Cover Image: Two to Tangle

Two to Tangle

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I wanted to like this lots more than I did. I loved the first installation of this story, but this one fell short. That's not to say I'm not looking forward to the third one - I'm just hoping it's a more solid story.

My issue with this one is that even though we sort of knew the characters from the first book, we still needed to become more acquainted and I just couldn't relate to them or their actions. For one, I didn't like Gabriela a whole lot - she was bossy and selfish. The scene where she yelled at Ryan and turned to Maddie just turned me off. And the whole thing with her second-guessing her relationship with Ryan and trying to force herself to reconsider Maddie was silly.

It took me about half-way into the book to finally get into the story, but the plot still didn't grab me as a good book should.

One pet peeve - and I've mentioned this before when reviewing this author's books, is the constant use of the word "damn". I'm not opposed to swearing, but the overuse of the word gets distracting and annoying. Everything is damn - every damn time, best damn kiss. Let's hear some new descriptors!

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So this next installment in the series follows Gabriella and Ryan, and again it was so nice to be in this fictional world because Melissa has a way of writing small towns and atmosphere that is just wonderful. However, there were a few aspects that I didn't personally like, hence the 3 star ratings.

As in the previous book, the girls' friendship was very endearing and this is one of the reasons why I really wanted to read this story. Melissa never disappoints in this respect. Also, seeing Joey and Becca again made me very happy, I didn't expect to feel so delighted meeting them again. There was banter, there were soft and adorable moments and they had palpable chemistry and they got their well-deserved happy ending, especially Ryan whom I simply adored.

As for the things that I wasn't so happy with... honestly mostly it's the fact that I am tired of miscommunication and lack of communication and too much drama. I wish we could see other devices and plot points to move the plot forward. The "love triangle situation" was also not my favorite, even though things did work out in the end. And honestly I was a bit "uhh" about Gabriella's internal thoughts as well concerning Ryan's "player reputation", like I get being a bit reticent but the way they all talked about her was a bit... uhh I don't want to say it felt like slutshaming but it personally upset me. Also Ryan is 28 why does Gabriella call her a "kid"...? She herself is like in her early 30's if I remember correctly.

As I said, these are more personal complaints, aspects you might not mind that much. But overall it was a cute and quick read and I'm excited for Maddie's story!

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Oh the wait is finally over and it did noooot disapoint.
This book was delishes in every way possible, Its great to get to revisit the place and the characters and see more of their stories evolve, read about dreamy food and steamy kisses, cause they were you know - Gabriella and Ryan were the purrfect mix of dreamy and steamy.

Im giving it 4stars,, i might have gotten a bit too frustrated with the sheit that always needs to happen towards the end but it was a pretty good read.
Classic Brayden.
Really looking forward to Madisons book!

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4.5 stars. Another homerun, this was super fun! I took the suggestion given in the acknowledgements to heart and poured myself a nice glass of wine and got some snacks out before curling up on the couch with my friends from Tangle Valley (yes, they are my friends now too). This book is all about food, wine and romance.

Gabriella’s dream is finally coming alive, the construction of her restaurant at Tangle Valley is starting. She’s happy with her life and enjoying the slower lifestyle in Whisper Wall. But then there is Ryan, disrupting Gabriella’s ordered life. Ryan is the contractor responsible for building the restaurant and Ryan is everything that Gabriella doesn’t need and shouldn’t want. Ryan is a notorious player and also five years younger than Gabriella, Gabriella is convicted that Ryan is not relationship material. Hey, even Ryan thinks she’s not relationship material, or is she? Plenty of reasons not to date, but also plenty of attraction!

Obviously, they do end up dating and there is quite a bit of miscommunication and angst going on. When used in the wrong way this can totally ruin a book for me, but it can also greatly add to it, and luckily it totally worked for this one. I won’t go into too much detail, but I thought it really added to the growth of the characters and their relationship. For Gabriella there is serious doubt about Ryans personality, due to her status as a player, will she be ready for a relationship? Whereas Ryan has no idea how to act in a relationship and especially how to handle the emotions that come with a relationship. On top of that, both mains are seriously misguided by their surroundings. So yes, some stupid decisions are made and they certainly have to work hard for their relationship, but it only makes the ending more fulfilling.

In comparison with the first book the group of friends and their dynamics are more settled and they all add to their friendship in their own specific way. It was good to see Joey and Becca, all happy and in love, and you get to learn a lot more about Madison. This installment already shows a glimpse of some the complexity that is Madison, she is smart, introverted and has such a big heart. I can’t wait to read her story. Then of course there are the biddies, they certainly have never heard of privacy and whether you love them or hate them, they are guaranteed to stir things up.

I enjoyed the first book “Entangled” a lot, but I liked this one even a bit better, it’s a roller coaster of emotions and in the good way. Recommended to all romance and Brayden fans out there!

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Two to Tangle is the second installment of the Tangle Valley Romance series. After reading book one, I could not wait for book two to arrive. My overall impression is Brayden did not disappoint. Though this wasn't 5 stars for me like book one, I give it a strong 4 star rating maybe even 4.25 rating.

This book is the love story of Gabriella Russo and Ryan Jacks. All of those who read book one knows who Gabriella is. She has been hired to be the Head Chef at the soon to be Tangle Valley Winery restaurant. Her connection to the winery is Morgan who has also moved to back home to take over as head Wine master when Joey's father dies suddenly. Ryan Jacks is a local contractor who has been hired to renovate a space on the winery to house the new restaurant. At the end of book one we see the chemistry that ultimately plays out in book two.

So there is a lot to love about Two to Tangle. Brayden continues with her witty dialogue and for me it works. I often found myself Laughing out loud as I read through this one. I also like the pairing of Gabriella and Ryan. I thought the chemistry was off the chart and I liked that they took time getting to know one another even though they had a few misunderstanding early on. Of course the sex scenes work. Sometimes I wish there wasn't a quota on how many is needed in a romance. I just felt like this one could have used another one. The small age gap also seemed to work. Of course there would be angst in this one and though in theory it works, I really didn't care for it much. I can't really go into detail but the whole situation just didn't seem to fit the characters and what we know about them. Sure we could see some small insecurities in Ryan, but for the most part she is a confidant woman. I think that is why I had to take off a half point.

Again, this was a solid romance written by Brayden and I can't wait to see the love story come to life with Morgan and the lady from that store (I hope I am right on that one).

This arc was provided by the publisher for an honest review.

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Nothing better than sitting down to a Melissa Brayden novel. Book 2 in the Tangle Valley romance series does not disappoint as Gabriella takes a shot at taming notorious player and contractor in charge of her new restaurant, Ryan. The two tangle back and forth their fears of relationships for very different reasons which made for an interesting study of allowing oneself to fall in love. Both women trip and fall along the way, sometimes hilariously and sometimes exasperatingly, but also humanly which we can all relate to in some form or another. Looking forward to book 3 and more tales from this wonderful winery and quirky town. I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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Second book in the Tangle Valley series and I enjoy this more than the first one. Considering that I love book one, that seems almost impossible. This time, we follow Gabriella, the head chef hired to helm the Vineyard's restaurant. The contractor hired to build the restaurant, Ryan Jacks, is known around town as a player. She has relationships with various women and seem to lead an easygoing life. But, of course, there's insane chemistry between Gabriella and Ryan. Problem is, Gabriella does not want to just hook up. With their 5 year age difference, she thinks Ryan is too young to want the same thing she wants. Their individual insecurities and histories make a bumpy, twisty path to romance. Also, it's probably best not to read this book on an empty stomach. There's plenty of mention of food, which is expected as one of the MC's is a chef. I wish that Gabriella's restaurant is a real place, as I would love to dine there. Book 3 cannot come fast enough.

**Thank you to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!**

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Two to Tangle is the second installment in Melissa Brayden's, Tangle Valley Romance series. f you haven't read the first book, I'd recommend reading it before this one, but it may not be totally necessary in order to understand the plot of this book. The series revolves around the Tangle Valley vineyard and the three major characters Joey, Gabriella, and Madison. Classic opposites attract romance. Great dialogue, As someone in an age gap relationship, I did have some problems with how Gabriella kind of condescends to Ryan because of their age differences. I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for a review.

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'Two to Tangle' is the second installment of the 'Tangle Valley Romance' series. This one follows Gabriella Russo, who was hired as head chef at an Oregon winery. She is making masterful dishes from within a food truck while waiting for construction to complete on the restaurant.

Ryan Jacks runs her own business doing construction/project work for places all over town. She has been living the fast life of meaningless hookups and is feeling a bit unfulfilled as of late. She takes on the Tangle Valley restaurant and becomes charmed by the sassy chef.

I enjoyed this one even more than the first, which is unusual for me. When I read series, I end up liking each following book less and less.

I love books where the feelings are there but the main characters try to deny them. Or something happens and they convince themselves that they need to stay away. I also love it when jealousy is the catalyst for characters to confront their true emotions. This book had all of that.

As usual, Brayden delivers with great dialogue, likeable characters, and emotional turmoil.

I recommend this book to people who like to read about romance, wineries, food, bars, friends, construction, jealousy, garages and priests.

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I knew I would love Gabriella's story! After book one in the series, I was already a big fan of the character, so I couldn't wait to read this book. Not only did I love her even more when it ended, but Ryan also became one of my favorites.

This story in particular focuses on the issue of falling for a "player" and if that can ever truly work out well. What happens when the player wants to settle down? Do you give her a chance, and believe your relationship is different, or do you stay as far away as possible? It's always an interesting set up, and Brayden does the push and pull very well. I was rooting for Gabriella to believe Ryan, but she also was an idiot sometimes. It was great!

The last thing I'll say is poor Madison. I can't wait for her analytical brain to turn to mush when she meets her person.

Favorite book in the series so far!

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I've fallen in love with Tangle Valley and am ready to move ;)

First, while this is the second book (I think) in Tangle Valley, you don't need to read the other to enjoy this one :) But that one is great too. This is a great romance between characters that are real, down ot earth, and face real problems. Yep there's a little fluff and some heat, but I want to be friends with these people. LOL I love that connected feeling to the characters.

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Another fabulous series on the go. I do like both familiar characters and a romance resolution for the friends you liked in the previous book. Yes the women are all inexplicably lesbian or bi, but romance novels are supposed to be fantasies. Meanwhile, you can drool over the food and there is a lot of food to drool over and savour. Also wine, you can imagine the wine. Not to mention the Muskrat face. I’ve tried various looks in the mirror, but really we need some sort of demo from the author. I’m sure she’d look cute. She must have tried it out on her friends. Back to the book, the romance is sweet and grown up.I like the fact that Gabriella knows what she deserves and doesn’t accept less than that. Meanwhile, with yet another image to think about, Ryan has contractor tools and biceps. One to enjoy

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3.75 Stars
This is book 2 of the Tangle Valley Romance series.
The series revolves around the Tangle Valley vineyard and the three major characters Joey, Gabriella and Madison. The first book was about Joey, the owner. This one is about Gabriella, the chef. I'm assuming the third will be about Madison, winemaker.
I was concerned about whether this book would measure up to the first book. The first book had sooo much going on....Romance, death, fire, newcomers......But this one started relatively slow and not much happening. You meet new characters and renew the previous ones. The construction of the new restaurant starts and we meet the new character, Ryan, a carpenter and construction company owner. For the first half of the book we go through the construction and the blooming romance between Ryan and Gabriella. Up to this point I wasn't thrilled with the story. And then things rapidly take a turn and emotions start exploding. Now I can't read fast enough. My emotions are all over the place. How can this be happening? How could she say that? How could she do that? It takes you on a very emotional rollercoaster. Just when you think things are going in the right direction, they take a turn. You will definitely understand the title at this point in the book. And the cover definitely sets the feel for the book.
There were a few cute and funny scenes while playing softball and the food and town was again interesting and warm.
Overall I didn't think this one was as powerful as the first but it was a good read. Most of Braydens books are. I will be happy to see book three.
I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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Two to Tangle is the second installment in Melissa Brayden's, Tangle Valley Romance series. If you read her first book in this series, Entangled, you will remember chef extraordinaire, Gabriella Russo. In this romance not only does the chef whip up culinary delights, but she also opens the winery's newest restaurant with the help of a local construction crew and their boss, Ryan Jacks. Did I mention romance and sparks, well there are quite a few of them between Gabriella and Ryan!

Ryan Jacks is somewhat of a player. Ryan lets the ladies, and there are a number of them, know she is down for fun between the sheets but that is all. She isn't interested in the commitment of any type. That is until she meets the tough but sweet newest resident, Gabriella. When they meet she second-guesses all her old ways, the only problem is that her reputation is already firmly in place.

Gabriella is currently creating amazing dishes out of her food truck, but the end goal is to create a world-class restaurant that sets Tangle Valley Vineyard miles above the rest. She's finally creating the food she wants and has found happiness in the beauty of Whisper Wall, Oregon. Everything is going according to plan until she meets the stunning Ryan Jacks. As Ryan's company begins building Gabrielle's dream these two grow as friends and then more. The only problem is Ryan's reputation and cold feet seem to get in the way.

Melissa Brayden does it again with a sweet and sexy romance that leaves you feeling content and full of happiness. As always the book is full of smiles, fabulous dialogue, and characters you wish were your best friends. You don't have to read the first in the series to dive into this one, but I would recommend it. Trust me, read everything by Brayden, you will not be disappointed.

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This books was very sweet. I had not read Melissa Brayden's books before and this was an enjoyable first one to try.

There were some spots where the action dragged and a few times when I wanted the characters to just have a conversation but overall it was fun and light and the kind of book I would want to take on vacation.

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I loved it. I love the series, the people, the secondary characters, the storylines, and the setting. One of the other reviewers was complainIng about The misunderstandings that the MC’s had in this book. I disagree, all relationships, in the beginning, has misunderstandings as you get to know each other and learn to trust one another. This was no different with Gabriella and Ryan. Their chemistry was great and I’m loving the writing. Gimme some more! I can’t wait for Madison’s story.

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Cute but predictable. While I enjoyed the descriptions of food, the cute banter between the characters, and the camaraderie between Gabriella and her friends, overall this book is a one-time read. I didn't really feel the romantic tension between the characters and struggled to understand what brought them together (other than the fact that both are apparently incredibly attractive). On the other hand, the town of Whisper Wall sounds like foodie heaven.

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I think I've said this before about other Melissa Brayden's books, and will probably say it again about the next one, but this is my new favorite.

This book has the banter between the characters that we've all come to expect and love in her books, a charming story, some drama, dogs and this time even softball.

In this second installment of the Tangle Valley series, we're back in Whisper Wall, Oregon, this time to get Gabriella's love story.

This story is funny, charming, and everything we love about Brayden's novels. I'm really looking forward to reading about Madison's story on the next installment of this series.

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Two to Tangle is the second book in the Tangle Valley wine series trilogy. This book features thirty-four year old chef Gabriella Russo who runs the winery food truck that she named Jolene Gabriella is using the food truck to introduce the tourists and locals who visit the winery, to food that she will eventually serve at the on site restaurant. The restaurant is being build by contractor, Ryan Jacks. Ryan is twenty-eight years old and really enjoys the company of women almost to the point of being a player. She has also never been in love. Gabriella is more serious in her relationships and has not dated anyone since moving to Oregon from New Jersey. However, her ex, Madison, is the head winemaker at Tangle Valley Vineyard.

From the start there was immediate attraction between Gabriella and Ryan almost in an opposites attract scenario. Along the way Gabriella received a lot of advice from the other ladies at the vineyard and in town about Ryan's active social life and her love-em-and-love-em ways. After Gabriella and Ryan eventually get together and settle into the beginning of a relationship, that previous feedback from others begins to play in her mind. That sets off some of the initial conflict in the book.

Overall I'd recommend this book to others wanting to experience life in Oregon wine country, with a small town setting filled with good food, great wine, interesting people, and meddling Biddies.

I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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Two to Tangle is the second installment in a trilogy set in an Oregon winery, featuring Joey, Gabriella, and Madison. This time around we get to know Gabriella, a feisty Italian-American, and Ryan, the contractor hired to remodel the building that will become Gabriella's restaurant.

It's a classic opposites attract story, where the leads are instantly attracted to each other but worry about a variety of things, including a 5-year age gap and a difference in how they view a relationship. As in Entangled, the food and wine sound so good and really lend an authentic feel to a story set in a winery/restaurant. This time, though, we get a nice helping of community softball to go along with the original cast of neighbors (the cowboys, the biddies, the other small business owners).

The conflict between Ryan and Gabriella is not your standard conflict, although it does begin with one thing that could've been handled with an honest conversation, as Madison is introduced as a potential love triangle. Luckily for us, she gets her chance for happiness in book three. My only complaint is that the book felt a little long for me, but other than that I enjoyed everything I always enjoy from Melissa Brayden: witty banter, beautiful couples, and picturesque small towns.

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