GRR Reveiws It's Not Over by Grahame Claire

Daniel loved Vivian, but to save her, he had to let her go... by making her believe he doesn't love her anymore. But she refused to acknowledge it's over... Because it isn't. Daniel will do anything for the man who treated him like a son, and hated his biological father. And it seems his past is back to haunt him, which is why he needs to hurt Vivian. But Vivian refuses to accept this because Daniel decided to keep everything to himself...

I wanted to like this better, but Daniel, despite his numerous connections and problem-solving capabilities, is just TSTL. Instead of looking for a solution to satisfy everyone, his first instinct is to sacrifice himself, no matter how much pain his solution inflicts on everyone around him.  I like the intrigue, but some of the plot elements didn't really go anywhere. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews The Billionaire's Mountain Bride by Elizabeth Bromke

Mary, a small-town innkeeper, is engaged to tech billionaire Kurt. They are opposites in almost every way. She's a small-town country girl. He's a city techie guy. As the wedding draws near, both sides started to get cold feet. She's worried that she won't' fit into his "city" values, or he won't fit into her country life. Kurt knew he found his soulmate in Mary, but he can't run a tech company from a tiny town where broadband connection doesn't really exist. He can compromise by commuting between Phoenix and Maplewood, but is that enough for Mary?

I'm not sure what to make of this novel. It's neither "on the rocks" nor was it falling in love. Basically, both are finding that love isn't that simple, with conflicting needs. But when both of them is chickening out or think the other will, it's kinda TSTL, with severe lack of faith and plenty of self-inadequacies. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews Sisters by Killie Coates Gilbert

In the original ski resort of America, Sun Valley, Idaho, lived three sisters... Karyn, a widow who can't let go of the past due to her VERY nice in-laws, but a backcountry pilot tempted her like no one else... // Leigh Ann felt her husband had grown more and more distant... and keeping secrets from her. She will fight for her husband, but her plan has unintended consequences... // Joie moved home to save herself from a heartache she can't ever tell any one: she fell for a married man... her mentor and boss. When he showed up at Sun Valley, she was tempted to take him back, but how can it not be a mistake... again?

Good interweaving of stories among the three sisters, who are there to support each other. On the other hand, it also had that bit of cliffhanger or soap opera feel, where nothing seems ever "finished". 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

GRR Reviews A Marriage Well Done by Boo Walker

Margot was an up-and-coming Broadway actress when she found her one true love. So she married the guy and settled into domestic bliss. Years later, her son's a teenager, the love has died, her husband is campaigning for a senate seat (after winning mayor). It's clear her husband had forgotten about his family to concentrate on serving "the people". Margot turned into a passive-aggressive political wife. While perfect in public, she would intentionally mess with her husband, like trigger his OCD with mismatched socks, hang a few of his shirts backwards, delete his DVR recordings... But all these are temporary solutions. With her sanity at stake, Margot may have to try something really big... really risky...

Not your typical romance, this is a very interesting take of "on the rocks" genre (where couple already in trouble tries to get back to normal). and it's quite good. You get to know Margot's deepest thoughts. The ending may not be what you expect though. This is also a prequel to her "Red Mountain" novel, where you'll see what happened to Margot and a couple other characters.  4/5

GRR Reviews Matchmaking for Beginners: A Novel by Maddie Dawson

Marnie wanted an ordinary life... she already has a fiancee, now she just needs to get him to the altar and go for the HEA, then kids, suburban house, minivan... Until Marnie meets aunt Blix, her fiancee's eccentric matchmaking great aunt... who's dying... and Blix told her EVERYTHING will change... and they did. Marnie's marriage lasted only 2 weeks. Her depression led to a breakdown that got her fired from her teaching job.  Now she's back home, divorced, and living in her teenager room. She got back with one of her old boyfriends, and it was good... But she's not aware that life has other plans for her... or her own gift of spotting the right matches for other people. She was shocked when she got the news that Blix has died... and left her the Brooklyn Brownstone... and all the neighbors and tenants living there, for her to match. And it is there, perhaps, she'll recognize the greatest truth of all...

Awww, touching, but not too angst-y, sweet, but not sacchrine. Blix is unusual, but not to the point of totally weird or fall into stereotype of "wild oldster" (often found in romcoms, i.e. "grandma buys a Harley") and Marnie was both loving AND broken at the same time... a lot like Patrick. 5/5

GRR Reviews A Sincere Billionaire's Forever Love by Kristen Iten

Billionaire racer Raul has the perfect girlfriend, school principal Marie. They are deliriously happy together. He even won when he hadn't placed in top ten. She's his lucky charm. He was able to anticipate her needs... All except one: her need to be a mother. When she took in a foster child, Raul recoiled in horror. He had secret guilt for a decade for the death of his father... He thought his father died because he gave him money to buy the plane that crashed. He tried to avoid it by inviting a reality TV show into his life, which made the very private Marie incensed. Now he's not sure how to reconcile the two very different visions of the future... and he must choose...

Hmmm...  His inability to talk about his problem makes him a bit TSTL.  3/5

GRR Reviews Married by Mistake by Lindsey Hart

June is in Vegas with her bestie trying to get over her cheating ex... (who was getting it on with a guy). Her last memory was playing poker with a very handsome guy... So when she woke up in his bed naked, and her outfit in tatters, she figured she had a one-night-stand... Except for the ring on her finger... and a matching ring on his... and a marriage certificate on the nightstand. And he's still as gorgeous as sin and makes her... ladybits throb. But she remembered NOTHING... AND she's in Vegas to get over someone, not to get married. And the guy, Brock (who's obviously well-to-do), then made her the most outrageous proposal... STAY married to him for two more days, and he'll show her (and her friends) good times that perhaps she will consider staying with him... forever. Who the **** does that?!?!

Okay, this is supposed to be rom-com, so some craziness is to be expected. And married by mistake would be one of them. The problem is the plot seems to meander a bit, and the MFC did the "run away to sort my feelings" trope. The darkest hour was a letdown... Basically, MFC Googled (tm) MMC, found out he's rich, decided he can't be trusted (why? just for keeping secrets?) and did a runner. Some bits are funny, some bits are hot, but there isn't really a "theme" to the whole book.

Category: Contemporary / Comedy

Overall Rating: 3/5

NOTE: Tropes are now in the "Labels" below. 

GRR Reviews The Hopeful One by Jeanette Lewis

Darrin married Nikki, and it was a great match. They were in love, he's rich and growing richer with his company, and she has a large trust fund as security. But when she miscarried, and his company seems to be in trouble, their happily ever after seems to be a distant memory. Can they work through their differences... Or will this be the end of their fairy tale?

Ah, on the rocks romance, hard to get right, and this one, while short, is right on the dot. Both got issues, both are pushing each other's buttons (not quite consciously), and both will have to give to gain. Nicely done.

Category: Contemporary / On the rocks

Overall Rating: 5/5

NOTE: Tropes are now in the "Labels" below.

GRR Reviews "Warrior Undone" by Jessica Ruben

Slade, an ex-SEAL, suffers from PTSD. He runs a security business with his friends. He had a fling with Lauren at a wedding. They are opposites. When they reconnected in Las Vegas when he had to protect her from a shooting it also triggered his PTSD. Slade refused to acknowledge his problems and tries to self-medicate, and Lauren, who already fell for the SEAL, is becoming scared of him...

The portrayal of PTSD and the downward spiral is good, as is how it's affecting the relationship.

Category: Contemporary / On the rocks

Overall Rating: 4.5/5

NOTE: Tropes are now in the "Labels" below.

GRR Reviews Charming as Puck by Pippa Grant

Nick's not a bad guy, it's just that he lives for two things... hockey, and pranks (on his fellow players), leaving Kami, his "friend with benefits", a distant third. It sure didn't help when Nick got pranked end ended up with a calf in his condo, and Kami, being a veterinarian, is obviously called in to help. Except this prank lead to Nick's eviction and a spot on the "never rent to" blacklist. Kami finally had enough when Nick forgot her birthday. Kami was always the nice girl, but she's done being a pushover. Now Nick has to be friends... WITHOUT benefits, because Kami's best friend is his own little sister. But he had to win her back somehow, even as she had to go on some horrible blind dates...

There are a lot of characters, and a lot of comedic situations that may result in laugh-cry situations, yet none of the situations are mean (well, the calf... can be a bit problematic). It's more like brotherly or sisterly teasing, with a bit of an edge. And it's pretty darn hilarious, but somehow, the plot felt it went a couple different directions, as not all the plot is on the main couple. Still, it's good.

Category: Contemporary / Sports

Overall Rating: 4/5

NOTE: Tropes are now in the "Labels" below.

GRR Reviews The Billionaire's Baby by Nadia Lee

Amandine and Gavin should have been very happy together. He's handsome, rich beyond belief and buys her everything (like her own private jet for her birthday) and good in bed. But it had been three years since her marriage, and her in-laws still seem to dislike her... and it seems Gavin still puts work above family. When Amandine realized she's pregnant, and Gavin seems to think a fancy gift solves everything, Amandine decided she can't raise a child without love, and sought a divorce... or Gavin's love. Gavin's not about to let his woman walk away... He forced her to agree for a delay of four months, during which he'll try to win her back... But unless they confront their own fears and doubts, there may not be a happily ever after...

How "on the rocks" romance should be done, and a good introduction where things went from bad to worse, and Gavin's clueless. When money does NOT solve everything, what's a man gotta do? Read it and find out.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 5/5

NOTE: Tropes are now in the "Labels" below.

GRR Reviews Cold as January by Katie Graykowski

January Jenkowski had enough of men. She's pregnant. When she called the baby daddy to tell him the news, he hung up on her. So she blocked him on the phone, social media, and left word for doorman and bouncer to not admit him under any circumstances. AND her brothers who run a motorcycle club are ready to do a smackdown on him if he ever dares to show his face... // Dr. Giles Nixon was overseas attending a conference when he got the call from January, and the phone call dropped in the middle of his call, then he got called away, his partner fell sick, and he had no chance to call back before he was blocked (in so many ways). He knew January was a bit young for him, but they are good together, but he kept saying the wrong things. But he's determined to see January, even if he had to take a punch in the stomach for it...

Awwww, that's sweet... But how do you convince a woman who thought she was over you to give you another chance, that it was all a misunderstanding?

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 4/5

NOTE: Tropes are now in the "Labels" below.

GRR Reviews Forget Me Not (The Lowells of Honeywell) by J.M. Madden

Forget Me Not is supposed to start a spin-off series but the story makes more sense if you read the other series that this was spun off of.

Chad and Lora are engaged and they are happy. However, Lora is overextended. She needed to care for her 7-year-old daughter Mercy, go to school, and self-study to understand the corporation her daughter inherited, as well as care for her fiancee. She barely knew what day of the week it is... Chad is willing to give Lora the room, even as he gently chastised her about doing too much. When Chad's father was injured back on their family ranch in Texas, all three decided to take a break and head for Texas... Will Lora finally find herself there?

More of a prequel, this doesn't really have that much risk to love there, more like "complications to love". Didn't feel much.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 2.5/5 (rounded up to 3)

NOTE: Tropes are now in the "Labels" below. 

GRR Reviews Between Then and Now (Wardham) by Zoe York

Between Then and Now is a 50-page short that managed to fit in an on-the-rocks romance.

Ian and Carrie have kids, a house, and all that. Ian is working two jobs, and juggling home and work and all that. But recently, it seems he can't get close to his wife... // Carrie married Ian eight years ago because they got a bit careless and she got pregnant. Carrie knew she's missing something, but it obviously wasn't being a wife or having kids... She's done that. So what was it? And how does she figure it out with Ian, if they are no longer speaking?

There certainly was a lot of emotions and feelings that came through with their fighting. As the cliche goes, if you don't care, you wouldn't fight. Obviously, they do figure it out at the end, but that's how it works.

Strangely, I seem I prefer her Pine Harbour series instead.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 4/5

NOTE: Tropes are now in the "Labels" below. 

GRR Reviews Drastic Measures (Doctor 911) by Bobby Hutchinson

Dr. Alexandra "Alex" Ross loves her job in the ER department, and she's happily married to Sgt Cameron Ross of the Narc squad. However, when Ross's superior, who has a drug habit, endangered one of the undercover cops under Ross, Ross turned him into internal affairs... and earned the hatred of the entire force for being a rat. With no one to watch his back, he requested a transfer to a small town on the other side of the province, and Alex had no choice to give up her career and leave with him. While Cam got used to being a beat cop, Alex found the clinic admin and the senior doctor were on the town council together and detested the new doctor. In the meanwhile, Cam and Alex slowly grew apart, with Cam always busy on police work (now that he's wearing a uniform as a beat cop). When the senior doctor dropped a knife and killed a guy during gallbladder surgery, he blamed it on "previously unknown heart defect." Alex threatened to go to the admin, but the senior doctor just laughed because his family controls the hospital. When the nurse who was also there refused to testify (she has a family to care for in town), Alex found herself backed into a corner, as she contemplated leaving and a divorce...

The way they grew apart was very nicely drawn, and the way their situation paralleled each other was exquisite plotting. The details are quite good. On the other hand, the way the situation was resolved was all tell, no show (all handled in the epilogue).

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Husband, a cop, had to move family after work drama, and wife, an MD, is having problems fitting into the small-town clinic run like a fiefdom with an incompetent doctor as her superior...

Overall Rating: 4/5

NOTE: Tropes are now in the "Labels" below. 

GRR Reviews Strong Silent Type (Rough Riders) by Lorelei James

Strong Silent Type is an erotic contemporary Western romance that is deeper than you first suspect, but also played into tropes, but not quite subverting them.

Libby and Quinn McKay have had a good marriage... until the issue of children tore them apart (with some help from his mother). Now she's living in the house, and he's living in the horse trailer... and nothing has changed in three months. Libby is tired of the detente... why isn't Quinn, the stubborn ass that he is, fight for her? When Quinn realized this is not a "phase" he can wait out, he switched back to "woo mode" and offered Libby a whole weekend of decadence, sexual and otherwise. to rekindle their love and hash out their differences. But just sex is not enough for a relationship... Will there be enough to hold onto when Monday came?

At 150 pages, this is actually quite good. There's enough sex to satisfy, yet not too much to become erotica. It's clear the two aren't over each other, but he's the kind of "strong silent type" that broods rather than talk things out, and it's frustrating for the wife. And that's just trope as heck. On the other hand, the emotional push-pull is good.

Category: Contemporary / Western / Erotic Romance

Primary Plot: Can a couple, with their relationship on the rocks, spend a weekend together for fun and sex, to fix their marriage?

Overall Rating: 4/5

NOTE: Tropes are now in the "Labels" below. 

GRR Reviews Choosing You (Thirsty Hearts Book 2) by Kris Jayne

Choosing You is about a not-quite triangle that pivots into romantic suspense, where you aren't sure who's the villain and who's the hero, who's the victim and who's the abuser. However, the MMC came off as really bland, and the two FMC's are the fascinating ones.

Taryn is about to marry Jeff and adopt his daughter Olivia in a few months. In order to cut all ties to his past, Jeff got his PI to find his ex-wife Shannon and serve her papers to sever all custody to Olivia. Shannon became a druggie and disappeared, and had not cared about her daughter at all in years, so it should be a slam dunk. But Shannon suddenly appeared at Olivia's birthday party, and claimed she's clean and why won't anyone give her a chance. Taryn was not about to take Shannon at her word, so when Jeff decided to give his ex the benefit of doubt and treat Shannon nicely, Taryn rehired the PI to follow Shannon. Soon it's clear Shannon is currently married to an ex-con with plans to squeeze money from Taryn and Jeff through any means possible. In fact, Shannon had ALREADY stolen stuff from Jeff just now... But is Shannon a willing dupe and accomplice, or an abused woman looking for a way out? This revelation caused a rift between Jeff and Taryn about trust... Because she investigated behind his back. Then Shannon's ex-con husband executes his own plan for a payday...

The twists and turns are quite good, all logically flowed from one to the other. My problem is Jeff, who's basically a gullible white knight that you wonder if Shannon is just scamming him, or is Shannon really trying to squirrel away some money so she can get away by herself. I find Shannon and Taryn far more interesting. All in all, a good romantic suspense that managed to add a twist to "on the rocks" romance.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Is her fiancee's ex trying to scam him? Woman is determined to find out... even when he refused to see the truth...

Overall Rating: 4/5

NOTE: Tropes are now in the "Labels" below. 

GRR Reviews Twelve Days (The McRaes) by Teresa Hill

Twelve Days started off just with sad couple that can't even argue any more, but if you have the patience to wade through the complicated lives of a couple whose relationship is already "on the rocks", with the added complication of infertility, three foster children JUST before Christmas, AND a mystery of where's the mother of these kids, the story will grab you, and leave you with an ending that'll have you both smiling and in tears.

Rachel took in three kids 12 days before Christmas. The kids were found left at a motel and refused to give up their surname. Their mom promised to be back 2 days ago. Social worker (and Rachel's aunt) knew Rachel always wanted kids, but after losing their previous child and several failures in adoption, Rachel and her husband Sam may not be ready, but there is literally NOWHERE for the kids: an 11-year-old girl, a 4-year old boy, and a baby to go this close to Christmas, esp. if they can't be split up. Rachel's world was further rocked when she overheard that her husband Sam may be moving out. They had dreamed of a life together full of children, until that one night that changed everything. The failures in adoption had them drifted apart... and these... children will either break their marriage for good... or heal it. But these children are only there temporarily... Is it right to pray they can keep the children, even though their mother is out there? What happened to her?

Wow, this book has some emotional punch to it. And EVERYTHING flowed together properly. It's often difficult to get an "on the rocks" romance right, but this one managed it by layering the reasons and motivations, and the mistaken assumptions and secrets that each kept from the other for years, perhaps decades. I am not going to spoil the reasons for each to behave that way or the ending. Let's just say it'd be a VERY ambivalent ending, but not in the way you think. I mainly judge the book in the way it made me feel, and this one hit all of my buttons. Two thumbs up, way up.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: A couple whose marriage was already in trouble took in three temporary foster children when their mother disappeared...

Tropes: on the rocks, holiday, sudden family, family drama, grief

Overall Rating:  5/5

GRR Reviews Falling For You...Again (Falling in Love Bo by Kathy Coatney

Falling For You... Again is an "on the rocks" romance that relied way too much on flashbacks that destroyed the momentum of the story.

Clare and Ethan built a family and life in Paradise Falls, Idaho. Ethan is a school teacher, while Clare is an outdoors photographer. They had a great marriage despite their respective upbringings (she's actually filthy rich, but she didn't want the money even as her parents tried to steer her back to her 'destiny', while his father is an alcoholic and his mom is the enabler, leaving him to raise himself and become provider of the family). When a tragic boating accident took the life of their daughter and left him seriously wounded, nothing's the same ever again. Both grieved but in very different ways... and they drifted apart. She had to ask her parents for help to keep the family going while he recuperated, but they grew apart instead of closer. It's now two years later, and Clare had drawn up divorce papers, as it hurts more to stay than to leave. But when Clare was lost in the wilderness ahead of a snowstorm, Ethan will move heaven and earth to find her... Can they learn to love each other again?

There were way too many flashbacks that while they added information and context, they broke up the momentum quite badly. There were scenes about when they first met, when they fell in love, when they got a dog to follow her and guard her, etc. etc. I don't agree with the narrative voice. While the emotion was good, the style didn't quite work for me.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Death of their daughter caused the couple to break apart, but when she was lost in the wilderness, he'll find her somehow

Tropes: on the rocks, grief, search and rescue, family pressure, family drama

Overall Rating:  3/5