Reviewer: Amy Lignor
Title: The Orchid Affair - 8th in the Pink Carnation series
Author: Lauren Willig
Publisher: Dutton
ISBN-13: 978-0-525-95199-5
Release Date: January 2011
Genre/Sub-genre: Historical Fiction
Year/Setting: 2004 & 1700's/Paris, France
Overall Rating: 4.0
Sexual Content Rating: Subtle/Sensual
Language (Profanity/Slang) Content Rating: None/Mild
Violent Content Rating: Negligible/Minimal
Lauren's Website/Blog: www.laurenwillig.com
Dear Readers:
For anyone who hasn't yet enjoyed the Pink Carnation series, let me catch you up.
Eloise is a young lady who has worked for a long, long time on her dissertation. The subject she chose is quite a difficult one, but she is doing her best to complete her project. Her interest lies in the area of Aristocratic Espionage and she's studied furiously about all the amazing spy rings that once operated in England and France. Not only has her work brought her to many exciting places but it also, more importantly, brought her a wonderful boyfriend by the name of Colin whose great, great, great (etc.) grandfather was the Purple Gentian, an important figure in the "swash and buckle" of spydom who long ago set up a 'college' for spies called the Selwick School, which is Colin's ancestral home. In this fantastic volume we follow Eloise to Paris where she and Colin are going to attend his mother's birthday celebration. And, while there, Eloise stumbles across some interesting information about why the Pink Carnation was said to have been in Paris, France for a very important mission.
In 1804, a young woman by the name of Laura Grey is completely sick to death of being a governess. For sixteen years she's watched other peoples' children; she's even had to suffer through an employer who thought she was Cleopatra and draped herself over a sphinx most of the time while Laura tried desperately to rear her children. Laura has always wanted a far more exciting life and she decides to leave her "whiny charges" behind and take a six month course at the Selwick School - a place dedicated to teaching various citizens how to spy gather information for the Pink Carnation and her group of followers who are trying with all their might to bring Napoleon down.
Using the facade of a governess, which she knows well, Laura imbeds herself into the house of Andre' Jaouen. Andre' is the Assistant Prefect of Police and has the inside track to all of the prisoners who are caught, questioned, and mostly hung for their information on the revolutionists and their plans to unseat Bonaparte. Laura, now referred to as The Silver Orchid, finds herself reporting her findings through books that are passed between she and a small shopkeeper who likes to quote poetry at the top of his lungs and fight with customers. This is where Laura must go in order to gather the info that the Pink Carnation will receive.
Soon, an even bigger plot is discovered as Andre' - a man who lost his wife and has two children that he desperately wants to keep safe - discovers that he is not the only person in his household working towards the same goal. When the Silver Orchid not only finds out the plan to insert a prince into Napoleon's place, but also the fact that her boss may be working for the same side she is, the story takes a turn into espionage and romance as they team up to try and save each others' lives while keeping the Minster of Police and his evil worker Gaston Delaroche away from the truth.
From the first to the last word, Lauren Willig once again offers readers a thrill ride that twists and turns with every page. A major historical time period is linked effortlessly with a true romance that will leave readers breathless for more. I, among others, hope that this series never ends. The amazing characters, fantastic locations, and true spine-tingling drama allows all readers to get lost in every single novel she writes. Enjoy!
Until next time,
Amy
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