Book Review – Tangled by Emma Chase

Tangled (The Tangled Series)
<—- Yep!!!! Another great recommendation from our wonderful fellow readers, and this one was exactly as promised. When I mentioned “Tangled” was at the top of my TBR list, I was met with resounding enthusiasm:

Niki: Tangled is fan-effing-tastic!!!!

Jacie: Your life will be complete after reading Tangled. The male version of Tara Sivec’s Chocolate Lovers series!

Sharon: I am also reading Tangled…only 6% in and already love it!!!!

Diana: Finished tangled and it was amazballs! I love me some drew! Best read in a while I must say

Fritzie: Tangled is so good! Writer’s a genius.. doing it from Drew’s POV. He is hilarious! One of the best reads this year.

Helen: This is such a funny & so worth reading please read it fast I can’t wait to read your review

Jody: Loved the Thanksgiving scene in tangled! Laughed my butt off.

Bookslapped: Reading this now and its HILARIOUS. So good.

Renate: Maryse, Tangled was OMG funny, in stiches!!!!! great book in between all the drama, dark and angsty reads….Loved it!!!

Suzanne: Great book Maryse, found myself smirking at Drew’s antics

Lighthearted, witty, and narrated in a fun, easy writing-style that flows so perfectly, you forget you’re reading. It feels like you’re right there with this guy, hanging out as he tells you his “woes”. 😉 Funny and super sexy, but not obnoxiously so. Well. I mean… Drew was obnoxious, yes, but pretty much everything he said, all of his “man-isms”, and all of his thought processes, I believed wholeheartedly. Not that I believed IN them per se (’cause OMG ugh!!!!! GAH!) but *nods* yep… I’ve known some guys that thought and said those things, and yet, they’re friends, nonetheless.

But here’s a fact for you – once I’m done. I’m done. I’m not the kind of guy who rides the same rollercoaster twice. Once is enough, and then the thrill is gone and so is the interest.

‘Cause in all of his bad-boy behavior (not our typical bad-boy, mind you – more like the rich, successful, seemingly debonair type), he’s still got a crude mouth, and an even cruder mind, and he’s not afraid to let it run. He’s overt about his “needs” and nonchalant (yet adamant) about immediately cutting ties when his *ahem* needs have been met. He’s all about his needs, his impulses, his wants, and his achievements (personally and professionally), through and through. Drew is simply looking out for #1 (but he’s not an opportunistic jerk… well not really. I guess it depends ).

I am all about self-determination. Will. Control. I determine my path in life. I decide my failures and successes. Screw fate. Destiny can kiss my ass. If I want something badly enough, I can have it.

His will-power filters right down to his… *you know*. 😉 You may think he’s a slave to it, but as long as he keeps his heart in check (actually he doesn’t even have to try, ’cause his heart never even flinches), then he’s in control, even as he let’s his libido run wild. He may be “suited-up” in Armani, but he thinks nothing of getting down and dirty in the men’s room of the swankiest club in town. LOL!! Actually… speaking of “suited-up” his  romantic philosophy does kind of remind me of Barney in “How I Met Your Mother” <— I LOVE that show!! Although… in my mind, Drew is much hotter, and more commanding in presence than Barney. He 100% personifies that  unattainable “dream-man” that has women coming back for more despite his obvious and unapologetic womanizing behavior. But for those of you who know “Barney”, I think you’ll see where I’m coming from. Especially with that “twin” scene.  LOL!!!

And just like that, my plans change. I know, I know… I said I don’t ride the same coaster twice. But twin coasters?

Let me tell you, no man would pass up a ride like that.

Tee hee!! I giggled out loud, and read that part to my husband. He smirked.

So what happens when he meets the gorgeous Kate? What is it about Kate that stuns him into a complete 180? Well… she’s gorgeous, and she smells good, but he’s dream-man enough (at least at first impression) to get plenty of gorgeous, great smelling women. Off that bat I’m going to say that he becomes afflicted with the “she’s the one” syndrome (my own personal opinion). There’s just *something* about her that calls to him. Soul-mates?

But there’s so much more to Kate and I think, even though there is probably so much more to ALL of the ladies he has womanized, the difference with Kate is that he had the opportunity to get to KNOW her first. He had no choice, after all. She was unavailable, seemingly uninterested (yet obviously attracted) and well… fate has a way of dealing potential soul-mates the perfect, unavoidable, “coincidental” set-up, that forced them into long-term close proximity.

And Kate is a spit-fire of a woman. Intelligent, determined, and talented. Confident. But she’s human, and Drew’s obnoxiousness sometimes get’s the best of her.

“You’re used to being number one around here. You’re used to being daddy’s special little man. Well there’s a new player in town. Deal with it. I’ve worked damn hard to get this job, and I plan on making a name for myself. You don’t like sharing the spotlight? Too bad. You can either make room for me at the table, or I’ll step on you when you get in my way. Either way, you can bet your ass I’ll get there.

She is not easily cowed. But a good heart can only take so much…

And we get to go along for the ride! Someone mentioned it was the perfect beach-read and I tried it out yesterday in exactly that atmosphere, and I gotta agree. This one’ll keep you entertained from start to finish, chuckling, growling, and even some deeper emotions, but nothing too crazy to have you crying in public. It has moments of angst and will infuriate you a time or two, but it never takes you to a dark place. All of the emotions I love to have, when reading, but on a more even-keeled “fun-coated” intensity.

So I’m gonna give this one 4 stars & 4.5 stars (and this is strictly from my own personal “experience” of the book). I never went all-out physical in my emotional response to this book (obsessed, or in-love or adrenalized or anything like that), so it was 4-stars, for me.

BUT!! It is so well written, clever, and charming despite (and perhaps even because of) his derogatory wit. He’s real. He’s honest. And maybe eventually… he becomes a TRUE catch. I will neither confirm nor deny this. You have to find that out for yourself (and you’ll have fun doing it!). 😉 Ahhhh what love can do…

Ouch. So this is what it feels like to sleep in the bed you made, huh? It sucks.

And because of that, this book was a relief. A fun and easy romance read (but that still makes you work for it) so… for that, I’d say 4.5 stars. 

P.S. Extra fun tidbit!! LucyLou just commented with this:

On Emma Chase’s website, she says her next book will be titled “Twisted”. Also she wrote a short epilogue from Kate’s POV. Sooo good! 

I bet Twisted’ll be about Dee Dee and Matthew! Whatdya think?