How to Dance
A Novel
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4.5 • 2 Ratings
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
Opposites attract and sparks fly as a passionate dancer and a ladies’ man who's given up on love fall for each other—one tango at a time—in this charming debut romance perfect for fans of Talia Hibbert and Blair Fell.
Nick Freeman works hard as the star of the weekly karaoke night at his bar, hoping his singing talent, quick wit, and winning smile will distract from his cerebral palsy. But one night at the bar, watching a professional dancer light up the dance floor with her boyfriend, he realizes that entertaining strangers will never give him a fraction of the joy he sees in this woman’s eyes.
When Hayley Burke notices Nick’s reaction to her dancing, she urges him to acknowledge his passion and try a few moves himself—only to be mortified when she realizes Nick can only walk with the aid of a metal walker.
As Nick and Hayley fumble through misunderstanding into friendship, Hayley begins to enjoy Nick’s company more than that of her self-centered boyfriend. Nick tries to fight his attraction to Hayley, believing she deserves a dance partner who can move like her boyfriend does—but as Hayley and Nick continue to find their rhythm together, she shows him that “dancing” is about so much more than moving your feet.
In this fresh-voiced and utterly charming debut novel, Jason B. Dutton takes readers on a swoon-filled journey as two lost souls learn that neither physical disability nor emotional scars disqualify us from finding beauty, validation, and love amidst the chaos of being human.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Debut author Dutton, who has cerebral palsy, draws inspiration from his own life in this thoughtful portrait of how disability can affect dating. Nick Freeman, whose cerebral palsy makes it hard to walk without assistive devices, may not be the most sure-footed person on the dance floor, but he's one heck of a karaoke singer in the Columbus, Ohio, bar where he holds court every Friday. After a recent breakup, he's taken a blow to his self-confidence and all but given up on love, but that doesn't stop him from seeking out one-night stands. Hayley Burke is a transplant from Indiana, having recently relocated with her boyfriend, Kevin; both have dreams of dancing professionally. When they meet at the bar, Nick is immediately attracted to Hayley's warm energy and utter lack of guile (and recognizes Kevin as a jerk), but he's convinced that she would never seriously consider a romance with him and throws obstacles into his own path. Dutton empathetically chronicles the ways in which well-meaning able-bodied people can unwittingly make life harder for those who are disabled. Readers will root for Hayley and Nick through thick and thin, and a robust supporting cast (especially Nick's best friends' daughter, three-year-old Rosie, who steals every scene she's in) add even more charm to the well-crafted plot. The result is a refreshing and romantic treat.
