Reviewer: Amy Lignor
Title: The Garden Intrigue - 9th in the Pink Carnation series
Author: Lauren Willig
Publisher: Dutton
ISBN-13: 978-0-525-95254-1 (Hardcover)
Release Date: February 2012
Genre/Sub-genre: Historical Fiction
Year/Setting: 2004/England & 17th Century/Europe
Overall Rating: 4.5
Sexual Content Rating: None/Subtle
Language (Profanity/Slang) Content Rating: None/Mild
Violent Content Rating: Minimal/Moderate
Lauren's Website: www.laurenwillig.com
Dear Readers:
Everyone will be highly excited to know that Lauren Willig has proven once again that she knows all about the spies (flowers) that grew in the gardens of European history. This is the ninth installment of the Pink Carnation series and I swear, they are getting better and better every time!
As always, there are two stories going on in very different times. In 2004, Eloise, our American student, is still in Sussex doing her research. She knows she must finish up soon and head back home, but she is now Colin’s girlfriend, living with him in Selwick Hall, and really doesn’t want to give this life up just to return to the States. Colin is that handsome young man whose relations were involved in the aristocratic espionage that occurred in the 17th and early 18th centuries, and had all the information that she needed on the Pink Carnation, way back when they first met. Now Colin is quite upset. He was outvoted by his family members and a film crew has descended on Selwick Hall doing a great deal of damage to the property. In order to stay out of his way, Eloise decides to throw herself back into her research and find out even more information about the amazing world of well-dressed spies.
Here we come to Augustus Whittlesby, who has been living undercover in France by pretending that he is a poet - a really bad one, at that. He picked this persona in order to be able to pass info to the War Office regarding Napoleon’s movements; he weaves this data into sonnets that he couldn’t possibly write well if his life depended on it.
The Pink Carnation ends up at a party with Augustus. The man has always had his sights set on her, but she is not interested in Augustus that way. However…there is another who is. Emma Delagardie is a true-blue American. She lost her husband four years ago, she’s young, funny, wild, and loves to drink champagne. And she is a true annoyance to Augustus, who just really wishes she would go away.
News comes down the line that the invasion of England WILL happen - and happen soon. It is also ‘rumored’ that there is going to be show, of sorts, where a top-secret war device will be unveiled at a party that will be held at Malmaison. Napoleon and his hoards are about to do something that the War Office MUST know about before it is too late, and the only one who can get Augustus into that party is the annoying American - Emma.
Using the cover of writing a masque together for Napoleon’s party, Emma and Augustus delve into the secret that is about to be revealed and, hopefully, Augustus will do his job well enough to stop the imminent invasion of England.
Humor, love, espionage - yet again there is absolutely nothing that this incredible author leaves out. She has provided these stories one right after the other over the years, and they just keep getting better and better very time! Enjoy!!
Until next time,
Amy
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