I really enjoyed this intelligently written historical romance! Annabelle was a delightful heroine and through her eyes, I learned so much about the women’s suffrage movement in the Victorian era. The character who I thought was the most well-crafted, however, was the Duke himself. The author had obviously done her homework, and effectively showed the immense responsibilities that being a high peer came with, and also how few opportunities were afforded to women. The romance was believable and unfolded at a nice pace. I did feel that Lord Ballantine should have played a little more of a role.... he seemed sort of randomly stuck in there. I’m so excited this is going to be the beginning of a series!

I highly recommend for fans of Lisa Kleypas, Jo Beverly and Loretta Chase.

Thank you so much to Berkeley and Netgalley for my free digital copy!

The marketing notes made me think this would be a battle of wits romance rather than a battle of hormones vs. social expectation. But it's not the book's fault I expected something more like E.F. Benson's DODO: A DETAIL OF THE DAY, published in the late Victorian era, and rife with wit, complex social gamesmanship, and intense UST, or Anthony Hope's THE DOLLY DIALOGUES.

In this debut romance, Dunmore hits all the expected marks of contemporary historical romances--the 'contemporary' signaling mostly modern language with the occasional nod to period terms, and modern behavior mixed with period, such as everyone getting on a first name basis fairly soon. The hero and heroine are in lust from the gitgo, and that lust takes up most of the book's real estate, driving the plot toward the HEA.

Along the way Dunmore weaves in some of the political issues of the time, including somewhat one-dimensional glimpses of Queen Victoria and Disraeli. Two highpoints were the female friendships our heroine makes, and also her experience, rather than the customary virginal "why do I feel this way O no!" Her struggle between 500-horsepower desire and a clear-eyed look at what happens to women who don't play by the constraining rules was one of the best aspects of an otherwise standard romantic arc.

Some sparkling humor here and there, added to the above, makes this author one to watch.

I adored this book. Smart female characters, sweet spot in women's history, sharp dialogue and super sexy. Plus, Ancient Greek archaeology which made this Classics major very, very happy. A total delight with the unexpected storyline of the opening of Oxford to female students converging with the Suffragette movement. Brilliant, I look forward to the rest of the series.

An absolutely delightful debut!

I love me a good historical romance. A smart, strong, independent woman who knows what she wants, coupled with an attractive, somewhat emotionally stunted man whose stubbornness is rivaled only by the heroine herself? Yup. That's my kind of tea.

Filled with banter, sexual tension, and charm, I adored Annabelle and Sebastian even when I was annoyed and wanted to hit them over the heads with a rake.

Though this took place in Victorian England much like many other historical romances, it took place during a time I personally have not read much about. The woman's suffrage movement, which served as an interesting backdrop and definitely allowed our heroine to be surrounded by other like-minded, forward-thinking women.

The book itself entertaining and easy to read. I, for one, read it all in one sitting. And I look forward to more from this author.

First off, thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read this book early!

A healthy 3 stars for this one! It was quite the fun historical romance romp! I adored that it was set in the later 1800’s, during the suffragette movement in England. Had this book been without that aspect, it wouldn’t have been as fun.

I enjoyed the main characters (what a feat!) and this was overall just an adorable and fun historical ride!

This is one of my favorite historical novels of all time! It was such a funny and easy read, and I loved the suffragettes of Oxford! I can't wait to read the follow-up books--it will be hard to wait until next year. Many thanks to Berkley and Netgalley for the preview copy.

Bringing Down the Duke has everything a feminist romance should-- a dark and brooding (but progressive!) Byronic hero, the wonderful setting of Oxford and English estates of the Suffragist era, and, most importantly, a smart and self-possessed heroine. Annabelle is an excellent reminder that well-behaved women rarely make history.

I just adored the writing-- a historical fiction romance that is not stuffy nor hard to relate to. It feels supremely timely (which is another sad conversation). The characters are the best part-- flawed and lovable. I recommend this to lovers of romance, history, kick-ass women stories, and anyone looking for a higher quality women's literature pick.

Review excerpted from my blog post over at FanSciHist (https://fanscihist.wordpress.com/2019/08/02/bringing-down-the-duke-by-evie-dunmore/)

My Rating: 5 stars

Library recommendation: Recommended for public library historical romance collections.

Warning: Hereafter, you chance spoilers. I will try never to reveal major plot points, but to review any book, you must reveal some parts of the story.


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Number of titles I have read by this author: 1

Love story speed: Medium burn

Relationship dynamics: The Reserved Duke (H) / The Well-Educated Commoner Suffragette (h) ; elements of the Love triangle

Sexual content: Some, both “on-screen” and explicit

Triggers: Some historical misogyny; some violence against women (not by H)

Grammar/Editing: Several typos, hopefully to be resolved in the published version.

Review: This is an excellently written, evenly paced novel that proved to be a quick and extremely satisfying read. It is set in Victorian England (circa 1880) and is both meticulously researched and presented, particularly how the author captured the atmosphere of the Suffragist movement in England, and how well Sebastian’s interactions with Queen Victoria were written (with one notable exception where the queen slips out of using the royal “we” when reminiscing about Prince Albert). All instances of artistic license are admitted and noted in the author’s notes that follow the main text.

Our main characters are Annabelle and Sebastian, who are immediately captivating and whose relationship is equally engrossing. Annabelle is a strong, adept, whip-smart woman, and Sebastian is a cool, unflappable, and intense politician. Such was my emotional investment in these characters that I could not wait to pick the book back up when I had no choice but to put it down and stayed up all night to finish it, which is an increasingly infrequent occurrence for me as a reader. The supporting characters were well-developed and excellent in that they largely served as they should (as supports to the hero and heroine), while still revealing themselves as intriguing candidates for future novels. Further, the villainous characters are vividly described (reference the succinct, but visually rich description of cousin Gilbert in the first chapter), which greatly enriches the narrative. My only complaint about this novel is in how long we have to wait for the next one to arrive!

Campaign version: Vote now! A spectacular read; your vote will not be wasted on this candidate!



Full disclosure: I received a free advance review copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book. The time period was new-not the usual setting. I liked all the characters and hope to read more about them.

Clever, independent Annabelle Archer is suffocating in her role as maidservant to her oppressive cousin and his large family in the country. When she learns about Oxford's brand-new college for women, she cannot let the opportunity pass her by. She pays her cousin to let her go, and receives a stipend to cover her tuition. The catch is that her stipend has come from a suffrage group, so Annabelle is obligated to participate in women's suffrage activities on top of her schoolwork. During one such activity she makes the mistake of targeting one of England's most powerful men, the frosty Duke of Montgomery. As a result she is assigned to get the duke on the women's side, and what follows is a fun tale of independence, persistence, friendship, and love.

This book was a delight. I was pulled into the story almost immediately and had a hard time putting it down. There are a lot of parallels to Pride and Prejudice, but it still feels unique. There is good character development, and the romantic intensity starts early and doesn't let up. Though lighthearted, this book also makes you think about what women have had to endure to get the rights they have today. A great read for anyone who likes romantic historical fiction.

Please see my Goodreads review here:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2790011717?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

I think historical fiction romances just aren't my jam. They're often so inescapably modern feeling no matter their setting, because the way we talk and think has changed so radically over the centuries. Just the idea of how crushing social pressure could shape and destroy your life can be difficult to convey. There was no way to opt out, particularly if you were a single woman with no protector.

But if you love the Victorian era and early suffragettes, you'll definitely be well-served by this debut novel. Life sucked for women in olden times, in spite of having a female monarch - not all women are feminist allies!

One part I honestly loved about this novel is Annabelle Archer's backstory. So often women in historical novels are depicted as inexperienced virgins, but Annabelle's history means that she views sex quite differently than most Victorian romance heroines in novels I've read. And yet her perspective doesn't feel anachronistic, but perfectly in line with her strong, stubborn character.

I loved this book. LOOOOOVED this book.

Annabelle Archer is studying at Oxford and knee deep in the suffragette movement, having been told to recruit men of influence and standing to their cause so that they can be taken more seriously. Enter, Sebastian Devereux, Duke of Montgomery. The Duke is wary of supporting a cause that isn't in the crown's best interest, but he can't deny the attraction he feels towards Annabelle.

What I loved: The enemies to friends to lovers is always a good trope and this one was done so well. I loved the passion between Sebastian and Annabelle and the fact that they communicated with each other the whole time. When Annabelle was initially offended that Sebastian wanted her for a mistress, she knew that would be the only way to truly be with him, due to their different stations in society.

What I didn't love: THAT IT ENDED

This is one of the strongest historical romances I've read in a long time. I'm a sucker for prickly heroes like Sebastian, especially when they're paired with strong, intelligent heroines like Annabelle. I enjoyed seeing their relationship develop amidst the political turmoil of the Married Women's Property Act, with Annabelle on the side of women's suffrage (somewhat reluctantly, though in this book she proves that she's more of a feminist than she realizes) and Sebastian on the conservative Tory side (for a while, at least). I can't wait to see what Evie Dunmore will write next!

"'It is becoming clear to me why a fair girl like you has been left on the shelf. you are not only bookish but a radical political activist. All highly impractical in a wife.'
'Quite,' Annabelle said, because there was no way to pretend it was otherwise."

And thus begins a fun, lively historical romp that follows a radical suffragist and a stuffy, conservative Duke. You can't help but fall in love with, well, THEM falling in love as they transition from enemies to lovers. There were LOTS - lots and lots - of things going on in this book, but it really, truly boils down to Annabelle and her girl gang's mission to revolutionize the rights of women in London, and Sebastian's subtle unravel from this stoic, organized, and boring Duke to someone who is willing to take risks for the things in which he believes in, and loves.

Story-wise, I thought it was exceptional and well-written for the time period it was set in. Romance-wise, I expected something different (a bodice-ripper this is not), as Sebastian and Annabelle's burgeoning romance was quite subtle and slow. Anyhow, I would say this is a solid, fun debut that really emphasizes the dynamic times of England and the future rights of women. Love it!

When Annabelle Archer earns a place as one of the first women to study at Oxford in England in 1879, escaping the country side and her overbearing guardian, she encounters a group of early suffragettes and an insufferable duke who is not at all happy with his attraction to a commoner. Who will win the battle of the sexes, and will the loser really be that unhappy, after all? Impressed with this debut!

This is an incredibly strong debut in historical romance-- I'm excited to see a new author who reminds me so much of Courtney Milan, as I would love to see more historicals with that quality of writing, thematic depth, and 21st century attitudes/lens applied to a historical milieu. I want to describe this books as plucky and charming, as well as feminist AF and quite swoony. Beyond that... read the back cover copy. If this book sounds like a trope combo you could like, I highly recommend it! Especially for readers who have some trepidation about the romance genre: I think this could be a friendly point of entry if you already know you enjoy historical fiction in general
Very excited to see more from this author in the future! Berkeley is seriously slaying the game with their 2019 line up

I read a lot of historical romance and I have to say Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunsmore is one of my favorite reads so far this year as well as at the top of my favorites for the genre. I devoured this in one day and couldn’t get enough of these characters.

Annabelle Archer is smart and while she has lived in the country and as a daughter of a vicar, she has earned a place as part of the first group of female students at the University of Oxford. The catch is that in exchange for her scholarship, she needs to support the women’s suffrage movement. That means she needs to get men of influence interested in championing their cause.

I loved Annabelle as a character. She is smart and she’s willing to put herself in an uncomfortable situation if it means she can make a difference. Her drive to want and be more than what society tells her she should be as a woman is something I love most about her, and I was so happy that Dunsmore gave her a group of women to connect with through it. The friendships Evie develops not only help her in her mission, but also when she needs it most.

Sebastian Deveraux, the Duke of Montgomery, is driven to restore his family’s legacy and as a leader in Britain, he has the opportunity to get his ancestral home back as long as he agrees to be the chief strategic advisor for the election campaign of the Tory party…and keeps the current Prime Minister in power. Unfortunately for Sebastian, he really has no choice. Add to that the fact that the Tory party is against amending the Married Women’s Property Act and things are about to get really interesting for both Sebastian and Annabelle.

I do want to call out that I loved how Annabelle and Sebastian meet. Their immediate attraction and his willingness to dress down the guard who pushed her made me like him despite how he is described and the coolness with which he addressed Annabelle on the street. As Annabelle finds a way to infiltrate Sebastian’s home (along with her friends), their attraction only grows. I loved the banter and the fact that she is willing to challenge him.

Unfortunately for them both, once they do realize how much they are attracted to one another, they face the challenge of status and what that means in regard to a relationship between them. They both recognize that a vicar’s daughter and a Duke could never marry and Annabelle refuses to be his mistress. This leaves them in a place with no resolution and the only thing Annabelle can do is ask Sebastian to leave her alone but when the suffragist march on Parliament gets out of hand and Annabelle finds herself in a situation she can’t get out of, Sebastian is the one to save her but her actions do have consequences.

As everything comes to a head in this book, decisions need to be made both by Annabelle and Sebastian. I’m not going to tell you everything about this one so if you want to know, you will have to go get this book when it is released. Trust me, you will want to know ALL THE THINGS so if you don’t have this on your TBR shelf yet, go add it now. I will definitely be sitting back waiting for more books by Evie Dunsmore as this debut has made me a fan. If you are looking for a historical romance with great characters, an interesting story, and slow burn romance you should definitely check this one out.

I really enjoyed this highly feminist historical romance. I find that it focused a lot more on politics and feminism than on romance, and I am so okay with that! I really recommend this to fans of historical romance and feminism.

A vibrant historical romance with strong characterization. This was an absolute joy to read. I can't wait to read more from Dunmore.