Reviewed by Taylin
TITLE: The Dancer’s Dilemma
SERIES: Campus Connections #3
AUTHOR: CJane Elliott
PUBLISHER: Self-Published
RELEASE DATE: October 30, 2020
LENGTH: 169 pages
BLURB:
When love comes knocking, check who’s there before you open the door.
Tyrone Johnson is looking for The One. But what if the two applicants are his straight ex-best friend and the man who messed with Tyrone’s teenaged heart?
His best friend Nat was always there for him, until he dropped Tyrone in high school to run with the jocks and date the prom queen. Now he’s back and wants Tyrone’s forgiveness–and his heart.
Arnaud, the French choreographer who swept eighteen-year-old Tyrone off his feet, is also back. He’s eager to reignite their hot affair after leaving it in the dust four years ago.
Which one can Tyrone trust not to abandon him again? And can he trust himself to make the right choice?
If you like second chance stories and sexy dancing, you’ll love The Dancer’s Dilemma.
REVIEW:
At his graduation, Tyrone spies a face from his past that unsettles him. Then, when Tyrone and his friends are recruited to put on a fundraiser, for a dedicated gay dorm on campus, another face from the past appears, throwing Tyrone’s emotions into turmoil. One is a leader for the college LGBTQ program, the other a choreographer. Both represent important areas of Tyrone’s life. However, in the past, both ghosted him, and now both offer something he desires.
Tyrone is a talented dancer with plenty of pent-up anger for each man, but need, and seduction, are powerful things. He must navigate a series of curveballs to decide the ultimate question – what does he really want?
Arnaud the older French ex-lover, sensual mover, and choreographer wants to advance Tyrone’s dancing, and if he can get into his pants at the same time, then all the better.
Tyrone is a lovely human being – he just doesn’t know it. In a quote, he says – I know what it’s like to grow up black and queer. He is therefore torn between helping fellow black gay people and progression as a dancer. Nat is the friend, ex-jock, workaholic, and standard-bearer for the LGBTQ community who wants to atone for his past and get Tyrone involved. Just because they were joined at the hip as children, doesn’t mean that they automatically know each other as adults.
The story is about more than the above quote. It is also about friendship, family, community, helping others, acceptance, and finding love. We have a whole bunch of good people from a mixture of backgrounds coming together for a worthy cause which is heartwarming. It highlights that while some experiences are good; many aren’t, and it’s about providing a safety net for those who need it.
Enter Jerry, the ultimate sassy, energized, agony aunt. I loved him. I believe everyone should have a Jerry in their lives. The banter between friends and family, too, was excellent. Tyrone’s family is the ultimate in ‘come give us a hug’.
Much of the story revolves around Tyrone and Nat, though Arnaud has the ability to throw in a wrench. Given what happened years before, air needs to be cleared else it festers, and it was lovely to read the journey Tyrone takes.
Questions need to be answered too, such as: –
It’s okay to love someone, but do they have time for you? What do they actually think about certain aspects of one’s life and conduct? Is a worthy cause more important than a partner? Am I happy with who I am? What do I want? I could go on.
There is a lot to like in this, friends to lovers/second chances story. It was thought-provoking and left me with warm fuzzies. My only gripe is that, at the start, the use of acronym’s alienated me from the story. They may be well-known locally, in the US, or even to the younger generation, but I was not up to speed, nor am I from the USA. Thus, it took me longer to connect with the characters and the college setting, which was a shame.
RATING: 
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