Games in a Ballroom

A sheltered young lady falls for a man her father would never approve of in Flint’s dull Regency era debut. Emerson Latham is smitten with Olivia Wilde, best friend to his sister, Arabella, from the very beginning. He suggests a game of tag at a ball to get closer to Olivia, though he knows her cruel father will never allow the match, as he’s determined to pair Olivia with someone with a title. Olivia comes to notice Emerson as more than her friend’s brother, but his too-subtle attempts to court her leave her believing he only gives her his attention out of pity. With the help of his friends Northcott and Bradbury, Emerson works to convince her of his true intent, but her father’s demand that she marry the heinous Lord Valencourt ends their romance before it can begin. Because their love is both fledgling and forbidden, the protagonists’ connection is based largely on cursory glances and unspoken words, making it difficult to see their chemistry. Their surface-level interactions will keep readers from fully investing in their romance, but the supporting characters—especially headstrong Arabella, brooding Northcott, and shameless Bradbury—inject some much needed life into the story. Readers will hope future outings focus more on them. (May)