Becca’s Dance by Jordyn Meryl
My Review by Jen Burgess
Do you remember
your first love? Remember the itching in your palms to touch that
person, the falling sensation of your stomach when you kiss, or the
undying smile that stays on your face when you think of their face.
In “Becca’s Dance” you are sucked into Becca’s world now as a
rejected wife from a “safe” marriage, then back to a special
summer 20 years prior. Becca was a strong willed, energetic, artistic
woman 20 years ago, but life has tamed her. She married, had children
and was the “Stepford Wife” her husband wanted her to be until he
simply said he wanted out. With her children in college, she goes
back to her Aunt Tilley’s lake house, the only place that has ever
felt like home. There she starts to remember why that was her home
and how much she belongs there. However, in going back she starts to
vividly recall the heat, passion and deep seated love she discovered
20 years ago. Enters Clay. Clay is a local; his whole family has
always lived near that lake. One day when he sees the grown up Becca
he knows this is his “one.” They experience love and passion that
only true, first loves can have. But when a tragedy shakes their
foundation, Becca runs and Clay self-destructs. Can coming back to
her home, finding her first love again, reconnecting with all of her
friends help Becca pick up her shattered pieces? Will Becca and Clay
reignite that passion or has that shipped sailed and friendship is
all they have?
This
book sucks you in with the first sentence…”Damn, damn. Double
damn!” The characters are so well developed that you think of them
as real, every day people. The undercurrents of passion, hurt and
love are so palpable between Clay and Becca that you are cheering for
them to come back together. The friendships between the girls and the
guys seem very natural and believable. The flashbacks are GREAT! They
really put you in that position. It made me start thinking about
summers I had with friends at the beach. My favorite flashback was:
Slowly,
lazily, never breaking eye contact, he lowered his mouth. The moist
heat of his mouth against hers made desire claw at her, hot and
sharp. Planting a deep kiss on her mouth, his low growl of delight
vibrated her. Returning his kiss, she went up on her tip-toes, ran
her hands up his arms, gripping the tight muscles of his upper arms.
The kiss continued as he gently, with the touch of fire, let it
linger.
OH.
MY. GAWD! That is just one such moment that your heart sort of
stutters. I think that this book works, especially for me, because
sometimes going back to those good times…and not so good times can
remind you of what you had and how to be thankful. It can also remind
you of the love you once shared with someone…or maybe still do. I
give this book 5 out of 5. I would recommend this book to any novel
reader.