It Takes Two to Tangle

The Matchmaker Trilogy #1

by Theresa Romain

Wooing the Wrong Woman…

Henry Middlebrook is back from fighting Napoleon, ready to re-enter London society where he left it. Wounded and battle weary, he decides that the right wife is all he needs. Selecting the most desirable lady in the ton, Henry turns to her best friend and companion to help him with his suit…

Is a Terrible Mistake…

Young and beautiful, war widow Frances Whittier is no stranger to social intrigue. She finds Henry Middlebrook courageous and manly, unlike the foppish aristocrats she is used to, and is inspired to exercise her considerable wit on his behalf. But she may be too clever for her own good, and Frances discovers that she has set in motion a complicated train of events that’s only going to break her own heart…

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Historical, Regency, Historical Fiction, Regency Romance, Audiobook

352 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published September 3, 2013

About the author

Theresa Romain is the bestselling author of more than 20 historical romances, including the Holiday Pleasures series, the Matchmaker trilogy, the Royal Rewards series, and the Romance of the Turf series. Praised as “one of the rising stars of Regency historical romance” (Booklist), her books have finaled for the RITA® award, received starred reviews from Booklist, and been named to the Best Books of the Year list by NPR. Theresa is hard at work on her next book from her home in the Midwestern USA.

To keep up with all her book-release news, please visit her online at theresaromain.com, where you can sign up for her newsletter, or find her on BookBub at https://www.bookbub.com/authors/there....

Reviews

[Rachel (BAVR) · Rating 2 out of 5]

My feelings after reading It Takes Two to Tangle:



My feelings about the prospect of reading the next book in the series:



The plot in this book is cruelly thin, like a scrap of fabric that only teases at warmth and instead talks at you for hours about nothing. Every time Henry and Frances started talking about their feels, I wished a comet would fly in and apocalypse them out of existence. Basically, Henry's on a mission to prove himself after a disastrous run at Quatre Bras that left his right arm paralyzed. He's a right-handed painter, so you can see the dilemma. And while I suppose that the quiet story of a wounded veteran and the awful woman he wants to stick is peen in has its own appeal, nothing in the narrative moved all that much. Frances stalls the whole thing by keeping a bunch of secrets and angsting about them, and the secrets aren't particularly compelling. So the result is kind of blah.

The characters just didn't do it for me. Frances and Henry are both very introspective, and the spend a lot of time worrying and yammering instead of putting on their big kid pants and escarole-ing with the punches. After a few chapters with them, I was just like...



In short, I can't say I was impressed by the story. If I ever get up the ambition to read the next in the series, maybe BAVR will be happier. (I doubt this will happen)

[Mary - Buried Under Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Posted on Buried Under Romance

Henry Middlebrook came back from the Napoleonic Wars a lost soul. The loss of his right hand left him unable to paint – a heavy blow to his artistic aspirations – whilst he struggled to regain mannerisms necessary to rejoin society. Partially due to encouragement from his brother and sister-in-law, and partially because he sought a new vantage from which to gain solace and happiness, Henry decides to find a wife, and his eyes land on Lady Caroline Stratton, the reigning beauty of the ton. However, Caroline is an accomplished flirt, and to pursue her, Henry employed a new strategy – that of engaging the help of France Whittier, Caroline’s cousin and companion.

Frances is not a stranger to wounded soldiers. Her late husband had died during the war, leaving an emotional secret with Frances, together with unanswered questions. Frances is a woman of dry wit and intelligence; she is content with her role yet privately yearns for love and passion. She is internally and externally perceptive, but armed with boundless compassion and sensitivity that endears her to Henry, and the readers.

Henry is an interesting character as well, though perhaps not as much as Frances. Henry’s determination is his sword and armor in society, life, and in his internal battles. To reconcile with the loss of his arm, he is determined to paint again with his left. To deal with the pitiful looks from society, he is determined to find the right wife and regain his footing.

Reminiscent of Cyrano De Bergerac, Frances writes letters to Henry through Caroline’s name, giving him not only friendship but confidence, and due to Henry’s disability, he asks Frances to aid him in replying. What started as good intentions quickly turned into a mess, as Frances found herself being both the sender and in part the replier. However, the bigger problem is, Frances is slowly falling in love with Henry through their time together, and he is still fixed on Caroline, believing the letters to have come from her!

My only annoyance is that Henry took too long to notice Frances as a romantic partner, having too firmly established in his mind Caroline as the cornerstone of his reconstruction of his life. Yet, perhaps that is understandable too, for Henry’s fixation on Caroline as his sole beacon of light blinded him to his surroundings, the truth of his secret correspondence, and Frances’s ubiquitous support.

Brilliantly crafted, with riveting characters and Theresa Romain’s usual dash of philosophy, It Takes Two to Tangle creates an engaging introduction to Romain’s Matchmaker Trilogy. Strategies and tactics are brandished not only to win a lady’s affections, but also to gain an insight into one’s counterparts in character and life. Truly, this is a most intelligent and insightful historical romance, coming from Theresa Romain’s unique voice.

Plot: 8/10
Characters: 9/10
Writing: 8/10
Structure: 9/10
Overall: 8/10

*ARC courtesy of the publisher via Netgalley

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book. I was worried at the beginning because a silly misunderstanding went on between the hero and the heroine for a little too long, but then it got better. While the book dealt with pretty dark subject material (heroine abandoned by first husband and hero has permanent paralysis in his arm from war), it still managed to remain light. I enjoyed the glimpses of the small gatherings, balls, and visiting hours, which were described in nice detail. What was unique is that these settings were described by the hero and the heroine, both of whom felt like outsiders to the world of the ton.

While Frances and Henry were not my favorite characters when considered separately, when considered together they were a great couple. I thought Romain did a great job of showing their chemistry and how they helped each other...and what Henry does for Frances at the end of the book is sweet. After the climax/resolution of this book, there were considerable pages left, which made me happy. I hate it when books simply end on the same page that the problem is resolved. I've waded through the angst, now I want to see some happiness! That is delivered here and I wrapped up the book smiling.

My notes to readers:
-this is not an action packed book
-this story is about two damaged people who slowly fall for each other and put their own demons to rest (with limited angst, but still believable characterization)
-if the misunderstanding of the letters irritates you, don't give up hope, it doesn't last the whole book
-the sex scenes revealed a lot about the characters and their faults and helped develop the story (I rarely say this, but I love when it happens)
-the book is slow--read when you need a break from whirlwind romances

This was my first book by this author and I will be reading more in the future.

Edit: I've rounded up to 5 stars. I read this book awhile ago and I still think about it all the time and just bought a signed copy! The emotions in this book stuck with me.

[Topastro · Rating 4 out of 5]

10/27/20 - This was a hidden gem that I thoroughly enjoyed. Although it dragged in spots and the drama felt a bit force the MC were fresh and interesting.

10/23/20 - Just started the audio book and was happily surprised that the narrator was Carolyn Morris. I doubled checked Audible and my Hoopla app and both listed the narrator as Michelle Ford but I recognize this voice as Carolyn Morris. Are they one and the same? Does she use a pseudonym?

[Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Setting: Regency England

After returning from War with a paralyzed right arm, Henry Middlebrook is determined to rejoin the ton and find a wife. He sets his sights on Lady Caroline, who is not only beautiful but smart as well and the most sought after widow of the season. Her companion Frances Whittier, is still young enough to enjoy the balls and entertainments they attend, and she delights in holding deep witty conversations with the the men pursuing Caroline. Henry yearns to learn more about Caroline as a person and surprisingly Frances has agreed to help him. Their interaction leads to Henry's realization that he wants Caroline only as a friend and finds he desires Frances instead! Now he must find a way to win this lady's heart. It Takes Two to Tangle is the first book in a very promising trilogy. Coupled with a set of passionate characters, an intriguing plot replete with unforseen twists that quickly turned this book into a delightful romantic page turner. I look forward to the next two in this trilogy.

[Caz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've given this an A at AAR - it's one of those rare 5-star books:)

It Takes Two to Tangle is the first in a new series by this author, and is a wonderfully crafted, character-driven romance in which two intelligent, kind, and emotionally fragile people find each other amid the round of parties, balls, and shallow people that make up the ton and the circuit of society events.

Henry Middleton is twenty-six and has returned from the Napoleonic wars crippled, having completely lost the use of his right arm. While trying to put a brave face on things, he is daily reminded of things he is no longer able to do – little things like hold a knife and fork, or a cup and saucer and be able to actually drink the tea, or carry flowers to a lady’s house and knock on the door without dropping or crushing them.

Worst of all, before the war he was an aspiring artist, but being right-handed means he can no longer paint or write. He is temporarily residing with his older brother (Jem) and sister-in-law, who love him very much, and who are so grateful to have him home in (almost) one piece, that they fail to see the changes that have taken place within him. They encourage him to try to pick up where he left off and return to his former place in society, and that includes finding himself a suitable wife from amongst the ladies of the ton.

For Henry, though, finding himself the right wife is about more than just ensuring himself some long-term happiness and companionship. There’s also the sense that he wants to show the world that he’s just as much of a man with one arm as he was with two; a determination which is understandable, given his circumstances, but which, by the end of the book, he has come to see is misguided.

His sister-in-law, Emily, has singled out the reigning beauty of the ton, Lady Caroline Stratton, as the perfect match for Henry. A widow of some nine years, Caroline is amusing, rich and very popular – and the strategist in Henry knows he will need an edge if he is to be able to win her. So he asks her companion – who is her cousin - Mrs Frances Whittier for some advice. Frances is also a widow, having lost her husband in the early days of the war, but unlike Caroline, she has no money of her own, having been disowned by her father (a baronet) when she married a mere innkeeper’s son against his wishes. Frances and Henry hit it off immediately – she’s clever and witty, and very attuned to him, sensing that he’s having trouble adjusting to civilian life.

It’s clear, too, that Frances is very attracted to Henry, but while he enjoys her conversation – in fact, the air between them fairly crackles during their low-key but flirtatious exchanges - he is focused on Caroline, having decided that she is exactly the woman to ease his path back into society. Of course, Frances – and the reader – can already see that Henry is more attracted to the idea of Caroline than to Caroline herself, but Frances agrees to help him because, as she later says, she just wants him to be happier.

There’s already an element of Cyrano de Bergerac about the story, which is further reinforced when Frances writes Henry a letter telling him how much she’d enjoyed their conversation and is looking forward to furthering their friendship. It wasn’t the done thing for a lady – even a widow – to write to an unmarried gentleman, so she signed the letter “A Friend”. All the clues as to her identity are right there, on paper, but Henry is so wrapped up in his determination to court Caro that he can’t see what’s under his nose, and immediately assumes the letter is from her. But he has no way to answer her letter. Although he’s begun to try to write and paint with his left hand, he has not been very successful so far, and doesn’t want to ask Jem or Emily to write his reply. Then he remembers Frances’ offer of friendship – and asks her if she will aid him in finding a way to compose and write a short, but appropriately worded response. Stunned by Henry’s assumption, she tries to correct him – but when he tells her how much it has bolstered his confidence to have received the letter from Caro, Frances finds she can’t disillusion him, agrees to help, and the correspondence continues.

Fortunately, the mistaken identity part of the storyline is not allowed to drag on for too long, and even though Henry still believes the letters to have been written by Caro, he also comes to the realisation that she is not the woman for him.

At several points throughout the story, Frances is on the point of telling Henry the truth about the letters, but does not do so for a variety of reasons – which of course makes it even worse when he does eventually find out. Frances is a very intriguing and sympathetic character, a woman who keeps her passionate, somewhat impulsive nature hidden beneath the prim dresses and self-effacing demeanour of the good companion. While Frances despairs of her willingness to throw caution to the winds for love, I found it to be rather an admirable trait; even though she is mindful of her past transgressions, she still believes enough in love to risk making another mistake.

Henry and Frances are likeable, well-rounded characters who complement each other perfectly in the way they each bring out the best in the other. Both have flaws, both can be hurtful and petty, but those things make them both seem all the more real. The romance between them is a slow burn but is beautifully developed and the love scenes are sensual, while maintaining a sense of realism by not completely ignoring the problems arising from the fact that Henry has only one working arm.

The familial relationships between Henry, Jem and Emily are also superbly written. The book opens with a wonderfully warm and witty exchange between Emily and Henry, and there is a truly beautiful moment towards the end between Jem and Henry when Jem finally sees exactly what his brother must have gone through during the war and what is facing him now.

At its heart, It Takes Two to Tangle is a story about acceptance, moving on and finding the strength to accept one’s limitations without allowing them to rule one’s life. It was an absolute pleasure to read, and I have no qualms about recommending it very highly indeed.

[Claudia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was looking for a funny, sweet and romantic read and after reading some enthusiastic reviews I thought this would be perfect. Unfortunately I cannot share my fellow readers good opinion on this book

My biggest problem with this book were the characters. I just had real troubles connecting to them and in the second half I did not really like them. Frances was sometimes cold as a fish and Henry just did not seem a real nice man. Especially in the first half he was not really interested in other people. I can understand his pain but nevertheless I would have hoped for some insightful and deep feelings from his side

Additionally their talks were not really that good to read and I missed some light banter

"The end improved it a bit. Nevertheless I can't give it not more than 2,5 stars

[Pamela · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5...? I really really love HOW she writes, just not really WHAT she writes. The prose is lovely, but the characterization and plot seemed really lacking, and this was a bit of a slog to get through.

[Caz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review from 2014

A for content / A- for narration.

It Takes Two to Tangle is the first in a new trilogy from Theresa Romain, and it’s an extremely strong start to the series. It’s a beautifully written, character-driven romance that’s full of warmth and humour in which the two principals are both people who have been affected in different ways by war, and who have to learn to accept their pasts and move on.

Henry Middlebrook has recently returned from the continent, having been seriously wounded in the battle at Quatre Bras. While physically intact, he has completely lost the use of his right arm, and every day, has to face the realities of the things he is no longer able to do, from the ‘big’ things, like being able to write to smaller ones like being able to handle a cup and saucer, or hold a woman during a waltz. He doesn’t want pity; he doesn’t want allowances made. He just wants to get on with his life, a sentiment which is fully endorsed by his brother and sister-in-law, who are so relieved to have him back home in (almost) one piece that they fail to see the changes that have taken place on the inside.

As part of “operation re-introduce Henry to society”, his sister-in-law has decided he needs to find himself the right wife, and she knows just the woman. Lady Caroline Stratton is a widow of some nine years standing, and is the most sought-after lady in the ton. She’s beautiful, intelligent and wealthy – and Henry immediately realises he will need a bit of help if he is to secure her hand.

To that end, he approaches Caro’s companion – her cousin, Mrs Frances Whittier, also a widow, whose husband was killed in the early days of the war. He and Frances hit it off immediately and the air fairly crackles between them as they trade quips and engage in a little low-level flirtation. But while he certainly enjoys Frances’ company, it’s Caro he wants to pursue, so he asks Frances if she will give him the odd piece of advice in order to help advance his cause. For the first time since her husband’s death, Frances has found a man who attracts her – but she is not unused to being overlooked in favour of her vivacious cousin, and because she likes Henry and desires his happiness, she agrees to help him.

On the surface, Frances is the perfect lady’s companion; loyal and a little austere, but underneath, she is somewhat impulsive, a trait which has led her astray once before, and which she allows to get the better of her when she writes Henry a letter telling him how much she enjoyed meeting him and that she looks forward to furthering their friendship. It isn’t the done thing for a lady – even a widow – to write to an unmarried man, so Frances signs the letter merely “a friend”, sure that the references to their conversations the previous evening will leave Henry in no doubt as to her identity.

Unfortunately, Henry is so single-mindedly bent on his pursuit of Caro that he immediately jumps to the conclusion that the letter is from her and starts wondering how on earth he is to reply. He can’t write at all well with his left hand and doesn’t want to ask Jem or Emily for help – but there is one person he can trust.

Frances is stunned to discover Henry’s mistake – but before she can correct it, he tells her how much it means to him to have received a letter from Caro and she can’t bring herself to crush him by owning the truth. She helps him to learn to write with his left hand, and the correspondence continues.

Fortunately, however this case of “mistaken identity” is not allowed to drag on, as Henry comes to the realisation that Caro is not the woman for him after all, even though he still believes her to have written the letters.

Frances knows she’s been playing a dangerous game, but each time she determines to tell Henry the truth about the letters, something prevents her from doing so, which means, of course, that when he does eventually find out, the situation is that much worse.

Henry and Frances are both sympathetic, likeable characters whose flaws make them seem that much more real. As well as coping with his physical disability, Henry has to come to terms with his guilt over the actions he took during the battle which are closely linked with what happened to his arm. And Frances has to face her own demons about her first marriage, and the guilt she feels over her husband’s death. One of the things I found so endearing about her was the fact that even though she was mindful of her past mistakes, she nonetheless had enough belief in love to risk making another one.

The romance is a slow burn, but it is beautifully written and developed and the love scenes are both sweet and sensual. The familial relationships between Henry and his brother and sister-in-law are also superbly written, and the whole book just exudes warmth and bristles with a wonderfully dry wit.

Michelle Ford has quickly become one of my favourite female narrators, and she delivers another excellent and very naturalistic performance. Her narrative is well paced and her characterisations are all appropriate and well-differentiated. She is very good at finding and bringing out the humour in a book, and one such as this, laced with dry wit and subtle flirtation, presents her with the ideal opportunity to showcase that particular talent.

While Ms Ford doesn’t lower the pitch of her voice very much to portray her male characters, she nonetheless manages to make her heroes sound suitably masculine and sexy by giving them a slightly sharper edge and injecting a deeper resonance into her tone. Henry is particularly well represented; she has captured his warmth, his wit and his insecurities successfully, perfectly transitioning the character on the page into the ears of the listener. There are a number of secondary male characters in the book and while they are all distinct, sometimes the differences are very subtle and I admit to occasionally having had to pay attention to the dialogue tags to make sure I knew who was speaking in conversations involving Henry and his brother or his friend, Sir Bart.

The female characters are similarly well-served, with Caro’s vivacity and Frances’ dry wit and kindness really shining through in the narrator’s skilful portrayals.

This is without a doubt one of the most enjoyable stories I’ve listened to so far this year, and I know I’ll be revisiting it as I look forward to the next in the series, which is Caro’s story.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Henry Middlebrook returns from war weary and wounded and he knows he needs to go back into society expect he feels the pity of the ton with his injury. Deciding that having the right wife will soothe the pathway, he sets his sights on a lovely widow and asks her companion for some help in securing her hand. Frances Whittier agrees to help Henry even though Henry has captured her attention in way she has never felt before. Attempting to draw his attention through a letter, he concludes the wrong lady wrote it and Frances is forced to put up a charade to keep her feelings hidden. As time passes though, it becomes clear to Henry that Frances is the woman he is looking for but when he finds out the truth about the letters, will forgiveness be found especially as Frances is holding out a secret about her first marriage that she feels makes her entirely unsuitable for Henry?

This is the start of Theresa Romain's new Matchmaker trilogy and I enjoyed it just as much as her other works. Frances was such a refreshing heroine with her quiet strength and decisive talk. I really wished she had just told Henry the truth about the letters much sooner than she did though and I thought her secrets were also refreshing from what I have read before and thought the resolution to them was handled well (in fact, how Henry deals with it made me tear up a bit!). Henry is dealing with his own after effects of war and finds his well meaning, forgiving family a bit off putting. Frances challenges him to move past the past and strive towards new beginnings and shows him that he still has all the respect he had before the war. Overall I really enjoyed this book however it was a bit slow in places and heavy on details in parts for my taste but the characters with their vibrant. well written natures brought the book to a solid conclusion. Subtle humor, passionate encounters and heartfelt letters made this a very lovely read!

eARC provided by Sourcebooks via netgalley

[Aoi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Henry Middlebrook wanted to make his way in the world, and realized it had come at a heavy cost. The siege at Quatre Bras had made him come back a war hero, but without the function of his right arm. His dream of becoming a painter broken, his family is pushing him to regain his place in polite society.

“I am coming to realize how much has changed every time I try to repeat an old pleasure. They cannot be recaptured, whether they are as simple as a dance or as elaborate as greeting a ballroom full of people I once thought of as friends.”

Spurred by his well meaning sister-in-law, he sets his eyes on having Caroline,Lady Stratton, a widow as wife. Winning her suit would mean gaining a place in the ton- her connections and her popularity. Like any soldier worth his salt, Henry strategises to get ahead of competition by befriending her companion, Frances.

This is definitely not a breezy read. The explorations of Henry's grief and Frances' loss and their fervent attempts at rebuilding their life lend to the weightiness. That being said, there isn't much of a secondary plot in this 350 paged book. I was hooked at the beginning, but at 30% point the plot lost steam and I spent hours plodding and nodding off to reach the bitter end. (Thankfully!) The story again took a turn for the interesting in the last quarter- when Henry took centre-stage and fought his 'battle to end all battles'.

This exploration of soldiers and war widows was a remarkable effort by Ms. Romain; pacing issues aside, I've discovered an author to keep track of in future.

[Nefise · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

I started to read the book with big expectation but I can't say that I found what I had expected. While I loved the premise of this story, there were certain aspects that I just couldn't fully connect with.

I liked both hero and heroine. Their friendship was believable but I couldn't like the part hero decided that he had feelings for heroine and starting to court her. As if there's not any emotion, just a logical acceptance. About heroine, before hero started to share his feelings, she was very eager to be with him but when he was serious, she behaved weird or it was that way for me.
So to summarize, I can say that I couldn't feel the emotions and although the story had a war hero, I couldn't feel such tender emotions either.

I had another issue. When I was reading the story, sometimes I needed to reread some pharagrahs or dialogs. Sometimes I lost in thoughts so I think it's flowing is lack of somethings for my taste. And it ruined my intention to read Ms Romain's most of the books in close future.

Although I complained all of these things, I should accept good things about book as well. It was a well established story. I could imagine the ballrooms, dancings and afternoon calls which are very enjoyable things that I like to read in a HR book.
Characters and their flows were realistic. There was not unnecessary angst or drama.

Overall, in future I'll try Ms Romain's other books, just not immediately. If I could be more satisfied about romance in it, I could give it more stars and I could be more pleased.

[Brigid · Rating 1 out of 5]

It Takes Two to Tangle by Theresa Romain Review






This is the most ridiculously boring historical romance I’ve read in a long time. I’m fed up with this book. It took me way too long to finish. It just kept going on and on. The characters kept doing this thing called talking and thinking all the time. Only instead of really being smart in their thoughts, they were more prone to angsting over how wonderfully terrible their situation had become. They kept making excuses for their actions, which I didn’t buy into. Stating you did something stupid and knowing it, does not make up for said stupidity.

At first I loved this book. I adore Romain’s voice and prose. I was really enjoying it, but then the hero became agonizingly stupid in my opinion. The heroine at least had intelligence, but the hero could have been butt-headed by one of those Spanish Bulls and not even realize it. Yeah, he’s that clueless.







I really loved the language Romain used in her book. I could really tell she did her research on the regency ton. She describes clothing in a way that makes you realize she must have gone through fashion plates from back then. The words she uses to detail and explain the clothes was fascinating to me. I already know quite a bit about the time, but even I came across words I didn’t know.

Henry did not understand all the details of women’s fashion, having spent the last three years learning the significance of shoulder epaulets, forage caps, and stovepipe shakos.


While Romain’s prose is pretty, it sorely lacked in the execution of the story. The characters felt fully developed, but did not seem to continue to develop in a way that felt realistic. The characters seemed to do the actions, but didn’t actually change. They would do something drastic, realize it was stupid, and then suddenly have an epiphany. This made me realize that character development and moving the story along in a realistic way is not the author’s strong suit.

Summary:

Henry has come home from the war against Napoleon. His family is thankful they didn’t lose him. But for Henry, losing his arm was losing his place in society. Society, the ton, see’s him as a cripple.

I cannot stand if they speak of it. But I cannot bear it if they don’t.

Surely Lady Stratton must want a man who is whole.


Henry isn’t seen as full man anymore, at least in his mind. He wants to find the perfect wife: popular, beautiful, and accepted by the ton. She will be his ticket to their acceptance….and all the parties he would ever care for.

He see’s the perfect wife in Caroline, but it’s tricky. She’s courted daily by the dozens. She has callers every day and her foyer is always full of roses and treats. He see’s her cousin Frances as the way into Caroline’s good graces. She agrees to help him because she wants to see Caroline courted by a good man. She see’s Henry as a good man, for whatever reason; it’s a mystery. But as they come to know each other, they begin to fall in love. Only that love is quick and fast…and not really well executed. But it’s LOVE!

Frances starts to send him letters, which he assumes is from Caroline. Even though Caroline hasn’t shown him any ounce that she’s attracted to him or even interested in him. But, of course it’s from Caroline. It couldn’t possibly be from that woman he’s been spending all his time with, could it?! Idiot.

Unfortunately the heroine finds out that Henry has the twisted idea that it’s from Caro, and she goes along with it. Because, it’ll make him happy she says. Fool.

And a bunch of boring stuff having to do with angst happens after and in between what I’ve already explained.

Characters:

Henry

I’m sorry, but just because Henry had a limp arm doesn’t make him interesting or an honorable hero. In fact, I felt like his arm gave the author an excuse to have a sympathetic hero who took a little too much time angsting over his crappy life. It’s like his arm filled in part of his character. His arm shouldn’t have filled in the character’s attributes for the reader. His personality should have made him interesting and well developed. Truly his life is terrible. He lives in a huge mansion with his noble brother and sister, who love him. He gets to go to all the best parties, eat the best food, and even wear fashionable clothing at the time. Why all those poor people starving on the streets of London life better than he does!

Frances

The heroine I tolerated, compared to the hero. Even though, I don’t like that she wasn’t honest with Henry. I still appreciated that she didn’t need to marry someone to gain society’s approval. She was satisfied with being herself, whereas Henry wanted to find his place in society. She even told him when he was being stupid:

“If I don’t risk this, my life won’t be worth living.” He sounded pompous even to his own ears, yet it was not untrue.
“Not everything must balance on a single knife blade, Henry,” she pleaded. “You needn’t duel to prove I didn’t hurt your pride. Life is worth more than honor.”

I really loved that she was much aware of society than he was. She wasn’t trying to fit in because she already felt like she had her place. A place that no body tried to shove her into. I also liked that she wasn’t sure she wanted to get married, and that she was completely fine with having intimate relationships. She’s a widow and as such, she gets lonely sometimes. Nothing wrong with that, in fact I appreciated that the author didn’t portray her character as similar to a virgin.

Caroline:

The lucky lady that Henry’s eye is on. Truly I feel sorry for her. She’s a class act. She’s pretty, funny, and even a little snarky. Not much, but enough to satisfy me. I really loved that she kept pestering Frannie to tell Henry, even though Frannie kept making lame excuses. Caro didn’t buy it. She’s the type who believes you shouldn’t lie, even when it’ll make the other person happy. I liked her.

Wadsworth

A ridiculous excuse for a villain. I have no idea why he’s even in the book. All he was there for was to provide drama for the hero and heroine. He had very little reason to hate Henry. I could see why Henry hated him, but I didn’t understand why Wadsworth hated Henry. Wanting to court Caro can’t be the only reason, it’s too little of an excuse. Plus, it made very little sense to me. People in real life don’t act like that.

Plot:

What plot? There’s the falling in love, the angst, and the cheap drama that Wadsworth caused. Basically, there’s very little plot that I could talk about.

To sum up:

The book defines the word Blah: a feeling of boredom, lethargy, or general dissatisfaction

[Wollstonecrafthomegirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know why I didn't review this straight after I read it, because I enjoyed it very much and I almost immediately went on to read the remaining books in the series (the series overall, is absolutely top notch and improves, two is a better than one and three is the best of the bunch). THE TITLE IS STUPID, ALL THE TITLES IN THE SERIES ARE STUPID. Romain is actually writing quite complex character focused books with a fair measure of angst, so a play on the 'it takes two to tango' idiom is entirely daft because it implies that you're in for a fluffier read than you in fact find. And, for me, it can put me off a book I might otherwise look at. But enough about the titles. Two great lead characters. Injured hero: so, catnip. Romain writes very fluidly and cleverly. This drops easily to five stars because i thought the letter writing, mistaken identity thing was daft and an unworthy plotline for two otherwise great characters. I wish there was a little more sex as well, but what there is, is good and romantic and adds to the story rather than distracting from it.

[Corduroy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tl;dr: I am doing the happy dance called “Discovering a new-to-you author in your preferred genre who is awesome”.

Blurb: Henry Middlebrook is the younger brother of an earl, and as the not-the-heir spare, felt free to buy himself a commission and go off to the Napoleonic wars. He returns home after Quatre Bras with an arm that is so damaged he can't use it, and many, many feels about his place as a man in high society. Meanwhile, Frances Whittier is a widow with a slightly mysterious background who is now working as companion to her cousin. Henry begins to court the beautiful cousin, and Frances facilitates his courtship, and then there are shenanigans involving a secret correspondence, which is of course actually written by Frances.

This is one of those books that is so much better than its blurb makes it sound. I found this to be a carefully-rendered portrait of two intelligent, sensitive, kind people finding each other and healing as much as they are able. The plot is not very dense. This is very much a story driven by characters interacting, not by twists and turns. Even the "but who really wrote these letters?" thing doesn't turn into a giant misunderstanding that drags on for the whole book (happily). Really, this is about the characters, and the characters are excellent. So often, in historical romances, the characters are just stock images dropped into a storyline. (You know, "the rake who is really not that rakish at all", or "the fascinating woman, who is, actually, indistinguishable from other female characters in the same book".) But both Henry and Frances, in this book, are not only real-feeling people, but interesting people. They’re both very smart, and the author is able to show that intelligence kind of crackling between them as they flirt:

"I've known other soldiers before you. None of them wanted pity as much as they wanted a good meal and a quick tumble."

He choked. "You really are a little terrifying."

"Am I wrong?"

She had thought his face stern, his smiles carefully measured. But now it broke into a grin, quick and sunny and full of mischief, and she caught her breath at the sweet suddenness of it. "No, you're quite right," he said. "Add a soft bed, and I do believe you would capture every soldier of my acquaintance."

Frances and Henry feel real, they interact in ways that feel like the ways real people do. They grow and change. They're unpleasant in the ways real people might be in similar circumstances. They aren't perfect. They have foibles. And I believed that they fell in love. (It's surprising - or maybe not - how rarely this happens, in romance novels.)

They sat in silence for a few seconds, close enough on the velvety blue sofa that Frances could sense the coiled tension of his muscles. He was all stark angles and lines, yet his mood was so many subtle shades. Unwilling humor, unbearable pride.

She knew him, because she was the same way.

This book is also pretty sexy, in a slightly-repressed period way. The sexy scenes are reasonably explicit, but they're also kind of low-key. (I'm making them sound dull, aren't I? They aren't dull. They're really quite sultry, with a lot of slow unbuttoning, and fingertips sliding under the edges of stays, and body heat through fine linen. I like this sort of thing, personally.) And because Henry has a disability (his arm), and this isn't the type of book that glosses over that sort of thing, it's part of their shared unfolding, Frances asking if he'd like to keep his shirt on, and later touching his unfeeling hand. At another moment, Frances experiences sudden loss of desire during the act, which may be a first for a regency romance. It just seemed like an honest portrait of how these two characters would come together.

All sense vanished beneath the primal triumph of pleasing a woman. Somehow he would persuade her to want him, this clever and mysterious woman who sat aside, who noticed everything, who let him kiss her when he'd feared no one would want him again.



Another thing I liked was that Frances, who is a widow (and not the virginal type) knows about sex, and knows that she likes it and misses it, but had also what seemed like a really period-appropriate sense of all of these things. The way she talks about sex is very veiled and metaphorical, but still very sexy. At one point, Henry receives a letter that in reality is from Frances, and it’s totally G-rated, but also so hot he has to lie down on the floor for a little while and think about how this is the kind of letter young men and old men alike dream of receiving from an attractive lady.

Frances slid her hand beneath one layer of fabric, then another. "Madam," Henry said in a mock-surprised voice. "Are your intentions entirely honorable?"

She laughed. "Not at the moment."

"Perfect."

Anyway. I really liked it.

[kris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Henry Middlebrook returns from war with an unusable right arm and an ongoing existential crisis. He meets Caroline (a bombshell Countess) and her enigmatic companion, the widowed Mrs. Frances Whittier. Initially asking Frances for help in courting the Countess, it isn't long before Henry realizes that he's falling for the wrong woman OH NO.

1. I liked this a lot more than my blurb lets on!! The first quarter of the book was honestly just DELIGHTFUL setup, with Frances struggling to manage her attraction to the man who wants her to help him woo her cousin. UGH, my feelings were all over the place.

2. I LOVED the relationship between Frances and Caro; how there wasn't any true competition there, only fondness and affection and support. DELIGHTFUL.

3. Henry was pretty much Man Pain Central, but I do concede that his Man Pain was rooted in something actually wrenching (returning from war with a life changing injury), and was definitely well cast. He duels for himself! He paints for himself! He learns not to hide himself and begins to define himself outside of his experience at war! I give it a solid thumbs up for effort!

4. That said, the ending was a big bag of deflating balloons. Basically, Henry spends a good chunk of the book believing the author of some sweet and sassy letters is Caro before he ultimately decides to give them up and pursue Frances instead. Except then he finds out that Frances wrote the letters and flips his shit because we can never have anything nice.

Now I get the poor fool felt betrayed because Frances didn't claim ownership of the letters when he first summoned her to aid in responding--because he was gushing about how much it meant that Caro had written him--but...he'd given up on the letters, so to speak. He'd acknowledged that they intrigued him but as he couldn't match them with Caro's in-person character, he gave up on that line of feelings. So for him to flip shit felt really disingenuous and kind of ... gross.

(Although, yes, Frances should have pulled her shit together too and told him the truth WHAT IS IT WITH FOOLS REFUSING TO COMMUNICATE!!! JUST LET IT ALL OUT!! READ A COSMO JEEZ.)

(Historical Cosmo would be AMAZING.)

5. I must point out the abundance of lady-lust happening in this book: Frances gets the hots probably twice as much as Henry and it's AMAZING. GET IT GIRL.

[Miranda · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars!

This cover is GORGEOUS! Love, love the cover. Caught my attention first thing and I wanted to read it. I didn't want to read what it was about, I just wanted to read it because of the cover. ;) Well done, Sourcebooks Casablanca.

I liked this book. I didn't love it like most of the Goodreads community out there but it was still a pleasant read nevertheless.

Theresa Romain writes an interesting plot. Guy likes girl. Girl flirts with guy but also every other male out there. Girl isn't as interested as guy is in her.

Frances Whittier is the heroine in this historical romance. She's a widow and finds herself interested and drawn to the hero, Henry Middlebrook. Unfortunately Henry sets his cap for her beautiful cousin named Caroline.

I found some parts of the story to be slow and I would put the book down for a day or two and pick it back up and resume. Other parts were enjoyable and I found I rather liked the hero and heroine more than I did at the beginning of the book.

Theresa Romain did a wonderful job writing in the little details (about the dresses and describing the dances) and that's what I LOVE to read about in historical romances besides the love story itself. The little things matter in a BIG way for me. Love the details.

Give this book a go if you like to read historical romance. It's a sweet story and I hope you like it.

***ARC graciously provided by Sourcebooks Casablanca via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***

[Melann · Rating 3 out of 5]

À la limite du 2,5/5 plutôt même. Une lecture sans grande saveur, sans passion. Ça se lit, ça va s'oublier très vite aussi :D

[Tin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclosure: I received the ARC through Netgalley. (Thank you to Theresa Romain and to Sourcebooks Casablanca for accepting my request.) Yes, this is an honest review.

* * *

Henry Middlebrook was an aspiring painter before he became an aspiring soldier and went off to war. He has returned home a hero from the siege of Quatre Bas, but his heroism came with a cost: the loss of his right hand. Now he is neither a soldier nor a painter -- and his well-meaning family is encouraging him to return to society.

Upon the urging of his sister in-law, Henry makes the acquaintance of Caroline, Lady Stratton, a widow and one of the most sought-after catches of the season. One look at Caroline and Henry knows that he needs Caroline: he needs her confidence, connections and, most especially, her popularity. Seeing the competition for Caroline's attention, Henry employs the assistance of Caroline's companion, Frances.

Frances Whittier is also a widow and Caroline's cousin. Frances is Caroline's eyes and ears among the Ton and is used to fading into the background -- Henry's attentions comes as a surprise to Frances -- and thus begins a partnership and friendship of sorts.

"It's quite all right," she said quickly. "So we both have dreadful nicknames. Is it not odd how the people who are closest to us persist in addressing us as if we are six years old?"

"That may be the last time they saw us clearly."

Frances looked thoughtful. "You may be right. And that might not be a bad thing. I was a much better person at the age of six than I am now."
- loc 398

Then a letter is delivered to Henry, sealed with Lady Stratton's family symbol. The letter and its content encourages Henry to further his courtship of Caroline and he needs Frances's help more than ever.

What Henry doesn't know is that while the letter came from Caroline's household, it was not written by Caroline.

It Takes Two to Tangle is the first book in Theresa Romain's Matchmaker series. It is clear that Henry's sister in-law, Emily, the Countess of Tallant, who plays the matchmaker between Caroline and Henry but, to make matters more interesting, Caroline seems to be doing some matchmaking between Henry and Frances.

There are clues that would support this:
1. Caroline starts lending Frances some gowns to wear for their social outings. Prior to their introduction to Henry, Frances was wearing her more sensible clothes.
2. Caroline knew that Frances was borrowing her seal and "using" her name in the letters to Henry.

Theresa Romain draws two portraits in this novel: the soldier returned home from war and the war widow.

Soldiers are heroes, but soldiers also come home from war with wounds outside and inside -- and they are left with the challenge of picking up the pieces of the life left they left behind and building up a new life. Such is the case of Henry Middlebrook. As far as his family is concerned, he's home -- and that is the end of the story. But it is not the end for Henry, it is the beginning and a difficult one. He can't use his right hand so he can't paint or write anymore -- he cannot dine properly or hold flowers while courting. Henry cannot go back to his former life and he is finding it hard to define himself in his new form.

He ran his fingers through the loops of the Brussels carpet. Jem's carpet, in Jem's house. He was even wearing Jem's clothing today. Everything he had was Jem's, really, except for Winter Cottage. Henry could slide out of London without leaving a trace of himself behind.

But no. It was no more right for Mister Middlebrook to turn tail and run now than it would have been for Captain Middlebrook to do so in Bayonne or Brussels. Or Quatre Bras.
- loc 510

What is Caroline to Henry? A prize. A trophy -- proof that he can still charm and win women. Henry is aware of this but he cannot apologize for his actions because he believes he needs Caroline if he is to have any semblance of a social life.

This picture of Henry is off-focus -- he sees the goal but not what's beyond it. It's a Henry who doesn't know which direction to look: to the past or to the future. Enter Frances -- the companion. She's supposed to just be the sidekick, the best friend, the foil -- but it is with Frances that Henry feels a wholeness -- a sense of completeness, a sense of contentment, a chemistry -- but, poor Henry, is too intent on his original goal to realize this.

When Frances is first introduced to us, she is defined by her widowhood and that her late husband was a soldier. War widows also have their own mark of heroism: the sacrifice they made while their husbands were at war and the grief and loss that they carry with the death of their husbands -- but there is more to Frances's story than that. A story more tragic that has left Frances feeling a bit ashamed and regretful -- and these are the emotions that inform her decisions and her present life.

Frances defies being typecasted as a secondary character or even as the plain one in the "love triangle" between her, Henry and Caroline. She is intelligent and observant and sensitive to the people around her.

She was always out of step. She had grown up in wealth but married a workingman. Now she served as a companion, yet she raised her eyes to the son of an earl. She did not know for which world she was better suited. At times, both lives chafed, as though she lived in a garment cut wrongly and fitted for another's body.
- loc 1643

Theresa Romain's It Takes Two to Tangle shows us that there is always more to the story. I've been reading Theresa Romain since her debut novel and, I have to say, her star is rising. This was an incredibly insightful novel with biting wit and raw emotions.

It Take Two to Tangle will be released on September 3, 2013.

[Rachel Neumeier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laura Florand pointed me toward IT TAKES TWO TO TANGLE, suggesting that I might like the slow-building relationship between Henry and Frances – no doubt I had commented disparagingly about insta-lust somewhere or other. So I thought, hey, if Florand likes Theresa Romain, the actual writing MUST be good, right?

And it is. Like here:

He could see the grass beneath his feet now, still shadowed black under the faintly red light of the peeping sun. Dark as atramentum, ruddy as dragon’s blood. All the beauty of art was before him again this morning. Henry did not know whether it would turn still lovelier or if it would all turn ugly.

Henry is an artist, see, and this is Romain enjoying herself with the names of contemporary paints, but isn’t that a nice passage?

The dialogue is also good, and fun, kind of Wodehouse-ian, really. Listen to this exchange between Henry and his sister-in-law Emily, which takes place near the beginning of the story, right after Henry has dropped a paintbrush on a carpet:

[Emily] waved a hand. “I understand artists are remarkably forgetful creatures. Once the creative mood seizes you, you cannot be responsible for your actions.”

“Are you giving me an excuse to be an aggravating guest? This could be entertaining.”

Emily’s mouth curled into the cunning smile that meant she was plotting something. “You’re much more than a guest, as you know. But you’re right. I should demand that you pay me a favor for spilling paint all over my possessions.”

Henry took the brush from her and laid it carefully across the palette. . . . “Let me guess. You already have a favor in mind, and you are delighted I have ruined your carpet, since now you can be sure I’ll agree to whatever you ask.”

Emily looked prouder than ever. “Excellent! We shall slip you back into polite society more easily than I could ever have hoped. Already you are speaking its secret language again, for you are correct in every particular of your guess.”

“I’m overjoyed to be such a prodigy. What, precisely, have I guessed?”

“Tonight, I am going to introduce you to your future wife. What do you think?” She beamed at him, as though she expected him to jump up and start applauding. Which was, of course, impossible.

Okay, I don’t know about you, but I laughed. And was intrigued! I thought it might be the jumping up that was impossible, but it turns out it is the applauding. Henry is back from the Continent, see, following Napoleon’s (second) defeat, and he didn’t get back unscathed. I liked Henry, and I liked how Romain made the consequences of the war permanent. (And I liked the note at the end where she explains what medical condition it actually is that has crippled Henry’s arm.)

Now, here’s the female lead:

Frances Whittier was too much of a lady to curse in the crowded ballroom of Applewood House. Barely.

But as she limped back to her seat next to Caroline, the Countess of Stratton, she found the words a gently bred widow was permitted to use completely inadequate.

“Mercy,” she muttered, sinking into the frail giltwood chair. “Fiddle. Goodness. Damn. Oh, Caro, my toes will never recover.”

I liked Frances, but what I liked best about her were her flaws. You watch her commit a slight error of judgment in her dealings with Henry and you think: Oops, that’s not going to work out well. Though of course this is a romance so naturally it does work out in the end, but with a painful interlude in the middle.

But the interesting thing is that this mistake is one that both echoes and arises from a mistake Frances – a widow – made with her first husband. I really appreciated the way this added depth to Frances – it made her non-perfect but still sympathetic, and it made her feel more like a real person.

Oh, and I enjoyed Frances’ eidetic memory. And her straightforwardness. And the way she competently defends herself against that cad Wadsworth. And the way, when she’s explaining that she likes teaching, she says casually, “I thought it my duty to help, yes, but I also dearly loved to be right.” Hah! Yes, I can relate. Frances is definitely a rounded, full character – especially for a romance that is light and charming and clever rather than heart wrenching (defining, say, Florand’s “Snowkissed”, for example, as heart wrenching rather than light and charming).

I enjoyed the secondary characters, too. I loved Frances’ relationship with her cousin, Caroline – Caroline was very entertaining, and it was nice to see a genuinely positive relationship between a lady’s companion and employer. I loved Henry’s sister-in-law Emily, and I turned out to love Henry’s brother, Jem, who had more depth than I initially expected. The bit where Henry actually asks Jem for advice, you know, and then the bit toward the end. I don’t want to spoil it, so I won’t provide the context, but I mean this bit:

Henry was breaking his unbreakable brother. The look on Jem’s face, more than anything else Henry had seen or thought in the last twenty-four hours, shamed him.

So, yes, I expect I’ll be picking up additional titles from Theresa Romain. I hear A SEASON FOR SCANDAL is good. The protagonist, Jane, is supposed to have “a mind like an abacus,” which sounds promising!

[Ash · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars
Grade=B-

This was well written and would have scored higher if it wasn't for some ridiculous bit of male posturing at the end *insert eye roll*

[Malin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Henry Middlebrook was a promising young artist before he went off to war. Now, after the Napoleonic wars, he's completely lost the use of his right arm. He can no longer paint, and feels cast adrift, without purpose. His sister-in-law is determined for him to make a promising match, hoping that the love of a good woman will help him become someone closer to the cheerful, carefree man he was before the war. She introduces him to Lady Caroline Stratton, possibly the most sought after women of the season. A wealthy, charming and beautiful widow, Lady Stratton has a wealth of suitors and her drawing room is filled to the brim with elaborate floral arrangements every afternoon. A clever strategist, Henry realises he's going to need an ally to win Lady Caroline over and convinces her companion, Mrs Frances Whittier to assist him. She's usually ignored by her cousin's suitors and enjoys the novelty of being asked to help.

When Henry receives a letter written on Lady Caroline's stationary, he immediately assumes that he's made a stronger impression on Lady Stratton than he first imagined. Of course, he's mistaken, and the letter is from Frances. She's too embarrassed to tell him, when he comes to her asking for help to continue the correspondence with Lady Caroline. She reluctantly agrees and he precedes to woo a woman who's not even vaguely intending to get remarried with the assistance of the woman who actually likes him. The longer they work together, the closer they grow, and it becomes harder and harder for Frances to tell Henry the truth without completely destroying their closeness.

Several of the reviewers on Smart Bitches, Trashy Books are big fans of Theresa Romain's novels, so when I saw this in an e-book sale I decided to buy it. As with so many books, it then languished on my shelf for months until one of the words for September's Monthly Keyword challenge made me remember it again. There was a lot of stuff I liked about it, such as the characters and the somewhat unusual situation for the hero to be in. You very rarely see genuinely physically damaged romance heroes, or if they have some sort of injury, they are magically healed by the love of a good woman and some unlikely medical breakthrough before the book ends. In this, Henry isn't any less crippled at the end of the book, but having finally opened up a bit about some of his experiences during the war, he's closer to emotional healing than he was at the beginning. Which is perfectly realistic and fine. He's also better at writing with his left hand, but only because he's practised diligently.

The book is well written, but I kept waiting for it to do more than mildly divert me. It was just a thoroughly ok book, nothing more, nothing less. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it either. I liked the various relationships between the characters, like the affectionate way Henry's sister-in-law emotionally blackmails him or the way Caroline and Frances converse when no one else is around. I liked the way Henry and Frances helped each other get over their difficult pasts, but the convoluted letter plot just didn't do anything for me. Because I keep hearing such good things about her books, I will try other Romain romances, hoping that some of the others impress me more than this one.

[☕️Kimberly (Caffeinated Reviewer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Theresa Romain’s new Matchmaker Trilogy starts off with a bang with It Takes Two to Tangle. She offers us unique characters who are drawn to each other in friendship and discover something more. I easily consumed this and was delighted Romain offered a different dish from the usual courses served in this genre. Three word review: warm, enchanting and romantic.

Henry Middlebrook has returned from the war with a useless right arm and is trying to readjust. Prior to the war he was a painter and he attempts to paint with his left hand. He is currently residing with his brother and sister-in-law. It is decided that a wife is exactly what he needs to launch himself back into society and his sister-in-law plays the matchmaker introducing him to society’s gem, Caroline. As he tries to gain her favor he seeks the help of her companion the war widow Frances Whittier. She finds Henry to be enchanting and sets out to befriend him and help him. A serious of misunderstands, and fireside confessions held me captive as I looked for my HEA.

Henry is a most unusual hero as he tries to find himself and deal with issues left over from the war. He is reinventing himself and of course is going about it all wrong but that’s what makes the tale delightful. Frances has guilty over her first marriage and the death of her husband. She owes Caroline the world for taking her in and her life is not an easy one. She is one step above a maid despite her rank before marriage. She is completely attracted to Henry and finds him to be quite fascinating. I laughed because Henry is the most clueless hero I have ever encountered and watching Frances try to woo him was delightful. Frances is witty and can put Henry at ease but for all of her external confidence she is very fearful of rejection. I loved the banter between the two of them and all of the missed signals. At times I wanted them just to confess all, which kept me engaged.

It Takes Two to Tangle was romantic, warm and left you feeling good. I loved that the hero and heroine were refreshingly different. Frances was witty and I loved how she dealt with some of the snobs of the ton. I think at times she wanted to scream, “Look at me, Henry!” and I wish she would have. The romance was sweet, felt genuine and grew out of friendship. The pacing and move towards our HEA was well done, with twists and just enough drama to engage us but not overwhelm our senses. We do get a few heated scenes that are discreetly done and felt natural for the couple. I am anxious to read the next book in the trilogy and hope we continue to see unique, fleshed out characters.

Fans of historical romances, fleshed out characters and a refreshing twist will delight It Takes Two to Tangle’s sweet romance.

Copy received in exchange for unbiased review and originally published @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer

[PepperP0t · Rating 4 out of 5]

(4.25 Stars Actually)

Veteran Henry Middlebrook has returned home with a paralyzed arm. Nonetheless Henry has decided to take his sister-in-law's advice and pursue the most popular beauty of the Ton, Lady Caroline Stratton. With this singular goal in mind, Henry has asked Caro's cousin and companion, Mrs. Frances Whittier, to assist him in making a lasting impression on Caro. Unnoticed by Henry, he has already made a lasting impression, on war widow Frances who is thoroughly intrigued by him.

Henry's sly banter with the equally witty Frances made their encounters fun to read. From their first conversation to their last Frances and Henry shared a comfortable chemistry. Frances' quiet strength was reflected in all of her reactions and perspectives concerning Henry's situation whenever she was aware of him encountering pity, insensitivity, awkwardness or the over-solicitous actions of others. Frances' fortitude seemed help bolster Henry as he struggled to accept his new normal as well. Henry, still trying to cope with having one arm knows that if he is to regain his place in society, he cannot be mistaken for a pity case even for a moment. The secondary characters filled their roles sufficiently and were fairly well written. Both Emily & Caro's effervescence is sure to reappear as the series goes on. The mean Viscount seemed to have learned his lesson through the read, though time will tell if there is a reappearance and the bumbling Baronet Bart may get his confidence yet. The writing grew on me as the story continued and before the end of the read I realized how subtly the characteristics for each person had been distinctly woven. The lightly plotted story itself was rather straightforward and didn't feel stilted despite the formal speech.

I like this variation on the Much Ado About Nothing plot. It was different to have a physically imperfect hero, but he was definitely perfect for the heroine of the piece. Whether or not the intended message was to not overlook the damaged packaging, it too was subtly delivered as Henry was definitely more than the sum of his parts. Though I'd never read this author before, I did enjoy this outing and it's a good read for curling up or for a rainy afternoon.
More reviews can be found at http://www.ireadthatbook.com/

[Janga · Rating 4 out of 5]

It Takes Two to Tangle is the first book in Romain's Matchmaker Trilogy. It is a promising start to the series. Henry’s heroism, both in the late war and in his attempt to rebuild his life, evokes ready sympathy. I also found his relationship with his brother and sister-in-law interesting. Their affection and concern for him rang true, as did their inability to fully understand the changes that had taken place within him and their inability to ease his way back into the world. But it is Frances, the more complex character, who wins this reader’s greater allegiance. Her intelligence, her ability to understand those around her, and the past that has shaped her make her an appealing, layered character.

She was always out of step. She had grown up in wealth but married a workingman. Now she served as a companion, yet she raised her eyes to the son of an earl. She did not know for which world she was better suited. At times, both lives chafed, as though she lived in a garment cut wrongly and fitted for another's body.

Romance readers who know Romain through her Christmas romances, Season for Temptation and Season for Surrender (with Season for Scandal scheduled to be released October 1) will find the same charm and blend of humor and darker elements in this book. If you haven’t discovered Romain yet, this first book in a new series is an excellent way to remedy that omission. The second book in the Matchmakers series, To Charm a Naughty Countess, will be released in May 2014. Romain describes it as a marriage-in-trouble romance, one of my favorite tropes. I’m hooked already.

Correction: Ms. Romain tells me that Season for Scandal is the marriage in trouble story. To Charm a Naughty Countess is a take on Pygmalion with a virgin hero. I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks that sounds like a story I don't want to miss.

See full review at Just Janga:
http://justjanga.blogspot.com/2013/08...

[Farrah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A huge misunderstanding and a love growing despite the odds come together to make this book. Full of secrets and a sweet romance, It Takes Two to Tangle was a lovely read.

Frances was a great heroine. She wasn't outwardly defiant or vivacious, but instead had a quiet strength that didn't let her back down from anything. She was very likable and a wonderful character.

Henry was also delightful. Though I occasionally got frustrated with his obsession with winning Caroline. I understand why. He wanted to be accepted back into society and what better way to do that than winning over that current darling of society? But anything that provides an obstacle for a romance is an annoyance for me. I got over it because Henry figured himself out eventually and set himself on winning Frances. So, it was a minor issue. In regards to Henry himself, I thought he was a great hero. He was very sweet and a true gentleman. Really liked his character.

The romance was surprisingly well done. I thought that the whole misunderstanding of the letters would provide a much bigger obstacle. I still occasionally got frustrated with it. But, the romance was done so that Henry still fell for and chose Frances despite the letters and his original determination to win Caroline. It made it extra sweet that he fell for Frances as a person. And there was definitely a helping of spice between these two.

The plot was fast paced. I was kept interested the entire time. And the ending was a lovely romance happy ending.

It Takes Two to Tangle was a lovely historical romance! Lovers of the genre, you should definitely check this book out.

*Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for a copy!

[The Window Seat · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are certain plot devices or character types used in romance that I cannot resist. Characters brought together through a correspondence? Yes, please! A hero with an affable demeanor hiding his pain and inner demons? Love ‘em! A mistaken identity that complicates the main characters falling in love? Great! To find just one of these elements within a story makes me happy to have found that book; however author Theresa Romain tackles all of them plus a few other goodies in her newest story It Takes Two to Tangle. Suffice it to say I enjoyed every moment of this read.

Henry Middlebrook is eager to restart his life in London after serving and sacrificing in the name of King and country against Napoleon. The heavy burden of his thoughts is as much a constant reminder of his time at war as the injury that has robbed him of the use of his right arm. However Henry is certain that even a wounded veteran can retake his place in society as long as he has the right connections and the proper woman at his side. With his brother being the right connection all that is left is allowing himself the chance to woo and win the most sought after woman of the season, the widow Lady Stratton. The strategist in Henry knows that he will need an edge to get the beautiful Caroline to take an interest in him, so he decides to approach the woman’s companion Mrs. Frances Whittier for advice and insights into her cousin that will help him.

For the full review, please go to http://www.thewindowseat13.com/2013/0...

[Cecily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh I loved this book. I was hooked from the start by its clever dialogue and emotional honesty. This wasn't a book full of silly chits and barely credible mystery plots but a book that centred on people with real problems, emotional mis-steps (including loss of desire in a sex scene, which must be a first for a romance of this type) and things that have to be apologised for, thought about and forgiven. I liked it a lot. I understand the criticisms in other reviews but for me, at this particular time, this book really worked for me and I am looking forward to reading more of Theresa Romain's work.

[Shana Galen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed IT TAKES TWO TO TANGLE. Theresa Romain has written a rich love story, populated with characters who are vibrant and complex and who make me remember the beauty of falling in love for the first time. Henry is the perfect hero—a sensitive, wounded artist who is willing to fight for the woman he loves. Frances is a heroine with a shameful past. I wanted Henry to fall for her as much as I wanted her to repair her relationship with her father. What a lovely story—thoroughly enjoyable Regency romance!

[Aly is so frigging bored · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can't connect to the characters at all!