Sasha and Rory definitely bring the heated angst in this ballroom dance romance (is this a trope because it should be.) I liked that it was in Sasha's POV so I could understand his feelings for Rory. While I did like the romance and angst surrounding this story, I was hoping for a little more heat. Oh well.

Sasha, Book 1 Review:

This was an enjoyable read. I remember reading the Fever trilogy, and I really liked how the story was written. Now, re-reading the book from Sasha's perspective was enjoyable. I really liked his character. I got to see a different side of him. He was still cocky, but he also had a sweet side to him. Rory is a great character. I found her character more likeable than Sasha's at times. I think this book makes me understand who Sasha as a person, and that was nice to see. I do wish there was more of an ending. I cannot wait to read Book Two to see what happens. Overall, a great read.

Sasha, Book 2 Review:

This was an enjoyable read. I thought the storyline was great, but could have been developed in the romance aspect. I think the fact that this is a retelling of Fever from Sasha's perspective is intriguing. I thought the characters were great. Sasha was more understanding and likeable. He has really grown as a character. I really liked Rory. She is smart, witty, and lovable. I think she has a shy yet determined personality. I thought the romance between Sasha and Rory was lacking. I want to see more of their chemistry. However, I thought the ending was sweet. Overall, a great read.

Sasha was an absolute perfectionist and it could be seen in the flawlessly way he danced with his partners. His emotions could be seen through each step and he was looking for the partner that would complete him in every way. Partners flitted through his life and every single one he saw flaws with. The only person he could navigate through the turbulent waters of being his partner is Rory. She touches part of his soul than has been long missing. Will he curb his need for order in everything to be with the one he wants the most. Great tale of how competitive ballroom dancing can be and the athleticism that is required to be the absolute best.

Sasha met Rory at a party. Well actually he didn’t meet her but he did dance with her and he could tell she had been a ballerina at one point. Also she wasn’t really happy - sadness showed in her eyes. She looked like Sasha’s sister Tatiana/Tonya who had been missing for two years now. It was possible Tonya didn’t want to be found. Tonya had left Siberia to be a model. Sasha’s professional partner was Was Xenia. It was a law firms holiday party and the irm had hired the studio- Infectious Rhythm Ballroom Dance- Sasha worked for as the entertainment. Xenia and Sasha were to perform several latin dance numbers - which was their speciality- and then dance some with the crowd. The firm knew that Sasha and Xenia were the current U S National Champions and were second in the Worlds and the for, had insisted the studio send Sasha and Xenia to their party. Xenia was an excellent dancer but the last few months they had been fighting non-stop. They had been together for several years. Xenia was tired of trying to take first in the Worlds. Sasha would not give up - he had sacrificed too much of his childhood, his family, and his sister. Sasha knew their partnership was over as Xenia had lost her ambition. Dance was Sasha’s life passion. While dancing Sasha looked for his little ballerina then their eyes connected and locked as he still danced with Xenia. Sasha didn’t like people knowing he was russian as he loved his new home in the U S and he wanted to fit in. After dancing with a few women from the party Sasha finally got to dance with his ballerina and she followed his lead perfectly. She had a firm frame, and a powerful core making her easy to guide and position exactly where Sasha wanted her. She was an excellent fit. Her eyes were full of excitement , she hadn’t danced in a long time. Sasha had left home when he was seven to dance with a wealthy woman’s niece in some dance competitions then after a while he changed partners and got better and eventually Xenia became Sasha’s partner and he made enough to pay off his sister’s debt to the modeling agency as they said she didn't work out and their parents owed a lot of money for her room and board etc and they didn’t have it. But Tonya didn’t get on the plane to go back to russia and she disappeared somewhere in Tokyo Sasha’s uncle and cousin went to Japan several times to look for Tonya but so far haven't found her. Sasha went to Japan to dance with Xenia and also looked for his sister whenever he could. Maybe their father had been as abusive to Tonya as he had been to Sasha. If Sasha could find Tonya he would offer her a place to stay and she didn’t have to go back to Siberia with their parents. Then Sasha and Xenia parted as partners and then came the grueling process of finding a new partner to dance with. Greta who had been a ten time Worlds champion told Sasha that Rory had raw talent and could be a contender in no time when she had come into the studio for some dance lessons. Greta brought Arabelle who had been a five time World's Cabaret Show champion. Her husband had died in a motorcycle crash about a year ago and had been Arabelle’s partner and now she wanted something new. Arabelle had been away from dance for a year. Sasha told Greta it might work. But at their first full rehearsal it was more of a struggle and her latin dance was wanting more than Sasha had originally thought. Then Greta agreed it just wasn't going to work with Arabelle. But rory now had a space to have private lessons with Sasha by taking a lesson away form Cheryl who was a rich woman who was very needy and possessive of Sasha. Latin dance was sensual and professional boundaries often dissolved between partners. Sasha often had romantic relationships with his partners. But he had never felt for a student before like he did when he was with Rory. Sasha asked roy to be his official partner for the Blackpool competition. Sasha had rory come to his home studio to practice and they do become lovers.
BOOk 2- Cheryl is Sasha’s needy rich student slaps and scratches rory calling him a liar and saying she would see that he was fired and sent back to Russia where he belonged. She said she was going to Alessa- the owner of the studio- and have her fire him or she would leave the studio and took most of the students with her. This all happened at the team Mabo show that rory was in. Cheryl was led away by her friend and co student Luna. Cheryl manages to get close to the stage where rory is dancing and manages to make Rory stumble and hurt her bad knee. Sasha said endearments to Rory and told rory he loved her in front of everyone. Rory gets fired from her job and does eventually agree to let sasha pay her bills as her part of the pay form the sponsor they had for Blackpool. Rory had suffered from anorexia when she was younger and she was in the spectrum of anorexia but Rory now had the tools to fight back and get better. That is why she had passed out at the Mambo team competition. James her ex boyfriend was there and contacted Rory’s sister and they both went to the hospital but Rory told them she was with Sasha now and was no longer working as a lawyer and was doing Latin dance full time. As Sasha and rory practiced their routine Sasha felt he finally had a true partner, they weren’t fighting or trying to outdo each other. Sasha and Rory worked because of their differences not in spite of them. Their partnership was totally unique. Then one night at 2 a m Sasha got a call from his Uncle Oleg and he had Rory and had drugged her and was outside Sasha’s gate. Sasha’s uncle had thought Rory was Tonya. Then he told Sasha he had been following Sasha and Rory for some time. They had found out some news they hadn’t told Sasha about as they thought he had kidnapped his sister or was harboring Tonya from them. The agency had said a man from the U S paid off Tonya’s debt and taken her to California which was where Sasha was living. Oleg said Sasha’s mother cried and begged them to go to L A and bring Tonya home to her. They knew that they would have to use force as Sasha would never have released his sister to them. Sasha told his uncle he never wanted to see them again and Rory was a smart lawyer and would want to go to the police about them. Then Sasha calmed down and told his uncle when he found Tonya to bring her to Sasha and he would convince Rory to do nothing about what they had done. Sasha asked rory to trust him and he would tell her everything when it was safe and she eventually agreed. They practiced together and did go to Blackpool with their goal to win.
I really enjoyed this set. I was happy to read this it was a easy enjoyable romance with a lot of dance shot in. This showed a side of professional dancing I believe was very realistic and we usually don’t get to see especially the politics involved. This showed the good, the bad, and the ugly. I loved Sasha and Rory together and how both Rory’s and Sasha’s friends were there for them and tried to protect them especially at Blackpool. This had some action and drama added to it which I also really liked. This did drag some for me at times. I thought the author did a good take on anorexia also. I loved the characters and the ins and outs of this book and i recommend. I would have liked to rate this 4.5.