Bringing Down the Duke

De: Evie Dunmore

Narrado por: Elizabeth Jasicki

“Dunmore is my new find in historical romance. Her A League of Extraordinary Women series is extraordinary.”—Julia Quinn, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“This series balances friendship, politics, history, and romance in just the right mix.”—U.S. Representative Katie Porter

A stunning debut for author Evie Dunmore and her Oxford suffragists in which a fiercely independent vicar's daughter takes on a powerful duke in a fiery love story that threatens to upend the British social order.

England, 1879. Annabelle Archer, the brilliant but destitute daughter of a country vicar, has earned herself a place among the first cohort of female students at the renowned University of Oxford. In return for her scholarship, she must support the rising women's suffrage movement. Her charge: recruit men of influence to champion their cause. Her target: Sebastian Devereux, the cold and calculating Duke of Montgomery who steers Britain's politics at the Queen's command. Her challenge: not to give in to the powerful attraction she can't deny for the man who opposes everything she stands for.

Sebastian is appalled to find a suffragist squad has infiltrated his ducal home, but the real threat is his impossible feelings for green-eyed beauty Annabelle. He is looking for a wife of equal standing to secure the legacy he has worked so hard to rebuild, not an outspoken commoner who could never be his duchess. But he wouldn't be the greatest strategist of the Kingdom if he couldn't claim this alluring bluestocking without the promise of a ring...or could he?

Locked in a battle with rising passion and a will matching her own, Annabelle will learn just what it takes to topple a duke....

“With her sterling debut, Evie Dunmore dives into a fresh new space in historical romance that hits all the right notes.”—Entertainment Weekly

“There is nothing quite so satisfying as seeing such a man brought to his knees by a beautiful woman with nothing to her name except an inviolable sense of her own self-worth.”—NPR

Loved it!

An impressive debut novel by Evie Dunmore, Bringing Down the Duke was fresh and fun read that I couldn’t put down. Told against the backdrop of the women suffragist movement in England, the love story between Annabelle Archer and the Duke of Montgomery, Sebastian Deveraux has hints of Pride and Prejudice.

The writing style of the author was very enjoying, not too flowery and not too simple.

The Highlights

Both main characters were fully realized with deep and complex emotions that went beyond their feelings for each other. Their chemistry was sizzling from the moment they met and didn’t let up until the end. Their romance also felt very adult, even though it was a bit of a romp at times, it could be lighthearted at times, without being light. There’s some prime angst happening throughout the book as well.

It also had a great cast of secondary characters that were once again fully realize with personalities of their own - outside the needs of the MC. It’s clear we’ll get stories from the main female characters and I’m very excited to read how their HEA comes about.

The historical backdrop of the suffragist was more the than just an interesting theme, it was an integral part of the story and important to the development of the MC.

Finally, I enjoy both clean and steamy romances - this is a steamy romance but it has the right amount of steam. Just enough to went your palette.

The Lowlights

There weren’t many things that bothered me, the thing that bothered me the most was the dragging of the “will they/won’t they”. It might have gone on just a little too much.

There’s a scene towards the end where the heroine - who up to that point had been pretty good - acts in the typical “I can’t” heroine way. It was frustrating because for the most part this book had avoided the worst of the romance genre cliches.

Conclusion

This is a great historical romance, with a fresh perspective. I highly recommend it and I can’t wait for book two!

Audible Note

The narrator Elizabeth Jasicki was very good. I enjoyed listening to her and wouldn’t mind listening to other of her narrations.

Brilliant story and excellent narration

I loved this book. I have now listened to it four times. I listen to a lot of Regency / Victorian era romance novels and this is one of the best I've listened to in a long time. The two main characters are well developed and their chemistry is nicely written, with funny and touching scenes and interesting side characters. It's great.

A TRUE HISTORICAL ROMANCE WINNER!

Refreshingly different! This is a smart, sophisticated, well paced story with much homepage to the pioneering women of England for higher education and civil rights. The reader will be entertained, and educated on this most important subject to all of mankind.

Splendid!

What a delight! Such a heartwarming story. If you’re a fan of Jane Austen then it’s a must read! And... it’s quite horny!

Fun and interesting romance

Wasn’t expecting this book to be sooo good. A great story and well narrated. Loved the romance and the character development. . Book 2 is coming soon but not sure I’ll find Lucie as interesting as this heroine. Excellent purchase. Stays in my library.