Reviewed by Annika
TITLE: Dancing Lessons
AUTHOR: R. Cooper
NARRATOR: Brian Schell
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 5 hours, 17 minutes
RELEASE DATE: May 25, 2016
BLURB:
Two years of living with his controlling boyfriend left Chico worn down long before that boyfriend revealed he’d been seeing someone else. With no other choice, Chico moves in above his cousin’s garage in a small town in the redwoods, where he merely goes through the motions. To get him out of the house, his cousin pushes him to volunteer at a local dance studio to help with their annual show.
He’s not expecting to end up in a dance class, or to start feeling alive again in the arms of his dance instructor. Rafael is the studio owners’ son and was once a well-known dancer in his own right, but now enjoys being a teacher. Although Chico likes him, he’s afraid of taking a chance. But Rafael is determined, and it only takes one dance for Chico to start to realize he might still have something to learn.
REVIEW:
Dancing Lessons is a slow-burn romance about daring to love again.
After an awful two year relationship ends, Chico finds himself starting over in a small town, moving into the apartment above his cousin’s garage. In order to start socialise and live again, said cousin orders him to the local dance studio to help setting up their annual show. Only he accidentally ends up in a dance class and the dance teacher’s arms. But the remnants from his previous relationship is keeping him to take a chance.
I liked how Chico slowly came out of his shell. Like with the costumes for the dance recital. First being very reluctant to help out, but more and more finding joy in sowing again and adding his own flare to the costumes. I also enjoyed watching Chico and Raphael figuratively and literally dance around each other. Theirs is a very slow burn romance and I love how Raphael really lets Chico heal and explore his feelings and attraction on his own time table. It grew organically. Theirs was an uncomplicated and sweet love story.
Brian Schell was a new entity for me, I can’t recall I’ve ever listened to any other of his works. I’ve come to realise something this past year while listening to “older” audiobooks. Many of them are read instead of performed Dancing Lessons not excluded. As a reader Schell does a good job. His pacing and pronunciation are on par. For the odd side character, like an elderly dance student, he does vary his voice, but for the most part he narrates the book with the same voice. It does require the listener to pay attention a bit more to follow the story, but all in all it was a good narration.
RATING: 
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