REVIEW: Daring In a Blue Dress by Katie MacAlister

Daring In a Blue Dress by Katie MacAlister: Alden is not looking forward to his sister-in-law’s attempts at matchmaking. He loves to learn, but has a horrible case of social anxiety where interacting with women is painful and awkward. So in an effort to escape Alice’s attempts, he takes off for Bestwood Hall, the country estate he’s purchased that just happens to be in desperate need of repair.

Mercy is also a lifelong student who has been cutoff after starting many degrees, but never finishing one. She’s delightful, fun, and tries to find ways to please everyone. She was on her way to a summer job, only to find out last minute that it had fallen through. Luckily, she got a job with a troupe that will be teaching medieval fighting at Bestwood Hall for the next few weeks.

Alden and Mercy got off on the wrong foot after a mutual case of mistaken identity. They find themselves attracted to each other despite their best intentions. It doesn’t help that Alden finds it so difficult to communicate what he really means to say.

“I didn’t hire anyone, and I don’t have a fair, medieval or otherwise.”
“You’re not Vandal?” I asked, taking a firm grip on my purse, prepared to snatch the container of pepper spray should the man go completely bonkers.
“No. I’m Alden Ainslie. I own this place.” He frowned. “I take it that you were not sent here to be…er…be my…”

They end up finding their footing and becoming friends. She helps Alden to overcome some of his anxiety and get past the frustrations in communicating with others. They are two peas in a pod with their love of learning and lack of follow through with any one program of study. They also pretty quickly become more than friends. They have great chemistry and banter.

“Want me to pretend I’m Vandal so you can be mad and articulate again?”
“I’d rather you kissed me again,” he said, and then looked both appalled and surprised by that.

Daring in a Blue Dress is a fun romp in the English countryside with renovations, odd characters, and medieval fights. Katie MacAlister created two very well-matched and endearing main characters. Ms. MacAlister also provided an entertaining plot with some mystery in the historical mansion. Fans of Shannon Richard and Kelly Moran will enjoy Daring in a Blue Dress.
 

Book Info:

Publication: Published June 7th 2016 | Signet | Matchmaker in Wonderland #3

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