The lovely people at Dutton have given me not only my own copy of The Mischief of the Mistletoe by Lauren Willig to review, but have also gifted me a lovely second copy, plus a beautiful, matching custom ornament, to giveaway to one of you!!
The Mischief of the Mistletoe: A Pink Carnation Christmas by Lauren Willig
'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 twelve-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?
(description taken from Amazon.com)
I am currently reading my own copy and it is so good!! My review can be found here. I absolutely adore this series. If you are a historical fiction fan, if you love light romances, if you love spy stories, if you love funny, if you love...well, I could just go on forever. Basically, if you haven't yet read The Secret History of the Pink Carnation, I highly recommend you go out, get it, and READ it!
:)
This is an amazing series! Though you should start with the first book, you do not absolutely have to, and if for instance you wanted to try and start with this Christmas book... you could! Plus you'd have an adorable matching ornament to go on your tree this year!
If you would like to enter the giveaway (US only. Sorry!), please leave me a comment with your favorite type of holiday decoration and your email address. The giveaway will be open until Midnight on Monday, December 13th, and I will contact the winner on Tuesday, December 14th. Hopefully, I can then get your book and ornament out to you before Christmas!!
I love stockings!! Just love them!
ReplyDeletelisa.mcgeen@hotmail.com
favorite decoration...is the Christmas tree. I always want a tall tree and very fat! I love seeing the decorations on it and the lights twinkling. Plus I LOVE coming into the house and smelling pine. It's a magical scent
ReplyDelete(mrdarcy3 AT yahoo DOT com)
@Lisa - You know what I love even more than the stockings themselves? Those awesome stocking hooks you get to put on the mantle. They're always so cute!
ReplyDelete@Jen - I love the smell of a real tree, too, but I'm actually allergic to a couple of kinds, so we have a little fake one instead. But once you get the lights on there...they're all beautiful!
My favorite decoration is the Christmas wreath on the front door. We were wreathless for several years but one year, we had enough money to splurge on a natural one with pretty shiny ornaments and ribbons.
ReplyDeleteOne night, we noticed something very strange. We heard peep peep sounds that seemed to be coming from the front door. I opened the door and discover that a sparrow had made a nest in the wreath! We didn't use that door much as we usually came and went out through the garage door. For several weeks, we hear the little birds get stronger in their calls for food. Now anytime we buy a new wreath, we think of those little birds, sheltered from the rain (it was in Southern California)and enjoying their beautiful home.
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com
I love the angel on top...also anything with a cat.
ReplyDeleteJhbalvin at gmail dot com
@Carol - Oh! I could just imagine the little bird sheltering in your Christmas spirit! That's so sweet. What a great memory.
ReplyDelete@Jhitomi - I love the angels, too...and we get my Mom a cat ornament every year!
Definitely, the Christmas tree & window decorations. nancysoffice at gmail dot com
ReplyDeleteI love anything to do with angels.
ReplyDeleteMargay1122ATaolDOTcom
@Margay - Speaking of angels...I just saw the prettiest slender gold-leaf angel standing with an open book at the store on my lunchbreak... I absolutely adored it...and I had no money with me. :( I might just go back for it, though! :)
ReplyDeleteI just love the Christmas tree covered by ornaments full of memories!
ReplyDeleteykatrina at hotmail dot com