Friday, June 19, 2020

Review & Giveaway - - Dance Away with Me


Dance Away with Me
by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Publisher: William Morrow
Release Date: June 9, 2020
Reviewed by PJ


Run, run, as fast as you can!

When life throws her one setback too many, midwife and young widow Tess Hartsong takes off for Runaway Mountain. In this small town high in the Tennessee mountains, surrounded by nature, she hopes to outrun her heartbreak and find the solace she needs to heal. 

But instead of peace and quiet, she encounters an enigmatic artist with a craving for solitude, a fairy-tale sprite with too many secrets, a helpless infant, a passel of curious teens, and a town suspicious of outsiders, especially one as headstrong as Tess. Just as headstrong is Ian North, a difficult, gifted man with a tortured soul—a man who makes Tess question everything. 

In running away to this new life, Tess wonders— Has she lost herself . . . or has she found her future? 



PJ's Thoughts:


I loved this book. It's filled with everything that I enjoy and appreciate about a Susan Elizabeth Phillips novel. Phillips is one of those authors who has the ability to create characters who are so realistically human that you forget they are the figment of someone's imagination. They have flaws, struggles, and battered dreams. They don't always make the best decisions. And, sometimes, as is the case with Tess, the best they can do is run away to a small mountain town and confront their grief the only way they can - with angry, heartbroken, dancing in the rain. Phillips imbues Tess with so many layers then sets her on a journey that tests her at almost every turn. She's not always likeable, doesn't always make the best decision, but aren't we all like that at times? Ian is. Like Tess, he also is on a journey, both personally and with his career. Phillips delves deep into his character, his history, his loyalty, and his innate kindness. He nestled right into my heart and refused to leave.


At face value, Tess and Ian seem an unlikely pair and, for a time, are adversaries. But when tragedy forces them to work together as a team, they slowly transition to a tentative friendship then, eventually, both they and the reader are awakened to the fact that these two really are a perfect match. But, of course, that awakening follows a journey filled with emotional ups and downs, plus sprinkles of Phillip's wonderfully wry humor and sarcasm, that kept me glued to the pages of this book from beginning to end. 


One of the facets of Phillips' books that I most enjoy are the communities she creates within them. In Dance Away with Me, she brings us a small, rural, mountain town, filled with interesting, quirky characters who are used to their own ways and wary of outsiders. The interactions between opinionated Tess and the townspeople, as well as among the townspeople themselves, are filled with sarcasm, wit, humor, and poignant moments that nurture not only Tess's evolution but that of some secondary characters as well. 


While difficult, potentially triggering, topics are touched upon in this book - miscarriage, death in childbirth, grief - the overall tone is hopeful, rather than dark. Phillips' never minimizes the impact of unexpected tragedy nor the depth of her characters' grief but allows them to work through it with the full range of human emotions, including anger, but also humor, bringing them through to the other side where hope, happiness, and new love awaits. 


~~~~~~~~~~



Have you read Susan Elizabeth Phillips? Do you have a favorite book of hers?


Have you ever danced in the rain? After reading this book, and especially the wonderful Epilogue, that's exactly what I wanted to do. 


Are there any other women's fiction novels on your must-read list this summer?


One randomly chosen person who comments on this post before 11:00 PM, June 21, will receive a hardback copy of Dance Away with Me.


*Must be 18 or older

*U.S. addresses only



27 comments:

  1. I have read some of Susan Elizabeth Phillips' books, but it has been a while. Have I danced in the rain? Oh, yes. It is refreshing and releasing. Got caught in a downpour once in Manila. We were too far from the hotel to get back before getting soaked. So we danced our way back and enjoyed it. We did get some strange looks from the staff as we sort of dripped our way to our room. I have done it other times intentionally. I have gone out in the rain, stood under a down spout and washed my hair. Rain water leaves the hair so shiny and soft.

    Among other books, I have THE BEAUTY OF BROKEN THINGS in my TBR pile.

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  2. I haven't read any of her books, but this one looks amazing! Thanks for the chance to win.

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  3. I have been waiting a long time for another SEP book. My favorite is Nobody's Baby But Mine - loved the Chicago Stars series. I have never danced in the rain.

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  4. Nobody’s Baby But Mine is my favorite SEP book, so far

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  6. I've read almost all of SEP's books - we had a long wait for this one! My favorite is probably It Had to Be You - the start of the Chicago Stars series.

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  7. SEP's novels are delightful and special. I have read them all and enjoyed Dream A Little Dream so much. I love the Chicago Star Series.

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  8. I read FIRST LADY by SEP and I have danced in the rain. 😀 Reading her books is so much fun. I’m looking forward to DANCE.

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  9. I have read most of SEP's wonderful books. The Chicago Star Series is captivating and give me enjoyment and an escape. I haven't danced in the rain but should for sure. I am looking forward to enjoying We Came Here To Shine, The Lost Girls of Devon and On Ocean Boulevard.

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  10. I have never read this author. I cannot think of a woman's fiction off hand that I would like to read.
    Karen T. (Natty's Mama)

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  11. I have read some of hers still trying to catch up. My favorite is The Great Escape.
    Wonderful review thank you
    Penney

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  12. I love SEP's sense of humor, and I have read several of her books. Top favorites are It Had to Be You and Natural Born Charmer.

    I have never danced in the rain, but you woud understand why if you saw what rain and humidity do to my hair. LOL!

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  13. I have never read SEP, but have been wanting to try one of her books. This sounds really good! And while I do LOVE the rain, I don't remember ever dancing in it...but there's always a first time! ;)

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  14. I love the sound of Runaway Mountain. We've had rain here for weeks in the Virginia mountains--but no dancing! Stay safe & happy everyone : )

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  15. I love reading SEP's books! As kids we were always running and playing in the rain. A book that I am looking forward to reading is 28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand.

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  16. I own nearly all of Ms Phillips' books. She writes books I reread when I need to be lifted. If I were to determine which is my favorite, it would be like abandoning all my children except one. Or maybe three - Lady Be Good, Heaven Texas and Nobody's Baby but Mine. But, those are Just the ones I have reread most recently.

    Dancing in the rain ----Mr Wonderful and I were in a storm, trying to help some elderly neighbors. Their yard was on a slope and we were trying to keep water from flooding into their home. For some reason, I started singing "Singing In The Rain". And we both began to dance in the middle of the street. He was not always a jerk, at times he and I did laugh together....we once got our children to stop asking for every piece of junk food in the grocery store...in the middle of the aisle we were Fred and Ginger..."Heaven, I'm in Heaven. Singing and dancing. All three of the kids disappeared.

    As I say, we could laugh together and embarrass kids with the best of them.

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  17. I love the sounds of this one. I love stories about communities with quirky characters. Looking forward to this one.

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  18. PJ, I'm so glad you liked Dance Away With Me, but I'm certainly not surprised. All of SEP's books are wonderful. Please do not pick my name to win because I preordered it the day its sale date was announced last fall. It's now sitting on my bedside table waiting for just the right moment. But yes, I have danced in the rain, and I'm eager to read Kristan Higgins' latest.

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  19. I love Susan Elizabeth Phillips's books. Especially Nobody's baby but mine.
    I have never danced in the rain.
    I highly recommend Samantha March's books. Her books are amazing.

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  20. Whichever last book of SEP that I've read is my favorite. This book and Kristan Higgins' Always the Last to Know are on my must read list. Yes, I've danced in the rain. When I was in college a friend took my mud sliding - think snow tubing using those trays from the cafeteria on a muddy hill in the rain. My dormmates walked me straight to the shower, clothes and all. But I've never forgotten that night. Thanks for a powerful review PJ!!

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  21. Big Summer is up next on my tbr

    I have read SEP, but not for a while.

    denise

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  22. Yes I have read and enjoyed her books! Unfortunately I have never danced in the rain! I would like to!

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  23. I've never read this author's work before. This book sounds like a great place to start. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  24. I have never danced in the rain nor have I read any of Susan's books. Sounds like a good one. Thank you for giving me a chance to try one.

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  25. I've read all of SEP books and enjoyed them. Although I like the rain, I've never danced in it.

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  26. I can't believe I have not read any of SEP's books even though I own several. I have danced in the rain before - many times in fact - often when I was working outside. You might as well dance and enjoy yourself, right?

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  27. I love SEP and have given many of her books 5 Stars. My favorite one is Kiss an Angel. I'm looking forward to reading this book.

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