***This review originally appeared with RT BOOK REVIEWS***

Bell’s latest release is a sometimes-awkward story about awkward characters whose shared awkwardness turns into genuine affection and more. Their charm takes a little while to take hold, but once it does, the unusual character elements and the laugh-out-loud humor make the story a real winner. Jane’s Georgian version of PTSD is gradually revealed and tenderly treated by the author as well as the hero. The secondary characters are so enjoyable that the format borders on an ensemble cast—but the heat between Jane and Adam provides plenty of focus. Very loosely tied to book one in the trilogy.

SUMMARY: Jane and Adam just keep running into each other, and while Jane’s odd behavior is initially off-putting, Adam’s kind nature eventually pushes him to find real ways to help. Both characters are challenged by gossip and reputation, and their friendship gives them both some protection – until the friendship itself takes a scandalous direction. Throw in a truly detestable villain and a hair-raising scheme to take him down, and you’ve got a great read in your hands.

A Ballroom Temptation was incredibly fun and filled with amazing characters and I enjoyed it immensely!

After her brother has regained the family fortune, Jane Bailey is returning to London for the season. Her plan is to go unnoticed and return to her home at the end of the season unwed. Adam Clairborne has been forced home by his father to find a wife after a decade of exile in the Americas. His plan is to get the money he needs to regain his land and return to the Americas without a wife. When Jane and Adam continue to run into each other, the two decide to become allies to make it to the end of the season in tact and unwed. What the two did not anticipate was coming to genuinely care for one another and their plans quickly begin falling apart.

Jane and her family were absolutely delightful right from the start. They're an odd group of people, but they really care about each other and that comes across quite clearly. Jane cares deeply for her family and puts aside her own misgivings about the return to London as her brother is very excited about reclaiming the family's place in society. I absolutely loved Jane's relationship with her Aunt Mathilda. Her aunt had the best sense of humor and every scene with her was completely charming. We don't see as much of her brother Charlie, but when he did show up, he could be quite funny when bantering with Mathilda.

Adam doesn't have the best relationship with his family as he has been in exile for the past ten years. He hardly knows his younger half-brother Sebastian and he barely speaks with his father. The only person he has a decent relationship with is his stepmother Regina. Despite the lack of relationship with his brother, he agrees to stay and look out for him at the behest of his stepmother. I enjoyed the relationship between the brothers and how much it changed over the course of the book. Adam started off as a rather serious individual, but his more humorous side came out after he meets Lord Brandon and when he's with Jane.

Jane and Adam don't have the best start to their friendship, but it develops wonderfully over the course of the book. After a disastrous first engagement, Jane is a shadow of the person she used to be. She has panic attacks quite frequently and does little to stand up for herself. Adam is very understanding and works with her to help her regain her confidence and get her life back. The two have excellent banter and their conversations had me laughing out loud. When their friendship does progress into a more physical relationship, I enjoyed it immensely. All of the scenes were incredibly well written and were so much fun to read. The consent shown in this book is wonderful and Adam is very careful to never frighten Jane or do anything she doesn't want.

My only complaint with A Ballroom Temptation is that it ends rather abruptly. An epilogue would have been nice to help tie things up a bit more. Overall, this was an incredibly enjoyable book with amazing characters and I will definitely be checking out the first two books in the series soon.

** I received a copy from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**

I loved this book all the way until the end. The book ends so abruptly. It's still a happily ever after and the rest is alluded to but still an epilogue would have been nice! That being said, I really enjoyed the slow burn of this book. Jane and Adam's chemistry and love sneaks up on you and the anticipation of them getting together kept me rapidly turning the pages. The author did a really great job of making me hate the villain but in the end everyone gets what the deserve. My only complaint is the ending; it didn't do the rest of the book justice.

A Ballroom Temptation is book three in Kimberly Bell’s Countess Scandals series. This is the first book I’ve read by this author, and I enjoyed this one tremendously.

The wit! This book is chalk full of wit, and I giggled and guffawed and any other verb that fits. Jane Bailey’s family has been exiled from London ever since her father lost the family’s fortune. Their lucks changes when her brother’s investments pay off tenfold. He bustles Jane and her Aunt Mathilda to London for a season, but it’s the last place Jane wants to be. Her ex-fiancée will be in town. But she doesn’t expect to run into a handsome stranger or be quite so caught up in his arms.

It was practically obscene, with all the exposed forearms and flexing muscles.

Oh, how delightful Jane was. She has such a soft heart and an underlying edge of humor to her—an ability to laugh at herself—too, which just made me fall in love with her character. Though her fighting spirit is locked under a shell, there’s an inner strength to her that reels the hero in. Which leads to Adam.

Adam Clairborne is tired of his father controlling his fate. After all, it’s how he finds himself back in London. His plan? Make enough money to return to the colonies of America. Within his first few steps back in London however, he’s coming upon Jane. His initial impression of her isn’t the best. He thinks her another high-brow and privileged high-society woman, though it couldn’t be further from the truth.

You remind me of a force of nature. Something only a deity could have wrought.

I love how Adam’s preconceived notions crumble one-by-one. He’s caught off guard by Jane who doesn’t have a malicious or privileged bone in her body. It makes a big impression on Adam who works hard and doesn’t take anything for granted. He can’t afford to. But he’s also more than willing to help Jane. Adam sees something beneath the surface and he wants to help Jane out of the shell that surrounds her. And boy, does he have some sexy ideas! Jane and Adam burn up the pages. It’s a slow burn, but steady too.

The ending was a bit abrupt and I would have liked an epilogue, but I was immensely satisfied with this read. The humor was laugh-out-loud, the wit unbearably clever and on point, and the side characters brilliantly multi-dimensional. I need Lord Quincy and Lord Brandon’s stories ASAP!

While A Ballroom Temptation was the first book I’ve read by Kimberly Bell, it’s definitely not going to be the last. 4 stars!

3.5 stars
Arriving for the season in London, the always-proper Jane Bailey hopes to pass unseen and unheard and return home unwed. She has already suffered enough at the hands of the ton, not to mention her cruel ex-fiance, Geoffrey Pembroke who is absolutely awful & he does eventually get his just desserts. Adam Clairborne, Lord Wesley heir to the Marquis of Clairborne has similar plans. Though his father forced him home from the Carolinas wanting him to find a wife, he wants nothing more than to return to his life of freedom in the Americas.
When Adam saves Jane from an unsavoury encounter with Pembroke, the two become allies in navigating the mire of the social season. They agree to be friends. Jane is frightened of her own shadow & Adam gradually sets executes his plan to enable Jane to become the fun loving happy girl she used to be.
I liked Adam from the start but found Jane so very annoying until the reasons behind her behaviour were revealed & then I began to like her. The story was well paced apart from the ending that seemed very rushed & I would have liked an epilogue. This is the first book I’ve read by the author & look forward to more