GRR Reviews He Said Together by Ruth Cardello

NOTE: Available on Kindle Unlimited as of review date. 

Kal and his twin Riley have very different views on life. Riley wanted to learn about the Corisis, but Antonio Corisi was the one who broke their mother's back, putting the fear into her for as long as they had lived. Kal on the other hand, refuse to trust anyone, but will do whatever it takes for his family, including becoming the premier exotic dancer in Vegas... // Jade thought she knew passion looked like, until she saw Kal's performance, as "Invio" on stage. But when she found out her fiancee had been cheating at that very moment, then her bridesmaids left her, drunk and wallet-less, at her own bachelorette party, she was saved by Kal / Invio, who encouraged her to seek out her own dreams instead of merely accepting what's in front of her. Some time later, Kal was suddenly financially free, and the only woman on his mind was Jade. But is Jade ready for him when he said forever? 

Very interesting emotional arc, as Kal's mistrust, or lack of faith, is making him fail his own connection to his own family, and his tendency to find a place to sulk and brood instead of talking was a part of his arc to come out of it. Jade's arc is transition from a rather... mousy girl who thought she just wanted a family to a woman who wanted the right man, in his right mind. 

4.5/5

GRR Reviews Going Down Hard by Carly Phillips

Cassie wanted to save her family company left by her grandpa, and she worked hard and is the chief editor of a subsidiary magazine. Getting an interview with Derek, founder of Blink and new tech billionaire, would be the scoop of a lifetime. But Derek was her gardener's son... Make that, former gardener, and Derek does not grant interviews, ever. Still, it wouldn't hurt to try... // Derek knew Cassie as someone who went along with mean girls that humiliated him. When her father accused his mother of stealing jewelry and kicked them out with no references and no insurance, it lead to his father's death. He was sure of that. Yet here is Cassie needing something from him, and there is a connection. He was shocked to learn that she and her mother (supposed owner of the missing jewelry) never knew they were fired and blacklisted. When Cassie found that her father had given the job of CEO to her brother, who never spent a day working, and also kicked her out of her place to make way for her brother, she has no one to turn to except Derek...

While there is proper karma for the bad guy, it was all tell and no show. Which is quite unsatisfying. The character arcs also feel shallow. Cassie was hardworking but totally naive and powerless against others, other than minor passive-aggressive defiant gestures. Derek was the angry young man who wanted revenge, and actually softened up a little. The problem is Cassie's father, who really shows no sign of competence whatsoever, until after the bit where Cassie talked to her mom, and her mom promised to give her father an earful. There's really NO SIGN that he would change, then he did. It doesn't FEEL right. 3/5

GRR Reviews Taken Home by Ruth Cardello

NOTE: Book 3 of Lone Star Burn series

Chelle lives in a small town in Texas, and may be the last virgin in town... she tried to save herself for "the one", but there aren't many choices in a small town. She just attended another wedding where another bachelor is off the market when she met Mason, an out-of-town politician, and so sexy, she may just give him a condom so he can do her, as long as he's single... // Mason used to be a child actor until the death of his mother estranged him from his father, and he fell into a dark place... but he got into rehab and managed to end his trip of self-destruction. He became a California senator but kept everyone at arm's length. There were plenty of women, but almost all are gone by morning. He slept with the wrong woman, who doesn't understand "no". He needs a fiancee, a fake one will do. Then he went to Texas to attend a friend's wedding and met Chelle... // Chelle and Mason have chemistry, but Mason is a player and doesn't know any other way, while Chelle's a virgin... who knows what she wants, but doesn't want any lies. When Chelle got rid of the woman who stalked Mason all the way to Texas, he was grateful... Then got a slap in the face for not telling her the truth to start. Now Mason is confused about his feelings for Chelle...

The meetcute is good, as the "fake fiancee" thing is kinda on kinda off. She wants to get it on, but on HER terms, not his. And she wants the truth, not lies, and he was a player, and never had to lie. The only problem I have is "why this woman"? And this is sort of explained later, how Mason has a broken family and relied on friends, but maybe he yearned for a big family again, and she has such a big family and a small town full of friends. Still, his infatuation was left a bit unexplained and presented as if it's the unexplained "she's the one". The rest of the developments have interesting points, but also some cliches (like Ruby Rose, the female best friend). Though the double grand gesture, both from him and from her was satisfying. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews The Wild One by Ruth Cardello

NOTE: Same series as "The Broken One" reviewed earlier

Mauricio Romano is between jobs, trying to figure out his direction in life. His family is rich (he's technically a billionaire), but he's not spoiled... just... cocky. And visiting his buddy Felix in Paris was just the time to lose some steam. But losing his heart to an American visitor? Never. Right? // Wren Heath was visiting Paris at the invitation of her friend Cecil. Meeting Mauricio, the avowed bachelor and player, wasn't quite in her plans, but having a weeklong fling with a gorgeous guy in the city of love sounds wonderful... Especially if what happened in Paris, stay in Paris. Right? 

This one leaves me a little conflicted. I can see Wren's thoughts, as she kept saying this is "just a fling", and even though she'd LIKE it to be permanent, she was prejudiced by Cecil's opinion of Mauricio, that he's good at building a fantasy, and she's viewing all his moves as "building a fantasy for her" even when he's sincere. What I have a little problem seeing is how Mauricio turned from an avowed bachelor to a one-woman man. 4/5

GRR Reviews Show Stopper by BJ Harvey

 Renee loves selling houses, but hates firefighters, after having been burned by one. While showing a house, she had a little accident, and ended up sprawled on top of Marco, who's as charming as they come. That is, until she mistook the female with him (actually his sister) to be his fling, even as he found Renee to be just his type, a brunette goddess... Now, just how can Marco demonstrate to Renee that she's the show stopper he wanted, even though he's a firefighter?

A bit of a rom-com and good back and forth, as each layer of Marco is revealed, doing a good push-pull. One step forward, two steps back... Good banter, great cast of family members. 4/5

GRR Reviews Bleacke's Geek by Lesli Richardson

 Dewi Bleacke is a prime alpha wolf (one of the very few female prime alphas) and head enforcer of the Targhee Pack in Florida. While on the hunt for a dirtbag who literally sold his daughter for drugs, she came across her one true mate... in the form of a vegetarian geek professor by the name of Dr. Heathcliff McKenzie Ethelbert. "Inviting" him into the restroom for a quick romp may not be the best way to a guy's heart, nor was gunning down the scumbag then "inviting" "Ken" to come along (quietly). But a girl's gonna do what must be done, including meeting her "family"... partner "Beck", and surrogate father "Badger" (both shifters) who had to adapt to living with a "grazer". But someone is watching from the shadows... a killer that killed Dewi's parents and almost killed her and was never caught. Will "Ken" rise above the low expectations, and be a worthy mate to Dewi? 

 For a series starter, the reversal of roles (generally, the shifter is H and the human is h, this has the reverse) is a great way to keep things interesting. And while the onion peel was done properly it just feels a bit too quick, and the bad guy's obsession and motivation a bit suspect.  Still, it's a fun story. 

4/5

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 Aloha Hideaway Inn by Elana Johnson

 Stacey runs Aloha Hideaway Inn, a charming B&B in Getaway Bay, Hawaii. She has an excellent garden and she's sure she's doing fine. But when a mega-resort Sweet Breeze opened not far away, she had to check out the competition... and that's how she met Fisher DuPont. // Fisher DuPont worked hard to build his resort, and he's perfectly willing to go undercover boss, to make sure every guest is getting the tip-top service. And that's how he met Stacey. // Fisher and Stacey should be competitors, but they remained friends. But when both were gun-shy about relationships due to prior betrayal, is there any hope of love between them, with a tropical storm bearing down on the island? 

Not bad as a build-up, but some personal issues for Stacey felt like it came out of nowhere. It also tried to setup the characters for book 2, and thus reads a bit... unsatisfying. 3/5

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 Change of Hart by ME Carter

Change of Hart, the debut novel by ME Carter, is the first book out of a series of 7. The sports references are right on, but the plot is predictable, and the woman seems to be (unintentionally) playing "hard to get". 

Jason Hart is the best pro defensive lineman in the NFL, and he's playing for the winning Dallas Cowboys. At a publicity event in a school, he met a little boy who lost his father, and he felt a connection, having lost his own father when young. So he invited the boy and his mother to an event... and met Addison, the recent widow. Now he's hopelessly smitten, even though he was an avowed bachelor just before this... 

Sports romance authors can choose to create fictional teams or use the names of real ones. and this one chose to use real team names with fictitious players. Both works and the references are quite accurate here. My main problem is I saw the plot twists coming from a while away, even though the author tried to present it onion-peel style. Such as why was Addison so resistant to any romantic attempt from Jason initially, then having a misunderstanding due to a nosy reporter (and I guessed at the truth long before it was revealed). No surprises there AT ALL. The push-pull is not bad but still not extraordinary. 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 Take a Chance on Me by Becky Wade

Eli is an air force pilot who wanted to date the town baker Penelope. However, in their last meeting, he forgot to mention that he's due for a deployment to the Middle East soon and while they did have a good time right up to the point she found out, she's hardened her heart to all airmen, because they are all cocky bas****s who can't be trusted. She tried to trust one, only to be betrayed. Months later, he's back stateside, and he wants another chance, and helping his best friend's family, which happens to involve Penelope's sister, through a medical crisis after a difficult birth, is a perfect opportunity to convince Penelope that he may be the one for her... 

A novella at just under 100 pages, it actually contains a good amount of plot and some good back-and-forth between Eli and Penelope. 

4/5

GRR Reviews Breakup Boot Camp by Beth Merlin

Joanna was about to get married, and she's busy getting herself into shape to fit into the wedding gown... Until a discovery led to her canceling the entire wedding... Because her fiancee is a cheater... for MONTHS. She needs help and an escape from her friends and family... so she signed up for Breakup Boot Camp... where she can learn about self-care, spa, yoga, surfing, and a lot of talking with a therapist to get over the only person she had loved... Could the cheating be partly her own fault? Why had she abandoned her career? Did she ever accept the loss in her life? What responsibility does she have in the demise of her own relationship? And does she like Chef Todd?

More chick-lit than romance, it's a bit deeper than you'd expect, and I like it. 4/5

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 Driving Home for Christmas by Lexy Timms

Abigail is just trying to go home after losing EVERYTHING. When her plane landed in Kansas, well short of her destination of Minnesota, and there is no car to rent anywhere, her trip home is in the hands of Colin, a workaholic Grinch on his way to attend his company party and business meeting. // Colin hates being forced into anything, but leaving a sobbing female at the rental car counter while he's heading the same way is not really an option. So he reluctantly offered her a ride for the next ten hours... Then they got stranded by the snowstorm and had to spend a night in a cheap motel... They couldn't be more different, and she's trying to draw him out of his shell. Yet they say opposites attract...

The opposites attract theme was handled really well. Abby lost everything, but she's more of an optimist, while Colin has everything, but is a Grinch and a pessimist. They seem to be a perfect balance together, and being forced together made them see each other past the initial impressions. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews The Boyfriend Sessions by Belinda WIlliams

Christa has such a big commitment issue her best friends decided to mount an intervention. After all, one usually does not flee from a super-sweet and rich French guy's wedding proposal. Her friends decided on a weekly event: let Christa recount each of her boyfriends, and list the good and bad, and what she took away from each relationship. And along for the ride is Max, one of her best friends' brother, as "the token guy", and the one she was never supposed to fall for... Has Christa learned her lessons? Would Max be worth the risk? Or will her romantic failures doom everything?

Good mix of chick-lit and my best friend's brother trope, with a little bit of "everyone but you". 4.5/5

GRR Reviews Fake Marriage to Her Best Friend by Kacy Cross

NOTE: The book is also titled as "Fake Marriage Favor"

Nomi is tired of losing. She had already lost the defense of her brother from fraud charges, which also meant closing the lawfirm they founded. She was not about to give up on the city council election... However, she has one leaked compromising photo that her opponent would use against her. She needs help from the other person on the photo, her best (platonic) friend, Malone. // Malone and Nomi are platonic friends for a long time, and Malone wasn't looking for love. Having the ex-fiance stole his entire company definitely soured the mood. When Nomi proposed that they get (fake) married to solve her PR problem, he accepted. That's what best friends do for each other, right? But neither expected the turn of their feelings when they actually kissed...

Somehow, the characters aren't that nice. They are sweet and they have sob stories, but really, marriage of convenience just to repair her CHANCE of repairing her reputation? It somehow just feels very... selfish and egocentric. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews Say You'll Stay by Corinne Michaels

Presley thought her life was going fine, until it was turned not just upside down, but went through a tornado... She found her husband not only hung himself but also left her a pile of debt and to raise 3 boys alone. She had no choice but to return to Tennessee and her family while maintaining the fiction (for sake of her boys) that their father died from a heart attack. But returning home also means meeting the one that betrayed her... Zach... His career didn't work out.  Is there a chance for them to reconcile? Is she ready to move on from the two devastating betrayals she had suffered?

I am a bit conflicted about this story. The setup about her dead husband's betrayal took up quite a bit of space, that just feels long and drawn-out, and instead of coming all at once, they hit one at a time. I felt the intro could have been handled better, like when she's hounded by bill collectors or something. I have a little problem with the original reason they broke up, which she counts as a betrayal. It makes her sound like a whiny b****. The reunion is okay. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews The Cowboy by Molly O'Keefe

Cody and Bea have an informal arrangement... No names, no faces, no talking. She's his morning girl on the balcony over his work site. He's a broken cowboy, and she'll take whatever he can give. Until he walked into her bar, and he didn't know it's her. She's in love with the broken cowboy, and she can no longer keep the secret, but he's not in love with her... at least, not the public version...

Interesting angst-y take on a bit of obsession, and somewhat unconventional. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews Wedding of the Century by Patricia McLinn

Annette once vowed never to return to her small town, after she ran away from her dream wedding... which is AFTER a very pregnant girl showed up claiming the baby was fathered by her betrothed, Steve, and he didn't refute it. So she left and started her own life. Seven years later, she had to return when her brother broke his wrist and can no longer work as a contractor for weeks. Her ex-betrothed is now a single father, and it's clear there still are feelings that remained. And perhaps, she may even gather enough courage to ask... Why did Steve betray her? And the answer will shock her to her core...

Wow, the twists are shocking, and a bit soap-opera worthy, but everything makes sense. 5/5