Iggy Toma once again captivates me entirely.

Any additional comments?

Iggy Toma once again captivates me entirely. So much so I was resentful of intrusions that made me have to put it on pause. He manages to create a whole world that sucked me in and made me laugh, cry, and sigh. I can't ask for more than that with a story.

The story centers around Laurie and Ed, who couldn't be more different in some ways and more similar in others. The dichotomy of Ed and Laurie's personalities perfectly explain how well they ultimately compliment each other. They are yin and yang to each other, perfect in their opposition, and in what they bring to each other.

One of the things I loved so much about this story is the realism that's portrayed, woven seamlessly through the romance, so that it's not heavy-handed or brought me out of the lovely romantic story-telling. There were so many things that spoke to me personally, particularly of learning to live with the pain you have, to accept the limitations of your body after an injury, of being afraid you'll be less for it all...

Then ultimately learning to live with your own limitations and how to not just deal, but bloom under the strain of it all because of the love and acceptance of your own and your partner's.

I love this and know it will go into my rotation for re-listen.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

9 people found this helpful

Most Enjoyable

I was moved to tears more than once. 'Twas a beautiful story that moved me greatly.

7 people found this helpful

Such a real and amazing love story

Ed is an out and proud football player (semi-pro) who hurts his neck and has to look for alternative ways to stay in shape and rehabilitate against the debilitating pain.
Laurie is a dancer who runs a small studio but who used to be on the path to greatness until he and his then partner (both dance and life) tried to break into a couples dance competition as the only same sex couple and failed, epically.
At first these two are enemies – Ed plays the music too loud, Laurie is a priss, but then… magic (sigh). They begin to dance together and it is everything they’d hoped to find. Laurie loves how Ed can be the strong partner he’s always needed and Ed loves how Laurie can give him some of his self respect back.
Along the way they become lovers, too, and that, by far, is their most important relationship.
There are many road bumps – Laurie’s mom, Ed’s pain and ego, Laurie’s fear of rejection and his past sexual history, money…
But in the end they conquer them all for a very, very satisfying HEA.
**
This is one of those books I have read and then read again and again. I just love it so!
Some of the things I really appreciate about it:
The real sex. It’s not all hot and sweaty, panting and perfection. There’s pain, and gas, and preparation, and mess. Wonderful!
I love the scene in the hot tub with the other, older couple… again, real, messy, normal, but still hot.
The real problems. Pain and money and egos. Who hasn’t had one or both of those issues in their life – even to the point of ruining their relationship?
Their love. I just fell in love with them as a couple because they are so very different but when they put down their walls you can see just how perfect they are for one another.
All in all it was an amazing book that I can’t recommend more highly than: you must read this!


Audio

Iggy Toma has narrated a lot for Heidi and he does another really excellent job here. I love the depth of emotion he puts in to his characters. His pacing is wonderful and his voice is so easy to listen to. I highly recommend both the book and this narration.

I give it 6 of 5 stars – Amazing!

2 people found this helpful

Sweet story with definite Cullinan stamp on it

I have enjoyed every Heidi Cullinan book I've listened to. I enjoy how Cullinan threads pop culture into her stories and often utilizes them for more than just back ground. I was first introduced to this couple as part of the cast of characters in Lonely Hearts and was excited to get to hear their story. I have to say that I was just a *little* disappointed in this story after the Love Lessons trilogy. I wish that Laurie, in particular, had a little more depth to him. I didn't fall in love with these guys in quite the same way that I fell in love with each of the couples in those books. I felt like the "conflict" and disparity in their personalities and backgrounds was written off a bit too easily ... and damn do I wish we'd gotten a bit more of Oliver's wickedness.

All in all though, this book will go on the playlist with the rest of H.C.'s books and I will undoubtedly revisit the series often as it is fun, sweet and while not all easy and hearts and flowers, is certainly, ultimately, feel-good reading. And of course, Iggy Toma as narrator doesn't hurt in being motivated to relisten, even a tiny bit.

2 people found this helpful

Ultimately DNF

I have read a couple of Heidi Cullinan's books before, one was Nowhere Ranch, which I loved.. But this one was a little boring.. I liked the characters ok, Ed who's a big, funny, man child teddy bear and Laurie who is talented and sweet and giving but has built a protective wall around himself. But their story was only mildly entertaining. Still, I wanted to see it through and was a few chapters from the end when a certain scene happened that turned me off this book. I just felt it didn't fit these characters , but more importantly I found it had an ick factor for me that it was happening with Laurie and Ed and Laurie's godfather and his lover in the same room. This godfather who has known Laurie since he was a a baby, probably bought him tonka trucks and tutu's, pushed for this and I just closed the book. While it's true exhibitionism isn't something I enjoy reading about, ( along with humiliation or pain play) but depending on how it's done there have been some I have enjoyed.. This just felt wrong in this story , and thrown in because there was nothing going on and the author wanted to add some spice. But this spice just had an ewww factor for me. I do always enjoy Iggy Toma's narration tho, I would be remiss not to mention that.

1 person found this helpful

Best audio book I've ever listened too!

I couldn't get enough and I can't wait to read more by this author AND this narrator. He was fantastic!

1 person found this helpful

The story is almost as good as the cover picture

I bought this book because of the incredible beautiful cover picture and I was happy to see the story was beautiful too. I liked all the characters and the dance references. I just hated Ed's voice. He sounds like a dirty old man instead of the gorgeous young tall football player he is supposed to be. Everything else was great.

1 person found this helpful

A good read and worth a credit

Perhaps not the most believable of plots, but hey, it's fiction right? On the shelf dancer and muscle jock fall in love over a tango. Or was it a waltz. Anyway, new love, old insecurities and that kind of thing. Nice little novel - spend a credit or penny. You won't be sorry.

1 person found this helpful

Silent illness the invisible problem

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

in a heart beat, the story is sweet and deep The growing together of laurie and Ed happens soon organically u can't help but root for them

What other book might you compare Dance with Me to and why?

none

Have you listened to any of Iggy Toma’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

no 1st one

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Ed seeing Laurie dance and what that did to him and how Ed kept fell hard

Any additional comments?

there are times that Laurie and Ed seems to be hard to like however once u get passed that it u learn what there hiding and what there both hiding and yet what there scared to share, it makes the story even more real

1 person found this helpful

Great Love Story

A wonderful love story. I was swept away by the two main characters all the way to the end.

1 person found this helpful