GRR Reviews Follow You Anywhere by Weston Parker

Nolan, single father billionaire boss, just hired executive assistant Lacey. But Lacey has ambitions. She applied for an internship, she got this gig instead. She has an MBA and wants to use it, not be a glorified secretary, though she's good at it. Nolan needs a second-in-command so he can spend more time with his daughter Karina. And Lacey likes Nolan and Karina, as there's definitely chemistry between them. Neither are really looking for love, but will they ignore what's there? Will that jeopardize her job and career? Or his custody battle?

A pretty typical single-father / hot for boss / evil ex / career not love mix. While the polish is quite good, the plot is a pretty standard trope. 4/5

GRR Reviews It's a Wonderful Date by Sophia Summers

David regrets giving up his own plans and became the GP doc of a small town, following in his father's footsteps. The town needs a doc, and without the help of a nurse or even an answering service, he's on call 24/7, leaving him no time for social life.  But even he noticed Sarah moving in across the street, doubly so when he found her at his favorite patient Miss Lily's place, ready to redesign the interior. But Miss Lilly is dying and all he can do is to make sure she goes as pain-free as possible. Depressed and wondering did he actually do any good in life, it's up to Sarah to help him see his own worth... and some Holiday magic...

Basically a retelling of "It's a Wonderful Life", it's not bad, but not that good either. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews Ranger's Legacy by Vella Munn

Amber moved to Sweetheart Montana to survey the local area for native American sites and other historical heritage worth of documentation and fell for the hot forest ranger Garret. Garret became a ranger due to his love of nature... and a tragedy that he never wanted to talk about again. Meeting Amber made him feel things he hadn't for a long time, but Amber is prickly about needing "protection"... Can they realize they are good for each other?

The characters just didn't grab me... Amber's too prickly, and Garret is doing too much of that strong-silent-type thing, way too angst-y.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 3/5

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

GRR Reviews Her Favorite Cowboy (The Watson Brothers) by Ann B. Harrison

Her Favorite Cowboy started with trope: fling to surprise pregnancy, but the subsequent push-pull and "too proud to beg" mentalities was what put the book into "great" category.

Denver Attorney Layla Cox met Tyson Watson in Marietta Montana while attending a friend's wedding, and they are VERY compatible... yet totally different. They had a blissful weekend, then went back to their separate lives. However, soon after, Layla realized she's pregnant... apparently, some of Ty's condoms were a bit too old. Layla dumped her career and bought a small practice in Marietta to make sure Ty can be a part of the child's life, but Layla has no expectations on Ty, esp. when she learned he had put out an ad for a mail-order bride. //  Ty had a wonderful weekend with the beautiful attorney, then she left without a word, and stayed radio silent for weeks... Until she showed up in the middle of his busy rebuilding... and announced she's pregnant, but she doesn't want anything from him. Ty's surprise and shock lead him to reply in anger, which caused Layla to recoil, but both are too headstrong and control-freak to apologize for their own behavior... It may take a bit of family intervention to make the two see reason...

As I said, both are too proud to say what's on their minds, yet both obviously love each other, and their mindset actually made sense. The family intervention made it almost rom-com, but with a serious intent. All in all, while the plot is a bit of a trope, it's a fun read nonetheless.

Category: Contemporary / Western

Primary Plot: Lady attorney had a fling with a cowboy, found she's pregnant. When both are too proud to beg, what will bring them together?

Tropes: fling to a thing, accidental pregnancy, reunion, too busy for love, different worlds, lawyer

Overall Rating:  5/5

GRR Reviews Tempting Sydney by Angela Corbett

Tempting Sydney was a pretty basic contemporary romance between an uptight girl trying to pass law school and her mechanic.

NOTE: the version reviewed was "with A Dude's comments" . They were occasionally amusing but most of the time a bit of "meh". That version is no longer available and the regular version is linked.

Sydney had her life planned... finish law school and eventually get a judgeship. With no time for relationships (and men in general), she is nonetheless best friends with her friend Brynn who's into research on sex (with herself as the research subject, along with anyone she sleeps with). That is until Sydney came across the new local mechanic Jackson West when she had to get her baby '69 Camaro properly serviced... and Jackson "Jax" wanted to service her too... and he's just so tempting that even Sydney can't resist...

Honestly didn't feel anything special with this novel. Nothing really stood out. It's sort of cozy romance about a young woman giving into her desires.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Uptight girl with no time for romance was tempted by her handsome mechanic

Tropes: mechanic, different worlds, too busy for love

Overall Rating:  3/5

GRR Reviews The Perfect Kiss (Kissed by the Bay Book by Susan Hatler

The Perfect Kiss is about going for what you believe in, and seizing opportunity when it came along. It was a fun couple trying to take chances on each other, though I'm getting a bit tired of MMCs named "Brody".

Olivia is tired of her supermarket fishmonger job and wanted to be an event planner for the picturesque Blue Moon Bay... and she just snagged the ultimate gig... Execute a 2-week luxury retreat for Greta von Strand, best-selling author of "Men: Who Needs Them" and her followers, who need to embrace their independence and nurture each other. And Olivia definitely needed some of that independence. However, the retreat hit a snag when Brody and his friends, all hunky firefighters, took up residence next door. Now Olivia has to resist Brody's advances, keep Brody and his friends away from the female guests, and keep Greta's male friend away... and somehow still keep her regular job... in case this gig did not work out. And it happens that Olivia likes Brody quite a bit...

Olivia was basically encouraged by the lessons from the author/guru about going after what she wanted, and she wanted advancement... AND Brody. The push-pull is fun, there were some rom-com worthy moments, and overall it was a satisfying read.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Woman needing a new job was too busy for love, even if it's a hunky firefighter next door...

Tropes: firefighter, small town, too busy for love, different worlds,

Overall Rating:  4/5