Arabella Dempsey’s dear friend Jane Austen warned her against teaching. But Miss Climpson’s Select Seminary for Young Ladies seems the perfect plac...
read full description
reviews
Aug 30, 2011
Laurel
rated it: 
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 M More...
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 M More...
2 comments
like
(6 people liked it)
Jan 11, 2011
Shelli
rated it:
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 i More...
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 i More...
0 comments
like
(3 people liked it)
Jan 09, 2012
Susan
rated it: 
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
More...
Aug 31, 2011
Rebecca
rated it:
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 More...
Willig continues in well-differentiating between the characters of the different books. Previous heroes and heroines show up now and then, but I very More...
0 comments
like
(5 people liked it)
Jul 31, 2011
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 adde
More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Jan 03, 2011
Mackenzie
rated it:
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 More...
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 More...
Dec 23, 2010
Girls Gone Reading
rated it:
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 befo More...
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 befo More...
0 comments
like
(2 people liked it)
Dec 06, 2010
Kendra
rated it:
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...
5 comments
like
(3 people liked it)
Nov 22, 2010
Julie
rated it:
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 More...
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 More...
Nov 06, 2010
Kelly
rated it:
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 t More...
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 t More...
0 comments
like
(2 people liked it)
Feb 08, 2012
Miriam
rated it: 
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...
12 comments
like
(14 people liked it)
Dec 30, 2010
Jillian
rated it:
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 ple More...
This story obviously takes place during the Christmas season and it is absolutely delightful. There seem to be a ple More...
Dec 21, 2010
Elizabeth (Miss Eliza)
rated it:
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 i More...
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 i More...
0 comments
like
(3 people liked it)
Sep 14, 2011
Sandra
rated it:
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 wou More...
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 wou More...
Dec 02, 2010
Alana
rated it:
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
More...
Dec 17, 2011
Erica Leigh
rated it:
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 a
More...
Dec 02, 2010
Christina (Reading Extensively)
rated it:
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 n More...
Unlike the other titles in the Pink Carnation series, The Mischief of the Mistletoe does n More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Feb 07, 2011
Nadine
rated it:
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 di
More...
Dec 30, 2010
Staci
rated it:
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 broth
More...
0 comments
like
(2 people liked it)
Dec 01, 2010
Carolyn
rated it:
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 More...
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 More...
Nov 15, 2010
Snail in Danger (Sid)
rated it:
Three stars as a mildly amusing read-once thing. More like 2 or 2.5 overall, really.
I actually read this a couple weeks ago, but somehow neglected to add it to Goodreads. That's the reason I am re-reading the series. I was going to re-read this one too, but I ... can't quite bring myself to.
However, I suspect continuity problems. Minor ones that can be handwaved away, but still. Like, Turnip was using a saw and not an axe in Night Jasmine, and there's no indication that More...
I actually read this a couple weeks ago, but somehow neglected to add it to Goodreads. That's the reason I am re-reading the series. I was going to re-read this one too, but I ... can't quite bring myself to.
However, I suspect continuity problems. Minor ones that can be handwaved away, but still. Like, Turnip was using a saw and not an axe in Night Jasmine, and there's no indication that More...
Jan 09, 2011
JG (The Introverted Reader)
rated it:
Arabella Dempsey has just seen all her hopes dashed. She's been a companion to her aunt since she was a child and fully expected to inherit from her. She realizes that isn't going to happen when her aunt marries a much younger man--the very man that Arabella has been fantasizing about. Does it get any crueler? But Arabella is nothing if not determined and she determines to make her own way in the world and goes to work as a teacher in an all-girls school. Her first day there she literally b
More...
Dec 25, 2011
Charla
rated it:
This was a wonderful book to read for Christmas! It has so many things that I love! It has romance, mystery, intrigue, suspense, and humor and it is all wrapped around a Christmas Pudding! Yes, I said a Christmas Pudding. It is a wonderful mystery that is written in the style of Jane Austen, and the mystery begins with a message found in a Christmas Pudding! This is the first book in the Pink Carnation series that I have read, and it was wonderful. The book does not have to be read in any
More...
Nov 20, 2010
MB
rated it:
A very sweet little romance. I enjoyed the break from Colin and Penny as well.
The hero is a type obviously based on Freddy from Heyer's Cotillion--a favorite of mine. (Except Turnip doesn't have Freddy's exquisite sense of taste, to say the least.) I'm inspired to go re-read it again after finishing this one. Frankly, every regency romance is fairly obviously based off of Jane Austen (of course) and then Georgette Heyer--all the Tropes and plots originated there. The hardest t More...
The hero is a type obviously based on Freddy from Heyer's Cotillion--a favorite of mine. (Except Turnip doesn't have Freddy's exquisite sense of taste, to say the least.) I'm inspired to go re-read it again after finishing this one. Frankly, every regency romance is fairly obviously based off of Jane Austen (of course) and then Georgette Heyer--all the Tropes and plots originated there. The hardest t More...
Jan 07, 2012
LJ
rated it:
First Sentence: “I am for teaching” announced Miss Arabella Dempsey.
Arabella Dempsey, in spite of cautions from her best friend Jane Austin, decides teaching in a boarding school for wealthy girls can’t be that hard. She doesn’t anticipate becoming entangled with Turnip Fitzhugh, uncle to one of the girls, Christmas puddings, and espionage.
Just want I needed. While I normally stay away from books which use iconic characters to their own means, I didn’t mind here as Jane More...
Arabella Dempsey, in spite of cautions from her best friend Jane Austin, decides teaching in a boarding school for wealthy girls can’t be that hard. She doesn’t anticipate becoming entangled with Turnip Fitzhugh, uncle to one of the girls, Christmas puddings, and espionage.
Just want I needed. While I normally stay away from books which use iconic characters to their own means, I didn’t mind here as Jane More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Dec 22, 2010
Jenn
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Dec 21, 2010
Karalee
rated it:
I love Lauren Willig's books - they are the epitome of enjoyable escapism but without being fluffy or mindless. This book is set at Christmastime (obviously) and has Arabella meeting Turnip Fitzhugh through the introduction of a message mysteriously hidden in a Christmas pudding. I've always had a soft spot for Turnip in Willig's previous books and hoped the right woman would come along who would appreciate him. Arabella is his perfect match (although they don't realize this at first). Inves
More...
Dec 28, 2011
Melissa
rated it:
This is the first of the Pink Carnation books I read, and it was sweet enough to make me want to read more. It doesn't even star someone working for the War Office. I love that these books are sort of like Nancy Drew mysteries that are Harlequin novels as well. Turnip is such a sweetheart, and this whole intrigue thing he got into with Arabella is just marvelous. I was certainly surprised at the climax. I was a bit surprised that the story didn't become someone finally calling him by his gi
More...
Aug 09, 2011
Wendy
rated it:
A lot of fun. Well written, sharp and witty. The hero was a thick Adonis who could quote Shakespeare. Not sure how that equated and I kept waiting to discover that he was really very clever and only pretending to be daft to hide his spying activities. Anyway, it didn't seem to matter but I couldn't help wondering how the heroine would rub along for the rest of her life with a man less intelligent than her. Obviously there was going to be a happy ending so it was safe to assume that they would ha
More...
Dec 05, 2010
Ron
rated it:
It takes some doing to pull off utterly convincing Wodehouse comedy in the Regency, let alone with an espionage plot layered on top, but Lauren Willig's latest "Pink Carnation" novel succeeds admirably. Not to mention that one-half of its romantic premise is drawn from the depressing novel Jane Austen never finished, and that Austen herself makes some well-turned cameo appearances.
If you haven't read any of Willig's previous novels, don't worry -- you can jump right into this More...
If you haven't read any of Willig's previous novels, don't worry -- you can jump right into this More...
