Louisa and Valentine Carnell were raised in the shadow and under the thumb of their conservative father, so upon his death, they seize the opportunity to live life to the fullest. They quickly develop a firm friendship with their late mother's family and troop with their cousins to London. They soon learn a little bit of freedom can lead down the path to destruction.

Author Jude Morgan captures the essence of Regency life in A LITTLE FOLLY. I haven't read much that was actually written in the period, but to me this novel certainly has the feel and the language of authenticity. The characters have very distinct personalities and voices.

Louisa is surrounded by a number of potential suitors, but the romance is very subtle and sweet. It's hard to see what choice she will make until the options are whittled away from her one by one. It's exciting to see her and her brother grasping their freedom and doing all the things that had been forbidden to them for so long. Unfortunately, Valentine is drawn into a dangerous world and a risky relationship, but he refuses to listen to warnings or heed any advice against his heart. Even when presented with evidence of his error, he is hard-pressed to believe it. Still, it's easy to feel for him and his sister because of their restrictive upbringing.

A LITTLE FOLLY is quite enjoyable, and I can easily recommend it to readers who enjoy historical novels, English history, or classic literature.