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Pink Carnation #4.1
Ivy and Intrigue: A Very Selwick Christmas
In this novella (a sequel to "The Secret History of the Pink Carnation"), the newly married spy, the Purple Gentian, and his bride find more than mince pie when they head home for the holidays.
107 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 24, 2008
24 people are currently reading
1294 people want to read
About the author
Lauren Willig
45 books4,731 followersLauren Willig is the New York Times bestselling author of nineteen works of historical fiction. Her books have been translated into over a dozen languages, awarded the RITA, Booksellers Best and Golden Leaf awards, and chosen for the American Library Association's annual list of the best genre fiction. After graduating from Yale University, she embarked on a PhD in History at Harvard before leaving academia to acquire a JD at Harvard Law while authoring her "Pink Carnation" series of Napoleonic-set novels. She lives in New York City, where she now writes full time.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
December 16, 2017
As Christmastime is upon us, I have been indulging in holiday fare. Lauren Willig’s novella, Ivy & Intrigue: A Very Selwick Christmas is a fun way to spend a bit of time during the holiday season.. I plan to read The Pink Carnation series, but so far I have only read another short book related to the series. This novella is the sequel to The Secret History of The Pink Carnation. It appears that Uppington Hall has a French spy as a guest for Christmas. Is anyone aware? Just what is this spy after? I found it light, amusing, and fun. It also makes me want to start The Pink Carnation series.
Something that has been on my to do list a little too long. Maybe 2018 will be the year I learn all the goodies about The Pink Carnation.
Something that has been on my to do list a little too long. Maybe 2018 will be the year I learn all the goodies about The Pink Carnation.
May 3, 2015
Un chapitre se clôt pour Amy et Richard mais un autre s'ouvre. ce fut mimi, loufoque et Colin ....long soupir
December 29, 2021
Cool idea but unfortunately boring!
December 13, 2022
A Christmas novella set after The Secret History of the Pink Carnation. It was a fun and very quick read.
December 29, 2015
The writing was unpolished, it looks like she probably turned this one out in a hurry, but the characterization is perfect as always. I really liked seeing Richard and Amy dealing with their marriage and how they had to stop spying, how Amy feels a little jealous of Jane now. I think aftermath is the one thing that's been a bit lacking in the other books -- even though they deal with the same circles of people and move forward in time, we don't often get to spend quality time with the same characters again.
September 9, 2019
This novella was everything I've come to expect from Lauren Willig. With many of my favourite characters, including the ever-present Eloise and her very own Selwick.
I would, of course, wish it had been longer and available in print. I don't fancy reading via websites and blogs. It would have been a great deal better if she had added this to the end of the appropriate book, or even published on it's own - tiny as it is.
I would, of course, wish it had been longer and available in print. I don't fancy reading via websites and blogs. It would have been a great deal better if she had added this to the end of the appropriate book, or even published on it's own - tiny as it is.
February 7, 2015
Spyus Neighborus indeed... :))
Spies of The Pink Carnation series never failed to amuse me. This novella had our previous characters Richard and Amy Selwick celebrating Christmas at Uppington Hall and a sort of reunion with Miles and Henrietta Dorrington, also cousin Jane and her chaperon Miss Gwen, and unveiling threat from unlikely source.
Quite entertaining story with simple plot and too many people talking at once. Not to be missed by Pink Carnation series lover though.
Spies of The Pink Carnation series never failed to amuse me. This novella had our previous characters Richard and Amy Selwick celebrating Christmas at Uppington Hall and a sort of reunion with Miles and Henrietta Dorrington, also cousin Jane and her chaperon Miss Gwen, and unveiling threat from unlikely source.
Quite entertaining story with simple plot and too many people talking at once. Not to be missed by Pink Carnation series lover though.
May 11, 2012
This was a wonderful little story that featured Amy and Richard from the first book in the series. It also gives the reader some info that readers might have been wondering about if they've read the whole series up to this point (I know we mentioned it in our buddy read discussion of the book before this). This also gave us a little peak at Eloise and Colin...and made me wonder if he's not in the family business :)
December 24, 2011
A very fluffy insert in the series. I didn't care for it much, as it's a rather dull story with far too much padding. YMMV. Not recommended.
For the longer review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/review/Lauren...
For the longer review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/review/Lauren...
May 15, 2012
a larkish novella to tide you over until the next full book in the series! See my full review here
November 26, 2011
This is a great Web bonus feature, very readable and perfectly tailored to that format. I was glad to revisit Amy and Richard; I'd love to see more novellas like this, featuring previous characters, as added features to the books!
February 10, 2012
A short little holiday novella in which we re-visit Amy & Richard (with some cameos by the usual suspects, Jane, Miss Gwen, Miles & Henrietta). Just like the other books in this series it's fun, witty and highly entertaining.
May 3, 2015
C'était meugnon ! finalement ça fait plaisir de retrouver Amy et Richard ^^
Mais que va faire Colin ????
Hmmm...
Avant de le savoir, il est temps de faire plus ample connaissance avec Turnip ! *en avant vers le prochain*
Mais que va faire Colin ????
Hmmm...
Avant de le savoir, il est temps de faire plus ample connaissance avec Turnip ! *en avant vers le prochain*
July 16, 2011
I looked and looked for this book and finally resorted to emailing the author. It is found for free on her website.
November 4, 2015
mmmmppppffff Miles xD ♥♥♥ ...
December 21, 2021
*Special Content only on my blog, Strange and Random Happenstance during Regency Romp (March-August 2022)
It's been nine months since Richard Selwick was unmasked as the Purple Gentian and he fled France in the arms of his lady love Amy Balcourt. Nine months away from the action and rusticating with the new missus. Nine months in which the newlywed sheen has dulled just a little under the stresses of the everyday, not to mention the pressures of family and the holidays. Amy and Richard are celebrating their first Christmas together at Uppington Hall with both their families and surprisingly Richard's ex Deirdre. The Deirdre who had sonnets written to her and who was Richard's first love. The Deirdre that resulted in Tony's death due to her unscrupulous lady's maid. Of course her presence is more for Lady Uppington's benefit, to knock Deirdre's nose out of joint and show off her new daughter-in-law Amy, but still, she is one more stress. Especially once the snow strands her at Uppington Hall. Deirdre is the embodiment of all that Richard left behind, all that he was forced to give up because of Amy. If it wasn't for her Richard would still be a romantic hero. While standing nearby Richard's thoughts are veering along the same lines, that it was he who cut short Amy's potential as a super spy, the potential that Jane took and made a reputation of as the Pink Carnation. If he let Amy go back to France could she be happy? He knows he wouldn't be but at least they both wouldn't be miserable. Can these two sort through their holiday misunderstandings and do what they do best, work as a couple? Or will French spies once more try to thwart their chance at happily ever after?
In this cute little Christmas novella full of Yuletide charm we get to catch up with those Selwicks we know and love. As Lauren has said, this is her A Very Brady Christmas without anybody being trapped in the debris of a building. Yes, for some reason the building collapse is all I really remember from the TV movie. But what this novella does so wonderfully is give of a sweet story, sweet revenge that is, while also doing a "where are they now" roll call. Because there were loose ends that needed tying up as the series moved away from the set cast of characters we know and love and moved on to deeper and darker plot developments. Plus, Amy and Richard, more than any other couple in this series, really are just thrown into their happily ever after and sail off into the sunset, while at the same time ignoring that they both kind of ruined what they were best at for the other, spying. So yes, they run the spy school, but they haven't really felt it's importance until Jane mentions the need for Miss Grey. What's more, when one of their working weekends ruined Henrietta's reputation and Richard and Miles's friendship... Well, those are loose ends that need to be mended. And I loved that Richard and Miles are slowly bridging the gap back to how they were before Miles and Hen's precipitous marriage. Also seeing Uppington Hall, first through the eyes of Eloise, and then through her Regency heroes', made for a lovely Christmas treat, not to mention, Richard swinging from the chandelier in his best Errol Flynn imitation a hundred years before Errol Flynn, a move that Eloise would love to have seen. Ah, what's Christmas without a little chandelier swinging and an ex in custody?
It's been nine months since Richard Selwick was unmasked as the Purple Gentian and he fled France in the arms of his lady love Amy Balcourt. Nine months away from the action and rusticating with the new missus. Nine months in which the newlywed sheen has dulled just a little under the stresses of the everyday, not to mention the pressures of family and the holidays. Amy and Richard are celebrating their first Christmas together at Uppington Hall with both their families and surprisingly Richard's ex Deirdre. The Deirdre who had sonnets written to her and who was Richard's first love. The Deirdre that resulted in Tony's death due to her unscrupulous lady's maid. Of course her presence is more for Lady Uppington's benefit, to knock Deirdre's nose out of joint and show off her new daughter-in-law Amy, but still, she is one more stress. Especially once the snow strands her at Uppington Hall. Deirdre is the embodiment of all that Richard left behind, all that he was forced to give up because of Amy. If it wasn't for her Richard would still be a romantic hero. While standing nearby Richard's thoughts are veering along the same lines, that it was he who cut short Amy's potential as a super spy, the potential that Jane took and made a reputation of as the Pink Carnation. If he let Amy go back to France could she be happy? He knows he wouldn't be but at least they both wouldn't be miserable. Can these two sort through their holiday misunderstandings and do what they do best, work as a couple? Or will French spies once more try to thwart their chance at happily ever after?
In this cute little Christmas novella full of Yuletide charm we get to catch up with those Selwicks we know and love. As Lauren has said, this is her A Very Brady Christmas without anybody being trapped in the debris of a building. Yes, for some reason the building collapse is all I really remember from the TV movie. But what this novella does so wonderfully is give of a sweet story, sweet revenge that is, while also doing a "where are they now" roll call. Because there were loose ends that needed tying up as the series moved away from the set cast of characters we know and love and moved on to deeper and darker plot developments. Plus, Amy and Richard, more than any other couple in this series, really are just thrown into their happily ever after and sail off into the sunset, while at the same time ignoring that they both kind of ruined what they were best at for the other, spying. So yes, they run the spy school, but they haven't really felt it's importance until Jane mentions the need for Miss Grey. What's more, when one of their working weekends ruined Henrietta's reputation and Richard and Miles's friendship... Well, those are loose ends that need to be mended. And I loved that Richard and Miles are slowly bridging the gap back to how they were before Miles and Hen's precipitous marriage. Also seeing Uppington Hall, first through the eyes of Eloise, and then through her Regency heroes', made for a lovely Christmas treat, not to mention, Richard swinging from the chandelier in his best Errol Flynn imitation a hundred years before Errol Flynn, a move that Eloise would love to have seen. Ah, what's Christmas without a little chandelier swinging and an ex in custody?
September 25, 2022
Ivy and Intrigue: A Very Selwick Christmas by Lauren Willig is book 4.1 of the Pink Carnation mystery series, primarily set at Christmas 1803 in Uppington Hall, the Selwick mansion in the English countryside.
Modern day: Eloise, American grad student in love with a Selwick, decides to brave the miserable winter weather for a visit to the ancestral Selwick home. It's now a museum, with a period costume event in progress.
1803: Richard Selwick (the Purple Gentian) was unmasked as a spy in France, by his former girlfriend Deirdre. He's home to stay in England with his new wife Amy. Both miss their exciting covert adventures in France. Their good friends Henrietta and Miles Dorrington are house guests for the holiday; Jane (the Pink Carnation) is visiting too. Richard's mother has invited the neighbors: Lady Deirdre Jerard and her mother. Deirdre immediately attempts to woo Richard back; he's polite. Distracted by concern that Amy misses France, he proposes that Amy return to France (alone). Amy is crushed, assuming Richard wants to rekindle his relationship with Deirdre. "It couldn’t be a good thing when one’s husband of nine months started suggesting cross-Channel living arrangements." But then, in the middle of the night...Jane is clever, Deirdre reveals her true colors, Richard is dashing and heroic; peace and happiness are restored.
Modern day: Eloise returns to her flat: wet, tired, cold, hungry. Surprise - Richard is there, with delicious takeaway. All is well!
Short, light entertainment. A brief reminder of previous full-length Pink Carnation series adventures.
Modern day: Eloise, American grad student in love with a Selwick, decides to brave the miserable winter weather for a visit to the ancestral Selwick home. It's now a museum, with a period costume event in progress.
1803: Richard Selwick (the Purple Gentian) was unmasked as a spy in France, by his former girlfriend Deirdre. He's home to stay in England with his new wife Amy. Both miss their exciting covert adventures in France. Their good friends Henrietta and Miles Dorrington are house guests for the holiday; Jane (the Pink Carnation) is visiting too. Richard's mother has invited the neighbors: Lady Deirdre Jerard and her mother. Deirdre immediately attempts to woo Richard back; he's polite. Distracted by concern that Amy misses France, he proposes that Amy return to France (alone). Amy is crushed, assuming Richard wants to rekindle his relationship with Deirdre. "It couldn’t be a good thing when one’s husband of nine months started suggesting cross-Channel living arrangements." But then, in the middle of the night...Jane is clever, Deirdre reveals her true colors, Richard is dashing and heroic; peace and happiness are restored.
Modern day: Eloise returns to her flat: wet, tired, cold, hungry. Surprise - Richard is there, with delicious takeaway. All is well!
Short, light entertainment. A brief reminder of previous full-length Pink Carnation series adventures.
July 31, 2021
I stumbled across this novella late last night in ebook and promptly downloaded it and indulged. The blurb claimed it comes shortly after The Secret History of the Pink Carnation, but in truth it comes after the 2nd in the series, The Masque of the Black Tulip. Wasn't a problem for me as I read that one years ago when it first came out, so no spoilers.
It's Christmas 1803, Amy and Richard's first as newlyweds, and all are gathered at Uppington House for the holidays. Holiday cheer and decorations abound - Richard's mother over-decorates everyting that isn't moving, and hosts an enormous holiday gathering of friends, connections and neighbors. Amy and Richard are each feeling some adjustment pains to marriage and a return to England with no hope of returning to France and continuing their adventures in spying on Napoleon. Into this holiday gathering and moment of marital uncertaintity comes someone from Richard's past who threatens to destroy the couples' happiness. Or not?
All your favorite characters are present, Eloise and Colin make an appearance in their dual timeline, and there is even a bit of swashbuckling derring do.
It's Christmas 1803, Amy and Richard's first as newlyweds, and all are gathered at Uppington House for the holidays. Holiday cheer and decorations abound - Richard's mother over-decorates everyting that isn't moving, and hosts an enormous holiday gathering of friends, connections and neighbors. Amy and Richard are each feeling some adjustment pains to marriage and a return to England with no hope of returning to France and continuing their adventures in spying on Napoleon. Into this holiday gathering and moment of marital uncertaintity comes someone from Richard's past who threatens to destroy the couples' happiness. Or not?
All your favorite characters are present, Eloise and Colin make an appearance in their dual timeline, and there is even a bit of swashbuckling derring do.
December 7, 2024
I bought this little novella at the library book sale last year in November (2023). I was saving it to read in December, but then I forgot about it. Somehow I remembered about it this Christmas season. Ha!
Unfortunately, I didn't realize it was in a series even though it says so on the back of the book it is. Ugh. I hate when I mess up like that! It's not a book you can pick up without reading the others in the Pink Carnation series. Thankfully, it's a novella and it's really really short, so I didn't invest too much time into it.
And because it's in a series, and not a stand alone book, it was very noticeable in the story and why I didn't care for it. It was my fault for buying it and not reading the others. I didn't fully understand all the background history. There's also a lot of characters to keep track, I found it quite boring.
There's a mystery though I didn't realize there was a mystery going on until the person was caught, and I thought, did I miss something? I don't get it and then I didn't care enough to back track.
Spoiler: Stop reading if you haven't read the story - It was a bunch of people at a Christmas party and then in the middle of the night, there's a few people going into different bedrooms and all of a sudden, the bad guy is discovered and caught, and I didn't understand what they did or how the mystery was solved.
Ugh
Unfortunately, I didn't realize it was in a series even though it says so on the back of the book it is. Ugh. I hate when I mess up like that! It's not a book you can pick up without reading the others in the Pink Carnation series. Thankfully, it's a novella and it's really really short, so I didn't invest too much time into it.
And because it's in a series, and not a stand alone book, it was very noticeable in the story and why I didn't care for it. It was my fault for buying it and not reading the others. I didn't fully understand all the background history. There's also a lot of characters to keep track, I found it quite boring.
There's a mystery though I didn't realize there was a mystery going on until the person was caught, and I thought, did I miss something? I don't get it and then I didn't care enough to back track.
Spoiler: Stop reading if you haven't read the story - It was a bunch of people at a Christmas party and then in the middle of the night, there's a few people going into different bedrooms and all of a sudden, the bad guy is discovered and caught, and I didn't understand what they did or how the mystery was solved.
Ugh
September 26, 2021
I'm not a huge fan of one of the tropes here ( -- which I don't think was done particularly badly or anything, I've just seen it done so badly so often that my negative reaction is more kneejerk than anything), and a lot of the "dealing with family at Christmas" background stuff kind of slowed everything down more than it was funny, and the romance aspect of the plot was understandably much lower-stakes than usual with this series (because this is post-HEA for them) so this wasn't super my thing, but the modern frame story was very cute and that redeemed it significantly for me, and sets up the frame story's plot in the next book (which I accidentally read first) really well and makes that make a bit more sense to me. Also, honestly, I do just enjoy watching Eloise propel herself around London and environs on public transit through horrible weather, doggedly pursuing her historical spy research or even just things potentially linked to that research. That part feels very cozy because I am safe and dry at home, but I can relate very well to being the person on the train wishing that it would move faster and that my feet weren't so wet.
December 21, 2017
I have finished reading the series but am not quite ready to step out of this wonderful, fun filled world. This is a little Christmas novella about Amy and Richard after they leave France. It's cute, punchy and has all the characterisation we all love. However, it feels like it was slapped together overnight in preparation for an essay due date in places. Not quite what I'd expect from Willig. Needs some editing, and I got mine in print too.
December 22, 2021
A fun, spy-filled Christmas novella
Lauren Willig always delivers! Ivy & Intrigue is a fun interlude novella which takes place between the 2nd and 3rd books of her Pink Carnation series at Christmas time! Lauren hits it out of the park once again. I always recommend the Pink Carnation series for a light touch, good humor, excellent writing, great characters, and well-researched history. If you haven’t read them yet, you should give them a try!
Lauren Willig always delivers! Ivy & Intrigue is a fun interlude novella which takes place between the 2nd and 3rd books of her Pink Carnation series at Christmas time! Lauren hits it out of the park once again. I always recommend the Pink Carnation series for a light touch, good humor, excellent writing, great characters, and well-researched history. If you haven’t read them yet, you should give them a try!
October 31, 2024
Fun Read!
This short novella sets up nicely what's to come next, in both Amy & Richard's story, and in Colin & Eloise's story.
It's a must read for Pink Carnation fans, especially when read in chronological order.
Found grammatical errors, but that could be code translation errors and no errors on Lauren's part.
A wonderful story.
This short novella sets up nicely what's to come next, in both Amy & Richard's story, and in Colin & Eloise's story.
It's a must read for Pink Carnation fans, especially when read in chronological order.
Found grammatical errors, but that could be code translation errors and no errors on Lauren's part.
A wonderful story.
December 27, 2017
A sweet return to the Pink Carnation world for Christmas. It’s been a few years since I read this series, so it was fun to see the characters again. Not a stand alone novel, but a nice addition to the main storyline.
February 28, 2020
It was a novella, gift written (so forgive the not-perfect editing?). Most novellas aren't as layered as full-length novels, and this is no exception. But it was enjoyable, and I was glad for another Amy/Richard story.
December 6, 2021
3.5 stars. This was a fun visit with the Selwick’s I’ve missed Amy and Richard. I sadly only have a few books in the series left. I read this whole little novella in the bathtub. Merry Christmas to all the spies 🕵️♀️
April 7, 2018
Fun, quick read when in need of a Selwick fix!
January 20, 2021
It wasn't as good as the full lengths, but not bad. It was cute.
April 1, 2021
Another amazing short that makes me feel like I'm coming home to my favorite characters.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews