Astonishing. I occasionally browse publishers' websites and download ebooks on impulse, but this must be the first time I've bought a book by an unfamiliar author and read it in one sitting. It was that good.

A mature American socialite is left a staggering fortune by an eccentric relative and decides to spread her wings, lose her virginity, then go on a scandalous tour of Europe, posing as merry widow. She meets a moody aristocratic British rake who is looking for a headstrong, defiant wife to neutralise his hereditary arrogance and egotism.

The various narrative elements of [b:Miss Foster's Folly|8409232|Miss Foster's Folly|Alice Gaines|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1275900586s/8409232.jpg|13270368] are familiar strands of historical romances, but Ms Gaines weaves golden cloth from cliched threads. 'Chemistry' would be a feebly inappropriate description of the interaction between Juliet and David. High-voltage arcs of electricity surging from a Tesla coil is the closest simile I can think of.

And if the rapier-sharp dialogues and catch-me-if-you-can chase scenes weren't enough, when the sexual encounters finally make an appearance, they build upon each other with increasing emotional and physical intensity, lifting the story way above the mainstream mass of plodding Regency romances and turgid contemporary erotica.

I've awarded five stars to many other books I've reviewed on Goodreads, but after reading [b:Miss Foster's Folly|8409232|Miss Foster's Folly|Alice Gaines|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1275900586s/8409232.jpg|13270368] I'm tempted to go back and curve some of those downwards. If Spinal Tap can have an amplifier with an '11' volume setting, why can't Goodreads have a 6 or 7 star category?

I do believe I've fallen in love with Ms Gaines. :) ( )

MISS FOSTER'S FOLLY by Alice Gaines is a historical romance set in 1886 Manhattan Island, New York and London.What a passionate delightful full of adventure and romace story. It is well written. The plot is interesting and flows easily. The characters are engaging. It has passion, wit, love, romance, sensuality, lust, trust issues, letting go of past disappointments, and learning to truly love. The heroine, Juliet, is tall, comely in her eyes and the eyes of her siblings, independent, determined, wealthy, spinster, rebellious, looking for adventure,seduction with plans to sleep across the continent and no plans of marriage,she believes marriage is just a trap.....but enter David, the Marquess of Derrington. The hero, David, is handsome, restless, defiant, rebellious, looking for a wife who can break the Winslow curse....enter Miss Juliet Foster. While David is determined to win Juliet's heart and her hand in marriage, she is determined not to marry but use him to take her virginity then move on to her plan. What a wild, sexual ride they pursue with twists and turns galore. In the end hearts win out. The secondary characters are witty, strong and help carry the story. If you enjoy a fast paced story with wit,lust,adventure,passion, and just possibly a happy ever after ending you will enjoy this one. This book was received for review from Net Galley and details can be found at Carina Press and My Book Addiction and More. ( )