Sworn to Collide

Sworn Sisters, #4

by

Maria Imbalzano

Emotion-filled story that addresses realistic conflicts in a marriage.

Sworn to Collide is the fourth book in author Maria Imbalzano’s women’s fiction series, the Sworn Sisters, and is an emotion-filled story about conflicts between a couple that threatens the very foundation of their relationship. The Sworn Sisters are a group of long-time friends, and each book in the series features one of the women. Although part of the series, this book can easily be read and enjoyed as a standalone, but the recurring characters bring a familiar feeling to each story. 

Denise “Dee” and Ben Nelson have been together since high school, have been married for the past eleven years, and are raising three children. Dee halted her career when she became pregnant with their first child, always with the understanding that she would resume working at her father’s venture capital firm when the kids were older. Ben’s career has been successful with her support, with her moving the family so he could take promotions and advance up the corporate ladder. But when Dee’s father has a heart attack, her joining the firm sooner rather than later suddenly becomes critical. However, Ben surprises her with the news he’s accepted a promotion, requiring them to relocate five states away to Boston, without talking to her first. With their adopted son, Bobby, midway through his junior year in high school, playing two varsity sports, and her hopes to help out her father, the move seems ill-timed, and Dee puts the brakes on an immediate move. But the long-distance marriage that follows soon starts to fray, and she doesn’t know how to make everything work out so everyone stays happy and fulfilled, including herself. 

This immersive story was definitely hard to put down as Dee and Ben tangle over their differing priorities: realistic differences that many other marriages also face. Told from Dee’s point of view, readers experience her growing frustration with Ben’s failure to see her as an equal partner in their marriage, an issue she’s contributed to by acquiescing to all his earlier decisions for their future and by, perhaps, not being clear when voicing her needs and desires with him in the past. As is often the case, one spouse’s career path takes second place without a clear understanding of how that affects that person and how to achieve a satisfactory balance. The story is further complicated by the presence of third parties also interested in the outcome of their relationship for their own plans. 

I recommend SWORN TO COLLIDE to readers of women’s fiction. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tours.