Rated 3.5 - SOMEONE TO TRUST by Mary Balogh is a good addition to the WESTCOTT series, reuniting fans with beloved characters of past and present during the holidays.

Elizabeth, Lady Overfield, is considering marriage for the second time. A widow, she wants someone serious and steadfast. A reliable, quiet man to possibly start a family with. But she also enjoys some harmless flirting with Colin Handrich, who inherited the Lord Hodges title after the death of his father. He’s ready to begin a family of his own after witnessing the happiness of the Westcott family during the holidays. Will this season bear fruitful for both as they encourage each other’s search?
Mary Balogh is one of my favorite authors, and one of the few authors who will get me to read the Regency era in fiction, so I look forward to everything she writes. This book is classic Balogh in so many ways. Her house parties and balls are divine, with everyone talking at once in a blended chaos. It’s so easy to picture the scenes in my head, and I especially loved the attention to detail during the dancing. I really felt as if I was on the sidelines watching it all play out.

I especially loved this couple in the beginning of the novel. Their attraction sparkles and you can feel it, as well as the denial due to their age difference. Should they even consider a relationship with Colin nine years younger than Elizabeth? I know it shouldn’t be frowned upon because it’s not highlighted when the man is older than a woman, but it’s just as true today as it was then, at least in my mindset. I have a hard time accepting that arrangement in a romance, and yet, Balogh made it seem plausible and enticed me to desire their success.

That said, I’m not sure how the beginning of this novel will work for a new reader without the benefit of reading the rest of the series. As an avid fan, I found the beginning pages overwhelming and a little snoozy. I wanted some action, and we float along through all the characters’ introductions, which although necessary for my forgetful brain, seemed like a huge chunk. That’s not how I normally feel about the beginning of a Balogh novel, so it surprised me. Not that I would stop reading it because of that, but for a new reader, it’s not representative of this author’s true magic.

Lady Hodges, Colin and Wren’s mother, is a ridiculous woman—a worst nightmare image of a wealthy spoiled brat. I felt sorry for Colin to have her as a mother, but even sadder for Wren for what she endured because of that woman. Colin grew up with his mother, and so it might be easier for him to forgive her, but Wren was estranged from her entire family because of the mother who couldn’t accept her disfigurement. Lady Hodges was the only part of this novel that I couldn’t relate to, and I found most interactions with her distasteful, as well as over-the-top ridiculous.

I enjoyed this novel, but it isn’t my favorite of the series. I laughed out loud at some situations and tears formed at others. I was shocked at one situation and thrilled that Avery (one of my favorites from a previous book) was very much himself at that moment—lethal but holding back to allow the situation to resolve itself, even though he’d be justified to do something about it.

Balogh is brilliant at writing the chaos of family and their good intentions, then amps it up a bit to make me laugh again. It’s a long book that has an enormous number of scenes and situations. The work involved creating something of this magnitude is mind-boggling, so I appreciate the endeavor beyond most books I read because of the volume of characters and their interactions. It’s really astounding how well it flows.

I think what bothered me most is that Lady Hodges took up too much page time for my taste. She seemed almost like a fairy-tale caricature of a wicked stepmother rather than a real person. That she was a mother to several children just turned my stomach. If I didn’t love the rest of the characters as much as I do, I would have stopped reading because of how annoyed I became with Lady Hodges.

I did love all the family time, but by the end I was ready for Elizabeth and Colin to move on without them. The end of the book did contain some appreciated humor, but I wanted a bigger glimpse into this couple’s future. Even though this book isn’t my favorite of the series, it was still a beautiful romance. I like that their journey was difficult and unusual, which made me appreciate their happy-ever-after more.

My favorite part of the book was the heroine and how everyone rallied around her. I especially appreciated how she loved them for their support but was strong enough to face down her demons on her own. Colin was not her backbone, nor was she his, but hand in hand they could move forward, knowing they could rely on each other to trust in themselves, independent yet making each other more comfortable to forgive their past. Enough to accept and look forward to their future. Neither of them had an easy life, so their life together would have to make allowance for their combined pasts to interfere sometimes.

SOMEONE TO TRUST gifts us with a second chance for an older woman with a younger man. The love story is believable and entertaining. I enjoyed their playful interactions and how they try to find someone else that will suit them better. There were so many cute moments between them that made me hopeful for their happy-ever-after. I especially enjoyed the holiday scenes and the fun in the snow, as well as the numerous gatherings and balls they both attended. This book was filled with party-time and very festive. Just what I look for in a story that’s centered around family celebrations.

I suggest you read the series in order prior to this book for the most enjoyment. Click on the following titles to read my reviews of the books in order: SOMEONE TO LOVE, SOMEONE TO HOLD, SOMEONE TO WED, and SOMEONE TO CARE. It’s one of the best series I’ve read.

Review by Dorine, courtesy of Romance Junkies.

Mary Balogh is one of my favorite authors, and although this newest entry in the Westcott series started a bit slowly, it soon completely won me over. The character development is always brilliant, and I particularly enjoyed this story with a heroine who is nine years older than the hero.

Step back in time where one wrong step will cause tongues of the Ton to wag! Mary Balogh’s SOMEONE TO TRUST is the story of finding love and taking a chance on following your heart. The widow Elizabeth Oldfield finds herself flattered by the attentions of a younger man, Lord Hodges, but she never expected him to steal her heart. Dare they take a chance on personal happiness, turning their backs on society’s small minds?

This one started out rather slow for me as a cast of relations were introduced and grew, almost overshadowing the main characters and their relationship. The historical details were wonderful, but the plot seemed almost too vague at some points and too drawn out at others. I never felt truly connected to this rather slow moving tale.

I just don’t think this was my cup of tea, and coming into a series at midpoint may not be a wise decision, but that said this just fell a little flat for me.

I received a complimentary ARC edition from Berkley!

Series: Westcott - Book 5
Publisher: Berkley (November 27, 2018)
Publication Date: November 27, 2018
Genre: Historical Romance
Print Length: 384 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
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I am now a Mary Balogh fan! This was my first book by this author and I'm can't believe I've never read one of her books. This story was charming and downright adorable! Plus I love how this features and A women over 30, which is not often found in the Historical Romance genre.

Elizabeth is now one of my favorite characters as I can totally identify with her, being a lady over a certain age. It was nice to show a character who is over 35 that still dreams, wants and desires for true love. Elizabeth had a horrible first marriage that caused her nothing but pain and heartbreak. But she has persevered and is now ready to start living again.

Colin was just a wonderful man. He has had a lot to deal with in his life, one devoid of love and family and he often feels like he belongs nowhere. No matter the troubles in his life, Colin was just a really great guy and I'm a sucker for the nice guy. He just wanted to do right and find someone who could love and accept him.

When Elizabeth and Colin meet that is an instant connection between the two, almost like two lost souls finally finding home. Though there was no insta-love. This was a relationship that started as friends and then blooms to love and it was nice to see the progression of that relationship.

I loved the exploration of the significant age difference between Elizabeth and Colin. It was clear to see that they were made for each other, but their concern about the age gap was real and should be thought about. If they choose to be with each other, they would have to deal with scorn of Scoeity and the pressures of their family. I could totally relate to Elizabeth and she tried to fight her feelings for Colin due to her age. There is still a bit of scorned associated with an older woman and one that can impact the success of any relationship.

The Wescott family was amazing. I loved how they would be there for each of their family and they truly cared for each other. Though not perfect, for they didn't believe Elizabeth and Colin should be together, they did it out of a place of love and not scorn. They only wanted to protect Elizabeth and it warmed my heart.

And finally, I loved how Elizabeth and Colin could be real with each other. They shared their past, their pain, their fears and their hopes for a future. It was nice to see two characters talk through everything and really developed a great foundation for their relationship.

A charming and adorable historical romance perfect for fans of this genre.

**********The publisher provided an ARC, via netgally*******

I have a new favorite in the Westcott series! I have really enjoyed previous books by this author but I think Someone to Trust is probably my favorite.

Elizabeth is such a wonderful heroine. She's had a rough go of it in many ways but she is so positive and has a great sense of humor. She lights up any room she's in. Colin is much the same in that people seem to gravitate towards his personality. As friends, the tension between these two starts quickly and gets heavier and heavier as the book goes. It's so obvious they're perfect for each other in every way. But an age gap has Elizabeth thinking Colin needs a younger woman.

Remember Colin's family from previous books? His awful mother is back at her tricks and his estranged sister is barely tolerable. Yet another reason why he needs a strong woman like Elizabeth!

All of the many previous characters are present and very enjoyable. Most of the book is fairly light hearted but there is some angst of course or we wouldn't have a story. My only wish is that there was a little more heat to the book. Mary's novels are fairly clean. I won't complain too much though because the tension makes up for it.

On the whole, another great addition to the series and I can't wait to keep reading!

Balogh is consistently enjoyable, able to put a bit of a fresh twist on a well loved genre. Her extensive "genealogy" of characters can be a bit daunting, but can be read as a stand alone with no problem.

This was an unusual book for this genre as it made age an issue. She is older than he is by almost a decade. This causes people to believe that they can't be serious about any kind of relationship. Add that his sister is married to her brother and everyone thinks of them as family instead of a possible relationship. I really liked how the story flowed with the plot line and the couple not quite believing themselves that they could be one. This was just different enough from the other stories that I really enjoyed it.

This is Book 5 in the Westcott Family Series. The author does a fine job of familiarizing the reader with the background of the Westcott family featured in the previous books. In this instance, I felt that too much time was spent on the extended family and not enough time spent building the relationship of the two main characters. Therefore, I did not think that Colin and Elizabeth they had enough chemistry to carry the storyline.

When the book began, I felt like I was in the middle of Downton Abbey house party in the winter. This book was a slow read, in a good way, just like the relationship between Colin and Elizabeth. I enjoy all Mary Balogh's book, but this one would not be at the top of my list of favorites.

It seems that in many historical novels, the heroine is flawlessly beautiful, sweet, naïve, and young. What about the women over 30 who find themselves looking for someone to love? What about those who have experienced marriage once and are looking for a second chance? Someone to Trust, #5 in Mary Balogh’s Westcott series gives us just such a heroine. With most romance readers being between the ages of 30-54, she’s definitely someone readers can identify with.

Elizabeth Overfield and Colin Handrich, Lord Hughes meet at a Christmas gathering of family and friends. Elizabeth is the sister of the host and Colin is the brother of the hostess. Knowing Colin may feel awkward at a celebration consisting of virtual strangers to him, Elizabeth, always one to make people comfortable, makes a special effort to ensure he feels welcome. Through the Christmas celebrations the two quickly become at ease with one another. Elizabeth is enchanted by Colin’s quiet charm and he finds her poised, serene, and lovely. They fast became good friends, laughing and talking throughout the festivities. Both were looking to wed. Elizabeth had been widowed for some time and knew she needed to marry again. Now that Colin had become Baron, he knew he should look for a wife. Both had possible matches but none that appealed. When Colin suggested “Perhaps we should put ourselves out of misery and marry each other”, Elizabeth knew surely he was teasing. After all, she was 9 years older than he. She did agree though that while in London looking for suitable matches, they would dance one waltz together at each ball.
And they did just that. There was total comfort between them. They could forget about the rest of the world and just enjoy. They were easily able to talk on any subject. Elizabeth opened up to him about the ugliness of her marriage and Colin shared the bleakness of his childhood with her. Things they’d never shared with anyone. Soon they found themselves attending balls solely for the desire of dancing with each other. Though each had possible suitors, none made them feel as they did when together. Did they want to settle for a match with someone society deemed suitable or were they willing to choose with their hearts?
This was a charming, sweet story. Personally, I would have preferred a little more passion and sizzle but it was a lovely and well-written story and followed the social rules of the time. I really enjoyed the descriptions of the English countryside and the London balls. The family dynamic was excellent. A wonderful contrast between a loving, close family and the most dysfunctional family you’ll ever read. And I found the characters intriguing. Even the “bad” ones. Elizabeth was the kind of woman that can hide a lot behind a calm façade. No one would know the horrors she’d endured in her marriage or how lonely she was. She had a serene countenance but she was a lovely and lively woman. And strong. Colin was teasing and fun and someone she had an instant affinity with. Though she was developing feelings for him, she was uncertain. She’d thought herself in love before and that had ended badly. She worried that their age difference would be frowned upon. As much as she wanted him for her own, she was a friend to him first and wanted him to find happiness. I felt for Colin. He’d not had the loving family Elizabeth had. His family had never shown affection. Quite the opposite in fact. They chose to hurt and manipulate. He was burdened by his new responsibilities. And he was torn between what was expected and what he wanted. Though society and his mother wanted him to choose a young beauty, “he yearned for Elizabeth’s friendship, her approval, her smiles, her jokes, her exuberance, her serenity”. He yearned for her. I enjoyed how Colin and Elizabeth’s relationship slowly developed and I enjoyed seeing them question their own feelings. Knowing their uncertainties made me nervous they would choose the match expected of them. It did feel slow at times though with the characters rehashing the same worries repeatedly. Still, Mary Balogh is adept at decoding every little detail of the duties, worries, and obligations that go along with human relationships. I understood their doubts and fears, especially those of Colin in regard to his family.
As I mentioned before, I enjoyed the family dynamic of the Westcott family. What a loving and supportive group. There were many to meet as this was a new series to me. The author did give a brief history of each character as they appeared but there were so many that the descriptions tended to get in the way of the story. There was a family tree chart at the front of the book that would have been sufficient for me. I wish more authors would include those.
Fans of the regency era and all the customs and rules involved will enjoy this story. A must read for Mary Balogh fans and fans of this series though I wouldn’t recommend reading it as a stand- alone.
3 ½ stars

Twenty- six- year-old Colin Handrich, Lord Hodges has decided to seek a wife and widow Elizabeth Overfield has decided she must accept one of the suitors who have offered for her if she wants to have a family of her own. The younger man older women theme is played skillfully and wonderfully in this marvelous regency romance series. There are the usual members of the Westcott family ensconced in the story that help them to trust again after painful childhoods and relationships. Elizabeth and Colin are friends and the leap to become lovers is hard for them to make because of the age difference and the unseemliness of it for the era. As always, Balogh pokes a stick into that bee’s nest with her having Elizabeth point out that older men never get criticized for seeking younger women but the same is not true for older women who seek younger men. It is a lively tale full of humor and truth that is woven into a heartwarming story in Mary Balogh’s expert hands.

Colin Handrich, Lord Hodges, meets widow Elizabeth Overfield at the Wescott Christmas party hosted by his sister and her husband, Elizabeth's brother. There is attraction, but Elizabeth is nine years older than Colin. furthermore, Colin's mother is determined to marry off Colin to a young socialite. Does age matter? A good series.

I enjoyed Someone to Trust more than I thought I would. I went into the story with the expectation of a mildly enjoyable romance, but was pleasantly surprised. The story isn't the typical romance, the main characters are both full adults knowing that the world isn't all roses and sunshine and have realistic expectations about society marriages. I was also intrigued by the fact that Elizabeth was older than Colin, instead of the typical reverse. The rapport between Elizabeth and Colin was beautifully written and really sweet, more believable than typical romance novels.

I found this book really boring. The main characters were quite uninteresting and there didn't seem to be a lot of chemistry between them. While it's readable, I find it just OK. To be quite honest, with the exception of Camille's book, I'm not loving this series.

I really enjoyed this novel. It was classic Balogh. Yearning, hope, talking about everything. It reminded me a lot of my favorite Balogh Novel, "Slightly Dangerous". So, yeah. Definitely a fun read for me. Would recommend.

Historical regency romance, with an older, widowed heroine and younger, respectful hero.

The heroine's history is a common on in Balogh's books: widowed woman of an abusive man, looked down on for some reason by a large part of society (age, looks) but outwardly unflappable. There are the common characters, the vulgar social climbers and angry, insecure men who damage the heroine's reputation, the supportive, cool high ranking peers, and the tons of babies doing 'cute' things. The enormous cast of characters was consistently confusing, and the frequency with which children were brought into everyday life was historically improbable.

This was a less spicy Balogh, which I felt was a poor reflection on the chemistry that would have existed between an older woman and younger male deeply attracted to each other. This also featured no great, terrible villain that sought to kill or completely ruin one of the main characters.

Also, a much-ridiculed older single woman character, there really only for comic relief does get a bit of redemption in this, as she recognizes the love match for what it is, and is correct in her opinion for once.

Lady Elizabeth Overfield’s tender heart has survived quite a lot in her 35 years. Miscarriage, abuse and divorce have left her disillusioned with love. Still, she maintains her warm smile and pleasant disposition, preferring a serene life in the background to the glaring attention of the meddling ton.
Colin Handrich, Barron Hodges, is in his mid-twenties and still trying to figure out what it means to be a good man. But increased pressure from his overbearing, narcissistic mother to marry and settle down, NOW, has him on edge. He’s the catch of the Season, and bride contenders (and their hopeful mothers) are lining up for a shot at matrimony, except he wants no part of it.
Elizabeth and Colin, who are already acquainted through the marriage of their siblings, find themselves together at a family Christmas gathering where they become fast friends and confidants. They discover that they truly enjoy each other’s company and have a lot in common, despite the obvious age difference. Nevertheless, Colin is (mostly) serious when he suggests to Elizabeth that “we should put ourselves out of our misery and marry each other.” But that’s preposterous, isn’t it? A nine-year age gap? It couldn’t possibly work. Could it?
Balogh’s style of historical fiction never disappoints. In book 5 of her Westcott series, the dashing hero, lovable heroine, meddling family members, and nosy ton, fashion a tale that’s hard to put down. I can’t wait for her next one!

I’m pretty sure this is the first book I’ve read by this author. The synopsis sounded intriguing and I knew it was the type of story I usually enjoy when I dive into a historical romance.

One thing about this story is it is a part of a series. There are a lot of characters in the story and the author had to do a lot of backtracking to keep us up-to-date on what was happening in the book.

It did take me a few chapters to catch up on the story and I did struggle with who is who most of the way through the book. However, the main characters, Elizabeth and Colin, were so much fun it completely made for a highly enjoyable story.

I just love the likability of these two together. Even though it was a scandalous thing to even consider marriage with a big age difference, you knew just by their interactions they were perfect for each other. I held my breath several times through the whole process as they were each searching for someone to marry since they couldn’t or wouldn’t marry each other.

With detailed character development from people you love to hate, like Colin’s mother, to those characters you just fell in love with, like Colin and Elizabeth, the author tells a richly explicit tale set an Old England that will capture your attention throughout.

Someone to Trust is book 5 in The Westcott series and although I never read the others, I truly enjoyed getting to know the author and her beautifully crafted historical Regency romance. Perfect for an escape back to Old England with all of the pomp and circumstance of the age.

Love the cover too!

As usual, Balogh’s writing is absolutely gorgeous, drawing the reader into her characters with style and grace. I was delighted to discover in Elizabeth Overfield a Regency heroine over thirty. And even better, the hero, Colin Handrich, Lord Hodges, is a younger man! At twenty-six, he’s old enough to be on the marriage market, but when he falls for Elizabeth, they have to face some interesting opposition from their society–and their own hearts. 5 stars.

Another Westcott Family story, this time featuring Lady Elizabeth and Lord Colin. Elizabeth has been widowed for several years and Colin thinks it might be time to settle down but no one has caught his eye yet. Thrown together for a family Christmas party, Elizabeth and Colin hit it off immediately. Colin’s sister is married to Elizabeth’s brother. They enjoy sledding together, listening to carolers and just sharing the details of their lives. Although they both silently consider what it would be like to be married to each other, they don’t take it seriously as Elizabeth is 9 years his senior. After sharing an unexpected kiss, maybe they are meant for each other after all!

Someone to Trust was such a delightful book to read. Mary Balogh’s characters are always so well thought out and easy to like, drawing you in to the story from the start. Her romance books aren’t particularly graphic so it should appeal to those readers that are looking for a more clean, wholesome romance. The secondary characters are just as well loved as the main protagonists and just as well developed. This is book 5 in the series, it can be read as a stand-alone but you will miss out on the history with the other characters in the story. Although that doesn’t detract from the story line at hand.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this Arc