GRR Reviews Fake Marriage to Her Best Friend by Kacy Cross

NOTE: The book is also titled as "Fake Marriage Favor"

Nomi is tired of losing. She had already lost the defense of her brother from fraud charges, which also meant closing the lawfirm they founded. She was not about to give up on the city council election... However, she has one leaked compromising photo that her opponent would use against her. She needs help from the other person on the photo, her best (platonic) friend, Malone. // Malone and Nomi are platonic friends for a long time, and Malone wasn't looking for love. Having the ex-fiance stole his entire company definitely soured the mood. When Nomi proposed that they get (fake) married to solve her PR problem, he accepted. That's what best friends do for each other, right? But neither expected the turn of their feelings when they actually kissed...

Somehow, the characters aren't that nice. They are sweet and they have sob stories, but really, marriage of convenience just to repair her CHANCE of repairing her reputation? It somehow just feels very... selfish and egocentric. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews Accidental Shield by Nicole Snow

Flint, single father, just found himself hosting an amnesiac woman... and lying to her about her being his wife. But Valerie has amnesia because she almost died in an explosion that blew up her boat. Telling her the whole truth would just make her panic. So Flint, ex-navy SEAL, now retired security specialist, is doing one more job with his partner, Doc Cash, to bring down the bad guys that almost killed Valerie. They've tangled with the same group of bad guys before, and it's a good time to even the score. And by all evidence, it seems her "evil" brother may be involved... But how will Flint handle being "fake married" to Valerie? What happens when she found out she wasn't?

Interesting take on "marriage mistake", proves that you *can* create something new by remixing old tropes. 5/5

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 Reviews Her Billionaire Ex-Boyfriend Fake Fiance by Christine Kersey

Librarian Ashleigh is doing a fundraiser dinner for the Emerald Falls Library for more computers and books. When her bestie, and the auctioneer, put her on the auction block (for a date), she tolerated it... Until she saw who won the date... Her ex Chase, now a billionaire. // Chase didn't even planned to be back, but when he heard that his mom's cancer is no longer in remission, and it's time to start hospice care, he had to come back. Winning the date was just him trying to play nice (he's late to buy anything else). But when his mom desired to see him settle before she passes, Chase thought of staging a fake engagement and maybe a fake wedding... After all, Ashleigh is a good girl... but hates his guts for leaving her a decade ago... right?

Eh, the circumstances forcing them together just feels a bit... meh, as if a bit contrived, but usually that's how this sort of story goes. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews The Billionaire's Generosity by April Murdock

Gabrielle is a mostly-not-working model trying to raise her son, but younger and prettier models have overtaken her, that she works as a waitress to get by. When she was picked as the main model of a jewelry line, she can't pass it up. Her son's bone cancer treatment needed money ASAP. But meeting the CEO, Zach, left her frustrated. Zach may be gorgeous, but he's also rude, probably expecting her to be a shallow golddigger. // Zach runs his company like a well-oiled machine, and passion doesn't fit his equations. When an Industry veteran mistook Gabrielle as Zach's wife, and thus believed he now has "the passion" to design couple's jewelry collection, he chose not to correct that mistake, and enlisted Gabrielle's help to lie in exchange for more money. Gabrielle went along reluctantly, needing the money for her son's treatment. But does Zach really have no feelings for Gabrielle?

Pretty good character arc, though resolution at the end seems to be a bit too... serendipitous? (Zach's a compatible donor? Really?) 4.5/5

GRR Reviews Make-Believe Honeymoon by Vivi Holt

Callum, ex-SEAL, is now a private investigator. He needs to investigate a case where a billionaire with biological children died and left EVERYTHING to his step-son. When this step-son booked a cabin on a Honeymoon cruise with a wife, he needs to get onboard... Which means finding a fake wife ASAP. // Jessie, single mother and former beat cop, is moving home after her husband (a fellow cop) was gunned down by corrupt cops. She chose to start over as private investigator, and it seems her first assignment will be a pretend-wife to Callum on a cruise. She's definitely not ready for love, and definitely not with her boss. But with the magic of the Caribbean cruise, who knows what will happen, even as they try to uncover a nefarious plot?

I saw the ending long before the actual end, but it was done well nonetheless. There are just too many points of mystery and suspicious behavior and there can be only one conclusion. It was also pretty ingenious to mix it with a fake marriage trope. 4/5

GRR Reviews Irresistibly Rugged by Victoria Pinder

Dylan was one of the family framed and only marriage to Lois got him out. While the charges against them were dropped, Dylan is going to resolve the threat once and for all by finding and convicting the masterminds behind the operation. However, Dylan didn't know that his wife, Lois, is a spy for the other side... Lois just wanted to get out from her fate... marrying a guy she hated, or stuck in her cult leader father's clutches. Marriage is supposed to get her out with some money to start over somewhere else. She never counted on being used to frame a whole family... and being the actually guilty one. But can she come clean, even as the conspiracy closes in around them?

Sort of works, sort of doesn't. The schtick of a fake wife spying for the other side was used in all the other books and it's getting a bit old by this point. The final confrontation reads like an old pulp fiction plot (tie the victims to one of those highrise window washing platforms, with a bomb, to drop them at press of a button). It reads as if it's pulled from a plot generator. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews Tripp's Trivial Tie by Liz Isaacson

Tripp wants to woo Ivory, and once got pretty close, but Ivory pushed him away, not daring to reveal how bad her finances are, or how she's barely keeping her son and herself fed, despite working multiple jobs. When Ivory's (evil) ex decided to contest custody, Ivory had no choice but to ask Tripp for help... and his hand in marriage. It'd be the perfect way to fend off her ex. But Tripp plans to make this marriage very real indeed... if she can just drop her pride and let him in...

Ah, indeed, pride is a sin, and Ivory definitely sinned many times. The plot's been done before, and this one has good polish. The evil guy never really had a chance, but I felt the end feels a bit too rushed, and not enough karma. 4/5

GRR Reviews My Christmas Fiancee by Serenity Woods

Maggie reinvented herself as Meg, and moved across New Zealand with her son for a new start. Now she's Meg, blonde, and sophisticated. She found a job as PA to three top execs, and she wore a wedding ring to ward off suitors, even though she sensed that Stratton, one of the execs, may be interested... // Stratton may be a lover, but he never goes for a claimed woman, like Meg. Stratton is pursued by Natalie, who is basically stalking him and making scenes, so convinced that they'll be good together, she will change his mind. Stratton was so desperate, he came up with a desperate plan: get a fake fiancee to scare off Natalie. When Meg's stalking ex showed up, Stratton was able to fend him off to protect Meg, and the plan solidified... Meg will be Stratton's fake fiancee. They can solve each other's problems. It has nothing to do with love... right?

Now that's some plotting. Though both of them beset by a stalker problem? What a coincidence. :)  Still, everything is plausible, no obvious plot holes, and yes, there are some steamy scenes. 4.5/5

GRR Review Accidental Rebel by Nicole Snow

Gwen is just the secretary of lawyer Manny in the tiny town of Finley Grove. She's too busy working to even date, much less get married. Then she got this offer of a lifetime... Pretend to be hot single father Miller's wife for a few weeks with his two kids, and run off to Ireland, all arranged by Manny, her boss. She won't ask what trouble Miller is in. She doesn't need to know. Miller is dreamy... and swoon-worthy, ex-military, great father, but it's all fake... Even if it's a life she wanted. Then she learned why he's running... and it seems the bad guys may have found them...

Now that's a good twist on a "fake marriage" trope into romantic suspense. 5/5

GRR Reviews The Billionaire's Temporary Marriage by Tamie Dearen

Cole Miller is well known for his green mechanical arm and face of Limitless, the company launched by four friends, each with a disability. But people, esp. women, only see him as a billionaire, and his "iron-clad" contract to appear on TV show "Billionaire Matchup" didn't help, where he's supposed to marry a contestant or forfeit a million dollars. When he spilled Brooke's coffee at a local cafe, a solution presented itself... // Brooke can't believe she's finally pregnant... her now ex-husband divorced her because she couldn't... except that "one final time" somehow cinched the deal. But as a counselor to unwed mothers at a religious charity, she had to be married. When Cole heard about her circumstances, he proposed a temporary marriage. He can get out of marrying some TV contestant (since he's already married!) and save a million bucks (minus whatever Brooke gets), and she gets to keep the job which she desperately needs so she can get her counselor certification. Love's got nothing to do with it... Right?

Great plotting, as the escalation just keeps squeezing them tighter and tighter, without relying on tropes such as "weird will". Like the darkest hour (the hospital stay) and the grand gesture (tearing up the report). AND it's clean. 5/5

GRR Review Best Fake Fiance by Roxie Noir

Daniel suddenly learned one day he's a father, when the baby's mother was arrested. He changed his life around for his daughter, Rusty, and raised her best he could. Six years later, baby's mother suddenly wanted to contest for custody after marrying a rich guy. In an act of desperation, Daniel lied that he's engaged. And the only person who can play his fiance is his best platonic friend, Charlotte aka "Charlie", who already loves his daughter, and loves him... Just not "that way". But they can pretend, right? Until the news of their engagement spread. What started out as a white lie quickly turned into a fake engagement, then fake marriage... then it felt very real indeed...

Good escalation from lie to a judge to lie to a few friends to lie to an entire town to "just make it real". However, it seems both Charlie and Daniel can't lie to save their life except in front of a judge (?!)  And I STILL don't understand why have a custody battle at all? What's the "evil ex"'s motivation? 4/5

GRR Reviews Fake Billionaire Box Set 1 (Books 1-3) by Lexy Timms

NOTE: Box sets are normally not reviewed as a set, but as separate books. However, as each of these books is basically a cliffhanger, I decided to review them together as a single book, as it completes a story arc.

Book 1: Faking It

Allyson is PA to playboy billionaire Dane of Prescott Enterprises. She had a crush on her boss for years. When her family nagged her AGAIN about why is she still alone, how her sister, a cardiologist, is about to marry some hotshot lawyer, she blurted out that she's dating her boss. Now she just has to say he's too busy... But he insisted on being her date... to get away from his own problems... // Dane knew Allyson was the best PA he'd ever had (he had chased away about one a month until Allyson) and he does date heiresses picked by his mom, now that his father has semi-retired and he's running day-to-day operations. But it's never serious. He can't stand uppity b****es who value him for what he can give, not for him. Pretending to be Allyson's BF would be refreshing... but it may change everything...


Book 2: Temporary CEO

Dane had a taste of Allyson, but it can't continue, esp. when rumors of their marriage spread (she was testing a wedding gown for her sister) and they didn't fight it. The merger went through, but the "scandal" about the fake marriage sent their stock into a steep dive. Dane has to give up his CEO position. Can Allyson work for someone who may be out to ruin Dane? // Dane knew the world of bluebloods is bad place to be, unless you're trained for it, and Allyson isn't. He has to save Allyson, even at the expense of their relationship... if necessary.


Book 3: Caught In the Act

Allyson had enough of the pressure. She broke up with Dane and left for the Bahamas. But Dane followed her there, determined to win her back. He succeeded, only to be informed upon his return that his merger partners had executed a coup-de-tat... And gained control of his company, and his legacy, leaving his family with almost nothing. Now Dane and Allyson must execute the ultimate gambit to regain control of his legacy by pulling off a fake breakup and divorce. After all, they fake married once already, right? How hard can a fake breakup and divorce be?

Review

I have problems with self-suffering heroines who really believed they *should* suffer even when nobody said they should. Somehow, Allyson took upon herself that EVERYTHING, up to and including Dane having lost his company, is somehow HER fault (I shouldn't have roped him into being my fake BF) multiple times, and that's just cringe-worthy to read at times. And the boardroom antics was a bit nebulous, so was the final gambit to regain control. Other parts are good.  3/5

NOTE: There's book 4 and book 5 to the series.

GRR Reviews Million Dollar Marriage by Katy Evans

Penelope (call me "Nell") and Luke both need half a mil. She needed to repay her student loans. He needed it to pay debt owed on his grandpa's bar (now his). They joined the new reality show "Million Dollar Marriage" where the couples, legally wed (but can be annulled at end of show), will join various challenge activities around the US (including Alaska). They are total opposites. She's a multi-PhD squeaky-clean nerd. He's a bar-owner who used to be an addict but cleaned himself up. Both are too busy to date. Both needed the money. The challenges will bring them together like nothing else... and it was just supposed to be a business transaction... Right?

While the "fake reality show love turned very real" plot had been done before, this is a very nice polished version of it. I am NOT too sure about the darkest hour though. I felt that was not explained well. 4/5

GRR Reviews My Bereaved Billionaire by Katie Evergreen

Nate is a billionaire running the world's most successful online dating agency. The problem is he had to pretend to be married for years. After all, who'd trust a single guy to help them date and get married? But with the company successful, it's time to "stage" the death of his "fake" wife. And that means conducting a wake in the hometown of his "fake wife"... Pebble Cove. And turns out the only available venue is at the Pebble Cove Motel. // Liberty fled Pebble Cove as soon as she was able to. But she's back, to help her dad run the Pebble Cove Motel after he had fallen ill. With only a young brother and sister team, they barely manage to keep the place running, and this "wake" would make a dent in the medical debt her dad's racking up quickly. She wasn't looking for love, and while she felt a connection toward Nate, he had just lost his wife. That would be very inappropriate... It didn't help that Nate's (evil) father invited himself... and the media.

Some of the plot didn't move that smoothly. Nate just feels like a doormat at times, letting others dictate his life, from his assistant to his overbearing (fake-friendly) father. Of course, he grew a spine by the end, but only after his father, pretty much out of spite and greed, destroyed any goodwill between Nate and Liberty. I also found it to be a bit weird that Nate basically fell for Liberty over the phone, and vice versa. Still, it has pretty good polish. 4/5

GRR Reviews Wife for Now by Penny Wylder

Celia is Luke's personal assistant, and she had a crush on Luke for the longest time, but both treat each other professionally, with some verbal flirting, but nothing else. Then one day he shocked her with a proposal... Pretend to be his wife, since he has a bit of a bet with his friend who's getting married. And it was the best days of her life, as Luke treats Celia just like a wife... Including a ring, honeymoon suite, and even his husband duties (yes, in bed too). But... it was just pretend... right?

Sweet, sexy, and the darkest hour works, even though it's also a bit... naughty. Not to spoil the story, but it's quite nice, even though the tension isn't quite there. 4/5