First of all, get your tissue ready for this one because it’s a heartbreaker. This is a love story between a mom and a daughter, two sisters, an aunt and a niece, and the hero and heroine. Not giving anything away to say that Peyton’s sister is terminally ill and she’s trying to get her affairs in order including notifying the father of her young tween (he's had no idea).

Watching the careful relationship develop between Peyton’s sister and Drew as they figure out how to transition from a long time ago one night stand to parents is awkward, painful, and sweet. Watching Peyton, her sister, and her niece accept a new person into their family while preparing to say the final good-bye to their anchor is just so damn awful. Watching Drew and Peyton slowly fall into something yet fight it because of timing, awkwardness, grief, and everything in between seems painfully real, awkward yet right at the same time. Watching Drew figure out what he's going to be when he's grown up, i.e. hockey career over,

It’s a slow paced story but not glacial. It moves at a pace that makes sense and while it is so damn sad it’s still hopeful that this blended family can survive and be strong.

A unique love triangle plot! As the pages turned, the conflicts faced by Sara and Drew, evolved into a poignant love story. I loved that Chloe, Drew's daughter and Sara's niece, was so real--a tween struggling with her Mom having cancer and meeting her Dad for the very first time. I didn't want her to be perfect and she wasn't.
Great quotes about life! My two favorites:
"Anyone can win when things are going your way. It's the guy who gets through all the crap who is the real champ."
"Sometimes faking it makes us feel like we are really doing it."

This one was hard to get through because of the underlying storyline, which you know going in. Kelly did such an amazing job writing the characters and you want thing to turn out differently for Sara.
But you have to keep reading so you can watch Drew and Peyton stumble along. And root for them to find their footing and make a better life for Chloe.

Wow, what a totally absorbing novel from author Kelly Jamieson. Dancing in the Rain grabs you right from the beginning and the heart-wrenching journey never lets up. The two primary characters, Peyton Watt and Drew Sellers, have undeniable chemistry, and their romantic courtship is replete with emotion, sadness and love. Ms. Jamieson is a talented storyteller and her words kept me glued to my seat.

Peyton Wyatt has achieved great professional success in reputation management, and as a result, her clients and staff are extremely grateful to be on her team. Her job in New York City is quite challenging and fulfilling, however, she has no social life to speak of because she works all the time. Peyton prefers a career she loves over anything else. When her sister Sara becomes terminally ill, Peyton's priorities begin to change. Peyton loves her sister very much and does everything in her power to make Sara's last few months tolerable, while taking care of her twelve-year-old niece Chloe.

Drew Sellers was a great hockey player. Due to a knee injury, he was forced to retire at a very young age. His world has been rocked and he has no idea what to do next. Then he finds out about Chloe being his daughter. At this point holding himself together is quite difficult. Yet Drew steps up to the plate and becomes a permanent fixture in Chloe's life, while helping Sara and Peyton deal with all that is going on. He and Peyton become more than friends, as their lives are being pulled in many different directions.

Dancing in the Rain is truly an amazing and heartrending novel. It is much more emotional than any of the other books I have read by Ms. Jamieson, however, the sexy times remain as hot as ever. I finished this book a few hours ago, yet it took me a while to pull myself together in order to write a review. Only a few novels have ever caused me to be contemplative and overwhelmingly raw, which this one does stunningly. Don't pass up the chance to read this well-written book.

Complimentary copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

This was an easy read. The book had a nice balance of emotional moments along with happiness and love that were interwoven nicely into the story.

Good solid read! The book was intriguing and the pace was consistent. I really liked the changes in the main characters and how realistic the storyline was.

The first few pages were of Dancing in the Rain were so predictably sports romance that I almost put it down and walked away. I was pleasantly surprised that it was not in fact a sports romance. It's more of a tragic romance. Drew Sellers is a retired hockey player who just got the shock of his life. A one night stand from 12 years ago resulted in a daughter he never knew and the girl's mother is dying. Soon he is sucked into the life of his daughter, her mother, and his daughter's aunt, Peyton.

Honestly, this book will probably work for other people, but not for me. Tragedy isn't my preferred precursor to romance.

4.5 stars.
A fantastic read!
I loved this story and how it tackled difficult issues – illness and death, unemployment – making it an original take on standard romantic fiction. As a matter of fact, I think I liked more the elements that are a deviation from romantic stereotypes than the usual classic romantic plot.
Kelly Jamieson’s created well-developed and believable characters, namely the romantic couple and the secondary characters.
The portrayal of the depressed and somehow lost hero grieving over the premature loss of his career in professional hockey and struggling to reorient his life is so amazingly realistic! And I loved that the hero’s relationship with his daughter wasn’t a bed of roses and how he made some mistakes.
I also loved the sensitive and thorough perspective about the heroine’s sister condition and its effects; I understood later, when reading the afterword, where the author’s awareness came from.
I didn’t know Kelly Jamieson’s work but after reading “Dancing in the Rain” I’ll be looking for her other books.

The Review for this book will go live on it's release date at http://dewonthekudzu.com.

I chose this book because of the author and description. As with her other books, I enjoyed the writing style and the well-developed story. By the description, I had thought that Sara would pass on early and the story would focus on Drew's relationship with Peyton. I was wrong....and it was so much better because I was wrong.

I really liked that as readers, we get to see the entire unit of Sara, Peyton, Chloe, and Drew working this new situation out together. Although it brought many crying sessions with it, I truly enjoyed getting to see the dynamic evolve among them and see how they were all dealing with the tragic circumstances.

There were parts of this book that made me laugh, made me cry, and frustrated me, and I did not want to put it down. There were so many changes that were going on - careers, family dynamics, residences - there was a quick pace to the book.

The reason for not giving 5 stars was mostly some running explanations that seemed redundant and wordy and some of the cursing seemed unnecessary - awkward in its placement, even.

Overall, a great, well-developed story with enjoyable well-developed characters. I highly recommend this to readers who are looking for something a bit deeper than a typical romance.

If there was a way to give this book a higher rating I would give it whole heartedly. I love this author's books, I really do. They are great read and I think it's impossible to not connect with the characters she creates. This book was different from her others though. In fact it stood completely apart.. My chest felt tight and there were moments that the emotion was so real and so so believable that I had to st the book aside. As someone who lost there mom 27 years ago when I was just leaving high school.....this book hit me hard. It wasn't the subject matter( I've read plenty of work with this cancer as an issue) and it certainly wasn't that I'm a weepy person.....It was the storytelling.. Even before I read the dedication at the end, I knew the writing was deeply personal. Brilliant, heartbreaking, and still full of hope. This was an amazing story that I was not prepared for. I have to say thank you. I haven't thought of my mom or my loss in many years. I sincerely believe this is the best book I've read by this author and honestly the one book I've ever read that left me wiping tears off my face while still managing to smile. I will read this again...not right now but sometime soon.

This book was a wonderful surprise. Just when I thought every romance novel I picked up would have one of the same five or six basic plot themes, this one comes along with a unique story. Although it has some of the plot devices we often see, the tale and characters were a perfect combination of original and believable.
We've all seen "secret baby" before, but never in this context - especially when said baby is almost twelve years old. All of the principals in this book are decent people trying to deal with a difficult situation in an honorable way. The female characters are strong and self sufficient. Even our twelve year old is a gem. And our hero has obvious issues related to his career ending injury, but it's not hard to see from the beginning that he is an inherently good person.
As the story progresses the characters all grow in ways they need to to deal with their circumstances. They all have flaws, make mistakes, and face the consequences of them. But you know they are going to work out their problems because ultimately they all want to do the right thing.
This book was such s breath of fresh air. It dealt with a difficult subject in an original way - which was delightful.

Good story. Lots of conclusions jumped to - which gets a little old. Definite tear jerker.

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of DitR from NetGalley and Loveswept. I absolutely loved this one! Except for a rather OTT, mushy epilogue, DitR was delightfully grown-up, the characters as real as you and me despite the fame and fortune that surround them. This latest standalone from Kelly Jamieson will leave you in tears while leaving you full of hope. Not to mention its got a "secret baby with a twist" storyline.

Drew Sellers life is in pieces after a knee injury forces him into early retirement from the National Hockey League. Like many professional athletes, Drew has no idea what to do now that he isn't playing hockey. Peyton Watt's career is exactly where she wants it to be, but her life is changing in a tragic way that she has no control over. Drew and Peyton meet in unusual circumstances after Drew finds out that he fathered a daughter 12 years ago-with Peyton's sister. As their worlds collide amidst tragedy and grief, Drew and Peyton discover that life is never what you expect it to be and this is what makes DitR such a wonderful book.

I felt the impact of the old adage "when one door closes another opens" throughout this book. Drew never expected to be just shy of 30 and forced to retire. With his playing days over, and (in his mind) no other skills, he spends his days drinking, screwing, and spoiling for fights. When he finds out that he has a daughter, he's set down a path that forces him to reevaluate his self-worth. Meeting that daughter leads him to a place where he has to examine his selfishness and recognize his ability to love. Drew's journey was heartfelt even when I wanted to slap him, but at no time did it ring falsely.

Peyton, on the other hand, is living the life she's always wanted. With her parents dead, her only family is her sister and niece, something she's just fine with as she has no desire to sacrifice her career for family. Life has something different in store for her when she her sister's illness brings her back to Chicago, leaving her job in jeopardy. Peyton's love for her sister and niece is palpable and despite her focus on her career she never leaves the reader in doubt that her family comes first. I think Peyton may be one of my favorite heroines this year. She's strong and driven professionally, but balances that out perfectly with a feminine softness that is very appealing. Her journey felt just as real as Drew's.

Together, Peyton and Drew are a dynamic couple worth reading about. They bring out the best in each other and lead each other to happiness neither thought they'd find. There's definitely some tissue-worthy moments in DitR, so be prepared!

Dancing in the Rain is a story about finding your way through the many trials you face in life. Drew is a good guy trying to fight his way through being forced into early retirement from the NHL. Sara is a woman from his past who has a secret that will affect Drew now and into the future.

Kelly Jamieson writes a story that touches on many feelings. I give this book 3.5 stars.

'All the feels' doesn't begin to express my emotional response to this very big story.
Sara Watt is running out of time and she has enoumous decisions to make regarding the future of her 11-year old daughter, Chloe. Her daughter was the result of a single one-night stand in college with a boy named Drew and a little too much alcohol. Sara didn't even know his last name. Sara raises her child alone, with the support of her sister Peyton when she receives the terminal diagnosis that will require some very difficult decisions.
Sarah's sister, Peyton, will care for her daughter Chloe after she is gone but Sara feels that she needs to meet Drew, let him know that he is a father and decide if he should be and is willing to be part of his daughter Chloe's life. There are so many considerations. Sara has been raising her daughter in Chicago and her sister Peyton has a dream job in NYC.
Drew Sellers is a mess. A true mess. He can't play hockey any longer as the result of an injury and, in part, his failure to allow himself time to recover from prior repetitive injuries. He didn't finish college and has no idea what the rest of his life will look like. He has no desire or ambition to move forward and misses the structure and camaraderie of his team life. To make matters worse, he didn't trust his judgment after his divorce from cheating wife Christy. When he is contacted by Sara, who he initially doesn't even remember, he expresses that he has nothing to offer to this 11 year old daughter.
The primary emotion throughout the story is sorrow yet as time passes yet slowly love begins to grow through the cracks and adds color to the darkness.
There are funny moments as well. When Peyton hears that Drew has decided that it wouldn't be in Chloe's best interest to have him around, she is incensed and goes to visit him. Drew, not expecting anyone, answers the door in the nude hoping to drive away visiting Jehovah's Witnesses You can't help but laugh. Peyton is a public relations, image restoration/protection expert. She has seen most everything and doesn't even blink at his nudity. I certainly blinked and I was just the reader.
This author paints with her words as she describes Drew's neighborhood, "big old houses ...worth millions of dollars despite the unassuming ambiance of the neighborhood." She also includes emotion in her portrait as 'Chloe danced in the rain doing a piroutte..dancing in the rain was what you had to do sometimes'.
Peyton and Drew grow closer yet there are so many barriers. Peyton's emotions alternate between attraction and love, confusion and frustration, yet one thing remains constant...she calls things as she sees them and reminds Drew that he can't stay on the corner of 'We all have problems and Suck it up Buttercup.
I sincerely appreciate the recommendation by Loveswept and Netgalley as this author is one of my favorites. The anticipation of an HEA ending is fraught with fear that it won't come to pass. What an intense story!

Heartfelt story and really enjoyable although predicable at times, but really enjoyable

Just when you think you’ve read every formula for the star pro-athlete/secret baby trope, a book comes along and gives you something new and refreshing. Dancing in the Rain takes you on a heartbreaking journey. Strangely enough, the heartbreaking part doesn’t have much to do with the main character of this book.

When Drew Sellers, a retired professional hockey star, is approached by a woman at a coffee shop, he learns he fathered a child 12 years ago during a drunken one-night-stand at a college party. Sara Watt tried to find him after she found out she was pregnant, but only knew his first name. When she sees Drew on the cover of a magazine, she decides to approach him - but only with the intention of giving him the option of getting to know his daughter. This revelation couldn’t have come at a worse time for Drew, though. His recent retirement from hockey wasn’t his choice and he’s plagued with doubt and insecurity about what to do with the rest of his life. And now he has to figure out how to be a father to a 12 year-old?

Not wanting to give away any spoilers (although the big “plot twist” in this story is revealed within the first chapter), I won’t go into the rest of the story. But I can tell you this - I loved the characters in this book. Sara is a strong woman. Her sister Peyton is a strong woman. Chloe, the daughter, is a charming 12 year-old girl. When we meet Drew, he’s wallowing in self pity, but meeting these three women inspires him to pull himself up by the bootstraps and get his act together. Watching him do it isn’t always pretty, but isn’t personal growth like that sometimes?!

As the characters in this story are dealing with the awful hand life has dealt them, the reader is also compelled to reflect on what it would be like to go through the same thing. Along with Drew, you may come to the realization that what you’re going through is bad, but there’s always someone who is going through something worse. With this perspective, it’s hard not to have hope.

There were both laughter and tears reading this book. You’ll start out feeling hopeless and sad, and end the last page feeling hopeful and happy. What a wonderful journey to take while reading a book!

Hot hockey player forced to retire because of bad knees and struggling to find his way in life after his hockey career is over. Hockey is all that he has ever been known for. Then he finds out he has a 12 year old daughter he didn't know about. The child's mother doesn't have long to live and she wants to give Drew a chance to know his daughter. Along with meeting his daughter he also meets the childs aunt P (Peyton). Peyton will become the legal guardian of the child when her mother dies. And that is just the start of the story. This book will give you lots of laughts, but it will also bring lots of tears. This is a very emotional love story. While this is a very good book it is full of lots of foul language. Loads of "F" words. But if you can get past all of that it is a very good book.

A nice love story that was well written and especially enjoyed the daughter Chloe and how she navigated her changing relationships and tragedy in her life. While it would be in character for Drew to use foul language, I I did think it was a bit excessive and detracted from what were sweeter moments in the book, especially when the 11 year old daughter was part of the dialog. But overall, a series that I would read, especially when you combine hockey and a love story. Not many of those combinations out there.