Goodreads Synopsis:
"Dance like nobody’s watching. Love like you’ll never get hurt…
Laura Watkin's heart isn’t broken, she’s just forgotten how to use it. After years on her own, the highlight of single mum Laura's week is watching Strictly Come Dancing with a glass of Pinot Grigio and a large helping of imagination.
With her daughter Sophie going travelling, Laura knows the time is right to do something for herself for a change. One disastrous Zumba class later and Laura ends up at the feet (literally) of gorgeous dance instructor Tony Hernandez.
A natural dancer and inspiring teacher, Tony rekindles in Laura a passion she inherited from her ballroom dancer father – and with it comes a dream… to make him proud.
But when Tony enters them to perform at the National Dance Festival, can Laura’s new-found confidence survive the test? And with a once-in-a-lifetime chance to learn Flamenco in Spain, could Laura truly learn to dance like nobody's watching… and love like she’ll never get hurt?"
4****
Hey Elementareaders!
‘Summer Flings and Dancing Dreams’ by Sue Watson is a fun and light-hearted romantic comedy. I received a copy of this book through the Goodreads Giveaway program, very kindly signed by Sue herself!
Laura is a forty-something single mum from Manchester who lives her life working in a supermarket and watching TV. She’s content with her life until her daughter, Sophie, bluntly tells Laura that she doesn’t want to end up like her, single and stuck in a dead end job with her only pleasure coming from watching Strictly Come Dancing and imagining herself on the dance floor.
Six months later Sophie is travelling abroad and Laura is still in her same routine. But the chat with her daughter has been a wake-up call and when Laura’s friend Carole invites her to a Zumba class, she says yes. It turns out Zumba isn’t really her thing, but after one disastrous class she meets a handsome stranger inviting her to his dance class – Latin and Ballroom. Laura’s parents were Ballroom champions in their day and it seems that Laura has picked up on some of their rhythm and flair. She’s a natural, and when she gets the chance to learn the flamenco in Spain (her late dad’s dream) she jumps at the chance. Suddenly Laura’s life is filled with dancing and she’s never been happier!
This was such a lovely book! I did find it a little slow at the beginning, but once I got into it I really enjoyed it. Laura is just your typical forty-something singleton in a dead end job and she is so passionate about dance. She proves that anyone, any age can achieve their dreams, which I think is a lovely sentiment.
The book’s motto ‘Dance like Nobody’s Watching’ has always been one of my favourite quotes. I love the idea that you should do whatever makes you feel good regardless of whoever’s watching and judging. Suffering from social anxiety, this is a motto that I find difficult to put into practice, but I still think it's such a wonderful idea.
This is such a feel-good book and it made me laugh, smile (and occasionally cry) all the way through. Laura is so passionate that it made me want to get up and dance myself. I LOVE Tony. He’s the best friend that everyone wants, and Laura was lucky enough to find.
This was a really great book and I’ll be looking out for more of Sue’s novels in the future!
I would give this book 4 stars :)
Places to buy:
Amazon UK
Amazon US
The Book Depository (free shipping worldwide!)
Follow Sue Watson on:
suewatsonbooks.com
Goodreads
Thank you so much for the lovely review Rachael! :) xxx
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading it! :)
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