seriously romantic: the chase by sara portman

the third brides of beadwell novel, the chase, opens when julianna crawford begs michael rosevear for a ride to london. and he is intrigued enough to say yes. at the very least she'll provide a distraction from an old war injury that troubles him when he is forced to travel. he is on his way to london to meet the woman his father has picked out for him. an heiress who will line his father's coffers and a marriage that he hopes he can use to get his father to sign over the property he's rehabilitated to his name.

julianna is escaping her abusive father and seeking out the inheritance she is due to receive from her mother's family when she turns 25. she hopes to get to london and find passage on a ship to boston and settle there. however, she keeps her plans to herself. she's certain her father will do everything in his power to thwart her. and she's not sure she can trust any man, even michael, because though he is kind, he also has some pretty outdated ideas about women and their abilities to fend for themselves.

julianna and michael spend a large chunk of the book bickering. and that bickering masks the spark of attraction between them. but when they are forced to spend a night alone in a small cabin, there is no way that spark won't ignite into something more. the problem is that michael's future has already been prescribed by his father. and julianna's plans don't include marriage or a man in her life. unfortunately, julianna's plans aren't actually feasible, in large part due to the fact that regency society isn't going to make it easy for a young woman to make an independent life for herself.

finding their way out of the corner society has pushed them in will be their challenge. but as their paths continue to cross, it becomes clear that there is something between them that keeps them coming together. and that if they hold on to the love they feel for one another, the rest will sort itself out.

**the chase will publish on november 21, 2017. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/kensington books in exchange for my honest review.