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.

This is an entertaining tale from a new author (or new to me, this appears to be her second romance). It's steamy, clever, and delightful. Upon finishing, I immediately tracked down her previous book and devoured it. Looking forward to more from this author!

This book definitely doesn't follow the rules of the Regency period by any stretch of the imagination, but when you have wonderful characters like Susannah and Rafe, you don't care. This book is about fighting for your dreams and then adapting when you realize your dream has changed. A lovely story with a great ending.

Thank you to Entangled:Amara and NetGalley for providing this eARC. All opinions are my own.

The Duchess and the Wolf by Lydia Drake

Published: September 18, 2023
Entangled: Amara
Pages: 292
Genre: Historical Romance
KKECReads Rating: 4/5
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.

Lydia Drake is a reader of all things romance and a drinker of all things tea. A New Jersey resident, her favorite activities include taking the train to New York City, scouring used bookstores, spending time with her family, and wrangling her hyperactive cockapoo puppy.

“Don’t do it.”

I enjoyed how this story came together. The characters were well done, the representation was solid, and the imagery was lovely.

Susannah was such a brilliant leading lady. I loved how brave she was. How determined and how fearlessly she went after what she wanted.

Rafe was such a bold character. I enjoyed the opposites attract, grumpy, and sunshine trope was played. I also loved that the steamy scenes were just extra pizzazz for this storyline, but the relationships and following your passions were the actual plot.

This book flowed nicely, emotions were used realistically, and I enjoyed the feminist aspects. It was great seeing the support of freedom displayed throughout this book.

This new book by Lydia Drake was a super fun and sizzling story for me. Rafe Winters comes from a hard life and has made something of himself. He wants to bring the fancy world of London aristocrats to his establishment and create a bigger life. Susannah Fletcher has the wealth and the reputation but what she wants is to perform her music. Now the opportunity to be on the “Wolf of Mayfairs” stage creates excitement she can’t pass up. It will benefit them both. He promised to do everything he can to protect her reputation. Now he wants her in his arms and she can’t resist.
This was an exciting and different story for me. I love how it is strong characters from two separate classes that just can’t resist the draw to each other. Drake does an excellent job of details and keeping the reader on the edge of their seat with excitement. YOu are going to love this adventure. I sure did.

Susannah is beautiful, talented, educated, a diamond of the ton, a sweet-heart and loved by all amongst proper society. Expected to wed amongst the peerage, she has captured the eye of the most eligible bachelor of the ton, the handsome and charming Duke of Huntington. With their engagement all but published in the paper, what lady could want more? Susannah wants more, she does not want to marry the Duke, she has her own dreams. Susannah is a very talented and accomplished musician who dreams of playing on the most famous stages in Europe and England. She meets Rafe, the Wolf of Mayfair, a gaming hell owner who has clawed his way up from the filth ridden streets of east London to become a wealthy businessman. He only lacks one thing, respectability. Rafe sees his opportunity when to gain that respectability when he meets Susannah and offers her a deal that would benefit them both, giving Susannah the means to fulfill her dream. She accepts the offer and begins performing at the club under disguise, wearing a mask and a red cape, the Red Duchess performs nightly. As the mysterious Duchess gains in popularity amongst the patrons of the club, more and more of the peerage come to see her perform, including her would-be betrothed the Duke himself.
I enjoyed Rafe and Susannah's story, it was not your usual plot which kept the storyline fresh and interesting for me. I liked the characters, they were very personable, the writing was well developed and the pace moved along nicely. All in all a well written, entertaining read. I recommend and give 4 stars.
Thank you to Entangled Publishing and to Net Galley for the free ARC, I am leaving my honest review voluntarily.

The Duchess and the Wolf will take you on a wonderful winding adventure in to Rafe and Susannah’s love story. Two people that under ordinary circumstances would never cross paths but Susannah is spirited and determined to carve her own path. There’s hesitation and doubts that keep things interesting but Lydia Drake has written a love that is true and passionate. Loved how well written the storyline of this book was and how the author wrapped it up with a satisfying HEA.

I enjoyed how the story started out with humor and the characters sharing the history and background story. Rafe is my most favorable character, but is Annabelle that’s most kinky when wants to be. The different things that the couples in the book enhanced the expected entertainment from Rafe and Susannah. The romance is definitely a slow burn. The plot in between the romance is a simple story that ok for the book. I like that the writer up the age for the heroine that helped with the enjoyment of the romance scenes. I loved the humor among the characters as well as the flow the story and dialogue among the characters. I thought that these details helped the seem real to the reader. I give this book two snaps and a twist. Until next time my fellow readers. Read on! I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

The heroine doesn’t want marriage, especially an arranged one. She wants to showcase her talent on the piano. The hero needs respectability and wants the upper crust to come to his establishment so he makes a deal with the heroine for her to play in disguise at his place. As their relationship grows, she must decide what will give her the HEA she wants. It was an enjoyable read with a good pace in the storyline. I received an ARC for an honest review.

Wow, this is an amazing story of two people from different walks of life. Susannah Fletcher has what almost every young lady of the ton desires. Wealth, beauty and a very rich, handsome duke about to propose. So why is she so unhappy and wish everyone would just go away and leave her with her music. She doesn’t want to get married; she wants to travel see the world and perform on stage for others to enjoy. None of that is likely to happen. She has a very controlling mother who can’t wait for her to marry the duke and raise the families standing. Susannah likes the duke as a friend. Her best friend talks her into going to an event at Wolf’s Den, Mayfair's most elegant and Notorious club! While trying to find a quiet spot she runs across the most beautiful pianoforte! Then she meets the owner who is not happy about her playing it. Rafe Winters is the owner of the Den and knows all about what life can and can’t give a person. He grew up on the streets of London doing whatever it took just to eat. Then with the help of his friend and only family Jacks they dug themselves out of hell and into making more of life. Now he has everything money can buy except respectability. Listening to her play he came up with a plan that would help both of them get what they want. Neither thought about what fate had in mind for them. This is a fun, steamy story of two people finding their dreams but with many roadblocks in the way. I received an ARC from the author and wish to thank her. This is my honest opinion and am freely giving it.

I recieved a free copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Susannah is on the verge of being engaged to a duke but what she really wants is to travel on her own.

Rafe worked his way up to become the owner of a gaming hell and is now determined to open a hotel. But the current owner of the building demands that Rafe prove that he will live up to the history of the building.

Enter Susannah who agrees to play the pianoforte anonymously. Rafe gets his hotel and Susannah gets the money to travel.

I really did like Rafe and Susannah, but I did like Rafe more. The growing relationship was really great and I like that Susannah was the one who really fought for their relationship when Rafe felt he wasn't deserving of her.

4 stars

This is my first Lydia Drake book, but it won't be my last. I know I plan to read the first book, and the next.
This book had a unique plot. The hero Rafe Winters, born in a brothel, raised on the streets, is the titular wolf. He owns a gambling establishment called the Wolf's den. Susannah Fletcher visits one night at a masked ball, ends up playing the piano, he hears her, and a bargain is struck. If she plays for a month, he will pay her 5,000 pounds. They each have their motives.
I enjoy reading books with characters from different classes. The next in the series is the Governess and the Duke, also different classes.
I received an EARC from Netgalley and the publisher for an honest review.

I was given an arc for my honest review.
Susannah Fletcher has everything a girl of London's illustrious Ton could ever want. She is being courted by the handsome Duke of Huntington , a kind and honest man. She would give anything to love him, and make her family happy. However, All she wants to do is travel the world. She is dragged by her best friend Lady Annabelle Henry to The Hunter's Ball at London's illustrious Wolf's Den.
Rafe Winters has dreamed of being accepted into London's High Society. In order to achieve his dream, he must please the snobby, Lord Sackville-Chambers in order to get him to sell Rafe , his ancestral family home, The Corner Castle to build a grand hotel across the street from his gentleman's club , The Wolf's Den Together, Susannah Fletcher and Rafe Winters will help each other in ways they both never imagined.
This is a quick read. (Under 300 pages) The characters are either amazing or depraved. This book was hilarious, but still upheld the heart of Regency romances. The Duke of Huntington was too nice. I understand it's a romance novel, and everything is supposed to work out. The Duke of Huntington could have had a bit of a dark side to him. Then I feel like it would have been more even. Susannah's circle with the exception of her mother Lady Beaymont are the best group of people. The pacing was good, I was never bored The spice was good A solid 3/5.

Overall,
This book was fantastic. Fans of Bridgeton should run to buy this book They will not regret it. The only reason it's not a full 5 is because I wish it were longer..

Lydia Drake has written a superb story in The Duchess and the Wolf. I was extremely fortunate to receive an ARC of it via Netgalley. Susannah Fletcher is on the verge of being proposed to by a Duke. She, however, wishes to travel and see the world. She works out a deal with Rafe Winters, owner of a gaming den that she will try to lure customers in via her outstanding piano performance but in disguise in return for five thousand pounds. She plans to use the money to run away from home and escape the forced marriage. Events turn out way more complicated than expected and she ends up falling in love with Rafe, not knowing if he is as infatuated as she. Nice read with interesting characters.

Rating: 2.5 stars

I want to start off by saying that I LOVED Lydia Drake's first book. I was really looking forward to reading this one. However, by the time I got around to reading it, I was not in the mood to read historical romance. But since it was releasing, I pushed through. I am honestly a little disappointed that I did because I might have liked it more if I would have waited. However, I think this book had one fault that kind of prevented me from loving it. It felt like SO MANY scenes were cut from the book. It just felt like so much was taken out and then what was left was the shell of a romance. I didn't get that connection with the characters that I needed. I wanted to see the small little interactions that built up between them to show how they fell in love, and that was missing from this book. I'm not sure if that is because the publisher decided that it needed to be shorter so it was edited our, or what, but it just felt like a lot of scenes were missing and I wanted to see them. Saying this, I am still so excited for her next book and already have it preordered.

A fun and well written historical romance with likable characters and an intriguing plot. I really enjoyed the “forbidden romance” aspect of this story and the way it unfolded on the page. There is something so satisfying about characters defying the expectations placed on them by society. There wasn’t a lot of depth or complexity to the story but it was enjoyable with a satisfying happily ever after.

The Duchess and the Wolf by Lydia Drake is book 1 of the Debutantes of London Series.
It's my first Lydia Drake book and won't be my last!

Susannah Fletcher has it all - wealth, the attention of the Duke of Huntington and a brilliant reputation.
But... nothing's as important as her music... and when the mysterious "Wolf of Mayfair" has a special offer of her... she's not sure if she could refuse it...

Awwwww!
Right from the beginning of The Duchess and the Wolf I was HOOKED!
I loved the storyline and the writing style of Lydia Drake! I guess I found a new historical romance I can add to my favourite list! 😍
For Susannah music is such an important part in her life... more important than it should be - if you'd ask her mother.
So when Rafe Winters, also known as the Wolf of Mayfair, has this special offer... it's really a temptation for her she can't refuse...
But how could it work? Well behaved young lady by day and mysterious musician in a club by night?!
Awwww! I loved it! And don't be afraid! I won't spoil you because you should experience the whole story for yourself!
It's a wonderful love story I really enjoyed. (Yes, I know I said it before, but I can't say it often enough!)
Susannah is a great, strong willed woman and a great choice as a main character!
And OMG! RAFE! Holy... he's... he's... PERFECT! He seems like a moddy, dubious and mysterious business man... but he's SO MUCH MORE!!! ❤️ He definitely stole my heart!
What a match they are! I loved their banter! Their chemistry and just EVERYTHING!

The Duchess and the Wolf is a brilliant historical love story full of this special kind of attraction, banter and sexy times.

Thanks a lot to Lydia Drake and Entangled Publishing for this ARC via NetGalley.
This is my honest review in my own words.

Oh Susannah, an heiress on track to get engaged to a Duke. But that is not the life that she wants, and soon she is playing piano in the Wolf’s Den, a gentleman’s club run by Rafe Winters. Lydia Drake writes delightful adventures and I really enjoyed this one, can’t wait to read the next in the series!

A steamy bridgerton era retelling of little red riding hood. There were several smutty scenes. I liked that the Mc went against social norms of the times. I suggest this book to historical romance readers.