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A Year of Weddings 2 #5
In Tune with Love
They’ve helped orchestrate the perfect day for countless couples. Now twelve new couples will find themselves in the wedding spotlight in the second Year of Weddings novella collection.
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.
And rightly so, since he stole something from her that he’ll never be able to repay.
“The Wedding Game is inspy rom-com at its edgy best! From snort-out-loud laughter to grab-a-tissue poignancy, author Amy Matayo pings a range of emotions with witty dialogue, snarky humor, and a well-played reluctant romance that will have readers sighing, laughing, and begging for more from the talented debut author.”
—Serena Chase, USA Today’s Happy Ever After blog
112 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 31, 2015
12 people are currently reading
274 people want to read
About the author
Amy Matayo
26 books505 followersAmy Matayo is an award winning author of The Wedding Game, Love Gone Wild, Sway, In Tune With Love, A Painted Summer, and The End of the World. She graduated with barely passing grades from John Brown University with a degree in Journalism. But don't feel sorry for her--she's super proud of that degree and all the ways she hasn't put it to good use.
She laughs often, cries easily, feels deeply, and loves hard. She lives in Arkansas with her husband and four kids and is working on her next novel.
www.amymatayo
Twitter: @amymatayo
Instagram: @amymatayo.author
Facebook: www.facebook.com/amymatayo
She laughs often, cries easily, feels deeply, and loves hard. She lives in Arkansas with her husband and four kids and is working on her next novel.
www.amymatayo
Twitter: @amymatayo
Instagram: @amymatayo.author
Facebook: www.facebook.com/amymatayo
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
February 18, 2015
Flirty fun!
I love Ms. Matayo's books, they never disappoint. When I saw this one available on Netgalley I couldn't wait to download it and I devoured it in one sitting. She has a way of sucking you in right from the start, introduces fun characters that you want to spend some time with and get to know better.
This was a fun story. April and Jack used to work together, but have a falling out and are reunited three years later when the now famous Jack agrees to sing at the wedding for April's sister. April is obviously less than pleased with this arrangement and Jack is desperate to do anything to right the wrong he has been living with for all these years. Jack and April have great chemistry, I love the "ferenemy" vibe and how they go head-to-head. A fun story with a sweet romance. I think this would be a great full-length novel, I'd love to see what happens next! Everything wraps up well, but I loved Jack and April so I wouldn't have minded spending more time with them. Which is a good quality to have in a book.
Mark your calendars for March 31, you'll want to grab this gem right when it comes out!
Content
Romance: Clean
Source: Received complimentary copy from publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This has been nominated for a 2015 Swoony Award, you can vote for it here.
I love Ms. Matayo's books, they never disappoint. When I saw this one available on Netgalley I couldn't wait to download it and I devoured it in one sitting. She has a way of sucking you in right from the start, introduces fun characters that you want to spend some time with and get to know better.
This was a fun story. April and Jack used to work together, but have a falling out and are reunited three years later when the now famous Jack agrees to sing at the wedding for April's sister. April is obviously less than pleased with this arrangement and Jack is desperate to do anything to right the wrong he has been living with for all these years. Jack and April have great chemistry, I love the "ferenemy" vibe and how they go head-to-head. A fun story with a sweet romance. I think this would be a great full-length novel, I'd love to see what happens next! Everything wraps up well, but I loved Jack and April so I wouldn't have minded spending more time with them. Which is a good quality to have in a book.
Mark your calendars for March 31, you'll want to grab this gem right when it comes out!
Content
Romance: Clean
Source: Received complimentary copy from publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This has been nominated for a 2015 Swoony Award, you can vote for it here.
June 1, 2019
I love a short little romantic treat and this one hit the spot. April's sister is getting married and when the wedding singer quits last minute, the replacement is April's nemesis--the man who stole her lyrics.
There's something about a wedding that inspires little droplets of romance and April and Jack find they're not immune to it. I wish the story could've been a little longer to dig deeper into these characters and make them three dimensional like I know this author can do, but given the length, the story is complete and utterly charming.
April is hurt and what Jack does to make things right for her almost brought a tear to my eye, which is very difficult to do. Fun, celebrity romance!
Content: mild romance
*I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*
There's something about a wedding that inspires little droplets of romance and April and Jack find they're not immune to it. I wish the story could've been a little longer to dig deeper into these characters and make them three dimensional like I know this author can do, but given the length, the story is complete and utterly charming.
April is hurt and what Jack does to make things right for her almost brought a tear to my eye, which is very difficult to do. Fun, celebrity romance!
Content: mild romance
*I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*
April 28, 2024
Story Enjoyment Rating: 8/10 Christian Faith Rating: 1/3
In Tune with Love by Amy Matayo is a clean Christian contemporary romance novella. It follows April who works as a singer and waitress in a bar in Nashville. She sings and writes her own lyrics. April’s sister is getting married and April has to step in as her wedding coordinator. The only problem is that her sister also hires April’s old enemy, Jack, to be the wedding singer.
This was an interesting romance with a small amount of Christian faith content. The story had themes of forgiveness, repentance and reconciliation.
I liked the conflict between the two characters and their journey to forgiveness and love. There was conflict in the family, so there was a lot of interest in this short novella.
Overall, it was a good story.
In Tune with Love by Amy Matayo is a clean Christian contemporary romance novella. It follows April who works as a singer and waitress in a bar in Nashville. She sings and writes her own lyrics. April’s sister is getting married and April has to step in as her wedding coordinator. The only problem is that her sister also hires April’s old enemy, Jack, to be the wedding singer.
This was an interesting romance with a small amount of Christian faith content. The story had themes of forgiveness, repentance and reconciliation.
I liked the conflict between the two characters and their journey to forgiveness and love. There was conflict in the family, so there was a lot of interest in this short novella.
Overall, it was a good story.
April 16, 2015
This novella was not one of my favorites. There are things I liked and things I didn’t.
What I liked:
– The story has a great premise. Jack and Amy knew each other years ago and Jack made a very selfish decision that helped him become a celebrity, yet really hurt Amy. Jack has regretted his actions and I did like seeing him work to try to rectify things.
– The writing flowed well for me. I did not get bogged down or bored in the story. I did keep wanting to know what would happen next.
– There was good attraction between the two characters and the hurt that Jack caused is very palpable and can really be felt as the reader connects with Amy in her thoughts and actions.
– There is some fun humor in this book. The “bridezilla” sister got annoying, as she should, and offered another way for the reader to sympathize with all April was going through.
What I didn’t like:
– This is part of an inspirational fiction line and I really did not get any feeling of this being an “inspirational story”. It is clean, albeit with some very heated looks and thoughts. But, nothing too far. I have since read that this author is considered “edgy”, and since I don’t mind “edgy”, I can see that it fits her style.
– I didn’t truly connect with either character. I felt that both of them were still very immature by the end of the story. I thought that Jack still was very much the spoiled celebrity and left the story not feeling very secure in the idea of their relationship lasting.
– It did end abruptly. It’s a novella and that does sometimes happen with those.
All in all, it was a cute story and I will probably try another full length book by this author some day to see how I feel about her characters when they have a bit more time to tell their story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
You can read this review on my blog at:
https://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.c...
What I liked:
– The story has a great premise. Jack and Amy knew each other years ago and Jack made a very selfish decision that helped him become a celebrity, yet really hurt Amy. Jack has regretted his actions and I did like seeing him work to try to rectify things.
– The writing flowed well for me. I did not get bogged down or bored in the story. I did keep wanting to know what would happen next.
– There was good attraction between the two characters and the hurt that Jack caused is very palpable and can really be felt as the reader connects with Amy in her thoughts and actions.
– There is some fun humor in this book. The “bridezilla” sister got annoying, as she should, and offered another way for the reader to sympathize with all April was going through.
What I didn’t like:
– This is part of an inspirational fiction line and I really did not get any feeling of this being an “inspirational story”. It is clean, albeit with some very heated looks and thoughts. But, nothing too far. I have since read that this author is considered “edgy”, and since I don’t mind “edgy”, I can see that it fits her style.
– I didn’t truly connect with either character. I felt that both of them were still very immature by the end of the story. I thought that Jack still was very much the spoiled celebrity and left the story not feeling very secure in the idea of their relationship lasting.
– It did end abruptly. It’s a novella and that does sometimes happen with those.
All in all, it was a cute story and I will probably try another full length book by this author some day to see how I feel about her characters when they have a bit more time to tell their story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
You can read this review on my blog at:
https://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.c...
February 5, 2017
I love this author's style of writing! I was immersed right in April's drama with her bridezilla sister (I would not have lasted as long as she did!) and the disappointments with her music career. Jack's attempts to make things right with their past were lame at first and I was glad she gave him what-for. Their chemistry was sizzling though and throughout the ups and downs of learning to trust each other and their own feelings, they develop a sincere friendship and relationship. A fun novella with just the right amount of angst and romance!
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
April 17, 2015
April is helping her sister, Kristen, plan her wedding. But Kristen is one of those crazy brides and after firing the wedding coordinator she leans more heavily on April to get everything accomplished. But when Kristen hires Jack Vaughn to sing at the wedding, all bets are off. Jack stole lyrics from April years ago and his song hit the top of the charts. April has never forgiven him. Now she's going to have to face him and her lack of forgiveness.
The story begins when the lyrics were stolen and then jumps to days before the wedding, so the reader is given a glimpse into why the main character is so upset. The book is short, so it was difficult to get a feel for how the characters resolved their issues. Which is probably why it felt rushed to me. I wasn't able to connect with the main characters and felt frustrated with them. There wasn't really a spiritual feel to the story that would have helped with the resolution and forgiveness aspect. The story flowed well and I think would have made a better full length novel, so I am looking forward to reading other books by this author.
I received this book free of charge from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for my honest review.
The story begins when the lyrics were stolen and then jumps to days before the wedding, so the reader is given a glimpse into why the main character is so upset. The book is short, so it was difficult to get a feel for how the characters resolved their issues. Which is probably why it felt rushed to me. I wasn't able to connect with the main characters and felt frustrated with them. There wasn't really a spiritual feel to the story that would have helped with the resolution and forgiveness aspect. The story flowed well and I think would have made a better full length novel, so I am looking forward to reading other books by this author.
I received this book free of charge from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for my honest review.
July 21, 2020
Sometimes I find myself wandering down a social media rabbit trail - this author makes a comment on another author's Instagram post, so I go check out that author's Insta page, then click on another author, and another, and so on...which is how I found Amy Matayo. And since my book TBR list is massive I often look to see if new-to-me authors have audiobooks. Which is how I ended up listening to this story!
April and Jack used to work at the same Nashville bar hoping to be discovered and become the next big singer/songwriter. When Jack finds a couple lines scribbled on a napkin and turns them into the next big hit, April is furious at Jack for stealing her lines. Three years later she's still working at the bar, still hoping to be discovered, and now she's taking over wedding planner duties because her awful bridezilla of a sister ran the wedding planner off.
Jack is back at home, taking some time off before the release of his next album, when he gets roped into singing at a wedding, thus setting the stage for Jack to apologize to April and right the wrong he committed.
I really enjoyed the narrator for this book. She had the most soothing voice, which unfortunately almost kept lulling me to sleep. (In the book's defense...I've been really tired lately from not sleeping well, so it may not have been the story's fault!). For a novella-length story, the characters were well developed, but I didn't feel like the hero did enough to make things up to the heroine - sure, he did nice things for the bridezilla, but how is that an apology to the heroine???
Anyway, this story didn't wow me, but I did like the author's writing style so I'd be interested in reading/listening to more if I have the chance!
April and Jack used to work at the same Nashville bar hoping to be discovered and become the next big singer/songwriter. When Jack finds a couple lines scribbled on a napkin and turns them into the next big hit, April is furious at Jack for stealing her lines. Three years later she's still working at the bar, still hoping to be discovered, and now she's taking over wedding planner duties because her awful bridezilla of a sister ran the wedding planner off.
Jack is back at home, taking some time off before the release of his next album, when he gets roped into singing at a wedding, thus setting the stage for Jack to apologize to April and right the wrong he committed.
I really enjoyed the narrator for this book. She had the most soothing voice, which unfortunately almost kept lulling me to sleep. (In the book's defense...I've been really tired lately from not sleeping well, so it may not have been the story's fault!). For a novella-length story, the characters were well developed, but I didn't feel like the hero did enough to make things up to the heroine - sure, he did nice things for the bridezilla, but how is that an apology to the heroine???
Anyway, this story didn't wow me, but I did like the author's writing style so I'd be interested in reading/listening to more if I have the chance!
November 21, 2024
Definitely wasn’t my favorite but it also wasn’t that bad. I just didn’t like the mmc…. His ego was wayyy to high
February 1, 2015
April Quinn is an aspiring artist, and is constantly writing song lyrics on anything she can find, napkins, receipts, toilet paper rolls she steals from the restroom. On the night before an agent arrives at the bar where she works, her coworker Jack finds some lyrics on a napkin and uses them to write what will later become his hit song. After it is too late to change anything, he discovers that they were April's lyrics, but she won't answer his calls or texts and let him apologize.
Now three years later, she's working at the same bar, and he is a country music sensation. When she gets roped into taking over for her sister's wedding planner, that is a nightmare in itself. When she finds out that Jack is in town and will be singing at the wedding, she realizes that things can always get worse!
I loved the tension between April and Jack. Yes, he did steal her lyrics, and he should have guessed where they came from, but three years is an awfully long time to hold a grudge. I liked the banter between April and Jack and how they were able to bond over April's sister and her Bridezilla tendencies. The relationship between Jack and April was sweet, and believable. My only complaint is that I wanted more. The ending wasn't abrupt or anything, I just would have loved to stay with these characters and see what happened next.
This was an instant favorite for me in the Year of Weddings series. All of the novellas stand alone, and I definitely recommend reading this one (the only hard part will be waiting until it's released in March)!
Content: clean
Disclosure: I got a free copy of this book through NetGalley.com in exchange for writing an honest review.
Now three years later, she's working at the same bar, and he is a country music sensation. When she gets roped into taking over for her sister's wedding planner, that is a nightmare in itself. When she finds out that Jack is in town and will be singing at the wedding, she realizes that things can always get worse!
I loved the tension between April and Jack. Yes, he did steal her lyrics, and he should have guessed where they came from, but three years is an awfully long time to hold a grudge. I liked the banter between April and Jack and how they were able to bond over April's sister and her Bridezilla tendencies. The relationship between Jack and April was sweet, and believable. My only complaint is that I wanted more. The ending wasn't abrupt or anything, I just would have loved to stay with these characters and see what happened next.
This was an instant favorite for me in the Year of Weddings series. All of the novellas stand alone, and I definitely recommend reading this one (the only hard part will be waiting until it's released in March)!
Content: clean
Disclosure: I got a free copy of this book through NetGalley.com in exchange for writing an honest review.
February 2, 2015
Amy Matayo is one of my new favorite authors. I'm always on the lookout for a new book from her so I can snatch it up and read it. And yay for Goodreads where one of my book friends read and reviewed this book. I ran over and grabbed it for myself so I could review it too. My thanks to the publisher, Zondervan for allowing me to read and review this title for them via NetGalley.
This was such a fun novella. My only complaint is that it ended way too soon. I wanted more of Jack and April. A lot more.
Poor Jack really did steal something from April that he cannot repay. But, he's determined to try to make it up to her. April is good at resisting. She has years of resentment built up and that isn't easy to break through. It was a fun battle to watch. The interactions between April and Jack are great. They made me smile. The grocery store scene was classic. It was nice to see the guy in the embarrassing position instead of the girl. Ha!
This book was sweet, clean, and romantic. The attraction was there, the tension was there and the conflict was there. You have to wait until the VERY end to get that first kiss but it's worth the wait. :)
In Tune with Love is part of the Year of Weddings Novellas.
This was such a fun novella. My only complaint is that it ended way too soon. I wanted more of Jack and April. A lot more.
Poor Jack really did steal something from April that he cannot repay. But, he's determined to try to make it up to her. April is good at resisting. She has years of resentment built up and that isn't easy to break through. It was a fun battle to watch. The interactions between April and Jack are great. They made me smile. The grocery store scene was classic. It was nice to see the guy in the embarrassing position instead of the girl. Ha!
This book was sweet, clean, and romantic. The attraction was there, the tension was there and the conflict was there. You have to wait until the VERY end to get that first kiss but it's worth the wait. :)
In Tune with Love is part of the Year of Weddings Novellas.
April 14, 2015
I wanted to love this book, but it just wasn't for me. I didn't connect with the characters at all. I almost felt like I couldn't quite get the author's rhythm. My sense of timing as I was reading always seemed a bit off. My major issue with the book though, was the characters' bad attitudes. Although this was supposed to be a romance, no one seemed to have a nice word to say to or about anyone. They all seemed incredibly selfish and honestly pretty mean. There's a difference between funny, lighthearted snark, and bitter, mean snark. I generally enjoy the banter of a snarky, yet well meaning, lovable couple. April and Jack felt a little bitter to me. The ending was very abrupt and I didn't feel like there was any growth or true reconciliation on either side.
Although I didn't enjoy this book much, I know there are many people who do. I already have a couple full length novels by this author on my kindle, and I'm still planning to give those a try.
*I received an e-ARC of this of this book from Zondervan in exchange for my honest review.
www.wanderingthepages.tumblr.com
Although I didn't enjoy this book much, I know there are many people who do. I already have a couple full length novels by this author on my kindle, and I'm still planning to give those a try.
*I received an e-ARC of this of this book from Zondervan in exchange for my honest review.
www.wanderingthepages.tumblr.com
July 20, 2016
This review is also posted on Book by Book.
Amy Matayo provides another cute and sweet addition to A Year of Weddings. Her novella, “In Tune with Love,” brings April Quinn and Jack Vaughn together after several bitter years apart. With equals parts wit and honesty, these two characters determine the likelihood of a second chance with their relationship and there is no shortage of entertaining and romantic moments. Though the faith element of this story is minimal, Matayo’s contribution fits nicely within the whole novella collection and still adds its own quirky and sarcastic flare. I think fans of A Year of Weddings will enjoy the wedding fun of “In Tune with Love” - I know I did.
Thanks to Zondervan and NetGalley, I received a copy of “In Tune with Love” and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.
Amy Matayo provides another cute and sweet addition to A Year of Weddings. Her novella, “In Tune with Love,” brings April Quinn and Jack Vaughn together after several bitter years apart. With equals parts wit and honesty, these two characters determine the likelihood of a second chance with their relationship and there is no shortage of entertaining and romantic moments. Though the faith element of this story is minimal, Matayo’s contribution fits nicely within the whole novella collection and still adds its own quirky and sarcastic flare. I think fans of A Year of Weddings will enjoy the wedding fun of “In Tune with Love” - I know I did.
Thanks to Zondervan and NetGalley, I received a copy of “In Tune with Love” and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.
March 15, 2015
In tune with Love: An April Wedding Story is a very cute story about two people who worked together and were trying to make it into the music industry. Then one of them makes it in the music industry and the other one, April is stuck helping her spoiled egocentric sister with her wedding after the wedding coordinator quits. Then the musician quits and her sister convinces Jack to sing at the wedding. Jack is the last person April wants to see especially at her sister’s wedding. April and Jack had a falling out when she feels he stole her lyrics which made him famous. I liked that the author made Jack real. He had realistic male thoughts and reactions. The author created some fun scenes between them. I will read more by this author. In Tune With Love is part of The Year of Wedding novellas.
You can see my full review at More Than a Review dot com where I rate the level of sex, violence, language and drug/alcohol use in books.
You can see my full review at More Than a Review dot com where I rate the level of sex, violence, language and drug/alcohol use in books.
January 15, 2016
3.5 stars
In Tune With Love is the first book I've read by Amy Matayo, but I've been wanting to read her other book, The Wedding Game, for years. I thought the story was cute and I liked how the main characters were both singers/songwriters. The ending happened a little fast, but I still liked the book and recommend it if you want a short, light romance read.
*I received a complimentary e-copy via NetGalley for my honest review. As always, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*
Merged review:
Super cute story! Loved the artist/song writing aspect and characters. A great reread! :)
In Tune With Love is the first book I've read by Amy Matayo, but I've been wanting to read her other book, The Wedding Game, for years. I thought the story was cute and I liked how the main characters were both singers/songwriters. The ending happened a little fast, but I still liked the book and recommend it if you want a short, light romance read.
*I received a complimentary e-copy via NetGalley for my honest review. As always, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*
Merged review:
Super cute story! Loved the artist/song writing aspect and characters. A great reread! :)
February 9, 2015
This book was hard to read. The characters are frustrating and show very little growth. I didn't like any of them. The plot would have worked better with a novel because I didn't understand April's actions at all.
I also was a little disappointed with the lack of spiritual emphasis. I don't like books to "preach" to me, but I do expect Christian characters to mention God/have their lives reflect their salvation. Overall, I'm disappointed in this book.
I received this book in exchange for my review. My thoughts are my own.
I also was a little disappointed with the lack of spiritual emphasis. I don't like books to "preach" to me, but I do expect Christian characters to mention God/have their lives reflect their salvation. Overall, I'm disappointed in this book.
I received this book in exchange for my review. My thoughts are my own.
April 6, 2015
Such a fun read...I loved it! The chemistry between Jack and April was great, which is hard to get sometimes in a novella. And the sarcasm and wit made it all the more fun. But I would have LOVED this to be a full-length novel...I'm dying to know what happens next! But still made a great novella...didn't feel rushed or like you missed out on half a story or anything. It was great fun!
February 6, 2023
In Tuned With Love: An April Wedding Story by Amy Matayo
A Year of Weddings 2 #5
108-page Kindle Ebook
Genre: Romance > Christian Romance, Contemporary Romance Clean Romance; Christian Fiction, Novella, Chick Lit
Featuring: County Musicians, Nashville, Tennessee; Bar Setting, Lyrics, Rivals Trope, Wedding Planning, Bridezilla, Discussion Questions, Next Book Preview Excerpt from Never a Bridesmaid Ch. 1
Rating as a movie: PG
Songs for the soundtrack: "Wind Beneath My Wings" by Bette Midler, "Open Arms" by Journey
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️👰♂
My thoughts: Meh! This story was okay, it wasn't boring and had a unique plot but I had issues with it. The MC isn't petty enough. She is like a feisty pushover. All talk no action. Then the author was apparently unaware that Mariah Carey did a cover of "Open Arms" in 1995 and was followed by several female artists including Celine Dion. That passage was the nail in the coffin, it was going to get 3½ stars before that. I wasn't a fan of the ending.
Recommend to others?: Maybe. I'm too petty to enjoy this plot or inaccuracies about music, but you might love it.
A Year of Weddings 2 #5
108-page Kindle Ebook
Genre: Romance > Christian Romance, Contemporary Romance Clean Romance; Christian Fiction, Novella, Chick Lit
Featuring: County Musicians, Nashville, Tennessee; Bar Setting, Lyrics, Rivals Trope, Wedding Planning, Bridezilla, Discussion Questions, Next Book Preview Excerpt from Never a Bridesmaid Ch. 1
Rating as a movie: PG
Songs for the soundtrack: "Wind Beneath My Wings" by Bette Midler, "Open Arms" by Journey
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️👰♂
My thoughts: Meh! This story was okay, it wasn't boring and had a unique plot but I had issues with it. The MC isn't petty enough. She is like a feisty pushover. All talk no action. Then the author was apparently unaware that Mariah Carey did a cover of "Open Arms" in 1995 and was followed by several female artists including Celine Dion. That passage was the nail in the coffin, it was going to get 3½ stars before that. I wasn't a fan of the ending.
Recommend to others?: Maybe. I'm too petty to enjoy this plot or inaccuracies about music, but you might love it.
June 17, 2024
Rating: 5 Stars!!
Review:
This was My First Time Reading a Contemporary Romance Novel by Amy so I wasnt sure what to expect but I have to say I really enjoyed this one.
This one was about a Woman who is forced to help plan her sister’s upcoming wedding as well as sing at the ceremony alongside her Ex-Fiance Jack.
The Characters were fun and enjoyable to read about. At first I didn't care for April thought she came off as whiny but after a few chapters she did mellow out.
The Setting was beautifully described which made me feel like I was actually in the book while reading especially when the scenery was described.
In some ways this book reminded me of Hallmark Channels Destination Wedding.
Overall a Phenomenal Contemporary Romance Novel!! Can't wait to read more by Amy in the future.
Review:
This was My First Time Reading a Contemporary Romance Novel by Amy so I wasnt sure what to expect but I have to say I really enjoyed this one.
This one was about a Woman who is forced to help plan her sister’s upcoming wedding as well as sing at the ceremony alongside her Ex-Fiance Jack.
The Characters were fun and enjoyable to read about. At first I didn't care for April thought she came off as whiny but after a few chapters she did mellow out.
The Setting was beautifully described which made me feel like I was actually in the book while reading especially when the scenery was described.
In some ways this book reminded me of Hallmark Channels Destination Wedding.
Overall a Phenomenal Contemporary Romance Novel!! Can't wait to read more by Amy in the future.
March 16, 2018
I'm not quite sure what I can say about this book.
Years ago, Jack stole April's lyrics and made a fortune. Now he's back with the courage to face her again and April is appalled. Not only does he want her forgiveness for stealing her lyrics but now she has to work with him since he's the singer in her sister's wedding.
Did I enjoy this book? Eh...it was alright. But it was clean and appropriate for all audiences.
Years ago, Jack stole April's lyrics and made a fortune. Now he's back with the courage to face her again and April is appalled. Not only does he want her forgiveness for stealing her lyrics but now she has to work with him since he's the singer in her sister's wedding.
Did I enjoy this book? Eh...it was alright. But it was clean and appropriate for all audiences.
April 27, 2015
Title: IN TUNE WITH LOVE
Author: Amy Matayo
Publisher: Zondervan
March 2015
ASIN: B00KV0ZUZE
Genre: Contemporary romance novella
They’ve helped orchestrate the perfect day for countless couples. Now twelve new couples will find themselves in the wedding spotlight in the second Year of Weddings novella collection.
April knows her job as maid of honor is to fulfill her sister’s every wish—whatever the bride wants, she will have. Unless it involves Jack Vaughn.
April Quinn loves her sister and wants to make sure the week of her wedding is the happiest of her life, even if it means putting up with Kristin’s every crazy whim. But when Kristin hires Jack Vaughn as the wedding singer, all sisterly devotion flies out the window. No way will she work with Jack after what he stole from her.
Jack Vaughn is supposed be beyond these small gigs. After all, he’s on the cusp of launching his first headlining tour. But accepting the job was a spur-of-the-moment decision, and it will mean seeing April again. Surely she has forgiven him for that one lapse of judgment so long ago—the decision that shot him to stardom and left her behind, writing songs and waiting tables.
As April and Jack keep appearances for the sake of Kristen’s happiness, they rediscover a chemistry that never quite fizzled out. But will they be able to rewrite two solos into a timeless duet?
IN TUNE WITH LOVE is unfortunately not one of the best books in the Year of Weddings series that Zondervan publishes. I’ve read some really great books in this collection (Denise Hunter, Rachel Hauck, come to mind among others) but this one by Amy Matayo ranks among the worst I’ve read. I’ve never read anything by Ms. Matayo and if this is an example of what she writes, I’m not interested.
There is no faith message. No growth. Other than Jack making a pact with God that if April isn’t in the bar he’s singing in, he might actually go to church a time or two. April was in the bar, so I guess he didn’t have to go to church. They use “Soft swear words” as I call them that more conservative readers will find offensive.
Both characters were immature and carried a grudge and well. It just didn’t work. This review is my opinion only. If you are a fan of Ms. Matayo, you might love this book.
2 stars. Available in ebook. 80 pages.
This book was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Author: Amy Matayo
Publisher: Zondervan
March 2015
ASIN: B00KV0ZUZE
Genre: Contemporary romance novella
They’ve helped orchestrate the perfect day for countless couples. Now twelve new couples will find themselves in the wedding spotlight in the second Year of Weddings novella collection.
April knows her job as maid of honor is to fulfill her sister’s every wish—whatever the bride wants, she will have. Unless it involves Jack Vaughn.
April Quinn loves her sister and wants to make sure the week of her wedding is the happiest of her life, even if it means putting up with Kristin’s every crazy whim. But when Kristin hires Jack Vaughn as the wedding singer, all sisterly devotion flies out the window. No way will she work with Jack after what he stole from her.
Jack Vaughn is supposed be beyond these small gigs. After all, he’s on the cusp of launching his first headlining tour. But accepting the job was a spur-of-the-moment decision, and it will mean seeing April again. Surely she has forgiven him for that one lapse of judgment so long ago—the decision that shot him to stardom and left her behind, writing songs and waiting tables.
As April and Jack keep appearances for the sake of Kristen’s happiness, they rediscover a chemistry that never quite fizzled out. But will they be able to rewrite two solos into a timeless duet?
IN TUNE WITH LOVE is unfortunately not one of the best books in the Year of Weddings series that Zondervan publishes. I’ve read some really great books in this collection (Denise Hunter, Rachel Hauck, come to mind among others) but this one by Amy Matayo ranks among the worst I’ve read. I’ve never read anything by Ms. Matayo and if this is an example of what she writes, I’m not interested.
There is no faith message. No growth. Other than Jack making a pact with God that if April isn’t in the bar he’s singing in, he might actually go to church a time or two. April was in the bar, so I guess he didn’t have to go to church. They use “Soft swear words” as I call them that more conservative readers will find offensive.
Both characters were immature and carried a grudge and well. It just didn’t work. This review is my opinion only. If you are a fan of Ms. Matayo, you might love this book.
2 stars. Available in ebook. 80 pages.
This book was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 10, 2015
April Quinn’s sister is getting married, and when the wedding coordinator quits with a week to go, she ropes April in to finish the job. What Bridezilla hasn’t told April is that the wedding singer is none other than country music star Jack Vaughan, the guy who gained national fame with April’s lyrics. April’s unacknowledged lyrics. April hasn’t forgiven him … but the sparks flying between them are more than just old hurts.
Jack is sorry for what he did, but he has no idea how to fix the problem … until April’s sister asks him to be her wedding singer. He agrees, as a personal favour to April. Not that she seems to appreciate the gesture. And she’s as cute as ever … maybe the wedding will give him the opportunity to make things right.
Apart from Jack, April’s other problem is that her family don’t appreciate her and don’t respect her career choices, calling her tunes and lyrics “jingles” (I probably wouldn’t be happy either if April was my daughter. But she’s only twenty-two. She’s got time to grow up).
This pretty much encapsulates my problem with April: she’s earnest and hardworking, but she’s young and more naïve than I would have expected, given her history with Jack and the fact she works in a bar surrounded by musicians and people who want to be musicians. She’s still writing lyrics on receipt backs: three years, and she’s never thought to buy a pad of paper to carry around? Or even to write on the back of her bar order pad?
The writing was good, the cover gorgeous, the story fun (if a bit over-the-top), and while I enjoyed it, I didn’t love it. April was lacking in maturity, and the whole wedding scenario was completely over-the-top, which made In Tune with Love seem more young adult than real adult.
Thanks to Zondervan and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.
Jack is sorry for what he did, but he has no idea how to fix the problem … until April’s sister asks him to be her wedding singer. He agrees, as a personal favour to April. Not that she seems to appreciate the gesture. And she’s as cute as ever … maybe the wedding will give him the opportunity to make things right.
Apart from Jack, April’s other problem is that her family don’t appreciate her and don’t respect her career choices, calling her tunes and lyrics “jingles” (I probably wouldn’t be happy either if April was my daughter. But she’s only twenty-two. She’s got time to grow up).
This pretty much encapsulates my problem with April: she’s earnest and hardworking, but she’s young and more naïve than I would have expected, given her history with Jack and the fact she works in a bar surrounded by musicians and people who want to be musicians. She’s still writing lyrics on receipt backs: three years, and she’s never thought to buy a pad of paper to carry around? Or even to write on the back of her bar order pad?
The writing was good, the cover gorgeous, the story fun (if a bit over-the-top), and while I enjoyed it, I didn’t love it. April was lacking in maturity, and the whole wedding scenario was completely over-the-top, which made In Tune with Love seem more young adult than real adult.
Thanks to Zondervan and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.
January 19, 2015
April writes lyrics, working as a waitress and dreaming of the day she will make it to the big time. Jack works in the same bar and, leaving work one time, finds four lines that catapult him into a successful music career. Now years later, April is still waitressing and has been roped into helping coordinate her sister's wedding. The only problem is that Jack is back in town, and he too has been asked to help out with the wedding.
I had some issues with this story and didn't enjoy it like I expected to. Maybe it was the overall selfishness of the characters, their very quickly irked tempers, their cursing (mild, but still not what I'm looking for in this genre), or the way they speak so harshly to each other. Human, yes I know but.... I didn't like either of the main characters. Nor any of the secondary characters. This is second book I've read in this new second Year of Weddings series, and both have felt rather secular or were perhaps missing that Christian vibe I love so much. I really enjoyed the first Year of Weddings series, and don't want to give up on this second one, but maybe I'll stick to the authors I know and love.
The publishers provided a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I had some issues with this story and didn't enjoy it like I expected to. Maybe it was the overall selfishness of the characters, their very quickly irked tempers, their cursing (mild, but still not what I'm looking for in this genre), or the way they speak so harshly to each other. Human, yes I know but.... I didn't like either of the main characters. Nor any of the secondary characters. This is second book I've read in this new second Year of Weddings series, and both have felt rather secular or were perhaps missing that Christian vibe I love so much. I really enjoyed the first Year of Weddings series, and don't want to give up on this second one, but maybe I'll stick to the authors I know and love.
The publishers provided a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 12, 2015
Sometimes I'm in the mood for a cute, fun, short read, and this book was perfect!
Jack Vaughn wasn't always a famous country singer. He was once a young man working hard to get a break. Unfortunately, the break he caught seemed so fortuitous at the time, but has since caused him a lot of guilt and regret. He stole 4 lines of lyrics from a co-worker and wrote an entire song around those lyrics that launched his career.
And now it's three years later and he has to face that co-worker - April Quinn. Who has grown into an amazing woman in the three years he's been gone. But she isn't quick to forgive him, and she isn't going to make it easy for him to make it right. And Jack definitely wants to make it right... especially if it means spending more time with the beautiful and intriguing April.
I loved April - she works so hard to help others and she's so forgiving by nature - except to Jack who has done the unforgivable in her eyes. I also loved Jack - he is now rich and famous, but he still values the important things. He takes great care of his mom, and he is trying to make things right with April.
Content: Very Clean
Source: Amazon.com
Jack Vaughn wasn't always a famous country singer. He was once a young man working hard to get a break. Unfortunately, the break he caught seemed so fortuitous at the time, but has since caused him a lot of guilt and regret. He stole 4 lines of lyrics from a co-worker and wrote an entire song around those lyrics that launched his career.
And now it's three years later and he has to face that co-worker - April Quinn. Who has grown into an amazing woman in the three years he's been gone. But she isn't quick to forgive him, and she isn't going to make it easy for him to make it right. And Jack definitely wants to make it right... especially if it means spending more time with the beautiful and intriguing April.
I loved April - she works so hard to help others and she's so forgiving by nature - except to Jack who has done the unforgivable in her eyes. I also loved Jack - he is now rich and famous, but he still values the important things. He takes great care of his mom, and he is trying to make things right with April.
Content: Very Clean
Source: Amazon.com
March 28, 2015
I really enjoyed the overall storyline of this book. Amy accomplished a lot in a very minimal amount of time. We have the main story of Jack and April and also April’s sister getting ready for her wedding.
I loved that April loves to write music, as I enjoy doing that as well and will write lyrics down in random places.
Something I struggled with in this book was the Christian factor (or lack there of). Honestly, if I didn’t know it was Christian fiction I don’t think I would have thought these characters has much faith. It is stated that they both question things but they seem to call on God when it’s convenient. I was hoping to see a more spiritual growth piece with both main characters and I didn’t see that. I think that could have been played up a bit more.
But, with that being said, the story itself was very good and I enjoyed it.
A copy of this book was given to me by the publisher through Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
June 23, 2015
This book was an all right read, but I was expecting a lot more from it. The build up of the romantic relationship was practically non existant, Jack was a slimeball that got off way too easily in my eyes, and April was a doormat character. The secondary characters were unlikeable and the book was entirely too short for my tastes. It was also New Adult Romance that was trying way too hard to be contemporary inspirational romance. I did like the setting, and some of the history behind the bar that April and Jack worked at, I just wish more had been done with it. It was good for an afternoon read, but I'm unsure how much I will re-read this one.
February 28, 2015
This was a very short cute and sweet tale about two people who had one thing between them, besides attraction, song lyrics that was unknowingly stolen. The premise was quite intriguing and a reader might think it was all going to be drama and angst, because in a sense Jack, our lead male, using April's short song lyrics and turning it into a smash hit smacks of theft and betrayal albeit unknown at the time it happened. But surprisingly everything was done quite logically and cutely. Because of the length there wasn't much in the way the relationship developed nonetheless it was a very entertaining short read.
*ARC provided thru NetGalley*
*ARC provided thru NetGalley*
May 17, 2015
Really didn't care for this one. I don't have a problem reading secular books. What I do have a problem with is marketing something as Christian (it's published by Zondervan, a Christian publisher) when there was only a token mention of God and that was kinda of at the end. The characters were shallow and I just didn't care for it.
February 1, 2022
Actual rating: 1.25 stars....
Was this the worst book I ever read, no. Was it a good book, also no. This felt disingenuous and partly sexist. I know it was supposed to be light hearted and "fun" but I didn't find it that way. So basically, April and Jake used tonwork together. April write songs and lyrics, on everything. Arms using sharpies, toilet paper, napkins, etc. It is all fair game. One day Jake finds a napkin with lyrics and takes it. He uses them to write a song. This song ends up being his big break and earns him millions. He learns they were April's lyrics. He never says he was sorry, never gives her credit or compensation, and she is left bitter and so angry with him. So abgry, that when he is set to play for her sister's upcoming wedding, AND he pkays at the bar that they used tonwork at, that she yells sonloudly at him after refusing to sing with him on stage and then agrees to go to coffee with him. The wedding is super low budget and last minute leaving it looks cheap. He feels bad for stealing her song and uses his wealth and connections make April's sister's wedding a dream wedding. The girl's parents, espetheir mother, is super judgy and snobbish, and is thrilled with the wedding, ecen though the day before she was so angry with Jake for what he did to April, all while hating on April and her sister's wedding. Then, as you can guess, they end up together after he invites her to sing again with him after the wedding and they live happily ever after. The whole plot felt super childish and contrived. This book had so many terrible lines in it. Starting with one of my most hated:
Women.You couldn't deal with them, yet you couldn't kill them either. At least not unless you planned it really well and didn't get caught. And so far he hadn't been able to figure out how.
How is this cute? Or funny? It's hard to say that could or should belong in a romance, let alone any kind of book.
Second terrible quote:
Not even under the threat of the torture chamber or being forced to give up ice cream for a month. Both pretty much equaled the same thing.
Ewww.... gag! I hate this trope. Comparing a torture chamber to giving up ice cream? Seriously? And what is the obsession with this book and weight. April mentions her weight so often in the book, including a whole section talking about how she has been on a low carb diet for a month and only lost 4 lbs and needs to lose 10 more, but because she had a cookie will probably only lose 1 more lbs. This type of obsession with weight is unhealthy, especially as the male love interest in this book, Jake, describes her as a knockout that other men would only dream of being with (especially when he preforms at her bar and mentions her dress).
Last terrible quote I will mention (because there are just too many to list):
Her statement carried the same edge it would carry if she'd said I see the Democrats are in control again or I see you ignored my advice and wore the color red anyway or I see you've put on a few pounds— all of which April had heard at least one time in the last year alone.
*Facepalm* This was supposed to have come from April's mother. Who apparently is super ultra conservative, which if you are... okay, fine, but maybe a little tolerance? This phrase implies that being a Democrat is so absolutely abhorrent or distasteful as the person who is should be ashamed as much as someone who possible kicked puppies while drowning kittens.
Was this the worst book I ever read, no. Was it a good book, also no. This felt disingenuous and partly sexist. I know it was supposed to be light hearted and "fun" but I didn't find it that way. So basically, April and Jake used tonwork together. April write songs and lyrics, on everything. Arms using sharpies, toilet paper, napkins, etc. It is all fair game. One day Jake finds a napkin with lyrics and takes it. He uses them to write a song. This song ends up being his big break and earns him millions. He learns they were April's lyrics. He never says he was sorry, never gives her credit or compensation, and she is left bitter and so angry with him. So abgry, that when he is set to play for her sister's upcoming wedding, AND he pkays at the bar that they used tonwork at, that she yells sonloudly at him after refusing to sing with him on stage and then agrees to go to coffee with him. The wedding is super low budget and last minute leaving it looks cheap. He feels bad for stealing her song and uses his wealth and connections make April's sister's wedding a dream wedding. The girl's parents, espetheir mother, is super judgy and snobbish, and is thrilled with the wedding, ecen though the day before she was so angry with Jake for what he did to April, all while hating on April and her sister's wedding. Then, as you can guess, they end up together after he invites her to sing again with him after the wedding and they live happily ever after. The whole plot felt super childish and contrived. This book had so many terrible lines in it. Starting with one of my most hated:
Women.You couldn't deal with them, yet you couldn't kill them either. At least not unless you planned it really well and didn't get caught. And so far he hadn't been able to figure out how.
How is this cute? Or funny? It's hard to say that could or should belong in a romance, let alone any kind of book.
Second terrible quote:
Not even under the threat of the torture chamber or being forced to give up ice cream for a month. Both pretty much equaled the same thing.
Ewww.... gag! I hate this trope. Comparing a torture chamber to giving up ice cream? Seriously? And what is the obsession with this book and weight. April mentions her weight so often in the book, including a whole section talking about how she has been on a low carb diet for a month and only lost 4 lbs and needs to lose 10 more, but because she had a cookie will probably only lose 1 more lbs. This type of obsession with weight is unhealthy, especially as the male love interest in this book, Jake, describes her as a knockout that other men would only dream of being with (especially when he preforms at her bar and mentions her dress).
Last terrible quote I will mention (because there are just too many to list):
Her statement carried the same edge it would carry if she'd said I see the Democrats are in control again or I see you ignored my advice and wore the color red anyway or I see you've put on a few pounds— all of which April had heard at least one time in the last year alone.
*Facepalm* This was supposed to have come from April's mother. Who apparently is super ultra conservative, which if you are... okay, fine, but maybe a little tolerance? This phrase implies that being a Democrat is so absolutely abhorrent or distasteful as the person who is should be ashamed as much as someone who possible kicked puppies while drowning kittens.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 4, 2019
This was super cute. If you like your fluffy romances, then this is the book for you. April is an aspiring songwriter, and writes down lyrics wherever she can--on napkins, toilet paper, back of receipts, whatever she can get her hands on. She works at a dive bar, hoping to one day get noticed and catapulted to fame. That's what happened to her coworker, Jake. Only too late did he realize that the lyrics he found scribbled on a napkin…were April's.
The story then fast-forwards 3 years, when April is helping coordinate her Bridezilla of a sister's wedding and Jake has agreed to sing. April seemed a bit childish, as three years is a long time to hold a grudge. Yes, Jake probably should have guessed that they were her lyrics, but when he did call her back to explain, April was the one who didn't answer. Jake has been living with the guilt for the last 3 years.
I liked their easy banter, once they get over the song. Jake and April were fun to read about when they were together. April's Bridezilla sister also brought some humor to the story, although I guess I shouldn't laugh at April's misfortune ;).
This is a novella, so it was pretty short. But it was cute and fun, one of those light fluffy stories that will put a definite smile to your face.
I received a copy from the publisher, this did not affect my honest opinion.
This review first appears on The NerdHerd Reads
The story then fast-forwards 3 years, when April is helping coordinate her Bridezilla of a sister's wedding and Jake has agreed to sing. April seemed a bit childish, as three years is a long time to hold a grudge. Yes, Jake probably should have guessed that they were her lyrics, but when he did call her back to explain, April was the one who didn't answer. Jake has been living with the guilt for the last 3 years.
I liked their easy banter, once they get over the song. Jake and April were fun to read about when they were together. April's Bridezilla sister also brought some humor to the story, although I guess I shouldn't laugh at April's misfortune ;).
This is a novella, so it was pretty short. But it was cute and fun, one of those light fluffy stories that will put a definite smile to your face.
I received a copy from the publisher, this did not affect my honest opinion.
This review first appears on The NerdHerd Reads
September 1, 2017
I give this book a 4.5.
This one was a story set in the country song circuit of Nashville. Two co workers in a bar trying to make it to the big leagues. A girl that loves to write song lyrics and a guy that wants to impress music scouts. One night, the guy found a napkin on his car windshield. He discovers it was a few lines of a possible song lyric. He took it and turned it into a song which landed him a record deal. He later realizes that his coworker/friend wrote those lines and she was mad for taking it and owning it as his own. Three years later, they met again when he was asked by her sister to sing at the sister's wedding. They worked through finding forgiveness in their hearts and in turn develops something romantic with each other.
I really liked the way this book was written. I only gave it a 4.5 because the ending did not seem enough for me. I felt the chemistry between the two leads and I enjoyed the witty banter between them too. However the ending just seemed to abrupt.
This one was a story set in the country song circuit of Nashville. Two co workers in a bar trying to make it to the big leagues. A girl that loves to write song lyrics and a guy that wants to impress music scouts. One night, the guy found a napkin on his car windshield. He discovers it was a few lines of a possible song lyric. He took it and turned it into a song which landed him a record deal. He later realizes that his coworker/friend wrote those lines and she was mad for taking it and owning it as his own. Three years later, they met again when he was asked by her sister to sing at the sister's wedding. They worked through finding forgiveness in their hearts and in turn develops something romantic with each other.
I really liked the way this book was written. I only gave it a 4.5 because the ending did not seem enough for me. I felt the chemistry between the two leads and I enjoyed the witty banter between them too. However the ending just seemed to abrupt.
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