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Pink Carnation #5
The Temptation of the Night Jasmine
After years abroad, Robert, Duke of Dovedale, has returned to England to avenge the murder of his mentor. To uncover the murderer's identity, he must infiltrate the infamous, secret Hellfire Club. But the Duke has no idea that an even more difficult challenge awaits him-in a mistaken, romantic-minded young lady.
Charlotte Lansdowne wistfully remembers the Robert of her childhood as a valiant hero among men. Too aware of his own flaws, Robert tries to dissuade Charlotte from her delusions, even as he finds himself drawn to her. When Charlotte takes up a bit of espionage-investigating a plot to kidnap the King-Robert soon realizes that she is more than the perfect partner in crime.
In the present day, the researching narrator fears her new boyfriend Colin is continuing the family tradition of spying.
Charlotte Lansdowne wistfully remembers the Robert of her childhood as a valiant hero among men. Too aware of his own flaws, Robert tries to dissuade Charlotte from her delusions, even as he finds himself drawn to her. When Charlotte takes up a bit of espionage-investigating a plot to kidnap the King-Robert soon realizes that she is more than the perfect partner in crime.
In the present day, the researching narrator fears her new boyfriend Colin is continuing the family tradition of spying.
388 pages, Hardcover
First published January 21, 2009
72 people are currently reading
2479 people want to read
About the author
Lauren Willig
45 books4,732 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 537 reviews
May 23, 2022
After the last book with a hunt for the Black Tulip and two darker characters as protagonists, what comes next? I was curious about the next pair and what particular espionage challenge they would face. I tried to keep my expectations open since the author delightfully changes things up with each new book.
The Temptation of the Night Jasmine is the fifth installment in a series that works best read in order though I supposed on my get away with reading this one as a standalone.
Robert Lansdowne, his grace the Duke of Dovedale, returns home from India after a decade away set on tracking down the man responsible for his respected mentor’s death. He finds his cousin Charlotte blossomed into womanhood and quite enamored with him as a romantic figure of her dreams though he has changed in the years gone and she starts to fall for this version, too. The feeling is reciprocal, but he catches the scent of his quarry and he heads off to London and the salacious Hellfire Club. Charlotte Lansdowne had romantic novel ideas about Robert, but finds herself suddenly left behind. Then she and Henrietta, a spy and her friend, find themselves in the middle of an important mission to protect the king while acting their turn as ladies in waiting for the queen.
Meanwhile, in the modern story, Eloise and Collin are in the early days of dating. She goes down to the manor with him to combine some research for her dissertation on Napoleonic era spies with a bit of alone time after the holidays apart. She’s got the new notion that Collin hasn’t been as forthcoming about what he does for a living so gets overly curious and now wonders if she’s dating a spy.
The Temptation of the Night Jasmine was overall another light and fun romantic romp in the time of the Napoleonic War when secret plans and sinister spies were about. It didn’t dig as deeply as the last one and the conflict on both the romantic and suspense fronts wound out slowly with neither strongly compelling. Charlotte had to come down from the clouds about romance and Robert had to see her as capable and his match. I liked them together, but the real force of personality was the Dowager Duchess, their grandmother. I was not surprised, though, because as I’ve mentioned earlier, the last book had a strong pair of protagonists and a worthy antagonist that would be tough to beat. I can appreciate the author for not writing cookie cutter characters and situations. I was fascinated by the glimpse into the Hanover Royal family and King George III’s struggles.
Eloise is still stumbling and bumbling along trying to make a go of a relationship and get her work done. I find the modern element an okay addition and impatiently rush to get back to the historical time line.
So, another Pink Carnation entry finishes and I wonder what espionage adventure will come next. I do hope the Pink Carnation herself makes a stronger showing in the next one. The series is loaded with humor, has a modern flavor to the historical figures particularly the ladies, and can dance lightly over darker ground so would be for those who enjoy historical romance and lighter suspense.
The Temptation of the Night Jasmine is the fifth installment in a series that works best read in order though I supposed on my get away with reading this one as a standalone.
Robert Lansdowne, his grace the Duke of Dovedale, returns home from India after a decade away set on tracking down the man responsible for his respected mentor’s death. He finds his cousin Charlotte blossomed into womanhood and quite enamored with him as a romantic figure of her dreams though he has changed in the years gone and she starts to fall for this version, too. The feeling is reciprocal, but he catches the scent of his quarry and he heads off to London and the salacious Hellfire Club. Charlotte Lansdowne had romantic novel ideas about Robert, but finds herself suddenly left behind. Then she and Henrietta, a spy and her friend, find themselves in the middle of an important mission to protect the king while acting their turn as ladies in waiting for the queen.
Meanwhile, in the modern story, Eloise and Collin are in the early days of dating. She goes down to the manor with him to combine some research for her dissertation on Napoleonic era spies with a bit of alone time after the holidays apart. She’s got the new notion that Collin hasn’t been as forthcoming about what he does for a living so gets overly curious and now wonders if she’s dating a spy.
The Temptation of the Night Jasmine was overall another light and fun romantic romp in the time of the Napoleonic War when secret plans and sinister spies were about. It didn’t dig as deeply as the last one and the conflict on both the romantic and suspense fronts wound out slowly with neither strongly compelling. Charlotte had to come down from the clouds about romance and Robert had to see her as capable and his match. I liked them together, but the real force of personality was the Dowager Duchess, their grandmother. I was not surprised, though, because as I’ve mentioned earlier, the last book had a strong pair of protagonists and a worthy antagonist that would be tough to beat. I can appreciate the author for not writing cookie cutter characters and situations. I was fascinated by the glimpse into the Hanover Royal family and King George III’s struggles.
Eloise is still stumbling and bumbling along trying to make a go of a relationship and get her work done. I find the modern element an okay addition and impatiently rush to get back to the historical time line.
So, another Pink Carnation entry finishes and I wonder what espionage adventure will come next. I do hope the Pink Carnation herself makes a stronger showing in the next one. The series is loaded with humor, has a modern flavor to the historical figures particularly the ladies, and can dance lightly over darker ground so would be for those who enjoy historical romance and lighter suspense.
July 27, 2014
I read the first book in this series at best friend's recommendation, and was mildly pleased but not overwhelmed. At the promise that the series gets better and better, I picked a later volume at random based on the storyline that looked the most appealing to me.
I was correct that I would like this story-within better than the Pink Carnation, both because the characters appeal to me more and because the writing has improved. There are still a few times when I feel like the women are a little bit too cute-for-cute's sake and a little too modern in the way they think and interact to be historically accurate, but Robert is a much more interesting man to me than Richard in the Pink Carnation. I criticized Pink Carnation for Willig's descriptions of Richard's feelings being a sort of impossibly sanitized lust, and I find Robert psychologically much more believable. He never seems to be doing something made-for-Rom-Com. Charlotte is occasionally a bit too adorable, but then she gets down to business and does more interesting things.
But a major problem with the series continues here -- Willig is writing a story-within-a-story that doesn't remotely do justice to the framing story. The "main character" Eloise, is not the main character of the books. She is a researcher whose research has led her to a collection of documents in the possession of dreamy Englishman Colin, and over the course of the series, they fall for each other and start dating, and she hangs out with him while doing her research. So in every volume of the series, Eloise spends some time with Colin, and then 80-85% of the book is the story-within, which is a Regency era romantic adventure. In the first book, I was hyper-critical of the framing story because it was an absolutely nondescript romantic short story that wasn't special in any way -- the characters simply weren't specific enough. They weren't really funny or vulnerable or fun or sexy or cool. The story-within was reasonably enjoyable, but the framing device felt entirely unnecessary and unexceptional. If you're reading the entire series, by this point (book 5) Eloise and Colin have probably had almost novel's worth of story, but they're still only getting the equivalent of a short story in this book. I still find it relatively bland, and I don't look forward to any of their scenes, which is not a good sign.
Overall a pleasant romantic historical. Less sex than a lot of romance novels, less history than a lot of historicals, but a good bit of enjoyable characterization and detail about their world.
I was correct that I would like this story-within better than the Pink Carnation, both because the characters appeal to me more and because the writing has improved. There are still a few times when I feel like the women are a little bit too cute-for-cute's sake and a little too modern in the way they think and interact to be historically accurate, but Robert is a much more interesting man to me than Richard in the Pink Carnation. I criticized Pink Carnation for Willig's descriptions of Richard's feelings being a sort of impossibly sanitized lust, and I find Robert psychologically much more believable. He never seems to be doing something made-for-Rom-Com. Charlotte is occasionally a bit too adorable, but then she gets down to business and does more interesting things.
But a major problem with the series continues here -- Willig is writing a story-within-a-story that doesn't remotely do justice to the framing story. The "main character" Eloise, is not the main character of the books. She is a researcher whose research has led her to a collection of documents in the possession of dreamy Englishman Colin, and over the course of the series, they fall for each other and start dating, and she hangs out with him while doing her research. So in every volume of the series, Eloise spends some time with Colin, and then 80-85% of the book is the story-within, which is a Regency era romantic adventure. In the first book, I was hyper-critical of the framing story because it was an absolutely nondescript romantic short story that wasn't special in any way -- the characters simply weren't specific enough. They weren't really funny or vulnerable or fun or sexy or cool. The story-within was reasonably enjoyable, but the framing device felt entirely unnecessary and unexceptional. If you're reading the entire series, by this point (book 5) Eloise and Colin have probably had almost novel's worth of story, but they're still only getting the equivalent of a short story in this book. I still find it relatively bland, and I don't look forward to any of their scenes, which is not a good sign.
Overall a pleasant romantic historical. Less sex than a lot of romance novels, less history than a lot of historicals, but a good bit of enjoyable characterization and detail about their world.
March 15, 2018
4.5 stars I know some readers have said that this one drags a bit, but I honestly loved it. For me, I think the draw was the heroine. In previous books, Charlotte Lansdowne comes across as tentative and quiet, overshadowed by her grandmother, the dowager Duchess of Dovedale. The story opens as Charlotte's beloved cousin Robert, Duke of Dovedale, has returned from India.
Much of the story focuses on the Hellfire Club and Robert's attempts to infiltrate same in order to solve a mystery. Robert's mentor was murdered in India and Robert is convinced that the killer walks free in English society. This part of the plot worked well enough for me, and Willig threw in some thrilling scenes.
However, the real draw for me in this story was the evolution of Charlotte as a character. She does change some throughout the story, but more importantly, people's perceptions of her change. Early on, she is hidden in the shadows of her grandmother's large (and not always pleasant - she's not one of the lovable dowagers of Regency lit) personality.
However, we learn early on that Charlotte adored Robert and even though his time in India changed him, she still remembers the essence of him as he was and somehow she brings out the best in him once more. To make a good story even better, Robert brings out strength, a sense of whimsy, and quiet intelligence in Charlotte as well. This is a story of two people making each other the best version of themselves and that stood out to me even more than the action side of the plot.
Much of the story focuses on the Hellfire Club and Robert's attempts to infiltrate same in order to solve a mystery. Robert's mentor was murdered in India and Robert is convinced that the killer walks free in English society. This part of the plot worked well enough for me, and Willig threw in some thrilling scenes.
However, the real draw for me in this story was the evolution of Charlotte as a character. She does change some throughout the story, but more importantly, people's perceptions of her change. Early on, she is hidden in the shadows of her grandmother's large (and not always pleasant - she's not one of the lovable dowagers of Regency lit) personality.
However, we learn early on that Charlotte adored Robert and even though his time in India changed him, she still remembers the essence of him as he was and somehow she brings out the best in him once more. To make a good story even better, Robert brings out strength, a sense of whimsy, and quiet intelligence in Charlotte as well. This is a story of two people making each other the best version of themselves and that stood out to me even more than the action side of the plot.
February 28, 2009
This book didn't grab as much as the earlier ones in the series. Jane didn't even show up, and was only mentioned once, in passing. The series should be called The Henrietta series, as she seems to be more of a recurrent character.
I really liked the main character, Charlotte the book worm. However, I don't feel the author did a good job of making her or especially her love interest, Robert, come to life. The story about the kidnapping of the King was good, but the execution (of the plot, not the king) seemed a little sparse, and the rift between Charlotte and Robert seemed weak and manufactured.
Only one circumspect kiss in the entire book! A disappointment there.
I wonder if Penelope's story will be told? That sounds like an interesting one...
I really liked the main character, Charlotte the book worm. However, I don't feel the author did a good job of making her or especially her love interest, Robert, come to life. The story about the kidnapping of the King was good, but the execution (of the plot, not the king) seemed a little sparse, and the rift between Charlotte and Robert seemed weak and manufactured.
Only one circumspect kiss in the entire book! A disappointment there.
I wonder if Penelope's story will be told? That sounds like an interesting one...
February 14, 2009
Lauren Willig has created two very likeable characters in Lord Dovedale and Lady Charlotte, who mimic their present day counterparts with errors in miscommunication. Eloise Kelly, who for her Ph.D. dissertation is on the trail of the legendary English spy the Pink Carnation, and her lover a true descendant of the Carnation’s, Colin Selwick. But beyond the errors caused by their simple lack of courage to communicate neither storyline offered much of a mystery filled with intrigue, or threat of danger consistent with Willig’s previous books.
While this book continued Lauren Willig's tradition of attention to detail and intelligently weaving a present day storyline within the historical plotline it lacked any true conflict. We see some of familiar minor characters from Pink Carnation mysteries to hope for intrigue, but this story held little actual mystery and focused on more internal conflicts. At one point in the book, I believe Miles even commented that it had been rather dull since the Black Tulip business was finished. I have to agree. I never once felt anyone was truly in jeopardy.
Neither did I feel any real passionate tension between Dovedale and Lady Charlotte. They were both very level-headed so I never felt that one decent conversation wouldn't resolve their issues. Since I knew that they were both in love with each other, I never believed that they would accept defeat in love.
Willig is an inventive storyteller so I don’t doubt that she has something up her sleeve waiting for us just around the next bend. (hmmm… what might Penny be up to?) We need to see the next big villain of the Napoleonic era will be but so far Jasmine isn’t as evil as the Tulip.
While this book continued Lauren Willig's tradition of attention to detail and intelligently weaving a present day storyline within the historical plotline it lacked any true conflict. We see some of familiar minor characters from Pink Carnation mysteries to hope for intrigue, but this story held little actual mystery and focused on more internal conflicts. At one point in the book, I believe Miles even commented that it had been rather dull since the Black Tulip business was finished. I have to agree. I never once felt anyone was truly in jeopardy.
Neither did I feel any real passionate tension between Dovedale and Lady Charlotte. They were both very level-headed so I never felt that one decent conversation wouldn't resolve their issues. Since I knew that they were both in love with each other, I never believed that they would accept defeat in love.
Willig is an inventive storyteller so I don’t doubt that she has something up her sleeve waiting for us just around the next bend. (hmmm… what might Penny be up to?) We need to see the next big villain of the Napoleonic era will be but so far Jasmine isn’t as evil as the Tulip.
January 27, 2009
I was so excited for this book that maybe my excitement ruined me with expectations. Although, it was a good entertaining read, it lacked certain charm that the other books had. For one, usually the heroine in the 1800s works along with (although reluctantly on the heros part) with the hero to unravel whichever mystery or plot they are working towards. But, in this instance it was a your standard case of man trying to protect woman. Secondly, there were unanswered questions in this book. Why specifically did Robert leave England 10 years ago? Was it just that he didn't feel worth? And why was his father so disreputable? Lastly, in all the other books there were quotations at the chapter headings of all the storylines that occur in the 1800s and then when there wasn't a quotation, you had a clue that it was switching over to the modern Eloise/Colin story. It would take me almost a page of confusion before I finally said, Ah, we're back to Eloise.
The best part of the book was the Colin/Eloise storyline. It's finally getting good, and the whole part about Colin being a spy (I totally saw that coming) was a great spin!
The best part of the book was the Colin/Eloise storyline. It's finally getting good, and the whole part about Colin being a spy (I totally saw that coming) was a great spin!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 17, 2016
Charlotte et Robert sont d'une choupitude qui défie toute concurrence, Henrietta et Miles sont présents et absolument parfaits (Miles *soupirs*), tout le monde est badass, c'était parfait !
Seul bémol, Eloise est quand même parfois un peu cruche XD mais bon, je me dis que pour une héroïne de chick lit, elle aurait pu être bien pire, donc je l'aime quand même ^^
Seul bémol, Eloise est quand même parfois un peu cruche XD mais bon, je me dis que pour une héroïne de chick lit, elle aurait pu être bien pire, donc je l'aime quand même ^^
June 13, 2009
I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, I greatly appreciate that this book is much cleaner than the first few books of the series. On the other hand, the story was not nearly as interesting as the previous books. The whole spy part of the series was basically absent, except for a few thrown-in references to the Pink Carnation or the Black Tulip. I am hoping that a later book will help tie this book in to the whole underground spy world - perhaps the villain in this book was actually the Black Tulip and we just don't know that yet. The love story between the main characters, Charlotte and Robert, was not particularly interesting either. It was extremely predictable, which is not necessarily bad. But in this case there was not enough other merit to forgive the predictability. This is also the first book of the series in which I found the secondary (modern-day) story involving Eloise and Colin to be kind of annoying. I guess once Colin finally asked her out (in a previous book), the whole thing kind of lost its charm. And I generally don't enjoy reading about girlfriends who snoop in their boyfriend's things, think they find something out about him, and then don't know how exactly how to find out the truth. However, I do like both Eloise and Colin as characters, so I have high hopes that they will get more interesting in future. (It is hard to maintain a captivating plot when the characters only show up every 5 (or so) chapters, so I have to give her kudos for doing a good job with the whole two-plot thing.) Overall, it was a perfectly decent read. I generally enjoy reading Willig's writing since it is grammatically correct (aside from a few typos here and there) and flows pleasantly. And I did like that there were no graphic sex scenes as there were in the first few books. So I would like to give the book more stars... but I just didn't really find the story all that captivating. I am still looking forward to the next book in the series, though!
March 10, 2022
This is one I think I should like more than I do, it's got a madcap element at the end that I usually enjoy in books, but the putting Charlotte aside for her own element REALLY grates and the Colin/Eloise, she thinks he's a spy bit is just so dumb.
Series ranking:
1. The Masque of the Black Tulip
2. The Seduction of the Crimson Rose
3. The Deception of the Emerald Ring
4. The Secret History of the Pink Carnation
5. The Temptation of the Night Jasmine
Series ranking:
1. The Masque of the Black Tulip
2. The Seduction of the Crimson Rose
3. The Deception of the Emerald Ring
4. The Secret History of the Pink Carnation
5. The Temptation of the Night Jasmine
October 30, 2019
A charming historical romance with a little modern storyline as well. I really enjoy Willig's writing.
February 23, 2009
I was surprisingly impressed by this latest Willig novel. I mean, I absolutely adored Pink Carnation and I tend to reread it very regularly, but for some reason I haven't felt the same about many of her other efforts, particularly the last one (Crimson Rose). I suppose on one level, Willig's very detailed and carefully drawn characterizations tend to incline the reader to identify very strongly with certain of her heroines. With that said, perhaps it's no surprise that I like short, outgoing, bouncy, impetuous, perky Amy (and the book with her starring role) the best. However, the bookwormish, romantic Charlotte in this one seemed also recognizable to me and I think that led me to sympathize more with her character and feel more invested in the story.
Occasionally it got too cutesy (rasberry tarts and unicorns, enough said), but overall a solid, cuddle-up-with read. Lastly, I feel rather immoral saying this, but, please Lauren, next time a sex scene?? Just one...you did them so well in the Pink Carnation. And, for literary reasons, rather than just my own personal reading enjoyment, in a book that focused on Charlotte's disillusionment and growing maturity, not including a sex scene seems kind of like robbing the character of a perfect plot development. If Charlotte had such a problem with coming to terms with the reality of Robert rather than the fantasy, sex (marital or otherwise. One vote for otherwise...) would probably be a huge shock and have lots of dramatic potential.
Occasionally it got too cutesy (rasberry tarts and unicorns, enough said), but overall a solid, cuddle-up-with read. Lastly, I feel rather immoral saying this, but, please Lauren, next time a sex scene?? Just one...you did them so well in the Pink Carnation. And, for literary reasons, rather than just my own personal reading enjoyment, in a book that focused on Charlotte's disillusionment and growing maturity, not including a sex scene seems kind of like robbing the character of a perfect plot development. If Charlotte had such a problem with coming to terms with the reality of Robert rather than the fantasy, sex (marital or otherwise. One vote for otherwise...) would probably be a huge shock and have lots of dramatic potential.
July 26, 2019
This was really sweet!! I feel like I was ruined by Mary/Vaughn that there's no way the follow up books could touch the complex tangle of emotions that went there but it was a valiant attempt, and Robert and Charlotte were ultimately super sweet. I really liked how both Robert and Charlotte had already set notions of each other - him as a prince, and her as a delicate creature to be put on a pedestal and it was really nice to see that break down as they really got to know each other as people and have ten years of catching up to do. Charlotte getting wrapped up in a mystery of her own and being very resourceful on her own was a delight as she got to put the skills of the heroines she read about; it was also great to see her being the main force that drove the novel, like Robert did stuff, but it's her knowledge of the king and her knowledge of the royal family that really drives it. Hen and Miles were such a lovely return to have and I'm so sad Tommy got snubbed as a hero because I really wish we got to know more about him! The unicorn callback was corny and extremely cute. The Eloise/Colin front of her thinking he's a spy is really funny and I really like the relationship and it's progression and how she supports his dream as a writer.
December 8, 2021
Solid 4 star book! I really enjoyed Charlotte and Robert’s story. Eloise & Colin did have a very lame storyline about how she randomly suspects him of being a spy, but luckily there wasn’t much of it.
May 9, 2024
I liked this twisty turny little romance. It had a bit more will they or won’t they to my liking… because you know they get their happily ever after.
March 9, 2015
Charlotte has been waiting at Girdings for her knight in shining armour to come, just like those glorious murals depicting her ancestors bravely battling their foes on long gone battlefields or the books she consumes copiously. She even has her own dragon with her grandmother, the Dowager Duchess of Dovedale. Then on Christmas Eve, out of the snow, Robert returns. Fleeing the family home for India all those years ago, the Duke of Dovedale returns like a knight returning from a long crusade in the Holy Land. Charlotte instantly starts framing her world in her rose tinted way with a happy ending of hunting unicorns with jam tarts and kissing Robert in the sun, never mind it's bleak midwinter and her grandmother has surrounded her with rogues and dimwits in a final attempt to marry her off. The worst of the lot being Francis Medmenham, descendant of the nefarious founder of the Hellfire Club. But why did Robert return? Is he here to court fair maiden? Or does he have darker designs... he has taken to Medmenham rather fast. But of course it is all a misunderstanding wherein Robert is out for revenge but he can't let the fair maiden know of his deceit. Breaking her heart for her own good, Robert sinks deeper into Medmenham's world while Charlotte is bustled off to court to wait on the Queen. But following a startling discovery and evidence that the King is going mad once again, Charlotte takes on her own causes for King and Country. Could it be that Robert's nemesis and the men behind Charlotte's uncovered plot are connected? If only through libraries and boat rides and dark tunnels used for darker purposes Charlotte and Robert could work together and not fret about what if's, might have beens and almost kisses, maybe they could save England.
Oddly enough both times I've read this book I've set it down for sometime and then come back to it. I can't really explain why I do this, but I just do. More than any character Lauren has written I identify with Charlotte, and maybe that's why I set this book down, I know what I'd do, so Charlotte would do the same. While the relatablity is strong, there's too much of a closeness, I find I enjoy characters who are less like me. For example Pen, I am nothing like Pen, but give me more Pen please! The characters are flawed, but they're nobly flawed. For a book with the Hellfire Club there is a noticeable lack of dirtiness. I love Medmenham and wish he had just taken over the book and been lewd and crude and maybe slaughtered a few unicorns. Wow... that went to a dark place. Maybe I just haven't been in the fairy tale frame of mind when I think of spies and can't handle the goody goody and want me some Mary and Vaughn. Snark and evil, that's what this book needed a little bit of to balance the good. Everyone needs balance.
Oddly enough both times I've read this book I've set it down for sometime and then come back to it. I can't really explain why I do this, but I just do. More than any character Lauren has written I identify with Charlotte, and maybe that's why I set this book down, I know what I'd do, so Charlotte would do the same. While the relatablity is strong, there's too much of a closeness, I find I enjoy characters who are less like me. For example Pen, I am nothing like Pen, but give me more Pen please! The characters are flawed, but they're nobly flawed. For a book with the Hellfire Club there is a noticeable lack of dirtiness. I love Medmenham and wish he had just taken over the book and been lewd and crude and maybe slaughtered a few unicorns. Wow... that went to a dark place. Maybe I just haven't been in the fairy tale frame of mind when I think of spies and can't handle the goody goody and want me some Mary and Vaughn. Snark and evil, that's what this book needed a little bit of to balance the good. Everyone needs balance.
November 13, 2024
i have managed to get myself roped into a reading series! this is the fifth in the pink carnation series. the story alternates between elouise's story - a grad student researching papers for her thesis on spies during the french revolution. the story taking place during the l8th century is that of Robert Dovedale and Charlotte Landsdowne. Charlotte is an innocent maiden living under the care of the Dowager Duchess. Her distant cousin Robert returns from India after serving in the service there for quite some time. He is the prodigal duke of Girdings -- the estate which the Duchess has taken over as her own.
The story really focuses on revenge Robert is seeking for a fallen friend of his. Then the plot works into the secret society of the Hellfire Club. King George is mad and now our characters have themselves a plot! This story is more memorable than the previous book - Crimson Rose. i fear i will be reading these stories for the duration of the series.
The story really focuses on revenge Robert is seeking for a fallen friend of his. Then the plot works into the secret society of the Hellfire Club. King George is mad and now our characters have themselves a plot! This story is more memorable than the previous book - Crimson Rose. i fear i will be reading these stories for the duration of the series.
February 17, 2016
En fait c'est un 4,5. S'il n'y avait eu que Charlotte et Robert, j'aurais mis un 5 mais le côté TSL d'Eloise fait perdre 0,5.
Donc je ne me suis pas réellement intéressée à la partie contemporaine, mais l'historique.... Ahhhhh c'était bien!!!! C'est une histoire pleine de candeur, de contes de fées, de licornes. Une héroïne pas si naïve et un héros comme je les aime, amoureux mais se sentant peu digne d'être aimé de sa belle. L'intrigue espionnage est grosse très grosse ! Mais ça l'est tellement que ça marche :-D
Au final, l'auteur écrit une 6ème histoire différente des autres et je trouve qu'elle s'améliore. Dommage pour Eloise et Colin... Oh et Miles <3 <3 <3
Donc je ne me suis pas réellement intéressée à la partie contemporaine, mais l'historique.... Ahhhhh c'était bien!!!! C'est une histoire pleine de candeur, de contes de fées, de licornes. Une héroïne pas si naïve et un héros comme je les aime, amoureux mais se sentant peu digne d'être aimé de sa belle. L'intrigue espionnage est grosse très grosse ! Mais ça l'est tellement que ça marche :-D
Au final, l'auteur écrit une 6ème histoire différente des autres et je trouve qu'elle s'améliore. Dommage pour Eloise et Colin... Oh et Miles <3 <3 <3
March 8, 2011
I really wanted to like this one, I did, I did. But everything just went to bits at the last part of the book, and it tipped over into the too-silly-for-words category. Which I hate, especially when the first two thirds of the story was pretty darn good.
For the longer review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/review/Book_T...
For the longer review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/review/Book_T...
March 9, 2009
I was disappointed in this novel. While I liked Robert and Charlotte (a lot more than Eloise and Colin) I didn't see the point of this story. The bit about King George was interesting but only in a vague sense. I've also begun to actively dislike Eloise. I think the series has a lot of merit, but with this book, it took me forever to get to a point where I thought it was interesting.
January 18, 2024
In my opinion, this title does not fit in with the series. I wish that the pink carnation made an appearance in this novel. Charlotte and Robert are a hard couple to support; because of their naivety, lack of communication, and unbelievable attraction. The Eloise and Colin storyline was also unimpressive in this book.
Previously read May 10, 2014
Previously read May 10, 2014
February 23, 2009
Highly enjoyable! I liked the inclusion of the royal family and the Hellfire Club. I enjoyed the feistiness of the heroine. The hero with the over-the-top inferiority complex...not so much. But it made for a good story.
June 10, 2020
I think this was my favourite book in the series so far, it was just so good.
Charlotte and Robert were childhood friends so when he comes back to England from abroad, sparks fly. Unfortunately, Robert has to infiltrate a decadent Hellfire Club in order to stop a murderer. Both get caught up in a web of intrigue and a plot to kidnap the King.
- Loved Charlotte. She's a wonderfully fresh heroine who still believes in everything good about the world. There were a lot of lovely fairytale references.
- Loved Charlotte and Henrietta together solving mysteries.
- Robert and Charlotte are both so sweet, they kissed very early on in the book but the conflict that kept them apart was well thought-out.
- Charlotte is a bookworm, always a nice touch.
- The plot on the King was riveting and a chilling foray into the treatment of mental health in those days.
I have an idea as to whose book is up next, but I like being surprised so I'll find out when I pick up the next book :) Always a wonderful series to dive into, I highly recommend it.
Charlotte and Robert were childhood friends so when he comes back to England from abroad, sparks fly. Unfortunately, Robert has to infiltrate a decadent Hellfire Club in order to stop a murderer. Both get caught up in a web of intrigue and a plot to kidnap the King.
- Loved Charlotte. She's a wonderfully fresh heroine who still believes in everything good about the world. There were a lot of lovely fairytale references.
- Loved Charlotte and Henrietta together solving mysteries.
- Robert and Charlotte are both so sweet, they kissed very early on in the book but the conflict that kept them apart was well thought-out.
- Charlotte is a bookworm, always a nice touch.
- The plot on the King was riveting and a chilling foray into the treatment of mental health in those days.
I have an idea as to whose book is up next, but I like being surprised so I'll find out when I pick up the next book :) Always a wonderful series to dive into, I highly recommend it.
February 15, 2010
In the fifth installment in her "Pink Carnation" Series, more Napoleonic espionage ensues as Lauren Willig spins her captivating tale of the exploits of Robert Lansdowne, the reluctant Duke of Dovedail, and his bookish young cousin Charlotte in The Temptation of the Night Jasmine. Set in England in 1803, Robert’s unexpected return to his ducal estate in Sussex after a decade in the Army in India rekindles Lady Charlotte’s idealistic fantasies. Fueled by her passion for romantic novels such as Evelina she is hopeful that Robert, her knight in shining amour, has come to rescue her from her from the embarrassment of three failed London seasons and her grandmother’s succession of unacceptable eligible bachelors. However, Robert’s main objective is not romance, but to track down the spy who murdered his mentor during the Battle of Assaye. Even though their reunion sparks a quick romance, Robert abruptly ends their relationship and departs for London in pursuit of the elusive spy whose signature scent is the heady and seductive night jasmine. Infiltrating the notorious Hells Fire Club, he is witness to opium induced orgies and the dissipation of London society – all in the name of duty and honor, mind you. Meanwhile, Charlotte acting as lady in waiting to Queen is witness to the madness of King George, or is she? With the aid of her friend Lady Henrietta Selwick, they undertake a bit of espionage of their own, uncovering a plot to kidnap the king. Robert and Charlotte must join forces to thwart the scheme, and learn to trust each again before they can catch a spy, and, re-fall in love.
All of Willig’s stories in this series unfold as a parallel plot prompted by the investigation of contemporary scholar Eloise Kelly as she conducts her own historical research into the enigmatic British flower spies during the Napoleonic wars. The trail of research has led her to Colin Selwick the descendant of the Pink Carnation who holds the family archive, and her affections under his control. Having read all of the previous novels in the Pink Carnation series, I was uncertain if Willig could continue to pump out fresh and engaging stories to match the intrigue, humor, and suspense of her previous four efforts. In addition, the dubious claim in the publisher’s description of the book that “Pride and Prejudice lives on in Lauren Willig’s acclaimed "Pink Carnation" series really shot up an eyebrow. Talk about hitching your star onto a bandwagon! This series is not a Jane Austen sequel, though she does amusingly nod at Austen through allusions to her characters and plot lines, especially in this novel in the early chapters with young, naïve and bookish Charlotte Lansdowne. Any reader of Northanger Abbey will immediately see the similarities to Catherine Morland and smile. But the rest of the characters and plotline is entirely Willig’s own skillful imaginings.
Given my reservations upon reading this new release, I was happy to discover that I cherish it among the best in the series. Willig’s effervescent style in almost tongue-in-cheek in its playfulness. Her strength, however, lies in her rendering of her characters unique and endearing personalities. Like Austen, she chooses an array of foibles and follies in human nature illustrated in her secondary characters to frame her hero and heroine. Charlotte’s grandmother is a great example.
“The Dowager Duchess of Dovedale, the woman who had launched a thousand ships—as their crews rowed for their lives in the opposite direction. She inspired horses to rear, jaded roués to blanch beneath their rouge, and young fops to jump out of ballroom windows. And she enjoyed every moment of it.”
Even though I thoroughly enjoy her writing style, Willig does have a few weaknesses that I hope will improve with experience. She handles comedy, historical context, and dialogue beautifully, but like Austen’s complaint about her own darling child Pride and Prejudice, her plots lack the deep shade necessary to offset the light, bright, sparkly stuff. Not only would I like to see more romantic tension between her protagonists, a bit more dastardly doings in her villains would please me exceedingly. Just channel a bit of Dickens Lauren, and you will succeed. Furthermore, I enjoyed the historical plot line so much more than the contemporary fumbling of her Bridget Jones clone-ish Eloise, mostly due to the fact that I am just really tired of clueless young woman who are so insecure that a run in their nylons ruins their day.
Reverently harkening to her predecessors Austen and Heyer, Willig is one talented author who I hope will enjoy a very long career. In addition to The Temptation of the Night Jasmine, the "Pink Carnation" series includes The Secret History of the Pink Carnation, The Masque of the Black Tulip, The Deception of the Emerald Ring and The Seduction of the Crimson Rose. Her next novel in the series is The Betrayal of the Blood Lily is due out in January, 2010. If you are in the mood for a Regency era romantic spy comedy romp, I recommend this book highly.
Laurel Ann, Austenprose
All of Willig’s stories in this series unfold as a parallel plot prompted by the investigation of contemporary scholar Eloise Kelly as she conducts her own historical research into the enigmatic British flower spies during the Napoleonic wars. The trail of research has led her to Colin Selwick the descendant of the Pink Carnation who holds the family archive, and her affections under his control. Having read all of the previous novels in the Pink Carnation series, I was uncertain if Willig could continue to pump out fresh and engaging stories to match the intrigue, humor, and suspense of her previous four efforts. In addition, the dubious claim in the publisher’s description of the book that “Pride and Prejudice lives on in Lauren Willig’s acclaimed "Pink Carnation" series really shot up an eyebrow. Talk about hitching your star onto a bandwagon! This series is not a Jane Austen sequel, though she does amusingly nod at Austen through allusions to her characters and plot lines, especially in this novel in the early chapters with young, naïve and bookish Charlotte Lansdowne. Any reader of Northanger Abbey will immediately see the similarities to Catherine Morland and smile. But the rest of the characters and plotline is entirely Willig’s own skillful imaginings.
Given my reservations upon reading this new release, I was happy to discover that I cherish it among the best in the series. Willig’s effervescent style in almost tongue-in-cheek in its playfulness. Her strength, however, lies in her rendering of her characters unique and endearing personalities. Like Austen, she chooses an array of foibles and follies in human nature illustrated in her secondary characters to frame her hero and heroine. Charlotte’s grandmother is a great example.
“The Dowager Duchess of Dovedale, the woman who had launched a thousand ships—as their crews rowed for their lives in the opposite direction. She inspired horses to rear, jaded roués to blanch beneath their rouge, and young fops to jump out of ballroom windows. And she enjoyed every moment of it.”
Even though I thoroughly enjoy her writing style, Willig does have a few weaknesses that I hope will improve with experience. She handles comedy, historical context, and dialogue beautifully, but like Austen’s complaint about her own darling child Pride and Prejudice, her plots lack the deep shade necessary to offset the light, bright, sparkly stuff. Not only would I like to see more romantic tension between her protagonists, a bit more dastardly doings in her villains would please me exceedingly. Just channel a bit of Dickens Lauren, and you will succeed. Furthermore, I enjoyed the historical plot line so much more than the contemporary fumbling of her Bridget Jones clone-ish Eloise, mostly due to the fact that I am just really tired of clueless young woman who are so insecure that a run in their nylons ruins their day.
Reverently harkening to her predecessors Austen and Heyer, Willig is one talented author who I hope will enjoy a very long career. In addition to The Temptation of the Night Jasmine, the "Pink Carnation" series includes The Secret History of the Pink Carnation, The Masque of the Black Tulip, The Deception of the Emerald Ring and The Seduction of the Crimson Rose. Her next novel in the series is The Betrayal of the Blood Lily is due out in January, 2010. If you are in the mood for a Regency era romantic spy comedy romp, I recommend this book highly.
Laurel Ann, Austenprose
December 18, 2011
Inevitably in any popular series, sooner or later the writing gets stale- character arcs become unbelievable, plots are rehashed, or the reader can simply feel the writer's own weariness for the once beloved story lines. Not so for Lauren Willig! If anything, The Temptation of the Night Jasmine is the strongest book in the Pink Carnation series so far.
Framed once again by the research and relationship trials of graduate student Eloise Kelly, Night Jasmine opens after Eloise and her new beau Colin have been together for three months. A week long romantic getaway to Colin's home in Surrey (not to mention his library's inexhaustible cache of historical archives) leads Eloise to a new discovery in her study of the aristocratic spy, the Pink Carnation- a plot involving French spies (naturally), the betrayal of a king, and thee infamous Hellfire club.
Enter lady Charlotte Landsdowne and Robert, the Duke of Dovedale, the real stars of this carnation installment. Robert, newly home from a decade long stint in India, is on the trail of his mentor's murderer, but is unprepared for both the attraction he feels for the bookish Charlotte (a very, very distant cousin) and the very real forces at work in his friend's death.
Like the other Pink Carnation books, the mystery here is well plotted out and the excitement level high enough to keep the pages flying well into the night. The true strength lies within the romance of Robert and Charlotte, however. Both characters show very strong growth over the course of the book: Charlotte must deal with the realization that life is not quite like it is in books (which can be a good thing), and Robert has to grapple with not only his own dubious past, but that of his father. As you would expect, a happy ending lies in wait for these two, but not without a few bumps along the way. Even more so than past books, the reader will truly find themselves rooting for these two.
So, the verdict- if you loved the previous Pink Carnation books, definitely pick up The Temptation of the Night Jasmine! You will not regret it. If you're new to the series, I recommend starting at the beginning (with The Secret History of the Pink Carnation) so you'll be fully in the loop when secondary characters appear as well as up to speed on the framing romance of Colin and Eloise.
Framed once again by the research and relationship trials of graduate student Eloise Kelly, Night Jasmine opens after Eloise and her new beau Colin have been together for three months. A week long romantic getaway to Colin's home in Surrey (not to mention his library's inexhaustible cache of historical archives) leads Eloise to a new discovery in her study of the aristocratic spy, the Pink Carnation- a plot involving French spies (naturally), the betrayal of a king, and thee infamous Hellfire club.
Enter lady Charlotte Landsdowne and Robert, the Duke of Dovedale, the real stars of this carnation installment. Robert, newly home from a decade long stint in India, is on the trail of his mentor's murderer, but is unprepared for both the attraction he feels for the bookish Charlotte (a very, very distant cousin) and the very real forces at work in his friend's death.
Like the other Pink Carnation books, the mystery here is well plotted out and the excitement level high enough to keep the pages flying well into the night. The true strength lies within the romance of Robert and Charlotte, however. Both characters show very strong growth over the course of the book: Charlotte must deal with the realization that life is not quite like it is in books (which can be a good thing), and Robert has to grapple with not only his own dubious past, but that of his father. As you would expect, a happy ending lies in wait for these two, but not without a few bumps along the way. Even more so than past books, the reader will truly find themselves rooting for these two.
So, the verdict- if you loved the previous Pink Carnation books, definitely pick up The Temptation of the Night Jasmine! You will not regret it. If you're new to the series, I recommend starting at the beginning (with The Secret History of the Pink Carnation) so you'll be fully in the loop when secondary characters appear as well as up to speed on the framing romance of Colin and Eloise.
November 2, 2010
Let me be up front in saying that I honestly grabbed this audio book, not just because I had already listened to the previous four that came before, but because I was so invested in the "modern-day" story that is embedded in these spy novels. While the spy stories are being told, we as readers understand that it is through our modern storyteller, Eloise Keller, that we are getting anything at all. It is her story, and her romance with modern day descendant to the Pink Carnation, Colin Selwick, that I was so involved in this installment. The two have finally gotten together romantically, but there is still much that American, Eloise, is uncertain about her dashing new boyfriend. She finds information about him that might stake him to some spy activity of his own And, how can this swashbuckler of his own rights be interested in an academic who has her nose in old journals and diaries all the time?
I really enjoyed the more modern side to the story this time around, especially since I found myself lost in the story of Robert and Lady Charlotte so often. For one, Robert and Charlotte were often at cross purposes and didn't understand where the other was coming from throughout most of the story. The miscommunication, jealousies, and misdirected frustration was enough to drive me batty. To top it off, the story included the mad King George, so I was often thinking about history and where that placed things, rather than truly following the story. My bad, I'll admit, but I was a bit distracted by the real history that went behind the story.
As always, the story was highly entertaining. That is high praise from a reader, such as myself, who doesn't like mysteries hardly at all. I like the romantic and historical twists to be found in this series, and find the author's writing style engaging. Although this particular story lost me at times, and I found myself wanting more out of the modern story, I can still say that the series is great fun and a nice, historical diversion.
I really enjoyed the more modern side to the story this time around, especially since I found myself lost in the story of Robert and Lady Charlotte so often. For one, Robert and Charlotte were often at cross purposes and didn't understand where the other was coming from throughout most of the story. The miscommunication, jealousies, and misdirected frustration was enough to drive me batty. To top it off, the story included the mad King George, so I was often thinking about history and where that placed things, rather than truly following the story. My bad, I'll admit, but I was a bit distracted by the real history that went behind the story.
As always, the story was highly entertaining. That is high praise from a reader, such as myself, who doesn't like mysteries hardly at all. I like the romantic and historical twists to be found in this series, and find the author's writing style engaging. Although this particular story lost me at times, and I found myself wanting more out of the modern story, I can still say that the series is great fun and a nice, historical diversion.
February 25, 2009
For once, I enjoyed the historical plot more than the romantic. Don't get me wrong, Willig's novels are always an enjoyable read, but what happened to the sexual tension that she has been so adept at delivering?
The first three Carnation books followed a vague sexual structure: first kiss, heated second kiss, and then the sex scene. That all evaporated in the 4th book. The Crimson Rose delivers on the first two steps, at least, but Night Jasmine doesn't even deliver a proper second kiss! I thought that perhaps the lack of a sex scene in Crimson Rose was some kind of glitch or oversight in her writing structure (despite the fact that they were the perfect couple for such a scene- Vaughn being such a rake, and thereby talented in that department, and Mary was no innocent either) - something that would be corrected in the next novel. Boy, was I wrong.
I was never drawn into the romance between Robert and Charlotte. I couldn't feel it in that toe-curling way that made me fall in love with Willig's books. My question is, when the first three books didn't shy away from descriptive, toe-curling sex, why take it out of the formula for the next two? I have to say I'm dissapointed and confused. Don't tamper with a winning formula!
Physical manifestation aside, I was convinced of either Charlotte or Robert's passion for one another on an emotional level either.
The first three Carnation books followed a vague sexual structure: first kiss, heated second kiss, and then the sex scene. That all evaporated in the 4th book. The Crimson Rose delivers on the first two steps, at least, but Night Jasmine doesn't even deliver a proper second kiss! I thought that perhaps the lack of a sex scene in Crimson Rose was some kind of glitch or oversight in her writing structure (despite the fact that they were the perfect couple for such a scene- Vaughn being such a rake, and thereby talented in that department, and Mary was no innocent either) - something that would be corrected in the next novel. Boy, was I wrong.
I was never drawn into the romance between Robert and Charlotte. I couldn't feel it in that toe-curling way that made me fall in love with Willig's books. My question is, when the first three books didn't shy away from descriptive, toe-curling sex, why take it out of the formula for the next two? I have to say I'm dissapointed and confused. Don't tamper with a winning formula!
Physical manifestation aside, I was convinced of either Charlotte or Robert's passion for one another on an emotional level either.
September 19, 2012
2.5 Stars
I suppose there comes a time and in this case, by the fifth book, that ideas run thin. This particular installment in the Pink Carnation series is being hailed as a modern Pride and Prejudice. About the only thing the two novels have in common is the time period and clothes. It seems Willig simply borrowed the basic plot to fill in the blanks for this lukewarm scheme. The villain, the Night Jasmine, is barely present. Instead, he moves like a cardboard figure throughout the story, making cameo appearances before darting off into the night. Eloise and Collin are about as vanilla as can be, disappointingly so, since this is the beginning of a budding transatlantic relationship. Collin's mysterious secret is just as steamy as their sex life, not much of one. The introduction of the Hellfire Club has enormous promise, but lacks intrigue. Willig simply pulls from rushed research and creates a fictional character to helm the ship. However, it too is flat and provides no more sinister insight than a quick Google search would get the reader on the subject. This one just didn't do it for me. It was pieced together with some history and characters borrowed from previous books -- but the new additions flopped like fish out of water. Sadly, Charlotte and Robert failed to fill the huge promise of another Elizabeth and Mr. D'arcy.
I suppose there comes a time and in this case, by the fifth book, that ideas run thin. This particular installment in the Pink Carnation series is being hailed as a modern Pride and Prejudice. About the only thing the two novels have in common is the time period and clothes. It seems Willig simply borrowed the basic plot to fill in the blanks for this lukewarm scheme. The villain, the Night Jasmine, is barely present. Instead, he moves like a cardboard figure throughout the story, making cameo appearances before darting off into the night. Eloise and Collin are about as vanilla as can be, disappointingly so, since this is the beginning of a budding transatlantic relationship. Collin's mysterious secret is just as steamy as their sex life, not much of one. The introduction of the Hellfire Club has enormous promise, but lacks intrigue. Willig simply pulls from rushed research and creates a fictional character to helm the ship. However, it too is flat and provides no more sinister insight than a quick Google search would get the reader on the subject. This one just didn't do it for me. It was pieced together with some history and characters borrowed from previous books -- but the new additions flopped like fish out of water. Sadly, Charlotte and Robert failed to fill the huge promise of another Elizabeth and Mr. D'arcy.
May 27, 2012
#5 in the Pink Carnation Series started out slowly, had some slow moments but overall was a very good story. The mystery was much more straightforward and very well done. It involves King George's madness, which is always a fascinating topic. This was the best part of the story. Eloise and Colin are staying at his country house and she is as annoying as always. There is something so childish and immature in her voice that just rubs me the wrong way. And couple in the historical part of the story are almost as annoying. Robert is the Duke of Dovedale, and he is just back from India after having been gone for 10 years. He returns in order to solve a crime that occurred in his regiment. He meets up with Charlotte, the daughter of the recently deceased Duke of Dovedale. She has always hero worshiped Robert and nothing changes when he comes home. Their romance hits many pitfalls, most of them causes by their own blindness. They both suffer from TSTL complex to some extent. But the mystery and suspense are very good and this eventually overcomes character issues. By the end, it is very enjoyable.
November 4, 2015
I BELIEVE IN UNICORNS... et vive les tartines de framboise ♥
Charlotte à laquelle on a pas de mal à s'identifier : elle pas son temps dans les bibliothèque à lire et à rêver à tous les héros fictifs qu'elle croise. un chevalier, sur son cheval blanc, viendrait la sauver un jour toussa... ^^ et là arrive Robert après 12 ans passées en Inde, et Charlotte entend d'un coup les trompettes de la cavalerie (les violons ça va pas très bien niveau ambiance xD).
ils sont choupis tous les deux, à mener chacun leur enquêtes sur les complots qu'ils découvrent et se rendre compte qu'elle sont liées. quand ils se trouve nez-à-nez ça ressemble un peu à "qu'est-ce tu fais au milieu de mon plan ? non toi qu'est-ce que tu fais au milieu de mon plan" etc... derrière on a Henrietta qui prend son rôle de chaperon très à coeur et Miles qui mange des biscuits au gingembre xD
j'aime bien aussi le pote de Robert, Tommy, j'espère qu'on le reverra ^^
et Eloise et Colin, rholalalala que du suspense O_O on en apprend une bonne sur Colin, mais je suis sûre que ça cache encore d'autres trucs plus croustillant héhéhéhéhé ♥
Charlotte à laquelle on a pas de mal à s'identifier : elle pas son temps dans les bibliothèque à lire et à rêver à tous les héros fictifs qu'elle croise. un chevalier, sur son cheval blanc, viendrait la sauver un jour toussa... ^^ et là arrive Robert après 12 ans passées en Inde, et Charlotte entend d'un coup les trompettes de la cavalerie (les violons ça va pas très bien niveau ambiance xD).
ils sont choupis tous les deux, à mener chacun leur enquêtes sur les complots qu'ils découvrent et se rendre compte qu'elle sont liées. quand ils se trouve nez-à-nez ça ressemble un peu à "qu'est-ce tu fais au milieu de mon plan ? non toi qu'est-ce que tu fais au milieu de mon plan" etc... derrière on a Henrietta qui prend son rôle de chaperon très à coeur et Miles qui mange des biscuits au gingembre xD
j'aime bien aussi le pote de Robert, Tommy, j'espère qu'on le reverra ^^
et Eloise et Colin, rholalalala que du suspense O_O on en apprend une bonne sur Colin, mais je suis sûre que ça cache encore d'autres trucs plus croustillant héhéhéhéhé ♥
April 4, 2011
Oh dear. This just was not my cup of tea. I have really loved this series--and I have every intention of continuing, but this one mainly bored me. I also didn't care for either of the main characters. I've actually looked forward to an installment starring the bookish Charlotte. But she grated on my nerves at every turn. In the beginning she had her head in the clouds romanticizing everything. When she was betrayed by Robert, his actions turned her into an unforgiving and whining snob. On occasion the plot gave me some promise, but I was disappointed in the end. I can't decided if I should hold off on the next installment or start it immediately to get the taste of this one out of my mouth.
**Audio Review: Oh boy did I miss Kate Reading! Since I have listened to each of the books in this series narrated by Reading, I grew accustomed to her voicing the characters so expertly. Justine Eyre's voice was adequate, but not up to par. She also pronounced Eloise's name very bizarrely at the beginning of the book, and then correctly at the end. Very strange.
**Audio Review: Oh boy did I miss Kate Reading! Since I have listened to each of the books in this series narrated by Reading, I grew accustomed to her voicing the characters so expertly. Justine Eyre's voice was adequate, but not up to par. She also pronounced Eloise's name very bizarrely at the beginning of the book, and then correctly at the end. Very strange.
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