JustRead: The Ballerina’s Bargain (Danforth Theatre #1) by Lorri Dudley

The Ballerina's Bargain JustRead Blog + Review Tour

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for The Ballerina’s Bargain by Lorri Dudley, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: The Ballerina’s Bargain
Series: Danforth Theatre #1
Author: Lorri Dudley
Publisher: Wild Heart Books
Release Date: September 8, 2026
Genre: Historical Regency Romance

A burdened earl. A determined ballerina. Saving the theatre was part of their bargain. Losing their hearts wasn’t.

London, 1815

Emmeline Laurent has survived by grace and grit. After her parents’ execution in France, she has learned to live unseen as a humble ballerina instructing young pupils in a small London theatre. When whispers spread that the Danforth Theatre may be sold to an unscrupulous buyer, Emmeline fears not only for her livelihood but for the safety of her impressionable students. With no time and no options, she does the only thing she knows to do: leap into a moving carriage and bargain with the new lord who holds their fate.

Grant Atherton, the Earl of Quincy, has inherited the crushing weight of duty along with a failing theatre, an arranged engagement, two younger sisters to usher into society, and a mountain of his father’s secrets. Selling the Danforth is the only way to save his family from ruin. The last thing he needs is a beautiful, infuriatingly determined ballerina turning his careful plans upside down.

But when Emmeline’s hidden past begins surfacing and the danger circling the theatre proves far deadlier than either of them realized, Grant must choose between the life he planned and the one God may have been preparing all along.

For fans of Roseanna M. White and Jen Turano — a sweeping Regency romance about the grace found in surrender, the courage it takes to trust, and the God who makes a way when every door seems closed.

My Thoughts:

I found that I wasn’t sure what to think about this one at first, but within a few chapters I was quickly pulled into their story. I loved all the twists and surprises along the way, and enjoyed getting to see Grant and Emmeline’s story unfolding once things got moving. I adored watching him with her students and seeing her interacting with Olivia was also a delightful surprise! The scene with Maria’s family being one of my favorites in the story. The setting and tone is shrouded in a tone of mystery with a touch of suspense that kept the story moving and had me glued to the pages! I also loved the attention to detail and all the terms related to ballet and the theater where they preformed.

*I received a copy from the author. This does not affect my review. This review is voluntary.*

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About the Author

Lorri Dudley is the bestselling author of The Leeward Island Series and The Agents of Espionage Series. She has a master’s degree in psychology and lives in Ashland, Massachusetts with her husband and three teenage sons, where writing romance allows her an escape from her testosterone filled household.

Connect with Lorri by visiting lorridudley.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email newsletter updates.

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a $50 Amazon gift card and a prize bundle with reading blanket, socks, and candle!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight September 8, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on September 15, 2026. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

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