A super cute, reality tv show based, slow burn romance!
Overall, I really enjoyed this one. The premise of the novel, following a dancer and celebrity with no dancing knowledge to be paired together and then participate in a famous dancing show, really intrigued me. Throughout the story, the two main characters worked through difficult dances and moves, all while trying to ignore the tension brimming to life between them. Stone and Gina complimented each other's personalities so well.

A fast paced but entertaining read if you love dance competitions and what life is like in the acting world!

I remember reading this ebook slightly but was glad to re-read it! I love the whole dancing with the stars vibe! It was overall a cute romance, a bit of a slow burn and overall was a very sweet cute read!

I've enjoyed all of Alexis Daria's books so far, so it was really cool to go read her debut novel. Just like with all of her novels, Alexis really delivers the tension in heat in Take the Lead, and I enjoyed seeing the slowburn between Gina and Stone. Even though I don't necessarily watch Dancing with the Stars, as a dancer myself, I appreciated all of the dance training sequences and performance scenes. I will admit some of the behind-the-scenes moments in the reality TV world in this book seemed a little far-fetched to the point where Stone's character didn't even feel believable (considering how wild his upbringing sounds). There were moments were we got glimpses of how sinister and troubling Stone's upbringing was, but that wasn't explored very much in the story, which made the character development feel incomplete for me. Overall, if you're looking for a dancer romance with lots of tension, definitely pick up Take the Lead when it re-releases next year. 3.5 stars rounded up.

Listen the NetGalley cover is so much cuter than the real-people cover (no offense to them because they are beautiful). I feel like the artwork is more indicative of the actual plot.

This was a fun, intense, and overall cute book (without being too cutesy). It was easy to get into even without being into dancing or knowing anything about it - and I did genuinely understand everyone’s decision-making processes even if I didn’t necessarily agree with them! I wish that Stone had someone like Gina had Natasha, or had gone more into detail about his old friends, because it would have given us more insight into the way he’s become so shut off in only a few short years. But overall, I really enjoyed this!

Reading a book inspired by a dance show was an adventure, especially when the celebrity partner is a reality star too. Some parts felt cheesy and I kind of wish there had been more drama on page with Stone's family since there seemed to be some ominous threats from Stone's parents. I felt like he was let off easy and I missed getting more. Still, a cute book that covers a different element of a celebrity romance.

I read Take the Lead when it was originally published as an ebook-only release in 2017. It still ranks high on my list of favorite romances five years later, and Alexis Daria has become one of my favorite authors. I was excited to learn this book, which was Daria’s debut, is being rereleased in paperback with a gorgeous new cover (I mean, just look at it!) and updated content. And guess what, it still holds up.

Gina Morales is a dancer on the TV show The Dance Off (think Dancing with the Stars) who has been on the show for four seasons and never even made it to the finals. Her goal for this season is to win and take the next step in her career. Gina’s dance partner is Stone Nielson, who stars with his family on a reality show about their life in Alaska. He’s only on The Dance Off to earn money to help pay for his mother’s medical care—a secret that can’t get out.

Soon after they meet, Gina realizes she’s being set up for a showmance. As a Puerto Rican woman, she’s had to deal with stereotypes her whole career, and she has a rule against getting involved with her dance partners. With her job on the line, she can’t afford to give in to her attraction to Stone.

This is a bit of a slow burn, but once these two started clicking with each other on and off the dance floor, I didn’t want to stop reading this fun, well-written, and sexy story. And it is SEXY. If you like romances with heat, you know Alexis Daria consistently delivers, and this book is no exception.

Take the Lead is a must-read. The chemistry, the character building, the dance show setting, even the descriptions of the dances themselves—all of it is fantastic. If you enjoyed the Primas of Power series but missed this one the first time around, I promise you’ll love it, too.

Part reality show critique, part family saga, and all heart, Gina and Stone’s love story examines how far people will go to achieve their dreams and to fulfill their obligations. The slippery slope of ethical boundaries and unexpected costs of competing to win make it more challenging for Gina and Stone to recognize their true feelings and to believe they can establish a solid foundation for a long-term commitment. Emotional range, humor, backstage drama, complicated family dynamics, and steady pacing combine to create a charming tale sprinkled with sensuality and explicitly sexy encounters between the main characters. Fans of Alaskan survival shows and a certain popular dance competition show might recognize some elements as homages to their successful formulae.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I very much enjoyed this book. This is a steamy romance book. If you are fans of dancing with the stars this book is for you. It’s a ton of fun and dancing is front and center.

DNF-ed at 25%. I've decided that insta-lust will forever be my least favorite trope. I firmly believe that only the (very very few) talented authors are able to pull of insta-lust without making it weirdly predatory or creepy. Unfortunately, I don't think Alexis Daria hit the mark in this book.

I wanted to like this book because I love a Dancing with the Stars spinoff and I love reading about ballroom dancing and such. However, I feel like the relationship development in this book just made me really dislike it, The little nods towards dancing were really fun, and I really enjoyed reading the parts where they were dancing together. However, I really disliked how lusty and repressed the two were. The way Daria kept on emphasizing that any sexual liaisons would be a huge violation of their professional relationship made me strongly dislike anything between them. And the amount of times the two would just lust after each other's bodies AT THE WORPLACE (while I understand is non-traditional and meant to develop chemistry) still just made me uncomfortable.

Originally published as an ebook in 2017, I was able to grab this new version through Netgally. Our author is republishing as a paperback and I’m so glad that I was able to find this story! Dancing with the Stars like show has our main character Stone and Gina thrown into a partnership. He’s from rural rugged Alaska and she’s a fiesty city girl. They quickly form and friendship and despite their differences and obstacles, dancing together for the show brings them closer together. Love is in the air. Secrets are being shared. Paparazzi threaten their relationship. It’s quite a roller coaster ride but I very much enjoyed their relationship. Cute banter, emotional plots, and a great cast of characters. If you love reality tv, dancing competitions, and a sizzling love story I would recommend this book.

This book left me thirsty for all the right reasons.

Gina's life is full of glitter, glam, and grueling dance rehearsal's as she competes with her celebrity partners for the coveted Dance Off trophy. Unfortunately, she's won. Enter Stone Neilson, the reality TV star from Alaska. Can she turn this muscled mountain man into a dancing machine? Can they make their way into the viewer's hearts as well as their own?

Give me a five, six, seven, eight...more books in the world of Dance Off because I have here for it all. This was Alexis Daria's debut and now they are releasing it in paperback with a brand-new cover!!! The cover is so glamorous and it's the initial reason I picked this book up. But I stayed for the characters and Daria's sense of connection in her plots. (Not to mention the spicy sexy times)

If you're a fan of Dancing with the Stars, or Strictly Come Ballroom in any way shape or form: THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the chance to read this in exchange for my honest opinion.

Gina and Stone are contestants on a “Dancing with the Stars” kind of competition. Stone and his family are reality TV stars from Alaska, and Gina is the professional dancer who needs to teach him how to dance.

I’m not a fan of reality TV or dancing competitions, but I still really enjoyed this storyline. Gina and Stone really clicked, and it was fun to hear about the dances they had to do each week.

I also enjoyed the secondary characters. Gina’s best friend, Natasha, as well as the other contestants really pulled the story together.

Thanks to NetGalley for this book in exchange for my honest review. It appears it was originally published in 2017 but has been re-released with a new cover (perhaps to have the same look/feel as her newer books?)

A new cover revamp for an old book? Count me in. I was completely drawn in by this beautiful cartoon cover. After reading the premise, I knew I had to read this Dancing with the Stars-esque book.

Gina and Stone were a fun couple to read! I enjoyed their obvious chemistry and it felt believable, even though it was pretty immediate. Reading them go through hours of rehearsal, as well as their time spent outside of rehearsal, made for solid relationship building. There were bits that I felt were repetitive, but it was all part of both Gina and Stone's hesitancy to be together.

I also enjoyed reading the ins and out of the production of dance show! The author did a great job of painting a behind the scenes look at what a reality show like this is like.

Rating: 3.75 out of 5

I loved Stone and Gina pretty much immediately. Both characters were so dynamic in their own ways and I loved that we got both POVs throughout this Dancing with the Stars-like competition. If you were ever a fan of the show, you will LOVE this!

I love this book so much! I think anybody who watches Dancing with the Stars has dreamt about what goes on behind the scenes, especially when a couple has amazing chemistry. And this is exactly what I've always wanted - hot and sexy and surprisingly sweet, with main characters that I am totally obsessed with. Alexis Daria is crazy talented and I'm going to go and download everything else she's ever written ...

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This book by Alexis Daria is cute. Gina is a professional dancer needs to win. Stone is a survivalist who owns his own adventure company. The story is fun and the romance between the two is fun the read about the writing and story were very good.
If you like the dancing shows this one is for you. I liked the chemistry between them. I recommend this cute story

First I’d like to thank the author, Alexis Daria for allowing me the privilege of reading this arc. That being said; I absolutely adored the chemistry between the two main characters Gina and Stone. Without giving too much away, the story of stones family reminded me of the “Alaskan Bush people” very similar story to the real people in terms of larger family, the show and little details like mom being sick. I loved Ginas best friend and roommate as well. Overall it was such a cute read!

A fun, frothy, sexy and entertaining read - as fun to read as watching an episode of any dance competition. This opposites-attract story features Gina, a professional dancer, determined not to be boxed in by stereotypes, and Stone, a shy engineer who is forced to play up the idea of the strong, muscley woodsman for his family's reality show.

Sparks fly as they throw themselves into the competition, maneuvering their way through both dance choreographs and the social media dance of getting enough likes to stay on tv. For all the lightweight fun of the story, there was an element of 'Hunger Games' to it as we see what takes place behind the scenes in order to win, reminding the reader that contestants on reality shows are very much seen as a disposable thing by the producers.

A very fun story with lots of steam and sex and a great HEA!

Gina Morales is a professional dancer and one of the stars of the dance competition show,The Dance Off. After four seasons Gina wants desperately to win. She hopes her new partner will be the one to help her finally snag the trophy.

Her partner for season five is an Alaskan reality tv survivalist, Stone Nielsen. Stone and his family star in a show about living in the Alaska bush called Living Wild. He joins the cast of the dance show in hopes of snagging the grand prize so he can help with his mother's mounting medical bills. All Stone has to do is dance, win and not spill his family's secrets.

Gina and Stone turn out to be a great match. Her passion for dance and Stone's rugged good looks are a perfect combination. It doesn't hurt they are both nursing a budding attraction that shows up in their dancing.... except it does. Gina has a strict rule about fraternizing with her partners and Stone is afraid he might share everything.

As the weeks drag on Gina and Stone dance closer to each other all while fighting their building attraction. Will Gina put her rules to the side and listen to her heart? Will Stone forget about his family obligations and finally let someone in?

Overall quite an enjoyable read. Quick and easy with just enough will they or won't they to keep me interested.

I went into this book not sure if I would like it, because I am not really a fan of Dancing with the Stars (more of a SYTYCD person myself) and of the Duck Dynasty type of reality show. But the writing is good and the characters are really well developed, and most importantly, the romance takes some time to build. Yes, they are attracted to each other physically from day one and resist it, but then they take time to get to know each other and to learn about each other. The dancing helps because they have to spend so much time together. I didn't really get surprised by anything that happened and the complications that arose, but the whole mystery around Stone's TV show kept me intrigued. There was a point where I thought I had missed the reveal, only to discover that I had not when the big secret unfurled.

All in all, this was a fun read, with likeable characters, including all of the other dance couples - I loved that Stone made friends with some of the others on the show who were his biggest competition - and didn't require me to know too much about Dancing with the Stars to catch the gist of how it all worked.