I'm very firmly down the middle of the road with this one. It was good, but there wasn't anything about it that really made it stand out. The characters were likable, both the main and secondary ones. The story had a decent amount of drama as well, but everything felt just a bit too neat. The pacing flowed well, though for me personally everything happened a bit fast between the two main characters. I felt like there were a few moments of temporary drama that could have been built on more. It was overall not bad, just lacked something that could have pushed it over the edge.

You can count on Melissa Brayden's books that they’ll always deliver. Quality writing, well-built characters, hot chemistry, banter, and lots of witty dialogues. So every time there is a new novel out, my motivation to read it is high. Plus, this is the start of a new series ‘A Tangle Valley Romance’ which is always exciting.

Josephine ‘Joey’ Wilder has inherited her family business, Tangle Valley Vineyard. She has new ideas to improve it but a new luxury hotel, The Jade, is threatening to kill the vineyard rustic charm. Becca Crawford is the manager of said hotel and is adamant to get the hotel to succeed and convince the alluring owner of the vineyard that she’s not the enemy. Will Joey and Becca have a chance together?

This is a very good start to this new series which follows three friends who work together in Tangle Valley Vineyard – Joey, Gabriella and Madison – in search of their romantic relationships. Book one features Joey who has lost a lot in her life and is content to focus on her family’s legacy in the vineyard. That is, until Becca appears in her life and breaks her well-built walls.

As usual, Ms. Brayden did a great characterisation work, making both leads believable and multilayered. One thing I admire about this author is her ability to build powerful chemistry and increasing tension between the main characters until it inevitably explodes with fireworks. These two leads are made for each other and it’s impossible not to root for them and agonize with their relationship woes.

The events that lead to their crisis are believable in the context of the story but my only disappointment is that the ‘grand gesture’ of reconciliation wasn’t as exciting as it’s the norm in Melissa Brayden's books. Having said that, ‘Entangled’ is super enjoyable and a very good start to this new series. I can’t wait to see where Ms. Brayden takes these characters next. 4.5 stars.

ARC provided by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

See all my reviews at www.lezreviewbooks.com

Okay, I don't know why but this is pretty much my favorite book from Brayden (Even though this is only my third one). Her signature wry humor and ability to create romantic tension are all there. She tempers that with a much better sense of conflict that almost always happens when the romantic leads break up. It felt more in tune with the novel, like the person who would be the one to backslide into old habits did that, and not the person who didn't show any issues like that. I know I am being vague, but it was a great bit of storytelling there and I don't want to truly spoil it for people.

Joey Wilder is the ambitious owner of the picturesque winery, Tangled Valley Vineyard. She's a competent business person who is also passionate about her products, but she became the owner after her beloved father passes away. On top of that, she was literally left at the alter by her fiancee who then goes and falls for the town vet. Joey gave up on loving people because only a couple stay, like her no nonsense vintner, Madison. Madison and Joey are close, but she still avoids any romantic entanglements until the beautiful Becca Crawford comes into town. Only problem is that she is the GM of the new resort that Joey is very much opposed to. Question is, can Joey trust Becca and their budding relationship?

One thing that I enjoy about this book is that, while the plot is about the winery and The Jade Hotel(Becca's resort), the story is really about being vulnerable and trusting in those closest to you. I also enjoyed that this was very much Joey's story. Becca is a pretty static character, which is fine, because she a very strong character in her own right. Not that she's perfect and always put together, but it is clear that Joey is the one who is growing, who is learning. So by the time we end the novel, Joey feels more confident, is able to get closure, and is willing to communicate better her needs to Becca. We understand that Joey and Becca are in a great place, but we also understand that their relationship didn't fully fix things, but that this arc in their life is over. Which, for me, makes for a super satisfying ending.

It looks like there is going to be two more books set in Tangled Valley Vineyard. Each should feature besties extraordinaires Gabriella and Madison who feature heavily in this book. I enjoyed both characters and look forward to their turns in the spotlight. Oh, and pick this one up, too. You'll love it.

Melissa Brayden is a writer that never disappoints her readers. She delivers a well written romance with lovely characters book after book. She knows how to build the perfect amount of tension and create a romance that is engaging and heartfelt. Entangled is quintessential Melissa Brayden, and it is absolutely delightful.

I always fall a little bit in love with Brayden’s characters. They are charming, sweet and just plain fun. She often surrounds her lovely leading ladies with a solid friend group, too. I find this so appealing; it’s one of her strengths. She can create bonds between her characters that are relatable and interesting. It gives her storytelling weight and dimension.

Her main characters, Joey and Becca, are a nice match up. Joey is passionate about her family’s vineyard and wants nothing more than to fulfill her vision for it. Becca is a bit of a thorn in Joey’s side though, and a road block to that vision. Their chemistry is everything we come to love and expect from Brayden; it simply jumps off the page. She knows how to create relationships that pull you in and make your heart beat a little bit faster. You want them together, and when they finally get there, you want even more.

Entangled is a sweet romance filled with Brayden’s trademark flirtatious banter and quick wit. It will absolutely leave you with a satisfied smile. I recommend grabbing a glass of wine, a comfy chair and getting entangled in its savory pages. It’s sure to be a delectable treat!

A Melissa Brayden trilogy starring three women and a winery in the leading roles? Yes, please. In Entangled we are introduced to Joey Wilder, new owner and manager of Tangle Valley Vineyard. Joey has lived in Whisper Wall, Oregon and worked at Tangle Valley her whole life. She has big plans for the winery, enlisting the help of her childhood friend Madison, a vintner with a growing reputation and Madison’s ex, Gabriella, a creative force in the kitchen. Even her lovelife is getting an overhaul when the beautiful Becca catches her eye in the tasting room. Now if only she could find a way to halt construction of the mega resort, promising to spoil all that is quaint in Whisper Wall, Joey’s life would be perfect.

I love a good trilogy and Ms. Brayden is one of the best at creating a world we readers can jump into with our hearts and both feet. We meet the stars of the next books in the series and get to know them a little but the focus is on the trials, troubles, joys and heartbreaks experienced by Joey and Becca. Brayden writes attraction with finesse. From their first meeting you can feel the heat, sparks flying and promise of romantic scenes to come. Their relationship is so solid you can’t help but worry what will happen when the bad things start, because you know there will be hurdles to cross.

This book is like a big warm hug. I love the way Brayden captures the pleasure we get as women chatting about anything and everything. The old biddies who love nothing more than fresh gossip add lightness to offset the fears Joey has around running a successful business. .
Becca might be the big bad face of Jade but her honesty and integrity shine through and make her worthy of courting the town’s sweetheart and hard luck story. This one pulls at your heartstrings and I found myself tearing up during a pivotal scene near the end of the novel. Bonus points for making me cry.

Loved it. Can’t wait for Gabriella’s story.

ARC received with thanks from publisher for review.

I usually quite enjoy everything Melissa Brayden writes. Some of her books are such standouts that I reread them every year, and even the lesser offerings remain a pleasant memory for me. I typically devour them quickly and can't put them down until finished, with lots of chuckles and heartwarming moments throughout. Unfortunately for me, this book lacked the usual luster and shine of her novels. Perhaps I've just read too many of her books, or maybe I've read too many books in the lesfic genre, of which she is a definite architect of the current style. But I could put this one down, and I wasn't connected to the characters or their chemistry or their conflict much. I think the highlight for me was the friendships, between the 3 protagonists of this new series (Joey, Maddie & Gabrielle), and between the love interest and the gay cowboys. Those interactions offered the most heartfelt moments for me, but the romance fell a bit flat in this one, and the number of laughs and heart tugs was the most limited it's ever been for a Brayden offering. I'm hoping that the next 2 installments will be more engaging as this was just an intro to another of her series. No matter what I'll always read whatever she writes as soon as it comes out!

This is the type of book and writing I really enjoy reading. Somehow many books now feature women who love wine, I don't care much for the beverage, but it certainly didn't put me off.

This book is the first of a new series about three friends; Joey, Madison, and Gabriella. This first book is about Joey, she is the heart of the Tangle Valley Vineyard. She hires her longtime friend Madison to become her winemaker and she advises Joey to hire her ex, but also good friend Gabriella. At first, I thought it would be a story of Joey and Maddie finding each other, later I figured it'd be Gabriella. No such thing is true, there is another character in the mix: Becca. Becca is the GM of the new resort coming to their sleepy little tourist town. Joey and Becca have chemistry from the first time they meet. They have an easy rapport with each other and their banter, later on, is great. They seem well-matched, the story is realistic and suits the characters. I am not mentioning much as I will spoil it.

I actually love all characters in this book, the sexy gay cowboys, the three friends, the Biddies, Loretta, and Carla. It seems just like any small wine country town I can imagine, with a lot of hot and nice people who can banter as if their lives depend on it. I am looking forward to reading Gabriella's story, which will be the next book. There is a huge hint about who might capture her heart. I have an inkling about Madison's story as well, but I have no idea why.
The next book is due to release this year as well, I am happy I don't have to wait too long. Maybe I even take up drinking wine in the meantime.

Two women meet when one of them samples the wine at the others wine yard and instant attraction hits.

Joey: Having lost a lot in her life, Joey tends to believe everyone will leave and that she is unlovable. Joey inherits her family's legacy, Tangle Valley Vineyard, in the beginning of the book, and we get to follow as she starts to turn it into her vision for the future.

Becca: Hard working and successful, Becca has finally found a small town where she wants to put down roots. 

Pro:
Excellent depiction of healthy friendship -  The book includes four very successful women in different fields, who support and encourage each other.
Female entrepreneurs - Joey owns her business, and Becca is the manager of a new luxurious resort. I like seeing the ups and downs of being in those positions. 
Good wine - Always a plus!
Small town charm - The charm, and ugliness, of people knowing a lot about each other. This is shown in not only the increasing support system Becca finds, but also in how the town handles the break-up between Joey and Simone.
Con:
Immature MC - I found Joey a bit immature and unlikable. This comes from what has happened previously in Joey's life, and is rooted in her insecurities. It still decreased my reading experience.
(Small town charm)

This review is based on NetGalley ARC provided in exchange for an honest, unbiased opinion.

Loved this book so much. Apart from knowing nothing about wine this could have been my story!!! I loved both of the main characters and the way thé romance built up, suffered setbacks etc instead of jumping straight into bed with each other!

I loved the gay cowboys and Gabriella and Madison. Who wouldn’t love friends like these? The whole story felt like I was being drawn into a group and I felt warmth reading it. I just wanted to drive on up to Tangle Valley and get to know these people for real!

I haven’t read any of Melissa Brayden’s books before but im excited to see there will be a series.

Wonderful book, wonderful writing

Romantic and entertaining; just what I enjoy about Melissa Brayden's stories. This read sets up a three book series. We are introduced to Josephine (Joey) Wilder, Gabriella Russo, and Madison LeGrange. We are also introduced to various secondary characters that provide wonderful favors to the story and probably series.

The first story focuses on Joey. She oversees the family owned Tangle Valley Vineyard. She has encountered some challenging as well as difficult situations. Joey is presented as a beautiful women with some personal issues she has not dealt with. Rebecca (Becca) Crawford, general manager of The Jade, a new upscale resort viewed by some as a negative in the area. Becca, is presented as a beautiful and well-dressed women who has it all together. Joey and her father are angry about the new resort. The love - hate interaction between Joey and Becca makes for some angst and some emotional self-reflection and growth.

The setting, Oregon wine country sounds awesome. The wine and food description is mouth watering. I look forward to the next book in the series.

This was such a deeply satisfying read - it has all of the elements to a good romance - humor, heartbreak, joy, and lots of good sex thrown in for good measure.

These characters were likable and relatable right off the bat. Who wouldn't want either Becca or Joey as a girlfriend (or at the very least a friend?) When you want to get to know the characters better and love their personalities, that's a huge first step for me. I had a mental picture of each of them, and could envision their surroundings, also important.

My only criticisms are that the humor was at times very immature - too silly for a group of 30-somethings. At times it was a bit over the top. The other, and not really a criticism, but a bit of disappointment for me was that the story didn't end with a wedding. That would have been a great full-circle ending since Joey had been left at the altar and was gun-shy about relationships.

That being said, I'm really looking forward to reading the sequels to this book.

Oh Melissa Brayden. you've most certainly done it again!! This book is just amazing! From the prologue right to the last page, the reader is drawn in and taken on a very delightful ride. This is the first book in the Tangle Valley series and it tells the story of Joey and Becca and their amazing chemistry, dynamics, dialogue, and romance. It also sets up the other two books in the series by introducing the reader to Madison and Gabriella. The setting of Whisper Wall, Oregon is described in such a way that the reader is drawn in and is living side by side with the members of the town. I liked the honorable mentions of our characters in To the Moon and Back and Back to September. I really just absolutely loved this book and look forward to the next two books in the series. The characters are just such nice humans who you want to live a happily ever after. Thanks Melissa for outdoing yourself once again!

I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This book is book #1 of a new series by Melissa Brayden. I thoroughly enjoyed this. Joey is now in charge of her family's vineyards and winery in small-town Oregon. She's suffered loss that makes her not trust anybody easily. To top things off, a massive hotel/resort is being built close to their land. The people of the town are not happy that this big hotel would come in and change the atmosphere of the town. Becca is the new general manager for the hated hotel. She's moved to this town, wanting a fresh start, hoping to make friends in this cute town. They're attracted to each other. The chemistry is obviously there, but how can Joey date the "enemy"?
If you have read Melissa Brayden's books, then you know there will always be cute moments and wittty banter. Aside from the romance, which I love, the setting is also very appealing. Now, I am not a wine person at all, but I've been to wineries in California and locally here in the Okanagan Valley. So, in my head, that's how I picture the vineyards and the town. I always love stories set in small towns with interesting side characters. And of course, I heard the next books in this series will feature Joey's best friends. I'm hoping this is correct, as I can't wait to see Maddy and Gabriella find their HEA.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC of this book.

This was another warm, feel-good, candy-sweet romance by Melissa Brayden. It was like a combination of two of her previous books - a setting similar to Strawberry Summer, and dynamics similar to those in Kiss the Girl. Like most Brayden books, there's no homophobia or coming-out struggles to be seen, allowing the romance to take center stage. There were some minor inconsistencies here and there (I've noticed that in this book and a few others by her, some of the characters' eye colors get changed halfway through, but I guess that's just me harping on small details), but they didn't detract from the story. And of course, there are several nods to other Brayden books, because the Brayden universe contains an escapist-level plethora of lesbians whose lives are all, well, entangled. ;)

We spend most of the book reading Joey's perspective. Through this, we learn about the whimsical vineyard that she calls home, along with meeting her friends Madison and Gabriella (Okay, I am all here for a Gabriella who doesn't go by Gabby! ;) Rock your name, girl!), who will be featured in the next books in the series. The group of friends is a delightful trio, and they all complement each other so well!

Joey has been through a lot of heartbreak, but she's the epitome of a strong woman. She has reasons to be guarded, but when she meets Becca - a perfectly coiffed hotel manager whose friendly demeanor could charm a loaf of bread - she starts to consider letting a bit of action into her life. Since Joey isn't happy with Becca's hotel detracting from her rustic town, this certainly had the potential to be enemies-to-lovers. But it's not. At all. Becca is just too darn hospitable, and honestly, I loved her for it! That's not to say this book is without its conflicts and angst - it certainly has that - but it's definitely a classic Brayden romance.

I really liked this book, and I'd probably rate it 4.25. (It did leave me with one unanswered question, but oh well, I guess it wasn't that important anyway lol!)

This book surprised me on such a positive way.
I confess that I don't read much of Brayden's books, they're not really what I search for. But I got really excited to read Entangled, and it was worth it!
The story is about Josephine Wilder (Joey), she works at her dad's vineyard called Tangle Valley, but suddenly, her dad dies, and Joey needs to take care of her father's legacy, which isn't an easy task, so she asks for help.
Becca Crawford is new in Whisper Wall and works on a new property located next to Joey's vineyard, but they start off on the left foot, because the hotel or (like Becca always corrects people) the resort, will be bad for Joey's business, and it's nothing like Whisper Wall, it's too "modern" for Joey's liking.
The slow burn was so on point, it was nothing too slow, or insta love (which I hate), it was sexy and sweet at the same time. I love how feminine Brayden's characters are. The drama wasn't exaggerated or too boring.
Madison and Gabriella are amazing! They're funny and hardworking, their dynamic with both Joey and Becca is super fun to read.
I recommend this book 100% and I can't wait to read the second one of A Tangle Valley Romance.

I enjoyed this story by Melissa Brayden. I did appreciate the details of the Tangle Valley vineyard, wine tastings, and delicious foods. You can definitely tell Brayden is a wine and food lover. The flirting is strong between Joey and Becca. Although Joey initially dislikes the new hotel in town with a passion and learns that Becca is its manager, this didn't pose a big obstacle to their blooming romance. I liked seeing the special friendship of Joey, Gabriella and Madison. When Gabriella and Madison wanted all the juicy details from Joey, it really felt like they were all truly great friends. My favorite character was Joey because she has a vulnerable heart, but has so much love to give. It was a good book. The romance didn't capture me as some of Brayden's other stories, but I would still recommend reading this one. I hope the future novels with Gabriella and Madison are even better! I rate this a 4/5.

Each time we finish one of Melissa Brayden’s books we spend some time in a kind of afterglow just cherishing our favourite new characters birthed by that magical mind. This one was no exception. Happy bonus, this is the beginning of a series of books that will feature a group of friends – and this, series-about-group-of-friends, is really where Brayden excels.

Josephine Wilder, Joey, is in a happy place in life – looking after Tangle Valley Vineyard in Whisper Wall, Oregon, with her father and uncle. Three years back Joey had been literally left at the altar but she is trying to move on from that setback and all the pity that she felt from the small town she is in. Where Joey’s dad is winemaker par excellence, Joey’s skills are perfectly suited for organising, marketing, selling and everything else to make a success of their prize-winning wines. When Joey’s father suddenly passes, she is devastated and calls on her old friend Madison, now an up-and-coming winemaker herself. Madison arrives with a great chef, Gabriella in tow for the restaurant Joey is planning.

One sore point for the residents of Whisper Wall is a huge commercial resort, the Jade, being opened by a big chain, Elite Resorts. Becca Crawford is the general manager of said disliked resort. Sunny and cheerful, Becca arrives in Whisper Wall little knowing the resentment against the Jade.

Becca visits Tangle Valley Vineyard and meets Joey. Both feel that something between them. And that something sparks even with the ‘evil empire’ resort thing between them.

Brayden’s books can never be captured in a synopsis because they are much more about the characters, the dialogues and attitudes than they are about just the plot. In every book, Brayden gives us at least one character to love (sometimes more than one).

As typical, in this one too there is one quirky, adorable leading lady offset by the second leading lady who is hot, nice but rather stoic and not entirely as emotion-capturing as the first one. Joey is the adorable one in this. (We must admit when they were introduced we were expecting Becca to be the solidly likeable one, especially in her introductory scene.)

There is a lot that happens with Joey and her character gains a lot of depth as the story progresses. Joey is extremely well-rounded and there is a definite character growth in her.

We do have a problem with the post-conflict relationship-repair part. The conflict happened because Becca kept important information from Joey for weeks plus she shared that information with Joey’s friends thus igniting every single one of Joey’s not wanting to be the person pitied triggers. Resultantly, Joey understandably breaks off (with a very mature conversation). Now, after that, Joey is the only one working towards getting over what happened and saving the relationship. It’s like the actual problem triggered by Becca wasn’t the problem at all and Becca didn’t have any making-up to do. That made the whole latter part rather lopsided and while Joey gained greater depth as a character, Becca is left very wanting.

However, each time we read (or re-read) one of Brayden’s books we feel a desperate urge to be the women she writes about and even more, we want everyone we know to magically become like the people she writes about – all accepting chill attitudes with great sense of humour and solidly supportive in every circumstance.

Of course, we recommend this book and eagerly look forward to the rest of the series.

Joey has big ideas for her family's vineyard , Tangle Valley. She unexpectedly gets the chance to implement changes when the business becomes hers to operate.

Becca has just moved to town to manage the new elite resort opening close to the Tangle Valley Vineyard.

Right from the beginning, I felt a kinship with Joey. I could really relate to what she experiences early on. It provided an extra layer of depth for me as I followed along on her journey.

Good romance novels need to be believable and offer a good dose of chemistry. "Entangled' hit a home run. Joey and Becca meet and have an instant connection but neither of them know they are adversaries of sorts. Satisfying reveals. Conflicts of interest. Overcoming preconceptions. Being vulnerable. Providing support. Making mistakes. Stubbornness. This book really provides the emotional upheaval that hurts so good. I had a good healthy cry there toward the end.

Brayden also excels at creating amazing supporting friend groups. This book sets the stage for future installments focusing on her two other friends who end up working with her at her vineyard. In the same vein as her other 'Soho Loft' and 'Seven Shores' series. Which is awesome, because those are my favorite and gives me something exciting to anticipate.

Overall, this is an affecting romance with a lot of heart. I can't wait for future installments.

Bonus points to me for catching Brayden's throwback to her book 'Back to September.' I read tons of book and NEVER realize when this happens. I'm always surprised when I read about stuff like this in other people's reviews.

I recommend this book to people who love to read about romance, strong family relationships, good friends, wine, entrepreneurship, hotel management, quaint towns, and french fries.

One of the non-main characters of this book has a line that describes well what you will find in it: "it has all the ingredients of an impressive love story (...) I can spot formulas. Conflict, tension, a will-they-won't-they storyline. I already popped the popcorn". That said, I say I got what I was expecting from the plot of a book by Melissa Brayden. If you already know this author, you know what I mean. You are going to find a group of nice women you probably wish you could be friends with. One of them has a romance and the love life of the others will certainly be developed in future books. It is an arrangement that seems to work well for the readers and publishers.

I usually enjoy reading Brayden’s books and with ‘Entangled’ it was not different. With Joey, we can experience a character that tells us about changes in our lives and how to move on. However, I have to say that what I saw of depth in Joey, lacked in Becca. The last one is a nice woman, nothing against her (!!), but I felt an imbalance in psychological depth when analyzing both characters.

Another solid romance from one of the best in the genre, Melissa Brayden. Entangled is a great start to what will be a trilogy, with each of the three MCs getting her own story. The story flows nicely and the characters (especially Joey and Becca here) are all well developed, and I hope we see more of the interesting townfolk we met here in the subsequent books.

My only complaint is that the characters are all a little too perfect - from the gorgeous/handsome way they look to the witty banter they all seem to share. But as for the Summer of 2020, I think we can all use a little perfection somewhere.