GRR Reviews The Author by Lexy Timms

Annie has a boss who blamed her for his mistakes, berates her in front of clients, and is generally an ass. But she needs to put food on the table, so she puts up with it during the day, and go with friends to relax at night... like to bars. // Lincoln is a bartender at night, which gives him for his other job... romance author. But he just writes stuff to put food on the table, not really believing in love himself after a betrayal. // The two met, and it seems they are the perfect fit, but Annie is too busy for relationships... but that's only because of her terrible boss... Can Lincoln help her see that?

Good, but not that great. 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 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 Chasing Forever by Susan Coventry

Callie is a romance writer that hit a serious writer's block after her beloved grandma's death, and a breakup of her 7-year relationship. But her grandma left her a gift... An extended vacation on the island of Kauai... Eight weeks to get her mojo back. // Chase had enough of his life. As a divorce attorney he makes a good but uncomfortable living, and finding his girlfriend cheating on him was the last straw. He took a leave of absence and went off to Kauai. // Callie and Chase met and found they are beach neighbors. But she's not here for a fling (but to write), and he's running away from betrayal, and not ready to test the waters yet. But when they find out they were actually both from Michigan, they became friends. Can they be more... even after this vacation?

Good, though the darkest hour was, IMHO, a bit on the lame side. Basically, Callie was a bit of hypocrite, claiming Chase had known all along who she was (a romance writer) and didn't say anything when she had googled him and didn't say anything either. 4/5

GRR Reviews Heartstruck and Heavensent by Kari Trumbo

Madison is a very private librarian. Nobody knows her well, and that's her choice. She based her life on her parents, who are Christians with zero public affections, that love is something to be shamed. So much so, she left Kansas behind and went to New York City. She's even more ashamed because she has a secret side job: romance writer. And she's actually quite decent at it... Until she hit a writer's block. When three of her best online friends roped her into a week at the Broken J Ranch in Wyoming as sort of a writing retreat, she accepted, as anything would be better than writing nothing. Which is where she also met a quiet wrangler by the name of Randall... // Randall has land in Kansas, and he's just working in Wyoming to save up some money to outfit his own ranch. Randall was drawn to Madison, but Randall's leaving soon, and Madison, even sooner. Madison knew that Randall is a Christian, and is strong and good-hearted. But she can't do long-distance, and she didn't like being Christian... or did she misunderstood what being a Christian meant all along? And is there really a chance with Randall, if they can both go back to Kansas?

Okay, this is Christian / Spiritual, but not too obviously so. It doesn't beat you over the head with Bible quotes and such. You can even say it kinda broke the 4th Wall, albeit circumspect, by having characters that are romance novel writers discussing what constitutes a spiritual romance, and even made threw some shade at traditional publishing vs. indie publishing. 4/5

GRR Reviews Falling for the Bad Boy by Kennedy Fox

Vada booked an AirBNB to get out of the city and work on her romance novel. However, being a bit threadbare in her own love department means she couldn't quite get the nuances of romance right. When she met Ethan, her host, who greeted her just out of a shower (bare-chested and wet-haired), let's just say, it's insta-lust. But Ethan is a bit more than his bad boy aura projected. He likes to verbally spar with Vada, with some double entendres and innuendos that make Vada blush. But Ethan is that way because he doesn't want to talk about his own past...

While not bad, the connection between the two wasn't that obvious either. While we did get the story out of him much later, there seems to be no particular reason why he's that way with Vada, i.e. "tease the city girl". 3/5

GRR Reviews Lainie (Palmer Sisters) by Kayt Miller

Lainie has been divorced from a gay but possessive guy pretending to be straight. Their marriage lasted... Ten years. And in the end, he divorced her, not the other way around. Lainie wanted to jump-start her writing career by interviewing some MC members. Unfortunately, where she staked out was actually a custom motorcycle shop... Ran by Keeton, who's got tattooed sleeves, wears leathers, and rides (and builds) badass bikes. Lainie was inspired, but Keeton was smitten at first sight. Keeton must keep Lainie around. First he hired her to be his office manager (the original is on maternity leave, really) then he loaned her his personal (and backup) BMW when her car won't start. THEN he learned how much of a possessive douchebag her ex really is... and he planned to woo her completely, and show her exactly what she deserves... To be treated like a queen.

Awwww, the whole series is about "love at first sight", and the chemistry is certainly there. I just don't quite feel the escalation though. 4/5

GRR Reviews Her Fake Billionaire Boyfriend by Laura Ann

Hazel is a quiet romance author who just hit a writer's block. Looking for inspiration, she decided to book a camping trip at the new castle resort operated by the "Overnight Billionaire Bachelor Brothers". Turns out Nelson, the youngest of the three billionaire brothers, is handling the group personally. // Nelson knew "balls and chains" (aka wife) like his brothers already found are not for him. He enjoys adventure and did not want to settle down yet. He likes Hazel's calm demeanors, and when another camper refused to leave Hazel alone, Nelson stepped up to protect her, even went as far as proclaiming to be her boyfriend (fake, of course). It's what any guy would do... right?

Sweet, with the creepy suitor that was overly aggressive, but not in the physical sense, basically an over-the-top sorta-alpha manner that was definitely anti-trope. That can be thought of as throwing shade on the "alpha" types. The ending was one of those "I thought... wrong" tropes, but it was handled well. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews Romancing the Conflicted Cowboy by Crystal Walters

Callie is in a writing funk, and desperate for inspiration, so a visit to a Texas dude ranch should get her creative juices flowing, with majestic horses, handsome cowboys... Except this city-girl who hadn't had her own romance runs into a prank-loving veterinarian... and a single dad, Reed. He wasn't planning to fall for the city slicker, but when he offered to help with her research, that's exactly what happens... Until she revealed the real intentions...It's all research... But was it really pretend and research, or did she fall for him too?

Hmmm... The comedy bits are pretty good. The rest of it so-so. The "is it real or was it all play-acting" bit didn't quite feel right and was over too quickly.

Category: Contemporary / Western / Comedy

Overall Rating: 3.5/5

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

GRR Reviews From the Start by Melissa Tagg

Kate had won an Emmy for a screenplay once, but it had been years before she wrote anything good, The sappy romance screenplays started to drain her. To get a fresh perspective, she went back home to Maple Valley, just after a tornado hit the area.  // ex-NFL quarterback Colton had lost his love (who left him for someone else) and his career (after a major injury). In a deep funk, when his friend needs to go home to Maple Valley to help rebuild, and his agent told him to lay low, he decided to go as well. // Kate and Colton met, as both try to adjust to small-town life. But Kate is about playing it safe, while Colton was all about risks. Yet with both looking for new direction in life, Colton remembered that his agent told him to work on a memoir... and Kate is a writer. But there are moments in Colton's life that he had repressed for too long... and it is those old wounds that may prevent him from ever truly start over... and have a future with Kate...

More layered than first expected, the book also meanders a bit, with multiple B-plots, such as a child with cancer, a rebellious kid in school coached by Colton, Colton's background as a foster kid, Colton betrayed by ex-lover who apparently didn't really love him, Colton's conflict with his agent who keeps sending him to interview for sportscaster position, mixed with Colton's repressed PTSD memory. Kate wanted to write stuff with more meaning, wanted to apply for a position to write for an NGO in Africa, wanted to do stuff more like her mother would have wanted... The page count is just over 400 pages, which is pretty darn big. I think the book could use a bit of slimming down, but I like the characters well enough.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 4/5

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

GRR Reviews Her Secret BIllionaire Roommate by Bree Livingston

Olivia, who writes bestselling romance under a pen name, is overdue for a new novel... and her publisher and editor are not pleased. But due to personal turmoil, her muse had taken a leave of absence, and her editor sent her to a two-week retreat to Snowshoe, MT cabin to write alone. Unfortunately, her alone time was soon disturbed by Gabriel, a handsome but haunted executive who can't handle any company, much less an attractive woman. And technically, he is the cabin owner. But he's not about to kick her out with a snow storm incoming. What he didn't tell her is he's also her boss, as he just bought her publisher... Both had been burned by bad relationships, and both connected despite the initial hostility. But when the truth comes out, and their evil exs intervene, will their relationship survive?

Somehow the evil ex didn't have much of a part to play... They are also way too similar... Gabe's ex just keeps coming back ("Aw, baby, don't be like that..."), while Olivia's ex just assumes she'll take him back... It's not until Gabe meets and wanted Olivia that they both grew spines and told their ex's to take a hike. But what is the real threat to their relationship? Not too much. Still, the push-pull is good. It's mostly her own inadequacy causing her problems, i.e. "I'm not good enough for him."

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 4/5

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

GRR Reviews The Billionaire's Bet #1: A Seductive Deal by Clarissa Wild

Julie Valentine needs a muse to write her steamy novels, and breaking up with her loser BF didn't help. Going to a casino didn't help either, but did get her to know billionaire Dominic Fury. And he's dreamily handsome. But when he put up 15000 for one night with her... the catch is there may be some pain involved... And she needed the money... She decided to take it, just to see where it leads...

For this 40 page short, this is basically first few chapters of a whole novel, and the failure to understand BDSM is quite apparent. This reads like someone wants to emulate Fifty Shades, and only managed to emulate the words, with no understanding of what's BDSM. All you get from the novel is she's so turned on she'll let him do anything, no negotiation, total trust with a stranger, and you have NO IDEA what made him OR her that way. The names are practically screaming "lame archetypes". All in all, total disappointment. And there are more volumes of this... (bleep).

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Lame Fifty-Shades Wannabe Teaser Volume, Shallow Characters, No Understanding of Kink

Overall Rating:1/5

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

GRR Reviews Falling for Tender Heart (Tender Heart Texas) by Katie Lane

Falling for Tender Heart managed to be sweet while poking some good-natured fun at fans of romance novels.

Emery came to Bliss Texas in search of the fabled "final novel" in the Tender Heart series. The author died but left hints about the final book. However, the manuscript had never been found. After getting a clue, Emery, a book reviewer/editor decided to get her two other friends to visit Bliss and see what inspired the author to write about all the mail order brides that left readers enchanted, and see if there are still clues. Encountering a brooding cowboy who looked almost exactly like one of the heroes in Tender Heart series of novels was just a bonus. How can a girl not swoon when a fantasy came true? // Cole is tired of the ranch. He and his cousins have buried their hatchets despite family feud that tore the holdings into thirds, but he's thinking about selling out and leaving altogether. He owed her step-sister that much... He, after all, put her in that wheelchair, and she needs rehab. But Emery threw that plan into chaos. Cole hated these fortune-hunters... There is no final novel... The family had searched for it to no avail. And Emery, while tempting, is just using him for information. Right?

This was a very nice use of mail-order bride trope and context to set up the present day romance. I can see where the twist was going to be, but it was a nice twist nonetheless. Not like SUPER-nice, but good nonetheless.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Did someone really found the lost manuscript? A book reviewer and her friends will find out and fall for some cowboys too...

Tropes: small town, just visiting, romance writer (editor), family drama, familys ecrets, disguise,

Overall Rating:  4/5

GRR Reviews Writing Mr. Right by T.K. Leigh

Writing Mr. Right is an interesting love triangle with a bit of romance writer 4th wall plus some family issues. It makes for a good story, but the MMC was a bit too flat for me to make him perfect. He's just... too nice.

Molly Brinks is a magazine columnist by day... and an erotic romance writer by night. She's almost 30, and she's coping with her dysfunctional family. Her mother ran off one day leaving both kids (Molly and brother) with the father. Decades later, her father has severe dementia in a nursing home. Molly is also having a severe case of writer's block, with a deadline due soon, and her muse, Daniel, isn't helping at all, and in fact, made things worse when Molly figured out he has a wife and kids. Daniel claimed he has permission to be in an open relationship, but Molly had enough. Her drama brought her to the attention of her father's physician, Noah, who had experienced a similar loss of a parent. And from that friendship, love grew. But can Molly commit to anyone, when even she doesn't know what love is? Is she just using Noah as a muse? or could Noah be... Mr. Right?

Having a "muse" for an author is often an interesting source of conflict in a story esp. when the muse did not know he is the inspiration for one of the characters. I however, find Noah to be a bit too passive nice-guy to be much of a character, which is why this didn't get a higher score.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Writer facing problems and writer's block found her father's doctor may be her next muse... if she can accept his love...

Tropes: romance writer, disguise, family secrets, doctor/patient, jilted

Overall Rating:  4/5

GRR Reviews A Kiss For The Cameras (The Hollywood S by Olivia Jaymes

A Kiss For the Cameras is a contemporary romance with the "fake romance into real love" trope and a Hollywood setting, known as a "showmance". The romance is sweet and developed naturally. Unfortunately, the ending was a bit too much trope.

Paige Mitchell is a best-selling author. She's a short and frumpy housewife who prefers sweatpants and sweatshirts to Pradas and Diors. Nate Mason is a British actor making it in America as the lead in a famous action franchise, except his past scandal involving a young starlet made him a bit of outcast. When their agents suggested a "showmance" (public relations romance, mainly for the cameras) between the two, Paige was extremely doubtful. Who can believe action god Nate Mason be interested in a frumpy housewife that is Paige Mitchell? But they both need something... He wanted to be the star in a new franchise based on her books, and she wanted to have some creative control over movie franchise based on her books. Both needed the Hollywood buzz to move forward, and an alliance was struck. And as they spent time together, Paige learned that behind the smooth British facade was a real sensitive caring man. But this is a performance for the cameras... right?

The ending unfortunately, devolved to a very lame trope: "I believe you wanted something other than me, so I will do some really stupid things to drive you away, because I believe that's best for you". Which is, obviously, followed by "I was really stupid." Argh.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Can a frumpy housewife author and a hot British action actor put on a showmance for Tinseltown press? Is it just pretense?

Tropes: romance writer, performer, fake engagement, forced proximity, no good for you

Overall Rating:  4/5

GRR Reviews A Chance to Come True (Copperhead Creek) by S M Spencer

A Chance to Come True is a contemporary romance set in Australia about a woman chasing her dreams, and the distraction she found in town. The emotional push-pull as they circle each other was nicely done, but nothing special or particular memorable was in this novel.

Caity just gave up her job and her home and moved to the little town of Willows (Australia) to become a full-time writer, away from distractions, esp. men. But a trip into town brought her into the orbit of Tom and his three children. Tom's marriage was a failure, but his family ties are strong. And he wanted no complications, not with three kids requiring his full attention. When the Tom and Caity met... well, neither was prepared to accept what they felt for each other...

As I said, the tale is sweet, but there really wasn't anything I haven't seen before. It's a competent romance with no issues but nothing outstanding either.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Woman goes off to write in little town found distracting single father of three tempting her heart

Tropes: single parent, writer

Overall Rating: 3/5

GRR Reviews Forget Me Not (Loveless and Dunn) by Erika Marks

Forget Me Not let me rather underwhelmed by starting strong, with a good setup and great escalation, but the darkest hour and grand gesture somehow just didn't do it for me. I think it could have delivered a better emotional punch for the ending.

To recap, aspiring writer Mallory Reynolds left Magnolia Bay for New York City, leaving a lot behind, including her sweetheart Josh Loveless. Her breakout series was erotica called The Lost Diaries of Scarlet under a pen name, and it became a bestseller. She was just enjoying her success when her publisher leaked her real identity. Now people are whispering behind her back, and Mallory decided to go home and hide... and ran into Josh again. Josh spent all his energy on his dream and opened his sports equipment store, and he just invested into a grand re-opening... And found Mallory was back in town. Things were never finished between them, but both felt betrayed when neither were willing to accommodate the other. One can't leave, the other can't stay. Years later, both were a little wiser, but when the scandal followed Mallory home, it would be up to Josh to decide whether he can accept Mallory for exactly what she is... Or will she be forever marked by her creation?

To explain why I rated the book above average, I'll have to spoil the ending

SO HERE GOES

SPOILER ALERT

Anyway, Mallory was going to be a teacher in the town school, as she definitely has the credentials to teach English and so on. But when the scandal followed her home, head of school board (being a prick) withdrew the hiring offer. So Josh called a school board emergency meeting and forced a vote to countermand the withdrawal, so Mallory can stay, write, and be near Josh for his HEA.

Really? The darkest hour was Mallory was going to run away AGAIN, and the grand gesture was Josh calling a school board meeting so she can stay? Somehow, this gesture wasn't... that... "grand". While it made perfect sense, when you read it it just somehow feels underwhelming. Also, the publisher seems to be totally insensitive, as in "any exposure is good exposure", right down to distributing books and t-shirts in her hometown when she just wanted to get away, and no apology to the author either. How about some karma?

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Outed erotica writer had to flee home to hide, and confront her feelings for the hot sporting goods store owner she left behind

Tropes: romance writer, disguise, return, reunion, betrayal

Overall Rating: 4/5 (rounded up)

GRR Reviews Shy girls write it better (Some Girls Do It) by May Sage

Shy Girls Write It Better is a cute rom-com with an intriguing and almost trope high concept: the shy clerk is actually an erotica writer. While not totally original, the high concept was nicely executed into a "hot for boss" romance.

Cassie Franklin is a shy klutz working in a dreary accounting department of a place she loved called Harris Toys, and she has a secret... For she also wrote erotic romance in her spare time under the pen name Cassandra Frank. She has the hots for the boss Carter Harris, but she knew Carter doesn't date a mousy klutz like her. But one day, when Carter and her accidentally switched folders due to a coffee machine malfunction that she helped sort out, her secret is out... but Carter was only more intrigued, as the manuscript was great... except she knew nothing about... BDSM. So he offered up some criticism and remarks in the margins... and their friendship grew... And the next thing they knew... They are quite into each other... But if she's making good money writing, why did she stay around? Carter wanted to find out... AND give her some hands-on lessons...

While the "shy ingenue clerk/secretary and the alpha male boss" had been done to death, this variation managed to freshen up the trope by adding a bit "alternate identity" intrigue into it. It's a fun rom-com sexy read.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Accounting Clerk Accidentally Swaps Her Erotica Draft With Boss' Presentation File; Now He's Intrigued!

Tropes: hot for boss, disguise, BDSM, romance writer

Overall Rating: 4/5

GRR Reviews Ranch's Retreat (River's End Ranch Book by Kirsten Osbourne

Ranch's Retreat is a contemporary Western romance involving River's End Ranch's cowboys, and the visiting guest. It's short, sweet, and a bit of fourth wall breaking which added to the fun.

Five Romance Authors decided to do some writing at River's End Ranch in Riston, Idaho. But for Kaya Taylor, her life will never be the same. Her life was rather lonely despite the words she put into the novels, but one look at Glen Johnson at the ranch and she found herself lost. But Glen can't commit to a relationship. He's about to get his doctorate and turn his uncle's old ranch into an equine therapy center. While he felt a connection to Kaya, he couldn't change his life plan for her... Or can he?

The theme is for love, both have to make sacrifices. While Kaya can write almost anywhere, can Glen sacrifice part of his plan for love? Fun read, from an affair to true love of the heart.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Can a romance writer on vacation fall for a cowboy soon leaving for veterinarian school?

Tropes: romance writer, commitment-phobe, fling to a thing

Overall Rating:  4/5 (rounded up from 3.5/5)

GRR Reviews It's In His Heart (A Red River Valley Novel) by Shelly Alexander

It's in His Heart is an unexpected romance between a grieving widow and her husband's best friend, both slowly coming to the realization that perhaps love can come again.

Ella Dennings just wanted to get away to her late husband Bradley's Red River Valley cabin. He had died a long painful death due to cancer. Her car skidded in the mud and stuck in a ditch. She had to walk to the cabin with her beloved bulldog Winston in a raging rainstorm, already muddy from several falls, only to find the cabin was occupied... by her late husband's best friend, Cooper. Cooper was hiding from the public having been falsely accused by an ex of sexual impropriety and had to sell his old home to cover his legal fees for the court battle. He had nowhere to go except the cabin, and the last thing he wanted was to spend time with his (dead) best friend's widow that he was also very much attracted to, even if Ella was willing to move on. But Ella's keeping a secret... To partly escape from her reality she had taken to erotic romance writing, and wrote novels where she hoped what she'll do with her husband should he recover. The first two were major hits that she no longer had to teach. When the pair finally got it together, Ella based subsequent volumes on her encounter with Cooper. When Ella's secret came to light and rocked the small town, will it doom Cooper's chances in court? Or be his ultimate salvation?

The pivot from "why not it's just a fling" to "going long-term" was done nicely and the darkest hour was done very well when the idea that Coop's lawsuit can be undone by the novel, but so was the grand gesture and the resolution. But you'll need to read the novel to find that out. The characters are sympathetic and good to each other.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: New Widow Was Forced to Cohabitate Cabin with Dead Husband's Best Friend, and Fell for Each Other

Tropes: dead spouse's best friend, grief, romance writer, fling to a thing, hiding out

Overall Rating:  4/5