Codename: Dancer by Amanda Brice
Publication Date: April 14, 2011
Source: Author
Rating: 3/5
Goodreads Synopsis
Aspiring ballerina Dani Spevak is thrilled when hitd TV show Teen Celebrity Dance Off comes to the campus of her performing arts boarding school. She trades the barre for the ballroom and gets set to cha-cha-cha to stardom with Hollywood wonderboy Nick Galliano.
At first their partnership is awkward, because Dani is in awe of her longtime teen idol crush. But soon their chemistry is heating up the dance floor and the attraction moves into real life.
Her excitement is short-lived, because someone wants her off the show. Bombs, poisoning, arson… Will Dani’s 15 minutes of fame be over before she reaches age 15? Dani and her friends are suddenly at the center of some serious sabotage. And if she doesn’t find out who is behind it, her next pirouette could be her last.
It’s like Nancy Drew in toe shoes in this light-hearted tween mystery, a finalist for Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart® Award for Best Young Adult Romance.
At first their partnership is awkward, because Dani is in awe of her longtime teen idol crush. But soon their chemistry is heating up the dance floor and the attraction moves into real life.
Her excitement is short-lived, because someone wants her off the show. Bombs, poisoning, arson… Will Dani’s 15 minutes of fame be over before she reaches age 15? Dani and her friends are suddenly at the center of some serious sabotage. And if she doesn’t find out who is behind it, her next pirouette could be her last.
It’s like Nancy Drew in toe shoes in this light-hearted tween mystery, a finalist for Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart® Award for Best Young Adult Romance.
My Review
Dani is an aspiring dancer who attends an all arts boarding school. And the school is hosting Teen Celebrity Dance Off tv show. Dani makes the cut and is also paired with a gorgeous rising actor. Sparks begin to fly between the two. She feels like she has everything.
But things begin to go wrong. People are getting hurt, things are going missing, huge threats; it seems someone is adamant on stopping the show from going on. Dani and her friends become their own little detective squad to solve the new mystery.
My Thoughts
Codename: Dancer was a quick and adorable read. I did enjoy a light read for one. The small romance between Dani and Nick was cute at first, but I am glad it didn’t work. I am hoping that she will eventually get together with Craig. Now that could be a great romance.
The premise of the book was cute. A detective ballet dancer. Just think of the accessories.
I think the characters could have had a little bit more dimension to them. Most of the story revolved around the dancing and detection work. Normally this would not be a problem, but it was such a fast read that there seemed to not be enough time to build up deeper personalities and sense the relationships between the characters. It would have also been fun to see a little more life outside of the dancing and detective business. Just to see high schoolers being teens.
In the end, I was happy that I was able to read this book. It was fun, lighthearted, and has a sweet (yet bad) romance to nip my romance craving. I am interested in seeing how the next Dani Spevak Mystery could pan out.
Cute
