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 Decker and Joy by Elle Rush

Private Investigator Decker is chasing down an escaped prototype named E.L.V.I.S for North Pole Unlimited's top-secret research division, and he knew it's somewhere in this town, a few weeks before Halloween... // Joy is busy handling foster animals and the store at Kitten Caboodle. The policy is not to allow the adoption of black kittens during October, and they just happen to have three (came as a package). So when someone starts to get REALLY insistent on adopting those kittens, something feels very wrong. // Decker and Joy met when Decker found that his missing prototype may have been shipped to Joy's store, just as someone pulled off a triple kitten-napping by starting a huge distraction. Now the two will have to work together...

Light-hearted and fun, but it's more adventure than romance. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews The Christmas Princess by Patricia McLinn

April's fiancee's mother just kicked her out so her spine-less (now ex-) fiancee can take back the woman she approves. While April has a lot of friends, she doesn't want to depend on them, even with Christmas fast approaching. So when State Department Security Agent Hunter approached her with an extraordinary offer, she was in no position to refuse... Spend a month in Washington DC with King Jozef of Bariavak, because April very much resembles his long-lost granddaughter. April very much enjoys spending time with Hunter, but Hunter has his own secrets and links with Bariavak... And King Jozef is happy to do a little royal matchmaking...

Not quite a comedy as advertised, as Hunter is basically your almost-cliche "strong silent type", being basically a bodyguard, but with a bit more depth to him than you'd expect, and April... her pride was ALMOST her downfall. Still, the characters are nicely nuanced and have character arcs, and the mystery about who is the princess... Will continue. 4.5/5

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 Wedding of the Century by Patricia McLinn

Annette once vowed never to return to her small town, after she ran away from her dream wedding... which is AFTER a very pregnant girl showed up claiming the baby was fathered by her betrothed, Steve, and he didn't refute it. So she left and started her own life. Seven years later, she had to return when her brother broke his wrist and can no longer work as a contractor for weeks. Her ex-betrothed is now a single father, and it's clear there still are feelings that remained. And perhaps, she may even gather enough courage to ask... Why did Steve betray her? And the answer will shock her to her core...

Wow, the twists are shocking, and a bit soap-opera worthy, but everything makes sense. 5/5

GRR Reviews A Cowboy Firefighter for Christmas by Kim Redford

Misty is just driving into Wildcat Bluff near Christmas when she was flagged down by a half-naked cowboy who needed her help to put out a suspicious grass fire. Turns out he's Trey, hot cowboy, and volunteer firefighter. She's surprised she was able to help, as she had bad memories of both fires and Christmas. Someone is committing arson in the area, and Misty can't tell Trey that she's actually an investigator trying to find out if the fires are set by their rivals, or is there a separate firebug involved... But they definitely feel hot for each other...

Nice, good bits about personal fears and overcoming them. The mystery aspect OTOH is a bit on the "meh" side. 4/5

GRR Reviews Crush on You by Amelia Wilde

Roman, now controlling the family Bliss Resorts, is a demanding boss. So who is this total babe claiming to be his new assistant? Turns out, she's Jenny, former high school schoolmate (and with a hidden crush on him). But he can't be distracted, even if Jenny's oh-so-tempting...

Tries to pivot onto a sort of disguise/mystery/undercover thing, but it's mostly "hot for boss/secretary" trope. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews Walker Island Box Set Vol I (1-3) by Lucy Kevin (aka Bella Andre)

THREE BOOK COLLECTION will be rated separately, with an overall rating at the end. These novels are pretty short (barely over 100 pages) and sweet.


Be My Love

Hanna Walker returns to her home, Walker Island, to make a documentary about her namesake, and to document the Walker / Peterson feud that had been going on for decades. She was surprised when Joel Peterson denied her request to access the island archives. When Joel found he can't stop Hannah, he joined her on her quest, determined to see the truth told. But as they started to unravel the mystery around the origins of the feud, they also found their attraction toward each other growing. And love may be the one thing that will finally end the feud once and for all...

Pretty good with a mystery as the framing plot, sort of opposites attract, plus a family feud, good conflicting responsibilities. 4.5/5


No Other Love

Morgan Walker is back at Walker island to launch her organic makeup line, after being a celebrity makeup artist in New York for many many years, and is about to get her own TV makeover show. Having her own family plot growing her own organic plants for her makeup line would be perfect, esp. when she'll be seeing her entire family of sisters and grandma. But that also means she'll see Brian, her ex, whom she broke up with seven years ago... for her career. And this time, he wasn't ready to let her get away again.

Not feeling too much with this one except regrets and promises. 3.5/5


When It's Love

Rachel wanted adventure... Until her BF dumped her when he found she's pregnant six years ago. Left to fend for herself as single mother, Rachel had help from her family on Walker island.  Rachel was not worried about the professional surfer Nicholas in town, as he's there to do a TV show. But when she's asked to step in for a lead role, she found that perhaps, she can use some adventure in her life after all...

Rachel basically has to learn to love again, while Nicholas... is the guy to offer her the chance. Good polish, nothing too special. 3.5/5

Overall rating 4/5

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 Lost Memories and New Beginnings by Lorana Hoopes

Dr. Brody thought he was done with love as a widower. But when he saw the woman in the mangled car, some protective instinct stirred. Later, he realized she had lost her memories, except fear... someone was after her, and it was clear someone ran her off the road. They found out who she was, not a good person at all. But the present her isn't like that at all... And whoever targeted her is still out there...

Good romantic suspense, decent twists, 4.5/5

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 Chasing Shadows by Catherine Bybee

Avery was haunted by an attack that put her in the ICU for days that she can't remember. She believed the attacker was dead (see Half-Empty). Determined never to feel vulnerable again, she took up krav maga as self-defense, and she's quite good at it. But there's only so much she can do in the classroom and sparring. That's when Liam, krav maga classmate, volunteered to "attack" her (with padding, of course) to let her practice her defense moves. Liam is well-to-do, and when he saw Avery, he was instantly smitten and wanted to learn EVERYTHING about her... in a nice not-stalker way. But he will be her punching bag if that's the only way to get close to her. But when a visit to a club together triggered a recall of her attacker, Avery abandoned EVERYONE to return to the scene of the crime, determined to find the culprit and close the chapter in her past. Can the rest of the First Wives Club help her, and will love from Liam heal her?

The book basically is about "obsession'. He's obsessed about her, and she's obsessed about her past that she only recalled in hazy details. it's just that the ending feels a bit of deus ex machina... Someone swooped in and basically saved them both (not literally), even though it was a twist. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews The Billionaire's Hope by April Murdock

Kayla can't believe she won a chance for a full destination wedding at a luxury tropical resort, as one of the five couples for the finals. Kayla accepted the engagement proposal from her fiancee for a while, but he refused to set a date. As both lived in Vegas, and he's a bit of cheapskate, she thought this would be perfect... a free vacation in the Caribean, AND possibly a full wedding package. What's not to like? She didn't count on seeing her first-love, Silas, again... // Silas grew up in riches... as his parents have a resort empire. But Hotel Paradeisos is all his. This wedding contest promo was his hotel manager's idea. He didn't know Kayla would be among the couples... It was clear that her fiancee did not love her... And he never knew why she ran from him way back when... But he never said this is his hotel either...

Interesting twist on reunion, coupled with triangle, resort, disguised billionaire, and wedding contest.  But Kayla's recoil felt a bit overdone. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews Declan by Melody Anne

Declan, the oldest of the Forbes brothers, is an FBI agent that's trying to take down a gang with an elusive leader that left a lot of victims in its wake. He knew that Angela is a part of the puzzle, but not sure how. And seeing his brothers finding their soulmates does make him realize he lacks that certain someone in his own life. When Angela suddenly left town with her son, he realized that the enemy is much closer than he thinks... and his feelings about Angela is no longer platonic... But can he convince her to come back? And can he protect her?

Good twists near the end, though it felt a bit deus ex machina... 4.5/5

GRR Reviews Seduced by Sunday by Catherine Bybee

Meg is a matchmaker for Alliance, a matchmaking firm that specialized in marriages of convenience. She wants to investigate a secluded island resort operated by Valentino Masini, a sexy businessman. A secluded island with very discrete employees can be very good for Alliance's clients, and even though Meg considers herself off the market, she does notice Valentino's charm... and attempt to woo her. But Valentino and Meg soon found themselves in the middle of a mystery... Valentino's sister is being wooed by a winemaker, and someone wants Meg and her entire party off the island. What did Meg get too close to?

Again, the pivot from romance to romantic suspense was done almost seamlessly and all the plot points flowed properly. There was even a perfect karma payoff at the end.  What's even more amazing, it sets up the next and final novel in the series. 5/5

GRR Reviews Taken by Tuesday by Catherine Bybee

Judy is just a college graduate, except for a very famous brother, actor Michael Wolfe. She moved to LA and lived in her brother's mansion, working an internship hoping it will lead to a long-term job, but so far she's doing secretarial work. However, one bright spot in her day is Rick, one of her brother's bodyguards that would like to court her. Rick likes Judy's spitfire attitude. But when a stalker attacked Judy in her parking garage, and Rick became the primary suspect, it's clear the stalker isn't done with her, and Rick may have to risk everything to save her...

Nice handling of the threat, trying to narrow down the suspect pool, and so on. Police procedural was nicely handled, and the pivot from romance to romantic suspense was again, handled very nicely, which is this author's forte. No obvious plotholes. 5/5

GRR Reviews Snow Pup by Mimi Barbour

Deputy Shawna found the runaway kid Billy when a snowy white pup leads her to him, sleeping in the snow. He's a foster kid who ran away when his mother died, having never knew his father, and he knew he didn't belong there. Shawna, who already helps out at the community center, decided to step up and become a foster parent, even as John Reid showed up, claiming to be the child's biological father. // John was on a long-term assignment in South America, hoping to provide for his family when his wife refused to move. She actually took all the money he sent to get a lawyer and took away his parental rights, claiming he abandoned them. Finally back in the US after several years, he was chasing down leads to his son, when he met Shawna. // Shawna reluctantly accepted that John will be living across the street at the B&B and will get to know his son... WITHOUT telling him he's the father. But is what he said actually true? Did a vindictive wife set all this in motion? What about police reports of fights and alcohol abuse? Can the pup help meld this into a new family despite an overzealous social worker?

Not much for the pup to do after the initial introduction, but the rest of the dynamic works, with the despair of the people trying to overcome bureaucracy and people who really thought they are doing good but instead doing harm. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews Pretty Reckless by Jodi Linton

Laney had some wild days, including shooting rock salt into her cheating husband's naked ass when she caught him in their bed with a different woman. That now ex-husband, Gunner, signed the divorce papers and left town. Five years later, Laney is a deputy for her small town, and drug runners are encroaching. She's in a relationship with a guy she feels comfortable with (but not really love). Then her (cheater) ex is back in town... as a Texas Ranger, trying to solve a big case in her area. Forced to work together, it none-the-less won't be comfortable...

This book is really divisive to me. It's clear that things are not over between Laney and Gunner, despite his "cheating ass". On the other hand, I like Laney's sass and attitude, despite her inability to actually handle criminals (at least, not the rough kind). 3.5/5

GRR Reviews Take me Again by Carly Phillips

Sebastian is one of the Knight brothers. He and Ashley were temporarily step-siblings, and may even have feelings for each other. But their one drunken make-out session was interrupted, and Ashley was soon sent to a boarding school in London, and they lost touch. A decade later, Ashley just learned that Parker, another Knight brother, just lost his wife from opiate overdose. Ashley had to return to the US as a part of the family... And leave her British suitor Jonathan behind, as Jon refused to accept that she's not ready for commitment. Ashley knew seeing Sebastian again will be difficult, but to help Parker deal with the problems caused by his wife's death means she'll be forced to work with Sebastian closely... He needs to help troubleshoot the problem and smooth over difficulties with the client, while she, a forensic accountant, can track down financial irregularities. And they discovered secrets long kept. But are they willing to admit their feelings for each other? Will she go back to London? Then Jonathan showed up...

Some parts, like background, misunderstandings, respective scars, and so on, are very good. But the annoyingly persistent Jonathan, the lame antagonist (and part of the very simple mystery) just feels... half-baked. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews Almost Home by Barbara Freethy

Katherine is in Paradise, Kentucky on a quest to find her birth father, after her mother's death. All she knew is his name starts with J. No surname. Zach, the handsome cowboy, was not a part of her plans, nor was running into a ditch after almost ramming his horse trailer. They couldn't be more different. She's a California city girl. He's a Kentucky country cowboy, with a horse that can win a huge derby. But he has a bad reputation in town he's trying to redeem, and she's finding that some people prefer their secrets hidden. How much of her life did her mother hide from her? Will both of them find what they are searching for?

Sort of a "sins of our fathers and mothers" scenario, it's clear much of Katherine's knowledge about her mother's past were lies... Good complex scenarios that combined mystery with slow-wooing. 5/5