GRR Reviews Dear Santa: The Party by Mona Ingram

Paige just finished catering a high-profile Christmas party for a high-tech company and was just checking the final details when a guy from the cleaning crew walked in. Already exhausted, she accepted invitation to relax a little. He's handsome, and a good listener. She didn't know that's actually the company CEO, late to his own party, and wanted to know Paige a lot better...

NOTE: This is a 80-page short, and it is indeed sweet and hopeful. 4/5

GRR Reviews Chasing Rainbows by Mona Ingram

Taylor left her supermodel career behind after being betrayed in the worst way. She hid on her father's remote ranch, hoping to get over the hurt and learn to live and trust again. Finding a message in a bottle was a surprise... it's from a man trying to move past the death of his wife, that even his daughter is urging him to try again. He sounds too good to be true, but how can she find out if she's not willing to try? And when her father interfered, how will they react?

Warm fuzzies all around, and signature Mona Ingram story. 4/5

GRR Reviews Now and Forever by Mona Ingram

Jenna is homeless, through no fault of her own. Her "fiancee" stole everything from her, every penny from her accounts, all her photography equipment, and left her months behind on the rent and other bills. She had to sleep in her car. And with no job and no equipment, she had no way to make a living... Then she found a cute boy named Danny had stowed away in her car... // Brett is a surgeon that worked hard to create the perfect family, but things fell apart through no fault of his own. His wife died, taking a secret with her. His son Danny was supposed to be with a housekeeper, but when he found the house empty, and a message informing him that the replacement housekeeper fell through, he started to panic... Just then Jenna drove up to their house with Danny. // Jenna can see the concern in Brett's eyes, but he clearly doesn't know how to show it. When Brett, in desperation, and saw how well Jenna connected with Danny, offered her the housekeeper position... She can't turn it down...

Not the first novel with the plot "down and out woman rescues kid, ended up as nanny and won over single father" but this was very well polished with ZERO cursing and ZERO sex, just a lot of unsaid emotional angst. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews Twice Shy by Mona Ingram

NOTE: Previously published under the title "The Shell Game"

Becky arrived at Waterlilly Bay Lodge too late. She had planned to spend her summer here with beloved Gran, only to learn that she had passed away before she can get here. Then she found that her old boyfriend, Mitch, had been helping Gran for the past four years, while she's in Hollywood busy honing her screenwriting career. They were both shocked when Gran had left the Lodge (B&B) to both of them, with a request that they (Mitch and Becky) should try to run it together for a year. Will they finally learn what took Mitch away that night, and will they finally be over it all? Can they work through the problems that affected the Lodge?

While the tropes are nothing new (weird will, reunion, return), Mona Ingram managed to put minor spin on each that made it fresh, without taking away the conventions. Gran's will is not the kind that would have a lawyer take it away, but rather, a kind request that you don't dare ignore for disappointing her, even after death. And both characters are reasonably well off... So they are doing it for the duty, not the money. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews Lianne (Second Chances Series Book 2) by Mona Ingram

Lianne lost her husband on the shores of Cornwall coast of England. He was an environmental scientist in tune with the land, but a survey done in a storm on the coast caused him to be swept away. It took Lianne years for the courage to visit the place, and even liked a local man and his dog. But when she confessed her attraction to him, he confessed he was there that night... He was her husband's driver, and he felt guilty he wasn't able to save him... Then he disappeared. Did her confession drive him away? Can she ever love again?

Second chance love with a twist... about losses that can't seem to hurt or heal, but perhaps a new love can help. This one had some nasty neighbors interfering. The darkest hour and grand gesture are fitting.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Guilt conflicts with desire in a tale of serendipity

Overall Rating: 4/5

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

GRR Reviews More Than Forever (Forever Series) by Mona Ingram

More Than Forever by Mona Ingram is about two people thrown together over a windfall of good fortune together... but both were deeply hurt to be unsure about love at all, much less with each other.

Bonnie, divorced, is finally learning to be herself. She's lost weight, she's better, but her inability to bear children left doubts on her mind whether she's worthy of love. // Marty ran the family vineyard all his life, but when his brother sold the vineyard out from under him, he's despondent. // Both of their lives changed when they became co-winners of 88 million lottery jackpot. And when they met, they saw in each other what they missed... companion, friendship, and maybe even... love. But will they be let go of their past to welcome the future?

Nice twists even though they don't quite tie back to the main topic itself. This is more of a character study, on how Bonnie found herself again, and how Marty needed a certain something to keep living, and how they can share that with each other. At only 100 some pages, there is a lot of plot and proves Mona Ingram can do both shorter and longer works.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot:  Two damaged people won the lottery jackpot together. Can they leave their hurt past behind to achieve their future together?

Overall Rating: 4/5

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

GRR Reviews Forever Changed (Forever Series) by Mona Ingram

Forever Changed is a novella (100 pages) about an epiphany in life after a struggle with morality... and a hot fling to enjoy life.

Ariana has breast cancer. She had already lost her mother, her sister, and an aunt to breast cancer. And she's still young. As a successful realtor, Ariana has NOT really had a happy marriage. And the cancer diagnosis brought an epiphany... What had she really done with her life, should she get a second chance after surgery and treatment? Enter Blaine, tattoo artist... and all around hot guy...

It's not quite insta-lust, but it's close, and you can guess that Blaine has his own inner demons to wrestle. But the book is about deep emotional relationships between people in their personal crisis, and that, the author delivers in spades.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Woman diagnosed with breast cancer had an epiphany about life: had she really lived and loved? Should she have a fling?

Overall Rating: 4/5

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

GRR Reviews No Such Thing (San Francisco Gold Rush) by Mona Ingram

No Such Thing is a historical romance set in the California gold rush days. However, there were quite a few plot elements that didn't quite fit in history. The book is also mostly adventure, with not too much love or emotion involved. The book also felt like it should have ended somewhere but was forcefully continued.

Lily's life in Shanghai ended in a nightmare when her father died and she was sold to a sea captain to be taken to San Francisco as the new girl in a brothel. Being born in the year of the tiger, she was determined to survive upon arrival, and she seized her chance when her wagon overturned, and she escaped into the night, a stranger in a strange land... and was taken in by a kind family of brothers and sisters. Devon, the young Bostonian, vowed to protect her from harm, but the captain refuses to lose his investment. When Lily was recaptured, Devon and his gang had to mount a rescue mission, but will that be enough to win Lily's heart?

The problem with this book is I couldn't tell whether the story was supposed to continue or not, as the book went on to SEVERAL more adventures AFTER her rescue (Lily starting a business, Lily moving to Sacramento to start a vegetable farm, Lily saving Devon's business, etc.) The stakes didn't... escalate quite right. But it's still a fun story to read if a bit ahistorical (Lily finding gold near Sacramento).  It's as if it's written for a serial.

Category: Historical

Primary Plot: Young Chinese woman destined for a brothel in San Francisco was rescued by a kind man, but can she love him?

Overall Rating: 3/5

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

GRR Reviews This Time Forever (The Forever Series) by Mona Ingram

This Time Forever is a different worlds / hot for boss romance but it was very nicely... "disguised". But the ending was slightly underwhelming.

Lexie Swinton had toiled for five years at a premier Vancouver restaurant as the head chef under a manager that's cutting corners for profit. When the manager unilaterally cut the wine and cheese pairing without consulting her leaving the suppliers in a lurch, she quit in disgust and decided to take some time to find herself. She didn't get very far... she ran into a quaint little diner in a remote location on Vancouver Island and helped the harried waitress serve the work crew renovating the place. And she liked the place and attention so much she was contemplating staying on as head cook. Then she met the owner Jesse Cooper... someone she had fantasized about, for Jesse's also a pilot that landed near the docks on the amphibian plane. But Jesse is far more than just a pilot, besides owning the diner. Jesse is a kind-hearted guy that wanted to help the community, but he's also keeping a secret... He actually owns the airline AND owned the restaurant Lexie used to work at. And he liked Lexie a lot. But it never seems to be the right time to tell her... When she found out, will she decide to run... again?

Long Novella (about 130-140 pages), I like the characters a lot, though the complications near the end was a bit forced. What are the chances the MMC owns both the cafe AND that same restaurant? The end was basically FMC having self-inadequacy issues, something she didn't seem to have before. Still, a nicely polished tale.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Chef quit her job, and found a small cafe to run, and got to know the owner she liked, but he's keeping a secret...

Tropes: chef, hot for boss, disguise, different worlds, betrayal

Overall Rating:  4/5

GRR Reviews Deception (International Romance Series by Mona Ingram

Deception is a contemporary romance that's mainly about initial impressions being wrong, but also about forgiveness. However, some of the reactions from the characters came across as melodramatic rather than really morally conflicting.

To recap... Former model Justine Phillips quit her runway life after her mother got cancer. A promising treatment that initially showed results suddenly resulted in her mother's death and Justine was devastated. She chose a different career path altogether. She had just arrived in twon to help her best friend when her best friend committed her to be auctioned off for a dinner at a charity benefit event. She chose to drastically change her appearance and appear as Jasmine, and a big bidder, Alex, also won her heart, as he's gorgeous, nice, charming, and more. That was, until she learned that he is the head of OmegaPharma... the company that made the treatment that killed her mother. Justine is now confused... She wanted Alex Melrose, but can she consort with the person who basically killed her mother? Is he in love with Jasmine or Justine? Justine had to appear as herself to Alex, and see if he's still interested, and slowly learned that what she thought was the truth about her mother's death... was nothing like what she thought... but even as she fell for the kind-hearted Alex as Justine, Alex learned the truth about Jasmine...

Some of the plot points barely make sense. The initial parts are fine, the meetcute at the auction was good. As was the conflict there. The problem was the escalation... What's with the secret identity and failure to reveal? It's almost a trope that it's NEVER the right time to talk about such things, and something ALWAYS happens to interrupt the confession and then, of course, the person who was supposed to hear it gets angry when he found out or figured out the deception. A lot of the travel seems almost superfluous, in fact. What was the point of traveling to Africa to help a charity when donating money to build things and hire locals and teach them skills seem to be a much more efficient way of doing things? And doesn't the big CEO have any sort of security team?

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Woman is conflicted between wanting a rich man she connected with, and rejecting the man whom may be responsible for her mother's death

Tropes: auction, different worlds, disguise, enemies to lovers

Overall Rating:  3/5

GRR Reviews A Forever Kind of Love by Mona Ingram

A Forever Kind of Love is the kind of sappy and poignant love story with just a hint of supernatural that will leave you wiping your eyes and sighing about the happy ending. In fact, there are two stories here... a parallel romance, so to speak.

Charlie needed a new start after being dumped by the lame boyfriend, and when her aunt needed a little help on her farm, she thought of it as the perfect vacation. And once Charlie arrived, she found her neighbor Jason to be such a temptation. Jason's last GF decided she doesn't want to be a farm girl, so he's suspicious of any city girls, including Charlie. Then Charlie found a ghost in her aunt's dancehall... His name is Harm, and he died in 1936, after promising to elope. And his love's name was Charlotte... Charlie's great-great-great-grand-aunt. Charlotte died of a broken heart and never married, and somehow, both Charlotte and Harm are stuck on this mortal plane, unable to pass. Charlie promised Harm to help any way she can... and she'll need Jason's help to do it...

I'm not going to spoil how two present-day people can help two ghosts pass on and achieve their forever after, let's just say, read the book. It's not that long, and it'll bring a tear into your eyes.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: A woman visiting her aunt found an interesting man... and two ghost lovers from 1936. She'll need his help to set two ghost lovers free...

Tropes: neighbor, scars, different worlds, just visiting

Overall Rating: 5/5 (rounded up)

GRR Reviews Loving From Afar by Mona Ingram

Loving From Afar is about choices and consequences, about honor and sacrifice, about the road not taken and make the best with what you got, and about second chances. However, the MMC Cole was not believable and the FMC feels like a doormat to have stuck pining for Cole all this time as to the point of "why are you still pining for that man?"

Allison and Cole had their future planned. Then Cole, one night, made a decision that was rational at the time, but invariably changed two lives and set a chain of events in motion that drove the couple apart. Cole was arrested for a jewelry store robbery he did not commit, but he refused to give up the name of the perp, so he was sentenced to 18 months in prison. He did not know that during this time, Allison would make friends, then was betrayed by those friends when she was raped at a party and became pregnant. They went their separate ways, each believing they were betrayed by the other, or were too ashamed of admitting to their feelings. They didn't try to keep in touch. Ten years later, Cole is back in town... his father is very ill, and Cole needed to figure things out with Allison...

The emotional toil simply did not work for me. Cole was planning a life with Allison, so why would he give that up and go to jail for a crime he did NOT commit, knowing that to do so will destroy his plans and Allison? That spur of moment decision that cost him TEN YEARS in total? And why did Allison wait for him? Really makes no sense when you think about it.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Guy makes a decision that cost him happiness with the girl; ten years late, girl was changed, but still pined for him

Tropes: fated mate, reunion, scars, PTSD

Overall Rating:  2/5

GRR Reviews The Last Goodbye (The Women of Indepe by Mona Ingram

The Last Goodbye used an "opposites attract" trope to set up the romance between the MMC, a movie director, and the FMC, a contractor / horsewoman, Overall the setup was great the climax was almost perfect, but I don't like the way the ending was achieved.

Danielle Flynn is afraid of losing people, who never told her goodbye. Her parents are gone, her husband was divorced. She took solace in running a construction and contracting company, and staying aloof from people, not willing to hurt again, until her uncle Jake, owner of the ranch she lived on, allowed a friend to bring in a movie crew to use his ranch for the movie, and Danielle fell for the director, Grayson Crawford. But Danielle told herself she needs to stay away, because Grayson is leaving in a few weeks. That proved to be difficult when her uncle Jake fell for one of the older actresses, Carman Santangelo, and when the female lead got drunk and fell off the porch and broke her arm, Danielle was offered a temporary role as the horsewoman / stunt double.. and while she enjoyed the experience, it only made her certain that she and Grayson were of two different worlds... Was Danielle making the biggest mistake of her life, by loving Grayson?

WARNING: SPOILER AHEAD

Right near the end, self-inadequacy set in and FMC walked away, only to change her mind later. I *hate* "change of heart" endings because it's a very minor struggle. At least she made the grand gesture... She flew to California to visit him and confess she made a mistake to achieve the HEA. So why a darkest hour AFTER the emotional climax? Just feels... wrong.  I like the character arc, but somehow the emotional arc doesn't feel right.


Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Woman who was afraid of people leaving her fell for the one man who will be leaving in a few weeks

Tropes: different worlds, scars, ranch, performer

Overall Rating: 3/5

GRR Review A Family for Christmas by Mona Ingram

A Family for Christmas is the tale of two couples: Brent Drummond and Maddie LaRocque, as well as Lily Hsu and Chase Drummond, both finding love for the holidays.

The Drummonds are brothers and both have some problems with their ex's being a bit possessive. Maddie had an ex named Allan who got engaged to someone else, prompting Maddie to move to her present location, while Lily... had never been in love that way (with a slight complication of being Chinese-American). Their common interest is Annie, niece of the Drummond brothers, whose parents died and was taken in by the two uncles. Can they make families by Christmas? 

With two separate couples, there were two darkest hours and two grand gestures, but both were done deftly, despite recycling the oldest of romance tropes: jealousy. And how often does an Asian American woman gets the guy in a romance?

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Woman fell for building's "maintanence man" while her bestie fell for his brother when both came to know their niece, little Annie. But can they make families by Christmas?

Tropes: holiday, orphan, sudden family, protector

Overall Rating: