GRR Reviews Romance Reset by Kay Lyons

 Amelia is 38, single, and wants a family. She wants it so much, she had an appointment at a sperm bank. So her bestie mounted an intervention... By hiring a matchmaker for her. Her bestie insists that Amelia needs a romance reset before embarking on single parenthood. And guess what fate had in store for Amelia? A blind date reunion with her first love Lincoln... // Lincoln is a widower and empty nester now that his twins are off to college. But online dating is not for him. Hiring a matchmaker seems to be a great idea. When his first date in 20 years turned out to be his first love... // It all seems to be a match made in heaven, but is Lincoln ready to be a dad again? 

Pretty good. The serendipity is heavy, and the odd deadline (for the sperm bank) feels a bit overdramatic but works within the context. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews Hello Dr. Christmas by Olivia Noble

Clara, the ballerina, may have just suffered a career-ending injury, leaving her understudy to take over. Dr. Klause Anderson is a world-renowned orthopedic surgeon that is visiting his brothers in the US, and still running from the grief of losing his wife. The two met in a bar, recognized each other's sadness, and agreed to a no-name one-night encounter... that left both satisfied... Until they met the next day... as doctor/patient. It's clear that they share some tremendous chemistry, but is Klaus, aka Dr. Christmas, ready to move on from his tragedy? Or will Clara always be second place to a ghost?

Short, but quite emotional. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews Wild for You by Cheyenne McCray

Jack lost his wife many years ago, and his daughter is all grown up now. Jack hadn't thought about another woman... and his daughter believed that Jack dating anyone else would be a betrayal. So he didn't... until he arrived at Dara's special needs ranch. Dara was his sister Bailey's best friend, and probably had a thing for him for a while, but it was platonic... Until he started noticing her in a very different way. But it's clear his daughter won't accept Dara without a fight... And Jack needs to reconcile the two...

Not bad, nothing about billionaires or expensive wooing, just blue-collar folks (well, well-to-do ones) making a living doing what they love, and falling in love. Good family conflict without overdoing it. 4/5

GRR Reviews Chasing Rainbows by Mona Ingram

Taylor left her supermodel career behind after being betrayed in the worst way. She hid on her father's remote ranch, hoping to get over the hurt and learn to live and trust again. Finding a message in a bottle was a surprise... it's from a man trying to move past the death of his wife, that even his daughter is urging him to try again. He sounds too good to be true, but how can she find out if she's not willing to try? And when her father interfered, how will they react?

Warm fuzzies all around, and signature Mona Ingram story. 4/5

GRR Reviews The Road Home by Krista Sandor

Jenna left town to make their own way after one too many times her mother's boyfriend laid his hands on her for perceived wrongs... and her mother aided him rather than protect her. Fourteen years later, when she got a call from the hospital that her mother had been committed to the psych ward for talking about suicide, she immediately drove back to Langley Park. Did her mother finally got away from her no-good boyfriend? Can her mother love her? She ran into Ben, her classmate way back when, and teenage crush... It is clear that their current admiration is mutual. But there seems to be a stalker after Jenna, even as Ben still reels from his wife's suicide.  But for them to move forward, each must confront their past...

Good twist, even though it's somewhat expected after the eliminated the obvious suspect. But the overall reasoning and plotting is still good. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews her Generous Billionaire by Juliette Duncan

Marcus is still grieving over the death of his one true love and wife. He doubts he will ever love again. In the meanwhile, he provides for his disabled mom, but he's busy and he needs to hire a caretaker... // Tiffany is a single parent raising two kids after an ugly divorce, and a caretaker job is perfect for her. Meeting Marcus... well, he's her boss. She can't get involved with him... But when he had to choose a date for a charity ball, and a sticky (and icky) ex wanted to be his date, he quickly decided Tiffany would be a much more suitable choice after all. But that dance soon turned into something more. Yet are either of them ready for love, much less with each other?

Pretty standard hot for boss, albeit as a nanny/caretaker role with senior instead of kids. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews A Billionaire's Heart by April Murdock

Billionaire Adam is still grieving over the loss of his wife after two years, that his friends mounted an intervention: a Mediterranean cruise with his daughter and nanny and his friends. But he fled his home more than a decade ago and never wanted to be back... // Zoe was burned out at her job as a school teacher. When her husband also cheated, she got divorced and started a new career as a makeup artist, after graduating from cosmetology school. And her new job is being the makeup artist for the performers on a cruise liner. // When Adam met Zoe, the chemistry was instant, and both are shocked by how much. But Adam's ex appeared, intending to hook him now that he's "back", that Adam asked Zoe for the unthinkable: be fake-engaged to him to throw off his ex...

Eh... the plot is a trope, and "meeting the family" shock was meh. The ex is cliche all the way. 3/5

GRR Reviews The Broken One by Ruth Cardello

Sebastian Romano developed the single grocery store his father founded into an empire and made himself a billionaire, but the loss of his wife and unborn child years ago turned him into a workaholic robot, ready to bulldoze any opposition... Until he found a dirty stuffed wolf doll on the side of the road... // Heather is a single mom who adopted her best (dead) friend's daughter and raised her since birth, despite her own family's objections. When her daughter Ava lost her favorite stuffed animal "Wolfie" she posted a reward for its recovery. She didn't expect to have it returned by a handsome guy with the saddest eyes that she can't help but wanted to heal him. But is she ready to meet the entire Romano family? And can she teach Sebastian to have a heart again?

While the tropes are present, they are so well-polished that you don't really care. Seb really is "the broken one" and the right woman can heal him... If he will let her in. The ending is a bit reminiscent of "Pretty Woman", where he actually found a heart to be more... empathetic. Very satisfying read, and trademark Ruth Cardello story. 5/5

GRR Reviews Now and Forever by Mona Ingram

Jenna is homeless, through no fault of her own. Her "fiancee" stole everything from her, every penny from her accounts, all her photography equipment, and left her months behind on the rent and other bills. She had to sleep in her car. And with no job and no equipment, she had no way to make a living... Then she found a cute boy named Danny had stowed away in her car... // Brett is a surgeon that worked hard to create the perfect family, but things fell apart through no fault of his own. His wife died, taking a secret with her. His son Danny was supposed to be with a housekeeper, but when he found the house empty, and a message informing him that the replacement housekeeper fell through, he started to panic... Just then Jenna drove up to their house with Danny. // Jenna can see the concern in Brett's eyes, but he clearly doesn't know how to show it. When Brett, in desperation, and saw how well Jenna connected with Danny, offered her the housekeeper position... She can't turn it down...

Not the first novel with the plot "down and out woman rescues kid, ended up as nanny and won over single father" but this was very well polished with ZERO cursing and ZERO sex, just a lot of unsaid emotional angst. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews Complicated Christmas by Nikki Lynn Barrett

Caitlin has a friends-with-benefits arrangement with widower Ron. She was destroyed by her fiancee for his personal gains, and she wasn't ready to love again. He did not want to replace his dead wife even after four years. So some physical release for both should be just perfect. So they had secret liaisons after Ron's two teenage children are asleep. It wasn't about love at all. But it seems this year will be different from the rest, as one shock comes after another. First Ron's son (17) confessed that not only is he dating, he just knocked up a girl and intends to marry her. Then Caitlin found out that she's pregnant... Is she ready to be... step-grandma? How do they confess their relationships to the small town? Will Ron's children accept her? Will they ever get married?

Lots of complicated relationships but also kept things light. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews Ask Mariah by Barbara Freethy

Michael is at his wit's end regarding his six-year-old twin girls Rose and Lily, since his wife's accidental death. The two girls speak, just not to him. They love him, but they somehow believe their mama isn't dead, despite all the adults telling them so. The twins believe what Mariah, a fortuneteller in a crystal ball that talks only in riddles, has the answer, and Mariah told them to go to school. Then they saw their new teacher at their school, and everything changed... Because Joanna looks almost just like their mama... That even Micahel, their dad, was slack-jawed... // Joanna knew something was missing from her life. She never knew it could be twin girls that keep calling her mama, despite her every attempt to deny it (gently). And Michael, despite his haunted and tired look, is dream-worthy. She had a good life, but she somehow always felt a little out-of-place. There are secrets in her past, and it will be up to her and Michael to find the truth... to heal them and the girls... with a little more help from Mariah.

Wow, this is one heck of a novel. It has a bit of everything: a mystery, a meet-cute, a soap-opera worthy plot twist (or three), two adorable kids who get into trouble, sins of our parents, cover-up, even just a little supernatural to help it along. 5/5

GRR Reviews Eight-one Nights by Georgia Cates

NOTE: Somewhat of a cliffhanger

Catriona, aka "Cate", is barely making enough to get by in Scotland as a student and part-time waitress. Her roommate introduced her to Inamorata, a discrete service agency where she can provide companion services. And Cate met Maxwell, who still can't get over his wife's death. Maxwell wants to try the whole "girlfriend experience"... Cate will be available to him 24/7  for 81 days (when summer ends), and what he paid, even minus the "management fee" will be enough for Cate to finish her degree. She gave him a new nickname, "Hutch". Can she be his girlfriend without giving him her heart?

This is basically the drama version of "Pretty Woman", and the author even admits to having recycled scenes and paragraphs from her previous works. AND it's got a cliffhanger where you have to find out of they get a HEA in the sequel. 2.5/5

GRR Reviews The Weight of Life by Whitney Barbetti

Milla was just a Yank tourist visiting London when a mugging almost sent her into the Thames river. But Ames was there, saving her. And a bond is formed. For Milla is there to get away from her grief over her boyfriend's death and write for her twin brother's travel blog. But she's just a tourist and her time in London is limited... // Ames was still dealing with grief over death of his wife, and live with his in-laws who depend on him. His bar is running okay, but his restaurant that he wanted to fix up? That isn't going anywhere just yet. His sister-in-law wanted to sell her dance studio and use the money to travel, giving the rest to Ames, but Ames is adamant that she mustn't do that, that she must keep something to come back to. But does Ames have a plan for his own life? Does he want to see how far it can go with Milla? Or was it just a fanciful dream?

I find myself a bit conflicted over this book. The book is about conflicted loyalties and responsibilities. Milla is conflicted between herself, her devotion to her dead BF, to her living brother and her family, and maybe, to Ames, if he wanted her. Ames is torn between his responsibility to his in-laws, even though his wife's dead, to his bar, to his dream about the restaurant, even though the restaurant may go nowhere, and should he have a go at it with Milla. Physically, nothing much actually happened plotwise. It's all about the angst, about what could have been, and what can still happen. Somehow, this didn't quite measure up to her previous book that I reviewed  Ten Below Zero.  4/5

GRR Reviews An Encore for Estelle by Kimberly Rose Johnson

Estelle Rogers has turned her life around, thanks to a small town called Oak Knoll, and a woman there who taught her Christian ways. Six years later, her restaurant is thriving, and she wanted to give back to the community that gave her so much. She agreed to help the local children's theater and encountered Blake, there for his own tragedy... // Blake lost his wife and daughter to an auto accident on the way to a rehearsal. He wanted to help the theater, but he wasn't ready for Estelle and the feelings she evoked...

While the story is indeed, clean, and Christian, the pacing somehow just feels... off. There are complications like Estelle was sorta dating her executive chef, and kinda gave him the wrong idea. Then the manager was covering up her own malfeasance by NOT mentioning the problems. The darkest hour just doesn't quite felt that dark. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews The Billionaire's Daughter by Kayla Hansen

Ally Sinclair was told to shape up and stop being a trust fund baby by her controlling father. In a fit of anger, she drove off and ended up stranded in Sweet Falls, where a rival clan, the Dressens, reside, when her car skidded off the road. She was rescued by Mitch Dressen, a widower still grieving over the loss of his wife. Mitch wasn't sure what to do with Ally... She's a Sinclair to be despised, but she's also vulnerable and fish out of water. Mitch told her that if she can live and work like a normal person for a week, he'll repair her car (he's also the town mechanic). Ally found that she loved baking pies helping the local pie shop, and she liked the town... And Mitch, if he ever notices her. Then her father came to town... intending to take her back, and honoring his "agreement" with Mitch...

A bit of meh here. Opposites attract, sure. But the controlling father had been done many times before, the only difference here is the gender-flip (usually, it's a son who went off and got stuck and falling for a local girl).  The family feud was never explained, and daddy's threat to ruin everyone never carried out. 3/5

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 What Comes After by Melissa Toppen

NOTE: Standalone sequel to "Ten Hours"

Abel was grieving after his wife Finely's death. It was expected, but that doesn't make it hurt any less. Then he met Peyton. She's not Finley. Yet she made him feel something OTHER than pain. But he's still imprisoned by grief... But maybe, Peyton will set him free... 

Nice, not quite as good as the first, as that one has the "inevitability of doom" feel to it. This one, you just kinda know that Able will finally get that HEA he deserves. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews Life After Perfect by Nancy Naigle

Katherine thought she had it all... a great job, a luxury car, and a sweet husband who contributes to the family and loves her... despite no immediate plan for kids. Until she witnessed him wine-and-dine and kiss a younger woman... at a time he claimed to be at a meeting. She packed and drove off... and landed in a small town called Boot Creek, NC. There, she can relax among the friendly residents, such as the handsome firefighter/doctor Derek. But she's still raw from the betrayal and shied away from relationships, and he is still grieving after the death of his wife from cancer years ago. Can they heal each other?

Good character growth. The title is especially apt... If Katherine had the perfect life, then what's "life after perfect"? The trope itself was very well executed. While there are no brilliant plot twists, the small town atmosphere and other characters plus overall polish and scars is what made this book great. 4/5/5

GRR Reviews Mr. Vega by Xyla Turner

Faith is a failing artist and her home business can't keep her afloat. Forced to find a job, she fell back to what her Trinidad mother recommended and had done: being a nanny. And the interview with the Vega family was... unpleasant. Mr. Logan Vega is handsome as ****, European, and an utter asshole. His wife, however, was very nice, and hired her the next day, despite her lack of experience. And the kid accepted her with no problem, as Logan was often away on business. Until it was revealed Mrs. Vega has terminal cancer., and Faith became a part of the Vega family, without question, and eventually, Faith came to love her employer... Who wasn't as bad as she thought... But can she be her own woman amidst his alpha ways? Is she more than a rebound? Does he really love her?

Some parts are brilliant, like the culture shock (Caribbean black is NOT regular black). In case I hadn't made it clear, this is a BWWM romance of the "falling for the nanny" trope. The loss and grieving were handled nicely, as Faith was a part of the grieving process. And there was a good comeuppance in the epilogue on why do people assume she can't be a part of a family, esp. good when the (white) kid called her (a Caribbean black woman) mommy and why would people assume she's a nanny. Her own family drama was rather minimal though. 4/5

GRR Reviews Sara's Promise by Deanna Lynn Sletten

William thought he had a perfect life. He has a beautiful wife Sara, and two beautiful teenagers. Then Sara died suddenly, and it took Will YEARS to adjust to being a single parent, unable to let her go, because she promised to always come back to him. Then one day, William met Annie. She has the same blue-green eyes that Sara had... Annie was NOTHING like Sara. Yet they instantly connected, as if they knew each other. But Annie can't tell Will about her dreams... Where she met him, and knew more about him than she should... Is Sara helping Annie to fulfill her own promise to return to them?

Wow, serious emotional roller-coaster here. Take soulmates to the next level... love after life, in a way. Yes, there's a link between Sara and Annie. As for how, you'll need to read the book. This particular schtick has been done before, and it works if done right. And this one's done right.  5/5