The Lure of the Moonflower

A Pink Carnation Novel

By: Lauren Willig

Narrated by: Kate Reading

In the final Pink Carnation novel from the New York Times best-selling author of The Mark of the Midnight Manzanilla, Napoleon has occupied Lisbon, and Jane Wooliston, a.k.a. the Pink Carnation, teams up with a rogue agent to protect the escaped Queen of Portugal.

Portugal, December 1807.

Jack Reid, the British agent known as the Moonflower (formerly the French agent known as the Moonflower), has been stationed in Portugal and is awaiting his new contact. He does not expect to be paired with a woman - especially not the legendary Pink Carnation. All of Portugal believes that the royal family departed for Brazil just before the French troops marched into Lisbon. Only the English government knows that mad 73-year-old Queen Maria was spirited away by a group of loyalists determined to rally a resistance. But as the French garrison scours the countryside, it’s only a matter of time before she’s found and taken.

It’s up to Jane to find her first and ensure her safety. But she has no knowledge of Portugal or the language. Though she is loath to admit it, she needs the Moonflower. Operating alone has taught her to respect her own limitations. But she knows better than to show weakness around the Moonflower - an agent with a reputation for brilliance, a tendency toward insubordination, and a history of going rogue.

Listeners guide included.

©2015 Lauren Willig (P)2015 Penguin Audio

The Best

Loved it! Didn't want to stop listening! I totally hope she writes more! Performer is fantastic!

Another great story

This time the Pink Carnation finds love with a most unlikely hero and the series ends with Eloise and Collin’s wedding, or does it?

Loved it

What made the experience of listening to The Lure of the Moonflower the most enjoyable?

The voices that the narrator used, very nice voice.

What did you like best about this story?

Jane got a husband!!

Have you listened to any of Kate Reading’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Same high quality as all the other ones she has done.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Jane and Ms. Gwen reconciling.

Any additional comments?

I have listened to all of these and was very happy for Jane!

The Pink Carnation is not Totally Perfect

The Moonflower is not a totally imperfect.

Lauren Willig has allowed her readers to see beneath the serene mask and cold intelligence of England's dedicated spy, the Pink Carnation. It is also fun to see her forced to "take a road trip" on foot and by donkey with a fellow spy she doesn't trust. Reading about the two of them rubbing the edges off of their preconceptions, not to mention each other is fun.

It is a great way to tie up a series both in the eighteen hundreds and the present, but I still think the Moonflower's crossbow waving little sister deserves her own book.

So sad that this series is over

This was a great way to end the story of the Pink Carnation. (Maybe Lauren Willig will change her mind.) The story is set in Portugal which is a departure from previous books and it gives Jane opportunities for disguises plus she meets Jack!

As far as Eloise and Colin, well, I'm glad their story had the ending it did but Eloise was annoying me. She acted more like a 16 year old than a 30 something. I felt this in the last book, too, and I really think it's the way the narrator portrayed her. Kate Reading is one of the best but her Eloise was grating to me.

I'll miss all these characters. Thank you, Lauren Willig.

Well Crafted Conclusion

A beautiful wrap-up to a fun series. A strong females from early books gets a lovely curtain call. Well worth the time.

More of the same...

What did you love best about The Lure of the Moonflower?

Jack...every inch the dashing, smart-mouth spy.

If you’ve listened to books by Lauren Willig before, how does this one compare?

While I must caveat this by saying that I am a huge fan of Lauren Willig's series, this book felt forced. Almost like the well of ideas was running dry and she was just trying to get it to the finish line.

Have you listened to any of Kate Reading’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

She never puts a foot wrong...wonderful narrator!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Not really.

Any additional comments?

The Eloise/Colin storyline in this book was just plain ridiculous.

Best humor/romance in the catagory

What did you love best about The Lure of the Moonflower?

Humor and romance and historical details. I love learning history from fun sources.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Pink Carnation and author/narrator. Men a bit shallow/repeatitive, but its ok.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The constant observations about human nature are spot on and strike my funny bone.

Any additional comments?

I will miss this series.
I am John's wife. He would not read this. It is entirely feminine fun.

great ending to series!

I hate to see the end of the Pink Series, but what a way to go. Jane and Jack ( the Moonflower) go on a huge adventure to rescue a mad queen, and in the process find out they are more similar than dissimilar. Old enemies show up to thwart them, and old friends to aid them which all makes for a fabulously great tale.
On the contemporary side, Colin and Eloise get involved in their own mystery/kidnapping on the eve of a very special day. Fans of the series will be pleased with how the author wraps up their story line. 5 stars indeed!

Love this series!! Great finish!

Love this book! Didn’t so much like the character accents given to Jane and Jack by the reader, they just didn’t sound right to me. Jane sounded weak, Jack sounded insincere, it was difficult to appreciate them. I prefer to just read this book as opposed to listening to it.