GRR Reviews The Inn at Willa Bay by Nicole Ellis

Zoe thought as the assistant event planner for a wedding resort in Willa Bay, she would inherit the event planner position when the existing one retired. Instead, her boss handed the position to his son-in-law who had never worked in the industry. Then she learned that her landlord Celia not only needed a hospital stay, she's also in danger of losing the entire place, a former inn, and leaving Zoe with no home. // Her best friend Meg had left a prestigious sous chef job to come home to her mother being treated for cancer, and work in a kitchen with no chance of advancement. When a friend's old rival returned to town, threatening her routine for the kitchen, her timetable for departure may be moved up...  // Her other best friend Cassie did not expect to be a single mother after marrying the love of her life, only to divorce him 10 years later to raise an autistic child alone. She was barely getting by, until an old rival returned to town... and about to destroy her side gig as a cake baker/decorator. // Shawn had just restored a house and flipped it for profit when he got a phone call from across the country from a mystery woman. Who is Celia? Why did Celia have him as an emergency contact? And who is this Zoe that called her? His curiosity will lead him to Willa Bay... // These people are about to meet and change each other's lives... 

As a series starter, this is actually well plotted so everything ties together. It does sound a bit scattered at the beginning, as if all the separate threads don't quite fit together, but they do. My main problem is the final solution, which I will not spoil, is a bit deus ex machina. And also the solution doesn't mean everybody gets HEA. We do have a couple more books, after all. The characters all are reasonable. I feel the connection between Shawn and Zoe was a bit rushed. The rivalry and the unreasonableness of "bad boss" and how the various characters just kowtowed instead of engaging in some malicious compliance just feel... unsatisfying. Also, this being a series, there's no karma in this particular book, which may leave some readers miffed. 3.5/5

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 Breakup Boot Camp by Beth Merlin

Joanna was about to get married, and she's busy getting herself into shape to fit into the wedding gown... Until a discovery led to her canceling the entire wedding... Because her fiancee is a cheater... for MONTHS. She needs help and an escape from her friends and family... so she signed up for Breakup Boot Camp... where she can learn about self-care, spa, yoga, surfing, and a lot of talking with a therapist to get over the only person she had loved... Could the cheating be partly her own fault? Why had she abandoned her career? Did she ever accept the loss in her life? What responsibility does she have in the demise of her own relationship? And does she like Chef Todd?

More chick-lit than romance, it's a bit deeper than you'd expect, and I like it. 4/5

GRR Reviews Grill Me, Baby by Sophia Knightly

Chef Paolo wants to win a spot on Miami Spice cooking show to help his family.  So does chef Michaela. Paolo cooks with a passion, while Michaela... cooks healthy low-calorie fares that are just as enticing. The two can't be more different, and the competition for the spot can't be more fierce. So neither can foresee the passion that develope between them, even as both have to deal with family problems and expectations left them conflicted...

Very good, never a dull moment, even as both started with the wrong idea about each other. Very well done "enemies to lovers" novel. 5/5

GRR Reviews Christmas with a Mountain Man by Ellie Hall

Francesca "Frankie" Costa is a chef that just lost her restaurant due to a sneaky lease. Upon discovering that her family had a cabin up in the mountains she never knew, she decided to go there, to get away from everyone, to think. She didn't count on meeting a bear upon her arrival, or for the handsome mountain man neighbor to come to her rescue... Only to find he's a Hawkins, with whom the Costas had a long family feud... or is supposed to. // Rocky Hawkins is one of the Hawkins boys, with plenty of money, and intending to make his own way in life with a professional ice hockey career. But one night changed everything, and he left everything behind and retreated to the mountains. He didn't count on a beautiful woman moving in next door before Christmas, only to have her being a Costa... // It seems both need a little Christmas miracle...

While the title has Mountain man, this is not a trope mountain man novel, but rather, a novel about a fish out of water, breaking down a recluse's walls, something usually reserved for "nosy reporter meets and befriends town recluse" trope. I find her insistence to fix everything a bit... perplexing. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews Christmas with the Captain by Holly Stevenson

Emmett has plenty of wealth, but it seems all women turned into golddiggers after meeting him, esp. his ex, who's model gorgeous but heart-less. When chance put him as just himself in front of caterer Grace (whose food is amazing), and she did not recognize him, he decided to take it a step further and claimed he's the yacht captain for the billionaire (instead of the billionaire himself). He really is a qualified captain (aka ship master), so it's not exactly a lie. And Grace, usually the shy sister, loved Emmett's attention, and his access to "modest" wealth and adventure, including the use of "his boss' sailboat". But coming off a bad relationship herself, she recoiled when Emmett's joke about being a playboy backfired. He finally smoothed that over for her to show at the Christmas party cruise where he planned to come clean when his vengeful ex derailed that too...

It's basically "undercover billionaire". The chef's situation could have been planted better, IMHO. 4/5

GRR Reviews His to Claim by River Delaney

Elizabeth is secretary for a douchebag boss, who insist his chicken be fried to a husk (i.e. no juice inside), and insist on throwing tantrums in restaurant, screaming at servers, and sending his secretary into the kitchen to "demonstrate". But this time, he picked the wrong restaurant. //  Michael, head chef, was surprised to see a gal in business attire and heels walked into his kitchen, and managed to abuse a piece of chicken. He tossed it into the trash, and redid it the right way. When the client then transfered the abuse to the secretary, he tossed the client out, which also resulted in Elizabeth getting fired. So he'll rent her his guest room, and teach her how to cook...

Really? It's over the top, but it's just cliche alpha stuff. It's also extremely short. 2/5

GRR Reviews Fresh in the Kitchen by Olivia Burke

Aubrey, the best mixologist in the state, is about to have a mental breakdown due to her nosy family and her sister's wedding. Questions about "why don't you get a real job" and "why are you still single" are driving her insane. She came up with this insane plan: claim that Tommy, the award-winning chef, is her boyfriend, to get at least one problem out of the way. Little did she know that Tommy had been eyeing her for a while. When his own famous chef father said he will attend one of his own awards, Tommy asked Aubrey agreed to also be his date in return. But why does this fake relationship feel so real?

Good polish on the standard "fake to real" trope. Tommy can't ever seem to stand up to his old man, but Aubrey can. And vice versa. On the other hand, being co-workers can be a bit of a problem due to gossipers. But overall, it's a sweet relationship. 4/5

GRR Reviews The Wedding Gift by Lucy Kevin

NOTE: Lucy Kevin is Bella Andre's "sweet" pen name.

Julie's restaurant didn't make it, esp. after a 2/5 review from a celebrity chef / reviewer was made public. Julie ended up working as the chef for Rose Chalet, a full wedding venue, taking over from her aunt who had to retire for health reasons. And guess who's the first client for her first tasting? None other than hot celebrity TV chef Andrew Kyle, the person who gave her that 2/5 review, as the groom's brother. Andrew told Julie that while her technique is good, her creations have no spark. Incensed, Julie wanted to give Andrew a piece of her mind, but was instead invited onto his cooking show in a live cook-off. And it's clear they have chemistry together... On and offscreen. But getting involved with a client is a definite no-no at the Rose Chalet... While Andrew wanted Julie, Julie can't decide whether her career or her food is worth risking for a chance for love with Andrew...

Eh... not feeling too much with this one. Firing Julie from Rose Chalet seems really dumb, and the first "experimental meal" was created without ANY input from the couple, which is just stupid. Seems Julie only works in extremes... Either super conservative, or super-creative. Took her until end of the book to balance the two, which actually is character growth, but still, it's just stupid to create a menu WITHOUT looking at the client. Chemistry between Andrew and Julie also was unexplained. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews Just Roll With it by Tawdra Kandle

Amanda had been working hard as a law student in her final year. While she felt an attraction to the bride's brother Vincent, she knew she can, at most, spend one night at it. NSA fling. That's it. Good thing that Vincent, the pastry chef of his family restaurant, agreed. He's smart, sexy, and wanted no attachment either. Their chemistry is sizzling, and they are VERY sexually compatible.  But Vincent can't get Amanda out of his mind... he likes her sense of humor, her sass, and her smarts. In fact, he wanted her for more than just one night. But can he convince her that she's good for more than just a fling, and so is he?

Some parts I liked. Vincent had this underlying resentment of his situation, about how his brother (who is the "real" chef) is always riding on him, how his parents were always riding on him, so much so he blew up and interviewed for a position to possibly be closer to Amanda. Amanda kinda beats herself down a bit. Slightly masochistic (not in bed, just in life) believes the worst of herself. But overall, it's pretty good. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews No Time for Temptations by Monique McDonell

Georgie was once America's sweetheart, and her best platonic friend, Liam, had always been by her side, lending her strength, even at her first audition ever. A decade later, Georgie is the host of a popular cooking show, and Liam is a top analyst at an investment firm... in different cities.  When a sink mishap (by a neighbor) forced Georgie out of her just-remodeled apartment where she also films her cooking show, Liam decided he needs to make a change. He accepted the offer to move cities (to head up a new branch) and moved to Georgie's city, then bought a Brownstone perfect for filming, and invited Georgie to move in. What he didn't tell Georgie was he always felt inadequate and now that he's successful, and with Georgie moving in, he's ready to show Georgie that he is now someone she deserves... But can she ever see him as more than just the best friend ever?

Awww, sweet unrequited love, a very nice way to do friends to lovers. The way additional tension was added by Liam dumping his existing girlfriend, and Georgie's handsome airline pilot neighbor (whose apartment flooded) tried to parlay an apology into a date. Darkest hour wasn't that dark, but then, this isn't that kind of novel. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews Cowboy's Surprise Nanny by Leslie North

Ian promised his six-year-old son Andy a spot in the local strawberry festival, so he had to kowtow to the mayor. The mayor asked for a favor in return: can Ian help mayor's niece by hiring her as his son's nanny? She's great with kids. Ian agreed, expecting a college-aged girl. What he got was Katie... // Katie loved to cook and went to culinary school. She became an Instagram famous chef. Then a scandal involving her cookbook sent her into hiding out in the countryside. When Andy's dietary restrictions (allergies) forced Katie to be creative, she's drawn back into the cooking world, even as she fell in love with both Ian and Andy. Will Katie have to choose between love and career?

Good, sweet, no forced darkest hour. All motivations are reasonable. No trope evil ex's showing up. There is a little bit of "I won't hold you back" self-sacrificing bit. 5/5

GRR Reviews Cowboy Billionaire's Fake Relationship by Bethany Rose

Ethan is back in Hope Springs after his grandpa's passing. His grandpa left him everything, including the family ranch, except he needs to get married in 30 days to keep it.  Meeting high school acquaintance Izzy was just random chance, but now, Izzy's his only plan... Until his evil ex-wife gets involved. // Izzy can't believe at 31, she's back in Hope Springs, broke, living with her parents (again), and waitressing at the local diner. All due to her alleged fiancee blackballing her as a chef. Then Ethan walked through the diner doors, and everything changed... He was the jock, and she was the nerd back then. Now, he's offering her a chance to get away... But will the engagement be as fake as Ethan suggested...or did they fall for each other already?

This is about as trope as it gets. It's weird will, evil ex, who basically arrived in town just to ruin both of their days. There are some warm moments, but overall, nothing really new here. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews The Opposite of You by Rachel Higginson

Vera, back from a year in Europe with a culinary degree, sunk her savings into a food truck. And the only place to operate it, with proper clientele, is also across a parking lot from a famous restaurant with Michelin-starred chef Killian Quinn. Vera had a VERY BAD experience with a chef (who was also her boyfriend, but he gaslighted her and physically abused her when she figured it out) so when Killian came by (to spy? not that a food truck is a competition with his restaurant) Vera can't put up with his holier-than-thou attitude. But as they settled into a grudging respect for each other, Vera's evil ex returned...

There is one thing about this that bothered me. I am reasonably sure that a food truck has no place to actually prep the food, and the actual prep had to be done in a proper industrial grade kitchen. Yet I don't recall seeing any mention of that in the book. And the shift from grudging respect to love was kinda... weird. Oh, and it was mentioned Killian has a beard, but I don't ever recall any sort of facial net was mentioned... 4/5

GRR Reviews to Have and To Hold by Kristi Rose

Lottie and Bill have been together forever (since elementary school), but only as platonic friends. Now Lottie's a pastry chef, and Bill is a pastor. And Lottie is tired of waiting for Bill to "get a clue". So when someone offered to sell her cupcakes to a much wider area, and have her move to the city, she has a decision to make. // Elizabeth runs Meryton Matchmakers, and why would Willaim the corporate raider interested in her business? If Liz can't convince Will that her company means a lot more than just the tiny yearly profit, she may lose everything...

The two plots don't intersect that well. It's as if the author just basically bashed the two separate plots together. 3/5

GRR Reviews Hot in the Kitchen by Olivia Burke

Natalie came home to Crystal Springs to take care of her family, putting her own veterinary school plans on hold. Taking a temp job as waitress at LUSH restaurant, she did not expect to see Seth, the heartbreaker, as the sous chef. Still setting back into town, she swore she'll NEVER go back to Seth, the man who left her. // Seth was determined to learn all he can from the famous chef at LUSH and nothing will deter him from his goal, and that includes Natalie, not that he ever expected to see her ever again. But "as friends", he can't let the infamous playboy bartender date her either... and his own plans may be in jeopardy...

It's clearly they aren't over each other, and the whole short novel (just over 100 pages) is sweet. I don't quite like the darkest hour though... It's cliche. (Emotionally distraught MC lashes out at anyone within reach)  4/5

GRR Reviews Her Billionaire Chef by Laura Ann

Hayden, as one of the 3 billionaire bachelor brothers, who discovered a fortune trying to renovate a castle, is on top of his game as a chef of Avangarde Castle and Resort. He had to leave New York despite being a top graduate of cooking school because he won't "put out" for the restaurant owner, who retaliated by firing him and blackballed him. Now back in his game, Hayden does a perfect Gordon Ramsay in public... // Cadence thought she had a great life... rich and powerful parents, a degree in what she loves... even a compatible fiancee. Until she discovered betrayal at every turn. Her fiancee was not faithful and never will be. Her parents told her to suck it up and accept it. Determined to make her own way in the world, she ran, and eventually ended up as head accountant for the Avangarde Castle and resort. And she never puts up with Hayden's prickly attitude. // When Cadence's past came back to haunt her, and Hayden finally realized his attraction to Cadence and woo her properly, things escalated quickly. Hayden can solve all of Cadence's problems, if Cadence can just let her guard down and let him in...

I like the banter that preceded "enemies to lovers", and it's even reasonable she doesn't see that sort of flirting for what it was... She's quite naive. I guess I just have a hard time believing that her parents can be that heartless and clueless.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 4.5/5

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

GRR Reviews The Bilionaire's Email-Order Bride by Vivi Holt

All Eve wanted was to be a famous chef in New York City, and she's made it to sous chef so far in a famous NYC dining spot. So when a notice from ICE arrived stating that she had lost her work visa, she scrambled for a solution, and the only one that seems to fit is to be an e-mail order bride...  for a billionaire workaholic who only want to appear married, and sex optional... // John had been deeply hurt before, that he threw himself into work and no longer seems to know how to woo women, yet the loneliness is starting to sting. So he reached out to a matchmaking firm... Find him a beautiful wife who understand that the marriage is in name only, that he can take to functions and so on. They sent him Eve... // The match seems perfect... She needed a way to stay, not love. He needed companionship, not love. But they managed to fall in love anyway... Until a tragedy challenged their perception of their relationship, and both will have to make a choice...

Nice, very nice, if a little forced. Chef lost visa and must marry for convenience had been done before, but this is a nice and sweet (if slightly cliche "billionaire") take on it.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 4/5

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

GRR Reviews The (Half) Truth by Leddy Harper

Tatum is about to become a sous chef, but being dumped by the restaurant owner's son, and watch him go on to woo some other floozie hurts. So she made up a story that she's dating her bestie's cousin Jason. However, Jason had just moved to town and hadn't heard the story. Jason was intrigued by Tatum and agreed to have some NSA action to test the waters. But Jason was taking a women-break... As Tatum's lies started to snowball, and unravel... Does Tatum really have a relationship with Jason? Was lie, truth, or merely half-truth? When the lie bubble finally breaks, will their relationship survive?

Hmmm... The setup is quite good. The somewhat insecure girl sets up a lie, got in over her head, and not even the hot guy who eventually fell for her can get her out of it... It's all confused feelings until the end. Good comedic parts.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 4/5

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

GRR Reviews The Right Guy by Kate O'Keeffe

City girl Taylor is a skeptic, until her bestie dragged her to see a psychic and got a prediction that she'll find "the one" within two weeks, with a very specific description. Now she can't help looking for men with green eyes wearing an orange shirt... Except for one... her bestie's big brother Jake, the infamous womanizer. He does have green eyes, but he wasn't wearing an orange shirt, right? // Jake is the head chef of the hottest restaurant in town, but he'd been kinda lusting after his kid sister's bestie, Taylor, since a kiss they shared as teenagers. When both had to attend a wedding in Cabo San Lucas, Taylor found herself looking for green eyes and orange shirt... while Jake has to decide whether to go after Taylor for real this time, even though his own sister had warned him to stay away from "her girls"...

Ah, the "everyone but you" comedic trope, but very nicely executed. AND it's kinda set in San Francisco. Very enjoyable. I think some plot points like Jake's restaurant's fate could have been handled better.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 4.5/5

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