What Happens in the Ballroom (Designing Debutantes)
“Anyone who loves romance must read Sabrina Jeffries!” –Lisa Kleypas, New York Times bestselling author
Fans of Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton won’t want to miss this new story from the legendary New York Times bestselling author as she brings a fresh new hook to Regency romance with her series about three event planners who’ve rejected working as governesses to become party planners to London’s elite ton.
A young military widow, Eliza Pierce is enjoying both freedom and financial success as part of Elegant Occasions. When her late husband’s best friend, Nathaniel Stanton, the Earl of Foxstead, hires Elegant Occasions to help another young widow of an officer become part of high society, Eliza wonders why. Is the woman a relative? Or is she the earl’s mistress and her adorable toddler his child? If so, why does he take Eliza in his arms every chance he gets . . .
Foxstead’s family situation makes it difficult for him to marry, so his visceral attraction to his best friend’s widow is an unwelcome complication. Burdened by family secrets and those of his commanding officer, he’s determined to do his duty even when it means being around Eliza every day. But how can he resist when the fetching Eliza keeps tempting him to break his own rules? For if he dares to expose the truth, will she ever forgive him? Or will she banish him from her life forever . . .
“This heartwarming historical romance teems with witty banter and wanton desire.” —Library Journal
Fans of Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton won’t want to miss this new story from the legendary New York Times bestselling author as she brings a fresh new hook to Regency romance with her series about three event planners who’ve rejected working as governesses to become party planners to London’s elite ton.
A young military widow, Eliza Pierce is enjoying both freedom and financial success as part of Elegant Occasions. When her late husband’s best friend, Nathaniel Stanton, the Earl of Foxstead, hires Elegant Occasions to help another young widow of an officer become part of high society, Eliza wonders why. Is the woman a relative? Or is she the earl’s mistress and her adorable toddler his child? If so, why does he take Eliza in his arms every chance he gets . . .
Foxstead’s family situation makes it difficult for him to marry, so his visceral attraction to his best friend’s widow is an unwelcome complication. Burdened by family secrets and those of his commanding officer, he’s determined to do his duty even when it means being around Eliza every day. But how can he resist when the fetching Eliza keeps tempting him to break his own rules? For if he dares to expose the truth, will she ever forgive him? Or will she banish him from her life forever . . .
“This heartwarming historical romance teems with witty banter and wanton desire.” —Library Journal
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Community Reviews
Thank you, NetGalley and Kensington books, for the chance to read and review What Happens in the Ballroom by Sabrina Jeffries!
What Happens in the Ballroom is the second book in the author's series, Designing Debutantes. It comes out on the 28th of March and is 281 pages long.
This book has a lot going for it, including plenty of steamy scenes and fascinating characters still recovering from toxic situations. Some of the book's villains are still around, causing the main characters to be on edge, which leads to miscommunication. The book emphasizes the importance of honesty, even when it seems like it won't help.
However, the book expected too much from its readers at times. It was hard to believe that women doing this would be accepted so readily, even after marriage into the aristocracy or with just one close relative vouching for them (and who really didn't), and the stigma of divorce in those times. I was also confused about how the author would handle the situation with the man who sneaked into the events. I'm curious to see how this will be addressed in the next book.
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