Sandy M’s review of The Importance of Being Alice (Matchmaker in Wonderland, Book 1) by Katie MacAlister
Contemporary Romance published by Signet 6 Jan 15
I have to admit that during the reading of this book I had my doubts I’d really like it, when everything was said and done. But I can also admit I was wrong in those doubts. Normally I’m not one to enjoy a bit of silly in my romance, but Alice takes silliness to a whole new level at times and you can’t help but like her and have fun with her. That’s also a lesson that our hero, Elliott, learns in letting part of his British aristocratic self fall by the wayside and live life – gasp! – spontaneously.
Because Alice is 98% spontaneity. And American. She’s a true whirlwind, no matter what’s going on in her life. Her boyfriend of two years has just broken up with her, tossed her out of their condo, so Alice’s certainty that a wedding was in her future is snuffed out before it can even get started. Deciding at the last minute to take the European river cruise honeymoon – without a honey, of course – Alice is determined to not let her share of the money that paid for it go to waste.
What Alice doesn’t know is that Patrick – the ex – has given his honeymoon ticket to one of his best friends, the eighth Baron Ainslie, Elliott. His life is a madhouse because his humongous family won’t leave him in peace to write his spy novels, all of which pay the bills to keep their crumbling castle from total devastation. Refusing to give in to Alice when she suggests he find another room, Elliott forces her hand and they end up sharing the small cabin. It should work, since Alice will be seeing the sites all day and Elliott will be working. Right?
But Elliott is in for a huge surprise. Alice’s enthusiasm for life is contagious. He finds himself sightseeing along with her and their eclectic cruising companions. Their time in the German sex club teeters on the silly side, but I did find myself chuckling through the whole thing. Alice also gets it in her head that Elliott is a spy himself, and all manner of crazy things follow that keep the pace of the story moving along. Though both Elliott and Alice once or twice throw out that people may have issues with the speediness of their relationship, I actually had fun with it, loving the nearly love-at-first-sight aspect of it all.
As Chatty Cathy as Alice is, she’s a smart cookie. When she discovers Elliott has been injured after he left the cruise early to go on a “mission,” she has to make it to England on her own with very little money. Should be a piece of cake. And it actually is. The problems start when she gets to the hospital and then the castle, where no one believes she’s Elliott’s wife. Which she is. And she isn’t. Yeah, you gotta read the book for that one. But she perseveres with her head held high, and Elliott couldn’t love her anymore once they’re reunited. You’d think that would be close to the end of the book. Nope. Ms. MacAlister keeps the twists coming, though the big one had crossed my mind early on. It’s still fun to be had.
These two compliment each other quite well. Alice will teach Elliott how to further play in life and he will be the voice of reason when other parts of life need it. I’m not sure what’s up next in the series, if it will follow the Ainslie family or introduce us to new characters. If future books keep this full-of-fun attitude mixed with love and romance, I’ll be reading them.
Grade: B+
Summary:
Nothing about Alice Wood’s life is normal right now. Her fiance called off their wedding and relationship days before their luxurious tour down Europe’s most romantic rivers. And due to a horrible misunderstanding, now Alice is cooped up in her honeymoon suite with a strange–yet mysteriously handsome–British aristocrat.
All Elliott Ainslie wants is some quiet time to write his latest book. 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.
No excerpt available.
