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Dance Off #2.5
Dance All Night
Broadway hotshot Nik Kovalenko is a confirmed bachelor.
Ballroom champion Jess Davenport is a bona fide Scrooge.
Last year, they shared a midnight kiss at a New Year’s Eve party that made both of them believe—briefly—in the magic of the holiday season. The magic was cut short when Nik went on tour the next day, but he never stopped thinking about that kiss—or Jess.
When the holidays roll back around, Nik runs into Jess again. He doesn’t want to spend another year pining for the Scrooge who got away, so he tells Jess he’ll stay if she’ll give him a shot at being her Christmas Present.
Jess thinks he’s full of it, but she agrees to three dates. If Nik can make her believe in holiday magic in a place as un-wintery as Los Angeles—and convince her that he’s ready to stick around—she’ll give him a chance. But he won’t know until New Year’s Eve. If she kisses him at midnight, he’ll have his answer…
Praise for Alexis Daria:
“An author who clearly adores the world she’s developed—and the characters she’s matched.”—Sarah MacLean, New York Times> bestselling author, Washington Post
“A charming and authentic voice.”—Sonali Dev, author of A Distant Heart
Ballroom champion Jess Davenport is a bona fide Scrooge.
Last year, they shared a midnight kiss at a New Year’s Eve party that made both of them believe—briefly—in the magic of the holiday season. The magic was cut short when Nik went on tour the next day, but he never stopped thinking about that kiss—or Jess.
When the holidays roll back around, Nik runs into Jess again. He doesn’t want to spend another year pining for the Scrooge who got away, so he tells Jess he’ll stay if she’ll give him a shot at being her Christmas Present.
Jess thinks he’s full of it, but she agrees to three dates. If Nik can make her believe in holiday magic in a place as un-wintery as Los Angeles—and convince her that he’s ready to stick around—she’ll give him a chance. But he won’t know until New Year’s Eve. If she kisses him at midnight, he’ll have his answer…
Praise for Alexis Daria:
“An author who clearly adores the world she’s developed—and the characters she’s matched.”—Sarah MacLean, New York Times> bestselling author, Washington Post
“A charming and authentic voice.”—Sonali Dev, author of A Distant Heart
154 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 25, 2018
33 people are currently reading
946 people want to read
About the author
Alexis Daria
17 books2,669 followersAlexis Daria is the award-winning and internationally bestselling author of You Had Me at Hola, A Lot Like Adiós, Take the Lead, and more. Her books have been featured on several “Best of ” lists and have received starred reviews from multiple trade publications. A former visual artist, Alexis is a lifelong New Yorker who loves Broadway musicals and pizza.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
July 16, 2019
I’m a sucker for hero in pursuit stories and Alexis Daria has pushed all the right buttons for me in her new novella, Dance All Night. It’s part of the Dance Off series but takes place away from the show, with a holiday theme and two people who love dance who find themselves falling in love with each other.
Nik Kovalenko is the brother of reality show star Dmitri (from Dance with Me). He’s a dancer in his own right, but used to touring with stage shows. Invited to a New Year’s Eve party at his brother’s place, his eye is caught by the beautiful and talented ballroom dancer Jess Davenport, one of Dmitri’s co-workers whom he’s met a few times before. At the stroke of midnight, they share a sensual kiss, but since Nik will be leaving on tour the next day, it’ll be a nice memory and nothing more.
The following winter, Nik is back. He’s very interested in seeing Jess again, hoping she’s taken the hint that he’d not forgotten her by ‘liking’ and commenting on her social media posts. When they meet up again at another dancer’s holiday party, he tells her he wants to get to know her better. They make a deal to go on three dates, wherein Nik will try to prove that he’s serious about staying, and about her. Can he bring some holiday magic into Jess’s life and give her a Christmas to remember?
This is a really lovely holiday romance! Like I said at the start, heroes in pursuit, the nice guys who show by their actions even more than their words that they are head-over-heels for their partner are my jam. Nik plans their three dates with care, cajoling Jess to get out of her comfort zone and try new things but never being pushy or heavy handed. Though there is a strong attraction between them, things move at a slow pace, as Nik wants to show Jess that he’s not after her for sex but for everything good that comes in a relationship. Both are professional dancers and used to the public spotlight, so with the okay from Jess, Nik shows that he’s been paying attention to her interests by pulling her into a Lindy Hop, her favorite type of swing dance during an outdoor jazz performance.
Dancing with Nik was like being caught in a bubble – just the two of them, with a perfect almost telepathic connection between their bodies and the music. He communicated moves to her through the tension in his fingers holding hers, the touch of his hand on her upper back, and shifts in balance. Dance created a language only spoken between the partners, as intimate as it was invigorating.
Though Jess is charmed by Nik, she’s also wary, because she isn’t interested in committing to someone who’s just going to run off again. She’s happy and settled in L.A. and doesn’t have the wanderlust that Nik has. The more she feels herself growing attached to him, the more she worries about the effect once he leaves, even though he’s told her that he’ll stick around if she gives him a reason to do so. Her feelings about relationships stem from her own upbringing, with parents who fought and a father who left time and again, often around the holidays when the stress would get too great. It’s why she hates the Christmas season and also why she has a strained relationship with her parents who have since reconciled and wish she would come home to Chicago to visit more often. As New Year’s Eve approaches again, Jess will have to decide whether she’s ready to accept what Nik is trying to offer.
There’s a lot to enjoy about this story but the characters really are the stars. Jess is a black woman with a love of the music and dance of those who paved the way for her success, such as Billie Holiday and Norma Miller. She gives back to the community by volunteering for a group home for at-risk girls where her best friend Naomi, a counselor, works, and there are several great scenes with Naomi and Jess that show their close friendship. As for Nik, besides clearly being a wonderful, attentive man, he’s also got a close relationship with his parents and his brother Dmitri. He’s successful, talented and fun to be with, and he’s proud of his Ukrainian heritage. The chemistry between Nik and Jess eventually leads to some sexy scenes, made more intimate by the friendship that they have developed and the real affection between them. With its broad holiday theme and some really funny scenes (reindeer boob comes to mind), as well as a slow burn sexy romance, Dance All Night is a new favorite!
This review also appears at All About Romance: https://allaboutromance.com/book-revi...
https://allaboutromance.com/the-best-...
A copy of this story was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.
Nik Kovalenko is the brother of reality show star Dmitri (from Dance with Me). He’s a dancer in his own right, but used to touring with stage shows. Invited to a New Year’s Eve party at his brother’s place, his eye is caught by the beautiful and talented ballroom dancer Jess Davenport, one of Dmitri’s co-workers whom he’s met a few times before. At the stroke of midnight, they share a sensual kiss, but since Nik will be leaving on tour the next day, it’ll be a nice memory and nothing more.
The following winter, Nik is back. He’s very interested in seeing Jess again, hoping she’s taken the hint that he’d not forgotten her by ‘liking’ and commenting on her social media posts. When they meet up again at another dancer’s holiday party, he tells her he wants to get to know her better. They make a deal to go on three dates, wherein Nik will try to prove that he’s serious about staying, and about her. Can he bring some holiday magic into Jess’s life and give her a Christmas to remember?
This is a really lovely holiday romance! Like I said at the start, heroes in pursuit, the nice guys who show by their actions even more than their words that they are head-over-heels for their partner are my jam. Nik plans their three dates with care, cajoling Jess to get out of her comfort zone and try new things but never being pushy or heavy handed. Though there is a strong attraction between them, things move at a slow pace, as Nik wants to show Jess that he’s not after her for sex but for everything good that comes in a relationship. Both are professional dancers and used to the public spotlight, so with the okay from Jess, Nik shows that he’s been paying attention to her interests by pulling her into a Lindy Hop, her favorite type of swing dance during an outdoor jazz performance.
Dancing with Nik was like being caught in a bubble – just the two of them, with a perfect almost telepathic connection between their bodies and the music. He communicated moves to her through the tension in his fingers holding hers, the touch of his hand on her upper back, and shifts in balance. Dance created a language only spoken between the partners, as intimate as it was invigorating.
Though Jess is charmed by Nik, she’s also wary, because she isn’t interested in committing to someone who’s just going to run off again. She’s happy and settled in L.A. and doesn’t have the wanderlust that Nik has. The more she feels herself growing attached to him, the more she worries about the effect once he leaves, even though he’s told her that he’ll stick around if she gives him a reason to do so. Her feelings about relationships stem from her own upbringing, with parents who fought and a father who left time and again, often around the holidays when the stress would get too great. It’s why she hates the Christmas season and also why she has a strained relationship with her parents who have since reconciled and wish she would come home to Chicago to visit more often. As New Year’s Eve approaches again, Jess will have to decide whether she’s ready to accept what Nik is trying to offer.
There’s a lot to enjoy about this story but the characters really are the stars. Jess is a black woman with a love of the music and dance of those who paved the way for her success, such as Billie Holiday and Norma Miller. She gives back to the community by volunteering for a group home for at-risk girls where her best friend Naomi, a counselor, works, and there are several great scenes with Naomi and Jess that show their close friendship. As for Nik, besides clearly being a wonderful, attentive man, he’s also got a close relationship with his parents and his brother Dmitri. He’s successful, talented and fun to be with, and he’s proud of his Ukrainian heritage. The chemistry between Nik and Jess eventually leads to some sexy scenes, made more intimate by the friendship that they have developed and the real affection between them. With its broad holiday theme and some really funny scenes (reindeer boob comes to mind), as well as a slow burn sexy romance, Dance All Night is a new favorite!
This review also appears at All About Romance: https://allaboutromance.com/book-revi...
https://allaboutromance.com/the-best-...
A copy of this story was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.
January 10, 2019
4.5 stars
This was such a splendid read!
I really did not expect to enjoy this as much as I did, especially since I don't typically love novellas. They tend to feel rushed, half a story and I always feel like I don't really believe in the romance but none of those things happened with this novella.
There's just something about this author's writing that I love so much. Add in the fact that she has such diverse characters and it's not just something that is said and never talked about again, we actually learn about the cultures, language, etc. I fell in love with both Nik and Jess and while I do wish I could see more of them, it's not because this book didn't wrap up nicely and make me believe 100% into their romance, because it did. It's because I just enjoyed their relationship so much that I would love to see so much more of it, to see fun bonus scenes of them just being happy and in love because it makes me happy.
This novella is a complete standalone and could be read without having read the other two books in the standalone series. However, because I loved those books too I would recommend checking them out (either before or after) because you'd be missing out.
I'm just so happy I read this book!!! And my first 5 star for 2019 too! Woohooo!
This was such a splendid read!
I really did not expect to enjoy this as much as I did, especially since I don't typically love novellas. They tend to feel rushed, half a story and I always feel like I don't really believe in the romance but none of those things happened with this novella.
There's just something about this author's writing that I love so much. Add in the fact that she has such diverse characters and it's not just something that is said and never talked about again, we actually learn about the cultures, language, etc. I fell in love with both Nik and Jess and while I do wish I could see more of them, it's not because this book didn't wrap up nicely and make me believe 100% into their romance, because it did. It's because I just enjoyed their relationship so much that I would love to see so much more of it, to see fun bonus scenes of them just being happy and in love because it makes me happy.
This novella is a complete standalone and could be read without having read the other two books in the standalone series. However, because I loved those books too I would recommend checking them out (either before or after) because you'd be missing out.
I'm just so happy I read this book!!! And my first 5 star for 2019 too! Woohooo!
July 11, 2020
I love Alexis Daria. It’s an odd choice to read a Christmas novella in April, but I felt the urge to read after recommending it as a cozy/warm/comforting to someone else.
July 28, 2020
Very sweet. I wasn’t quite sure why the heroine resisted so much.
November 12, 2018
This was a fun, fairly fluffy novella that reverses the usual he's a grump/she's a rainbow dynamic. Jess is a bit of a Scrooge and Nik is an unapologetic fan of all things holiday. The one thing that didn't quite work for me was the conflict was one of those that could have been resolved with a single logical question and answer. Nevertheless, I don't expect huge conflict from novella-length work and I always enjoy returning to the Dance Off universe. Looking forward to the next full-length novel in the series!
I was given an advance reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.
I was given an advance reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 19, 2018
4.5 stars.
This novella ticks all my boxes:
Multicultural - the Ukranian Christmas traditions rock ✅
Dance (the lindy hop sequences are awesome) ✅
Made me laugh ✅
Made me cry (poor Nik) ✅
Made me root for the hero and heroine ✅
Romantic, creative, sexy beta hero (those dates are inventive) ✅
Independent, loaded with personality, sexy heroine ✅
Steamy sexy times 🔥
I really enjoyed this novella, the first book by Alexis Daria I’ve ever read. I have the first two books but haven’t had the time to read them yet. As soon as I’m done with my ARCs, I’ll pick them up. I really like her writing.
I like so many things about this book and only have a handful of minor issues:
- Nik is too perfect
- I feel that Jess’ gesture in the end is not grand enough to match everything Nik did for her.
- main conflict could have been avoided and there was actually an opportunity for it, but it went to a different direction than where I would have liked it to be.
- Jess’ epiphany came too fast and so did the ending.
That’s just really nitpicking. I highly recommend this book, especially this season.
This novella ticks all my boxes:
Multicultural - the Ukranian Christmas traditions rock ✅
Dance (the lindy hop sequences are awesome) ✅
Made me laugh ✅
Made me cry (poor Nik) ✅
Made me root for the hero and heroine ✅
Romantic, creative, sexy beta hero (those dates are inventive) ✅
Independent, loaded with personality, sexy heroine ✅
Steamy sexy times 🔥
I really enjoyed this novella, the first book by Alexis Daria I’ve ever read. I have the first two books but haven’t had the time to read them yet. As soon as I’m done with my ARCs, I’ll pick them up. I really like her writing.
I like so many things about this book and only have a handful of minor issues:
- Nik is too perfect
- I feel that Jess’ gesture in the end is not grand enough to match everything Nik did for her.
- main conflict could have been avoided and there was actually an opportunity for it, but it went to a different direction than where I would have liked it to be.
- Jess’ epiphany came too fast and so did the ending.
That’s just really nitpicking. I highly recommend this book, especially this season.
February 3, 2025
3.5. I’m a sucker for MCs who plan and go on a series of themed dates for “getting to know you” and who have vibrant family and/or volunteer lives they engage with. The one MC is ready to settle down and must earn the trust of the other. And if you like Xmas holiday novellas, this might be for you!
November 30, 2020
This was a very cozy holiday story. I loved the holiday themed dates and how much Nik respected Jess and her boundaries. There was definitely a little “okay please just talk to each other” towards the end of this, but overall, a fun, quick read.
December 25, 2018
Loved it!
(If you were hesitant to read this because you haven’t caught up with the main series don’t be - I’ve read book 1 but not 2 and it was a-ok.)
Can’t wait to read book 2 and looking forward to book 3 coming out next year!
(If you were hesitant to read this because you haven’t caught up with the main series don’t be - I’ve read book 1 but not 2 and it was a-ok.)
Can’t wait to read book 2 and looking forward to book 3 coming out next year!
October 12, 2025
3.5 stars rounded up
Nik and all the Christmas stuff was super cute, but Jess’s resistance was annoying and made no sense.
Nik and all the Christmas stuff was super cute, but Jess’s resistance was annoying and made no sense.
October 23, 2019
I enjoyed this one very much! Also, consent is sexy...when Nik asks for permission to touch her, in the heat of the moment, stick a fork in me I'm done - that's some sexy shit right there.
December 12, 2018
If you're looking for a christmassy, adorable and beautiful romance to spend the holidays with, this might be the one you're looking for. It has a hero who loves Christmas and who's trying to get the heroine to feel the joy of it with him with three dates before New Years Eve, when she decides if she wants to be with him or not. Every time I read one of her books, I remember that Alexis Daria is an incredible writer. She has a wonderful way of portraying realistic and relatable characters that you root for but who have to have a lot of growing up to do during the duration of the book. The dynamics that they had especially during their first date when you can see them together bantering back and forward and dancing and enjoying what they do were gorgeous and I think the beginning of their story contributes a lot to those dynamics. The fact that they meet during New Years and then meet again next December but stayed following each other's social media and career was adorable.
The main thing that kept me rooting for this couple is how the hero wasn't playing games. He wanted to show her his change during the past year and knew how to do it. He was honest and direct and he also was rooting for her and themselves even though she wasn't in the best place mentally to do the same yet. This is exactly what you would want if you're looking for fluff and something inspiring for Christmas. It's full of joy and the desire that you have to connect with people during the holidays. It's realistic and charming. It's a New Years kiss, a Christmas cookie, a romance that you look for. All in one.
The main thing that kept me rooting for this couple is how the hero wasn't playing games. He wanted to show her his change during the past year and knew how to do it. He was honest and direct and he also was rooting for her and themselves even though she wasn't in the best place mentally to do the same yet. This is exactly what you would want if you're looking for fluff and something inspiring for Christmas. It's full of joy and the desire that you have to connect with people during the holidays. It's realistic and charming. It's a New Years kiss, a Christmas cookie, a romance that you look for. All in one.
December 13, 2018
I think that this is a delightful little holiday novella that will please fans of low angst contemporary (hi, waves own hand). I do think that there was a little too much off screen feelings developed (in the intervening year between when they first meet & the meat of this story gets going, the hero has fallen in love with the heroine with very little interaction to support it). That said, I thought the 3 date structure was a smart one and the characters were imminently likeable. Would recommend for the holiday season!! (Also, I appreciate that this holiday novella was ACTUALLY published at the end of year- what's with all these holiday novellas released in October??)
March 17, 2020
I have loved Daria's novels, but I can't say that this novella was executed as well as the other novellas I've been reading lately. I didn't really feel the connection between the MCs, and it suffered from what many other novellas I've read suffer from - a lack in the development of plot, relationship, etc. This did have a clever structure in the "three date" format, and Nic was a great character, but overall I just felt "meh" about it. Daria's footnotes said in two places that she basically blazed through it, so I suppose that explains it!
October 13, 2020
Nik and Jess are super cute in this novella. What I liked about it was that Nik settling down seemed less about him giving something up and more about him hitting an age where he wanted different things. Yes, Jess was part of it, but I imagine he'd have reacted to that catalyst differently at an earlier time. The emotional arcs are a bit rushed because it's a novella, but overall I thought this was a solidly adorable Christmas novella that didn't skew too cheesy.
November 20, 2018
Dimitri's baby brother got his HEA!
I did wish I was emotionally invested in their romance though; the whole story was very good but it would have been amazing had I been into the characters more. But objectively speaking, Dance All Night is a super cute Christmas story.
E-ARC is received thanks to the publisher via Netgalley.
I did wish I was emotionally invested in their romance though; the whole story was very good but it would have been amazing had I been into the characters more. But objectively speaking, Dance All Night is a super cute Christmas story.
E-ARC is received thanks to the publisher via Netgalley.
January 22, 2019
This review was originally posted on Latte Nights Reviews.
The romance in this novel was amazing. The two characters have so much chemistry, and the relationship flowed so naturally. Nik is such a romantic. He was sweet and understanding, even though he knew he finally wanted to settle down and stay in one place, he didn't push her or rush Jess into a relationship. Jess was also a fun character. She's kind of a grump, and I love it so much. She also has a great sense of humor, and kept me laughing constantly throughout the story.
Something that isn't talked about much in books, but I see in the media is how black women are shamed or judged for having natural hair. I love how Jess discusses how it affects her and the worry she feels that it could affect her job prospects.
This was such a sweet little novella, but there are quite a few lessons and social commentary subtly thrown in throughout. Jess has a toxic family, and has discussions about boundaries and how you're not obligated to see family members for holidays if they're toxic. My little counseling student heart loves this since boundaries are SO IMPORTANT.
"'I mean, it's great and all that you have a good connection with your family,' she said. 'But not everyone has that. And the holidays force the issue, like there's something wrong with you if you're not in the spirit of celebrating and putting aside your differences to deal with your toxic or dysfunctional family members.'"
Overall I loved this novella so much, and need to read the rest of the series ASAP.
This is my second Alyssa Cole book, and I realize how much I love her descriptive writing style. The way she writes about locations helps me picture the setting so easily, and definitely enhanced my enjoyment of the novella.
Once Ghosted, Twice Shy follows Likotsi, who works for the prince of Thesolo, who is back in New York after helping her boss woo his princess. The novella starts with Likotsi using her day off to try and get over the woman who broke her heart the year before. Instead of getting over her, she runs into Fab and they spend the day together. Likotsi hopes that by spending time with the woman who broke her heart, she can find out what went wrong.
"And when we are afraid, because we will inevitable be afraid again, let's run to each other instead of away."
The novella alternates from Fab and Likotsi's perspective as well as from past to present. The more time Fab and Likotsi spend together, the more information we get about what led to Fab to call off the relationship. The structure of the book kept me invested because I had to know what happened that made Fab end the relationship and break Likotsi's heart.
Side note: I realize this is a little irrational, but I get so angry when people talk about the research article about "36 questions that'll make you fall in love". THAT'S NOT WHAT THE RESEARCH ARTICLE IS ABOUT. It's about generating closeness in a lab setting. It's to help randomly assigned people in research be close if research requires it, and has nothing to do with making people fall in love.
"She wasn't conceited or anything, though she had every reason to be - she just seemed like she knew her worth. And she knew how to make other's feel worthy."
The novella had just enough angst to keep me reading and hanging off of every word because I needed to make sure the two women ended up together. I also enjoyed how confident both characters were. Fab has a full time career, and is also working as an entrepreneur and hoping to work for herself soon, and Likotsi works for the royal family, and knows how successful she is.
After reading this novella, I realized that I need to reread the first book in the series as well as continue on with the series!This review was originally posted on Latte Nights Reviews.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.This book. I'm so upset I waited until after the holidays to read it, because it's such a cute holiday novella!
I haven't read the rest of the books in the series, but they're definitely high on my tbr now because I loved this novella so much. Dance All Night follows Jess and Nik, two dancers who met at a holiday party and shared a kiss on New Years. A year later, they run into each other again, this time Nik knows he wants a relationship with Jess.
The romance in this novel was amazing. The two characters have so much chemistry, and the relationship flowed so naturally. Nik is such a romantic. He was sweet and understanding, even though he knew he finally wanted to settle down and stay in one place, he didn't push her or rush Jess into a relationship. Jess was also a fun character. She's kind of a grump, and I love it so much. She also has a great sense of humor, and kept me laughing constantly throughout the story.
Something that isn't talked about much in books, but I see in the media is how black women are shamed or judged for having natural hair. I love how Jess discusses how it affects her and the worry she feels that it could affect her job prospects.
This was such a sweet little novella, but there are quite a few lessons and social commentary subtly thrown in throughout. Jess has a toxic family, and has discussions about boundaries and how you're not obligated to see family members for holidays if they're toxic. My little counseling student heart loves this since boundaries are SO IMPORTANT.
"'I mean, it's great and all that you have a good connection with your family,' she said. 'But not everyone has that. And the holidays force the issue, like there's something wrong with you if you're not in the spirit of celebrating and putting aside your differences to deal with your toxic or dysfunctional family members.'"
Overall I loved this novella so much, and need to read the rest of the series ASAP.
This is my second Alyssa Cole book, and I realize how much I love her descriptive writing style. The way she writes about locations helps me picture the setting so easily, and definitely enhanced my enjoyment of the novella.
Once Ghosted, Twice Shy follows Likotsi, who works for the prince of Thesolo, who is back in New York after helping her boss woo his princess. The novella starts with Likotsi using her day off to try and get over the woman who broke her heart the year before. Instead of getting over her, she runs into Fab and they spend the day together. Likotsi hopes that by spending time with the woman who broke her heart, she can find out what went wrong.
"And when we are afraid, because we will inevitable be afraid again, let's run to each other instead of away."
The novella alternates from Fab and Likotsi's perspective as well as from past to present. The more time Fab and Likotsi spend together, the more information we get about what led to Fab to call off the relationship. The structure of the book kept me invested because I had to know what happened that made Fab end the relationship and break Likotsi's heart.
Side note: I realize this is a little irrational, but I get so angry when people talk about the research article about "36 questions that'll make you fall in love". THAT'S NOT WHAT THE RESEARCH ARTICLE IS ABOUT. It's about generating closeness in a lab setting. It's to help randomly assigned people in research be close if research requires it, and has nothing to do with making people fall in love.
"She wasn't conceited or anything, though she had every reason to be - she just seemed like she knew her worth. And she knew how to make other's feel worthy."
The novella had just enough angst to keep me reading and hanging off of every word because I needed to make sure the two women ended up together. I also enjoyed how confident both characters were. Fab has a full time career, and is also working as an entrepreneur and hoping to work for herself soon, and Likotsi works for the royal family, and knows how successful she is.
After reading this novella, I realized that I need to reread the first book in the series as well as continue on with the series!This review was originally posted on Latte Nights Reviews.
November 30, 2018
Have you ever labored over a homemade batch cookie dough, mixing ingredients, making sure all your chocolate chips are distributed evenly into your mix, place an even number of dough balls onto your baking sheet, watch them rise into perfect little clouds of amazingness, and bite into them and think “that’s some good shit right there?” That’s exactly how I felt while reading Dance All Night by Alexis Daria. I kept thinking “THAT’S SOME GOOD SHIT RIGHT THERE” to the point of staying up until 3am savoring all the words. Dance All Night is a cup of hot chocolate with chili powder on a cold winter day that you don’t know you’re gonna like and you end up practically licking the cup when you’re done.
Daria gives us an ideal pairing: the sweet and cheery Nik Kovalenko and the kind and prickly Jess Davenport. The setting: Christmastime! You know all those cheesy Hallmark movies about, say, a young baker who loves Christmas and the rough-around-the-edges business executive looking to settle down? It’s got the same vibe all while chewing up Christmas story tropes and spitting them out to make beautiful art.
Jess Davenport and Nik Kovalenko shared a kiss one year ago during a New Year’s Eve party, and they haven’t stopped thinking about each other since then (I know this sounds like HIgh School Musical but wait). When Nik comes back to L.A. to settle down after a long year of travel and work, he decides it’s time to slow down and explore a steady life. Nik hopes to have Jess be a part of that life, except she doesn’t believe he wants to end his wandering lifestyle.
And thus begins Nik’s new life mission: proving to Jess that he’s there for the long run and that Christmastime is a time for connection, even when the only person he wants to connect with is her. She’s not gonna make it easy for him though, keeping Nik, his three proposed dates, and the entirety of Christmas at arm’s length.
At its core, Daria’s novella is full of joy and the desire to connect with someone despite circumstances making you want to isolate yourself. Daria delivers on consent, communication between characters, balancing the fun with the dramatic, the steamy with the swoonworthy. It’s realistic with its relationship, especially in the age of social media where everything and everyone moves fast. Some may cry INSTA-LOVE, but who cares? I had fun, I rooted for the two of them, and I got a happily ever after by Alexis Daria. In the end, isn’t that what we all want during the jolliest of holidays?
An eARC was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Daria gives us an ideal pairing: the sweet and cheery Nik Kovalenko and the kind and prickly Jess Davenport. The setting: Christmastime! You know all those cheesy Hallmark movies about, say, a young baker who loves Christmas and the rough-around-the-edges business executive looking to settle down? It’s got the same vibe all while chewing up Christmas story tropes and spitting them out to make beautiful art.
Jess Davenport and Nik Kovalenko shared a kiss one year ago during a New Year’s Eve party, and they haven’t stopped thinking about each other since then (I know this sounds like HIgh School Musical but wait). When Nik comes back to L.A. to settle down after a long year of travel and work, he decides it’s time to slow down and explore a steady life. Nik hopes to have Jess be a part of that life, except she doesn’t believe he wants to end his wandering lifestyle.
And thus begins Nik’s new life mission: proving to Jess that he’s there for the long run and that Christmastime is a time for connection, even when the only person he wants to connect with is her. She’s not gonna make it easy for him though, keeping Nik, his three proposed dates, and the entirety of Christmas at arm’s length.
At its core, Daria’s novella is full of joy and the desire to connect with someone despite circumstances making you want to isolate yourself. Daria delivers on consent, communication between characters, balancing the fun with the dramatic, the steamy with the swoonworthy. It’s realistic with its relationship, especially in the age of social media where everything and everyone moves fast. Some may cry INSTA-LOVE, but who cares? I had fun, I rooted for the two of them, and I got a happily ever after by Alexis Daria. In the end, isn’t that what we all want during the jolliest of holidays?
An eARC was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
January 21, 2021
I thought about hanging on to this for longer since I’m not sure if Alexis will ever revisit this series. But then I decided not to deprive myself! This was such a cute holiday romance novella. Nik and Jess kiss on New Year’s Eve, then he leaves town for a Broadway gig. He’s got wanderlust and has no plans on settling down, until things change and he finds himself thinking of Jess. Once Nik decides he wants something, he’s all in. But Jess has no idea that Nik has been thinking of her all year when he comes back into town just before Christmas! And she really doubts that he’ll want to stay and I totally got it. Nik says he’ll stay “if she wants him to” which is a whole lot of pressure to put on her. I wanted to take him to the side and point out that he needs to stay in town for him and maybe he should do things like finding a job and a place to live to show her that he’s serious. He was so endearing and yet frustrating at the same time. There were lots of great moments: they spontaneously dance in the middle of the mall on their first date (which of course gets caught on film and goes viral), they decorate for Christmas and we get to see the couples from the first two books, there’s a snowed-in mountain getaway, we get to see Jess volunteering at a group home. I do wish things hadn’t been tied up with such a bow when it came to Jess’s parents—they needed to really hash out her unstable childhood before I could believe that her calling them or thinking about visiting regularly would be a good idea. The glimpses into Nik’s Ukrainian culture were a great touch, especially learning they celebrate Christmas on December 25 and January 7, since his parents belong to the Eastern Orthodox Church. Such a fun read all together!
Character notes: Nikolai is a 27 year old Ukrainian Broadway dancer. Jess is a 23 year old ballroom dancing champ. She has brown skin—Alexis Daria typically writes Latina heroines but I didn’t catch Jess’s ethnicity. This is set in Los Angeles.
CW: unstable childhood (Jess’s dad left repeatedly, especially at the holidays), Jess volunteers at a group home with at-risk girls but no specific traumas are detailed, alcohol, ableist language
Character notes: Nikolai is a 27 year old Ukrainian Broadway dancer. Jess is a 23 year old ballroom dancing champ. She has brown skin—Alexis Daria typically writes Latina heroines but I didn’t catch Jess’s ethnicity. This is set in Los Angeles.
CW: unstable childhood (Jess’s dad left repeatedly, especially at the holidays), Jess volunteers at a group home with at-risk girls but no specific traumas are detailed, alcohol, ableist language
December 12, 2018
This book is exactly what I needed, exactly when I needed it. Work has been rough lately and being able to escape into this book on the train ride home was just the thing.
The good:
- Women of color written by a woman of color - excellent. (The author is Latinx.) The heroine has curly hair and it comes up several times in the plot, as in, 'Hey, I'm coming over to sleep tonight and I'm bringing my satin pillowcase.'
- Nik is probably the sweetest hero I've ever read. Not calculating sweet, or saccharine sweet, but - he thought of and did xyz because his freakin' soul is just sweet. I'd give examples but I don't want to spoil anything because:
- The book is novella length and perfectly fits its pages. It's all A plot, no subplot, and the story doesn't feel stretched out or rushed. All of the emotional beats are here.
- There's a nice dose of holiday spirit, from sweater parties to family dinners. Nik's family immigrated to the US from Ukraine and I enjoyed learning about Eastern Orthodox holiday traditions.
- The Dance Off isn't filming but there is still dancing, yea! Nik is a Broadway dancer more than a singer/actor, and the scenes where they dance as a couple are lovely.
The not-so-good:
- The only thing I can think of is that Nik may be a little too perfect, but it's not a thought that crossed my mind while reading. He's the right kind of perfect for me.
A wonderful read to heal your heart and get into the holiday spirit, and the perfect book at the perfect time for me. I'm excited for the next book in the series, slated to come out in 2019, yea!
Thanks to NYLA and NetGalley for providing a review copy.
The good:
- Women of color written by a woman of color - excellent. (The author is Latinx.) The heroine has curly hair and it comes up several times in the plot, as in, 'Hey, I'm coming over to sleep tonight and I'm bringing my satin pillowcase.'
- Nik is probably the sweetest hero I've ever read. Not calculating sweet, or saccharine sweet, but - he thought of and did xyz because his freakin' soul is just sweet. I'd give examples but I don't want to spoil anything because:
- The book is novella length and perfectly fits its pages. It's all A plot, no subplot, and the story doesn't feel stretched out or rushed. All of the emotional beats are here.
- There's a nice dose of holiday spirit, from sweater parties to family dinners. Nik's family immigrated to the US from Ukraine and I enjoyed learning about Eastern Orthodox holiday traditions.
- The Dance Off isn't filming but there is still dancing, yea! Nik is a Broadway dancer more than a singer/actor, and the scenes where they dance as a couple are lovely.
The not-so-good:
- The only thing I can think of is that Nik may be a little too perfect, but it's not a thought that crossed my mind while reading. He's the right kind of perfect for me.
A wonderful read to heal your heart and get into the holiday spirit, and the perfect book at the perfect time for me. I'm excited for the next book in the series, slated to come out in 2019, yea!
Thanks to NYLA and NetGalley for providing a review copy.
December 2, 2018
ARC received via Netgalley
This was such a CHARMING read. If you like the holiday made for TV movies, but wish they weren't so chaste, this is the book for you. I really really love the plot and how the characters relationship developed. Nik is amazing and the way he sets about wooing Jess is perfect. Jess is great too, I understand her hang ups and why she is so reluctant. It makes perfect sense. I wish maybe she'd gotten to confront her parents and talk it out a little bit. But I get it. I haven't read the second book so seeing the hero/heroine of it here wasn't as special as it could've been had I done so, my fault. But I did enjoy seeing the couple from the first book, which I have read, in a scene. Back to the plot, I really enjoyed the set up. Three dates to win her over & make her love the holidays. Again, the word I keep coming back to is charming. Nik is charming. Jess is charmed by him. The dates are charming. Everything is sweet and I smiled a lot while reading. I even enjoyed the momentary angst. I like how they both made steps to get on the same page. It was fair and no one was made the bad guy.
This was such a CHARMING read. If you like the holiday made for TV movies, but wish they weren't so chaste, this is the book for you. I really really love the plot and how the characters relationship developed. Nik is amazing and the way he sets about wooing Jess is perfect. Jess is great too, I understand her hang ups and why she is so reluctant. It makes perfect sense. I wish maybe she'd gotten to confront her parents and talk it out a little bit. But I get it. I haven't read the second book so seeing the hero/heroine of it here wasn't as special as it could've been had I done so, my fault. But I did enjoy seeing the couple from the first book, which I have read, in a scene. Back to the plot, I really enjoyed the set up. Three dates to win her over & make her love the holidays. Again, the word I keep coming back to is charming. Nik is charming. Jess is charmed by him. The dates are charming. Everything is sweet and I smiled a lot while reading. I even enjoyed the momentary angst. I like how they both made steps to get on the same page. It was fair and no one was made the bad guy.
November 11, 2018
Dance All Night was a really fluffyyy and cute holiday novella. Nik was just the sweetest guy and i loved Jess whose a bit of a Scrooge. There's lovely dance scenes in this and the dates Nik planned were all so well thought out and adorable.
We get to see characters from the previous books but this can very much be read as a standalone if you haven't yet read books 1 and 2.
This was exactly what I needed to read right now being sick and all. (flu leave meeee) Who doesn't love sweet heroes, and Nik is just that. I liked that he's the romantic and Jess is the realist who doesn't buy into the hype of Christmas but through their dates she gets to see what it means for Nik and maybeeee (she totally did) fell under the spell of it and Nik :)
I have to add at no time did I feel like Nik was trying to force his love of Christmas on Jess. It was a genuine sharing of something he loves by incorporating little things into their dates that he knows Jess would love too.
It was a quick read and perfect pick me up.
We get to see characters from the previous books but this can very much be read as a standalone if you haven't yet read books 1 and 2.
This was exactly what I needed to read right now being sick and all. (flu leave meeee) Who doesn't love sweet heroes, and Nik is just that. I liked that he's the romantic and Jess is the realist who doesn't buy into the hype of Christmas but through their dates she gets to see what it means for Nik and maybeeee (she totally did) fell under the spell of it and Nik :)
I have to add at no time did I feel like Nik was trying to force his love of Christmas on Jess. It was a genuine sharing of something he loves by incorporating little things into their dates that he knows Jess would love too.
It was a quick read and perfect pick me up.
January 18, 2021
Mmmm... fabulous New Years Eve and holiday vibes anytime of year. Nik and Jessica were heart-warming goodness. It started off lighthearted enough and by the end I was knee deep in my feels. Daria really plays the tension of the conflict well! My heartstrings were begging for the HEA! I loved the way each character interpreted and struggled with “settling down”— being a teacher I especially loved the community work Jessica’s character was involved in.
And she delivered. I’ll be dipping into the rest of her dance series after this sweet novella 💖
Full of multi-cultural goodness too and the things that make this country what it is— diverse. Muah *chef’s kiss* 😘
And she delivered. I’ll be dipping into the rest of her dance series after this sweet novella 💖
Full of multi-cultural goodness too and the things that make this country what it is— diverse. Muah *chef’s kiss* 😘
December 15, 2019
Nik and Jess had an amazing kiss at a New Year’s party a year ago but haven’t spoken since. That doesn’t mean Nik has forgotten about her--this Christmas, he’s determined to show Jess he’s serious about her. Even though she swears she doesn’t like Christmas, she agrees to go on three dates with him to see if he can inspire her with holiday spirit. This would be a great book for anyone who finds the holidays sad or difficult--it acknowledges that not everyone is filled with joy, and shows how kindness and connection can make those days pass more easily.
January 16, 2020
Charming holiday romance, though I felt a bit hammered over the head with the constant Scrooge vs. Christmas enthusiast business. I get it, I get it! I guess it comes with the territory. That said, the heroine and hero are likeable, their banter was genuinely funny and endearing, and I was reminded of how much I enjoyed Take the Lead. Looking forward to more from Alexis Daria!
December 26, 2018
This was brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. I loved everything about it and I’m so excited to read more from Alexis Daria in the future.
December 29, 2021
I really dislike novellas. I thought the love story was too fast and the characters unrealistic. Their personalities were also a bit annoying. Wouldn’t recommend.
January 2, 2022
Great holiday novella
With a little bit of Christmas and new years. The chemistry between these two is sizzling yet adorable
So many quotable moments
With a little bit of Christmas and new years. The chemistry between these two is sizzling yet adorable
So many quotable moments
May 29, 2024
I guess the third book, Feel the Rhythm, never got published!
June 12, 2019
I have only started reading holiday books in the last year or two, and this Christmas, I was lucky enough to score a Netgalley copy of Dance All Night by Alexis Daria. I've previously read one of the previous books in the Dance Off series, and really enjoyed it, so I was excited to get to this one as well. The series follows various cast members of a Dancing with the Stars reality-type show as they find love and romance. I really love the dance setting and the vibes you get (especially because I was into ballroom dancing in college & mentions of dances I know how to do always make me a bit nostalgic).
In this installment of novella length, the focus is on Jess Davenport, a dancer on the show who hates holidays, and a Broadway dancer named Nik Kovalenko, whose brother was the focus of the second book in the series (which I haven't read yet). On New Year's Eve, at a party, Nik and Jess share a midnight kiss that's pretty amazing from the sounds of it, and then go their separate ways. Almost a year later, Nik comes back to town intent on dating Jess, who gives him 3 dates to show her that the Christmas season really isn't all that bad (she's a bit of a Scrooge).
For me, this was just a really fun book to read around the holidays--though I'm sure the romance can appeal year-round. Jess and Nik have great chemistry and it's really fun to see them developed as people throughout the story. It did suffer a little from their lack of communication, which made me occasionally want to scream at them both, but their journey is still quite wonderful to watch. I love how Jess's character develops, and how you really get to know Nik throughout the book and appreciate where both of them are coming from. I laughed and I teared up, and I just found it to be a very sweet holiday romance with lots of fun flirting and holiday fun, as well as some perfectly steamy scenes. If you like contemporary romance, I definitely recommend this one and the first in the Dance Off series (and I'm definitely going to make time to go back to the second).
In this installment of novella length, the focus is on Jess Davenport, a dancer on the show who hates holidays, and a Broadway dancer named Nik Kovalenko, whose brother was the focus of the second book in the series (which I haven't read yet). On New Year's Eve, at a party, Nik and Jess share a midnight kiss that's pretty amazing from the sounds of it, and then go their separate ways. Almost a year later, Nik comes back to town intent on dating Jess, who gives him 3 dates to show her that the Christmas season really isn't all that bad (she's a bit of a Scrooge).
For me, this was just a really fun book to read around the holidays--though I'm sure the romance can appeal year-round. Jess and Nik have great chemistry and it's really fun to see them developed as people throughout the story. It did suffer a little from their lack of communication, which made me occasionally want to scream at them both, but their journey is still quite wonderful to watch. I love how Jess's character develops, and how you really get to know Nik throughout the book and appreciate where both of them are coming from. I laughed and I teared up, and I just found it to be a very sweet holiday romance with lots of fun flirting and holiday fun, as well as some perfectly steamy scenes. If you like contemporary romance, I definitely recommend this one and the first in the Dance Off series (and I'm definitely going to make time to go back to the second).
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