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.

Games in the Ballroom was a fun read. I enjoyed the games that were added into the novel. Would love to see this done more in novels I read. I really enjoy the banter and pranks explained but some of them were too long. I got bored and ended up skipping. Just need to be trimmed up to hold interest. Since I was reading an arc maybe this was delt with. (Spoilers) In addition the ending was unrealistic to me. I fear the couple would have to run from the law for the rest of their lives for attacking her father etc. I wish there was another way to make things work out. But getting out of abusive relationships was not something people were able to legally do back then. (And even now it is very difficult) so I understand.

Emerson Latham faces unusually dire odds for a romance hero, denied the allure of a reformed rake and the angst of a tragic past (though his two best friends do look promising in both respects as potential leads for future novels). He is... a Nice Guy. I confess, I love books built on strong friendships... but being Friend Zoned is hardly what Emerson hoped for all those times when he asked Olivia to dance with him.

Fortunately for him, Olivia and Arabella (her best friend, and Emerson's sister) agree to join a secret game of tag that the five friends play at Season balls, But "the course of true love never ran smooth" to quote Shakespeare, Arabella's favorite author. Olivia's father is determined to see his daughter marry into the aristocracy. Emerson's rival is Lord Voldemort--sorry, sorry! Lord Valencourt, a villain hiding dark secrets, but the most chilling aspect of the novel is the specter of domestic violence. I was hooked and speed reading by the final chapters, caught up in the suspense. Three plus stars, rounded up for a first book: I look forward to finding out what happens next. Thank you to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for the opportunity to review an advance copy of Games in a Ballroom.

A quick, light-hearted book. The idea of using children’s games as a plot device really appealed to me, but the execution fell a little short. The characters were a little flat, all depending on one character trait over and over (Arabella loves Shakespeare, Northcott barely speaks, etc.). There was no explanation about why the main pair loved each other, which is important in a romance. A fun concept, but it just didn’t pan out as I would have liked.

'Games in a Ballroom' is mostly a cozy, entertaining read, but this is unfortunately one of those books where the supporting cast is much more interesting than the two main characters. Emerson is infatuated with Olivia from the very beginning but I don't think the book does a good job of explaining why, when or how. Maybe flashbacks to their earlier friendship would've helped with this while also developing Emerson and Olivia more. Emerson's also too controlling for my liking (this is probably supposed to be seen as romantic and persistent), which is odd if he's supposed to be a foil to Olivia's domineering father.

Games in a Ballroom is certainly an interesting and original idea for a historical novel. I was very intrigued when I first saw the book's description and was excited to read it. Now, having read it, it reminds me of a movie I saw a preview for about a group of friends that play tag as adults, so not sure if this in the inspiration for the novel or not, but it seemed very similar.

Oftentimes, historical novels describe how restricting and judgmental society could be, so livening things up with a secret game amongst friends sounds like a good idea. The game is suggested because Emerson wants to court Liv, but I don't see how the game really helped him with his pursuit of her heart. Certainly, the game helped bring a little bit of the "old Liv" back, who she was before her father tried to form her into the perfect daughter worthy to marry a titled Lord. But again, I don't know how her risking her father's ire to play a game helped her develop or recognize feelings for Emerson. Despite the odds of them finding a happily ever after together, you were rooting for them to succeed and find love.

As far as the characters go, both the main and side characters were all interesting and I enjoyed reading about them and their addition to the story. They are each unique and seemingly burdened in their own way and I can tell they have a story to tell and had just hoped to learn a little bit more about them. I certainly hope they get their own books and space to tell their stories. There was a little bit of immaturity involved with the games and pranks that felt a little bit too forced for the characters, time period and society.

The end of the novel tied up rather nicely but quickly, compared to the danger they were risking throughout the whole story. I think I would've enjoyed a little epilogue or follow up. Overall, this book was a fun idea and uniquely original and I would recommend this book.

Olivia Wilde's father made a fortune in shipping and investments. He now insists that Olivia, who is in her second season, marry only someone with a title. This will ensure that his doors and business will be open to the upper crust. Emerson doesn't have a title and is the older brother of Olivia's best friend. He declares to his two friends that he plans to woo and wed Olivia. (An unusual move in a historical romance.) When he realizes she takes his asking her to dance as pity and not courting, he decides to create a game to be played during balls.

I enjoyed the core group of the MCs, his friends and sister. But playing the game of tag in person is more fun than reading about it in a book. He could have spoken to Olivia about his intentions to court her but the main obstacle isn't addressed which is her father. I thought there might have been efforts to befriend or prove Emerson's worth to the father. Instead we get silly hijinks involving a pig which didn't increase my opinion of Emerson. (I understand the purpose from the book, but still.) In other stories like this, the father usually comes round to the idea of the daughters love is most important, but that isn't the direction the author takes. So I didn't love how things work out with her father.

I'm guessing the author is setting up his two friends or his sister as future books. I would read their stories. This is clean for language and contains a few kisses. This book would be fans of proper romances YA and up. Thank you NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for an ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Shadow Mountain Publishing and NetGalley for the review copy.

GAMES IN A BALLROOM follows Emerson Latham’s attempt to woo his sister’s best friend—a friend convinced that he cares for her out of brotherly duty and whose father is aggressively determined that she marry a titled gentleman. Olivia Wilde knows two things: Emerson is off-limits to her and this is to be her last Season because her father is determined that she marry. When Emerson suggests a game of tag to play in secret at Society events, she decides to risk her father’s wrath and join in the fun. What’s merely a game of fun for their friends is of the highest of stakes for Emerson and Olivia.

This was a very quick read with a premise that I have not encountered in a historical romance, though I hesitate to label it as such as it sits outside the mold of what is typically expected from the genre. The introduction of childhood games into the ballroom snagged my interest but I felt that the writing could have benefitted with deeper characterization. Emerson’s tendency to make a game of everything could have benefitted from a counterbalance of more vulnerability, and it would have been nice to perhaps see some of the history between them that caused him to fall in love with Olivia before she was of marriageable age. I also occasionally found myself pulled out of the story by the use of contemporary language and some of the wilder elements of the story.

Overall, this is an entertaining and refreshing take on the regency era that is best read with a healthy suspension of disbelief. Just the idea of people in full dress attire darting through the crowd to surreptitiously tag a co-conspirator has me chuckling. Compared to other historical romances, this one is squeaky clean but does include heavy themes of parental abuse.

Thank you to Jentry Flint and NetGalley for providing me with this free advance copy in exchange for an honest review. After Olivia fails to notice Emerson’s attempt to court her and to avoid her father’s unsuitability concerns, Emerson proposes a game of tag to be played. While the premise sounded good, the characters were a bit underdeveloped and the plot a little far fetched (even for a Victorian romance).

Fun Regency romp by a promising new author.

I wasn't sure what to expect with this one but it turned out to be a lot of fun. Tag in the ballroom! Who would have thought. What a clever idea. The H&h had a real connection, having been friends for a time and that always makes for a good story. Emerson's friends were excellent supporting characters and I really hope the Brooding Baron gets a story.

I would have liked to see the ending a bit more tied up but it wasn't a bad ending by any means.

Overall I give this a solid 4 stars for clean Regency readers.

This is my first experience with a novel written by Jentry Flint. I enjoyed the story ands found it to be an easy and intriguing read. I look forward to reading more of her novels.

Olivia Wilde knows she must obey her sometimes violent father's wishes and marry whom he chooses. She must protect her mother. When childhood friend Emerson Latham encourages the group of friends play some games, like tag, secretly during society events, Olivia knows she should avoid playing. If her father were to discover the games, she and her mother would be in trouble. But she decides a little bit of freedom and fun may be just what she needs before she is committed to her fate. What she didn't plan on, is falling in love with Emerson.

Not my favorite, but not my least favorite. The romance was so one-sided for most of the book that it threw me off when Liv began to reciprocate. Also, reading elaborate descriptions of pranks is never actually very fun (certainly not as fun as watching or participating!), and I found that the whole pranking thing to be more of a distraction than anything.

3 stars *may change.

I tend to read a lot of those campy “mom” regency romances books you find in a suspicious book isle at a gas station. They’re mostly very trashy and way too hormonal. This wasn’t that.

I hesitate to categorize it as adult only because it doesn’t have any of the features most adult regency romances do, but it also has none of the young adult conventions either. It’s more of a contemporary than a romance, to be honest? I mean, it still had its fair share of campy, sickeningly cute moment, but it wasn’t some big dramatic and horny novel that most of the genre it seems to be.

I think this actually makes it a pretty good qualifier for anyone who wants to start reading regency’s without having to trudge through the hormonal mess that are Tessa Dare books. lol. It’s a fun enough novel with a cute couple that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advanced reader’s copy.

Over the course of his life, Olivia Wilde's dad worked hard and became very rich, and the only thing he lacks is a title. Olivia is in her second Season, and he expects her to marry. Emerson has been friends with Olivia since childhood, and he loves her vivacious spirit. He hopes to marry her, but is saddened when her vivacious spirit is snuffed out by her overbearing (and aggressive) father. Emerson decides to start a game of "tag" that their group of friends can play at balls as a way to interact with Olivia and to coax some spirit back into her.

When I first read the summary, I was skeptical that it was going to be anything other than majorly cheesy and awkward. While I still think that Emerson simply talking to Olivia about his feelings would have been the most reasonable course of action, Flint somehow made the game of tag work. While still a little cheesy, it was whimsical and romantic, and she did an admirable job of providing Emerson's reasoning for why he felt the game was necessary. Olivia and Emerson are fabulous characters, and I loved Emerson as a romantic lead.

I would not hesitate to recommend this to reader who enjoy a clean period romance. It was a light and fun read that I looked forward to picking up each evening.

I received a free, advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

A fun and quick read, with characters to root for and villains to despise!

Just reading the description alone had me excited to dive in. I was so very curious to see how this small group of ladies and gentlemen from the ton would go about playing tag of all things during society events! I have to give points on originality, I’ve read so many historical romance books set in the regency era and I’ve never come across adults playing tag! It was fun and investing. For a romantic male lead to use such a game as a chance to court the lady he loves. I thought that was interesting but as you begin to read more and learn about who these characters are… well then I found it brilliant!

I quickly became enamored with the characters introduced in this story. From Emerson and his sister Arabella to Emerson’s friends Lord Bradbury and Lord Northcott and oh how my heart ached for Olivia Wilde and her circumstances! I think that’s what’s important in books like these, to have characters that grip your attention and heart so that they don’t blend in with all the other stories out there.

I think my only complaint about this book was that it left me wanting more, like an epilogue, a few more details after all the high drama towards the end of the book would have been so appreciated. It felt a tad bit abrupt as is. My hope is that the reason I didn’t get an epilogue was because there will be more details with a future book set in this universe. One focusing on Arabella and Lord Northcott perhaps? Or one of the anti marriage- Lord of charm, Bradbury? Basically I want more of this universe and i definitely want more games (played discreetly) in the balls and events of the ever prim and proper ton.

I cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy of this book!

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.

What an enjoyable read. I loved the core group of the 5 characters with emphasis on Liv and Emerson. My only complaint is with the rather abrupt ending. I would have liked to see the father get his due and for the Lord the father was backing to get some comeuppance of some kind.

Games in a Ballroom by Jentry Flint is a wonderful, fun, and charming historical romance that had me feeling like a young adult all over again!

I loved this book! It is so unique and refreshing. Olivia and Emerson are childhood friends. Both have their own constraints and obligations. Both feel pressured, cornered, and unlucky. But what Olivia doesn’t know is that Emerson is totally smitten and in love. Through the ingenious plot of creating fun, games, and secrets, Emerson works to build trust, affection, and a relationship with Olivia all under the radar of the ever-sweeping family.

I truly enjoyed the banter, wit, snappy dialogue, sweet premise, and the pacing of the story. Throw in the wonderful character cast, the true chemistry, and matching of the main characters: Olivia and Emerson…and one has an excellent book.

Did I say I also loved the uplifting and heartwarming ending?!

Spot on.

I look forward to more from this author.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Shadow Mountain Publishing for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately (as of 9/25/21 no BB listing has been created and review will be posted and links updated when title is added) and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication.