Review: Tangled Past by Leah Braemel

Tangled Past
Leah Braemel
Publisher: Carina Press
Publication Date: June 13, 2011
Kindle
Source: Publisher/Net Galley
Genre: Historical, Western
Characters: Sarah McLeod, Jackson Kellar, Nate Campbell
Challenge: 100+, Summer Romance

Forced to marry a man she just met, Sarah McLeod clings to the hope that she’ll finally find the love and acceptance she’s always craved. Her tenuous dreams of a happy life on the frontier are in danger of being dashed by the one thing she can’t change—her husband’s love for another man. Jackson Kellar’s determined to do right by his bride, yet he’s torn between his newfound love for Sarah and his still-burning desire for Nate.

Ranch owner Nate Campbell loves them both. He hates to see Jackson’s loyalties so divided, and doesn’t want Sarah hurt either. How can they fix the tangled mess they find themselves in? Nate suggests a possible solution—a permanent threesome.

With the open frontier closing in around them, is Nate’s solution their path to happiness—or will others destroy what they’ ve found together?

Once Sarah's stepfather catches her in the barn with Jackson, who is in a state of undress, he forces them to marry. Jackson was attracted to Sarah and seen how poorly her stepfather treated her, so he didn't mind marrying her. Except for the fact that he was in love with his best friend Nate.

The triad relationship felt to me like Jackson was the glue that held them together. Sarah was in love with Jackson and he in love with Nate. It didn't seem that Sarah had a relationship with Nate other than friendship. Since Jackson loved him, and she wanted to please him, Sarah invited Nate into their bed.

The overall read was pretty steamy, it just lacked a little on emotional connection.

Review: Texas Tangle by Leah Braemel

Title: Texas Tangle 
Published: June 28, 2010
Publisher: Carina Press
Source: Publisher
Format: Kindle
Genre: Erotica/Menage
Characters: Nikki Kimball, Brett Anderson, Dillon Barnett
My Rating:

Heat Level: 5/5
Synopsis:

Thanks to her cheating ex-husband and her thieving brother, all horse breeder Nikki Kimball has left is a bruised heart, an over-drawn 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?

"No, no, no!"

Nikki has been waiting on Dillon to make a move on her since her divorce two years ago. She thinks he's interested in her, but not truly sure due to his lack of trying anything. So when her truck breaks down on the side of the road and he happens upon her, the sparks between them begin to fly.

It started out great. It was just Nikki and Dillon, and I loved their chemistry and interaction with each other. The sex between them was always smoking hot, but it seemed as if Dillon was more into Nikki than she was into him. With that being said, Dillon still proposed to her, and I could see them getting married, having a family, the whole nine yards. This it where things start to shift and Brett enters the picture. Even before the menage, Brett and Nikki's relationship seemed more than just friendship. Once they did agree that Nikki should date both men and make a choice between them, I felt Dillon got the short end of the stick. I just kept reading about how Brett had this horrible childhood while Dillon's childhood was all roses and sunshine, that it seemed like the author was trying to make Brett the obvious winner of the girl because of his rough childhood.

Nikki came across as having feelings for Dillon and being fond of him, but I felt that she was more in love and drawn to Brett. I just kept waiting for Nikki to choose Brett throughout much of the book. Dillon was more of a voyeur of Nikki and Brett's relationship instead of an active participant, which is most obvious during the sex. Although during one sex scene, it seemed that there was some kind of slightly intimate connection between Brett and Dillon; the author just touched on it and didn't explore it.

Although they did make it a permanent menage, I still felt as if Dillon should have removed himself from the situation and found someone who could love him fully. Overall, this was a REALLY HOT read and I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.

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