A STORY TOLD WITH COMPASSION, FAMILY DYNAMICS, HOPE, LOVE, AND HUMANITY. LIKE I USED TO DANCE IS A MASTERPIECE. BY AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR BARBARA FRANCES

​About Like I Used To Dance
“Our kids, my, my, Gracie” laughed Bud. “Where did we go wrong? One marries God, another a Jew and the last one, the devil!”
Texas, 1951. The Wolanskys—Grace, Bud and their three grown children—are a close-knit clan, deeply rooted in their rural community and traditional faith. On their orderly farm, life seems good and tomorrow always holds promise.
But under the surface, it’s a different story. Grace is beset by dark memories and unnamed fears, calmed only by practicing a secret obsession. Their son Andy has said no to becoming a farmer like his dad and, worse, has fallen in love with a big-city Jewish girl. Youngest child Regina is trapped in a loveless marriage to an abusive, alcoholic husband. Even “perfect” daughter Angela’s decision to become a nun unleashes consequences no one could foresee.
And then Ceil Dollard breezes into town.
Ceil—wealthy, sophisticated, irrepressible—is like a visitor from Mars. She’s a modern woman. She drives a car and wears pants. She blows away tradition and certainty, forcing Grace to face her fears and brave a changing world. Through Ceil, Grace learns about courage and pleasure—but at the risk of losing Bud.
Barbara Frances’ sparkling, richly human novel takes you back to a time when Ike was president and life was slower, but people were the same as now. You’ll encounter a cast of characters storm-tossed by change, held together by love. Written with compassion, humor and suspense, Like I Used to Dance will charm you, warm you and even squeeze a few tears, from its opening number to the last waltz. 

Enjoy this Texas treat !

Verified Purchase
Ms. Frances has given us a rare treat. She writes of people and places she knows well....their traditions, their culture, their pleasures and their pains. We come to care very much for these characters and follow their interwoven stories, eager to learn how their struggles are resolved. Ms. Frances infuses her story with her special kind of humor while, at the same time, tugging on our heart strings as her characters, even the less likable ones, strive to overcome their unique challenges. You can feel the hot Texas sun, see the parched landscape, smell the barbecue in the air, because this writer knows and loves her setting. Better set aside time to enjoy this page-turner. It's a real pleasure! What's next Ms. Frances?

LIKE I USED TO DANCE