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Games in a Ballroom
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.
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?
272 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2022
62 people are currently reading
3411 people want to read
About the author
Jentry Flint
4 books108 followersJentry 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 three kids. 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.
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November 3, 2021
Special thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC of this book for an honest review.
In this HR, Olivia Wilde (yes, I did snicker) is the only child of a self-made business man with anger issues and an abusive streak. Now that he’s earned a lot of money and found his way among the peerage, his primary focus is on marrying his daughter to a peer in order to elevate himself to the highest possible social standing.
Emerson Latham is Olivia’s best friend’s older brother. The three of them, along with Emerson’s friends, grew up messing around and playing games together. However, when we meet him, Emerson isn’t as playful as he used to be; after having lost his father, he’s now in charge of the family’s estate and its tenants, as well as his grieving mother and unwed sister.
But grief and responsibility haven’t taken Emerson’s eyes off of what he wants most: to marry Olivia. Because he doesn’t have a title, Emerson knows her father won’t let that happen to easily, so he comes up with a plan to state his intentions and spend as much time as possible with Liv: he proposes a discreet game of tag for the duration of the Season’s balls among themselves, his sister and his friends. That way, he has a legitimate reason to chase after her (I don’t hate it 😏).
The premise is lovely and I really liked the writing; I guess my main problem is that not a lot happens plot-wise! For the first 60% or so, the main plot points are the game, Olivia’s certainty that Emerson doesn’t actually like her (though he makes it very clear that he does, all the time) and a bet involving a pig and a waistcoat.
Things do move a little further from there, but I guess when I’m reading a slow burn I need two things: a lot (and I mean A LOT) of tension between the main characters, and for the payoff to be worth it. It needs to burn at some point! Unfortunately, I didn’t get any of those things with this book. Even the chemistry between Olivia and Emerson was lacking for me.
It bums me out not to have liked this book as much as I’d hoped, but I guess it can’t work for everyone.
In this HR, Olivia Wilde (yes, I did snicker) is the only child of a self-made business man with anger issues and an abusive streak. Now that he’s earned a lot of money and found his way among the peerage, his primary focus is on marrying his daughter to a peer in order to elevate himself to the highest possible social standing.
Emerson Latham is Olivia’s best friend’s older brother. The three of them, along with Emerson’s friends, grew up messing around and playing games together. However, when we meet him, Emerson isn’t as playful as he used to be; after having lost his father, he’s now in charge of the family’s estate and its tenants, as well as his grieving mother and unwed sister.
But grief and responsibility haven’t taken Emerson’s eyes off of what he wants most: to marry Olivia. Because he doesn’t have a title, Emerson knows her father won’t let that happen to easily, so he comes up with a plan to state his intentions and spend as much time as possible with Liv: he proposes a discreet game of tag for the duration of the Season’s balls among themselves, his sister and his friends. That way, he has a legitimate reason to chase after her (I don’t hate it 😏).
The premise is lovely and I really liked the writing; I guess my main problem is that not a lot happens plot-wise! For the first 60% or so, the main plot points are the game, Olivia’s certainty that Emerson doesn’t actually like her (though he makes it very clear that he does, all the time) and a bet involving a pig and a waistcoat.
Things do move a little further from there, but I guess when I’m reading a slow burn I need two things: a lot (and I mean A LOT) of tension between the main characters, and for the payoff to be worth it. It needs to burn at some point! Unfortunately, I didn’t get any of those things with this book. Even the chemistry between Olivia and Emerson was lacking for me.
It bums me out not to have liked this book as much as I’d hoped, but I guess it can’t work for everyone.
September 16, 2024
3-ish stars. Trigger Warning for domestic violence & an abusive father. (Clean fiction: no faith content, major language, or spicy scenes.)
🃏 Best friend’s brother
🃏 Childhood friends
🃏 Friends to more
🃏 He fell first
🃏 Secretly pining
🃏 Lots of balls
🃏 (But also a trigger warning for domestic violence & an abusive father)
Okay, so Emerson's kind of an idiot. But a cute idiot. She is also a bit of one too. I don’t know how he’s kept his crush a secret for so long and how she didn’t pick up on it. Idiots, the lot of them.
I usually like when the main guy is completely smitten with the main girl, but Emerson did have has moments of being a bad friend because all his attention was on wooing Olivia. He also let his jealousy and emotions rule over him at times (which was understandable, but not the healthiest.) He had it so bad for her, even thinking about when they’ll have a carriage full of spirited sons and daughters, though, so I had to cheer for their relationship. (Some of their kisses were a touch much, though.)
The game parts were cute and fun and kind of silly, but then you have Olivia’s physically and verbally abusive father who brings down the plot and the mood. I was more than ready to push him off a bridge for her. Say the word, girl, let me do it. 😅 It was odd at times because you have the games and the humor, but then there’s the seriousness of domestic violence and parental abuse. It was a bit jarring at times and brought down the fun side of the book for me (hence a 3 star rating). It would have been better as just a cute rom-com because those elements felt silly and ridiculous when comparing them to her father throwing stuff and being an overall jerk.
My heart was racing a bit there at the end because the forbidden love trope is just angst upon angst. I don’t know why I do this to myself. It ended well enough but an epilogue that was super happy and full of good news would have been nice.
I see that this author's newest book, "To Love a Brooding Barron", is about Emerson's sister and friend so I'll have to check that one out and hope that Bradbury will be getting his own story as well.
Main Content-
Emerson thinks that the "greatest gift and legacy God could give a man" is "a wife and children of his own"; The phrase "God willing" is said; When Emerson returns to the gentleman's club, his friend calls out "The prodigal son returns!"; Mentions of characters praying and looking to the ceiling/towards Heaven for help (though never said from Whom); A few mentions of the Church of England and high ecclesiastical stations; A mention of sainthood; A mention of Fate (capital 'F').
There's a man who is said to look like the devil (an actually evil man) and another who wears a "devil-may-care" grin and talks about being "wickedly handsome" and "devilishly charming"; Mentions of Egyptian gods/goddesses & statues of them at houses (plus a couple mentions of "the afterlife"); A couple mentions of curses.
'Lud' is said 2x and 'for heaven's sake' 1x; Other words and phrases like 'prig', 'deuced hard', 'what in blazes', 'blazes', 'what the devil', 'devil take it', are all said; Curses are said (including by Emerson, but not written out); Some sarcasm & eye rolling.
Olivia's father is an absolutely terrible human and views her as his property to be able to force her to marry a man of his choosing (only requirement is to have a title), throws things at her and her mother when upset, yells at them and their household staff, and there's mentions about her mother's bruises from him; Olivia knows (& later he threatens it) to keep her mother away from mother if she doesn't do want he wants and cut her off; Olivia does wish to make her parents proud and make herself go along with his plans; Olivia lies to hold back her feelings on different topics and while some taste terrible, she doesn't mind lying to one man she doesn't care for and her father (noting that those lies don't taste bad) & at one point thinks that she no longer cares because "what was one lie in what was sure to be a lifetime of many?"; Olivia has a moment that seems similar to a panic attack; *Major Spoiler* .
Emerson's father passed away a year prior and there's grief on his part, his sister, and their mother (up to a few sentences each time); A couple mentions of Emerson's father on his deathbed.
There's quite a bit of mentions of bets, betting books, gambling, card games, & the such with Emerson and her friends being active in a gentleman's club (one friend is notorious for his betting and pranks); Emerson takes part in a prank (which was tied to a bet) and a card game (not for money and the other person cheats); Emerson and a friend do a prank involving a pig wearing a coat jacket and being shoved into a gentleman's club (which causes the men to chase after them with threats like a mob and the likely possibility of the pig being served at the club); A drunk man (side character and Emerson helps); Emerson comments on needing a drink at one point; Mentions of "vices" (particularly by a drunk man trying to encourage Emerson to drink/the vice).
Pain, Injuries, Being hit/attacked, Fighting, Blood/Bleeding, & Seeing all of this as well (up to a few sentences); Mentions of deaths & grieving; Mentions of alcohol, drinking, & drunks; Mentions of bribes & blackmail; Mentions of lies & lying; Mentions of gossip & rumors; A few mentions of a possible murder (unclear? Book #2 will have more info); A couple mentions of fox hunting.
1 cheek kiss,
1 almost kiss (lasting a few sentences),
1 kiss with no details,
1 kiss having a single adjective,
2 kisses lasting a couple sentences,
1 kiss lasting a few sentences,
2 kisses lasting a few paragraphs (around 10 sentences and doing one he undoes her hair clips);
Remembering kisses, near kisses, & touches/embraces (up to a few sentences); Staring at lips & finger-to-lips touches (up to a few sentences);
Touches, Embraces, Dancing, Hand holding, Warmth, Flutters, Smelling, & lots of Nearness (up to a handful sentences); Wanting to touch, kiss, embrace, & touch/undo someone's hair (up to a few sentences); Noticing (up to a few sentences); Blushes; Jealousy (including Emerson describing himself an animal when seeing another man with Olivia & grabbing his friend by his collar in anger because of it).
Olivia's mother tells her that advantageous marriages do have tings to offer a woman, but love is rarely one of them (Olivia finds them cruel); One of Emerson's friends goes off on a rant/tangent about marriage being an institution; A man is described as a predator & has a scandal in his past; Mentions of jealousy; A couple mentions of young women being compromised & being ruined.
🃏 Best friend’s brother
🃏 Childhood friends
🃏 Friends to more
🃏 He fell first
🃏 Secretly pining
🃏 Lots of balls
🃏 (But also a trigger warning for domestic violence & an abusive father)
Okay, so Emerson's kind of an idiot. But a cute idiot. She is also a bit of one too. I don’t know how he’s kept his crush a secret for so long and how she didn’t pick up on it. Idiots, the lot of them.
I usually like when the main guy is completely smitten with the main girl, but Emerson did have has moments of being a bad friend because all his attention was on wooing Olivia. He also let his jealousy and emotions rule over him at times (which was understandable, but not the healthiest.) He had it so bad for her, even thinking about when they’ll have a carriage full of spirited sons and daughters, though, so I had to cheer for their relationship. (Some of their kisses were a touch much, though.)
The game parts were cute and fun and kind of silly, but then you have Olivia’s physically and verbally abusive father who brings down the plot and the mood. I was more than ready to push him off a bridge for her. Say the word, girl, let me do it. 😅 It was odd at times because you have the games and the humor, but then there’s the seriousness of domestic violence and parental abuse. It was a bit jarring at times and brought down the fun side of the book for me (hence a 3 star rating). It would have been better as just a cute rom-com because those elements felt silly and ridiculous when comparing them to her father throwing stuff and being an overall jerk.
My heart was racing a bit there at the end because the forbidden love trope is just angst upon angst. I don’t know why I do this to myself. It ended well enough but an epilogue that was super happy and full of good news would have been nice.
I see that this author's newest book, "To Love a Brooding Barron", is about Emerson's sister and friend so I'll have to check that one out and hope that Bradbury will be getting his own story as well.
Main Content-
Emerson thinks that the "greatest gift and legacy God could give a man" is "a wife and children of his own"; The phrase "God willing" is said; When Emerson returns to the gentleman's club, his friend calls out "The prodigal son returns!"; Mentions of characters praying and looking to the ceiling/towards Heaven for help (though never said from Whom); A few mentions of the Church of England and high ecclesiastical stations; A mention of sainthood; A mention of Fate (capital 'F').
There's a man who is said to look like the devil (an actually evil man) and another who wears a "devil-may-care" grin and talks about being "wickedly handsome" and "devilishly charming"; Mentions of Egyptian gods/goddesses & statues of them at houses (plus a couple mentions of "the afterlife"); A couple mentions of curses.
'Lud' is said 2x and 'for heaven's sake' 1x; Other words and phrases like 'prig', 'deuced hard', 'what in blazes', 'blazes', 'what the devil', 'devil take it', are all said; Curses are said (including by Emerson, but not written out); Some sarcasm & eye rolling.
Olivia's father is an absolutely terrible human and views her as his property to be able to force her to marry a man of his choosing (only requirement is to have a title), throws things at her and her mother when upset, yells at them and their household staff, and there's mentions about her mother's bruises from him; Olivia knows (& later he threatens it) to keep her mother away from mother if she doesn't do want he wants and cut her off; Olivia does wish to make her parents proud and make herself go along with his plans; Olivia lies to hold back her feelings on different topics and while some taste terrible, she doesn't mind lying to one man she doesn't care for and her father (noting that those lies don't taste bad) & at one point thinks that she no longer cares because "what was one lie in what was sure to be a lifetime of many?"; Olivia has a moment that seems similar to a panic attack; *Major Spoiler* .
Emerson's father passed away a year prior and there's grief on his part, his sister, and their mother (up to a few sentences each time); A couple mentions of Emerson's father on his deathbed.
There's quite a bit of mentions of bets, betting books, gambling, card games, & the such with Emerson and her friends being active in a gentleman's club (one friend is notorious for his betting and pranks); Emerson takes part in a prank (which was tied to a bet) and a card game (not for money and the other person cheats); Emerson and a friend do a prank involving a pig wearing a coat jacket and being shoved into a gentleman's club (which causes the men to chase after them with threats like a mob and the likely possibility of the pig being served at the club); A drunk man (side character and Emerson helps); Emerson comments on needing a drink at one point; Mentions of "vices" (particularly by a drunk man trying to encourage Emerson to drink/the vice).
Pain, Injuries, Being hit/attacked, Fighting, Blood/Bleeding, & Seeing all of this as well (up to a few sentences); Mentions of deaths & grieving; Mentions of alcohol, drinking, & drunks; Mentions of bribes & blackmail; Mentions of lies & lying; Mentions of gossip & rumors; A few mentions of a possible murder (unclear? Book #2 will have more info); A couple mentions of fox hunting.
1 cheek kiss,
1 almost kiss (lasting a few sentences),
1 kiss with no details,
1 kiss having a single adjective,
2 kisses lasting a couple sentences,
1 kiss lasting a few sentences,
2 kisses lasting a few paragraphs (around 10 sentences and doing one he undoes her hair clips);
Remembering kisses, near kisses, & touches/embraces (up to a few sentences); Staring at lips & finger-to-lips touches (up to a few sentences);
Touches, Embraces, Dancing, Hand holding, Warmth, Flutters, Smelling, & lots of Nearness (up to a handful sentences); Wanting to touch, kiss, embrace, & touch/undo someone's hair (up to a few sentences); Noticing (up to a few sentences); Blushes; Jealousy (including Emerson describing himself an animal when seeing another man with Olivia & grabbing his friend by his collar in anger because of it).
Olivia's mother tells her that advantageous marriages do have tings to offer a woman, but love is rarely one of them (Olivia finds them cruel); One of Emerson's friends goes off on a rant/tangent about marriage being an institution; A man is described as a predator & has a scandal in his past; Mentions of jealousy; A couple mentions of young women being compromised & being ruined.
November 23, 2021
♡Tag x Regency♡
Synopsis:
Emerson Latham, sobered by responsibility he has inherited through his fathers passing, is ready to settle down, and he has just the lady in mind for the job. He holds a tendre for his childhood friend & sister's best friend, Miss Wilde. There are two impediments to that goal:
1.He is deep in the trenches of the Friendzone and oblivious Olivia can't seem to pick up any flirting cues (which, girl same.)
2.If he manages to overcome the above, then he still must contend with Mr Wilde's decree that his daughter will only be wed to one baring a title; one Latham is sorely without.
Olivia Wilde (Not the starlet,) aka Liv Wilde (not the homophone of the motto,) is unaware she is the target of a wooing. Due to their longstanding friendship, whenever he asks for a dance she assumes it is out of politeness to his sisters friend or neighborly duty. When he flirts she is unsure of his sincerity, and she takes it for teasing.
Olivia is not one to put much merit in words, unlike her BFF Miss Arabella Latham, to who the Bard's word is as good as gospel. Olivia doesn't care for superficial compliments; a fortunate thing as her dresses put the 'gad' in 'gaudy.' Here's a helpful rule of thumb: If Caroline Bingley would wear it, Olivia has it. See, for some reason, her Father, who is a self made tradesman & uncouth,
Mr Wilde:
Makes the fashion calls, and he likes whatever costs the most & is the flashiest, to exhibit his wealth, irregardless of style.
Perhaps this is why Olivia is rarely asked to dance and has become a wallflower, which leaves her in a precarious situation.
All her fathers social climbing hopes are pinned on her making an advantageous match, propelling them from tainted trade into venerated gentry. Defecting from this plan in not an option, as Mr Wilde is always on a knives edge, and if Olivia doesn't do as told, he will take it out on both her- verbally- and on her mother -physically.
With the season in full swing, playing wingman to Emerson's romantic pursuit are his two best mates.
Emerson:
There is Bradbury, a lovable scamp who enjoys to gamble, and sees no need to abandon his bachelorhood, he gives flashes of Barney from HIMYM. And Lord Northcott, aka Beasty, aka the brooding baron, all in reference to his imposing height and somber demeanor- evidently a Darcy type.
Emerson surmises he must resort to unconventional courting methods to escape the jaws of the Friendzone. Having his head in the game, he suggests one of tag. This may seem out of left field, but with Emerson it is a pattern, literally all his solutions to any obstacle dropped in his path are a result of an arrested development with childhood games.
His friends: Hey Emerson, why not attempt to be more transparent & blatant in courting her?
Emerson: No, tag is the only way. Courting was never an option. Tag is love, tag is life.
At times it gets a bit over the top, as it ALL comes back to the game. Every favor, argument, supplication.. Were one of the characters to drop dead, I wouldn't be surprised if their final breath would be wasted on the utterance, 'Please, finish the game. For me.’
All the while, they must be discrete when tagging one another, adding an an extra layer to the game. If they were caught, it would be the height of impropriety.
Tag is not the only recreation the group will partake in, there are games within the game- a gameception, if you will! All the classics you remember from childhood feature fittingly when called for.
I can't think of a better theme for a courtship where the gentleman hasn't expressly stated his intentions than children's games, since isn't that what dating in general feels like? Childish mind games, played by stunted adults- ehem. Not bitter. I digress.
Will love be in the cards for Emerson & Olivia? Or will Olivia be forced to accept the hand she was dealt and marry a title irregardless of a want of affection? Might a titled suitor have something up his sleeve? Will Emerson's tag game prove to be the trump card? Or-- ok I'm sorry, I'll cease with the puns. I can feel the wrath building through the screen.
The Brass Tacks:
It was slow to get into, but by second half I couldn't put it down. This is not a story where you will find angst, or incredible depths of characters, but it was well rounded. It was always subtly funny, not in your face, but intrinsically so. The dialogue was solid, with some lines that stood out, the characters all distinguished, and the resolution satisfying. All in all, a charming debut.
I love the theme of youth bound by strictures finding small pockets of fun and loop holes to slip through. Irregardless of their descending roles as masters and ladies in the marriage mart, they find a way to be playful, in almost small rebellion. It is the true universal attitude, the desire to find those with whom you feel safe to be silly. To bring out your inner clown. Not It.
This novel inspired me to fit more games in, to create new & keep old inside jokes betwixt bosom friends; thus keeping the torch of whimsy eternally lit. Sometimes tis all too easy to forget to make time for some lighthearted silliness, and that reminder has made this yarn all the worth while.
Whichever ballrooms life takes you to, whether be it one at the Met or the Marriott, tis never too late to squeeze in some games.
꙳ Spice Scale rating: Belle Pepper Chaste 🌶/5 ꙳
I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
P.S. The 'moving game' in the book reminded me of a variant of the game 'drug dealer,' that I play with friends- woah, let me stop you there! I am not talking literal drug dealing, I swear!
We would never bring shop talk into our leisure time- just jesting! Don't call the cops...
Anyways, here is the instructions; though how we play it, not any movement would do to move your inventory, you'd have to stick out your tongue to 'buyers' without the 'cop' noticing. I recommend to play it this way, as hilarity inevitably ensues. So give it a whirl, as this book conveys, we are never too old for games.
Or too young to become a small, off the books, business owner 😜
Synopsis:
Emerson Latham, sobered by responsibility he has inherited through his fathers passing, is ready to settle down, and he has just the lady in mind for the job. He holds a tendre for his childhood friend & sister's best friend, Miss Wilde. There are two impediments to that goal:
1.He is deep in the trenches of the Friendzone and oblivious Olivia can't seem to pick up any flirting cues (which, girl same.)
2.If he manages to overcome the above, then he still must contend with Mr Wilde's decree that his daughter will only be wed to one baring a title; one Latham is sorely without.
Olivia Wilde (Not the starlet,) aka Liv Wilde (not the homophone of the motto,) is unaware she is the target of a wooing. Due to their longstanding friendship, whenever he asks for a dance she assumes it is out of politeness to his sisters friend or neighborly duty. When he flirts she is unsure of his sincerity, and she takes it for teasing.
Olivia is not one to put much merit in words, unlike her BFF Miss Arabella Latham, to who the Bard's word is as good as gospel. Olivia doesn't care for superficial compliments; a fortunate thing as her dresses put the 'gad' in 'gaudy.' Here's a helpful rule of thumb: If Caroline Bingley would wear it, Olivia has it. See, for some reason, her Father, who is a self made tradesman & uncouth,
Mr Wilde:
Makes the fashion calls, and he likes whatever costs the most & is the flashiest, to exhibit his wealth, irregardless of style.
Perhaps this is why Olivia is rarely asked to dance and has become a wallflower, which leaves her in a precarious situation.
All her fathers social climbing hopes are pinned on her making an advantageous match, propelling them from tainted trade into venerated gentry. Defecting from this plan in not an option, as Mr Wilde is always on a knives edge, and if Olivia doesn't do as told, he will take it out on both her- verbally- and on her mother -physically.
With the season in full swing, playing wingman to Emerson's romantic pursuit are his two best mates.
Emerson:
There is Bradbury, a lovable scamp who enjoys to gamble, and sees no need to abandon his bachelorhood, he gives flashes of Barney from HIMYM. And Lord Northcott, aka Beasty, aka the brooding baron, all in reference to his imposing height and somber demeanor- evidently a Darcy type.
Emerson surmises he must resort to unconventional courting methods to escape the jaws of the Friendzone. Having his head in the game, he suggests one of tag. This may seem out of left field, but with Emerson it is a pattern, literally all his solutions to any obstacle dropped in his path are a result of an arrested development with childhood games.
His friends: Hey Emerson, why not attempt to be more transparent & blatant in courting her?
Emerson: No, tag is the only way. Courting was never an option. Tag is love, tag is life.
At times it gets a bit over the top, as it ALL comes back to the game. Every favor, argument, supplication.. Were one of the characters to drop dead, I wouldn't be surprised if their final breath would be wasted on the utterance, 'Please, finish the game. For me.’
All the while, they must be discrete when tagging one another, adding an an extra layer to the game. If they were caught, it would be the height of impropriety.
Tag is not the only recreation the group will partake in, there are games within the game- a gameception, if you will! All the classics you remember from childhood feature fittingly when called for.
I can't think of a better theme for a courtship where the gentleman hasn't expressly stated his intentions than children's games, since isn't that what dating in general feels like? Childish mind games, played by stunted adults- ehem. Not bitter. I digress.
Will love be in the cards for Emerson & Olivia? Or will Olivia be forced to accept the hand she was dealt and marry a title irregardless of a want of affection? Might a titled suitor have something up his sleeve? Will Emerson's tag game prove to be the trump card? Or-- ok I'm sorry, I'll cease with the puns. I can feel the wrath building through the screen.
The Brass Tacks:
It was slow to get into, but by second half I couldn't put it down. This is not a story where you will find angst, or incredible depths of characters, but it was well rounded. It was always subtly funny, not in your face, but intrinsically so. The dialogue was solid, with some lines that stood out, the characters all distinguished, and the resolution satisfying. All in all, a charming debut.
I love the theme of youth bound by strictures finding small pockets of fun and loop holes to slip through. Irregardless of their descending roles as masters and ladies in the marriage mart, they find a way to be playful, in almost small rebellion. It is the true universal attitude, the desire to find those with whom you feel safe to be silly. To bring out your inner clown. Not It.
This novel inspired me to fit more games in, to create new & keep old inside jokes betwixt bosom friends; thus keeping the torch of whimsy eternally lit. Sometimes tis all too easy to forget to make time for some lighthearted silliness, and that reminder has made this yarn all the worth while.
Whichever ballrooms life takes you to, whether be it one at the Met or the Marriott, tis never too late to squeeze in some games.
꙳ Spice Scale rating: Belle Pepper Chaste 🌶/5 ꙳
I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
P.S. The 'moving game' in the book reminded me of a variant of the game 'drug dealer,' that I play with friends- woah, let me stop you there! I am not talking literal drug dealing, I swear!
We would never bring shop talk into our leisure time- just jesting! Don't call the cops...
Anyways, here is the instructions; though how we play it, not any movement would do to move your inventory, you'd have to stick out your tongue to 'buyers' without the 'cop' noticing. I recommend to play it this way, as hilarity inevitably ensues. So give it a whirl, as this book conveys, we are never too old for games.
Or too young to become a small, off the books, business owner 😜
October 10, 2021
A book that I really enjoyed right from the start. There was no long back story as the leading couple are childhood friends and neighbors. The book is a slice of life where Emerson is in love with Liv and how he goes about courting her with humor and a wonderful game of tag. His friends are well written and I hope they get a book of their own as they are supportive and loyal. The writing is in keeping with the time and I never felt it was too modern but the description never gets too bogged down in detail. The books is also a tale of 2 families, one that has love and the other abuse. I would have liked an Epilogue as to what happens are things are tied up. Thank you NetGalley for ARC.
October 4, 2024
After reading To Love the Brooding Baron, I decided to check out Games in a Ballroom to see where it all started. It was a fun read (how can it not be, with "games" in the title?), though a bit slower paced than I would've liked.
The romance was sweet, but could've used a bit more tension. I think I prefer Arabella and Northcott's story to this one, and it was lovely seeing them again here (and Bradbury).
The audiobook narrator is, I'm pretty sure, the same one who narrates Arlem Hawks' books? I kept waiting for her to break out the French accent, hah.
All in all, I'm exited to see more of these characters in book three.
The romance was sweet, but could've used a bit more tension. I think I prefer Arabella and Northcott's story to this one, and it was lovely seeing them again here (and Bradbury).
The audiobook narrator is, I'm pretty sure, the same one who narrates Arlem Hawks' books? I kept waiting for her to break out the French accent, hah.
All in all, I'm exited to see more of these characters in book three.
May 3, 2022
4.5*
This was a fun read. I'm looking forward to more books from this author about the group of friends in this book. They were all very intriguing with some different and unique character traits (especially the men). The combination of all of their personalities made for some fun games and moments within this story.
Emerson is in love with Olivia but according to her parents is not worthy of marrying her. You know, he doesn't have a title and that is very important! But Emerson isn't going to let that stop him. He's going to do whatever he can to make sure that Olivia knows he cares for her and to make sure that he doesn't fail in obtaining her hand in marriage.
I thought this was very cleverly written and the game that Emerson employs with the friends adds some spice to all of their dull ballroom lives. Lol! And it adds excitement for the reader as well. They can't be caught by the adults either! It was fun to watch them navigate their game without letting anyone be the wiser for what they were doing.
There are some twists and turns for Emerson and Olivia. And Emerson was great at being secretive and giving her longing stares and whispers in her ear. Olivia just has to decide what she's going to do about the feelings she's starting to develop for her long time friend. But she has to tread carefully because of her father and mother.
If you're looking for a fun and diverting Regency book to read, this is one I'd recommend!
Content: Clean. Some mention of abuse but not overly graphic, more just knowing it happens. Nothing more than a couple kisses.
I received a copy from the publisher, Shadow Mountain Publishing, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own. I have also purchased my own copy.
Happy Reading!!!
This was a fun read. I'm looking forward to more books from this author about the group of friends in this book. They were all very intriguing with some different and unique character traits (especially the men). The combination of all of their personalities made for some fun games and moments within this story.
Emerson is in love with Olivia but according to her parents is not worthy of marrying her. You know, he doesn't have a title and that is very important! But Emerson isn't going to let that stop him. He's going to do whatever he can to make sure that Olivia knows he cares for her and to make sure that he doesn't fail in obtaining her hand in marriage.
I thought this was very cleverly written and the game that Emerson employs with the friends adds some spice to all of their dull ballroom lives. Lol! And it adds excitement for the reader as well. They can't be caught by the adults either! It was fun to watch them navigate their game without letting anyone be the wiser for what they were doing.
There are some twists and turns for Emerson and Olivia. And Emerson was great at being secretive and giving her longing stares and whispers in her ear. Olivia just has to decide what she's going to do about the feelings she's starting to develop for her long time friend. But she has to tread carefully because of her father and mother.
If you're looking for a fun and diverting Regency book to read, this is one I'd recommend!
Content: Clean. Some mention of abuse but not overly graphic, more just knowing it happens. Nothing more than a couple kisses.
I received a copy from the publisher, Shadow Mountain Publishing, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own. I have also purchased my own copy.
Happy Reading!!!
May 26, 2022
What a fun notion! The games of tag in the ballroom brought a sense of anticipation throughout the book, although I wasn't sold on the sense of purpose with some of the game-themed scenes, especially one involving cards and two male egos. I thought it was an endearing trait for Emerson to be up for a good game or prank, but Olivia didn't allow herself to feel much which prevented me from connecting to her emotions. She seemed stuck, and she didn't progress for most of the book- frustrating for both myself and Emerson. I think it affected the pace and slowed it down with some repetition of her thought patterns. I began to enjoy the book more with the extremely well-written kissing scenes (*fans self*). I thought the foreshadowing with the pig was very clever and the scene where it takes center stage does not disappoint! I'm planning to read more from this creative author and I hope we get books for each of Emerson's friends/partners-in-crime.
Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.
Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.
January 29, 2022
"I propose a game," Emerson said, catching her off guard… "The game can be kept discreet enough that we can all enjoy ourselves while still playing the part society expects of us at functions such as these."
Games in a Ballroom (2022, Shadow Mountain) by Jentry Flint, is a Regency romance set in London in 1815. The publisher has given this book its Proper Romance label. It's a standalone story, but I hope the author will write more stories, centering around some of the secondary characters. It's Ms. Flint's first full-length published novel. (She has previously published two novellas.) I initially chose to read Games in a Ballroom because I was intrigued by the prospect of the cardroom being featured in a Regency romance.
Rating: 5 stars
Is it clean/chaste? Yes!
Other content issues: Some fighting - not overmuch
Christian elements: This is published by an LDS-based company. (I'm a non-denominational Christian, but sometimes read books by LDS authors because they're reliably chaste.) If I remember correctly, there were no quotes from the Bible. Most instances of the word god were references to some statues of Egyptian gods. Beyond that, there were only the following:
"and God willing. . . "
". . . the greatest gift and legacy God could give a man – a wife and children of his own." (I believe that this is actually a tenet of the LDS religion, but most people do value family.)
The hero: Emerson Latham "was the head of his family now [after the death of his father a year ago], which put his widowed mother, his troublesome sister [Arabella], and a country estate that was sustainable but not overly profitable, far above betting books and gentlemen's club rivalries. Most of his time was now spent in ballrooms, where his ability to spot a bluff allowed him to identify an unsuitable match for his sister in her first Season." At the beginning of this book, Emerson has long since transitioned from being a gamesome young man to a serious one, very focused on his duties as the head of the family. He has an interest in Olivia Wilde, Arabella's best friend. But there's a problem. . .
The heroine: Olivia Wilde's father is determined that she marry into a title. And Emerson doesn't have one. She is Emerson's "childhood friend subjected to such gaudy fashions" mandated by her misguided father, who "comes from trade." Olivia's father's expectations weigh heavily on her. And for good reason. . .
What I liked:
*There are a variety of games highlighted in this book, including some children's games and a trick-taking game that I have never heard of before.
*I really liked many of the secondary characters in this story. It's enjoyable to listen to Emerson's sister Arabella quoting Shakespeare, and Emerson's friends Bradbury and Northcott were fun to get to know. Maybe the author will develop them further in another book? Or two?
What I didn’t like:
*Perhaps Olivia's father was too one-dimensional.
*This isn't much of a complaint, but "stay on topic" is an anachronistic phrase.
Book recommendation: Miss Tavistock's Mistake
The bottom line: I think this was a great freshman Regency novel. I really enjoyed it. (My teenage daughter did also.) I recommend this book to anyone that enjoys clean historical romance. I look forward to reading more by Jentry Flint.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy of the book.
Games in a Ballroom (2022, Shadow Mountain) by Jentry Flint, is a Regency romance set in London in 1815. The publisher has given this book its Proper Romance label. It's a standalone story, but I hope the author will write more stories, centering around some of the secondary characters. It's Ms. Flint's first full-length published novel. (She has previously published two novellas.) I initially chose to read Games in a Ballroom because I was intrigued by the prospect of the cardroom being featured in a Regency romance.
Rating: 5 stars
Is it clean/chaste? Yes!
Other content issues: Some fighting - not overmuch
Christian elements: This is published by an LDS-based company. (I'm a non-denominational Christian, but sometimes read books by LDS authors because they're reliably chaste.) If I remember correctly, there were no quotes from the Bible. Most instances of the word god were references to some statues of Egyptian gods. Beyond that, there were only the following:
"and God willing. . . "
". . . the greatest gift and legacy God could give a man – a wife and children of his own." (I believe that this is actually a tenet of the LDS religion, but most people do value family.)
The hero: Emerson Latham "was the head of his family now [after the death of his father a year ago], which put his widowed mother, his troublesome sister [Arabella], and a country estate that was sustainable but not overly profitable, far above betting books and gentlemen's club rivalries. Most of his time was now spent in ballrooms, where his ability to spot a bluff allowed him to identify an unsuitable match for his sister in her first Season." At the beginning of this book, Emerson has long since transitioned from being a gamesome young man to a serious one, very focused on his duties as the head of the family. He has an interest in Olivia Wilde, Arabella's best friend. But there's a problem. . .
The heroine: Olivia Wilde's father is determined that she marry into a title. And Emerson doesn't have one. She is Emerson's "childhood friend subjected to such gaudy fashions" mandated by her misguided father, who "comes from trade." Olivia's father's expectations weigh heavily on her. And for good reason. . .
What I liked:
*There are a variety of games highlighted in this book, including some children's games and a trick-taking game that I have never heard of before.
*I really liked many of the secondary characters in this story. It's enjoyable to listen to Emerson's sister Arabella quoting Shakespeare, and Emerson's friends Bradbury and Northcott were fun to get to know. Maybe the author will develop them further in another book? Or two?
What I didn’t like:
*Perhaps Olivia's father was too one-dimensional.
*This isn't much of a complaint, but "stay on topic" is an anachronistic phrase.
Book recommendation: Miss Tavistock's Mistake
The bottom line: I think this was a great freshman Regency novel. I really enjoyed it. (My teenage daughter did also.) I recommend this book to anyone that enjoys clean historical romance. I look forward to reading more by Jentry Flint.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy of the book.
May 15, 2022
DNFed at 40% so let me explain my rating!
Games in a Ballroom is a regency romance about a girl who has been ordered to marry a noble and her old friend (her best friend's brother) who's in love with her. It's got the basis for quite a nice slow build owing to the forbidden love aspect of the premise and, for the most part, it achieves just that. If you are a fan of romance novels, particularly regency romance novels, then the writing here is quite nice, the characters seem interesting and each have a distinct voice, and everything flows rather smoothly. I liked the band of characters and their dynamic manages to come across rather nicely in the book. Overall, if you're able to suspend your disbelief over my main point below, you're going to be able to enjoy it for the cute book that it is.
However, for the life of me, I could not get past one critical element which is that the whole story revolves around the dangers of a game of TAG that the characters have embarked on in order to make the balls they attend slightly less boring. Right from the beginning, the main character keeps talking about how she should have never agreed to this game and how she's going to be ruined if her father ever discovers it like ... the whole game is just you walking up to someone in your friend group, tapping them, and saying you're it, they're not even like running around and chasing each other or anything like that, it's discreet tag!!!
Their constant mentioning of the importance of it all and the potential scandal and the high stakes the characters kept alluding to were just completely lost on me and I just could not take them or the story seriously as a result of it. I'd be enjoying some character interactions and then they'd start talking about TAG and who is it and I'd be faced with passages such as the one below as if they're planning a heist or planning a murder or something and it would just take me straight out of the story:
Like, I genuinely wanted to keep reading, I love the cover, the writer has a nice way with words and the romance is cute but I, personally, couldn't take the entire inciting incident seriously and found myself rolling my eyes every time it was mentioned so I just had to stop, I'm sorry. Don't let that stop you from reading it though!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an e-ARC of this book
Games in a Ballroom is a regency romance about a girl who has been ordered to marry a noble and her old friend (her best friend's brother) who's in love with her. It's got the basis for quite a nice slow build owing to the forbidden love aspect of the premise and, for the most part, it achieves just that. If you are a fan of romance novels, particularly regency romance novels, then the writing here is quite nice, the characters seem interesting and each have a distinct voice, and everything flows rather smoothly. I liked the band of characters and their dynamic manages to come across rather nicely in the book. Overall, if you're able to suspend your disbelief over my main point below, you're going to be able to enjoy it for the cute book that it is.
However, for the life of me, I could not get past one critical element which is that the whole story revolves around the dangers of a game of TAG that the characters have embarked on in order to make the balls they attend slightly less boring. Right from the beginning, the main character keeps talking about how she should have never agreed to this game and how she's going to be ruined if her father ever discovers it like ... the whole game is just you walking up to someone in your friend group, tapping them, and saying you're it, they're not even like running around and chasing each other or anything like that, it's discreet tag!!!
Their constant mentioning of the importance of it all and the potential scandal and the high stakes the characters kept alluding to were just completely lost on me and I just could not take them or the story seriously as a result of it. I'd be enjoying some character interactions and then they'd start talking about TAG and who is it and I'd be faced with passages such as the one below as if they're planning a heist or planning a murder or something and it would just take me straight out of the story:
Should Liv and his sister attempt to tag one another and discover that both of them had been tagged it, they would both come in search of him demanding answers. He would then be forced to admit in front of Liv that mistakes had been made.
Mistakes he could not afford to make.
Like, I genuinely wanted to keep reading, I love the cover, the writer has a nice way with words and the romance is cute but I, personally, couldn't take the entire inciting incident seriously and found myself rolling my eyes every time it was mentioned so I just had to stop, I'm sorry. Don't let that stop you from reading it though!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an e-ARC of this book
February 27, 2022
As you’d think from the title, there was a certain level of fun in this book. How can you not when you play tag in a stuffy Regency ballroom? That was a playful aspect to this book that I liked and found unique. Have to say, I’ve never read of tag in a ballroom in any of the hundred of regency books I’ve read. The characters didn’t take themselves too seriously which led me, as a reader, not to take them very seriously as well. I could have used maybe a little bit more seriousness (and perhaps some more romantic tension) within this story. But it was an easy afternoon read.
May 4, 2022
You might not think mixing a Regency romance, a game of Tag, a pig, a save-the-day game of hide and seek, and Shakespeare quotes would be so FANTASTIC but I’m here to tell you my friends… It is!
I’m not going to lie, when I first heard the premise of this book I was skeptical. Very intrigued, but skeptical.
Well in the words of Buttercup from The Princess Bride,
“I will never doubt again!” 🙌🏻
I just loved everything about this book!
You could tell Ms. Flint did a bunch of research to make this book happen. She weaved in snippets about the Aristocracy and some things/people that were popular at the time. Even things just about the Gentleman’s clubs! It was so well done.
👏🏻
She made the characters so likable (Except for 2 notable exceptions…) and fleshed out too! She gave them all histories and back stories, some of which we may not know all of yet but I’m very very intrigued to find out more…
*ahem* Northcott *ahem*
As for our hero, Emerson was such a sweet guy! I loved how family oriented he was. He took such good care of his mother and sister even after the death of his beloved father. And even in the midst of his grief he wanted to care for Olivia too. The way he understood Olivia, how he tried to carve out moments for them to have and how he tried to protect her from repercussions from her father. It was just so so sweet!
I also loved how he liked/loved Olivia from the beginning and it was her slowly realizing her feelings.
That idea behind the game of tag and the game itself was so much fun! I didn’t know how a game of tag could be pulled off in the ballroom but it worked and now I’m just so jealous I don’t have anyone to play tag with. 😩
Preferably with a handsome love interest and preferably in a beautiful ballroom…
Emerson and his friends, Bradbury and Northcott, were the true highlight of the story I think. I loved their camaraderie and how they helped Emerson with his plans and games. I really need another book with one of them as the Hero of the story. Maybe with Arabella as the heroine? I know who I want but I won’t spoil it even if it’s just guesses. 😂
Oh! And the ending was AWESOME!
It kept me on my toes and was so romantic! 😍
I’m definitely going to be rereading this one!
All in all, this was an amazing Regency romp and I can’t wait for whatever Jentry has in store for us next!
I’m not going to lie, when I first heard the premise of this book I was skeptical. Very intrigued, but skeptical.
Well in the words of Buttercup from The Princess Bride,
“I will never doubt again!” 🙌🏻
I just loved everything about this book!
You could tell Ms. Flint did a bunch of research to make this book happen. She weaved in snippets about the Aristocracy and some things/people that were popular at the time. Even things just about the Gentleman’s clubs! It was so well done.
👏🏻
She made the characters so likable (Except for 2 notable exceptions…) and fleshed out too! She gave them all histories and back stories, some of which we may not know all of yet but I’m very very intrigued to find out more…
*ahem* Northcott *ahem*
As for our hero, Emerson was such a sweet guy! I loved how family oriented he was. He took such good care of his mother and sister even after the death of his beloved father. And even in the midst of his grief he wanted to care for Olivia too. The way he understood Olivia, how he tried to carve out moments for them to have and how he tried to protect her from repercussions from her father. It was just so so sweet!
I also loved how he liked/loved Olivia from the beginning and it was her slowly realizing her feelings.
That idea behind the game of tag and the game itself was so much fun! I didn’t know how a game of tag could be pulled off in the ballroom but it worked and now I’m just so jealous I don’t have anyone to play tag with. 😩
Preferably with a handsome love interest and preferably in a beautiful ballroom…
Emerson and his friends, Bradbury and Northcott, were the true highlight of the story I think. I loved their camaraderie and how they helped Emerson with his plans and games. I really need another book with one of them as the Hero of the story. Maybe with Arabella as the heroine? I know who I want but I won’t spoil it even if it’s just guesses. 😂
Oh! And the ending was AWESOME!
It kept me on my toes and was so romantic! 😍
I’m definitely going to be rereading this one!
All in all, this was an amazing Regency romp and I can’t wait for whatever Jentry has in store for us next!
January 13, 2022
I was really excited about reading this upcoming debut by Jentry Flint.
Games in a Ballroom is about a man who has been pining for his friend for years, knowing that he can't court her because of his station and her fathers pride...he decides to create a game of tag that they can play in ballrooms with friends during the season...and by close proximity get her to fall in love with him in an unconventional way.
I really loved the idea of the man falling first and our main character is so sweet and true to his intentions with Olivia (I was a bit distracted by her name being Olivia Wilde but we will forget these details haha) I think some of my favorite parts were the shenanigans with his friends and the pranks they played with one another. Their back stories and colorful personalities intrigued me and I wanted to know more....also there was a part with a pig that probably stole the show in this book.
And while I did love many parts of this I just was a little underwhelmed with the chemistry between the two main characters. I could see it but I wanted to FEEL it. I know this could have been on my mood so I won't go into detail any further.
I had never heard of tag as a game played in this century so that gave it a unique feel and added some fun hi-jinx to the story. I also loved that as Olivia starts to recognize Emerson's intentions for what they were, that's when the romance really started to take off.
I think this was a fun and strong debut and I'm excited to see what books Jentry will produce in the future.
Games in a Ballroom is about a man who has been pining for his friend for years, knowing that he can't court her because of his station and her fathers pride...he decides to create a game of tag that they can play in ballrooms with friends during the season...and by close proximity get her to fall in love with him in an unconventional way.
I really loved the idea of the man falling first and our main character is so sweet and true to his intentions with Olivia (I was a bit distracted by her name being Olivia Wilde but we will forget these details haha) I think some of my favorite parts were the shenanigans with his friends and the pranks they played with one another. Their back stories and colorful personalities intrigued me and I wanted to know more....also there was a part with a pig that probably stole the show in this book.
And while I did love many parts of this I just was a little underwhelmed with the chemistry between the two main characters. I could see it but I wanted to FEEL it. I know this could have been on my mood so I won't go into detail any further.
I had never heard of tag as a game played in this century so that gave it a unique feel and added some fun hi-jinx to the story. I also loved that as Olivia starts to recognize Emerson's intentions for what they were, that's when the romance really started to take off.
I think this was a fun and strong debut and I'm excited to see what books Jentry will produce in the future.
May 4, 2022
Sometimes the flirtatious banter and games is a lot of fun and sometimes it comes across as too lighthearted. This story was a mixture of both. Emerson and Olivia have been friends since childhood and now big decisions are ready to be made. Do you stay loyal to your father or your heart?
The ballroom games really did provide a lot of entertainment and it was easy to picture myself in the ballroom as a late teen/young adult, but at times, it was hard to take Emerson seriously because it seemed all was in jest and his true motives were disguised. His spontaneous decisions did allow for some very hilarious moments though, and I did find myself smiling and laughing more than I was expecting to.
I enjoyed the delightful cast of characters and although I would have loved a dash more of romance, it was sweet and satisfying.
Content: mild romance
*I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*
The ballroom games really did provide a lot of entertainment and it was easy to picture myself in the ballroom as a late teen/young adult, but at times, it was hard to take Emerson seriously because it seemed all was in jest and his true motives were disguised. His spontaneous decisions did allow for some very hilarious moments though, and I did find myself smiling and laughing more than I was expecting to.
I enjoyed the delightful cast of characters and although I would have loved a dash more of romance, it was sweet and satisfying.
Content: mild romance
*I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*
May 7, 2022
“‘I will play.’ The words jumped from her lips, and her heart beat rapidly inside her chest. She hoped she would not come to regret it.”
What does an arranged marriage, a pig in a waistcoat, and a subtle game of tag have to do with a proper romance? A whole lot of fun and intrigue! Loved this creative debut novel by Jentry Flint! The parlor games brought back memories from childhood when my brothers or friends and I would create subtle little games to play if forced to endure a very proper, sometimes boring situation. The romance is a slow-burn, best friend’s older brother trope with swoony kisses, tantalizing whispers in the ear, and heat-filled glances. Loved the characters, especially the friendship between the three men in the story.
Emerson Latham feels the weight of responsibility since the death of his beloved father. In accompanying his younger sister during her first season, Emerson realizes his growing attraction to Arabella’s best friend Olivia Wilde. Trying to court her the traditional way makes Olivia think he’s just trying to be a good friend. He decides to employ an unconventional courtship via a game of subtle tag. Employing his two close friends, and his blue stocking sister, he convinces Olivia to play the game in various ton gatherings without being caught by the other adults in the room, especially her overbearing, abusive father.
Olivia’s resigned herself to being forced to marry a man with a title. Her father worked his way up from the docks to become a wealthy, formidable tradesman. He wants for nothing more than a title and is determined Olivia get one for him. His abusive treatment of her and her mother cows Olivia into submission but she secretly longs for love and romance. When Emerson proposes a harmless game of tag, she’s at first reticent, but more and more sees it as her last chance for some fun and excitement before being forced to marry.
I loved the games played throughout the book, especially those devised by Emerson and his friends. Emerson, Bradbury, and Lord Northcott were the highlight of the story for me. Their friendship was so well written and each character was given a distinct personality with an intriguing backstory (Hope we get more books about these friends.) The incident with the pig and the waistcoat had me laughing out loud. It’s definitely a unique prank that I don’t believe I’ve ever read in a novel.
The romance was definitely swoony! I loved how Emerson gives Olivia the nickname Liv, so her name becomes Liv Wilde. I enjoyed the way he wanted to see her laugh and live to her fullest potential. I loved watching them both change as they regained that spark for life and found their way back to themselves through their friends’ help and their love.
This is definitely a fun, clean regency romance with a modern fresh twist. There’s a small amount of violence, and a hint of abuse from Olivia’s father and forced intended, however it’s mostly suggested. The ending will have you on the edge of your seat. Look forward to more books by this author. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own and I was not required to provide a positive review.
What does an arranged marriage, a pig in a waistcoat, and a subtle game of tag have to do with a proper romance? A whole lot of fun and intrigue! Loved this creative debut novel by Jentry Flint! The parlor games brought back memories from childhood when my brothers or friends and I would create subtle little games to play if forced to endure a very proper, sometimes boring situation. The romance is a slow-burn, best friend’s older brother trope with swoony kisses, tantalizing whispers in the ear, and heat-filled glances. Loved the characters, especially the friendship between the three men in the story.
Emerson Latham feels the weight of responsibility since the death of his beloved father. In accompanying his younger sister during her first season, Emerson realizes his growing attraction to Arabella’s best friend Olivia Wilde. Trying to court her the traditional way makes Olivia think he’s just trying to be a good friend. He decides to employ an unconventional courtship via a game of subtle tag. Employing his two close friends, and his blue stocking sister, he convinces Olivia to play the game in various ton gatherings without being caught by the other adults in the room, especially her overbearing, abusive father.
Olivia’s resigned herself to being forced to marry a man with a title. Her father worked his way up from the docks to become a wealthy, formidable tradesman. He wants for nothing more than a title and is determined Olivia get one for him. His abusive treatment of her and her mother cows Olivia into submission but she secretly longs for love and romance. When Emerson proposes a harmless game of tag, she’s at first reticent, but more and more sees it as her last chance for some fun and excitement before being forced to marry.
I loved the games played throughout the book, especially those devised by Emerson and his friends. Emerson, Bradbury, and Lord Northcott were the highlight of the story for me. Their friendship was so well written and each character was given a distinct personality with an intriguing backstory (Hope we get more books about these friends.) The incident with the pig and the waistcoat had me laughing out loud. It’s definitely a unique prank that I don’t believe I’ve ever read in a novel.
The romance was definitely swoony! I loved how Emerson gives Olivia the nickname Liv, so her name becomes Liv Wilde. I enjoyed the way he wanted to see her laugh and live to her fullest potential. I loved watching them both change as they regained that spark for life and found their way back to themselves through their friends’ help and their love.
This is definitely a fun, clean regency romance with a modern fresh twist. There’s a small amount of violence, and a hint of abuse from Olivia’s father and forced intended, however it’s mostly suggested. The ending will have you on the edge of your seat. Look forward to more books by this author. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own and I was not required to provide a positive review.
December 28, 2021
DNF at 30%
Not my cup of tea. None of the characters make any sense or behave in a realistic way.
1. Olivia's father. Even if he had no fashion sense, any friend, family member, or sales person would direct him toward the most flattering choices for his daughter if he wanted to marry her off that badly.
2. Olivia herself. If she was that terrified of her father, I can't believe she would engage in the games (the main plot line for the book) or that she wouldn't spend every spare second trying to bring about a workable solution for herself.
3. Emerson. The quickest, more surefire way to make your ladylove view you in a romantic way is to state your feelings. Seriously, take 5 minutes to pull her aside and pour your heart out and ask if she could ever see you that way. THEN tackle the issue of her father together.
His friends are all over the place. I picked this up thinking the title was intriguing and that it was written by a man (my mistake I think), so I was hoping for a unique writing style.
Not my cup of tea. None of the characters make any sense or behave in a realistic way.
1. Olivia's father. Even if he had no fashion sense, any friend, family member, or sales person would direct him toward the most flattering choices for his daughter if he wanted to marry her off that badly.
2. Olivia herself. If she was that terrified of her father, I can't believe she would engage in the games (the main plot line for the book) or that she wouldn't spend every spare second trying to bring about a workable solution for herself.
3. Emerson. The quickest, more surefire way to make your ladylove view you in a romantic way is to state your feelings. Seriously, take 5 minutes to pull her aside and pour your heart out and ask if she could ever see you that way. THEN tackle the issue of her father together.
His friends are all over the place. I picked this up thinking the title was intriguing and that it was written by a man (my mistake I think), so I was hoping for a unique writing style.
October 1, 2022
I’m a big fan of regency romances and I was really excited about this one, but it was a chore to finish. And I hate that
-This game of is supposedly scandalous, but it’s never really explained why. They are just talking with their friends and tagging them. It also doesn’t make any sense how his helps Emerson court Olivia. I just didn’t get the point.
-Emerson is always saying how feisty and witty Olivia is, but she’s not. She’s boring and I hated being told I was supposed to like her. She seemed so childish and clueless that it almost made me feel uncomfortable with the way he was so obsessed with her.
-Also the whole part when he rages with jealousy when she doesn’t show up to one of the balls. It’s a huge red flag that he gets so worked up and angry over it. He is also constantly telling her what to do and then gets mad when other people are doing the same thing.
I feel like maybe this book was meant for a younger audience as is lacked depth and character development. The idea of the plot was awesome but the execution was poor.
-This game of is supposedly scandalous, but it’s never really explained why. They are just talking with their friends and tagging them. It also doesn’t make any sense how his helps Emerson court Olivia. I just didn’t get the point.
-Emerson is always saying how feisty and witty Olivia is, but she’s not. She’s boring and I hated being told I was supposed to like her. She seemed so childish and clueless that it almost made me feel uncomfortable with the way he was so obsessed with her.
-Also the whole part when he rages with jealousy when she doesn’t show up to one of the balls. It’s a huge red flag that he gets so worked up and angry over it. He is also constantly telling her what to do and then gets mad when other people are doing the same thing.
I feel like maybe this book was meant for a younger audience as is lacked depth and character development. The idea of the plot was awesome but the execution was poor.
July 14, 2022
I thought this was a fun historical romance. Emerson is in love with his childhood friend, Olivia, but because of her father and her station doesn't have much of a chance with her. He initiates a game of tag between them and their friend group in order to have chances to get close to her in hopes that she will fall in love with him. I really enjoyed the friend group and the unique twist on a regency romance. I thought it was sweet, but would have loved a bit more tangible chemistry between the main characters. I would read more by this author though. This was a fun read.
September 28, 2025
Oh my goodness, I loved this! What a unique story. This book is catching me at the right time. I am totally in my regency era!
Emerson has always loved his sister's best friend Olivia, but his time to show her he wants a chance with her is running out. He thought he had made his affections known, but Olivia seems to think he's only ever pitied her and tolerated her. Now he needs to not only show how he feels, but get her to see him as more than a friend, all while knowing her father would never approve of him. How to court a woman he can never have? In secret. While playing games. While no one else knows. But can it ever lead to a real future? Only time will tell!
This was a fun read. I loved the tension between Olivia and Emerson, and Emersons friends made it much more interesting. And the games were so unique and fun. I HAVE TO now read the next book and find out what happens with Arabella and Henry.... that is a romance I was hoping would happen!
I gave this one a 4.5, rounded to a 5!
Emerson has always loved his sister's best friend Olivia, but his time to show her he wants a chance with her is running out. He thought he had made his affections known, but Olivia seems to think he's only ever pitied her and tolerated her. Now he needs to not only show how he feels, but get her to see him as more than a friend, all while knowing her father would never approve of him. How to court a woman he can never have? In secret. While playing games. While no one else knows. But can it ever lead to a real future? Only time will tell!
This was a fun read. I loved the tension between Olivia and Emerson, and Emersons friends made it much more interesting. And the games were so unique and fun. I HAVE TO now read the next book and find out what happens with Arabella and Henry.... that is a romance I was hoping would happen!
I gave this one a 4.5, rounded to a 5!
October 10, 2021
3.75 stars
Games in a Ballroom is a clean, lighthearted and humorous (and I acknowledge that there was humour, just not in excess, and not the kind that leads to audible chuckling) historical romance boasting a friends-to-lover trope that never seems to get old, and is done quite well in my opinion.
This is very much a cozy read that is well settled into Regency London. It wasn't terribly descriptive from a worldbuilding perspective, but I never felt like we weren't in that era, especially when the bounds of propriety came into play.
The story itself is told in a dual POV, third person narrative, which worked well. I liked reading about both sides of the burgeoning relationship between Emerson and Liv, especially the teasing and banter (and the pining, we can't forget the pining). Liv slowly learning about how she feels and what she wants from her life in a partner and Emerson having to reign in his feelings and figure out how to win Liv over was depicted in a way that was sweet and felt genuine. There were also subtle growing pains for our two leads. We see them more pronounced in Emerson than Liv, but both of the lead characters slowly learn to be true to themselves, and in doing so, learn how they fit alongside one another. The romance is the focus of the novel, and I think it's executed quite well.
The characterization overall wasn't overly developed, but the supporting cast was so much fun. Northcott and Bradbury were the perfect foils to one another and really rounded Emerson out, while Arabella's more outgoing and outspoken nature helped Olivia come out of the shell she surrounded herself with due to her father's pressuring and domineering nature. The friendships were not without conflict (and I wish we'd had more of an opportunity to explore Northcott and his stoic and silent nature in addition to Bradbury's utter disdain for the institution of marriage), but the loyalty between them all showed how important each of them was to one another.
I did however want a little more from Mrs. Wilde - to be able to see her actually take up more of a maternal role other than at the end would've solidified her character more. She was a strong individual placed in a domestic abuse situation due to her family without any means of recourse, but I think we could've been shown more to really hammer that point home. Similarly, the villains of the story were of the classic sort; Lord Valencourt and Mr. Wilde didn't have an incredible amount of depth to them, but they served their roles well enough.
The ending was cut too short for me though. It was action-packed and yet still somehow centred around another game despite the high stakes of the moment but I would've enjoyed an epilogue, or even a couple more chapters to see exactly how the pair evaded the wrath of Liv's father. Everything just wrapped up way too quickly for my tastes when I wanted more of a graceful exeunt to the tale.
Overall, I enjoyed this Regency romance from a debut author and would definitely be willing to read more from Lady Flint. I would not be opposed to any sequel(s) concerning Liv and Emerson's friends - it would be welcomed actually (wink, wink, nudge, nudge).
And so with all that being said, this is where I make a gracious proclamation of gratitude towards both NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for providing me access to an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review.
Games in a Ballroom is a clean, lighthearted and humorous (and I acknowledge that there was humour, just not in excess, and not the kind that leads to audible chuckling) historical romance boasting a friends-to-lover trope that never seems to get old, and is done quite well in my opinion.
This is very much a cozy read that is well settled into Regency London. It wasn't terribly descriptive from a worldbuilding perspective, but I never felt like we weren't in that era, especially when the bounds of propriety came into play.
The story itself is told in a dual POV, third person narrative, which worked well. I liked reading about both sides of the burgeoning relationship between Emerson and Liv, especially the teasing and banter (and the pining, we can't forget the pining). Liv slowly learning about how she feels and what she wants from her life in a partner and Emerson having to reign in his feelings and figure out how to win Liv over was depicted in a way that was sweet and felt genuine. There were also subtle growing pains for our two leads. We see them more pronounced in Emerson than Liv, but both of the lead characters slowly learn to be true to themselves, and in doing so, learn how they fit alongside one another. The romance is the focus of the novel, and I think it's executed quite well.
The characterization overall wasn't overly developed, but the supporting cast was so much fun. Northcott and Bradbury were the perfect foils to one another and really rounded Emerson out, while Arabella's more outgoing and outspoken nature helped Olivia come out of the shell she surrounded herself with due to her father's pressuring and domineering nature. The friendships were not without conflict (and I wish we'd had more of an opportunity to explore Northcott and his stoic and silent nature in addition to Bradbury's utter disdain for the institution of marriage), but the loyalty between them all showed how important each of them was to one another.
I did however want a little more from Mrs. Wilde - to be able to see her actually take up more of a maternal role other than at the end would've solidified her character more. She was a strong individual placed in a domestic abuse situation due to her family without any means of recourse, but I think we could've been shown more to really hammer that point home. Similarly, the villains of the story were of the classic sort; Lord Valencourt and Mr. Wilde didn't have an incredible amount of depth to them, but they served their roles well enough.
The ending was cut too short for me though. It was action-packed and yet still somehow centred around another game despite the high stakes of the moment but I would've enjoyed an epilogue, or even a couple more chapters to see exactly how the pair evaded the wrath of Liv's father. Everything just wrapped up way too quickly for my tastes when I wanted more of a graceful exeunt to the tale.
Overall, I enjoyed this Regency romance from a debut author and would definitely be willing to read more from Lady Flint. I would not be opposed to any sequel(s) concerning Liv and Emerson's friends - it would be welcomed actually (wink, wink, nudge, nudge).
And so with all that being said, this is where I make a gracious proclamation of gratitude towards both NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for providing me access to an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review.
May 14, 2024
May 7, 2024: reread in preparation for the second book. It’s still fabulous and hilarious and wonderful. Still the best prank of all time, the best romance, and the best dressed pig of all time.
This was the first book I’ve read by Jentry Flint, plus her debut novel, and I am so happy I now have another “favorite author” to add to my ever growing list of “favorite authors.”
Games in a Ballroom was such a simple story, and yet it was the perfect regency romance. There were so many aspects I’ve yet to see in other regency books that really kept me intrigued throughout the story. I absolutely loved the concept of tag, and the other fun games the characters played, and am totally applying that to the next party I go to.
Emerson is a total swoony gentleman and has been sweetly in love with his strong yet kind childhood friend Olivia. Their love story is both light and fun while also carrying heavier themes. There were happy moments, sad moments, enlightening parts and frustrating scenes. Basically this book had a bit of everything, plus some action and the best dressed pig in human history.
I’m so glad I was able to read this book and am happily looking forward to any future books by Jentry (especially about the fantastic group of friends Emerson and Olivia have).
Make sure you go grab this gem of a book!
I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not required to leave a positive review
This was the first book I’ve read by Jentry Flint, plus her debut novel, and I am so happy I now have another “favorite author” to add to my ever growing list of “favorite authors.”
Games in a Ballroom was such a simple story, and yet it was the perfect regency romance. There were so many aspects I’ve yet to see in other regency books that really kept me intrigued throughout the story. I absolutely loved the concept of tag, and the other fun games the characters played, and am totally applying that to the next party I go to.
Emerson is a total swoony gentleman and has been sweetly in love with his strong yet kind childhood friend Olivia. Their love story is both light and fun while also carrying heavier themes. There were happy moments, sad moments, enlightening parts and frustrating scenes. Basically this book had a bit of everything, plus some action and the best dressed pig in human history.
I’m so glad I was able to read this book and am happily looking forward to any future books by Jentry (especially about the fantastic group of friends Emerson and Olivia have).
Make sure you go grab this gem of a book!
I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not required to leave a positive review
September 27, 2021
This was my first read from the author, and for (I think?) her first historical romance... she did a pretty good job!
I'm not too big when it comes to the friends to lovers relationship - since it is never really done well - but this one I didn't seem to dislike it. I actually enjoyed it. It was sweet watching him attempt to woo her in 'games' than in a normal attempt of courting.
I also felt bad for the main character, because her father is an abusive male and she and her mother are left to his devices.
I also liked the friends of our hero? I felt that if the author wanted to write more stories that featured them she could. She did build them up to have relationships - one of which was his sister with the gruff and moody friend that did nothing but read.
The reason I did not rate it a full star is because I felt that it was a little odd that this game was even played to begin with? I mean, he said that the normal way of courting her wasn't working. However, I felt that I didn't see him actually attempt to court her. If he would have been honest about his feelings and actually let her know he loved her then I don't think this game would have even took place.
If you're looking for a sweet/cute historical romance, I'd recommend this book.
I'm not too big when it comes to the friends to lovers relationship - since it is never really done well - but this one I didn't seem to dislike it. I actually enjoyed it. It was sweet watching him attempt to woo her in 'games' than in a normal attempt of courting.
I also felt bad for the main character, because her father is an abusive male and she and her mother are left to his devices.
I also liked the friends of our hero? I felt that if the author wanted to write more stories that featured them she could. She did build them up to have relationships - one of which was his sister with the gruff and moody friend that did nothing but read.
The reason I did not rate it a full star is because I felt that it was a little odd that this game was even played to begin with? I mean, he said that the normal way of courting her wasn't working. However, I felt that I didn't see him actually attempt to court her. If he would have been honest about his feelings and actually let her know he loved her then I don't think this game would have even took place.
If you're looking for a sweet/cute historical romance, I'd recommend this book.
March 31, 2022
Jentry Flint is a new-to-me author. Games in a Ballroom was a great introduction to her writing.
The book has a whimsical aspect to it. In order to catch the fair maiden (Olivia), Emerson suggests that his group of friends play tag whenever they are at an event together. His hope is to capture Olivia's heart while he is tagging her as "it".
The book is more than fun and games. Olivia lives in a miserable home. She has an overbearing father who is overbearing and looking for her to marry a man with a title. He doesn't care about anyone else's feelings, just his own. It creates some tense moments and an extra challenge to the game.
I really enjoyed the characters. It was a reminder to me to enjoy the moment and take time for pursuits that I enjoy. I'm really hoping that there will be more stories for this group of friends.
Source: I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
The book has a whimsical aspect to it. In order to catch the fair maiden (Olivia), Emerson suggests that his group of friends play tag whenever they are at an event together. His hope is to capture Olivia's heart while he is tagging her as "it".
The book is more than fun and games. Olivia lives in a miserable home. She has an overbearing father who is overbearing and looking for her to marry a man with a title. He doesn't care about anyone else's feelings, just his own. It creates some tense moments and an extra challenge to the game.
I really enjoyed the characters. It was a reminder to me to enjoy the moment and take time for pursuits that I enjoy. I'm really hoping that there will be more stories for this group of friends.
Source: I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
May 6, 2022
This book by a debut author had all the elements I love! Camaraderie among friends, budding romance, humor, and intrigue made this a page-turner.
Olivia Wilde must marry a man with a title according to her nasty father. Emerson Latham is the older brother of her best friend and not a possible match. A fantastic game of tag seems innocent enough, but uncovers feelings that Olivia doesn’t understand.
I enjoyed how this book was told from the point of view of both main characters. There isn’t a simple solution for their problems, but I love their tenacity. There were laugh-out-loud moments in this book as well as some heart-fluttering scenes. This is an excellent addition to the Proper Romance line which I can always count on for a clean, well-written novel.
Olivia Wilde must marry a man with a title according to her nasty father. Emerson Latham is the older brother of her best friend and not a possible match. A fantastic game of tag seems innocent enough, but uncovers feelings that Olivia doesn’t understand.
I enjoyed how this book was told from the point of view of both main characters. There isn’t a simple solution for their problems, but I love their tenacity. There were laugh-out-loud moments in this book as well as some heart-fluttering scenes. This is an excellent addition to the Proper Romance line which I can always count on for a clean, well-written novel.
May 2, 2022
This is a delightful regency romance that sums up the time period quite well. Women are treated poorly by men and seen as nothing more than chattel. At least this is the case for Olive Wilde who has to deal with a brutish father that wants her to marry someone with a title. Probably because he doesn't have one and happened to luck into money but doesn't have the grace or couth of the ton. I felt bad for Olivia's mother too because she was abused by her husband whenever someone did something he didn't like. I also felt sorry for Olivia and the gowns she was forced to wear, they were definitely not attractive and why her father thought he had any fashion sense is beyond me.
Enter Emerson Latham who is a long-time family friend, along with his sister Arabella. Arabella and Olivia are fast friends and it is only recently that Emerson has realized he has feelings for Olivia. I had to chuckle at his wooing attempts because they weren't very obvious to anyone except him. Thankfully someone sets him straight eventually. But he decides to create a game of Tag to be played during balls. I thought it was quite intriguing and it gave me a good chuckle many times throughout the story at the different scenes when they were tagging someone else in the group.
Emerson also has a group of friends that help him capture Olivia's heart. Now, this doesn't mean that they didn't have fun on their own and they played some elaborate pranks. But in the end, these gentlemen had his back in his quest to win Olivia.
I enjoyed the clean story and the journey to win the woman of his dreams. But don't think that Olivia is some fair-haired maiden that can't hold her own because she can. And several times it nearly gets her in trouble.
If you are looking for a light-hearted Regency romance, then check out this debut novel by this author. We give it 4 paws up.
Enter Emerson Latham who is a long-time family friend, along with his sister Arabella. Arabella and Olivia are fast friends and it is only recently that Emerson has realized he has feelings for Olivia. I had to chuckle at his wooing attempts because they weren't very obvious to anyone except him. Thankfully someone sets him straight eventually. But he decides to create a game of Tag to be played during balls. I thought it was quite intriguing and it gave me a good chuckle many times throughout the story at the different scenes when they were tagging someone else in the group.
Emerson also has a group of friends that help him capture Olivia's heart. Now, this doesn't mean that they didn't have fun on their own and they played some elaborate pranks. But in the end, these gentlemen had his back in his quest to win Olivia.
I enjoyed the clean story and the journey to win the woman of his dreams. But don't think that Olivia is some fair-haired maiden that can't hold her own because she can. And several times it nearly gets her in trouble.
If you are looking for a light-hearted Regency romance, then check out this debut novel by this author. We give it 4 paws up.
January 15, 2024
2.5*
First of all, disclaimer: If you love this book, please don’t come for me. This is just my personal opinion.
I started off really liking this book. I found it cute and endearing and the whole playing tag during the balls of the season was so interesting to me; I absolutely loved those scenes!
Pretty early on, we find out that Olivia’s father is, well, crazy-insane really- in my opinion. He’s physically abusive to her mom from all appearances and mentally abusive to Olivia herself. Once I found this out, Olivia’s parts of the story felt dark and depressing and I was just sad for her.
This really started feeling this way about halfway through. While Emerson’s parts read more like a cute comedy. So which is it? Is it a hard hitting story, or a romcom? Well, you can take out the rom part because the romance…🤦🏼♀️ don’t even get me started. Emerson is in love with Olivia from the start. She…is not in love with him. Doesn’t even seem to like him in that way. Until of course she does start feeling things for him that she doesn’t understand.
Not only that, the main characters felt like side characters. I actually liked the side characters a lot better than Emerson and Olivia for sure 😬🫣
This definitely should have been just a cutesy romance without the psycho dad. That just ruined the whole thing because it did not fit together. Either have a cutesy romance, or a serious, my mom and I need to get away from my dad and he’ll never let us marry but we will find a way romance. Don’t put them together in a 260 some odd page book please.
I did really like the writing though, just not the tropes. I do want to try Jentry Flint again. This one just was not for me.
First of all, disclaimer: If you love this book, please don’t come for me. This is just my personal opinion.
I started off really liking this book. I found it cute and endearing and the whole playing tag during the balls of the season was so interesting to me; I absolutely loved those scenes!
Pretty early on, we find out that Olivia’s father is, well, crazy-insane really- in my opinion. He’s physically abusive to her mom from all appearances and mentally abusive to Olivia herself. Once I found this out, Olivia’s parts of the story felt dark and depressing and I was just sad for her.
This really started feeling this way about halfway through. While Emerson’s parts read more like a cute comedy. So which is it? Is it a hard hitting story, or a romcom? Well, you can take out the rom part because the romance…🤦🏼♀️ don’t even get me started. Emerson is in love with Olivia from the start. She…is not in love with him. Doesn’t even seem to like him in that way. Until of course she does start feeling things for him that she doesn’t understand.
Not only that, the main characters felt like side characters. I actually liked the side characters a lot better than Emerson and Olivia for sure 😬🫣
This definitely should have been just a cutesy romance without the psycho dad. That just ruined the whole thing because it did not fit together. Either have a cutesy romance, or a serious, my mom and I need to get away from my dad and he’ll never let us marry but we will find a way romance. Don’t put them together in a 260 some odd page book please.
I did really like the writing though, just not the tropes. I do want to try Jentry Flint again. This one just was not for me.
April 18, 2022
I love finding new authors and Jentry Flint shows so much promise!!
I have been impatiently waiting to get a copy of this book and dive in. I LOVE the premise for this book. I love the concept of the games--I thought it added a lot of romantic anticipation for the main characters and also gave us a good look at the side characters. I fell in love with the side characters and CAN NOT WAIT for their stories.
The pacing for this book was great. I thought Jentry kept the storyline not only going, but progressing really well. There were some hilarious antics throughout balanced with the seriousness of an abusive father that was heartbreaking, but gave the story some real depth. It also added a sense of urgency and seriousness from this group of friends who are usually only up to mischief.
I thought this book had a fun, fresh modern feel and that the ending was somewhat of a cliff hanger. Without giving spoilers I'm not sure how some of the conflicts will pan out for these characters. Because this book had more of a modern voice I feel there will be some flexibility in the resolve, but book 2 is sure to answer some of my lingering questions. It has been a while since I've read a book that didn't fully resolve itself and to Jentry's credit: hook, line and sinker I will be here for book 2.
Thanks to the Author, Publisher & NetGalley for the copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
I have been impatiently waiting to get a copy of this book and dive in. I LOVE the premise for this book. I love the concept of the games--I thought it added a lot of romantic anticipation for the main characters and also gave us a good look at the side characters. I fell in love with the side characters and CAN NOT WAIT for their stories.
The pacing for this book was great. I thought Jentry kept the storyline not only going, but progressing really well. There were some hilarious antics throughout balanced with the seriousness of an abusive father that was heartbreaking, but gave the story some real depth. It also added a sense of urgency and seriousness from this group of friends who are usually only up to mischief.
I thought this book had a fun, fresh modern feel and that the ending was somewhat of a cliff hanger. Without giving spoilers I'm not sure how some of the conflicts will pan out for these characters. Because this book had more of a modern voice I feel there will be some flexibility in the resolve, but book 2 is sure to answer some of my lingering questions. It has been a while since I've read a book that didn't fully resolve itself and to Jentry's credit: hook, line and sinker I will be here for book 2.
Thanks to the Author, Publisher & NetGalley for the copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
October 18, 2021
Absolutely brilliant debut novel! This friends-to-something-more regency romance had me hooked from the first chapter.
What do you do if the girl you are courting has you friend zoned so bad she doesn't even realize you are courting her?
Emerson is desperate for Olivia to see him as a prospective suitor before her father forces her to marry someone else - desperate times call for desperate measures.
He begins a game of tag hoping that playing will help him be the kind of person he was before grief and responsibility took over his life, and that Olivia will remember what it feels like to be carefree and make her own decisions.
I am pretty sure I smiled and laughed and swooned from first page to last of this book! It was unique and clever and witty I loved both the obvious and subtle references to parlor games of the era. Emerson was a super swoony hero and the tension and romance between Olivia was soooo good!
I really hope we get stories for Emerson's best friends but regardless, I will be reading anything and everything that this author writes.
I received a complimentary copy of this book but a positive review was not required.
What do you do if the girl you are courting has you friend zoned so bad she doesn't even realize you are courting her?
Emerson is desperate for Olivia to see him as a prospective suitor before her father forces her to marry someone else - desperate times call for desperate measures.
He begins a game of tag hoping that playing will help him be the kind of person he was before grief and responsibility took over his life, and that Olivia will remember what it feels like to be carefree and make her own decisions.
I am pretty sure I smiled and laughed and swooned from first page to last of this book! It was unique and clever and witty I loved both the obvious and subtle references to parlor games of the era. Emerson was a super swoony hero and the tension and romance between Olivia was soooo good!
I really hope we get stories for Emerson's best friends but regardless, I will be reading anything and everything that this author writes.
I received a complimentary copy of this book but a positive review was not required.
March 10, 2022
**Thank you Netgalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for this eARC
Actual rating: 3.50 ⭐
I find my pull for proper, clean historical romances where the heroine and hero hold hands for the first time at the ending scene is getting stronger, I call it the pride and prejudice impact. 😉💙
It's so nice to see a hero who wants to get married for a change. And I loved that he's the one doing all the pursuing and convincing in their relationship.
The only downside of this book was that at times it felt a little bit ridiculous. I mean a bunch of adult people going around playing tag, you're it at balls is kinda absurd, but still it was comical and funny at times.
Actual rating: 3.50 ⭐
I find my pull for proper, clean historical romances where the heroine and hero hold hands for the first time at the ending scene is getting stronger, I call it the pride and prejudice impact. 😉💙
It's so nice to see a hero who wants to get married for a change. And I loved that he's the one doing all the pursuing and convincing in their relationship.
The only downside of this book was that at times it felt a little bit ridiculous. I mean a bunch of adult people going around playing tag, you're it at balls is kinda absurd, but still it was comical and funny at times.
April 29, 2022
High 4 ⭐️
I love this cover. It’s simple but so regency with a flare of history to it. This was my first experience to Jentry Flint writing and she wrote a wonderful romance.
The characters were fun and I loved the games. I got to spent the day living and breathing all the frills of the ballroom.
There was honorable men, scoundrels, dancing and happily ever afters. What more could a girl want?
Would I read another book by this author? Absolutely.
Thanks Shadow Mountain via NetGalley.
I love this cover. It’s simple but so regency with a flare of history to it. This was my first experience to Jentry Flint writing and she wrote a wonderful romance.
The characters were fun and I loved the games. I got to spent the day living and breathing all the frills of the ballroom.
There was honorable men, scoundrels, dancing and happily ever afters. What more could a girl want?
Would I read another book by this author? Absolutely.
Thanks Shadow Mountain via NetGalley.
May 10, 2022
You can not go wrong with any of the books from the Shadow Mountain Proper Romance line. I’ve loved each and every one of the book. This one by Jentry Flint was no exception.
I loved the way the author wrote this one. There are fun, games and even danger. This book kept my attention from the very first page.
I loved Olivia. She’s the sweetest. But, her dad was awful! Not only did he dress her in some really expensive and ostentatious clothes to show her off. But he was trying to basically sell her to the highest bidder in terms of her marriage. And Olivia knew that. Sometimes that works, but sometimes people have opinions and feelings. And that was the case with Olivia. Only, it felt like she wasn’t always sure how to share her feelings, or if she should.
Then there’s Emerson. Emerson is the type of guy who is always trying to play a game. And that is fun. But it sometimes leads to those around you not knowing your intentions. That was the case with Olivia. She had no idea that he was trying to court her. I loved the way Emerson worked so hard to get her to notice him. And he was the best type of guy, always there when you need him.
You really must read about the pig in this book. That part was so funny! I’m hoping for more books by this author very soon!
I loved the way the author wrote this one. There are fun, games and even danger. This book kept my attention from the very first page.
I loved Olivia. She’s the sweetest. But, her dad was awful! Not only did he dress her in some really expensive and ostentatious clothes to show her off. But he was trying to basically sell her to the highest bidder in terms of her marriage. And Olivia knew that. Sometimes that works, but sometimes people have opinions and feelings. And that was the case with Olivia. Only, it felt like she wasn’t always sure how to share her feelings, or if she should.
Then there’s Emerson. Emerson is the type of guy who is always trying to play a game. And that is fun. But it sometimes leads to those around you not knowing your intentions. That was the case with Olivia. She had no idea that he was trying to court her. I loved the way Emerson worked so hard to get her to notice him. And he was the best type of guy, always there when you need him.
You really must read about the pig in this book. That part was so funny! I’m hoping for more books by this author very soon!
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