I applaud Rachel Harris’ EYES ON ME.  Concerned about her stress level, Lily Bailey’s father enrolls her in dance classes in hopes of relaxing her.  Unknown to her, he offers star Brighton High football player, Stone Torres, money for being her dance partner.  This contemporary sports romance is suitable for young adults.

EYES ON ME was an entertaining and believable read. The characters were well developed.  I like Lily.  She puts a lot of stress on herself to become valedictorian and to get accepted to Harvard.  After winding up in the hospital, her father enrolls her in dance classes as an activity to get her mind off her classes.  Stone is a good guy.  Out of concern for the financial well-being of his mother’s dance studio, he accepts money from Lily’s dad to be Lily’s dance partner.  As he gets to know Lily, he feels conflicted about taking the money.  Cameron Montgomery is the perfect antagonist.  She is Lily’s competition for valedictorian and Stone’s ex-girlfriend.

I enjoyed the plot.  There were good life lessons and moral issues. I have taken ballroom dance classes, so I respected that aspect of the story.  Being Hungarian, I appreciated that Stone’s mom/dance instructor was born there.  I like that the characters faced significant obstacles and grew as a result. This is the first book that I have read by Rachel Harris.  I enjoyed her writing style.  I would read books by her in the future.  I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

Stone has a busy life.  He is popular at school due to football.  His parents run a dance studio, where he helps.  Now, he is being asked to help a fellow student.  

Lily is fed up.  She is only trying to have the best high school career possible.  She aspires to attend the same college her late mother attended.  Lily is just trying to meet her goals.

Dance becomes the thread that weaves the possibilities for both of them.  They learn how to be friends, with the option for more.  I think these characters are amazing and the story is extremely compelling and deep.  I could not put it down and was turning the page with eagerness.  I give this book a 5/5 Kitty's Paws UP!

***This copy was given in exchange for an honest review.

On the precipice of her sixteenth birthday, the last thing lone wolf Cat Crawford wants is an extravagant gala thrown by her bubbly stepmother and well-meaning father. So even though Cat knows the family's trip to Florence, Italy, is a peace offering, she embraces the magical city and all it offers. But when her curiosity leads her to an unusual gypsy tent, she exits . . . right into Renaissance Firenze.

Thrust into the sixteenth century armed with only a backpack full of contraband future items, Cat joins up with her ancestors, the sweet Alessandra and protective Cipriano, and soon falls for the gorgeous aspiring artist Lorenzo. But when the much-older Niccolo starts sniffing around, Cat realizes that an unwanted birthday party is nothing compared to an unwanted suitor full of creeptastic amore. Can she find her way back to modern times before her Italian adventure turns into an Italian forever?

Stephen King has been identified as the murder in the Yellow game, so I read The Fine Art of Pretending by Rachel Harris to collect it. The book is set in the US.