The Wedding Game

The Wedding Game
Amy Matayo
CreateSpace
ISBN: 978-1493774135
November 2013/268 pages/$9.80
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 viewers' votes. 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 parent’s 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?


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I graduated from John Brown University with a degree in Journalism.

I came this close (holds finger and thumb together until they practically touch) to also having an English degree, but decided I wanted to get married instead and besides, who needed it?

After all, managing an entire six-credit-hour semester seemed just so exhausting, and one degree was more than enough.

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

Not the marriage—that’s all good. But the pseudo-exhaustion. It might be nice to have that degree right now.

Anyway, after graduation, I went to work for DaySpring Cards—a division of Hallmark—where I worked for seven years as Senior Writer and Editor.

After the birth of my first child—a ten pound boy—I became a freelance writer before pursuing novel-writing full time.

My first contracted novel—The Wedding Game—won the 2012 ACFW Genesis Award. It released on November 16, 2013.

As the mother of four children with a husband immersed in political life, I have very little free time. I prefer to spend that time enjoying intellectual pursuits such as: watching television with my feet propped up, watching movies with a bucket of popcorn, and watching my laundry pile high—with no desire to do anything about it.

It’s a fun life.


MY THOUGHTS

I am not a fan of so-called "reality" TV shows but this book was a surprisingly delightful read. Cannon and Ellie are engaging characters (no pun intended!), even at their worst moments, and the sparks frequently fly as they try to work their way through the unexpected results of The Wedding Game. Tension-filled squabbles balance with witty repartee as they adjust to marriage while constantly being filmed as part of the show. The winner of the ACFW 2012 Genesis Award, The Wedding Game is a solid first offering for Amy Matayo. I look forward to more from this promising new author.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received an electronic copy of this book free from Amy Matayo for my review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 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.”

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