3 out of 4 stars
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When Casey cheats on her husband Mark, his friends are there for him. They offer support, advice, and the idea of having a swing with their wives. What could go wrong?
When We Swing tells a story about a group of friends made up of three couples. The men, led by the rich and cocky Blain, are old fraternity brothers who each seemingly marry the woman of their dreams. Over the years, each of their marriages begins to fray, due to a lot of affairs, secrets, and lies. The men make a decision, masterminded by Blain, to breathe life back into their flailing relationships by swinging.
Because nothing fixes the problem of sex outside of marriage like more sex outside of marriage. Obviously.
Each of the characters has different motives for the swing. Blain appears out for a good time, while Mark is trying to overcome the pain of his wife's affair. John seems in need of an outlet for his anger and a secret fetish that is slowly taking over his life. As for the wives, they are just as all over the map. Casey cannot seem to find a way to break down her husband's walls, Lilian has been coveting another man since their college days, and Roxie... poor Roxie is so desperate to keep her husband's interest that she will do whatever he asks, even if it means sharing him with another woman.
Unsurprisingly, with three unstable couples who are all on different pages, the swing causes a lot of new problems without solving even one. The novel rotates among all the characters so we can get a glimpse into their thoughts and feelings towards each other- and it isn't pretty. All six are all hiding secrets and hatching private plans, forming a Rubik's cube of deception and betrayal. As the story progresses, the plot twists become more and more surprising until this well-paced story finally reaches a shocking conclusion.
This novel was really well-written and had the kind of tension that keeps you turning pages, eager to find out what happens next. It keeps the reader guessing, and you never know if the next chapter will bring about another betrayal, reveal another secret, or be another bout of intense sex. It really is more of a thriller than a traditional romance; a spine-chiller sprinkled with erotic scenes. Most of the characters are devious and difficult to like, so if you are looking for a protagonist you can really connect with or a flowery and epic romance, keep looking. However, if you enjoy fast-paced, mysterious thrillers, with a lot of dark elements thrown in, this is a great choice.
I gave When We Swing 3 out of 4 stars. The pace and all the plot twist really kept me interested. Be aware, however, that there is a fair amount of violence in this book. There are rapes and physical assaults, and it can get pretty gory at some places. If this kind of subject material bothers you, stay away because it's a recurring theme in this novel. It serves its purpose to the plot and isn't gratuitous. If you aren't bothered by that kind of darker material, don't miss this one. It was the first novel I have read by author Kyla Ross, and I guarantee you that it will not be my last.
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When We Swing
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