GRR Reviews The Fake Girlfriend's Billionaire Match by Bree Livingston

Winnie can't believe she was betrayed by her best friend and restaurant partner. She had just located a prime spot in the city and needed to pay the down payment, only to have her partner run off with her boyfriend... and her money. And she needs to get the restaurant off the ground or she'll have to go work for her father as a lawyer... a fate she dreaded. // Bear is not ready to date, having been betrayed before, but his family is unrelenting. It would be easier to hire a fake girlfriend than to date for real... // Winnie and Bear met, and Bear was clear that he wanted a FAKE girlfriend just for the Holidays, and in return, Winnie will get enough money to get her restaurant running. And Bear is handsome, and VERY lovable... Perhaps they can make this work after all?

Eh, nothing really new about this, just good polish on an old theme. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews The Cowboy's Fake Marriage by Bree Livingston

Grace Maddox, interior designer, has been living in a funk ever since her fiancee died a few days before their wedding. When her car broke down in Willow Valley, TX, hours away from her VIP client meeting, she was told to not come back until she has her head together. Now jobless and carless, Grace was actually thrilled to find that the rundown B&B, ran by Jackson, ex-rodeo cowboy, is actually a dream for an interior designer (and restorer) like her. It will take a lot of work... // Jackson had enough of his ex-wife Hannah. She cheated on him, so he divorced her. Now she demands to be back in his life... Which is when Grace came to Jackson's rescue... by pretending to be his new fiancee. Then Hannah played her trump card: Jackson can either take her back... Or her rich daddy will foreclose on the Jackson ranch. Jackson has 3 months to come up with 100K... Or sell it before then. And Jackson is determined to keep the ranch... AND keep Hannah away. Grace will work for room and board... and turn the B&B into a dude ranch. But when Hannah pushed the couple to "prove" they really intend to marry... will they?

Okay, everything fits so far, nobody has any particular TSTL moments. Heck, even Hannah had a bit of redemption by the end. Though Grace accepting Hannah's "help" (and basically forcing Jackson to go along with it) was almost TSTL. But it also sort of make sense as they need every bit of help they can get. It is however, a bit long and "feels" slow-paced. 4/5

GRR Reviews Mending the Billionaire Movie Star by Bree Livingston

Penelope has a twin sister Paige who keeps embroiling her in trouble by impersonating her. It was embarrassing before... But this time, she really had gone too far... Paige signed Penelope up for a reality dating show called Celebrity Proposal, where she'll try to win the affection of billionaire movie star Angus Maclachlan. But if she reveals the deception, Paige would get in trouble. So Penelope reluctantly went to the audition... But she can't fall for anyone, having her heart broken before.// Angus is a leading man but his previous liaison with his agent Clara turned bitter, except his contact with her was apparently iron-clad and he has two more years to go. In despair, his bad behavior had tanked his image and career, and this dating show was supposed to revive that. It was supposed to be an act, but after meeting Penelope, Angus found that it wasn't an act after all. But Clara, being a vindictive ***** is ready to ruin everything... But Penelope has a plan to save Angus from Clara...

I want to like this, as it did deliver a knockout ending, but in a way, it's also quite implausible. Angus, being rich even out of Hollywood, should have hired a lawyer to look through the supposed iron-clad contract with his money, and didn't leave it up to Penelope later. The grand reveal at the end felt way too much as a deus ex machina... through a lot of hand-waving. And what's wrong with a hiatus for two years, just to spite Clara? Why wasn't that in the cards? Should have done that long ago. For a rich guy, he's pretty much a weakling, easily bent. And Clara? Just "pure evil" with zero dimension. 3/5

GRR Reviews Her Secret BIllionaire Roommate by Bree Livingston

Olivia, who writes bestselling romance under a pen name, is overdue for a new novel... and her publisher and editor are not pleased. But due to personal turmoil, her muse had taken a leave of absence, and her editor sent her to a two-week retreat to Snowshoe, MT cabin to write alone. Unfortunately, her alone time was soon disturbed by Gabriel, a handsome but haunted executive who can't handle any company, much less an attractive woman. And technically, he is the cabin owner. But he's not about to kick her out with a snow storm incoming. What he didn't tell her is he's also her boss, as he just bought her publisher... Both had been burned by bad relationships, and both connected despite the initial hostility. But when the truth comes out, and their evil exs intervene, will their relationship survive?

Somehow the evil ex didn't have much of a part to play... They are also way too similar... Gabe's ex just keeps coming back ("Aw, baby, don't be like that..."), while Olivia's ex just assumes she'll take him back... It's not until Gabe meets and wanted Olivia that they both grew spines and told their ex's to take a hike. But what is the real threat to their relationship? Not too much. Still, the push-pull is good. It's mostly her own inadequacy causing her problems, i.e. "I'm not good enough for him."

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 4/5

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