Category Archives: Contemporary

A Midsummer Night’s Romp by Katie MacAlister

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Title: A Midsummer Night’s Romp
Author: Katie MacAlister
Series: Ainslie Brothers, #2
Pages: 352
Publisher: Signet
Date: May 5, 2015

Summary:

Lorina Liddel is terrified of embarrassing herself on national TV as the face of Dig Britain!, a new archeological reality show. Lorina would much rather keep her head down and her hands in the dirt underneath Ainslie Castle, but her on-screen partner is proving to be a major distraction.

Brother to the castle’s current lord, privileged, perfectly sculpted Gunner Ainslie is a sure bet to keep viewers glued to their screens. Lorina intends to keep the ladies’ man focused on the job at hand, but Gunner is confident he’ll soon have the beauty falling into his bed.

When an unexpected find turns the academic dig into an all-out treasure hunt, Lorina and Gunner get swept up in the excitement. But when their steamy tryst is caught on camera, it’ll take more than an award-winning performance to get them out of the hole they’re in…

Review:

MacAlister’s books are always fun to read. The plots are enticing, but it’s really the humor which keeps me coming back. And by humor, I mean laugh out loud, wipe the tears from your eyes, humor.

A Midsummer Night’s Romp is no exception. Sometimes the dialogue was so staged, it was almost too much.

Gunner: “ . . . as a man who values you for more than just your delectable body, and enticing breasts, and truly magnificent ass, I will take it upon myself to provide that distraction so that you might be comfortable, mentally speaking.”

I mean, really, that’s a bit over the top. This sort of dialogue happens over and over again, but it’s not bad writing. It’s completely intentional.

And then there are lines like these, which make me laugh out loud.

Lorina (who has the really bad habit of blurting out whatever she’s thinking): “I did it again. Or rather, my mouth did. I can’t take it anywhere anymore.”

There’s a villain, or is it two? A hidden treasure and a couple falling in love. A horse crazy teenage girl who has manipulation down to an art . . . and a Roman archaeological dig.
Somehow MacAlister makes it all work.

You really need to read these two books in order. A lot of the background for “Romp” is covered in the first book and I can’t wait for book three. There’s no word yet on a title or who the book will be about, but there are plenty of characters to choose from.

If you are in the mood for something light and entertaining, grab these books. Grab anything by Katie MacAlister. You will not be disappointed.

This book was sent to me by NetGalley in return for an honest review.

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The Importance of Being Alice by Katie MacAlister

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Title: The Importance of Being Alice
Author: Katie MacAlister
Series: Ainslie Brothers, #1 (aka A Matchmaker in Wonderland)
Publisher: Signet
Pages: 352
Date: January 6, 2015

Summary:

Nothing about Alice Wood’s life is normal right now. Her fiancé, Patrick, called off their wedding and relationship only days before their nonrefundable wedding trip. And though a luxurious European river cruise for one is just what she needs, it’s not what she gets…

Due to a horrible misunderstanding, Alice is now cramped in her “romantic” suite with one of Patrick’s friends. Instead of cruising along the Rhine, Main, and Danube rivers sipping champagne with the love of her life, she’s navigating the waters with a strange—yet mysteriously handsome—British aristocrat.

An author, Elliot is just looking for some alone time to write. But his stodgy, serious self is about to be sidetracked by a woman who seems to have jumped out of the pages of a fairy tale, one who is determined to shake up his life…and include him in her own happily ever after.

Review:

This book was received from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

The last thing Alice needs is an uptight English Lord camped out in her cabin. This was supposed to be a romantic river cruise with her soon-to-be husband. When said fiance dumps her for another woman (the Lord’s sister, no less), Alice decides to enjoy the cruise anyway. Or at least, not lose her deposit. She might as well get something out of her money, if only a place to cry alone.

Noooo! Her ex-fiance gives a friend his ticket and never says a word to Alice and she is stuck with a stranger for a cabin mate.

Poor Elliot. All he wants is somewhere quiet to finish writing his book. He’s behind schedule and needs the money to support the ancestral manor and all his many siblings. He needs not to be disturbed.

And Alice is very disturbing.

Katie MacAlister is a great author. Her books are fun and that is the highest compliment I know. If I want a book that I am sure to enjoy, I know I can always turn to her.

The Importance of Being Alice is no exception. It’s the first book in a new series and jumps from one madcap escapade to another. It has two people with two totally different outlooks on life stuck together in a close environment. Alice is a flighty American and Elliott is an uptight English Lord.

So, of course they fall in love. This is a romance after all.

The problems don’t end there though.

There are falling towers. Near fatal accidents. Unknown fiances (oh right, that’s Alice).

Is it a surprise that Alice down the rabbit hole comes to mind?

The second book, A Midsummer Night’s Romp, comes out May 5, 2015 and I have already ordered my copy. I cannot wait.

There is a discrepancy between the name of the series, so you will need to watch out. In some places it is called The Ainslie Brothers and others list it as A Matchmaker in Wonderland. Whatever it is called, you will want to read these books.

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