August Challege" Chose one from the Author List or read a book by a new-to-you author
Folie Hamilton is the young second wife of a widower with an eight year old daughter. Her husband never got over the death of his first wife, which leaves Folie neglected and lonely. Life in Toot-above-the Batch is rather dull and Folie struggles to make a life for herself and fill her days productively . The problem is exacerbated by her difficult relationship with her stepdaughter Melinda. The only thing that really interests Folie's husband is his rose garden and he leaves most everything else to Folie. That includes communication with his cousin, Robert Cambourne, who is serving as a lieutenant in the Bengal Infantry in India.
Robert is the son of one of the directors of the East India Company, but he has never fit into his fathers life or lived up to his expectations. Robert's father bought him a commission, but Robert is a failure as a soldier. His simply has no talent for it. His family's social standing protects him from being punished so he is given trivial tasks and allowed to fill the rest of his time in his own pursuits. He spends his days studying native spiritual practices under the tutelage of a "guuruu" with the idea of someday writing a book on the subject. He loves India, but he is lonely and profoundly unhappy with his life. When Folie's letter arrives it's like a breath of fresh air and Robert can't resist writing her back. Thus begins the seven year correspondence that makes up the first chapter of the book.
Via a series of letters, often with long time gaps because of the distance, Folie and Robert share their lives, their hopes and their dreams. Folie comes to see Robert as a knight out to slay dragons. Robert's feelings for Folie are made clear when he begins one of his letters, "My Sweet Folly, If you were mine . . ." They each realize that their correspondence has gone beyond the bounds of propriety, but neither one can stand the idea of letting the relationship go. That is until Folie receives Robert's last letter in which he makes a confession that destroys Folie's picture of him and breaks her heart.
Five years later Folie is a widow and has developed a close and loving relationship with Melinda. It's time for Melinda to have her coming out and Folie is determined to provide her with the best possible season. Robert is in charge of the money left to Melinda and Folie, but all issues have been handled by solicitors and Folie expects that will continue to be the case. Much to Folie's chagrin things take a drastic turn when Robert returns to England and insists that she and Melinda join him at his isolated estate.
When they arrive Folie is stunned to find that Robert is nothing like she imagined and that his life is not at all what she expected. At first she is merely confused and disappointed, but she soon comes to fear that Robert is actually mad. Unbeknownst to her Robert shares her fears for his sanity and has hired guards to protect them from enemies he isn't even sure exist. They clash when Robert demands that they remain at his home and Folie insists that Melinda must be allowed to have her season. Folie wins the argument, but once they're in London the mystery of Robert's mental state grows deeper and more dangerous. The two are forced to help each other and find themselves navigating complex social and political waters while coming to realize that feelings they believed where long dead are more alive than either one of them is prepared for.
This book languished on my TBR for a long time, mostly because it takes place during the Regency. I realize that the era is adored by many romance readers, but I just don't feel the love. It has never been a particular favorite historical period for me and there are so many Regencies that I burnt out on them long ago. As a result I rarely read them any more. Because so many people mention My Sweet Folly as one of their favorite Kinsale books I decided to make an exception, and I'm glad that I did. It doesn't focus on the elements that I associate with Regencies. For example, Folie maneuvers to get Melinda an invitation to Almack's, but the story isn't about the social issues of Melinda's season. Instead the book focuses on Robert and Folie, characters that would be unique in any genre.
I found both of them interesting and admirable and frustrating at different points in the story. I loved that they were both complex and layered enough to inspire all those feelings. I especially liked the way that Folie was able to use her experience developing a relationship with Melinda as a source of insight into how she should approach Robert. She was able to understand that he was lashing out due to fear without becoming a doormat in the face of his temper.
There were points in the story when it was difficult to imagine that these two people could have a HEA. For me that made the end all the more satisfying.
Grade: A
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