GRR Reviews With This Ring by Debra Clopton

 

Jessica moved to Windswept Bay with her son Kevin to take the job as a teacher to get away from her overbearing family after the death of her husband two years ago (who died in the line of duty saving another family). She is not ready for love, and she can't fall for another man with a dangerous job. But Kevin wants a daddy and was disappointed when there's no daddy under the Christmas tree. When Kevin managed to drag the police chief Levi to the class show and tell, and announced that Levi will be his new daddy, neither Levi nor Jessica were ready to deal with the fallout. Levi is definitely the town bachelor, having put career and town first, and definitely hunky. But now he can't even shop without being accosted by single moms desperate to make his acquaintance. Jessica knew she's getting the evil eye from other single moms in town, even as she tried to explain there is nothing between her and Levi. Yet they keep running into each other. But can Jessica let go of her grief long enough? Or will a bachelor auction including Levi be the final incentive for her to go all in? 

Good fun, with the bachelor auction being the final grand gesture, from woman to man, for once. It just felt a bit overdramatic. But it's a fun read nonetheless 4/5

GRR Reviews Her Billionaire Ex-Boyfriend Fake Fiance by Christine Kersey

Librarian Ashleigh is doing a fundraiser dinner for the Emerald Falls Library for more computers and books. When her bestie, and the auctioneer, put her on the auction block (for a date), she tolerated it... Until she saw who won the date... Her ex Chase, now a billionaire. // Chase didn't even planned to be back, but when he heard that his mom's cancer is no longer in remission, and it's time to start hospice care, he had to come back. Winning the date was just him trying to play nice (he's late to buy anything else). But when his mom desired to see him settle before she passes, Chase thought of staging a fake engagement and maybe a fake wedding... After all, Ashleigh is a good girl... but hates his guts for leaving her a decade ago... right?

Eh, the circumstances forcing them together just feels a bit... meh, as if a bit contrived, but usually that's how this sort of story goes. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews Gambling with the Billionaire by Agnes Canestri

Billionaire Ryan returned to his home town to buy out and dismantle an old restaurant called Sapphire. The owner wanted to sell to fund his daughter's college plans. It should be a clear-cut and emotionless deal, except for the restaurant manager Bianca, and her love of oldies. Her passion had turned the aging taverna into the coolest jazz restaurant in town. She may just be trying to save her job, and Ryan may look a lot like Dean Martin, but Ryan hadn't done relationships and does not plan to start... ever. Not even Bianca spending four grand to win him at a bachelor auction would change his mind... but what about his heart?

Hmmm... characters are deeper than they first seem, but from the start Ryan is a conflicted man. He pretends he's an emotionless robot, but the fact that he will put himself on the auction block to help the local cause means he really *does* care, if he will just admit to himself. While Ryan has a character arc, Bianca doesn't seem to have one. 4/5

GRR Reviews her Horse Racing Billionaire Groom by Rachael Eliker

Clark is one of the Kelly brothers under the same deadline... Be married by Christmas, or forfeit his inheritance AND his charity to rehabilitate old racehorses, and he only has a month or so to find a bride. So when Maren walked through his charity's doors for an interview as the new communications director, he just about fell out of his chair. He and Maren were an item until he proposed to her (with a ring and all that) and she ran away. But that was many many years ago, and they are now professionals, and she is good at her new job, since he taught her the love of horses. And the fundraiser gala will be spectacular, esp. when a bachelor auction was included. Clark was sure Maren returned to his life for a reason, and he will woo her properly this time, but Maren's other ex is also dating her. What will Clark do to prove his love?

Somehow, the other guy, while successful in his own right, just didn't feel like a competition. There's camaraderie, but not the relationship spark. 4/5

GRR Reviews The Gifted Groom by Sarah Gay

Max Moore is one of the Texas Titan Triplets, who insisted that he won't sign unless the team also signs his two brothers. He was hoping for a few years together to raise their twin sisters, until he learned that two of his brothers are cut or traded. Then he learned that he will be one of the bachelors being auctioned off for a charity... // Rosemary, a columnist for the tabloid Daily Sun, was given her first big assignment: buy a date with Max Moore (yes, with company money) while pretending to be a socialite, then dig up some dirt to dish about his family. She wanted the promotion and the raise that was promised to save her parents from selling her childhood home. Falling for Max and caring for his family wasn't a part of the plan. Now she's caught between doing her job and betraying Max, or destroying her own dreams, yet saving her heart...

Eh... Not feeling much for this one. Darkest hour was basically he found out she's a reporter, not a socialite. But then, what sort of socialite would accept his offer to babysit his sisters for money? And he didn't notice the discrepancy right there? Add the deus ex machina (her parents decided to downsize their home without needing her help) and it's a big "meh" for me. 3/5

GRR Reviews Nina (Beach Brides) by Stacey Joy Netzel

Nina was a diehard romantic and had been let down by love. She went with eleven other book club friends to Enchanted Island, and in their final night, she was supposed to toss a wish of her ideal boyfriend into the ocean as a "message in a bottle". But she brought it back with her. Eight months later, Nina was visiting a Wisconsin town. As the personal assistant (and best friend) to a Hollywood star, she promised to attend the Valentine's Day charity auction in place of her boss. It's almost fate that she ended up sharing a house with Finn (who was promised by her boss's brother to renovate house). // Finn was medically discharged from the military after almost losing his leg. Returning to his hometown, he's smitten with Nina after that fateful meeting. But Nina wasn't quite ready to try again. Finn wasn't giving up though, esp. after finding her message in a bottle of her "dream hero"...

Sweet, and good use of dog (very appropriate name and eyes), plus a darkest hour and grand gesture that makes sense. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews The Fearless Groom by Cami Checketts

Izzy refused her father's billions and became a nurse practitioner at a children's hospital. So she was surprised when her father insisted that she attend a bachelor auction (where all proceeds benefit to the hospital she's at). In fact, he's bankrolling her to bid on Xavier, one of the football stars of his team, the Texas Titans. Xavier has a reputation as a playboy... different woman every week. But she can spend daddy's money for the kids... right? // Xavier loves football but hates the schmoozing that had to go with it. His agent plays up his playboy image to ignite a bidding war between his current team and Denver, his hometown. So who's the brunette that just bid half a mil for him? He liked Izzy until he learned that she's the owner's daughter... Must be a spoiled brat, throwing daddy's money around like that... and a conspiracy to keep him in Texas... // Xavier and Izzy have chemistry, even as they slowly learned that both had misunderstood each other. But with Xavier's contract war warming up,  their loyalties and love will be tested to the breaking point...

Nice complications. You'll learn why Izzy refused to take a cent from her father (it's more than just "pride") and her step-family was also definitely anti-trope. In fact, the whole novel was decidedly anti-trope, it's brilliant. There's even an innocent explanation of her father's actions. 5/5

The Billionaire's Charity Date by April Murdock

Handsome billionaire Chase was roped by his brother (who's already married) into being one of the bachelor date auctions benefiting the small town. In reality, it's an attempt to match him with someone who he liked before... Jessica, a local high school teacher. // Jessica had suffered a bad breakup and is perfectly fine with living a small town life, until she was given a mission... To make absolutely sure she wins the auction with Chase and keep him out of the clutches of an heiress he can't stand. But Jessica isn't sure she's ready to risk her heart again, muchless with a billionaire. But Chase is nothing like she imagined...

Hmmm... Some good touches, but nothing really spectacular. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews Hawaiian Masquerade by Rachelle J Christensen

Lexi, burned out from her job but rich, moved from Chicago to Hawaii, and settled along the beaches of Kauai. There she met Derek Mitchell, a "poor" photographer, who want to do photography full-time, but had to chop coconuts for tourists most of the time just to make ends meet. Lexi and Derek have chemistry, but she's alarmed at his attitude toward the rich people... outright hostility. When Derek was picked as one of the bachelors at a charity auction, will Lexi reveal her true self for a chance at love?

I don't get the ending plot. Derek was butt-hurt over practically NO REASON, esp. at "darkest night" point. And the point about his ex plotting something? Made zero sense. And Lexi being outed by the auctioneer? WTF? Then they end up with a serendipitous rescue? Great lead-up, lousy ending.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 3/5

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

GRR Reviews A Chance at L.O.V.E. by K L Myers

WARNING: Ends on cliffhanger

Lincoln Oliver Vincent Eastwick (AKA L.O.V.E.) is a rich man who hadn't feel love, and refused to settle. For a good cause, he allowed himself to be a part of bachelor date auction... masked. In the meanwhile, his nephew is to undergo heart surgery for a congenital defect. And the doctor's name is Lillian Vicci... a very lovely vision indeed. // Dr. Lillian Olivia Vicci (AKA L.O.V.) is a pediatric cardiac surgeon who barely escaped from her mafia family. She moved to Virginia to setup her practice, but she can't settle down, for she's barren. When her best friend used her paddle to win the date with Linc, she's horrified and elated... For Linc is handsome and rich, but also her patient's surrogate father. But their chemistry cannot be denied. That is... Until her father suffered a heart attack and will soon retire... and she will be married off to the *consigliere* soon to be promoted to godfather...

Auction and date was good, the rest was meh. Add to the -1 for cliffhanger.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 2.5/5 rounded up

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

GRR Reviews Big Willy (Hollywood Dreams) by C.J. Thomas

William Wade, aka "Big Willy" is not only wealthy, but he's also former Hollywood star. He enjoys bonking his current partner Rita quite a bit, but Rita is a bit on the needy side. Chelsea and Willy should have never met, but Chelsea had a crush on William since she was young. She knew his debut movie better than he did (practically memorized it line by line). Chelsea was also in a relationship with the nice (but boring) Richard who did not support her choice of career (screenwriter). When Willy did a commencement speech at UCLA (Chelsea just graduated from screenwriting program, but no job) and later, decided to offer up a date with himself as a prize, Chelsea pooled her life savings and made a bid. Then Chelsea's BFF cheated to make sure Chelsea won. The night was everything Chelsea dreamed of... but when the time came for Willy to tempt her into bed, Chelsea refused. That only got Willy excited for a challenge... Thus begin their torrid relationship. However, with the now-jilted Rita in the background threatening to ruin everything, and Willy disappeared off the face of the earth for days, is the whole thing over? Had her Hollywood dreams came to an end?

Surprisingly deeper and more emotional than the meet-cute first suggested, there was a couple of twists and turns that made it enjoyable. The book seems to be written almost like a serial so the things didn't quite feel as dark as it could be, by the end, and the plot points were a bit forced to come up with the darkest hour.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Can a screenwriting student fall for a former Hollywood star and hot rich guy, even though her friend cheated to win her the date that put them together? Or is she just flavor of the week?

Overall Rating: 4/5

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

GRR Reviews The Wrong Todd by Donna McDonald

The Wrong Todd is a fun rom-com of mistaken identity leading to love, and it featured a Polynesian MMC that is nicely done.

Sabine was doing a favor for her gay best friend (who happens to be her douchebag ex's brother, but that's no fault to her friend) by bidding on a bachelor name Todd at a charity auction. Not being a fan of TV, she didn't realize she bid on the wrong Todd... She bid on Todd Lake, hottest bachelor chef from Polynesia. She spent 6000 bucks on one very expensive dinner... but it'll be exquisite... from a professional chef... and the most amazing part is... he seems to be just as enchanted with her... But she couldn't be the lover of the hottest chef in town, as she's a "chubby" divorcee whose ex cheated then married a girl half her age... or can she?

Not bad, as the soul-baring part about weight problems was interesting. But the attraction between them was a bit unexplained. Making the MMC being a Polynesian is good, but a little bit on the bland side. Still, the book is enjoyable.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Woman bidding on a bachelor for a friend got the wrong Todd... a hot Polynesian chef who's just as interested in her!

Tropes: chef, wrong guy, auction fling to a thing

Overall Rating:  4/5

GRR Reviews The Bachelor's Baby (Love in Montana Bo by Dani Collins

The Bachelor's Baby has trope plot of roadside rescue leading to insta-lust to a fling, then surprise pregnancy, but the author managed a good polish to an enjoyable story.

Meg was only in town to help her brother move in his new stepdaughter by cleaning out her childhood room. She did not count on meeting the sexy bad boy billionaire Linc Brady... After getting stuck in the snow. Linc Brady was just visiting, and he is generous to donate money and time toward a child needing treatment, but getting stuck with a bachelor auction with him as a prize? And the one bidding on him is Meg? He'll bid on himself! But Linc is smitten with Meg, as he wants someone who's not too country, and Meg is perfect. But Linc wants at least one night... And Meg, knowing she'd leave, gave it to him... But then... she found she's pregnant... so she's back in town to see what Linc would do.

Basically it's "surprise baby" (aka "oops, I'm pregnant") which lead to a bit of "OMG are you sure" or even "that can't be mine" which obviously lead to a bit of bitterness, and eventually someone gave in after feeling stupid. The trick here is the author managed to put a very good spin on the trope plot to make it fun.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Two people new in town managed to stumble upon each other and fell in love, then the woman realized she's pregnant...

Tropes: boy meets girl, auction, one night stand, accidental pregnant, reunion

Overall Rating:  4/5

GRR Reviews One Night with Her Bachelor by Kat Latham

One Night With Her Bachelor is actually a well-disguised "my (dead) bestie's little sister" romance, as the author was able to remix the tropes into a good combination.

Former pararescue (AirForce commando) Gabe Morales lost his best friend on a mission and got invalidated out of service with injuries. He lived alone in the mountains, long hike from town, with almost nothing, preferring the solitude. Meeting his dead best friend's little sister was not part of the plan, nor was rescuing her son lost in the woods. But he was glad to put his old skills to use... and help Molly out when he could. Molly was overwhelmed with life, when her work isn't quite enough to get all the bills paid and raising a child. Meeting Gabe in town was a surprise, but a distraction. When her son was severely injured in the wild (and Gabe saved him), the town arranged a charity bachelor auction to help pay her massive medical bills... then a very special person gave her a gift she never expected... a date with Gabe... the only man she may lose her heart to...

There's a slight problem about how well Gabe fits into Molly's life (a bit TOO well), even if they are in love, but if they are both willing to make a try, that's how a romance should end: a lot of hope.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Overwhelmed single mother met her hero... who's also her dead brother's best friend, and rescued her son from the mountain...

Tropes: mountain man, single parent, small town, Montana, military, search and rescue, auction, Best Friend's Sibling

Overall Rating:  4/5

GRR Reviews The Billionaire's Bid by Nicole Casey

The Billionaire's Bid is basically a fairy tale about a down-and-out girl rescued in the nick of time by a rich prince. The plot is trope and delivery is merely average, with some plot plausibility problems, and crude language about sex.

Preston Maxwell can buy most things on the planet. Women threw themselves at him... Except for one... Lyla Bishop, a nurse he met. She's petite and curvy. AND she's not impressed by his wealth or charm. So why was she offering herself at a virgin auction at his favorite gentlemen's club? // Lyla Bishop had never thought she'd sunk so low. She's efficient as a nurse, but she was nonetheless downsized. With bills piling up, and her father also in financial ruins, she saw the virgin auction as the only way to get some breathing room while she looks for a job. And her winning bidder is none other than the entitled jerk Preston Maxwell... who's also oh... so hot, and he can teach her about sex... but is that love, or was she just whoring herself?

The setup was tolerable, but the rest of the book is thoroughly uninspiring. The sex scenes are crude as f*** with terms like "meat" and "seed" instead of emotions like bliss and rapture. By the end Lyla was offered the head nurse position at a different clinic when she's NEVER had a supervisory position before. It really made no sense.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Downsized nurse, forced to auction her v-card to survive, was bought by a very handsome billionaire she could not stand...

Tropes: different worlds, virgin, auction, protector, woman in peril

Overall Rating:  2/5

GRR Reviews The Billionaire's First Christmas by Holly Rayner

The Billionaire's First Christmas is a rather charming, but ultimately barely-above-average Holiday Romance with no standout qualities.

Aaron Winters is handsome, rich, but hated the Holidays, esp. Christmas. He gave generously, but he lost his Christmas spirit a very long time ago. That is, until Robyn Hurst. Robyn is a new employee in Aaron's company, and got "volunteered" for a date with the highest bidder at the Christmas charity dinner... and saved by a mysterious bidder... after handing out gifts dressed in an elf costume, she was surprised to find her date is none other than Aaron Winters himself. Aaron was fascinated by Robyn, who was full of life and hope, and Robyn found that Aaron was not an old grouch the senior employees assumed he was. But can Robyn really break the shell around Aaron's heart and have him enjoy the real joy of Holidays?

So basically, you have the grouch-y boss and the way-too-vivacious employee. It's trope, and it's cliche with minimal twists.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Young woman employee found the winner of her date (won at Christmas charity auction) was none other than her CEO, and he's interested in her personally...

Tropes: Holiday, Hot for boss, auction, opposites attract,

Overall Rating:  3/5

GRR Reviews Love Me, I Dare You! (Hell Yeah!) by Sable Hunter

Love Me, I Dare You sets up an very interesting pairing... a retired champion cowboy... and a blind bartender girl. The threat to their relationship however, is really vague and there's a logistical problem.

Joshua Long, World Champion Cowboy, suffered a career-ending injury and is back in Kerrville, TX. He had been dubbed "cowgirl whisperer" because he had a fan club of former flings who always leave satisfied... except for one evil biatch who wanted to ruin his reputation forever and started a website talking **** about him and his old man. With little money left after bills, Josh ended up in his old friend's HARDBODIES bar, and a lot of friends who can help him with a second chance, when he laid eyes on a beautiful blue-eyed redhead behind the bar, who's blind. Emma Zachary lived her life on a dare. She has been blind since age 10, and her nearly didactic memory helped her cope. Having heard of Josh's reputation, she chose him at a bachelor auction... so he can show her something she never had before. And they both found once is not enough. But when external threats arrive, things may indeed get dicey for the couple... and their friends.

I find the problem facing the couple really nebulous, and the guards practically useless. The relationship is pretty good too. The part about coping with blindness was very good, but one observation begs the question... How does she keep it "neatly trimmed" down there... if she's blind? In the end, I enjoy the book so I had to rated good, though consider it a "low" good.

Category: Western

Primary Plot: Former champion cowboy (with a lot of buckle bunnies and evil ex) fell for a blind bartender girl who wanted someone experienced for her first time

Tropes: disabled (blind), cowboy, fling to a thing, auction (bachelor), evil ex, virgin, reformed rake, protector, woman in peril

Overall Rating: 

GRR Reviews Sold as a Fake Fiancee: A Virgin and a Bill by Juliana Conners

Sold as a Fake Fiancee is a really trope "fake fiancee turned into real love" story that the setup barely make sense. And FMC's contribution to the marriage (besides her body) seem have missed a chance at more puns that you don't know if the tone was meant to be serious melodrama or rom-com.

Veronica needed a lot of money to put her mom through some experimental treatment that their insurance won't cover. With no other choice, she put herself (and her v-card) up for auction at the super exclusive "Gentlemen's Exchange". She hoped at most to get 100K (enough for one treatment) and work on the rest. She never expected to fetch... two million, from a billionaire named Isaac. That is enough for her mom's entire treatment. What does he want in return? He needed her... to be married to him, after the proper engagement phase and all that, until he gained control over his sick father's company, as per his father's stipulations. But when her math major allowed her to piece together an embezzlement within the company, can Isaac let Veronica go after their... "fake" marriage?

This will be somewhat of a spoiler

SO YOU'VE BEEN WARNED

Veronica caught the embezzler, but he only stole like a million, over many many years. This seems to be really really low-key embezzling for a company of this scale and the high position of the embezzler. I personally feel she should have caught the embezzler and recovered two million or more, which made her "price" a positive return on investment and thus a couple more corny lines "my best investment ever" or something like that. What a missed opportunity.

Also, the idea that a billionaire can only get a girl to marry her at a Gentlemen's Exchange (where they do a lot more services than, well, offer up a girl for marriage, ya know, like BDSM club and such, if you read previous volumes in this series) is pretty darn ridiculous to start with. I can *almost* seem them falling for each other, but not really.

The author also threw in her entire 4-volume "Boss" series as a bonus, inflating the page count of almost 2000 pages (!) which I will not go into here. It's a pretty good "hot for boss" office romance.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Woman auctioned her v-card, but her "purchaser" wanted a bride...

Tropes: auction, different worlds, weird will, fake engagement, family pressure

Overall Rating:  3/5

GRR Reviews Bidding on Love: When love complicates by Joanne Dannon

Bidding on Love is a contemporary romance that used "auction" as the meetcute but quickly pivoted into "love interrupted" mixed with "damaged lovers". The characters are nicely drawn with new dimensions revealed once you get further into the book.

Lily Taylor wants to launch her jazz singer career at a celebrity auction in Melbourne, but the only one who's bidding was Diego Sanchez, a man whom she had a one-night fling a month ago, and never expected to see again. Lily had been raising her twin brothers after the death of her parents and now they are of age, she is determined to pick up her priorities she had neglected for too long, and love was not on the schedule. Diego had launched a series of hip wine bars across Australia, and he's ready to settle down. Lily wasn't only not interested, Lily was just all wrong for him, at least according to his own criteria... but the attraction between them cannot be denied. They agree to a brief fling. But can they let go of each other when the time comes?

The romance and push-pull was sweet and sigh-worthy. Diego was far more damaged than we first suspect despite initially fitting the "rich cocky alpha male" archetype, while Lily was the "allergic to alpha controllers" woman, but both changed their minds as they come to know each other better. Good character arc.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Jazz singer intending to restart her career found the only one who believed was her one-night fling charming Latin Lover

Tropes: reunion, auction, orphan, scars, different worlds, fling to a thing,

Overall Rating:  4/5

GRR Reviews Sold on Valentine's Day: A Virgin and a Bi by Juliana Conners

Sold on Valentine's Day is supposed to be a contemporary romance novella. What it really is: a Cinderella story with insta-lust for kinky sex.

Celeste was just filling in for a friend in an exclusive gentlemen's club so her friend can go on Valentine's day dinner with her BF. Celeste is a 19 yr old virgin who had no idea what she's doing besides her BOB (battery operated boyfriend, aka a vibrator). Maxim is rich and has peculiar tastes, and he wants something fresh, and a fresh virgin, wearing the "no limits" marker (by mistake), was just what he's looking for. But once he got her into the dungeon room, he couldn't quite deflower her that way...

SPOILER AHEAD

I WARNED YOU

So basically, both characters did a 180 flip in personality after walking into the club. Maxim went from fresh meat every time to a monogamous guy because Ce's body is the only one he ever want to flog again, and Ce went from BOB only virgin to kinky sub okay with almost everything and begs for more after one hard (bleep) from Maxim. I told you it's a fairy tale.

Category: Contemporary (fantasy)

Primary Plot: Billionaire buys a virgin's V-card on V-day, they fell for each other

Tropes: virgin, different worlds, BDSM, auction

Overall Rating:  2/5