Pink Carnation Recap: NIGHT JASMINE
Five! Five Pink books! Meet Pink V, The Temptation of the Night Jasmine.
Who: Charlotte Lansdowne and Robert, Duke of Dovedale
Where: England
When: Winter, 1803-4
What: Innocent and bookish Charlotte finds herself swept up in a web of intrigue stretching from the Hell Fire Club to the court of George III.
Historical Cameos: George III, Queen Charlotte
Fun facts about The Temptation of the Night Jasmine:
— Charlotte is the heroine based most closely on me. Or, at least, on me as I remembered myself being as an eighteen year old freshman at college, naive, optimistic, and inclined to use books, particularly Fanny Burney’s Evelina, as a guide to the intricacies of human nature. This did not always work well.
— The entire Hellfire Club plot is the fault of Victoria Holt’s Secret for a Nightingale, which was one of my favorite books as a pre-teen. Although for those wanting to know more about the actual Hellfire Clubs, which turned out to be even more complex and interesting than I had imagined, I recommend Geoffrey Ashe’s The Hell-Fire Clubs: A History of Anti-Morality.
My favorite scene from Night Jasmine? As much as I love Robert and Charlotte, I’m going to go with an Eloise one here. The scene I had the most fun writing was Eloise’s conversation with her ridiculous friend, Pammy, as Pammy explains her system for comparing eligible men to ice cream flavors.
What’s your favorite scene from The Temptation of the Night Jasmine?
I have two favorite scenes. Loved when Eloise was in the LR and overheard Colin’s ex girlfriend Joan talking about Colin and his job. It was so funny– what was said vs what she thought was said— and how Eloise’s imagination ran wild during the course of the book.
The final pages with the jam tarts and unicorns were my favorites.
I just finished re-reading this one; I had forgotten how much fun it is.
Favorite Scene 1: Charlotte taking charge when she realizes the King is in danger and everyone else’s dumbfounded reaction to it.
Favorite Scene 2: Eloise and Colin discussing the merits of Errol Flynn in tights as Robin Hood.
I’ll also vote for the final scene, with tarts and unicorns and Robert’s declaration of love…..
Definitely the final scene with the unicorn tarts. That was the most romantic moment I’ve ever read. I felt like I was there living that scene as I was reading it.
I really liked the dashing French spy they encounter rescuing the King. I keep hoping he will show up again. After reading the other responses, I have to say I loved the romantic gesture of the jam tarts and unicorns at the end as well.
I really loved this book – but then I could say that about all of them! ONE of my favorite scenes is the snuff box dialogue beginning with Henrietta, Charlotte, and Robert and ending with just Charlotte and Robert. Such wonderful repartee and use of double entendre! But that’s what makes your books so special, Lauren. You have a masterful way of creating dialogue – amusing or serious.
I just saw that the new prince was named George and immediately thought of King George! I’m going to assume Princess Kate is a huge fan of the Pink books!
I loved the scene where Robert sweeps Charlotte up and carries her out of the Hellfire Club after the fireworks illuminate her by the back door of the church. Romantically gallant and entertaining all at once! And of course I love the jam tarts scene at the end!
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