#AD Book Review: The Scandal of the Season by Annie Burrows

Cassandra Furnival needed to leave home when she was just sixteen due to her cruel step father.  She was convinced by an infantry man to elope with him so that she could leave her family without being forced to return. Unfortunately not all went to plan as he didn’t realise that the she wasn’t old enough to marry so the marriage was not legal and his commanding officer would not allow her to travel to the campaign with them.   Her step father would not let her return to the family home. Instead she went to live with her outcast Aunt who has been disowned for living with another woman. She has spent the last 6 years working as a seamstress until her godmother, The Duchess of Theakstone wants to take her to London and let her have her chance at being a debutante. Colonial Nathaniel Fairfax, who played a large part in thwarting her escape plan all those years ago, is surprised to see her at the Ton and he presumed that she in on the hunt for a rich, titled husband. He is determined to yet again thwart her plans and he is still listening to his sister’s malicious lies about Cassie. 

Nathaniel is still, despite his mistrust, attracted to Cassie, to the extent it is affecting his work. As Cassie is not prepared to break confidences in order to dispel the lies spread by his sister will Nathaniel realise Cassie is not the money/title grabbing debutante he envisages her to be? 

I received this novel from Mills & Boon via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Book Review: A Duke In Need Of A Wife by Annie Burrows (M&B Historical)

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

Available from: 
Amazon UK

Mills & Boon