ARC Review ~ Say It With Sequins: The Waltz by Georgia Hill

eARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Release Date: 13th March 2014

Publisher: HarperImpulse

Description:
For fans of reality dance shows, this series is strictly irresistible!
Slip on some dance shoes and step up to love!

Who Dares Dances is a reality TV show with a difference. Not only do the contestants have to learn to dance, they also face a series of bizarre tasks.

Best-selling children’s writer, Lucy Everett, signs up as a personal challenge – can she battle her phobias and dance in front of millions of viewers?

When she meets fellow competitor, the seriously sexy but reserved Olympic swimmer Max Parry, she finds in him her very own Prince Charming.

But Max seems content to just be friends. Will Lucy ever get her longed for fairy tale ending?

Find out by waltzing into this dreamily romantic second novella in the Say it with Sequins series.

My Opinion

After enjoying the first book in the series (The Rumba), I thought I'd give Say It With Sequins: The Waltz a go. I loved the colours on the cover and the whole design but there also appeared to be more going on than in the first book from what I gathered from the description. 

Say It With Sequins: The Waltz was a slow developer for me though. The start was enjoyable but I felt it was a bit too close to the first book. However saying that it did get better with every chapter and I was hooked after the halfway mark. The writing moves at a fast-pace which helps as well as you are never stuck in one scene long. I was flicking through pages quickly and had finished this book within the hour.

In general Say It With Sequins: The Waltz is a feel-good read whereby parts made me smile. There were also sections where I really did feel for the characters (especially towards the end) but I liked how the author still managed to keep the book lighthearted and fun--which keeps with the theme of Strictly Come Dancing.

I think I liked the characters more in this novella than the last. I felt I could connect with them better and relate to their problems. I also liked how the author toned down the cast list and brought people back. This helped me follow the story easily as one of the issues I had last time was there were too many people to keep track of. I was glad that the story focused on Lucy and Max rather than bring in other dancers and I loved that Daniel was brought back--he was so sweet and just a lovable character.

I still wish there was more development on the actual dancing as these books do just focus on the behind-the-scenes aspects. I would like to get a full description of at least one dance (maybe the one in the title) per book as at the moment the structure is: practice, fear, advice, it's over. It just leaves me wanting more when you get that.

Saying that, the behind-the-scenes do allow for a good development of the romance. I would have liked for it to maybe start a little sooner than it did as it ended rather abruptly but it was a good romance nonetheless. I think I preferred the romance in the first book because it was steamier but the characterisation in this book as you got to know them on a deeper level and I was able to connect with them more. I did find Max and Lucy more likable than Julie and Harri.

Overall Say It With Sequins: The Waltz, was a good, quick read that was enjoyable. It caught my attention and definitely got better the more I read into it. A great way to relax after a busy day.

3.5