Righty-ho! Turnip Fitzhugh gets this own book!

In her six previous novels in the bestselling Pink Carnation series, Lauren Willig has furnished us with an assortment of dashing heroes thwarting Napoleonic spies while romancing clever heroines. There are your alpha heroes and your beta heroes, but none qualify as a vegetable hero except Reginald “Turnip” Fitzhugh! He is long on looks and short on brains; but it does not signify. From his very first bumbling scene in The Mischief of the Mistletoe w More...

I throughly enjoyed this book and Lauren Willig's others in this series! I can't wait till the next one!

I don't know if I was just starved for some good, clean romance or what... but this really hit the spot.

When I read Willig's comment that she was writing this book because her readers wanted to know more about Turnip, I honestly thought, "Why? Turnip is a dolt," and I thought, "annoying..." I was too influenced by the other characters who were not always kind in their descriptions of the man.

But it only took about half a page before I was completely in love with him. Turnip is the perfect hero: More...

On second reading, I bumped this up several notches. I generally enjoy Lauren Willig's Pink Carnation series books, but had previously given this one a 2 star rating. Must have been off the old bean, as Turnip would say. The second time around I was quite taken with the story, especially Turnip's non-heroic demeanor. I am ever so tired of the leading man with the smoldering glances. Somebody has to bumble and trip over Christmas puddings and fall in love with the not-beautiful or ravishing schoo More...

I picked this up over the holiday to get a cute themed Christmas book, regrettably I read 40 pages, and promptly forgot about it. Thankfully, I had the smarts to pick it up again because it well worth the read, if anything for the ridiculously adorable couple of Turnip and Arabella.

Reginald “Turnip” Fitzhugh, "possessed of every worldly endowment except for intelligence" (as described by Jane Austen of the Pink Carnation series), sweeps Arabella Dempsey (better know as Miss. Whats-her-face becau More...

Genre: Regency Romance

This reminds me of a Georgette Heyer romance (one of the ones that feature a sweet but not too bright hero, like Cotillion) crossed with The Scarlet Pimpernel -- so it’s lots and lots of fun! It is apparently the 7th in the Pink Carnation series; but since I haven’t read any of the other books in the series, I can honestly say that this one stands alone just fine. I don’t know how representative it is of the rest of the series… but I am planning to find out soon!

Lauren Will More...

Arabella Dempsey's dear friend Jane Austen has warned her against teaching. But Arabella has little choice but to strike out on her own when her aunt, who has raised her and promised her an inheritance, marries a fortune hunter half her age. So, just before Christmas, she accepts a position at a quiet girls' school in Bath where one of the pupils is the younger sister of Turnip Fitzhugh, who is mentioned in the “Pink Carnation” series whenever a bit of humor is called for. When Turnip stumbles i More...

I've complained about the awkward device in Willig's novels in which she alternates between dashing spy romances and tepid modern day drama. In this book, delightfully, Eloise-the-irritating-historian makes no appearance whatsoever! Instead, the entire book is focused on the adventures of the English spy set, which is a vast improvement.

Willig continues in well-differentiating between the characters of the different books. Previous heroes and heroines show up now and then, but I very much like t More...

Perhaps I'm just a sucker old-fashioned tidings of Christmas cheer, but "The Mischief of the Mistletoe" has been, to date, my favorite of Lauren Willig's "Pink Carnation" series. It even manages to eclipse the series' debut, which was not a feat I imagined possible. But how can you not love espionage delivered in a Christmas pudding? And all the rolicking good fun of a traditional English countryside Christmas, replete with Twelfth Night and Epiphany festivities, just added to the whimsy. I coul More...

This is the best book in the Pink series by Lauren Willig. Flawless in its writing, this is one gratifying romance novel that you can sink your teeth into and feel completely happy about once you finish reading it.

I wasn't sure if I was going to like this book seeing as it appeared more of an 'interlude' rather than a continuation of the Pink storyline. But my worries were completely extinguished by, oh, the second page. The book is so well written, the plot thoughtfully woven and the characters More...

Written in Austen-style, The Mischief of the Mistletoe is a great read. Lauren Willig based this novel on Jane Austen’s The Watsons, and the reference is easily seen. All of these elements together made Mischief a fun addition to my holiday reading.

As a newbie to the Pink Carnation series, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the compilations of Willig’s style. Part mystery, part romance, and a lot of historical fiction Mischief is the best of each genre. I have never read a book before that co More...

I have to admire Lauren Willig's ability to to take side characters that, on the surface, don't seem to be leading role material and make you absolutely love them (or love to hate them) while staying completely true to their already established selves. I was a little wary, to say the least, when I heard Turnip would be the hero of The Mischief of the Mistletoe. I've always found him to be hilarious, with his over-the-top pink carnation adorned waistcoats and all, but he seemed better suited to o More...

It takes an incredibly gifted author to take unimportant people with serious flaws, keep them true to character, and still make the reader sit up and cheer for them. I loved this book. It is so nice to be able to recommend a book without sex, horror, or anything else to qualify how and why I liked it.

In Mischief of the Mistletoe, Reggie "Turnip" Fitzhugh finally gets his romantic turn. He has been a comic foil in most of the other Pink Carnation books. He has been presented as a clueless fop, b More...

La! What fun I've had reading this weekend! Or should I say, "fa la la la la," since the book I've just finished reading is Christmas-themed?

Long-time readers know that I am a huge fan of the Pink Carnation books, commencing with The Secret History of the Pink Carnation and progressing through The Betrayal of the Blood Lily. The books, for those not yet familiar with them, are a combination of modern-day romance involving Eloise Kelly and Colin Selwick (moving slowly across the course of the ser More...

This was a much better story then the previous Pink Carnation books.

We are given a side story including two characters that though we've seen them in other stories, they haven't played central roles. Miss Arabella Dempsey and Mr. Reginald "Turnip" Fitzhugh.

It starts with Arabella and her friend, Jane Austen, having a dicussion about Arabella's descion to become a school instructress at a girls seminary in Bath. Jane tries to talk her out of it but she insists and this is where she runs into, or More...

All right, I have a new favorite Regency author. Lauren Willig may not be Jane Austen (who is?), but she's an excellent writer in her own right. The Mischief of the Mistletoe comes in the middle of her Pink Carnation series. Even so, it works very well on its own. I haven't read any more of the series (it's on my list now!), but I didn't feel in the least bit lost or confused. If you like your Regency titles a little on the comical side, you'll love The Mischief of the Mistletoe. Chapter 11 alon More...

Verdict: even sillier than normal for this series. On the plus side, I did not hate either of the romantic protagonists, as is so often the case. Most of the leads from her other books wandered pointlessly through the story to remind me of how forgettable they were. The only ones I found memorably hateful were Vaughn and Mary, who had even less excuse for their cameo than some of the other characters'. No, actually the character who had the least reason to be in the story was Jane Austen, weakly More...

I love Ms. Willig's stories and this one, The Mischief of the Mistletoe is no disappointment. This one is the story of Turnip Fitzhugh, a character that I always enjoyed. I love the wit that flows through Lauren's books and Turnip is a great character. He has had some recurring appearances in the Pink Carnation series and it was great to see him shine in his own book.

This story obviously takes place during the Christmas season and it is absolutely delightful. There seem to be a plethora of Chris More...

I love a Lauren Willig book. She has ranked as one of my favorite authors ever since the publication of her first novel, The Secret History of the Pink Carnation, a wonderfully imaginative story about the efforts of a post-graduate student to uncover the identity of the Pink Carnation, a British spy who invaded Napoleonic France (think the Scarlet Pimpernel). There are now 12 books in the "Pink" series (I am currently five behind in the reading department). It is an absolutely fantastic series t More...

I am deliriously happy to have discovered author Lauren Willig. This tale zips along quickly with the author's deft, witty and humorous writing. This book had me laughing out loud in so many parts, due mainly, to it's hero, Reginald "Turnip" Fitzhugh, a man "possessed of every worldly endowment except intellect."

I had to restrain myself from highlighting passages every few pages. But anyway, here are a few choice lines:

"Even Sally wound't want to cross fans with the Dowager Duchess of Dovedale. More...

Review to come, but just as awesome the second time around!

Arabella Dempsey has been thrown back onto the bosom of her family. Her Aunt has made a bit of a to-do, marrying a man closer in age to her niece, who might have been a little too close to her niece's heart. Arabella's years being raised as her Aunt's companion and nominal heiress have been brushed aside with one wedding vow. She must now return to her family, whom she barely knows, and be a burden on their already strained income. But A More...

I loved this one. It was so funny - both the main character interaction (particularly the scene in school with the intruder and the follow up scene in Arabella's bedroom) and the supporting charaters - Turnip's sister Sally and her friends in particular.

The following particularly tickled my funny bone, possibly as I feel the same way about cupids:
Mr Fithugh squared his shoulders. "The whole thing was dogy, deuced dodgy." [talking about the intruder]
"I would have called it more ugly" hedged Arab More...

Mischief of the Mistletoe is the latest adventure in the Secret History of the Pink Carnation series and this time, it's a Christmas romance! For those looking for the usual Lauren Willig fare, you'll find that this installment comes up a bit short, though it's still an amusing holiday read. Normally, Willig bounces between the historical love story that occupies a single book and the modern storyline that ties all the books together, but this time we simply have the love story without cuts to m More...

If there’s something to not like about a Pink Carnation book, it escapes me. I waited to buy The Mischief of the Mistletoe until it came out in paperback, thus prolonging the series for my enjoyment. I really liked reading a story which takes place in between the time of two other books, once at the same house party but from a different perspective – clever, clever. This chapter in the series had all the Pink characteristics – some mystery, some history, some romance, and a whole lot of wit and More...

Reginald "Turnip" Fitzhugh finally gets his own adventure when he visits his sister at school and becomes involved in unraveling a mystery surrounding a Christmas pudding with a secret message in the wrapping. Arabella Dempsey has just taken a job as a teacher at the school and together she and Turnip try to foil the plot of a possible French spy while losing their hearts to each other.

Unlike the other titles in the Pink Carnation series, The Mischief of the Mistletoe does not feature modern na More...

4.5 Stars

Oh my. I’m not sure what I was really expecting when I poked my ear buds into their proper place and began listening to The Mischief of the Mistletoe, but I certainly wasn’t expecting this book to be so much fun. You know those books that cause you to have a big stupid grin on your face throughout the majority of the story? The ones that are particularly awkward to listen to at the gym because people can hear you chuckle choke for lack of air and see the look on your face as you go? The More...

Delightful and charming, like all of Ms Willig's books - how does she do it?? This one includes nothing of the modern romance with Eloise, so it would work just fine as a stand-alone historical romance novel. However, there are rewards for the Willig fan! Some of the scenes in this book also take place in other books (mostly The Temptation of the Night Jasmine - and I only know which one because the author includes a little note in the back about some of the recurring characters), but from diffe More...

Just when I was starting to lose hope with the Pink Carnation series a book challenge prompted me to read this one. I’m glad it did because I enjoyed it and it restored my hope a little.

While the book is listed as book #7 in the series, this is not true. It’s actually 4.5 in the series. Some of the events in this book are concurrent to events in The Temptation of the Night Jasmine. It is however, best to read it as #7 because one of the characters mentioned is also mentioned in The Betrayal of t More...

Lauren Willig is the author of this historical fiction/romance book published in November, 2010. It's about Arabella Dempsey who becomes a teacher at a Young Ladies Seminary. Her aunt marries which leaves Arabella out of the inheritance, so in order to take care of her family she goes into teaching. While there she becomes involved in a mystery filled with intrigue and espionage, that begins with a cryptic message wrapped up in a Christmas pudding. She meets "Turnip" Fitzhugh, a brother to one o More...

Well this was my very first book by this author, Lauren Willig, and I received this book as my very first Goodreads book giveaway too. The title suggested that it was a Christmas themed book so I was excited to start reading it around the holidays.

It's a fun, light read. Not quite sure if it was supposed to be a cute love story with a bit of mystery thrown in there, or a little bit of a mystery around a cute love story. Either way, it wasn't quite the complex mystery I thought it would be. Nor w More...