LOVE LOVE LOVE Alexis Daria! Seriously she's just the most fun and relatable writer... straddling the lines between heartfelt storytelling and very hot moments make her books just tick. I ate this one up and I'm eagerly awaiting her next release. Thank so much for a net galley copy of this release.

Honestly, give me anything written by Alexis Daria and I will gobble it up. Take the Lead was no exception. This was such a fun premise and I enjoyed the antics that ensued while we ramped up to our inevitable romantic coupling. I would die for Stone and Gina and I can't wait to read the rest of the Dance With Me series.

I love this author and this was another sizzling rom- com to be adored! I liked Stones character and the chemistry and banter between him and Gina. They were adorable and this book had all the feels, even though it could get serious at times. Gina’s family was super sweet too! A must read!!!!

So I just saw Alexis Daria's name and jumped on this ARC without paying attention to the fact that it's a republication of her debut novel, which I read a few years back. I realized it on the first page, but I wasn't mad about it because I'm a big fan and was happy to read it again. I forgot a lot about this, so I don't know if anything major changed from the first publication, but it was a really fun read. Gina is a professional dancer living in Los Angeles and working on a reality TV dance competition show called The Dance Off (which is basically Dancing with the Stars). For the upcoming season, she's paired with Stone Nielson, who is on a reality TV show with his whole family about living "off the grid" in Alaska. He's going on the show to get money to cover medical bills from his mom's recent hip replacement but Gina is in it to win it, having been threatened that if she doesn't win this season, she may be out of a job. Gina wants to keep their relationship super professional, but they get closer and also spend a lot of time very literally close, so things start to get a little complicated. I loved Gina and Stone separately and together, and I would absolutely love to see a movie of this.

This story is about Stone and Gina, who are on a dance reality series and trying to win, Gina to secure her place on the series and Stone, for the financial benefits. They have chemistry, but are trying to fight it.
I wanted to love this, but unfortunately it fell flat for me. It had all the things I normally love in a romance, forced proximity, slow burn and characters that were great on paper. I just don't know where it went wrong. I found myself not really caring if they got together or not. Also, Stone's family members are not that great and it's not surprising that he is the best of them. Gina's family on the other hand are all supportive and great. This one just did not work for me.

This was... okay? It feels less put together than AD's newer books--it felt like a re-release and i think i was hoping for more. It improved throughout the book and i liked it fine, but Stone's descriptions in the beginning ("her golden skin reminiscent of the cones of a sitka spruce after they had matured" "full lips the color of winterberries" "she stood out like a palm tree in the middle of the tundra") were a little too over the top for me.

This book is such a feel-good read! I love that it takes place in a reality dance show competition and that Stone comes from a reality TV show. Daria perfectly balances the different pressures put on men versus women and how that impacts success. She manages to do this without weighing down the mood of the book and keeps everything light-hearted while still tackling hard issues very well. I love the chemistry that builds and the pacing for the romance is perfect. There is a real depth to the characters and it feels very authentic. Really, really fun and cute romance book! I can't wait to read more in this series! 5 stars, 2.5 spice

This was an ok romance. I didn't realize it was a re-release when requested via Read Now. You can definitely see the difference in Daria's writing from this to You Had Me at Hola, for example. But overall an enjoyable read.

Thank you, Alexis Daria, for getting me out of my romance reading slump!

Take the Lead is a fun and sexy, opposites attract rom-com that takes place on a reality dancing show, a la Dancing with the Stars. Our FMC is Gina Morales, a Puerto Rican professional dancer determined to follow her dreams and make it big in the entertainment industry after her mother had to give up her career to raise her and her siblings. Our MMC is Stone Nielson, a quiet and sexy mountain man who stars in a reality show with his family in the Alaskan wilderness. Stone is in this for his family, as he plans on using the money from Tue Dance Off to help pay for his mom's hip surgery.

This story was a lot of fun. Stone and Gina have immediate chemistry, despite living completely different lifestyles. The story is told from both of their perspectives, which let's us get to know their thoughts and motivations. Stone was definitely more than meets the eye, as he was sensitive, thoughtful, and was eventually willing to embrace dancing and coming out of his comfort zone. Gina had the patience of a saint, working with Stone at first, and she enabled him to come out of his shell and be himself. She was also tenacious and non-judgmental. My favorite scenes were of them growing their relationship during dance practices and performing on the show. We get to see a lot of their personalities in these scenes and Alexis does a great job of describing the dances to make it feel like you're there watching them. As the story went on, we got fewer of these moments, which was a bit of a bummer.

The intimate scenes between Stone and Gina were enjoyable to read - and there were quite a few, so if you look for that in a romance, you'll definitely find it in this book.

The third-act break-up was written better than I expected. Stone made a real bone-headed move and betrayed Gina's trust, but I think they both handled it like adults and without an infuriating miscommunication cop-out. Sure they both said some things that were irrational and motivated by anger, but really who doesnt do that when theyre upset? I found it to be pretty relatable, personally. In the end, I'm not sure if these two are HEA, but definitely HFN.

Overall, this book is fun, sexy, and up-beat. If you like Dancing with the Stars, a big burly mountain men love interest, and steamy love scenes, Take the Lead is definitely the book for you!

Rating 4.25/5

(Note: I was given a free copy of this book by the publisher via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review)

Fame isn't what it's cracked up to be and sometimes you just have to make choices you don't want to to achieve it. This steamy couple has quite the journey ahead of them.

Take the Lead was such a fun read! Alexis excelled at creating the perfect “brooding” yet caring and emotional love interest known as Stone, and Gina, the protagonist that wears her heart on her sleeve. The concept of the novel was very original and great to navigate. Overall, a nice and easy read! Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and Alexis Daria for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

I hadn’t heard of this one until I saw it on Netgalley, but this is actually Alexis Daria’s debut from 2017. This is a rerelease (I believe) with a new cover (so cute!), updated text and bonus content. I really enjoyed both books in the Primas of Power series so I’m happy to have now also read the book that started her writing journey!

Gina is a dance pro on The Dance Off (think Dancing With the Stars) and gets paired up with Stone who appears along with his family on a reality tv show centered around living off the grid in Alaska. It was super fun to be immersed in a tv show dance competition—I don’t think I’ve ever read a book in this type of setting before. Alexis Daria really makes the entire experience seem realistic, from the tv producer manipulation to the scripted aspect of “reality” tv.

I really loved both characters. Gina is a hard-working and proud Puerto Rican woman who wants to make a name for herself in the industry without being seen as the “sexy Latina”. Stone is extremely duty-bound to his family and has lost himself along the way because of it. Through their time on the show, they help each other realize some important things. Although I did enjoy them as a couple, I would have liked to see more off camera/non-rehearsal scenes between them in the beginning to help better establish their connection. Other than that, this was such a great and entertaining read!

I absolutely loved this book! Fans of celebrity romances, TV/Hollywood settings, and Dancing with the Stars will eat this book up. I thought the main characters were likable and relatable, and the third act breakup actually made sense in terms of the plot and characterization. The spice was top-notch, and the plot was fast-moving and engaging. I basically read this in one sitting, I’m excited to check out more of Alexis Daria’s work.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and Alexis Daria for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you St Martins press and Netagalley for the E-Arc. This book is about two tv actors one a dancer Gina and a survivalist being teamed up for a Tv Dance Show. Producers push them into a showman r even though that is against Gina contract. Even so they begin to develop feeling for each other. Take the lead follows the formula to HEA and contemporary romance and I quite enjoyed it, especially since there was foreshadowing so expected the conflict and there was conflict resolution. I love Alexis Dara writing and give Take the lead 3.5 stars

A book with Dancing with the Stars elements? And reality TV? It's like this book was written specifically for me! I love reality TV and once upon a time I tuned in religiously for DWTS. So, how could I not love this book?

Alexis Daria navigated her way through this book with so much fun and entertainment that I couldn't help but continue reading! The chemistry between Gina and Stone was sizzling off the pages and I truly loved how Alexis Daria didn't shy away from discussing complex topics, especially Gina's issue with stereotyping and Stone's issue with sexualization.

Overall, this book was a joy to read and experience. Gina and Stone are a couple you will quickly fall in love with either separately or together, but their journey is one you definitely do not want to miss out on!

I'm a fan of Alexis Daria's Primas of Power series, but I hadn't read her debut novel, "Take the Lead." Now it's being reissued with a super cute new cover, and "with updated text," according to the publisher's description.

Gina Morales is a pro dancer on a "Dancing with the Stars"-type series called "The Dance Off." She's never made it to the finals before, and the producer is hinting that if she doesn't do so this season, she may lose her job. Things don't look too promising when she's paired with a very tall, very hunky Alaskan named Stone -- he's a D-list celebrity at best, who appears on a reality show with his family, all about their rugged adventures in the Alaskan wilderness.

The last thing Stone wants to do is spend months in L.A. learning to dance -- he only agreed to go on "The Dance Off" in the first place because his family needs the money and the additional exposure that being on a super-popular show will bring. However, he finds himself falling for Gina, and the feeling is mutual. The chemistry between them is intense, and when they're alone without the cameras around, they wind up in bed.

Gina has always put her career first and doesn't want her storyline to be about a "showmance," so she and Stone have to hide their true feelings from the ever-present cameras. "Take the Lead" is refreshingly realistic about the price of reality TV fame -- Gina knows what she signed up for, but she wants to win because of her hard work and integrity, not because fans are titillated by her relationship.

The descriptions of the dances are beautifully written, and chapters from both main characters' point of view give us a lot of insight into their thoughts, feelings and struggles. Their attraction to each other practically jumps off the page! I finished "Take the Lead" on Dec. 30, so I can definitively state that it's one of the best romance novels I've read all year.

This remastered romance novel gets a facelift with updated text and an artful cover. Strong silent type Alaska native Stone Neilson stars with his family in a roughing it wilderness show; he is paired with vivacious Puerto Rican dancer Gina on a Dancing with the Stars-type reality television dance competition. He needs to help pay for his mother’s hip replacement surgery, and keep the truth about his family’s backstory quiet. Meanwhile, Gina is looking for a bigger break to launch her career, and if she and her dance partner don’t make it as finalists this year, she’s out of a job. Her boss is itching for some showmance between them to bring in the ratings.

In movies, the way a couple dances together–intense, playful, timid–is supposed to serve as a metaphor for how they are in the sack together. Part of Stone’s character growth is understanding how dance can convey emotion. In spite of his lack of formal training, he’s a quick learner with a good teacher. Gina is resistant to a relationship with a dance partner for personal and professional reasons, but their attraction is immediate and palpable, and she gives in. Their chemistry is both a boon and liability. They foxtrot, tango, jive, rumba and more, mostly scoring high throughout the completion. Some mean-girl antics from a fellow competitor, support from some crew members, and scheming from the producer round out the drama of this tale.

High on dance moves, fashion details, and peppered with Spanish, the writing is straight forward but solid. I appreciated the Puerto Rican cultural details and that the author didn’t feel the need to translate any words or phrases, but skillfully conveyed meaning to the reader through context. My two quibbles: the author–or editor–chose to leave some dramatic competition scenes off the page. Sometimes we get more details about rehearsal than the pivotal moments! Secondly, probing conversations with well-meaning parents are so short they seem abrupt.

I received a free advance reader’s review copy of #TakeTheLead from #NetGalley.

I love Alexis Daria! This was fun, flirty, very New York despite only being there for a short time, and any book with a reality competition show element is a win in my book!
I’m so happy that this book is going back out in the world so more people can find it!

I had not read the original version of this novel before it got this re-release so I can’t speak to how it differs from its original publication. However, I can say that I enjoyed this story and its characters. The premise of finding love on a dancing with the stars type show between a professional dancer and a wilderness reality tv star was both intriguing and fun. From the backstories crafted for each character it was easy to see why the two main characters fell for each other. I really enjoyed the dynamic between the two main characters, but I wish there had been more interactions between the two. A lot of the story revolved around the two characters’ inner monologues, which made some of their romance feel rushed since it felt like I didn’t get to witness any of the conversations or moments being referenced as reasons they fell for the other. What conversations and interactions were depicted on the page kept me reading until the end. Ultimately I’d say this book was a fun little read!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for the eARC!

This was a fun story about reality TV and romance. I liked the characters. I laughed a lot while reading.