GRR Reviews Hello Dr. Christmas by Olivia Noble

Clara, the ballerina, may have just suffered a career-ending injury, leaving her understudy to take over. Dr. Klause Anderson is a world-renowned orthopedic surgeon that is visiting his brothers in the US, and still running from the grief of losing his wife. The two met in a bar, recognized each other's sadness, and agreed to a no-name one-night encounter... that left both satisfied... Until they met the next day... as doctor/patient. It's clear that they share some tremendous chemistry, but is Klaus, aka Dr. Christmas, ready to move on from his tragedy? Or will Clara always be second place to a ghost?

Short, but quite emotional. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews Back To You by Hunter J Keane

Noelle drove far with her nephew and niece to start over in Starlight Valley after a family tragedy. Her niece isn't happy that they're now in a strange town and living on a Christmas tree farm, but her nephew seems to be interested in this new world... Until Noelle realized this is also where Evan lived. // Evan had to abandon his dreams of pro hockey after an injury, and lost Noelle. Now he's back to help run his aunt's Christmas tree farm...  and so did Noelle. Is this the second chance that they needed? Or are they too hurt to see it?

Seen the setup before, decent polish. 4/5

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 The Christmas Princess by Patricia McLinn

April's fiancee's mother just kicked her out so her spine-less (now ex-) fiancee can take back the woman she approves. While April has a lot of friends, she doesn't want to depend on them, even with Christmas fast approaching. So when State Department Security Agent Hunter approached her with an extraordinary offer, she was in no position to refuse... Spend a month in Washington DC with King Jozef of Bariavak, because April very much resembles his long-lost granddaughter. April very much enjoys spending time with Hunter, but Hunter has his own secrets and links with Bariavak... And King Jozef is happy to do a little royal matchmaking...

Not quite a comedy as advertised, as Hunter is basically your almost-cliche "strong silent type", being basically a bodyguard, but with a bit more depth to him than you'd expect, and April... her pride was ALMOST her downfall. Still, the characters are nicely nuanced and have character arcs, and the mystery about who is the princess... Will continue. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews A Lot Like Christmas by Kait Nolan

Special Forces Medic Ryan left Wishful a long time ago to be all he can be. But when he heard that his cantankerous great uncle Percy's health may be failing, yet refusing help, he took his leave and went back. Meeting a sweet waitress wasn't a part of his plan... // Hannah had to retire from her interior decorating job due to health reasons. She's helping out her sister as a waitress, and offering to decorate houses in Wishful to get back into her true love, when someone offered to be secret Santa to decorate Percy's place. Meeting Ryan wasn't in her plans. // The two are opposites, yet fit so right. Ryan is cool and professional, Hannah is warm and cheerful. But Ryan is going back to the army soon... right?

Good contrasts, using Percy and the town to tie them together, at least temporarily, which also added a time limit. I'd thought a special forces soldier would know better than let just a phone call to destroy his mood, but it works for dramatic purposes. 4/5

GRR Reviews Second Chance at Christmas Inn by Anne-Marie Meyer

Holly just inherited her grandmother's Christmas Inn, but she's more like the Scrooge. She needs the money to invest in a restaurant, so she's going to sell it, fast. When she found the will stated that she must stay at the inn through Christmas, she gritted her teeth and will make do. She didn't count on Stephen, or his adorable nephew... // Stephen had worked and live at the inn, with help of his sister and nephew, as the manager. He needs to keep a roof over his family, and Holly's insistence to sell the place will destroy his plans.  Can Stephen change Holly's mind before it's too late?

The story setup has been done before many times, and I honestly didn't feel very different with this particular approach. 3/5

GRR Reviews Aria's Christmas Wish by Victorine E Lieske

Kendra is a single mother raising her daughter the best she can, and Christmas is approaching fast. She knew who the father was... Country music star Jacob, but she can never tell him. She was petrified when Jacob returned to town, and saw her daughther. She denied she's his, but there is no mistaking those eyes. What had Jacob done for Kendra to hide a daughter from him? How can he redeem himself... and get his family back?

The reason is both reasonable yet overblown. It's nice, but not that... great. 4/5

GRR Reviews Wrapped Up in Beau by Mia L Heintzelman

Aubrey needs to write her "audition" article for a potential new job, but she only has a couple hours between flights heading home. She never expected to see Beau, whom she left six months ago because he's always putting work first and her second.... // Beau is about to get the position he always wanted as a financial advisor, so why does his heart feel so empty? When he heard that his grandma is in the hospital, he booked a flight to Chicago ASAP. He didn't expect to find Aubrey sharing the trip... Or is that perhaps, a second chance toward what each of them really wanted just before Christmas...

Not bad, but didn't quite feel the chemistry. The lead-up to the end is good though. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews All for Love by Lucy Kevin

Paige is a dance instructor, who inherited the dance gene of the family, and still grieves over losing her mother and betrayed by the only guy she ever loved. But this Christmas break will be spent teaching a hot TV star how to dance... // Christian is a hot TV star on a hit medical show who just got his movie star break... He'll star in the remake of the Fred Astaire / Ginger Rogers classic, but he needs serious lessons ASAP. // Chemistry sizzled between the two from the first meeting. Christian never knew someone like Paige existed, so effortlessly beautiful and talented, with virtually no ego... so much so she's self-effacing. And Paige sees Christian as nice, lovely, shares her passions, but she can never be worthy... or can she?

Good polish on the old "different worlds" story, peppered with good details and plot developments as well as trivia about the old classic. The grand gesture at the end is right on the money. So why not 5/5? No karma for the evil ex. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews A Chocolate-Box Christmas by Josie Riviera

Maise, the latest food critic for Bloomingfield Daily Dispatch, was sent to attend a Christmas chocolate cookie contest as one of the celebrity judges. Unfortunately, Maise is having a hard time purging memories of... well, tossing up her chocolate cookies after bad sushi. She wasn't expecting gorgeous Ben, co-owner of one of the chocolate shops, and last stop on her tasting. Ben handles the business side... not the chocolate side. And when he was hesitant answering some questions, her reporter's sense got a tingle... She smells a story (in addition to the chocolate) and he smells... her...

I'm not sensing much beyond pretty much a boy meets girl story, and this is a VERY short 50 page thing. 3/5

GRR Reviews The Christmas Cookie House by Jennifer Griffith

Leela is back in Massey Falls, to grieve for her mother and care for her ailing father, as well as try to fill her mother's shoes for the local Ladies' Auxiliary Cookie House benefit gala. However, it seems that Mrs Coldicott is determined to sink the event (and make Leela look bad) by refusing to host the event at her house (even though it's her turn), and no other venue is available... Unless Leela can convince town stranger Jay to allow the use of his Layton Mansion. But Jay had been spending the last few months renovating the place anticipating a quick sale, and now, he absolutely must clean out the attic... as stipulated in the will, before he has the title, free and clear. When an offer came through... and want to close BEFORE the event, Jay can't possibly sell the mansion out from under Leela... right? Who'd pay cash for a mansion before Christmas anyway?

The motivation wasn't explained until the very end, leaving the "persecution" (Caldicott's unexplained hostility toward Leela) just "weird", I guess the author is going for "the entire family is nuts" explanation. 4/5

GRR Reviews Christmas Like This by Carina Taylor

Marla and Trey both work at the same marketing firm but are mortal enemies... They were ordered by their boss to learn how to work together... Or else. In fact, they are both assigned to the Christmas party planning duty. But they are always verbally sparring with each other before... Each sees the other as aggravating... But it seems when Marla got a bit closer, Trey's protective... OVER-protective side comes out... and when Trey's not being a jerk, he's actually quite handsome...

Pretty good enemies to lovers kinda story. 4/5

GRR Reviews Taming Scrooge by Sophia Summers

Ezra, super developer, was raised by his cold father. He is strong-arming the the locals to accept his resort that will revive the sleeping town of Sanders Corners... by tearing down most of the iconic Main Street, including the famous Christmas Shoppe, open year-round with ornaments and more from all over the world. The city is mostly onboard, but Star, owner of the Christmas Shoppe, and daughter of the Christmas tree farm owner, is not giving up without a fight. She co-chairs the Festival of Trees with Ezra, hoping to get close to him and win his heart... But he has his own problems, when his father suddenly said they'll lose EVERYTHING unless they push the deal through, and they shall wreck the Christmas Shoppe on Christmas morning with a wrecking ball...

The story just feels very... forced. Ezra's father is basically super-scrooge that held on to a grudge for decades (and how does suing for half of everything at divorce even work after decades? Or did they NEVER divorce?)  And how he just "gracefully" accepts defeat at the end? WTF?!  And the town council flip-flopping? Argh!  2/5

GRR Reviews Not Until Christmas Morning by Valerie M Bodden

Austin lost his leg, his friend, and his faith in Afghanistan. With his brother also serving, he's determined to go back, but with the decision on his discharge in the air, and moping at home is not an answer, he decided to visit Hope Springs, where his parents came from... and met a neighbor having her own problems. // Leah has plenty of heart to give, but after betrayal, she decided to remain single, even as she decided to foster a teen problem child. But Jackson, who found his mother dead of OD, is determined not to let anyone ever hurt him again, and has been bounced out of multiple foster families. Yet Jackson formed a bond with their new neighbor, Austin. Leah had to be nice to Austin, but Jackson's sake, But can three broken souls make one happy family as Christmas nears?

VERY Christian, plenty of mention of Bible and faith, but NOT heavy-handed (as some Christian writers tend to sprinkle Bible quotes throughout), and great character arc for all three. I have a little problem with Jackson, whose behavior is conflicting. Seems he ONLY EVER eats a PBJ sandwich... which he later explained that it was the last thing his mom made for him, yet he also hates his mom for leaving him for drugs and OD death... But the story overall, is still quite uplifting. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews Keep Me At Christmas by Lucinda Whitney

Luciana Romano is just in Hudson Springs, New York, to work on the museum exhibit, as she's a fabric restoration specialist, and the exhibit is about the fabric and textile industry and products of the area. Meeting Jack DiLorenzo and his family is a bonus...  // Jack had to quit his plans when his father died and he took over as the head baker for the family cafe. Love was never in his plans. The snowstorm that stranded her for a few extra days was a bonus, but she's leaving soon... back home to Europe. // Can a long-distance relationship ever work?

Slow simmer romance of fish out of water and different worlds romance. 4/5

GRR Reviews Her Christmas Wedding Fake Fiancee by Jennifer Youngblood

Sofia has a great cleaning business. So when a prominent CEO, Colin, accused her employees of being negligent, she had to investigate personally. But the two alpha personalities quickly collided and neither would give an inch.  Then Colin made Sofia an offer she can't refuse... Be his fake Christmas fiancee to sooth over his family hassling him about finding a wife... and he'll forget the whole thing...

Rom-com, trope-ridden, but decently polished. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews her Compassionate Billionaire by Juliette Duncan

Jonathan "Jon" is a rich single father trying to raise 3 kids... by hiring nannies and overworking himself because he's still grieving over his wife's early death. When their nanny had to quit two weeks before Christmas due to family issues, he has no choice but to place ads to hire another. He didn't expect to find Ruth... // Ruth is a new empty nester... Her son, who just turned adult, is heading for college. Yes, she was a single mom, but she believes in God and He has lead her out of dark times. And she has more love to give. Being a nanny to 3 kids is exactly what she needed...

Not much innovation or twists, it's a straightforward hot for boss / hot for nanny romance albeit with a clean Christian theme around the Holidays. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews Her Totally Hot Forbidden Fake Fiance by Lucy McConnell

Diana has had enough of her family nagging her to find a man, and she has to be home for Christmas. When a friend suggested she invite someone unsuitable, the perfect candidate is her neighbor Cliff, who has nowhere to be around Christmas. Cliff has tattoos and thick beard, wears flannel, and is an electrician. Diana just has to NOT tell him that her mother believes they are engaged... // Cliff had been the victim of a runaway bride before, and he's not ready to put his heart on the line. And he's definitely upset (when he found out) that Diane portrayed him as her (fake) fiancee. But he would do anything for her... And he'll play along... Unfortunately, when Christmas magic and pushy circumstances rushed them toward a Christmas wedding... both have to confess their REAL feelings...

Nice, good setup and circumstances conspire to push them into admitting their affections for each other. 4.5/5

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