Customer Reviews

Dancing Shoes and Honky-Tonk Blues (Signet Eclipse)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Dancing Shoes and Honky Tonk Blues by LuAnn McLane is one the funniest and sexiest books of the year.

Abilene Harper has been content with her quite and somewhat boring life in small town Misty Creek, KY. When a reality shoe Dancing with the Rednecks comes to town she is shocked to find out that her younger brother has signed her up as a contestant. Abby is reluctant to compete but the prize money has her changing her mind. This money could really change her family's way of life for the better.

Abby's first look at her dance partner sends her blood pumping. There is nothing like smoldering Rio Martin in Misty Creek. Rio is not happy to have been tricked into this joke of a dance competition. But Abby's verve and sheer will have him thinking they have a shot at winning.

These two polar opposites send sparks on and off the dance floor. Every time one or the other tries to be business only their passions take over.

Dancing Shoes and Honky Tonk Blues is my favorite book by LuAnn McLane. The dance sequences and training made me feel like I was right their with the characters. This book is a delightfully funny. You will find yourself laughing out loud at the antics of the contestants and their family and friends. The chemistry between Abby and Rio just burns up the pages, makes you want to find a dance instructor of your own. Kudos.

When Abilene "Abby" Harper signs on as a contestant on the reality television show, Dancing with the Rednecks, it is mainly for a chance at the $50,000.00 prize. When she is paired with professional ballroom dancer Rio Martin, by far one of the most gorgeous men in the world, the two couldn't be more opposite. Abby lives a simple life, waitressing at her mother's diner, and she would love to be able to help her mother with some much needed renovations, and help her brother get the college education he deserves. Abby and Rio agree that the only heat between them should be on the dance floor, but as they spend several sultry hours together every day, mostly in each other's arms and with neither of them involved with anyone, it's only natural that an attraction would spark and test their resolve.
Rio Martin isn't happy about being a contestant in the Comedy Channel's dancing spoof, but after he meets Abby and sees her enthusiasm, he is determined to win. Rio takes his dancing very seriously, and will accept nothing less from Abby than her absolute best. Having been burned by another dancer, he is especially wary of getting involved with anyone and has resisted that temptation. Abby Harper, however, is a cool drink of water whose southern hospitality is just a little too tempting for Rio to resist.
Abby and Rio are polar opposites, but share an intense passion as well as the utmost respect for one another, which seems to make their differences insignificant. Abby's stubborn determination is matched by Rio's willingness to work hard in order to win this competition. This latest offering from LuAnn McLane is written in first person; her second book in this style, and is excellently written. I am highly impressed with Abby and Rio's story, and I know that readers will settle into this book very comfortably, feeling as if Abby is telling you her story. I swear that I could hear Abby's southern accent and Rio's sexy, smooth accent! Don't miss DANCING SHOES AND HONKY TONK BLUES, it is great fun and I can confidently guarantee that you'll love it.

Reality TV arrives in rural Misty Creek, Kentucky when a ballroom dancing contest is planned. However, most of the contestants signing on take the contest seriously, but the show's sponsors are lampooning the locals as redneck hillbillies who would not know what a ballroom looked like let alone be able to perform one the dances.

Local waitress Abby Harper was going to pass as she had no doubt that she and any other "yokel" was meant to be ridiculed. However, when she learns $50,000 is the winner's prize, she signs on although her natural reticence and two left feet make her feel more like performing clown than a dancer. Her partner is Mexico City ballroom dancing champion Rio Martin. As they rehearse, an attraction ignites even as both are irate that the hosts plan this as a big joke. Led by Rio and Abby, every dancer vows to prove that the hicks can dance with the best city slickers.

This is a fun small town drama starring a delightful seemingly opposites lead couple and an eccentric but likable support cast. The romance flows mostly on the dance floor as Rio is determined to turn Abby into the darling of the cha-cha crowd. Fans will enjoy dancing step by step with this pair and the other contestants especially since the ballroom dance is the most developed "character" with the cast being predominantly two-step deep.

Harriet Klausner

Ok so "comedy channel" comes to her small town to film a spoof dancing show 'dancing with rednecks', only the joke show actually turns good as they have real talent and it becomes wildly popular. Of course our hero wasn't hot on this at all to begin with - he and the other instructors are being well paid but they thought it was a serious competition, not a spoof.

ANYHOW- This only gets 3 stars from me because I left this book feeling a little more stupid for having read it. The ending is so squeaky perfect that it made me gag. No, really. The scenes for the most part are OK, but no real strong interaction, connections, or meaning... at least not for me. So much time was talked about costumes and dancing, I wish the author had spent more time on the relationships and character building. Also, if she used the words boobies one more time I swore I'd huck this book out the window. Yes, I think my 3 stars is generous.

If you're really into ballroom dancing and reality shows perhaps you'll like this one better than me.

LuAnn Mclane is amazing. She can make a story funny and sexy all at the same time. Love this book.

I liked how the author had me anticipating what would happen next and which one of the two men would end up being the hero. A great read!