Review: Follow My Lead by Lisa Worrall

Title: Follow My Lead

Author: Lisa Worrall

Publisher: White Stiletto Press

Pages/Word Count: 75

At a Glance: A sweet, short story that is complete but leaves you wanting more.

Blurb: Hell hath no fury like a boyfriend scorned as sitcom star and comedian, CJ Edwards, finds out when his ex releases a sex tape he hadn’t even known was being filmed. Not to mention the headlines on every newsstand accusing CJ of being an abusive alcoholic. His career in tatters, CJ’s agent manages to get CJ a spot on the Christmas special of Dancing with Stars in Your Eyes. Seeing it as a chance to possibly redeem himself, CJ accepts.

Lucien Moreau has been a dance professional on Dancing with Stars in Your Eyes for three years, and he loves it. Until the powers that be decide, in view of new marriage equality laws, the show’s Christmas special will include a gay couple. Finding out he is being partnered with CJ Edwards hits him like a fist to the gut. Six months ago his brother and sister-in-law were killed in an accident when their car was hit by a drunk driver. How the hell is he supposed to teach a man, not unlike the one who destroyed his family, to dance?

Review: Lisa Worrall is a new author to me, and I will definitely seek out more works by her. I really enjoyed this sweet short story. It has a bit of everything for everyone, in my opinion: angst, sweetness, a nasty ex and a cute kid all rolled up into a sexy romance between the MCs. Despite the shortness, the story is complete, and it is just one of those happily ever afters that makes you feel good.

I wish there had been more of CJ and Lucien’s time together, them practicing dancing and them getting to know one another better, both of which are shown but it is still something I would have liked to have seen more of. Especially CJ teasing Lucien.

Two side characters who just captured my heart as much as CJ and Lucien were Raymond, CJ’s chauffeur, and Lucien’s niece Melody. CJ and Melody connected almost immediately through the shared tragedy of losing their parents, and I loved the bit of realism shown that grief isn’t something that goes away immediately. CJ and Melody’s talk connects with the fact that kids will talk to almost anyone besides their parents when something is troubling them.

The story moves quickly, as does the romance. I would love to see more of these two in about five years, if the author ever decides to expand or return to this verse.

You can purchase Follow My Lead here: