GRR Reviews Wild For You by Kendall Ryan

 Grant, the Seattle pro hockey team captain, is a loner who grew up in foster care. When a teammate Kress intimidated Ana at a team dinner, he instinctively stepped in to de-escalate the situation. When Ana, a few days later, requested assistance after another anger episode with Kress, Grant took her in. When a video surfaced of Kress abusing Ana in public, it is clear she can never go back. But is Grant crossing a line, taking in a girl that used to belong to his soon-to-be-ex teammate? Or had he already fallen for her? And when they had one night of passion, only to find weeks later she's pregnant, just who is the daddy? Or does that even matter? 

I... really don't feel much for this one. Grant is the quintessential good guy that ends up being a bit of a milquetoast. And Ana... not sure what to think of her. Yes, she's nice, didn't deserve the treatment at the hands of Kress, and finding a good guy like Grant is great. On the other hand, she's also flipping back and forth, about "doesn't want to look like she's sleeping her way up the ranks" and "I have to prove to myself I can live stand on my own" / "leeching off Grant". And Kress? For a villain he's a really pathetic one. Really not one of author's best works. 

2.5/5 rounded up to 3/5

GRR Reviews Love in a Pawn Shop by Bonnie Edwards

Dix has a pawn shop in a tough neighborhood, and wanted her teenage brother Riley get into college so he can do better. Could she be blamed if she nags him all the time, esp. if he keeps hanging out with Carlos, who may be mixed up with the bad crowd? When nosy cop Dane barged into her life, things get complicated quickly, esp. if Razor the pitbull keeps staring at Dane's... nuts. // Dane was in town to find out what happened to his grandma's jewelry, and it's clear it went to Dix's pawn shop. Did Dix swindle his grandma? Is it a fencing operation? Just what is Dix's relationship with grandma Mitzi? And why did he feel... warm and fuzzy about Dix? What is her real name anyway?

Cozy mystery, lots of zany but fun characters. Even Riley's struggle with Carlos (whether to trust or to save) is interesting. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews Slim To None by Freya Barker

Emma's daughter is all grown up, and she decided to move to Cedar Tree and start her life alone. Being disabled and needed to use a cane or walker, she is nonetheless beautiful and active, doing freelance bookkeeping and bake pies for her best friend's diner. Until a strange phone call in the night stirred her blood like never before... // Gus, private investigator, is on the trail of bail jumper who may have info on a mob boss he wanted to take down. Links took him to Cedar Tree, where he is supposed to find a bookkeeper... like the Red-headed Emma. When someone tossed Emma's house, and Emma's clearly in danger, Gus steps in as Emma's protector, and love bloomed. But someone from Gus' past is watching... and waiting for retribution...

Good romantic suspense with a couple of good twists and turns, plus enjoyable main characters. Gus is protective without overbearing and a disabled heroine? An unusual but inspired choice. 5/5

GRR Reviews The Price of Scandal by Lucy Score

Emily may be a billionaire CEO, but her family is a total mess. With her company on the verge of IPO, Emily needs a little publicity boost... But when her plus-one for the gala was busted for drugs in front of the Miami paparazzi, she needs help fast. Enter Derek, corporate troubleshooter. // Derek likes Emily, but he never sleeps with a client. He can sense that this incident was no accident... someone orchestrated a negative media blitz to take Emily down. He needs to show the world who Emily really is to win their trust, and he may have to break his own heart to protect her...

Some parts worked, and some parts didn't. And I'm surprised nobody thought of recording the phone calls, as the villain basically confirmed the dastardly deeds with a cackle over the phone once they figured out who the villain is. The escalation works well. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews At Last by Miranda P Charles

Gemma doesn't do casual but is looking for one true love. Greg doesn't do long-term, as he vowed to shape up and live up to his family legacy. It doesn't help that his two brothers have married and his family is VERY rich, so he has a LOT of women after him. The two remained friends... Until Gemma seems to have attracted the attention of a stalker who wanted to ruin her any way possible. Greg will protect her, but is that love? And when Gemma agreed to a fling, is she lying to herself?

Hmmm... Good but with flaws. Gemma's lying to herself that she can do a fling is believable. It's basically self-denial. Greg's self-denial, however, goes much much deeper. It's obvious he doesn't want anyone else to have Gemma, but he can't admit it to himself. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews Accidental Shield by Nicole Snow

Flint, single father, just found himself hosting an amnesiac woman... and lying to her about her being his wife. But Valerie has amnesia because she almost died in an explosion that blew up her boat. Telling her the whole truth would just make her panic. So Flint, ex-navy SEAL, now retired security specialist, is doing one more job with his partner, Doc Cash, to bring down the bad guys that almost killed Valerie. They've tangled with the same group of bad guys before, and it's a good time to even the score. And by all evidence, it seems her "evil" brother may be involved... But how will Flint handle being "fake married" to Valerie? What happens when she found out she wasn't?

Interesting take on "marriage mistake", proves that you *can* create something new by remixing old tropes. 5/5

GRR Reviews Fractured by Lori Sjoberg

Carter was a good soldier, but when he felt he was losing his soul, he got out and returned to his family farm and equestrian center.  Meeting Amy, the new horse trainer, was a shock, but he sensed that she has a secret vulnerability that she was not ready to share... // Amy changed her name and looks and left everything behind after she was acquitted of her husband's murder. Her brother-in-law publicly announced there's a miscarriage of justice, with EVERYTHING left to her. The only thing she has left was her love of horses. And she doesn't need Carter... to mess things up. But when her past came back to haunt her, can Carter protect her?

Good mystery, a good twist on hidden identity and protector. The ending is also handled quite nicely. Although I don't see how the bad guy plans to get away with... whatever he was doing at the end. Of course, she still needs saving, but that's kinda beside the point. 4.5/5

GRR Security Risk by Megan Matthews

Tabitha left her old life behind to start over in Pelican Bay, by borrowing a bit of her abusive ex-boyfriend's cash, not that she plan to spend it all. She inherited a house from her aunt in the town, and meeting her hunky but gruff neighbor, Ridge, was... nice, as are her other neighbors. But why is her ex Mario chasing her down by sending in his scary lieutenant? Where are the diamonds they keep insisting she took with her? Will she live through it?

Uh, hate to say this, but this book smells like amateur writing. Tabitha fell for the first handsome guy she saw despite surviving years of abuse. She couldn't recognize a mafia front despite lived years next to it (and happen to have couple hundred thousand lying around in CASH) and basically has too many TSTL moments to count. Oh, and Ridge? Total caricature of a security guy. 2/5

GRR Reviews A Christmas Wish by Leeanna Morgan

Megan abandoned her career and is raising her 5-year old niece Nora after an accident took her sister's life. Her cake business is starting to take off... Then her world was turned upside down... FBI Special Agent William needs to take them to safety because terrorists are targeting them due to a brother Megan never knew she had... all the way to Montana. Willaim himself lost a daughter and the tragedy shattered his family. Being this close to Megan and her niece reminded him of what he once had... With Christmas approaching, could it be time to love again?

Unfortunately, the threats in this book are upside down. The most exciting bits are in the front, at least the suspense parts. And the suspense is only used as an excuse to shackle the two characters together. This is NOT romantic suspense. The feelings are okay, but the terrorists are a letdown.  I had hoped the author had learned how to write romantic suspense properly as the series starter works quite well. But this... is not good. 2.5/5

GRR Reviews Someone to Watch over Me by Iris Morland

Seth is back home from Middle East, but he had lost his best friend there, and he felt lost without a direction in life. He met his neighbor Rose, and was intrigued by the headstrong beauty, but when she greeted her at night with a gun, it's clear she needed help, and refused to admit it. // Rose fled Seattle and her evil ex Johnny, but it's clear he's not done with her. She had made a bargain with the devil (Johnny) to save her brother and he's out to collect. She almost had enough money to pay Johnny off, and Seth's help is appreciated, but she'll do things her own way, esp. when she's still ashamed for what Johnny took from her...

On one hand, I want to like the main characters. Rose is reasonably conflicted, and Seth is reasonably wounded. On the other hand, Rose is so f***ing naive, I was basically screaming "No you idiot!". She apparently never considered the angle... Maybe her brother's being framed for drugs was orchestrated by Johnny just so he can get his hands on her. That's frustrating to read, and what's the point of getting a gun if she's not willing to use it when it matters? (She never actually got to use it)  3/5

GRR Reviews Amazed By You by Cheyenne McCray

Celine, fashion designer, needs her product launch to go perfectly, and on budget, as she had put EVERYTHING on the line. She has no time to babysit a cowboy ranch owner who's miffed at city folks invading his domain. That is, until she met Jayson face to face... // Jayson lost a bet and ended up with city folks all over his ranch doing a commercial shoot, interrupting his ranching. Though secretly, he's impressed with Celine running the show. When the two finally meet, sparks flew (the good kind). But Jayson has a secret, and not even saving Celine's life may redeem him from that...

Not bad, good polish on opposites attract story. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews Bride for Nathaniel by Kay P Dawson

In the early 1900s, Nathaniel is a mountie in Cougar Springs, Alberta, and he likes the town, but also clueless with women. He reluctantly accepts a mail-order bride from back out East, and got Claire... // Claire helped those in need, even when it costs her. She lost her job as a maid when her role in helping her mistress escape to marry a mountie was exposed, and she had no regrets. Marrying a mountie would be nice... Until Nathaniel's old nemesis showed. The newly married husband and wife disagree on how to proceed. He wants to protect her, she wants to see the evil brought to justice. Will this tear them apart?

Not bad, though the wedge issue feels a bit overdone. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews Comfort and Joy by Abby Knox

Joy can't believe she saw Brady, her high school crush, again... Or that he's the new health inspector shutting her cookie business down for missing some items not needed in a bakery (who needs a grease trap in a bakery?)  But she has other problems like a creepy neighbor (and alderman) who keeps hanging around her place and wanted to date her (and may be causing other troubles)... But don't worry, Brady may be by-the-book, but he's quite protective...

Under 100 pages, it's pretty fast moving. Though how Brady just bought her a whole new kitchen is a bit like... Wait, how did he afford all that?  And the evildoer is revealed a bit too early. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews The Road Home by Krista Sandor

Jenna left town to make their own way after one too many times her mother's boyfriend laid his hands on her for perceived wrongs... and her mother aided him rather than protect her. Fourteen years later, when she got a call from the hospital that her mother had been committed to the psych ward for talking about suicide, she immediately drove back to Langley Park. Did her mother finally got away from her no-good boyfriend? Can her mother love her? She ran into Ben, her classmate way back when, and teenage crush... It is clear that their current admiration is mutual. But there seems to be a stalker after Jenna, even as Ben still reels from his wife's suicide.  But for them to move forward, each must confront their past...

Good twist, even though it's somewhat expected after the eliminated the obvious suspect. But the overall reasoning and plotting is still good. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews Right Here With You by Susan Coventry

Stephanie left Michigan for a mountain cabin in Tennessee, hoping to finish her novel. Her neighbor Logan, is trying to write a nature guide to heal from his past tragedy. Neither would quite come clean about their respective pasts, even though both knew they are attracted to one another, and Logan is there to share his expertise and to protect her. But Logan is also keeping Steph away from his tragedy he'd rather not confront... Yet for him to get past that tragedy, he will have to allow her to get closer...

The guy's a bit hard to empathize with, as his solution is to run away from his feelings, ALWAYS. The struggles though, are pretty good. 4/5

GRR Reviews Don't Ditch a Detective by Cami Checketts

Jed can't believe that he got pepper-sprayed while jogging behind a twitchy woman. The fact that she's beautiful (after he washed his eyes out with snow) did mollify him somewhat. Her name is Cassandra, and he knew her... She's an idealistic do-gooder who decided EVERY child is redeemable. He's a police detective who saw the worst life has to offer, for he had lived it as a foster child. But neither is entirely correct about the other. When Cassie went to Mexico to help an orphanage, and was targeted by a local cartel, will Jed and help get to her in time?

Not bad, though one really wonders if the best way to get help for an orphanage is to get help from the US rather than look for local help? Or perhaps no local help can be trusted? 4/5

GRR Reviews Lost Memories and New Beginnings by Lorana Hoopes

Dr. Brody thought he was done with love as a widower. But when he saw the woman in the mangled car, some protective instinct stirred. Later, he realized she had lost her memories, except fear... someone was after her, and it was clear someone ran her off the road. They found out who she was, not a good person at all. But the present her isn't like that at all... And whoever targeted her is still out there...

Good romantic suspense, decent twists, 4.5/5

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 Don't Fall for a Fugitive by Cami Checketts

Hazel, a British photographer, accompanied a friend to the US for some deluxe accommodations and a chance to photograph some majestic mountains in the winter. Being witness to murder wasn't in her plans... nor was running for her life, or stowing away on the jet of millionaire Heath Strong. // Heath was surprised to find Hazel on his aircraft, but his instinct was to protect her, as the pursuer, Brigham, is a well-known shady guy with ties to the mob. If Brigham said Hazel killed his cousin, chances are Brigham killed his cousin and tried to frame Hazel. But can he justify putting his own family at risk? And how would he hide Hazel under the nose of his (quite large) family?

Nice tight plot. But there are a couple technical details that made no sense. 1) How high would a staircase be in a HANGAR's office, that Hazel could have watched from a nearby aircraft, and caused nearly-fatal injuries? And 2) They called various numbers (including 911?) using regular cell phones while on a private jet flying to Colorado...  The action ending isn't that bad. 4/5

GRR Reviews Meet Me In London by Jennifer Youngblood and Haley Hopkins

Audrey had been video chatting with William, a genuine Brit that she met online. They hit it off well, and she just told him that she'll be visiting London, and hope he can join her on a tour. However, her flight was unpleasant. A weird guy Aidan shared her cab and seems a bit obsessed with her... and fellow tour member Zane was rude and annoying... and... no William. As Zane slowly worked himself into her heart, and Audrey also felt uncomfortable, as if she's being watched, she started to wonder what did she really feel toward William... Then her stalker actually showed up...

*sigh* It seems the authors cranked this out without actually researching the Brits. Brits don't have a firearms fetish like us Yanks. In fact, the vast majority of London metro police (about 90%) is not armed, and even their criminals rarely use firearms. A Yank living in London, already under suspicion by police, should not have been able to get a firearm. The rest of the plotting is not too bad though. 3/5