GRR Reviews What New Beginnings are Made of by Debra Clopton

What New Beginnings are Made Of by Debra Clopton is the beginning of a new series, that was meant to be a series that should be read in order, like a "serial", instead of stand-alone novels. I find the teasing aspect a bit off-putting, and some of the parts not really making sense. 

Alice lost her husband to an accident. At 55, and very rich, and all her kids off doing their own stuff, she decided to indulge herself for once: buy Star Gazer Inn at the beach of Corpus Christi, Texas, and bring it back to life. It is where she met the father of her children. But her children wonder if she may have bitten off more than she can chew... // Lisa, Alice's best friend, and a trained chef, was simply traveling the world, trying to fill her time after her bitter divorce. She agreed to join Alice to open up the inn, but she has her own secrets... // Nina lives next door to the inn and kept an ultra-low profile... But the new inn, and the new owners, are so nice. And esp. owner's oldest son, Jackson, so handsome and protective, and interested in knowing her... 

The book introduced Alice, Lisa, Nina, and Jackson, with a lot of plotlines left unresolved, as technically the inn is still yet to open at the end of book 1. Also, I find the reason for Nina hiding out to be quite... unreasonable. That villain of that type is usually not the type to risk exposure for some unknown vendetta. It just felt... wrong. Add that to the open-endedness, which makes me feel as if I am going to be teased over and over like watching a soap opera. 3/5

GRR Security Risk by Megan Matthews

Tabitha left her old life behind to start over in Pelican Bay, by borrowing a bit of her abusive ex-boyfriend's cash, not that she plan to spend it all. She inherited a house from her aunt in the town, and meeting her hunky but gruff neighbor, Ridge, was... nice, as are her other neighbors. But why is her ex Mario chasing her down by sending in his scary lieutenant? Where are the diamonds they keep insisting she took with her? Will she live through it?

Uh, hate to say this, but this book smells like amateur writing. Tabitha fell for the first handsome guy she saw despite surviving years of abuse. She couldn't recognize a mafia front despite lived years next to it (and happen to have couple hundred thousand lying around in CASH) and basically has too many TSTL moments to count. Oh, and Ridge? Total caricature of a security guy. 2/5

GRR Reviews Someone to Watch over Me by Iris Morland

Seth is back home from Middle East, but he had lost his best friend there, and he felt lost without a direction in life. He met his neighbor Rose, and was intrigued by the headstrong beauty, but when she greeted her at night with a gun, it's clear she needed help, and refused to admit it. // Rose fled Seattle and her evil ex Johnny, but it's clear he's not done with her. She had made a bargain with the devil (Johnny) to save her brother and he's out to collect. She almost had enough money to pay Johnny off, and Seth's help is appreciated, but she'll do things her own way, esp. when she's still ashamed for what Johnny took from her...

On one hand, I want to like the main characters. Rose is reasonably conflicted, and Seth is reasonably wounded. On the other hand, Rose is so f***ing naive, I was basically screaming "No you idiot!". She apparently never considered the angle... Maybe her brother's being framed for drugs was orchestrated by Johnny just so he can get his hands on her. That's frustrating to read, and what's the point of getting a gun if she's not willing to use it when it matters? (She never actually got to use it)  3/5

GRR Reviews Right Here With You by Susan Coventry

Stephanie left Michigan for a mountain cabin in Tennessee, hoping to finish her novel. Her neighbor Logan, is trying to write a nature guide to heal from his past tragedy. Neither would quite come clean about their respective pasts, even though both knew they are attracted to one another, and Logan is there to share his expertise and to protect her. But Logan is also keeping Steph away from his tragedy he'd rather not confront... Yet for him to get past that tragedy, he will have to allow her to get closer...

The guy's a bit hard to empathize with, as his solution is to run away from his feelings, ALWAYS. The struggles though, are pretty good. 4/5

GRR Reviews Beautiful Storm by Mandi Blake

Tori, a nurse, married a doctor. It should be a perfect life... Both are great in their fields, and they have a great loft in Chicago... until he told her he had fallen for someone else and wanted an "easy divorce"... and even gave her the deed to a cabin in the Deep South... She'll just head south to sell the darn thing. // Marcus runs the auto-repair shop and tries to keep his siblings out of trouble since their mom is completely toxic and unable to be a parent. So what's a city girl like Tori doing in town? How did she get the deed to the grand cabin? Who is she really?

I'm really not feeling much about this one. Neighbors, sure. Small town, sure, but the two characters never really felt like having much chemistry to me. 2.5/5

GRR Reviews The Billionaire's Alternate Marriage by Tami Dearen

Rylie had been crushing on Jarrett, even though Jarrett dated her twin sister Carlie. But Carlie dumped Jarrett for a singing career in Nashville. Years later, Carlie is hiding out from a scandal and living with Rylie... when Rylie found that Jarrett has moved in next door, and is now a billionaire. But Jarrett wants to adopt Gabe and despite his riches, he can't seem to get adoption approved... unless he got married. The logical choice would be Carlie, who can use a boost for her career, being associated with a billionaire. But when timing did not work out, Jarrett ended up marrying Rylie instead, as a marriage of convenience. It's just to adopt Gabe, they said to themselves... Each was convinced that the other wanted someone else... Can they ever admit their real feelings?

Good setup and no logic holes or plot holes I can see, just a lot of inconvenient timing (like Carlie fell sick just before the marriage timing) but if rom-coms can do it, so can regular romances. 4/5

GRR Reviews Her Totally Hot Forbidden Fake Fiance by Lucy McConnell

Diana has had enough of her family nagging her to find a man, and she has to be home for Christmas. When a friend suggested she invite someone unsuitable, the perfect candidate is her neighbor Cliff, who has nowhere to be around Christmas. Cliff has tattoos and thick beard, wears flannel, and is an electrician. Diana just has to NOT tell him that her mother believes they are engaged... // Cliff had been the victim of a runaway bride before, and he's not ready to put his heart on the line. And he's definitely upset (when he found out) that Diane portrayed him as her (fake) fiancee. But he would do anything for her... And he'll play along... Unfortunately, when Christmas magic and pushy circumstances rushed them toward a Christmas wedding... both have to confess their REAL feelings...

Nice, good setup and circumstances conspire to push them into admitting their affections for each other. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews Forgotten Reins by Susan Lower

Sarah opened her equine rescue op with her best friend and her best friend's brother, Josh. But her inheritance isn't quite enough to pay the bills esp. with all the upkeep like fence posts and whatnot. But when Sarah went to a horse auction and saw a horse that can barely move, she can't walk away, and she ended up buying her for $7, even though the mare was given a minimal chance of survival. Next day, the vet arrived, and she was stunned to find Michael Wolfe, who bought the property next door, as the new vet. What she can't tell him is she's a single mom, and her son's daddy is Michael. They had that one night, and then she was sent packing... What had happened that night... and why did Michael never searched for her? How can she tell him now?

Somehow, the story just feels very... clumsy. The narrative flow was OFTEN interrupted by Sarah suddenly falling into a day-dream recalling events from the past. And Michael is basically completely clueless, never once suspecting that someone had "interfered" with his life, then and now. And Sarah is still the meek girl, even at 25 and a mother, easily intimidated. 3/5

GRR Reviews Liam's Invented I-Do by Liz Isaacson

Callie was almost too stubborn to call for help. She tried to run her family ranch, but she's late on every payment that she has only days to prevent a foreclosure. The ONLY way out is to accept help from Liam, the neighboring and VERY RICH rancher that always wanted to help her (but her pride was too much). Not this time... She accepted the tech wiz's proposal of marriage... and swallowed her pride. But can she ever accept his love?

You have to start with book 1, as the series is about seven brothers finding seven brides... one book at a time. I have a little problem with self-destructive pride, and Callie really doesn't make sense that way. Maybe she felt she had to be the mother and do-it-all, but numbers don't balance themselves. The book was basically Callie eating humble pie and still trying to sass. And the book meandered a bit trying to resolve some bits from previous books while trying to set up the next one. 3/5

GRR Reviews Clash by C A Harms

Payton was abused by the person that should be there to protect her. Her only refuge was her neighbor family, which includes Dylan, who will cherish her. But is that love? Will he betray her just like other men in her life?

While the story fo abuse and survival is emotional, the love story seems to fade into the background here, until the emotional self-loathing (I'm not good enough, my abuser said so) takes over. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews Work in Progress by BJ Harvey

Jamie has several brothers, and they are going into business together. Cook Brothers Construction's first project is to flip this house. He had it all set in a five-year plan. Except his ex didn't agree... That's why she's now the ex. While drowning himself with a bit of alcohol and work and loud music, he injured himself on job site, which leads to meeting the neighbor, single mom April, living with her ex-mother-in-law, in a rather... inauspicious circumstances. But Jamie's great with her kid and wanted to be everything to her. But she's still feeling the betrayal of her cheating ex (while she was pregnant). And what happens when the house is finished?

Good use of time limit and cute kid, and the rather unconventional family setup, while keeping it relatively light-hearted despite both were victims of betrayal. 4/5

GRR Reviews Hero Next Door by Lara Swann

Mack retired from the Marines to start a family, but when his wife left him, all he's got left was his son, Tyler. His neighbor Naomi, who just moved in, seems haunted by something. They are attracted to each other, but they agree to go slow for the sake of Tyler. Then her past, in the form of an evil ex, came back to haunt her...

The ex-military single dad meets stalked woman has been done bajillion times before, and there really is nothing that stands out. For all the talk of safety, Naomi had a TSTL moment which obviously lead to the darkest hour.  2.5/5

NOTE: The bonus novel was not reviewed. It's a standard fair secret baby reunion novel.

GRR Reviews All I want for Christmas by Tracey Mayhew

Jess left the lakeside village behind when her father turned into a recluse after loss of her mother. But three years later, when her best friend Holly found her own husband was cheating with his secretary, leaving her with two children, Jess had to come back to help, and perhaps, make peace with her father and her past. Meeting Glen and his dog also brought a sense of peace in town. But would she want to stay?

The story felt a bit... scattered, as if the author didn't have one primary problem and two complications, but instead, made three equally "medium" problems. Was Jess just fighting to come home? Solve Holly's problems? Find love? Make peace with her father? Obviously the answer is "all of the above", but she's not really working toward a goal, but sort of fumbling along, reacting to each thing as she goes. 3/5

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 Close to Her Heart by C J Carmichael

Dani is a professor, so an affair with a tenured professor wasn't a good idea, but the widower father Adrian was so compatible and swoon-worthy she succumbed to his charms. Yet Adrian always claimed to be protecting his daughter and won't commit to Dani. Then Dani found she's pregnant. She was the woman of the house raising her siblings after death of her mother. Is she ready to be a mother... esp. with the possibility that her baby may be suffering from Down's syndrome? And what about attention from her neighbor Elliot, who always wanted her, but it never seems to be the right time?

Nicely handled unrequited love with betrayal, aka A secretly loves B, but B is involved with C...  Elliot is one of the nicest guys around, and there's also a bit of "everyone but you" trope going on. Nice mix. It's just that you kinda feel that Dani is just too... weak. 4/5

GRR Reviews The Off-Season by Megan Green

Ian, better known as "Tag", is a shortstop for the Washington Rampage pro baseball team, and he was apparently betrayed by a woman he had taken to bed, VERY consensually. The woman is now alleging rape as legal blackmail, and Ian was told to make himself scarce in the off-season while the PR team negotiates for her silence. He went to a friend's cabin in the small town called Maple Lake in Colorado, where people didn't recognize him. He found himself neighbor to Lexi, who has her own demons to conquer, and he wanted to help her fix up her old house. Ian and Lexi fell for each other, but can their love survive both of their secrets?

Apparently, the public will believe tabloid reporters, then later, confessions that contradict such tabloid reporters. Public must be really gullible. *sigh*  4/5

GRR Reviews Catching Him by Aurora Rose Reynolds

Leah wants Mr. Right, not Mr. Right Now.  She just didn't expect to meet him as her new neighbor, when her cat decided to visit his house. His name is Tyler, and he's here as a new construction foreman. Leah dated one other guy, Chris, like back in high school, and there was zero spark then, and zero spark now. She gave him a pity date dinner, and all he could talk about was himself. She ghosted on him, as she wanted to explore her chemistry with Tyler, who's alpha, and wanted her, and was willing to let her figure it out at her own pace. But someone broke into her house (while they were away), destroyed her belongings, and wrote WHORE on her wall, clearly someone is disturbed... Tyler will protect Leah, but Leah has to decide whether Tyler is worth catching...

Not bad, though I guessed the culprit by mid-point. The ending was a bit low-key, though karma is sufficiently portrayed. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews Artfully Yours by Isabel North

Alex fell for Elle eighteen years ago, back in high school. He was just a transfer student, but months with Elle at a locker just across from his in the hall is enough. He kissed her, and she kissed him back. It got so heated, someone emptied a fire extinguisher on them. But Elle eventually left town to become a nurse to get away from her dysfunctional family. And Alex eventually found himself as a "bad boy metal artist". But Elle is back when her sister broke her leg, lost her job, and is getting evicted from her home because of her ex-husband's debts. Alex had lost his mojo months ago, and finding Elle was like rediscovering his muse, and suddenly, he's creative again. But how can a guy who's a master with hot torch and hard metal know how to date a soft and sensuous woman he'd want to keep forever?

Some good parts, some comedic parts, some sweet parts, but Alex's lack of speech upon seeing Elle was kinda cringe-worthy (in a oooohhh, this is gonna be... interesting! way) But it is also funny. It is an interesting way to do "reunion". 4/5 

GRR Reviews Heather by Chris Keniston

Heather is taking time off from her busy schedule as a top cardiac surgeon to go home to Lawford, where grandpa, retired Marine Corp General Harold Hart lives with his wife Fiona and housekeeper Lucy. Grandpa just didn't sound right... But he's the kind of person that would rather die than see a doctor... not even his own granddaughter can change that... But her return also let her discover the calmer life of small town living... and ex-Marine Jake who may just be the perfect man... if she's staying.

Nice, not extraordinary nice though. The family dynamics are great, and how Jake and Heather slowly got around to talk about what matters to them. 4/5

GRR Reviews Chalk It Up To Love by Jill Haymaker

Erin and her 10-year old son Mark live in the small town of Aspen Ridge, Colorado. Recently divorced and a bit low on self-esteem, she's still adjusting to the life of a single parent and getting ready as a teacher of a new class of students, when she found that a new math teacher, Boyd, has joined the staff. // Boyd had to leave Denver behind when his wife of over two decades was killed by a texting driver.  Meeting Erin and her son was a good start to small-town life. But is he ready to love again? Can he help Erin find her worth?

Ah, nice setup. The author had based her previous series at Peakview, and Aspen Ridge is start of a new series of a nearby town. There are quite a few guest appearances of characters from the other series. The author specialized in older / mature folks finding second love and this is no exception. The love is slow simmer, and exquisite. 4.5/5