The Seduction of the Crimson Rose

The Seduction of the Crimson Roseby Lauren WilligThis is book four in The Pink Carnation series by Lauren Willig. This novel is another great blend of present (following the life of Eloise as she finds love with Collin, and continues her research of the infamous Victorian spy the Pink Carnation) and the past (the lives of the floral-named Victorian spies) as we find out more and more through Eloise's research.The main plot of the book deals with Mary Alsworthy's life after being scandalously dumped by her fiancée when he ended up falling in-love with her sister Letty (as detailed in the previous book The Deception of the Emerald Ring). Mary Alsworthy gets tangled up with Lord Vaughn and makes a deal where she's used as bait to try and lure out the dreaded Black Tulip as she has the colouring and look of his favourite type of lady.I have to say I really didn't like this book as much as I liked the first three. I am not a fan of Mary Alsworthy or Lord Vaughn to be honest and I didn't much care for the plot and politics of this fourth book. One of the things I liked the most about this series is the sense of humour and wit that comes out in the writing, but I found myself yawning more than laughing this time around.I think the main problem was my dislike of the characters. Whereas in the first book The Secret History of the Pink Carnation, I loved Jane and the other characters, and even Lord Vaughn was slight more likable since he wasn't as prominent a player in the story. I think he's one of those Small Dose characters. Kind of like watching a Will Ferrell movie. I like him as a bit part, but not always as the lead character. It's a little too much for me.I will, of course, read the next one when it comes out (if there is a next one?) because I like the series, even if the occasional storyline doesn't quite catch my interest.Pink Carnation series

1. Secret History of the Pink Carnation
2. The Masque of the Black Tulip
3. The Deception of the Emerald Ring
4. The Seduction of the Crimson Rose
5. The Temptation of the Night Jasmine
6. The Betrayal of the Blood Lilly – Hardcover
7. The Mischief of the Mistletoe - Hardcover, November 2010