GRR Reviews Wild for You by Cheyenne McCray

Jack lost his wife many years ago, and his daughter is all grown up now. Jack hadn't thought about another woman... and his daughter believed that Jack dating anyone else would be a betrayal. So he didn't... until he arrived at Dara's special needs ranch. Dara was his sister Bailey's best friend, and probably had a thing for him for a while, but it was platonic... Until he started noticing her in a very different way. But it's clear his daughter won't accept Dara without a fight... And Jack needs to reconcile the two...

Not bad, nothing about billionaires or expensive wooing, just blue-collar folks (well, well-to-do ones) making a living doing what they love, and falling in love. Good family conflict without overdoing it. 4/5

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 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 Best Friends with an Alaskan Man by Evangeline kelly

Sabrina relegated Hunter into the friend zone after he wasn't sure what he wanted out of a relationship. Years later, Hunter is living in Alaska, and invited Sabrina and her bestie to visit when Sabrina's boyfriend issued an ultimatum: cut Hunter out of her life or he will leave. Sabrina had enough, and left for Alaska visit. But Sabrina is not ready to let Hunter out of the friend zone... even though she wanted to... and Hunter... always did want Sabrina, but never found the right words... Will this trip give them to chance to come clean?

A bit of a meh here... Didn't quite feel the reluctance about friends-to-lovers. Still, the polish is good. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews A Cowboy Billionaire Best Friend's Secret by Hanna Hart

Hunter has his ranch in Wyoming, and it's prospering. He didn't expect Rachel to arrive incognito. He knew Rachel, until she moved in with his country-singer brother and gotten engaged, and was happily pregnant... last he heard. Turns out she had miscarried, and she found her fiancee (Hunter's brother) cheating. She was an emotional wreck and the only friend she could run to was Hunter.  They are fond of each other, but taking that further is not possible until Rachel resolve her relationship status first. When the whole family started to show up and taking sides, is there any chance for this star-crossed couple?

Good conflict build-up, with tons of complications, first hiding secrets, then outright confrontation as the family started to take sides. Good family dynamics without being overly melodramatic, good but not overwhelming amount of angst. Could use a faster pace though, IMHO. 4/5

GRR Reviews Her Cowboy Billionaire Best Friend by Liz Isaacson

Graham returned to his hometown, Coral Canyon to run his father's energy company, because his father died, and his girlfriend was cheating on him. He found that his neighbor was Laney, once best-friend, but now single mother, whose husband can't hack the country life and left her and daughter Bailey behind. // Laney found herself at crossroads. She's barely keeping the ranch afloat, but with the hard winter and snow, and a failing furnace, she had no choice but to ask for help from Graham. Graham wants out of the friend zone. But will Laney want out of just friend-zone too?

Good complications on what would have been, otherwise, a "neighbor reunion" romance. But not much beyond that. 4/5

GRR Reviews Love Comes for the Army Ranger by Savannah Adams

Chase returned to the US minus a leg, but also with his service dog, medically retired like him. He went back to his hometown to figure out his future. When the dog injured a paw, the only veterinarian around is his high school crush, Lori, who left him... // Lori felt relief about the death of her philandering husband... and shock upon seeing Chas again. Chase wanted a second chance with Lori, but Lori wasn't about to try again, even with Chase. They settle into a friendship... Until a secret from Lori's married past threatens to tear them apart...


The veteran issues are handled nicely, just not too sure about the relationship itself or the darkest hour. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews Let's Get Textual by Teagan Hunter

Delia and Zach would have never met except Zach wrote down the number wrong and accidentally texted Delia instead of his client, and Delia, believing the text was from her brother, replied. And thus started this unconventional friendship via text and calls. The two didn't even meet until weeks later. Yet somehow they knew each other VERY well before they even met IRL (in real life) with a good sense of humor, and that somehow led to one baby goat being adopted. But both Zach and Delia have a few secrets...  Things got VERY dicey when one of the risque photos sent to Zach somehow leaked... Was Delia betrayed by Zach?

Good discussion of privacy and limits and squeezing this texting thing for all its worth. The reasoning for the leak and the perp makes sense, even though it really felt petty in hindsight, but it works for the plot. And the baby goat's cute. The author managed to craft an enjoyable book but also with a great theme. 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 Turbulent Desires by Melody Anne

ER Nurse Lindsey has a severe case of PTSD after two madmen attacked her emergency room, killed one of the doctors and a nurse, and almost killed her. A year later, she can go through the motions of life and job, but she's withdrawn, even as her friend, a sexy flyboy by the name of Maverick (no, it's NOT a callsign) tries to help her recover.  // Maverick flies F/A-18 for the US Air Force, and he and Lindsey had a one-night stand at his brother's wedding. But she's withdrawn after the attack. Mav is determined to rescue her from herself, and then he will walk away, because he had sworn to never fall in love, not even for the stupid inheritance (long story). But he will stay the course for her...

Good polish, and his time off (stupid move and broke his arm, thus gets to stay home for a little while) was explained, sort of. But he just doesn't sound military at all. And there doesn't seem to be much of a "conflict"?  May be the weakest in the series. 3/5

GRR Reviews Falling for You by Julie Ortolon

Aurora aka "Rory" always wondered about the mansion on one of the islands around Galveston, TX, that belonged to one of her ancestors. When she found that the mansion will be sold in a foreclosure sale, she enlisted her siblings to turn the mansion into a B&B... But they need a business loan... which means she needs to talk to a banker like Chance. // Chance knew his family wanted him to take a position in the family bank... and marry a matching socialite. But he always had a crush on Rory... He helped her write a business plan for the B&B, but he can't get more involved than that. Or can he?

The guy's WAY too wishy-washy to be an alpha, or even a beta. He practically tried to play both ways until the end of the book. Meh. 3/5

GRR Reviews Beautifully Undone by Susan Griscom

Melody and her brother Teddy have a best friend, Asher, a musician. Melody had a crush on Asher for the longest time, but he didn't reciprocate. Asher's parents are gone, and he's a bit despondent. When Melody announced she wants to give her V-card to a notorious womanizer (with a different girl on his arm every week) Asher made an (in)decent proposal... He'll show her a good first time. // Later, when Asher found a letter from his dead mother asking him to seek out his half brothers (turns out, Asher's mom was "the other woman") so he's not all alone in the world, Melody insisted that they'll go together. And then they discovered...

SPOILER

AHEAD

Okay, I'll just say it. She's pregnant. Yes, from that first time. Ever. *sigh*   Somehow, the two separate plots just don't mix together that well. And that TSTL moment about going off on a boat without checking the boat works? or even if it has oars? Meh. 2.5/5

GRR Reviews Cowboys Don't Marry Their Best Friend by Jessie Gussman

Ames and Palmer are best platonic friends. She was an ex-winter Olympian. He's just a rancher in North Dakota. Yet they grew up together in Sweet Water ND, and had always played together, and knew each other extremely well, just not... that way. But Palmer's family farm is barely hanging on, not enough to pay the mounting medical bills. And Ames is just vacationing, as she has interviewed for sportscaster positions in Los Angeles. When Palmer got a chance to receive 1 billion dollars from an eccentric billionaire with a couple conditions, including "getting married" and "stay in North Dakota forever", Ames wants to set him up with her female friends. Palmer already has one candidate in mind... But can he justify asking her to give up her own dreams?

Very nice... VERY nice. Channels a bit of "indecent proposal", a bit of "gift of the Magi", and a great twist at the end (let's just say, the story doesn't quite go where you expect it to). 5/5

GRR Reviews Where Forever Ends by K Street

Saylor is stuck. It has been a while since she's a widow. She survived for her son Knox, but she's broken on the inside. She needed the support of her family so she moved back to Maplewood Falls. And finding Jase, her brother's best friend, and former crush, offering friendship, was... good. For Jase had been there before... // Jase knew that Saylor will be... skittish, as he'd been there before. He will help Saylor pick up the pieces. But what about his own heart?

Nice, very nice. The heartbreak came across perfectly. Breaking down at the sight of certain items, unable to let go of the memories. It takes a strong woman... and strong supportive man to work through the heartbreaks. And the kid's cute too. 5/5

GRR Reviews Big Rock by Lauren Blakely

Spencer and Charlotte are business partners and best friends. They co-own a bar. Spencer has a bit of playboy image, appears on gossip rags regularly usually with a different woman on his arm, as he's got the looks, the charm, the personaltiy, and has money. Spencer came from money as his father owned a high-end jewelry chain. His father wanted to sell, and it seems the right buyer just appeared. However, the buyer is an upstanding guy, and Spencer's father asked Spencer to cool off a bit on his love life. Spencer went above and beyond by claiming he and Charlotte are engaged. And after some initial reluctance, she agreed to play along. But will their friendship survive the deception? What if someone learned their secret and was ready to expose it?

Oooh, love the twist at the end, though I wish more clues were dropped earlier. 4/5

GRR Reviews You Deserve Better by A P Watson

NOTE: Sequel to "I Know Better" reviewed earlier

Wren fled the city once to get away from her heartache. She fell for Jacks slowly, until he betrayed her by accepting a position in a different city... along with his ex. While he may not have a say in the matter, it doesn't matter. Betrayal cut like a knife and forgiveness hadn't healed the wound. For before Jacks was Wren's lover, Jacks was Wren's best friend, and she had lost both. She tried to move on and perhaps, find someone else. But Jacks was always on her mind. When he wanted to "just be friends", she said no, but when tragedy struck, she changed her mind. Now she has to choose between a man who wouldn't hurt her (and not Jacks)... or a man that can heal her, or break her completely...

Oooh, again, this is seriously angst-y stuff. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews The Challenge by Deana Farrady

Jasmine and Sara are roommates living across the hall from Matt and Harrison, also roommates. Matt, a "lazy blogger", flirts with Jasmine a lot, but Matt's also never serious about anything. Harrison is on his way to a PhD and is platonic friends with Sara. Then after a get-together, and a lot of wine, Sara proposed "the Challenge"... Jasmine and Matt will pair up, Sunday eight till midnight... go have sex, and work out their sexual tension. Sara and Harrison will do the same. Next week, they switch partners, then switch back the week after. Any of them can call stop. It's NOT supposed to affect their friendships. And all four, after a bit of pondering, agreed. But how can taking that extra step not change their relations fundamentally? As each learned a lot more about their friends, and work through their unrequited love (or lust), each also learned a lot about his or herself. And nothing will ever be the same...

On the surface, the idea seems... preposterous. But the sex is sensual, and the self-discovery exquisite. However, by the end of the book, there's a morose period, where basically Jasmine fell into some serious self-pity. OTOH, I really like the half-Asian angle. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews I Know Better by A P Watson

WARNING: Cliffhanger

Wren gave up on her love life and her city and moved to Chicago to start over, even selling her car to finance her move. As an ICU nurse, she makes enough, but not that much. When her two best friends asked her to go out on a blind date with Jackson, she couldn't refuse. But Jackson was nothing like Wren expected. Instead of sex, Jackson offered her friendship. Wren knew Jackson is out of her league, but they can't deny their attraction to each other on a mental level, as they slowly came together. But just as she thought they had a future, came the ultimate betrayal...

Oooh, this slow-burn relationship is exquisite. OTOH, I'm not sure I quite like the cliffhanger ending.

4/5 (includes -1 cliffhanger penalty)

NOTE: Story concludes in "You Deserve Better", review coming soon.

GRR Reviews Between Friends by Charlotte Blake

Sarah knew Ethan mainly as her roommate's boyfriend... Until her roommate dumped Ethan for someone else. But her roommate is fickle. When she "broke up" with her current BF, she wants to get back with Ethan, only to get back with her current BF again. Sarah didn't like that, but it's not her relationship. She maintained friendship with Ethan and the other guys, but she's wondering what's she doing with life, as she barely survived pre-med in UC Berkeley and didn't bother applying to medical school. Now stuck in dead-end waitressing job, she's pondering when she started to notice that Ethan seems to have feelings for her... more than just a friend. When the four friends scraped together funds for a quick trip to Paris, city of love, Sarah and Ethan's relationship went to a different level... but should what happened in Paris stay in Paris? Or should Sarah and Ethan go public... and risk Sarah's roommate finding out that her roomie is dating her ex? And does that even matter?

Hmmm... I honestly don't recall seeing anything in the girl code that says you can't date your roommate's ex. I guess the only thing Sarah can be blamed for is not come right out and say "I'm going to date your ex". There's some serious angst, but mostly self-inflicted. 4/5

GRR Reviews Playing At Love by Lara Ward Cosio

Conor is the guitarist of the popular yet troubled band Rogue, and he's trying to recover from his mistake... Falling for his best friend (and lead singer)'s wife Sophie, and even got a one-night stand out of it. But now Gavin and Sophie have reconciled... Conor needs a "distraction", and he goes about by trying to reconcile with his own ex-wife, the supermodel, and she's happy to oblige, as she can always use a boost in popularity. But when Conor also met his old schoolmate Felicity, Conor found himself drawn to Fe. Now Conor has to question which women does he really want, and was he already too late...

Wow, very troubled souls, guilt, shame, and more. With twists and turns. It's like a soap opera. Conor can't quite figure out his own course, and that was his main failing. 5/5