The Mischief of the Mistletoe

A Pink Carnation Christmas

By: Lauren Willig

Narrated by: Kate Reading

Length: 10 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

'Tis the season to get Pink! Lauren Willig's beloved Pink Carnation series gets into the holiday spirit with this irresistible Regency Christmas caper.

Arabella Dempsey's dear friend Jane Austen warned her against teaching. But Miss Climpson's Select Seminary for Young Ladies seems the perfect place for Arabella to claim her independence while keeping an eye on her younger sisters nearby. Just before Christmas, she accepts a position at the quiet girls' school in Bath, expecting to face nothing more exciting than conducting the annual Christmas recital. She hardly imagines coming face to face with French aristocrats and international spies...

Reginald "Turnip" Fitzhugh - often mistaken for the elusive spy known as the Pink Carnation - has blundered into danger before. But when he blunders into Miss Arabella Dempsey, it never occurs to him that she might be trouble. When Turnip and Arabella stumble upon a beautifully wrapped Christmas pudding with a cryptic message written in French, "Meet me at Farley Castle", the unlikely vehicle for intrigue launches the pair on a Yuletide adventure that ranges from the Austens' modest drawing room to the awe-inspiring estate of the Dukes of Dovedale, where the Dowager Duchess is hosting the most anticipated event of the year: An elaborate 12-day Christmas celebration. Will they find poinsettias or peril, dancing or danger? Is it possible that the fate of the British Empire rests in Arabella's and Turnip's hands, in the form of a festive Christmas pudding?

©2010 Lauren Willig (P)2010 Penguin Audio

Charming but no modern plotline

This book was charming to read and Arabella and Turnip were adorable. But I didn't realize that this book doesn't have any Eloise and Colin bits, which I really enjoy in the other books. Instead, there are somewhat oddly timed musical interludes in the parts where I would normally expect there to be either simply a break, or something from Eloise and Colin's story. So I gave it four stars for that, because it really is very cute on its own! Kate Reading was a lovely narrator, as usual!

Favorite

I love this book. I listen to it over and over. Turnips simple take on both spies and love is very sweet. This book doesn't require a great deal of thought, but then turnip wouldn't want it any other way.

Hidden gem

I fell in love with the Pink Carnation series from the first paragraph of the first book, this one was no different. Turnip's love story was sweet, full of laughter and confusion. I was certainly not expecting the ending!

Entertaining

If you could sum up The Mischief of the Mistletoe in three words, what would they be?

A fun read (listen)

What did you like best about this story?

The scene where Lettie is kidnapped is riotous. She's a little slow on the uptake but catches on and still refuses to take the event seriously.

Have you listened to any of Kate Reading’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Have listened to Kate Reading before. She's topnotch!!!

Hilarious

so, I've never thought that an actually stupid man could have a love affair with an intelligent woman, but Ms. Willig made a believer out of me. I also never really thought about Turnips story before but now that it is written I think it worth while and a great addition to the series. I must say my favorite parts generally involved the Christmas Puddings :)

I am also glad that there wasn't the switching back and forth between time periods thing in this addition. I was getting a little bored with "Whats-her-names" story line.

Only one thing marred this book for me and it was the seemingly forced entrance of Jane Austen into the mix. I am still very confused as to why she was there and what her character added to the story other then getting those of us die hard Jane Austen freaks to look twice at the book.

Oh! And 2 thumbs up for the narrator as well! She was great!!! in some ways she made the story for me!

This book should be #6

What made the experience of listening to The Mischief of the Mistletoe the most enjoyable?

Night Jasmine which is supposed to be book 6 Has Turnip un-married Although this book was funny and wonderful.

What did you like best about this story?

There is humor and some sadness, but as in all books in this series, there is a war between England and France and we are dealing with spies.

Fun for the holidays!

A story that is both a part of the series and something that can be appreciated without having read all the rest of the books, though reading it as part of the series is more fun I'm sure. As always Kate Reading enlivens the story with her excellent characterizations and comic timing. A very feel good story for the holidays.

Enchanting !

Delightful, festive and fun!
Will read more of the Pink Carnation series and then some!

Turnip Finally Gets Center Stage!

If you could sum up The Mischief of the Mistletoe in three words, what would they be?

Turnip Wins Hoo-ray!!!

What other book might you compare The Mischief of the Mistletoe to and why?

I really can't compare this book to any other....because I don't usually read this kind of book. I purchased "The Black Tulip" several years ago in an airport just before I boarded an oversees flight. I was hooked! Lauren Willig paints amazing pictures and her knowledge of the time period is astounding! She creates character that you root for! I love the way she weaves character from book to book. The best book in this series in my opinion is "The Crimson Rose". But that is only because I love characters with sharp tongues and a rapier wit!

What about Kate Reading’s performance did you like?

This woman for this series is total perfection! I love to hear Kate read almost anything but this particular series is just made for her. I think I love her male voices sometimes better than her women. She is an awesome performer who makes me feel what she's reading. It doesn't get much better than that.

If you could take any character from The Mischief of the Mistletoe out to dinner, who would it be and why?

It would have to be Turnip. I would delight in watching and listening to him.

Any additional comments?

A note to the author. I love your work! There is one tiny flaw that gets me every time it happens. And it may only be a flaw to me. Your modern day character uses the term "Mobile" instead of "Cell Phone". If she were an American abroad I really don't think she would use that term.

Fun holiday romance

This book is just a lot of fun. Turnip is an unlikely hero--he didn't get his nickname for being the sharpest knife in the drawer, and he has execrable taste in waistcoats--but he's truly kind, caring and considerate, unlike so many other young bucks of the ton. It doesn't hurt that he's also something of a hunk, carnation waistcoats notwithstanding. The mystery is somewhat beside the point. I really love the narration of this whole series on audiobook. This is definitely a seasonal re-listen for me.