Sophie actually napped for two hours yesterday. TWO HOURS. And instead of doing laundry or meal prepping like a responsible adult, I sat in the rocking chair with my headphones and just... listened. That's the kind of book Someone to Trust is. The kind where you actively choose it over productivity because Elizabeth and Colin's slow dance toward each other is somehow more satisfying than crossing things off your to-do list.
The Snowball Fight That Started It All
Look, I've read approximately seven thousand Regency romances at this point. I know the beats. I know the misunderstandings, the societal pressure, the eventual declaration. But Mary Balogh does something sneaky here—she makes the obstacle genuinely interesting. Elizabeth is nine years older than Colin. That's it. That's the conflict. And somehow it works because Balogh doesn't treat it like a scandal to be overcome, but as a real concern two thoughtful adults would actually have.
The Christmas house party opening at Brambledean Court is a lot. Like, A LOT. There's a massive family reunion with approximately forty-seven Westcotts and I won't pretend I kept everyone straight. The recap of previous books is a bit clunky—you can feel Balogh trying to catch up new readers while not boring series veterans. I'm on book five now and even I was like "okay, okay, I remember who Wren is, we can move on."
But then Colin and Elizabeth end up in a snowbank after a sledding mishap and share this kiss that neither of them planned, and suddenly I'm invested. Not because it's dramatic—it's actually pretty quiet—but because Rosalyn Landor reads Elizabeth's internal panic with such perfect restraint. You can hear her thinking "well, that was lovely and also absolutely cannot happen again."
Rosalyn Landor Deserves a Raise (Or At Least a Spa Day)
I've listened to Landor narrate this entire series and honestly? She's the reason I keep coming back. The woman has to voice what feels like the entire British aristocracy and she gives each Westcott their own distinct flavor. Elizabeth sounds warm but guarded. Colin has this earnest quality that makes you want to pat him on the head (in a good way). The dowager duchess sounds exactly like the kind of grandmother who would scheme to get everyone married off.
What I appreciate most is how Landor handles the emotional undercurrents. When Elizabeth is telling herself she's too old for Colin while clearly falling for him anyway, you can hear both layers. The sensible widow and the woman who hasn't felt this way in years. That's not easy to pull off, and Landor makes it sound effortless.
Yes, It's Slow. That's the Point.
I need to address the pacing because I know some people will bounce off this book hard. It is deliberate. It is measured. There are long internal monologues about duty and propriety and what society expects. If you want action and drama and urgent declarations, this is not your book.
But here's the thing—I listened to most of this during school drop-off and car line pickup, and the slow pace actually worked in my favor. I could pause when Lucas needed help with his seatbelt, come back, and not feel lost. The emotional beats are clear enough that interrupted listening doesn't kill the momentum.
The one-waltz-per-ball agreement between Elizabeth and Colin is such a perfect slow-burn device. Each dance brings them closer while they're both actively trying to find other matches. It's like watching two people walk toward each other in slow motion while insisting they're going in opposite directions. Frustrating? A little. But also exactly the kind of tension that keeps you hitting "continue" when you should be going inside to start dinner.
Who Should Listen (And Who Should Skip)
If you're already invested in the Westcott series, this is a solid addition. Not my favorite (that's still Anna's book), but satisfying in that comfort-read way where you know everything will work out and you're just enjoying the journey. If you need books that survive constant interruption and still make emotional sense when you return—this one passes that test. I paused mid-proposal to break up a fight over whose turn it was on the iPad, came back, and still felt the full weight of the moment.
Skip it if you're new to Balogh (the family dynamics assume some familiarity and the info-dump opening will feel even clunkier without context) or if slow-burn makes you want to throw your phone out the car window.
Nap Time Approved
Someone to Trust isn't groundbreaking. It's not going to change your life or make you see romance differently. But sometimes you don't need groundbreaking. Sometimes you need an eleven-hour hug in audiobook form, narrated by someone who genuinely understands how to make two people falling in love feel inevitable and earned.
I finished it during Sophie's nap. High praise indeed. Dirty: A Dive Bar Novel earned the same honor last month—any book that beats out laundry deserves recognition.
