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Dancing in the Rain
A retired athlete meets the daughter he never knew—along with the woman who reignites his passions—in this powerful standalone romance from the bestselling author of Hot Shot and the Heller Brothers series.
Drew Sellers is drowning in broken dreams and empty beer bottles. Hockey was his world, until a bum knee reduced him from superstar to has-been. Then he learns that, thanks to a one-night-stand back in college, he's the father of a preteen girl with major issues. Her protective aunt sees right through Drew's BS, but "Auntie P" is no stereotypical spinster. With her slender curves, toned legs, and luscious lips, she has Drew indulging in fantasies that aren't exactly family-friendly.
At another point in her life, Peyton Watt would have been all over a cocky alpha male who pushes all her buttons like Drew. Right now, though, she needs to focus on taking care of her niece during her sister's health crisis, all while holding down a job and keeping...
Drew Sellers is drowning in broken dreams and empty beer bottles. Hockey was his world, until a bum knee reduced him from superstar to has-been. Then he learns that, thanks to a one-night-stand back in college, he's the father of a preteen girl with major issues. Her protective aunt sees right through Drew's BS, but "Auntie P" is no stereotypical spinster. With her slender curves, toned legs, and luscious lips, she has Drew indulging in fantasies that aren't exactly family-friendly.
At another point in her life, Peyton Watt would have been all over a cocky alpha male who pushes all her buttons like Drew. Right now, though, she needs to focus on taking care of her niece during her sister's health crisis, all while holding down a job and keeping...
311 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 11, 2017
152 people are currently reading
831 people want to read
About the author
Kelly Jamieson
136 books2,643 followersKelly Jamieson is a USA Today bestselling author of over 70 romance novels and novellas. Her writing has been described as “emotionally complex,” “sweet and satisfying,” and “blisteringly sexy.” She likes black coffee, white wine and high heels…and of course cheering on her Winnipeg Jets during hockey season! She loves hearing from readers, so please visit her website at www.kellyjamieson.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 250 reviews
April 26, 2017
4.5 Stars. When one of the heroes has been in a relationship with a sibling of their counterpart, it's not always easy to accept. The situation is delicate, to say the least. Despite my usual aversion to the scenario, I decided to give this a shot. I can't tell you how glad I was that I did. I will clarify some points when I advise on "safety".
These flawed characters were composed of so many dimensions that they felt real. Genuine. Drew was dropped into a very tough situation at a time when his life was exceedingly unstable. Peyton was trying to balance her professional life with a very devastating health situation with her sister. Despite their differences, they worked well as a couple. Drew exposed a depth to his character that left an impression. Peyton loved so fiercely and was a consistently strong heroine. I felt they built on a good connection even if it came at an inopportune time.
The plot. Oh, how I cried at a specific part of the story. I'm segmenting this part as a spoiler because it gives a detail of the plot. Here's why it touched me: Was it perfect? No, the story did reach in some areas, but nothing ever is flawless. When it comes down to it, I really enjoyed myself. Even if I had a bit on an emotional cleanse :)
Safety: Hero had a one night stand with the heroine's sister 12 years before. No further romantic exchanges with the sister occur beyond the one night. However, A child was conceived. They lost contact but then Peyton's sister coincidentally finds him as her health is declining, bringing him into Peyton's life. No others after they become romantically involved. No rape or abuse.
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
These flawed characters were composed of so many dimensions that they felt real. Genuine. Drew was dropped into a very tough situation at a time when his life was exceedingly unstable. Peyton was trying to balance her professional life with a very devastating health situation with her sister. Despite their differences, they worked well as a couple. Drew exposed a depth to his character that left an impression. Peyton loved so fiercely and was a consistently strong heroine. I felt they built on a good connection even if it came at an inopportune time.
The plot. Oh, how I cried at a specific part of the story. I'm segmenting this part as a spoiler because it gives a detail of the plot. Here's why it touched me: Was it perfect? No, the story did reach in some areas, but nothing ever is flawless. When it comes down to it, I really enjoyed myself. Even if I had a bit on an emotional cleanse :)
Safety: Hero had a one night stand with the heroine's sister 12 years before. No further romantic exchanges with the sister occur beyond the one night. However, A child was conceived. They lost contact but then Peyton's sister coincidentally finds him as her health is declining, bringing him into Peyton's life. No others after they become romantically involved. No rape or abuse.
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
April 12, 2017
Heartwarmingly sweet and touching. Drew and Peyton’s story will pull at your heartstrings while reminding you that life should be lived to the fullest.
This romantic and tender story about a forlon retired NHL star who unexpectedly meets the daughter he didn’t know he had and the woman who’s taken over her care was so very easy to love. There was such a vulnerability in the developing relationship between these people who meet under sad circumstances, but their bond feels absolutely right.
Ever since he was forced to retire due to a bad knee, Drew Sellers has lost his way and feels completely unprepared and unfit to meet the almost twelve year old daughter he just recently found out he had. But not only will the loving and protective Aunt Peyton hear none of his self-pity, she’ll also cause him to want to be a better and deserving man of both woman and girl.
Peyton Watt was all about her career, or she used to be until her sister’s health requires her to move temporarily from NY to Chicago to take care of both her sister and her nice. To make matters worse, her niece’s gorgeous but very unemployed father seems to be drowning in drinks. But after spending some time with him, she gets to see the caring and good man buried under all that self-pity. Can they overcome all the obstacles life throws at them?
This story will inch its way into your heart with its tear-evoking plot and wonderfully developed characters. Drew, Peyton and the young Chloe feel real with their sad plight and need to embrace life; and because they felt so genuine their story stuck me even more and I found myself cheering for them wholeheartedly.
Peyton and Drew are unexpectedly thrown together by life altering circumstances and while they work to build a relationship revolving around Chloe they’re forced to deal with their careers or lack there of, grief, denial, anger juxtaposed with happiness, acceptance, attraction and love. Dancing in the Rain had me captivated from start to finish.
Drew was very much down on life engaging in destructive behaviors. Peyton never saw having family in her life. He has a very interesting wake up call. She has to re-think her priorities. They’re forced to get to know one another, rely on each other, they had to figure out the strong attraction between them and even though they seamlessly fit in each other’s lives, they had difficult choices to make. I loved watching Drew figure out his life and how to be a parent and I very much enjoyed their delicious slow burn romance.
Having read several of Kelly Jamieson’s hockey books, it was came as a wonderful surprise that this book was different from the rest. This is my favorite Kelly Jamieson book. It is heartfelt and emotional, highlighting the importance of living life to its fullest.
4.5 stars
Dancing in the Rain is a standalone contemporary romance by Kelly Jamieson. It’s a sexy, poignant and sweet love story written from both points of view with a happy ending.
Amazon -> http://amzn.to/2oxriSs
* I was given an ARC of this book courtesy of the author via NetGalley. The excerpts are from that copy. *
More reviews * Stalk us on FaceBook * As well as Twitter * Pinterest Board for Book Teasers
This romantic and tender story about a forlon retired NHL star who unexpectedly meets the daughter he didn’t know he had and the woman who’s taken over her care was so very easy to love. There was such a vulnerability in the developing relationship between these people who meet under sad circumstances, but their bond feels absolutely right.
Ever since he was forced to retire due to a bad knee, Drew Sellers has lost his way and feels completely unprepared and unfit to meet the almost twelve year old daughter he just recently found out he had. But not only will the loving and protective Aunt Peyton hear none of his self-pity, she’ll also cause him to want to be a better and deserving man of both woman and girl.
“Failure isn’t falling down—it’s falling down and refusing to get up.”
Peyton Watt was all about her career, or she used to be until her sister’s health requires her to move temporarily from NY to Chicago to take care of both her sister and her nice. To make matters worse, her niece’s gorgeous but very unemployed father seems to be drowning in drinks. But after spending some time with him, she gets to see the caring and good man buried under all that self-pity. Can they overcome all the obstacles life throws at them?
This story will inch its way into your heart with its tear-evoking plot and wonderfully developed characters. Drew, Peyton and the young Chloe feel real with their sad plight and need to embrace life; and because they felt so genuine their story stuck me even more and I found myself cheering for them wholeheartedly.
Peyton and Drew are unexpectedly thrown together by life altering circumstances and while they work to build a relationship revolving around Chloe they’re forced to deal with their careers or lack there of, grief, denial, anger juxtaposed with happiness, acceptance, attraction and love. Dancing in the Rain had me captivated from start to finish.
“He felt like he didn’t fit in anywhere now. Just adrift on an endless ocean of cr@p, no map, compass, no diections… hell, no destination. No identity. He was nobody now.”
Drew was very much down on life engaging in destructive behaviors. Peyton never saw having family in her life. He has a very interesting wake up call. She has to re-think her priorities. They’re forced to get to know one another, rely on each other, they had to figure out the strong attraction between them and even though they seamlessly fit in each other’s lives, they had difficult choices to make. I loved watching Drew figure out his life and how to be a parent and I very much enjoyed their delicious slow burn romance.
He nabbed his T-shirt and carried it to the living room where Peyton waited. She could probably handle his bare chest. “Okay… I’m decent.”
“Oh yes, you are,” she said appreciatively as she turned. She took in his chest ad he pulled the shirt over his head. “Very decent.”
Having read several of Kelly Jamieson’s hockey books, it was came as a wonderful surprise that this book was different from the rest. This is my favorite Kelly Jamieson book. It is heartfelt and emotional, highlighting the importance of living life to its fullest.
4.5 stars
Dancing in the Rain is a standalone contemporary romance by Kelly Jamieson. It’s a sexy, poignant and sweet love story written from both points of view with a happy ending.
Amazon -> http://amzn.to/2oxriSs
* I was given an ARC of this book courtesy of the author via NetGalley. The excerpts are from that copy. *
More reviews * Stalk us on FaceBook * As well as Twitter * Pinterest Board for Book Teasers
April 11, 2017
I’m a blubbering mess after reading Dancing in the Rain by Kelly Jamieson, but in the best of ways. This book was a serious journey and it deals with all kinds of life changing moments in people’s lives; death, grief, divorce, career changes, a surprise “baby,” new love, and so much else and it would be easy to assume that a romance thrown into all of that would be lost, but it absolutely was not. Ms. Jamieson did a fantastic job of writing these two people building a relationship while they dealt with more things going on in their lives than any two people should have to deal with in a lifetime. I’m actually in awe of the way this story was crafted; there were many layers to it and each one was intricate to the big picture. Speaking of which this is the type of book that would absolutely make a wonderful movie. Heartbreaking yet uplifting, sweet yet sexy, and profound, Dancing In the Rain was impossible to put down.
Drew Sellers life in on a downward spiral; an injury has ended his hockey career, he has no back-up plan, he divorced his wife after she cheated on him with a teammate, and as his teammates begin to return for the start of the season he is feeling down and useless. Drinking way too much, taking risks, and starting fights seems to be the only thing that dulls the pain until he meets a woman that changes his life trajectory with one sentence, “Yes, you have a nearly twelve-year old daughter.”
This book was intriguing and different because it does not play out the way most in this trope do. Finding out he has a daughter is a bit of a wake-up call for him and her protective and “tells it like she sees it” aunt turns out to be just what he needs to leave his pity party behind and figure out his life.
The romance between Drew and Peyton moves at a slow burn because of the circumstances surrounding them, but I found that quite enjoyable. It forced them to get to know one another and really see they type of people they are. Both Drew and Peyton have his daughter, Chloe’s best interest at heart and I loved watching Drew learn how to parent, make some mistakes, but also understand he wasn’t her friend and tough decisions might not be easy, but were necessary. I really felt that Drew and Peyton brought out the best in each other; they both grew so much during the course of this book.
As a reader, I experienced so many emotions reading this book and was a bit exhausted when I finished, but I was also extremely satisfied. This book is very different from Ms. Jamieson’s usual work, however it is one of her best; her emotional storytelling brought realism to this book, her characters brought it alive, and the message of life is short and hard so take time to dance in the rain is something everyone should embrace.
Review copy provided by Loveswept ( #PRHpartner ).
April 10, 2017
This is a beautiful love story. It’s not only about the love between a man and a woman, but about the love of a sister, a daughter, an aunt, and a father. I normally try to stay away from anything related to fatal illness as it can take me to a bad place. Amazingly enough, this story has so much love in it that I never got totally lost in the sadness. It actually led me to remember that devastating illness and loss can often times bring out the very best in people. Dancing in the Rain is a perfect example of that.
My heart ached for all the characters in this book. They are each struggling to deal with either their current loss – Drew and his career, or their future loss – Peyton and Chloe and the illness of their loved one. What shines through is that the care, love and support they give to each other can help to bring definition into a life unfulfilled.
This is a fast paced read and despite the heavy angst that it holds, it still had plenty of fun banter, laughter filled scenes and all the steamy goodness this author is known for. I loved every moment of Mark and Peyton’s journey to overcome so many obstacles on the way to their happy ending.
Dual POV
No other woman/other man drama
ARC provided for honest review
My heart ached for all the characters in this book. They are each struggling to deal with either their current loss – Drew and his career, or their future loss – Peyton and Chloe and the illness of their loved one. What shines through is that the care, love and support they give to each other can help to bring definition into a life unfulfilled.
This is a fast paced read and despite the heavy angst that it holds, it still had plenty of fun banter, laughter filled scenes and all the steamy goodness this author is known for. I loved every moment of Mark and Peyton’s journey to overcome so many obstacles on the way to their happy ending.
Dual POV
No other woman/other man drama
ARC provided for honest review
September 23, 2021
One of my favorite reads from this author...kindle version is currently on sale for 99 cents....09/23/2021
4.5 stars.
Beautiful story about love and loss. This was an emotional story with characters that were so very real and my heart broke at times for all of them. Everybody in this novel is faced with some degree of loss at some time - Drew with the loss of a career that he loved and Peyton and Chloe with the impending death of a beloved sister and mother. Despite the heavy themes present here this was not a depressing book and though there is sadness there is also joy, kindness and positivity.
I really loved this story and this author brought it to life so wonderfully.
4.5 stars.
Beautiful story about love and loss. This was an emotional story with characters that were so very real and my heart broke at times for all of them. Everybody in this novel is faced with some degree of loss at some time - Drew with the loss of a career that he loved and Peyton and Chloe with the impending death of a beloved sister and mother. Despite the heavy themes present here this was not a depressing book and though there is sadness there is also joy, kindness and positivity.
I really loved this story and this author brought it to life so wonderfully.
April 11, 2017
What an emotional and incredible book! I've read several Kelly Jamieson books and this has been the best, by far, as to emotional involvement. I really felt this book. I believed the turmoil these people were going through and how they grew close by the tragedy.
The support of Peyton to her sister Sara who is dying of Cancer was inspiring. The support of Drew, who just found out he has a grown daughter by Sara, made him such a great hero. The fact that he was already dealing, horrible, with his own turmoil from losing his hockey career, seeing his daughter slowly lose one parent opened his eyes to what was important in life.
I have no complaints or wishes that anything was done differently. I can't deny that the things I didn't like was meant to happen to create a strong foundation. I just warn you to have tissues sitting by you as you read.
ARC provided by Netgalley.
The support of Peyton to her sister Sara who is dying of Cancer was inspiring. The support of Drew, who just found out he has a grown daughter by Sara, made him such a great hero. The fact that he was already dealing, horrible, with his own turmoil from losing his hockey career, seeing his daughter slowly lose one parent opened his eyes to what was important in life.
I have no complaints or wishes that anything was done differently. I can't deny that the things I didn't like was meant to happen to create a strong foundation. I just warn you to have tissues sitting by you as you read.
ARC provided by Netgalley.
April 17, 2017
Three and a half stars.
This was not quite the book I assumed from skimming the blurb, it wasn't the standard billionaire sportsman suddenly has hitherto unknown child come to live with him, but something a bit more nuanced.
Drew Sellers is a former NHL player who has had to retire after several surgeries to his knee. With no back-up plan, his wife has left him for a former team-mate, he is feeling washed up and spends his days drinking too much, throwing a pity party for one and starting bar fights.
One day he runs into a woman, Sara Watt, who claims that they had sex 12 years earlier while they were both at college and she has a 12 year old daughter as a result. She didn't know his last name or which college he went to and therefore couldn't contact him. It was only when she saw his picture on the front of a magazine that she found out his full name. Sara has contacted Drew because she is dying and wants her daughter Chloe to know her father. Sara's sister Peyton is a career woman in New York but she flies to stay with her sister and niece to take care of them.
For the first time since he was forced to retire Drew has a reason for getting out of bed in the morning (as opposed to noon), as Sara gets weaker he steps up to get Chloe to school and doing parental things like homework. As the sparks fly between Drew and Peyton they need to make some tough choices about the future.
Drew was such a sweetheart and came from such a tight family background that I found it hard to believe that he was drowning in self-pity alone. Also I found Peyton to be very judgemental, she takes one incident and refers to it multiple times as is Drew were some kind of deadbeat alcoholic.
I liked this book, it was deeper than I was expecting, not as funny as I was expecting - Drew didn't really make any parenting mistakes - but also not as sad as I would have expected given Sara's terminal illness. This struck me as somewhat of a transitional book (and I may be totally off base here) between an author who has written romantic series about hockey players to an author writing about more 'normal' people. So Drew was an NHL player but he didn't have a long career and he hasn't salted away gazillions. He drives a Porsche but his house is similar to Sara's house (although Sara and Peyton's parents were quite well off and left them the house).
It will be interesting to see whether this the start of a new series or a one-off.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Bumped for release.
This was not quite the book I assumed from skimming the blurb, it wasn't the standard billionaire sportsman suddenly has hitherto unknown child come to live with him, but something a bit more nuanced.
Drew Sellers is a former NHL player who has had to retire after several surgeries to his knee. With no back-up plan, his wife has left him for a former team-mate, he is feeling washed up and spends his days drinking too much, throwing a pity party for one and starting bar fights.
One day he runs into a woman, Sara Watt, who claims that they had sex 12 years earlier while they were both at college and she has a 12 year old daughter as a result. She didn't know his last name or which college he went to and therefore couldn't contact him. It was only when she saw his picture on the front of a magazine that she found out his full name. Sara has contacted Drew because she is dying and wants her daughter Chloe to know her father. Sara's sister Peyton is a career woman in New York but she flies to stay with her sister and niece to take care of them.
For the first time since he was forced to retire Drew has a reason for getting out of bed in the morning (as opposed to noon), as Sara gets weaker he steps up to get Chloe to school and doing parental things like homework. As the sparks fly between Drew and Peyton they need to make some tough choices about the future.
Drew was such a sweetheart and came from such a tight family background that I found it hard to believe that he was drowning in self-pity alone. Also I found Peyton to be very judgemental, she takes one incident and refers to it multiple times as is Drew were some kind of deadbeat alcoholic.
I liked this book, it was deeper than I was expecting, not as funny as I was expecting - Drew didn't really make any parenting mistakes - but also not as sad as I would have expected given Sara's terminal illness. This struck me as somewhat of a transitional book (and I may be totally off base here) between an author who has written romantic series about hockey players to an author writing about more 'normal' people. So Drew was an NHL player but he didn't have a long career and he hasn't salted away gazillions. He drives a Porsche but his house is similar to Sara's house (although Sara and Peyton's parents were quite well off and left them the house).
It will be interesting to see whether this the start of a new series or a one-off.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Bumped for release.
December 4, 2017
http://amzn.to/2mTtnHM 4.5 stars I LOVE this book
Dancing in the Rain was such a wonderful read, one that reminded me of why I adore Ms. Jamieson’s writing.
Dancing in the Rain introduces the reader to Drew Seller, a retired professional hockey player who finds himself in a whirlwind when he learns a one night stand from his college days had him fathering a now pre-teen daughter, Chloe.
The use of Chloe throughout this book was outstanding!!! As Drew folds himself into his life the author painted some wonderful scenes that really show his bonding with her, his wanting to take an active part in her life, his desire to stand up for his daughter and his desire to parent. Yes really parent—taking on tough issues not just wanting to be fun.
Though the blurb shares a bit about Peyton Watt, I am going to choose not to. I think it is best to experience the relationship between Drew and Peyton grow organically as the story evolves.
I think the author did a wonderful job at making this story work. I understood why Drew didn’t know about Chloe, I understand why her mother couldn’t find him and I really understand why now, why in the moments we meet Drew did she step forward.
This book made me feel. It did have me shedding a tear or two and I closed it with a full heart!
By the end of this one, I loved Drew for more reason that I can even list!
Dancing in the Rain was such a wonderful read, one that reminded me of why I adore Ms. Jamieson’s writing.
Dancing in the Rain introduces the reader to Drew Seller, a retired professional hockey player who finds himself in a whirlwind when he learns a one night stand from his college days had him fathering a now pre-teen daughter, Chloe.
The use of Chloe throughout this book was outstanding!!! As Drew folds himself into his life the author painted some wonderful scenes that really show his bonding with her, his wanting to take an active part in her life, his desire to stand up for his daughter and his desire to parent. Yes really parent—taking on tough issues not just wanting to be fun.
Though the blurb shares a bit about Peyton Watt, I am going to choose not to. I think it is best to experience the relationship between Drew and Peyton grow organically as the story evolves.
I think the author did a wonderful job at making this story work. I understood why Drew didn’t know about Chloe, I understand why her mother couldn’t find him and I really understand why now, why in the moments we meet Drew did she step forward.
This book made me feel. It did have me shedding a tear or two and I closed it with a full heart!
By the end of this one, I loved Drew for more reason that I can even list!
April 15, 2017
Book Review
Title: Dancing in the Rain
Author: Kelly Jamieson
Genre: Contemporary Sports Romance
Publication Date: April 11, 2017
Cliff Hanger: No
4 Stars
*This story is for mature audiences only. Contains explicit scenes and language intended for adults 18+
Synopsis:
A retired athlete meets the daughter he never knew—along with the woman who reignites his passions—in this powerful standalone romance from the bestselling author of Hot Shot and the Heller Brothers series.
Drew Sellers is drowning in broken dreams and empty beer bottles. Hockey was his world, until a bum knee reduced him from superstar to has-been. Then he learns that, thanks to a one-night-stand back in college, he’s the father of a preteen girl with major issues. Her protective aunt sees right through Drew’s BS, but “Auntie P” is no stereotypical spinster. With her slender curves, toned legs, and luscious lips, she has Drew indulging in fantasies that aren’t exactly family-friendly.
At another point in her life, Peyton Watt would have been all over a cocky alpha male who pushes all her buttons like Drew. Right now, though, she needs to focus on taking care of her niece during her sister’s health crisis, all while holding down a job and keeping her own head above water. Besides, Drew’s clearly no father of the year. He’s unemployed. He drinks too much. And he’s living in the past. But after Peyton gets a glimpse of the genuine man behind his tough-guy façade, she’s hooked—and there’s no going back.
My Thoughts:
This is my favorite by this author thus far! It has a different feel to it than what I have read from her in the past. This book had a lot of feels to it.
This book deals with so many issues that tug at your heart and soul. A man that had to walk away from his career in his prime after playing with an injury that there was no coming back from. He is lost and he has lost his identity. He is drinking too much. Fighting too much. Using women too much. He is having the ultimate pity party that he doesn’t see an end to. There are fears and self-doubt. Until one day he gets a drop in the gut from a frail woman that claims she is the mother of his 12-year-old daughter after a drunken one-night-stand in college. She leaves the ball in his court, gave him her business card and dropped a bomb on him that she was dying.
Peyton is a successful business woman living her dream in NYC. She has the job of her dreams even though her boss is a major ass. Then she gets a call from her niece telling her that her mom and Peyton’s sister was not doing well and asked if she could please come home. Peyton dropped everything and flew back to Chicago to a devastating discovering. The reality of her losing her sister was really hitting home. She is trying to work from home for her job, trying to take care of her niece, her sister and now trying to help her niece forge a relationship with her new found father.
This book took me on such a roller coaster of emotions! There was fun banter and laugh out loud times. There were times my heart hurt for all of them and yes, I shed a few tears. There was a connection between Peyton and Drew that just couldn’t be denied. Believe me they tried. Their chemistry was through the roof! It was such a great touching journey to watch as the dynamics changed for these four people and how that all changed their lives forever! The characters went on a journey of self-discovery that taught them they were capable of so much more than they ever thought possible.
This is such a sweet and emotionally charged love story and I highly recommend it!
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley for an honest opinion.
Title: Dancing in the Rain
Author: Kelly Jamieson
Genre: Contemporary Sports Romance
Publication Date: April 11, 2017
Cliff Hanger: No
4 Stars
*This story is for mature audiences only. Contains explicit scenes and language intended for adults 18+
Synopsis:
A retired athlete meets the daughter he never knew—along with the woman who reignites his passions—in this powerful standalone romance from the bestselling author of Hot Shot and the Heller Brothers series.
Drew Sellers is drowning in broken dreams and empty beer bottles. Hockey was his world, until a bum knee reduced him from superstar to has-been. Then he learns that, thanks to a one-night-stand back in college, he’s the father of a preteen girl with major issues. Her protective aunt sees right through Drew’s BS, but “Auntie P” is no stereotypical spinster. With her slender curves, toned legs, and luscious lips, she has Drew indulging in fantasies that aren’t exactly family-friendly.
At another point in her life, Peyton Watt would have been all over a cocky alpha male who pushes all her buttons like Drew. Right now, though, she needs to focus on taking care of her niece during her sister’s health crisis, all while holding down a job and keeping her own head above water. Besides, Drew’s clearly no father of the year. He’s unemployed. He drinks too much. And he’s living in the past. But after Peyton gets a glimpse of the genuine man behind his tough-guy façade, she’s hooked—and there’s no going back.
My Thoughts:
This is my favorite by this author thus far! It has a different feel to it than what I have read from her in the past. This book had a lot of feels to it.
This book deals with so many issues that tug at your heart and soul. A man that had to walk away from his career in his prime after playing with an injury that there was no coming back from. He is lost and he has lost his identity. He is drinking too much. Fighting too much. Using women too much. He is having the ultimate pity party that he doesn’t see an end to. There are fears and self-doubt. Until one day he gets a drop in the gut from a frail woman that claims she is the mother of his 12-year-old daughter after a drunken one-night-stand in college. She leaves the ball in his court, gave him her business card and dropped a bomb on him that she was dying.
Peyton is a successful business woman living her dream in NYC. She has the job of her dreams even though her boss is a major ass. Then she gets a call from her niece telling her that her mom and Peyton’s sister was not doing well and asked if she could please come home. Peyton dropped everything and flew back to Chicago to a devastating discovering. The reality of her losing her sister was really hitting home. She is trying to work from home for her job, trying to take care of her niece, her sister and now trying to help her niece forge a relationship with her new found father.
This book took me on such a roller coaster of emotions! There was fun banter and laugh out loud times. There were times my heart hurt for all of them and yes, I shed a few tears. There was a connection between Peyton and Drew that just couldn’t be denied. Believe me they tried. Their chemistry was through the roof! It was such a great touching journey to watch as the dynamics changed for these four people and how that all changed their lives forever! The characters went on a journey of self-discovery that taught them they were capable of so much more than they ever thought possible.
This is such a sweet and emotionally charged love story and I highly recommend it!
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley for an honest opinion.
February 8, 2017
Drew Sellers is a former NHL player who had to retire with a knee injury. Then his wife left him for his team mate and now he's drowning his sorrows not knowing where he's going in life. Then a woman named Sara comes to tell him that he is the father of her 11 year old daughter Chloe. Drew and Sara had a one night stand in college but she only knew his first name and thought he was at college with her but he wasn't, so she was unable to track him down but then she saw his picture on the front of a magazine and found out his full name. Sara has contacted Drew because she has stage 4 cancer and is dying and although Chloe has an Auntie (Peyton), they have no other family and she wants her daughter Chloe to know her father. It also turns out that Drew lives near Sara and Chloe and has done for years so I found that a bit far fetched.
Sara's sister Peyton is a career woman in New York but she flies to stay with her sister and niece to take care of them. There is no anger on Drew's part that he didn't know he had a child all these years and although he is unsure if he can step up to the plate after a confrontation with Peyton, he rethinks his decision.
This was quite a basic romance. I didn't feel the connection between Drew and Peyton and although the story surrounding Sara is sad, it lacked emotion. Drew and Peyton are attracted to one another and begin a sexual relationship (Peyton didn't seem to mind that she was sleeping with an ex lover of her sisters!). Drew becomes close to Chloe and helps out a lot then once Sara dies, Peyton has to think about returning to New York and taking Chloe with her but of course Drew doesn't want to lose his daughter (or Peyton).
The standard romance format of the couple falling out then reuniting was also lacking in any emotion. Drew is a nice guy and Peyton is OK but both characters lacked something for me as did the romance. It had potential to be a good story but in my opinion it failed to have any real impact.
I received an ARC from Netgalley.
Sara's sister Peyton is a career woman in New York but she flies to stay with her sister and niece to take care of them. There is no anger on Drew's part that he didn't know he had a child all these years and although he is unsure if he can step up to the plate after a confrontation with Peyton, he rethinks his decision.
This was quite a basic romance. I didn't feel the connection between Drew and Peyton and although the story surrounding Sara is sad, it lacked emotion. Drew and Peyton are attracted to one another and begin a sexual relationship (Peyton didn't seem to mind that she was sleeping with an ex lover of her sisters!). Drew becomes close to Chloe and helps out a lot then once Sara dies, Peyton has to think about returning to New York and taking Chloe with her but of course Drew doesn't want to lose his daughter (or Peyton).
The standard romance format of the couple falling out then reuniting was also lacking in any emotion. Drew is a nice guy and Peyton is OK but both characters lacked something for me as did the romance. It had potential to be a good story but in my opinion it failed to have any real impact.
I received an ARC from Netgalley.
May 27, 2024
Yeah, so this one was a big miss for me.
Drew has a one night stand then years later finds out he has a daughter. However, his daughters mom is currently losing a battle with cancer. Okay, this story I can get behind. Watching a guy learn and navigate fatherhood with an almost teenage daughter while he himself is lost in his life currently. But then it gets weird.
See the dying moms sister comes to stay with her and Drew suddenly falls for her. Yup, he falls for the sister of the woman with whom he had a child with. I just couldn't get behind that. Not only that, but Peyton - the aunt - was not really a nice person. It really seemed like she resented the fact that Drew was in his daughters life and almost blamed him for missing the first 12 years. Because he was just supposed to know she existed. Add that to the fact that she also didn't seem to communicate with her niece. They were supposed to have this super close relationship but I never felt any of that - we were just told it was true. If that was the case, how was she so blind to what her niece was feeling? I don't know.
This book was extremely predicable but by the end, I actually didn't want them together. Mainly for the daughters sake because she's still trying to process her mother's death and the fact that she has a dad. Both parties just seemed to only care about themselves and having the child was an afterthought. This one really missed the mark for me.
Drew has a one night stand then years later finds out he has a daughter. However, his daughters mom is currently losing a battle with cancer. Okay, this story I can get behind. Watching a guy learn and navigate fatherhood with an almost teenage daughter while he himself is lost in his life currently. But then it gets weird.
See the dying moms sister comes to stay with her and Drew suddenly falls for her. Yup, he falls for the sister of the woman with whom he had a child with. I just couldn't get behind that. Not only that, but Peyton - the aunt - was not really a nice person. It really seemed like she resented the fact that Drew was in his daughters life and almost blamed him for missing the first 12 years. Because he was just supposed to know she existed. Add that to the fact that she also didn't seem to communicate with her niece. They were supposed to have this super close relationship but I never felt any of that - we were just told it was true. If that was the case, how was she so blind to what her niece was feeling? I don't know.
This book was extremely predicable but by the end, I actually didn't want them together. Mainly for the daughters sake because she's still trying to process her mother's death and the fact that she has a dad. Both parties just seemed to only care about themselves and having the child was an afterthought. This one really missed the mark for me.
January 26, 2018
I happened to be browsing the public library's romance page and came across this book, and I'm so glad I checked it out.
Drew Sellers, former NHL player, has just learned he has a 12-year old daughter. Chloe was the product of a one-night stand in college, and he didn't even know the girl's last name. Thanks to his celebrity, the mother, Sara Watt, sees a picture of Drew in a magazine and finds him. Their first meeting didn't go very well.
It turns out that Sara has cancer. Her sister, Peyton, comes in to Chicago from New York frequently to look after her sister, but one call from her niece telling her things are really bad have her in Chi-town for longer than expected.
Drew comes to Sara's house one day, and he meets Peyton. They are instantly attracted to one another, but know they can't do anything about it, given the situation. Sara asks Drew to meet Chloe, and while he initially agrees, he gets cold feet. Peyton is the person who gets that call, and she's pissed. So she goes to Drew's to give him a piece of her mind - and he answers the door buck naked.
*Soapbox* I don't like the characterization above as Chloe being a tween daughter with major issues. She didn't have major issues, other than her mother being sick and being sad. *Coming off soapbox*.
This story is very nicely written, and Sara's condition and deteriorating health were handled very delicately. There are some very sad scenes. I honestly feel that given the heavy emotional aspect of this book, it would have been better written in the first person, alternating POV's (rather than the 3rd person it was written in).
Drew and Peyton were both incredibly strong characters. They had been through so much, and both were resilient. I especially loved Chloe, the daughter.
I would highly recommend this book.
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Drew Sellers, former NHL player, has just learned he has a 12-year old daughter. Chloe was the product of a one-night stand in college, and he didn't even know the girl's last name. Thanks to his celebrity, the mother, Sara Watt, sees a picture of Drew in a magazine and finds him. Their first meeting didn't go very well.
It turns out that Sara has cancer. Her sister, Peyton, comes in to Chicago from New York frequently to look after her sister, but one call from her niece telling her things are really bad have her in Chi-town for longer than expected.
Drew comes to Sara's house one day, and he meets Peyton. They are instantly attracted to one another, but know they can't do anything about it, given the situation. Sara asks Drew to meet Chloe, and while he initially agrees, he gets cold feet. Peyton is the person who gets that call, and she's pissed. So she goes to Drew's to give him a piece of her mind - and he answers the door buck naked.
*Soapbox* I don't like the characterization above as Chloe being a tween daughter with major issues. She didn't have major issues, other than her mother being sick and being sad. *Coming off soapbox*.
This story is very nicely written, and Sara's condition and deteriorating health were handled very delicately. There are some very sad scenes. I honestly feel that given the heavy emotional aspect of this book, it would have been better written in the first person, alternating POV's (rather than the 3rd person it was written in).
Drew and Peyton were both incredibly strong characters. They had been through so much, and both were resilient. I especially loved Chloe, the daughter.
I would highly recommend this book.
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October 24, 2017
Well written emotional heart-breaking story.
But I didn’t love it. It may be a personal issue, but I couldn’t connect to the characters.
h’s sister suffered till 58%, they let her go at 58% of the story! Until that moment I already loved her, she was such an amazing woman and incredible mother. Damn, I cried as she died. Life is unfair!!!
She got all my love, nothing left for the MCs…
The heroine was ok, I liked her. She was strong, she had great career, she was smart and confident. It’s a shame she was the one to give up her life at the end. I understood and supported her decision to stay in Chicago because of her niece, but it wasn’t totally necessary – NY would have worked out too. She sacrificed so much, and it rubbed me wrong.
I didn’t like the hero. Not a bit. Meh. Weak and annoying. Again, it may be my personal issue, but I couldn’t stand him. After he hurt the heroine and said many harsh things to her, I deleted him from my radar. And then they made the heroine say that it wasn’t only his fault, but hers too -> nope, just nope.
Ugh! I’d rather stop now *grr*
Safe.
But I didn’t love it. It may be a personal issue, but I couldn’t connect to the characters.
h’s sister suffered till 58%, they let her go at 58% of the story! Until that moment I already loved her, she was such an amazing woman and incredible mother. Damn, I cried as she died. Life is unfair!!!
She got all my love, nothing left for the MCs…
The heroine was ok, I liked her. She was strong, she had great career, she was smart and confident. It’s a shame she was the one to give up her life at the end. I understood and supported her decision to stay in Chicago because of her niece, but it wasn’t totally necessary – NY would have worked out too. She sacrificed so much, and it rubbed me wrong.
I didn’t like the hero. Not a bit. Meh. Weak and annoying. Again, it may be my personal issue, but I couldn’t stand him. After he hurt the heroine and said many harsh things to her, I deleted him from my radar. And then they made the heroine say that it wasn’t only his fault, but hers too -> nope, just nope.
Ugh! I’d rather stop now *grr*
Safe.
April 3, 2017
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3.5 stars -- I received a free copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.
OK, in a totally boneheaded move I avoided reading a different ARC of mine b/c I was afraid of all the emotions, and instead picked up this one, which contains...ALL THE EMOTIONS. I don't know if I just forgot the blurb since when I requested it, but yeah. For a girl who was looking for something lighter, I really wasn't thinking. So basically what I'm saying is that this book deals with some pretty heavy topics, and is definitely on the more emotional scale. It doesn't help that I have a personal connection to the type of Cancer that Sara is dealing with (melanoma), so it hit a bit too close to home at times. But at the same time, it was nice that a cancer that's affecting my loved one was getting a bit of attention.
So this is my first book by Ms. Jamieson, and perhaps it wasn't the best introduction to her work. Which is NOT to say the book wasn't well written, just that it sounds like it was a bit of a departure from her usual stuff (both from reviews and from her note in the acknowledgements about being encouraged to branch out), so I will definitely have to get me one of her hockey books in the future and get another taste. I can honestly say I enjoyed that Drew was Canadian, b/c I got to see some teeny tiny things that made me (as a Canadian) smile.
In the end, you know where the strength of this story lies? In the non-romance part. In the development of Drew, in the grief shared by the family, in their navigation of new realities. I'm not sure what happened, but it's almost like Ms. Jamieson was so focused on bringing us a "bigger book" that the romance kind of got lost in the shuffle. Which is not to say it wasn't there, but it just didn't capture me. It felt a bit forced. I didn't feel that chemistry between Peyton and Drew. It kind of...well...bored me. :( I really hate saying things like that, but it's how I felt. Even the steamy scenes didn't really do much for me...but part of that was because there was some talking, and I'm really picky about my dirty talk and Drew's didn't work for me. No offense, but no.
OK, so that was the bad. Which is kind of a bummer, b/c I'm a romance girl at heart. BUT!!! But but but... A lot of THE OTHER STUFF was so well done for me!!! These characters were really pretty flawed. But not without redemption. It was kind of intriguing to read about a character being forced into retirement b/c of injury. It's not really sexy to see a guy indulging in a pity party, but it was very real at the same time...I could get how he got to that point, and I could really feel his emotions. It's not how you normally want to see your heroes, but I really didn't mind it. B/C it's kind of refreshing you know? And it made his growth so much more satisfying. I loved how much he struggled with getting out of that low, that it wasn't just easy... I know that's kind of weird and may turn other people off, but not me. It made him more real to me. It made me love Drew more.
And then there was how he dealt with finding out he was a Dad. OMG, AGAIN real real real. There wasn't some magical instant connection, and he wasn't immediately comfortable with it all. But he was interested. And even though he wobbled at the beginning, he really put his all into developing a relationship. I LOVED that he was honest about his feelings at different steps along the way. And I loved that he had some great instincts with Chloe, even if he didn't always trust them. Sometimes I felt a bit weird at how he got some things so perfectly right (like the dress code), but on the other hand I was cheering!
And I thought Chloe was very realistic too! She's in that stage of life where we get to see so much, both good and bad. She had missteps, and attitude, but also heart and depth. I appreciated that.
Peyton was a little less likable for me. I'm not sure if I just didn't get enough from her, or maybe I was disappointed in how long it took her to come to certain conclusions. But where she shined for me was in displaying how hard it is to deal with a family member who is dying, and then in showing us authentic grief afterwards. I really appreciated that, and my heart just broke for her.
I was a little bummed in both of our MCs about the climax. I guess it kind of went hand in hand with them behaving unfortunately realistically, but at the same time some of their actions and reactions felt a wee bit out of character. But maybe that was just me.
So yeah. Odd reading experience for me. To have some things that I absolutely adored, but others that left me wanting. I think if the climax hadn't been so off-putting, I would have rounded this one up instead of down, THAT'S how much I enjoyed all the family dynamics and non-romance parts. But in the end the climax combined with a romance that left me unfulfilled (which is kind of not good when the book IS a romance) has me rounding down. I will definitely be checking out other books by this author though. I think she'd nail the sports romance genre.
3.5 stars -- I received a free copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.
OK, in a totally boneheaded move I avoided reading a different ARC of mine b/c I was afraid of all the emotions, and instead picked up this one, which contains...ALL THE EMOTIONS. I don't know if I just forgot the blurb since when I requested it, but yeah. For a girl who was looking for something lighter, I really wasn't thinking. So basically what I'm saying is that this book deals with some pretty heavy topics, and is definitely on the more emotional scale. It doesn't help that I have a personal connection to the type of Cancer that Sara is dealing with (melanoma), so it hit a bit too close to home at times. But at the same time, it was nice that a cancer that's affecting my loved one was getting a bit of attention.
So this is my first book by Ms. Jamieson, and perhaps it wasn't the best introduction to her work. Which is NOT to say the book wasn't well written, just that it sounds like it was a bit of a departure from her usual stuff (both from reviews and from her note in the acknowledgements about being encouraged to branch out), so I will definitely have to get me one of her hockey books in the future and get another taste. I can honestly say I enjoyed that Drew was Canadian, b/c I got to see some teeny tiny things that made me (as a Canadian) smile.
In the end, you know where the strength of this story lies? In the non-romance part. In the development of Drew, in the grief shared by the family, in their navigation of new realities. I'm not sure what happened, but it's almost like Ms. Jamieson was so focused on bringing us a "bigger book" that the romance kind of got lost in the shuffle. Which is not to say it wasn't there, but it just didn't capture me. It felt a bit forced. I didn't feel that chemistry between Peyton and Drew. It kind of...well...bored me. :( I really hate saying things like that, but it's how I felt. Even the steamy scenes didn't really do much for me...but part of that was because there was some talking, and I'm really picky about my dirty talk and Drew's didn't work for me. No offense, but no.
OK, so that was the bad. Which is kind of a bummer, b/c I'm a romance girl at heart. BUT!!! But but but... A lot of THE OTHER STUFF was so well done for me!!! These characters were really pretty flawed. But not without redemption. It was kind of intriguing to read about a character being forced into retirement b/c of injury. It's not really sexy to see a guy indulging in a pity party, but it was very real at the same time...I could get how he got to that point, and I could really feel his emotions. It's not how you normally want to see your heroes, but I really didn't mind it. B/C it's kind of refreshing you know? And it made his growth so much more satisfying. I loved how much he struggled with getting out of that low, that it wasn't just easy... I know that's kind of weird and may turn other people off, but not me. It made him more real to me. It made me love Drew more.
And then there was how he dealt with finding out he was a Dad. OMG, AGAIN real real real. There wasn't some magical instant connection, and he wasn't immediately comfortable with it all. But he was interested. And even though he wobbled at the beginning, he really put his all into developing a relationship. I LOVED that he was honest about his feelings at different steps along the way. And I loved that he had some great instincts with Chloe, even if he didn't always trust them. Sometimes I felt a bit weird at how he got some things so perfectly right (like the dress code), but on the other hand I was cheering!
And I thought Chloe was very realistic too! She's in that stage of life where we get to see so much, both good and bad. She had missteps, and attitude, but also heart and depth. I appreciated that.
Peyton was a little less likable for me. I'm not sure if I just didn't get enough from her, or maybe I was disappointed in how long it took her to come to certain conclusions. But where she shined for me was in displaying how hard it is to deal with a family member who is dying, and then in showing us authentic grief afterwards. I really appreciated that, and my heart just broke for her.
I was a little bummed in both of our MCs about the climax. I guess it kind of went hand in hand with them behaving unfortunately realistically, but at the same time some of their actions and reactions felt a wee bit out of character. But maybe that was just me.
So yeah. Odd reading experience for me. To have some things that I absolutely adored, but others that left me wanting. I think if the climax hadn't been so off-putting, I would have rounded this one up instead of down, THAT'S how much I enjoyed all the family dynamics and non-romance parts. But in the end the climax combined with a romance that left me unfulfilled (which is kind of not good when the book IS a romance) has me rounding down. I will definitely be checking out other books by this author though. I think she'd nail the sports romance genre.
April 22, 2017
"Sometimes life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. You just need to dance in the rain."
Highly emotional and heartbreaking, but full of hope — and so much more than just a romance.
_____
Ausführliche Rezension auf Deutsch: http://buecher.ueber-alles.net/?p=20407
Highly emotional and heartbreaking, but full of hope — and so much more than just a romance.
_____
Ausführliche Rezension auf Deutsch: http://buecher.ueber-alles.net/?p=20407
February 6, 2017
When Kelly Jamieson says she has a new book coming out the first thing you say is when and then you go and one click that book.
Dancing in the Rain is most definitely a book where you will feel yourself reaching inside and feeling every emotion you know. There will be many heartbreaking moments but right along with them there are heartwarming ones as well.
We meet Drew Sellers a reluctant retired hockey player looking for a direction where his life is going but one day that direction is changed in an instant.
Sara Watt a attorney who happens to be a single mom to twelve year old Chloe knows that her life is at a crossroads but having her sister Peyton who will be there will help her situation.
Drew & Peyton are thrown into a situation that neither one ever expects but the love that they feel for young Chloe will hopefully bring them together and see that sometimes great things can come from something awful.
This book will definitely pull at all your heartstrings but it is also a book not to be missed.
Dancing in the Rain is most definitely a book where you will feel yourself reaching inside and feeling every emotion you know. There will be many heartbreaking moments but right along with them there are heartwarming ones as well.
We meet Drew Sellers a reluctant retired hockey player looking for a direction where his life is going but one day that direction is changed in an instant.
Sara Watt a attorney who happens to be a single mom to twelve year old Chloe knows that her life is at a crossroads but having her sister Peyton who will be there will help her situation.
Drew & Peyton are thrown into a situation that neither one ever expects but the love that they feel for young Chloe will hopefully bring them together and see that sometimes great things can come from something awful.
This book will definitely pull at all your heartstrings but it is also a book not to be missed.
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August 30, 2021Check out this hot new cover for DANCING IN THE RAIN!
April 13, 2017
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of Dancing in the Rain from NetGalley and Loveswept. I absolutely loved this one! Except for a rather over-the-top, mushy epilogue, Dancing in the Rain was delightfully grown-up, the characters as real as you and me despite the fame and fortune that surround them. This latest standalone from Kelly Jamieson will leave you in tears even as it leaves you full of hope. Not to mention its got a "secret baby with a twist" story-line.
Drew Sellers' life is in pieces after a knee injury forces him into early retirement from the National Hockey League. Like many professional athletes, Drew has no idea what to do now that he isn't playing hockey. Peyton Watt's career is exactly where she wants it to be, but her life is changing in a tragic way that she has no control over. Drew and Peyton meet in unusual circumstances after Drew finds out that he fathered a daughter 12 years ago-with Peyton's sister. As their worlds collide amidst tragedy and grief, Drew and Peyton discover that life is never what you expect it to be and this is what makes DitR such a wonderful book.
Drew never expected to be just shy of 30 and forced to retire. With his playing days over, and (in his mind) no other skills, he spends his days drinking, screwing, and spoiling for fights. When he finds out that he has a daughter, he's set down a path that forces him to reevaluate his self-worth. Meeting that daughter leads him to a place where he has to examine his selfishness and recognize his ability to love. Drew's journey was heartfelt even when I wanted to slap him, but at no time did it ring falsely.
Peyton, however, is living the life she's always wanted. With her parents dead, her only family is her sister and niece, something she's just fine with as she has no desire to sacrifice her career for family. Life has something different in store for her when her sister's illness brings her back to Chicago, leaving her job in jeopardy. Peyton's love for her sister and niece is palpable and despite her focus on her career she never leaves the reader in doubt that her family comes first. I think Peyton may be one of my favorite heroines this year. She's strong and driven professionally, but balances that out perfectly with a feminine softness that is very appealing. Her journey felt just as real as Drew's.
Together, Peyton and Drew are a dynamic couple worth reading about. They bring out the best in each other and lead each other to happiness neither thought they'd find. There's definitely some tissue-worthy moments in Dancing in the Rain, so be prepared!
5 Stars for Dancing in the Rain. Heat level: 3
Drew Sellers' life is in pieces after a knee injury forces him into early retirement from the National Hockey League. Like many professional athletes, Drew has no idea what to do now that he isn't playing hockey. Peyton Watt's career is exactly where she wants it to be, but her life is changing in a tragic way that she has no control over. Drew and Peyton meet in unusual circumstances after Drew finds out that he fathered a daughter 12 years ago-with Peyton's sister. As their worlds collide amidst tragedy and grief, Drew and Peyton discover that life is never what you expect it to be and this is what makes DitR such a wonderful book.
Drew never expected to be just shy of 30 and forced to retire. With his playing days over, and (in his mind) no other skills, he spends his days drinking, screwing, and spoiling for fights. When he finds out that he has a daughter, he's set down a path that forces him to reevaluate his self-worth. Meeting that daughter leads him to a place where he has to examine his selfishness and recognize his ability to love. Drew's journey was heartfelt even when I wanted to slap him, but at no time did it ring falsely.
Peyton, however, is living the life she's always wanted. With her parents dead, her only family is her sister and niece, something she's just fine with as she has no desire to sacrifice her career for family. Life has something different in store for her when her sister's illness brings her back to Chicago, leaving her job in jeopardy. Peyton's love for her sister and niece is palpable and despite her focus on her career she never leaves the reader in doubt that her family comes first. I think Peyton may be one of my favorite heroines this year. She's strong and driven professionally, but balances that out perfectly with a feminine softness that is very appealing. Her journey felt just as real as Drew's.
Together, Peyton and Drew are a dynamic couple worth reading about. They bring out the best in each other and lead each other to happiness neither thought they'd find. There's definitely some tissue-worthy moments in Dancing in the Rain, so be prepared!
5 Stars for Dancing in the Rain. Heat level: 3
April 13, 2017
DNF 53%
Another book from an amazing author that I didn't finish.
Actually, it's very sad. Both the book and my dnf..
The story revovlved around two sisters.
The heroine is the younger one and the older sister is, unfortunutely, dying from Melanoma cancer.
Heart breaking..
Anyway, the older sister has a daughter who was conceived years ago from a one night stand with the hero who was a hockey player but has since retired, against his will, because of a bad knee injury.
The hero and the heroine met when her sister, befor her death, contacted the hero after almost twelve years to tell him he has a daughter.
a little messy and very sad story about a family who's struck by tragic.
Mabey it was the heavy issue and the deep deep grief or mabey it's because I didn't feel any intimacy between the mc, but I was extremly bored and not realy focused and I didn't feel like finishing this book.
Damm to HELL this Disease :(
Another book from an amazing author that I didn't finish.
Actually, it's very sad. Both the book and my dnf..
The story revovlved around two sisters.
The heroine is the younger one and the older sister is, unfortunutely, dying from Melanoma cancer.
Heart breaking..
Anyway, the older sister has a daughter who was conceived years ago from a one night stand with the hero who was a hockey player but has since retired, against his will, because of a bad knee injury.
The hero and the heroine met when her sister, befor her death, contacted the hero after almost twelve years to tell him he has a daughter.
a little messy and very sad story about a family who's struck by tragic.
Mabey it was the heavy issue and the deep deep grief or mabey it's because I didn't feel any intimacy between the mc, but I was extremly bored and not realy focused and I didn't feel like finishing this book.
Damm to HELL this Disease :(
November 29, 2019
A very heart-tugging story with a good plot that made you think about what's important in life but the romance was weak with too much ruminating on why they couldn't get involved and the heroine was a bit slow in considering options. Pro hockey player Drew was forced into retirement then learns he has 12-year-old daughter who's mother is dying and he is attracted to his daughters aunt Peyton.
October 14, 2021
I have read many of this author’s hockey romances, and although our hero, Drew Sellers, is recently retired from the sport due to an injury, it doesn’t take center stage. Dancing in the Rain is very emotional and will tug at your heartstrings as Drew finds out he is the father of a 12- year-old daughter, Chloe, which resulted from a one-night stand. Sara, her mother, is so very brave as she has terminal cancer and is relieved when she is finally able to tell him the truth. She was not withholding information, just didn’t know his last name to tell him, and was truly a beautiful person with only months left to live.
Sara’s sister, Peyton, lived in New York and was a successful Crisis/PR manager. She flew to Chicago to take care of her niece and was so compassionate, wise, intelligent, and someone I wish I could be friends with in real life! Drew is forbidden, he’s the father of her niece, but she can’t help feel the attraction. Drew is a bit lost, not knowing what direction his life is going now that he isn’t a pro hockey player, and I loved reading his journey of self-reflection and mapping out a future plan. Which now includes an almost teenage daughter, and I loved every one of their interactions. He led from his heart, and I sighed over and over again at their honest and emotional conversations.
I love this author’s writing style and how you feel all that they are going through such as the torment, despair, and struggle with what is happening with Sara. It was so poignant and beautifully written and my heart actually ached for them. What I love most about this book is the character growth. The romance wasn’t the main focus until about half way through the book and I felt everything that happened prior was essential to getting to know the characters.
It was a slow burn but under the circumstances I totally admired and respected them both for their choices and how openly they communicated.
Drew and Peyton were quickly thrown into parenting, and I just loved their support of each other, and how much they both loved Chloe who was a wonderful addition to the story. She was such a bright and curious child, and her feelings were portrayed very realistically. Peyton to me was a Rockstar. She was so selfless and giving, and put family first. She was right to be conflicted about her life in NY vs. Chicago and as a single mom, I could relate to being confident in a steady paycheck and benefits and job security.
Even their conflict in the end felt real to me. I wish Drew would have opened up more about his feelings earlier, but it all happened the way it should, and I loved it.
Sara’s sister, Peyton, lived in New York and was a successful Crisis/PR manager. She flew to Chicago to take care of her niece and was so compassionate, wise, intelligent, and someone I wish I could be friends with in real life! Drew is forbidden, he’s the father of her niece, but she can’t help feel the attraction. Drew is a bit lost, not knowing what direction his life is going now that he isn’t a pro hockey player, and I loved reading his journey of self-reflection and mapping out a future plan. Which now includes an almost teenage daughter, and I loved every one of their interactions. He led from his heart, and I sighed over and over again at their honest and emotional conversations.
I love this author’s writing style and how you feel all that they are going through such as the torment, despair, and struggle with what is happening with Sara. It was so poignant and beautifully written and my heart actually ached for them. What I love most about this book is the character growth. The romance wasn’t the main focus until about half way through the book and I felt everything that happened prior was essential to getting to know the characters.
It was a slow burn but under the circumstances I totally admired and respected them both for their choices and how openly they communicated.
Drew and Peyton were quickly thrown into parenting, and I just loved their support of each other, and how much they both loved Chloe who was a wonderful addition to the story. She was such a bright and curious child, and her feelings were portrayed very realistically. Peyton to me was a Rockstar. She was so selfless and giving, and put family first. She was right to be conflicted about her life in NY vs. Chicago and as a single mom, I could relate to being confident in a steady paycheck and benefits and job security.
Even their conflict in the end felt real to me. I wish Drew would have opened up more about his feelings earlier, but it all happened the way it should, and I loved it.
April 30, 2017
4.5 stars
I haven't been reading many Loveswept romances because they publish so many that are New Adult, and it takes a special NA to keep me engaged. I thought that Dancing in the Rain was NA, so I skimmed over it when I first saw it. Then I read some good reviews, I'm a sucker for a good hockey hero, and I decided to give it a go. I am so glad I did, because it is easily one of my favorite contemporary romances so far this year.
Hero Drew has been forced to retire from hockey because of an injury. He isn't dealing with his forced retirement well, and spends most of his nights bar hopping, bar brawling, or hooking up with one night stands. Then, out of the blue, he discovers that he has twelve year old daughter. Skeptical at first, because he can't even remember sleeping with the woman making these outrageous claims, he takes a DNA test and must accept that, yes, he is indeed a dad. Now he has to decide whether or not to try to get involved in his daughter's life. And, oh, yeah, his daughter's mother, Sara, has terminal cancer and isn't expected to live much longer.
God, this book really hit some raw emotions for me. The hospice scenes hit way too close for comfort, as I am still grappling, over a year later, to accept my mom's death. Peyton, Sara's sister and the heroine of the book, tries to deal with a gamut of emotions, all while putting on a brave face for both her sister and her niece Chloe. She doesn't have much patience for Drew, who is just drifting aimlessly through life now that his hockey days are over. Some people have worse things to deal with, and she just can't deal with his self-pity.
I think that first and foremost, Dancing in the Rain is about loss, grief, and accepting things that can't be changed. It's also about the realization that life is short. Sometimes painfully so. While dealing with her grief, Payton must also prioritize her own life. That fancy job in New York? Maybe it's not really going to make her happy in the long run. Her boss is certainly a heartless turd, and maybe she can find something else that's mentally stimulating, but will allow her to keep Chloe's needs in the forefront, too. And Drew? Maybe instead of a private pity party, he needs to make a change in his expectations for life, and take a chance on making a solid commitment to both himself and to Payton.
The story seemed just a tad too drawn out, but overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Dancing in the Rain. I will have to give the Loveswept backlist another look
I haven't been reading many Loveswept romances because they publish so many that are New Adult, and it takes a special NA to keep me engaged. I thought that Dancing in the Rain was NA, so I skimmed over it when I first saw it. Then I read some good reviews, I'm a sucker for a good hockey hero, and I decided to give it a go. I am so glad I did, because it is easily one of my favorite contemporary romances so far this year.
Hero Drew has been forced to retire from hockey because of an injury. He isn't dealing with his forced retirement well, and spends most of his nights bar hopping, bar brawling, or hooking up with one night stands. Then, out of the blue, he discovers that he has twelve year old daughter. Skeptical at first, because he can't even remember sleeping with the woman making these outrageous claims, he takes a DNA test and must accept that, yes, he is indeed a dad. Now he has to decide whether or not to try to get involved in his daughter's life. And, oh, yeah, his daughter's mother, Sara, has terminal cancer and isn't expected to live much longer.
God, this book really hit some raw emotions for me. The hospice scenes hit way too close for comfort, as I am still grappling, over a year later, to accept my mom's death. Peyton, Sara's sister and the heroine of the book, tries to deal with a gamut of emotions, all while putting on a brave face for both her sister and her niece Chloe. She doesn't have much patience for Drew, who is just drifting aimlessly through life now that his hockey days are over. Some people have worse things to deal with, and she just can't deal with his self-pity.
I think that first and foremost, Dancing in the Rain is about loss, grief, and accepting things that can't be changed. It's also about the realization that life is short. Sometimes painfully so. While dealing with her grief, Payton must also prioritize her own life. That fancy job in New York? Maybe it's not really going to make her happy in the long run. Her boss is certainly a heartless turd, and maybe she can find something else that's mentally stimulating, but will allow her to keep Chloe's needs in the forefront, too. And Drew? Maybe instead of a private pity party, he needs to make a change in his expectations for life, and take a chance on making a solid commitment to both himself and to Payton.
The story seemed just a tad too drawn out, but overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Dancing in the Rain. I will have to give the Loveswept backlist another look
April 21, 2017
I am a huge fan of Kelly Jamieson's sports romance books. This book is not one of those. Our hero Drew may have been a hockey star, but the bulk of the book is just about life. Bring all your tissues for this one folks. Just heart wrenching at times.
Peyton is doing the best she can supporting her niece and her sick sister. Drew, doesn't start out as the best of guys. Certainly not father material. What I enjoyed was his evolution over the book. Once he decided he was all in to the life of his new found daughter, he reveals his caring side. Drew will make you melt a bit and have hope for the good in all book heroes.
The story is somewhat predictable but what saves it from being ho-hum is the writing. Jamieson puts a bit of spunk into Drew and Payton and it made me want to follow through on this journey with them. The push pull of enemies to lovers and the building of trust helped the story flow for me.
Great book with all the feels. Bundle up with some hot tea and read this one straight through.
*Complimentary copy provided via Netgalley for an honest review.
Peyton is doing the best she can supporting her niece and her sick sister. Drew, doesn't start out as the best of guys. Certainly not father material. What I enjoyed was his evolution over the book. Once he decided he was all in to the life of his new found daughter, he reveals his caring side. Drew will make you melt a bit and have hope for the good in all book heroes.
The story is somewhat predictable but what saves it from being ho-hum is the writing. Jamieson puts a bit of spunk into Drew and Payton and it made me want to follow through on this journey with them. The push pull of enemies to lovers and the building of trust helped the story flow for me.
Great book with all the feels. Bundle up with some hot tea and read this one straight through.
*Complimentary copy provided via Netgalley for an honest review.
March 29, 2017
Oh My Gosh...this book was SO good!! These characters will make you fall in love with them and will tap every emotion you possess. Get ready to laugh, ugly cry, and sigh. This book is different from anything I've ever read from Ms. Jamieson (and I've read a lot of her books) and she absolutely hit it out of the park with this one. Put this on the must read list, I highly recommend it.
Drew Sellers has no idea what life has in store for him when his NHL career comes to an abrupt end. Until a chance meeting at a coffee shop has his past and present colliding and his world turned upside down.
Drew Sellers has no idea what life has in store for him when his NHL career comes to an abrupt end. Until a chance meeting at a coffee shop has his past and present colliding and his world turned upside down.
not-interested
January 3, 2018I doesn’t matter the circumstances.. sibling dipping it’s still gross. Specially when there’s something to remind them of it: a kid. Ewwww
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November 16, 2021DNF @ 17%
I just couldn't get into this and connect with the characters.
I just couldn't get into this and connect with the characters.
March 9, 2017
ARC received via NetGalley
March 8, 2017
Dancing in the Rain is a new book from Kelly Jamieson. Ms. Jamieson is a new author to me, but I will certainly be looking for more of her work after reading this book! This story was right up my alley with a dedicated and overprotective aunt and a sports star in need of redemption.
Drew Sellers has hit a low point in his career and his personal life when he finds out that he has a daughter he never knew about. His daughter's mother is dying but she has an Aunt Peyton in her life to watch over her. Peyton has given up her life and career in NY to take care of her sister and niece and is more than a little wary of the washed up athlete who has suddenly taken an interest in the child he never knew he had. I think Drew's lack of anger at the situation was a bit far fetched, but I did like the way he immediately stepped up to help Sara and Chloe. As Drew and Peyton spend more time together, they begin to fall in love and they are forced to face the realities of the future. While Drew is ready for the next chapter of his life, Peyton is pretty happy with the one she has written for herself.
Peyton and Drew are a great couple and I was really invested in their love story. I like the way the author came at it from both sides and showed how much this monumental life change was affecting both of them as individuals and as two people falling in love. I recommend this book to romance readers everywhere!
Drew Sellers has hit a low point in his career and his personal life when he finds out that he has a daughter he never knew about. His daughter's mother is dying but she has an Aunt Peyton in her life to watch over her. Peyton has given up her life and career in NY to take care of her sister and niece and is more than a little wary of the washed up athlete who has suddenly taken an interest in the child he never knew he had. I think Drew's lack of anger at the situation was a bit far fetched, but I did like the way he immediately stepped up to help Sara and Chloe. As Drew and Peyton spend more time together, they begin to fall in love and they are forced to face the realities of the future. While Drew is ready for the next chapter of his life, Peyton is pretty happy with the one she has written for herself.
Peyton and Drew are a great couple and I was really invested in their love story. I like the way the author came at it from both sides and showed how much this monumental life change was affecting both of them as individuals and as two people falling in love. I recommend this book to romance readers everywhere!
April 2, 2017
There's no question this book packed an enormous emotional punch. At its core, Dancing in the Rain is a beautiful love story -- between family members. The family dynamic presented here is so unique, but touching and compelling to read. I was completely invested in the bonds they formed and - I'm not going to lie - there were some sobby tears.
That said, parts of this book fell flat for me. I felt like the pace moved incredibly slow and I was able to skip over some sections without ever losing the thread of the storyline. The relationship between Drew and Peyton is a very slow burn and to some extent it needed to be, but sometimes I felt like that came at the expense of my patience. I was also frustrated by the conflict - which didn't ring true to character for me. Something was just off and I wasn't able to stay consistently connected.
I'm glad I stuck with it though - I felt like it was worth it to ride out the parts that felt slow for me. The relationship development between Drew and Chloe alone makes this an incredibly rewarding story. And Drew? You guys. This guy is amazing. He's an amazing person, but when he turns his "dad" on? *ovary explosion*. I just completely adored him.
In all - it was a bit uneven but ultimately incredibly rewarding and I'm glad to have had the opportunity to read this. If you're going in? Grab tissues and hang on to your heartstrings. I'm here for you if you need me along the way. ~ Shelly, 3 Stars
That said, parts of this book fell flat for me. I felt like the pace moved incredibly slow and I was able to skip over some sections without ever losing the thread of the storyline. The relationship between Drew and Peyton is a very slow burn and to some extent it needed to be, but sometimes I felt like that came at the expense of my patience. I was also frustrated by the conflict - which didn't ring true to character for me. Something was just off and I wasn't able to stay consistently connected.
I'm glad I stuck with it though - I felt like it was worth it to ride out the parts that felt slow for me. The relationship development between Drew and Chloe alone makes this an incredibly rewarding story. And Drew? You guys. This guy is amazing. He's an amazing person, but when he turns his "dad" on? *ovary explosion*. I just completely adored him.
In all - it was a bit uneven but ultimately incredibly rewarding and I'm glad to have had the opportunity to read this. If you're going in? Grab tissues and hang on to your heartstrings. I'm here for you if you need me along the way. ~ Shelly, 3 Stars
February 16, 2017
I can count on one hand the number of books I have not finished in the last two years, but I finally threw in the towel on this one at 40%. This story had so much potential and the blurb sounded so great that I thought for sure I was going to love it, but I really, really didn't. I found myself bored and annoyed for 35% of the 40% I read before I just gave up trying.
The only honestly likable character in this book was the one who was dying. Drew was both a sad sack manchild, and an irrational hot head. Peyton...well, she was boring because there was very little character development of Peyton to that point, even though she had gotten the same amount of scene time as Drew. Other than the fact that she fixes rich people's mistakes for money and lets her heartless boss bully her, we really didn't get to know much about her as a character. Even Chloe, who I wanted to like, was completely off-putting. Sara was the only character in this book that was consistently interesting, and I had no desire to stick around to read about her death.
I appreciate the publisher and NetGalley's granting me this book, but I will be sure to avoid requesting this author's books in the future.
The only honestly likable character in this book was the one who was dying. Drew was both a sad sack manchild, and an irrational hot head. Peyton...well, she was boring because there was very little character development of Peyton to that point, even though she had gotten the same amount of scene time as Drew. Other than the fact that she fixes rich people's mistakes for money and lets her heartless boss bully her, we really didn't get to know much about her as a character. Even Chloe, who I wanted to like, was completely off-putting. Sara was the only character in this book that was consistently interesting, and I had no desire to stick around to read about her death.
I appreciate the publisher and NetGalley's granting me this book, but I will be sure to avoid requesting this author's books in the future.
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