GRR Reviews Country Gold by Heatherly Bell

Luke and Lexi used to be inseparable... they were members of the Wilder Sisters country music act... Then one sister made a mistake, and the band fell from grace. Luke was offered his own chance of being a country superstar... and the sisters... semi-retired to run the Wilder B&B in Whistle Cove, near Monterey Bay, California, that was owned by their grandma. Lexi told herself that she is tired of being always on the road, and this is for the best, but does she miss Luke and the performing life? // Luke never wanted to trade fame and fortune for the woman he loved. Now that his national tour is done, he's heading back to Whistle Cove and... do what? Rekindle his love for Lexi? Convince her to come out of hiding and come back to Nashville with him? Or just to prove that he never wanted to leave her? 

Excellent push-pull, and setting up opposites. Lexi started as a performer and fell into an innkeeper. Luke started off as a nobody and rose to country stardom. But there had a history together, being totally in love, until circumstances forced them apart. Now he wants to make amends... and "reclaim" his woman... if she will have him. I am a little dismayed by climax, which was a cliche "misunderstanding and I am not going to let you explain" that felt out of place.  4/5

GRR Reviews From This Moment On by Debra Clopton

Cali, disillusioned by her failed marriage, returned to Windswept Bay to run her family boutique resort, vowing to never love again. But when the famous mural painter Grant arrived to paint murals for her resort, she found herself wondering if her vows may have been premature... // Grant survived a plane crash that killed his best friend and his pilot. He hadn't thought about painting for a long time, but a promise is a promise, even if it's just a promise to his neighbor. Meeting Cali was a breath of fresh air, and for the first time in months, he felt alive... // As both circled each other, each must bare his and her own emotional wounds... can they trust the love they feel? 

Nice, but Grant also felt a bit TOO nice. 4/5

GRR Reviews The Mixtape by Brittainy Cherry

Emery is a single mom by choice, keeping a secret even from her own daughter, and she's barely making things meet. Struggling to hold onto a bartender job, she cannot afford to have any disruptions, or she may be unable to keep a roof over their heads... esp. a disruption caused by a teenage idol like megastar Oliver // Oliver felt adrift with no direction since the loss of his twin brother and bandmate. He self-medicates with alcohol and let himself be used by a woman he used to love. When he caused an incident at Emery's bar, causing her to lose her job, he seems to have found his purpose in life: to make both of their lives better. He hired her as his personal chef, and she became his confidant. But his evil ex is not ready to let him go, and Emery found that the secret she kept was returned with betrayal... Can they heal each other? 

While good, it's not like extraordinarily good. While I like the secret twist, and the "bad family" angle, and still have it making sense at the end, was pretty good plotting, having MMC go with FMC to home to discover the secrets feels just... off. The paparazzi angle lede was buried very nicely. 

4/5

GRR Reviews Aria's Christmas Wish by Victorine E Lieske

Kendra is a single mother raising her daughter the best she can, and Christmas is approaching fast. She knew who the father was... Country music star Jacob, but she can never tell him. She was petrified when Jacob returned to town, and saw her daughther. She denied she's his, but there is no mistaking those eyes. What had Jacob done for Kendra to hide a daughter from him? How can he redeem himself... and get his family back?

The reason is both reasonable yet overblown. It's nice, but not that... great. 4/5

GRR Reviews Chasing Rainbows by Mona Ingram

Taylor left her supermodel career behind after being betrayed in the worst way. She hid on her father's remote ranch, hoping to get over the hurt and learn to live and trust again. Finding a message in a bottle was a surprise... it's from a man trying to move past the death of his wife, that even his daughter is urging him to try again. He sounds too good to be true, but how can she find out if she's not willing to try? And when her father interfered, how will they react?

Warm fuzzies all around, and signature Mona Ingram story. 4/5

GRR Reviews Gwynneth Ever After by Linda Poitevin

Gwynneth (just Gwyn) is a single mom raising 3 kids (a daughter and twins) as an architect. Her husband walked out after the twins are born, claiming he's overwhelmed. And she's too busy to worry about anything else. Until a chance encounter in a theater had her sitting next to Gareth Connor, Hollywood superstar. What is he doing in Ottawa? And why is he so nice to her? // Gareth is in town for his own secret... He's there to meet his daughter, now 18, under ultra-secrecy. Seeing the effect of separation on Gwyn's daughter had him reexamine his life... is Gwyn and her kids his chance at redemption? Or just complications? Can Gwyn accept him, or will her insecurities ruin their relationship?

Good details, and no major plothole except one: why the children were NOT vaccinated, given that Canada started universal varicella (chickenpox) vaccination in Ontario (which includes Ottawa) by 2004... Also, if he's there secretly, he's certainly making no effort to disguise himself while out of Gwynn... 4/5

GRR Reviews Running After a Heartbreaker by Jami Albright

Hailey promised her mom to keep the bar open, but her father (and co-owner) wants to sell the money-pit (the land's worth a lot more). And her ex-husband is still in town, with his new family, and putting tears in her daughter's eyes daily. When country music artist Beau "The Heartbreaker" Callen landed in town (after half of his band is in jail and the other half in the hospital due to an epic brawl) and needed a place to crash, Hailey offered up her backyard guesthouse... with the caveat that Beau headline a few shows to bring patrons back to the bar. Neither Beau nor Hailey needed complications, but complications they will get... Esp. when Beau discovered that Hailey can sing... and his own backup singer had to bow out...

Good complications left and right, great escalations and rom-com. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews All for Love by Lucy Kevin

Paige is a dance instructor, who inherited the dance gene of the family, and still grieves over losing her mother and betrayed by the only guy she ever loved. But this Christmas break will be spent teaching a hot TV star how to dance... // Christian is a hot TV star on a hit medical show who just got his movie star break... He'll star in the remake of the Fred Astaire / Ginger Rogers classic, but he needs serious lessons ASAP. // Chemistry sizzled between the two from the first meeting. Christian never knew someone like Paige existed, so effortlessly beautiful and talented, with virtually no ego... so much so she's self-effacing. And Paige sees Christian as nice, lovely, shares her passions, but she can never be worthy... or can she?

Good polish on the old "different worlds" story, peppered with good details and plot developments as well as trivia about the old classic. The grand gesture at the end is right on the money. So why not 5/5? No karma for the evil ex. 4.5/5

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 Come Undone by Crystal kaswell

Alyssa had to leave her last TV show when she fainted, suffering from bulimia as a result of binge-eating and purging cycles. Her boyfriend Ryan, who had taken care of her before, got her to rehab, and she is now okay... But Ryan refuses to let her act again, claiming she has no self-control. Alyssa also met Luke, Ryan's wilder, more passionate law partner, who doesn't like the way Ryan treats Alyssa (more like a pet than a girlfriend). But Alyssa already accepted the engagement ring from Ryan, and he did save her... right? But Luke refused to sit back, even as Alyssa grew a spine and got back into acting... and Ryan retreated into 80-hour work weeks...

While a part of a three-book series, this novel can be read alone. I like the overall feel, but I didn't like the way Ryan or Luke were set up. Ryan basically has NO redeeming qualities other than he got Alyssa to rehab, but that's a one-time event, which he used as a hammer to beat her down again and again while using her as his show-piece (on his arm at social events), as if he owned her for life "for her own good". In the meanwhile, Luke (or Lucas) is the white knight who will save her from her dreary existence under Ryan's thumb with great sex and more. If there were more nuances in the two MMC I'd give this a higher score. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews The Billionaire's Christmas Bundle of Joy by Holly Rayner

Mia, second anchor at SNO News, loved her job, despite being relegated to "fluff" news items. She was covering a story about a man who refused to pull down his Christmas decorations even though it's April, when her boss, James, the media mogul (who owns her station and many more across the country), arrived in town. He's a man's man, gorgeous, but hates Christmas. But when a freak snow storm stranded him in town with her (let's just say a Porsche 911 isn't good in the snow) in the station, they ended up doing the horizontal tango after quite a bit of wine. Then he left the next day, and that's that. Until she learned that she'll be giving him a Christmas present... as apparently they forgot to use a condom...

A bit of meh. Really didn't feel it much that would lead to a one-night-stand, and other than the open mike oops, there really isn't much of a conflict. 3/5

GRR Reviews Call Me Sugar by Dez Burke and Sage Nyx

Sugar is an illusionist working in Vegas with his own show, staff, and more. Despite the tons of beautiful people around him, Jade, a brunette geekette caught his attention. She doesn't respond well to the normal wooing, and she's clearly hiding something, but what? //  Jade knew she's a geekette. She can conduct statistical analysis in her head, and that gave her an edge in slots and cards and more. She needs to make some money for her family's medical bills, and being interrupted by a blonde god wasn't in her plans. // Soon Jade was recruited by some shady folks to help with THEIR plans, and Sugar has to scramble to protect Jade from his boss, who actually has Mafia ties...

Doesn't quite feel right, plot went in too many directions, not enough of emotional bits about love. Feels more like an adventure. 3/5

GRR Reviews Rising Star by Terri Osburn

Nashville DJ Charley is living her dream as a radio host in the heart of country music... but she is concentrating on her career. She had a one-night-stand with a hot cowboy Dylan, but decided that's it and snuck out next morning. Unfortunately, he's not done with her... He's actually a country star who's launching his new single, and when he appeared in her studio for a live performance, it's not exactly a happy reunion... But he wanted to woo her, and she gave in... as he is sweet and caring... But when his career took off, and he stopped returning calls, Charley found that a surprise "gift" will show up in nine months...

Nice mix between angst and comedy. The development later was almost a trope, and somewhat expected. It's still good though. 4/5

GRR Reviews Rock Hard Cowboy by Christina Hovland

Tucker retired from his "cowboy rock-n-roll" business when he can no longer write music, and he refused to retread his old songs ad infinitum. But when America's sweetheart Mackenzie Bennett tripped in a club and faceplanted into his crotch (and caught by paparazzi), his departure from music biz may end up as a joke. So he reluctantly agreed to a PR stunt... // Mackenzie is a fine actress. It wasn't her fault that her last few movies bombed. She needs to turn the bad PR around, and that means pretending to date Tucker. In fact, convince Tucker to write and perform the theme song for her next movie would be even better... Even if she had to go spend Christmas with his family. But when the news of her "deal" (convince Tucker to write the next movie theme song and the role's hers) leaked, will Tucker feel betrayed? Or will love between them conquer all?

Good rom-com, but I think the parents are a bit TOO perceptive, and I don't quite see why Tucker was so butt-hurt from this supposedly "betrayal" (not quite enough sad backstory to justify that sort of reaction). The comedy bits are good. Lots of embarrassing moments. 4/5

GRR Reviews Cake A Love Story by J Bengtsson

Jake was famous for TWO reasons: he survived an unspeakable ordeal at the hands of a serial kidnapper and murderer, and he also became a famous musician in spite of his ordeal. He had turned himself off emotionally to survive the first and remained aloof for the second. He rarely forms personal connections... Until now. // Casey was just a college student who agreed to be a bridesmaid for a friend. She didn't expect to be paired with the famous performer Jake. They are polar opposites: He's a musician, she's practically tone-deaf. She talks a lot, he's mostly silent. Yet when they finally met, they seem to be a perfect complement to each other. But can their love help him heal?

A bit longer than you'd expect (600 pages!), Jake and Casey actually have FOUR MORE books about their love and ordeals (for a total of 5 books). The characters are nicely nuanced, and the opposites attract trope was used very nicely. Jake was a guy that just wanted to be treated as "normal", while Casey can't do anything except being herself. It's her slowly drawing out the details of his ordeal and bonding over those moments that'll jerk your tears. This is NOT your typical "rockstar seduces ingenue" book. 5/5

GRR Reviews Nowhere Left to Fall by Kat Mizera

NOTE: Ends on an HFN, but the story continues for 2 more volumes.

Tariq, better known as "Erik", is rich, and technically a prince, but his father abdicated to marry a commoner and moved to the US, leaving Erik's uncle as king, and it seems his cousin may be ascending the throne one day... which may force the country into civil war as he's courting the religious right and possibly dissolve parliament. But Erik is just a diplomat playboy... Until he met Casey, rockstar. But her band is dissolving, and she's left with not much to do. Falling for each other was never the plan. Yet they did.  But when his cousin did the unthinkable, Erik will have to do the unthinkable as well to save his love...

Good twists and turns, if a bit cliche plotting to set up the next two volumes. The motivation for the bad guy was never really discussed, and the plot seems to move at a very leisurely rate. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews Bride by Mistake by Serenity Woods

Felicity "Fliss" is a famous actress, but her co-star and lover not only destroyed her trust, he threatened to ruin her completely by promising tabloids revealing photos and video. Desperate to get away, Fliss flew incognito to her best friend Roberta living at Bay of Islands, at her "Bridal Cafe", a place where she had spent some time many many years ago, and that's where she met Dominic. // Dominic is a widower who thought he'd never love again, but it's been two years and even his 7-year old daughter thought he should try again. Dom, who never reads gossip, just remembers Fliss as a friend's friend, and being the local Deacon, Dom is also non-judgemental. They eventually agreed to a secret fling. Fliss and Dom were enjoying their time together, but when paparazzi caught Fliss modeling a wedding gown for the Bridal Cafe. Not only they spun the story the wrong way, they also included Dom as the new fling, just as Fliss' ex released the photos... Fliss believed this is the end of her career and love...

Nice, I like the way Dom was non-judgmental yet supportive. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews Her Country Star Billionaire Groom by Taylor Hart

JJ and his four brothers have just got their "weird will"... Their deceased father told them they have to get married by Christmas (about two months away) or they won't get their inheritance... AND their respective charities will be de-funded as well. // JJ just stopped for gas when he saw one woman he never expected to see again... Chantel, his first and only love, and he did leave for another military deployment, and she left him. Now he's back, minor one leg (but with a prosthetic), and took up a country singing career. But Chantel is leaving town, and on impulse, he followed her onto the bus, intending for a second chance...

A couple good twists and turns, but it's still not quite clear when the love was rekindled. In other words, the transition felt a bit too fast. 4/5

GRR Reviews Flight of Hope by HJ Bellus

Marlee lost her love. She fell in love with Bentley back in high school. They were homecoming king and queen. He joined the military and served several tours, but he survived and got back albeit with PTSD, and they finally got pregnant. Then it fell apart in an instant... A car accident left her scarred, babyless, and a widow. She ran away, living in an Airstream (RV) and subsisting on mainly vodka and PB&J sandwiches...  hiding in the outskirts of a small town. And that's where she met Caleb, and his far more famous brother, Jed, a single father with his own hidden wounds...

WARNING: there is no "happy" ending. You'll shed tears, lots of tears, and the intro feels really, really long, as there are significant time jumps. The book opens on Marlee running away, then jumps back to her high school days and how she wanted Bentley back then. We slowly progress through her life with Bentley, including marriage, his deployment, back to "present", then continue through her arrival in town, meeting Caleb the store owner, and Jed (and his son). Love the book, but it somehow just feels way too long already, as if it's two books joined together.  4.5/5

GRR Reviews The Last Chapter by Michelle Alstead

Emma is a single mom with an ASD child that has been kicked out of every pre-school. Only very expensive out-of-pocket therapy sessions helped her son learn ANY coping skills at all, and even that, he doesn't seem to use very often. Her husband just didn't want her anymore. Even her novels are bombing badly. When she's fired for taking time to get her suspended son from school, she wonders if she'll ever get a break... // Ethan is a Hollywood heartthrob, but he doesn't want to dress up in superhero tights or be a rom-com lead anymore. When he found Emma's novel by accident, he realized this could be his chance to be taken seriously... but first he needs to meet Emma and secure film rights... This also brought him into contact with her ASD son, and he's surprisingly good with him (for he had studied ASD parenting for a role he planned to take on). But Emma can't possibly let Ethan marry her...

Eh, love it right up to "I love you, and because I do, I'll have to hurt you to leave me so you can find someone better because I'm not worthy" moment. ARGH. And that wasn't the darkest hour. There's one even darker later. The pacing just feels off. The details about life with ASD was very good, 4/5