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 Ready to Fall by Daisy Prescott

John is a genuine lumberjack. He wears jeans and plaid. He's big, has rugged good looks, and a dog named Babe. It seems his new neighbor, Diane, has her own secrets and scars, but so does he. She's a city girl just taking a break in the country getting over her own problems, such as an ex-husband intending to draw out the process. He's a country boy living in the countryside and his girlfriend is not really going to divorce her cheating husband after all. Why does being tour guide for Diane feel so right?

Told from John's POV, there seems to be quite a few randy un-PC thoughts and plenty of f-bombs that may turn off some readers. It is rather... charming, as we are in John's head, but then, a guy's head is not clean. So this isn't sweet or clean. I like the characters and their interactions. 4/5

GRR Reviews Stay With Me by Kristen Proby

Amelia, beauty vlogger, is getting a divorce, but her ex is determined to hurt her by contesting everything, even AFTER the judge had already granted the divorce. So she went to live with a cousin, who found her a cabin to housesit, so no one can find her. Not that she wanted to meet ANY men (except delivery guys)  Until she met her neighbor Wyatt.. // Wyatt was intrigued by his new neighbor, always receiving stuff, and sometimes high profile visitors. So when Amelia came knocking on his door, needing some help, he's happy to oblige. But he has an evil ex too...

Not really feeling too much beyond the "hot neighbor" tropes. 3/5

GRR Reviews Not Until Christmas Morning by Valerie M Bodden

Austin lost his leg, his friend, and his faith in Afghanistan. With his brother also serving, he's determined to go back, but with the decision on his discharge in the air, and moping at home is not an answer, he decided to visit Hope Springs, where his parents came from... and met a neighbor having her own problems. // Leah has plenty of heart to give, but after betrayal, she decided to remain single, even as she decided to foster a teen problem child. But Jackson, who found his mother dead of OD, is determined not to let anyone ever hurt him again, and has been bounced out of multiple foster families. Yet Jackson formed a bond with their new neighbor, Austin. Leah had to be nice to Austin, but Jackson's sake, But can three broken souls make one happy family as Christmas nears?

VERY Christian, plenty of mention of Bible and faith, but NOT heavy-handed (as some Christian writers tend to sprinkle Bible quotes throughout), and great character arc for all three. I have a little problem with Jackson, whose behavior is conflicting. Seems he ONLY EVER eats a PBJ sandwich... which he later explained that it was the last thing his mom made for him, yet he also hates his mom for leaving him for drugs and OD death... But the story overall, is still quite uplifting. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews Christmas with a Mountain Man by Ellie Hall

Francesca "Frankie" Costa is a chef that just lost her restaurant due to a sneaky lease. Upon discovering that her family had a cabin up in the mountains she never knew, she decided to go there, to get away from everyone, to think. She didn't count on meeting a bear upon her arrival, or for the handsome mountain man neighbor to come to her rescue... Only to find he's a Hawkins, with whom the Costas had a long family feud... or is supposed to. // Rocky Hawkins is one of the Hawkins boys, with plenty of money, and intending to make his own way in life with a professional ice hockey career. But one night changed everything, and he left everything behind and retreated to the mountains. He didn't count on a beautiful woman moving in next door before Christmas, only to have her being a Costa... // It seems both need a little Christmas miracle...

While the title has Mountain man, this is not a trope mountain man novel, but rather, a novel about a fish out of water, breaking down a recluse's walls, something usually reserved for "nosy reporter meets and befriends town recluse" trope. I find her insistence to fix everything a bit... perplexing. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews It's a Wonderful Date by Sophia Summers

David regrets giving up his own plans and became the GP doc of a small town, following in his father's footsteps. The town needs a doc, and without the help of a nurse or even an answering service, he's on call 24/7, leaving him no time for social life.  But even he noticed Sarah moving in across the street, doubly so when he found her at his favorite patient Miss Lily's place, ready to redesign the interior. But Miss Lilly is dying and all he can do is to make sure she goes as pain-free as possible. Depressed and wondering did he actually do any good in life, it's up to Sarah to help him see his own worth... and some Holiday magic...

Basically a retelling of "It's a Wonderful Life", it's not bad, but not that good either. 3.5/5

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 Signature Sweethearts Boxset Books 1-3 by Kelsie Rae

Note; 3 book collection

Liv: Liv's humble yet perfect life ended when her husband died in a car accident, leaving her alone and pregnant. She was so close to making it. Her husband's family never really liked her, but they eloped and went their own way. Now she has nowhere to turn to...  Except Luke, childhood friend, until she fell for the other boy and married him... Will the reunion be sweet... or salty? Will he still love her? What about the baby?

Good second chance romance with the complication of "left-over baby". 4/5

Breezy: Her name is Bree, but she's always known as Breezy, sort of a joke about her no-nonsense personality. Oh, and she's Luke's sister (see book 1: Liv) Breezy has an HR degree, but she's waitressing in a sports bar. She met Derrick when she spilled nachos on him. She later got a job at Derrick's company as the new HR assistant and wanted Derrick, now her boss, but Derrick's been hurt before and used the no-fraternization policy to refuse to date her... Until Jude decided to help them out by pretending to date Breezy...

The "spilled food" meet-cute had been done gazillion times. But the subsequent dialog may be a classic. Breezy's forthrightness is a delightful change from the meek female who can't speak their mind (it's never the right time). 4.5/5

Jude: Jude used to be an online gaming champ and when the company decided to sponsor a gaming team, he was assigned as the assistant coach for his name recognition and talent. He found himself drawn to Q (real name: Quincy), the only female player on the team, extremely quiet away from the keyboard. Turns out her father is having dementia and her gaming is the only thing keeping a roof over their heads. Jude wanted to help her, but he's much older, and even he can see that she doesn't trust easily, either in or out of the game. Can he teach her that men can be trusted, both for himself and the game, with the championship coming up soon?

Good use of the gaming world as a backdrop, with the championship sort of a parallel to their love life. 5/5

Overall, 4.5/5

GRR Reviews A Change in Tide by Freya Barker

Mia was hiding out in the wilderness. living in a small cottage on a lake. Her only neighbor was a gorgeous hunk... who also bonked a Barbie doll on the dock in full view. Next day, he takes in a pregnant woman. The guy turns out to be Jared, ex-hockey enforcer forced out by career-ending injury... and the pregnant woman was actually his sister, and Mia ended up delivering her baby, when her midwife training came into use. Jared likes Mia, who's a strange mix of fear and panic attack mixed with total professionalism. It was clear she was traumatized by something, and he'll be there to support her. But is that love? If he gets a new career as a coach, what happens to this relationship?

Good descriptions, and good relationship that's a bit unusual. 4/5

GRR Reviews Crazy For You by Ginny Baird

Mary Ellen just wanted to be a good elementary school teacher, but when a rooster showed up at her door, she took him in. And when he dashed out into the street, she named him Crazy. And another Crazy escape had her ran straight into the arms of her school principal, and single dad, Wes, who's also her neighbor. // Wes wasn't sure what to do with Mary Ellen. She's beautiful, blonde hair and blue eyes, but she's also a teacher in his school, and teacher of his daughter! But the rooster and the town has other plans...

Okay, good meet-cute, many LOL moments, and good twist about Crazy. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews Chasing Forever by Susan Coventry

Callie is a romance writer that hit a serious writer's block after her beloved grandma's death, and a breakup of her 7-year relationship. But her grandma left her a gift... An extended vacation on the island of Kauai... Eight weeks to get her mojo back. // Chase had enough of his life. As a divorce attorney he makes a good but uncomfortable living, and finding his girlfriend cheating on him was the last straw. He took a leave of absence and went off to Kauai. // Callie and Chase met and found they are beach neighbors. But she's not here for a fling (but to write), and he's running away from betrayal, and not ready to test the waters yet. But when they find out they were actually both from Michigan, they became friends. Can they be more... even after this vacation?

Good, though the darkest hour was, IMHO, a bit on the lame side. Basically, Callie was a bit of hypocrite, claiming Chase had known all along who she was (a romance writer) and didn't say anything when she had googled him and didn't say anything either. 4/5

GRR Reviews Holiday Sparks by Taryn Quinn

Darcy is a department store supervisor trying to get promoted to manager. And she hated Christmas... because it is hell for retail employees, esp. salaried people, who get to do overtime without extra pay. And given she spent most of her day surrounded by Christmas stuff she wanted a QUIET time at home. And one day was particularly hell... When an angry father, trying to return a girl's bicycle without receipt, angrily tossed the bike into the display tree and wrecked the display. Darcy came home and was greeted by a full-scale Christmas music and synchronized light display on her front lawn... put up by her tenant, Ben. // Ben has Christmas spirit to share, but when his landlord Darcy said to pull it down, he did. He was surprised next day that she needed his help to redecorate the wrecked department store Christmas tree... and now, with a proper budget, he can really razzle dazzle people with his custom design of lights and music... and that in turn, may help Darcy win a promotion. But what about their hearts?

Okay, it's cute, and funny, and good emotional touches, but I think the darkest hour was kinda lame. Basically, Darcy learned that the guy who tossed the bicycle and wrecked her display was none other than Ben's brother, and it's true, Ben's niece really did break her clavicle trying to ride that bike. And she froze him out for weeks because he didn't come clean right away. Hmmm... Uh.... That's kinda... childish. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews Halloween Boo by Sarah Spade

Zach knew very little. He had no idea how long he'd been there, his full name, and so on. He does know that he's a ghost, and can't really affect the real world. And he can't leave the place he's in. He knew there's a resident in "his" place... a beautiful woman named Dani. And he liked her very much. // Dani knew her apartment is haunted. Yes, she knew she lives in Salem. But the ghost was friendly that she started calling him Casper. He even helped her get rid of a bad suitor once. Dani wasn't quite ready to learn that the ghost's real name is Zach, and on Halloween, he can take physical form for one night. And Zach loves Dani... and will show her exactly how... If she'll let him.

Awww, nice. Yes, there's a bit of supernatural in there. And yes, there's sex. And YES, there's HEA. As for how... You'll need to read the book. 5/5

GRR Reviews Twice Shy by Mona Ingram

NOTE: Previously published under the title "The Shell Game"

Becky arrived at Waterlilly Bay Lodge too late. She had planned to spend her summer here with beloved Gran, only to learn that she had passed away before she can get here. Then she found that her old boyfriend, Mitch, had been helping Gran for the past four years, while she's in Hollywood busy honing her screenwriting career. They were both shocked when Gran had left the Lodge (B&B) to both of them, with a request that they (Mitch and Becky) should try to run it together for a year. Will they finally learn what took Mitch away that night, and will they finally be over it all? Can they work through the problems that affected the Lodge?

While the tropes are nothing new (weird will, reunion, return), Mona Ingram managed to put minor spin on each that made it fresh, without taking away the conventions. Gran's will is not the kind that would have a lawyer take it away, but rather, a kind request that you don't dare ignore for disappointing her, even after death. And both characters are reasonably well off... So they are doing it for the duty, not the money. 4.5/5