Tag Archives: Katie MacAlister

Quote-tastic Monday: Dragon Fall

I know it’s been a few weeks since I have posted, but I have a good reason.  My dad died on April 2nd.  It wasn’t unexpected, but this blog was no where on the list of things I had to deal with.  On that note, it feels wonderful to get back to normal, such as it is.

I am still reading the Sept Dragons by Katie MacAlister and loving them.  I am finally to one that I had not read before which makes it even better.  Aoife (EE-fuh) is human but has accidentally acquired a magic ring.  Kostya, who has to be the grumpiest of all dragons is her mate, although he won’t admit it.

There are Star Trek references in this one, but that is not where I am going to focus today.

Aoife’s feelings are hurt because she believes Kostya is only interested in her because she owns the ring.  He is defending himself and in all honestly doing a good job of it.  And that’s when Aoife gets mad.

“Of course I’m not,” I snapped.  “And stop being reasonable when I’ve got hurt feelings.”

That is right up there with “Don’t confuse me with facts.” and “Listen to what I mean, not what I say.”   And yes, I have used both of these myself.

Anyway, there are only three more books so far in this series and I think I’m going to take a break.  I received two new books this week, one I purchased and one to review, and I think I will give them a try.

I will definitely come back to the Sept Dragons soon.   That’s a guarantee!

“Quote-Tastic Monday” is a meme hosted every Monday on Herding Cats & Burning Soup.  Head on over there to see what everyone else is posting about this week.

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Quote-tastic Monday: Fire Me Up by Katie MacAlister

fire-me-upQuote-tastic Monday AND a Star Trek reference:  what’s not to love?

I am still in re-reading mode, although this time I blame my friend Patty Burdette.  I loaned her my Aisling Grey series books and she loves them.  So do I, so when she told me I had to re-read them so we could discuss them, I agreed.  It’s been way too long since I read these books and I don’t think I have ever read the entire series including the Sept dragons straight through.

I am on book three now, Light My Fire, but the quote that I picked for today came from book two, Fire Me Up.  Jim, the demon dog, ate something poisonous and has just been released from the vet.  He is delighted to be out, but still worrying/obsessing about his health.  Aisling is just thrilled he didn’t “die.” (He is a demon after all, so can’t really die.  His corporeal body can however.)

When he asks her if she thinks his IV site looks infected, she hugs him and says,

“Dammit, Jim, I’m a Guardian, not a doctor.”

And I lost it!  This is the only Star Trek reference I remember, but the funny lines never stop.  This is one of the funniest romance series I have ever read and I look for books with lots of humor.  You really need to give them a try.

By the way, the demon dog Jim’s real name is Effrijim, but he prefers Jim.  He thinks his real name is too girly.

“Quote-Tastic Monday” is a meme hosted every Monday on Herding Cats & Burning Soup.  Head on over there to see what everyone else is posting about this week. quote-tastic final with green border

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Quote-tastic Monday: Time Thief (Time Thief, #1) by Katie MacAlister

Time Thief (Time Thief, #1)Time Thief by Katie MacAlister
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Title: Time Thief
Author: Katie MacAlister
Series: Time Thief, #1
Pages: 341
Publisher: Signet
Date: May 7, 2013

Summary:

Outcast due to their ability to manipulate time, shunned by the mortal and immortal worlds alike, a Traveller’s life is anything but easy.

Peter Faa is a member of the Watch tracking down a murderer, and unfortunately, all clues seem to point toward his own estranged family of Travellers. Any of his cousins could be guilty, but which one? They’re all experts in the art of stealing time…

After surviving a lightning strike, Kiya Mortenson is determined to get just one thing in her life right. And if that means taking a job as nanny to five pugs on a campsite in the Oregon wilderness, then so be it. It doesn’t hurt that the job comes with some spectacular male eye candy, including her new boss’s gorgeous grandson. If only she didn’t keep having this strange sense of deja vu…

When Peter discovers his own family is stealing time from Kiya, all bets are off. While she may drive him crazy at times, it’s clear that it’s not just lightning that’s creating some serious sparks between them. And he’s not going to let secrets, lies, or a devious murderer keep Kiya from where she belongs: at his side.

Review:

I love Katie MacAlister because her books are funny. It doesn’t matter if they are historicals or paranormals, they are funny. This one however, may have slipped over the edge from funny to silly.

Make no mistake. I like it. It is funny, but it’s also almost too much. I am going to offer up a random quote which really was just thrown in there. I laughed when I read it, but it doesn’t actually have a bearing on the story.

“From a troll who runs a home for unwed poltergeists.”

Okay . . .

I don’t know what to say about that.

The funniest parts to me are Kiya’s conversations with her own mind. Her foster mom is a psychologist and Kiya knows far too much about her id, ego, and superego. They argue with each other after all and she argues with them. Yes, that’s as insane as it sounds.

One last thing: the description states the Travellers are outcasts. It’s more like they consider themselves better than anyone else and shun the rest of the world, both human and Other. They come off as real jerks.

There are two more books in this series and all three were published in 2013, so I doubt there will be anymore. I am still debating with myself (I have no idea what my id, ego, or superego think I should do) on whether to read them. The book was fun. It just wasn’t all that great.

If you are already a fan of MacAlister, give this one a try. If not, check out one of her other series. I highly recommend her Aisling Grey books.

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

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“Quote-Tastic Monday” is a meme hosted every Monday on Herding Cats & Burning Soup. Head on over there to see what everyone else is posting about this week.

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A Midsummer Night’s Romp (Ainslie Brothers, #2) by Katie MacAlister

A Midsummer Night's Romp (Ainslie Brothers, #2)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 (Ainslie Brothers, #1) by Katie MacAlister

The Importance of Being Alice (Ainslie Brothers, #1)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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