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Francesca is instantly captivated by Buenos Aires's palpable rhythm. She explores the city with her new friends -- a group of tango dancers who give her an insider's scoop into the best Buenos Aires has to offer -- and rediscovers the sense of passion and excitement she thought she had relinquished forever. As Francesca learns to master the sensual movements of tango dancing, she begins to let down her guard -- on the dance floor, in the bedroom, and in her personal life. Embarking on a steamy love affair with Argentina's most famous plastic surgeon, she knows that she has been irrevocably transformed by the pulsing, erotic thrill of life in Argentina.
At once a tale of a middle-aged woman taking a stand against the disappointments of her life and a sexy, fast-paced, entertaining novel about the ecstasy of tango dancing, It Takes Two reads like a soulful tango: irresistible, exotic, and sensual.
Volver
(To Come Around)
"Would you like to dance?"
I look at him, surprised. "Tango? I can't dance tango..."
He smiles, and holds out his hand to lead me to the dance floor.
I follow him.
"What should I do?"
"Let yourself go. Trust me."
"Isn't it hot in here?" I ask in an effort to cover up my feelings of inadequacy. I take in the dark room, dangling stars over my head, lights flickering. Couples slowly circling us. His arms surround me, shielding me from the others; his lips brush my cheeks; the fire of his eyes burns my skin.
Oh! He can move! and how...
I can't see his body but I can sense it: tall, solidly built. My hands rest on his back, touching, exploring, savoring each of his muscles.
He's incredibly musical. I look at him and move as if hypnotized. He smiles. I like him; he's friendly, not aggressive. I dance. I follow his lead.
"Wait, it's too hot..." he says, unhurriedly peeling off his red sweater and letting it fall to the floor near a column. I like that he's not in a rush.
"Francesca?"
"Yes?"
"Francesca..." He whispers again.
He takes me back into his embrace and folds me against his body. We move. The pleading sound of a bandoneón fills my soul and a sudden gush of notes surrounds me. I press against him, we move in unison.
We find our rhythm, forging ahead into the fierce maelstrom of tango notes, but without urgency. His mouth caresses my hair, playing with it, almost kissing, brushing my right temple. It's sweet, it's dreamy, it's slow. It's impossibly hot.
It's like the gentle rising of the tide in the Mediterranean. I begin to abandon all resistance. Maybe I am just imagining the rhythmic intensity between us. "It's a dance, just a dance," I remind myself.
But I need it so much. I need to be in a man's arms, my body yearns to follow a music I heard long ago and have forgotten for too long.
His hard-on is forced against my thigh. I stop his arm with my hand and search for his face. We don't need words. I ask myself again, is this really happening?
"You are beautiful. You are making my night..." he murmurs, looking at me seriously.
Who am I to stop this magic moment? I need to let myself go.
Why is my brain constantly at work? I must learn to forget all my worries, to relinquish all thought. Like a drug this dance slowly pervades my body. I reclaim my place in a man's embrace, snuggling against his chest, accepting the power of the warm circle of his arms. I want more.
I'm all liquidity — a stirring of desires. The music has become more insistent. My hips rotate, looking for his, trying to reach him, willing to submit to its sweetness. The unbearable force of this moment overwhelms me as his hands skim my back, following its curve down to the beginning of my buttocks, teasing. Something is happening, rapidly; it's beyond my control.
I let go. I abandon every restraint and surrender to unexpected waves of warmth. My body comes alive. I listen to the vibrations invading me, surging, crashing down over me like huge waves over a long-deserted island. Copyright © 2009 by Patrizia Chen
Kelly86
Posted May 31, 2010
I enjoyed reading this book because Chen writes in such a way, I was able to get into the character's heads and feel their emotions. I also felt I had traveled to Buenos Aires and back, learning much about the culture. Chen provides great detail of how Buenos Aires captures the essence of the Argentine Tango. There was romance involved, but it wasn't all about sex like some other tango books are. There was more to it than sex. This novel has a great balance evoking every emotion and it was hard for me to put down. This is a fun book about freedom and how the sensuality of the tango enabled one woman to find her own liberation and true love.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted January 3, 2010
I found Patrizia Chen's book to be a fun and easy read.
Highly recommended for dull moments when you just want to escape (in this case to Buenos Aires and the world of tango), or when you are traveling/commuting and need a fun story to entertain you. A word of caution however: there is a lot of sex. Do not buy it if this may offend you.
It Takes Two is actually 3 books in one:
- A useful handbook about the art of Tango. I started taking tango classes a couple of months ago and have discovered, along with a sensual dance, a great community with rules and traditions. I have often felt a bit lost. It Takes Two describes in a very accurate manner the world of Tango, milongas, behaviors, Tango etiquette, dos and don'ts. There are also numerous references about tango fundamentals such as posture, simplicity and the importance of mastering the art of walking. Priceless.
- An interactive travel guide on Buenos Aires. I have never been to Buenos Aires. However, I heard a lot about it and am DYING to go. It Takes Two gives a precise image of the city, the different neighborhoods, restaurants, cafes, and shopping places. It also gives a good indication of the rhythm of the City. Patrizia's way to describe it makes it very "alive" and reading the book you feel like you actually are in Buenos Aires.
- Finally a great novel where everyone can recognize himself in the different characters. Nothing extraordinary is happening in It Takes Two. The different characters have no super powers. They are normal people, like you and me, with imperfect lives like yours and mine who are trying to fill the gap between their dreams and aspirations and the mediocrity of their reality. Francesca is painted as a 50 something women, whose "arrangement" with her husband is not satisfying anymore and who desperately needs more. Trying to match her life with her expectations, she comes across moral questions and answers them with a mix of spontaneous reactions and sensitive interrogations. How European!
In a society where youth and beauty are kings, It Takes Two proves that it's still possible to lead an extraordinary life in an ordinary environment.
Thank you Mrs. Chen!
Anonymous
Posted December 8, 2009
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Anonymous
Posted January 13, 2010
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Anonymous
Posted January 14, 2010
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Overview
Francesca Rivabuona is fifty and exhausted by the monotony of her life. Stuck in a stale marriage with grown children who have long since fled the coop, and desperate to escape the endless cycle of Upper East Side dinner parties and charity luncheons, she jumps at the chance to write an article about Buenos Aires for a glossy travel magazine.
Francesca is instantly captivated by Buenos Aires's palpable rhythm. She explores the city with her new friends -- a group of tango dancers who give her an insider's scoop into the best Buenos Aires has to offer -- and rediscovers the sense of passion and excitement she thought she had relinquished forever. As ...