This book was ok. The fmc wants to play the piano, the mmc owns a club that he wants to be respectable. The dialogue seemed repetitive and not much happens.

A steamy Regency romance. Debutante Susannah has a perfect life; she's young and beautiful and has the attention of a wealthy Duke. So why doesn't the thought of her future bring her joy? Rafe runs a successful gentleman's club, and is looking for one big break to finally be accepted by the ton, which will give him the ability to pursue his true dreams. When they meet, a plan is formed. Susannah will play the pianoforte in his club for one month, bringing some respectability to the establishment, and he will pay her enough that she will finally have her freedom. However, Susannah has to keep her identity a secret to protect her honor. Seems like the perfect business arrangement... until feelings get in the way.

A delightful read. Susannah is fairly sheltered and innocent, and her world is turned upside down when she meets Rafe. If she can defy the expectations forced upon her, she may just get what she's always secretly dreamed of. Rafe appears to be a typical rogue, but it soon becomes clear that he has a heart of gold. Their romance is very enjoyable to follow. These two are definitely into each other. A great example of an opposites attract romance, where the characters must defy expectations to find their happily ever after. I'm now curious to pick up the first book in the series, which follows Susannah's step sister and her romance.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Susannah Fletcher and the “Wolf of Mayfair” Rafe Winters's story is well written with a storyline that kept me turning pages. This is the first book by this Author that (I have read and I would like to read more by her. I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Sexy is the best word to describe this book - artfully sexy. Rafe is the bad boy we all wanted in a romance. A man is trying to be better than where he came from.

Susannah only wants to be able to explore the world and play piano wherever and whenever she wants. She doesn't want to be controlled by a man, and she doesn't enjoy the social life that has already been planned for her.

What I truly loved was the diversity in backgrounds portrayed in this book. We see Rafe's life, the people he surrounds himself with, and Susannah and why she is trying to run from all together.

I enjoyed this, and I can't wait to read the other ones in this series set to release

3.75
Susannah and Rafe had a chance encounter one night. Rafe was in need of an artist, and Susannah’s dream was to become an artist. They joined forces to be able to accomplish each one of their dreams. along the way. They fall in love, but I have to figure out a way to overcome their past.

I did enjoy the story and how they found their happily ever after, but at different times I felt that they were not connecting.

This was an entertaining read. I really liked the characters the chemistry was fantastic. I had found myself burnt out with historical romance lately but this book reignited my interest.
I received an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this story and this is my freely given opinion.

This is the second book from this author and continues from the world started in Cinderella and the Duke. This is the story of Susannah, the younger stepsister of Julia, the protagonist in the first book. This is a few years down the road, and Julia and Ashworth are continuing with their HEA and have a happy, growing family. But this story centers on Susannah, who is a beautiful, wealthy heiress, whose mother, the contemptible, social scrabbling Lady Beaumont, has high matrimonial hopes for. Susannah is being courted by her friend, and the best friend of the Duke of Ashworth, the Duke of Huntington. Everyone is certain that he will propose to her, including her excited mother, stepsister, and brother in law. Huntingdon has been incredibly marked in his attentions and hints.

Except Susannah is not happy. She is in dread because she feels no passion or love for Huntington, and sees him only as a friend. But she feels trapped because she does not want to disappoint her family, and she knows her mother, charming woman that she is, will not support her if she spurns the Duke, and despite Susannah's dowry being quite massive, she cannot touch it until she is 35 or marries.

An unforeseen opportunity lands at her feet one night when she is out with one of her more wild friends, escaping the chaperonage of her family. They are at a wild masquerade at the notorious Wolf's Den. When Susannah gets lost, she finds her way to a stage where there is a pianoforte, and she cannot help but start to play, as music and playing the pianoforte is a passion of hers, and she has a secret desire to play on stage.

Rafe Winters is the owner of the Den, a low born commoner who worked his way up from a hardscrabble life on the streets as a common thief to being a successful wealthy business man. He is surly, gruff, and rough edged, but hiding a heart of gold, with a desire to help those, especially single women in poor circumstances, considering his own background. He may have gained wealth, but he knows he is still not accepted by Society, and is still working to prove himself. Part of that is a real estate deal to launch the next stage of his empire. However, the snotty peer on the other end of that deal wants proof that Rafe can demonstrate that he is worthy of owning the property in question and will do it justice in terms of class and taste - something not demonstrated at present at the Den.

They come upon the exquisite music played by Susannah and she is used as an example by the peer of a higher level of class and sophistication, leading to Rafe offering her a deal to play for him. But this puts her reputation at risk, and Susannah does not want to ruin or disappoint her family either. But Rafe offers her a small fortune for play each evening for a month, which offers Susannah a route to freedom, and avoiding marriage. This leads to an agreement between the Wolf's Den owner and the debutante, now hiding her identity under an elaborate costume and the stage identity of the Red Duchess.

The ensuing story is a mix of enemies to friends to lovers, and Susannah engaging in creative ways of hiding her activities from her family, while she also figures out how to put off her courtship and impending proposal by the Duke.

This has a darker tone and intensity, and less of the humour of the first book. While Lady Beaumont and Julia get along better, after all, Julia is now a Duchess, Lady Beaumont is still a scheming witch who doesn't care about the happiness of her children beyond what social gains they can achieve. I enjoyed the story and the development of Rafe and Susannah's relationship, which had the extra spice of being a hidden, different social status forbidden love affair. The secondary characters and the interactions were very appealing as well, and I quite enjoyed them, including Susannah's hedonistic friend and her husband, Jacks - who is a very intriguing character and I would love to know more about her/his background, and the continued love story of Julia and Ashworth. Also Huntington is a sweet, gentlemanly character who is a good friend, and I am happy to see that he is featured in the next book.

A solid, enjoyable read, though it felt in general darker than book 1.

4 stars out of 5

The Duchess and the Wolf by Lydia Drake is a regency romance featuring Susannah, who wants to try a few things before she settles into marriage and Rafe, who has raised himself from his upbringing on the streets to his position in the ton. They meet and she begins to play piano as the masked Red Duchess at his club. But will 5his be the start of something wonderful or the downfall of them both? Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

In a world of secrets, desires, and hope can one woman decide her future despite the expectations bound by family?

Rafe is a man of mystery to most, will he open his heart to the one woman would could truly accept him?

Susannah dreams of a world filled with travel and music despite the push for her to marry. Will she face her future or fight to live the life with a man who will truly respect her.

There is so much passion in this story that takes us into a wolf's den through fire to face a life where woman are valued, respected, and adored for more than just their bodies.

I can't wait to read more.

This is the second installment of the Renegade Dukes series. Despite being a Lady, Susannah yearns to play her music onstage, even knowing it would cause quite the scandal. When Rafe gives her that opportunity, she cannot pass it up. Rafe protects her identity and reputation while she performs onstage, but once she is off that stage, it's a whole different story.
Susannah and Rafe had strong chemistry right from the start and their witty banter kept me engaged all the way through. This fairytale retelling based on Little Red Riding Hood was filled with drama, passion, and romance, and kept me engaged from start to finish. The storyline was well-written and well-paced with interesting and well-crafted characters. I am really enjoying the series and look forward to reading the next book.
I received a complimentary copy from Entangled Publishing and Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

This is a enjoyable read . Rafe and Susannah come together with dreams of there own and work together to make each dream come true. But coming from different backgrounds they will have to fight for the most important dream of all love.

I definitely enjoyed this books
and I would recommend it to all the people ik!!


Susannah Fletcher has everything a young lady could wealth, the attentions of well-to-do duke, and a reputation as spotless as an angel’s petticoats. Yet, she would throw it all away for one opportunity to perform her music on stage–scandalous as that may be. Which is precisely when the rich and menacing “Wolf of Mayfair” makes her an offer she couldn’t possibly refuse. Now Susannah performs in a red cloak as the enigmatic “Red Duchess,” and all of London is entranced—along with Rafe. He promised her he’d do everything to protect her reputation on stage. But off-stage, the wolf is waiting for Susannah to stray from the path and into his arms.

Ultimately this was unsatisfying. The mmc was too rough and gruff, and the classical pianist angle was just too far outside of believable. Too many plot points were nonsense, the overbearing mamma who doesn’t mind that she goes off on her own or spends the night with friends all the time, the best friends who are incredibly involved with each other and self centered, the duke who wants to marry her but can’t see that she’s completely horrified by him. Just too many unfortunate plot choices.

So good. I just finished and want to dive back into the story because it was just such a wonderful experience. The characters and the whole story was just amazing.

After reading a Lydia Drake book for the first time in Cinderella and the Duke, I was curious to see if the next book was just as rewarding as my first encounter. And yes it was. Although this one wasn’t related to a fairy tale, the historical romance is just awesome. Susannah is a brave woman, who tries to follow her dreams, instead of choosing the ‘easy’ life of a boring duchess.

So yes, it is a refreshing, funny story. With a blooming romance. What’s not to love? Five out of five stars from me and a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc.

This is an author I really enjoy. I was so happy I was given this one to read as I had read the heroines step sister’s romance previously. This book was steamy and had red riding hood vibes to it! Susannah is our red headed heroine, who loves music and playing the piano. She wants to get money of her own to travel the world. So when Susannah goes to a night club masquerade party with her friend, she gets caught playing the piano by the owner of the club, Wolf! But Wolf wants to buy a building across from the club to expand is business. So Wolf hires Susannah to play nightly at his club to get new patrons in. These two have instant chemistry! I think they worked so good together! I liked how both of them grew and overcame things. Rate really has a heart of gold! I really loved their story!

The Duchess and the Wolf by Lydia Drake is a steamy, clever, and delightful read. I love a good regency time piece and this book delivers. Instead of an arranged marriage Susannah wants more out of life. To go against something like this back in the day was unheard of. I love her tenacity and strength. Overall, this book was wonderful. I love this author and will continue to read more from her.

This is my first book by this author. I really enjoyed her style of writing. I loved the anticipation throughout the book of what would happen next and the build up between the two main characters. I mean, who doesn't love a happily ever after? I would recommend this book.

Susannah Fletcher at twenty-one, is a little immature. Afraid of disappointing her mother, she is torn with her own hopes and dreams. On a whim, Rafe Winters, owner of The Wolf's Den, offers Susannah a job to perform on the pianoforte several nights a week for a month. Much help from friends and outmaneuvering her mother, provide ways to perform as The Red Duchess. How exhausting to lead two lives! Her mother may be expecting Susannah to marry a duke, but she has her heart set on winning a wolf.
Too much self-sacrificing between Susannah and Rafe before a happy ending.
Open bedroom door.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

I really enjoyed this book. Lydia Drake kept me on my toes wondering what was going to happen and how these two would finally find their happily ever after. I would definitely recommend this book.