TLC Book Tour Review: The Garden Intrigue by Lauren Willig + Giveaway!!!

The Garden Intrigue
Lauren Willig
Pink Carnations, #9
Dutton Adult
February 16, 2012
400 pages
Amazon|B&N
provided by publisher
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5/5 Books

Just in time for the post-Valentine’s Day chocolate hangover, THE GARDEN INTRIGUE is the latest novel in the nationally bestselling Pink Carnation series by RITA Award winner Lauren Willig (Dutton, On sale: February 16, 2012). In this ninth installment, long-time readers and newcomers alike will be delighted to meet a character sure to become a fan favorite—a poet whose fervent ardor leads him to declare his feelings for the Pink Carnation in atrociously overwrought verse.

Lovable modern day grad student Eloise Kelly is back and on the trail of the Pink Carnation when she discovers a wretched poem among the papers of a code book. Poetry penned by the notorious fop Augustus Whittlesby for Jane Wooliston (aka the Pink Carnation)—Eloise can’t help but wonder; can anyone really be that bad of a poet? Or is something else hiding behind his putridly saccharine words? Back in 1804, New York born Paris socialite Emma Morris Delgardie doesn’t think so. She’s too busy sipping champagne to notice Whittlesby’s strange interest in a top-secret device Napoleon has commissioned. Unfortunately for Emma, she’s the poet’s entrée into the emperor’s inner circle. Fortunately for Augustus, this plucky American heroine could turn out to be his true muse.

Acclaim for Lauren Willig’s novels is as plentiful as her quirky and charming cast of characters: Marie Claire called her writing “History textbook meets Bridget Jones,” and Library Journal compared the series to “getting a plate of warm-from the oven chocolate chips cookies; it’s hard not to eat them all at once, but you want to savor each bite.”

The perfect addition to a much-beloved series, THE GARDEN INTRIGUE will leave readers clamoring for more of the spunky Eloise Kelly and the ever elusive Pink Carnation.

About The Author:
Lauren Willig is the bestselling author of eight previous Pink Carnation novels. She received a graduate degree in English history from Harvard University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School, though she now writes full-time. Willig lives in New York City.

Connect With The Author:
Website | Facebook

My Review:
I’m strongly addicted to Lauren Willig’s work. She’s super talented and each of her Pink Carnation books holds something new and excited that will keep the reader hooked from start to finish. Having read all her other Pink Carnation books, I totally could not wait for this book to release. So, when the chance came up to read it, WOW! I was definitely NOT disappointed and swept away once again to the land of Lauren Willig’s fantabulous characters and plot lines. This is most definitely one of the BEST historical novels that is blended with the PERFECT amount of spies and adventure!

I loved Emma’s character. She’s a widow living in France, and her friends are Jane and Hortense (oh the poor dear! LoL!). Hortense’s father, rather step-father-none other than the famed Napolean Bonaparte, enlists Emma in a job…..a job of writing a masque for Napolean’s party. So, Emma’s on a hunt for help, and she crosses paths with none of the fabulous Augustus Whittlesby.

Now, Augustus Whittlesby has a teensie little problem….he’s the world’s WORST poet! Oy vay! The indignity of it! The poor man should NOT be allowed to construct poems! But, you see, he has an ulterior motive. He’s a spy….a secret spy with the Pink Carnations, and he’s out to catch what Napolean Bonaparte is TRULY up to with this party. And what a wonderful spy he is!

Watching Emma and Augustus’s growing attraction for each other was awesome! There were laugh out loud moments and few, “are you kidding me?!” moments that will not be forgotten! The wonderful characters from the Pink Carnation series are back in this wonderful new installment I loved seeing Jane Wooliston again (poor Augustus has pined for her-until Ms. Emma Delgardie enters his life!) and Gwen Meadows.

I definitely recommend this newest installment with the highest of 5 Books ratings! It’s worthy, of course, of more, however. Ms. Willig created this novel with wit, charm, and suspense, leaving the reader a little breathless at the end, as another Pink Carnation case comes to an end. Like her others, however, she leaves the reader hanging just enough to know that the Carnations WILL be back with yet another fabulous story and I absolutely can NOT wait!!! If you’re new to this series, do despair! This can be read as a stand alone as Ms. Willig does a greatastic job at keeping the reader up to date on the past points of the series. And, if you’re familiar with the Pink Carnations, well, don’t just sit there! GRAB YOUR COPY NOW!!! Well done, Ms. Willig!

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