Review: Delightful and Passionate Historical Romance
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 18, 2010
Miss Foster's Folly by Alice Gaines is truly a delightful and passionate historical romance!  Set in the beginning in Manhattan Island New York, 1886 and through the travels to London, heroine Juliet Foster becomes a wealthy spinster at age 32 at the passing of her Father.  Her father Gerald Foster was an intolerable man, with a nasty disposition.  Juliet is determined that she would never marry after seeing her father's misery, anger and emotional neglect to his children after the passing of their mother.  She never wants to experience losing as he had. She does so want to experience passion.  Her plans are to  pass as a widow with her friend, Millicent Rhodes and experience lovers throughout England and beyond. But has a minor inconvenience of needing her virginity broken!  That's where the hero David Winslow, Marquess of Derrington, Derry, comes in.  She's thrilled upon meeting him and responds so passionately to his touch. Juliet is a very independent heroine and strong too in her endeavors. She's very determined to never marry.David Winslow, Marquess of Derrington, often called Derry, has different plans for Juliet when she blurts out her need to him!  He's determined to break the Winslow Curse.  As cited in the book, 'Every second generation heir inherits a restless, defiant nature that can only be tamed by a wife as independent and rebellious as he is'.  Juliet fits this perfectly.  Winslow men who found the "cure" enjoyed long and joyful marriages.  Derry has loved and respected his grandfather Hugh and grandmother, Harry,  and determined to break this curse. (You will so laugh at the visit from his grandmother Harry).  Derry is determined to marry before doing the deed, but Juliet won't have it! With Juliet's stubbornness and escaping to find someone else to do the deed, Derry chases her along and gives in, in hopes she would change her mind and fall in love with him.At times I laughed out loud, and often smiled reading MISS FOSTER'S FOLLY by Alice Gaines.  Juliet is resolved to seduce and drive him to distraction so that he doesn't ask for her hand in marriage.  There's some fun quirks between them, such as he can only ask her once a day to marry him.  Derry was so good to her, a very ideal hero without being overly alpha!  You could feel them both falling in love as the story progressed, but no over unraveling or over analyzing it in the book.  It moves along as a fast pace and adventurous.  As a full novel in ebook, nothing is lacking with building the relationship with Juliet and Derry. The author gives us a chase between them that each time becomes more intense and passionate then the last.  Knowing and understanding more about the Winslow Curse would of made it more important in the story.  He does recite a letter from his grandmother, that gives a little insight and requirements of his wife, to his pursuit because of the curse.  Its Derry goal, but he falls for her adventurous and fun qualities quite early and throughout the book. It's a totally 'good feel' read, one that will make the reader feel that cheer that the hero and heroine posses.  Long after reading this book, the reader will recall scenes and smile in remembrance.It would be a awesome to re-visit Juliet and Derry with Juliet's friend, Millicent Rhodes, to read more about her own HEA (Happily Ever After).  Her background as an orphan with no family,  and having  been a charity case at Miss Sedgewick's Academy for Young Ladies, which Juliet also attended, is interesting. Would be great to find out more about her! But either way I so look forward to more from this author Alice Gaines!