Customer Reviews

The Deception of the Emerald Ring (Pink Carnation)

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The books in this series (this is the third) just keep getting better. To summarize briefly, the story alternates from the present, in which Eloise is researching English spies in the Napoleonic era for her Ph.D. thesis, to Regency England and the story of Letty, who becomes involved with one of these spies. Both are having trouble with the male species (and it's not surprising that despite the century, the contretemps in which men and women find themselves have not changed all that much). The author switches between stories with an amazing dexterity that keeps the reader turning the pages as rapidly as possible.

The book is full of dry wit, the characters are delightful, and the plot engaging.

My advice to the author: Do quit the day job and focus on writing entirely -- and give us more of these books, SOON!

Eloise Kelly is in England researching 19th century spies for her Ph.D thesis and trying her best not to obsess over Colin Selwick, a decendant of one of her Napoleonic spies, the Purple Gentian (Richard), and one good looking Brit. She comes across Letty Alsworthy, also known as Mrs. Alsdale, who has found herself in a rather unpleasant situation with a friend of the Purple Gentian, Geoffrey Pinchingdale. They wind up in Ireland with the British spy the Pink Carnation, trying to stop an Irish uprising with possible French aid and the even more confusing and deadly French spy the Black Tulip.

Letty is an unlikely heroine who you can't help but root for. She says what she thinks and every emotion plays out on her freckled face. She has good intentions but things don't always turn out the way she plans. Geoff isn't your typical knight in shining armor. He's someone who prefers to think about things and to strategize. But he is charming and romantic (he writes poems) and you're glad he comes to his senses and realizes the beauty that is the second Alsworthy daughter.

This book was just as good as the first two. I suggest reading the books in order, but Willig explains enough so that you don't have to. I love how easily she switches point of view between her couples (Letty/Geoff, Amy/Richard, and Hen/Miles) in her books. Eloise's story doesn't interupt the other story and the other story doesn't interupt Eloise's story. Maybe a tiny bit predictable, but still very fun, very enjoyable, and worth whatever you pay for them. If you like historical fiction and a bit of romance and to laugh, you'll love the Deception of the Emerald Ring, along with the first two Pink Carnation books. Book four better hurry up and come out soon. :-)

Harvard Ph.D. aspirant Eloise Kelly researches her third potential nineteenth century female spy (see THE SECRET HISTORY OF THE PINK CARNATION and THE MASQUE OF THE BLACK TULIP) as she begins to find information on nineteen years old Letty Alsworthy. Apparently, Letty married Lord Geoffrey Pinchingdale-Snipe, her older sister Mary's fiancé. This happened because she, the younger sibling, tried to prevent Mary from making a mistake that ironically ended with Letty making a mistake; alas the consequence turned out to be her hurried marriage to Geoffrey.

The League of the Purple Gentian sends Geoffrey to Ireland to prevent a rebellion. Letty assumes he is fleeing her so she investigates where he may have run off to after they ran off and married. She cleverly traces him to Dublin where she concludes her new spouse is a spymaster. Believing in supporting one's husband, Letty is active in his secret vocation though her bumbling amateur ways causes Geoffrey much consternation as she keeps trying to don his black cloak.

This is a terrific amusing historical romance that is at its best when the story line remains in the nineteenth century. When Eloise periodically takes center stage, the plot feels disrupted. Still this is a superb tale filled with warm characters in dangerous situations turned ironically humorous. Now if Eloise can be kept to pre and post game commentary, Lauren Willig's colorful female spy series would be perfect.

Harriet Klausner

I think the most telling fact I can proffer here--to convey my reception of this book-- is the fact that I read the thing in one sitting. I started in the afternoon, but then took it to bed with me with the thought "I'll just polish off a few more chapters before I turn in." Ahh, well.."a few more chapters" turned into 5,into 7, you get the idea. I finally checked the clock and it was nearly 4:30am and I resigned myself to the fact that I was not sleeping until I finished the book entirely. I realize that "Couldn't put it down" seems the trite praise of a billion positive book reviews, but really isn't that elusive "unputdownableness" the greatest trait fiction can aspire to?
The two lead characters Geoff & Letty were really what had me enthralled. They were sweet characters, also funny, relatable. . .something about them just snared my imagination, I guess. The whole espionage plot, to be honest, was secondary. I don't mean to say it bored me--it didn't-- but it was the development of the characters and their relationship that kept me turning pages. Oh, and as for the intrusion of Eloise's story I didn't mind that. The contemporary plot, being more banal and more plodding, is not as compelling as its historical counterpoint. But, I can see the need for the drawn out pace if Willig is intending to stretch this Eloise-Colin drama throughout her whole series (however many novels that ends up being) Plus Eloise is a likeable character too. What I did like about the recurring cuts back to present-day was how it created this succession of demi-cliffhangers into the novel and built a sense of suspense.
I actually had read the first book in the series ("..Pink Carnation") and though I liked it, it was by no means a one-sitting-read and I had no intention of seeking out other titles in this series. Now I'm reconsidering (obviously). That's why I popped on to Amazon..was wanting to check out reviews on "Black Tulip" and "Crimson Rose" (thought it was released already). But I thought, while I was here, and full of such effusive raves,why not rattle off a review?? I'm more interested to read "Black Tulip" than I am to read"Crimson Rose",really. I'm thinking my aversion to Mary in this book will predispose me to be,at best,indifferent to her as the heroine of the next story. Strangely, I find I'm most looking forward to book 5 --that is, if there is to be a book 5.

Once again, I was very pleased with Lauren Willig's writing. Her books are so funny! I have people asking what I'm reading because I'm continually laughing out loud. This book was the third in the series. The first book, The Secret History of the Pink Carnation, was by far the best of the three. This one was delightful, though.

I love the fact that the characters from previous books frequently pop up in this one. They are all characters I've grown to love - so I don't mind hearing about what they're up to. The Deception of the Emerald Ring does introduce relatively new main characters. Letty, the heroine of the story, is not as endearing as Henrietta of book 2 was, but she's lovable just the same.

I was also very pleased that Willig gave us something to look forward to concerning Eloise and Colin. I absolutly can't wait till the third book comes out!!

Great read. Willig is an excellent writer.

I thoroughly enjoyed the first and second books in the series - THE SECRET HISTORY OF THE PINK CARNATION and THE MASQUE OF THE BLACK TULIP. They are funny and imaginative - a combination of chick lit, romance and mystery.

I must say I enjoy the changing scenes between the current Eloise/Colin relationship and the older (200 years old) mystery. But some readers find the back-and-forth confusing and superfluous.

I'm looking forward to book 4!

As with the other books in this series, this book marries the "chick lit" genre with historical fiction - my two favorites. As with any "chick lit" book, you know you're not in for a novel worthy of a Nobel Prize in literature. However, I still found it light & entertaining.

Having read the first three books in the series, I have to say that these are getting very formulaic.
1. Historical guy & girl are into each other but for whatever reason/mishap, "can't" be together.
2. But then they end up married
3. Around page 300 (of the hardback), the gratuitous sex "scene" that would give any Harlequin romance novel a run for its money.
4. Guy & girl, now in love, are off to defeat the bad guys & save England from the evil spies yet again.

It's still entertaining and from reading the summary of book 4, I'm hoping Willig is going to mix it up some. Also, the heroine of this book drove me nuts - she was completely scatterbrained - worse than the heroine from book one. And the development of her husband's affections were kind of out of nowhere. But all in all, still worth a read if you're a follower of Willig's series.

After having gone through the previous two books in about a week, I knew what I was getting into when I started "The Deception of the Emerald Ring." I was expecting (and slightly looking forward to) the swooning, agonizing over intentions, and that action scene that will inevitably come within the last 30 pages. Ultimately I was satisfied... but like a decent meal that gives you heartburn later, something about this book didn't sit well.

Letty I found to be arguably my favorite heroine Willig has produced so far. I admire her unfailing spunk and practicality, particularly when she's aware that she's failing miserably. For all of the brilliant multi-dimensionality of Letty, however, there is Geoff. Compared with Richard from the first book (who admittedly had many more chapters written from his perspective) Geoff struck me as a touch flat, which is probably why I had an issue with the romantic chemistry between him and Letty.

The only other slightly off-putting aspects were the sheer number of anachronisms, like when Geoff gives the pseudonyms "Dooney" and "Burke" while he and his accomplice are undercover.

This eye-rolling joke (and the handful of others like it) would have been far more excusable to me if it hadn't been for the other major anachronism: someone seems to have snuck into Austenland, kidnapped Mr. and Mrs. Bennett and forced them to pose as Letty's parents. Letty even notes that her family home is in Hertforshire. This, combined with the numerous (but funny) Pride and Prejudice references in the "Eloise" chapters of the book leaves me feeling confident that I could hazard a guess at what book was on Willig's nightstand as she was writing this.

With all of this in mind, it was a satisfying and quick read. I appreciated finally seeing Jane at work, and the action was excellent. In fact, this is the first book where we get a really good look at just how competent Jane is, and as soon as I finish this review I'm off to go see if Willig has published a book from Jane's perspective yet (as she has promised she eventually will, I am told).

Lauren Willig again scores with the next installment of her "Pink Carnation" series. From exploring the ups and downs of "floral" spies during the Napoleonic Wars to following the exploits of 21st centrury researcher tracking the Carnation, there is never a dull moment.

The Deception of the Emerald Ring is different in the sense that it doesn't draw you into th reading immediately, but if you continue on with it, you won't be able to put it down. At first, it does drag on a bit, but soon enough, the excitement that we all love if Lauren Willig's writing, and the romance, picks up again. I'm not entirely done with the book, but right now, it's more than being an entertaining read. I have all 3 so far, and this one makes me anticipate a 4th.