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Pink Carnation #1
The Secret History of the Pink Carnation
Deciding that true romantic heroes are a thing of the past, Eloise Kelly, an intelligent American who always manages to wear her Jimmy Choo suede boots on the day it rains, leaves Harvard's Widener Library bound for England to finish her dissertation on the dashing pair of spies the Scarlet Pimpernel and the Purple Gentian. What she discovers is something the finest historians have missed: a secret history that begins with a letter dated 1803. Eloise has found the secret history of the Pink Carnation the most elusive spy of all time, the spy who single-handedly saved England from Napoleon's invasion.
The Secret History of the Pink Carnation, a wildly imaginative and highly adventurous debut, opens with the story of a modern-day heroine but soon becomes a book within a book. Eloise Kelly settles in to read the secret history hoping to unmask the Pink Carnation's identity, but before she can make this discovery, she uncovers a passionate romance within the pages of the secret history that almost threw off the course of world events. How did the Pink Carnation save England? What became of the Scarlet Pimpernel and the Purple Gentian? And will Eloise Kelly find a hero of her own?
The Secret History of the Pink Carnation, a wildly imaginative and highly adventurous debut, opens with the story of a modern-day heroine but soon becomes a book within a book. Eloise Kelly settles in to read the secret history hoping to unmask the Pink Carnation's identity, but before she can make this discovery, she uncovers a passionate romance within the pages of the secret history that almost threw off the course of world events. How did the Pink Carnation save England? What became of the Scarlet Pimpernel and the Purple Gentian? And will Eloise Kelly find a hero of her own?
388 pages, Hardcover
First published October 10, 2004
814 people are currently reading
19907 people want to read
About the author
Lauren Willig
41 books4,737 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 2,404 reviews
July 13, 2023
I feel compelled to defend why I read this book in the first place – which is never good. And in this case, it is difficult, because I myself am still trying to understand why. The title, cover, and plot summary were flashing caution lights per my personal tastes. A perusal of several reviews was not encouraging. Why, oh why, did I not heed the warnings?
If I am going to be honest, it came down to the following: I already had plans to attend an event with author, Tasha Alexander. As the date approached, I learned the event would also feature Lauren Willig and wanted to try her book as well.
Oh well, I read it. And as you have likely deduced, I didn’t care for it. The fundamentals of the plot were good: spies running around 19th century Paris. Where it went wrong for me was the tone. I prefer my historical fiction novels to take themselves somewhat seriously. This book, however, had the flippancy of modern day chick lit. Occasional pouts of levity might have been fine. Yet Lauren never varied the tone and it felt incompatible with the action at times. For example, when Amy’s love interest, Richard is captured and taken to the police headquarters to be tortured, Amy rushes to his aide and you run into lines such as,
Take him to the extra-special interrogation chamber!
and
[Richard] was beginning to feel uncomfortably peripheral to his own rescue…Hell, he’d never be able to show his face in male company again. He might as well resign his membership in his clubs and join a sewing circle.
I’m sorry, but shouldn’t these be serious, tension-filled moments? Instead I was rolling my eyes at the mention of the extra-special torture chamber and sewing circles.
The girly vibe was, however, most welcome during the event with Lauren and Tasha. They are apparently good friends and it was amusing to follow the genuine, relaxed banter between one another. They were also open and friendly with the mostly female audience. They claimed their exuberance could be partly attributed to their having spent the entire afternoon gabbing in the hotel restaurant and ordering Diet Coke after Diet Coke after Diet Coke. And as normal, meeting the author helped me better understand their book.
If you aren't a genre purist, you might like this mesh of historical fiction, romance, and chick lit. With the right mindset, it could be fun. There is much swooning over the dreamy male spy, plus a couple steamy scenes. It just didn't work for me.
If I am going to be honest, it came down to the following: I already had plans to attend an event with author, Tasha Alexander. As the date approached, I learned the event would also feature Lauren Willig and wanted to try her book as well.
Oh well, I read it. And as you have likely deduced, I didn’t care for it. The fundamentals of the plot were good: spies running around 19th century Paris. Where it went wrong for me was the tone. I prefer my historical fiction novels to take themselves somewhat seriously. This book, however, had the flippancy of modern day chick lit. Occasional pouts of levity might have been fine. Yet Lauren never varied the tone and it felt incompatible with the action at times. For example, when Amy’s love interest, Richard is captured and taken to the police headquarters to be tortured, Amy rushes to his aide and you run into lines such as,
Take him to the extra-special interrogation chamber!
and
[Richard] was beginning to feel uncomfortably peripheral to his own rescue…Hell, he’d never be able to show his face in male company again. He might as well resign his membership in his clubs and join a sewing circle.
I’m sorry, but shouldn’t these be serious, tension-filled moments? Instead I was rolling my eyes at the mention of the extra-special torture chamber and sewing circles.
The girly vibe was, however, most welcome during the event with Lauren and Tasha. They are apparently good friends and it was amusing to follow the genuine, relaxed banter between one another. They were also open and friendly with the mostly female audience. They claimed their exuberance could be partly attributed to their having spent the entire afternoon gabbing in the hotel restaurant and ordering Diet Coke after Diet Coke after Diet Coke. And as normal, meeting the author helped me better understand their book.
If you aren't a genre purist, you might like this mesh of historical fiction, romance, and chick lit. With the right mindset, it could be fun. There is much swooning over the dreamy male spy, plus a couple steamy scenes. It just didn't work for me.
January 14, 2011
This is what I get for being lulled into a false sense of security by a nice cover and an interesting premise. This book promised to be a historical fiction with a bit of mystery thrown in. Instead, it turned out to be a banal bodice-ripping generically bad Regency romance novel.
I could deal with the fact that the “modern” parts of the book were completely unnecessary. I could even deal with the fact that the way people spoke/acted in the 19th century parts and the modern parts were exactly the same (i.e., wildly anachronistic for the Regency parts). I could even deal with the fact that it was impossible to tell how much modern-day scholar Eloise knew of the story the reader learned, considering many of the details would NOT find their way into the diaries/letters that she was supposedly reading (and why oh why did Willig just not do the 19th century bits in letter/diary form?). I could deal with all these things IF the writing, characters, and plot were any good. Unfortunately, those three things were so horribly done that the previous details I mentioned only added insult to injury.
First of all, the two main heroines (present day Eloise and Regency Amy) were Chaotic Stupid. When the main trait of your characters is Too Stupid To Live you know there is something wrong. The love interest, Lord Richard, besides having a lame secret identity name (the Purple Gentian...yeah, I know) was also dumb beyond belief. And this was the man who apparently outwitted the French Secret Service for years. Either the French Secret Service is even more incompetent than the average villainous mook, or Lord Richard survived on sheer luck.
Why do I hate this book? Let me count the ways: Everyone acts like a 12 year old, and not a particularly bright 12 year old. There is so much stomping, foot stamping and door slamming that I almost wanted to keep count to see how many times Willig managed to fit it in. And these are supposed to be grown adults. And they do dumbass things, like Lord Richard and Amy both ending up in the bad guy's room for secret spy reasons and instead of being quiet and stealthy and getting in and out fast...they make out on the bed and then stand around shouting at each other until the bad guy and his guards surround them. SERIOUSLY, HOW IS LORD RICHARD STILL ALIVE?!?!? Especially given the fact that he mostly spends the book whining, leering at the heroine, not being particularly stealthy, allowing himself to be tailed without ever figuring it out, and having the heroine, her cousin and her governess figure out his true identity in about a week. HOW HAS NO ONE ELSE BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE IT OUT THEN?!?!? Truly, I think in this parallel timeline where the Scarlet Pimpernel was a real person, a dreaded Stupidity Epidemic swept through France and Britain, rendering both the Continent and the Isles thick as concrete.
Amy was perhaps one of the most annoying heroines I've ever had the misfortune to encounter. She is the main culprit of the stomping, juvenile behavior. She actually has an argument with Lord Richard that devolves into "I'm not speaking to you!" "How mature!" "Shut up!" "You just spoke to me!" "That doesn't count!" thing I did with my brothers when I was about 8. Plus, she made a point to get a job tutoring Napoleon's stepdaughter in English so she could have an in with the government...and then the entire subplot was dropped as we never saw the stepdaughter again or heard anything of any tutoring. AND she was one of those heroines who despite being a privileged, sheltered girl has no concern for propriety at all and seems to willfully try to ruin her reputation every opportunity she gets, despite the fact that at the time a ruined reputation was actually A Serious Business that could shame not only her but ALSO her family (including her cousins). I mean, this girl nearly loses her virginity on a BOAT with a poor hired guy ROWING HER AND HER PARAMOUR on the Seine. Sex in public with a witness! Does the girl have no shame? You don't think she'd feel at all awkward by the fact that, you know, someone WAS WATCHING HER? I know it's hard to think logically when you're in the middle of getting hot and heavy with a guy you like, but at the very least it should've given her a moment of pause. But, no, it barely registers. Not to mention the scene where her governess upbraids Napoleon as if he's a naughty child and isn't even thrown in jail for what would've been considered treason. The only person who showed ANY intelligence at all was cousin Jane. Basically she was the only one that ever figured anything out without having it dropped in her lap and she used the common sense that God gave her instead of acting like a spoiled, selfish brat.
You'd think that an author who was getting a PhD in history at Harvard could write a decent historical novel. You'd be wrong. This is the epitome of bad writing, idiotic characters, plot contrivances, and no apparent historical research.
I could deal with the fact that the “modern” parts of the book were completely unnecessary. I could even deal with the fact that the way people spoke/acted in the 19th century parts and the modern parts were exactly the same (i.e., wildly anachronistic for the Regency parts). I could even deal with the fact that it was impossible to tell how much modern-day scholar Eloise knew of the story the reader learned, considering many of the details would NOT find their way into the diaries/letters that she was supposedly reading (and why oh why did Willig just not do the 19th century bits in letter/diary form?). I could deal with all these things IF the writing, characters, and plot were any good. Unfortunately, those three things were so horribly done that the previous details I mentioned only added insult to injury.
First of all, the two main heroines (present day Eloise and Regency Amy) were Chaotic Stupid. When the main trait of your characters is Too Stupid To Live you know there is something wrong. The love interest, Lord Richard, besides having a lame secret identity name (the Purple Gentian...yeah, I know) was also dumb beyond belief. And this was the man who apparently outwitted the French Secret Service for years. Either the French Secret Service is even more incompetent than the average villainous mook, or Lord Richard survived on sheer luck.
Why do I hate this book? Let me count the ways: Everyone acts like a 12 year old, and not a particularly bright 12 year old. There is so much stomping, foot stamping and door slamming that I almost wanted to keep count to see how many times Willig managed to fit it in. And these are supposed to be grown adults. And they do dumbass things, like Lord Richard and Amy both ending up in the bad guy's room for secret spy reasons and instead of being quiet and stealthy and getting in and out fast...they make out on the bed and then stand around shouting at each other until the bad guy and his guards surround them. SERIOUSLY, HOW IS LORD RICHARD STILL ALIVE?!?!? Especially given the fact that he mostly spends the book whining, leering at the heroine, not being particularly stealthy, allowing himself to be tailed without ever figuring it out, and having the heroine, her cousin and her governess figure out his true identity in about a week. HOW HAS NO ONE ELSE BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE IT OUT THEN?!?!? Truly, I think in this parallel timeline where the Scarlet Pimpernel was a real person, a dreaded Stupidity Epidemic swept through France and Britain, rendering both the Continent and the Isles thick as concrete.
Amy was perhaps one of the most annoying heroines I've ever had the misfortune to encounter. She is the main culprit of the stomping, juvenile behavior. She actually has an argument with Lord Richard that devolves into "I'm not speaking to you!" "How mature!" "Shut up!" "You just spoke to me!" "That doesn't count!" thing I did with my brothers when I was about 8. Plus, she made a point to get a job tutoring Napoleon's stepdaughter in English so she could have an in with the government...and then the entire subplot was dropped as we never saw the stepdaughter again or heard anything of any tutoring. AND she was one of those heroines who despite being a privileged, sheltered girl has no concern for propriety at all and seems to willfully try to ruin her reputation every opportunity she gets, despite the fact that at the time a ruined reputation was actually A Serious Business that could shame not only her but ALSO her family (including her cousins). I mean, this girl nearly loses her virginity on a BOAT with a poor hired guy ROWING HER AND HER PARAMOUR on the Seine. Sex in public with a witness! Does the girl have no shame? You don't think she'd feel at all awkward by the fact that, you know, someone WAS WATCHING HER? I know it's hard to think logically when you're in the middle of getting hot and heavy with a guy you like, but at the very least it should've given her a moment of pause. But, no, it barely registers. Not to mention the scene where her governess upbraids Napoleon as if he's a naughty child and isn't even thrown in jail for what would've been considered treason. The only person who showed ANY intelligence at all was cousin Jane. Basically she was the only one that ever figured anything out without having it dropped in her lap and she used the common sense that God gave her instead of acting like a spoiled, selfish brat.
You'd think that an author who was getting a PhD in history at Harvard could write a decent historical novel. You'd be wrong. This is the epitome of bad writing, idiotic characters, plot contrivances, and no apparent historical research.
August 23, 2007
I would rather like my two hours back that I spent on this book. It's not that it was bad, rather, it had an intriguing premise, but the past/future aspects were poorly merged, the part of the story set in present day was absolutely unsatisfying and the Georgian smut felt out of place, perhaps because of the highly formal nature she tried to give the characters.
The lesson to be learned there is you can't do Pride and Prejudice with an R rating.
The lesson to be learned there is you can't do Pride and Prejudice with an R rating.
August 8, 2010
Okay, this book started out so cute! It's a great mix of historical fiction (granted with several liberties taken), chick lit, and a cute little Superman/Lois Lane man-in-a-mask love story. It was just a fun read. Until the sex scene... So I don't recommend it. In hind sight, although it was cute, it also was very shallow to begin with.
I HATE it when fun books turn out to be dirty when you're already half way through. Does anyone know if there's a website out there that gives tv/movie type ratings for books? That's always been my biggest trepidation with reading is stumbling across foul language, violence and pornographic material. For me reading is sometimes way more graphic than seeing something in a movie. If there isn't a website like that out there, would you check a monitoring system like that before you read a book?
I HATE it when fun books turn out to be dirty when you're already half way through. Does anyone know if there's a website out there that gives tv/movie type ratings for books? That's always been my biggest trepidation with reading is stumbling across foul language, violence and pornographic material. For me reading is sometimes way more graphic than seeing something in a movie. If there isn't a website like that out there, would you check a monitoring system like that before you read a book?
February 8, 2012
a) Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis)
b) Pink Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus)
a) Purple Gentian (Gentiana verna)
d) Pink Champagne! ☺
a)
b) [image error]
c)
d)[image error]
★★★★✩ This is a review of the audiobook, narrated by Kate Reading, who did a wonderful job on this charming intro to the Pink Carnation series. I cannot recall hearing her before; but, luckily she reads the rest of the audio series as well, so I certainly look forward to listening to her.
I guess you could call this one an “historical chick-lit” with two stories running throughout. I didn’t really mind being pulled back to Eloise’s story in the present day, as I quite liked it. She’s a recently cheated-on doctoral student writing a dissertation on spies of the French Revolution. Did I say I didn’t mind the interruption to present day? That is, until, I was about half-way done! By then I hated being yanked back to the 21st Century!
This is because most of the story is about the iridescent romance between Amy and Richard, set in London and France, 1803. By that point I was deep into the intrigue of the many mistaken identities of a spy with the Nom de Plume of “The Purple Gentian,” the mystery of who was going to be “The Pink Carnation,” and the witty calamity that ensues when two young people are headed irrevocably toward romance.
It was fun doing this as a “buddy read” – to see which of us got what right. No rapes or torturous angst takes place here; this one is a pure sparkling glass of pink champagne.
b) Pink Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus)
a) Purple Gentian (Gentiana verna)
d) Pink Champagne! ☺
a)
b) [image error]c)
d)[image error]★★★★✩ This is a review of the audiobook, narrated by Kate Reading, who did a wonderful job on this charming intro to the Pink Carnation series. I cannot recall hearing her before; but, luckily she reads the rest of the audio series as well, so I certainly look forward to listening to her.
I guess you could call this one an “historical chick-lit” with two stories running throughout. I didn’t really mind being pulled back to Eloise’s story in the present day, as I quite liked it. She’s a recently cheated-on doctoral student writing a dissertation on spies of the French Revolution. Did I say I didn’t mind the interruption to present day? That is, until, I was about half-way done! By then I hated being yanked back to the 21st Century!
This is because most of the story is about the iridescent romance between Amy and Richard, set in London and France, 1803. By that point I was deep into the intrigue of the many mistaken identities of a spy with the Nom de Plume of “The Purple Gentian,” the mystery of who was going to be “The Pink Carnation,” and the witty calamity that ensues when two young people are headed irrevocably toward romance.
It was fun doing this as a “buddy read” – to see which of us got what right. No rapes or torturous angst takes place here; this one is a pure sparkling glass of pink champagne.
August 3, 2008
I was bitterly disappointed in this book. Given the quality hard cover, the lovely cover art and the blurb, I was expecting something that strives to be Heyer or Austen. I would have been happy with something that fell along the lines of Tasha Alexander or Deanna Raybourne. Heck, I would counted myself lucky if the book had been vaguely reminiscent of Mary Balogh or Julia Quinn. Instead I got something that fell far short of all of those.
Instead of sparkling wit of Heyer and the mannered prose of Austen, I got a by the numbers, derivative, cliche historical romance novel that (weirdly) also wanted to be modern chick lit and a rollicking spy adventure as well.
The heroine Amy is a firm and permanent resident of the too stupid to live category.
Seriously. This girl did one dumb thing after the other. Just from the glimpse of a black cloak, she believes she has discovered the identity of the Purple Gentian (a famous spy a la the Scarlet Pimpernel). So she sends the man a note to meet her at night in a deserted park. So very smart! The fact that the real Purple Gentian happened to coincidentally have a conversation with the other man (who was a leering jerk) where he learns about the assignation, is what largely saves the stupid twit from being raped.
But Amy is not the only dull knife in the drawer. For a super spy who has eluded capture for years, Richard is also remarkably inept. First he has pretty much told his entire family his secret identity. Isn't that like rule number 1 in the spy handbook? You don't tell anyone your identity especially not your mother and your younger sister. And then there is the scene where he and Amy are in the apartment of the head of Napoleon's secret police to steal papers. Instead of getting in and getting out, they have a conversation on issues of love trust and almost end up making love right then and there. Sigh. There are not words enough...
And there were many more moments where I just rolled my eyes so hard.
There was also a very modern feel to the language that struck me as out of place. While not overtly anachronistic in word usage, the tone was just off. It was too droll, too arch. I got the impression that author was doing this on purpose and trying to let us in on the joke. But imo, it failed miserably.
Also, I could pretty much predict how the H/h were going to act and react to each other. This book was just stuffed with romance novel obviousness. Not one character did anything surprising or unpredictable.
Actually, I retract that last statement a bit. This book was not a total waste. Jane, the heroine's cousin was actually an excellent character. She had all the brains, wit and composure the heroine should have had. Had Jane been the heroine of this novel and been allowed to retain her character this may have been a much different story.
And I do have to admit the book was funny in some places. Toward the end of the novel the scene where Richard's family shows up and wants to meet Amy was a entertaining.
But even with those one or two positive things, the book overall was still a big disappointment.
I can't recommend.
Instead of sparkling wit of Heyer and the mannered prose of Austen, I got a by the numbers, derivative, cliche historical romance novel that (weirdly) also wanted to be modern chick lit and a rollicking spy adventure as well.
The heroine Amy is a firm and permanent resident of the too stupid to live category.
Seriously. This girl did one dumb thing after the other. Just from the glimpse of a black cloak, she believes she has discovered the identity of the Purple Gentian (a famous spy a la the Scarlet Pimpernel). So she sends the man a note to meet her at night in a deserted park. So very smart! The fact that the real Purple Gentian happened to coincidentally have a conversation with the other man (who was a leering jerk) where he learns about the assignation, is what largely saves the stupid twit from being raped.
But Amy is not the only dull knife in the drawer. For a super spy who has eluded capture for years, Richard is also remarkably inept. First he has pretty much told his entire family his secret identity. Isn't that like rule number 1 in the spy handbook? You don't tell anyone your identity especially not your mother and your younger sister. And then there is the scene where he and Amy are in the apartment of the head of Napoleon's secret police to steal papers. Instead of getting in and getting out, they have a conversation on issues of love trust and almost end up making love right then and there. Sigh. There are not words enough...
And there were many more moments where I just rolled my eyes so hard.
There was also a very modern feel to the language that struck me as out of place. While not overtly anachronistic in word usage, the tone was just off. It was too droll, too arch. I got the impression that author was doing this on purpose and trying to let us in on the joke. But imo, it failed miserably.
Also, I could pretty much predict how the H/h were going to act and react to each other. This book was just stuffed with romance novel obviousness. Not one character did anything surprising or unpredictable.
Actually, I retract that last statement a bit. This book was not a total waste. Jane, the heroine's cousin was actually an excellent character. She had all the brains, wit and composure the heroine should have had. Had Jane been the heroine of this novel and been allowed to retain her character this may have been a much different story.
And I do have to admit the book was funny in some places. Toward the end of the novel the scene where Richard's family shows up and wants to meet Amy was a entertaining.
But even with those one or two positive things, the book overall was still a big disappointment.
I can't recommend.
January 31, 2010
This book was crap. It was just complete and total crap. The thing that made me the most angry is that at the back of the book the author has a "historical note" where she talks about this garbage in light of its place in the "historical fiction" genre. Oh. My. Gosh. THERE WAS NOTHING HISTORICAL ABOUT IT! The Scarlet Letter is historical fiction. Cold Mountain is historical fiction. This, as I have already said, is crap. Mentioning Napoleon and the year 1803 does not make a book historical fiction. It makes it a crappy romance novel that mentions Napoleon and the year 1803.
Oh, and p.s.: the Bastille was not around in 1803 (see pg. 137). It was demolished in 1789 and the stones were used to build a bridge, so a dramatic rescue of a prisoner held captive there really would not, unfortunately, have been dramatic or heroic at all. Who was this author's editor? She should get a refund.
In addition to pathetically obvious anachronisms, the book featured a weak, obnoxious, and just all-around ridiculous main character and some of the most painful situational cliches that I have come across in years, such as the manly hero being rescued by his mother, complete with the whole, "Mom! What are you doing here? This is so embarrassing!" type dialog that just makes you cringe when you read it. Oh and yes, that is how he's rescued, and no, I don't even care that I just gave away a spoiler; hopefully it will deter you from reading the book yourself.
Oh, and p.s.: the Bastille was not around in 1803 (see pg. 137). It was demolished in 1789 and the stones were used to build a bridge, so a dramatic rescue of a prisoner held captive there really would not, unfortunately, have been dramatic or heroic at all. Who was this author's editor? She should get a refund.
In addition to pathetically obvious anachronisms, the book featured a weak, obnoxious, and just all-around ridiculous main character and some of the most painful situational cliches that I have come across in years, such as the manly hero being rescued by his mother, complete with the whole, "Mom! What are you doing here? This is so embarrassing!" type dialog that just makes you cringe when you read it. Oh and yes, that is how he's rescued, and no, I don't even care that I just gave away a spoiler; hopefully it will deter you from reading the book yourself.
December 5, 2010
AMAZING.....BLOODY HILARIOUS.....SMART....WITH THE PERFECT AMOUNT OF SMUT, MAKING THIS BOOK A DEFINATE KEEPER...
I ADORED this book... The author had me sold on the rest of the series and any of her future contributions to the book addict cause, within the few pages of the prologue..
A combination of Julia Quinn's wit, and C.S. Harris and Deanna Raybourn's sleuth story talent all rolled up with what is obviously, and originally 100% Lauren Willig...
The characters we're real, perfectly flawed and relatable as well as genuinely lovable. The story was well written and fast moving. The 'who-dunnit' theme... or in this case the 'who-is it' theme managed to keep me guessing atleast till the half way point.. (Which I must add, is not often accomplished)..
It's a light hearted, fun loving, easy read with the feel of a more epic story. In other words its the perfect combination of mystery, romance, and witty dialouge for any historical romance fan who craves a little more length to their reads.
Happy Reading...
I ADORED this book... The author had me sold on the rest of the series and any of her future contributions to the book addict cause, within the few pages of the prologue..
A combination of Julia Quinn's wit, and C.S. Harris and Deanna Raybourn's sleuth story talent all rolled up with what is obviously, and originally 100% Lauren Willig...
The characters we're real, perfectly flawed and relatable as well as genuinely lovable. The story was well written and fast moving. The 'who-dunnit' theme... or in this case the 'who-is it' theme managed to keep me guessing atleast till the half way point.. (Which I must add, is not often accomplished)..
It's a light hearted, fun loving, easy read with the feel of a more epic story. In other words its the perfect combination of mystery, romance, and witty dialouge for any historical romance fan who craves a little more length to their reads.
Happy Reading...
July 12, 2012
Where I got the book: bought retail (yes! full price!) from my local indie bookstore at an author event.
The plot: it's 1803 and Amy, who grew up dreaming of joining the Scarlet Pimpernel's league of daring rescuers, is on her way to France to join her brother. The Scarlet Pimpernel has retired, and now the Purple Gentian stands between England and the machinations of Napoleon, so naturally Amy wants to be on his team. She must not allow herself to be distracted by handsome Lord Richard Selwick...meanwhile, in the present day, graduate student Eloise is trying to solve the mystery of the identity of the Pink Carnation, and must not allow herself to be distracted by handsome Colin Selwick...
Can a novel with as much gravitas as a herd of My Little Ponys gamboling amid clouds of pink cotton candy really be classified as historical fiction? I'm not saying that the settings aren't accurate enough and I couldn't catch Ms Willig out in any particular, but the tendency of the 1803 characters to lapse into decidedly 21st century speech with a chick lit flavor (and display some very un-1803 attitudes to sex and marriage) ensured I was kept well aware that this was pure historical-ish fantasy. And great fun at that, strangely enough, even though I had to work hard to keep from getting steamed up about the adverbs. Oh, the adverbs. Characters speak thrillingly, knowingly, bluntly, dourly...you get the picture. And if I had a penny for every clichéd phrase...this is definitely a young author's first go. And then there are the sex scenes (well, one and a half); oh gosh, words fail me.
And darn it, somehow it works. Even the modern-day interjections, which are obviously intended to provide a framework for future books. As long as you're looking for a beach read, go ahead and enjoy; this is the historical fiction equivalent of a very fruity drink with an umbrella in it, and sometimes that just hits the spot. I won't say I loved this book, but it fit nicely into those moments when I wanted to read but was too tired to tax my brain with actual thought. So it gets 3 points for overall quality and about .7 for sheer bloody nerve.
The plot: it's 1803 and Amy, who grew up dreaming of joining the Scarlet Pimpernel's league of daring rescuers, is on her way to France to join her brother. The Scarlet Pimpernel has retired, and now the Purple Gentian stands between England and the machinations of Napoleon, so naturally Amy wants to be on his team. She must not allow herself to be distracted by handsome Lord Richard Selwick...meanwhile, in the present day, graduate student Eloise is trying to solve the mystery of the identity of the Pink Carnation, and must not allow herself to be distracted by handsome Colin Selwick...
Can a novel with as much gravitas as a herd of My Little Ponys gamboling amid clouds of pink cotton candy really be classified as historical fiction? I'm not saying that the settings aren't accurate enough and I couldn't catch Ms Willig out in any particular, but the tendency of the 1803 characters to lapse into decidedly 21st century speech with a chick lit flavor (and display some very un-1803 attitudes to sex and marriage) ensured I was kept well aware that this was pure historical-ish fantasy. And great fun at that, strangely enough, even though I had to work hard to keep from getting steamed up about the adverbs. Oh, the adverbs. Characters speak thrillingly, knowingly, bluntly, dourly...you get the picture. And if I had a penny for every clichéd phrase...this is definitely a young author's first go. And then there are the sex scenes (well, one and a half); oh gosh, words fail me.
And darn it, somehow it works. Even the modern-day interjections, which are obviously intended to provide a framework for future books. As long as you're looking for a beach read, go ahead and enjoy; this is the historical fiction equivalent of a very fruity drink with an umbrella in it, and sometimes that just hits the spot. I won't say I loved this book, but it fit nicely into those moments when I wanted to read but was too tired to tax my brain with actual thought. So it gets 3 points for overall quality and about .7 for sheer bloody nerve.
March 2, 2017
If you go into this expecting historical fiction with Napoleonic spy action, you’re likely to be disappointed. I was expecting more of a historical mystery / spy adventure, but soon caught on and was able to adjust and enjoy it for what it is. And what it is, is a fairly typical fluffy Regency Romance, except that it’s set in the French court and does have a dose of spies to make it more interesting. Confirming its status as a Romance series is the fact that the main characters change in each book.
It's also very light on historical accuracy, but that didn't stop me from having fun reading it. It's purposely silly and far-fetched, and I do enjoy silly. So instead of being horrified at the liberties taken with the time period, I found it mostly fun.
There were times when I found it a bit long-winded, though. And I still could have done with less of the romance, especially the sex scenes. I always feel that those scenes are out of place in a Regency novel - they drag something too modern into the historical setting.
There’s also a second story-line set in the present day about a woman who is researching the Pink Carnation for her dissertation. It looks like it will span the sequels as she discovers more about the past. It also looks like there will be a romance in her future. I thought the framing story was OK, but could have done without it. It made the book longer, and I'm not sure I liked being pulled out of the other story for this one. But I think it might grow on me as the series progresses. We’ll see.
I do intend to continue reading when I’m in the mood for something silly, light and fluffy, with a bit of derring-do in the court of Napoleon.
It's also very light on historical accuracy, but that didn't stop me from having fun reading it. It's purposely silly and far-fetched, and I do enjoy silly. So instead of being horrified at the liberties taken with the time period, I found it mostly fun.
There were times when I found it a bit long-winded, though. And I still could have done with less of the romance, especially the sex scenes. I always feel that those scenes are out of place in a Regency novel - they drag something too modern into the historical setting.
There’s also a second story-line set in the present day about a woman who is researching the Pink Carnation for her dissertation. It looks like it will span the sequels as she discovers more about the past. It also looks like there will be a romance in her future. I thought the framing story was OK, but could have done without it. It made the book longer, and I'm not sure I liked being pulled out of the other story for this one. But I think it might grow on me as the series progresses. We’ll see.
I do intend to continue reading when I’m in the mood for something silly, light and fluffy, with a bit of derring-do in the court of Napoleon.
March 6, 2017
Don't be fooled by the cover: this book is a romance novel pretending to be historical fiction. I was completely shocked when the first sex scene started (in a small boat on a river which was currently being rowed by someone else! I kept thinking I had missed something and the rower had left the boat, but no). Along with the requisite sex, there are also the requisite shallow protagonists. I kept thinking there must be more to the characters (because I was duped by the cover!), but they really are cookie-cutter romance heroes. I was also bothered by the way the author physically describes women - it came across as such a masculine point of view, and that surprised me from a female author. I think the idea of this book is fun, and I've read that the next one is better than this, so I may give it a try (with plenty of skipping). Willig isn't necessarily a bad writer, and she's obviously smart, but she wants to remind us of that on every page (I was instantly annoyed that her bio mentioned that she was only 26 when she wrote the novel, and that she's going to law school and getting a Ph.D. at the same time. At Harvard.), and she also finds herself very clever, in the sort of "all my girlfriends think I'm so funny and catty when we get together on Thursday nights for tapas and wine" kind of way. Personally, I found the book unbelievably self-aware and self-congratulating, but maybe I wouldn't have if I hadn't read the author bio first. The identity of the Pink Carnation was in no way surprising, too.
January 15, 2024
DNF @ 47%
Dang, two DNFs in one day (the other was The Sun and the Void)! I got 200 pages in to this and realized I felt like I was just wasting my own time, so I stopped.
This is a book that ten years ago—so a LOT closer to when I actually bought it—I would have probably given it four stars and then read at least the next two books in the series. Instead, I waited a ridiculously long time (this is now one of the top five books I've owned the longest without reading, and it will stay that way, for I shall not own it much longer) and as a result, this is a book that is no longer doing it for me. There are too many other better books I could be spending time on, and the whole time I was reading this I was acutely aware of that. It felt very good to just put it down and know that I didn't have to pick it back up again. Oh my God, why didn't I start DNFing sooner in my life. I'm still going to rate and review, however, because I got halfway in (and peeked at the ending), so I know what I'm missing, basically.
So this is a book that is two books in one. The frame story follows Eloise, an American academic in London for a year, doing research on the identity of the Pink Carnation, a spy from the Napoleonic era whose secret identity was never revealed (they were in league with the Scarlet Pimpernel and the Purple Gentian, all made up figures, though the SP was made up by a different author a hundred plus years ago now). Anyway, our author is a fan of those adventure stories and decided to add her own voice to the canon. The problem with the frame story is that it's frivolous and pointless. Eloise finds the path to the identity of the Pink Carnation absurdly easily, and then spends most of the rest of the time reading letters (that we never see) and bickering annoyingly with her love interest. This part of the book should have been cut out entirely if it wasn't going to actually do anything of note.
The second and most substantial part of the book follows Amy Balcourt, a half-French, half-English young lady who is also obsessed with finding out the identity of the Purple Gentian, but so she can join him in being a spy. We also follow the PG himself. They meet very quickly on a boat and it all just felt so like, come on, get to the good stuff. Well, the good stuff also turned out not to be very interesting to me, so I stopped reading. It's clear that the author knows a lot about this time period, but the story she was telling in it just did almost nothing for me. If I would have kept going, this would at best have been a three-star read, and that's nobody's ideal reading experience.
Again, all of this in a time when I was a less critical reader, and I had read less and knew less about history, and cared less about historical verisimilitude and authorial style, all of this would have gone over pretty well with past me. But I am now me, and now me is a bit of a cow about all that stuff. I shall throw a little funeral for the alternate universe that I don't get to experience where I read and enjoyed this, and could have the memories of doing that, but we live in this universe and I shall be moving on with my life.
[2.5 stars, rounding up to 3 because I'M NICE]
Dang, two DNFs in one day (the other was The Sun and the Void)! I got 200 pages in to this and realized I felt like I was just wasting my own time, so I stopped.
This is a book that ten years ago—so a LOT closer to when I actually bought it—I would have probably given it four stars and then read at least the next two books in the series. Instead, I waited a ridiculously long time (this is now one of the top five books I've owned the longest without reading, and it will stay that way, for I shall not own it much longer) and as a result, this is a book that is no longer doing it for me. There are too many other better books I could be spending time on, and the whole time I was reading this I was acutely aware of that. It felt very good to just put it down and know that I didn't have to pick it back up again. Oh my God, why didn't I start DNFing sooner in my life. I'm still going to rate and review, however, because I got halfway in (and peeked at the ending), so I know what I'm missing, basically.
So this is a book that is two books in one. The frame story follows Eloise, an American academic in London for a year, doing research on the identity of the Pink Carnation, a spy from the Napoleonic era whose secret identity was never revealed (they were in league with the Scarlet Pimpernel and the Purple Gentian, all made up figures, though the SP was made up by a different author a hundred plus years ago now). Anyway, our author is a fan of those adventure stories and decided to add her own voice to the canon. The problem with the frame story is that it's frivolous and pointless. Eloise finds the path to the identity of the Pink Carnation absurdly easily, and then spends most of the rest of the time reading letters (that we never see) and bickering annoyingly with her love interest. This part of the book should have been cut out entirely if it wasn't going to actually do anything of note.
The second and most substantial part of the book follows Amy Balcourt, a half-French, half-English young lady who is also obsessed with finding out the identity of the Purple Gentian, but so she can join him in being a spy. We also follow the PG himself. They meet very quickly on a boat and it all just felt so like, come on, get to the good stuff. Well, the good stuff also turned out not to be very interesting to me, so I stopped reading. It's clear that the author knows a lot about this time period, but the story she was telling in it just did almost nothing for me. If I would have kept going, this would at best have been a three-star read, and that's nobody's ideal reading experience.
Again, all of this in a time when I was a less critical reader, and I had read less and knew less about history, and cared less about historical verisimilitude and authorial style, all of this would have gone over pretty well with past me. But I am now me, and now me is a bit of a cow about all that stuff. I shall throw a little funeral for the alternate universe that I don't get to experience where I read and enjoyed this, and could have the memories of doing that, but we live in this universe and I shall be moving on with my life.
[2.5 stars, rounding up to 3 because I'M NICE]
January 17, 2008
I really enjoyed this book. It was humorous and cute. This book follows Amy, a wannabe spy adventurer, who tries to join The Purple Gentian's spy network against France shortly after the French Revolution. Of course nothing goes smoothly for the slightly dizzy heroine. The author combines historical fiction with fun chick lit, mostly focusing on Amy's romance with the Purple Gentian. I like both types of work so I enjoyed the combination.
I read some reviews of this book on Amazon and found people either really liked it or absolutely hated it. Some comments I thought went way overboard included, "Jane Austen would scream, you'd have to be braindead to like this, when I think of this book I throw up a little in my mouth, and my favorite, "chick lit reflects poorly on women's literature, why isn't poorly written books written by men called dude's lit." Of course I had to reply back to some of these reviews with my own comments... like lighten up.
When I think about books, there are two main categories I divide them up in: deep, soulful books usually filled with symbolism and themes and then there's escapism books. Now I am not going to lie, when it comes to the first category I don't always "get" the message of the book. I am disappointed after I read 400 pages of fancy, convoluted sentences that I can't relate to. But a lot of that is a reflection on me as a reader, not necessaily a reflection on the author. I tend to like stories focused on great characters, interesting plots, and unusual places or time periods, like "The History of the Pink Carnation".
Pink Carnation is meant to be a light, fun book. If you don't expect Jane Austen or a historical book full of facts and dates, then I don't think you'll be disappointed. The book isn't perfect, even I noticed a few things that didn't make sense, i.e. when the true identity of the Purple Gentian is discovered and his family helps him escape, don't they all need to get the heck out of France. Also, I think it would have been funnier if the chaperone with the parasol could be the Pink Carnation.
I read some reviews of this book on Amazon and found people either really liked it or absolutely hated it. Some comments I thought went way overboard included, "Jane Austen would scream, you'd have to be braindead to like this, when I think of this book I throw up a little in my mouth, and my favorite, "chick lit reflects poorly on women's literature, why isn't poorly written books written by men called dude's lit." Of course I had to reply back to some of these reviews with my own comments... like lighten up.
When I think about books, there are two main categories I divide them up in: deep, soulful books usually filled with symbolism and themes and then there's escapism books. Now I am not going to lie, when it comes to the first category I don't always "get" the message of the book. I am disappointed after I read 400 pages of fancy, convoluted sentences that I can't relate to. But a lot of that is a reflection on me as a reader, not necessaily a reflection on the author. I tend to like stories focused on great characters, interesting plots, and unusual places or time periods, like "The History of the Pink Carnation".
Pink Carnation is meant to be a light, fun book. If you don't expect Jane Austen or a historical book full of facts and dates, then I don't think you'll be disappointed. The book isn't perfect, even I noticed a few things that didn't make sense, i.e. when the true identity of the Purple Gentian is discovered and his family helps him escape, don't they all need to get the heck out of France. Also, I think it would have been funnier if the chaperone with the parasol could be the Pink Carnation.
February 14, 2022
Cait suggested rereading these maybe and it was a GREAT idea, because it was exactly the level of engagement my brain wanted. This book has always been a hard one to evaluate for me because it's the book where Willig thought she was writing a historical romance vs what she was actually writing, which was basically women's historical fiction. You particularly see that on the back half of the novel, imo, which is where the book falls apart a bit for me--I had been reading along thinking I am usually much too hard on this book, why does it only have three stars, and then as I was wrapping up I remembered why. Still, it's such a promising start to the series and the next book is my very, VERY favorite, and I didn't expect to be doing a mass pink reread in the year of our lord 2022, but I'm definitely not mad that it is happening.
June 12, 2016
This was a fun, very light hearted and not at all serious read. It's full of ridiculous and ludicrous situations and happenings. If you know that and are in the mood for it, you should enjoy it.
There were parts I really enjoyed and also times where I found myself bored. I did however like the way the book ended with Eloise and Colin. Definitely bodes for another adventure. I also like the way the girl in modern day is reading the story of the past which you as the reader delve into. The concept is fun.
There were parts I really enjoyed and also times where I found myself bored. I did however like the way the book ended with Eloise and Colin. Definitely bodes for another adventure. I also like the way the girl in modern day is reading the story of the past which you as the reader delve into. The concept is fun.
October 10, 2008
This book is hard to categorize, but it's a lot of fun. Eloise Kelly is a klutzy, directionally challenged graduate student in history (not like anybody I know) who is trying to discover the identity of the Pink Carnation, a spy in the mode of the Scarlet Pimpernel. The key, she believes, may lie in Selwick Hall, the estate of another aristocratic spy, the Purple Gentian, aka Richard Selwick. When Mrs. Selwick-Alderly grants her access to a box full of family papers, letters and journals dating from the early 19th century, Eloise discovers the feisty and romantic Amy Balcourt, a wannabe spy in Napoleonic France. Will Amy live out her dream of joining the League of the Purple Gentian? Will Eloise discover the identity of the Pink Carnation? Is there romantic as well as professional fulfillment for either young woman? Clearly you'll have to read the novel to see.
This book combines multiple genres, including historical romance, chick lit, and swashbuckler, with wildly entertaining if somewhat unbalanced results. Amy's story is the one which receives the full treatment here; to find out what happens to Eloise, I suspect we may need to read the other books in the series (I believe there may be three or four). I was a bit surprised, given that Eloise learned Amy's story through letters---there is the mention of a couple diaries as well---that this section of the novel was written as a straight third person narrative, and not in epistolary fashion. It strained my credibility a bit, as did the omniscient narrator, who often gave us Amy and Richard Selwick's perspectives on events at the same time. There were a few times when the dialogue felt a bit anachronistic, though this may have been done for humorous effect and was not overly distracting. Overall, though, this book took me back to the days of my misspent youth, when I loved historical fiction, Zorro, and movies starring Errol Flynn. I love that you can tell that characters like each other because of how rude they are when they first meet, and I love that Willig has peopled Napoleonic France with a plethora of dashing, florally named spies. I particularly love that Eloise has chosen her dissertation topic because of a romantic fascination with men with masks. We historians can be like that sometimes (shhh, don't tell!).
This book combines multiple genres, including historical romance, chick lit, and swashbuckler, with wildly entertaining if somewhat unbalanced results. Amy's story is the one which receives the full treatment here; to find out what happens to Eloise, I suspect we may need to read the other books in the series (I believe there may be three or four). I was a bit surprised, given that Eloise learned Amy's story through letters---there is the mention of a couple diaries as well---that this section of the novel was written as a straight third person narrative, and not in epistolary fashion. It strained my credibility a bit, as did the omniscient narrator, who often gave us Amy and Richard Selwick's perspectives on events at the same time. There were a few times when the dialogue felt a bit anachronistic, though this may have been done for humorous effect and was not overly distracting. Overall, though, this book took me back to the days of my misspent youth, when I loved historical fiction, Zorro, and movies starring Errol Flynn. I love that you can tell that characters like each other because of how rude they are when they first meet, and I love that Willig has peopled Napoleonic France with a plethora of dashing, florally named spies. I particularly love that Eloise has chosen her dissertation topic because of a romantic fascination with men with masks. We historians can be like that sometimes (shhh, don't tell!).
November 30, 2025
This book was a lot of fun to read— just what a summer read should be. Spies in Napoleon’s court, masked heroes and mix ups galore. Plus a cast of supporting characters worthy of a second look in the next installment.
(Reviewed 7/10/18)
(Reviewed 7/10/18)
April 15, 2015
Bored, bored, bored!
25%
25%
April 16, 2010
If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck it must be a duck, right? Right? Guess again, pal, because this book is no duck. It’s more like a jackelope.
Just take a look at how people have this thing shelved, I dare you. Is it historical fiction? Is it chick lit? Is it a romance novel? Is it a mystery? What is it really? It made me ask myself, “Can a book like this actually exist in the wilds of its reader’s imaginations or is it so mythically unbelievable that it better watch itself for the risk of being stuffed and mounted on the wall of some tourist trap in Texas?” Hmm.
So anyway, despite the unusually modern tone of the characters’ dialogue and the complete and utter transparency of the “mystery”, I liked it. Not immediately, granted, because I found Eloise and Colin, the present day characters, annoying and I didn’t like the switching back and forth between present-day London and post-Revolutionary France. But then the historical bits began growing on me chapter by chapter and as soon as the Purple Gentian kissed Amy on the window seat, I was enthralled and tore threw the rest of the novel as quickly as real life allowed.
You may also like this book if…
…you consider back and forth banter between the hero and heroine foreplay.
…you like sex… ...and don’t mind reading about it.
…you’ve ever fantasized about doing it with a masked man whose identity you weren’t too clear on. ;)
Beginning: 2 stars
Middle: 4 stars
End: 3 stars
Average: 3 stars.
Would I read the next? Yes.
Just take a look at how people have this thing shelved, I dare you. Is it historical fiction? Is it chick lit? Is it a romance novel? Is it a mystery? What is it really? It made me ask myself, “Can a book like this actually exist in the wilds of its reader’s imaginations or is it so mythically unbelievable that it better watch itself for the risk of being stuffed and mounted on the wall of some tourist trap in Texas?” Hmm.
So anyway, despite the unusually modern tone of the characters’ dialogue and the complete and utter transparency of the “mystery”, I liked it. Not immediately, granted, because I found Eloise and Colin, the present day characters, annoying and I didn’t like the switching back and forth between present-day London and post-Revolutionary France. But then the historical bits began growing on me chapter by chapter and as soon as the Purple Gentian kissed Amy on the window seat, I was enthralled and tore threw the rest of the novel as quickly as real life allowed.
You may also like this book if…
…you consider back and forth banter between the hero and heroine foreplay.
…you like sex… ...and don’t mind reading about it.
…you’ve ever fantasized about doing it with a masked man whose identity you weren’t too clear on. ;)
Beginning: 2 stars
Middle: 4 stars
End: 3 stars
Average: 3 stars.
Would I read the next? Yes.
January 9, 2020
Good story
As most people know, I'm not a big historical fan but I did enjoy this book. I may continue with the voters in this series to find out what else happens.
As most people know, I'm not a big historical fan but I did enjoy this book. I may continue with the voters in this series to find out what else happens.
August 9, 2015
Choosing a light read is a tricky business. It's like icing on a cake - too little, and all you have is cake; too much, and you're overwhelmed with fluff and sugar. I picked up this book because I wanted to read something with no murders in it, and besides, Napoleonic spy capers with women! Fun stuff! Surely this was the right amount of icing. I was even willing to overlook the fact that the contemporary heroine, Eloise, was the type that knew what brand her boots were and just had to mention it. I was willing to award this book ALL the breaks, just because I wanted something that would not rip my heart out.
Sadly, as other readers have noticed, there's very little capering in this book. Minimal caper. It's a Regency romance novel, interspersed with a few chapters of a contemporary researcher, who, in spite of being a PhD student smart enough to con a committee into sending her overseas, is the kind of person who will, after a man is rude to her once, be repeatedly rude back, even in the face of his preternatural patience. Have I mentioned this is someone who has something she wants? He is! She will also hate women who are more polished than she is and embarrass herself through repeated clumsiness. In short, she's a familiar romantic comedy type, but I'd have to seriously question Harvard's admission process if she existed in real life.
If it sounds as if I thought the contemporary pieces were the worst part of this book, oh, think again. They were actually a bit of a relief, although both storylines featured proportionately equal amounts of "endearing" clumsiness. I kind of wish I'd done a word count for "ouch," "urgh," and "ow." They were numerous. The historical parts were MUCH worse. My poor husband, reading in the same room with me, was subjected to a lot of moans and groans on my part, sarcastic commentary such as "oh, good, he has piercing green eyes, I was worried he wouldn't," and the moment when I said "no, wrong. WRONG!" That, I'm pretty sure, was when Amy, the nauseating heroine of the historical bits, hears the Purple Gentian reference something she has only told to his alter ego, Richard, and decides that it MUST mean that he's her true love, fated to be with her. Not that he actually is Richard. This was, however, also the scene where I discovered my new favorite line in literature, "the moist thrust of the Purple Gentian's tongue." There was so much bosom-heaving and ass-checking-out that I was rooting really hard for the leads to just do it already so the rest of us could be spared them lusting after each other. Since clearly the author wasn't going to do us all a favor and kill them off, the least she could do was make them stop gazing for a hot second. There were secondary characters I DIDN'T totally hate, but the leads I did. I was very sorry we had to read about them the whole damn time.
The writing was, oh, how do I put this? Bad. The writing was bad. I feel a little harsh saying this, because clearly this author was enjoying herself as she wrote. She liked her characters and I'm sure was chuckling as she wrote some of the lines I found so vomit-worthy. But the writing was really bad. The dialogue in the historical pieces would throw in some era-appropriate terms, but otherwise they talked like the contemporary characters (I can't say they talked or acted like real people at either end). They said "um" a lot. Sometimes when they were speaking French, which I happen to know isn't something you SAY in French (3 semesters of college French speaking, here, she says, buffing nails on shirt).
Why, then, is this book two stars rather than one? Mostly because the packaging is so misleading. It seems unfair to rate the book on what it's being billed as, rather than what it is. If it had been billed as a Regency romance I would never have read it in the first place, but at least I would have known more or less what to expect. But since I DID get conned into reading a Regency romance, it did give me an opportunity to have a think about the genre. Its existence implies that there are in the world women (definitely a genre aimed at women) who get all hot and bothered at the idea of being bossed around and scolded. Women who think it would be sexy as hell to have a guy with piercing eyes (always piercing eyes, or a piercing gaze if you're fancy/a better writer) and a "face like a thunderstorm" demand "what were you thinking, you little fool? Don't you know you could have been hurt?" before sweeping her into his arms and asking brokenly (usually brokenly, sometimes softly or "with sudden and unexpected tenderness") "Don't you know what it would do to me if something happened to you?" Followed, natch, by the passionate kiss as he gives in to his feelings.
Thinking about this stuff now, I am actually really intrigued. I have to admit this does nothing for me - I'm not into being patronized or having my intellect called into question, although I'm also not impetuous and nor do I bounce with frustration so maybe I'm not really a heroine either - but ARE there people who really find this hot escapism? Is being scolded a minor subset of BDSM culture? I WANT TO KNOW! Because I'm so confused by this idea! I can kind of get the idea of fantasizing about being a damsel in distress - because I think most people like the idea of being valued so much by someone who would drop everything to come save you if you needed it. Who doesn't want a guy who has your back? But a guy who saves you and then yells at you about it? Is this really what does it for some people? I AM SO CURIOUS.
Anyway, there's a whole series of these books, so clearly the author got in some more practice and may have improved since then. The book was kind of fun to read, in the spirit of Mystery Science Theater 3000, and if you're into heaving bosoms and male assholes who can't stop staring at your heaving bosoms because they're so in lust/love with you and female assholes who yell at you for maybe making fun of them that one time, well! I have a book for you! But it also contains the phrase "the moist thrust of the Purple Gentian's tongue." I think we can all agree that this is wrong.
Sadly, as other readers have noticed, there's very little capering in this book. Minimal caper. It's a Regency romance novel, interspersed with a few chapters of a contemporary researcher, who, in spite of being a PhD student smart enough to con a committee into sending her overseas, is the kind of person who will, after a man is rude to her once, be repeatedly rude back, even in the face of his preternatural patience. Have I mentioned this is someone who has something she wants? He is! She will also hate women who are more polished than she is and embarrass herself through repeated clumsiness. In short, she's a familiar romantic comedy type, but I'd have to seriously question Harvard's admission process if she existed in real life.
If it sounds as if I thought the contemporary pieces were the worst part of this book, oh, think again. They were actually a bit of a relief, although both storylines featured proportionately equal amounts of "endearing" clumsiness. I kind of wish I'd done a word count for "ouch," "urgh," and "ow." They were numerous. The historical parts were MUCH worse. My poor husband, reading in the same room with me, was subjected to a lot of moans and groans on my part, sarcastic commentary such as "oh, good, he has piercing green eyes, I was worried he wouldn't," and the moment when I said "no, wrong. WRONG!" That, I'm pretty sure, was when Amy, the nauseating heroine of the historical bits, hears the Purple Gentian reference something she has only told to his alter ego, Richard, and decides that it MUST mean that he's her true love, fated to be with her. Not that he actually is Richard. This was, however, also the scene where I discovered my new favorite line in literature, "the moist thrust of the Purple Gentian's tongue." There was so much bosom-heaving and ass-checking-out that I was rooting really hard for the leads to just do it already so the rest of us could be spared them lusting after each other. Since clearly the author wasn't going to do us all a favor and kill them off, the least she could do was make them stop gazing for a hot second. There were secondary characters I DIDN'T totally hate, but the leads I did. I was very sorry we had to read about them the whole damn time.
The writing was, oh, how do I put this? Bad. The writing was bad. I feel a little harsh saying this, because clearly this author was enjoying herself as she wrote. She liked her characters and I'm sure was chuckling as she wrote some of the lines I found so vomit-worthy. But the writing was really bad. The dialogue in the historical pieces would throw in some era-appropriate terms, but otherwise they talked like the contemporary characters (I can't say they talked or acted like real people at either end). They said "um" a lot. Sometimes when they were speaking French, which I happen to know isn't something you SAY in French (3 semesters of college French speaking, here, she says, buffing nails on shirt).
Why, then, is this book two stars rather than one? Mostly because the packaging is so misleading. It seems unfair to rate the book on what it's being billed as, rather than what it is. If it had been billed as a Regency romance I would never have read it in the first place, but at least I would have known more or less what to expect. But since I DID get conned into reading a Regency romance, it did give me an opportunity to have a think about the genre. Its existence implies that there are in the world women (definitely a genre aimed at women) who get all hot and bothered at the idea of being bossed around and scolded. Women who think it would be sexy as hell to have a guy with piercing eyes (always piercing eyes, or a piercing gaze if you're fancy/a better writer) and a "face like a thunderstorm" demand "what were you thinking, you little fool? Don't you know you could have been hurt?" before sweeping her into his arms and asking brokenly (usually brokenly, sometimes softly or "with sudden and unexpected tenderness") "Don't you know what it would do to me if something happened to you?" Followed, natch, by the passionate kiss as he gives in to his feelings.
Thinking about this stuff now, I am actually really intrigued. I have to admit this does nothing for me - I'm not into being patronized or having my intellect called into question, although I'm also not impetuous and nor do I bounce with frustration so maybe I'm not really a heroine either - but ARE there people who really find this hot escapism? Is being scolded a minor subset of BDSM culture? I WANT TO KNOW! Because I'm so confused by this idea! I can kind of get the idea of fantasizing about being a damsel in distress - because I think most people like the idea of being valued so much by someone who would drop everything to come save you if you needed it. Who doesn't want a guy who has your back? But a guy who saves you and then yells at you about it? Is this really what does it for some people? I AM SO CURIOUS.
Anyway, there's a whole series of these books, so clearly the author got in some more practice and may have improved since then. The book was kind of fun to read, in the spirit of Mystery Science Theater 3000, and if you're into heaving bosoms and male assholes who can't stop staring at your heaving bosoms because they're so in lust/love with you and female assholes who yell at you for maybe making fun of them that one time, well! I have a book for you! But it also contains the phrase "the moist thrust of the Purple Gentian's tongue." I think we can all agree that this is wrong.
November 14, 2016
Etant une quiche en anglais, je suis malheureusement tributaire des éditions françaises, qui c'est bien connu ne sont pas des foudres de guerre au niveau de l'actualité littéraire. En plus de cela j'ai des amies plus que vicieuses qui ont eu la bonne idée de me faire saliver avec cette série. Autant dire que je suis sur des charbons ardents et que j'en attends beaucoup, j'espère ne pas être déçue
Bilan après la fin de ma lecture. Il est vrai qu'à force d'en attendre que du bien j’avais un peu peur d’être déçue. Cela m’est déjà arrivé pour d’autres livres et j’aurai trouvé ça dommage. Il faut aussi savoir que j’adore l’histoire du Mouron Rouge, et donc j’avais hâte de lire des aventures qui lui sont directement inspirées.
Je ne suis pas du genre beaucoup m’extérioriser quand je lis un livre. Sauf quelques exceptions où les bouquins ont manqué voler à travers la pièce. Mais là je dois dire que j’ai également gloussé plus d’une fois. C’est drôle, décalé et souvent du grand n’importe quoi. Dès l’avant-propos et surtout à la fin du roman où l’auteur est interviewé, il y a une forme de capital sympathie qui se dégage de Lauren Willig. Elle est fraiche, naturelle et a un regard d’autodérision sur elle-même, un état d’esprit que l’on retrouve dans le livre.
C’est à la fois un mélange de schémas manichéens avec plein de caricatures et de poncifs du genre (surtout au niveau des français qui sont les « grands méchants » de l’histoire et de l’Histoire) qui pourraient nous faire bondir et lever les yeux au ciel, avec une second degrés bien assumé, une pointe d’anachronisme historique (qui en lisant les explications de l’auteur à la fin du livre sont parfaitement assumées pour renforcer certaines intrigues) et surtout beaucoup d’humour et de comique de situation. Et c’est surtout je trouve un grand hommage aux films de cape et d’épée de l’âge d’or Hollywoodien, aux supers héros (Zorro, Superman et co). Plus d’une fois j’ai eu en tête Errol Flynn bondissant dans tous les sens en collants verts pour pourfendre les méchants et défendre sa dulcinée.
Le livre n’est pas exempt de défaut, c’est un 1er tome avec souvent les défauts que les 1ers tomes peuvent avoir. Tout d’abord la profusion de personnages qui s’imposent à nous et qui pourraient interférer avec les héros principaux. Sauf que c’est tout le contraire, car pour moi c’est une des richesses du livre. J’adore ce genre de cacophonie où tout le monde se mêle de tout. Les familles et les amis envahissants qui pourrissent l’intimité des héros. Amy et Richard sont des gentils, c’est rare maintenant dans la Romance de trouver de tels personnages. Pas de traumatisme dû à leur enfance, enfin si Amy oui un peu puisqu’elle a perdu ses parents à cause de la Révolution Française, d’où son obsession à renverser Napoléon, mais sinon ils sont sains et frais. Peut-être un tantinet enfantins et légers mais c’est ce qui fait leur charme. Heureusement qu’ils ont les amis et la famille pour leur prêter main forte.
Amy est à la fois lucide et complètement naïve, un personnage de caractère mais qui se laisse trop entrainer par son fichu caractère. On va dire qu’elle fonce d’abord et qu’elle réfléchit après. Elle est aussi complètement illogique et s’illusionne sur ces propres capacités. Je pense qu’elle s’imagine très bien ressembler à un lion, alors qu’en fait elle ressemblerait c’est un chat. A côté Richard est complètement dépassé par ce petit bout de femme qui déboule dans sa vie et va complètement le chambouler. Ils sont attendrissants tous les deux, on dirait deux enfants de maternelle qui n’ont rien trouvé de mieux que se tirer les cheveux pour faire comprendre qu’ils se plaisent. A côté également nous avons Jane la pondéré, Jane la lucide, Jane un des rare personnages dans l’histoire à posséder un cerveau et à savoir s’en servir et bien sûr n’oublions pas Miss Gwenn sorte d’amazone qui fait même peur à Napoléon lui-même.
Au début j’ai été un peu déstabilisée par la profusion de détails et toutes les descriptions que l’auteur nous fait pour chaque scène. Mais ensuite j’ai compris que chaque détail comptait et qu’ils n’étaient pas là par hasard. Vous savez c’est un peu comme ces structures en dominos. Elles prennent le temps de se mettre en place, de petits carrés sans importance qui au final mis bout à bout peuvent déclencher une réaction en chaine.
Je dois dire que je m’attendais quand même à plus d’action, plus d’aventure, à un rythme plus soutenu. C’est assez lent comme narration. A ce niveau-là j’ai été un peu déstabilisée au début. L’action se situe plus dans les joutes verbales et les coups d’ombrelle de Miss Gwen. Le livre est très visuel, comme je l'ai dit plus haut nous sommes souvent face à du comique de situation : les personnages glissent, tombent, crient, se bagarrent etc. Si on ne rentre pas dedans je pense que l’on pourrait passer à côté de l’histoire. Les ficelles sont celles des héros masquées, complètement éculées et faciles. Là aussi si on n’adhère pas on pourrait trouver ça complètement ridicule. Pour ma part ce ne fut pas le cas et donc je peux dire que je me suis régalée.
C’est un livre frustrant, il en dit trop ou pas assez. D’abord avec la double narration. J’ai beaucoup parlé d’Amy et de Richard mais n’oublions pas Colin (qui a tout d’un Darcy du XXème siècle) et Eloïse qui font partie intégrante de l’histoire. Frustrant parce que leur histoire à eux ne sera donnée qu’avec parcimonie. Frustrant parce que malgré la longueur du livre finalement je suis restée un peu sur ma faim. La dernière scène dans la chambre extraspéciale était jouissive, peut-être l’action qui aurait été un plus à certains moments de l’histoire. On quitte un peu brutalement Amy et Richard et finalement leur moment d’intimité sur le bateau était presque de trop.
Frustrant finalement parce que il manque encore pleins d’autres livres avant de suivre les aventures de Jane ou de Miss Gwen. Il me tarde de retrouver tous ces personnages auxquels je me suis attachée mais vu que pour le moment il n’y en a eu que 3 de traduits sur 12, je vais fatalement être frustrée.
Bilan après la fin de ma lecture. Il est vrai qu'à force d'en attendre que du bien j’avais un peu peur d’être déçue. Cela m’est déjà arrivé pour d’autres livres et j’aurai trouvé ça dommage. Il faut aussi savoir que j’adore l’histoire du Mouron Rouge, et donc j’avais hâte de lire des aventures qui lui sont directement inspirées.
Je ne suis pas du genre beaucoup m’extérioriser quand je lis un livre. Sauf quelques exceptions où les bouquins ont manqué voler à travers la pièce. Mais là je dois dire que j’ai également gloussé plus d’une fois. C’est drôle, décalé et souvent du grand n’importe quoi. Dès l’avant-propos et surtout à la fin du roman où l’auteur est interviewé, il y a une forme de capital sympathie qui se dégage de Lauren Willig. Elle est fraiche, naturelle et a un regard d’autodérision sur elle-même, un état d’esprit que l’on retrouve dans le livre.
C’est à la fois un mélange de schémas manichéens avec plein de caricatures et de poncifs du genre (surtout au niveau des français qui sont les « grands méchants » de l’histoire et de l’Histoire) qui pourraient nous faire bondir et lever les yeux au ciel, avec une second degrés bien assumé, une pointe d’anachronisme historique (qui en lisant les explications de l’auteur à la fin du livre sont parfaitement assumées pour renforcer certaines intrigues) et surtout beaucoup d’humour et de comique de situation. Et c’est surtout je trouve un grand hommage aux films de cape et d’épée de l’âge d’or Hollywoodien, aux supers héros (Zorro, Superman et co). Plus d’une fois j’ai eu en tête Errol Flynn bondissant dans tous les sens en collants verts pour pourfendre les méchants et défendre sa dulcinée.
Le livre n’est pas exempt de défaut, c’est un 1er tome avec souvent les défauts que les 1ers tomes peuvent avoir. Tout d’abord la profusion de personnages qui s’imposent à nous et qui pourraient interférer avec les héros principaux. Sauf que c’est tout le contraire, car pour moi c’est une des richesses du livre. J’adore ce genre de cacophonie où tout le monde se mêle de tout. Les familles et les amis envahissants qui pourrissent l’intimité des héros. Amy et Richard sont des gentils, c’est rare maintenant dans la Romance de trouver de tels personnages. Pas de traumatisme dû à leur enfance, enfin si Amy oui un peu puisqu’elle a perdu ses parents à cause de la Révolution Française, d’où son obsession à renverser Napoléon, mais sinon ils sont sains et frais. Peut-être un tantinet enfantins et légers mais c’est ce qui fait leur charme. Heureusement qu’ils ont les amis et la famille pour leur prêter main forte.
Amy est à la fois lucide et complètement naïve, un personnage de caractère mais qui se laisse trop entrainer par son fichu caractère. On va dire qu’elle fonce d’abord et qu’elle réfléchit après. Elle est aussi complètement illogique et s’illusionne sur ces propres capacités. Je pense qu’elle s’imagine très bien ressembler à un lion, alors qu’en fait elle ressemblerait c’est un chat. A côté Richard est complètement dépassé par ce petit bout de femme qui déboule dans sa vie et va complètement le chambouler. Ils sont attendrissants tous les deux, on dirait deux enfants de maternelle qui n’ont rien trouvé de mieux que se tirer les cheveux pour faire comprendre qu’ils se plaisent. A côté également nous avons Jane la pondéré, Jane la lucide, Jane un des rare personnages dans l’histoire à posséder un cerveau et à savoir s’en servir et bien sûr n’oublions pas Miss Gwenn sorte d’amazone qui fait même peur à Napoléon lui-même.
Au début j’ai été un peu déstabilisée par la profusion de détails et toutes les descriptions que l’auteur nous fait pour chaque scène. Mais ensuite j’ai compris que chaque détail comptait et qu’ils n’étaient pas là par hasard. Vous savez c’est un peu comme ces structures en dominos. Elles prennent le temps de se mettre en place, de petits carrés sans importance qui au final mis bout à bout peuvent déclencher une réaction en chaine.
Je dois dire que je m’attendais quand même à plus d’action, plus d’aventure, à un rythme plus soutenu. C’est assez lent comme narration. A ce niveau-là j’ai été un peu déstabilisée au début. L’action se situe plus dans les joutes verbales et les coups d’ombrelle de Miss Gwen. Le livre est très visuel, comme je l'ai dit plus haut nous sommes souvent face à du comique de situation : les personnages glissent, tombent, crient, se bagarrent etc. Si on ne rentre pas dedans je pense que l’on pourrait passer à côté de l’histoire. Les ficelles sont celles des héros masquées, complètement éculées et faciles. Là aussi si on n’adhère pas on pourrait trouver ça complètement ridicule. Pour ma part ce ne fut pas le cas et donc je peux dire que je me suis régalée.
C’est un livre frustrant, il en dit trop ou pas assez. D’abord avec la double narration. J’ai beaucoup parlé d’Amy et de Richard mais n’oublions pas Colin (qui a tout d’un Darcy du XXème siècle) et Eloïse qui font partie intégrante de l’histoire. Frustrant parce que leur histoire à eux ne sera donnée qu’avec parcimonie. Frustrant parce que malgré la longueur du livre finalement je suis restée un peu sur ma faim. La dernière scène dans la chambre extraspéciale était jouissive, peut-être l’action qui aurait été un plus à certains moments de l’histoire. On quitte un peu brutalement Amy et Richard et finalement leur moment d’intimité sur le bateau était presque de trop.
Frustrant finalement parce que il manque encore pleins d’autres livres avant de suivre les aventures de Jane ou de Miss Gwen. Il me tarde de retrouver tous ces personnages auxquels je me suis attachée mais vu que pour le moment il n’y en a eu que 3 de traduits sur 12, je vais fatalement être frustrée.
May 15, 2012
I feel like I just entered the most interesting florist shop in London. I am surrounded by flowers….the Scarlet Pimpernel, the Purple Gentian, and of course the Pink Carnation….but wait I’m in a book! What the deuce are all these flowers doing in a book?? Granted…it’s decidedly less fragrant in the book than in a florist shop but till what the deuce is going on here? Oh wait….I know, I am reading Lauren Willig’s novel The Secret History of the Pink Carnation!
This book is absolutely brilliant and addicting!! I was hooked from the first page....LOVED the comedy, prose, romance, adventure....everything!! You simply must read it. See my full review here
This book is absolutely brilliant and addicting!! I was hooked from the first page....LOVED the comedy, prose, romance, adventure....everything!! You simply must read it. See my full review here
September 8, 2015
The first in Lauren Willig's Pink Carnation series. I found this gem in the library. My first by this author and coincidentally the author's first. I was pleasantly pleased with it. I wasn't sure I would be when I opened the first page. I'm not a fan of 1st person POV but I kept on and realized the whole book is not written that way and I came to enjoy the parts that were. This is one of those stories in a story. It starts with a young American woman seeking information for her dissertation on some English spies from Napoleon's time. She is granted access to papers that has her uncovering the identity of the Pink Carnation. I will be rushing back to the library and seeing if they have the next in the series and crying if they don't.
February 1, 2022
In a time of revolution and then war, daring-do was called for and sometimes the heroes and heroines had to wear a mask to accomplish what was needed. In the spirit of The Scarlet Pimpernel and Pride & Prejudice comes a series to tantalize historical romantic suspense fans. I eagerly took up this first book in the series having already been a fan of the author’s light and engaging writing.
In an odd twist, I’ve already read three books from the series and two happen to be the last two while the other was somewhere in the middle. So, yes, I know how it all ends, but I was still very curious about how it all began and it has been several years so I was pretty sure it would be almost new to me.
I was happy to take up my now yellowing copy of the first book and discover how modern-day historian Eloise Kelly, working on her dissertation, came to be researching the secret English spies of the Napoleonic Era and what her early encounters with irascible Colin, descendent of The Purple Gentian and family archives holder, were like. Within Eloise’s modern story is the heart of the story which introduces the world, people, and plot as The Pink Carnation began the first unauthorized spy mission in France in 1803 even as The Purple Gentian, the authorized British spy, is working to discover the details for Napoleon’s planned invasion of England.
So, as I’ve indicated, I’ve already read later books in the series. This is a series that I’ve had a hot and cold affair with and mostly because it has a split time line that was iffy for me. I enjoyed the Regency time line, but was only moderately into the modern thread. In truth, I found Eloise a not so good distraction much of the time. This first book confirmed again that she’s rather annoying and distracting. She gets lucky that she inexplicably impresses Colin’s aunt and gets access to the family papers including letters that are the basis for the other timeline story of 1803. She has the attitude that Colin owes her access and she deserves to be the one to write up the Secret Histories, but rarely did she act like a person who should be trusted with archival papers and a few times I cringed at her way of tripping along.
As to the 1803 timeline, in this first book, I was not so captivated as with later ones. Amy was the poster child TSTL type who gets lucky so she thinks she’s rather talented and skilled. In truth, the real talent is her cousin Jane who accompanies her to Paris and slips into the background and gathers lots of intel in the process. The announced reason for the trip is reuniting with Amy’s long lost brother who survived the French Revolution somewhat intact, but a hidden reason being she wanted to track down the clandestine Purple Gentian and his spy network so she could join. I found Amy silly and childish and she could have gotten a lot of good people hurt in her ridiculous tramp around Paris thinking she’s Miss Discreet Superspy. Not that Richard, the Purple Gentian, who works by day as a geeky Egyptologist for Napoleon is much better. I think the lovers’ spat in shouted tones while inside the enemy’s bedchamber was when it really hit me that I was not reading a serious historical mystery.
Rather quickly, I had to adjust my expectations and I recommend others do the same. This is light and loaded with humor. There are some strong and good historical details, but the behavior and dialogue of the characters is modern- and, as I pointed out, not to be taken seriously. This is a romp of espionage and romance, in point of fact. I suspect each book which introduces a new main romance pair will have a slightly different feel to match the personalities involved because the later books didn’t have the frivolity of this one, as far as I can recall.
I quickly read this one and giggled through a lot of it. It was fun and light with a well set background. Amy and Richard had their moments when they weren’t annoying and I loved Richard’s interfering, quirky family and friends. I liked this book as a whole rather than the individual parts, if that makes sense. So, I will continue on to the next installment which features the same modern pair, some of the same historical players, but a reshuffle so that some minor characters take the lead. I’ll recommend this to those who are in the mood for rompish and light historical romantic suspense.
In an odd twist, I’ve already read three books from the series and two happen to be the last two while the other was somewhere in the middle. So, yes, I know how it all ends, but I was still very curious about how it all began and it has been several years so I was pretty sure it would be almost new to me.
I was happy to take up my now yellowing copy of the first book and discover how modern-day historian Eloise Kelly, working on her dissertation, came to be researching the secret English spies of the Napoleonic Era and what her early encounters with irascible Colin, descendent of The Purple Gentian and family archives holder, were like. Within Eloise’s modern story is the heart of the story which introduces the world, people, and plot as The Pink Carnation began the first unauthorized spy mission in France in 1803 even as The Purple Gentian, the authorized British spy, is working to discover the details for Napoleon’s planned invasion of England.
So, as I’ve indicated, I’ve already read later books in the series. This is a series that I’ve had a hot and cold affair with and mostly because it has a split time line that was iffy for me. I enjoyed the Regency time line, but was only moderately into the modern thread. In truth, I found Eloise a not so good distraction much of the time. This first book confirmed again that she’s rather annoying and distracting. She gets lucky that she inexplicably impresses Colin’s aunt and gets access to the family papers including letters that are the basis for the other timeline story of 1803. She has the attitude that Colin owes her access and she deserves to be the one to write up the Secret Histories, but rarely did she act like a person who should be trusted with archival papers and a few times I cringed at her way of tripping along.
As to the 1803 timeline, in this first book, I was not so captivated as with later ones. Amy was the poster child TSTL type who gets lucky so she thinks she’s rather talented and skilled. In truth, the real talent is her cousin Jane who accompanies her to Paris and slips into the background and gathers lots of intel in the process. The announced reason for the trip is reuniting with Amy’s long lost brother who survived the French Revolution somewhat intact, but a hidden reason being she wanted to track down the clandestine Purple Gentian and his spy network so she could join. I found Amy silly and childish and she could have gotten a lot of good people hurt in her ridiculous tramp around Paris thinking she’s Miss Discreet Superspy. Not that Richard, the Purple Gentian, who works by day as a geeky Egyptologist for Napoleon is much better. I think the lovers’ spat in shouted tones while inside the enemy’s bedchamber was when it really hit me that I was not reading a serious historical mystery.
Rather quickly, I had to adjust my expectations and I recommend others do the same. This is light and loaded with humor. There are some strong and good historical details, but the behavior and dialogue of the characters is modern- and, as I pointed out, not to be taken seriously. This is a romp of espionage and romance, in point of fact. I suspect each book which introduces a new main romance pair will have a slightly different feel to match the personalities involved because the later books didn’t have the frivolity of this one, as far as I can recall.
I quickly read this one and giggled through a lot of it. It was fun and light with a well set background. Amy and Richard had their moments when they weren’t annoying and I loved Richard’s interfering, quirky family and friends. I liked this book as a whole rather than the individual parts, if that makes sense. So, I will continue on to the next installment which features the same modern pair, some of the same historical players, but a reshuffle so that some minor characters take the lead. I’ll recommend this to those who are in the mood for rompish and light historical romantic suspense.
February 24, 2010
I love every one of Lauren's books. They're so clever and funny and wonderful...my sister and I buy them on release day every time, and we devour them!
February 14, 2019
This book was more fun than I expected it to be. A young scholar is one the hunt for information for her thesis on the Pink Carnation, a French revolutionary hero. The book goes back and forth between the past and the present.
July 10, 2019
My original impression of this book was really negative. However, I've grown fonder of it in my memory as the years have passed. Now that I am no longer disappointed that the book was not what I expected, it has gained a full star in my estimation.
Original review: July 21, 2011, two stars:
This is a genre romance novel with pretensions of grandeur.
I was intrigued by this book because of it's duel format. It features a Harvard Ph.D. candidate in history researching the famous (in her world at least!) Pink Carnation, a British spy during the Napoleonic Wars. Eloise, the student, travels to London after a bad break up and decides to research primary sources on the Pink Carnation. The novel opens with her in a slight jam--she's crushed in an overcrowded Tube ride, has spilled coffee on herself, and discovers that it's raining and she doesn't have an umbrella. All of this makes her a truly hapless sight when so goes to interview a descendant of the Purple Gentian (a spy that inspired our Carnation).
Her host is a nice old woman and immediately gives Eloise access to private family papers.
And that's where the book goes downhill.
Eloise is apparently reading journals and letters, but that's not what readers see. Instead, we are simply taken into the story of Amy Balcourt and Richard Selwick (who happens to be the Purple Gentian). Their story is a very typical romance novel. Amy is returning to France for the first time since she left it during the Terror. She's been living with her English relatives for the last 15 years, plotting and planning how she could help the famous British spies--the Scarlet Pimpernel and the Purple Gentian--restore the monarchy in France. Or at least expel the Republicans. Or Napoleon. In any event, she wants to help. Her father was killed by the guillotine, and she has a powerful hatred of the current French government. Richard has posing as a French sympathizer, working as their head of antiquities, all the while spying for his native England. Amy, of course, doesn't know this, and is repelled to learn that such an attractive young man could work for the side of the devil. Richard, in turn, is drawn to Amy. He knows her brother is involved in something underhanded, and in his attempt to investigate, he stumbles into Amy late at night. She doesn't know who he is due to the mask, but her hero worship of the Gentian leads to a slightly compromising situation. Cue the rest of a standard romance novel involving mistaken identity.
This novel would have worked so much better if readers had been able to read the same letters and journals Eloise was reading. We could have learned the story as she did. Instead, Eloise has access to different information than the reader. For a novel that's based around the idea of historical research, it doesn't read as being very authentic. Amy and her friends are unrealistic, and the graphic sexual encounters do not read as anything that would appear in a young lady's journal. Considering Richard's dangerous occupation, he would have been unlikely to keep a journal of his encounters with her either.
Further, I would have liked to see more of Eloise. I didn't like her as a character--she was too much the cliched chick lit heroine--but with only roughly four chapters to her credit, she was never able to properly establish her identity as a character or as a researcher. Sadly, the framing device of Eloise's narrative seemed like a pathetic attempt to elevate the book out of it's genre--the historical romance. Both the size of the book--a trade paperback--and the period artwork cover would seem to imply that it is more than a genre romance, but that's simply not the case.
I will admit that I enjoyed Amy & Richard's story. It was fun and trashy, and there were actually a few surprises. Other than the mustache-twirling villain, the supporting characters were delightfully madcap. Unfortunately, all of the characters were smarter than Amy, which didn't work well. They were able to see through Richard's subterfuges before Amy, allowing her to make an ass of herself repeatedly while they looked on knowingly. Gwen the chaperone was perhaps the most inspired character--but she was also almost a caricature.
If you're looking for a fun romance without pretensions, pass this book by. If you just want a trashy book set in the Napoleonic Wars, and you're willing to overlook the Eloise sections, have at it. I picked up the second book in the bookswap at the same time as I grabbed this one. I will probably continue with the series through that book alone. Unless the modern storyline develops further, I simply don't see enough her to elevate it above the usual genre romances and into a permanent place in my library.
Original review: July 21, 2011, two stars:
This is a genre romance novel with pretensions of grandeur.
I was intrigued by this book because of it's duel format. It features a Harvard Ph.D. candidate in history researching the famous (in her world at least!) Pink Carnation, a British spy during the Napoleonic Wars. Eloise, the student, travels to London after a bad break up and decides to research primary sources on the Pink Carnation. The novel opens with her in a slight jam--she's crushed in an overcrowded Tube ride, has spilled coffee on herself, and discovers that it's raining and she doesn't have an umbrella. All of this makes her a truly hapless sight when so goes to interview a descendant of the Purple Gentian (a spy that inspired our Carnation).
Her host is a nice old woman and immediately gives Eloise access to private family papers.
And that's where the book goes downhill.
Eloise is apparently reading journals and letters, but that's not what readers see. Instead, we are simply taken into the story of Amy Balcourt and Richard Selwick (who happens to be the Purple Gentian). Their story is a very typical romance novel. Amy is returning to France for the first time since she left it during the Terror. She's been living with her English relatives for the last 15 years, plotting and planning how she could help the famous British spies--the Scarlet Pimpernel and the Purple Gentian--restore the monarchy in France. Or at least expel the Republicans. Or Napoleon. In any event, she wants to help. Her father was killed by the guillotine, and she has a powerful hatred of the current French government. Richard has posing as a French sympathizer, working as their head of antiquities, all the while spying for his native England. Amy, of course, doesn't know this, and is repelled to learn that such an attractive young man could work for the side of the devil. Richard, in turn, is drawn to Amy. He knows her brother is involved in something underhanded, and in his attempt to investigate, he stumbles into Amy late at night. She doesn't know who he is due to the mask, but her hero worship of the Gentian leads to a slightly compromising situation. Cue the rest of a standard romance novel involving mistaken identity.
This novel would have worked so much better if readers had been able to read the same letters and journals Eloise was reading. We could have learned the story as she did. Instead, Eloise has access to different information than the reader. For a novel that's based around the idea of historical research, it doesn't read as being very authentic. Amy and her friends are unrealistic, and the graphic sexual encounters do not read as anything that would appear in a young lady's journal. Considering Richard's dangerous occupation, he would have been unlikely to keep a journal of his encounters with her either.
Further, I would have liked to see more of Eloise. I didn't like her as a character--she was too much the cliched chick lit heroine--but with only roughly four chapters to her credit, she was never able to properly establish her identity as a character or as a researcher. Sadly, the framing device of Eloise's narrative seemed like a pathetic attempt to elevate the book out of it's genre--the historical romance. Both the size of the book--a trade paperback--and the period artwork cover would seem to imply that it is more than a genre romance, but that's simply not the case.
I will admit that I enjoyed Amy & Richard's story. It was fun and trashy, and there were actually a few surprises. Other than the mustache-twirling villain, the supporting characters were delightfully madcap. Unfortunately, all of the characters were smarter than Amy, which didn't work well. They were able to see through Richard's subterfuges before Amy, allowing her to make an ass of herself repeatedly while they looked on knowingly. Gwen the chaperone was perhaps the most inspired character--but she was also almost a caricature.
If you're looking for a fun romance without pretensions, pass this book by. If you just want a trashy book set in the Napoleonic Wars, and you're willing to overlook the Eloise sections, have at it. I picked up the second book in the bookswap at the same time as I grabbed this one. I will probably continue with the series through that book alone. Unless the modern storyline develops further, I simply don't see enough her to elevate it above the usual genre romances and into a permanent place in my library.
September 12, 2017
It was a good written historical romance, rather for young adults and chick-lit, with a little adventure (mystery). I have enjoyed it.
Nonetheless, I can't say I can't wait to read another book of series. I prefer more realistic historical romances. Here, there were too many too unrealistic scenes (e.g. a love scene on the boat in the Paris, or how they worked as spies).
The best part was a humor. It had a few really funny situations. But, when I want a witty historical romance, not necessary very realistic, I will pick Clare Darcy, Joan Smith, Marion Chesney or of course Georgette Heyer. As for this kind of adventure I will rather pick Emmuska Orczy or Patricia Veryan.
Nonetheless, I can't say I can't wait to read another book of series. I prefer more realistic historical romances. Here, there were too many too unrealistic scenes (e.g. a love scene on the boat in the Paris, or how they worked as spies).
The best part was a humor. It had a few really funny situations. But, when I want a witty historical romance, not necessary very realistic, I will pick Clare Darcy, Joan Smith, Marion Chesney or of course Georgette Heyer. As for this kind of adventure I will rather pick Emmuska Orczy or Patricia Veryan.
May 23, 2012
This was one of those books that I found easier to read once I gave up any expectations I started with, and I will confess that it did redeem itself in my eyes by the end. It was a cute but predictable story about the hijinks surrounding the doings and identities of the preposterously-named Purple Gentian and Pink Carnation, not that the names really mattered that much. We mostly follow the dense Amy about as she desperately but naively tries to enter the world of espionage. Both she and her love interest were pretty forgettable to me, as was Eleanor, or whatever her names was, who was a guide through the modern frame of the novel as she tries to discover the identity of the Pink Carnation through what seem to be the most bizarrely detailed accounts in diaries and letters. At least the author was sensible in her choice of the identity of the Pink Carnation, but she had me worried for a long time. The book didn't get better until the author proved to me that she had some modicum of sense.
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