Book Review: A Lady on the Chase (Wycliffe Family #3) by Jessica Scarlett

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Regency Romance
Length: 336 pages
Author: Jessica Scarlett
Publisher: Redwing Publishing
Release Date: October 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Her father promised her to one man.
She promised her heart to a second.
Until she meets the third.

Lady Alicia Kendall has it all: wealth, beauty, suitors–and a history of creating scandals. The only thing she doesn’t have is her best friend and man of her dreams, Henry Crawley. When Henry announces his plans to join the Regulars, her father’s adamant disapproval of him deepens and prompts a deal to be struck:

She has two weeks to secure Henry’s proposal, or she must give him up forever and marry a man of her father’s choosing.

Alicia agrees. But when one of her attempts goes awry, she gets a begrudging proposal from someone else entirely–Matthew Wycliffe. The most condescending man ever to walk the face of the earth, and her newly-discovered nemesis.

If only to avoid yet another scandal, Alicia accepts Mr. Wycliffe’s offer. After all, with the deal she struck with her father, she’ll never marry the man anyway. But as they endure dark castles, hot-tempered soldiers, and hidden secrets brought to light all in their quest for a proposal from Henry, Alicia notices something different about the insufferable, grumbling Matthew Wycliffe. And she wonders if perhaps the proposal she wants is the one she’s already received.

ALL THE DANG STARS

OH MY GOSH I LOVED THIS BOOK SO DANG MUCH.

The tension, THE ANGST, the banter, swooning all over the place. This is proof yet again, that just because a book is “only kissing” doesn’t mean it can’t bring the heat in other romantic ways.

I absolutely adored Alicia and Matthew. Total opposites attract. A bit of grump and sunshine, and oh yeah, FAKE ENGAGEMENT. A trope combination of my dreams. I was laughing, smiling, and tearing up. I found myself feeling allllll the emotions. Every time these two tried flirting with each other had me in stitches. I love that this had some modern-esque tidbits because it became the perfect refresh in this genre.

I really liked how intricate the plot ended up being. It’s all very fast paced, and it works. Everything is given it’s due and the scenes necessary to further the plot happen. I do think Lord Hawthorne was the only one without a place but he did provide some comedic moments.

The build here was incredible. I was utterly wrapped up in this story and take full responsibility for the lack of sleep it caused. WORTH IT. I am still flailing around to anyone who’ll listen that you should read this book.

YOU SHOULD READ THIS BOOK.

Overall audience notes: