Manhattan, 1886Juliet Foster has just become the wealthiest spinster in town. Her domineering and thoroughly unpleasant father has died and left her millions. She's free to be her own woman and seek a life of adventure.
David Winslow, Marquess of Derrington, is in search of a wife who can break the Winslow Curse. Every second-generation heir inherits a restless, defiant nature that can only be tamed by a mate as independent and rebellious as himself.
Miss Juliet Foster is perfect—and eager for seduction. But when he wants more than a few nights of passion, Juliet runs like the devil's on her heels. Can the marquess convince her that marriage isn't a trap, but the greatest freedom of all?
*I requested a copy of this title to review through netGalley*
I don't read a lot of historical romance, I admit that I'm probably more pickier about this genre than others, but Gaines writes a fun little romp here with Miss Foster's Folly. Juliet is convinced that with her father dead it's now her time to spend life as she sees fit; for her, that means it's time for a naughty trip across Europe, sampling all the many types of lovers it has to offer. She doesn't get to far in her efforts though because Derrington shows up and throws a wrench in her plans, as he sees in her the fulfillment of a family 'curse' and decides that Juliet is the woman he has to marry.
What made this book fun to read was Juliet's determination to stick to her no-emotion-just-sex plans and Derrington's change from immediate attraction to actual love. They're butting heads throughout the entire book, both parties having to compromise before any kind of relationship can be had on either side. I do have to say though that this book ran a little long. At 241 pages there wasn't enough witty banter in the world to keep me completely involved. Unfortunately I think Juliet and Derrington's circling around each other just got a little old, plus I didn't love Gaines's attempts at making the story more authentic by having Juliet 'learn' all the proper names for her and Derrington's 'naughty bits' (I really hate when anyone-anywhere-uses the term 'frigging' for having sex). I didn't find it all that realistic and it more separated me from the story because it was annoying whenever another scene like that made an appearance. Still, the last of the book was good, and Gaines wraps up her main characters' love story along with that of Juliet's companion, Millie, quite satisfactorily.
Overall Feeling - Thumbs up. A little long, but the ending pulls it out and makes this a cute romance pick. I still kind of wish I could tell you to get this from the library, but it's an ebook and only available through Carina Press.
Series - None
