GRR Reviews Falling in Love with a Police Officer by Ellie Hall

Owen is a single father and police. He moved back to his hometown Hawk Ridge Hollow to help his daughter settle in, even though his brothers have all left the area on their own careers, despite family riches. Falling for his daughter's kindergarten teacher, Brynn, was not in the plans. // Brynn left the big city behind after losing her cop husband in the line of duty. She swore she will never date a cop again. She had no children, and being a teacher seems to be the closest she would get to a family. When Owens needs a sitter for his daughter because he works the night shift, and Brynn needs a "room parent" to help with the school, they ended up spending more time together. But when she made a mistake, how many secrets can they confess to each other to regain trust?

Nice, and the family fortune barely factored into the story, merely as a background element for tension. It's basically two damaged people coming together. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews Christmas with a Mountain Man by Ellie Hall

Francesca "Frankie" Costa is a chef that just lost her restaurant due to a sneaky lease. Upon discovering that her family had a cabin up in the mountains she never knew, she decided to go there, to get away from everyone, to think. She didn't count on meeting a bear upon her arrival, or for the handsome mountain man neighbor to come to her rescue... Only to find he's a Hawkins, with whom the Costas had a long family feud... or is supposed to. // Rocky Hawkins is one of the Hawkins boys, with plenty of money, and intending to make his own way in life with a professional ice hockey career. But one night changed everything, and he left everything behind and retreated to the mountains. He didn't count on a beautiful woman moving in next door before Christmas, only to have her being a Costa... // It seems both need a little Christmas miracle...

While the title has Mountain man, this is not a trope mountain man novel, but rather, a novel about a fish out of water, breaking down a recluse's walls, something usually reserved for "nosy reporter meets and befriends town recluse" trope. I find her insistence to fix everything a bit... perplexing. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews Her Football Star Billionaire Groom by Ellie Hall

Ryan was still reeling from his father's death... or that he must marry by Christmas or he won't get his inheritance and his charity will be de-funded. Running relaxes him, so he went running... and ran into his high school sweetheart, Rachel, back in town trying to pay her mother's medical bills by prepping and selling the house to pay for the treatment. They were running partners, then lovers, but fate separated them. Now that fate had brought them back together... less than 2 weeks before Christmas. And this time, Ryan is not about to let go. He agreed to play Santa for the care facility Rachel's mother was in, but Rachel's OTHER (more recent) ex also wanted her back. Ryan better steps up his game, or he'll be brideless by Christmas...

Somehow, this one wasn't quite as charming as the other books in the series, as her other ex somehow overheard a lot of secrets and used that to his advantage, i.e. "he's just after you to get his inheritance". 3.5/5

GRR Reviews Wedding Day with a Rancher by Ellie Hall

Kayla had been burned by a relationship. It took her a while to find herself and start over in the small town of Hawk Ridge and work at the resort. But her family's daily (almost hourly) nagging about her single life had her chafing. // Dallen was a wild playboy before, and as heir to the Hawkins legacy, he can afford it. But after a tragic loss, the brothers turned enemies. Dallen has mended his ways. He also needs to secure his inheritance and make needed changes to the family resort... Which means he needs to marry to inherit. // Dallen and Kayla didn't really want to marry, but they both need to, to satisfy their respective families. But can they win each other's hearts?

Nothing really special about this one.

Category: Contemporary / Western

Overall Rating: 3/5

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GRR Reviews Only a Kiss with a Billionaire by Ellie Hall

Emma is a programmer who also likes to bake. She's left without a job when her ex (who was also her boss) stole her work, broke her heart (by cheating), and left her in debt when he also convinced her to invest in the company (that went under without her). When an ad called for a temporary position of personal assistant on Christmas Day at a local gym, she can't refuse. She didn't expect her boss to be... a rich playboy model like Will. // Will started as a model, and parlayed that into an international franchise of gyms and nutritional supplements. But when tabloids caught him at parties, he was dubbed playboy. His manager/agent told him to get a girlfriend, but no way he's getting his evil ex Veronica another crack at him. When Emma showed up as his temporary assistant... Will also hired her as his fake girlfriend, and she named a figure just enough to clear her debt, not that she'll explain what the figure meant. Emma went with Will to London (where he's actually based)  they learned about each other a little more... But complications soon arose... and no one can be trusted...

I like the twist and the push-pull, but the standard "billionaire wooing" like "jet to Paris to have lunch" is a bit of meh. The "opposites attract" thing is fun, as these two are complete opposites... But the final reveal was great.


Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 4/5

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

GRR Reviews Only A Night With A Billionaire by Ellie Hall

Penny got an apprenticeship position with the head royal baker in London. But getting lost in the palace and having a Cinderella moment admiring all the beautiful ball gowns lead to a case of mistaken identity: she's NOT princess Penelope... but when the queen greeted you as a niece, how do you say no? And when it turns out she's to meet no less than Prince Oliver and participate in a royal version of "The Bachelor" with 3 other princesses, Penny fainted on the spot. She had a crush on Oliver for years. Being picked as the future queen of Concordia alongside Oliver is a dream... or a nightmare, as she's sure her deception will be revealed any moment...

Okay, I like the tension, but the rescue scenario does NOT work at all. How can a train, having outrun an avalanche, FAILED TO NOTICE that it is SEVERAL CARS short, one of which contains the king and queen to be? And who uses ladders for rescues nowadays? It's rescue baskets and winches! And finally, what a deus ex machina. I knew there is going to be a twist, but it felt... forced.

Category: Contemporary / Royalty

Overall Rating: 3/5

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GRR Reviews Valentine's Day with a Firefighter by Ellie Hall

Trip Hawkins is back in his hometown. His family resort is thriving. But he can't quite get over the one thing he wanted to reclaim... His girl Sadie. So finding her stuck in the elevator and had to rescue her was... interesting. // Sadie never was over Trip, who left her behind. She works at the resort handling the new website campaign... And was just paged to the office when she got stuck in the elevator. Being rescued by Trip himself was awkward. Finding out that someone posted a singles ad in her name and linked it to the hotel's "couples promo" was mortifying. Too busy to uncover the saboteur and saving her job, Sadie has no time for Trip, who wanted her back...

Sweet, short, but not much else. I don't feel too much of the chemistry.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 3/5

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