A Perfect Deception

Wiltshire Chronicles #3

by Alyssa Drake

Disowned by her mother and suffering from unrequited love, a dismayed wallflower steps out of the shadows and into the path of a vindictive killer…

Through a chance introduction, Miss Daphne Clemens finds herself thrust into a dangerous situation, sequestered on a country estate with the one man she wants, but cannot have: Mr. Thomas Reid.

Following the abrupt termination of his engagement, Thomas expected to remain a bachelor forever, but Daphne’s captivating presence reopens his heart to the possibility of love... until a body is discovered just outside the estate.

Thomas realizes someone in the household is working with Mr. Franklin Morris, feeding information to a killer intent on murdering every person in the chateau… including Daphne. All evidence points to a servant, but when the girl accused of the crime is found to be innocent, Thomas fears he may be too late to save Daphne’s life.

Fans of Stephanie Laurens and Julie Garwood will savor this third installment of the Wiltshire Chronicles which reveals the inner workings of a broken heart, the deviousness of jealously, and the strength of true love.

Click now to discover the conspirator!

Genres: Historical Romance, Historical

304 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 23, 2019

About the author

USA Today bestselling author Alyssa Drake's love of adventure sprang from her early exposure to ranch life, which taught her to be curious, courageous, and just a little bit wild. When she's not writing historical romance or being chased by paranormal creatures, Alyssa can be found searching for fairy houses and mermaid eggs. To lose yourself in Alyssa's suspense-filled worlds, subscribe to her newsletter today and start your journey with a free book!

Reviews

[ItaPixie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have waited a little longer for this third installment to be released but as soon as I started to read it I was back in the Wiltshire, it was just as though not a single day had gone by.

A Perfect Deception should be read after the previous books in this series because even if the main characters are not Benjamin and Samantha there are still some mysteries to solve linked to their story.
Daphne and Thomas relationship is so sweet and it was such a pleasure to follow the growth of their feelings for each other.

I recommend to begin to read this series as soon as possible.

Copy kindly provided by the Publisher/Author.

[Lori D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can I just say hold on because this story definitely took me by surprise from the first page that had my heart clinching. Oh my gosh! A murderer who is so heinous it is unbelievable.
A story with all the elements of a romantic suspense with mystery, murder, mayhem, throw in a little humor and a surprising passionate entanglement and I could not stop reading until I turned the last page.
Thomas had been jilted by Alana, a girl he had asked to marry him when she was offered money to leave him alone. But then Daphne comes to his country estate and he begins to have feelings for her.
Then a body is found and is seems that a murderer is on the loose and aiming for others. Thomas has to keep Daphne safe but can he?
Will they catch the villian and be able to find love and happiness? Wow, that is all I can say and not to miss this page turner and will have you thinking about it long after the last page is turned!

[Gigi’s Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

The saga continues, but Samantha and Benjamin take a back seat in this book to Ben’s brother, Thomas, and his love life. His past was Alana. His present is Miss Randall and Daphne, which one will be his future? He does not want to be married but his Mother and Aunt are looking to make a match.
Meanwhile, Franklin is still on the loose slaying people so he can get what he wants and he has an unknown accomplice.
I enjoyed finding out the answers to many questions that arose over the first 3 books. I recommend you read all the books in the series. The first two books have cliffhangers but this book you could if you wanted read on its own. This book concludes with HEAs and resolutions to the murders. This series kept me engaged and I really enjoyed the plot’s twists and turns. I was given an ARC of this book and chose to post a review.

[Carole Burant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now that's what I call a story with lots going on! I'm also happy to see that I'm not the only klutz that trips over her own feet....like Daphne! lol I have read books 1 and 2 of the Wiltshire Chronicles and couldn't wait for book 3 to come out. Alyssa Drake did not disappoint, this one is just as exciting as the other two.

This is Daphne and Thomas's story and it's filled with mystery, murder, suspense, humor and heated passion. This author knows how to keep your attention, I had a hard time putting the book down!!

I received an ARC of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Pam Bereznak · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alyssa Drake is a new author for me. I only read book 1 and 2 in this series so far and have liked them enough to keep reading more (except for the cliffhangers). Not a fan of cliffhangers but luckily I was ready to just pick up this one and start reading.

This was a little underwhelming compared to the first two books. I also felt it was a bit "anticlimactic" in regards to Franklin Morris. So much hoopla in the others books so this one felt a bit let down. I liked Daphne and Thomas well enough and was really looking forward to reading his story but again kind of blah. I felt not real connection with them.

[Lail · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Perfect Deception (Book 3 of The Wiltshire Chronicles) by Alyssa Drake
Encore! Encore! My new favorite book of this series! This is a fast pace historical mystery thriller romance had me rooted reading like crazy. It’s action packed to the hilt with multiple plot twist and turns and is all encompassing. I loved the witty and impossibly charming characters. The women were notoriously stubborn and tenacious in finding the most improper ways to adventure and trouble. The storyline follows a truly disturbing psychotic killer and his accomplice who are waging revenge for being cut out of family fortune and for family abusive mistreatment. I enjoyed this intense murder thriller and the sweet romances that turned in to a steamy 3-4 flame fire towards the end of the book.
This could be read as a standalone however, I myself think it’s better read as the series to get the most out of the storyline. My ocd did kick in making me struggle with frustration not being able to wrap Miss Clemens in bubble wrap to fix her unbelievable clumsiness! She did not make it anywhere without injury. Good thing she was such a sweetheart.
This book does have an ending! Not a cliffhanger like book 1-2. However, there are hints of other characters looking for help in finding spouses so we will see what comes next for some of these characters.
Mature Content Note: Please be warned If you are a sensitive reader to the following situations: This book has some gruesome details of torture and murder and a couple intimately detailed steamy love scenes towards the last quarter of the book.
Happy Reading♥️

[Ash J · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is more about Daphne and Thomas' love story and it includes murder, mystery, suspense and thrill. I am enthralled with this whole series and I can't wait to see what happens next. There were a lot of ploy twists and unexpected things that kept me guessing. I am not a big historical romance fan but I was glued to the pages in this book, just like the previous two. Can't wait to see what happens next!

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

[Ria Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb tale of romance, mystery & suspense

This was a wonderful return to Alyssa Drake's Wiltshire Chronicles. A PERFECT DECEPTION focuses on Thomas Reid and Daphne Clemens. Thomas is the brother of Benjamin, the hero of the two previous novels. Daphne, living under the guardianship of Thomas' aunt, is a young woman who believes that she is destined for spinsterhood. Thomas has declared that he doesn't want to get married, not after a the pain caused from an engagement that was broken a few years earlier.

Thomas and Daphne's story was an absolute pleasure to read. it had humour, mystery, suspense and just enough desire and passion to keep me thoroughly enthralled. Thomas has become resigned to remaining a bachelor, however he begins to think differently when Daphne literally falls into his life. He becomes completely enchanted by her ad does everything he can to spend as much time with her as possible. Daphneis such a loveable character, even if she is completely clumsy, and she is totally infatuated by Thomas.

Alyssa Drake has written yet another superb tale, with all the rules and etiquette of Society that you would expect to find at that time. Some of it was quite amusing. Interwoven amongst the romance is a suspenseful mystery, some of which is rather grizzly, not what you'd expect in a historical romance. This was such a wonderful read, a worthy addition to the series. I thoroughly enjoyed it and hope that there are many more to come.

Definitely a recommended read and an unputdownable one at that.

Read and Reviewed for Reading Is Our Satisfaction

FIVE STARS

[Jamie Bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Darker than Your Typical Historical Romantic Mystery

I read a fair amount of historical romantic suspense and mystery, but this story is definitely a cut different from most. Most of the romantic historical mysteries I have read have been ones in which the suspense or mystery is rather light. Yes, it adds interest to the story and keeps the pages turning, but the main thrust is the romance and how the suspense affects that. This book is completely different, as the evil in this book is overarching in nature, not just a side interest. I could tell this right off the bat with the way the prologue started with such a graphic, violent scene. I'll admit that I had a hard time following parts of this book, but that is probably because I haven't read either of the previous books in the series. I didn't realize when I signed up for this book at my favorite book review site that it was an installment of an episodic series. I still was able to figure things out, but it would have been easier if I had read the other books. The author is able to keep the tension and conflict ramped up through the entire book. There are some surprisingly graphically violent scenes in this book; I wasn't expecting that, and so I am saying so in this review so others may see it and steer clear if they don't like to read that. The book is well written, both the violence/mystery aspect and the romance. I found the heroine, Daphne, a particular delight as she provided a spot of levity in what can sometimes be a pretty dark book.

I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.

Read my other reviews at https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com

[Clarice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loaded with danger. I think that’s a good way to describe this book. Just when I didn’t think things could get worse due to Franklin’s presence, I am proved completely wrong. Holy cow. There are some rough parts to the story and the author writes them well enough that you can almost feel the hairs on your neck rising with each new dangerous situation. What happens to some of the characters is horrible and Franklin is a very bad man. But some of the secrets revealed at the end are pretty stinkin surprising and makes so much sense after the puzzle pieces fall into place. Is it romantic? Absolutely. The romance amidst the danger made the book all the more interesting. I do have to say that as much as I liked Thomas, I get the feeling I would prefer Asher. I even felt a bit sorry for him. And Daphne is something else, but a wonderful character. Overall a very enjoyable read!

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding book.
This is a continuing of the Wiltshire Chronicles. This book is so good just reading the prologue will pique your interest. This series gets better with each new book. This is Daphne and Thomas's story there is so much danger and mystery with murder playing a role too. There is heat too and that makes this book a grand read. I highly recommend this book it can be read as a stand-alone, but you may want to read the other books before it first. I did receive a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first time reading a book by this author and it was amazing! The plot and character building were amazing. There's danger, drama, suspense, intrigue, mystery, murder and the romance amidst the danger make it awesome. It's Thomas and Daphne's story and their humor and passion made it such a great story, I can't wait to read more!!! It's a definite must read for any fan so grab your copy and see if they get their HEA!!!!

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

[Jayne Butcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third story in this series....and may take the reader a few minutes to get the lay of the land and who is who....but stick with it, because this is a romantic thriller. Daphne is adorable and clumsily finds herself in all kinds of situations, which she takes politely in stride. Thomas is every woman’s dream. This is a fast paced story that you won’t want to miss

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

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book three in the Wiltshire Chronicles series a well written story. This is Daphne Clemens and Thomas Reid's it kept me turning pages I had to know what was going to happen. There is suspense, drama, danger, murder, one very evil villain, and hot romance. I hope there is going to be more in this series. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jeanette Wolfe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fair but. . .

I won't deny that I enjoyed the stories even while some of the plot and factual errors grated on my nerves, but after three volumes I cannot say I'm going to continue with this series and I won't be binging any further works of this author for a while. I feel like I need a break before the possibility of resuming any further.

The synopsis claims that fans of Johanna Lindsay's will enjoy these and while that may be true as they are in the same historical genre, they are not as well researched nor as well conceptualized or executed as Johanna Lindsey's books which I can attest to as an avid owner of a great many of Miss Lindsey's works. In summary I have to say I would recommend these, but with a clear warning about plot errors and some conceptual issues covered more fully in my review of the second volume of this series: specifically, in the first and second volumes the female lead was supposedly poisoned and that thread was simply dropped and not followed through and not explained or adequately fixed. The "poisoning" was suddenly referred to instead as a "drugging" and was just left as a hanging thread in the story, something that was frustratingly unsatisfying after that asect of the climactic build-up was given no conclusion, especially given the drama attributed to the trauma of Samantha's kidnapping and beating.

This volume contained no large errors such as that, but it had a bit shallower feel to it's story, something I attribute to the incongruous flirting and frivolous conversations immediately following dramatic situations like finding a dead mutilated body body (specifically the conversation between Thomas, Daphne, and Alana after the discovery of Mrs Clark--who invites somebody to tea after finding a dead body or flirts with her crush at that point in the way that was portrayed--it just didn't make sense and left me unsatisfied like the dramatic scene was wedged in where it didn't belong). The story was still thrilling with the build-up and dramatic reveal, but several times I just shook my head and thought to myself, 'did that dramatic thing not just happen, why are they acting like this?' Also, I was still able to easily anticipate the co-conspirator, which was revealed in this volume despite the false lead dropped in the second volume. Then again, that false lead could have been another loose thread or plot error because the villain first lamented the treatment of his co-conspirator and then threatened to kill them in a back and forth that was such, I was unclear that the author hadn't messed up who the villain was talking about.

In conclusion I'll say, her books are good, but they're not great because there are issues with dropped threads of the plot, plot errors, as well as factual errors with the author's portrayal of the manners of the time, but most irritating or troubling was an incongruous flow of certain dramatic devices within the plot, namely flirting and frivolous behavior between the characters at times that didn't make sense. While I've read comments from authors saying that three stars is a crap rating, I have to disagree. To me three stars means it's an author I wouldn't mind reading another story from, whereas a two star rating means it's an author who's writing I didn't like but might give one more chance, and a one-star rating is an author I will determinedly avoid. I reserve four star ratings for stories I know I will want to read again, and five star ratings for stories I want to read again and will buy a hard copy book of.

[Anonymous 5 · Rating 5 out of 5]

The is the third book of the Wiltshire Chronicles and is just as wonderfully written as the first two. I really enjoyed books 1 and 2 and was excited when this was ready to review. If you haven't read the first two, I would most definitely recommend you go back and start with book 1. Although Benjamin and Samantha are not front and center in this installment, the stories are all linked so you definitely don't want to miss any part of it.
This story has such great elements, bringing you romance, suspense, danger, passion, and even a little humor, I struggled to put it down even for a moment because I was so engrossed. The focus in this book is Benjamin's brother, Thomas, and Daphne. Both were such well-developed and charming characters, you can't help but love them. Written with such riveting details, I could see and feel the story as if I was right there. The storyline flowed smoothly and the plot twists had me on the edge of my seat with all the intrigue and danger. A really well-written book that I am happy to recommend.

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

[Kat Tolle · Rating 3 out of 5]

GREAT STORYLINE!!! A Perfect Deception by Alyssa Drake is book 3 in the Wiltshire Chronicles and though in a series this book can be read as a standalone. I really love the prelude to this book and I though to myself that this was going to great but I found it was a tad lacking. There was way too much description and not enough dialogue between the characters and at times I would get lost in which direction this story was going. I really felt like it jumped round to much. Just when I started getting really involved in this book it would jump to another character’s story and I just couldn’t keep up. What I did love about this book was the slow burn of Thomas and Daphne romance and I have to confess it was very sweet. The gazebo scene was so charming. I also liked the murder mystery behind it. All and all I have to say that this book was ok.

***This book was gifted to me and I am voluntarily reviewing.

[Cathylynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thomas is trying to protect everyone in the chateau from a murderer. He needs to find out who is helping him with information. His did not want to marry but was drawn in by Daphne and is trying to save her. Is it too late? I enjoyed this story, I think Daphne was a strong character and I liked her very much. Thomas was a great hero and of course one of our villains, Franklin was an interesting twist. This is a great story with wonderful characters and it is different from some of the other regency books.

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

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Without Benjamin and Miss Hastings to focus on, I felt lost at the beginning of this book. There were too many side things going on that made it confusing to follow and to remember who was who, especially since it had been a while since I had read the last book. However, it didn’t take long to get back into it, and I must say that the rest of the book was as good as the first two and it was worth reading to finally find out who was working with Morris.

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

[Thea Kubicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 3rd book, A Perfect Deception, wraps up the mystery and who can be trusted. Thomas has choices to make concerning the women in his life and what he truly wants. There are scenes that some readers may find disturbing; but, there is humor also. If at all possible I really like this series to continue as there are many interesting characters whose stories haven’t been told yet.

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

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

You finally find out who is helping Mr. Morris and why Thomas and Alana’s engagement ended. This was Thomas and Miss. Clemens love story. It was exciting, terrifying in places and very action packed. Loved how Miss Clemens kept getting into trouble while try to be like Miss. Hastings, funny yet endearing. I would recommend this book and series to all.

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

[Linda A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Need to read all three books to understand all the twists

This series was totally different from anything I have been reading. The author has come up with amazing plots with highly developed characters. There was a lot more violence than I have encountered with other authors, as the villains were truly devious and sinister. She kept me guessing as to the identity of the co-conspirator, with a truly surprising ending.

[Rmederios · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the whole book, like the whole thing!! I was right about the suspension that I had for the accomplice to the murders. But still loved, loved the storyline. I so wanted the reunion between Alana and Thomas. The author done better. I dont want to say to much more because I will spoil the whole book, but again LOVED IT!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This third book in the series ties up the story for Franklin while focusing on Thomas. The elusive accomplice to Franklin is finally outed along with an old secret. Love blooms for Thomas and some old past regrets are laid to bare. The foundation is also set for the next in the series. A great read all the way through. I volunteered to read this book via Booksprout.

[Marilyn Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in the series and has Thomas trying to find out who’s working with the man that’s set to kill everyone on the estate for their wealth! They try to find out who is helping him as he has several and it seems some are closer than they thought! How will it all end?

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

[Aineenmarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was such a great story. This was a great and fun read. I thought that the plot of the story was very well written. I truly cannot wait to try another book by the author. This is a new author for me.

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

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Perfect Deception is book three and continues the Wiltshire Chronicles series. In this book we get Daphne and Thomas's story. The storyline is interesting and filled with mystery, suspense, murder, love, and a story that held my attention until the last page. I look forward to reading more books by this author. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thomas and Daphne's story is filled with passion, murder, mystery and suspence I loved it.

Daphne wants Thomas, but can never have him. Thomas vows to remain a bachelor after a failed engagement, but meeting Daphne changes all that. Then a body is discovered and a killer who will stop at nothing to get what they want. Can Thomas stop them before it is too late.

[cyndi l. reaver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful mystery!

Intriguing mystery, with a great love story mixed into it the story. I enjoyed how Ms. Drake kept me guessing who was involved with Morris. I would have never guessed who was. The 3 books together I would highly recommend!! Cyndi

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the continuation of this series with Franklin and Daphne who are drawn to each other and with the mystery of who is committing the murders makes this suspenseful romance intriguing and keeps you guessing as who is responsible.