GRR Reviews Auld Lang Mine by Sarah Spade

Tristan was supposed to check up with his business partner, who just settled down with his woman on the opposite coast. But his attempt to join their Christmas party ended up with him crashing a Christmas masquerade ball... and with a little help, met the woman of his dreams, also wearing a half-mask. But she ran away from him... leaving only a tantalizing clue. He must find her... Then what? // Lindy was just helping her cousin catering the party, as she shouldn't spend Christmas alone. But having been dumped by boyfriend a few months back, flunked out of school due to BF drama, AND lost her job she held for years due to business closing, will get any girl down. She only planned to skim the periphery of the masquerade party. She didn't plan on meeting him, or kissing him under the mistletoe. But when the host announced that everyone will take off their mask at midnight, she ran from him. Because she always screw everything up... But maybe not this time...

Awwww... Cinderella-inspired story for sure. And VERY nice, no major flaws in the story. There is just a HINT of supernatural. Yes, you'll see it. And you'll notice all the OTHER characters making guest apperances in the subsequent novels. VERY nice, esp. for being under 100 pages. 5/5

GRR Reviews Meant for Love (Willow Valley Book 2) by Christine Kingsley

Meant for Love is a contemporary romance with a weird plot that has no recognizable grand gesture, and the characters seem to be really angst-y.

To recap, Lissa Winters wanted the marriage, kids, and white picket fence, but her dream man, Jesse Kincaid, wasn't ready for her... ever. Jesse can't keep the family store afloat, but his father isn't the understanding type, not does he appreciate Jesse's alternate solutions, such as turning half the store into a boutique (which was Lissa's idea). Jesse was also a bit traumatized by his childhood and deemed himself unworthy of marriage, much less a wonderful girl like Lissa. It's the irresistible force (love) meets the immovable object (don't love me)... Then a discovery forced them to confront each other's issues...

While the complication forced a darkest hour, I honestly can't quite figure what changed to resolve the situation, as I mentioned before, there was no grand gesture. There was only a "change of heart". While I like the way the FMC resolved the MMC's financial problems, the story just doesn't feel like it was resolved right.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Man felt useless and unsuitable for marriage; woman wanted him any way even as she saved from financial ruin

Tropes: evil parents, unworthy, fated mate

Overall Rating:  3/5

GRR Reviews Time for Love (Gansett Island Series) by Marie Force

Time For Love, set in the author's Gansett Island universe, can also be titled "Doctor's Redemption". It featured two characters with a lot of baggage, but read very uneven, with a shallow nemesis and insta-lust setting the scene.

Dr. David Lawrence, the only doctor on Gansett Island, betrayed his love, the golden girl of the island, Janey McCarthy, and had to rebuild his life , and watch Janey engaged to Joe, and became pregnant. He still had yet to forgive himself, even as he saved lives and limbs on the island, but a new woman may yet tempt his heart. Daisy Babson needs a fresh start on the island when her boyfriend Truck Henry abused her, leaving her battered, both physically and mentally. Her visits with Dr. David became her bright spots of the day, even as she reminded herself she's not ready to trust a man, nor can she ever be worthy of a doctor. As the two are slowly drawn toward each other, neither can deny their attraction, but neither are ready to go all in in their relationship...

Basically, the two fell for each other they moment they set eyes on each other, but both denied themselves. David's backstory about how he betrayed Janey was great, as he will have to save her and other residents during the story. But the paper-thin "violent ex" relegated this into "also ran" category, as such a guy just can't be taken seriously as a nemesis that stands in the way of MMC and FMC's happiness.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Doctor who betrayed his first love fell for a patient and victim of abuse; but she deemed herself unworthy and not trusting...

Tropes: evil ex, betrayal, resort, unworthy, doctor-patient, woman in peril, protector

Overall Rating: 3/5