Title: To Dance One More Day
Author: Rachel Jones
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Adult
Rating: 4,5 stars
Purchase: Amazon
Review copy provided by Enchanted Book Promotions in exchange for an honest review.
From her early teens, ballet has been an integral part of Jillian Russell’s life. One by one, she loses her parents, grandparent, husband and child. If being alone in the world wasn’t bad enough, a medical diagnosis takes away her chance to become a prima ballerina.
Knowing a part of her will die if she walks away from ballet, she changes her focus and builds a ballet company and opens a dance school. This endeavor takes all her resources and leaves no time to build new relationships outside her world of dance. Jillian rationalizes if she doesn’t build relationships, she can’t be deserted. And she’s not sure she would survive another loss.
Handsome trauma surgeon, Alan Armstrong has relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina for a fresh start. Until a few years ago, he had always envisioned his future to include a wife and children. But after his father died in a plane crash from lack of medical attention, his focus for the future has shifted to equip himself professionally to set up a rural clinic. A supporter of the arts, Alan finds himself on the board of the North Carolina Ballet Company. He has always had a penchant for fixing things. Realizing Jillian’s professional life could use some help, it is not long before he realizes he is drawn to her romantically as well.
They fall in love, but when Alan discovers Jillian has been misdiagnosed, he tells her she must decide between their love or a performance career in ballet.
In To Dance One More Day, Jillian Russell is obsessed with ballet. She has been ever since she was a kid. And when she loses her parents, grandparent, her husband and her child, and ends up all alone in the world, ballet offers the only solace. But then a medical diagnosis ruins her opportunity of becoming a prima ballerina, and her world is shattered yet again. Although it hurts her, she knows she can’t give up on ballet or she’d have nothing left. So she builds a ballet company, and opens up a dance school, which takes all the money she has, and leaves her little time to worry about anything besides the company. But she doesn’t mind that though, as long as she doesn’t get close to anyone, she can’t get hurt again.
Alan Armstrong is a trauma surgeon. He relocated to a small town to get a fresh start after his dad died in a plane crash due to lack of medical attention. He wants to set up a rural clinic and help people out, instead of living for his ambitions. He’s always admired the arts though, so when he gets an opportunity to be part of Jillian’s dance company, he takes it. Before he realizes it, he’s in for a lot more than he bargained for when he falls in love with Jillian. But can Jillian find the strength to open her heart again? And when Alan finds out Jillian was misdiagnosed, will that ruin their relationship?
This book is one intense rollercoaster, I’ll tell you that. I was on the verge of tears more often than I could count. Poor Jillian. She went through so much! Life really gave her a bad bargain. My heart broke for her. I understood her struggling with the pain, why she couldn’t let anyone come close, her fears. She was raw, realistic, like a real person. She had so much history, so much personality, I felt an instant connection to her.
Alan is intriguing too. He turned his life around, he doesn’t give up no matter what, he’s caring and a genuinely nice person. The two of tem together, well, that’s fireworks. Seriously, I wanted fireworks to go off when they finally decided they’d fallen for each other. They deserve that.
An amazing contemporary romance. Fans of the genre will devour it. The author is extremely talented and knows how to craft a good story. I can’t wait to see what she writes next.
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