In rodeo – specifically bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, and bull riding, the rider needs to stay on the animal for eight seconds, which is usually the longest eight seconds ever. For these riders, everything can change in those eight seconds…for the better or for the worst.
I recently had the opportunity to read Tangled in Texas by Kari Lynn Dell in exchange for my honest opinion. Like my previous ARC review posted on the website, you will find basics about the book, a brief summary, my review, why I gave it the rating I did, and if I recommend it. Happy Reading! I want to thank NetGalley and SourceBooks for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
The Book’s Basics
- Genre: Contemporary Romance, Western, Sports Romance
- Length: 404 Pages
- Publication Date: February 6, 2024
- Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars (rounded to 4)
A Brief Summary
For rodeo riders, everything can change in those eight seconds. Main character Delon’s life was changed because of those eight seconds. Delon was a bareback bronc rider who was extremely injured during one of his rides, suffering what could be a career-ending injury. He is willing to do whatever it takes to get healthy enough to ride again, including following all instruction from his physical therapist. Who is this therapist of his? None other than his old friend with benefits – Tori. She’s the daughter of a Texas Senator who took a liking to Delon when they first met back when she was in school and trying to be a team roper. The relationship never became anything more than physical, but when she ghosted Delon by moving to Cheyenne to get married, the aftereffects were hard on everyone. Now Delon and Tori are back in each other’s lives to face the past if they ever want a chance at finding a place for one another in their present and future.
My Honest Review
As a girl who loves rodeo and lived in Texas for a little while, I was so excited to get approved for this NetGalley ARC and for the most part, I enjoyed the story: a small-town romance, a second chance at love, FWB to lovers (not a trope I read often). Tangled in Texas is a slow burn standalone romance that had a lot of depth and was both character- and plot-driven. Throughout the story, we see a lot of emphasis on working on personal issues and moving on from past mistakes. Tori and Delon each must work through their own problems of loss and grief, family drama, and injuries that could mean hanging up your boots for good.
Why This Rating?
I chose to rate it 3.5 stars rounding up to 4 stars because it was just too much of a slow burn for me. There was a ton of backstory, which adds to the relationship aspect of the plot and shows that it isn’t just lust in our main characters’ eyes, but the book took longer for me to read because it was so slow. I was hoping for something a little faster-paced. One thing I beyond loved about the book was the rodeo focus where readers are almost taught about the ins and outs of rodeo – how it works, the practice that goes into the sports, how high the stakes are, the potential injuries, etc. Kari Lynn Dell made it a point to not only touch on rodeo but really give readers a front row view into the rodeo sports and how these riders depend on rodeos as their livelihood.
Something I Noticed: At the end of the book, it’s mentioned that it was Delon’s first-time having sex without a condom, but he has a son and it’s implied that the son isn’t from a “the condom broke” situation but from a “there was no condom” event. This isn’t a huge deal but was an inconsistency I noticed and I was wondering if anyone else noticed it too.
Do I Recommend It?
While it was a slower burn romance for me, I definitely recommend it if you love rodeo or are interested in rodeo, like a slow romance, and don’t want a lot of spicy romance. It was an overall cute read and I plan on going back and reading the other five books in the series.
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