GRR Reviews Where the Stars Meet the Sea by Heidi Kimball

Juliet and her little brother Harry were taken in by her titled aunt after the death of her father, a Scottish sea captain, and her mother, a titled lady who eloped for love. Juliet knew she would receive her inheritance on her 21st birthday, and she will have no nobility title. Until then her disapproving aunt controlled everything, including sending Harry off to a strict boarding school in London. Forced to accompany the family to visit Shaldron Castle, Juliet only wanted to keep to herself, as she does not know how to react to her cousin (her aunt's son) who professed to love her. A chance encounter with a boorish stranger with a walking stick caused her to lose her temper and control of her tongue. She was shocked to find out this is none other than Duke of Halstead, her host. She was shocked again when the duke seems to express an interest in her, even as he was supposed to marrying another titled lady. It was clear the Duke cares not for the expectations upon him, not even by his own mother and grandmother, esp. after an injury that crippled him for life, and caused him to withdraw from everything, esp. love. Neither expected this friendship to grow, but it did. Yet, her evil aunt has an ultimatum for her that will destroy her dreams.. 

Okay, the plotting and the angst is quite good, as the setup and push-pull was done really well. However, the ultimatum and the resolution really makes no sense. While the darkest hour was well done, the way from there to the grand resolution seems to have taken a few too many turns and as a result, the momentum was lost.  4/5

SPOILER

AHEAD

YOU'VE

BEEN

WARNED

Basically, the evil aunt threatened to take Harry from the boarding school (where he's hazed by the blue bloods because he's just a commoner) and drop him off at the dock so he can be shipped off as a cabin boy (the way to work your way up to maybe captain one day), if Juliet won't marry her son. Juliet was forced to accept, but a month later, decided she can't live with her decision, and will protect her brother some other way than kowtowing to her evil aunt. So she rescinded the acceptance. Then her evil aunt produced a letter from the school's headmaster, stating that her brother had run off from school leaving a note stating that he's going to join a ship, which was what he wanted anyway, as he can't take another day of the horrible school. Juliet then left her aunt's house and made her way to London trying to find her brother by prowling the docks alone...

This makes absolutely no sense. The aunt's LEVERAGE over Juliet was hinged on Harry staying in school. If Harry had escaped, there is no leverage. Showing her the letter was out of pure spite, and it was also revealed that her aunt really just wanted her inheritance, which aunt will control as her assets will belong to her new husband, which is aunt's son. For money, the aunt is willing to bind two people in marriage that do not love each other, basically ruining two lives, yet there was little background on WHY she would make such decision. That's a very "flat" villain. Coupled with lack of leverage, and the glee she produced the letter to force some anger/sadness out of Juliet, feels VERY very flat and ruined a great setup for the angst-y romance. 

GRR Reviews Plain Jayne by Laura Drewry

Nick and Jayne grew up together, and had been best friends for twenty-five years. But Nick married someone else, and Jayne moved away. She came back to attend his wife's funeral four years ago, but he had to ask her to leave when Nick's mother became VERY distraught and angry at her presence. But Jayne is now back to clean up her grandma's estate, a bookstore that closed up seemingly for no reason. She plans to reopen the store and make a life for herself in town... But that plan got derailed when she saw Nick again, who's dating Lisa now...

I don't feel the chemistry between the two. Friendship, sure. Denial of love, sure. But chemistry? Didn't feel any. Nick pretty much denied he's in love with Jayne right up to the very end. And his family's hostility toward Jayne was never quite explained. Grandma's estate and will was basically manipulation from beyond the grave, and it FELT like manipulation, and it was only then did we get Jayne's true backstory, about why grandma was so "cruel" to her. The story elements just didn't really come together for me. 3/5

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 Come Undone by Crystal kaswell

Alyssa had to leave her last TV show when she fainted, suffering from bulimia as a result of binge-eating and purging cycles. Her boyfriend Ryan, who had taken care of her before, got her to rehab, and she is now okay... But Ryan refuses to let her act again, claiming she has no self-control. Alyssa also met Luke, Ryan's wilder, more passionate law partner, who doesn't like the way Ryan treats Alyssa (more like a pet than a girlfriend). But Alyssa already accepted the engagement ring from Ryan, and he did save her... right? But Luke refused to sit back, even as Alyssa grew a spine and got back into acting... and Ryan retreated into 80-hour work weeks...

While a part of a three-book series, this novel can be read alone. I like the overall feel, but I didn't like the way Ryan or Luke were set up. Ryan basically has NO redeeming qualities other than he got Alyssa to rehab, but that's a one-time event, which he used as a hammer to beat her down again and again while using her as his show-piece (on his arm at social events), as if he owned her for life "for her own good". In the meanwhile, Luke (or Lucas) is the white knight who will save her from her dreary existence under Ryan's thumb with great sex and more. If there were more nuances in the two MMC I'd give this a higher score. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews Secrets, Fireworks, and her Billionaire Boyfriend by Chelsea Hale

Sayler's boss is getting married and going on a six-week honeymoon, which means as exec assistant, Sayler will have to take a six-week vacation too. With nothing to do, Sayler went to her brother's mansion in "The Cove" in Seattle and met Brooks, her brother's jogging neighbor... when her brothers' in town (and he's not). Brooks is having PR nightmares, with a lot of fake photos, fake stories, and more released by unknown parties, all portraying his company negatively. He also wants to throw a spectacular July 4th party for the Cove... while his ex, Natalia, the head model for his clothing line, seemingly doing damage control, but is negotiating for a contract extension and pay raise. Saylor saved him by smoothing over his vendor problems and gave him ideas on how to solve his problems. But when Sayler found that Brooks has married Natalia, and did not get a divorce, she ran. Brooks needed her back for himself. Can he ever explain to her the truth... and will she listen?

A bit hypocritical, something even the author poked fun at... As Sayler knew not to take what you read too seriously... yet she took everything Natalia said as the gospel truth, never thought there was another explanation (annulment). 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

GRR Reviews Forgotten Reins by Susan Lower

Sarah opened her equine rescue op with her best friend and her best friend's brother, Josh. But her inheritance isn't quite enough to pay the bills esp. with all the upkeep like fence posts and whatnot. But when Sarah went to a horse auction and saw a horse that can barely move, she can't walk away, and she ended up buying her for $7, even though the mare was given a minimal chance of survival. Next day, the vet arrived, and she was stunned to find Michael Wolfe, who bought the property next door, as the new vet. What she can't tell him is she's a single mom, and her son's daddy is Michael. They had that one night, and then she was sent packing... What had happened that night... and why did Michael never searched for her? How can she tell him now?

Somehow, the story just feels very... clumsy. The narrative flow was OFTEN interrupted by Sarah suddenly falling into a day-dream recalling events from the past. And Michael is basically completely clueless, never once suspecting that someone had "interfered" with his life, then and now. And Sarah is still the meek girl, even at 25 and a mother, easily intimidated. 3/5

GRR Reviews The Billionaire's Hope by April Murdock

Kayla can't believe she won a chance for a full destination wedding at a luxury tropical resort, as one of the five couples for the finals. Kayla accepted the engagement proposal from her fiancee for a while, but he refused to set a date. As both lived in Vegas, and he's a bit of cheapskate, she thought this would be perfect... a free vacation in the Caribean, AND possibly a full wedding package. What's not to like? She didn't count on seeing her first-love, Silas, again... // Silas grew up in riches... as his parents have a resort empire. But Hotel Paradeisos is all his. This wedding contest promo was his hotel manager's idea. He didn't know Kayla would be among the couples... It was clear that her fiancee did not love her... And he never knew why she ran from him way back when... But he never said this is his hotel either...

Interesting twist on reunion, coupled with triangle, resort, disguised billionaire, and wedding contest.  But Kayla's recoil felt a bit overdone. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews About Face by D E Haggerty

Frankie, a high-powered event planner, suffered severe injuries in one leg and a permanent scar on her face. Forced to take a long break from her third-floor city apartment (and wardrobe, and girl-friends) she went to live in the suburb with her grandparents. Unfortunately, her grandma kept trying to set her up with (loser) grandsons of her friends. Fortunately, her extremely handsome physical therapist, Brody, agreed to be her fake boyfriend, to help stop her grandma's horrible matchmaking. But she didn't know that her assistant, Jackson, has the hots for her, and Brody wants to take their fake relationship into the real category...

Can be subtitled as "How Frankie got her groove back", Frankie basically had to decide whether her city life is actually worth living, after being forced to take a break. But the story also took a couple meandering turns, like Frankie decides whether to slap down the evil ***** substitute who wanted her job permanently, and how her new bestie secretly has the hots for Jackson, but that's actually a setup for the next novel in the series. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews Best Friend's Boyfriend by Victoria Snow

Poppy, a plus-sized model, is branching into clothing design, with support of her best friend and roommate, (and rich heiress) Thalia. Poppy also felt a connection to Dr. Nate, but Thalia claimed Nate as her boyfriend... They seem to match better on paper as their families knew each other and they are both rich already. Both they were not in love... They just stay together because of family expectations. Nate's attraction to Poppy can't be denied, esp. when their one-time hookup resulted in a surprise that will come due 9 months later...

While the reluctance of roommate / business partner / best friend's boyfriend stealing is a trope, the setup for emotional turmoil is actually quite good. 4/5

GRR Reviews My Little Rock Airman by Brittany Fichter

Jessie is a pre-school teacher and one of her favorite students is Jade, a young girl with Down's syndrome. At the last day of school, she got an intriguing offer... Jade's mother offered Jessie enough money to finish her master's degree if Jessie will be Jade's nanny for the summer. And Jessie quickly agreed. However Jessie didn't know that she'll be sharing her duties with Jade's big brother, airman Derrick, who pulled strings to be moved back home to Little Rock due to an incident a year ago. And the two developed a hostility to each other... and a cold prank war ensued... Until a truce is called... and understanding is achieved... they both actually want the best for Jade. But is Jessie has rules about love... and #1 is NEVER date an airman... Even as she secretly likes Sam, a fellow teacher. However, Derrick is tempting her to break her rules...

Oooh, VERY nice, a military romance without suspense or special operators, nor terrorists and such. Just regular citizen-soldiers dealing with family and life and its struggles. There is not too much angst, and whole thing is rather light-hearted, even as it deals with some heavy issues. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews That Unforgettable Kiss by Tamara Ferguson

Kate Callahan is destined to run her family construction business, and love was never in the picture. Michael Murphy is just an intern, but he is going for an architecture degree, and interning at a construction site was much better than being office help at some architectural firm in Chicago. Kate and Michael met, and they actually shared that one unforgettable kiss. But it was just a summer fling... right? But Kate was prophesized to share her life with the person with that kiss, and Michael... Has a life back in Chicago. They let each other go, but six years later, Kate finally admits to herself she made a mistake, when she found Michael is now engaged to someone else... but will Michael admit to himself that he's making a mistake, and he needs Kate back? And when a stalker is after Kate, can he protect her?

The problem with this novel is you weren't quite sure where is the story. The "six years ago" is all background material and may have been better as a prequel or even just the backstory. It's the current day that is the seriously angst-y parts. 3/5

GRR Reviews Deceitful Choices by C A Harms

Zack, a navy SEAL, was just taking leaving with some fellow SEALs on a beach, and have a good evening with hot chicks when he saw Lindsay. She is young, vivacious, and wanted a night to remember. So they did.  But Lindsay lied. She wasn't 19. She's 17. And that night left her a reminder that'll come due in 9 months. // Zack can see that this girl was really into him that she would fly out to California to meet him, but she's not Lindsay. Then Zack found out what really happened to Lindsay, and how many lies were told by that deceitful person to keep them apart...

Okay, interesting combination of tropes, even if it was a bit exasperating at times to see the characters struggle with their circumstances. It almost not felt like there is enough karma. 4/5

GRR Reviews The Wrong Kind of Love by Lexi Ryan

Nicole found out she was betrayed on her wedding day... Her twin sister Veronica is having an affair with her fiancee... and is pregnant. In a fit of anger and desperation, she accidentally grabbed her twin's purse and ran off... and went way north, and met a stranger in Jackson Harbor that did make her have hope in men again... But in order to make a living, Nicole had to take the job that Veronica meant to take, by pretending to be Veronica... be a nanny for a six-year-old girl... and that's when she found out her boss, Doctor Ethan Jackson, was that stranger in the bar. And he has secrets of his own, in addition of being a workaholic and almost always on-call. As Nicole became fond of Jackson and his daughter, her assumed role started to unravel. Can she come clean before Jackson found out for himself? Or will that be the end?

Interesting twist on the "twin switch-a-roo" trope, and the reasoning for all characters are actually plausible given their state of mind and background. There are a couple other subplots, like best friend Teagan in town, Jackson's mother's secret, and so on.  4.5/5

GRR Reviews Small Town Scandal by Kay Lyons

Darcy got pregnant by a loser, and she headed toward her mother (who's always chasing after a boyfriend) who promised to help. On the way there, her car slid off the road, and she was rescued by Garrett, hot attorney and hospital administrator, who has a steady girlfriend Rachel, who is creating her own art studio. With no hotel room available and snow storm not letting up, Garrett offered up his guest room. But his generosity was viewed as scandalous by the small town, esp. when the hospital owner wants his daughter Rachel (Garrett's girlfriend) married ASAP. What Garrett didn't know is his best friend and fellow lawyer Tobias, a guy from the "wrong side of the tracks", has the hots for Rachel, despite her father's hostility. But he can't betray his best friend... Or is that really betrayal, when it's clear (to Tobias) that Rachel and Garrett were never in love?

Wow, the self-denial is thick in this book. It seems the ONLY one who's honest about his/her own feelings is Tobias. He wants Rachel. Rachel thought she's in love with Garrett, even though she just wants independence from her overbearing "women should be married" father. Garrett thought he's in love with Rachel, but it's more friendship than love, not to mention his boss (and her father) keeps threatening him with his job or his brother's job (who's a surgeon in the hospital). Even Darcy wasn't sure what she wanted. She doesn't want to disrupt Garrett's life, but she's involved nonetheless. Add Garrett's sweet but hard grandma, and Darcy's mother flaking out, and you have the darkest hour where Garrett had to make a decision before Darcy tries to leave, despite late-term pregnancy.  If you can look past the ton of self-denial ("I'm not in love with...") the book is actually quite good. Though the evil dad's attitude was never explained nor karma applied. 4/5

GRR Reviews Flawed Love by Bella Jewel

Emalie "Emy" was best friends with Rainer. It was platonic, but eventually, she gave him her V-card. But when his father got into trouble, he disappeared, and she eventually moved on. Ten years later, he's back in town, but he has a different girl on his arm, Pippa, and he does NOT remember her. Yet their attraction for each other cannot be denied. So they slept together, while she, giving her name as "Mali", pretends to not know him, knowing she can have his body, but not his heart. But secrets will get out... Just what had happened to Rainer, and will this reunion be sweet... or bitter?

This storyline doesn't really work for me, and yes, there are spoilers ahead.

I WARNED YOU!

SPOILERS AHEAD!

The explanation given was Rainer was taken by a Mexican drug lord to use as slave labor to work off his father's debt. That really made no sense at all, even south of the border in a cartel town. Not to mention Rainer doesn't speak Spanish, and transporting gringo kids down to Mexico to work? WTF?

3/5

GRR Reviews Kyler by C A Harms

Ashlynn loved Beau... until she realized Beau had betrayed her. It was then she noticed Kyler, Beau's best friend, admired her from afar. But she worked at her father's business and that means meeting Beau and his father every once in a while, and Beau wanted her back. But Ashlynn realized Kyler was there all along... and they got together. It was a toe-curling good night... But it also came with consequences...

Pretty basic plot, no major twists or turns. Just good polish on old triangle trope. 4/5

GRR Reviews Dirty Exes by Rachel Van Dyken

Blaire enjoys being half of "Dirty Exes", a PI firm that specializes in humiliating cheating jerks. Then she found their latest client on the dirt on Jessie Beckett... her ex, who left her to star in the NFL. She knew he's married since, but she didn't know he's cheating... The problem is Blaire is still attracted to Jessie, even though his best friend, hotel magnate Collin, also wants her... and he's willing to trade some help with her job for her affection. How's a girl going to balance between work and play, and between two guys, one totally right and the other totally wrong?

Good romcom, with a mix of responsibilities that managed to NOT turn angst-y. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews The Only One by Mary Head

Piper, Manhattan real estate agent, is helping Richard, a British businessman, find housing in New York for his one-year stint in the US. Despite almost twenty years age difference, opposites really do attract, as she showed him one units after another, and they get to know each other. She's vivacious and beautiful, he's handsome and a British accent to swoon over. And when the purchase closed, there's no reason to avoid each other anymore. But what happens when his stint is over and he needed to return to London, and her ex reappears, wanting her back?

Eh, didn't feel much. A competent tale for but much else. Felt it could use a bit of tightening in a lot of pages. 3/5

GRR Reviews Wingwoman by Bella Jewel

Tiani has a very odd job. She is "wingwoman" for hot CEO Reign Braxton, a guy she will NEVER fall for. Reign is in love with Selena, but she cheated then left him. He wants to get her back, and he figured the best way to do it is to make her jealous, but he can't deal with the crazies, so he hired Tiani to "vet" his one-night-stands. Yes, it's a real job. EVERY woman would fall for Reign, but Reign just wants Slutlena... I mean Selena. Tiani knew Reign is charming, but Reign doesn't have eyes for anyone else... Or does he?

Interesting twist on the Cyrano / Everyone but you tropes. Even though when the women turned bitch-y it gets a little stale, and Reign really is a jerk, but the emotions of possessiveness and envy were actually handled very well. 4.5/5