DARING IN A BLUE DRESS is book 3 in Katie MacAlister's
Matchmaker
in Wonderland series. As an academic with
nothing substantive to show for his education, making a
success of the recently purchased Bestwood Hall offers
Alden Ainslie an opportunity to prove himself. When he
has to deal with medieval performers landing on his
doorstep, a live-in dowager who starts getting
territorial, and a house that drives him batty, Mercy
Starling's arrival is a ray of sunshine. I love stories
in which the hero and heroine have a lot in common and
Mercy and Alden bond over their bookish natures and
things get hot and heavy in no time.
Mercy Starling may be my favorite Katie MacAlister heroine.
While Mercy and Alden have a love of
learning in common, Mercy is a mellowing influence on
Alden and approaches things from a much different
perspective than he does. Even though Bestwood belongs to
Alden, I enjoyed how he and Mercy act like partners and a
generally united front against the craziness that ensues
in DARING IN A BLUE DRESS. When secret passageways are
discovered and things take a slightly sinister turn,
Mercy jokes that she and Alden become an unlikely Nancy
Drew and Ned Nickerson. The chemistry between Mercy and
Alden is pitch perfect, and Alden's romantic notes he
leaves for Mercy gives their romance a touch of charm.
The medieval reenactments, the Hairy Tit Conservancy, and
Alden's fervent belief that Bestwood Hall is alive and
actively thwarting his restoration efforts balance the
lurking danger that becomes more apparent as the story
progresses.
DARING IN A BLUE DRESS is a whimsical and romantic tale
with unexpected yet delightful bits of mystery thrown in.
This was a book I was sorry to see come to an end. Katie
MacAlister has outdone herself with DARING IN A BLUE
DRESS in creating a story that is big on laughs and
quirky characters. Mercy's one-liners and brilliant
rejoinders to the fawning and ever-present Lisa are
fantastic. I look forward to the next installment in this
sparkling series by Katie MacAlister.
Chivalry is far from dead in the third novel in the
“gut-wrenchingly funny”* Matchmaker in Wonderland Romance
series.
Stranded in England without money or a ticket home, Mercy
Starling takes a job working for a medieval reenactment
company. After all, who wouldn’t want to pretend to live
in
the past, wield swords and long bows, and dress up in
armor?
And the best part of her summer job is Bestwood Hall...or
rather, its intriguing new owner.
The painfully shy Alden Ainslie is overwhelmed by the
medieval reenactors who invade the Tudor house he’s
renovating, but he’s drawn to the bubbly Mercy. And he
valiantly joins in the fun, dodging not just arrows,
lances,
and the odd sword thrust, but also some pretty
suspicious—and potentially deadly—attacks on himself.
Someone wants him to give up on the house. But Alden is
desperate to prove himself—and win the heart of his lady
fair...
*Open Book Society
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