Review: A sweet and touching romance coupled with vibrant details of dance and scenery made for a great read!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 11 25, 2013
With Every Heartbeat was a sweet and touching story. I think it reminded me a little of Just One Day, where the girl basically steps out of her comfort zone, and dares to explore the beautiful scenery around her. Granted, it's not as life-changing as what happens in that book, it's still reminiscent of it. It also reminded me a bit of Virtuosity in the sense that you have character with such a passion for her craft and talent, such drive and ambition. I think Melody did a great job at depicting the life of a ballet dancer and all the sacrifices you have to make to achieve your dream. The scenery itself was exquisite. I've always been a fan of Rome and Melody paints a wonderful picture of all its beauty, both the tourist sites and the hidden gems.The romance, I think, was well done. Sure these two characters get swept away in the love a bit quickly, but it still felt believable to me. It's like one of those dreams you have of falling in love with a guy from another country, one who understands your passions in life, but also opens you up to new adventures and challenges you in ways you never thought possible. Annalise is a bit naive and she's never known anything but ballet, but I didn't mind her character much at all. Raphael was a decent male lead himself, but I do have to say I wish I knew more about him. As with these kinds of stories, it was more about the girl, her path of discovery, and the guy is just the one who leads the way. Although we do get a glimpse of who he is, I would've liked more character development and insight into his character.Contemporary readers will enjoy this captivating romance and revel in the art and beauty of dance. Melody's writing is engaging and and her characters are charming. If you like romance, a foreign setting, and passionate characters, then you'll definitely want to give this one a try. I look forward to reading the companion novel to this one when it comes out.