You Make Me Feel Like Dancing

This is the kind of book that just makes you feel GOOD. For me, it's the epitome of what Contemporary Christian Fiction is all about! Great characters, believable plot, fantastic story, and a message about how to live as The Savior would want us to. I instantly fell in love with Susan,(which happens to be my best friends name - in my real life), she is a hoot, and I felt connected to her from the get-go. Add in Miss Lilly (who is the spit'n image - minus the money- of my "foster mom", Arrine), who is elegant, savvy, professional, smart, richer than rich, and secure in her faith. Then blend in Michael (Susan's husband of 25 years), the Lovely Loretta (Susan's right hand woman at the Disco Diva), and you have a foursome that would be able to handle just about any situation. With the addition of Ryan, Tina, Jackie (at the end), and Susan's online pals, Bottke has written a masterpiece!!! I'm a mature woman. I'm a mother and grandmother. I might be older, but I'm still kick'n, and it's so wonderful to be able to pick up a book and read about other Baby Boomers. I laughed, I cried, and I laughed some more. I do my best reading soaking in our spa(oh it's so wonderful)tub. I'll get myself some munchies, a big glass of grapefruit juice, and settle in for a nice long session. Usually I'm in the tub for about an hour or an hour and a half. This time, my husband had to drag me out, when I hit over the two hour mark. YES - that's how great this story is. YOU MAKE ME FEEL LIKE DANCING, did just that! Bravo...bravo...encore! I so look forward to more from Allison Bottke. (Review first posted at [...])

You Make Me Feel Like Dancing: A Novel (Va Va Va Boom Series) This is Allison Bottke's third fiction book and the first in the Va Va Va Boom! Series. She really shines as an author with YOU MAKE ME FEEL LIKE DANCING. I have enjoyed reading this book several times and enjoy each time as much as the first. The characters are fun and real. I enjoy "spending time" with them through the pages of this story. I laugh, cry, and remember the days of disco -- and the fashion that went along with it. I recommend watching the book trailer too. Fun, fashion, disco, and dancing. A great combination! Watch now at [...]

You Make Me Feel Like Dancing VaVaVa Boom Series Allison Bottke 2009 David C. Cook Fiction/Christian/Women Reviewed by Cindy Loven Susan Anderson is the Disco Queen, the owner of the famous hair salon Disco Diva. However she is hiding, from her past. A past that was soon to catch up to her. Busy, busy, busy is the only way to describe how Susan lives. Her salon is extremely successful, she is in love with her husband. She just never had opened up to him. He is nearing retirement and ready for his turn and a startling announcement from him, concerning his retirement and plans for after retirement, drive a wedge between them. Susan has a plan is in place to enlarge her existing salon, when a rich friend decides to find out what Susan's dreams are, and then she places into motion, a plan to make that dream come true. Thus the new Disco Diva Salon and DaySpa, The Disco Hall of Fame Museum, and the dancing and non alcoholic dinner club, are birthed and planned. Michael's retirement plans threaten all of this. Follow the story to find out how it is all resolved. The entrance of a person from the past, brings Susan to a point of facing her past, and to a breakdown, her family and friends surround her with love and caring. Her healing process is slow and painful, but successful. A wonderful ending to a lovely story, Allison Bottke, has brought us a book that will make us laugh, cry and bite our nails in anticipation of what will happen next. Get to know, Susan and Michael Anderson, Lily Peyton, Loretta, Tina, Ryan and Patricia in this heart stirring novel. A definite must read book!! The back of the book has discussion questions for a book club. 437 pages [...]

"You Make Me Feel Like Dancing" by Allison Bottke is a charming story about a former New York City girl who danced the night away during the glittery disco era. Now, she's a 50-something hairdresser on the Las Vegas strip. Glitz and glamour is in this gals blood. She and her friends keep in touch online, sharing life and loves and successes and failures. This is terrific Baby Boomer chick lit! This is a really fun read. It was also a nostalgic one since I grew up in New York and now live in Las Vegas, myself. It also gave me a new perspective on how my mother might think. There are also some terrific discussion questions at the end of the book for your reading group. My only disappointment was that there were no recipes included - especially after reading Allison Bottke's bio on the back cover.

Allison does a great job of bringing you into the Disco era and just about everything the seventies had to offer. Her characters are believable and through them, Allison delves into friendships, marriage relationships and what true love is. This book is fun to read, funny and it surprisingly touched my heart deeply. Someone describes Susan's salon as this, "Disco Diva isn't just about hair. It's a feeling you get while you're there--a feeling that you matter, that people care, that along with being pampered, you're loved, truly loved. By you, Susan and by God. It's an anointed place, your unique little haven off the strip, and that's because you're living your purpose and your passion." I really liked how Allison explores what "living your purpose and passion means. Susan says to a client, "God has made you for a reason, and He brought you here for a reason--to Las Vegas and to Disco Diva. I believe there are no accidents or coincidences--only what I call "God-cidences." So whatever happened to your hair under that big ol' hat is not the end of the world. It just might be the start of something new--something great!" I just loved what Lily, Susan's close friend says this about life, "Things are never black and white. Life usually takes place in the gray areas--at least the life worth living. It's not about being right or wrong, who's at fault and who isn't. It's about compromise and commitment. It's about fixing the broken things instead of throwing them away." God is here to heal the broken hearted not throw them away. I'll Amen that!! These are just some of the jewels you'll find inside this book. Allison has a way of taking you into the world she's created, let you have fun and learn a little something too. It's a gift. This is the first book in the Boomer Babes series. I can't wait to read the rest. Finding Hope Through Fiction Book Club Servant Leader