The Garden Intrigue by Lauren Willig
I’ve been eagerly anticipating the newest installment in Lauren Willig’s Pink Carnation series for months! Luckily, The Garden Intrigue did not let me down. You guys – these books are so much fun to read.
Historical mysteries (with romance) are one of my favorite genres because there are so many series within it that I obsessively follow. This is one of them. The writing and dialogue are both so intelligent and witty – and the characters always lovable. Plus, you can always trust Lauren Willig to be as historically accurate as possible.
We have quite the pair to be matched up in The Garden Intrigue. Augustus, a spy pretending to be a horrible poet and Emma, an American widow living in Paris. They team up to write a play and sparks fly. Will Augustus be able to help foil Napoleon’s newest plans?
Augustus has made plenty of appearances in previous books – and I must admit that he has always annoyed me. When we get to know him better in The Garden Intrigue, I like him much better. He has so much more depth to him than we’ve seen previously. He actually winds up being the darker of the two. Emma is so bubbly and…well…American! I love how she was put in place as the perfect foil to Augustus. The way they played off of each other was absolutely fabulous.
And now, we can talk about one of my favorite things about the series. Eloise and Colin, the modern-day couple. They get a few chapters weaved into every installment of the Pink Carnation series and I can never get enough of them. (It is one of my greatest hopes that they’ll get a book of their own one of these days. Maybe I’ll get a chance to interview Lauren Willig someday and bug her about it.) Anyway…
Eloise and Colin in The Garden Intrigue were fabulous. One of my favorite additions to their story line. Complications have definitely been building with them for a while, and they’re finally starting to come to a head. I won’t spoil it for anyone, but man. Loved loved loved it.
So! If you’re a fan of historical fiction, romance or mysteries – Lauren Willig has created a series that you absolutely must check out. Love, intrigue, spies, sexytimes – what are you waiting for?
This looks like a fun read! I’m a huge fan of historical romance, Julia Quinn especially.
Melanie recently posted..Waiting on: Wentworth Hall by Abby Grahame
I have to say that I am glad that you liked Augustus Whittlesby in this book because I have been worried that I wouldn’t find him believable as the romantic interest or even as a spy. Of course Lauren Willig was able to write that excellent book about Turnip so I shouldn’t have doubted! I hope to read The Garden Intrigue soon. Nice review!
Christina T recently posted..Waiting on Wednesday (85)
*Sigh* I LOVE THESE BOOKS. And I loves all of the things you loved about The Garden Intrigue, too. I’m glad that Augustus turned out to not be so foolish. And Eloise and Colin. I LOVE THEM. If they got their own book one day I would die. This is one of my FAVORITE series around, and The Garden Intrigue was FAB.
Amy @ Tripping Over Books recently posted..Waiting on Wednesday (16): Defiance
I love when I fall in love with a new-to-me series that has lots of books already written! Sounds like this was a great addition to the series.
Thanks for being on the tour.