The Mischief of the Mistletoe
138. Lauren Willig, The Mischief of the Mistletoe
This book is the Christmas special of the “Pink Carnation” series, and its hero is none other than Turnip Fitzhugh, the bumbling yet endearing dandy who is frequently mistaken for the Pink Carnation, England’s most celebrated spy. The heroine is Arabella Dempsey, an impoverished girl who decides to become an instructor at a girls’ school in order to earn her own living. Hijinks ensue when Turnip literally runs into her while visiting his sister, a student at the school. He and Arabella find a cryptic message written in French and hidden inside a Christmas pudding, and they team up to discover its writer. Could the dastardly French spy known as the Black Tulip be up to his old tricks again?
I would not recommend this novel to those who haven’t read the other Pink Carnation books, but fans of the series will not be disappointed with this latest installment. It’s a bit different from the other books because there is no contemporary story; however, since the historical parts of the novels are always far more interesting, this isn’t really a drawback! Turnip is an adorable hero, kind and sweet (though not the cleverest guy around!), and it was fun to read about him in a romantic role. I also liked Arabella and found her a refreshingly normal heroine, more of a wallflower than a dazzling beauty. There’s also a cameo appearance by Jane Austen, who is Arabella’s friend and neighbor in Yorkshire. Though I think Willig treated Austen respectfully, I didn’t think her appearance in the book was particularly necessary. Still, this was a very enjoyable romp with a nice mix of romance and adventure - not to mention secret messages in Christmas puddings! I loved this book and can’t wait for The Orchid Affair to come out in January!