GRR Reviews Three Things I'd Never Do by Remi Carrington

 Eve is forced to move back home with her kitten when her house needed some renovations. Getting trapped naked in the bathtub when a tree fell on her parent's house, and being rescued by a handsome firefighter was not a part of her plans. Neither was being set up on a blind date with the same firefighter. But Adam (yes, you can chuckle) is perfect except for one thing: he has two large dogs, and she's... promised to not date guys with dogs. So... can she survive dogsitting for a few days? Or will this be the final straw? 

Ah, rom-coms, a bit over-the-top, but that's the way it's meant to be. The problem is I'm really just not feeling the chemistry between the two. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews With This Ring by Debra Clopton

 

Jessica moved to Windswept Bay with her son Kevin to take the job as a teacher to get away from her overbearing family after the death of her husband two years ago (who died in the line of duty saving another family). She is not ready for love, and she can't fall for another man with a dangerous job. But Kevin wants a daddy and was disappointed when there's no daddy under the Christmas tree. When Kevin managed to drag the police chief Levi to the class show and tell, and announced that Levi will be his new daddy, neither Levi nor Jessica were ready to deal with the fallout. Levi is definitely the town bachelor, having put career and town first, and definitely hunky. But now he can't even shop without being accosted by single moms desperate to make his acquaintance. Jessica knew she's getting the evil eye from other single moms in town, even as she tried to explain there is nothing between her and Levi. Yet they keep running into each other. But can Jessica let go of her grief long enough? Or will a bachelor auction including Levi be the final incentive for her to go all in? 

Good fun, with the bachelor auction being the final grand gesture, from woman to man, for once. It just felt a bit overdramatic. But it's a fun read nonetheless 4/5

GRR Reviews Wild Open Hearts by Kathryn Nolan

Luna has made herself a billionaire by focusing on changing the cosmetics industry with Wild Heart... No animal testing and ethical sourcing. Until she was betrayed by her supplier... Now her fans believed they were betrayed as well. To avert total disaster, she will help a charity and get some good PR for both. // Beck has two motorcycle outlaws for his parents... and he left twenty years ago. He knew his Lucky Dog charity which rehabilitates abused dogs can always use more money. When Luna offered to help, all he saw was "being used"... But when his funding source ran dry, the charity needs Luna... // Luna never expected to grow fond of the gruff and dangerous-looking biker but she knew he's a big softie inside. Beck can't believe he can grow to tolerate the ultra-rich billionaire who's actually a hippie bohemian chick. And after a kiss, neither can stay away... but as her PR nightmare continues, and his parents making their presence known, will they unite to resolve their problems... Or will their differences prove too much for their love?

Actually a lot of fun to read. My problem is they keep talking about the bad parents, but in the end, they merely needed a talk to go away. Somehow, THAT lead to a darkest hour... Which is kinda lame. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews Second Chance by Jane Suen

Mary Ann was just a florist in town when Connor arrived, needing flowers for his mom's funeral. They connected, and even their cats connected. But he left her to go back to his job in the city. She's sorta dating Ron now. She was shocked to find Connor at the grocery store as the clerk... and Connor is ready to woo Mary Ann back, realizing his mistake. And when a snowstorm hit the town, and he was temporarily stranded with her, this may be the chance he needs...

A bit short, not too-angsty, it's pretty clean and sweet, and it has cats. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews Lawfully Brave by Jo Grafford

Sergeant Luke and his K-9 Hellion are on their way home for leave when he heard the amber alert. The town needs volunteers to find a missing boy. It also happens that a woman next to him, Coco, is also responding to the same crisis. She's a veterinarian and started her own volunteer K9 search and rescue team... except her team has never done a real search and rescue before. Luke and Hellion are experienced, and they are definitely joining the search, if only to keep Coco out of trouble... But the more they search, the more questionable circumstances they find. Who is the deputy's cousin? Is there a drug cartel connection? Will they find the boy alive?

Good adventure and twists in romantic suspense, good bonding experience. There is a character arc for Coco, but didn't feel it much. 4/5

GRR Reviews His Beautiful Billionaire Distraction by Erica Penrod

Tayla Mills is a billionaire with a purpose... She's opening a new addiction treatment center in Seattle, to help people avoid hurting other people through their additions like how she suffered. // Waylon is a former-addict, at least he hoped so. But having been through a program, he got it under control and went to live with his brother Jamon in Seattle's "Billionaire Cove". Meeting Tayla and her puppy was happenstance. Being mistaken for his brother (who also donated to her treatment center) by Tayla was a shock... But now Waylon's angry... he wants to do it on his own, not "helped" by his younger billionaire brother... Or want Tayla's pity. But is he just angry at himself? Or can he let her love him?

The connection just feels a bit thin on this one. 3.5/5

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 Please Keep Me by Mimi Barbour

Belinda can't believe her four-year-old dove into a lake trying to save a puppy. She was grateful that a man dove in and rescued both of them. Until she learned that he's Dr. Reed Carlton... Then she was reminded that night... When her daughter was conceived. She went to a party at the Carlton house. She woke up in bed, naked, sore, with no memory of what had happened, but the evidence was quite clear... // Reed knew he found Lindy, the girl from almost five years ago, that he never forgot from that one night. But why does she seem to hate him now? Why did she disappear that night? Her daughter liked him well enough. And the puppy... Well, he's keeping the puppy for now... So he can get Lindy back... and her daughter too, of course...

Good use of the pup as a meet-cute and continued excuse for them to meet. But she simply assumed she's raped yet did nothing about it except to be a single mother? That doesn't sound very... smart. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews Stay by AJ Alexander

Addison is the only daughter of a major hospital's owner. She's expected to be a doctor's wife and little else. When her fiancee, a hot new surgeon, f***ed a bimbo in their bed, and was not the least apologetic for it ("How else will I be chief of surgery?"), she left for her "bad influence" cousin's place in California, determined to hide for the summer and start her teaching job in the fall. She can't trust any men who like her... they probably want access to her family through her. She had an instant attraction for Cole... until she learned Cole is her cousin Violet's dog walker. // Cole is a man-whore... Being good with dogs, lots of dogs, makes the ladies swoon. He'd also been burned before. He once wanted a veterinary career, until he decided he doesn't want to be office-bound, so he started a dog-walking business that paid surprisingly well. And his fiancee, the one she grew up with, left him, blaming his "lack of ambition". Cole knew Addison is out of his league, but he wants her as her, not as a conduit toward something else.  But how does he convince her of that?

Not bad, but the father and the fiance are just pretty flat evil and didn't seem they got any karma at least by book's end. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews Mud Pies & Family Ties by Dylann Crush

Motorcycle stuntman Dustin just became a national embarrassment when his stunt on a late-night talk show went wrong and sent the host to the ER. His agent told him to go stealth, so he went home... where he hadn't been back for 15 years. He met Harmony in town at the Lovebird Cafe, where she worked as a (very inept) waitress. The two had one awkward encounter after another, but he helped her out, and she temporarily adopts three baby raccoons (found inside her truck), and agrees to help him with his injured shoulder as she's much better as a licensed massage therapist. Dustin will even help her build her wellness studio, even as they rescue even more menagerie of animals (a de-scented pet skunk, and later, an injured emu). But when Dustin got a chance to be a star again, will he go... or stay?

Somehow, the final resolution didn't quite grab me. I understand WHY Dustin felt he had to go, but the reason he gave to abandon his career to be just a small town... what? Construction worker? Handy-man? It seems a bit vague. Rom-com is fine though. Emotional beats work great, with a proper darkest hour and grand gesture. But motivation felt a little lacking. 4/5

GRR Reviews Love Comes for the Army Ranger by Savannah Adams

Chase returned to the US minus a leg, but also with his service dog, medically retired like him. He went back to his hometown to figure out his future. When the dog injured a paw, the only veterinarian around is his high school crush, Lori, who left him... // Lori felt relief about the death of her philandering husband... and shock upon seeing Chas again. Chase wanted a second chance with Lori, but Lori wasn't about to try again, even with Chase. They settle into a friendship... Until a secret from Lori's married past threatens to tear them apart...


The veteran issues are handled nicely, just not too sure about the relationship itself or the darkest hour. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews Let's Get Textual by Teagan Hunter

Delia and Zach would have never met except Zach wrote down the number wrong and accidentally texted Delia instead of his client, and Delia, believing the text was from her brother, replied. And thus started this unconventional friendship via text and calls. The two didn't even meet until weeks later. Yet somehow they knew each other VERY well before they even met IRL (in real life) with a good sense of humor, and that somehow led to one baby goat being adopted. But both Zach and Delia have a few secrets...  Things got VERY dicey when one of the risque photos sent to Zach somehow leaked... Was Delia betrayed by Zach?

Good discussion of privacy and limits and squeezing this texting thing for all its worth. The reasoning for the leak and the perp makes sense, even though it really felt petty in hindsight, but it works for the plot. And the baby goat's cute. The author managed to craft an enjoyable book but also with a great theme. 5/5

GRR Reviews The Trouble with Tabbies by A G Henley

Beatrix aka "Bea" is a romance writer who loved cats. Yes, she's the proverbial "cat lady", with well over two dozen cats at home. She wanted her trust fund so she can help build a new building for the local cat adoption facility, but she knew that her father, who had never approved of her choices, will question her lack of fiancee. So she needs a fake fiancee, and as a romance writer, she knew it's a trope that fake relationship inevitably turns real. She found Sebastian, photographer and bartender, and they agreed to a pact: she'll pay him to pretend to be her fiancee, with PDA (but no kissing or real feelings), but if they actually fall in love, he'll give up his beloved Canon camera... and she'll give up her personal fur baby... That should work... Right? But things are never that simple, as her father pulled out all the stops to break them ("for her own good") and even her old fiancee showed up, wanting a second chance...

Ah, an interesting twist on the fake fiancee, with a bit of fourth-wall-breaking about one being a romance writer. 5/5

GRR Reviews The Problem with Pugs by A G Henley

Amelia's boyfriend Tim left for Bali more than three months ago, leaving his pug Doug behind for her to care, and only video calls once a week. Doug's behavior is getting worse and worse. The dog ate her underwear and destroys furniture. After cornering the building manager in a room, and biting Amelia's new guy (who sent her the medical bill) Amelia had to find help fast, which means the handsome mobile veterinarian Travis. It's clear Doug has separation issues, and maybe Amelia does too. The dog can be trained out of it. But what about Amelia?

A bit of a rom-com, and Doug is kinda funny. But the story is obviously about Amelia, and can she actually let go of Tim?  It's sweet, but Travis is a bit too morose, at least by last half, to be a comedy. 4/5

GRR Reviews Cherish Me by Autumn Macarthur

Naomi and her best friends buried a time capsule of their hopes and dreams when they were thirteen. Then they forgot about it. Decades later, Naomi, now known as "Nai", is back in town when her aunt had fallen seriously ill. Forced to put her job as PA to a billionaire on hold, she has to run a small town bookstore for her aunt, care for her aunt's animals (a parrot, a cat, and two dogs), manage gajillion things to around the place (cleaning, fixing a leaky roof...) and manage the flaky staff. Oh, and met her old crush, Mateo, now handsome local cop. But Mateo was the one that stood her up for her junior prom. Will God show her the way forward?

Sweet, and not overly religious, both have reasons to be shameful, and insecure, and the connection between them is good. And there's a good cast of other characters to help things along. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews Mistletoe Summer by Abby Tyler

Cody, with broken spirit and body after surviving an IED in the Sandbox, had to return home to Applebottom to recuperate with help of his service dog Tyrus. With not much else to do, he decided to help his mother expand her doggy bakery, and that's where he met Melody. // Melody is broke, barely scraping by to make enough money for her grandma's nursing home and support herself. She needed to make some extra money over the summer, and helping Cody paint the new pet store is perfect, esp. when her Pomeranian named Mistletoe refused to leave Tyrus, Cody's service dog. Then they had the idea of operating a town "Pet Parade" as a part of "Christmas in July", which also serves to promote the grand expansion of the Pet Store / Doggy bakery. Melody's enthusiasm is infectious, and Cody can't help but go along... but he can't walk the route with his injuries... or can he?

If you like cute dogs, you should like this book. The opposties attract works well here. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews Saving Sarah by Melissa Storm

Sarah is a nursing home nurse with a therapy dog Lucky that helps the residents of Redwood Cove Rest Home. When one of the crankiest residents, Eleanor, insists that she can't die without 'setting things right", but only left a few cryptic clues for Sarah and distant nephew Finch, Sarah wasn't sure she wanted to get into sleuthing... // Finch may have created the world's most popular social network, but Finch lives alone. Hearing a confession from his distant great-aunt left him intrigued, but nurse Sarah fascinated him. And it seems Eleanor's confession has to do with a cold case murder that dated back to 1950's... Can Sarah and Lucky help Finch solve the cold case? And will it redeem them?

While the dog was intriguing, and therapy dogs are nice and cute, this story just seems to be somewhat confusing overall. I understand Finch and Sarah are both running away from something, but how exactly does solving the mystery fix that for them? The mystery plot didn't really bring them together, and the dog didn't do much of anything.  2.5/5

GRR Reviews Ethan (K9 Files) by Dale Mayers

Ethan was medically discharged from the military after an IED ended the life of his K9 companion and left him seriously wounded. Then Titanium Corp found him a job... It seems that the military had lost track of many ex-service dogs, and TC is to track them down. And one of them, "Sentry", was tracked to near Ethan's hometown in Texas. Which brought him to Cinnamon, aka "Cinn". // Cinn is heavily involved in global dog rescues, and when Ethan, who was able to track down a wounded German shepherd and brought the dog to the nearby vet office, she just about swooned, for she saw a lost soul in Ethan, much like the dogs she helped. But Ethan's ability to calm and influence dogs puts him in the path of some dangerous criminals to may have co-opted Sentry for dastardly purposes, and regular police's treatment of dangerous dogs was bullets first, questions later. Ethan will risk his life to save the dogs, but that also brought criminals to Cinn's door...

The dog handling bits are excellent. The plot is actually quite good with a twist at the end that was excellent. Overall, very good romantic suspense with the dog handling bits that put it over the top. 5/5

GRR Reviews Charmed by the Cowboy: Cooper by Debra Clopton

Beth is just settling into her uncle's little ranch in Ransom Creek with her baby goats. Her evil ex is still looking for her, and she's keeping a low profile. Meeting her neighbor the Presley brothers, esp. Cooper, is nice, for he's helpful, big, strong, and kind. And definitely swoon-worthy. But Cooper has his own evil ex who is always stalking him... always making a scene. And when her evil ex caught up with her, Cooper will be there...

Good, but not extraordinary. The "evil ex's" came off more as "annoying" instead of real threat to their relationships. 4/5

GRR Reviews Why Stars Chase the Sun by C R Ellis

Jade, with her best buddy Jasmine, had gotten their wedding planner business off the ground. But her heart still wasn't healed from her fiance's sudden cold feet three years ago. A chance encounter (she threw a branch for her dog at the river) hit Emmett, canoe-ing and looking at her, in the head and they can't quite keep their eyes off each other. But Jade wasn't quite sure what to do with their attraction. After getting to know Emmett a little (who is indeed, charming, sweet, and handsome), and couraged supplied by alcohol, Jade proposed something outrageous (but made sense to her)... a day and a night with Emmett, no strings attached. And Emmett needs a lot of convincing, for he was wrestling with his own demons, having been burned by love before...

Seriously angst-y slow-burn kinda love. It's quite exquisite, as you will have to read quite a bit to find out why Emmett is the way he is. Pace could be upped a little, IMHO. 4.5