GRR Reviews Sometimes I'm In My Feelings by Anna Black

Anika, Mia, and Legacy go through life in the city, with men they like to f***, men they want to live with, and men they like to kill... well, not literally. Anika, aka "Nini", found herself forcing to make a choice: love someone that can destroy her, or love herself first. Mia found herself a side piece for so long he ended up going back to his wife and kids, leaving her abandoned and alone, despite she being younger, more beautiful, and better in bed. And Legacy, mama to two children, is tired of her man straying and put down an ultimatum... She deserves better, and she'll get it...

This is a three-volume set (600 pages) that  I'm honestly not sure what to think about this collection. It just seems all the characters are douchebags, esp. the men, but the women are hardly blameless. One husband chose to take on a side piece (Mia) from work while his wife goes through post-partum depression, promising Mia "I will leave her, but I have kids so I need to be delicate". So when Mia got tired of being a side-piece, he goes back to his wife, who's through her depression, lost the weight, and started to care about her looks again. But now wife's a jealous possessive b**** who looks over her husband's shoulder at every turn, which makes the guy want to get Mia back. In a different part of the story, Anika finds a kind, rich, handsome guy, who likes her a lot... except he doesn't have a BBC, unlike the multi-timing douche she had been bonking. So now she can't decide whether to keep the nice guy or go back to the unfaithful but oh-so-good cock. You get the idea. It's just very DEPRESSING to read, as if these characters are only driven by their baser-instincts, lust, possessiveness, envy, and so on, instead of love, HEA, and all that. If you dig this sort of "urban drama", you'll probably give it a higher score. I'm not enjoying it, but I appreciate the effort and I can see some people dig this stuff. 3/5

GRR Reviews Sleighed by Annie Dyer

Zack runs his senior care home in his small town Severton. He goes on long hikes and visits local bars with his brothers and friends. Things are great. Until he found that Severton's latest resident has hired away most of local contractors to build her hotel, leaving his Christmas plans for his seniors in ruins. He'll give her a piece of her mind... // Sorrell bought the place, hoping to be settled with her fiancee into a quieter life away from the city hustle. Instead, he broke up with her. Now she's alone in a new town, too financially committed into this project to let it fail. Meeting Zach, angry over loss of his contractors, wasn't initially pleasant, but her baking skills and friendly disposition soon won him over. //  Severton is a friendly town that lends a hand, but Severton also has secrets and dangers. When one of Sorrell's employees may have met with foul play, Sorrell may need Zach's rescue skills...

Good pivot from a bit of rom-com to a bit of romantic suspense. But really, one TSTL moment: why didn't she call for help sooner, and think she can do everything herself? 4/5

GRR Reviews Blue Angel by Kristen Kelly

Lucas met Maura at an airport... Where both are flying to meet the Blue Angels. He wanted to join the team, while she's trying to decide what to do with her life when her dreams of seeing her (married) man leave his wife and be with her came crashing down. Maura turned out to have a fear of flying and in after a few too many drinks, decided to invite Lucas to join the "mile high club". It's a one-time thing, of course... Until she was tasked to write a briefing report about the Blue Angels for her organization... and had to see Lucas again. And this time, Lucas is determined to make her his forever... if she will let him.

While characters have a lot of depth, it seems reality had been left aside. Blue Angel pilots have to be active duty, yet Lucas seems to have left the Marines for several years already before attempting to join. And Lucas has already been medically discharged. This really made ZERO sense. Also, one can also question whether Maura prefers the "excitement" of seducing married men and dream of him leaving his wife (when he wouldn't) to settling down with someone who likes her as is (like Lucas). Also, the idea of making Maura write a report on Blue Angels like a reporter makes no sense. Having her "boss" nagging her like and editor, even less so. She's a LAWYER doing work for lobbyists as a researcher... Really? Isn't that a junior aide's job? That's confusing as heck. This book has some good moments, but just as many non-sensical background elements and plotting. 2.5/5

GRR Reviews Remember Me by Marion Ueckermann

Clarise and her two friends vowed at 13 to make a list of their wishes, then come back at 40 for a reunion. 27 years later, Clarise is back in town, a 40-yr old ex-model whose agent/manager just divorced her and traded her for a younger model. AND he's vindictive enough to ask for wedding rings back, and took her car and almost all her belongings. She had to pawn the rings to even make it home. // Heath had been waiting for Clarise for 27 years, having fallen for her in high school, but Valentine's Day kiss soon sent her across the country. Now that she's back, and he's a youth pastor, Heath wasn't quite sure how to woo Clarise, when she's so hurt and unsure of herself. But he can be there to lend a shoulder... and offer his heart...

Sweet, but the guy held a torch for her for 27 years? Really? Hmmm... 4/5

GRR Reviews Tumble Into Love by J H Croix

Risa was betrayed by her boyfriend, and was retreating to her sister's place in Diamond Creek, Alaska when she ran off the road avoiding a moose. She was rescued by hot cop Darren, who retreated from Seattle with his own tragedy. Both planned to keep to themselves, yet neither can deny the attraction and fate that brought them to each other. But she's his best friend's little sister, and he's so yummy in uniform. Would just a fling be enough... Or will they tumble into love?

Nothing really special here, but characterizations and polish is good. 4/5

GRR Reviews Beware the Rich Man by Laura Landon

NOTE: Regency Romance (Victorian England)

Blake Edison, textile importer, and one of the richest men in London, has no title, but he swore an oath to destroy Duke of Somerset. The heartless bastard, eager to protect his own reputation, allowed Blake's mother to suffer and die by deliberately refusing to help, and Blake ended up an orphan on the streets. But circumstances have changed. Blake had been buying up Duke's debt slowly, and he will destroy Duke's latest plan... To have his son (Blake's half-brother) marry Lady Willow Gilchrist for her dowry left by her grandmother, in exchange for two estates... // Lady Willow understood duty to family. She loves to design clothing, but that is scandalous in itself, so it's only in secret. She met Blake, and they share a common passion: textiles. The attraction is immediate, but neither can act on it. Lady Willow knew she was promised to the son of Duke of Somerset, in order to secure two estates to help her family's future, as the two younger brothers have no estates to support themselves. And Duke of Somerset is eager to get her dowry to fulfill his debts. Yet her heart already belongs to Blake... 

Ah, taboo and forbidden love, good setting, nice intrigue, and good amount of angst. Yet the story just feels... full of logical holes. Being one of the richest men, Blake had no guards or attendants. And why the Duke ordered an attack on him also made no sense. Duke doesn't know Blake was his "bastard son", yet instead of attempting to negotiate for his debt, he simply went ahead and ordered the attack on Blake for POSSIBLY interfering with Lady Willow's plan to marry his son. There was also Blake doing a totally virtuous thing... when he could have seduced Lady Willow just as the Duke feared. And Lady Willow TOTALLY did NOT react when she finally learned WHY. The end also felt a bit deus ex machina, when it was finally revealed that Duke actually doesn't own the estates in question. He sold them off long ago to fund his ill-fated investments. How can Lady Willow's family not insist on some verification before committing their daughter's dowry and future? Feels TSTL. 

4/5

GRR Reviews Engaged to Mr. Right by Lilian Monroe

Max is falling for his physical therapist Naomi. While Max is doing great in his job in the family company, his parents are dropping not so subtle hints about him starting a family. But after having his girlfriend dump him after his knee injury which ended his NFL prospects, he's still not over that, and not ready to get involved with anyone. Naomi's regimen really did help him recover so that his knee is now pain-free. But when Max accidentally met Naomi at a night club, and paparazzi got photos of them together, his father issued an ultimatum: marry this girl, or get disinherited. Completely flustered, Max can think of only one thing to do: fake-propose to Naomi... Yes, they'll fake-engage and if needed, fake-marry. Naomi reluctantly accepted when she just learned that her mother has cancer... and will need money for treatment and existing debt. Then Max learned Naomi's real secret... One that even she doesn't seem to know...

I really wanted to like this one, but the darkest hour really made no sense. Without spoiling the plot, let me just say it MADE NO F***ING SENSE why they can't go through with it. You'll be howling with frustration when you learned the reason. Obviously, they resolved it to get the HEA, but the darkest hour really made no sense. Yes, I'm repeating myself.  Also, I don't understand how they could have found out, if nobody else knew other than Naomi's mom. 4/5

GRR Reviews Why Stars Chase the Sun by C R Ellis

Jade, with her best buddy Jasmine, had gotten their wedding planner business off the ground. But her heart still wasn't healed from her fiance's sudden cold feet three years ago. A chance encounter (she threw a branch for her dog at the river) hit Emmett, canoe-ing and looking at her, in the head and they can't quite keep their eyes off each other. But Jade wasn't quite sure what to do with their attraction. After getting to know Emmett a little (who is indeed, charming, sweet, and handsome), and couraged supplied by alcohol, Jade proposed something outrageous (but made sense to her)... a day and a night with Emmett, no strings attached. And Emmett needs a lot of convincing, for he was wrestling with his own demons, having been burned by love before...

Seriously angst-y slow-burn kinda love. It's quite exquisite, as you will have to read quite a bit to find out why Emmett is the way he is. Pace could be upped a little, IMHO. 4.5

GRR Reviews Lost in Paradise by Charlotte Blake

It's been three years since Juliet's failed marriage ended. She spent it mostly alone, but she's starting to regret her decision. When her girlfriends convinced her to go on a Carribean cruise, she can't say no. // Eli is still broken after his divorce. Being an athlete and handsome, he has his choice of bedmates, but he still can't get over his own heartbreak. Getting on a cruise wasn't exactly his idea.  // When Juliet and Eli were both stranded in Cabo San Lucas, and met each other, they sensed each other's loss... and may just be each other's salvation...

Nice and sweet, but also serves as a manual of what to do if you got robbed while on shore leave (and you failed to take precautions, like leaving a copy of your passport and papers in the cabin safe, or not keep everything in a single place that can be robbed...) but it also serves as excellent lead-in to their dysfunctional families and expectations. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews Falling for the Veteran by Alexa Rivers

Cooper returned home from the Middle East physically sound, but mentally... not quite. He still wakes up at night in a panic. Which is why he can only do NSA one-night-stands. He doesn't want anyone seeing him like this. That is... until he met Sophie. // Sophie thought surprising her beau would be fun. Turns out, he's doing the nasty with his secretary. And this time, she is NOT going to take him back... EVER. Sophie decided to change herself and her circumstances... and the first item on the bucket list is to have an NSA fling with the hot guy... Cooper, who's also her best friend's brother. While one's not supposed to fling with "family", what they don't know wouldn't hurt them. It's just a temporary arrangement. Right?

This storyline has been done MANY MANY times, and while the polish is quite good, nothing else really stands out. 3/5

GRR Reviews her Billionaire Lifeguard by Sophia Summers

Trey and his friends/co-workers are vacationing in Mexico. Being half of a top cosmetic company means he hadn't taken time for himself for a while. While on the beach, he found a woman who seems to be immune to his charm. her name is Scottie, and later when they meet again, she mistook him for a lifeguard. And he decided to continue pretending to be a lifeguard. When he found out Scottie is actually the daughter of his deceased hero and business mentor, he's determined to help her, even as he realized she was betrayed by her BF and board, and despite her escape, they were still trying to ruin her, in order to gain full control of her company. But when Scottie learned that Trey may be pondering a business venture with her enemy, will she ever trust him again?

Eh... The resolution was so fast it felt like a deus ex machina. That was not handled well at all. 3/5

GRR Reviews The Perfect Blend by Susan Coventry

Mason knew Brooke was the one for him when she came to visit Harbor Springs a year ago. Brooke came to visit her sister Beth, and Beth is now married to Colton, Mason's brother. But Brooke wasn't ready as she's in a relationship back then. Now, Brooke fled to Harbor Springs when her fiancee broke the engagement. Mason doesn't just want to be the rebound guy, but he'll take what he can get, even if it's just friendship. But Brooke's sisters connive to pair the two together for a weekend, and perhaps, that is when they will finally learn if they are the perfect blend.

A bit of unrequited love, a lot of hidden feelings, and love at a low simmer. But even stuff on low simmer will boil over... This is a series and you'll get more out of it if you read it in order. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews Tempted by the Lawman by Joann Baker and Patricia Mason

Ethan is a special agent of the FBI, with a tragedy in his past that he never wants to talk about. He's too hurt to let anyone else in ever again. Being shot in the line of duty was simply part of the job. Being helped by his best friend's PA, Chloe, was unexpected, and their chemistry is undeniable. And he was surprised to learn that Chloe had a bit of a crush on him for a while. And Ethan found himself attracted to this BBW. But the guy who shot him is still out there... And someone near Chloe is about to betray her...

Eh... okay? No, the whole book is NOT about hurt/comfort. I found "flirty neighbor" to be a bit "out of nowhere". I think more hints could have been dropped about him having shady deals. And surely there are ways OUT of the country that doesn't involve "making a deal" with law enforcement? 3/5

GRR Reviews Clair (Beach Brides) by Grace Greene

Clair joined her friends on Enchanted Island in throwing her wish of a husband as a message in a bottle into the ocean. But secretly, she was engaged to her boss and business partner, Sean. So she's not really looking for anyone. But upon her return, Sean soon disappeared, leaving her with bills and bill collectors. Clair was forced to return to her hometown to live with her sisters. // Ten months later, Greg arrived in Clair's hometown. He's actually a private investigator, to check up on Clair. But Greg fell for Clair quickly, even as he figured out what his client wanted. Now Greg must confess his initial duplicity for a chance at happily ever after...

Okay, this isn't the first "evil ex sent PI to check on woman, but PI fell for woman" plot I've seen. In fact, I've just finished one (check out "Fool Me Once" by Catherine Bybee). This one is not bad, but lacks certain complications and charms. 3/5

GRR Reviews The Perfect Distraction by Susan Coventry

Beth can't live in the city anymore when her fiancee called off their wedding. She moved to Harbor Springs to live in her aunt's cottage. It was just for the summer, and be reunited with her sisters is a bonus. She didn't count on meeting Colton... // Colton is a single dad taking care of his son Joey and working in his family's woodworking biz. The divorce was contentious and he is in no mood for any relationship, not even with the beautiful neighbor Beth. But when he learned that Beth is a teacher, he hired her to tutor Joey over the summer. And what was meant as the perfect distraction to help Beth heal over the summer soon became a lot more...

Now that's the proper way to do a slow-burn romance, when love came from an unexpected direction. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews Nudes by Sarah Robinson

Aria is an up and coming star, who had an affair with the director, then cut it off when she realized he's going after every female of legal age. But the director was still creepy as heck. // Ben is the new CEO of a movie production company, and his evil ex dragged him through the mud during the divorce hoping to force more money out of him. // Ben and Aria knew there is chemistry between them, and they reluctantly agreed to get involved. It was wrong. He is technically her boss, and she shouldn't have wanted someone that can ruin her. But they do want each other. Until an act of betrayal that can destroy them both...

Nice, very nice. There's also a theme after the whole thing... How Hollywood double-standard says a victim can be scorned. As the title suggested... Aria's nudes got leaked basically as revenge porn.  Some parts feel forced (Ben's responsibility in all of this, and his inability to explain the situation), and the culprit's mindset. Another thing about the leak didn't make sense.

4.5/5


SPOILER

ALERT

The director got Ben to 'sign off' on the "press photos" by putting the innocuous photos on top and the nudes below. But wouldn't whoever got the stack of photos question "wait, who released these nudes as press photos"?

GRR Reviews Vested Interest by Bethany Jadin

WARNING: Teaser volume, cliffhanger ending

Emma was a research graduate with some breakthrough software with part-time jobs to get by. She was previously betrayed by her boyfriend who took her code and sold it for a life in luxury, leaving her behind. But now, she's being pursued by the five partners of Pentabyte, a software giant, and each of the 5 execs is sinfully hot, in very different ways. And they share very well...

Other than a lot of push-pull, nothing really happened in this volume, except a VERY steamy make-out session. And as I did warn, it ended with almost no action. If you enjoy the tease, this would be great. If you dislike the tease, this book is ONLY teases, and that'd be quite frustrating.

2/5 (due to -1 cliffhanger penalty)

GRR Reviews One Percent of You by Michelle Gross

Hadley thought she had a perfect family, with Lucy and another on the way. Until she was betrayed. Determined to make her own way, she was surprised at someone moved into the house next to her apartment. But he's big, gruff, tattooed, and judgemental. She can see his disdain for an "obvious" single mom (probably on dole and food stamps). It didn't help when Lucy kept calling him "demon guy" (well, his tattoos are of demons and skulls...)  His name is Elijah, and after a while, he wanted to be friends. And even Lucy warmed to him. But can he be more?

Nice, good job mixing "opposites attract" and "first impressions are wrong" tropes. Using kid as the straight man (or woman, in this case) is expected, but still a nice touch. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews Strictly Professional by Kathryn Nolan

Roxy is a beautiful tattooed goddess badass...except when it comes to business. Her tattoo parlor is failing, as the area is gentrifying. So when a proper Brit wandered through her doors, drunk and broken-hearted, she was surprised, but not shocked. And he's VERY charming. His name is Edward, and he's a hotelier who was expected to marry someone his family approves to inherit the hotel he had been managing most of his adult life. Except the last "approved" woman betrayed him already (which caused him to be drunk and ended up at Roxy's). And Edward has some dark desires he can never share with a "proper" woman... but with Roxy... Oh, yes.  Roxy was going for MBA hoping to fix her business, and one of the projects was being mentored by a businessman. Who'd knew that her mentor would end up being Edward?

Ooo-la-la. This opposites attract story does indeed have explosive chemistry. The end solution was slight bit of deus ex machina. Who'd knew family can be so... ****tards?   4.5/5

GRR Reviews Then He Happened by Claudia Burgoa

Eileen has ALWAYS been overlooked by her family, when her sister got all the drama. Now that her sister's pregnant, Eileen has been shanghaied and guilted by her family into planning a shotgun wedding... Scheduled on her birthday AND graduation day, in merely weeks. Good thing the best man is gorgeous, and seems to notice her... // Jason is a cynical and rich playboy who was left at the altar by a woman he loved with all his heart. Now he has none to give. Now his no-good cousin needs the biggest bailout of them all... He knocked up a girl and needs to marry her. Jason knew he'd end up footing most of the bill... and he can see that Eileen is the quiet one in the background, always bailing out her family... without complaint. And Eileen doesn't even fall for his charm. Now he's on a quest to show he's not as shallow as Eileen thinks he is... and perhaps... even prove he has a heart to give.

Awwww... Everyone knew siblings and families like that... and people who sit in the background, NEVER take any credit. Though this one is, for laughs, amped it up to 11. Nice tale. 5/5