Hard Day's Knight (Signet Eclipse) (Mass Market Paperback)

As for the plot; well the setting is a Canadian Renfaire, those of you involved in British re-enactment societies will be shocked at the unauthenticness (fairy wings?!) and jealous of the shower blocks
Pepper the heroine is unemployed and is being paid to look after her Aunt's cat 'Moth' but her Aunt has delayed her return so Pepper has to take Moth with her to the faire.
As Pepper gets changed into her wenches outfit she ties Moth to a camping chair, Moth having a taste for chewing tents drags the chair over to a neighbouring tent for a quiet chew, forcing Pepper to run out an get him just as a horse is galloping past, causing it to rear. Another horseman Walker McPhail grabs her and lifts her out of harms way. He does not yell at her but at the other horseman Farrel for galloping in a tented area. Farrell is always goading Walker over anything from women to who is the best jouster, naturally they fight over Pepper.
The jousting qualifiers start and Walkers team begin to have mysterious problems with their horses and kit which looks like sabotage and ends up with an injured team member. Thus the only chance for the team is for Walker to joust, a thing he refuses to do after crippling an opponent, the team look to Pepper to persuade him.
Moth certainly isn't a mysterious magical cat but this cat with a big personality is the catalyst to Pepper and Walkers romance, a romance that you are sure to enjoy.

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!