GRR Reviews Rocky Mountain Retreat by Vivian Arend

Rachel has retreated to her cousin's remote cabin, hoping a little distance and alone time can help her recover from her heartbreak from her cheating ex. Then a blizzard brought her a surprise visitor... Lee, who's more than 10 years her junior, but never hid his desire for her. Stranded together by a snowstorm, and with great chemistry, it's clear they can be good together, but Lee told Rachel outright that this is NOT a one-night-stand... He wants forever with her, and he'll go as slow with her as she wanted...

Ah, slow-wooing, and a little bit of May/September. Nice, even though nothing really dramatic happened. 4/5

GRR Reviews Ride Baby Ride by Vivian Arend

Gage wanted her best friend's little sister Katy for a long time, but she's always with the jerk Simon. Gage needed money, so he signed up for a 6-month stint in the oilfields of Alaska... Just as he heard that Katy finally kicked Simon to the curb, the night before he leaves... and he claimed Katy (with her permission) with a promise to be back in 6 months. However, right after he left, Katy got into a car accident... with a head injury that left memory gaps, and Gage switched to an ultra-short 2-month stint that actually paid more because it's even harder work. When Gage came back, Katy barely seems to remember him... and Katy is pregnant... even as Simon tried to claim that they had gotten back together... So who's the baby daddy... and who does she want?

Awwww, that's a cute way to use the amnesia trope. Add in the complications (like evil ex, pregnancy, best friend's little sister, etc.) and it's a good story.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 4/5

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

GRR Reviews Rocky Mountain Romance (Six Pack Ranch) by Vivian Arend

Rocky Mountain Romance is a quick read and some decent if not particularly deep relationships. It's above average, but not *THAT* above average.

Steve Coleman never realized what he had been missing... Until she's gone. But now Melody's back in town, it's time to show her the new and improved Steve... // Melody went off to veterinary school. Ten months later, she's back, just in time for her boss to go on a vacation, leaving her in charge. But the town wasn't quite ready for a female large animal vet, and the cold shoulder she got, as well as a power struggle with the other vet (small animals) at the clinic left her fuming. Only Steve's wicked distractions (i.e. lots of hot sex) held her frustrations at bay. But is this now the "real" Steve?

Less angst, more sex. This series had always been about hot cowboys. The psyche and relationships are not particularly deep, but then it didn't have to be. The resolution works much better though.

Category: Contemporary / Western

Primary Plot: Hot cowboy gets a second chance with the woman that went to vet school and is now back, but is this the "real" him?

Tropes: reunion, return, doctor (veterinarian), small town, work drama, want him/her back

Overall Rating:  4/5

GRR Reviews Rocky Mountain Haven (Six Pack Ranch B by Vivian Arend

Rocky Mountain Haven is a contemporary romance where both FMC and MMC are flawed, not just mentally, but physically as well, but in a way that's not often discussed in romances.

Beth's emotionally abusive husband is dead, and all she cared about is raising her three boys in a small town in Alberta. She was not ready to try sex or love, after ten years of vanilla... Until she ran into Daniel in a Calgary Bar, and her libido, long unused, came alive, and Daniel gave in to her demands... for no-strings non-vanilla sex. But the more they sneak off, but more they realize they are perfect for each other... Not just in bed... However, Beth has a secret she's not ready to share... But so does Daniel...

Without spoiling the story, let's just say both have a bit of... biological problem, but no, that does not in any way prevent them from enjoying themselves, but when they have to come clean... it's about what each of them is willing to share, and overcome the mental barriers. Good character arc for both.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Widow with three kids wanted to start over in Alberta Canada, and found the perfect man to try something new with...

Tropes: widow, single parent, scars, fling to a thing, family secrets

Overall Rating:  4/5

GRR Reviews Rocky Mountain Heat (Six Pack Ranch Bo by Vivian Arend

Rocky Mountain Heat is about going after what you want, even if there's an age difference. While the theme is fine, and sex is hot, it feels unfocused, as there are some background plot regaridng a 2nd pair, Matt and Helen that diffused the story of Blake and Jaxi, as if the author had to find something to fill out the pages to make a novel out of it.

To recap, Jaxi was a hangers-on, one of the girls hanging around the six Coleman brothers, and she had always had a thing for the oldest, Blake, but she was encouraged to go after someone closer to her own age (about 9 year difference from Blake) Now that Jaxi is all grown up she is going after what he wanted... Except Blake keeps pushing her away, because she's the sweet girl next door that was always a little sister to him, and because he thought she was dating one of his brothers. But when the Coleman matriach broke her arm and needed an attendant, Jaxi volunteered to stay in the Coleman house. And when the other Coleman brothers decided to make a move, Blake had to step up to the plate to claim what is his...

The romance between Jaxi and Blake is fine, and was written quite nicely. The problem is with the 2nd romance, where Matt is having issues with his wife Helen, who doesn't want to be a ranch wife. It just feels so... "tacked-on", with no relations to Jaxi and Blake except it involved the Colemans. Thus, I can only give an average rating.

Category: Contemporary / Western

Primary Plot: The girl is all grown up and sets out to seduces the oldest brother, who kept pushing her away... but soon relents

Tropes: all grown up, ranch, nurse

Overall Rating:  3/5