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[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Ballet" by Judith Erwin.]

The Ballet is a romance novel by Judith Erwin. It is the second book in the Shadow of Dance Series.

Gabi Valera is bound to a life of solitude by circumstances beyond her control. No one must learn of the dark secret that burdens her. The only freedom she is allowed is dance. Love is a luxury she shuns. Her resolve to remain alone is shaken to its root when she meets Derek Conner, the son of the largest donor to the ballet company she works for. Gabi's head is left spinning by the unexpected, fiery attraction between herself and the handsome heir. Afraid of the dark forces out to get her and the consequences of divulging her secret, Gabi resists the intense pull between them. Will love win?

I could not put this book down. The author's elegant, masterful writing took me through a whirlwind of emotions. The mystery, suspense, and danger resulted in moments of anxiety. This angst was subdued by feelings of joy and warmth. I simply could not help feeling blissfully happy for Gabi as she experienced love for the first time. The action and thrill was enough to balance out the mushy, lovey-dovey moments. Thus, this romance book was far from corny.

Initially, I feared that the book would portray a baseless love based solely on the physical. My view quickly changed as I got to know Derek Connor. At face value, Derek appears to be a spoilt, rich playboy with no appealing qualities. However, as Derek falls deeper for Gabi, we get to see a different side to him. Slowly, his love for her becomes an unconditional love based on principal. I found myself swooning over all the ways he actively demonstrates his love for her.

The heavy burden that Gabi carries creates irrational fears within her. They fool her into believing that her DNA makes her unlovable. As a result, Gabi does not allow herself to envision a future with Derek. It was a refreshing twist to see the woman being the one that did not want the relationship to develop into something more. These fears exposed a vulnerable, weak side to Gabi. Thus, this fiercely talented ballerina became more real to me.

I rate The Ballet 4 out of 4 stars. It deserves nothing less. I recommend it to those who love romance books with an element of mystery. Mystery looms throughout the book as readers only discover Gabi's full history at the very end of the book.

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The Ballet
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This book looks really interesting, and from what you've said about it it seems like a wonderful read (especially since you said the romance wasn't corny--too many romance books fall into that category)! Thank you for your detailed review

This seems like a great read! I'm definitely intrigued. Thanks for the review!

Romance is beautiful, it all depends on the way the author puts it. The live story between Gabi and Derek seems to be exquisitely put.

Thanks for this awesome review...

Fantastic review! The book sounds like it really can hold an audience. Not to mention keep the reader guessing at what might happen next.

The book sounds very interesting and and book that has to do with love and romance keeps you guessing what would happen next.Its a good review.Thanks.

I find romance books more interesting when they include the touch of mystery you described. Wonderful review!

Oh my gosh! From your review I find this is a good romance novel left me wanting to find out more about Derek's love demonstration towards Gabi. Thank you for your delightful review.

Romance with an element of mystery is definitely a good read and with such glowing review then The Ballet by Judith Erwin is a must read for me.

Wow sounds like a good book I think I'll enjoy reading this one. Thanks for your review and recommendation.

the review makes me want to read the book and see what happens with Derek and Gabi!
this is a must read for sure

As one who took ballet for 10 years growing up, I really enjoy books that show the inner workings of a ballet company or ballerina. However, romance is still not my genre. So I think I'll skip this one, though it does sound somewhat enjoyable. Thanks for your recommendations on this.

Through your intriguing review, I find myself interested in the book as it seems to offer the very same thing I long for in any other novel, which is romance.

I rarely find romance books that I like, but I'm always willing to give it a go. I am certainly intrigued by the mystery aspect of it. Thank you for the review.

I loved your review! This sounds like a beautiful love story that focuses on the romance without having to resort to explicit bedroom scenes. Good job!