GRR Reviews Marry Me at Dawn by Lucinda Whitney

Gabriela came out of the emergency hospital feeling very down... She just found out that she can no longer bear children. Her cousin put her up in a resort in the Azores, so she can hide out and hopefully figure out what to do from there. // Damian vowed to be the opposite of his philandering father by never giving his heart to anyone. He revived the family business, and was doing great, until Social Services handed him baby Claire, legally his as his name is on the birth certificate. He hid out in the Azores... at the same resort... When Gabriella showed up by accident. // Damian found Gabriella beautiful and great with the baby. When his lawyer and best friend told him to marry her for a year, he barely hesitated, and Gabriella, perhaps overwhelmed by a chance to have a family, even if it's a fake one, said yes. But will this family last? And what happens when Damian found out who the father REALLY is?

Good twist at the end (on who's the father), how the fake relationship built up slowly. But I think Gabby was a bit too fast to give up on Damian. 4/5

GRR reviews A Reason to Live by T K Chapin

Jonathan lost his wife four years ago, and in full grief, he pushed everyone away, including God, and only work numbed his pain. When a relative left her daughter in his care while she put herself together after abuse, Jonathan ended up taking guardianship of her, but he soon realized he can't both do his job and raise a child. So he hired Kylie. // Kylie knew she wasn't on best terms with God... her one night of lust left her a son as a reminder. She needed a change, and when a stranger in a restaurant offered her a babysitting job that pays her better, she can't really refuse. And in time, she came to know Jonathan's wounds, but she can never be with a man who hadn't found God...

Some parts are quite good, but some parts are really "meh". 3.5/5

GRR Reviews Penalty Play by Jami Davenport

Single dad and NHL defenseman Matt lives for his kids and ice hockey, in that order. His ex-wife simply up and left, not satisfied with being a WAG, disappointing his boys over and over, barely keeping in touch. Matt is about as conservative as they come, and he needs a sitter first, and maybe a wife second... someone his kids can look up to... Which is NOT Violet, or "Vi". // Violet fled her past and in order to put herself through school, she took up exotic dancing in the classiest joint in town: the bouncers and supervisors are gay, and there are NO lap dances or private sessions. She enjoys sex, and she has tons of tattoos. Definitely not fit for a hockey wife... But there is this intense chemistry betwene Matt and Vi that neither can deny. It helps that Matt's kids actually like Vi... When they finally gave in, the chemistry sizzles. But when Matt's ex-wife wanted to contest custody as a ploy for more money, Vi felt she was in the way... esp. when the evil Ex found her past, the secret she doesn't want to tell anyone...

Okay, the chemistry here does sizzle, though Vi's a bit too... uh... self-bashing? Knocked herself out? It doesn't seem to fit her personality, not to mention it's a trope, but I think the author did try to joke about that self-sacrificing bit.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 4/5

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