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The Folly
Easter, 1924
George Montfort is a lonely man, hiding away on his estate after being sent down from Oxford for impropriety. When he finds Freddy King in his folly he sees a chance for friendship, if only for a short while, and welcomes Freddy into his life.
Playful, romantic, and handsome, Freddy is too tempting to be just a friend, and George soon finds himself smitten. But after all that’s happened to George, can he let go and allow himself to be happy with the man he loves?
The Folly is a 15,000 word historical MM romance.
George Montfort is a lonely man, hiding away on his estate after being sent down from Oxford for impropriety. When he finds Freddy King in his folly he sees a chance for friendship, if only for a short while, and welcomes Freddy into his life.
Playful, romantic, and handsome, Freddy is too tempting to be just a friend, and George soon finds himself smitten. But after all that’s happened to George, can he let go and allow himself to be happy with the man he loves?
The Folly is a 15,000 word historical MM romance.
43 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2017
2 people are currently reading
21 people want to read
About the author
Vanessa Mulberry
12 books16 followersVanessa Mulberry has been reading and writing since she learnt to read and write. She has been an MM romance reader for a decade now and took up writing the genre because she loves happy endings and, ahem, happy endings. Her hobbies include Gin and Tonic.
She lives in Buckinghamshire (which is significantly less posh than it sounds) with her long-suffering husband and their adorable daughter.
She lives in Buckinghamshire (which is significantly less posh than it sounds) with her long-suffering husband and their adorable daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
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July 20, 2021I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
The Folly is a competent enough short m/m story that suffers from a lack of focus and eventually comes apart in the details. Taking place in 1924, the shadows of WWI is very much present and in this regard the historical aspect is solid and gives a sense of the era and place.
Following George, young man whose homosexual behavior had him sent down from Oxford before he took his degree, becoming a virtual recluse in his large estate after his family died, the narrative follows his budding and quite tentative relationship with Freddy, a newcomer to the village with a more spontaneous personality.
The greatest issue with the story is that this process of growing attachment, while not rushed, happens almost entirely off-page. A perfect example is how the reader is told that George and Freddy have conversations on many topics, including literature, and leaves it at that. We do not know what kind of literature this even is, which is odd considering that Freddy is an author and George, in his Oxford days, was very much into Oscar Wilde and Shakespeare. This was a missed opportunity, doubly so in a period that was so brimming with literary innovation. Post WWI England was a time when readers and writers alike were introduced to all sorts of novel themes and technical experimentation.
This lack of focus extends to virtually all things so that what we do see of our leads involves their talking about their relationship. The narrative narrows on the couple struggling against societal pressure and rampant homophobia, which must needs a main thrust in a gay themed story of the 20's, but to do so almost to the exclusion of everything else is perhaps not the best approach. When not directly concerned with such matters, the couple is mostly concerned with advancing toward an actual romantic involvement or not so that it is overall too confined in terms of scope.
Freddy suffers more of this. While he does get some background, it is almost perfunctory and unlike George, one has a hard time thinking of him as an independent character. What he does have that is specific to his personal history also takes place almost entirely off-page. On occasions he is apart from George, the narrative offers only a summary so that it carries less weight than it might otherwise happen.
The secondary cast is barely even present, which is understandable given it is a short story, but its brief appearances muddle the otherwise fairly well accomplished historical accuracy. Case in point, .
The Folly reproduces the very common romantic structure in a smaller scale and in this it is successful, at least to a certain degree. It avoids some of the pitfalls of the short story genre such as rushing events but it falls into others by not knowing precisely what to bring attention to.
Overall, it is not a bad story but one too riddled with problems to be anything but average.
The Folly is a competent enough short m/m story that suffers from a lack of focus and eventually comes apart in the details. Taking place in 1924, the shadows of WWI is very much present and in this regard the historical aspect is solid and gives a sense of the era and place.
Following George, young man whose homosexual behavior had him sent down from Oxford before he took his degree, becoming a virtual recluse in his large estate after his family died, the narrative follows his budding and quite tentative relationship with Freddy, a newcomer to the village with a more spontaneous personality.
The greatest issue with the story is that this process of growing attachment, while not rushed, happens almost entirely off-page. A perfect example is how the reader is told that George and Freddy have conversations on many topics, including literature, and leaves it at that. We do not know what kind of literature this even is, which is odd considering that Freddy is an author and George, in his Oxford days, was very much into Oscar Wilde and Shakespeare. This was a missed opportunity, doubly so in a period that was so brimming with literary innovation. Post WWI England was a time when readers and writers alike were introduced to all sorts of novel themes and technical experimentation.
This lack of focus extends to virtually all things so that what we do see of our leads involves their talking about their relationship. The narrative narrows on the couple struggling against societal pressure and rampant homophobia, which must needs a main thrust in a gay themed story of the 20's, but to do so almost to the exclusion of everything else is perhaps not the best approach. When not directly concerned with such matters, the couple is mostly concerned with advancing toward an actual romantic involvement or not so that it is overall too confined in terms of scope.
Freddy suffers more of this. While he does get some background, it is almost perfunctory and unlike George, one has a hard time thinking of him as an independent character. What he does have that is specific to his personal history also takes place almost entirely off-page. On occasions he is apart from George, the narrative offers only a summary so that it carries less weight than it might otherwise happen.
The secondary cast is barely even present, which is understandable given it is a short story, but its brief appearances muddle the otherwise fairly well accomplished historical accuracy. Case in point, .
The Folly reproduces the very common romantic structure in a smaller scale and in this it is successful, at least to a certain degree. It avoids some of the pitfalls of the short story genre such as rushing events but it falls into others by not knowing precisely what to bring attention to.
Overall, it is not a bad story but one too riddled with problems to be anything but average.
April 21, 2017
I was given a copy of this book free by the author in exchange for an unbiased review.
Set in 1924, George is lord of the manor and very lonely. One day Freddy comes into his life, a kindred soul.
George was firmly in the closet , too worried about the villagers to enjoy himself. Freddy wants to live life.
This was a quick read but for me not very memorable. I would have liked a slightly longer story where the characters could have been fleshed out more.
It seems their relationship leapt in bounds but their connection wasn't really shown to the reader.
I did find it intriguing how the household staff and the local vicar, Freddy's brother accepted their relationship in a period where homosexuality was illegal.
Set in 1924, George is lord of the manor and very lonely. One day Freddy comes into his life, a kindred soul.
George was firmly in the closet , too worried about the villagers to enjoy himself. Freddy wants to live life.
This was a quick read but for me not very memorable. I would have liked a slightly longer story where the characters could have been fleshed out more.
It seems their relationship leapt in bounds but their connection wasn't really shown to the reader.
I did find it intriguing how the household staff and the local vicar, Freddy's brother accepted their relationship in a period where homosexuality was illegal.
February 22, 2020
Beautifully Written!
Lovely 1920’s short story romance between sweet gentleman Freddy & disenfranchised Lord George.
Lovely 1920’s short story romance between sweet gentleman Freddy & disenfranchised Lord George.
March 24, 2017
This is a cute little short read that shows the budding relationship of two dudes in a time where two dudes kissing wasn't widely accepted.
It is a touching little story for readers that want to read about falling in love, despite what society says!
Also, the timeline checks out, I totally researched it.
July 17, 2023
This is a historical short set in 1924, and for a slender book, it does some interesting things. For example, Freddy isn't interested in penetrative sex after having previous painful experiences, and both men are fine with that. Rarer than I'd like! George, the pov MC is self-loathing, but Freddy and the people around him help him to see that he is not what is wrong, but the way society views/treats homosexuality is. His housekeeper even says that people might not like it, but most won't do anything about it. I was pleasantly surprised by this one, and will plan to check out some other stuff by this author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 19, 2017
This was a lovely read. Vanessa has a good grasp of the period, and the dialogue was spot on. The determined but sweet Freddy is a nice antidote to George's jadedness. While Freddy is never pushy, it's clear from the start George will only be able to resist for so long; he does jolly well though, I have to say.
Plenty of attention is paid to the dangers of their situation. Freddy has more inherent courage, but clearly fears losing George more than anything; while George needs Freddy to regain pride and courage of his own. I think they will do just fine together. :)
Plenty of attention is paid to the dangers of their situation. Freddy has more inherent courage, but clearly fears losing George more than anything; while George needs Freddy to regain pride and courage of his own. I think they will do just fine together. :)
September 17, 2019
This male romance is very tastefully written, a 1920s wistful friendship turning to yearning and eventually coming to fruition in Paris. Restrained England is mourning the lads lost to the Great War and times are changing. While gay love still dare not speak, in Paris romances of all kinds are known to be more open, and maybe two lovers can be braver.
I enjoyed the writing style and characterisation, and would read more by this author. I downloaded an e-ARC. This is an unbiased review.
I enjoyed the writing style and characterisation, and would read more by this author. I downloaded an e-ARC. This is an unbiased review.
April 12, 2018
Interesting story set in the 1920s, where homosexuality was a crime. Both George and Freddy have been ostracized in different ways, but George has isolated himself in fear, where Freddy has made it a niche for his writing. I like their trip to Paris, a place where they could be themselves.
I don't like short stories in general, this one was well done, but could have been longer.
I don't like short stories in general, this one was well done, but could have been longer.
January 25, 2021
Really sweet story.
October 14, 2022
A really good story told in only 15k words. 4.5 stars
April 8, 2017
Short, historical "coming-to-grips" romantic tale
This short story probably could have been more romantic, definitely could have been more saccharine sweet, and certainly more heated. However, found it's concentration on the vagaries of "coming out" (or at least coming to some acceptable terms with one's sexuality) in an unaccepting society to make it a more compellingread than a simpler or super-sweet romance.
This short story probably could have been more romantic, definitely could have been more saccharine sweet, and certainly more heated. However, found it's concentration on the vagaries of "coming out" (or at least coming to some acceptable terms with one's sexuality) in an unaccepting society to make it a more compellingread than a simpler or super-sweet romance.
April 28, 2017
I got this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This book was better than I thought it would be in many ways. there wasn't a lot of Society scenes for one. The love between Lord George Montfort and Alfred (Freddy) King was sweet and built up before sexual relations happened. Freddy and George actually talked about issues before going off half-cocked, not that didn't happen sometimes but George did have a lot of fear. this book could be improved with better editing as the were missing word that could be fit in through context. Also would have loved to see them settle into this new relationship in the estate now that they knew the servants wouldn't gossip about them.
all in all an enjoyable bittersweet read as there is a thread of past tragedies working through the story.
This book was better than I thought it would be in many ways. there wasn't a lot of Society scenes for one. The love between Lord George Montfort and Alfred (Freddy) King was sweet and built up before sexual relations happened. Freddy and George actually talked about issues before going off half-cocked, not that didn't happen sometimes but George did have a lot of fear. this book could be improved with better editing as the were missing word that could be fit in through context. Also would have loved to see them settle into this new relationship in the estate now that they knew the servants wouldn't gossip about them.
all in all an enjoyable bittersweet read as there is a thread of past tragedies working through the story.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews