Take the Lead by Alexis Daria
Dance Off series book 1. Contemporary romance. Own voice: Latina.
Stone is one of the celebrity dancers on this season’s Dance Off TV show. He’s on loan from his regular cable TV show as a survivalist with his family in Alaska. Dancing in the show will enable thee family to pay some of his mother’s medical bills. He doesn’t see a difference in taking his shirt off to cut wood vs. dancing in a costume. He will be a professional athlete and listen to instructions, practice and do his best.
Gina is a professional dancer on the TV show and while she is attracted to Stone, she is not going to participate in the showromance that the produces are pushing for. She is extremely careful with her reputation and she is not going to be the subject of anyone gossip. Too bad the producers aren’t willing to let the chemistry between Stone and Gina go unnoticed.

Reality show tv is teaming with backstage gossip, scandal and manipulative influences. Stone and Gina have to put up with a lot just to do their jobs.
I understand Gina’s insistence on her professional reputation being impeccable. She advises Stone to ignore clips that show during their introduction that may embarrass or upset him. But totally ignores the advice when it’s about her.
I grew to love Stone. He’s embarrassed in the beginning about shedding his clothes down to underwear for the required sun tanning spray, but grows confident and sure as he learns and masters all the different dance moves. That he is willing to work harder to make Gina’s job secure is powerful.

Entertaining. This made me want to watch one of those couples dance TV shows that I’ve never cared about in the past.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley.

This is the first book in the Dance Off series and follows pro-dancer Gina and wilderness reality TV show member Stone as they are paired up for the next TV dance competition. Gina is determined to win, but doesn't want to jeopardize her reputation in the industry or her family by giving into the producer's attempts at a showmance with Stone. At the beginning, Stone is more focused with keeping his family's secret safe and winning this competition to help pay off his mom's medical bills. The audience, judges, and producers can all pick up on the chemistry between the two but they are just friends ... until they both can't take the tension and give into their attraction. But when the tabloids pick up on the romance and the show producers take full advantage of it, Gina and Stone need to figure out if they can work this out or if they are just too different. This was impeccable! I've seen a few episodes of these TV dance competitions, but they were never my go-to. However, by the time I was done with this book I absolutely wanted to go binge-watch a whole bunch of them. Daria handles this TV show set up with fantastic attention to detail and manages to seamlessly add in enough explanation that I think even a reader who has never seen this type of TV would be able to easily follow. The chemistry between Gina and Stone is ~sizzling~ off the page and there's a delicious tension built up as they do their best to keep their relationship professional but also have to spend all day touching each other as they practice these dances. Gina and Stone are pretty opposite in their background and future goals and there was a good chunk of the book where I was starting to panic that they wouldn't find a way to be together (despite knowing there would be a HEA because it is a romance book). I do think the resolution was well developed and felt realistic to their individual characters.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC. Publication date was February 14, 2023.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the advanced review copy, receipt of which did not impact my review.

This book! I adored this story. Full disclosure, Dancing with the Stars is one of the only reality shows I watch regularly. And so this book, focusing on a similar show (The Dance Off) was perfect for me.

Gina is a dancer who is determined to make it big this season - to make it to the finals. She is hopeful to be matched up with the dream celebrity participant (an Olympian) but instead, is matched with Stone - a tall, burly type from a living off the grid reality show.

Through grueling practices and time spent together, Stone and Gina develop a wonderful friendship - but can they have more? After the show, Stone is heading back to Alaska. And Gina has big plans for her career.

I wavered between 4-5 stars for this one, but since reading it made me so happy, I am sticking with 5. It’s a fun, vibrant story filled with heart and heat.

I'm a sucker for reality TV so this book was right up my alley! Was this a little predictable? Yes. Did I care? No.

Gina is a professional dancer and she's paired up with Stone, a star from an Alaskan survival show. There is chemistry from the beginning but their connection grows stronger as they advance throughout the show each week. I was a little thrown off when their first interaction happened because it seemed kind of random? I wish that part would've been from Gina's perspective.

I loved the Spanglish and the dancing. And it was fun to see them try to fight off their feelings while having to do some really close dance moves. I did get annoyed at Gina sometimes and I didn't agree with how she reacted at the end, but there had to be some drama mixed in so I get it.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

I loved the authors book “You had me Hola,” so when I was offered this from the publishers for my honest review I said F* Yeah!!

Gina Morales wants to make it, and big time. She’s spent four seasons on the hit show The Dance Off and she’s never made it to the finals, so this is the year. But her newest partner, sexy Alaskan wilderness star Stone Nielsen is a bit more than she can chew off. Especially after learning the producers want to use them as a show off for the romance, sexy, aspect. And Gina is none to happy about it. As for Stone, this dance competition is the last thing he even wants to do.

Take a Puerto Rican and a sexy wilderness man and you’ve made a steamy un-put-downable book. I love the way Alexis writes her stories. Her characters are relatable and humorous and the chemistry’s are off the charts.

rating: 4.5 ⭐️
spice: 3 🌶️

Gina Morales wants to make it big. In her four seasons on The Dance Off, she’s never even made it to the finals. But her latest partner, the sexy star of an Alaskan wilderness show, could be her chance. Who knew the strong, silent, survivalist-type had moves like that? She thinks Stone Nielson is her ticket to win it all.

*review*

There were so many things I loved about Take The Lead. First, I did not know this was Alexis Daria's debut release (rewritten)! I was highly anticipating this release and the cover is absolutely stunning!

Gina was easy to fall in love with. There were so many things I could relate to with her. I loved that she was a Puerto Rican heroine. She was bossy but kind and funny. I loved her relationship with her family and her friends as well. I immediately fell in love with Stone in the opening scene. Stone was built like every girl's dream. He was definitely the grump in the relationship. You could easily see Stone's personality and his struggle with his familial relationships. He would do anything for his family but Gina and the dancing show really showed him how to open up and pursue his own dreams despite all other factors in his life.

ya'll...Gina and Stone's chemistry?! omg it was sooo good. I was eating it up. It was page after page. For reference, I had been looking for a romance book where it involved dancing and this book really brought the cake and ate it too. Dancing is such an intimate thing and you could feel it through the pages. Some of these scenes will forever live rent free in my head. The Club Picante scene! ooof girl. I was a puddle on the floor. We love a man that can take the lead and move. I also believe this is Alexis Daria's steamiest book. It was definitely hot and Stone is *chef's kiss*.

I also really enjoyed seeing the behind the scenes of Stone's and Gina's T.V. shows. They were both different but equally entertaining. I loved the Alaska setting and throwing Gina, the girl from the Bronx, into the mix while also taking Stone, the wilderness recluse, and throwing him onto a Dancing With The Stars dupe of a show. It wasn't easy and it took work and I loved seeing that aspect of a competition. I also believe Alexis Daria did an amazing job show casing the lack of privacy and romantic relationship struggles that comes with fame.

This book didn't get a full 5 star because I did think the third act breakup should've been handled differently. I think that it was definitely blown out of proportion. I understood where Gina was coming from but some of the things she said to Stone were uncalled for and she held a grudge for literally no reason, like GIRL, this man is literally on his knees for you. Despite this, It didn't take away from the enjoyment of my read.

Overall, I definitely recommend this book!

Take The Lead
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Romance
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 2/14/23
Author: Alexis Daris
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Pages: 368
GR: 3.89

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

My Thoughts: This is the first book in the series, Dance Off. This was a cute, fun book. Gina, a professional dancer, paired with Stone, a mountain man that has done reality TV, were paired perfectly. They were both trying to break free of society’s mold and do life on their terms. Gina witnessed her mother give up her dreams for a man and Gina refuses to not live her dreams. Gina refuses to compromise, even on the show, Dance-Off. Stone’s family business is suffering financially, so he goes on Dance-Off to help his family.

Gina is outgoing, loves to dance, act, and sing. Stone is reserved, quiet, and keeps to himself. Our MCs not only grew individually throughout the story, but their budding relationship strengthened as well. The author does a great job portraying the MCs as competitors, you feel as if you are watching an actual reality show, in book form. The characters were well developed, fleshed out, had depth, witty banter, definite chemistry, and were creatively woven. The author’s writing style was complex, multifaceted, crisp, swoony, and intriguing. The author carves out some moments for our couple and they were just so endearing and sweet, stole my heart.

This is a great start to a series focused on dance competition, something I have not read before. I highly recommend giving this series a try. I loved Daris’s last series on the Aunties. If you like Dancing with the Stars, you will love this, just with a romantic twist.

A bit peeved by the conflict, but overall this was a super bingeable read! I liked Gina and Stone from the jump and enjoyed watching their attraction & relationship develop. Also, thank you Alexis for giving us a spicy scene before the 50% mark - you’re a queen 👑

I love when novels tie in reality show settings! This particular one tied together a dance competition show with an outdoor survivalist reality show and I was here for it all. Gina and Stone were two charismatic, strong characters with plenty of steam. This was a great, entertaining book!

If I watch a reality show it's dancing or some type of performance art. This was so fun with the complete opposites attract and forced proximity. Her New Yorker successful dancer to his homestead Alaskan reality show mountain man.
Their chemistry on and off the show was hot. Though as usual producers are asking for inappropriate things for ratings. Loved how the backstories were slowly revealed and that the characters had lots of depth.
Loved all the side characters as well. Such a eclectic mix as usual for a dancing with the stars type show.
Such a fun and steamy read!

Thank you stmartinspress for the e-ARC for the honest and voluntary review.

Reality dancing show with a mix of showmance in it? Typical of Alexis Daria's books, this was a fun, fast paced read with emotions and lots of drama!

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

Gina Morales never made it to the finals on the reality show The Dance Off, but Stone Nielson, the sexy star of an Alaskan wilderness show, could be her chance. Her producer makes it clear they’re being set up for a showmance, and the two genuinely are attracted to each other. Stone will endure a lot for the show, and fears revealing his family's secrets. Tabloids explode with their smoldering romance, threatening everything. Will they choose fame and fortune, or let love take the lead?

Gina is a Bronx born Puerto Rican determined to make it big, and she is willing to work for it and be bicoastal. Stone had to give up the life he had for his family, but it's not what he actually wanted for himself. The two are attracted to each other, click well, and hate the maneuvering of producers who are looking for ratings and don't care about the emotional cost. My heart went out to both of them, doing the best they could in this situation.

I love the visual of the tol and smol trope, with Stone as the 6'7" gentle giant learning to dance and open up. The ups and downs of their relationship follow romance novel patterns, but it still hurt to see the break-up moments before they reunite.

It's a great ending, one that fits them and the future they build together. This is such a fun book, and makes me want to look closer at Dancing With The Stars!

I enjoyed the first book in the Dance Off series soooo much!! The pace of the romance, the spicy scenes and the development of feelings was perfectly written. Since it involves a dance off show, I felt like I was watching a fun competition! One of my favorite things about this book was the representation of characters and of course, the representation of the female MC, Gina 💕. Gina was a fave character of mine and I was rooting for her throughout the wholeeee story! I’m including the synopsis below for more info!! Def recommend this story!

This was amazing! I loved this remastered version of Alexis Daria’s debut novel. It was like Dancing with the Stars in the best way! I had a smile the entire time, can’t wait for more!

This was such a fun story! It reminded me of Dancing with the Stars in book form! Gina is a professional Latina dancer who has big dreams to win her show and hopefully make it to Broadway. She is paired with an Alaskan Viking with no dance experience who’s family lives in the middle of nowhere and are survivalists. These two couldn’t be anymore opposite. Gina is anti hooking up with dance partners but the chemistry between these two are off the charts! ⁣
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It’s so fun to imagine what dances they’re doing, the outfits they are wearing while dancing and just their energy as partners throughout. These two brought their best selves out for each other and had such growth with each other.⁣
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This was Daria’a first debut novel but is being republished by St Martins and is so worth the read!⁣
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I really enjoyed this one!⁣
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

From the first words to the last, Gina and Stone danced their way straight to my heart.

Gina is a professional dancer starting her fourth season on The Dance Off and she really wants to win. The big, hunky star of a survivalist Alaskan wilderness show is a far cry from the figure skating partner she had envisioned. Stone reluctantly agrees to participate in the dance competition to give his family’s reality show a boost and to earn extra money to help pay for his mother’s medical bills. Gina is very conscious of her image on the show and the last thing she wants or needs is to fake a romance for ratings and votes. But while she might get out of the showmance, she may not be able to escape the very real one happening right under nose.

I couldn’t put it down. No really, I think I finished it in one day. Gina and Stone had intense chemistry on and off the dance floor. I loved the vivid descriptions of their rehearsals and the different dances. Their fellow performers and family members were all interesting, fleshed-out characters. Stone’s transformation from silent and mysterious to confident and determined was truly well done. I think the author also captured the harsh reality of reality TV, or at least, it made sense to me.

I can highly recommend this book if you like steamy contemporary romance.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Give me allllll the books based on reality tv, please! This Dancing With the Stars based romance with a guest appearance from a J-Lo lookalike was a lot of fun!

Since this is a print version of a novel the author wrote 6 years ago, I wasn't sure how good the quality of the writing would be. In the beginning, the author explained how some changes were made and I could definitely tell where modern things were added, but I didn't mind them. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the descriptions and overall writing style.

So what kept this from being a 5 star read? The characterization for sure. We're given brief mentions of the character's backgrounds, but they aren't fully fleshed out and it needed that extra something to get me invested.

Also, the MMC is a very attractive man and there's one character who continually grabs him inappropriately. Like full on SA's him. It's passed off as "you aren't supposed to like that character anyway, so of course they can do that" and there are never any consequences. I disliked that.

Probably the most damning thing for this book was the third act breakup. I don't enjoy those as a rule, but this one fell into the typical cliché of: I did something for your own good but lied to you to do it so we're going to break up until you realize I did it for your own good... but I still lied to you! I hate that.

Was it fun? Yes. Will I read it again? No.

I was given an e-ARC by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

What a fun book! I thoroughly enjoyed this super cute and sexy romance from Alexis Daria. The chemistry between Stone and Gina was blazing, and I thought the story was exceptionally well written. If you love dancing or reality dance shows, I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and SMP for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

this was so much fun, i was giggling and kicking my feet the whole time, stone and gina are just so perfect i adore them

thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review

So happy to have read this updated version of Take The Lead. I didn't read the first version, so for me this is the original. I loved Stone and Gina, their chemistry was off-the-charts and I really like the insight into reality television and showbizz.
Gina is a choreographer on a dance competition show and she's assigned Stone as her celebrity partner. There are definitely insta-love vibes as they both feel an immediate attraction.
The producers want them to have a showmance which Gina refuses to do. She presents the perspective of being a woman of color in Hollywood because she's Puerto Rican and she's worried about being labelled as the "sexy Latina" and that the audience won't vote for her that way and that Hollywood would typecast.
Stone is also a reality TV star. His family does a survivalist show in Alaska.
I enjoyed reading Stone and Gina's journey to finding love and figuring out how they can be together while still being true to themselves and their dreams. I did have a few issues, which is why I rated the book four stars and not five stars. His name is Stone, and try as I might, I couldn't take it seriously. Also, the cover doesn't show it, but there is a massive height difference between them which I think would have made dancing and "eye gazing" difficult. Gina should have had a constant crick in the neck. Also, also, this is my personal opinion but I can't with the miscommunication trope.
Overall, it was a great and fun read with lots of chemistry between the characters.