Olivia and Emerson have been friends since childhood, but Emerson has recently realised, following the death of his father, that he wants to make her his wife. Unfortunately for him, Olivia’s overbearing, brutish and controlling father has decided she will marry someone with a title - something Emerson doesn’t possess. When Emerson engages Olivia and their other friends in an ongoing game of tag that will last the entire Season, it offers him the opportunity to prove to Olivia that he loves her - and possibly rescue her from her father’s clutches.

I enjoyed this. The tone of it was very nice, it felt very traditional whilst still being nice and readable. The concept was quite fun - the game of tag played out in a really interesting and amusing way and I liked how it allowed them to come into contact with one another. They were both likeable characters; I think I got a better grasp of Emerson’s personality, overall - Olivia sometimes felt a little flat - but I really enjoyed the romance between them. I was really rooting for things to work out for them and I spent a lot of the book wondering how that would be possible. They had good chemistry and I really believed the emotions between them.

I thought the wider plot was quite good. It was very dramatic and there were lots of twists and turns and it came to an exciting conclusion. The book also had a decent supporting cast of characters and I’m interested to see where the author may take them next. Overall I think this was a good book with some lovely ideas in it, and I had a great time reading it. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a low-heat Regency forbidden romance with a childhood-friends-to-lovers couple. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a free copy of this book.

Content Notes: Death of a parent (in past), intimate partner violence (side characters), controlling behaviour from a parent, violence, attempted forced marriage.

This delightful Regency romance comes out May 3, 2022, from @shadowmountainpub!

Games in the Ballroom is a sweet and fun romance where Emerson Latham a rich second son of an earl will never inherit a title but only wants to marry his childhood friend Olivia Wilde. Olivia’s father, though, will only accept a titled husband for his daughter. Emerson proposes a game of tag to be played at social events to get Liv to see him as a suitor and bring joy into her life while she’s being marketed to single lords.

This book was quite delightful with a lovely balance between the trials of family and the love from found family. I found the group of friends’ escapades joyful and was rooting for Emerson from chapter 1. Additionally, how can this thespian not love a book where a character is CONSTANTLY quoting the bard? Arabella gave me serious Mandella from 10 Things I Hate About You vibes.

This book is the author’s debut and is a great opening work. My only note is that some moments were heavy-handed, too presentational, and too convenient. There was a moment with a fallen bottle that turns and spins toward Emerson and Olivia thinks that its fate making its choice known, but the reader could have come to that conclusion on their own without needing it to be spelled out. Also, there is a quippy line in the climax that was far too comedic for that moment, as if this scene was directed by James Gunn rather than Kenneth Branagh.

But I’m craving an Arabella and Lord Northcott’s book! How many more Shakespeare quotes can we get? How many words will Northcott say? More than 10? Fingers Crossed.-Ford

CONTENT WARNING: Olivia’s father is abusive. On the page: throwing things and emotional abuse. Off the page: assault of her mother.

Will she accept her fate without rebellion…

I was a bit surprised by the heroine as the hero describes her as lively and feisty, she is then more presented as demure and obedient. As was expected from the daughters of the ton. Yet her friend, sister of her undeclared beau, is the one with a wild streak and a daring persona.
Emerson goes for what he wants in his own way, knowing how his suit being known would be thwarted as he does not check any case in her father’s list of requirements. He is clumsy in his attempts but true to himself.
Olivia is unaware of his feelings for her and misinterprets his every action. Determined to only see him as the brother of her best friend and not her savior from a probably dreaded match. She each time belittles his gestures to her, sets on staying blind and deaf about his feelings. She obediently bend to her father’s whims without rebellion, demurely accepting her lot.

So else Emerson dreamed of Olivia as a bold girl or her father had a sudden turn of spirit. As ambitious he is, he would never have permitted his daughter to run wild with their neighbors children, he would have shaped from the beginning like he destroyed every spirited parts in her mother’s mind.

The resolution of their conundrum turned into quite a mix of a comedia del Arte and a gothic novel with Emerson’s friends antics and the heroine’s father turned possessed villain with a vile rival for her hand.

My favorite parts were those with Emerson and his friends, Northcott the brooding Baron and Bradbury the compulsive gambler. They were so fun together, bickering and bantering but always having the back of the others. The pig wager is hilarious.
3.5 stars

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 kisses

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

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.

Games in a Ballroom was a deliciously bite sized snack of a book that I read in one sitting. Jentry Flint’s debut novel hit the spot for me.

London 1815, the Season has begun and Emerson Latham has his eyes set on childhood friend Olivia “Liv” Wilde. Emerson, who recently lost his father, has many new roles and responsibilities but what he doesn’t have is a title. While Olivia’s father has made it clear that she will marry for status and not love. Perhaps a few childhood games in a ballroom with close friends will be just the thing to make this Season unforgettable.

I really enjoyed this debut novel and hope this will become a series. The characters, while we don’t get to know them too deeply, we’re quirky and likable. The humor in this book was cute but it also had a bit of a more serious side. This is an ideal book for someone who enjoys historical romance with a bit of contemporary romance sprinkled in.

I did however feel that there was a side plot of this book that was not well explained or flushed out and was just dropped quickly. I felt that maybe it was setting us up for something in a future book.

3.5 ⭐️

3.5 stars. Games in a Ballroom is a fresh new Regency story. I loved the added element of playing a secret game of tag while at different Balls. It was a fun concept and I loved how Emerson is trying to court Olivia through these games. It was a slow burn so I didn't get into the book as much for the first half. The ending picked up the pace and I enjoyed seeing them come together and fight to stay together. Solid debut by Jentry Flint.

DNF at 30%

Overall just confused and bored. I don't feel compelled by any of the scenarios or the characters.

From the synopsis the "games" sounded fun, but in practice it was just confusing and boring. The gambling, Emerson's friends... all just seemed too disjointed. I'm sure it would have come together but I was dreading picking this book up.

Set in the Regency period, Games in a Ballroom follows childhood friends Olivia and Emerson during Olivia's second season. To make things more interesting, they start playing a game of tag at the numerous social events during the season. I love a good Regency romance and was excited to read this one!

I thought this book was fine. The characters are fine, the setting is fine, the writing is fine. I thought the tag element was cool I did groan a little at the line that I knew was coming after reading the tag plot. I also fell down a weird internet rabbit hole after I wondered if tag was even a game that existed during this time period (turns out, it did!)

If you're looking for a spicy Regency romance, Games in a Ballroom is not going to give you that. It's much more sidelong glances and pining (which I love, obviously), but if you're looking for Bridgerton spice you will be disappointed.

If you're into Regency romances, give this a read! 3 stars. Thank you to Shadow Mountain Publishing and NetGalley for the electronic advanced reader's copy of this book!

Review in 10-ish words: Quick uptake of the story and lovable characters to alleviate a Bridgerton hangover. 3/5

Snap Synopsis: Regency childhood friends to lovers hindered by social standing and circumstance.

My thoughts: I loved how this book got straight into the story. There was no boring exposition, just plot and character interaction. Emerson and Olivia were fun MC's, though I found myself getting a little bored at about 1/3 of the way through. There were some very cute moments between the pair although the almost satirical villainy of the father threw me a little bit. I would have liked more complexity between Olivia and her parents.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing a free copy of this e book in exchange for my honest review.

I don’t have a lot of experience with historical romances, but I’ve always enjoyed the ones I’ve read. And this one is no different. I went into this friends to lovers romance mostly blind and was pleasantly surprised by the way it was written.

Emerson Latham has been in love with his sister’s best friend, Olivia Wilde, for as long as he can remember. Unfortunately, he’s not the kind of man her father expects Olivia to marry. As someone who has worked his way to his riches, Mr. Wilde expects someone of their new stature to marry his daughter. However, Olivia also wants nothing to do with these matches and suitors that her father keep thrusting into her life. Her feelings for Emerson have always been a little confusing, but the one thing she knows is that she cherishes their friendship and fears losing him in her life.

In order to keep Olivia in his life and close to him at all times, Emerson introduces a series of games during the Season. First up is the game of tag that also includes Emerson’s sister and his two best friends. The way they keep tagging each other, while dancing through the numerous parties and the fun that they have together was absolutely entertaining. I also loved Emerson’s friendship with Bradbury and Northcott, mostly because of how different all three of them were. I definitely enjoyed Arabella and Olivia’s friendship, especially their game of guessing the Shakespeare play. The fact that Arabella has a Shakespeare quote for almost every situation entertained me to no end.

While I knew it was a closed door romance, I would have liked for the slow burn to explode into something more. While the kiss was hot and beautiful, I felt like the actual slow burn started much later in the books. The characters are obviously in love with each other, but there’s so much else happening and lots of back and forth with the games and other interactions that at times it took me out of the romance.

I loved how passionately and desperately Emerson cared for Olivia, because of all the ways in which he ensured that he could be with her, even when he knew that he was risking it all. Gimme more heroes who would do it all for the love of the person they want. Games in the Ballroom was enjoyable and I had a few chuckles here and there. I would recommend it for those looking for a light, but fun, historical romance with a slight edge (because Olivia’s home life is a bit darker than I expected!)

This sounded like something I would love but it just didn't completely do it for me. Maybe because I'm used to open door historical romances, or maybe I just wasn't in the mood for this. It was sweet and I enjoyed the game element (the younger characters play games big games like tag and hide and seek during boring balls and events), but I didn't really feel a lot of chemistry between the main romantic leads. The writing was great, and I would definitely read more Jentry Flint (especially if there's an Arabella book.... and maybe specifically Arabella and Northcott??), but this one just didn't totally satisfy me.

Games in a ballroom is a proper romance title, so I knew I would love it. One thing I love about the proper romance books is that they are all different in style, but all include a beautiful romance that pulls you in.

This book has a unique flavor for regency romance. It’s clever and fun in a unique way that has me smiling throughout. It’s got a bit of a modern feel within the confines of the regency era.

I loved both main characters and the supporting characters were also so vibrant and fun. I hope there are future novels for these quirky fun characters!

Author Jentry Flint is such a fun person and it shines through in her writing. There’s several swoony scenes, fun banter, and always a surprise game around the corner.

What a delightful debut novel by Jentry Flint!
The idea of a discreet game of tag being played by a group of regency era friends in a ballroom was unique, refreshing, and just so much fun. The characters personalities were bright and jumped off the pages. You loved most and despised another (Olivia’s father) and her writing made you do it. I look forward to seeing more books by Jentry, fingers crossed that we see more from the characters in this book. Thanks to Shadow Mountain Publishing and Netgalley for sending me a copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

You know, I've read a fair amount of regency novels. And the authors do a lovely job of romanticizing a lot.of things from the 1800's. Like, how they talk about how good people smell. Really? All those layers, in a packed ballroom? I imagine it's more locker room and less leather and forest. Anyways. This book had that aspect but I appreciated how it represented women in that time as property and a means to an end. It was hard and gross and made me want to punch him a bit, or a lot, but I imagine it was accurate.

I like how the theme of games was so strong throughout- political games, societal games, games between friends, romantic games. It was well done and well titled. Bravo, Ms. Flint.
Bradbury was absolutely there for comedic effect but I am so sire there is more going on under that mischievous grin. Northcott. Hmm. I like him. We don't know him well but he's got something going on that I am here for. Arabella and Olivia's friendship was very sweet and I appreciated the moms in this book.

So, kids games, pranks, bets, a pig, some kisses, some flirting and all in all, a major misunderstanding (okay, come on Olivia. There's no way you are this confused) all make this to be a great read. Congratulations Jentry. You did marvelously!

Such a fun take on a Regency romance! Delightful characters, a fun little twist, and a happily ever after make this a lovely debut from Jentry Flint! I will definitely be reading more from her in the future.

Thank you, NetGalley, for my e-arc of this book. All opinions here are my own.

Thank you to @netgalley for the chance to read Games in a Ballroom ahead of its publication! This was such a fun, fresh twist on the genre - a historical romance that was chaste and 100% safe for work, but managed to be fun and completely free of stuffiness. The main characters were well written and the romance incredibly believable - their 'friends to lovers' journey was one that will resonate with readers in a very true way. I love that the author managed to write a villainous father that wasn't pantomime - a trope that often accidentally happens. Instead, he felt real, a tangible threat to Olivia and her mother that made you worry as the reader about what was to come. I wish the book had continued a little more, but that's always the sign of a good read!

This is the friends-to-lovers story of Emerson and Olivia. It is full of mischief in the characters and their doings. If you’re looking for a light, amusing Regency read that’s a little more modern in style, then this is the book for you. It’s a little campy, in a fun way, and really turns the Regency era on its head. And I feel like that is largely the point. One cannot read this book in a serious frame of mind. It must be taken as the lively farce that it is. Sit back and enjoy.

An interesting read this was...

Olivia and Emerson were wonderful characters and the story was well developed and keeps us looking forward to what happens next. The other characters were intriguing too.

A very good effort by the author on her debut.

Will definitely read the next books about some of these characters.

Emerson and his friends can make a game out of any situation. Olivia is trapped in a world she feels she has no control over. Watching these long-time good friends find their way through ballrooms and other social expectations of the time is entertaining and sweet. I loved the secondary characters and hope they get stories of their own in the future. I was definitely pulled into the world created by this author. I was cheering Emerson on as he tried to win Olivia's affections and overcome the terror her father created for both of them. I look forward to more from this author in the future!

I really enjoyed this book! It's so different with the premise being that the characters are playing tag in ballrooms. (As you might expect, most of the scenes took place in ballrooms...) I liked that we started with our hero and got quite a bit from his perspective. He was trying to get Olivia to notice him and think of him as more than a friend. Olivia complied - with the added twist that she kept thinking of him in terms of the game! The added game references throughout the book were awesome and added to the feel. The end was intense. I did like that not everything was wrapped up neatly. As one of the discussion questions stated - "love conquers all, though not without sacrifice and pain." It wouldn't have made a couple of characters be believable for them to change beliefs in order to wrap it up with a bow. Our side characters (also involved in the game) were quite interesting and I cannot wait to hear their stories. Bradbury definitely keeps you on your toes!