GRR Reviews He Said Never by Ruth Cardello

 Riley had been seeing her lost sibling's family behind her mother's back. She understood her mother's fear... The Corisis were ULTRA-rich, and Dominic's father almost put her mom in a wheelchair for life (and she still suffers today). Gavin was just trying to get some coffee when Riley got in his way. Riley was beautiful and full of sass, and there is an instant connection, but neither is ready to make a move... she's still sour from being stood up, and he's in an odd place... His father forced him out of the family company, and won't let him back in until he settles down with the right woman, probably because his father attended two funerals, and realized the family was the only thing that mattered, after raising his son alone. Yet the two would meet again, after finding out they are actually neighbors...

There is a couple of rom-com worthy moments where you will ROFL (Riley needs a little moral support to tell mommy that she'd been seeing the Corisis and the Romanos, and took Gavin along, but mommy inferred a completely different situation... ), and kudos to Ruch Cardello to write a very UNconventional "weird will" story where the MFC and MMC did not get into bed until 80% point, despite the insta-lust sort of situation.

The book also added details or introduced several future story leads, like Cal, who'll be the hero of book 3, and I have a feeling Jared will be the hero of book 4. 4.5/5

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 The Cowboy's Imperfect Plan by Hayley Wescott

Tyler used to be a rodeo champ, but he got married, had a kid, then the marriage turned sour, he went off the deep end, became a drunkard, and lost custody. But he is a foreman for a rancher who regarded him as the son he never had. And he's been years sober. When the rancher had a stroke, he found out about the will giving him the ranch... with a caveat... // Adaline just found out that her mother had lied to her all her life... Her father was not dead, and in fact, left her a ranch... with a caveat... She has to marry Tyler for a year. Adaline was a recovering addict herself, but less than a year sober. Would a marriage help or hurt Tyler's custody battle, when Adaline kept her struggles secret?

Baby custody battle and marriage of convenience is nothing new. But having it in the same novel with weird will, sudden family, and hidden past? That's at least an interesting combination. 4/5

GRR Reviews Her Billionaire Cowboy's Fake Marriage by Hope Moore

Wade found that his grandpa's will requires him to marry someone within 90 days, for at least 90 days, to keep the family ranch, else he and his brothers can kiss their inheritance goodbye.  And with only a few days left, he did not expect to find any one good enough... Until he ran into a waitress named Allie... // Allie is down and out, working multiple jobs to keep her mother's care funded, but she can't abandon her mom after death of her dad. Accepting his outrageous proposal may solve all her problems... but is this a con? or just the miracle she had been hoping for?

Typical fish out of water, different worlds, but with a good polish on the tale. 4/5

GRR Reviews Life After Wife by Carolyn Brown

Sophie can't believe Aunt Maud only left her HALF of the ranch, and the other half to Harley-riding ex-military Elijah. Sophie just wanted to ranch after being betrayed before... But so did Elijah, wanting to get past his own survivor's guilt. Neither would give up an inch, and they are complete opposites... But perhaps there is another way... They can work TOGETHER...

Nice polish on opposites attract / forced proximity / co-workers with a lot of sassy dialogue, but not much beyond that. 4/5

GRR Reviews Courting the Cowboy by Liz Isaacson

May just got her ultimatum from her dad... Even though she had been running the restaurant for a decade and thus has no love life (or any life) to speak of, she needs to find a husband in 12 months... or the restaurant goes to her sister (who's married, but has NO business running the restaurant). Unfortunately, Grape Seed Falls only has cowboys for dating and she's burned out on cowboys. She went for online dating, and was surprised to find someone how's a good match... he turns out to be foreman of a local ranch... Kurt, who's just as a workaholic as she is, except on a ranch. Now May is conflicted... she thought she sworn off all cowboys but Kurt is nice and sweet enough to make her reconsider, but he's a bit too close to home... and her family is driving her nuts with all the expectations. How's a woman supposed to balance her heart and her restaurant?

Not as angst-y as you'd expect, and the whole thing is kept very Christian and sweet (no sex, no swearing), not even overtly Christian message except occasional praying. 4/5

GRR Reviews Forbidden Crown by Victoria Pinder

Prince Antonio had to be married before his 30th birthday to inherit the throne, but he's out of time, with barely two weeks left. And his father is ill. He advertised for a secretary but is secretly auditioning for a bride of convenience. When Kristin, an American student, applied, he saw the perfect candidate. She needs money to finish her degree. He needs a bride. Why not a marriage of convenience, as they are attracted to each other? She agreed, but their trip to Avce coincided with a communist coup-de-tat against the reigning royal family. Who can be trusted? Will they survive?

Eh, didn't feel much about this one. Chemistry is minimal, it's mostly adventure and the whole idea of prince auditioning for a bride of convenience is a trope. 2.5/5

GRR Reviews Irresistibly Lost by Victoria Pinder

NOTE: 48-page prologue novella, not a full novel

Aaden needs to marry to get an inheritance he didn't want. And the only one he ever wanted was Sienna, the woman he had to leave at the altar once... For a very good reason: he wanted her to live instead of succumbing to the danger around his family. But circumstances have changed. He will marry her, then divorce her, thus leaving her with plenty of money to protect herself. It was the best he can do. But Sienna can't let go. She thought she was over him, but she wasn't. But is that enough to make a "fake" marriage work?

Motivation is a little vague here, but the angst is fine. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews her Horse Racing Billionaire Groom by Rachael Eliker

Clark is one of the Kelly brothers under the same deadline... Be married by Christmas, or forfeit his inheritance AND his charity to rehabilitate old racehorses, and he only has a month or so to find a bride. So when Maren walked through his charity's doors for an interview as the new communications director, he just about fell out of his chair. He and Maren were an item until he proposed to her (with a ring and all that) and she ran away. But that was many many years ago, and they are now professionals, and she is good at her new job, since he taught her the love of horses. And the fundraiser gala will be spectacular, esp. when a bachelor auction was included. Clark was sure Maren returned to his life for a reason, and he will woo her properly this time, but Maren's other ex is also dating her. What will Clark do to prove his love?

Somehow, the other guy, while successful in his own right, just didn't feel like a competition. There's camaraderie, but not the relationship spark. 4/5

GRR Reviews Her Football Star Billionaire Groom by Ellie Hall

Ryan was still reeling from his father's death... or that he must marry by Christmas or he won't get his inheritance and his charity will be de-funded. Running relaxes him, so he went running... and ran into his high school sweetheart, Rachel, back in town trying to pay her mother's medical bills by prepping and selling the house to pay for the treatment. They were running partners, then lovers, but fate separated them. Now that fate had brought them back together... less than 2 weeks before Christmas. And this time, Ryan is not about to let go. He agreed to play Santa for the care facility Rachel's mother was in, but Rachel's OTHER (more recent) ex also wanted her back. Ryan better steps up his game, or he'll be brideless by Christmas...

Somehow, this one wasn't quite as charming as the other books in the series, as her other ex somehow overheard a lot of secrets and used that to his advantage, i.e. "he's just after you to get his inheritance". 3.5/5

GRR Reviews Her Country Star Billionaire Groom by Taylor Hart

JJ and his four brothers have just got their "weird will"... Their deceased father told them they have to get married by Christmas (about two months away) or they won't get their inheritance... AND their respective charities will be de-funded as well. // JJ just stopped for gas when he saw one woman he never expected to see again... Chantel, his first and only love, and he did leave for another military deployment, and she left him. Now he's back, minor one leg (but with a prosthetic), and took up a country singing career. But Chantel is leaving town, and on impulse, he followed her onto the bus, intending for a second chance...

A couple good twists and turns, but it's still not quite clear when the love was rekindled. In other words, the transition felt a bit too fast. 4/5

GRR Reviews Baby Inheritance by Mckenna James

Valentina just found out that her father had been arrested for fraud, and all her accounts are frozen, leaving her with virtually nothing. For a trust fund daughter, used to mani/pedi/spa group meets, this is a total culture shock, esp. when her rent is due, and even pawning her jewelry didn't come close to resolving her debt. Her grandma offered her one hope: grandma will give her an allowance AND and let her inherit if she will get married and get pregnant. But with who? // Hudson has a construction business, but it's got a severe cash crunch. No bank would lend him money. When Valentina, his sister's best friend, asked him for this favor, his eyes just about bugged out. While Valentina is beautiful, he doesn't like her that way... right? But when both of them need money VERY soon, and Valentina also found her cousin is also in the hunt to be written into the grandma's will, it became a race... of who will get married and get pregnant first...

While this at least puts a spin on the "weird will" leading to "fake to real marriage", the plot itself doesn't really make sense, at least for Hudson. He must be REALLY lousy in business to hit a cash crunch so hard, and/or didn't have a credit line to tide things over. Also, he seems to be spending a lot of time with Valentina when he was probably working by himself, hoping to salvage the project. And somehow, the cash problem magically resolved itself after they got married, without a loan? Also, how Valentina just took ONE report without asking for a second opinion to give up... sounds really wrong to me. At least the epilogue resolved the issues and the bad guys got karma. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews The Trouble with Tabbies by A G Henley

Beatrix aka "Bea" is a romance writer who loved cats. Yes, she's the proverbial "cat lady", with well over two dozen cats at home. She wanted her trust fund so she can help build a new building for the local cat adoption facility, but she knew that her father, who had never approved of her choices, will question her lack of fiancee. So she needs a fake fiancee, and as a romance writer, she knew it's a trope that fake relationship inevitably turns real. She found Sebastian, photographer and bartender, and they agreed to a pact: she'll pay him to pretend to be her fiancee, with PDA (but no kissing or real feelings), but if they actually fall in love, he'll give up his beloved Canon camera... and she'll give up her personal fur baby... That should work... Right? But things are never that simple, as her father pulled out all the stops to break them ("for her own good") and even her old fiancee showed up, wanting a second chance...

Ah, an interesting twist on the fake fiancee, with a bit of fourth-wall-breaking about one being a romance writer. 5/5

GRR Reviews Her Second Chance Fake Marriage Surgeon by Hanna Hart

Gemma had to go home to Baton Rouge after finding out her serious boyfriend left her pregnant and moved in with another woman. But she barely talks to her father, who's always too busy saving others (he's in law enforcement). Her family is with her uncle's family, then she ran into Liam, her high school sweetheart... // Liam is a surgeon in Baton Rouge, and has agreed to appear on a medical TV show, which would have given him a 5 million signing bonus... Unfortunately, his surgeon wife has died of an undiagnosed heart condition, leaving his contract in danger of cancellation. Finding Gemma again made him want to reconnect. Then he found that Gemma's headaches are due to a brain tumor...  And she has no money to test and confirm, much less operate. Liam has the perfect plan... He needs to be married. She needs the money... So they should get married... even if it's fake.

Eh, didn't feel much on this one. Not sure if it's even LEGAL to require a doctor to be married to get on TV. In a will? Sure. In an employment contract, esp. if it's beyond his control? it just screams "discrimination"!  The rest of the book was meh. 3/5

GRR Reviews The Cowboy Takes a Bride by Kristi Rose

Meredith had enough of her life. Her father had completely changed after her mother's death. She was forbidden to have any male friends. She was told to "spy" at the social functions. Even her education was on hold. Her father refused to acknowledge her migraine headache and forced her to get out of bed to attend yet another function was the last straw. She had to escape, and becoming a modern mail-order bride wasn't quite what she expected, but she's desperate enough to trust a stranger... // Jace just got an ultimatum from his ailing father... Get married or get cut from the will. But all the women he knew can't handle ranch life, being hours from shopping and stuff. With not much time left to his father, suffering from ALS, Jace trusted a matchmaker to find him a temporary bride... and he got Meredith... who needed to get away. Everyone comes out ahead. So why does this marriage feels so real?

Good touches here and there. Father's treatment "sorta" makes sense, all under the guise of "protection and love". And it took a special encounter with a bear and appearances in the news for her father to finally locate her. But this darkest hour was kinda... meh? Of course, it took a sibling to point that out. At least the grand gesture was good. 4/5

GRR Reviews Back for More by Kayley Loring

Lily ran away from her father to seek her fame as an actress when she's 18. Five years later, she's back in town, almost broke, without much to show, and her father offered her a job in the family company. NOT as an exec though... As exec's assistant... and the exec? Wes, her former secret crush... and the family landscaper's son. But if she can work for a year, his father promised to release her trust fund early... By 24. She had to stay to keep her dreams... // Wes knew he wasn't good enough... as son of a gardener. He was happy when Lily's father gave him a job and a chance to be more... so he can court Lily properly one day. Now 25, he's the youngest VP in the company... But he was hoping for a few more years to make him absolutely indispensable to the company, so when he asks for Lily's hand in marriage, there would be no way to refuse him. Lily's early return derailed his plans, and it's obvious she's not happy working for him either... For there's tension underneath the hostility...

Good setup, a semi-reversal of fortunes, but the rest of the book was basically secret liaisons while they hide their feelings from the entire company, each other, and themselves. And the cover's kinda lame. Generic hunk in blue jeans? Really? 4/5

GRR Reviews Cowboys Don't Marry Their Best Friend by Jessie Gussman

Ames and Palmer are best platonic friends. She was an ex-winter Olympian. He's just a rancher in North Dakota. Yet they grew up together in Sweet Water ND, and had always played together, and knew each other extremely well, just not... that way. But Palmer's family farm is barely hanging on, not enough to pay the mounting medical bills. And Ames is just vacationing, as she has interviewed for sportscaster positions in Los Angeles. When Palmer got a chance to receive 1 billion dollars from an eccentric billionaire with a couple conditions, including "getting married" and "stay in North Dakota forever", Ames wants to set him up with her female friends. Palmer already has one candidate in mind... But can he justify asking her to give up her own dreams?

Very nice... VERY nice. Channels a bit of "indecent proposal", a bit of "gift of the Magi", and a great twist at the end (let's just say, the story doesn't quite go where you expect it to). 5/5

GRR Reviews Engaged to Mr. Right by Lilian Monroe

Max is falling for his physical therapist Naomi. While Max is doing great in his job in the family company, his parents are dropping not so subtle hints about him starting a family. But after having his girlfriend dump him after his knee injury which ended his NFL prospects, he's still not over that, and not ready to get involved with anyone. Naomi's regimen really did help him recover so that his knee is now pain-free. But when Max accidentally met Naomi at a night club, and paparazzi got photos of them together, his father issued an ultimatum: marry this girl, or get disinherited. Completely flustered, Max can think of only one thing to do: fake-propose to Naomi... Yes, they'll fake-engage and if needed, fake-marry. Naomi reluctantly accepted when she just learned that her mother has cancer... and will need money for treatment and existing debt. Then Max learned Naomi's real secret... One that even she doesn't seem to know...

I really wanted to like this one, but the darkest hour really made no sense. Without spoiling the plot, let me just say it MADE NO F***ING SENSE why they can't go through with it. You'll be howling with frustration when you learned the reason. Obviously, they resolved it to get the HEA, but the darkest hour really made no sense. Yes, I'm repeating myself.  Also, I don't understand how they could have found out, if nobody else knew other than Naomi's mom. 4/5

GRR Reviews Twice Shy by Mona Ingram

NOTE: Previously published under the title "The Shell Game"

Becky arrived at Waterlilly Bay Lodge too late. She had planned to spend her summer here with beloved Gran, only to learn that she had passed away before she can get here. Then she found that her old boyfriend, Mitch, had been helping Gran for the past four years, while she's in Hollywood busy honing her screenwriting career. They were both shocked when Gran had left the Lodge (B&B) to both of them, with a request that they (Mitch and Becky) should try to run it together for a year. Will they finally learn what took Mitch away that night, and will they finally be over it all? Can they work through the problems that affected the Lodge?

While the tropes are nothing new (weird will, reunion, return), Mona Ingram managed to put minor spin on each that made it fresh, without taking away the conventions. Gran's will is not the kind that would have a lawyer take it away, but rather, a kind request that you don't dare ignore for disappointing her, even after death. And both characters are reasonably well off... So they are doing it for the duty, not the money. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews The Billionaire's Secret Heir by Emma St Clair

Beckett just got the ultimatum from his father... He has six months to produce an heir, or the company will pass to his brother. Having been betrayed by his previous fiancee, Beckett has no prospects nor did he plan to get any. Then came the news that he may have fathered a daughter... // Madi is raising Becka alone after death of her sister. But Madi needs child support from the father, whom a friendly lawyer said is none other than Beckett. // Beckett and Madi meet, as Beckett needs an heir, and Becka would do. Madi is not about to give up custody to a cold single businessman, and Beckett can't really let his heir be raised elsewhere... But is Madi a golddigger like her sister? Is Becka really Beckett's daughter? Or does that even matter?

Good twist, and actually quite sweet. The mixed feelings really come through. 5/5