The Dance Deception

The Dance Deception by Becky Ward tells the tale of our female main character, Kate, who has entered a reality TV dance competition having left behind her job, a bad breakup and in hopes of winning the £25,000 cash prize to change her life around.

Kate immediately jumps into a romance with her dance partner Merle, which we know will end badly and it does. The scandal caused by their romance results in her changing partners and being paired with Aleksis. Aleksis doesn’t like Kate, but they agree to have a fake romance to hopefully win over viewers and up their chances of winning.

Despite their rough beginning Kate and Aleksis start to have real feelings for each other and they have to navigate a lot of obstacles, including Merle trying to sabotage them.

Ms. Ward wrote a book that was a great way to spend a hot summer day – a distraction that kept me engaged and rooting for the heroine.

This book was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher for my opinion. All views are my own.

It was like a sexy DWTS! what really kept me interested was the twist about merle being married! too good to be true. I loved the Latin flair on it, being Latin myself. The dancing and the competitions live vibrantly in my head. Kate and Merle really hit it off, but the fast paced of the meeting, having sex and the news leaking about the affair.. That was all in about 40 pages of the book. But that's how lust works.
I lived vicariously through Kate the entire time though. Her and Aleksis were the definition of sizzlin and i felt the chemistry steaming of the pages! There was so much drama I was absolutely liiivinngggg for it.

I almost DNF this one. I got to about 30% and realized I knew nothing about Kate, the main character, but I decided to push on since I love dance contest books and while it wasn’t my favorite book, Kate grew on me. There is a lot of spice in this one; probably more than is needed and it seems to be the focus of the book which takes away from the actual story. You do get to know Kate a little more as the book goes on but the story really does suffer from all the need for descriptive spice. Not sure if I would recommend it. Still, it was a nice distraction for the day and I learned about different dances.

Thank you, NetGalley and publishers, for this ARC!

"The Dance Deception" is a sexy romantic read centered around a dance competition reality TV show a la DWTS mired with romance, jealousy, and scandals. Kate is competing in the show to get out of the funk she has found herself in. Merle will do whatever he needs to ensure he wins. Aleksis dislikes Merle and Kate for what they have done but learns not everything is as it seems. Who will come out on top?

This book is a quick read with twists and turns that made it more enjoyable than expected. While there is not much character development, the scandals and competition atmosphere make up for it. If you are looking for a romantic, sexy, and scandal-ridden read, then look no further!

This was a good solid book. It was confusing at first with a LOT of characters, but after about 100 pages they had been detailed well and I could keep track of them all. The ending left me wanting a little more detail but I often think that! The pace was great, I couldn't wait to keep reading each chapter, and I really enjoyed this read.

I absolutely loved this book! I read it in one sitting! It was equal parts steamy, hilarious and heartwarming. I wish it wasn't over so quickly! There were a few grammar and spelling errors but that's to be expected. I'll definitely be recommending this to my spicy book friends!

This was a cute dancing with the stars enemy to lovers spicy romance novel. I really enjoyed it. When an author can make you hate a character so strongly and love a couple so much you know that the writing is well done! Will definitely recommend.

I enjoyed the unique setting of a dance competition. I hoped to see more technical details of the dance practice to make it seem more authentic. I also feel it would be stronger to lead more gradually into the relationship between the main character and Aleksis to emphasize the change from antagonism to attraction.

Huge thank you to NetGalley for the e-ARC!
Five stars.

I finished this book in less than 8 hours. It was such a fun read! From the first chapter, I was intrigued by the glitz and glam of the Fire on the Dance Floor competition. As a former dancer, I thought I would be a little put off reading a romance like this, but I was pleasantly surprised by the way the author was able to capture what dance shows are like for contestants.

Character wise, I loved the other competitors Kate befriended. At times I wanted to throttle Kate because of her decision making skills, but then I realized that it was a pretty accurate reaction to a lot of the issues she was dealing with. Merle was the sleazy, slim ball I expected him to be, and I found myself wishing for him to not come back. Aleksis and Sophyia were a good brother/sister pairing, and for the quick read this was, their sibling relationship was cute.

This was a quick read, with LOTS of spice in there--if I had to rate it as far as spice levels go, I'd give it a 4 (came for the smut, stayed for the plot) because the first two chapters are a whirlwind of passion between Merle and Kate. With the pacing of the book, I feel like this would be a cute movie adaptation. It read really well and I think this will be a fun re-read.

Spicy! On and off the dance floor!! This book was pure fire! I loved the story line it was so different and the pace of the book was great. This book had some great laugh out loud moments and characters that you really like. This was such a great read! I loved this!!! 5 stars!! Definitely reading more from Becky Ward!!
I just reviewed The Dance Deception by Becky Ward. #TheDanceDeception #NetGalley
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I was surprised I liked this book. I recommend this book to those that like the drama of reality tv. I appreciated how quickly some of the characters got over themselves when they were being unreasonable and I appreciated that the two love interests fell hard and fast.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
This is the first time I’ve seen a romcom book with the reality show theme that was dance-focused rather than something else like the bachelor or a makeover show. I loved it! As someone who dances, it added an extra element of relatability to me.
The characters and chemistry were good, plenty of steam, and a quick fun read.

perfect blend of romance and drama, with well-developed characters and a compelling storyline. It explores themes of trust, ambition, and the power of love amidst adversity. With twists and turns that keep you guessing, this book will have you rooting for the characters until the very end.

★ ★ ★ ★ //5

The Dance Deception
by: Becky Ward

THOUGHTS:

I want to thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for giving me the opportunity to read an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

I thought that this book was great aside from what reviews said. I don’t read reviews before I dive into a book anyways…to each their own views with books and I am glad that I didn’t. This book was well written and well done, not necessarily something that I would usually pick up to read but I am not mad at it. I thought it was cute. I loved the characters Aleksis & Kate, I truly did. This book was a quick read and I thought that the relationships and the chemistry amongst the characters was well done. I love how the author threw in some great twists and turns into the book and they definitely had you guessing what was going to happen. I think that this book deserves a lot more than what it’s being given. I would recommend this book, of course :)

I really liked this book! It was fun, steamy, and had enough suspense to have me read it all in one sitting! There were times I wanted to smack the FMC over her choices, but overall I loved all the characters. I do wish there was a little more buildup between Aleksis and Kate's relationship, it was pretty much all about the spice and the fake relationship. Overall a great read, and i would recommend it to a friend! Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review!

The first 10-15% of this book I really struggled with. I hated Merle from the first moment he was on the page. I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to read the whole book with all the *ICK* he gave me. BUT this book turned out to be such a gem! Aleksis was just what I needed to cleanse my reading palate from that slime ball Merle! Fake dating is one of my favorite troupes! I loved his personality, even when he was angry. The author writes really well, everything flowed nicely. I was laughing out loud in the middle of the night waking my dogs up with the banter! The other characters were fantastic too! I loved how they always hyped Kate up by being supportive, even when it sounded bonkers. Will definitely be reading more by this author in the future!

This was a fun light read with just the right amount of spice! I enjoyed the character development and storyline between Kate and Aleksis, including just the right amount of drama and a great full-circle moment to round out the book. The descriptions of the dances were detailed enough that I could picture them as I read, which was really fun!

s fun contemporary romance brings the razzle dazzle of a reality show dance competition with real people! Becky
Ward’s vivid descriptions bring you to the edge of your seat during the twists and turns of this enemies to lovers and fake
dating story. Pay close attention – there are a lot of moments you won’t see coming!
Tropes:
Dance Competition / Reality Show / Enemies to Lovers / Fake Dating or Relationship / Contemporary Romance / Forced
Proximity / Divorce / Adultery
Characters:
Kate – awkward reality show contestant – plucked from obscurity, she will compete in a reality competition where
normal people are paired with dance pros. She falls for her pro, and unfortunately, he betrays her, and then she’s paired
with someone else – who absolutely detests her.
Merle – Kate’s first dance partner, who seduces her, only to splash a semi-nude photo across the London tabloids. He
also tries to blackmail Kate with revenge porn. He’s just an all around bad guy!
Alexi – Kate’s second dance pro, who hates her. His sister is Merle’s wife – the wife Merle cheats on with Kate. Very
awkward at first, but sparks FLY as the book goes on.
Sophia – Merle’s wronged wife, who only wants to help her brother win the competition
Some Highlights –
- The spice starts on page 5. It doesn’t take long, and DAMN. It heats up quick! Merle and Kate have a LOT of chemistry. It
was initially sad to see that backfire on Kate, but when Kate and Alexi begin to spice things up…just wow. I’m giving it a
4/5 on the Spice Meter.
- SO MANY JAW DROPPING MOMENTS. Literally gasping. Moments I didn’t see coming!
- I loved the ending – while I wished Kate and Alexi would have placed first, it makes sense not to give Kate the win. She
has other things she needs to be doing to get her life on track, and Alexi should be part of that. It’s really the only way to
end the book!
- The parts with Kate’s family seemed unnecessary – I would have loved to know more about Kate’s roommate, and her
new boyfriend! Maybe in book 2?
Thank you to Harper Collins Publishers Ltd for granting me an Advanced Reader Copy of this book!

The Dance Deception follows Kate Wareing, a contestant on a new reality tv dance competition. She is initially paired with the handsome and flirty Merle, but after a scandal rocks the competition, Kate must switch partners and dance with Aleksis, who seems to hate her.

This was such a fun read, and I really enjoyed this book. If you miss the days of good Rom Coms, then this book is for you. It's 'Dancing With the Stars' with a dash of Bravo TV-level drama.

Tropes:
Enemies to Lovers
United against a common enemy
Fake Dating

Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️

Another 2023 read that I loved, that started off super hot (sorry but I won't sugar coat this one). Loved the dedication of the main character, the chemistry from both of her dance partners, the way the story made me think of behind the scenes of Dancing with the Stars, and I'm pretty sure I screamed out loud in multiple parts when reading. And let's not forget the ex-wife! Without spoiling it, I LOVED her involvement in the entire scheme. It was a perfect twist I wouldn't have expected when I first started reading and she was "Karma" personified. Without her, I don't think it would have done it for me. Enemies to lovers? Fake dating? Having to deal with paparazzi and reporters and all that jazz? I was eating it all up.

A big thank you to Netgalley for the chance to read this and to the author for this story.

Don’t let this cute little cover fool you, this book is full of 🌶️🌶️!

The Dance Deception follows Kate a contestant on a celebrity reality show dancing competition. She is paired with Merle, a professional dancer, and very quickly discovers the chemistry. Eventually Kate is forced to take on a new partner, Aleksis, and so begins a fake dating showmance. The chemistry starts out as fake but could it be more??

I am a sucker for a dancing competition and this book was filled with all the drama of a reality show. I was there for it and couldn’t get enough. Also the spice was insane! I definitely wasn’t expecting it.

I definitely look forward to more from this author.

Wonderful story, great character development, great writing! Highly recommend this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it

I loved how delightfully spicy this was. Out of the gate it was hot hot hot, then WHOA! Back to start we go with the slow build. Delicious!

I had the pleasure of diving into the intricate world crafted by Becky Ward in her novel, "The Dance Deception," and I'm immensely grateful to NetGalley for granting me access to an advance reader copy (ARC) of this captivating book. Ward's narrative skill shines brightly in this gripping tale of intrigue, betrayal, and the power of redemption.

"The Dance Deception" unfolds with a perfect blend of suspense and mystery, keeping readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. Ward's characters are expertly developed, each with their own secrets and motivations that add layers of complexity to the story. As the plot twists and turns, we're drawn deeper into a web of deception and danger, unable to tear ourselves away until the truth is revealed.

Ward's writing is both immersive and evocative, painting vivid scenes that leap off the page and into the imagination. With its compelling storyline and well-crafted suspense, "The Dance Deception" is a must-read for fans of thrillers and mystery novels. I highly recommend this book to anyone in search of a captivating read that will keep them guessing until the very end. Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with the opportunity to experience this gripping tale before its official release.

If you enjoy watching dance competitions, are a dancer, or dream of becoming one someday, this book is for you! "The Dance Deception" is a contemporary romance novel that combines the excitement of a dance competition reality TV show with steamy romance and dramatic twists.
Love the characters!

Enjoyed the writing from this author. Liked the characters and storytelling. Four stars will read from this author again!