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Dazzle Me
A sexy New Adult Contemporary Romance (17+).
The weekend before starting her dream job, Rayna Monroe goes out with her friends to celebrate. What she thought would be a fun girls’ night, ends up with her and a hot guy in her bed. But, before her wild, sexy night even starts, he walks out leaving her alone and naked. Ignoring the shame that consumes her, Rayna is determined to focus on her amazing new job as one of the corps-de-ballet members of NYBT—the best ballet company in the country—and forget all about that awful night. Only when she walks in on her first day, she bumps into no one other than the guy who abandoned her two nights ago.
The life of a ballet dancer is hard. The life of a male ballet dancer is harder, and Joshua Connelly knows it well. Living a lie, Josh just wants to focus on what he loves most while he can—without any distractions. What he didn’t expect was to come face to face with the girl he ran out on before doing something he’d regret.
Mortified over their failed one night stand, Rayna and Josh are determined to avoid each other. Except, they are chosen to represent the company in a big competition. Which means, they have to dance together. Not only on the competition day, but for several hours a day for an entire month.
Despite their attempts of keeping it strictly professional, their hearts have other ideas. And for a moment, everything seems perfect.
And then, it isn’t.
Faced with the truth and tragedy and forced apart, Rayna and Josh will have to find themselves, before they can find each other. If they can.
The weekend before starting her dream job, Rayna Monroe goes out with her friends to celebrate. What she thought would be a fun girls’ night, ends up with her and a hot guy in her bed. But, before her wild, sexy night even starts, he walks out leaving her alone and naked. Ignoring the shame that consumes her, Rayna is determined to focus on her amazing new job as one of the corps-de-ballet members of NYBT—the best ballet company in the country—and forget all about that awful night. Only when she walks in on her first day, she bumps into no one other than the guy who abandoned her two nights ago.
The life of a ballet dancer is hard. The life of a male ballet dancer is harder, and Joshua Connelly knows it well. Living a lie, Josh just wants to focus on what he loves most while he can—without any distractions. What he didn’t expect was to come face to face with the girl he ran out on before doing something he’d regret.
Mortified over their failed one night stand, Rayna and Josh are determined to avoid each other. Except, they are chosen to represent the company in a big competition. Which means, they have to dance together. Not only on the competition day, but for several hours a day for an entire month.
Despite their attempts of keeping it strictly professional, their hearts have other ideas. And for a moment, everything seems perfect.
And then, it isn’t.
Faced with the truth and tragedy and forced apart, Rayna and Josh will have to find themselves, before they can find each other. If they can.
262 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 13, 2017
4 people are currently reading
470 people want to read
About the author
Juliana Haygert
152 books1,825 followersUSA Today Bestselling Author.
While Juliana Haygert dreams of being Wonder Woman, Buffy, or a blood elf shadow priest, she settles for the less exciting—but equally gratifying—life of a wife, mother, and author. She resides in North Carolina and spends her days writing about kick-ass heroines and the heroes who drive them crazy.
Want to know about announcement, events, cover reveals, and other fun stuff related to my writing and my books? Sign up for my newsletter: bit.ly/JuHNL
While Juliana Haygert dreams of being Wonder Woman, Buffy, or a blood elf shadow priest, she settles for the less exciting—but equally gratifying—life of a wife, mother, and author. She resides in North Carolina and spends her days writing about kick-ass heroines and the heroes who drive them crazy.
Want to know about announcement, events, cover reveals, and other fun stuff related to my writing and my books? Sign up for my newsletter: bit.ly/JuHNL
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
March 30, 2018
Review available at Under the Pages.
April 18, 2017
Dazzle Me is the first book in the When you Dance series by Juliana Haygert and it's the first book I've read by Haygert. I received a complimentary copy for an honest review.
Rayna Monroe and Joshua Connelly. They were both ballet dancers who were just starting their study and careers at the NYBT. They pushed themselves to the brink and couldn't afford distractions. They also had major personal issues that were slowly unraveled throughout the storyline.
It was an interesting plot; predictable but enjoyable. I didn't know much about ballet or professional dancing, so it was intriguing and enlightening. I imagine it was a realistic perspective of the stress, drama, endless hours of practice, prejudices, overbearing parents and discipline.
Dazzle Me was well written with well developed characters. There were a few editing errors, primarily missing words, so it became distracting at times but nothing too numerous.
Haygert also provided a great supporting cast of characters that I hope to see in future stories, such as Zack, Alicia, Sienna, Sarah, Robbie, Norah and Liam.
Seduce Me is next; however, we were teased with not knowing the expected main characters. I can't wait to see where Haygert takes us.
Rayna Monroe and Joshua Connelly. They were both ballet dancers who were just starting their study and careers at the NYBT. They pushed themselves to the brink and couldn't afford distractions. They also had major personal issues that were slowly unraveled throughout the storyline.
It was an interesting plot; predictable but enjoyable. I didn't know much about ballet or professional dancing, so it was intriguing and enlightening. I imagine it was a realistic perspective of the stress, drama, endless hours of practice, prejudices, overbearing parents and discipline.
Dazzle Me was well written with well developed characters. There were a few editing errors, primarily missing words, so it became distracting at times but nothing too numerous.
Haygert also provided a great supporting cast of characters that I hope to see in future stories, such as Zack, Alicia, Sienna, Sarah, Robbie, Norah and Liam.
Seduce Me is next; however, we were teased with not knowing the expected main characters. I can't wait to see where Haygert takes us.
April 24, 2017
Another fantastic read by Juliana! I've been a fan of hers ever since discovering the Breaking series (all about equestrians, specifically professional polo players). She has a real knack for delivering stories that stay true to the world they're set in, whether the horse industry or world of professional ballet.
Dazzle Me was a fun, entertaining read about Rayna and Josh, who both just landed coveted positions on the New York Ballet Theatre. After a failed one-night stand, the two discover they're both stuck working with one another and all sorts of fun, crazy tension ensues.
I think this is the first book I've ever read where I liked the male lead more than the female lead! Don't get me wrong, I loved Rayna, but Josh was not what I expected when I opened this book. I expected: alpha male bullshittery, as is par with so many NA novels. What I got: a normal, totally crush-worthy guy. (I guess I should've known better than to expect a shitty male lead from her!)
I did find a few faults in the way she portrayed the professional ballet world, which knocks this review down a star, but otherwise it was a great read and a promising debut for a new series. Can't wait to read more!
***I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for my review. Thanks, Juliana!
Dazzle Me was a fun, entertaining read about Rayna and Josh, who both just landed coveted positions on the New York Ballet Theatre. After a failed one-night stand, the two discover they're both stuck working with one another and all sorts of fun, crazy tension ensues.
I think this is the first book I've ever read where I liked the male lead more than the female lead! Don't get me wrong, I loved Rayna, but Josh was not what I expected when I opened this book. I expected: alpha male bullshittery, as is par with so many NA novels. What I got: a normal, totally crush-worthy guy. (I guess I should've known better than to expect a shitty male lead from her!)
I did find a few faults in the way she portrayed the professional ballet world, which knocks this review down a star, but otherwise it was a great read and a promising debut for a new series. Can't wait to read more!
***I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for my review. Thanks, Juliana!
April 9, 2017
I really enjoyed this first read from a new to me author. Rayna is a young ballerina who always does the right thing. One night she finally takes a chance and does something crazy. That chance backfires.... I loved learning the goings on in a ballet company, the pressure, the competitiveness was all well explored. I thought the slow build relationship between Rayna and Josh was sweet and believable. I will definitely check out other books from this author.
I received a free copy of this book
I received a free copy of this book
April 7, 2017
Sexy fun read. Loved Rayna and Josh's story. This was different from the books I read this was a first for ballet dancers. The author give an in-depth look to how hard it is to train to be a dancer and the ups and downs and the pressure parents give and how hard it is to have a relationship. Once I started reading I didn't want to out it down til I was done. Loved the story line, the characters and the hot steamy sex.
I received an ARC and volunteered to leave a review.
I received an ARC and volunteered to leave a review.
February 13, 2017
Rayna had 11 young students in her dance class. As they practiced, a hooded woman, Rayna’s best friend, stood at the door. Rayna switched songs and motioned her in, and award-winning singer/songwriter Sienna Sparks joined them in dancing to her song. The girls loved it!
Rayna and Sienna made plans for that evening to celebrate Rayna’s new job with the New York Ballet Theater. They picked up Alicia, also joining the ballet company, and went to the Red Velvet club. Sienna handed them Jell-O shots, even though they didn’t think it was a good idea. The shots were strong, and Rayna went to the dancefloor to move with the music. A drunk grabbed her, and a handsome guy named Josh rescued her – then he just left! She followed him outside to thank him and show her interest in him. She invited him home with her. They made it to her bedroom, but before anything happened, his phone pinged a text and he ran out on her! What was going on? How could he do that to her? And what further surprise was waiting for her?
This is a well written love story, taking place in the world of professional dance. What I loved was the author’s handling of the relationships among the friends and acquaintances. It made everything that much more realistic. The characters are well defined and very likeable. I think readers will thoroughly enjoy this one.
Rayna and Sienna made plans for that evening to celebrate Rayna’s new job with the New York Ballet Theater. They picked up Alicia, also joining the ballet company, and went to the Red Velvet club. Sienna handed them Jell-O shots, even though they didn’t think it was a good idea. The shots were strong, and Rayna went to the dancefloor to move with the music. A drunk grabbed her, and a handsome guy named Josh rescued her – then he just left! She followed him outside to thank him and show her interest in him. She invited him home with her. They made it to her bedroom, but before anything happened, his phone pinged a text and he ran out on her! What was going on? How could he do that to her? And what further surprise was waiting for her?
This is a well written love story, taking place in the world of professional dance. What I loved was the author’s handling of the relationships among the friends and acquaintances. It made everything that much more realistic. The characters are well defined and very likeable. I think readers will thoroughly enjoy this one.
February 2, 2017
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
This was a great romance book. It is different from most of the books I read since the characters are ballet dancers, but I enjoyed it immensely. I didn't want to stop reading until I finished the book. I definitely recommend.
This was a great romance book. It is different from most of the books I read since the characters are ballet dancers, but I enjoyed it immensely. I didn't want to stop reading until I finished the book. I definitely recommend.
February 5, 2017
A sexy romance with compelling, believable characters. I adored this sexy fun read.
*I received a free copy from the author for an honest review*
*I received a free copy from the author for an honest review*
September 6, 2022
So this was my first book by this author and I was impressed. This story had it sweet moments along moments of tension. I loved both Josh and Rayna from the start.
Here's the deal.. Rayna is a daughter who is being pushed into something she's not. Her mother had dreams but unfortunately they fell thru so she pushes Rayna to fulfill them. The thing is Rayna doesn't want what her mom wants for her. She's happiest in dance studio.
Josh, on the other hand, knows what he wants but it doesn't make his family happy. He's living the dream but lying to the ones who love him. When Rayna and Josh meet, it's explosive but it's short lived. Enter ballet school and they have to dance together. Tensions are high but Josh gets Rayna to ignore all the others and just dance. Something happens at this moment and pushes both of them to be honest with themselves. It isn't perfect, both screw up but after a grand gesture for both, they work it out. This is about being honest and living your dream while being happy. Josh and Rayna are great characters, while they maybe young, they still show strength and maturity when necessary.
Here's the deal.. Rayna is a daughter who is being pushed into something she's not. Her mother had dreams but unfortunately they fell thru so she pushes Rayna to fulfill them. The thing is Rayna doesn't want what her mom wants for her. She's happiest in dance studio.
Josh, on the other hand, knows what he wants but it doesn't make his family happy. He's living the dream but lying to the ones who love him. When Rayna and Josh meet, it's explosive but it's short lived. Enter ballet school and they have to dance together. Tensions are high but Josh gets Rayna to ignore all the others and just dance. Something happens at this moment and pushes both of them to be honest with themselves. It isn't perfect, both screw up but after a grand gesture for both, they work it out. This is about being honest and living your dream while being happy. Josh and Rayna are great characters, while they maybe young, they still show strength and maturity when necessary.
June 1, 2017
I was given a complimentary copy of this novel for an honest review.
This is my first Haygert novel and I enjoyed her writing, it was well written and the story was unique- I've never read anything about a male ballerina before.
I didn't love the characters, I felt like it was a struggle to get to know them, which I think tied into the narrator switch for every chapter. It was great to get the two perspectives on the story, but I didn't get engulfed into Rayna's life or root for Josh, it was just skimming the surface.
I loved when Rayna and Josh were together dancing, that is when I felt the most connection and the passion within the story. I wish it would have continued throughout the novel.
Rayna's character bothered me. She was such a wuss basically. She didn't stand up to anyone, didn't believe in herself, didn't even know what she wanted to do but yet just kept going through the motions of what was expected of her. I wish she came into her own a little earlier in the novel.
Overall it was a good read, but I am not invested in the story and will not be continuing with the Dazzle me series.
This is my first Haygert novel and I enjoyed her writing, it was well written and the story was unique- I've never read anything about a male ballerina before.
I didn't love the characters, I felt like it was a struggle to get to know them, which I think tied into the narrator switch for every chapter. It was great to get the two perspectives on the story, but I didn't get engulfed into Rayna's life or root for Josh, it was just skimming the surface.
I loved when Rayna and Josh were together dancing, that is when I felt the most connection and the passion within the story. I wish it would have continued throughout the novel.
Rayna's character bothered me. She was such a wuss basically. She didn't stand up to anyone, didn't believe in herself, didn't even know what she wanted to do but yet just kept going through the motions of what was expected of her. I wish she came into her own a little earlier in the novel.
Overall it was a good read, but I am not invested in the story and will not be continuing with the Dazzle me series.
February 22, 2017
I really really loved this book - I loved how the author gave us the behind the scenes look on whats like to be a ballet dancer, the practice that goes with it and the romance of course.
The only reason why i gave this story 3 stars was because I was starting to get really irritated with Rayna. Yes I know you were embarrassed by the botched one night stand but come on - it's been months since it happened and you can see Josh really trying to patch things up between them - so let it go already and move on. This will she or won't she was getting old real fast. If I were Josh, yes I know she's hot and a great dancer but she's so not worth it if all she does is run away each and every time you try talking to her. But other than that I loved the story. I just wish there were more books featuring dancers out there.
The only reason why i gave this story 3 stars was because I was starting to get really irritated with Rayna. Yes I know you were embarrassed by the botched one night stand but come on - it's been months since it happened and you can see Josh really trying to patch things up between them - so let it go already and move on. This will she or won't she was getting old real fast. If I were Josh, yes I know she's hot and a great dancer but she's so not worth it if all she does is run away each and every time you try talking to her. But other than that I loved the story. I just wish there were more books featuring dancers out there.
April 5, 2018
Loved this story. Josh & Ray’s love story is an emotional roller coaster but oh so good. Would love to read more about the other characters in their story. Recommend to all
November 26, 2024
Read on Radish
March 8, 2017
A reckless moment in time comes back to haunt Rayna as she stepped into the room and looked around at the other dancers, her eyes falling on him, Josh. He was still beating himself up for what happened that night. He couldn't get her out of his mind and there she was. Lies, deceit, vicious verbal attacks and more riddle this love story of two deciding which dream they want to pursue, and what is truly important. Life happens, and not always according to plan. It isn't easy and there is plenty in the way. The story is them coming together and realizing, acknowledging and living their true dreams, not the ones made for them.
Great story and interesting characters and a nice supporting group of friends make this an enjoyable coming of age read. This is my first from this author and I look forward to more.
Great story and interesting characters and a nice supporting group of friends make this an enjoyable coming of age read. This is my first from this author and I look forward to more.
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February 8, 2017Amazon: http://bit.ly/DazzleMeAmz
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April 30, 2017
Dazzle Me by Juliana Haygert was an incredible read!!
Rayna and Josh were two characters whom I completely fell in love with. They each had their own quirks and personality traits, completely individual to who they are. Through one chance, and explicit meeting these two characters lives are changed even before they knew it.
I loved how both characters grew throughout the course of the novel. Rayna was constantly pushed into doing things that she did not enjoy through the demands of her mother. Josh was keeping a huge secret from his family, one that could reck their relationship forever. As the book progresses, Rayna and Josh are able to be their for each other and offer support through the difficulties and challenges. I loved this dynamic to their relationship where they were able to be open and honest with one another.
Finally, I loved that the novel revolved around dancing. There are not enough books out there that deal with professional dancers, especially in ballet. It is because of this, the novel especially appealed to me since it is so original and unique!
This was the first book I have read by this author but it certainly won't be the last. After reading Dazzle Me I am eager to pick up the rest of Juliana's novels!
I definitley urge everyone to go and pick up this amazing novel today! You certainly won't regret it!
5/5 Stars!
Rayna and Josh were two characters whom I completely fell in love with. They each had their own quirks and personality traits, completely individual to who they are. Through one chance, and explicit meeting these two characters lives are changed even before they knew it.
I loved how both characters grew throughout the course of the novel. Rayna was constantly pushed into doing things that she did not enjoy through the demands of her mother. Josh was keeping a huge secret from his family, one that could reck their relationship forever. As the book progresses, Rayna and Josh are able to be their for each other and offer support through the difficulties and challenges. I loved this dynamic to their relationship where they were able to be open and honest with one another.
Finally, I loved that the novel revolved around dancing. There are not enough books out there that deal with professional dancers, especially in ballet. It is because of this, the novel especially appealed to me since it is so original and unique!
This was the first book I have read by this author but it certainly won't be the last. After reading Dazzle Me I am eager to pick up the rest of Juliana's novels!
I definitley urge everyone to go and pick up this amazing novel today! You certainly won't regret it!
5/5 Stars!
April 9, 2017
This book describes the burgeoning relationship of Rayna and Josh, both new hires at the New York Ballet Theatre.
What I liked:
-I love ballet. I love everything about it. So to find a book that included it as a main theme was right up my alley and scored major points with me from the onset.
-Josh wasn’t the traditional hero. The male leads in this genre tend toward one of two extremes: alpha male who bullies his way into the girl’s heart or strong guy who turns into a puppy that trips all over himself trying to appease the girl he’s chasing. Josh, at his core, was a gentleman who had some integrity and self respect. When he and Rayna had a falling out (as they did several times throughout the book), he held his own. I was proud of him for not turning into mush. I also very much admired how he was ready to drop everything he wanted in order to do what was best for his family. That, my friends, is true strength and great character development.
-The families: While at first, the characters’ families annoyed me, especially the parents, by being two one-dimensional, the author rallied towards the end of the book and used them to provide critical tension that moved the story along. One family member goes through a major ordeal and comes out better on the other side - yay for redemption!
-Josh’s stunt that he pulls at the Winter Recital. Very clever and surprising. Way to make a bold move!
-Rayna’s baby ballerinas. Their personalities, and the way she interacts with them was adorable. The careful attention the author gave to those scenes helped to justify an important decision that Rayna makes later.
What I didn’t like:
-The not-so-cutthroat ballet world: The author showed a little of that through the trio of mean girls who were out to get Rayna, but that was the only opposition. Otherwise, Rayna and Josh were super special, talented dancers even though they literally just got into the company. The story would have been more interesting if there was more intensity generated from trying to survive the dance world. Also, there were so many instances of dancers eating ridiculously fatty food. About ⅔ of the way through, it was finally mentioned that they should start watching their weight and I breathed a sigh of relief.
-The character’s voices: The story is written in first person perspective, alternating narrators between Rayna and Josh. There were several times, particularly in Josh’s sections, where I cringed because the words used were unlike those a real human would ever say, especially a guy. Look I get it - first person and alternating viewpoints are prominent in my own writing, and I’ve been guilty of the same crime. This sort of narration is tricky. It’s too easy to get caught up in your own “author language” instead of thinking about how the characters would actually speak. Or rather, how their minds’ voices would speak. This did improve as the book progressed, as the author became more comfortable with her characters.
-Overreactions. Something happens at the beginning of the book to set Rayna off. What follows is about a third of the book where she denies herself what she really wants because of a simple misunderstanding. As I read, I kept willing her to go to Josh and ask one simple question: “Hey, what happened that first night we were together?” I somewhat understand why she couldn’t bring herself to do this, but more so, I found her resistance to be overly dramatic and immature. There’s another falling out later in the book that makes more sense, but the reactions of the characters are still on the exaggerated side. A better use of the storyline would be to let the two mains be together (as they really, really wanted) and spend the pages developing and strengthening their relationship. All in all, I think they were actually together for about two months - my timing could be off though - and the reader is supposed to believe that this is the love that could last a lifetime.
-Unless it adds value to a scene (like Rayna’s black number when she invites Josh over), I really don’t want to read play by plays of what each character is wearing.
-Robbie and Norah’s dance crew: I liked them. I liked the idea of a dance crew. But I couldn’t see how they were necessary to the story. They provided a sense of lightheartedness to several scenes, but they weren’t significant enough to contribute to the main storyline.
-So much moaning done by both Rayna and Josh.
In conclusion, this was a quick, fun read. While it appears that my “dislike” list above is longer than the one of things I like, the truth is that the book grew to be more enjoyable as it went along. The beginning third was a little clumsy and could use some work, but once I got going, I didn’t want to stop reading. I enjoyed how the author was able to create a plotline that relied on more than just the characters’ love for each other. It gave the story substance.
What I liked:
-I love ballet. I love everything about it. So to find a book that included it as a main theme was right up my alley and scored major points with me from the onset.
-Josh wasn’t the traditional hero. The male leads in this genre tend toward one of two extremes: alpha male who bullies his way into the girl’s heart or strong guy who turns into a puppy that trips all over himself trying to appease the girl he’s chasing. Josh, at his core, was a gentleman who had some integrity and self respect. When he and Rayna had a falling out (as they did several times throughout the book), he held his own. I was proud of him for not turning into mush. I also very much admired how he was ready to drop everything he wanted in order to do what was best for his family. That, my friends, is true strength and great character development.
-The families: While at first, the characters’ families annoyed me, especially the parents, by being two one-dimensional, the author rallied towards the end of the book and used them to provide critical tension that moved the story along. One family member goes through a major ordeal and comes out better on the other side - yay for redemption!
-Josh’s stunt that he pulls at the Winter Recital. Very clever and surprising. Way to make a bold move!
-Rayna’s baby ballerinas. Their personalities, and the way she interacts with them was adorable. The careful attention the author gave to those scenes helped to justify an important decision that Rayna makes later.
What I didn’t like:
-The not-so-cutthroat ballet world: The author showed a little of that through the trio of mean girls who were out to get Rayna, but that was the only opposition. Otherwise, Rayna and Josh were super special, talented dancers even though they literally just got into the company. The story would have been more interesting if there was more intensity generated from trying to survive the dance world. Also, there were so many instances of dancers eating ridiculously fatty food. About ⅔ of the way through, it was finally mentioned that they should start watching their weight and I breathed a sigh of relief.
-The character’s voices: The story is written in first person perspective, alternating narrators between Rayna and Josh. There were several times, particularly in Josh’s sections, where I cringed because the words used were unlike those a real human would ever say, especially a guy. Look I get it - first person and alternating viewpoints are prominent in my own writing, and I’ve been guilty of the same crime. This sort of narration is tricky. It’s too easy to get caught up in your own “author language” instead of thinking about how the characters would actually speak. Or rather, how their minds’ voices would speak. This did improve as the book progressed, as the author became more comfortable with her characters.
-Overreactions. Something happens at the beginning of the book to set Rayna off. What follows is about a third of the book where she denies herself what she really wants because of a simple misunderstanding. As I read, I kept willing her to go to Josh and ask one simple question: “Hey, what happened that first night we were together?” I somewhat understand why she couldn’t bring herself to do this, but more so, I found her resistance to be overly dramatic and immature. There’s another falling out later in the book that makes more sense, but the reactions of the characters are still on the exaggerated side. A better use of the storyline would be to let the two mains be together (as they really, really wanted) and spend the pages developing and strengthening their relationship. All in all, I think they were actually together for about two months - my timing could be off though - and the reader is supposed to believe that this is the love that could last a lifetime.
-Unless it adds value to a scene (like Rayna’s black number when she invites Josh over), I really don’t want to read play by plays of what each character is wearing.
-Robbie and Norah’s dance crew: I liked them. I liked the idea of a dance crew. But I couldn’t see how they were necessary to the story. They provided a sense of lightheartedness to several scenes, but they weren’t significant enough to contribute to the main storyline.
-So much moaning done by both Rayna and Josh.
In conclusion, this was a quick, fun read. While it appears that my “dislike” list above is longer than the one of things I like, the truth is that the book grew to be more enjoyable as it went along. The beginning third was a little clumsy and could use some work, but once I got going, I didn’t want to stop reading. I enjoyed how the author was able to create a plotline that relied on more than just the characters’ love for each other. It gave the story substance.
April 15, 2017
Three stars. The book started out a little stronger than it finished, but all-in-all an easy, satisfying, lighter read. I liked the h, who was kind and talented, though not particularly confident in her dancing, but I had issues with how hard-core she tried to ignore the H after their failed ONS, even if it was out of embarrassment and insecurity. The H, I really liked. He was basically an all-around good guy and fairly swoon-worthy; the boy tried hard to win the h back in the beginning; I'm not sure many men would still be interested in a chick after a month of getting ignored. I loved "watching" then dance together; their chemistry was smile-inducing and some of the writing was quite beautiful. The only reason that this book didn't get a higher rating was because the dialogue in the last 10% became a little too cliche and trite. It just felt rushed, syrupy, and slightly forced. With everything said and done though, I'm certainly glad to have read this.
April 20, 2017
I really liked the couple in this book and loved their chemistry but I found it hard to like the dancing storyline.
April 28, 2017
So this was my first book by this author and I was impressed. This story had it sweet moments along moments of tension. I loved both Josh and Rayna from the start.
Here's the deal.. Rayna is a daughter who is being pushed into something she's not. Her mother had dreams but unfortunately they fell thru so she pushes Rayna to fulfill them. The thing is Rayna doesn't want what her mom wants for her. She's happiest in dance studio.
Josh,on the other hand, knows what he wants but it doesn't make his family happy. He's living the dream but lying to the ones who love him. When Rayna and Josh meet, it's explosive but it's short lived. Enter ballet school and they have to dance together. Tensions are high but Josh gets Rayna to ignore all the others and just dance. Something happens at this moment and pushes both of them to be honest with themselves. It isn't perfect, both screw up but after a grand guesture for both, they work it out. This is about being honest and living your dream while being happy. Josh and Rayna are great characters, while they maybe young, they still show strength and maturity when necessary.
Here's the deal.. Rayna is a daughter who is being pushed into something she's not. Her mother had dreams but unfortunately they fell thru so she pushes Rayna to fulfill them. The thing is Rayna doesn't want what her mom wants for her. She's happiest in dance studio.
Josh,on the other hand, knows what he wants but it doesn't make his family happy. He's living the dream but lying to the ones who love him. When Rayna and Josh meet, it's explosive but it's short lived. Enter ballet school and they have to dance together. Tensions are high but Josh gets Rayna to ignore all the others and just dance. Something happens at this moment and pushes both of them to be honest with themselves. It isn't perfect, both screw up but after a grand guesture for both, they work it out. This is about being honest and living your dream while being happy. Josh and Rayna are great characters, while they maybe young, they still show strength and maturity when necessary.
April 29, 2017
So this was my first book by this author and I was impressed. This story had it sweet moments along moments of tension. I loved both Josh and Rayna from the start.
Here's the deal.. Rayna is a daughter who is being pushed into something she's not. Her mother had dreams but unfortunately they fell thru so she pushes Rayna to fulfill them. The thing is Rayna doesn't want what her mom wants for her. She's happiest in dance studio.
Josh, on the other hand, knows what he wants but it doesn't make his family happy. He's living the dream but lying to the ones who love him. When Rayna and Josh meet, it's explosive but it's short lived. Enter ballet school and they have to dance together. Tensions are high but Josh gets Rayna to ignore all the others and just dance. Something happens at this moment and pushes both of them to be honest with themselves. It isn't perfect, both screw up but after a grand gesture for both, they work it out. This is about being honest and living your dream while being happy. Josh and Rayna are great characters, while they maybe young, they still show strength and maturity when necessary.
Here's the deal.. Rayna is a daughter who is being pushed into something she's not. Her mother had dreams but unfortunately they fell thru so she pushes Rayna to fulfill them. The thing is Rayna doesn't want what her mom wants for her. She's happiest in dance studio.
Josh, on the other hand, knows what he wants but it doesn't make his family happy. He's living the dream but lying to the ones who love him. When Rayna and Josh meet, it's explosive but it's short lived. Enter ballet school and they have to dance together. Tensions are high but Josh gets Rayna to ignore all the others and just dance. Something happens at this moment and pushes both of them to be honest with themselves. It isn't perfect, both screw up but after a grand gesture for both, they work it out. This is about being honest and living your dream while being happy. Josh and Rayna are great characters, while they maybe young, they still show strength and maturity when necessary.
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