The Deception of the Emerald Ring Audiobook

By: Lauren Willig

Narrated by: Kate Reading

The year is 1803, and England and France remain at odds. Hoping to break the English once and for all, Napoleon backs a ring of Irish rebels in uprisings against England and sends the Black Tulip, France’s most deadly spy, to the Emerald Isle to help. What they don’t know is that England’s top spy is also in Ireland: the Pink Carnation, who is working to shut the rebels down.

Meanwhile, back in England, Letty Alsworthy intercepts a note indicating that her sister, Mary, is about to make the very grave mistake of eloping with Geoffrey Pinghingdale-Snipe (second in command of the League of the Purple Gentian). In an attempt to save the family name, Letty tries to stop the elopement, but instead finds herself swept away in the midnight carriage meant for her sister and is accidentally compromised. Geoff and Letty, to each other’s horror, find themselves forced into matrimony. Then Geoff receives word that he is to travel to Ireland to help the Pink Carnation; he disappears immediately after their ceremony. Letty learns of Geoff’s disappearance and, not to be outdone by her husband, Letty Alsworthy steals away on a ship bound for Ireland, armed and ready to fight for her spouse and to learn a thing or two about spying for England.

Sample

Reviewed by Lisa Kay

I am NOT a big admirer of the ‘hero-in-love-with-the-sister’ theme, yet this author pulled it off. Forced into a marriage-of-convenience with the younger, ‘less desirable’ sibling, would I believe the hero worthy of heroine? Would they have a ‘plausible’ HEA*? I guess my rating puts those questions to rest. And **gasp** most of the book takes place in Ireland! In addition, there are plenty of clever twists in the plotline; I was gobsmacked more than once.
I also want to say, that when referring to the hardcopy version to write my “buddy read” questions, I was captivated by Ms. Willig’s writing style. Not only is it well edited, she chooses just the right word and expression, causing the scenes and century switches to flow seamlessly, making it all a pure pleasure to read. I got caught up in the story all over again!

Special Note: I went looking for the paperback copies of this series as references for the “buddy reads” I am doing of the Pink Carnation series. It is no surprise that I didn’t find them in the “Romance” section but in the “Fiction”. Book stores are still a bit snobbish when it comes to tagging a book a “Romance”. Though, I agree that they are “sophisticated” romances – and at least in the upper echelon of the genre; nevertheless, that doesn’t make them any less deviously, deliciously FUN!