Monday, June 22, 2015

BLOG TOUR: Keep Dancing by Leslie Wells - Review + Giveaway!

Hi guys and gals!

Welcome back to another exciting week here at Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're a bit over booked and while that means crazy scheduling, reading, and blogging schedules for me, it simply means TWICE the bookish fun for all of you! Sound good? Great! So, let's get the first pony show rolling, shall we?

Our first tour of the day comes to us via Book Junkie Promotions and stars the second release in author Leslie Wells' Contemporary Romance series star Jack and Julia. Now, sequels can be interesting creatures, spreading their wings to soar as high (or higher) than their predecessor, working solely as a connection piece until the third's release, or fall flat on its face. What was the outcome of this dandy little title? Read on my friend, read on. Today's book of choice and blog tour guest is...

Keep Dancing

Publication Date: February 5, 2015

Percambio Press

Formats: Print & ebook 256 pages

Series: Come Dancing, Book Two

Genre: Contemporary Romance/New Adult/Chick Lit

About the book...

Julia is a young book editor on the rise. Jack is a British rock star at the pinnacle of his fame.

Can they both get what they want if what they need threatens to tear them apart?

It's January, 1982. Twenty-four-year-old Julia Nash has just moved in with her boyfriend, rock and roll guitarist extraordinaire Jack Kipling. Their connection sizzles as Jack takes her to England to meet his mother, and then to a private Caribbean island for a sensual post-holiday retreat.

But back in New York, they hit a turbulent patch. Career-focused Julia is in the running for a new job, while Jack's life becomes even more chaotic with an upcoming thirty-city tour. Although free-spirited Jack enjoys his partying lifestyle, he craves more support on the home front. But Julia doesn't know if she can ever be a domestic goddess or if her wild boyfriend can ever be domesticated.

On tour, Julia experiences private jets, mind-blowing concerts, shocking hotel room antics, and screaming headlines. Back home, she has to decide if their relationship can withstand the ravages of fame and conflicting interests, not to mention a suave bestselling author who seems to like more than her grammar sense.

Emotionally poignant, hilarious and steamy, Keep Dancing will delight brand-new readers as a stand-alone novel, and also serves as the perfect follow-up to Come Dancing.

Amazon

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Book 1 introduced us to the very different world's of Jack the superstar rock god and Julia the grammar loving bookish publisher. One noticed the other (I'll let you guess who noticed whom), a challenge was seen, a chase was given, and eventually things exploded into a passionate affair that would knock the socks off even some more worldly readers. At the end, we were left wanting more...

Hello book 2! The author answered our cries of love with a second release. It was GREAT getting reacquainted with our leads while growing those connections and friendships (and frenemy-ships) that were more outlined in the first installment. We get to see how their two worlds mesh together for better or worse, watch as they struggle to lay some common milestones they wish to reach in their relationship (one's thinking "here-comes-the-bride", another wants to make their twosome a threesome), deal with others close to them that are trying to tear them apart (no names shall be mentioned, but I'm obviously glaring at one particular person, no make that TWO), and...learn a myriad of ways to tangle above and below the sheets. Yes, there is no shortage of instances where they are falling into bed (or other places) nor suggestive conversations; those preferring squeaky clean reads, be warned.

Here, we get to see Jack and Julia take their relationship to the next level...well, sorta. It's more about domestic bliss and shared timed than matrimony, kids, and mortgages, but I digress. Julia does get to meet his mother (and extended family) and their "parting gift" of sorts is two weeks with Jack's younger self, his nephew. Rambunctious could be an understatement to define this wee one but he is sweet and well intentioned, and he DOES allow us to see how Jack would be as a father figure. Despite his sweetness, I gotta give Julia props. She was a real trooper, especially with the "great mantis release" episode (~shudders~), and his surely innocent (yet still disturbing/funny) handiness in the bedroom. She may not be a domestic goddess (I have two words for you...Cornish Hens; you'll get what I'm referring to once you read the book), but she's a stellar gal with grammar chops to boot and a determined spirit that could turn the hardest heart to liquid gold. (Same can be said to a degree for her fella...)

Overall, while I wasn't in love with it, I did eventually reach a comfortable level of "like". For me, it didn't come together until they stopped falling into bed and started getting real. Though I wasn't thrilled to see them experience heartache and strife, I feel it added a much needed oomph to the actual story. Will I be sticking around to see if the next installment brings a happy ending? You bet; especially after what happens at the end of this one. Curious to see what fireworks are set off by this chain of events...

Recommended read for adult Contemporary Romance fans due to some language, multiple situations, drinking, and drug use. Definitely a pick for those not afraid to get more than a bit steamy from time to time while letting the lead characters stomp on and steal your heart all in the same breath.

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About the author...

Leslie Wells left her small Southern town in 1979 for graduate school in Manhattan, after which she got her first job in book publishing. She has edited forty-eight New York Times bestsellers in her over thirty-year career, including thirteen number one New York Times bestsellers. Leslie has worked with numerous internationally known authors, musicians, actors, actresses, television and radio personalities, athletes, and coaches. She lives on Long Island, New York.

Website | Blog | Facebook | Google+ | Goodreads

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Special thanks to Amy at Book Junkie Promotions for the chance to bring this tour to all of you as well as the review copy (which I might add had a wonderful little blurb just in the front cover from yours truly! ^-^). (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the first release, the author, the publisher, or future promotions on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is AVAILABLE NOW so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing. Speaking of which, BOTH Come Dancing and Keep Dancing are on sale now for only $.99 over at Amazon but don't delay because that price only lasts through tomorrow, as does the tour! Missed a stop? No worries. We've got you covered...