I love Mary Balogh's regency romances. This book is part of a series so it does have lots of characters. It was interesting how the couple met and fell in love by following all the parties and sharing dances at each one.

Having never read a thing by Mary Balogh but seeing her books recommended to me often on Amazon, I thought this NetGalley arc of SOMEONE TO TRUST an opportunity to sample her work. I must say that I am an unabashed romance reader, preferably Regency romance and historical fiction and have been known to read a novel in one sitting or into the early morning. That was not the case with this book. I regret I was lulled to sleep within the first few pages of narrative as Balogh introduced the players—giving every single guest at the Christmas gathering thorough background and description. Anyway, as I am no quitter, I tried again the next night and again the next night. Frankly, it made for tedious reading as if I was reading a baronetage—and I was not at all sure who the key characters were supposed to be in this novel for a couple chapters. It wasn’t until about Chapter 10 when I actually became interested in the key characters and the writing took on focus...and I finished the rest in one sitting.

The main characters, Lady Overfield and Baron Hodges, were very likeable and I had been hopeful for them from the very beginning despite their nine year age difference (she the elder widow). After the first ten chapters, the story became engaging and despite a few lagging and repetitive descriptions that are obviously meant to set up for future books, I enjoyed it very much. I’m just disappointed that it took so long to drag me to a turning point that made me invested in the characters.

I marked a couple typos that I am sure will be corrected before publishing like “blond” (when the feminine “blonde” should have been used), the use of the word “cliche” which I understood did not come to conversation until 1920...?, “town” as in London is usually “Town”—that might be a publisher style choice, and a couple of misplaced commas...but nothing so extraordinary to take me far from the story.

Thank you for the opportunity. Glad to have read this and can recommend to Regency romance readers looking for a series to become immersed in.

This was a fun read. The heroine is nine years older than the hero, and this causes hesitation on her part, and an engagement to the wrong guy. The two get to know each other as they share a waltz at each ball and fall in love.