Review: A Duke in Need of a Wife by Annie Burrows

I love reading historical romances, they are perfect escapism, and I always find myself turning to Annie Burrows when I'm in need of a comfort read - in this case I was in bed with the flu! 

Sofia is an unlikely heiress and has had an unconventional upbringing. She spent the first ten years of her life with her father, a serving soldier (and the second son of an Earl), who had sole responsibility for her after her mother (the daughter of a Portuguese wine merchant) died. When Sofia goes to live with her aunt and uncle after her father's death, they are horrified at the way she has been brought up and work hard to turn her into a proper lady.  

It is sad the way Sofia tries so hard to fit in with the stuffy English, only to keep being rejected. She even hears the man she loves admit he only wants her for her money. So when the Duke of Theakstone invites her to a bride-finding house party, she knows he's never going to want to marry her, no matter how desperate he is to find a wife, because she feels she's just not good enough and never will be.

A Duke in Need of a Wife is a sweet story that's a lot of fun. The antics of the back-stabbing would-be brides are hilarious and I loved the scene where poor Sofia ends up in the lake. Much of the humour comes from Sofia's thoughts and what she really thinks about these awful people. I don't know how she manages to keep quiet! And I adored Snowball the dog.

Recommended to fans of light-hearted historical romances and authors such as Georgette Heyer. This was a five-star read for me.


Related Posts:

The Marquess Tames His Bride (Brides for Bachelors #2) by Annie Burrows
The Major Meets His Match (Brides for Bachelors #1) by Annie Burrows
The Debutante's Daring Proposal by Annie Burrows
Once Upon a Regency Christmas (anthology) by Louise Allen, Sophia James and Annie Burrows

Review: The Marquess Tames His Bride (Brides for Bachelors #2) by Annie Burrows

I'm a huge fan of Annie Burrows's Regency romances and I've read all of them. The Marquess Tames His Bride is the second in the Brides for Bachelors series, but it can be read as a standalone. It doesn't end on a cliffhanger, romance-wise,  but there is a mystery that threads through each story which I am assuming won't be resolved until the last book.

The Marquess of Rawcliffe and Clare Cottam (a Vicar's daughter) were childhood friends but have grown apart after Rawcliffe proposed and Clare took it as a joke and turned him down. Now each thinks the other is completely uncaring, although they are still attracted to each other. After several years they meet again. I won't spoil the surprise for you, but after an extremely original proposal scene Clare finds herself accidentally engaged to him. Does she really want to go ahead with marriage to the Marquess, or is he not quite the cold-hearted man he seems?

The proposal scene was definitely my favourite part of the story but I also liked the characters, particularly the strong-willed Clare when she is stands up to Rawcliffe during his alpha male moments. Can she break through the shield he has formed around his heart to stop himself from being hurt? The Marquess may feel he is turning his untamed childhood sweetheart into suitable marchioness material, but it does sometimes seem as though it's the other way around - and that's why I really enjoyed this story!

Review: The Major Meets His Match (Brides for Bachelors #1) by Annie Burrows

Major Jack Hesketh meets Lady Harriet Inskip when she stops his horse from bolting. He thanks her by drunkenly falling on top of her and kissing her, assuming she's a light-skirt. By the time he's sobered up and realised his mistake, she's decided he's an idiot - unfortunate, because over the next few days he realises he really likes her! How can he get her to change her mind?

I've read nearly all Annie Burrows's historical romances and I think this is my favourite. I loved the good-humoured banter between hero and heroine - I always enjoy books where the main characters actually like each other! The story doesn't go in quite the way you expect either, another plus. Harriet is staying with her aunt and beautiful cousin but, instead of a Cinderella story where our heroine is treated appallingly, her relatives are really kind. Her aunt introduces Harriet to Society and even buys her new gowns. Unfortunately, Harriet has terrible taste in clothes - another funny twist.

There is a mystery running through the story, about stolen jewellery, carrying on into the next book in the series, The Marquess Tames His Bride. We're also given a fascinating glimpse into the sad/tragic lives of Jack's friends, who will feature as heroes in the remainder of the series.

If you like sweet, funny, warm-hearted, historical romances, then this is the book for you. Recommended!

Review: The Debutante's Daring Proposal by Annie Burrows

I've had a bit of a rough week and was in the mood for some pure escapism, so when this popped up on my Kindle I was delighted. 

The Debutante's Daring Proposal is a historical romance set in Regency England. The story is about two childhood friends, Edmund and Georgiana, who are now grown up. Edmund is the Earl of Ashenden and Georgiana is about to be launched on Society. They grew apart after Edmund was sent away (for his health) to the Scilly Isles, but now he's returned and Georgiana wants to ask a favour. If he would agree to marry her, she could stay in the village she loves and wouldn't have to marry a stranger.

Edmund's first inclination is to say 'no'. He feels he no longer has anything in common with this brittle society miss, but then he has a change of heart. Perhaps he could act as match-maker and find Georgiana a husband? Right ... What possible flaw could there be in that plan?

As with all Annie Burrows's books, I loved the humour, much of which is derived from the witty dialogue and misunderstandings between the two main characters. I particularly loved Georgiana who, despite the best efforts of her step-mother, is still a tomboy at heart - when we first meet her she is up to her ankles in mud. Edmund's friends, who give him lots of 'helpful' advice are also entertaining.

The Debutante's Daring Proposal is a sweet, romantic story, with no sex scenes until the very end, and I'm sure anyone who loves historical romance will adore it. 


Note: The story is #3 in a series called Regency Bachelors. #1 was Lord Havelock's List and #2 was a novella called Governess to Christmas Bride, but you don't have to have read them to enjoy this story.

Review: Once Upon a Regency Christmas by Louise Allen, Sophia James and Annie Burrows

Once Upon a Regency Christmas is a lovely Christmassy book containing three novella-length, Christmas-themed, Regency romances by Louise Allen, Sophia James and Annie Burrows. I am a huge fan of both Louise Allen and Annie Burrows, and have read all their books, but Sophia James is new to me. The theme running through all three stories is that the heroes might not be quite who they seem to be.

On a Winter's Eve by Louise Allen

Lady Julia Charlcott is newly arrived in England from India. Her much older husband has died but her plans to re-enter English society is thwarted when she overhears her sister-in-law bargaining with a gentleman over what he would pay if Julia were to wed him. Furious, Julia walks out, intending to have a traditional Christmas at her late husband's home in the country. Unfortunately she heads straight into a snowstorm, where she meets Captain Giles Markham trudging through the snow with a live turkey...

Marriage Made at Christmas by Sophia James

Christine Howard's heart has been frozen since the death of her fiance but when her life is saved by a mysterious American, she can feel herself begin to thaw. Hired as her bodyguard, it is soon clear William Miller would risk everything to protect her - but what if Christine is not the target?

Cinderella's Perfect Christmas by Annie Burrows

When Alice Waverley catches a cold, she realises it is the perfect excuse to spend Christmas home alone, doing exactly as she pleases, while her horrible relatives head off to a country house party. Unfortunately they've only been gone a few hours when Captain Jack Grayling and his two young children arrive at the house seeking shelter from the snow. 

I loved On a Winter's Eve and Cinderella's Perfect Christmas because they were both very traditional, Christmassy stories - just the thing to read to get into the Christmas spirit. The characters decorated the house, created presents from very little, were snowed in and built snowmen. I loved the tale of the escaped turkey from On a Winter's Eve and the wry, wicked humour of Cinderella's Christmas. Marriage Made at Christmas was not quite so festive as the other two stories, but I did enjoy the very different story of the scarred bodyguard searching for his own happy ever after.

Definitely recommended!


(I received my copy of Once Upon a Regency Christmas directly from one of the authors)