In “Going Toe to Toe” by Yahrah St. John, readers experience a masterfully woven tale of love, redemption, and the magic of dance. Set against the backdrop of Aruba's sun-kissed beaches, this romance novel delivers a heartwarming story that will leave readers swooning. This book is a dance of passion and second chances!

Meet Lyric Taylor. She’s a former ballerina who finds herself at a crossroads after her ballet career comes to an abrupt end. Desperate for distraction, she embarks on a spontaneous fling with Devon, her sexy bunkmate during a tropical getaway. Their seven days of sun, sand, and sizzle ignite a passion neither expected. But when reality beckons, they part ways, believing their connection was nothing more than a fleeting affair.

Fast forward to Lyric's return home, where life takes an unexpected turn. Devon, a single dad, discovers that Lyric is his daughter Kianna's new dance teacher. The chemistry they shared in Aruba resurfaces, and old wounds reopen. As they navigate their feelings, secrets, and the challenges of blending their lives, they must decide whether to take a leap of faith or retreat to the safety of their pasts.

St. John crafts multidimensional characters who leap off the page. Lyric's vulnerability and determination resonate, while Devon's protective instincts and inner struggles tug at the heartstrings. Kianna, their precocious daughter, adds a delightful layer to the story. The sparks between Lyric and Devon are palpable. Their banter, stolen glances, and shared passion create an electric atmosphere. St. John knows how to build anticipation, leaving readers eagerly turning pages.

The dance sequences are beautifully described, capturing the grace, discipline, and sensuality of movement. Whether it's a tango or a waltz, the choreography mirrors the characters' emotional journey. St. John delves into themes of forgiveness, healing, and second chances. Readers will root for Lyric and Devon as they confront their pasts and learn to trust again.

“Going Toe to Toe” is a delightful romance that will make your heart pirouette. St. John's lyrical prose, vivid settings, and authentic emotions make this a must-read. Whether you're a dance enthusiast or simply a lover of love, this book will leave you smiling long after the final page.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Romance, and Afterglow Books by Harlequin for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The story flowed well and the characters were well developed. I recommend this book and look forward to more from this author.


****Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review****

This book is an instant lust romance which I'm normally not a fan of but them being together by 15 % and falling in love by 30% was way too much for me. The spicy scenes started very early in the book and it was a lot for characters that were just meeting each other at a vacation resort. The main characters in this book meet after they have to share a resort room due to a confusion. They are instantly lustful of each other and decide to have a no-feelings string for the remainder of the vacation. The mmc is widowed and the fmc doesn't have a lot of experience with relationships but they fall for each other but don't tell each other. As they leave the resort the mmc gets annoyed when he sees the fmc with someone and thinks the weekend was a lie. Flash forward to some time after and the MMC's daughter is in the fmc ballets class, they resist each other at first but then decide to hook up again for as long as it lasts.

The romance was okay, I thought it was cute but it did rely very much on their chemistry and sexy times which to me didn't develop their relationship well. The main issue I had was with some micro-aggressive stereotypes about race that was probably unintentionally put in the book. The fmc is a biracial black woman raised by her white parents who adopted her. She lived her life mainly in a white space and she mentioned not fitting in perfectly with her identities. There was a particular statement that perpetuated a stereotype about black mothers that caught my attention and wasn't necessary. It shaped the rest of the book and I think it could have been worded better.

Overall this is a short read and me not enjoying it is just my opinion and you may like it especially if you like instant love, single father trope, diverse characters, and lots of spice. Thank you, HTTP for the arc.

Review to come…

I really love the cover ❤️
The description is very intriguing.
This is a new author to me.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC

The cute cover and title caught my eye. This is not my usual genre so it was a step out of my comfort zone read. I wasn't expecting the steaminess to start so quickly. I found the characters likeable but I wish I knew more about them. I didn't read the other books in the series, I believe I would have enjoyed it more if I had. Overall, this was a fun quick read, lovers of steamy romance will enjoy it. Thank you netgalley and the publisher for a free copy to read and review.

This. Is . What. I'm Talking. About. When. I. Say. We. Need. More. Black. stories. I ate this up. Give me more more more more more more more.

I really enjoyed the characters in this book. They were so realistically written and I felt as though I knew them. The plot was entertaining and does a good job of keeping the reader’s attention.

Honestly, I thought their meetcute was just really cheesy (and not in a fun forgivable romance way, more of in a roll my eyes way), so I just could not get through this one.

I really wanted to like this book but I feel like a lot of it fell flat for me. There were a lot of steamy scenes but the character development was missing. I wish more time was spent on developing the characters both individually as well as their relationship together. It also felt that a lot of the book was in favor of the male main character and what he wanted whereas the female felt a little one dimensional.

Lo que me molestó es que todo se hizo bajo los términos de Devon y lo que Lyric quería fue dejado a un lado.

Le sobran escenas sexuales, no me interesa leer las posiciones en las que lo hacen, yo quiero un buen desarrollo para los personajes.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book started off FUN, and stayed that way! Lyric and Devon had some crazy chemistry. They had a hot fling in Aruba and then had some forced proximity back home. The tension! It was a very enjoyable read.

I enjoyed this book quite a bit. I have done ballet for 14 years and I was happy to find a ballet romance. I enjoyed the story of this book and the banter was very fun.

As someone who did ballet for about 5 years, I was really excited to read this. It was a really cute book and really enjoyed the dynamic of the characters. It was also written well and didn't feel forced or anything