GRR Reviews Her Billionaire Ex-Boyfriend Fake Fiance by Christine Kersey

Librarian Ashleigh is doing a fundraiser dinner for the Emerald Falls Library for more computers and books. When her bestie, and the auctioneer, put her on the auction block (for a date), she tolerated it... Until she saw who won the date... Her ex Chase, now a billionaire. // Chase didn't even planned to be back, but when he heard that his mom's cancer is no longer in remission, and it's time to start hospice care, he had to come back. Winning the date was just him trying to play nice (he's late to buy anything else). But when his mom desired to see him settle before she passes, Chase thought of staging a fake engagement and maybe a fake wedding... After all, Ashleigh is a good girl... but hates his guts for leaving her a decade ago... right?

Eh, the circumstances forcing them together just feels a bit... meh, as if a bit contrived, but usually that's how this sort of story goes. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews Snowed In With the Billionaire by Christine Kersey

WARNING: Cliffhanger

Ashley was heading to Reno to start her new life when she drove through a "no cell service" area in a snowstorm and skidded out. She was rescued by Colton Drake, who's heading toward his "cabin" to relax from his job as a billionaire CEO. Ashley wasn't sure if Colton is really a serial killer, but she's definitely single. Colton is glad to just be himself, instead of Mr. Moneybags. He can see Ashley is interested, but he has a girlfriend... sort of, and Ashley is nothing like that. They fight their mutual attraction, but Ashley needs to go when the snow cleared (and when her car's towed and fixed). Then Colton's GF showed up...

Book 1 of 4, the rescue and subsequent push-pull was good... until Colton turned into a limp wiener and told Ashley that "it's been fun, but I have second thoughts about breaking up with my GF to be with you, even though we just made out moments ago" for no particular reason. Generally, a change of heart is prompted by external circumstances or at least some sort of a reminder. This is more like "morning regret", and more of a WTF.

The story also continues, as Colton's company is in Reno, where Ashley is headed... and you know she's gonna be working for him...

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 2.5/5

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

GRR Reviews The Missing Billionaire by Christine Kersey

Chloe doesn't know what to think about Nathan, the billionaire heir. Chloe had a crush on Nathan for years, until Nathan and Chloe's sister went out on a yacht cruise... and never returned. Later bodies were found, including Chloe's sister. A year later, Nathan was rescued from an island... and Chloe holds him responsible for her sister's death. But Nathan is desperate to earn her forgiveness... Including hiring her to be his interior designer, despite her being the most junior designer on staff. Will she ever forgive him?

I honestly don't feel much about this novel at all.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 2.5/5 (rounded up)

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

GRR Reviews Illegal Procedure by Christine Kersey

Shay fled her hometown and her abusive boyfriend but was stranded in the middle of nowhere when the person giving her the ride kicked her out when she refused to partake in road sex. She managed to locate a cabin and fled inside, only to find the owner had returned... and he's not happy... // Josh is an NFL quarterback who's trying to relax during the offseason, and having a woman around is not conducive to his plans. At first he suspected she may be a groupie or a plant by a reporter, but none of that fits. Yet the moment of terror when he ordered her out was real, and Josh softened, and allowed her to be a temporary housekeeper, and work on a garden. But her ex is still out there, and Shay was glad that Josh let her stay, even though she's too ashamed to really tell him why...

Pretty typical protector / woman in peril storyline, and at first the scenario felt really contrived, but it worked a lot better. The ending confrontation was actually quite good. And the whole thing was no sex, so it's "clean romance". I like it.

Category: Contemporary / Sports

Overall Rating: 4/5

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

GRR Review: Over You by Christine Kersey

Over You by Christine Kersey is supposed to be a clean romantic suspense but it ended up not that suspenseful as it wasted most of the book setting up the details.

Jessica needed to get away from the city when her boyfriend cheated on her, so she moved in with her aunt to take care of her for a while. Her aunt also needed some work done on the house, but the contractor was her ex-fiancee, who cancelled days before the wedding years ago. Jessica found some letters in the attic that hinted at an love affair between the house's former owner and a married woman, and her curiosity lead her to do some research, but some secrets are best left buried... 

 My problem here is Jessica's investigations pointed at all the right pieces of evidence, yet she seems to reach the WRONG conclusion at each and every turn. The suspense was mainly from herself poking into other people's affairs. It goes without saying that her ex-fiancee will somehow save her by the end into a cliche ending.  It may be suspenseful, but it's just not very romantic.

Category: Romantic Suspense

Primary Plot: Woman needing a break from city found letters in her aunt's attic; her investigations into those letters lead to danger against her

NOTE: "Clean"

Tropes: reunion, woman in peril, protector

Overall Rating: 2.5/5 (rounded up to 3/5)