It’s the same routine every night, and country music superstar Teddy Hayes wouldn’t have it any other way. 7:00 pm: Arena doors open and fans fill the stands.7:45 pm: Lights go out and spotlights come on.7:46 pm: Energy from concert-goers reaches an ear-spitting crescendo. 7:47 pm: Teddy takes the stage and begins to sing. But tonight, something is off. It starts when a stage light malfunctions … starts when a stage light malfunctions and sends sparks into the air.
It continues when his drummer stops playing and stares slack-jawed in Teddy’s direction.
It dawns on him when a fan doubles-over and a red stain spreads across her shirt.
Something isn’t just off tonight.
Someone in the crowd is shooting a gun.
And it’s up to a female bodyguard he’s never met before to save his life.
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Buckle up and be prepared to go for an emotional ride! Amy Matayo wastes no time jumpstarting Teddy’s story in this third installment of the Love in Chaos series. What begins as a normal night in the life of county singer Teddy Hayes quickly turns into a nightmare. In the midst of terrifying circumstances he meets the woman that becomes his life saver in more ways than one.
This story is so raw and had my heart racing from about five minutes in. It is heartbreaking that we live in a world where many of us can relate to the fear of being in large events and wondering if something bad will happen. That being said, fear isn’t the victor in this story. Bravery, determination and perseverance come through in the end.
*I was given an ARC of this novel. The opinions in this review are my own.
As a writer, I may have been afraid to tackle this one: a romance instigated by a deranged shooter at a concert where the hero is both the star of the show and the target. But Amy Matayo makes it work, not minimizing the horror yet allowing the characters to develop an intimacy borne of tragedy but sustained by attraction and connection. I don’t know if any of my favorite authors get into a character’s head better. The characters sizzles with chemistry and a couple of heated kisses suited to a sex symbol country star and the woman who saves him – in more ways than one.
The Last Shot by Amy Matayo is the third book in the Love in Chaos series. I’ve loved every book in this series and was looking forward to reading this latest installment. Wow! I don’t know how she did it but Teddy’s story was the best yet. Teddy and his unexpected bodyguard Jane— this match has everything a couple could ask for— any more! The relationship that develops is so organic and natural yet unexpected and quirky — I just can’t recommend this books enough. I think readers of romantic fiction will adore this book as much as I did. I received a digital copy of this book from the author with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.
In the first half of The Last Shot, Amy Matayo plunges readers into the intense terror and uncertainty of a situation that is becoming all too common today. As Teddy and Jane hide from an unknown enemy, not knowing what is going on, I felt their desperation and helplessness.
Throughout the remainder of the book, Jane and Teddy try to move on after the horror. It’s not always easy and, at times, it feels hopeless. Yet these two characters have to choose if fear will rule them the rest of their lives or if, while they will never forget, they will allow one tragic evening to control the rest of their lives.
Matayo once again delivers a powerful and poignant story that grabbed my emotions from the start and didn’t let go. Reaching the end of a series is bittersweet, especially when it’s as compelling as the Love in Chaos series has been.
Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
Being a superstar isn’t always all it’s cracked up to be…
Amy Matayo has a talent for bringing characters and situations to life in a real and raw way that completely plays on all the emotions. I’ve been curious about country star Teddy for a few books now and his story rocked my world. It literally starts out with a bang and gave me chills. I was so drawn in and immersed in this chilling tale and although I didn’t want to put it down, I had to take a break because I felt just as shattered as the characters. Luckily, I could take a small break because they sure couldn’t.
What threw me for a loop was that although the other books in the Love in Chaos series could happen, the events in this book really do happen and way too often nowadays. It was alarming and this author, in a fashion true to her writing style, expressed the thoughts, feelings, and coping processes of both Teddy and Jane in the most realistic way that left me reeling and stunned.
Of course, there is a romance smoldering in the ashes of tragedy, and that budding tangent was exactly perfect and gave me lots of hope. This story pierced my heart and soul and left me gathering up my broken pieces long after I finished the last page.
Content: mild romance; mild+ language; mild+ violence
*I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*
Dang. This book is pretty intense- I mean, the subject matter is a mass shooting. I thought the author really delved into the scene without crossing any boundaries of graphic description, but skillfully explored the emotions and trauma the characters went through, both during and after. Teddy and Jane both have unresolved scars from their pasts which are triggered by the post-traumatic stress. I admired that Jane recognized her feelings and the sources and was able to figuratively wake up and make the changes that she needed to in order to feel like she’s herself and really living again. Teddy struggles more with confronting his demons and his feelings of grief and guilt are so raw and complex. The bond he and Jane forged continues as she supports and encourages him to see things more clearly and not let his anxiety rule his choices. This author excels at opening up and revealing the hurts and fears while weaving in the power of hope and healing and love. Each book in the Love in Chaos series is so different- stranded on a desert island, the aftermath of a tornado, and living through a mass shooting, yet the themes of how we process and heal from the chaos in our lives makes them fit together perfectly.
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
All of the books in Amy Matayo’s Love in Chaos series are interrelated. In The Last Shot, the third book in the series, Teddy Hayes takes center stage, if you will. We get to see him as a person, not just as a pretty-boy famous country singer.
The book opens with a shooter at Teddy’s concert, and he finds himself taking cover under the stage walkway with Jane, a security guard working the event. The setting is one relevant to current events and the world we live in, and as the story unfolds, it’s clear that when you really don’t know whether you’ll survive the night, you can get pretty close to someone pretty fast. Teddy and Jane both carry their own past hurts that have long been too tender to share. Now, they find themselves trying to survive a horrific event. And what comes after that? Can they learn to live with those newly inflicted wounds and go on living?
Ms. Matayo has, once again, crafted a story that grabs the reader with its tension and raw emotion. Here, she’s written a scenario that is absolutely believable given the world in which we live. We see that there’s more to Teddy than just being a celebrity, and that Jane isn’t just a tough, take-charge security guard. I enjoyed seeing their relationship develop.
If you’re looking for a good, clean read with lots of suspense, pick up The Last Shot. It’s well worth the read.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. All opinions here are mine, and I don’t say nice things about books I don’t actually like.
Matayo has a knack for writing books that confront situations I will most likely never find myself in (I know, I know, never say “never!’). The Last Shot is no exception to that. But as I find myself immersed in the story, I find myself confronting things in myself I wasn’t aware I needed to address. Most often, they are a reminder to me that we cannot struggle through things alone.
At some point in life, we’ll all be thrown into a stressful situation that requires us to change the way we interact with the world. Through extreme situations, Matayo shows us that change can and does happen when we are willing to confront the things that have held us captive for so long.
I’ve never been thrown into an extreme situation like Teddy in this story, and yet, I found myself feeling like I could understand the emotions and fears emanating from the characters as their story unfolded. I was rooting for them to face their fears and persevere.
If you’ve missed any of the books in this series, definitely go back and get them all!
I received a copy of this book from the author. This review is my own, honest opinion.
I get super excited when Amy Matayo has a new book coming out and this one did not disappoint. I could not put it down! She is a gifted storyteller that makes you feel like you are right there with the characters. She always leaves me wishing the story wasn’t over yet. The love story, as always, gives me all the feels! I can’t get enough of these characters and I am sad that the series is over.
I received an advance reader copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Matayo’s third book in the Love in Chaos series started off a nail-biter! I read the first part with my teeth clenched in suspense, my heartbeat following the cadence of her words. And the intensity and flow of the story merely proved Matayo’s ability to paint a visual picture readers can see so well they feel it.
The second part sweeps in with all the feels as the unlikely duo–Teddy and Jane, each one heavily guarded by defenses they’ve built up since childhood–makes you smile and swoon in the aftermath of their shared tragedy. It’s suspenseful, witty, edgy, and raw…with some of the best kissing scenes I’ve read in a clean (no-sex-on-the-page) romance in a long time.
I enjoyed the book–and it’s cover. And as always, I’m looking forward to the next Matayo read!
Wow. This book jumped right into the thick of things. There was no easing into this climactic situation and honestly, it just doesn’t let you go. This book was very intense for me and very frightening. Maybe because it is so real. The previous books in this series are very real too, but they were more about the elements against people. That is scary but not personal. People shooting other people is personal and it’s the stuff of nightmares. There were a few times I had to close the book and walk away for a minute- just to calm my emotions.
Lest you think all is lost- love begins in the darkest of places. Literally. I don’t even think it was romantic love at first- just a common love for another human being struggling and needing comfort and support that turned to awareness. I loved the connection forged between Teddy and Jane. In the hardest, scariest moments of their lives, they are joined together, trying to make sense of what is happening and trying to stay alive. Amy Matayo is so good at working through raw human emotions and turning it into something beautiful. It really helped me feel like I knew intimately both Teddy and Jane.
I think I read through this book in fast forward. I actually thought when I finished that it was a shorter book- barely novel length. Haha. No. It’s a good size novel and I just blew through it so fast that it felt that way. I couldn’t help it, I guess. That’s what intense does to me.
This book is the third in the series. It can stand alone but characters from previous books make an appearance or two so you might be happier if you read the others first.
I have really enjoyed reading the Love in Chaos series. The first two books brought such different perspectives on the chaos of the world. The Last Shot was by far the one that hit me the most emotionally. Amy Matayo can certainly write about hardships and horrors is a way that can make you feel like you are right there.
They say that going through a traumatic event with someone can draw you closer, and reading through the events of Teddy and Jane will make you wonder about what fate had in mind. Their chemistry, even without sight was so palpable through the pages.
This book is not just about how two people came into each other’s lives. It is about the triumph they need to employ after their lives are so deeply impacted. Getting back their lives and overcoming fears that they didnt even know they were facing.
Another great read by Amy Matayo!
I received an advanced reader copy of this book.
I wasn’t planning to read this as fast as I did, but I didn’t want to put it down! I loved getting to know Teddy better after seeing him in the previous 2 books, but not knowing much about him yet. I really liked Jane and her strong personality. I worked a similar job at one point in my life, so I could easily put myself in her shoes during this book. There were a few discrepancies but the story was so good. The writing draws me in so well that time just flies and I get so engrossed in the story and characters. I received an e-ARC, all opinions are my own.