DOESN'T BRING MUCH NEW TO THE GENRE

Actual rating: 2.5⭐

This is one of those books that I didn't actually like, but didn't dislike either simply because it felt familiar. I've read this book before. These characters are not new to me. The plot twists didn't surprise me. The romance didn't floor me. The only slightly innovative part about this book was Eliza - a regency woman - actually owning and running a successful business.

👎 What I Disliked 👎

Characters: Nathaniel and Eliza are our two main characters. And they are perfectly okay. They don't offend anyone. But they certainly didn't thrill me either. Because they are basically stock characters. Especially Nathaniel. I have encountered him a million times before. He didn't bring anything new to the table. On the contrary, he felt a bit wooden to me.

Cliché: If there is one cliché I am fed up with in romance books it is secret-keeping. Yes, it is a realistic scenario. It could certainly happen in real life. But lets be honest, we all know how it's going to pan out in a romance novel. The truth is gonna come out and it is going to cause a rift between the main couple. This was no different.

Sam: Eliza is a widow. Her late husband, Sam, was one of Nathaniel's friends. But it is almost as if Sam isn't actually dead. Because Eliza and Nathaniel keep bringing him up, over and over again. Pretty much every time they have an encounter, Sam is brought up. Even when they are about to get it on, Eliza feels like this is the perfect time to start talking about Sam. Whenever he made an appearance, all romance was sucked out of the encounter for me. It ruined the chemistry and the romance between Eliza and Nathaniel in my opinion.

What Happens in the Ballroom by Sabrina Jeffries is the second novel in the Designing Debutantes Series. Eliza and her sisters run Elegant Occasions in a time when running a business was not a done thing. However they help put together parties and people. Each sister has their own area that she runs. Elegant Occasions allows them each to survive. Eliza is a widow after losing her husband in the war.

Nathaniel Stanton came to Elegant Occasions in hopes that they could help his ward find a good match. This is a situation the sisters take on however Nathaniel is reluctant to let them. Not that he doesn’t really trust them, but more because there is a secret he is not willing to share AND Eliza. Yup. He has found himself quite interested in Eliza and she with him. Secrets however are not a way to begin or carry on a relationship and this secret is a humdinger.

I love how Nathaniel really wants the best for his ward and for Eliza. I love how strong Eliza and her sisters are. What I didn’t like were the secrets and Eliza’s father! However the secrets were such great revelations and allowed the story to have some twists! What Happens in the Ballroom by Sabrina Jeffries was a great read!

This is my first Sabrina Jeffries but certainly not the last
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There is nothing I didn't like, the characters are incredible, the chemistry, the dialogues and the plot kept me hooked until the end
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I really liked how the sisters found a way to survive in society and earn a respectable place despite the actions of their parents and even more so that they did not have to solve all the conflicts and mysteries that, although they are relevant and work as a hook, do not change the perfect ending of the book
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Eliza and her sisters have a business where they organize events, help young people to enter society and find an ideal partner
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When her late husband's best friend shows up with a young widow and enlists the help of her and her sisters to help her find a husband, Eliza is left wondering so many questions
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Who is this woman to Nathaniel? why are he is so worried for her well being? And she begins to understand that everything she thought she knew about him may not be true, especially after discovering all the lies and tricks of her late husband after his dead
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I did not expect the story to hook me so much, I stayed attached to the pages waiting to see what happened next between Eliza and Nathaniel, and it keep me rooting for them
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Thanks to Sabrina Jeffries and Kensington Books Zebra for give me a copy of this beautiful book in exchange for my honest and voluntary opinion

Nathaniel Stanton, the Earl of Foxstead is a man with a lot of responsibilities and a lot of secrets. After returning from the war and mourning the death of his mother, Nate needs to fulfill a deathbed promise he made to his commanding officer. A promise to see the man’s daughter, Jocelin, and her young son Jimmy taken care of, but to do that he will need help, so he turns to Mrs. Eliza Pierce, widow of his friend Samuel and co-owner of Elegant Occasions. Nathaniel has always thought Eliza is beautiful, but she seems even more so now and she is gracious when he reveals that he is the reason her husband ran off to war. The more time he spends with her, the more he wants, unfortunately, his secrets make it impossible to marry her right now, but he hopes Eliza will be able to help Jocelin find a husband so he can complete his promise to Jocelin’s father and then court Eliza and convince her to give marriage another try.

One husband was more than enough as far as Eliza is concerned, she is happy working behind the scenes of the business she and her two sisters started. When Nathaniel asks for her help launching his ward, she is happy to help the young widow but wonders about the relationship between Jocelin and Nathaniel, especially in relation to Jocelin’s young son. Nathaniel assures her that there is nothing going on, nor has there ever been anything between them. Eliza urges him to stay away from Jocelin, as it is clear the young woman has deeper feelings for him, and when Jocelin approaches them, Nathaniel pulls Eliza into a toe-curling kiss that Nathaniel says is for confirmation (that’s his story and he’s sticking to it). Upon seeing Jocelin’s reaction, he agrees to stay away but is more determined than ever to win Eliza. Eliza finds herself considering marriage again, but when she learns one of Nathaniel’s secrets from a third party, will she still be willing to trust him with her heart?

As always, Ms. Jeffries’s writing is impeccable and her characters are not only easy to relate to, they are easy to like. This book gives the eldest Harper sister a long overdue HEA with a man that has even more secrets than Geoffrey from the previous book did! I wanted to like this book more than I did, but I just had a hard time justifying Nathaniel’s deception to protect his secrets. I kept thinking, if he can’t trust her, how can he love her? Anyway, the book still delivered a great story with likable characters, a cute toddler, LOTS of secrets, some surprising twists, warm love scenes, familiar recurring characters, delightful new characters, more than one romance, and a sweet HEA complete with an epilogue. This is the second book in the series, but it can definitely be read as a standalone title.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*

I just love the sisters. They had such terrible parents and they have made something great of their lives. Eliza is a young widow and when Nathaniel, her husband's friend, comes to her to help another young widow find a husband, she is glad to help. Nathaniel has been holding back a lot of information and if Eliza finds out, she will never want to see him again. There are so many revelations and Eliza isn't sure that she can take it all in. She and Nathaniel have grown closer, but can she make a life with a man who deceives her? Her husband lied to her constantly and she wants complete honesty from Nathaniel. Will he give it to her? He holds secrets that are not his and isn't sure he can tell Eliza everything. Can he trust her enough not to tell all of the secrets? He has to trust her or they can't have a life together.

Nathaniel has not had an easy life and has a terrible reputation as a ladies man. He returns from war a changed man with man secrets. Mrs. Eliza Pierce lost her husband in the war and she is learning to live as a widow. She and Nathaniel have known each other for years but suddenly discover that they are attracted to one another. Eliza hates secrets and Nathaniel is loath to tell his secrets. Can the two of them find a way to move forward as a couple or will their secrets destroy their blossoming relationship?

The author does a really good job showing how Nathaniel and Eliza work through their issues. I felt like they were stronger and better suited after each new revelation because they worked together to break down potential barriers. It was fun to see Eliza as a successful business owner. The fact that Nathaniel entrusted his ward, Jocelin, with Eliza and her sisters showed how much he believed in Eliza's work. Also, getting to see how the sisters handle planning and completing parties and balls was a nice addition. Yes, it's a total girl boss kind of story! Nataniel's struggles with taking over as the Earl of Foxstead aren't shown in great detail but it is made clear that he feels a deep responsibility and is working tirelessly to take care of the people in his care. They are a good pair because of their shared history but also because they want similar things out of life. I really enjoyed how the author built up Nathaniel's secrets, in fact, the secret revealed near the end was excellent and the way it was revealed was really good.

My one issue with the story is something I can't go into detail about without major spoilers. Suffice to say, there is an issue that comes up early and repeatedly in the story that I thought made total sense. Then at the end of the story the characters do the very thing that they indicated would be problematic. I just don't understand if it magically became acceptable or if it did cause issues, but they chose to ignore it.

This is an historical romance set in England in 1812. It is part of a series but you can read it as a standalone story. If you are looking for an historical romance with a bit of a mystery then give this a try. I will definitely read more from this author in the future.

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.

This is the second book in the Designing Debutante series. This series is about 3 sisters, Diana ( book 1), Eliza and Verity. This book is about Eliza.
Eliza is a widow, who lost her husband, Sam, several years before during the war. She and her sisters, after being cut off by their father, have started a business called Elegant Occasions. They help arrange balls and debuts. They do everything from soup to nuts including dressing and prepping the debutantes.
Nathaniel was her husband's best friend. He has always liked and been attracted to Eliza.
When he comes home from the war, he brings home a ward, Jocelin, also a widow, but only 17 and still a minor. It's the daughter of his general, who asks him to take care of his daughter on his deathbed.
The storyline is very twisty and curvy from this point out. But suffice to say when Nathaniel hires Elegant Occasions to help introduce Jocelin into society, he reconnects with Eliza and the attraction between them is hot. You could feel the connection. I thought they were well suited to each other. That was the part I liked.
The part I didn't like was the many twists and turns in the book, we're because of lies and secrets. One is fine, two,three, four is too much. I don't know how you trust someone after all that, so it was a little disappointing.
I do love the Harper sisters. They watch out and take care of each other. I can't wait to read Verity's story next.
4⭐⭐⭐⭐
I want to thank Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book.

This is one of those books that I wanted to like more than I actually did. There's nothing wrong with the writing or plot really, I just had a tough time getting into it. I guessed the truth about Jocelin and her baby pretty much right away (as will many who read the description). I was actually more surprised that Eliza didn't suspect anything, especially after she ruled out Nathaniel as the child's father. As for Nathaniel, my big frustration with him wasn't so much about the secrets he was keeping, but more that he kept saying he had changed his rakish ways while basically only talking to Eliza about how much he wanted her in his bed. It made me wonder if he really cared about getting to know her at all. He did grow on me as a character as the book went on. I will say that I liked the second half of the book much more than the first. It was more interesting as secrets started coming out and Nathaniel and Eliza were able to really talk about their feelings and hopes for the future.

This was a fun, quick book continuing Sabrina Jeffries' series of three sisters trying to make a living by running a small but elegant business of catering parties and helping debutants. This time eldest sister and widow Eliza meets her match with Nathaniel, Lord Foxstead, when he asks Eliza and her sisters to help his ward Jocelin enter society in order to find a husband. While Nat and Eliza have known each other to some degree for years through her husband, spending more time together because of Jocelin leads to a slow burn romance. Neither is quite ready for marriage- Nat because of his duty to Jocelin and Eliza because her marriage and her parent's example has turned her off the idea. But the more they try to convince themselves a brief affair is all they need, the less they believe it!

I enjoyed this story, and how strong Eliza was despite what she's been through before we meet her. She works to be the strong one in the family and refuses to admit when she needs anything, even to herself, so she finds enjoying Nathaniel's company a surprise. I admire how she grew after her emotionally and psychologically abusive husband went off to war- even if he had come back I don't think he would have found her so easy to manipulate as he did when she was young and impressionable. She did what she needed to do- like start a business- because she and her sisters knew they couldn't rely on anyone but themselves. The fact that three young women were strong and smart enough to do that is great. Nathaniel knows he's emotionally attracted to Eliza early on, but he makes things complicated. By the end you understand why and from his point of view I get it. But he ended up doing quite a bit of lying- or at least playing fast and loose with the truth. He thought he was protecting people, and he was. But he had to learn that sometimes you can protect one person while trusting another at the same time. I loved that Eliza never let him get away with anything, and he had to really think and learn from his mistakes. I wish for Eliza's sake he hadn't had to make quite so many along the way, but you were quite sure he wasn't going to repeat any of the ones he did make.

A light book about learning to trust others with your heart and becoming partners in all senses of the word, with some steamy scenes and delightfully romantic moments. Can't wait for Verity's turn!

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

I didnt quite understand the title because most of the time they aren't in the ballroom. The secrets in this book were hard to guess and one I didnt even suspect. Enjoyed the interactions between the characters. Wonderful book.
I recieved a free copy so that I might tell you what I honestly think. Hope you enjoyed my review. Now go enjoy the book.

The second book in the .Designing Debutantes series, is just as good as the first one. Once bitten, twice shy Eliza needs to differentiate between her husband’s lies and secrets to Nathaniel’s. On the other hand, Nathaniel needs to learn to trust as well as desire. I find their sense of humour and witty banter enjoyable. They are also admirable in their fairmindedness, caring and generosity. There is also a small mystery or two to unravel. Looking forward to Verity and the Phantom Fellow’s story.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and leaving my review voluntarily.

This second installment was an enjoyable read. Eliza is a widow, and she ends up with her dead husband's best friend, Nathaniel. But there are secrets he is keeping from her that almost derailed this second chance at love for Eliza.
Three characters that are not likeable, nor redeemable: the dead husband, Samuel, and Eliza's parents, particularly the father. However, they are necessary in order to help Eliza know what she did not want in a marriage.
As for the secrets, they become obvious fairly easily. So the little bit of mystery really wasn't much of a mystery. However, considering the time period the book is set in, it made perfect sense why having those secrets revealed could be such a problem. Today's judgmental society is a walk in the park compared to the one that existed in the Regency/Victorian/Edwardian society.
A nice, enjoyable read. Looking forward to the final book of the series.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC, which I voluntarily read and reviewed.

Nathaniel Stanton, the Earl of Foxstead, arrogant, proud, flighty man!
His sister Lady Teresa (Tess) Usborne and Lord Usborne her husband who live in Gloucestershire.
His ward Mrs. Jocelin Anson March, son James (Jimmy), is the daughter of General Anson. Nathaniel WA asked to be her guardian on the General's deathbed.


Mrs. Eliza Pierce Harper Pierce and her sisters run Elegant Occasions. Eliza is the level headed one, the numbers one for Elegant Occasions. She is independent, strong, and a dynamic woman.
Have been asked to launch Jocelin into society.


Secrets, lies, half truths, and romance are blended into this tale that creates drama and suspense for us readers. As with any Sabrina Jeffries story it is crafted with bold characters, great details, flowing in her peaks and valleys giving an unforgettable plot that has many twists and turns. A must read that will enchant any reader

When holding back too much is a disaster in the making…

I was surprised by the change of title, the original one matched better with the first book and the content of this story.
I do not know if it was because the main couple has already a common history but I struggled at time with their chemistry, I did not grab when their view over the other changed. As if there were a void in their relationship.
Until recently, Nathaniel never let slip any peculiar interest for the widow of his late friend. They have known one another for years, with his friend, her husband in between, who in some way still dictates their destiny from the beyond.
Why Nathaniel was like walking on eggs shells around Eliza, fully aware of his friend too many failings, betrayals, and lies.

Eliza made the mistake like many young woman to listen to a silver tongue and trust the man behind the words. It costs her her dowry and her last illusions about love and men. Why she is not keen to trust a man’s words again.
Nathaniel is like a chess player, is withholding so much, trying to lead people one way or another, always with a good heart, sure, yet he did not really overthink about the harm he could do, nor trust Eliza with a bit of knowledge to let her make a fully aware choice, weighting knowingly the risks.
And of course, Nathaniel is like his fellows, suffering the peers’ most common disease of the regency era, allergy to the marriage mart. Even, when one of his secrets finally comes out, it does not really explain it.
3.5 stars

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 onscreen lovemaking scenes

I have been granted an advance copy by the publisher, here is my true and unbiased opinion.

Nathaniel Stanton, the Earl of Foxstead, needs help finding a husband for his ward and war widow as soon as possible. He knows who can help him best and turns to his best friend's widow Eliza Pierce who co-owns Elegant Occasions, but Nathaniel is keeping secrets from her. The first is he cannot tell Eliza that he is attracted to her and that her late husband was a scoundrel. That would serve no purpose and possibly even have Eliza refusing to help him and secondly, he leaves out some pertinent details regarding his ward and her young son. Eliza knew she shouldn't trust Nathaniel. His reputation as a rake confirms for her the kind of man he is, but what if the rumors aren't true? Could she trust her heart to another when she was so hurt by her first husband?

This was a cute story with all the usual misunderstandings that make up most romances. When Nathaniel's lies are exposed, Eliza wants nothing to do with him and it's only through his groveling, that these two get their HEA. The characters aren't really deep though it was lovely to see Eliza's sisters make an appearance in the book as well. While this wasn't my favorite story, it was a pleasant way to spend the afternoon. I'm really looking forward to Verity's story, but sadly that won't be available until 2024.

Eliza and Nathaniel have known each other for a while, in fact, Nathaniel has had a crush on Eliza for years, but she was married, and her husband was his friend. Now that Eliza is a widow working with her sisters at Elegant Occasions he is asking for her help. He is a guardian to a young woman whose father he served in the army with and she needs a husband, and Elegant Occasions is the perfect place to get one.

Now we know from getting Nathaniel's POV that he is hiding something, and since he doesn't anticipate having anything other than lustful feelings for Eliza he has no plans to ever tell her or anyone else what this secret is.
They have some sizzling chemistry that leads to a smexy interlude at one of their parties. a couple of earth-shattering secrets and a great apology moment that was super sweet and perfect for Eliza.

This was fun and entertaining, I loved the banter, not only between Eliza and Nathaniel but also between Eliza and her sisters. Also, I weirdly love her butler! He just seems like a great guy lol.

I can't wait to see who Verity ends up in the next book, I assume it's going to be the phantom man that mysteriously appears and disappears at a bunch of the events that the sisters put on.. and I'm super excited to see how that's all going to play out!

This was a fine and predictable romance--a perfectly pleasant way to kill an afternoon, but not one likely to engage your heart or mind.

We find out in the first few sentences that Nathaniel, Earl of Foxstead, has eyes for Eliza Pierce, the widow of his former friend and military compatriot. Maybe he wants to marry her, maybe he wants to just have sex--even he's not clear, and vacillates throughout with no clear rhyme or reason. (She's not much better: an unsatisfying relationship with her husband, Samuel, has left Eliza disinclined to ever marry again...but maybe she would like to marry Nathaniel? Or maybe just have an affair? She vacillates as frequently as he does.) What Nathaniel is certain about: he wants to hire Eliza and her sisters--who run some sort of debutante-launching/party-planning service--to launch his ward, Jocelin. Jocelin is the young widow of a former soldier in Nathaniel and Samuel's company and the daughter of a well-respected general, but Nathaniel is cagey from the start and is clearly hiding things from Eliza. She nonetheless agrees to launch Jocelin, which brings her into closer proximity to Nathaniel. Can she trust him? (Of course not, but it works out in the end.)

If you've read the synopsis, chances are you can guess Nathaniel's secrets--or at least one of them. I guessed the other in Nathaniel's first interior monologue, and the only suspense I had was wondering which of my theories was right. Turns out, both were! (And I'm not the person typically solving mysteries on page 1, so there really have to be neon lights pointing out the obvious clues for me to correctly predict in advance.)

This novel has the feel of many late-90s/early-to-mid-aughts romances, so you might get a sense of nostalgia from reading it. The plot and characters feel familiar, and many of Nathaniel and Eliza's emotional progressions seem to take place because the formula says that this is the time when they will feel a certain way. Like I said: it's perfectly pleasant, perhaps because it is so predictable and follows so many of the expected beats. It's not deeply satisfying, emotionally engaging, or memorable, but not all romances need to be these things. Sometimes, a little nostalgia is just fine.

I love Sabrina Jefferies and this book did not disappoint. This is the second book in the series but could be read as a standalone.
Eliza, an impoverished widow who is from the peerage runs a business with her sisters, named Elegant Occasions. When Nathaniel, her deceased husband's former best friend wants to hire her company to launch his ward into society to find a husband she can't refuse. The chemistry between Eliza and Nathaniel is wonderful. There were a lot of family secrets on both sides which lead to conflict.
I love Eliza's relationship with her sisters and the fact that she is a strong independent woman.
I can't wait for her sister Varity's story.
I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley and these are my opinions.

Eliza & Nathaniel's opinions of each other are colored by the past and Eliza's late husband. Time passes and people change, but can opinions and relationships change as well? Nathaniel needs help to keep a promise (and avoid scandal if secrets are uncovered) and reaches out to Eliza and her sisters to help another war widow find a husband and father for her young son. Attraction sizzles between the two, but as they continue to be forced to interact they also learn more about the other beyond their past connection. As they begin to build trust, secrets threaten to lead to heartache. I enjoyed reading about the two discovering each other and falling in love. The pace of the story and (primary & secondary) character interactions and reactions felt true and were well written. In all an enjoyable and satisfying read that kept me entertained.