A Little Background: Awhile back a friend and I were having a discussion about books and when asked to name her top favorite reads, it was The Pink Carnation that topped the list. I had finally gotten around to reading the first in the series The Secret History of the Pink Carnation and after a recent trip to the library found the sixth book The Betrayal of the Blood Lily.
Penelope Deveraux is a spitfire of a lady not one to be caught up in a game of Whist or stuck with a gaggle of hens working on embroidery. Call her adventurous, call her headstrong but Miss Deveraux is not one to be hemmed in by the moral confines of the day. She has been warned repeatedly that her brazen behavior will land her in hot water one day. Well, that day has dawned.A hasty marriage has been arranged for Penelope and she is quickly whisked off the exotic climes of India with her husband Lord Frederick Staines, a dunce and dullard if there ever was one. Lord Staines has been assigned Governor General Wellesley's Special Envoy to the Court of Hyderabad and courtly intrigue abounds. Penelope finds herself immersed in the local culture and her adventurous ways land her in hot water more than once. Along the way she finds herself attracted to Captain Alex Reid who has been assigned to escort the Staines party from Calcutta to Hyderabad.
When Penelope finally arrives in Hyderabad she increasingly finds herself steeped in mystery, a troubling political climate and a growing attraction to Capt. Reid. Striking cobras, treacherous court officials, a missing cache of guns, and a spy known as the Marigold can only lead to one thing…one’s quick demise if one is not careful or does not know how to play the game.
My Take: I would be remiss if I did not mention the accompanying storyline of Emily Kelly an American abroad finishing up her dissertation on spies during the Napoleanic Wars. Her study has led her to England to find out more on the Pink Carnation. Emily’s story continues through the Pink Carnation series and is just as interesting as Penelope’s. I find myself wanting to know more about Emily’s world. As for Lady Staines and Capt. Reid never was a pair so right for each other and it’s great to see their relationship flourish amidst witty banter and biting humor.
About the Author:
Lauren Willig is a successful author of historical romance novels. A native of New York, she attended Yale and Harvard before entering and graduating from Harvard Law School. Willig briefly worked in a law office while penning her Pink Carnation series. Needless to say she has given up lawyering to be a full time author.Want to follow along with Lauren? You can visit with her on Facebook or go to her website.
Enjoy a fun interview with Lauren Willig.
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