A page-turning romance for those who adore the worlds of theater and dance.
In London, a talented dancer at a professional crossroads takes a romantic risk in Porter’s sequel to A Change of Location (2024).
Ellie Lowery is 29 years old, but she feels as if she’s already lived several lives. She’s made the decision to hang up her corset as the successful burlesque dancer Stella Nue and try acting. While waiting to meet her Aunt Camille at the Ritz’s Rivoli Bar, an overenthusiastic fan of her burlesque act tries to accost her, and handsome financier Dan Wheeler steps in, pretending to be there to meet her. Ellie is searching for a place to live in London and Dan helps her to get settled in the city. However, she’s still haunted by the death of her husband, actor Harry Colman, nine years ago, and she’s reluctant to start a new relationship. Meanwhile, Gil Cooke, Ellie’s old friend from Julliard, is desperate to have her star in a play he’s written, and Rafe Lawrence, her dance partner when she was trying to make it as a ballerina years ago, wants her to join his ballet company. In this fictional exploration of a young woman trying to find success, Porter writes in a clear and appealing manner that makes the complicated world of dance accessible and attractive. One of the most compelling aspects of the novel is how it recognizes the demands that dancing places on a professional’s body and mind; Ellie’s own personal journey leads her to a good place: “She was no longer defined by critics, whose expectations of a dancer were rigid and specific.” Some plot points seem a bit too convenient at times; Dan’s father happens to be a donor to Rafe’s ballet company, for instance. However, the complex relationships are engaging throughout, always keeping the reader hooked.
A page-turning romance for those who adore the worlds of theater and dance.Pub Date: May 6, 2025
ISBN: 9798985673463
Page Count: 330
Publisher: Gallica Press
Review Posted Online: Jan. 29, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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This captivating, deeply emotional, and incredibly sexy romance is a balm for the soul.
A blossoming romance infringes on a successful businesswoman's professional aspirations, making her reevaluate her priorities.
At an exclusive party, talent manager Hendrix Barry has an instant connection with billionaire tech mogul Maverick Bell. When he learns that she’s navigating her mother’s Alzheimer's diagnosis, he relates to what she’s going through, having had similar experiences with his grandfather. Maverick makes Hendrix feel seen and understood like no one else, but he’s the recent ex-boyfriend of a woman Hendrix is going into business with as she works toward her goal of executive producing a television show. She tries to set boundaries that would keep him as a friend despite their obvious mutual attraction, but when he expresses interest in her venture capital fund focusing on Black women–led businesses, it leads to spending more time together, and the lines of friendship, business, and pleasure become tangled and blurred. Ryan excels at crafting thoughtful, mature characters who have to manage complicated situations with care and grace. Maverick’s dogged pursuit of Hendrix and the delicious ways he woos her using his wealth and persistence frame him as a determined, headstrong hero. Paired with a weaker heroine, he could have been overbearing, but Hendrix is his perfect match, equally as strong-willed and tenacious. They bring out each other’s softer, more vulnerable sides as well, and both have compassionate hearts. The spicy romance is the core of this satisfying story, but the novel doesn’t shy away from—and is made richer for the inclusion of—hardships like caring for an aging parent and confronting racism in the world of business. The tale also highlights the importance of community and the value of supportive, platonic love through the wonderful cast of side characters.
This captivating, deeply emotional, and incredibly sexy romance is a balm for the soul.Pub Date: May 13, 2025
ISBN: 9781538706855
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Forever
Review Posted Online: yesterday
Uneven but fitfully amusing.
Betrayed by her husband, a severely depressed young woman gets drawn into the over-the-top festivities at a lavish wedding.
Phoebe Stone, who teaches English literature at a St. Louis college, is plotting her own demise. Her husband, Matt, has left her for another woman, and Phoebe is taking it hard. Indeed, she's determined just where and how she will end it all: at an oceanfront hotel in Newport, where she will lie on a king-sized canopy bed and take a bottle of her cat’s painkillers. At the hotel, Phoebe meets bride-to-be Lila, a headstrong rich girl presiding over her own extravagant six-day wedding celebration. Lila thought she had booked every room in the hotel, and learning of Phoebe's suicidal intentions, she forbids this stray guest from disrupting the nuptials: “No. You definitely can’t kill yourself. This is my wedding week.” After the punchy opening, a grim flashback to the meltdown of Phoebe's marriage temporarily darkens the mood, but things pick up when spoiled Lila interrupts Phoebe's preparations and sweeps her up in the wedding juggernaut. The slide from earnest drama to broad farce is somewhat jarring, but from this point on, Espach crafts an enjoyable—if overstuffed—comedy of manners. When the original maid of honor drops out, Phoebe is persuaded, against her better judgment, to take her place. There’s some fun to be had here: The wedding party—including groom-to-be Gary, a widower, and his 11-year-old daughter—takes surfing lessons; the women in the group have a session with a Sex Woman. But it all goes on too long, and the humor can seem forced, reaching a low point when someone has sex with the vintage wedding car (you don’t want to know the details). Later, when two characters have a meet-cute in a hot tub, readers will guess exactly how the marriage plot resolves.
Uneven but fitfully amusing.Pub Date: July 30, 2024
ISBN: 9781250899576
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Henry Holt
Review Posted Online: Sept. 13, 2024
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