The Last Dance [Mass Market Paperback]

Nan Ryan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 2003

Lucy Hart is setting out on the first adventure of her life on the verge of turning 30, and the overly responsible Postmistress of Colonias, New York is planning to meet a man in Atlantic City. Only known to her from their three year correspondence, she is hoping to find her life begin with this virtual stranger. Blackie Laduke is taking a vacation from a life overflowing with adventure, escaping the heat of New York City, along with matrimonial heat coming his way, roguish Blackie is intrigued when Lucy mistakes him for her intended companion. At first, he enjoys shocking the prim Lucy, but he soon finds himself wanting to be a man worthy of her interest. When these two very different worlds collide, can a life together begin after the last dance?

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Nan Ryan is a bestselling author of over 25 sizzling historical romances, is renowned for her "imaginative and bold" love scenes.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 310 pages
• Publisher: Medallion Press (December 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0974363936
• ISBN-13: 978-0974363936
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #258,862 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Keeper From Page One!!!, May 22, 2004

By 

Kristi Ahlers (Illinois) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Last Dance (Mass Market Paperback)

I love turn of the century romances and there are few of them to be had out in the romance market. Ms. Ryan's "The Last Dance" hooked me from page one and made it to my "keeper" shelf. Set in Atlantic City Ms. Ryan spins a sweet story about a straight laced young lady from a small upstate New York village, and a devil may care rake from New York City. This is a perfect example of the old saying "opposites attract."

Lucy is going to finally live a little. She has been saving and has planned to go to Atlantic City for a fun two week visit where she plans on meeting a gentleman she has been writing to for several years. Lucy makes her way to the fun city by the ocean totally unaware that Theodore Mooney will not be joining her. She then makes the mistake of thinking Blackie is her gentleman. What happens from there is the building of a relationship that will change both Lucy and Blackie in ways they never thought possible.

This was a very well written romance with wonderful characters both primary and secondary. The setting is truly unique and again well written. I found myself transported to the turn of the century Atlantic City and all the wonders that are found there. Ms. Ryan is a truly gifted storyteller and I highly recommend this book. If your in the middle of planing your summer reading list you will miss out on a story that will make you laugh, cry, and believe in romance if you leave this one off your list. Now that would be a shame!

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars strong historical romance, December 9, 2003

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Last Dance (Mass Market Paperback)

In 1899 Colonias, New York, Postmistress Lucy Hart nearing thirty sacrificed her happiness to care for her dependent mother, but now is recognized as an old maid with no prospects. She looks forward to her vacation in Atlantic City where she will finally meet her pen pal of the last three years Cooperstown, Pennsylvania Postmaster Theodore Mooney though no hint of romance is in any of their letters.

As Lucy heads south on her vacation, in New York City, Robert "Blackie" LaDuke escapes from his overly possessive lover leaving the Waldorf for Atlantic City too. At the Atlantic Grand Hotel, Lucy sees a man she believes is Theodore, but he tells her to call him Blackie as he clarifies she accosted the wrong man. Theodore fails to show up sending a telegram canceling his trip. Though Theodore eventually arrives, a despondent Lucy finds Blackie gets perverse pleasure shocking her especially with seduction, but the ultimate shocker is when the hedonist realizes he loves the prim and proper postmistress.

THE LAST DANCE is a fantastic look at the turn of the previous century inside the overly used theme of bad boy and good girl fall in love made fresh as newly fallen snow by the intricate descriptions of New York-New Jersey. The story line is brimming with a spotlight on the gilded age through a strong secondary cast that enhances the era. The lead couple is more by the book, but still charm the audience who want Lucy to find her heart's desire and her beloved rogue get what he deserves. Nan Ryan pens another winner.

Harriet Klausner

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing storytelling!, April 17, 2010

By 

LuvGirl (New York ,NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Last Dance (Mass Market Paperback)

Nan Ryan does it for me again! This is the second book I've read by this author, and just like the first one, Burning Love, I was taken by surprise by the dept of her storytelling. I was actually a little intimidated about reading a historical romance that was taking place at the turn of the century in Atlantic City, but I underestimated Nan Ryan's ability to make any time period or location work.

All of the characters of this book was so well portrayed that I felt Like I knew each and every one of them personally. Blackie is a blacksheep womanizer that you will not be able to resist. Lucy is a prim unsophisticated but endaring spinster that you will respect and root for. I usually dislike books that has too many secondary characters because they always seem useless to the story, but in this book they all added substance. They all had their own little back story and I couldnt help but fall in love with them. Everything about this book was wonderful! The writing, superb character development, and the unique setting made this book exceptional and I will always remember it with fondness. I am off to try and find some more great books by this author!