GRR Reviews He Said Never by Ruth Cardello

 Riley had been seeing her lost sibling's family behind her mother's back. She understood her mother's fear... The Corisis were ULTRA-rich, and Dominic's father almost put her mom in a wheelchair for life (and she still suffers today). Gavin was just trying to get some coffee when Riley got in his way. Riley was beautiful and full of sass, and there is an instant connection, but neither is ready to make a move... she's still sour from being stood up, and he's in an odd place... His father forced him out of the family company, and won't let him back in until he settles down with the right woman, probably because his father attended two funerals, and realized the family was the only thing that mattered, after raising his son alone. Yet the two would meet again, after finding out they are actually neighbors...

There is a couple of rom-com worthy moments where you will ROFL (Riley needs a little moral support to tell mommy that she'd been seeing the Corisis and the Romanos, and took Gavin along, but mommy inferred a completely different situation... ), and kudos to Ruch Cardello to write a very UNconventional "weird will" story where the MFC and MMC did not get into bed until 80% point, despite the insta-lust sort of situation.

The book also added details or introduced several future story leads, like Cal, who'll be the hero of book 3, and I have a feeling Jared will be the hero of book 4. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews Her Cowboy King by Madeline Ash

Mark and his two brothers, Kris and Tom, are just cowboys on a ranch in America when they received news that the Kingdom of Kiraly needs them... as Mark, i.e. Marcus, is now the next in line for the throne. But what does three cowboys know about being royalty? // Princess Ava has her own plans to escape with her secret, apart from her parent's "strategic marriage" plans for her, preferably with the new King Marcus of Kiraly. She has plans to make the new King hate her, but Marcus turns out to be a kind man, and she found herself falling for him. Now she has to choose between escaping and loving the king...

Not bad, even though Ava turned out to be a bit wishy-washy, but it all made sense, due to the amount of pressure she had been under. Not too much cowboy-ing in the Alps. 4/5

GRR Reviews The Secret One by Ruth Cardello

NOTE: Same series as "The Broken One" and "The Wild One"

McKenna was raised by her single father ex-race car driver to be independent and excel in a world dominated by men. And after a talk with "Chris" in a bar, she decided to dedicate her life to make her father's dream happen. And she did... by building her own raceway and an auto business like no other. When she met this down-to-earth guy with a broken (rare) car on the side of the road, she can't help but feel there's a prior connection... Turns out, he is Christof... aka Chris that inspired her to go after her dreams. She's even more surprised to learn he's Christof Romano, a billionaire... She's surprised again, when he invited her to Italy... to help him broker peace between an ultra-rich man looking for answers and a protective family hiding a secret...  

The story is between Christof and McKenna. I like the way the author handled the different personalities of the different sons, as each brother (Sebastian, Mauricio, and now Christof) really do have personalities, and they josh each other in a loving way. Females in this author's books are independent with their own careers and priorities, and her man will have to fit into her life, instead of her being molded into his. Christof was the diplomat of the family, and his job is difficult because this time, he's up against someone whose fortune and power are orders of magnitude above his own. I just wish McKenna had more of a role during the negotiations that applies her talent in some way.  4/5

GRR Reviews Bleacke's Geek by Lesli Richardson

 Dewi Bleacke is a prime alpha wolf (one of the very few female prime alphas) and head enforcer of the Targhee Pack in Florida. While on the hunt for a dirtbag who literally sold his daughter for drugs, she came across her one true mate... in the form of a vegetarian geek professor by the name of Dr. Heathcliff McKenzie Ethelbert. "Inviting" him into the restroom for a quick romp may not be the best way to a guy's heart, nor was gunning down the scumbag then "inviting" "Ken" to come along (quietly). But a girl's gonna do what must be done, including meeting her "family"... partner "Beck", and surrogate father "Badger" (both shifters) who had to adapt to living with a "grazer". But someone is watching from the shadows... a killer that killed Dewi's parents and almost killed her and was never caught. Will "Ken" rise above the low expectations, and be a worthy mate to Dewi? 

 For a series starter, the reversal of roles (generally, the shifter is H and the human is h, this has the reverse) is a great way to keep things interesting. And while the onion peel was done properly it just feels a bit too quick, and the bad guy's obsession and motivation a bit suspect.  Still, it's a fun story. 

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 Love on the Boardwalk by Nikki Lynn Barrett and Shannyn Leah

Eva is back in Cinnamon Bay to run the boardwalk cafe she inherited... AND hide the fact that her ex-fiancee was a cheating bas****. She took "Cafe Amour" off the menu because it's just bunk. It's NOT a love potion even if two people share it... // Mack is in Cinnamon Bay to search for the family that gave him up for adoption way back when. But what he found instead was Eva, a delicious coffee drink, and a legend about love and a lighthouse. Sharing the coffee with Eva was nice, but what will he discover about his own past, and does that mean a chance with Eva... or not?

Series starter, good setup, if a bit quirky about love and lives lost, and unusual circumstances. 4/5

GRR Reviews The Billionaire's Favorite by Elle Chance

NOTE: Book has disappeared from Amazon. Here is a Goodreads link

Josh is bartending at his brother's hometown bar because his brother is busy doing something else. He's lamenting on why is he tending bars when he should be chasing down stories as a reporter when Sophie Barlow, daughter of a billionaire, (and classmates, once upon a time) just walked into his bar. // Sophie just needs a little relaxation after a taxing day... but she doesn't want to explain why. The bartender is handsome and flirting never hurts. She's not staying around anyway. Then he revealed he's also a reporter... but she may have already told him too much...

While the meet-cute is cute, and the reason for Sophie to be in town pretty good, I just didn't sense a lot of chemistry between them. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews Aaron by Dale Mayer

Aaron is a former Navy SEAL who suffered a major injury and death of two friends by betrayal... and no one believed him. He wanted a transfer, and he was moved to Hathaway House, Texas, a new ranch/convalescent/rehabilitation home for both humans and animals. He was angry at the world, but he can't be angry at Dani, childhood friend... who runs Hathaway House with her father, simply known as "the Major". // Dani had a crush on Aaron a long time ago, and was also friends with Aaron's older brother Levi. In fact, Levi financed Aaron's transfer. And Dani will make sure Aaron gets the best care, and hopefully, realize his life is not over, and he can be the man he used to be, just maybe a little different. But is Aaron ready to see his future with her? Or will his pride ruin everything?

Good, if a bit slow. Darkest hour IMHO, with pride, works fine. 4/5

GRR Reviews Plain Jayne by Laura Drewry

Nick and Jayne grew up together, and had been best friends for twenty-five years. But Nick married someone else, and Jayne moved away. She came back to attend his wife's funeral four years ago, but he had to ask her to leave when Nick's mother became VERY distraught and angry at her presence. But Jayne is now back to clean up her grandma's estate, a bookstore that closed up seemingly for no reason. She plans to reopen the store and make a life for herself in town... But that plan got derailed when she saw Nick again, who's dating Lisa now...

I don't feel the chemistry between the two. Friendship, sure. Denial of love, sure. But chemistry? Didn't feel any. Nick pretty much denied he's in love with Jayne right up to the very end. And his family's hostility toward Jayne was never quite explained. Grandma's estate and will was basically manipulation from beyond the grave, and it FELT like manipulation, and it was only then did we get Jayne's true backstory, about why grandma was so "cruel" to her. The story elements just didn't really come together for me. 3/5

GRR Reviews Say You'll Stay by Corinne Michaels

Presley thought her life was going fine, until it was turned not just upside down, but went through a tornado... She found her husband not only hung himself but also left her a pile of debt and to raise 3 boys alone. She had no choice but to return to Tennessee and her family while maintaining the fiction (for sake of her boys) that their father died from a heart attack. But returning home also means meeting the one that betrayed her... Zach... His career didn't work out.  Is there a chance for them to reconcile? Is she ready to move on from the two devastating betrayals she had suffered?

I am a bit conflicted about this story. The setup about her dead husband's betrayal took up quite a bit of space, that just feels long and drawn-out, and instead of coming all at once, they hit one at a time. I felt the intro could have been handled better, like when she's hounded by bill collectors or something. I have a little problem with the original reason they broke up, which she counts as a betrayal. It makes her sound like a whiny b****. The reunion is okay. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews The Christmas Cookie House by Jennifer Griffith

Leela is back in Massey Falls, to grieve for her mother and care for her ailing father, as well as try to fill her mother's shoes for the local Ladies' Auxiliary Cookie House benefit gala. However, it seems that Mrs Coldicott is determined to sink the event (and make Leela look bad) by refusing to host the event at her house (even though it's her turn), and no other venue is available... Unless Leela can convince town stranger Jay to allow the use of his Layton Mansion. But Jay had been spending the last few months renovating the place anticipating a quick sale, and now, he absolutely must clean out the attic... as stipulated in the will, before he has the title, free and clear. When an offer came through... and want to close BEFORE the event, Jay can't possibly sell the mansion out from under Leela... right? Who'd pay cash for a mansion before Christmas anyway?

The motivation wasn't explained until the very end, leaving the "persecution" (Caldicott's unexplained hostility toward Leela) just "weird", I guess the author is going for "the entire family is nuts" explanation. 4/5

GRR Reviews Taming Scrooge by Sophia Summers

Ezra, super developer, was raised by his cold father. He is strong-arming the the locals to accept his resort that will revive the sleeping town of Sanders Corners... by tearing down most of the iconic Main Street, including the famous Christmas Shoppe, open year-round with ornaments and more from all over the world. The city is mostly onboard, but Star, owner of the Christmas Shoppe, and daughter of the Christmas tree farm owner, is not giving up without a fight. She co-chairs the Festival of Trees with Ezra, hoping to get close to him and win his heart... But he has his own problems, when his father suddenly said they'll lose EVERYTHING unless they push the deal through, and they shall wreck the Christmas Shoppe on Christmas morning with a wrecking ball...

The story just feels very... forced. Ezra's father is basically super-scrooge that held on to a grudge for decades (and how does suing for half of everything at divorce even work after decades? Or did they NEVER divorce?)  And how he just "gracefully" accepts defeat at the end? WTF?!  And the town council flip-flopping? Argh!  2/5

GRR reviews Meet Me at Sunrise by Lucinda Whitney

Vanessa just learned that she has a grandpa she never knew about... in Europe, and he is VERY rich. Angry with her father for keeping secrets her entire life, and trying to get over a breakup, she left for Europe on a river cruise, escorted by none other than ship's captain, Matias Romano. She was not looking for love. // Matias is the captain of a ship with a jillion details to oversee, and has no time to babysit a "princess", but when his boss asked, he can only answer "yessir". But Vanessa turned out to be NOT a princess at all, but an EMT that helped a guest through a medical emergency. And when the ship started to suffer mysterious malfunctions, she may be the only one he can trust to get to the bottom of it all...

Good mystery and "wrong expectations", good mix of different characters. 4/5

GRR Reviews her Hockey Superstar Fake Fiance by Cami Checketts

Jag left town a decade ago to become a hockey superstar. He succeeded, but in the process, his girlfriend Faith left him. He's back in town to spend the Holidays with his family, but he has a secret and a reporter on his *** hoping to get a scoop on his secret. Then he ran into Faith... // Faith can't believe Jag is back in town and pretending he didn't break up with her. She may be a widow (her husband's been dead a year, fast brain tumor), but she's NOT ready to forgive Jag. Until she read a letter left by her dead husband...

Pretty trope plot, but well-polished. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews Forever Now by Ruth Cardello

Kade knew his place in the world. He regrets letting Annie go way back when, but he's glad she made a life for herself. Then his world was turned upside down. He was a lost heir to the super-rich Barringtons in the US, and they want him back in the fold... But he's Kade, not "Kent"... he's actually both... and neither. But Annie's back in town, and he needs her support, as a friend... // Annie gave up on Kade a long time ago. She can no longer wait for him... she closed off that part of her heart and hurt and hope. Until he walked into her family bar and asked to see her...  He needs a friend, not a lover. And she is not sure what can she provide without losing her heart again...

Angsty, and an interesting side-trip from the Barrington saga, with the Barringtons acting as secondary characters. The shift from friend to lover is really slow, but noticeable and nicely done. 4/5

GRR Reviews The Cowboy's Imperfect Plan by Hayley Wescott

Tyler used to be a rodeo champ, but he got married, had a kid, then the marriage turned sour, he went off the deep end, became a drunkard, and lost custody. But he is a foreman for a rancher who regarded him as the son he never had. And he's been years sober. When the rancher had a stroke, he found out about the will giving him the ranch... with a caveat... // Adaline just found out that her mother had lied to her all her life... Her father was not dead, and in fact, left her a ranch... with a caveat... She has to marry Tyler for a year. Adaline was a recovering addict herself, but less than a year sober. Would a marriage help or hurt Tyler's custody battle, when Adaline kept her struggles secret?

Baby custody battle and marriage of convenience is nothing new. But having it in the same novel with weird will, sudden family, and hidden past? That's at least an interesting combination. 4/5

GRR Reviews More Than Love by Ruth Cardello

Grant Barrington is a billionaire, but he's feeling the strain of finding the fate of a brother that may or may not be dead for more than a decade, that forced him to go undercover. Meeting Viviana was not in his plans. having a romp with her and leaving her pregnant... even less so. // Viviana was swindled by her ex, and having a one-night-stand with a sumptuous but apparently financially challenged guy was extremely satisfying... physically, until she started to feel the morning sickness. Confronting the daddy, while he's busy doing things for his family is just horrible timing... or the best ever...

Not QUITE up to Ruth Cardello's standards, at least for this series. It seems to contain more sex than usual, but at least we got a resolution about the "dead baby (or not)" plot that's dragging on for multiple novels. Obviously, there are further developments...  3.5/5

GRR Reviews Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

NOTE: This is a review of the novel, NOT THE MOVIE!

Rachel Chu is a simple economics professor and her boyfriend, Nicholas Young, proposed that they spend the summer in his homeland, Singapore. Unfortunately, Nicky forgot to mention a few things: a) he has a crazily rich family and extended family, b) he's one of the most eligible bachelors in the country or perhaps, entire continent of Asia, c) a ton of relatives and jealous people will put her down and try to tear them apart... while smiling. It will indeed be an adventure of a lifetime... If she survives it.

When you drill far down, this is a novel about an ingenue meeting a prince and finding a secret world she never knew, and trying to navigate it. It's really NOT that different from your typical "young naive student fell in love with a prince in disguise, trying to fit in among palace intrigue". However, the crazy rich Asian world was drawn so well that it would give culture shock to many Westerners, as the stuff was peeled layer by layer. The prologue, just describing how the news spread that "Nicky is bringing home a girl" through gossip net across multiple continents, can be a bit offputting, but once you got past that, and got to the part where they actually arrived in Singapore, then the pace starts to pick up.

It's not the do-all-and-end-all novel, as the author basically name-drops things left and right and practically throws the riches in your face. And the plot does wear thin a bit because you realize they had to throw in a second couple in crisis (Astrid and her husband, who may or may not be straying). The cast of characters are in the DOZENS, many of whom have only minor roles, yet this is over 500 pages! But it is an intriguing world nonetheless. 4/5

GRR Reviews Mostly Dangerous by Kimberley Montpetit

Sofia and her sisters were far away with their own dreams, when they were summoned back to their historical Ambrose Estate in Texas... for reading of her grandma's will, even though she's alive and kicking... It seems Sofia will be the only one getting the estate... which also destroyed her dreams of starting a veterinary clinic, as running the estate is a full-time job. When one of the on-site oil wells flared, Sofia hired the best, Gavin, who was fighting oil well fires in the Middle East with his team. Each assumed the other the worst, each was pleasantly surprised when they finally met. But Sofia knew of her family's curse... No Ambrose men survived, and many who dared to love an Ambrose woman had befallen the same fate. But will the discovery of her great-grandmother's journal help her break the curse, or break her heart when she knew she cannot have Gavin, when he almost died?

Nice handling of the curse, but the journal reading going back more than a century sort of breaks the narrative momentum when there's a need for info dump. Call it 4/5

GRR Reviews Let It Burn by Ruth Cardello

Andrew lost members of his marines fire team on what he believed was a wild goose chase trophy hunting for his superiors, and he refused to serve his country any more. To appease his family, he agreed to go to Aruba to look into a family mystery at a clinic, which led him to Helene, daughter of the head of the clinic. Helene thought she was on vacation when her uncle asked her to help watch out for spies. She didn't expect the spy to come in such delectable manly package as Andrew. But then, she didn't realize that her uncle may be hiding far darker secrets that could put her and Andrew in danger...

Good shift from romance to romantic suspense, but the pacing feels slightly off. But it is still an interesting way to drag out this mystery without making it feel soap-opera worthy. 4/5