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Reading Room:  The Secret History of the Pink Carnation Series  |
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FebruaryViolet
True Blue Farmgirl
4810 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4810 Posts |
 Posted - Mar 11 2010 : 06:47:28 AM
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Our law clerk turned me on to this series by author Lauren Willig. Oddly enough, both our law clerks and myself (all working in the basement of our building) love Jane Austen, Alcott, Browning, etc..and have a strong interest in history. So, when Emily told me that I would adore these books, I asked for a couple for Christmas because I had no doubt!
They are all based in England, France and Ireland during the time of the Napoleon's rise to power and subsequent attempts to conquer England, and the English network of spies (including the Scarlet Pimpernel and the League of the Purple Gentian) who attempt to overthrow his attempts. The histories of these spies are being uncovered from correspondence discovered by a modern day intellect, "Eloise", who is attempting to uncover their identities for the dissertation of all dissertations. I am on my 3rd book since Christmas! They are witty, intelligent, romantically sensual (not overtly risque, though under 18 I would not recommend) and full of intrigue. Each book has intelligent, amiable, and empowered female heroines.
The series (currently) has 6 volumes....it begins with the Secret History of the Pink Carnation. I am putting a link to the author's website so that you can see for yourself the book listings. It is recommended that you read from the first novel to the last published (in that order) because the characters introduced in the first novel pick up in an entirely different way in the 2nd and so on and so on. The "modern" girl, Eloise, and her mishaps are a consistent throughout the series.
http://www.laurenwillig.com/books/index.html
This link shows the books with the most recent to the original, in descending order (the newest published in Jan. of this year!).
Can't recommend them enough!
Musings from our family in the Bluegrass http://sweetvioletmae.blogspot.com/ |
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RaspberryBee
True Blue Farmgirl
291 Posts
Karen
Montrose
Michigan
USA
291 Posts |
Posted - Mar 11 2010 : 09:38:23 AM
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I enjoyed these books too :-) Have you read these books?
A Beautiful Blue Death by Charles Finch - Series
What Angels Fear by C.S. Harris – Series
And Only to Deceive by Tasha Alexander - Series
For me these books/characters fit into the old friends spot for me like Austen and Alcott. Enjoy the rest of the your books :-)
I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion.
-Henry David Thoreau- |
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FebruaryViolet
True Blue Farmgirl
4810 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4810 Posts |
Posted - Mar 11 2010 : 09:45:53 AM
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I haven't (I've only managed to start reading again a few months ago now that my little one is more independent) but there is just SO much!
Thanks for the referrals, I will add these to my list. Have you ever read any of the "continuation" books to the Austen series by various authors like "Willoughby Returns" or any of those?
Musings from our family in the Bluegrass http://sweetvioletmae.blogspot.com/ |
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RaspberryBee
True Blue Farmgirl
291 Posts
Karen
Montrose
Michigan
USA
291 Posts |
Posted - Mar 11 2010 : 09:57:53 AM
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Oh, many, many of them!!! My huband's Aunt was a huge Pride and Prejudice fan (all of Austens books but that one most of all). So, I tried to read them and tell her about them. Sometimes I would stop reading a current book to read one of her books so we could talk about what was good and what was NOT. Some of them are very worthwhile and some not so. Those are the one that see an easy way to make money off of someone else's coat-tails :-). I will try and put a list of those that I found 'good read's'....if you can wait a couple of weeks. I am getting ready to leave in the morning for 10 days and my hour of computer time is almost up :-) I still need to finish packing and clean the house so the husband and dog can mess it up for me.
I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion.
-Henry David Thoreau- |
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FebruaryViolet
True Blue Farmgirl
4810 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4810 Posts |
Posted - Mar 11 2010 : 10:46:53 AM
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That would be wonderful, Karen! I agree, there are some viable, worthwhile reads out there and some not so. My favorite Austen book is Pride and Prejudice as well :)
Enjoy your trip! And when you return, tell me where Montrose is...I attended school at Interlochen Arts Academy near Traverse City, so I am always fond of Michigan. Great memories!
Musings from our family in the Bluegrass http://sweetvioletmae.blogspot.com/ |
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nitere
True Blue Farmgirl
482 Posts
Amy
Hickory
NC
USA
482 Posts |
Posted - Mar 11 2010 : 5:31:23 PM
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I own a couple of these books, but I haven't read them yet.
Karen-I loved A Beautiful Blue Death. There are two books after that one and I look forward to reading them.
Farmgirl Sister #37
http://www.buraellen.blogs
pot.com |
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graciegreeneyes
True Blue Farmgirl
3107 Posts
Amy Grace
Rosalia
WA
USA
3107 Posts |
Posted - Mar 11 2010 : 7:46:04 PM
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Thanks for the recommendation Jonni - I loved the last book you recommended. I hate to say that I haven't read any Jane Austen but I just read one called "Jane Austen Ruined My Life" by Beth Pattillo that was really good, she has written 3 others that are really good too.
Amy Grace
Farmgirl #224
"use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without"
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FebruaryViolet
True Blue Farmgirl
4810 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4810 Posts |
Posted - Mar 12 2010 : 1:21:17 PM
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No problem, Amy Grace, though these books are decidedly less thought provoking and more of a witty historical romp than the last book we waded through :) Less heavy on the heart! I'll have to look up that book, it sounds adorable...
Musings from our family in the Bluegrass http://sweetvioletmae.blogspot.com/ |
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graciegreeneyes
True Blue Farmgirl
3107 Posts
Amy Grace
Rosalia
WA
USA
3107 Posts |
Posted - Mar 12 2010 : 6:19:19 PM
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I can definitely use a historical romp, for some reason I keep picking up these really emotionally draining books at the library - all really well written but I need to mix it up a bit.
Amy Grace
Farmgirl #224
"use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without"
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nitere
True Blue Farmgirl
482 Posts
Amy
Hickory
NC
USA
482 Posts |
Posted - Jul 01 2010 : 11:25:12 AM
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I love these books. I read one out of order last year and a few weeks ago i started from the beginning of them.
I have also read A Beautiful Blue Death and really enjoyed it. There are two more after that one.
Farmgirl Sister #37
http://www.buraellen.blogspot.com |
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tea_lady_tammy
True Blue Farmgirl
1485 Posts
Tammy
NE
USA
1485 Posts |
Posted - Jul 04 2010 : 12:53:29 PM
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I am going to have to look into these. I too am huge Jane Austen fan and Pride and prejudice is always been my favorite book.
blessings
Tammy
Tea is like being in the stars with God.
http://breathsoffaith.blogspot.com |
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pnickols
True Blue Farmgirl
808 Posts
Patricia
Parma
Ohio
808 Posts |
Posted - Jul 04 2010 : 4:35:26 PM
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| I just requested a couple of these books from our public library, they sound like a good read |
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ddmashayekhi
True Blue Farmgirl
4741 Posts
Dawn
Naperville
Illinois
USA
4741 Posts |
Posted - Jul 04 2010 : 7:33:06 PM
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The series looks great. Thank you for the link and for telling us about them.
Dawn in IL |
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tea_lady_tammy
True Blue Farmgirl
1485 Posts
Tammy
NE
USA
1485 Posts |
Posted - Jul 05 2010 : 7:53:36 PM
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I also discovered today along with this pink carnation series another series called Lady Emily by Tasha Alexander. I put a few on my ebook wish list for my nook. They look very good.
Tammy
Tea is like being in the stars with God.
http://breathsoffaith.blogspot.com |
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Reading Room: The Secret History of the Pink Carnation Series |
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The Secret History of the Pink Carnation Series
