I really loved this book! Who knew I needed the book version of dancing with the stars in my life?

The characters were all really enjoyable. I'm a sucker for a grumpy/sunshine kind of love story which this was.

It was also interesting having both main characters from TV shows but having them be soooo different. I liked that they understood each other in that sense but also have enough differences that it kept things interesting.

Overall, it was a really fun book. The dancing was entertaining. Loved the reality TV setting. The romance was sweet and I was rooting for both of them to succeed the whole time!

TAKE THE LEAD is an adult contemporary romance set in the world of reality tv. It follows Gina, a veteran dancer on a ballroom competition show who is hoping to finally earn the coveted trophy. Her plans go awry when she learns her producers are trying to set her up for a showmance with her reality tv survivalist partner, Stone. Neither of them wants to follow along with the ruse, but their chemistry and attraction to each other could change their plans.

All I can say about this book is FINALLY! I am so happy to have finally read a Latinx romance that I actually really love. I really liked Gina as a character, her integrity and passion jumps off the page and makes her such a great protagonist. Stone is the mountain man of my dreams. He’s so earnest and sweet. I wish the romance would’ve developed differently, it was hard not to feel like it was doomed from the start. But I really enjoyed the ending! I really hope the second book in the series gets re-released because I would jump on it. Definitely recommend this book!

4 Stars - 2.25 Spice

I thought this was a fun Dancing with the Stars spoof book! I loved the strength of Gina's character, and how Stone is a big softy! I haven't decided if I will continue on in this series, but I've read other books by Alexi aria in the past and always enjoy her books! Just nothing had the romance or plot stand out for me to make it higher than a 4 star read, in my opinion.

Brief Plot: Gina Morales has worked as a dancer for The Dance Off for years and has never won. Now paired up with reality-tv star Stone, she hopes she can coach him to success. But as the producers of the show try to cast them as this seasons show-mance, the real chemistry between the two becomes hard to handle. But Stone has his own secrets he's hiding from real-world spotlight, but both may have to learn to confront their secrets, and how everything can show up on Live TV.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, for an eARC of Take the Lead, written Alexis Daria. This is my honest review!

This was a very fun read. It started off quite strong and kept me entertained. The main characters were well developed and the tension between them was impeccable. The main obstacle was great. It didn't feel formulaic and it felt like a real, almost impossible to resolve, challenge. I read the re-release of this book. It was the author's debut and really well done for a first book. I will definitely be reading the next book in the series and other books by this author.

Stone Is one of the celebrity dancers on this seasons 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.

Ugh I love Alexis Daria! Her books always have the perfect plot to spice ratio and this was no exception. I’m not really a dancing reality show type of gal but this really made me reconsider, especially if there is this much drama behind the scenes. I also appreciate a rom com with characters not in their early 20s. I feel like that’s a rarity these days.

This book is an absolute blast! Gina has been competing on The Dance Off (think Dancing with the Stars) for years, but has yet to come home with the trophy or even make it to the finals. When she is paired with Stone, one of the brothers of an Alaskan reality show, she’s unsure what to think. She desperately wants to make it to the finals but at what cost? When she finds out the producers are setting her up for a showmance she doesn’t want to put her integrity at risk but what happens when she actually falls for him?
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I absolutely loved the dance aspect of this and their relationship. This one had me quick stepping to the end.
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Huge thank you to #griffin and #NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I had read and love some of the other books from Alexis, so I was excited to get to this one.

I really liked Gina and Stone. They're both good, loyal people and hard workers. The chemistry between them was instant and I did enjoy how it slowly and organically turned into something more. Of course Natasha was delightful and I might have to read her book.

Plot wise, it was good. I was a bit hesitant at the competition part of it, but the rehearsal and dancing scenes never felt repetitive. The angsty part slash break up didn't last long and the ending was fantastic.

Overall, this was a quick read, a fun story, and the characters were easy to root for. I can't wait to read whatever is next from Alexis.

**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**

Fun and spicy opposites-attract romance featuring a burly Alaskan wilderness star and a saucy pro dancer who are partnered together in a Dancing With The Stars type of competition. Perfect for fans of reality dance shows.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor or expectation.

I binged this book and I'm obsessed! It's such a fun book and I loved both Gina and Stone. The celebrity dance show/reality show aspect was way more fun than I expected. The romance was perfect and I loved the tension of "will they or won't they" and how their careers would affect their relationship. This was a lot of fun and I'd love more of these characters.

Take the Lead was such a fun romantic riff on Dancing with the Stars. When a burly Alaskan mountain man is paired up with a sassy Latina professional dancer on The Dance Off, sparks fly. Stone Nielson is the strong, silent type. Literally. That's the role he plays in his family's reality TV show about surviving in the Alaskan wilderness. He also doesn't dance. Not yet, anyway. Gina Morales is a four year veteran of the show This is her fifth attempt at making it to the finale, and if her producer is to be believed, it may be her last if she doesn't make it this season.

Gina is determined to turn Stone into a dancer, but there's this pesky little problem--there's an insane chemistry between them that is making it hard to focus on anything but his beautiful eyes and bulging muscles. She's no stranger to handsome men, but she has a hard and fast rule--she doesn't sleep with her dance partners. But can she make an exception for the quiet giant who is working his way into her heart? Meanwhile, Stone is falling hard for Gina, but he's also lying to her--and the entire world--about his life in Alaska. Sure, everyone knows reality tv isn't really real, but his family has taken the lies a little further than Stone is comfortable with. Gina values honesty, and it's killing Stone that he can't tell her the truth.

This one was SO HOT and SO MUCH FUN. I loved every page. I ended up buying a physical copy for my shelf after reading my e-ARC because I wanted to be able to loan it out and spread the love! I've read a couple other books by Alexis Daria, and I can safely say she's an auto-buy author for me now.

A fun book set in a dancing competition where opposites attract between the two dancers. Chemistry was amazing. Story was great. Writing and engaging and quick! overall a fun and enjoyable read!

Holy spicy! Take the Lead is a fun, sexy romance set against a reality dance show… Totally fun!

Stone Nielson is a tall, gorgeous Alaskan wilderness star who is paired with pro dancer Gina in The Dance Off. When the two start dancing together, sparks fly and things soon start heating up on and off the dance floor.

This book was ridiculously fun. Stone and Gina were both likable characters who had tons of chemistry. I enjoyed reading about their flirty dances and all the drama that comes with any reality show.

Don’t be like me and try to listen to this one with your young children around. It’s too spicy!

Four stars!

A copy of this story was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.

I always love what Alexis writes!! I enjoyed reading this book alot. Gina could make me so mad at points but I could still understand her pov. Both Gina and Stone had so much put against them, it was hard to read what the producers were putting them through. Ugh and Donna I have no words for that woman. I'm happy the two characters found their way finally.

Alexis Daria does a great job with her characters! I always end up so invested in their story and following along on their happy ever after.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review.

The story is incredibly steamy, but also really fun and engaging with its reality TV "behind the scenes". Great characters and connection between the leads.

As someone who watches and loves DWTS, put together with my like of the worlds of Alexis Daria, I knew I’d enjoy Take The Lead.

It moved quickly, which I loved because it felt like I was reading faster than I really was.

Stone was so loveable. Quiet and a little unsure but a fierce protector with BIG love.

A fun fluffy romance that I throughly enjoyed!

This book was great. I really enjoyed it. The storyline could have used a bit more and then it would have been a full 5 stars for me!

Stone joins the Dance Off Reality show to help pay for his mother's hip surgery. He is teamed up with his partner Gina, who has been on the show for four seasons. As things start to heat up both on and off the dance show, can they keep their feelings to themselves or will the viewer audience also be in on it? This is a fun story of being on a reality TV show and what can happen behind the scenes. I look forward to reading the next book in the series. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for my honest review.

Not a fan. I think sadly after a few misses I’ll have to be done with this author. This books not for me.

Ms Daria is a new-to-me author, so I didn't know what to expect when I picked this up. I was very pleasantly surprised and found the book to be very enjoyable and entertaining. The story is set against the backdrop of a reality dance show. Gina's heart and soul is dancing, and she's been trying for four seasons to make it big through The Dance Off, but with no luck. She thinks this time her new partner, Stone, will be her ticket to success. Stone is the shy, quiet type, and doesn't like being in the limelight, but he'll do whatever he needs to for his family. Turns out they have been set up to have an onscreen romance. Neither is happy about the deception, but their growing attraction makes it harder to keep their feelings from turning into something real.
This was a light and fun romance with likable and interesting characters and I had a nice time reading it. Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for providing a complimentary copy. This is my voluntary and honest review.