I'm a huge fan of Kathryn Freeman but I have to admit that, having never watched Strictly Come Dancing and being unable to tell a foxtrot from a tango, I wasn't sure how much I would enjoy her new novel, Strictly Come Dating. I needn't have worried as I enjoyed it immensely, so take note - this one isn't just for Strictly fans.

Maggie is a fabulous character and I loved how she and her friends gathered around the TV each Saturday to watch Strictly together. They take turns hosting and they're so serious about Strictly that phones and talking aren't allowed during the show. They all gladly accept the rules until Maggie's friends' brother, Seb, arrives back from Australia and can't hold his tongue. He finds the show amusing but spends most of the evening watching Maggie, which doesn't go unnoticed by his sisters although Maggie is completely unaware.

Seb is completely smitten with Maggie and he doesn't care that there is a 10 year age gap but Maggie is completely hung up over her age. I wanted to give her a good talking to as she keeps going on about her age (she's mid-thirties not an OAP) but I could understand her being a bit down on herself after her husband left her and her two fabulous girls. Seb does his best to bring back the sparkle into Maggie's life and there's nothing more sparkly than Strictly!

I loved the strong family vibe in Strictly Come Dating, both Maggie's relationship with her daughters and Seb's relationship with his sisters. Maggie's daughters, Penny and Tabby, totally stole the show for me - they are gorgeous girls and a credit to Maggie, with no thanks to her ex-husband, Paul. When Paul comes back on the scene he's like a Dementor from Harry Potter, sucking out all the fun from their life. I'm surprised Maggie even let him into the house after he had been absent for two years but then she was thinking of what was best for her girls.

Strictly Come Dating is a fabulously sparkly romance that isn't just for Strictly fans, although Strictly fans will LOVE it. It's a wonderfully heartwarming read that kept me entertained and left me with a big smile on my face. I loved it.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

Sweet, sexy romance with a little strictly fun thrown in for good measure. Loved Maggie and could relate to her need to be organised and in control and her wariness following her split with Paul. Adored lovely Seb, who for all his “laid back” nature was wonderfully complex. Maggie and Seb were very good together and had sizzling chemistry both on and off the dance floor. Their individual conflicts and insecurities were illustrated very well and you just rooted for them. Great mix of supporting characters in Tabs and Penelope (loved their relationships with both Maggie and Seb) and Alice and Sarah (sibling dynamics were well done). A well written and enjoyable book and would recommend.

A wonderful light hearted read brimming with friendship, fun, dancing and romance.

Maggie is that wonderful organised mum that we all admire who always appears to have her life together and with two fab daughter's as a testament to her hardwork.

Whilst Seb is fun loving, disorganised and creates chaos wherever he goes. However the friendship that flourishes between them as he turns up with his sister's to watch Strictly each week is fantastic.

I loved the dancing lessons and the importance of the dancing throughout the story and how dancing encourages Maggie to let her hair down and have a bit of fun. This is a story that just dances off the pages as your reading I found that I was egging the characters on as I read and wanted to know what would happen next and how they would react as their friendship intensified.

The perfect read to curl up enjoy on a chilly evening and get lost in the wonderful dancin, fun and laughter.

If you're looking for an easy, light-hearted romance - you don't need to look any further!

When Mum of two, doctor and Strictly Come Dancing aficionado Maggie is introduced to Seb there is an instant connection. With Seb being 10 years younger than Maggie, she's shocked to find he's remotely interested.


Maggie is definitely a Type A control freak, she needs lists and to have everything meticulously sorted and organised. When Seb and his complete opposite personality collide, they seem to balance one another despite the odds of them getting along being minute. Their personalities compliment one another and worked to make Maggie more willing to be spontaneous with the opposite effect on Seb.


The theme of dancing is prevalent throughout the book but the actual dancing is barely written about. That was my only minor disappointment. The characters felt realistic and it was great to have side characters feel as real as the main ones.


Overall, this is an easy read perfect for reading if you're looking for a cozy, heartwarming book. A cute read that really made me wish I could go dancing!

Fun, feel good and light, this was a good read which didn’t require much thought. Good characters but lacked the compelling “wow” factor.

"Strictly Come Dating" is a refreshing and lovely Rom-com. It is the story of Maggie, a divorced doctor, mother of two, and heart broken by his ex, Paul, who not only left her, but shut her light before leaving. Maggie used to love dancing, but gave it up to support his family. She remembers her glorious days through the TV program, Strictly Come Dancing, which airs every week. She and her kids watch it religiously with Maggie's best friends. During one of their gatherings, Seb, her friends' younger brother appears. He is back to live with his family after traveling the world and there is an instant attraction between them, but he is 10 years younger than Maggie. I really enjoyed this love story and the way it shows us how a woman reclaims her life.
I definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a rom-com, cute, clean love story. An easy read for this ending summer

Fantastic for any strictly fans, you will recognise some of the scenes in it. Would make an awesome gift for any Strictly fan.
Overall an awesome book, nice and light about love, family, friendship and trust..
I read it in the space of about 5 hours, once you start it, you wont be able to put it down.

This really did tick all the boxes for me. A gorgeous story of a single mum who has lost some of her confidence who has closed herself off to impulsive decisions and runs her life like she does her household, like a well planned military campaign.

Maggie and her daughters are a close family. Maggie is a busy working mum but Saturday night is when they meet up with friends and watch Strictly Come dancing. A routine that Maggie, the girls and the other friends take very seriously indeed. So when Seb arrives back home the ritual of the Saturday night takes on a slightly different dynamic.

Seb, by the way, has returned home because his dad isn't well, he is the brother to Maggie's friends. He is the opposite of the super organised Maggie. He is impulsive in the way he lives his life, a carefree man who is the stereotype of a surfer. But there is more to him than meets the eye.

I loved the way the author tackled the age difference in this story. Maggie is nearing 40 and Seb 11 years her junior. Maggie's insecurities and reduced confidence made this an appropriate storyline. I mean why on earth would a gorgeous younger man be interested in a woman nearly 40, and that has children and who has no social life apart from meeting up with her friends for watching a dance show! Seb is such a carefree character who doesn't have the ties of children, the responsibility of a demanding job and can come and go as he pleases. He has never had a relationship that has made him stop and think about his future.

The theme of the dancing show worked really well as the story gradually brings these two opposites together. There is more to both of them than first meets the eye. I did initially think Maggie was a little reserved but as I learnt more about her I could understand her reticence. As for Seb, while he appears to be a wandering free-spirit, again there is a lot more to him and given him a set of doubts.

Overall this is a wonderful read that is heartwarming and hopeful. It is a story that brings the troubles of being a single working mum taking a chance. It is about a man who is trying to work out what he wants in life. Characters brought together by a dancing show but not for the same reasons. A story of family, friendship and one I would definitely recommend.

This was my first book by this author, It was pretty enjoyable. I would give this book a 3.5 star rating! It was a pretty Quick and easy read!

This book was so fun to read. I had this book done in one day. The author uses the friends first romance and makes it comical. I loved this book. The connection between Seb and Maggie was good from the very beginning. I rooted for them the whole time. I rate it a 4. I received a ARC of this book in exchange for a unbiased review from Netgalley

Strictly fabulous:
This book is perfect for fans of the reality TV show Strictly Come Dancing or Dancing With The Stars as it is called across the pond.
Maggie is a type A, walled off divorcee with 2 children. Meanwhile 10 years her junior, Seb is laid back and still trying to find his way in life. Opposites attract and despite the age gap, they develop strong feelings for one another. I did like that they both had to work through their emotions and I appreciated seeing their growth and development. That being said I did want to shake them a time or two and wished they'd talk and just be honest with each other. Unfortunately I didn't find this book overly exciting, however I grew to really like these two and Seb warmed my heart, especially seeing how he interacted with Maggie's children.
I found the story rather slow paced and it took me a while to really get into it. Also it was marketed as a rom-com, however I think contemporary romance is a better description.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

Strictly Come Dating by Kathryn Freeman was a good book! I liked the characters and how close everybody seemed. I also adored Seb and how his character seemed to grow the most in the story. I am a fan of the whole age differences relationship, whatever that trope is called. I just think those have the most character growths.

I loved how Seb loved Maggie’s kids and treated them like they were actually humans and not just little kids and how he finally decided what he wanted to do in life. I liked that he was able to help Maggie loosen up.

I loved the fact that this also revolved around dancing.

The pacing was good, though there were some spots when I didn’t realize that it was a new point of view, but that was more of a preference. I usually like dual POVS to have their own chapter but once I figured it out it was good.

Strictly Come Dating was a four star rating. I’d recommend this if you are looking for a romance revolved around dancing.

Thank you Netgalley and publishers for giving me the chance to read and review this book. This has no impact on my thoughts and opinions, they are my own.

A romantic story full of rhythm

Strictly Come Dating by Kathryn Freeman is the story of a 37yo divorced mom that once again finds love and joy in life by dancing with her friend's younger brother.

Our thanks to the author, One More Chapter, and Rachel Random Resources for the advanced reader's copy.

Maggie was a responsible adult. She worked hard, took good care of her daughters, had it all organized and planned. Everything worked like a clock: everything, but her empty love life.

The highlight of her week was to watch Strictly Come Dating with her best friends every Saturday.

One night, her friend's younger brother Sebastian showed up while they were watching the show, and Maggie's life was never the same.

I simply loved Maggie! She was so sensible, so put together, and so harshly judged by her ex-husband. It was lovely to see how she managed to relax and to find herself through dancing.

Seb was a sweetheart and quite mature for his age. He worked with kids in a community center and was such a fun person to be around. He saw through Maggie's emotional walls and reached to her.

Despite, or maybe because of, the age difference, Maggie and Seb worked. They had similar values and morals, and their differences brought balance to their relationship.

Strictly Come Dating is an inspiring, romantic, and fun read.

Lovely!

Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

*This review will be posted on https://lureviewsbooks.com on 09/01/2020*

I love Kathryn Freeman's writing and this was another great book by her! I loved Maggie's character and thought Seb was her perfect match. This was a quick and fun read and if you like romance I definitely recommend it!

This is my favorite Kathryn Freeman book to date! I loved Seb and Maggie's story. Maggie is a 37-year-old divorcee with two kids. Seb is the 27-year-old brother of Maggie's best friends. Maggie and Seb are opposites in many ways, but they find common ground in ball room dancing. As soon as Maggie lets her guard down a little, the sparks start flying. Seb and Maggie have great chemistry. The author develops the characters and the family relationships well. Definitely unusual in contemporary romance to have the age difference such that the woman is 10 years old than the man and Freeman is really able to pull off this story line. I have really enjoyed Freeman's other books, but this one was by far the best!

This book was light and enjoyable. The main character was very endearing and likeable. A nice evening's reading.

Maggie is a 37 year old divorced mother of two, a doctor, and (naturally) super-organised, she lives and dies by her to-do lists.

Seb is Maggie's best friends' younger brother. He's single and carefree, only returned to the UK from his worldwide travels because of his father's heart-attack, living with his sister Sarah.

Every Saturday night Maggie and her BFFs: Hannah (the nanny); Sarah and her twin sister Alice meet at one of their houses with the children and pizza to watch that staple of early Saturday night entertainment, Strictly Come Dancing. Maggie has always loved dancing and longed to visit Blackpool, that mecca for ballroom dancers, but her ex-husband Paul said it was tacky.

Egged on by her friends, Maggie joins a ballroom dancing class on Wednesday evening, but sadly the only males on offer are short and bald. Then Seb steps up to the rescue.

This is a very low-key gentle romance, centred on Maggie and her two daughters, the dance lessons, Seb and his volunteering at a local youth centre, and Saturday night Strictly. I did enjoy it but I also wanted something more to happen, some interaction outside of the small group of characters, even some insight into Maggie's work as a GP. Heck, Hannah just seemed to be a plot device because we barely saw her working as a nanny to the children. If I say all the characters other than Maggie and Seb (and maybe Maggie's children) were sort of out-of-focus, does that make sense?

I enjoyed Kathryn Freeman's novel The New Guy and I thought that had more oomph than this one.

Overall, if Strictly is the highlight of your Saturday night and a romance about family is your thing then I think you will love this, I just wanted a bit more edge, some angst, some drama (said in a loud over-emphatic way).

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I have decided that I am a Kathryn Freeman fan. I loved the New Guy and this definitely held up to that standard. I felt such a connection to Maggie and her control freak tendencies. I think that helped me to fall in love with the story even more. The dancing theme felt like such a good reason for them to spend time together and fall in love and I loved the kids. Freeman writes such great relationships, not just between the couple, but between the side characters as well.

Strictly Come Dating is an uplifting, feel-good book that may get readers wanting to don the glitter and stilettos and get dancing, just like Strictly Come Dancing and waltz, rumba and shimmy into charming characters lives. Thanks to Harper Collins – One More Chapter, for accepting a request to review this book.

Pizza, Friends and Strictly Come Dancing at the ready…
This is a delightful book to waltz into with its light wit and passion.

Sat around on a Saturday evening in Sarah’s living room are Maggie and her daughters – Tabby and Penny and her hired nanny and now also friend – Hannah. There are also close friends of Maggie’s – Alice. It’s the highlight of the week – to settle down to Strictly Come Dancing. Not everyone is chuffed at this.

In the background of the mainly jovial atmosphere, is the heartache inside Maggie as she discovered Paul no longer wanted to be her husband.

Maggie loved to dance and cajoled by her friends, takes it up again. Seb, for all his snide comments about Strictly, gets into the swing of it when a fundraiser is needed for a basketball court for the kids and teens and comes up, much to the amusement of the teens, an idea based on Strictly Come Dancing.

There’s a beautiful, emotional contrast between the romance that’s in the air and slowly burning between Seb and Maggie and the grief that catches Seb from a family death. Things are also a bit complicated with Paul still being on the scene for his children. All this, combined with dance makes this book even better plotted than I thought it would be.

This is a light-hearted, well-written, uplifting book to get you in the mood for Strictly Come Dancing or to ease those withdrawal symptoms.

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This was a beautiful and romantic story about the romance in the world of dance. The main character is sympathetic and believable and the storyline flows seamlessly. Highly recommended.