The Dancing Floor - Fiction Review

Goodreads: The Dancing Floor by Barbara Michaels

Rating: Just Okay (2 Stars)
Source: Purchased

Description:  For years, Heather Tradescant had dreamed of the journey she and her father would take to England--a pilgrimage to the great gardens of history. Now that her father is dead, Heather is determined to fulfill his dreams. Unfortunately, her request to see the fabled 17th-century garden of Troytan House is denied by the owner. Though unwelcome, she braves the walls of briars and reaches the Victorian manor house beyond. She senses a strange mission of evil lurking, tainting the manor's peaceful beauty. Only then does Heather begin to wonder whether it is only stories of long-vanished witchcraft that haunt Troytan House or whether there is some more modern horror, nearer at hand, and far, far more dangerous. Continuing in the classic tradition she established with such acclaimed novels of suspense as Stitches in Time, Vanish with the Rose, and House of Stone, New York Times bestselling author Barbara Michaels has penned a chilling tale that will keep you reading until the last page.

Genre: Fiction

Why I Picked This Book:  I love so many of Barbara Micheals' books that I wanted to read this one.

My Impression:  Michaels is so fantastic at setting a scene and she does not disappoint here.  Troytan House is decidedly eerie with something dark lurking behind the scenes.  Heather ends up being taken into the house by the eccentric and wealthy owner, Frank.   There is a thread of witchcraft past and present running around the house and the village that increases the sense of unease that permeates the book.

Unfortunately, this book was just okay.  For starters I just really didn't like Heather.  She's prickly and quite often just plain rude.  As well, the constant mentions of her appetite and the amount she ate got to be a bit much as well as the fact that every male character seemed to fall instantly in love with her.  

The ending also left quite a bit to be desired.  It wrapped up kind of out of nowhere and there were a few developments that just felt completely out of left field.

Anything by Michaels (or under the name Peters) is going to be readable and well paced but I was glad to see the end of these characters.  It definitely isn't going on my reread shelf.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? I would definitely read more from this author but I will not be rereading this one.

Would I Recommend this Book? Probably not.  I love Michaels but this one just isn't a winner.