GRR Reviews Season of Romance by Alexa Verde

Andrey moved to the small town Rio Azules to care for his nephew Ilya, who is now an orphan. Ilya also has diabetes and Andrey doesn't know anything about that. When Ilya got hypoglycemia, Andrey panicked, but fortunately, his neighbor, Melinda, is a paramedic, and practically a godmother to Ilya, and knew exactly what to do. Melinda also has two secrets... She's diabetic too (and has an insulin pump just like Ilya) and she has a crush on her hunky neighbor. But Andrey will soon move back to Houston, where his family and business are, with Ilya.... So she can't get involved... but she has to, to help Ilya...

Okay, the reluctant romance angle came through fine. But the deus ex machina ending I didn't like at all. To put it plainly, one obstacle in their way just magically removed itself when a certain third-party had an epiphany. ARGH!!!!!  3/5

GRR Reviews Bayside Wishes by Stacy Claflin

Freya is a fashion model making a great living in NYC, but she does go home to Enchantment Bay every year. And this year, she ran into Nico, a local police sergeant, hot on a case of a murdered cop. And they develope a friendship that could lead to more. But Freya's modeling career has her hiding her eating disorder from everyone, including herself, and Nico's crazy ex showed up in town, insisting she won't leave without him (he left the big city to get away from her!) Will the two ever get together?

WTF, is this a real cop? Nico was so easily emotionally blackmailed. When his evil ex showed up at a party uninvited and started destroying Freya's family treasures to make a scene (an heirloom mirror, a famous painting...) Nico, as a cop, should have arrested her, call in the patrolman and have her escorted to jail, where she'll sit and stew for a few days. Instead, he agrees to leave with her to a hotel, while apologizes profusely for her actions. This is not a cop. This is a WIMP! Other parts of the books are okay, but this major flaw sank it for me.  2/5

GRR Reviews Mommy Loves the IT Guy by Joanne Dannon

Abby was helping out a friend in need when she adopted Skylah, a 10-year-old girl who was severely neglected. It was definitely the best thing that ever happened to her. But when her best friend asked for her help, she had to fly from Australia back to the US to help, with her daughter, of course. Meeting Noah was a surprise, as he's her best friend's brother. He's now a cybersecurity consultant (or "computer guy" as Skylah puts it) and very orderly, and wanted to rekindle his friendship with Abby. But Skylah, fearful of abandonment, is surly and rude toward anyone who threatens her relationship with Abby, esp. Noah. And Abby's life is back in Australia... Will Noah get a chance to prove to them both that family is where you want it to be?

Warm, sweet, though using the kid as a straightman is typical. And other than "computer guy", there wasn't much use for the guy's expertise. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews Cowboys and Starlight by Jacqueline Winters

Veronica "Ronnie" had worked unthinkable hours for three years as a diva interior designer's assistant, hoping for a chance to be an interior designer. She's even a part of the reality TV show the designer's on. But one mishap (the phone died, causing her to be late by 2 hours) and she'd been fired. Ronnie decided that it's as good as time as any to visit her ranch hand brother in Starlight, WY. Until she ran into Colten... Literally. // Colten had sworn off all city girls when his wife divorced him via letter after he moved back to Starlight to help his sick dad. His father had finally passed on, and his mom was ready to sell the house and start over elsewhere. Colten wanted to be a park ranger at Glacier National Park, and the job is as good as his, but he needed to help the sale go through, and that means helping the interior designer his mom just hired... Ronnie. It didn't help when it turns out Colten best buddy is also Ronnie's brother. And Ronnie hadn't confided in ANYONE about her ignominious firing on TV... and that reality TV show episode will be airing soon.  She's going back to the city soon. And he'll get his dream job soon... Right?

Good escalation and double-guessing each other. The solution was expected, but it's still a delight. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews Falling for Tender Heart (Tender Heart Texas) by Katie Lane

Falling for Tender Heart managed to be sweet while poking some good-natured fun at fans of romance novels.

Emery came to Bliss Texas in search of the fabled "final novel" in the Tender Heart series. The author died but left hints about the final book. However, the manuscript had never been found. After getting a clue, Emery, a book reviewer/editor decided to get her two other friends to visit Bliss and see what inspired the author to write about all the mail order brides that left readers enchanted, and see if there are still clues. Encountering a brooding cowboy who looked almost exactly like one of the heroes in Tender Heart series of novels was just a bonus. How can a girl not swoon when a fantasy came true? // Cole is tired of the ranch. He and his cousins have buried their hatchets despite family feud that tore the holdings into thirds, but he's thinking about selling out and leaving altogether. He owed her step-sister that much... He, after all, put her in that wheelchair, and she needs rehab. But Emery threw that plan into chaos. Cole hated these fortune-hunters... There is no final novel... The family had searched for it to no avail. And Emery, while tempting, is just using him for information. Right?

This was a very nice use of mail-order bride trope and context to set up the present day romance. I can see where the twist was going to be, but it was a nice twist nonetheless. Not like SUPER-nice, but good nonetheless.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Did someone really found the lost manuscript? A book reviewer and her friends will find out and fall for some cowboys too...

Tropes: small town, just visiting, romance writer (editor), family drama, familys ecrets, disguise,

Overall Rating:  4/5

GRR Reviews A Forever Kind of Love by Mona Ingram

A Forever Kind of Love is the kind of sappy and poignant love story with just a hint of supernatural that will leave you wiping your eyes and sighing about the happy ending. In fact, there are two stories here... a parallel romance, so to speak.

Charlie needed a new start after being dumped by the lame boyfriend, and when her aunt needed a little help on her farm, she thought of it as the perfect vacation. And once Charlie arrived, she found her neighbor Jason to be such a temptation. Jason's last GF decided she doesn't want to be a farm girl, so he's suspicious of any city girls, including Charlie. Then Charlie found a ghost in her aunt's dancehall... His name is Harm, and he died in 1936, after promising to elope. And his love's name was Charlotte... Charlie's great-great-great-grand-aunt. Charlotte died of a broken heart and never married, and somehow, both Charlotte and Harm are stuck on this mortal plane, unable to pass. Charlie promised Harm to help any way she can... and she'll need Jason's help to do it...

I'm not going to spoil how two present-day people can help two ghosts pass on and achieve their forever after, let's just say, read the book. It's not that long, and it'll bring a tear into your eyes.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: A woman visiting her aunt found an interesting man... and two ghost lovers from 1936. She'll need his help to set two ghost lovers free...

Tropes: neighbor, scars, different worlds, just visiting

Overall Rating: 5/5 (rounded up)