From Amazon and International bestselling author, Alison G. Bailey, comes a Contemporary Romance story about what happens after the happily ever.
Bryson Walker stumbled heart first into the steady rhythm of her life, never questioning whether other possibilities existed. She had been Will’s girl since their junior year in high school, followed him to college, and married him soon after … college, and married him soon after graduation.
In every respect, they were a loving and successful couple, until a series of missteps shattered all of Bryson’s truths. Maybe their life was nothing more than smoke and mirrors. A performance that was never based in reality.
Hart was barely an acquaintance. He and Bryson shared one brief moment during senior prom, full of friction and heat that ignited a spark. But that night Bryson walked away and Hart let her go.
Years later, twisted fate brings Bryson and Hart together again, causing her to wonder if this is her second chance at once in a lifetime.
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“Bryson, from our very first moment you stole my breath and I’ve been trying to catch it ever since.”
I kind of went blind into this book. I forgot what I read in the blurb and the only think I did remember was the sentence: “The Dance is the story of what happens after the happily ever.” I think this sentence explains perfectly what the book is about. I had no idea which direction the author would take. This book is about Bryson and Will who have been dating for a very long time, since the beginning of their junior year in high school. They lived together during college and graduate school. So it was kind of an obvious step to get married after graduation. Pretty early into the book and their marriage I started seeing all the cracks in Bryson and Will’s relationship/marriage.
“You are something else” “In a good way right?” “in a perfect way”.
After a heartbreaking incident the wall between Will and Bryson becomes higher and thicker. I just couldn’t stand Will. He was so indifferent to Bryson’s feelings and started acting all distant towards her when she needed him the most. She had to put up with a lot from him. She finally started seeing Will’s real face. Then Hart comes into the picture. I love him so much, and I especially adore how Bryson and Hart first met. It made perfect sense with the title of this book. Hart was everything Will wasn’t. He was so sweet, considerate and supportive. I loved how Bryson bloomed under his loving care.
“Men think with their dicks. But it’s the lack of character in the man that allows himself to be led by it.”
There was a plot twist at the end that was heartbreaking and had me crying a couple of times but we also saw how Will redeemed himself. I didn’t think that could happen but at the end of the book I felt bad for him. There were a couple of obstacles in Bryson and Hart’s relationship but I think they handled those the best way they could.
I enjoyed this book a lot and the characters all added extra layers to the story. The writing was great and I wouldn’t change anything about this book, however I would’ve loved one or two extra chapters to see the relationship grow more. I love Alison’s books, she always comes up with very intriguing and interesting story lines that have you on the edge of your seat. I cried, I laughed, was jealous, got angry and sad. I experienced a lot of emotions while I read this book!
Wow what a rollercoaster ride of emotions. Who knew that the one dance at homecoming with the bad boy, Hart, would have such a connection in Bryson’s life 10 years later. Bryson had everything with Will , her high school sweetheart. The guy all the girls wanted, quaterback, rich, destined for a fairytale life! Their marriage is not all that it seems. Keeping up appearances are important no matter what is going on at home.
A myriad of emotions throughout this story, love, trust, friendship, betrayal, isolation, despair, loss, tragedy, forgiveness. It’s Bryson gaining the confidence and finally follow her dreams. She finds true love after devastation. And taking the courage to forgive and give kindness and love to the one person that hurt her the most.
This is the first time I listened to a story narrated by Kelly Tager.
She is an excellent storyteller and superb narrator. She emotes every Feeling of love, anger, angst, fear, pain, humor and sarcasm of every character in this story. Bringing all the characters to life. Brilliant , I loved listening to it!. I was gifted this audio and offered my honest review.
Alison G Bailey has written a story that is so compelling and heart-wrenchingly beautiful… I laughed frequently, railed with anger multiple times, and cried many tears while listening. I was so taken with Brysons feelings from the first contact at the prom… and won’t lie that I got frustrated with her a few times..but her heart and fortitude in the end is what makes me admire her so very much.
I want to go on about this story and what happens, but I think everyone needs to hear this for themselves. It is such a great book. One so full of so many feels!! I can’t begin to tell you just how wonderful a story this is… but I CAN strongly suggest you go read or listen. And I can promise you’ll like it.
Kelli Tager has a great voice and was an excellent choice as narrator for this!!
This was my first Alison G. Bailey’s book. This is an emotional second chance in love. Bryson and Hart are great main characters. Bryson is a strong and caring woman, compassionate, and supportive. Hart is handsome, optimist, loving, and supportive. The secondary characters are great, besides Will, Bryson’s husband who is selfish, superficial, and careless. He is blessed to have Bryson in his life. This is a long story, filled with drama, angst, twists and turns, heartbreaking and heartwarming scenes, and a satisfying ending. Kelli Tager is a new narrator to me. She did an amazing job with the narration. She has a great voice, with a great range of voices.
My heart literally broke for Bryson. So much lying and deceit! Will was truly a jerk! I did not like him from the start. The relationship he shared with Bryson just seemed so one sided. I definitely understand why she felt the way she did when she discovered his secret. He also didn’t even really own up to his mistakes. Then insert Hart and my heart swoon. I feel that Hart’s lifestyle was extremely different than Wills considering he wasn’t MARRIED! So Bryson really can’t really judge him on that aspect of his life. However once Bryson came back into his life his whole demeanor on relationships changed. Reading their love story unfold was so heartwarming. This is definitely a book that will have you in all your feels.
******* AUDIOBOOK REVIEW *******
Yes, if you’re looking at the book than you’re noticing the nearly 17 hours of book. This is a book that makes you think. It’s an emotionally-charged story. I recommend it and enjoyed listening to the story. However, there is a lot of story added in that wasn’t pertinent to the story. I bet 1/4 of this book could have been removed and it would have hit 5 stars! It does have that possibilities it it didn’t have the unnecessary added in.
The narrator Kelli Tager was a pleasure to listen to… I mean thank goodness at 17 hours! lol I enjoyed her slight twang/country accent… it’s slight. She has a very endearing voice. I’d happily listen to her in future books.
This book….it took me on a journey of emotions, both good & bad. It is quite the story of learning from our past, and trying to be forgiving of others and their own pasts (which honestly isn’t always easy). At the beginning Bryson seemed like a bit of a doormat & just let Will walk all over her. I’m glad that we got to see her grow during the book. It was intriguing to watch her with the men in her life, I’m not sure that I would’ve been so accepting as she was!!
Overall I enjoyed the book! Although it did seem to drag at moments.
The Dance
By: Alison G. Bailey
Narrated by: Kelli Tager
When I first saw the title, I thought this was going to be about a dancer. Then when I started the book, and we went to prom, I thought it was going to be about the dance. But I found out as I listened that this is about the dance of life. Bryson has her whole life mapped out for her. She marries her high school sweetheart and they are well on their way to creating their happiness. Only she didn’t know the truth. Will is a man of appearances and while he likes Bryson, she is not the love of his life. When circumstances separate the two, Bryson is lucky enough to meet Hart. She knew him in high school and their attraction then still remains as strong years later. But will she find happiness with her second chance? This book had me frustrated, in love, happy, tearing and sad….every emotion you can think of, all signs of a great listen. Bryson both frustrated me and did me proud as she matured. She is a strong woman, much stronger than I thought and I love her compassion. Hart is the man we all want to end up with. He is passionate about life, knows what he wants and is caring and sympathetic. Will is the one that you love to hate, And end up loving. It’s an unending dance and will fill your heart, empty and fill it again. Just keep that Tony Bennett playing and the dance never ends.
Kelli Tager delivers an amazing performance. This is my first narration by her and I thought she was spot on with every character. She has a variety of voices and melded each personality to each voice.I will be watching for more of her.
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I have never read Alison G. Bailey before and that is something that is going to change. The Dance was emotional, angst-filled and heartbreaking, but it is also a story of second chances, hope, and love. The characters were flawed and we can’t help but feel for them, even in our anger. Bryson thought her life was picture perfect and living her happily ever after with Will. But when the perfect walls around them begin to crumble, will things change forever when someone from her past enters her life again? The Dance by Alison G. Bailey will take you on an emotional journey full of so many feels.
Read and reviewed for Sultry Sirens Book Blog.
Happy reading!
Oh you are going to get ALL. THE. FEELS. This is Bryson’s story and she tells the tale that is going to move you!
I can’t tell you the range of emotions I felt with this story. The world that Ms. Bailey creates with her words is amazing.
You are going to feel the bright and shiny feelings of young love and young lust. When Bryson and Hart meet, it’s electric and with just a short amount of time and interaction they feel the world shift.
You are going to feel anger and laughter, joy and pain.
This is the story of Bryson, Will, and Hart. This is not your typical romance. It’s original, it’s smart and it’s going to move you.
I don’t want to give too much away and take away the experience of reading this for the first time. This story covers a lot of years, but it flows brilliantly.
If you are looking for a story that will pull on your heartstrings, look no futher!
Well done Ms. Baily!
LOVED, LOVED, LOVED!!
I picked this up thinking, “Oh, this will be a cute, quick read!” How wrong I was- in the very best way! The plot was one of the more original ones I’ve read in a very long time!
I loved Bryson! What a strong, loving, and forgiving main character. Will… I couldn’t stand him through most of the story (as the author had, I suppose, intended), but he managed to find redemption with me by the end. And Hart… Oh, Hart! There’s so much to him and I loved the depth that he had as a character.
This was my first book by this author and I’ve already read two others by her (Present Perfect and Past Imperfect) since. This story will stay with you!
Bryson knows she and Will are meant to be together forever. That’s why they date all through high school and college, and eventually get married. But when a series of events pulls them further and further apart, suddenly that surefire knowledge that they were meant for each other starts eroding, just as their marriage does. And it crumbles to dust when she has a chance encounter with the only guy to ever pull her attention from Will, Hart, the mysterious newcomer at their high school. The guy with whom she had shared a moment within a dance at their senior prom.
Damn, I was not expecting the feels in this story! I admit to shedding more than a few tears at the end, but I still really enjoyed The Dance. It’s a bit too long, and the ending is too abrupt, which is the reason for the 4 rather than 5 stars, but everything else is excellent storytelling. Hart and Bryson are a really wonderful couple, and Hart is the real star here. I could read a whole series just about him and be more than happy.
Alison G. Bailey has adeptly written a soulfully gut wrenching detailed story of love, loss, realizations, redemption, second chances and life that gives perfect insight into each character’s thoughts and actions!
There is so much to this story and Ms. Bailey has beautifully and intricately woven a tapestry of issues and subjects of first love, youthful decisions, cyber addiction, loss, grief, second chances, spinal cord injury, AIDS. So many relevant and realistic topics that are pertinent today. It spans over 10 years and what a journey for these characters!
I felt for Bryson and all she went through. What she thought was her set future with Will was slowly unraveled and she eventually realized that things were not as they seemed. She was loyal and devoted and had integrity. Some would say a bit of naivety. The dance she shared at prom with Hart was just a memory never fully explored at the time but lingered with her for years.
I felt Will was lost as time went on with his addiction and deceit. His priorities were not where they should have been. He was not a likable character but by the end I truly felt for him and even shed tears for his situation and consequences of his actions.
Hart had my Heart!;) I loved him. Although he was far from perfect he had his redeeming qualities. He was compassionate, patient and kind. He endured so much with such courage and determination. His devotion was evident.
This is such an intriguing story that had me full of angst, intrigue, tears and ultimately joy and will be forever in my heart!
The Dance is beautifully heartbreaking! This book will pull out every emotion while you read, and I highly suggest having kleenex and chocolate nearby. The storyline hit VERY close to home for me, so it was hard to read in that aspect, but overall it was a beautiful story about second chances and overcoming painful secrets. This was my first book by Alison G. Bailey and I’m looking forward to more!
I’ve finished this story yesterday and hoped that a good night sleep will help me work through what I just read. Let me tell you – it didn’t. I’m frustrated with how this story unfolded. I’m frustrated that, in my opinion, the book really started at almost 50% in.
The first 40% of this book was fluff. I don’t know any other word to use. Unnecessary plot points that had me eyerolling to the point of giving me a headache and/or missing plot points that had me wondering what I was reading. Honestly, I almost didn’t get past it. It was a close call. But just as I was about to give up, the story took a turn that had me believing in what I was reading. At that point I was all in. The book starts out very weak but ends strong.
So, I didn’t dislike this book, but I also can’t say that I liked it either. Execution of a storyline is important and this one failed for me. Bottom line is I’m middle of the road with my rating. 3 underwhelming stars it is.
***Review copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads Blog***
This was a book that split my opinion in two, it started off slow and I wasn’t sure if I was going to enjoy it but I ended up loving it. One thing I will say ignore any and all spoilers because this is a book that needs to unfold at the pace the author wrote it because when that moment in the story comes its a boom moment that needs to be a surprise.
Although there are three main characters Bryson Will and Hart this is Bryson’s story warts and all. Will annoyed me and I totally detested him, his actions and the words that came out his mouth. My favourite female characters are strong women who can stand up for themselves but Bryson frustrated me. If she had been my friend I would have given her a shake and a good talking to. I kept reading waiting for her to snap out of that doormat mentalityand letting Will dictate everything. Hart was the person that tied everything together and brought out the best in the other characters.
I’m not sure what I was expecting from this book but the emotional overload was such a surprise and that was all down to the writing. What will I take away from this story that’s easy, love forgiveness and compassion.
A heartbreaking incident sets off a series of events that leads Bryson Forsyth to question the very basis of her marriage.
She crosses paths with Hart Mitchell, whom she shared one unforgettable dance with at the prom so many years ago, making her think that this be her second chance at a once-in-a-lifetime love.
The Dance is a story of forgiveness, redemption, and second chances.
I loved how Bryson grew from someone who’s never worked a day in her life and making up excuses to herself for Will’s shortcomings to becoming a strong, independent woman who isn’t afraid to go for what she wants.
I gasped when I got to the plot twist. How sorry I was for Will in the end, and how touched I was by the way he redeemed himself is a testament to how good a writer Alison G. Bailey is. This is the second book of hers that I’ve read, with Lip Smacker being the first. Lip Smacker was lighter (and shorter) than this one but both are emotionally gripping and awe-inspiring.
Narrator Kelli Tager did an excellent job bringing this book to life.
The Dance is a second-chance contemporary romance written in first -person narrative. It’s a standalone that ends with a HEA. No cliffhanger.
I received this audiobook and book at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review.
This story surprised me. I truly thought I knew where Bryson and Will’s journey was headed but I ended up being blown away and put through the emotional ringer in a wonderful way. I did struggle at the beginning of this story, it felt predictable and moved very slowly and I almost gave up on it. I hung in there and the foundation that was built made sense as Bryson realizes that the life she thought she was living, wasn’t what she got. Bryson and Will met in high school and their future as a couple seemed destined. But life is never that predictable. As they settle into marriage, Bryson finds out that she really doesn’t know Will at all and wonders if he ever truly loved her. As they navigate these new waters, Bryson cherishes a moment at the senior prom with Hart, the new guy that sought her out for a dance. When they cross paths again, will Bryson take this chance to find something new? I enjoyed how this story let me feel all the ups and downs that life challenges us with. Loving someone takes work but even more than that, is finding the strength to realize that the path you are going down isn’t the right one and being able to change it. It also reinforces that life is unpredictable, it’s how you handle those moments that makes all the difference.
* A review copy was provided by the author *
I don’t even really know how to express my feelings accurately, when it comes to The Dance. I feel anything I say won’t do this story and it’s characters justice.
The Dance is my first book by Alison G. Bailey and I was swept away by the storyline and the characters and all of the emotions she brought out of me while reading this book. This is one story I won’t be commenting on because it is a book that I believe everyone needs to go into blind to experience all that it has to offer.
This book is a standalone novel. At times I almost felt like we were getting two books in one. (You’ll see what I mean as you read this story) This book is not a fast paced story, but I don’t think it can truly be told any other way. After reading this book and the author’s note at the end, you can truly feel the amount of time and effort the author put into telling an accurate and emotional story. This book was well researched!!
I didn’t know what to expect going into this book, I just knew I had to read it, after reading the blurb. This book was nothing like I was expecting, it was so much more. Even though at times I questioned why and where the author was taking us, in the end I see why she wrote this story this way. I will say that she took me by surprise on a couple of occasions. This book also touched on some really serious subjects that I personally have never read about before. I do believe this book will hit home for some readers. It definitely had me thinking…. What would I do in this situation?? many times.
The Dance is told solely from Bryson’s POV. This is a journey of one woman who thought her life should be one way, only to have it turned completely around. Bryson’s journey is one of how real life isn’t always how you plan it. That missteps come along, but it is how we handle them that makes us better people. This book will steamroll your emotions. You will laugh, cry, yell, possible throw your kindle, blush but most of all you will fall in love.
Each of the characters we meet in this story holds a special place in this book. Not only just Bryson, Will and Hart. But Sophie, Ronnie, Colin and Doug. The development of the characters and their involvement in each others lives was relatable and believable. Each of these characters grew in so many ways as the story progressed and I was so happy at the end with how everything worked out.
I believe everyone should read The Dance. This is a book that when you are done will continue on in your mind and heart. I don’t think anyone will walk away from this book unaffected in some way.