She was hidden from the world. Then he arrived.
An emotional new novel from six-time USA Today bestselling author Deanna Roy...
For four years, I’ve lived in almost total seclusion. Homeschooled, forbidden from social media, seeing no one other than the dancers at Dreamcatcher Academy, where I teach ballet to little girls in wheelchairs.
Then Blitz arrives.
He’s the disgraced host of Dance Blitz, a bawdy reality show where Blitz sleeps with as many dancers as possible while looking for his perfect partner.
At least he was. A few weeks ago, he got kicked off his own show.
He’s at my academy for a publicity stunt, and my wheelchair ballerinas are his ticket back into the public’s good graces.
I intend to hate him and stay as far away as possible. But when he looks at me, I can’t resist. Before I realize what’s happened, we’re sneaking into back rooms, dancing, kissing, planning dates away from the cameras and the wrath of my family.
But I’m afraid. I have a secret at the academy, a small, wonderful, terrible secret, and if I stay with Blitz, the world will find out.
An emotional new novel from six-time USA Today bestselling author Deanna Roy...
For four years, I’ve lived in almost total seclusion. Homeschooled, forbidden from social media, seeing no one other than the dancers at Dreamcatcher Academy, where I teach ballet to little girls in wheelchairs.
Then Blitz arrives.
He’s the disgraced host of Dance Blitz, a bawdy reality show where Blitz sleeps with as many dancers as possible while looking for his perfect partner.
At least he was. A few weeks ago, he got kicked off his own show.
He’s at my academy for a publicity stunt, and my wheelchair ballerinas are his ticket back into the public’s good graces.
I intend to hate him and stay as far away as possible. But when he looks at me, I can’t resist. Before I realize what’s happened, we’re sneaking into back rooms, dancing, kissing, planning dates away from the cameras and the wrath of my family.
But I’m afraid. I have a secret at the academy, a small, wonderful, terrible secret, and if I stay with Blitz, the world will find out.
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MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
Into the sensual world of dance comes this charming and sexy romance between two very different people. When a young woman's teenage indiscretion leads to years of isolation and judgments, her chance encounter with a fun and flirty young man jaded by fame and notoriety can only lead to sparks and an unforgettable romance. Through clandestine encounters and moments teeming with sexual tension this unlikely couple finds their connection put through the wringer as her guilt and shame war with his obligations and desires.
A single choice changed Livia's life in the blink of an eye. Before that she was care-free, brave, and lived life to the fullest. That choice was a defining one though and changed her family dynamic from that moment on. As her parents heaped shame and guilt on her they also took away her choices. They locked her away from the world, and all the sins they think drove her, to leave her a shell of herself. Livia's now quiet and full of self-doubts, longing to do something that will make her family proud of her. Dancing ballet is her one chance to rebel, along with her reason for setting up ballet classes for children in wheelchairs, and it's a time where she shines and is full of life. Meeting the fun and flirty Blitz Craven also offers her a chance to rebel as they make a connection based on honesty and realism. Forced into choosing between her family and Blitz, readers will be left on edge waiting for the hard-fought conclusion to play out. Livia's immensely likable, a kind soul paying a very high price for girlish love. Her parent's treatment of her was emotionally abusive and had her always on edge but she still tried to make a life for herself despite their oppression. She was an honest and loyal young woman who wore her heart on her sleeve and I was rooting for her to break out every step of the way.
Blitz came from humble beginnings. He loved to dance despite his father's mockery of it and turned it into fame because of his charming and sexy attitude. Gaining fame was fun at first but it lost its luster as superficiality and betrayals took over, marring the one thing he loved. Blitz soon lost himself in that glitzy and highly sexualized world though and came home to find the young man he once was. Meeting Livia is like a breath of fresh air as she's unaware of his fame and notoriety, incapable of artifice, and he sets out to find his soul with her as his guide. When contractual obligations force him back into the snake pit will he get lost once again or will he be saved by his unlikely angel? Blitz was a lovable and charming man despite the callous act that sent him running. Being with Livia and the other dancers reminded him of his joy of dancing and his demeanor was infectious. He took his time winning over Livia, pushing her only as far as she was willing to go. His connection to her was crackling and every scene teeming with sexual tension, but it's not until very late in the story that they fully commit. Their long distance relationship makes things rocky but it proves their devotion to one another and culminates in a heartwarming and cheer-inducing conclusion that had him proving he was a changed man.
This was a well-paced story with a good flow that captivated me from the first page to the last. The connection between Blitz and Livia was fun, flirty, and sensual. I enjoyed her occasional naivete, that belied her increasing inner-strength, and its pairing with his subtle dirty talk and boyishness. Their differences made them more compelling and highlighted his becoming a better man because of her which endeared him to me. Surrounding them is an intriguing cast of secondary characters. From the supportive dancers at the academy to her rigid and judgmental parents these characters added depth and drama to a very satisfying story. Though there's a definitive conclusion to this romance there's more to come in the lives of this likable couple as her past invades her future, as well as a few other loose ends that need to be tied up. All in all this was a delightful romance with a hero who charmed me, while making me blush, and an admirable heroine finally able to start living.
A single choice changed Livia's life in the blink of an eye. Before that she was care-free, brave, and lived life to the fullest. That choice was a defining one though and changed her family dynamic from that moment on. As her parents heaped shame and guilt on her they also took away her choices. They locked her away from the world, and all the sins they think drove her, to leave her a shell of herself. Livia's now quiet and full of self-doubts, longing to do something that will make her family proud of her. Dancing ballet is her one chance to rebel, along with her reason for setting up ballet classes for children in wheelchairs, and it's a time where she shines and is full of life. Meeting the fun and flirty Blitz Craven also offers her a chance to rebel as they make a connection based on honesty and realism. Forced into choosing between her family and Blitz, readers will be left on edge waiting for the hard-fought conclusion to play out. Livia's immensely likable, a kind soul paying a very high price for girlish love. Her parent's treatment of her was emotionally abusive and had her always on edge but she still tried to make a life for herself despite their oppression. She was an honest and loyal young woman who wore her heart on her sleeve and I was rooting for her to break out every step of the way.
Blitz came from humble beginnings. He loved to dance despite his father's mockery of it and turned it into fame because of his charming and sexy attitude. Gaining fame was fun at first but it lost its luster as superficiality and betrayals took over, marring the one thing he loved. Blitz soon lost himself in that glitzy and highly sexualized world though and came home to find the young man he once was. Meeting Livia is like a breath of fresh air as she's unaware of his fame and notoriety, incapable of artifice, and he sets out to find his soul with her as his guide. When contractual obligations force him back into the snake pit will he get lost once again or will he be saved by his unlikely angel? Blitz was a lovable and charming man despite the callous act that sent him running. Being with Livia and the other dancers reminded him of his joy of dancing and his demeanor was infectious. He took his time winning over Livia, pushing her only as far as she was willing to go. His connection to her was crackling and every scene teeming with sexual tension, but it's not until very late in the story that they fully commit. Their long distance relationship makes things rocky but it proves their devotion to one another and culminates in a heartwarming and cheer-inducing conclusion that had him proving he was a changed man.
This was a well-paced story with a good flow that captivated me from the first page to the last. The connection between Blitz and Livia was fun, flirty, and sensual. I enjoyed her occasional naivete, that belied her increasing inner-strength, and its pairing with his subtle dirty talk and boyishness. Their differences made them more compelling and highlighted his becoming a better man because of her which endeared him to me. Surrounding them is an intriguing cast of secondary characters. From the supportive dancers at the academy to her rigid and judgmental parents these characters added depth and drama to a very satisfying story. Though there's a definitive conclusion to this romance there's more to come in the lives of this likable couple as her past invades her future, as well as a few other loose ends that need to be tied up. All in all this was a delightful romance with a hero who charmed me, while making me blush, and an admirable heroine finally able to start living.
My rating for this is an A-
*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
AUTHOR INFO:
Deanna Roy is the six-time USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance and women's fiction.
She is a passionate advocate for women who have lost babies. She has several books on the subject, including her bestseller FOREVER INNOCENT, a romance about a couple whose baby is taken off life support at seven days old.
She has run the website PregnancyLoss.Info for fifteen years, including many large spin-off support groups both online and in person.
To learn about new releases, sign up for her subscriber list HERE. She has regular giveaways in conjunction with major pregnancy loss events.
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Great review, Jody! This sounds like a very well written and character driven read! I like how chemistry filled the romance sounds, too! :)
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