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Dance of Seduction
Tracking her was easy. Staying out of her bed—that's the hard part. On the run from her past and her overprotective brother, Ellie has had a taste of freedom—and likes it. Nothing can make her go home. Not even when the man she's always longed for shows up to drag her there. His wicked grins and irresistible dimples won't work. But she knows something else about Luke: He doesn't give up easily. Luckily, Ellie's not above resorting to naughty tactics. Seduction, she's certain, will make him so uncomfortable he won't be able to flee fast enough. And boy, is it going to be fun. The last thing Luke expects is for his best friend's sister to launch an erotic assault. He'll go along with her sexy games, but he's sure that when things get too hot, she'll come to her senses and come home. Except resisting her isn't as easy as he thought it'd be. And suddenly he's wondering if maybe there can be more than one winner in this dance of seduction.
Warning, this title contains the following: explicit sex, graphic language
Warning, this title contains the following: explicit sex, graphic language
212 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2008
5 people are currently reading
1129 people want to read
About the author
Elle Kennedy
176 books90.5k followersA New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Elle Kennedy grew up in the suburbs of Toronto, Ontario, and holds a B.A. in English from York University. From an early age, she knew she wanted to be a writer, and actively began pursuing that dream when she was a teenager.
Elle currently writes for various publishers. She loves strong heroines and sexy alpha heroes, and just enough heat and danger to keep things interesting!
Elle currently writes for various publishers. She loves strong heroines and sexy alpha heroes, and just enough heat and danger to keep things interesting!
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
July 1, 2009
This was a pretty quick, easy read, with a couple of hot moments in it. But nothing about it was all that compelling to me--it was just okay. I don't know if it was the fact that there wasn't enough plot for me, the characters didn't really 'grab' me, or a combination of the two. Maybe my expectations were too high, but all I know is that this one didn't particularly wow me, like most of Elle Kennedy's books.
Twenty-four year old Ellie's a ballerina, with a fiancee and a very bright future ahead of her. And then one tragic day, her world falls apart, and she loses everything that's important to her: her promising career, her fiancee, and (she thinks) her future happiness. All her plans are out the window. So she takes off from her San Francisco home and an over-protective older brother, and starts working as a dancehall dancer at her best friend's mother's club in a tiny, seaside town just north of Tijuana.
Josh, her over-protective lawyer brother who practically raised Ellie when their parents died 15 years ago, is desperate to find her and bring her home to San Francisco where she belongs. So he enlists the aid of his best friend since high school, professional bodyguard Luke Russell, to find Ellie. Luke tracks her to the little bar/nightclub and can't believe his eyes when he sees little miss ballerina Ellie, swinging her hips on stage in a skimpy costume to a jazzy beat. Is that hot little number...Ellie?
So, despite being turned on by Ellie's seductive appearance, Luke keeps reminding himself "that's Josh's little sister", and that he's here to take her home, not to seduce her.
Well, Ellie's had a crush on sexy Luke for a long time, but that's all it's ever been since with his job, he's never around long enough for anything to happen. And she knows he thinks of her only as his friend's "little sister". But Ellie senses there could be more, she's seen him covertly watching her, and since Luke declares he's not leaving town without her, she comes up with a plan. She knows that if she comes on to him, she could scare him off and he'd go home. But she doesn't figure that Luke will call her bluff...
The rest of the book has Ellie and Luke playing seductive games, and I wasn't quite sure if Ellie was really serious about her feelings for Luke. One minute it looked like she was trying to scare him away, the next minute it was like she couldn't wait to jump his bones. Actually, they both acted that way. I'm not sure that Ellie knew what she wanted at all. She was all mixed up with what had happened to her, and I think she really needed to spend some time and 'find herself' and figure out what she wanted out of life.
As for Luke, he was dealing with some problems too. He had a bad breakup with a girlfriend that made him a bit mistrustful of having a relationship and he also had some problems with his widowed father. Having Ellie in his life was probably a good thing for him, because she challenged him and forced him to think about the direction that his own life was taking. When they did finally 'get together' (it was predictably hot), it forced them to lay their cards on the table and get their feelings out in the open.
What annoyed me a bit about this one was the way her older brother treated her. I realize that he practically raised her from the time he was 15 and she was 9, but he acted like he was her father and she was a sixteen year old without a brain in her head. At one point, he managed to put a $10 daily limit on her bank account! She was a woman and should have acted like one, instead of running off like a flighty teenager. Ellie had a couple of huge secrets that she didn't bother to tell anybody, and I felt that if she just spilled the beans to her brother and let him (or someone else) help her deal with it, this all could have been avoided. But then there wouldn't be a book, would there?:)
One other thing disappointed me. The author teases us with a potential relationship between 30 year old Josh, and Ellie's boss and friend, 44 year old Viv. Apparently Viv and Josh had first met 4 years ago, and then 2 years later at Ellie's engagement party they shared a lusty kiss. Then Josh comes to town to bring Ellie home and tries to start up a relationship with Viv. They have a couple of hot moments with Viv reluctant and embarrassed to start up anything with a younger guy, and just as it looks like Josh's making headway, the book ends. I think this book could have used a few more chapters, because I sure would like to see where that relationship was headed.
So, not the best of Elle Kennedy, but not all that bad either. Perhaps with a little more development I would have bumped it up a half star. Right now I'd give it...3 1/2 to 4 stars.
Twenty-four year old Ellie's a ballerina, with a fiancee and a very bright future ahead of her. And then one tragic day, her world falls apart, and she loses everything that's important to her: her promising career, her fiancee, and (she thinks) her future happiness. All her plans are out the window. So she takes off from her San Francisco home and an over-protective older brother, and starts working as a dancehall dancer at her best friend's mother's club in a tiny, seaside town just north of Tijuana.
Josh, her over-protective lawyer brother who practically raised Ellie when their parents died 15 years ago, is desperate to find her and bring her home to San Francisco where she belongs. So he enlists the aid of his best friend since high school, professional bodyguard Luke Russell, to find Ellie. Luke tracks her to the little bar/nightclub and can't believe his eyes when he sees little miss ballerina Ellie, swinging her hips on stage in a skimpy costume to a jazzy beat. Is that hot little number...Ellie?
So, despite being turned on by Ellie's seductive appearance, Luke keeps reminding himself "that's Josh's little sister", and that he's here to take her home, not to seduce her.
Well, Ellie's had a crush on sexy Luke for a long time, but that's all it's ever been since with his job, he's never around long enough for anything to happen. And she knows he thinks of her only as his friend's "little sister". But Ellie senses there could be more, she's seen him covertly watching her, and since Luke declares he's not leaving town without her, she comes up with a plan. She knows that if she comes on to him, she could scare him off and he'd go home. But she doesn't figure that Luke will call her bluff...
The rest of the book has Ellie and Luke playing seductive games, and I wasn't quite sure if Ellie was really serious about her feelings for Luke. One minute it looked like she was trying to scare him away, the next minute it was like she couldn't wait to jump his bones. Actually, they both acted that way. I'm not sure that Ellie knew what she wanted at all. She was all mixed up with what had happened to her, and I think she really needed to spend some time and 'find herself' and figure out what she wanted out of life.
As for Luke, he was dealing with some problems too. He had a bad breakup with a girlfriend that made him a bit mistrustful of having a relationship and he also had some problems with his widowed father. Having Ellie in his life was probably a good thing for him, because she challenged him and forced him to think about the direction that his own life was taking. When they did finally 'get together' (it was predictably hot), it forced them to lay their cards on the table and get their feelings out in the open.
What annoyed me a bit about this one was the way her older brother treated her. I realize that he practically raised her from the time he was 15 and she was 9, but he acted like he was her father and she was a sixteen year old without a brain in her head. At one point, he managed to put a $10 daily limit on her bank account! She was a woman and should have acted like one, instead of running off like a flighty teenager. Ellie had a couple of huge secrets that she didn't bother to tell anybody, and I felt that if she just spilled the beans to her brother and let him (or someone else) help her deal with it, this all could have been avoided. But then there wouldn't be a book, would there?:)
One other thing disappointed me. The author teases us with a potential relationship between 30 year old Josh, and Ellie's boss and friend, 44 year old Viv. Apparently Viv and Josh had first met 4 years ago, and then 2 years later at Ellie's engagement party they shared a lusty kiss. Then Josh comes to town to bring Ellie home and tries to start up a relationship with Viv. They have a couple of hot moments with Viv reluctant and embarrassed to start up anything with a younger guy, and just as it looks like Josh's making headway, the book ends. I think this book could have used a few more chapters, because I sure would like to see where that relationship was headed.
So, not the best of Elle Kennedy, but not all that bad either. Perhaps with a little more development I would have bumped it up a half star. Right now I'd give it...3 1/2 to 4 stars.
July 24, 2023
Rated 3.5
Read
June 28, 20222.5 stars
I'll be honest and say that I don't remember much about this book, other than the rage I had at her brother's treatment of her, and I read it only three days ago. Not a memorable book? Mommy brain catching up to me? Probably a little of both.
Not a favorite of Elle's books. If you want a run-down on this, go read Auntee's review of it.
I'll be honest and say that I don't remember much about this book, other than the rage I had at her brother's treatment of her, and I read it only three days ago. Not a memorable book? Mommy brain catching up to me? Probably a little of both.
Not a favorite of Elle's books. If you want a run-down on this, go read Auntee's review of it.
October 14, 2012
Well this was a very touching book. Semi-sexual. Definitely has its ups and downs. Love the story though shows you can be strong. Gives u strength through the characters. Emotional without being over bearing. Great book!!
June 22, 2020
Am on a reread through my kindle library. Elle Kennedy introduces us to Ellie who wanted nothing more than to be a prima ballerina, a wife and a mother. Their parents died in an accident and her brother Josh raised her. Pushing himself through high school and college to graduate early - going on to become a solicitor.
But Ellie, she is hiding out in a little beach side town and Josh sends his best friend Luke to go and bring her home.
Seeing Ellie in a corset and thigh highs on a dance hall stage is enough to raise his blood pressure a little but her defiance is something else.
Not knowing the reasons behind her dash from San Francisco he blunders around until they give into their chemistry.
But Ellie, she is hiding out in a little beach side town and Josh sends his best friend Luke to go and bring her home.
Seeing Ellie in a corset and thigh highs on a dance hall stage is enough to raise his blood pressure a little but her defiance is something else.
Not knowing the reasons behind her dash from San Francisco he blunders around until they give into their chemistry.
September 4, 2022
About a 2.75
Kind of annoyed everyone was telling her how she should feel and what to do, and basically trying to control her. She went through a lot of shit and nobody asked how she felt or what was actually wrong with her or her reasons for wanting space. Josh pissed me off the most, like yes, big brother who was practically the parent for half her life, but doesn't give you or anyone the right to haul her 'home'. Not cool, man.
Everything else was okay, Ellie and Luke parts were cute and funny, Josh can suck a duck, Vivian meh.
Not the worst but nowhere near as good as it could've been.
Kind of annoyed everyone was telling her how she should feel and what to do, and basically trying to control her. She went through a lot of shit and nobody asked how she felt or what was actually wrong with her or her reasons for wanting space. Josh pissed me off the most, like yes, big brother who was practically the parent for half her life, but doesn't give you or anyone the right to haul her 'home'. Not cool, man.
Everything else was okay, Ellie and Luke parts were cute and funny, Josh can suck a duck, Vivian meh.
Not the worst but nowhere near as good as it could've been.
Read
March 16, 2023Not rating. Terrible. I needed a fast and easy read to help with my reading goal. Again, terrible.
August 25, 2017
Maybe 2 is too harsh, 2.5 maybe
This started out so well and the writing was fine, no howling grannatical mistakes to put me off
But halfway through I started to get really angry with the two men in the book and as the book went on I also got really angry with the two women.
For one, I am 46 so the idea of a 44 year old woman being bossed around by a 30 year old man is laughable. She has a 20 something daughter for heaven's sake!
Also the brother and the "love interest" telling a grown woman what she does and doesn't want is ridiculous.
Then she goes and "realises" that she really misses San Francisco! Her character lost all credibility as far as I was concerned.
I also question the mindset that thinks that ballet is superior to other forms of dancing. A hundred years ago men went to the ballet to ogle women's scantily-clad bodies and ballet dancers were considered to be no better than prostitutes! So it is very hypocritical to suggest that dancing (not stripping) in a bar is akin to a peep show!
Maybe you would say this is the sign of a good book that even now three days later my blood is still boiling ...
It just seemed that the heroine had some real 'normal' issues and was trying to rebuild her life and she was being put down and bullied by her closest friends and family - but apparently that's ok because they really did know better than she did - even though they didn't know the whole story - sheesh
This started out so well and the writing was fine, no howling grannatical mistakes to put me off
But halfway through I started to get really angry with the two men in the book and as the book went on I also got really angry with the two women.
For one, I am 46 so the idea of a 44 year old woman being bossed around by a 30 year old man is laughable. She has a 20 something daughter for heaven's sake!
Also the brother and the "love interest" telling a grown woman what she does and doesn't want is ridiculous.
Then she goes and "realises" that she really misses San Francisco! Her character lost all credibility as far as I was concerned.
I also question the mindset that thinks that ballet is superior to other forms of dancing. A hundred years ago men went to the ballet to ogle women's scantily-clad bodies and ballet dancers were considered to be no better than prostitutes! So it is very hypocritical to suggest that dancing (not stripping) in a bar is akin to a peep show!
Maybe you would say this is the sign of a good book that even now three days later my blood is still boiling ...
It just seemed that the heroine had some real 'normal' issues and was trying to rebuild her life and she was being put down and bullied by her closest friends and family - but apparently that's ok because they really did know better than she did - even though they didn't know the whole story - sheesh
Read
October 28, 20152.5 stars
I'll be honest and say that I don't remember much about this book, other than the rage I had at her brother's treatment of her, and I read it only three days ago. Not a memorable book? Mommy brain catching up to me? Probably a little of both.
Not a favorite of Elle's books. If you want a run-down on this, go read Auntee's review of it.
I'll be honest and say that I don't remember much about this book, other than the rage I had at her brother's treatment of her, and I read it only three days ago. Not a memorable book? Mommy brain catching up to me? Probably a little of both.
Not a favorite of Elle's books. If you want a run-down on this, go read Auntee's review of it.
April 3, 2016
So I LOVE the "brother's best friend" etc stories ...
The brother and his friend being so very clueless though ...
the whole failed one upsmanship to NOT have a relationship or physically intimate ... cute story, probably not a re-read.
C- maybe D+ - I'm not quite sure when I finished this book :X
The brother and his friend being so very clueless though ...
the whole failed one upsmanship to NOT have a relationship or physically intimate ... cute story, probably not a re-read.
C- maybe D+ - I'm not quite sure when I finished this book :X
June 23, 2012
I seriously need my head examined. What a waste of time this novel was. I started skimming the pages half-way thru. The ending was predictable, and boring; dripping with such lovey-dovey crap. Are there no decent romance novels out there?? That's it. I'm switching over to the horror genre.
October 29, 2013
I am presently reading everything by Elle Kennedy and I like other books by the author better. I think I had trouble with the fact that the brother did not realise that she could not dance after the accident.
August 6, 2013
Cute story, enjoyable read. I wouldn't classify it as an erotica though, more of a romance with a handful of sex scenes.
November 5, 2012
great quick read
February 3, 2013
meh..kinda boring and I didn't like the characters
August 29, 2013
I thought it was a good read. Not a lusty hot sexual book but rather s good love story. Something different from what the authors written in other books I've read. Short good read
August 13, 2014
cute book!:) I liked it, nice story, aggravating. I feel like I was yelling at the main character to grow some lady balls and stay, don't go back to SF. lol. but it was a good book.
July 24, 2015
love Elle's work but didn't love this one...but appears to be her early work so that's understandable
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews