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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

'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.

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.

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.

I really LOVED this book. I am a fan of the friends-to-lovers trope, and this book did it so successfully. I loved watching the characters realize the feelings they had for each other. The overall premise of the book - the tag game during balls - was a little silly. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that these young men and women probably had to find ways to entertain themselves just as we do today. So I accepted that their behavior was a bit out of character for the standards of the time period.

The author seemed to set up some stories for the minor characters that could be future novels, so I hope to spend some time with these delightful characters again soon!

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves some playful fun with their clean historical romances.

Thank you to NetGalley, Shadow Mountain Publishing, and Jentry Flint for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for my honest opinions!

Rating: 3.8 / 5

**Received free ARC from Netgalley for honest review**

For all intents and purposes, this is a charming Regency romantic comedy, with definite influences of being a Jane Austen fan--as all writers who tackle the Regency era are, I guess. It centres around Emerson Latham and Olivia Wilde, childhood friends who make up two thirds of the trio that also includes Arabella Latham, Emerson's sister.

See, Emerson's got a problem: he's head over heels in love with Olivia (whom he called Liv as in "live wild"), but she doesn't know it yet. Not only does Olivia still see him as just Arabella's brother at the beginning of the story, but Emerson also doesn't have the title that qualifies him as a suitor in the eyes of Olivia's father, a self-made (but rich) man, Joshua Wilde. With a lot of the plot taking place in ballrooms as Olivia's father desperately tries to secure her a match with a title, Emerson decides to press his suit in an unconventional way when the usual conventions fail to get through Olivia's dense exterior.

Namely, he proposes a game of tag.

No, seriously.

At first, even to the reader, it's confusing just what this game is intended to do since...tag = courting seems like a kindergarten tactic, right? And...yeah, it kind of is, honestly, and no amount of posh-sounding description changes that. But it's...cute, and kind of entertaining to see Emerson get more and more frustrated with making things work whereas Olivia as no idea what she's in for via this unconventional method of courting. Add to that Arabella's obsession with Shakespeare and Emerson's two opposite friends (the cheerful gambler Bradbury and the brooding baron whose name I forget) and you've got a group of funny characters in this romance, therefore making it a historical romantic comedy.

Now, usually these books are not my cup of tea, but because of the Austen-like description and, I'll admit, especially because of the cover, I decided to give it a try. And, for the most part this was a gamble that paid off, as I actually ended up mostly liking the story.

....Until the last quarter which...though not quite a trainwreck ending, was the author pushing things too far in my opinion, to the point that they get silly rather than endearing. Basically, Olivia's father is painted as a villain far out of proportion to how a person would realistically be and act, and becomes almost monstrous in a Gothic novel way that's juxtaposed with the rest of the romantic-comedy setup. Then, there's the fact that Olivia's character is compromised in the process as well and becomes just plain stupid in her decisions, which of course necessitates Emerson coming in to "rescue" her from herself. Yeah, that entire rescue bit at the end is cheesy, cliché, and not very well done. Maybe the author thought that the plot needed to be spiced up by all that action at the end because of the otherwise slow-ish paced rest of the book but...

...yeah, not a decision that I particularly liked, to be honest. Just having Olivia realize her feelings for Emerson was enough of a revelation and climax, thank you very much, and quite frankly it would have been truer to the Austen fashion that way as well.

But oh well, Jentry Flint is obviously no Jane Austen, so that comparison's unfair from the get go.

Still, this book was a lot better than I was expecting it to be, and I can definitely see a lot of people liking it as well. Will it ever be "great"? I doubt it.

BUT, it could be a lovely addition to someone else's romance shelves out there. Give it a try.

** spoiler alert ** I really liked the characters and the interaction between Olivia and Emerson and Arabella and Northcott because they fit together. I loved the dancing and the talking. Outside the game part everything the couples did made me smile and wish for more of that then the game part. The story between Olivia and Emerson is touching, but the games that started as fun seem to derail the reason why they were started. One of the game is to make Olivia realized that Emerson loved her and the other game was to have some fun by letting a pig loose in the gentleman's club but to me both games seem not as fun as they were suppose to be. The game seem to get Olivia into more trouble with her volatile father than giving her any fun, and it never makes her realize that Emerson loves her. The other game in the story wasn't that funny to me because the mishandling of a innocent animal made me sad because they only used it for entertainment without any thought to the animal. I know in those days that people didn't care much for livestock, but maybe one person does.

The story was well written and is worth reading because the story is good.

I want to thank Shadow Mountain Publishing, Shadow Mountain and NetGalley for the advance copy of this story.

Regency has become one of my favorite genres in the last year or so and I’m always excited to discover a new author! So with a cover and title like this I definitely was intrigued from the get go and knew I had to check it out! And thankfully it paid off and was everything a Regency should be!
I loved the fun twist of the ongoing game of tag! From the description I wasn’t sure how it would work but it did and was such a clever way to add more interactions!
This was friends to more trope which I’m always here for and I enjoyed Emerson’s (which is a great name btw) attempts to woo Olivia and bring out her fun playful nature and Olivia’s slow realizing of her feelings that ran deeper than friendship. The two of them made a great pair and I loved their banter.
Besides the romance my other favorite part of this book was the friendship between Emerson and his two friends! They had such a fun dynamic and were cracking me up! I absolutely hope we get their stories as well because I loved them!
Basically I have absolutely no complaints about this debut and I cannot wait to read more from this author!!

I enjoyed this book by new author Jentry Flint. She created likable characters and an intriguing spin to regency ballroom romance. Add in nefarious characters and intrigue and you have a recipe for a fun story! The supporting characters almost stole the show and I'm hoping to read their stories in the future!

I really like the cover of this book but the story failed to gel finally for me.
I do realise that finding a new slant on a Regency Romance - see also 'Intolerable' review. I think that even though i realise they did play parlour games, lacking other forms of entertainment in the evenings, playing 'IT' in a ballroom - well -
The remainder of the storyline is pretty much standard - an over-bearing father, marriages arranged for either wealth or status, fights and so on.
I begin to suspect that I can put set a of stock paragraphs together....

This is such a fun story! I’ve read a lot of regency romances, but I’ve never read any with games woven throughout the story in this way! Tag, hide and seek, and other games make appearances, and it was so much fun to see which games would be in the book and how they would play out.

I really enjoyed how Emerson kept pursuing Olivia. Her difficult family life made things very constricting for her, and it was sweet to see how he tried to help her have fun and feel alive, all while trying to show her his feelings for her. Olivia was a sweet character, and I enjoyed her friendship with Arabella, Emerson’s sister. I especially loved their game of using a line from Shakespeare’s works in normal conversation.

Like the title suggests, a majority of the book takes place in various ballrooms. Jentry Flint kept things fresh and interesting through the descriptions of different ball themes and through the game the characters played while they were there.

I really enjoyed reading this book, and I’m looking forward to more books by Jentry Flint! There are a few side characters in particular that I’m hoping will get their own stories in the future.

4.5/5 stars!

Content:
Clean romance
Abusive father (he is manipulative and yells a lot)

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A compelling book of struggling to find your happiness
Emerson has been trying to catch Olivia’s eye and make her aware of his interest in courting her but she sees his attentions as just her best friend’s big brother trying to be nice. Little does he know that she is interested in him. But their mutual interest is irrelevant to the reality Olivia faces. Her father is a violent man, prone to rages and not above hurting his wife. And he will only accept Olivia marrying a man with a title. Character, age, finances, holdings, nothing matters except the title, any title and Emerson does not have a title, therefore, he does not qualify. Unfortunately, Olivia’s father insists on approving her clothing and when he is satisfied Olivia stands out in the crowd because of the gaudiness of her attire, which is not helpful to his cause. Of course, her father will not hear that he is wrong. Olivia doesn’t confront him from a real and honest fear not only for herself but for her mother, who frequently is hiding bruises. But Emerson is determined to win Olivia, so he begins a game of tag to be played by himself, his two friends, Olivia, and his sister while they are attending events with dancing. Just as things seem to be moving in as Emerson desires, Olivia’s father finds a titled peer, Lord Valencourt, willing to accept Olivia, undoubtedly for a good price. Lord Valencourt appears to be just as prone to anger and violence as Olivia’s father but if Olivia doesn’t comply, what will happen to her mother? If Olivia does comply what will happen to her? What can Emerson possibly do when confronted with the situation not only effecting Olivia but her mother as well? Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the copy. This is my review and all thoughts are my own.

charming and witty! a delightful read. the writing is simple, the plot is sweet, and the characters are cute!

i had so much fun reading this book! a sweet and cozy regency romance, games in a ballroom was told in a dual POV, which I think worked really well for the story. emerson has feelings for liv from the start, but seeing her feelings develop as the game went on, through their friendship and banter was great. i really loved the rest of the characters, as well (at least the ones we're supposed to like!!!), especially arabella and northcott.

there is an underlying darkness in the book that makes the stakes feel very real and high, and i think the ending payoff was really well-done. i wish we got to know mrs. wilde a bit more than we did, as a woman in an abusive marriage. i enjoyed the few moments where we get to see her small rebellions in spite of her really terrible circumstances, and i wish there were a few more of them.

i can't wait for this book to come out and then get all my romance-loving friends to read it!!

thank u netgalley, i am your humble servant

Follow @literaturewithalatte for more book reviews!

✨Games in a Ballroom by Jentry Flint✨

Genre: Regency Romance/YA
Pages: 272
Pub Date: May 3, 2022

📚 Synopsis: London, 1815. Olivia Wilde has resigned herself to never finding a love match. Her father has insisted she marry a man with a title, if only to increase his own standing and reputation in society. But the men her father deems acceptable are, at best, boring and uninspiring, and at worse, are as brutish as her father, and are only looking to increase their own diminishing coffers. With her future looking dismal, Olivia decides to enjoy the last few months of freedom with her childhood friends, including the handsome 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 the death of his father. Though he might still be learning what he needs to do as the head of his household, one thing he knows for sure is that he wants Olivia Wilde to be his wife. Having grown up as childhood friends with Olivia, Emerson long ago had fallen in love with her quick wit, beauty, and passionate heart. However, 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.

📝 This was a charming and innocent regency romance with a friends to lovers trope. I’d definitely say that this is for a young adult audience (aka not Bridgerton💁🏻‍♀️).

The combination of his pining for Liv, witty banter and the relationship with his mother and friends made Emerson my favorite character.

A solid debut! An enjoyable read for fans of regency romances and Jane Austen.

💫Thank you Netgalley for my ARC💫

This book felt like a needed warm hug. You know those days where you feel heartbroken, lonely, and tearful and you just need a soft heartfelt novel? Games in a Ballroom is just that novel! It gives similar vibes to Emma by Jane Austen in the sense that it is a friend to lovers but with more twists and turns with lots of cute scenes between Emerson and Olivia as Emerson struggles to court Olivia. If you like the boy falls first trope, historical romance, non-toxic and friendly banter then definitely check Games in a Ballroom by Jentry Flint!

#gamesinaballroom #netgalley

I loved this cute story, filled with romance and intrigue. I enjoyed it very much.

I love the premise of a group of friends playing games like tag to pass the boredom of the ballroom. While this book was a mostly lighthearted read, I was hoping for more humor or action based on the silliness of childhood games.

I was more interested in the supporting friends (and would definitely like to read their books) than in the main characters of Olivia Wilde (yep, that's her name, just like the actress) and Emerson Latham. Olivia and Emerson were very vanilla, quite boring. I love friends to lovers, but there was no chemistry between these two. Olivia and Emerson barely had any scenes together. I felt more chemistry between Emerson's sister and his friend. There were nearly two chapters devoted to Emerson and his friend stealing a pig, dressing it up, and letting it loose in their gentlemen's club. Not much came of that, and as funny as it could have been, it had no laugh out loud moments.

There really wasn't much plot. It was very slow, and then a lot was thrown in at the end. No epilogue, and it just kind of ends. There's a HEA for the main couple, but we don't see much in the future.

Very clean romance. Only two very short, non-passionate kisses, the first kiss not until after the 80% mark.

2.5 stars rounded up because I really did enjoy the supporting characters and I think this author has promise.

Possible trigger warning: domestic abuse off page

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own and freely given.

Jentry Flint's "Games in a Ballroom" is a sweet Regency romance featuring appealing characters who have a whimsical sense of humor. Emerson Latham, with help from his friends and sister Arabella, resolves to court the unsuspecting Olivia Wilde by playing tag in a ballroom, of all places. This original premise is entertaining as they attempt to dodge other ball attendees, especially Olivia's father. While stories about those in trade (gasp!) tenaciously attempting to climb the social ladder are not uncommon, Olivia's father Joshua is in a class by himself. He is crass and repulsive, his long-suffering wife is intimidated, and his daughter is resigned.

The reader wonders how Emerson and Olivia will overcome the giant obstacle that is Joshua Wilde. Another game comes to the rescue, thanks to fun-loving Emerson and his friends. The story is peppered with Shakespeare quotes uttered by Emerson's sister, and the Bard plays a unique role at the end.

This mostly lighthearted and playful novel does have some serious moments. Flint's prose is lovely and her characters are charming (with two notable exceptions). That being said, the players could have been more fully developed. This is a short novel, though, and back stories are frequently lacking. Regardless, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Several secondary characters deserve their own tales, and I hope they get them. I look forward to more offerings from this author.

Thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for an ARC of this engaging novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher of this book for the eARC.

A beautiful and light-hearted romance, perfect for any period piece lover. I very much enjoyed the writing in this book and am obsessed with the trio of gentlemen in this book. Emerson's friendship with Bradbury and Northcott is well-achieved and of course Bradbury manages to steal the spotlight whenever possible. Be sure to pick this up if you're in the mood for a light period romance with a dash of drama.

A fun, easy read that meandered a little bit plotwise, but was filled to the brim with great characters and entertainment.

I thought this was just going to be about Emerson trying to court Liv, but it ended up being more a story of friendship and had more action than I expected.

Games in a Ballroom had PILES of characters, and Flint managed to make each one of them unique and engaging (even the one that didn't engage- looking at you, Northcutt). I love seeing a friend group that's men and women in historical fiction because the dynamic is always changing and so interesting. While I think just about none of this book would have ever happened (propriety does not let you run through a ballroom without being noticed, among other things) this was still a charming read and I was happy to suspend belief to enjoy their games.

Liv was, unfortunately, the palest of the characters. We're told a lot that she's spunky and independent, but I got more of that from Arabella, her friend. I just didn't see a lot of her motivation or her real personality.

I did also appreciate that the plotline that emerged of her father really pushing her to get married to a titled man that added conflict and some kind of stress to the situation. I would have liked more resolution but there was action and I liked that it all tied back to their games in the end.

3.5 rounded up to 4

What drew me to this Regency romance was the cover and the synopsis that included a game. I have to say I’m not a fan of the childhood friends-to-lovers trope so immediately that part of the story wasn’t for me. My favorite part of the book was the game aspect and I’d like to have more of it. I liked the idea of a friend group in a regency novel too. The book definitely lagged a bit in the middle. I really liked the last third of it. It was very cute and I’d read another book from this author especially if it’s hate-to-love or marriage of convenience.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I started this novel, but it was a good surprise! The book starts off with the hero, Emerson, already head-over-heels in love with Olivia, a young lady that he's known for years as a friend of the family. Better yet, the hero even admits right off the bat that he's in love with her to his closest friends. In a lot of novels, the hero holds out FOREVER to come to terms with his feelings or the couple has to gradually get to know each other and then they fall in love. This was a unique change to a romance novel set-up one that I think worked out and it breaks up the repetition that you see in a lot of these Regency romances. I also had fun with this tight-knit group of friends. I enjoy seeing heathy male and female friendships.

Now onto the games part. Playing a secret game of tag while at a ball? I started out not too sure, but then the games quickly became my favorite part of the novel. It made the ballroom scenes about 10x more exciting in my opinion. Why aren't we all playing a low-key game of tag with our friends when at a boring social event? Let's make this the norm.

The only thing I could've used a bit more of was some closure at the end of the novel about what happened to Olivia's father and the baron she was being forced to marry. The action at the end was a bit abrupt. I wanted to see these evil men get their comeuppance, but it did end in a way that might leave room for those questions to be answered in a future novel. I'd definitely read more books by this author. Hopefully, she'll continue the story with some of the other characters she introduced. I'm intrigued by the other members in the couple's friend group, especially Northcott. I want to know what he's got going on underneath that somber countenance. I will *try* to wait patiently to learn more about him.

TW: domestic abuse
CW: clean content with only a few kisses

I was provided an e-ARC of the novel from the publisher/Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book was delightful and charming! I loved this group of friends and their banter and sense of humor. This plot was unique and was definitely a fun and romantic regency! The brotherhood of friends was entertaining and I loved that they each balanced the others out in some way! Is this a series? Are we getting more? I just want more from this group of characters! Olivia and Emerson were engaging as characters and their back and forth games offered sparks of chemistry and unpredictability to this story! I would happily read more from this author!

In this HR, Olivia Wilde 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.

Games in a Ballroom is such a wild twist on the regency romances you've read before.
In an attempt to win Olivia's heart, Emerson Latham creates a game that they can play during the Season's balls. He must find the perfect balance of courting the woman he loves without her overbearing father finding out.

The way that Emerson cares about Olivia and desires to protect her from harm is commendable and sweet.

The relationship between Emerson and his good friend, Bradbury is smile inducing and laugh producing! At one point I found my mouth gaping open and my eyes the size of dinner plates because of the hilarious circumstances they had gotten themselves into.

This clean regency romances has enough elements to keep it engaging and differentiate it from others you might have read!
If regency romance is your thing, Games in a Ballroom is definitely a book you're going to want to have on your list of must read books for 2022!

This was a fun, enjoyable read with lovely banter and elegant prose. The characters were fun and relatable, but I had a very hard time paying attention. There was something missing that just didn't connect with me.

I'm sure it will be a hit when this story finds its reader base, but it just wasn't for me.

Games in a Ballroom was a fun regency read that you can get through in a weekend. The leading man, Emerson, is in love with his childhood friend Olivia Wilde (yes, really), and concocts a game for them and their friends to play during the season. Hijinks ensue. While I don't typically pick up a lot of friends-to-lovers romances, I enjoyed this story and the relationship that the couple already shared before it turned into something more. A few things probably wouldn't actually be acceptable during the regency era, but easily overlooked when you're only reading for the story and not the historical accuracy. All in all a fun, clean read that I'll be recommending to my regency-loving friends!

– Thanks to NetGalley / Shadow Mountain for the ARC for a review –

3.5 STARS

• Regency London, 1815
• Friends to Lovers
• Fun & Games
• Bridgerton vibes
• Slow burn
• Dual POVs

This is a fun debut regency novel that is similar to Bridgerton, but with a game of “Tag you’re It” that plays out throughout the book. Olivia Wilde’s father wants her to marry a “title” and Emerson, her childhood friend, is in love with her and wants to win her heart. He and his friends design a game amidst all the balls to do just that. If you like regency novels you will like this one.

The group of friends is great, especially Emerson’s besties who help him with his plan. and I enjoyed the women characters Olivia & her friend Arabella. Emerson is certainly charming and you root for him the whole way through.

Olivia’s father is a brute and verbally abusive and it’s hard to read, but he is the obsessively ambitious villain of the story. He is not the loving father found in other Regency novels.

My biggest qualm is that I would like a tad more chemistry or banter between the MCs, and an epilogue similar to all the Bridgerton books where they are together. I found the ending came too quickly and I wanted to read one more chapter.

I do love the cover art so much!

Games in a Ballroom releases on May 3, 2022.

This book is pure fun and romance. I loved Emerson and Olivia. I also loved all the side characters and am hoping they get their own stories. I loved the games that were played during the courtship. Ballroom tag, lines from books, and hide and seek. So clever. I would highly recommend reading this book.

I thought this was a cute story. I liked how Emerson came up with a way to court Olivia without drawing her terrible father’s attention. I like how there were multiple pranks and games going on in order for Olivia to be herself and to see Emerson in a new light. I liked that everything worked out in the end even though it was a hard road. I thought that Jentry did a great job for a first novel and look forward to seeing what else she writes.

I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors.  A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.

This was an entertaining read. The idea of a game of tag at the ball was intriguing. I feel like it could have been explained a little more in depth exactly how this would help him in his courtship, though.

I enjoyed the characters and hope that they will eventually be given their own stories.

The ending was a little rushed. It would have been nice to see their romance developed a little more throughout the book. Also an epilogue giving us a glimpse of their future together would have been more satisfying.

It was a little slow in some parts and sometimes repetitious. But for a first book I think Jentry Flint did an amazing job. I look forward to reading more from her in the future.



This was an entertaining read. The idea of a game of tag at the ball was intriguing. I feel like it could have been explained a little more in depth exactly how this would help him in his courtship, though.

I enjoyed the characters and hope that they will eventually be given their own stories.

The ending was a little rushed. It would have been nice to see their romance developed a little more throughout the book. Also an epilogue giving us a glimpse of their future together would have been more satisfying.

It was a little slow in some parts and sometimes repetitious. But for a first book I think Jentry Flint did an amazing job. I look forward to reading more from her in the future.

Three and a half stars.

Emerson is beginning to recover from his grief over the death of his father and is now ready to become a man and take a wife. He has the perfect candidate in mind: Olivia, his sister's best friend. Unfortunately, Olivia has a horrible title-grubbing father who will not allow his daughter to marry anyone who is merely a "Mister." In an effort to get Olivia to see him as more than just her friend's brother and as a way to pass the time during the never-ending Season, Emerson devises a plan involving an on-going game of Tag. The trick is, no one else beyond their group can discover their high jinx in the middle of the balls they must attend. Olivia feels her time running out once her father has found an evil Viscount who is in need of money and Emerson knows he still needs to get her to trust him.
My first thought was that this DEFINITELY must have happened for real. Like really, those balls always sound dreadfully boring and a game of tag certainly would have made them far more fun. Emerson was swoony in his love for Olivia. His friends and sister (and her insane knowledge of all things Shakespeare) were great comic relief, and Olivia was a strong woman in an impossible position: follow her father's wishes and be stuck in a miserable, loveless marriage, or marry for love and risk his wrath and the fact that he will definitely take it out on her mother. This was a great story and had a good balance of humor and angst. CW for signs of domestic abuse. Thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain for the eARC.

A lovely regency romance! Emerson is determined to make Olivia his bride but how can he accomplish this when her father is totally against a union of these two sweethearts. Emerson comes up with a game to convince Olivia he is her soulmate. The hero knows what he wants and it is the heroine, Olivia. You can't help but fall for these two lovebirds. You want to cheer them on throughout the book! Wonderful book to read with a cup of tea. This is the author's debut novel and she is off to a great start.

Games in the Ballroom is a clean historical romance. It is the first novel written by Jentry Flint. I am always a little unsure when reading a first book from a new author, but I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I really enjoyed reading this book.

I loved the story line and the fun idea of the characters to engage in a game of tag played in ballrooms throughout the season. It added a little excitement to the typical ballroom scenes. I also really enjoyed the main characters of Emerson and Olivia. Emerson was a real sweetheart who was always doing his best to look out for his widowed mother and sister and protect Olivia from her father. Olivia was timid and reserved around her controlling family but has a fun loving spunky side when allowed to be herself. I was rooting for their love story to have a happy ending. I also really loved the side characters in this story. I hope they will get to have stories of their own.

I highly recommend this book. I look forward to reading other books by this author.

This was a fun book with lovable characters! I absolutely adore this story, at first I was a little nervous but it was so good! Games in a Ballroom is Jentry Flint’s debut novel and it was excellent! The story was really interesting and I fell for the characters at the beginning. I am so glad that I took the chance on it.
Olivia was just trying to humor her father. He was controlling her life, and she was tiptoeing around him. However, when Emerson suggests a game of tag to pass the time during the balls, she can’t help but risk it all for the chance to be herself. Emerson is struggling to find his place after the death of his father, but there is one thing that he knows, he has fallen for Olivia Wilde. As he tries to show her his feelings, he proposes a game of tag. They never expected the fun they would have, but there are devastating consequences if Olivia's father finds out that Emerson fancies her. Will their relationship ever grow past friends?
Olivia was a bit timid when it came to her father, but she was quick and kind. I loved reading about Olivia. Although she may seem shy, she hid a quick wit about her and it was fun to read about her interacting with Emerson and his friends. She was a strong character and she had endured much from her father. I actually really liked her and I so wanted her to find her freedom and happiness after she had been stuck in her father’s cage. It was sweet to read about Olivia coming out of her shell as she played the game with Ermerson, Arabella, Emerson’s sister, and his friends. Olivia had to learn to stand up for what she believed and fight for a better future.
Emerson was the sweetest. I really liked him. He was just trying his best to live up to his father’s shoes. He wanted to help his sister find a good match, care for his mother, and convince Olivia of his love. I really enjoyed reading from his perspective, he had quite a journey. He was trying to find the balance between his old jokersty self and the more serious lord he had become. He really cared for his friends and family, and I loved his interactions with his friends. Emerson will have to figure out what he is willing to risk for love?
Emerson and Olivia were great characters and I loved reading their story. I wanted them to fight for their love and happiness. I did not know how it was going to have a happy ending and there were some surprises. It was a really good book! I also loved the side characters. They were awesome and I hope they get their own books. I adored Bradbury, Northcott, and Arabella. They really helped make the story.
I loved Games in a Ballroom and I would definitely recommend it! I hope that there are more books to come in this series. Games in a Ballroom is a clean historical romance.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher through Netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, a positive review was not required.

Games in a Ballroom by Jentry Flint, 272 pages. Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2022. $16.
Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
From Emerson’s perspective, he’s been subtly courting Olivia because he doesn’t have a title -- the one requirement of Olivia’s father for her future husband. From Olivia’s perspective, Emerson has been asking her to dance out of pity for her lack of dance partners during her second season. Emerson suggests that they discreetly play tag at subsequent balls as another excuse to interact with Olivia, but Olivia can’t afford to play any games with her heart.
The story of Emerson and Olivia is a fun one because you never know what is going to happen next. Emerson and his friends entertain themselves, and readers, with their constant antics that push society’s boundaries -- and there are a couple games I would love to play myself! Flint balances the seriousness of domestic violence with the joys of fighting for a happily ever after.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Games in a Ballroom is a regency romance by Jentry Flint. It includes friends to lovers, best friend’s older brother, and forbidden love tropes.

I love regency romances, but I have read so many that lately I have felt like all the plots are the same. Games in a Ballroom however was so fresh and unique! Emerson and Olivia have been friends since childhood and Emerson is determined to marry Olivia. However, Olivia’s controlling father has forbidden her from marrying any untitled gentleman, thus removing Emerson from the running. But this doesn’t stop Emerson from trying. In an effort to court Olivia without her father’s knowledge, Emerson initiates a game of tag their group of friends can play at the balls they attend. But even if Emerson secures Olivia’s affection, how will they convince her father to allow them to get married?

There are so many things I love about this book! Emerson’s playful spirit, the many different games the characters play, Emerson & Olivia’s group of friends, and the pig. I sincerely hope we get to see more of this fun group and their antics!

The main thing I loved about this book was the plot. I felt like it had a good pace, there was always something happening to move the story forward. From the games to the pranks to the romance I had a hard time putting this book down!

I also thoroughly enjoyed the characters. Although I didn’t feel like they grew a ton, I did love that throughout the book they found happiness and their respective burdens were lightened. I found the characters easy to connect with and enjoyed their playful banter and camaraderie. Olivia & Arabella’s “Name that Shakespeare Play” game reminded me of how my sister and I quote movies together. Emerson and his two best friends reminded me of Sarah M. Eden’s Jonquil brothers with their playfulness and loyalty.

Overall this was such a fun story to read! It was very entertaining, had all the elements of a clean historical romance that I love, but was unique and refreshing.

If you enjoy clean regency romances, playing games, charming, determined, swoony gentleman, and loyal friends who are always up for a bit of mischief, you definitely need to check out Games in a Ballroom!

I received a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions expressed are my own.

I was really excited by the title and premise of this book. Games in a Ballroom sound like great fun, and the idea of a game of tag across ballrooms was really appealing. The execution, however, fell flat for me. The characters were flat as well, seeming to be character sketches rather than fully fleshed individual. Their inner lives were sparse and repetitive. The Hero was bound by duty. The Heroine was afraid of her father. Even the setting gave me pause since the London season took place during Spring and Summer, but these balls are during cold weather months. I do think the author has potential, and I'd like to see her work grow and mature.