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 Wrangled by the Watchful Cowboy by Tamie Dearen

Cord can't believe his best friend's little sister Jessica is now all grown up. But when his best friend specifically ordered him, as a special favor, to keep all the cowboys away from his sister, does that include himself? // Jessica had a crush on Cord for a very long time, but she wants to finish her degree before she'd even consider dating, after finding her fiancee had betrayed her. When Cord had to rescue her from a very awkward moment with a kiss, she's having problems keeping to her promise to herself. But Cord is heading back to New York soon, not staying in Sage Valley. And why does her ex-fiance want her back now? And will Cord ride that bull after all?

A good mix of rom-com and angst, topped off with a good dose of hurt/comfort, and it's clean.

4/5

GRR Reviews Her Billionaire Surgeon by Dobi Daniels

Dana, a surgical resident at Dexington Medical, is too busy for love. To satisfy her godmother, she went on one blind date. // Josh Roman, a fellow resident, wants out of his father's control. He wants to do sports medicine and start soccer clinics around the world, his father wants him to be an orthopedic doctor like himself. A surprise inheritance from his grandmother may give him the freedom, but it comes with a huge rope... He has to get engaged within 30 days. Desperate to get away from the bad blind date set up by his father, the department head. He was surprised to find Dana at the same restaurant. So he rescued her and claimed her as his potential fiancee. And she went along reluctantly. But as the fiction turns ever larger, Dana found her one lasting mystery and secret may have everything to do with the Roman family...

Nicely setup, if the intro's a bit too long. The subsequent push-pull and complications are right on the mark. Though I guessed the twist long before I saw it. It's pretty obvious which way the story would go.

Category: Contemporary / Medical

Overall Rating: 4.5/5

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

GRR Reviews Chasing Clouds by Kathryn Andrews

Reid is a professional NFLer attending a wedding in Savannah, Georgia. He did not plan to ever get married. But something in Camille's eyes made him do the unthinkable... He objected to Camille's wedding when it's clear in her eyes that she does NOT want to be married to the man next to her. But he grew up in the tough streets of the Bronx, while she's a southern belle... // Camille was expected to get married to David, her best friend... but he's NOT someone she's in love with. When Reid objected to her wedding, it was a way out of her familial obligations, and she cannot walk away. Reid agrees to give her up after a few months, after the scandal dies down. But when the time is up, can Camille give up the freedom with Reid? Could she already be in love with Reid?

Wow, the book started out with a bang, and managed to sustain the momentum, for there are a TON of secrets, familial angst, and expectations to uncover. I won't spoil it, but let's just say, everything made sense, and even the douchebag had a reason. I didn't like the sudden flip of the douchebag for the resolution of the darkest hour, but it's a minor quibble.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 5/5

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

GRR Reviews Fake Dating Her Best Friend's Brother by Tia Souders

Callie lost her parents and was mostly brought up by her neighbor, the Kimballs. However, she coped with her loss with retail therapy, and she was hoping for a promotion to dig herself out of the hole. However, when the promotion at the financial firm is contingent on a credit check, and Callie's bills are becoming overdue, and all the credit cards are maxed out, Callie had to resort to some unconventional means, such as "Dial a Date". Dean Kimball, NBA point guard, had always had his eyes on Callie. Joining the NBA and endorsement deals made him rich. When Dean had to rescue Callie from a disastrous date, Dean decided to help more directly... "hire" Callie to be his "fake" girlfriend, and in exchange, he'll pay off her credit card debt. It's a good way to keep her close, and open her up to possibility of love... And she reluctantly agrees. But when she also got an offer to start over in California, far away from Dean, which plan will she choose?

A bit uneven. The part about escaping from the clutches of the saleswoman was really funny. But the rest, believing the worst, the psychic wound doesn't quite match the behavior and coping mechanism.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 3.5/5

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

GRR Reviews Thirty Dates Later by Caterina Passarelli

Claire is a CEO of her own publishing company and has a dedicated team out to empower women... But her own love life is... bare. She broke up with her ten-year boyfriend because he's a total man-child, preferring parties and video games to work, and hates her for "wearing the pants" in the relationship. Forced into dating again, she survives disaster after disaster in speed dating, online dating, and outright blind dating. Then her mother commented: why not make it a column in your magazine: Thirty first dates in thirty days? As she survives even more dating duds, she knew there is one guy she wanted... Alex, a CEO that invested in her magazine... but there is no mixing business with pleasure... It makes for a VERY awkward business later... But the dating duds are wearing her down... Maybe Alex can be a change of pace...

Good mix of tropes, combining "no mixing work and pleasure" with "everyone but you". Add the man-child ex, and dating disasters, and you got a good story. I think the "jealousy" angle could have been handled better though.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 4/5

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

GRR Reviews Accidental Romeo by Nicole Snow

Wendy is a baker and chef and prefers to be alone... too busy to do anything else. When her cake delivery almost had her run over Hunter's son, they came to know each other. Hunter took a semi-retired role to raise his son... but he's a billionaire running a big defense tech company. He found Wendy to be irresistible, and when he saw how Wendy's family is putting Wendy last, he stepped up to be not only Wendy's date to the wedding, but to make sure she had a great time... and throw shade at anyone who dare put Wendy down. But someone seems to be targeting the company. Can Wendy and Hunter actually defy the odds and get together?

The "mystery" was not handled well. It's pretty obvious who the perp was, and he had been manipulating people all along.  There were no attempts to add in some red herrings. The part about Hunter making Wendy very happy is done very well. Unfortunately, when you add both parts together, you come up with something rather average.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 3/5

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

GRR Reviews Anything for Love by Lola StVil

Winter Bennet had a horrendous bad blind date. On her way to duck out, she saw her ex with a hot new girl. She decided to duck out the window of the restroom and risk jumping into a dumpster instead of facing humiliation... Right into a drug bust by Detective Wyatt Hunter and his team. The bad guy got away, but he's smitten when he had to protect her from stray bullets. But she's too broken for love, esp. when her evil ex pushed her into kinky sex and then revenge porn'ed her when she broke up. Can he heal her?

Didn't feel too much on this one. Meet-cute is cute, but not too much else.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 3/5

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

GRR Reviews Fighting Hard by Marysol James

Nick is a hot bartender and a fighting gym co-owner with his buddy Adam (who's the bouncer at the same club). He likes things easy and care-free, because he can't be with another woman long-term, after losing his girl years ago. One night, he saved Mia from fate worse than death... someone roofied her, practically in front of Nick, and managed to get her out the door to his car. Nick got to her just in time and got the creep arrested. Turns out Mia is a writer doing topics on sexual exploitation of women and children, and she's in Denver to work with a child advocate going after a child sex trafficking ring in the area. But when she was betrayed, who will save her this time?

Uh, Nick's panic really made no sense. Nor did the sudden appearance of the bad guy, except it made for a convenient plot. Guy saves gal from roofies was almost a trope. But I like the build-up well enough.

Category: Contemporary / Romantic suspense

Overall Rating: 3.5 / 5 (rounded up)

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

GRR Reviews Wild Irish Ride by Jennifer Saints

Wild Irish Ride is a star-crossed lovers story with a stalker threat. The ending was really lame though. Else this would have gotten a higher rating.

Alexi Jordan had lived a controlled life except for a brief fling at seventeen when she was rescued by then young Jesse Weldon, 19. But they never did the deed even when she offered. She never saw him again. Twelve years later, Alexi received damning photos of her fiancee's infidelity merely 30 minutes before their wedding. Alexi stormed off, vowing to follow her heart rather than family pressure. When she happened to run into Jesse again, she kissed him and asked him to get her away... // Jesse knew he did the right thing... he wasn't going anywhere and he can't take Alexi's gift. Except he walked out, and was knocked out, and woke up having been framed for larceny, and was shipped off to the Marines the next day. Only the Jordan family could have done that. He was sadder but wiser. Twelve years later, he is a security specialist only visiting his brother back in town helping to deliver some equipment when he ran into Alexi... and he's rescuing her... again. And this time, Jesse and Alexi will resume what they started twelve years ago... but someone is in the shadows pulling strings... as it was clear a deranged stalker is after Alexi, and it is someone close... VERY close...

VERY nice shift from serendipity to romantic suspense. I wish the ending could have been handled better, which I won't spoil.

Category: Contemporary / Romantic suspense

Primary Plot: Star-crossed lovers meet again, when he rescued her from her wedding she didn't want, but someone else is stalking her...

Overall Rating: 4/5

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

GRR Reviews Remedial Rocket Science by Susannah Nix

Remedial Rocket Science is a geeky romcom with proper pop/nerd culture references, but ultimately falls back to the trope of a rake was tamed by the 'right woman'. Still, the references are right, and the plotting is good.

Melody Gage is a geek girl looking for an NSA one-night stand when her date stood her up... she was hit on by a creepy guy when she was rescued by out-of-towner Jeremy. Jeremy was great, and indeed NSA. When Melody graduated and moved to LA three years later, she was horrified to discover not only Jeremy works in her company, he's actually CEO's son. Furthermore, Jeremy has a girlfriend and a reputation as a playboy. Melody struggles to keep her distance, but series of circumstances, such as Jeremy's GF turned out to be sapphic, Melody needing a fake BF to satisfy her mother, and a latte vs laptop emergency brought them closer together. Melody admitted to herself she has feelings for the son of a billionaire but is the reverse true as well?

Nice, a rom-com, geekette, proper tech references (nothing too deep here), AND a nice slow-burn romance all in one.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Geekette found her one-night-stand is now her new boss and son of CEO, but he's hiding a secret, and she needs a fake BF

Overall Rating: 4/5

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

GRR Reviews The Playboy Next Door by Christina Tetreault

The Playboy Next Door tried to setup reluctant lovers, but the ending was a pretty lame trope.

Catrina was stood up by her blind date when she was rescued by resident playboy Tony. Cat knew all about Tony's reputation, but she's lonely, and she invited him back to her apartment... Tony never tried any moves on Cat because she's his best bud's little sister... and his coach's daughter. Tony's sweetheart passed away, and he felt isn't not up to love someone deeply, that's why he kept things light and casual. Tony and Cat agreed to keep things light and secret, but secrets always get out, and Tony needs to decide whether to risk his heart again... or lose the woman that came to be much more than just friends.

The ending resorted to trope "I hurt you because I love you (therefore I must drive you away, because I think it's better for you)" which basically instantly turned to regret. ARGH! I **hate** that sort of darkest hour.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Can a jilted woman fall for the resident playboy who may be ready to turn over a new leaf?

Overall Rating:  3/5

NOTE: see "Labels" below for the tropes.

GRR Reviews A Kiss for Christmas: A Holiday Collection by Melody Grace

A Kiss for Christmas is a 3 novella collection about Christmas romances, each of which is quite good. The author knows how to deliver just enough plot to swoon without overcooking it.

An unlikely couple found themselves gotten snowed in on their way to a wedding, and a game of truth or dare found they have hidden feelings toward each other...

A writer asked for rustic accommodations at a lakeside inn... except there's no power to do his writing... and no muse. Until he met the vivacious innkeeper who wanted to get out of this town...

A woman found that the holidays she planned for New York City winter holiday with her BF just went up in smoke. Can the hot musician show her some real appreciation?

Each of these novellas is fast, with just enough plot and twist to satisfy. I recommend this collection and other books by this author.

Category: Contemporary / Collection

Primary Plot: N/A, three novella collection featuring some shorter works by the author, all are definitely above average

Tropes: forced proximity, Holidays, 

Overall Rating:  4/5

GRR Reviews The Billionaire's Secret Heart by Ivy Layne

The Billionaire's Secret Heart was basically the story of a remarkable one-night stand, and MMC's attempt to get FMC back for a more permanent arrangement.

Josephine was on the worst blind date ever until Holden swooped in and rescued her. It wasn't until much later that Jo realized this is Holden Winters, scion of the Winters clan, who dates socialites with his gorgeous looks and loads of money. There's no way that Holden could fall for a geek with curves, could he? Yet when Jo indulges herself with a quick fling, something she never did before, she panicked and ran immediately after without saying goodbye. But what Holden wanted was someone with curves... and intellect to challenge him. And Jo is not getting away...

The overall plot was pretty cookie-cutter though competently executed. Nothing really stood out though. It's not really a struggle if she can just change her mind, right?

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Geek with curves on a bad blind date was rescued by rich billionaire who wanted more than just a one-night stand

Tropes: blind date, date rescue, fling to a thing, geek/geekette, different worlds

Overall Rating:  3/5