Review: "Lies We Tell Ourselves" by Amy Matayo

I've been on the Amy Matayo train for a while now—Lies We Tell Ourselves is her tenth book, and I've read roughly half of them. One thing I love about her books is that you never know what you're going to get! Maybe the book will be dark and serious (The Whys Have It), maybe it will be light and funny (The Thirteenth Chance), or maybe it will fall somewhere in between (Christmas at Gate 18). What's a given, though, is that the book will be totally engaging!

Lies We Tell Ourselves is no different—it's a book that captures you from the beginning and doesn't let go until long after you've turned the final page.

"Christmas at Gate 18" by Amy Matayo

I love Christmas. I love Amy Matayo books. Combine Christmas and an Amy Matayo book, and you've got a read I can't resist!

"The Whys Have It" by Amy Matayo

When I hear that Amy Matayo has a new book coming out, I have just one reaction: How soon can I read it? 

Best Books of 2016: Top Ten (Plus Two!)

So ... I'm a little embarrassed to even post this now. It's March 1. I have never been so late with my "best of" list before. I don't even have an excuse; I just kept procrastinating!

Best of the Bunch: September 2016

Time for my second month of participating in Best of the Bunch, hosted by A Cocoon of Books. I read quite a lot in September (a change from my measly reading in August): I reviewed 15 books, and I have several others in progress! It's nice to get back into a reading groove.

"The Thirteenth Chance" by Amy Matayo

If you're looking for an engaging, romantic, funny read, The Thirteenth Chance is perfect for you!

"just one summer" by nicole deese, tammy l. gray, amy matayo, & jenny b. jones

A few months ago, I was flipping through my Kindle book collection, looking for something to read, and I came across Just One Summer. I bought it last year, but I didn't have time to read it, and then I forgot all about it. (Doesn't that tend to happen to Kindle books?) I decided to give it a try, and it proved to be the perfect light vacation read.

"in tune with love" by amy matayo

I've been on this Year of Weddings train for quite a while now—I read and reviewed all of the novellas in the first year, and I've read and reviewed most of the novellas that have released so far in the second year. As a whole, I haven't enjoyed the second year's novellas nearly as much as the first ... until now.

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April is willing to do anything for her sister's wedding-until she comes face to face with a guy from her past.

April Quinn is thrilled to be her sister's maid of honor, until the wedding coordinator quits and the responsibilities get dumped on her. It's April's worst nightmare-especially since her sister has more objections and opinions than a lawyer presenting a high-profile court case. When the wedding singer walks out at the last-minute, her sister hires a replacement. When April finds out who the replacement is, she's ready to call it quits as well. Because there's only one person in April's past that she never wanted to see again, and her sister just handed him a front row seat to the wedding. 

Jack Vaughn finally has the career he's always wanted. After playing in bars and singing in weddings as a struggling musician for half a decade, he's just released his second album and sales are skyrocketing. But while visiting his parent's Nashville home the weekend before his first headline tour, he runs into an old friend. When she asks him for a last-minute favor, he can't bring himself to say no. Even though saying yes means he has to come face to face with April Quinn-the girl who hasn't spoken to him in years.

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In Tune With Love is different from all the other stories in this series so far...different in a good way. It somehow seems grittier, edgier, more realistic than many romances. It's not that it crosses the line, but it's also not your typical inspy romance. It very much fits in with Matayo's other indy-released books The Wedding Game and Love Gone Wild (and probably Sway, but I haven't read that one yet).

I really enjoyed April and Jack's story, which actually reminded me a bit of Nashville. (This is a very positive comparison, as I completely love that show!) I also appreciated how the story ended. I don't want to spoil anything, but it definitely maintained the "realness" vibe.

Overall, I liked this novella a lot, and I'm looking forward to reading more of Matayo's writing! 4-1/2 stars.

Buy the novella.

Read my review of Matayo's The Wedding Game (4 stars).

Read my reviews of the other Year of Weddings and Year of Weddings 2 novellas.

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Amy Matayo has a degree in journalism from John Brown University. She worked for seven years as senior writer and editor at DaySpring Cards until the birth of her first child. Amy was a freelance writer for David C. Cook before pursuing writing full-time, and she focuses on edgy, contemporary books for women of all ages. She is the author of The Wedding Game, Love Gone Wild, and the upcoming Sway. She lives with her husband and four children in Arkansas. Visit her at Facebook: amymatayoauthor Twitter: @amymatayo

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook blogger program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"the wedding game" by amy matayo

About the book (from Amazon): Cannon James has a plan: Sign on as a contestant for his father’s new reality show, marry a blonde hand-picked by the producers, and walk away two million dollars richer. It’s all been arranged. Easy. Clean. No regrets. Until Ellie McAllister ruins everything by winning the viewer’s vote. Now he has to convince America that he’s head over heels in love with her. Not easy to do since she’s a walking disaster.

Ellie McAllister has her own problems. She needs money, and she needs it now. Despite her parents' objections and her belief that marriage is sacred, she signs on to The Wedding Game…and wins. Now she’s married to a guy she can’t stand, and if she wants her hands on the money, she has six months to make voters believe she loves him. Not easy to do since he’s the most arrogant man in America.

It doesn’t take long for Ellie and Cannon to realize they’ve made a mess of things…even less time for their feelings for one another to change. But is it too late for them? More importantly, can the worst decision they've ever made actually become one of the best?

My take: As a long-time fan of the Bachelor/ette franchise, I was eager to read a book that takes place behind the scenes of a similar show. And it incorporates something I've long thought should be a part of the franchise (because we all know it's pretty fake, anyway!): the viewer vote.

When the viewers pick Ellie to be Cannon's bride instead the woman the producers wanted, the producers change the game. Now Ellie and Cannon have to convince the world they're truly in love if they want to win the money.

While The Wedding Game is ostensibly a look at reality TV, it's basically just the story of two people falling in love. And it's a pretty entertaining story at that! It does suffer from the same problem that's found in many romance novels: the conflict between the hero and heroine could be cleared up with a simple conversation—yet it's a conversation that doesn't happen until the end of the book. If Ellie and Cannon had just been honest with each other about their motives for marriage, their lives would have been easier ... and the book would have been much shorter!

That said, The Wedding Game is highly entertaining, and I stayed up far too late reading it. I will definitely be watching for Matayo's next book!

My rating: 4 stars

Buy the book (or borrow for free with Amazon Prime).

About the author: Amy Matayo is a graduate of John Brown University. She is a former writer and editor for DaySpring Cards. Her first contracted novel, The Wedding Game, won the 2012 ACFW Genesis Award.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I borrowed this book through Amazon Prime and reviewed it of my own free will. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."