Lord Fenton's Folly: A Review

Goodreads (Description):

Lord Fenton is a gambler, a dandy, and a flirt—and he must marry or else he will be disinherited, stripped of his wealth and his position. He chooses Alice Stanbridge for two simple reasons: he once knew her as a young girl, and she is the least objectionable option available to him.

However, Alice has harbored feelings for Fenton since their first meeting ten years ago, and she believes his proposal is real. When she discovers it is not, she is embarrassed and hurt. However, a match with the most-eligible bachelor in London would secure not only her future but that of her family as well.

Determined to protect herself from making a fool of herself a second time, Alice matches Lord Fenton wit for wit and insult for insult as they move toward a marriage of convenience that is anything but a happy union. Only when faced with family secrets that have shaped Fenton’s life does he let down his guard enough to find room in his heart for Alice. But can Alice risk her heart a second time?
My Review:


I am beginning to think traditional love stories are overrated for Josi S. Kilpack. She is the author of A Heart Revealed (review click here), which turned out to be a story of growing up and learning who one truly is (and of course, the romance too).

This novel, however, focuses more on the romance, but the situation is just sooo....SAD.

Alice has been in love with Fenton since the moment he set her father's field on fire. Now, he has proposed to her and all her dreams seem to come true.

Until she learns the truth as to why he asked for her hand.

Fenton is a fop, a dandy, a drunk, a man of humor, and a gambler. His father being tired of his ridiculous behavior decides to cut him off unless he adheres to certain terms, one of which is getting married. So when Fenton's mom told him of her liking Alice, he simply shrugged and said he was okay with that.

So romantic right?

This romance is also about discovering one's own identity. Fenton is terrified of becoming his father, and Alice is trying to keep her already broken heart together. Yet, they both wish more than anything that they can find love in this tense and hard relationship.

They aren't kind with each other for a long time. Not until Fenton's mother falls ill and they have to work together to help her.

Eventually this becomes a sweet love story, but it certainly didn't start that way and I was doubting it would be. Fenton was one of my favorite characters in A Heart Revealed, but I didn't like him in this one until I discovered why he was acting the way he was.

Man, this was most definitely a heart-wrenching book. My heart seriously ached for these characters. And yet, they did come to love each other in a realistic, warming way.

Ah, I liked this book quite a lot. I give it a 4.5 out of 5!