A Season to Dance

By: Patricia Beal

Narrated by: Maryann Carlson

Ana Brassfield has her path to the stage of the Metropolitan Opera House all figured out until her first love, renowned German dancer Claus Gert, returns to Georgia to win her back. Despite a promising start toward her ballet career and pending marriage to landscape architect Peter Engberg, Ana wonders if her dreams of dancing at the Met are as impossible as her previous romantic relationship with Claus. Then an on-stage kiss between Ana and Claus changes everything.

Convinced the kiss is more than a one-time mistake, Peter breaks off their engagement. With an old dog crippled by arthritis and dreams deferred but not left behind, Ana moves to Germany to be with Claus. But the ghost of his late wife, Ana's own feelings for Peter, and the pressure of earning a spot in a large ballet company are a high price for a shot at success. Ana seems on the verge of having everything she ever dreamed of, but will it be enough?

©2017 Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas (P)2018 Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas

A Journey to Love and Faith

A Season to Dance is a captivating debut novel by Patricia Beal. It is a story of a ballerina who loves and is loved by two men and who finds true love as she finds faith in God. This is an emotional and passionate story that gives insight into the world of ballet as Ana's story is told. The characters are strong and yet are portrayed with their flaws and foibles too. The story draws the reader in and doesn't let go as Ana reaches for her dream and makes choices that reap consequences. I was given a complimentary copy of the audiobook and narrator Maryann Carlson does a wonderful job giving voice to the characters and telling the story, which makes for an enjoyable listening experience. I am looking forward to reading more from this author.

A Season to Dance

I was given this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher courtesy of Audiobook Boom at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Ana Brassfield is a ballerina who has decided her path in life and wants to stick to that path. When her ex boyfriend, German dancer, Claus Gert, comes back into her life, things start to go differently than she planned as old feelings reemerge.
She is engaged to Peter Engberg, who she thought was the love of her life. When Peter ends their engagement after seeing a shared kiss between Ana and Claus, Ana decides to her life and move to Germany with Claus. She does stay faithful to each man when she is with them, but because of different circumstances, there is some back and forth with both men, so decisions have to be made in this love triangle.
This book isn’t something I would normally pick. In fact, had I actually read some of the reviews on Amazon and Goodreads prior to my request, I probably wouldn’t have requested the review copy at all. It was listed as Woman’s Fiction in my email, which doesn’t really mean much of anything to me, because I read lots of different genres. If you are Christian, and love a good Christian love triangle, this book is for you! That being said, I did enjoy the story.
The ballet descriptions were beautiful. Ana’s struggles with herself felt very real and genuine. The storyline read very much like a very clean soap opera. I felt a bit discombobulated with the ease of her relationship transitions, but I understand that the author was trying to keep things moving.
Maryann Carson as the narrator for this book talked very precisely and a little slower than I am used to compared to other narrators I have heard.

A season to dance

This was a good book with good narration. I was voluntarily provided this free review copy by the author, narrator or publisher

Beautiful story!

I really enjoyed this book. I love stories about artists and well as romances, so a win-win for me! I hate to say it, but I struggled a bit with the narration, so much so that I almost gave up in the beginning. It was very rhythmic, monotone, always ended on a low long word pronunciation. I do see great potential though b/c the switching of voices to other characters showed the ability to fluctuate, read as would be spoken, and a pretty voice.

I was given this free review copy audiobook courtesy of Audiobook Boom at my request and have voluntarily left this review.