A Match Made at Matlock: A sequel to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice by Jan Ashton, Amy D'Orazio, Julie Cooper & Jessie Lewis ★★★★★

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Viscount Saye is heir to the Earl of Matlock. He is clever, rich and handsome, with a carefully cultivated reputation as an outrageous flirt, a dandy and something of a rake.

He is also shocked to find himself in love for the first time at two and thirty.

He has flirted with Lillian Goddard for some months and even managed the odd intimate moment.

When he hears that she is shortly to receive a proposal, he decides action must be taken.

A fabulous house party at the Matlock estate is arranged. Twenty guests are invited, just so Saye can woo one woman.

In attendance are Georgette Hawkridge, Saye’s cousin, who brings along her closest friends, Lilly and Sarah.
Georgette has a secret passion for Samuel Anderson. Unfortunately, her father disapproves of Anderson, so subterfuge is essential.

Cousin, Fitzwilliam Darcy hopes his betrothed, Elizabeth Bennet will attend.
Her father is deliberately delaying their marriage and denies Elizabeth permission to attend.

Viscount Saye and Mrs Bennet conspire to get Elizabeth to the party, to Darcy’s great delight.

Two other main characters are Sarah Bentley, pretty, wealthy and with an unusual accomplishment (entomology) and Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam.

Richard is the second son of the Earl of Matlock. A charming, much decorated soldier, he is currently resentful that his comparative poverty means he is unlikely to find a match any time soon.

The party starts with a Regency variation of speed dating, so that Saye can engineer to spend time with Lilly.
For some, the evening is promising, while for others it is disastrous.

A pig-roast served to guests lounging on cushions, has a shaky start, when the decorative foliage yields an enormous bug which thoroughly discomposes Anderson.

As the party progresses, characters are revealed, punches are thrown and relationships develop.

This is a delightful book, with some wonderfully funny moments.

I enjoyed reading this and have just purchased the audiobook with Stevie Zimmerman narrating.


I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.



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