The Passion of the Purple Plumeria / Lauren Willig / 468 p.

     This story departs from the French spies that inundated the past novels in the series.
In fact the main character is an older spinster, Gwendolyn Meadows.  (Old means in her forties).  Back in 1805, that was quite old.  She has been the chaperone of the Pink Carnation Jane Wooleston, but things are changing.  Jane's sister is missing from her school.  Is this connected to French spies?  Gwen meets the father of the other missing girl and he is a retired East India Company soldier.  Hmm.  Finally a romance for the older readers.  He is not really that old; he's fifty-five and in "good shape." 
     It is an interesting story and keeps the reader's attention as the many different threads are woven into one story.  The back story about the present day grad student is also advancing so that it should conclude possibly in the book that is coming out this fall.
Can't wait for that one.