Twisted Up

by Lissa Matthews

One rope. Three days. And two hearts on the line.   Justin has had enough. Ella, the woman who healed his broken heart, has been cancelling on him for two months straight. Sure, she’s busy with her job, which has her traveling far and wide. But that never stopped her from sharing nights of trivia, long conversations and blazing hot sex—until now. Truth to tell, he misses their easy friendship, the way her sighs fill his ear as he fills her body.   What he can’t figure out is, what’s changed?   At work, Ella finds it easy to talk to rooms full of strangers. One back at her lonely apartment, though, she’s back to her painfully shy self—until Justin. Their chance meeting grew over the months into a year long affair, but she can’t shake the feeling that rejection and pain are just around the corner. Best thing to do? End it now, before their intimacy digs too deep.   Suddenly he’s at her door with a length of neon green rope and a naughty proposition, daring her to say no. Just how good could it be? There’s only one way to find out…   The sheets are tangled, the hat is crumpled, and the jeans are worn low on the hips. The cowboy is hot, determined, and helpless in the face of bunny slippers. Readers may need extra batteries to get this one out of their system.

Genres: Romance, Westerns, Contemporary, Erotic Romance, Erotica, Contemporary Romance, Fiction

200 pages, Paperback

First published December 20, 2011

Reviews

[Talltree · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars!
5 stars for the amazing H
4.5 stars for the many erotic and kinky scenes
2 stars for the commitment phobic second guessing worrywart of a h. She made the HEA into a HFN in her thoughts and p!ssed me off even in the last page , ugh!!

Triggers:Public Exhibition

[Cecile · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would normally put up my warning of the book being short, but this book comes in around 186 pages... So, my warning kinda stands where I do not want you to judge this book based on the length but on the writing!

I was given this book for my honest thoughts and opinion, so here goes!

Ms. Lissa is one of my favorite authors, so I was tickled when she asked me to read this one! Her writing, to me, is just so captivating and allows me to escape from time to time into a story of love, lust, passion and some hot sexing! And of course the cover just made me drool that much more! =) Hey, who doesn't want their own cowboy! Ella was no different...

Ella thought she could, I guess, make her self immune to the southern boy charm of Justin... But every girl has a secret hot spot for some southern drawl hospitality. Ella is a woman after my own heart. She really wants Justin, but she was trying to be practical about their relationship... She just came out of a divorce... So really, who wants a woman who is just coming from a broken relationship. But she sees that Justin tries to rope her in... And she allows it. But for how long would he want her is her question.... She is older than him and he may just want someone else that would light his fire! But Ella slowly realizes that her heart has already spoken before her mind even processed it... She wanted him.... All of him to herself...

Justin is a man that makes me smile just thinking about him. A Texas boy through and through. His southern charm is not lost on me... In fact, it endears me to him. Well... Endear might be to much of a romantic word... When I think of Justin.... I do think romance, but I also think of being tied up and teased and pleased! This is one man who finally realizes what he wants in life - Ella - and he doesn't plan on letting her push him aside no matter what it takes. He is willing to take his chance and tie her up and maybe even spank her a few times for her to realize just how much he wants her!

This is an awesome story! One that will leave you... Well, let's just say that it will leave you wanting to find your own cowboy and trying a few new things! These two heat up the sheets as much as they heat each other up! They are a great couple and we have all been in either of their shoes at one point in our lives... They are meant to be together whether one wants to see it right away or not... Ms. Lissa did a great job of making me want to knock some sense into Ella to see what is right in front of her... Justin is a man on a mission and he will not leave until he accomplishes what he has set out to do... And that is he WANTS Ella!

Let's see if he gets what he truly wants.... Ella Twisted Up!

[Niina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Justin has had it, Ella has been avoiding him for the past two months after getting him hooked with hour long talks over the phone and some pretty mind-blowing sex. So, he does what any man would ( or atleast any cowboy ) and get's in his truck and drives ten hours to knock on her door.

Ella is protecting herself, nothing as great as what she's been having with Justin, ten years her junior, can last so she though she'd stop keeping in touch and save herself the heartbreak, but now he stands in door way with a wicked grin, rope and determination to get her to come stay with him for three days. With his manipulative tactics ( read things get plenty hot ) at use she finds herself agreeing to give him three days - what she doesn't know is he's planning to make her see that he's going nowhere without her.

Great writing by Lissa Matthews! She keeps things easy, fun and smart ass with the story of a cowboy and a city girl getting their hearts tangled in a book filled with sexual tension, witty lines and emotional package finally getting released. Great job Ms. Matthews this book was easy and fun to read!

Okay Justin is quite the hottie, he's bossy, determined, possessive and likes his control especially in the bed room, and whoa! does that make the book a spicy read! This cowboy definitely knows what he wants and isn't afraid to get it, and he wants Ella, in his bed, by his side, in his home... he wants her heart and soul and knows his already belongs to her if she'd just look up and see it.

Ella is the bit tense, worrying, wound tight kind of girl, but when with Justin she comes to life, breaks from the bad marriage that came to an end. She's been used, she's been ignored and the pain of it doesn't let her get close to anyone and the fact that she begins to clung to Justin for her life high terrifies her. It was interesting to read how she finally began to give a little.

Okay so I have to talk sex here - hello! what's hot? A possessive cowboy who likes things rough and his girl twisting and withering underneath him. There are some truly hot scenes in this book, every once in a while between the sweet and witty scenes are these sizzling hot bedroom scenes that don't shy away from little ropin' and spanking. Oh boy! This won't leave you cold for sure!

You'll like this if... you love sexy cowboys with possessive streaks and a love story with wounded hearts being healed.

[Drmgrl99 · Rating 4 out of 5]

To start off I'm normally not big on cowboys but If Justin is the cowboy we are talking about tie me up and Yee Haw. Justin has fallen for an older, divorced, business women and he is done with letting her set the pace of their relationship. Phone calls, texts, emails, and sexy weekends on her turf are over ,he is going to let her know exactly how a Texas Cowboy ropes in his women.

Justin has a proposition for Ella - 3 days alone with him on his turf (his home), well I say proposition but what I should say is that he turns dominant and tells her she is doing it either the easy way or the hard way but either way she is going to enjoy it. The minute Ella sees Justin on her doorstep she is a goner - she can't help her ravenous need for him and is overwelmed by his dominance. Even though she's afraid after all she's been through with her divorce and the age difference her body gives in to his and her wants and needs.

I love these two characters- Justin is a dominant, possessive, and very determined cowboy who likes his control in and out of the bed. He constantly pushes Ella's boundaries and at the same time shows her his softer side. Ella is much more reserved, business like woman who is finally realizing that she is a naughty minx under her tightly wound exterior.

This 186 page novella packed full of amazingly HOT sex, healed hearts,mild BDSM elements - ropes, toys, spanking, and one hell of a cowboy! I hope that this is the beginning of a new series as I would love to hear more about Justin's lookalike younger brother I could just imagine how fun he might be if Justin is this yummy.

So break out your bunny slippers and cowboy hat and get ready for a seriously hot read!

http://daydrmzzz.blogspot.com

[Redheads Review it Better · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know what I absolutely love about Lissa Matthews' books? She thinks of very many tantalizing and creative ways for her characters to get in the sack.

For example, what woman wouldn't want a hot as hell man unexpectedly showing up at her place to take her away to his home for a weekend of kinky sex? You, you say. Good. Me too. :)

Justin has been courting Ella for the past year. He patiently waited for her divorce to become final before they got intimate. After that point it's no holds bard. They spend only a couple of weekends together but constantly talk on the phone, email, and text each other. Justin has the distinct feeling that Ella is starting to pull herself away from him. So after she has cancelled the last two times to see each other, Justin decides it's time to take a chance on showing up and whisking her away to his home in Texas. Nothing but poetic, sweet...oh who am I kidding! They had hot as hell sex that made me have to go find my husband a couple times. Lol! That is really the only way to put it.

So, if you are looking for a great read that has lots of steamy sex in compromising positions, this book is for you. Well not just this book but any of Lissa Matthews' books. They are great!

[Simply Love Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first thing I noticed about this book was the dedication: “To the real cowboy Justin, for all the inspiration and love you long to share.” I frantically waved my hands in the air… Here I am, and I’m waiting for someone just like you! ‘Cause a cowboy who wants a special woman to love is irresistible to this Texas gal.

And if the real Justin is anything like the cowboy in the book, I’m toast. From the first page, I fell in love with the hot, sexy cowboy who won’t take “no” for an answer. My heart melted at the way Justin shows his vulnerable side to Ella, telling her he wants more with her than the occasional weekend of sex. The chemistry between the two is obvious, as is Ella’s reluctance to risk her heart after a failed marriage. But not willing to take a chance of her running from him again, he comes prepared with a length of green rope, and a dare… spend the weekend with him at his place in Texas and see how good it could be between them.



To read Taylor's complete review visit:
http://www.guiltypleasuresbookreviews...

[Helyce · Rating 2 out of 5]

Justin and Ella are already a couple when this story begins. Justin wasn’t looking for anything when he walked into that bar, that night. A group of women were there, playing some sort of Trivia game and they were short a player. He figured, what the heck, and sat down next to a gal to start the game. She looked up at one point and smiled and that small, simple thing was “it” for Justin.

Though Justin and Ella live in different states, they begin a friendship of sorts by texting and chatting on-line. They learn much about each other this way, spending hours in the evening just chatting. There is clearly an attraction between them, but Ella is going through a divorce and Justin has also just recently ended a relationship; so they start out slowly. Soon, though, they are taking it to the next level, meeting for long weekends wherever Ella’s job happens to send her. The sex is great between them. Justin provides just that little extra “edge” to sex that was missing in Ella’s marriage. Ella is happy with the way things are; she is not looking for anything more than their current casual situation. However, as she senses Justin is looking for and feeling more, she completely backs off.

After two months of the “brush off” Justin has had enough. He drives ten hours and basically kidnaps Ella and brings her back to his home in Texas. Justin wants her on his turf, where he is comfortable and where Ella cannot run from him. All Justin wants is some one on one time to figure out where Ella’s head is at and to figure out what has got her so spooked.

While Ella goes willingly with Justin to his place in Texas, she’s totally unprepared for the feelings and emotions that she goes through once she is there. She has a lot of baggage, and after an unsuccessful marriage, she is not looking to jump into another relationship. She’s made mistakes and she’s determined not to make them again. But she’s willing to give Justin the weekend he’s asking for and she promises to listen to what he says and think about it before she makes any decisions.

I have to start by saying that I did not like the character of Ella in this story. I realize that she had issues; many many issues and I totally understand where she was coming from regarding her failed marriage and not wanting to move too quickly into another relationship. I also realize that she was being a responsible adult and guarding her heart as well as Justin’s by not wanting to move too quickly as she was only recently divorced and Justin had also recently broken up with someone. Sadly, her hesitation toward moving forward or at least explaining where her head was at, left me very frustrated.
Justin, on the other hand, I really liked. He seemed so much more confident and I really liked his take charge attitude. He wasn’t going to sit in the wings and just wait Ella out. He took action, even knowing that if he pushed her too hard, he may end of losing her in the end.

There was another issue that didn’t work for me as well. It’s inferred that Ella is older than Justin and he thinks that might be part of why she was holding back. It’s not till we’re well into the book that we learn that Ella is 10 or 11 years older than Justin’s 29 years. For some reason, learning how old Ella was made her uncertainty about what she wanted and the way she treated Justin even more unbelievable to me.

Ultimately, I just didn’t buy the relationship between Justin and Ella. There was no question to their sexual chemistry…up to a point. Even after they agree to give it a shot, Ella complains to Justin about their different “tastes” in the bedroom. When Justin explains himself, and attempts to show Ella “how good it can be” she gets kind of pouty, but gives in.

This one just wasn’t for me. I couldn’t get over my initial dislike of Ella, even as the story moved forward and her attitude toward Justin and their relationship changed.

[Kati · Rating 3 out of 5]

***original review posted at Romancing Rakes***

Holy hell! Hold on to your hat, kick off your cowboy boots and keep the shower running. On cold. Heck, just read this book in a bath of ice.

This starts off with a bang *snicker*. Justin has spent a whole day driving from Texas to Alabama to see Ella. She has been avoiding him but he can't get her out of his head. He's ready for more than weekend booty calls, emails, texting and sexting. He's been in love with Ella for quite some time now but he has to convince her to stay with him.

So basically Justin kidnaps her for a few days before Ella has to be at some conference. And the road trip goes something like this:

*Justin tells Ella to take her panties off and hang on for the ride. lol
*A lot of teasing and touching and super sexy demands.
*The Sexy Times
*Flashing some random truck driver who totally approves

When they arrive at their destination, Ella realizes that she hasn't packed the right clothes for a ranch. What the heck does she needs clothes for anyway? There's a super sexy cowboy within reach. Get your priorities right, woman!

In between The Sexy Times, Justin and Ella argue about how their relationship should progress. Justin wants to make Ella his, Ella is still a little burned from her failed marriage. She actually met Justin when she was out with friends celebrating her divorce. Anywho, Ella doesn't understand why Justin wants to be with her since she's older than him and he could find some nice younger woman to settle down with. Justin is hell bent on making Ella see that they're meant for each other even if it takes him tying her up and having crazy sexy with her all over the house, over and over and over and over again.

After their panty melting few days together, Ella has to go to a conference. Justin drops her off at the airport and yes, The Sexy Times happens in the parking garage. He lets Ella know that she's his and that she IS going to say yes to being with him no matter what. If not, he'll just come right back and kidnap her until she relents.


FAVORITE QUOTE:
His Ella needed affection, needed romance, needed to be manhandled more than once in a while. She needed to be treated like a woman, strong and independent. She needed to be treated as a sexual fantasy come to life, a precious slut, a desired submissive. He could give her all those things if she'd trust him enough to let him into more than just her body.

OVERALL: Lissa Mathews definitely had me blushing and gasping out loud. Holy carp! This one is a scorcher and then some. I felt like a total voyeur just reading this. The Sex was EVERYWHERE! In the car, on the bed, against the wall... Justin was a bit too possessive and somewhat whiny for me to actually like him that much but Ella somehow did not see that. If you're looking for a make you blush all the way to your toes read, this one's for you. Warning: you may begin to fan yourself so try not to read it in public. Unless you're into that. :)


***review copy provided by Brandy W***

[Shari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twisted Up starts off long after the two characters have met, has sex and at least one of them has fallen in love. Being a shorter book, the author tends to drop you into the book past the beginning and briefly describe what happened before. It is a very interesting way to move forward more quickly and get to the action and what you really care about.

Justin is tired of waiting on Ella to decide what she wants. He has given her the room she needs with no pushing, but that time is up. Headed out of Texas to Alabama he intends to at best take Ella back to his house. At worst kidnap her back to his house in Texas. Either way he is done letting her hide from what they have.

Ella is hiding behind walls of her own making. Walls that are protecting her but also pushing her forward in success. After a marriage breakup where her husband was better as a friend than a husband, Ella is tired of being someone she isn’t and branches out into her own. The night her divorce finalizes, she makes her move on Justin, but that is all she intended to be. Never a relationship. Being long distance, she uses that distance to put more distance between them.

As much as Ella wants to hide, she can’t deny the passion that Justin evokes in her. She loves his rough style and kinky ways. So it wasn’t much of a stretch for him to “kidnap” her away to Texas. During the two days, they creates such passion and love between the two of them that the walls start to breakdown, but is two days long enough for Justin to make sure Ella falls for him?

Wow! This book is hot on so many levels. There is truck sex, outdoor sex, sex with bunny slippers, sex behind a bar, in a shower and of course in a bed. It is just one little hot book. Justing knows right away he is in love. He had months before they actually had sex to fall in love with her. But Ella was still married, but separated. Let’s be clear, there was no cheating at all. They did nothing until her divorce was finalized. I did get tired of Ella’s walls after a while. Here was this younger, buff man adoring her, sexing her up, taking care of her and very proud of her in her career. He supported her and waited for her. She kept pushing away and many times “thinking” too much.

Overall, it’s a cute little book that is hot, so wear oven mitts to read it!

[Juju221 · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want a fun loving sexy cowboy for Christmas then look no further than Justin, as it says above he is hot, determined and helpless when it comes to bunny slippers. Another great novella from Lissa Mathews with characters who make you care for them and I really liked it. Loved Justin, he was keen and rough and loveable; I loved how Ella's concerns reflect those of a lot of people and the fact the age difference was there but not a big deal. I liked the characters so much I invested in their story, wanted them to succeed and I really liked the ending.

What we do get in this novella is an insight into the climax of their relationship, will it work or break down. After meeting in a bar and chatting online as well as the odd weekend away Ella is pulling away and Justin wants more, when we first meet them he is on her doorstep and telling her how he feels and what he wants. The Ultimatum moment. It is tense and sexy and I would have ran to his truck had it been me in that hallway!

Justin is a really complex character and that comes out in their discussion about her need for hard quick sex, straight to the main course by pass starters and who needs desert? Yet he keeps up with the slow loving and is very thorough with it. Ella seems confident yet a bit damaged, she puts on a cloak of clothing and make up and becomes her job when she is there, but in relationships she is scared, of being hurt, being alone, being led down the garden path; and I think a lot of women will equate to that emotion after a relationship or marriage just fades and turns to friendship.

She is kinky but a conformist. He likes PDA and is kiny too, that friction makes them interesting.

The whole thing about him not being circumcised made me giggle too. From a non American point of view it is really interesting as most men in Northern Europe aren't, however I know most in USA are. So that was fun and interesting.

What I want to know is will there be a future book about his brother or friends?

I hope so!

Oh and the sex was hot. with a capital Hot! *wink*

I give Twisted up 4 frillies out of 5, a definite damp panty read and my smut of the month! Every girl needs a cowboy Christmas.

[Noel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our hero Justin has fallen hard for Ella, an older, divorced, business women who is emotionally inhibited but a surprising sexual tigress.

Justin, a Texas boy, is filling in as bartender for a friend in Alabama when he meets Ella ~ on the exact day she is divorced. From that point on they get to know one another through texts, phone calls, instant messaging, and weekends in hotel rooms. After a couple of months of hearing nothing from Ella, Justin suddenly shows up on her doorstep to 'kidnap' her. He wants her in his bed in Dallas and uses the threat of tying her up with rope if she does not agree. Justin just wants three days alone with her ~ no distractions, no excuses, no chance for Ella to 'hide' her emotions from him. In her secret heart, Ella cannot help her ravenous need for Justin and is overwelmed by his dominance and his need for her as well.

I very much enjoyed these two characters. Justin, a young, dominant, possessive, headstrong cowboy who likes to be in control - both in and out of the bed. Ella, who hides behind a reserved, business-like exterior to protect herself from ever being hurt as she was in her loveless marriage.

WARNING: This novella is a quick read but it is full of amazingly HOT SEX. I will admit that I blushed a few times, but that did not keep me from reading on! Ms. Matthews has put her best foot forward in keeping her readers holding their breaths in anticipation of each and every sexual adventure of these two characters.

Enjoy this very entertaining Cowboy and the Lady story!!

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Caution! Hot Cowboy with ropes who knows how to use them.

Justin has one goal in mind: Get Ella. He’s tired of her excuses of why they can’t be together. He wants more then just a weekend of sex every couple of weeks. So he seduces her into coming home with him to spend three nights with him and convince her this is the real deal.

Ella thinks Justin is great but she just doesn’t think Justin is serious about her. She thinks all that’s between them is sex, and pretty amazing, mind-blowing sex. But who can so no a sexy cowboy who drove all day to get you? Over the three days Justin does his best to show Ella that he loves her and she loves him.

Now, normally it takes a lot to get me to blush but my face was red the whole time I was reading. Justin is hot! Ella is hot! Put them together and it just about starts a fire. Justin has the whole possessive thing going for him and the way he takes control in the bedroom is a total turn on.

The only annoying thing was how it kept saying that Ella was older then Justin, like a much older. It isn’t towards the end when we learn just how much older. It drove me crazy because I couldn’t figure out how much older.

But if you are looking for a hot read with two very likable characters Twisted Up is it. Just make sure you have a cold drink to cool you off while you read.

[Obsessed · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very hot and steamy book. Justin goes on my list of "must-have" men. He's perfect, but not in a way that annoyed me. "Perfect" heroes usually feel unreal and it brings me out of the story. Justin is perfect, but mainly he's perfect for Ella. While there aren't any obvious faults shown in the story, he does demonstrate some impatience while waiting for her to move things forward.

Ella is a worrier and overthinks things, something that I can relate to. Her failed marriage makes her incredibly cautious about pursuing a real relationship with Justin, instead of just the occasional weekend at a hotel. She can try a reader's patience, though. She kept looking for problems when there were none and looking for a guarantee when none could be given. I was so relieved when she finally made her move. Justin deserved better than to be left hanging.

I volunteer try to do better.

And I must mention again that the sex is absolutely rockin' in this book. I'm glad I read most of it at home where I could break into a sweat in peace.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can always count on Lissa Matthews when you want a nice steamy, contemporary book!!!
And if that isn't enough, she always has great characters that are not perfect, they have flaws, and not everything ties up neatly in a bow, but always promising!
I also like the fact that while it is mentioned that the female lead is older, it is not a major point in the story, their relationship in general is the point of the story, which is good 'cause I'm not a huge fan of the "cougar" reference books.(could be sensitivity of being in my 40's now, and such labels are not applied to men for however many years, but that could just be me!)
I enjoyed this one and would recommend it!

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Smoking hot, loved the heroine's evolution from scared to scared but moving on anyways.

[Jessie]

I'm so excited!!! I received a signed copy in the mail last week. Gosh I love contests/giveaways!!! Can't wait to start this one.

[Delta · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[Simone · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Sofia Grey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick hot read from Lissa Matthews. A little touch of bondage and a whole lot of fun :-)