Review: "A Midnight Dance" by Joanna Davidson Politano

You know how sometimes when you're reading at night, you come to a realization that yes, you are going to finish the book before going to bed, no matter how late it gets? That's what happened to me with A Midnight Dance. When I started the book, I intended to read for about an hour before bed. Five hours later, I turned the final page. I just had to know how everything turned out!

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All theater romances are tragedies. Ella Blythe knows this. Still, she cannot help but hope her own story may turn out different than most--and certainly different than the tragic story of the Ghost of Craven Street Theater. Yet as she struggles to maintain her tenuous place in the ever-shrinking ballet company, win the attentions of principal dancer Philippe, and avoid company flirt Jack, Ella cannot deny the uncanny feeling that her life is mirroring that of the dead ballerina.

Is she dancing ever closer to the edge of her own tragic end? Or will the secrets that are about to come to light offer release from the past?

Mystery and romance make the perfect dance partners in this evocative story from fan-favorite Joanna Davidson Politano. 

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An unexpected romance. A deliciously complex mystery. Twists that seemingly came out of nowhere but upon reflection made perfect sense. A Midnight Dance is as close to a perfect read as anything I've seen in a long time!

I've read and really enjoyed other books by Joanna Davidson Politano, but A Midnight Dance is on another level! It's so beautifully written, and I really felt transported to Victorian Era London. Ella is a wonderful character, and I loved following her journey.

Because of the way the story unfolds and secrets are slowly revealed, I can't speak about my favorite aspects of the novel without revealing too much. So please, just trust me when I say that this is a magnificent story that you will not want to miss. It's certainly in contention for my favorite read of 2021! 5 stars.

Buy the book (Amazon ad).
Read my reviews of Politano's Lady Jayne Disappears (5 stars), A Rumored Fortune (3-1/2 stars), and Finding Lady Enderly (4 stars).

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Joanna Davidson Politano freelances for a small nonfiction publisher but spends much of her time spinning tales that capture the colorful, exquisite details in ordinary lives. Her manuscript for Lady Jayne Disappears was a finalist for several contests, including the 2016 Genesis Award from ACFW, and won the OCW Cascade Award and the Maggie Award for Excellence. She is always on the hunt for random acts of kindness, people willing to share their deepest secrets with a stranger, and hidden stashes of sweets. She lives with her husband and their two babies in a house in the woods near Lake Michigan and shares stories that move her at www.jdpstories.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell through the Revell Reads program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate commission.I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."