Thank you so much for the opportunity to review this book and to be an early reader via NetGalley! However, I will not be writing a review for this title at this time, as my reading preferences have since changed somewhat. In the event that I decide to review the book in the future, I will make sure to purchase a copy for myself or borrow it from a library. Once again, thank you so much for providing me with early access to this title. I truly appreciate it. Please feel free to contact me with any follow-up questions or concerns.

Ok okay I’m a sucker for a cowboy romance! And you can’t tell you’re not either!

Tangled in Texas by Kari Lynn Deli is a Sunday afternoon read by the fire. It gives you warm fuzzy feelings but nothing else.

Kari Lynn Deli created an interesting and dynamic story plot centred around Tori and Delon (who had a colleague fling) now years later Delon is suffering from a career changing injuring and Tori is the only one who can get him back on his feet.

There’s a love/hate relationship for me with the characters and the decisions they made. Yes they are only human and humans make mistakes but the characters lacked development growth. The kind of growth that comes from making bad mistakes or chances not taken.

*Received an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review*

Delon woke up mad at the world. No difference than any other morning in the last four months. He had been hurt at the end of the best rodeo season Delon ever had. He had been trampled by a horse and his lung collapsed and his leg was messed up also. Delon was to see a new physical therapist. His sessions were getting to be very frustrating that only showed the lack of progress. Delon had a son with Violet named Beni. Delon and Violet weren’t together and he just let her do whatever she wanted to do as long as Beni was ok Violet had been Delon’s childhood friend and in his heart he wanted to get together with Violet and the three of them with their son Beni be a family. But she was involved with a rodeo man named Joe. Delon had to have his knee reconnected. Then a person from his past was to work with Delon her name was Tori Delon had been with Torin for five to six months. Ten she was gone without goodbye or anything. Tori was a rich girl and had walked on the other side. The voice- Tori’s voice- whispered through Delon’s memories for seven years. Delon had been one of the top bareback riders for years. Tori was sure she could be Delons therapist but she would do her best to be successful with him. Tori had been married but her husband died. Delon’s father owned Sanchez Trucking. Delon’s brother was leaving for North Dakota so Delon agreed to take his load so it didn't affect the business. Delon feels he is different and doesn’t even really like himself. Delon and Tori were taking the time to really getting to know each other and go slowly into a relationship.
I liked this story . a lot. I liked Tori and Delon together and I rooted for them. I love how they slowly went into a relationship even though the attraction was still very strong.But they are taking time to get to know each other. I loved Shanee as a character and felt she added to the story. This did drag at times.at times. This did make me chuckle at times. It did get a little repetitive at times and a little confusing . But i really liked the characters and the ins and outs of this story and I recommend.

Tangled in Texas hits so many buttons on my interest list it’s almost like the book was written for me. I love romance, cowboys and cowgirls, ranch life, rodeos (I’ve attended them since I was a toddler), and did I mention romance?
While this is the second book in a series it can be read as a standalone book. I say that with confidence since I have not read the first book (yet!) but enjoyed this second one immensely.
There are indeed many characters who populate the story, including the MCs, Delon and Tori. Some of my favorite secondary characters are Delon’s five year old son Beni and Tori’s nemesis/roping partner Shawnee, and the cat-from-hell.
Before I go too far, let me introduce the MCs. Delon is a bareback rider who, as we begin the story, is sidelined with a crushed knee that may prevent him from competing ever again. Delon is part of the Sanchez family that owns a trucking company. In fact, Delon lives in a small apartment over the company’s shop. Delon’s brother Gil runs the company, sometimes to the consternation of their father. Delon is seen by the Jacobs family as part of their clan, for reasons that apparently were more extensively discussed in the previous book, but nevertheless are well grounded here. Violet, the mother of Delon’s four year old son Beni, is now living with Delon’s best friend Joe, with an eye toward marriage.
Let me digress a little bit with Beni. This little boy character is the best written profoundly gifted child I’ve ever seen in a romance novel. He isn’t cocky and isn’t trying to be a miniature adult. He’s a kid but he’s also a genius who is able to learn quickly and figure things out for himself. He’s a loveable little boy and I enjoyed him.
Tori is the daughter of a prominient politician and as such everything she does is inspected and dissected by the ever-present media, small town busybodies, rodeo insiders, and political backstabbers. As Tori tells it, people will notice how much toilet paper she buys and use that to speculate on her health, which will then get published. Five years ago, sick of the spotlight and manipulation by her parents, she ran away to Wyoming where she met and married a Wyoming rodeo cowboy, breaking Delon's heart in the process. She also became one of the best sports physical therapists before returning to Texas a widow. There’s a good almost undercover subplot about when is a hero an accidental hero, and is he still a hero in that case?
Tori takes on Delon’s rehab, initially trying to get him to accept his limited mobility with more comfort, and then helping him try to return to the rodeo arena in his favorite sport. It’s a very interesting description of a crippling injury and what modern medical technology can and cannot do.
There are several other subplots and I enjoyed all of them but won’t spoil the story by describing each one. I will say, this novel has a wonderful HEA ending that is hard earned and never predictable. This book has impressed me and I’ve read so many romance novels, especially cowboy romance novels, a favorite genre, it is very hard to amaze me with an author’s talent in developing characters and plot. Make no mistake, Kari Lynn Dell has done that emphatically.

I thought RECKLESS IN TEXAS, the first book in the Texas Rodeo series by Kari Lynn Dell was great, but the next book, TANGLED IN TEXAS is outstanding! I could not put this book down! Instantly, the reader is pulled into Delon and Tori’s story and held tightly until the very last word!

I love how this book is put together. It’s not just about the romance. It’s about two people trying to be comfortable in their own skins when circumstances beyond their control disrupt the very fabric of their lives. And when faced with the unknown, it’s a struggle to find their footing. Delon and Tori are so alike yet so different. Their journeys take them on a series of very unfortunate events as fate steers them back on a collision course with each other’s lives.

The author does an amazing job writing their stories. I love that this story is the embodiment of human nature. Delon, Tori, and the rest of the characters deal with realistic problems and show us the that life is nasty, unpredictable often taxing. There will be disappointments, there will be setbacks, there will be heartache. It’s inevitable. But what’s so amazing about this story is watching Delon and Tori find the courage and strength to pick yourself up, dust yourself off and keep going. Even after they’ve fallen of the horse—proverbially and literally!

TANGLED IN TEXAS is a love story, not just between two people; but between families, parents and children, and making choices to DO what you love, despite the setbacks, limitations and disapproval of others. It’s also about perseverance and courage. And it’s about a man and a woman that defy the odds—and their own pride—in order to claim the happiness that they’re both incredibly deserving of.

Now, can we talk about how hot cowboys are? Yes, Delon is smokin’ hot and Tori never stood a chance against his sexy smile. Their story was a joy to read and I cannot wait for the next book! I loved watching them learn to navigate life after two devastating blows. Delon, from an injury that put the future of his rodeo career in jeopardy and Tori, picking up the pieces after becoming a widow.

The couple had great chemistry. Tori is funny, sarcastic and a bit of a surprise for me. I thought she’d be meek and melancholy, but she wasn’t. She’s a tough rodeo roper not afraid to get her boots or her hands dirty, despite coming from a moneyed background. She’s a certified hard workin’, beer drinkin’ country girl. She’s not always so confident and put together though. I loved seeing her vulnerability as she continued to grieve for her late husband, and as she dealt with Delon and her reoccurring—and often confusing—feelings for him.

Delon. Dreamy sigh. What can I say that I haven’t already said? Well, a lot actually. At the end of the first book in the series, Delon was in a terrible rodeo accident that caused severe damage to his knee. And being a bareback rider, he kinda needs those. Delon is not a happy camper at the beginning of TANGLED IN TEXAS. He’s struggling with rehabilitating his knee. The mother of his child dating someone new and Delon’s son growing attached and spending more time with him than with Delon.

While he’s rehabilitating, Delon is spending more time at his family’s trucking business and with his brother Gil, who happens to have also been a bareback rider and lost his rodeo dreams after a motorcycle accident messed up his body several years ago. So with all the new changes in Delon’s life, it’s oddly mirrored Gil’s life, causing some nasty exchanges, confrontations, and some rather funny and cuss word-filled arguments.

And we can’t forget about the rodeo aspect of the story. I have read a fair amount of rodeo/cowboy books but I have never read a more detailed and brilliant account of a rodeo event than I have in this story. It’s magical, almost like you’re there in the saddle getting ready to perform in an arena full of spectators. I was completely consumed and deeply vested in the story. I obviously don’t have enough awesome things to say about TANGLED IN TEXAS, given the length of this review :)

It’s going to be one of those stories that sticks with me forever. Delon and Tori’s story is easily relatable to anyone who’s loved and lost a person, a dream, a lifestyle, or any other kind of loss, and the ability to find the courage to move forward. And to get back up after being kicked in the teeth. And to claim the life and the happiness you don’t think or feel you deserve… but you do.

I highly recommend TANGLED IN TEXAS as well as past and future Texas Rodeo books to every reader—18 years of age and older, of course! Um, yeah. Delon and Tori’s intimate scenes are very steamy and not suitable for younger readers and may cause you to blush fiercely ;)

***A Net Galley eBook was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All conclusions reached are my own***

It only takes a moment, the blink of an eye for a life to change. A simple decision that goes wrong, a situation with no control, move left instead of right – leave town without saying goodbye, end a career that defines you by one tiny misjudgment. It only takes a moment for a predictable life to go completely haywire. Both Delon and Tori know this fact very well.

Tangled in Texas is a second chance for Delon and Tori. If they can get beyond their past and see the possibilities their future together could hold. There are several layers to this story, people who act in ways that you’ll wonder why they’d react that way to someone they say they care about. But human nature being as screwed up at times as it is – well, everyone has their reasons, even if I didn’t personally agree with them. I liked this couple together, if I wanted them to take a few more risks than they did on each other, well, that’s on me.

If you’re looking for a good romance, slightly complicated relationships, interesting secondary characters and a likable couple – then Tangled in Texas is a story that you’d want to pick up. As the second book in the series, it helps some to have read the first, Reckless in Texas, but not perhaps absolutely necessary. I would recommend this one to any Romance reader, especially if you love cowboys and the rodeo.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

***4.5 “I seem to have run out of f*cks to give” Stars***

~ 4 Stars for Delon & Tori’s journey, .5 Stars for Shawnee, Beni, Fudge and Muella ~

After finishing Reckless in Texas there was no doubt in my mind that I’d be picking up the next book in the series. I loved the writing and characters that populated it. Admittedly I wanted Wyatt to be next up on the chopping block because, well, it’s Wyatt, but was more than happy to see what Fate would throw Delon’s way after what happened to him and I wasn’t disappointed. Tangled in Texas is more than a simple second chance romance, it’s about two people coming to terms with what Fate has thrown at them and deciding if they will take make a concerted effort to live the life they want or not.

With his bronc riding future up in the air, the family he’s made with the Jacobs clan changing it’s composition and his uncertainty of his place at Sanchez Trucking, the family business, Delon feels as if his entire world is crashing down around him and turns him into someone even he doesn’t recognize. It took me a while to warm up to Delon, I understood and empathized with the uncertainty he felt about where he was in his life, but man could he hold on to a funk like a pro. Thankfully he does pull his head out of his ass with a little help from outside forces, it’s a slow and painful process, but it happens and what is uncovered is a sweet, thoughtful, sexy man who will go that extra mile for those he cares about.

Tori has spent the majority of her life being viewed through the lens of those she is connected to instead of for who she is on her own. She has accepted that fact and rolled with it, but has also made sure to march to the beat of her own drum when she could. With the unexpected death of her husband, she has decided that it is finally time to truly stand on her own two feet and live the life she wants. I adored Tori. She was sweet, outspoken and I loved how she was doing the things that made her soul happy as she works to figure out just who she is and where she wants to be.

This is a second chance romance, but if you are expecting, and wanting, any sort of insta-ness to happen then you’ll be sorely disappointed. What goes on between Delon and Tori falls firmly on the slow burn side of the coin and I quite frankly loved that fact. They both had things they needed to sort through and were in no way ready for a romantic relationship, but thanks to their professional relationship they have the opportunity to get to know who the other is now and find that the connection they felt all those years ago hasn’t disappeared and that they really like who the other is now. But as with their first go around, communication is not their strong point, thankfully they have quite a few people ready to step in and kick some sense into them when they didn’t know they needed it. They both make mistakes and end up doing stupid things, but I loved how things worked out in the end.

As with the first book, I loved the supporting cast of characters, but my favorite this time around was Shawnee (I really do want to be her when I grow up, though I think we’ll leave the roping to her). Her lack of edit button and telling it like it is was a breath of fresh air and I am thrilled that we’ll be getting her book next. Beni was precocious as ever and Fudge and Muella’s antics had me chuckling. Wyatt, who was my favorite from Reckless, does get a little page time in this one and yet still made an impact. I loved getting to know Gil better, spending time with the Jacobs clan, and meeting Tori’s family.

The writing was engaging and though the pacing at times dragged a bit due to the inner monologuing of the characters, I can’t help but respect the author’s dedication to giving the characters time to grow and figure things out in a realistic way. While I’m not well versed in all that goes into the various rodeo events and will admit that some things went right over my head, but it’s obvious Ms. Dell knows her stuff (check out her FB page if you don’t believe me) but also knows how to bring it to vibrant life on the page. If you’re looking for a slow burn, character driven cowboy romance with well developed characters that you won’t want to say goodbye to when the book ends, then give this series a go because you won’t be sorry

This one was a little rough for me. I did finish it, as I wanted to see what happened to Delon...but there was too much of the "misunderstanding" back and forth with Delon and Tori for me. I wanted them to get together and to let me see the relationship, but by the end I was not totally convinced there was a HEA for them, rather a "good for now" as I am not convinced people who communicate that badly are going to be able to get to a point where they are a happy couple.

The biggest risk in life is heeding the heart's call. Pride tore them apart years ago, can loss bring them full circle? Tangled In Texas reads like a country song. The road of broken hearts and shattered dreams leads right to a second chance for lovebirds Deion and Tori. If the egos and pain of the past don't terminate any chance they have at a future. Will they take the chance? I volunteered to read a copy of Tangled in Texas in exchange for an honest review. This is my second time reading a Kari Lynn Dell romance and I am swept away by her display of sentiment and hope in her deeply emotive stories. She balances it out with a little light humor and how can a heart walk away from such sweet tales.

2.5 stars

I am always looking for sorbet, so when I saw this synopsis I was sold on the idea of a rekindled romance. The cowboy part was a bonus.

I liked Tori and Delon well enough. They're both a little head shy and a lot stubborn. There's a lot of history between them and it took a really long time to work it out. There's a pretty large cast of characters here, but the stand out was Shawnee. I would seriously read a book of hers.

The writing was a bit dense and it seemed to get a little repetitive. There was a lot of miscommunication and that drives me crazy. Eventually I just stopped caring about Tori's roping or Delon getting back on a horse. I wanted more of them talking and more sweetness between them.

Overall, I enjoyed parts of it, but not everything. I am mildly interested in future books, but it would depend on who it focused on.

**Huge thanks to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for providing the arc free of charge**