GRR Reviews Their Secret Bargain by Kay Lyons

Nick is the black sheep of the Tulane family full of doctors and lawyers, but he is a shrewd businessman running a fitness center and a bar. When his son Matt has problems in school, he needed to hire a tutor for the summer fast... // Jenn had been put down all her life by her family and her (now ex-) husband for being a full-figured woman, but she loved to teach. // The two made a bargain: she'll tutor Matt, and he'll train her to lose the pounds... For two months, up to her trip to Paradise Island. He, a gorgeous 6-pack hunk, can't possibly want a chubby girl, and she can't possibly fall for a high school dropout... right?

Eh, conflicting feelings for this one. Jenn's fine, but Nick... has mercurial moods. He had NEVER disclosed to his family (he's in his late 20's or early 30's?) that he's functionally illiterate, and grew apart from his family because he feels ashamed. So when Jenn insists that he show up at a family wedding, he decides to dare her to go with him. Eh? And it's not the first book I've read with the plot of MFC finds MMC with a learning disability, cured him and fixed his family problems. Still, the little details are not too bad. 3/5

GRR Reviews Taking Charge by Ruth Cardello

NOTE: Book 4 of Lone Star Burn series 

Lucy and her brother left the family ranch to pursue their own dreams. They came back when their parents can't keep up with the ranch, but now both are gone, and her brother ran off, can't deal with the pressure anymore, as they can't balance the books. Lucy reluctantly accepted the bailout from Ted, who claimed to love her, in exchange of getting engaged. But she doesn't love Ted... So she had to break it off and save the ranch her own way... even if she had to secretly sell high-tech sex toys through online blogs. And Ted doesn't like this at all... Then David came to her rescue... Much to her chagrin... // David knows who he wants in his life: Lucy, but a cowboy doesn't go after someone else's woman. When Lucy broke it off with Ted, David wrote 250K check right there when Ted looked like he may do something. Lucy knows that David means her no harm, but she can't allow someone else to own her life... But Ted making trouble means keeping David, and her own ranchhand, Wyatt, around. The attraction between David and Lucy is undeniable, but she doesn't want to owe anyone or tolerate lies, and he will protect her any way he can, even if he had to lie to her... And Ted may be about to do something stupid... 

David is the warm and fuzzy alpha, and he knew Lucy liked him but something's holding her back, so he's willing to wait her out. My problem is with Ted, the antagonist, who just behaves like an a-hole, despite the build-up that made him sound like an evil messiah, only for Ted to dispel that image and behave like an a-hole again. And the resolution to that... well, felt like a deus ex machina, even though it really wasn't, as there was a mention earlier to that. Can't really say more without spoiling the plot. The generally weak antagonist here left me a bit wanting. 4/5

GRR Reviews The Mixtape by Brittainy Cherry

Emery is a single mom by choice, keeping a secret even from her own daughter, and she's barely making things meet. Struggling to hold onto a bartender job, she cannot afford to have any disruptions, or she may be unable to keep a roof over their heads... esp. a disruption caused by a teenage idol like megastar Oliver // Oliver felt adrift with no direction since the loss of his twin brother and bandmate. He self-medicates with alcohol and let himself be used by a woman he used to love. When he caused an incident at Emery's bar, causing her to lose her job, he seems to have found his purpose in life: to make both of their lives better. He hired her as his personal chef, and she became his confidant. But his evil ex is not ready to let him go, and Emery found that the secret she kept was returned with betrayal... Can they heal each other? 

While good, it's not like extraordinarily good. While I like the secret twist, and the "bad family" angle, and still have it making sense at the end, was pretty good plotting, having MMC go with FMC to home to discover the secrets feels just... off. The paparazzi angle lede was buried very nicely. 

4/5

GRR Reviews Ready to Fall by Daisy Prescott

John is a genuine lumberjack. He wears jeans and plaid. He's big, has rugged good looks, and a dog named Babe. It seems his new neighbor, Diane, has her own secrets and scars, but so does he. She's a city girl just taking a break in the country getting over her own problems, such as an ex-husband intending to draw out the process. He's a country boy living in the countryside and his girlfriend is not really going to divorce her cheating husband after all. Why does being tour guide for Diane feel so right?

Told from John's POV, there seems to be quite a few randy un-PC thoughts and plenty of f-bombs that may turn off some readers. It is rather... charming, as we are in John's head, but then, a guy's head is not clean. So this isn't sweet or clean. I like the characters and their interactions. 4/5

GRR Reviews My Big Fat Fake Wedding by Lauren Landish

Violet wants to let her grandpa "papa" (with a few months to live) walk her down the aisle. When Collin proposed, she readily accepted, then Collin backed out. But Violet refused to let Collin see her cry. She just needs a new groom... // Ross hates being the scapegoat. How was he to know the distraught woman he was escorting to a ride was a preacher's wife, when he was ambushed by paparazzi? When his father told him he needs to settle down, Ross only saw one way... Find a "fake" fiancee. // Ross was surprised to learn that Violet needed to get married, fast, and so did he. It'd be a match made in heaven, if not for they being nemesis throughout their school years. It'd be acting of the century for them to act lovey-dovey... But is there real affection behind the barbs? Does it even matter, when time's running out?

I am conflicted about this novel. On one hand, the rom-com potential is off-the-charts. The enemies-to-(sorta-pretend)-lovers was handled perfectly, with each escalation pushing things tighter and tighter. I don't even mind the ending when someone showed up and ruined everything, as it makes for a great darkest hour. On the other hand, the sex scenes don't quite flow right after the tension and comedy bits. And I don't think it wasn't quite explained properly how the nemesis got the "incriminating evidence". 3.5/5

GRR Security Risk by Megan Matthews

Tabitha left her old life behind to start over in Pelican Bay, by borrowing a bit of her abusive ex-boyfriend's cash, not that she plan to spend it all. She inherited a house from her aunt in the town, and meeting her hunky but gruff neighbor, Ridge, was... nice, as are her other neighbors. But why is her ex Mario chasing her down by sending in his scary lieutenant? Where are the diamonds they keep insisting she took with her? Will she live through it?

Uh, hate to say this, but this book smells like amateur writing. Tabitha fell for the first handsome guy she saw despite surviving years of abuse. She couldn't recognize a mafia front despite lived years next to it (and happen to have couple hundred thousand lying around in CASH) and basically has too many TSTL moments to count. Oh, and Ridge? Total caricature of a security guy. 2/5

GRR Reviews Someone to Watch over Me by Iris Morland

Seth is back home from Middle East, but he had lost his best friend there, and he felt lost without a direction in life. He met his neighbor Rose, and was intrigued by the headstrong beauty, but when she greeted her at night with a gun, it's clear she needed help, and refused to admit it. // Rose fled Seattle and her evil ex Johnny, but it's clear he's not done with her. She had made a bargain with the devil (Johnny) to save her brother and he's out to collect. She almost had enough money to pay Johnny off, and Seth's help is appreciated, but she'll do things her own way, esp. when she's still ashamed for what Johnny took from her...

On one hand, I want to like the main characters. Rose is reasonably conflicted, and Seth is reasonably wounded. On the other hand, Rose is so f***ing naive, I was basically screaming "No you idiot!". She apparently never considered the angle... Maybe her brother's being framed for drugs was orchestrated by Johnny just so he can get his hands on her. That's frustrating to read, and what's the point of getting a gun if she's not willing to use it when it matters? (She never actually got to use it)  3/5

GRR Reviews Stay With Me by Kristen Proby

Amelia, beauty vlogger, is getting a divorce, but her ex is determined to hurt her by contesting everything, even AFTER the judge had already granted the divorce. So she went to live with a cousin, who found her a cabin to housesit, so no one can find her. Not that she wanted to meet ANY men (except delivery guys)  Until she met her neighbor Wyatt.. // Wyatt was intrigued by his new neighbor, always receiving stuff, and sometimes high profile visitors. So when Amelia came knocking on his door, needing some help, he's happy to oblige. But he has an evil ex too...

Not really feeling too much beyond the "hot neighbor" tropes. 3/5

GRR Reviews her Generous Billionaire by Juliette Duncan

Marcus is still grieving over the death of his one true love and wife. He doubts he will ever love again. In the meanwhile, he provides for his disabled mom, but he's busy and he needs to hire a caretaker... // Tiffany is a single parent raising two kids after an ugly divorce, and a caretaker job is perfect for her. Meeting Marcus... well, he's her boss. She can't get involved with him... But when he had to choose a date for a charity ball, and a sticky (and icky) ex wanted to be his date, he quickly decided Tiffany would be a much more suitable choice after all. But that dance soon turned into something more. Yet are either of them ready for love, much less with each other?

Pretty standard hot for boss, albeit as a nanny/caretaker role with senior instead of kids. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews Hard to Stay by S Jones

Lexi ran from her evil boyfriend who has her family enthralled. No one would believe her boyfriend is also banging her sister, while mentally abusing her. And he's rich and can get away with a lot of stuff. So she ran. And met Brad... // Brad is a cop with a shitty history in love. There's Emily, and Samantha... but that's in his past. Now with Lexi, he wants a fresh start, and as a cop, he knew she's keeping secrets. When evil Colton showed up, intending to force her back, Brad is there to protect her. But Colton has plenty of underhanded tricks up his sleeve...

Brad has no temperament for a cop. He's easily goaded by fellow officers, esp. the douchebag one. And it's pretty obvious he's being set up by Colton for something. Except Brad swallowed the bait, hook, line, and sinker. This is basically "PMS pro" cliche trope. The ending is a total cop-out and a deus ex machina, where basically Brad came up with even BIGGER connections than even Colton can call upon. And what sort of family Lexi has that listens to a stranger and not their own daughters? 2/5

NOTE: This book managed to hit no less than THREE corny tropes: deus ex machina, PMS Pro, and Heart-break savior.

GRR Reviews Secrets, Fireworks, and her Billionaire Boyfriend by Chelsea Hale

Sayler's boss is getting married and going on a six-week honeymoon, which means as exec assistant, Sayler will have to take a six-week vacation too. With nothing to do, Sayler went to her brother's mansion in "The Cove" in Seattle and met Brooks, her brother's jogging neighbor... when her brothers' in town (and he's not). Brooks is having PR nightmares, with a lot of fake photos, fake stories, and more released by unknown parties, all portraying his company negatively. He also wants to throw a spectacular July 4th party for the Cove... while his ex, Natalia, the head model for his clothing line, seemingly doing damage control, but is negotiating for a contract extension and pay raise. Saylor saved him by smoothing over his vendor problems and gave him ideas on how to solve his problems. But when Sayler found that Brooks has married Natalia, and did not get a divorce, she ran. Brooks needed her back for himself. Can he ever explain to her the truth... and will she listen?

A bit hypocritical, something even the author poked fun at... As Sayler knew not to take what you read too seriously... yet she took everything Natalia said as the gospel truth, never thought there was another explanation (annulment). 4/5

GRR Reviews Her Billionaire Butler by Dobi Daniels

Emily has survived abuse and heartbreak. She's getting by, but barely. When her moment of weakness to help a friend ended up costing her job, then her landlord informed her that she has to vacate ASAP, she literally can't go any lower... Until she met the guy who was the cause of it all... // Geoffrey is the family butler for the billionaire Dexington family and well-to-do himself, and he was getting a special item for the family when a woman slipped and ended up tossing the coffee all over the item and him... as well as accidentally kneed him in the groin. But he didn't know she'd lose her job over this. So when she applied for a position over at his Christmas tree farm, he made sure she got the position (and she is qualified). And it seems despite the initial animosity, they really have a lot in common... but can he learn her secrets in time to save her?

The threat seems to come really late and wasn't integrated well. 3.5/5

GRR Reveiws The Billionaire's Plan by Hayley Wescott

Sadie tried to save her marriage by having a child, but it didn't work. She ended up divorced anyway. After she moved back home as a single mom, she found that her first boyfriend, Bryson, is also back in town. Now a rich real estate developer, they tried to rekindle their romance. When Sadie suddenly found that her ex, now married to someone else, wanted to contest custody, she confided in Bryson. It just happens that Bryson needs a fiancee for his next real estate deal... and learning that Sadie's ex was the guy that almost ruined him when he got started... Bryson wanted to help Sadie by offering a "fake engagement"... Be his pretend-fiancee, and he'll bankroll her custody battle. He has the perfect attorney in mind. He didn't mention the part about her ex being his enemy though...

Plot somehow feel clumsy and brute-forced, the religious messages way too overt, and the about-face that came so hard (ref: Sadie's ex ) you'll feel the whiplash. 3/5

GRR Reviews Marriage of Convenience by Katy Kaylee

Sara wants to get away from her controlling ex, despite her upbringing in a super-religious family. She went to the big city and started an internship, and falls for her boss Chase, but office romance is prohibited. Until he needed a fiancee to satisfy his own family... and she's the perfect candidate... Then her evil ex arrived...

Slightly over-the-top, with a religiously-tone-deaf almost-evil family, add a bit of Cinderella noticed by a prince. A lot of tropes, as Chase is the quintessential workaholic can't-ever-satisfy-my-father type guy, and Sara is the ingenue virgin. Even the plot is trope... with a TSTL moment leading to a kidnapping. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews Her Football Boss Fake Fiance by Taylor Hart

Ocean Brady just want his entire family to enjoy a stress-free Christmas, in spite of his brother's ALS... and him lying about having a fiancee (having broken up with her for months). Oh, and he doesn't know how to cook either. So when he came upon Augusta, clutching her ankle and in pain on the beach and rescued her, then found her sister is a caterer, everything seems to fell into place... He'll hire the cooking sister to cater the dinner, and he'll hire Augusta to be his fake fiance. It'd be totally worth it to see his family happy... and it would help Augusta's education fund. And Augusta, who fled her home, fearing his ex's stalker ways, agreed, as who can be more protective than a nice footballer? But as they play a couple for a week, they found they have real feelings for each other... Is there enough time for a Christmas miracle?

With a novel like this, you can expect the evil ex to show up, and the brothers, (all footballers) will save the day. And it'd still be satisfying. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews Long Road Home by Kate Stacy

Hailee is a single mother who admires Grayson from afar. When Grayson announced his upcoming marriage, she was devastated. Then she met Drake, a long-haul trucker who happens to be just in town. He technically could live off his inheritance, but he chose to drive with no family to tie him down. Meeting Hailee is making him reconsider that decision. When an apartment fire destroyed Hailee's home, Drake told her to move to his place, but Drake's evil ex appeared, preying on Hailee's insecurities...

Nothing too special in the insta-love scenario, polish is decent, but tropes like evil ex and insecurities are a bit obvious. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews Balancing Act by Danica Dawn

Desi, paralegal, is in love (lust?) for her boss Eric. She wanted to be a lawyer, but she flunked LSAT so she's going about the roundabout way: one more year as a licensed paralegal, and she can take the bar exam without it. But balancing her work, her dream, and her love life is not so easy, when she found a hot cop to drool over, only to have him turn into a stalker, and her boss confessed his love for her, only to sic an LSAT tutor on her, in order to make her a partner...

The problem with romantic suspense with a stalker is the bad guy tends to end up as jack-in-the-box pop-up horror, have him show up in the middle of nowhere. It starts to read a bit like the movie Unlawful Entry. The emotional beats feel... off. Instead of everything building to a crescendo for the climax, it felt as if the author merely substituted one problem with another, just to have the stalker reappear at the end for the climax. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews A Secretive Mail Order Widow for the Humorous Rancher by Elliee Atkinson

Nancy became a widow when her husband, heir to banking family, was killed in a bank robbery. Nancy was then forced out by her (former) in-laws. With no choice, she became a mail-order bride, and ended up in Low Valley as wife to Ben, who was happy to meet Nancy, and enchanted by her beauty, but he can also see she's hiding a secret... However, Bea, a maid on the ranch, claimed that Ben was his, and she'll do anything to get rid of her competition...

Decent love triangle, though why didn't they escalate this to the ranch owner is beyond me. 4/5

GRR Reviews Stay by AJ Alexander

Addison is the only daughter of a major hospital's owner. She's expected to be a doctor's wife and little else. When her fiancee, a hot new surgeon, f***ed a bimbo in their bed, and was not the least apologetic for it ("How else will I be chief of surgery?"), she left for her "bad influence" cousin's place in California, determined to hide for the summer and start her teaching job in the fall. She can't trust any men who like her... they probably want access to her family through her. She had an instant attraction for Cole... until she learned Cole is her cousin Violet's dog walker. // Cole is a man-whore... Being good with dogs, lots of dogs, makes the ladies swoon. He'd also been burned before. He once wanted a veterinary career, until he decided he doesn't want to be office-bound, so he started a dog-walking business that paid surprisingly well. And his fiancee, the one she grew up with, left him, blaming his "lack of ambition". Cole knew Addison is out of his league, but he wants her as her, not as a conduit toward something else.  But how does he convince her of that?

Not bad, but the father and the fiance are just pretty flat evil and didn't seem they got any karma at least by book's end. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews Trusting the Billionaire by C C Snow

Elle was a waitress who got fired when Troy's date knocked Elle's tray over and the entree ended up in Troy's lap. Troy found Elle's sass admirable and wanted to know her better, but she ran away, had enough of alpha jerks who think they are gifts to womenkind, having been betrayed once before. Elle was helping out in a cafe when he saved a rich pregnant woman's young child, which lead to her being hired as that woman's personal assistant. That woman turned out to be Troy's sister-in-law... and so they meet again. But Elle's past came back to haunt her... Elle's evil ex, Carter, who seduced her into bed while engaged to her half-sister, wanted to use her "indiscretion" to blackmail Elle to steal secrets from Troy. Troy saw betrayal, and Elle refused to explain when he's being so judgmental...

I kinda like it and kinda don't. I can see why Elle prefers to call out her inner b**** when accused, but it really seems to be a VERY stupid way to handle things. The twist was handled very nicely. Still, I honestly don't see why Elle would see herself as the homewrecker. As the logic goes, "it takes two to tango", so why was it her fault? 3.5/5