Cover Image: Two to Tangle

Two to Tangle

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Member Reviews

Melissa Brayden always writes the most beautiful love stories! I was captivated by the characters from the first page. I love the adjectives she uses to describe certain experiences. I cannot wait for her next book, and I highly recommend that you read Two To Tangle!

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Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.

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So, it's Gabriella's turn. She meets the builder for the new restaurant's reno, Ryan, and it's definitely lust at first site, if not more. And then, it slowly becomes more. But there are some big road blocks between them. Like the fact that Ryan has been a player, and that Gabriella is still friends with her ex, Madison (who also works at the vineyard), and, maybe Madison still has some feelings?

It was a fun read, the food stuff was amazing, as was the construction stuff. Meeting Ryan's friends (or sorta friends) Billy and Lana was cool. And the Loretta subplot was just perfect. Definitely a fun read.

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Another sweet, sassy and at times heart-wrenching romance by Melissa Brayden. I esp. love the dialogues which are so good. And of course good food doesn‘t hurt - at all. Though a bit disappointed that no recipes were added. I expect the recipe for bacon biscuits soonest ::))

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4.25 stars | I can't believe it took me this long to read this sequel! Melissa Brayden is one of the best lesfic authors, and I always enjoy her books. After reading Entangled last year, I was excited to get to read Gabriella's story arc.

Leaving her big city life behind for a chance to run her own restaurant Gabriella Russo has finally found her place in the world. The owner of the company in charge of building Gabriella’s new restaurant, Ryan Jacks, is known to be a player and enjoy a good time, but when she meets Gabriella, Ryan finds herself wanting more than casual flings.

Once again, Brayden offers us a sweet, refreshing romance between two highly likable MCs. The writing is, as usual, very good, fluid. It’s an easy summer read that I absolutely recommend!

Thank you to Bold Strokes Books for the free copy in exchange for a (very late) review!

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this is not my first Melissa Brayden and it didn’t disappoint. Fun, witty dialogue, great descriptions and a romance plot that kept me wanting to read more to make sure the characters reached their happy ever after.

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I love all books by this author, can highly recommend. Just wonderful. The main characters are well developed and its so well written you feel personally involved in the journey.

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Received a copy of this book for review. Overall it is a good read for me. Love the chemistry between the main characters. Love all the characters. What I love is that each of them does make a difference to the story as it developed. Like to read how the characters In the story are interrelated to each other. It make the story more exciting to read. The setting of the story is nice and is fit nicely to the story.Story plot are well penned out, with a slight twist to it in the end.

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This one dragged a bit in the middle for me. It was a very long 289 pages to be honest. It was good and I liked it but the drama was a little over the top. There was a lot of I like you but do you like me, I'm a loner, misunderstanding instances and I got kind of annoyed. I still love Melissa Brayden's work but this one was not my favorite. Also, do not read hungry!! I'd like to go visit Tangled to eat all the food and drink some wine. Love the townspeople Brayden created for this series too.

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This is the second book in the Tangle Valley series from Melissa Brayden. I enjoyed this book even more than I did the first one, although there was one part with the main characters that I did not enjoy. Ryan Jacks has had a lot of trouble with past relationships, being burned and having her heartbroken. At one point Ryan thinks Gabriella Russo can't get over her former lover, Madison. Ryan backs away because she has gone through it all before. Gabriella's character is very head-strong and she gets pissed off because of Ryan backing away. She doesn't communicate with Ryan before getting angry with her and not taking time to understand the past issues that she has gone through. I found this troubling and I lost a lot of respect for Gabriella. I felt like it was very unfair to not take her partner's past and her feelings into account before jumping all over her. It made for a bad section of the book for me. Otherwise, it is another good Brayden novel.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

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Unfortunately I wasn't able to get into this book. Hopefully someone else will enjoy this book more. I will give it a try soon

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I loved this book. Loved it so much. It’s my favourite book so far in this series, and it’s rivalling some other Brayden favourites of mine.
I love Melissa Brayden’s books because I always know I’m going to laugh, get a little teary, and enjoy the heck out of the ride. Picking up one of her books is a no brainer. The problem with this book (and is it really a problem?) is that I seriously struggled to put how much I loved it into words without giving away major spoilers… So here goes nothing!

I would suggest starting at the book, Entangled and not skipping ahead. Entangled sets this book up nicely, and you can sit back and enjoy Ryan and Gabriella’s story.

This book, in particular, had my little heart racing all the way through. There were times I wanted to shout at Ryan or give Gabriella a nudge. And then there is Joey, who is so super sweet and protective and I just wanted to cuddle with her!

I was swooning all over the place. Especially Ryan Jacks because wow! Talk about the hot tradie type! I was so onboard for her and her sexiness. Yum!

But the best thing about the book (except the romance because honestly, that’s what gets me here each time) is the friendship between Joey (winery owner), Madison and Gabriella. Their banter is witty, funny and entertaining to read. I wanted to join in on their little friendship, hang out and become part of the group.

Ryan and Gabriella are so beautifully in sync when it comes to chemistry. It’s all fiery and hot but also incredibly intimate at times. It reads beautifully. These two just made my heart happy!

Melissa Brayden, I hope you never stop writing series’ because I get so wrapped up in them. I can’t wait for the next book, What a Tangled Web, to be out in ebook/audio so I can jump back into more Tangled Valley. An exceptional book.

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Melissa Brayden is a solid romance writer. She is skilled at capturing the imagination and attention of her readers. Picking up one of her books never results in disappointment; one can count on her to deliver the goods every time. Readers can expect the same of Two to Tangle. It is trademark Brayden all the way, well-penned and delightful.

Brayden constructs a solid romance between Gabriella and Ryan. She employs the classic Brayden romance formula that readers have come to appreciate. It works well and always offers up a satisfying HEA. The cornerstone of this romance is the unstoppable chemistry of Gabriella and Ryan, her two leads. Their chemistry is fueled by heavy emotion and angst, but that’s what keeps readers invested and interested. The interaction and banter between the leading ladies adds much also. Gabriella and Ryan have a fiery connection; it drives this love story. Their lack of communication, however, stalls their love affair. Fortunately, when they are finally able power through all the roadblocks and differences, the reward is oh-so sweet.

Both characters are likable in their own unique ways, but Gabriella has that extra little “something” that makes her stand out. She’s talented, attractive, passionate and spunky; readers feel the pull of her personality immediately. They want more of her, for sure. Ryan, however, is a bit more difficult to take at first. She is a bit of a “player” and this is a little hard to digest in the beginning. This bad girl trope works well for the overall arc of this story, but it isn’t always attractive in the big scheme of things. However, as Ryan works through her issues, she grows on readers. Through character growth, she becomes a relatable and likable character, one readers cheer for in the end.

One of Brayden’s greatest strengths as a writer is her ability to develop strong secondary characters that help advance the plot in purposeful ways. These secondary characters are often connected to one another in highly relatable and likable ways. These characters are either close co-workers or friends. In Two to Tangle, Brayden’s secondary characters are just as one would expect; they are a close knit group that share easy banter and good times. They are people anyone would enjoy hanging out with and sharing laughs. Joey and Becca, as well as Madison, are a part of this group. Those familiar with book one will no doubt be thrilled to see this.

Final remarks…

Brayden knows how to consistently write an appealing romance, and Two to Tangle is proof of this. She sets the stage and provides readers with an enticing setting—a gorgeous vineyard that’s enchanting as well as irresistible. It’s the perfect place for romance. Much the same can be said about Two to Tangle’s main characters. They, too, are perfectly suited for romance. Overall, this is a sweet story. It’s easy to read and well worth the time.

Strengths…

Well-written
Sweet
Lovely characters
Charming banter
HEA

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‘Two To Tangle’ is the second in the Tangle Valley Romance series by Melissa Brayden. I loved being back in Tangle Valley, with a wonderful group of friends, and a new romance to wallow in. This time, chef Gabriella Russo is the focus of our attention. As she works towards opening a new restaurant in the vineyard, her life becomes complicated with the arrival of gorgeous contractor Ryan Jacks. Gabriella has decided that romance can go on the back burner, as she concentrates on her career. But however much she tries, and despite locking horns with Ryan on numerous occasions, she finds it increasingly difficult to resist her.

I adored Gabriella. She was beautiful, insanely talented and had a mind of her own. This was one woman who would not put up with any BS. And Ryan would realise her mistake is she didn’t put Gabriella first and take her seriously. I loved Ryan too. She might have come across as a player at the start, but her vulnerability was endearing. As they get to know each other, sparks fly. The love scenes were romantic, intense and hot. I wanted this couple to work and I warmed to their relationship more and more as the story progressed. It had a wee bit more angst than I was expecting, but ultimately had me swooning. Melissa Brayden has a winner with the Tangle Valley series. I can’t wait for the next one.

I was given this ARC to review.

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Just one of those make you feel good romance. I loved both characters the chemistry they had just swept me off my feet and all I could do was read and smile until I was to the end.

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Two To Tangle by Melissa Brayden

As a famous chef, Gabriella knows how to season a good dish. It’s her personal life she’s is worried about. Ready to take a break from romance, she’ has moved to Oregon to open a new restaurant called Tangled.

This was not my usual genre as there were no murders. It was a light romance novel. It held a lot of drama, friends trying to get along. The location was described beautifully, a vineyard, and I craved wine after reading all about the different kinds of their production...

Thank you Net Galley for sending me an advanced reader’s copy for review..

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4 stars

Gabriella Russo's life is good. She lives on a vineyard with her close friends Joey and Madison and does what she loves for a living. Then the construction of what will soon be her own restaurant brings contractor Ryan Jacks into her life. The chemistry between them is delicious, but Ryan is no stranger to the ladies, and Gabriella wonders if it's wise to trust her with her heart.

cw: physical fight, arrest

This is a high quality book, as I've come to expect from Melissa Brayden. It's just missing that extra spice (apologies for the cooking puns). I didn't necessarily feel Gabriella and Ryan's chemistry, even though we were told about it in the book.

The Characters: I really liked Gabriella. She's feisty and passionate, and I was totally crushing on her. Ryan Jacks on the other hand was a bit underwhelming. Maybe I'm just not into "bad girls"? Maybe I was turned off by the name Ryan Jacks. But Ryan's dimple did nothing for me. I liked seeing the side characters from the first book. Joey and Becca were cute, and this book definitely made me see Madison in a whole new light. <spoiler> The love triangle with Madison is what kept things interesting for me in the end, although I knew Madison wouldn't win out in the end. </spoiler> Now I'm excited for Madison's book.

The Plot: This book mainly followed the construction of Gabriella's restaurant. The pace was slower than I would have liked. I took a large break halfway through the book and picked it back up a month later. That being said, it didn't drag. I just wasn't super interested in the developing romance.

The Romance: The story relies on the converting-the-bad-girl trope, which Melissa Brayden pulls off with a lot of detail and emotion, even if it's somewhat stereotypical.

The Writing: Great, as usual! The only thing that started bothering me part way through the book is the way in which all the characters talk similarly. I don't really know how to describe it, except that it's a mix of goofy and earnest. I don't think I noticed it in Melissa Brayden's previous books, so I wonder if it's just a Tangle Valley thing.

All in all, a solid read. Perhaps not as addictive as I would have liked, but still very sweet.

** I received a free ARC via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

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First off, I think Brayden did a great job at changing up the typical lesfic plot line in this one. I liked that it went in a slightly different path for our MCs to find their HEA. My one issue though was Gabby. At times, I thought she was really harsh with Ryan who I thought was an absolute sweetheart. By the end of the novel I was quite put off by her, which wasn't great when reading a lesbian romance.

I'm interested to read the third novel though. I felt for Madison in this and I'm keen to read her story next.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

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I'm hooked on the books by Melissa Brayden.

In book two of this series, Gabrialla is getting her restaurant and Ryan is hired to build it. They are attracted to each other right away but their communication is not a strong point. Throw in an overprotective best friend and ex Madison. Who still has feeling for Gabriella. Ryan's player past is not helping her. Plus a couple of noisy biddies in town,

Gabriella and Ryan have a lot to overcome.

Looking forward to book 3 and Maddies follow up story. While I get she still has feeling for Gabriella her jealousy made me not like her much.

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In her introduction, the author mentioned this book was full of self-reflection due to being locked up during the pandemic, and you can really tell. There's *a lot* of self-reflection, internal monologues, and conflicts caused by self-beliefs and misunderstandings. The drama was very well written, so much so that I ended up wanting to shake some sense into the lead characters. There were quite a few instances where if they'd just talked to one another, they would have realised the issues they were conflicted over were actually non-issues. The love triangle angle, involving one of the main supporting characters, was unexpected in how far it went, and made me slightly uncomfortable. Overall, it's a very well-written book, and the angsty parts were very well written, but there was a certain spark missing for me between the two leads.

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