Mini-Contest #1

It’s time to celebrate five years of Pink Carnation! Yes, for almost five years the Pink Carnation has been foiling those dastardly French plots. Napoleon never had it so bad.

In honor of Pink’s fifth birthday on February 7th, I’m holding a five day countdown, with a mini-contest every day. Winners of the mini-contests will receive advance PDFs of the first three chapters of the next Pink book, The Mischief of the Mistletoe, starring that lovable vegetable, Turnip Fitzhugh (with guest appearances by none other than Miss Jane Austen).

Without further ado, let the games begin!

Today’s contest is inspired by Katie’s “fifth line” game. Here are the rules:

* Grab your copy of The Secret History of the Pink Carnation.
* Flip to any page. (It has to be at random, though!)
* Find the fifth sentence.
* Type it into the “comments” section here.

Five people will be chosen at random to receive a preview of The Mischief of the Mistletoe. Winners to be announced here tomorrow….

80 Comments

  1. Virginia on February 2, 2010 at 3:12 pm

    Amy fought down the sense of unease steadily rising like the fog around her.

  2. Krystal K. on February 2, 2010 at 3:21 pm

    “How in the hell could you think he and I were the same person?”

  3. Cassie T. on February 2, 2010 at 3:29 pm

    “Something to sip to wake me up so I could go on reading before Colin Selwick managed to convince his aunt never to let me darken their doorstep again.”

  4. Alexis on February 2, 2010 at 3:31 pm

    “Huzzah for the Purple Gentian!” his men would cheer.

  5. Jessica on February 2, 2010 at 3:34 pm

    Not only did Amy disagree heartily with the sentiment — she defied any future husband to try to claim a distribution of her objects movable or otherwise without her concurrence — but it was utterly useless to her investigation.

  6. Sheila on February 2, 2010 at 3:42 pm

    “Thank you for rescuing me, and thank you even more for everything else.”

  7. Ivy on February 2, 2010 at 3:44 pm

    “‘Some men have all the luck,’ hiccupped Murat, from somewhere just below the rim of the table.”

  8. MollyJ on February 2, 2010 at 4:18 pm

    “What was he doing here, now, when she was so close to taking her well deserved revenge?”

  9. Diana on February 2, 2010 at 4:21 pm

    “It wouldn’t be at all bad if it weren’t for the color,” commented Geoff wistfully.

  10. Tanya on February 2, 2010 at 4:29 pm

    Richard felt a great deal of sympathy for the Tower menagerie as he flung himself into a chair, which, of course, promptly skidded back a good six inches.

  11. KMD on February 2, 2010 at 4:29 pm

    The young lady paid no attention.

  12. Carol on February 2, 2010 at 4:31 pm

    Lord Richard greeted each girl with a deep bow as they fell in beside Miss Gwen.

  13. Lora on February 2, 2010 at 4:37 pm

    Amy yawned broadly as the carriage drew up befre the Tuileries, decanting her and Edouard into the courtyard.

    p. 196

  14. Mary on February 2, 2010 at 4:43 pm

    I’d shaken my head, and thanked her politely, the words scarcely registering over the turmoil in my head.

  15. Jeannie Luntz on February 2, 2010 at 4:44 pm

    “The nightingales stopped chirping.” p.264

  16. Hillary on February 2, 2010 at 4:47 pm

    “Aunt Prudence had snapped out of her reverie with what was nearly an audible click.”

  17. Maddie on February 2, 2010 at 4:52 pm

    Richard didn’t give her chance to make another sound. 🙂 pg. 219

  18. Elizabeth on February 2, 2010 at 4:53 pm

    Indeed, some said he was Sir Percy Blakeney, fooling the foolish French by returning under a different name.

  19. Amy on February 2, 2010 at 4:55 pm

    Amy conveniently ignored the fact that revolutionary France had banished titles when they beheaded their nobility.

  20. Michelle on February 2, 2010 at 5:00 pm

    Maybe that’s why the revelation caught me quite so off guard.

  21. Kayse on February 2, 2010 at 5:37 pm

    “Of ancient curses?” page 214

  22. KathrinH on February 2, 2010 at 5:43 pm

    Jane pondered this new information, doll dangling forgotten from one hand.

  23. J on February 2, 2010 at 5:51 pm

    Richard hastily scraped his chair back as Murat was ill all over Mme Rochefort’s prized Persian rug.

  24. Meg on February 2, 2010 at 5:58 pm

    A small and all-too-familiar figure was wriggling its way out from under the desk.

  25. Abigail on February 2, 2010 at 6:05 pm

    The whole idea was just too medieval, too melodramatic, too…Delaroche.

  26. Michelle K on February 2, 2010 at 6:11 pm

    Her yellow skirts made a bright splotch of color in the rapidly darkening cabin as she crossed the room. (pg. 49)

  27. Cortney Penn on February 2, 2010 at 6:27 pm

    Fingers tightening around the paper in her hands, she gazed rapturously at the sky.

  28. Veronica on February 2, 2010 at 6:32 pm

    “This is it Richard!” Miles’s eyes glowed with a sporting fervor like a hound on the trail of a fox. “THE assignment…”

  29. Carolyn on February 2, 2010 at 6:32 pm

    “Well, he does.”

  30. Elizabeth aka Miss Eliza on February 2, 2010 at 6:33 pm

    He had to end it with her.

  31. Alex on February 2, 2010 at 6:44 pm

    Do we have to answer the sphinx’s riddle before we can go upstairs to bed. pg. 115

  32. Katie on February 2, 2010 at 7:21 pm

    No era exactamente el tipo de puerta que podria dejarse entreabierta accidentalmente. (My english copy being on lone to a friend, I had to settle for spanish)

  33. Elizabeth P. on February 2, 2010 at 7:24 pm

    “I will refrain from comment on your reckless disregard for you reputation.” Miss Gwen’s voice scraped across Amy’s raw nreves like talons clawing flesh.

  34. Laura on February 2, 2010 at 7:24 pm

    Colin shrugged, some of the amusement fading.

  35. Elizabeth B on February 2, 2010 at 7:24 pm

    Richard hastily scraped his chair back as Murat was ill all over Mme Rochefort’s prized Persian rug.
    pg.224

  36. Katie on February 2, 2010 at 7:24 pm

    OOPS!! I meant loan:)Sorry!

  37. Nikki M on February 2, 2010 at 7:25 pm

    He should have been the one in that antechamber.

  38. Rachel on February 2, 2010 at 7:33 pm

    damn, damn, damn. (really! that was the random sentence :))

  39. Katelin on February 2, 2010 at 7:45 pm

    Due to Richard’s habit as a beastly eight-year-old of spinning the globe as fast as he could make it go for the joy of seeing the countries blur into multicolored blobs, the Uppington Hall library globe was no more.
    Page 166

  40. Jules on February 2, 2010 at 7:59 pm

    Something in the Purple Gentian’s tone, an intense anger underlying the seeming calm, made Amy’s eyes fly to his face.
    Page 250

  41. Lisa Ungemach on February 2, 2010 at 8:35 pm

    ” ‘You ‘ave?’ Obviosuly intrigued, Hortense looked up inquiringly at Richard from under her eyelashes.” pg. 152

  42. Hollidae on February 2, 2010 at 8:38 pm

    Amy strained for a glimpse of his companion.

  43. Kristy on February 2, 2010 at 9:00 pm

    Should she simply tell him she knew him to be in league with the Purple Gentian and demand to be allowed to participate? page 109

  44. Alyssa on February 2, 2010 at 9:07 pm

    p85: Underneath his sportsman’s tan, his face was turning a mottled red.

  45. joysann on February 2, 2010 at 9:27 pm

    Eeek! I only have the audio book!!! Can’t see the pages. LOL! That’s okay. I’ll wait with great anticipation. I love the series. Thank you. And Happy Birthday to the Pink Carnation!

  46. Ashley B. on February 2, 2010 at 9:30 pm

    The Purple Gentian placed a hand under her bottom and boosted her over the windowsill, as unceremoniously as though he were heaving a sack of grain into a wagon. p. 266

  47. Kellie on February 2, 2010 at 9:39 pm

    “You may change your mind when you hear what I have to tell you.”

  48. Teje on February 2, 2010 at 9:42 pm

    “I’m serious, Amy,” he said flatly.

  49. Cho on February 2, 2010 at 9:48 pm

    Geoff grimaced.

  50. Robin Thomason on February 2, 2010 at 9:58 pm

    Richard’s memory momentarily clicked back to that afternoon, to Amy, flustered, running intohim as she raced out of….Bonaparte’s study.
    page 244

  51. The Duchess Regina on February 2, 2010 at 10:08 pm

    “How in the hell could you think he and I were the same person?”

  52. Courtney on February 2, 2010 at 10:21 pm

    Richard felt a great deal of sympathy for the Tower menagerie as he flung himself into a chair, which, of course, promptly skidded back a good six inches.

  53. Anne Burner on February 2, 2010 at 10:23 pm

    “But you’ve all forgotten something.” Page 372

  54. Gina on February 2, 2010 at 10:38 pm

    Damn, damn, damn. (haha 🙂 )

  55. Hannah T on February 2, 2010 at 11:02 pm

    “I don’t know why you children always think you can distract me like that.”

  56. Megan on February 2, 2010 at 11:07 pm

    What was he doing here, now, when she was so close to taking her well deserved revenge?

  57. Heather Bond on February 2, 2010 at 11:08 pm

    Lady Uppington smiled broadly in acknowledgment, revealing a mouthful of blackened teeth. 😉

  58. Kendra on February 2, 2010 at 11:10 pm

    “Idiot, Amy told herself, forcing a fixed smile onto her lips in the face of his quizzical gaze.” (Pg. 330, paperback)

  59. lAUra on February 2, 2010 at 11:22 pm

    It is a truth universally acknowledged that one only comes up with clever, cutting remarks long after the other party is happily slumbering away.

    ~lAUra

  60. Hortencia on February 2, 2010 at 11:25 pm

    “Sorry,” Richard muttered. pg. 134

  61. Lauren Ashley on February 2, 2010 at 11:34 pm

    “English and French alike were united in their burning curiosity to learn the identity of the Purple Gentian.”

  62. AngelB on February 3, 2010 at 12:05 am

    “Josephine, herself older than she liked to admit, had draped the candle sconces and mirrors in gauze, but even the gentle light betrayed cheeks layered with rouge.”

  63. Ashley Renee on February 3, 2010 at 12:05 am

    Amy conveniently ignored the fact that revolutionary France had banished titles when they started beheading their nobles.

  64. Perla on February 3, 2010 at 12:07 am

    The boat careened back and forth as though they were on the high seas in a midwinter tempest, rather than on the Seine on a clear spring night.

  65. Rebecca W. on February 3, 2010 at 1:21 am

    He wondered if she was as beset by memories of their kiss last night as he was.

  66. Katie on February 3, 2010 at 1:21 am

    “In this patchwork way, she reported that Augustus Whitlesby had spent the past day postrate at the feet of a minor statue of Pan, at the past evening pursuing his musie in the arms of one of the girls os Mme Pinpin’s house of pleasure.”

  67. Kimmie on February 3, 2010 at 2:14 am

    “How are we going to get Richard out of Paris?”

  68. Sara on February 3, 2010 at 2:28 am

    “He was jealous of his own bloody self.”

  69. Stephanie Ball on February 3, 2010 at 3:20 am

    “no, only at croquet,” Miles put in sarcastically. “Or did that ball just move two wickets all by itself.”

    had to include sentence 6 it was to wonderful

  70. Jessica C on February 3, 2010 at 5:01 am

    Due to Richard’s habit as a beastly eight-year-old of spinning the globe as fast as he could make it go for the joy of seeing the countries blur into multicolored blobs, the Uppington Hall library globe was no more – pg 166

  71. Ayesha on February 3, 2010 at 9:11 am

    London gossip named everyone from Beau Brummel (on the grounds that no one could genuinely be that interested in fashion) to the Prince of Wales’s dissolute brother the duke of York.

  72. Kate P on February 3, 2010 at 9:45 am

    “If the black weren’t so bloody useful for blending into the night.”

  73. Amy Morford on February 3, 2010 at 10:19 am

    If only it ever happened that way.

    pg 224

  74. Georgia on February 3, 2010 at 11:20 am

    “The strange packages in the ballroom that Amy had hoped might contain supplies for the Purple Gentian but hadn’t” p.293

  75. Lauren Willig - News on February 3, 2010 at 12:09 pm

    […] Mini-Contest #1 | Home | Reading the Historical Romance […]

  76. Ivy on February 3, 2010 at 2:45 pm

    I like #9 : “It wouldn’t be at all bad if it weren’t for the colot….”

  77. Hollidae on February 3, 2010 at 9:33 pm

    I vote for #25 – The whole idea was just too medieval, too melodramatic, too…Delaroche

  78. Hollidae on February 3, 2010 at 9:39 pm

    oops – I forgot the why part. It makes me laugh, and though Delaroche wasn’t a spy he was a great, funny villain. You kind of feel sorry for him being thwarted all the time when he has such aspirations.

  79. Robin Thomason on February 3, 2010 at 10:35 pm

    #38 Really Damn damn damn. It’s what he thought alot.

  80. Priyanka on February 4, 2010 at 4:12 am

    #57 Lady Uppington smiled broadly in acknowledgment, revealing a mouthful of blackened teeth.

    Loved it! It sounds completely different out of context.

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