GRR Reviews Wild For You by Kendall Ryan

 Grant, the Seattle pro hockey team captain, is a loner who grew up in foster care. When a teammate Kress intimidated Ana at a team dinner, he instinctively stepped in to de-escalate the situation. When Ana, a few days later, requested assistance after another anger episode with Kress, Grant took her in. When a video surfaced of Kress abusing Ana in public, it is clear she can never go back. But is Grant crossing a line, taking in a girl that used to belong to his soon-to-be-ex teammate? Or had he already fallen for her? And when they had one night of passion, only to find weeks later she's pregnant, just who is the daddy? Or does that even matter? 

I... really don't feel much for this one. Grant is the quintessential good guy that ends up being a bit of a milquetoast. And Ana... not sure what to think of her. Yes, she's nice, didn't deserve the treatment at the hands of Kress, and finding a good guy like Grant is great. On the other hand, she's also flipping back and forth, about "doesn't want to look like she's sleeping her way up the ranks" and "I have to prove to myself I can live stand on my own" / "leeching off Grant". And Kress? For a villain he's a really pathetic one. Really not one of author's best works. 

2.5/5 rounded up to 3/5

GRR Reviews The Billionaire's Christmas Bundle of Joy by Holly Rayner

Mia, second anchor at SNO News, loved her job, despite being relegated to "fluff" news items. She was covering a story about a man who refused to pull down his Christmas decorations even though it's April, when her boss, James, the media mogul (who owns her station and many more across the country), arrived in town. He's a man's man, gorgeous, but hates Christmas. But when a freak snow storm stranded him in town with her (let's just say a Porsche 911 isn't good in the snow) in the station, they ended up doing the horizontal tango after quite a bit of wine. Then he left the next day, and that's that. Until she learned that she'll be giving him a Christmas present... as apparently they forgot to use a condom...

A bit of meh. Really didn't feel it much that would lead to a one-night-stand, and other than the open mike oops, there really isn't much of a conflict. 3/5

GRR Reviews Mommy's Boyfriend by Victoria Snow

Rylee chose an older guy, Spencer, a regular client at the cafe she works, to get her V-card. It was as wonderful as she'd expected... Except both forgot about a condom. He never appeared again, and she got a present that showed up nine months later and had to move back home. Five years later, she saw Spencer again... On the arm of her mom... as her mom's fake boyfriend because her mom's boss got a bit too hands-on. Yikes, talk about awkward! He left her, so she won't tell him about their son... and nobody would believe she didn't 'steal' the man from her mom... right?

Ah, now that's an interesting twist on secret baby and tropes, with a good combination! I guess the problem is the initial coupling (and the setup) felt a bit too... hurried. And Spencer just accepted the proposition of a random waitress... without a condom? Hmmm... 4/5

GRR Reviews More Than Love by Ruth Cardello

Grant Barrington is a billionaire, but he's feeling the strain of finding the fate of a brother that may or may not be dead for more than a decade, that forced him to go undercover. Meeting Viviana was not in his plans. having a romp with her and leaving her pregnant... even less so. // Viviana was swindled by her ex, and having a one-night-stand with a sumptuous but apparently financially challenged guy was extremely satisfying... physically, until she started to feel the morning sickness. Confronting the daddy, while he's busy doing things for his family is just horrible timing... or the best ever...

Not QUITE up to Ruth Cardello's standards, at least for this series. It seems to contain more sex than usual, but at least we got a resolution about the "dead baby (or not)" plot that's dragging on for multiple novels. Obviously, there are further developments...  3.5/5

GRR Reviews Best Friend's Boyfriend by Victoria Snow

Poppy, a plus-sized model, is branching into clothing design, with support of her best friend and roommate, (and rich heiress) Thalia. Poppy also felt a connection to Dr. Nate, but Thalia claimed Nate as her boyfriend... They seem to match better on paper as their families knew each other and they are both rich already. Both they were not in love... They just stay together because of family expectations. Nate's attraction to Poppy can't be denied, esp. when their one-time hookup resulted in a surprise that will come due 9 months later...

While the reluctance of roommate / business partner / best friend's boyfriend stealing is a trope, the setup for emotional turmoil is actually quite good. 4/5

GRR Reviews Rising Star by Terri Osburn

Nashville DJ Charley is living her dream as a radio host in the heart of country music... but she is concentrating on her career. She had a one-night-stand with a hot cowboy Dylan, but decided that's it and snuck out next morning. Unfortunately, he's not done with her... He's actually a country star who's launching his new single, and when he appeared in her studio for a live performance, it's not exactly a happy reunion... But he wanted to woo her, and she gave in... as he is sweet and caring... But when his career took off, and he stopped returning calls, Charley found that a surprise "gift" will show up in nine months...

Nice mix between angst and comedy. The development later was almost a trope, and somewhat expected. It's still good though. 4/5

GRR Reviews Deceitful Choices by C A Harms

Zack, a navy SEAL, was just taking leaving with some fellow SEALs on a beach, and have a good evening with hot chicks when he saw Lindsay. She is young, vivacious, and wanted a night to remember. So they did.  But Lindsay lied. She wasn't 19. She's 17. And that night left her a reminder that'll come due in 9 months. // Zack can see that this girl was really into him that she would fly out to California to meet him, but she's not Lindsay. Then Zack found out what really happened to Lindsay, and how many lies were told by that deceitful person to keep them apart...

Okay, interesting combination of tropes, even if it was a bit exasperating at times to see the characters struggle with their circumstances. It almost not felt like there is enough karma. 4/5

GRR Reviews Small Town Scandal by Kay Lyons

Darcy got pregnant by a loser, and she headed toward her mother (who's always chasing after a boyfriend) who promised to help. On the way there, her car slid off the road, and she was rescued by Garrett, hot attorney and hospital administrator, who has a steady girlfriend Rachel, who is creating her own art studio. With no hotel room available and snow storm not letting up, Garrett offered up his guest room. But his generosity was viewed as scandalous by the small town, esp. when the hospital owner wants his daughter Rachel (Garrett's girlfriend) married ASAP. What Garrett didn't know is his best friend and fellow lawyer Tobias, a guy from the "wrong side of the tracks", has the hots for Rachel, despite her father's hostility. But he can't betray his best friend... Or is that really betrayal, when it's clear (to Tobias) that Rachel and Garrett were never in love?

Wow, the self-denial is thick in this book. It seems the ONLY one who's honest about his/her own feelings is Tobias. He wants Rachel. Rachel thought she's in love with Garrett, even though she just wants independence from her overbearing "women should be married" father. Garrett thought he's in love with Rachel, but it's more friendship than love, not to mention his boss (and her father) keeps threatening him with his job or his brother's job (who's a surgeon in the hospital). Even Darcy wasn't sure what she wanted. She doesn't want to disrupt Garrett's life, but she's involved nonetheless. Add Garrett's sweet but hard grandma, and Darcy's mother flaking out, and you have the darkest hour where Garrett had to make a decision before Darcy tries to leave, despite late-term pregnancy.  If you can look past the ton of self-denial ("I'm not in love with...") the book is actually quite good. Though the evil dad's attitude was never explained nor karma applied. 4/5

GRR Reviews Please Keep Me by Mimi Barbour

Belinda can't believe her four-year-old dove into a lake trying to save a puppy. She was grateful that a man dove in and rescued both of them. Until she learned that he's Dr. Reed Carlton... Then she was reminded that night... When her daughter was conceived. She went to a party at the Carlton house. She woke up in bed, naked, sore, with no memory of what had happened, but the evidence was quite clear... // Reed knew he found Lindy, the girl from almost five years ago, that he never forgot from that one night. But why does she seem to hate him now? Why did she disappear that night? Her daughter liked him well enough. And the puppy... Well, he's keeping the puppy for now... So he can get Lindy back... and her daughter too, of course...

Good use of the pup as a meet-cute and continued excuse for them to meet. But she simply assumed she's raped yet did nothing about it except to be a single mother? That doesn't sound very... smart. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews Complicated Christmas by Nikki Lynn Barrett

Caitlin has a friends-with-benefits arrangement with widower Ron. She was destroyed by her fiancee for his personal gains, and she wasn't ready to love again. He did not want to replace his dead wife even after four years. So some physical release for both should be just perfect. So they had secret liaisons after Ron's two teenage children are asleep. It wasn't about love at all. But it seems this year will be different from the rest, as one shock comes after another. First Ron's son (17) confessed that not only is he dating, he just knocked up a girl and intends to marry her. Then Caitlin found out that she's pregnant... Is she ready to be... step-grandma? How do they confess their relationships to the small town? Will Ron's children accept her? Will they ever get married?

Lots of complicated relationships but also kept things light. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews Loving the French Billionaire by Violet Jackson

Yolanda is a successful international lawyer working for a big firm in Chicago, and her goal is to be made partner, and that is coming very soon, if she can help this French billionaire by the name of Tomas expand his business into America. She didn't expect to fall for this exotic foreigner... // Tomas knew that his mate would have to keep up with him, and Yolanda is exactly his type: smart, curvy, and beautiful. But she's also got a reputation as a ballbuster (but only when someone got too... hands-on) Tomas will bulldoze obstacles out of her way so she has time to be wooed. And initially, it worked. They spent some quality time together. Then she found out what he did behind her back... Then she found another surprise...

Eh, while this is BWWM (black woman, white man), there was virtually NO innovation in plotting, and for all the sass she shown, once she got her second surprise, she's as meek as a domesticated cat. She also doesn't seem to suffer from any Black woman issues, just generic female issues. Just didn't feel any "black" other than physical descriptions... Could be just about anybody.  Darkest hour wasn't dark at all. Everything was forgiven within a few moments. Meh.  2.5/5

GRR Reviews Close to Her Heart by C J Carmichael

Dani is a professor, so an affair with a tenured professor wasn't a good idea, but the widower father Adrian was so compatible and swoon-worthy she succumbed to his charms. Yet Adrian always claimed to be protecting his daughter and won't commit to Dani. Then Dani found she's pregnant. She was the woman of the house raising her siblings after death of her mother. Is she ready to be a mother... esp. with the possibility that her baby may be suffering from Down's syndrome? And what about attention from her neighbor Elliot, who always wanted her, but it never seems to be the right time?

Nicely handled unrequited love with betrayal, aka A secretly loves B, but B is involved with C...  Elliot is one of the nicest guys around, and there's also a bit of "everyone but you" trope going on. Nice mix. It's just that you kinda feel that Dani is just too... weak. 4/5

GRR Reviews Another by FIona Cole

NOTE: This is technically a sequel to "Lovers", but can be read separately.

Carina was a pretty wild and adventurous young woman... Enough so that she invited her boyfriend, Jake's best male friend Jackson into bed to have a threesome. It was memorable. But that's also when Jake realized he's really gay and wanted to marry Jackson and regrettably, dump Carina. Carina met a mystery man in a bar, who reassured her she's lovable. Months later, on a blind date, Carina met the mystery man again, at a "blind date boudoir photo session". His name is Ian. It was clear they have a real passion for another, and when the photographer had to leave temporarily, they had a quickie, but then she felt ashamed and did not leave a surname or contact info. Only two months later did she realize she got pregnant... A few months later, Carina found that Ian was actually quite close by, which is also when he found she's pregnant. He obviously wanted to take care of his baby mama, but Carina isn't the kind of woman that lets an alpha guy do what he wanted... Can they make peace for the sake of the baby?

Nice, complex personalities, an alpha guy making mistakes but is so lovingly making them you'd want to forgive him. Carina covers her vulnerability with sass and bitchiness that occasionally goes a bit overboard, but it's perfectly understandable. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews The Billionaire's Temporary Marriage by Tamie Dearen

Cole Miller is well known for his green mechanical arm and face of Limitless, the company launched by four friends, each with a disability. But people, esp. women, only see him as a billionaire, and his "iron-clad" contract to appear on TV show "Billionaire Matchup" didn't help, where he's supposed to marry a contestant or forfeit a million dollars. When he spilled Brooke's coffee at a local cafe, a solution presented itself... // Brooke can't believe she's finally pregnant... her now ex-husband divorced her because she couldn't... except that "one final time" somehow cinched the deal. But as a counselor to unwed mothers at a religious charity, she had to be married. When Cole heard about her circumstances, he proposed a temporary marriage. He can get out of marrying some TV contestant (since he's already married!) and save a million bucks (minus whatever Brooke gets), and she gets to keep the job which she desperately needs so she can get her counselor certification. Love's got nothing to do with it... Right?

Great plotting, as the escalation just keeps squeezing them tighter and tighter, without relying on tropes such as "weird will". Like the darkest hour (the hospital stay) and the grand gesture (tearing up the report). AND it's clean. 5/5

GRR Reviews Beautifully Undone by Susan Griscom

Melody and her brother Teddy have a best friend, Asher, a musician. Melody had a crush on Asher for the longest time, but he didn't reciprocate. Asher's parents are gone, and he's a bit despondent. When Melody announced she wants to give her V-card to a notorious womanizer (with a different girl on his arm every week) Asher made an (in)decent proposal... He'll show her a good first time. // Later, when Asher found a letter from his dead mother asking him to seek out his half brothers (turns out, Asher's mom was "the other woman") so he's not all alone in the world, Melody insisted that they'll go together. And then they discovered...

SPOILER

AHEAD

Okay, I'll just say it. She's pregnant. Yes, from that first time. Ever. *sigh*   Somehow, the two separate plots just don't mix together that well. And that TSTL moment about going off on a boat without checking the boat works? or even if it has oars? Meh. 2.5/5

GRR Reviews Surrender by D M Mortier

Billionaire banker Ronan knew he's unique... Being half-Asian and grew up as a part of a crime family can do that. But he thought it left it all behind when he assumed control of his father's bank in Jamaica and made it successful. He had learned to never trust a woman as his equal, for he had witnessed how his Chinese mother had destroyed his father bit by bit. When he finally found the woman of his dreams, a junior attorney at his own bank, Tara, he did not hesitate to woo her... Tara will fulfill a role in his life as the mother of his children, nothing more. He shouldn't be surprised when his... "generous" offer was refused. // Tara had seen her mother with one man after another. In fact, she doesn't even know who her father was. Tara knew that when she marries, she would do so only for love. Casual sex? Forget about it. But when Ronan came calling... she wanted to give in. But his controlling ways? He'll get a kick in the balls first. // Ronan and Tara came together like a storm, and they fought just as hard. But Ronan has bigger problems... He's a part of a secret society called "The Order", doing good in the world by taking down criminal heads that the law can't touch. But someone is targeting him... and they will do anything to get to him, including targeting Tara, now pregnant with his child...

I'm not sure what to think of this. I like the idea of a half-Asian hero with a checkered past, but really, seems the author watched too many Chow Yun Fat movies where the hero mows down bad guys by the dozens. And let's just say the ultimate bad guy? "Mostly tell, little show".  It's kinda exciting, but the romance is a bit of "meh", esp. with the jealous possessive alpha Ronan that's surely NOT appreciated by Tara.  3/5

GRR Reviews It's Not Over by Kaylee Ryan and Lacey Black

Gwen and Harrison were married, but they are now separated. Sometime in the past, he was busy building his fitness centers that he somehow neglected his wife. And it had gotten so bad that when she told him to leave, he did, hoping it's just temporary. Except nine months later, they signed divorce papers. She knew she still loved him. He knew he made a huge mistake... he should have fought... And this time, he will convince her to take him back... and it just happened that their "one last time" resulted in her getting pregnant... But convincing her will not be easy... but it's not over between Gwen and Harrison, not if they can help it.

Wow, this book really makes you feel the raw emotions of regret and love. Add some other plot, like jealous people messing with them. I am surprised they didn't suspect the perp sooner. It seems they never suspect the most obvious suspect in romances.  I wanted to give this a higher grade, but failure to recognize sabotage, IMHO, is just a bit TSTL.  4/5

GRR Reviews Beloved by You by Molly Sloan

Andrew used to be a male model and apparent heir to his family's diamond business. He loved Jennifer, but she left him when he won't step back from the fast life in the limelight. And she disappeared... for ten years. Andrew became an executive for the diamond business, but is always out acquiring mines and making deals and never stays in the office much. In Botswana, he almost ran over a woman cradling a child... and the woman turned out to be Jennifer... // Jennifer traveled the world doing charitable causes, until settling in Botswana, building a home for orphans of AIDS. She never expected to see Andrew again, yet there he is. And now, Andrew will never let her go...

Okay, but nothing too special. The setup was quite good, but the rest of the book, like the international deals, and crooked local official, doesn't quite measure up. The darkest hour also didn't quite make sense. Andrew made a deal to buy TWO mines so he didn't need to force the locals to move their ancestral cemetery. The plot was the crooked official used some excuse to keep the title, then somehow summoned a crew to bulldoze the cemetery at night, but Andrew and locals managed to stop that with a few verbal implied threats. And voila, there is no more problems. That doesn't even MAKE SENSE! Why do it? Push Andrew into paying a bribe? Why bulldoze the cemetery at night? It's as if it's just there to mess with our hero. 3/5

GRR Reviews Southern Gentleman by Jessica Peterson

Julia is an interior designer with a specialty in upgrading historic buildings while keeping its charm. Greyson is a rich, powerful, and demanding boss who demands the best, and that means employing Julia for one of his projects. But they are also direct opposites. Julia is a bit of free-spirit sexy Bohemian, while Greyson is an orderly cold control-freak But it's clear they have chemistry together. And they shared it one night, in the back of his Range Rover... and over and over. And his dominance turned her on. Then Julia found she's pregnant... And Greyson demands to be involved. But it's clear they are not speaking the same love language. She just wants him to be present, while he keeps trying to BUY her things. Can they learn to speak love properly before it's too late?

Better than expected. Motivation was very well done, as we got a full explanation why Greyson was such a growly alpha and provider.  Julia's motivation was done slightly less detailed, but still quite good. Plot was pretty trope, but the pregnancy details seem to be quite accurate. And there's a good supporting cast. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews Barefoot at Moonrise by Roxanne St Claire

Ken, the fire captain, had always regretted letting Beth go twenty-five years ago, believing her father had covered up the truth regarding his own father's death. After the school reunion they came together for one night of bliss, but they separated again, as their issues were still unresolved. // Beth chose to stay away from her father's business and control, and flip houses for a living instead. She knew her father will always come between her and Ken. Then she found that she's pregnant... despite having tied tubes. Ken was willing to bet it all for a family of his own, but the truth of his father's death will shock even him...

Oh, there's definitely some great twists and turns in the plot here. And the darkest hour / grand gesture was amazing. No surprises here at all, as every turn of the plot was foreshadowed properly. There was some setup for subsequent volumes that felt slightly wordy or tacked on, but it's not major. 5/5