A loose retelling of Little Red Riding Hood brings together the darling of the ton and a self-made man.

The premise of this book caught my eye and I stayed for the interesting characters and the steady, well-flowing plot. I liked Susannah and Rafe for their drive and ambition. But as a couple, while I’m happy they found a way to be together, I didn’t really look forward to their interactions with anticipation.

I found the story just fine until the moment when Susannah told the Duke of Huntington the truth. And then that man showed that he was absolutely the best man in this entire story. I sincerely hope he gets a fabulous happy-ever-after. So, this moment and the marriage proposal made this story for me.

My favourite character has to be the Duke of Ashworth. He provided most of the lighter moments in the book. I’m definitely going back to read his story.

I can recommend this if you like steamy historical romance. Although this book is part of a series, it stands well on its own.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This beautifully written love story follows a young man who is clawing his way up from the streets to his ultimate goal - to be recognized as an equal, or even better than, in high society by the ton. She is a duchess whose life decisions have been set for her by her society climbing mother. She meets the wolf during an event at the Den, a gentleman’s club. Susannah makes plans to get out of her soon to be proposal to the Duke and her plans include a deal with the Wolf, Rafe. Their plans to change their current life situations and desires intertwine and creates desires neither one think they deserve or should act upon.
Drake’s creates characters who the readers come to love and root for. From the witty banter between Rafe and Susannah to the bold and flirty interactions of Susannah’s best friend and her husband, Drake creates a page turner love story.
The pacing of the story is just right. It flows and wants you to keep forget everything else and keep reading.

It did take me a little while to get into this book, I think mainly because Susannah was so accepting of her mother’s wishes. However, when Susannah decided to lead her own life, it became more interesting. Susannah was a skilled musician and composer and wanted to travel. Her mother wanted her to marry a duke! I did like the character of Rafe Winters, a self made man, who didn’t forget where he came from. Although, he had a gruff exterior, underneath he had a kind heart and wanted to help others less well off than himself. Susannah’s mother was certainly a piece of work but luckily she had good friends and family. This had plenty of passionate moments, some heartfelt and dangerous events but a happy ending. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I have to admit the cover got me straight away it looks so lush and romantic I had to read this book.

I enjoyed this book quite a bit! I loved the previous book from Lydia Drake so I went in super excited. I can’t wait to read more from her.

ARC kindly provided by NetGalley and Entangled though all thoughts and swoons are my own.

This little red riding retelling was sweet and sexy and I absolutely loved this couple. Susannah wants to be free to practice her art and finds herself embroiled in a business proposition with the broody, dark Wolf of Mayfair named Rafe (seriously all characters named Rafe are my favorite, I need to make a list!). They bicker, they challenge each other, but they have an intense pull and longing to3arda each other. the latter half of this book was my favorite, and I really hope the next one involves the Duke of Huntington and, well lets not give that away.

A fun historical romance retelling from a bright new author that I will for absolutely continue reading from!

What an absolutely awesome read! Loved the characters and the mystique of the Red Duchess. Risk and intrigue follow Susannah Fletcher as she tries to escape what her mother wants for her. Anyone would want to marry a Duke, except for Susannah. Loved how the story flowed and truly hope this isn't the last time Rafe and Susannah are heard from. The references between the Red Duchess and the wolf (Little Red Riding Hood) was a great fairy tale theme!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This review is based on an ARC from NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher.

Could A Forbidden Love Conquer All?

Susannah didn’t want to marry, she wanted her freedom, the freedom to travel the world and play the piano.

When Rafe the Wolf of Mayfair offered her a chance to play, she agreed as long as she could be in disguise.
Rafe wanted Susannah with a passion he tried to deny, he felt he wasn’t good enough for her, she had a Duke interested in her. Being together would cause a scandal.

Lots of fun moments within the storyline which keeps you engrossed. You can feel the passion and connection they have for each other, forbidden love waiting to explode. Suzannah’s passion for the pinafore and wanting to travel the world was her ultimate goal until Rafe became the passion and person she couldn’t resist or live without.

Such a tender, intense page-turning read, full of emotion, I just couldn’t put it down topped off with a wonderful HEA which will make you feel warm inside. Perfect!

I voluntarily read and reviewed this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Red Duchess and the Wolf...

Susannah, at 21, has a long way to claim her massive inheritance at 35. She's the prim and proper lady who longs to play the piano on stage to an audience (why is beyond me) as she is a virtuoso at the piano. Her other option is to get married and she is being courted by a wonderful, lovely duke. Instead, she takes a deal offered by a wolf.

Rafe Winters owns a den of iniquity and wants to expand his holds to the building across the street, but the owner want him to class himself up in order to sell. Hence, his offer to Susannah to play her piano for the paying masses as the Red Duchess.

Rafe is low born and is striving for acceptance but he also wants Susannah. They have a lot in common. Music, art, both want what they are lacking. I really liked Rafe he had a great character arc.
Recommend.
4.5

A struggle with being proper in society and hiding to follow a passion (music and then a man). It was interesting watching Susannah trying to decide if she wanted to please her family and pursue the Duke of Huntington or take on playing her music at a nightclub run by a dark and handsome wolf.

I really liked Rafe's character since he comes off all dark and harsh, but really is more honorable than anyone else. He has had a rough life and had to earn it, but takes care of those around him. I liked that he really took to Susannah and admired her wanting to earn her freedom.

I really enjoyed the sneaking around type of romance between Rafe and Susannah. The only part that bothered me was the "Red Duchess" stage name. I understood that Susannah was almost engaged to a Duke, but that really wasn't the case quite yet. I would have maybe liked a different name that played off of the wolf/little red riding hood theme.

Always nice to see the heroine bucking the trends in society and her romantic partner applauding her for it. This book leads into the next nicely, but I bet that one won't be as dark and dangerous.

Thank you to Entangled Publishing and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this ARC for my honest review.

“What a big heart I have.
The better to love you with Little Red Riding Hood.
Even bad wolves can be good.”

A retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. This fairy talk romance was wildly entertaining, steamy and just the right fit for a binge read this weekend. LOVED IT

Thank you Entangled Publishing for the complimentary copy.

Content Warnings: Sexual content, violence, sexism, classism, sexual harassment, and toxic relationships.
Mention of: loss of parent, abuse, and poverty.

***I received an ARC, ahead of release, through Netgalley***

Ahh! I loved this more than I loved Cinderella and the Duke! I do hope the next book is a the love story for a certain governess and Duke 🤭

We love seeing a woman find her independence and a man realizing it's okay to let your guard down and accept help.

I'm running on very little sleep so hopefully I'll have more to add once I've gotten some decent sleep 😅

I loved it! I have read the first book and I really enjoyed that one. But this one is so far my favourite from the series. What I really like is that the male character here is not nobility. Rafe is a notorious owner of a gentlemen's club. And Susannah is coming from a respectable family where she is expected to marry a Duke.

This story ticks all of my boxes. Scandal, forbidden love and freedom.

Susannah is waiting for a proposal from the Duke. But she knows that it is not what she wants. She knows that girls like her would kill for a man like the Duke. But not Susannah. She dreams of travelling around the world and seeing different cultures. But her mother made it clear... if you don't marry the Duke, you will be an outcast.

When she meets Rafe Winters, she finds her golden ticket. Rafe needs someone to help him to make his club more respectable for another business arrangement. So when Susannah makes a deal with the Devil, she is scared and excited at the same time. Rafe will pay her money so she can leave England and travel the world.

They didn't know it then. But these two fall head over heels for each other. Rafe challenges Susannah by being brave and playing piano for a huge audience while being in disguise. Nobody knows who she is. And Rafe never met a woman of nobility who is that brave and strong.

But they both know that their love will be seen as a scandal in society. So they will have to make bold decisions.

The ending was so lovely. And I really can't wait for the Duke's story 😲. He really deserves love cause boy oh boy what a good man he is.

Can't wait!

I enjoyed this a lot, and liked it just a smidge more than the first tin the series and cannot wait for the final one

3.5 Stars
Susannah Fletcher has everything a young lady could desire: wealth, the attentions of well-to-do duke. 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. Born on the streets of London, Rafe Winters knows only ruthless ambition. But he’s missing one thing: respectability. It’s within reach…if he can draw the polished aristocrats to his establishment with a classically trained musician, and just a soupçon of mystery—like the flame-haired Susannah. Now Susannah performs in a red cloak as the enigmatic “Red Duchess,” and all of London is entranced—along with Rafe.
A reworking of a fairy tale & class differences. I enjoyed the book but didn’t love it, I liked Rafe & Susannah but didn’t love them. I read the book over a few days as it didn’t grab me but I still wanted to finish it. The chemistry between them didn’t sizzle & it felt a bit forced, it could have been so good but fell a bit short for me
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Lydia Drake is quickly becoming one of my favorite HR authors. This is only my second book by her but I have loved every second of her books.
I’m such a sucker for a “retelling” and I was so happy when I realized this was a Red Riding Hood retelling! I loved that Suzanna was the Red Duchess and Rafe owned The Wolf’s Den and he’s a self-made man 🤤Perfection!
I also loved that while this will be a different series, we got some of our favorite characters and not so favorite characters (Susannah’s mother) from the first book! There was so much drama in this and I felt like I was a fly on the wall watching it unfold!
Now I have to wait until December for the next book😢

I had so much fun with this one. Great plot, interesting well thought out characters. I absolutely cant wait to read more from this author in the future. Thank you to net galley and the publisher for the pleasure of reading this book!

I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is a pretty good read. I don’t know if I love the characters but it was still a good read.

Second book in for Lydia and I loved it as much as the first book. This story checked off all of my boxes. A gaming hell hero from the wrong side of the tracks who makes good, a heroine who looks past his background but loves him anyway, and and lots of banter. Lydia knows how to write engaging stories with characters who are interesting. I even boohoo-ed a bit. I couldn’t read this story fast enough. I loved every single minute of it and I could go on and on.

This book started off well, but about 2/3 of the way through, I was skimming quite a bit just to get to the end. While the premise of the book was interesting with the persona of The Red Duchess, I thought it dragged on way too much. I did enjoy the secondary characters, but Susannah's mother was way over the top.

Not my favorite Ms. Drake book.

A very entertaining romance, I enjoyed the fairytale elements, the plot and interesting characters. Susannah and Rafe have chemistry and sizzling attraction in spades, great interaction and banter. I can see myself reading more in this wonderful new romance series.