Proper young noblewoman Susannah yearns to showcase her musical talent. Self-made Rafe seeks respectability but needs Susannah's classical skills. If she performs on his stage as the enigmatic Red Duchess to attract aristocrats, he'll pay her enough to lead an independent life. He vows to shield her reputation—yet hopes she'll fall into his embrace. As the Red Duchess captivates London, danger looms if her secret comes out.

I enjoyed the character development and the strong plot in this book. Susannah and Rafe have scintillating chemistry and support each other's dreams. There are twists in the story I didn't see coming. Overall, it's an entertaining and heartwarming novel.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I loved the main characters, Susannah and Rafe! i enjoyed their relationship, romance and steamy moments.
The story has so much going on, it was hard to stop reading it.
Thanks to Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for the advance reader copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
@shortbookthyme

Most people would switch places with Susannah Fletcher in an instant. She has beauty, wealth, and an admirable duke ready to propose, but being a duchess in Northumberland is not the life that she wants. A brilliant pianist and composer, Susannah would like to travel, play her music, and meet people from all walks of life. Separated from her friend, her face masked and lost in the Wolf's Den nightclub, she decides to play the pianoforte. The owner of the nightclub, Rafe Winters proposes that he will pay Susannah $5000 to play for a month to raise the class of his nightclub. For Susannah, the $5000 would give her the freedom to live an independent life. I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher through Netgalley. This is my honest and voluntarily given review. The always witty repartee between the main characters keeps me reading Lydia Drake's books. This is a fun read as Susannah matches wits with Rafe. I love how Rafe sees who she is through her music. She recognizes that he is more of a gentleman than much of society. I also like that Susannah grew to realize that her choices might affect her relationships with family and her place in society.

A slightly rushed, but overall very fun, sweet, age-gap, enemies-to-lovers, grumpy vs. sunshine historical romance. It was a nice change of pace to read about a rags-to-riches male protagonist who retained some of his street slang!
The side characters were interesting enough to make me want to read the first book in the series (this was, I believe, 1.5?) and the next couple were set up beautifully. A super-quick, enjoyable read.

This is a well-written, entertaining, steamy historical romance novel. It has a likable, engaging female protagonist, a hard working, ambitious, male protagonist, wit, humor, family and relationship drama, sizzling chemistry, a fairy tale romance, music, the perfect present, and a happily ever after ending. Characters from the first entry in this series, "Cinderella and the Duke", make an appearance, but this novel can be read as a stand alone. Many thanks to Entangled Publishing, LLC, Ms. Lydia Drake, and NetGalley, who kindly provided me with an ARC of this wonderful novel. This is my honest opinion.

I was drawn in by the cover art and the title. I mistakenly thought it was a shifter book, which it is not. However, I thoroughly enjoyed the story. Susannah is a complex character, trying to please her mother, family and society while also trying to figure out what it is she wants out of life. Who hasn't been there? Enter Rafe, handsome, mysterious, and brooding. He feels as though he knows his place in the world and yet dares to dream for more. They enter a business deal that takes her on an adventure of self discovery and leads him down of a path he swore he'd never take. I thought there was a lot of character growth for both. It was thrilling, scandalous, steamy, humorous, and thought provoking. I have already been telling people to read this book! Excited to read more from this author.

💙💜 The Duchess and the Wolf ARC Review 💜💙

Thank you so much to Lydia Drake and Entangled Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book!

The Duchess and the Wolf is a standalone contemporary historical romance. In the gossip-filled society of the Ton, Susannah feels trapped. It’s expected that she will marry a Duke and lead a household, but all she wants to do is travel and play music. When she unexpectedly meets Rafe, the owner of a local tavern, he gives her an opportunity she can’t ignore. In exchange for playing at his club for a month, he will pay her enough money to run away from the life she hates…but will she be able to leave him behind??

This was such a fun read! I really enjoyed Susannah as a character and loved her in this story. I’m a sucker for a broody, moody man - and Rafe fits that perfectly. I really enjoyed their relationship and how they both grew together throughout the story. The only struggle I had was that it felt a little insta-love rushed as the story took place over the course of a few weeks.

This book was vibrantly written and I loved the way London in the 1800s was portrayed! It was refreshing to find a historical romance with characters who didn’t have goals related to getting married and having babies.

Overall this was a solid 4 star read for me! I really enjoyed the characters and the story - and would absolutely read more books by this author. This book did have some spicy scenes throughout, so overall three flames for spice!

If you’re a fan of historical romance with broody men, strong women, opposites attract and social class differences, then absolutely pick this one up!

Please note: review will be posted on Amazon upon publication

Historical romance with instant love, opposites attract. Susannah want to be a musician. Rafe wants a new property to increase his empire. The two agree to a plan where she plays in his club to attract the upper classes. They fall in love, he pushes her away, they finally succumb to their desire, he pushes her away again. Hen when disaster strikes, she sacrifices her dreams for his.

The cover is stunning and is what got me interested in this book in the first place. While it wasn’t my favorite historical I’ve read this month, I can still say I enjoyed most of it. 3.5 stars

It wasn't my cup of tea. Sometimes it's cool when an author uses a fairy tale basis for the plot, but other times it doesn't gel. This book falls in the latter...it just didn't work for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for this ARC, which I voluntarily reviewed.

This is a smashing good book. Susannah is a young lady bursting to get out of the mold that society has placed her in. Rafe has lived a hardscrabble life to rise up and make something of himself. Their meeting ignites a fire that set them on a path of discovery. It is an entertaining plot with wonderful characters. Readers will enjoy turning the pages and getting caught up in the drama of Susannah and Rafe’s life as they try to figure everything out. There will be surprises and laughter as they make their way to happiness.

I received this book as an ARC. The storyline was great, however, I felt as though it had been done before and it was little lengthy while at the same time being predictable. I enjoyed the read, it just took me longer to finish than it would normally take to read a book. This is a "new to me author", I'm looking forward to reading more of her work.

This was a very sweet and safe read. The drama and intrigue were lacking, and the storyline was predictable. However, there were some positives.

This book makes you feel giddy as you go through the emotions of Susanna. From her first kiss, where her mind swims in the hazey after effect, to her first love, where she questions each feeling good and bad, has confusing thoughts and learns more about herself in the process.

About the book:
Susanna and Rafe grew up on either side of the social spectrum.  Susanna is to be married to a Duke and is one of the most celebrated, unmarried woman in England. However, Susanna dreams of more than marriage and social standing. She wants love, exploration, and art. She wants freedom.

On the other end, Rafe was of a lower class upbringing and rose to his social status through business practices. One is a gentlemens club. The very same space where the 2 would strike up a business relationship and where Rafe would find his most precious and invaluable work of art.

The 2 find themselves more alike than they thought possible. They both want something more than what life has handed to them, and they are willing to work for it. They both lived in luxury yet were alone and misunderstood. Rafe felt less alone than he'd ever been when Savannah was around

In Rafe, Susanna finds someone who understands her. When he heard her play one of her own compositions on the piano, it awoke a feeling he had long lost.

Savannah realises that the price of her freedom was worth whatever the cost.  As Rafe states, "You never get what you truly wamt in this life by playing it safe."

Do they get the love and freedom they both crave so much, or does society  and circumstance dictate what life must be

I enjoyed reading the book. I liked the premise of the story, and it was written well. However, it seems that there might be something missing, and I needed more from the book.

I loved the characters individually. It looks like Susannah and Rafe as The Red Duchess and The Wolf were loosely based on Red Riding Hood. Both are determined to achieve their dreams and live the life they want. However, as a couple, I'm not entirely sure how to feel about them. I look at them and see that they could be a lovely couple and complement each other, but at the same time, I can't quite see them as a couple. I attribute this confusion of mine to the lack of relationship build-up. It was instant lust for both of them. Additionally, there's this thing where it seemed that Rafe got everything he ever dreamed of, but Susannah wasn't even able to travel. Don't get me wrong, I think the ending was sweet and cute, but those last few paragraphs could have taken place in another country.

Overall, I still recommend this to those who enjoy reading historical romance.

Thank you Entangled Publishing and Netgalley for the digital arc in exchange for an honest review. Everything in this review has been written willing fully

Since I read a proof copy of the book any grammatical errors did not impact the rating.

This is a delightful historical romance. Susannah Fletcher, a talented musician, wants more from life than just marrying a duke and living a predictable existence. When she crosses paths with the enigmatic Rafe Winters, also known as the "Wolf of Mayfair," their unconventional partnership offers a chance at adventure and love. I was pleasantly surprised by Susannah's strong-willed character, and her determination to break free from societal expectations. Rafe's inner struggles and hidden kindness added depth to the story. While there were some steamy moments, they didn't overshadow the plot. The book's pacing was spot-on, making it hard to put down. This isn't your typical historical romance; it's a refreshing take on class differences and following one's heart. If you're looking for a well-developed love story with memorable characters.

Freedom and Fire:
This fascinating story is filled with every emotion you want in a really good sizzling romance story.
The characters from two different worlds were especially interesting and the fire between Susannah and Rafe kept my interest from beginning to the very exciting and traumatic ending that thrilled my heart. 
The secondary characters Henry and Annabelle were just too funny and brought an extra bit of excitement and fun to the story.
I truly enjoyed this wonderful story of finding the right one to fall in love with.
Mature Advisory:

This is a beautiful book! Susannah is the perfect girl; she’s beautiful, smart, well accomplished, educated, everything a gentleman of the ton would want. That is why the duke of Huntington, considered to be the most eligible bachelor any girl could want, has his eyes on her as his prospective future wife. And of course everybody assumes that is what she wants as well, because the duke is perfect on paper: handsome, young, rich, nice and a duke. He’s also a dear friend to Susannah but she doesn’t love him and doesn’t want her days filled as his wife, living a secluded life in his castle at the remote countryside. She wants to play the piano, perform for an audience and live her live on her own terms. When she meets Rafe, the Wolf of Mayfair, and plays the piano at his club, he offers her a job in order to give his establishment more posh for the wealthier visitors of the ton, which would raise his standing with the lord whose corner house he wants to buy. Susannah agrees because the small fortune Rafe offers her gives her the opportunity to leave everything behind and travel the world, something she desperately wants. But the moment she plays the piano, Rafe and Susannah connect on an emotional level that surprises them both.
<i> Rafe looked as if he’d heard Susannah herself speaking through the music. Susannah hadn’t guessed how astonishing it could feel to be recognized by somebody else. Especially not someone for whom she felt such overpowering hunger.</i>
Soon enough they can’t let go of each other and must overcome their own fears but also find a way through the difficult demands and limitations of society and the people around them. The struggles are real and very well laid out. Rafe struggles with the differences in social standing, and Susannah struggles with what is expected of her; this suffocating straitjacket forced upon her by society.
I liked that Susannah didn’t shy away from confronting Rafe when he puts up these emotional walls to guard his heart. Rafe quickly recognizes her uniqueness, her inner beauty and strength, but feels he could never be good enough for her so he snarls to scare her away, but Susannah isn’t impressed. I like that she just talked to him and was not cowed by his attitude or snarls. She didn’t let him get away with being rude but instead confronted him or tears these walls down by just being herself, which is unique to Rafe. She sees behind the ‘mask’ that he is a kind and good man and is wildly attracted by that. And the fact that she sees and values Rafe for the man he is on the inside, touches well buried emotions and desires in his heart. It was a beautiful story and although there was more sex in the book than was necessary, the story and characters were well developed and realistic. The ending was not cheesy but played out very well. The had a great pace, I couldn’t put the book down and finished it in a single day. I can honestly recommend this book!
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

"𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒈𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝑰 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒔𝒔. "𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇."

Read this if you like :
🤍 Regency romance
🤍 Enemies to lovers
🤍 Good girl bad boy
🤍 Business partners

Oh wow I have zero expectation when I pick this book. It really was a good one! I’m growing to enjoy historical fiction especially during regency era and I’m glad this book didn’t disappoint.

Susannah is expected to be marry Duke of Huntington but she don’t have any feelings towards him. She wants freedom, travel across continents and not just living in her home and following her mother’s orders. She met Rafe, owner of The Wolf’s Den, and offering her a proposition. While working together, they found theirselves wanting more than just business partners.

I absolutely adore Susannah. Somehow I saw myself in her character. She’s a girl who dream big, knows what she want, and despite she doesn’t want to marry the Duke, she still respect her mother. She also a daring one, willing to leave all the money to be with the man she love, Rafe. When I first met Rafe, he gives me Kaz Brekker vibes 😂 He lives with his dark pasts, and refuse anyone’s help. But he can’t deny how Susannah manage to enter his life and heart. Their chemistry is top notch and don’t let me start with the spicy scene 🔥

If you enjoy all tropes listed above, give this one a go!

4.5 / 5 ⭐️

Not my cup of tea. The writing isn’t bad, but I couldn’t get into the story. I just didn’t care for the story or the characters.

The Duchess and The Wolf by Lydia Drake is a great book to stay indoors with out of the heat and spend a few hours reading. She has given us romance, intrigue, humor, and electricity. This is the story of a love triangle, of a sorts. It is the story of Sussanah Fletcher, a debutante who has caught the eye of the Duke of Huntington, but she yearns to travel and play her music. When Rafe Winters, owner of The Wolf's Den, asks her to play the piano in his establishment, she strikes a dangerous bargain. Who knew leading a double life could be so tiresome and so exciting? The humor and passion of the story will have you turning pages way past bedtiime.

I would like to thank Entangled publishing for the advanced reader copy, it in now way influenced my opinion of the book.