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katie_2711's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
kburns2004's review against another edition
4.0
The second in the Tangled series. Having read most of Melissa's books, I knew what to expect and wasn't disappointed. Her books are like warm hugs in this dumpster fire world.
I really enjoyed learning about Gabriella and related so deeply to Ryan.
Thanks Melissa for writing another comfort novel
I really enjoyed learning about Gabriella and related so deeply to Ryan.
Thanks Melissa for writing another comfort novel
angieinbooks's review against another edition
4.0
November 10th update on this review: I’m bumping this up to 4 stars because I don’t give enough credit to Brayden for allowing me to experience her characters falling in love, rather than telling me they do. So for that ability alone, I’m rounding up. Original review remains untouched below.
It was so great being back in the world of Tangle Valley. Melissa Brayden has turned into a release-day author for me so I devoured this. So why only three stars?
Three stars seems low for how much I actually liked this, but I can’t really justify giving it four stars either. My expectations were high after Entangled and while I loved Gabriella in the first novel, the plot description of Two to Tangle never grabbed me and I wasn’t sure if she was interesting enough to star in her own novel. But I was wrong because Gabriella definitely holds her own in this. And Ryan and the reformed player with a soft and gooey heart is a trope I’m definitely here for. I loved watching her get tongue-tied trying to speak to Gabriella and Gabriella just unable to resist Ryan’s genuine charm.
But here’s the thing about Two to Tangle. I felt like all the pieces were there to make a great story but it didn’t quite come together in that way that left me with a stupid grin on my face or made me want to jump back into scenes to reread immediately (my usual reaction for a 4- or 5-star book).
Gabriella is understandably cautious about getting serious with Ryan. And Ryan, who’s out of her depth in trying to be in a relationship and freaking out about falling in love makes total sense. What doesn’t make sense is the love triangle that was introduced, which I definitely didn’t see coming. I wish Brayden had used that relationship—the third wheel—to accomplish the same tension without invoking romantic feelings of the third member of this triangle (and I’m being intentionally vague because spoilers).
But I could have lived with that if it didn’t lead to the Brayden Breakup™ which is so tired and, in this case, so unnecessary. Joey’s freak out and breakup with Becca in Entangled made total sense. Joey was dealing with some major trauma that she had to confront before she could be with Becca. But what happens here? This is just textbook two people knowing exactly what their issue is and refusing to talk about it. Nope. No thanks. And their eventual return to each other—while definitely different—didn’t leave me with that ultimate feeling of triumph I love. So maybe this is a 3.5-star read, but it’s not quite 4 stars.
But enough about the romance. Brayden gets the universe right. I love the small town dynamic because we get to spend time with Whisper Wall’s cast of characters, who are wonderful and add so much charm. I liked the small glimpses we did get. I do wish there was more Becca than there was, but that’s my own bias based on my absolute crush on that character. Because she’s there. Just not enough for me. LOL.
Okay, two more things:
- Brayden may have finally written a character that is not full-on femme. Ryan does not wear a dress at any point. She still has long hair but this was a nice deviation
- What is Brayden’s issue with brown eyes? Gabriella, who is Italian, is given hazel eyes. I mean, Ryan first thinks they’re brown (and I’m fairly certain they’re described as brown in Entangled) but, nope, Ryan definitely notices they’re hazel. And, yes, I know Italians can be fair skinned and fair haired and have light eyes, but i recently did a full Brayden re-read and only 4 characters had brown eyes. You’d think an Italian character and a Mexican character (from Heart Block) would be good candidates for brown eyes, but nope. Not for Brayden, who apparently thinks brown eyes can’t be beautiful. 4 characters out of 34 main characters she’s written! That’s just bad. Especially when the majority of people in the world have brown eyes.
It was so great being back in the world of Tangle Valley. Melissa Brayden has turned into a release-day author for me so I devoured this. So why only three stars?
Three stars seems low for how much I actually liked this, but I can’t really justify giving it four stars either. My expectations were high after Entangled and while I loved Gabriella in the first novel, the plot description of Two to Tangle never grabbed me and I wasn’t sure if she was interesting enough to star in her own novel. But I was wrong because Gabriella definitely holds her own in this. And Ryan and the reformed player with a soft and gooey heart is a trope I’m definitely here for. I loved watching her get tongue-tied trying to speak to Gabriella and Gabriella just unable to resist Ryan’s genuine charm.
But here’s the thing about Two to Tangle. I felt like all the pieces were there to make a great story but it didn’t quite come together in that way that left me with a stupid grin on my face or made me want to jump back into scenes to reread immediately (my usual reaction for a 4- or 5-star book).
Gabriella is understandably cautious about getting serious with Ryan. And Ryan, who’s out of her depth in trying to be in a relationship and freaking out about falling in love makes total sense. What doesn’t make sense is the love triangle that was introduced, which I definitely didn’t see coming. I wish Brayden had used that relationship—the third wheel—to accomplish the same tension without invoking romantic feelings of the third member of this triangle (and I’m being intentionally vague because spoilers).
But I could have lived with that if it didn’t lead to the Brayden Breakup™ which is so tired and, in this case, so unnecessary. Joey’s freak out and breakup with Becca in Entangled made total sense. Joey was dealing with some major trauma that she had to confront before she could be with Becca. But what happens here? This is just textbook two people knowing exactly what their issue is and refusing to talk about it. Nope. No thanks. And their eventual return to each other—while definitely different—didn’t leave me with that ultimate feeling of triumph I love. So maybe this is a 3.5-star read, but it’s not quite 4 stars.
But enough about the romance. Brayden gets the universe right. I love the small town dynamic because we get to spend time with Whisper Wall’s cast of characters, who are wonderful and add so much charm. I liked the small glimpses we did get. I do wish there was more Becca than there was, but that’s my own bias based on my absolute crush on that character. Because she’s there. Just not enough for me. LOL.
Okay, two more things:
- Brayden may have finally written a character that is not full-on femme. Ryan does not wear a dress at any point. She still has long hair but this was a nice deviation
- What is Brayden’s issue with brown eyes? Gabriella, who is Italian, is given hazel eyes. I mean, Ryan first thinks they’re brown (and I’m fairly certain they’re described as brown in Entangled) but, nope, Ryan definitely notices they’re hazel. And, yes, I know Italians can be fair skinned and fair haired and have light eyes, but i recently did a full Brayden re-read and only 4 characters had brown eyes. You’d think an Italian character and a Mexican character (from Heart Block) would be good candidates for brown eyes, but nope. Not for Brayden, who apparently thinks brown eyes can’t be beautiful. 4 characters out of 34 main characters she’s written! That’s just bad. Especially when the majority of people in the world have brown eyes.
00leah00's review
5.0
“Two to Tangle” is the second installment in Melissa Brayden’s Tangle Valley Romance series. It’s a sweet, small town romance with Brayden’s hallmark witty, cheeky banter.
Gabriella moved to Whisper Wall with her best friend and ex-girlfriend, Madison, to open up a restaurant on Joey’s (from book one, Entangled) vineyard. She moved across the country because she wanted a slower pace of living and is ready to be settled. She is the soon-to-be executive chef at Tangled, the new Italian restaurant at the Tangle Valley Vineyard that’s in the process of being built. In the meantime, she’s working out of the very popular Jolene, her blue food truck.
Ryan is the contractor that is hired to build the new restaurant. She has a reputation in town as being a player and has never been in a serious relationship. She’s popular with the ladies and has no problem going out and finding company. However, lately she doesn’t seem to get the same enjoyment out of her one-night stands as they leave her feeling unsatisfied.
Gabriella and Ryan meet are pretty much attracted from the get go. Ryan is confused because for the first time, she finds herself wanting to know more about someone rather than just getting them naked. However, Gabriella is in no way interested in a hook-up and decides to be just friends.
I really liked them together, they were cute and fun and seemed to understand each other really well. My issue was their lack of communication around certain topics. Ryan was also very insecure about being in a relationship and feeling unworthy of Gabriella. And Gabriella isn’t sure if Ryan is really ready to settle down and be in a relationship. They let outside influences get into their heads and add on to the doubts and miscommunication issues each has.
I’m really excited to get to Madison’s story as she had me feeling some kind of way in this one. I went from wanting to hug her to strangle her and back again several times. I need her to get her happy ever after too!
Gabriella moved to Whisper Wall with her best friend and ex-girlfriend, Madison, to open up a restaurant on Joey’s (from book one, Entangled) vineyard. She moved across the country because she wanted a slower pace of living and is ready to be settled. She is the soon-to-be executive chef at Tangled, the new Italian restaurant at the Tangle Valley Vineyard that’s in the process of being built. In the meantime, she’s working out of the very popular Jolene, her blue food truck.
Ryan is the contractor that is hired to build the new restaurant. She has a reputation in town as being a player and has never been in a serious relationship. She’s popular with the ladies and has no problem going out and finding company. However, lately she doesn’t seem to get the same enjoyment out of her one-night stands as they leave her feeling unsatisfied.
Gabriella and Ryan meet are pretty much attracted from the get go. Ryan is confused because for the first time, she finds herself wanting to know more about someone rather than just getting them naked. However, Gabriella is in no way interested in a hook-up and decides to be just friends.
I really liked them together, they were cute and fun and seemed to understand each other really well. My issue was their lack of communication around certain topics. Ryan was also very insecure about being in a relationship and feeling unworthy of Gabriella. And Gabriella isn’t sure if Ryan is really ready to settle down and be in a relationship. They let outside influences get into their heads and add on to the doubts and miscommunication issues each has.
I’m really excited to get to Madison’s story as she had me feeling some kind of way in this one. I went from wanting to hug her to strangle her and back again several times. I need her to get her happy ever after too!
cowmingo's review
3.0
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.
letsgolesbians's review against another edition
4.0
my reaction after reading book 1 was I NEED IT NOW PLEASE and i was right. i loved the first book and i know i’ll love the third book, but this will probably be my favorite. i love this town and all the characters, from the people who work at the vineyard to the biddies to the other people in town. it reminds me of the charm of gilmore girls and stars hollow a little (and is admittedly just as white). i love two women unabashedly flirting, and was somehow not annoyed by the love triangle or the noncommunication that happened because it felt realistic.
also now i want wine which is a problem because it’s 8am on a monday.
also now i want wine which is a problem because it’s 8am on a monday.
m0thermayi's review against another edition
4.0
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!
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!
aluhealz's review against another edition
3.0
I admit I got exactly what I expected from this book. It very much falls into what I expect from Melissa Brayden. Her characters are always witty and quirky with one defining element that sets them apart from the rest of the social circle. This book was good and cute. I really liked Gabriella a lot as a character and to be honest, I really wish we got to see more of her. I feel like there were a few traits about her that came up but were ultimately not explored enough. I wasn't a big fan of her love interest though. I felt her character was not well defined. She was presented as one thing and was very quickly another without much to make me feel for her from the beginning.
Overall it was an interesting story though it ranks a little lower than some of the author's other books.
Overall it was an interesting story though it ranks a little lower than some of the author's other books.
mages_only's review against another edition
3.0
Enjoyed atleast 70% of the book but the rest was such a let down, especially the main conflict and the events, decisions and assumptions leading up to it. I didn't even enjoy the predictable reconciliation at the end.
judeinthestars's review against another edition
5.0
How does Melissa Brayden do this every time? Every single time?
I really need to have more faith in authors whose books I love. I’ll blame it on my anxiety. Melissa Brayden is one of my favourite authors and because she is, I worry with each new book that maybe this will be the one that disappoints. Sure, Brayden’s plots are pretty traditional but there’s something about the journey, the way her characters fall in love that I can’t get enough of. And Two to Tangle is no exception. It made my heart warm and achy at the same time. In the best way. As usual.
In this second book in the Tangle Valley Romance series, the focus is on Gabriella Russo, the fiery and extraordinarily talented chef of the future restaurant that will come complete the visitors’ experience of Tangle Valley Vineyard. Joey, the owner, has given her total control over the construction and Gabriella is extremely excited at the idea of having her own restaurant and having it be exactly as she imagines it. In charge of making that dream come true is Ryan Jacks, the town player, whose whole outlook on life and love will not survive meeting Gabriella. Gabriella left the east coast for a quieter and slower life and makes it very clear she is not into hookups, but she’ll have a hard time protecting her heart from everything Ryan makes her feel. And then there’s Madison, Gabriella’s ex, Joey’s winemaker and best friend, who knows all there is to know (or so she thinks) about Ryan from high school and the town’s very efficient gossip network. In her view, Gabriella deserves better and that better might be her.
From page one, this book is, once again, pure Brayden. The group of friends, the witty banter, the perkiness. So much so that I asked myself at one point whether there was such a thing as too perky. But just before it got too much, Brayden made a subtle shift and the perkiness turned bittersweet. I liked the change in atmosphere a lot. The characters are wonderful, which isn’t surprising. Even though their voices are not always as distinctive as I’d like them to be, they feel genuine and complicated and very lovable. As is often the case in romance, miscommunication and low self-esteem play a big part, but Melissa Brayden manages to make the inevitable breakup feel justified. I believed in the struggle on every side. I really really love when characters try to deny they have feelings but just can’t resist because love is simply stronger than them. That’s what romance is about.
I’ve been told off for overrating Melissa Brayden’s books before. While I can’t entirely disagree (I have definite favourites yet I’ve rated all of them the same), I’m not planning on stopping, not as long as they make my heart happy. And they so do.
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
I really need to have more faith in authors whose books I love. I’ll blame it on my anxiety. Melissa Brayden is one of my favourite authors and because she is, I worry with each new book that maybe this will be the one that disappoints. Sure, Brayden’s plots are pretty traditional but there’s something about the journey, the way her characters fall in love that I can’t get enough of. And Two to Tangle is no exception. It made my heart warm and achy at the same time. In the best way. As usual.
In this second book in the Tangle Valley Romance series, the focus is on Gabriella Russo, the fiery and extraordinarily talented chef of the future restaurant that will come complete the visitors’ experience of Tangle Valley Vineyard. Joey, the owner, has given her total control over the construction and Gabriella is extremely excited at the idea of having her own restaurant and having it be exactly as she imagines it. In charge of making that dream come true is Ryan Jacks, the town player, whose whole outlook on life and love will not survive meeting Gabriella. Gabriella left the east coast for a quieter and slower life and makes it very clear she is not into hookups, but she’ll have a hard time protecting her heart from everything Ryan makes her feel. And then there’s Madison, Gabriella’s ex, Joey’s winemaker and best friend, who knows all there is to know (or so she thinks) about Ryan from high school and the town’s very efficient gossip network. In her view, Gabriella deserves better and that better might be her.
From page one, this book is, once again, pure Brayden. The group of friends, the witty banter, the perkiness. So much so that I asked myself at one point whether there was such a thing as too perky. But just before it got too much, Brayden made a subtle shift and the perkiness turned bittersweet. I liked the change in atmosphere a lot. The characters are wonderful, which isn’t surprising. Even though their voices are not always as distinctive as I’d like them to be, they feel genuine and complicated and very lovable. As is often the case in romance, miscommunication and low self-esteem play a big part, but Melissa Brayden manages to make the inevitable breakup feel justified. I believed in the struggle on every side. I really really love when characters try to deny they have feelings but just can’t resist because love is simply stronger than them. That’s what romance is about.
I’ve been told off for overrating Melissa Brayden’s books before. While I can’t entirely disagree (I have definite favourites yet I’ve rated all of them the same), I’m not planning on stopping, not as long as they make my heart happy. And they so do.
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.