Eloise Kelly is in England researching 19th century spies for her Ph.D thesis and trying her best not to obsess over Colin Selwick, a decendant of one of her Napoleonic spies, the Purple Gentian (Richard), and one good looking Brit. She comes across Letty Alsworthy, also known as Mrs. Alsdale, who has found herself in a rather unpleasant situation with a friend of the Purple Gentian, Geoffrey Pinchingdale. They wind up in Ireland with the British spy the Pink Carnation, trying to stop an Irish uprising with possible French aid and the even more confusing and deadly French spy the Black Tulip.
Letty is an unlikely heroine who you can't help but root for. She says what she thinks and every emotion plays out on her freckled face. She has good intentions but things don't always turn out the way she plans. Geoff isn't your typical knight in shining armor. He's someone who prefers to think about things and to strategize. But he is charming and romantic (he writes poems) and you're glad he comes to his senses and realizes the beauty that is the second Alsworthy daughter.
This book was just as good as the first two. I suggest reading the books in order, but Willig explains enough so that you don't have to. I love how easily she switches point of view between her couples (Letty/Geoff, Amy/Richard, and Hen/Miles) in her books. Eloise's story doesn't interupt the other story and the other story doesn't interupt Eloise's story. Maybe a tiny bit predictable, but still very fun, very enjoyable, and worth whatever you pay for them. If you like historical fiction and a bit of romance and to laugh, you'll love the Deception of the Emerald Ring, along with the first two Pink Carnation books. Book four better hurry up and come out soon. :-)