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 Not Before Game Night by Khardine Gray

Cole, pro football player, was dragged into a bet by another player to defy coach's orders to NOT have sex night before the game. It should be an easy bet, since Vanessa, the girl that used to follow him around in high school, is now a gorgeous babe, and very near. // Vanessa knew Cole's bad news for more than ten years. Yes, she still has her V-card at 26, but she's NOT giving it to Cole, the man-whore. He had his chance a decade ago. Except, he's not quitting. And it may just be he found his soulmate... if he can convince her of that...

Not really feeling much about this one. And there's a logic problem in the plot. Cole actually stated that he LOST the bet and couldn't get Vanessa into bed and paid the bet off (200K). So for the darkest hour, somehow the bet came up AGAIN as the wedge issue. WTF?! 3/5

GRR Reviews Mommy's Boyfriend by Victoria Snow

Rylee chose an older guy, Spencer, a regular client at the cafe she works, to get her V-card. It was as wonderful as she'd expected... Except both forgot about a condom. He never appeared again, and she got a present that showed up nine months later and had to move back home. Five years later, she saw Spencer again... On the arm of her mom... as her mom's fake boyfriend because her mom's boss got a bit too hands-on. Yikes, talk about awkward! He left her, so she won't tell him about their son... and nobody would believe she didn't 'steal' the man from her mom... right?

Ah, now that's an interesting twist on secret baby and tropes, with a good combination! I guess the problem is the initial coupling (and the setup) felt a bit too... hurried. And Spencer just accepted the proposition of a random waitress... without a condom? Hmmm... 4/5

GRR Reviews Marriage of Convenience by Katy Kaylee

Sara wants to get away from her controlling ex, despite her upbringing in a super-religious family. She went to the big city and started an internship, and falls for her boss Chase, but office romance is prohibited. Until he needed a fiancee to satisfy his own family... and she's the perfect candidate... Then her evil ex arrived...

Slightly over-the-top, with a religiously-tone-deaf almost-evil family, add a bit of Cinderella noticed by a prince. A lot of tropes, as Chase is the quintessential workaholic can't-ever-satisfy-my-father type guy, and Sara is the ingenue virgin. Even the plot is trope... with a TSTL moment leading to a kidnapping. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews The Mountain Man's Secret Valentine by Dizzy Hooper

Gage chose a solitary "mountain man" living because he has PTSD from the war, and having his fiancee screwed him over while he's away. So why is he so attracted to the flower delivery girl that just dropped off valentine flowers? When a freak blizzard stranded her on the hill with him, it's taking all his control to be a gentleman... Until she revealed he's her fantasy guy... a rough tough guy who won't treat her like a china doll...

The plot's over the top, but then, most "mountain man" stories are. This is no exception, nothing really new. She's a sheltered ingenue who needs a "real man". He hadn't tasted a woman in years... blah blah blah. Cliche after cliche. 3/5

GRR Reviews Claiming Her V-card by Lindsey Hart

Blaze is the smoking hot boss that seems to have a different women every week or even every day, and all the female employees ogle him every day. Except Colette. She can't stand the guy. When the internal app contest was announced, Colette was surprised that the prize was... "anything you ask... within reason".  So guess who won? Colette, of course. So what favor will Collette ask her smoking hot boss? "Please take my v-card."  Even she can't believe she asked him of that. She didn't know Blaze wanted her for a long time, as she's the forbidden fruit, the only woman he can't seem to charm. He will woo her properly, to get her warmed up, else it won't be fun.  Maybe he isn't the jerk he seems to be?

It's a LITTLE better than I expected, as after the initial meet-cute there was some heat and deeper character development, but I never really got the "sass" or "chemistry" between the two. And the darkest hour is basically a confession, then it's a slightly novel variation of "run away to sort my feelings". 3/5

GRR Reviews Beautifully Undone by Susan Griscom

Melody and her brother Teddy have a best friend, Asher, a musician. Melody had a crush on Asher for the longest time, but he didn't reciprocate. Asher's parents are gone, and he's a bit despondent. When Melody announced she wants to give her V-card to a notorious womanizer (with a different girl on his arm every week) Asher made an (in)decent proposal... He'll show her a good first time. // Later, when Asher found a letter from his dead mother asking him to seek out his half brothers (turns out, Asher's mom was "the other woman") so he's not all alone in the world, Melody insisted that they'll go together. And then they discovered...

SPOILER

AHEAD

Okay, I'll just say it. She's pregnant. Yes, from that first time. Ever. *sigh*   Somehow, the two separate plots just don't mix together that well. And that TSTL moment about going off on a boat without checking the boat works? or even if it has oars? Meh. 2.5/5

GRR Reviews Way to My Heart by Barbara C Doyle

Paisley is content to live her own awkward single life with just her cat. She's already working multiple jobs, and thinking "is this all there is to life". Then Caleb entered her life... Caleb is the brother to her best friend, and initially, quite cocky.  But his charm eventually won Paisley over. Paisley may be single (and still has her V-card, but nobody is supposed to know that), and she's not model thin, but she knows that and is comfortable with it. When she learned that Caleb wanted to woo her, will she accept? Or will her past scars prove too much to handle?

Sorta ugly duckling finally meets the guy who appreciates her, with a good dose of rom-com. I have a LITTLE problem with Caleb started off as a hot jerk that somehow transitioned into the sensitive male. I didn't quite feel the transition. 4/5

GRR Reviews The Playboy by Madeline Ash

Alexia knew Parker was a playboy... He was an entitled and rich SOB, and almost pressured Alexia into giving up her v-card. Years later, Alexia has a TV role and possibly a movie role as well... But she can't do the sexy scenes... She doesn't look confident on camera. In fact, she still has her V-card. The movie producer told her to find some confidence before the shooting starts in a month, or the role's going to someone else. Desperate for inspiration, she went back home to Australia... and found Parker, still there on Byron Bay. But she just want someone to teach her how to love, at least on camera... without actually falling in love... it doesn't have to be Parker... but the more time she spend in Byron Bay, the more she realized Parker has changed. But she's on a strict timeline... She's going back in less than 3 weeks. And Parker is ready to make amends... By her using him for practice... if just for penance...

Now that's an interesting combination: "learn sex" trope combined with "reunion" and "return", and there's definitely a character arc for Alexia. Some parts gets really angst-y, and I'm not sure I quite like the ending, but it's good. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews Blind Date with a Billionaire Biker by Evangeline Kelly

Tirzah had lived a sheltered life in an ultra-religious community. Her parents wanted to marry her off quickly to a suitable match from a neighbor, but she has her own ideas about love and marriage. When her not-quite-fiancee took her to town, right into a dangerous situation, and left her there cowering while he ran for safety, Tirzah was rescued by a biker on a Harley. Later, when circumstances forced Tirzah to relocate to California to live with her birth grandpa while her father tries to pay off a loanshark, Tirzah met the biker who saved her... Dex... // Dex is the illegitimate son of an industrial tycoon, and after trying to connect and getting rebuffed during his youth, Dex wanted nothing to do with his billionaire father. Dex has survived the military and is now a part of a motorcycle club Bikers for Christ. Rescuing a girl was a part of his nature. Meeting her again, and to find she's the club president's granddaughter means definitely "hands off", even if he's assigned to guard her and protect her. But Tirzah already knew that Dex is the man for him... even if she had to upend her entire life and break off from all she knew... But when her mother's illness drew her back, will that be the end of her dreams?

VERY religious, since you're talking about an ultra-religious community AND Bikers for Christ MC. Yet they don't see eye to eye, of course. Bikers? Dangerous BAD people. Etc. This thing is so f***ing clean, Tirzah and Dex didn't even have a proper kiss until they got married. That's how CLEAN and SPIRITUAL this book is. But in spite of all that, the book does give you an emotional roller coaster.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 4.5/5

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

GRR Reviews Late Night Confessions by Mia Madison

Maya is a 22-year-old virgin, chatting anonymously on a "confessions" chat board. When she admitted she's a virgin, and she planned to lose her v-card the next day with her best friend (but a mere friend with benefits, not in love), she got a ton of solicitations... Except one from an older man that caught her eye... He did not sext her, but rather, discussed sex and love. She found the chat with him stimulating, and not believing he's real, he ended up sending her his picture. It was a few days later that she found out, to her horror, that her chat buddy is her new academic advisor in the university... and she had to stay away. But the most they get to know each other, the more they want to taste the forbidden fruit...

Not bad, no obvious stupidities, proper online etiquette and follow-up. The school stuff about zero fraternization ended up as the darkest hour, but then, what's what taboo  student-teacher relationships usually end up as. Not bad.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 3.5/5

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

GRR Reviews Dearest SEALs Box Set by Blair Grey

NOTE: Collection, contains 5 books: SEAL's Baby, SEAL Billionaire, SEAL Firefighter, SEAL's Secretary, SEAL's Virgin.

This review will be a little different as I'm trying to address the entire collection, as the individual books are not available on Amazon Kindle.

While you do get a lot of reading material (the collection is over 800 pages), the books just come across as rather... mediocre to poorly written. Background information was mentioned and never touched again. SEAL ability and training was never used, and villains are practically infantile. Even names picked are about as generic as they come, with minimal research for viability.

Here are some examples:

A woman of Chinese descent and "still had an attractive Chinese accent" is named "Yuki", which is a JAPANESE name.

Similarly, a Russian girl was named "Aria" (not Russian), and her brother (who stayed in Russia) is named "Andrew" (still not Russian).  If they were named Anya and Andrei it'd make MUCH more sense.

A gang leader picks a fight with a former SEAL firefighter... In front of the firehouse, with a dozen firefighters merely yards away, and police not far behind. And all the gang leader brought was a knife.

In the same fight, this ex-SEAL, instead of going for a disarm-move to take away the knife from the gang leader, goes for a face punch instead.

The plots just do not excite me at all. At best, I felt lukewarm. All five novels are consistently mediocre or worse.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 2/5

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

GRR Reviews Her Surprise Baby Christmas by Clare Connelly

Bella noticed the brooding but darkly handsome man at her mother's wedding. Seduced by the Greek smile, she chose him to receive her V-card. She is tired of being the good girl. She wants sex, and indeed the sex was... magical. Until he heard her name... // Vitalo knew the bride getting married. Her previous husband was his mentor, and she actually came to him one night, telling him that she would go with him if he would admit he loved her. He refused, even though his body wanted her... Now she's getting remarried... and he's brooding. A one-night stand should be great... until he realized she's a virgin. He made it good for her... very good. It was next morning, when he heard her name, that he realized his mistake... He just f***ed the daughter of the woman he should not want. And things got dire a few months later, when Bella told Vitalo she's pregnant... Vitalo wanted to marry Bella, but he can never tell her he had coveted her mother for a very long time... But when she found out...

Ooohhh, that's a good darkest hour... lots of conflicting emotions about what's the difference between love and infatuation. For a short, this is quite good, even though it does go into a bit of Greek stereotypes. Still, good job.

Category: contemporary

Overall Rating: 4.5/5

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

GRR Reviews Lass by Harloe Rae

Shane broke away from his ultra-religious family and town, seeking his own way. He wandered into a town and settled down, becoming part of the town mechanic's team, and came to know Addison, one of the waitresses at the local bar. And then, he knew she's the one and only for him. But he was deeply ashamed of his... inadequacies in the way of the world. He has no idea how to talk to a woman, much less wooing one. When he stumbled into Addison talked about finding another housemate, he had to speak up. It was platonic at first, as the two housemates knew each other for almost two years. But after living together for a while, neither can deny the attraction they have for each other...

Excellent sexual tension, but... let's just say, for a male virgin who supposed had no training or reading material in that area, he seems to know what he's doing a bit too well. The darkest hour appears to be a bit trope and... uh, a bit hormonal. But I enjoy a good "beta guy gets his girl" story as anyone. Hey, I'm a guy after all.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 4.5/5

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

GRR Reviews Billionaire Desire by Lauren Wood

Hail is an excellent salesman, a ladies' man, and named most eligible bachelor in the city. But he's getting older and feeling a bit of emptiness in his life. Until he started to notice his assistant Evony... Who wears lingerie at home, but may be a virgin, judging by how she blushes at the innuendos. But she's also very competent... and he recommended her to be promoted to partner and work with him. Now, he just needs to tread carefully... for he wanted to claim her... And after one taste, both are hooked...

First of all, he's NOT a billionaire. Sure he's rich, but not billionaire level... He's even got a boss on top of him. While I like the slow seduction of Evony (let's just say it started with a handjob given to her) it's a little bit... not quite enemies to lovers, and not quite friends to lovers. But I still have some problem with this "one touch and she's hooked" trope. Still, not bad.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 4/5

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

GRR Reviews Claim My Baby by Taryn Quinn

Oliver is half of the Hamilton Twins... rich, handsome, single. His brother is married, has a daughter, and another one on the way. Oliver is never getting married... he enjoyed the single life too much...  He didn't want any commitment. He'll never be as sappy as his brother. That is, until her brother's wife asked him for a favor... Watch out for Sage, her best friend, during a trip to Vegas. Oliver had always been Sage's nemesis... They've been teasing each other since... very young children. Oliver will show Sage a good time in Vegas... TOO good of a good time, it seems, since V-card was taken, and a condom malfunctioned... Sage is pregnant, but Sage is like... "I don't expect you to get involved". Now Oliver is going to claim Sage... and his baby.

Good frenemies to lovers movement.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 4.5/5 rouned up

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

GRR Reviews Branding the Virgin by Alexa Riley

Mary Jane is a virgin. She's too distrustful of men, but she wanted a family. So she went to a sperm bank. After she got pregnant, she found that a sperm bank mix-up means she got sperm from a father who has some personal problems... And she had to meet the father... even if in disguise. // Ty got stomped in the nuts after a bull-riding accident. Now retired, he can't get it up any more, though his doctors said the equipment all works. He saved some sperm "just in case". When he expanded his ranch, he needed to hire a housekeeper, and "MJ" applied. And Ty got hard... What is it about her that got him stirring? Will she ever tell him she's the proud mama of his baby?

Apparently, one can be a virgin and still become pregnant through sperm donor. (I checked) But the rest of the plot really makes no sense. It's insta-lust leading to sex and more sex, and yes, pregnant sex.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 2/5

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

GRR Reviews Cowboy Heat by Sable Hunter

Libby has leukemia in remission. Her doctor told her to live life to the fullest, and her wish was to bed Aron McCoy, the oldest McCoy brother. She had always admired him from afar. When their housekeeper is going on vacation for a few months, it's the perfect chance. Libby moved into Tebow ranch and became the new temporary housekeeper, and Aron was smitten... Until he found out Libby still has her v-card... But when Libby admitted she wanted only him... It is time for Aron to step up to the challenge... Even if she is not disclosing her secret... For Aron does not know she has cancer...

The twist is simple enough, and sex here is quite hot that it's basically erotic romance. There's also a bit of 4th wall breaking joke about how Libby learned all her moves from reading erotic romance. Hahaha. 4/5

Category: Contemporary / Western / Erotic

Overall Rating: 4/5

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

GRR Reviews One Perfect Billionaire by AJ Wynter

Eliza is engaged to Ben, who's a nice guy, in a small town in South Dakota. But she got cold feet and ran for Seattle, to her best friend's place. She even kept her v-card for her wedding night. Yet somehow, she knew life in a small town is not enough for her... // Cassidy is British royalty, but he left it all behind to start life anew as the CFO of Torver Corp in the US, and even changed his name a little. Plenty of women wanted into his bed, but he's tired of the f-em and leave-em lifestyle. He wanted to woo someone, THEN make her cry out in pleasure. When Eliza was given temp work in Torver, Cassidy was intrigued by the country-girl and protected her from staff abuse (when one of the execs tried to dump his entire workload onto her so he can catch up on his Netflix queue). But she never told him she's engaged...

Eh... Not feeling much there. Opposites attract, billionaire wooing a virgin, nothing special here. I mean, really. Sure this guy is Americanized, but does a Brit, however Americanized, think of "Hallmark channel" as a stereotype of domestic tranquility? No, it's a strictly American thinking.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 3/5

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

GRR Reviews The Virgin's Fake Fiancee by Kim Loraine

Charity was just cheated by a black car driver who took off with her wallet and her suitcase when she arrived in NYC. Only the hotel owner's generosity allowed her to check in to her room... with barely the clothes on her back and her phone. His name is Linc, and he made her the strangest proposal... If she'll agree to be his fake fiancee for a week or two (to satisfy his mother), he'll not only make her look great in her sorority reunion, her stay will be free as well. But the fake engagement turned real, and he'll show her what real love is... as she's never been with a man...

Eh, yes, it's quick and fun and sexy, but it's basically insta-lust.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 3/5

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