Customer Reviews

The Seduction of the Crimson Rose

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book, the fourth in the series, centers around Lord Vaughn and Mary Alsworthy, the older sister of Letty, the heroine of the last novel. When this book opens, the vain and self-centered Mary is still reeling from being jilted by Geoffrey, a former suitor who ended up marrying Letty. Although not brokenhearted (Mary's interest in Geoffrey was purely financial), Mary is still bitter over the fact that after several seasons, she is remains unmarried. Afraid she is about to end up a spinster, she agrees to help Lord Vaughn, an elusive, sardonic rake who is constantly quoting (and misquoting) Shakespeare, attempt to capture the French spy who calls him/herself The Black Tulip.

As the action unfolds-- and there is a lot of suspense in this installment-- Mary and Vaughn are drawn to each other, although they fight against their growing attraction. Many of their exchanges are reminiscent of Rhett/Scarlett or Benedick and Beatrice in that they spar and flirt, while still guarding their feelings. Eventually they fall in love, but their romance is not conventional-- in fact, there isn't even a real love scene between them (my only real disappointment with this book. It was a glaring absence).

While I was reading "The Seduction of the Crimson Rose," I thought that it would likely generate a lot of mixed reviews, largely because Mary and Vaughn are not conventional protagonists. Also, although there are romantic scenes, both characters are so pragmatic that they don't get swept away in the manner of the pairings in the other three "Pink Carnation" books. This is not to say, however, that there aren't romantic scenes. They are, and they are sweet, although still in keeping with the characters' more emotionally reticient natures.

For me, this installment was the most interesting and satisfying, not only because the writing is the strongest, but because Mary and Vaughn, despite their unconventionality, had what felt like the most real romance.

Are Vaughn and Mary likeable? Not as immediately endearing as Henrietta, Amy or Letty or, for that matter Richard, Miles, or Geoffrey, but they are very well drawn, distinctive characters. In the previous books, Vaughn came across as lecherous and a little creepy. It is to Willig's credit that in this one we get a deeper impression of the man as highly flawed, but still sympathetic-- complex, but surprisingly tender. And when Mary falls in love with Vaughn and performs her first unselfish acts, it's hard not to like her.

There are many reveals in this novel, and the writing is very crisp. Also, Eloise finally makes progress with Colin.

To my mind, the Pink Carnation books are unlike anything else on the market-- a very readable hybrid of historical fiction, romance and suspense. And this installment was, for me, the most compelling of them all so far.

Like the previous reviewer, I enjoyed "The Seduction of the Crimson Rose" very much and also thought that it was probably the best installment in the series so far -- perhaps it was because Lord Vaughn reminded me so much of some of my favourite Georgette Heyer heroes, or perhaps it was because the modern bits of this novel was limited to the bare minimum -- charming and amusing though the bits pertaining to Eloise Kelly are, I did find myself skimming through those few chapters in order to read more about Miss Mary Alsworthy and Lord Vaughn. Whatever the reason, I'm recommending "The Seduction of the Crimson Rose" as an enjoyable must read.

Her pride and self-confidence already shot when the gentleman she had chosen to be her husband, Lord Pinchingdale, accidentally ends up marrying her less beautiful younger sister, Letty ("The Deception of the Emerald Ring"), the beautiful Mary Alsworthy finds that she is willing to consider any enterprise that will not make her financially dependent on her sister and her new brother-in-law. Which is why, when the jaded and sardonic Lord Vaughn comes to her on behalf of the Pink Carnation with a plan to flush out the dreaded French agent, the Black Tulip. Of course this would mean having to spend more time with the infuriating Lord Vaughn, but Mary is willing to put up with the rake if it will help her achieve her aims. The last thing she expected was to find herself entangled with the many secrets of Vaughn's past, or that she would come to rely and care for him...

I really enjoyed Vaughn and Mary as a couple: their interactions sparkled with wit, energy and sexual tension, and it was this chemistry between the two principal characters that made the book such a wonderfully entertaining read. What also made the book very satisfying was the manner in which the author "fleshed" out both Vaughn's and Mary's characters. Neither character is the typical kind romantic hero or heroine -- both are a bit self-contained, pragmatic and manipulative, used to having their own way. And "watching" how other, softer traits that these two characters possesses came to the fore as the story progressed was both enjoyable and satisfying. Of course the story was an interesting one too, even if I did wonder a little about the practicality of Pink Carnation's scheme to entrap the Black Tulip. This, however did not prevent me from losing myself in the book. All in all, "The Seduction of the Crimson Rose" was a very nice, entertaining read, and one I would recommend wholeheartedly. And I would end by noting that readers should ignore all those lamentable tags that compare this series to "Pride and Prejudice" and to Bridget Jones. This series is nothing like.

I have read, re-read and enjoyed all of the previous books in this series, and eagerly waited for this one to be published. As a good page-turning read it did not disappoint. This is certainly the most well-written of Willig's books to date -- the action is exciting, the story line compelling and without the plot holes that plagued the earlier books.

All the same,I just didn't like it as much as the earlier installments -- and that is largely because I did not find the main characters sympathetic. Willig tries hard to humanize the very prickly Mary and Lord Vaughn, but even their romance does not make them seem less shallow and selfish. One of the best thing about the carnation books has been the flawed but endearing heroines -- and Mary doesn't fit into their ranks any better than she does in the scene where she stands painfully outside their circle of friendship at a party.

That said, the Eloise and Colin chapters positively shine in comparison. Eloise is at her most endearing, Colin charming and far more human, and there is an actual plot developing with the introduction of a "bad guy" to the scene.

All in all, this book is well worth the read, and certainly advanced the action a good way forward. I'll look forward to a return to a more appealing heroine in the next installment -- perhaps sweet, shy Charlotte will finally get her long promised man?

From reading other reviews, it seems that a lot of people are disappointed with the leads, Mary and Vaughn, because they aren't immediately sympathetic, in that they don't value romantic, sentimental expression over everything else. As Willig herself notes, these characters draw instead on a different tradition of expression-- that of wit. The exchanges between Vaugn and Mary are sharp and sparkling. Rather than seduce each other by admiring their physical qualities, or their open expression, they seduce each other through barbed flirtations and verbal sparring-- they're excited by trying to get the last word. It's a nice change from the warmer, fuzzier romances of the first three novels, and, IMO, proves that there's more than one way to connect with a potential mate! One of the best aspects of this installment was seeing other characters through Mary and Vaughn's more cynical world view; earlier romantic leads are recast as naive and sentimental, and their obvious expressions of love as overly sweet. Who hasn't felt a little jaded when faced with too many PDAs?! Vaughn and Mary don't discount the virtues of other characters, they just don't value them as highly as the ability to maneuver situations to one's own advantage. This makes it all the more entertaining when they find themselves developing more tender feelings for one another. These are two flawed and self-interested people, who, when they meet their match, realize that sometimes their interests are better served by thinking about what's best for someone else!

For the last few years, I've been having a fun time in some of my escape reading. A new discovery has been author Lauren Willig and her adventures of clever spies in the ongoing Pink Carnation series.

Set in the time of Napoleon's wars in Europe, these novels blend plenty of history and wit, along with lovely, fiery heroines and dashing heroes. As with the previous three novels, this time, the reader will not be disappointed as two previous characters come to get to know each other very well, and find themselves entangled in the hunt for the Black Tulip.

Miss Mary Alsworthy is finding herself smarting after her younger sister Hetty not only has gotten married, but also eloped with the man that she was planning to take to the altar. For a beautiful young woman such as Mary, it's a condition not to be borne, especially when there isn't quite enough money for a fifth Season in London Society, and the odds of her making grand match among the ton are dwindling.

That is, until Lord Vaughn gives her a most interesting proposal. If she is willing to act as bait to uncover the notorious Black Tulip, he will make certain that she has a chance at another Season. Of course, that is if he isn't the Black Tulip himself...

Mary's not quite that certain. Lord Vaughn is one of those men who's self-assured, with a cutting wit, and cultivates a general air of mystery, tinged with more than a little bit of the sinister. After all, he dresses all in black, has walking stick with a silver serpent coiling about it, and then there are all those rumours about his first wife. Mary isn't quite sure if she's to trust him, fall in love with him, or hide.

Readers of the earlier novel The Deception of the Emerald Ring will be amused by this closer look at Lord Vaughn as he and Mary get tangled up in the hunt for the Black Tulip. While I did like finding out all of the back story behind Lord Vaughn and getting to see him in his relentless pursuit of lovely Mary, there was something seriously lacking with this entry into the series.

Perhaps it was that Mary and Lord Vaughn are a touch too perfect. She's exquisitely lovely, with black hair and plenty of grace, and of course, he's cast in the vein of the tall, dark and dangerous variety. Both of them have rapier wit, and a good deal of the story is taken up with them talking and dodging, which verges on a mutual sniping contest at times. I was starting to really wish for something ordinary to happen, something to pull this pair down from the pedestals that they're perched on. While Mary does have a terrible temper at times, which helped, by the end of the novel, I was just relieved that it was over.

Which was really too bad, as the author has a lot of talent in creating her version of London. There are glimpses of daily life, secret revolutionary societies, theatricals, and right down to the music and foods of the time. Despite a few anachronisms, such as postage stamps (not invented until the reign of Queen Victoria, some thirty or so years later), I rather liked the over-the-top purple prose of the novel. Too, the use of a Jacobite rebellion was a very clever touch, and letting it be revealed added a great deal of suspense to the story, right up until the very end.

And now for the true disappointment of the novel.

Throughout the series, Ms. Willig has been using the hook of modern day Eloise Kelly and her hunt for the truth and indentity of the Pink Carnation, the English spy who has been working behind the scenes to foil Napoleon's to take over all of Europe. But with this novel, we scarcely see her at all. The opening is promising, when she is at the Vaughn Collection in London, tracking down more clues for her dissertation, and meeting a rather smarmy, too smooth curator by the name of Dempsey. Too, we also catch a peek at her somewhat suitor, Colin Selwick, but there's so little going on, I wondered why did the author even bother to put them into the novel at all? There's nothing there to interest the reader in either of them, and to be honest, if this had been the first novel by Willig that I had read, I wouldn't have bothered to go any further.

This is a novel that I would give a 'somewhat' recommend to. If you've read the previous novels, then by all means, continue on with this one. If not, then I suggest that the reader begin with the earlier ones. There is so much that is left dangling in this one, and so very little filled in, that I would have given up on this one if not for the earlier ones. And that's a bad sign. From the author's website at www.laurenwillig.com, there is a fifth novel in the series that is in progress, but a title has not yet been announced.

Given the problems and general lackluster attitude here, I would only say three stars overall. Here's hoping that the next novel will be an improvement.

Somewhat Recommended.

I just finished "Crimson Rose", having re-read the first book in the last week. While I agree with another reviewer that this is probably the "best" book in terms of the actual writing (technical nitty-gritty), I was disappointed in the development of the two main characters. I get the feeling that Lauren herself may not be Mary and Vaughn's biggest fan.

Also, and this may seem shallow, I believe this is the first book without an explicit *ahem* "romance" scene. Willig writes these scenes well, and I noticed the absence.

Looking forward to the next book!

I have read all of the books in this series and enjoyed them all, but none as much as _The Crimson Rose_. Mary and Lord Vaughn make an interesting pair and their verbal repartee reminds me of Beatrice and Benedick, slinging witty insults and always trying to get the upper hand. The additional story line of Eloise, narrator and sometimes PhD researcher, continues to develop her budding relationship with Colin in a satisfying way. All we can do is look forward to the next installment!

Although still up there with some of the more decent books I have read, I do not feel that this installment in Ms. Willig's Pink Carnation "series" was really up to par with the first three novels. I felt as if the whole thing was rushed, there was severe lack of character development with Mary and Vaughn, and even beyond that...I did not feel as if these two really felt for each other the way the couples in the other installments did. That could have been the conspicuous absence of the naughty romance scene ;o)...but in the end, I thing just wasn't feeling this book as much as I felt the others.

I enjoy Lauren Willig's historical fictions more for the history and adventure, less the romance. If you are like me, this will be your favorite of the series. The characters are well developed and not your run-of-the-mill hero/heroine. Vaughn had become an unlikely favorite of mine from earlier books in the series and Mary turned out to be quite a pleasant surprise - believable as a woman struggling in era where she has little power unless she can secure a favorable marriage. The dialogue between Vaughn and Mary is lively and smart making this a very easy read. As well, the romance doesn't become too graphic, so I feel like less of a peeping tom.

This is the first book I've read in this series, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! The book was well written and a good mix of intrigue and romance. I enjoyed Mary. She was a spinster with lots of spunk. And Vaughn was a rake she could really spar with. The modern day story of Eloise, a graduate student researching the black tulip , and her flirtation with Colin also kept my interest. I'll definitely read more in this series!