GRR Reviews That Way Again by Carolyn Brown

Kitty and Preston were lovers and has the wedding and everything planned. But Kitty's great-aunt interfered by causing a misunderstanding between them, and it was believed because neither can believe great-aunt could lie, even though she didn't like their marriage. Then the great-aunt died a week later, and neither ever questioned the lie... Until five years later, when Kitty returned to town to sell a relative's house, and Preston was there. Both are still assuming betrayal by the other. Will they finally figured out they've been betrayed? Then what?

The plot is a trope, some marriage-hating relative sabotaged a perfectly fine relationship for selfish reasons. It's what comes AFTER, how they work through their own (mistaken) preconceptions that makes the story special, and it's there. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews Mostly Dangerous by Kimberley Montpetit

Sofia and her sisters were far away with their own dreams, when they were summoned back to their historical Ambrose Estate in Texas... for reading of her grandma's will, even though she's alive and kicking... It seems Sofia will be the only one getting the estate... which also destroyed her dreams of starting a veterinary clinic, as running the estate is a full-time job. When one of the on-site oil wells flared, Sofia hired the best, Gavin, who was fighting oil well fires in the Middle East with his team. Each assumed the other the worst, each was pleasantly surprised when they finally met. But Sofia knew of her family's curse... No Ambrose men survived, and many who dared to love an Ambrose woman had befallen the same fate. But will the discovery of her great-grandmother's journal help her break the curse, or break her heart when she knew she cannot have Gavin, when he almost died?

Nice handling of the curse, but the journal reading going back more than a century sort of breaks the narrative momentum when there's a need for info dump. Call it 4/5

GRR Reveiws The Memory of You by Jamie Beck

Ryan had to move home when his wife left him and their little girl behind. Living with his mother is a bit weird. His mother hiring his ex, Steffi, to remodel her house is... REALLY weird. Because Steffi broke his heart a long time ago. But Steffi herself is working through a lot of problems. Having been assaulted, she moved home for a do-over... only to end up in a squabble among friends... and being hired by her ex's mother is awkward... but the old feelings came back. Is his mother playing matchmaker? Do they really have a chance, when Steffi's secrets are still in hiding?

Two shattered souls, one small town. Good touches, hiding secrets in shame, etc. 4/5

GRR Reviews Let It Burn by Ruth Cardello

Andrew lost members of his marines fire team on what he believed was a wild goose chase trophy hunting for his superiors, and he refused to serve his country any more. To appease his family, he agreed to go to Aruba to look into a family mystery at a clinic, which led him to Helene, daughter of the head of the clinic. Helene thought she was on vacation when her uncle asked her to help watch out for spies. She didn't expect the spy to come in such delectable manly package as Andrew. But then, she didn't realize that her uncle may be hiding far darker secrets that could put her and Andrew in danger...

Good shift from romance to romantic suspense, but the pacing feels slightly off. But it is still an interesting way to drag out this mystery without making it feel soap-opera worthy. 4/5

GRR Reviews Her Christmas Miracle by Daniel Banner

Jillian knew that her beau will meet her three times before she can consider dating him. But firefighter Jak is tempting her to forget the rules. // Jak wanted to date Jillian, but she's hard to pin down, esp. with her three-times rule. With Jillian about to graduate and move back home, time is running out... But what if they really had already met three times, and she just didn't remember it?

Hmmm... kinda okay, kinda weird. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews Her Football Boss Fake Fiance by Taylor Hart

Ocean Brady just want his entire family to enjoy a stress-free Christmas, in spite of his brother's ALS... and him lying about having a fiancee (having broken up with her for months). Oh, and he doesn't know how to cook either. So when he came upon Augusta, clutching her ankle and in pain on the beach and rescued her, then found her sister is a caterer, everything seems to fell into place... He'll hire the cooking sister to cater the dinner, and he'll hire Augusta to be his fake fiance. It'd be totally worth it to see his family happy... and it would help Augusta's education fund. And Augusta, who fled her home, fearing his ex's stalker ways, agreed, as who can be more protective than a nice footballer? But as they play a couple for a week, they found they have real feelings for each other... Is there enough time for a Christmas miracle?

With a novel like this, you can expect the evil ex to show up, and the brothers, (all footballers) will save the day. And it'd still be satisfying. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews Trade It All by Ruth Cardello

Lance Barrington has always had a thing for Willa, his sister's best friend, but he broke her heart years ago when he left for college, after taking her V-card, and she hadn't spoken to him in years. So he can't believe ten years later, Willa, pretending to be her twin sister, is the leader of a flash mob congratulating him on his latest project. Now he really wanted to date her, but she's not willing to have her heart broken again... But what exactly did she thought he did that caused the rift between them? And because Willa is practically a little sister, is Lance's attempt to woo Willa okay with his own family?

Ah, the lack of communications, such a trope in romances, with some complex issues, secrets, and circumstances limiting the communications. Family is good, and the lack of communication is almost understandable. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews Declan by Melody Anne

Declan, the oldest of the Forbes brothers, is an FBI agent that's trying to take down a gang with an elusive leader that left a lot of victims in its wake. He knew that Angela is a part of the puzzle, but not sure how. And seeing his brothers finding their soulmates does make him realize he lacks that certain someone in his own life. When Angela suddenly left town with her son, he realized that the enemy is much closer than he thinks... and his feelings about Angela is no longer platonic... But can he convince her to come back? And can he protect her?

Good twists near the end, though it felt a bit deus ex machina... 4.5/5

GRR Reviews My Little Rock Airman by Brittany Fichter

Jessie is a pre-school teacher and one of her favorite students is Jade, a young girl with Down's syndrome. At the last day of school, she got an intriguing offer... Jade's mother offered Jessie enough money to finish her master's degree if Jessie will be Jade's nanny for the summer. And Jessie quickly agreed. However Jessie didn't know that she'll be sharing her duties with Jade's big brother, airman Derrick, who pulled strings to be moved back home to Little Rock due to an incident a year ago. And the two developed a hostility to each other... and a cold prank war ensued... Until a truce is called... and understanding is achieved... they both actually want the best for Jade. But is Jessie has rules about love... and #1 is NEVER date an airman... Even as she secretly likes Sam, a fellow teacher. However, Derrick is tempting her to break her rules...

Oooh, VERY nice, a military romance without suspense or special operators, nor terrorists and such. Just regular citizen-soldiers dealing with family and life and its struggles. There is not too much angst, and whole thing is rather light-hearted, even as it deals with some heavy issues. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews Life After Wife by Carolyn Brown

Sophie can't believe Aunt Maud only left her HALF of the ranch, and the other half to Harley-riding ex-military Elijah. Sophie just wanted to ranch after being betrayed before... But so did Elijah, wanting to get past his own survivor's guilt. Neither would give up an inch, and they are complete opposites... But perhaps there is another way... They can work TOGETHER...

Nice polish on opposites attract / forced proximity / co-workers with a lot of sassy dialogue, but not much beyond that. 4/5

GRR Reviews The Wonder of Now by Jamie Beck

Peyton is a survivor of breast cancer, but an emotional wreck, with her BF abandoning her at the time of need. However, when her memoir combined with her brother's frank photographs of her taking off, she needs to do a book promo tour with her publisher PR whiz Mitch. While Mitch is efficient, he's also very cold, yet with moody moments and flashes of pain beneath his implacable exterior. As the two slowly got to know each other, they gained an understanding into each other... and themselves. But is there love?

Nice job portraying a breast cancer survivor, living in doubt, tattered self-image, without letting it destroy her. Mitch has a shallower character arc, but not by that much. His motivations are simpler, but no less deep... sort of childhood promise and trauma. Though it is slightly less understandable how did his promise lead him to being PR guy... 4.5/5

GRR Reviews The Broken One by Ruth Cardello

Sebastian Romano developed the single grocery store his father founded into an empire and made himself a billionaire, but the loss of his wife and unborn child years ago turned him into a workaholic robot, ready to bulldoze any opposition... Until he found a dirty stuffed wolf doll on the side of the road... // Heather is a single mom who adopted her best (dead) friend's daughter and raised her since birth, despite her own family's objections. When her daughter Ava lost her favorite stuffed animal "Wolfie" she posted a reward for its recovery. She didn't expect to have it returned by a handsome guy with the saddest eyes that she can't help but wanted to heal him. But is she ready to meet the entire Romano family? And can she teach Sebastian to have a heart again?

While the tropes are present, they are so well-polished that you don't really care. Seb really is "the broken one" and the right woman can heal him... If he will let her in. The ending is a bit reminiscent of "Pretty Woman", where he actually found a heart to be more... empathetic. Very satisfying read, and trademark Ruth Cardello story. 5/5

GRR Reviews Rising Star by Terri Osburn

Nashville DJ Charley is living her dream as a radio host in the heart of country music... but she is concentrating on her career. She had a one-night-stand with a hot cowboy Dylan, but decided that's it and snuck out next morning. Unfortunately, he's not done with her... He's actually a country star who's launching his new single, and when he appeared in her studio for a live performance, it's not exactly a happy reunion... But he wanted to woo her, and she gave in... as he is sweet and caring... But when his career took off, and he stopped returning calls, Charley found that a surprise "gift" will show up in nine months...

Nice mix between angst and comedy. The development later was almost a trope, and somewhat expected. It's still good though. 4/5

GRR Reviews Christmas in Echo Creek by Kacey Linden

Willow had to escape Seattle with almost nothing, in the middle of winter, and ended up in Echo Creek, and was rescued by the town, esp. the handsome deputy Cale. Having never experienced generosity without expectations of reciprocation, Willow was doubtful and distrusting, but with no car, she had to accept the help of shelter and job... while looking over her shoulder, worried that her evil drug-running brother would chase her down... But Cale, who figured her out, and understood who she's running from, is determined to help her feel safe enough to stay, and perhaps, even learn to trust and love... Even as her brother arrived in town...

While stranger stranded in town was helped/protected by cop had been done bajillion times the polish on this one is quite good, and the twist on the trope for the darkest hour was done very nicely, if a bit more comical than you'd expect. 4/5

GRR Reviews Stealing the Bride by Nadia Lee

Court (short for "Harcourt") is a billionaire who tries to stay away from all the family drama. One night at his brother's nightclub, he met the woman of his dreams... She won't give her name, so he called her Skittles (like the candy), and she called him Whiskey. It was a great night... Next morning, he found no woman, just 50 bucks on the nightstand. WTF?!  He somehow tracked her down, and interrupted her wedding... Except it wasn't her wedding... But her twin sister's wedding. Yikes. And her name is Pascal. She's fiercely independent, but she can't get a promotion at her father's firm as a financial analyst. Cort wanted to help her, but wasn't sure how without "interfering"... Was it betrayal? And who can she turn to?

The momentum was very uneven. It's as if this was two books stitched together. The first part, about a one-night-stand leading to a wedding interruption, was a great story in itself. The rest of the book, while intriguing, just somehow never quite measured up, and Pascal's father needs some serious karmic payback for stringing her along for YEARS. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews A Christmas Kiss by Susan Hatler

Harper is a divorce attorney trying to help her client move on from her sleazy boyfriend who spends all her money and yells about not getting enough "support". But her own outlook on life was marred by a betrayal back in law school. When her client wanted to accept her BF's attempt at reconciliation, she's completely exasperated, and when a vacation cabin became available, and her relatives aren't available for Christmas, she had to get away... // Gabriel is a divorce attorney who believed everyone should have a second chance. Sure he has to deal with opposing counsel Harper, but if there's a chance, it should be taken. But he also needed time to get away. Things look depressing when the cabin was double-booked and he had to spend a week with Harper... As neither would move out. Could these two "enemies" achieve an understanding, and share some Holiday magic?

A bit shorter than the author's other works, it nonetheless has a lot of heart despite being a rom-com. OTOH, the darkest hour just feels extremely... forced. Even the FMC acknowledged later she was being totally unreasonable. 4/5

GRR Reviews Shattered Diamonds by Ann Omasta

Alex is a single dad raising her daughter alone, under the glare of the town, who believes he had a hand in his wife's death. Josie was the Olympic swim team darling until a shoulder injury shattered that dream and she was forced to return home. Being a nanny for the most notorious man in town wasn't exactly her choice, but with both searching for a purpose in life, perhaps they can find it in each other...

I honestly didn't feel too much chemistry between the two. 2.5/5

GRR Reviews That Unforgettable Kiss by Tamara Ferguson

Kate Callahan is destined to run her family construction business, and love was never in the picture. Michael Murphy is just an intern, but he is going for an architecture degree, and interning at a construction site was much better than being office help at some architectural firm in Chicago. Kate and Michael met, and they actually shared that one unforgettable kiss. But it was just a summer fling... right? But Kate was prophesized to share her life with the person with that kiss, and Michael... Has a life back in Chicago. They let each other go, but six years later, Kate finally admits to herself she made a mistake, when she found Michael is now engaged to someone else... but will Michael admit to himself that he's making a mistake, and he needs Kate back? And when a stalker is after Kate, can he protect her?

The problem with this novel is you weren't quite sure where is the story. The "six years ago" is all background material and may have been better as a prequel or even just the backstory. It's the current day that is the seriously angst-y parts. 3/5

GRR Reviews Courting the Cowboy by Liz Isaacson

May just got her ultimatum from her dad... Even though she had been running the restaurant for a decade and thus has no love life (or any life) to speak of, she needs to find a husband in 12 months... or the restaurant goes to her sister (who's married, but has NO business running the restaurant). Unfortunately, Grape Seed Falls only has cowboys for dating and she's burned out on cowboys. She went for online dating, and was surprised to find someone how's a good match... he turns out to be foreman of a local ranch... Kurt, who's just as a workaholic as she is, except on a ranch. Now May is conflicted... she thought she sworn off all cowboys but Kurt is nice and sweet enough to make her reconsider, but he's a bit too close to home... and her family is driving her nuts with all the expectations. How's a woman supposed to balance her heart and her restaurant?

Not as angst-y as you'd expect, and the whole thing is kept very Christian and sweet (no sex, no swearing), not even overtly Christian message except occasional praying. 4/5

GRR Reviews That Hollister Man by Margaret Desmond

Sage moved far from Boston, all the way to Hollister, Montana, to save her little brother, who was about to be recruited into a local gang. Her online friend had to go visit her daughter-in-law to welcome her grandchild into the world, and sold Sage the small restaurant and ranch. Sage did not expect to meet a rugged and handsome rancher... who's seriously miffed that the land he had eyed for years to complete his family ranch was sold to an "outsider". But as Sage and brother fits into the small town life, where she will be making pies, and her brother kept grumbling about returning to Boston when he turned 18, she started to figure out that perhaps that Hollister man (town was named after his great-granddad) may just be a lonely and slightly misunderstood guy...

Interesting slow-simmer romance between rancher and city girl, sort of opposite attract. Also a bit slow at times. Not too much threat. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews It Had To Be Fate by Tamra Baumann

Casey just wants to raise her sons in peace at Andersonville, Colorado, a secret haven for celebrities. She already had her heart crushed by her ex, who charmed her but eventually turned controlling, then left when Casey won't take it anymore. But she's also the hotel manager who's always somehow not good enough for her father. So when her father decided to book a seemingly out-of-control rock star Zane Steele a place in the hotel without consulting her, then extended his stay into 3 months, instead of 2 weeks, her head's about to explode. Then her ex came back, threatening to sue for full custody of the kids... because having the kids near celebrities is bad influence on them. That is, until Casey met Zane... who's NOTHING like the media portrayals...  But Zane has a secret... The guy in the news busting up a club and getting arrested? That's actually his twin brother, not him. But he promised his mother to always protect his brother. But his own brother using his identity to do hellraising at his expense? Where does he draw the line? And he understands that Casey has to protect her family rather than trust him. But can he convince her to take a chance on him?

Wow, twin-switcha-roo scenarios seriously got a twist here, and the world-building in Andersonville takes another step forward here. The plotting is VERY nice, as the secrecy and more works against our MMC and MFC. And the solution was actually quite innovative, and made a great grand gesture. 5/5

GRR Reviews Going Down on One Knee by Christina Hovland

Velma has her life planned out... She has the perfect guy in mind... Dean, a hunky guy that wears a sharp suit, with a diversified investment portfolio... and a house and picket fence and babies... until he became engaged to her sister Claire. So she needs to find someone LIKE Dean... for herself. And that's definitely NOT Dean's best friend, Brek (short for Breckenridge), who's a tattooed guy riding a Harley, and is band manager for one of the hottest rock bands around. With the group on hiatus, he visits his sister Aspen the wedding planner, only to be roped into the business when Aspen, late-term pregnant, was ordered to go on bed rest and de-stress. Now Brek has to deal with bridezillas, including Velma's own sister, and found himself attracted to Velma. But Velma's spreadsheet, where she graded EVERY potential date on various categories, indicated that Brek is NOTHING like her ideal candidate... In fact, he only rated a 4 out of 10 on the overall score. But he turned her on like no other... Maybe her system's broken?

Awww... a lot of fun as both struggles to define what they want out of life. And the darkest hour even made sense... and so did the grand gesture. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews Treasured by Thursday by Catherine Bybee

Gabriella survived her ordeal (see book 6) and chose to start over as a new matchmaker for Alliance far away in the US. When her latest prospective client billionaire Hunter Blackwell refused to come clean about his reasons for a marriage of convenience, she rejected his application. However, he can't take no for an answer... for his own reasons. Instead, he applies leverage: his private investigator dug up about her past that she wanted to keep hidden... and two accounts she didn't know about on the other side of the world. She reluctantly agrees to the marriage... with some interesting additions to the pre-nup. In the meanwhile, she managed to log into those accounts from afar and changed the access code to them. Unfortunately, that also turned her into a target... as the real owner of those accounts is Diaz... the evil mastermind behind Gabi's suffering (in book 6), and he really wanted his money back, that he'll come to the US to deal with Gabi and Hunter personally... even as Hunter revealed the reason why he needs to marry ASAP...

I am not too sure about this one. While the premise sounded fine initially, Gabi seems to just fold with little reason when she has the entire Alliance to back her up, but somehow she wanted to "deal with it herself" (but it could be that she wanted to prove herself, it's almost plausible). Also, she somehow found accounts in foreign banks, and was able to gain login and password to those accounts just like that? That seems a bit far-fetched. These plotholes are pretty glaring when previous novels didn't have such problems. 4/5

GRR Reviews Irresistibly Rugged by Victoria Pinder

Dylan was one of the family framed and only marriage to Lois got him out. While the charges against them were dropped, Dylan is going to resolve the threat once and for all by finding and convicting the masterminds behind the operation. However, Dylan didn't know that his wife, Lois, is a spy for the other side... Lois just wanted to get out from her fate... marrying a guy she hated, or stuck in her cult leader father's clutches. Marriage is supposed to get her out with some money to start over somewhere else. She never counted on being used to frame a whole family... and being the actually guilty one. But can she come clean, even as the conspiracy closes in around them?

Sort of works, sort of doesn't. The schtick of a fake wife spying for the other side was used in all the other books and it's getting a bit old by this point. The final confrontation reads like an old pulp fiction plot (tie the victims to one of those highrise window washing platforms, with a bomb, to drop them at press of a button). It reads as if it's pulled from a plot generator. 3.5/5

Pardon for Lack of Update

Caught a cold over the weekend and didn't post for a couple days. Sorry about that. Make-up posts to follow.

GRR Reviews Rock Hard Cowboy by Christina Hovland

Tucker retired from his "cowboy rock-n-roll" business when he can no longer write music, and he refused to retread his old songs ad infinitum. But when America's sweetheart Mackenzie Bennett tripped in a club and faceplanted into his crotch (and caught by paparazzi), his departure from music biz may end up as a joke. So he reluctantly agreed to a PR stunt... // Mackenzie is a fine actress. It wasn't her fault that her last few movies bombed. She needs to turn the bad PR around, and that means pretending to date Tucker. In fact, convince Tucker to write and perform the theme song for her next movie would be even better... Even if she had to go spend Christmas with his family. But when the news of her "deal" (convince Tucker to write the next movie theme song and the role's hers) leaked, will Tucker feel betrayed? Or will love between them conquer all?

Good rom-com, but I think the parents are a bit TOO perceptive, and I don't quite see why Tucker was so butt-hurt from this supposedly "betrayal" (not quite enough sad backstory to justify that sort of reaction). The comedy bits are good. Lots of embarrassing moments. 4/5

GRR Reviews The Mountain Man's Secret Valentine by Dizzy Hooper

Gage chose a solitary "mountain man" living because he has PTSD from the war, and having his fiancee screwed him over while he's away. So why is he so attracted to the flower delivery girl that just dropped off valentine flowers? When a freak blizzard stranded her on the hill with him, it's taking all his control to be a gentleman... Until she revealed he's her fantasy guy... a rough tough guy who won't treat her like a china doll...

The plot's over the top, but then, most "mountain man" stories are. This is no exception, nothing really new. She's a sheltered ingenue who needs a "real man". He hadn't tasted a woman in years... blah blah blah. Cliche after cliche. 3/5

GRR Reviews Own It by M Piper

Lauren (goes by Lo) went into a deep depression after the loss of her son to cancer at the young age of 5. She lost everything else then (home, house...). Fortunately, her brother is rich and lets her stay to figure things out. Then she met Jett... // Jett prefers the open road but when the responsibility of running a company was forced upon him he can't run away. It was all for his dead baby brother (and the family his brother left behind). Having a one-night-stand with Lo was just that, but he felt he can fix her... but is he really staying?

The chemistry is not that strong, IMHO. 3/5

GRR Reviews Cinderella Undone by Nicole Snow

Kendra always loved Knox from afar... Until Knox got his dad's business partner's daughter pregnant, got a daughter, then the other women simply disappeared. Not even lots of money and private investigators can find her. With death of Knox's father, Knox is supposed to become a full partner for Black Rhino, but Knox is instead sent to acquire diamonds, legal or illegal, in some of the douche-y-ist places on Earth with his team. Now the boardroom fight is getting ugly, when the other partner is threatening to take away Knox's kid to force him to accept a buyout. So Knox needs a plan... He'll engage and marry Kendra (a platonic best female friend), which should deflect any court attempts to re-evaluate custody. Kendra will help Knox even though he had not only broken but crushed her heart years ago, and Knox will make her a Cinderella, all her dreams come true, live with a prince, get her degree, whatever. But Kendra has her own enemies... and things took a seriously twisted turn when both enemies united to ruin both Knox and Kendra...

I'd say this may be one of Nicole Snow's worst novel to date. The plot is over-the-top and getting more impossible as the darkest hour approaches. The idea that the "bad guys" can suddenly get FULL custody of a child by (censored) and (censored) and two psychologists, neither have ever met the subject, is simply impossible. Not to mention the mother was (spoiler-censored). And who writes hand-written notes to lawyers nowadays? The end fight is a deus ex machina where the military and mercenary veteran failed to follow basic combat tenets: make *sure* the enemy is down and out. Sure it's emotional, but with all the holes in the plot it felt more like melodrama than drama. 2.5/5

GRR Reviews Irresistibly Tough by Victoria Pinder

Billionaire physician Oliver Bentley can't believe his entire family was arrested for alleged scam and to get himself out, he just needed to marry someone. And he needs to get out because his mother needs treatment. He was even more surprised when his intended bride was none other than the one that got away... His former girlfriend, Rachel. But Rachel has a huge secret... She bore him a son five years ago and never told him. Now, married to Oliver, she has to decide whether to divorce him in 30 days and be safe... Or risk it all for forever...

Not feeling much for this one, as this one relies more on plot than the characters. There's only so much a doctor and the secret baby tropes can advance the plot. The rest is basically enemies attack and attack, and suddenly came up with a different attack, only for the good guys to save the day. 3/5

GRR Reviews It Was Always You by Alexa Rivers

Dr. Avery Brown (PhD) is pioneering a new type of forensic science: soil sample positioning. Give her a soil sample, and with a database of soil from all around New Zealand, she can pinpoint the soil through isotope and trace analysis down to a few kilometers radius, perfect for nailing a suspected serial killer... and no body of the victim (yet). So when her lab was trashed and her home burned down, it was clear she needed protection, fast. But the one perfect for the job was the one boy that broke her heart... Sergeant Gareth thought Avery was the one... They had been together all through school. Letting her go was for her own good... he would never hold her back from her dreams. Protecting her was his duty... and his calling. But he knew he can't blur lines between professional and personal... Even if that means he had to push her away...

Several TSTL moments, not quite enough karma, and the nastiness was all from a misunderstanding? Eeek. 3/5

GRR Reviews Forbidden: Our Secret Love by Elise Quinn Larson

Elise is 21, wanted to be a lawyer, and has a boyfriend. But when the boyfriend, college sports star, forced her to have sex, it was her cousin Trey that helped her heal. Elise eventually went to the authorities, only to be told there was not enough evidence to prosecute. Furthermore, her law school application was denied because the school receives a grant from her ex's father's law firm. Again, Trey was there to help her, and they fell in love. But as first cousins, they are not supposed to marry... But they planned for that with genetic testing, which exposed a family secret that would devastate them...

The problem is not with the... uh... let's just call it "unconventional" relationship between Elise and Trey, but Elise and Trey's back and forth, which doesn't really escalate, but more like "whiplash". One talk with her parents and she's ready to call it all off despite promising forever with him the night before would be one example. And the bad guys never got any karma, which is annoying. It's not the subject matter that's the problem, but the execution. 2.5/5

GRR Reviews As You Are by Claire Cain

Dr. Elizabeth "Ellie" Kent is the family rebel... sort of. With both parents as MDs, she went for PhD... because she enjoys writing. But her parents managed to push her into getting a professorship. She's not telling her pacifist parents about her new job: to study the soldiers in the US army earning advanced degrees, and what challenges did they face. Meeting Sergeant Harrison had knocked her off her balance. Harrison is a broody and powerful, martial arts champion (army calls it "combatives") and part of her study. And his almost brutally honest attitude made her realize something... She hates being a professor... and she likes Harrison a lot... even though he doesn't seem to like her back. But they became friends, as they learned things about each other. Then something shifted... even as Ellie's life imploded around her. Can Ellie admit her love for Harrison? Can it go anywhere?

Nice, VERY nice. This author is one of the few authors doing military romance that did not need romantic suspense, grand conspiracy, or even special operators like SEALs or Delta. These are basically "ordinary" citizen-soldiers falling in love and dealing with life. It may not be very "exciting" with over the top plots, but they are satisfying nonetheless. 4/5

GRR Reviews Cake A Love Story by J Bengtsson

Jake was famous for TWO reasons: he survived an unspeakable ordeal at the hands of a serial kidnapper and murderer, and he also became a famous musician in spite of his ordeal. He had turned himself off emotionally to survive the first and remained aloof for the second. He rarely forms personal connections... Until now. // Casey was just a college student who agreed to be a bridesmaid for a friend. She didn't expect to be paired with the famous performer Jake. They are polar opposites: He's a musician, she's practically tone-deaf. She talks a lot, he's mostly silent. Yet when they finally met, they seem to be a perfect complement to each other. But can their love help him heal?

A bit longer than you'd expect (600 pages!), Jake and Casey actually have FOUR MORE books about their love and ordeals (for a total of 5 books). The characters are nicely nuanced, and the opposites attract trope was used very nicely. Jake was a guy that just wanted to be treated as "normal", while Casey can't do anything except being herself. It's her slowly drawing out the details of his ordeal and bonding over those moments that'll jerk your tears. This is NOT your typical "rockstar seduces ingenue" book. 5/5

GRR Reviews Seduced by Sunday by Catherine Bybee

Meg is a matchmaker for Alliance, a matchmaking firm that specialized in marriages of convenience. She wants to investigate a secluded island resort operated by Valentino Masini, a sexy businessman. A secluded island with very discrete employees can be very good for Alliance's clients, and even though Meg considers herself off the market, she does notice Valentino's charm... and attempt to woo her. But Valentino and Meg soon found themselves in the middle of a mystery... Valentino's sister is being wooed by a winemaker, and someone wants Meg and her entire party off the island. What did Meg get too close to?

Again, the pivot from romance to romantic suspense was done almost seamlessly and all the plot points flowed properly. There was even a perfect karma payoff at the end.  What's even more amazing, it sets up the next and final novel in the series. 5/5

GRR Reviews Gambling with the Billionaire by Agnes Canestri

Billionaire Ryan returned to his home town to buy out and dismantle an old restaurant called Sapphire. The owner wanted to sell to fund his daughter's college plans. It should be a clear-cut and emotionless deal, except for the restaurant manager Bianca, and her love of oldies. Her passion had turned the aging taverna into the coolest jazz restaurant in town. She may just be trying to save her job, and Ryan may look a lot like Dean Martin, but Ryan hadn't done relationships and does not plan to start... ever. Not even Bianca spending four grand to win him at a bachelor auction would change his mind... but what about his heart?

Hmmm... characters are deeper than they first seem, but from the start Ryan is a conflicted man. He pretends he's an emotionless robot, but the fact that he will put himself on the auction block to help the local cause means he really *does* care, if he will just admit to himself. While Ryan has a character arc, Bianca doesn't seem to have one. 4/5

GRR Reviews Deceitful Choices by C A Harms

Zack, a navy SEAL, was just taking leaving with some fellow SEALs on a beach, and have a good evening with hot chicks when he saw Lindsay. She is young, vivacious, and wanted a night to remember. So they did.  But Lindsay lied. She wasn't 19. She's 17. And that night left her a reminder that'll come due in 9 months. // Zack can see that this girl was really into him that she would fly out to California to meet him, but she's not Lindsay. Then Zack found out what really happened to Lindsay, and how many lies were told by that deceitful person to keep them apart...

Okay, interesting combination of tropes, even if it was a bit exasperating at times to see the characters struggle with their circumstances. It almost not felt like there is enough karma. 4/5

GRR Reviews The Wrong Kind of Love by Lexi Ryan

Nicole found out she was betrayed on her wedding day... Her twin sister Veronica is having an affair with her fiancee... and is pregnant. In a fit of anger and desperation, she accidentally grabbed her twin's purse and ran off... and went way north, and met a stranger in Jackson Harbor that did make her have hope in men again... But in order to make a living, Nicole had to take the job that Veronica meant to take, by pretending to be Veronica... be a nanny for a six-year-old girl... and that's when she found out her boss, Doctor Ethan Jackson, was that stranger in the bar. And he has secrets of his own, in addition of being a workaholic and almost always on-call. As Nicole became fond of Jackson and his daughter, her assumed role started to unravel. Can she come clean before Jackson found out for himself? Or will that be the end?

Interesting twist on the "twin switch-a-roo" trope, and the reasoning for all characters are actually plausible given their state of mind and background. There are a couple other subplots, like best friend Teagan in town, Jackson's mother's secret, and so on.  4.5/5

GRR Reviews Long Road Home by Kate Stacy

Hailee is a single mother who admires Grayson from afar. When Grayson announced his upcoming marriage, she was devastated. Then she met Drake, a long-haul trucker who happens to be just in town. He technically could live off his inheritance, but he chose to drive with no family to tie him down. Meeting Hailee is making him reconsider that decision. When an apartment fire destroyed Hailee's home, Drake told her to move to his place, but Drake's evil ex appeared, preying on Hailee's insecurities...

Nothing too special in the insta-love scenario, polish is decent, but tropes like evil ex and insecurities are a bit obvious. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews A Cowboy Billionaire Best Friend's Secret by Hanna Hart

Hunter has his ranch in Wyoming, and it's prospering. He didn't expect Rachel to arrive incognito. He knew Rachel, until she moved in with his country-singer brother and gotten engaged, and was happily pregnant... last he heard. Turns out she had miscarried, and she found her fiancee (Hunter's brother) cheating. She was an emotional wreck and the only friend she could run to was Hunter.  They are fond of each other, but taking that further is not possible until Rachel resolve her relationship status first. When the whole family started to show up and taking sides, is there any chance for this star-crossed couple?

Good conflict build-up, with tons of complications, first hiding secrets, then outright confrontation as the family started to take sides. Good family dynamics without being overly melodramatic, good but not overwhelming amount of angst. Could use a faster pace though, IMHO. 4/5

GRR Reviews No Broken Beast by Nicole Snow

Clarissa returned to her hometown Heart's Edge when her sister vanished from their candy store. She left the town years ago when the hotel burned down, killing her father. But she's keeping secrets... Because Leo stayed behind... and is her child's father. Leo had since become the monster around town known as "Nine". The town never knew that her father made a deal and turned the labyrinth below her family mansion into a secret lab to create monsters like Leo... and Leo risked everything to save her that night. But the evil isn't done with that place, and her sister is now paying the price. Clarissa will have to save her sister, with Leo's help... but Leo will meet his match... a fellow monster, with his own plans...

An interesting way to do a beauty-and-the-beast story albeit combined with a ton of other tropes... the sci-fi bent seems to be inspired by Resident Evil's Umbrella Corporation, combined with secret baby and more. It's just that... this book doesn't quite know whether it wants to be a scifi story, a conspiracy story, or a romantic suspense story. It just felt a bit... off. 4/5

GRR Reviews Taken by Tuesday by Catherine Bybee

Judy is just a college graduate, except for a very famous brother, actor Michael Wolfe. She moved to LA and lived in her brother's mansion, working an internship hoping it will lead to a long-term job, but so far she's doing secretarial work. However, one bright spot in her day is Rick, one of her brother's bodyguards that would like to court her. Rick likes Judy's spitfire attitude. But when a stalker attacked Judy in her parking garage, and Rick became the primary suspect, it's clear the stalker isn't done with her, and Rick may have to risk everything to save her...

Nice handling of the threat, trying to narrow down the suspect pool, and so on. Police procedural was nicely handled, and the pivot from romance to romantic suspense was again, handled very nicely, which is this author's forte. No obvious plotholes. 5/5

GRR Reviews Clash by C A Harms

Payton was abused by the person that should be there to protect her. Her only refuge was her neighbor family, which includes Dylan, who will cherish her. But is that love? Will he betray her just like other men in her life?

While the story fo abuse and survival is emotional, the love story seems to fade into the background here, until the emotional self-loathing (I'm not good enough, my abuser said so) takes over. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews Irresistibly Charming by Victoria Pinder

Hannah had a fortune... the operative word is on "had". She trusted a cult leader and lost it all. So when the said leader told her he has a way for her to earn it all back, and get her family jewels back too, she's hesitant. But if all she had to do is to marry a guy to get him out of prison, stay married for 30 days, then divorce him, it's good, right? That is until she met Logan Bentley in person... // Logan can't believe his entire family, including mom in the hospital for cancer treatment, was arrested on trumped-up charges. Now that someone wants the brothers to get married before putting up bail is even stranger. But since they can't do anything from behind bars, what do they have to lose? Logan liked Hannah, and he vowed to help her recover her own fortune and put the cult leader behind bars. But the wives all seem to have their own agendas, having mostly been recruited by the same cult leader, who's doing bidding for some hidden mastermind. Does Hannah still want to get divorced? Will she help the Bentleys prove their innocence... or was she being swindled again?

Not too sure about this one. The reasoning for the conspiracy seems okay, but 'trumped-up charges' that would result in the arrest of the entire family, yet can be bailed out, really makes no sense at all when you think about it. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews Snow Pup by Mimi Barbour

Deputy Shawna found the runaway kid Billy when a snowy white pup leads her to him, sleeping in the snow. He's a foster kid who ran away when his mother died, having never knew his father, and he knew he didn't belong there. Shawna, who already helps out at the community center, decided to step up and become a foster parent, even as John Reid showed up, claiming to be the child's biological father. // John was on a long-term assignment in South America, hoping to provide for his family when his wife refused to move. She actually took all the money he sent to get a lawyer and took away his parental rights, claiming he abandoned them. Finally back in the US after several years, he was chasing down leads to his son, when he met Shawna. // Shawna reluctantly accepted that John will be living across the street at the B&B and will get to know his son... WITHOUT telling him he's the father. But is what he said actually true? Did a vindictive wife set all this in motion? What about police reports of fights and alcohol abuse? Can the pup help meld this into a new family despite an overzealous social worker?

Not much for the pup to do after the initial introduction, but the rest of the dynamic works, with the despair of the people trying to overcome bureaucracy and people who really thought they are doing good but instead doing harm. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews Small Town Scandal by Kay Lyons

Darcy got pregnant by a loser, and she headed toward her mother (who's always chasing after a boyfriend) who promised to help. On the way there, her car slid off the road, and she was rescued by Garrett, hot attorney and hospital administrator, who has a steady girlfriend Rachel, who is creating her own art studio. With no hotel room available and snow storm not letting up, Garrett offered up his guest room. But his generosity was viewed as scandalous by the small town, esp. when the hospital owner wants his daughter Rachel (Garrett's girlfriend) married ASAP. What Garrett didn't know is his best friend and fellow lawyer Tobias, a guy from the "wrong side of the tracks", has the hots for Rachel, despite her father's hostility. But he can't betray his best friend... Or is that really betrayal, when it's clear (to Tobias) that Rachel and Garrett were never in love?

Wow, the self-denial is thick in this book. It seems the ONLY one who's honest about his/her own feelings is Tobias. He wants Rachel. Rachel thought she's in love with Garrett, even though she just wants independence from her overbearing "women should be married" father. Garrett thought he's in love with Rachel, but it's more friendship than love, not to mention his boss (and her father) keeps threatening him with his job or his brother's job (who's a surgeon in the hospital). Even Darcy wasn't sure what she wanted. She doesn't want to disrupt Garrett's life, but she's involved nonetheless. Add Garrett's sweet but hard grandma, and Darcy's mother flaking out, and you have the darkest hour where Garrett had to make a decision before Darcy tries to leave, despite late-term pregnancy.  If you can look past the ton of self-denial ("I'm not in love with...") the book is actually quite good. Though the evil dad's attitude was never explained nor karma applied. 4/5

GRR Reviews Flawed Love by Bella Jewel

Emalie "Emy" was best friends with Rainer. It was platonic, but eventually, she gave him her V-card. But when his father got into trouble, he disappeared, and she eventually moved on. Ten years later, he's back in town, but he has a different girl on his arm, Pippa, and he does NOT remember her. Yet their attraction for each other cannot be denied. So they slept together, while she, giving her name as "Mali", pretends to not know him, knowing she can have his body, but not his heart. But secrets will get out... Just what had happened to Rainer, and will this reunion be sweet... or bitter?

This storyline doesn't really work for me, and yes, there are spoilers ahead.

I WARNED YOU!

SPOILERS AHEAD!

The explanation given was Rainer was taken by a Mexican drug lord to use as slave labor to work off his father's debt. That really made no sense at all, even south of the border in a cartel town. Not to mention Rainer doesn't speak Spanish, and transporting gringo kids down to Mexico to work? WTF?

3/5

GRR Reviews Nowhere Left to Fall by Kat Mizera

NOTE: Ends on an HFN, but the story continues for 2 more volumes.

Tariq, better known as "Erik", is rich, and technically a prince, but his father abdicated to marry a commoner and moved to the US, leaving Erik's uncle as king, and it seems his cousin may be ascending the throne one day... which may force the country into civil war as he's courting the religious right and possibly dissolve parliament. But Erik is just a diplomat playboy... Until he met Casey, rockstar. But her band is dissolving, and she's left with not much to do. Falling for each other was never the plan. Yet they did.  But when his cousin did the unthinkable, Erik will have to do the unthinkable as well to save his love...

Good twists and turns, if a bit cliche plotting to set up the next two volumes. The motivation for the bad guy was never really discussed, and the plot seems to move at a very leisurely rate. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews Now and Forever by Mona Ingram

Jenna is homeless, through no fault of her own. Her "fiancee" stole everything from her, every penny from her accounts, all her photography equipment, and left her months behind on the rent and other bills. She had to sleep in her car. And with no job and no equipment, she had no way to make a living... Then she found a cute boy named Danny had stowed away in her car... // Brett is a surgeon that worked hard to create the perfect family, but things fell apart through no fault of his own. His wife died, taking a secret with her. His son Danny was supposed to be with a housekeeper, but when he found the house empty, and a message informing him that the replacement housekeeper fell through, he started to panic... Just then Jenna drove up to their house with Danny. // Jenna can see the concern in Brett's eyes, but he clearly doesn't know how to show it. When Brett, in desperation, and saw how well Jenna connected with Danny, offered her the housekeeper position... She can't turn it down...

Not the first novel with the plot "down and out woman rescues kid, ended up as nanny and won over single father" but this was very well polished with ZERO cursing and ZERO sex, just a lot of unsaid emotional angst. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews Single by Saturday by Catherine Bybee

NOTE: To get the full effect, please read the series starting from book 1.

Karen is the perfect Hollywood wife, except she's keeping a huge secret... She's in a fake marriage of convenience. Her husband, blockbuster star Michael, is actually gay, but needs a wife to stop speculations. She'll get a nice payout after a year and a divorce. And that's only a few months away. Until Michael's brother, Zach, crashed their anniversary party... Karen was not ready for the feeling when she's around Zach. And when Michael was guilted into taking a trip to see the whole clan back in Utah, Karen has to keep Michael's secret... and her own infatuation with Zach. But when Karen and Zach decided to help a teenage couple escape abusive parents... Things went side-ways very quickly...

Catherine Bybee has a knack of turning what started as a romance into romantic suspense and actually have everything make perfect sense. The darkest hour was masterfully handled and explained. The setup for Karen started at the end of book 1, was handled by book 2, and made references to book 3's adventures. So you really should read the series from the beginning. 5/5

GRR Reviews Please Keep Me by Mimi Barbour

Belinda can't believe her four-year-old dove into a lake trying to save a puppy. She was grateful that a man dove in and rescued both of them. Until she learned that he's Dr. Reed Carlton... Then she was reminded that night... When her daughter was conceived. She went to a party at the Carlton house. She woke up in bed, naked, sore, with no memory of what had happened, but the evidence was quite clear... // Reed knew he found Lindy, the girl from almost five years ago, that he never forgot from that one night. But why does she seem to hate him now? Why did she disappear that night? Her daughter liked him well enough. And the puppy... Well, he's keeping the puppy for now... So he can get Lindy back... and her daughter too, of course...

Good use of the pup as a meet-cute and continued excuse for them to meet. But she simply assumed she's raped yet did nothing about it except to be a single mother? That doesn't sound very... smart. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews Secret Crush by Victoria Pinder

Billionaire John Morgan didn't care about his fortune. What he really wanted was to prove his father killed his sister. That's why he joined the FBI and took down his father's cronies and underlings. But when his father died, John feels lost, and even his FBI superior felt he's no longer of any use. But can he go home again? // Alice still can't believe her friend (John's sister) is gone. When senior Morgan died, Alice felt prudent to attend the funeral, but also to save her parent's organic produce farm (one of the Morgan enterprises was their distributor). Meeting John wasn't on the agenda, nor were the feelings. Then they got one shocker after another... even as someone threatens them both...

There are a few continuity errors as if the story were written in different spurts and merged together without proper editing. The connection between John and Alice was rather thin and chemistry isn't really there. More plot-driven than character-driven. 3/5

GRR Reviews Just Breathe Again by C A Harms

Faith had tried city life, but she's tired of the hustle and bustle. So she moved back home to help her dad run her cabinet making business. And that's where she met Aaron... // Aaron had it all, and lost it all. He can't move on... he just ran away. Meeting Faith did make him feel something... and feeling is to be avoided. But Faith, like her namesake, will persevere to help him move on... and perhaps, teach him to love again...

Seriously angst-y MMC, the chemistry between Aaron and Faith wasn't explained that well though. It's almost as if Faith enjoys having the metaphorical door slammed in her face again and again as she reached out for Aaron. While emotional, it also left it a little empty. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews Passion's Child by Ann Major

Amy is a single mother... of a child not her own, but she loved as if he was. She had to run away after a terrible betrayal. Years later, the child, nicknamed "Triple" because he's a lot of trouble, is seriously ill, and that's when Nick, her husband that betrayed her, reappeared. Nick wants his family back, but Amy is not ready to give up the secret that had her fleeing him years ago...

The book was first published 30 years ago, so the sensibilities and circumstances have changed a bit. it's a classic, but the plot can be considered "trope" by modern standards, as the author was one of the founding members of "Romance Writers of America". Read it for its own sake, not against backdrop of modern sentimentalities. 4/5

GRR Reviews A Western Love for an Unexpected Bride by Etta Foster

Mary is a maid for the Penningtons's young daughter. But when the daughter actually answered a mail-order bride ad, and was accepted, Mary was sent in her place. On her way, the train was robbed, and she was saved by Emmanuel, wandering the West but on his way home to Arizona. Emmanuel had his own pains he ran from, but Mary called out his protective instincts like no other. He will escort her to her destination. But what happens next... will be up to them.

More of an adventure story, with a lot of side trips, as the "couple" wasn't together for, I'd say, half of the book, separated by choice and circumstances. Adventure and romance are okay, but pacing could use some help. And ignore the page count. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews Pretty Reckless by Jodi Linton

Laney had some wild days, including shooting rock salt into her cheating husband's naked ass when she caught him in their bed with a different woman. That now ex-husband, Gunner, signed the divorce papers and left town. Five years later, Laney is a deputy for her small town, and drug runners are encroaching. She's in a relationship with a guy she feels comfortable with (but not really love). Then her (cheater) ex is back in town... as a Texas Ranger, trying to solve a big case in her area. Forced to work together, it none-the-less won't be comfortable...

This book is really divisive to me. It's clear that things are not over between Laney and Gunner, despite his "cheating ass". On the other hand, I like Laney's sass and attitude, despite her inability to actually handle criminals (at least, not the rough kind). 3.5/5

GRR Reviews On the 12th Date of Christmas by Nikki Lynn Barrett

Robin has PTSD from being mugged. Now almost fearful of the public, she has anxiety attacks. But she was vivacious and self-reliant before, and Christmas is coming, and a lot of people are relying on her. Then she met Jonas again... // Jonas knew he should have never left town a year ago, but he let his parents pressure him into accepting the international internship. But he's back now. He was shocked to see Robin's transformation from a happy girl into the sad shell of a person. Desperate to get her back (in more sense than one), he teased her into accepting his cheesy proposal: go on twelve dates with him. Can he help her find herself again? Will he be there?

Not bad plotting, if slightly forced, but it's meant to be light-hearted and cheesy, signs of a sweet rom-com, albeit dealing with angst-y issues. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews Work in Progress by BJ Harvey

Jamie has several brothers, and they are going into business together. Cook Brothers Construction's first project is to flip this house. He had it all set in a five-year plan. Except his ex didn't agree... That's why she's now the ex. While drowning himself with a bit of alcohol and work and loud music, he injured himself on job site, which leads to meeting the neighbor, single mom April, living with her ex-mother-in-law, in a rather... inauspicious circumstances. But Jamie's great with her kid and wanted to be everything to her. But she's still feeling the betrayal of her cheating ex (while she was pregnant). And what happens when the house is finished?

Good use of time limit and cute kid, and the rather unconventional family setup, while keeping it relatively light-hearted despite both were victims of betrayal. 4/5

GRR Reviews A Best Friend's Proposal by Layla Holt

Anesthesiologist Josh makes a good living, but being a single father is wearing him down when his wife left them to chase her own love. Five-year-old Noah is acting out in school, and it seems he does need a female in his life... And he does have one... platonic best friend and ER nurse Emma. So his plan was to ask her to be his fake fiancee. And it seems she liked the idea too. It also happens that she needed a place to stay when her lease expired, and he has a guest room. It's all for Noah's sake... right?

Ah, the plot has been done before, but this has a good polish. 4/5

GRR Reviews Forbidden Crown by Victoria Pinder

Prince Antonio had to be married before his 30th birthday to inherit the throne, but he's out of time, with barely two weeks left. And his father is ill. He advertised for a secretary but is secretly auditioning for a bride of convenience. When Kristin, an American student, applied, he saw the perfect candidate. She needs money to finish her degree. He needs a bride. Why not a marriage of convenience, as they are attracted to each other? She agreed, but their trip to Avce coincided with a communist coup-de-tat against the reigning royal family. Who can be trusted? Will they survive?

Eh, didn't feel much about this one. Chemistry is minimal, it's mostly adventure and the whole idea of prince auditioning for a bride of convenience is a trope. 2.5/5

GRR Reviews Kyler by C A Harms

Ashlynn loved Beau... until she realized Beau had betrayed her. It was then she noticed Kyler, Beau's best friend, admired her from afar. But she worked at her father's business and that means meeting Beau and his father every once in a while, and Beau wanted her back. But Ashlynn realized Kyler was there all along... and they got together. It was a toe-curling good night... But it also came with consequences...

Pretty basic plot, no major twists or turns. Just good polish on old triangle trope. 4/5

GRR Reviews Dirty Exes by Rachel Van Dyken

Blaire enjoys being half of "Dirty Exes", a PI firm that specializes in humiliating cheating jerks. Then she found their latest client on the dirt on Jessie Beckett... her ex, who left her to star in the NFL. She knew he's married since, but she didn't know he's cheating... The problem is Blaire is still attracted to Jessie, even though his best friend, hotel magnate Collin, also wants her... and he's willing to trade some help with her job for her affection. How's a girl going to balance between work and play, and between two guys, one totally right and the other totally wrong?

Good romcom, with a mix of responsibilities that managed to NOT turn angst-y. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews Loving the Boss by Agnes Canestri

Eleni took the furthest job she can find: dance instructor at a remote tropical resort, to get away from the heartbreak of her cheating fiancee. While Matteo, the dive manager, is handsome, she's not ready for another relationship. Besides, while she can dive, she never wanted to again... Not after what happened to her mother... // Matteo wants his own diving school, and he needs to both ace his job AND find "The Pearl" a fabled dive spot that all signs pointed to being nearby, but no one had found yet. Finding that would cement his reputation. He had no time for distractions such as Eleni.  // When Eleni was transferred to work with Matteo, they can't avoid each other anymore. But when the rich Russian guest Nikolai wanted Eleni in his bed, what will she do? And what will Matteo do about it?

Was this translated? A lot of word usage is really weird, like "animation team" for staff that deals with the guests, or use the term "rubbish" which is more Brit-speak (Americans prefer the term "garbage"). The characters are nicely layered, but the plotting and pacing could use a little help. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews The Only One by Mary Head

Piper, Manhattan real estate agent, is helping Richard, a British businessman, find housing in New York for his one-year stint in the US. Despite almost twenty years age difference, opposites really do attract, as she showed him one units after another, and they get to know each other. She's vivacious and beautiful, he's handsome and a British accent to swoon over. And when the purchase closed, there's no reason to avoid each other anymore. But what happens when his stint is over and he needed to return to London, and her ex reappears, wanting her back?

Eh, didn't feel much. A competent tale for but much else. Felt it could use a bit of tightening in a lot of pages. 3/5

GRR Reviews Fiance by Friday by Catherine Bybee

Gwen is the daughter of an English duke, and schmoozing the rich and powerful for the discrete matchmaking business Alliance (who arranges marriages of convenience for powerful people) is right up her alley. But she secretly lusts after her ex-marine bodyguard Niel, who's handsome, big, and protective. But Neil cannot reciprocate... She's a client, she's also from a different world. But when Niel's past caught up with him, he had no choice but to execute his own bug-out plan... with Gwen in tow. The enemy will target anyone to get to him, even Gwen... and he will have to risk everything to save them both, but will he trust the wrong people?

Interesting pivot from romance to romantic suspense, and kept the mystery and twists coming. Excellent plotting, with no obvious plot holes. 5/5

GRR Reviews Irresistibly Lost by Victoria Pinder

NOTE: 48-page prologue novella, not a full novel

Aaden needs to marry to get an inheritance he didn't want. And the only one he ever wanted was Sienna, the woman he had to leave at the altar once... For a very good reason: he wanted her to live instead of succumbing to the danger around his family. But circumstances have changed. He will marry her, then divorce her, thus leaving her with plenty of money to protect herself. It was the best he can do. But Sienna can't let go. She thought she was over him, but she wasn't. But is that enough to make a "fake" marriage work?

Motivation is a little vague here, but the angst is fine. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews Balancing Act by Danica Dawn

Desi, paralegal, is in love (lust?) for her boss Eric. She wanted to be a lawyer, but she flunked LSAT so she's going about the roundabout way: one more year as a licensed paralegal, and she can take the bar exam without it. But balancing her work, her dream, and her love life is not so easy, when she found a hot cop to drool over, only to have him turn into a stalker, and her boss confessed his love for her, only to sic an LSAT tutor on her, in order to make her a partner...

The problem with romantic suspense with a stalker is the bad guy tends to end up as jack-in-the-box pop-up horror, have him show up in the middle of nowhere. It starts to read a bit like the movie Unlawful Entry. The emotional beats feel... off. Instead of everything building to a crescendo for the climax, it felt as if the author merely substituted one problem with another, just to have the stalker reappear at the end for the climax. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews Wingwoman by Bella Jewel

Tiani has a very odd job. She is "wingwoman" for hot CEO Reign Braxton, a guy she will NEVER fall for. Reign is in love with Selena, but she cheated then left him. He wants to get her back, and he figured the best way to do it is to make her jealous, but he can't deal with the crazies, so he hired Tiani to "vet" his one-night-stands. Yes, it's a real job. EVERY woman would fall for Reign, but Reign just wants Slutlena... I mean Selena. Tiani knew Reign is charming, but Reign doesn't have eyes for anyone else... Or does he?

Interesting twist on the Cyrano / Everyone but you tropes. Even though when the women turned bitch-y it gets a little stale, and Reign really is a jerk, but the emotions of possessiveness and envy were actually handled very well. 4.5/5