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Dancing Shoes and Honky Tonk Blues
Now LuAnn McLane follows her surprise hit with Dancing Shoes and Honky-Tonk Blues. Despite her two left feet, waitress Abilene Harper joins a reality TV dance competition and cha-chas and rumbas her way into the heart of the TV audience-and into the arms of her sexy dance instructor.
293 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2007
About the author
Luann McLane
42 books304 followersLuAnn McLane writes sexy contemporary romance with a touch of sass and humor. Published in 2003, her novels have appeared on bestselling lists including USA Today, Nielsen BookScan, Barnes and Noble and Amazon. Her books have been featured selections for Rhapsody and Doubleday Book clubs. A love of country music led her to a collaboration with superstar Wynonna Judd with the novel Restless Heart. A member of RWA, she conducts workshops on a local and national level and connects with readers on social media. She divides her time between Kentucky, Florida and Arizona and when she isn’t writing or reading, she enjoys cooking, beachcombing and spending time with friends and family.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
September 16, 2009
I thought this was a really cute story. The main characters Abby and Rio star on "Dancing With The Rednecks", a show that is a cross between Hee Haw and Dancing With The Stars. I love Abby's close knit relationship with her family and the pride she has for her hometown. Abby is a funny, down to earth, and a character you can easily relate with. Up until she stars on Dancing With The Rednecks and starts up a steamy romance with her hot latin dance partner Rio Martin because let's be serious, how many of us are actually that lucky? Not me! lol
An entertaining read.
An entertaining read.
August 1, 2022
Cute story about a show that is meant to b e a spoof on Dancing With The Stars only in redneck country.
The show takes several people from ordinary walks of life in a country town and teaches them how to
dance.
Abby Harper is paired up with a hot eating dance instructor.
The whole town is having a ball with the contest and the prize is $50,000 for the final couple.
Lots of fun and nothing too serious!
The show takes several people from ordinary walks of life in a country town and teaches them how to
dance.
Abby Harper is paired up with a hot eating dance instructor.
The whole town is having a ball with the contest and the prize is $50,000 for the final couple.
Lots of fun and nothing too serious!
March 16, 2011
Yes, yes, it's all chick-litty. But it was a cute concept. And it could have stayed a cute concept, especially because heroine Abby was generally pretty relatable and fun (except for the fact that Luann McLane falls into the trap of having her characters laughing ALL THE TIME... nobody is funny all the time).
My main problem stems from Mr. Rio Martin, who is from Mexico City but is obviously named after Ricky Martin as his initials are the same and Martin is not a real Spanish last name (and that's not so cool even if Ricky Martin weren't my arch-nemesis). Rio Martin speaks Spanish all the damn time -- and not just secretly badmouthing people, but as an attempted mode of communication -- and much more often than someone would who knows nobody around him speaks Spanish. Also, he apparently has never been exposed to an idiom in his life, even though otherwise his English is flawless.
Nevertheless, these could be forgivable character flaws... if she had not internet-free-translated her Spanish phrases and then had nobody check them. For the first half of the book I was more surprised than anything else, that nobody would have checked it. I mean, these aren't little mistakes a real person might make, these are word-for-word translations from colloquial English (my favorite was when he says "I'm saving your sweet ass" and the free-translator used the actual word "ass", e.g. synonym for donkey, instead of the synonym for rear end). Half the time I literally could not figure out what he was saying until he re-said it in English, and the other half was just painful. It's not like Spanish is an uncommon language; there must be at least one Spanish-speaking reader in this country (or publisher's helper or, if worse comes to worse, one person you could pay for an hour of translation). After I stopped being surprised at the fact that an editor wouldn't check on foreign language translations, it was really frustrating.... because, as I mentioned above, Rio Martin speaks Spanish A LOT. Maybe a third of his dialogue (or more?) is in Spanish first.
My other problem with Rio Martin is that we learn absolutely NOTHING about him until the end of the story, and hardly anything even then. None of his viewpoint, nada. Maybe that's the point of chick-lit: it's focused on the "chick". But it's hard to feel connected to a character when all you see of him is "tall, dark, and handsome" right until the last chapter. "Yes, Abby," you say, "he's cute enough, but you really can't fall life-changingly in love with someone because he's cute. Are we reading a whole book about a little crush?"
Anyways, the author obviously enjoys watching dancing shows, but I did not particularly enjoy reading about hers.
My main problem stems from Mr. Rio Martin, who is from Mexico City but is obviously named after Ricky Martin as his initials are the same and Martin is not a real Spanish last name (and that's not so cool even if Ricky Martin weren't my arch-nemesis). Rio Martin speaks Spanish all the damn time -- and not just secretly badmouthing people, but as an attempted mode of communication -- and much more often than someone would who knows nobody around him speaks Spanish. Also, he apparently has never been exposed to an idiom in his life, even though otherwise his English is flawless.
Nevertheless, these could be forgivable character flaws... if she had not internet-free-translated her Spanish phrases and then had nobody check them. For the first half of the book I was more surprised than anything else, that nobody would have checked it. I mean, these aren't little mistakes a real person might make, these are word-for-word translations from colloquial English (my favorite was when he says "I'm saving your sweet ass" and the free-translator used the actual word "ass", e.g. synonym for donkey, instead of the synonym for rear end). Half the time I literally could not figure out what he was saying until he re-said it in English, and the other half was just painful. It's not like Spanish is an uncommon language; there must be at least one Spanish-speaking reader in this country (or publisher's helper or, if worse comes to worse, one person you could pay for an hour of translation). After I stopped being surprised at the fact that an editor wouldn't check on foreign language translations, it was really frustrating.... because, as I mentioned above, Rio Martin speaks Spanish A LOT. Maybe a third of his dialogue (or more?) is in Spanish first.
My other problem with Rio Martin is that we learn absolutely NOTHING about him until the end of the story, and hardly anything even then. None of his viewpoint, nada. Maybe that's the point of chick-lit: it's focused on the "chick". But it's hard to feel connected to a character when all you see of him is "tall, dark, and handsome" right until the last chapter. "Yes, Abby," you say, "he's cute enough, but you really can't fall life-changingly in love with someone because he's cute. Are we reading a whole book about a little crush?"
Anyways, the author obviously enjoys watching dancing shows, but I did not particularly enjoy reading about hers.
December 1, 2023
This book was OK. It was a cute story and I enjoyed the dancing parts of the story.
While I am trying to learn Spanish on Duolingo (ha ha!), I don't know a lot of words! So having Spanish phrases thrown in really interrupts the flow for me, because I have to stop and look it up. I know you can get the sorta meaning from context, but I like to know what they said.
I can understand Rio not comprehending some of the slang (although some of it was pretty common - he'd never heard of the word 'barf'?). But Abby doesn't know the meaning of 'cheeky' and 'moxie'? Come on, I would think these would be very common words for southern belles to be familiar with.
I didn't 'get' the love connection between Abby and Rio. I know it was all Abby talked about, but I just didn't feel it, on either side. And Abby saying, "I'm so shy and reserved", and then throwing herself at Rio with abandon, just didn't jive (jive... get it?!?) I did feel the love story between Danny and Julia though, and it was nice that Abby and Julia ended up being friends.
While I am trying to learn Spanish on Duolingo (ha ha!), I don't know a lot of words! So having Spanish phrases thrown in really interrupts the flow for me, because I have to stop and look it up. I know you can get the sorta meaning from context, but I like to know what they said.
I can understand Rio not comprehending some of the slang (although some of it was pretty common - he'd never heard of the word 'barf'?). But Abby doesn't know the meaning of 'cheeky' and 'moxie'? Come on, I would think these would be very common words for southern belles to be familiar with.
I didn't 'get' the love connection between Abby and Rio. I know it was all Abby talked about, but I just didn't feel it, on either side. And Abby saying, "I'm so shy and reserved", and then throwing herself at Rio with abandon, just didn't jive (jive... get it?!?) I did feel the love story between Danny and Julia though, and it was nice that Abby and Julia ended up being friends.
January 3, 2020
Lover this book it was so cute, and I really liked all the Rednecks.☆☆☆☆♡♡♡♡☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
March 10, 2020
It was a cute, fun, easy read.
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May 13, 2025Fun, silly read.
May 7, 2008
I really didn't like this book. It's more of a 2.5-3 star rating.
The first person present only writing really got on my nerves. I've read other books in the first person that I enjoyed but this was very one dimensional--like a whole bunch of information was missing. I didn't like the heroine --too "aw shucks" and she didn't really believe in herself. It was irritating how everyone could "read her mind" regardless of what she was thinking which I thought wasn't believeable. I disliked the cop-out ending -- everything just tied itself up too neatly going from a "made up problem" to a sickeningly sweet HEA.
This was one of those books where I was counting the pages near the end to see when it would be finished. It has a great title and a cute cover but it's not all that funny. If you feel like reading something syrupy with not that much romance then this book might interest you.
The first person present only writing really got on my nerves. I've read other books in the first person that I enjoyed but this was very one dimensional--like a whole bunch of information was missing. I didn't like the heroine --too "aw shucks" and she didn't really believe in herself. It was irritating how everyone could "read her mind" regardless of what she was thinking which I thought wasn't believeable. I disliked the cop-out ending -- everything just tied itself up too neatly going from a "made up problem" to a sickeningly sweet HEA.
This was one of those books where I was counting the pages near the end to see when it would be finished. It has a great title and a cute cover but it's not all that funny. If you feel like reading something syrupy with not that much romance then this book might interest you.
September 11, 2008
I am not a romance reader, but I found this book quite charming. I loved the characters, the story, the setting. The ending was a little too fairy tale, but all-in-all a good read.
A comedy cable channel has decided to do a rip-off of Dancing with the Stars and have chosen a small town in rural Kentucky as the setting for Dancing with the Rednecks. Abby is a waitress in the family diner but is hoping to win the $50,000 grand prize money to make changes in the business and help pay her brother's tuition to a good college.
The characters are likeable and well developed and the story is fun.
A comedy cable channel has decided to do a rip-off of Dancing with the Stars and have chosen a small town in rural Kentucky as the setting for Dancing with the Rednecks. Abby is a waitress in the family diner but is hoping to win the $50,000 grand prize money to make changes in the business and help pay her brother's tuition to a good college.
The characters are likeable and well developed and the story is fun.
January 17, 2015
I love this book. I have loved it since I first read it. Time will pass then I'll remember it and while I may not always recall who wrote it, I'll will dig around until I figure it out just so I can read it again.
It may be light and fluffy but it such a sweet, feel-good story. The character is finding her confidence, having fun, developing a huge crush, and you'll just have to read it to find out all the funny, awwww-inspiring things that happen in this book.
I find it very well written, fast paced and just a great afternoon read - both in physical book form and Kindle! If you're looking for a book that is clean, funny, well written, and will make you smile, read this book!
It may be light and fluffy but it such a sweet, feel-good story. The character is finding her confidence, having fun, developing a huge crush, and you'll just have to read it to find out all the funny, awwww-inspiring things that happen in this book.
I find it very well written, fast paced and just a great afternoon read - both in physical book form and Kindle! If you're looking for a book that is clean, funny, well written, and will make you smile, read this book!
October 17, 2013
This was an okay read. A take-off on shows like "Dancing with the Stars", this romance follows a waitress from a small Kentucky town as she and her fellow townspeople participate in a dance contest/reality show that is brought to their town. Supposedly the town will become the laughingstock of TV as the producers try to make stereotypical 'rednecks' learn how to dance and participate in the contest. Of course, in the way of HEA stories, the local folks do surprisingly well, and romance abounds.
April 20, 2012
Quite a quick and easy read! I really like the author's style of writing. First off, how can you not like a book titled "Dancing Shoes and Honky-tonk blues"? I have read several Luann McLane books, and while this one isn't my favorite (that would be "Trick my truck but don't mess with my heart", this was a solid 3 stars. Who doesn't wish they had a hot, latin dance instructor? Entertaining and easy read.
February 25, 2008
This is a complete take off of Dancing with the Stars. If you are a fan of the show, you will like this book.
No true laughs, but you see the judges in the characters and you know who they are immediately. The professional dances are depicted as those on the show also.
It is a good light read.
No true laughs, but you see the judges in the characters and you know who they are immediately. The professional dances are depicted as those on the show also.
It is a good light read.
September 6, 2009
Loved this book! The story evolved around a red neck dancing competition. Great characters. Abby was a small town girl with depth. Rio was tall dark and sexy but again with depth. This was a fun, fast story and I often recall.
March 27, 2008
read previous review
July 29, 2008
this book had been laughing from the start. it was a fun read, more of a "beach" read but it was fun. get way to escape your worries for a while.
September 8, 2008
This book was a cute, fast read. I think LuAnn develops the characters really well, so you do start to feel and relate to the characters!
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July 2, 2010dancing with the stars at the country side
Read
July 2, 2010i love it
April 26, 2014
I would rate it 4.5.
July 26, 2014
Dancing with the stars with a country twist.
January 11, 2015
This is a cute book with a heroine and hero from two different worlds.
November 15, 2015
cute little story, even if suuuuper contrived
April 11, 2016
Cute book
March 5, 2016
Fairly predictable, but cute and holds your interest. Good beach book.
Read
April 8, 2016Can't remember this book -- I just had the title and author on my list of book I've read.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews