Lord Fenton's Folly

June 15, 2015
There’s something tawdry about putting “I believe romances are for silly girls or homely ones” in the mouth of a romantic heroine. A book would have to be a comic gem or a profound character exploration to recover from that slap to the reader’s face, and Kilpack’s second Regency (after A Heart Revealed) is merely a solid piece of genre writing, with no particular feel for its period but some nice imaginative touches. Charles Theler, Lord Fenton, has remained a thoughtless adolescent even as he ages toward his 30s, and he makes a drunken wager that results in him wearing a ridiculous hat to a staid gathering attended by his stuffy father. Alice Stanbridge has loved him since childhood, and she’s delighted when Charles starts paying her some unexpected attention. She doesn’t know his father is forcing him to marry; he doesn’t know she’s always loved him. The pace and banter pick up once Charles admits his motivation for the hat incident, elevating the pedestrian opening to an entertaining verbal battle of the sexes. There’s good stuff here, but it takes 100 pages to find it.

August 1, 2015
When Lord Fenton is forced to marry or face disinheritance, he follows his mother's advice and weds Alice Stanbridge, a family friend, but their match is full of conflict. Charles Theler, Lord Fenton, has developed foppish ways, gambling heavily and acting the flirt, but when he crosses a line and makes a particularly embarrassing spectacle of himself, his father, the Earl of Chariton, takes initial steps to disinherit him. When his mother steps in on his behalf and convinces the earl to give him one more chance to redeem himself, he is given a number of conditions, one of which is that he must marry. Charles is willing to do anything to maintain his title and position, especially since his ridiculous manner has always been a way to goad his father and possibly earn a speck of his attention, even if it is negative. His father is all about appearances, even if his actions are less than honorable. However, now that Charles has come so close to losing everything, he knows he must buckle down and show some respect to his title and responsibilities. He is guided by his mother in choosing a wife, Miss Alice Stanbridge, the daughter of her childhood friend. At first Alice is thrilled by the engagement-she's held a tendre for Charles since she was a girl-but as she comes to realize he was forced into marriage and did not actually choose her, she is hurt and bewildered, especially since he shows her the same vapid mask he shows the rest of society, and she worries he is as shallow as he appears. When Charles' mother falls ill, the uncomfortable newlyweds follow her from London to a country estate that shelters many lingering family secrets. Occasionally slow-moving, but an interesting take on respect and respectability and the choices a noble family must make when things go awry. Watching Alice and Charles grow into themselves and love for each other is nuanced and rewarding. A poignant Regency romance with subtle inspirational messages about the power of forgiveness and authenticity.

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September 15, 2015
Grades 9-12 The year is 1818, and 20-year-old Alice is enjoying her first taste of the London season, despite the hidden agenda of needing to marry well. More closely concealed is her fascination with Lord Fenton, despite his reputation as a flirt and a fop. Though she quickly accepts his unexpected marriage proposal, she later learns that he was threatened with disinheritance unless he fulfilled certain responsibilities he had neglected. After their marriage, they take to verbal sparring with a cutting edge, but when faced with larger issues, they begin to trust and love each other. Kilpack creates a number of appealing characters, a colorful nineteenth-century setting, and a few family secrets. The novel is a traditional Regency romance in that scenes may get a little steamy, but not too sexy. In fact, the marriage isn't consummated until after the book ends and, on the last page, Alice reflects that there was a purpose in waiting. Recommended for teen readers who favor chaste romance novels with a period setting.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)