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.

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.

I received a copy of this story from NetGalley for a honest review.

Take the Lead by Shelley Shepard Gray is the second book of the(Dance with Me) series, a series about 3 sisters that find each other after not knowing they even had sisters. Take the Lead is Officer Traci Luck story and I have to say, I really like Traci how she was strong but a soft center especially with Gwen, the pregnant girl she found in a crack house. I also like Matt the doctor who treats Gwen and is Traci's new love interest but I don't feel like we get enough time with him. I love all the “sister” time that is in the book, it really helped me to connect with them all. The story itself was interesting in that we have Gwen's ex-boyfriend (the drug dealer) wanting her back, which added some drama to the story. The romance fell a bit short, even though it was sweet to read about them together, the main focus seemed to be about the “sisters” relationships. Having said that I still enjoyed the story.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

“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

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)

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 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 received this book in exchange for an honest review. You can purchase your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B085ZLSZ9C/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

This is my fourth book by this author. I actually had the pleasure of meeting her at Book Con a few years ago and was so honored to have received an autographed copy of her book! This is the second book in the Dance with Me Series. I did not read the first book in this series, but the third book comes out on November 17, 2020, so I am hoping to get my hands on that one! Thankfully, there wasn’t too much of a story arc where I was completely lost, but there was enough of one leaving me wanting more and yearning for this next book!! AUTHOR SUCCESS! We begin this book with a raid on a house in suspicion of a meth lab. Yup- hold on and buckle up. Officer Traci Lucky is trying to save a twentyish woman who is pregnant and barely coherent. Despite calling ahead to the Emergency Room, Traci’s urgent call had been ignored and no one was there to meet her. The usually sleepy emergency room was slamming in downtown Cincinnati. It was nearly two in the morning, what was going on? Chapter Two starts with the definition of waltz; a twenty-eight bar per minute done in 3-4 time and can be fairly romantic. Yup, don’t know what that means either, but if you compare life like dance, we are always tip-toing, dancing salsa, etc around situations like dodging bullets, whether they be real ones or symbolic ones. Isn’t life a dance? Traci divulges the information that she was given up for adoption, she only found out that she had sisters because one of her siblings contacted her after finding her through one of those DNA tests to see what nationality you are. Traci’s sister, Shannon owns a dance studio and insists on her sisters learning some barre dance. Traci’s life is quite connected with her partner on the police force married to her sister Shannon and the older brother of her best friend, Jennifer.
We are taken on a ride with Gwen rehabilitating in the hospital and then her relationship with the baby’s father. This was such a good book, I am hoping that I get approved for the next one!

This is the second in a series of books about three sisters separated at birth each to be raised separately. It's the story of Traci Lucky, raised in foster homes and finally a group home, she ends up becoming a cop in Bridgeport. She and her partner Dylan (who's married to her sister Shannon) come across a pregnant, sick teenager (Gwen) one night when they raid a drug house. They take her to the hospital where she meets Matt Rossi...an OBGYN who is a sweet guy and just what Traci needs. Matt asks Traci to be his date for his brother's wedding...but they need to learn to dance the waltz. Fortunately Shannon has a dance studio so they take lessons. These lessons are a lot of fun and some of the best parts of the book.
I really enjoyed this story. It's the sweet love story of Traci and Matt but also about love of family...Traci and her sisters' love for each other and Matt's big
sprawling Italian family. Traci begins to really care for Gwen and when her ex boyfriend continues to be a problem she takes steps to keep her and her baby safe.
If you like sweet romance and a really enjoyable quick read I recommend this book. I loved it. My thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Take the Lead
The Dance With Me Series - Book 2
By Shelley Shepard Gray

Blackstone Publishing - September 2020

Contemporary Romance


Officer Traci Lucky finally had a family. She'd been raised in foster homes, never adopted. But eventually she had been in a good home, and when she left, she had started her career as a police officer. Then she'd discovered she had two sisters, and the three of them decided to move together to Bridgeport. Things had turned out better than she could hope. Her sisters were wonderful women that she was blessed to have in her life, and their small family was growing. Her partner had even married one of her sisters.

When Dr. Matt Rossi asks her to be his date to his brother's wedding, that soon includes dance lessons, and meeting his large Italian family. This was all a bit overwhelming to a woman who never had experiences with a close family before.

Matt was intrigued by the officer who had helped a pregnant teenager out of a bad situation. She may have a tough attitude, but he couldn't help but notice her caring heart. He might have just asked her to be a date for the wedding, but he soon knew that he wanted her in his future.

Take the Lead was a lovely romance with an engaging hero and heroine who are both heroic in every way possible. I loved Traci's interactions with her sisters and Gwen, the young woman she helps. Seeing Traci struggle at times, and reach out for help was endearing. I really am looking forward to the third sister, Kimber's, story.

Kathy Andrico - KathysReviewCorner.com

Take The Lead is book two in The Dance With Me Series and focuses on Traci. It is fun getting to know these three sisters who weren’t raised together and in very different ways as they get to know each other. It makes you feel like you are listening in on their conversations. I love the dance quotes as headings for each chapter and living over a dance studio sounds fun especially when you get free dance lessons from your sister. Traci is a strong independent woman who is also smart and hides a heart of compassion. I enjoyed seeing her start to crack open her heart and letting people in. When you add a pregnant teenage girl and a nice looking Dr you have the makings for an entertaining read. I look forward to Kimbers story in book three and getting to know more of this family. I recommend reading book one first as you don’t want to miss any of this series.
I received a complimentary copy from the author. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.
Note to fans of Ms. Gray this is a clean read but not Christian.

Take the Lead is the second in the Dance With Me series. I loved the first book so I looked forward to the next. I wasn't disappointed. Three sisters were separated at a young age and grew up under entirely different circumstances. Traci Lucky grew up in the foster care system. Now a police officer, Traci is a little cautious in excepting new people. When she and her partner find an unwed teen mother in trouble, Traci steps in to help. Little does she know this will change her life. This story brings out love, family relations, acceptance, and redemption. I love how the town comes together as does this family in times of need. I look forward to the next installment. A received a copy through Netgalley. A review was not required.

Who will not like Traci toughness exterior and her caring heart. I admire how seriously she takes her job. One of the interesting things about this series is the quotes at the beginning of the chapters. I learned that there is more to dancing than I thought. This series will make people want to take their partners to a dance class. The dynamics of the sisters has shown how love can bridge the gap between differences. Traci and Matt communicated in a way that lets readers know that this relationship will last because they are in it for the long haul.

I highly recommend this series to readers. I received this book for the publisher and the opinions are entirely my own.

I read the first title, Shall We Dance, in fall of 2019 and gave it a warm review. Last month, I eagerly read an advanced readers copy of the second title in the series, Take The Lead, and was not disappointed in the least. It continued along familiar lines with charming characters and a heartwarming celebration of family. While part of a series, it could easily be read as a stand alone title.

The characters are flawed but charismatic and, as a girl with absolutely no rhythm, I enjoy the beauty of how dance is portrayed. The chemistry is spot on as is the drama. The novel presents a complex balance of romance, peril, and emotion with an engaging, easy-to-read appeal. I look forward to the final book to see how the sisters continue on their path to happily ever after.

My thanks to the publisher for the complimentary copy via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this post are entirely my own.

My Thoughts:

“Take the Lead” is the second book in Shelley’s Bridgeport collection, once again encountering three sisters who recently found each other! None of them knew that the others existed! That alone, grabs my attention immediately This book centers on one of my favorite sisters, the second sister in this triiogy . A little tough on the exterior but a caring, loving individual who takes a young pregnant girl under her wing , without hesitating.

The characters are all described in such a realisitc detailed way what the reader is caught up in the lives of each of them. I particularly loved Traci. She put on such a tough act as a police officer, however really was such a softy, wanting to solve the problems of the world. A decelopng romance interrupts Traci's well planned out life. Matt is the doctor who everyone dreans of, kind and loving. The two other sisters are also very different from one another. It was very easy to fall into their lives and walk alongside them as they struggle with many cnallenges.

The plot moves quickly with constant action and is filled with unexpected events, successful in grabbing one's attention and NOT letting go. This book was one that I could not put down! It didn't matter that the house needed cleaning and meals needed to be prepared! I was so involved in the lives of my three best friends that the world passed me by.

Shelley has done a superior job at dealing with addiction, new loves, an unexpected, somewhat unwanted child, and new family members dealing with all of this! This super storyteller used her unique style of writing to totally engage readers of any age!! Well done, Shelley!!

This is a five star book! \
Don't miss it.

This book was given to me by the publishers. The opinions and thoughts expressed are honest nd my own.

This was a heartfelt, engaging and romantic story.
Shelley Shepard Gray is a new author to me and it won’t definitely be my last. I will read more about this series about sisters who reunited after being separated at birth.

This is the second book about Tracy Lucky, who in contrast to her last name, had a tough and rough childhood. She was a bit rough around the edge, not afraid to speak her mind even if she seemed a bit cold. Independent, fierce and a little closed off. Even after meeting her sisters and living with them it was still hard to rely on someone. A badass cop who

Until she met Dr Rossi who happened to be the doctor on call when she had to help a young girl.
A gynecologist who had such a kind heart and soul. Coming from a big family who loved to meddle into his life and nosy, so far from what she used to know.

I appreciated watching the main main characters developing their friendship and turning it into something more. It was a sweet and clean contemporary romance with good vibes and realistic situations.

The interactions between the sisters showed how much they cared about each other and wanting to be a family.

I will definitely read more about this series.