ABOUT THE BOOK
After devoting eleven years of marriage to Ben, her high school sweetheart, and stepping off the corporate ladder to raise their three children, Denise is ready to seize the reins of the career she always dreamed of. But as soon as she commits to step back into the professional world, Ben drops a bombshell that disrupts everything. Suddenly, this once rock-solid couple finds themselves in a battle over ambition, identity, and whose turn it is to shine. As personal choices draw them further and further apart, they must confront their widening rift—a threat to the love they thought was unshakeable. Can they rediscover the passion they once shared, or will their divergent paths pull them apart for good?
MY REVIEW
This is book four of the Sworn Sisters and my second I’ve read in the series. Denise and Ben are high school sweethearts whose marriage is on the rocks. With significant life changes, tensions high, and things said in anger, the family undergoes difficult choices that tear them apart.
One of the things I love about this book is that it’s narrated in Denise’s voice. Honestly, it’s my favorite perspective, as it paints a vivid picture of what she’s going through. Denise isn’t just a character; she’s a reflection of so many people who feel like they have to put their own needs on the back burner. She has been a pushover to her husband, Ben, for too long and is finally ready to stand up for herself.
After a health scare with her father and a deep yearning to go back to work, Denise makes the brave decision to re-enter the corporate world just as Ben announces his promotion—and surprise, surprise, they’re moving 300 miles to Boston! The conflicts between them are thick and real, as Denise digs her heels in and Ben just doesn’t seem to get it. I mean, does anyone else think he comes off as a bit selfish? He’s been riding the wave of Denise’s kindness for far too long, and when she expresses legitimate fears about uprooting their family so hurriedly, he reacts like she’s overreacting.
Okay, Ben. Can we talk about Beth, the overbearing neighbor? Denise’s instincts about her were spot-on! It’s completely understandable why she would feel uneasy about Ben spending time with her. With Ben’s outbursts and behavior, it’s hard to tell where his commitment lies.
What made things more complicated was Denise’s circle of friends, who weren’t very supportive at first. It’s no wonder she turned to Luke for comfort. I initially thought he was a decent shoulder to cry on, but then he got way too pushy for my liking.
Ms. Imbalzano’s writing has an incredible ability to pull you in, capturing the emotional nuances and underlying assumptions of a marriage in turmoil. Reading it was somewhat tough for me, as I’ve been through similar experiences myself, but Maria’s depiction of the good and bad parts of life held my attention all the way through to the end. I was glad to see Denise find her peace in the end, even if the resolution felt a bit too neat for my taste.
Overall, this book is a heartfelt and engaging journey of a woman rediscovering herself and pursuing her own desires amidst chaos. If you’re looking for something that hits home yet remains enjoyable, then give this hard-hitting tale a shot.
Thank you to Ms. Imbalzano for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
Sworn Sisters Series
- Sworn to Forget (2018)
- Sworn to Remember (2019)
- Sworn to Fly (2021) – My review
- Sworn to Collide (2026)
Maria Imbalzano will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Maria Imbalzano is an award-winning contemporary author who writes about strong, independent women and the men who fall in love with them. She recently retired from the practice of law, but legal issues have a way of showing up in many of her novels. When not writing, she loves to travel both abroad and in the states. Maria lives in central New Jersey with her husband–not far from her two daughters.
Awards
Maria is a member of New Jersey Romance Writers and has received many honors and awards for her work including the ACRA Readers’ Choice Heart of Excellence Award, the Wisconsin Romance Writers Write Touch Readers Award, The NEST (National Excellence In Story Telling) Award, the Carolyn Award, Book Buyers Best Award, The Stiletto Reader’s Choice Award, Long & Short Reviews Book of the Month Award (3rd Place for Book of the Year), and Still Moments Magazine Reader’s Choice Award.
Follow Maria on her website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Goodreads, Bookbub, and Amazon.
EXCERPT
My sleepless night had produced tons of ammunition to shoot at Ben this morning. He hadn’t been able to sneak many words in since I started.
“So what do you think?”
Nothing. I had clearly silenced him.
He twisted his neck as if to ease the tension. “We’re a family, Denise. I want my family with me. I don’t want to live hundreds of miles apart and commute on the weekends. That’s not a life. That’s not what we signed up for.”
Anger kicked up a storm. “You’re right. We are a family. And you made a decision without even speaking to me. I know a promotion is what you wanted, but we never talked about moving out of Princeton. This is all new. And scary. And unwanted. I want my family with me too. I want my family here, and I want to work with my father. As we’d always planned. I don’t want to move to Boston.”
The exact words finally spewed out of my mouth with anger instead of appeasement—demanding instead of persuasive. The words Nicki had convinced me to say were irrevocably out there.
I had found the voice that had gotten lost among the carpools, laundry, playdates, and cold dinners. But it was much too loud.
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