GRR Reviews Baylee Breaking by Simone Beaudelaire

Baylee Breaking is a romance pivoting into romantic suspense, about opening oneself to love despite having been wounded before. While some of the plot was not totally believable, the details are relatively minor and did not distract from the overall plot.

Chase moved to another side of Texas after a bitter divorce with Candace, his childhood sweetheart. At the new place, he fell in love with the pretty and fragile Baylee, and her son Dylan, only to find she's actually homeless, and he took them in immediately. Baylee's ex, Blake, was in a gang, and he went to prison for 4 years instead of ratting out his gang, and Baylee cut contact, so Blake didn't even know he had a son. Blake's parents, however, knew and tried to force Baylee to give up custody. When she refused, they called child protective services on her. Chase offered Baylee a solution: marry him, and settle in his home permanently... Which will leave CPS nothing to talk about. But even as that problem is solved, Baylee's ex Blake escaped from prison and kidnaped Dylan...

SLIGHT SPOILER AHEAD

I am surprised that head of a trucking firm would not know that parolees are not supposed to leave the state. But when reminded of this fact, that was quickly rectified. All in all, it's a fun read.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Guy falls for vulnerable single mom and cute kid, then her ex and her ex's parents started to mess with her life

Tropes: protector, single parent, scars, evil ex, evil in-laws, kidnapping

Overall Rating:  4/5

GRR Reviews Saving Sam by Simone Beaudelaire and J M Northup

Saving Sam is a hard look at how a couple deals with PTSD... and not being a doormat. Part of the book was dry as heck, but part of it is about sacrifices done in the name of love, even when it's misplaced.

Sam Wallace is back home on leave in prep of separation after tour in Afghanistan in the Air Force. And he was changed forever. His best friend, Amy, and one-time lover, no longer recognized him except the smile. Sam, who was once spoiled rich kid constantly seeking attention is now a haunted hard warrior who can't stand crowds or loud noises, but Amy stood by his side, and shared his bed, for it was the only comfort he can take, and she can give. But Sam's PTSD resurfaced full-force into a psychotic break from reality, and in the process Amy was injured. After being committed to a psych facility, Sam wanted Amy to stay away from him because he doesn't want to hurt her again, but Amy has a secret she had to share as well...

My problem with this book is once Sam was committed the book reads really really dry. While it was probably researched well, it's not very dramatic except the confrontation when both had to share their secrets to move on to healing. I applaud the author to tackle the tough issues rather than treat it cavalierly (i.e. good partner and some steamy sex fix everything) and the characters rings very true, though I feel the plot was somewhat lacking in certain places. In the end, I decided to give it a 3.5 rounded up to 4/5 stars.

Category: Military

Primary Plot: PTSD warrior back home with his girl... then had a total psychotic break; can they still love each other?

Tropes: PTSD, reunion, on the rocks

Overall Rating: 4/5 (rounded up)