Forbidden Dance is the first book in a new series by the very versatile writer, Deanna Roy (she also writes as Annie Winters and JJ Knight). It’s been a bit since she’s had a new book and I couldn’t wait to read this one. Her stories have never disappointed me, no matter what pen name she uses, and this one is no exception – I loved it. This story is told in first-person from Livia’s POV.

Livia made a mistake as a young teenager and has been paying for it ever since. Her parents have kept her on a very tight leash by homeschooling her and controlling all of her activities even though she is now 19 years old.

Blitz/Benjamin is the disgraced star of a TV dance show and has returned to his home town to do penance. He’s helping out at the dance school where Livia takes lessons and helps with the tine wheelchair dancers.

While there is an instant attraction between Livia and Blitz this is not an “insta-love” story. There’s a nice slow burn and build up to their romance. While Livia’s past mistake is very easy to surmise right from the get-go, the slow reveal of the details was perfect and kept me glued to my ereader.

I am not a fan of cliffhangers and I read a few reviews of this book that said it has a cliffhanger. If I review a book with a cliffhanger I always try to disclose this right at the beginning of my review. This book does not have a cliffhanger! There is a conclusion for Livia and Blitz’s story with a HFN. But, Ms. Roy definitely left me wanting to read the next book so that I can learn more about their love story.

If you don’t want to be teased about the next story then don’t read the sneak peek at the end of this book. But, don’t miss the bonus chapter from Blitz’s POV that wasn’t in my ARC copy but is in the copy I purchased.

Reviews for Deanna Roy

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They Meet

I spin, arms in, so tight, so fast, then extending up over my head. The world is a blur. I’m both giddy and fierce in my concentration, happy and determined at once. I will get those pointe shoes. My late start in ballet is a problem, but I will overcome it.

I slow the rotation and circle to the floor, my arms splayed out across the glossy wood planks.

“That’s beautiful,” a low male voice says.

I leap to my feet, my heart racing, as startled as a deer. The door to the studio is open and a man leans against the wall, one foot crossed over the other. He’s clearly a dancer, wearing sleek pants, black jazz shoes, and a loose white tank.

“Who are you?” I ask. I haven’t been alone with a man anywhere close to my age since I was fifteen. My father has made sure of it. The only male instructor here is Jacob, and he is gay. All the boy students are very young.

“The more important question,” he says with an impossibly sexy smile, “is who are you?”

The Kiss

“So do you have class today?” he asks.

I let go of him. “Oh my gosh. What time is it?”

He flicks the round screen on his wristband. A watch face lights up. “Four-ten.”

“Oh no! I’m late!” I run for my bag, then stop. “Come with me,” I say. “Betsy can teach you a few things!”

He hesitates.

“Do you have something better to do?” I ask. “Like reading nasty Blitz Burn Tweets?”

“Touché,” he says. “All right. But I’ll have to keep my hands off you in there.” We head off the side of the stage.

My heart revs up. “Why is that?”

“Your kindly boss Danika,” he says. “I’m skating on thin ice after Wednesday.”

Shoot. That’s right. It was one thing to sneak a dance in an empty recital hall. Another thing to be together with an audience.

He takes my hand and we head into the staging area, where the door to the storage room still stands open. My blood rushes in my ears. “Did you have some nefarious plan for in there?” I ask.

We dodge the costume racks. He pulls me behind one.

“Just this,” he says.

He cradles my face in both of his hands, and before I can even think, his lips land on mine.

Lovers Dance Series

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