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jmc_bksThe plot and set up for The Masque of the Black Tulip is the same as Willig's first book: it begins in modern day, with Eloise Kelly reviewing the papers of the Selwick family for information to include in her dissertation. The narrative switches between modern day and 1803, with the change to the past usually heralded by some piece of correspondence under review. There are two serious candidates who may be the French spy, the Black Tulip, and warnings from abroad indicate that both Miles Dorrington and Henrietta Selwick may be in danger due to their relationships with the Purple Gentian and the Pink Carnation.
I loved this book. The suspense was okay, but the better part of the book was the love story. Miles has been the best friend of Richard Selwick, the Purple Gentian, hero of The Secret History of the Pink Carnation, since they were boys. He's an honorary member of the family and honorary older brother and protector of Henrietta Selwick. MBT is about catching a spy and about the two of them realizing that they belong together. The Three Words aren't spoken until the end, but parts of the internal dialogue that occur earlier on would make me swoon if I were the swooning sort:
Sigh.
I loved this book. The suspense was okay, but the better part of the book was the love story. Miles has been the best friend of Richard Selwick, the Purple Gentian, hero of The Secret History of the Pink Carnation, since they were boys. He's an honorary member of the family and honorary older brother and protector of Henrietta Selwick. MBT is about catching a spy and about the two of them realizing that they belong together. The Three Words aren't spoken until the end, but parts of the internal dialogue that occur earlier on would make me swoon if I were the swooning sort:
Hen, telling herself that she wasn't in love, really: It was a very simple concept, really: She just didn't want to share him with anyone. Ever. She wanted to be the person his eyes sought out in a crowded ballroom, the person he nudged when he had a really smashing joke he just had to tell, the first person he saw when he woke up in the morning, and the last person he spoke to when he went to bed at night.
Miles: Were his life a novel, the chapter heading for this latest installment would undoubtedly read, "In which our hero contrives to endanger his valet and alienate his closest friend." It took Miles a moment to realize he didn't mean Richard...Miles couldn't count the number of times he had automatically turned to exchange a quip or comment with Henrietta, before remembering that they weren't supposed to be speaking. It was sheer misery.
Sigh.
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Date: 2006-01-19 03:00 am (UTC)--P. (http://pdevi.blogspot.com/)
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