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 Million Dollar Date by Susan Hatler

Abigail is on her way to meet her blind date (via her home) when she was stopped by a very handsome cop for speeding. And he's not giving her a break at all. Not even when she explained she's already sad that her favorite dog rescue is closing due to the rescue's landlord needing to sell. She's doubly shocked that she found her blind date is none other than the cop that pulled her over... That's going badly. Then she realized he may be the key to save the dog rescue, as he will be recommending the next charity to fund for the city... So a second date will be necessary... // Cooper is a by-the-books cop, but he used to be a bad boy rulebreaker until a tragedy gave him an epiphany. Now he plays by the rules, even though he had a kind heart. Abigail has the right attitude, but Cooper has to make decisions based on how much good can the city's donations do. And Abigail is definitely interesting. If she wants another date, he'll gladly oblige... 

The ending felt like deus ex machina to me, and I really don't understand how he got the payout, when it should have gone to the other guy's family? I can understand he got half or something. The push-pull is fine, but some of the tactics from Abigail were a bit... unorthodox. It's rom-com, sure. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews The Billionaire Bargain by Lila Monroe

 Aussie billionaire Grant Devlin is an impulsive man who jets off with supermodels and, blows 500K in Monte Carlo casinos, exercises shirtless in his office, and basically lives life to the excess, leaving Lacey, the PR girl, to clean up his mess in his wake. As a result, Lacey understands the charm of Grant Devlin, and how he's utterly undependable. When Grant is forced to present a calmer, more refined image and settle down to soothe the investors, he chose Lacey as his future wife...

Not really feeling much about this one, as Grant is alternately reckless and dreamy, and Lacey is alternately charmed and sometimes broken from the spell. A bit of "meh" here. 2.5/5

GRR Reviews Three Things I'd Never Do by Remi Carrington

 Eve is forced to move back home with her kitten when her house needed some renovations. Getting trapped naked in the bathtub when a tree fell on her parent's house, and being rescued by a handsome firefighter was not a part of her plans. Neither was being set up on a blind date with the same firefighter. But Adam (yes, you can chuckle) is perfect except for one thing: he has two large dogs, and she's... promised to not date guys with dogs. So... can she survive dogsitting for a few days? Or will this be the final straw? 

Ah, rom-coms, a bit over-the-top, but that's the way it's meant to be. The problem is I'm really just not feeling the chemistry between the two. 3.5/5

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 Reveiws You Can't Ruin Christmas by Olivia Noble

NOTE: 100 page novella

Mary was dumped by hockey star Sebastian just before Christmas... but her best friend, Sven (and incidentally, Sebastian's brother), is there to help her pick up the pieces. When Sven professed feelings for Mary, will Mary accept? When her family want her to visit, and bring Sebastian, will Mary try to pass off Sven as Sebastian?

Good holiday rom-com that started with a likable heroine and took off from there, with lots of escalation. Best followed with the next volume, as the events overlap. 5/5

GRR Reviews Decker and Joy by Elle Rush

Private Investigator Decker is chasing down an escaped prototype named E.L.V.I.S for North Pole Unlimited's top-secret research division, and he knew it's somewhere in this town, a few weeks before Halloween... // Joy is busy handling foster animals and the store at Kitten Caboodle. The policy is not to allow the adoption of black kittens during October, and they just happen to have three (came as a package). So when someone starts to get REALLY insistent on adopting those kittens, something feels very wrong. // Decker and Joy met when Decker found that his missing prototype may have been shipped to Joy's store, just as someone pulled off a triple kitten-napping by starting a huge distraction. Now the two will have to work together...

Light-hearted and fun, but it's more adventure than romance. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews My Big Fat Fake Wedding by Lauren Landish

Violet wants to let her grandpa "papa" (with a few months to live) walk her down the aisle. When Collin proposed, she readily accepted, then Collin backed out. But Violet refused to let Collin see her cry. She just needs a new groom... // Ross hates being the scapegoat. How was he to know the distraught woman he was escorting to a ride was a preacher's wife, when he was ambushed by paparazzi? When his father told him he needs to settle down, Ross only saw one way... Find a "fake" fiancee. // Ross was surprised to learn that Violet needed to get married, fast, and so did he. It'd be a match made in heaven, if not for they being nemesis throughout their school years. It'd be acting of the century for them to act lovey-dovey... But is there real affection behind the barbs? Does it even matter, when time's running out?

I am conflicted about this novel. On one hand, the rom-com potential is off-the-charts. The enemies-to-(sorta-pretend)-lovers was handled perfectly, with each escalation pushing things tighter and tighter. I don't even mind the ending when someone showed up and ruined everything, as it makes for a great darkest hour. On the other hand, the sex scenes don't quite flow right after the tension and comedy bits. And I don't think it wasn't quite explained properly how the nemesis got the "incriminating evidence". 3.5/5

GRR Security Risk by Megan Matthews

Tabitha left her old life behind to start over in Pelican Bay, by borrowing a bit of her abusive ex-boyfriend's cash, not that she plan to spend it all. She inherited a house from her aunt in the town, and meeting her hunky but gruff neighbor, Ridge, was... nice, as are her other neighbors. But why is her ex Mario chasing her down by sending in his scary lieutenant? Where are the diamonds they keep insisting she took with her? Will she live through it?

Uh, hate to say this, but this book smells like amateur writing. Tabitha fell for the first handsome guy she saw despite surviving years of abuse. She couldn't recognize a mafia front despite lived years next to it (and happen to have couple hundred thousand lying around in CASH) and basically has too many TSTL moments to count. Oh, and Ridge? Total caricature of a security guy. 2/5

GRR Reviews The Fat Rules by Misti D Mosteller

Maddy knew she's a chunky monkey that's also smart and funny, but people seem to only notice her size... at 266.5 lbs. Her mom is smothering, and her grandma is feeding... Which is not helping her waistline at all. She created the series of "fat rules" to help control her self-esteem such as "never run, death before jigglies". But when a birthday disaster struck, her friends mounted an intervention with tough love... which lead to a guy who appreciates her as is...

Feels like a memoir and fantasy melded together, with a dose of harsh reality and indomitable spirit. There is a lot of love in this book. 4/5

GRR Reviews Dazed and Divorced by Carol Maloney Scott

Claire is (suddenly?) single, in her thirties, having married her high school sweetheart Ron, and never really dated ever. She's also mourning the loss of her fertility after one too many miscarriages. Except Ron won't sign the divorce papers. Almost twenty years after her last date, she's back out into the wild, finding frogs all over the place, and not a prince in sight. It seems her friends keep finding losers for her to blind date... So why is her ex Ron trying to get back into her good graces, after nearly destroying her during her time of grief? And is adopting a hyperactive wiener dog puppy, Dixie, a solution to her problems?

Definitely LOL at times, if also a bit teary-eyed, as this is more sitcom than romcom, with super uncomfortable situations. Like meeting Jed, Abel, and Cain at a church speed-dating event, each of whom wants to talk about the Bible or proper role of a wife. Then Christian came along and asked her to get the heck out of there... Only to try to seduce her into bed, with some VERY unholy words. Funny! 4.5/5 for the laughs, not too much romance here though.

GRR Reviews The Christmas Fix by Lucy Score

Catalina runs a construction business, and enjoys helping people. A reality show where she helps deserving people get a new house is perfect for her. When Merry, CT was hit by a hurricane, and the town has a family she helped two years ago, she convinced the network to fund a super Christmas special, where her crew and other volunteers will rebuild the whole town, albeit, with a camera crew. And she ran into an obstacle... Noah, the city manager for Merry, who wanted none of her drama in town. Last time Cat was in town, she instigated the only bar fight in town history. Noah sees Cat as a TV diva capitalizing on his town's misfortunes and tempting his daughter with glitz and glam. Cat sees Noah as a neanderthal who prefers to see his town drown in mud and rain instead of letting other people help. The fight will be epic... and so will the kiss... if they ever let down their guard...

Oh, definitely rom-com, where the MMC and MFC trade verbal barbs like cats and dogs, until one side gives in and surprises the other with a kiss. 5/5

GRR Reviews A Christmas Kiss by Susan Hatler

Harper is a divorce attorney trying to help her client move on from her sleazy boyfriend who spends all her money and yells about not getting enough "support". But her own outlook on life was marred by a betrayal back in law school. When her client wanted to accept her BF's attempt at reconciliation, she's completely exasperated, and when a vacation cabin became available, and her relatives aren't available for Christmas, she had to get away... // Gabriel is a divorce attorney who believed everyone should have a second chance. Sure he has to deal with opposing counsel Harper, but if there's a chance, it should be taken. But he also needed time to get away. Things look depressing when the cabin was double-booked and he had to spend a week with Harper... As neither would move out. Could these two "enemies" achieve an understanding, and share some Holiday magic?

A bit shorter than the author's other works, it nonetheless has a lot of heart despite being a rom-com. OTOH, the darkest hour just feels extremely... forced. Even the FMC acknowledged later she was being totally unreasonable. 4/5

GRR Reviews Lucky Suit by Lauren Blakely

Kristen is a nerd and proud of it. Her dates are so boring and bland, she will not accept grandma's attempt to set her up anymore. She'll try a dating app instead. Her grandma told her about Cameron, the guy who was always looking for a Ferrari, but sounds like a fun guy, but she's had enough. But when grandma told Kristen to chat with her online poker buddy "LuckySuit" online while she fixes up a car for a friend, Kristen can't refuse. And Kristen had a surprisingly good time with him, and he even figured out that it wasn't grandma chatting. But she also found a match online, that goes by "DeepThinker" that also caught her interest. Who should she pursue?

Ah, there's a twist or two there that was actually quite good. Not going to spoil the fun, but it's light-hearted rom-com. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews Her Kismet Cowboy by Kimberly Krey

Payton vowed to keep her family together. Her father is the famous plastic surgeon, but her brother refused to follow in his footsteps and left Stanford to be a ho-hum ranch hand for the Branson Ranch. The semester is about to start, and she must bring him back... She did not expect to like Luke, the ranch boss, even though their initial meeting was outright hostile. But Payton, who also found that her fiancee is cheating on her IN PUBLIC, found that ranch life actually agreed with her far more than the glamour and glitz of LA. She wondered whether she really made the right choice about her life and her family, just as her brother made a different choice. Then her mother showed up...

Nice, a little rom-com, a little self-discovery, and a whole lot of sass, as well as good pacing. 5/5

GRR Reviews Planet Single by Maggie McGuinness

Katerina was launched into "Planet Single" without warning when her husband of over a decade and the father of her children announced he wanted a divorce because he didn't feel the spark anymore. Angry because she hadn't been getting any (sex) for years, and she felt she was the one being wronged, they quickly separated and went on their ways. But Katerina's friends all have different ideas on how to leave singledom... while Katerina wondered where her libido had gone off hiding. Was it her job or her life that bored it into hibernating? She went on dodgy dates, get to know some strange characters and making friends while eyeing potential co-workers. But can she find herself first?

At over 400-pages, this book just feels about 100 pages too long, but that could be just author's style. Banter is witty. 4/5

GRR Reviews Bon Bons to Yoga Pants by Katie Cross

Lexie is pretty, and she knew she's overweight... over 250 pounds at age of 22... But eating for stress relief had her stuck in her ways. Fortunately, there is now an incentive... She's obsessed with Bradley, a handsome guy who seems to be into her over FB... With her younger sister's wedding coming in a few months, and she's the maid of honor (and Bradley will be there) she's determined to make a change, by joining the "Health and Happiness Society". But as Lexie slowly comes to grips with her weight problem, and the pounds started to come off, will Lexie figure out WHY she overeats, and will she see the root problem of her self-image?

Great rom-com with a lot of self-deprecating humor about her own weight, as well as going into the core problem of eating as coping mechanism to stress. It's also a bit of self-discovery. Even Bradley's too-good-to-be-true persona wasn't a total cliche. 5/5

GRR Reviews Two Last First Dates by Kate O'Keefe

Paige had enough of her e-mail marketing job under her toxic boss and her previous "last first date" (i.e. finding Mr. Right) crashed and burned. She needed to find herself and quit her job, fast. Fortunately, her best friends are there to help, even as she found a temporary job at the Cozy Cottage Cafe. She met Josh, the friendly coffee delivery guy, and he's nice, but not really... sparkly. Her friends decided to help her by helping her choose Mr. Right for her, while she concentrated on finding a different job, even as she met Marcus, man of her dreams. Just about perfect, hot, charming, good job, likes her... She wanted to date him. But did her friends pick Marcus as her last first date?

Good chick-lit rom-com moments where the heroine has to find herself AND her love at the same time. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews The Trouble with Tabbies by A G Henley

Beatrix aka "Bea" is a romance writer who loved cats. Yes, she's the proverbial "cat lady", with well over two dozen cats at home. She wanted her trust fund so she can help build a new building for the local cat adoption facility, but she knew that her father, who had never approved of her choices, will question her lack of fiancee. So she needs a fake fiancee, and as a romance writer, she knew it's a trope that fake relationship inevitably turns real. She found Sebastian, photographer and bartender, and they agreed to a pact: she'll pay him to pretend to be her fiancee, with PDA (but no kissing or real feelings), but if they actually fall in love, he'll give up his beloved Canon camera... and she'll give up her personal fur baby... That should work... Right? But things are never that simple, as her father pulled out all the stops to break them ("for her own good") and even her old fiancee showed up, wanting a second chance...

Ah, an interesting twist on the fake fiancee, with a bit of fourth-wall-breaking about one being a romance writer. 5/5

GRR Reviews The Problem with Pugs by A G Henley

Amelia's boyfriend Tim left for Bali more than three months ago, leaving his pug Doug behind for her to care, and only video calls once a week. Doug's behavior is getting worse and worse. The dog ate her underwear and destroys furniture. After cornering the building manager in a room, and biting Amelia's new guy (who sent her the medical bill) Amelia had to find help fast, which means the handsome mobile veterinarian Travis. It's clear Doug has separation issues, and maybe Amelia does too. The dog can be trained out of it. But what about Amelia?

A bit of a rom-com, and Doug is kinda funny. But the story is obviously about Amelia, and can she actually let go of Tim?  It's sweet, but Travis is a bit too morose, at least by last half, to be a comedy. 4/5