The only thing missing from this fiery friends-with-benefits-that-want-more story was a playlist. The way Natasha and Dmitri connected through dance was mesmerizing and I wished I could hear the music while envisioning the dance scenes.

Dance with Me was a great surprise to me because I usually don't care for romances set in the fake and weird world of reality tv and I usually don't find romances compelling when the MCs are already sleeping together. But the push-pull between Natasha and Dmitri and their undeniable chemistry on and off the dance floor made this more an emotional story about two people making mistakes (and learning from them) as they fight falling in love. I loved watching the smooth Dmitri fall over himself trying (and often failing) to say and do the right things for Natasha once he realized he was in love with her.

It was lovely how Natasha and Dmitri's ethnic backgrounds flowed together without need for unnecessary exposition or translation. Some of my favorite little moments were when Natasha would lapse in Spanish and Dmitri in Ukrainian. Their cultural differences blended together just as effortlessly as they did when dancing together.

Although this was the second in the Dance Off series, it reads like a standalone. I hadn't read the first but didn't have any trouble following along.

Dance With Me by Alexis Daria is the second instalment of a series about a Strictly Come Dancing type reality show. I read the first book (Take the Lead) when I came out. I definitely enjoyed it, but I felt the dance competition featured so heavily, it overshadowed the rest of the book. This second book takes place in the off-season and while the TV show is very present, it never dominates the story.

Dance With Me centres around Natasha, a professional dancers on the show, and Dimitri, one of the judges. I liked how they were both complex characters that grew throughout the book. I loved Natasha’s Puerto Rican roots, especially in contrast with Dimitri’s Ukrainian background.

I thought the romance mostly worked. The one thing that bothered me a little was that Dimitri didn’t really see why they couldn’t really be on the show together if they were in a relationship. I also struggled with suspending my disbelief for some of the fundamental parts of the plot. Yet, I enjoyed this book and I’m look forwarding to reading more from this author.
3.5 stars

Sadly I struggled with this couple which was a real shame as I loved the first book (and couple) in this series and the authors writing style. It could very well be a case of it’s not you it’s me though—there are many who did enjoy so definitely worth checking out for yourself.

Professional dancer Natasha's life has been spinning a bit out of control since her former roommate and best friend Gina moved out after finding true love AND winning the dancing competition show they both perform on. Natasha is cash strapped and growing tired of the booty call game she's been playing with Dimitri, the main judge of The Dance Off.

And then Natasha's bedroom ceiling collapses and with no where else to turn she finds herself living with her booty call.

Dimitri loves Natasha but can't and won't tell her until he is sure she feels the same. When he gets the chance to have her live with him, he thinks it will be the perfect opportunity to finally bare all. Too bad what they are doing is strictly against the rules and both their careers are at risk.

Sensual, sexy, and trope defying, this is even better than the first in the Dance Off and I'm hoping Daria's "duology" turns into MORE.

I was super excited to start this one thanks to the little bits we got to see of these two in the previous novel, Take the Lead.

Once again, the character development here is great! I often find in romances that one of the characters is "stronger" (or more put together) than the other when it comes to their lives but in this novel, I liked that they each had their flaws and things to work on. I loved watching both of our leads grow as people and push each other to better things. They make great partners in all aspects which is what I loved watching in this book.

They also make a great romantic pair because they have fantastic chemistry. Sure, the somewhat forbidden element of their relationship adds to the tension but they are both super passionate people and it shows.

The main reason this rating isn't a 5/5 is that I wanted a little more showing than telling with the romance. It's always hard to write a romance where the characters have already fallen in love with each other without the readers seeing that because we love watching the initial sparks fly (or at least I do). These two have had a relationship for a long time (one that isn't really touched on in the previous book either other than its brief mention) and those feelings for each other are already established. As I said above, these two have great chemistry and it shows but often times I felt like I was reading the sequel novel to their story without reading the first because I wanted more of those sparks.

However, I still really enjoyed this book! The character development is truly the highlight of this novel (it's hard to find a solid character driven romance instead of just a focus on sexy times) and Alexis Daria has succeeded once again!

I really enjoyed this sequel to Take the Lead. The first novel focused on a celebrity dance show and the pairing of one of the couples. This one takes place in the off season with an on-again/off-again relationship between a dancer and one of the judges. I really enjoy the way Daria writes such full stories for her characters. Her novels really do a great job of investing the reader in the backstory and I really hope there is more to this series.
Thanks to Swerve and NetGalley for the chance to review this book.

I very much enjoyed Alexis Daria's first book, Take the Lead, but this second book blew me away. I loved it so much. I loved Dimitri and learning more about him and the same with Natasha. It was steamy but not overly so and a really great romance. Alexis Daria is definitely an author to look out for.

Good story. Natasha and Dimitri have chemistry in the dance floor and out. Is a story of success and take risk. Love, commitment are risk we need to be happy.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley. If you are looking for a love story developed from a friends with benefits relationship this book is for you.

Sexy, funny, and emotionally satisfying
When I reviewed Take the Lead, the first book by Alexis Daria, I mentioned hoping Tash would get her own book. Not a month later, Dance with Me hit my inbox and it’s even better than the first. It’s the story of friends-with-benefits who don’t realise the other also wants more from the relationship, but it’s also the story about self-worth and following dreams.

Tash’s insecurity and desire to prove herself really resonated; it was awesome to see her reach out for help, even as I wanted to toss a book at her head to make her do so. Dmitri was totally-swoonworthy: talented and hot, but the primary goal of looking after his family? It almost makes up for his terrible foot-in-mouth syndrome. Their physical attraction is off the charts so the book focused on emotional intimacy, where they help each other reach for the stars and find love along the way. I loved reading this book and I suspect you will too.

I received a copy of this story from the author through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Rating 3.5
Ok,my anticipation for this one was prettyyyyyy high, because book one is now one of my fave books i've read for 2017. i just adored it! But i have to say I didnt get that same feeling here, sadly. i liked Natasha and could so relate to her insecurities of wanting to do things on her own, and not knowing how Dimitri felt but I feel like i never fullyyy warmed up to Dimitri.

He was soooo pushy with Natasha that for a good portion of the book he sort of turned me off. Like, she gets injured and he's carrying her and she says to put her down multiple times and he flat out refused....that just...rubbed me so wrong,

I never did get that omg swooon feeling that i got with Stone in book one. i know i know, two different guys here but still! I may have slightly, towards the end, been like ok he's wising up to how not to act with Natasha but idk, maybe it was too late then.

BUT. lemme just say the few dance scenes were magical as always. Alexis Daria knows how to give good dance , lemme just say that. emotions were so real when they danced. And i know this book takes place in the off season of their show but I wanted mooore dancing.

This is where book 1 shone for me. that emotion, of their building relationship was seen so well with the dancing and while we got a few scenes here with Dimitri and Tash i missed them. i really did.

And whooo boy Donna i legit despise you girl. Even more so than in book one damn lol.

Also side note: i really liked Nik, even the little we got of him I was like oh i like him and I want to see more of that guy heheh.

So while i didnt get the swoony feeling that i got with book one I will say i'm hoping for more books in this series. Idk is something's being hinted at with Kevin, Tash's friend and coworker on the dance show but im here for more books in this universe!

I think the problem I have with these books isn't a problem with the books themselves, but a problem with me. Because I'm honestly not connecting to the characters that well, and finding myself bored by the relationships and the conflict. The prose in this felt a little flowery at times and clunky at others, and in the end it was just one of those books that I almost finished for the sake of finishing, which is a shame because I was looking forward to this series. It just didn't live up to my expectations.

I have not read the first book in this series but after hearing so many great things about it I decided to try this one when it was on offer on Netgalley. I did not feel at all lost by jumping into the series in book two. I still may go back and read book one but this book really did not work for me.

I just did not like either character, Dimitri was at least more developed but Natasha was just one long whine about how she fails to be an adult with the typical mean mother who withholds all love. Their romantic situation could be solved by having a conversation. I just felt like I was way too old for them and their drama. I just wanted everyone to grow up.

<i>Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. The review below is entirely my own opinion.</i>

I loved the first book in this series "Take the Lead" and was thrilled when I got an ARC for this one. And I loved this one too. Actually, to be honest, I loved this one even more. Here's why:

1) I'm a big fan of DWTS and I can totally imagine some of my favorite celebrity-pros playing Tasha/Dimitri.

2) I loved that Tasha's struggles to eke out a living as a dancer were realistically portrayed. I love that she doesn't have her act together and has insecurities like normal people. I love that her issues with her mom are so honest. She's a totally relatable character.

3) I loved that Dimitri is such a family oriented man. I love that he was dumb/dense/clueless about handling this whole relationship with Tasha --- I thought he redeemed himself in a really good, sweet way.

While I wasn't comfortable with some aspects of their love story: <spoiler>Tasha and Dimitri had this weird on/off/hook-up "relationship" prior to this book. They've been basically boinking each other and boinking others for the past 3 years.</spoiler> I could see how this situation/arrangement could happen in real-life, especially in amongst celebrities/actors/actresses.

I hope the next book will be about Kevin!

In one line - "I really want to love this book because it's so good but this particular collection of tropes is working against me, gaaaaah-"

It is good. The storyline has much more angst than the first book, though, and that's where you start to lose me. If you don't mind angst and (well explained!) miscommunication this is your jam.

The good:

- The writing is solid and little things that sometimes fall by the wayside are perfectly in place.
- The characterization is spun out slowly and realistically, aided by the duel points of view.
- It's a friends-with-benefits to lovers storyline, which I haven't seen in quite this configuration before.
- The baddie gets her due and ooo boy is it good.
- Dimitri's backstory is interesting and even fun in places. Wait until you see what his breakout movie role was, bwahahahaha. :)
- I love what Daria has to say about acceptance, the importance of friends, and the different ways one can be Latina.

The not-for-me:

- Miscommunication is rife. There are good reasons for it but my tolerance is pretty low.
- One of the characters is always prepared to believe the worst and it drove me a bit nuts. 'This awful thing will totally happen, leading to this and that which mean ruin!' No. Please breathe and think for a sec.<
- The reality show the series is based around is in the off season so there's none of the associated happy crazy. I don't usually read contemporary romance and having something a bit outside of everyday real life makes it more interesting for me.

Even though this wasn't the best book for me it's still an easy recommend if your tastes run counter to mine. I'm excited that Daria has more books planned in this universe, and a f/f relationship is teased in the epilogue! Love it.

I didn't like this book as much as the first one. The heroine wasn't as endearing as the first one. She came off as pretty immature. I liked how well both of their cultures we're portrayed. I liked the setting of the dance show so I kind of missed that in this book because it was so identifiable.

Put on your dancing shoes! The second in Alexis Daria’s Dance Off series is here. It’s no secret that I absolutely loved the first book in this series, and I’m happy to report that once it hits it stride, Dance With Me is just as satisfyingly sexy.
This is the story of dancer Natasha Diaz, who is a dancer on the hit reality TV show The Dance Off. The book starts immediately after the series wraps for the season, and Natasha has had a run of bad luck. Her apartment gets flooded and she has to move out, but financial difficulties mean that she can’t afford to just move into a new apartment. The person who comes to her rescue is a Dance Off judge and semi-regular fuck buddy, Dimitri Kovalenko, who tells Natasha she can have his guest room until her apartment is fixed. Natasha agrees, but with a firm “no sex” stipulation.
It feels like I’m familiar with pretty much every romance trope under the sun, and I’ve definitely read “hook-ups that turn into long-lasting relationships” books before. But usually, the booty call portion of the relationship is brief; but in this case, Natasha and Dimitri had been occasional fuck buddies for three years! I’ll admit that this book got off to a bit of a slow start for me. With the preliminaries of the relationship already in the past, it was harder to fire up that dramatic tension. There’s maybe a few too many chapters that end with either Dimitri or Natasha thinking about how they aren’t going to make the same mistakes, fail again, or risk their hearts. Natasha’s “no sex” rule sort of makes sense, but at the same time felt like a ploy to keep them apart and the sexual tension rising.
Even though it takes a while to heat up, I loved the interplay between Dimitri and Natasha. Dimitri is famous and successful, but he’s still afraid to risk himself professionally and personally. Part of the reason he’s relegated Natasha to a booty call, even though he’s sure she’s “the one”, is that he’s afraid she’ll reject him. And Natasha focuses only on her failures, which means she feels unworthy of love. Alexis Daria does an amazing job of showing how these two gradually let down their guard and learn to trust each other.
There are so many pleasing, beautiful things about this book. In a series, I’m always wary of that same-same feeling. I semi-expected that this book would, like Take the Lead, be set against the background of the reality show being filmed. But this book is a fresh, creative original. It takes place during the off-season with Natasha hustling to make ends meet and Dimitri contemplating his dream of producing his own, original work. Yes, it’s an absolutely sizzling romance! But, at heart, it’s a book that explores creativity as a vibrant, personal, and urgent human activity. Natasha and Dimitri are both connected to the show, but they each have individual hopes and dreams. Loving themselves and and each other is inextricably tied to that deep well of creative energy that they both possess. The glorious thing about their romance is that being together makes them more creative, more capable, and more confident. And isn’t that just how love is supposed to be?
Dance With Me is another great book from Alexis Daria. You’ll fall in love with Dimitri and Natasha, and like me, you’ll be fervently hoping that there are more books coming soon from this talented author.

This was an enjoyable novel with some problematic parts, but I actually think I enjoyed the pacing of it more than I did the first one in this series. This is probably more to do with the fact that there was almost none of the reality TV show aspect, excepting when it was mentioned, and there was a vast reduction to the character of Donna (although she gets her comeuppance which I would almost give 5 stars for all on its own).

Natasha and Dimitri are both characters who readers will be familiar with from Take the Lead. However, if you didn't read that book, the author gives more than enough information for you to go forth into this book without problems.

Natasha is in a bad way when the story starts. Her housemate has just moved out. Her car has recently broken down and depleted her savings, and to top it all off, her bathroom ceiling has just fallen into her apartment necessitating her immediate leaving of the apartment so that the builders can do their repairing thing.

The problem is, she has nowhere to go and no money to get into a hotel.

Enter Dimitri, the guy she's been sleeping with casually for three years. I really loved the introduction of Dimitri. Like in Take the Lead, this is a dual viewpoint book, which meant that we got Dimitri's history of events between them as well as Natasha's. And Dimitri has just been looking for a way to see if there is any way of developing a closer relationship with this person who he's been casually seeing for three years.

All of this is going along swimmingly, if you excuse the complete lack of communication between these characters, but reasons were given to a point where even I excused it.

Around halfway through the novel, however, Natasha injures herself. And that's where some of the problematic stuff starts. Dimitri's wanting to develop a closer relationship with her becomes a little off. He does things for her without asking her permission or getting her consent. You can see that it's meant to come from a good place, but Natasha should also get a say in what's going on while she's injured.

THANKFULLY, both Dimitri's mother and his cousin set him straight on maybe showing he loves her rather than railroading through her wants in his need to assert his feelings, and he gradually does better.

Alexis Daria's second novel is another fun look inside the world of televised dance competition. Natasha, the best friend of the heroine in Take the Lead, is the star here. Tasha has had an on again/off again "friends with benefits" arrangement with Dimitri, one of the judges on the show. Deciding she needs to stand on her own feet, Tasha tries to end it with Dimitri, just as her apartment becomes unlivable and Dimitri's offer to put her up is the best of a bad bunch of options. To successfully pursue Tasha, Dimitri has to learn to let her solve her own problems. In turn, Tasha needs to learn to learn the difference between independence and trying to prove herself to her forbidding, dismissive mother.

In some ways, I don't want to compare the two books--they definitely stand on their own--but having read Take the Lead, comparisons are almost inevitable. The conflict in this was mostly driven by the personalities of the protagonists (whereas in the first book, the conflict was driven more by outside circumstances). I kind of wanted to shake both of them at various points, but their insecurities and histories were believable enough that the conflict wouldn't have been resolved by just one simple conversation. While the show was still a part of the plot, it wasn't as integral as it was in the first book (neither good nor bad, just an observation). The community and camaraderie among the show's other dancers is fun and strong in both books and I'm hoping we get more stories in this world (Kevin, maybe?).

I was provided a free advance reader's copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.