The Dancer

Broken Slipper Trilogy #2

by Vivian Wood

Ballet takes everything from you.

I’m no longer a professional ballerina. No longer a kept woman. No longer a virgin.

The fact that I still ache for a man who shattered me so easily… there is no getting over that. I should’ve listened to Calum when he said that he was broken. Some things, once shattered, cannot be made whole again.

Still, all it takes is a look from him and I start to melt. When he offers me an even sweeter deal, will I be able to say no?

The Dancer is a contemporary billionaire romance from Wall Street Journal Bestseller Vivian Wood. It's full length and the second of three books in the gritty, raw, passionate Broken Slipper Trilogy.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Dark Romance, New Adult, Contemporary Romance, Forbidden Romance, Billionaire Romance

290 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 31, 2021

About the author

Vivian likes to write about troubled, deeply flawed alpha males and the fiery, kick-ass women who bring them to their knees.

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Reviews

[Wendy'sThoughts · Rating 4 out of 5]

January 29, 2021
You May Watch...
All The Current Ballet Shows...
Flesh and Bone or Tiny Pretty Things...
Thinking You Know What That Life Is...

Flesh And Bone
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjbpS...
Tiny Little Things
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSs_b...

But Watching Something On-Screen...
And Living It Is Something Very Different...

Ballet Is Pure Dedication...
Striving For Perfection Every Time...
It Leaves No Time For Anything...
Growing Young Women Usually Experience...

You Push Your Bodies...
Just As Hard If Not Harder Than Any Athlete...
And You Learn More About Your Bodies...
Than Mommies And Daddies Would Like...

It Is The Feeling Of Dancing Freely...
That Has Me Dancing At Night At Club Ecstasy...
I Go Somewhere Else In My Head...
All The Pain And Perfection Gone...
Freedom and Sensual Movements...
Take Over In The Dark...

My Perfect Secret I Hold Dear...

Then My Secret Is Discovered...
By Sexy, Mysterious Billionaire Calum...
Owner of The Dance Company I Am Part Of...

He Should Fire Me...
Turn Me Away...
Never To Dance for His Company Again...

Instead, He Has Decided Something Else...
I Am To Be His Private Pleasure
Do As He Asks And Not Fall For Him...

After All, I Am The One He Wants...

The Dancer (The Broken Slipper, #2)- May 1, 2021

The Patron (Broken Slipper, #1)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Dancer (Broken Slipper, #2)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Embrace (Broken Slipper, #3)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways

[Chloë · Rating 1 out of 5]

Any hopes I had from book one have been dashed - this book is dreadful.

There is no cohesive plot - it reads like the author just picked up a bunch of sticky note ideas and threw them all together into this jumbled mess of a book. This book has everything - the Russian mob, pimping out your daughter, private planes to New Hampshire, a carnival, stalkers, blackmail (twice!), cryptocurrency, and so much more, but none of it gets fleshed out. It’s just there…and then gone. Not to mention the amount of editing errors!

This should have been a DNF. I don’t know how I managed to finish it.

Book 1: The Patron - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Book 2: The Dancer - ⭐
Book 3: The Embrace - N/A

[Myla · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

[Fahmida · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don’t want to go into too much details with this review. Honestly, this book was just on repeat. Nothing but sex to fill up the pages with no real plot. So different from the first part. I don’t know how a huge inconsistency like Calum telling his brother Lucas that Kaia loves him twice was overlooked. He tells Lucas at one point that she said she loves him, and they argue about it. Fifty pages later Calum tells the him she loves him again and Lucas is surprised like they never had the conversation before. In the meantime I’m scratching my head thinking how this is news to him. Definitely something that should of been picked up.

[Jessica Alcazar · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Dancer proves to be one hot complicated journey. The relationship between Kaia and Calum began as a contract but has now morphed into so much more. I’m loving this world that the author has created with this couple. She’s given us a slow-burn, sexually driven storyline, and I’m kind of in awe of her right now. Slow-burn and sexually driven are theoretically, polar opposites but she has somehow blended them seamlessly as one. Kaia and Calum are quick to give in to their sexual attraction but are very guarded to giving in to their emotional attraction and it somehow feels absolutely perfect for therm.

I’m also enjoying the fact that the story gives off dark vibes, but it’s not as dark as one would think. It’s twisty for sure and there are surprises around just about every corner, but even tho the content would probably call for it to be categorized as a dark romance, it just does not read like that. Again, this is the author defying all logic with her wizardry! I am stupid glad that I decided to read this trilogy because it has been entertaining and captivating and I am fully invested in Kaia and Calum!



🖤 Billionaire Romance
🩰 Ballet Obsession
😍 Student/Teacher
❤️ Dominant Hero
💋A Signed Contract
🔥 Steamy As F$#k
💔 So Damn Angsty

[Patricia (Spellbound Stories Trish) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Dancer has me all tied up in knots! This story blew me away! The intensity of the attraction between Kaia and Callum can not and WILL NOT be DENIED!

Kaia is finding her voice and her strength! I have loved seeing her come out of her shell little by little! She has definitely charmed Callum and his broody alpha personality! Things are still not easy though and danger still lurk in the shadows! Someone doesn’t want them together and both have to decide if their arrangement is worth it in the end!

This trilogy is truly addicting and so steamy I had to take some water breaks but quickly returned because I was consumed!

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good storyline … horrible attention to detail

Let me start by saying I loved book 1 and I was interested to see where this story goes. I purchased book 2 and 3 since this is a completed series and was eager to read Kaia and Calum’s story.

The storyline is there and it could have/can go to places. There is drama and lots and lots of steamy sex scenes, but the details and inaccuracy in here really made this book difficult to read and often times confusing. Some errors were simple, easy to catch errors like stating the ballet was Cinderella instead of Sleeping Beauty, rainbows instead of rain boots (that one just stuck out to me). And I pretty sure we jumped from winter to summer in a matter of weeks. But what I just couldn’t get past was the changes in script from book 1 to book 2, even one chapter to the next.
- Book 1 she’s on birth control, states IUD and tells him “I’m on birth control” and book 2 she’s not, gets pills from the doctor and tells him again.
- She wasn’t cast as Aurora in book 1, but book 2 says she was. I mean that would make sense with the story line, but that’s not what happened.
- Chapter 8 we are all about the anal … I’m talking and quote … [Kaia’s hips start thrusting. “Do it,” she whispers. “Please. Pop my cherry, Calum.” I press my finger against her ass, hissing as it sinks in.] Chapter 14 was like chapter 8 never happened. 6 chapters later and we are nervous about butt plugs when it already occurred.
- But I think what got me the most was … How the hell is her dad not in jail? He strangled her, in front of people, the police where called, there was a report and … nothing. It’s a dead end. No mention of “I didn’t press charges”. It happened and nothing came of it. We acknowledge that it happened, but that’s it.

I could go on, but there was just too many things that didn’t make sense. I hate leaving crappy reviews, that’s not what I want to do, but I hope this helps a little during beta reading that things like this can be fixed and caught before publishing because I can see the potential.

I’m still moving onto book 3 and hoping for a good comeback because I like the drama and the Kaia and Calum’s relationship. Their struggle to deal with emotions and communicating.

[Coco.V]

🎁 Part of Broken Promises (Broken Slipper 1-3) which is FREE on Amazon & on Apple iBooks today (11/23/2022)! 🎁

[Vanessa (bookfairy95) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ouf. Where do I start with this one? Before I dive into my review let me tell you I loved this book! Almost as much as book 1, but I think book 1 was a wee bit better so instead of the full 5 stars #TheDancer “only” gets 4 stars from me.

Now, I loved it. I basically inhaled it. The chapters are short, the writing style is wonderful and the words just flow from the page directly into my very emotional core. 😂

I read the first few pages - a scene with Kaia and her family - and immediately felt the frustration over her father and sister bubble up again. Reading these things I just felt so helpless… and this is one of the things I love in books. When they go straight to my emotions and I just feel with the characters. All the good and bad things.

There also was a lot of frustration involved when it came to Calum as well though. I loved seeing him and Kaia together (fyi the book has a lot of smut and explicit scenes in it. Spice level is high, just so you know) and at the same time I just wanted to him across the face, because things were so obvious for me as the reader, but he just was so incredibly blind and closed himself off to all the obvious things. Honestly, I was so happy when Lucas addressed some things. What I really loved seeing were the tender moments, however, I somehow missed the initial tension as well (this is my main reason to deduct 1 stars from my rating).

I really don’t want to go into further detail though for fear of spoiling things…

My second reason to deduct a little from my rating is the fact that all the theories I had at the end of book 1 basically evaporated very early on. All the things I thought might happen? They went up in smoke. Which is a shame, because there was a lot of potential for tension and angst and struggle. It sort of seemed a little too easy.

Vivian Wood definitely knows how to keep readers on their toes though, because the ending in this instalment!? I am not okay. I don’t know what will happen next, but boy oh boy… I need a happy ending after all that has happened and is still happening. This is obviously a situation where money won’t be able to help Calum…

To sum this up though? Even though the first book was a little better, the sequel was still great and I enjoyed every page! Cannot wait for book 3 #TheEmbrace ❤️❤️❤️

[Persephone-L17 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having lost everything, Kaia Walker is devastated. Tired of acting to please others, she is now determined to achieve her dreams on her own, this is how she decides to audition for different ballet companies. Until Calum returns to her life. Now Kaia has the opportunity to return to the prestigious ballet academy in NY and it seems that everything is settling down. She takes every opportunity that comes her way and works hard to be an excellent dancer and shine with her own light. She focuses on her goals and is determined to avoid a heart broken again, so she puts distance from Calum. However, he does not give up so easily and is determined to win her back.

The Dancer presents the world of ballet in its harsh reality. Although it is an art and at first glance it is beautiful, envy, blackmail and conspiracies are always present. Calum is a very complex character. Distrustful, reserved and with great control over his emotions and feelings, now he seeks to recover the only woman who is capable of provoking something in him. We know a little more about the reasons that led him to be the way he is and the relationship he has with his brother Lucas is also dissected. As for Kaia, she might seem fragile, but she has great strength of spirit. She is still somewhat naive which has led her to experience unpleasant moments, but she is determined to improve. His relationship with Calum must be kept secret. Although their sexual chemistry is intense, the development of feelings occurs progressively. In this book we see a great development in that sense, and when everything seems to be going well, something happens that leaves us perplexed and eager to know how the story will continue.

***𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰***

[Dia · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Dancer is the second book in the Broken Slipper Series. The first book leaves off with Kaia and Calum being on the outs. In contrast, this volume primarily focuses on developing and furthering Kaia and Calum's relationship after he wins her back.

I enjoyed the fluctuations in Calum's temperament and thoughts regarding his and Kaia's relationship in this volume. There were many moments Calum illuminated his multifacetedness, which did an excellent job of building Calum's overall character and likeability. Calum's demeanor in the first book is cautious, stringent, and calculated. This volume expanded on his intriguing backstory and personal life, allowing for creative character development. Kaia's character made significant progress with her family situation, although I don't think it will end that arc.

Overall, while I did enjoy the growth in Kaia's & Calum's characters, I was left wanting more from this story. More drama, perhaps? Everything unfolded in the last few pages, and the book was left on a fade-to-black cliffhanger. Granted, that particular scene did serve as an encouragement to pick up the third book immediately.

[lovelust andbloodygoodbooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Vivian for sending us a copy its always a pleasure.

The book follows on from the Patron 1 month after following Kaia and Callum’s relationship. Kaia navigating her family issues and ballet and Callum navigating his feelings for Kaia.

What can I say about this book? I loved the Patron and I was really looking forward to receiving this ARC but unfortunately, I was slightly disappointed. I personally felt the story wasn’t quite as strong as the Patron this book focuses more on the physical chemistry/attraction between Callum and Kaia. Also, I felt that the storylines throughout the book were very random. By that I mean the storyline could be focused on one thing one moment then the next it was on something completely different than through me.
With that being said I enjoyed the book as I have been enjoying the storyline and I will be anticipating the next book in the series.

Overall Rating 31/2 💋💋💋😘
Passion Rating 💋💋💋💋

[belle ☆ﾐ (thisbellereadstoo) · Rating 3 out of 5]

review for the whole trilogy.

this was pretty steamy. calum’s character needed some getting used to but i liked kaia. if only she wasn’t so vulnerable towards calum though. i wanted her to have more fight. when she’s not working as a stripper at the club, kaia’s mostly introverted and not as confident. it was interesting to see a different side of her when she’s at the club. as calum slowly falls for kaia, he’s hesitant to accept the feeling since he considers himself broken. but i think kaia’s sunny disposition gradually melted his stone cold heart. the plot was alright. this trilogy concluded well. i did think that there were too many sex scenes (feels like it's filter scenes), but it would also explain how she got pregnant so quickly.. i can't believe she's only 18-19 year old though. thought she would be older.

[Missy Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

So this is book two in the Broken Slipper series and I would recommend reading this series in order. The first book The Patron, The Dancer starts off right where it leaves off.

So I do not want to give anything away just in case you have not read book one. But let's just say that Calum has his work cut out for him. He has some making up to do. So with the two main leads working on their relationship we have some side stuff going on that involves family. So much happens in this book, so be prepared to be a sponge and absorb it all. In fact I would recommend reading book one again.

Yes there is a cliffy, and yes you are going to need to find out what happens next like your next breath. Well done Vivian, I cannot wait to see what is to become of Calum and Kaia.

[Cat Nunez · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading more about Kaia and Calum but there were a lot of things that frustrated me. Kaia still didn’t stood up to her father and after everything she still didn’t cut ties with him and his toxicity. She also never talked to Calum about her problems with her family and everything that her father said I felt it was dangerous but she only mentioned it when it was necessary so I hated how she acted in regards to her family.

I did loved her relationship with Calum, despite their fights and everything he really started caring for her. I also loved their steamy scenes and how they couldn’t keep their hands to each other.

There’s a lot of drama on this book and after that ending I really want to see how their story ends.

[marshas_world_of_books · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book picked up with a month passing after Honor showed up and ruined everything for Kaia. Although Calum has an ace up his sleeve that he plays beautifully against Honor, allowing him to fix things with Kaia. The build up of their relationship is excellent, but slow, because Calum is a stubborn man. Kaia has the patience of a saint. Kaia’s dad still has all the audacity to make demands he has no business making, I still hate that guy. Then Honor comes along to help throw in another twist. This book is full of drama, a bit of angst, and a whole lot of steam and worth the read.

[Brandy Rice · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Dancer is book two of this suspenseful ballet trilogy. Kaia and Callum's journey is intense and captivating. There is so much going on in this part of there story with blackmail, danger, and secrets.
The chemistry between Kaia and Callum is HOT!! I do feel like Kaia took him back a little too quickly and should have made him grovel a little. The ending was such a shocker ending with a major cliffhanger. I need the next book like right now!!

[ReadingInPyjamas · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This book just didn't captivate me as much as The Patron. This one picks up a month after the heartbreaking events at the end of the first book and I was really excited to see if things would turn around for Callum and Kaia. Things between them ended dramatically in the first book and I was expecting Callum to do a lot of groveling to get Kaia back, which didn't happen and as much as I liked both protagonists in the first installment, I couldn't really connect with them in this one. Their relationship seemed overly exaggerated, and the way she behaved most of the time threw me off a bit. The crazy lust between them was believable. I just couldn't cope with Callum's attitude and Kaia acting like a love-struck puppy all the time. Some secrets came to light but there are still many questions left unanswered and the cliffhanger at the end left me wanting to know more. So I'll be patiently waiting for the next book in the series.

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy crap!! What an ending....I feel like my heart just left my chest with that ending.

In book two a month has passed since Calum dismissed Kaia. Things are pretty bleak and she is slowly trying to piece her life back together. But suddenly He is back and demanding her return.

A lot of blackmail and danger lurk in our characters life as the story unfolds. Things definitely take an unusual turn for Calum. But danger is always lurking around every corner and this time someone may lose their life.

A dark erotic romance, that burns up every page. Every moment between Kaia and Calum is unique and new. We find that the world is an ugly place and people can be cruel.

Overall this book is a beautifully dark romance. It has some triggers that are not suited for some. But it is a haunting journey so intriguing you can’t stop. You will be invested from start to finish, desperate for the next scene. With an ending so devastating, the only question left to ask is why??

Impatiently waiting for the next episode.......

[Tessa Carter · Rating 3 out of 5]

That was better than 1st book 🙈

[Michelle Ault · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book would have earned 4 stars except there are so many continuity errors. They were distracting and frustrating at times. I enjoy the plot enough to continue but the book could use some more editing.

[Karin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loving the continuation of Kaia and Calum‘s story! Kaia is still reeling from everything that happened to her in book one and won’t make it easy for Calum at all (which she shouldn’t) but he’s determined to try to be what she needs. I loved Calum and his vulnerability at times, it makes him all the more likable. Can’t wait for the conclusion

[Literary Temptations · Rating 3 out of 5]

MY RATING: 2.5*
RELEASE DATE: 13 May 2021
CLIFFHANGER: Yes

ARC was kindly provided for an honest review

We pick up with this book a month after where we ended with The Patron, with Kaia still reeling from Calum’s words and Calum walking around like someone kicked his puppy. What was only supposed to be a short-term contractual agreement, seems to have grown legs and taken off in a different direction. The author tells a story of a traumatised man who is afraid to open his heart and a young girl, that for all intents and purposes has daddy issues; issues of abandonment that see her seeking emotional security from a man who doesn’t know how to give it.

“I am broken. The part of me that is supposed to feel those things? Its missing.”

Finally, she starts to piece her life back together, feeling dejected, she goes back to try to mend bridges with her family. Meanwhile Calum is determined to remedy his wrong and get his girl back. While I loved the couple together, I would have liked to see some change in the dynamics of their relationship after the reconciliation. I hated how cold and aloof, almost inconsiderate Calum was to Kaia with his mixed messaging, especially knowing how naïve she was. I hated more how Kaia held herself in such low regard. Calum continually telling her he didn’t want her like that, and she keep making excuses for him and letting him get away with it. The ease with which she took him as well was mind-blowing.

The questions I had from book one still remain unanswered. Like what the hell the issue is with Kaia’s family. When Calum finally broke down and told Lucas his secret, the was absolutely no conversation about it and they just moved on like it hadn’t even come up.



Anyway, despite what Calum says, his feelings for Kaia were becoming hard to deny. He becomes protective, possessive and obsessive about her; even when he’s blackmailed (again), his first thoughts are to protect Kaia. I really wish there would have been some maturity from Kaia. Shout, kick, scream, defend herself every now and then. Even her friend told her how susceptible she is to being controlled by men. She was gullible and let Calum set the tone of their relationship, much to her detriment. I found her character to be uncertain, I guess for want of a better word. The girl she was in her relationship with Calum and other people i.e. a pushover, did not translate into the sex vixen that she supposedly was when in bed with Calum.

With all her income and a family that has shown her repeatedly that she is not valued, you would have thought shed set herself up with a nice flat or something. Something that she could fall back on with it all goes belly-up.

I did however find that this book read better than book one. The story had me captivated from get go. And boy did the have sex. I LOVE a smutty smut book, but I have to say a sex scene very chapter was a bit much and I admit I skipped some of them. Nonetheless, I look forward to the next book especially after than cliff-hanger.

[Nikole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, this was not that great.
Their issues from book 1 got resolved in the first couple of chapters. It made it boring because everything resolved so fast, the reset was just filler bull crap until a new problem arises. I guess I was just expecting a bit more before it got resolved. She didn't forgive him right away, she actually made him work for it and told him to fuck off. But it only took like 3 tries before she gave in.
You would think firing her then re-hiring her would give the other dances and staff some suspicion that maybe something was going on with them. Either way, it was lacking.

I am so confused .. there are soo many contradictions for things being said... and I noticed I wasn't the only one who noticed either... that's not good. IDK if the author is just looking over them (which I don't think so because I've seen it happened in other books by this author) or just lazy ?

In book 1 she said she had that IUD in. It had been mentioned 2x. Once Ella and Eric were talking with her when she said that she had the IUD and Ella said 'why aren't you a virgin'. Later on in book 2 I believe she had told Cal that she was on birth control and he said that was a talk for another time. But now she is freaking out and ran to the doctor to get birth control. Like is she doubling up on BC? I'm thinking the author forgot she already put the FMC on birth control

They screw in the beginning with out a condom. It wasn't mentioned and unless specifically mention, I assume without condom.. especially because the sent went from him snacking on her to him going straight into her. Then the next time, a condom is used only for them to finally start doing it without. And when that happened, I was so confused because of that one time they did before but yet they are making it a deal now.
So he gets her a but plug as a present at dinner. She ac
ts like she has never had one before but he already used one on her. She's saying she don't know if she would like it etc... but she's already had one in .. and he screwed her with it in .. so I'm not sure why this scene was written like this would be her first time using one.

In book 1 it was said that she was the Lilac Fairy. It had been mentioned twice in book 1 that she was the

[Heather Carabo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Double Vision?

Book one wasn't a bad start in spite of some movie echoes and editing snags. I thought some of that would be resolved with book two. Sadly, it wasn't.

I ran into issues with continuity (e.g. character's eye colors changing, contraception methods, gift details, etc.). The editing problems weren't resolved, AND some of the sex scenes were completely recycled--word for word.

I really want book three to redeem this series since the story line has potential. Fingers crossed 🤞🏼

[Rina | booksofthemuggleborn · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Rating: 4 stars!

**ARC was generously provided in exchange for my honest review.**

Oh my. Blackmail, secret romances, and danger lurking at every corner! This elite world of ballet is vicious and cutthroat! I haven’t read much contemporary romance books that centre around the dance world (more specifically, ballet), and it had me so intrigued.

Make sure to read The Patron first as it’s a continuous storyline and this is book two in the trilogy. This one delves into Kaia’s and Calum’s tumultuous relationship. What started out as a straight forward contract, quickly became a complicated hot mess!

I enjoyed this book overall and there were plenty of things I adored, but I would be lying if I didn’t mention some of the things that irked me whilst reading it. The story is somewhat of a secret/ forbidden romance between Kaia, a ballet student, and her ballet teacher Calum who also happens to be a powerful business mogul and billionaire. The age gap between them isn’t blatantly obvious but what I quickly discovered is Kaia is very much a naïve young lady. There were a handful of situations throughout that I felt could easily have been avoided or resulted quite differently if it weren’t for her ignorance. I found her very frustrating in this book — it’s like the girl never learns! 🙄 Thank goodness that some of my sanity was saved knowing that there were secondary characters that had common sense. Lol.

It focuses a lot on the protagonists, so seeing secondary characters, even for a brief time was a nice change of atmosphere and really helped break some of the story’s attention away from their interactions alone. There are a couple of side stories happening simultaneously in the background that adds an extra level of tension and edge to the overall storyline.

I did find some things a little repetitive (mostly the sexual *cough cough* content). I’m all for some steamy scenes — I mean what romance reader, wouldn’t expect it? But all in moderation. I felt like the bedroom romps were all similar too. I’m not going to lie after the first couple of them, I almost wanted to skim through the rest. 😬

I would’ve really loved to have seen more hearty progression in their relationship. By the time I finished the book it almost felt like they hadn’t made too much headway. And then of course, it concludes on a cliffhanger, and I was left sitting there thinking, “Dammit, I wanna know what happens next!”

Let’s talk the plotline, shall we? My favourite bits to see in the entire book was the slow but gradual development of Kaia’s and Calum’s relationship. I know I just mentioned that there wasn’t much progress in this book in regards to their relationship, but the parts where they were simply conversing had my attention. They have a complex relationship (and I’m using that term loosely because they don’t really have a proper bf/gf relationship per se… and on top of that they’re trying to keep it a secret), but despite the roadblocks they have a buddle of chemistry and zing between them. If you like a damsel in distress heroine, and a confident (almost fringing on arrogant) alpha hero, then this will be right up your alley. Scenes where they’re dancing around (excuse the pun) their feelings for one another were the scenes that had me anxiously sitting up and glued to the pages. It’s a bit of slow burn romance, just so you know. Fair to say I was frustratingly eager to see Kaia and Calum admit their feels already. 😅

I applaud Vivian for creating such characters, who I got invested in despite not always agreeing with their actions or favouring their personality. I like that this storyline wasn’t all sunshine and lollipops. There’s always something popping up that keeps these characters on their toes and us readers second-guessing. I, for one didn’t see some of the things that occurred a mile away.

I do have to point out that this book contains sensitive subject matter that may be triggering for some readers. There is a small scene involving sexual assault. It also contains violence and profanity. Readers 18+ only!

I’m excited to get into the next book. I’m itching to see what happens after the cliffhanger that went a completely different direction that I had not anticipated. A great second book that I truly enjoyed reading. It’s contemporary with some slight darkish elements. It’s suspenseful — honestly, anything can happen! It’s romance with a ballet backdrop, along with a diverse range of characters you’ll either love or loathe. A character driven storyline with still plenty of secrets to be revealed and explained further in the next book. It has a fairly well-paced storytelling and it’s told from dual points of view.

Although there were certain aspects of this book I wasn’t completely a fan of, I would still recommend this story to fellow romance readers.

💻 Full review on my blog: https://booksofthemuggleborn.wordpres...

[Maddie (Bookaholic_Dreamer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Dancer takes place a month after The Patron ended. However we are told through bits and pieces of what happened in that time between Kaia and Calum through the dual POVs.

Given how The Dancer ended, we see Kaia and Calum both struggle to move forward without each other in their lives in the beginning. However, they are able to overcome the obstacle (that pulled them apart) and find their way back to each other. Which in turn leads to many many steamy love scenes throughout. And when I say steamy I mean it!
HOT DAMN MOTHER CHUCKER! I was definitely not ready for all of that Vivian Wood bought, gave and showed when it came to Calum and Kaia’s passion for one another! Vivian definitely upped the ante from The Patron to in The Dancer.
Boy Oh Boy did Calum Bring It On! It was NO HOLDS BARRED when it came to fulfilling his and Kaia’s needs, desires and pleasures in all the many different ways as possible.
From SLOW and SENSUAL, to FAST UNINHIBITED, SPICY and SEXY, to SWEET and ROMANTIC all the same time. But also always filled with EXPLOSIVE, SMOULDERING-HOT, WILD, RAUNCHY, TEMPESTUOUS and KINKY passionate moments too! With Calum making sure to bring one another to the highest possible pleasure they were craving and yearning for by the end!
Safe to say this story was far from being a Slow Burn.

Given how much I loved The Patron with the set up of the story between Kaia and Calum, I had high expectations for The Dancer. Unfortunately those expectations weren’t fully met within the story. Though the narrative was there, I felt it wasn’t as strong as it could’ve been. Not just because the focus was on the physical chemistry attraction that Calum and Kaia had for each other mainly.
But more because the other storylines within the story seemed to be kind of randomly placed throughout at times. For example one moment the story could be focused on Calum and Kaia together for a few days. And then the next thing you know the next scene is filled with drama involving Kaia and a secondary character. Almost as if not only the scene appeared out of the blue, but the drama just seemed to come about out of nowhere. Seeing as there wasn't any indication or lead up to it occurring.

With that said, I still enjoyed the story. I loved seeing Kaia slowly but surely start to find her voice and step into herself. While also trying to find herself and who she was and wants to be without her family getting in the way or stopping her.
Though I did wish she would’ve stood up to Calum a little more, instead of always going along with everything he said or asked of her.
As for Calum, I liked seeing him come out of his shell more when it came to giving into Kaia and his feelings for her. Whether he wanted to admit it or not, you could see he was falling for her. Even though he doesn't believe it is possible because of his broken past.
Though their love story is unconventional, it is what happens to bring them closer together. Building and form a bond that is unique and different like themselves. There is just something to be said about these two that I love!

That ending though! OH DAYYUUMM! I did not see that coming at all!
Safe to say Vivian Wood has reeled me in yet again and holding on tight with desperation in the anticipation for the finale that is The Embrace in the Broken Slipper trilogy.



*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Chalice · Rating 3 out of 5]

The couple: Calum and Kaia

Romance trope: new adult; billionaire
Series: Broken Slipper
Length: 288 pages

Plot: At the beginning of this book, Kaia is unmoored, having lost her role at the ballet and her lover, in one fell swoop. She finally went on an actual audition, and that is when Calum shows back up. He wants forgiveness - he's not sure what he did wrong, really - but Kaia is really hurt. But now that things are back to normal, there are more dangers to consider. Calum and Kaia will need to hold on to their love (or whatever) for each other in the face of adversity.

Commentary: Calum is still incredibly emotionally immature. Granted, he has trauma in his past (and that needs to be addressed by a professional), but it's to depths that I can't imagine. He says awful things to Kaia, really hurts her, dumps her, and then a month later thinks to himself "oh, I might have messed up" and then is only concerned about getting her back into his bed - not worried about her problems with her dad or the danger to her or her career or anything to do with her, to be honest. He can't stand the thought that she might be his girlfriend; he insists on saying paramour instead, just to avoid the boyfriend label (his brother does make fun of him for that). He won't introduce them as dating to his brother or her mother. And he doesn't ever take real responsibility when he (inevitably) messes up. He says mean things and then is all "what, are you still really made about that?
The other thing that really bothers me about Calum is the money. He is positively arrogant and disgusting with his money. I know that a lot of people have hang-ups about money (I know I do!), but Calum made every interaction with everyone around him transactional. For example, he takes Kaia to her sister's fashion show. They are on the list - she invited them. When they go to the door, instead of waiting for her to look down at the list, he drops money on the clipboard so she'll just let them in (which she was going to do anyway). He spends money like it's the most interesting thing about him.
And - I don't say this often about my trashy romance novels - there was way too much sex. It felt like the endless (boring and repetitive) scenes were added to take up space because they did not often move the plot along at all. Those scenes, though, were sometimes the most sensical thing about the story, considering the introduction of the Russian mom and debts and selling Kaia to a pimp and all sorts of other threads that were introduced and then dropped.

Grammar/formatting: There were several conversations between characters that were addressed earlier in the story, which sometimes confused things or at least disrupted the flow of the story. For example, at one point, Calum is complaining to his brother that Kaia told him she loved him, and his brother said "she told you she loved you?" But that it the exact conversation he and his brother had several chapters back. The brother mentions Calum being injured because of ballet, and Kaia is all "you got injured?" But she and Calum already had that conversation in the last book, I believe.

Previous book in the series: The Patron
Next book in the series: The Embrace

[Marnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Answers, more secrets and heartbreak in Book Two of this Trilogy!

Author Vivian Wood continues Kaia and Calum’s forbidden relationship that started in Book One The Patron, and continues it in The Dancer after one month has passed. This is a trilogy, so it is imperative that you’ve read The Patron first and get to know our characters, their backgrounds and the circumstances of their meeting. Seriously, without it, you’ll get the gist of this red-hot and steamy story, but you won’t have developed any sort of insight or investment into the hearts, minds and motivations of Kaia and Calum.

Ms Wood has created two broken characters, and I love her bad boys. In Calum, she has created a truly successful and driven but terribly broken bad boy. He is everything that is possessive, alpha, controlling and hurtful. He’ll lash out at the one he says he doesn’t love before he gets hurt, all while denying that such feelings exist in the first place. You need to read his story in The Patron to truly appreciate where his ‘ice-cold’ heart lies.

Kaia on the other hand, has a backbone but her soft heart is her downfall. On the whole, she was a character I admired in her determination to succeed, her pure motives, and her ability to love unconditionally. She stood her ground, to a point, but she seemed to hand out second chances like lottery tickets and I ended up getting more than a little frustrated with her. When she did finally reach the end of her tether, I could’ve hugged her so hard, but I wondered if this was the end of it all ... or not.

I got through The Dancer in what seemed like no time because Ms Wood kept the heat on and the plot moving forward at a good pace, although it seemed that there was rather a lot of, erm, HEAT!!! All of the questions I’d noted for myself from The Patron were answered, but because in the cut-throat business of ballet at the professional level, there is always secrets to be exposed, blackmail to be pulled off, and stalkers who just persist, the story isn’t finished yet!!

It’s a cliff-hanger, and I’m left gobsmacked!!! I’ll be waiting impatiently for Book Three, The Embrace to be released because I need to know how it all ends!!! For this one though, it’s 4.5 Stars from me ❣🩰

[Jackie (Jackie's Book World) · Rating 4 out of 5]

***Review can also be found at Jackie's Book World. :)***

The Dancer by Vivian Wood is the second book in the Broken Slipper Trilogy that’s emotional, steamy and full of twist and turns to keep you wanting for more.

It’s been a month since the events that transpired in The Patron, when Calum decided to brake things off with Kaia for good. She is devastated at how quickly he discarded her by terminating their contract and her contract with the New York Ballet. Determined to not let her feelings for Calum get the best of her, Kaia decides to keep auditioning to other ballet companies in the city. After all, she still needs owes her father money for putting her through the ballet academy. But when she is able to gather the money that she has left, her father surprises her by adding more to that amount, leaving Kaia flabbergasted. Just when she thought she was closer to freedom, she is starting from the beginning but not before she bumps into Calum again. He has no right to be near her after what happened between them, but he isn’t letting go this time around and Kaia is afraid of getting her heart broken again.

Calum might have been blackmailed into ending his contract with Kaia, but he won’t stop until those responsible pay for what they’ve caused. More importantly he is ready to win Kaia back no matter what and he won’t stop until she is his again. But there are new obstacles heading their way threatening to put an end to their relationship. Calum has never felt closer to anyone like he feels for Kaia and everyone can see just how quickly he is falling for her. Yet he has never been in love and he is afraid of losing the one person that understands him the most.

I throughly enjoyed reading The Dancer, it’s bold and steamy! We can see the characters develop in the story, Kaia is becoming more confident and determined. On the other hand, Calum’s wall slowly start to fall as he starts to develop feelings for Kaia. He is overprotective then ever, but he is always looking after her. The interactions between the main characters and Calum’s brother, Lucas, made the story more entertaining. The shocking twist at the end will definitely leave you wanting for more, I cannot wait to read the final book in the trilogy. I would highly recommend checking out The Dancer, it’s steamier than ever! :)

**I received an advanced copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.**