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The Dance Deception
Kate Wareing is astonished when she secures a place in a televised dance competition. Especially as it means she’ll be paired with a professional dancer to compete for a life-changing cash prize.
When she’s matched with gorgeous French dancer Merle it quickly becomes clear that he’s just as keen to work on their chemistry as their routine.
But when the competition is rocked by a scandal, Kate’s forced to switch to a new partner, Aleksis , who is just as devastatingly attractive as Merle – but seems to hate her.
With the odds stacked against them, Kate and Aleksis embark on a showmance to try and win over the public. But what happens when Kate’s feelings for her fake boyfriend become all too real? And how far will Merle go to sabotage her chances – both in the competition and in love?
Funny, feel-good and oh-so-steamy, this is the perfect read for the Strictly-obsessed and anyone who loved The Spanish Love Deception and The Love Hypothesis
‘Like seeing the Strictly curse play out in real time…seriously sexy’ OK! Magazine ‘Romantic, sexy and full of drama…absolutely sizzling!’ – Sunday Times bestselling author Melanie Blake
‘ The Dance Deception is a breezy, sexy romance filled with passion , intricate dance moves, and a hero and heroine you can really root for. The perfect summer read!’ Kimberly Ash ‘A steamy yet heart-warming romance that will make your heart and temperature soar !' Emily Houghton ‘I loved it so much that I lived vicariously through this book throughout my entire read . It was perfect! Cute and witty characters, entertaining story and a sweet romance . Going to recommend to all romcom lovers.’ Reader review ‘ A feel-good and steamy read with lots of funny moments . The chemistry is electric , and the dance and reality show concepts add an extra layer of excitement to the story.’ Reader review ‘A well written, entertaining story. I had a blast reading it. I instantly fell in love with the characters and found them very relatable. The chemistry between the two love interests practically sizzled off the pag e and there were so many laugh out loud moments as well.’ Reader review ‘ Sexy, intriguing, and well-paced …will keep you entertained!’ Reader review ‘Lots of drama and steamy scenes. This was so good I stayed up late to finish reading ’ Reader review
When she’s matched with gorgeous French dancer Merle it quickly becomes clear that he’s just as keen to work on their chemistry as their routine.
But when the competition is rocked by a scandal, Kate’s forced to switch to a new partner, Aleksis , who is just as devastatingly attractive as Merle – but seems to hate her.
With the odds stacked against them, Kate and Aleksis embark on a showmance to try and win over the public. But what happens when Kate’s feelings for her fake boyfriend become all too real? And how far will Merle go to sabotage her chances – both in the competition and in love?
Funny, feel-good and oh-so-steamy, this is the perfect read for the Strictly-obsessed and anyone who loved The Spanish Love Deception and The Love Hypothesis
‘Like seeing the Strictly curse play out in real time…seriously sexy’ OK! Magazine ‘Romantic, sexy and full of drama…absolutely sizzling!’ – Sunday Times bestselling author Melanie Blake
‘ The Dance Deception is a breezy, sexy romance filled with passion , intricate dance moves, and a hero and heroine you can really root for. The perfect summer read!’ Kimberly Ash ‘A steamy yet heart-warming romance that will make your heart and temperature soar !' Emily Houghton ‘I loved it so much that I lived vicariously through this book throughout my entire read . It was perfect! Cute and witty characters, entertaining story and a sweet romance . Going to recommend to all romcom lovers.’ Reader review ‘ A feel-good and steamy read with lots of funny moments . The chemistry is electric , and the dance and reality show concepts add an extra layer of excitement to the story.’ Reader review ‘A well written, entertaining story. I had a blast reading it. I instantly fell in love with the characters and found them very relatable. The chemistry between the two love interests practically sizzled off the pag e and there were so many laugh out loud moments as well.’ Reader review ‘ Sexy, intriguing, and well-paced …will keep you entertained!’ Reader review ‘Lots of drama and steamy scenes. This was so good I stayed up late to finish reading ’ Reader review
376 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 3, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 191 reviews
August 5, 2023
ARC ✨️
my eyes hurt from forcing myself to finish this. I'm going to go into a bit of details about what happens, minor spoilers from the first half of the book.
- she is the stupidest dumbest girlie ever. he filmed her dancing naked WITHOUT her consent and she doesn't care just because he's hot???? he acts like a total dick, talks to her like she's his dog and she, again, doesn't give a shit because he's just so hot?? wake upppp
- if I have to read another line about his "bum" I'm going to throw up
"I can't help wondering if he'll seduce her too. Which somehow hurts more than finding out he was married."
I'm sorry what?? and she's still thinking how it would have been so much better to keep having sex with him without knowing he was married. giiirrrrrl
"The truth is, much as I hate what he's done, I wish I was still dancing with [☆]."
stop it I'm begging. she's crawling at his feet pls have some dignity
- overall super bland, the first 15% or so is just pointless porn, then we have to suffer through a fake dating plotline without any tension or anything standing between them so it's just all flowers and butterflies up until the end. and this is just a me issue but I couldn't stand the amount of pages focused on the dance aspect, dancing just doesn't look sexy when it's written imo
my eyes hurt from forcing myself to finish this. I'm going to go into a bit of details about what happens, minor spoilers from the first half of the book.
- she is the stupidest dumbest girlie ever. he filmed her dancing naked WITHOUT her consent and she doesn't care just because he's hot???? he acts like a total dick, talks to her like she's his dog and she, again, doesn't give a shit because he's just so hot?? wake upppp
- if I have to read another line about his "bum" I'm going to throw up
"I can't help wondering if he'll seduce her too. Which somehow hurts more than finding out he was married."
I'm sorry what?? and she's still thinking how it would have been so much better to keep having sex with him without knowing he was married. giiirrrrrl
"The truth is, much as I hate what he's done, I wish I was still dancing with [☆]."
stop it I'm begging. she's crawling at his feet pls have some dignity
- overall super bland, the first 15% or so is just pointless porn, then we have to suffer through a fake dating plotline without any tension or anything standing between them so it's just all flowers and butterflies up until the end. and this is just a me issue but I couldn't stand the amount of pages focused on the dance aspect, dancing just doesn't look sexy when it's written imo
August 30, 2023
They didn’t even bloody win
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
2023
October 22, 2025Valentine's Day TBR
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Avon
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Avon
February 27, 2024
uuhhhh? the wasted potential of this book is infuriating 😡 the only good thing that will come out of this is my book club presentation. how do i end this review? keeeeeeep trying? idk if you get it you get it
June 11, 2024
Reviewed for AudioGals.
Good narration, plot, not so much.
Narrated by Alix Dunmore
I enjoy dance competitions such as Dancing With the Stars/Strictly Come Dancing and I like a fake relationship so I expected The Dance Deception to be right up my alley. The sample of the narration, by Alix Dunmore, also seemed very promising. It turned out the narration – which did indeed live up to its promise – was the best thing about the book.
Kate Wareing has been successful in securing a place in a new TV dance show “Fire on the Dance Floor” – a version of Strictly with Latin dances only and featuring “normal” people instead of stars/celebrities. As it is the first season, the competition will only last five weeks. It is winner-take-all, with the top contestant walking away with £25,000. Kate, recently out of work due to a messy break-up, could really use the money.
Kate is paired with Merle, a Frenchman who is all about winning. He’s also gorgeous. I call Merle “the arse”. He is, obviously, from the very beginning, a complete arse. Kate, however, is bowled over by Merle’s good looks. The accent probably helps too. Within a couple of days, Kate and Merle have moved from making out to full-on sex – including an interlude where Merle films Kate (without her consent or knowledge) dancing naked (long story). (Merle quickly identifies that Kate is a much better dancer after an orgasm – she’s more relaxed and less “in her head”). Kate is at first shocked and dismayed by the video but Merle assures her he never uses the cloud and he promises to delete it. (Did I mention Merle is an arse? I think we all know where this is going.)
Before their first performance, Kate is very nervous so Merle takes her to his dressing room (he’s the only professional dancer with a dressing room because of course: arse) to give her a good rogering to settle her down. By the time Kate is at the pub with her friends and after the taping, there are photos online of their interlude. Kate is humiliated, of course. But worse, it is revealed that Merle is married. This does explain why Merle never went anywhere with Kate after practice and all of their interludes (apart from the dressing room one) were in the dance studio. He was such a creep and I was super disappointed in Kate for ever falling for his BS to be honest.
The scandal is great for the show because publicity but terrible for Kate. The next day, Kate is paired with another pro-dancer, Aleksis, and Merle has taken Aleksis’s erstwhile partner (who happens to be the best dancer of all of the contestants), Amelia. Merle apparently told the producers that he could not stay on the show if he remained partnered with Kate. Aleksis, for some reason, seems to detest Kate so the new pairing does not start off well.
There’s a reason for Aleksis’s animosity: Merle’s wife is his sister, Sophia.
It’s a fairly brave romance novel which starts off with the heroine having consensual sex with someone other than the hero. The Dance Deception is perhaps braver than most because in week two of the competition, Kate decides to try and get over Merle by having sex with Warren (a friend of her flatmate’s new boyfriend). It’s very bad (and fairly amusing, albeit entirely at Warren’s expense) and after that, Warren is basically never heard from again.
By the end of that second week, Sophia has explained to Aleksis that Merle is a serial cheater and she has finally decided to kick him out. Her decision; Kate is not a homewrecker. If anything, Sophia is grateful to her. (Which, okay, unusual but I can go with that.)
After week two’s taping when it’s clear that Merle and Amelia are now a couple, Sophia suggests to Aleksis and Kate that they fake a romance to increase their popularity (it’s an audience vote as to who goes through to the next round). So they do.
Nobody seems to question that the show has been going for barely more than two weeks and Kate has now been in TWO “relationships” with her professional dance partners. (And they don’t even know about Warren.) I’m all for sex positivity but this is a romance. Even when she starts thinking Aleksis is a nice guy and better looking than she first appreciated, she’s still hung up on Merle.
By the end of week three, Aleksis and Kate move in together to give the tabloids more fodder and to boost their chances of a higher audience vote.
By week four, Aleksis and Kate are in a real relationship.
The entire book takes place over the five weeks of the competition.
I did not feel confident that Aleksis and Kate really knew each other. I wasn’t confident in their relationship because I didn’t feel like I knew Aleksis all that well myself. I was left with the feeling that the only reason Kate was able to get over Merle wasn’t because he was a complete arse but because Aleksis started paying attention to her. I didn’t get the impression that Kate would do very well on her own. I thought she probably needed some time by herself to decide what she truly wanted in her life rather than bouncing from one man to another. Aleksis was certainly the best man in the bunch however, so she ended up with the best possible choice.
Given how OTT the story was to that point, I was extremely disappointed in the ending. Yes, there is a HFN/HEA but the arse didn’t get nearly enough of a comeuppance IMO. As expected, the video makes another appearance in the storyline and I will give the author credit for taking that into a somewhat unexpected place but she lost those points when the tension fizzled out completely.
On a much more positive note, the narration was very good. Alix Dunmore’s accent work was particularly impressive, with Merle’s French diction and Aleksis (and Sophia’s) Latvian (Russian-like) tones. Plus there were various British accents used as well.
Ms. Dunmore made Kate more sympathetic than I would have otherwise found her I think. I don’t blame the narration for my dislike of the “Fire on the Dance Floor” host, Kimberley. Kimberley sounded like exactly a cheesy TV show host with that annoying cadence, over-the-top enthusiasm and fake sincerity. Still, I’m glad there wasn’t more of her.
My only real criticism of the narration was that most of the character differentiation was based on accent and not pitch. There wasn’t any discernible difference between Aleksis and Sophia for example, which did lead to some occasional confusion. However, the rest of the performance was very good. If not for Alix Dunmore’s skill, I’m not sure I could have finished the audiobook.
The story itself was well-written (which is why the grade is as high as it is) – my issues were all with the plot which was just too much for me.
Good narration, plot, not so much.
Narrated by Alix Dunmore
I enjoy dance competitions such as Dancing With the Stars/Strictly Come Dancing and I like a fake relationship so I expected The Dance Deception to be right up my alley. The sample of the narration, by Alix Dunmore, also seemed very promising. It turned out the narration – which did indeed live up to its promise – was the best thing about the book.
Kate Wareing has been successful in securing a place in a new TV dance show “Fire on the Dance Floor” – a version of Strictly with Latin dances only and featuring “normal” people instead of stars/celebrities. As it is the first season, the competition will only last five weeks. It is winner-take-all, with the top contestant walking away with £25,000. Kate, recently out of work due to a messy break-up, could really use the money.
Kate is paired with Merle, a Frenchman who is all about winning. He’s also gorgeous. I call Merle “the arse”. He is, obviously, from the very beginning, a complete arse. Kate, however, is bowled over by Merle’s good looks. The accent probably helps too. Within a couple of days, Kate and Merle have moved from making out to full-on sex – including an interlude where Merle films Kate (without her consent or knowledge) dancing naked (long story). (Merle quickly identifies that Kate is a much better dancer after an orgasm – she’s more relaxed and less “in her head”). Kate is at first shocked and dismayed by the video but Merle assures her he never uses the cloud and he promises to delete it. (Did I mention Merle is an arse? I think we all know where this is going.)
Before their first performance, Kate is very nervous so Merle takes her to his dressing room (he’s the only professional dancer with a dressing room because of course: arse) to give her a good rogering to settle her down. By the time Kate is at the pub with her friends and after the taping, there are photos online of their interlude. Kate is humiliated, of course. But worse, it is revealed that Merle is married. This does explain why Merle never went anywhere with Kate after practice and all of their interludes (apart from the dressing room one) were in the dance studio. He was such a creep and I was super disappointed in Kate for ever falling for his BS to be honest.
The scandal is great for the show because publicity but terrible for Kate. The next day, Kate is paired with another pro-dancer, Aleksis, and Merle has taken Aleksis’s erstwhile partner (who happens to be the best dancer of all of the contestants), Amelia. Merle apparently told the producers that he could not stay on the show if he remained partnered with Kate. Aleksis, for some reason, seems to detest Kate so the new pairing does not start off well.
There’s a reason for Aleksis’s animosity: Merle’s wife is his sister, Sophia.
It’s a fairly brave romance novel which starts off with the heroine having consensual sex with someone other than the hero. The Dance Deception is perhaps braver than most because in week two of the competition, Kate decides to try and get over Merle by having sex with Warren (a friend of her flatmate’s new boyfriend). It’s very bad (and fairly amusing, albeit entirely at Warren’s expense) and after that, Warren is basically never heard from again.
By the end of that second week, Sophia has explained to Aleksis that Merle is a serial cheater and she has finally decided to kick him out. Her decision; Kate is not a homewrecker. If anything, Sophia is grateful to her. (Which, okay, unusual but I can go with that.)
After week two’s taping when it’s clear that Merle and Amelia are now a couple, Sophia suggests to Aleksis and Kate that they fake a romance to increase their popularity (it’s an audience vote as to who goes through to the next round). So they do.
Nobody seems to question that the show has been going for barely more than two weeks and Kate has now been in TWO “relationships” with her professional dance partners. (And they don’t even know about Warren.) I’m all for sex positivity but this is a romance. Even when she starts thinking Aleksis is a nice guy and better looking than she first appreciated, she’s still hung up on Merle.
By the end of week three, Aleksis and Kate move in together to give the tabloids more fodder and to boost their chances of a higher audience vote.
By week four, Aleksis and Kate are in a real relationship.
The entire book takes place over the five weeks of the competition.
I did not feel confident that Aleksis and Kate really knew each other. I wasn’t confident in their relationship because I didn’t feel like I knew Aleksis all that well myself. I was left with the feeling that the only reason Kate was able to get over Merle wasn’t because he was a complete arse but because Aleksis started paying attention to her. I didn’t get the impression that Kate would do very well on her own. I thought she probably needed some time by herself to decide what she truly wanted in her life rather than bouncing from one man to another. Aleksis was certainly the best man in the bunch however, so she ended up with the best possible choice.
Given how OTT the story was to that point, I was extremely disappointed in the ending. Yes, there is a HFN/HEA but the arse didn’t get nearly enough of a comeuppance IMO. As expected, the video makes another appearance in the storyline and I will give the author credit for taking that into a somewhat unexpected place but she lost those points when the tension fizzled out completely.
On a much more positive note, the narration was very good. Alix Dunmore’s accent work was particularly impressive, with Merle’s French diction and Aleksis (and Sophia’s) Latvian (Russian-like) tones. Plus there were various British accents used as well.
Ms. Dunmore made Kate more sympathetic than I would have otherwise found her I think. I don’t blame the narration for my dislike of the “Fire on the Dance Floor” host, Kimberley. Kimberley sounded like exactly a cheesy TV show host with that annoying cadence, over-the-top enthusiasm and fake sincerity. Still, I’m glad there wasn’t more of her.
My only real criticism of the narration was that most of the character differentiation was based on accent and not pitch. There wasn’t any discernible difference between Aleksis and Sophia for example, which did lead to some occasional confusion. However, the rest of the performance was very good. If not for Alix Dunmore’s skill, I’m not sure I could have finished the audiobook.
The story itself was well-written (which is why the grade is as high as it is) – my issues were all with the plot which was just too much for me.
February 27, 2024
A little too much assault for my taste, and not a single smut scene (of many) that was useful interesting or well written. can't get more into this bc I have to save it for book club (hi niamh good luck hannah)
September 8, 2023
I hesitated on whether to put this review as my first. But it was the first book I finished since I opened my page, and I believe that the review not only reflects my opinion on the book, but also that of any book I read. So, without further ado, here's my review.
My Rating 0
My Expectations sexy, fun, pride and prejudice-esque, pining, expressing emotions through dance
My Reality I hate her. I actually hate her. Have some pride, please respect yourself. You only know him for a WEEK!! Apologise. Why aren't you apologising!! Please break up, for my sanity, please.
My Review
1. Kate, the FMC
Kate had no redeeming qualities, in fact she had no qualities at all. In all her interactions with the other characters, her family, friends, coworkers, we did not learn anything about her. If she was funny, smart, witty, generous, kind. Nothing.
The only characteristic that we learned about Kate was that she's thirsty. 90% of Kate's inner monologue was about Merle or Aleksis, and what she wanted to do with their bodies. The fact that she wanted to sleep with either man dominated all her actions and thoughts, in so far that she did not care that Merle was married, that Aleksis was Merle's ex-wife's brother, or that they were both her dance partners during the competition. (In all fairness, Kate didn't know that Merle was married when they first got together, only that she kept lusting after him after finding out).
The issue is further exasperated by having the book in Kate's POV. The tone was monotonous with no character growth from Kate, only that she switched her attentions from Merle to Aleksis.
Not all romance books need character growth, sometimes they are about two people meeting and falling in love. But here, the author tells us that Kate was cheated on by her boyfriend with a colleague of hers (told, not shown, Kate never explores her feelings on the matter beyond being 'upset'). Ok, if cheating is a recurring theme, then why isn't it explored with Kate's reactions and growth. Instead it is just treated as the incident that led to Kate leaving her job. If this event was the reason Kate left her job, then it must have had an emotional impact on her, but it is not discussed beyond a few sentences.
Additionally, Kate never owns up to her part as 'the other-woman', her only defence is that she didn't know Merle was married. There is no shame or contrition on Kate's part, no 'I should have known better.' Kate does not look back on her actions and think she needs to learn from them. Events in the book are treated as devices to move the plot forward, rather than instances the characters can learn and grow from.
2. The structure
Usually a story has a beginning, middle (where the conflict happens), and an end.
We start this story with a dream sequence, and I would not mind it if by the end of the chapter we could at least understand the characters better. But the scene was just there to increase the spice of the book. There is no introduction to who Kate is as a person, we are just info dumped about her situation.
I want to say there is a conflict, but even with so many squabbles between the characters, there is no real conflict between anyone. Kate and Merle are photographed being intimate, ahh its fine it's good for the ratings and they will keep them on the show. Merle is married, ahh it's fine, they will just switch partners. Aleksis is Merle's ex-wife's brother, ahh its fine, Sofiya is ok with Kate. Kate and Aleksis did not practice enough for their live dance, ahh its fine, the producers will let them through for the ratings. Kate and Aleksis need to fake a relationship to stay in the show, ahh its fine they're dance geniuses and the public loves them because they're the 'cool, laid back' couple. Liam sold out Kate, ahh its fine they're friends again. Kate did not win the show, ahh its fine, Liam will give her the money he got when he sold her out.
What? I get it's supposed to be a fun read, but come on, no conflict, no issues, no consequences, just things happening because that's what the plot demands?! There were no stakes, and at a certain point I just got bored with all the dance and costume descriptions.
3. The romance, or lack thereof
As mentioned, 90% of Kate's inner monologue was about Merle or Aleksis, however we never got an insight into what she liked about their personalities, or what drew her to them, only that she thought they were attractive.
Kate and Merle's 'relationship' starts on the first day they meet for rehearsals. They dance then makeout, that's it. Then every rehearsal after, they dance and then do something sexual. On the day of the live show, they have sex then dance. Am I living in another dimension, where having sex does not equal romance to me? There were no scenes where they talked and bonded, where they connected on an emotional level rather than a physical one. And I understand that Merle is not the MMC, but the same pattern is repeated with Aleksis. They never talk, they just have sex.
The thing that disappoints me is that there were plenty of opportunities for the characters to fall in love, but instead we just get another spicy scene. For example, when Kate and Aleksis are stuck in France, in Kate's sister's bed, after spending the day with Kate's family. Instead of the two talking about the day and their views on family, whether they want kids, if they want to teach them to dance, their dreams and hopes of the future, or their plans after the show ends, we get the two of them trying to have sex and failing because the beds is squeaking. Which, gross because it's her SISTER'S BED!! Then, instead of admitting defeat and going to bed laughing, we get another spicy scene of them in the bathroom.
Look, I am not opposed to spice, if done well it can increase the intimacy and love between the couple. But here, it was just thrown in, without building on any romantic foundation. For a contemporary romance book, there was no romance at all. There were So. Many. Spicy. Scenes. But no romance.
If this book was labeled as erotica instead of romance, I would have a completely different opinion. But, it is ‘contemporary romance’ and I ended the book with wanting the two MCs to breakup. When Kate thought Aleksis was dumping her I thought ‘good, finally’ instead of ‘sucks for her’ or 'oh no.'
There are a lot more things I can discuss, Aleksis' role and whether he can actually be called the MMC, the two-dimensional characters, the 'fake dating' plot point, the disdain for a competent woman, but I just want to be done with this book.
My Rating 0
My Expectations sexy, fun, pride and prejudice-esque, pining, expressing emotions through dance
My Reality I hate her. I actually hate her. Have some pride, please respect yourself. You only know him for a WEEK!! Apologise. Why aren't you apologising!! Please break up, for my sanity, please.
My Review
1. Kate, the FMC
Kate had no redeeming qualities, in fact she had no qualities at all. In all her interactions with the other characters, her family, friends, coworkers, we did not learn anything about her. If she was funny, smart, witty, generous, kind. Nothing.
The only characteristic that we learned about Kate was that she's thirsty. 90% of Kate's inner monologue was about Merle or Aleksis, and what she wanted to do with their bodies. The fact that she wanted to sleep with either man dominated all her actions and thoughts, in so far that she did not care that Merle was married, that Aleksis was Merle's ex-wife's brother, or that they were both her dance partners during the competition. (In all fairness, Kate didn't know that Merle was married when they first got together, only that she kept lusting after him after finding out).
The issue is further exasperated by having the book in Kate's POV. The tone was monotonous with no character growth from Kate, only that she switched her attentions from Merle to Aleksis.
Not all romance books need character growth, sometimes they are about two people meeting and falling in love. But here, the author tells us that Kate was cheated on by her boyfriend with a colleague of hers (told, not shown, Kate never explores her feelings on the matter beyond being 'upset'). Ok, if cheating is a recurring theme, then why isn't it explored with Kate's reactions and growth. Instead it is just treated as the incident that led to Kate leaving her job. If this event was the reason Kate left her job, then it must have had an emotional impact on her, but it is not discussed beyond a few sentences.
Additionally, Kate never owns up to her part as 'the other-woman', her only defence is that she didn't know Merle was married. There is no shame or contrition on Kate's part, no 'I should have known better.' Kate does not look back on her actions and think she needs to learn from them. Events in the book are treated as devices to move the plot forward, rather than instances the characters can learn and grow from.
2. The structure
Usually a story has a beginning, middle (where the conflict happens), and an end.
We start this story with a dream sequence, and I would not mind it if by the end of the chapter we could at least understand the characters better. But the scene was just there to increase the spice of the book. There is no introduction to who Kate is as a person, we are just info dumped about her situation.
I want to say there is a conflict, but even with so many squabbles between the characters, there is no real conflict between anyone. Kate and Merle are photographed being intimate, ahh its fine it's good for the ratings and they will keep them on the show. Merle is married, ahh it's fine, they will just switch partners. Aleksis is Merle's ex-wife's brother, ahh its fine, Sofiya is ok with Kate. Kate and Aleksis did not practice enough for their live dance, ahh its fine, the producers will let them through for the ratings. Kate and Aleksis need to fake a relationship to stay in the show, ahh its fine they're dance geniuses and the public loves them because they're the 'cool, laid back' couple. Liam sold out Kate, ahh its fine they're friends again. Kate did not win the show, ahh its fine, Liam will give her the money he got when he sold her out.
What? I get it's supposed to be a fun read, but come on, no conflict, no issues, no consequences, just things happening because that's what the plot demands?! There were no stakes, and at a certain point I just got bored with all the dance and costume descriptions.
3. The romance, or lack thereof
As mentioned, 90% of Kate's inner monologue was about Merle or Aleksis, however we never got an insight into what she liked about their personalities, or what drew her to them, only that she thought they were attractive.
Kate and Merle's 'relationship' starts on the first day they meet for rehearsals. They dance then makeout, that's it. Then every rehearsal after, they dance and then do something sexual. On the day of the live show, they have sex then dance. Am I living in another dimension, where having sex does not equal romance to me? There were no scenes where they talked and bonded, where they connected on an emotional level rather than a physical one. And I understand that Merle is not the MMC, but the same pattern is repeated with Aleksis. They never talk, they just have sex.
The thing that disappoints me is that there were plenty of opportunities for the characters to fall in love, but instead we just get another spicy scene. For example, when Kate and Aleksis are stuck in France, in Kate's sister's bed, after spending the day with Kate's family. Instead of the two talking about the day and their views on family, whether they want kids, if they want to teach them to dance, their dreams and hopes of the future, or their plans after the show ends, we get the two of them trying to have sex and failing because the beds is squeaking. Which, gross because it's her SISTER'S BED!! Then, instead of admitting defeat and going to bed laughing, we get another spicy scene of them in the bathroom.
Look, I am not opposed to spice, if done well it can increase the intimacy and love between the couple. But here, it was just thrown in, without building on any romantic foundation. For a contemporary romance book, there was no romance at all. There were So. Many. Spicy. Scenes. But no romance.
If this book was labeled as erotica instead of romance, I would have a completely different opinion. But, it is ‘contemporary romance’ and I ended the book with wanting the two MCs to breakup. When Kate thought Aleksis was dumping her I thought ‘good, finally’ instead of ‘sucks for her’ or 'oh no.'
There are a lot more things I can discuss, Aleksis' role and whether he can actually be called the MMC, the two-dimensional characters, the 'fake dating' plot point, the disdain for a competent woman, but I just want to be done with this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 20, 2023
Romance around a reality dancing competition which I thought would be interesting. Kate was assigned to dance with Merle. She was infatuated with his good looks. Pro dancer Merle was creepy and unprofessional from the very beginning. I know it was supposed to be a romance but there was nothing romantic with him. She was too vulnerable to understand he was not sincere. I thought Kate wasn't too smart. I also had a hard time liking her decisions and personality. The middle of the story needed a better editing job. Like 75 pages could go bye bye. No need to stretch out some of the scenes. Also the fake dating troupe didn’t work for me. The positives were pro dancer Aleksis, the other contestants and her best friend Lucy. They kept up my interest in this book. I did like the ending and thought it was an excellent way to end the story. I received this ARC from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
August 4, 2023
I almost DNF this one. I got to about 25% and realized I knew nothing about Kate, the main character, but I decided to push on since I love dance contest books and while it wasn’t my favorite book, Kate grew on me. There is a lot of spice in this one; probably more than is needed and it seems to be the focus of the book which takes away from the actual story. You do get to know Kate a little more as the book goes on but the story really does suffer from all the need for descriptive spice. Not sure if I would recommend it. Still, it was a nice distraction for the day and I learned about different dances.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
August 10, 2023
I received an ARC copy of this book via HarperCollins Publishing in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
There’s about to be fire on – and off – the dance floor…
This summer's sexiest read...
-A Love Triangle
- Fake Dating
- Enemies to Lovers
Honestly, three stars is very generous for this. I wanted to love this book so much. The premise of fake dating and enemies to lovers was just perfect. But it was poorly executed. Over half of the book was about how Kate couldn't be without a man. Who am I kidding? The entire book was that way! Kate had no depth to her at all. I couldn't get behind the character and root for.
Again, all these thoughts and opinions are my own. Just because I do not like the book doesn't mean that you will not like it! Always take every review with a grain of salt.
There’s about to be fire on – and off – the dance floor…
This summer's sexiest read...
-A Love Triangle
- Fake Dating
- Enemies to Lovers
Honestly, three stars is very generous for this. I wanted to love this book so much. The premise of fake dating and enemies to lovers was just perfect. But it was poorly executed. Over half of the book was about how Kate couldn't be without a man. Who am I kidding? The entire book was that way! Kate had no depth to her at all. I couldn't get behind the character and root for.
Again, all these thoughts and opinions are my own. Just because I do not like the book doesn't mean that you will not like it! Always take every review with a grain of salt.
November 5, 2023
A quick thank you to Netgalley and Avon for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review
With tropes such as fake dating and enemies to lovers, I was convinced this was going to be an cozy and quick read that I was sure to enjoy. Unfortunately, this one just did not deliver for me.
Kate is entered into a dance competition (think Dancing with the Stars, but with regular people) and is paired with Merle, a sexy trained dancer. During rehearsals, Merle's methods quickly turn unconventional but effective. This is where things started to go downhill for me. The problems began when Merle films Kate dancing naked without her consent and she essentially let's it go. I understand this is just the beginning of Merle's true colors, but my issue lay with Kate ignoring that huge red flag.
Kate continues to put herself in compromising positions throughout the book, and whines when things don't turn out great. We find out Merle was married, and he refuses to continue dancing with Kate. When Kate is then paired with Aleksis, they decide to fake date in order to steal all the attention from Merle and his new partner.
This really could've been great, however there was just too much wrong with it for me to really enjoy reading.
With tropes such as fake dating and enemies to lovers, I was convinced this was going to be an cozy and quick read that I was sure to enjoy. Unfortunately, this one just did not deliver for me.
Kate is entered into a dance competition (think Dancing with the Stars, but with regular people) and is paired with Merle, a sexy trained dancer. During rehearsals, Merle's methods quickly turn unconventional but effective. This is where things started to go downhill for me. The problems began when Merle films Kate dancing naked without her consent and she essentially let's it go. I understand this is just the beginning of Merle's true colors, but my issue lay with Kate ignoring that huge red flag.
Kate continues to put herself in compromising positions throughout the book, and whines when things don't turn out great. We find out Merle was married, and he refuses to continue dancing with Kate. When Kate is then paired with Aleksis, they decide to fake date in order to steal all the attention from Merle and his new partner.
This really could've been great, however there was just too much wrong with it for me to really enjoy reading.
August 4, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley and Avon for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review
Kate is entered into a dancing competition along the lines of Strictly Come Dancing or Dancing with the Stars but with regular people. She gets paired with Merle, a sexy dancer from France whose methods of getting her to relax and feel the music are a bit unconventional, and lead to scandal. To save face she is forced to change partners with a fellow contestant. Her new partner Aleksis is just as attractive but he is very frosty and stand offish with Kate. They eventually find a rhythm between them and fake date to drum up publicity, but nothing ever goes completely to plan and their road to success and love is not going to be simple.
I tend to really enjoy fake dating and competition books, but this one really did not work for me. Kate was super unlikeable in my opinion, she come off as whiny, bland, and lacking redeeming qualities. I did not feel any chemistry between characters. The plot did not capture me, or keep my interest and I was just reading it to get through it instead of enjoying it.
Kate is entered into a dancing competition along the lines of Strictly Come Dancing or Dancing with the Stars but with regular people. She gets paired with Merle, a sexy dancer from France whose methods of getting her to relax and feel the music are a bit unconventional, and lead to scandal. To save face she is forced to change partners with a fellow contestant. Her new partner Aleksis is just as attractive but he is very frosty and stand offish with Kate. They eventually find a rhythm between them and fake date to drum up publicity, but nothing ever goes completely to plan and their road to success and love is not going to be simple.
I tend to really enjoy fake dating and competition books, but this one really did not work for me. Kate was super unlikeable in my opinion, she come off as whiny, bland, and lacking redeeming qualities. I did not feel any chemistry between characters. The plot did not capture me, or keep my interest and I was just reading it to get through it instead of enjoying it.
May 26, 2024
I originally got this book on Net Galley. I didn't read it in time and ended up getting it on audio on Libby. But had to force myself through it when I looked on Goodreads and saw that it only had 2 stars, yikes. Trying not to let that influence how I feel about the book, I still felt like something was lacking in this one.
These two strangers are going at it right away and i was so surprised because the female character is talking about how they're strangers. I normally don't mind spicy books but this one seemed a bit unexpected and out of nowhere. Especially the fact that he filmed her naked without her permission... gross. I guess I just didn't expect this to be a spicy book.
I guess this is like a sexy while also corny version of Dancing With The Stars, if you will.
Something about the writing in this just seemed to be lacking. I just wasn't a fan. Seemed like wasted potential.
There's not even much for character development, to make up for it.
Then to find out Mel has a wife, double gross.
THEN to find out that the FMC is more concerned with Mel dancing with someone else than him being married is so bizarre to me.
These two strangers are going at it right away and i was so surprised because the female character is talking about how they're strangers. I normally don't mind spicy books but this one seemed a bit unexpected and out of nowhere. Especially the fact that he filmed her naked without her permission... gross. I guess I just didn't expect this to be a spicy book.
I guess this is like a sexy while also corny version of Dancing With The Stars, if you will.
Something about the writing in this just seemed to be lacking. I just wasn't a fan. Seemed like wasted potential.
There's not even much for character development, to make up for it.
Then to find out Mel has a wife, double gross.
THEN to find out that the FMC is more concerned with Mel dancing with someone else than him being married is so bizarre to me.
November 5, 2023
I'm seeing a lot of negative reviews for this book, which had I stopped before the 40% mark I could have understood. But after making it all the way through, I genuinely appreciate what the author did here.
To start - the main character is a bit pathetic. But c'mon, it's realistic. Just because the story line begins as she's in the middle of poor decisions doesn't make her any less valid than other beloved heroines whose mistakes happen before the first page (Feyre Darling, is that hay in your hair?)
Does she make the decisions I'd like to think I'd make given her situation? No. But cut the girl some slack. From the offset you know that she's reeling after finding out her partner of 2 years was cheating on her with a coworker.
Despite the main character's poor decision making skills, the story really was interesting to me. The author doesn't go with convention, surprising the reader left and right (I died when I found out who sold ~the picture~ to the press).
Overall, while this isn't my favorite book, I had a nice appreciation for it. Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper 360 for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
To start - the main character is a bit pathetic. But c'mon, it's realistic. Just because the story line begins as she's in the middle of poor decisions doesn't make her any less valid than other beloved heroines whose mistakes happen before the first page (Feyre Darling, is that hay in your hair?)
Does she make the decisions I'd like to think I'd make given her situation? No. But cut the girl some slack. From the offset you know that she's reeling after finding out her partner of 2 years was cheating on her with a coworker.
Despite the main character's poor decision making skills, the story really was interesting to me. The author doesn't go with convention, surprising the reader left and right (I died when I found out who sold ~the picture~ to the press).
Overall, while this isn't my favorite book, I had a nice appreciation for it. Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper 360 for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 24, 2023
I have enjoyed a few books set in reality tv life, specifically using a dance competition as the base for the story, so I was excited to read this.
Kate, our main character, is in a funk at work, and having lost her boyfriend to a colleague, ends up entering a dance competition and leaving her job, with no prospects beyond the possibility of winning the £25,000 prize.
Enter a hot dance partner (or 2). There were ups and downs, followed by a decent conclusion.
Unfortunately, it left me a little flat on the storyline. I wasn't really given a chance to know the characters. However, I was given plenty of detail when it came to their sexual activity!
You are mere paragraphs into the story before things become rater steamy, and this is more the flavour of the book. Open door scenes aplenty, but not so much substance.
It was an easy read but not necessarily something I would pick up again.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books for an ARC.
Kate, our main character, is in a funk at work, and having lost her boyfriend to a colleague, ends up entering a dance competition and leaving her job, with no prospects beyond the possibility of winning the £25,000 prize.
Enter a hot dance partner (or 2). There were ups and downs, followed by a decent conclusion.
Unfortunately, it left me a little flat on the storyline. I wasn't really given a chance to know the characters. However, I was given plenty of detail when it came to their sexual activity!
You are mere paragraphs into the story before things become rater steamy, and this is more the flavour of the book. Open door scenes aplenty, but not so much substance.
It was an easy read but not necessarily something I would pick up again.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books for an ARC.
August 31, 2023
The book has a really fun plot and the fake relationship trope is one of my faves, but I struggled a bit in the first few chapters of this book. I immediately didn't like (or care) about Merle and was annoyed with Kate from the beginning.
Kate came across as naïve, immature, and listless, just taking what life gives her then whining about it or making terrible decisions but failing to acknowledge her responsibility when she didn't like the consequences. She does seem to grow a little as the story progresses, but not enough to make her likeable. I like Aleksis and think he's far too good for her.
Overall, I feel like the story could have been better. It has a really fun premise, but was predictable and characters were very shallow so the whole story just fell flat for me.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Kate came across as naïve, immature, and listless, just taking what life gives her then whining about it or making terrible decisions but failing to acknowledge her responsibility when she didn't like the consequences. She does seem to grow a little as the story progresses, but not enough to make her likeable. I like Aleksis and think he's far too good for her.
Overall, I feel like the story could have been better. It has a really fun premise, but was predictable and characters were very shallow so the whole story just fell flat for me.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 3, 2023
I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Romance centered around a reality dance competition sounded intriguing to me. I really wanted to adore this book, being a dancer and all but in reality I didn’t enjoy this read. The idea of antagonists becoming lovers and pretending to date was a brilliant one and that’s why I was excited for this book. However, it could’ve been done a lot better. The book was largely devoted to Kate's inability to live without a guy. There was sadly absolutely no depth to Kate. I was unable to identify with the character or support it. With that being said, this book might be loved by other readers due to the tropes that are within it (fake dating, enemies to lovers, and love triangle). This book had so much potential, but don’t let my review stop you from reading this for yourself.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!
Romance centered around a reality dance competition sounded intriguing to me. I really wanted to adore this book, being a dancer and all but in reality I didn’t enjoy this read. The idea of antagonists becoming lovers and pretending to date was a brilliant one and that’s why I was excited for this book. However, it could’ve been done a lot better. The book was largely devoted to Kate's inability to live without a guy. There was sadly absolutely no depth to Kate. I was unable to identify with the character or support it. With that being said, this book might be loved by other readers due to the tropes that are within it (fake dating, enemies to lovers, and love triangle). This book had so much potential, but don’t let my review stop you from reading this for yourself.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!
May 11, 2023
This was a DNF for me unfortunately.
I was super excited by the premise, having grown up dancing with love for the world of pairs dancing.
It all felt super rushed and overdone from the beginning, and I cringed alot at the spice. I love steamy scenes in books but these felt forced and didn’t genuinely add to the story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for the opportunity to read. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I was super excited by the premise, having grown up dancing with love for the world of pairs dancing.
It all felt super rushed and overdone from the beginning, and I cringed alot at the spice. I love steamy scenes in books but these felt forced and didn’t genuinely add to the story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for the opportunity to read. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 13, 2023
A romcom based around a reality tv dancing show - it sounded good to me but sadly, the story was just average. Our main character Kate made a ton of bad decisions, a lot of which had me knocking my own head in protest. The fake dating was an interesting addition however the chemistry between the two characters felt lacking to me. I did enjoy hearing about the different dances though and appreciated the ending.
October 2, 2023
The Dance Deception follows Kate after a friend signs her up for a live dance competition after leaving her previous employment for personal reasons. Kate quickly finds attraction in her dance partner that makes her forget the woes of her person issues and her lack of employment. Confident and high on her success at dancing Kate comes out of her shell and finds herself enjoying the process more than she thought. Things come crashing down when she realizes that her dance partner is not the person that should thought and she must learn to adapt if she wants a shot at winning.
I felt that I wasn't really connected to any of the characters. We weren't given a lot of background about the characters and I felt that their personalities fell really flat. I didn't catch myself really rooting for anyone except maybe Merle to get what he deserves. I felt pity for Kate after catching some extreme bad luck, but I neither liked her or disliked her or anyone around her.
The spice was okay and would've been better with perhaps less frequency and maybe more length or build up.
Overall a pretty easy read and definitely has an entertaining plot although a bit repetitive until the end.
I felt that I wasn't really connected to any of the characters. We weren't given a lot of background about the characters and I felt that their personalities fell really flat. I didn't catch myself really rooting for anyone except maybe Merle to get what he deserves. I felt pity for Kate after catching some extreme bad luck, but I neither liked her or disliked her or anyone around her.
The spice was okay and would've been better with perhaps less frequency and maybe more length or build up.
Overall a pretty easy read and definitely has an entertaining plot although a bit repetitive until the end.
November 8, 2023
perfect blend of romance and drama, with well-developed characters and a compelling storyline. It explores themes of trust, ambition, and the power of love amidst adversity. With twists and turns that keep you guessing, this book will have you rooting for the characters until the very end.
December 23, 2025
Was given an advance copy for a honest review.
I DNF this at 20%. I have to agree with all the other reviews. This was bad. I can see why this book is rated low. I couldn't get into the story or plot. The characters are 2 dimensional. I wish this story was better.
I DNF this at 20%. I have to agree with all the other reviews. This was bad. I can see why this book is rated low. I couldn't get into the story or plot. The characters are 2 dimensional. I wish this story was better.
July 6, 2023
This was so cute! Such a fun and charming read. I loved the relationships and the friendships that grew in this. A really delightful easy read with sizzling chemistry and a dash of spice. Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy- all thoughts are my own
January 13, 2024
A book about someone who just may be the dumbest person on earth but in a boring way.
February 24, 2024
If you like fun lighthearted reads which are perfect for getting lost in for an afternoon then The Dance Deception is what you should read next. It's great for fans of shows like strictly. Likeable characters, an engaging plot, all help make it a lovely read.
August 5, 2023
I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Copy provided by Avon Books UK.
There is about to be fire on and off on the dance floor.
Kate Wareing is astonished when she secures a place in a televised dance competition. Especially as it means she will be paired with a professional dancer to compete for a life-changing cash prize.
When she is matched with gorgeous French dancer Merle it quickly becomes clear that he’s just as keen to work on their chemistry as their routine. But when the competition is rocked by a scandal, Kate’s forced to switch to a new partner, Aleksis, who is just as devastatingly attractive as Merle – but seems to hate her.
Despite the odds stacked against them, Kate is determined to win, convincing Aleksis to embark on a showmance to try and win over the public. But what happens when Kate’s feelings for her fake boyfriend become all too real? And how far will Merle go to sabotage her chances – both in the competition and in love?
The Dance Deception is a delightful and entertaining read that combines dance, romance, and drama to create an engaging and heartfelt story. I did enjoy a couple of books set in reality tv life, so I was very excited about reading this. However, the storyline fell a bit flat and some parts were rushed. I was also given no chance to learn about the characters. I still decided to push through and finish since I was so excited to read a whole book on dance competitions, since I love watching those competitions on real life tv. You do get to know Kate a little bit more as the book goes on but the story really does suffer from all the descriptive spice. I love how we do get to see Kate build up her confidence throughout the dance competitions. I can see a ton of potential in Ward's writing. I look forward to her future novels where she has done some work on building up the characters more. However, if you like a delightful romance novel that showcases the power of love and the magic of dance, I will recommend giving this book a shot.
Rating: 2.5/5
There is about to be fire on and off on the dance floor.
Kate Wareing is astonished when she secures a place in a televised dance competition. Especially as it means she will be paired with a professional dancer to compete for a life-changing cash prize.
When she is matched with gorgeous French dancer Merle it quickly becomes clear that he’s just as keen to work on their chemistry as their routine. But when the competition is rocked by a scandal, Kate’s forced to switch to a new partner, Aleksis, who is just as devastatingly attractive as Merle – but seems to hate her.
Despite the odds stacked against them, Kate is determined to win, convincing Aleksis to embark on a showmance to try and win over the public. But what happens when Kate’s feelings for her fake boyfriend become all too real? And how far will Merle go to sabotage her chances – both in the competition and in love?
The Dance Deception is a delightful and entertaining read that combines dance, romance, and drama to create an engaging and heartfelt story. I did enjoy a couple of books set in reality tv life, so I was very excited about reading this. However, the storyline fell a bit flat and some parts were rushed. I was also given no chance to learn about the characters. I still decided to push through and finish since I was so excited to read a whole book on dance competitions, since I love watching those competitions on real life tv. You do get to know Kate a little bit more as the book goes on but the story really does suffer from all the descriptive spice. I love how we do get to see Kate build up her confidence throughout the dance competitions. I can see a ton of potential in Ward's writing. I look forward to her future novels where she has done some work on building up the characters more. However, if you like a delightful romance novel that showcases the power of love and the magic of dance, I will recommend giving this book a shot.
Rating: 2.5/5
July 4, 2024
yesss ! go on, give us nothing !
September 15, 2023
Huge thank you to NetGalley for the e-ARC!
Five stars.
Summary:
Follow Kate as she steps out of her former dead-end job where she was forced to watch her co-worker date her ex after they had an affair together to enter the world of Fire on the Dance Floor. This new dance competition (could be referred to as an amateur version of Strictly Come Dancing) pits five couples together to learn ballroom dances each week where the audience decides their fate. Kate, after auditioning via a home video sent in by her roommate, meets her partner for the next five weeks and is immediately taken to him, only to find out he's not so glitz and glam on the inside. Betrayal, scandal, fake dating, and the rom-com version of found family, this book is set to hit the stage this October 2023!
I finished this book in less than 8 hours. It was such a fun read! From the first chapter, I was intrigued by the glitz and glam of the Fire on the Dance Floor competition. As a former dancer, I thought I would be a little put off reading a romance like this, but I was pleasantly surprised by the way the author was able to capture what dance shows are like for contestants.
Character wise, I loved the other competitors Kate befriended. At times I wanted to throttle Kate because of her decision making skills, but then I realized that it was a pretty accurate reaction to a lot of the issues she was dealing with. Merle was the sleazy, slim ball I expected him to be, and I found myself wishing for him to not come back. Aleksis and Sophyia were a good brother/sister pairing, and for the quick read this was, their sibling relationship was cute.
This was a quick read, with LOTS of spice in there--if I had to rate it as far as spice levels go, I'd give it a 4 (came for the smut, stayed for the plot) because the first two chapters are a whirlwind of passion between Merle and Kate. With the pacing of the book, I feel like this would be a cute movie adaptation. It read really well and I think this will be a fun re-read.
Five stars.
Summary:
Follow Kate as she steps out of her former dead-end job where she was forced to watch her co-worker date her ex after they had an affair together to enter the world of Fire on the Dance Floor. This new dance competition (could be referred to as an amateur version of Strictly Come Dancing) pits five couples together to learn ballroom dances each week where the audience decides their fate. Kate, after auditioning via a home video sent in by her roommate, meets her partner for the next five weeks and is immediately taken to him, only to find out he's not so glitz and glam on the inside. Betrayal, scandal, fake dating, and the rom-com version of found family, this book is set to hit the stage this October 2023!
I finished this book in less than 8 hours. It was such a fun read! From the first chapter, I was intrigued by the glitz and glam of the Fire on the Dance Floor competition. As a former dancer, I thought I would be a little put off reading a romance like this, but I was pleasantly surprised by the way the author was able to capture what dance shows are like for contestants.
Character wise, I loved the other competitors Kate befriended. At times I wanted to throttle Kate because of her decision making skills, but then I realized that it was a pretty accurate reaction to a lot of the issues she was dealing with. Merle was the sleazy, slim ball I expected him to be, and I found myself wishing for him to not come back. Aleksis and Sophyia were a good brother/sister pairing, and for the quick read this was, their sibling relationship was cute.
This was a quick read, with LOTS of spice in there--if I had to rate it as far as spice levels go, I'd give it a 4 (came for the smut, stayed for the plot) because the first two chapters are a whirlwind of passion between Merle and Kate. With the pacing of the book, I feel like this would be a cute movie adaptation. It read really well and I think this will be a fun re-read.
October 27, 2023
Getting through this book was pretty rough. I was excited for dance and romance, but couldn't get past the terrible start and was turned off.
Kate's character is annoying and whiny. It starts with a bunch of smut even on the first few pages and the main character doesn't have self respect. Apparently she likes bum grabbing because it is mentioned over and over. The dialog is not sexy and I didn't need all the inner thoughts.
More dance competition drama would have been better than the inner character dialog with sex on the brain. May be other reader's cup of tea, but wasn't mine.
Thank you to Harper 360 and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this ARC for my honest review.
Kate's character is annoying and whiny. It starts with a bunch of smut even on the first few pages and the main character doesn't have self respect. Apparently she likes bum grabbing because it is mentioned over and over. The dialog is not sexy and I didn't need all the inner thoughts.
More dance competition drama would have been better than the inner character dialog with sex on the brain. May be other reader's cup of tea, but wasn't mine.
Thank you to Harper 360 and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this ARC for my honest review.
Read
August 16, 2023I wanted to like this story because I thought the overall concept would be fun and entertaining. Unfortunately, I did not finish this book - as great as the idea was, I don't think that it was executed well.
A lot of the characters felt flat to me. We didn't learn much about the FMC's background or personal life before all of the events began with Merle. The lack of detail made it very difficult to connect with the characters and their feelings on a personal level. Additionally, I wasn't able to root for either couple due to this reason.
I have been undecided about the insta-love trope in the past, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. The insta-infatuation with Merle was way too fast for me. The sex scenes that I did read weren't anything special, they all seemed rushed and meaningless, not adding to the story. Perhaps this was intentional, but it just didn't seem right to me.
I greatly appreciate the eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
A lot of the characters felt flat to me. We didn't learn much about the FMC's background or personal life before all of the events began with Merle. The lack of detail made it very difficult to connect with the characters and their feelings on a personal level. Additionally, I wasn't able to root for either couple due to this reason.
I have been undecided about the insta-love trope in the past, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. The insta-infatuation with Merle was way too fast for me. The sex scenes that I did read weren't anything special, they all seemed rushed and meaningless, not adding to the story. Perhaps this was intentional, but it just didn't seem right to me.
I greatly appreciate the eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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