Review: The Waves by Amy Matayo

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The Waves - Love in Chaos #1

Dillon Hayes is twenty-eight and single, an unfortunate status her overbearing family is determined to fix. So when she’s stuck on a cruise ship for a seven-day reunion with the lot of them, she's desperate for any escape she can find, even if it means partnering with a sketchy stranger for an off-the-beaten-path snorkeling excursion. After her mother's last matchmaking attempt, Dillon is more than willing to trade all her good sense for a few hours of solace. 

Liam Gamble is stuck in the middle of family vacation hell. The worst part: it's not even his family. This will be the last time he ever accepts a free-vacation invitation from his best friend. At this point, he'd be willing to hand over his life savings to get off this crazy ship. So when he catches one of his friend's cousins sneaking off board, he decides to join her, hijacking her private excursion and nearly blowing her cover. If she gets to leave, so does he. 

But what starts off as a secret escape turns into a very real nightmare when their shady tour guide leaves them stranded on an uninhabited island with nothing but the clothes on their backs and no idea how to keep themselves alive.

As hours turn into days, and the weather proves as threatening as their need for food and water, Dillon and Liam must join forces and rely on each other if they have any hope of seeing their families again. Funny thing: sometimes in life, the end of the rope is when you discover everything you value has been in front of you all along.  

My Thoughts:

Wow! I really liked how getting stranded on an island can certainly change one’s perspective on what is truly important in life and what is not. Who you really miss and why, and missing just the basic necessities we take for granted every day can make a person really thankful when they get home.

Dillon wants to run away from her family and her life. She seems to attract all the wrong men and usually ends up broken hearted by the end of the relationships no matter how long or short they are. Enter her family, especially her mother, who would really like to see her married, and they just won’t stop. Going on a cruise to please her grandparents does not seem like a good idea especially when all the matchmaking relatives will be there.

Liam is invited on this cruise along with his older brother by Dillon’s rock star cousin. Thinking it might be nice to get away and for free he has not quite prepared himself for the adventure that awaits him.

I liked Liam and that he was really a great guy to stick by Dillon when she decided to stray from the others. I am not sure I would be able to survive on a deserted island, but I liked how real author Matayo kept everything. The fight for survival and for food, trying to find shelter from the sun and storms, the bugs, and any number of ways one could come to harm. I felt like I was on the island with Liam and Dillon.

Not only must they survive but they must work together to make it. Their perspectives come into much clearer focus and love for family trumped everything.  I really felt for Dillon’s parents as well, especially all the worry and stress they had gone through over their lost daughter.

If you are looking for a little island fun, adventure, romance, and family drama: then The Waves might be just what you are looking for.

I received an advanced copy from the author. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.