Smitten by Books

Texas Tangle
Author: Leah Braemel
Publisher: Carina Press
Pub. Date: June 28, 2010
ISBN-13: 978-1426890376
Retail: $3.99
Novella

Thanks to her cheating ex-husband and her thieving brother, all horse breeder Nikki Kimball has left is a bruised heart, an overdrawn bank account and an empty home. When sex-on-legs Dillon Barnett and his brooding foster-brother Brett Anderson start showing more than just neighborly attention, Nikki is intrigued…and a little gun-shy.

Dillon and Brett have a history; back in high school, the two friends fought a bitter battle over Nikki. Now, ten years later, Brett still longs to be the man in Nikki’s life, but he’s determined to stand back and let Dillon win Nikki’s heart.

Society says Nikki must choose between the two men she loves. Is Nikki strong enough to break all the rules in order to find happiness?

~*~*~

A woman who’s lived her life trying to please others throws caution to the wind in this sexy and highly emotional read that gives new meaning to love and relationships.

Her whole life Nikki Kimball has tried to do the right thing. When she got pregnant at an early age, she married the baby’s father because that’s what her parents wanted. While he repeatedly cheated on her, her parents told her to stay with him or be disowned. After her brother gets in trouble with the law and needs a place to stay, her parents tell her it’s her familial duty to help him. But on the day her truck breaks down and she finds all of her worldly possessions and money stolen by her brother, Nikki finally reaches the breaking point and starts living her life for herself.

Dillon Barnett has loved Nikki since they were in high school, but he never made a move. Along a deserted road on a dark night, a broken down truck finally gives him that chance. He comes to her rescue, driving her home. When they discover her home robbed of its contents, he offers her a new home at his place. What Nikki thinks is just neighborly help soon morphs into something more. Dillon starts showing her she doesn’t have to do everything on her own and that he’s interested in a long term relationship. But Nikki’s skittish after all the pain of her marriage and doesn’t trust Dillon’s words. Compounding her mistrust is that Dillon’s not good with words, but his actions speak very loudly, and they say he owns her.

Someone else cares for Nikki too, and that’s Dillon’s foster brother Brett Anderson. Brett is a police officer, and back in high school he and Nikki had a very passionate night that he’s never forgotten. Throughout the years Brett has continued to be a part of Nikki’s life by checking up on her after finding her ex in numerous compromising positions. He’s given her a shoulder to cry on but would like to do so much more. And just when he thinks he can finally claim her, he finds out Dillon got there first.

No matter how he feels about her though, he’d never interfere with Dillon and Nikki’s relationship. He and Dillon got into a fight over her long ago that almost destroyed their brotherly bond, and Brett doesn’t want that to happen again. The temptation grows stronger when Dillon suggests they form a threesome. Brett’s willing to risk everything–including the support of a loving family–to remain by Nikki’s side. Now if they can just convince Nikki to stop worrying about others perceptions and embrace this unconventional, yet very loving, relationship they’ll finally have the family they’ve always dreamed of.

This is a very sexy story with two very honorable men. I can understand Nikki’s dilemma in loving them both since they’re both very appealing. Dillon is tough and hard working. While he has trouble talking about his feelings, showing them is what he excels at. His love for Nikki knows no bounds. Her happiness is all that matters and because of this, he sets any feelings of jealousy aside to form this new family.

Brett is equally noble. Coming to live with the Barnett family from a very physically abusive home, he doesn’t want to do anything to jeopardize his standing in his foster family. It takes a lot to convince him that he’s worthy of love and that love is unconditional. Realizing that a “true” family loves you no matter what, finally releases the demons haunting Brett and allows him to embrace this new relationship. Fear has been holding Nikki back too. She and Brett are a lot alike in that respect. They want a family so bad that they don’t always make decisions that will make them happy. Seeing them come to the realization about their own self-worth is very emotional and inspiring, and makes you root for the threesome to work.

This is a very good story with the problems associated with a threesome shown in a very believable way. There was never an ick factor for me. The sex scenes were very tasteful, yet retains their steaminess. Hopefully readers can put aside any preconceived notions regarding threesomes and take a chance on this truly emotional story that gives a whole new understanding of what defines a family.

Rating: 7.5 (Good+)

Heat-Level: 6 (Erotic)

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