Prilika za ples

The Dancer Chronicles #2

by DeAnna Cameron, Magdalena Reljić (Translator)

Kraj devetnaestog veka u Americi. Glamur i sjaj Brodveja privlače sve one gladne uspeha pod svetlima pozornice. Međutim, samo nekolicina dobija priliku da snove pretvori u stvarnost.

Prošlo je trinaest godina od kada se Peper Makler doselila u Njujork. Bez materijalne sigurnosti i uprkos tome što sreća nikako da zakuca na njena vrata, lepa i puna života, Peper se neumorno bori da plesom ostvari uspešnu karijeru. Istovremeno, Robert, sin vlasnika malog pozorišta koje je odavno iza sebe ostavilo najbolje dane, namerava da preuzme posao svog oca.
Kada se njihovi putevi ukrste, Peper vidi priliku da vrati davno izgubljenu ljubav. Ali, nimalo ne sluti da Robert ima sasvim drugačije planove... Da li će zajedno uspeti da stvore neki bolji svet i ostvare svoje snove?

„Čarobno... čista strast i nezaboravan talas nežnih emocija i dirljivih trenutaka!“ ‒ Dejli mejl

„Izvanredna knjiga bogata raskošnim detaljima i spletkama njujorškog visokog društva. Neverovatna zabava od početka do kraja.“ ‒ Gardijan

Genres: Historical Fiction, Romance, Historical, Fiction, 20th Century, Historical Romance, Adult

288 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2015

About the author

DeAnna Cameron writes contemporary romance and historical fiction, including the award-winning California Belly Dance Romance series. She loves compelling heroines who aren't afraid to break the rules, and passionate heroes who respect and cherish them. Her work has been translated into multiple languages and has been praised by RT Book Reviews, Historical Novel Review, and others.

Before turning to fiction, DeAnna worked in print journalism, writing and editing for several Southern California newspapers and magazines. She's the founder of O.C. Writers, a thriving community of authors and aspiring authors in Southern California, and an active member of Broad Universe, a national organization of women authors focused on science fiction, fantasy, and horror.

When she isn't writing, she can usually be found making jewelry, obsessing about her Fitbit steps, and counting her lucky stars. She lives with her family in Orange County, Calif.

For more, visit www.DeAnnaCameron.com.

Reviews

[DeAnna]

I love all my book babies, so of course I think it's 5-star!
Yes, I'm the author and I hope you'll forgive my enthusiasm, but I am thrilled to share this story about a young vaudeville dancer with a sharp tongue, big dreams and a wardrobe full of quirky costume castoffs, and I hope you'll join her as she fights for her stage dreams, squares off with the notorious impresario Florenz Ziegfeld, and finally learns the meaning of true love.

Here's what some early readers have said:

“Old New York comes to vibrant life in this dazzling tale of follies and illusions. DANCING AT THE CHANCE serves up a racy, exuberant feast for the senses, with a lively and intrepid heroine determined to succeed in a fading world threatened by fast-paced, fickle modernity."
~C.W. Gortner, author of THE CONFESSIONS OF CATHERINE DE MEDICI

"In DANCING AT THE CHANCE, DeAnna Cameron breathes new life into the dusty corners of a New York vaudeville theater tottering on its last legs. A wonderfully nostalgic look at the rough and tumble world of a group of down-on-their-luck vaudevillians, filled with backstage gossip and quirky characters, a delightful heroine, with cameo appearances by Florenz Ziegfeld and early filmmaker Edwin S. Porter, that will delight readers looking for something a little off the beaten path."
~Elizabeth Kerri Mahon, author of SCANDALOUS WOMEN

[Tara Chevrestt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dancing at the Chance is about the last day of Vaudeville, when moving pictures began to destroy the stage. We have a young dancer, an orphan who lives in the theater, dreaming of...I'd say being a successful dancer, but she can't seem to focus...of running her own show. She's free with criticism/suggestions and doesn't get along with the manager.


She's rebellious yet also naive. She thinks a fine man is going to marry her and while I could tell from the get-go he only intended to make her a mistress, it took her ages...

Full review here: http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2013/...

[Emery Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

In turn-of-the century New York, the Chance Theatre, once a crowning glory of vaudeville has become a dull grey shadow of its former self. Following the retirement of its original owner, the motley troupe of vaudevillians struggle to keep its doors open under poor stage direction and worse fiscal management while its audience is lured away by the glamorous Ziegfeld Follies and the newfangled flicker pictures. In DANCING AT THE CHANCE, author Deanna Cameron resurrects this vaguely familiar and bygone theatre world with life, breath, personality and passion.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway and was so excited to read it! I loved this book! Highly entertaining and so different than what I have been reading....such a treat!

This would have been a five and a half star read for me except I felt the book needed just a bit more romance. Thank you DeAnna Cameron for writing such an entertaining book!

[Lorraine Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The story took place in 1907. The Chance is a vaudvill theater and the people involved with running the show, and the people performing in the show. It was a fast read with a little different story than usual. Would recommend it to my friends and will look for more books by this author.

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not have the honor of reading Ms. Cameron's first book, The Belly Dancer, but I am going to add it to my ever so long wish list. It is a prequel of sorts (from what I can glean) to Dancing at the Chance as the main character made a large impact on the heroine here, Pepper MacClair (don't you just love that name?)


Pepper lives at The Chance theatre and it is all she knows. She is young, very young and as with all young women she thinks she knows everything. She is a very well drawn character to the point that at times I wanted to take her over my knee and spank her. She is at that blind stage of life where she will not listen to anyone, she knows what is RIGHT and she believes that love will conquer all. As one reads one knows she is in for it. And that pre-knowledge is, I feel, an integral part of the book.


The Chance is a dying theatre. Vaudeville is reaching its zenith as moving pictures are starting to come on the scene. The great Flo Ziegfeld has arrived on the scene and the smaller theatres are not standing a chance (no pun intended) against his large productions. Pepper thinks she has all the answers but she doesn't realize how hard it is for the stage manager to get acts into a run down theatre. He treats her like dirt; criticizing her every performance. This was one thing I could not understand - I never did find the root of his focus on Pepper and his constant griping at her. Perhaps the answer is in The Belly Dancer?


Pepper is in love with the owner's son and longs for marriage but he only offers far less. Since she has little self esteem she accepts his offer of being his mistress. She thinks he is the answer to her prayers; she thinks he will save The Chance. She refuses to see what is in front of her eyes.


In spite of her immaturity I liked Pepper and I was rooting for her and The Chance. I enjoyed my time in this theatre and with all of the very interesting characters therein. Pepper has a lot of friends, it just took her some time to realize it. The ending was a big surprise and leaves me hoping for another book detailing Pepper's future. Ms. Cameron has a magical way with the backstage world and as with most people in love with the theatre I thoroughly enjoyed my time with all of the players of The Chance.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

New York City in the early twentieth century was a place of dreams, glitz, glamor and, most importantly, opportunity. The city is swarming with people looking for a new life, including Pepper MacCalir and her mother. The pair are penniless, but still harbor dreams of a better life. Pepper works as a vaudeville dancer at a rundown theatre called The Chance, though she's only a chorus girl. That is, until she finds an unexpected road to the city's elite, opportunities that could take her career to a different place, and a daring romance.

Author DeAnna Cameron transports readers to a lush and decadent time brimming with romance and elegance. Through practically every word, Cameron brings the beautiful world of the turn-of-the-century vaudeville stage to life, with all the gilded elegance it entails. Fans of historical novels will approach her in-depth research and romantic approach to something long past, but wrapped in elegance.

Though I never found myself fully invested in Pepper as a character, I was invested in her story and her struggles and, most importantly, I wanted to see her succeed and to find joy. The story told here is well-paced and solid, and offers everything that fans of historical romance novels should expect. I particularly enjoyed Cameron's portrayal of the period and the beauty infused into every sentence.

Romance and lush, Dancing at the Chance is a lovely historical that's a great escapist read for romance fans.

[Meg - A Bookish Affair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another day, another great historical fiction read! Dancing at the Chance is the story mostly about Pepper MacClair, a chorus girl and dancer who finally feels at home at The Chance theater. Her mother and her came to New York City penniless and Pepper is finally feeling like she might just be able to get up on her own feet. The Chance is run down and in danger of being no more, a fate that Pepper absolutely cannot fathom. It's also about vaudeville as a whole kind of going out of fashion and struggling to survive.

I loved this book because it took me to a time and place that I haven't read a lot about, turn of the century New York City. For me, New York City will always be one of the most glamorous places in the world. While I don't think that I can take the frenetic pace of living there, I love visiting. What I love about Dancing at the Chance, is that I think it really captures the magic of the city and the dreams that you may just be able to make come true while you're there. I think everyone can find something in common with the characters who are really just trying to make ends meet.

I also loved the focus on vaudeville and dancing. It's really a magical world. I loved how Cameron was able to weave some real characters into the story as well (Ziegfeld of Ziegfeld's Follies appears).

Bottom line: This historical fiction captures grand old NYC perfectly!

[Victoria Vane · Rating 5 out of 5]

In turn-of-the century New York, the Chance Theatre, once a crowning glory of vaudeville has become a dull grey shadow of its former self. Following the retirement of its original owner, the motley troupe of vaudevillians struggle to keep its doors open under poor stage direction and worse fiscal management while its audience is lured away by the glamorous Ziegfeld Follies and the newfangled flicker pictures. In DANCING AT THE CHANCE, author Deanna Cameron resurrects this vaguely familiar and bygone theatre world with life, breath, personality and passion.

[Christy English · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dancing at the Chance took me back to Old New York, when vaudeville was still produced and Ziegfeld was king. In her second novel, DeAnna Cameron brings the world of 1900's theatre to vibrant life. Part circus, part Shakespeare, part Arabian nights, the Chance Theatre is a place I would love to visit again.

[Marianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful historical book about vaudeville and the people who were part of it. Made you feel like one of the theater family. Good description of the times and lifestyle. I thoroughly enjoyed the read and step back into an era of entertainment. I want to thank DeAnna Cameron for the ARC book and the great story.

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dancing at the Chance is based in the 1907's around a live theatre group. The books has such interesting characters that you are never bored with all the situations going on. I didn't have an opportunity to read her first book but will for sure get it and read it also. This book gave you enough of the past so you had no problem keeping with the story. Good job!

[Natasa · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I was reading I couldn’t help thinking it was fluffy and quite forgettable. It was not enough to make me feel I had to know what would happen - you pretty much know the minute you start where it will go and how it will end.

[Anamarija Ivanović · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ništa specijalno....imala sam cijelo vrijeme osjećaj da gledam neki film, a ne da čitam knjigu. Lagano štivo, predvidljivo, onako baš za ubiti vrijeme. Ništa duboko, i već ne viđeno.

[Shannan · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute! I loved the history but needed more romance. ;-)

[Dark Faerie Tales · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review Courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: A heartwarmingly beautiful story of loss, love and talent.

Opening Sentence: For a full half hour the stage manager sat on a stool near the footlights, his fingers curled on the hooked head of his cane, silently watching the vaudeville players at morning rehearsal.

The Review:

Picture, if you will, early twentieth century New York City. Back before terrorism, before the Great Depression, or even the Roaring Twenties. Back to the days of stage performing, before moving pictures were so popular. Back to the little theaters featuring vaudeville — variety acts much like one would see on, well to be current, on America’s Got Talent. This book has dancers, singers, dog acts, even a guy who spins plates on sticks.

This story features one of these vaudeville performers, Pepper MacClair. Pepper and her mother, Bessie, arrived thirteen years prior to the opening of this story on a boat from Scotland, braced for a new life beginning with the reunion with Pepper’s father. When the man never showed, Bessie was forced to make do, to find ways to support herself and her daughter, and that’s where The Chance Theatre comes in. For the past thirteen years, Pepper has called the theater and its small basement rooms her home, and its employees and performers her family.

After a disastrous premiere as a dancer on the stage, on what was apparently the worst night of her young life, Pepper was relegated to work behind the scenes. That is until an opening in one of the chorus line acts gave her another chance at stardom. But, stardom is a hard row to hoe in a place as unkempt and obscure as The Chance is. But, The Chance is apparently her only shot, as she is rather reluctant to leave. So, there she dances, every night, hoping for her big break. Or is it something else that keeps her there. Perhaps it is the return of her true love that she is truly waiting for.

On the night of her debut, she had given herself to one Robert DeGraaf, son of the owner of The Chance. Robert swore to love her forever, and never forget her. But, also on that night, Robert’s father had sent him away, back to school, refusing them the ability to be together. Pepper had always assumed that it was because she was a lowly immigrant showgirl. And when Robert returns, she naively thinks that he will go against society and his father and marry her.

Alas, upon Robert’s return to New York, all is not as Pepper had planned. Robert does indeed want her back in his life, but as his mistress, not his wife, and he wants her to quit dancing. And when Pepper is fired from her job, he gets what he wants. But, when his father dies, she comes to realize that he cares nothing for his father’s theater legacy, or what it meant to Pepper and all the others involved therein. And, it turns out that Robert was perfectly willing to leave her back then to return to school. In fact, it was his idea all along. But never fear, for waiting in the wings is the one man who always has and always will truly love her, Gregory Creighton. Gregory and Pepper both came to The Chance as young children, and she has always held a special place in his heart. Gregory is there for her when everything crumbles at her feet, holding her up, helping her deal, loving her anyway.

So, with the demise of her relationship with Robert, Pepper is forced to return to her stage family and it is she who delivers the news to them of The Chance’s imminent demise. But, she will not allow them to go quietly into the night, and she and her friends come up with a brilliant idea. They will do one final show for free, a showcase of everyone’s talents, with a title completely unlike anything The Chance’s stage has seen.

After the show, which was a hit by the way, Pepper is summoned to attend the reading of Robert’s father’s will. And what happens there is quite the shock to everyone, including Pepper and that piss poor excuse for a human being, Robert. Best part of the book, and where we finally receive our happy ending.

You might say that this book stands alone among the other type books that this website features. And I believe you would be correct. This is, after all, a largely paranormal based site, hence the name, and a large percentage of books featured here are just that — paranormal. This story is straight up historical women’s fiction, I guess the term would be. Not our usual mojo, nor is it my personal preference of reading material. I am more of a steamy-medieval-romance-with-a-mysterious-vampire-sex-god kind of gal. But, the genre of this book shouldn’t keep any of you from reading it, however. It is still a very well written, heart-wrenching story without the sex, mystery, or fanged love machine.

Notable Scene:

“What would he do with it?” She knew the answer, she just could not believe it.

“Who knows, and who cares? It isn’t my concern.”

And it wasn’t. She could see it in his sneer, his stony glare. He did not care about the theater, not the show, not anything that mattered to her.

“Is that what your father thought?”

“Hardly.” Robert took his glass to the cabinet again and poured another drink. “He flew into a rage and wouldn’t stay in that damn rolling chair. He actually tried to throw the agreement letter in the fire.”

A numbness was settling over Robert. His words had lost their strength. Pepper remained silent; she did not trust anything she might say.

“When I wrestled those papers from him, he clutched at his heart and began to gasp—all very theatrical, very dramatic, just what you would expect from an old show horse like him.” He gulped from his glass. “He made such a scene that Gertie flew in and threatened to throw me out. Can you imagine? The maid throwing me out of my own home? She demanded a doctor be called, but I told her it would be done after my father signed the papers. You see, I know his tricks. I knew it was a bluff.” He shook his head. “I thought it was a bluff.” He drank again. “As it turns out, it wasn’t.” He paused, then added, “I suppose I won’t be needing his signature now. The theater shall be mine by inheritance.”

Pepper could not move. This was too much to take in. “And you intend to sell it?”

“Have you not been listening? Of course I am going to sell it. What do I want with a shabby old theater? That old-fashioned vaudeville is dead. People want flash and sparkle, they want something new. Ziegfield has it right and so does Keith and the others. That’s why the patrons are moving uptown.”

FTC Advisory: Penguin/Berkley provided me with a copy of Dancing at The Chance. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.

[Rosemary Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is one which expresses the romantic life of being a part of a Theater, when people acted and entertained. When being an Artiste was as big as today's pop stars.
This story is turn of the 20th Century, just before moving pictures are taking off. The Flickers as they are referred to, are just coming out to capture people's minds and imaginations.
This is when Theatrical companies, such as The Chance, are either needing to revive the way they present their shows, or are brought out by people who have moved with the times.
The Theatrical company is the same as any large family. They have their ups and downs as well as petty scrubbles, but when one is threatened, they are all threatened and will stand together, as a family

[TinaMarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pepper is a vaudeville dancer and she's known Gregory and Robert since she was a kid. Robert is the owner's son she's been crushing on forever and Gregory has been her long time friend. When Robert returns to run the failing theater Pepper believes all her dreams are coming true. Ties in loosely with her previous book 'The Belly Dancer' A lot of rich detail and historical interest but the story while good, is predictable.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. I like reading about that period of history.

[Misty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like Vaudeville. If it wasn't on my list of buzzwords, it should be. I guess it's kind of a subheading under Circus, which is all under the umbrella of Spectacle, and I love Spectacle. Which is why, even though this is somewhat out of the realm of books I'd normally accept for review, I accepted it. (I mean, early 1900s Old NYC vaudeville? Don't mind if I do!) And though I definitely liked Cameron's view of vaudeville as it sort of crumbles into the past, the rest of the book left me feeling sort of lukewarm.

Mostly I think it was that it felt a bit rushed. I would have liked more development to the characters - all of the characters, because the side characters had the potential to be fascinating, too. I wanted more of their side stories and escapades, and more emotional development throughout. There were some really interesting things going on in the story that gave it the potential to be more compelling (Pepper's unrepentant friendship/closeness to a lesbian character, which would have been fairly controversial; her turn as an unintentional mistress, and general sexual predatoriness, as well as the social mores versus the looser atmosphere of the stage; the clash between stage and the burgeoning world of film, etc.) that I found really fascinating, and wanted more of - but the book just barely scratches the surface of these things.  It left me feeling a little unfulfilled, like there was wasted potential.

And the characters - and even to an extent, the plot - were a little lackluster for me. In fact, within a week of finishing it, I found myself struggling to remember names and details. The world was vivid, and I think so much of Cameron's focus went into building an authentic, accurate world, that the other aspects suffered. But until I was able to connect with the characters more fully, the world was the saving grace. I liked Pepper ok-enough, but I actually liked the other characters more. I sometimes found Pepper a little hard to connect to or root for, at least early in the story, anyway, and in general, I preferred Gregory Creighton's narration. I found him a more fascinating character, and scenes with him felt more authentic. I would have loved to see more of his story, and of everyone's story - and a little less of Pepper in her own world.

But for all that I couldn't help thinking it was fluffy and somewhat forgettable as I was reading, I found myself fairly engrossed. It's mostly really wholesome, which works for the time, and opens it to a wider audience, and it was a quick and easy read. I didn't necessarily think much about it when I'd set it down, though - nothing compelled me to pick it up again. But when I did pick it up, I found myself engaged pretty easily, and I did quite like how it ended, and the potential the ending holds for all of the characters. It just was never quite enough to make me feel I had to read it, had to know what was going to happen. And that's probably because, as I mentioned in my Rewind vlog, it felt like a Hallmark movie - you pretty much know the minute you start this where it's going to go and how it's going to end and the emotional investment is pretty much zilch - but for some reason, that doesn't stop you from watching or enjoying them.

[Holly P · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this charming novel, DeAnna Cameron shines the spotlight on the world of vaudeville theatre in the early 1900's. I knew next to nothing about this realm of entertainment going in but I really liked experiencing it through the eyes of Pepper MacClair-a young woman who wants nothing more than to be a part of the excitement at The Chance. She finally gets her shot by scoring a spot as part of a dance trio but it seems no matter how hard she tries she cannot please Harland Stanley, the overbearing stage manager. Although Pepper sees The Chance as a wonderful place it is clearly not the venue that it once was. Stanley brings in one terrible headliner after another in the hopes of filling the increasingly empty seats. Pepper sees hope on the horizon when Robert DeGraaf, son of the Chance's owner, comes back from Harvard to take over the business from his ailing father. Robert was Pepper's first love and she hopes their relationship picks up right where it left off before Robert went away. Robert may have other ideas though concerning his intentions with Pepper AND his plans for The Chance.

As you would expect with a book about theatre, the Chance is populated by a cast of lively characters including the cross-dressing legend Em Charmaigne (or her alter ego Uptown Joe), Gregory-a stagehand and Pepper's close friend, her fellow dancer-the diva like Beatrice, dwarves who do Shakespeare, plate spinners, magicians, singers-you name the act, it has probably graced that stage. While I liked the character of Pepper, you could tell she still had a lot of growing up to do. She is stubborn and constantly butts heads with Stanley which sets her at odds with everyone else. I also felt myself wanting to smack her at times-especially in regards to Robert DeGraaf. I found myself thinking GAH! Pepper! Why can you not see his true character?! The romance aspect does take a different and more preferable direction later on. I could tell fairly early on that this was the route the book was taking but even though I figured out how this part would go, I liked watching it all unfold. I love a good underdog story. Pepper may be young but she has experienced a lot of sadness (especially the death of her mother). I was rooting for her and for the rescue of the Chance all the way through. I enjoyed the romance and was enchanted by the inner workings of the theatre. Kind of made me wish Vaudeville would make a comeback! Check this out if you are a theater geek, like quirky characters, or (like me!) adore all things historical New York.

*review copy from author*

[Siobian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pepper MacClair is living out her dream: dancing in a live stage show at the Chance Theater where she grew up. When she and her mother arrived from Scotland penniless, they were taken in at the Chance and given a room backstage while her mother worked as seamstress. Pepper grew up watching the chorus girls dance in the bright lights, and though the theatre is past its prime, she knows that there is no where else she belongs. When Robert DeGraff returns to take over the theater from his aging and sick father, Pepper hopes to jump back into the relationship they had before he left for college and prove that she is one of the best dancers on the stage. However, she soon realizes that Robert has different plans for her, and for her beloved theater.

Though it took me a little while of reading to get into it, the descriptions of the world backstage and its players fascinated me, and soon I was entranced with Pepper's story. I think what I enjoyed most about this book was that Dancing at the Chance is filled with realistic characters and the details the author added really brought them to life, such as Pepper, a dancer who wears old stage costumes as part of her wardrobe, Em, a woman who dresses in men's clothing and takes on the persona of Uptown Joe both on and off the stage, and Gregory, a stagehand who loves theatre but is fascinated by the workings of the new moving pictures. Not only do the human characters make the story, but the Chance theater seems to be a character of itself, making up the nucleus of the story where everything happens and comes back to. The novel is well written and flows nicely, dropping hints about a person's background to tease the reader into wanting to read more. Also, while it has a satisfying ending, it also may not be the ending the reader expects, which I appreciated. If you are interested in vaudeville and its players, I definitely recommend this novel.

*Please note, I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Cheryl Drake johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pepper MacClair lived and worked at the Chance Theater she breathed theater atmosphere she could not get enough of all the goings on behind the scenes as well as on stage she knew that she wanted to spend her life there and her mother was a seamstress as was she before she learned to dance and then became part of a dance trio and then about a a year ago her mother died and Pepper was upset because her mother would probably be alive if she had money to pay for a doctor and medicines for her so now since she was eighteen she could do whatever she wanted with her life she thought she was in love with the owner's son Robert DeGraaf all she wanted to do was work in the theater and marry Robert. But the stage manager didn't seem to like her for some reason and no matter what she did or didn't do seem to irritate the man and her mom's best friend Em was the ticket taker as well as a retired star whom she could talk her problems over with. And then there was Gregory Creighton who was the prop's/scenery manager and he was in love with Pepper and they had been close since she and her mother moved into the basement of the theater when she was a little girl and he showed her how everything worked around the theater since he lived there with his uncle who at the time was in his job he was proud of Pepper and wanted to make sure she was always taken care of. Until one day he realized that Pepper had done something she could never take back and for some reason she punished Gregory for it he excepted it as his due and life moved on until Robert graduated from school and came back home to New York. This is a historical romance about life in the Vaudeville era on and off the stage.

[Angie Kregg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was happy to receive a copy of this book through the FirstReads program.

Being a fan of historical novels, I was thrilled to have been chosen to review Dancing At The Chance. And being a dancer and theater girl myself, I was really excited to see how Ms. Cameron depicted the atmosphere of early 20th century vaudeville.

I was not disappointed in the slightest. Ms. Cameron brought the vitality, dedication, struggles and triumphs of theater to vivid life, and since she uses the medium of pen and paper instead of a more visual medium, I highly commend her on that. The reader is transported into this contradictory world of glitter and grime in such a way that you become a character backstage with them, witness to all the trials and tribulations that are essential to making the theater as magical as it is.

Pepper is one of those characters that you automatically connect with. You admire her pluck and courage while still despairing that she might not succeed in an environment that often known for harsh rejection and let downs. Her tenacity and intelligence win you to her side, until you're cheering for her at the very end when the unexpected twist rears its head. In essence, she is downright believable, unlike Em, who makes you cock your head to the side, scratch your skull, and say "What?".

Throw in a couple characters you love to hate, turn-of-the-century advancements in technology, and the lovable entertainers you can just picture in your head, and Dancing With The Chance definitely deserves a place on your bookshelf.

[Rhi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pepper MacClair grew up at the Chance, a theater home to a vaudeville troupe. Once a seamstress, she is now a chorus girl and eager to see The Chance take it's place in the lights once again. When the man she loves - the son of the theater's owner - returns, she thinks that maybe together they can change the fortunes of the Chance around.

Ms. Cameron has written a lovely romance for those who love the theater. This era - a time when vaudeville was dying as an art and the moving pictures were coming to the fore - is one rich with possibilities and Ms. Cameron certainly takes advantage of this. The setting is fantastic and Ms. Cameron certainly does her best to bring the New York of the early 1900s to life. Pepper is a delightful heroine: spunky and not afraid to speak her mind or work hard. The secondary characters were fun to get to know and I liked that they were well-rounded and not flat. I enjoyed Mr. Ziegfeld's appearance as a secondary character as well and the juxtaposition of his play with the Chance. The plot was a little predictable but enjoyable nonetheless.

While this is a romance, I think it is more about Pepper learning who she is and her own strength to pursue her dreams. Certainly, romance plays a part, but it seems almost ancillary to Pepper discovering her own path. Overall, I enjoyed reading this book.

[Gaile · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel is divided between the viewpoint of two characters, Pepper MacClair and Gregory Creighton. It revolves around the Chance Theater in New York city. Both character had grown up in this theater, lived in it still and called it home but the wonder who had built it up was now old and the building was disintegrating around while movie pictures were beginning to shove Vaudeville shows out.
Gregory loves to tinker and is very interested in the cameras for the new moving pictures. Pepper thinks she is in love with Robert DeGraaf, the son of the owner who cares nothing at all for her while Gregory makes it his buiness to watch out for Pepper. When they learn the theater is to be sold, all the players and staff make a last valiant attempt to make a show to "take all shows." There are other surprised endings to this tory.
I was put off by the name Pepper. I have heard of any human called this name. I have known many dogs called "Pepper." To me, it is a dog's name and I doubt anyone born in this time in history would have been named Pepper. It would have been believable to me had she been christened another time and some reason given for her being called "pepper." Other than that though, this is a good historical novel and a smooth and easy read.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book captured my heart with the Arabian Nights reference in the Last Chance Show, because I'm mildly obsessed with the Arabian Nights and any mention of Scheherezade automatically makes me happy.
Unfortunately, it took me 200 pages to get to that point.
For most of the book, I wanted to jolt Pepper out of her daydreams and tell her to grow up. Her naive worldview that everything would be all right as soon as she could talk to Robert was infuriating. She wasn't exactly an unlikeable protagonist, though, because her dreams and inner struggles were still relateable. Gregory's storyline, although I enjoyed getting to know more about him, didn't do much for me.
The weakest part of the book, though, was probably the stilted writing style. The arguments between Gregory and Robert just felt forced, as much as I believed the dislike was there. The constant use of "cretin" and "rat" sounded like the author was trying too hard. And some of the jumps from characters' inner thoughts back to the scene at hand were disjointed and confusing.
But ultimately I connected with the characters, enjoyed the way the disparate plot lines finally came together, and liked reading about the backstage world of the theatre.

[Kathleen Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dancing at the Chance is a wonderful old fashioned type of novel with engaging characters that you just want to love or hate...vaudeville, a very difficult occupation to have, especially if your theater is not doing the best as is the case with The Chance. Poor management and poor acts can mean the death of a theater. Hard work and little pay is what a person who wants to be in the limelight gets. Pepper MacClair desperately wants to pay back all the hard work that her mother put into the success of the Chance Theater. Pepper's mother is gone but Pepper is still part of the theater's "family". She is is in love with the owners son and hopes to marry and still be on stage. But things are not what they seem and Pepper find this out the hard way. When the owners son decides to sell The Chance after the death of his father, Pepper and the troupe of actors refuse to leave and go on to put on a show to beat all shows. This story is such a treat to read and I loved every minute of it. A very well researched historical novel set in the turn of the century (20th) New York focusing on vaudeville but also touching on the dawn of moving pictures (flickers). I highly recommend it.

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was looking for something light and enjoyable and I certainly found it in 'Dancing at the chance.' Something about this book drew me to it. I tend to favour more serious historical novels but sometimes I love a bit of fluff.

Dancing at the chance follows a young woman named Pepper who dances at the once grand Chance theater. She is one dancer among many who longs for her big break. When her past lover, who also happens to have inherited the theater returns she hopes to get a more prominent role as a dancer and also get the man of her dreams. However he might not be the man she thought he was and when the theater's existence is threatened she risks losing everything.

This was a sweet novel. Pepper is naive in many ways but she has a fire in her that endeared me towards her. It is a quick enjoyable read, however it was missing the substance that I usually find in books that I love. I recommend this for anyone looking for a light old fashioned kind of historical romance.

Rating: 3.5

[Emily Lund · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book free through goodreads giveaways. I have to say I was annoyed by the beginning of the novel. The main character, Pepper seemed truly convince of her happily ever after that i had to force myself not to face palm everytime she mentioned Robert. I truly enjoyed the other perspectives, especially Gregory, it was wonderfully to see how much he cares for Pepper. I was also surprised to find out about Em, although I kinda suspected something that nature when Pepper spoke of her mother going to the saloons with Em and that they (saloon) aren't the most respectable places. I had no idea that Stanley felt that way about Em and acted the he did because of such, that completely threw me. I am glad that the book ended the way it did, it was a good ending compared to the beginning. Overall a good read!!