The Passion of the Purple Plumeria

PRAISE FOR THE NOVELS

OF LAUREN WILLIG

The Garden Intrigue

“Willig delights time and again with her clever, witty, intelligent, and thoughtful Pink Carnation series.”

—
Romantic Times

“Eloise, of course, is amazing, but it’s truly the plot of
The Garden Intrigue
that shines . . . wonderful!”

—Romance Junkies

“[An] enchanting, exciting, and clever story.”

—Romance Reviews Today

“Enlightening and entertaining as always, and full of plenty of romance and intrigue, this is a strong choice for historical fiction readers.”

—
Library Journal

“As fresh and charming as its floral theme . . . a reliable romp through Napoleon’s court, filled with romance and yet another adorable and very active heroine.”

—
Kirkus Reviews

“Humor, love, espionage—yet again there is absolutely
nothing
that this incredible author leaves out. . . . [These stories] just keep getting better and better every time!”

—Once Upon a Romance

The Orchid Affair

“[A] supremely nerve-racking, sit-on-the-edge-of-your-seat, can’t-sleep-until-everyone-is-safe read . . . successfully upholds the author’s tradition of providing charming three-dimensional characters, lively action, [and] witty dialogue.”

—
Library Journal

“Willig’s sparkling series continues to elevate the Regency romance genre.”

—
Kirkus Reviews

“Willig combines the atmosphere of the tempestuous era with the perfect touches of historical detail to round out the love story.” —
Romantic Times

The Betrayal of the Blood Lily

“Newcomers and loyal fans alike will love brash, flirtatious Penelope’s exotic adventure in Hyderabad, India, told [with] Willig’s signature mix of historical richness and whimsical humor.”

—
The Newark Star-Ledger

“Reading [this book] is like getting a plate of warm-from-the-oven chocolate chip cookies: It’s hard not to eat them all at once, but you also want to savor every bite.”

—
Library Journal

“Willig hasn’t lost her touch; this outing has all the charm of the previous books in the series.”

—
Publishers Weekly

“Willig injects a new energy in her already thriving, thrilling series and presents the best entry to date.”

—
Booklist

The Temptation of the Night Jasmine

“Jane Austen for the modern girl . . . sheer fun!”

—
New York Times
bestselling author Christina Dodd

“An engaging historical romance, delightfully funny and sweet . . . a thoroughly charming costume drama. . . . Romance’s rosy glow tints even the spy adventure that unfolds . . . fine historical fiction . . . thrilling.”

—
The Newark Star-Ledger

“Another sultry spy tale. . . . The author’s conflation of historical fact, quirky observations, and nicely rendered romances results in an elegant and grandly entertaining book.” —
Publishers Weekly

The Seduction of the Crimson Rose

“Willig’s series gets better with each addition, and her latest is filled with swashbuckling fun, romance, and intrigue.”

—
Booklist

“Handily fulfills its promise of intrigue and romance.”

—
Publishers Weekly

“There are few authors capable of matching Lauren Willig’s ability to merge historical accuracy, heart-pounding romance, and biting wit.”

—
BookPage

The Deception of the Emerald Ring

“History textbook meets
Bridget Jones
.”

—
Marie Claire

“A fun and zany time warp full of history, digestible violence, and plenty of romance.”

—
New York Daily News

“Heaving bodices, embellished history, and witty dialogue: What more could you ask for?”

—
Kirkus Reviews

“Willig’s latest is riveting.” —
Booklist

“Smart . . . [a] fast-paced narrative with mistaken identities, double agents, and high-stakes espionage. . . . The historic action is taut and twisting.”

—
Publishers Weekly

The Masque of the Black Tulip

“Clever [and] playful. . . . What’s most delicious about Willig’s novels is that the damsels of 1803 bravely put it all on the line for love and country.”

—
Detroit Free Press

“Studded with clever literary and historical nuggets, this charming historical-contemporary romance moves back and forth in time.”

—
USA Today

“Willig has great fun with the conventions of the genre, throwing obstacles between her lovers at every opportunity . . . a great escape.”

—
The Boston Globe

“Willig picks up where she left readers breathlessly hanging. . . . Many more will delight in this easy-to-read romp and line up for the next installment.”

—
Publishers Weekly

The Secret History of the Pink Carnation

“A deftly hilarious, sexy novel.”

—
New York Times
bestselling author Eloisa James

“A merry romp with never a dull moment! A fun read.”

—
New York Times
bestselling author Mary Balogh

“This genre-bending read—a dash of chick lit with a historical twist—has it all: romance, mystery, and adventure. Pure fun!”

—
New York Times
bestselling author Meg Cabot

“Swashbuckling. . . . Willig has an ear for quick wit and an eye for detail. Her fiction debut is chock-full of romance, sexual tension, espionage, adventure, and humor.”

—
Library Journal

“Willig’s imaginative debut . . . is a decidedly delightful romp.”

—
Booklist

“Relentlessly effervescent prose . . . a sexy, smirking, determined-to-charm historical romance debut.”

—
Kirkus Reviews

“A delightful debut.”

—Roundtable Reviews

A
LSO
BY
L
AUREN
W
ILLIG

The Secret History of the Pink Carnation

The Masque of the Black Tulip

The Deception of the Emerald Ring

The Seduction of the Crimson Rose

The Temptation of the Night Jasmine

The Betrayal of the Blood Lily

The Mischief of the Mistletoe

The Orchid Affair

The Garden Intrigue

New American Library

Published by the Penguin Group

Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 375 Hudson Street,

New York, New York 10014, USA

USA | Canada | UK | Ireland | Australia | New Zealand | India | South Africa | China

Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

For more information about the Penguin Group visit penguin.com.

First published by New American Library,

a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

First Printing, August 2013

Copyright © Lauren Willig, 2013

Readers Guide copyright © Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 2013

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

REGISTERED TRADEMARK—MARCA REGISTRADA

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA:

Willig, Lauren.

The passion of the purple plumeria: a Pink Carnation novel/Lauren Willig.

p. cm.

ISBN 978-1-101-61417-4

1. Spies—Fiction. I. Title.

PS3623.I575P37 2013

813'.6—dc23 2013001734

Designed by Alissa Amell

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product
of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons,
living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility
for author or third-party Web sites or their content.

To Tasha Alexander, Tracy Grant, Sarah MacLean, Deanna Raybourn, and Beatriz Williams: wonderful writers and even better friends;

and to Claudia Brittenham

for keeping me from tossing the whole thing into the shredder.