Tangle Me: A Small-Town, Grumpy/Sunshine Romance

by Stephanie Tyo

He likes silence. She brings chaos. And somehow, they might be exactly what the other needs.

Luke Maddox survives small-town life by staying invisible—just him, his garage, and a past he never talks about. He’s mastered the art of keeping people at arm’s length. Until a yellow Jeep crashes into his truck, and out spills Josie sunshine incarnate, event planner, and walking disaster.

Josie’s fresh start in Cedar Hollow is already unraveling. With the town’s Harvest Festival hanging by a thread, she’s running out of volunteers, patience, and plausible excuses. Enter Luke—grumpy, brooding, infuriatingly capable—and the only person who might help her pull this off.

What starts as reluctant teamwork turns into late-night repairs, near-kisses, emotional unravellings, and a shared history of trying (and failing) to outrun their ghosts. But when secrets catch up and past wounds reopen, staying becomes the biggest risk of all.

A slow-burn, laugh-out-loud, deeply emotional romance about finding home in the last place you expected—and choosing to stay even when it’s hard.

Perfect for fans of small-town charm, sizzling chemistry, and healing love stories with heart.

118 pages, Paperback

Published June 2, 2025

About the author

Stephanie Tyo is a multi-genre author based in Cornwall, Ontario, known for unforgettable stories that span middle-grade misadventures, dark romance, literary horror and many more. Her work blends heart, humor, and haunting depth, exploring themes of memory, connection, and the beauty in life's unexpected detours. Whether she's writing for kids or adults, Stephanie crafts worlds where every detail matters—and every story leaves a mark.

Reviews

[Michelle Frater · Rating 4 out of 5]

Josie has drifted from town to town, hoping to outrun the shadow of one spectacular disaster back in Dallas. When she lands in Cedar Hollow to organize the Harvest Festival, it’s her golden chance at redemption, a way to prove to herself, and to everyone else, that she can finally get it right. Her t-shirt on arrival says it all, boldly declaring, “Organized chaos is still organized.” It’s the perfect motto for Josie—spirited, messy, determined, and impossible not to root for. Of course, fate doesn’t make things easy and things start to go wrong from the moment she crashes into Luke Maddox’s truck. Luke is the town’s stoic ex-rodeo star turned grumpy mechanic. He’s solitary, guarded, and all rough edges. When the festival is hanging by a thread, Luke seems like the last person to be willing to help anyone, let alone a whirlwind like Josie. Yet somehow, Josie’s brand of chaos gets under his skin, and against his better judgment, he steps in. What I adored about Josie was her sheer grit. She’s not a flawless “ray of sunshine” like the title may suggest. She stumbles, cries and doubts herself, but every time life knocks her down, she dusts herself off and charges forward, heart first. And Luke, for all his gruffness, can’t help but notice. Maybe it’s because Josie doesn’t just see the injured ex-rodeo cowboy everyone else does, she sees the broken, wounded man underneath and refuses to turn away. Their relationship unfolds with a tenderness I didn’t expect. One of my favorite moments was their first night together, when Luke doesn’t cross a line. Instead, he sleeps on top of the comforter. An act of respect that says more than words. Both are haunted by the ghosts of their past, yet they begin to find something neither dared to hope for in each other. By the time they stop fighting their connection, I was completely hooked. This isn’t just a story about love, it’s about resilience, second chances, and the courage to open your heart, even when it feels like the scariest risk of all.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Vickie Chaisson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tangle Me is part of the Wild Hearts series and it will steal your heart and soothe your soul. This is a quick read but one not to be taken lightly. The storyline is about silence, chaos, healing and how important it is to show up for the people who are important to you. The characters are so different on the surface but inherently the same and ready for the healing the other brings. The secondary character of a small town set the pace and ease and as always give great weight and love to this story. This author entices and enthralls her readers with an ease that is enjoyable to read.

[LA FITCH · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story of second chance at life. Luke is a mechanic in Cedar Hollow and is as grumpy as he is reclusive. He was injured while in the rodeo which ended his career. Josie came to town for the harvest festival parade she was hired to organize. Both had bad experiences in Dallas and are having issues with getting over them. Throw in a man who causes trouble and the town gossip then this becomes a must-read.

[Leslie Walbolt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Luke and Josie. Their meeting was my chance but they never thought that they would fall for one another. Tangle Me by Stephanie Tyo is the 3rd installment of the Wild Hearts series. An encounter like no other than made to people afraid to face their challenges and feelings for each other. The story line is a beautiful one. It talks about fears, avoidance, facing challenges and overcoming what hold’s someone back. I really enjoyed this nice, short read. It’s a great way to relax and unwind.

[Jackie Ziegler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this one. Luke and Josie are definitely opposites and their banter was perfect.

Josie crashes into Luke's truck on her first day in town. She is here to run the Harvest Festival and save her reputation. Luke knows she is a walking train wreck but he just can't stay away.

Will Josie save her reputation and win Luke's heart?


I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Luke and Josie meet whenever she hit his parked vehicle. He owns Maddox Motors and she's starting over with organizing the Harvest Festival. These two are afraid to get close to anyone else but fate keeps throwing them together. This is a wonderful, fun, and entertaining story. I received a free copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.