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Freebirds #5.5
I Don't Dance
Her
Blaine didn't understand the true meaning of lonely until she spent her first Christmas away from her husband. She was never one to believe in love at first sight. Then she met Elliott while he was on leave from the Army. From that moment on, they loved fiercely, and never wasted a day. She knew that deployment was a very real possibility… one that scared her to death.
Him
When the orders are handed down, he has to go, leaving his new wife at home while he risks his life half a world away. Elliott did his best. He loved Blaine with his whole heart, but he had a responsibility to his team and to his country. Regrettably, that meant being away from Blaine Christmas after Christmas, year after year.
Her
Blaine made the best of her situation, and did what any good military wife should do, even if it tore her to pieces to do it. She stood by her man. Years go by, but one thing holds true. They’re meant to be. Blaine and Elliott have a love like no other, and time and distance will never change that.
Blaine didn't understand the true meaning of lonely until she spent her first Christmas away from her husband. She was never one to believe in love at first sight. Then she met Elliott while he was on leave from the Army. From that moment on, they loved fiercely, and never wasted a day. She knew that deployment was a very real possibility… one that scared her to death.
Him
When the orders are handed down, he has to go, leaving his new wife at home while he risks his life half a world away. Elliott did his best. He loved Blaine with his whole heart, but he had a responsibility to his team and to his country. Regrettably, that meant being away from Blaine Christmas after Christmas, year after year.
Her
Blaine made the best of her situation, and did what any good military wife should do, even if it tore her to pieces to do it. She stood by her man. Years go by, but one thing holds true. They’re meant to be. Blaine and Elliott have a love like no other, and time and distance will never change that.
111 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 3, 2014
About the author
Lani Lynn Vale
176 books7,077 followersLani Lynn Vale is married to the love of her life that she met in high school. She fell in love with him because he was wearing baseball pants. Ten years later they have three perfectly crazy children and a cat named Demon who likes to wake her up at ungodly times in the night. They live in the greatest state in the world, Texas. She writes contemporary and romantic suspense, and has a love for all things romance. You can find Lani in front of her computer writing away in her fictional characters world...that is until her husband and kids demand sustenance in the form of food and drink.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 131 reviews
June 10, 2021
Although this read like an extended epilogue for all of the characters of the series, I loved the glimpse inside the relationship of Blaine and Elliott. From their first meeting, which was hilarious, to their every hello and goodbye, to their Christmas traditions, it was all too easy to love this couple. They brought me immense joy and sorrow and I had a huge smile on my face by the end. Another great read from LLV.
September 18, 2019
4.5 stars..
Blaine and Elliot's novella.
Over the course of the interconnecting books by LLV,Blaine and her Elliot made their presence known.They are one of the founding families of "Free" so to speak.
I loved this peak into how they met and fell in love.
LLV,you have given me a new appreciation to our hero's who serve this country unconditionally, and by heros, that includes the families of these brave young men and women.
My marathon of the majority of this author's books is now finished and I have to say that I have really enjoyed reading these series about the various branches of military these heros were once part of and now in the civilian world.They now work for the police,fire dept, paramedics, swat team,to name a few,some even as repo men.The ladies are usually nurses with sass and brass.
I never thought that LLV would be the type of author that I would enjoy given that some of the tropes are my triggers,those books I did not read, but the rest,well,I cried,laughed,smiled ,and just sighed.
Blaine and Elliot's novella.
Over the course of the interconnecting books by LLV,Blaine and her Elliot made their presence known.They are one of the founding families of "Free" so to speak.
I loved this peak into how they met and fell in love.
LLV,you have given me a new appreciation to our hero's who serve this country unconditionally, and by heros, that includes the families of these brave young men and women.
My marathon of the majority of this author's books is now finished and I have to say that I have really enjoyed reading these series about the various branches of military these heros were once part of and now in the civilian world.They now work for the police,fire dept, paramedics, swat team,to name a few,some even as repo men.The ladies are usually nurses with sass and brass.
I never thought that LLV would be the type of author that I would enjoy given that some of the tropes are my triggers,those books I did not read, but the rest,well,I cried,laughed,smiled ,and just sighed.
August 11, 2015
Wow so freaking good. I loved how head over heels Blaine and Elliott were. So many tears ..just so emotional but so good and sweet too. Sexy. of course. I adored seeing how they met and all the trials of being married. Really can't say enough about this author. I'm finally caught up and can now start the Swat series yay.
August 18, 2021
this was shorter than her other books but still amazing was nice to get the back story for Blaine and Elliot.
June 21, 2022
While I would have loved their full story, it was so awesome to get a glimpse in to this couple. I love how strong they were from the get go. They were amazing side characters through this entire series.
The ending with their son cracked me up. I'm totally going to be that mom.
I'm excited to venture in to the next series. This one was a slow start for me with this author, but I stuck to it, found Lani's writing style and really started to enjoy it.
If you read this, Enjoy My Friends….
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December 31, 2019
Over the course of the series we got to know Blaine and Elliott. But not really. I loved this novella. It was sweet but sad at times. Then devastating. But overall happy. You cannot miss this one if you read The Freebird series.
Safety gang
Safety gang
March 7, 2015
I love it when books jump into the future and give us glimpses of everyones lives in their epilogues or last chapter.. **sigh**
October 9, 2015
I love Elliott Lelliott!! He has been one of my favourite characters and I loved getting a glimpse of his story. What an apply named book!!!
March 15, 2021
I Don’t Dance
Freebirds, Book 5.5
I Picked Up This Book Because: Continue the series.
Media Type: Audiobook
Source: PP Library
Dates Read: 3/12/21
Stars: 4 Stars
The Characters:
Elliot Masters:
Blaine Masters:
The Story:
A quick view into the story of Elliot and Blaine who are already an established couple when we start our time at Free. Their back story surrounded by Christmas themes is very cute. Ms Vale writes heroines I just love. Surprisingly we also get a glimpse into the future of Free and it is just as amazing. Our author does a lot with very few pages and I am totally satisfied.
The Random Thoughts:
Freebirds, Book 5.5
I Picked Up This Book Because: Continue the series.
Media Type: Audiobook
Source: PP Library
Dates Read: 3/12/21
Stars: 4 Stars
The Characters:
Elliot Masters:
Blaine Masters:
The Story:
A quick view into the story of Elliot and Blaine who are already an established couple when we start our time at Free. Their back story surrounded by Christmas themes is very cute. Ms Vale writes heroines I just love. Surprisingly we also get a glimpse into the future of Free and it is just as amazing. Our author does a lot with very few pages and I am totally satisfied.
The Random Thoughts:
January 16, 2015
She did it again...
This is a novella that showcases Elliott and Blaine' s love story through Christmases past and present. I loved how they met...and I loved Christmas present. Okay, so I loved it all.
Merry Christmas to all the service men and women around the world, and to their families always there to welcome them home.
...made me laugh(I swear I love the chapter headings of her books as much as the stories) and she made sniffle.
This video was making the rounds on facebook after I finished reading this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KDCX...
This is a novella that showcases Elliott and Blaine' s love story through Christmases past and present. I loved how they met...and I loved Christmas present. Okay, so I loved it all.
Merry Christmas to all the service men and women around the world, and to their families always there to welcome them home.
...made me laugh(I swear I love the chapter headings of her books as much as the stories) and she made sniffle.
This video was making the rounds on facebook after I finished reading this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KDCX...
May 19, 2015
5 Stars!
Finally, my Blaine & Elliott curiosity has been sated!! As usual, it was done in Lani Lynn Vale's usual effortlessly humorous and steamy voice. This was a great, quick read giving LLV's readers and Freebird series fans the history of a favorite couple, Blaine & Elliott, as well as a glimpse into their future. Loved it!!
Finally, my Blaine & Elliott curiosity has been sated!! As usual, it was done in Lani Lynn Vale's usual effortlessly humorous and steamy voice. This was a great, quick read giving LLV's readers and Freebird series fans the history of a favorite couple, Blaine & Elliott, as well as a glimpse into their future. Loved it!!
February 5, 2015
Sweet sexy novella that takes us back and shows us how Elliott and Blaine met and fell in love.
May 4, 2015
Glad to get a bit of Elliott and Blaine's relationship - only made me want to hear more of their story!! Really enjoyed this series so much.
October 11, 2020
I just loved this addition to the Freebird series. It was short, sweet and full of the Lani Lynn Vale humor and emotion that we expect and love.
Blaine & Elliott have a bit of a meet cute when he sees her run off the road and hit a tree (driving nearly identical vehicles). I guess you can say it was love at first sight for those two and they were head over heels after just a week of getting to know one another.
This novella takes us on a 27+ year journey from the moment they met to the future where all the Freebirds are older and some are becoming grandparents. Even though it was short, we still got to see the highs and lows that come with a relationship where one is in the military. I even had some tears in my eyes as I listened to Blaine and Elliott saying goodbye as he headed off on yet another deployment.
We get to hear again about Dougie's death, but I appreciated that Ms. Vale didn't get too deep into that since it was heartbreaking the first time we heard it.
Overall, a great read that made me fall in love with the Freebirds all over again.
Blaine & Elliott have a bit of a meet cute when he sees her run off the road and hit a tree (driving nearly identical vehicles). I guess you can say it was love at first sight for those two and they were head over heels after just a week of getting to know one another.
This novella takes us on a 27+ year journey from the moment they met to the future where all the Freebirds are older and some are becoming grandparents. Even though it was short, we still got to see the highs and lows that come with a relationship where one is in the military. I even had some tears in my eyes as I listened to Blaine and Elliott saying goodbye as he headed off on yet another deployment.
We get to hear again about Dougie's death, but I appreciated that Ms. Vale didn't get too deep into that since it was heartbreaking the first time we heard it.
Overall, a great read that made me fall in love with the Freebirds all over again.
April 6, 2021
LOVED getting a little background for Blaine & Elliott! Their story was full of the feels & oh, so good!! Must read for fans of the Freebirds series.
January 2, 2020
This book was too short... But I loved it... Blaine and Elliott's book was a bit heart sore but in the end they got their happily ever after!
Male Narrator was excellent as always, but female narrator just doesn't do it for me. She sounds like a teenager :-(
But the audio was still good! :-)
Male Narrator was excellent as always, but female narrator just doesn't do it for me. She sounds like a teenager :-(
But the audio was still good! :-)
November 5, 2023
4.5 star
I was pulled right into this short story. The story has laughs, surprises, pain, grief, and heartbreak.
If you have not read the below I would recommend reading them first:
Boomtown (Freebirds #1)
Highway Don't Care (Freebirds #2)
Another One Bites the Dust (Freebirds #3)
Last Day of My Life (Freebirds, #4)
Texas Tornado (Freebirds, #5)
This is Blaine and Elliott’s story. This story takes you through how Blaine and Elliott met. It also takes you on a journey of how they spent their Christmas’s throughout the years. It tells a story of love and loss. You get to know them better and a glimpse of the future of the group. You see the love and chemistry between these two gets better and stronger through the years.
I loved these characters and the side characters. I felt I could connect with the characters and the story was a great read.
I highly recommend this book.
I was pulled right into this short story. The story has laughs, surprises, pain, grief, and heartbreak.
If you have not read the below I would recommend reading them first:
Boomtown (Freebirds #1)
Highway Don't Care (Freebirds #2)
Another One Bites the Dust (Freebirds #3)
Last Day of My Life (Freebirds, #4)
Texas Tornado (Freebirds, #5)
This is Blaine and Elliott’s story. This story takes you through how Blaine and Elliott met. It also takes you on a journey of how they spent their Christmas’s throughout the years. It tells a story of love and loss. You get to know them better and a glimpse of the future of the group. You see the love and chemistry between these two gets better and stronger through the years.
I loved these characters and the side characters. I felt I could connect with the characters and the story was a great read.
I highly recommend this book.
December 17, 2014
So unbelievably sweet
I'm not one for novellas. I don't know why. I like full length novels. But when I saw that it was about Blaine and Elliott, I have my "no novellas" policy the heave-ho the dairy-o! It was. It was funny as all get out. Little heart breaking in few spots. A true love and friendship story. A story about soul mates. Through thick and thin. This book is great read. Oh, if you thought Blaine and Elliott were priceless in the other books, you ain't seen nothing yet! You will be smiling the entire time as you read.
I'm not one for novellas. I don't know why. I like full length novels. But when I saw that it was about Blaine and Elliott, I have my "no novellas" policy the heave-ho the dairy-o! It was. It was funny as all get out. Little heart breaking in few spots. A true love and friendship story. A story about soul mates. Through thick and thin. This book is great read. Oh, if you thought Blaine and Elliott were priceless in the other books, you ain't seen nothing yet! You will be smiling the entire time as you read.
December 18, 2014
The Final Story
Elliot and Blaine were already married at the beginning of book 1 and have been a part of each book in the series. Although this was only a novella, jumping from highlight to highlight over 25 years of marriage, it was a poignant wrap-up to the series and a well-deserved Spotlight on this couple. I hope the author will build on the next generation of Free children, which she touched on in the epilogue of each book also.
Elliot and Blaine were already married at the beginning of book 1 and have been a part of each book in the series. Although this was only a novella, jumping from highlight to highlight over 25 years of marriage, it was a poignant wrap-up to the series and a well-deserved Spotlight on this couple. I hope the author will build on the next generation of Free children, which she touched on in the epilogue of each book also.
December 27, 2014
Elliott and Blaine were in all the Freebird novels, and it is nice to see their backstory since they were together before the series began. Although a short novella, it covers five Christmases from when they met to while Blaine coped when Elliott was at war. I especially enjoyed seeing all the other guys before their books and also the great epilogue (which is chapter 10).
December 10, 2014
As always another great snippet into the lives of Freebird... Blaine & Elliots love story... short but ever so sweet Novella of how they became them.... the worries ,the stress , the love that is B & E.... if ya love the freebirds then this is a Book Not To Miss... So Get On Board the one Click Machine Can't Wait for the Next Dixie Book in Series... :-) Kevlar to my Vest... :-)
July 28, 2016
The Story Was Too Short
The story was nice but it was too short. Blaine and Elliott deserved a novel. The other couples got one why not them? Each chapter was like a leap through time. It left a lot of gaps in the story. It should have been a novel felt like Elliott and Blaine got short changed.
The story was nice but it was too short. Blaine and Elliott deserved a novel. The other couples got one why not them? Each chapter was like a leap through time. It left a lot of gaps in the story. It should have been a novel felt like Elliott and Blaine got short changed.
December 26, 2014
A great novella about Elliott and Blaine. As a couple, they have always been kind of in the background. So I absolutely loved reading about their romance, their heartbreak, and their future .
Reading about Dougie also always gets to me.
Reading about Dougie also always gets to me.
March 4, 2015
this was really great for a short read and to bring me back to the point where i am going to reread this whole series.
i loved the style of the book .. it was so unique and encapsulated the whole series
i loved the style of the book .. it was so unique and encapsulated the whole series
June 20, 2015
Cute and nice finish to the series. Was glad to see a little more background on Elliot and Blaine.
Certainly worth the read.
Certainly worth the read.
November 30, 2015
Short read but it tell us all about Blaine and Elliot
January 13, 2020
2.5 star read for me, I just couldn't get into this story.
I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narrators and story more than when I read the ebook.
I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narrators and story more than when I read the ebook.
July 1, 2023
"Oh, I wanna dance with somebody. I wanna feel the heat with somebody. Yeah, I wanna dance with somebody. With somebody who loves me." -Whitney Houston & Elliott Masters (probably)
Kilgore, Texas: a cute little suburb in East Texas. It's a fun little city that has something for everyone: a beautiful historic district, bars, a college, and a hospital. Plus, it's close to Longview, a larger town and shopping destination. What a perfect place to put down roots! Well, the guys at Free seem to think so. They're a custom auto and bike repair shop run by a bunch of hunky bikers and ex-Army Rangers. who all served together. They work on motorcycles, rescue abused women, and they're your huckleberry.
Book 5.5 of the Freebird Series is a cute little novella that follows Blaine and Elliott, the couple that was just kind of there in the series. They were already established in Boomtown, so it's nice to go back and see how they met, plus look at all of the trials and tribulations they went through. The book takes us through brief periods of their lives and focuses on each Christmas that they had together. I don't usually say this for LLV books, but you really just need to read the Freebird Series in order to read this book. It's not a standalone. It shouldn't be read as one. I would read all five books before coming to this one first. This one takes place throughout the other books, only from Blaine and Elliott's perspective.
Elliott Masters was just driving his Jeep when he sees another one crash. Being the nice guy that he is, he immediately springs into action. Of course, the woman who pops out of the wreck isn't the damsel in distress he thought he would see. Out of this incident comes one of the sweetest relationships of the Freebird Series. He quickly begins a relationship with Blaine and ends up marrying her, but the real test of their love comes in his deployments as an Army Ranger. Can Blaine handle the long distance thing as an Army wife?
Blaine had just been cheated on by her boyfriend when by fate she met Elliott. They connected immediately, and she fell in love with his quirky humor, hot looks, and sweet personality. He was also an Army Ranger, and she realized that she had to deal with that. There would be long stretches of not seeing him, and there was the looming possibility that he could get hurt...or die. Then, there were his amazing friends that she came to care about, who adopted her into their group. She now had to worry about them too. Yet, she stay strong. However, she definitely had to deal with those bumps along the way.
Elliott and Blaine are the most adorable couple in the Freebird Series. They just...fit. Elliott is so laid back, and Blaine is sweet, funny, and little (but not annoying) spitfire. If I use my d-bag meter for Elliott, where 0 = absolute sweetheart and 10 = POS, he falls at about a 2. He's just awesome. There is a rough spot where he goes into depression after a tragic event and ignores Blaine for a bit, but he snaps out of it after she points it out to him. It's also understandable why he was acting the way he did. He blames himself for the incident, even though he shouldn't. Using the same scale for heroine obnoxiousness for Blaine, where 0 = total awesome and 10 = completely obnoxious, I'd put her at a 1. She's just adorable. I really have no complaints. Blaine is always a rock to the other women in the books, and she is the same to Elliott in these books. She sweet, intelligent, and strong. I really just love her.
It's not your typical LLV drama, so the pacing is slow. I would describe the story as "cute" instead. LLV has repetition problems (i.e. "..."pointing towards where Elliott was sprinting towards us."). This type of repetition is constant. Then there are the sentence fragments and weird dialog punctuation, buuuuuut I deal with it because I'm so hooked to her stories and characters that I just don't care. Still, this is a sweet little novella with some heartbreaking moments (and some hilarious ones as well). There are also some segments that I had wanted to see that we never got to at the end of Texas Tornado, which I had wanted to find out about. We also get to see a different perspective of an event that happens during Boomtown. Overall, it's a do not miss novella if you are hooked on the LLVerse like I am.
Kilgore, Texas: a cute little suburb in East Texas. It's a fun little city that has something for everyone: a beautiful historic district, bars, a college, and a hospital. Plus, it's close to Longview, a larger town and shopping destination. What a perfect place to put down roots! Well, the guys at Free seem to think so. They're a custom auto and bike repair shop run by a bunch of hunky bikers and ex-Army Rangers. who all served together. They work on motorcycles, rescue abused women, and they're your huckleberry.
Book 5.5 of the Freebird Series is a cute little novella that follows Blaine and Elliott, the couple that was just kind of there in the series. They were already established in Boomtown, so it's nice to go back and see how they met, plus look at all of the trials and tribulations they went through. The book takes us through brief periods of their lives and focuses on each Christmas that they had together. I don't usually say this for LLV books, but you really just need to read the Freebird Series in order to read this book. It's not a standalone. It shouldn't be read as one. I would read all five books before coming to this one first. This one takes place throughout the other books, only from Blaine and Elliott's perspective.
Things To Know:
(See "Things to Know" (Spoiler Edition) for more tidbits like this to this book/other books.)
General
-Do You Need to Read Other Books? Yes. This is a novella that really should only be read if you're a fan of the Freebirds Series
-Romance type: Insta love
Male Lead - Elliott Masters
-OW: N/A
-Medical Issues: N/A
-Besties: Gabe, Jack, James, Max, Sam, Dougie (deceased)
-From: Kilgore, Texas
-Jobs: Free Ranger, Iraq (Information expert); Free Mechanic; Free
-First Appearance: Boomtown
-Other Appearances: Highway Don't Care, Another One Bites the Dust, Last Day of My Life, Texas Tornado, Lights To My Siren
-Mother: Lois Masters (Elementary teacher)
-Father: Clark Masters
-Siblings: N/A
Female Lead - Blaine Masters
-OM: N/A
-Medical Issues: See spoilers
-Besties: Cheyenne (in this book); add Ember, Payton, Shiloh, Winter for the others
-From: Kilgore, Texas
-Jobs: Went to college; Has website that rates customer service
-First Appearance: Boomtown
-Other Appearances: Highway Don't Care, Another One Bites the Dust, Last Day of My Life, Texas Tornado, Lights To My Siren
-Mother: "Mom" (that's all we get, sorry!)
-Father: "Dad" (Army Ranger)
-Siblings: N/A
-Pet: Steeler, Bassett Hound
Free...the Maybe MC
-Free is not technically an offical "club." However, they do participate in different events throughout the LLVerse and have even been called an "unofficial club." Whatever they are, they are awesome.
-Members: Sam Mackenzie, Gabe Maldonado, Max Tremaine, Jack Stoker, James Allen, Elliott Masters
-Free helps women escape abusive situations on the down-low. It's super secret, though, and uses the men's military skills to help.
-All of the women the Freebirds help have their names changed to bird names (i.e. Lark, Robin).
Important Minor Characters
-We don't have many extra characters in this novella, but I will have to say: Come on now! Elliott's parents. Louis and Clark? Hah.
-Layne Corey, the Free Army Ranger CO, makes his fifth appearance of the series.
Elliott Masters was just driving his Jeep when he sees another one crash. Being the nice guy that he is, he immediately springs into action. Of course, the woman who pops out of the wreck isn't the damsel in distress he thought he would see. Out of this incident comes one of the sweetest relationships of the Freebird Series. He quickly begins a relationship with Blaine and ends up marrying her, but the real test of their love comes in his deployments as an Army Ranger. Can Blaine handle the long distance thing as an Army wife?
Blaine had just been cheated on by her boyfriend when by fate she met Elliott. They connected immediately, and she fell in love with his quirky humor, hot looks, and sweet personality. He was also an Army Ranger, and she realized that she had to deal with that. There would be long stretches of not seeing him, and there was the looming possibility that he could get hurt...or die. Then, there were his amazing friends that she came to care about, who adopted her into their group. She now had to worry about them too. Yet, she stay strong. However, she definitely had to deal with those bumps along the way.
Elliott and Blaine are the most adorable couple in the Freebird Series. They just...fit. Elliott is so laid back, and Blaine is sweet, funny, and little (but not annoying) spitfire. If I use my d-bag meter for Elliott, where 0 = absolute sweetheart and 10 = POS, he falls at about a 2. He's just awesome. There is a rough spot where he goes into depression after a tragic event and ignores Blaine for a bit, but he snaps out of it after she points it out to him. It's also understandable why he was acting the way he did. He blames himself for the incident, even though he shouldn't. Using the same scale for heroine obnoxiousness for Blaine, where 0 = total awesome and 10 = completely obnoxious, I'd put her at a 1. She's just adorable. I really have no complaints. Blaine is always a rock to the other women in the books, and she is the same to Elliott in these books. She sweet, intelligent, and strong. I really just love her.
It's not your typical LLV drama, so the pacing is slow. I would describe the story as "cute" instead. LLV has repetition problems (i.e. "..."pointing towards where Elliott was sprinting towards us."). This type of repetition is constant. Then there are the sentence fragments and weird dialog punctuation, buuuuuut I deal with it because I'm so hooked to her stories and characters that I just don't care. Still, this is a sweet little novella with some heartbreaking moments (and some hilarious ones as well). There are also some segments that I had wanted to see that we never got to at the end of Texas Tornado, which I had wanted to find out about. We also get to see a different perspective of an event that happens during Boomtown. Overall, it's a do not miss novella if you are hooked on the LLVerse like I am.
Audiobook Note:
-This book is read by Mason Lloyd and Stephanie Rose, both of whom are amazing.
-Mason has a bit of a southern twang going on and has read many of LLV's audiobooks, including this series, most in the Heroes of the Dixie Wardens, The Dixie Warden Rejects, the Uncertain Saints MC Series, most of the Code 11-KPD SWAT Series, the Hail Raisers Series, the the I Like Big Dragons Series (one of the completely standalone series I was talking about), and the There's No Crying in Baseball Series.
-Stephanie has read this series and then has been here and there in many books, including ones like Put Out, Kitty Kitty, Joke's on You, Ain't Doin' It, and Center Mass...Plus, many, many others that are so all over the place in LLV's series that I'm not going to list them.
-The production, as always, was wonderfully done, and I highly recommend the audiobook.Things To Know: (Spoiler Edition)
Freebirds Series
-Review of Boomtown (Freebirds, #1)
-Review of Highway Don't Care (Freebirds, #2)
-Review of Another One Bites the Dust (Freebirds, #3)
-Review of Another One Bites the Dust (Freebirds, #4)
-Review of Texas Tornado (Freebirds, #5)
-Review of I Don't Dance (Freebirds, #5.5)
February 5, 2024
A Heartfelt Journey
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Heat Level: 🔥
"I Don't Dance (Freebirds #5.5)" by Lani Lynn Vale is a delightful novella that beautifully encapsulates the essence of love, sacrifice, and enduring connections. As a devoted reader, this marks my sixth exploration into the author's world, and once again, Vale doesn't disappoint.
The novella centers around the poignant love story of Blaine and Elliott, a military couple whose connection transcends time and distance. The narrative takes us through the challenges faced by Blaine as she spends her first Christmas away from her husband, a moment that defines true loneliness for her. The storyline then unfurls the roots of their love, beginning with a chance meeting while Elliott was on leave from the Army.
Despite its brevity, the novella manages to capture the depth of their emotions, providing a heartwarming glimpse into the couple's journey. Vale skillfully portrays the emotional turmoil of a military wife, emphasizing the sacrifices and strength required to endure the separation imposed by duty.
"I Don't Dance" is a short but sweet exploration of love at first sight, the fear of deployment, and the unwavering commitment between two souls destined to be together. The plot may be concise, but the emotional resonance is profound.
Blaine and Elliott's love story, spanning Christmas after Christmas, year after year, is a testament to the enduring power of true love. The narrative beautifully conveys the sacrifices made, the moments cherished, and the unwavering bond that persists against all odds.
The heat level, though rated at 2, doesn't diminish the intensity of the emotional connection between the characters. Vale delicately balances the romantic elements, creating a story that tugs at the heartstrings without relying on explicit scenes.
In conclusion, "I Don't Dance" is a heartfelt journey into the lives of Blaine and Elliott, showcasing Lani Lynn Vale's prowess in weaving emotionally charged narratives. For fans of the Freebirds series or those new to the author's work, this novella is a poignant addition that leaves a lasting impression.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Heat Level: 🔥
"I Don't Dance (Freebirds #5.5)" by Lani Lynn Vale is a delightful novella that beautifully encapsulates the essence of love, sacrifice, and enduring connections. As a devoted reader, this marks my sixth exploration into the author's world, and once again, Vale doesn't disappoint.
The novella centers around the poignant love story of Blaine and Elliott, a military couple whose connection transcends time and distance. The narrative takes us through the challenges faced by Blaine as she spends her first Christmas away from her husband, a moment that defines true loneliness for her. The storyline then unfurls the roots of their love, beginning with a chance meeting while Elliott was on leave from the Army.
Despite its brevity, the novella manages to capture the depth of their emotions, providing a heartwarming glimpse into the couple's journey. Vale skillfully portrays the emotional turmoil of a military wife, emphasizing the sacrifices and strength required to endure the separation imposed by duty.
"I Don't Dance" is a short but sweet exploration of love at first sight, the fear of deployment, and the unwavering commitment between two souls destined to be together. The plot may be concise, but the emotional resonance is profound.
Blaine and Elliott's love story, spanning Christmas after Christmas, year after year, is a testament to the enduring power of true love. The narrative beautifully conveys the sacrifices made, the moments cherished, and the unwavering bond that persists against all odds.
The heat level, though rated at 2, doesn't diminish the intensity of the emotional connection between the characters. Vale delicately balances the romantic elements, creating a story that tugs at the heartstrings without relying on explicit scenes.
In conclusion, "I Don't Dance" is a heartfelt journey into the lives of Blaine and Elliott, showcasing Lani Lynn Vale's prowess in weaving emotionally charged narratives. For fans of the Freebirds series or those new to the author's work, this novella is a poignant addition that leaves a lasting impression.
March 22, 2019
Elliott is an Army Ranger, he meets Blaine after she totaled her Jeep trying to avoid a deer. She's a little crazy, but he falls in love with her. The rest of their story is how they celebrate Christmas year after year and his promise to dance with her every Christmas You really feel the pain of their separation when he's deployed and the joy of their reunions, and the pain of their losses.
This short is packed full, I really enjoyed it but it did have some timing issues. In Chapter 3 it's header says it's two years later, but later in the chapter it says they had been dating for four years. Even so I really enjoyed this read, in a tiny package it covered time from before the first Freebird story to 25 years later in the epilogue.
More of my reviews can be found at https://wyldheartreads.wordpress.com/
This short is packed full, I really enjoyed it but it did have some timing issues. In Chapter 3 it's header says it's two years later, but later in the chapter it says they had been dating for four years. Even so I really enjoyed this read, in a tiny package it covered time from before the first Freebird story to 25 years later in the epilogue.
More of my reviews can be found at https://wyldheartreads.wordpress.com/
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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