GRR Reviews Sweet as Shortcake (Cupid's Cafe) by Ashley Lauren

Sweet as Shortcake is a matchmaker / reunion novella that's short and sweet, just like the namesake.

Katy Cupid of Cupid's Cafe in Berkeley, CA has been putting couples together for a while, abut this latest one may be a bit problematic. Danny Fitzpatrick joined the army to get away from it all, but after ten years, he's back. Katy knew Sarah and Danny been high school sweethearts. One call, and one shortcake delivery, and they meet again... But Danny is broken and felt unworthy. But Sarah is not taking no for an answer this time...

Sweet, short, and awwww-nice. Not like super-emotional, but it's time to make it right and all that. Good short read if you need a pick-me-up.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Matchmaker cafe owner is going to bring a couple back together after ten years of his absence... with a shortcake

Overall Rating: 4/5

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

GRR Reviews A Cherry on Top (Cupid's Cafe) by Ashley Lauren

A Cherry on top is about a matchmaker in a cafe in Berkeley California. The story is short and charming about getting over a cheating ex with a nice guy.

Katy Cupid had been putting people together for a while... she had these feelings that are almost never wrong. When Faith Mason stormed into her cafe, Katy knew Faith needed... a little faith in love. She had been burned badly by Logan, who was so perfect. When he turned out to be a smarmy bastard who just wanted her family connections, she felt thoroughly humiliated and activated the recluse mode. But her mother's decree that she bring a date for the July 4th family picnic barbeque sent her to Katy Cupid. And Katy knew just who to pair her with... Travis Waverly, a successful photographer, owes Katy a big favor when his caterer fell through. Being setup on a blind date is not his idea of fun, but he can't refuse. And he was surprised to find he found Faith's big and boisterous family a lot of fun to be around, having been alone most of his life. He wanted to date Faith, but after one encounter with Logan, Faith is despondent. Now Travis has to make the romance-worthy grand gesture to show that Faith can have... some faith in him.

Pardon the pun, but the short romance tales pack quite a bit of plot and is a lot of fun to read. The characters are easy to picture, and didn't even need to be particularly deep.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Can a woman trust another man ever again when an evil ex broke her heart, when this one is just... so nice?

Overall Rating: 4/5

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

GRR Reviews Waffles & Weddings (Cupid's Cafe Where by Ashley Lauren

Waffles and Weddings is a quick and cozy read about a fictional cafe in Berkeley, California where the owner does matchmaker duties. The story was sweet, and the trick is getting the right person to meet the other right person. This is a clean romance, and satisfying upbeat read.

To recap, Cupid's Cafe is the best-kept secret in Berkeley California, where Katy Cupid had been helping people for years in her 50's style cafe via her gift, and she's not above using some schemes. When Sophie's partner did a runaway groom, stranding her in Berkeley, the jilted bride ended up in Cupid Cafe where Katy fed her waffles and introduced her to the handsome Chase who happens to have a room for rent. Chase knew Sophie is exactly the woman he wanted in his life, but Sophie's a bit gun-shy after the recent incident. Can Chase romance Sophie properly without driving her away?

The struggle wasn't too heavy duty, and Chase basically just have to prove to Sophie that she was not worthless. It's a quick and fun read.

Category: contemporary

Primary Plot: Jilted Bride Meets Sweet Guy With a Little Help in Berkeley, California

Tropes: fish out of water, matchmaker, different worlds

Overall Rating:  4/5 (rounded up from 3.5/5)