Jacqueline's Reads: Giveaway - Untangle Me by Chelle Bliss

Kayden is a bad boy that never played by the rules. Sophia has always been the quintessential good girl, living a life filled with disappointment. Everything changes when their lives become intertwined through a chance encounter online.

Hundreds of miles separate them, but the connection that draws them together is too much to be denied. As the layers of their lives peel back, Kayden keeps the dangerous parts of his past hidden to protect the woman who is becoming more important to him than he should allow. What starts as a pursuit of carnal pleasure turns into a complicated love story. His past is a tangled web filled with addiction, an obsessed ex-girlfriend, and problems with the law.

One mistake he thought he had left behind may end up ruining it all.

3.5 Finding Each Other Stars

Untangled Me is Chelle Bliss’ debut novel of two people meeting on-line and slowly falling in love. It’s a get-to-know-you and push-through-issues kind of read.

**Disclaimer, I was a beta reader for this book. I was honored with a copy of an unedited version and so I haven’t not read the final copy.

Untangled Me holds a special place in my heart because it’s about two people meeting on-line. I happen to fall into that category. My husband and I had a class together, but I didn’t talk to him in person at first, instead I messaged him. So, I completely understand and can relate to Untangle Me.

Kayden and Sophia are thirty-something singles just living normal lives and both are healing from past relationships. Kayden and Sophia meet on Facebook and begin conversing. What started out as a few messages here and there, slowly builds to a relationship, where they later will meet.

The summary is a tip of what you will get. The beginning is about Kayden and Sophia getting to know each other, so don’t worry, you get to the steam real quick. This review is tricky to me, because there are some elements that didn’t work for me, but I know will work for others. I admire Bliss’ stance on choosing older characters, most of the books I read are about young twenty-something’s and so obviously, there’s a maturity level in this book.

What didn’t work for me is the Hero. I couldn’t connect with him, but I should explain that I love alpha heroes. I love men who grab me, tell me to shut-the-fuck-up and just ravish my body till dawn kind of males. Not that Kayden couldn’t do that, I just couldn’t see it. Most of the tension and obstacles came from Kayden and his past. The more I got to know Kayden, the more I couldn’t relate. A lot of girls I know understand Kayden because they have dated men like him, I have not, and that is one of the reasons why I couldn’t see the appeal.

Kayden is not an anti-hero, but a damaged Hero and sometimes you need a strong Heroine to pick up the pieces. The steamy parts were enjoyable, but a little unpolished. Sometimes it would be sweet and sometimes it would be dominate. I was getting confused to what kind of relationship Kayden and Sophia were having. However, Untangle Me does show a wide range of intimacy (which I know some readers will like).

I like Sophia and she obviously cared deeply for Kayden. You can tell, she struggled a lot in the relationship and just wanted to help her man. I can relate to that completely.

I want to thank Chelle for allowing me to read Untangle Me. I don’t beta read often because it’s a lot of work, but I am happy I was a part of the process. Even though there were some things that did not work for me, I think it’s a stand-up debut novel.

Kayden: Come and see me. It’s summer and you’re off work. Come here, have some fun.

His text pulled me out of my sweaty naked fantasy, pulling me back to reality. Could I take that plunge? I didn’t want to be another fuck—meaningless.

Me: Feel like adding another notch to your bedpost?

My heart stopped as my phone began to ring. Kayden.

“Hey,” I said.

“Sophia, you aren’t a cheap whore. I’ve never thought of you in that way, ever.” I sighed, still unconvinced.

“Kayden, I didn’t mean to make you mad,” I said, closing my eyes, holding my breath.

“You’d didn’t make me mad at all, Sophia. I just want you to know how I feel, what I feel for you. For the first time in a long time, I look forward to waking up. I check my phone and message you before I even crawl out of bed.”

My stomach filled with butterflies, my voice quivered as I spoke. “It’s the same for me, Kayden; I just want to make sure I don’t become just another girl to you. I have to think about it.”

“Sophia, I don’t want another notch on my bedpost. I want to spend time with you. I want to show you this amazing city; you could use a little fun in your life—wipe away the navy blue.” Navy blue, I stopped seeing Bob weeks ago. I couldn’t pretend to be interested anymore. I wanted to be home to talk with Kayden, my fantasies and daydreams were far better than anything Bob could deliver. “I’ll keep my hands to myself… I’ll be a gentleman. Come on, just a weekend.”

“So you don’t want to have sex with me, then?” I covered my mouth. What the fuck did I just say?

“Fuck, yes I do,” he said, causing my core to pulse, “I plan on it, you won’t be able to resist me.” He drew out his last words, my body breaking out in a blanket of goose bumps.