REVIEW: A Midsummer Night’s Romp by Katie MacAlister

A Midsummer Night’s Romp (Ainslie Brothers #2) by Katie MacAlister: Lorina is posing as a photojournalist on an archaeological dig at Ainslie Castle in order to expose the head of the archaeology team as a liar. She’s a loyal friend and determined in her quest, even though she’s not very good at lying. She’s also delightfully awkward in that she has almost no filter; she expresses the thoughts in her head before she knows it.

Gunner is a photographer and an archaeology enthusiast. He’s in charge of overseeing the dig for the family while everyone else is on vacation. Gunner is known as a playboy who has no intention of settling down.

Gunner is intrigued by Lorina after their initial meeting. They are immediately attracted to each other, but Lorina is on a mission. Gunner’s reputation and intelligence mean that Lorina is wary of getting too close in case he exposes her as a fraud. Their banter and teasing reflect the growing attraction between them.

“Do you know,” he said conversationally, “it’s almost beyond my ability to keep from making a joke about my willingness to take you, but given your attitude on such things, I shall refrain.”
To his delight, she giggled, smothering it with a hand. “My mouth again.”
“Yes, I like it.”

Gunner knows that she’s hiding something since she’s clueless about photography, and he wants to gain her trust. He’s very persistent in pursuing Lorina and has the benefit of being tasked with them working together for the TV show about the dig. Gunner also finds a heretofore unknown protective streak when it comes to Lorina. She’s wary of men in general, but Gunner makes her feel safe.

“I’m American,” I said with a little lift of my chin. “Plus, he’s married to my roommate’s foster sister, so, no, I’m not overly impressed with your family’s noble history. That sort of thing doesn’t mean a whole lot to us. Besides, I value people for what they make of their lives more than what’s handed to them, or how handsome their face is, or the fact that they have a nice chest and really nice thighs, and a butt that is probably in the category of droolworthy, not that I would know because I’m not the sort of person who objectifies men that way.”

A Midsummer Night’s Romp is an entertaining and lighthearted contemporary romance. Katie MacAlister created a humorous heroine in Lorina who simultaneously pushes Gunner away while showing just how much she wants him. Ms. MacAlister created great secondary characters in Salma and Cressida.

Fans of Cora Carmack’s awkward heroines and Hold Me by Susan Mallery would enjoy Lorina and A Midsummer Night’s Romp.

Book Info:

Published May 5th 2015 | Signet | (Ainslie Brothers #2)

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Importance of Being Alice comes the second Ainslie Brothers romance, where finding love means falling head over heels…

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…