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Oceanic Dreams #2
Time of My Life
Janey’s never felt this way before, but staff is forbidden from dating passengers. It's only one dirty dance...
Legend says everyone who boards the Oceanic Aphrodite finds love. Janey’s on the ship to teach pole fitness, not for romance. Then she meets Frank. He’s everything Janey isn’t–refined, classy, rich–but his good looks and charm make him undeniably appealing. Unfortunately, he’s also a passenger.
When Janey’s partner can’t perform in the end-of-cruise talent show, Frank offers to fill in. He’s never done pole, but she's got time to teach him. As they grow closer, Janey finds herself hoping the legend is real–but if she gives in to temptation, she could be out of a job.
Legend says everyone who boards the Oceanic Aphrodite finds love. Janey’s on the ship to teach pole fitness, not for romance. Then she meets Frank. He’s everything Janey isn’t–refined, classy, rich–but his good looks and charm make him undeniably appealing. Unfortunately, he’s also a passenger.
When Janey’s partner can’t perform in the end-of-cruise talent show, Frank offers to fill in. He’s never done pole, but she's got time to teach him. As they grow closer, Janey finds herself hoping the legend is real–but if she gives in to temptation, she could be out of a job.
150 pages, Paperback
First published May 29, 2019
About the author
Laura Heffernan
18 books409 followersLaura Heffernan once broke up with her now-husband during a board game after realizing that he was ahead 96-3. She hasn't played that particular game since. Her best friend still talks about the Great Uno Card Throwing Incident of 2003. Yet, somehow, Laura insists that she is incredibly gracious whether winning or losing. She lives in the northeast with her husband, new baby, and two furry little beasts.
Laura loves connecting with readers. Find her on her website, www.lauraheffernan.com, Facebook, www.facebook.com/lauraheffernanbooks, or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/LH_writes, where she spends far too much time tweeting about reality TV and Canadian chocolate.
Laura loves connecting with readers. Find her on her website, www.lauraheffernan.com, Facebook, www.facebook.com/lauraheffernanbooks, or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/LH_writes, where she spends far too much time tweeting about reality TV and Canadian chocolate.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
September 28, 2019
..
Time of My Life by Laura Heffernan is the second book in the Oceanic Dreams series and is able to stand on its own.
Janey's never felt this way before, but passengers are forbidden. It's only one dirty dance...What could go wrong?
The plot may remind the reader of a reversed paraphrased twist of Dirty Dancing. You will recognize some of the references from the original book/movie. The H/H were often fun and flirty, feeling an instant attraction that only strengthened the more time they spend together.
Legend says everyone who boards the Oceanic Aphrodite finds love. Janey's on the ship to teach dance, not romance. Then she meets Frank. He's everything Janey isn't--refined, classy, rich--but his good looks and charm make him undeniably appealing. Unfortunately, he's also a passenger.
The generously gallant and handsome Dr. Frank dedicated his time and efforts to perform the final entertainment for the cruise even though Frank is a doctor on a cruise with his sister and friends.
When Janey's partner can't perform in the end-of-cruise talent show, Frank offers to fill in. He's never done pole, but she's got time to teach him. As they grow closer, Janey finds herself hoping the legend is real--but if she gives in to temptation, she could be out of a job.
This series is currently available through the Amazon Kindle Unlimited program. Each installment is published by different authors. So each installment is able to stand on its own.
"Charming, funny, and full of surprises, She's Got Game gave me all the feels, following Gwen on a romantic journey as she learns to let down her guard and play her hand at the game of love." - Kristin Rockaway, author of How to Hack a Heartbreak.
Thanks to Kate for recommending this book! 👍
..
Time of My Life by Laura Heffernan is the second book in the Oceanic Dreams series and is able to stand on its own.
Janey's never felt this way before, but passengers are forbidden. It's only one dirty dance...What could go wrong?
The plot may remind the reader of a reversed paraphrased twist of Dirty Dancing. You will recognize some of the references from the original book/movie. The H/H were often fun and flirty, feeling an instant attraction that only strengthened the more time they spend together.
Legend says everyone who boards the Oceanic Aphrodite finds love. Janey's on the ship to teach dance, not romance. Then she meets Frank. He's everything Janey isn't--refined, classy, rich--but his good looks and charm make him undeniably appealing. Unfortunately, he's also a passenger.
The generously gallant and handsome Dr. Frank dedicated his time and efforts to perform the final entertainment for the cruise even though Frank is a doctor on a cruise with his sister and friends.
When Janey's partner can't perform in the end-of-cruise talent show, Frank offers to fill in. He's never done pole, but she's got time to teach him. As they grow closer, Janey finds herself hoping the legend is real--but if she gives in to temptation, she could be out of a job.
This series is currently available through the Amazon Kindle Unlimited program. Each installment is published by different authors. So each installment is able to stand on its own.
"Charming, funny, and full of surprises, She's Got Game gave me all the feels, following Gwen on a romantic journey as she learns to let down her guard and play her hand at the game of love." - Kristin Rockaway, author of How to Hack a Heartbreak.
Thanks to Kate for recommending this book! 👍
..
August 13, 2019
Release Date: June 3, 2019
Genre: Chick Lit. Romcom
Series: Oceanic Dreams #2 (can stand alone)
Time of my Life by Laura Heffernan is the second standalone in the Oceanic Dreams series! I am absolutely loving this series. It's perfect for summer and reminds me of a cruise that I went on years ago! If you've never been on one I highly recommend them! So. Much. Fun!!! That being said, these books are novella length and can be read rather quickly. So if you are looking for light, fun, and quick reads I recommend binge reading these ones this summer! Not only that, how can you resist these covers?!?
In this one, Laura Heffernan brings love to twp people who are essentially forbidden to be together. One person is Janey who happens to work on the cruise ship as a pole dancer (not in the stripper sort of way) and the other is a passenger named Frank. The two may have hit it off right away and have an intense attraction to one another but CANNOT be together. So what will they do? You'll have to read to find out!
This series is a pure delight and I am loving each and ever installment! I have read the first 4 books and am excited to finish off the series by the end of the summer!
Genre: Chick Lit. Romcom
Series: Oceanic Dreams #2 (can stand alone)
Time of my Life by Laura Heffernan is the second standalone in the Oceanic Dreams series! I am absolutely loving this series. It's perfect for summer and reminds me of a cruise that I went on years ago! If you've never been on one I highly recommend them! So. Much. Fun!!! That being said, these books are novella length and can be read rather quickly. So if you are looking for light, fun, and quick reads I recommend binge reading these ones this summer! Not only that, how can you resist these covers?!?
In this one, Laura Heffernan brings love to twp people who are essentially forbidden to be together. One person is Janey who happens to work on the cruise ship as a pole dancer (not in the stripper sort of way) and the other is a passenger named Frank. The two may have hit it off right away and have an intense attraction to one another but CANNOT be together. So what will they do? You'll have to read to find out!
This series is a pure delight and I am loving each and ever installment! I have read the first 4 books and am excited to finish off the series by the end of the summer!
July 18, 2019
Janey teaches pole dancing on the cruise ship, Oceanic Aphrodite. She loves her job, but there is one big problem. Staff is not allowed to date passengers. When Janey meets Frank on the cruise ship, it’s a mutual instant attraction. Janey knows it can’t go any further but a girl can dream.
Then, Janey’s dance partner is unable to perform in a big cruise dance production. Frank has danced in the past and offers to help. Janey has no choice but to accept even though it brings them closer together.
Another fun book in the Oceanic Dreams series. This is book #2. I can’t stress enough that each book truly stands on its own. You don’t have to read the books in order as each one is a self-contained story. This is coming from someone who is usually a stickler for reading series books in order.
The characters are lively and realistic, too. There were times I wanted to hug Janey and other times I wanted to shake her. LOL Janey and Frank’s chemistry sparked throughout this book.
The cover perfectly matches the lighthearted tone of the book. The author did a great job of transporting me to the cruise ship and giving me a few hours of relaxation.
Then, Janey’s dance partner is unable to perform in a big cruise dance production. Frank has danced in the past and offers to help. Janey has no choice but to accept even though it brings them closer together.
Another fun book in the Oceanic Dreams series. This is book #2. I can’t stress enough that each book truly stands on its own. You don’t have to read the books in order as each one is a self-contained story. This is coming from someone who is usually a stickler for reading series books in order.
The characters are lively and realistic, too. There were times I wanted to hug Janey and other times I wanted to shake her. LOL Janey and Frank’s chemistry sparked throughout this book.
The cover perfectly matches the lighthearted tone of the book. The author did a great job of transporting me to the cruise ship and giving me a few hours of relaxation.
August 5, 2019
Time of My Life by Laura Heffernan is a wonderful story that will have you smiling during the entire book. Janey is working on a cruise ship teaching pole dancing to passengers. Frank, a doctor, is a passenger on this trip. Janey's friend and partner in a finale contest, discovers that she cannot perform. Frank steps in to save the day and volunteers to perform a doubles pole dance routine with Janey. What happens during the cruise is funny, magical and wonderful. This is a quick book to read and it is very enjoyable. The plot and characters are well developed. The story will leave a smile on your face. I highly recommend this book.
March 11, 2020
Audiobook review:
Laura Heffernan is a terrific storyteller. She had me with Frank—handsome doctor learning pole dancing on a cruise ship to assist pole dancing instructor’s big finale. Yes, sounds rather far fetched, I know. But go with it! It’s an entertaining story. This is both sensual and poignant.
The narrator, Annelise Marie Belmonte, has good pacing and a clear voice. One of her secondary characters sounded whiny but not enough to ruin the overall enjoyment. Well done!
Laura Heffernan is a terrific storyteller. She had me with Frank—handsome doctor learning pole dancing on a cruise ship to assist pole dancing instructor’s big finale. Yes, sounds rather far fetched, I know. But go with it! It’s an entertaining story. This is both sensual and poignant.
The narrator, Annelise Marie Belmonte, has good pacing and a clear voice. One of her secondary characters sounded whiny but not enough to ruin the overall enjoyment. Well done!
February 14, 2020
I truly enjoyed this modern, gender swapped retelling of Time of My Life! If you enjoy Dirty Dancing you won't want to miss it!
Annelise Marie Belmonte does a fantastic job with her narration and was easy to listen to.
I received a copy of this audiobook at my request, and I have voluntarily left this review.
Annelise Marie Belmonte does a fantastic job with her narration and was easy to listen to.
I received a copy of this audiobook at my request, and I have voluntarily left this review.
Want to read
December 4, 2019🎁 FREE on Amazon today (12/4/2019)! 🎁
June 4, 2019
If you love the movie Dirty Dancing then you will LOVE this story. A gender swapped story putting Janey as the dance instructor and Frank as her reluctant student/fill in partner for the big end of season show. I promise you, that this book is more than a "remake" of the movie--this story doesn't take place on the dance floor--but a pole! That's right...a stripper pole! The authors attention to detail and vivid imagery made it feel like I was right there, learning the moves myself! This book has laugh out loud moments and heart twisting reality spun into this classic tale of forbidden love.
June 6, 2019
Love this series!
Great continuation of the series! Loved getting to see what is happening from the staff’s point of view and especially for something as cool as pole fitness! Janey and Frank make a couple that you don’t think would work but are made for each other!! Can’t wait to see what happens next on the cruise!
Great continuation of the series! Loved getting to see what is happening from the staff’s point of view and especially for something as cool as pole fitness! Janey and Frank make a couple that you don’t think would work but are made for each other!! Can’t wait to see what happens next on the cruise!
June 6, 2019
A well written sweet romance story. I really like the storyline and the variety of characters. I also enjoy the setting on the cruise ship. The development of the lead characters' relationship is also smooth. I like how Frank is always there for Janey, to help and support her. That's so sweet. I love it!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 24, 2019
⭐️ Time of My Life- Laura Heffernan ⭐️
I loved this book, I was instantly excited when I received the opportunity to read this before the release date. The book is very fun and easy to read. I managed to complete this in one sitting. Although, part of the multi-author series- this can be read as a stand-alone book. I loved the Dirty Dancing references throughout the book! It definitely suited the title. This is a must read, Especially with summer holidays coming up. I can guarantee you will not be disappointed with this book- it is a great read. I would absolutely love a follow on to this book, I feel like I want to know what happens next. I have already looked and Laura has other books coming out this year- I will definitely be reading! This book has definitely left me craving for more from this series.
I loved this book, I was instantly excited when I received the opportunity to read this before the release date. The book is very fun and easy to read. I managed to complete this in one sitting. Although, part of the multi-author series- this can be read as a stand-alone book. I loved the Dirty Dancing references throughout the book! It definitely suited the title. This is a must read, Especially with summer holidays coming up. I can guarantee you will not be disappointed with this book- it is a great read. I would absolutely love a follow on to this book, I feel like I want to know what happens next. I have already looked and Laura has other books coming out this year- I will definitely be reading! This book has definitely left me craving for more from this series.
May 13, 2019
I really enjoyed Time of My Life. It is such a fun, cute romance story. I really like the characters. I like the setting of the cruise ship and I enjoyed the pole dancing scenes. This was a sweet romance story and I enjoyed the ending. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more from Laura Heffernan.
April 1, 2019
What a fun, cute book! I loved watching Janey & Frank's romance develop. This story is the perfect balance of heat and sweet, and just what you need for for a summer beach read or a day curled up on the sofa with a fire crackling in the fireplace beside you. And the pole dancing was HOT! Frankly, this author is a one-click for me. Don't hesitate to pick up your copy of Time of My Life.
May 22, 2019
Such a fun Dirty Dancing retelling!
July 5, 2020
I received a free copy of this book from the author and voluntarily reviewed it.
Time of my Life had been on my to-read list for a while, first as an ebook, then I received an audio copy for it and decided to listen to it. I am glad I finally got around to listening to it as it was such a fun romantic story.
Time of my Life is set aboard a cruise ship, this is set on the same cruise ship as some other stories. I've read one other Oceanic Dreams book, but they work great as standalones. The cruise ship makes for a fun setting. Time of My Life follows the story of Janey, she works aboard a cruise ship. Both she and her friend are poor and can use the extra cash winning the talent show on the last day of this cruise could give them, when her friend becomes sick and can't perform they have to find another person who could take her place. Frank, a guy Janey ran into when boarding the ship, offers his help and so Janey begins to teach him pole while trying not to fall in love with him. Romance between staff and passengers is forbidden and Janey could lose her job if their working relationship turns into more, but she can't help but develop feelings for Frank.
This was such a fun read. I really liked the romance between Janey and Frank. They are from different worlds, the one poor, the other rich and this influences how they see the world. It clearly becomes clear they have enough common ground. They have mutual attraction from the start, but what I liked most was seeing them spend time together and getting to know one another both during the pole dancing and while talking. Those scenes really sold me on their whirlwind romance.
I don't think I've ever read a book about pole dancing before and it was interesting to learn a bit about the sport. It was a bit hard at times to really visualize some of the moves, because I haven't seen much pole dancing, but the author did a good job with the description so I could still form a bit of an image in my head of what they were doing.
There are plenty of great scenes in this book and I really liked reading about Frank and Janey. I also liked how most of the time they discuss things in a mature matter and talk through any issues that come up.. The only thing that didn't quite work for me was the conflict scene at the end, after everything they had been through it just seemed a bit too much. I did like how it got resolved, but at the same time I would've liked the actual couple to be more involved in solving it.
While this is a fairly short read, it felt like the right length for the story. I love it when an author can pull of a shorter read like that without having it feel like a short read. The focus really is on the romance and most scenes deal with that, which helped as it really feels like you get to see a lot of the couple. It never feels rushed.
The narrator was a good fit for this story. I liked her voices for Janey and Frank and it seemed to fit their personalities. I liked how she inserted some emotion in the scenes that required them, but didn't go overboard. I am glad I listened to this one. I did think her other male voices weren't as well done though and a few times I had trouble deciding whether something was dialogue or inner voice.
To summarize: This was a fun romantic read about pole dance teacher Janey who falls in love with Frank a passenger. I liked the romance between Janey and Frank. They start with mutual attraction, but spending time together and talking deepens that into something more and I could feel their romance. I didn't really care for the conflict at the end and how it was resolved. The cruise setting was interesting and I liked learning a bit about pole dancing throughout the story. The narrator did a great job with this story and I am glad I listened to it.
Time of my Life had been on my to-read list for a while, first as an ebook, then I received an audio copy for it and decided to listen to it. I am glad I finally got around to listening to it as it was such a fun romantic story.
Time of my Life is set aboard a cruise ship, this is set on the same cruise ship as some other stories. I've read one other Oceanic Dreams book, but they work great as standalones. The cruise ship makes for a fun setting. Time of My Life follows the story of Janey, she works aboard a cruise ship. Both she and her friend are poor and can use the extra cash winning the talent show on the last day of this cruise could give them, when her friend becomes sick and can't perform they have to find another person who could take her place. Frank, a guy Janey ran into when boarding the ship, offers his help and so Janey begins to teach him pole while trying not to fall in love with him. Romance between staff and passengers is forbidden and Janey could lose her job if their working relationship turns into more, but she can't help but develop feelings for Frank.
This was such a fun read. I really liked the romance between Janey and Frank. They are from different worlds, the one poor, the other rich and this influences how they see the world. It clearly becomes clear they have enough common ground. They have mutual attraction from the start, but what I liked most was seeing them spend time together and getting to know one another both during the pole dancing and while talking. Those scenes really sold me on their whirlwind romance.
I don't think I've ever read a book about pole dancing before and it was interesting to learn a bit about the sport. It was a bit hard at times to really visualize some of the moves, because I haven't seen much pole dancing, but the author did a good job with the description so I could still form a bit of an image in my head of what they were doing.
There are plenty of great scenes in this book and I really liked reading about Frank and Janey. I also liked how most of the time they discuss things in a mature matter and talk through any issues that come up.. The only thing that didn't quite work for me was the conflict scene at the end, after everything they had been through it just seemed a bit too much. I did like how it got resolved, but at the same time I would've liked the actual couple to be more involved in solving it.
While this is a fairly short read, it felt like the right length for the story. I love it when an author can pull of a shorter read like that without having it feel like a short read. The focus really is on the romance and most scenes deal with that, which helped as it really feels like you get to see a lot of the couple. It never feels rushed.
The narrator was a good fit for this story. I liked her voices for Janey and Frank and it seemed to fit their personalities. I liked how she inserted some emotion in the scenes that required them, but didn't go overboard. I am glad I listened to this one. I did think her other male voices weren't as well done though and a few times I had trouble deciding whether something was dialogue or inner voice.
To summarize: This was a fun romantic read about pole dance teacher Janey who falls in love with Frank a passenger. I liked the romance between Janey and Frank. They start with mutual attraction, but spending time together and talking deepens that into something more and I could feel their romance. I didn't really care for the conflict at the end and how it was resolved. The cruise setting was interesting and I liked learning a bit about pole dancing throughout the story. The narrator did a great job with this story and I am glad I listened to it.
July 27, 2019
Janey and her dance partner Penny are boarding their Cruise Ship ready for a summer of sun, dancing and teaching dance. Right from the very first few pages, there is problems for the girls. Penny has personal and relationship (or lack there of) problems. And Janey falls over and hurts her ankle before even getting on board. The whole of this novella is based on the Cruise ship, and while previously I might have thought, that is a small setting for a book, actually it was perfect. The setting was made clear to us almost straight away, (The rich area, and the staff area!). Because the setting was laid out, the reader can focus on the plot and the characters.
From the start I did not like Janey. Perhaps I was guilty of judging on first appearances, just as I blamed Janey for.She meets Frank, a doctor who wants to help her with her hurt ankle. But Frank is a passenger and seemingly quite a rich and important passenger! Now the staff and the passengers are not allowed to mix! Boss Rules! I have to say, if I ever had any thoughts of working on a cruise ship, this would not be the one for me. The management there were awful. The trip for the passengers sounds great, but not for the workers.
The plot does follow the idea of Dirty Dancing. Janey is teaching and showing Pole Dancing, but her partner Penny is unable to dance. The final dance means a lot to both girls, so they need to find a way to make it work! There is a lot of ducking and diving, and swirling and whirling to make their plan work. Always on the watch out for people wanting to catch them out, Janey had to be super careful with all her moves.
The idea of pole dancing has never appealed to me, and I probably like many others I think could have got the wrong impression of it. The lessons that Janey gives shows that pole dancing teaches strength, technique and confidence and if you wish it to be, sexiness.
This short read was the perfect length for the story. I enjoyed my fictional trip on the cruise ship. I liked being proved wrong from my first thoughts of Janey. Mostly I liked escaping to the ocean, meeting different people and dancing away the stresses. A great summer read.
From the start I did not like Janey. Perhaps I was guilty of judging on first appearances, just as I blamed Janey for.She meets Frank, a doctor who wants to help her with her hurt ankle. But Frank is a passenger and seemingly quite a rich and important passenger! Now the staff and the passengers are not allowed to mix! Boss Rules! I have to say, if I ever had any thoughts of working on a cruise ship, this would not be the one for me. The management there were awful. The trip for the passengers sounds great, but not for the workers.
The plot does follow the idea of Dirty Dancing. Janey is teaching and showing Pole Dancing, but her partner Penny is unable to dance. The final dance means a lot to both girls, so they need to find a way to make it work! There is a lot of ducking and diving, and swirling and whirling to make their plan work. Always on the watch out for people wanting to catch them out, Janey had to be super careful with all her moves.
The idea of pole dancing has never appealed to me, and I probably like many others I think could have got the wrong impression of it. The lessons that Janey gives shows that pole dancing teaches strength, technique and confidence and if you wish it to be, sexiness.
This short read was the perfect length for the story. I enjoyed my fictional trip on the cruise ship. I liked being proved wrong from my first thoughts of Janey. Mostly I liked escaping to the ocean, meeting different people and dancing away the stresses. A great summer read.
August 23, 2019
I appreciated what the author was trying to do by featuring a heroine who grew up poor, but the disparity between her and the H was too big to convincingly sell a love story between them in the novella format. A lot more work has to be done to make their HEA last. Plus I was a bit bored by all the descriptions of the pole dancing moves. Other readers who love pole dancing will probably enjoy this story a whole lot more than I did.
June 3, 2019
Janey is the dance instructor and performer on the cruise ship, Frank, who is good looking, classy, and rich, is a passenger which means he's off limits. Janey and her dance partner have gotten the chance to perform in the dance finale and they know it will be amazing. When Janey's partner can't perform it's Frank who offers to fill in. The legend on the ship is everyone who boards will find love, could this be love for Janey and Frank? A feel good romance that's similar to Dirty Dancing.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 3, 2019
Lisa Heffernan is a new to me author. From the very beginning, I felt as if I was reading another version of Dirty Dancing. There are many references throughout the book to the movie that many of us have adored. This was a good adaptation and I can't wait to read more into the series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 12, 2019
Felt like the author just rewrote Dirty Dancing
Maybe that's what this author was going for, but I thought it made the book lack creativity. I felt like I was reading a poor adaptation to the movie Dirty Dancing. Maybe if a few lines here and there were picked up, but too many scenes were taken right from the plot of the movie. The writing was just okay - not great enough to overcome the stolen plot.
Maybe that's what this author was going for, but I thought it made the book lack creativity. I felt like I was reading a poor adaptation to the movie Dirty Dancing. Maybe if a few lines here and there were picked up, but too many scenes were taken right from the plot of the movie. The writing was just okay - not great enough to overcome the stolen plot.
August 10, 2019
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. After all the hard work will Janey and Frank dance their final pole dance?
Time of My Life by Lauran Heffernan is spectacular. Ms. Heffernan spins a new take on Dirty Dancing by reversing the roles. This book is the second in the Oceanic Dreams series.
Janey
Janey is our Johnny with a few differences. She is an ex-stripper who now teaches pole fitness. Janey’s best friend is Penny who gets knocked up by Robby. So, it still has that whole Dirty Dancing vibe. Janey is still really poor and struggling to get by.
I like that Janey has the confidence to admit to being a former exotic dancer to the students in her pole classes. She also empowers other women and is a good friend to Penny.
Dr, Francis Hanson
Francis is our Baby. Frank meets Janey when she is in line to return to the Oceanic Aphrodite. Janey is knocked down, and Frank is there to assist her, he even wraps her ankle for her. You can tell that he is smitten with Janey from the beginning. Frank also helps with the Penny situation.
I like that Frank is a man of his word and that he trusts Janey.
Frank has a sister named Lisa, who is very snobbish. Nellie replaces Neil, with a bit more pizzazz. Max is in charge of the talent. So, keeping with the Dirty Dancing theme. There is even a stolen ring. But you have to read about Janey’s re-entry to the cruise ship after she is fired. It is awesome.
5 Stars for Time of My Life by Lauran Heffernan
My rating for Time of My Life by Lauran Heffernan is five stars. The gender switch is a fresh, well-written retelling. I think it is fantastic, and I love it.
If you are looking for a quick romantic summer read, I recommend Time of My Life by Lauran Heffernan. Now, I am on to the third book Circle in the Sand by Tracy Krimmer.
The Oceanic Dreams series is a set of eight romantic comedy novellas, all set on the same Caribbean cruise.
Other Books in the Series
Time of My Life by Lauran Heffernan is spectacular. Ms. Heffernan spins a new take on Dirty Dancing by reversing the roles. This book is the second in the Oceanic Dreams series.
Janey
Janey is our Johnny with a few differences. She is an ex-stripper who now teaches pole fitness. Janey’s best friend is Penny who gets knocked up by Robby. So, it still has that whole Dirty Dancing vibe. Janey is still really poor and struggling to get by.
I like that Janey has the confidence to admit to being a former exotic dancer to the students in her pole classes. She also empowers other women and is a good friend to Penny.
Dr, Francis Hanson
Francis is our Baby. Frank meets Janey when she is in line to return to the Oceanic Aphrodite. Janey is knocked down, and Frank is there to assist her, he even wraps her ankle for her. You can tell that he is smitten with Janey from the beginning. Frank also helps with the Penny situation.
I like that Frank is a man of his word and that he trusts Janey.
Frank has a sister named Lisa, who is very snobbish. Nellie replaces Neil, with a bit more pizzazz. Max is in charge of the talent. So, keeping with the Dirty Dancing theme. There is even a stolen ring. But you have to read about Janey’s re-entry to the cruise ship after she is fired. It is awesome.
5 Stars for Time of My Life by Lauran Heffernan My rating for Time of My Life by Lauran Heffernan is five stars. The gender switch is a fresh, well-written retelling. I think it is fantastic, and I love it.
If you are looking for a quick romantic summer read, I recommend Time of My Life by Lauran Heffernan. Now, I am on to the third book Circle in the Sand by Tracy Krimmer.
Legend says a person with an open heart will meet their true love within a day of boarding the Oceanic Aphrodite. Siggy’s on the run, Liv’s taking her first vacation in ages, and Holly just wants to get to one million subscribers. But each of them finds a bit more than she bargained for. Will these 8 Sassy Singles sail off into the sunset with their matches or abandon ship?
The Oceanic Dreams series is a set of eight romantic comedy novellas, all set on the same Caribbean cruise.
Other Books in the Series
To find my reviews for the series, click the links near the top of the page.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Time of My Life by Laura Heffernan.
Also, check out my interview with Laura Heffernan HERE.
Until the next time,
Happy Reading!
This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
July 13, 2019
Janey is a dancer on the Oceanic Aphrodite when she bumps into Frank, a doctor on holiday with his sister Lisa. Janey is quite an independent person, but she needs the job to make sure that when not on cruises she can afford to live as she doesn’t want to have to move in with her sister. Believing that Frank is just another one of the spoilt passengers that wouldn’t understand her life, she is constantly surprised by him as time after time he helps not just her but her best friend Penny. There are times when you just can’t help chuckling during this book, including Frank trying on a costume that even he describes as no better than speedos or another incident involving throwing himself at a pole at speed. The book is full of characters that you will love and you really get a sense of how the other half live life onboard.
When I started reading this book I was transported back to my teenage years when I absolutely fell in love with the film Dirty Dancing. Now if like me you remember the film you will probably love the book as the references and will make you smile. If you have never seen it however (and shame on you if you haven’t) then some of the quotes may be lost on you but it won’t take away your enjoyment of it. The Time of my Life is a great addition to the Oceanic Dreams series and a great book for sitting by the pool with.
When I started reading this book I was transported back to my teenage years when I absolutely fell in love with the film Dirty Dancing. Now if like me you remember the film you will probably love the book as the references and will make you smile. If you have never seen it however (and shame on you if you haven’t) then some of the quotes may be lost on you but it won’t take away your enjoyment of it. The Time of my Life is a great addition to the Oceanic Dreams series and a great book for sitting by the pool with.
June 3, 2019
Love Boat Meets Dirty Dancing
In this installment of our literary Love Boat, the cruise ship Aphrodite, Janey is a dance instructor and performer on board. She and one of the male passengers, Frank, work on creating a special number for the end-of-cruise performance after her previous partner can’t do it. But is it really just dance lessons, or is there becoming to be more to their relationship? If the latter, what will that mean for Janey and her job, as the company has a strict can’t-date-the-passengers rule?
This is a light and sweet beach read that definitely has derives somewhat from the movie classic Dirty Dancing, although there is a gender switch in the roles. It's delightful fun to watch the evolving relationship between Jamie and Frank as the dance lessons go on. The end was absolutely perfect. I would have liked to have seen an epilogue to glimpse where their relationship went beyond at the cruise ship. But I did enjoy this love story even if I felt it stopped somewhat abruptly.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
Read my other reviews at https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com
In this installment of our literary Love Boat, the cruise ship Aphrodite, Janey is a dance instructor and performer on board. She and one of the male passengers, Frank, work on creating a special number for the end-of-cruise performance after her previous partner can’t do it. But is it really just dance lessons, or is there becoming to be more to their relationship? If the latter, what will that mean for Janey and her job, as the company has a strict can’t-date-the-passengers rule?
This is a light and sweet beach read that definitely has derives somewhat from the movie classic Dirty Dancing, although there is a gender switch in the roles. It's delightful fun to watch the evolving relationship between Jamie and Frank as the dance lessons go on. The end was absolutely perfect. I would have liked to have seen an epilogue to glimpse where their relationship went beyond at the cruise ship. But I did enjoy this love story even if I felt it stopped somewhat abruptly.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
Read my other reviews at https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com
July 27, 2019
This is the second book in the Oceanic dream series. Also a standalone read. These reads are nice and short. A relaxing way to spend a Saturday afternoon!
One of my all-time favorite movies is Dirty Dancing. Who didn’t fall in love with Patrick Swayze? Running down the aisle and have him lift you up in the air. At least, I fantasized about that.
This story was all the fun of Dirty Dancing, with a twist of gender swapping. Frank is a hot, sweet doctor. Janey is the pole dancing instructor, coming from the life of hard luck. Can the two of them work together despite their differences?
The story was fun to read. Laura had tied in direct quotes from the movie. It was cute and wonderful. Janey was a delight to read about. She was a strong independent woman. I loved how she worked hard for herself, family, and of course her best friend. Frank was adorable. He had all the innocence of Baby from the movie. The writing was fabulous, the characters delightful, and the conclusion was perfect. I so want to go on a cruise ship to the Carribean.
Thank you to the author for this book. You can find it on Kindle Unlimited.
One of my all-time favorite movies is Dirty Dancing. Who didn’t fall in love with Patrick Swayze? Running down the aisle and have him lift you up in the air. At least, I fantasized about that.
This story was all the fun of Dirty Dancing, with a twist of gender swapping. Frank is a hot, sweet doctor. Janey is the pole dancing instructor, coming from the life of hard luck. Can the two of them work together despite their differences?
The story was fun to read. Laura had tied in direct quotes from the movie. It was cute and wonderful. Janey was a delight to read about. She was a strong independent woman. I loved how she worked hard for herself, family, and of course her best friend. Frank was adorable. He had all the innocence of Baby from the movie. The writing was fabulous, the characters delightful, and the conclusion was perfect. I so want to go on a cruise ship to the Carribean.
Thank you to the author for this book. You can find it on Kindle Unlimited.
June 4, 2019
I carried a watermelon .
Nobody puts Baby in the corner.
If you were ever a Dirty Dancing fan, or if you like weird movie quotes, you might recognize two of the more popular quotes - or you could be like the hot doctor Janey met on her way to boarding.
A little too good for reals, he also minored in ballet and is conveniently available to help out in the big finale routine, since pregnant Penny is unable to pole.
If you are unable to laugh at this, move on. This funny and ironic, yet seriously insightful series is not for you.
If you find yourself laughing, or wincing, and wanting to know more, you may find yourself chuckling, and trying to explain to friends and family that the gay bar dance competition really was hilarious. Remember still having the flexibility for moves like that? Sigh .
Okay. In short a fun KU read!
The series that make KU so worth it! And you can meet a few new favorite authors, read one or read them all!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Nobody puts Baby in the corner.
If you were ever a Dirty Dancing fan, or if you like weird movie quotes, you might recognize two of the more popular quotes - or you could be like the hot doctor Janey met on her way to boarding.
A little too good for reals, he also minored in ballet and is conveniently available to help out in the big finale routine, since pregnant Penny is unable to pole.
If you are unable to laugh at this, move on. This funny and ironic, yet seriously insightful series is not for you.
If you find yourself laughing, or wincing, and wanting to know more, you may find yourself chuckling, and trying to explain to friends and family that the gay bar dance competition really was hilarious. Remember still having the flexibility for moves like that? Sigh .
Okay. In short a fun KU read!
The series that make KU so worth it! And you can meet a few new favorite authors, read one or read them all!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 2, 2020
This book is about Janey, pole-dancer on a cruise ship named Aphrodite, and Frank, one of the VIP passengers on board. Members of the staff are not allowed to get involved with passengers, and of course that’s what happened. Frank is willing to help Janey by replacing her sick dance partner Penny, it requires a lot of time together. Relying on your dance partner comes with trusting each other, but coming from different worlds that’s easier said than done.
I enjoyed this book, I’ve never read one with a pole-dance topic before. The end felt a little unfinished to me, but that’s because I love an epilogue in a book. It would have been nice to know how they’re doing after a couple of months or so.
This review is based on the audiobook. The narrator did a good job, but there were a few moments I had to focus more to understand which character was talking.
I received a free copy of this audiobook and this is my voluntary and honest opinion.
I enjoyed this book, I’ve never read one with a pole-dance topic before. The end felt a little unfinished to me, but that’s because I love an epilogue in a book. It would have been nice to know how they’re doing after a couple of months or so.
This review is based on the audiobook. The narrator did a good job, but there were a few moments I had to focus more to understand which character was talking.
I received a free copy of this audiobook and this is my voluntary and honest opinion.
February 21, 2020
A fun read that follows the Dirty Dancing story line with a few alterations...pole dancing, poor girl meets rich boy with a HEA. Good narration there were a couple of chuckles but it follows so closely to the Dirty dancing story line that there was not a lot of surprises. I liked the back ground that Heffernan gave Janey - it added more depth to her character and explained her over exaggerated views on class and I loved that Frank just comes across as a good ol boy wanting to make everyone happy. I think my favorite was the references to the movie itself that pushed this read from an okay to a really liked listen! Overall a fun, sweet read that's a twist on an epic movie!
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
*this review is based on the audio version of this read
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
*this review is based on the audio version of this read
April 15, 2020
On a cruise ship where everyone finds love, Janey teaches dance. Janey thinks she will never find love until she meets Frank. Following the movie story, Janey's partner cannot do the routine and she asks Frank to step in. That is when things really start to heat up for Frank and Janey. But the fun part of this story was to find all the hints at the movie that I have seen over 100 times. I loved everything about this story. The twists were similar to the movie and I loved reading this version of my all time favorite movie.
This was my introduction to Annelise Marie Belmonte's narration. She has an easy to listen to voice and kept all the characters separate and easy to follow. Ms. Belmonte brought this story to life. I felt as if I was a passenger on the ship dancing right with Janey and Frank. This was a great listen and I hope to hear more from Ms. Belmonte.
This was my introduction to Annelise Marie Belmonte's narration. She has an easy to listen to voice and kept all the characters separate and easy to follow. Ms. Belmonte brought this story to life. I felt as if I was a passenger on the ship dancing right with Janey and Frank. This was a great listen and I hope to hear more from Ms. Belmonte.
November 26, 2021
As a fan of the movie that inspired this story, I expected to like it more. While the author did change various key details such as the gender of the characters, the setting, the type of dance, etc. It was still so similar to the original concept that it was incredibly predictable.
I did like the characters and their chemistry and the emphasis on their vastly different lives, although the arguments that caused got old near the end.
I tend to visualize when I read so all of the descriptions of the pole moves actually slowed me down, it was disruptive to my flow to avoid getting hung up on what the author describes looks like since it's irrelevant to know the pose to get the rest of the story. It reached a point that anytime the author described a pole scene, I rolled my eyes, groaned and tried to skim to through it.
I did like the characters and their chemistry and the emphasis on their vastly different lives, although the arguments that caused got old near the end.
I tend to visualize when I read so all of the descriptions of the pole moves actually slowed me down, it was disruptive to my flow to avoid getting hung up on what the author describes looks like since it's irrelevant to know the pose to get the rest of the story. It reached a point that anytime the author described a pole scene, I rolled my eyes, groaned and tried to skim to through it.
August 1, 2019
This book is perfect for anyone that loves or even likes the movie Dirty Dancing. It’s a modernized twist to the storyline (including lots of references). The main character Janey is a Pole Dancing instructor (she’s a lot like the character Patrick Swayze played) and her male romantic interest is Dr. Francis “Frank” Hanson. The author knows how to keep the audience interested and is detailed enough in her descriptions of the different dance moves that you understand what the characters are doing even if you didn’t know anything about pole dancing prior. I recommend the Oceanic Dreams series (this is the second book in the series) for a little romance mixed with a fun vacation/cruise themed read.
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