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LoveTravel #8
Living la Vida Loca
Carmen has been feeling the need to break free for Too Darn Long. So when her equally frustrated friend Beth suggests the ultimate escape – dancing their way through a series of scorchingly-hot countries – she can’t resist!
There’s just one catch... they can only go on this adventure if they participate in a reality TV show, one intent on teaching them the mournful tango in Argentina, the feisty flamenco in Spain and the sassy, celebratory salsa in Cuba!
As they travel from Buenos Aires to Seville and ultimately steamy Havana, each dance has a profound effect on the girls – and indeed the sexy gauchos, matadors and dirty dancers who partner them...
But, when the sun goes down, do they have what it takes to go beyond the steps and free their hearts for love?
There’s just one catch... they can only go on this adventure if they participate in a reality TV show, one intent on teaching them the mournful tango in Argentina, the feisty flamenco in Spain and the sassy, celebratory salsa in Cuba!
As they travel from Buenos Aires to Seville and ultimately steamy Havana, each dance has a profound effect on the girls – and indeed the sexy gauchos, matadors and dirty dancers who partner them...
But, when the sun goes down, do they have what it takes to go beyond the steps and free their hearts for love?
370 pages, Paperback
First published May 13, 2010
18 people are currently reading
762 people want to read
About the author
Belinda Jones
34 books353 followersBelinda Jones was born in Turnbridge Wells, Kent England. At the age of 19 she moved to London, where she resided for the next ten years before moving to California. She now lives in Los Angeles.
Belinda Jones writes books for women which focus around travel and womens issues, particularly relationships. Her books tend to fall into the romance, chick lit and women's fiction categories
Belinda Jones writes books for women which focus around travel and womens issues, particularly relationships. Her books tend to fall into the romance, chick lit and women's fiction categories
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
June 9, 2010
Carmen and Beth are best friends who are sick of the way their life has been lately. Carmen has only just broken free from a bad relationship and Beth is realising that her dream of becoming a famous dancer is ebbing away slowly. Salvation comes for the pair in the form of a reality TV show that will allow them to travel the world learning how to dance: the tango in Argentina, the Paso Doble in Spain and the Salsa in Cuba. Soon the girls are tango-ing in Buenos Aires, learning to dance with matadors in Seville and salsa-ing in Havana and having a ball of a time. They’re still missing one vital ingredient: love. But are the girls ready to set their hearts free again?
I’m a huge fan of Belinda Jones’s work and have read most of her books (The California Club & Cafe Tropicana were both fabulous) and I loved her last release Out Of The Blue, too so I was hugely disappointed to learn Belinda wasn’t having a book released in 2009. I perked up when it was announced that Belinda had joined a new publishers and that there would definitely be a book out in 2010 called Living La Vida Loca. Imagine my delight when I received an early copy from the publishers to read. I decided to leave it a couple of months as (when I read it) it wasn’t out until June but it kept shouting at me to read it so I eventually gave in.
The one thing I can guarantee with a book by Belinda Jones is the exotic locations in which she sets her books. California, Las Vegas, Italy, Greece all feature in previous books and in Living La Vida Loca we have Argentina, Cuba and Spain. The main reason Belinda is so good at making us love the countries her books are set in is because she’s so passionate about travel herself and that really comes off the pages as you read about all of these magical destinations. Usually her books only feature one country so to pull off three stunning countries is quite something and I really enjoyed travelling around Spain and South America with Beth and Carmen.
The book begins by introducing us to Beth and Carmen, both aged 8, as they get ready to watch Come Dancing, a show they both adore but for different reasons. Beth wants to be a dancer but Carmen prefers the costumes the dancers wear. Twenty years later it transpires that Beth and Carmen are now best friends (they met during Dirty Dancing: The Musical) and while Carmen is a costume designer, Beth is finding hard to come by dancing work. All of Beth’s prayers seem to be answered when she and Carmen come across an ad looking for people wanting to learn how to dance the tango, the paso doble and the salsa all in their countries of origin (Argentina, Spain & Cuba respectively) and be filmed for a reality show to boot. Beth jumps at the chance but is quite downhearted when she learns that it’s only for non-dancers but it doesn’t deter her for long and soon she and Carmen are making her a body suit to bulk her up and make her seem as if she really is a non-dancer.
Beth then goes to the audition and manages to fool the reality TV people into thinking she’s some sort of clutz and they agree she can star in the show – and bring Carmen along. Soon the girls are whisked off to Buenos Aires to learn the tango before sweeping into Seville to learn the Paso Doble and finally, to Havana to learn the salsa. It’s not all plain sailing though as Carmen is harbouring a broken heart and Beth is harbouring the fact she’s, you know, actually a dancer. Things inevitably come to a head just before they leave Argentina for Spain but will Beth and Carmen actaully make it to Seville to learn the paso doble?
Inevitably, I had huge (and I mean huge) expectations for Living La Vida Loca so I was pleased that the book seemed to grab me early on. I loved learning how Carmen and Beth had met and I loved the banter between the two of them. The scene where they bulk Beth up in a bid to fool the reality show producers was hilarious in fact. Then of course came the fantastic locations as the girls managed to hoodwink the producers and soon we were in Buenos Aires, Seville and Havana. I absolutely loved learning about all three dances. I’m not very dance-y but even I found the explanations of the dances easy to follow (not that I would attempt them myself, obviously). The history of each dance is so rich and Belinda Jones kept it easy to digest as we learned about each dance.
As well as managing to bring to life so many exotic locations, I also found the characters incredibly interesting. Carmen, our narrator, is, just to put it plainly, lovely. There is seriously no other description to aptly describe Carmen. She’s warm and funny and I really liked her. She has some skeletons in her closet, namely her ex Lee who, from what we read, really wasn’t pleasant. She managed to fight back though and for that I loved her. I also really loved Beth, Carmen’s best friend. It was so sad to see her so down at the beginning of the book as she was pushed out of the dancing community in favour of younger dancers and I just couldn’t help but laugh when she came up with the hare-brained scheme to disguise herself as a novice dancer. She pulled it off, I must say! Beth and Carmen were really the main characters in the book but the reality show crew were also ever-present and they were an OK bunch.
Belinda Jones’s writing is as good as ever (although I got irritated with the amount of time Beth or Carmen ‘hoot’ed and ‘toot’ed) and I really did enjoy the book. I suppose the reason I’m not jumping off the walls is because of my expectations of the book. I expected a lot and it’s inevitable that I was going to feel disappointed (it’s not the first book this year I’m over-hyping and it won’t be the last!). I fear I over-hyped the book so much that no amount of fab locations or fab writing was going to make it worth just how much I had hyped it up in my imagination. It’s mildly unfortunate for me as I so wanted this to be one of my favourite reads of this year. I did love it, but just not as much as her previous efforts. I also found the ending relatively luke-warm. It was all kind of abrupt and I think it needed a few more chapters. Yes, it all seemed to come full circle but I wasn’t totally satisfied; I wanted romance!
Overall Living La Vida Loca is another great read from Belinda Jones. She’s certainly one of my favourite travel writers as she easily manages to make countries like Argentina and Cuba sound so exotic. In fact reading about Cuba makes me want to go there right now and see if it’s like it was described in the book! I was slightly disappointed but I still expect the book to be a huge hit as really, no one quite does what Belinda Jones does: giving us a fun read with great destinations to escape to. I’ll certainly be buying myself a finished copy! Oh – and for all you Ricky Martin fans, look out for a nod to him in the book!
I’m a huge fan of Belinda Jones’s work and have read most of her books (The California Club & Cafe Tropicana were both fabulous) and I loved her last release Out Of The Blue, too so I was hugely disappointed to learn Belinda wasn’t having a book released in 2009. I perked up when it was announced that Belinda had joined a new publishers and that there would definitely be a book out in 2010 called Living La Vida Loca. Imagine my delight when I received an early copy from the publishers to read. I decided to leave it a couple of months as (when I read it) it wasn’t out until June but it kept shouting at me to read it so I eventually gave in.
The one thing I can guarantee with a book by Belinda Jones is the exotic locations in which she sets her books. California, Las Vegas, Italy, Greece all feature in previous books and in Living La Vida Loca we have Argentina, Cuba and Spain. The main reason Belinda is so good at making us love the countries her books are set in is because she’s so passionate about travel herself and that really comes off the pages as you read about all of these magical destinations. Usually her books only feature one country so to pull off three stunning countries is quite something and I really enjoyed travelling around Spain and South America with Beth and Carmen.
The book begins by introducing us to Beth and Carmen, both aged 8, as they get ready to watch Come Dancing, a show they both adore but for different reasons. Beth wants to be a dancer but Carmen prefers the costumes the dancers wear. Twenty years later it transpires that Beth and Carmen are now best friends (they met during Dirty Dancing: The Musical) and while Carmen is a costume designer, Beth is finding hard to come by dancing work. All of Beth’s prayers seem to be answered when she and Carmen come across an ad looking for people wanting to learn how to dance the tango, the paso doble and the salsa all in their countries of origin (Argentina, Spain & Cuba respectively) and be filmed for a reality show to boot. Beth jumps at the chance but is quite downhearted when she learns that it’s only for non-dancers but it doesn’t deter her for long and soon she and Carmen are making her a body suit to bulk her up and make her seem as if she really is a non-dancer.
Beth then goes to the audition and manages to fool the reality TV people into thinking she’s some sort of clutz and they agree she can star in the show – and bring Carmen along. Soon the girls are whisked off to Buenos Aires to learn the tango before sweeping into Seville to learn the Paso Doble and finally, to Havana to learn the salsa. It’s not all plain sailing though as Carmen is harbouring a broken heart and Beth is harbouring the fact she’s, you know, actually a dancer. Things inevitably come to a head just before they leave Argentina for Spain but will Beth and Carmen actaully make it to Seville to learn the paso doble?
Inevitably, I had huge (and I mean huge) expectations for Living La Vida Loca so I was pleased that the book seemed to grab me early on. I loved learning how Carmen and Beth had met and I loved the banter between the two of them. The scene where they bulk Beth up in a bid to fool the reality show producers was hilarious in fact. Then of course came the fantastic locations as the girls managed to hoodwink the producers and soon we were in Buenos Aires, Seville and Havana. I absolutely loved learning about all three dances. I’m not very dance-y but even I found the explanations of the dances easy to follow (not that I would attempt them myself, obviously). The history of each dance is so rich and Belinda Jones kept it easy to digest as we learned about each dance.
As well as managing to bring to life so many exotic locations, I also found the characters incredibly interesting. Carmen, our narrator, is, just to put it plainly, lovely. There is seriously no other description to aptly describe Carmen. She’s warm and funny and I really liked her. She has some skeletons in her closet, namely her ex Lee who, from what we read, really wasn’t pleasant. She managed to fight back though and for that I loved her. I also really loved Beth, Carmen’s best friend. It was so sad to see her so down at the beginning of the book as she was pushed out of the dancing community in favour of younger dancers and I just couldn’t help but laugh when she came up with the hare-brained scheme to disguise herself as a novice dancer. She pulled it off, I must say! Beth and Carmen were really the main characters in the book but the reality show crew were also ever-present and they were an OK bunch.
Belinda Jones’s writing is as good as ever (although I got irritated with the amount of time Beth or Carmen ‘hoot’ed and ‘toot’ed) and I really did enjoy the book. I suppose the reason I’m not jumping off the walls is because of my expectations of the book. I expected a lot and it’s inevitable that I was going to feel disappointed (it’s not the first book this year I’m over-hyping and it won’t be the last!). I fear I over-hyped the book so much that no amount of fab locations or fab writing was going to make it worth just how much I had hyped it up in my imagination. It’s mildly unfortunate for me as I so wanted this to be one of my favourite reads of this year. I did love it, but just not as much as her previous efforts. I also found the ending relatively luke-warm. It was all kind of abrupt and I think it needed a few more chapters. Yes, it all seemed to come full circle but I wasn’t totally satisfied; I wanted romance!
Overall Living La Vida Loca is another great read from Belinda Jones. She’s certainly one of my favourite travel writers as she easily manages to make countries like Argentina and Cuba sound so exotic. In fact reading about Cuba makes me want to go there right now and see if it’s like it was described in the book! I was slightly disappointed but I still expect the book to be a huge hit as really, no one quite does what Belinda Jones does: giving us a fun read with great destinations to escape to. I’ll certainly be buying myself a finished copy! Oh – and for all you Ricky Martin fans, look out for a nod to him in the book!
August 23, 2010
Gave up after about 150 pages ... this book was totally boring, which is a shame considering that Belinda Jones's earlier books were really great! But over the past few years her writing has become stale and uninteresting ... :o(
September 10, 2016
i want to learn dancing especially tango....
January 5, 2019
It was fun! A story of two friends involved in the dance world who win places in a reality dance show. It's mostly light and frothy. There is a plotline about a woman recovering from an abusive relationship which stops the novel from being meaningless.
I'm not sure if I'll re-read this in the future, but I did enjoy it and would try other books by Belinda Jones.
I'm not sure if I'll re-read this in the future, but I did enjoy it and would try other books by Belinda Jones.
February 26, 2021
2nd time ive read this.....its a great light read.
About finding yourself, learning new cultures, different ways of love.
Will read it again in the future.
My only warnings is it does contain descriptions off what happens to a bull in a bullring and does contain a mental abuse story.
About finding yourself, learning new cultures, different ways of love.
Will read it again in the future.
My only warnings is it does contain descriptions off what happens to a bull in a bullring and does contain a mental abuse story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 16, 2022
I loved this - well, I knew I would as Belinda Jones is one of my favourite authors.
Our heroine, Carmen, dances her way through Buenos Aires, Seville and Havana. The story is funny, exciting and warm hearted. The best.
Our heroine, Carmen, dances her way through Buenos Aires, Seville and Havana. The story is funny, exciting and warm hearted. The best.
January 8, 2019
2 and a half
June 9, 2019
Struggled with this one. It wasn't bad just didn't grab me and make me want to keep picking it up
May 16, 2016
In ‘Living la Vida Loca’, Carmen and Beth are best friends who yearn to live the life of their dreams. Carmen is having a hard time fully letting go of her abusive ex while Beth wishes she could dazzle the world with her amazing dance talent. When Beth stumbles upon a reality TV show which offers the opportunity to travel to three countries (Argentina, Spain and Cuba) and learn different dances (tango, paso doble and salsa), she decides to join it and alters her appearance in order to be more like Carmen – the type that viewers will be able to relate to. There’s only one problem – to qualify, she has to lie about having no dance experience..
The best thing about Belinda Jones’ books is undoubtedly the travel aspect which is simply fantastic due to the rich, intricate details and descriptions of the places, weather, culture, people, et cetera. This book definitely didn’t disappoint in that sense. As Carmen and Beth embarked on exciting, promising journeys to three countries, I truly felt like I was with them in every scene thanks to the author’s wonderfully descriptive, colourful writing. Therefore, I got a feel of every location and could relate to how the characters were positively influenced by their surroundings and the atmosphere. Needless to say, this book was enlightening and informative.
Besides that, the girls’ friendship was portrayed realistically and convincingly. Despite being quite different from each other, they always had each other’s backs and were willing to lend a shoulder to cry on at all times. Carmen was reserved and meek yet she gradually became more confident and secure as she took the time to reflect on her unhealthy attachment to her ex-boyfriend, Lee. Meanwhile, Beth was gorgeous and upbeat yet she had to hide her envious figure to be the perfect reality TV star that everyone could root for, rather than the unattainable stunning girl that she actually is. Both of them were likeable though I preferred Beth since she was unpredictable and engaging.
What I really liked was the way the author connected the dances to relationships. More specifically, Carmen learned about the characteristics and moves of every dance which in turn taught her how to apply them to relationships. In the process, she realized why she constantly had a hard time breaking free from Lee though she knew she had always been unhappy with him. Plus, she discovered that just as it takes two to tango, it takes both partners to make a relationship blossom and work. Consequently, she displayed great character development because she learned to love herself and walk away from the type of men that would only bring her down.
I was expecting some major drama when Beth’s deception eventually came to light hence I was mildly disappointed when it was solved so easily and amicably. That bit definitely required suspension of disbelief. That aside, I enjoyed reading about the girls’ fun-filled, educational travels. The romance aspect wasn’t believable at all though. Beth and the guy she ended up with had no chemistry. However, I was pleasantly surprised by Carmen’s happy ending as it . That was a refreshing change from the typical endings in many books of this genre.
Overall, ‘Living la Vida Loca’ was a light-hearted, breezy read which highlighted the beauty of three countries while delving into the world of dancing. This is one of those books which produced a feel-good effect and imparted some wise lessons along the way.
The best thing about Belinda Jones’ books is undoubtedly the travel aspect which is simply fantastic due to the rich, intricate details and descriptions of the places, weather, culture, people, et cetera. This book definitely didn’t disappoint in that sense. As Carmen and Beth embarked on exciting, promising journeys to three countries, I truly felt like I was with them in every scene thanks to the author’s wonderfully descriptive, colourful writing. Therefore, I got a feel of every location and could relate to how the characters were positively influenced by their surroundings and the atmosphere. Needless to say, this book was enlightening and informative.
Besides that, the girls’ friendship was portrayed realistically and convincingly. Despite being quite different from each other, they always had each other’s backs and were willing to lend a shoulder to cry on at all times. Carmen was reserved and meek yet she gradually became more confident and secure as she took the time to reflect on her unhealthy attachment to her ex-boyfriend, Lee. Meanwhile, Beth was gorgeous and upbeat yet she had to hide her envious figure to be the perfect reality TV star that everyone could root for, rather than the unattainable stunning girl that she actually is. Both of them were likeable though I preferred Beth since she was unpredictable and engaging.
What I really liked was the way the author connected the dances to relationships. More specifically, Carmen learned about the characteristics and moves of every dance which in turn taught her how to apply them to relationships. In the process, she realized why she constantly had a hard time breaking free from Lee though she knew she had always been unhappy with him. Plus, she discovered that just as it takes two to tango, it takes both partners to make a relationship blossom and work. Consequently, she displayed great character development because she learned to love herself and walk away from the type of men that would only bring her down.
I was expecting some major drama when Beth’s deception eventually came to light hence I was mildly disappointed when it was solved so easily and amicably. That bit definitely required suspension of disbelief. That aside, I enjoyed reading about the girls’ fun-filled, educational travels. The romance aspect wasn’t believable at all though. Beth and the guy she ended up with had no chemistry. However, I was pleasantly surprised by Carmen’s happy ending as it . That was a refreshing change from the typical endings in many books of this genre.
Overall, ‘Living la Vida Loca’ was a light-hearted, breezy read which highlighted the beauty of three countries while delving into the world of dancing. This is one of those books which produced a feel-good effect and imparted some wise lessons along the way.
October 30, 2015
Belinda Jones has finally released her book after a gap of two years. She has written in total ten books, two of which were non-fiction. She is without a doubt a classic `Chick Lit' writer and I personally have been a fan since she began with her debut novel `Diva Las Vegas'.
Belinda Jones started out as a magazine journalist and travel editor. It is clear from each and every one of her books that travel is the key to her heart. She has successfully made herself a firm favourite amongst us avid readers as she somehow portrays her love of travel into every book she produces. Her latest effort is no different.
We meet Carmen and Beth who are best friends. Carmen works in the same industry as Beth but more behind the scenes. Whilst Beth is up there struggling to be noticed for her natural talent as a dancer, Carmen is the one who not only creates but adjusts the costumes.
Carmen is currently working her way back to being a happy single girl as she recently split from her boyfriend Lee. Beth meanwhile sees the perfect opportunity for both of them. A TV advert is placed looking for somebody to learn the Tango in Argentina, the Flamenco in Spain and the Salsa in Cuba. There's only one catch, they need to be a dance novice.
When they find themselves on the plane and en-route to their first destination they realise that this is the beginning of more than a reality TV show. The question is what will they discover along the way?
As usual Belinda Jones manages to write a fabulous book in which you find yourself immersed with the story. The characters Carmen and Beth are complete opposites but both are written so that you love them just the way they are. The journey they take has all the right ingredients, fun, glamour, romance, emotion and a slight teary eye. Belinda Jones has created a recipe with the perfect ingredients and has produced a book that not only tells a story, it takes you along for the ride.
Her love of travel is evident in a huge way, and she has a special `something' with how she describes places and scenery. The actual story itself is very funny in places and you find yourself rooting for both Carmen and Beth. We also get to see what has happened to Carmen and her boyfriend in the past and how Carmen deals with it going forward.
The length of the book was just right and some of the characters I loved even though they weren't perfect Rick the TV producer being one of them. The crew that are filming the girl's journey also become part of the story and we meet Simon the sound man and Dan the cameraman. There are many locations and different dance partners but all in all the story threads are simple and well thought out. I read this over the course of a day and a half and loved every single chapter. There was only one thing that was slightly unusual and that was the fact that with any other Belinda Jones book, I am hooked from chapter one, but with this it developed a little slower. I found myself warming up once I hit chapter 8 or 9.
What I did find surprising was when I reached the end of the book. I had finished the story and enjoyed it, when I realised there was a short Q&A from the author at the back. I was surprised to learn that Carmen's relationship issues are something that came from the authors own experiences. All in all I would recommend this book for what it is, a light hearted but wonderful read.
Belinda Jones started out as a magazine journalist and travel editor. It is clear from each and every one of her books that travel is the key to her heart. She has successfully made herself a firm favourite amongst us avid readers as she somehow portrays her love of travel into every book she produces. Her latest effort is no different.
We meet Carmen and Beth who are best friends. Carmen works in the same industry as Beth but more behind the scenes. Whilst Beth is up there struggling to be noticed for her natural talent as a dancer, Carmen is the one who not only creates but adjusts the costumes.
Carmen is currently working her way back to being a happy single girl as she recently split from her boyfriend Lee. Beth meanwhile sees the perfect opportunity for both of them. A TV advert is placed looking for somebody to learn the Tango in Argentina, the Flamenco in Spain and the Salsa in Cuba. There's only one catch, they need to be a dance novice.
When they find themselves on the plane and en-route to their first destination they realise that this is the beginning of more than a reality TV show. The question is what will they discover along the way?
As usual Belinda Jones manages to write a fabulous book in which you find yourself immersed with the story. The characters Carmen and Beth are complete opposites but both are written so that you love them just the way they are. The journey they take has all the right ingredients, fun, glamour, romance, emotion and a slight teary eye. Belinda Jones has created a recipe with the perfect ingredients and has produced a book that not only tells a story, it takes you along for the ride.
Her love of travel is evident in a huge way, and she has a special `something' with how she describes places and scenery. The actual story itself is very funny in places and you find yourself rooting for both Carmen and Beth. We also get to see what has happened to Carmen and her boyfriend in the past and how Carmen deals with it going forward.
The length of the book was just right and some of the characters I loved even though they weren't perfect Rick the TV producer being one of them. The crew that are filming the girl's journey also become part of the story and we meet Simon the sound man and Dan the cameraman. There are many locations and different dance partners but all in all the story threads are simple and well thought out. I read this over the course of a day and a half and loved every single chapter. There was only one thing that was slightly unusual and that was the fact that with any other Belinda Jones book, I am hooked from chapter one, but with this it developed a little slower. I found myself warming up once I hit chapter 8 or 9.
What I did find surprising was when I reached the end of the book. I had finished the story and enjoyed it, when I realised there was a short Q&A from the author at the back. I was surprised to learn that Carmen's relationship issues are something that came from the authors own experiences. All in all I would recommend this book for what it is, a light hearted but wonderful read.
May 30, 2011
I have recently read and reviewed Out of The Blue by Belinda Jones which I enjoyed and so when I saw she had released a new book, Living la Vida Loca, which was calling me from the shelves with its pink, glitzy snazzy cover how could I walk away!
Best friends Carmen and Beth are both involved in dance theatre although their jobs are completly different. Carmen works backstage with the costume designs whilst Beth is on the stage dancing her heart out.
Things become hard for Beth when she can no longer find work for dance as companies are looking for something new and fresh. It is when trailing through the job section the girls come across an advertisement for a new TV show offering a trip to Argentina to dance the Tango, Flamenco dancing in Spain and salsa in Cuba.
The problem for Beth is that the show requires a novice but this is not going to get in her way!
Carmen gets the opportunity to go along with Beth on the TV journey only things go wrong and end up putting Carmen in a different course on the show!
This is one of a few books where I actually warmed to the main characters. We meet Carmen who has just come out of a terrible relationship but she still feels tied to the guy. Through the whole book you are behind her hoping that she will be able to let go completely and find a man she deserves who will treat her right.
Beth who is the other main character is best friends with Carmen and her love and passion for dance is shown all the way through the book. She deserves to have her big break. She cares so much for her friend Carmen even giving up a excellent job opportunity to help protect her.
I didn't find any parts of this book predictable.
The way in which Belinda describes each of the countries in such beautiful detail makes you feels as if you are with them on the journey in these beautiful countries.
I found the light hearted humour throughout the book was an enjoyable plus and helped to keep you interested in the story line throughout the book.
I also liked the idea at the end of the book where there is a short interview with Belinda about different aspects of the book. I have not read a book by another author which has this in.
I would recommend this to anyone who has enjoyed previous Belinda Jones books and also for anyone looking to try a fresh new author and especially if you enjoy light hearted reading.
Best friends Carmen and Beth are both involved in dance theatre although their jobs are completly different. Carmen works backstage with the costume designs whilst Beth is on the stage dancing her heart out.
Things become hard for Beth when she can no longer find work for dance as companies are looking for something new and fresh. It is when trailing through the job section the girls come across an advertisement for a new TV show offering a trip to Argentina to dance the Tango, Flamenco dancing in Spain and salsa in Cuba.
The problem for Beth is that the show requires a novice but this is not going to get in her way!
Carmen gets the opportunity to go along with Beth on the TV journey only things go wrong and end up putting Carmen in a different course on the show!
This is one of a few books where I actually warmed to the main characters. We meet Carmen who has just come out of a terrible relationship but she still feels tied to the guy. Through the whole book you are behind her hoping that she will be able to let go completely and find a man she deserves who will treat her right.
Beth who is the other main character is best friends with Carmen and her love and passion for dance is shown all the way through the book. She deserves to have her big break. She cares so much for her friend Carmen even giving up a excellent job opportunity to help protect her.
I didn't find any parts of this book predictable.
The way in which Belinda describes each of the countries in such beautiful detail makes you feels as if you are with them on the journey in these beautiful countries.
I found the light hearted humour throughout the book was an enjoyable plus and helped to keep you interested in the story line throughout the book.
I also liked the idea at the end of the book where there is a short interview with Belinda about different aspects of the book. I have not read a book by another author which has this in.
I would recommend this to anyone who has enjoyed previous Belinda Jones books and also for anyone looking to try a fresh new author and especially if you enjoy light hearted reading.
June 16, 2010
I needed something light and fluffy after In Cold Blood and Brave New World and this certainly ticked both those boxes. It is a very quick non-taxing read. However I don't think this book worked very well.
The story starts in London before moving onto Argentina,Spain and Cuba and in each of these countries the main characters Beth and Carmen are going to learn a dance for a reality tv show. Beth who is a professional dancer but can't get any work disguises herself so that she can audition for a reality show that is going to teach an absolute beginner how to do the tango, pasa doble and salsa. She passes the audition and her and her friend Carmen goes on the trip as well, because Beth has work problems in the great tradition of chick lit Carmen's problems must be man related in her case an abusive ex-boyfriend. During the section in Argentina they get found out but it is decided that the show will go on but now with both Beth and Carmen learning the dances.
For me not enough of the book was given to the story in Spain and Cuba, less than a third of it. Also while we get to know all about Beth and Carmen when Rick the shows producer decides he is not going back to London and is going to give up his career and stay in Cuba it is never explained why, other than he is tired of the cult of celebrity.
The story starts in London before moving onto Argentina,Spain and Cuba and in each of these countries the main characters Beth and Carmen are going to learn a dance for a reality tv show. Beth who is a professional dancer but can't get any work disguises herself so that she can audition for a reality show that is going to teach an absolute beginner how to do the tango, pasa doble and salsa. She passes the audition and her and her friend Carmen goes on the trip as well, because Beth has work problems in the great tradition of chick lit Carmen's problems must be man related in her case an abusive ex-boyfriend. During the section in Argentina they get found out but it is decided that the show will go on but now with both Beth and Carmen learning the dances.
For me not enough of the book was given to the story in Spain and Cuba, less than a third of it. Also while we get to know all about Beth and Carmen when Rick the shows producer decides he is not going back to London and is going to give up his career and stay in Cuba it is never explained why, other than he is tired of the cult of celebrity.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 21, 2012
I really felt like I was in the different locations in this book when I was reading it. I've now added Argentina to my wish list.
The main protagonist, Carmen, is likeable but a bit drippy. Her friend, Beth is one of those characters you like, then don't like, then like again. And in the end, you're not really sure how you feel about her. She's supposed to be in the supporting, best friend role, but she does a lot of things I'd be pretty angry about if she were my best friend. There would never be a dull moment with her around anyway, and she certainly livened the book up, especially when she disappeared with a gaucho.
The plot was intelligent and entertaining. It was well thought out and the different locations featured (Buenos Aires, Seville and Havana) brought a little colour into my life for the six days I was reading the novel. When I finished it last night I felt genuinely disappointed because I enjoyed the story so much and the ending was so satisfying.
The main protagonist, Carmen, is likeable but a bit drippy. Her friend, Beth is one of those characters you like, then don't like, then like again. And in the end, you're not really sure how you feel about her. She's supposed to be in the supporting, best friend role, but she does a lot of things I'd be pretty angry about if she were my best friend. There would never be a dull moment with her around anyway, and she certainly livened the book up, especially when she disappeared with a gaucho.
The plot was intelligent and entertaining. It was well thought out and the different locations featured (Buenos Aires, Seville and Havana) brought a little colour into my life for the six days I was reading the novel. When I finished it last night I felt genuinely disappointed because I enjoyed the story so much and the ending was so satisfying.
August 4, 2014
Picked this up from the library for two reasons. 1) I have read a book by this author before and enjoyed that. 2) The cover looked pretty and the story made me excited to go on holiday :)
I did like this book, I just wasn't blown away or anything, hence the 3 stars. I enjoyed learning about the different dances and how they were connected to and explained the girls' love life or lack of rather. It was also interesting to learn about the girls' journey, not just the fact they travelled to all these amazing places but also their individual progress throughout the book.
However, there were times I thought the book waffled on a bit so I would try and skim read but other than that it is a good holiday read, light hearted and fun but at the same time quite meaningful. And I felt I learnt a few interesting facts about the dances that I normally just see on Strictly Come Dancing and by the end I wanted to join in and dance the night away too :)
I did like this book, I just wasn't blown away or anything, hence the 3 stars. I enjoyed learning about the different dances and how they were connected to and explained the girls' love life or lack of rather. It was also interesting to learn about the girls' journey, not just the fact they travelled to all these amazing places but also their individual progress throughout the book.
However, there were times I thought the book waffled on a bit so I would try and skim read but other than that it is a good holiday read, light hearted and fun but at the same time quite meaningful. And I felt I learnt a few interesting facts about the dances that I normally just see on Strictly Come Dancing and by the end I wanted to join in and dance the night away too :)
June 19, 2015
Fun! Fun!! Fun!!! Well written. Intelligent plot. And now I am definitely going away to the beach for my birthday. This book is chick lit done well; done right. The two female characters were both like-able and fun, and perfectly complemented and contrasted each other. My favourite character, hands down, was Rick. His retorts literally made laugh out loud. Absolute classics. Owing to him I give the book 5 stars.
This is the first book of hers I've ever read. With a few Goodreads members saying her earlier books were much better, I am definitely going to look for them. I need to see how they could possibly be better than this.
This is the first book of hers I've ever read. With a few Goodreads members saying her earlier books were much better, I am definitely going to look for them. I need to see how they could possibly be better than this.
September 6, 2012
I really enjoyed reading about Beth and Carmen's journeys and growth in Living La Vida Loca. I don't think I've liked any of Belinda Jones's books as much as this one. Reading about the origins and history of some hot Latin dances was great, and I really wish I could travel to these places and learn these dances. Maybe I will someday. The book ends in a way that I think leaves space for a sequel. It would be nice to see the girls get their HEAs.
June 28, 2012
This book has been on my bookshelf for long, waiting to be read. Finally, I picked it up and found myself engrossed in the story in no time. The plot is interesting and the author carries it forward with lively three-dimensional characters who know how to have fun and live life to the maxim! If you like to tap your feet on the sound of music or love to take up new challenges and master new fun skills, this book will keep you entertained throughout- it's fast, it's fun, it's about loving life!
May 24, 2014
This quirky story made me want to travel, dance, and shop. Not necessarily in that order.
The first thing I did when I finished was look up dancing vacations in Havana. They're a real thing.
Two single women on a reality TV show about learning how to dance Tango in Argentina, Flamenco in Spain, and Salsa in Cuba. With a tall charming cameraman, a adrenaline addicted matador and a hot sensual Cuban who speaks no English.... What more could a romance book want.
The first thing I did when I finished was look up dancing vacations in Havana. They're a real thing.
Two single women on a reality TV show about learning how to dance Tango in Argentina, Flamenco in Spain, and Salsa in Cuba. With a tall charming cameraman, a adrenaline addicted matador and a hot sensual Cuban who speaks no English.... What more could a romance book want.
June 30, 2013
i really liked this book. it's not the mainstream type of book that you can guess the ending once you read the second chapter. that is a big thumbs up from me :D
Learned quite a few things about dance & some advise myself. that's a big bonus :)
would give it a 5stars if it had more of a climax cz i couldnt find any
Learned quite a few things about dance & some advise myself. that's a big bonus :)
would give it a 5stars if it had more of a climax cz i couldnt find any
September 9, 2023
Loved the concept of going dancing through Buenos Aires, Seville and Havana and all of the descriptions. I've read a number of Jones' novels which are about places I've been to and the descriptions are spot on so I assume these are also. An enjoyable read with some darker moments when referring to bad relationships which remind the reader of some valuable life lessons.
August 5, 2010
I started reading this book and then left it for a while so I had something to read on the plane. I managed to finish it on the flight and loved every moment of it. I laughed reading this book and I just felt happy reading this book and that there was a happy ending.
October 18, 2013
I love Belinda Jones's books, the mix of exotic places and a good romance. This was a more challenging read for me, not because the story was bad but her portrayal of emotional abuse was a bit close to home. It was a good read though and I hope we get a follow up with Carmen in Hollywood.
March 30, 2014
Read this in English. Tanssinhuumaa ja tosi-tv:tä ja hömpänpömppää johon on ujutettu vakavia aiheita mukaan. Ihan kiva lomalukemisto, mä luin muuton ohessa ja oli ihan sopivaa aivoja rassaamatonta luettavaa kun ei vakavampaan kyennyt henkilö.
June 12, 2014
I quite liked this. It was a nice easy read and the characters were quite normal and relatable. It was nice to go on a journey with the two ladies. If you like the other books then you should like this one too, although I did like some of the other ones a bit more.
October 3, 2010
Check out my review at http://www.beautyandlace.com.au/bookg...
September 28, 2010
so far, it seems like a perfect tale of friendship and a search for your true belonging in this life. bring it on, the World.
October 21, 2010
Great fun holiday read, takes you through Spain, Cuba and Argentina and is a good, light, fun story when you just want to hang out with a book to escape into.
June 22, 2011
did enjoy the book but did'nt have me gripped
May 16, 2011
Slow and boring. I stop halfway reading it.
June 16, 2011
Really good summer read.
Watch my review on youtube http://youtu.be/kNxmiWOICPM
Watch my review on youtube http://youtu.be/kNxmiWOICPM
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