5☆ A Must Read for Strictly Fans, looking for a Sweet, Witty RomCom!


Strictly Come Dating is a Must Read for those who love Strictly, love Dancing and Romance with a dash of wit and humour.

Maggie is recently divorced, has 2 young girls Tabby and Penny, and they're obsessed with Strictly come dancing & well dancing in general.

Maddie and her best friends (sisters) Alice and Sarah and their children always watch Strictly together. It's become a tradition.

So when Seb, Alice's & Sarah's younger and very handsome Brother turns up to stay, he really shakes things up for Maddie. As she gets more than she bargained for. He also secretly likes Strictly, he's great with Children, kind, sweet,... oh and did I mention devilishly handsome!!

For as long as she can remember Maddie has had a passion for dance. Her ex hubby stopped her dancing.
But now Alice and Sarah have convinced her to start up again.
But maybe, just maybe Maddie can discover more than just spine tingling passion on the dancefloor!!

Oh how I adored this book. I also have a passion for dance and have tried many different styles over the years from Scottish Dancing, Jive, Salsa, Tango to Line Dancing so this book ticked all the right boxes for me!

I simply loved everything about this book.
The characters were superbly written, the Romance was sweet and the humour was witty and had me giggling and smiling.
The plot was uplifting, inspiring and the message was to follow your dreams, don't give up and have fun!
What would make this book even better would be to add a playlist to accompany the book.

I always enjoy Kathryn Freeman's books and I think this has to be my favourite!
So if you are looking for a Sweet Romcom, or you're missing your Strictly fix then I highly recommend you pick up a copy of Strictly Come Dating you won't be disappointed!

Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

I love Kathryn Freeman Romcoms. They're a treat to read with the perfect mix of romance and humor and the oh-so-hot chemistry between the lead pair along with lovely supportive characters to make it a wonderful treat for her readers!

Strictly Come Dancing is all about Dancing, of course. Our heroine's passion for dance and how life stopped her from following her passion more vigorously. Now with the help of her lovely sisters and adorable daughters, she's about to enter into the world of dancing again. Stilettos on, here comes Maggie the unstoppable.

Oh I almost forgot the hot and seriously handsome Seb who is also rude and arrogant but who cares unless he's fuming hot and their chemistry is ufff! You'll have to wait until Kathryn releases her magic moment with hands in pants for the bookorgasm and I can only assure you that it's completely worth the wait!

As ever, I'll hugely recommend this cute Romcom to everyone without a doubt. It's about following one's passion and I'm totally up for it! Many thanks to the publisher and Rachel for having me on the blog tour. All opinions mine.

Maggie is a divorced mother of two small girls. She doesn't have room for much else in her life--especially nothing fun, besides weekly viewing parties of Strictly Come Dancing (or Dancing with the Stars, as we call it in the US)--but her friends encourage her to enroll in a ballroom dancing class. She's soon joined by Seb, younger brother of her best friends, extremely charming and good-looking and ten years younger than Maggie. She doesn't have time for a fling, and obviously he's not looking for anything serious. Right?

Freeman delves into some of the realistic issues faced by a single mom dating a younger man who doesn't have much experience with responsibility or advance planning. But she also lets Maggie and Seb have a lot of fun together. A very sweet story.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review.

Think 'So You Think You Can Dance' ...but with a Contemporary Romance story to build all the tension, the potential drama, and the feelings you really need to make that routine SHINE! Add a twist on the May September type couple, two darling little girls, a few feisty seniors, and a gaggle of pre-teens that meddle just as much...and you've got the makings of this story set to dazzle and enchant!

I was listening to Dan + Shay while reading portions of this and..."...girl I wanna be what keeps you up at night..." just struck me as a very appropriate line for our boy Seb! Yes, he's the younger one in this equation, which doesn't raise other eyebrows as much as it does our leading lady's, but he's not one to give up when his heart is fully engaged. Maggie is wary with good reason. She doesn't want to mess up her friendship with his sisters, nor does she want to get her heart in a tangled mess again after her marriage ended in a less than lovely manner...but the age gap is also giving her pause. Can she let go enough to listen to her heart instead of just her mind and enjoy the moments given? Now, if they can just get each other on the same page, they'll be two stepping in no time!

In the end, I'd give it a 9.5 out of 10! Very entertaining, heartfelt, and yet realistic. Age gap romances when flipped the other way aren't generally even blinked at but put the woman older than the man and all of a sudden you've made news! These two though...make serious sparks, both on and off the dance floor, and that chemistry, that ability to be in step with each other could just see them making a go of something they never saw coming. Recommended for Contemporary Romance fans to put a skip in your step and a flutter in your heart!



**ecopy received for review; opinions are my own

I'm a fan of Kathryn Freeman's books and this one was no exception. This was a fun read with interesting characters and a story that kept me interested to the last page, The characters are so well written and feel familiar like old friends, I was sorry I couldn't join them on the couch for Strictly night!

I highly recommend this book and other books by this author. 5 stars!

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for the ARC of this book, all opinions are mine and unsolicited.

I have to state that I picked this book because of the premise of dancing and falling in love. Maggie was a huge Strictly Come Dancing fan. Her friends and children watch it every Saturday evening. One Saturday her friends invited their brother Seb over to watch the show with them. He was home from his travels to take care of his sick dad. Soon after Maggie and Seb started to take dancing lessons together. Of course they find that they liked each other regardless of the age difference. She was 37 and he was 27 at the beginning of the book. Which I honestly had no idea why that would be an issue but it was for Maggie at the beginning. Seb was a great guy who loved his family, was loyal, honest and took care of others. He was spontaneous with his planning but that added to the fun in life. Maggie was a doctor and mom who was too organized, fussy, rigid and lacked the confidence needed to date anyone quite frankly. She spent most of the time worried about why anyone wanted to date her. She was unfair and thoughtless towards Seb at times that drove me nuts.

I love dancing competition shows and wanted to read more about that. I felt that the dancing part of the story was too short. I’m sorry to state that I felt that the story dragged on at times. Overall, it was a cute story, but I needed more of something.

I received this ARC from the publisher and Netgalley for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

I thought to myself, "Well, surely I'm almost done with this book!" and when I glanced down I was at 63%. Then I gave up.

Now, why would I give more than 1 star to a DNF? Because the characters are well-written and the book is good—it was just way too slow for ME. I could easily see another reader loving this book and liking the slower pacing.

I received an ARC of this title from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

A light easy to read love story. Ballroom dancing, an age gap romance, humour, and a fair few misunderstandings to get in the way of the HEA. A little slow in places, but I enjoyed it.

This is my first book by Kathryn Freeman and I am so glad I read this one. I will definitely be checking out her other books. This was such a fun book about Maggie, a divorcee who has lost her spark. She is in her late thirties with two delightful young girls, who doesn't do much but work and take care of her girls. When Seb (Sebastian) Armstrong, her best friends' brother comes home to the UK after his father's heart attack, Maggie has not idea what is in store for her.

This book was delightful. The dialogue was snappy and often had me giggling. Maggie is like so many other women whose husband has left them for a younger woman. She is in a rut, has low self-esteem and does not expect to be involved in another romance, especially one ten years her junior. Seb ran away right after University, having no idea what he wanted to do with his life. He always felt like a disappointment to his father and when he comes home to care for him after his heart attack, he still feels the same. What he did not expect was to fall in love with his sisters' best friend, one ten years older, divorced and with two children. I loved Seb! He was fun, loving, care-free, honest and more. It doesn't hurt that he was also handsome. Throw in some adorable children, his family and some older dancers that become friends and you have a wonderful cast of characters that made me laugh out loud. This is a wonderful Rom-Com that deals a lot with self-esteem and not giving up. I don't want to give away any more of this story, so just let me say, you need to pick this one up and read it. I definitely recommend this one to anyone who loves to laugh, enjoys a romance and some fun characters.

This was a fab read from Kathryn Freeman and it's definitely put me in the mood for the new strictly series!!

The story is about Maggie and Seb. Maggie is a big Strictly Come Dancing fan and loved dancing when she was younger, now that she is divorced she wants to take it up again, which she does. Seb is Maggie's friend's younger brother and Maggie catch's his eye one night when they are all having a strictly night in. Seb then also takes up dancing in the hope to win Maggie over but will the relationship last?

This was great fun, light hearted, easy read. I loved all the characters and the story had a good pace and flow. I loved the strictly element and the dancing and I loved that you could feel the push and pull and the ups and downs in Seb and Maggie's relationship. Overall this was a great fun read that will leave a smile on your face.

I received a review copy from Netgalley in exchange for this review.

I found the first half of this okay; I really enjoyed the second half. So, I'll settle in the middle at 3 stars.

For me, the first half felt flat and unbelievable. Seb's insta-love for a woman that lacked depth (Maggie) just didn't seem realistic. I hear ya, this is fiction, it doesn't have to be realistic, but it should at least be not totally UNrealistic, right? Maggie just had no depth to her the whole way through. But I guess her ex-husband did suck the life out of her. I just couldn't quite get on board with Seb's insta-love, though.

The second half, when Maggie started opening up to us, that's when I could believe Seb's feelings. It was like a totally different book. There was communication and chemistry and sparks and laughs. I was so happy for Maggie to fall in love with herself again. Thankfully, she was never overly moany to begin with, but still, so pleased with her progress. Seb's growth was fab, though. Really loved watching him develop throughout the whole book. He was a strong character the whole way through.

The blurb had me so excited to read this and whilst the first half was slow going, I'm glad I stuck with it because it had a great result.

This is the 3rd book Freeman has released this year and I think it's showing (I've read all 3 so I think I am allowed to give an opinion). I'd like a little more substance behind our characters in fewer books than several books that fall a little short each time.

She’s a beautiful and poised doctor with two young daughters and a passion for ballroom dancing. He’s a happy-go-lucky world traveler with a passion for her. Can these two mismatched people find common ground?

The chemistry between Maggie and Seb is off the charts and they really get each other. Maggie’s love of dance and her growing attraction to Seb is a no-brainer and I understand her reluctance to get involved with a younger man with no plans for the future. However, Seb’s determination to impress and win over Maggie is adorable. He is a catch with his fun-loving nature, his ease with children, and a heart of gold. Although his family seems pushy and unimpressed with his life choices, they understandably want the best for him. In addition, the dancing competition is an entertaining and fun way of the two to get to know each other.

Overall, I loved this delightful and uplifting romance with colorful characters, witty repartee, and dancing. I’m always a fan of older women and younger men. What more could one ask for?

Thank you to Ms. Freeman for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.

What a treat this turned out to be ! Not only a rom-com from one of my favourite authors but also with a theme of dancing running throughout the story.

On Saturday evenings, newly divorced, Maggie, her daughters, Penny and Tabby, her best friends, Alice and Sarah, and nanny, Hannah, all look forward to sharing pizza and watching Strictly Come Dancing on the television. This all female gathering is rudely interrupted by the arrival of Seb, the younger brother of Maggie's best friends. He is blonde, gorgeous and far too free and easy with his charm, but he also has a warm and caring side to his personality which I had great fun watching develop as the story moves along.

The author writes about friendship, romance and the uncertainty of finding love again with all the charm and light-hearted good humour we have come to expect from her writing. I loved the will they, won't they aspect of the exciting relationship between Seb and Maggie. I especially enjoyed Maggie's tentative return to ballroom dancing, a skill she once loved but put aside to concentrate on her work and family. Maggie's weekly dance lessons provided such fun and brought a smile especially when she bags the only good looking partner.

It's not all hearts and flowers as there are some serious issues, especially around Maggie's reluctance to enter into a relationship with a younger man, and of course, there’s her maternal consideration for her daughter’s feelings too, always putting them first, and herself second. With her usual attention to detail, the author breaks down these understandable barriers and gives a realistic look at life, and love, all wrapped up in a lovely romantic, and rather passionate story, which warmed my heart and made me smile.

Strictly Come Dating is a lovely heart-warming story about finding love again in the most unlikely of places.

Oh my goodness, I loved this one! It’s not that often you feel such chemistry between the two main characters – it’s one of those romances that makes you ache for them, just desperate for everything to work out in the way you want it to.

Maggie’s a doctor, a recently divorced mother to two young daughters, lacking in confidence, living a life of routine, governed by lists, avoiding the unexpected: Seb is the younger brother of her two best friends, seems to likes living life in the fast lane, has an edge of excitement about him, just back from his latest adventure living on a pontoon on the Great Barrier Reef, and with the ability to make Maggie feel uncomfortably warm under the collar.

They really don’t seem right for each other at all – Maggie’s quite content that the highlight of her week is watching Strictly Come Dancing with friends on a Saturday night (in fact it’s become a bit of a military operation) – and their lives are so very different. And there’s also the issue that he’s ten years her junior – why on earth would he even be interested in her?

At the beginning, I’ll will admit I did find things a little chaotic – there’s quite a large cast of characters, first encountered on one of their Saturday night get togethers, and I read the first few chapters a couple of times just to be clear who they all were, how they all related to each other, and who was going to be important to the story. But things soon settle down, and the focus becomes that strong spark of attraction between Maggie and Seb: the author fleshes out both their characters, against a well drawn background of supportive friendships and family dynamics, and slowly makes them people you grow to really care about, so very much more than the ice maiden and the chancer that they at first seem to be. Seb shows a caring side and a depth of character you’d never be expecting, even if his occasional impulsiveness sets things back at times – and when Maggie begins to smile again, you can’t help smiling with her.

There’s an immense warmth to this book – I loved Maggie’s young daughters, both really well developed little characters, and it was a particular pleasure to watch their relationship with Seb develop. I do guess some might say there’s an absence of tension and conflict to the story – other than the appearance of Maggie’s rather vile ex-husband – but I was more than happy with the “will they/won’t they” of the developing romance.

As well as watching it on the tv on those regular Saturday nights, Maggie has always loved to dance – and the Wednesday night classes she decides to attend at the village hall are a lovely device for moving the story forward while introducing some excellent new characters. And then there’s the approaching dance competition, with the possibility of Maggie winning a glitter ball of her own for the rumba – I really loved the way the story built up to that point, and provided a vehicle for the relationship to develop further.

As always, the author has the most wonderful touch with dialogue – the exchanges between Maggie and Seb really crackle and fizz, but I equally enjoyed their quieter moments. The humour’s perfectly judged throughout too. But the romance really is something rather special – quite beautifully developed, with depth and real authenticity, and a few more emotional moments that tugged quite wonderfully at the heartstrings and sometimes brought a little tear to the eye.

I’d recommend this book to anyone who enjoys well-written contemporary romance – this was another real winner from Kathryn Freeman, and a definite 10 from me!

Strictly Come Dating was a fun romcom with characters with which you immediately bond.

Maggie is a mother of two who has lost her spark, her magic, and now regularly sacrifices for her children following her break up with her ex. She used to enjoy dancing, and now rather than dance herself, she enjoys it via the TV show, Strictly Come Dancing. Maggie is real, relatable, and we get to see just how vulnerable she's become after the demise of her marriage.

Seb is her best friend's younger brother, ten years her junior, and he's come back home to take care of his dad after travelling and exploring the world. He's always been the carefree youngest child, and he's looking for his father's approval and to show that he's an adult.

Although Seb and Maggie entire their relationship with no expectations, and with the agreement to keep things light, it becomes obvious very quickly that they have a real connection, and that this could be a lasting love. Maggie blossoms and regains her straight and sense of self with Seb's attention. They really help each other grow, and their romance is truly sweet and engaging.

This is my first book from this author and I really enjoyed it!
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As soon as I saw the title I knew that I was gonna love this as I am a huge Strictly come Dancing!
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I really liked Maggie and Seb’s characters and loved seeing the relationship build.
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A nice easy read for anyone who loves a bit of romance, family and dancing!

What a fun read to escape into this book is – just right for anyone getting excited for the next season of Strictly Come Dancing or who is looking for a great romance with an older heroine!

A GP, Maggie is thirty-seven years old, has two young children and their father, her ex-husband, has ditched her to move on to a younger model. This has knocked her confidence but her twin friends encourage her to start dancing classes again since it is something she had always loved until her husband’s attitude stopped her going. The friends, with their children, watch Strictly every Saturday . . . when Seb, her friends’ younger brother, joins them the fun really starts! However, to find out what happens next you’ll have to read it for yourself!

This is a thoroughly enjoyable read that had me laughing out loud and turning the pages. It is a story that shows that others can help inspire you, that life can change for the better. There are characters to love, and others you won’t, but they all interact to create an absolutely fabulous story. With glitter balls, sequins and dances galore, this is a story to have you figuratively tripping the light fantastic, getting out the high heels and kicking off the traces as you glide smoothly through the pages of this delightful story, one to put a huge smile on your face and leave you grinning.

Many thanks to One More Chapter and NetGalley for this book which I have voluntarily read and honestly reviewed.

What fun! This was hands-down my favorite book from Kathryn Freeman so far! Maggie is a 37-year-old single mother of two little girls. Her fairly recent divorce did a lot to damage her self-worth. Every Saturday she gets together with her Besties to watch Strictly Come Dancing. Maggie has always had a passion for dance, but her ex-husband was certain to put the kibosh on that. One Saturday her best friends’ younger brother Seb shows up and there is an instant chemistry between Maggie and him. But Maggie it’s determined to resist his charms. Not only is he 10 years younger than her, her best friends’ brother, but he also has wanderlust, never stain too long in any one place.

This was a definite slow burn romance, but I loved every minute of it. Maggie was such a likable authentic character that I think most women over the age of 35 will find tremendously relatable. Seb was such a great guy he had so much spirit, energy, and heart. I appreciated that these two took things slowly, especially because there were kids involved. That really was my favorite part of the story Seb’s interactions with Maggie’s girls Tabby and Penny. I also had fun with all the dancing and the competition. This was an uplifting feel good romance that made me all warm and gooey inside.

This book in emojis 💃🏼 👩‍👧‍👧 🛷 🎢

*** Big thank you to One Mlre Chapter for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***

Kathryn Freeman writes fun romantic comedies that grab you from the very first line and will have you laughing and sighing until the very last page and her latest novel, Strictly Come Dating, is certainly no different. Uplifting, romantic and immensely enjoyable, Strictly Come Dancing is another winner from Kathryn Freeman’s hilarious pen.

Single mum Maggie had sworn off romance after her husband had walked out on her and their two adorable little girls, Penny and Tabby. Juggling single parenthood with the demands of her medical career is certainly no picnic, but Maggie wouldn’t have it any other way. Having been burned once before by her ex-husband, Maggie is not in any rush to get back into the dating scene. With her kids, her job and her friends, Maggie does not need a man interfering with her plans or talking all the way through her favourite programme, Strictly Come Dancing. Maggie’s Saturday nights with her best friends and their kids are sacrosanct for her – until one ordinary weekend when her entire world is turned upside down. Her best friends hadn’t told her that their brother Seb had come back home to England all the way from Australia – and they had omitted to tell her that he’s drop-dead gorgeous. Not that Maggie would even entertain the thought of flirting with Seb. While she is a single mum, Seb is young, carefree, single and years younger than her…

Seb’s life in Australia had been everything he had ever dreamed of and so much more besides. Spending weeks on end surfing and snorkelling in the Great Barrier Reef had been the fulfilment of all of his hopes and dreams – until he got a phone call from his sisters telling them that their dad had had a heart attack. Rushing back home to England, Seb is pleased that his father is on the road to recovery, but he cannot help but feel lost with everyone badgering him about settling down and getting a proper job. However, there is one bright spot to returning to cold and dreary England: his sisters’ beautiful best friend, Maggie. Maggie might be a single mum who is older than he is, but from the very first moment he clapped eyes on her, Seb has been unable to stop himself from thinking about her – or from flirting with her!

Maggie has always loved dancing, but had given up going to ballroom dancing lessons because of her husband. Now in desperate need of some fun and pestered by her best friends, Maggie decides to take up dancing yet again. Only she needs a partner and Maggie isn’t exactly flush with male company lately. Could Seb be her knight in shining armour and step in and be her partner for these lessons? Seb is more than happy to help out only the more time they spend together, the more Maggie realises that she wants him to be her
partner on and off the dancefloor!

Maggie and Seb have fallen head over heels in love with one another. But will they find the courage to take a leap of faith and a chance on love? Or are they too scared to admit the truth about the depth of their feelings for one another?

Kathryn Freeman consistently delivers heartwarming and hilarious romantic comedies that never fail to lift the spirits and make readers roar with laughter. Strictly Come Dating is a witty and enjoyable tale about second chances, new beginnings and falling in love with a lovely heroine who is intelligent and relatable and a gorgeous hero who makes even the hunkiest Strictly pros look rather shabby.

Funny, feel-good and fabulous from start to finish, Strictly Come Dating is another must-read by Kathryn Freeman.

Strictly come Dating is an entertaining and well written romance. A very fun read. I received an advance ebook from the publisher and this is my unbiased review.