Games in a Ballroom by Jentry Flint

 

She was forbidden to love him.
He only wanted her heart.
Can a childhood game bring them together?

London, 1815

Olivia Wilde has resigned herself to never finding a love match. Her father has insisted she marry a man with a title, but the men her father deems acceptable are either boring or are only interested in increasing their own diminishing coffers. With her future looking dismal, Olivia vows to enjoy the last few months of freedom with her childhood friends, including Emerson Latham. His devilish smile and flirtatious teasing stirs up feelings she knows she cannot entertain.

Emerson is struggling to rise to his responsibilities after his father's death. Though he is still learning his place, one thing he knows for certain is that he wants Olivia Wilde to be his wife. Emerson had long ago fallen in love with her quick wit, beauty, and passionate heart. Yet, without a title, he will never be permitted to court Olivia openly. But he has a plan that may give him a chance to court her in secret.

As the Season kicks off, Emerson proposes a playful game of tag. Olivia's friends are delighted by the idea, though Olivia is wary. After all, the game must be played in secret as they tag each other at dinners and balls. As the romance builds between Olivia and Emerson, so does the risk of being discovered. Not only are their reputations at stake, so is their safety if they are caught by Olivia's strict father.

Can their love find a happily ever after before the game ends?

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Tag?  In a ballroom?  Sounds fun, right?  Emerson thinks so too and he hopes by employing this game that it will give him opportunities to get closer to Olivia.  I liked this clever approach to this regency story.  It felt unique in that respect and I don't think I've read another book with that idea in it.  

Emerson is a fun guy- very determined to win Olivia over.  He's on the chase and it brought a smile to my face.

The whole story felt light and fun.  It never really left surface level for me in terms of emotion and depth but it was easy, happy reading which is a good diversion.  A good debut novel for this author!

Content:  some abuse alluded to but not described, kissing.

 

- I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own.

JENTRY FLINT is a bookworm-turned-writer with the propensity to try just about anything. She has a true love of history and believes a good quote can fix most things. She lives in southern Utah with her husband and two daughters—who, naturally, are named after characters from books.

Her favorite things in life are flavored popcorn, her grandmother’s purple blanket, and curling up on the couch to watch a movie with her husband. Games in a Ballroom is her debut novel.