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bonesbones90's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
aliu6's review against another edition
4.0
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. 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.
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.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.
jsjarvis71's review against another edition
4.0
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.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
hsinjulit's review against another edition
5.0
Food, wine, and softball games with a sexy chef and hot contractor? I’m in love.
Chef Gabriella Russo (34) moved from the East Coast to the West with her best-friend-cum-ex-girlfriend Madison LeGrange (31) after Tangle Valley Vineyard owner Joey Wilder’s (31) job offer. Soon the restaurant of her dreams is under construction, and Gabriella finds herself in the constant presence of the gorgeous contractor Ryan Jacks (28), who might also be the woman of her dreams. Too bad Ryan is a player and too young for her.
I had a lot of fun with the previous book, Entangled (review), and have been looking forward to Gabriella and Ryan’s story for months. Since the series is set in the wonderful vineyard Tangle Valley, I poured some wine to ready myself for this book and ended up laughing and crying through the whole thing. I love Ryan so much even though she does make some questionable decisions sometimes. I felt her insecurities, vulnerabilities, and earnestness. Right now, I just want to give her a hug.
I love how passionate and confident both Gabriella and Ryan are about their jobs and yet so uncertain, extensively questioning themselves, when it comes to love and their mutual feelings. Every single time Gabs and Ryan see or even think of each other, I experienced butterflies in my stomach. Maybe it’s the alcohol; maybe it’s not. While there is some misunderstanding between them throughout the story, it doesn’t feel like miscommunications. I think both parties are fairly justified for their behaviors. There is also a bit of a love triangle going on that is fully believable and heartbreaking at the same time.
The secondary characters are also amazing. The Tangle Valley Trio is as fun and wonderful as I remembered them to be but even more layered. There are support and angst within the group, and I also loved seeing more of Joey and Becca’s relationship after Entangled. Ryan’s friends Billy and Lana are also wonderfully understanding and her golden retriever mix rescue Dale is adorable. I feel like crying again just thinking about them all. There are also brief mentions of actress Carly Daniel, tasting room staff Loretta’s daughter featured in To the Moon and Back (review) and romance novelist Parker Bristow featured in Back to September (review), two of my favorite Brayden books.
Gabriella and Ryan are so cute yet frustrating I love them. There were tensions but none contrived. I could see everything happen and I was rooting for them so hard, believing in them when they didn’t believe in themselves. Unlike other Brayden books, the intimate scenes in this one mostly fade to black, and for me, that made the story more tender with aching yearnings. I also love that apart from the scenes involving the restaurant construction site, there were also slow-pitch softball games. Who doesn’t want some sweaty, sporty, and muscly encounters?
Two to Tangle is another wonderful book by Brayden whose main characters I adore. A Tangle Valley Romance is now my favorite contemporary romance series, and I cannot wait for What a Tangled Web, where we can fall in love with both Madison and Clementine as they fall for each other.
I received an e-ARC from Bold Strokes Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
“You’re a good chef.”
[Gabriella] paused. “Ryan. I’m the best chef. Stop by my truck one day.”
Chef Gabriella Russo (34) moved from the East Coast to the West with her best-friend-cum-ex-girlfriend Madison LeGrange (31) after Tangle Valley Vineyard owner Joey Wilder’s (31) job offer. Soon the restaurant of her dreams is under construction, and Gabriella finds herself in the constant presence of the gorgeous contractor Ryan Jacks (28), who might also be the woman of her dreams. Too bad Ryan is a player and too young for her.
I had a lot of fun with the previous book, Entangled (review), and have been looking forward to Gabriella and Ryan’s story for months. Since the series is set in the wonderful vineyard Tangle Valley, I poured some wine to ready myself for this book and ended up laughing and crying through the whole thing. I love Ryan so much even though she does make some questionable decisions sometimes. I felt her insecurities, vulnerabilities, and earnestness. Right now, I just want to give her a hug.
I love how passionate and confident both Gabriella and Ryan are about their jobs and yet so uncertain, extensively questioning themselves, when it comes to love and their mutual feelings. Every single time Gabs and Ryan see or even think of each other, I experienced butterflies in my stomach. Maybe it’s the alcohol; maybe it’s not. While there is some misunderstanding between them throughout the story, it doesn’t feel like miscommunications. I think both parties are fairly justified for their behaviors. There is also a bit of a love triangle going on that is fully believable and heartbreaking at the same time.
“This was their great love, and they blew it. Now they have to live a subpar existence, settling for less because they didn’t go after what their hearts truly reached for, messy as it would have been.” — Becca
The secondary characters are also amazing. The Tangle Valley Trio is as fun and wonderful as I remembered them to be but even more layered. There are support and angst within the group, and I also loved seeing more of Joey and Becca’s relationship after Entangled. Ryan’s friends Billy and Lana are also wonderfully understanding and her golden retriever mix rescue Dale is adorable. I feel like crying again just thinking about them all. There are also brief mentions of actress Carly Daniel, tasting room staff Loretta’s daughter featured in To the Moon and Back (review) and romance novelist Parker Bristow featured in Back to September (review), two of my favorite Brayden books.
Gabriella and Ryan are so cute yet frustrating I love them. There were tensions but none contrived. I could see everything happen and I was rooting for them so hard, believing in them when they didn’t believe in themselves. Unlike other Brayden books, the intimate scenes in this one mostly fade to black, and for me, that made the story more tender with aching yearnings. I also love that apart from the scenes involving the restaurant construction site, there were also slow-pitch softball games. Who doesn’t want some sweaty, sporty, and muscly encounters?
“The ego is a horrible roadblock on the road to achievement.” — Gabriella
Two to Tangle is another wonderful book by Brayden whose main characters I adore. A Tangle Valley Romance is now my favorite contemporary romance series, and I cannot wait for What a Tangled Web, where we can fall in love with both Madison and Clementine as they fall for each other.
I received an e-ARC from Bold Strokes Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
stine_reads's review against another edition
4.0
I'm a die hard Brayden-fan, so her books always have high expectations from me. This book met them all!
The food, the wine, the characters, the setting. I always say that reading a Brayden-book is like snuggling under a warm blanket in front of the fireplace - nothing short of cozy and heart warming.
To be recommended!
The food, the wine, the characters, the setting. I always say that reading a Brayden-book is like snuggling under a warm blanket in front of the fireplace - nothing short of cozy and heart warming.
To be recommended!
jennabeebs79's review against another edition
4.0
The is the second book in the Tangle Valley trilogy. If you haven't read the first book, I'd recommend reading it before this one, but it's not totally necessary in order to understand the plot of this book.
I will keep comparisons between this book and the first in the series out of this review.
Gabriella moved to Whisper Wall, Oregon in order to give herself a fresh start and open a restaurant on the grounds of Tangle Valley Vineyard. Gabriella met Ryan shortly after moving and while she fought the pull, she was completely drawn in. Ryan, a contractor hired to remodel the barn that was to become the Tangled restaurant, was the requisite player and quickly set her sights on Gabriella. This is not a new plot in the wonderful world of romance but Melissa Brayden, drew the reader in by weaving in the town of Whisper Wall and its townsfolk into an adorable tale.
Ryan and Gabriella were adorable together when they could get their heads in the game and not listen to others. If did find the added drama with Madison to be a bit much, but maybe I'm biased because I like Madison's character so much and want her to be happy. I loved visiting with Becca and Joey (who are the main characters in book one), Madison (who I'm looking forward to reading about in book 3), the cowboys, Loretta, Bobby, and of course the Biddies! Thanks Melissa Brayden for another stellar read!
I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I will keep comparisons between this book and the first in the series out of this review.
Gabriella moved to Whisper Wall, Oregon in order to give herself a fresh start and open a restaurant on the grounds of Tangle Valley Vineyard. Gabriella met Ryan shortly after moving and while she fought the pull, she was completely drawn in. Ryan, a contractor hired to remodel the barn that was to become the Tangled restaurant, was the requisite player and quickly set her sights on Gabriella. This is not a new plot in the wonderful world of romance but Melissa Brayden, drew the reader in by weaving in the town of Whisper Wall and its townsfolk into an adorable tale.
Ryan and Gabriella were adorable together when they could get their heads in the game and not listen to others. If did find the added drama with Madison to be a bit much, but maybe I'm biased because I like Madison's character so much and want her to be happy. I loved visiting with Becca and Joey (who are the main characters in book one), Madison (who I'm looking forward to reading about in book 3), the cowboys, Loretta, Bobby, and of course the Biddies! Thanks Melissa Brayden for another stellar read!
I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
thiccadonna's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 that I'm rounding up bc goodreads still refuses to grant us nuance and half stars. anyway Brayden has the romance formula to a T and she manages to come up with new settings and tweak established tropes just enough to get you in full groove. Nothing groundbreaking but a solid fun f/f for when you want to kick back and relax. Bonus points for finally having a protagonist who's 100% emotionally mature and who communicates abt everything which was refreshing. Gonna be checking out the other books in the series at some point.
ghostlycreature's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
lujein's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
excellent_taste's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25