GRR Reviews The Lost Art of Reverie by Rae Walsh

Katie was betrayed twice by people she trusted, which gave her PTSD and nervous breakdown. When she got a notice that she has inherited grandma's Victorian in the town of Aveline, where she had great time as a kid, it seems to be the perfect escape. And her recovery lead her to dream about opening a new town cafe, putting her culinary dreams into reality... But she wasn't counting on meeting Sam again... // Sam was burned in a relationship twice by the same woman... and has vowed to stay out of entanglements. But meeting Katie again may change his mind, esp. when he's helping her build her new town cafe at the house... // As Sam and Katie fell for one another, a betrayal from an unexpected direction will put that relationship to the ultimate test... 

The book managed to not be preachy yet religious. There was basically ONE Bible quote, and it was used very smartly. However, the beginning was extremely slow, as we are treated to a series of flashbacks outlining how good Katie's life was when young, then the two betrayals (with very little detail, more of a teaser / aftermath)  They didn't catch my attention. I had to finish those, then I got to the chapter of her arriving in town and getting to know the town again. THEN things started to pick up. While those early chapters did manage to "show", not just tell her mental state after two betrayals, they are not exactly good starter hooks. 

3.5/5 rounded up to 4/5

GRR Reviews Love on the Boardwalk by Nikki Lynn Barrett and Shannyn Leah

Eva is back in Cinnamon Bay to run the boardwalk cafe she inherited... AND hide the fact that her ex-fiancee was a cheating bas****. She took "Cafe Amour" off the menu because it's just bunk. It's NOT a love potion even if two people share it... // Mack is in Cinnamon Bay to search for the family that gave him up for adoption way back when. But what he found instead was Eva, a delicious coffee drink, and a legend about love and a lighthouse. Sharing the coffee with Eva was nice, but what will he discover about his own past, and does that mean a chance with Eva... or not?

Series starter, good setup, if a bit quirky about love and lives lost, and unusual circumstances. 4/5

GRR Reviews The Cowboy by Molly O'Keefe

Cody and Bea have an informal arrangement... No names, no faces, no talking. She's his morning girl on the balcony over his work site. He's a broken cowboy, and she'll take whatever he can give. Until he walked into her bar, and he didn't know it's her. She's in love with the broken cowboy, and she can no longer keep the secret, but he's not in love with her... at least, not the public version...

Interesting angst-y take on a bit of obsession, and somewhat unconventional. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews Pumpkin and Spice by Abby Knox

Talbot survived high school and is now a bar owner / bartender in his hometown. Once called Stoner back in high school, he has left that life behind, until Max aka Pumpkin, his high school crush, came back to town for Thanksgiving. // Max wants to avoid drama, esp. with the queen bees that ruined her high school life, though "Stoner" was nice, and now, very handsome. And this time, Stoner is going to make sure she knows what he thinks of her...

A bit short, at under 100 pages, but it has all the plot points, reunion, childhood crush, ugly duckling now a swan, etc. 4/5

GRR Reviews The Weight of Life by Whitney Barbetti

Milla was just a Yank tourist visiting London when a mugging almost sent her into the Thames river. But Ames was there, saving her. And a bond is formed. For Milla is there to get away from her grief over her boyfriend's death and write for her twin brother's travel blog. But she's just a tourist and her time in London is limited... // Ames was still dealing with grief over death of his wife, and live with his in-laws who depend on him. His bar is running okay, but his restaurant that he wanted to fix up? That isn't going anywhere just yet. His sister-in-law wanted to sell her dance studio and use the money to travel, giving the rest to Ames, but Ames is adamant that she mustn't do that, that she must keep something to come back to. But does Ames have a plan for his own life? Does he want to see how far it can go with Milla? Or was it just a fanciful dream?

I find myself a bit conflicted over this book. The book is about conflicted loyalties and responsibilities. Milla is conflicted between herself, her devotion to her dead BF, to her living brother and her family, and maybe, to Ames, if he wanted her. Ames is torn between his responsibility to his in-laws, even though his wife's dead, to his bar, to his dream about the restaurant, even though the restaurant may go nowhere, and should he have a go at it with Milla. Physically, nothing much actually happened plotwise. It's all about the angst, about what could have been, and what can still happen. Somehow, this didn't quite measure up to her previous book that I reviewed  Ten Below Zero.  4/5

GRR Reviews Sweet Seduction Sacrifice by Nicola Claire

Genevieve has had enough of her loser boyfriend. He stole 150K from her (her inheritance from grandma) and somehow, she kept taking him back... four times. No more. She's going to meet with a lawyer and kick him out for good, while protecting her little cafe called Sweet Seduction. Meeting Dominic, one of the partners of the firm, was a surprise, for he's so alpha... and douchebag. But Dominic had fallen in love at first sight, and he will protect what is his... Even when Jimmy turned out o be a much worse asshole than anyone suspected, with ties to the underworld. But when Dom's sister was kidnapped to be traded for Genevieve, he's put in an impossible situation...

Uh, sorry, the villain here really makes no sense. Why does he keep coming back to Genevieve? Why threaten the shop? Neither does Genevieve. In fact, this was pointed out by another character. Anyone theatens the shop, she caves. Even someone who stole 150K from her... merely a POSSIBILITY of losing the shop and she chose to go back to him like a whimpering puppy. TSTL! 2.5/5

GRR Reviews Healing Hearts by Samantha Thomas

Alex is going to the one place she'd rather avoid: the ski resort she inherited from her estranged father... and where she lost her brother and left behind her first crush. So it's inevitable that she must run into that same crush... Bhodi, former winter Olympian, and best friend of her brother. But Bhodi just wanted to run his pub quietly, still scarred from the death of his best friend. When Bhodi got the news that Alex may want to sell the resort to a ruthless developer, he had to stop her. But this Alex was very very different from the young teenager he knew, and she had never forgiven him for the death of her brother and his best friend. Now he must show her the truth that he and she have both avoided for so long...

Good mix of tropes. with a good variation of "best friend's little sister" and something that haunted them both. The "evil developer" was a bit too flat, IMHO, and should have done better research before trying to make a deal. The rest of reluctance romance was pretty good. 4/5

GRR Reviews Second Chance Charmer by Brighton Walsh

Willow is temporarily taking over for daddy the mayor while he's out on a conference. So when news spread that her ex-lover Finn and his brothers are back in town, and they are going to open a bar in town (something heavily opposed by the mayor). it's clear things aren't going to be simple. And let's just say Finn and his brothers had a bit of history in town, and a lot to prove. But can Finn ever explain to Willow why he left that night and never turned back... until now? And what does Willow's father have to do with it?

While there's certainly some charm in the small southern town setting, the plot is trope. And you probably guessed it, parental interference. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews Big Rock by Lauren Blakely

Spencer and Charlotte are business partners and best friends. They co-own a bar. Spencer has a bit of playboy image, appears on gossip rags regularly usually with a different woman on his arm, as he's got the looks, the charm, the personaltiy, and has money. Spencer came from money as his father owned a high-end jewelry chain. His father wanted to sell, and it seems the right buyer just appeared. However, the buyer is an upstanding guy, and Spencer's father asked Spencer to cool off a bit on his love life. Spencer went above and beyond by claiming he and Charlotte are engaged. And after some initial reluctance, she agreed to play along. But will their friendship survive the deception? What if someone learned their secret and was ready to expose it?

Oooh, love the twist at the end, though I wish more clues were dropped earlier. 4/5

GRR Reviews The Conflicted Maid of Honor by Sharon Sue Thorn

Sammie is supposed to be the maid of honor for a cruise ship wedding of her best friend. But after a heated argument and waking up late, she decided to shore leave alone on the island of St. Lucia... only to get robbed of nearly everything and scammed by criminals who don't think twice of taking advantage of tourists. Can she ever make it back to the ship for the wedding? Which is when she ran into Dominic... // Dominic was getting a bit tired of his life as a bar owner on St. Lucia. While meeting beautiful women and have plenty to drink and beach view is nice, it's also getting boring. Then in all the bars on St. Lucia, she walked into his... Dom found himself attracted to Sammie and will do everything to help her get back to her ship... AND catch the ones responsible. But is she the right woman to give up his life on the island for?

Hmmm... Pretty good. The reluctance is normal, but Sammie's hesitation seems to be more about "what happens in the Caribbean should stay in the Caribbean", even if the guy was nice and wanted to see where this can go. Call it 4/5

GRR Reviews Restless by Paris Hansen

Savannah wanted forever with a man, even though she does have a bit of a crush on the bartender, Gabe, at her favorite restaurant. But she just agreed to be matched by a professional matchmaker. When Gabe approached her, she can't say no. Turns out Gabe was actually the owner of the restaurant and an excellent lover. But when Gabe's ex-fiancee returned after the death of her father (and his mentor), will Savannah be left broken-hearted?

Hmmm... I think Savannah is a bit too... "fragile ego", but Gabe's also a bit too quick to go to the bottle instead of talking it out. Some TSTL moments. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews Taste of Home by Ruby Hill and Marian Wilson

Zoey used to work in New York as an executive, but after she was downsized she could not find any job. When she suddenly inherited a small store in a small town called Harmony Cove she's never been to from a father she'd never known... She really had no choice but to see how it is out there. And there she met her business neighbor Harley, who owns the photography biz next door. Used to the big city "crowded yet alone" life, Zoey had some problem getting used to the small town "we are all family, let's help each other" attitude. But Harley is charming, and worn down her defenses. But when fire struck the cafe Zoey got working, their two attitudes collide, and a misunderstanding drove them apart...

Eh, not feeling much beyond the normal "okay"... What exactly drove them apart other than ego?

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 3/5

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

GRR Reviews Mrs Scrooge by Barbara Bretton

Samantha doesn't have time for Christmas or love. As a single mom, she's too busy opening her own "meal-ready-to-cook" business. Her daughter has genius level IQ, and Sam is determined to buy everything her daughter deserves... Except her daughter Patty wanted her to be happy... and Patty has concluded that only a good man can do that. When Patty met Murphy at the 4th grade career day, Sam's life will never be the same. However, Sam is one stubborn woman... They don't call her "Mrs. Scrooge" for nothing... Can an ex-reporter, now bartender, and a ten-year-old genius show this single mom that Christmas (and love) are worth having?

Hmmm... Very nice. The "kids as matchmakers" can be a trope, and indeed, their slightly naive and direct mindset makes a great contrast to the adult's inability to speak plainly. But Barbara Bretton has an ability to build characters that are NOT billionaires or otherwise fit tropes like firefighters and cowboys, and this is no exception. 5/5

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 5/5

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

GRR Reviews A Ring for Christmas by Josephine Beintema

Noah has finally got a lead on his brother Max, who had disappeared three years ago after a huge family argument. They had worked for their father David in the world-famous Ramesly Pharmaceuticals, but when a drug trial went wrong, and kids were harmed, Max wanted to make things right, while David is determined to squash any liability... Including blackmailing his own sons into compliance. Max simply left and did not wish to be found. Three years later, Max had just started work at a diner, and Noah, in order to stay close to Max, also started to work at the diner and met the owner Elle. Noah fell for Elle, but Noah is being blackmailed into dating Bethany by his father...

Again, I don't understand the "douchebag father" trope. Evil and abusive, I understand. Blackmail one by threatening another... when the other is the heir made no sense. And the ending barely made any sense...

SPOILER

AHEAD

I WARNED YOU!

Noah called up Michael (big brother), explained that dad David threatened to ruin Michael if Noah does not comply, even though Michael's the heir. Michael's solution is to blackmail dad right back (which itself is basically something never before implied or such) and dad basically laughed "I guess I did raise you right after all, you are ruthless like me."  Threat neutralized. Argh! That's unsatisfying. It practically counts as a deus ex machina ending.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 2/5

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

GRR Reviews Mistletoe So Sweet by Juliet Bardsley

Cassie had to leave town after her husband left her. She went to a small town and opened her own cafe, hoping to forget her pain and get into the holiday spirit, and the arrival of her high school crush Trent may help with that... Except Trent is a Grinch, hates his hometown and Christmas. Unfortunately, when his mom took a spill on the sidewalk, he had to help out at the cafe, and meeting Cassie again may change his mind... and help her heal...

Sweet and short, no forced plotting.

Category: Contemporary / Holiday

Overall Rating: 3.5/5

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

GRR Reviews Accidentally Yours by Ilsa Ames

Tiago is a bar owner and bartender. June is one of his customers... she just sits in the back and sips her wine and relaxes. Then Tiago has a proposition for her... Tiago had a horrible father and left to find his own way. His father died and left him a huge inheritance, but there are terms... such as get married and produce a child within 24 months. Normally, he'd just told the lawyers to bug off, but there's something else... His goddaughter (his best friend's daughter) needs a heart transplant or an experimental treatment that costs a lot of $$$$. He doesn't want or need for money, but for the little girl... // June had been lusting over Tiago for a long time, but she stayed to herself... Her parents were minor con artists, and she left them far behind, wanting to run a non-profit so kids don't have to be like her. And Tiago's proposal would give her quarter of a million bucks, enough to help her foundation to help plenty of kids. And to have sex with Tiago... But she still has her v-card... Can she ever be good enough? They got married, and sex, after a little coaching from Tiago, is stupendous. But when they couldn't conceive despite plenty of trying...

The build-up was good, and June turned out to like sex quite a lot (perhaps a bit too well, considering she never did it before, but perhaps you can chalk that up to the romance novels she read). The problem I have is with the darkest hour... Retrograde amnesia? Really? And she managed to drag her cat crate far enough so nobody associated the accident and her? No ID or anything?

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 4/5

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

GRR Reviews Two Week Surrender by Hayson Manning

Savannah is leaving Montana... if she can save enough money. However, her cook seems to miss more days than he actually works, and she can't cook for her life. And her ex seems to think he can ask for her back just because he's also the local bank manager and use that to be a bit creepy. Then Walker walked back into her life... The man who walked away... // Walker is only back for two weeks, but he's not about to let Savannah out of his life again. When paying off her loan at the bank only made her angry, not happy, Walker needed another plan fast... And the one he came up with is "I need a trial wife... I want to learn how to be domesticated". Surprisingly, Savannah agreed to a two-week cohabitation... even friends with benefits upgrade later. Walker knew Savannah didn't really want to leave town, she just needs her creepy ex scared off, and her cook to show up on time, every work day. But can he fix her problems... or will she see it as an attempt to buy her and control her, like all the men did in her life? 

Savannah was a bit too prickly, IMHO. And the flip from "I hate you" to "okay, let's tangle between the sheets" is a bit too fast. The "betrayal" was also a bit too fast, with her wanting to believe the worst, but I guess she had experience with making worse case assumptions.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 3/5

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

GRR Reviews Breakfast for Two (Peakview) by Jill Haymaker

Peakview is a small community, maybe 200 or so people, so it has only one mechanic and one cafe, and Violet had been running Violet's Cafe since forever. She's a widow in her fifties. While losing Stan was painful, it had been a while. She's just not ready to think about someone new. But Howard, the resident mechanic, is a friend, who's always there in the morning, and he's a hermit and a confirmed bachelor. He basically just showed up one day and took over the old garage/gas station, and he's been here 30 years, and nobody bothered asking why. That is, until a mother and daughter came to town, looking for Howard. It appears that Howard's regret from 30 years ago is back to haunt him as a reminder that life is too short to have regrets... but is Violet amenable for male attention?

This author's romance is always low-key, with minimal sex (but there are some), and often with older people finding another chance. While it may be better to read them in order, I'm not, and each book is definitely standalone. I like the slow burn and the way a catalyst (usually, a stranger in town) sets things in motion that no one really anticipates.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 4/5

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

GRR Reviews Sweet as Shortcake (Cupid's Cafe) by Ashley Lauren

Sweet as Shortcake is a matchmaker / reunion novella that's short and sweet, just like the namesake.

Katy Cupid of Cupid's Cafe in Berkeley, CA has been putting couples together for a while, abut this latest one may be a bit problematic. Danny Fitzpatrick joined the army to get away from it all, but after ten years, he's back. Katy knew Sarah and Danny been high school sweethearts. One call, and one shortcake delivery, and they meet again... But Danny is broken and felt unworthy. But Sarah is not taking no for an answer this time...

Sweet, short, and awwww-nice. Not like super-emotional, but it's time to make it right and all that. Good short read if you need a pick-me-up.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Matchmaker cafe owner is going to bring a couple back together after ten years of his absence... with a shortcake

Overall Rating: 4/5

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

GRR Reviews A Sheriff's Passion by Michelle Beattie

Shane is the sheriff of Marietta Montana, and he wanted the bar owner of Silver's Saloon for a long time. Silver moved into town about five years ago, and she seems to be rich beyond reason, but otherwise, showed nothing illegal or suspicious other than building a saloon and running it. Shane worked too many years to clear his family name and he will not risk it to associate with a saloon woman, even if that woman is the owner. // Silver finally made a life for herself and a modicum of respectability. She wanted to be in Shane's arms, but she understands his problems. But when unexpected visitors came to town, it's clear that the past she had desperately run away from is back to haunt her, and this time, it will destroy every last bit of life she had built in Marietta... and drive Shane away...

Good suspense, except for the bits about going out to meet the bad guys. That's just plain stupid. In fact, it could be said that she caused the whole final showdown all by herself. It qualifies as a TSTL moment. 

Category: Historical Western

Primary Plot: bar owner who moved into town five years ago can't have the sheriff because she's hiding a huge secret, and it just came back to haunt her

Overall Rating: 3/5

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