GRR Reviews Red Hot Christmas (Pride) by Jill Sanders

Red Hot Christmas is a novel about wrong first-impressions, that plays into long-held prejudices. There is a character arc, but there's also more than a bit of immaturity, i.e. "why don't you just ask?" Or "why don't you just speak up?"

Amber is new to Pride, Oregon, as the new manager of Golden Oar, after having enough of managing a restaurant in a big city that was not appreciated. Her last BF had been a man-child and she would definitely NOT want a repeat. When she barely pulled into town, she almost ran over a man... riding full speed in 'downtown' main street... on a BMX. Even as he sailed over her hood, she couldn't help but be entranced by those gorgeous blue eyes... right up until he landed on the ground with road rash... and then she was too angry and indignant to care. His name is Luke, and he... doesn't seem to have a regular job except he seems to be playing games all the time. Luke now must convince Amber he's not a man-child, but someone she can trust to keep her heart.

The conflict is all about withholding information, leaving the other party to guess, and reaching all the WRONG conclusions. This can be done to either dramatic or comedic effect. But when its' about as shallow as "gaming", it feels very... nebulous. It's warm, but not that fuzzy.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Can a tech geek who doesn't seem to treat life seriously convince a restaurant manager to love him in all seriousness?

Tropes: holiday, fish out ofw ater, fling to a thing scars,

Overall Rating:  3/5

GRR Reviews Loving Lauren (West Series Book 1) by Jill Sanders

Loving Lauren is a new spin on the old "marriage of convenience" trope, but otherwise, it's a pretty standard romance.

Lauren lost both of her parents and had to help raise both of her little sisters by herself while trying to keep their family Texas ranch afloat. She had pinched every bit of money possible because she made a devil's bargain 7 years ago to keep the ranch independent... except for this one little secret, with Chase, her childhood sweetheart. But he left to go to veterinary school, and she's all alone. She has no time for distractions, and the house was basically falling down around them. But now Chase is back, ready to help his dad with his Vet practice... AND to rejoin Lauren... and this time, he's here to stay... If he can only make Lauren see that...

In a way, this is also a "love interrupted" story (where the couple had to split for a while, but then reunite and had to rekindle their romance). The idea of keeping that devil's bargain a secret, as well as a proper reason for making the marriage of convenience actually work, made this story quite enjoyable and better than the typical "marriage of convenience" novels.

Category: Contemporary / Western

Primary Plot: Woman found the man she made a bargain with was back in town... and here to stay... will she give him her heart this time?

Tropes: ranch, childhood sweetheart, orphan, small town, disguise, reunion, marriage of convenience

Overall Rating:  4/5 (rounded up)

GRR Reviews Secret Seduction (Secret Series Book 1) by Jill Sanders

Secret Seduction is supposed to be a girl finding herself after traumatized by a huge secret (her father isn't her biological father) but then she had to be rescued by her best friend... and boyfriend. There are some unknown threats from some evil entity that doesn't want her to see her biological father. The story is confusing, and the suspense barely works

To recap, Katie ran to Europe and was just traveling lite after cutting ties with her family. She found out that her biological father was NOT the father she was brought up by, even though she's among the richest in the country and a blueblood. Her biological father was one of the richest men in Europe and had an affair with her mother, and she was the result, and she had been living a lie for 20+ years. She had just wanted a simple life with her best friend Jason, whom she wanted since she was eight, but now, she just wanted to travel through Europe, avoiding the media, avoiding... everybody, except maybe find her biological father. What she did not know is Jason is much closer than she thinks. For Jason had been tracking her, having been retained by her mother to find her. When bad guys came after her for her money and a mastermind who want to stop her from reaching Rome, Jason has to save her, even if it means betraying her trust.

Frankly, even after I finished the book, I don't quite get why was the mastermind so intent on stopping Katie from reaching Rome, enough to hire thugs all over Italy to stop Katie and Jason, not to mention tracking devices, to the tune of huge paydays for the head thugs. And Jason seems to be super-spy worthy, a little too competent? At least the relationship seems quite competently written.

Category: Contemporary / Romantic suspense

Primary Plot: Rich girl ran to Europe after learning she's a bastard; her best friend was sent to track her down; thugs want to kidnap her (why?)

Tropes: kidnapping, friends to lovers, reunion

Overall Rating: 3/5 (rounded up)

GRR Reviews Last Resort (Grayton Series Book 1) by Jill Sanders

Last Resort started off with an interesting premise but failed on multiple levels by giving us a Male Main Character that is simply a passive-aggressive doormat, and resolved his problem for him (i.e. a deus ex machina) so he can have his happily ever after.

Cassey had a tough childhood and the bar and grill she operated on the boardwalk was the best thing that happened to her until some rich bastard stopped the public shuttle service and drove away half the business. Now that rich bastard's son Luke is in her bar asking her if she wanted to sell. Well, he can go to hell. However, Cassey didn't count on Luke being so deliciously handsome, and cocky, and knew just the right things to say. And Luke wanted her. Luke was told by his father... don't come back without the deed (to Cassey's place), and Cassey's bar is on the prime part of the boardwalk, that his father wanted to buy up, and it was obvious from walks that his father played dirty, which infuriated him. He should have been the son with no responsibilities. His brother was the golden child, but his brother... is gone. And he refuses to compromise his own values just to do his father's bidding, esp. when it comes to hurting Cassey...

WARNING: SPOILER AHEAD

As I said before, the problem was resolved for him, and he basically fobbed his father off until his father changed his mind (due to a stroke). That is just bad plotting!

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Passive-Aggressive bloke pretended to do his fathers bidding (buy out the bar) while wooing the bar's owner

Tropes: evil parents, evil boss, bar owner, different worlds

Overall Rating:  2/5

GRR Reviews Unlucky in Love (The Lucky Series) by Jill Sanders

Unlucky in Love is a rom com that relied on... curse, about a woman who can't get a break, and a guy that saved her more than once, and taught her about making her own luck.

Kristen Collins had been cursed for years, even since her boyfriend chose to spend his sister's birthday with her instead, causing his sister to curse her. She had a continuous stream of loser boyfriends, the latest of which emptied her apartment of furniture and half of her shoes and clothing and disappeared in an U-haul. She lost her winning lottery ticket (left it on the train), and her brand new car (paid for from payout of apartment insurance) was lost when she was carjacked within hours of taking delivery of the car (car was totaled, of course). The only bright spot in her life were her friends, and the new employee at her company, Aiden Scott, who charmed her like no other. But due to the curse, she had to step carefully... Aiden was smitten already, as Kristen's one mishap after another requires him to save the damsel in distress multiple times, from elevator malfunction to getting locked out on the balcony while snowing... and more. But Aiden was keeping a secret, and it will likely destroy Kristen's trust in him...

While the curse feels a bit too much rom-com-y, it was tear-inducing funny and something you'll groan and laugh at the same time. If you want something funny and sweet, this is your book.

Category: rom-com, contemporary

Primary Plot: Girl who can't get a break falls for guy with a secret at their company, and he had to save her multiple times

Tropes: disguise, klutz, different worlds

Overall Rating: 4/5

GRR Reviews Finding Pride (Pride Series) by Jill Sanders

Finding Pride is about second chance in life when the FMC escaped a horrible man, moved to other side of the country, and falls for an intense man who reminded her very much of her horrible ex, but with much better chemistry. The suspense is quite lacking, the FMC seems to just fall for the same controlling type again?

Megan Kimble was abused for years by her ex, and when he finally went to jail, she was free, but had nowhere to go. When her brother died unexpectedly, she moved to Texas to attend his funeral, and to take over his business, and met her brother's business partners: Iian and Todd Jordan. And Todd was charming, handsome, and wanted to know her better. Megan doesn't want a man in her life, as she was slow to trust, and Todd... was a bit too intense for her. But Todd is willing to go slow for Megan, to take as long as she needs... But time is running out, when Megan's psycho ex escaped from prison...

The suspense, as explained, did not work, as there book basically resorted to "kidnapping" for the plot's climax, and it really came out of nowhere. That's a trope in itself. And the ex somehow left her alive just so he can punish her for what she "deserved"? Really made no sense.  The pivot was also quite abrupt.

Category: Contemporary / Romantic Suspense

Primary Plot: Woman finally escaped her evil abusive husband and moved elsehwere, found an intense but kind man; then her psycho ex broke out of prison...

Tropes: woman in peril, scars, kidnapping, protector, evil ex,

Overall Rating:  3/5