Three Chicks and Their Books: Blog Tour: The Dance by Alison G. Bailey

Photographer: Abigail Marie, Non Pa'Reil Photography

Cover Design: Murphy Hopkins, Indie Solutions

The Dance is the story of what happens after the happily ever.

Bryson Walker stumbled heart first into the steady rhythm of her
life, never questioning whether other possibilities existed. She had been
Will’s girl since their junior year in high school, followed him to college,
and married him soon after graduation.

In every respect, they were a loving and successful couple,
until a series of missteps shattered all of Bryson’s truths. Maybe their life
was nothing more than smoke and mirrors. A performance that was never based in
reality.

Hart was barely an acquaintance. He and Bryson shared one brief
moment during senior prom, full of friction and heat that ignited a spark. But
that night Bryson walked away and Hart let her go.

Years later, twisted fate brings Bryson and Hart together again,
causing her to wonder if this is her second chance at once in a lifetime.

5 Stars

Review by Jen Skewes

I am not even sure where to begin with this review. This book touched me on so many levels that I am not sure I can even describe just how much. But I am going to do my best to try. When I first read the prologue I was completely sucked in and just knew what a beautiful and powerful story this was going to be. Ms. Bailey took me on a journey that was filled with love, heartache, loss, grief, and so much more. It was a journey that brought out every emotion. There were twists and turns along the way that I was in no way prepared for. But in the end it was all so worth it.

Bryson and Will were high school sweethearts who later married. Hart is the boy that she shared one moment with in high school, but it was a moment that she did not forget and one that she has always carried with her. In the prologue we get a brief glimpse of Will and Bryson in high school and from that moment I just wondered where this story would go. Because for me personally I saw the way he treated her and wondered how their relationship would progress throughout the years. Will was it for Bryson, the love of her life, the man she was going to spend the rest of her life with. But as the years go by and now that they are married, Bryson slowly starts to see the truth beneath the man. When she needs Will in a way that she has never needed him before, she sees that maybe Will was not the man she always thought him to be. When she discovers the lies and the secrets she starts to rethink everything, including their marriage.

When tragedy strikes it brings Hart Mitchell back into her life again. Her marriage has already started to crumble and seeing Hart again has brought back memories of that night. She never forgot the connection she felt while with him, even if the moment they shared was a brief one. Sometimes in life you wonder “what if” and I think a big part of Bryson starts to think that when it comes to Hart. In a way it is like she has been given a second chance with this man who touched her soul so many years ago. But a lot has happened in Hart’s life since that night. And no matter what he feels for Bryson he is afraid to go there with her. She deserves so much more than what he can give her. But Bryson needs and wants Hart in her life and not just as her friend. Will these two get their second chance with each other and how much of their past will get in the way?

The Dance is one of those books that when you are done reading you are still thinking about it the following day. Even writing this review days later I am getting goose bumps just thinking about it. For one I fell in love with Hart and Bryson. Hart is this amazing, beautiful man both inside and out. He has his struggles and you will see why when you read the book but the way he cared for Bryson, the words he spoke to her and how patient he was will melt your heart. But I have to say it was his selflessness, especially in the end that completely got me. This man was everything and he had my heart from the beginning. And honestly I think he had Bryson’s as well. It just took her a little longer to realize it.

Bryson was a wonderful heroine but I have to say at times I felt like Will walked all over her one too many times. I wanted to see her pick herself up off the floor stop being a doormat and move on with life. When she finally did stand up for herself I honestly could not have been more proud of her. She finally saw what we as the reader saw when it came to Will. And she finally realized to put herself first, to make herself happy and follow her heart and her dreams. She too had this selflessness about her as well that I admired but at the same time I am not sure I could have done what she did in the end. It took so much strength to do what she did and a lot of forgiveness. And for all of that I admired her even more.

Will as you can tell, I was not a big fan of and don’t want to waste too much time on him. Maybe deep down he had a heart and was a good guy. And maybe he had his reasons for being a complete douche but it didn’t make me like him for it. I understood the pressure he felt but it was still was no reason to be the man that he was. In the end I think he may have redeemed himself in some way. It was enough for me to feel for him but not to fall in love with him.

I will say that there was one issue I had with the story. Without going into too much detail there was an element to the story that I understood the reasons behind it, but one it was introduced I had a hard time with it continuing in the way that it did. And I think I also wanted more emotion and discussion between him and Bryson when it came to this. I cannot really go into detail so I will leave it at that. But regardless of that small issue this book was everything. Alison Bailey did a fantastic job with this story. The writing was flawless and the story was just perfection. It was so beautiful to watch Hart and Bryson together. To see their friendship slowly turn into so much more. They had such a wonderful connection and it was one that you felt. You could feel how much these two loved each other and from the moment they saw each other again the connection was still there.

The Dance is one of those stories that as you kept reading you just did not want to let go. I devoured this book and wish I could go back and read it all over again so I can savor every word. It touched me completely for so many reasons. It was emotional and heartbreaking at times. But it was also so uplifting and sweet and beautiful. It is a journey to finding yourself again, about learning how to move on and follow your dreams. It is a beautiful story about friendship, loss, grief, forgiveness and most of all finding love again. This is one that will stay with me.

the Dance

Prologue

I stood in front of the glass wall, mesmerized. The fake sunlight shimmered down through the water, bouncing off the yellow, green, and pink coral. The blue glow of the tank gave the dimly lit nook a mystical dreamy feel.

The prom committee had pulled off an epic feat this year. Instead of having the dance in our gross school gym it was being held at the new state-of-the-art aquarium downtown. Once the student committee agreed, Megan Sims, head cheerleader and overly developed youth, was given the task of presenting the new location idea to the faculty advisor, Mr. Hall. During the meeting, as Megan waxed poetic about riding the waves of hope out into the ocean of the future, she hoisted her massive boobs up to meet Mr. Hall’s sightline. Three seconds into Megan’s spiel the dude was so titnotized that he would have offered up his first born in order to pay the rental fee.

At first, I had my doubts about spending my final prom at the aquarium. The fishy décor didn’t exactly scream romance, but I had to admit, it was pretty cool. The dance was in Ballroom A, which opened up onto a huge deck facing the Charleston harbor. Inside three giant purple octopus chandeliers hung down from the ceiling, casting cool shadows on the walls covered in varying shades of blue. Big white coral sculptures were at the four corners of the room. Tables draped in white linen with candles and seashell centerpieces outlined the room, leaving a huge space in the middle for dancing.