Customer Reviews

Dance with Me

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Author Luanne Rice is known for her writings of life and relationships. In Dance With Me, main character Jane Porter returns to her hometown of Twin Rivers, Rhode Island, to be with her sister and ill mother. Jane has been away from RI for years, escaping her past, living in New York City's Greenwich Village and founding a successful bakery business. Her motives to return aren't just for her mother and sister, but also to search out a teenager named Chloe, whom she gave up to adoption at the time of the baby's birth. Not a day has gone by that she hasn't thought of her daughter. She meets Chloe under secret circumstances, hiding the fact that she is her birth mother. Jane unexpectedly finds love with Chloe's uncle... but when she reveals that she is Chloe's birth mother, the news is not welcomed but vehemently rejected. After assisting her sister in settling mother in a much needed constant-care nursing home, Jane reluctantly returns to New York to reopen her bakery to escape the pain of Chloe's and the uncle's rejection. Does forgiveness come out of love lost, to be regained? Rice's book has a realistic premise, but soft on character development and depth of the plot lost in the repetitiveness of 'will she love me?', 'will she accept me?' "will he understand?' If you are a reader who enjoys a no nonsense, light romantic read, then Dance With Me is for you. (Recommended Reading: The Pearl Diver by Jeff Talarigo)

I always look forward to a Luanne Rice book. Inside the covers, they each hold something special, magical- a tale of love, family and redemption. And they always keep me coming back for more!

Dance with me is about two sisters, Sylvie and Jane and their ailing mother. Even though they are both about 30 years old, in so many ways they've never grown up. But now is the time to face the past and start anew. For Sylvie it's dealing with a mother who has Alzheimers, who she's built her whole life around- but now it's time to start a life of her own. For Jane, it's about forgiving her mother for encouraging her to give up a baby she had when she was 20 and finding a way to make up for lost time. And then we get to know the family of the little girl Jane put up for adoption, Chloe, and her family- who have their own secrets and problems.

Again, Luanne Rice takes topics we've read about a million times before and some how still manages to hold our interest. And she never gives us a cheesy ending, anything forced or fake. It's as real as real life can get. I'd recommend this book for anyone who enjoys romance or family stories. The story keeps you interested and the characters endear themselves to you. Also- read any of her other books, they're all wonderful!

Jane Porter returns to her Rhode Island hometown to help her sister care for their ailing mother. Jane rarely makes the trip due to the painful memories that have scarred her even into adulthood. When she was a sophomore in college, her mother forced her to give up her child for adoption, and it was handled privately, with the baby girl going to a local family.

Dylan Chadwick has also returned home. After his wife and daughter were killed in a crossfire while he was a US Marshall, he has returned to the family apple orchard, determined to bring it back to life. He has forged a loving and protective relationship with his niece, who it turns out, is the child that Jane gave birth to 15 years earlier.

Coming home affords Jane with the opportunity to meet the child she could never forget. Soon, she is spending time with Dylan, who has suddenly come out of his shell, and has fallen for her. She too is smitten with Dylan, but worries that her motivations for being with him will be misconstrued once he finds out about her relationship to Chloe.

Dance with Me is an absorbing story about two lost souls who manage to find each other, only to find themselves at odds. The icy relationship between the sisters and the mother is believable and engrossing.

This story was exceptionally LuAnne Rice and yet, somehow a lovely departure. Jane Porter has been seeking that which complete her, the child she gave up as a young college student. Her journey sets many free and in the end Jane rediscovers the love of family and of a most exceptional and wounded man. Dylan Chadwick is perhaps on a similar journey, to find peace after losing his own daughter, in Jane he discovers that peace and a forever love.

The story was almost lyrical in voice. I was pulled into both Jane and Dylan's journey and unable to stop reading.

To compare Ms. Rice's books would be unfair, but Dance With Me does prove that her story telling improves with each new offering.

While it was great that the adoptive mother wants what is best for her daughter, I found the acceptance of the birth mother - particularly after her deception - to be unbelievable.

Also, Ms Rice kept pointing out the differences between Chloe and her adoptive family and how much she was like Jane. Yet, when Chloe is clinging to her mother, we don't really see why. The portrayal of the adoptive parents was too one dimensional.

The subject of this book hit close to home for me. I loved the characters, the story, and Rice's sensitivity in the telling of the 2 stories that kept me reading nonstop for 10 hours. I felt the pain, joy, tears, and laughter of these great characters. The depth, the twists and turns (that life gives you), and the genuine emotion of each character and his or her role in the drama of the life Luann Rice breathes in to and around is sound, down to Earth , and genuine. The story lines are not corrupted. The mother who gave up her child leads an unhappy, lonely life while she sees that this lovely free-spirit has had a happy life, despite teenager angst. The devestated father comes home and finds solace and possible happiness. The reader will appreciate how the teenager and her birth mother connects with him. Connections break and never be reconnected perfectly, but grafting two broken pieces create a wonderful new thing! I believe this is one Rice's best books.

Jane is drawn back to her Rhode Island roots by her mother's failing health and the yearning for the daughter she gave up as an infant. The baby (named Chloe) is now a teen. Chloe feels misunderstood by her adoptive parents and stymied in her efforts to seek out her birth mother. Not realizing why Jane is interested in her, they develop a friendship.
A relationship springs up between Jane and Chloe's uncle, Dylan, who had suffered the tragic loss of his wife and daughter. He devotes himself to restoring the family orchards.
As secrets are revealed, the relationships shift and re-form between Jane, her mother, her sister, the long lost daughter, the adoptive parents and Dylan.
The author has a sure hand at creating the small town Rhode Island setting and the complex relationships and feelings.

By Kristina Denenkamp

The book I Chose to read was Dance with Me, by Luanne Rice. This book, would be considered a tragic love story. It tells about Love, Life, and the hope that things will eventually get better.
This story takes place in a Little Town of Providence Rhode Island, with references to New York City. Jane had moved away from the country, as far away as she could get. She had so many horrible memories in this place. As soon as her mother was taken care of, she would go back to the city. She would return to hiding from the past. Jane attended Brown University; she wanted to become an English teacher. However her studies were interrupted when she met a boy. Jane becomes Pregnant and the boy will not marry her. Her mother Margaret decides that she is too young, to have a child and sends her to St. Joseph's. The baby, now named Chloe, is given up for adoption. Jane's heart was broken, but she knew it was what was best for the baby.
Now back at home, she knows she cannot see the child whom is now 15 years of age, but she feels she must. She goes to the old apple orchard that is where her home is located. It is there that she meets Dylan Chadwick. Dylan is Chloe's uncle, and Jane finds it the perfect opportunity to meet her daughter. But will the recognize her?
I think that this book was interesting; at the beginning I was bored with it, because it drags on. However, it gets better as you keep reading. I think that this book is a good read for people on a more mature level. I do not think that 10 years olds and under could comprehend the moral of the story. I think the author did a amazing job with the sensory details. She did a good job making you feel the characters emotions. I think that through the story, however, she should have mentioned more about Chloe's family. Some of the only information you have about them is that they strongly dislike the apple orchard, and Uncle Dylan.
I believe a good message given in this book would be to think before you act. If Jane had she would not be in the situations that she is in now. I think a lot of teenage girls should read this book because it gives strong messages about teenage issues. It tells you about the negatives of your actions, about what really happens.
I think that this book is a pretty good read. Its not on my top 5, however, I do think that it has good messages, and is very entertaining.

If you're looking for a light read with interesting characters, this is it. If you're looking for in depth analysis of the internal conflicts between adopted daughters and their birth parents and adoptive parents, this is not it.

Overall, I thought it was sweet. Sure, there's holes in the plot, but it's not an academic report. This is my first Luanne Rice book and I'm sure I'll read more in the future.

I had never read Luanne Rice before, but was intrigued by the synopsis on the back of the book enough to give it a try. While at times I found the writing a little distracting, the overall story and feel of the book was well crafted. I very much enjoyed reading it, and will probably read more of her work as a result.