Fool For Love

Fool For Love By Eloisa James

Publisher’s Description:

THE WOMAN

Lady Henrietta Maclellan longs for the romantic swirl of a London season.  But as a rusticating country maiden, she has always kept her sensuous nature firmly under wraps – until she meets Simon Darby.  Simon makes her want to whisper promises late at night, exchange kisses on a balcony, receive illicit love notes.  So Henrietta lets her imagination soar and writes…

THE LETTER

A very steamy love letter that becomes shockingly public.  Everyone supposes that he has written in to her, but the truth hardly matters in the face of the scandal to come if they don’t marry at once.  But nothing has quite prepared Henrietta for the pure sensuality of…

THE MAN

Simon has vowed he will never turn himself into a fool over a woman.  So, while debutantes swoon as he disdainfully strides past the lovely ladies of the ton, he ignores them all…until Henrietta.  Could it be possible that he has been the foolish one all along?

Ratings:

(1=unacceptable, 2=poor, 3=acceptable, 4=good, 5=excellent)

Continuity/Flow – 4

The multiple points of view that Ms. James is known for is actually tamed down and very organized in this book.  The story is not once bogged down with needless information of “fillers”.

Sex – 4

I actually like the playfulness that Ms. James adds to love scenes.  I also liked how in this book she makes the scenes actually informative.  I have always wondered about the birth control practices of the past, so her addition of the sheath (sponge) in this story was actually well placed.

Language – 4

Language is very mild, with only the inclusion of such “curse words” that would not be so shocking today.  The only person who ventures out of that realm is actually the previously starchy Sebastian, who learns a new song in a pub.

Storyline – 4

While Henrietta and Simon are the “main” hero and heroine, as a reader you are more drawn to Esme and Sebastian.  They are familiar and the reader feels like they are already invested in their story.  I think this may slightly take away from Henrietta and Simon, as you don’t really bond with them as much with the other characters.

Historical Accuracy – 5

Ms. James is a slave to historical accuracy (unless she intentionally sheds it for creative reasons), so I will mention a fun fact here.  The story takes place around the time machine looms had become common place in the production of Bedfordshire Lace (1812).  It adds a bit of romanticism to think Simon may have had something to do with that.

Overall – 4

This book was actually a very quick read.  It doesn’t drag on and, as a reader, you are left emotionally sated at the end.  I love the evolution of Esme and Sebastian, as well as getting a few more clues about Helene, and finally meeting the “horrid” Rees.    

Rant:

Josie is a brat.  There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it.  Her tantrums just rubbed me the wrong way.  I had no sympathy for her, whatsoever.

Rave:

I loved Esme’s reaction to seeing Sebastian again.  She wanted so badly to be angry at him, but she had to admit (to herself at least) that a she was actually still in love with him.  Then, to cap it off, his reaction to realizing she was pregnant was priceless.  He didn’t immediately claim the child as his, but instead loved the child because it was hers.