Okay do y'all see that COVER?? I heard ''Dancing with the Stars' inspired romance and raaaan to read this book 😍

I absolutely adored Gina's character, she was strong, sassy, and understood her own worth even when the people around her didn't. She knows that being an attractive woman already puts her in a tough spot in the entertainment industry, and she has been battling with stereotypes because of her Latina heritage and career (gotta love the world we live in 🥴) her whole life, so she sets a rule to never hook up with her dance partners/coworkers.

"You know I'm from the Bronx, right? I don't do nature. I've never even been camping."


Since it's Gina's fifth season on The Dance Off, but she's never even made it to the finals... the producers pitch the idea of a "showmance" to help boost both her rankings and the shows ratings, which goes against everything Gina stands for.... but then she meets Stone and he has to go and look like THAT


"--she looked polished, put-together, and small. Next to her, he was a great hulking brute. How were they supposed to dance together? He'd crush her."


I absolutely adored Stone's quiet personality mixed with a lil rugged charm 😍 & I thought his backstory was very interesting--but booooy does this man make some stupid decisions 😅

I am not a huge fan of miscommunication in romance novels as it is, and the miscommunication in this story didn't even feel believable to me. It very much felt like it was only thrown in to add unnecessary conflict, when I think we should have explored how their relationship would even work in the real world considering he's from ALASKA and she's from NYC/Los Angeles 😬

The spice in this was hot, but had a few missteps. I absolutely can not get past Gina's dirty talk involving "do you even lift?" that was so cringe to read I seriously wanted to yeet my kindle across the room 🙃 of all the things to say 😩

Overall this book was an enjoyable read & I can definitely see myself picking up the next one in the series!

Thank you so much to NetGalley & St. Martin's Press for sending me Take the Lead in exchange for my honest review.

Sparks flew the minute Gina met Stone in cold and blustery Alaska where he lived with this family. He is a reality TV star and she is a talented dancer on a hugely popular dance competition show. The handsome outdoorsman was dazzled by Gina’s beauty and her infectious personality. If she could survive her short visit to Alaska, Stone knew he could deal with the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. Stone agreed to do the show for personal reasons so failure was not an option. Gina was a professional and he was confident he could follow her lead and win the competition.

Gina wasn’t so sure that Stone was her perfect dance partner but he was nice to look at and had an amazing body so what more could she ask for? She desperately needed to win this season so as long as Stone followed her instructions and their relationship remained platonic, she would be fine. The sparks continued to fly as they danced around the practice studio and I loved the chemistry they had on and off the dance floor. The lure of forbidden romance was apparent with every step they took, as they gazed seductively in each other's eyes. Could the magic of the dance keep them together as their time as a couple was coming to an end?

Will you let love take the lead?

Pro dancer Gina Morales has never made it to the final in her four seasons of celebrity dance competition “The Dance Off” but her latest partner could be her chance. Alaskan wilderness expert and reality star Stone Nielson will do anything to help his family, even if it means joining a celebrity dance competition.

I’ve had my fair share of watching “Dancing with the Stars,” and this read takes me back to those days. I think I prefer reading about fictional celebrity dance competitions as opposed to watching them. I like the detailed description of the dances and brief backgrounds on each type. On to the main characters, Gina and Stone can’t hide their attraction, and their chemistry translates on the dance floor. While the plot centers around the competition, it is multi-layered. It was not just about winning a competition; it was about duty to family and achieving one’s dreams.

4 ⭐️
2.5 🌶️

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to review this book.

Alexis is a 1 click author for me and I liked a lot of aspects of this book and some just didn’t work for me personally.

What I loved:

I kept picturing the dances and then looking up some of the dances to watch what some would be.

I liked that the chemistry between the Love interests

I liked how the FMC talked about the struggles of a Latina woman in media might experience in terms of stereotypes. It was a way to help readers understand some of the harmful stereotypes that are out there.

The mirror scene was pretty awesome.


What I didn’t like:

This couple is so polar opposite that I really struggled to see them as a couple. He likes Alaska and the wilderness and she is city all the way. For the ending to happen I felt like more communication and build needed to happen.

The miscommunication was driving me wild.

CW: mention of fire, sex on page, injury

There's something about reading about reality TV shows like the one in this book that I just LOVE - even though I don't watch shows like this EVER in my free time. This was such a good book, filled with the drama that comes with reality tv shows, AMAZING chemistry between the two main characters [not to mention the spice was EVERYTHING - was so well written], but also having those two main characters be polar opposites coming together in such a magical way.

Gina and Stone could not be more different if they tried. Gina is a pro dancer on the reality TV show "The Dance Off" and a city girl from L.A and Stone is a SEXY Alaskan survivalist on a wilderness show. They both have something to prove and motives for wanting to win the competition and week after week they work together. Gina showing her choreography skills and helping Stone learn to dance which proved difficult when the chemistry became a little to hard to ignore....

Will they choose fame and fortune, or let love take the lead???
Guess you need to read for yourself to find out!

Can't wait for the next book in the series, because I genuinely enjoyed the authors style of writing and the way she told the story. It was such a fun read. If you like shows like Dancing with The Stars, books where opposites attract in a sexy romance with deliciously written steamy chemistry this book is for you. Definitely recommend!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, NetGalley and Alexis Daria for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a new favorite Alexis Daria novel for me! You Had Me at Hola was such a fun time, but this novel was definitely attempting to take its number one spot in my rankings.

I loved watching Dancing With the Stars growing up, so reading this was almost a nostalgic experience for me. The tension between the two main characters was stunning, and I'm glad we had both of their POVs.

rating: 4.5
spice: 3.5

I'm a big fan of Daria's work and jumped at a chance to read this novel. It's got a lot of similarities to her Primas of Power novels (Hola and Adios) but it also stands on its own and since it's been a while since I read her other titles I really took it that way and not as an extension of the others.

Gina and Stone are, it would appear, opposites in every way. Except that they've been paired up for Gina's fifth season of Dance Off, a hit reality tv show. Stone is no stranger to reality tv - which is how he gets roped (that's a pun for when you've read the book) into doing this gig. Gina is hopeful as she steps on to the stage for her fifth season of dancing with celebrities for cash prizes and bragging rights. And maybe, just maybe, Stone is her ticket to that top prize.

I suppose is would be cast as a opposites attract but it's also got a taste of forbidden romance which is a fave so that was fun. And in the end, there's a lot that these two have in common so is it truly opposites attract? You'll have to read to find out more.

**I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest review**

I was nervous that this book wouldn't meet the hype. I had seen several positive reviews, plus the romance centers around a dance competition and the main characters are gorgeous! It was with trepidation that I started this read....

and finished it with excitement the same night.
Seriously, I opened the ARC, thinking I'd read a couple chapters and then stayed up until 2:30am to finish it.

If you like mountain man-esque characters thrown out of their comfort zones, dance competitions, lots of personal growth, secret romances, and a dash of slowburn with another healthy helping of spice, then this book it for you.

I was pleasantly surprised at how spicy this book was. We get multiple scenes after some fantastic slow burn. The dance scenes were excellent and I was totally immersed in the story. The pacing was also fantastic, at no point did I feel like we were going too slow or fast, despite needing to cover several months of time.

I was worried about the resolution as I approached the end but was really pleased with how everything worked out. The character development for both characters was well thought out. This book deals with some themes surrounding family and self-identity. This is really evident in Stone's character development as he tries to figure out if his love for Alaska and living rough is really his or what he's been expected to portray. Both characters are used to the cut throat and difficult life of being on reality tv, and both experience some setbacks related to this.

Overall a really great read that delivered a greater punch in several area than I expected! I'll be looking forward to book 2!

Wow, this was a fun and sexy read! 3.5 stars. I really enjoyed this and I think if you're a Dancing with the Stars fan you'll love it when more. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a fun Romance.

Thank you netgalley for providing me an arc for an honest review.

This contemporary romance inspired by “Dancing With the Stars” featuring a hot, reluctant reality star and dancing star who wants the win. When their sparks fly on the show it leads to a steamy romance behind the scenes. This is a very fun read for fans of the show. However, if you don’t know the show inspiration or ballroom dancing you may not get as much out of this read. I really enjoyed it!

This was a fun and sexy read. Honestly, I do not want to give more away than that, but the premise of the novel is that Gina and Stone are partnered together on The Dance Off. Basically this is like “Dancing with the Stars”. So if you’re looking for something sexy, and you are a big fan of that show, this novel is definitely for you. Also, Stone? He is a sexy Alaskan, wood chopping reality star. Now I don’t know about you, but I really love those wood chopping videos on Tiktok. Reading this novel, honestly made me feel like I would absolutely love to meet Stone in real life because… damn that is hot.
Here is a quote from the novel I simply CANNOT get out of my mind.


She'd danced the tango countless times, with countless partners. It had never, never been like this.
This was foreplay. He was showing her his intensity, what he was capable of, and what he'd do to her - for her, with her - if she let him.
​

I loved this book. On February 14, 2023 do yourself a favour and get yourself a copy.

As a big fan of Dancing with the Stars this book synopsis caught my attention. Overall I liked the book and the premise was really original compared to what I have read in the romance genre so far. Furthermore, I found the book well written and the characters well developed. As a reader, you are rooting for Stone to get with Gina the whole time because he is such a loveable character!

Having said that, I found it hard to get into the book the first ten chapters. I think it has something to do with how hot and cold Gina was with Stone. He is this cinnamon role main character that takes care of everyone else’s needs before his own. He goes on this journey to learn how to dance in front of millions of people in order to pay for his mothers medical bills. In the dance studio and beyond, his chemistry with his dance partner and teacher is undeniable. Gina, on the other hand, is determined to put her career ambitions and goals above all else and not follow in the footsteps of her mother. It was sometimes hard to read about how she treated Stone and pushed him away when all he did was try to protect her at every turn.

The secondary characters were fun and the behind the scenes happenings of a dance competition was a fun perspective to read about. Overall a decent read and one that had its enjoyable moments, their was even some pretty steamy scenes that were well written. It was one that I did not feel the pull to devour in one sitting but did not regret reading in the slightest.

A stunning debut contemporary romance filled with dancing, passion - perfect for lovers of reality tv!

Take the Lead was such an enjoyable read, I received the ARC for this book just as the current season of Dancing With The Stars was ending and it came at the perfect time because I couldn't get enough of this magnetic story. We follow Gina and Stone, Gina is a Puerto Rican Professional Dancer on a reality TV Dancing competition show and her partner for this season, Stone who stars on a Wilderness Survivalist on a reality show with his family. When the two are paired together on Dance-Off, neither are expecting the instant attraction but it really takes Stone by surprise and allows him to show a side of himself thats has been lost for quite sometime.

I loved the entire vibe of this novel! The reality TV aspect was portrayed really well and I appreciated the breaking of the fourth wall , so to speak. The description and manipulation the cast members are out through is portrayed in a real and honest way, showing how far the producers will go to get a clip for the show or create something that will gain viewership. That said, the created conflict in the story was frustrating at times, even though it was necessary to enhance the story.

Gina and Stone are both likeable characters who are both doing what they do for a bigger purpose. Together they have great chemistry and are very supportive and understanding of one another, their slow burn connection turns steamy and Alexa Daria blesses us with the mirror scene which was SO HOT!

I really liked this book, the characters and side characters were great, the story line was engaging and the spice level was palatable for the story. Overall a fun romance novel for all to enjoy!

Thank you to NetGalley and St.Martin's Griffin for an ARC copy of Take The Lead!

What happens when you have a Dancing With the Stars type show, a professional dancer who is beautiful and her partner who is quiet, an Alaskan woodsman and drop dead gorgeous? Two people who think they know what they're getting but have no idea at all! This novel will have you rooting for Gina and Stone and wanting to watch their dances as their romance heats up. But will there ever be a way they can keep it going after the show? or during the show when there are too many forces trying to intervene? Great beach read!!!

Thanks to the author, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

A big thank you to Alexis Daria, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. Take the Lead comes out February 14, 2023.

Take the Lead is a romantic comedy centered around a dance show competition, this is a previously published book from Alexis Daria that is being revamped and rereleased. Poppy is a professional dance that is currently on her 5th season of "Dance Off," unfortunately she has not won a season so far. This season she is paired with outdoor survivalist Stone, while he and his family has their own show he is trying to win the prize money to pay off his mothers medical bills. During training and the show the two keep fighting their overwhelming attraction toward each other. Will the two be able to get past ambition, long distance and secrets to possibly have a future together.

Take the Lead was such a fun and romantic novel to read. Poppy is a very strong and driven female lead, and Stone is a cinnamon roll male lead who cares very deeply about his family. They seem like a very odd pairing, Poppy is a city girl while Stone is a Alaskan nature man. In the end though they both go through emotional and personnel growth to be people that can make it work. If you are looking for a fun, romantic and easy read, Take the Lead id for you!

I loved this book!! Definitely a five star read for me. It was my first of Alexis Daria and it will definitely not be the last. It was funny, cute and had great chemistry with the main characters.

I really loved the TV show reality plot and felt like it was done in a really fun way without bogging the reader down with too much extra information.

I can’t wait to read more from this author!

I don't think men understand at all what it is like to be a woman trying to work and be judged for her work and not as a woman. Gina knows what she has to do and she is constantly up against everyone to prove herself that she is worthy. She struggles with this throughout her whole career, but is part of it because her father was missing from her life? I don't think parents know how much they mess up their kids by their actions. I know we all try to do our best, but some could definitely try to do better.

I had a little bit of trouble getting into the book at first, but by the last half I couldn't put it down. I loved the development between Gina and Stone. I also loved the hispanic representation. Overall, it was a super cute read.

As a fan of Alexis Daria, I was very excited to read this book and it did not disappoint! I enjoyed the concept of the characters being on a competition "reality" show and how the characters have to deal with the gossip that surrounds them. The characters of Stone and Gina were well-developed and I enjoyed how they grew as the story went on. The kind of slow-burn romance between the two was perfect! If you're a fan of Alexis Daria, I highly recommend this book!

Gina and Stone could not be anymore different. Gina is a puerto rican woman from New York, who is passionate about dance and chasing her dreams. She wants to have a successful career and no one is going to get in the way of that, especially a man. Stone lives in a remote area of Alaska, and is reluctantly one of the stars of a reality TV show, called "Living Wild." When these two get paired together to compete in a dance competition show, things start off pretty rock. As the show progresses, their bond becomes stronger and a relationship forms that neither of them were expecting.

I love romance novels that teach me about a subject that I had little knowledge of. While reading this book, I learned a lot about different styles of dance. The way Gina describes the dances that she creates is so well written. I felt immersed in the dance aspect of the story, and found myself rooting for the competitors. I also enjoyed Gina and Stone! They were so different, but it really worked well in the story. There were some steamy scenes, fun banter, and of course sensual dancing between them.

I will be reading this again.