Synopsis:~
Falling in love is a beautiful thing. Unless you fall for the wrong person.
Finally settled after a tragedy-laden life, 24-year-old Caleb has found security in his faith, his friends, and his career. It’s the life he’s always wanted—simple, predictable, and safe. Enter Kate Hawkins, the attractive 21-year-old stranger he rescues from a bar fight who has an odd affinity for the color pink and a unique sense of humor.
It doesn’t take long to realize their connection is intense, but after only a handful of dates, a shocking revelation surfaces. Lines are drawn, sides are taken, and loyalties are decided as their newfound relationship is brought to a sudden halt.
But unlike most couples who split, avoiding each other is impossible. As daily interactions become unbearable, one realization becomes clear: they’ve both fallen hard for the absolute wrong person, which leaves both scrambling for a way to make it right.
My take:~
Amy Matayo has come into her own with her latest release, Sway. Her previous offerings, The Wedding Game and Love Gone Wild, were fun and feisty reads but Sway is a step above, providing all the things I look for in a meaningful love story – wit, substance, authentic conflict, and genuinely unique characters. Caleb has all the appeal of the ultimate romantic hero yet his tragic past and chosen life path give him a significance rarely seen in romance novels. Kate’s naivete and her sheltered life make her the perfect foil for Caleb but once again Amy surprises with the family life she has experienced. A queen of romantic tension, Amy provides readers with many swoon-worthy moments, layered with challenging questions as Caleb and Kate wrestle with their choices, matters of faith, and a seemingly impossible future. The premise of this story is beautifully unique and I was immersed in Kate and Caleb’s journey from the first page to the last. I’m choosing not to give anything away about the plot as far be it from me to take away from the unfolding story. What I can say is this – I was a little giddy by the time I finished this story, as excited by its fabulous appeal as by the well thought out song title references at the beginning of each chapter. Like Sally Bradley’s Kept, Sway establishes the brilliance that can be discovered in indie publishing these days and I highly recommend this evocative, heart wrenching, and ultimately joyful tale.
I purchased this one myself and I’m so glad I did!
Relz Reviewz Extras
Review of The Wedding Game
Visit Amy’s website and blog
Buy from Amazon: Sway
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September 24, 2014 at 9:50 pm
Great review, Rel! Looking forward to reading this book. Thank you!
September 24, 2014 at 10:18 pm
Wonderful review! Not old enough for a favorite LP! Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy of “Sway”
September 24, 2014 at 11:57 pm
My favorite LP was Marty Robbins “Gunfighter and Trail Songs”. My dad loved westerns and my mom liked the songs. This record was played numerous times in my home.
September 25, 2014 at 1:47 am
Wow, this books sounds like an incredible read! Thanks for the great review, Rel, and once again introducing me to a new author. Looking forward to reading Sway!
Not old enough for a favorite LP.
September 25, 2014 at 2:41 am
I used to play my dad’s copy of Saturday Night Fever over and over and over again. I loved it so.
September 25, 2014 at 3:26 am
Cannot wait to read this one – I love the idea of Christian authors tackling the “unknown” genres like NA or YA, so bravo to Amy. 🙂
September 25, 2014 at 3:39 am
Love how different this book sounds and looking forward to reading it! Our house didn’t have an LP player (we rocked tapes though!:) and I loved listening (still do) to Motown! Can’t go wrong with Jackson 5, The Temptations, etc!
September 25, 2014 at 4:05 am
Great review! I really want to read this book now! I wasn’t really old enough to grow up with LP’s but we have a record player in our house now and I love to listen to soundtracks from musicals, Glenn Miller, and Frank Sinatra!
September 25, 2014 at 10:53 am
I think my sister listened to the Monkeys & Michael Jackson over & over so I guess between that & my Mom’s country western I was just happy to have music in the house 🙂
September 25, 2014 at 12:34 pm
Thank you, Rel. I’m really really glad you liked it. 🙂
September 25, 2014 at 1:24 pm
Can’t wait to read this one! Once I finish the book I’m reading…
September 25, 2014 at 9:52 pm
I’m not quite that old…. But I’ve always like Veggie Tales and have amost all the Cd’s. (o:
September 26, 2014 at 12:49 am
I had to look up LPs. But if you’d said “record” I would have known what you meant! 😉 We had a record-player growing up but not that many actual records. I know my parents had a small pile that they almost never listened to as we usually did audio cassette tapes. And then my dad got a CD player right when they first came out and they were huge! So my favorite LPs were either our Psalty the Singing Songbook records or this Christmas record they had that I loved. I only remember two of the songs on it – the I’m Getting Nothing for Christmas song and a music-only version of We Three Kings. 🙂
September 26, 2014 at 1:09 am
I can honestly say that I have no idea what a LP is, so I can’t answer that. 🙂
I’ve yet to any of Amy’s books, but would love to! Thanks for the chance to win!
September 26, 2014 at 2:09 am
We mainly listened to cassette tapes, not records. Looking forward to reading “Sway”!
September 26, 2014 at 2:17 am
Yes, I am that old to have had LP’s. I had all The Beatles; The Dave Clark Five, Elvis and just about every country western you could find Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lynn etc, Loved them all !!
September 26, 2014 at 3:30 am
My parents did have a record player when I was growing up, but I don’t remember many specific albums. I do remember a Christmas one that featured guitar music, can’t recall the title, but can almost picture the cover in my mind…
September 26, 2014 at 11:16 am
Not old enough for a favorite LP but would still like to be entered in the contest 🙂
September 27, 2014 at 2:09 pm
Yes, I did the LPs. ABBA would have to be the most played of them all. Great review Rel, thanks 🙂
September 28, 2014 at 1:57 pm
Not old enough for a favorite LP. But, growing up, we listened to Patsy Cline a lot.
September 28, 2014 at 2:28 pm
I loved listening to 50’s collections, the Monkees, the Beatles, Diana Ross and the Supremes!
March 18, 2015 at 11:56 pm
I just read this book because I remember it making your Top Ten. I totally understand why. Wow. Wow. Wow. What a great read! Thanks for your review.