I can't believe that this was my first Annie Burrows book, I feel as though I have been missing out on something. I am definitely going to be reading more from this wonderful author from now on.
This is a charming and heartfelt romance, it's a classical Regency romance full of sparkling lords and ladies who are hiding inner turmoil. I loved how each scene is so richly detailed, you feel as though you are standing right there beside the gorgeous couple (a bit like a gooseberry at times, lol!!) The characters are so intricately developed, they are realistic and likeable and add meat to the bone. I did think that certain parts were a little slow in pacing, and would have liked a little bit more humour to break the ice, but other than that it's a solid and enjoyable story of two people who are just meant to be together.
Overall, a glittery and emotional romance full of real heart and plenty of love!

A very enjoyable Regency novel, sweetly written and amusing. Annie Burrows is the master of these very entertaining stories. Charming!

I really enjoyed this book as it was quite sweet and romantic and a simple plot. It followed beautifully from an initial dramatic meeting to an unconventional courtship to a Bachelorette style house party.
I loved that Sophia seemed to have a formal good girl character and a hidden feisty side which only came out around Oliver. They both had unusual but kind of similar childhoods but although it explained their characters to us, this isn’t known to each other until the end of the book so isn’t a major factor in their relationship.
The secondary characters in the book also develop through out the book but without becoming a distraction to the main story.
Beautifully written book and so thoroughly absorbing.

I do love these historical, well written and enjoyable romantic stories. The sense of proprietary, so adhered to, and the subtle put downs, in the best possible taste, are really amusing and entertaining, this all rolled into a story of do's and don'ts in the coarse of true love is ahhh lovely.

I really enjoyed this Regency Romp. The characters were rounded and believable and the ending a little unexpected. I tried, desperately to put it down to go to sleep but had to keep reading just another page.. It was light and funny. I laughed aloud a few times at the sheer enjoyment of the house party. Even the bumbling aunt and uncle showed a different side towards the end
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it.

Sofia is a lonely orphan girl who was raised by her aunt and uncle after the death of her parents. She thought she was in love with Jack until she had him describe her to his friend and found out he was really a jerk. Sofia attended to the woman that got burnt during the fire work which is how she met the duke. He wants to choose a bride which is how Sofia ended up in his home with other eligible girls who want to be a duchess. I really enjoyed reading this book. This book will have you hooked from page 1.

Charming enjoyable regency about an orphaned heiress, Sofia, restricted by excessive propriety forced on her by her aunt and uncle, letting her true nature put and attracting the attention of the Duke of Theakstone, who is on the hunt for a conformable wife.

Sofia has been hemmed in and controlled ever since she arrived at her aunt and uncle’s home. As an orphan of an army captain, who kept her with him following the drum, until he died. Her fa,ily want her to marry her cousin Jack, who she has hero worshipped, however, he has now revealed his true colours and she is angry and determined not to marry him. Oliver is damaged by being rejected by his father, and being fostered for years. He wants a kind duchess, who will care for his illegitimate daughter.

The duke is impressed by Sofia’s caring nature and lack of artifice, almost against his will, he is compelled to invite her to a house party together with his shortlisted candidates for marriage. Who will he choose?

Annie Burrows always spins a good yarn. The cattiness of the cohort of ladies is well done, and Sofia’s true feelings versus her outward demeanour makes for an interesting character. The interactions between Oliver and Sofia are nicely done. The development of the relationship between them and also his daughter were lovely.

Lighthearted, well written and very enjoyable.

I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book. 📖 All opinions are my own.

Also posted on Goodreads

The opening easily grabbed me as it perfectly showed Sofia’s selfless and caring nature making me instantly like her. Along with creating a very interesting first meeting with Oliver. They are both resilient characters and let’s just say a few sparks flew whenever they interacted. I loved seeing them grow closer the more time they spent together and Annie Burrows carefully built up their relationship. It was so lovely to see Sofia slowly but surely come out of the shell that she had created to protect herself.

Livvy was also a wonderful character and really helped to create a softness to Oliver’s character as you saw how determined he was to make sure that history wasn’t repeated and that his daughter would be cared for properly. Add in some drama when everyone gets together at a house party along with everyones true colours being revealed both the good and the bad. It all ties in to create a fun and easy to read story!

A Duke in Need of a Wife has such a sweet, warm and romantic plot. The pacing is steady and allows Sofia and Oliver to get to know each other so it didn’t have a rushed feeling to it. Also I can’t finish my review without a special mention going to Snowball the dog who was such a fun addition to the story.

Romantic, lighthearted and charming!

I really enjoyed this book. The hero and heroine were instantly likeable and did not have to be thrown into silly situations to develop their story. But it was the portrayal of the different characters at the house party that really made it come alive for me. Thoroughly recommended.

A Duke in Need of a Wife is a standalone novel by Annie Burrows.

The Duke of Theakstone is in need of a wife and more importantly, a mother for his young illegitimate daughter. He decides to invite a short list of candidates to a house party in order to vet them on their suitability. One woman not on the list, but added at the spur of the moment is Sofia Underwood.

Sophia is due to come into a lot of money when she marries or turns 30. She lives with her aunt and uncle who seem to be doing their best to keep her out of the eyes of society. They want her to marry their son, keeping all that money in the family!

They meet under terrible circumstances when a fireworks display goes terribly wrong and a woman's skirts catch fire. Both Sophia and the Duke (dressed as a waiter) rush to the woman's aid. They help douse the flames and Sophia is then rushed away by her relatives. The Duke is impressed that Sophia ran to help rather than ran away in the chaos of the fireworks exploding.

The following day he pays a call on her to speak about the injured woman and he invites her to take a ride in his curricle in order to speak to her in private. She doesn't treat him as all other women, desperate to become his duchess, and she fascinates him. He finds himself inviting her to his house party and can't believe he issued the invitation the moment it left his mouth.

What follows is a great story following the machinations of the women trying to win the Duke's heart, or more likely, his money. All except for Sophia who although is attracted to him is definitely no simpering female. She truly is a breath of fresh air to the Duke and it's not long until he determines he wants her for his wife.

I really liked Sophia's character, she shone amongst the spoilt madams attending the house party. She's had a rough life and she definitely deserved a happily ever after. I enjoyed reading how the Duke falls for her, and the interactions between Sophia and his daughter were so lovely.

This book was a pleasure to read and I am happy to recommend it.

I loved this charming regency story from Annie Burrows. An interesting twist on the Duke in search of a wife plot, I felt that the characters really came to life on the page, and you could see the reasons they were right for each other stacking up as the story unfolded - even if the characters themselves couldn't!

This was a really brilliant read, I loved the main characters how they grew up in a different social circle but yet could relate to each other. I thought the way it was written with the brooding Duke just looking for a wife a mother for his child not realising he really needed love himself was a great storyline and Sophia filled that role well, kind and caring and patient considering how she herself has been brought up. Annie Burrows always has way in bringing out the best in her characters and matching them well to each other and keeps you wondering how their love will developed. A really good read.

‘A Duke in need of a Wife’ does what it says on the cover. This book gets straight to the point with the storyline, and it is easy to read from the moment you get through the first page. The characters are stereotype, the heroine is a downtrodden heroine who is oppressed by societal values and the hero is a cool aristocratic Duke, superior in every way.

Sofia is at a firework display celebrating peace with France when disaster strikes, with a firework gone awry causing a fire and a stampede. When Sofia spots a woman on fire, she runs towards her and rushes to her side to help her and arrives at the same time as one of the waiters. Little does Sofia know that the ‘waiter’ is in fact the Duke of Theakstone who tries to get her to go back to her guardians. Sofia instead opts to stay to comfort the injured woman and uses her cloak to protect the woman’s modesty. The Duke is struck by her actions and feels compelled to visit Sofia at her home and find out more about her.

Sofia is a lovely character, headstrong, caring and completely selfless in both her actions and her thoughts. Burrows takes a lot of time to set the scene when it comes to Sofia’s background and explains in great detail about how and why she reacts to situations the way she does. The Duke is a typical son of an unfeeling father who is fraught with his own insecurities and is trying to right the wrongs against Sofia. You do fall for the characters carefully and you do love to see how they both find their way to care of each other, despite both being so different. I would have liked to see more from the Duke’s point of view and his background, it seemed to be brushed over compared to Sofia’s detailed upbringing.

A Duke in Need of a Wife is a great book, told with a lot of heart and feeling. The characters are well drawn and you can’t help but fall in love with them.

When I picked this up, I was expecting a few things, but not a Regency version of The Bachelor! Though we start with a sort of meet-cute (as both hero and heroine rush to the aid of an injured woman), and it’s clear from the get-go that these two are meant for each other, that doesn’t stop our hero, Oliver, from arranging a sort of competition to see which of several eligible girls is the best suited to be his wife. Oh, and to be a mother to his illegitimate child. He invites a gaggle of women (and their families, let’s not think him improper!) to a house party for a week, in order to spend time with them and suss out their qualities. Of course, no one is as perfect as Sofia, our heroine, but it’s an extremely fun way to shake up the formula!

The chemistry between the main characters wasn’t the most thrilling, but it’s thrown into high relief by just how dreadful the other women would be for Oliver, even those of them who are nice in their own right. I was reminded a little of Austenland, which is one of my favourite films, as everyone seemed to fall into neat little relationships. The drama, being limited to a country house party, is minimal, but very entertaining if you prefer wars of words to action scenes. Sofia’s something of a fish out of water in the tonnish environment, and it’s fun to see her hold her own, just by being herself.

I really enjoyed this one! It’s a little slow in places, and I could wish that Oliver was a little more forthright about his feelings, but I really enjoy watching society machinations, so it worked for me. I’ve actually got another book by Annie Burrows on my TBR, and I’m looking forward to it now! Four out of five stars.

I quite enjoyed this title. It was quite a simple plot, one thats been visited a few times by various authors - a duke holds a week long house party in order to select a wife - catch in this one is that Oliver, the Duke of Theakestone needs a mother for his daughter who he has only recently realised existed. The daughter Olivia, I thought, was quite a cute character, I liked her sass. The heroine of this piece, Sofia, is an orphan who has been raised by her aunt and uncle. The first scene is quite dramatic and I liked that Sofia had a backbone and stood up to the Duke. However as the book went on I felt that she lost some of her spark and I would have liked more emotional interactions between the hero and heroine. I also felt as though the emotional progression from indifference to love on Sofia's part was ridiculously fast, one minute she doesn't want to be a duchess and the next she doesnt want anyone else to be Oliver's duchess either. Also Oliver's backstory was rushed and his involvement just didnt feel genuine. I liked the story and the other prospective brides were entertaining and well thought out. I would have liked the story to be more fleshed out.
Still enjoyable for a rainy day. Quite a quick read :)

Thank you to Netgalley, Mills&Boon and of course to Annie Burrows for granting me an arc of this title in exchange for an honest review.

A charming Regency romance, based on the marriage of convenience trope. Sofia has lived with her guardians, her paternal aunt and uncle since she was a young girl, they looked after her, but she never felt loved, and so became an independent spirit, something frowned on by Regency society.

Oliver, the Duke of Theakstone, is looking for a wife, to raise his illegitimate daughter, who he cares for, but doesn’t know how to love. His meeting with Sofia is unusual, and it sets the scene for an unconventional romance.

An enjoyable read, with some poignant moments and a deepening romance between Oliver and Sofia. Livvy, Oliver’s daughter and Snowball, Sofia’s dog are great characters, who give the story a humorous dimension.

A lighthearted, Regency romance, which lets you escape to a more romantic era, for a little while.

I received an electronic advanced reader copy of this book from Mills and Boon via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

A Duke In Need Of A Wife is written by Annie Burrows and published by Mills & Boon Historical. Both the main characters in this novel are, for their own reasons, outcasts in the high society Ton. Sofia Underwood is the granddaughter of a Duke but her parentage is questionable as her father was a soldier and her mother Portuguese. Oliver, the Duke of Theakstone, needs a wife who will accept care for and love Olivia, his illegitimate daughter. Their first meeting is very much by chance. Sofia is an orphan and Uncle Ned and Aunt Agnes are her guardians. They have taken lodgings on Marine View in Theakstone Creacent so Sofia can recuperate from a winter illness by taking daily swims in the sea. Sofia is watching the fireworks celebrating the end of the Napoleonic war when she she sees that a woman has been hit by a firework as is on fire. She rushes to help her, as does Oliver. He is intrigued by and is determined to find out more about her, so invites her and her guardians to a select party at Theakstone Court, along with several other women he is considering to be his wife. Sofia’s beauty and personality have caught the Duke’s attention, but will she accept his little daughter, and his proposal?

This is a fun and enjoyable read. Sofia’s little dog Snowball steals the show, as does little Olivia. Oliver doesn’t know how to express his emotions, whilst Sofia is very conscious of her parentage. Both characters have issues that are addressed throughout the book, giving an insight in to attitudes of that particular time.

I received this book via Netgalley and Mills and Boon in exchange for a honest review. I am a #MillsAndBoonInsider #netgalley

“Men did not fall in love with girls like her at first sight. She was too plain and dull and boring.”

Sofia Underwood may be a Duke’s Grand-daughter, but as the daughter of a soldier and his Portuguese wife, she feels that she doesn’t fit in amongst society, until a chance meeting with Oliver, Duke of Theakstone, sees her as something of a kindred spirit, and sets about getting to know her better in this entertaining story for Annie Burrows.
What sets this book apart is that Oliver has recently discovered that he is a father, and, following the death of the girl’s mother, Livvy is now living with him, although her existence is not a known fact amongst the ladies with designs on being the new Duchess of Theakston. Indeed, in looking at potential candidates for a bride, Oliver’s main concern is if they will be a suitable mother to Livvy, and this is where Sofia really comes in to her own.
The fact that Sofia is unaware of Oliver’s identity when she first meets him makes for a memorable opening to the story, and his subsequent visits to her home show just how much of an impression she makes on Oliver from the outset.
Invited to a week long house party (or job interview as Sofia considers it), the reader is taken on an entertaining journey as the women compete for Oliver’s affections in the hope of a proposal. The backstabbing and bickering amongst the ladies leads to some amusing moments, and the idea of competing for Oliver’s hand is made all the more enjoyable as we see Sofia not pushing an agenda, inadvertently meeting Livvy, and slowly breaking down the barriers Oliver has put around himself with regard to relationships.
This is a well written book, and the descriptions of both Oliver and Sofia’s struggles in life, and their somewhat difficult upbringings are well explained in a sympathetic manner which gives the two a connection to each other, and makes the reader believe that a happy ending is possible for them. The fact that Livvy is very much involved in the final chapters is a clever plot device as the book heads to it’s conclusion, and, also, special mention should be given to Sofia’s dog, Snowball, who steals the show on more than one occasion.
All in all, and enjoyable story with likeable characters, and plenty of amusing and romantic moments.

I loved the character of Sofia, she had an unsettled childhood but was still able to be kind and caring. Sofia didn’t realise her own worth. Oliver, Duke of Theakstone, had also had a difficult childhood and now he needed to find a wife, mainly to be a mother to his illegitimate child. It was entertaining to read of the house party where Oliver had gathered together potential ladies to be his wife and their various antics to outdo each other. This was an engaging read and I enjoyed the connection between Sofia and Oliver. I liked that Sofia was forthright in her opinions when speaking to Oliver and how she brought out the best in him. This was an enjoyable read. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

3.75 Stars
Sofia Underwood is an orphan who lives with her Uncle Ned & Aunt Agnes, she had been ill the previous winter so the family have rented a house by the sea so as to aid Sofia’s recuperation. Whilst there they visit a firework display for the celebration of Napoleon's exile to Elba but things go wrong & the fireworks explode, panic ensues, Sofia is almost knocked out & stumbles into some bushes from where she sees a woman whose dress has caught fire. Sofia rushes to her aid & is helped by two servants. Only they aren't servants but an Earl & a Duke. Oliver, Duke of Theakstone is immediately attracted to Sofia both physically & even more so for her compassion. Oliver needs a duchess but who will accept his secret illegitimate child Olivia? He’s invited several eligible ladies to his estate to assess their suitability & includes the infuriating beauty Miss Sofia Underwood.
I found this to be a fun read & it often had me laughing out loud. I should have disliked Oliver for being a pompous ass but strangely I really liked him as around Sofia he was a bumbling fool. Sofia is charming, gracious & very kind hearted but lacks self esteem. Snowball & Livvy steal the book & also help Oliver & Sofia to find each other & to fall in love. Both Oliver & Sofia had difficult childhoods & it was touching especially when Oliver spoke about his. There were a couple of unanswered questions, was it sabotage at the firework display? & what did Oliver say to Septimus?
An easy reading book that kept my interest all the way through which I found to be quite a captivating read.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read