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Slow Dancing on Price's Pier
A family learns that time can erase mistakes when the heart remains true- from a refreshing new storyteller.
Fifteen years ago, Garret Sorensen's family, trust, and heart were destroyed when Thea Celik betrayed him and married his brother. Now they are divorcing. Garret's ready to finally mend his relationship with his brother. But being back in Newport, Rhode Island, triggers a lot of memories-all leading back to Thea.
Thea's not ready to let go of the Sorensens-even if it means being around Garret. As they cautiously circle around each other-finding themselves drawn together-they realize following their hearts could cast them adrift.
Fifteen years ago, Garret Sorensen's family, trust, and heart were destroyed when Thea Celik betrayed him and married his brother. Now they are divorcing. Garret's ready to finally mend his relationship with his brother. But being back in Newport, Rhode Island, triggers a lot of memories-all leading back to Thea.
Thea's not ready to let go of the Sorensens-even if it means being around Garret. As they cautiously circle around each other-finding themselves drawn together-they realize following their hearts could cast them adrift.
368 pages, Paperback
First published April 5, 2011
2 people are currently reading
194 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Dale
6 books27 followersA lifelong bookworm, Lisa Dale is a firm believer that there are few things in life better than curling up with a novel and a cup of tea. Lisa Dale grew up in rural Northwestern New Jersey before attending McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland. She worked briefly in publishing before going back to school to get an MFA in fiction at Fairleigh Dickinson University. A nominee for Best New American Voices and the Pushcart Prize, her writing appears in many literary magazines, such as The Writer, Fourth Genre, Flyway, Fugue, Sou’wester, The Southeast Review, The MacGuffin, Many Mountains Moving, and more.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
August 9, 2011
This is the perfect book to take to the beach and just escape into the pages. I really enjoyed the setting and the characters. I truly loved reading the intro pages for each chapter as they were based around coffee and interesting tid-bits that foreshadowed what was going to unfold next. Even though nothing earth-shattering occurred and I pretty much figured out how the story would end, I still enjoyed my time spent in Newport, Rhode Island. If you're looking for a great family drama with a bit of romance thrown in, this book may be for you! I would totally recommend that you enjoy a nice iced coffee while reading this one!!!
March 28, 2011
A LASR 'BEST BOOK'!
Lisa Dale waltzes right into the heart with her complex and intriguing new romance, Slow Dancing on Price’s Pier.
Main characters Thea and Garrett are so right - but also so wrong for each other - for so many reasons. Reasons they both see (and feel) all too clearly. If the opinions of Price’s Pier, Rhode Island townies don’t put them off, and If the risks too many family connections are a not an overwhelming concern, then there is still the impact Thea’s daughter, and Garett’s renewed relationship with his brother.
Sorting out the reasons behind the various relationships (even between Thea and Jonathan, the husband she is divorcing) is all important here. Most explosive of all, of course, is the feelings that persist between Thea and Garrett; so real and honest neither has to question it… its not the nature of their feelings, but the potential consequences that paralyze them. Concern about hurting others is valid, as is self-doubt and then also, finding fault.
For a while, this seems a chess game between important players: will ‘his’ mother have the most sway, or ‘her’ concerned friend? Are Irina’s expectations unreasonable? The friendship between brothers flirts with a certain, compelling honesty, yet, we the reader always have a sense of all that is left unspoken.
Support cast, from the largest to smallest – heck even the school teacher, all have their own ‘wants’ or personal goals. However, we gradually come to see that Slow Dance on Price’s Pier is truly all about feelings. Getting at that truth is only part of the journey. The rest is deciding what to do about it.
Ms. Dale gives nothing away, so that at times we don’t even quite know what to hope for. Her artful but unobtrusive turns of phrase are perhaps most revealing. These are good people, though “Good intentions had eroded into complacence like stone becoming sand.” When is ‘what is,’ good enough? The author also uses some clever outside commentary: Thea’s ‘coffee diaries’ read like blog – and though she doesn’t make personal comments in these, we do find yet another revealing perspective. Sure it’s about coffee, but it definitely gives us a different take on the complexities that make up Thea. I liked the modern feel the diary columns give the text, and thought it went well with Ms. Dale’s very straightforward writing style.
Our main character is truly central, regardless of any question of style or design. For Thea, decisions come down to what love is ‘supposed’ to be. Who hasn’t asked themselves the same question? Is love comfortable – or fairytale magical? Isn’t that a question everyone faces? Thea revisits that question more than once, not only in thought, but in conversation.
Emotional highs and lows build tension in key moments. Ms. Dale has a deft hand at creating believable characters and circumstances, while yet being completely unpredictable.
Read Slow Dancing on Price’s Pier, to share the heartaches and joys of a certain Rhode Island barista. You will lose yourself in this heartfelt tale. I know I did.
Originally posted at http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.c...
Lisa Dale waltzes right into the heart with her complex and intriguing new romance, Slow Dancing on Price’s Pier.
Main characters Thea and Garrett are so right - but also so wrong for each other - for so many reasons. Reasons they both see (and feel) all too clearly. If the opinions of Price’s Pier, Rhode Island townies don’t put them off, and If the risks too many family connections are a not an overwhelming concern, then there is still the impact Thea’s daughter, and Garett’s renewed relationship with his brother.
Sorting out the reasons behind the various relationships (even between Thea and Jonathan, the husband she is divorcing) is all important here. Most explosive of all, of course, is the feelings that persist between Thea and Garrett; so real and honest neither has to question it… its not the nature of their feelings, but the potential consequences that paralyze them. Concern about hurting others is valid, as is self-doubt and then also, finding fault.
For a while, this seems a chess game between important players: will ‘his’ mother have the most sway, or ‘her’ concerned friend? Are Irina’s expectations unreasonable? The friendship between brothers flirts with a certain, compelling honesty, yet, we the reader always have a sense of all that is left unspoken.
Support cast, from the largest to smallest – heck even the school teacher, all have their own ‘wants’ or personal goals. However, we gradually come to see that Slow Dance on Price’s Pier is truly all about feelings. Getting at that truth is only part of the journey. The rest is deciding what to do about it.
Ms. Dale gives nothing away, so that at times we don’t even quite know what to hope for. Her artful but unobtrusive turns of phrase are perhaps most revealing. These are good people, though “Good intentions had eroded into complacence like stone becoming sand.” When is ‘what is,’ good enough? The author also uses some clever outside commentary: Thea’s ‘coffee diaries’ read like blog – and though she doesn’t make personal comments in these, we do find yet another revealing perspective. Sure it’s about coffee, but it definitely gives us a different take on the complexities that make up Thea. I liked the modern feel the diary columns give the text, and thought it went well with Ms. Dale’s very straightforward writing style.
Our main character is truly central, regardless of any question of style or design. For Thea, decisions come down to what love is ‘supposed’ to be. Who hasn’t asked themselves the same question? Is love comfortable – or fairytale magical? Isn’t that a question everyone faces? Thea revisits that question more than once, not only in thought, but in conversation.
Emotional highs and lows build tension in key moments. Ms. Dale has a deft hand at creating believable characters and circumstances, while yet being completely unpredictable.
Read Slow Dancing on Price’s Pier, to share the heartaches and joys of a certain Rhode Island barista. You will lose yourself in this heartfelt tale. I know I did.
Originally posted at http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.c...
April 22, 2011
When Thea and Jonathan divorced, the rumors started. In a small town like Price’s Pier, by the evening, everyone knew about Thea and Jonathan. Thea and Jonathan’s daughter, Irina is not handling her parent’s divorce so well. Another person that seems to have a grudge with Thea is Jonathan’s brother…Garret.
Fifteen years ago, Garret thought that he and Thea would end up together but instead she married Jonathan. Thea is trying to adjust to the single life again but it isn’t easy when everywhere she turns, Garret is there. Thea has a secret she hasn’t told Garret. How will he react when he learns what Thea has been hiding from him all these years?
I thought that this book had a charming quality to it. While I did like the characters, I must admit that it was predicable. Brothers hanging out with the new girl in town…brothers and the girl grow up…one brother falls for the girl…the other brother must have the girl first…the wrong brother ends up with the girl. I thought Garret was a jerk at first. The way he was mean to Thea. What I realized was Garret was really just vulnerable and scared. He acted out as a way to put his defenses when it came to Thea. Jonathan was too nice. I wanted him to have more of a backbone. Overall, though I did like this book. I would go slow dancing again with author Lisa Dale.
Fifteen years ago, Garret thought that he and Thea would end up together but instead she married Jonathan. Thea is trying to adjust to the single life again but it isn’t easy when everywhere she turns, Garret is there. Thea has a secret she hasn’t told Garret. How will he react when he learns what Thea has been hiding from him all these years?
I thought that this book had a charming quality to it. While I did like the characters, I must admit that it was predicable. Brothers hanging out with the new girl in town…brothers and the girl grow up…one brother falls for the girl…the other brother must have the girl first…the wrong brother ends up with the girl. I thought Garret was a jerk at first. The way he was mean to Thea. What I realized was Garret was really just vulnerable and scared. He acted out as a way to put his defenses when it came to Thea. Jonathan was too nice. I wanted him to have more of a backbone. Overall, though I did like this book. I would go slow dancing again with author Lisa Dale.
August 13, 2011
Give me a story about coffee, and I guarantee you I will love it. I am simply a coffee fanatic. Not cappuccino. Not frappuccino. Not mochas, or lattes, or macchiatos. Just plain, simple coffee. Black. My true favorite is New Orleans-style coffee with chicory. Lisa Dale's novel Slow Dancing on Price's Pier tells readers that chicory was initially included with coffee grounds as a way to make the once-rare treat stretch. Chicory is a root that is darkened so that it looks like coffee, then mixed into coffee or even used as a complete substitute for coffee. Read more here!
Slow Dancing on Price's Pier is part love story, part coffee story. Main character Thea inherited the Dancing Goat coffee shop from her Turkish parents. The Newport, Rhode Island, coffee spot helps center Thea when she and her husband of more than a decade decide to separate. While the two of them seem capable of an amicable parting, there are still complications. One of these is their 10-year-old daughter Irina. Another is Thea's complicated relationship with her husband's family, especially his brother. Thea dated Garrett before she married Jonathan, and the rift between the two brothers has existed for the last ten years.
When Thea and Jonathan separate, Jonathan moves in with Garrett and begins to heal their sibling relationship. However, the dissolution of their marriage also means that Thea is single once again -- a fact that Garrett can't get off his mind. But he has been angry with Thea for so long, the entire family suffers from the hostility between the two of them. As Thea tries to find herself once again, Irina struggles with her new family dynamic. She begins to act out and refuses to stay at Garrett's house with Jonathan.
At the beginning of each chapter, Dale begins with an excerpt from one of Thea's columns in the local newspaper about coffee. The history of coffee and anecdotes about it bring a richness to the novel. I would almost say I found them more intriguing than the slightly chick-lit plot. It is, after all, a love story. However, Dale makes it more than that with the rich stories about coffee and with the dynamic characters she peoples the novel with. I enjoyed both Thea's journey and her coffee tidbits.
Lisa Dale is the author of two previous novels: Simple Wishes and It Happened One Night. I read Slow Dancing on Price's Pier in about a day and a half. I am on a constant quest for beach reads (since I'm headed to the Gulf early in June), and Dale's previous books just might fit the bill. You can follow Dale's reading and writing habits on her blog, Thoughts on Reading, Writing, and Living the Curious Life.
Slow Dancing on Price's Pier is part love story, part coffee story. Main character Thea inherited the Dancing Goat coffee shop from her Turkish parents. The Newport, Rhode Island, coffee spot helps center Thea when she and her husband of more than a decade decide to separate. While the two of them seem capable of an amicable parting, there are still complications. One of these is their 10-year-old daughter Irina. Another is Thea's complicated relationship with her husband's family, especially his brother. Thea dated Garrett before she married Jonathan, and the rift between the two brothers has existed for the last ten years.
When Thea and Jonathan separate, Jonathan moves in with Garrett and begins to heal their sibling relationship. However, the dissolution of their marriage also means that Thea is single once again -- a fact that Garrett can't get off his mind. But he has been angry with Thea for so long, the entire family suffers from the hostility between the two of them. As Thea tries to find herself once again, Irina struggles with her new family dynamic. She begins to act out and refuses to stay at Garrett's house with Jonathan.
At the beginning of each chapter, Dale begins with an excerpt from one of Thea's columns in the local newspaper about coffee. The history of coffee and anecdotes about it bring a richness to the novel. I would almost say I found them more intriguing than the slightly chick-lit plot. It is, after all, a love story. However, Dale makes it more than that with the rich stories about coffee and with the dynamic characters she peoples the novel with. I enjoyed both Thea's journey and her coffee tidbits.
Lisa Dale is the author of two previous novels: Simple Wishes and It Happened One Night. I read Slow Dancing on Price's Pier in about a day and a half. I am on a constant quest for beach reads (since I'm headed to the Gulf early in June), and Dale's previous books just might fit the bill. You can follow Dale's reading and writing habits on her blog, Thoughts on Reading, Writing, and Living the Curious Life.
June 23, 2012
I am actually rather surprised that this is a RITA finalist in the Contemporary Single Title Romance. I wouldn't classify this as a romance at all. Yes, technically, there's a happy ending, but the focus of the book isn't just about the relationship between a hero and a heroine. It's about Garrett and his brother, Jonathan. It's about Garrett and his ex-girlfriend, Thea. It's about Jonathan and his ex-wife, Thea. It's about Jonathan and Thea and their daughter, Irina. It's about Thea and her ex-mother-in-law, Sue. There was actually not a lot of scenes between just Garrett and Thea.
It wasn't a comfortable book for me because the characters weren't comfortable. I also wasn't sure who to root for because all of the characters screwed up at some point. The book also flowed a bit oddly, with flashbacks interspersed with the present, but not chronologically. Out of the seven nominees that I've read in this category so far, I think this is one of my least favorites.
It wasn't a comfortable book for me because the characters weren't comfortable. I also wasn't sure who to root for because all of the characters screwed up at some point. The book also flowed a bit oddly, with flashbacks interspersed with the present, but not chronologically. Out of the seven nominees that I've read in this category so far, I think this is one of my least favorites.
October 5, 2019
Great book! A super romance.
June 3, 2011
Reviewer: Valerie
Stories about summertime and first loves always bring me back to my teen years – before the life you think you’ll have actually starts, for real. I recently read the young adult trilogy by Jenny Han (book one is The Summer I Turned Pretty), which was fantastic and I wanted something to read along those lines again...I was not disappointed in Slow Dancing on Price’s Pier.
I really enjoyed the small town feeling of this book and Thea’s “coffee columns” from the local newspaper found at the beginning of each chapter. Thea’s connection with her parents and heritage lives on as she waits on customers in her coffee shop. The loss of her marriage to Jonathan and the comfortable life she had takes a toll on her as she questions all her decisions from the past fifteen years and confronts feelings she thought were long gone. The ambivalence and stress placed on the family that Thea loves so much is simply too much for her to bear at times and there were several times when I teared up.
While I like the writing style in this story, it’s not for everyone. As you find out about Thea and Jonathan’s marriage, you also read flashbacks to when they were younger. You find out how Thea, Jonathan, and Garret, his brother, were always together like peas in a pod. As you read about how their daughter acts out her feelings of anger and uncertainty as they separate and then divorce, you read flashbacks explaining how Thea and Garret were involved – before he was arrested. While Jonathan was the son his family considered “a disappointment,” I enjoyed reading how he started to discover who he was and what HE wanted, instead of settling for the type of love he would not receive from Thea. I wasn’t sure of Garret’s character and his intentions, but by the end of the story he had stolen my heart too.
A brutally honest story of what happens when you love one boy and consider the other a friend. A definite beach read, especially for those folks who like stories that wonder “What if I had...?”
Quote: “But sometime near daybreak, before the sun appeared, his sleepy brain began to realize that he was not only dreaming of Thea’s soft breathing and the feel of her body against his, he was with her. She still loved him. And he knew: the bliss of reality far outweighed the joy of his dreams.” Page 294.
Stories about summertime and first loves always bring me back to my teen years – before the life you think you’ll have actually starts, for real. I recently read the young adult trilogy by Jenny Han (book one is The Summer I Turned Pretty), which was fantastic and I wanted something to read along those lines again...I was not disappointed in Slow Dancing on Price’s Pier.
I really enjoyed the small town feeling of this book and Thea’s “coffee columns” from the local newspaper found at the beginning of each chapter. Thea’s connection with her parents and heritage lives on as she waits on customers in her coffee shop. The loss of her marriage to Jonathan and the comfortable life she had takes a toll on her as she questions all her decisions from the past fifteen years and confronts feelings she thought were long gone. The ambivalence and stress placed on the family that Thea loves so much is simply too much for her to bear at times and there were several times when I teared up.
While I like the writing style in this story, it’s not for everyone. As you find out about Thea and Jonathan’s marriage, you also read flashbacks to when they were younger. You find out how Thea, Jonathan, and Garret, his brother, were always together like peas in a pod. As you read about how their daughter acts out her feelings of anger and uncertainty as they separate and then divorce, you read flashbacks explaining how Thea and Garret were involved – before he was arrested. While Jonathan was the son his family considered “a disappointment,” I enjoyed reading how he started to discover who he was and what HE wanted, instead of settling for the type of love he would not receive from Thea. I wasn’t sure of Garret’s character and his intentions, but by the end of the story he had stolen my heart too.
A brutally honest story of what happens when you love one boy and consider the other a friend. A definite beach read, especially for those folks who like stories that wonder “What if I had...?”
Quote: “But sometime near daybreak, before the sun appeared, his sleepy brain began to realize that he was not only dreaming of Thea’s soft breathing and the feel of her body against his, he was with her. She still loved him. And he knew: the bliss of reality far outweighed the joy of his dreams.” Page 294.
June 26, 2011
After reading most of the positive reviews, I feel somewhat like a Scroog to say that I thought the book was just okay. While probably pretty realistic, I kept wanting to sit all of the characters down in a room together and let them duke it out or, at the very least, get all of their problems out into the open. There was a lot of wasted time and energy invested in past grudges but I suppose that's the way it might be. I guess I have no patience with that. It sort of went on and on and on....with a pretty predictable ending.
September 4, 2011
I enjoyed reading this book, with its sympathetic characters, but was constantly frustrated by the format the author chose. The story jumps back and forth in time and changes perspective between several characters. It was a challenge to figure out when and who I was reading about. I've read other books that switch back and forth between characters with each having alternating chapters, but in this book the perspective changed ever couple of pages.
January 9, 2021
A roller-coaster of emotions! I felt every emotion throughout the story with many lessons of forgiveness and love. Lisa Dale really brought the characters to life.
I do feel like it ended a bit abruptly, however. Like it was building up for so long that it left little time to wind down. I'd love to see it as a movie, though!
I do feel like it ended a bit abruptly, however. Like it was building up for so long that it left little time to wind down. I'd love to see it as a movie, though!
November 17, 2019
A three-hour airport read. Characters felt a bit flat; story was unrealistic.
June 13, 2022
So slow and not that interesting. Really had to make myself finish it.
February 27, 2024
An easy, romantic beach read that I finished in one day because I couldn’t put it down! Solid read.
April 9, 2011
Each chapter of Slow Dancing on Price's Pier begins with Thea's newspaper column From "The Coffee Diaries" by Thea Celik. In this one page column Thea explores the history of coffee, but of course there's more there as each gorgeous little story applies to her life and to that of those around her. I love the way Dale uses them in conjunction with the story.
Slow Dancing on Price's Pier is a complex story of friendship and love that involves one woman, two brothers, and a family. It's a triangle that begins when the three are carefree and young and ends years later after their great friendship has been interrupted by competition, jealousy, wrong choices, misunderstandings and yes... love.
Garrett and Jonathan met Thea when they moved to Newport, Rhode Island as teenage boys. Their friendship was deep and meaningful while it was on equal terms and they balanced each other's weaknesses and strengths. Garrett was the star athlete who loved to take risks while Jonathan was studious and methodical, but Thea was a bit of both. She stepped in between the brothers and became the much needed balance. Unfortunately after Jonathan graduated and went away to college and Garrett was a senior in high school, Thea and Garrett fell in love and the dynamics changed between the three friends. The circumstances and choices made by these three young people changed their lives in ways that affected them for the long haul.
What did I like about this book? Well, I don't like triangles because I tend to like one man (or woman), and really dislike the other. I thought it would bother me that the triangle includes brothers, but in the end it didn't make a difference and it didn't bother me at all. In the beginning this story was tough because Jonathan didn't seem to have any backbone as didn't take responsibility for his actions, and Garrett despite his confused thoughts, was quite hostile toward Thea. Thea herself seemed to be more concerned about keeping Jonathan's family at any cost than about her own personal happiness.
However, as Dale unravels the story (and yes she uses flashbacks a few of times), everything falls into place and there's an understanding of the characters and their human actions and reactions. Particularly if you take their youth into consideration. Their present actions and reactions, on the other hand, are a different matter. Although the reactions by the adults are still human and flawed, I thought at times they also came off as immature. Jonathan and his family seem to me to be pretty selfish in many ways, just as Thea seemed to be too darn accommodating.
But did I enjoy the romance? Yes, I did. I loved that the emotions between Garrett and Thea felt real -- especially those coming from Garrett. Whether it was hostility, contempt, passion or love, Garrett's emotions oozed out of him. It's true that Thea compromised her feelings, but what they all did was hide from reality. Frankly by the end of this story I liked both characters and really enjoyed their story.
Slow Dancing on Price's Pier is a family drama by Ms. Dale, full of memorable characters and situations, as well as a memorable romance. I continue to enjoy her prose, and particularly the way she balances out (what I think of as) this fusion between women's fiction and contemporary romance. It just seems to get better with every book she writes. I look forward to reading her next book and hope we don't have too long a wait before that next release.
Slow Dancing on Price's Pier is a complex story of friendship and love that involves one woman, two brothers, and a family. It's a triangle that begins when the three are carefree and young and ends years later after their great friendship has been interrupted by competition, jealousy, wrong choices, misunderstandings and yes... love.
Garrett and Jonathan met Thea when they moved to Newport, Rhode Island as teenage boys. Their friendship was deep and meaningful while it was on equal terms and they balanced each other's weaknesses and strengths. Garrett was the star athlete who loved to take risks while Jonathan was studious and methodical, but Thea was a bit of both. She stepped in between the brothers and became the much needed balance. Unfortunately after Jonathan graduated and went away to college and Garrett was a senior in high school, Thea and Garrett fell in love and the dynamics changed between the three friends. The circumstances and choices made by these three young people changed their lives in ways that affected them for the long haul.
What did I like about this book? Well, I don't like triangles because I tend to like one man (or woman), and really dislike the other. I thought it would bother me that the triangle includes brothers, but in the end it didn't make a difference and it didn't bother me at all. In the beginning this story was tough because Jonathan didn't seem to have any backbone as didn't take responsibility for his actions, and Garrett despite his confused thoughts, was quite hostile toward Thea. Thea herself seemed to be more concerned about keeping Jonathan's family at any cost than about her own personal happiness.
However, as Dale unravels the story (and yes she uses flashbacks a few of times), everything falls into place and there's an understanding of the characters and their human actions and reactions. Particularly if you take their youth into consideration. Their present actions and reactions, on the other hand, are a different matter. Although the reactions by the adults are still human and flawed, I thought at times they also came off as immature. Jonathan and his family seem to me to be pretty selfish in many ways, just as Thea seemed to be too darn accommodating.
But did I enjoy the romance? Yes, I did. I loved that the emotions between Garrett and Thea felt real -- especially those coming from Garrett. Whether it was hostility, contempt, passion or love, Garrett's emotions oozed out of him. It's true that Thea compromised her feelings, but what they all did was hide from reality. Frankly by the end of this story I liked both characters and really enjoyed their story.
Slow Dancing on Price's Pier is a family drama by Ms. Dale, full of memorable characters and situations, as well as a memorable romance. I continue to enjoy her prose, and particularly the way she balances out (what I think of as) this fusion between women's fiction and contemporary romance. It just seems to get better with every book she writes. I look forward to reading her next book and hope we don't have too long a wait before that next release.
May 12, 2011
I love reading books about relationship; be it a romance, friendship or the tie within a family. Thus when I received a pitch from the publisher to review Slow Dancing on Price's Pier, I didn't hesitate because this book seems to have all the elements I mentioned above.
Set in Newport, Rhode Island, Slow Dancing on Price's Pier tells a story of a young woman named Thea Celik and her relationship with the two Sorensen's brothers - Jonathan and Garret, and how a hasty decision she made years ago has led to complications within the Sorensen's household.
Thea knew the two brothers when they were in their teens; they were the best of friends and she would seek refuge at the Sorensens' house after she has learnt of her parents' plan about moving back to Turkey. Sue, the mother of the Sorensen's brothers, will always comfort and lend her support to her and this made Thea feels like she is part of the Sorensen's family. And though she likes the two brothers, it is always Garret she is thinking about. Needless to say, they began to fall in love but unlike Jonathan, who is quiet and sensible, Garret loves the attention from other girls and this has caused Thea to have doubts about him, as well as their relationship. Thereafter, everything seems to go downhill and Thea ended up with Jonathan.
Fifteen years later, Thea became a coffee shop owner and she has a ten-year-old girl named Irina. Thea is navigating through a divorce as she struggles to keep her life at peace while she tries to find the balance between her business and her daughter. Unfortunately, her wish to finding peace is ruined when Garret returns home to Newport to restore his relationship with his brother and his family after learning about Thea's and his brother's divorce. And most of all, it brings back all the memories of the past but yet the more they try to keep a distance away from each other, the more they are drawn together. Is history repeating itself? Thea doesn't want to let go of the Sorensens but if she and Garret are back together, it would tear the whole family apart and this time around there would be no turning back.
First off, I have to say Slow Dancing on Price's Pier is a wonderful story of self discovery, second chances and forgiveness. Though the plot may sound common and a cliché to readers, it is the characterisations that what makes this story stands out. Lisa Dale has a way of writing that makes you feel for the characters as they go through their emotions. But that is not all, I also loved it that Lisa included bits of the coffee bean history and culture before every chapter (through a paper column written by Thea) which I find it interesting and informative. Well I am not a heavy coffee drinker (I am more of a tea drinker, genmai tea to be specific), but reading these excerpts about coffee has definitely made me want to be one.
Set in Newport, Rhode Island, Slow Dancing on Price's Pier tells a story of a young woman named Thea Celik and her relationship with the two Sorensen's brothers - Jonathan and Garret, and how a hasty decision she made years ago has led to complications within the Sorensen's household.
Thea knew the two brothers when they were in their teens; they were the best of friends and she would seek refuge at the Sorensens' house after she has learnt of her parents' plan about moving back to Turkey. Sue, the mother of the Sorensen's brothers, will always comfort and lend her support to her and this made Thea feels like she is part of the Sorensen's family. And though she likes the two brothers, it is always Garret she is thinking about. Needless to say, they began to fall in love but unlike Jonathan, who is quiet and sensible, Garret loves the attention from other girls and this has caused Thea to have doubts about him, as well as their relationship. Thereafter, everything seems to go downhill and Thea ended up with Jonathan.
Fifteen years later, Thea became a coffee shop owner and she has a ten-year-old girl named Irina. Thea is navigating through a divorce as she struggles to keep her life at peace while she tries to find the balance between her business and her daughter. Unfortunately, her wish to finding peace is ruined when Garret returns home to Newport to restore his relationship with his brother and his family after learning about Thea's and his brother's divorce. And most of all, it brings back all the memories of the past but yet the more they try to keep a distance away from each other, the more they are drawn together. Is history repeating itself? Thea doesn't want to let go of the Sorensens but if she and Garret are back together, it would tear the whole family apart and this time around there would be no turning back.
First off, I have to say Slow Dancing on Price's Pier is a wonderful story of self discovery, second chances and forgiveness. Though the plot may sound common and a cliché to readers, it is the characterisations that what makes this story stands out. Lisa Dale has a way of writing that makes you feel for the characters as they go through their emotions. But that is not all, I also loved it that Lisa included bits of the coffee bean history and culture before every chapter (through a paper column written by Thea) which I find it interesting and informative. Well I am not a heavy coffee drinker (I am more of a tea drinker, genmai tea to be specific), but reading these excerpts about coffee has definitely made me want to be one.
May 4, 2012
More like 3 1/2 stars.
I liked it. Not only did I learn about coffee but I got a wonderful story to go with it. The story follows Thea, Jonathan, & Garrett as the weave through broken friendships, broken hearts, a civil divorce, a hurt child caught in the middle and finally coming to terms with the past. In many ways, I feel I am bit biased as I am a total sucker for relationship stories, especially second chances and first loves and this was exactly that. While the writing wasn't spectacular, there was an easiness about it. The author expertly was able to evoke feelings and transport you to a scene as easily as she could take you out of it. Many times, I would come out of reading a passage feeling quite surprised at how easily I was pulled into the turmoil. I also enjoyed the parallel past/present storyline. A bit hard to follow at first, but once you get the author's pattern down, it's easy enough and pretty enjoyable, not as jarring as other authors who try to do the same thing.
The only three parts I didn't like were the author's use(crutch) of constantly describing the scene outside of the story. Where a character is having a hard time, so the author makes them wake towards the beach and then describe the beach or their surroundings. Where the character is thinking, so she fades the character out and describes the horizon behind her before fading back into the character and so forth. This wouldn't normally bother me, but it happened so many times, it felt like a crutch that only added to the formulaic writing style of the author. Secondly, the author's need to vocalize conclusions that the reader already reached on their own three pages before. Part of this was a bit confusing because it seemed like the characters had a delayed response in coming to terms with their feelings when they shouldn't have (I don't know - hard to describe, but I'll forgive the author for this one). And lastly, the ending. I thought it was a bit contrived on top of being too short. Garrett & Thea finally get a happy ending but it's summed up in a page which mostly involved wrapping up loose ends of the book.
Overall, I enjoyed it. Fun, easy read.
I liked it. Not only did I learn about coffee but I got a wonderful story to go with it. The story follows Thea, Jonathan, & Garrett as the weave through broken friendships, broken hearts, a civil divorce, a hurt child caught in the middle and finally coming to terms with the past. In many ways, I feel I am bit biased as I am a total sucker for relationship stories, especially second chances and first loves and this was exactly that. While the writing wasn't spectacular, there was an easiness about it. The author expertly was able to evoke feelings and transport you to a scene as easily as she could take you out of it. Many times, I would come out of reading a passage feeling quite surprised at how easily I was pulled into the turmoil. I also enjoyed the parallel past/present storyline. A bit hard to follow at first, but once you get the author's pattern down, it's easy enough and pretty enjoyable, not as jarring as other authors who try to do the same thing.
The only three parts I didn't like were the author's use(crutch) of constantly describing the scene outside of the story. Where a character is having a hard time, so the author makes them wake towards the beach and then describe the beach or their surroundings. Where the character is thinking, so she fades the character out and describes the horizon behind her before fading back into the character and so forth. This wouldn't normally bother me, but it happened so many times, it felt like a crutch that only added to the formulaic writing style of the author. Secondly, the author's need to vocalize conclusions that the reader already reached on their own three pages before. Part of this was a bit confusing because it seemed like the characters had a delayed response in coming to terms with their feelings when they shouldn't have (I don't know - hard to describe, but I'll forgive the author for this one). And lastly, the ending. I thought it was a bit contrived on top of being too short. Garrett & Thea finally get a happy ending but it's summed up in a page which mostly involved wrapping up loose ends of the book.
Overall, I enjoyed it. Fun, easy read.
February 19, 2017
I gave this book 3 1/2 stars, it's the story of a young woman who is determined to begin a new life (after divorce) while holding on to the old one. JMO, but it she thinks she has solved it, there is enough going on for another whole book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 18, 2011
Thea Celik couldn’t help but to fall head over heels for Garret Sorensen when she was in high school. The Sorenson family took her in when her family left the country, and she thought she had it all- a second family, a boyfriend, and a best friend- Garret’s brother Jonathan. But when she and Garret break up, Thea is left heartbroken and confused. When Thea finds herself in a tough position, Jonathan steps up and asks Thea to marry him. Still confused and bewildered over Garret, Thea accepts the proposal, splitting the once close Sorenson family. Now, fifteen years later, Thea and Jonathan are divorcing, and Garret is back on the scene. After becoming a successful lobbyist with always a woman to choose from, he and Thea are suddenly thrust back together. Will Thea realize what a mistake she made to let Garret go? And can Garret forgive Thea, and himself, for those choices made so many years ago?
Slow Dancing on Price’s Pier is an intricate novel from Lisa Dale full of passion and confusion. I was often swept up in the emotion of the characters, all of the characters. The story often switches from past to present, which took me a second to get used to, but I loved the style once I caught on. The plot will definitely touch your heart, and there were times where I really wasn’t sure who I was rooting for. Did I want Thea to be with Jonathan or Garret? Did I want Thea to be with anyone? Readers will learn about Thea’s past decisions further along in the story, and she wasn’t always extremely likable, but very relatable, which I thought was excellent. Overall, a great story about the complications of love and family, and I would recommend this book.
Slow Dancing on Price’s Pier is an intricate novel from Lisa Dale full of passion and confusion. I was often swept up in the emotion of the characters, all of the characters. The story often switches from past to present, which took me a second to get used to, but I loved the style once I caught on. The plot will definitely touch your heart, and there were times where I really wasn’t sure who I was rooting for. Did I want Thea to be with Jonathan or Garret? Did I want Thea to be with anyone? Readers will learn about Thea’s past decisions further along in the story, and she wasn’t always extremely likable, but very relatable, which I thought was excellent. Overall, a great story about the complications of love and family, and I would recommend this book.
June 28, 2011
What a great summer read! Here are three people – Garret, Jonathan and Thea – who grew up, lived together and shared everything together. As teens, Thea fell deeply in love with Garret, but due to circumstances, married Jonathan. Garret hurt her and broke her heart and Jonathan offered to pick up the pieces. However, the marriage threw Garret into a rage and he disowned his brother and refused to attend family events if Jonathan and Thea were in attendance.
Now, Jonathan and Thea are divorcing and Garret sees it as an opportunity to mend fences with Jonathan. It’s also a chance to get to know his niece, their daughter. Garret finds every chance to blame Thea for the divorce – after all, she’s wicked and thoughtless and obviously, she must have done something to cause Jonathan to leave.
On the other hand, as he comes more and more into contact with Thea, he begins to question his rash decisions, both now and when they were young. Does he still harbor feelings for her? Does she for him?
This is a wonderfully written book full of emotion and twists and turns within relationships. The characters are well-developed and you’ll find yourself loving some and hating others.
It’s a great summer read, so toss it into your beach bag, find a quiet spot and open the cover. Warning: Be prepared to spend the day with this book … it’s a page-turner!
Now, Jonathan and Thea are divorcing and Garret sees it as an opportunity to mend fences with Jonathan. It’s also a chance to get to know his niece, their daughter. Garret finds every chance to blame Thea for the divorce – after all, she’s wicked and thoughtless and obviously, she must have done something to cause Jonathan to leave.
On the other hand, as he comes more and more into contact with Thea, he begins to question his rash decisions, both now and when they were young. Does he still harbor feelings for her? Does she for him?
This is a wonderfully written book full of emotion and twists and turns within relationships. The characters are well-developed and you’ll find yourself loving some and hating others.
It’s a great summer read, so toss it into your beach bag, find a quiet spot and open the cover. Warning: Be prepared to spend the day with this book … it’s a page-turner!
February 21, 2015
Each chapter of this book followed a pattern. First there would be a column by the heroine about coffee. (The heroine owns a coffee shop.) I must confess that I don't drink coffee. Not because it's bad for you or any such thing. I just plain don't like the taste. So, while I grant that others might like it, I just don't get the point of a paean to coffee. I'm sure there was supposed to be a link between the coffee column and the chapter afterward, but most of the time I missed it.
Anyway, after the column, there would be a scene in the present, usually a kind of overview. Then there would be a flashback scene about the heroine, her almost ex husband and his brother. Then would come a present scene that would be more personal.
The story is a good one, about love and friends and family. I liked it, though it sometimes seemed to skim along the top of the emotions. Though if it had got down in the middle and wallowed, I might not have liked that either. There was a lot of time to cover, too, which can require some skimming. And we did get a happy ending, though I was beginning to worry. I recommend it.
Anyway, after the column, there would be a scene in the present, usually a kind of overview. Then there would be a flashback scene about the heroine, her almost ex husband and his brother. Then would come a present scene that would be more personal.
The story is a good one, about love and friends and family. I liked it, though it sometimes seemed to skim along the top of the emotions. Though if it had got down in the middle and wallowed, I might not have liked that either. There was a lot of time to cover, too, which can require some skimming. And we did get a happy ending, though I was beginning to worry. I recommend it.
November 20, 2011
I only purchased this book because of a sale at the book store, and had never heard of Lisa Dale. I will say I was pleasantly surprised. I started this book on a Friday evening only reading a few chapters but on Sunday morning I was curled up on the couch on a cool rainy day and finished it off. It was a touching story that proves some people choose a path out of convinence rather than following their heart. Just because your love is tested you shouldn't be so quick to give up, real love is worth fighting for. The friends and family in your life that truly love you will eventually come around even if you seem to be making decisions, in their eyes, they may not agree with. Once they realize you are truly happy they will be happy for you and if they don't come around maybe it's not worth having them in your life.
March 13, 2012
My first book by this author and not exactly all I was hoping it would be, but not bad either. At times, I feel like books just barely scratch the surface of their potential and that was where this book stood for me.
It was entertaining, well-written and didn't ramble yet it never really grabbed my emotions.
Before each chapter was a newspaper column about coffee which pertains to the main character owning a coffee shop and was written by her. These were full of facts and trivia I didn't know and so being a coffee lover made these my favorite parts of the book.
Overall this was a quick read and enjoyable.
It was entertaining, well-written and didn't ramble yet it never really grabbed my emotions.
Before each chapter was a newspaper column about coffee which pertains to the main character owning a coffee shop and was written by her. These were full of facts and trivia I didn't know and so being a coffee lover made these my favorite parts of the book.
Overall this was a quick read and enjoyable.
March 15, 2012
i really enjoyed this book sometimes it was hard to understand the author parts of the book was the past and present. but you really got to know the charactors better. Thea and Garret and Jonathan were best friends when the were young kids until they got to high school that is when Garret and Thea started dating Jonathan was already at college. Jonathan and Garret are brothers. which in some ways the two would compete for Thea. Garret was the jock and the popular one every girl wanted him. Jonathan was the caring understanding compastionate person Thea could always count on him but her heart was always for Garret.
this book is about forgiveness and love.
this book is about forgiveness and love.
April 1, 2013
Lisa Dale is a beautiful writer. I loved this book, a story about a family intertwined by love, marriage, regrets and grudges. Dale did a flawless job of interweaving the character's current lives with flashbacks of how they came to know each other, fell in love, and then got torn apart. Her voice and style are slow and quiet, yet still entrancing in such a way that I never lost interest. I fact, I read the last 130 pages in one day! (That's a lot for me.) I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes Women's Fiction and love stories. You'll want to read it in a coffee shop, because the mouthwatering descriptions of Thea's brews will have you craving them!
May 4, 2016
Main character Thea is best friends with the Sorenson brothers Garrett and Jonathan and she dates Garrett only to end up marrying Jonathan, which pulls the family apart. Fast forward years later and they are divorcing and Garrett is back in the picture to help Jonathan get back on his feet, but can't fight his feelings for Thea. Feelings that Thea also has for him. I can understand how some people wouldn't exactly care for that type of story line, but it was soooo good. There was a ton of tension and the author made it so I was rooting for Garrett and Thea. I will definitely be checking out some of her other books.
May 2, 2015
So this is what passes as romance? As the mother of sons, quite a few sons, this story bothered me on so many levels. Thea is in love with the bad boy brother, but marries the nice guy. Does he have absolutely any feelings in this story? Ten years later they realize that their marriage has no spark, because we all know that nice guys are boring.... the list goes on as I won't even get started on the relationship of the brothers, but suffice it to say that I can't imagine my sons (allowing themselves) in any of the situations presented in this book.
May 6, 2011
ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL!!!! This was an amazing love story and I couldn't read it fast enough. I wanted to know what was going to happen, but I didn't want to skip one word. I could write a long review and pick apart the story and the characters, but it would all come down to the same thing. I want to bask in the glow of finishing an extremely great read and recommend all romance-lovers rush to find a copy for themselves!!!!
June 10, 2011
Met the author at an event and bought the book (she is a friend of a friend). This is not the kind of book I usually read (contemporary romance), but I was able to admire what she did within the genre.
Thea is an engaging character, and the love scenes are hot without being trite or gross. The Newport environment was fun and made me want to go back to Newport. The connections between Thea's articles about coffee and the plot and character development were a nice touch.
Thea is an engaging character, and the love scenes are hot without being trite or gross. The Newport environment was fun and made me want to go back to Newport. The connections between Thea's articles about coffee and the plot and character development were a nice touch.
August 28, 2011
This is the story of a woman, Thea, who married the wrong man, and we meet her at the beginning of the book when she is divorcing him. They have a daughter, Irina, who does not react well to the breaking up of their family. Things are complicated, because Thea's best friend is her ex-husband's mother, a woman who helped her after her own family returned to Turkey. This is a story of loss, struggles, and ultimately, redemption and new love. This was a great book and I did not want it to end.
January 20, 2013
More Dramtic than story. The construction was intriguing on 2 parts: good was the coffee tidbits & history before each chapter that furnished it with richness & depth.Bad was the continual flashbacks from their highschool days that was arduously hard to follow. The characters were well thought-out & descriptive.The fire at the end accentuated a good twist i didnt see coming. The name of the coffee house(Dancing Goat) priceless.
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