Review: The Dance by Alison G. Bailey


Note: A review copy was provided by the author via Wildfire Marketing Solutions.

Sigh. I've written and deleted this review more times than I wish to confess, but I'm putting it out there to let you know that this is not the sort of review that I relish putting together. When I read books, I have one consistent hope, regardless of genre or author--to enjoy it. Some I've enjoyed more than others, and yes, there are those books that simply don't click with me no matter how good the writing may have been. Alas, Alison G. Bailey's The Dance falls in the latter category. Funnily enough, I read the spin-off novel, Crazy Sexy Love, prior to this one back in July of 2018, but while that was a good read, this contemporary romance from her back list was not my favorite.

The Dance is the story of Bryson Walker, who falls in love with William Forsyth and begin a relationship in their junior year of high school--a relationship that leads to marriage a few years later, but relationships don't come with guaranteed happy endings, a fact that Bryson learns while she remains married to Will. For anyone on the outside looking in, Bryson and Will Forsyth were the picture of love and commitment, but they say a picture is worth a thousand words, and not all of them are nice. When she comes across Hart Mitchell again, the memory of that one moment shared together in senior sparks to life, but how can he be her second chance at love when life as she once knew it is stuck in limbo when a shocking truth is revealed. Will Bryson take charge of her life or stay stuck?

My introduction to Alison G. Bailey was by way of Present Perfect, the first in her Perfect trilogy. I was mesmerized by the story, the characters, and the writing itself. Since then, I've read about three or four of her other releases, but none of them have been as good as that first read. Sadly, The Dance is my least favorite from this author. Bryson was a weak female main character from the get-go, and my impression of her didn't really get any better throughout. Will was the poster child for villains but his road to redemption, while heartrending, was probably one of my favorite things about this book. Then there's Hart, who was the too-perfect-to-be-believed hero. He was the easiest character, by far, to like. The story itself was plodding, with the highlights few and far between, almost like bumps in the road that are the only bit of thrill in a drawn-out and disappointing journey. Two stars for The Dance.

Date Read: 27 December 2019

Learn more about Alison G. Bailey.

Purchase The Dance on Amazon.

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