I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I'd seen some positive reviews and hoped that I too would feel the same way, and I did, by the bucket load. I really loved this story. The differences between Jack and Julia's characters and personalities made the story captivating and heart warming.

Julia finds it difficult to trust men. The last man she gave her heart to left her to try to reconcile his marriage and now Julia, having experienced her own father walking out of her and her mother some years earlier, is reluctant to offer up her heart again, only to risk having it smashed once more.

With her friend Vicky though she loves to go out dancing but picking up men is off the table, until they receive an invite you to a VIP section by none other than the gorgeous and famous guitarist, Jack Kipling.

After seeing Julia and Vicky dancing on the large screen, Jack knows that he has to meet her and Sammy, his fellow band member, is deployed to bring Julia and Vicky upstairs. Vicky is immediately attracted to the playful Sammy but Julia doesn't trust Jack's intentions, especially when he offers to drive the girls home. Julia thinks that she won't hear from Jack again but she is so wrong.

The story continues with both Jack and Julia getting to know each other whilst continuing to live their very different lives. Will Julia ever be able to trust Jack to ignore his groupies? Will her career ever take off? Will she ever find out the real reason why her father left? You'll have to read the story to find out!!!

This is a really well written book and an author I would definitely read again. The story has depth, twists and turns and some emotional pain but hey, it's all in the name of love, right?

Copy provided for review by Netgalley.

Reviewed on behalf of Jezabell Girl & Friends...

http://jezabellgirlandfriends.com

http://facebook.com/jezabellgirlandfriends

Really enjoyed this book, especially the fact that the setting was in the 80's before cell phones, social media and texting!

I was invited to read this book shortly after I joined (I had to join Net Galley in connection with a magazine reader panel). It was second on my "to read" list. I really enjoyed reading it.

I liked the main characters and it was set in an era I could recognise (although I was married with children by then). I like the quirky chapter titles and remember most of these songs. I found it very easy to engage with the story. It was fairly light, funny, a little bit sad in places but all is resolved in the end. A typical romance. It's an entertaining book rather than a thought provoking one but sometimes you just need something to entertain. It is well written with believable dialogue (as opposed to stilted dialogue).

I'm a bit more mature now and if bedroom scenes are too detailed or too long I tend to skim over them (I have a low boredom threshold) but this book had it just about right. I would be happy to read other books by Leslie Wells.

I found this book to be fun and refreshing. I love the 80s NYC setting, it was so cool to imagine how things were back then in an era before cell phones, caller ID and when the city was just the right amount of dirty. I'm admittedly biased in my interest in that part though as I live in NYC myself. The best part for me was how Julia remained independent and moved ahead in her career entirely based on her own merits, this could have easily been a a story about Jack being her "knight in shining armor" but it never was. My only criticism is I would have appreciated a bit more backstory in regards to Julia's dancing, its what initially drew Jack to her and as its the title of the book it could have been a bit more explored. Overall it was quick, light read perfect for the beach or a rainy day on the couch.

An excellent read written in a style that makes it vey easy to visualise the characters. Full of humour, it kept me guessing about the outcome until the end. Although there were similarities with the Fifty Shades trilogy (i.e. young naive girl meets rich, more worldly man) it was a more interesting, plausible and erotic novel. I would definitely recommend this for a light-hearted but addictive read.

4 1/2 stars rounded to 5

I reviewed this at MustReadBooksOrDie with my friend Shelley!

Shel: You know what? Sometimes a book like this comes along and takes me out of the niche reading that I tend to find myself in. Yes, this is a romance but it was definitely a more literary romance. It had meat to it..a real story and I so appreciated it! Court: I did too! I didn't realize there would be so much "bookishness" to this story, and I am in love. So very sex+the city feel to me. I am in love.

Shel: My students, in their infinite wisdom, might call this a 'historical' romance as it is set in the early 80's (haha) but even with all of the trademark 80's references, the emotions make it very worthy of a 2014 read. Julia, working hard to make it in a publishing company, and Jack, a hard partying rock and roller, make for an entertaining couple. She makes his life interesting by not falling for his usual charms and being determined to be independent of his glamorous life. He makes life interesting by giving her a behind the scenes look at the sex, drugs and rock and roll that made up the life of an 80's rocker.

Court: I might've taken a long time to fall for Jack...but he won me over! Have I ever told you guise that "Almost Famous" is one of my favorite movies? Probably not. But it is, and this also reminded me of that with the rocker, and the would be love of his life but they've both been hurt so they resist...the whole entire time. My heart raced, my heart was sad, and then was happy, and then was sad. The characters in this story added so much flavor and spice to the words (such beautifully written words) that I am smiling as I am writing.

Shel: This was a fun novel. The 80's references were authentic and a great reminder at just how different technology has made our lives, how much cleaner NYC is, and how AIDS has changed our sex lives; I thought all of these little reminders were a nice touch. I also loved the fact that there was a story here; we really got to know Julia outside of her love affair with Jack--the life of a hard working assistant trying so hard to work her way up the ladder made this so much more than a steamy romance (and there definitely was steam).

Court: You're right. So, I may've been born at the end of the decade, but I still appreciate all of the things that the 80's gave us. I did recognize the references and thought y'all would be proud. This may've been more "literary" than we read on a regular basis, but I highly recommend it. It has flair and sexiness. MMmmmm. So exciting!

Shel: If you're looking for something steamy and romantic but with a little more to it, I'd definitely give this novel a look. Court: Indeed! Love me some Leslie Wells. Can't wait to read more from her.

Shelley: 4 stars Courtney: 4 1/2 stars

http://booknerdloleotodo.blogspot.com So much fun! First, I love New York City and believe there is no other city like it any where in the world! The same can be said for its night life! I use to be that dancing in the city girl! So I could completely relate to this character-Julia! Just like Julia I also got a job in NYC fresh out of college. I loved how Wells portrayed Julia's experiences. The excitement of a new job, the endless possibilities of what you can accomplish. I felt the same way and really so do so many people fresh out of college when they get their first job and it's in NYC of all places! The night life, as I mentioned before, is exclusive. Although this novel is set in the 80's and I graduated in 2000 I loved the atmosphere that Wells so masterfully depicted. The 80's were a very unique time but in NYC it was a complete contrast to NYC in 2000. (I have only run into one rock star lol). Julia falls in love with a rock star. One of the beautiful things about NYC is that there really are people from all walks of life and movie stars and rock stars love to live and entertain in the city. This was a very nostalgic and fun read! I really enjoyed Julia and her quest for self-discovery in a city full of fun and adventure with the endless possibilities of love! It also made me miss dancing! There is nothing more exciting than getting ready with your girlfriends for a night of dancing and all the adventure that awaits. Fun and nostalgic read!

Come Dancing by Leslie Wells Contemporary Romance 382 pages June 8, 2014 Allium Press

Reviewed by Tori

Favorite Quote: “I promise I won’t tell anyone a famous rock musician wants to take you out. I mean, Jesus, how embarrassing.”.”

It’s 1981 and Julia Nash has recently arrived in Manhattan, ready to leave her mark on the literary world. Landing a job as a publisher’s assistant, Julia dreams of becoming a full time editor, but the fierce competition and her boss’s wandering hands makes her wonder if this is the life for her. An impromptu club night beings her to the attention of a man who Julia has long crushed on-Jack Kipling.

Jack Kipling is a hot British rock star who has the world by the horns. Denied nothing by anyone, when he sees Julia dancing with abandon at a local nightclub, he is instantly captivated by her effervescence and innocence. Determined to indulge himself upon her many charms, Jack sweeps her up into his hurricane fueled life and takes her deep into a world of decadence and abandonment.

Jack and Julia embark on a tempestuous relationship that introduces Julia to lifestyle that intrigues and repulses her. Sex, drugs, and rock and roll becomes Julia’s new anthem though a small part of her reminds her to guard her heart because Jack will eventually leave her. Jack’s past history of broken promises and hearts guarantees that. When Julia’s predictions come true and their relationship comes crashing to a halt, Julia discovers that her heart never stood a chance against a man like Jack.

Come Dancing is a debut contemporary romance set in the early 80’s by Leslie Wells. Displayed against the glittery excess of the 80’s, Wells pens a sexy, sweet, and somewhat complicated romance about two complete opposites who find they have more in common than they ever thought if they are willing to take the time to look beyond the masks they both present to the world. Wells builds an emotionally poignant love story, abound with romance and humor. Readers will enjoy watching the relationship develop between our protagonists; gleaning the deepening connection as each layer is pulled back.

The story is pretty straight forward in its delivery. Predictable even though the journey is what is appealing. Heavily character driven, they breathe life into the storyline and elevate it beyond a simple contemporary romance. I loved it’s set in the 80’s where people still listened to 45s on turntables, dubstep was nonexistent, and no one had to stop and answer their cell phone or check their social media pages.

Dynamic in development, Wells has created real people with real issues. They are easy to relate to. Their joys, fears, wants, and needs are laid bare and we are allowed to share in their journey as they experience the growing pains life sometimes hands us. Smooth execution and engaging dialogue is expertly laid out, allowing the reader to enjoy the experience along with our protagonists.

Julia is a personable character that everyone will relate to. Intelligent and witty, she is the ultimate underdog whose self-deprecating style shows that she has a healthy self esteem. Fun and career oriented, it was nice to see a young woman who genuinely enjoys her life and deals with everyday issues that most of us face. Julia’s battles against the inner cogs of the publishing world is an eye opener and only serves to further endure you to her.

Jack is an attractive sweet natured sexy bad boy whose trappings of fame and fortune hide a much deeper animal. He embraces life and lives it to it’s fullest, sometimes not thinking too hard about the possible destruction he leaves through his wake. Elusive and hard to pin down, his outlook is pretty much on par for famous musician. Though we see some selfishness in his actions and words, he has an innate goodness that shines through and resonates with you.

Bold seductive chemistry brings Jack and Julia together but a sense of belonging keeps them together. Jack’s brazenness is the perfect foil for Julia’s more down to earth sensibilities and they burn together in all the right ways. Though the sexual aspects are presented in a quick fashion, the actual romance builds slowly. They become friends and Wells uses that to build a bridge between them, offering lessons in trust and communication, despite their apparent differences. No tired clichés, mind numbing angst, and emotional whining is used to facilitate their romance. Theirs is not an insta-love and I appreciated that.

Equally flamboyant secondary characters round out the story. We met various band members and recording label staff though I never really felt they were an integral part of the story. More or less they gave credence to Jack’s lifestyle. Julia’s bff Vickie encourages Julia to never hold back when trying to achieve her goals and her mother offers her a fresh pair of eyes when things become dicey.

Come Dancing is a steamy fun summer read that will appeal to the romantic in all of us.

Rating: B

You know what? Sometimes a book like this comes along and takes me out of the niche reading that I tend to find myself in. Yes, this is a romance but it was definitely a more literary romance. It had meat to it..a real story and I so appreciated it! I did too! I didn't realize there would be so much "bookishness" to this story, and I am in love. So very sex+the city feel to me. I am in love.

My students, in their infinite wisdom, might call this a 'historical' romance as it is set in the early 80's (haha) but even with all of the trademark 80's references, the emotions make it very worthy of a 2014 read. Julia, working hard to make it in a publishing company, and Jack, a hard partying rock and roller, make for an entertaining couple. She makes his life interesting by not falling for his usual charms and being determined to be independent of his glamorous life. He makes life interesting by giving her a behind the scenes look at the sex, drugs and rock and roll that made up the life of an 80's rocker.

I might've taken a long time to fall for Jack...but he won me over! Have I ever told you guise that "Almost Famous" is one of my favorite movies? Probably not. But it is, and this also reminded me of that with the rocker, and the would be love of his life but they've both been hurt so they resist...the whole entire time. My heart raced, my heart was sad, and then was happy, and then was sad. The characters in this story added so much flavor and spice to the words (such beautifully written words) that I am smiling as I am writing.

This was a fun novel. The 80's references were authentic and a great reminder at just how different technology has made our lives, how much cleaner NYC is, and how AIDS has changed our sex lives; I thought all of these little reminders were a nice touch. I also loved the fact that there was a story here; we really got to know Julia outside of her love affair with Jack--the life of a hard working assistant trying so hard to work her way up the ladder made this so much more than a steamy romance (and there definitely was steam).

You're right. So, I may've been born at the end of the decade, but I still appreciate all of the things that the 80's gave us. I did recognize the references and thought y'all would be proud. This may've been more "literary" than we read on a regular basis, but I highly recommend it. It has flair and sexiness. MMmmmm. So exciting!

If you're looking for something steamy and romantic but with a little more to it, I'd definitely give this novel a look. Indeed! Love me some Leslie Wells. Can't wait to read more from her.

Shelley: 4 stars Courtney: 4 1/2 stars

Date Review Published: October 8, 2014.

Publication: June 8, 2014.
Publisher: Allium Press.
Source: The Publisher as part of this blog tour.

REVIEW:
Come Dancing is not your typical girl meets musician type of story. It revolves around Julia who works as an assistant editor at a publishing company. One night while at a club dancing, she captures the attention of a guitarist, Jake Kipling. Who just happens to be in her favorite band called The Floor. Though she is a little star struck, she doesn’t act like it, and she even declines his request to walk her to her apartment.

There is no insta-love here, but hey do develop an instant attraction to each other. Julia doesn’t give in easily though and Jake has to work for it a little, to get Julia to go out with him. Which he isn’t really used to since he is a famous musician.

Come Dancing was a fun and semi-light contemporary romance. I felt like it was missing a little something, but overall I enjoyed reading it. I did like Julia a lot and I was really hoping she would get a happy ending. She's her own woman. Very independent and smart. And doesn't really care for Jack to buy her things. Jack is a pretty interesting character as well. He does like to party, but there is more to him than just those things. He actually appreciates women who are smart and can hold their own, which is one of the things he happens to like about Julia.

There is music, hot sex, drugs, dancing, crazy groupies, misunderstandings, and romance all set against the backdrop of New York during the 1980s. It was an interesting world to read about. I haven’t read a lot of romances involving musicians, but this one was a good one. I’m glad I found out about this author. I will definitely take a look at future books by her.

RATING: 3½ out of 5.