Snow Dance

Dance ‘n’ Luv #0.5

by Alicia Street

After a bitter divorce, Amanda Kushinski, a former Broadway dancer from Manhattan, moves to a peaceful village on Long Island’s rural North Fork to open up a vintage clothing shop. She wants solitude and anonymity, but instead she finds herself involved with an elusive ghost, a troubled teenage girl, and a sexy local fisherman who makes her believe in second chances.

Russ McNeil has very bad taste in clothes. A sixth generation son in a family of fishermen that worked the Bay and the Sound, he has no illusions about what life has to offer him, including in the romance department. But he’s in for a little surprise.

SNOW DANCE is a short story of approximately 13,000 words. While complete in itself, it is also a prequel to the novels in the Dance ‘n’ Luv series.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Short Stories, Fiction, Contemporary Romance

57 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2012

About the author

Alicia Street is a USA Today Bestselling Author and Daphne du Maurier award-winner. She writes both sweet and steamy romance and sometimes collaborates with her husband, Roy. Her years as a professional dancer, choreographer and teacher provide the inspiration behind her Dance 'n' Luv contemporary romance series. A compulsive reader of every genre, Alicia loves watching old black-and-white movies and inventing new recipes for soup.

Reviews

[Sandy S · Rating 3 out of 5]

SNOW DANCE (Dance N Luv Short Story) by Alicia Street/Roy Street

SNOW DANCE is the prequel novella in Alicia and Roy Street’s Dance and Luv series. Published in March 2012, the storyline was released between Kiss me Dancer and Touch Me and Tango, but should be read first. As the prequel it reveals some of the background information into the lives of the characters featured in the other two novels. Snow Dance follows 45 year old former Broadway dancer and divorcee Amanda Kushinksi as she begins a new life setting up a vintage clothing shop in the small seaside town of North Cove, Long Island. Stubborn and fiercely independent Amanda has one goal in mind-to set up shop. What she didn’t plan was finding someone to share her life.

Leaving New York behind to start a new life, Amanda wanted to forget about her cheating ex-husband, so she had stricken men off her list of needs and wants, especially scruffy, dirty and ‘rustic’ (in Amanda’s words) small town men like Russ McNeil. But Russ was persistent. When he offered his help she politely refused by Russ wasn’t one to take no for an answer. And Amanda soon discovered there was more to Russ McNeill than a dirty old parka

Divorced father of one adult son, Russ McNeil, 49, is a sixth generation fisherman in North Cove. A hard worker who owns his own fishing business, Russ is intrigued with Amanda and her brush-off with Russ only fueled his desire to discover what lay beneath her crusty exterior. Hoping to help a family friend, Russ offers up a potential employee for Amanda, knowing he would do anything to help both Amanda and his friend.

Russ and Amanda’s introduction is a little tense. Amanda has a chip on her shoulder with regards to men, but an even bigger attitude when it comes to Russ and her perception of his small town life. I didn’t like Amanda. She was rude and thought herself better than Russ because of her background and life in New York. But once she got to know Russ, she discovered that love comes in many ways.

There are a couple of secondary characters and storylines that introduce the premise and people behind the other novels. Casey and Parker Richardson are young teens who find themselves caring for their alcoholic mother and dying father. 17 year old Parker currently runs the family landscaping business as well as working at the local hardware store where Russ and Amanda first meet. Parker has fallen hard for the daughter of one of his landscaping clients and their story can be found in Touch Me and Tango (July 2012 release). Casey Richardson is the young woman Amanda hires to work in her shop but when items of clothing and jewelry go missing Amanda suspects Casey of stealing. And when Russ comes to Casey’s defense, Amanda soon discovers that she is jealous of Russ’s relationship with Casey and refuses to admit her feeling about Russ.

SNOW DANCE is a short story that imparts some background information about Dance N Luv Series by Alicia and Roy Street. The series premise focuses on dance and dancers, and each of the female leads is somehow involved. I guess dance can also be a metaphor, as each of the couples ‘dances’ around each other before finally admitting their true feelings about one another.

see all of my reviews at : thereadingcafe.com

[Rhonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful short story. I've found that character development is often lacking in short stories, but that's not the case with this one. In just a few lines, Ms. Street has you caring about the characters & their lives. This was a fun read & I will definitely buy more from this author.

[Stacey Netzel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this prequel to Kiss Me, Dancer. Alicia Street did a great job with the main characters of this story, as well as introducing us to the main characters of the Dance 'N Luv Series. I'll definitely be reading more of her books!

[Julie Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Snow Dance by Alicia Street and Roy Street
Amanda is new in town and opening a vintage line of clothing. She meets Russ at the hardware store where she gets the paint from.
Russ talks her into hiring his younger sister, Casey who's finding it hard to help with her cancer ridden dad and her mom went back to the bottle, school and a younger sister.
Love hearing how Amanda talks her into setting up for dance moves. She's not smiled in so long and Parker is so happy to see it.
We also learn more of their background lives. Amanda finds things missing, and other strange things happening.
Very descriptive details and few characters, easy to keep track of.
Twists and turns all around, enjoyed the read and will read the next in the box set.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Synopsis: "After a bitter divorce, Amanda Kushinski, a former Broadway dancer from Manhattan, moves to a peaceful village on Long Island’s rural North Fork to open up a vintage clothing shop. She wants solitude and anonymity, but instead she finds herself involved with an elusive ghost, a troubled teenage girl, and a sexy local fisherman who makes her believe in second chances.

Russ McNeil has very bad taste in clothes. A sixth generation son in a family of fishermen that worked the Bay and the Sound, he has no illusions about what life has to offer him, including in the romance department. But he’s in for a little surprise."

My Review: This may have been a short and simple romance novella, but I was completely sucked into the story. I enjoyed the characters and though we didn't get to dig into their personalities much, they still shined and made you care about them. I really enjoyed Amanda and Russ sounds completely drool worthy, even young Casey and Parker connected with me. I have a feeling I will be following this series through to the end!

[Phylis Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a short story and I only wish it could have been longer. It is sold separately as well as part of a boxed set called Dance "n" Luv.

Amanda used to be a dancer but has decided to give up men because of past experiences with them. She decides to start a vintage clothing store. She goes to the hardware store and meets Russ and his best friend Parker. Parker's sister needs a job so Amanda decides to hire her.

Her and Russ are getting used to each other and spend more and more time together until certain things start to drive them apart. This is a lighthearted romance that takes a few twists and turns. It will make your day. A must read.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Streets did a good job writing the characters. They were unique--and with the exception of the big city main character, all small-town quirky. The book was fun, the slowly developing romance was sweet. There was a tinge of sadness--a dose of reality. The ending felt rushed after the authors had taken so much time to develop characters and build the story. I know it was a short, and a prequel that introduces the main characters from their series. Still, near the end, a bit too much happened too fast for me to give it five stars.

I'd read more of this series. Nice little world the Streets have created.

[⚜️XAR the Bookwyrm · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a short prequel story to the Dance 'n' Luv universe. The romance between Amanda and Russ is understated, and they're the main characters of the story! It was more of a vehicle to introduce us to the trio of siblings that the next three books are about, and give us background into their childhoods. This story wrapped too quickly for my tastes, and was too sudden in the "I love you"s. I think it is a necessary read if one plans on reading the Dance 'n' Luv series, but as a stand alone story, it becomes rather lackluster.

[Monica Akinyi Odhiambo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely short story from the Dance and Luv series about Amanda and Russ.Amanda having arrived from the big city to a small town,to start again.Then she meets Russ and asks herself if she is really over men the way she had put herself off,but she can't.She discovers that Russ is the guy she loves.A very good story,good character development and plot.Lovely read.

[Ruth Mcintosh · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a quick read about a woman who moved into a small town to start up her own business and a new life. About how she thought she could run away from all her past and her troubles. Only to find out that she had more to offer, and receive in the small town. More than she ever had with her career in the big city as a dancer.

[Kris]

This is the prequel to the dance series. I read it after the first book but did not feel slighted at all. This was a cute story and gives a glimpse into the characters' history in the rest of the series.

[Conny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book as a free download and I really enjoyed it. It is a short story so it moved along really nicely and I liked all the characters in it. I had a hard time putting it down and I really enjoyed the whole "Dance" series by the authors. Can't wait to see what comes next.

[Lizzie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Good basis of better story. Too much going on, it had no single focus or direction. Had to reread a few paragraphs because I couldn't pin point a plot. And the end is abrupt and unbelievable. Hope this is revised,soon.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Snow Dance is a short story that serves as a prequel to the Dance 'n' Luv series. As far as Amanda and Russ are concerned, as well as the ghost story aspect of this tale, it really could have been developed into its own book, and should have.

[Christine · Rating 1 out of 5]

Too much going on for such a short story. Details were added that didn't really need to be, and the ghost angle was ridiculously played out. I'm pretty sure I got through the last chapter with a grimace on my face.

[Lindsay]

Amazon Freebie 01/09/2013

[Kristine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The characters are well written and there is depth to the story. I couldn't put it down and am looking forward to reading the other books in the series.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay short story... The ending is abrupt and the plot development could have been elaborated more in certain scenes!!

[Anne-Kathrine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Note 2

[Sandee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very rushed. Too much story for so few words.

[Royline Orr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Snow Dance

Cute story short and sweet could have been elaborated more. The romance, Casey dancing, the ghost, Parker's romance with Tanya