Dance, Ballerina, Dance by M.A. Abraham

Links to order Dance Ballerina Dance:
Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / Smashwords

Description:
Diamond Taylor didn’t think twice about what she was going to do when she heard her grandmother was on her deathbed. She immediately took a leave of absence from her position as Prima Ballerina and boarded a plane for Sydney and home. She wasn’t prepared for what she found when she got there, a dying grandmother, a grieving grandfather, and both prepared to do whatever it took to make sure she was matched with their neighbor who they had all but adopted.

Trent was doing everything he could do to help his neighbors, they were like family to him and his wards considered them equivalent to grandparents. It was such a tragedy that the only member of their own family didn’t care enough to bother coming to be by their side, though that was about to change. The last thing he expected was someone like Diamond Taylor and his reaction to the dark-haired beauty. She was a complication he didn’t need in his life, but couldn’t help reaching for with both hands.

Diamond and Trent took one look at each other and it was hate at first sight, or was it? No matter what, they were being railroaded into an unwanted marriage by her matchmaking grandparents and the truce they declared to make the last days of her grandmothers life happy were about to bind them in ways neither expected. The question was, could they make it continue to work later, when there was no reason left to pretend?

Review:

Dance, Ballerina, Dance by M.A. Abraham is a sweet story about two people who have devoted their lives to their work, not allowing themselves to open their hearts to anyone. Diamond Taylor is our heroine, and when we meet Diamond, who is a famous Prima Ballerina, she is on her way home to visit her dying grandmother in Australia.

Diamond had a rough childhood that helped pave the way to hardening her heart, though she did love her grandparents.  Diamond lost her family to a fire when she was a child, and to this day, she still has nightmares.  She grew up with her grandparents, but now that she is older, Diamond does not see them much.  She is too busy doing what she loves, being a ballerina, and only her grandmother on her death bed can pull Diamond away.

Our hero, Trent Alexander, is a friend, who lives next door to Diamond’s grandparents.  He meets Diamond immediately after she arrives, and both of them hit it off on the wrong foot.  She is cold and not very friendly, and he thinks of her as a snob.  She considers him rude, and insolent.  Needless to say, they both can’t stand each other.

Diamond’s grandfather plots to bring the man that they have come to care about and trust together with their granddaughter.  A plot is put together for Trent and Diamond to pretend that they have fallen in love to appease her grandmother, who then plans a wedding before she dies.  Neither Trent or Diamond are happy about it, but do go along with the plan, to allow her grandmother to be happy in her final days.  They are given a two week honeymoon trip as a gift.  During these two weeks, they discover each other, and the sexual chemistry between them was strong.  When they return home, Trent has fallen in love with Diamond, and she herself cares strongly for Trent, but is hesitant to commit totally.

A short time later, Diamond is beside herself, as she finds what she has dreaded come true.  When she goes to console herself with Trent, she finds him in the arms of another woman.  What she doesn’t know is that it was unwarranted, an old flame tried to push herself upon him.  Diamond filled with grief, doesn’t let herself look at the obvious and takes a plane back to San Francisco and her ballet troupe.  Trent has no idea why Diamond left, and is heartbroken, but also angry. 

What follows is a story of two people, both stubborn, who truly do love one another, but each refusing to give in to their feelings.  Diamond goes back to her career, and privately mourns the loss of Trent.  But a promise to Trent two nieces, brings Diamond back to Australia, and into the arms of Trent, especially when she is suffering from a bad injury that could cost her career. A wonderful sweet story of an unlikely romance, with some rough edges along the way.  The end pulled on our emotions, with a scary scene, which I wish had a bigger more elaborate homecoming.  But Dance, Ballerina, Dance was a different type of book by M.A. Abraham and I enjoyed reading it very much.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Author