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Pink Carnation #12
The Lure of the Moonflower
In the final Pink Carnation novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Mark of the Midnight Manzanilla, Napoleon has occupied Lisbon, and Jane Wooliston, aka the Pink Carnation, teams up with a rogue agent to protect the escaped Queen of Portugal.
Portugal, December 1807. Jack Reid, the British agent known as the Moonflower (formerly the French agent known as the Moonflower), has been stationed in Portugal and is awaiting his new contact. He does not expect to be paired with a woman—especially not the legendary Pink Carnation.
All of Portugal believes that the royal family departed for Brazil just before the French troops marched into Lisbon. Only the English government knows that mad seventy-three-year-old Queen Maria was spirited away by a group of loyalists determined to rally a resistance. But as the French garrison scours the countryside, it’s only a matter of time before she’s found and taken.
It’s up to Jane to find her first and ensure her safety. But she has no knowledge of Portugal or the language. Though she is loath to admit it, she needs the Moonflower. Operating alone has taught her to respect her own limitations. But she knows better than to show weakness around the Moonflower—an agent with a reputation for brilliance, a tendency toward insubordination, and a history of going rogue.
READERS GUIDE INCLUDED
Portugal, December 1807. Jack Reid, the British agent known as the Moonflower (formerly the French agent known as the Moonflower), has been stationed in Portugal and is awaiting his new contact. He does not expect to be paired with a woman—especially not the legendary Pink Carnation.
All of Portugal believes that the royal family departed for Brazil just before the French troops marched into Lisbon. Only the English government knows that mad seventy-three-year-old Queen Maria was spirited away by a group of loyalists determined to rally a resistance. But as the French garrison scours the countryside, it’s only a matter of time before she’s found and taken.
It’s up to Jane to find her first and ensure her safety. But she has no knowledge of Portugal or the language. Though she is loath to admit it, she needs the Moonflower. Operating alone has taught her to respect her own limitations. But she knows better than to show weakness around the Moonflower—an agent with a reputation for brilliance, a tendency toward insubordination, and a history of going rogue.
READERS GUIDE INCLUDED
528 pages, Paperback
First published August 4, 2015
118 people are currently reading
2779 people want to read
About the author
Lauren Willig
42 books4,730 followersLauren Willig is the New York Times bestselling author of nineteen works of historical fiction. Her books have been translated into over a dozen languages, awarded the RITA, Booksellers Best and Golden Leaf awards, and chosen for the American Library Association's annual list of the best genre fiction. After graduating from Yale University, she embarked on a PhD in History at Harvard before leaving academia to acquire a JD at Harvard Law while authoring her "Pink Carnation" series of Napoleonic-set novels. She lives in New York City, where she now writes full time.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 414 reviews
September 16, 2016
I've given this a B+ at AAR, so 4.5 stars.
It's always a sad day when a long-running series comes to an end, especially one I've enjoyed as much as Lauren Willig's Pink Carnation series, but I suppose all good things must come to an end. And with The Lure of the Moonflower Ms Willig has done her fans proud and brings the series to a close on a high, with a fast-moving storyline featuring the Pink Carnation herself, now working alone and undercover in Portugal.
Jane Wooliston is an intelligent and determined young woman, who has cleverly run her network of spies and agents from Paris, under the noses of the French, for several years. But everything fell apart when (in The Passion of the Purple Plumeria), her younger sister Agnes went missing in the company of a schoolmate, Lizzy Reid, and Jane and her chaperone/second-in-command, the formidable Miss Gwen had to return to England in order to find the girls. Their disappearance was linked to the Jewels of Berar which had been sent to Lizzy by her brother, Jack – who was thus the unwitting architect of Jane’s downfall and her subsequent decision to wind up her operations in Paris and go it alone as a British agent.
She is sent to Portugal in late 1807 in order to trace Queen Maria, who was supposed to have left the country with her family, but who has instead been spirited away by a break-away group of loyalists who intend to use her as a figurehead to rally resistance to Napoleon’s forces. The queen is elderly and quite, quite mad – but with French troops scouring the Portuguese countryside, time is running out and Jane must find her first and get her to a place of safety.
Having no first-hand knowledge of the country or the language, Jane is going to need help, so an agent is assigned to her, one with a reputation for unorthodox methods, insubordination, brilliance – and a history of working for both sides.
Jane’s contact – the Moonflower – is none other than Jack Reid, stepson of her former companion (information she decides to withhold) and the man she holds responsible for her current situation. He isn’t wild about the idea of being paired with a woman, and least of all the Pink Carnation herself, but he quickly realises that regardless of her experience of running missions and of intelligence gathering, Jane is out of her depth when it comes to the unpleasant realities of moving through difficult, inhospitable terrain in the depths of winter – and that she needs his help.
As they travel, Jane and Jack develop an – at first grudging – appreciation for each other’s talents and skills. Both are used to working alone, Jack literally, and Jane because as the head of her organisation, she answered only to herself; so there are adjustments to be made on both sides and I enjoyed watching their relationship progress from that initial reluctance to work with anyone else through admiration and understanding to attraction and something more.
Both protagonists are well-defined and I particularly enjoyed finally being able to get into Jane’s head given that she has been so enigmatic throughout the series. She has to learn that sometimes two heads ARE better than one, and I loved watching her growing awareness of Jack and the way she finds herself unable to maintain her customary sang-froid around him. And Jack is a delicious hero – extremely capable, slightly grumpy and down to earth, he comes to see Jane as an equal and recognises that sometimes it’s necessary for her to put herself in the firing line if they are to succeed in their mission and doesn’t come over all “I’m the man therefore I must take all the risks”. The fact that he is of mixed race (his mother was an Indian princess, his father, Colonel Reid, is a Scot) means that Jack is, as he himself says, “neither flesh nor fowl”; his parentage barred him from occupations open to the British, while also exiling him from his mother’s family. Ms Willig makes an interesting comparison between Jack’s “invisibility” because of his ethnicity and Jane’s – because she’s a woman.
I found the ending to be a little weak in terms of the espionage plot, although I did enjoy reading the beginnings of Jack’s reconciliation with his father, and the epilogue which gives us a glimpse of what lies in store for Jane and Jack as the Mr and Mrs Smith of the Napoleonic era!
In the modern day portion of the story, former grad-student Eloise is about to marry her fiancé, Colin Selwick, and on the day before the wedding, everything is completely manic. The pace is befittingly frantic and I found myself giggling frequently at the outlandish pronouncements of some of Eloise’s relatives and her own ironic asides. The inclusion of an improbable kidnapping plotline in this portion of the story was perhaps a little over the top, but it didn’t get in the way of my overall enjoyment.
It’s all too easy, when you read a book as fast-paced, engaging and funny as this, not to fully appreciate the huge amount of research that has gone into it. But making it look effortless is a great skill and one that this particular author has demonstrated time and again. While this is the final book in the series (for now, at least!) and most of the plot threads are tied up, there are a few things left hanging that Ms Willig discusses in her comprehensive and entertaining notes at the end. If she ever finds the time to return to the world of the Pink Carnation and to actually write some of the stories she mentions having ideas for, then I have no doubt of her finding an excited and very appreciative audience.
It's always a sad day when a long-running series comes to an end, especially one I've enjoyed as much as Lauren Willig's Pink Carnation series, but I suppose all good things must come to an end. And with The Lure of the Moonflower Ms Willig has done her fans proud and brings the series to a close on a high, with a fast-moving storyline featuring the Pink Carnation herself, now working alone and undercover in Portugal.
Jane Wooliston is an intelligent and determined young woman, who has cleverly run her network of spies and agents from Paris, under the noses of the French, for several years. But everything fell apart when (in The Passion of the Purple Plumeria), her younger sister Agnes went missing in the company of a schoolmate, Lizzy Reid, and Jane and her chaperone/second-in-command, the formidable Miss Gwen had to return to England in order to find the girls. Their disappearance was linked to the Jewels of Berar which had been sent to Lizzy by her brother, Jack – who was thus the unwitting architect of Jane’s downfall and her subsequent decision to wind up her operations in Paris and go it alone as a British agent.
She is sent to Portugal in late 1807 in order to trace Queen Maria, who was supposed to have left the country with her family, but who has instead been spirited away by a break-away group of loyalists who intend to use her as a figurehead to rally resistance to Napoleon’s forces. The queen is elderly and quite, quite mad – but with French troops scouring the Portuguese countryside, time is running out and Jane must find her first and get her to a place of safety.
Having no first-hand knowledge of the country or the language, Jane is going to need help, so an agent is assigned to her, one with a reputation for unorthodox methods, insubordination, brilliance – and a history of working for both sides.
Jane’s contact – the Moonflower – is none other than Jack Reid, stepson of her former companion (information she decides to withhold) and the man she holds responsible for her current situation. He isn’t wild about the idea of being paired with a woman, and least of all the Pink Carnation herself, but he quickly realises that regardless of her experience of running missions and of intelligence gathering, Jane is out of her depth when it comes to the unpleasant realities of moving through difficult, inhospitable terrain in the depths of winter – and that she needs his help.
As they travel, Jane and Jack develop an – at first grudging – appreciation for each other’s talents and skills. Both are used to working alone, Jack literally, and Jane because as the head of her organisation, she answered only to herself; so there are adjustments to be made on both sides and I enjoyed watching their relationship progress from that initial reluctance to work with anyone else through admiration and understanding to attraction and something more.
Both protagonists are well-defined and I particularly enjoyed finally being able to get into Jane’s head given that she has been so enigmatic throughout the series. She has to learn that sometimes two heads ARE better than one, and I loved watching her growing awareness of Jack and the way she finds herself unable to maintain her customary sang-froid around him. And Jack is a delicious hero – extremely capable, slightly grumpy and down to earth, he comes to see Jane as an equal and recognises that sometimes it’s necessary for her to put herself in the firing line if they are to succeed in their mission and doesn’t come over all “I’m the man therefore I must take all the risks”. The fact that he is of mixed race (his mother was an Indian princess, his father, Colonel Reid, is a Scot) means that Jack is, as he himself says, “neither flesh nor fowl”; his parentage barred him from occupations open to the British, while also exiling him from his mother’s family. Ms Willig makes an interesting comparison between Jack’s “invisibility” because of his ethnicity and Jane’s – because she’s a woman.
I found the ending to be a little weak in terms of the espionage plot, although I did enjoy reading the beginnings of Jack’s reconciliation with his father, and the epilogue which gives us a glimpse of what lies in store for Jane and Jack as the Mr and Mrs Smith of the Napoleonic era!
In the modern day portion of the story, former grad-student Eloise is about to marry her fiancé, Colin Selwick, and on the day before the wedding, everything is completely manic. The pace is befittingly frantic and I found myself giggling frequently at the outlandish pronouncements of some of Eloise’s relatives and her own ironic asides. The inclusion of an improbable kidnapping plotline in this portion of the story was perhaps a little over the top, but it didn’t get in the way of my overall enjoyment.
It’s all too easy, when you read a book as fast-paced, engaging and funny as this, not to fully appreciate the huge amount of research that has gone into it. But making it look effortless is a great skill and one that this particular author has demonstrated time and again. While this is the final book in the series (for now, at least!) and most of the plot threads are tied up, there are a few things left hanging that Ms Willig discusses in her comprehensive and entertaining notes at the end. If she ever finds the time to return to the world of the Pink Carnation and to actually write some of the stories she mentions having ideas for, then I have no doubt of her finding an excited and very appreciative audience.
August 7, 2015
A satisfying conclusion to the series, although I will miss these more new adventures with these people :)
It was great to get inside Jane's and to finally properly meet Jack Reid :). While I knew in on respect how the story would go, it was still an interesting journey. Watching them come to terms with each other while going on with their mission.
The romance was slow-burning/building and never overtook the other part of the story. Jack has his demons and is full of surprises (to Jane) and Jane has a few of her own. They have more in common then they think at first.
The plan doesn't go as planned of course, a few bumps in the road, including a wily one we've met before...
I was not expecting . There was no words for that, but I wanted to hug her.
It was a fun journey and hard to put down. The little bits at the end from the author are an extra bonus :). I would recommend this but start with 'secret history' first as there is some slight spoilers for other books and Colin/Eloise's story.
Side note: We get visits from a few old favorites
There is a conclusion to Colin/Eloise's story and a bit of an excitement from a past acquaintance whose motives I didn't expect. Points to . One funny moment during the
Happy reading!
It was great to get inside Jane's and to finally properly meet Jack Reid :). While I knew in on respect how the story would go, it was still an interesting journey. Watching them come to terms with each other while going on with their mission.
The romance was slow-burning/building and never overtook the other part of the story. Jack has his demons and is full of surprises (to Jane) and Jane has a few of her own. They have more in common then they think at first.
The plan doesn't go as planned of course, a few bumps in the road, including a wily one we've met before...
I was not expecting . There was no words for that, but I wanted to hug her.
It was a fun journey and hard to put down. The little bits at the end from the author are an extra bonus :). I would recommend this but start with 'secret history' first as there is some slight spoilers for other books and Colin/Eloise's story.
Side note: We get visits from a few old favorites
There is a conclusion to Colin/Eloise's story and a bit of an excitement from a past acquaintance whose motives I didn't expect. Points to . One funny moment during the
Happy reading!
August 6, 2015
Had to give the series finale 5 stars!!
Pink XII is the much-anticipated "Jane's Story." For long time readers of the series, it's a story we've been wanting to know & read for awhile. Personally, I think it was done excellently. With Jane as the lead character, we see a different side to her personality than we've seen before. I think that's typical of the series, though. People aren't always what they seem to onlookers and once you get to "know" them first-hand, you see inside them and get to know them in a different way. I liked this Jane, though I hated the sadness and loneliness she has endured that wasn't "advertised" so much in past books. She is a remarkable character and much loved by me personally. She and Jack (aka "Moonflower") together had a real spark, which kept the romantic tensions high and exciting in the book. There are cameos of many of the series "past stars" so to speak. And, We see a satisfying conclusion to the Colin & Eloise storyline as well.
Though I hate to see this series come to an end, I'd rather see it off with a blast like this one than drag on and become less good if you know what I mean. The authors newsletter this month suggests that at some point there could be special editions or spinoffs and I like that idea!! So maybe it's not truly goodbye, it's just goodbye for now:)
Pink XII is the much-anticipated "Jane's Story." For long time readers of the series, it's a story we've been wanting to know & read for awhile. Personally, I think it was done excellently. With Jane as the lead character, we see a different side to her personality than we've seen before. I think that's typical of the series, though. People aren't always what they seem to onlookers and once you get to "know" them first-hand, you see inside them and get to know them in a different way. I liked this Jane, though I hated the sadness and loneliness she has endured that wasn't "advertised" so much in past books. She is a remarkable character and much loved by me personally. She and Jack (aka "Moonflower") together had a real spark, which kept the romantic tensions high and exciting in the book. There are cameos of many of the series "past stars" so to speak. And, We see a satisfying conclusion to the Colin & Eloise storyline as well.
Though I hate to see this series come to an end, I'd rather see it off with a blast like this one than drag on and become less good if you know what I mean. The authors newsletter this month suggests that at some point there could be special editions or spinoffs and I like that idea!! So maybe it's not truly goodbye, it's just goodbye for now:)
December 23, 2016
Even though I really liked Jack and even Nicolas, I wasn't impressed by Jane aka the Pink Carnation.
October 8, 2015
All good things must come to end. And so it seems must my favorite historical romance series, The Pink Carnation—offering us its twelfth and final installment, The Lure of the Moonflower. *deep sigh*
For eleven novels author Lauren Willig has enchanted us with Napoleonic spies, romance and laughter. It has been an amazing ride while it lasted. Now with one last fling ahead of me I started to read (and listen to the audio edition) this new novel. Pushing aside my deep lament, I came to the realization that I am a sappy sentimentalist. Honestly, how could I not be? I had been duly “Pinked”.
It is very fitting that this final book in the series focuses on Miss Jane Wooliston – the Pink Carnation herself, the infamous English spy who gave “the French Ministry of Police headaches” and “who had caused Bonaparte to gnash his molars into early extraction…” Let’s hope I have teeth by the end of the book.
It is 1807 and Napoleon’s army has invaded Portugal. At the urging of the British government, the Royal family has fled, sailing away to their colony in Brazil. Working as a British spy Jane is in Lisbon, the capital of a country that she is not familiar with nor does she speak the language. Her local contact is Jack Reid, aka the Moonflower, a rogue operative whose notorious turncoat antics are as fluid as the tide. The natural son of Scotsman Colonel William Reid and an Indian Princess, Reid is unaware of his connection to Jane through the marriage of her fellow spy Miss Gwendolyn Meadows to his father. She must convince Reid to assist her in discovering the whereabouts of the Mad Queen Maria who has been sequestered away by loyalists. The French are looking for her too in the hopes of using her influence to manipulate their cause. Besides the touchy family connection, Jane’s paring with Jack Reid is more than a bit awkward. He does not believe she is the Pink Carnation. She is very leery of his true loyalty.
In pursuit of the Queen, clues lead them through the provincial Portuguese countryside in the dead of winter. Using various disguises and modes of travel, including an unruly, scene stealing donkey, the journey of two people thrown together becomes the ultimate “road novel”. As they progress, facing treacherous encounters and the elements, what started out as a war of wits and words evolves into the lowering of their guards and revealing their personal stories. Despite the fact that they share the same profession, they discover that they are both pariahs in the eyes of their families and society. What started out as a power struggle fueled by distrust, evolves into mutual respect, admiration and growing affection.
As Jane and Jack close in on the Queen, enter French spy Monsour le Comte de Brillac, aka The Gardner. He and Jane have a troubled history. Devious, manipulative and vengeful, Jane’s former lover is the force that could thwart their plans and her fledgling romance with Jack.
Each book in the series is framed by the modern story of Eloise, an ambitious (and very Bridget Jones-ish) American ex-graduate student who is researching the Selwick family Napoleonic-era spy ring in England. In this installment she is preparing for her marriage to the family scion Colin, Lord Selwick, at his estate in Sussex. When a mysterious ancient trunk owned by Jane Wooliston, a Selwick family ancestor, arrives the day before her wedding, it sets in motion the abduction of a family member. While Colin’s colorful family harbors enough bad blood to “give a vampire indigestion,” this modern diversion from the historical story is really a minor sideline to the main stage, the story of Jane and Jack in Portugal.
By the end of The Lure of the Moonflower my recalcitrant, peevish mood had melted away and I was purring with pleasure. I had been duly wooed, and wowed. Willig’s plot and prose far surpassed my expectations. While her historical research was impeccable and the atmosphere and descriptions spot on, it was her characters, especially the sparkling, whip smart repartee and sexual tension between Jane and Jack that really carries this novel to new heights. If I can find any quibble, (and I really had to dig), it was that the exposition was lengthy at times. I wanted to her explanations to be in conversation by the characters and not so much in their heads.
For the loyal fans of the Pink Carnation series, many of the previous characters make a burlesque cameo appearance in a tour-de-farce finale. Willig also includes a lovely acknowledgement which wraps things up in a big Pink Carnation bow rather nicely and several generous appendixes: Historical Note; A Conversation with Comte de Brillac, aka The Chevalier de la Tour D’Argent, aka The Gardener; The Lost Epilogue and A Conversation with Lauren Willig. Now that the last hurrah of the series is finis, I raise my glass with a resounding huzzah to Willig for her brilliantly crafted, widely entertaining and passionately romantic adventure. Twelve years and twelve novels—this fan is thankful, tearful and optimistic that she will venture once again into a Regency ball gown.
Laurel Ann, Austenprose.com
For eleven novels author Lauren Willig has enchanted us with Napoleonic spies, romance and laughter. It has been an amazing ride while it lasted. Now with one last fling ahead of me I started to read (and listen to the audio edition) this new novel. Pushing aside my deep lament, I came to the realization that I am a sappy sentimentalist. Honestly, how could I not be? I had been duly “Pinked”.
It is very fitting that this final book in the series focuses on Miss Jane Wooliston – the Pink Carnation herself, the infamous English spy who gave “the French Ministry of Police headaches” and “who had caused Bonaparte to gnash his molars into early extraction…” Let’s hope I have teeth by the end of the book.
It is 1807 and Napoleon’s army has invaded Portugal. At the urging of the British government, the Royal family has fled, sailing away to their colony in Brazil. Working as a British spy Jane is in Lisbon, the capital of a country that she is not familiar with nor does she speak the language. Her local contact is Jack Reid, aka the Moonflower, a rogue operative whose notorious turncoat antics are as fluid as the tide. The natural son of Scotsman Colonel William Reid and an Indian Princess, Reid is unaware of his connection to Jane through the marriage of her fellow spy Miss Gwendolyn Meadows to his father. She must convince Reid to assist her in discovering the whereabouts of the Mad Queen Maria who has been sequestered away by loyalists. The French are looking for her too in the hopes of using her influence to manipulate their cause. Besides the touchy family connection, Jane’s paring with Jack Reid is more than a bit awkward. He does not believe she is the Pink Carnation. She is very leery of his true loyalty.
In pursuit of the Queen, clues lead them through the provincial Portuguese countryside in the dead of winter. Using various disguises and modes of travel, including an unruly, scene stealing donkey, the journey of two people thrown together becomes the ultimate “road novel”. As they progress, facing treacherous encounters and the elements, what started out as a war of wits and words evolves into the lowering of their guards and revealing their personal stories. Despite the fact that they share the same profession, they discover that they are both pariahs in the eyes of their families and society. What started out as a power struggle fueled by distrust, evolves into mutual respect, admiration and growing affection.
As Jane and Jack close in on the Queen, enter French spy Monsour le Comte de Brillac, aka The Gardner. He and Jane have a troubled history. Devious, manipulative and vengeful, Jane’s former lover is the force that could thwart their plans and her fledgling romance with Jack.
Each book in the series is framed by the modern story of Eloise, an ambitious (and very Bridget Jones-ish) American ex-graduate student who is researching the Selwick family Napoleonic-era spy ring in England. In this installment she is preparing for her marriage to the family scion Colin, Lord Selwick, at his estate in Sussex. When a mysterious ancient trunk owned by Jane Wooliston, a Selwick family ancestor, arrives the day before her wedding, it sets in motion the abduction of a family member. While Colin’s colorful family harbors enough bad blood to “give a vampire indigestion,” this modern diversion from the historical story is really a minor sideline to the main stage, the story of Jane and Jack in Portugal.
By the end of The Lure of the Moonflower my recalcitrant, peevish mood had melted away and I was purring with pleasure. I had been duly wooed, and wowed. Willig’s plot and prose far surpassed my expectations. While her historical research was impeccable and the atmosphere and descriptions spot on, it was her characters, especially the sparkling, whip smart repartee and sexual tension between Jane and Jack that really carries this novel to new heights. If I can find any quibble, (and I really had to dig), it was that the exposition was lengthy at times. I wanted to her explanations to be in conversation by the characters and not so much in their heads.
For the loyal fans of the Pink Carnation series, many of the previous characters make a burlesque cameo appearance in a tour-de-farce finale. Willig also includes a lovely acknowledgement which wraps things up in a big Pink Carnation bow rather nicely and several generous appendixes: Historical Note; A Conversation with Comte de Brillac, aka The Chevalier de la Tour D’Argent, aka The Gardener; The Lost Epilogue and A Conversation with Lauren Willig. Now that the last hurrah of the series is finis, I raise my glass with a resounding huzzah to Willig for her brilliantly crafted, widely entertaining and passionately romantic adventure. Twelve years and twelve novels—this fan is thankful, tearful and optimistic that she will venture once again into a Regency ball gown.
Laurel Ann, Austenprose.com
March 29, 2022
Reread, March 2022
My original feelings hold up! Really, really liked this book all the way around, right down to the twee Eloise has written The Secret History of the Pink Carnation bit at the end. Jack and Jane are great and while I wish we had a billion more stories of their adventures (particularly in Russia!) this was undoubtedly the right place for it to end. Good reread project, glad I did it.
Original review, August 2015
I REALLY LIKED THIS.
I was so, so wary about this book, as those of you that I talk about this series with (and that I dragged into it with me) know well. Everything after book six is so hit or miss for me--the books range from "not a fan at all" to "I liked that way more than I expected, but maybe not as much as I thought." And I wanted this book. I'd wanted this book since she announced that we'd already met Jane's hero and we spent considerable time speculating as to his identity.
I wanted to like this so badly, but recent history was what it was. And so I tried to go into this with lowered expectations and minimal hope, so as to not be disappointed, and I'm honestly not sure if it was that or the book really WAS a throwback to what I loved about the early series, BUT THIS WAS REALLY GOOD.
I loved Jack and Jane.
For Jack, I went in with the Harrison Ford image firmly in my head thanks to the DBSA podcast, and so I was DELIGHTED that he lived up to that and the dreams I'd had about him as a character for years. For Jane, this book made all the bits and pieces we'd gotten of her from everyone else's POV add up to a whole that I really ended up liking. I wasn't expecting the
My original feelings hold up! Really, really liked this book all the way around, right down to the twee Eloise has written The Secret History of the Pink Carnation bit at the end. Jack and Jane are great and while I wish we had a billion more stories of their adventures (particularly in Russia!) this was undoubtedly the right place for it to end. Good reread project, glad I did it.
Original review, August 2015
I REALLY LIKED THIS.
I was so, so wary about this book, as those of you that I talk about this series with (and that I dragged into it with me) know well. Everything after book six is so hit or miss for me--the books range from "not a fan at all" to "I liked that way more than I expected, but maybe not as much as I thought." And I wanted this book. I'd wanted this book since she announced that we'd already met Jane's hero and we spent considerable time speculating as to his identity.
I wanted to like this so badly, but recent history was what it was. And so I tried to go into this with lowered expectations and minimal hope, so as to not be disappointed, and I'm honestly not sure if it was that or the book really WAS a throwback to what I loved about the early series, BUT THIS WAS REALLY GOOD.
I loved Jack and Jane.
For Jack, I went in with the Harrison Ford image firmly in my head thanks to the DBSA podcast, and so I was DELIGHTED that he lived up to that and the dreams I'd had about him as a character for years. For Jane, this book made all the bits and pieces we'd gotten of her from everyone else's POV add up to a whole that I really ended up liking. I wasn't expecting the
June 25, 2017
I've always had a bit of a thing for espionage stories particularly from the past so the Pink Carnation series has been right up my alley. The Lure of the Moonflower is the twelfth and final book of the series and brings things full circle with a mission for the Pink Carnation herself.
For those not in the know, this series is told split story- present story framing a past story. In the present, Eloise and Collin have their adventures as Eloise lives at the old Selwick country estate to do research for her grad dissertation on the enigmatic shadowy lady spy of the past during the wars with France, The Pink Carnation. And in the past, the stories follow the missions of the members in the Pink Carnation's league of spies. There is suspense and romance to be had- heavier on the romance much of the time.
The missions can get quite twisty so that sometimes it comes down to the end before secrets are revealed. These are exciting stories, but don't slip into gritty thriller territory. I confess that the split stories don't hold my attention equally. I enjoy Eloise, Collin and their families, but I get more engaged with the stories in the past. That said, with this last one, I found both stories engaging and I loved how this last story ended up. And I really hope a few of those possible future threads get addressed.
What I enjoyed about this one was not the actual spy mission itself- Jane, the Pink Carnation, recruiting a dubious Jack to help remove the queen of Portugal from French hands. No, I enjoyed the interplay between stiff, prejudiced, and know it all Jane against a man of equal intellect who is not what she thought he was. The Pink Carnation never errs and never is taken by surprise, but from the outset, she thinks she knows all about him and lets these preconceived notions guide her into making mistakes.
I was so afraid that there would be an imbalance and that the hero would never live up to who was needed to pair with Jane because she is such a strong and highly skilled agent and woman, but that was not the case. Jack was a brilliant complex character- strong enough to stand beside Jane and let her do her thing, but also have her respect because he was strong in his own right. Their chemistry was smoldering at first as they battled wits and figured out how best to get along, but then it was sizzling. Loved how their relationship was brought along.
So this was a great end to the series, but I do hope there are a few more to come someday. These will be for those who can appreciate a split story, gentle suspense that is more focused on romance and character parts of the plot.
My thanks to Penguin-Random House for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
For those not in the know, this series is told split story- present story framing a past story. In the present, Eloise and Collin have their adventures as Eloise lives at the old Selwick country estate to do research for her grad dissertation on the enigmatic shadowy lady spy of the past during the wars with France, The Pink Carnation. And in the past, the stories follow the missions of the members in the Pink Carnation's league of spies. There is suspense and romance to be had- heavier on the romance much of the time.
The missions can get quite twisty so that sometimes it comes down to the end before secrets are revealed. These are exciting stories, but don't slip into gritty thriller territory. I confess that the split stories don't hold my attention equally. I enjoy Eloise, Collin and their families, but I get more engaged with the stories in the past. That said, with this last one, I found both stories engaging and I loved how this last story ended up. And I really hope a few of those possible future threads get addressed.
What I enjoyed about this one was not the actual spy mission itself- Jane, the Pink Carnation, recruiting a dubious Jack to help remove the queen of Portugal from French hands. No, I enjoyed the interplay between stiff, prejudiced, and know it all Jane against a man of equal intellect who is not what she thought he was. The Pink Carnation never errs and never is taken by surprise, but from the outset, she thinks she knows all about him and lets these preconceived notions guide her into making mistakes.
I was so afraid that there would be an imbalance and that the hero would never live up to who was needed to pair with Jane because she is such a strong and highly skilled agent and woman, but that was not the case. Jack was a brilliant complex character- strong enough to stand beside Jane and let her do her thing, but also have her respect because he was strong in his own right. Their chemistry was smoldering at first as they battled wits and figured out how best to get along, but then it was sizzling. Loved how their relationship was brought along.
So this was a great end to the series, but I do hope there are a few more to come someday. These will be for those who can appreciate a split story, gentle suspense that is more focused on romance and character parts of the plot.
My thanks to Penguin-Random House for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 8, 2015
I wasn't that into this, but, well, I kind of knew it would be a tough sell for me. The series has just gone on too long and I've grown weary of Willig's writing.
I do wish we'd gotten the Jane and Nicolas novella Willig apparently planned on writing. I felt like I missed out on something, since so much of that relationship happened off screen.
And the Colin/Eloise story
I'd have some interest in a story, but I don't know. My and Willig's time might just have passed.
I do wish we'd gotten the Jane and Nicolas novella Willig apparently planned on writing. I felt like I missed out on something, since so much of that relationship happened off screen.
And the Colin/Eloise story
I'd have some interest in a story, but I don't know. My and Willig's time might just have passed.
August 27, 2015
This was decent, but it came to such a foregone conclusion... For once I'd like two people to travel across the countryside and not fall in love. It would be such a refreshing change. And the modern-day parts were completely unnecessary and completely ridiculous.
January 9, 2016
I wasn’t sure what to expect from this novel. This series was really fun and while Book 1 wasn’t my favorite, Books 2-5 were great. The series reached its peak with book 6, the fantastic Betrayal of the Blood Lily. After that there was a decline. Or maybe I just didn’t care too much about the newer characters. But I think Willig is really back on form with this book. It’s more serious than her last few, more in the vein of Blood Lily, which only makes sense since Jack Reid, the hero, was first introduced in that novel. As soon as he first showed up in Bloody Lily, I kid you not, I hoped Willig might eventually pair him with Jane. I doubted, however, that a POC would wind up being the endgame love interest for the one character this entire series centers around (let's be real, we know the way historical romance typically works). I’m very glad to have been proven wrong. In the end, Willig did made Jack the BIG hero for her BIG heroine.
Jane has always been a bit of a mystery, though the series is named after her and she shows up in nearly every novel. She came across in the other books as very aloof, calculating, and cold, which I rather liked. Throughout the series she's lived a charmed life. Well…her life is in tatters in this novel and I loved it! I won’t spoil what has happened to Jane, but life has not been kind to her and I don’t mean that in the 'her reputation has been ruined' way. She’s poor, world-weary, invisible, and alone. If you’re at all aware of Jack’s backstory then you’ll know why they might make a good pair.
Eloise, the contemporary character, remains tedious as always. Eloise, I’m glad you got your happy ending too, girl, but I've long been over you, Colin, and his dark blonde hair and Barbour coats.
Overall, this was a really good end to the series. After Blood Lily, it's my favorite. If you want to get the most out of it, I suggest reading 1, 6, and 10 first.
Jane has always been a bit of a mystery, though the series is named after her and she shows up in nearly every novel. She came across in the other books as very aloof, calculating, and cold, which I rather liked. Throughout the series she's lived a charmed life. Well…her life is in tatters in this novel and I loved it! I won’t spoil what has happened to Jane, but life has not been kind to her and I don’t mean that in the 'her reputation has been ruined' way. She’s poor, world-weary, invisible, and alone. If you’re at all aware of Jack’s backstory then you’ll know why they might make a good pair.
Eloise, the contemporary character, remains tedious as always. Eloise, I’m glad you got your happy ending too, girl, but I've long been over you, Colin, and his dark blonde hair and Barbour coats.
Overall, this was a really good end to the series. After Blood Lily, it's my favorite. If you want to get the most out of it, I suggest reading 1, 6, and 10 first.
March 16, 2022
What fun it’s been to do a monthly read along of the Pink Carnation series with Lauren Willig! I know she started the read along in order to reread the books herself and decide whether or not there was a path to continue the series. Sadly, I think she decided in the early months that she probably wouldn’t do so. But I’m so glad that I’ve finally read them all.
5 stars for the series overall and also for this particular book. Because…Jack Reid! I think I’ve established in reviews of the previous books that I really, really like the men in the Reid family. Also a delightful ending for Colin and Eloise in the modern time period storyline.
5 stars for the series overall and also for this particular book. Because…Jack Reid! I think I’ve established in reviews of the previous books that I really, really like the men in the Reid family. Also a delightful ending for Colin and Eloise in the modern time period storyline.
August 6, 2015
OKAY SO. 4.5 Stars.
This for me, was a return to what I love about the early books. The mix between farce and danger and serious stuff and arguing about what to call the donkey - stuff like this is why I adored this series, and I'm so glad we bookended the series with that stuff.
That being said. I did go into this with lowered expectations for this book - so I'm sure some of my love of it is associated with that, but it genuinely is great.
re jane:
re Jack:
November 29, 2017
So this is the book that everyone has been waiting for in this series…..Jane’s romance with maybe the exception of me.
I have never really been a fan of Jane in this entire series. Maybe in the beginning she had intrigue and promise but as the series has gone on I just have liked her less and less.
But I had to finish the series all the same and Willig is always so good at making me fall in love with her heroines, I tried to keep an open mind.
This one was hard to review. I still never really warmed up to Jane but yet Jack Reid was sexy as hell and I was happy to love him! He made this book worth reading. We are introduced to Jack Reid (in the flesh) back in the sixth book and then we see him on the fringes of the tenth book (but in memories/stories) so I was primed and ready to meet this devilish double agent that we had heard so much about.
You honestly couldn’t have picked a better romantic interest for Jane than Jack Reid. He was every inch the perfect match and I loved that Willig came in strong with his character and built him up in other books because I don’t think it would have had the same impact had he been some randomly met guy for Jane. I wanted to run off with him from the start so I really loved his character and how he evolved in the book.
Jane on the other hand never really solicited any sympathy from me. I felt like she knew what she was signing up for when she entered the spy arena and it bugged that there was such a focus on her losing everything…..that’s the job right? Sometimes you just can’t have both roots and wings. I also felt like she pushed everyone away and I found myself questioning how long before she pushed Jack away. I was thankful though that there was the epilogue because that helped me accept their romance more.
I’ll be honest, I was completely lost in the Portuguese situation. I had no idea what was going on with the history of that region at the time and throughout the series there was such a focus on France and England, even India and I just felt like setting this story in Portugal was a play out of left field. There was so much ground work put in with the other settings that this felt flimsy.
I also didn’t care for how things with The Gardener resolved. There was such emphasis in previous books put on how unscrupulous he was and how he was Jane’s archenemy and then in this book things changed and that seemed to go against the grain for me. I felt disappointed in that regard.
For me, Jack saved this book. Did things tie up ok at the end of the series….sure, there was nothing left unresolved and yes Jane got her HEA and so did Eloise, however this just didn’t have the same heavy hitting plot and romance than some of the other books in the series did.
Satisfying, yes. Solid book end to the series, no.
See my full review here
I have never really been a fan of Jane in this entire series. Maybe in the beginning she had intrigue and promise but as the series has gone on I just have liked her less and less.
But I had to finish the series all the same and Willig is always so good at making me fall in love with her heroines, I tried to keep an open mind.
This one was hard to review. I still never really warmed up to Jane but yet Jack Reid was sexy as hell and I was happy to love him! He made this book worth reading. We are introduced to Jack Reid (in the flesh) back in the sixth book and then we see him on the fringes of the tenth book (but in memories/stories) so I was primed and ready to meet this devilish double agent that we had heard so much about.
You honestly couldn’t have picked a better romantic interest for Jane than Jack Reid. He was every inch the perfect match and I loved that Willig came in strong with his character and built him up in other books because I don’t think it would have had the same impact had he been some randomly met guy for Jane. I wanted to run off with him from the start so I really loved his character and how he evolved in the book.
Jane on the other hand never really solicited any sympathy from me. I felt like she knew what she was signing up for when she entered the spy arena and it bugged that there was such a focus on her losing everything…..that’s the job right? Sometimes you just can’t have both roots and wings. I also felt like she pushed everyone away and I found myself questioning how long before she pushed Jack away. I was thankful though that there was the epilogue because that helped me accept their romance more.
I’ll be honest, I was completely lost in the Portuguese situation. I had no idea what was going on with the history of that region at the time and throughout the series there was such a focus on France and England, even India and I just felt like setting this story in Portugal was a play out of left field. There was so much ground work put in with the other settings that this felt flimsy.
I also didn’t care for how things with The Gardener resolved. There was such emphasis in previous books put on how unscrupulous he was and how he was Jane’s archenemy and then in this book things changed and that seemed to go against the grain for me. I felt disappointed in that regard.
For me, Jack saved this book. Did things tie up ok at the end of the series….sure, there was nothing left unresolved and yes Jane got her HEA and so did Eloise, however this just didn’t have the same heavy hitting plot and romance than some of the other books in the series did.
Satisfying, yes. Solid book end to the series, no.
See my full review here
August 6, 2015
4.5 stars rounded up because it deserves it!
I REALLY like this. It was, for me, the perfect ending to the series. I had gone in with medium expectations since the last few books in the series had underwhelmed me but I was still excited for Jack. And boy was I not disappointed there! Jane/Jack was fantastic! They are the first Pink couple in a long time that I was swooning over. Their banter, chemistry, dynamic, all of it, was spot on and reminiscent of the characters and stories that made me first fall in love with this series. It was delightful and wonderful and what I had hoped for in this last book. Jack as a character who has been seen and mentioned for awhile now lived up and then some to what had been established. I liked his POVs and his humour/sarcasm. I liked how he truly was a match for Jane.
Story wise I really liked
Also
The Eloise/Colin story kinda felt flat for me though, it was nice and all to read about their happy ending but whereas in the past I LOVED them, here it felt like they were just an extra side story.
Overall the book wasn't perfect and there were some additional details and irked me a little but my overall enjoyment and delight in reading the book and getting a satisfying end to the series trumped it.
I REALLY like this. It was, for me, the perfect ending to the series. I had gone in with medium expectations since the last few books in the series had underwhelmed me but I was still excited for Jack. And boy was I not disappointed there! Jane/Jack was fantastic! They are the first Pink couple in a long time that I was swooning over. Their banter, chemistry, dynamic, all of it, was spot on and reminiscent of the characters and stories that made me first fall in love with this series. It was delightful and wonderful and what I had hoped for in this last book. Jack as a character who has been seen and mentioned for awhile now lived up and then some to what had been established. I liked his POVs and his humour/sarcasm. I liked how he truly was a match for Jane.
Story wise I really liked
Also
The Eloise/Colin story kinda felt flat for me though, it was nice and all to read about their happy ending but whereas in the past I LOVED them, here it felt like they were just an extra side story.
Overall the book wasn't perfect and there were some additional details and irked me a little but my overall enjoyment and delight in reading the book and getting a satisfying end to the series trumped it.
August 7, 2015
Jane has never been a favorite character in this series, so I wasn't all that crazy about her story, but I'm glad we've finally gotten Eloise and Colin's happy ending. I wish there had been more chapters with the two of them!
July 30, 2019
WIG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so fucked up about this series, I cannot believe I didn't pace myself but also: I cannot believe that I went through a whole series in under two weeks like it's been so long since I got sucked in! Not even Hathaways had sucked my attention where I took a day break in between books but Pink Carnation demanded my attention and I don't think I can ever imagine myself not thinking about these books now.
I was so excited for Jane's book because of my friends but also I was so interested in the bits from other books. Spymaster. The girl who essentially guided most of this series, if not in presence but by her carefully laid plains she placed out for others to follow. Jane was always a mystery, but she's also just a girl, and alone in a foreign country. Before, she had Amy and even Miss Gwen, and even a couple of allies, never friends because Jane couldn't let anyone get too close. Slowly they were all whittled away, all her friends finding love while she remained steadfast towards thwarting Napoleon on behalf of the English; She was put on pedestals by other, called an Ice Queen by close allies but at the end of the day, she's just a young woman who stepped up to keep herself and a bunch of agents on foreign soil alive. And she's so tired by the end of the series, all the deception and treachery weighing on her is exactly the type of content I crave. Jane being alone in a foreign country with only Jack was that much more harrowing, because she never knew him or trusted him but has to rely on him and then that companionship between them, from the best spies to two drifting souls finding a north star with each other is like, this is so fucked up (in the best way, of course). It was an ending that really did go full circle from Amy to Jane, with the precarious scenario even More Amped up than before. The original spy gang (Richard, Hen, Miles,Gwen) appearing at the end to help Jane got me in the heart spot many times, I had only wished Amy got to make an appearance even if she was pregnant at that point; Jack's family also being there was A Lot to handle. Eloise and Colin's own story wrapping up, and going meta was sweet, but even sweeter was that whole wedding. Even the tease of Nicholas and Lizzy is like I didn't think I'd be this lucky! It's so much to deal with like, I don't know what else to say that this review doesn't come off as basically a love letter to this series, and this pairing, but this was Everything to me and it's gonna be hard to find something that can really come up to this. But really, who'd want to find a replacement for this?
January 4, 2024
I have very much enjoyed this long-running series and am fully satisfied with how this final book has wrapped things up.
All of the books were dual storyline stories with a present-day and a historical past plot running concurrently with cleverly written connections.
These books were always a fun history lesson that took readers all over the world and let them experience important historical events through the eyes of spies, with the main spy - the Pink Carnation - being a smart, resourceful and charming woman who runs circles around all the men who think to ignore or take advantage of her. The Carnation, or Jane to use her real name is a wonderful, engaging character who is likable and easy to root for.
The supporting cast of characters are all fun, funny and filled with quirky attitude. All of the female characters in this series are smart and capable and don't take any nonsense from the men in their orbit, which was a key feature that made this series so fun for me.
I would recommend this series to any reader who gravitates to strong female characters and enjoys books that take the reader inside historical events and makes them come to life.
All of the books were dual storyline stories with a present-day and a historical past plot running concurrently with cleverly written connections.
These books were always a fun history lesson that took readers all over the world and let them experience important historical events through the eyes of spies, with the main spy - the Pink Carnation - being a smart, resourceful and charming woman who runs circles around all the men who think to ignore or take advantage of her. The Carnation, or Jane to use her real name is a wonderful, engaging character who is likable and easy to root for.
The supporting cast of characters are all fun, funny and filled with quirky attitude. All of the female characters in this series are smart and capable and don't take any nonsense from the men in their orbit, which was a key feature that made this series so fun for me.
I would recommend this series to any reader who gravitates to strong female characters and enjoys books that take the reader inside historical events and makes them come to life.
May 27, 2017
C'est fini :( ça fait tout bizarre... j'avais quelques appréhensions sur ce dernier tome, la mystérieuse et lointaine Jane n'ayant pas forcément été jusque là un personnage si sympathique que ça, mais son tome sert justement à la découvrir enfin, humaine et faillible. Et Jack, ah, Jack (comme le précise l'auteur a la fin, toute ressemblance avec un certain nombre de rôles d'Harrison Ford est tout sauf fortuite, donc coeur coeur coeur) (mais son frère Alex garde toujours ma préférence). Bref, une conclusion parfaite, et c'est génial aussi de savoir un peu ce qu'il arrive ensuite aux autres personnages.
September 6, 2015
Well...this is the end of a wonderful series. It was a long series, so I cannot complain because everything must come to end eventually. There is nothing worse then a series that drags on and on and on. Leave it on a good note and Lauren Willig certainly did. This was an excellent book to end the series on. However, I am still sad! I want more! :(
This is Jane's story. She has been the woman behind the scenes making all the other books even possible. I love Jane and I am glad we got to see behind the mask. She is a hero, but she still is human. She carried the torch of the Pink Carnation spy-ring. If anyone deserved a HEA this lady certainly did. She has done so much for every character and for England. I am so MAD at her parents. >_> They need a kick in the romp for what they did to her.
Oooooh Jack...you rogue you *swoons*.
I am glad he got an HEA as well. Even though he was a turncoat - you can hardly blame him. Why fight for a country that looks down on you and calls you scum because you are of mixed race? However, Jane did make a good point. She fights for a country that looks down on her for being a woman, but she still loves England and has hope that things will get better. Touche Jane!
Honesty time....I got about halfway and set the book down and walked away. I didn't pick it back up for a couple of days....why? BECAUSE I DON'T WANT THIS WORLD TO GO AWAY! I love all the characters and I want more. Its so extremely sad.
And yes...I will even miss Eloise and Collin storyline. I still do not like Collin, but he did earn a brownie point for making a Doctor Who reference and that made me happy. I have never been a huge fan of the contemporary storyline, but I will even miss that.
The ending...was fantastic. A perfect way to end everything in both the past and the contemporary storyline. Eloise and Collin finally met in the middle and are happy. Jane is no longer alone and can have her cake and eat it too. Perfect, but I did tear up. Pathetic, I know. My emotions though get the best of me sometimes.
In the end, the last book of the series was good. It had a perfect ending and it made me happy. Personally, I would like more. However, ending with the founder of the Pink Carnation spy-ring is perfect. She certainly did deserve so much. Jack *swoons* was made for her. I am glad Jack has found something to fight for. I highly recommend this series to those that like some espionage mixed with romance. Even the contemporary storyline has its moments. I am so proud of where the series went and how every book enchanted me. Along with this series and other books, Lauren Willig has certainly enchanted me as well, I adore her writing style and I am excited to see what she has in store for us. Well....I think I shall stamp this book with 5 stars.
This is Jane's story. She has been the woman behind the scenes making all the other books even possible. I love Jane and I am glad we got to see behind the mask. She is a hero, but she still is human. She carried the torch of the Pink Carnation spy-ring. If anyone deserved a HEA this lady certainly did. She has done so much for every character and for England. I am so MAD at her parents. >_> They need a kick in the romp for what they did to her.
Oooooh Jack...you rogue you *swoons*.
I am glad he got an HEA as well. Even though he was a turncoat - you can hardly blame him. Why fight for a country that looks down on you and calls you scum because you are of mixed race? However, Jane did make a good point. She fights for a country that looks down on her for being a woman, but she still loves England and has hope that things will get better. Touche Jane!
Honesty time....I got about halfway and set the book down and walked away. I didn't pick it back up for a couple of days....why? BECAUSE I DON'T WANT THIS WORLD TO GO AWAY! I love all the characters and I want more. Its so extremely sad.
And yes...I will even miss Eloise and Collin storyline. I still do not like Collin, but he did earn a brownie point for making a Doctor Who reference and that made me happy. I have never been a huge fan of the contemporary storyline, but I will even miss that.
The ending...was fantastic. A perfect way to end everything in both the past and the contemporary storyline. Eloise and Collin finally met in the middle and are happy. Jane is no longer alone and can have her cake and eat it too. Perfect, but I did tear up. Pathetic, I know. My emotions though get the best of me sometimes.
In the end, the last book of the series was good. It had a perfect ending and it made me happy. Personally, I would like more. However, ending with the founder of the Pink Carnation spy-ring is perfect. She certainly did deserve so much. Jack *swoons* was made for her. I am glad Jack has found something to fight for. I highly recommend this series to those that like some espionage mixed with romance. Even the contemporary storyline has its moments. I am so proud of where the series went and how every book enchanted me. Along with this series and other books, Lauren Willig has certainly enchanted me as well, I adore her writing style and I am excited to see what she has in store for us. Well....I think I shall stamp this book with 5 stars.
August 27, 2015
3.5 stars
This was good and I enjoyed it quite a bit! I remember reading the preview at the end of last year's book and being completely over the moon about it because it had to be Jack and Jane she was setting up and JACK AND JANE.
Because of my ridiculously high expectations (and they were high. In spite of my being wary about starting this book because I knew there was no way I'd get everything I wanted, I am never good at lowering my expectations) I liked this, but I didn't love it.
I did love Jack and Jane. Let there be absolutely no confusion about that. I adore them. Separately and together. I love that all of the pieces of Jane's personality and the changes she seemed to be going through as a character now fit together nicely. I love that Jack is so obviously the perfect fit for her, with all his snarky and protective ways. They're both a little broken and a lot jaded by this point, and yet they found each other and it was beautiful. Their heartfelt conversations and them opening up to each other as things progressed was my favourite.
What I didn't love, is that the story - by the end of it - still managed to feel a little rushed to me. It's almost as if Lauren Willig was rushing towards the finish line and just wanted to be done with it. I'm not saying this was the case, just that that's the way it came across to me.
Anyway, this sounds more negative than I wanted it to, because I did enjoy this and I'm pleased we got to the end of the series on such a happy note.
This was good and I enjoyed it quite a bit! I remember reading the preview at the end of last year's book and being completely over the moon about it because it had to be Jack and Jane she was setting up and JACK AND JANE.
Because of my ridiculously high expectations (and they were high. In spite of my being wary about starting this book because I knew there was no way I'd get everything I wanted, I am never good at lowering my expectations) I liked this, but I didn't love it.
I did love Jack and Jane. Let there be absolutely no confusion about that. I adore them. Separately and together. I love that all of the pieces of Jane's personality and the changes she seemed to be going through as a character now fit together nicely. I love that Jack is so obviously the perfect fit for her, with all his snarky and protective ways. They're both a little broken and a lot jaded by this point, and yet they found each other and it was beautiful. Their heartfelt conversations and them opening up to each other as things progressed was my favourite.
What I didn't love, is that the story - by the end of it - still managed to feel a little rushed to me. It's almost as if Lauren Willig was rushing towards the finish line and just wanted to be done with it. I'm not saying this was the case, just that that's the way it came across to me.
Anyway, this sounds more negative than I wanted it to, because I did enjoy this and I'm pleased we got to the end of the series on such a happy note.
October 18, 2015
I wanted to take my time to think about this review since it will be the last Pink Carnation book I get to do so for. Reading it was such a bittersweet experience - this series has been with me for nearly a decade. I think about everything that has happened in my life as I've journeyed though the series, and it makes me reflect on how the last story went. I feel that when I started the series, I was much like Amy, and now at it's conclusion I feel I am like Jane in her quiet contemplation. I feel like Jane is many of us, maybe we made some less than perfect choices but in the end we own them as they make us who we are.
There were a few moments in this story that struck me as insightful on Willig's part, and really gave us the reader words of wisdom. It wasn't as comical as others, or as steamy, but there was a steady deepness in the insight that was shown to us.
That's our message to walk away with. Life, even the life in a fantastic romance, needs everyone to work on it together for it to be successful.
And so with this I finish my review. I'm not going into the plot, etc. If you've made it this far in the novels you don't need to have me tell you what they are like. It's been an entertaining and touching journey I've had the pleasure of making, so thank you Lauren Willig for giving this to us.
There were a few moments in this story that struck me as insightful on Willig's part, and really gave us the reader words of wisdom. It wasn't as comical as others, or as steamy, but there was a steady deepness in the insight that was shown to us.
That's our message to walk away with. Life, even the life in a fantastic romance, needs everyone to work on it together for it to be successful.
And so with this I finish my review. I'm not going into the plot, etc. If you've made it this far in the novels you don't need to have me tell you what they are like. It's been an entertaining and touching journey I've had the pleasure of making, so thank you Lauren Willig for giving this to us.
March 5, 2018
This was a satisfying ending to the series as everything was tied up nicely. However, I just didn’t understand The Gardner-Jane ex-lovers thing. It seemed really out of character for Jane and it felt like Lauren Willig was referring to another book that doesn’t actually exist. I don’t love reading about another 2.5 year long romance at the same time I’m supposed to expect the current 3 week-old relationship to be the real deal. And Nicholas becoming a good-ish guy in the end? Hmm. I liked that there wasn’t too much in terms of explicit scenes. I’ll miss this world of Regency spies!
August 9, 2015
I really enjoyed this book and thought it was a great ending for the series. The book itself I would give 4 stars, but I'm adding an extra star for the author extras at the end of the Kindle version- they were just what I needed in terms of closure on the series. (I do hope there are a few loose ends tied up someday in novels, but I'm satisfied with the series as a whole.)
December 3, 2015
FIRST THOUGHTS: What a delightful adventure! The Lure of the Moonflower is different from the historical romances I've read, with an awesome espionage angle that I enjoyed. Jane and Jack were an adorable pair!
January 7, 2016
This was a fun end to a series I've really enjoyed. I wish the details of the previous (11!) books were more fresh in my mind as this one features a lot of previous characters.
April 10, 2024
A great ending to a fantastic series. I need the stories of Kat and Lizzie.
December 27, 2017
I was expecting Jack to be more dashing. Instead he was just grumpy.
August 6, 2015
Detailed review to follow but a very solid 4.5/5 stars. I really, really enjoyed this.
April 3, 2022
*Special Content only on my blog, Strange and Random Happenstance, during An August Adieu to celebrate the release of Lauren Willig's final Pink Carnation Book The Lure of the Moonflower. (August 2015)
Jane doesn't know if it's wise to be working with Jack Reid, alias the Moonflower. But her mission is in Portugal, she doesn't speak the language, and he's the agent on the ground. Seeing as her old companion Miss Gwen is married to Jack's father, Jane has heard all there is to about Jack and his ever shifting allegiances. What she hasn't heard about Jack is that perhaps the legend doesn't match the man. And that man has sure heard of the legend of the Pink Carnation, who is now supposedly leading this new mission that he isn't allowed any input on. Jane is not suited to the rugged search for the Portuguese Queen across the rough and tumble countryside, yet that is just what she plans to do. She is being dictatorial and living down to his expectations. But that is the problem. They have both prejudged each other and found the other lacking. If they could just start over then perhaps they could find more than just a serviceable working arrangement. That new start happens when the deadliest of French spies, the Gardener, appears on their trek. They both have a history with him, and neither one is pleased to see him. They scrap all their plans and go off the grid, trying to beat the Gardener to the Queen and trying to become compatriots. While in the future Eloise and Colin are facing something just as daunting. Their wedding day. Which should go off without a hitch, that is until Colin's beloved Aunt Arabella is kidnapped the night before the ceremony and Colin reveals she was spy in her day! So they just have to deal with the kidnapper's demands and THEN they can get married.
While I haven't been a part of the Pink Carnation fandom since it's inception, arriving only two years late to the party, I hope I've made up for those two years with my cheer leading. Yet it was still hard to say goodbye to all the characters I have loved, even minus those two years. I thought that I'd be OK with it. I thought, given enough warning as well as re-reading all the previous eleven volumes I wouldn't have any pangs. I was wrong. These characters have been my friends through ups and downs for eight years! There's a scene near the end on Lord Richard's ship where Jack stumbles into the assorted crew, many of which are his family, and it just hit me. This might be the last time I see these characters in a new adventure. I didn't want to let go. I was on that ship and I was immobilized. I wasn't looking from face to face with bewilderment like Jack, I was looking from face to face and thinking of all the stories left to tell. There's Jack's little sister Lizzy, I don't just want, I need to know about her future adventures. Plus what about Jack's other sister Kat? Yes, she ends up with Tommy, but how? Also what about all the characters we have yet to meet? This world is teaming with stories that are now being set aside. Closure was given, but it's surprising sometimes that closure is the last thing we really want. What we really want is one more chapter before bedtime.
My initial problem, aside from the series ending, was that I've never been the biggest fan of Jane. She's always been an enigma, and rightfully so, she is illusive after all. Always in the background setting the world to rights. Lauren previously needed her to be infallible and maddeningly omniscient and capable. These traits don't lend themselves to a character of flesh and blood, but an analytical ice maiden. A perfectly coolly composed heroine does not make the most interesting read. The Lure of the Moonflower gets off to a rocky start because, like Jack, we only see what Jane wants us to see. This capable perfect agent. When the truth starts to creep out, her self doubt, her sacrifices, how much she and Jack feel the weight of the mantle of spy, do you finally start to relate and to understand Jane. The loneliness, the long nights, the seclusion, the isolation from everything and everyone else as you have to be self sufficient and self reliant. That is where Lauren succeeds and the book comes together, she believably gives us insight into Jane. Slowly the layers are peeled away and the person who was once inconceivable is now all too human and relatable. While Jane's dalliance with Nicolas (aka the Gardener) shows us that she does have desires, her calculated seduction doesn't really give us any insight. It's in opening up to Jack that we learn about the real Jane behind the carefully constructed mask. If anyone had every told me my heart would ache for Jane I would never have believed them. But when she talks about her parents declaring her dead and her tombstone, that was it. Like Jack I wanted to protect her even though she didn't need the least bit of protection.
It's this opening up to Jack that not only makes Jane relatable, but that made me connect to her. Most of my young life I would shun help and advice. Even things like the simplest critique of how to write a paper better and I would shut down. Obviously I should know how to write my own paper! Sheesh. It wasn't until college that I realized that part of growing up is finding people to help you, people to lean on. Of course, this is a very trial and error procedure. Sometimes the people you think you can rely on the most turn out to be AWOL when you need them the most. Which is why I reverted to old habits and only counted on myself. So I totally get where Jane is coming from. But there's such a burden, so much weight on your shoulders if you go it alone. Finding the right people, the right group of friends who are their to lift you up when you're down, to help you over the rough patches, that is the most precious gift we can get in life. Over the course of The Lure of the Moonflower Jane realizes that Jack is just such a person. Someone who takes the weight of the mantle "The Pink Carnation" off her shoulders. Neither of them have any reason to trust the other, but their experiences together and there similar backgrounds makes them compliment each other. To have Jane find someone to compliment her is a wonderfully happy place to end this series, but more than that, to find someone to share her burdens, to rely on, someone with whom you can let down your defenses and admit you need help, that is the true happily ever after.
Also getting to a point where Eloise was allowed a happily ever after was a nice balance. While her future is more writing the exploits of daring do than perpetrating them, there was finally a nice symbiosis between the two plots to end it on the right note. I have always been a fan of the modern framing device used by Lauren with Eloise and Colin, but there were times when it felt they were just there to tell the future history of what happened versus being integral to the story. And sometimes you even wondered if perhaps Lauren's publishers were right to think of writing them out. By finally bringing spies, ever hinted at but never seen, into the present, the past and present finally clicked like they never have before. Aunt Arabella being a spy just makes so much sense. It's one of those things that when it happens you think, "how did I not see this before!?!" Eloise always wondering about Colin's spy affiliations felt forced. There was no way this gentle country squire was in any capacity related to any activities at Thames House. But Arabella! SO MUCH SENSE! Her globetrotting ways, her keeping of the family secrets. All of it just made this book reach another level. Of course some of that level was of the French farce variety, but when has Lauren's books ever disappointed by going farcical? Of course now I want an entire series just for Aunt Arabella, in the manner of her friend M.M.Kaye's "Death in" series. If there was more proof needed that I don't want to ever leave these characters desiring all these different spin-off series would be all the proof you need.
As for the book within the book. Perfection. I had been hoping for some time that Eloise might drop her academic career and have the series pull a meta switch on us and that's just what Lauren has done. I remember when it was first bandied about that Colin was secretly a spy, only to turn out to be writing about them, that wouldn't it be ironic if Eloise turned her dissertation into a book and became a bestselling author before Colin. And not only that, but a bestselling author writing about his family! Little meta jokes have always entertained me, hence my love of Abed on Community. Yeah self-referential humor! But more than that, I like that it brings the series full circle, beginning again at the end. Guess I'm supposed to read them all again right? I also love that Colin is such a great guy he literally doesn't mind this twist of fate. He and Eloise are a perfect couple. But the line that really captured it for me is when Eloise mentions to Aunt Arabella that there's a story in the Pink Carnation's further escapades, and Arabella replies more then one, I sighed wistfully. These characters have been my friends on more then one adventure, and I wish them the best of luck. Because obviously they live on and keep having adventures, even if Lauren isn't writing them. Yet.
Jane doesn't know if it's wise to be working with Jack Reid, alias the Moonflower. But her mission is in Portugal, she doesn't speak the language, and he's the agent on the ground. Seeing as her old companion Miss Gwen is married to Jack's father, Jane has heard all there is to about Jack and his ever shifting allegiances. What she hasn't heard about Jack is that perhaps the legend doesn't match the man. And that man has sure heard of the legend of the Pink Carnation, who is now supposedly leading this new mission that he isn't allowed any input on. Jane is not suited to the rugged search for the Portuguese Queen across the rough and tumble countryside, yet that is just what she plans to do. She is being dictatorial and living down to his expectations. But that is the problem. They have both prejudged each other and found the other lacking. If they could just start over then perhaps they could find more than just a serviceable working arrangement. That new start happens when the deadliest of French spies, the Gardener, appears on their trek. They both have a history with him, and neither one is pleased to see him. They scrap all their plans and go off the grid, trying to beat the Gardener to the Queen and trying to become compatriots. While in the future Eloise and Colin are facing something just as daunting. Their wedding day. Which should go off without a hitch, that is until Colin's beloved Aunt Arabella is kidnapped the night before the ceremony and Colin reveals she was spy in her day! So they just have to deal with the kidnapper's demands and THEN they can get married.
While I haven't been a part of the Pink Carnation fandom since it's inception, arriving only two years late to the party, I hope I've made up for those two years with my cheer leading. Yet it was still hard to say goodbye to all the characters I have loved, even minus those two years. I thought that I'd be OK with it. I thought, given enough warning as well as re-reading all the previous eleven volumes I wouldn't have any pangs. I was wrong. These characters have been my friends through ups and downs for eight years! There's a scene near the end on Lord Richard's ship where Jack stumbles into the assorted crew, many of which are his family, and it just hit me. This might be the last time I see these characters in a new adventure. I didn't want to let go. I was on that ship and I was immobilized. I wasn't looking from face to face with bewilderment like Jack, I was looking from face to face and thinking of all the stories left to tell. There's Jack's little sister Lizzy, I don't just want, I need to know about her future adventures. Plus what about Jack's other sister Kat? Yes, she ends up with Tommy, but how? Also what about all the characters we have yet to meet? This world is teaming with stories that are now being set aside. Closure was given, but it's surprising sometimes that closure is the last thing we really want. What we really want is one more chapter before bedtime.
My initial problem, aside from the series ending, was that I've never been the biggest fan of Jane. She's always been an enigma, and rightfully so, she is illusive after all. Always in the background setting the world to rights. Lauren previously needed her to be infallible and maddeningly omniscient and capable. These traits don't lend themselves to a character of flesh and blood, but an analytical ice maiden. A perfectly coolly composed heroine does not make the most interesting read. The Lure of the Moonflower gets off to a rocky start because, like Jack, we only see what Jane wants us to see. This capable perfect agent. When the truth starts to creep out, her self doubt, her sacrifices, how much she and Jack feel the weight of the mantle of spy, do you finally start to relate and to understand Jane. The loneliness, the long nights, the seclusion, the isolation from everything and everyone else as you have to be self sufficient and self reliant. That is where Lauren succeeds and the book comes together, she believably gives us insight into Jane. Slowly the layers are peeled away and the person who was once inconceivable is now all too human and relatable. While Jane's dalliance with Nicolas (aka the Gardener) shows us that she does have desires, her calculated seduction doesn't really give us any insight. It's in opening up to Jack that we learn about the real Jane behind the carefully constructed mask. If anyone had every told me my heart would ache for Jane I would never have believed them. But when she talks about her parents declaring her dead and her tombstone, that was it. Like Jack I wanted to protect her even though she didn't need the least bit of protection.
It's this opening up to Jack that not only makes Jane relatable, but that made me connect to her. Most of my young life I would shun help and advice. Even things like the simplest critique of how to write a paper better and I would shut down. Obviously I should know how to write my own paper! Sheesh. It wasn't until college that I realized that part of growing up is finding people to help you, people to lean on. Of course, this is a very trial and error procedure. Sometimes the people you think you can rely on the most turn out to be AWOL when you need them the most. Which is why I reverted to old habits and only counted on myself. So I totally get where Jane is coming from. But there's such a burden, so much weight on your shoulders if you go it alone. Finding the right people, the right group of friends who are their to lift you up when you're down, to help you over the rough patches, that is the most precious gift we can get in life. Over the course of The Lure of the Moonflower Jane realizes that Jack is just such a person. Someone who takes the weight of the mantle "The Pink Carnation" off her shoulders. Neither of them have any reason to trust the other, but their experiences together and there similar backgrounds makes them compliment each other. To have Jane find someone to compliment her is a wonderfully happy place to end this series, but more than that, to find someone to share her burdens, to rely on, someone with whom you can let down your defenses and admit you need help, that is the true happily ever after.
Also getting to a point where Eloise was allowed a happily ever after was a nice balance. While her future is more writing the exploits of daring do than perpetrating them, there was finally a nice symbiosis between the two plots to end it on the right note. I have always been a fan of the modern framing device used by Lauren with Eloise and Colin, but there were times when it felt they were just there to tell the future history of what happened versus being integral to the story. And sometimes you even wondered if perhaps Lauren's publishers were right to think of writing them out. By finally bringing spies, ever hinted at but never seen, into the present, the past and present finally clicked like they never have before. Aunt Arabella being a spy just makes so much sense. It's one of those things that when it happens you think, "how did I not see this before!?!" Eloise always wondering about Colin's spy affiliations felt forced. There was no way this gentle country squire was in any capacity related to any activities at Thames House. But Arabella! SO MUCH SENSE! Her globetrotting ways, her keeping of the family secrets. All of it just made this book reach another level. Of course some of that level was of the French farce variety, but when has Lauren's books ever disappointed by going farcical? Of course now I want an entire series just for Aunt Arabella, in the manner of her friend M.M.Kaye's "Death in" series. If there was more proof needed that I don't want to ever leave these characters desiring all these different spin-off series would be all the proof you need.
As for the book within the book. Perfection. I had been hoping for some time that Eloise might drop her academic career and have the series pull a meta switch on us and that's just what Lauren has done. I remember when it was first bandied about that Colin was secretly a spy, only to turn out to be writing about them, that wouldn't it be ironic if Eloise turned her dissertation into a book and became a bestselling author before Colin. And not only that, but a bestselling author writing about his family! Little meta jokes have always entertained me, hence my love of Abed on Community. Yeah self-referential humor! But more than that, I like that it brings the series full circle, beginning again at the end. Guess I'm supposed to read them all again right? I also love that Colin is such a great guy he literally doesn't mind this twist of fate. He and Eloise are a perfect couple. But the line that really captured it for me is when Eloise mentions to Aunt Arabella that there's a story in the Pink Carnation's further escapades, and Arabella replies more then one, I sighed wistfully. These characters have been my friends on more then one adventure, and I wish them the best of luck. Because obviously they live on and keep having adventures, even if Lauren isn't writing them. Yet.
October 6, 2017
Jane Wooliston, know by a very few to be the Pink Carnation herself, is accustomed to organizing operations, telling operatives what she needs them to do, and in general running the show. She takes active part in plenty of the action herself, under many disguises. What she does not do well is follow someone else's lead.
Leading a new mission in Portugal just after it was overrun by Napoleon, she finds herself out of her element. This is not France, where she speaks the language like a native, knows her way around the streets and drawing rooms, and blends in seamlessly. She knows almost no Portuguese, neither the language nor the culture, much less the people or the countryside, so she is dependent on the Moonflower, who has been in country two years, to be her guide. This scenario might work better if Jane know how to accept guidance.
Jack Reid grew up in India, snubbed by both English and Indian society because he is both and therefore considered neither. He is forbidden by law from holding professional positions, and has worked as a mercenary and secret agent, but his personal code of honor has run him afoul of his employers when he refused to kill in cold blood, thereby earning his own place on the hit list.
Jane does not trust Jack, does not like him, but depends on him for her life. The animus is mutual, but they must travel together as a couple. As they hurry through the countryside in pursuit of the Queen, in an effort to keep her out of Napoleon's clutches, they pose as French soldiers, English merchants, Portuguese peasants, and whoever else might keep them alive, and, despite themselves, grudgingly come to respect each other's skills.
This is the conclusion of the Carnation series, so old friends, and enemies, pop up unexpectedly and inconveniently, complicating their movements. Before it is over, Jane must beard her old nemesis in a French-held fort, and whisk his prize prisoner, the crazy Queen, out of his clutches, out of the fort, and onto an English ship, or lose her mission and quite possibly her life. The complications from these escapades depend on skillful deception, luck, timing, and Jane and Jack trusting each other and several other players whom Jack has never met, For them to arrive at the expected happily-ever-after.
Willig has her usual store of surprise twists to accomplish these ends. She also, of course, keeps us involved in the frenzy of arrangements for the trans-Atlantic wedding of Eloise and Colin, involving the entire extended and dysfunctional Selwick-Alderley clan, complete with its own surprise twists and old nemeses. In other words, the usual well-ordered lives of Eloise and Colin.
Leading a new mission in Portugal just after it was overrun by Napoleon, she finds herself out of her element. This is not France, where she speaks the language like a native, knows her way around the streets and drawing rooms, and blends in seamlessly. She knows almost no Portuguese, neither the language nor the culture, much less the people or the countryside, so she is dependent on the Moonflower, who has been in country two years, to be her guide. This scenario might work better if Jane know how to accept guidance.
Jack Reid grew up in India, snubbed by both English and Indian society because he is both and therefore considered neither. He is forbidden by law from holding professional positions, and has worked as a mercenary and secret agent, but his personal code of honor has run him afoul of his employers when he refused to kill in cold blood, thereby earning his own place on the hit list.
Jane does not trust Jack, does not like him, but depends on him for her life. The animus is mutual, but they must travel together as a couple. As they hurry through the countryside in pursuit of the Queen, in an effort to keep her out of Napoleon's clutches, they pose as French soldiers, English merchants, Portuguese peasants, and whoever else might keep them alive, and, despite themselves, grudgingly come to respect each other's skills.
This is the conclusion of the Carnation series, so old friends, and enemies, pop up unexpectedly and inconveniently, complicating their movements. Before it is over, Jane must beard her old nemesis in a French-held fort, and whisk his prize prisoner, the crazy Queen, out of his clutches, out of the fort, and onto an English ship, or lose her mission and quite possibly her life. The complications from these escapades depend on skillful deception, luck, timing, and Jane and Jack trusting each other and several other players whom Jack has never met, For them to arrive at the expected happily-ever-after.
Willig has her usual store of surprise twists to accomplish these ends. She also, of course, keeps us involved in the frenzy of arrangements for the trans-Atlantic wedding of Eloise and Colin, involving the entire extended and dysfunctional Selwick-Alderley clan, complete with its own surprise twists and old nemeses. In other words, the usual well-ordered lives of Eloise and Colin.
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