GRR Reveiws You Can't Ruin Christmas by Olivia Noble

NOTE: 100 page novella

Mary was dumped by hockey star Sebastian just before Christmas... but her best friend, Sven (and incidentally, Sebastian's brother), is there to help her pick up the pieces. When Sven professed feelings for Mary, will Mary accept? When her family want her to visit, and bring Sebastian, will Mary try to pass off Sven as Sebastian?

Good holiday rom-com that started with a likable heroine and took off from there, with lots of escalation. Best followed with the next volume, as the events overlap. 5/5

GRR Reviews The Boyfriend Sessions by Belinda WIlliams

Christa has such a big commitment issue her best friends decided to mount an intervention. After all, one usually does not flee from a super-sweet and rich French guy's wedding proposal. Her friends decided on a weekly event: let Christa recount each of her boyfriends, and list the good and bad, and what she took away from each relationship. And along for the ride is Max, one of her best friends' brother, as "the token guy", and the one she was never supposed to fall for... Has Christa learned her lessons? Would Max be worth the risk? Or will her romantic failures doom everything?

Good mix of chick-lit and my best friend's brother trope, with a little bit of "everyone but you". 4.5/5

GRR Reviews A Christmas List for the Billionaire by Christene Houston

Reese, personal assistant to billionaire bad boy CEO Crew, can't have a holiday because she's too busy keeping him out of trouble. Crew's Seattle division is hitting a major slump, and he's always out partying with a guy friend and a girlfriend instead of his job. When his father showed up demanding him to shape up or ship out, Crew had an epiphany... why is he chasing after a party-girl when the perfect woman was beside him all along?

The transition from bad boy to good boy was way too fast and abrupt. 2.5/5

GRR Reviews Wingwoman by Bella Jewel

Tiani has a very odd job. She is "wingwoman" for hot CEO Reign Braxton, a guy she will NEVER fall for. Reign is in love with Selena, but she cheated then left him. He wants to get her back, and he figured the best way to do it is to make her jealous, but he can't deal with the crazies, so he hired Tiani to "vet" his one-night-stands. Yes, it's a real job. EVERY woman would fall for Reign, but Reign just wants Slutlena... I mean Selena. Tiani knew Reign is charming, but Reign doesn't have eyes for anyone else... Or does he?

Interesting twist on the Cyrano / Everyone but you tropes. Even though when the women turned bitch-y it gets a little stale, and Reign really is a jerk, but the emotions of possessiveness and envy were actually handled very well. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews Planet Single by Maggie McGuinness

Katerina was launched into "Planet Single" without warning when her husband of over a decade and the father of her children announced he wanted a divorce because he didn't feel the spark anymore. Angry because she hadn't been getting any (sex) for years, and she felt she was the one being wronged, they quickly separated and went on their ways. But Katerina's friends all have different ideas on how to leave singledom... while Katerina wondered where her libido had gone off hiding. Was it her job or her life that bored it into hibernating? She went on dodgy dates, get to know some strange characters and making friends while eyeing potential co-workers. But can she find herself first?

At over 400-pages, this book just feels about 100 pages too long, but that could be just author's style. Banter is witty. 4/5

GRR Reviews The (Not So) Perfect Day by Maggie Dallen

Ellie is about to get married, but without her best platonic friend Ian. He seems to be ignoring her... // Ian had received the wedding invitation for weeks, but he's avoiding the obvious... He can't imagine Ellie to be with anyone good enough for her. Not even himself, because he travels a lot and doesn't want to get married. But he had to support her decisions. But there's something definitely wrong with Ellie's fiancee, and not NOT just jealousy. Can he come clean (with himself) with his feelings, and show her that her best man is really the best man for her?

There's some serious angst, and Ian is in DEEP self-denial there. There's a bit of back and forth, but Ellie had to see for herself that whoever she was marrying was not good for her. 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 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.

GRR Reviews Ready: A Novella by Bria Felicien

Jade and Bryce are the best platonic friends. Jade was a college soccer star with a chance at winning the championship, and Bryce, actually from the rival school across town, is a basketball star trying to get drafted into the NBA. Bryce wanted out of the friend zone, but Jade has a boyfriend. When Jade found out her boyfriend had been lying to her, and she had been the "side chick", then her team lost the championship, bringing an end to her soccer career, she was devastated and needed to figure out where she wants to go with her life... Except she never figured out that Bryce has feelings for her... And Bryce, running out of time, may have to risk their friendship for a chance at love...

At almost 200 pages, this is actually almost novel length. The pacing is a bit on the slow side, as you get into each character's heads. On the other hand, the "everyone but you" trope was used effectively, as both have their respective responsibilities to worry about. Jade was cast adrift, as there's no future in women's soccer for her. Add the betrayal, and she's in midst of a depression. Bryce's fame means a lot of groupies, and that makes Jade's issues worse. All in all, excellent read.

Category: Contemporary / College / Sports

Overall Rating: 4.5/5

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 Heartsong by Emma Monaghan

Erika and Luke are co-stars of a historical adventure/romance TV series. They had tremendous chemistry onscreen. Erika has a boyfriend, but he only sorta treats her nice. When twice he showed up, and paparazzi soon followed, Luke saw through the ruse... He's using her popularity. Luke wanted to be friends with Erika, so he tried to warn her... only to have her deny everything. Later she realized he's right, but also declared all actors to be off-limits to her heart, which broke his heart. They ended up spent one night together after getting plastered celebrating finishing season 2... only to have her run off in regret next morning, which lead to him leaving the show to concentrate on his other love: country music. Can Erika realize how good they are together? What can she do to win him back?

Ah, the power of subtext... a lot of the acting is full of subtext, though I honestly think neither of them grew up, as both end up butthurt over... what exactly? He didn't exactly say he's interested, and she declared "no actors ever", and he's hurt. And she can't remember what she said later to realize her mistake and wondered "why didn't he tell me?"  ARGH! The grand gesture is not bad.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 3.5/5 rounded up

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

GRR Reviews Finding Mrs. Right (Romantic Destination) by Debbie White

Finding Mrs. Right is basically a "looking for love in all the wrong places", albeit, it's the man looking for the right woman this time. But somehow, this story just didn't connect with me. it's lacking that something, tension, humor, whatever.

Gabe is a generous and rich bachelor in New York, but he can't stand golddiggers. He knew his assistant Sally has a bit of a crush on him, but he can't really indulge her... it wouldn't be right. He could fall for the latest person to solicit donations from him... Rose is a very capable project manager trying to establish a woman's shelter. However, his friends and brothers... heck, even his doorman and his butler are trying to set him up with other women. Then there's Ronnie (Veronica) whom he met in the park... while she's walking six dogs at once. But which one should he woo, and which one will be his Mrs. Right?

Not sure why, but somehow this story just doesn't quite feel right. The different women just entered and left his life in sequence, rather than making him really choose. It wasn't much of a trial and tribulations.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: How is a rich bachelor to choose which women to woo? His secretary, his latest client, or just someone he met in a park?

Tropes: triangle (multiple), everyone but you, different worlds, boy meets girl

Overall Rating:  3/5

GRR Reviews In Search of a Love Story (Love Story Boo by Rachel Schurig

In Search of Love Story is about searching for love, and finding where you didn't expect. But it seems to lack the certain spark that other stories have, like a series of bad dates, or oddball characters, or some such. instead, the schtick is "learn love through love-related media" (love songs, romance novels, etc.) And that somehow just didn't click at all.

Emily is doomed at love, according to her BFF's Ryan and Ashley, because she's completely a dullard when it comes to romance. When Emily's latest attempt crashed and burned, she accepted her BFF's plan to start a "romance research project" by studying romcoms, romance novels, love songs, and such. it couldn't hurt, right? When Emily found Greg, Ryan and Ashley were sure she found the one. So why is Elliot, a different friend, being a bit angry? is Greg really "the one"? Will Emily find her true love?

So we have a bit of unrequited love, two busybodies offering advice, and a bit of triangle, and a woman who's clueless. I'm not sure whether we're supposed to laugh or commiserate with her cluelessness. Neither seems appropriate.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Can a woman clueless about love find love? Could he be nearby all along? With two besties giving advice, does she have a chance?

Tropes: triangle, everyone but you

Overall Rating:  3/5

GRR Reviews Kelly (The Princesses of Silicon Valley) by Anita Claire

Kelly is basically the story of a woman who thought she knew what she wanted but looked for love in all the wrong places.

Kelly is a tall redhead and a true wild child. She likes to do competitive mountain biking and partying, and she's good enough at mountain biking that she's probably among the world's best dozen or so. She never stayed in one place too long, due to events and training, and never had any lasting relationships, just random hookups with people in the biking scene. She didn't want a job either, as she's living off a small inheritance. Her girlfriends, the Princesses of Silicon Valley, wanted her to come back to California, but she wanted to know if she has what it takes to get to the top... and wander the world in the meanwhile. Her trip takes her to Nepal, Brazil, Colorado, California, Australia, and she came to know two guys... One is a sailor needing something different from the wandering, another is a former Olympic swimmer looking for a kindred soul. Kelly wondered which of them is a better lover... and can she even consider settling down in one place?

The first half of the book was basically Kelly going around all over the place with hookups and more. The Tibetan adventure and other bits feel a bit dry. The coming of age realization came later when the Olympic swimmer was introduced for real, not just a hookup. There are bits of cross-references to other princesses (see the other books in the series) but they're kinda minimal, just interesting enough to move the plot along. But the character arc is certain there. But this feels more like an adventure, rather than a proper darkest hour and grand gesture and all that. It's basically Kelly making a choice due to character growth.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Can a wild-child athlete choose between two lovers? Who should she choose even as she found what she really wanted?

Tropes: everyone but you, road trip, triangle, athlete

Overall Rating:  4/5

GRR Reviews 10 Dates: A fun and sexy romantic comed by Emily James

10 Dates is hardly the first novel to use "looking for love in all the wrong places" plot, and it wasn't the best either. But it was competently written with some good moments.

Joanie Fox wanted to settle down and marry the man she had been living with for years. He kept saying he'll marry her after the dating app launched. It's been TWO YEARS since it launched. On the night of the company party, instead of announcing his proposal to her, he instead announced he's jetting off the New York to sell the app to the Yanks. When her BF just packed a bag and left, Joanie wanted to just sleep in her bed and sulk. Her friends staged an intervention... on a scale enough to make anyone cringe... 10 Dates in 10 Days. And the results... won't be pretty. But there is one guy, her next door neighbor in apartment number six, that makes her heart go peter-patter. Too bad he isn't interested... or is he? Will she even survive all ten dates?

Definitely a good bit of rom-com, and some of the scenes are LOL funny, but not to the scale of the masterpieces, like OPERATION: DATE ESCAPE. Still, it's quite good.

Category: Contemporary / Rom-com

Primary Plot: A woman jilted by her boyfriend for YEARS had to go on 10 dates with 10 guys, but maybe her neighbor is interested... ?

Tropes: everyone but you, jilted, commitment-phobe

Overall Rating:  4/5

GRR Reviews The Last Single Girl (Brew Ha Ha #1) by Bria Quinlan

The Last Single Girl is a sweet and clean story about a young woman looking for love in the city in all the wrong places, only to find a candidate much closer to home. The initial premise about feeling left out seems a bit immature, but that turned out to be a part of her character arc.

Sarah suddenly found herself left behind when all three of her friends came back from Thanksgiving with tales of boyfriends. When the subject of attending the New Year's Eve murder mystery party came up, she blurted out that she's bringing a plus-one. She figured she had a month to find a date. It's a big city, and lots of people date online. How hard can it be? She had even found the perfect meeting spot: a little cafe called Brew Ha Ha, where the owner John is friendly, and the coffee is decadent. Unfortunately, she doesn't seem to be having any luck on the dating side... A cheating husband, a single father who didn't mention kids, a topper who won't shut up... Maybe she's just not looking at the right place... or man?

Sweet, a bit sit-com, and a great grand gesture, complete with a character arc for Sarah. My only problem is that left the MMC with very little to do.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Girl needing a date in a month figured she can find someone, and kept having dating disasters as cafe owner came to her rescue

Tropes: bar/cafe owner, everyone but you, serial dater

Overall Rating:  4/5

GRR Reviews Married This Year by Tracey Pedersen

Married This Year can be retitled "Jordan looking for love in all the wrong places", It's a charming and funny tale, but not outright rom-com (for that, I'd recommend OPERATION: DATE ESCAPE with a similar high concept).

Jordan Parker was sad at New Year's Eve. Her besties were getting married, and her date was a douche. In a bit of drunken stupor, she set her New Year goal to be finding the right man and marry him in the next 365 days. Unfortunately, Jordan just kept dating the wrong guys. A guy who loves nature hikes but considers wild berries a germ risk (You ate that? No way I'm kissing you!); a guy that's great in bed but is married with open relationship (Yes I share); a guy that can't stop talking about his ex (she was such a _____); and so much more. The only guy who was there constantly was her neighbor Luke, whom she considered off-limits, except he's so good with her dog...

It's both sad and funny at the same time, as Jordan was almost increasing desperate and kept attracting the wrong guys and resorting to blind Tinder dates and such. It's a fun read.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Woman resolved to get married within the year, but can't even seem to find any one to date a 2nd time; except her neighbor...

Tropes: Everyone but you

Overall Rating:  4/5 (rounded up)

GRR Reviews A Single's Guide to Texas Roadways by H. Claire Taylor

A Single's Guide to Texas Roadways is a combination travelogue / serial dater diary with light-heartedness. The prospects are quirky and touching, and the humor is often right on the money without becoming slapstick.

Natalie cris-crosses Texas looking for love in all the wrong places, and met a lot of interesting men, including triplets (who fortunately did not try to play switcharoo on her), ex armed forces, jet-setter, and more. She had many prospects, but it's often right guy wrong time, or wrong guy right time or even wrong guy wrong time. So is she ever going to find right guy at the right time?

If you enjoy quirky characters and chasing for that one relationship to end all relationships, only to find it was right next to you all along, this is a quirky book you should enjoy thoroughly.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Young woman travelled all over Texas, searching for love and happiness, but never quite finding the one...

Tropes: everyone but you, serial dater, coming of age

Overall Rating:  4/5 (rounded up)

GRR Reviews Bidding on Brooks: The Winslow Brothers by Katy Regnery

Bidding on Brooks is a contemporary romance that's a bit like boss / employee but not quite. It's like "why didn't I see this gorgeous woman next to me all along?" sort of story. But I don't feel much chemistry between the two.

Brooks Winslow is an ex-olympian that's not ready for a relationship and considers his boat mechanic, Skye Sorenson, to be his best friend. When Brooks' sister Jessica roped Brooks into a bachelor auction, Brooks handed Skye his no limit credit card so she can win the auction on him at any cost, just so he can avoid any entanglements. What he didn't know was Skye had secretly lusted after him for years, and with a bit of a makeover, Skye was as gorgeous as they come... and Brooks had no problem sailing for a week with Skye... until they realize they can take their relationship to the next level... but should they?

Once they set sail (that's the prize) it's really up to Skye to seduce Brooks and make him see how much he missed all along. Other than her long infatuation with him there isn't much chemistry. In a way, this is a woman who knows what she wants, but she only dared to do so AFTER she got him cornered (on the boat) AND gotten a makeover. At least she did so rather than suffer in silence.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Woman used the excuse to help a guy avoid entanglements to entangle him herself...

Tropes: everyone but you, auction, unrequited love, fling to a thing, forced proximity

Overall Rating:  3/5

GRR Reviews The Other Side of Someday by T.K. Leigh

The Other Side of Someday is a story about a woman trying to find love in various wrong places, but circled back to a friend she looked with a new light.

To recap, Baylee Morgan fled North Carolina after finally divorcing a man she didn't love for 10 years. She ended up in Santa Monica, California. As an heiress to a lumber fortune she can afford not to work, but she's not the partying type, and her failed marriage left her with enough self-doubt that she only dare to tip-toe into the dating pool. Her only male friend who's not gay was her neighbor Sebastian "Sebby" Powers, a TV producer, who also fled the East Coast, except his girlfriend Mercedes doesn't want to call it quits just yet. As Baylee dated more than a few wrong guys (one guy turned out to be a closet gay, another turned out to be her own gynecologist), she started to realize that perhaps Sebby was the one she really wanted... but can she be the third person in a triangle?

There are many novels that tried to pair up neighbors, and this one actually works, as he's not creepy, nor did he tried to get into her pants. It was a slow relationship that developed naturally that they became fond of each other, and wondered where they can go with it. And the triangle will resolve itself for the HEA, of course, by the end.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot:  Woman getting back into the dating pool trying to find love in several wrong places, came back to her neighbor...

Tropes: everyone but you, triangle, blind date, scars

Overall Rating: 4/5