GRR Reviews Pretty Reckless by Jodi Linton

Laney had some wild days, including shooting rock salt into her cheating husband's naked ass when she caught him in their bed with a different woman. That now ex-husband, Gunner, signed the divorce papers and left town. Five years later, Laney is a deputy for her small town, and drug runners are encroaching. She's in a relationship with a guy she feels comfortable with (but not really love). Then her (cheater) ex is back in town... as a Texas Ranger, trying to solve a big case in her area. Forced to work together, it none-the-less won't be comfortable...

This book is really divisive to me. It's clear that things are not over between Laney and Gunner, despite his "cheating ass". On the other hand, I like Laney's sass and attitude, despite her inability to actually handle criminals (at least, not the rough kind). 3.5/5

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 A Whyte Christmas by Michele Brouder

Kate may act like she's enjoying the Holidays, with flashing Christmas tree earrings and a lot of (fake) cheer, but she's secretly grieving over a lot of things. Her father had passed away, her engagement is toast, and her copywriter career is kaput, as she'd been let go and rehired as the receptionist. Then she found that her ex (the one who cheated) was hired as the creative lead (instead of promoting the existing senior creative)  When the ad company's biggest client decided to come and micromanage, what can you do but smile and say "yessir"? // Gavin Whyte knew why this (incompetent) firm was picked to run the drug company's ad campaign... The owner is a cousin of boss's wife or something like that. But with his own promotion on the line, he'll babysit the campaign himself. He was a little surprised when the boss offered up Kate as his companion, to "show him the sights". But let's just say Kate is a bit of a klutz, and Gavin, with his blue eyes and Irish accent, is a panty melter. But Gavin doesn't really have time to woo Kate, and he's leaving eventually, right?

Oooh, nice mix of tropes and full character arcs for both main characters. Add a set of quirky characters and some old tropes (like the tone-deaf but "inspirational" boss, much like the one in Dilbert) and minions ready to backstab each other, and it's a good Holiday tale. 5/5

GRR Reviews Take me Again by Carly Phillips

Sebastian is one of the Knight brothers. He and Ashley were temporarily step-siblings, and may even have feelings for each other. But their one drunken make-out session was interrupted, and Ashley was soon sent to a boarding school in London, and they lost touch. A decade later, Ashley just learned that Parker, another Knight brother, just lost his wife from opiate overdose. Ashley had to return to the US as a part of the family... And leave her British suitor Jonathan behind, as Jon refused to accept that she's not ready for commitment. Ashley knew seeing Sebastian again will be difficult, but to help Parker deal with the problems caused by his wife's death means she'll be forced to work with Sebastian closely... He needs to help troubleshoot the problem and smooth over difficulties with the client, while she, a forensic accountant, can track down financial irregularities. And they discovered secrets long kept. But are they willing to admit their feelings for each other? Will she go back to London? Then Jonathan showed up...

Some parts, like background, misunderstandings, respective scars, and so on, are very good. But the annoyingly persistent Jonathan, the lame antagonist (and part of the very simple mystery) just feels... half-baked. 3.5/5

GRR Reviews Deserving Darcy by Kiara Cawood

Keon, a doctor in London, had not had a good record with love. He met Darcy 12 years ago and married her soon after. Ten years ago, she wanted out of the marriage. Then nine-months later, her parents showed up with a baby and divorce papers. After that, Keon married Sarah, and Sarah was the only mother his daughter knew. But Sarah got alcoholism and left him to live in New Zealand. Then Darcy ended up in his emergency room... and he found to his shock that Darcy's liver is failing and she's refusing treatment. Keon shouldn't care about the woman who destroyed him and left his daughter motherless, but his plan to leave London behind and move to New Zealand (and near Sarah) is working against him... as he has just FOUR DAYS to find out why Darcy is giving up, and so his daughter would have some memories of Darcy, her birth mom. It's just for closure... right?

Okay, this plot gets a bit confusing with who knew what when, and there are too many characters to keep track of. Yes, there's certainly a LOT of emotional turmoil and angst and guilt and shame and more. And it seems everybody is keeping some secrets from someone. This is one of those books where you end up screaming at the characters "no, don't do that!!!!"  as they do some seriously TSTL moments, even though it's *almost* understandable why they did so. 4/5

GRR Reviews Enticing Elle by Kiara Cawood

Elle enjoys her job as a personal assistant to her boss, Adam. She rose from a single mother to a powerful assistant to a powerful man. She doesn't want to jeopardize it again, which she tried before when she had a relationship with another senior partner in the firm. It ended up with her transferred to serve Adam instead. She rather enjoys watching other women falling for Adam... and be rejected. But Elle is keeping secrets... She's actually an exiled billionaire heiress who got kicked out when she got pregnant underage... and that douche Richard is now engaged to one of Elle's friends. The two held an uneasy truce: you don't tell on me, and I won't tell on you. However, when Adam actually ended up kissing Elle at a fundraiser gala, it's clear they are more than friends... But not close enough to share her secrets...

Good escalation, with good reveals, but the way Adam broke away because Elle didn't share her final secret feels a bit forced. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews For One Night by Leaona Luxx

Lola spent years in a loveless marriage with Carter, but she finally got out of it. When out celebrating with her girlfriends in Vegas, she met Lennox, there for business. They had a memorable evening... then she left him (first ever for him). Imagine to their surprise that they met again only a week later, as this time, she's his business consultant, just hired to expedite his transition back into the business he founded (but have to let his brother do a turnaround with). And it'd be TOTALLY inappropriate for them to date...

I have some problems with this novel. Some parts are very good. But some parts are just wordy as ****. There was too much "prequel material" (i.e. how did Lola and Lennox get to be what they are today) that the two characters didn't really meet until almost 1/3rd of the book (not that I really counted). The two characters are swoon-worthy, but the book needs some serious trimming as it has too much fluff. 3/5

GRR Reviews Second Chance on the Corner of Main Street by Meg Easton

Whitney loves fun but lived secretly in fear of people around her leaving. Her mother left. The mentor that taught her everything about running the town newspaper left. Even her high school boyfriend left. All she has is the town newspaper, and that can't leave her... and she can't leave it. Then Eli came back to town... // Eli left town twelve years ago, and built a successful team-building business. But when his father had an accident, he had to come back to help run the outdoor rental business, even if he had to confront a town that never forgets, a father he can never please... and the girl he left behind. // When Whitney and Eli got paired to decorate the Fall Market, they have to confront their old feelings... and old wounds. Will they use their second chance wisely?

Sweet, with just enough angst to keep things interesting. The two are not like outright "enemies", but the "betrayal" 12 years ago is definitely not something that can be easily forgiven. But really, no contact for a dozen years? Really vindictive, the pair. 4.5/5

GRR Reviews The Billionaire's Ex-Wife by Leslie North

Sam is the middle brother of three. The older brother is the CEO, younger brother is the screwup. Sam... is way too serious. So serious that he divorced his wife, Trinity, because he knew he neglected her. Now Sam has his toughest job yet... He needs to get his younger brother "onboarded" back into the family company. He accepted the job, then regretted it when he realized this also involves his ex-wife Trinity, as his younger brother's support and personal coach. He decided he wanted to win her back... and that's something Trinity can never accept... that Sam actually has a heart to give...

I honestly didn't feel the chemistry between the two. There's some sass, sure, and some history, but I honestly didn't feel the relationship between the two. 3/5

GRR Reviews Her Billionaire Army Doc by Dobi Daniels

Ob/Gyn resident Dr. Jasmine Banks is hiding two secrets. One, she didn't have to work because her family is rich with an established lingerie line. Two, she just found she has the lump in her breast and she has the high-risk cancer gene. She knew she made the right choice years ago to let Toni Landi, her then-boyfriend go due to betrayal. She just regrets now that she'll never have a family she wanted. She was shocked when her mother wanted her to consider an arranged marriage to Dr. David Landi as a part of a business deal. She's even more shocked that this is none other than Toni, the boy she left years ago.  // Dr. David Landi is a "plastic surgeon" that worked for the army for years, helping veterans with injuries. He's finally out and back stateside, and both he and his rich family are ready to get his career fast-tracked. He lost his wife to aggressive cancer and he's in no mood to consider an arranged marriage to Jasmine Banks... the woman who dumped him years ago. But his family wanted them to meet anyway. //

While I enjoy the secrets and shames, the book felt a bit bloated by secondary plots that sorta went nowhere, and thus, feels a bit unfocused. The evil stalker bit barely made a blip and was over in a few pages. And Jasmine seems to be both jealous and lacks self-worth that she's even jealous of Karen Lee, the surgeon David asked to perform a double procedure from another city as a favor, not to mention she refused to listen to David (even when all David did was to say goodbye to his late wife). It's good, but it could have been better.  3.5/5

GRR Reviews No Time for Surprises by Karen McCullough

Julie was drummed out of her job when she was accused of leaking proprietary code for the project and not even her fiancee Dan believed her innocence. So she left him. Years later, Julie suddenly found herself working with her ex again when his company just acquired the project she was working on (on behalf of someone else), and she's too far along to be ejected from the project. And Dan, having realized his mistake back then (he let his ambition rule over his logic) wanted another chance with Julie. But Julie, still angry from the betrayal, is not quite ready to give Dan the chance... And corporate spies are still out there...

Ah, "working with the ex", but nicely done. The angst is real, second chance precious. There's only one minor technical problem... Objective-C is basically a Mac and iOS only-language, not usually something that would be used by web programmers working on transactional databases. 4/5

GRR Reviews Hot in the Kitchen by Olivia Burke

Natalie came home to Crystal Springs to take care of her family, putting her own veterinary school plans on hold. Taking a temp job as waitress at LUSH restaurant, she did not expect to see Seth, the heartbreaker, as the sous chef. Still setting back into town, she swore she'll NEVER go back to Seth, the man who left her. // Seth was determined to learn all he can from the famous chef at LUSH and nothing will deter him from his goal, and that includes Natalie, not that he ever expected to see her ever again. But "as friends", he can't let the infamous playboy bartender date her either... and his own plans may be in jeopardy...

It's clearly they aren't over each other, and the whole short novel (just over 100 pages) is sweet. I don't quite like the darkest hour though... It's cliche. (Emotionally distraught MC lashes out at anyone within reach)  4/5

GRR Reviews Healing the Billionaire by Eliza Boyd

Hailey had started CumberCakers, her cupcake business, after her husband left her to pursue her dreams many years ago. When her ex-sister-in-law asked her to come dog-sit for her across the country, she used the chance to also schedule an interview with a national vendor. Unfortunately, the 150-pound dog bowled her over, leading to her dislocating her shoulder... just as she found that the visitor was none other than her ex-husband Jared... // Jared decided to let Hailey go as he needed to find his own way, and he did. Now he's a billionaire, and seeing his ex-wife just made him want her back, even as he decided to take a vacation from it all. Helping her make her cupcakes is just a bonus, but is his penchant for secrecy means he'll let her go... again?

Uh... while the cupcake stuff is good, the conflict can be summed up as your typical "I can't say what I really feel" versus "I don't want to hear it".  A bit exasperating, IMHO.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 3.5/5

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

GRR Reviews Bride and the Beard by K C Crowne

Harley wanted to expand the 5-star family mountain resort with a spa and fitness center, but his two brothers are "we don't do that" "we'll think about it" and fobbed him off. He went to Vegas to attend a conference and met Emily there, fighting over a taxi... // Emily is a single parent raising her daughter because her ex-husband is a rich cheater who enjoys making her miserable. She went to Vegas to network, as she's a massage therapist hoping to open her spa. Harley and Emily met up and after a drunken night about town, got "married". Emily is in huge regret the next day, as her ex-husband apparently has her followed and will use that to hurt her and gain custody of Emily, while Harley just happens to need a massage therapist, and was surprised that Emily refused him. When Harley went to visit Emily, hoping to change her mind, he found out the whole situation... But what can he do about it?

Somehow the ending was wrapped up a bit too neatly. Let's just say there will be a court-battle, except it wasn't a battle but a massacre.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 4/5

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

GRR Reviews Dare Me Again by Shelly Alexander

Elliot is back in his hometown of Angel Fire Falls, taking a break from his high-flying partnership of financial management in San Francisco. He's not really here to stay, but he needs to get this project done first: a service-dog boot camp for veterans at his family resort. There's only one problem: the head dog trainer is Rebel, the girl who ran away from him 10 years ago. // Rebel left with her mom to get her to treatment, after one night that something horrible may have happened. Illness eventually claimed her mom, but Rebel survived, and became a dog whisperer, able to train dogs into service animals. She ran from Elliot because she knew she will only drag him down. Now that she's back, there is nowhere else to run... // Elliot and Rebel came together, and there's both pain and love between them. But with her future on the line, she must keep the camp the highest priority... Dare she risk it all on Elliot's support? Or will her secret and generosity be the ruin of everything? Elliot isn't staying, right?

Good layering of different types of guilt. Elliot has about his family obligations, his feelings toward Rebel, and by extension, his obligation toward the camp. Rebel has guilt about something her mother may or may not have done, about her feelings toward Elliot and her "betrayal" when she ran, and obligation about making the camp a success despite problems (like no individual trainers, as well as no vaccination records about the dogs). And the ending was a masterful twist from the darkest hour. Very satisfying read (and if you have KU, you get the audiobook too!)

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 5/5

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

GRR Reviews Echoes of Summer by Laura D Bastian

Madison walked away pregnant after breaking up with her boyfriend eight years ago. And she's too hurt to let him know, as she never expected to see him again. When he showed up as the new consultant at her company eight years later, he didn't recognize her, for she uses her middle name now, and dyed her hair. But when he found out, he tried to reconnect, but she's not over the hurt of being abandoned... When her son wanted a connection, can they overcome their past hurt to find future love?

Ah, the secret baby trope mixed with "working with the ex". Tension didn't quite ratchet up right. The ending felt contrived.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 3/5

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

GRR Reviews HOT SEAL by Lynn Raye Harris

Navy SEAL Dane "Viking" Erickson and his team just got assigned to Hostile Operations Team (HOT)... a no-name multi-service elite operation that handles the toughest assignments and never gets the glory, and this latest one is a doozy, since not only he'll be taking down a terrorist org who managed to steal a drug smuggling sub from the Colombian narcos, the terrorists have a nuke and can be detonating it anywhere along the East Coast. Things just got tougher when he realized their DEA liaison is none other than his ex-wife... Ivy McGill... // Ivy had dedicated her life into taking down the Ruiz Cartel that killed her mother. She didn't believe in men any more, after Dane joined the SEALs instead of staying with her. But working with the man who betrayed her? It may be the worst part of it all. // No matter their past hurts, they have to work with each other to track down the rogue sub. But when the cartel came after her, believing she had a hand in stealing the sub, will Dane and his SEAL team save the day and still catch the sub?

The scenario is plausible, though I kinda wonder about the security setup, and the "fumbling assassins" trope. The 'working with the ex' trope, however, was executed VERY nicely. And the twist reveal was very good as well. But the sub ended up as an ancillary plot, which is kinda meh. Still, this is not a technothriller, but romantic suspense. And there's a twist about Ivy's past. A bit cliche, but it works. This gets a -0.5 for minor technical details screwup.

Category: Contemporary / Romantic Suspense / Military

Overall Rating: 4.5/5 (rounded up)

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

GRR Reviews Caught Up In Us by Lauren Blakely

Kat is about to finish her graduate degree and making her way as a jewelry designer, then she realized her business mentor for this semester is none other than Bryan, the man who broke her heart five years ago. Bryan was Kat's brother's best friend, but he knew there could be nothing more than a fling. Even now, Kat's professor has a no-hanky-panky policy so there can be nothing between Kat and Bryan... but Kat was never over Bryan, and there was too much chemistry between them to be denied... But Kat needs her degree. How can this problem be resolved?

Nice complications, even though the earlier history seems a bit vague, about breaking her heart.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Woman found her business mentor for graduate school was her ex, the heart-breaker, and they are not over each other...

Overall Rating: 4/5

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

GRR Reviews Wicked Games by A.D. Justice

When the plot makes a reader go "O RLY?" there are definitely some problems with the fact-checking.

Brianna loved journalism, and with her father's connections, she landed a chance to interview the members of the Delta Force in the Middle East. During the month she was embedded with them, they became her brothers all except one... Noah became her lover instead. Years later, Noah retired from special forces and founded Steele Security, hiring ex-military folks for protection, investigation, and such, while Brianna is moving up in the world of investigative journalism. The couple is in love, and ready to marry, until Brianna stumbled into a giant conspiracy... Noah Steele and his company may be smuggling weapons to the rebels and pocket the money. Is Noah in it, or being set up to take the fall? She found a witness, but bad guys are chasing her. When she didn't make it onto the plane, and it exploded after takeoff, she knew she's in mortal danger... // Three years later, Brianna using an alias is living in Colorado under witness protection, but her sixth sense told her she'd been made. She slipped out after dark and made it to Miami, hoping to see Noah one last time. In the meanwhile, the perp after her knew the only way to draw her out is to force Noah's hand. The meeting between Brie and Noah was not a happy one: she thought she was trying to save him, he thought she betrayed him... What exactly happened three years ago, when everybody believed she died and they buried an empty casket? Who's responsible for this mess? Moreover, can it be fixed?

The story doesn't make sense at all. For a reporter, she has no idea that's not how WITSEC works. She also somehow magically has another set of ID that's STILL current three years later. Moreover, why can't she just TELL Noah what's the story she's working on that she had to run off to Turkey all by herself? Can't Noah even afford to send ONE guy to guard her? Is their relationship that bad? Why break into his mansion at all? It's just to setup her capture! At the end of the book, she walked into the enemy camp (trying to play heroine again?), got taken somewhere to be worked over, only to have another guy come in to save the day deus ex machina. There is some real emotion in there, but the setup and plot needs to make more sense.

Category: Contemporary / Military-security

Primary Plot: Reporter falls for security guy, was ensnared into giant conspiracy, and forced to leave him. Now she's back, but as ally, or enemy?

Overall Rating: 2/5

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

GRR Reviews One White Lie: Barrington Billionaire's Se by Jeannette Winters

One White Lie is a "love interrupted" and "secret baby" romance. I personally find it hard to accept why woman would just walk away and keep the baby a secret from the father even if he had wrong her, but that's just my personal opinion. This story, while polished, just didn't grab me.

Brice Henderson broke away from his controlling father to make his own fortune, by sacrificing everything, including the one woman he loved, but he can afford no distractions. When his personal assistant needed to take sick leave to take care of family, Brice reluctantly agreed to hire a temporary replacement... who turned out to be the one woman he pushed away... Lena Razzi. Lena spent years trying to forget Brice, despite having a daily reminder... a son by Brice that not even Brice knew about. Lena needed the job, even if it's just a temporary gig, to take care of the baby and herself, and Brice hasn't changed. But as they spent more time together, neither can forget the good times they once had. Can Lena tell Brice about their son if she's not staying? Can they rekindle their love... Or was this going to be a flash in the pan like last time?

Frankly, I am tired of books that tout doormat single mom keeping the baby secret as if to spite the (bleep) dad just to prove you don't mean anything to me except as sperm donor, but as soon as they see each other, they got back together. It's basically formula that she won't tell him, believing this second time is temporary as well, then he found out and was pissed off, or he think he's damaged and was too good for her, or vice versa... But eventually they got back together. It's a trope, and this is no exception.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Single mom ended up as assistant to the one man who got her pregnant... will she tell him about their son?

Tropes: secret baby, reunion, working with the ex, evil parents

Overall Rating: 3/5