Designing Women, 1800s Style: Book Review of What Happens in the Ballroon

 

What Happens in the Ballroom by Sabrina Jeffries

Thank you to Goodreads Giveaways and Kensington Books for the review copy of What Happens in the Ballroom by Sabrina Jeffries.

Description

What Happens in the Ballroom is a period romance set in England in the time of the Napoleonic Wars. The premise of the book is that, with her sisters Diana and Verity, Eliza runs an event planning business, and one thing they do is arrange debuts for young women. It is for this reason that Nathaniel Stanton, Earl of Foxstead, approaches them to plan a debut for Jocelyn, a young war widow with a young son. But as Nathaniel and Eliza (a war widow herself) become closer, their attraction to each other and, much riskier, their feelings for each other, transcend a passing flirtation.

To complicate matters, Eliza’s late husband ruined her for marriage—between his drinking, gambling, and making all of his shenanigans into her fault, she lost her sense of self. It is only through her business that she has begun to gain it back, and she’s not ready to give it up to another playboy—like Nathaniel.

Nathaniel, also Eliza’s late husband’s good friend, spent his youth partying and has enjoyed the company of many women. Fighting in the war shook him to the core and burned away the need to spend his life seeking only amusement. He knows that he’s a different man now, but that doesn’t mean anyone else knows it yet.

Nathaniel also holds secrets that if they got out Eliza may never trust him again. And Jocelyn and her son’s lives could be damaged, too.

 

Low Misogyny, Some Spice

What Happens in the Ballroom includes characters with enlightened views, including the beliefs that women can have sexual desires and should have a say in things. Also, as the business shared by the sisters, Elegant Occasions, plays a major role in the plot, the book implies that women can and should earn money for themselves, including owning businesses—which would have been unusual for the time.

The book has some spicy scenes, but is not overly graphic—a little graphic, but not as graphic as many other romance novels. The dress and manners play a part in the plot but are more light decoration.

Would I Teach This Book?

Would I teach this book? I would probably not teach What Happens in the Ballroom, as I prefer a bit more surprise to the plot. That does not mean that a romance reader would not enjoy it, as most of the characters are reasonably likable, and it does include some romance. However, in my mythical romance literature or creative writing course, there would be better candidates.

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