When You Step: A Novel

by J.E. Harris

On the surface, it looked like Gigi Grant had it all. She managed a successful interior design firm. She had two lovely and precocious teenage daughters. And her best friends, Stacey and Vivian, were always there to offer support and share gossip over a bottle of wine. But as a single mom Gigi hardly found time for herself, balancing work, home, and of course, the revolving door of never-good-enough love interests.

Finally giving in to Vivian’s peer pressure, Gigi signs up for a Chicago Stepping dance class. Although it starts out as a fun diversion from everyday demands, Gigi is soon drawn into a turf war between rival stepping instructors, countless scandals, and other “grown folks” drama. Thankfully to guide her through the chaos is her charming new leading man, Harper Drake. Before she knows it, Gigi finds herself falling for more than just the dance...

236 pages, Paperback

Published April 26, 2016

About the author

J.E. Harris is a lawyer, a writer, an interior decorator...and, of course, a Stepper.

Believe it or not, Harris has more than twenty years’ experience as a corporate attorney practicing employment law for several large corporations in the Twin Cities, after earning her Juris Doctor from the University of Minnesota Law School and her undergraduate degree from Drake University.

For fun, you will find Harris serving her community through volunteer lawyer organizations and participating as a proud and active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. She also expresses her creativity as a licensed interior decorator and member of Certified Interior Decorators, International.

Naturally, Harris is a spirited participant in the Twin Cities Stepping Community, which served as the inspiration for her first novel. Harris and her soon-to-be hubby are also co-owners of StepWith2, L.L.C.

Harris originally hails from Rockford, Illinois. She lives in the Twin Cities area with her two beautiful daughters and her favorite Stepping Instructor. When You Step is Harris' first novel.

Reviews

[Dwight · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a stepper. I am also a male. This is the first fiction novel that I know of written with the dance in mind. I thought the characters were so accurate compared to real life that I felt as if I was living the story. Even though it was a "romance" novel, the humor and the character development kept me reading. Frankly, I was glad that it was not filled with a bunch of sex and dirty scenes from page one. The author kept it classy. My familiarity with the dance scene certainly drew me in, but the writing kept me turning the page. I think that J.E. Harris did a remarkable job of describing how things ACTUALLY happen on the set.

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think that this book kind of read more like a diary of a stepper than a novel. Though it was interesting to get a behind-the-scenes look at the stepping community, I found the plot and character development to be lacking. I think that going deeper into Stacey's love life / marital problems might have made the book more interesting, but the woman-learns-to-dance-and-falls-for-a-dancer story line just didn't do it for me. I wouldn't call it boring -- I did want to keep reading -- but I just expected more to happen in 226 pages.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

When you step is a solid romance that moves very, very slowly. In real life, nearly a year build up makes for a healthy relationship, but in a romance book, it is a letdown.

I received this book in a Goodreads giveaway. My opinion was not influenced by a the win.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not a dancer. I thought the backdrop of the book was interesting and I wanted to keep reading. For a first time author, the book was well written and a fast read for me. I would buy the sequel just to see what happens.