Second chance romance!

What Happens in the Ballroom (Designing Debutantes #2) by Sabrina Jeffries     

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Eliza Pierce is a widow! Happily! Her husband Samuel had eloped with her in an attempt, it now seems, to get his hands on her dowry. Not happening! Eliza’s father refused to come to the party! Now Sam is dead, killed at the Battle of Talavera. The rake she’d known as Sam's friend, Nathaniel Stanton, Earl of Foxstead, has returned as guardian to a young widow and her child.  Nathan hires Elegant Occasions to introduce Jocelin into society with a view to having her remarry.

Eliza’s sure there’s some secret about Jocelin but doesn’t know what it could be. Her mind is filled with Nathan. She feels an irresistible pull towards him, although she’s no pushover.  

With the little that Sam is discussed I get the feeling he had exercised sort of coercive control over Eliza. He actively did not want her “following the drum.” Gentlewomen did not do that. Although Eliza later finds out that plenty did. Whatever it was, Eliza has definitely reached the ‘Never Again’ stage.

So, we we have a guardian who wants to marry his charge off quickly. Why? Is she Nathan’s mistress? Sam’s mistress?

We have a woman who deserves better than she’s had.

We have a viscount with his share of secrets who finds himself falling in love but hasn’t quite realized it yet.

Nathan’s so busy protecting his secrets he nearly lets the biggest one slide. How he really feels about Eliza.

Maybe that’s why I felt the chemistry between between the two is not quite there.

Still, it all rounds up to make a fairly enjoyable romance, although not the zinger I usually associate with Jeffries.

A Kensington Books ARC via NetGalley.                                              

Many thanks to the author and publisher.