I’m pleased to introduce you today to Betty, who will be our moderator throughout February posting about The Temptation of the Night Jasmine. Welcome, Betty! I will bow out and let you get straight to it.
Hello Pink enthusiasts! My name is Betty, and I am excited that it’s time to begin Lauren’s 6th Pink Carnation book, The Temptation of the Night Jasmine, published in 2009. Since this was the year I discovered Lauren and her “Pink” series, I was so happy to have several books to read one right after the other before waiting each year for the latest in the series to be published. Now, as we anxiously await the release of Pink XII, and last of the series, I have enjoyed participating in the reread of all of the books. As someone who almost never rereads a book, I have found I needed this refresher, and have discovered so many things that slipped by in my first reading. Details, details make a book so enjoyable, and I want to thank Ashley for hosting this reread on The Bubble Bath Reader, and giving me the chance to enjoy these books all over again! Here is a quick recap taken from Lauren’s website:
The Temptation of the Night Jasmine
Who: Charlotte Lansdowne and Robert, Duke of Dovedale
Where: England
When: Winter 1803-04
What: Innocent and bookish Charlotte finds herself swept up in a web of intrigue stretching from the Hellfire Club to the court of George III.
Historical cameos: George III and Queen Charlotte
Of course Colin and Eloise return as she arrives for her second trip to Selwick Hall and finds something in store for her that she didn’t expect.
I also found it interesting that Lauren says, “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, naïve, optimistic, and inclined to use books, particularly Fanny Burney’s Evelina, as a guide to the intricacies of human nature.”
Of course this started me wondering if anyone else has a character/heroine that they most closely identify with. I would have to say that Charlotte is also that person for me, because at that age I was also shy, naïve, and bookish. Many life experiences have changed that, and I have become much more outgoing and willing to take risks – still bookish, though! How about you – who do you identify with in Lauren’s wonderful Pink books?
I look forward to leading everyone through Night Jasmine and plan to recap and discuss the Prologue – Chapter 7 on Friday. Happy reading!
The Bubble Bath Reader 
Definitely Charlotte was me as well, I have always been bookish, but am also now more outgoing that I was at 18. If there was nothing else to read, I would open the dictionary or the encyclopedia to random pages which would often, if interesting spur more reading on related subjects. If I saw a movie or read a book based on a real person that grabbed my interest, it might trigger a reading frenzy to find out more about that person or about other people or events from the same period. Once I saw a tv movie (possibly a mini-series) about Beryl Markham which at the time, spurred an entire spate of other tv movies about early women pilots and a reading frenzy that was slowing down when one about Jackie Cochran aired that sped up the reading frenzy again. If you never heard of either of those women, check them out. Of the two though, Jackie Cochran was the more interesting to me.
Of the books I have read that spurred me to read more about the subject/ was one called “By Influence and Desire: the True Story of Three Extraordinary Women-the Grand Duchess of Courland and Her Daughters” by Rosalynd Pflaum, it sounds like a romance novel but it was a wonderful biography about the Grand-Duchess of Courland and her daughters and how through their liaisons they influenced the politics of their day. The duchess and her youngest daughter were at different times were in a liaison with Talleyrand, who played a major role at the Congress of Vienna in 1814-1815. Aristocratic women were a key component of Talleyrand’s political tactics, both for their influence and their ability to cross borders unhindered. The duchess’ eldest daughter, Wilhelmine (who hated Napoleon) was in a passionate love affair with Metternich in 1813 and modern historians speculate that she was the one who pushed Metternich away from a cautious pro-French position. The negotiations in 1813 that resulted in an anti-Napoleonic coalition between Prussia, Austria and Russia were held in one of Wilhelmine’s homes, Ratibořice Castle. This book spurred additional reading on Madame de Staël, several other books about the Congress of Vienna and a biography of Napoleon.
Hopefully these tidbits will intrigue other former Charlottes (like me) to read about these and other fascinating women you never heard about in history class.
Wow! Thank you Debra for such interesting information. I will have to look into these books and women. I do the same thing as far as investigating things that interest me from books, movies, songs. Several years ago I was reading a 900 page book about Cleopatra (historical fiction), but I had to run to my computer throughout, just to check the truth. Two years ago I started watching the TV series Reign, and I was amazed at how loose they played with the truth. I already knew some facts and did more research on Mary Queen of Scots because I have Scottish heritage. Since then I have read three more books of that time period. Still watch the series though, but it is good to be able to tell truth from fiction.
So glad you shared. That is what is so nice about this reread – having the chance to communicate with others who share similar interests.
If you haven’t already read Vienna Waltz, I bet you would really enjoy it! The setting is the Congress of Vienna, and these people are players in the novel. My catchphrase may be “Almost everything I know about history I picked up in a historical romance.” Although Teresa Grant’s book is so much more than that. It was so intriguing. Even though it was part of a fictional series, I think it was very well researched and written. It was truly one of my favorite books.
Great catchphrase, Paige, and such a fun way to learn.
I am looking forward to reading this since it is my favorite. I enjoy the fun and sweetness of Mistletoe. But I really relate to Charlotte. And I enjoy the adventures at the end. I won’t mention any spoilers yet! I just got a copy signed by Lauren over the weekend at a very informative historical fiction panel she was part of at a charming bookstore in Connecticut. But we will see how long it takes me before I need to switch to the Kindle version. I have gotten so spoiled about adjusting font size, reading in the dark, and looking up words, especially translating the French phrases.
That is so cool that you got to meet Lauren at a panel, Jennifer. I like the built-in nightlight of my Kindle, too! That and the Whispersync features are things I really like. I have to say that I am looking forward to reading this with you all. I honestly have never considered this to have been one of my favorites in the series, but for the life of me, I can’t say precisely why. I definitely did not dislike it, by any stretch. I expect that I may experience it much differently this time. I don’t remember particularly relating to Charlotte, which makes me the big outlier in the group right now. 🙂
Who do you relate to, Paige? Any of the other Pink characters so far?
It must have been a great event, Jennifer. When I read Lauren’s post about it, I was wishing I was closer to Connecticut – the bookstore sounded so nice, and I love bookstores. Lauren is such a treat in person. I met her in 2013 at the Virginia Festival of the Book. She most graciously signed ALL of my books that I toted to that event.
It was a great event and I found out from a friend today that R J Julia is known for being the best bookstore in the state. I moved to Connecticut in September, so this was my first solo adventure. It couldn’t have been better! I had a great time.
Hi, Betty! I am really looking forward to this read this month and to having you lead it!
Thanks, Paige. I’m looking forward to the interaction with other Pink fans.