Growing up in foster care, Officer Traci Lucky had a rough start to life, but things are looking up now that she’s found a place in Bridgeport with two sisters she never knew she had. One night while on the job Traci finds Gwen, a pregnant teen caught up in a dangerous world of drugs, and takes her straight to the hospital. There Traci encounters the oh-so-charming Dr. Matt Rossi, who surprises Traci with his compassion—and his movie-star good looks.
A busy ob-gyn with a huge, meddling Italian family, Matt Rossi hasn’t had much time for love in his life. All that changes when he meets the beautiful Officer Lucky. He’s intrigued by her strength and the kind heart she tries to hide beneath her tough exterior.
When Matt confides that he needs to learn to waltz for his brother’s wedding, Traci reveals that her sister happens to be a ballroom dance teacher. Next thing they know, Matt and Traci are juggling busy careers, helping young Gwen with her pregnancy and personal safety, and learning to waltz together. But when Gwen’s escalating problems threaten to put all of them in danger, they wonder if they’ll ever find time for a little romance too.
Shelley Shepard Gray excels at telling stories with heart and truth. Her new series, the Dance with Me series, is about three sisters reunited as adults. Take the Lead releases today, and it’s a compelling look at how we should treat people around us who may appear to be different than we are.
This book brings so many questions to the surface: what role should our families play in our relationships? At what point does danger trump our ability to help other people? What informs our identity, and can we change it? What is a family?
These are all crucial issues in today’s turbulent times, but Take the Lead isn’t a heavy book at all; instead, Gray addresses these questions with her signature sweetness and care. The story certainly invites readers to ponder their own reactions to these issues, but at no point does it feel scary or overwhelming. Despite the seriousness of the plot, Gray keeps the plot moving and the reader invested without bringing the mood down.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book – and the one that kicks off the series, Shall We Dance? They’re really fun, lighthearted romances – perfect for the stressful days we’re living in. I love how the sisters are learning to bond and relate to each other all while making a home together and in their new relationships.
Take the Lead is a bit different than the other books by Gray that I’ve read, however, and I feel that I would be remiss in not sharing how. This one is published by a secular publisher, and while there are still references to prayer, faith, and God in the story, major life lessons are without named spiritual lessons. Also, several characters are often reaching for alcoholic beverages and some, being romantically involved, reference spending the night together – in ways that mean that they haven’t but aren’t opposed to the idea. Both of these references are kept light, but it is a departure from Gray’s other scripture-filled stories.
I can’t wait to read Save the Last Dance, the final story in the series, though. If it’s as good – and as timely – as the two that came before it, I’ll be pre-ordering it as soon as possible. If you’re looking for sweet, romantic, lighthearted reads, perfect for a fall getaway or a pandemic distraction, Take the Lead is the perfect choice.
To read reviews of Shelley Shepard Gray’s other books, click here.
I received a free copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
