Alice Coldbreath: A Foolish Flirtation

A Foolish Flirtation by Alice Coldbreath
Published by Drollery Ltd on September 14, 2024
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Historical / Victorian
Pages: 406
Format: eBook
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At eighteen, Emmeline Ballentine’s father splashed out on one London season to introduce his daughter to polite society. Sadly, for Emmeline, polite society was not terribly receptive to a city trader’s daughter.

She only ever caught one gentleman’s fancy, the dishonorable Jeremy Vance who made her head spin as he singled her out for attention at the balls and assemblies. Her worldly chaperone warned her he was making a May game of her, but Emmeline had not heeded her warning. Consequently, her dreams were dashed, when at the close of the season, Jeremy announced his engagement to another.

Ten years later, their paths cross again in Bath. Emmeline is older and wiser, and a good deal poorer, and Jeremy is divorced. There is absolutely no chance of him making a fool of her again with his shocking offer of marriage. Is there?

Alice Coldbreath has been recommended over and over as a must read historical romance author, so once again I stepped out of the Regency era into the early Victorian era to read A Foolish Flirtation.

I am normally not a huge lover of second chance romances, but Coldbreath changed my mind on this one. We get the full story of the second chance throughout the book, but we are immediately thrust into a reversal of fortunes between the MCs and a chance to enter a marriage of convenience.

There isn’t a lot of action per se in this book, and a lot of the content centers around misunderstandings, but this book is incredible. I actually rate it higher than 4.5 much closer to 5 stars. The writing is just exquisite. I felt completely immersed in the story by the middle to end, as if I really understood the characters and it was one of those books I couldn’t put down and did not want to end.  Low melodrama, great character arcs, and amazing chemistry, dialogue, and steamy intimate scenes.

That being said, it may be slow and boring for readers who want fast paced action rather than a character study. I found the angst to be low (for me), but for others it may be too much hand wringing.

There is some swearing, full on intimate scenes, and other mature subject matter that make this one a skip for kisses only readers. I loved it, even the swearing, as it emphasized the true passion between the characters.

One of the things I love about this book is the FMC is plump and the MMC is obsessed. I don’t want to spoil it too much, but I just adored how much this man adored everything about her.

The secondary characters were also charming, including the MMC’s son. I am ordinarily not a huge fan of kiddo centered romance, but maybe in my older age I appreciate some of the charm and whimsy a child can add to a plot and story. Emmeline’s companion, Pinky, is a wonderful catalyst for a lot of Emmie’s own change, and some of the staff also are wonderfully featured in a way that makes them more than just window dressing.

The MMC is divorced which also adds a unique element to historical romance reading that I found I enjoyed, as well as some of that backstory.

Overall, I agree with recommendations that Coldbreath is a huge talent and although not within the Regency era, her Victorian books are worth a venture outside the norm.