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Interlude

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Sweet ballet dancer Anna and her fierce, artistic director lover Victoria are struggling with being apart due to conflicting schedules. A reunion in Berlin is the perfect opportunity to reconnect. This sizzling short-story interlude is set in the world of the best-selling lesbian romance, The Music and the Mirror.

31 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 3, 2023

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Lola Keeley

12 books419 followers

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
Profile Image for gloria .☆゚..
553 reviews3,752 followers
September 27, 2024
➥ 3.5 Stars *:・゚✧

“I have missed you.” Anna stood up with some reluctance, feeling the loss of Victoria’s body against hers like a sudden chill. “Did you miss me?”
“What do you think?” Victoria asked, before grabbing Anna’s favorite jeans and throwing them at her. “Come on, once we’re out of here I can show you just how much.”


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In all honesty, I'm quite conflicted on how to rate this novella by Miss Keeley. Without spoiling, if you've read The Music and The Mirror, I think it's absolutely worth revisiting these characters who's backstory we're familiar with, to see them in the thick of their romantic entanglements, especially since we see so little of it in the original book. It was a short, yet pleasant read, where I was able to re-immerse myself into the world of ballet, and revisit Victoria and Anna, as polarising as they may be.

To delineate a bit further (with a few spoilers, inevitably), on one hand, I did not expect a sex scene like that. Though, I didn't dislike it, by any means 🤭😌. I was a bit disappointed that the ice-queen Victoria Ford was dominated by the pain in your (my) ass, Anna. Anna is a character I simply did not enjoy spending time with in The Music and The Mirror, as I felt her character was written to be immature and significantly lacking substance. To see this juvenile, wide-eyed character have the gall to sweet talk her ex-coach, Victoria while she ...I don't know, I wasn't buying it and it didn't feel true to the character's personalities. Not that there's any rule on who should do what, but, here's the kicker, what really got to me, is that Victoria's reciprocation, which was set up as being went entirely fade-to-black 👎. That is a missed opportunity, and that left me, as a reader, dissatisfied. The scene could have easily been completed and the story could have been ended after, especially since this novella is only roughly 40 pages. Obviously, it's nothing that serious, but to think that it would have been so easy to give the reader what had been set up to happen.

Especially when one considers what this books selling point it, right. I'm almost certain that if every person who read The Music and The Mirror had to pick the character they found most compelling or were more attracted to, that it would not be Anna, in her oblivious glory. Rather, I'd bet it'd be Victoria. Although Victoria was not (in my opinion) the best-written ice-queen, I'd argue that her character had an alluring quality to it, and that we'd want to see her...in action. Not subject to whatever Anna was suddenly, boldly doing.

This was a bit frustrating because the actual quality of this novella is really solidly good. I enjoyed the steamy dialogue. It was just that it came out of Anna's mouth that was making me furrow my brows. For instance:

“Gorgeous,” Anna whispered (...) “Oh sweetheart, you needed this. Didn’t you?”


I liked that both Anna and Victoria's perspectives were included in this novella, as I got to see a bit more of what I'd wanted from The Music and The Mirror: Victoria's unrestrained adoration for Anna.

“Then the spotlight fell on Anna, a vision in white. Any care about the plot or the staging dissolved at the sight of her. It took considerable resolve for Victoria to remain in her seat. Every sinew was straining to reach out somehow, to touch Anna at her most untouchable. Her technique was flawless, but Victoria expected no less.”


I felt my fondness for Victoria grow, in the way I wish it had in The Music and The Mirror, and I do applaud this novella for achieving that. From the opening of the novella, it was going well, especially when we see Victoria and Anna meet after being distanced for a long time. They were overwhelmed with affection and love for each other, and that was beautiful to see. And we did, actually, get lines that I felt were true to the original characters, such as this one:

“I wanted to tell you I was in tonight, but the surprise was too delicious,” Victoria replied, running her thumb over Anna’s bottom lip as her palm rested on Anna’s jaw. “I told myself if I wanted to be truly mysterious I’d slip in and slip out without coming to see you after the show, but we both know I’m nowhere near that strong when it comes to you.”


The adoration , the attitude ...it was looking really promising. And overall, I did enjoy this novella and value the extra time that I got to spend with the pre-established characters (regardless of how fond I was of them originally), but sadly, like in The Music and The Mirror, I was left feeling that there was potential that had gone unexploited.

Both in the sense of the sex scene I've mentioned above, but also in terms of heart-felt romance too. I was quite touched to see how much these women had missed each other after being apart for so long, and I do understand their desires to hop in bed together while they can, but...I was left wanting some emotional vulnerability too.

There wasn't much of that here. They didn't sit down and eat together and discuss how they were doing, or watch a movie together, or even have a moment of calm, innocent affection. Although I think the sex scene itself was well written, there wasn't a balance achieved between the emotional and physical connection between Anna and Victoria. In fact, if their dialogue were viewed in isolation, it would appear quite superficial, as it didn't seem personal to the love they share between each other.

Regardless, I don't mean to discourage the reading of this novella, as it's largely up to personal preference on many things. I would say that it actually was really lovely to revisit the rich ballet atmosphere and The Music and The Mirror's characters. Though I felt this novella had an ultimately greater potential than execution, I do see a clear improvement in Keeley's writing, and I do appreciate that. This review is an in-depth expression of my own opinion on the nitty-gritty details of this novella, that hopefully someone will resonate with.

Thank you YLVA for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!

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Profile Image for Della B.
656 reviews184 followers
May 8, 2023
Interlude is a short story extension of Keeley’s romantic novel, The Music and the Mirror. Anna is touring Europe as a prima ballerina while Victoria in commanding a Parisian ballet company. Their new love has had trouble overcoming the physical distance between the women. Anna’s performance in Berlin will give Victoria an opportunity to surprise her with a visit.

The short story continues in the same seductive voice as the novel. The heat and attraction between Anna and Victoria smoulders to a satisfying open flame of sexual pleasure. Interlude is a welcome continuation of The Music and the Mirror.

I received an advance review copy from Ylva Publishing and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Profile Image for Menestrella.
409 reviews38 followers
May 14, 2023
If you have read The Music and the Mirror, and loved it as much as I did, you'll know that Victoria Ford does not show any signs of weakness. She does not have to beg to anyone to have her will, except when she is in the safety of a room with Anna...

Victoria surprises Anna during one of her Swan Lake performances in Berlin. The longing and the impossibility of Victoria to resist Anna give a hint of how explosive their reunion is going to be.

Distance can make your lust become hunger.

Those hotel room's walls have certainly seen a heck of a love dance.

Victoria Ford coming undone is a spectacle you don't want to miss.
Profile Image for Guerunche.
665 reviews35 followers
May 5, 2023
I loved this steamy short story! It reminded me how much I've missed Anna and Victoria. The Music and the Mirror is Keeley's best book, in my opinion, and this made me want to read/listen to it all over again! Will need to do that pronto.

And if Lola and Ylva are listening - more, please!

Also - why isn't the cover showing up on Goodreads?? It's GORGEOUS.
Profile Image for Gail.
990 reviews60 followers
May 10, 2023
Oh Lola, I didn't think you could be so cruel.
The Interlude made me want a sequel to The Music and the Mirror and more of Anna and Victoria's story. Well done.
This book has a beautiful cover (that sadly is not showing on the Goodreads site).
Profile Image for Sky. .
348 reviews1 follower
May 27, 2023
3.5 ⭐️

“Irina wasn’t done with her remonstrations either. “If you embarrass me in Europe, I will take your return ticket and tear it up. At the moment you are all so bad that I think in Berlin they will rebuild the wall. Now one more time, and please, everyone: be less awful.”


My only questions here is: ARE WE GETTING A BOOK ABOUT IRINA AND JESS?
Please i am willing to beg 😭😭😭.
Profile Image for Cherie.
748 reviews1 follower
May 11, 2023
This short story brought back all the great memories of The Music and the Mirror. Lola please stop teasing us with our favorite characters in such a short glimpse of the next chapter in their relationship. All of your fans want more of Anna and Victoria.
Profile Image for currentlyreadingbynat.
888 reviews105 followers
July 10, 2023
The Music in the Mirror is one of my favourites but this novella didn't really hit home for me. It would be a great intro into Anna and Victoria though if you've yet to read The Music in the Mirror.

Many thanks to Ylva Publishing for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Bárbara Sousa.
376 reviews48 followers
May 5, 2023
Perfection!! Just wow! This short-story came out at the right time because I reread the main story the other day for the 284738374th time 😍 Just wish it was longer 🥺
The Music and The Mirror is one of my all-time favorite books and I loved seeing more of Anna and Victoria. This part of the story is set in those months they had to be apart (but in a long distance relationship) bc of their jobs and right before their happy ending in Paris 🥰 It was lovely to have a more in-depth glimpse of that time and I just love reading about these two wonderful MCs. I’ll probably reread the main story yet again 😂 that’s how much I love this story! Can never get enough of it 💛
Profile Image for Abigail.
284 reviews22 followers
May 16, 2023
4.5/5 stars - I want more of Victoria and Anna!!

"Interlude" whisked me away into a short yet steamy and riveting narrative—delving into the intriguing continuation of romance between Victoria Ford, one of my cherished ice queens, and Anna.

And as someone who deeply adores Lola Keeley's "The Music and the Mirror," this brief insight into the relationship of Anna and Victoria leaves me yearning for a deeper exploration of their story. I genuinely hold onto the hope that "Interlude" lives up to its title—serving as a satisfying interlude bridging the gap between the first book and an upcoming full-length sequel.
235 reviews
May 8, 2023
Thoroughly enjoyable novella giving a brief glimpse back into Victoria and Anna's lives. It felt like this was a small bridge given by the fab author Lola Keeley to a Music and the Mirror sequel (maybe that's just wishful thinking and pleading on my part) but I would definitely enjoy more time with these characters and watching them finally achieve their HEA together.
Profile Image for Celina.
1,580 reviews70 followers
May 28, 2023
I was so excited until I realised this had already been released in "After Happily Ever After".
Profile Image for Rachel’s Sapphfic Reviews.
174 reviews86 followers
May 14, 2023
This book is hot and sexy and oh so delicious.

I adore Music and the Mirror so it was wonderful to be able to spend time with Victoria and Anna again!
This short story is super hot and is everything you’d expect from these characters. I love how Victoria is still her icy self but with a softness for Anna that she cannot hide.

Now I’d love another story with these two, maybe they’ll finally be able to be together full time, their relationship is beautiful and complicated but also super steamy and romantic.
Profile Image for Emmy.
52 reviews2 followers
May 4, 2023
The Music and the Mirror is one of my favorite stories by Lola Keeley. It is a superior example of the ice queen/age gap trope. I reread it when I learned that Interlude would be published. For any fans of the Music and Mirror, this short story is a very welcome glimpse back into Victoria and Anna's world of ballet and love.

I received an ARC from Ylva Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Cheryl.
432 reviews38 followers
May 11, 2023
Just a little appetizer.....actually a little desert, because this very short story comes after the main course " The Music and the mirror".
I was hoping Interlude would take their story to more of a conclusion but alas no. The very steamy romance still dangles the carrot of hope that these two will finally build a life together.
I guess I will just have to be satisfied by rereading The Music and the Mirror.
Come on Lola...please put us out of our misery.
Profile Image for MisaReadsSapphic.
4 reviews1 follower
March 9, 2026
So happy we got approved for this ARC since I read The Music and the Mirror back in 2020 and loooved it! My only complaint about this... it was to short! But I'll take anything I can get!

This is a short story about Anna and Victoria from Keeley's novel, The Music and the Mirror. If you read that and liked it, you'll wanna read this. Although very short, it's very sweet and made me realize how much I liked the dynamic between the two characters. I really should re-read the first book soon!

Even though this is just around 40 pages, there was quite a spicy scene, that I wasn't prepared for but I can't say that I didn't enjoy..

Thank you to Netgalley, for providing us with a copy of this novella!

Profile Image for Olivia.
86 reviews7 followers
March 4, 2026
3 ⭐️ thank you to Netgalley and Ylva for the ARC. Hard to rate this as an independent work read before the actual book where we meet these characters and learn their story. This feels less like a standalone novella and more like I’ve been given a middle chapter of a book with no context. I’m a huge ballet fan 🩰 so I’m definitely interested in going back to read The Music and the Mirror, but this short story doesn’t stand on its own. And it’s probably not supposed to! Maybe would be more effective as bonus material in a special edition or something.
Profile Image for Fran Sappharc.
850 reviews47 followers
May 7, 2023
A great catch up with the two mains from music and the mirror. I don’t think this should be read without reading the first book, because you would be missing a good book! It is an age since I read the book but I felt reminded of enough of the relevant story by the author that I was able to enjoy this catch up………. And dare I hope it was the prelude to another novel, it felt like it could be!
Profile Image for ~.
73 reviews
May 5, 2023
they’re so special to me.
Profile Image for Michelle  Schuler.
924 reviews12 followers
April 20, 2024
Interlude

It was nice to catch up with the couple. This would best be read before the epilogue of the first book. The chemistry is still high, and the Ice Queen is still in place except around her softener. My only complaint is that the other MC seems hardened and not really addressed. I really hope there will be another book coming along the way.
Profile Image for Irene Timoleon.
78 reviews8 followers
May 8, 2023
If you loved Victoria and Anna from the author's book The Music and The Mirror you will love short interlude.
You will have to read The Music and The Mirror for this story to make sense.

I always wondered how my two favorite ladies coped with a long distance relationship and this story gives a perfect insight to that.
It's passionate and sexy and beautiful as is their original story with which I fell deeply in love with from the first time I read it all those years ago.

Victoria and Anna have riveting chemistry.

-------SPOILERS FOLLOW---------

Victoria has moved in Paris and is the artistic director there while Anna has stayed behind with the NY company under Irina's directorship. Even though they had agreed that long distance was not something that would be fair on either of them with how busy their schedules would be, this is exactly what they did because they are in love and they simply cannot stay away from each other.

In this short story, Anna is dancing with her company in Berlin and Victoria sees a perfect chance to surprise her there.
Their meeting is short but passionate and you can feel every molecule of the fire that is burning between them.
295 reviews11 followers
May 9, 2023
Sexy romantic intimate story packs some emotional punches (4.5 stars)
I'm not a fan of ice queens or the ice queen trope but still caught myself being swept up a few times reading this short story with the strength and intensity of the main characters' emotions. Anna and Victoria love each other deeply and they love ballet. That love is prevalent in the story and although it's a short one, its pages are rich in content so you get major bang for your buck. Fans of the ice queen trope and/or Keeley's The Music and the Mirror romance novel will particularly enjoy this story but if you've not read it before and this is your first introduction to the characters and/or this author, it's a good sample of both. The sizzling chemistry in the reunion between Anna and Victoria makes this a page turner while updating those who have read The Music and the Mirror about what's new with these two ladies in the ballet world, on and off stage, in front of and behind the curtain.
I received an advance reading copy of this story from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Jeannette Rodriguez.
43 reviews
May 13, 2023
Interlude is a short story based on the characters from The Music and The Mirror. The short story gives you a brief glimpse into how Anna and Victoria are doing. If you haven't already, please read The Music and The Mirror as you won't regret it.

This short story took be right back to The Music and the Mirror and the relationship between Victoria and Anna. The author does such a good job at portraying the characters and their complexities. It really left me wanting more.

If you are looking for a short and slightly steamy story this is something to check out.

Interlude is definitely a good read.
Profile Image for Women Using Words.
493 reviews71 followers
May 24, 2023
Interlude wonderfully supplements The Music and the Mirror, Keeley’s 2018 debut book. Though this short narrative only contains a few scenes, it’s tenderly constructed and daringly delicious to read. The emotion and tension flow beautifully across the page, making it hard to put down. As with The Music and the Mirror, Victoria and Anna’s chemistry remains sensual, dynamic and off the charts. Keeley once again proves she can tell a tale like nobody’s business and have readers yelling for more. Interlude is a scrumptious little bite of romance and I highly recommend it.

Strengths…

Well-written storyline
Fantastic main characters
Steamy character chemistry
Excellent addition to The Music and the Mirror
207 reviews2 followers
May 2, 2025
Appetizer or dessert?

Interlude, in my case, is the sweet dessert to accompany the satisfying story of Victoria Ford, former prima/Ballet Queen and current Artistic Director of the Opera Ballet of Paris, and her lover and former protege Anna Gale, prima of the Metropolitan Ballet of New York.

If you happen to read Interlude ahead of Lola Keeley’s The Music and the Mirror, it’ll be a lucious start to the story. But I recommend having the patience to enjoy it as the closing course — when you’re still wanting more of the delicious tale of how the dancers’ relationship developed.
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