GRR Reviews The Persistent Groom by Jennifer Youngblood

Silver divorced her no-good husband Riley when he was mean to their Downs-syndrome daughter. Riley cheating was the last straw. It took her two years, but her event planning business is now thriving when she got the plum job, organizing the charity auction by the Texas Titans football team. Unfortunately, it also means she had to meet Ace Sanchez, the man who really had her heart... and Riley's chief rival back in school. Ace is now a star running back for the Titans, and one of the most eligible bachelors in the city. He had a humble beginning working for his family restaurant, and seeing Silver against just means he wanted her back. But Riley and his mother are NOT ready to let Silver go... as his divorce had already ruined her social standing. And this ex-MIL is ready to ruin both Ace and Silver if she will not re-marry Riley... and she has some dastardly plans in the works...

I can understand the entitled boy Riley and the evil and doting mother, but the way the whole thing was resolved... Uh... It's basically a deus ex machina. It has good parts, but the lame ending kinda ruined it.

Category: Contemporary / Sports

Overall Rating: 3/5

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GRR Prudie's Mountain Man by Elaine Manders

Prudie had failed to keep her brother in check and lost the entire family merchandising business, despite being one of the first provisional female students of Harvard, and ready to take over the family company. With friends already married, she did the only way out: become a mail order bride to help run a general store in the middle of Wyoming. // Erich spent his time in the wilderness of Wyoming after his mother died and his father became a hermit with him. His facial scar from a cougar attack didn't help. But when he inherited the general store in Bent Fork, he needed a bride to help him run it. But soon he realized Prudie has her own scars to deal with... and when their ideas clash, and someone is embezzling money from the store, will there actually be love between them?

Clean, Christian, but I honestly don't know about Erich, who's so Christian he doesn't feel like a mountain man at all, unless his papa, who decided to become a hermit, is actually a preacher (and he wasn't). It's like he doesn't want to press charges in all sorts of problems. Argh. It's clean alright, along with some TSTL moments. Overall, it's simply mediocre.

Category: Historical Western

Overall Rating: 2.5/5 (rounded up)
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GRR Reviews Chance Encounter (Chance and Hope) by SJ McCoy

WARNING: Happy for Now Ending, with an extra chapter that changed it to cliffhanger if you choose to read it.

Chance felt guilty for a very long time... since he was 18, and she died. Eighteen years later, he felt he's ready to try again, after many of his friends gotten married. Vacation on an Oregon coast brought him Hope... and he knew she's the woman for him... but they will only be there for two weeks, and she has a life in LA, far from his Montana home. And she's famous and rich... // Hope is beautiful and rich, but her BF is a douchebag who cheated on her. Needing a break, she headed for Oregon coast with a bestie, and met a handsome cowboy on the beach whom she swoons for... and he doesn't know her fame. Can one fall in love in two weeks?

That extra chapter managed to twist a happy for now ending into a cliffhanger, which is masterful indeed. Even that happy for now was good, with a good mix of fish out of water, disguise, brush with celebrity, different worlds, etc. theme.

Category: Contemporary Western

Overall Rating: 4/5

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GRR Reviews One Distant Summer by Serena Clarke

Jacinda Prescott spent a summer in Sweet Breeze Bay, New Zealand, and the disaster she left behind was felt for a very long time. She went back to LA, built a music career as "Sin Scott", but when the music label execs tried to get her to sex up, and one of them even tried to feel her up, she had enough, went incognito, and went back to Sweet Breeze Bay, to confront her past... // Liam left everything behind after the death of his brother, the town's golden boy, and Jacinda may have been "at fault". He went back to town for closure and found Jacinda there... And they are neighbors for the summer. And the one secret that bound them together is hanging over them... But it may also be a way for them to heal... Until a reporter arrived...

Hmmm... The secrets and tragedies about, and there were a LOT of secrets buried that one night, and PLENTY of guilt to go around. I like it, except it was a bit morose.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 4/5

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GRR Reviews Falling For Her by Sandra Owens

Jamie "Saint" Owens never swears, does not smoke, does not drink, and he has strict rules of conduct for he's trying to atone for the sins he committed many years ago. He only dates nice women... Until Sugar Darling crashed into his life. Sugar Darling is the temp receptionist at K2, a securities / consultancy / mercenary special services group. And while Saint knew Sugar is hiding something, Saint wanted to keep her far away... for she's trouble with a capital T // Sugar Darling is in hiding. She changed EVERYTHING about herself, changed her likes, and cut ties with everyone she knew, because a man wanted her very badly... Her hateful husband who claimed her at 14 (but waited until 18 to marry her), and hurt her too many times to count. She also knew his secrets. And she had to hide because he's a cop... K2 was the perfect place to lie low, with big burly men surrounding her. But when it seems her past has returned, she reluctantly turned to Saint for help...

Frankly, it's "the young naive woman who decided running away can solve things" trope... When K2 men are all ex-soldiers and mercs, and she wanted to protect him from a small town's corrupt police chief? What was she thinking? It makes ZERO sense!

Category: Contemporary / Romantic Suspense

Overall Rating: 3/5

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GRR Reviews A Forever Kind of Love by Krista Lakes

Mia is a social worker. She was told she's unable to bear children, so she threw all her energy into saving those from the foster system, esp. the girl and two young boys, who can't seem to catch a break. When circumstances brought them to Carter's ranch, it seems to be serendipity, as Mia falls for Carter hard, because Carter is rich, nice, and sweet on the kids. But Carter is on the ranch for a reason... Someone is threatening him and seems to have no problem getting past his bodyguards and security. And Carter said he doesn't want any kids. But when the stalker escalated the violence into threat against the kids' foster home, can Carter and Mia survive?

The stalker simply makes no sense. He's like the boogeyman... He managed to put a carbomb on Carter's car, except Carter used a remote starter and the car went kaboom while he's away from it. But why would an electric car need a remote starter?!?!?! Hello!? And then the guy was able to slip past security patrols and such, and seemily have endless resources to conduct surveillance on the billionaire and able to evade law enforcement and his bodyguards. But he can't get past a measly door at the end. Sorry, that just didn't work for me. The two plot lines just never intersected properly.

Category: Contemporary / Romantic Suspense

Overall Rating: 2/5

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GRR Reviews Snow Kissed by the Billionaire by Lizabeth Scott

Reed is a woman in the construction business, following in the steps of four older brothers. Having never really learned how to love, and killed multiple relationships from neglect, she decided to go on a man-fast. A surprise assignment had her flying to upstate New York to meet a billionaire, to discuss restoring his "cabin". But an early snowstorm had her crashing within a few hundred yards of her destination, and she was rescued by Mason, even as the storm stranded them both. Now stuck together, it's clear that Reed and Mason are attracted to each other, so Mason proposed a fling... no strings attached. But once the snow let up, can they really let each other go?

There really wasn't much plot in this. They got in bed, they had hot sex, lots of hot sex, until the snow let up and her brothers arrived to take her away, and she's miserable, since she can't forget him. Argh. It's basically "one f*** and he's hooked". *sigh*

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 2/5

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GRR Reviews Loving the Texas Lawman by Charlene Sands

Sheriff Jack Walker rescued a boy from a vehicle swept into the creek but was unable to save his parents. The boy had bonded with him, but the state had not allowed him to adopt him outright... yet. // Jillian trusted the wrong man who used her lingerie business as a cover for drug-dealing, but she was able to put the gangster behind bars, yet her reputation has suffered. Her consultants told her to open a store in her hometown, somewhere she hadn't been for a long time, and try to associate herself with Sheriff Walker, once her boyfriend, to revive her image. // The two married for convenience... He needed to project the image of a stable family to adopt the boy, she needed his image to fix her reputation. Yet when trouble seems to have followed her to Texas, can Sheriff Walker protect her? Can they have a real marriage instead of this fake one?

There's a lot of this trope of "let's fake marriage so I can adopt the kid legally", but it's used effectively here. I'm not too sure about the "trouble" bit, as it was resolved with mainly talk, not action. Still, it's a charming tale.

Category: Contemporary / Romantic Suspsense

Overall Rating: 4/5

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GRR Reviews Corporate Husband by Beverly Farr

Louisa is determined to save her grandpa's candy company, but due to a lot of inheritance rules, she can only keep the majority by marrying someone, and her ex was a wifebeater that she finally chased off... and she took over as CEO. She needs a loyal employee who can marry her in a marriage of convenience and would not try to blackmail her for more money. And Justin, a lawyer who's making enough on his own, seems to be the perfect candidate. But he wants a real marriage, with real love... And he has a few months to convince Louisa to make it a real marriage...

Not the first book about "fake love turned real", but this one's got some good polish on it, It just feels a bit slow.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 3.5/5 (rounded up)

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GRR Reviews Too Tempting by Bethany Lopez

Gabe, ex NFLer, now runs a football camp for kids with his best friends. // Zoey is an introverted writer and geek who promised to accompany her nephew to football camp, hoping to find quiet time to write in the great outdoors. However, she got the dates mixed up and showed up a week early, and met Gabe. The two instantly clicked, and fell for each other. But when her insecurities hit her at the end of camp, regarding his decision about her writing career (he used his connection to submit her manuscript, and it was accepted), she ran, believing she didn't have the talent and it was Gabe's influence. Will Gabe's love be enough to convince her of his honest intentions?

It was a good slow-simmer romance right up until the darkest hour, which felt very contrived.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 3/5

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GRR Reviews Faking It by Carly Phillips and Erika Wilde

Hailey is buying a property to take her matchmaking biz to the next level, and her real estate agent, Max Sterling, is a perfect gentleman, and a hunk. However, Hailey was wearing an engagement ring, so Max kept his distance, despite how lovely Hailey is. But when Hailey and Max ran into one of Hailey's client's mom, things got a bit weird... It seems Hailey had claimed her fiancee is none other than Max himself... and Max will gladly play along to save the "damsel in distress", as it is clear she's not really engaged... and he can use some help to fend off a young woman who's way too interested in him despite repeated attempts to distance himself. A very public engagement should be perfect for both of their needs... It'd only be fake... right? Until it wasn't... and everything changed...

Now this "fake engagement" makes great sense. I've seen the "matchmaker with no BF" and "wearing a ring to fend off suitors but falls for a guy" plot, but this is a good twist by combining many of those plot elements into one.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 5/5

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GRR Reviews Nobody's Lost by Kallypso Masters

Ryder returned from multiple deployments as a recon marine to the Middle East, having felt guilt and shame, for letting his team down. He lived a lonely life with PTSD. But when his Master Sergeant Adam aka "Top" asked him for a favor, he can't refuse. It's to watch out for Top's little half-sister... // Megan has military brothers who are protective, but she can handle herself just fine. When someone stole her PC, despite a sophisticated alarm system, her marine brother Adam sent her Ryder as a bodyguard. But soon she realized Ryder needs more rescue than she does, and what started as a friendship grew hotter. But she's Top's sister, and she wasn't sure she wanted a relationship...

Ah, the reluctant friends to lovers to scorching sex, with just a hint of S/M (unlike her other books). Nice, very nice indeed. It's just that the twist later kinda and kinda not make sense. But I won't spoil it. You'll just have to read it.

Category: Contemporary / Military

Overall Rating: 5/5

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GRR Reviews The Billionaire's Gamble by Ava Miles

NOTE: Book 1 of 4, ends on sorta cliffhanger.

Evan Michaels, tech billionaire, had lost his creative mojo, then lost his biggest bet in a poker game in Paris. He had to live and work like a "normal" person in the small town of Dare Valley, and stay celibate. he came to known Margie, his landlord and new boss... and it becomes very hard to hold himself back... // Margie grew up in Dare Valley, but she already dreamed big... she wanted to learn to cook and bake in Paris. After perfecting some recipes, with Evan's help, she's about ready... even as she fell for the plain, protective, sweet, and helpful Evan. But Margie hated rich people, which made Evan cringe... What happens when she found out he's a billionaire?

Ends on a cliffhanger, as he left without telling her he's rich, though he promised to see her in Paris in two weeks... The story's good, but cliffhanger...

Category: Contemporary / Small-town

Overall Rating: 3/5

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GRR Reviews Sexy Bad Halloween by Tami Lund

Alex was looking for a Halloween costume... months ahead of schedule. What he found was his childhood best friend Victoria. They hadn't spoken to each other since his dad had an affair with her mom, then left him and his mother behind, taking his new family across the country. Twelve years later, they meet again. He wants to know her again, as they are both adults now, but she's hesitant. Alex managed to get Victoria "Tori" to agree to ten dates... No sex... But Tori has a secret which would preclude her from dating ANYONE... esp. Alex...

Hmmm... While I enjoy the banter, the "ten dates" thing doesn't really make sense, and the plot twist (the secret) sorta makes sense and sorta doesn't. And it's introduced really really late to make it effective.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 3/5

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GRR Reviews HOT SEAL by Lynn Raye Harris

Navy SEAL Dane "Viking" Erickson and his team just got assigned to Hostile Operations Team (HOT)... a no-name multi-service elite operation that handles the toughest assignments and never gets the glory, and this latest one is a doozy, since not only he'll be taking down a terrorist org who managed to steal a drug smuggling sub from the Colombian narcos, the terrorists have a nuke and can be detonating it anywhere along the East Coast. Things just got tougher when he realized their DEA liaison is none other than his ex-wife... Ivy McGill... // Ivy had dedicated her life into taking down the Ruiz Cartel that killed her mother. She didn't believe in men any more, after Dane joined the SEALs instead of staying with her. But working with the man who betrayed her? It may be the worst part of it all. // No matter their past hurts, they have to work with each other to track down the rogue sub. But when the cartel came after her, believing she had a hand in stealing the sub, will Dane and his SEAL team save the day and still catch the sub?

The scenario is plausible, though I kinda wonder about the security setup, and the "fumbling assassins" trope. The 'working with the ex' trope, however, was executed VERY nicely. And the twist reveal was very good as well. But the sub ended up as an ancillary plot, which is kinda meh. Still, this is not a technothriller, but romantic suspense. And there's a twist about Ivy's past. A bit cliche, but it works. This gets a -0.5 for minor technical details screwup.

Category: Contemporary / Romantic Suspense / Military

Overall Rating: 4.5/5 (rounded up)

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GRR Reviews A Kiss Beneath the Stars by S L Sterling

Autumn has suffered a miscarriage then her husband blamed her and had a messy divorce. After a horrible blind date, she decided to take a summer vacation far away at a beach, enough of her family trying to make her just "go out there and have a life". Then she met Hunter on the beach... // Hunter had a messy breakup from his clingy and crazy ex. Vacationing with his brothers brought him to the beach... and Autumn is stunning. But is vacation fling enough? When their respective pasts came back to haunt them, will they stand together... or drive away everything in desperate attempt to not be hurt again?

The twist was quite good (turns out her husband had NEVER been faithful) and summer vacation fling trope was used to good effect, as is Hunter's brothers and other friends. Good polish on the plot overall.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 4/5

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GRR Reviews Lumberjack by Jenika Snow

Jake left the city after his woman betrayed him. Now he's a lumberjack working in the forest, and keeps to himself, and hadn't had a woman in five years. Until Vivian, lost in the woods, found him... // Vivian had enough city life and decided to take a week-long vacation in the mountain... Until she got lost on a hike and ended up at Jake's door. // Vivian never had met a mountain man before, and Jake hadn't had a woman on five years. But he won't do anything she didn't want... and she wanted everything...

It's basically sex, and lots of sex. And not much else. This is basically a "mountain man" erotic romance. Kinda boring. Sex is not bad, but not that good. Add to lack of much of a plot, it's just porn.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 2/5

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GRR Reviews Hidden Secrets by Carolyn Brown

The four generations of Brewster woman are taking a road trip to Oklahoma... ordered by the family matriarch, great-grandma Hannah. Her best friend died and left her the farm, and she's tired of her life in the east. But she has secrets to confess to... But then, so did Karen (grandma), Sue (mom), and Kim (daughter). Kim is pregnant by a man she only married for one-day. Now that man is engaged to someone else... Sue is divorced when her husband ran off with someone Kim's age. And there are some bitter divorce proceedings... And Karen has her own secrets to hide... When Sue and Kim found new potential partners in the Oklahoma town, and each took up new responsibilities of the farm, they will reveal all their secrets... and change their lives forever...

More chick lit than romance, there are a lot of little twists and turns as each of the secrets was revealed, and the confession helped turn each woman's life around, in a way.

Category: Contemporary / Chick-lit

Overall Rating: 5/5

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GRR Reviews Bedding the Best Man by Virna DePaul

Gabe is a poor kid with rich friends that finally found his talent in the ring, and parlayed that into a franchise of sports-adventure stores. He had a crush on Brianna Whitcomb, a rich girl that seems to want him, but he's too ashamed to take it any further, and let his rich friend Eric take the spot. After, all, they are a far more fitting couple... Until years later, when Eric left Brianna at the altar. What Brianna cannot tell Gabe was she had erotic dreams about Gabe while in Eric's bed... Gabe knew Bri is Eric's girl, and he's Eric's best male friend... There's no way he can do Bri behind Eric's back, no matter how much he wanted to and she's technically single... for he's definitely not good enough... But their passion for each other cannot be denied...

Okay, there's a LOT OF ANGST in this novel. And a LOT of back and forth that initially it's very depressing to read. Once you got through the sad parts, and they slowly come together, then the novel starts to be less depressing.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 4/5

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GRR Reviews When the Smoke Clears by Lynette Eason

Alexia is both a smokejumper and a firefighter in Washington State. She got a major equipment malfunction just as she located the victim in a house fire. She was saved, and child rescued, but she earned a suspension from all duties from her captain for disobeying a direct order to retreat. When investigators told her that her equipment had been sabotaged and she got an invitation to a 10-year school reunion, she decided to get out of town... all the way back to the east coast. Yet trouble seems to follow her... Just as she arrived home, she found her ex-boyfriend was fatally wounded in her mother's house basement. Then followed arson, attempted kidnapping, multiple murders, and a handsome police detective and his brother. And it may have something to do with her past... That high school dance 10 years ago, when one of her friends ran for her life... But Alexia was also haunted by her own past, a house fire that claimed her sister's life, and chased her out of town. Who is after her? Why? Why do they want to find Jillian, the friend who disappeared?

Now that's a thriller with twists and turns, and it managed to be Christian to keeping the romance clean and the occasional mention of God was not too jarring. So much so, romance is merely a minor element.  It's mostly suspense, with very little romance.

Category: Contemporary / Romantic Suspense

Overall Rating: 5/5

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GRR Reviews Once Upon a Texas Christmas by Katherine Garbera

Logan Calloway was from the wrong side of tracks, until a break made him a Hollywood A-lister. Even though he didn't like his childhood in Whiskey River, he decided to show up in town this Christmas to promote the charities to make sure kids don't end up like him. He often talked to Avery, his assistant, by phone. Avery pretty much ran his charity in town. But Avery had never seen Logan in the flesh... until now. Their chemistry together is undeniable, but he's leaving for West Coast after the Holidays, and he's her boss. But they have to work together for the charity. This romance would never work, if not for a subtle push by an old ghost lady who is doing matchmaking...

Charming, I like the spirit. The supernatural bit is just... fun, not scary, not
comedic.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 4/5

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GRR Reviews The Soldier's Wedding by Karina Bliss

Dan survived his deployment to Afghanistan and is determined, upon his return, to marry his childhood friend Josephine "Jo", because they had a "binding contract" (scribbled on a beer coaster, while drunk) to marry. It doesn't matter that Jo didn't quite think of him "that way"... He's sure he can change her mind, but she has a secret... // Jo is busy taking care of her grandmother and growing her business. She also found out something about herself that she's still trying to come to terms with... which made her unsuitable for love, not even by Dan. But Dan can be VERY persuasive...

Surprisingly deeper than initial impressions, the initial tone was funny, but the mood turns somber once you get deeper into the story. Basically, Jo has a bit of a health scare. However, the mood is not totally a downer. The back-and-forth dance took a while, but that's what a romance does.

Category: Contemporary / Military

Overall Rating: 4/5

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GRR Reviews His Secretary Vol 1 of 3 by Harmony Raines

Helen is a single mom with two girls struggling to make ends meet after her husband skipped town. Her brother's fiancee got her a one-week temp gig as a secretary, only to find out the company is in turmoil when the boss is sick in the hospital... and his nephew, Oliver, is here to oversee the potential deal. And Oliver picked Helen to work with him for the week. Oliver is a taskmaster, and most days ended up overtime, as Oliver sensed there was something wrong with the deal yet having no numbers to back it up, despite his and Helen's analysis. Oliver realized he had been missing a family... even as Helen realized her desire for a career may be too big a price to pay. And Oliver does NOT date employees. When Oliver asked Helen to go with him to Monaco to convince his uncle, will he be able to admit his feelings for Helen?

Eh, not feeling much there. AND it's only book 1 of 3.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 3/5 -1 for cliffhanger

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GRR Reviews Whiskey and You by H J Bellus

Jack Jarvis aka "JJ" is an oil tycoon in Texas, and he let people know he'll crush anyone who dares to cross him. And he did, many times, often personally, with his own fists. When one of his neighbors messed with his land, and warnings went unheeded, he arranged for a little meeting. When the man tried to pawn off his wife as payment, JJ took her (for the girl looks famished, enslaved, and mistreated). But the debtor turned out to be far more dangerous than expected... He turned out to be a Cartel man, and he wants his "wife" back. JJ will have to protect the woman and the daughter she was forced to give up... and blood will be spilled...

No obvious flaws, proper escalation, with an ending and lead-in for sequels. Not bad. The bad guy is evil enough but too psychotic for me.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 3.5/5 (rounded up)

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GRR Reviews Rectify by Mary Crawford

Tayanita "Anita" walked away from motherhood when she developed a severe post-partum depression that bordered on psychosis, leaving her ex-husband to raise their daughter... alone. Years later, her daughter, a high-function autistic, wants to be back into her life... In a moment of panic, she confessed everything to a telephone salesman... a man she never hoped to meet in real-life. His name is John... and somehow, he knew her better than anyone else... a man that never saw her... But is that enough to build a relationship on?

Spoiler:
John is blind, ex-coast-guard pilot, now stuck at a telemarketer desk, after an accident that took away his vision.

This is a linked universe book and while each book can be read alone, there are shared bits that makes more sense when read in order. I like the way the relationship developed.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 5/5

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GRR Reviews Second Chance Husband by B B Hamel

Jace was a bad boy that got a bit too full of himself. He got addicted to drugs, and had to drop out of sight into rehab. Now he's doing a travel show as his comeback, and his producer... Was the one girl he let got away... having kinda broken her heart way back when, even though they never hooked up. Piper was not doing well and this show may be her last chance to make it big as a producer. So why is Jace still the a-hole? When the segment was about Elvis wedding in Vegas, and the model didn't show up, Jace convinced Piper to step in as a pretend bride... Then someone, as a gag, produced a real marriage certificate, and Piper signed it... thinking it was something else. Now Jace and Piper are married... sorta? Are they going to keep fighting... Or will they finally develop feelings for each other? When the show production ends, will that be the end?

Hmmm... I'm not too sure about this one. I find the handcuff (forced proximity) to be rather ingenious, but the marriage certificate? Kinda mean, though there's a twist to that later. I guess I really don't understand Jace, who's a "bad boy" on the surface but in reality a nice guy... Now that's a trope. Still, I like the variation.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 3.5/5 (rounded up)

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GRR Reviews Dare to Love by Mary Jane Morgan

Clinical psychologist Logan works hard to get through his own pain by helping others, esp. children. But when he saw a woman riding one of the more recalcitrant horses on the ranch bareback, he's ready to jump into action to save her... But she didn't need saving. She's Natasha, the new equine therapist in town, and she knows horses and people. However, her own emotional scars made her a free spirit... she can never settle anywhere for long, and she can't fall in love. But Logan's protective streak attracted her... // When opposites collide, opposites also attract. Logan and Natasha can't be more different from each other, yet working toward a common goal... helping children with help of horses. But can they re-learn how to love themselves and each other?

Good tale of opposites attract, with proper equine therapy procedures. Natasha is like "I haven't felt loved in so long, I like this feeling, but can I count on it?" It's pretty good. Logan's arc feel shallower compared to Natasha's.

Category: Contemporary / Western

Overall Rating: 4/5

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GRR Reviews Victorious by M S Force

Book 3 of the same series (book 1, book 2). Flynn has exposed all his secrets for Natalie to see. He is a dom, and surprisingly, Natalie has expressed some interest in the kink lifestyle. But Natalie's traumatic past holds some triggers that they have to step around carefully. Then came news the lawyer who exposed Natalie's identity had been murdered... And Flynn is one of the suspects because he joked about it during a TV interview. Even as Flynn and Natalie explore the kinkier side of their relationship, and settle into domestic bliss and the HEA, complications seem to be just around the corner...

This one, being the conclusion, basically solved most of the problems, so what you are left with is mostly just kinky sex. It's pretty hot, but the plot suffered as a result. 4/5

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 4/5

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GRR Reviews A Father for Christmas by Rachel Ayala

Single mom Kelly is raising her 4-year old daughter Bree alone by choice... She went to a sperm bank, not wanting to depend on any man. But she was betrayed and was convicted of insider trading and lost her prestigious investment banker job. Now she cleans offices she used to work in and try to make ends meet. It's coming up on Christmas, but her daughter's only wish is for a daddy. When Bree found homeless veteran Tyler Manning under the mall Christmas tree, right after telling mall Santa her wish, it's definitely chaos. Tyler is tormented by his PTSD, and his failure to save his team despite shooting child suicide bomber. He has lucid flashbacks if triggered and stressed, and helping a single mom out is out of the question... He chose to be homeless, giving every bit of money he had to Afghan orphanages, hoping to assuage his soul. He knows how scary he can be. But he can't disappoint a little girl, that may be his redemption. But will Kelly let him into her life?

Okay, there's definitely some feelings there. A lot of guilt and shame and fear and all that. Love... came late. I like it well enough but I think it could have been a little better. 4/5

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 3.5/5 (rounded up)

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GRR Reviews Hold Me Close by J H Croix

Owen is the quintessential billionaire geek, after founding his renewable energy firm in Boston, then moved it to Alaska. He lost his parents in a carbon monoxide poisoning incident, and only a neighbor helped him stay sane, and inspired his line of research. Owen just doesn't know how to love... He was too busy to try. He just hired Ivy, who's both brilliant and beautiful, and already tied to Diamond Creek, Alaska: her brother lives nearby. Ivy had to abandon the academia when her engineering department head (an old guy who hadn't published a paper in a decade, just cruising along ) got a bit too hands-on, and not even a complaint to HR can stop the harassment. Moving back home, and finding a great job was great... She can't jeopardize that by having a fling with the hot boss... But soon, both gave in to their temptations, hoping that a taste will soon let their flames burn out, and they can get back to work. But when the department head threatened to ruin her professionally AND Owen's company too if she won't withdraw her harassment complaint, things look bleak for the couple...

Somehow, the threat just didn't feel... right, or urgent. But that's the problem of setting something in Alaska. And in the end, it's Owen's money and lawsuit that finally stopped the harassment for good, not that Ivy's running away (resigning) would do anything. Again, it's the "I must hurt you to save you" trope. Still, the polish is good. 4/5

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 4/5

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GRR Reviews Cowboy Heat by Sable Hunter

Libby has leukemia in remission. Her doctor told her to live life to the fullest, and her wish was to bed Aron McCoy, the oldest McCoy brother. She had always admired him from afar. When their housekeeper is going on vacation for a few months, it's the perfect chance. Libby moved into Tebow ranch and became the new temporary housekeeper, and Aron was smitten... Until he found out Libby still has her v-card... But when Libby admitted she wanted only him... It is time for Aron to step up to the challenge... Even if she is not disclosing her secret... For Aron does not know she has cancer...

The twist is simple enough, and sex here is quite hot that it's basically erotic romance. There's also a bit of 4th wall breaking joke about how Libby learned all her moves from reading erotic romance. Hahaha. 4/5

Category: Contemporary / Western / Erotic

Overall Rating: 4/5

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GRR Reviews Kade by DeAnn Smallwood

Hope was framed by a drug dealer who stashed drugs in her car. She served three months before she was released when the real perp was caught. Unfortunately, she lost her job as an elementary schoolteacher. Then she saw an ad about live-in care for an old lady with two handsome cowboys... // Kade almost destroyed his family ranch when he trusted a woman too far, and she took him to the cleaners. He had to take out a loan to keep the ranch going, and a balloon payment is coming due soon. Then his brother, who had disappeared for years, showed up with a young baby girl in tow. Kade did not need any woman other than his 78-year old gran at home, but gran hired Hope as the caretaker to keep tabs on both cowboys AND the baby-girl, and herself, of course. So he can't fire her. But Kade doesn't trust Hope, esp. when Hope prefers NOT to talk about her arrest and conviction, even though it was vacated. But when Kade found out, will Hope leave, despite having already fitted into this family?

I don't get it. If a real perp was found, wasn't her entire conviction vacated and erased off the record? What would show up on a background check? This makes no sense. The book would have been 4/5 if this made sense. As is, it's 3/5

Category: Contemporary / Western

Overall Rating: 3/5

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GRR Reviews Wish I Might by Kait Nolan

Cecily Dixon went with her boss to Wishful, Mississippi and fell in love with the town, but her internship is over and she needs to spread her wings... somewhere else. However, what she didn't tell people is she's also a Davenport, one of the richest and most powerful families in the US. She wants to make her own way, and she's not sure where. // Reed Campbell is a Wishful native and proud of it, and even as his family bookstore struggles, he found Cecily irresistible, esp. when Cecily offered her services as a marketing consultant. But he said something that turned Cecily off, and now she's giving him the cold shoulder... If only he can recall what he said... And the clock is ticking... even as his bookstore started to take off, thanks to Cecily's efforts... When Cecily left in a huff, misinterpreting Reed's attempt to fend off an over-enthusiastic employee, will the two ever get back together?

A bit of rom-com with a lot of small-town charm, it's both trope yet warm at the same time. Author knows how to polish the plot, but the plot itself is nothing too special.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 3.5/5 (rounded up)

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GRR Reviews Kane by Sinclaire Jayne

Kane is a two-time bullrider champ going for a third buckle. He has fame, fortune, and plenty of adoration, esp. of the female variety. But there is one woman he can't forget... Sky, who left him four years ago. Upon arriving in Phoenix, he wasn't prepared to see Sky or her 3-year old precocious daughter, and there can be no doubt he is the father... // Sky thought she finally had it made when her sculpture was picked for a charity auction... that she can finally make a good living for herself and her daughter... Until Kane walked in to the gallery and claimed her work, her daughter... and her. How can Sky explain she did what she thought was right at the time?

Extremely angst-y at the beginning, but that's the way how "secret baby" stories go... Lots of recriminations, betrayals, misinterpretations, and mistrust. She thought he didn't want her, he thought she should be going to school and not be a rodeo wife. She thought he should be free to pursue his dreams, he thought she betrayed him... Once you get past all the angst-y parts. and they reconciled, then the story gets happier. Very good polish on an old trope.

Category: Contemporary / Western

Overall Rating: 5/5

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GRR Reviews Blueprint for a Kiss by Nancy Warren

Prescott Chance became a celebrity architect who's extremely private, turning down more commissions than he accepts. He has an orderly life... which was interrupted by Holly Legere, sitting on his Tesla one day. // Holly is an assistant for Alistair Rupert, an extremely demanding industrialist who's known to have driven multiple assistants into nervous breakdowns... but rewards those who survived a year with a promotion in his vast empire. When Rupert's wife wanted a Prescott Chance designed house, and Prescott turned her down, Holly was told: "don't come back without an acceptance". And Holly is very determined indeed... She already knew all the public information about him... and she will even visit his family for support... If that's what it takes to get a house designed for her boss...

Ah, that's interesting pair up. It's basically opposites attract. Prescott is a lot like Spock, cold, aloof, but gradually loosened up by the end of the book, and Holly eventually realized she doesn't need Rupert's job to succeed in life, as she found her OTHER calling (which I won't spoil) through the course of this book.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 5/5

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GRR Reviews Family Matter by Heather Tullis

Rosemary is one of the six half-sisters (yes, their rich father spread his oats far and wide) working at the hotel, sorta forced there by their dead father into accepting each other. She's the restaurant manager on the premises, and she's having some personnel issues with a recalcitrant employee when she got terrible news: the daughter she gave up a decade ago to a happy childless couple is again an orphan. And the couple named her as the guardian. When mysterious accidents started happening around her, she's overwhelmed. But are the "accidents" aimed at her, or her daughter? But there is Harrison, a fellow hotel manager, but also a frenemy that wanted to shift their relationship to a different level, willing to share the burden. But will she survive that long?

Good mystery / protector / woman in peril romantic suspense, even though it didn't start that way. That's one heck of a shift. And Harrison proves you don't need to be an ex-SEAL security guy or a cop to be a protector.

Category: Contemporary / Romantic Suspense

Overall Rating: 5/5

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GRR Reviews Love's New Beginning by Dorothy Wiley

Daniel Armitage was the only survivor of his rich and influential Philadelphia family from yellow fever. His mother, on her deathbed, confessed that Daniel's father was NOT his biological father. The biological father was named Daniel Alexander McKay, whom was forbidden to court her. Distraught with grief, Daniel chose to leave for the frontier and search out his father as the last wish of his mother. Months of travel took him all the way to the frontiers of Kentucky, where he did find his father... and the enchanting Ann Byrd. Ann's mother died young, leaving Ann mostly brought up by her father, the Colonel, and mostly male role models. Ann was being pursued by a devious Charles Snyder, when she was rescued by Daniel. But Daniel's illegitimacy means he can't court Ann openly... And Snyder vowed to remove any obstacles in his way, which includes Daniel, even as he considered whether he can ever fit into his father's adoptive family in town...

Turns out Daniel is quite rich after liquidating most of his possessions in Philadelphia, esp. those he inherited. And Snyder? Think colonial era psychotic killer. Adventure is quite good,

Category: Historical

Overall Rating: 5/5

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GRR Reviews Desperate Cowboy Seeks Mail Order Bride to Save Ranch by Rosie Atwood

Katie at 25 wants to escape the crushing poverty of the east coast and saw mail-order bride in Colorado as her only escape. But on the way, she lost the ticket and was forced to get off the train in Kansas and to help a kind woman running a boarding house to earn enough money to buy a ticket to resume the trip in a month. She didn't know that his groom needs her sooner (two weeks), in order to inherit the ranch. Then her groom came to find her...

While the characters are okay, there's way too many Bible quotes sprinkled throughout the talk, and yes, this is VERY spiritual. And the groom, Matthew, obviously needs to find his way back to God. Argh. He just took off and left his grandma and his ranch to run itself. That kinda makes sense and kinda didn't. Also, why adopt a disguise to "check the girl out"?

Category: Historical Western

Overall Rating: 2.5/5 (rounded up)

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GRR Reviews Love on the Prairie by Ciara Knight

Abigail McKinnie had already lost almost everything except her sisters when the Union Army sacked Atlanta. With no other choice to keep her family together, she accepted a marriage proposal from one of her cousins out in Kansas, hoping to convince him to take in all seven sisters. With barely the clothes on her back, she arrived at the homestead with blistered feet, only to find a stranger there... informing her that her betrothed is dead, died of infection and buried not long before her arrival. // Owen Baker already lost so many people, including a wife and son (even though there was no love). When Abigail stormed onto the land, claiming ownership of her cousin's land, his only thought was "no, not again", and his fierce determination to keep her safe (by sending her away) was met with fierce opposition from Abby (I'm not going anywhere), yet neither can actually say the reason they behave so. But when the only way to let her keep the land is to marry her, can he explain everything, when a crazed man in town who hated Indians may be about to force war and hang "traitors" who protected Indians and wanted peace?

The reluctant lovers theme was pushed really well, but the "Indian" threat was very very late. Yes, there was an attack, but very little damage. The other threat was introduced very late and IMHO, not executed that well.

Category: Historical Western

Overall Rating: 3.5/5 (rounded up)

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GRR Reviews It Had to Be Love by Tamra Baumann

Ryan Anderson, sheriff of Anderson Butte (yes, his clan founded the town) had sworn off dating locals, and wanted a chance of scenery... like moving to Denver, CO. However, the new dentist in town, Tara, intrigued him... She's clearly hiding something, in a town that's already full of secrets... a town where celebrities can lie low, and strangers chased out of town (gently). // Tara isn't looking for love... she has enough caring for her dog and her dental practice. She bears scars (physical and mental) from her crazy ex (literally, as he's in a psych ward) and lying low in a town sounds fine. But the sheriff made her tingle in all the right places... but he's getting too close to her secrets...

Eh... Not feeling much for this one. The threat was really, really late coming, and the juxtaposition between sappy love and tension just didn't quite work for me. At least the polish was good.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 3.5/5 (rounded up)

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GRR Reviews Because of You by Mari Carr

It has been eight months since Jessie became a widow. Everybody said her husband's death was a "freak accident"... slipped on the ice in the parking lot and struck his head. But she can't let go... Because he called her that day, hinting at discovering something, but said there's nothing to worry about. Then she found him dead that night... To get away from it all, she took a vacation and met ER doc Caleb. But she can only do a one-night stand, no matter the chemistry, because she felt something was left undone. And Caleb was not willing to let her put herself at risk... When it became obvious that she was right... something is OFF about her husband's death, and the mugging, the break-in, the arson at the accounting firm... are all connected... And that someone is close... Very close...

"Erotic romantic suspense" as it's basically romantic suspense with a hefty dose of hot sex. The plot is good, and sex is hot.

Category: Contemporary / Romantic Suspense / Erotic

Overall Rating: 4/5

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GRR Reviews Just One Kiss by Susan Hatler

Charlie divorced her rockstar husband after he was changed by his fame, and she never got to pursue her acting career as promised. Her husband tried to keep her by fighting for every penny, and Charlie, heart-broken, kept only a single beach mansion in her hometown of Blue Moon Bay... and nothing else. However, as an ex-wife of a rock star, she had no education and no employable skills. Desperate for some income, she agreed to let the soap opera "Just One Love" to film at her mansion, because both stars, Luke, and Adele, also came from Blue Moon Bay, and is back in town to do some promos, and film for a whole month. Things started to change when she was cast as a maid due to an on-set emergency, then she got written many extra lines due to on-screen chemistry with the star Luke. And the producer wants her to stay on full-time as the 2nd female lead. But when a bigger and better opportunity came along, can Charlie let Luke go to do what she always wanted: to act? Or will she stay with Luke for a bit part?

The twist at the end was excellent, as the novel managed to twist the "I have to hurt you to love you" trope properly. And often the lines adlibbed had a lot of double entendres that you'd chuckle.

Category: Contemporary / Romantic Comedy

Overall Rating: 5/5

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GRR Reviews Billionaire's Inconvenient Obsession by Nadia Lee

Jane left her town to look for a job in LA, leaving behind the bunch of brothers who only see her as unpaid maid to cook and clean. She also got taken by a conman who took her money to pay his bookie and hounded her for more. When her car was vandalized while she interviewed for a position... and was turned down again... she was screaming at the sky at the injustice... and then came Iain Pryce... // Iain Pryce is a former MMA fighter with a dysfunctional family. He took his rage into the ring... and won, but after a barfight, where he almost killed two people, he sobered up, meditate, and took up aikido, a non-violent martial art... and shut out everybody else except the bare minimal. A wrong turn took him to the wrong part of LA... and a woman's scream caused him to stop... and the hurt in her eyes meant he can't walk away... He offered her use of his condo, and possibly a job at his brother's restaurant. But Jane's shaking his self-control to bits... even as Jane struggles to make a life for herself, figuring it's her chance to start over... then Jane's evil ex came after her for money...

As you can imagine, the conman ex did not fare well against a trained MMA fighter. It's one of those opposites attract but keep denying they can be together kind novels. Previously published as "Billionaire's Holiday Obsession", and I think I've read it under that title. Good polish with a trope plot, yet characters are deep enough to not be cliches.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 5/5

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GRR Reviews Country Roads by Nancy Herkness

Julia is a sheltered artist after her parents left her in care of a rich uncle. She likes to paint horses, but when she painted a new series, her uncle tried to discourage her from her new bolder and more disturbing vision. Having epilepsy as a child didn't help. To test her vision, she bought a cheap Suburban and set up on a roadtrip to Sanctuary, West Virginia, where the first art agent that bought her painting moved to... Until her vehicle broke down miles outside of town, and she was saved by a country lawyer Paul Taggart. // Paul gave up his high-flying legal career to help his brother who drank himself into a broken marriage. Paul rescued Julia and delivered her to the gallery in town, and Julia ended up living on a ranch and came to pick a whisper horse... known locally as el diablo... The devilhorse, who crippled the previous owner for abusing him. Paul found Julia to be fiery, yet naive, and when he pointed out her uncle may be cheating her, she has problems contemplating that. Both Paul and Julia are caught between their family obligations and their own pursuits of happiness.

Very nice touches, some hard emotions by both parties. Though Paul problems were resolved by someone else (i.e. his brother finally stopped being a douche), and there's a logical reason for her uncle to behave that way. All in all, good read

Category: Contemporary Western

Overall Rating: 5/5

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GRR Reviews Falling Star by Laura DeLuca

Drew DiPalma is tired of the limelight. As "Andy Palmer", he was the heartthrob of America, but his co-star is forever trying to seduce him like white on rice, his agent is committing him to stuff without asking him, and his scripts recently really sucks. His migraine didn't help either. To escape the madness, he went incognito, and escaped to an east coast island around New Jersey, somewhere his parents used to take him to vacation... and met a young woman by the name of Lainey Riccardo... // Lainey had enough of men after a dozen internet dating disasters, until a hunk by the name of Drew won her heart and accepted her quirkiness and her circle of friends. But when will happen when she learned who he really is?

I am not sure what to make of this novel. The contrasting lovers / different worlds was good, but some parts of the book don't add much to the story. Lainey is a Reiki massage practitioner and fixed Drew's headache, but it's temporary. Drew's headache was never explained or a medical issue, despite it having come up multiple times in the book. At least the grand gesture, i.e. "I am NOT leaving, you are" was nice.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 3/5

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GRR Reviews Loved by You by Cheyenne McCray

Fiona O'Shea traveled the southwest with her daughter, selling hand-made jewelry and do some clog dancing to make ends meet. She was betrayed by her Irish clan when she wanted out, and sold to a rival clan member as a virtual slave. She was raped but eventually escaped and raised her daughter, but always ready to run. Until Justice McBride found them. // Justice knew he had to get to know the fiery redhead better when he saw her dance at the Prescott AZ Christmas festival, and when he rescued her from her abusive ex Gilroy, he knew he must protect her and her daughter. But Gilroy is ready to "reclaim" his property through any means necessary...

Animal tranqs delivered via blowdarts? Really? The plot is trope, and the fight scenes are not particularly good.

Category: Contemporary Western

Overall Rating: 3/5

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GRR Reviews Cut and Run by Amy Elizabeth

Rebecca, having grew up in South Boston, knew no one can be trusted. When her no good BF turned up apparently dead from OD, she saw the perfect opportunity to leave town, as she just finished her semester of school. And she went to see her brother in Wyoming. There, she came to find a job on Westin Ranch, headed by Alec Westin, the gruff man who can't seem to make ends meet due to his father's mounting medical bills. However, she lied... She has no experience as a wrangler... All her knowledge is book-form only... She had never ridden a horse before. But when Alec found out, he surprisingly gave her a chance: learn to ride in 1 week. And she did, and fit into the ranch life well. And Alec fell for her. But someone is stalking her. Increasingly more sinister notes are being received, then her brother was beaten into a coma...

The twist sort of makes sense, but the villain is way too capable. Apparently he's able to hide in the town of Jackson, Wyoming, but never got noticed even though he's a city-slicker. He's apparently able to get high and fight while high, and use that to his advantage (where did he get the drugs?) And where did he get the poison for the horse? Didn't the horse recognize a stranger? How about being able to outfight two cowboys ready for him (despite being a party guy and small time dealer in Boston, with no apparently fighting abilities)... Sorry, the villain makes NO SENSE at all. While I like the fish out of water tale, for the FMC, the villain ruined the book for me.

Category: Contemporary / Western

Overall Rating: 2/5

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GRR Reviews Into the Flames by Jennifer Bernard

Rollington Wareham III, aka Rollo, is one of the Jupiter Hotshots firefighters, and he has an important life event coming up: he's turning 30, and that's when he promised his family to quit firefighting and go back into the family banking business. Unfortunately, it's also when he noticed that Brianna, local girl, is sexy and adorable... and nervous as heck when it comes to guys. // Bri can talk about plants... but not in front of a hot guy, even Rollo. But she does want his body... between the sheets. She knows he had to leave, but they can make some good memories... // Rollo and Bri, despite their attempts to let each other down gently, are nonetheless stuck together, despite various complications and disasters... then Bri made a surprising discovery that put her life at risk...

The extra threat made its debut VERY VERY late.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 3/5

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GRR Reviews Love is More than Skin Deep by Mary Crawford

Shelby just graduated and joined an international teaching program, due to leave in a month. She already settled her lease and everything else. And she walked into a tattoo parlor, wanting a dreamcatcher for her back. Then everything changed. The senior designer pointed her to a dermatologist... and the diagnosis... Melanoma: skin cancer. She can't go, she has no place to live, she has no job, and since she had been a foster kid, no parents. // Mark is a single dad and a senior partner in a law firm known for taking on seemingly hopeless cases. He's busy, but an encounter with this woman breaking down just brought out all his protective instincts... but can he convince a girl who was taught to rely on no one that it's okay to lean on someone?

Ah, how two wounded souls come together, but there's not TOO much for Mark to do. He doesn't have big huge wounds, and his problem is convincing Shelby to let him in. Still, it's got good touches.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 4/5

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GRR Reviews The Cowboy's Christmas Bride by Laurie LeClair

Cassidy, a rising country music star, has lost her voice. Then she found her manager had stolen most of her money. Hounded by paparazzi, she went incognito and accepted the invitation to spend Christmas at her cousins in Honor TX. However, her arrival in town and a distraction meant she ran directly into the back of her ex's pickup. Ryder was the one cowboy she never been able to forget. // Ryder is a single father raising his little girl in the small town of Honor, Texas, trying to revive his family ranch, when Cassidy arrived. Ryder knew he gave his heart to her a long time ago... and she trampled it. He married someone else, but she died when his girl was 1 year old. When his girl wanted Cassidy as a Christmas bride for her daddy, can he refuse this second chance that they both desire?

Sweet, not too much angst, good touches on the back history and all the characters.

Category: Contemporary Western

Overall Rating: 4/5

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GRR Reviews Holiday Ties by Elizabeth SaFleur

Novelette: Yvette had a high profile divorce and her ex gave her no support. Despite being the best fundraiser in the city, she's forever known as "the one who divorced" with the whispered label of "golddigger". She was surprised when a younger man came to her rescue when she fell in the snow... And Ryan is too much of a dom... and too experienced, to let her go. He had desired her for a long time, and, and he shall claim this submissive as his... if she'll agree to a weekend.

Seems this author knows the BDSM mindset quite well, and there's even a warning about "nobody goes into BDSM lifestyle after one meeting, this is obviously a work of fiction..." etc. etc. Ryan seems a bit too perfect of a mind reader, but D/S lifestyle is often a touch-y subject, and the rapport between dom and a sub is often, almost telepathic, if done right, but that may be the fictionalized ideals again. Hahaha. For a novella, it's actually quite good.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 4/5

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GRR Reviews Wolf Hunger by Paige Tyler

Dallas SWAT has a secret... its members are all wolf-shifters. Officer Max was attending an awards dinner when he realized he found "the one", the one true mate for him, Lana. And she's clearly a wolf-shifter too... The scent is unique. However, there are two major problems... She's the deputy chief's daughter... and she doesn't know she's a shifter. And Deputy Chief doesn't want Max around his daughter. Things soon grew dire, when hunters, who vowed to hunt down all werewolves arrived in Dallas and started gunning for Lana... and killed her roommate in Austin (where she attended school) and even attacked the police chief himself. Now Max must not only protect Lana... while revealing the truth of her nature, but also show how much she means to him... even as the hunters mount a full-scale attack on the wolf safehouse...

Good action, the interesting escalation by introducing the hunters (keeping shifters secret gets kinda old). The secrets of Lana and Max's origin story gets a little depressing, but they do add to the characters.

Category: Contemporary / Romantic Suspense

Overall Rating: 5/5

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GRR Reviews A Dash of Love by Liz Isaacson

Nikki is a self-trained cook but due to her never having been to culinary school, she was turned down for kitchen jobs. When a chance came for her to work as the assistant to her idol, celebrity chef Holly Hanson, she took the job. One night, when she was locked in (having worked too late), she went into the kitchen to cook up her own variation of beef stew. Surprisingly, chef Holly showed up and allowed her to continue. What Nikki didn't know was Holly had hit a creative wall and the restaurant is in a deep decline, and the exec chef Paul is about to quit, because Holly had refused to put any of his creations on the menu, but he felt bound to Holly for giving him the start in his career. Holly then proceed to study the video footage of Nikki cooking, and replicated her recipe... and claimed it as her own... After firing both of them. And Holly will use the stolen recipes for a relaunch of her restaurant. The pair has an idea to beat the scheming celebrity chef at her game... but will it work?

Clean as Hallmark movie should be, it's nonetheless pretty good, even though the stuff's pretty trope. Paul's fully trained and regimental, while Nikki uses some of the weirdest ingredients seen, like peanut butter in the beef stew, or candy bar chocolate as part of chicken... and those do sound delicious. But the plot of who's first and so on was, well, seen that before. Still, a nicely polished tale of opposites attract, unite against common enemy.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 4/5

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GRR Reviews Worth the Trouble by Jamie Beck

Catherine "Cat" is a cover girl and her beauty is renowned. However, she's hiding a huge secret... even from her own family. Attending her brother's wedding just makes her sad, but she's perfected the art of smiling even when she's not feeling it. Until she ran into Hank... who's soft-spoken and gentle, a man she should want, but can't. // Hank understood sacrifice, having set aside his own ambitions to help out his family. Having once been rejected by Cat, he's not eager to repeat the experience, but when Cat's drunken behavior prompted him doing a white knight rescue, Cat's ephipany, about needing her own business and income after her beauty fades lead her to offer him a dream job: creating custom furniture, instead of just doing general carpentry work as a contractor. But he's reluctant to take up the offer because it can affect his family... and he is not sure how he and Cat can work together when there's that chemistry between them...

Good amount of angst, but not too overwhelming. She's his boss's sister, he's not quite ready to leave the job... etc etc.  The tropes and tags are minimal, yet there's a complete plot.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 4/5

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GRR Reviews The Sexpert by JA Huss and Johnathan McClain

Eden is a simple girl who does the grunt work in a men's magazine's social media department. She and her roommate started a youtube channel called the Sexpert giving frank yet salacious advice on all matters sex, mainly by showcasing her best assets... Her breasts, but without showing any face. Just as her channel went viral and got featured on a local radio talkshow, her boss' boss' boss, i.e. the CEO, goes on a rampage, claiming he had the idea first, and wanted to ruin this so called "Sexpert". CEO called in his best friend Andrew, who has a program that can do audio fingerprinting, just as Andrew fell for Eden during a visit to the company. Eden can't admit she's the sexpert... It will take months for Youtube to pay her, nor can she give up, as her roommate (who's the video editor) needed the money, being a single mother. But Andrew is slowly putting the clues together... Even as they enjoy some hot sex together... But sooner or later, the truth will be revealed...

I am not too sure about Andrew's personality. He doesn't seem to be that conflicted, and the magazine CEO's attitude is idiotic. Just BUY or HIRE the Sexpert, sheesh. Still, the rom-com moments are kinda funny, if slightly contrived (meeting in a stairwell and a kiss resulted in "just-f***ed" look without the actual f***ing, really?) Still, it's got good polish on it.

Category: Contemporary / Comedy

Overall Rating: 4/5

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GRR Reviews Dalton by Vivi Holt

Dalton was a bronc rider who had to give up his dream when his ride ended with his leg broken in two places and will soon result in permanent damage if he kept going. He also just learned he inherited a ranch from his grandpa Joe, but it was so run-down, he had to spend a lot of money keeping it up, but it's only his if he kept it running for a year. He decided to turn it into a stud ranch... // Hazel is the third chair in a symphony who doesn't get any love at home... All her parents want to ask her is when is she getting promoted. When she found her roommate Jennie, a vet, lying nearly unconscious on the floor, she called 911. Turns out she had appendicitis, but she has this urgent assignment she had to go to the next day... Hazel reluctantly agreed to accompany a mare to a stud farm in Jennie's place. But she's dressed all wrong, talked wrong, and generally behaved wrong. And Dalton... well, he's a genuine cowboy in South Georgia. And after surviving a tornado together, it's clear they had a something for each other, and the truth came out. How can they be together, when they are so different?

While I like the way this unlikely couple is handcuffed together, and the romance simmers rather than boiled over, I honestly didn't quite see when the his curiosity for her turned into love.

Category:

Overall Rating: 3.5/5 (rounded up)

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

GRR Reviews Billionaire Bodyguard by Jill Snow

Emily hates a specific game company... who publishes games featuring misogynistic crap. By extension, she also hates the billionaire owner, Conor Dunne. But a fundraiser meeting shows that perhaps Conor isn't as bad as she thought... // Conor enjoys buying companies up, split them up a bit, fix them up a bit, then sell off bits and make a huge profit. As the recommendation, he bought the gaming company, never really caring what they produced... Until he met Emily at the fundraiser. Not only is he fascinated by her, he's finding himself admiring, and perhaps, in love with the enemy... But is she the enemy? And who's threatening her?

Eh, something just feels off about this whole story. How did the guy survive this long without checking over his own books, to allow ... uh... someone close to embezzle money from him?

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 2/5

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