Publisher:
Percambio Press

Publication Date:
06/08/2014

Copyright Date:
N/A

ISBN:
0692235914

Binding:
Paperback

U.S. SRP:
14.99

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COME DANCING’s memorable heroine and witty writing are the cornerstones of this novel.

By Leslie Wells

IR_Star-black
IR Rating:
4.0
COME DANCING offers a witty protagonist in a creative, colorful, and charming work, painting exciting portraits of the publishing world, the rock star life, and the ever-bustling New York City before the time of cell phones.
IR Approved
COME DANCING is the story of a lovable young book publisher’s assistant who finds herself thrust into a world she never expected when she falls into a whirlwind romance with the guitarist of a famous rock band.

Heroine Julia Nash is a 24-year-old bright-eyed post-graduate from New York University, with dreams of becoming a respected book editor. Scrappy and smart, she is a small town girl at heart who is determined to make it in the big city, no matter what it takes. Skirting around a lascivious boss while taking piles of manuscripts to read over the weekends and cobbling together a wardrobe of secondhand clothes in a $300-a-month apartment without air conditioning, Julia is the type of funny and wholly relatable protagonist who is easy to root for. She by no means has everything handed to her so this makes her story all the more satisfying to read. It’s fun to cheer for Julia when she catches the eye of British guitarist Jack Kipling because it’s obvious she’s not like the airhead model groupies that throw themselves at rock stars. Her strong voice and endearing personality drive the story forward, along with the vivid description of the lives of the rich and famous, which, juxtaposed against her contrasting meager lifestyle, make for an enthralling and quick read.

As Julia and Jack get to know each other, the story moves at an exciting pace. Julia hangs out with Jack’s friends and bandmates, finds herself at extreme parties surrounded by lavish luxury, and at the same time, balances her own life at the publishing house. At work, there’s a rival in a snobby new hire who wants to elbow her out for the only promotion available.

Throughout her burgeoning romance with Jack and hectic race for upward mobility at work, Julia also still has time for her troubled relationship with her mother. It’s obvious that she faults her mother with the disintegration of her parents’ marriage and dreads becoming anything like her. Wells, however, finds a way to make the mother-daughter part of the narrative interesting and unexpected. This part of the novel feels very authentic, providing backstory on Julia’s personality and also striking a chord with anyone who has ever had to grow up away from home after graduation.

There are moments, though, where Julia’s voice seems more mature than that of a 24-year-old and her sexual escapades with Jack become incredibly graphic. Additionally, Jack’s character seems to span a wide spectrum with two extremes: he’s either too perfect, always saying / doing the right things or he’s too awful and playing right into being a stereotypical rock star. The novel does get bogged down in a number of rather graphic sexually explicit scenes and the ending feels a bit rushed to tie up the conflicts, with too much miscommunication at one point and then too much communication following.

COME DANCING offers a witty protagonist in a creative, colorful, and charming work, painting exciting portraits of the publishing world, the rock star life, and the ever-bustling New York City before the time of cell phones.

~IndieReader.

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