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A review by krisrid
The Deception of the Emerald Ring by Lauren Willig
4.0
I am really enjoying this series of historical fiction combined with a present day related storyline.
As Eloise Kelly continues her work in London on her dissertation about the activities of The Pink Carnation - a female spy in the early 1800's in England - she has found new information suggesting that the Carnation and her associates - some male but others female, may have been in Ireland and involved in the Irish Rebellion of1803.
While toiling away on her dissertation, Eloise is also pining over her abortive attempt to connect with Colin, the hunky nephew of Mrs. Selwick-Alderley, the nice elderly woman who permitted Eloise to review her family's papers at their estate, in hopes that it would help with Eloise's research. Supervised by Colin, Eloise hoped that they might connect as more than they began, which was with Colin annoyed that Eloise was rooting through the family archives. She thought they might have been getting friendly, when Colin received an emergency message in the middle of the night, and all but tossed Eloise out the door. Now, she doesn't know whether she'll ever see him again, let alone get a chance to show him how clever and charming she is . . . well, would LIKE to be!
Running in parallel to Eloise's present day life, is Letty Alsworthy, who, through a ridiculously implausible series of events only possible in historical fiction, ends up ruined and forced to marry the man her sister had planned to elope with. Letty's new husband Geoff, also happens to be a spy for the War Office, and since he not only didn't want to marry Letty, but also believes she intentionally schemed to force him into marrying her, he doesn't scruple to take off for Ireland the day after the wedding without even telling Letty where he's going.
Since Letty is friendly with Henrietta, now married to one of Geoff's spy pals, when she finds out that Geoff has dumped her in his house alone without so much as a: "see you soon", she accidentally gets drunk, and decides to follow him to Ireland, figuring if nothing else, she can clarify that she didn't INTEND to be ruined nor did she plan their forced marriage.
Needless to say, once she arrives in Ireland, Letty blunders into all sorts of difficulties, including inadvertently becoming involved with the spies and their activities, and, in the process spending some quality time with her husband.
The books in this series are wonderful, charming quirky romps and full of fun and adventure. The female characters are all spunky and smart, if somewhat out of their elements - at least initially - but they are all determined and resourceful and their insistence on doing for themselves is a very enjoyable element. I like strong female characters, and even if these ladies don't really know what they are doing when they begin, the fact that they do something, rather than fainting or having hysterics is not only refreshing, but it makes for a cracking good read!
I recommend this series to anyone who enjoys light English historical fiction, dual past/present storylines, and endearing strong female characters. I will definitely read the others in this series.
As Eloise Kelly continues her work in London on her dissertation about the activities of The Pink Carnation - a female spy in the early 1800's in England - she has found new information suggesting that the Carnation and her associates - some male but others female, may have been in Ireland and involved in the Irish Rebellion of1803.
While toiling away on her dissertation, Eloise is also pining over her abortive attempt to connect with Colin, the hunky nephew of Mrs. Selwick-Alderley, the nice elderly woman who permitted Eloise to review her family's papers at their estate, in hopes that it would help with Eloise's research. Supervised by Colin, Eloise hoped that they might connect as more than they began, which was with Colin annoyed that Eloise was rooting through the family archives. She thought they might have been getting friendly, when Colin received an emergency message in the middle of the night, and all but tossed Eloise out the door. Now, she doesn't know whether she'll ever see him again, let alone get a chance to show him how clever and charming she is . . . well, would LIKE to be!
Running in parallel to Eloise's present day life, is Letty Alsworthy, who, through a ridiculously implausible series of events only possible in historical fiction, ends up ruined and forced to marry the man her sister had planned to elope with. Letty's new husband Geoff, also happens to be a spy for the War Office, and since he not only didn't want to marry Letty, but also believes she intentionally schemed to force him into marrying her, he doesn't scruple to take off for Ireland the day after the wedding without even telling Letty where he's going.
Since Letty is friendly with Henrietta, now married to one of Geoff's spy pals, when she finds out that Geoff has dumped her in his house alone without so much as a: "see you soon", she accidentally gets drunk, and decides to follow him to Ireland, figuring if nothing else, she can clarify that she didn't INTEND to be ruined nor did she plan their forced marriage.
Needless to say, once she arrives in Ireland, Letty blunders into all sorts of difficulties, including inadvertently becoming involved with the spies and their activities, and, in the process spending some quality time with her husband.
The books in this series are wonderful, charming quirky romps and full of fun and adventure. The female characters are all spunky and smart, if somewhat out of their elements - at least initially - but they are all determined and resourceful and their insistence on doing for themselves is a very enjoyable element. I like strong female characters, and even if these ladies don't really know what they are doing when they begin, the fact that they do something, rather than fainting or having hysterics is not only refreshing, but it makes for a cracking good read!
I recommend this series to anyone who enjoys light English historical fiction, dual past/present storylines, and endearing strong female characters. I will definitely read the others in this series.