The Deception of the Emerald Ring [Kindle Edition]

The books in this series (this is the third) just keep getting better. To summarize briefly, the story alternates from the present, in which Eloise is researching English spies in the Napoleonic era for her Ph.D. thesis, to Regency England and the story of Letty, who becomes involved with one of these spies. Both are having trouble with the male species (and it's not surprising that despite the century, the contretemps in which men and women find themselves have not changed all that much). The author switches between stories with an amazing dexterity that keeps the reader turning the pages as rapidly as possible.

The book is full of dry wit, the characters are delightful, and the plot engaging.

My advice to the author: Do quit the day job and focus on writing entirely -- and give us more of these books, SOON!

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. :-)

Harvard Ph.D. aspirant Eloise Kelly researches her third potential nineteenth century female spy (see THE SECRET HISTORY OF THE PINK CARNATION and THE MASQUE OF THE BLACK TULIP) as she begins to find information on nineteen years old Letty Alsworthy. Apparently, Letty married Lord Geoffrey Pinchingdale-Snipe, her older sister Mary's fiancé. This happened because she, the younger sibling, tried to prevent Mary from making a mistake that ironically ended with Letty making a mistake; alas the consequence turned out to be her hurried marriage to Geoffrey.

The League of the Purple Gentian sends Geoffrey to Ireland to prevent a rebellion. Letty assumes he is fleeing her so she investigates where he may have run off to after they ran off and married. She cleverly traces him to Dublin where she concludes her new spouse is a spymaster. Believing in supporting one's husband, Letty is active in his secret vocation though her bumbling amateur ways causes Geoffrey much consternation as she keeps trying to don his black cloak.

This is a terrific amusing historical romance that is at its best when the story line remains in the nineteenth century. When Eloise periodically takes center stage, the plot feels disrupted. Still this is a superb tale filled with warm characters in dangerous situations turned ironically humorous. Now if Eloise can be kept to pre and post game commentary, Lauren Willig's colorful female spy series would be perfect.

Harriet Klausner