In honor of today’s debut mass market release of The Secret History of the Pink Carnation, by Lauren Willig, I am wearing pink with the goal of introducing five of my customers at Barnes & Noble to this fabulous series. Since it’s initial release in 2005, the “Pink” series of novels have continued to enchant me with Regency-era stories of spies, espionage and romance a la The Scarlet Pimpernel. Here is the publisher’s description:
Deciding that true romantic heroes are a thing of the past, Eloise Kelly, an intelligent American who always manages to wear her Jimmy Choo suede boots on the day it rains, leaves Harvard’s Widener Library bound for England to finish her dissertation on the dashing pair of spies the Scarlet Pimpernel and the Purple Gentian. What she discovers is something the finest historians have missed: a secret history that begins with a letter dated 1803. Eloise has found the secret history of the Pink Carnation—the most elusive spy of all time, the spy who single-handedly saved England from Napoleon’s invasion.
The Secret History of the Pink Carnation, a wildly imaginative and highly adventurous debut, opens with the story of a modern-day heroine but soon becomes a book within a book. Eloise Kelly settles in to read the secret history hoping to unmask the Pink Carnation’s identity, but before she can make this discovery, she uncovers a passionate romance within the pages of the secret history that almost threw off the course of world events. How did the Pink Carnation save England? What became of the Scarlet Pimpernel and the Purple Gentian? And will Eloise Kelly find a hero of her own?
I am so excited that it has been released in mass market for the first time today, introducing it to a whole new generation of readers. Once you are hooked, and I am quite certain you will be, the series continues with six more novels: The Masque of the Black Tulip, The Deception of the Emerald Ring, The Seduction of the Crimson Rose, The Temptation of the Night Jasmine, The Betrayal of the Blood Lily and the soon to be released, The Mischief of the Mistletoe on October 28th. Yes, just thirteen days away!
Austenprose 
I’ve read all 6 of her novels. They are very interesting, easy to read and enjoyable for so many reasons. Thanks so much for including this on your site. Not only are the stories fascinating but the covers on the books are gorgeous. They are really hard to describe you have to actually hold it in your hand. She has a pink store now too.
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With all these good books coming out, I’m never going to be able to write my own. Thanks. I didn’t know about this series.
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I just ordered this book on Saturday from Barnes & Noble :) I bought the orignal paperback, not the mass production but I still can’t wait to get it and start reading. Thanks, Laurel Ann for introducing me to this series a couple of weeks ago.
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Jennrenee, I envy you the pleasure of the first virgin read!
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I just finished the book and had to let you know that I loved it. I have already ordered the second book in the series. Thank you again for introducing me to this series!
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I REALLY need to read this series . . . its been recommended to me several times and it sounds like something I would love!
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I just re-discovered this series and absolutely love it! I can’t wait to read the rest of the novels and these new editions will make it so much easier to tote them around in my bag :)
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I honestly prefer the edition before the mass market edition. I love the books so read them in whatever fashion you like. I just happen to prefer paperbacks that are not mass market.
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I agree that the trade PB’s were more aesthetically pleasing. It breaks my heart to see that her publisher’s art department is moving towards the same “bodice-buster” cover style as the mass market for her hardcovers.
But, as long as the content’s still as good, I can deal. ;)
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Thanks for introducing me to this series as well, Laurel Ann! I’m already on the third book… =)
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You are welcome Joanna. I love hearing that I have inspired others to read. This series is one of my all-time favorites written by a contemporary author. I hope you were able to find The Masque of the Black Tulip. It features one of my fav comical characters, Turnip Fitzhugh, who gets his own story in her new novel The Mischief of the Mistletoe.
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Yes, I was able to find The Masque of the Black Tulip… serendipitous moment actually. I was told by the bookstore that there were no copies left, then when I passed by the table where ‘to be reshelved’ books were, there lay the last copy! =) If it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be…
Turnip made me laugh out loud… especially thinking about a man whose waistcoat is embroidered with pink carnation… LOL! I am very curious to know what kind of woman would fall for a guy named after the most unromantic vegetable! =D Thanks for the sneak peek on The Mischief of the Mistletoe, Laurel Ann.
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I LOVE this series!!! I wish the prices would drop for the ebook version so I can carry them anywhere on my Nook. I have the paper versions too! Can’t wait until the end of the month and again in January.
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Wow, that is a beautiful cover! It’s like an eye magnet!
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This series is my all-time favorite! I look for the opportunity to introduce other readers to it every chance I get!
In short: Miles Dorrington is made of awesome. That’s all.
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This has been a favorite series with me as well!
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I just bought this as I’ve always meant to read it — I really can’t wait. I have serious envy of the author — to have been so young when she published her first novel, and in law school!!! To be so talented…
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I have enjoyed this series and am glad to see that it has the opportunity to be introduced to new readers. I also had the supreme pleasure of meeting Ms. Willig earlier this year. She seems to genuinely love her readers as well as being a reader and is just as enthused to talk to us as we are to her. I must say she felt like someone I could immediately be friends with and I selfishly wish there was no one else in line so we could have continued talking.
I also want to add that I agree with some others here about these new covers. I will bluntly say I do not like this romancey, bodice ripper look. It does not represent her writing correctly. The trade paperback covers are so much better and representative of the book and the all have a theme that makes them identifiable. I hope this trend does not continue or that it foretells a shift in the series.
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Thanks for the review! I had not heard of this series, but I definitely have to check it out. I love novels that mix romance and mystery. Thanks for sharing!
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