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cammmiam's review
3.0
3.5 out of 5 stars.
Trust me: I love Miles and Henrietta with a passion (they are among my top couples of the series). I could read their banter and recollections of memories about each other forever.
But this is still an espionage series, and on that front there is much to be desired.
I used to call this book my favorite of the series. So why didn't it hold up with a re-read? Miles and Hen are perfect, and the first half of the book is excellent; it's the second half that let me down.
Trust me: I love Miles and Henrietta with a passion (they are among my top couples of the series). I could read their banter and recollections of memories about each other forever.
But this is still an espionage series, and on that front there is much to be desired.
I used to call this book my favorite of the series. So why didn't it hold up with a re-read? Miles and Hen are perfect, and the first half of the book is excellent; it's the second half that let me down.
maferg01's review
4.0
This was a really great story. I had anticipated the ending but then the author misleads you and makes you second guess everything. Miles and Henrietta are a fun couple that really just needed to get on the same page. The final scenes are too fun as well. The Colin and Eloise story keeps me reading too. You get invested in one story and then Lauren Willig changes to the other story just when something good happens.
falulatonks's review
4.0
Chaaaaarming! Once I tuned into the fact that this less a full-on romance and more a historical romp with a great romantic sidestory I just sped through it. The other messier bits kind of fold in well with the "romp" vibe too - including the chaos of that climatic scene, and the two-dimensional-ness of Richard as the "older brother / best friend" archetype here. And Miles and Hen are cute as fuck, fumbly and earnest and total dummies.
I just realised I read (and deeply adored) the Turnip story so I must reread that one next, though I did really like the glimpse of Lord Vaughn I got in here too.
I just realised I read (and deeply adored) the Turnip story so I must reread that one next, though I did really like the glimpse of Lord Vaughn I got in here too.
kimmyp11's review
3.0
It continues the saga of the Pink Carnation but lacks the appeal of the first.
corvinaq's review
4.0
The good: the second book in the Pink Carnation series is as charming, goofy, and insane as its predecessor. This is a hugely enjoyable series. The addition of the character Turnip Fitzhugh almost makes this one better than the first. I love Bertie Wooster-like chumps.
The not-so-good: *spoilers* I KNOW that letting the Black Tulip escape is because she's being set up as the major antagonist of the series, but it is kind of a letdown to spend the entire book trying to capture the EVIL SUPERSPY to have her flit out of jail off-scene. WHY DO SO MANY EXCITING THINGS HAPPEN OFF-SCENE, LAUREN WILLIG?Don't even get me started on how annoying it was that Miles and Henrietta couldn't be bothered to walk her down to be jailed themselves. Ugh. The major conflict in the book is that "Oh, no, the Black Tulip knows who we are now, we are in grave danger!" By the end of the book she still knows who they are, so they're still in great danger? What's been accomplished, exactly?
The not-so-good: *spoilers* I KNOW that letting the Black Tulip escape is because she's being set up as the major antagonist of the series, but it is kind of a letdown to spend the entire book trying to capture the EVIL SUPERSPY to have her flit out of jail off-scene. WHY DO SO MANY EXCITING THINGS HAPPEN OFF-SCENE, LAUREN WILLIG?Don't even get me started on how annoying it was that Miles and Henrietta couldn't be bothered to walk her down to be jailed themselves. Ugh. The major conflict in the book is that "Oh, no, the Black Tulip knows who we are now, we are in grave danger!" By the end of the book she still knows who they are, so they're still in great danger? What's been accomplished, exactly?
gigglesbanana's review
3.0
Another fun read set in England in the early 1800's. Spies, ballrooms, and secret marriages -- What's not to like?
cotokeet's review
5.0
This one was actually better than the first one in my opinion. The author seems to have gotten over some of her new author awkwardness in dialog, as well as cut down on awkward tangents. Really well done, and I will definitely be reading the rest of this series.
poorashleu's review
4.0
Originally posted at Nose in a book!
I have a love-hate relationship with historical romance/fiction. It comes from the fact that my undergrad was done in history so I look at everything with that point of view. But even with that tidbit I thoroughly enjoy this series. Not just because I’ve met the lovely author. I was thoroughly invested in the historical characters more than present day ones, for once. Not that the present day ones weren’t nice and lovely; they were. I just was more invested in the historical story.
Here is how this series works: there is Eloise Kelly, a present day Harvard grad student working on her dissertation in England with Colin Selwick, who happens to be not only adorable and her crush (kind-of-sort-of long story), but Selwick also happens to have historical archives that Eloise needs. Of course Colin wants nothing to do with it; thankfully his aunt does and lets Eloise tackle the archives.
When Eloise starts to dig into the archives for her thesis, she discovers the Black Tulip in the early nineteenth century France, who is the arch nemesis of the Pink Carnation (the first book in the series). Eloise is dying to find out more, and she does. But she also discovers Henrietta and Miles, and oh boy did I fall in love with both of them.
I’m pretty sure there isn’t a time period I wouldn’t be in love with Henrietta and Miles. They’re both hopelessly in love with each other but in great denial about it. While one of them is (in denial), one of them is clearly in love with the other just they try to hide it well.
There are a lot of surprising twists and turns that, days later still leave me wondering about. This book was a great continuation of The Secret History of the Pink Carnation, but could easily be read without reading the first book.
I have a love-hate relationship with historical romance/fiction. It comes from the fact that my undergrad was done in history so I look at everything with that point of view. But even with that tidbit I thoroughly enjoy this series. Not just because I’ve met the lovely author. I was thoroughly invested in the historical characters more than present day ones, for once. Not that the present day ones weren’t nice and lovely; they were. I just was more invested in the historical story.
Here is how this series works: there is Eloise Kelly, a present day Harvard grad student working on her dissertation in England with Colin Selwick, who happens to be not only adorable and her crush (kind-of-sort-of long story), but Selwick also happens to have historical archives that Eloise needs. Of course Colin wants nothing to do with it; thankfully his aunt does and lets Eloise tackle the archives.
When Eloise starts to dig into the archives for her thesis, she discovers the Black Tulip in the early nineteenth century France, who is the arch nemesis of the Pink Carnation (the first book in the series). Eloise is dying to find out more, and she does. But she also discovers Henrietta and Miles, and oh boy did I fall in love with both of them.
I’m pretty sure there isn’t a time period I wouldn’t be in love with Henrietta and Miles. They’re both hopelessly in love with each other but in great denial about it. While one of them is (in denial), one of them is clearly in love with the other just they try to hide it well.
There are a lot of surprising twists and turns that, days later still leave me wondering about. This book was a great continuation of The Secret History of the Pink Carnation, but could easily be read without reading the first book.
girl_curious's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75