Whoa! Stop what you are doing and read this novel.
Soul Dancing by Gail Priest is a novel different from anything that I’d read before. It begins with a frail and sick old woman on her death bed with her husband clasping onto the little time he has left with her. Suddenly, the story shifts into a room where the reader witnesses a woman who dies giving birth to a baby. It’s unbelievable how the stories of these women are interwoven. I’m trying desperately not to include spoilers because this is one rollercoaster ride that you will not want to miss a drop or a turn.
At its heart, Soul Dancing is a family story. I was immediately invested in both the plot and the characters. It’s about the reach of the choices we make and how they can alter the trajectory of our lives. It touches on so much of life: death, friendship, dysfunction, found family, depression, addiction and living. Priest handles each of these topics with such grace. I found myself crying and laughing with equal measure. While you might have to suspend your own beliefs to welcome this story of twists and turns into your heart, I encourage you to do so. It is so worth the ride.1 Cindy Myers14 17

I loved this book! The clever twists and turns kept me completely engaged, so much so that I just wanted to keep reading. The main character Shirlene is delightful, so believable and relatable even as such wild and crazy things befall her. Being a resident of Rehoboth Beach, I admire the author’s sense of place for the scenes that occur there. A charming, interesting and intriguing story that almost makes the unbelievable believable. I urge you to read it.1 Lainey CameronAuthor 1 book195

Sometimes, you read a book, where if you can just suspend disbelief, the story is so transporting and engrossing that you wish it wouldn’t end. Soul Dancing by Gail Priest was that book for me.

Shirlene Foster is a ninety-year-old woman who dies and wakes up in the body of a 20-year-old tattooed, pierced Rain DeLuca. Add to the mix that she’s being told to push, because she’s about to give birth!

From there, the story gets more complex. Shirlene is dead, except she’s not, because now she’s in Rain’s body. And she’s suddenly the mother she always wished she could be. Plus, there’s a handsome, loveable, baby-daddy who doesn’t understand why Rain has changed. And Shirlene, in Rain’s body, doesn’t understand why the baby’s father appears not to hate her.

Plus, Shirlene’s beloved elderly husband is still alive and grieving for her loss. How could she let him continue to grieve when she’s right here? But, at twenty, she looks nothing the woman he loved. If she tries to be honest, will he even believe her?

I loved how Shirlene opts for honesty and as a result, she gets to start life again in Rain’s body. But it comes with many challenges, including discovering that her beloved husband wasn’t always honest about everything, and being surprised to find herself falling for hot baby-daddy, Cameron.

Soul Dancing is a complex, you won’t see it coming, type of read. The novel weaves a credible tale of love – both between Shirlene and her husband, and now with Cameron.

The author’s portrayal of a ninety-year-old character in a younger body emphasizes the growth that wisdom brings. It’s sad that most ninety-year-olds don’t get the chance, and made me reconsider my pre-conceptions about ageing.

Certain novels stick with you, and Soul Dancing is a novel I won’t forget. I know it will live in my psyche, bringing hope and the power of enduring love during hard times.

An imaginative, emotional, romantic, original, seriously-couldn’t-put-it down book!

Five big juicy “you don’t want to miss this one” stars from me!2024-womens-fiction books-i-loved-2024 Joanne McLaughlinAuthor 9 books12

Incredibly poignant.

Life, love, death—and everything after—motivate Shirlene Foster’s decisions in “Soul Dancing,” Gail Priest’s new supernatural romance. In her 90s, with cancer devastating her body, Shirlene is about to leave this mortal plane and the husband with whom she has shared everything for decades. But fearing he will not last long without her, Shirlene is reluctant to let go and pass peacefully.

She who hesitates is lost, no? In Shirlene’s case, literally so as she discovers herself in the body of 20-year-old Rain DeLuca, who is about to give birth. How did this happen? How does Shirlene get back to her beloved husband, Stan? And how can she possibly give up the sweet baby girl who knows only Shirlene as her mother? Complicating Shirlene’s out-of-the-body experience is the baby’s uncle, Cameron Michaels, who has vowed to raise the child in place of his irresponsible brother and promised to pay off Rain, the infant’s equally irresponsible mother, to get her out of the picture.

In Shirlene and Cameron, author Priest has created flawed, believable characters thrust by something—maybe fate, maybe faith—into unbelievable circumstances. With each twist of their winding road, I found myself rooting for this unliest of couples and hoping Shirlene and Cameron would find a lasting way to each other.

More importantly, I marveled how wonderful it would be if the afterlife was just that: another life with new promise and the opportunity to redeem, redirect, and rededicate oneself to something, or someone, greater.

“Soul Dancing” explores glorious possibilities. Read it and get a glimpse into what might come next for any of us.
Grace SammonAuthor 7 books35

"Soul Dancing" is a tour de force of the imagination. Gail Priest's narrative skill is on full display as she expertly crafts a story that blurs the lines between reality and the supernatural. With its intimate exploration of the afterlife and the journey of the soul, the novel presents a thought-provoking premise that keeps readers guessing until the very end. Priest's portrayal of the protagonist, Shirlene, navigating multiple lives is both compelling and immersive, drawing readers into a world where the boundaries of what we believe and how we identify ourselves are fluid.

While firmly rooted in the paranormal fiction genre, "Soul Dancing" stands out for its fresh perspective and unexpected twists. Priest keeps readers engaged with a plot that is as unpredictable as it is captivating, weaving together themes of love, purpose, and redemption with masterful finesse.

From the tender moments of reflection to those of suspense, each page of "Soul Dancing" is a testament to Priest's talent for storytelling. This novel is the perfect combination of compelling characters, a captivating plot, excellent writing, and a satisfying story that will delight readers and continue to enhance Priest’s reputation as a storyteller extraordinaire. Victoria LeesAuthor 3 books34


Soul Dancing by Gail Priest is a story about second chances. It’s a story about love. The characters are unique, with intriguing backstories that offer reasons for their actions. The characters are integral to the plot. The description is vivid and alive. Priest helps the reader blur the lines of belief that someone can die and then inhabit another’s body. And best of all, the novel moves along crisply.

At the heart of this story is Shirlene Foster, an elderly woman who dies at the start of the novel. But her spirit lives on in another body. Cameron Michaels is the upstanding person who takes in his brother’s pregnant girlfriend to care for her before the baby is born. Both Shirlene and Cameron need to move past their prior sorrows. Grudges can keep people from loving again, from living life fully.

Trust is important to the characters in this novel. Trust can’t happen spontaneously. It needs to be felt deep within a person. Priest’s characters need to learn this along the way. The pacing of this novel is impeccable.

Soul Dancing also shows the power of forgiveness. Forgiveness is important for siblings and parents, as well as spouses, friends, or lovers. Most importantly, forgiveness is necessary for the self to move on in life. Gail Priest’s novel shows this power through story. Right up until the end. If you are looking for the perfect read, you can’t do better than Soul Dancing by Gail Priest.
Mary SheriffAuthor 3 books136

Soul Dancing by Gail Priest is a tale of identity, second chances, and twists of fate. When ninety-year-old Shirlene Foster finds her soul inside another woman's body after her death, the story takes off. Shirlene's struggle to navigate her new reality is compelling and, surprisingly, relatable. The clash between Shirlene's wisdom and her newly ignited youthful physical desires is thought-provoking. The relationship that develops between Shirlene and Cameron Michaels adds another layer of tension and excitement to the narrative. However, it's the secondary character of Hattie, Shirlene’s 90-year-old best friend, who steals my heart. Throughout the novel, Priest explores themes of love, loss, addiction, and depression. With its compelling characters and thought-provoking themes, Soul Dancing is a must-read for anyone who enjoys tales of love, redemption, and the mysteries of the human soul.
Maryka BiaggioAuthor 6 books90

Soul Dancer starts with an astounding turn of events. Shirlene Foster has lived a long life and is dying of cancer. When Stan, her husband of 70 years tells her it’s okay to let go, she resists. By a fluke of fate she is reborn into the body of young Rain, who at that very moment is giving birth to a baby girl in the company of a young man, Cameron, who Shirlene assumes is the baby’s father. And that is only the beginning of the many challenges she must navigate as an old woman in a younger woman’s body. She now has an infant to care for, a relationship with a man she doesn’t know, and a 90-year old husband who needs her. Thus begins the complicated dance of Shirlene/Rain and the soul-searching it prompts in all the people whose lives she touches. It’s a hearfelt story of love and loss, remembrance and forgiveness.1 M.C.V. EganAuthor 4 books378

Soul Dancing By Gail Priest waltzes into your mind, tap-dances through your emotions, and thrills the reader a good Tango.
This book delivers at every level: plot, setting, and characters.
The character arc was my favorite part, as the twists and turns of a most clever plot unfolded the array of emotions and the secrets uncovered made me feel that I met an interesting and complex group of people,
The settings and scenery took me to fun places of my youth. The writing was tight and fabulous, and I felt transported to the homes of the characters.
It’s an intricate and complex book while still delivering a sort of feel-good simplicity.
Marie GilbertAuthor 1 book6

Gail Priest has outdone herself with this amazing book. I was hooked on the book from the very first chapter. When ninety-year-old Shirlene Foster dies, her soul takes her on the ride of her life. Shirlene soon finds herself inhabiting the body of a young woman in the process of giving birth. This is a beautiful love story wrapped carefully inside of a ghost story. There is enough twists and turns to this story to keep you mesmerized to the very last page.1 Trish MacEnultyAuthor 14 books40

If you're looking for an imaginative and immersive love story, this is for you. Soul Dancing is about the real meaning of love -- an old married couple's undying love for each other, a young couple's irresistible attraction, and a parent's love for a child, whether the child is his or not. You don't have to believe in reincarnation (but it doesn't hurt if you're willing to keep an open mind). The story is a work of the imagination. And the twists at the end create a satisfying resolution.
2 s Patti ProcopiAuthor 4 books54

Even as a writer myself I am often amazed at the stories that other writer's come up with! Soul Dancing is one of those. What a wild ride this book was. A ninety-year old woman dies and is going "towards the light" when she realizes she can't leave her elderly husband behind. She fights to return and suddenly finds herself in a twenty-year-olds body giving birth. That is just the start of all the twists and turns! This is a story about love, redemption and second chances! Recommended. Sandra YoungAuthor 3 books107

Gail Priest strikes gold in this moving, inventive story of a ninety-year-old woman who dies and pops back into another woman’s body--while she’s giving birth. The pace and tension build into a true page-turner as Shirlene struggles to acclimate herself—and those around her—to her new reality. Told from alternating female and male points of view, Soul Dancing is a lovely, memorable exploration of second chances, regrets, mother / fatherhood, and romance. paranormal romance women-s-fiction GailAuthor 2 books6

Popping out of the gate with a mystical, magical premise, Gail Priest’s enchanting Soul Dancing is a tender meditation on do-overs. With a cast of warm-hearted characters on an oh so human quest for goodness and love, Soul Dancing ponders the question of how to honor the past while striving for a future. Once you open the book, you won’t want to put it down. Amy BarkerAuthor 7 books91

Unique premise for this story, which I loved, and of course, Gail's writing style just flies across the page the wind. I was instantly drawn into the lives of these characters and ached for them throughout. There was a bit of whiplash in the second half of the book, which wasn't for me, but I was happy to see the story come together in the end. Pat ValdataAuthor 6 books6

Another great read from Gail Priest

I stayed up late to finish this book because I couldn't stop before finding out what happened. I love the premise of this novel, and enjoyed the surprises as the story unfolded. Rachel Callaghan7 1 follower

Autor del comentario:
=================================