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Clanross #3
Love and Folly
Lady Elizabeth and Lord Clanross join forces with Emily and Richard Falk to forestall disaster when four young romantics wreak havoc upon the sedate English countryside
306 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 1988
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About the author
Sheila Simonson
22 books36 followersMs. Simonson writes mysteries and romantic fiction, and lives in the Pacific Northwest.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
February 14, 2017
This is the first romantic regency novel I read that takes place around the time George the third passed a way and the trial of queen Caroline that led to extensive proceedings in the House of Lords, which took on the appearance of a state trial and the protests and civil unrest by the public in favor of the queen. The book Follows lady Elizabeth, her husband the earl of Clanross and her twin sisters. The girls are old enough to be presented and make their come out. I enjoyed reading about the changes in the court presentation. Tom hires a poet to cataloguing the ever growing Brecon library. Owen is a radical and gets everyone into some hot mess. There is also Tom's new aid who also helps copying Major Richard Falk with the military books he was writing. The book also follows Major Falk and Emily as he decided what to do with his new found inheritance.
July 24, 2013
Romance series generally follow a pattern: each book follows a sibling or friend of the previous book, and marries them off in turn. Couples from earlier novels generally have walk-on parts, spending just long enough on-page to let the reader know that they are deliriously happy and have plenty of babies.
This is not that kind of series.
The Clanrosses from Lady Elizabeth's Comet and the Falks from The Bar Sinister are back, and they make up the majority of the novel. Elizabeth's younger half-sisters' romances and intrigues provide the driving force of the plot, but the older, already married characters are the ones I (and I think the author) was most interested in. They have so much left to negotiate and figure out, for themselves and as a couple, and watching them work through it was really fascinating. And I really enjoyed the way history is portrayed in these books--there is real danger from the poor people, who have real grievances, and the censorship of the written word actually seems very threatening here. That said, there isn't really a narrative arc in this book--no build up and then a climax, I mean--and so although my affection for the characters kept me interested, the events themselves are rapidly fading from my memory.
This is not that kind of series.
The Clanrosses from Lady Elizabeth's Comet and the Falks from The Bar Sinister are back, and they make up the majority of the novel. Elizabeth's younger half-sisters' romances and intrigues provide the driving force of the plot, but the older, already married characters are the ones I (and I think the author) was most interested in. They have so much left to negotiate and figure out, for themselves and as a couple, and watching them work through it was really fascinating. And I really enjoyed the way history is portrayed in these books--there is real danger from the poor people, who have real grievances, and the censorship of the written word actually seems very threatening here. That said, there isn't really a narrative arc in this book--no build up and then a climax, I mean--and so although my affection for the characters kept me interested, the events themselves are rapidly fading from my memory.
December 9, 2017
This is the third of Simonson's Conway Series and was originally published in 1988. It is my least favorite of the series, although the writing is very good and intelligent, with some slyly humorous bits to enjoy. Also enjoyable is revisiting two previous couples: Captain Richard Falk and his wife Emily from Bar Sinister (The Conway Series Book 1) and Lord Clanross (Tom) and his wife Elizabeth from Lady Elizabeths Comet (The Conway Series Book 2). Both couples have lovely, mature relationships with love and respect for each other and there's lots of family warmth to be found. Very nicely done.
But, unfortunately, two major players in this third book are Jean and Maggie, Elizabeth's younger twin sisters. While I enjoyed reading about them as 14-year-olds in COMET, they are now 3+ years older and I found them not to have matured much and their actions annoyed rather than entertained. They're too young and too immature and too impulsive (well, especially Jean). Some readers may enjoy reading about young ladies getting into scrapes because of impulsive behavior. I just find it tedious. Although the title gives "love" and "folly" equal billing, I found that there was too much folly and not enough love.
But, unfortunately, two major players in this third book are Jean and Maggie, Elizabeth's younger twin sisters. While I enjoyed reading about them as 14-year-olds in COMET, they are now 3+ years older and I found them not to have matured much and their actions annoyed rather than entertained. They're too young and too immature and too impulsive (well, especially Jean). Some readers may enjoy reading about young ladies getting into scrapes because of impulsive behavior. I just find it tedious. Although the title gives "love" and "folly" equal billing, I found that there was too much folly and not enough love.
April 18, 2018
3.5 stars. The third book in this entertaining Regency series. This one really isn’t really a romance overall, even though there are a couple of romances which are featured. It’s a light story, but there are serious events taking place in the background: the death of George III; the scandalous trial of George IV’s wife, Caroline of Brunswick; and the Cato Street Conspiracy - a plot by radicals to murder the prime minister and his cabinet.
The first two books can be read in any order, but it would be best to read both before this one.
Here the author brings together her protagonists from the first two books. How often do we get to catch up with characters in a romance novel, several years after the wedding? Emily Foster and her soldier Richard Falk now have two more children, and he is writing a boring history book slowly with his undamaged left hand. Lady Elizabeth and Tom Conway have a pair of twins, and the book revolves around the fact that Elizabeth’s sisters are ready to come out into society. Their plans are disrupted when the death of the king throws everyone into mourning.
Most of the drama concerns one sister’s infatuation with a young man who writes inflammatory poetry at a time when “the acts suspending habeas corpus and making open criticism of the government a capital crime were still in place”.
The first two books can be read in any order, but it would be best to read both before this one.
Here the author brings together her protagonists from the first two books. How often do we get to catch up with characters in a romance novel, several years after the wedding? Emily Foster and her soldier Richard Falk now have two more children, and he is writing a boring history book slowly with his undamaged left hand. Lady Elizabeth and Tom Conway have a pair of twins, and the book revolves around the fact that Elizabeth’s sisters are ready to come out into society. Their plans are disrupted when the death of the king throws everyone into mourning.
Most of the drama concerns one sister’s infatuation with a young man who writes inflammatory poetry at a time when “the acts suspending habeas corpus and making open criticism of the government a capital crime were still in place”.
August 26, 2018
It’s 1820 and the Clanross twins are eagerly awaiting their coming-out season. Jean falls wildly in love, Maggie, more sensible, sets her sights on someone suitable while Tom, Lord Clanross, and his wife Elizabeth must try to keep them from folly. The book also features Colonel and Emily Falk from a previous book in the series. The story has the usual engaging characters with witty dialogue and clever plot.
May 24, 2024
Interestingly, as another reviewer pointed out, this is technically set after the Regency period, when the Prince Regent, now George IV is king. I had not realized (or maybe was not paying attention during history class) that it was a truly turbulent time, with rumblings of sedition.
This story takes place during that era and indeed, sedition does play a central role in the plot of the story.
So yes, very different from your typical Regency romance. It can be read as more of a coming of age for the Clanross twins, who featured in the last book.
It is necessary to read the first two books of this series to fully appreciate the story, although its may be read on its own, but I dont really recommend it.
A lot is going on while both twins fall in love. Its nice to catch up with the couples from the previous books, who feature very heavily in this book, so its nice to catch up w them.
Love for one twin and folly for the other…interesting.
August 4, 2021
A lot happens in this novel, and although there are romance elements, I would classify it more as a historical novel, which is fine. The 1820 setting added political intrigue rarely seen in these kinds of books. My only regret is that I somehow managed to read this one before its other prequel, The Bar Sinister, and since most of the key plot points of that novel are revealed here, I feel no need to read it. Otherwise, I would recommend these three Simonson novels (The Bar Sinister, Lady Elizabeth’s Comet, Love and Folly) and anything else she wrote.
February 19, 2022
Skimmed because I was curious. I would have liked the characters more if I remembered them...
Annoying folly, anger and suppressed anger. There was a lot going on, and the two main couples were quite similar to me unfortunately.
It was interesting to get an unromanticized view of the time after King George's death and after the regency period that's so popular to write about.
Annoying folly, anger and suppressed anger. There was a lot going on, and the two main couples were quite similar to me unfortunately.
It was interesting to get an unromanticized view of the time after King George's death and after the regency period that's so popular to write about.
March 16, 2017
Solid Third Book
Good third book ,recommend reading the other 2 first. Learned a few historical facts and author kept Conway story fresh.
Good third book ,recommend reading the other 2 first. Learned a few historical facts and author kept Conway story fresh.
July 16, 2018
Another Walker regency novel, well-written with an excellent plot and historical details.
August 27, 2018
Great characters revisited, loads of history to spice up the plot, and a whole lot of thoughtless foolish behavior by the young. Ah, England.
September 20, 2010
What was marvelous about this book was how intelligently Ms. Simonson wrote about the continuing evolution of the relationship between husbands and wives. Not perfect by any means but full of humour and delicate negotiating. I wouldn't really say it was a romance and reading the previous books makes a lot of sense ... to fully enjoy Love and Folly
January 31, 2016
Regency romance which gives an historical background to the death of the old king (George III) and the coronation of his son, former regent 'Prinny' crowned as George IV. I particularly enjoyed the book as it's written by an author who was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest where I also live.
February 2, 2016
A bit boring
May 3, 2021
2.5 stars. It was OK, but rather boring. In addition, many important details were unclear - it was a struggle to figure out who was who, and where they were.
November 11, 2017
Regency
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews