Alexis Daria’s books always have such heart and charm and this one is no different. The story was cute and oh so charming. I like the dynamic between the two leads and how their relationship played out. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC.

This isn't my first Alexis Daria read (You Had Me at Hola, A Lot Like Adios were two of my fave reads last year) so when I found out her debut was being published with St. Martin's, I was eager to dive into her back catalogue. Thank you to Netgalley for this eARC!

If you're a fan of Dancing With the Stars, Strictly Come Dancing or the Step Up films, Take the Lead is the ideal read! I'm a huge fan of celebrity romances and this book gave Gina and Stone (two reality TV stars) a connection deeper than their careers. The steamy chemistry they share on the dance floor bleeds into their shared behind the scenes dynamic, much to Gina's reluctance. One of Daria's strengths as an author is creating the ambience and setting the tone of the story. It was fun, it was sexy, it was everything you'd wish for a dance competition romance.

Take the Lead was a fun and flirty romance. If you like reality tv and adult romance, this book may be the perfect fit for you! The story started with Gina Morales going to meet her new dance partner in Alaska. She was one of the dancers on a show, similar to Dancing With the Stars, who was paired up each season with someone famous. Gina was a city girl, whereas Stone’s family were reality tv stars that thrived in the wilderness. With a rocky start, it was hard to deny that they were both attracted to each other. And they both had goals they wanted to accomplish. Gina was determined to make it to the finals, since she never had. And Stone was dancing to help pay for his mom’s surgery. Yet the show was setting them up in hopes of a romance, and Gina was determined that’s now how she would make it in this industry!

Gina lost herself in the music, in the movement, in the heat of Stone’s body and the warming of her own muscles from physical exertion.

To me, Gina felt a little lonely. She couldn’t tell her family anything that was truly going on, since there were secrets surrounding the show. Thankfully she had her good friend Natasha there, who was another professional dancer on the show. But I loved that Gina was beyond confident in her dancing abilities. And I loved how she exuded that will trying to teach Stone how to dance. While dancing could be very intimate, Gina refused to let her feeling towards Stone sway her towards a romance. So she would be hot and cold towards him to keep him at arm’s length. Even though their bodies would be wrapped around each other dancing. But by the end of this story, I was so happy the growth that Gina made! I loved seeing how far she went!

The song ended. In the moment of silence, Stone’s eyes met hers. They stared at each other, breathing hard. He was so close, close enough to kiss.
Except Gina didn’t fuck around with her dance partners.
“I have to go home.” The words fell out of her in a rush, her voice low and breathy.

We alternated the story between Gina and Stone, and Stone was my favorite! I loved seeing inside his heart. He was such a kind, thoughtful, sexy soul. And when he could surprise her with say some of his moves, I was so happy for him. Yet Stone was carrying some huge secrets that went back to his family and their reality tv show. So I felt like Stone always had a weight on his shoulder. And as him and Gina got closer together, he realized that they were still worlds apart. She thrived in the city and he loved the wilderness. But regardless, the chemistry between them was scorching and he wanted more.

He was in too deep, but too tired to care. It was easier to like her, easier to enjoy her company and focus on pleasing her.
When she smiled, he forgot why he was fighting so hard.

Gina and Stone had to spend countless hours a day practicing and rehearsing together. So it was fun watching how their friendship formed so easily. And how comfortable they were around each other physically and emotionally. Not that far into the story they already felt as though they had each other’s backs and worked great as a team. Plus it helped that they were both well versed with being on reality tv. They understood that they constantly had to watch what they said or did. Because it could and would be twisted in another way, and then shown to the whole world. So they fought becoming more. Gina wayyyyy more than Stone. But all the while, I loved hearing about their dances and cheering for them each week. The nerves of would they be cut or would they stay? And with work politics to deal with, coworkers that only thought of themselves, and their past not off limits, they lived in a tough world.

Out of habit, she looked up to meet his eyes. What she saw there scared her.
This wasn’t just about attraction anymore. This was mutual respect and trust. She liked him.

With friendships, drunk dancing, steamy moments and even love, Take the Lead was a lot of fun! It was easy to get lost in the pages with this reality tv show! And I loved the epilogue that had a happy look into the future! So if you like adult romance, dancing and reality tv then this may be the book for you!

Gina and Stone at partners on a TV dance show. The producers want to set them up but the chemistry is real. Will these opposites attract?
As a fan of tv dance shows I enjoyed this different look at them.

I liked Stone and Gina's story a lot. Their story is cute, fun, flirty, emotional and slow simmering until things reach the boiling point and then there is plenty of steam. Easy to read and with characters that are easy to care about and root for, this book was a very enjoyable read.

Gina Morales is a professional dancer who competes on a reality dance show. It’s her 5th season, and she really needs to win or she may lose her job. Her partner Stone Nielson is a reality TV star who lives in Alaska. He’s an extremely gorgeous man, and Gina knows the producers are manipulating the situation to create a “showmance” against her wishes.

Take the Lead hooked me from the start. It’s clear that Stone is hiding something, and I wanted to know what it was. I love the easy banter the pair have once they start rehearsals the first day. I also loved learning about dance.

Gina and Stone share an attraction that they both fight. Gina had a past relationship with a dance partner that blew up on her, and she is worried that she’ll damage her professional career if she’s found sleeping with her partner. Stone is hiding secrets and is worried he’ll say too much. Both want different things: she wants fame and loves being in the city, he was to live in the quiet vastness of Alaska. Yet, they can’t fight it. I love how sexy their first kiss is. All that building attraction and sexual tension explodes and they cannot stay away.

The story allows their relationship to slowly develop as they get to know one another on the dance floor and at practices. It’s like a flower unfurling its petals, blossoming into its best shape. The author’s descriptive writing brings the dance numbers to life. The way the relationship development mirrors the dance numbers is a work of beauty.

Overall, I loved Take the Lead; however, I was so disappointed in Stone at one point near the climax of the story. He knows how strongly Gina feels about something, yet he doesn’t share important information with her. He’s lying to himself and he knows it. Luckily the author doesn’t drag it out.

In the end, Take the Lead is a delightful romance that warmed my heart.

My Rating: B+

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of Take the Lead by Alexis Daria. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC.

The first half of this book was enjoyable, and I loved the initial setup of finding love in the middle of a dancing reality show. As the book, and romance, moved forward, I started getting frustrated with Gina's relationship hangups. And by the end, I was ready to wish Stone all the best with someone else. Gina's extreme self-absorption was hard to get past, and her character growth was a little too late for me. I give this book 3/5 stars.

Take the Lead by Alexis Daria
Dance Off series book 1. Contemporary romance. Own voice: Latina.
Stone is one of the celebrity dancers on this season’s Dance Off TV show. He’s on loan from his regular cable TV show as a survivalist with his family in Alaska. Dancing in the show will enable thee family to pay some of his mother’s medical bills. He doesn’t see a difference in taking his shirt off to cut wood vs. dancing in a costume. He will be a professional athlete and listen to instructions, practice and do his best.
Gina is a professional dancer on the TV show and while she is attracted to Stone, she is not going to participate in the showromance that the produces are pushing for. She is extremely careful with her reputation and she is not going to be the subject of anyone gossip. Too bad the producers aren’t willing to let the chemistry between Stone and Gina go unnoticed.

Reality show tv is teaming with backstage gossip, scandal and manipulative influences. Stone and Gina have to put up with a lot just to do their jobs.
I understand Gina’s insistence on her professional reputation being impeccable. She advises Stone to ignore clips that show during their introduction that may embarrass or upset him. But totally ignores the advice when it’s about her.
I grew to love Stone. He’s embarrassed in the beginning about shedding his clothes down to underwear for the required sun tanning spray, but grows confident and sure as he learns and masters all the different dance moves. That he is willing to work harder to make Gina’s job secure is powerful.

Entertaining. This made me want to watch one of those couples dance TV shows that I’ve never cared about in the past.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley.

This is the first book in the Dance Off series and follows pro-dancer Gina and wilderness reality TV show member Stone as they are paired up for the next TV dance competition. Gina is determined to win, but doesn't want to jeopardize her reputation in the industry or her family by giving into the producer's attempts at a showmance with Stone. At the beginning, Stone is more focused with keeping his family's secret safe and winning this competition to help pay off his mom's medical bills. The audience, judges, and producers can all pick up on the chemistry between the two but they are just friends ... until they both can't take the tension and give into their attraction. But when the tabloids pick up on the romance and the show producers take full advantage of it, Gina and Stone need to figure out if they can work this out or if they are just too different. This was impeccable! I've seen a few episodes of these TV dance competitions, but they were never my go-to. However, by the time I was done with this book I absolutely wanted to go binge-watch a whole bunch of them. Daria handles this TV show set up with fantastic attention to detail and manages to seamlessly add in enough explanation that I think even a reader who has never seen this type of TV would be able to easily follow. The chemistry between Gina and Stone is ~sizzling~ off the page and there's a delicious tension built up as they do their best to keep their relationship professional but also have to spend all day touching each other as they practice these dances. Gina and Stone are pretty opposite in their background and future goals and there was a good chunk of the book where I was starting to panic that they wouldn't find a way to be together (despite knowing there would be a HEA because it is a romance book). I do think the resolution was well developed and felt realistic to their individual characters.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC. Publication date was February 14, 2023.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the advanced review copy, receipt of which did not impact my review.

This book! I adored this story. Full disclosure, Dancing with the Stars is one of the only reality shows I watch regularly. And so this book, focusing on a similar show (The Dance Off) was perfect for me.

Gina is a dancer who is determined to make it big this season - to make it to the finals. She is hopeful to be matched up with the dream celebrity participant (an Olympian) but instead, is matched with Stone - a tall, burly type from a living off the grid reality show.

Through grueling practices and time spent together, Stone and Gina develop a wonderful friendship - but can they have more? After the show, Stone is heading back to Alaska. And Gina has big plans for her career.

I wavered between 4-5 stars for this one, but since reading it made me so happy, I am sticking with 5. It’s a fun, vibrant story filled with heart and heat.

I'm a sucker for reality TV so this book was right up my alley! Was this a little predictable? Yes. Did I care? No.

Gina is a professional dancer and she's paired up with Stone, a star from an Alaskan survival show. There is chemistry from the beginning but their connection grows stronger as they advance throughout the show each week. I was a little thrown off when their first interaction happened because it seemed kind of random? I wish that part would've been from Gina's perspective.

I loved the Spanglish and the dancing. And it was fun to see them try to fight off their feelings while having to do some really close dance moves. I did get annoyed at Gina sometimes and I didn't agree with how she reacted at the end, but there had to be some drama mixed in so I get it.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

I loved the authors book “You had me Hola,” so when I was offered this from the publishers for my honest review I said F* Yeah!!

Gina Morales wants to make it, and big time. She’s spent four seasons on the hit show The Dance Off and she’s never made it to the finals, so this is the year. But her newest partner, sexy Alaskan wilderness star Stone Nielsen is a bit more than she can chew off. Especially after learning the producers want to use them as a show off for the romance, sexy, aspect. And Gina is none to happy about it. As for Stone, this dance competition is the last thing he even wants to do.

Take a Puerto Rican and a sexy wilderness man and you’ve made a steamy un-put-downable book. I love the way Alexis writes her stories. Her characters are relatable and humorous and the chemistry’s are off the charts.

rating: 4.5 ⭐️
spice: 3 🌶️

Gina Morales wants to make it big. In her four seasons on The Dance Off, she’s never even made it to the finals. But her latest partner, the sexy star of an Alaskan wilderness show, could be her chance. Who knew the strong, silent, survivalist-type had moves like that? She thinks Stone Nielson is her ticket to win it all.

*review*

There were so many things I loved about Take The Lead. First, I did not know this was Alexis Daria's debut release (rewritten)! I was highly anticipating this release and the cover is absolutely stunning!

Gina was easy to fall in love with. There were so many things I could relate to with her. I loved that she was a Puerto Rican heroine. She was bossy but kind and funny. I loved her relationship with her family and her friends as well. I immediately fell in love with Stone in the opening scene. Stone was built like every girl's dream. He was definitely the grump in the relationship. You could easily see Stone's personality and his struggle with his familial relationships. He would do anything for his family but Gina and the dancing show really showed him how to open up and pursue his own dreams despite all other factors in his life.

ya'll...Gina and Stone's chemistry?! omg it was sooo good. I was eating it up. It was page after page. For reference, I had been looking for a romance book where it involved dancing and this book really brought the cake and ate it too. Dancing is such an intimate thing and you could feel it through the pages. Some of these scenes will forever live rent free in my head. The Club Picante scene! ooof girl. I was a puddle on the floor. We love a man that can take the lead and move. I also believe this is Alexis Daria's steamiest book. It was definitely hot and Stone is *chef's kiss*.

I also really enjoyed seeing the behind the scenes of Stone's and Gina's T.V. shows. They were both different but equally entertaining. I loved the Alaska setting and throwing Gina, the girl from the Bronx, into the mix while also taking Stone, the wilderness recluse, and throwing him onto a Dancing With The Stars dupe of a show. It wasn't easy and it took work and I loved seeing that aspect of a competition. I also believe Alexis Daria did an amazing job show casing the lack of privacy and romantic relationship struggles that comes with fame.

This book didn't get a full 5 star because I did think the third act breakup should've been handled differently. I think that it was definitely blown out of proportion. I understood where Gina was coming from but some of the things she said to Stone were uncalled for and she held a grudge for literally no reason, like GIRL, this man is literally on his knees for you. Despite this, It didn't take away from the enjoyment of my read.

Overall, I definitely recommend this book!

Take The Lead
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Romance
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 2/14/23
Author: Alexis Daris
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Pages: 368
GR: 3.89

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

My Thoughts: This is the first book in the series, Dance Off. This was a cute, fun book. Gina, a professional dancer, paired with Stone, a mountain man that has done reality TV, were paired perfectly. They were both trying to break free of society’s mold and do life on their terms. Gina witnessed her mother give up her dreams for a man and Gina refuses to not live her dreams. Gina refuses to compromise, even on the show, Dance-Off. Stone’s family business is suffering financially, so he goes on Dance-Off to help his family.

Gina is outgoing, loves to dance, act, and sing. Stone is reserved, quiet, and keeps to himself. Our MCs not only grew individually throughout the story, but their budding relationship strengthened as well. The author does a great job portraying the MCs as competitors, you feel as if you are watching an actual reality show, in book form. The characters were well developed, fleshed out, had depth, witty banter, definite chemistry, and were creatively woven. The author’s writing style was complex, multifaceted, crisp, swoony, and intriguing. The author carves out some moments for our couple and they were just so endearing and sweet, stole my heart.

This is a great start to a series focused on dance competition, something I have not read before. I highly recommend giving this series a try. I loved Daris’s last series on the Aunties. If you like Dancing with the Stars, you will love this, just with a romantic twist.

A bit peeved by the conflict, but overall this was a super bingeable read! I liked Gina and Stone from the jump and enjoyed watching their attraction & relationship develop. Also, thank you Alexis for giving us a spicy scene before the 50% mark - you’re a queen 👑

I love when novels tie in reality show settings! This particular one tied together a dance competition show with an outdoor survivalist reality show and I was here for it all. Gina and Stone were two charismatic, strong characters with plenty of steam. This was a great, entertaining book!

If I watch a reality show it's dancing or some type of performance art. This was so fun with the complete opposites attract and forced proximity. Her New Yorker successful dancer to his homestead Alaskan reality show mountain man.
Their chemistry on and off the show was hot. Though as usual producers are asking for inappropriate things for ratings. Loved how the backstories were slowly revealed and that the characters had lots of depth.
Loved all the side characters as well. Such a eclectic mix as usual for a dancing with the stars type show.
Such a fun and steamy read!

Thank you stmartinspress for the e-ARC for the honest and voluntary review.

Reality dancing show with a mix of showmance in it? Typical of Alexis Daria's books, this was a fun, fast paced read with emotions and lots of drama!

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

Gina Morales never made it to the finals on the reality show The Dance Off, but Stone Nielson, the sexy star of an Alaskan wilderness show, could be her chance. Her producer makes it clear they’re being set up for a showmance, and the two genuinely are attracted to each other. Stone will endure a lot for the show, and fears revealing his family's secrets. Tabloids explode with their smoldering romance, threatening everything. Will they choose fame and fortune, or let love take the lead?

Gina is a Bronx born Puerto Rican determined to make it big, and she is willing to work for it and be bicoastal. Stone had to give up the life he had for his family, but it's not what he actually wanted for himself. The two are attracted to each other, click well, and hate the maneuvering of producers who are looking for ratings and don't care about the emotional cost. My heart went out to both of them, doing the best they could in this situation.

I love the visual of the tol and smol trope, with Stone as the 6'7" gentle giant learning to dance and open up. The ups and downs of their relationship follow romance novel patterns, but it still hurt to see the break-up moments before they reunite.

It's a great ending, one that fits them and the future they build together. This is such a fun book, and makes me want to look closer at Dancing With The Stars!

I enjoyed the first book in the Dance Off series soooo much!! The pace of the romance, the spicy scenes and the development of feelings was perfectly written. Since it involves a dance off show, I felt like I was watching a fun competition! One of my favorite things about this book was the representation of characters and of course, the representation of the female MC, Gina 💕. Gina was a fave character of mine and I was rooting for her throughout the wholeeee story! I’m including the synopsis below for more info!! Def recommend this story!