M

I am Lover of romance, who indulges in the romantic adventures of literature

My name is Renee, and I am the host of this site. I am a 34 year old woman, on the prowl for her mate, searching out the best of books, exploring the wilds of the imagination and delving into the heart of a beautiful love story.

 

Double The Romance Review-The Mark of the Midnight Manzanilla and Slightly Married

by | Nov 15, 2015 | Book Reviews, Double The Romance Reviews | 3 comments

Double The Romance Review-The Mark of the Midnight Manzanilla and Slightly MarriedThe Mark of the Midnight Manzanilla by Lauren Willig
Series: Pink Carnation, #11, #11
Published by NAL on August 5th 2014
Genres: Historical Romance, Regency Era, Espionage
Narrator: Kate Reading
Length: 12 Hours and 19 Mins
Pages: 496
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
ISBN: 045141473X
Goodreads
AmazonLibrary ThingLibrary ThingLibrary ThingLiteral Club
four-stars

In the latest Pink Carnation novel from national bestselling author Lauren Willig, rumors spreading among the ton turn deadly as a young couple unites to solve a mystery....   In October of 1806, the Little Season is in full swing, and Sally Fitzhugh has had enough of the endless parties and balls. With a rampant vampire craze sparked by the novel The Convent of Orsino, it seems no one can speak of anything else. But when Sally hears a rumor that the reclusive Duke of Belliston is an actual vampire, she cannot resist the challenge of proving such nonsense false. At a ball in Belliston Square, she ventures across the gardens and encounters the mysterious Duke.   Lucien, Duke of Belliston, is well versed in the trouble gossip can bring. He’s returned home to dispel the rumors of scandal surrounding his parents’ deaths, which hint at everything from treason to dark sorcery. While he searches for the truth, he welcomes his fearsome reputation—until a woman is found dead in Richmond. Her blood drained from her throat.   Lucien and Sally join forces to stop the so-called vampire from killing again. Someone managed to get away with killing the last Duke of Belliston. But they won’t kill this duke—not if Sally has anything to say about it.

My Review

I found this through a online digital service “hoopla” that goes through my local library. I was thrilled, because I have been searching for something different in a historical romance, and Lauren Willig is simply wonderful. Although this story was a bit different than any historical I have ever read/listened to. It has two story lines that are involved here. First we have Eloise who is a student in modern times, working on research for Pink Carnation and spending time with your British boyfriend Colin. Then we are taken back to Sally Fitshugh and The Duke of Belliston. London has been circling with rumors of Belliston being a vampire with a recent published work “Convent of Orshino” which is a gothic novel. Lucien left London when he was fifteen years old when his parents were killed, and he never believed that his mother killed his father. He knew that they were poisoned but no one believed him. So he left for New Orleans, but now he has returned to find the truth and find a place back with his family. But there is someone out to frame him and Sally joins forces with him to find out who is after him and why.

This was a wonderful story and I was captivated by the mystery and intrigue. Even though this is a installment toward the end of series, I didn’t feel too lost or out of place. It only made me even more fascinated by the set of the series and Sally’s family, whom I have a feeling are fully involved in other books of the series. What was most fun about this book was how it had depth and a sense of growth, unpredictable and unique characters. I became really impressed with this author, because lately I have been looking for more historical’s that have more emotion and complex plots. This fit the ticket for exactly what I have been looking for. It is rich and lively and highly entertaining. I can’t wait to delve deeper into this series that is packed with mystery, spies, and romance.

Series Order

The Secret History Of The Pink CarnationThe Masque of the Black TulipThe Seduction of the Crimson RoseTemptation of the Night JasmineThe Betrayal of the Blood LilyThe Mischief of the MistletoeThe Orchid AffairThe Garden IntrigueThe Passion of the Purple PlumeriaThe Mark of hte Midnight ManzanillaThe Lure of the Moonflower

 

About Lauren Willig

Lauren Willig is the New York Times bestselling author of sixteen works of historical fiction. Her books have been translated into over a dozen languages, awarded the RITA, Booksellers Best and Golden Leaf awards, and chosen for the American Library Association's annual list of the best genre fiction. After graduating from Yale University, she embarked on a PhD in English History at Harvard before leaving academia to acquire a JD at Harvard Law while authoring her "Pink Carnation" series of Napoleonic-set novels. She lives in New York City, where she now writes full time.

[divider]

Double The Romance Review-The Mark of the Midnight Manzanilla and Slightly MarriedSlightly Married by Mary Balogh
Published by Dell Bantam Random House on April 1st 2003
Genres: Historical Romance
Pages: 342
Format: Paperback
Source: Library
ISBN: 0440241049
Goodreads
AmazonLibrary ThingLibrary ThingLibrary Thing
four-stars

Meet the Bedwyn : six brothers and sisters—men and women of passion and privilege, daring and sensuality…Enter their dazzling world of high society and breathtaking seduction, where each will seek love, fight temptation, and court scandal and where Aidan Bedwyn, the marriage-shy second son, discovers that matrimony may be the most seductive act of all.
Like all the Bedwyn men, Aidan has a reputation for cool arrogance. But this proud nobleman also possesses a loyal, passionate heart—and it is this fierce loyalty that has brought Colonel Lord Aidan to Ringwood Manor to honor a dying soldier's request. Having promised to comfort and protect the man's sister, Aidan never expected to find a headstrong, fiercely independent woman who wants no part of his protection…nor did he expect the feelings this beguiling creature would ignite in his guarded heart. And when a relative threatens to turn Eve out of her home, Aidan gallantly makes her an offer she can't refuse: marry him…if only to save her home. And now, as all of London breathlessly awaits the transformation of the new Lady Aidan Bedwyn, the strangest thing happens: With one touch, one searing embrace, Aidan and Eve's “business arrangement” is about to be transformed into something slightly surprising.

My Review

I have been meaning to read this series for the longest time. Years ago, when I first got hooked on romance, I read Slightly Dangerous but for some reason I never continued the series. But I am thrilled to get back to it. What we have happening in Slightly Married is Aiden is a military man. When his close friend is killed on the battlefield he made him a dying promise that he would protect his sister: no matter what. So when he goes to her to deliver the news of her brother, he finds out that her cousin will take everything she has and she and everyone she holds dear will be out on the streets with nothing unless she marries in a few days. So he offers her a deal she can’t refuse. Aiden wants to pursue his career and let Eve have her home and her adopted family. But his family has other plans for them. And before he realizes it, Eve is with Aiden in London during the season. And true feelings start to develop and Aiden will need to make a choice: his military career or the woman he is falling in love with.

This was such a sweet and charming love story and I fell instantly in love with the story, the characters and everything else in between!! Mary Balogh has created a wonderful love story that held me captive. I just couldn’t get enough of Eve and Aiden and the Bedwyn family (who are a hoot) and just after reading this one book, makes me realize what I have been missing out on. Slightly Married is the first of a series that shows us our important family is–whether its the one we are born with or the one that we create. Slightly Married is compelling, riveting and a page turner that leaves you wanting more from this author.

Series Order

 

Slightly MarriedSlightly WickedSlightly ScandalousSlightly TemptedSlightly SinfulSlightly Dangerous

 

About Mary Balogh

Mary Jenkins was born on 1944 in Swansea, Wales, UK. After graduating from university, moved to Saskatchewan, Canada, to teach high-school English, on a two-year teaching contract in 1967. She married her Canadian husband, Robert Balogh, and had three children, Jacqueline, Christopher and Sian. When she's not writing, she enjoys reading, music and knitting. She also enjoys watching tennis and curling.

Mary Balogh started writing in the evenings as a hobby. Her first book, a Regency love story, was published in 1985 as A Masked Deception under her married name. In 1988, she retired from teaching after 20 years to pursue her dream to write full-time. She has written more than seventy novels and almost thirty novellas since then, including the New York Times bestselling Slightly sextet and Simply quartet. She has won numerous awards, including Bestselling Historical of the Year from the Borders Group, and her novel Simply Magic was a finalist in the Quill Awards. She has won seven Waldenbooks Awards and two B. Dalton Awards for her bestselling novels, as well as a Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award.

You May Also Like…

ARC Book Review-My Season of Scandal by Julie Anne Long

ARC Book Review-My Season of Scandal by Julie Anne Long

About The Book In USA Today bestselling author Julie Anne Long’s latest installment in the Palace of Rogues series, a notorious rake meets his match in a doe-eyed girl from the country, changing the course of both of their futures… A London season is the chance of a...

Book Review-Wilde for You by Jennifer Ryan

Book Review-Wilde for You by Jennifer Ryan

About The Book New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Ryan’s page-turning Dark Horse Dive Bar series continues with this story of love lost...and found…as a widow seeking to heal her heart crosses paths with a rancher/bartender who offers her a taste of...

Book Review-Leopard’s Hunt by Christine Feehan

Book Review-Leopard’s Hunt by Christine Feehan

About The Book The next exhilarating Leopard novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan. In this pulse-pounding novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling Leopard series, animal instinct unites two elite shifters whose heads are at war...

3 Comments

  1. Lily B

    I own a book or two of Lauren Willig but I never read her, eak o.o but they look right up my alley and honestly her book covers are so lovely.

    Reply
  2. Jennifer_FairyTales

    I’ve only read the first Pink Carnation book, but I really liked it. And you can never go wrong with Mary Balogh and the Bedwyns.

    Reply
  3. Alyn Yang

    I read one of the Pink Carnation books and I loved it. I also read every single one of the Bedwyn books. This was one of the first adult historical romance series I read, and one of the first ones I finished. I’ve been a huge fan of Mary Balogh since then.

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Jennifer_FairyTalesCancel reply