Save the Last Dance

Mariah Baker works as an interior designer on Orcas Island. She lives on an old horse farm left to her by a deceased aunt. Work has slowed to a crawl and the upkeep of the farm is draining her pocket. Mariah's financial problems are not helped by her addiction to designer clothes. Convinced by an ex-fiancé that she is frigid, Mariah's love life is non-existent, until she gets a handsome neighbor for the summer. Rico Sanchez is a washed up singer-songwriter, after a horrible scandal sent his singing career down the toilet. Rico is part of a huge family who depend on him for everything. He heads to Orcas Island to get away from it all. Mariah is just the kind of recreation he had in mind but will he be able to walk away at the end of summer? The Dance started off very slow for me but when it picked up, it kept going. Rico and Mariah's relationship had plenty ups and downs and a surplus of emotion. I loved Rico and I was rooting for him all the way but I found Mariah to be childish, for the most part. The Dance will pull you in all directions but you will be happy in the end. Zayn Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

I found this steamy romance difficult to put down. The main characters, Rico and Mariah, are hopelessly attracted to each other, yet unwilling to compromise their ideals. Rico's past as a world famous rock star, his creative frustrations, his exasperation with his family and his fear of not being able to fully commit to Mariah are both plausible and endearing. Rico is overwhelmed by his feelings for Mariah, but having been betrayed by love before, he is wary of allowing himself to believe in the possibility of a "happily ever after." Consequently, Rico dances in and out of Mariah's life, trying to convince himself that he is far more suited to a relationship of convenience, yet fundamentally incapable of living a life devoid of stability and passion. Mariah has also suffered in the hands of insensitive men. Strapped for cash, struggling for mandates as a free-lance interior decorator, she spends her life tucked away in the tumbledown farmhouse she inherited from her aunt, riding her Spanish dressage horse. Dazzled by Rico's charm, confused by his erratic behavior, Mariah is brave enough to wear her heart on her sleeve and suffers multiple bruises as a consequence. While her bruises fade, her attraction to Rico doesn't. Both Rico and Mariah have to struggle with their personal needs and expectations in order to make their relationship work. "The Dance" is a truly engaging and entertaining read.

Jami Davenport has a talent for creating plots that pull you back even when you need to put the book down and get something else done. She has a very engaging style of storytelling. Her characters are full and real, and her settings in the San Juan Islands will whisk you away every time. THE DANCE is the story of Rico, a "has been" rock star, and Mariah, a woman who "dances with horses." Mariah is on the verge of losing everything, and Rico is struggling to recover from his skydive from wealth and fame. Mariah is sexually inexperienced and carries some serious baggage from a bad past relationship. Rico has been taken advantage of and betrayed by his family and the only woman he ever loved. Yet, he still carries the torch from that old flame. Their combustable sexual attraction and her deepening feelings for him give Mariah the courage to overcome her fears. Rico's more than willing to school her in the bedroom, but he has no intention of giving her his heart. This is a very sensual read and if you read Jami Davenport's, WHO'S BEEN SLEEPING IN MY BED, you'll recognize some of the characters and settings. Pick this one up. You won't be disappointed.