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29 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Wacky and Fun Read, December 2, 2004
This review is from: Hard Day's Knight (Mass Market Paperback)
Unemployed and unattached, Pepper Marsh was convinced by her cousin CJ that she would find the perfect man for her at a jousting competition at the Renaissance Faire in Ontario. Pepper wasn't at all sure of finding the `perfect' man but my, oh my, the men dressed up as knights, in their oh so skinny tights was enough inducement to turn the tide for Pepper who finally agreed to dress up and walk around the fairgrounds dressed in a very revealing bustier as a medieval `wench'! As it happened, Pepper did meet up with her knight in shining armor the very first day as he saved her from being pounded into the ground by a run away steed. Unfortunately, the devilishly sexy knight, with the very deep velvety voice didn't seem as taken with her as was in trading insults with the man who almost ran her down.
Walker McPhail, was once a champion jouster until the day he crippled an opponent. Since then, he stayed out of the ring, preferring to train and squire other jousters. Pepper was not about to let the reticent, moody, and incomparably sexy man get away - not when it seemed fate and a cunning maniacal cat seemed to keep them running into each other. She knew he was her destiny and she only had to convince him that he was hers!
Katie MacAlister, has become a master in creating offbeat and wacky heroines, that are not perfect female specimens - but just perfect for the heroes they ultimately end up with. In this latest novel she crafts a heroine who's self-esteem needed some boosting, as well as a hero who needed a push in the right direction to begin believing in himself again. She then she fills the pages with humor, wonderfully witty dialogs, highly sensuous bed sports, and lovely mix of supporting players to make this another delightfully sexy and tantalizing read that proves MacAlister to be a master of her game. Using an unknown (to me) real life organization for the re-creation of medieval games and times was a real treat, and had I ever been aware of such a thing as the League of Wenches (AND, if I was maybe 20 years younger) I'd probably be joining up myself! What a fun read this was!
---- Marilyn Rondeau, for www.contemporaryromancewriters.com
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18 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
absolutely brilliant!, January 5, 2005
This review is from: Hard Day's Knight (Mass Market Paperback)
Nobody writes quite in the style as Katie Macalister does. Maybe that is a blessing since she is amazing, turning out wonderful book out after book. The market couldn't stand a dozen writers as prolific! Obviously, Katie Mac feels our lives dull and need more than a few zany giggles, and she keeps giving us original tale, with less than perfect heroines that seem to land in bizarre situations. A Hard Days Knight is another of her wacky, charming tales that has put her on the bestsellers list time after time.
This time Katie Mac takes on Medieval-Renaissance Faires, called Ren Faires by those mighty warriors of the SCA - Society for Creative Anachronisms. These devout worshippers across the world, keep history alive, and during the summers come together for old style jousting, melees and damsel fair. Macalister is in top form as she both pays homage to these stalwart troopers and has a wee giggle at them, too!
In this utterly delightful tale, unemployed software specialists Pepper March is lured into attending the Ontario Renaissance Faire by her friend and cousin CJ. CJ's boyfriend is one of a jousting team called Three Dogs Knights. Her cousin assures Pepper at the tourney she will finally meet real knights in shining armour, who treat women as chivalrously as Knight of Auld. A strange cat shows up and begins to play matchmaker. It catches peppers attention, then dashes in front of the galloping chargers. Pepper rescues the cat, and Walker MacPhail rescues Pepper from being trampled by the horses. Pepper is struck
that MacPhail is her true knight in somewhat shining armour, but then he opens his mouth and ruins the shimmering illusion by berating her for being stupid and risking herself for the cat.
MacPhail is also a member of the Three Dog Knights jousting team and once was the man to beat. But sort of like John Wayne in the Quiet Man, MacPhail injured his opponent in a previous match, and now keeps to the sidelines, training others in Knightly Ways. Pepper is determined to convince him she is his destiny, but our lad in plate is a wee bit resistant to the notion. It's up to Pepper and the magical kitty to see things are put to rights.
Macalister captures the festive fun of the Ren Faires completely, bringing the jarring clash of contemporary settings and ancient codes into a wonderful mix that will delight anyone wanting to read a book that makes them happy! You end with a big smile on your face.
Pure magic!
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fine contemporary. romance, December 6, 2004
This review is from: Hard Day's Knight (Mass Market Paperback)
At the Ontario Renaissance Faire, Seattle visitor unemployed software specialist Pepper March attends as an English wench because her cousin CJ persuaded her that she would find chivalrous medieval hunks as she always dreamed of a knight in shining armor. When the cat she is watching gets loose, Pepper follows, but almost is run over by a horse. The actions of English knight Walker MacPhail saves her from a stomping.
However, her hero is not very chivalrous afterward as he rips her for being an idiot. Later, she learns from her cousin that Walker is a member of the jousting team Three Dog Knight that includes CJ's beau. As Walker and Pepper become acquainted, they begin to fall in love. However, he fears any lasting relationships as much as he struggles to reenter the jousting ring that he once owned.
This is a delightful somewhat reverse anachronistic tale that cleverly uses a Renaissance festival to furbish a medieval context in a modern day Canadian setting. The story line works because of the strong cast. The heroine wants a caring knight for her to nurture while her choice has issues to deal with. The secondary players provide the background that will lead the audience to believe they are attending the gala. The final joust between the lead couple is a brilliant ending to a fine contemporary.
Harriet Klausner
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