GRR Reviews Trail of Hope (Hot on the Trail Book 2) by Merry Farmer

Trail of Hope is a historical romance in the trope related to mail order bride known as "trail bride", basically hurried marriages along the Oregon trail. the plot was excellent, starting with hopelessness and sadness and gradually moving higher to an HEA from a forced pairing, along with some prior wounds and external factors complicating the trip. However, some of that were tropes as well.

Callie Lewis never wanted to move west, but when her brother and his family is going to Oregon, she followed. She never expected her brother's family including his wife and child to all succumb to trail illness, leaving her alone to manage the family's belongings. To at least partially complete the trip, Callie is encouraged to choose a trail husband, and after careful consideration, she chose John Rye, a grieving widower making a delivery to Denver City. But bad things plagued the wagon train. The miners are almost always gambling and fighting, then one of them lost the deed to the gold mine he inherited from his brother. Then the reverend can't seem to preach properly or even wed John and Callie properly. Then someone was caught pilfering items from Callie's belongings. When a tornado touched down not far from the wagon train John was finally awoken from the fugue to embrace Callie's love. But there are others with designs on his wife... or her belongings. John must protect his bride and catch a thief to protect their future.

The grieving widower was such a trope, but the B-plot (which will not be spoiled) covered that nicely. Let's just say some folks in the convoy are not whom they seem to be, and how that worked out... was slightly trope as well, but the ending was quite nicely done. All in all, enjoyable tale.

Category: Historical Western

Primary Plot: Woman who lost her family on the trail chose a widower as her trail husband; but someone has designs on her and her belongings..

Tropes: trail bride, conspiracy, widower, orphan, protector, woman in peril

Overall Rating:  4/5

GRR Reviews The Dancing Bride (Central City Brides Bo by Cynthia Woolf

The Dancing Bride by Cynthia Woolf is definitely a step above the typical mail order bride historical romances, with a man tired of violence and a woman fleeing from danger. While the trope is pretty simple, the new wrinkles are interesting.

Rita Baxter wanted to be a ballerina, and she got the education for it. But when her mother died, she had to turn to burlesque dancing a living. When she witnessed a murder in New York and the police cannot keep her safe, she decided to marry herself out West to Colorado to escape the Irish gang enforcer after her. She did not expect to find Jackson Colton, a haunted but rich man, who did not want a woman to marry him only for his money. He was haunted by the loss of his family, and he did not expect to love again, but Rita made him wonder. When the New York killer arrived in town and cannot be persuaded to abandon his quest, Jackson had no choice but to call out his old friends... and dust off his old skills to protect his wife... and his unborn child...

The "civilized" way they asked the killer to leave was what made this book special as it's very unusual. The part about how Rita and Jackson fell for each other is pretty good. It's not instant, it's slow, and it's fun to see them dance toward each other (figuratively). An enjoyable tale.

Category: Historical Western

Primary Plot: Woman fleeing danger from the East married herself out west to a sullen man who will protect her by calling upon his old skills

Tropes: mail order bride, protector, woman in peril

Overall Rating:  4/5

GRR Reviews The Governor's Half-Blind Scarred Bride ( by Faye Sonja

The Governor's Half-Blind Scarred Bride by Faye Sonja is a Western Histroical Romance that was just too heavy-handed with its "spiritual" message. Add to it the anachronistic conventions like stiletto shoes and expressions that showed up 50 years too early, and you have a rather below average novel.

To recap, Tara Whitter is blind in one eye, and a scarred face only made her worse. That's why she's still living at home at 28, despite her kind and noble countenance. She works as a waitress at the family diner with younger siblings who also treat her like dirt. Until one day someone showed her another way: become a mail order bride, not to just anyone, but then governor of Texas... and become a mother to the widower's son. She understands he may not want her, after seeing her in person. But he can change his mind... will he?

The theme about looking past the scarred exterior was way too heavy-handed. It is the year 1874 and the characters are saying stuff like "so sue me"... which wasn't documented until 1950's! There's also wearing stilettos, but that didn't debut until 1906! Even when these details are fixed, the story is still really boring.

Category: Historical Western

Primary Plot: Mistreated and scarred woman became a mail order bride... to the governor!

Tropes: mail order bride, different worlds, scarred

Overall Rating:  2/5

GRR Reviews The Sheriff's Surrender (Ladies' Shooting by Susan Page Davis

The Sheriff's Surrender by Susan Page Davis is an interesting historical western romantic suspense when a woman started a shooting club in town after several murders (including the sheriff). It's a fun tale even though the mood seems to ping-pong a bit.

Gertrude "Gert" Dooley knows her way around firearms and is a better than most men in town, but she only has eyes on rancher Ethan Chapman. When the town sheriff of Fergus, Idaho was found dead of a NOT self-inflicted head wound, Ethan was voted in as the new sheriff. However, the ladies in town are worried that a murderer is loose in town, so the Gert formed a Ladies' Shooting Club to teach the ladies how to defend themselves. That leaves Ethan in a tough place... The ladies want Ethan to catch the culprit, while the men want the club disbanded for... something frivolous like disturbing the peace or danger to the public or something. When an attempted murder left the mayor in grave condition and another dead body was found, can the ladies and Ethan find the real culprit before he strikes again?

There were several twists and turns. My problem with the story is it couldn't quite decide whether it should be comedic or serious, so it sorta did both. The part where the shooting club meets was slightly comedic as the ladies have all sorts of guns, from tiny little Deringer to big shotguns and everything in between, but the part where people got shot and died are completely straight and brutal. Still, it's a great tale.

Category: Historical Western

Primary Plot: Woman organized the ladies shooting club in town after several murders including the sheriff; new sheriff may be in danger...

Tropes: conspiracy, enemies to lovers, law enforcement

Overall Rating:  4/5

GRR Reviews Oregon Bound (Trails of the Heart Book by Rachel Wesson

Oregon Bound is a historical western "trail bride" story that managed to combine good plotting and reasonable threat to make it an exciting adventure. However, the ending was a bit too much of deus ex machina to make it a must-read.

To recap, the Thompson family (papa, mama, and three daughters Eva, Johanna, and Rebecca) was moving to Oregon on the trail in the wagon train, and nothing Eva said was going to change her papa's mind. Eva wanted to marry the poor and kind David Clarke, but papa wanted her to marry the richer but two-faced Harold Chapman. It was to Eva's relief when David found a spot as a tender to on another wagon to make the trip. But the trip won't be easy. When one of the wagon owners was killed, and David got the blame at Harold's instigation, Eva will be forced to make a horrible choice...

As I said, the ending was too much of a deus ex machina for me, and I can't say more without spoiling the ending. It really came out of nowhere and was not adequately foreshadowed.

Category: Historical Western / Trail Bride

Primary Plot: Will a girl on the way to Oregon be able to marry her love, or be forced to marry someone else to save her love's life?

Tropes: trail bride, triangle, protector, woman in peril, conspiracy

Overall Rating:  4/5

GRR Reviews Judith (Rose Creek Ranch Mail Order Brid by Ann Laurel

Judith is a historical Western mail-order bride story that has a heavy-handed Christian message that seems to teach women are weak doormats and only their husbands (even for mail order brides) can protect them. There was really no struggle per se except faith.

Judith was the daughter of a coal miner, and her parents wanted a better life for her, so they married her off to Colorado by pretending to be her and corresponded with a man in Colorado, and married her off as a mail-order bride. She went willingly, but there was no love to her husband. After months there, she didn't quite fit in, didn't find Christ, and was homesick, so she ran off toward home. On the way back, her train was robbed, and she along with another girl traveling alone, was taken off the train by robbers and forced to work in a lawless town as a saloon girl. She begged for mercy from God and deliverance from her ordeal, until one day, her husband along with US marshals came to town and rescued her. She learned her lessons and decided to stay married to her husband, who forgave her. The end.

Clean, yes. Christian, yes. Entertaining... NO! There really was no plot. Things just keep happening to the poor girl, and the ONLY decision she made was to run home and look at how that turned out. So basically the theme was "don't make any decisions for oneself", right? ARGH!

Category: Historical Western / Christian

Primary Plot: Mail order bride hates her new home, ran off for home, got kidnapped by a gang who robbed the train

Tropes: mail order bride, kidnapping, runaway bride

Overall Rating:  1/5

GRR Reviews Chasing Beautiful (Chasing Series) by Pamela Ann

Chasing Beautiful is a contemporary romance about a love triangle that should have never gotten started, and really makes no sense, with the FMC being an emotional doormat who gives and gives and gives, even being emotionally blackmailed into giving even more.

Sienna Richards' boyfriend-since-high-school Kyle suddenly decided to end things. She vowed never to love again, as it hurt too much, and moved to London to start over. She was surprised when her platonic friend Blake confessed his love for her. Blake is handsome, rich, and waiting for a while, but he's not the kind to go after a committed girl. When Kyle out of the way, Blake moved in, and Sienna hadn't been so turned on in her life, but when Kyle moved to London to get out of his depression and back into Sienna's life, Sienna cannot decide which man she wanted...

Kyle's parents basically begged Sienna to help Kyle, despite him having broke her heart before, AND while Sienna is dating Blake. That is just NOT COOL, man. NOT COOL, and Sienna was foolish to accept that responsibility. This uneven responsibility means even though the triangle was pretty good, I am forced to assign a merely mediocre score to this book overall. It made NO SENSE for her to accept.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Woman was hurt when her BF suddenly called it quits. She was then wooed by her once-platonic friend, but then her ex needed her help...

Tropes: triangle, betryal, friends to lovers, sick/comfort

Overall Rating:  3/5

GRR Reviews Healed by Love: Nate Braden by Melissa Foster

Healed by Love is a contemporary military romance that deals with a returning soldier and his guilt the possibility of loving his dead best friend's little sister. It has sufficient amount of guilt and angst without being overly melodramatic.

To recap, Nate always had a thing for his best friend Rick's little sister Jewel, but there's the age difference... He went into the military, and Rick joined him a few years later, but died due to a sniper attack. Now Nate is back in Peaceful Harbor, having retired from the military... and Jewel is all grown up. Now Jewel is determined to claim Nate for her own, and Nate is determined to resist because he hadn't told her one terrible secret...

When you add up survivor's guilt and more plus PTSD, shock, and "best friend's sister" all add up to an uncomfortable tension between the two, as they always wanted each other... but can love heal the wounds... or will guilt drive them apart? As this is a romance, HEA is guaranteed, but it was fun getting there. Nate wasn't brooding THAT much, and Jewel... well, she didn't turn into full seductress (unlike a lot of less-well-crafted romances). Just enough angst and inadequacy and shame to spice up the relationship.

Category: Contemporary / Military

Primary Plot: Returning soldier feeling guilty about death of his friend must face the friend's little sister who always had the hots for him

Tropes: best friend's sibling (little sister), PTSD, grief, no good for you, unrequired love

Overall Rating:  4/5

GRR Reviews Champagne and Lemon Drops by Jean Oram

Champagne and Lemon Drops is a contemporary romance that is... very angst-y where both the FMC and MMC ended up extremely bounce by family obligations, relationships, and small-town dynamics. The triangle was well-written, but the book somehow just feels... very very long.

Beth Wilkinson had always been in love with her fiancee Oz and wanted to have a large family in their hometown of Blueberry Springs. But when Oz was pushed by his father into a path he did not want, his doubts made him doubted EVERYTHING, including their relationship. Beth reluctantly agreed to the "break", but that's tantamount to a breakup in the small town. Just then, Beth caught the attention of the charming doctor Nash, who came from the city. Not only is Nash rich enough to enjoy the finer things in life, he knew exactly what he wanted out of life, and that included Beth at his side. Now Beth is torn between Oz, the man she loved but may not have gotten over, and Nash, the man she believed she is in love with...

As a love triangle, this one is superb, as both guys are nice enough that you can't really bet on who will win at the end, with a lot of back and forth, a lot of angst, and a lot of indecision. However, some of the scenes just feel... slow, glacially slow. If the pacing can pick up a bit I may be tempted to give this a slightly higher score.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Woman forced to take a 'relationship break' from her fiancee had to decide between her (ex?) fiancee and a new guy who wanted her.

Tropes: triangle, on the rocks, family pressure

Overall Rating:  4/5

GRR Reviews A Spoonful Of Spice: A Short Story by Liwen Ho

A Spoonful of Spice is a title so generic you wonder if it's set in a cafe or a kitchen. However, what you'll find instead is a delightful and short (only about 50 pages) romance set in an IT department that managed to amuse but not blow me away.

Josh Pepper wants to be the next IT manager, but his plans got interrupted by the new bubbly, beautiful and brilliant Cin Thomas, whose skills in IT may rival his own. While trying to manage his team from being distracted by her presence, he ended up falling under her spell himself...

The attraction was a slow simmer type which frankly is the type I prefer and the IT stuff seems to be on target (being a former IT guy myself). And how often do you find books featuring sapiosexual people?

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Short tale of how an IT supervisor fell for the new female engineer recruit

Tropes: co-worker, geek/geekette

Overall Rating:  4/5 (rounded up)

GRR Reviews The Best Is Yet To Come by Alison Kent

The Best Is Yet To Come is a contemporary romance featuring the "I ain't quite over you" trope as well as "hidden identities" on both sides to good effect. Add family obligation to that and it got angst-y.

Milla Page, as a writer for a dating website, needed dates to review hot date spots like restaurants and clubs. When none of her usual friends were available, she dipped into her ladies' lounge bowl of business cards... and found a name she hadn't seen for six years... Rennie Bergen. Rennie was her college boyfriend's roommate... she tutored him for four years, and... they had a relationship behind her boyfriend's back. But when push came to shove, she left him behind, partly out of family obligation. Six years later, she saw his name and knew she's not over him... Rennie did not expect to see Milla ever again, but he's certainly not unhappy about it when she showed up at his garage. But he's not ready to show her all of his world, including his TV series: Hell on Wheels, not until he knew she came for him, Rennie her ex-lover, not Rennie, hot rich TV celebrity. Even as they snuck around and pick up where they left off, can they handle the secrets that they had been keeping from each other?

Both have secrets they've been keeping from each other. Milla had reasons to leave Rennie behind and it had nothing to do with love but everything to do with obligations. And it was an interesting trip to see how they finally get their HEA.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Woman sees a man she had a hidden relationship but had not seen for six years. She knew she wasn't over him; will he want her?

Tropes: disguise, different worlds, betrayal, family pressure

Overall Rating:  4/5

GRR Reviews When You Got A Good Thing (The Misfit I by Kait Nolan

When You Got A Good Thing is a contemporary romance that featured a lot of misunderstandings, secrets, lies, and trust issues. There was a good twist about why the FMC had to stay away from her hometown.

Kennedy Reynolds had wandered the world for the past decade. Everybody thought she simply left town, even the boy she left behind... But she was keeping a secret, a promise that she will keep... Until news that her adoptive mother had passed away in a car accident, and she's going home. Xander Kincaid, deputy of the town, believed that he had driven Kennedy away ten years ago. Now that she's back, he wanted to apologize, to see if they can pick up where they left off... if that is even possible. Kennedy tries to patch things up with her adoptive family, but her abandonment for the past ten years was not so easily forgiven. As Xander help Kennedy through the ordeal, Xander found out what really happened ten years ago that drove Kennedy away... and the truth will devastate him... and he will have to make a choice...

I find Kennedy's naivete back at 18 to be... a bit unbelievable, but it's "almost" plausible that it didn't bother me too much. And that forced choice had truly devastating consequences. What I truly liked is there is an evil perp in this story, and that evil perp got karma. Maybe not as much as you'd like to have seen, but it is nonetheless karma. And that relationship was definitely "love interrupted", in a good way.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Woman who stayed away from ten years returned; the man she left behind will now truly know what happened that fateful night...

Tropes: family secrets, return, reunion, blackmail, fated mate, law enforcement

Overall Rating:  5/5

GRR Reviews The Billionaire Wins the Game by Melody Anne

The Billionaire Wins the Game is a slow-burn "hot for boss" romance that unfortunately relied on "run away to sort my feelings" trope for the ending. The characters are actually quite decent. That, with the background machinations of the parents, made it an enjoyable read with a fizzled ending.

Joseph and Catherine have lived a good life, but their sons are in their thirties, and none of them even have a steady girlfriend. Joseph's first target: oldest son Luke. Luke is wealthy, sexy, but he puts work first and only does NSA sex, and even he's getting tired of that, esp. ones who turned out to be golddiggers. Until he ran into Amy Harper. Amy Harper grew up under tragic circumstances. She barely put herself through school and live practically in the ghetto. She knew she can't rely on anyone, even as she yearned for a family to call her own. When the elder Anderson screened her and deemed her acceptable as Luke's new executive assistant, she was elated, even as she found her new boss Luke incredibly sexy, but irritably arrogant, and it was clear they both have chemistry, but both deny each other. When they finally succumbed to their temptations... and Amy got pregnant, she was scared he'll just take the baby, but Luke has every intention of marrying Amy. Luke is used to getting his way, but Amy has the right spark to challenge him in every way. But how can Luke convince Amy to dream a life happily ever after with him?

As I mentioned, one of the parties decided to "run away to sort my feelings". That is... extremely annoying. As it basically did not resolve ANYTHING, but merely let the passage of time IMPLY a change of heart, rather than one party convince the other to change. I also find Luke a bit on the bland side.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Independent woman fell for her hot sexy billionaire boss, but she doesn't want to be dependent on any one... then she got pregnant...

Tropes: hot for boss, matchmaker, family pressure, different worlds, pregnancy

Overall Rating:  4/5

GRR Reviews Sold as a Fake Fiancee: A Virgin and a Bill by Juliana Conners

Sold as a Fake Fiancee is a really trope "fake fiancee turned into real love" story that the setup barely make sense. And FMC's contribution to the marriage (besides her body) seem have missed a chance at more puns that you don't know if the tone was meant to be serious melodrama or rom-com.

Veronica needed a lot of money to put her mom through some experimental treatment that their insurance won't cover. With no other choice, she put herself (and her v-card) up for auction at the super exclusive "Gentlemen's Exchange". She hoped at most to get 100K (enough for one treatment) and work on the rest. She never expected to fetch... two million, from a billionaire named Isaac. That is enough for her mom's entire treatment. What does he want in return? He needed her... to be married to him, after the proper engagement phase and all that, until he gained control over his sick father's company, as per his father's stipulations. But when her math major allowed her to piece together an embezzlement within the company, can Isaac let Veronica go after their... "fake" marriage?

This will be somewhat of a spoiler

SO YOU'VE BEEN WARNED

Veronica caught the embezzler, but he only stole like a million, over many many years. This seems to be really really low-key embezzling for a company of this scale and the high position of the embezzler. I personally feel she should have caught the embezzler and recovered two million or more, which made her "price" a positive return on investment and thus a couple more corny lines "my best investment ever" or something like that. What a missed opportunity.

Also, the idea that a billionaire can only get a girl to marry her at a Gentlemen's Exchange (where they do a lot more services than, well, offer up a girl for marriage, ya know, like BDSM club and such, if you read previous volumes in this series) is pretty darn ridiculous to start with. I can *almost* seem them falling for each other, but not really.

The author also threw in her entire 4-volume "Boss" series as a bonus, inflating the page count of almost 2000 pages (!) which I will not go into here. It's a pretty good "hot for boss" office romance.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Woman auctioned her v-card, but her "purchaser" wanted a bride...

Tropes: auction, different worlds, weird will, fake engagement, family pressure

Overall Rating:  3/5

GRR Reviews More than Neighbors by Isabel Keats

More Than Neighbors is a contemporary romance that tried to setup opposites attract scenario, but I honestly don't find the chemistry there, and the ending was a total trope.

When hard-working uptight and successful Leopold Sinclair returned from a long trip, he did not expect to find the captivating young, and free-spirited Catalina Stapleton had moved in next door. Catalina is always helping someone or something, and after a couple pointy conversations with Leopold, Catalina decided that Leopold needs to be saved... from himself. Leopold didn't need saving, as he's got more than a decade on Catalina, but she's just so tempting and he can't quite seem to control himself around her. Both tried to pretend they aren't attracted to each other, but how long can they keep it up?

This book is kinda insta-lust except neither chose to act upon it as they deny their attraction to each other. And the ending... was a very tired trope that really makes no sense. Neither characters really made sense. Leo was kinda creepy while Cat was a totally nosy busybody. I didn't like it much.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Hard-working businessman was challenged by young free-spirit woman living next door; can they fall for each other?

Tropes: opposites attract, neighbor, insta-lust, May-September

Overall Rating:  3/5

GRR Reviews Winning Back His Wife (Camp Firefly Falls) by Gwen Hayes

Winning Back His Wife is a contemporary romance and a very poignant tale that is exactly described by the title, and a commentary on work-life balance as well.

Michael Tully fell for the girl in the camp 20 years ago, but he didn't go back for several years. When they both went to Dartmouth as they promised, it's love rekindled, and he married her. But more than a decade later, she's serving him divorce papers and sank every penny she had into buying and revitalizing Camp Firefly Falls. He knew he had put his career in his family company first, and neglected her. He also couldn't understand her choice. But facing the prospect of living without her, he's determined to do what's right... to win back his wife.

The story was extremely angst-y as she couldn't quite explain why she wanted the camp until you get further into the flashbacks, and it came to symbolize what drove them apart, but also what brought them together, and can do so again. I enjoyed the emotional push-pull between the two.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: A man must understand why his wife is divorcing him to revive the camp they first fell in love, in order to win her back...

Tropes: on the rocks, childhood sweetheart

Overall Rating:  4/5

GRR Reviews Let's Do It (Journey's End #2) by Ann Christopher

Let's Do It is a contemporary romance that featured a hurt woman who was heading home finding kind stranger who came to her aid. The beginning is trope, and the conflict was minimal. It's all in her head. If you like this sort of cerebral romance, you may enjoy it more than I did.

Reeve Banks needed a clean break from her pain... so she headed home... Until she got stranded by a flat tire. And a Mr. Tall, dark, and handsome came to rescue her... by the name of Edward. Who's so cool and so wanted to romance her, but she's not quite ready yet due to her past pain... But when will she be ready if she can't let go?

Basically, ALL the problems are in her head, and the guy was nice enough to wait around for her to move on. Maybe a little too nice. Meh.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Woman running from her pain went home and had to be rescued by a handsome stranger who wanted to romance her.

Tropes: return, grief

Overall Rating:  3/5

GRR Reviews Snowdrops and Stardust by Sue Lilley

Snowdrops and Stardust is a short (under 50 pages) quick contemporary romance about "celebrity vs. commoner" trope. Slightly melodramatic, but tolerable in a short.

Aiden Delaney has it all: a headline gig, legions of adoring fans, tons of $$$, bandmates who adore him, a manager ready for his beck and call... but three days before his gig, feeling burned out, he treks out alone with his guitar for his muse. Left outside of town, he wandered into a cottage and met country-girl Marianne, who doesn't seem to recognize him. Snowstorm stranded him for three days... and both of their lives will be changed forever...

A short fast read that's charming, it make you wonder about serendipity in life, and will you appreciate it when you find it.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Burned-out rock star decided to seek his muse in the country-side; ran into harried inn-keeper country girl

Tropes: performer, B&B, disguise, forced proximity

Overall Rating:  4/5

GRR Reviews Roped (Scavenger Hunt Series Book 1) by Karen Kelley

NO LONGER ON AMAZON, linking to Goodreads instead

Roped is a contemporary cowboy romance that went for the trope "secret billionaire" plot.

Josephine and her friends decided to play 'scavenger hunt' with a sexy twist, and Josephine was up first... She had to go seduce a sexy cowboy... or exile herself for two weeks on a remote island (which would kill her career). Josephine always worked hard, and really had no idea how to play, or how to have mind-blowing sex, for that matter. It was just her luck that she came across Levi, and he's everything she dreamed a cowboy would be... and willing to take her places she had never been. But when she realized she may be falling for this perfect cowboy lover for real, she ran in the morning. What she didn't realize is this cowboy has a secret too, and he will find his "Josie" and explain to her there is nothing wrong with falling for a cowboy...

What kind of friends would exile their friend to a remote island for two weeks just for losing a stupid game of dare? The inciting incident barely makes sense. The rest of it is okay, but it's pretty much standard insta-lust. The rest of book is okay, which is why this didn't get rated any lower.

Category: Western // Contemporary

Primary Plot: Woman dared by friends to seek out a cowboy for a one-night-stand found everything she dreamed of... and ran in the morning. But he's not done with her...

Tropes: alpha guy, insta-lust, no good for you, cowboy,

Overall Rating: 3/5 (rounded up)

GRR Reviews Montana Cowboy by Riley Moreno

NOTE: NO LONGER ON AMAZON, linking to Goodreads instead

Montana Cowboy is supposed to be a contemporary Western romance, but the clumsy meetcute, lack of chemistry between the two, and almost cardboard characters left me underwhelmed. Add it to bad plotting and it's almost unreadable, despite having it republished to a different ASIN number. Now that it's been unpublished, perhaps this book can stay that way.

Jason, a former movie star, is heading back to run his family ranch, which his father had entrusted to a friend's care. However, upon arrival he was told by the said friend to sell out to their neighbor and former partner, now ran by that guy's daughter, Tamasin Fleming, when Jason had every intention turn the ranch around. Jason was angry to find that his father's friend ran the ranch into the ground, stealing cattle and embezzling funds, selling the cattle to Fleming ranch, and pocketing the proceeds. Tamasin was horrified to find she had participated in the crime, even as she somehow ended on a blind date with Jason despite not having gotten off to a good start earlier. Tamasin and Jason have to unite to face off against the betrayer who was determined to gain revenge on Jason for ruining his reputation...

The plot doesn't make a lick of sense.

Jason's father's friend "Bill" stole the cattle and sold it to Fleming, and Tamasin basically confirmed it, so what does Jason do? He asked for the cattle back... and Tamasin just said "ok"! That makes NO SENSE! She's a VICTIM just like Jason! She PAID for them, as far as she knew, legally! Let's give this a pass as maybe she can afford to be generous.

And Jason's next move is go to to a bar, yelled at Bill, accusing him of stealing his ranch and his cattle in a packed crowd, then punched the guy in the jaw. Oh, really?

Next night, his stable got burned to the ground by arson. Bill somehow, as a lawyer, has connections to criminals to do this sorta thing, but what exactly does that even accomplish? He's a lawyer! He should be SUING Jason instead for libel and battery! He got punched in front of dozen witnesses!

And the romance between Jason and Tamasin... barely makes any sense! I didn't have ANY sense that Tamasin is black, and BARELY that she has curves! Other than at the beginning, where she had to drop it into the conversation, i.e. "You were not expecting a black woman?" but Jason was too busy drooling (well, not literally). WHY would Jason, a Hollywood actor, be salivating over a gorgeous Black BBW and not any other kind of woman? There is NO HINT in Jason's background that suggests he likes BBBWs, so it's basically insta-lust!

The characters don't make sense, and neither does the plot.

Category: Western

Primary Plot: Man returned to find his father's ranch was embezzled, even as he fell for daughter of the neighboring ranch, who's a BBBW

Tropes: enemies to lovers, return, insta-lust

Overall Rating:  1/5

GRR Reviews Pushin' Buttons (Boot Knockers Ranch) by Em Petrova

Pushin' Buttons by Em Petrova is a Western erotic romance with a lot of sex, and even some MFM action, though there really wasn't that much of a plot beyond that.

To recap... Sybill had somehow never gotten the big O, despite having been through many relationships... that she had been described as frigid. Desperate, she signed up with Boot Knocker Ranch for one week. The ranch has twenty hard muscled cowboys and no women ever leave unsatisfied... Hugh had planned to sit out that week's session, but when he spotted the sultry Sybill, he pulled rank as Sybill pushed one of his buttons. But even his skills came up shy against her body... and his heart crashed when she blurted out a mind-blowing request... she wants a threesome with Hugh... and Riggs. What she didn't know was both Hugh and Riggs are actually bi... and they had gotten it on with each other before. Now this may truly be a triangle of epic proportions... but can this last? What are they willing to give up to share a woman?

Somehow, Hugh and Riggs come more across as gay than bi, and Sybill doesn't seem to have much of a personality other than her desperation to experience the big O, despite having "sultry curves". Something doesn't fit within those descriptions. I can't give this more than "okay".

Category: Western / Erotic Romance

Primary Plot: Woman desperate to experience the Big O went to a ranch where fantasies come true, and picked two bi-cowboys for MFM

Tropes: no good for you, insta-lust, triangle, resort

Overall Rating: 3/5

GRR Reviews Bucked Off For Love: A Bull Rider Novella by Lacey Wolfe

Bucked Off For Love is a contemporary Western romance novella that featured "doctor - patient" trope with a dose of "give it another try" and "insta-lust". While the story was sweet, there doesn't seem to be any standout elements that really made an impression.

Cassidy swore off love a long time ago after some carefree NSA sex with various partners left her with her son, Shiloh and no daddy. Cassidy remained fiercely independent as a physical therapist, and didn't need a man in her life... but her latest patient Ryder Starling tested her patience... and her libido. Ryder is a bullrider that got bucked off, leading him to her office, and he, like his buddies, swore not to get tied down with the ball-and-chain called wife and family... until he met Cassidy and Shiloh. The two shouldn't be able to stand each other, but neither can they stay away from each other...

While I can understand Cassidy may be ready to try again, I really don't understand Ryder's change of heart about the "ball and chain" thing. At least it was presented slowly over a good length of the novel, though the initial "I just want to see why you won't fall for me" was really... immature. Overall, it's fun, but a mediocre romantic novella.

Category: Western

Primary Plot: Physical therapist doesn't need a man in her life; esp. not the frustrating but oh-so-sexy cowboy and also her latest patient...

Tropes: doctor/patient (physical therapist), insta-lust, single parent

Overall Rating:  3/5

GRR Reviews Catch Me, Cowboy by Jeannie Watt

Catch Me, Cowboy is a contemporary "western" romance that featured sufficient but not overwhelming amount of angst with the "love interrupted" trope.

Champion Bronc Rider Ty Harding went home after his latest injury. He hadn't been home (Marietta, MT) in four years, and the first person he'd really wanted to see was Shelby O'Connor, the woman who begged him to stay... the woman he left behind... the woman he still loved. Shelby was not big on second chances... except to horses. Shelby trains difficult horses, to make them safe for their owners. But Ty's arrival turned her world upside down, as she realized she's not as over him as she thought. But when Ty decided to head back into the ring one more time, as a test for his comeback, Shelby will have to decide...

The characters are sufficiently angst-y as they want mutually exclusive things, and basically, one side will have to cave, and the idea that woman can't abide man in dangerous professions was hardly anything new (often pops up in police or military romances) but the resolution is still just trope.

Category: Western

Primary Plot: Wounded cowboy had to go home and heal; woman he left behind wasn't as over him as she thought; is there a second chance?

Tropes: Return, reunion

Overall Rating:  4/5 (roundedup)

GRR Reviews Prairie Heat: Cowboys of the Flint Hills by Tessa Layne

Prairie Heat is a contemporary western (cowboy) romance with a good amount of ancient intrigue and secrets (the embarrassing, but not deadly kind) and that is seriously cramping the style of the modern generation. The author managed to pivot from second chance love into a fake engagement which is rare to see it done right.

Blake Sinclaire loved the girl next door, Maddie Hansen, in Prairie but he had no time for romance, needing to manage his family ranch. The Sinclairs and the Hansens were in a feud over some land that Blake's father lost in a poker game. Blake went to negotiate with Hansen patriarch again to offer to buy back to land, only save the senior Hansen from an almost fatal heart attack, which brought Maddie Hansen home from her job at Fermi Labs. Blake had a plan to regain the land, and it involves being engaged to Maddie, even though Maddie had no plans to be a rancher's wife. Even Blake execute his plan, he found that what he thought was the truth behind the loss of the land was merely a cover story, and the truth is much more devastating, even as he realized the fake engagement he had with Maddie... may be turning quite real. But will their relationship withstand the truth?

A lot of these "let's get married in order to _____" plots don't make that much sense, and this one... was a bit iffy. I like the twist about the poker game wasn't what it appeared to be, but I still have a bit of trouble wrapping my head about "how does being engaged to Maddie" would allow Blake to regain the land other than the Hansen patriarch asked him to...

Category: Western

Primary Plot: Cowboy desperate to regain his family holding from rival neighbor found himself engaged to the girl who left town for her career

Tropes: return, ranch, fmaily secrets, fake engagement, reunion, unrequited love, weird will

Overall Rating:  4/5

GRR Reviews The Right to Bear Arms (Wild Operatives by Vivienne Savage

The Right to Bear Arms is a standard "strong protector" romance with the proviso that the protector is a bear shifter. However, there are some serious logical problems when it comes to the actual protection, that brought it back down to "mediocre".

Daniela Reyes finally divorced her abusive husband after he turned the house down. She took the settlement money from insurance and went somewhere remote to start over. She did not want to fall for the attractive widower Russ just down the lane. The black bear that visits her backyard seems to be the only distraction... Russell Hawkins is indeed a southern boy with charm, and a widower. He has retired from the service but occasionally gets called out on special assignments that required his... special talents. Falling for the voluptuous divorcee down the road was not in the cards because he's a werebear... AND the black bear that roamed her yeard. But he can't tell her yet... Until her evil ex came back... crazier than ever...

It takes no imagination to see Russ goes all protective bear mode... That's where the problem is. However, to explain this, I have to spoil the story.

SPOILER AHEAD

YOU'VE BEEN WARNED

Russ, who's supposed to be ex spec ops, was unable to disarm one thuggish ex abuser, in either bear form OR human form! He basically goes up to the ex, roars, and get shot multiple times! That is just... stupid! That of course, sets up the reveal ("Yes, I am your bear.") but really, that was REALLY forced. The romance is okay, but that major lapse in logic, IMHO, really ruined the story.

Category: Paranormal / Romantic Suspense

Primary Plot: Werebear fell for the new divorcee in town, and had to protect her from her crazy ex.

Tropes: disguise, shifter, protector, woman in peril, evil ex

Overall Rating: 3/5

GRR Reviews Beauty and the Space Beast: A Space Age by J. M. Page

Beauty and the Space Beast is basically the old Beauty and the Beast tale retold as a scifi tale between a recluse's daughter and a gruff alien "pirate" captain. While trope-ish at times, there are some genuine inventiveness at some of the plot elements. Though I find the ending somewhat improbable.

Mara lived on an asteroid with her father, who kept her origins hidden. But when he fell into a huge debt, Mara offered herself to work off the debt. (It didn't hurt when Torak is scrumptious) Torak the pirate captain had no use for a weak human female, but when one was offered, he couldn't refuse, and got more than he bargained for, as Mara was smart, and saw past his gruff exterior. When Torak's enemies came calling, and Mara's origin was revealed, will they still be able to live with each other? What will each give up to spend time with each other?

Without spoiling the ending, I find the ending highly improbable as the sacrifice would be too much and there should be a lot of people objecting to the choices made. Still, I think this book is a bit above average. Consider this really a 3.5/5 though, instead of 4/5 as shown.

Category: Science Fiction

Primary Plot: Young woman gave up herself to work off the debt her father incurred to alien pirate captain, who fell for her after she saved the ship more than a few times, but she has other secrets...

Tropes: disguise, family secrets, alpha guy, forced proximity, enemies to lovers

Overall Rating:  4/5 (rounded up)

GRR Reviews Rebel Wing (Rebel Wing Trilogy, Book 1) by Tracy Banghart

Rebel Wing is a scifi military fiction with a light dose of romance. It is closer in spirit to Starship Troopers (the novel, NOT the movies!) but also with some intriguing conspiracy in the background that together, worked up to a great tale of working past challenges, maturing from naiveness, and embracing one's destiny. Romance is only a MINOR component of the book, even though it formed the initial premise.

The Dominion of Atalanta is at war, but for Aris, who is just coming of age, her heart was set on Calix, her almost-betrothed, and her flying, for she is possibly the best flyer in all of Atalanta. But for the kids, the war is far away, until Calix was drafted into the military as a mender. Aris was willing to do ANYTHING to be close to him, but females are not permitted in Atalanta military, not even as menders. When someone offered her a chance, she jumped at it, no matter the price, and thus Aris, with a little tech help (holo veil and voice changer) from the off-the-books organization, will become Aristos the flyer, a "ghost" (disguised female) in the Atalanta military, and join the Search and Rescue squad, just for a chance to see Calix again. For Calix, Aris will give up her friends, her family, even her identity. And on the way, Aris will find herself in the middle of a great conspiracy to subvert an ally of Atalanta... and realize her true calling.

The book can be described as part Mulan, part Starship Troopers, and part Iron Eagle. For Aris/Aristos still has to survive the training (which means she had to toughen up, and Calix will be no longer her top priority, for she finally understood WHY he had to go, and how selfish her wishes are, but now that she had tasted combat, nothing will ever be the same again. All the emotions rang true, from confusion to bravery to acceptance to rage to doubt... and the plot was weaved quite well.

For the readers who found the premise, the girl abandoning everything just to be with the guy... simplistic and stupid... this is not really much of a spoiler... She'll grow out of it. Give the book a chance. I think you'll find it is a worthwhile read.

Category: Science Fiction

Primary Plot: Young woman following her man to war, entered secret program to enter military disguised as a man; embroiled in conspiracy

Tropes: disguise, fated mate, coming of age, childhood sweetheart

Overall Rating:  5/5

GRR Reviews C791 (Cyborgs: More Than Machines) by Eve Langlais

C791 is a scifi romance amidst a dystopic world of cyborgs that can almost pass for humans (and have sex, just like humans, even has "enhanced sperm") that staged a rebellion when they were about to be terminated. The worldbuilding is not bad, but technologically speaking makes no sense. Plot-wise it's actually quite good, with good twists and turns.

Joe was a cyborg formerly known as X109GI, and leader of the cyborg revolt when leaders order the cyborgs to be terminated. He was captured and the only person to get a reaction out of him was the new technician, Chloe. When Joe escaped from the prison, Chloe was kidnapped to go along, for Cyborgs makes excellent lovers, even though they can't propagate their species. But Chloe is hiding a deep dark secret even she didn't know about...

The sex somehow just feels... tacked on, and the Cyborgs are just a bit TOO powerful. They barely feel pain, can outthink any human, can wirelessly hack most computers, have endoskeletons and can take a ton of damage, nanites that can hack physical stuff without touching them, as well as perfect physique and almost infinite endurance (in bed). They are super-human in every sense of the word, and the ONLY problem they have is they can't procreate? Really?

I rather enjoy the twist about Chloe, which I will not spoil, but somehow the world just feels... not quite there.

Category: Science Fiction

Primary Plot: New lab assistant was kidnapped by her prisoner cyborg she had fallen for, but she has a secret even she didn't know about...

Tropes: disguise, kidnapping, woman in peril, protector, evil enemies

Overall Rating:  3/5

GRR Reviews Stranded with the Cyborg (Cy-Ops Sci-fi by Cara Bristol

Stranded with the Cyborg relied on some utter stupidity and a terrorist with a WTF agenda to enforce the "forced proximity" to turn enemies into lovers. It's full of tropes, and it could have been much better if it made a bit more sense.

To recap, Brock Mann has an impossible assignment, even though as an operative with Cyber Ops, he specialized in the impossible, with his various cybernetic enhancements. The problem is he was tasked to babysit a diplomat... someone he knew from ten years ago when he was working security... then first-daughter Penelope Isabella Aaron, aka PIA (or Pain in ***). She was so mad at him for his diligence ("interference" to her), she framed him for sexual misconduct (with her), though he was eventually cleared and reassigned. Now she's an ambassador he needed to escort to a summit, but threats have already been issued against her. When the trip took a very bad turn and they crashed on a quarantined planet, he may be her only chance to stay alive...

To explain the problem, I'll have to spoil the story.

SPOILER WARNING

I TOLD YOU SO

Anyway, Brock and Penny were the only passengers on this special charter, which was supposed to have three crew: Captain, Steward, and Engineer. Only the captain greeted them, and when Steward never returned, Captain ordered a take off anyway. Then Captain turned out to be the assassin and only Brock's incredible speed saved the day. All the crew was dead, and Captain took the lifeboat. Brock was able to reprogram the ship so it reached the planet before it self-destructed.

Okay, what sort of elite security guy is Brock if he can't even check the crew manifest? Just a single glance should have told him that this wasn't his regular crew onboard the ship. Also, what's the point of killing the Terran ambassador? The message the terrorist asked the ambassador to read before killing her made no sense. There were also problems of this "lake of acid" that somehow looks just like water (with no smell, and you can skip stones on it) Why the planet was quarantined also wasn't discussed clearly.

If you ignore all these "wait a minute" issues, it's actually a pretty competent scifi "bodyguard" romance, but with all the problems, it can only be average.

Category: Scifi

Primary Plot: Elite cyborg operative had to save an ambassador from assassins and ended up stranded on a quarantined planet

Tropes: woman in peril, protector, evil enemies, forced proximity, conspiracy

Overall Rating:  3/5

GRR Reviews Broken by Kelly Elliott

Broken shows some good parts, but some of the plot is rather idiotic, with some of the characters who only seem to exist to mess with the MMC and FMC.

Layton and Mike Morris grew up with nothing in their house in Llano, TX and no parents. But they survived. When Mike died in an accident, and Layton's girlfriend Olivia left him too, Layton swore he will never let anyone else into his heart. Elsewhere, Whitley Reynolds grew up in a prosperous household in New York and married his high school sweetheart Roger. But Roger turned abusive. When Whitley ended up in the hospital from Roger's latest abuse, Whitley called her best friend Courtney and they ran off to Llano TX to start over, as an event planner. However, Whitley's first gig did not go as planned when her car died on the road and Layton came to her rescue... on a horse. The two damaged souls clicked, but neither was quite ready to let each other in just yet. But with Olivia determined to get in between Layton and Whitley, despite her own impending wedding to someone else, and Roger still out there, will these two ever learn to love and trust again... or stay broken?

The book felt as if it just went into too many directions. Olivia is still around messing with Layton, and you can guess Roger will show up intending to mess with Whitley being a rich and possessive SOB. Courtney in this book also ended up in a triangle with Reed and Mitch. The idea of two girls who just run off the Llano seems a bit improbable, but I guess if they have enough of savings, it may be. But the plot just feels... off, as if you have to stretch logic to make it make sense. In the end, I think the questionable parts balanced out the brilliant parts for me to give it an average rating.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Wounded guy meets new wounded girl in town... will their creepy ex's ruin their plans to happily ever after?

Tropes: small town, evil ex, fish out of water, different worlds

Overall Rating:  3/5

GRR Reviews Taking Chances (Snowy Ridge) by Kris Jett

Taking Chances started off quite well, with a female protagonist that is sufficiently damaged but ready to move forward and a male protagonist also ready to move on and finding each other. However, the ending was a fizzle which rendered it into an "also-ran", which was quite disappointing, despite very sympathetic characters.

To recap, Wynn Foster swore off men after a cheating ex-husband left her pregnant to chase after a teenager. Being 28, divorced, with a two-year-old daughter, and taking care of her mom as well as the family inn was not easy on her. She hoped that enrolling in some community college classes and loosening up a bit would be a new start for her. She had a one-night stand with a hot guy, only to find out he is her new computer class professor. Bryce Alexander had been in a post-divorce fugue for a year but he's getting over it. Teaching a class at the community college and have regular outings with his friend is a good start. He had a one-night stand with "Sarah", and he can't forget her. He couldn't believe his eyes when he spotted "Sarah" in the back of the class, who revealed her real name is Wynn. Their chemistry was undeniable, and both are ready to waive their no relationship rule for each other. But when Wynn's cheating ex suddenly reappear and demand shared custody of the daughter, will Wynn and Bryce's relationship survive the test?

The real threat showed up way too late, and left way too quickly for us to take the threat seriously. His motive was even left unclear and made no sense. The lame fizzle ending was... REALLY lame, but I enjoyed the story up to the lame ending. Thus, "average".

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Single parent stuck in her job and home had a fling, who turned out to be her new computer teacher, but he's really nice, and he's wounded too... then her ex showed up...

Tropes: small town, fling to a thing, one night stand, triangle, evil ex

Overall Rating:  3/5

GRR Reviews The House At The Bottom Of The Hill by Jennie Jones

The House at the Bottom of the Hill is a small town romance set Australia and it is quite charming, but the slow pace (at 400+ pages) and seemly low-stakes way the characters go about achieving their goals was just too slow for this reader.

To recap, Charlotte Simmons is going home... that she never knew. Her mother's mysterious death in England, where she had always lived, had left her unbalanced and to seek closure, she needed the truth, and that truth is in a small town called Swallow's Fall in Australia. She bought a B&B there. Her plan was to jazz up the place, find the man who had the answers... and flip the inn when she's done. She did not count on Daniel Bradford, owner of Kookaburra's Bar & Grill, who has a perfect physique even she can't ignore. And Daniel has eyes on Charlie the redhead, even as he tried to smooth over the town and her plans... but it was clear that Charlie has secrets, and the biggest secret of all may be that he had already fallen for her.

The attraction was unexplained, and as I said before, pace is glacial in this small town romance. Also, 'flipping' an inn in a small town requires a turn-over and doesn't seem to make financial sense (except for a reason for her to stay). Those who want to savor the small town flavor may enjoy the slow tempo, and characters are nice and quirky.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Woman seeking answers in a small Australian town found a man willing to help her; can they love each other? Or is she leaving?

Tropes: fish out of water, different worlds, family secrets

Overall Rating:  3/5

GRR Reviews The Castle Mountain Lodge Collection: B by Elena Aitken

The Castle Mountain Lodge collection 1 is a set of contemporary romances with a common setting, the eponymous lodge, in the Canadian Rockies. The characters are nicely drawn, and the push-pull among the main characters are generally good.

Book 1 Unexpected Gifts -- Andi decided to hide out in Castle Mountain Lodge to avoid spending Christmas with her folks... It reminded her too much, until she met Colin who really wanted to share the Christmas spirit...

Book 2 Hidden Gifts -- Morgan moved to the Lodge to work and start a new life, but she didn't count on the rugged cowboy Bo and his beautiful daughter Ella barging into her new life...

Book 3 (short story) Unexpected Endings --- Andi is feeling a bit anxious after Bo's long trips out of state even as she wanted some private times alone... Is Bo coming... or going?

Book 4 Mistaken Gifts -- Eva's Andi's wedding planner and EVERYTHING had to be perfect... but Jeff, the ranch hand and horse specialist, is definitely NOT helping... with his gorgeous looks and heart-stopping touch.

These novels are not particularly deep, but the parts generally are quite good, as the lodge was definitely a good way to introduce new people together. All in all, it's a good collection.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: N/A, collection

Tropes: holiday, fish out of water, single parent, on the rocks, enemies to lovers, ranch

Overall Rating:  4/5

GRR Reviews The Billionaire's Dilemma: Special Limite by Roxie Odell

The Billionaire's Dilemma as the 3-volume set was actually quite well done, as each volume can be read separately, but if read in order provides more background and better enjoyment. A lot of authors who adopt this "semi-serial" format failed to make each volume independent and to see one done properly was a treat.

Vol 1: Tag is the son of a billionaire, but he partied without care... Including sleeping with his best friend's fiancee, until his best friend found out and almost killed himself in front of Tag at a party. He also found a woman that thoroughly bewitched him... Melanie, who's smart, doesn't take any guff, and sexy, and left before he could get a surname. When Tag's father suffered a heart attack and needed Tag to take over as CEO, he found to his surprise that Melanie is his father's chief of staff ("glorified secretary" according to his father). Can they carry on in secret? What happens when his father come back? Who was Mr. Romeo that his father was trying to keep secret?

A standard "hot for boss" trope was made that much more interesting with the complications, esp. when Tag wasn't as playboy as she thought he was, and he was able to lean on Melanie for advice. 4/5

Vol 2: Tag's father's return means Tag just got fired from the CEO position, and any attempt by Tag to create his own future was shut down by his father with ruthless efficiency, and his attempt to shield Melanie from his misogynistic father backfired. Tag had no choice but to contact Mr. Romeo if he can have any room to negotiate with his father. But Mr. Romeo sent him on a series of quests to find out what was the Tag's father hiding from the world... and it seems to have bearings on the disappearance of Tag's mother, and virtual exile of his brother...

The mystery deepens as the "hot for boss" trope was abandoned and the genre shifted into romantic suspense, where Tag's attempt to help out his friends and Melanie backfired, even as Mr. Romeo's quests sent Tag and Melanie into learning long-buried secrets. Unfortunately, Tag's father just comes across as "evil" but for no apparent reason other than he can. 3.5/5

Vol 3: Tag and Melanie are about to chase down the truth about Tag's father, and meet with Mr. Romeo, who seem to hold all the secrets, until a Ms. Juliette entered the equation, and both of them knew too much about Tag's entire family to be an outsider. This time, long-held family secrets will be revealed, people will die, painful truths confronted, and evildoers will get their karma. But no one will leave unscathed...

In the concluding volume, all the secrets are revealed, and the plot twists buried in the previous volumes will be resolved. Some parts are a bit too Hollywood (tap a keyboard and all the screen explodes?! Really?!) 4.5/5

Category: Contemporary / Romantic Suspense

Primary Plot:  N/A, collection of 3 novels, that fit into one solid plot

Tropes: hot for boss, protector, evil parent, family secret, conspiracy

Overall Rating:  4/5  (averaged)

GRR Reviews Punished - A Dark Billionaire Romance by Penelope Bloom

Punished is a contemporary roamnce that wasn't particular dark, but it does contain a dose of kink. In a way, it is a spin on the "kinky billionaire vs. young ingenue" trope, but it was well-polished.

Emmaline "Emma" was hoping to access her trust fund to save her fledgling business when she found out it had been stolen by her father to pay down his gambling debts.. and he still wanted more money out of her. Desperate for cash flow, a friend suggested she part-time in Club Crave, an exclusive BDSM club. Logan Steel was betrayed by some of his closest associates and almost lost his business, but he crushed them and regained his business, and to celebrate, he'll visit Club Crave. The two met, and both are smitten, but neither really want to let down their guard just yet. But Emma has a different secret. She had never had an orgasm... Until Logan Steel...

I find the ending quite lame, way too much talk, though the strategem does take time to come into fruition. However, it wasn't tied into the romance and that made it less than ideal. Oh, and it wasn't that particular "dark". Still, consider this 3.5/5

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Desperate woman wanting to save her business meets kinky billionaire under siege from enemies within and without

Tropes: BDSM, different worlds, conspiracy, evil enemies

Overall Rating:  4/5 (rounded up)

GRR Reviews Beautiful Broken Rules (Broken Series Bo by Kimberly Lauren

Beautiful Broken Rules is a contemporary college romance where a damaged girl formed her own moral code then met a guy who blasted past them.

Emerson "Emmie" Moore never gets too attached. It hurts too much when she had to let go. So she has a set of rules while in college including NEVER sleep with the same guy more than three times. She also won't sleep with any one in a relationship. She doesn't mind the reputation being the "loose" girl in town. She just doesn't want to be hurt... Until Jaxon Riley came to town and moved in next door. His brothers are also hunky but Jaxon was the only one that broke through her defenses, that made her want to abandon her own rules... until his jealous ex showed up, and Em found out something else about her parents that threw her into a tail-spin. Can she break her own rules to achieve the happily ever after, or will that lead to heartbreak?

This is a college romance, but the psych profile of Em was much more complex than I expected. However, Jaxon was bit too much of a caveman, but such antics are not too far out of place on a college campus. Still, it makes the romance a bit unbalanced.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: College girl who cannot love and trust found one guy who broke through the walls around her heart

Tropes: college, triangle, tarnished reputation, family secrets
 
Overall Rating: 4/5

GRR Reviews Cherished Secrets: Three Novellas of Hid by Cici Cordelia

Cherished Secrets is a three novella collection with stories that are of average or slightly above average quality.

Sweet Equation -- Emily the class nerd girl gave her v-card to Cole... on the eve of him leaving for football. That moment of indiscretion left her pregnant. Six years later, Cole, now pro football star, is back in town for a promo with the high school, and finding that he had derailed her life's plans was almost more than he could take... But he will make it up to her if he can... if she will let him...

Ah, the "secret baby" trope and the guy who came back to set things right (after he realized whose baby that would be). Very angst-y, but nothing too special. 3/5

Suburban Spies -- Slade and Jennifer had a history, despite being on opposite sides. Slade works for the Agency, while Jennifer, formerly Ekaterina, works for the KGB, until she had to defect. Now that both are after the same items, both will do whatever it takes, including using their bodies... to complete their assignments... but is there some room for their hearts?

Basically, Bond 007 erotic romance. Frankly, reads like a porn parody of 007, really. 3/5

Until Eternity -- Jo had a one-night stand with a guy she thought was the band leader... and got pregnant. She doesn't want to be labeled a groupie, so she kept the identity of the father to himself. Until they met again... and nothing was as it seemed. LT knew the moment he saw Jo's twins they were without a doubt, his. But when Jo refused to marry him, how can he convince her he can't live without her? That he'd never forgotten about her?

Good twists. Usually twin-switcharoo were meant to be funny, but this one was angst-y. 4/5

Overall average is 3/5

Category: Contemporary / Romantic Suspense

Primary Plot:  N/A, Collection

Tropes: secret baby, virgin, reunion, one night stand, enemies to lovers

Overall Rating:  3/5

GRR Reviews Never Say Never by Emily Goodwin

Never Say Never is a contemporary romance featuring two wounded souls, each coping with their own tragedies in their own ways. When they met, they recognized each other, and a friendship developed, but can it be more?

Haley is a tortured soul. She lost her mother while rescuing neglected and abused horses, and she blamed herself every day while trying to keep herself going, to rescue more animals, for it was the only thing that kept her alive. Her rent is coming due, her boss is more interested in her bra size than her job performance... Running into Aiden, the Hollywood playboy was not on the menu at all. But Aiden is far from the Hollywood playboy he appeared to be either. He copes by engaging in NSA sex, drug, and alcohol abuse, for he can't sleep. When his latest movie took him into Haley's town, they met, and they recognized something in each other: they are both so very alone... but can they risk that friendship turning into something more?

Each character were nicely rounded, with proper wounds and dimensions, as well as coping techniques. However, the darkest hour was the simple "inadequacy trope" which means I can't give this the highest rating.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: A young woman who lost her mother tried to keep herself going when she met a Hollywood superstar who has his own wounds...

Tropes: performer, different worlds, no good for you

Overall Rating:  4/5

GRR Reviews Kisses From Jack: The Other Side of a Bill by Krista Lakes

Kisses From Jack is a preview to the author's series, and it is quite sweet, even though it's a bit insta-love. But we're not expecting too much from 100 pages. Are we?

Jack is doing one last party before taking over his family company, DS Oil, but the date he brought to the island resort turned out to be a total gold digger. Jack decided to take a walk on the beach... and found Emma, who did not recognize him from his tabloid photos. And now Jack can't let her go... they'll even pretend to marry on the beach... It's just a romantic gesture... right?

It's a rather sweet story, sort of an alternate view and it's insta-love, and I guess it's okay for the length.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Billionaire on his last party found a woman who did not recognize him on the beach, and they fell for each other hard...

Tropes: disguise, beach, different worlds,

Overall Rating:  3/5

GRR Reviews Hero in Disguise by Sharla Lovelace

Hero In Disguise is a second chance romance where the MMC has a chance to make amends, by doing good as well as reclaiming FMC's heart. It's a pretty standard plot, but it was quite charming.

Jake Jericho is rich based on his family fortunes, but he didn't earn it. He once loved a girl, Harper, but was forced to leave her behind, as he had used an assumed name, not wanting attention. Harper Haley was devastated when Jake left, and she hadn't really loved anyone else since, only keep running the shop left to the family... but that would be coming to an end when a huge development company had bought out the neighborhood and was about to raze it... and that company... was run by Jake's father. When Jake found Harper again and learned the plight of the neighborhood, Jake was determined to do something right by Harper... even if he had to go toe to toe with his father, and break Harper's heart again, because she never knew he's a Jericho...

The twist at the end was what raised the short novel above mediocre, which I will not spoil. Suffice to say, it was one heck of a grand gesture. I was kinda worried at the beginning about how she still pants when he came near, it was quite juvenile, at least early on.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Man who broke her heart is back years later, hoping for a second chance, both for her family business and her heart...

Tropes: return, reunion, disguise, protector, woman in peril

Overall Rating:  4/5

GRR Reviews Skinny Dipping Dare (Camp Firefly Falls) by Zoe York

Skinny Dipping Dare is a contemporary romance in the multi-author shared "Camp Firefly Falls" universe, a getaway camp for adults. The tone is light, but the chemistry between the two doesn't quite make sense.

Navy SEAL Wyatt Henderson needed to decompress after months of desk duty and signed up, with his buddies, for a week of fishing and hiking and beer at his buddy's favorite camp in the Berkshires. He didn't know that Camp Firefly Falls also has campfire songs and kitchen duty and crafts at noon. He especially can't stand the hippie girl in the cabin next door who decided he's no fun. Tegan Bennet can't stand the insufferable grumpy (but gorgeous) military guy next cabin over, who wakes up at crack of dawn and had way too much presence. So when Wyatt threw down a dare, Tegan reciprocated. Soon there are no camp rules... merely discretion, and they fell for each other... hard.

The opposites attract story has a cute setup, but the point where it flipped from enemy to lover seems to happen way too suddenly. And the dare seems way too childish, even for adults in a camp, and especially for a SEAL.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: SEAL on vacation wanting quiet time to decompress faced off against happy hippie free-spirit girl in next cabin over...

Tropes: enemies to lovers, different worlds, SEAL

Overall Rating:  3/5

GRR Reviews Thirty-Two Going On Spinster (Spinster S by Becky Monson

Thirty-Two Going on Spinster is about a woman finding love when she did not expect it. However, the book ended up with a "happy for now" ending, in order to setup the FMC's 2nd and 3rd volume, so that can be somewhat disappointing to some.

To recap, Julia is a self-designated spinster. She's 32 and stuck in a dead-end job. Her boss prefers her baking to her actual work. She lived in her parent's basement suite with her cat. She has no boyfriend... Or even a lover. When a new hire, Jared, arrived at work, taking an HR position that Julia had hoped for to break out of her work rut, Julia was ready to hate the new hire for all his worth... except he's so gorgeous. When a couple extra assignments brought them together, Julia was willing to fit in a few minor changes to her life... and take a chance at (*gulp* !) a relationship. But when the biggest change of all came, Julia will feel an act of betrayal that will fundamentally shift her life... But will she embrace the change... or revert to spinsterhood?

The book was filled with "chick-lit" moments like shopping, gossip, and trying to understand men, but otherwise quite a bit of fun to read. Julia was self-deprecating enough yet had a full character arc. Jared was a bit more one-dimensional as his purposes at the company... was not what it appeared to be, but other than that and the budding romance with Julia, he still came across as a bit flat.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Single spinster stuck in dead end job wanted to hate the new HR guy, except he's so gorgeous that she'd want to take a chance...

Tropes: disguise, enemies to lovers, co-worker, betrayal

Overall Rating:  4/5 (rounded up)

GRR Reviews Deliver Me (The Holmes Brothers Book 1) by Farrah Rochon

Deliver Me is a contemporary "doctors" romance set in New Orleans. The background was excellent, but I have a little problem with FMC's personality and vulnerability that lead to a very cliche darkest hour.

Monica Gardner MD was passed over for another promotion at the hospital she worked at and got dumped by her boyfriend, that she had to leave town. She moved all the way to New Orleans post-Katrina determined to make a name for herself as ER physician. She didn't count on her instant love-hate relationship she had with the gorgeous OB/GYN Elijah Holmes, who yelled at her when she performed an emergency C-section on a pregnant woman. Though to his credit, she was temporarily decked out in nurse's scrubs when a boy upchucked over her doctor's scrubs. Forced to co-chair the hospital's charity banquet, they have to work closely with each other when he sprung on her the surprise... Eli is forever haunted by his mother to reunite him with his high school GF... so Eli needs Monica to play his new girlfriend. But when they develop real feelings for each other...

I find the New Orleans atmosphere to be excellent, and both characters are nicely rounded. However, I find Monica's personality inconsistent. She's an ER physician, so she can't be rattled. But somehow her personal relationship problems lead her to flee once (to New Orleans), and contemplated another run... Just because she saw... something. Consider this really a 3.5 /5 instead of 4.

Category:  Contemporary

Primary Plot: ER lady Doc went to New Orleans to start over; handsome OB/GYN doc needed her to play his fiancee; they fall in love...

Tropes: fake engagement, jilted, fish out of water, co-worker

Overall Rating:  4/5 (rounded up)

GRR Reviews Puppy Dog Tales by Liwen Ho

Puppy Dog Tales is a fun short novella that had the unusual Asian Americans as the main characters, something rather rare in mainstream romances. It also featured cute pets. Well, hold on, let me recap...

Melvin Lai inherited something he never expected... His uncle's cocker spaniel. He... doesn't like animals, and he had no idea how to take care of one, esp. one who's leaving brown stains all over his carpet and refused every command he gave. At his wit's end, he went to the pet clinic and met Dr. Vivian Chu, who basically struck him dumb as Vivian was everything he dreamed of. But let's just say Melvin did not leave a good impression, and Vivian's foremost rule in dating, not that she dated, is "must love animals", and Melvin is anything but. But Melvin is determined to make Vivian his Valentine. It's going to take a miracle... and a little help from the cocker spaniel, to make it happen.

Well, for a short, there really is a fun tale, with rare setting of Asian American main characters.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Man who inherited a cocker spaniel but no idea how to take care of it wanted to romance the female veterinarian...

Tropes: different worlds, pets

Overall Rating: 4/5 (rounded up)

GRR Reviews Cinderella.Com: A Modern Day Cinderella by River Laurent

Cinderella.com is a contemporary romance that has an intriguing premise, but problems with some of the Montana and ranching details as well as a deus ex machina ending (that was a result of insufficient foreshadowing) made it impossible for me to award it more than 4/5

Cass is drowning in debt from a loan shark, in order pay her father's medical bills. She can't find any work, and soon she'll be out on the street because she hadn't had money to pay rent. When her friend signed her on for Cinderella.com and found her a job pays 30K for one month of work, she can't refuse. The job was to impersonate the famous hotel heiress Tamara Honeywell and live on a ranch in Montana and learn how to ride a horse. Tamara's daddy meant for that to be a punishment, but Tamara will sneak off somewhere and party for a month. Cass will have to get a spray tan, get lips done, and learn how to behave like a spoiled brat. But she's ready for that. What she was not ready for was the jaw-dropping gorgeous cowboy Clay... who can't stand pampered princesses like Tamara... Even as Cass fell for Clay, Cass can't stay... because this ain't her life...

The high concept was great, and an interesting twist on "hidden identity" trope. However, it seems the author didn't do proper research on the Montana ranching and several small details didn't quite conform to reality. Furthermore, without spoiling anything, let's just say the ending was not foreshadowed properly and when it was revealed, it felt like a deus ex machina rather than a genuine "twist" that makes the reader exclaim "OMG How did I miss that?" Instead, it's more like "Wait, where that came from?" which made it a trope.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Young woman, paid to impersonate an heiress banished to a ranch as punishment, fell for the cowboy shepherding her. The cowboy hates pampered princesses, but even he recognized this one may be the exception...

Tropes: disguise, ranch, different worlds, fish out of water, fairy tale

Overall Rating:  4/5