ARC Review: What Happens in the Ballroom (Designing Debutantes #2) by Sabrina Jeffries
10:00
Series: Designing Debutantes #2
Author: Sabrina Jeffries
Published March 28th 2023 by Zebra
Goodreads Synopsis
New York Times bestselling author Sabrina Jeffries brings a fresh new hook to Regency romance with her series about three event planners who’ve rejected working as governesses to become party planners. This delightful, behind-the-scenes premise will appeal to fans of the Netflix hit Bridgerton, HBO’s The Gilded Age, and readers of Julia Quinn, Lisa Kleypas, Madeline Hunter and Ella Quinn.
When members of the ton’s elite need to host a dazzling party, they call upon the planning services of Elegant Occasions—three young ladies who’ve put their talents for fashion, food, and music to excellent use. But while they excel in designing the perfect social event, love refuses to abide by any plan . . .
A youthful widow, Eliza Pierce is enjoying both freedom and financial success as part of Elegant Occasions. Then her late husband’s best friend, Nathaniel Stanton, the Earl of Foxstead, hires Elegant Occasions to help another young widow of an officer become part of high society, and Eliza wonders why. Is the woman a relative? Or is she the earl’s mistress and her adorable toddler his child? If so, why does he take Eliza in his arms every chance he gets . . .
Foxstead’s family situation makes it difficult for him to marry, so his visceral attraction to Lieutenant Pierce’s widow is an unwelcome complication. Sworn to secrecy concerning his friend’s life in the army, Foxstead is trying to honor the man’s last wishes, even when it means being around Eliza every day. But how can he resist when the fetching Eliza keeps tempting him to break his own rules? For if he dares to expose the truth, will she ever forgive him? Or will she banish him from her life forever . . .
Goodreads
Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.
Mrs Eliza Pierce, a widow and one of the owners of Elegant Occasions, is enjoying her time in helping young men and women find their place in the ton. With her sister, Diana, now married, Eliza has a greater role in the company, but is still shocked when her late husband's best friend, Nathaniel Stanton, the Earl of Foxstead, arrives in town, begging her to take on his ward as a client, and get her re-married as quickly as possible. Nathaniel's ward is the daughter of his commanding officer, and when he died she was left in his care, as a widow herself, with a young son. But Nathaniel is hiding a secret, and not just that he has always cared for Eliza, and wants her for himself.
This was just the right story for Eliza. When we meet her in A Duke for Diana, it's clear her marriage was not a perfect one, and being a widow is much better for her. I was expecting Sam, her late husband, to have been a bad guy, but he was even worse than I was expecting. Eliza was the daughter of an Earl, though her parents had their own scandals to contend with, and her marriage was too much for her father. I hoped that Nathaniel would've been more forthcoming with her earlier (I'm sorry, but it was clearly obvious what secret's he was hiding from the get go), and definitely agreed with the course of action Eliza took when she discovered the truth. She deserved the very best, and Nathaniel had to work for it - and he did. The subplot of Verity and the Phantom has definitely whet the appetite for her own book, and I'm desperately waiting to read it! Another great book from Sabrina, one not to miss.
Dates Read:
January 17-20, 2023
Rating
4 Stars
0 comments