The Dancer (The Ballerina Series 3) by Ursula Sinclair-Review and Giveaway
THE DANCER
(The Ballerina Series #3)
by Ursula Sinclair
Genre: new adult, contemporary, romance
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 1, 2015
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“Let me in.”
Dante
It’s not easy being a male dancer in a world where women dominate. Ballet. Yeah, I’m a ballet dancer, but I prefer male professional dancer. Still, I am at the top of my profession. Choreographers clamor to create dance pieces for me, and women just clamor for me period. See, being straight in a female dominated profession has its perks. But even though I don’t hurt for companionship, I still get up in the middle of the night reaching for something, someone, who is not the person lying next to me. Because I always wake up feeling empty inside…until she played for me.
Kali
It’s not easy being a female in a male dominated profession. Most people can’t name five female guitarist, bass or lead, but I bet they can name five male guitar players. Still, I am at the top of my profession. I’ve proven to the world that music ability isn’t driven by gender. It hadn’t always been that way, but now I am in constant demand. My time is no longer my own. As for a relationship with a significant other? I stay away from other musicians I perform with or might perform with, like the plague. Not good to mix business with pleasure. Still, I’m only human and I wake up in the middle of the night reaching for something that’s just not there. Then one day he danced for me, and suddenly, I was no longer empty inside.
•••••••••••
REVIEW: THE DANCER is the third installment in Ursula Sinclair’s contemporary The Ballerina new adult, romance series. This is principle male dancer Dante Hammond, and guitarist Kali Devereaux’s storyline. Dante (Ivy’s best friend) was first introduced in book one-The Ballerina and the Fighter-and has had a continuous role throughout the series. Although THE DANCER is the third installment in the series it can be read as a stand alone. Any important information from previous storylines is revealed where necessary.
Told from alternating first person points of view (Dante and Kali) THE DANCER focuses on the upcoming beach nuptials of Ivy and Maze, and the introduction of Kali Devereaux to Dante Hammond. Kali had been invited to Ivy and Maze’s wedding as Vin’s (Maze’s best friend) plus one but the sparks flew between Dante and Kali from the very start. What started off as a one night stand soon developed into something more. When Kali’s latest music tour takes her to Europe for one month neither she nor Dante have any contact with one another leaving each to wonder how the other is doing. Upon her return to the USA, Dante and Kali pick up where they had left off, including a weekend hiking trip into the mountains where everything goes from great to bad in a matter of hours.
The relationship between Kali and Dante is one of immediate attraction. The sexual tension is palpable and our couple is quick to act on their attraction and need. The $ex scenes are intimate and seductive.
The secondary and supporting characters include Ivy and Shel’s (book one) parents, as well as Maze’s friend Vin whose story will be told next in CHOOSE ME. We are also introduced to several female dancers (Christy and Stella) whose attraction to Dante leaves little to the imagination. Christy tries to force her way into Dante’s life only to discover that life as she knows it is about to change.
Like in the previous two installments there are some issues of grammar, spelling errors and missing words which could have been easily caught by a proof-reader or beta read. I also don’t understand how in this day and age of social media, texting and emails how two people have no contact with one another for weeks, months and years at a time (Ivy and Maze) but Ursula’s leading couples have some difficulty in the communication department.
THE DANCER is an enjoyable storyline about another interracial couple. The characters are animated and charismatic; the romance impassioned and intense; the happily ever after not unexpected. Dante has finally found the one to complete his dance card both in and out of the bedroom.
Copy supplied by the author.
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MAZE
(The Ballerina Series #2)
by Ursula Sinclair
Genre: New Adult, contemporary, romance
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 27, 2013
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Maze
There are times in life when you have to make decisions that others will neither understand nor forgive. When that happens, then you make damn sure they never find out. But no matter what, you will do anything to protect those you love. Even if it means you forfeit your soul.
Ivy
He’s keeping something from me. And I’m not sure I want to know because it will forever change us.
•••••••••••
REVIEW: MAZE is the second installment in Ursula Sinclair’s contemporary THE BALLERINA new adult, romance series. This is the continuing story of Maze and Ivy, and picks up immediately after the events of book one-The Ballerina and the Fighter. Ivy is a professional ballerina who is currently on medical leave due to an unfortunate accident; Maze is an MMA fighter trained in the Japanese style of blade fighting. When Maze refuses to throw a fight he and everyone he loves will become targets in a gang war to control the Japanese Triad and the Tong. What ensues are Maze’s attempts to hunt down the people responsible and knowing that his future has been pre determined by the people he loves.
MAZE is a storyline that focuses on Maze and Ivy’s building relationship as they learn to trust one another following a five year separation wherein Ivy had believed that Maze was no longer a part of her life. Maze’s return to America comes with the harsh reality that everything has changed for Maze and Ivy. As Maze tries to uncover the truth, he will lose someone close in the ensuing struggle for power and control.
The secondary characters include Ivy’s BFF and roommate Dante-a fellow dancer who lost his heart to Ivy years before. We reconnect with Maze’s foster father Joe, and his Uncle Tsang –two men whose lives will collide time and time again. Ivy and Shelly’s (book 1) parents face a reality many people have had to endure; Maze’s friend Vin drops in for a drink or two; and the bodyguards protecting Ivy and Maze will lose a couple of their own as they battle with the Japanese mob..
The world building follows Maze’s hunt for a group of Japanese assassins, as well as his need to protect the woman that he loves.
I did have a few issues with this particular storyline as it pertained to a number of spelling errors and grammar problems-another round of editing could easily pick up the mistakes. The slow build of the storyline was due in part to Maze’s need to ‘disappear’ but in the interval we learn very little about what has happened. Maze’s search for the people responsible for threatening everyone that he loves is pushed to the background throughout the story- we are third party witnesses after everything is said and done.
MAZE is an interesting and entertaining storyline about an interracial couple who have issues of trust. Maze and Ivy have both lost people in their lives, and continued threats make it apparent that more losses are imminent and in the future. The characters are colorful and animated; the happily ever after jumps several years so that we get a glimpse into the future for Ivy and Maze.
Copy supplied by the author
Reviews by Sandy
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Click HERE for Sandy’s review of THE BALLERINA AND THE FIGHTER
ABOUT THE BOOK: July 1, 2013
I travel through life dancing.
All I ever wanted to do was dance, as did my best friend. We’d made so many plans together, but one night an explosion changed it all. Only one of us survived, and I promised myself I’d succeed for us both. And I did, until an accident almost ruined my career, but Maze came back into my life when I needed him most. He pulled me out of the depths of my despair. But could I save him now?
I travel through life fighting.
It had always been Ivy; from the first moment I saw her leaping through the air like she had wings to lift her from the ground. But she was my dream, something I wanted more than anything else in my life. I promised myself I would stay away from her. Violence followed me everywhere and I tried to keep her far away from it. She was my point of illumination in the dark tumultuous world I lived in. But I could not stay away from her. Not when I knew she needed me. As much as I needed her. But could she accept me as I am?
Ursula Sinclair (aka Laverne Thompson) is offering an ecopy of book 1 or book 2 (Maze) or Audible (audio book -US or UK only) of THE BALLERINA AND THE FIGHTER (Book 1) to ONE(1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.
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