The Masque of the Black Tulip

Author: Lauren Willig
Published: December 29, 2005 (Dutton)
Category: Historical Fiction/Romance
Quote of choice: "Love, of course, would be properly attired in tight tan buckskins, wear an immaculately tied cravat, and have a vaguely rakish air."

The events in The Masque of the Black Tulip take place right after the events of The Secret History of the Pink Carnation, and I'm glad to say that the feel of Tulip is the same as that of Carnation.

This book brought a smile to my face while I was reading it, sometimes in inappropriate places (like during my proofreading class). This time, our couple is Henrietta Selwick (the younger sister of Richard Selwick, otherwise known as the Purple Gentian), and the Honorable Miles Dorrington (Richard's best friend).

Ah, the age-old rule of "don't date your best friend's sister." Of course, Miles makes a big fuss about this rule, but falls in love with Henrietta anyways. You know, love conquers all, etc., etc. The dialogue of Miles and Henrietta is like that of the oldest of friends, after all, he met her when he was 6 years old. They tease each other and he had been looking out for her longer than he realized. It's so sweet that I'll forgive the fact that Miles had the same problem taking off his breeches that Richard did on their respective wedding nights (meaning getting stuck at the ankles, you dirty minded readers). Wow, those buckskin breeches must've been tight!

This was a sweeter book than Carnation, since Miles and Hen didn't have secret identities between them. Those little moments, where they'd look at each other from across the room (before realizing they were in love) and Hen would blush, made me smile because Willig wrote them so well.