GRR Reviews He Said Never by Ruth Cardello

 Riley had been seeing her lost sibling's family behind her mother's back. She understood her mother's fear... The Corisis were ULTRA-rich, and Dominic's father almost put her mom in a wheelchair for life (and she still suffers today). Gavin was just trying to get some coffee when Riley got in his way. Riley was beautiful and full of sass, and there is an instant connection, but neither is ready to make a move... she's still sour from being stood up, and he's in an odd place... His father forced him out of the family company, and won't let him back in until he settles down with the right woman, probably because his father attended two funerals, and realized the family was the only thing that mattered, after raising his son alone. Yet the two would meet again, after finding out they are actually neighbors...

There is a couple of rom-com worthy moments where you will ROFL (Riley needs a little moral support to tell mommy that she'd been seeing the Corisis and the Romanos, and took Gavin along, but mommy inferred a completely different situation... ), and kudos to Ruch Cardello to write a very UNconventional "weird will" story where the MFC and MMC did not get into bed until 80% point, despite the insta-lust sort of situation.

The book also added details or introduced several future story leads, like Cal, who'll be the hero of book 3, and I have a feeling Jared will be the hero of book 4. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews Taken Home by Ruth Cardello

NOTE: Book 3 of Lone Star Burn series

Chelle lives in a small town in Texas, and may be the last virgin in town... she tried to save herself for "the one", but there aren't many choices in a small town. She just attended another wedding where another bachelor is off the market when she met Mason, an out-of-town politician, and so sexy, she may just give him a condom so he can do her, as long as he's single... // Mason used to be a child actor until the death of his mother estranged him from his father, and he fell into a dark place... but he got into rehab and managed to end his trip of self-destruction. He became a California senator but kept everyone at arm's length. There were plenty of women, but almost all are gone by morning. He slept with the wrong woman, who doesn't understand "no". He needs a fiancee, a fake one will do. Then he went to Texas to attend a friend's wedding and met Chelle... // Chelle and Mason have chemistry, but Mason is a player and doesn't know any other way, while Chelle's a virgin... who knows what she wants, but doesn't want any lies. When Chelle got rid of the woman who stalked Mason all the way to Texas, he was grateful... Then got a slap in the face for not telling her the truth to start. Now Mason is confused about his feelings for Chelle...

The meetcute is good, as the "fake fiancee" thing is kinda on kinda off. She wants to get it on, but on HER terms, not his. And she wants the truth, not lies, and he was a player, and never had to lie. The only problem I have is "why this woman"? And this is sort of explained later, how Mason has a broken family and relied on friends, but maybe he yearned for a big family again, and she has such a big family and a small town full of friends. Still, his infatuation was left a bit unexplained and presented as if it's the unexplained "she's the one". The rest of the developments have interesting points, but also some cliches (like Ruby Rose, the female best friend). Though the double grand gesture, both from him and from her was satisfying. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews Tycoon Takedown by Ruth Cardello

Melanie, a single mother, just had her son asked where is his father. So she gathered up the courage to travel from a Texas ranch to New York City to find him. Yes, it was only one night. Yes, that's his son. But this emotional journey won't be easy... // Charles, a New York millionaire on top of the investment game, rarely gets asked for a favor by his sister Sarah in Texas. So when Sarah asked him to keep an eye on her best friend Melanie while she's in New York, he can't say no. When Melanie was purse-snatched while on the phone with Charles, he went alpha male protective... only to find Melanie had the situation well in hand... having taken down the armed mugger by herself, and gained the viral moniker "Takedown Cowgirl". Now Charles is totally smitten with Melanie, and Melanie loved the domineering Charles in bed. but Melanie's life and son are in Texas, while Charles lives in New York. Can this relationship ever work? 

Nice, very nice. There is some light bondage in the sex scenes, but it's light sensual bondage. But the more important thing is there is a definitely character arc to both MMC and FMC. Charles started out as the quintessential domineering alpha male who don't want kids or single mothers, and ended up as not only a good father, but also chose to mentor a young man out of a life on the streets. Melanie started out as a woman on a trip of redemption (Must find father of my son) and ended with a father for her child (just not the one she was first looking for) and ended up gaining a family and a lover who did not try to change her (not that she'll put up with it). 5/5

GRR Reviews Off The Hook by Laura Drewry

Kate jumped on the chance to learn all about a fishing lodge with a secret mission from her boss, who suggested that since the existing owners are unlikely to be able to afford their tax bill, much less refurb the place to re-open, she may be running it when it's all over. But when she realized one of the co-owners was her ex, Liam, to whom she was married to for less than a day, 10 years ago, this may turn into an impossible assignment... // Liam was a pitcher in the Major Leagues, but he's getting old and his prior injury means no team wanted to hire him... for now. That means he needs to move back home and help his brothers get the fishing lodge their late father left them... and a mountain of unpaid taxes and "deferred maintenance". Marrying Kate in a drunken stupor, then leaving in the middle of the night and divorce by mail was not the smartest thing he'd done, but he felt it was necessary. Now that Kate is here... 

Excellent "conflicting feelings" reunion, with a couple layers of motivations. Kate refused to leave because she MAY get a managerial job out of this, and Liam... simply can't afford to let her go, not to mention they really do have feelings for each other. Unfortunately, one of the plot points required a "most fortuitous accident" and I feel that's a weak point of the book. Though the end is very satisfying.  4.5/5

GRR Reviews Hello Dr. Christmas by Olivia Noble

Clara, the ballerina, may have just suffered a career-ending injury, leaving her understudy to take over. Dr. Klause Anderson is a world-renowned orthopedic surgeon that is visiting his brothers in the US, and still running from the grief of losing his wife. The two met in a bar, recognized each other's sadness, and agreed to a no-name one-night encounter... that left both satisfied... Until they met the next day... as doctor/patient. It's clear that they share some tremendous chemistry, but is Klaus, aka Dr. Christmas, ready to move on from his tragedy? Or will Clara always be second place to a ghost?

Short, but quite emotional. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews All I Want for Christmas Eve by Olivia Noble

Eve lives alone at the edge of civilization... Okay, Alaska. Then Adam fell from the sky on Santa's Sleigh. No, not a joke. That's the name of his plane, really. So she rescued him, and they got snowed in, of course. He cracks a lot of Adam and Eve jokes. And he's handsome. And she's lonely and willing...   And it's almost Christmas. How can it go wrong?

At under 150 pages, it's steamy Holiday romance. Good setup, if a bit corny from the beginning. Though the gradual revelation was used very nicely. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews Grill Me, Baby by Sophia Knightly

Chef Paolo wants to win a spot on Miami Spice cooking show to help his family.  So does chef Michaela. Paolo cooks with a passion, while Michaela... cooks healthy low-calorie fares that are just as enticing. The two can't be more different, and the competition for the spot can't be more fierce. So neither can foresee the passion that develope between them, even as both have to deal with family problems and expectations left them conflicted...

Very good, never a dull moment, even as both started with the wrong idea about each other. Very well done "enemies to lovers" novel. 5/5

GRR Reviews Something So Perfect by Natasha Madison

Matthew made too many mistakes as a hockey bad boy and was cut from the team at 23. When a different team wanted to give him another chance, he'll accept any terms, because he wanted to be back on the ice... Even accept a chaperone that will keep him out of trouble. He didn't expect the chaperone to be team owner's daughter, Karrie... //  Karrie was glad her father finally gave her a job... just not babysitting a washed-up hockey jock. And while Matthew is insanely hot and knew it too, he also drove her up the wall with his sweet-craziness. But as long as he's playing great and not ruining his image... it's okay, even if she ended up in his bed, right? But do they have a future together?

While dialog is good, somehow Matthew just feels a bit too... crazy? But the description is apt... it's sweet-kinda-crazy. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews Love in a Pawn Shop by Bonnie Edwards

Dix has a pawn shop in a tough neighborhood, and wanted her teenage brother Riley get into college so he can do better. Could she be blamed if she nags him all the time, esp. if he keeps hanging out with Carlos, who may be mixed up with the bad crowd? When nosy cop Dane barged into her life, things get complicated quickly, esp. if Razor the pitbull keeps staring at Dane's... nuts. // Dane was in town to find out what happened to his grandma's jewelry, and it's clear it went to Dix's pawn shop. Did Dix swindle his grandma? Is it a fencing operation? Just what is Dix's relationship with grandma Mitzi? And why did he feel... warm and fuzzy about Dix? What is her real name anyway?

Cozy mystery, lots of zany but fun characters. Even Riley's struggle with Carlos (whether to trust or to save) is interesting. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews Driving Home for Christmas by Lexy Timms

Abigail is just trying to go home after losing EVERYTHING. When her plane landed in Kansas, well short of her destination of Minnesota, and there is no car to rent anywhere, her trip home is in the hands of Colin, a workaholic Grinch on his way to attend his company party and business meeting. // Colin hates being forced into anything, but leaving a sobbing female at the rental car counter while he's heading the same way is not really an option. So he reluctantly offered her a ride for the next ten hours... Then they got stranded by the snowstorm and had to spend a night in a cheap motel... They couldn't be more different, and she's trying to draw him out of his shell. Yet they say opposites attract...

The opposites attract theme was handled really well. Abby lost everything, but she's more of an optimist, while Colin has everything, but is a Grinch and a pessimist. They seem to be a perfect balance together, and being forced together made them see each other past the initial impressions. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews The Boyfriend Sessions by Belinda WIlliams

Christa has such a big commitment issue her best friends decided to mount an intervention. After all, one usually does not flee from a super-sweet and rich French guy's wedding proposal. Her friends decided on a weekly event: let Christa recount each of her boyfriends, and list the good and bad, and what she took away from each relationship. And along for the ride is Max, one of her best friends' brother, as "the token guy", and the one she was never supposed to fall for... Has Christa learned her lessons? Would Max be worth the risk? Or will her romantic failures doom everything?

Good mix of chick-lit and my best friend's brother trope, with a little bit of "everyone but you". 4.5/5

GRR Reviews Slim To None by Freya Barker

Emma's daughter is all grown up, and she decided to move to Cedar Tree and start her life alone. Being disabled and needed to use a cane or walker, she is nonetheless beautiful and active, doing freelance bookkeeping and bake pies for her best friend's diner. Until a strange phone call in the night stirred her blood like never before... // Gus, private investigator, is on the trail of bail jumper who may have info on a mob boss he wanted to take down. Links took him to Cedar Tree, where he is supposed to find a bookkeeper... like the Red-headed Emma. When someone tossed Emma's house, and Emma's clearly in danger, Gus steps in as Emma's protector, and love bloomed. But someone from Gus' past is watching... and waiting for retribution...

Good romantic suspense with a couple of good twists and turns, plus enjoyable main characters. Gus is protective without overbearing and a disabled heroine? An unusual but inspired choice. 5/5

GRR Reviews The Price of Scandal by Lucy Score

Emily may be a billionaire CEO, but her family is a total mess. With her company on the verge of IPO, Emily needs a little publicity boost... But when her plus-one for the gala was busted for drugs in front of the Miami paparazzi, she needs help fast. Enter Derek, corporate troubleshooter. // Derek likes Emily, but he never sleeps with a client. He can sense that this incident was no accident... someone orchestrated a negative media blitz to take Emily down. He needs to show the world who Emily really is to win their trust, and he may have to break his own heart to protect her...

Some parts worked, and some parts didn't. And I'm surprised nobody thought of recording the phone calls, as the villain basically confirmed the dastardly deeds with a cackle over the phone once they figured out who the villain is. The escalation works well. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews The Christmas Princess by Patricia McLinn

April's fiancee's mother just kicked her out so her spine-less (now ex-) fiancee can take back the woman she approves. While April has a lot of friends, she doesn't want to depend on them, even with Christmas fast approaching. So when State Department Security Agent Hunter approached her with an extraordinary offer, she was in no position to refuse... Spend a month in Washington DC with King Jozef of Bariavak, because April very much resembles his long-lost granddaughter. April very much enjoys spending time with Hunter, but Hunter has his own secrets and links with Bariavak... And King Jozef is happy to do a little royal matchmaking...

Not quite a comedy as advertised, as Hunter is basically your almost-cliche "strong silent type", being basically a bodyguard, but with a bit more depth to him than you'd expect, and April... her pride was ALMOST her downfall. Still, the characters are nicely nuanced and have character arcs, and the mystery about who is the princess... Will continue. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews Wild Open Hearts by Kathryn Nolan

Luna has made herself a billionaire by focusing on changing the cosmetics industry with Wild Heart... No animal testing and ethical sourcing. Until she was betrayed by her supplier... Now her fans believed they were betrayed as well. To avert total disaster, she will help a charity and get some good PR for both. // Beck has two motorcycle outlaws for his parents... and he left twenty years ago. He knew his Lucky Dog charity which rehabilitates abused dogs can always use more money. When Luna offered to help, all he saw was "being used"... But when his funding source ran dry, the charity needs Luna... // Luna never expected to grow fond of the gruff and dangerous-looking biker but she knew he's a big softie inside. Beck can't believe he can grow to tolerate the ultra-rich billionaire who's actually a hippie bohemian chick. And after a kiss, neither can stay away... but as her PR nightmare continues, and his parents making their presence known, will they unite to resolve their problems... Or will their differences prove too much for their love?

Actually a lot of fun to read. My problem is they keep talking about the bad parents, but in the end, they merely needed a talk to go away. Somehow, THAT lead to a darkest hour... Which is kinda lame. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews Accidental Shield by Nicole Snow

Flint, single father, just found himself hosting an amnesiac woman... and lying to her about her being his wife. But Valerie has amnesia because she almost died in an explosion that blew up her boat. Telling her the whole truth would just make her panic. So Flint, ex-navy SEAL, now retired security specialist, is doing one more job with his partner, Doc Cash, to bring down the bad guys that almost killed Valerie. They've tangled with the same group of bad guys before, and it's a good time to even the score. And by all evidence, it seems her "evil" brother may be involved... But how will Flint handle being "fake married" to Valerie? What happens when she found out she wasn't?

Interesting take on "marriage mistake", proves that you *can* create something new by remixing old tropes. 5/5

GRR Reviews Fractured by Lori Sjoberg

Carter was a good soldier, but when he felt he was losing his soul, he got out and returned to his family farm and equestrian center.  Meeting Amy, the new horse trainer, was a shock, but he sensed that she has a secret vulnerability that she was not ready to share... // Amy changed her name and looks and left everything behind after she was acquitted of her husband's murder. Her brother-in-law publicly announced there's a miscarriage of justice, with EVERYTHING left to her. The only thing she has left was her love of horses. And she doesn't need Carter... to mess things up. But when her past came back to haunt her, can Carter protect her?

Good mystery, a good twist on hidden identity and protector. The ending is also handled quite nicely. Although I don't see how the bad guy plans to get away with... whatever he was doing at the end. Of course, she still needs saving, but that's kinda beside the point. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews Wedding of the Century by Patricia McLinn

Annette once vowed never to return to her small town, after she ran away from her dream wedding... which is AFTER a very pregnant girl showed up claiming the baby was fathered by her betrothed, Steve, and he didn't refute it. So she left and started her own life. Seven years later, she had to return when her brother broke his wrist and can no longer work as a contractor for weeks. Her ex-betrothed is now a single father, and it's clear there still are feelings that remained. And perhaps, she may even gather enough courage to ask... Why did Steve betray her? And the answer will shock her to her core...

Wow, the twists are shocking, and a bit soap-opera worthy, but everything makes sense. 5/5

GRR Reviews Finding Home by Jackie Weger

Phoebe is just 24, but she knows how to fend for herself... even with two of her siblings in tow. However, she's trying to find a home for her clan, and she's running out of cash and gas. Things looked REALLY bleak when she backed into Gage Morgan's truck, and he decided to hold her bumper (with the license plate) hostage until she comes up with $70. She doesn't even have $7, but what she does is a ton of pride and ingenuity. With a lot of fast-talking (and emotional blackmail/ con) she managed to talk herself into Morgan's home and became a babysitter/housekeeper for Morgan and his little girl, while she finds work nearby. It's clear that Morgan's been hurt before, and isn't about to trust any women ever again...

Very different from the author's previous works. Love the language, as Phoebe, let's just say, lacks education, just a lot of "country smarts", and the vocabulary shows. You can laugh at Phoebe's attempt to talk herself out of a jam... or to express love, and how it still works out. 5/5

GRR Reviews Keith by M S Parker

Keith can't believe his brother, Matt, is willing to marry a spoiled socialite Nikolette just so her daddy will save his family foundation with a cash infusion. Keith met schoolteacher/waitress Veronica at a social event, and despite being attracted to her, decided Veronica is much better suited for his brother Matt. So he set them up together on a date, to break up Matt's plans. Let's just say nothing actually happened according to plan...

Nice, a very nice mix of tropes, and a couple surprises along the way. It's Cyrano mixed with a marriage of convenience and a sibling triangle (of sorts). I kinda hope for bigger karma on Nikolette though. 4.5/5