Someone to Trust is the second book in a delightful series. I recommend that one reads them in order of publication.

A Christmas historical romance that answer the question, can you marry for love? When Elizabeth Overfield, widow, meets Colin Handrich, nine years her junior do they have a chance?

In a world of holiday hope, spirit and fun two people will discover the path to love and hope for happiness despite the obstacles in their path.

Grab a cuppa, put a log on the fire, festive holiday music and enjoy this standalone read in a series that can be read on its own.

I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review and decided to read from the beginning. This is one series you must read in order. There are a ton of people that you will need to keep straight just as a warning if you don’t like a lot of characters this series is not for you. However, I found that these are sweet heart warming stories. They are a little long but good reads. I really haven’t been able to stop reading this series.

She looked like the springtime, or she made him feel like the springtime or some such poetic nonsense.

3.5 stars

This is book 5 in the Westcott series and so far I have read four of the books and I do recommend that they be read in order, if possible. Balogh's series are often quite intertwined, however this one is especially so, with characters reappearing in each one and all with very convoluted connections to one another, such that it can get a bit confusing.

One of the lovely things about this book is that it's an older-heroine-and-younger-hero romance, which isn't very common in historicals. And there is quite an age difference: 9 years! She's 35 and he's 26. While large age differences normally bother me, even though I know they're historically accurate (when they're backwards, gender-wise), I was not in the least bothered here and felt that Colin and Elizabeth were such a perfect match!

As usual, Balogh does a great job with her character portrayal, such that they seem very three-dimensional, and they come as such delightful people that you would want to know them and be friends with them in real life. They are truly both such genuinely good and kind people, who have both experienced difficult things however, that you're eager to cheer on their relationship and eventual romance.

"We need winter if only that we can have spring."

Elizabeth's background was especially horrendous—her first husband was a drunk and an abuser, who caused her physical harm on many, many occasions, including being the cause of her miscarrying twice. Her "serenity" and lively spirit, as Colin describes it, are all the more incredible, given what she has survived. (She's been a widow for 6 years now when the book takes place).

Colin's family life is a complicated and sad one. Wren, the heroine of Book 2, is his sister, whom he was very close to and whom he was told had died when he was six years old and she was ten. (In fact, she had been taken away by an aunt and uncle because she was being treated so horribly in her home, specifically by her mother). His mother is a narcissist of the first order—practically incredible, I mean borderline not believable, the woman is delusional—and has always prized beauty and youth above all else. Needless to say, this didn't create a great home environment for her five children, and led to one suicide, one being taken away (aforementioned Wren), and one running away to Ireland at 17. Colin has always been his mother's favorite and is a gorgeous boy, but he abhors her and has been estranged from her for 8 years, ever since his father died.

There's a lot of stringing along emotionally—for the reader—in this book; we all know they're going to get together, of course, but whether it's themselves and their own insecurities, or other people, plenty of other things come in the middle before that can happen. It wasn't super angsty, but it was a little, which I normally don't like, but these wonderful characters made it bearable. I also adore Elizabeth's family (immediate and extended), which is the main family of the series, and loved seeing all the characters again and seeing how they rallied around her and then both of them; so, so heartwarming and probably one of my favorite romance families.

Not much heat in this novel, though that's not a trademark of Balogh's books to begin with, but this one felt even tamer than most. There's definitely a strong connection between Colin and Elizabeth however and it's easy to believe that they fall in love with each other and in the chemistry between them.

Overall, a lovely read, though the angst and lack of oomph made it my least favorite of the series so far (but note that it's been a great series, so there's stiff competition).

"You are the most beautiful woman in the world to me," he said, "for your beauty comes from within and glows like an aura all about you. And you have admitted me within its light."

*This review is of an ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Some changes and/or edits may be made to the final published version.

My father in law got very sick and my focus was too shattered to try and read. I will likely try again some day when my attention is stronger

This was my first book by Mary Balogh and I love that it was a holiday-themed introduction. There are a ton of characters to get caught up on, but they were explained very well in the first few chapters to get me up to speed. The relationship between Elizabeth and Colin was sweet and I enjoyed the fact that there was a little bit of scandal involved in their pairing. A great introduction to this author and series!

Thank you NetGalley for this copy, sorry it took me so long to post my review. I have enjoyed other books by Mary Balogh but this one didn't do it for me.

It's an okay story, but I thought it was too slow. Also I'm not really a fan of stories about a romance between a younger man and a woman who is nine years older, call me old-fashioned but it bothered me.

I love Mary Balogh books! Always a wonderful read. Nice to have a story set in winter. I look forward to reading more in this series.

I had a lot of trouble with this addition to the Westcott series, so much that I couldn't finish it -- a real rarity for me, especially when it's part of a series. I think it was the constant "I'm so much older than he is, it'd never work", or 'Too bad she's so old'. For goodness sake, he's 26, she's 35! Yes it's nine years but really!!

I guess Colin and Elizabeth are good people but I just couldn't see them together, although I imagine they did. I had trouble figuring out who was part of which family. I did enjoy the rest of the series, and am looking forward to reading the newest story.

*3.5 stars*

A Westcott wedding!

If you’re a fan of this series than you are no stranger to a Westcott wedding! And you know there will be Radleys lurking about. Hodges are now part of the mix and bring their own particular flavour of family drama with them…

Wren’s brother made an impression in Someone to Wed and I couldn’t have hoped for a better pairing with Elizabeth. All of these families have been through the wringer in one way or another, each person facing their own life challenges. This is regency romance, however, so much of it was couched in dignified conversation as facades needed to be maintained. No matter how high the drama or awful the behaviour….

I’m always up for an older woman/younger man and much was made of the almost ten year difference between them. These things mattered apparently but regardless of the talk, they struck up a friendship and found sympathy, empathy and attraction as well. With the meddling of Colin’s family (gawd, his mother was still a vicious piece of work) things were rougher than they could have been. That, however, made for interesting turns which added welcome spice to a particularly quiet romance…

Another good read in a series that is all about family, warts and all. And I must say, those warts are very entertaining…

Colin and Elizabeth start off as friends in this book.  They are both looking for the same thing – marriage – but since Elizabeth is 9 years older than Colin they don’t really even think about marrying each other.  There is a spark and a sparkle there – and Colin constantly teases Elizabeth that he could marry him, but then plays it off as a joke.  She’s a little hurt by his teasing, but is Colin truly teasing her or is there a vein of seriousness in him?

While the story started off slowly it soon picked up and I was pretty invested in the romance.  I really liked both Colin and Elizabeth and wanted them together.  Yes, she was 9 years older than Colin and that age thing got a little old, I’m not gonna lie.  Colin was so adorable and kind, and I loved his character so much.  I’m glad that they finally worked things out, but it took a little too long to get there.  This actually could have been a novella and been perfect.

The overwhelming Wescott family irritated me in this book.  Not that any of them did anything wrong, truly they didn’t, but having to remember who is who was getting to me.  I love that they are so supportive of each other, but it got to a point where I just wanted them to all go away.

While I didn’t like this as much as I liked books 2, 3 & 4 in the series, it was still a lovely romance and worth reading.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

This leisurely paced, delightful tale of a couple finding the courage to buck societal norms and say yes to love is a perfect cozy winter read. Elizabeth is nine years older than Colin--a fact which would be unusual but no big deal in modern society but which was practically unheard of in upper class Regency England. Since this is book #5 in the series (reading in order is recommended, as the many characters reappear in all books), I was cheering as two of my favorite secondary characters got their well-deserved HEA together.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read an eGalley ARC copy!

I was so excited to continue Balogh's Westcott series, and this one didn't disappoint! I loved what I knew of Elizabeth from previous books, and I couldn't wait for her to get a second chance at love. And with a younger man? OH MY! I didn't expect an age-gap romance, and I love that Balogh did something so unexpected. I wished they would have communicated more clearly, but I can understand why it took them to so long to admit to their feelings. It wasn't my favorite in the series, but I definitely So Enjoyed It.

This was such a SLOW BURN!! This was my first Mary Balogh book and I really did enjoy her writing style. Historical romance is one of my favorite genres and I’ve heard such amazing things about this series. Unfortunately I think my expectations may have been a bit too high but I did enjoy it! I really liked that the heroine was older than the hero and also a widow! She slowly opens herself up and begins to develop a strong friendship with Colin first, which I really appreciated. I was so ready for these two to just get together already! They had a lot of chemistry but I felt like it was a really slow burn which instead of feeling that anticipation, I felt it took me so long to read this! I really enjoyed the secondary characters and I’m looking forward to reading the other stories in this series! Thank you so much for sending this to me!

I adore Mary Balogh stories. Her "Slightly" Bedwyn family series and Survivor series are both favorites of mine. So, it pains me to say that the Westcott series got old...very slowly. The plodding Someone to Trust might have been a sweet love story but it moves so slowly with the angst of a slight May/December romance that I barely got through it. A disappointment. I will still look forward to Balogh's next release because when she is good, she is fabulous.

What a wonderfully written historical romance novel!
I could feel, hear, and taste everything that was described almost as if I were there myself!

It is very easy for me to get absorbed into and lost in these kinds of period pieces as they are vivid and romantic. Balogh writes the story of Elizabeth and Colin who are brother and sister in-law during the family Christmas get together. They are both suffering through their own forms of melancholy and find great friendship in one another over the course of the holiday season. Spending much of their social time with one another, they continue to develop a deeper understanding of one another that fosters an unmistakable relationship between them.

Balogh develops Elizabeth and Colin through friendship, heartbreak, embarrassment, realization and all sorts of challenges they both have to overcome in their own developments. She does this in a frustratingly believable way that has you gripping your seat and turning the pages to see where it's going. With so many various things happening in the story, it is still written well enough that nothing is lost sight of.

Interesting twists and turns are thrown in to keep you guessing and wanting more. Elizabeth and Wren are by far my most favorite characters, as well as Matilda. They bring unique character traits and experiences to the table, making for an intriguing and engaging read all around.

Would love to read more from this author!

Someone To Trust
I am loving Mary Balogh’s Westcott series. The characters, their relationships and the settings intrigue me. I finished Someone to Care and was thrilled that Someone to Trust took place at Brambledean Court immediately after Viola and Marcel’s Christmas Eve wedding. Loved the holiday setting, the houseful of relatives and the Westcott family’s Christmas celebrations.
Elizabeth and Colin’s love story is beautifully written. The couple enjoys each other’s company and they form a close friendship during the holiday festivities at Brambledean. Elizabeth is attracted to the handsome, charming Colin but more importantly is at ease with him. Colin admires Elizabeth’s beauty but appreciates her calm and giving personality. The couple spend Christmas day outside enjoying the snow. Their sled tips over, lands in a snowbank and Colin kisses Elizabeth. The kiss and the sexual attraction between the couple changes the course of their friendship.

Elizabeth was a widow and nine years older than Colin and polite society frowned upon a marriage of an older woman to a younger man. It just wasn’t done – and the couple decides to remain friends. I loved that the author incorporated the waltz into the storyline. Colin and Elizabeth share a very romantic waltz at Brambledean and agree to share the first waltz at every function they attend.

Elizabeth’s story unfolds with each chapter. I admired her strength of character; she has endured heartache and loneliness and kept her experiences to herself. Elizabeth accepts Sir Geoffrey Codaire’s proposal and this changes the course of the novel as his jealous, petty character is revealed. Elizabeth fears she can’t trust anyone and breaks her bethrothal and in doing so causes a huge scandal. Loved that Elizabeth’s family and Colin supported her during this time.
There were three anti-heroes in this novel and the author woven them into the story perfectly. The most obvious is the veiled, creepy Lady Hodges—and I was thrilled that Elizabeth stood up to her. Elizabeth’s relationships with her first husband Desmond Overfield and Geoffrey Codaire speak to the social expectations of the time. A wife was her husband’s possession. I was surprised that Elizabeth suffered during her marriage and it was accepted. The ending was a pleasure to read-it contained several amusing surprises!
Colin and Elizabeth’s story was fabulous! Elizabeth’s decision to ignore society’s expectations of her and choose love was inspiring. Colin’s faith in their relationship and love for Elizabeth was the heart of their romance—he believed in them. He followed his heart’s desire.

This is the first book I have read by Balogh. I am a fan of historical works in general, but I found this one to be too repetitive. The author repeated very similar phrases several times and I found it annoying. She kept giving us information she already had, and it didn't need to be there again.
I also became bothered by by the female protagonist. Her simpering was too much for me and then suddenly she grew a backbone.

Most recent in a long line of slightly-complicated but feel-good Regency romances by perennial favorite Balogh. This one is a nice holiday novel, the setting being our hero's first real family Christmas. Of course, since it is a historical romance, he is snowed in and titled, but that's where the traditional aspects end. Our heroine is a widowed lady nearly a decade older than Lord Hodges, which will lead readers on a merry (pun intended) chase as the two circle about one another trying to pretend that they're willing to stick to convention.

Great great story!!! Loved the character and the settings!! What a great book to read around the holidays full of romance and charm! Older woman meets younger man! Starts off so sweet and innocent with a kiss after a sled fall. Things perfectly made for a cozy, snowy Christmas story!