TANGLED UP IN YOU

Author: Rachel Gibson ISBN: 0061178039 8/2007 CONTEMPORARY Publisher: AVON

Maddie Dupree isn't in Truly, Idaho, looking for a husband, a boyfriend, or anything in between. Maddie is determined to uncover the untold story about the town's sordid past—her past. As a child, Maddie lost everything, and now she's back at the scene of the scandal—a local establishment that's always belonged to the Hennessys—determined to uncover the truth, and nothing is going to stand in her way. Especially not a black-haired, blue-eyed Hennessy. Everyone in Truly knows that the Hennessy men are irresistible, and the current owner, Mick, is no exception. His late father was a skirt-chasing heartbreaker who ended up causing disaster for two families. So far, Mick's managed to keep the ladies in line, but when he claps eyes on Maddie, with her luscious curves and tempting lips, he can't resist getting tangled up with her. But Maddie is keeping secrets, not the least of which is her true reason for being in town. And when Mick discovers what's really going on, there is going to be a whole lot of trouble in Truly.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Rachel Gibson delivers again. I have been a fan of Ms Gibson's since the toilet tossing contest in TRUE CONFESSIONS, and I am happy to say TANGLED UP IN YOU is another winner.

Maddie Dupree is a true crime author. She normally writes about serial killers, but a different kind of story has caught her eye. She heads to Truly, Idaho, to write about a double murder suicide that took place when she was a small child.

Mick Hennessy is a local boy. He grew up in Truly but left as soon as he legally could. After spending some time in the military flying helicopters, Mick comes home to take over the family business and in walks Maddie Dupree.

Maddie strikes a nerve with Mick when she starts asking around town about the double murder suicide, as it's been something Mick has been trying to forget his whole life.

TANGLED UP IN YOU does a wonderful job of character growth throughout the book. Maddie starts the book as a very tough-as-nails character that can take on anything and anyone, alone. But as the book progresses, Maddie changes—more of her is revealed and she grows in depth as a character. Maddie definitely held center stage in this story for me.

Maddie and Mick also have great chemistry. Their interactions are at times comic, at times painful, and at times very intense. There is a degree of 'normal' that Ms Gibson gives her characters and I think that is part of why it's so easy to identify with her characters.

The only thing I think I didn't like about this book was the big misunderstanding. It is well written into the story, but at the same time I found myself wishing the conflict could have centered around something else.

All in all, I would highly recommend this to any Rachel Gibson fan, and if you're not already a fan, this would be a good place to start.

April Luth