Review: This One Will Set Your Spirit Dancing!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 12 11, 2012
5 Stars*****This is one of the most beautiful stories I have read this year. Dina Sleiman has done an absolutely marvelous job of taking us back in time to Richmond, Virginia 1817 and introducing us to a beautiful young girl, Constance "Gingersnap" Cavendish. Gingersnap is so full of life and joy and energy that she lights up the world with her passion for life and for dance.Constance is living the life of luxury as the daughter of a Plantation owner; life is wonderful for her, her two younger sisters and their mother. But things they do not know about are being done in secret that will soon be brought to light.It seems like the stars are shining on Gingersnap tonight of all nights, she is going to secretly meet with Robert "Robbie" Montgomery and hopefully they will talk of marriage. But life can be so unfair, before the night is over her life will never be the same.It's hard to believe five years have passed since the horrible night all their slaves disappeared and her father passed away. Five long years to suffer from the whispers and stares of people that blame their family for things her father did. Constance has matured a lot in these years, she is no longer the free spirited lively girl she was that night when she lost her father, her standing in society and the love of her life. But Constance is now ready to take on the world and help her family restore their lives.Constance has a gift of dance so why not share that with others?  After overhearing that a Mrs. Beaumont in Charlottesville is looking for a dance instructor for her twin daughters, Constance takes off to see what will happen, maybe this will be the change her family needs. Will life once again be kind to Constance?It didn't take Constance long to persuade Mrs. Beaumont that she was the right teacher for her daughters. It seems maybe things are going to work out perfectly until Mrs. Beaumont introduces her son to Constance and it's none other than Robbie Montgomery. How will she survive this? Is this the second chance they need to work things out or are there things in their past that neither one will be able to overcome? Will Constance ever be happy again so she can dance with abandon like she used to do?Dina has written a beautiful story that takes us through things in Constance's life that will have you giggling in delight or on the verge of tears for a young girl that has far too many hurts in her life. And how she longs for a love like no other and how she finds that love in a God that once again restores the joy in her life that has been missing. This is a book that you will not want to see end, as there is one twist after another to keep you hanging on until the very end. There is a lot of surprises you won't see coming, this is not only an entertaining book but one that you will remember for quite a long time after you have put it away. I hope that we will meet this family again since there are two younger Cavendish sisters. Hint! Hint! Dina!!!