GRR Reviews Don't Date Your Brother's Best Friend by Cami Checketts

Trey had explored the world as an adrenaline junkie adventurer, but coming home and meeting Ella left him stunned... How could he had NEVER noticed the sassy beauty, now all grown up?  It helps that Ella had a crushed on him since middle school. However, Trey's reputation as a love-em-and-leave-em guy, not to mention her brother (and his best friend) are both warning him to stay away and don't break her heart. Can he convince her (and her brother) to give him a chance?

Sweet, but the plot's been done bajillion times before. 4/5

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 A Truce for Love by Lydia Olson

Mia finally found herself in Tombstone Arizona, where her brother Jonas, married a dancing girl and operates a gambling hall and bar. But Tombstone is in the middle of a gang war, with the town divided between the Powell gang (technically, Powell brothers and cousins), and Redford gang (same idea). with the Dooley gang hanging around. But the Dooley gang are composed of rustlers and thieves and murderers... Killed a family and burned the ranch to the ground... and paid off the sheriff to look the other way. Mia found herself being an unwilling pawn in the power struggle... and being courted by Carson Powell... who's willing to learn civility and diplomacy to be with her...

The book gets a bit confusing as romance gets shunted to the background. A lot of the plot doesn't involve Mia and Carson, but rather, Dooley gang plotting who to attack next, and the town's counter-plot, but is it against the Dooleys, or is it against each other? Adventure is good, romance is kinda meh. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews Falling for Miss Write by Joanne Dannon

Felix was still sore from losing his fiancee to his brother. He knew it's his own fault, and he wants to find a Miss Right for him. The problem is his reputation as a rake is nearly impossible to reverse... Then he met Charlotte again. Charlotte knew Felix since high school, and Charlotte works multiple jobs as she enjoys people. She's an aspiring author but hadn't submitted anything yet. She enjoys the attention from Felix, but again, his reputation precedes him, and she swears she can never fall for him, esp. with three brothers watching over her (even though she's now 30). She's had enough of high-handedness, even if it's supposedly for her own good. When Felix's take-charge attitude got him into trouble, can he change enough to prove to Charlotte that he's really a changed man?

Ah, issues of fidelity and trust, always a delicate subject, and basis of relationships. There are character arcs, but they are a bit low-key that you don't realize they are there until they "soak in" later in your brain.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 4/5

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 Sophie by Kelsie Rae

Sophie and Nathan are mortal enemies... even when they shouldn't be. Sophie and Nathan had a one-night stand, and sex was phenomenal... Until he reminded her it's supposed to be NSA.. and walked out the door. Now they greet each other with cutting remarks and pranks. But their best friends are getting married... and they have to be civilized to each other... for several weeks... in the Maldives for a destination wedding. But as they actually got to know each other, Sophie starts to understand why Nathan is a commitment-phobe... he doesn't believe in love because he never had any... and Nathan starts to understand why love is not that kind of 4-letter word... Then a surprise discovery leads to a showdown with Sophie's big brother...

Excellent character arc for Nathan, as the author managed to convert him from a jerk to a proper lover in the length of the book. And all the characters, esp. the supporting cast, are good as well. No TSTL moment, good snarky wit when called for.  This book is a standalone, but you'd get more out of these books by reading them in order so you understand more about the other characters, who have their own books. All, in all, excellent.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 5/5

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

GRR Reviews Men of Inked (3-book collection) by Chelle Bliss

NOTE: This is a 3-book collection, it'll be rated separately, and there's an overall rating.

Throttle Me -- Suzy had mapped out her life: work hard, get her own career established, find a stable man, get married, live happily ever after. Unfortunately, her plan got derailed when "City", a tattooed Harley rider who works in a tattoo shop, came into her life, by rescuing her one night. They had chemistry together, but City had his heart broken at college and is now a rake and a commitment-phobe. But their relationship had both of them question everything they thought they knew about what they wanted... and City is keeping a secret...

Not bad, different worlds novel is pretty obvious, and scars are pretty trope, but there's some good polish on it and multiple layers of tropes, like biker, Italian, and even a bit of disguise. 4/5

Hook me -- Michael Gallo is the MMA fighter who enjoys the physical domination of his opponent, but a fight ended up with him in the ER, and met Dr. Mia Greco. Mia is having nightmares about all the people she can't save in the ER, and she prefers running the neighborhood free clinic. Michael, who's actually quite smart, wanted to woo Mia, and they have chemistry together, but Mia can't reconcile the fighter who damages people with the caring and sensitive man Michael seems to be...

I honestly don't feel the conflict other than she can't see past his gruff tattoed exterior. 3/5

Resist me -- Isabelle "Izzie" Gallo is the baby of the family, and even though she trash-talks just like her brothers, in secret she loves a man who can dominate her, which can be difficult when no one dare get close with so many brothers around. She got one great night with an undercover cop handler James, who was alpha enough for her... But she figured it's one-night, and she snuck off. Later, she went off with one guy "Flash" for a MC weekend in Daytona, and ended up in a MC club, where she was almost claimed by the MC VP... until a disciple stepped in... It was her older brother Thomas, in deep undercover. And Thomas had to call in James to rescue her. She's just too much sass... and he's just too much alpha. But he needs to watch out for her brother Thomas, and she has her own life...

A bit too much sex, as things got a bit kinkier, but other than initial chemistry, and basic inadequacy issues, there isn't much threat to the relationship. 3/5

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 3/5  (average of all 3 ratings)

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

GRR Reviews Snow Kissed by the Billionaire by Lizabeth Scott

Reed is a woman in the construction business, following in the steps of four older brothers. Having never really learned how to love, and killed multiple relationships from neglect, she decided to go on a man-fast. A surprise assignment had her flying to upstate New York to meet a billionaire, to discuss restoring his "cabin". But an early snowstorm had her crashing within a few hundred yards of her destination, and she was rescued by Mason, even as the storm stranded them both. Now stuck together, it's clear that Reed and Mason are attracted to each other, so Mason proposed a fling... no strings attached. But once the snow let up, can they really let each other go?

There really wasn't much plot in this. They got in bed, they had hot sex, lots of hot sex, until the snow let up and her brothers arrived to take her away, and she's miserable, since she can't forget him. Argh. It's basically "one f*** and he's hooked". *sigh*

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 2/5

NOTE: Tropes are now in the "Labels" below

GRR Reviews Secret Promises by Jane Anthony

Jillian and AJ are doing their best to keep their family garage going. So much so, Jillian is postponing college to do the front desk work, while AJ concentrates on fixing cars. Then Jameson came back to town. Jameson was AJ's best friend, and the one Jillian had a crush on for a long time ago. With AJ overwhelmed with work, Jameson pitched in to help, and the secret admiring between Jillian and Jameson turned into a fling, then a lot more. But AJ can't let his little sister be "ruined" by someone who's not staying, esp. if that would be his best friend. And AJ knows Jameson's secret...

While the sex is hot, and some of the conflict was okay, I honestly didn't feel much more than the typical plot. It's basically "best friend's little sister" trope, and the complications seem rather trivial.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Man returning to town helped out old friend, fell for his sister, but is he staying? Or is it a fling?

Overall Rating: 3/5

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

GRR Reviews Tempting Boundaries (Montgomery Ink) by Carrie Ann Ryan

Decker grew up with the Montgomery family, and is best friend with the older brothers. He knew he shouldn't desire their little sister Miranda, but he can't help thinking what could happen, until Miranda decided to take matters into her own hands, as she had desired Decker for a long time. When Decker's own abusive father got out of jail, and Miranda's ex is unhappy with her hooking up with Decker... not to mention the reaction of the brothers when they found out Decker's been hot and heavy with their own little sister... Things don't look good for the couple... Even if they can get past their own insecurities...

Above average, even though the plot is trope at heck. However, good polish and obstacles plus family secrets and shames and all that made it better than mediocre.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: "Best friend's little sister" plus family problems = star-crossed couple

Overall Rating: 4/5

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

GRR Reviews Mr. Big (London Billionaires) by Nana Malone

Mr. Big is a pretty typical "my bestie's little sister" romance with the only twist in that it's set in London.

Zach is rich and comfortable after creating a whole series of hit clubs. He can have any women he wanted, but he only really wanted a woman he can't have, Emma, his best friend's little sister. Also, he had a deep dark secret he had yet to share. He can never deserve Emma. When Emma came to London to attend school, Zach was tasked to keep her safe. But Emma wanted Zach for a very long time, and she will have him, and he will not be able to resist for long...

Honestly, the plot is trope, the characters are pretty average, and after reading it, nothing stood out.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Rich club chain owner tasked to keep best friend's little sister safe, but he wanted her, and she wanted him...

Overall Rating: 3/5

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

GRR Reviews Nevada's Pride (A BBW Western Romanc by Joann Baker

Nevada's Pride is a different worlds / lowly ranch hand vs. rich rancher's daughter contemporary western romance that did manage to set up the scenario, but relied a bit too much on the tropes like overprotecting brothers, weird will, hero falsely accused, and so on, to stand out.

Nevada Sanders grew up in a big family, running the Double Hart Ranch. She lost her parents at a young age, and her overprotective brothers had put a damper on her romantic aspirations for too long. She's about to turn 25, and just inherited granny's land as a separate ranch. She's determined to make a go at running it by herself (with a ranch hand) and hopefully gets out from under her brother's too-tight control. Enter Tanner Jessup, ex-con. Just released from jail due to a false accusation of rape by a rich rancher's daughter because he wouldn't put out. He was just driving through looking for work when Nevada offered him a job: make a go at it on her separate ranch. He knew his reputation would come back to haunt him, and he should never get involved with a rich rancher's daughter ever again, but their attraction was too hot to deny...

Nevada's supposed to be a bit of BBW, but that was mostly lost in the later chapters. You can pretty much guess what's going to happen by the end of the book... it's a trope that practically writes itself. That's why this didn't get any higher rating... no twists, no quirks.

Category: Contemporary / Western

Primary Plot: Can a falsely accused ranch hand find a job and love with a rich rancher's daughter... despite what happened last time?

Overall Rating: 3/5

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

GRR Reviews I Only Have Eyes For You (The Sullivans) by Bella Andre

I Only Have Eyes for You by Bella Andre was full of tropes, but Bella Andre, a veteran romance writer, was able to massage the elements into a sweet romantic tale.

Sophie Sullivan is the "nice" twin in the Sullivans family with SIX brothers to watch out for her. She yearned to be noticed by the man she wanted the first time she saw him... Jake McCann. Jake always worked hard and now Jake owned a chain of Irish pubs. Women loved him, but he only wanted one girl, his best friend's little sister Sophie that he should never desire. When one of the Sullivan brothers got married, Jake and Sophie fell for the atmosphere... and they consummated their relationship... but both felt ashamed... Sophie for succumbing to lust, and Jake for inadequacy ("I am no good for her"). Then Sophie discovered she's pregnant... When Sophie appeared on Jake's doorstep, and Jake accepted the news, he realized he must marry her... but she won't accept, believing he doesn't love her. Jake must convince her to stay... but to do so, he may have to give up his most shameful secret...

The tropes are numerous (accidental pregnancy, bestie's little sister, sexy librarian, bar owner, overprotective brothers...) but they fit together well enough and polished well by the author. Jake's... secret wasn't really that devastating, and Sophie, well, really does feel like a real person, with not too angst-y emotions. Enjoyed the novel.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Bar owner fell for the one girl he should not want, his best friend's little sister. But she wanted him too... Then she found out she's pregnant... by him... after one drunken night!

Tropes: accidental pregnancy, best firend's sibling, library, bar owner, protective siblings, different worlds, no good for you

Overall Rating:  4/5