Two to Tangle

Pairing a new-to-town chef and a local contractor, Brayden (To the Moon and Back) spins an irresistible contemporary lesbian romance. Upstate New York chef Gabriella Russo moves to Whisper Wall, Ore., to become the executive chef at Tangle Valley, a restaurant attached to a vineyard. She quickly hits it off with beautiful contractor Ryan Jacks, who’s hired to renovate the restaurant. But the road to true love hits some bumps as both women guard their hearts—Gabriella, because Ryan has a reputation as a player, and Ryan, because she’s never been in love before. Ryan’s also intimidated by Gabriella’s ex-girlfriend Madison, with whom Gabriella is still close friends in accordance with “the lesbian rulebook.” Brayden has a gift for imbuing her characters with heart and soul, and readers will quickly warm to both Gabriella and Ryan and the adorably sassy supporting characters, especially the Biddies, a group of septuagenarian gossipers. Brayden makes her characters work for their inevitable happy ending, and the realistic romantic pitfalls are balanced by easygoing humor throughout. Readers will look forward to more trips to Whisper Wall. (Nov.)