“LORD FENTON’S FOLLY,” by Josi S. Kilpack, Shadow Mountain Publishing, Oct. 6, 2015, Softcover, $15.99 (young adult)
Alice is in need of a husband. She is older than most of the eligible maids, having missed her first few seasons due to a sever drop in her family’s financial status. So it comes as a surprise to most people when Lord Fenton, the most eligible bachelor in London, makes a marriage proposal. Alice, however, has had feelings for Fenton since their first meeting 10 years ago, and to her, the proposal makes perfect sense.
Lord Fenton has spent the past couple of years living as a gambler and dandy. He has the reputation of being a flirt, and his father has had enough. He gives him an ultimatum — get his act together, familiarize himself with the family estates and get married or be stripped of his wealth and his position. With few options in front of him, Fenton chooses the least objectionable option available to him — Alice.
When Alice learns of Fenton’s true motivation, she is embarrassed and hurt. But she’s not stupid, either. Alice knows her match with Fenton will secure not only her future, but her family’s as well. Alice locks her heart away and agrees to move forward with the wedding, creating in the process a relationship based on wit and insult.
Alice and Fenton accept that their union will forever be one of convenience rather than of love, but when Fenton’s family secrets come to light, everything changes focus, and Alice begins to see the man she thought she knew so many years before.
“Lord Fenton’s Folly” is Josi S. Kilpack’s second historical novel in Shadow Mountain’s popular Proper Romance series. As with her other novel, “A Heart Revealed,” “Lord Fenton’s Folly” focuses on the intellectual, as well as physical attraction, that helps build a lasting relationship.
Back-and-forth dialogue drives “Lord Fenton’s Folly” as much as the internal dialogue each of the main characters puts forth. The pacing is fast and the prose accessible — I read this in one sitting. In many ways, it reminds me of a Hallmark Channel movie — flawed characters, it’s somewhat formulaic, the guy ends up with the girl, etc. — but that’s sort of to be expected. There’s nothing wrong with it. “Lord Fenton’s Folly” is never going to be a classic. It is, however, inviting, and what more could you ask for.
