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Pink Carnation #3
The Deception of the Emerald Ring
Eloise Kelly has gotten into quite a bit of trouble since she started spying on the Pink Carnation and the Black Tulip-two of the deadliest spies to saunter the streets of nineteenth-century England and France.
Not only has she unearthed secrets that will rearrange history, she's dallied with Colin Selwick and sought out a romantic adventure all her own. Little does she know that she's about to uncover another fierce heroine running headlong into history.
Not only has she unearthed secrets that will rearrange history, she's dallied with Colin Selwick and sought out a romantic adventure all her own. Little does she know that she's about to uncover another fierce heroine running headlong into history.
464 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 16, 2006
164 people are currently reading
3276 people want to read
About the author
Lauren Willig
41 books4,710 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 637 reviews
February 23, 2017
*spoilers*
Greetings ladies and gentlemen! If you missed my review for the last book in this series, The Masque of the Black Tulip, I’ll give you a slight refresher. Our hero’s name is Shoulders because you can bet your sweet ass the width of them will be mentioned more than his actual name. Our heroine is Chemise as all our hero seems to think about is getting her out of hers. Also, spies. Now on with the show!
Dramatization:
Shoulders: I must run away with her! I love her and I’ll have her any way I can get her. Why should I question why a young lady with everything to gain doesn’t want the typical massive society wedding? What’s that? Of course she’s not in such a rush because she’s already carrying someone else’s child, she’s a respectable young lady!
Chemise: What’s this coach pulling up to the house in the middle of the night for? What has my harlot of a sister done this time? I bet she’s knocked up and is rushing to elope with some other man to avoid the scandal. I must save our family from shame!
*dashes out into the darkness*
*is accidentally kidnapped by Shoulder’s servants because they think she’s her sister*
Shoulders: Damn this delay! Why does the spymaster need me now of all times? Doesn’t he know I have to meet my beloved at a shady inn before being hurriedly married by an even shadier cleric?
*hurriedly finishes monumentally important spy business while more concerned with impending elopement instead of the safety of the nation*
*dashes off to meet his soon to be bride*
Chemise: Unhand me you brutes! You have the wrong girl!
Shoulders: My beloved, she’s come!
*throws open carriage door*
*makes out with beloved*
*realizes it’s not his beloved*
*still has erection*
…awkward…
Random side characters that know main characters: What’s this! We’ve caught you making out with the sister of the woman you claim to love! Haha, now you have to marry her!
Shoulders: I'm an honorable man. I will do my duty to the girl I’ve just ruined but whom I now believe tricked me into ruining her because the alternative is that this is all one big misunderstanding. Surely that can't be it. But I am an honorable man and so will marry her. Honorably.
Chemise: Oh no! What a mess I’ve made of things.
*they get married*
*he hates her*
*he leaves their wedding feast to go to Ireland and do spy things*
*she gets shitfaced*
Chemise: What a scoundrel! He’s left me alone and everyone will know! The humiliation!
*swigs scotch*
I’ll show him, I’ll show everyone!
*drunkenly dashes off to Ireland*
*wakes up hung over on a boat*
*finds him*
*one monumental misunderstanding follows another until…*
Shoulders: I was so wrong about you Chemise, so wrong. And about your sister too. I thought I loved her. I now know it was only a passing fancy. She’s nothing compared to the glory that is you. Please forgive me for being such a rake.
Chemise: Of course I forgive you Shoulders, I love you. Yes, even though you treated me like shite when you thought I was a conniving little wench and still haven’t properly apologized, I love you.
Shoulders: Oh Chemise
Chemise: Oh Shoulders
*kissing noises*
*he finally gets his hands on that godforsaken garment she’s named after*
*coitus*
*simultaneous perfect orgasms*
*they catch the bad guy the very next day*
Once again, that all sounds pretty damn clichéd. Well, it is. You know what? I don’t give a shit. I loved every single second of it and I will continue to read every book in this series. Call them my guilty pleasure, call me a bloody hypocrite, I don’t care. I just love the quirky inner monologues:
“…she glanced sideways to where his fingers rested just past her shoulder. Not touching her. Not trying to touch her. Just there, with nothing to indicate if it was an intentional arm or an accidental arm.
She was being ridiculous. An arm wasn’t accidental; it was an appendage, and it had to go somewhere.”
I just love the beautiful depictions of scenery:
“The sound of the horses’ hooves changed as the carriage rattled from Capel Street onto the bridge that spanned the Liffey. In the water below, the reflection of the carriage lamps looked like the watchtowers of a drowned city.”
And I just love the duel storylines of the escapades of historical characters and the modern day grad student who’s researching them.
So if you like historical romance done right, try this series.
This review can also be found at The Alliterates
Greetings ladies and gentlemen! If you missed my review for the last book in this series, The Masque of the Black Tulip, I’ll give you a slight refresher. Our hero’s name is Shoulders because you can bet your sweet ass the width of them will be mentioned more than his actual name. Our heroine is Chemise as all our hero seems to think about is getting her out of hers. Also, spies. Now on with the show!
Dramatization:
Shoulders: I must run away with her! I love her and I’ll have her any way I can get her. Why should I question why a young lady with everything to gain doesn’t want the typical massive society wedding? What’s that? Of course she’s not in such a rush because she’s already carrying someone else’s child, she’s a respectable young lady!
Chemise: What’s this coach pulling up to the house in the middle of the night for? What has my harlot of a sister done this time? I bet she’s knocked up and is rushing to elope with some other man to avoid the scandal. I must save our family from shame!
*dashes out into the darkness*
*is accidentally kidnapped by Shoulder’s servants because they think she’s her sister*
Shoulders: Damn this delay! Why does the spymaster need me now of all times? Doesn’t he know I have to meet my beloved at a shady inn before being hurriedly married by an even shadier cleric?
*hurriedly finishes monumentally important spy business while more concerned with impending elopement instead of the safety of the nation*
*dashes off to meet his soon to be bride*
Chemise: Unhand me you brutes! You have the wrong girl!
Shoulders: My beloved, she’s come!
*throws open carriage door*
*makes out with beloved*
*realizes it’s not his beloved*
*still has erection*
…awkward…
Random side characters that know main characters: What’s this! We’ve caught you making out with the sister of the woman you claim to love! Haha, now you have to marry her!
Shoulders: I'm an honorable man. I will do my duty to the girl I’ve just ruined but whom I now believe tricked me into ruining her because the alternative is that this is all one big misunderstanding. Surely that can't be it. But I am an honorable man and so will marry her. Honorably.
Chemise: Oh no! What a mess I’ve made of things.
*they get married*
*he hates her*
*he leaves their wedding feast to go to Ireland and do spy things*
*she gets shitfaced*
Chemise: What a scoundrel! He’s left me alone and everyone will know! The humiliation!
*swigs scotch*
I’ll show him, I’ll show everyone!
*drunkenly dashes off to Ireland*
*wakes up hung over on a boat*
*finds him*
*one monumental misunderstanding follows another until…*
Shoulders: I was so wrong about you Chemise, so wrong. And about your sister too. I thought I loved her. I now know it was only a passing fancy. She’s nothing compared to the glory that is you. Please forgive me for being such a rake.
Chemise: Of course I forgive you Shoulders, I love you. Yes, even though you treated me like shite when you thought I was a conniving little wench and still haven’t properly apologized, I love you.
Shoulders: Oh Chemise
Chemise: Oh Shoulders
*kissing noises*
*he finally gets his hands on that godforsaken garment she’s named after*
*coitus*
*simultaneous perfect orgasms*
*they catch the bad guy the very next day*
Once again, that all sounds pretty damn clichéd. Well, it is. You know what? I don’t give a shit. I loved every single second of it and I will continue to read every book in this series. Call them my guilty pleasure, call me a bloody hypocrite, I don’t care. I just love the quirky inner monologues:
“…she glanced sideways to where his fingers rested just past her shoulder. Not touching her. Not trying to touch her. Just there, with nothing to indicate if it was an intentional arm or an accidental arm.
She was being ridiculous. An arm wasn’t accidental; it was an appendage, and it had to go somewhere.”
I just love the beautiful depictions of scenery:
“The sound of the horses’ hooves changed as the carriage rattled from Capel Street onto the bridge that spanned the Liffey. In the water below, the reflection of the carriage lamps looked like the watchtowers of a drowned city.”
And I just love the duel storylines of the escapades of historical characters and the modern day grad student who’s researching them.
So if you like historical romance done right, try this series.
This review can also be found at The Alliterates
September 13, 2007
Old TT review:
So, I read The Deception of the Emerald Ring, the third book in the Pink Carnation series, and I have to say, I'm not pleased with the direction the series is taking. Instead of being French Revolution spy adventures with a dash of romance, they are turning into romance novels with a dash of French Revolution spy adventure. Me, I got nothin' against romance novels, but I'm picky about them and Lauren Willig is not making the cut here. Also, the framing device of the PhD candidate doing research on these characters for her disseratation is wearing on me, because she is kind of too dumb to live.
So, I read The Deception of the Emerald Ring, the third book in the Pink Carnation series, and I have to say, I'm not pleased with the direction the series is taking. Instead of being French Revolution spy adventures with a dash of romance, they are turning into romance novels with a dash of French Revolution spy adventure. Me, I got nothin' against romance novels, but I'm picky about them and Lauren Willig is not making the cut here. Also, the framing device of the PhD candidate doing research on these characters for her disseratation is wearing on me, because she is kind of too dumb to live.
January 5, 2015
Regency Period & Ireland
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★★★★★ (This is a review of the audiobook.) Oh! This parallel time warp series just keeps getting better and better. Luckily, it looks like the fabulous, talented and versatile Kate Reading narrates the whole of this series. She does a wonderful job on the male and female voices – of all ages. (Eloise’s grandmother sounds a little like an elderly Katherine Hepburn.) She’s good at differentiating the voices within the same sex also. Regardless of whether the characters’ agendas are nefarious or benign – Ms. Reading gets the tone and inflection just right and gives nothing away – if their intent was part of the mystery. And **gasp** most of the book takes place in Ireland!
I am NOT a big admirer of the ‘hero-in-love-with-the-sister’ theme, yet this author pulled it off. Forced into a marriage-of-convenience with the younger, ‘less desirable’ sibling, would I believe the hero worthy of heroine? Would they have a ‘plausible’ HEA*? I guess my rating puts those questions to rest. And **gasp** most of the book takes place in Ireland! In addition, there are plenty of clever twists in the plotline; I was gobsmacked more than once.
I also want to say, that when referring to the hardcopy version to write my “buddy read” questions, I was captivated by Ms. Willig’s writing style. Not only is it well edited, she chooses just the right word and expression, causing the scenes and century switches to flow seamlessly, making it all a pure pleasure to read. I got caught up in the story all over again!
Special Note: I went looking for the paperback copies of this series as references for the “buddy reads” I am doing of the Pink Carnation series. It is no surprise that I didn’t find them in the “Romance” section but in the “Fiction”. Book stores are still a bit snobbish when it comes to tagging a book a “Romance”. Though, I agree that they are “sophisticated” romances – and at least in the upper echelon of the genre; nevertheless, that doesn’t make them any less deviously, deliciously FUN!
*HEA = Happily Ever After
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★★★★★ (This is a review of the audiobook.) Oh! This parallel time warp series just keeps getting better and better. Luckily, it looks like the fabulous, talented and versatile Kate Reading narrates the whole of this series. She does a wonderful job on the male and female voices – of all ages. (Eloise’s grandmother sounds a little like an elderly Katherine Hepburn.) She’s good at differentiating the voices within the same sex also. Regardless of whether the characters’ agendas are nefarious or benign – Ms. Reading gets the tone and inflection just right and gives nothing away – if their intent was part of the mystery. And **gasp** most of the book takes place in Ireland!
I am NOT a big admirer of the ‘hero-in-love-with-the-sister’ theme, yet this author pulled it off. Forced into a marriage-of-convenience with the younger, ‘less desirable’ sibling, would I believe the hero worthy of heroine? Would they have a ‘plausible’ HEA*? I guess my rating puts those questions to rest. And **gasp** most of the book takes place in Ireland! In addition, there are plenty of clever twists in the plotline; I was gobsmacked more than once.
I also want to say, that when referring to the hardcopy version to write my “buddy read” questions, I was captivated by Ms. Willig’s writing style. Not only is it well edited, she chooses just the right word and expression, causing the scenes and century switches to flow seamlessly, making it all a pure pleasure to read. I got caught up in the story all over again!
Special Note: I went looking for the paperback copies of this series as references for the “buddy reads” I am doing of the Pink Carnation series. It is no surprise that I didn’t find them in the “Romance” section but in the “Fiction”. Book stores are still a bit snobbish when it comes to tagging a book a “Romance”. Though, I agree that they are “sophisticated” romances – and at least in the upper echelon of the genre; nevertheless, that doesn’t make them any less deviously, deliciously FUN!
*HEA = Happily Ever After
October 26, 2010
The magic was missing from this one. And I’m not sure I can elaborate further and identify what piece was lacking except to say that something was just off. It took me a week of off and on reading to finish this which is inexcusable for a book that qualifies as light reading.
There is an author’s note in the front of the book where she admits that this book was more of a struggle to write than the first two and unfortunately, I think I picked up on that because I kept putting this book down to go watch old episodes of Rock of Love and Toddlers & Tiaras on Netflix (shameful!)
I thought the romance portion was weak and rushed and the spy portion was uncharacteristically dull in comparison to other books I’ve read from this author. And the bit of chick-lit interspersed between the historical sections is distracting but this isn’t a new complaint, I haven’t ever been crazy about Eloise and Colin but this time, their interactions felt like more of an anemic intermission than actual plot movement. Lame.
Complaints aside, there is something compelling about this series and I appreciate that it is unlike anything else I’ve read. I will certainly continue with the series, even though this book was a disappointment to me. I’ve requested the audio version of the next from the library so am curious to see how this series translates to the spoken word.
There is an author’s note in the front of the book where she admits that this book was more of a struggle to write than the first two and unfortunately, I think I picked up on that because I kept putting this book down to go watch old episodes of Rock of Love and Toddlers & Tiaras on Netflix (shameful!)
I thought the romance portion was weak and rushed and the spy portion was uncharacteristically dull in comparison to other books I’ve read from this author. And the bit of chick-lit interspersed between the historical sections is distracting but this isn’t a new complaint, I haven’t ever been crazy about Eloise and Colin but this time, their interactions felt like more of an anemic intermission than actual plot movement. Lame.
Complaints aside, there is something compelling about this series and I appreciate that it is unlike anything else I’ve read. I will certainly continue with the series, even though this book was a disappointment to me. I’ve requested the audio version of the next from the library so am curious to see how this series translates to the spoken word.
February 25, 2022
Geoff and Letty are one of my very favorite couples from this series. I love a good sensible sister gets the guy romance and the layers of deception and misunderstanding in this make the eventual straightening out of their relationship all the better. This also has good Colin and Eloise development and I am always here for them even when the romances are not my favorite, which is not the case here.
Series ranking:
1. The Masque of the Black Tulip
2. The Deception of the Emerald Ring
3. The Secret History of the Pink Carnation
Series ranking:
1. The Masque of the Black Tulip
2. The Deception of the Emerald Ring
3. The Secret History of the Pink Carnation
April 2, 2022
At the end of the previous book, the Black Tulip escaped and the secret order of spies are organized for what comes next away from volatile Napoleonic France and England, but the powder keg that is Ireland. The French are rousing the Irish to rebellion and have sent in their best spy, the Black Tulip to lead this meanwhile, the calm and capable Pink Carnation is already there working to thwart this ploy. I had a great time with the last book so I was more than eager to press forward with the tale of a new spy and a new romance.
The Deception of the Emerald Ring is the third of the connected series of Pink Carnation books and doesn’t make for a good standalone read as a result.
Lord Pinchingdale-Snipe, spy for England is besotted with the cunning though cherubic appearing Mary Alsworthy so he is ready to take drastic steps to make her his even an elopement. Only, in the haste and shuffle, he ends up with the wrong woman. Instead of Mary, he is confronted by Letty and it is too late when he is sensible enough to realize this. His orders send him to Ireland and he is vastly relieved to go, but not to welcome the woman as a partner in his work. But, he is surprised to discover that Letty is unlike her sister in some ways that make her superior.
Letty had intended to prevent her wayward sister from tarnishing the family reputation, but instead ends up forced to marry the man herself when a mistake occurs. A forced marriage is no one’s idea of fun, but the man didn’t have to hare off on their wedding day, did he? After getting good and drunk, she rushes off to Ireland to give her fleet-footed groom a piece of her mind and lands in his clandestine activities for quite the adventure and possible a romance.
Meanwhile, Eloise continues her research and makes a good discovery at the British Library and bombs at blind dates set up by her grandmother and pretending she doesn’t care that Colin Sedgwick hasn’t called her back.
So, the last book was a fun one and I enjoyed the tone and the plot. This one was more of a mixed feeling installment for me. I thought it was fun and light especially with Jane and the others working together on a mission, but aspects of the romance drove me nuts. Even though I’ve gotten used to the light tone and some of the over the top stuff, I still struggle accepting professional spies behaving like amateurs and amateurs operating in deep missions let alone making sense of their romance. Geof is supposed to be a superb spy and yet he does his work distracted by women and is so unobservant as to get hitched to the wrong woman. Then there is Letty who can’t seem to open her mouth and explain her side of the situation. Their brangling wasn’t entertaining to me. In the modern thread, Eloise was awkward and silly as usual. I was glad there were less flips to that thread. However, as the suspense element grew more prominent and everyone had to work together as a team, I started to settle in and enjoy it better. The last third was sensational and there were no mixed feelings.
Geoffrey and Letty might have caused irritation at times, but I thought they were a fun pair. They didn’t like each other at first and sparks flew, but it was obvious they were good for each other, too. They had to sort out their own issues and issues as a couple while working against a French spy ring and Irish Rebels. Again, danger and the promise of death is the final factor to helping the pair realize and admit what they have felt for each other for some time.
I split my reading with also listening to the audiobook once I got my turn through the library. Kate Reading was a new to me narrator. Her voice and her voicing of characters and story was good, but I had already read from the series and had my own idea of the voices so it was an adjustment that I never fully made. I think I’ll finish the series in print and maybe come back to audio as a series re-read.
In the end, though I had moments of setting the book aside and wondering if I wanted to press forward, I found the last several chapters pulled me back in and made me eager to see what comes next in the series. I think those who like light, bantering historical romances blended with suspense will find these entertaining.
The Deception of the Emerald Ring is the third of the connected series of Pink Carnation books and doesn’t make for a good standalone read as a result.
Lord Pinchingdale-Snipe, spy for England is besotted with the cunning though cherubic appearing Mary Alsworthy so he is ready to take drastic steps to make her his even an elopement. Only, in the haste and shuffle, he ends up with the wrong woman. Instead of Mary, he is confronted by Letty and it is too late when he is sensible enough to realize this. His orders send him to Ireland and he is vastly relieved to go, but not to welcome the woman as a partner in his work. But, he is surprised to discover that Letty is unlike her sister in some ways that make her superior.
Letty had intended to prevent her wayward sister from tarnishing the family reputation, but instead ends up forced to marry the man herself when a mistake occurs. A forced marriage is no one’s idea of fun, but the man didn’t have to hare off on their wedding day, did he? After getting good and drunk, she rushes off to Ireland to give her fleet-footed groom a piece of her mind and lands in his clandestine activities for quite the adventure and possible a romance.
Meanwhile, Eloise continues her research and makes a good discovery at the British Library and bombs at blind dates set up by her grandmother and pretending she doesn’t care that Colin Sedgwick hasn’t called her back.
So, the last book was a fun one and I enjoyed the tone and the plot. This one was more of a mixed feeling installment for me. I thought it was fun and light especially with Jane and the others working together on a mission, but aspects of the romance drove me nuts. Even though I’ve gotten used to the light tone and some of the over the top stuff, I still struggle accepting professional spies behaving like amateurs and amateurs operating in deep missions let alone making sense of their romance. Geof is supposed to be a superb spy and yet he does his work distracted by women and is so unobservant as to get hitched to the wrong woman. Then there is Letty who can’t seem to open her mouth and explain her side of the situation. Their brangling wasn’t entertaining to me. In the modern thread, Eloise was awkward and silly as usual. I was glad there were less flips to that thread. However, as the suspense element grew more prominent and everyone had to work together as a team, I started to settle in and enjoy it better. The last third was sensational and there were no mixed feelings.
Geoffrey and Letty might have caused irritation at times, but I thought they were a fun pair. They didn’t like each other at first and sparks flew, but it was obvious they were good for each other, too. They had to sort out their own issues and issues as a couple while working against a French spy ring and Irish Rebels. Again, danger and the promise of death is the final factor to helping the pair realize and admit what they have felt for each other for some time.
I split my reading with also listening to the audiobook once I got my turn through the library. Kate Reading was a new to me narrator. Her voice and her voicing of characters and story was good, but I had already read from the series and had my own idea of the voices so it was an adjustment that I never fully made. I think I’ll finish the series in print and maybe come back to audio as a series re-read.
In the end, though I had moments of setting the book aside and wondering if I wanted to press forward, I found the last several chapters pulled me back in and made me eager to see what comes next in the series. I think those who like light, bantering historical romances blended with suspense will find these entertaining.
September 8, 2014
After trying to thwart her sister's elopement, Letty finds herself compromised and married to Geoffrey Pinchingdale-Snipe. Feeling he has been trapped into a marriage to the less attractive sister, Geoffrey abandons Letty on their wedding night and sets sail for Ireland.
Feeling humiliated Letty sets off in pursuit but what she doesn't realise is Geoffrey is a spy in the League of the Purple Gentian and he is traveling to Ireland to thwart a French invasion. Letty lands right in the middle of a plot that could be the end of the British Empire.
I haven't read the first two books in the Pink Carnation series and because of that, The Deception of the Emerald Ring was not an easy book to get into. There are two stories running at the same time, Letty and Geoffrey's story in 1803 and Eloise Kelly, an historian researching the Purple Gentian in the present day.
Personally, that secondary story didn't work and felt a bit out of place, but I did enjoy the main story when I finally figured out what was going on. It's a pretty good book, but I think if you're interested, do yourself a favour and start at the beginning.
Feeling humiliated Letty sets off in pursuit but what she doesn't realise is Geoffrey is a spy in the League of the Purple Gentian and he is traveling to Ireland to thwart a French invasion. Letty lands right in the middle of a plot that could be the end of the British Empire.
I haven't read the first two books in the Pink Carnation series and because of that, The Deception of the Emerald Ring was not an easy book to get into. There are two stories running at the same time, Letty and Geoffrey's story in 1803 and Eloise Kelly, an historian researching the Purple Gentian in the present day.
Personally, that secondary story didn't work and felt a bit out of place, but I did enjoy the main story when I finally figured out what was going on. It's a pretty good book, but I think if you're interested, do yourself a favour and start at the beginning.
June 18, 2014
Love this series:-) Romance and spies, humor/drama *happy sigh* Kate Reading did a brilliant job narrating the story, giving everyone a distinctive voice, past or present.
Letty is one of my favorite characters of the series, I think we'd be great friends:-)
Letty is one of my favorite characters of the series, I think we'd be great friends:-)
June 6, 2020
I so enjoy reading fictional historical events. 1803 and Spies and aristocracy in Ireland and England. although the publisher has a huge fail since the book takes place in 1803 yet on the cover the woman is dressed in clothes from after the 1850's I so hate historical mistakes
April 28, 2021
My favorite of the series so far.
August 27, 2013
I quite enjoyed this book. It's predictable, but sometimes predictable is nice. Geoff accidentally marries the wrong sister, Letty, but somehow they fall in love in the midst of spying and intrigue in Ireland. Also, we learn more about the Black Tulip.
I've continued reading this series because it is like potato chips. Not particularly good, and you know that there is much better substance out there, but still you find it enjoyable and a little addictive. I was rolling my eyes a bit to (once again) see the plot of the young, inexperienced girl being given expert sex by the more experienced man. But I liked it in spite of that. I wish they'd gotten to the romance a little sooner, because all the confusions did feel a bit drawn out. Still, there was explosions, intrigue, confusion, and it was nice to see a heroine who isn't stereotypically pretty, and is rather bad at subterfuge.
I'm sure I'll be reading more of the books eventually.
I've continued reading this series because it is like potato chips. Not particularly good, and you know that there is much better substance out there, but still you find it enjoyable and a little addictive. I was rolling my eyes a bit to (once again) see the plot of the young, inexperienced girl being given expert sex by the more experienced man. But I liked it in spite of that. I wish they'd gotten to the romance a little sooner, because all the confusions did feel a bit drawn out. Still, there was explosions, intrigue, confusion, and it was nice to see a heroine who isn't stereotypically pretty, and is rather bad at subterfuge.
I'm sure I'll be reading more of the books eventually.
June 6, 2008
The plot was fairly interesting, but Willig's writing style leaves a lot to be desired. I didn't like how she switched between the present and the past; it felt disjointed and I didn't really care for the characters in the present. I can see where she tried to make some parallels, but I didn't enjoy them. Also, her use of language makes the sections set in the early 1800s implausible; I felt like she tried to antiquate modern language, but she didn't really succeed, so a lot of what the characters said or thought didn't seem like something they should say or think. This also made me feel like the characters were underdevloped. I kept reading because I wanted to find out about the spies, but there's no answer for that at the end, only a trite love story ending. I most likely will not read this book again.
October 28, 2008
Eloise continues her search for more information (using only primary sources of course) regarding the adventures of various spies during the Napoleonic Wars.
This book revolves around Geoff and Letty -- who were caught in a 'compromising' situation and were forced to wed basically as strangers. I did find it interesting but I felt like this relationship was a little forced. I mean Geoff suddenly realizes Letty is this honest and wonderful girl after what, like a couple of weeks?! Of course they end up falling in love (that isn't really a spoiler) but the story just didn't flow as nicely as the previous novels did.
However, I loved the development of Eloise and Colin's story. I like Colin more and more in each book I think.
This book revolves around Geoff and Letty -- who were caught in a 'compromising' situation and were forced to wed basically as strangers. I did find it interesting but I felt like this relationship was a little forced. I mean Geoff suddenly realizes Letty is this honest and wonderful girl after what, like a couple of weeks?! Of course they end up falling in love (that isn't really a spoiler) but the story just didn't flow as nicely as the previous novels did.
However, I loved the development of Eloise and Colin's story. I like Colin more and more in each book I think.
January 3, 2024
Letty and Geoff are charming characters with an enemies to lovers-esque tale, sprinkled in with a dash of Henrietta and Ms Gwen for comedic relief. This is probably my favorite out of the Pink Carnations Series. Colin and Eloise are still figuring each other out, a budding, slow burn romance that leaves the reader wanting more.
December 30, 2008
This was my least favorite of the series. It was kind of boring and the main characters were extremely irritating, and those are the worst sins an author can commit.
August 30, 2017
4.5 stars I've been catching up on the Pink Carnation books, and this was my last reread. From here on out, I get to experience them for the first time!
I remembered liking this book, and I enjoyed it quite a bit the second time around as well. The modern day relationship keeps my attention and I'm always wanting to know what will happen next. And the historical story! I really liked Letty in this book as she's sensible and intelligent. I got a little frustrated at Pinchingdale-Snipe because it took him so long to realize that Letty was not conniving to trap him into marriage. The building attraction and relationship between these two is endearing by the end. It's not often that I feel so genuinely happy for fictitious characters.
The spy portion of the plot works well in this book, too. With each installment of the series, readers get drawn deeper and deeper into the competing spy rings and somehow each book makes me feel a little more invested in wanting to know what is going on. If you like mystery with your romance (or vice versa), I highly recommend giving these books a try.
I remembered liking this book, and I enjoyed it quite a bit the second time around as well. The modern day relationship keeps my attention and I'm always wanting to know what will happen next. And the historical story! I really liked Letty in this book as she's sensible and intelligent. I got a little frustrated at Pinchingdale-Snipe because it took him so long to realize that Letty was not conniving to trap him into marriage. The building attraction and relationship between these two is endearing by the end. It's not often that I feel so genuinely happy for fictitious characters.
The spy portion of the plot works well in this book, too. With each installment of the series, readers get drawn deeper and deeper into the competing spy rings and somehow each book makes me feel a little more invested in wanting to know what is going on. If you like mystery with your romance (or vice versa), I highly recommend giving these books a try.
July 24, 2019
What a pairing. What a delight!!! I'm just having the best time over here. I do like how Letty and Geoff weren't initially eager to even be in the same room with each other, and I like how both had their own hangups - such as Geoff's idea of romanticized love with Mary, and Letty's whole hangup of trying to save her family's reputation. I think I would've liked a little more about how Letty watched Geoff and Mary from afar and wished that was her, considering we didn't know her like we knew Hen in the last book, but getting through those hurdles was good. Eloise and Colin finally got a date set!!! Good stuff.
April 18, 2019
My favorite of the series so far. The one couple is my favorite so far. Great to see the Pink Carnation and her aunt again. There's a couple I'm rooting for but not sure if I should. We'll see.
April 29, 2021
Still having great fun re- reading and attending zoom talks with Lauren Willig about her writing and these books.
I think I most identify with Letty, though I wish I were Jane :) Letty isn't going to set the world on fire, but she is loyal through and through
I think I most identify with Letty, though I wish I were Jane :) Letty isn't going to set the world on fire, but she is loyal through and through
November 4, 2011
This is the third book in a series that takes place in England during the regency period. It focuses on the leagues of English Spies ala the Scarlet Pimpernel (aristocrats who spy!) who are busy doing their part to foil Napolean. This was the first in this series that I read (the pink carnation series)and while I think reading the earlier books would have fleshed out some of the characters in this book a bit more, it wasn't a big problem. I wasn't sure going into this if this was going to be straight historical fiction or a historical romance. Note: it is decidely a romance so if that's not your cup of tea beware.
I liked this book. It was a nice, light romp of a read - I liked all the historical characters and feel like the relationship set-up was interesting with a low level of annoying contrivances. I mean there is the fact that once the heroine realizes the nature of the misunderstanding with Geoff, she doesn't make a point to try and explain - in fact she never really does which seems more of a "let's see how long we can draw this conflict out" rather than actual human nature/behavior. But you get some of that in most romance novels else many of them would be about 100 pages long.
My one big beef with the whole series is the author's use of a parallel modern story. I can see how when she was coming up with the idea that it seemed like such a brilliant and interesting device but it did not work for me at all. I hated the modern day "heroine" Eloise who is supposedly working on her phD at Harvard but is so silly, shallow, and just plain ridiculous I found it hard to swallow or take her as a serious academic. Eloise is the quintessential heroine of a chick-lit novel and while I like a romance or two I cannot stand chick-lit so its likely just a personal thing for me. I wanted to completely skip these sections of the book but was afraid I'd miss something. I was always annoyed when they popped up.
While I usually hate starting "in the middle"of a series I was glad I started with this one. It was all right and I have since gone back and read the first book in the series and I really disliked it. So I'm gonna try a few of the others in the series and hope they are more like this then the first book and also hope that I work up the courage to skip the modern day chapters.
I liked this book. It was a nice, light romp of a read - I liked all the historical characters and feel like the relationship set-up was interesting with a low level of annoying contrivances. I mean there is the fact that once the heroine realizes the nature of the misunderstanding with Geoff, she doesn't make a point to try and explain - in fact she never really does which seems more of a "let's see how long we can draw this conflict out" rather than actual human nature/behavior. But you get some of that in most romance novels else many of them would be about 100 pages long.
My one big beef with the whole series is the author's use of a parallel modern story. I can see how when she was coming up with the idea that it seemed like such a brilliant and interesting device but it did not work for me at all. I hated the modern day "heroine" Eloise who is supposedly working on her phD at Harvard but is so silly, shallow, and just plain ridiculous I found it hard to swallow or take her as a serious academic. Eloise is the quintessential heroine of a chick-lit novel and while I like a romance or two I cannot stand chick-lit so its likely just a personal thing for me. I wanted to completely skip these sections of the book but was afraid I'd miss something. I was always annoyed when they popped up.
While I usually hate starting "in the middle"of a series I was glad I started with this one. It was all right and I have since gone back and read the first book in the series and I really disliked it. So I'm gonna try a few of the others in the series and hope they are more like this then the first book and also hope that I work up the courage to skip the modern day chapters.
April 10, 2015
Je partais avec un ou deux a priori sur ce tome, en plus du fait qu'il arrive juste après Henrietta et Miles qui sont absolument fabuleux ♥, et au final je l'ai absolument adoré ♥♥♥ autant que le précédent.
Comme j'avais dû le dire pour le tome 2, je ne suis pas fan des histoires où les héros sont obligés de se marier précipitamment pour x ou y raison, parce que souvent au fond, c'est un GROS MALENTENDU et je déteste un peu la ficelle du GROS MALENTENDU (bon sang parlez un peu les gens) (bref). Que ce soit dans le tome précédent ou celui-là, on est assez éloigné de ça. Bon, il y a bien un malentendu dans celui-là, mais la compréhension s'installe naturellement et sans prendre plus de temps que nécessaire *yeah*
Donc du coup, j'ai totalement adhéré au couple formé par Geoff et Letty, avec moult gloussements que j'ai dû refréner dans mon bus (faut vraiment que je comprenne que je ne dois pas lire cette série en public mais zut) (bref, lire dans le bus c'est frustrant) (mais pas aussi frustrant que cette horrible perversion trop bien calculée qu'a Lauren Willig à changer d'époque d'un chapitre à l'autre pile quand la tension est à son comble (shame on you Mrs Willig, shame on you !!). Ce qui m'amène donc à Eloise et Colin et hihihihihihihihihi. Hmmm. Voilà.
A part la romance, il y a aussi toute la partie espionnage et c'est vraiment prenant, la lumière commence à se faire sur l'identité de la Tulipe Noire, et un petit peu aussi sur Lord Vaughn, mais juste assez pour donner envie d'en savoir plus et de se jeter sur le tome suivant. On retrouve également Jane et Miss Gwen, et zomg, j'espère qu'à un moment on a des passages du roman que Miss Gwen écrit parce que ça doit valoir son pesant d'or xD
Bref, Lord Sebastian Vaughn, attends-moi, j'arrive dans pas longtemps !
(ah par contre je suis très triste, on croise pas une seule fois Turnip dans ce tome :( )
Comme j'avais dû le dire pour le tome 2, je ne suis pas fan des histoires où les héros sont obligés de se marier précipitamment pour x ou y raison, parce que souvent au fond, c'est un GROS MALENTENDU et je déteste un peu la ficelle du GROS MALENTENDU (bon sang parlez un peu les gens) (bref). Que ce soit dans le tome précédent ou celui-là, on est assez éloigné de ça. Bon, il y a bien un malentendu dans celui-là, mais la compréhension s'installe naturellement et sans prendre plus de temps que nécessaire *yeah*
Donc du coup, j'ai totalement adhéré au couple formé par Geoff et Letty, avec moult gloussements que j'ai dû refréner dans mon bus (faut vraiment que je comprenne que je ne dois pas lire cette série en public mais zut) (bref, lire dans le bus c'est frustrant) (mais pas aussi frustrant que cette horrible perversion trop bien calculée qu'a Lauren Willig à changer d'époque d'un chapitre à l'autre pile quand la tension est à son comble (shame on you Mrs Willig, shame on you !!). Ce qui m'amène donc à Eloise et Colin et hihihihihihihihihi. Hmmm. Voilà.
A part la romance, il y a aussi toute la partie espionnage et c'est vraiment prenant, la lumière commence à se faire sur l'identité de la Tulipe Noire, et un petit peu aussi sur Lord Vaughn, mais juste assez pour donner envie d'en savoir plus et de se jeter sur le tome suivant. On retrouve également Jane et Miss Gwen, et zomg, j'espère qu'à un moment on a des passages du roman que Miss Gwen écrit parce que ça doit valoir son pesant d'or xD
Bref, Lord Sebastian Vaughn, attends-moi, j'arrive dans pas longtemps !
(ah par contre je suis très triste, on croise pas une seule fois Turnip dans ce tome :( )
June 4, 2008
The problem here is the bitter single woman syndrome. This book is the third book in a series about a Harvard grad student who is researching spies in England during the Napoleonic wars. A totally fascinating topic that is ruined by the modern day researcher who is just a mess. This is no Jennifer Weiner description of a modern woman, this is just pure insecure woman with no life but her research. In short, there's nothing to respect about her, she rarely holds her own, she's miserable without her man, and she doesn't seem to know what she's doing with her life. The historical plots are on the other hand imaginative and complex. I could do with more clarity around the motives of the characters, even if they are complex. There is promise here, her vocabulary and graspe of colloquialisms of the period is excellent. Great wit and excellent dialogue in some places. I think it brings to mind that quite a lot can be helped with a good editor.
September 8, 2015
The third book in the Pink Carnation series by Lauren Willig and a satisfying addition for me. This one takes place mostly in Ireland. Fast paced but not too fast that you blink and miss something. I wasn't really liking the hero and heroine at first but after awhile I started warming up to them. I thought the romance was a little stiff and not totally convincing but it worked out in the end. I'm not a great fan of plot-lines that continue in several books but I'm enjoying the series anyway.
November 10, 2008
this book is the third in the pink carnation series and the first one that was a bit convoluted (i felt). the characters are developed well enough, but i felt the story of the ring of spies in ireland was not really finished. i guess the fourth in the series will pick up right where this left off.
October 21, 2010
Book #3 in the Pink Carnation series.
More of a historical romp than anything else. I still had fun with it though, and it's clever at least. Calls a lot on the classic Scarlet Pimpernel series.
For the complete review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/content_40056...
More of a historical romp than anything else. I still had fun with it though, and it's clever at least. Calls a lot on the classic Scarlet Pimpernel series.
For the complete review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/content_40056...
April 20, 2021
I just reread this , and was delighted to find it was still a terrific read. The plot is intriguing: failed elopement leads to marriage to the wrong girl while trying to stop a revolt and invasion. Cool beans if you know Lauren Willig's writing. Plenty of witty banter and derring do.
June 16, 2007
I adored the first two books in this series -- complete fluff, but immense -- but this one was weirdly unsatisfying. Alas.
April 11, 2019
3.5 stars. A favorite theme of mine in romance is the hero making up to the heroine for his misjudgment and poor treatment of her; this book delivered on that premise. However, though I was emotionally invested in this “misunderstandings are the plot” installment of the series, the writing niggles (e.g. repeated words, excessive use of adverbs and details) that bothered me in the first book, not in the second, bugged me again. The present-day portions annoyed me more too, but I really did love Letty and Jeffrey together. The brief appearances of Lord Vaughn were a treat too. Kate Reading was, of course, a wonderful narrator.
April 23, 2019
Lauren Willig continues to offer splendid English espionage in vibrant settings and locations. Her characters embrace your presence with Willig's excellent handle on period language and the art of conversation. The actors are charming, endearing, frightful and very humorous. Love the sexy edge too!
December 2, 2023
On the surface, this should have been an easy 5-star for me. I love jealousy and the sort of miscommunication that makes one MC vastly misjudge the other. But...I think this one just had a bit too much spy plot for the romance to develop properly, so the ending where the MCs come together felt a little half baked.
But I did enjoy the spy stuff, and I do love this world, so I'll say 4 stars.
But I did enjoy the spy stuff, and I do love this world, so I'll say 4 stars.
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