Book Description:
Ana Brassfield has her path to the stage of the Metropolitan Opera House all figured out until her first love, renowned German dancer Claus Gert, returns to Georgia to win her back. Despite a promising start towards her ballet career and pending marriage to landscape architect, Peter Engberg, Ana wonders if her dreams of dancing at the Met are as impossible as her previous romantic relationship with Claus.
Then, an on-stage kiss between Ana and Claus changes everything.
Convinced the kiss is more than a one-time mistake, Peter breaks off their engagement. With an old dog crippled by arthritis and dreams deferred but not left behind, Ana moves to Germany to be with Claus. But the ghost of his late wife, Ana’s own feelings for Peter, and the pressure of earning a spot in a large ballet company are a high price for a shot at success. Ana seems on the verge of having everything she ever dreamed of, but will it be enough?
Narelle’s Thoughts:
I absolutely loved reading A Season to Dance. I read the book within twenty-four hours, during the time I should have been using to write my own book, because I just couldn’t put it down. I needed a bunch of tissues to mop up my tears toward the end of the story and my family had a late dinner because I lost track of the time.
It was a powerful story and an emotional read, but before I go into more detail there’s something I’ll share with you first. This wasn’t the first time I’d started reading this book.
Patricia’s debut novel released in early May and I’d planned to read and review it for my May posting date on Inspy Romance. I’ve known Patricia online for a few years through the group blog, International Christian Fiction Writers, and I was thrilled to see her debut book release. A Season to Dance had great endorsements and early reviews, and I’d set aside time after the release date to read the Kindle version.
There was only one problem. I read Chapter One and the ending chapter hook triggered a deep fear I’d been grappling with for eight months. The fear of losing my husband to a life threatening health issue. I read Chapter Two but it became too hard to continue reading. The characters were too real, the writing too vivid, the story too good and too painful to read at that point in time.
For Inspy Romance in May, I used this reading experience to springboard my ideas for the post I wrote on Hot Button Issues and Trigger Warnings in Christian Romance. And I prayed. A Season To Dance had revealed to me an issue in my life that I needed to work through and hand over in prayer. I made the decision to put the book aside and read it in His timing. At the same time I won a print copy from Patricia’s giveaway on the International Christian Fiction Writers blog. The print book sat at the bottom of a pile of books on my bedside table, waiting for its turn to be read.
Ana is a girl from small town Georgia who has big dreams of an international ballet career. Her goal is to dance at the Met in NYC.
Ana isn’t a Christian at the start of the story. This means she doesn’t hold Christian values and doesn’t follow Biblical principles regarding morality. She’s real and she makes mistakes. Her life is complicated and messy as she lives out the consequences of her unwise decisions. The bedroom door is closed but the reader is aware of the physical nature of Ana’s romantic relationships in the story.
A love triangle plays out between Peter, the landscape architect from back home and Claus, a successful German dancer who travels the world. I’m not usually a fan of the love triangle romance trope, but the unique twist it adds to the plot is brilliant.
We journey with Ana to Germany and Prague and also experience the angst in her complex journey to faith. The setting in Europe and Georgia is stunning. I enjoyed travelling with Ana and gaining an insight into the world of ballet.
The opening chapter doesn’t reveal the identity of her husband and it may seem odd to jump ahead in time at the start. In the second half of the book the importance of the placement of Chapter One makes sense and adds to the building tension in the story.
I loved the ending and closed the book with a smile on my face. The gospel message in the story is clear and powerful. The author’s note at the end of the book explains how the author herself became a Christian while writing the book.
A Season to Dance is a contemporary romance I’d recommend to Christians and seekers who are exploring Christianity. It addresses the hard issues in life and how our inherent selfishness will hurt others, including the people we love.
Many thanks to Patricia for blessing me with a print copy. It’s now on my keeper shelf. Learn more about Patricia and her book at her website.
Have you put aside a Christian fiction book that was too hard or challenging to read, and later been blessed by reading it? I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences.
A fun loving Aussie girl at heart, Narelle Atkins was born and raised on the beautiful northern beaches in Sydney, Australia. She has settled in Canberra with her husband and children. A lifelong romance reader, she found the perfect genre to write when she discovered inspirational romance. Narelle's contemporary stories of faith and romance are set in Australia and international locations.
HI Narelle, thanks for sharing about this book. I have not come across Patricia Beal so will check out her books.
I have come across a couple books that I have struggled to finish, one I even deleted off my kindle as it was too difficult to read. I appreciate authors who are willing to tackle heavy issues, but cannot always read their stories.
Blessings:)
I also have this book on my Kindle and just have not found the time to read it yet. Now I must! Thanks for your review and thoughts.
I would say Corban Addison’s books are hard for me to read; he addresses many social injustices that need mending, which can be difficult to read in fiction format. Yet I always plod along, knowing that his books will give me much to think about and pray about when I’m done.
Thanks for sharing! I enjoyed reading this book, and it’s always a blessing to hear how God is using a book.
Hi Narelle! Thanks for sharing. As a German American, who loves to attend performances at the Chicago Lyric Opera, you have me hooked. The book is on my wish list. Not sure I am ready for some heavy reading at this time. Maybe after the holidays. As stated earlier this week. I am a mood reader. With gloomy, rainy, SW Michigan weather, I often read the heavier stuff in the summer when the sun is shining. So yes, I have put books aside. Best wishes.
Narelle! Your review touched my heart. I’m so glad the book was useful and touching. I often sign it with “I still don’t know which end is up half of the time, but I’ve found the One who does, and that’s made all the difference. May He bless you abundantly always.” So true. I still deal with so much baggage – consequence of four decades of a crazy life without God. But then prayer. Then God. A good Father. All the time. Hope. Peace. Peace that passes all understanding. Thank you so much for reviewing and loving this debut :)
Wow, sounds like quite the book! The books I put aside are usually because I decide I’m not going to finish reading them at all, and it’s not usually due to the subject matter, but usually due to poor writing or something I’m just not interested in.
I loved this book.
Hi Wemble, I hope you’ll have a chance to read Patricia’s book. The books that address heavy topics can take a lot of emotional energy to read. The lighter romances are my go-to reads when I want to escape into a fun story. Blessings to you. :)
You’re very welcome, and I hope you’ll have time to read Patricia’s book soon. :) I haven’t read Corban Addison’s books but I know what you mean about how it can be difficult to read about social injustices in fiction format. The close point of view and being in the character’s head can be more confronting than reading a factual non-fiction account of the events taking place. It’s good to read books that challenge us and give us an insight into the hardship and struggles taking place in the world. Blessings to you. :)
Never heard of this book! Sounds like a book I would enjoy….after the holiday season!
Hi Becky, I’m glad you enjoyed reading A Season to Dance. Blessings to you. :)
Hi Renate, I’m glad you’ve added A Season to Dance to your wish list. :) I keep forgetting you’re all heading into winter. Our weather is beautiful late spring sunshine. Although, we could do without afternoon thunderstorms with heavy rain and hail almost as big as golf balls. Like you, I pick books according to my mood and each book has its own season for reading. Blessings to you. :)
Hi Patricia, It’s a pleasure to share your book with our Inspy Romance reader friends. I love your signature message – as a reader I was given a glimpse of your big heart in the story. Thanks for writing a book that will touch readers and have an impact on eternity. Blessings to you. :)
Hi Margaret, Yes, it was a book that really spoke to me. If I’m not hooked into the story in the first few pages, I’ll put the book aside. I may give it a second chance if it’s a book I wasn’t in the mood to read the first time. Poor writing unfortunately spoils the reading experience. Blessings to you. :)
Hi Lucy, I’m glad you loved A Season to Dance. Blessings to you. :)
Hi Jackie, I hope you’ll have an opportunity to read Patricia’s book. Enjoy your holiday season! Thanksgiving is one American tradition that I wish we celebrated in Australia. Blessings to you. :)
Usually if I do ever put a book down I don’t pick it back up again. I have way too many books on my shelves to try a second time. Sometimes though, I feel guilty because of the “what if” game; what if that would have turned out to be the best book I’ve ever read after all or what if that’s the exact book I needed to read because God would speak to me though it?
Really, the book would have to be one I just can’t connect with, or maybe it’s not very well written or maybe something in the content didn’t set well with me or something like that for me to set it down. It has to be pretty bad! Thankfully I’ve not run into to that situation to much :-)
Hi Trixi, I’ve learned that if I don’t get hooked by a story from the get-go, it usually doesn’t improve if I keep reading. Patricia’s book was different because she had me hooked into the story the first time I started reading, but the subject matter was too much for me at that point in time. This doesn’t happen often, either. Blessings to you. :)