The Passion of the Purple Plumeria

MISS GWEN GETS A ROMANCE! Honestly I remember reading the premise of this the first time and wondering who in the world would be a good match for the formidable Miss Gwendolyn Meadows. And then the summary mentioned Col. William Reid, and I knew this was going to be AMAZING. 

And fortunately, that judgment still holds up in this reread! Like with The Orchid Affair, the couple involved in this novel are on the older side of things (Gwen is in her forties and William is in his fifties), and it is such a wonderful reminder that one is never too old (or to crotchety) to find romance. And BOY do Gwen and William deserve it. They???ve both lived rough lives, and they???ve reacted to that in their own way, but it???s lovely seeing how who they are brings out the best in each other. It was also lovely reading about how William just accepted Gwen for who she was, and also pointing out (rightly so, imo) that the way the others had been treating her was rather cruel. They might not have meant it, but it was cruel regardless. And that just really emphasizes how much of a GOOD MAN he is, truly. 

That being said, something happens in this novel that really rocks the foundation upon which most of the series has been set. Won???t say what it is because spoilers, but suffice to say...that I am annoyed that the effects of the events in this book won???t really come into fruition until Book 12, because there???s ANOTHER book after this that isn???t quite related to the events of this one. I guess the author wanted a rounded out set of books instead of, I dunno, an eleven-book series? 

Anyway, I can see the end of the line in sight! Gonna have to charge through the next book so I can finally - FINALLY - read the last book and close out this series for good.

(Side note: Plumerias are also called frangipani, and in the Philippines are colloquially known as kalachuchi. Hereabouts they???re a flower associated with the dead; if you catch their scent on the breeze at night, and you can???t spot any nearby trees that could be the source, well...that just means the aswang are out to get you, and you???d better hurry on to somewhere safe. Oddly appropriate, given Gwen???s predilection for gothic fiction.)