How to fill your virtual romance bookshelf for FREE

GRR has downloaded according to Amazon, 1766 digital books in 2017 alone, and reviewed several hundred romances. Over the coming months, GRR plans to share all those reviews with the readers. How was GRR able to afford all these romances? By keeping track of FREE book giveaways. Now GRR shares those secrets with you:

One Hundred Free Books  (ohfb.com)

Specifically, https://ohfb.com/category/romance/ is where you should go for the most free romances and similar items. Not all are free, but there are new entries every day that not even I can review them all.  Needless to say, there are also plenty of OTHER genres for you to check out. Links to Amazon directly, just click on Amazon to download.  You can also get a newsletter, but they don't segregate by genre. Browsing is better.

InstaFreebie.com

Enter your email (for mailing list) to claim a book, then follow instructions to get it into your reader.  Process is not as smooth as OHFB, but you get books often not available anywhere else. You also sign up for the author's own announcement list. Be sure to sign up for the giveaways, which signs you up for a bit more mailing announcements.

You may want to use a separate email address to keep these from flooding your inbox. Signing up for a giveaway means signing up for newsletters from ALL of the authors that participated.

GRR Reviews Game of Fear (Montgomery Justice) by Robin Perini

Game of Fear tied a great concept and premise into a suspenseful romantic adventure that managed to pull in all the previous Montgomery family members and a few recruits, and this author can plot, when the concepts are tightly executed. Though this was more adventure than romance, as it's closer to a commercial technothriller.

Search and Rescue pilot Debra Lansing is frantic after her super-bright sister Ashley disappeared after visiting her and headed back to Air Force Academy. She feared that Ashley was kidnapped, but police will not take her seriously. The only one who did take her seriously was Gabe Montgomery, former SWAT officer, now reduced to bartender due to an injury suffered on a job caused by a corrupt cop (who sabotaged another SWAT officer's rifle, causing her to miss her shot that should have put down the suspect). And Deb Lansing was the medevac pilot that saved him. What Gabe didn't reveal was he's actually undercover, investigating the corruption in the county sheriff's office that may have killed his father, the previous sheriff, under suspicious circumstances, for Gabe was intimately linked to the case that neither could have foreseen. Super-bright kids had been disappearing for a decade... all across the country... and they have one thing in common... they all disappeared after mastering the game *Point of Entry*. When old bodies started turning up, Gabe and Deb are forced to work together to chase down any leads to recover Ashley, but their opponent is as ruthless in tying up loose ends as he is in achieving results. It may take the entire Montgomery clan, plus a few new recruits, to save the day.

The idea that a game can be used as a recruiting tool, albeit involuntarily, was creepy yet very believable except the time-scale. A game franchise that lasted over a decade? On the other hand, the plotline that combined The Last Starfighter with an inverted Ender's Game was great. The body count here is numerous, people die left and right, and police and Feds are clueless. It was really the darkest hour until the very end. And it was an exciting ride.

Category: Romantic suspense

Primary Plot: S&R Pilot's genius sister disappeared; the only one who can find her is an undercover ex-cop investigating a grand conspiracy and his family

Tropes: law enforcement, paramedic, kidnapping, conspiracy

Overall Rating: 5/5 (rounded up)

GRR Reviews Sign, SEAL, Deliver (SEAL It With A Kiss B by Rogenna Brewer

Sign, SEAL, Deliver is an interesting military adventure/romance that requires quite a bit of suspension of disbelief (ex: there were no female Tomcat pilots, much less one that went through Top Gun, or a fighter pilot can be transferred to a SEAL qual just like that, not even with an admiral pulling the strings, or send in a single pilot landing in middle of nowhere) The "amnesia trope" was even included. The result was... romantic, but more of a "military fantasy".

To recap, Lt. Zach Prince, call sign Renegade, is a Top Gun pilot alongside Lt. Michelle Dann, call sign Rapunzul. As fellow naval aviators on the USS Enterprise supercarrier, they are not supposed to fraternize, but Zach wanted nobody else. However, the past they shared when they were kids means Zach is definitely in the friend zone. Michelle can't want Zach... because she's determined to succeed on her own merits even though her father is a navy Admiral, and she can't let a little thing called "love" get in the way of that. Then one day, it all changed. Renegade and Rapunzel's flight, enforcing a no-fly zone, was jumped by 3 Iranian jets and Rapunzul's jet was shot down, and she was captured by unknown elements. Rapunzul is now MIA, then CIA caught news that she showed up in a local warlord's camp, fully armed. Zach knew that she had survived... and he will not lose her again... So he volunteered to fly down there in a private plane to rescue her... by himself... But once he got there, he found that Rapunzul had suffered amnesia and can't remember him... Can he remind her of his love, or will her original captors reach her first?

As I said, the plot seems a bit far-fetched and requires a LOT of suspension of disbelief, as well as bending a lot of "wait, what?" thoughts. Instead of sending down a SEAL team they sent in one washed-up fighter jock for rescue? WTF? Still, the idea is rather romantic. Author displayed no "obviously wrong" military knowledge, for which I am glad to see.

Category: Romantic suspense

Primary Plot: Two fighter pilots who are not supposed to fraternize did so, then one was missing in action; the other must mount a rescue by himself...

Tropes: woman in peril, protector, childhood sweetheart

Overall Rating: 3/5 (rounded up)

GRR Reviews The Billionaire's Pet (Scandals of the Bad) by Ivy Layne

The Billionaire's Pet is a deeply divisive book, as the male protagonist started off as probably the lowliest scum but actually somewhat redeemed himself by the end of the book.

Abby Jordan made a lot of mistakes, including marrying into the Jordan crime family. She was charmed by John, but when John died under strange circumstances, and John's father, "Big John" made no secret that she will be a pawn in his negotiations. When Abby's mother requires nursing home due to Alzheimer's, Abby saw no choice but to run to a rival, Jacob Winters, hoping he will take her in and protect her, and the only thing she had to bargain with... is herself. Jacob Winters wanted Abby for years, but he does not go after a married woman. So when Abby came to him directly after her husband's murder, Jacob cannot refuse, and at first, he just wanted her as a pet, to be kept and groomed, and lots of kinky sex, for he does not want a wife or girlfriend. But when Big John came after her, by declaring war on Jacob, he must examine his true feelings for Abby...

As explained before, Jacob started off as the lowliest pond scum, taking advantage of Abby as if in a bad BDSM erotica (keeping her naked,, bondage and dominance games) but somewhere around the middle Jacob started treating Abby as a real girlfriend rather than a pet, and there's a bit of a twist near the end that somewhat redeemed the story, but not quite. Overall, I can only rate this story average as it needed a bit more reason for the readers to keep going past the bad treatment of the FMC.

Category: Romantic suspense / BDSM

Primary Plot: Woman with nowhere to turn had to offer herself to a rival crime lord because her in-laws want her as a bargaining chip

Tropes: BDSM, mafia, scars, protector, woman in peril

Overall Rating:  3/5 (rounded up)

GRR Reviews Crushed (Sons of San Clemente Book 1) by Katherine Garbera

Crushed failed to properly leverage the ex-SEAL background of the MMC and instead made him a generic tough only good for punching people without any SEAL combatives. As a result, it's just generic street thug warfare (complete with pipebombs and punches) with a little romance.

To recap, Heath "Con" Connelly retired from navy SEALs and is now just surfing in San Clemente passing the time, hanging out with his "brothers". He grew up on the streets and he had always had a thing for Mia Santos... until one day he ran into her and found her beaten and bruised, but she refused his help. Mia Santos is the daughter of a drug lord and her cousins want her pop's territory and is willing to start a turf war over it. They already beat her brother into a coma which he barely survived. Now they're coming after her too, and she knew she must take care of things herself. But when the turf war escalated and Preach's Place was attacked, Con and Mia must join forces, for Con will not let Mia face the challenges alone...

As I mentioned before, for a SEAL, this guy just wade in punching, rather than going for disabling moves. He fights like a street thug, not a SEAL. Which made this another "SEAL fetish" novel. At least the romance and the intrigue about turf war tolerable.

Category: Romantic suspense

Primary Plot: Ex-SEAL must keep the drug lord's daughter (and his friend) safe from encroaching gangs

Tropes: SEAL, mafia, childhood sweetheart, protector, woman in peril

Overall Rating:  2/5

GRR Reviews Imperfect (Blaze of Glory Book 1) by Cherry Shephard

Imperfect is an imperfect story with an imperfect ending that really made no sense, except maybe in author's own head. It also relied on the cliche "nightmares caused by PTSD" for both male and female protagonist's background.

To recap, staff sergeant Ethan Stone, a green beret, was discharged after suffering through a POW ordeal, and his experience only sent him further into an alcohol-fueled daze. After a night of sleeping on the bar floor, Ethan found himself held at knifepoint amidst a destroyed bar called Saddles. It appears he had help wreck the place when he got protective of a particular waitress, and the girl who held him at knifepoint was the new owner, Shannon, who inherited it from her pa. Stone no longer cared, but his best bud suggested he work at the bar until he paid for the damages. And Ethan found Shannon a deeply vulnerable girl under the gruff and prickly exterior, and they got to know each other's darkest secrets... For Shannon was abused for years by her ex, Tory, who beat her with fists, open palm, even his belt, until one day she found the courage to leave... to run the bar Saddles. But now she's in trouble too. It appears that Shannon's father may not have died accidentally as originally reported, and he somehow owed 200K to one unsavory character who wanted the bar...

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD

I NEED TO EXPLAIN THE ENDING

TO SHOW YOU HOW MUCH NONSENSE IT HAD

The ending made absolutely no sense. According to the end explanation, Shannon's father wanted to renovate the bar and Tory had the money, but Tory actually passed on money from the boss. So how can there be a promissory note from Shannon's father to the boss, that the boss now intends to collect from Shannon? Also, what makes Shannon liable for the debt? She had been running the bar for a year. Even if you assume the note is valid (it likely isn't) it can only be collected against Shannon's father's estate, which already passed probate and assets divided (and will executed, thus Shannon ended up getting the bar). The note should have no legal meaning unless it specifically mentioned the bar being used as collateral, and this wasn't mentioned ever. Furthermore, the way the ending was resolved is Ethan catching Tory meeting with the boss and the town gossip, after putting Shannon in jail for a murder Tory committed (how?). So what does Ethan do after crashing the party? Punched Tory in the face and started enhanced interrogation. Then next thing you knew, Shannon's released from jail, then Tory, boss, and gossip are in cuffs. Arrested for the murder of Shannon's father (by sending dogs to attack him on his horse) and what else? Where's the evidence? Why isn't Ethan in jail for assault? Why do the bad guys even WANT the bar? WTF is this author doing?

Plot has to make sense, and so does the resolution. This is a prime example of "tell not show", and what it told doesn't even make sense!

Category: romantic suspense

Primary Plot: Imperfect story about two damaged people meeting over a bar with a bad ending that made no sense where bad guy wants the bar (?)

Tropes: bar owner, scars, betrayal, protector, woman in peril

Overall Rating:  2/5

GRR Reviews Flee the Night: 1 (Team Hope) by Susan May Warren

Flee the Night is an interesting variation of "strong protector" trope, as it is, at its heart, a spy thriller with a good bit of suspense, with romance and (Christian) faith playing heavy parts.

Ex-CIA operative lacey Montgomery is a fugitive trying to travel with her daughter under an assumed name on the train in Missouri. She has developed a new messaging protocol that would secure communications from spying through quantum computing, and some bad people want it badly. She thought she spotted a Middle Eastern assassin on the train with her, then the train derailed and she woke up in the hospital, one arm in a sling, under arrest, cuffed to her bed, without her daughter. No one would give her time of day because she was suspected of killing her own husband, another CIA operative, several years ago on a botched mission in Eastern Europe. She knew she had been set up, but she doesn't know how or by who. Whoever derailed the train has her daughter, and she knew only one person whom she can call for help... former special forces Jim Micah, a man she'd give her life for if she didn't marry John Montgomery. But John's dead, and Micah had been after her for justice, for John was his best friend as well, and John's death at Lacey's hands cut him to the core. But Lacey didn't want his help for her... but for her daughter. As a girl's life hangs in the balance, and Lacey struggles to leave Micah out of the messy situation, Micah is determined to stay by her side, and show her that faith in God and his friends, dubbed "Team Hope" Search and Rescue, may be the element that turns the tide in their favor.

As a suspense novel this book is nicely plotted, though the technical details are problematic. While the technobabble about quantum computing used in encryption is right on, the idea that Lacey was able to develop a quantum computing device the size of a palm is... problematic. For quantum computing requires extreme cooling (almost to absolute zero) and shielding to harness quantum effects properly. The rest of the book is nicely detailed, and characters are very reluctant to let their passion through. But the pace of the novel seems a bit slow for romantic suspense. I personally find the mention of faith a hair overblown, but that is the author's stylistic choice.

Category: Romantic suspense

Primary Plot: Woman on the run from unseen threat lost her daughter; her only hope was a man who would rather arrest her

Tropes: betrayal, childhood sweetheart, reunion

Overall Rating: 4/5

GRR Reviews Until the Stars Fall From the Sky by Mary Crawford

WARNING: This book contains description of horrific child abuse, viewer discretion is advised

Until the Stars Fall from the Sky is an emotional tale of two damaged people, one physically, one emotionally, coming together, defying all barriers, and united in their quest to love children and each other.

Jeff is a summertime lifeguard. His life was forever changed when a beautiful redhead, in a wheelchair, jumped off the boat to rescue a little boy right under Jeff's nose. The redhead's name was Kiera, a former swimmer, now social worker dedicating her life to save abused children. Jeff grew up in a dysfunctional family and his stepfather is a foul-mouthed abusive SOB that beats wife and kids. This fueled Jeff's passion into going into criminal justice, esp. prosecutor's office. Jeff fell for Kiera hard. She's smart, witty, and vivacious, despite being in a wheelchair, and she challenged Jeff to be more than he is. When Kiera had to rescue a 6-year-old and her baby sister (only a few months old) can Jeff and Kiera become instant parents and declare their love for each other?

Some of the abuse described were horrific and it was great to see that the perps got their karma, and the couple realize together they heal each other and can be parents to the children.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Man in prosecutor's office training falls for children's advocate, who also happens to be wheelchair-ridden

Tropes: interracial, law enforcement, wheelchair

Overall Rating:  5/5

GRR Reviews Pursued by the Rogue by Kelly Hunter

Pursued by the Rogue is about going after one really wants rather than being shackled by one's self-perceived limitations. While it started similar to "cookie-cutter" romances, this short novel managed to pack a lot of emotions and revelations into just over 100 pages.

Dawn Turner doesn't do relationship... she's too busy, and she is hiding a secret... She's afraid to get into a relationship and have children because she carries the gene linked to Huntington's disease. But she can't stay away from the man who stole her heart years ago... Finnbar Sullivan, who took her V-card, then left her behind to pursue his music career. So when Finn is back in town, Dawn settled for the next best thing: NSA sex, as she needed this man, but cannot want him. Finn, on the other hand, does want Dawn... all of her. When she will not give more, Finn sought out the truth, which will devastate him...

It does get a little melodramatic at the end, as you can probably guess there will be a HEA ending. But the emotional push-pull is raw and powerful, made sense, and is at least somewhat fresh and modern.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Woman goes back to her first love for NSA sex because she can't give it her all; he will be devastated to find out why

Tropes: secret illness, reunion, fling to a thing

Overall Rating: 4/5

GRR Reviews Last Resort (Grayton Series Book 1) by Jill Sanders

Last Resort started off with an interesting premise but failed on multiple levels by giving us a Male Main Character that is simply a passive-aggressive doormat, and resolved his problem for him (i.e. a deus ex machina) so he can have his happily ever after.

Cassey had a tough childhood and the bar and grill she operated on the boardwalk was the best thing that happened to her until some rich bastard stopped the public shuttle service and drove away half the business. Now that rich bastard's son Luke is in her bar asking her if she wanted to sell. Well, he can go to hell. However, Cassey didn't count on Luke being so deliciously handsome, and cocky, and knew just the right things to say. And Luke wanted her. Luke was told by his father... don't come back without the deed (to Cassey's place), and Cassey's bar is on the prime part of the boardwalk, that his father wanted to buy up, and it was obvious from walks that his father played dirty, which infuriated him. He should have been the son with no responsibilities. His brother was the golden child, but his brother... is gone. And he refuses to compromise his own values just to do his father's bidding, esp. when it comes to hurting Cassey...

WARNING: SPOILER AHEAD

As I said before, the problem was resolved for him, and he basically fobbed his father off until his father changed his mind (due to a stroke). That is just bad plotting!

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Passive-Aggressive bloke pretended to do his fathers bidding (buy out the bar) while wooing the bar's owner

Tropes: evil parents, evil boss, bar owner, different worlds

Overall Rating:  2/5

GRR Reviews Destined for Love: Rex Braden (Love in Bl by Melissa Foster

Destined for Love is a "Romeo and Juliet" scenario (feuding families) set as a contemporary western romance (cowboys, horses, and ranches). It was quite nicely done with the theme that love will prevail over (retrospectively) stupid feuds.

Jade Johnson had to ditch her holistic veterinary practice when her ex-lover turned into a stalker. She went home into familiar territory, but one day, while riding, her horse was injured and she had to rely on Rex Braden's help to get her horse back to the stables. Rex Braden... is way too handsome and way too sexy... and totally inappropriate, because The Johnsons and the Bradens had bee feuding for over 40 years, and none of the children really knew why only that neither family is to set foot on the other's property... Ever. It's like Hatfields and the McCoys, w/o the gunfire. But Rex had known Jade since they were kids, and they started to really like each other, and a forbidden affair developed. When a horse on the Braden ranch developed problems, Jade was the only vet around... Will the Johnsons and the Bradens finally let go of their hatred and help the couple love in the light? Or will the feud destroy their happiness forever?

The feud seems so... trivial after 40 years, that the kids don't even understand why there was a feud at all. But the pressure of maintaining their love under so many potentially compromising eyes can be tense, but nothing too special here. Fun read.

Category: Contemporary Western

Primary Plot: Jade and Rex are like Romeo and Juliet in a Contemporary Western Romance

Tropes: ranch, romeo and juliet, family secrets, doctor/patient (veterinarian)

Overall Rating:  4/5

GRR Reviews Diving Into Love (McCallister's Paradise B by Chantel Rhondeau

Diving Into Love is about the ability to let go, and leave abuse for true love, but also about what one can do for love, even deception.

Sierra Burns had the been kowtowing to her mother forever. While having a vacation on McAllister's Paradise, an island resort just outside Hawaii, she "borrowed" a horse from the stable and almost ran down Parker McAllister, the reputed playboy of the family. Sierra's unexpected sass was fresh to Parker as he's not used to girls who talk back to him instead of being awed and charmed, and Sierra wasn't sure that came over her as she's usually non-confrontational. Next day, a confrontation with her mother left Sierra bleeding and bruised when her mother pushed her into a glass table. Sierra finally had enough of having her life ran by someone else and walked out, leaving her trust fund and "lifestyle" behind, even if she'd be left with nothing... no cash, no phone, and almost no clothes. Parker took her in and arranged a job for her, as he tried to help her become independent, and eventually, he shared the story about his own heartbreak... he was friends with the local masseuse, and she insisted he kept their relations a secret... Until it was discovered that she provided more... intimate massages, complete with happy endings, and she was quickly kicked off the island. Then suddenly, she sent a nanny with a baby that she said was Parker's, complete with papers giving up custody. Parker barely had time to reconcile the fact he's a dad and Sierra agreed to be a mom when that darn masseuse is back on the island... alleging that the baby was kidnapped by Parker and the documents were forged... and she's willing to cut a deal with Sierra to ensure they both become rich...

Interesting spin control on how many ways one can try to wheedle money out of richer people, even using baby as a weapon. The evil was... well, at least that trick was clever. But I knew the twist coming ahead of time. And it's actually quite plausible as she had been acting a role all her life. Overall, quite enjoyed the story.

Category: contemporary

Primary Plot: Woman pushed around by her family finally broke it off and settles with reputed playboy, who has his own crisis to handle...

Tropes: different worlds, triangle, betrayal, evil parents, protector, woman in peril, sudden baby

Overall Rating: 4/5

GRR Reviews Protecting the Dream (Dream Seeker) by Michelle Sharp

Protecting the Dream is half relationship half ghost story. I understand this is supposed to be an in-between episode after the first book, but there wasn't much character development in this as it assumes the readers are familiar with what happened in the first book. Not much plot was in this one other than the FMC deciding to move in with the MMC, and that's about it. FMC's ability to sense ghosts was used but it was an ancient cold case that had no bearings on the present day.

Detective Jordan Delany is a medium... she can hear ghosts, and that's an ability she had no intention of letting other people know, except when it comes to solving murders, and even then it's up to her to do the police work. But now she's on her toughest challenge... Whether to move in with Tyler McGee, a fellow detective, as Ty, high from completing the latest bust, whisked her away, not for vacation in an exotic place, but to a backwater horse ranch near his old home, and asked her if this is a house he should buy and share with her. But Jordan sensed there's something in the house... Something that was unresolved... the former owner supposedly disappeared... but Jordan knew what happened to her...

As I said before, the only tension and struggle in this book are whether Jordan wants to tie herself to Tyler. Figuring out the spirit in the house was completely secondary and it's not even a haunting, but merely closure. The relationship push-pull is nice, but there wasn't too much here plot or relationship-wise.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Lady detective has to decide whether to move in with her lover, also a detective, when she detected a spirit in the house...

Tropes: law enforcement, small town

Overall Rating: 3/5

GRR Reviews Trusting Jake (Blueprint To Love Book 1) by Lauren Giordano

Trusting Jake is a contemporary "hot for boss" trope where the FMC seems to be a bit "too damaged" from a cheating husband and sexual harassment at work that lead to some... questionable behavior (not a scandal).

Jenna Stone was fired from her construction design firm job in Baltimore when vicious male co-workers started rumors about her promiscuity because she wouldn't put out, even though her husband had died in a car crash (but not after he slept around for a year before that). Jenna chose to pretend her husband was still alive (and wear a wedding band) to ward off the harassment and insinuations, but that didn't help her find another job in Baltimore. She moved to Stafford Virginia and tried to start anew, and was on her way to an interview when her car died on the way... only to be rescued by Jackson "Jake" Traynor, managing partner of Specialty Construction, the largest firm in the area. Jenna found Jake to be very attractive, but she had to stay aloof because she cannot be inappropriate toward a potential boss just like those nasty rumors suggested. It didn't help when Jake hired Jenna as an engineer-assistant to both manage his schedule as well as his project details. Jake found Jenna to be a strong, beautiful woman and made him realize he longed for a family, and Jenna's two kids are great kids, but he can't go after a married woman (Jenna's still wearing her wedding band)... Then Specialty was asked to bid on a job in Baltimore, and Jenna was sure that it's a "setup", and Jenna must choose in exposing the source of her knowledge... and her shame, or stay silent, and watch the man she loves and his firm suffer...

Surprisingly poignant near the end, but the incredulity kicked in. A cheating husband who's never around and vicious rumors caused her THAT much shame that she can't explain why "it's a trap" even to a man she loved? How deep was this damage? Also, the bad guys didn't get enough karmic retribution. That's why this wasn't 5/5

Category: contemporary

Primary Plot: Woman left city under a dark cloud of suspicion and falls for her new boss (who also wanted her)

Tropes: hot for boss, evil ex

Overall Rating: 4/5

GRR Reviews The Big Girl's Guide to Buying Lingerie by Amie Stuart

"The Big Girl's Guide to Buying Lingerie" is a bit of tongue in cheek title, as this is a romance, after all. It's really about a love story that what we show the world and what we reveal online are not necessarily our true selves, but which one is truer? Then the story managed to pivot right into a "fake fiancee / real love" story and the pivot was very well done.

To recap, Jade Ballard got left at the altar and retreated to her hometown, San Antonio, Texas, to lick her wounds, generally tired of her family's snooty country club life. She took comfort in food (gained a bit of weight and had problems shopping for undies) and struck up a relationship with someone called Robbie she met online. Turns out Robbie is really Rowdy Yates, who is a somewhat reformed manwhore who don't do long-term, until he found "Skye" online through a mutual interest music group. They finally met face to face, only realizing that they already knew each other in real life. She thought him as "Redneck Casanova", he thought of her as "Miss Snooty Pants". But the friendship and love they brewed online for months cannot be denied... When Jade needed to get her mom off her back, Jade dragged Rowdy into a fake engagement... and from there, things got really complicated...

Jade knew she's a bit oversized, but she doesn't let that stop her from living her life. While she'd like to be smaller, she doesn't hate herself for being her size... well, sometimes, when buying the wrong undies in a public place like Target means judge-y and pity about "huge drawers". OTOH I did find Rowdy's "former manwhore" to be a bit vague. But overall, it's a fun yarn.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Big girl brew up a relationship online with a guy, only to find she knew him in real life already!

Tropes: fake engagement, disguise, different worlds

Overall Rating:  4/5

GRR Reviews Nothing Short of a Miracle by Carol Henry

Nothing Short of a Miracle is an "enemies into lovers" story combined with suspicions, secrets, and misunderstandings. It was a fun if a bit comedic tale, but mostly sweet for the holidays.

Gabriella Rumsey's became a single mom overnight, while she's in graduate school, when her sister and her husband both died in a car accident, leaving her in care of their 3-month old daughter. One night, she was rear-ended (gently) by a Mustang, and the jerk of a driver threw her $200 and drove off. She went off to find part-time work due to dwindling resources, and someone pointed her to the Hampstead household as a home health aide, and the old lady in the wheelchair couldn't be nicer, and she even loved babies! Except... that when she saw the Mustang man again... He's Chad Hampstead, who's also a bestselling author under a pen name, and this was his parent's house. He had been burned by a golddigger before, so he only saw red when he found the same girl in his home, probably trying to worm more money out of him. But his parents invited her to move in, which saved her commute time over Chad's protests. And Chad obviously still has reservations about Gabby, but even he can't deny how sexy Gabby is, or how good she is with his parents... and the baby was so cute...

Well, you know how these novels go. Both characters are well-rounded, and while the second meeting is a bit serendipitous, that's how fun stories happen, right? Rather enjoyed the story


Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Young woman trying to raise her orphaned niece meets man who rear-ended her car; who turned out to be a rich author in secret

Tropes: different worlds, single parent, parent/nanny

Overall Rating:  4/5

GRR Reviews Buying His Virgin: A Billionaire Auction R by Lila Younger

Buying His Virgin is a fairy tale about a girl who sold herself to pay her parents' debts (to finance her education) and ended up in the hand of her crush, a billionaire, who treated her like a girlfriend, not a purchase.

Olivia wanted to be a journalist and had a crush on media mogul Silas Rutherford. She insisted on a small but expensive college for their journalism program against her parent's wishes. Then she found out her father had gotten into a car accident, then he had lost his job as an insurance salesman and had been taking two jobs (and her mom too) to make ends meet, and it's still not enough. They had been taking loans from a loan shark, and they owe... 500K. And the only way out, the loan shark suggested... was for her to auction herself off for a week with some... very... "ahem" exclusive folks. While she went to New York to finalize the deal (she put her parents into that situation, she's going to get them out of it) she actually met Silas Rutherford in a small cafe, seems to be a really nice guy, and the feeling's mutual. But when she went tongue-tied, she ran. Silas Rutherford was amazed to see Olivia, the girl he met in the cafe for that fleeting moment, on the auction, and she's a... virgin! So... he bid a million bucks for her... warned off all other bidders. Then he treated her like a girlfriend, wined and dined her, and they fell in love. And of course, he got her v-card, willingly. Yea.

What struggle? There is no struggle. Well, maybe a little about Olivia accepting Silas' intentions are pure and won't leave her, but really, it's a fairy tale, little more.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Girl auctioned herself off to pay family debt found herself in arms of the man of her dreams; can this last?

Tropes: auction, different worlds, fairy tale

Overall Rating: 2/5

GRR Reviews Claiming Victory: A Romantic Comedy by Beverley Watts

Claiming Victory is a romantic comedy about a British woman falling for the American movie star that is filming at her family mansion. The problem is everybody in the book speaks proper British English, even the Americans! Also, the author seems a bit too much in love with her words and some of the details are superfluous.

Victory "Tory" Shackleford is 32, has no steady boyfriend, and lives with her eccentric retired Admiral, in a house called "The Admiralty". Father thinks of his daughter as "boring with no sense of adventure", while daughter thinks of her father as "old reckless kook who can't be trusted to look after himself". There's one problem... Dear Daddy wants to see Victory married off soon... and when the American film crew is about to shoot at their house "The Admiralty" for the new regency romantic comedy, daddy suddenly got the idea: he'll match his precious Victory with the star of the movie, Noah Ashbrook. And while Victory was definitely smitten... everyone was surprised that Noah liked Victory back... as there was supposedly some heat between him and his co-star, Gaynor... But can such a relationship last?

The comedy was typical British slapstick as it involved multiple pratfalls. The problem is the chemistry between the American star and the British woman was unexplained. The only explanation was the Tory wasn't a Hollywood plastic princess. Is that enough for "chemistry"? Doubt it.

Category: Contemporary / Comedy

Primary Plot: British Woman Falls for the American Film Star Doing a Movie In Her Family Mansion; Can it last?

Tropes: performer, different worlds, triangle

Overall Rating:  2/5

GRR Reviews All He Wants - Billy & Maxi (Crossroads) by Melanie Shawn

All He Wants is a "bodyguard romance" with some added complications and a pretty formulaic one at that. The richer background details almost made up for that, but using a too-stupid-to-live moment to conveniently lead to the climax was... too convenient.

Billy Marshall was a retired champion boxer now working as security and personal protection agent for Elite Security, and glad to have left the ring with his brain and body (mostly) intact. He could have almost any woman he wanted, but he felt lonely. When he was assigned to protect his old coach's daughter, Maxi, now working as a publicist, his memories of her as student hanging out at the gym came back, and what he learned about what the stalker did make his blood boil. Threatening notes, trashed apartment, a package of dead birds, nude photos of her showering spread in her building... And she's just a publicist! And while Maxi secretly had a crush on Billy forever, she can't ever partake in that fantasy, as she had to take charge of her life as her father's health is failing. But Billy will stick to her side as close protection is what he does... and she knew why she was being targeted... Except she's not telling anyone... Not even Billy...

As mentioned before, while the plot was competent for the most part, it's also formulaic, as it's just "bodyguard MMC protecting FMC from stalker threat" with a good twist near the end. Giving both boxing backgrounds is tolerable, and while I don't see how a boxer would turn into bodyguard, I can't say it's impossible. And the reason why the publicist was targeted seems slightly far-fetched to be a conspiracy. But I'm not spoiling much.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot:  Bodyguard assigned to guard his coach's daughter falls for her and had to solve the mystery before the conspiracy get them both

Tropes: woman in peril, protector

Overall Rating:  3/5

GRR Reviews Destiny Ranch (Destiny Bay Romances - T by Helen Conrad

Destiny Ranch is about finding family secrets, babysitter turned permanent love interest, as well as city girl on a country ranch (Western version of "fish out of water"). The family secrets were revealed bit by bit like a mystery novel and the twists were excellent and well laid out so they were telegraphed properly if you noticed the clues. The romance is quite entertaining as well, esp. when the kids play interference.

Carly Stevens ran from her life as a congressional aide (and fiancee) because she needed answers about her father and her memories of having lived in this town in her younger years. She came back into town and only aunt Doris was able to give her a little help... By setting her up to take care of Joe Carrington's two kids, reputed to be so difficult that no caretaker lasted more than a few weeks. And Joe... didn't really want her around, as she reminded him of the wife that walked out on him, and the kids, and divorced by remote. But Carly surprisingly managed to adapd to his family, which was very different from her wine-and-dine days in the city. Carly also came to know Millie, a single mother in town whose kid was also looking for his father. The more Carly dug the more uncomfortable some folks become, as there are some shameful secrets that if revealed, can cause only more shame... Carly's persistence and love of Joe's children started to melt Joe's heart. But where can this love go, should Carly complete her quest and head back to the city?

Carly's quest for her early life and family was definitely very interesting, and so was the kids and how Carly managed to handle them. The relationship between Joe and Carly developed naturally, and the plot wrapped up cleanly as well. Overall, very satisfying read about self-discovery and moving on from past wounds.

Category: Contemporary / Western

Primary Plot: Woman traveled to her hometown for her past, ended up as nanny to brooding cowboy and his two kids, and fell in love

Tropes: parent /nanny, fling to a thing, fish out of water, ranch, small town

Overall Rating:  5/5

GRR Reviews Bewitching Winter (The Four Seasons) by Serenity Woods

Bewitching Winter is a second-chance romance where a couple finally came back together after circumstances drove them apart, and they need to explore what they had and if that second chance is worth taking. However, the sex scenes are a bit overdrawn and fell into stereotypical alpha sex complete with light bondage and orgasm denial.

Neve Clark and Rhett Taylor were a real pair on and off the badminton field in Australia, until one day she left him due to his betrayal. Six years later, she hadn't had many boyfriends, and when her father made a biting comment about "keeping her mouth and legs shut to keep her man" she stormed out of the family dinner, never to return. She booked herself a marketing seminar in New Zealand to get away from it all and to advance her career as the marketing manager, only to find to her horror that Rhett Taylor, her old partner, was the keynote speaker. Rhett knew that Neve was coming to the seminar, but he did not expect her to stay. Circumstances have put a stop to his badminton career, and he replaced it with marketing. Now the only woman he had ever loved is near... and despite the bitter parting argument, both are now older and wiser. He knew his mistakes, and she knew hers. But she's not yet ready to forgive, and he's not about to stop trying... For how many times does one gets a second chance at life... and love?

The backstory was interesting, at least, and the sex scenes are reasonably hot but now the controlling alpha into light bondage and orgasm denial is just old. The characters are all properly motivated.

I find the reason for the breakup rather implausible.

SPOILER AHEAD

For once, the betrayal wasn't about cheating in bed. Rhett was given an ultimatum by his coach... Concentrate on his singles badminton career because Neve, while good, is not world-class and Rhett can be world-class, and doing both singles and doubles will hurt his career as they are different skill sets. So Rhett made the decision unilaterally rather than telling Neve first. And for that, Neve can't forgive him for six years? And neither of them ended up going pro any way. Such a... childish grudge.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Former semi-pro badminton mixed doubles pair meet again years later at a marketing seminar; will they give themselves a second chance?

Tropes: reunion, athlete, betrayal

Overall Rating: 3/5

GRR Reviews Bachelor at Her Bidding by Kate Hardy

"Bachelor at Her Bidding" is a "bachelor auction" story where a fun fling turned into something far more serious. Both characters came with a load of baggage, but the main problem is lack of editing, that the author's British origin came through even though the story was set in Marietta, Montana, almost feeding into a trope (much like SEAL trope and cowboy trope)

Dr. Rachel Cassidy divorced her cheating husband and went home to Marietta, and she thought she'd never date again. She was so down, all her female friends came together and bid on a bachelor for her at the charity auction, and the bachelor was Paris-trained pastry chef Ryan Henderson. Ryan wasn't in Marietta to fool around. He abandoned his dreams of opening a Michelin-starred restaurant to care for his grandmother. That in turn, caused his partner and lover to walk out on him. He didn't count on falling for Rachel, and Rachel to him. But when gram had a mini-stroke, and Rachel went to Ryan to discuss care plans, he instinctively reacted by pushing her away (like his last partner). He realized later he was wrong, but Rachel wasn't ready to forgive him. So what's a top pastry chef gonna do? Why, bake cakes, of course. Some of the most delicious and perfect cakes in the state of Montana...

While the story push-pull is fine, and the characters seem properly motivated, the author should hire an American editor to make sure no Brit-speak ended up in the novel. It was somewhat jarring to see Brit-speak in Montanans.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Hurting doctor had a fling with a pastry chef, and they wanted more. Then his mother's stroke made him withdraw, and she's not ready to forgive him...

Tropes: chef, auction ,scars, fling to a thing, doctor/patient

Overall Rating:  3/5

GRR Reviews Tell Me Something (Something Series) by Aubrey Bondurant

Tell Me Something is basically a modern-day fairy tale, about a plain girl, due to circumstances, became a part-time model and personal assistant to the owner of the advertising agency... and later, a lot more to Josh Singer, the owner, and her boss, as well. Other than everything a bit too convenient, it's actually a fun read, as each of the events that happened was "just plausible enough" and the affection/obsession she had about her boss was reciprocated.

Haylee deserved a break after several heartbreaks when young, and she moved to LA to start over, make some money, and go to law school. Serendipity put her as the only girl available to substitute for a supermodel at a photoshoot when she was merely a secretary and not model thin. And the owner, Josh Singer of Gamble Advertising, stepped in a took charge. Now Haylee is a part-time model and personal assistant to Josh himself, in New York, in one of his guest rooms. And she really really wanted him... to be in his bed. And the admiration... is mutual. But as their careers continue, and she put her Cantonese skills to use, Josh continues to share his life with Haylee, they tried to keep things casual and no strings attached, but things often change to the unexpected...

One light nitpick about Haylee's proficiency in Cantonese. The idea of her being based in NorCal before moving to LA was good, but I find it slightly incredulous that a high school in Palo Alto has courses on conversational Cantonese. Even in San Francisco, those are only offered as junior and senior AP honors courses in cooperation with City College and California State University system. She claims to have "eight years" of Cantonese lessons, but all I can add up is six (2 in high school, and four more in university level) which already seems excessive, as you can be conversational in about 2-3. You'd sound like a *gwei-lo*, but you should be able to handle conversations. However, listening to gossip and such in Hong Kong with conversational Cantonese from community college and high school classes seems a bit far-fetched. Still, not too distracting, as it's a minor quibble in the details. Still enjoyed the book.

Category:  Contemporary

Primary Plot: Mousy Assistant had to step in to be a supermodel, and became her boss's personal assistant... and a lot more bloomed...

Tropes: different worlds, ugly duckling, hot for boss

Overall Rating:  4/5

GRR Reviews Carry Me Home (Paradise, Idaho Book 1) by Rosalind James

Carry Me Home is a romantic suspense story that involved a stalker, a student, a new professor, and a hunky cowboy who's also rich. The beginning of the book was kinda weird as it did NOT center on the professor, the FMC, but rather on the student, who's really a secondary character. That made the book rather weird to read in the first chapters. Once the stalker turned his attention to the professor, the plot moved along properly.

To recap... Professor Zoe Santangelo is teaching in a small Idaho University as a stepping stone for the big times... Stanford, for example. That'd be like going home. She didn't count on spinning her car out on the icy roads, or for the hot, hunky cowboy named Cal Jackson who came to her rescue. But Cal was a lot more than he seems... He actually retired from NFL after injury and came home to work on the family farm. He's tired of city girls who only wanted his money, and Zoe was smart, sassy, and tough, and someone he could spend more time with. When Zoe's attempt to get justice and help for her student who was almost raped near campus, Zoe became the latest target of the same stalker/rapist, and the guy was definitely on campus. Sheriff's department, campus police, and even military OSI joined the investigation as the stalker and attempted rapist seems to be ex-military. Cal was willing to deal out some personal justice to protect Zoe... but if Zoe was leaving... should Cal even care?

The beginning, as I said, started off WITHOUT the FMC or the MMC. The resolution was pretty darn tense, as there were various red herrings thrown around. And the big fight was just that... a big fight. And it worked great. If the beginning made more sense I'd given it 5/5.

Category: Romantic Suspense

Primary Plot: New Professor In Quiet University Became Target of a Stalker and Gained Love of a Cowboy and Ex-NFL Guy

Tropes: protector, woman in peril, stalker

Overall Rating: 4/5

GRR Reviews SEAL the Deal (Alpha SEALs Book 1) by Makenna Jameison

SEAL the Deal is a SEAL vs civilian romance with the added complication of a stalker against the FMC. It managed to get away with a very LIGHT case of "SEAL abuse" and the minor violation did not distract from the fun romance.

Rebecca Mayes lost her husband to a horrific car crash and she dedicated her life to raising her girl and helping her clients win their fair share as a divorce attorney. It was at a park she met Patrick "Ice" Foster, SEAL squad leader, who has two jobs... be a SEAL, and raise his son. He vowed to not marry again as watching his ex-wife die slowly of cancer was devastating enough. Yet even he cannot deny the connection he felt for the strong and independent Rebecca. When a stalker threatened Rebecca due to one of her cases, Patrick pulled all his resources to keep her safe... but there is one thing he can't protect her from, a broken heart.

This book did have SEALs doing bodyguard work, but the author managed to make it a very mild case as they only did it during their off-duty hours. However, they used bugs and hacking that are normally not available to civilians which seem to be a bit... cavalier with taxpayer dollars. Still, it's was mainly background to the romance, not a huge distraction or major plot hole. And the romance was rather enjoyable.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: SEAL widower and father falls for divorce attorney widow with her daughter, then a stalker threatened her...

Tropes: protector, seal, woman in peril, stalker, different worlds

Overall Rating:  4/5 (rounded up)

GRR Reviews Scarred Hearts (Sand Hill Romance Book by Billi Tiner

Scarred Hearts is a historical Western romance between a scarred woman and a bounty-hunter. Things are angsty between the two, and both have *almost* enough reasons to stop their quest and fall in love instead. The suspense was not too bad but the bad guy was too one-dimensional. This 4/5 is really more of a 3.5/5.

Claire Montgomery is a survivor, having lived through the Civil War, but she was horribly disfigured in the fire that took her parents when Union soldiers raided her plantation. Her only companion was Tobias, a freed slave that was a friend (and former servant) to her. She learned to be a nurse in the Union hospital, and later, doctor's assistant. After the war, she and Tobias moved out west. On the way, they picked up a child, survivor of a bandit attack upon a convoy. Over time she became known as the local healer, and their boy picked up a one-eyed cat and a baby fox as pets. Their world changed when a gunfighter with four bullet wounds collapsed on their land. He barely escaped from the Bowler Gang after taking down one of two gang leaders that raped a rich businessman's daughter. He needed to recover and finish the job, but he was stuck at the farm until he recovers, and he came to love the little family. When another woman was brought in with severe head injuries caused by her husband (and her 3 kids as well), Claire tries to care for her and the kids, then the husband arrives intending to take his wife back by force... And attacked Claire (cracked several of her ribs) when she tried to intervene, and only the timely arrival of the gunfighter sent him running, vowing revenge for stealing his family...

The two wounded people falling for each other the push-pull is quite interesting, and the suspense was fine. The problem is the villain, i.e. the town gossip and the evil husband, are just too flat for them to be interesting.

Category: Historical Western / Romantic Suspense

Primary Plot: Bounty Hunter Falls for the Scarred Healer Who Healed Him, bu Can She Also Heal His Heart? Can He protect her when she's threatened?

Tropes: woman in peril, protector, scarred, law enforcement,

Overall Rating: 4/5 (rounded up)

GRR Reviews India: Bride of Indiana by Ashley Merrick

India: Bride of Indiana is a mail order bride story that featured a strong FMC trying to fit into an existing family while fighting off unwanted attention from another woman.

To recap, India lost her job when her textile factory burned down (by its owner to cover up his embezzling) and with no local jobs, she embarked on being a mail order bride to a man in South Bend Indiana. Blake is a widower with two young children, whose wife perished in a fire and he himself suffered burns when he tried to rescue her. He did not expect to ever love again, but his children need a mother, and he is rich, one of the few coachbuilders with national reputation. India arrived to find the town welcome, except for Blake's mother Kay, who had always hoped for her son to fall in love with her best friend's daughter, Olivia (whom Blake cannot stand). And Olivia is not beyond trying to seduce a married man, not that India would have given up on Blake in any case... As the two slowly discovered that both are drawn to doing charity work around town (he being a secret santa, she started a pantry for the poor in the church), Blake's defenses started melting away...

While the ending is a foregone conclusion, there really isn't much keeping the couple apart other than a LOT of self-inadequacies and some misunderstandings that ballooned into something more. Still, it was enjoyable to read, just not extraordinarily so.

Category: historical western

Primary Plot: Mail Order Bride Tries to Fit into Family of Father and Two kids... and a disapproving mother-in-law.

Tropes: mail order bride, triangle, evil in-laws

Overall Rating:  3/5

GRR Reviews A Wife for Big John by Lauri Robinson

A Wife for Big John is a Western Historical romance that's definitely a breath of fresh air from all those mail order bride stories, as this girl was traveling west... alone, but the chemistry between the two main characters was a little hard to explain at times.

To recap, Dani Jones is trying to get to California to meet up with her fiancee but she had no money. She does, however, have plenty of cooking skills, and she set out to prove herself by becoming the camp cook for Big John Thompson's logging operation (not that she explained that she's actually "Danielle") and it's love at first sight for Dani... Not for Big John, but Big John's stove. Big John himself felt out of control of his life upon his return to the camp. A bunch of kids had taken over his house, and "Danny" he hired as camp cook turned out to be "Dani" the girl. What's worse, Dani Jones decided that Big John really needs a wife, and proceed to grade every single and available women in town... except herself, of course. She is, after all, leaving. But will Big John want Dani to leave after tasting her cooking? Or is there... some other reason?

We're almost at the turn of the century and technology such as telegrams and railroads, as well as good ovens (with better temperature controls) but that's just the background info. I honestly don't feel much between the two main characters, Dani and Big John. Big John was initially overwhelmed (despite him being the big boss) by the situation then realized he hired Dani thinking she's male, but there is no other candidate available and she really really can cook, which is very admirable. But where's the chemistry in that? Did he not want to share? Want to protect her from the bunch of rough lumberjacks? Dani on the other hand decided Big John needs a wife since she's leaving. (Is that really her denying she's in love with Big John?) So you basically have two characters denying to themselves their own feelings? Now that's seriously uncomfortable. The plot twists that came later are rather interesting and did force the relationship forward. Still, I can't say the beginning of the relationship was that good. Once it got started, then the relationship seems to work.

Category: Historical western

Primary Plot: Woman as Logging Camp Cook tries to find wife for logging camp boss, but boss wants her instead

Tropes: different worlds, matchmaker, hot for boss

Overall Rating: 3/5

GRR Reviews Taken, Not Spurred (Lone Star Burn) by Ruth Cardello

Taken, Not Spurred is a western contemporary romance that used the theme "fish out of water", "sassy girl vs. uptight reclusive guy" to good effect.

To recap, Sarah Dery always wanted to write, and she felt her life wasn't going anywhere. When summer came around, and a friend offered to host her for a couple months with her horse while she worked on their ranch, Sarah jumped onto her vehicle, loaded her horse into the trailer, and drove west toward Texas. The only problem upon her arrival: she went to the wrong ranch... or perhaps we should say, right ranch... wrong town. She ended up in Tony Carlton's shower, in fact. Tony is handsome, tall, buffed, but reclusive horse trainer who felt dead after an incident he still refused to talk about. Yet the sight of this city girl was... interesting. And Sarah was very pleased because this brooding cowboy has really spurred her imagination. Can she break down his walls? Will she want to stay if she did?

The girl was sassy without being a complete idiot, but exasperating enough to drive the local sheriff up the wall. And once she broke through his wall, plenty of hot sex. Fun to read. The brooding guy is almost a cliche, but the reason given was very nice.

Category: Contemporary/western

Primary Plot: Girl wanting some ranch life ended up on the wrong ranch, and the brooding cowboy fell for her sassy ways

Tropes: different worlds, fish out of water,

Overall Rating: 4/5

GRR Reviews Cowboy Country Vol 1 by Sandy Sullivan

Cowboy Country is a collection / anthology of five Western romances. Some of these are funny, some of these are poignant, some of there are sad and nostalgic, and some of these are suspenseful. As it is, I'll have to give you five separate reviews, and an overall score.

NOTE: kindle version is "out of print", and so's the paper version?!

Trouble with a Cowboy by Sandy Sullivan -- Jacie Hawkins is an 18-wheeler trucker who also do barrel races and was just stopping for the night in Nowhere OK on her way to Las Vegas. Tucker Marshall is stranded in the same town when his driver wrecked his rig carrying him and his prize bucking bull not far from town and he needed to get to Las Vegas for the National Finals Rodeo ASAP. Match made in heaven, right? Except Jacie never wanted to depend on anyone (not even her secret will make her compromise on that), and she's liking Tucker way too much while the pair made their way to Las Vegas... Can she walk away? Will he let her?

Fun push-pull, as it's sort of billionaire meets ingenue, albeit cowboy style. 4/5

The Bronco Boys: Sterling by Julienne -- Sterling and Regina planned their lives together... Then he broke up with her then left for Afghanistan as an Army Ranger because he can't bear to see her widowed... And she didn't tell her about their baby Silver. Now he's back, with PTSD and a bad migraine, and wanted to get back to the way he ran things, but she's all grown up and wanted to be equal partner in a marriage... Can they finally get back together for the sake of their daughter?

A bit too angst-y, and the two Sterling and Regina are way too hard-headed and emotionally-driven. But the kid there and the family balanced it out. 3/5

Last Chance Cowboy by Lilly Christine: Jessie O'Rourke and Wyatt Callanbach had a history all the way back in high school, when Jessie was homecoming queen, and Wyatt... was the man she gave her V-card to, but their lives diverged. She went to the city and became an attorney who helps at-risk youth, while Wyatt... stayed at the ranch and became relatively rich... and she needed his help to keep the program running... but what about things between them?

Not feeling too much for this story. 3/5

Love's Everlasting Song by RaeAnne Hadley -- Rebecca Gordon never realized how far her marriage had gone until she walked in on her husband with another woman. She kicked him out and decided to concentrate on her ranch and her horse show. She wanted to use the best music, and a song by superstar Luke Grayson caught her attention. She tried to license the music but was given the runaround, so she flew down to LA to meet him personally. In the meanwhile, Luke Grayson, tired of the barbie dolls of LA, found a DVD of a horsewoman using his music in a horse show, and intrigued, he agreed to the meeting. The sparks were instantaneous, but Rebecca had no attention to spare except to prepare for her horse show. Then her ex turned stalker...

Decent romantic suspense, I like the transition even though the plot was pretty standard. 4/5

Ride a Falling Star by D'Ann Lindun -- Ava was a Vegas Showgirl, and when she saw something she shouldn't have, she had to run for her life. Jumping into the cowboy's truck was pure happenstance, but probably the luckiest moment of her life... For he was Levi Callahan, champion saddle-bronc rider, and he lost his girlfriend years ago to a crazed stalker, and he will not let anything happen to this girl. But they are up against son of a Vegas mobsters with reach almost anywhere...

Too many unresolved threads in this one (what about the sheriff?) but the suspense is nice. 4/5

Category: N/A, collection

Primary Plot: N/A , collection

Tropes: various

Overall Rating:   4/5

GRR Reviews CAPTURING THE COWBOY'S HEART by Lindsey Brookes

Capturing Cowboy's Heart is "reporter against guy who wants privacy" trope but deftly mixed with "cowboys" and later, a conspiracy.

Lacy Dalton needed the interview with ex-rodeo champ Cade Tyler to help her care for her Alzheimer-suffering grandma in a nursing home. The problem is, Cade never talked to reporters. Ever... except whoever on the phone did agree... So when she showed up at the Flying J ranch, she was surprised at the outright refusal, only to realize that it was Cade's partner, Burke who agreed. Cade lost his career when a bull threw him years back, and he dedicated himself to raise champion bulls. He lost his wife in a car accident two years ago, and media made it sound as if they had a fight (they didn't). He withdrew from the world, and the Flying J ranch was barely hanging on. When Lacy offered to help out in exchange for the story, Cade was not in a position to refuse, but also wondered how much help can a city girl be. And over the course of next several days, Lacy managed to get into all sorts of hijinx, from jumping into the bullpen to rescue a kitten (that didn't need rescuing) to speeding down a country road without her license, then tried to bribe the sheriff, then sang enough songs that drove sheriff up the wall, but also managed to capture Cade's attention, even though he'll deny it. But Flying J is going down because someone was sabotaging the place, from downed fences to slashed tires... Who was doing so?

I think the discovery was a bit too... easy, but it was a nice tie-back to the beginning. The idea of FMC's ONLY future was in getting one interview almost made no sense, but it sort of did within the context.


Category: Contemporary / Western

Primary Plot: City Girl Tried to Work On a Ranch for Story; Stumbled Into a Conspiracy

Tropes: different worlds, cowboy, ranch, reporter,

Overall Rating: 4/5

GRR Reviews Accidentally Hers (Sterling Canyon Book by Jamie Beck

"Accidentally Hers" is a romance between two people who should have been enemies, but can't help but fall in love with each other, and it's about trust and family bonds, and whether love does conquer all or not.

Grey Lowell moved to Colorado and bought the ski expedition company Backtrax with his life savings. He's dyslexic, and he grew up near Truckee, so wilderness and snow was his home. A girl caught his attention at a takeout place, whom he immediately dubbed Bambi due to the way she blinked, but he did not approach as she's accompanied by another girl who had been persistently trying to get his attention. On the way back to his office, he was clipped by a drunk driver and tore his ACL tendon, sidelining him for up to a year, and almost destroying his business (as he had counted on taking just enough money from the biz to live by, and tips, and now he had to hire help to run his existing obligations). He was even more surprised to learn that the drunk driver who clipped him was Bambi's brother, and Bambi, whose real name is Avery Randall, is going to be his physical therapist, as she's the only one in town who's available. They reluctantly work together, even as the lawsuit hang over their heads. He doesn't want to sue her brother, but her brother only carried the state minimum coverage, which is nowhere close to enough for his medical bills, much less loss of income. And if he does sue, it will put her and her brother out of their childhood home, for her brother has no other assets than being co-owner of the house (and even that was informally financed by their parents). And despite all that, Avery started to fall for Grey who was really a nice guy. But when circumstances force them to choose sides... will they end up betraying each other?

I can detect no plot holes in this tightly constructed novel where the problems escalate and trusts betrayed leading to a true darkest hour, and MMC really had to come up with an alternate solution so he doesn't have to sue Avery's brother and thus doom their relationship. In a lot of the romances, the MMC and FMC didn't resolve their problems... They just changed their mind, or someone else changed their minds or things happened and voila, their problem is gone. That's lazy plotting, and none of that is here.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Man Clipped by Drunk Driver Found His Physical Therapist is also his crush and the Drunk Driver's Sister

Tropes: Enemies to lovers, doctor/patient (Physical Therapist)

Overall Rating:  5/5

GRR Reviews The Island Escape by Kerry Fisher

The Island Escape's slugline "a feel-good romantic comedy", was seriously bad advertising on top of a great novel about two best friends, each going through problems with their own relationships. There's really nothing about feeling good until near the end of the book when the problems are finally resolved, and often not in an expected way, as there isn't really much comedy.

Octavia once had a fling with Xavier, and they had planned their lives together... Travel the world and bring up some free spirited kids, but they drifted apart. Eighteen years later, Octavia was married to the safe and reliable Jonathan (who needed her help to find a job) and had several kids. She's not unhappy, but she doesn't recognize herself anymore. What happened to that free spirited woman? Now she's just a suburban mom, like any other. As Octavia watched her BFF Roberta's marriage fall apart, she helped Roberta pick up the pieces and maybe get back into the dating scene. Octavia can only remember her days with her Xavi... Where is Xavi now? Is he still on Sardinia? Can she go there? Could he still be waiting for her? As they decided on a trip to Sardinia to help Roberta get over things... a chance encounter will send Octavia's own life out of control, and a devastating revelation will follow that made her question everything that she believed in, and if that was the price she had to pay for true love...

The book really had very few "feel good" moments, as most of the book is on "don't rock the boat", and "picking up the pieces", and here's the real question to ponder: stay and be safe (and risk being betrayed), or leave for real love, and risk being turned down? Which way is your heart yearning? There is a bit of a twist near the end, but this book is NOT a comedy. Most of the book is about loss and doubt and what may have been. Do NOT read if you are expecting a funny book. It's about more of an "awwwww, that's... sweet" at the end.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Woman yearns for her free-spirited days and visited her first love's home while helping her best friend get over a breakup

Tropes: reunion, road trip

Overall Rating: 4/5

GRR Reviews Arm Candy (Hot City Nights) by Patricia Ryan

Arm Candy is "ingenue / fake girlfriend falls for real to their pretend BF" and a pretty standard one. Some aspects feel forced.

Nora Armstrong is an ingenue from Midwest and when her best cousin asked her to help him out as arm candy to a fundraiser he's trying to pitch ideas to, she can't refuse. The fundraiser is David Waite, a British fundraiser who was tired of social climbers and users that flooded the events he attended, so he hires arm candy to ward them off with neither emotional nor sexual strings attached. He did not count on meeting Nora, who was both innocent and seductive at the same time. When circumstances forced them to continue their faux relationship... David changed the rules... as both had fallen for each other... but Nora lied... she wasn't a model, she's just an artist. Will David ever forgive her?

Nora was seductive without trying despite being an ingenue out of Midwest that a British gent, who hired arm candy all the time can't stay away? Hmmm... a bit far-fetched, IMHO. The rest of the romance is okay, but nothing special. The British guy didn't act very British. All in all, average romance.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Man using arm candy to ward off golddiggers fell for the latest arm candy who was a temporary substitute and true ingenue

Tropes: army candy, fling to a thing, disguise, different worlds

Overall Rating: 3/5

GRR Reviews Courted: Gowns & Crowns, Book 1 by Jennifer Chance

Courted is a good introduction to the series and a modern day fairy tale about how a regular girl can fall in love with a prince. While the story was as old as time, it's the wrinkles of paparazzi and other obligations that improved the overall reading.

Aspiring violist Emmaline deferred her graduate program a year ago to help caring for her parents when they got into a serious car accident. Now her deferment is almost up, but her parents still needed her, and she can't seem to play anything right. With caretakers in place, she reluctantly accepted a friend's offer for a fast and furious European tour with some BFFs and their adventures brought them to Garronia, one of the Eastern Med kingdoms still ruled by royalty. And while on the beach, Em was almost run over by Crown Prince of Garronia, Prince Kristos Andris, and his men on beach exercises. Then when Em took a swim and was having problems with the undertow, she was rescued by Kristos himself. Kristos did not want to be crown prince, but his nation needed one after his brother's plane was lost at sea. But he refused to kowtow to the responsibilities yet. When fate delivered a gorgeous dreamy-eyed American girl into his arms, Kristos kissed her... and the photos immediately went viral. Now that paparazzi are flooding the country, and the four girls found their hotel room ransacked and passports stolen, Kristos immediately took them in on royal accommodations, while attempting PR damage control, either present Em as an old acquaintance, or ignore the story hoping it dies down, for the girls will never find peace. But in the meanwhile, he'll gladly spend as much time with Em as he could, both knowing it was just a fling... Or is it?

The emotions feels to ring true, and while this is a bit of insta-lust neither gave in immediately, none of the "I saw him and felt something I've never felt before" superlatives. Both characters have obligations and while not all things were wrapped up neatly it's an enjoyable read. All the tropes follow naturally and none feel forced.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Girl temporarily escaping from her obligations to family and school falls for the prince who rescued her on the beach

Tropes: royalty, different worlds, performer, fling to a thing, woman in peril, protector, forced proximity

Overall Rating:  4/5

GRR Reviews As He Bids by Olivia Rigal

As He Bids is yet another "alpha rich guy vs. young ingenue" story, and the alpha guy was even into light bondage, how cliche. The only thing fresh about this story was the FMC, whose name is Jewish, but in reality she looks quite African-American. But that didn't really factor into the story. All in all, pretty average story.

Hannah Cohen was used to strange gazes because she is neither white nor Jewish despite her name. She has chocolate skin and curves, and she had an obsession about working near Bruce Nelson, who was ahead of her in school by several years. Now that an internship had opened up at a renowned auction house, this is the chance to work in the same building as Bruce. She was both elated and terrified that she will be also taking over Bruce's personal assistant job while the original PA went on maternity leave. Then she learned that Bruce fancies her... and he's an alpha that wants to run her life... if she will let him and in return, she will be well provided for... and pleasured beyond her imagination...

Where's the struggle? What are they fighting for? It's basically two people going "take me" / "yessir". And some sex scenes. Meh. But with an unusual FMC, I guess I can leave it on 'average'.  But it's more of a schtick.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Young ingenue obssessed about her boss found out he fancies her back and is into light BDSM and wants to take over her life

Tropes: light BDSM, hot for boss, interracial

Overall Rating:  3/5 (rounded up

GRR Reviews The Language of Love by Jean Saunders

The Language of Love is about letting go of the past in order to forge a future. I didn't feel too much chemistry between the two characters though, but the setting of Amsterdam was certainly refreshing.

To recap, Annette had loved once... she married her love young... and lost him when she's just 20. She believed she will never love again, and she threw herself into her flower business. Eight years later, she's among the who's who of florists in London, and she's started to feel loneliness... Until the Dutchmen Pieter Van Ness came to visit. He is the brother of Annette's friend, who's getting married, and wanted Annette to do all the flowers. And Pieter makes no secret that he wanted Annette for himself... preferably in his bed, and Pieter is VERY charming and persistent, and Annette found herself unable (or unwilling) to resist his advances... but she must do so, for her heart's sake... Or is that just... cowardice?

I honestly don't feel too much about the chemistry between the two, on any Pieter would want Annette when there seems to be an infinite number of women he can charm. I feel a bit more setup, about how much he heard from his sister could have benefited here, but wouldn't that make Annette more of a sister than a potential bedmate? But overall, I liked the book well enough.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Widow having problem letting go after 8 years of solitude in face of a persistent charmer

Tropes: widow, sibling's best friend, scars

Overall Rating: 3/5

GRR Reviews Home For Christmas by Patricia Kay

Home For Christmas is a "return to hometown" story with a lot of hidden angst, but ultimately, it's about forgiveness and letting go of old pains in order to love anew.

Quinn Riordan had been away from her hometown of Chagrin Falls for TEN YEARS, after losing EVERYTHING to her more beautiful sister, including her first ever love. But now, Aunt Fiona had a bad fall and her leg broken. She came back... Only to find her aunt has a boarder, Peter Kimball, a teacher in the local school. Peter doesn't understand how Fiona could love Quinn who stayed away for ten years, and seeing Quinn... was a bit of a shock: Quinn is quite likable, not a vindictive scorned woman he'd imagined. But Peter lost the two people he loved most and will not be able to love again. But with the upcoming holidays, can they let go of their hurts in the past, and see a way to embrace the future... and each other?

The story was quite satisfying to read, as they each managed to let go of their pains, forgive those who needed them, and thus was able to open their heart for new love, right around the Holidays.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Woman return to hometown after ten years due to trauma, falls for the boarder in her aunt's house who has his own demons to deal with, can they let go and forgive before Christmas?

Tropes: return, enemies to lovers, sibling problem, scars, widower

Overall Rating:  4/5

GRR Reviews A Cowgirl's Christmas by C J Carmichael

A Cowgirl's Christmas is an unexpected romance with a good twist on "weird will" that made a lot more sense than those "you have to marry to inherit" ones.

Callan Carrigan has always been at her father's side, running the Circle C ranch, after the death of their mother, and even after her sisters all moved away to start their own families. So it was no surprise that when her father died on the ranch of a heart attack, she was there as well. But she was totally shocked when the will was read... the ranch itself was left to a cousin, Court McAllister, and the bombshells kept coming. Her father had been sterile... and he left the ranch to the closest blood relative... and Callan ain't blood. Court knew the situation wasn't fair to Callan, and he offered her a compromise... stay on for a year, and he'll give her 50% of the ranch. And Callan decided to stay, as she can't imagine what she'll do without it. But can she stay past Christmas when she realized she likes Court?

This happens in Montana Winter, and it's another crazy will, even though this one made a LOT better explanation than others. The rest is basically "enemies to lovers".

Category: Western (contemporary)

Primary Plot: Woman found the family she grew up in... wasn't really hers, and "her" ranch now belongs to a cousin... whom... she is attracted to, but can't stand...

Tropes: sudden family, weird will, enemies to lovers, ranch, forced proximity

Overall Rating:  4/5

GRR Reviews Christmas at the Castle by Melissa McClone

Christmas at the Castle is an "enemies to lovers" romance with a bit of royalty romance mixed in.

Veterinarian "Kat" Parsons loved her childhood friend's wedding, even if her best friend is a princess marrying a prince in Europe. Kat was invited as a bridesmaid. She, however, wanted nothing to do with the brooding prince Gill (Guillaume), her best friend's brother. Gill wanted nothing to do with Kat either, believing that she's here to snag a prince for himself, and he had way too many family obligations. But Kat's stay proved as disruptive as he predicted, but for very different reasons. For Kat's honesty and generosity is proving them wrong at every turn. Even as some other princess intends to snag Gill for herself, Gill's heart slowly melted for Kat... but will he choose his obligations... or his heart?

While we know how this would go, the royal court, the super-subtle catfights (the wine splash is a classic), and the brooding Gill were described very nicely. And Kat is certainly a complex character, strong, but values family above all else, willing to concede certain things just to keep the peace. I just have a bit of problem with the sudden appearance of that alternate outfit (a bit TOO serendipitous), and the ending was a bit short, but satisfying.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Veterinarian went to Europe to attend her best friend's wedding to a prince, and can't stand the brooding Gill, her best friend's brother, the crown prince. But managed to fall for each other anyway even as others tried to break them apart...

Tropes: royalty, different worlds, doctor/patient (veterinarian), pets, best friend's sibling, triangle, family pressure

Overall Rating:  4/5