GRR Reviews Moon Blooded Breeding Clinic by C M Nascosta

 NOTE: Available on Kindle Unlimited as of review time Sep 1, 2022

MBBC is a non-human/human romance, specifically, wolf-shifter / human romance from a slightly unexpected angle: fertility clinic. It is quite sweet, almost cloyingly so. 

Lowell Hemming, the only Hemming boy (of wolfshifter family) who left town in several generations, is forced back to town when a human pandemic shut down the world, ruining his career as a photojournalist. Living in his hometown as "one of those Hemmings boys" (6 in total) made his every action under scrutiny, and he literally has no one to f- as he had NO attachment to his hometown, having been away for far too long. Then a brochure offered him a potential way out... a fertility clinic alternative... // Moriah knew she may face difficulty conceiving from her non-human husband, but she never anticipated the problem lead to their divorce. Now with her own business thriving, she's free to get the one thing she wanted: a child. And Moon Blooded Breeding Clinic offers a very different solution... Be introduced to a wolf-shifter, get a shot to align the cycle and trigger a heat, and breed with a handsome werewolf before the full moon. It's cheaper than interspecies IVF, much more pleasant, and cheaper than adoption. 

But neither Lowell nor Moriah counted on catching feelings...

As I said, the story is cloyingly sweet... Lowell is the perfect gentleman, only slightly rougher in wolf-form. But there's just a HINT of ickyness as Moriah was under the hormones in the subsequent months where she really fell for Lowell.  One also questions how did Lowell account for lust vs. love, as he literally suffered months of blue balls before meeting Moriah. At least they had a good first meeting where she wasn't in heat and he just has blue balls (though they... well, went to a hotel to test their compatibility). 

The verbiage during the breeding sounds a bit porn-y, and we spent way too much time in Lowell's head, compared to be in Moriah's head. Seems Lowell painted himself into a corner of his own choosing, and his parents knew he had to "escape" in his own way, he just made escape literal instead of the way his brothers (including his twin brother) did in other ways. 

4/5 (rounded up from 3.5/5)

 

GRR Reviews Traded by Tess Thompson

Kara is a nurse in WITSEC after doing the right thing. She left everything behind, hoping for a fresh start. Brody is the SuperBowl winning QB coming home to rest and needed a nurse for his mom and his housekeeper / 2nd mom. So he hired her, and they slowly fell for each other. But he had a "no woman" rule after a bad breakup and she's full of secrets and refused ANY spotlight... Can this relationship ever work? 

The serendipity is strong in this, and the solution felt very "Gift of the Magi" -ish. But somehow I don't really think they click as a couple, as Brody just feels... schizophrenic... He's both not suspecting enough... AND too paranoid. At least there are no TSTL moments. 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 Off The Hook by Laura Drewry

Kate jumped on the chance to learn all about a fishing lodge with a secret mission from her boss, who suggested that since the existing owners are unlikely to be able to afford their tax bill, much less refurb the place to re-open, she may be running it when it's all over. But when she realized one of the co-owners was her ex, Liam, to whom she was married to for less than a day, 10 years ago, this may turn into an impossible assignment... // Liam was a pitcher in the Major Leagues, but he's getting old and his prior injury means no team wanted to hire him... for now. That means he needs to move back home and help his brothers get the fishing lodge their late father left them... and a mountain of unpaid taxes and "deferred maintenance". Marrying Kate in a drunken stupor, then leaving in the middle of the night and divorce by mail was not the smartest thing he'd done, but he felt it was necessary. Now that Kate is here... 

Excellent "conflicting feelings" reunion, with a couple layers of motivations. Kate refused to leave because she MAY get a managerial job out of this, and Liam... simply can't afford to let her go, not to mention they really do have feelings for each other. Unfortunately, one of the plot points required a "most fortuitous accident" and I feel that's a weak point of the book. Though the end is very satisfying.  4.5/5

GRR Reviews The Secret One by Ruth Cardello

NOTE: Same series as "The Broken One" and "The Wild One"

McKenna was raised by her single father ex-race car driver to be independent and excel in a world dominated by men. And after a talk with "Chris" in a bar, she decided to dedicate her life to make her father's dream happen. And she did... by building her own raceway and an auto business like no other. When she met this down-to-earth guy with a broken (rare) car on the side of the road, she can't help but feel there's a prior connection... Turns out, he is Christof... aka Chris that inspired her to go after her dreams. She's even more surprised to learn he's Christof Romano, a billionaire... She's surprised again, when he invited her to Italy... to help him broker peace between an ultra-rich man looking for answers and a protective family hiding a secret...  

The story is between Christof and McKenna. I like the way the author handled the different personalities of the different sons, as each brother (Sebastian, Mauricio, and now Christof) really do have personalities, and they josh each other in a loving way. Females in this author's books are independent with their own careers and priorities, and her man will have to fit into her life, instead of her being molded into his. Christof was the diplomat of the family, and his job is difficult because this time, he's up against someone whose fortune and power are orders of magnitude above his own. I just wish McKenna had more of a role during the negotiations that applies her talent in some way.  4/5

GRR Reviews The Inn at Willa Bay by Nicole Ellis

Zoe thought as the assistant event planner for a wedding resort in Willa Bay, she would inherit the event planner position when the existing one retired. Instead, her boss handed the position to his son-in-law who had never worked in the industry. Then she learned that her landlord Celia not only needed a hospital stay, she's also in danger of losing the entire place, a former inn, and leaving Zoe with no home. // Her best friend Meg had left a prestigious sous chef job to come home to her mother being treated for cancer, and work in a kitchen with no chance of advancement. When a friend's old rival returned to town, threatening her routine for the kitchen, her timetable for departure may be moved up...  // Her other best friend Cassie did not expect to be a single mother after marrying the love of her life, only to divorce him 10 years later to raise an autistic child alone. She was barely getting by, until an old rival returned to town... and about to destroy her side gig as a cake baker/decorator. // Shawn had just restored a house and flipped it for profit when he got a phone call from across the country from a mystery woman. Who is Celia? Why did Celia have him as an emergency contact? And who is this Zoe that called her? His curiosity will lead him to Willa Bay... // These people are about to meet and change each other's lives... 

As a series starter, this is actually well plotted so everything ties together. It does sound a bit scattered at the beginning, as if all the separate threads don't quite fit together, but they do. My main problem is the final solution, which I will not spoil, is a bit deus ex machina. And also the solution doesn't mean everybody gets HEA. We do have a couple more books, after all. The characters all are reasonable. I feel the connection between Shawn and Zoe was a bit rushed. The rivalry and the unreasonableness of "bad boss" and how the various characters just kowtowed instead of engaging in some malicious compliance just feel... unsatisfying. Also, this being a series, there's no karma in this particular book, which may leave some readers miffed. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews To Hold a Rancher's Hand by Kadi James

Rafe is back from the Middle East, ready to settle back into civilian life. He took up the mantle of volunteer firefighter to protect his community and be the head of one of the guardian ranches of Coyote Valley. When a fire swept through the valley, and tore through Gail's community, Rafe and crew managed to stop the blaze, but cannot save Gail's place. Rafe offered Gail a place to stay, and it was accepted. But Gail wondered if this can be long-term, as there was a reason she prefers to live alone... 

Really not feeling much for this.  Nothing really memorable comes to mind. 2.5/5

GRR Reviews If You Love Me by Ciara Knight

 Drew has a job: get the town to sign off on the revitalization plan for his boss. He was definitely not ready to be ensnared in small-town politics involving crazy elders and a mayor playing him like a chess piece. And he definitely was not ready for Carissa, the town's best baker... // Carissa is a small town girl but the pain from losing who she thought was her forever man to who she thought was one of her best friends still lingers. Except that "friend" is back in town and was determined to show up everyone else. // Drew wanted to know Carissa better, but Drew also wanted to advance his career. Are those two goals compatible? Or will Carissa feel betrayed after learning that Drew may not stay? 

As a series starter, the setup was pretty good as it introduced all of the cast while giving them different personalities, yet made Carissa the main character, and set up an "antagonist" as well. There is some sparks flying, so it's not too bad. 3.5/5

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 Borrowing Kisses by Kat Bellemore

 Zoe, the special assistant to the mayor of the small town of Amor, knew her town will never be the same after the nearby space sport opened for space tourism. But when the real estate developer Stephen arrived, with the blessing of the mayor, to buy out a few businesses so the town can grow, she chose to sabotage Stephen to drive him out, to "save" her town...  // Stephen is a workaholic raised by a workaholic after the loss of his mother. He knew a promotion is promised if he can get the town to buy in, and he's NOT trying to mess up the town. But with "help" like Zoe thwarting his every move, his overall mission may be in jeopardy... // Stephen and Zoe are total opposites... He's a disciplined deal-maker. She's a free-spirit friend-maker. Yet there is an intense attraction there that neither can deny. But will they be fighting too much to give love a chance? 

Okay, the back and forth is actually pretty good, and the changing of mind makes sense. However, it's certain that the "spaceport" bit was written without a technical consultant. There is just NO WAY that even a civilian spaceport would let just random gawkers go up and TOUCH the ship... or let a pilot offer "inside tours" after a landing.  This is not a 747. Not that you can touch the skin of a 747 from the ground anyway. Maybe the engine cowling. But this is supposed to be a spaceship? Spaceplane? Whatever... 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 The Lost Art of Reverie by Rae Walsh

Katie was betrayed twice by people she trusted, which gave her PTSD and nervous breakdown. When she got a notice that she has inherited grandma's Victorian in the town of Aveline, where she had great time as a kid, it seems to be the perfect escape. And her recovery lead her to dream about opening a new town cafe, putting her culinary dreams into reality... But she wasn't counting on meeting Sam again... // Sam was burned in a relationship twice by the same woman... and has vowed to stay out of entanglements. But meeting Katie again may change his mind, esp. when he's helping her build her new town cafe at the house... // As Sam and Katie fell for one another, a betrayal from an unexpected direction will put that relationship to the ultimate test... 

The book managed to not be preachy yet religious. There was basically ONE Bible quote, and it was used very smartly. However, the beginning was extremely slow, as we are treated to a series of flashbacks outlining how good Katie's life was when young, then the two betrayals (with very little detail, more of a teaser / aftermath)  They didn't catch my attention. I had to finish those, then I got to the chapter of her arriving in town and getting to know the town again. THEN things started to pick up. While those early chapters did manage to "show", not just tell her mental state after two betrayals, they are not exactly good starter hooks. 

3.5/5 rounded up to 4/5

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 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 Melody's Christmas by ID Johnson

Melody lost her father two Christmas's ago, and had lost all interest in music and holiday spirit. She only came back to help her mother keep the family antique business afloat... and she needs to work fast, as the business may be foreclosed on if she dawdled. Meeting the new handyman in town, Reid, was a surprise, and so was meeting his adorable five-year-old. Did she put her life on hold for grief? // Reid had to leave town after his wife left, leaving him to raise his son alone. He moved to the small town for a fresh start, and it's clear that his son is smitten with Melody. But is his heart ready to try again? Can he get her back into the Christmas spirit? 

Clear but not too overly Christian themes, not too heavily handed, good use of kid's cuteness. But nothing truly extraordinary either. 

3/5

GRR Reviews Back To You by Hunter J Keane

Noelle drove far with her nephew and niece to start over in Starlight Valley after a family tragedy. Her niece isn't happy that they're now in a strange town and living on a Christmas tree farm, but her nephew seems to be interested in this new world... Until Noelle realized this is also where Evan lived. // Evan had to abandon his dreams of pro hockey after an injury, and lost Noelle. Now he's back to help run his aunt's Christmas tree farm...  and so did Noelle. Is this the second chance that they needed? Or are they too hurt to see it?

Seen the setup before, decent polish. 4/5

GRR Reviews Love on the Boardwalk by Nikki Lynn Barrett and Shannyn Leah

Eva is back in Cinnamon Bay to run the boardwalk cafe she inherited... AND hide the fact that her ex-fiancee was a cheating bas****. She took "Cafe Amour" off the menu because it's just bunk. It's NOT a love potion even if two people share it... // Mack is in Cinnamon Bay to search for the family that gave him up for adoption way back when. But what he found instead was Eva, a delicious coffee drink, and a legend about love and a lighthouse. Sharing the coffee with Eva was nice, but what will he discover about his own past, and does that mean a chance with Eva... or not?

Series starter, good setup, if a bit quirky about love and lives lost, and unusual circumstances. 4/5

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 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 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