This book was both sweet and thought provoking. It discussed heavy and important topics such as: foster care, teen pregnancy, abusive home life/relationships, and drug addiction. I enjoyed the varying storlylines and how they all weaved together.

I do wish the terminology pertaining to fostering and adoption were handled with more care. Specifically using more proper terms such as "foster mom", "adoptive mom", "biological mother" instead of "real mom". My fiance is adopted and it's been explained to me by him and his family, as well as other adoptive parents that using "real" isn't fully inclusive. Language is powerful and I believe should be used as thoughtfully and inclusively as possible.

However, the intention and heart of the story was in the right place and overall I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading Kimber's story ❤️

I loved the author’s series Bridgeport Social Club as well as book one in this series titled, Shall We Dance? and this one was just as touching, thought provoking and wonderful.
If you are new to the series, it centers around three sisters that at a very young age were given up for adoption. separated and never knowing the others existed. It was a Shannon , the main character in book one, that discovered she had sisters and reunited them in the town of Bridgeport. Each of their upbringing was totally different. From Shannon growing up as a Southern Bell, to our protagonist, Traci Lucky, growing up in the foster system.
Traci is now a cop and a very good one. During a raid she finds a pregnant teen in a corner who obviously is in need of help, and can’t stop herself from stepping in to assist . What started out as a professional assistance, becomes personal and in her quest to help Gwen, she meets Dr. Matt Rossi.
The lives of these three will be changed forever. But the road to finding hope, support and love will be one filled with some physical and emotional danger. Gwen’s ex is determined to find and harm her, while Traci’s heart has to learn to trust and open itself up to love.
Will they each find the inner peace, and love they hope for?
This was another touching story by this very talented author. Being a dancer, I specially enjoed the quotations throughout the book.
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Netgalley. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

I loved being back with these amazing sisters, yes, this is the second book in this series that I have read, and you might want to read the first, but this can stand alone.
Amazing DNA, and these sister's finding one another, and while we are with all three sister's, and we are updated, this story focus is on Traci Lucky, and she seems to have had the hardest life of all. She grew up in foster homes, and never was adopted. She sure has a heart for the less fortunate, and being a Bridgeport police woman, she finds a pregnant teen, on drugs, but she can't let go, and ends up being there for Gwen. Because of Gwen she meets Dr. Matt Rossi, and thus we have a sweet romance for Traci!
This story will keep you page turning, and wondering about Gwen's brother, and if the abusive boyfriend will find and hurt her. Will Matt's family accept her, and will the sister's embrace Gwen?

I received this book through Net Galley and Blackstone Publishing, and was not required to give a positive review.

I LOVE this series. It’s about three women who find out that they’re sisters and decide to live together to get to know one another. As they come to trust and rely on each other as family, their circle starts to grow.
In this book, Traci, a policewoman, takes an 18 year old pregnant girl on drugs to the hospital and becomes entwined with her and the handsome doctor, Matteo. Gwen blossoms as she realizes she is worth caring for. I found Matteo’s family fascinating and fun. I would love to see a book about them one day.
The characters are authentic. The writing style makes for effortless reading. It’s a great read. I’d highly recommend it.
Thank you to Blackstone Publishing for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

The Dance With Me series:
Book 1: Shall We Dance
Book 2: Take the Lead
Book 3: Save the Last Dance (coming November 2020)

“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass; it’s about learning to dance in the rain” Vivian Greene

I enjoyed all the dancing quotes sprinkled throughout this novel. I liked this story more than the last as two professionals Officer Traci Lucky and Dr. Matt Rossi meet in their efforts to save Gwen and her unborn child. Things are not what they appear at first. Gwen is 19 lost and alone. She does want to save her baby, but she has an abusive boyfriend and an equally mistrusting older brother. They work together to keep Gwen safe.

Traci tells Matt about her sisters…”Shannon, Kimber, and I all grew up really differently. But, we each became people to be proud of.”…”Shannon was raised in a small town in West Virginia and has a sweet country accent. Kimber grew up in New York, just outside the city….I grew up in a group home in Cleveland.”

She continues to share that they decided to live together for a year to get to know each other for the first time, since social workers separated them at birth.

Matt brings Traci home to meet his Italian family. Traci is amazed at all the food and the love poured out one to another. Matt’s family is thrilled to meet Traci. With Matt’s busy schedule as a Dr. He didn’t get out much. Traci can feel all the love and enjoys the family dinner she never experienced before. It was kind of reminded me of the Christmas scene in the movie, While You Were Sleeping with Sandra Bullock, as she holds the present to her chest and takes in everyone opening up their present. It is a special moment in the movie and in this book.

I liked what the author said to readers, “I hope you, too, connected with some of the characters in the series. The trilogy will end with Save the Last Dance, which is Kimber’s story. In it, Kimber steps away from modeling, meets a mechanic named Gunnar and even gets talked into learning the cha-cha from Shannon – all during the month of December.” That will be an interesting story for sure.

Here's another dance quote I liked, “When a body moves, it’s the most revealing thing. Dance for me a minute, and I’ll tell you who you are.” Mikhail Baryshnikove”

This book was just Fun, Fun, Fun! It’s one (and the series) you don’t want to miss.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog www.bookfun.org

The second in a trilogy finds Tracy, a police officer helping a troubled teen out of a bad situation. I I loved that the three sisters welcomed Gwen and made her feel safe and wanted even though they had doubts of their own. Matt, the OB-GYN doctor was very compassionate about his patients which is commendable. I'd not read the first in the series but was able to follow the story pretty well. Looking forward to reading the next in the series along with catching up with the first. Recommended!

Shelley Shepard Gray writes compelling stories, and this series has become one of my favorites among her many series. I’ve loved following the story of these three sisters. This book focuses on Traci, who is the police officer. I liked Traci—she’s smart; brave; and compassionate. I admired the way she had overcome her difficult childhood and uses her memories to make her a better officer. I wear cheering on her sweet romance with Matt, and I loved the way the sisters rallied around to help Traci as she tried to protect Gwen. This is a great story, and I’m looking forward to ready Kimber’s story in the next book.

This is a clean, sweet contemporary romance. I normally review Christian fiction, but I’d put this series in the general fiction genre.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

I am enjoying this series. Anxiously awaiting the next installment.
It’s interesting to see the differences between the sisters and how they have come together.

This was a heartwarming read that continues the author’s series about three sisters who were separated at birth and now have found each other and settled together in a small midwestern town.

This book’s heroine is Traci Lucky who was the one sister who was not adopted, but raised in many foster homes. She is slow to accept new people and has a certain prickliness that hides a very soft heart. When she meets a pregnant girl strung out on meth, it really triggers her because her mother was also addicted to drugs while pregnant with her. She wants to care for Gwen, but has to get over that personal history.

It helps that the doctor taking care of Gwen in the emergency room is the yummy Dr. Matt Rossi who is immediately attracted to Traci. Since he comes from a large and loving family, he just wants to share that love with Traci. As they get to know each other, their relationship deepens and Traci and her sisters also welcome Gwen into their hearts.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

An entertaining and well written romance by one of my favorite authors. Great plot and character development. A beautiful romance. I highly recommend this book.

I read Shelley's first book in the "Dance with Me" series and enjoyed it so I knew I had to read this one too. It was great to read about the second sister, Traci Lucky, and also see more of the sisters' family. I liked her guy Matt and his family was fun as well.

This is a contemporary, clean romance published by Blackstone. It's a little different from her inspirational books but still good. I'm looking forward to book 3 "Save the Last Dance" that will be out in November 2020.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Take the Lead is the second book in the Dance With Me series by Gray. The book features Traci who is a cop. I really enjoy a strong heroine who has vulnerabilities. She has a tough exterior but a soft heart. The hero, Matt is a compassionate and sweet doctor who pretty much falls for Traci at first sight. This book has danger and suspense as well as family fun and sweet romance.
*I was given a copy of this book by the publisher. This is my honest opinion.

In this second book of the series, Dance with Me, we continue to follow sisters, who learned in the first book that they are related and have moved in together to get to know each other.

Drama of family, love, addiction, danger, new friends, new love, and a baby made this a very quick read as I couldn’t put it down as I wanted to see how it would handle each person’s situation.

I received a copy of this book from Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for my honest opinion. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes to read Shelley Shepard Gray’s books, which are always good, clean romances, and drama.

Traci is the second sister in this trilogy. She is smart, determined and has wonderful vulnerability. While trying to help young woman Gwen get away from her past life she meets Matt. Matt is a doctor who senses her vulnerability underneath all her strength. Matt knew from the first that Traci is someone special. Traci has some emotional baggage from her past. Traci is afraid of getting hurt so she keeps people at a distance. Traci is champion for Gwen and girls in need. Traci and Matt grow closer thru dance lessons. When Matt and Traci dance they complete each other. Traci recently connected with her sisters and I love the interaction with the sisters. It was great catch up with Kimber , Shannon and Dylan again. This is a wonderful series and very excited for Kimber story.

The premise of "Take the Lead" caught my interest, and I quickly requested to receive the advanced copy of this book. Upon receiving it, I began reading it and was hoping to really enjoy the book. Unfortunately, I couldn't get interested in the relationship between Traci and Matt. I did, however, enjoy Gwen's story and found myself flipping through the book to find information about Gwen and her uphill battle to become a healthy mom for her son. I thought the book concluded nicely, but I wish the plot line had been more compelling.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Traci is a police officer, and she finds a pregnant teen in a drug house, and rushes her to the hospital. There she meets hunky doctor Matt, and the sparks fly. Overall a good story, and the side story of Gwen and her baby and the other "sisters" add a nice touch. Quick read, and one I highly recommend. Good story.

I loved this story about Traci and Matt. There wasn't one thing I would have changed. I usually read Shellys Amish books but this was a wonderful departure for me.

Traci Lucky is a survivor. She was born addicted to drugs as a result of her mom's addiction and ultimately grew up in foster care. Living outside of Cincinnati with her two natural sisters is a really big change for her. When she encounters a very pregnant teenage Gwen as part of a drug bust - she feels an immediate connection to Gwen and her baby. Traci goes above and beyond to get Gwen medical care and the help she needs to get back on her feet.

Matt is the Ob/Gyn on duty who takes care of Gwen. He is attracted to Traci and impressed at how she is helping Gwen. Matt has been extremely focused on his job and is very close with he large Italian family. His younger brother is getting married and is having a fairly formal wedding where everyone is going to waltz. Matt uses that as an opportunity to ask Traci out.

Traci is very prickly about getting close to anyone and about opening up. She's an extremely caring person and its clear she really is trying hard to be more open. Her relationship with Gwen really helps to build her relationships.

This book is really as much about Gwen and Traci's relationship as it is about Matt and Traci. A lot of Matt and Traci's time together happens off the page - which is the only thing I could have used more of in this story.

Overall this is very much a feel-good story about family - chosen and otherwise. I loved the ending and am looking forward to reading more about these sisters.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley, but these opinions are all my own.