festival, and have planned the interview. // When Brandon and Jessie bumped into each other at the festival, sparks flew. Brandon's down-to-earth attitude and self-deprecating wit was a perfect match for Jessie's sass and vivaciousness. Yet even Jessie can sense there's something different about Brandon... When Jessie's interview turned into something else, will Brandon's secret be revealed? Will that revelation change their relationship?

More of an "adventure", Brandon was just a general "nice guy" if a bit naive. Jessie is the real star here. But the chemistry here is nice.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 4/5

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GRR Reviews A Game-Changing Christmas by Stephanie Nicole Norris

The rival families, the Roses and the Valentines, have been competing for a while. And new additions to the families by marriage means new business deals. Some members may even been in love across rivalries. When they both bid on some pieces of properties, only to be outbid by mysterious third-party, tension ensues... Are they going to co-operate... or keep fighting?

I have a feeling I was missing a lot if I didn't read the previous books in the series. And I didn't. More than a few issues were left hanging at the end. Romance is a minor element here.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 3.5/5

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GRR Reviews The Resilient One by Cami Checketts

Alyssa escaped from her rotten father who apparently sold access to her body to his sleazy friends, doing anything to make a buck. That cured her of desire for any men... Alyssa was always a photographer, and her escape to Maui should be perfect for her... Until Beckham Taylor arrived. The ex-NHL star was nice and protective, but Alyssa has secret guilt... Her photograph of his moment of grief with his family was twisted by tabloids into a family feud. Even as Alyssa fell for Beckham, who rescued her multiple times, her past misdeed was thrust into the light when a tabloid decided to make her and Beckham front cover news...

Ah, now that's some emotional turmoil, yet both are reasonable, not over the top. She's afraid of men who wanted to take advantage of her, and he's "too busy for love" after losing his parents. The extra complications, like Alyssa's father showing up, the tabloid after them again, works. My problem here is I didn't know Alyssa's bestie works for a tabloid?

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 4.5/5

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GRR Reviews The Right Guy by Kate O'Keeffe

City girl Taylor is a skeptic, until her bestie dragged her to see a psychic and got a prediction that she'll find "the one" within two weeks, with a very specific description. Now she can't help looking for men with green eyes wearing an orange shirt... Except for one... her bestie's big brother Jake, the infamous womanizer. He does have green eyes, but he wasn't wearing an orange shirt, right? // Jake is the head chef of the hottest restaurant in town, but he'd been kinda lusting after his kid sister's bestie, Taylor, since a kiss they shared as teenagers. When both had to attend a wedding in Cabo San Lucas, Taylor found herself looking for green eyes and orange shirt... while Jake has to decide whether to go after Taylor for real this time, even though his own sister had warned him to stay away from "her girls"...

Ah, the "everyone but you" comedic trope, but very nicely executed. AND it's kinda set in San Francisco. Very enjoyable. I think some plot points like Jake's restaurant's fate could have been handled better.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 4.5/5

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GRR Reviews A Boss's Proposal by Layla Holt

Isla had to leave her previous job because she was a hotel's chef and fell for the owner's son, only to discover he's a two-timing bastard. When she found a temporary personal chef position, she didn't ask. Turns out, it's for billionaire Zeke. He's handsome and kind. Then he made the most absurd proposal... // When Zeke needed a fake girlfriend to make his grandma happy for the holidays, the only eligible woman around was Isla... his chef. She's sweet, pretty, and isn't after his money. It'd be perfect... Except for her secret...

Sweet, but not much else.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 3.5/5

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GRR Reviews Freefall by Hayley Rayne

Jack is a stuntman turned action hero. But after one too many love-em-and-leave-em episodes that got on TMZ, his agent ordered him to shape up... by hiring him a fake girlfriend... from a PR firm... Bryden. Bryden is innocent, fresh, and starstruck, except she's hiding a secret... His agent is paying her a big bonus upon completion of this assignment. And Bryden is different from all the other women that fell for him before... But when he told his side-chick, the nutritionist Bonnie, that their arrangement will have to end, Bonnie vowed "you'll be sorry"...

Good climax, but the Maori details felt a bit... tacked-on for flavor, not that well integrated.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 3.5/5

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GRR Reviews Whispers of Love by Rose Verde

Jordyn is a hospice nurse and thought she was used to dealing with death, due to her own experiences with loss. But her latest patient is breaking her resolve. She refused cancer treatment to bring her twins into this world. By the time they were born, she was stage 4... Terminal. And her douche husband left her. Only her brother Ty remained. // Ty knew love is an illusion. He had been burned before... and having his sister abandoned like that... Ty can provide for her sister, which is why he hired the hospice nurse Jordyn. And as they slowly came to know each other, each admires the other's resolve to go on despite their own tragedies. Can they find happiness in the midst of sorrow?

Ah, good juxtaposing of sadness and joy, reluctant love and loss, and all that. 5/5

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 5/5

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GRR Reviews Her App, A Match, and the Billionaire by Maria Hoagland

Lizzie created a special dating app that can customize a users' profile to their matches, and went on the national TV show "Tech Tank" to land an investor. Lizzie got only one offer... And it's only a provisional one from Dawson Fitzwilliam, the most tech-savvy, but also the toughest and most skeptical of the tech CEOs. // Dawson has his personal reasons to avoid dating... or dogs. When Lizzie's diabetic alert dog approached Dawson, Dawson blundered on TV. To make up for it, he offered Lizzie a 30-day provisional contract, and himself as a guinea pig: match him with someone to prove it works, and he'll back the app. // Lizzie was not looking for love, nor was Dawson. But as they work together, they seem perfect for each other... Until one of the fellow Tech CEOs on Tech Tank apparently cloned Lizzie's app... and now Dawson must step in to make things right..

A little bit of Cyrano (as Lizzie didn't put herself in the app as a potential match, except for demo), and the threat (the clone app) was meh. The push-pull is not bad, and the tech seems right on. But it just wasn't that... romantic?

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 3/5/5

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GRR Reviews Her Billionaire Surgeon by Dobi Daniels

Dana, a surgical resident at Dexington Medical, is too busy for love. To satisfy her godmother, she went on one blind date. // Josh Roman, a fellow resident, wants out of his father's control. He wants to do sports medicine and start soccer clinics around the world, his father wants him to be an orthopedic doctor like himself. A surprise inheritance from his grandmother may give him the freedom, but it comes with a huge rope... He has to get engaged within 30 days. Desperate to get away from the bad blind date set up by his father, the department head. He was surprised to find Dana at the same restaurant. So he rescued her and claimed her as his potential fiancee. And she went along reluctantly. But as the fiction turns ever larger, Dana found her one lasting mystery and secret may have everything to do with the Roman family...

Nicely setup, if the intro's a bit too long. The subsequent push-pull and complications are right on the mark. Though I guessed the twist long before I saw it. It's pretty obvious which way the story would go.

Category: Contemporary / Medical

Overall Rating: 4.5/5

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GRR Reviews Stupid Hearts by Kristen Hope Mazzola

Jolene "Joey" loves sex with a bit of an edge... she has a drawerful of sex toys and is not adverse to a little bondage or rough play... Until she found that she's "the other woman" and her regular sex partner is married and his wife is expecting... So she left, vowing not to risk her stupid heart for another man. She works as a photographer in NYC but she's a Southern Belle at heart... sorta. The dirty kind. Then she met Finn, who's Irish working in the US as a model, and he really wanted her, and she'll take him any way she can...

There sure are a lot of sex here so expect that, and it's pretty good, no BDSM here, it's just rough but sensual play. pretty good.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 4/5

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GRR Reviews Falling for Miss Write by Joanne Dannon

Felix was still sore from losing his fiancee to his brother. He knew it's his own fault, and he wants to find a Miss Right for him. The problem is his reputation as a rake is nearly impossible to reverse... Then he met Charlotte again. Charlotte knew Felix since high school, and Charlotte works multiple jobs as she enjoys people. She's an aspiring author but hadn't submitted anything yet. She enjoys the attention from Felix, but again, his reputation precedes him, and she swears she can never fall for him, esp. with three brothers watching over her (even though she's now 30). She's had enough of high-handedness, even if it's supposedly for her own good. When Felix's take-charge attitude got him into trouble, can he change enough to prove to Charlotte that he's really a changed man?

Ah, issues of fidelity and trust, always a delicate subject, and basis of relationships. There are character arcs, but they are a bit low-key that you don't realize they are there until they "soak in" later in your brain.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 4/5

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GRR Reviews Temp Girl by Haley Oliver

Amanda is the new temp secretary for Owen, a billionaire. Amanda is competent and works well with the rest of the secretarial pool, and she has a serious crush on the billionaire, except Owen has his mind set on the snooty blonde down the hall. When the blonde rejected the written memo, Amanda decided to write a better rejection note. Her boss wasn't supposed to reply, except he did, and she had to pen a reply again... and again... And what would happen if Owen found out he had been corresponding with his secretary?

Clean, sweet, short (only about 30K words) it's definitely a fun read.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 4.5/5

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GRR Reviews Call it Chemistry by D J Van Oss

Kate never wanted to go back to her hometown, where she suffered the biggest embarrassment of her life that changed her direction forever. But for her job, she had to go back to help her hometown enterprise rebrand itself. And once back, she found that the boy she always loved, Peter, and also the same boy who helped destroy her reputation, is the town chemistry teacher. // Peter wanted to be a chemical engineer, but he ended up teaching chemistry at his old high school. He did not expect to see "Katie" again, and when she had to stay for a little while, he wondered if she can ever forgive him... and become friends again... or will she ever be "the one that got away"?

The author chose to give us two parallel tracks, mostly in present day with some flashbacks to them in high school. I personally think the "biggest embarrassment" turned out to be an extremely arbitrary decision (what constitutes "outside help"?) does the town really remember that much? Seems like guilt and shame have ruined both MCs and they need to sort it out before they can be all they can be. A bit angst-y without that much emotional payoff.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 3/5

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GRR Reviews Marry Me Already by Annie J Rose

Wes, a rich billionaire, is raising Sunny alone because his wife died of cancer. Sunny is having a hard time coping and she'd been ejected from multiple pre-schools. He needs a nanny fast. He got Cheyenne... // Cheyenne can't live with a cheating jerk of a boyfriend, which means she has no place to live, and a live-in nanny position is perfect. But she's still in school, and he's still working... But when Wes was involved in an auto collision, he had an epiphany... There will be no one around for his daughter should anything happen to him. So he proposed a marriage of convenience to Cheyenne... make sure the kid is provided for. But the two are just in denial... They are already in love...

Short, pretty good, but really, who marries just to setup the kid? Not guardianship? Not trust and will? Feels a bit "too stupid to live"...

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 3.5/5

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GRR Reviews Mommy Loves the Principal by Shanae Johnson

Kylee, voted most likely to succeed by her class, did not. She skipped town with the local "bad boy", got pregnant, and got hitched, and had to divorce the loser. Now a single mom, she's back in town working for a testing center... And found the geek in her class, Ron, is now the elementary school principal. And Ron had always had a thing for Kylee. Unfortunately, principals are not supposed to date their students' parents, and Ron, being the youngest principal ever, can't risk his position. He wanted to adopt the new test prep courses that Kylee's company wants to see, but is dating Kylee ethical, while she's working there? Ron and Kylee may be reluctant, but Kylee's girl is determined to see the two together... and she has a plan...

Ah, good bits. A bit short, but right on the money with all proper plot points.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 4/5

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GRR Reviews The Twelve Hour Patriot by Jennifer Youngblood

McKenna and Tate had a history... For her first case, she helped Tate check up on his girlfriend on whether she's a golddigger. Tate is a NFL backup quarterback and he has a rich ranching family in Texas. Unfortunately, the case blew up in her face when she was caught kissing Tate by the girlfriend. Years later, Tate was getting strange threatening emails that warned him "day of reckoning is coming". One college QB had died, and another is in a coma, and both had received similar warnings. Is there a serial killer out there gunning for Tate? Tate, who despises media, wants minimal security, and the only choice seems to be hiring McKenna. But can a PI be a bodyguard, when they don't even know why the QBs are targeted? And what about the growing attraction between Tate and McKenna?

While the intrigue is good, some plot points felt really forced, like "I refuse to have a team of bodyguards, and the ONLY other choice was the hire the woman who hated me." You get an explanation for why later (no spoiler here, let's just say it's a bad experience) but it's literally "too stupid to live" decisions, several times over.

Category: Contemporary / Romantic Suspense

Overall Rating: 3/5

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GRR Reviews The Bride Spoke to Horses by Susannah Calloway

Cara was kidnapped by Indians as a child and grew up as one of them, but the now grown young woman was repatriated into white society. But she has a hard time fitting in, forced into situations she was not trained for or taught. The only time she was happy was when she ran away to a horse ranch outside of town, and met Gunnar. Turns out, Cara is a horse whisperer, able to calm the wildest beast with songs and talking. Gunnar wanted to help her, but he has his own mail-order bride on the way. When Cara overheard Gunnar's bride may be arriving, she ran away first... Can Gunnar find her in time to tell her he wanted no other woman?

A bit convenient, but this is a novella.

Category: Historical Western

Overall Rating: 3.5/5

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GRR Reviews The Tough Warrior by Cami Checketts

Griff Quinn knew he can't leave anyone behind broken-hearted as a SEAL, and later, going undercover for Sutten Security. So he broke the one woman's heart... Scarlet Lilly. He knew she made it big as a premier action star. When Sutton learned of an anonymous threat against her... offering ONE MILLION bucks to kidnap her via the Dark Web, Sutton assigned Griff to be her bodyguard. // Scarlet can't believe Griff is finally back to see her... but only as her protector, not as her lover. She understands the threat against her is real... She has acted the heroine enough to understand the reality of it. But she wants Griff... even if only part-time... If only she can make him see that...

I knew the climax had a twist to it, and I wasn't disappointed. But the ending seems to have dragged on a bit too long, IMHO.

Category: Contemporary / Romantic Suspense

Overall Rating: 4/5

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GRR Reviews Heart of Mine by Caroline Fyffe

Beranger is the illegitimate son of a British Duke who decided any fate would be better than living in a household that will never accept him as an equal. He ran away, and eventually made it to the US, and after learning all sorts of skills, found himself as a mine whisperer, with the ability to determine a mine's viability. He's also a notorious "rake", or so the gossip says. His latest client was Emma, the most eligible bachelorette in town, and along with her sisters, are about to inherit a mine. She needs him to make her operation a success in the small town of Eden, Colorado, and that means she can never fall for him. But someone is riling up the town, buying the property out from under the occupants. And Beranger wants Emma to take a chance on him... as a lover... and a husband.

Caroline Fyffe's stories rarely disappoints, even though they are usually epic in scope, with a lot of characters and plots that wanders all over the place, and huge backstories. This is no exception. The way Emma falls for Beranger is gradual, the way it should be done, and there is a bit of a darkest hour with a slight bit of deus ex machina solution, though it fits.

Category: Historical Western

Overall Rating: 5/5

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GRR Reviews The Hopeful One by Jeanette Lewis

Darrin married Nikki, and it was a great match. They were in love, he's rich and growing richer with his company, and she has a large trust fund as security. But when she miscarried, and his company seems to be in trouble, their happily ever after seems to be a distant memory. Can they work through their differences... Or will this be the end of their fairy tale?

Ah, on the rocks romance, hard to get right, and this one, while short, is right on the dot. Both got issues, both are pushing each other's buttons (not quite consciously), and both will have to give to gain. Nicely done.

Category: Contemporary / On the rocks

Overall Rating: 5/5

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GRR Reviews Family Dinners with the Billionaire by Amberlee Day

Jetton Bolt seemingly had a perfect life. He is rich and handsome. His wife is a supermodel and he had three wonderful kids. However, that's merely appearance. His wife died two years ago, and while the kids seem okay, they decided they don't like Seattle, where Jetton moved back to. All the kids got into trouble in school. When the child counselor he hired recommended Jetton spend more time with his kids, such as having dinner together, the only solution he can think of is to hire an executive chef. And that's how he met Julie Kiyama... // Julie, a petite Japanese-American, is a talented chef, but lousy in business. Her last two attempts at a restaurant failed. Her third attempt actually had the diners help cook their own food, which is how she was "hired" to help this dysfunctional family. Her first night was rather disastrous, but she's a hit with one of the kids. Soon she found herself in their family life, and Jetton started to fall for the chef...

Some parts are good, such as the arc about the father "rediscovering" his responsibility to the kids. But other parts are a bit ho-hum. Call it 3.5/5

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 3.5/5

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GRR Reviews Ready: A Novella by Bria Felicien

Jade and Bryce are the best platonic friends. Jade was a college soccer star with a chance at winning the championship, and Bryce, actually from the rival school across town, is a basketball star trying to get drafted into the NBA. Bryce wanted out of the friend zone, but Jade has a boyfriend. When Jade found out her boyfriend had been lying to her, and she had been the "side chick", then her team lost the championship, bringing an end to her soccer career, she was devastated and needed to figure out where she wants to go with her life... Except she never figured out that Bryce has feelings for her... And Bryce, running out of time, may have to risk their friendship for a chance at love...

At almost 200 pages, this is actually almost novel length. The pacing is a bit on the slow side, as you get into each character's heads. On the other hand, the "everyone but you" trope was used effectively, as both have their respective responsibilities to worry about. Jade was cast adrift, as there's no future in women's soccer for her. Add the betrayal, and she's in midst of a depression. Bryce's fame means a lot of groupies, and that makes Jade's issues worse. All in all, excellent read.

Category: Contemporary / College / Sports

Overall Rating: 4.5/5

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GRR Reviews Love by Pranks by Sunniva Dee

The "Blossoms" (non-sorority house) have a long rivalry with their across-the-street neighbors, the Iota Fraternity "Dudes" and they prank each other all the time. Red dye in the shower? Done that. Glue all the cabinets shut? Absolutely. Kitty is a new member of the Blossoms, and she's smitten with Lucien, a member of the Dudes across the street. Can the two rival groups unite temporarily to raise enough money to help the local cat shelter so the stray cats won't freeze in the winter?

You read this book for the pranks, not for the love story.

Category: Contemporary / College

Overall Rating: 3.5/5

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GRR Reviews The Dangerous Thief by Mallory Crowe

James was an assassin turned bodyguard. Willa is a mob princess turned social activist. He's guarding her, she's determined to right her family's wrongs, after accidentally witnessing her father kills someone. And THEY... are out to stop her. So she goes on the run... and he'll protect her...

The author tries to tie in the previous books in the series by having the others show up as secondary characters, and it sort of works. Willa is about as spoiled princess as can be, but she's still TSTL at times. She wants to suddenly "grow a set of balls" and go back undercover in her own household to get something on dear daddy? ARGH. Yes, there's HEA, but the plot's rather... infantile fantasy. Basically, James had to pull her... uh... ovaries out of the fire.

Category: Contemporary / Romantic Suspense

Overall Rating: 3/5

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GRR Reviews Ante Up by Christina C Jones

Asha lives in Las Vegas... but it's no dream. She's a waitress earning tips the hard way, trying to save enough to enter the 50K poker tournament. She wins a few K's here and there on the poker table, mainly to keep food on the table. With no parents, she practically raised her brother, who had been nothing but trouble and she had to bail him out more than once. Having a douchebag ex-BF doesn't help. One night, after winning a great hand from a powerful and charming guy, she indulged herself and had a one-night-stand with the man. Who turned out to be the great danger of them all... // King knew Asha was special, when her poker face won that hand, and her body was sinfully delicious. Only later did he knew she actually worked for him. When he asked to be seated in her section, then insulted her, she gave him a bad clue that resulted in him losing a 40K hand, and she got fired. But she won the job back... by playing poker. And now King's definitely smitten. But when her baby brother ended up owing 70K to a loan shark, who works for her ex-BF, King will protect her... whether she wanted it or not...

Proper poker terminologies, and good cast of characters. And King actually does have a character arc of sorts... He actually became a bit more sensitive.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 4.5/5

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GRR Reviews Only Ever You by Siobhan Davis

Ryder is the lead singer of the star rock group Torment, but he hid a secret in his past that he dare not let out. And he regretted letting the only good part of his life, a girl named Zeta, go, back at "juvie", but he felt he had to because he was being blackmailed. Years later, Zeta is back in his life, despite all their attempts to avoid each other. And this time, taking it as a sign, he will win her back... and tell her his secret... Even as the secrets drag him under...  // Zeta took blame for a crime she did not commit to escape her childhood, and the only good part was knowing Ryder will be waiting for her when she got out. But he didn't. So she avoided him, even as she kept tabs on him, for she's a reporter for a music publication. When they are forced to meet again, she can't help but to fall for him again... Until his destructive tendencies resurfaced... And to save him, she must learn his deepest and darkest secrets...

Angst-y, but some parts of the plot seem really really forced.

A. Ryder forced to give Zeta up upon leaving juvie... Why? Ryder is worthless at that point, barely putting roof over his head. To protect her, he'll move across the country, based on one threat? Seems a bit... hard to swallow.

B. The darkest hour was really dumb, and the bodyguards were not doing their jobs. Knowing such a threat is out there, and they fail to control the crowd? Meh.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 4/5

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GRR Reviews Tempt Him by Olivia Jaymes

Mia loves Josh since they were kids, but Josh treats her like a little sister. After she had a near-death experience after being robbed at gunpoint, she decided she wants out of the friend-zone, and she will go after Josh... with a little help from her sister's how-to manual she's beta-reading... And Josh shall be hers... but it won't be easy.

Ah, unrequited love, friend-zone, and "how-to" manual, good mix of tropes. But it's really empowerment, and helping a guy realize his feelings. :) 

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 4/5

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GRR Reviews November Homecoming by Bokerah Brumley

Rebecca Martin has a good job in Fort Worth, TX, but she went home to Yearly, TX to help her mom and execute her plan... Open up a restaurant in her hometown, so her mom can stay in their family home. However, the only available contractor in town turns out to be her ex, Johnny Cash Williams, with a teenager son of his own. And Rebecca does NOT date married men ever... So why does she feel so... betrayed? And why does the new bearded Johnny look so handsome? When Rebecca is offered an even better position in Fort Worth, what will happen to her restaurant in Yearly?

For homecoming novels, this one is pretty good. The truth of Johnny's relationship status was revealed bit by bit.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 4.5/5

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GRR Reviews His Surprise Package by Ashlee Price

Aaron can't believe his sister Marjorie is dead, drowned in a bathtub, and 2 months pregnant. He was sure her then-boyfriend Max had killed her, but Max was exonerated in court, and promptly disappeared. Seven years later, Aaron still hadn't hunted down Max. After a night of stupid parties and gotten very drunk, Aaron found himself having married Teri on a dare. Teri just wanted to be an interior designer, and getting married to Aaron, who's rich and influential wasn't the plan, but she'd enjoy it while it lasts (which is not very long). When he refused to let her go, she's confused, angry, and sad. But he had his reasons: Teri is really Max's biological sister, and she'll be the perfect bait to lure Max out of hiding, so Aaron can get his revenge... But the longer they sorta live together, the more real feelings they develope for each other... Even though Aaron reminded himself "she's related to the killer of my sister"... Until she's threatened, and he'll protect what's his...

Eh, Aaron is hot and cold, just outright weird. I don't like it. I find such elaborate revenge plots to be rather dumb and impossible to realize, and is a trope in itself.

Category: Contemporary / Romantic Suspense

Overall Rating: 3/5

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GRR Reviews Make Me Yours by Tia Louise

Ruby is a half-Korean counselor whose practice hadn't taken off. When she got an offer as a live-in nanny for a 4-year old, she was in no position to turn it down. Keeping her hands off her boss... that's a completely different problem, esp. with the entire town, even her own parents are commenting about the arrangement... often with snide comments like "geisha" (which is totally the wrong country...) // Remington is a retired billionaire who is raising his daughter alone after the death of his wife. Clashing with his mother-in-law is not helping the situation. A 4-year-old is supposed to be having fun, not being a "proper lady". Ruby is beautiful, and without thinking, he offered her 500 a day to help him raise his daughter. Now, if he can just keep his hands off her...

Good push-pull, a bit on the light and comedic side. The Asian stereotypes used in the insults are quite thorough... and obviously, all the wrong type. Folks in town are jealous, and you know Remi and Ruby will be together at the end, if she doesn't run away due to her inadequacy issues first. A bit trope, but still, hey, it has an Asian American co-star. :)

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 4/5

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