Lauren Willig's Pink Carnation series has been a favorite of mine since it was first released in 2005 (see my review of her last novel at the Cozy Library). Her latest, the fourth in the series, The Seduction of the Crimson Rose, does not disappoint.
Eloise Kelly has been feverishly trying to complete the research for her dissertation on spies during the Napoleonic Wars. When last we saw her, she had unmasked the identity of England's elusive spy, the Pink Carnation. However, the identity of the notorious French spy, the Black Tulip, continues to evade her. On a hunch, she decides to examine the archives of Lord Vaughn, an aristocrat who aided the Pink Carnation. While examining his papers, we are whisked back to 1803 England. In an attempt to trap the Tulip, the Pink Carnation asks Lord Vaughn to enlist the help of Mary Alsworthy. Mary is to pose as a willing accomplice to the Tulip in order to identify and capture him. Forced to work together, Mary and Vaughn dislike each other immensely. Both are arrogant, cynical and stubborn. But their dislike quickly turns to desire and the two fall in love. When the Tulip gives Mary a mission to test her loyalty, she discovers that the Tulip is after Vaughn. After Vaughn's long-lost wife mysteriously reappears, Mary suspects she may be in league with the Tulip and attempts to uncover the plot.
All of Willig's novels follow this formula: a man and woman who dislike each other are forced to work together. Their dislike sparks a chemistry between the two and eventually they fall in love. Despite the predictable outcomes, I absolutely love this series! Charming, fun, excellent dialogue, vivid descriptions of historical England-I can never put these books down! Now that the Black Tulip has been unmasked, I hope Eloise Kelly and the Pink Carnation will be back for new adventures!
No comments:
Post a Comment