THE GLASS OCEAN by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig and Karen White

Publisher:      William Morrow

Published:      September 4, 2018

ISBN:        978-0062642455

Genre:      Contemporary, Historical, Mystery

Format:     Print from Library

Reviewed by name and email address:  Gina  myreviewbooks@aol.com

FOUR HEARTS

Three women have their lives intersect over a mysterious parcel salvaged from the Lusitania.  In 1915 Caroline Hochstetter is desperately in love with her husband, but he continuously ignore her for business matters.  Even on the night before they sail on the famed ship—the unsinkable and called fastest ship in the Cunard fleet, he tends to business rather than his wife. 

Forger Tessa Fairweather is determined that the “job” her sister Ginny is determined she complete will be the last one.  Every painting Tessa, aka Tess, has forged to date has been, to her mind innocent.  This one, however, could dramatically change the course of the war.  But as she boards the Lusitania Tess doesn’t know this.

In 2013 Sarah Blake has had a spectacular success with her first book, Small Potatoes.  But that was several years ago.  But that was before her mother needed to be placed in a care facility and Sarah’s advance and royalty ran out.  Now she is trying to regain her muse.  In an act of desperation she opens a box her mother told to never ever open.  The box, which holds a link to her family’s past, may well hold the key to Sarah’s future.  In the box is an intriguing document, one that leads her across the ocean.  What she finds there is more than her muse. 

Three women, one ship, a family history entwining the past and the present.  story, some history, great characters and several stories wonderfully woven into one.  With each new character that came along a new story began to unfold, each more compelling than the one before.  Andrews ties them altogether in fabulous style and storytelling. 

I’ve read co-authored books before.  Some of them you can tell right off where one author stopped writing and the next stepped in.  I’ve read others that are seamless and you have no idea there was more than one pen telling the tale.  Lauren Willig, Karen White and Beatriz Williams in THE GLASS OCEAN go one step further than any multi-author book I’ve read not only that their voices blend in a smooth and compelling tale, but they link the three main characters as well as events in the past and present into an enthralling story.  Normally when a book alternates between the past and the present I read all of the chapters that take place in the past first and then go back and read those in the present.  With THE GLASS OCEAN I was so drawn to each story I read straight through. 

Each woman has a romance – an unforgettable romance.  There is a mystery.  There is suspense.  There is hope for a ship we now know was doomed. 

I struggled to read the last chapter but it is written in first person present tense which I find unreadable.  To me it reads like a grammar school student trying to write their first play or someone who is learning English.  After reading such a great story that flowed from the first paragraph to have it end with the choppy and jarring first person present tense I was disappointed.  Had it been written in a readable voice this review would have been a five.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

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THE GARDEN INTRIGUE by Lauren Willig

A Pink Carnation Novel

Berkley

February 16^th, 2012

978-0-525-95254-1

Contemporary, Historical fiction, romance

Hardcover

Reviewed by Dawn (love2read28@gmail.com)

Obtained by Publisher

 

Augustus Whittlesby is deep undercover for the Crown and as a really bad poet to boot. He has gotten his coded messages through to his contacts and as he moves among the salons, he runs into a woman who will steal his heart even as he steals hers. For Emma Morris Delagardie, France was such fun. She eloped with a Frenchman, became widowed and now has been enjoying her weekly salons where she as well as those invited destroy Augustus’s bad poetry. But there is more to Emma than meets the eye and it will take the help of Augustus Whittlesby to help Emma figure out where she needs to be-home in France or back to the States. But what happens when feeling long turned off flare with desire and the heart is engaged?

I absolutely adore the Pink Carnation series. It is a nice blend of historical, romance, intrigue as well as a dash of contemporary as well. The characters find themselves at a crossroads and the reader is on the edge of their seat trying to figure out which road they may take. The author does a great blend of historical and mystery with a touch of romance and the story-within-a-story plays out beautifully & gives this reader such enjoyment. The author does some deep research and it plays out perfectly amid the pages of THE GARDEN INTRIGUE. This is an author who knows her history and delivers it all perfectly without a lot of information dumping. I have to point out though, that this installment in the Pink Carnation series is definitely more character driven rather than the more action packed the past stories were about. We get to see some of my favorite characters at a cross roads and finding they need to make decisions that could either make their lives so much more wonderful or put them on a path that they never anticipated. The story flows nicely and you run the gauntlet of emotions-laughter to tears to sighing over a romantic scene. I can recommend you keep a box of tissues next to you in case you find yourself choked up over some particularly emotional scenes or laughing so hard at imagining Miss Gwen as a pirate captain. All the characters are well written, multi-dimensional and definitely left me eager for more from them all. The secondary characters were just as well written and kept the story flowing nicely.

THE GARDEN INTRIGUE is a romantic story, one that steals the heart and leaves you breathless for more after the last page is read. With the right amount of introspection in for the characters to emotional scenes that draw the readers’ emotions in, Ms. Willig delivers another well written story to enjoy on a lazy summer afternoon. Now my question is, when will the next adventure in the Pink Carnation series be out?

This is an objective review and not an endorsement

 

 

THE BETRAYAL OF THE BLOOD LILY by Lauren Willig

A Pink Carnation Novel

New American Library (NAL)

January 4^th, 2011

978-0-451-23205-2

Historical

Paperback

Reviewed by Dawn (love2read28@gmail.com)

Obtained by Publisher

Penelope Deveraux is shocked when the news of her hasty marriage creates a scandal and forces her to go to India so it can die down. What she finds in India is an exotic world where no one is what they seem. For there is a dangerous spy running around calling themselves the Marigold and their calling card-a venomous cobra. Penelope is drawn into this mystery of unraveling the spy while walking the lines in this strange new place. She can only trust one person-Captain Alex Reid, who really isn’t up to being a babysitter for two spoiled aristocrats. But Alex is taken in by Penelope’s charm and her uncanny ability to figure out this dangerous spy’s plans because if Penelope and Alex can not stop this mad man then the British Empire will be doomed.

I love the Pink Carnation series and in THE BETRAYAL OF THE BLOOD LILY is one pulse pounding ride from start to finish. I got to admit I am really enjoying Penelope, Lady Staines. She is determined, has this uncanny ability to figure out a spy’s master plan and she is quite likable. There is something for everyone in this latest book-action/adventure, romance, history and more.  The characters are exquisitely written, full of vulnerabilities and layers that the reader unwraps layer by layer with each page. The writing is tight, story moves fast and the reader is treated to a story that leaves you clamoring for more.

THE BETRAYAL OF THE BLOOD LILY is a fast moving story that takes you from merry London to the exotic background of India. Ms. Willig is a talented author who knows how to draw a reader in and keep them highly entertained even as they flip the pages as fast as they can in order to find out who is next. There is a ton of humor, intrigue to keep you guessing and a hint of romance to sooth the romantic in you. The dialogue between characters is wonderful, snappy and kept me on the edge of my seat regardless of who was ‘talking’ in the story. The only problem I found with this Pink Carnation story was the ending. It just felt off to me even though the storyline up till that point was a wild ride.

If you enjoy a bit of romance along with history in your books, then you got to try the Pink Carnation series. Each book is a stand alone title in the series but I recommend starting from the beginning to see how it all started. I look forward to more Pink Carnation books in the future.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement

 

THE TEMPTATION OF THE NIGHT JASMINE A Pink Carnation Novel book five by Lauren Willig

Publisher:DUTTEN/Penguin Group
Publishing date: January 2009
ISBN: 978-0-525-95096-7
Historical Romance/Fiction
Hardcover
Obtained by Publisher
Revied by Dawn


Robert, Duke of Dovedale is back from India after twelve long years abroad and he finds himself on the trail of a murder as he tries to infiltrate the infamous Hellfire club to get this murderer’s identity. What he doesn’t anticipate is the lovely and headstrong Lady Charlotte Landsdowne. Charlotte is thrilled to hear Robert is home finally. Having built him up in her mind, she doesn’t expect that reality may not be on par with her romanticized dreams of the man. Working together, these two unlikely partners are caught up in a race against time as danger mounts against them. Can these two find a way to let their hearts and passions show them just how good they are together even as they try to stop an assassin and solve a mystery in the process?

THE TEMPTATION OF THE NIGHT JASMINE is one of the best books to date in this series. I loved the dynamics between Robert and Charlotte as well as Eloise and her boyfriend in this time frame, Colin. The story is framed around Eloise and her boyfriend, Colin, as they spend a weekend at Colin’s family’s house. What Eloise finds there is another mystery around the Pink Carnation, the perennial spy in regency England/Europe. With that backdrop, Ms. Willig gives us two new characters to fall in love with- Lady Charlotte Landsdowne and Robert, Duke of Dovedale. They are a strong couple and with some major twists and turns, this author delivers a fast paced, action packed ride from start to finish. What I love about the Pink Carnation novels is that you get lost within the pages with some amazing characters. Each book is a readers’ delight as they find themselves drawn into Ms. Willig’s world of spies, mysteries and romance all rolled up in one wonderful package.

The Pink Carnation Series is a pure literary gem in my opinion and this is an author who loves to keep the reader guessing even as they flip the pages at a fever pitch to see what happens next. THE TEMPTATION OF THE NIGHT JASMINE is a thrilling, action-packed ride from start to finish and I couldn’t put it down. With some intriguing characters, romance and a spellbinding mystery, Ms. Willig gives her readers the strongest book to date in her phenomenal Pink Carnation series. If you enjoy a good historical romance mystery, then grab any of the Pink Carnation books- you won’t be disappointed. I look forward to the next Pink Carnation story from this wonderfully talented author.

THIS IS NOT AN ENDORSEMENT OF THIS BOOK. THIS IS AN OBJECTIVE UNBIASED REVIEW.

THE SEDUCTION OF THE CRIMSON ROSE by Lauren Willig

Publisher Dutton/Penguin Books
Date published January 2008
ISBN 978-0-525-95033-2
Contemporary/Historical Fiction
Hardcover
Reviewed by Dawn



Mary Alsworthy is determined to secure another London Season without the help of her sister’s new husband; she decides to accept a secret assignment for the Pink Carnation that has her infiltrating the ranks of master French spy, The Black Tulip. She catches his attention but there is one tiny hitch in her mission, her growing attraction to fellow spy, Lord Vaughn. Can Mary finish her assignment without getting detected? Will the Black Tulip succeed in his daring plan to destroy England? The next saga of the Pink Carnation Series is here and about to explode as past and present forces collide in THE SEDUCTION OF THE CRIMSON ROSE!

Author Lauren Willig’s Pink Carnation Series has drawn rave reviews and garnered many fans with her witty and lyrical storytelling that draws on historical facts and her close attention to period details. This reviewer was thrilled to see that the THE SEDUCTION OF THE CRIMSON ROSE was about Lord Vaughn and Mary Alsworthy from her last book, The Deception of the Emerald Ring. These two characters were utterly delightful in that last book and I was thrilled to see the sparks fly between these wonderful characters. Add in a parallel story that involves Eloise Kelly and her pursuit of her doctoral dissertation on The Pink Carnation and you get the makings of a double story all in one that will keep the reader enthralled.

Ms. Willig delivers a scorching story that keeps you glued to the edge of your seat as you go back and forth between Eloise’s story and Mary’s dangerous mission as well as both their growing romances with respectively, Colin Selwick and Lord Vaughn. Each page delivers a startling glimpse in a world gone by that keeps you entertained and ready to see what is on the next page. If you enjoy a story that will keep you satisfied in all ways, then grab the latest in Ms. Willig’s wonderful Pink Carnation series, THE SEDUCTION OF THE CRIMSON ROSE and see what happens when past and present collide amid the pages. This reviewer is running to check out the others in this series to see how it all began and to meet other characters that have been mentioned in passing in her last two books.

THE DECEPTION OF THE EMERALD RING:Pink Carnation Series by Lauren Willig

Publisher NAL Books
Date published September 2007
ISBN 978-0-451-22221-3
Historical Fiction
Mass Market Paperback
Reviewed by Dawn



Eloise Kelly is a Harvard Grad student and has been spying on the Pink Carnation and Black Tulip, two of the deadliest agents in 19th century England and France. Finding secrets that may rearrange history, she hooks up with good looking Colin Selwick and finds a romantic adventure all her own! What she doesn’t know is she is about to uncover another fierce heroine about to run headlong into history itself!

WOW is all I can say for Ms. Willig’s THE DECEPTION OF THE EMERALD RING. This is the first book this reviewer has read of her Pink Carnation series and it blew me away. The historical action is tight, well defined and definitely draws you in. Ms. Willig’s expertise in history comes through with the fast pace narrative, add in mistaken identities and espionage and you have the making of a pulse pounding story that will keep you entertained and enthralled straight through to the end.

Meet Eloise Kelly, a grad student from Harvard who is about to uncover some startling information that may change history. Smart, independent and fierce, she captures the reader from the beginning. Add in sexy Colin Selwick and you got the makings of a romance that will singe the pages.

THE DECEPTION OF THE EMERALD RING is one charming story that will keep you entertained and looking for more from this wonderful author. This reviewer is going to check out the other Pink Carnation series books to see what I missed as Ms. Willig’s historical action is taut and twists with all the different turns it takes. This reviewer was on the edge of her seat as Eloise finds out things that can change the course of history. So if you like a story that is full of historical facts and delivers a fast paced narrative with complex characters, then grab THE DECEPTION OF THE EMERALD RING and be ready for the ride of your life.