The Salsa Connection

by Johnny Ray

THE SALSA CONNECTION--AN INTERNATIONAL ROMANTIC THRILLER is a 93,000 word romantic thriller that has already won the Royal Palm Literary Award for best thriller. The story moves from the salsa clubs of St. Petersburg, Russia to New York to Louisiana and, finally, to Italy. The red-hot thread of the dance runs through a novel that explores the Russian mob, slavery and prostitution rings, and the art world, as well as love, loss, revenge and the strength of family ties. When Nickolay Panov left St Petersburg, Russia to go to New York City for an international ballet competition 25 years ago, he was considered one of the best ballet dancers in Russia. The Americans say he was murdered. The Russians say he defected. In any case, he never returned. Just before Nickolay disappeared, several priceless paintings and icons from a major museum were stolen. While he was accused of the theft, no solid proof has ever been offered to tie him to it. However, evidence shows that the stolen goods were shipped to America. The CIA and the Russian Government are still pursuing all leads connected to the heist, and so is the Russian mafia. Sveta was three years old when her father disappeared, so it's a shock when, in the mail, she receives an invitation to a salsa dance competition in New York. At the bottom of the invitation is a note: "Please come to the competition and enter, my little lady." No one but her father has ever called her that. Why has her father surfaced after all these years? Sveta wants answers, even if it means entering the late-night, sultry world of salsa dancing in St Petersburg and New York City and coming into uncomfortably close contact with the Russian mob.

Genres: Romance

334 pages, Paperback

First published October 21, 2012

About the author

Johnny has a passion, a thirst, for life and adventure that he loves to share with his readers.

Please consider joining SIR JOHN'S ARMY, his fan club, by signing up for his newsletter http://eepurl.com/Ltkfv

Johnny Ray's blog http://www.sirjohn.us
and amazon site http://www.amazon.com/Johnny-Ray/e/B0...

He has owned and operated several real estate companies, several insurance companies and a stock brokerage company.

He is a graduate of Auburn University with post graduate work at the Birmingham School of Law, The University of Alabama, The University of Tennessee, UCLA, New York University, Wil-Var Institute and The American College. He has received the following certifications: Certified International Property Specialist, Certified Residential Specialist, Certified Managerial Accountant, Certified Life Underwriter and Chartered Financial Consultant.
He lives in St Petersburg, Florida where he works full time as a writer. He belongs to the Florida Writer Association, the Romantic Writers of America, the Mystery Writers Association, and can be found attending various national conventions as well as supporting several local writing groups. His novel THE SALSA CONNECTION won the Royal Palm Literary award for best thriller.

Reviews

[Coco.V]

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[Adria's Musings · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted on Breath of Life Reviews

The Salsa Connection is yet another well written tale of mystery, suspense and romance by author Johnny Ray.

At first I was a little skeptical about a romantic suspense set in the world of dancing. How interesting and engaging would a romantic suspense novel set in the salsa dancing world be? Would it be full of terminology that only dancers would understand? Worst of all, would it bring visions of an alien hybrid version of Alias and Dancing with the Stars gone wrong? So many disastrous scenarios raced through my mind in the few minutes it took to turn on my computer and begin reading.

In a matter of 15 pages, Johnny Ray put my fears to rest. The Salsa Connection is a fast paced, thrilling story that just happens to take place among dancers. Though to be honest, it is not entirely set in the dancing world, there are a few scenes involving dancing and such but for the most part the book is constantly moving and switching scenes. This is definitely not a slow paced story, which for me is essential in a story that involves murder, mystery and running for your life.

There are quite a few characters (including two with very similar names) and twists and turns in this book and it is easy to get lost if the reader isn't paying close attention. The pace at which the story is told matches the heart pounding, full steam ahead events so be sure to keep outside distractions at a minimum to fully enjoy The Salsa Connection.

Sveta, the female protagonist is not as fiery as previous characters in Johnny Ray's books, she's naive and has a sense of innocence about her. Still, she doesn't shy away from dangerous situations if it means she'll get answers. She definitely grows throughout the book. Sveta begins The Salsa Connection a young, naive girl and ends up a tougher, wiser, and smarter young woman.

One thing that nagged at me though was the easy acceptance of where and what Nickolay had been up to in the many years Sveta and her mother thought him dead. Not only that but when Nickolay reveals the true connection between Sveta and another character, the reactions of Sveta and her mother are so unbelievable I had to double back and make sure I read it right. I had a hard time swallowing that particular scene.

In true Johnny Ray fashion, the twists, turns and suspense continue until the very last pages. Just when readers think every conflict has been solved, there's always that one last twist that readers weren't expecting.

The Salsa Connection is an adult book that can be read by book lovers who are looking for an action filled suspense that is light on the romance.

[J.T. Kalnay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sir Johnny Does It Again

Sveta, a beautiful Russian dancer, receives a mysterious letter that she figures must be from her long lost father. The letter invites her to travel from her home in St. Petersburg to a dance competition in New York City. Join Sveta as a journey into the world of salsa dancing becomes entwined with a search for the truth about her father’s disappearance. Once you get hooked, you won’t be able to put it down. But be ready for the twists and turns that are the signature of Sir Johnny’s tales!

[Trully Sunee · Rating 5 out of 5]

When reading this book, you get a spicy sense of adventure, romance, suspense, and mystery. This book is unlike any other Johnny Ray has written. You feel like you are in Russia, New York, New Orleans, and Italy as you are taken into the world of Sveta, a young woman who thought she knew her past. Deception, Mystique, Uncertainty, and Danger are very much something Sveta and her mother, Maria have to encounter. They aren't sure what to believe but they never expected to be lied to by those they trusted.

With no one to trust, Sveta meets someone who just might be the one. They have such an intense attraction yet Sveta is hesitant. Denis seems to be like a ladies man. She can't figure out what he wants. He seems to like many. When she meets the world of salsa, through deception and some truth, she falls in love with something that makes her feel she belongs. She has met her one true love. She is about to encounter way more than what she bargained for... and in many ways she couldn't have even dreamed.

With a great job, very little money, and a dream that won't die, will Sveta encounter enough good luck to train and learn salsa in it's many forms in short time periods of a few months? Will she learn what some have learned since they could walk? Does she have a chance to ever live any of her dreams and see them true? One thing is for certain, death is knocking... and many will answer that door.

Sveta's innocence is refreshing and also assisting in her life trials. She has some good support but some enemies that are worse than most... they are mostly mafia related enemies. There are many people that are not what they seem, but what everyone in Sveta's circle have in common is that they all are interested in Sveta's father, who was a legacy, one of the best Russian ballet dancer's of his time. He is allegedly dead because of his role in taking the most valuable art known to St Petersburg's history with him, to his death. No one can find the missing art. The historical artwork has been stolen and the mafia has gotten rid of Nickolay Panov for taking what they wanted and had claims to. Things are stirred up as Sveta enters the dance world and has to live in her father's shadows. Not only his but also her mother's as she is a well known dancer as well. She still teaches dance, yet mourns her husband. Will Sveta and her mom ever be able to face the light of sun again?

This book shows how Sveta and her mother are able to live regardless of their circumstances and the dangerous threats that come their way. But, they don't know that life is forever changing once they pursue a major dream of Sveta's. She is about to encounter many trials while trying to have hope and a miracle.

She learns to hide many things in her quest to figure out why so many have questions that she can't answer. In doing that she has many on her heels and not just in Russia, internationally as well. This is a great romance suspense! A must read!

[Lynelle Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first thing you notice when you start to read this new book of the author is his love of Salsa dancing. His in depth look at this exotic and very sensual dance that brought all the characters of the story together in New York City.
We are taken from St. Petersburg in Russia to New York in USA to Tuscany, Italy visiting the night life and introduced to the beautiful dance and the training to make this a beautiful and sensual dance.
The suspense building as Sveta learns that her father after twenty-five years is still alive. The strong willed woman made decisions to follow every lead with what she has. Joining a exhausting training schedule to learn all she can to get to America. On her journey we met her good friend Olya, Denis, Andrew, Danny, her boss and her mother. The mafia follows her trail and people started to get murdered. Doors open up to make her dream come true and she embarked on a adventure of a life time.
Danny was a wonderful young man that had all the best attentions and lead her further on her quest. His willingness to help and making sure she was safe as a true gentleman should do. A man of his word.
Secrets unraveled as you get closer to the end. Interesting and well written plot right through the end.
I really enjoyed this book with all its interesting twists to keep you wondering if she would find what she was looking for while capturing the man' heart as her own.
Once again a very good book I can recommend to all suspense readers with a touch of romance on the side. Traveling the world and learning to appreciate the passion filled dance of Salsa.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading this book, I know two things about the author. He knows how to write a suspense mystery novel well. He knows and understands what salsa is all about and how the dance style came to be, has evolved and is even now still evolving. From the outset, I was immediately taken in by Sveta, a young Russian woman who becomes involved in learning salsa and with the mystery intrigue of her life. Her innocence is refreshing and welcoming. Her devotion and loyalty are also endearing. The reader takes a journey with her across the salsa world to finally find out what happened to her father, a famous Russian dancer, before he died (or was killed) twenty-five years ago. Along with Sveta, the reader meets her good friend Olya, Denis, Andrew, Danny, her boss and her mother, plus the mafia, who follow her silently along the journey. There are secrets and unanswered questions galore in this book, all of which the author manages to explain and tie in very well at the end of the story. As the journey progresses, the reader is transported across time and distance from Russia to New York, New Orleans and to Italy, finding out a little more with each stop. Will Sveta find the answers she seeks? How will it all end? These questions and others keep the reader fully engaged with the story and plot. This is a great suspense thriller/mystery for the reader who is looking for something to grab and hold his/her interest. I highly recommend it. I received this book free from Library Thing to read and review.

[Peg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first novel I've read by Johnny Ray and I intend to read other things he has written. I thoroughly enjoyed The Salsa Connection which is a mix of mystery, salsa dancing, suspense and there is a little romance. The settings are Russia, New York City, Louisiana, and Italy.

The author must truly know and love salsa dancing. He wrote in-depth descriptions on learning and teaching this dance, and on what to wear during the fierce competitions. Since I was unfamiliar with all of this, it was educational for me and I was disappointed when the dancing was no longer a part of the story.

Sveta, the protagonist, displays so much innocence. I was shocked when she went to New York to compete, letting a total stranger (Danny) whom she met on the Internet pay her way, all her expenses, and she stayed with him in his apartment. And her mother allowed this. I kept wondering why she and her mother trusted Danny when it was so obvious they could trust almost nobody in Russia. I realized they were trying to find out what had happened to their husband/father who had disappeared while at a ballet dance competition in New York over 25 years ago. But still, who does this?

There are plenty of twists and turns right up to the end. I liked knowing that just about anything could happen which, for me, makes a good mystery read.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good story line, There is something about the way the English is written and I can not seem to put my finger on it,the way the conversations flow between characters does not flow like a normal speech, The speech is too polite or a false happiness.I think I will have to search this book for a more in depth history to the book maybe it has been translated from another language.
I am not sure what to make of it, but apart form that I did enjoy it and the story kept me on the edge as I kept thinking something dark and sinister was going to happen.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little romance and a little detective work while trying to learn to salsa dance. Good read. The ending was obvious, however, I did not expect it to end the way it did.