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Ravenswood #6
A Waltz to Remember: Stephanie's Story
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Expected 27 Oct 26Win a free print copy of this book!
14 days and 00:39:16
10 copies available
U.S. only
The youngest Ware daughter, Stephanie, has always harbored secret passion for the best friend of her brother. In her eyes Bertrand Lamarr, Viscount Watley, is perfect. For many years she thought of herself as quite the opposite. When he surprised her by asking her to save a waltz for him, she panicked - and refused him in the unkindest words.
Stephanie's guilt over her behaviour is such that she now dreads seeing him, as she inevitably must, at the Christmas family reunion she is attending. She wants to hide from him, but what she doesn't know is that Bertrand has always admired her from afar and is determined to overcome her apparent dislike of him and win his waltz. For he believes there is magic between them, and they will discover it can conquer all their regrets and fears if they but give themselves a chance.
Stephanie's guilt over her behaviour is such that she now dreads seeing him, as she inevitably must, at the Christmas family reunion she is attending. She wants to hide from him, but what she doesn't know is that Bertrand has always admired her from afar and is determined to overcome her apparent dislike of him and win his waltz. For he believes there is magic between them, and they will discover it can conquer all their regrets and fears if they but give themselves a chance.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication October 27, 2026
About the author
Mary Balogh
194 books6,498 followersMary Jenkins was born in 1944 in Swansea, Wales, UK. After graduating from university, moved to Saskatchewan, Canada, to teach high school English, on a two-year teaching contract in 1967. She married her Canadian husband, Robert Balogh, and had three children, Jacqueline, Christopher and Sian. When she's not writing, she enjoys reading, music and knitting. She also enjoys watching tennis and curling.
Mary Balogh started writing in the evenings as a hobby. Her first book, a Regency love story, was published in 1985 as A Masked Deception under her married name. In 1988, she retired from teaching after 20 years to pursue her dream to write full-time. She has written more than seventy novels and almost thirty novellas since then, including the New York Times bestselling 'Slightly' sextet and 'Simply' quartet. She has won numerous awards, including Bestselling Historical of the Year from the Borders Group, and her novel Simply Magic was a finalist in the Quill Awards. She has won seven Waldenbooks Awards and two B. Dalton Awards for her bestselling novels, as well as a Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award.
Mary Balogh started writing in the evenings as a hobby. Her first book, a Regency love story, was published in 1985 as A Masked Deception under her married name. In 1988, she retired from teaching after 20 years to pursue her dream to write full-time. She has written more than seventy novels and almost thirty novellas since then, including the New York Times bestselling 'Slightly' sextet and 'Simply' quartet. She has won numerous awards, including Bestselling Historical of the Year from the Borders Group, and her novel Simply Magic was a finalist in the Quill Awards. She has won seven Waldenbooks Awards and two B. Dalton Awards for her bestselling novels, as well as a Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a lovely book, a quintessential Mary Balogh.
I loved finally getting Betrand’s story and revisiting all of the Wescotts. I’m not familiar with the Ravenswood series as I haven’t picked that one up but I didn’t feel like I missed much not having read it. However, this book was really thick with side characters from TWO previous series and there was a lot of revisiting and a lot of recapping. I think it would really boggle down a reader who hadn’t at least read a few of the Westcotts.
The central story itself was the usual Balogh brand of hurt/comfort and uplifting prose. It wasn’t as well developed as other books of her’s because so much of it was focussed on all the side characters and inter-relationships between them.
But I enjoyed it and read it quickly and it’s a must read for any fans of the Westcotts series.
Book 14 of my read Canadian challenge. Balogh is Welsh by birth but she’s a Canadian citizens so I count her.
Thanks Berkley, for the arc. I haven’t read any of this series, so good of me to start at book six 🤣
I loved finally getting Betrand’s story and revisiting all of the Wescotts. I’m not familiar with the Ravenswood series as I haven’t picked that one up but I didn’t feel like I missed much not having read it. However, this book was really thick with side characters from TWO previous series and there was a lot of revisiting and a lot of recapping. I think it would really boggle down a reader who hadn’t at least read a few of the Westcotts.
The central story itself was the usual Balogh brand of hurt/comfort and uplifting prose. It wasn’t as well developed as other books of her’s because so much of it was focussed on all the side characters and inter-relationships between them.
But I enjoyed it and read it quickly and it’s a must read for any fans of the Westcotts series.
Book 14 of my read Canadian challenge. Balogh is Welsh by birth but she’s a Canadian citizens so I count her.
Thanks Berkley, for the arc. I haven’t read any of this series, so good of me to start at book six 🤣
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September 16, 2026When a cripplingly shy young lady reacts harshly on the dance floor to the man she has fallen for, she doesn’t believe for worlds that a second chance to do it right is in the cards. Mary Balogh crosses over two of her best large family series, The Westcotts and The Ravenswood series when Stephanie Ware and Bertrand Lamarr do their waltz of love.
My full review will post at The Reading Frenzy TBA.
My full review will post at The Reading Frenzy TBA.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Oh Mary! She doesn’t do acknowledgments or author notes. There are no epilogues and the writing technique of show, don’t tell… Mary ain’t got time for that!
But I absolutely adore and devour her books.
Sometimes an entire book revolves around one off handed remark.
In a Waltz to Remember and in life, sometimes the smallest most insignificant decisions make the biggest difference. And a simple promise from a girl to her father can grow out of proportion.
The plot, storyline, and events of Mary’s books are slow and methodical allowing the reader to slow down and be immersed in the world created through her detailed descriptions, internal monologues, and dialogue.
You get engrossed in the families created in her books and you feel the importance of family and community to all the characters and how these ideals should still be important to us today.
I cannot put these books down. But it’s not because they’re suspenseful or there’s so much activity… I just don't want to leave Mary’s world.
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
But I absolutely adore and devour her books.
Sometimes an entire book revolves around one off handed remark.
In a Waltz to Remember and in life, sometimes the smallest most insignificant decisions make the biggest difference. And a simple promise from a girl to her father can grow out of proportion.
The plot, storyline, and events of Mary’s books are slow and methodical allowing the reader to slow down and be immersed in the world created through her detailed descriptions, internal monologues, and dialogue.
You get engrossed in the families created in her books and you feel the importance of family and community to all the characters and how these ideals should still be important to us today.
I cannot put these books down. But it’s not because they’re suspenseful or there’s so much activity… I just don't want to leave Mary’s world.
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 12, 2026
Thank you Berkley Publishing & NetGalley for this ARC!
I enjoyed the core love story, but this book really felt like Ravenswood/Westcott fan service; I don't think you can fully immerse yourself this book without having read the rest of the series. It felt like there were 600 characters introduced, complete with their own backstories. It was confusing! I think more time was spent on them/the MCs relationship TO them, rather than to each other. I enjoyed Bertrand & Stephanie's story, but it felt a little underdeveloped since so much time was dedicated elsewhere.
The book also ends so abruptly that I actually assumed my Kindle froze (it didn't💔). I wanted more!
At the end of the day - I still love Mary Balogh's writing so that alone deserves a few stars!
I enjoyed the core love story, but this book really felt like Ravenswood/Westcott fan service; I don't think you can fully immerse yourself this book without having read the rest of the series. It felt like there were 600 characters introduced, complete with their own backstories. It was confusing! I think more time was spent on them/the MCs relationship TO them, rather than to each other. I enjoyed Bertrand & Stephanie's story, but it felt a little underdeveloped since so much time was dedicated elsewhere.
The book also ends so abruptly that I actually assumed my Kindle froze (it didn't💔). I wanted more!
At the end of the day - I still love Mary Balogh's writing so that alone deserves a few stars!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I've been reading Mary Balogh for a number of years now and she rarely disappoints—and she did not disappoint here. The latest Ravenswood book collides once again with the Westcott series, as did the previous Ravenswood book. This time it is Bertrand Lemarr, Viscount Watley, who we originally met in the Westcott series, and Stephanie Ware, the youngest child of the Ware family, who was little more than a child when we first encountered her in book one. A WALTZ TO REMEMBER is a charming, heartfelt story about a couple who have known each other for years—have had their ups and (mostly) their downs, are both still contending with their pasts and the sins of their fathers—and are finally settling down to discover what it is about the other that makes "moments."
As always with this author, the writing is excellent, the story woven with details that bring scenes to life and remind the reader what they've loved about the previous books and couples in both the Ravenswood and Westcott series. There are cameos galore, and while it can be tricky to keep track who is who for the uninitiated, the important thing is that the romance here is simply lovely. It builds off the back of Bertrand's desire to make himself known for who he is—not who he projects—to Stephanie and Stephanie's need to love and forgive herself, and to learn to open her broken heart once more. (Fictional fathers have a lot to answer for in this book...)
My only complaint is the rather abrupt ending. I was expecting more, so when the page no longer turned, I felt a wave of disappointment. To me, it feels like there should have been at least another couple of chapters, and while the series is surely not over—Owen Ware, Stephanie's brother and Bertrand's close friend, remains single—meaning that we will undoubtedly see these two again, I genuinely feel a little robbed. Not enough to regret reading it, nor encourage anyone to miss it, however. I still adored this book and will cross fingers and toes in the hopes that we do see these two again in Owen's book—and beyond.
As always with this author, the writing is excellent, the story woven with details that bring scenes to life and remind the reader what they've loved about the previous books and couples in both the Ravenswood and Westcott series. There are cameos galore, and while it can be tricky to keep track who is who for the uninitiated, the important thing is that the romance here is simply lovely. It builds off the back of Bertrand's desire to make himself known for who he is—not who he projects—to Stephanie and Stephanie's need to love and forgive herself, and to learn to open her broken heart once more. (Fictional fathers have a lot to answer for in this book...)
My only complaint is the rather abrupt ending. I was expecting more, so when the page no longer turned, I felt a wave of disappointment. To me, it feels like there should have been at least another couple of chapters, and while the series is surely not over—Owen Ware, Stephanie's brother and Bertrand's close friend, remains single—meaning that we will undoubtedly see these two again, I genuinely feel a little robbed. Not enough to regret reading it, nor encourage anyone to miss it, however. I still adored this book and will cross fingers and toes in the hopes that we do see these two again in Owen's book—and beyond.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I loved this. We finally get Stephanie and Bertrand’s stories. 2 characters we’ve seen in the Westcott and Ware series, so we get 1000 family members and their children popping up in this book. As a reader, you get more enjoyment out of this if you’ve read the previous books in both series.
Stephanie, former shy girl, gorgeous but still thinks of herself as a chubby pre-teen, had a huge crush on her brother’s friend Bertrand. For his part, Bertrand noticed Stephanie right away and thought she was beautiful and sweet. They just never get past Stephanie doing her best to avoid Bertrand for years. Until….
A family wedding! Characters from the previous books are getting married and both sides of the family are together for at least a week. Finally Bertrand can figure out why this woman is so skiddish. Unfortunately, Bertie is #handsome, like the most gorgeous man to walk the earth. Too handsome in fact.
What’s great about Bertie is he takes the hint, or insult thrown in his face, and decides to mend his broken heart and move on. But when he runs into Steph again by chance his reptile brain says “Mine! Mate! Must win her over”! Not those words, because Mary Balogh would never, but he might as well have.
We get an absolute lovely romance, with meddling family, returning characters, and some hot kissing.
What I don’t like… this cover. What the hell is this? Does not fit with the series at all, looks AI style. I am confused.
Also, like I mentioned above, this is not an entry to MB, too many side characters. Her next book might need to take place in Wales or have 2 characters trapped on an island to clear the decks a bit.
Thank you to the publisher for the arc. I was so excited to read this!
Stephanie, former shy girl, gorgeous but still thinks of herself as a chubby pre-teen, had a huge crush on her brother’s friend Bertrand. For his part, Bertrand noticed Stephanie right away and thought she was beautiful and sweet. They just never get past Stephanie doing her best to avoid Bertrand for years. Until….
A family wedding! Characters from the previous books are getting married and both sides of the family are together for at least a week. Finally Bertrand can figure out why this woman is so skiddish. Unfortunately, Bertie is #handsome, like the most gorgeous man to walk the earth. Too handsome in fact.
What’s great about Bertie is he takes the hint, or insult thrown in his face, and decides to mend his broken heart and move on. But when he runs into Steph again by chance his reptile brain says “Mine! Mate! Must win her over”! Not those words, because Mary Balogh would never, but he might as well have.
We get an absolute lovely romance, with meddling family, returning characters, and some hot kissing.
What I don’t like… this cover. What the hell is this? Does not fit with the series at all, looks AI style. I am confused.
Also, like I mentioned above, this is not an entry to MB, too many side characters. Her next book might need to take place in Wales or have 2 characters trapped on an island to clear the decks a bit.
Thank you to the publisher for the arc. I was so excited to read this!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I’ve heard great things about Mary Balogh books but they have always intimidated me a little because it seems like there are so many interconnected books and families. I was excited to get this ARC and dip my toes in but ooooh boy this did absolutely nothing to ease that fear. There were SO many names and complicated family relationships front-loaded in this book that I eventually gave up trying to follow it all and just skimmed to the next part.
I really liked Stephanie. She knows she isn’t actually inferior or unworthy, but that doesn’t make the anxious voice in her head telling her she’s unattractive and unwanted magically disappear. She and Bertrand spend so much of the book already having feelings for each other and just trying to get out of their own heads long enough to let the other person in. It made for a really sweet story. I’m still a little intimidated by Mary Balogh, but l’m happy I’ve got a taste for more.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a copy of this book!
I really liked Stephanie. She knows she isn’t actually inferior or unworthy, but that doesn’t make the anxious voice in her head telling her she’s unattractive and unwanted magically disappear. She and Bertrand spend so much of the book already having feelings for each other and just trying to get out of their own heads long enough to let the other person in. It made for a really sweet story. I’m still a little intimidated by Mary Balogh, but l’m happy I’ve got a taste for more.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a copy of this book!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I have been waiting for Bertrand and Stephanie's story. I enjoyed it. although I will say that I didn't feel the romance as much in this books. I got tired of all of Stephanie’s negative thoughts. It seemed to take up too much space for me. Bertrand was as delightful as I thought he would be. It was interesting to see the events of previous books through Stephanie’s eyes and gave a different spin on things. I am excited for Owen's book and can’t wait to see what he ends up doing in life. I have enjoyed this series and do recommend it. I feel like you need to read the previous books to truly understand and enjoy this book. There are just so many characters at this point that make appearances throughout this book that it can get confusing. If you are a Mary Balogh fan then you will not want to miss this addition and If you haven’t read any of her work before you should definitely pick up the first Ravenswood book and get started on a great series.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Ok, this installment of Ravenswood finally feels like Balogh has settled into her new voice -- combining the coziness of the previous books with a mild return to conflict and plot. Also less repetitive, and again featuring both the Wares and the Westcotts. One might argue that the various rehashing of the many characters' backstories and relationships is repetitive in its own right, but I tried to just lean into the comfort of the storytelling and it worked for me. I also appreciate that so many of the characters in this series have either disabilities or mental health journeys -- that can be cringy at times, but the sincerity of the effort to be inclusive shines through.
Advanced Readers' Copy provided by Edelweiss.
Advanced Readers' Copy provided by Edelweiss.
September 17, 2026
So excited to get this book to review. I have read most of Mary Balogh’s novels and this one did not disappoint.
Scarred by the betrayal of her father at a young age and burdened by her own body image, Stephanie is afraid to love thinking that she is bound to be hurt. Bertrand has loved Stephanie from afar and is perplexed as to why she treats him with disdain. A chance meeting at Vauxhall gives them both an opening to know one another better. I enjoyed watching Stephanie grow into herself and accept Bertrand into her life. An added bonus for me was catching up with the Westcott family.
Thank you to #NetGalley and #BerkleyPublishing for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Scarred by the betrayal of her father at a young age and burdened by her own body image, Stephanie is afraid to love thinking that she is bound to be hurt. Bertrand has loved Stephanie from afar and is perplexed as to why she treats him with disdain. A chance meeting at Vauxhall gives them both an opening to know one another better. I enjoyed watching Stephanie grow into herself and accept Bertrand into her life. An added bonus for me was catching up with the Westcott family.
Thank you to #NetGalley and #BerkleyPublishing for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Balogh has a very mannered style, so it took me a little while to sink into this book. Once I did, I enjoyed it. The characters belong to large families, many members of which have already been featured in one or another series, so there are a lot of names and relationships to remember. But she never loses sight of the central romance. The couple's characters are well developed, and their growing romance is believable.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Stephanie has always had self-image issues. She thinks she's fat and ugly. She also has been attracted to her brother's friend Bertrand who is handsome and perfect in every way. Bertrand feels an attraction to Stephanie but can't understand why she is friendly to everyone but him. Stephanie has to learn that if she loves someone they will not leave her. Bertrand must accept her for who she is. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Didn’t really care for it at all. Wasn’t a fan of the FMC, the MMC was bleh whatever, the plot was also bleh whatever. I dropped it. Writing was fine.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is Stephanie and Bertrand’s story! Bertrand is getting ready to travel to Nicholas and Winnie’s wedding (from Remember That Day). He is feeling a little lonely and would like to find a wife and start a family. He misses his twin sister Estelle who is married to Justin Wiley (Someone Perfect). Bertrand is attracted to Stephanie Ware, but when he asks her to dance at the Ravenswood summer fete, she turns him down and was even a little rude about it. It turns out, she has a crush on him but thinks he’s too perfect for her. She is insecure about her looks. She is not slender or fashionable but Bertrand thinks she’s beautiful.
The Ravenswood family and friends celebrate Christmas together and this was one of my favorite scenes in the book. Stephanie apologizes to Bertrand for being rude and they share special moments when they plan a song to perform for everyone. They waltz together the last night of the festivities and he later remembers it as one of the highlights of his life. Still, she holds herself back and so he leaves for London hoping to find a wife. There are more gatherings at country estates and Bertrand’s home on a lake is especially beautiful. It took me a while to warm up to Stephanie but everyone could see they were a good match. There are so many relatives and friends now that it’s not easy to keep up with them all. It was special to read about Owen and the employment agency he’s started in London (where he volunteers in a soup kitchen). I look forward to his story, the last of the Ravenswood series. There is a friend who seemed very interested to talk with him about his new agency and it will be fun to see if she will be paired with him. Thanks so much to the author, Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC. My full review will be at Spoonerreads 10/27
The Ravenswood family and friends celebrate Christmas together and this was one of my favorite scenes in the book. Stephanie apologizes to Bertrand for being rude and they share special moments when they plan a song to perform for everyone. They waltz together the last night of the festivities and he later remembers it as one of the highlights of his life. Still, she holds herself back and so he leaves for London hoping to find a wife. There are more gatherings at country estates and Bertrand’s home on a lake is especially beautiful. It took me a while to warm up to Stephanie but everyone could see they were a good match. There are so many relatives and friends now that it’s not easy to keep up with them all. It was special to read about Owen and the employment agency he’s started in London (where he volunteers in a soup kitchen). I look forward to his story, the last of the Ravenswood series. There is a friend who seemed very interested to talk with him about his new agency and it will be fun to see if she will be paired with him. Thanks so much to the author, Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC. My full review will be at Spoonerreads 10/27
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews