Dance With Me by Georgia Beers

on
Reviewed by Women Using Words

The details…

  • Title : Dance With Me
  • Author : Georgia Beers
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bold Strokes Books 
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 11, 2023
  • Available formats : ebook, paperback, audiobook 
  • Digital file size ‏ : ‎ 1349 KB
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 224 pages
  • Audiobook running time : 9 hours and 12 minutes
  • Audiobook narrator : Lula Larkin
  • Genre : contemporary romance 
  • Themes : women loving women, ex lovers, finding love in unexpected places, friendships, family relationships, family responsibilities, raising children, learning to dance, learning to trust
  • Tropes : stuck together/forced proximity, rival “exes of the ex”

The blurb from the publisher…

Is there anything worse than your I-don’t-do-commitment ex finally getting married? Not according to Scottie Templeton. Factor in living with her grandma, her rattletrap car, and never-ending job struggles, and Scottie’s stressed. When a friend suggests they take dance lessons to blow off steam, she figures why not? How was she supposed to know that the super talented, ridiculously hot dance instructor is Marisa Reyes, the woman her ex dumped for her? Or that her friend would break his foot, leaving her without a dance partner? Or that dancers without a partner get paired with the instructor?

Scottie’s ready to quit, but her grandma won’t let her. She has nothing to be ashamed of and the playing field is level now. So, Scottie vows to finish the lessons, even if it kills her. And if the sizzling chemistry she has with Marisa, to say nothing of the closeness of their dancing, is any indication, it just might.

My thoughts…

Georgia Beers will always be one of my favorite romance authors. She’s been steadily producing books for 23 years and she never fails to capture the magic of love and romance between women. I may not remember the who, what and where of all her books, but I can usually recall the way they made me feel. She knows how to stir feelings and tap into relatable—and sometimes raw—emotions. Each book leaves an impression and that’s huge when it comes to the business of penning romance books.

When I picked up Dance With Me, Beer’s latest book, I was immediately drawn to its plot. It’s a spin on the old ‘we’re both forced to be here; I guess we better grit our teeth and make the best of it’ trope. Of course, somewhere along the line the gritting stops and the stolen glances start, followed by the fluttering of hearts and the desire to kiss. Readers know they will hook up; it’s only a matter of time. But, until the women do, those angsty moments sure have readers pealing through the pages! 

This romance is a bit different though; there’s nothing textbook about it. Beers plays with the trope and gets pretty creative. It’s a sapphic twist that any respectable, card carrying wlw romance reader would find hard to resist. Lord knows I couldn’t! Two exs of an ex dancing their way into a relationship—let me pull up a seat!

Silliness aside, Beers toys with this trope in all the right ways. It’s smart and fresh, adding a complexity that deepens the storytelling. The choice is clever, but it’s not the only thing that makes the romance work. Beers chooses to tell this romance from Scottie’s perspective in first person. It’s equally as effective and suits the narrative well. Scottie’s inner dialogue sheds a light on some of the deep-seated hurts and frustrations she has with her family. Because Scottie is trying to recover from a low point in her life, it’s interesting to see how she processes the exchanges with her family. Her vulnerability feels real, making her a sympathetically relatable character. Overall, she’s genuinely appealing and readers want her to get the happily ever after she deserves.

As compelling of a character as Scottie is, there’s no denying the appeal of Marisa, the other ex of the ex. She’s a gorgeous character; it’s easy to see why Scottie is drawn to her. She displays a magnetism that’s hard to resist. Plus, she’s easy to like; her soft kindness and sense of responsibility are especially attractive. Readers connect to her. Furthermore, they like who she is when she’s with Scottie.

Final remarks…

Beers works hard to make this romance interesting. Besides giving it well-crafted leading ladies, she infuses it with healthy doses of subplot and subtext, ensuring space for the romance to expand and breathe properly. She also fortifies this tale with nicely rounded supporting characters. They work to enrich the storytelling in their own ways, making the narrative more dynamic and engaging. Overall, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this romance. It’s a fun romance and completely entertaining.

Strengths…

  • Original story concept
  • Likable characters
  • Interesting secondary characters
  • Sweet romance

This book is available from…

A bit about the author…

Georgia Beers is a Lambda Literary Award, Foreword Book of the Year Award, and Goldie Award winning author of lesbian romance. She resides in upstate New York where she was born and raised. When not writing, she enjoys too much TV, never too much wine, and long walks with her dog. She is currently hard at work on her next book. To learn more about her, look her up on her website or social media.

Comments

Post a Comment