Enjoy the Dance by Heidi Cullinan (Dancing #2)
Releases: October 11, 2016
M/M Contemporary Romance
Self Published

Reviewed by Mandi

Way back in 2011 I read Dance With Me (book one in this series) and really enjoyed it. I was really happy to hear Heidi Cullinan decided to revisit this world with new heroes and a glimpse at what our past heroes have been up to. Set in the year 2012 in Minnesota, this book is before the nationwide equal marriage ruling.

Our heroes are Spenser Harris, a Kindergarten teacher and Tomás Jimenez, a dance instructor. Tomás works in the studio run by the previous heroes. Spenser and Tomás live in the same apartment building, but don’t really know each other. Tomás has big worries – his parents are illegal immigrants and he has a sister who has run off with a boyfriend, leaving her kids behind. Tomás, his parents, and his sister’s kids crammed into a small apartment isn’t always fun. While someone going to child welfare about the situation is bad, what is worse is that it could lead to INS to their doorstep and take away his parents. Tomás has a lot of stress.

Spenser’s life is much more easy-going until he comes home from work one day to find a badly beaten black boy on his door step. Duon was beaten by his cousins for being gay and went to find Tomás, just went to the wrong door. Spenser lets him in and cleans him up, and when Tomás gets home, Spenser introduces himself and they try to figure out how to help Duon.

On top of all of this, Minnesota is trying to vote against equal marriage, something Tomás’s friends who own the dance studio are very worried about.

This book is steeped heavily in political and social issues – equal marriage, immigration, and the LBGTQ community. What this book is not heavy on is romance. I think I looked down at one point and my kindle said I was 28%ish percent done and it was mostly getting Duon settled, with no romance. I like that these issues are brought up –  but not to the detriment of the romance. So much of it was telling and not showing as well. The HEA seemed very abrupt.

I liked Tomás and his family. I feel like their struggle really added a lot to this book was very well presented. I liked Duon too. The helplessness of the struggle of putting him “into the system” where a gay black teen would probably have it very rough, or trying to figure out on their own.

But the romance was too low-key for me. Not my favorite by this author, although if you look through our previews reviews, you will find plenty of recommendations.

Grade:  C

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