A Swoony Romance for Center Stage Lovers
Toe to Toe
Contemporary Romance, Romantic Comedy, Sports Romance
G. P. Putnam's Sons
March 10, 2026
ebook, paperback, audiobook
333
It takes two to tango.
Allegra Hart has been working her whole life to achieve one goal: become a principal ballerina. When her director starts holding auditions for the lead role in the company’s latest production, Allegra sees this as her chance—maybe her last chance.
The catch? The director wants someone with sex appeal, and he doesn’t think she’s up to the task. Determined to prove him wrong, Allegra enlists the help of the lead dancer of an all-male revue, Cord Donovan, a classically trained dancer who is also the sexiest man she’s ever met. In exchange for lessons on how to ramp up her sex appeal, she promises to help Cord choreograph a new partner piece for his show.
As they practice their moves on and off the stage, Allegra and Cord find themselves battling a growing attraction. Except Allegra is determined not to let a man derail her career . . . but what if she could have both love and success? Or will her involvement with Cord jeopardize everything she’s worked for?
Opposites Attract intersects with Ballet and Burlesque
I am one of the girlies who went absolutely mindless for the movie “Center Stage” when
it came out back in the ‘aughts. If you’re like me, then I bet that Toe to Toe by Falon
Ballard will easily become an insta-buy for you as well. Taking place in New York City,
Toe to Toe features tireless ballet dancer, Allegra, and mysterious business owner and
dancer, Cord, as they work together to achieve individual goals.
Allegra has worked her entire career as a dancer to become a principal with her ballet
company. The only person standing in her way is her Ballet Director who was insinuated
more than once that if she were to give him more attention then he could be persuaded
to promote her. Yikes. After yet another one of these run-ins with her sleezy Director,
Allegra takes it upon herself to find someone who can help her get what she wants.
Cord is more than just a stripper. He’s not actually a stripper at all but a very successful
business owner and dancer that just happens to exude the sexiness which also just so
happens to be the exact quality that Allegra is looking to incorporate into her own style.
Cord is the man whom Allegra propositions to help her achieve her goal of gaining a
lead role in an upcoming ballet which would inevitably mean scoring her coveted
principal position within the ballet company.
‘Center Stage’ Meets ‘Moulin Rouge’
The lessons that begin between Allegra and Cord are some of the most female-
empowering and hottest scenes that I’ve read in recent years. Cord gives Allegra
respect and space to explore her own sexuality without imposing his own wants on
her…well, maybe until he sees that his desires are also reciprocated. With each lesson,
Allegra learns to love more about herself and therefore falls not only for herself but for
Cord. It’s just that Cord is also harboring some deep-seeded resent from his past.
Toe to Toe is a stand-alone contemporary romance that features “lessons,” forced
proximity, and more than one triggering situation for sexual assault so please be
advised. I also love how Falon Ballard intertwined “Center Stage” and “Moulin Rouge”
seamlessly so Toe to Toe felt perfectly packaged for summoning my teenage
obsessions. I absolutely adored this opposites attract romance and their swoony and
emotionally healthy HEA. I highly recommend picking up your copy of Toe to Toe today!
I guarantee that you won’t regret it!
Jes is a self-proclaimed bookworm, who recently moved from the PNW back to the Midwest. When her nose isn’t in a book, she’s spending time with her husband, two kids, and her three fur babies, or exploring the globe. She also firmly believes that you should start the day with coffee, and end the day in bed with a good book.
