The Mischief of the Mistletoe
A Pink Carnation Christmas
Pink Carnation Mysteries, No 7
Lauren Willig

Allison & Busby
November 28, 2011 / ISBN
Historical Mystery / England / Regency Holiday: Christmas
Amazon

Reviewed by L J Roberts

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 has a minor, non-investigative role. I loved the style, which is very Austin, and it did make me giggle and even laugh out loud. The characters are often silly, but Arabella is delightful and Fitzhugh slightly more than he seems. It was a thoroughly delightful, fun read.

Reviews of other titles in this series

The Secret History of the Pink Carnation, No 1  [review 1] [review 2]
The Masque of the Black Tulip, No 2    [review]
Seduction of the Crimson Rose, No 4    [review]
The Temptation of the Night Jasmine, No 5  [review]
The Betrayal of the Blood Lily, No 6  [review]
The Mischief of the Mistletoe, No 7  [Audio]   [Book]
The Orchid Affair, No 8   [review]
The Garden Intrigue, No 9   [review]