DANCING SHOES AND HONKY-TONK BLUES

Author: LuAnn McLane ISBN: 0451221036 5/2007 CHICK LIT Publisher: SIGNET ECLIPSE

IN A RUT Waitress Abilene Harper has always been a bit on the shy and clumsy side. So when the reality TV spoof Dancing with the Rednecks comes to Misty Creek, Kentucky, nothing could make Abby agree to participate ... nothing except a fifty-thousand-dollar grand prize! While she doesn't relish being laughed at, it sure would be danged sweet to buy a truck with all the trimmings, fix up the diner for her hardwarkin' mama, and send her brother to the fancy college he deserves. BREAKIN' OUT Abby's tall, dark, and smokin'-hot dance instructor, Rio Martin, is mighty ticked when he finds out the ballroom­dancing competition he signed on for is actually a joke. But Abby's spunk and determination soon have him setting his sights on winning. He whips Abby into shape, and she begins to cha-cha and rumba her way into the hearts of the TV audience, while the chemistry between the unlikely couple sizzles. Rio tries to remain all business, but Abby has her eyes on the prize—and it isn't just the money.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Being absolutely, positively in LOVE with Dancing with the Stars, I knew that I was just going to love this book. It has it all—dancing couples, great competition, sexy outfits... and a bunch of hillbillies with no idea how to dance! I have never laughed so hard while reading a book.

Abby is the funniest and most down-to-earth heroine I have ever had the pleasure of reading about. When her brother signs her up for a ridiculous dancing competition named Dancing With The Rednecks, she is appalled that he would dare! How could he sign her up for something that is essentially making fun of everything that they stand for! And once she meets her arrogant, uptight dance instructor, she has no idea what she is doing anywhere near this competition.

Rio is a smokin' hot Latin dance instructor that just took my breath away. When he takes the job as a dance partner in a competition, he isn't told what the competition entails until he gets there; and when he finds out, he is fuming! How could the television network make such a joke of him and his career??! And that is not even to mention that his partner is a loud mouthed redneck who says all kinds of weird things that make no sense. The communication barrier between him and Abby with her Southern twang, and his Spanish accent, is absolutely hilarious!

I LOVE this book. There is not a bad thing I can say about it. I laughed my way through three quarters of it! LuAnn McLane is at the top of her game with this book, so do yourself a favor and dance your way right to the nearest bookstore and grab it up!!!

Kristal Gorman