A Garden Folly [Paperback]

Candice Hern (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1997

Invited to a month-long house party at a magnificent estate, Catherine Forsythe hopes that she and her sister will nab a pair of wealthy suitors, until she meets a hot-blooded man with only passion to offer.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

There's no help for it: One of the Forsythe sisters must find a rich husband and save the family from poverty. So when a chance invitation from the Duchess of Carlisle lands them at a house party at a charming country estate, they know that this is their chance. But their plans go awry. A botanically minded duke who wants to be loved for himself, a sympathetic but stubbornly mercenary heroine, and a cast of enjoyable secondary characters (in particular, the enigmatic MacDougal) keep the pages turning. This well-written Regency provides an interesting perspective on love, money, and security. Hern (A Change of Heart, 1995) lives in San Francisco, California.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Signet (January 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451186273
• ISBN-13: 978-0451186270
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,180,027 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Candice Hern is the award-winning author of historical romance novels set during the English Regency, a period she knows well through years of collecting antiques and fashion prints of the era. She travels to England regularly, always in search of more historical and local color to help bring her books to life, and prides herself on the detailed research that goes into each novel. Her books have won praise for their "intelligence and elegant romantic sensibility" (Romantic Times) as well as "delicious wit and luscious sensuality" (Booklist). Candice's award-winning website (www.candicehern.com) is often cited for its Regency World pages, where readers interested in the era will find an illustrated glossary, a detailed timeline, illustrated digests of Regency people and places, articles on Regency fashion, research links, and much more. The website also provides readers with more information on all Candice's books, including excerpts and a look "behind the scenes" of each novel. You can also find Candice on FaceBook and Twitter.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Garden Delight, August 6, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: A Garden Folly (Paperback)

Who could be more appealing for a hero than a man devoted to horticulture? Candice Hern has capitalized on the upper crust British penchant for gardening to create a lush setting for romance and a hero to die for.

Catherine Forsythe must find rich husbands for her older sister and herself if the pair and their Aunt Hetty are to escape crushing poverty in London. When a surprise invitation to a house party at Chissingworth Estate arrives, Catherine sees her chance. When her sister falls in love with a completely unsuitable young man, can Catherine salvage the situation by making a rich match for herself? Or will she succumb to the kisses of an equally impoverished fellow?

I especially loved the virtual tour of the gardens at Chissingworth Hern provides. Every scene serves as a portal to more beauty. Find your own garden bench and spend a few hours with this book. You won't be disappointed.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect Regency romance read!, August 3, 2011

By 

Regency Romance lover - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Garden Folly (A Regency Romance) (Kindle Edition)

I just recently discovered Candice Hern books but have read four already and plan to read as many a possible. I tried one of her novels due to the reviews on Amazon, but mostly due to the price. I read these books in a day or two and just cannot afford to spend $10 a day for a book to read. A Garden Folly is truly a good book with enough Regency period information to make it real. For a minute I disliked Catherine because of her honestly, but at that time women more often married for position and wealth than for love. That is what I like about Candice Hern's books. They are about finding love but also finding love in a culture and social setting that I find facinating. I only wish I could figure out which book goes where in a series. I read the second book of this series, The Best Intentions, I believe was the name before this one and would like to have read them in order. I wish Amazon would list them in order as Book 1 of 2, etc. I highly recommend this book to all who like a sweet, quick and totally entertaining read.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Amusing but unsatisfactory, April 5, 2006

By 

S. Bu "sunny" (Redwood City) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Garden Folly (Paperback)

Many scenes in this book were quite amusing. However it was ultimately unsatisfying -- over the course of the book the hero demands that the heroine choose love over financial security, but the hero is not asked to make any sacrifice for their relationship. He essentially behaves childishly throughout the book while she has to struggle with much more responsible/life defining choices. Yet he is (of course) rewarded with "his heart's desire" at the end.