An educated blue-stocking meet-decidedly-not-cute with a disciplined and talented duke in this surprisingly strong debut historical fiction romance novel. It takes place in 1880 England where women have no rights but a healthy suffragists movement is taking place. Annabelle is an intelligent and independent woman who receives a scholarship from a woman's group to study at Oxford when women were first allowed to attend. Through a series of only slightly predictable but entertaining events she meets the Duke and works to get him on the side of the suffragists. I was unsure of how the author was going to end this book so I appreciated that unpredictability and I thought the feminist aspects very well done and interesting. The main characters were all well-developed, as were the supporting friends of Annabelle's, all in the women's rights movement themselves, and I enjoyed reading about their fight and their friendships. The romance was moderate, I'd say, and really the most uninteresting aspect of the story. All in all, though, well done.

One note: I think the title does this book a disservice. It makes it sound like a light romance and less like a good historical fiction and I'd place it in the middle of those.

There's been a lot of early hype for this book, and I'm here to say that every bit of it has been earned. I've read a lot of historical romances with strong heroines who overcome the obstacles and restrictions put on them. What I genuinely don't think I've read is a heroine who joins the women's suffrage movement, and that was a big drawing point for me. I was really intrigued to read about how the author would portray the group of women, the public's perception of them, and the challenges they faced. I loved the fact that Annabelle is one of the first female students of Oxford. That she dared to dream of a higher education during a time when the social class you were born into and your gender dictated what your lot in life would be. Aristocrats were society's darlings simply due to their lineage, and favored even more when they didn't have to work. Not only did Annabelle come from an impoverished family, but as a woman, that narrowed her options to thrive down to almost zilch.

Despite all this, she was able to finagle permission from her cousin to attend Oxford with the promise that she would pay him a sum of money regularly that she had no idea how to come up with. She doesn't let this sway her, because she's willing to work day and night, study, and attend her required suffragette meetings for her scholarship money just for a place to call her own. She doesn't want to live the dead-end existence she's been living out in the country, so she sets out to do something about it. Annabelle is pretty much perceived as a crazy liberal for even suggesting that women have the brain capacity to make voting decisions and control their own fortunes. An insane thought in our current times, but back then women moved from their parents' household to their own and never held any sort of power over their own lives.

Sebastian Devereux, thirteenth Duke of Montgomery, is quite the snobbish, coldly aloof hero at the start. He rules over his vast estates without much joy, but he's forced himself to excel at it after his wastrel father gambled them into ruins. His younger brother Peregrin is managed by him with an iron fist, so much so that their relationship is mainly intimidation and demands. Sebastian is a favorite of the queen, and has traditionalist political leanings. As the newly appointed advisor to the Tory election campaign, he's fighting for one purpose only: his family's property back that was lost by his father in a card game. Out of family loyalty and obligation, he's been struggling for years to somehow buy it back from the queen's nephew with no luck. This seems to be the chance of a lifetime, if he can only sway the political field in the direction the queen desires. The only problem is, that direction directly conflicts with everything Annabelle has been fighting for.

When Annabelle's group schemes their way into an invitation to Sebastian and Peregrin's home, she had no idea that she's about to rattle his foundation and leave him faltering on shaky ground. Reluctantly impressed by her direct gaze and unique fearlessness, he develops an unwanted curiosity that continues to grow with each meeting. The concept of having a romantic relationship with a woman so far below him in social class is beyond inconceivable. It would be laughable to even think of it. That may be horrible for him to feel that way, but I like that the author didn't shy away from presenting the reality of the social climate. But besides that is the fact that her political goals are on the opposite side of the playing field. He'd lose all respect and become a laughingstock by his peers at even a hint that he was with her. Everything that was finally almost in his grasp would be lost forever.

So obviously, there's a lot of push and pull between these characters. Sebastian tries to pursue and seduce, Annabelle resists harder than possibly any other character I've seen. The angst....it was absolutely delicious. I felt his internal battle over his need for her, and his sense of responsibility to expectations. Annabelle has already been burned very badly by another lord, and she isn't willing to compromise an inch. They had an amazing chemistry between them the more they fought it. Possessiveness, protectiveness, and admiration sparked and caught fire, but they were stuck in a battle of wills unable to move forward. Even though I wanted to slap him more than a time or two, you could see the depth of emotion and passion he had for her. In the end, he fought, and he made sacrifices the way he needed to in order to show her that she was the most important thing in the world to him.

This book was completely addictive. The love they had for each other was grew against all odds, and you truly felt that these two were meant to be. Bringing Down the Duke was so good that it forced me to compulsively race through the entire thing in less than twenty-four hours with butterflies in my chest, hearts in my eyes...it was the total package. I ravenously CONSUMED this author's writing style, and her brilliant talent for storytelling. To say that I'm excited for the next story in the League of Extraordinary Women series is a huge understatement. I need the follow up in my greedy hands yesterday. You can officially call me a loyal fan after reading this sparkling debut-it's just that simple. Get in on this series from the start, this is a new author you need to acquaint yourself with.

This was a delightful and unique debut historical romance! As the first in a new series there was a fair amount of exposition so it took me a bit to get into the story but, once I got into it, I really enjoyed it. Smart female characters, strong female friendships, great dialogue, and Victorian-era feminist politics make Bringing Down The Duke a winner. I will definitely be recommending this one to my patrons and I look forward to reading more from Evie Dunmore!

Set in 19th century England a group of Oxford students/suffragettes try to gain the backing of a dashing Duke! Romantic & inspiring - a great little read!!

REVIEW COPY - Pub Date 9/3.
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Book 3 of 3 on my current romance book binge. The current trend of cartoon/graphic designed romance book covers definitely has me reading more of them. If this book cover had featured a photo of a chisel chested man I probably would not have requested the ARC. I know I’m not the only one who judges a book by the cover, but shame on me. I would have missed out on a book that I truly enjoyed.
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This was my first historical romance read and I loved nearly everything about it. It was steamy and brimming with tension. The push and pull between the expectations of the society you’re born into vs. the angst of the life you want to live was palpable. ⠀⠀⠀⠀
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The writing was fierce- full of wit and bite. I was thoroughly entertained. So much so that I keep rereading my favorite sections- the juicy bits and the snappy, swoon worthy conversations.

This was a pleasant surprise! I love it when a debut author exceeds my expectations and leaves me looking forward to the next release in the series.

Bringing Down the Duke is set in the late 1800s, and features a heroine who has secured a scholarship to Oxford and is involved in the suffrage movement in England. She, quite by accident and without knowing his identity, gives an information pamphlet to the Duke of Montgomery one afternoon. One would think an austere, exacting man who has immense power and an intelligent and hardworking, but impoverished young woman would have nothing to offer each other, but they’d be wrong.

I adored this couple. Annabelle was strong and resilient and forward thinking. She is completely aware of her station in life and sets out to change it and make it better. She beguiles a very disciplined, influential man who has been working toward a singular goal since he inherited his title and will do just about anything to see it realized. But then they kind of begin circling each other and lust and love start to blossom and grow and it was so lovely. Happy sigh.

This book was fun and had great women friendships, wonderful secondary characters, some delicious chemistry and tension between the main protagonists and of course, extraordinary women fighting for their rights. I know picking up a book by a debut author can be a tricky thing, because you are taking a gamble and hoping for the best outcome. Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore is worth the risk. Highly recommend.

Final grade- B+

This was a fun historical romance that highlights a time that I haven't explore before with the women's suffragist movement. I did enjoy the romance but I felt that the end was too tidied up. I was hoping to see the scandal for the Duke to marry a commoner.

4.5 stars
I love me a good historical romance; one where there is societal propriety and yes just a little naughtiness to show that they were just as human as we are. Especially when it comes to the opposite sex. This book DID NOT disappoint in any way.

Annabelle is living with her cousin when an opportunity arises for her to be able to go to university. This was not the norm back in 1879; women in college. To help support her way she has to advocate for the woman suffrage group and petition to have laws passed. She sets her sights on one in particular - Sebastian Devereux, the 13th Duke of Montgomery.

Sebastian Devereux seems cold and calculating, he works closely with the queen and campaign parties for parliament. He is set on restoring his families name but gets thrown off track with the sassy Annabelle.

They are often locked in a battle of wits, with a simmering attraction underneath. But, nothing can arise that wouldn't cause scandal as Annabelle is below the Dukes station in life.

So what happens? You definitely will want to one click this now! You won't be disappointed.

Annabelle Archer, destitute and living on her cousin's charity as an unpaid house drudge, gets the opportunity to become one of the first women accepted to Oxford. She is offered a stipend to attend in exchange for supporting a women's suffrage movement. When handing out pamphlets causes her to meet Sebastian, Duke of Montgomery, things quickly spiral out of control. Trying to convince Montgomery to support the movement brings her into a world of house parties, Christmas dinners, and high company she isn't sure how to handle- and a stubborn, blue-blooded duke she knows she shouldn't fall in love with. When they keep getting thrown together, can passion overcome society's obstacles or will they both be restricted by their duties?

Bringing Down the Duke is a debut novel by Evie Dunmore and has been getting a lot of advance hype. I have to admit it's a hard book for me to review because I'm not really sure how I felt about it- or whether I even liked it. It has some of the standard tropes I count on to make a good plot/conflict: our hero is a duke on a mission to get back his ancestral home and rebuild the fortunes that his father gambled away, our heroine is a poor commoner trying to earn independence. He instantly misjudges her as an opportunist out to get money and/or marry into the nobility. She has some baggage about nobility in her past and isn't very impressed by overbearing men. He expects to say 'jump' and have people ask 'how high?' while she is more likely to look him in the eye and ask 'why should I?' The book also focuses on a time period and subject that don't usually get highlighted in romance novels: the 1879 women's suffrage movement and attempting to repeal the Married Women's Property Act. Annabelle is a smart woman who (rightfully) resents having to live off the charity of her stupid cousin- especially when that charity means she's allowed to live in his house and work as an unpaid servant and have no life of her own. She sees the chance to go to Oxford and study ancient Greece as a step towards gaining independence. So far, so good. It's after that that things got a little shaky for me.

For one thing, it was hard for me to get a good idea of what Annabelle wanted with her life. Ok, she doesn't want what she has now and she wants to be treated with some respect and have a say in her own life. But I never got a real sense that she had a goal past that. She studied ancient Greece because that's what her father studied and taught her and she was good with Latin and Greek. Was it fascinating to her? Did she have a drive to go to archaeological sites and do her own research and present her own theories? I don't know. Was she interested in getting an education so she could go back home and be a paid governess of the local gentry? That's what she says in order to go, but probably wasn't really the plan. I never got a sense she had a goal in mind. Did she really care about the suffrage movement? You get the feeling at first that the answer is no: she participates because that's what it takes to keep her stipend. Was she interested in the movement and applied because of that? Where did she hear about the stipend in the first place? Maybe not important things but it all made me question how deeply we were getting to see her. She does argue the logic of why a woman should be able to keep her property on marriage and gets in the face of anyone who suggests that she isn't a man's intellectual equal but takes that as a personal attack instead of for women in general.

Sebastian is pretty closed off for the whole book. You know what he wants: to get his ancestral seat back, to restore his family's good name and fortune, to have his younger brother do what he's told, and to have Annabelle as a mistress. The more time he spends with her, the more he wants her- probably because she is one of those rare people who treats him as a person and not a duke. He admits if she were more his social equal he'd marry her, but sees nothing wrong or insulting with saying that since that isn't the case, she should be his mistress. He's insulted she doesn't see this as a great opportunity, since she clearly is attracted to him. It's an attitude he carries through pretty much the whole book and with all his interactions with everyone: I know best, I am the best, don't question me. That makes it really hard to like him.

There is a lot of angst and longing because of the obstacles in the way of Sebastian and Annabelle's happily ever after. Secondary characters are mostly flat and unknowable. Some, like Sebastian's brother Peregrine, are completely unlikable (he's the party-going frat boy type who rebels against the idea of taking up any responsibility by acting like a spoiled brat of 5 and running away from home when his brother signs him up for the Navy at the rather improbable age of 19).

The writing is choppy, especially in the beginning. Things would go from fine to awkward: Sebastian would be getting address as Your Grace and then suddenly getting called "Duke", Annabelle would suddenly be speaking or thinking far too modernly, and (while I'm no expert) her clothing styles seemed to me more 1812 than 1879. Maybe these are mistakes that could be explained away as being a writer's first novel, but they made things jarring for me. On the other hand, I did keep reading and hoping for some kind of a happy ending. And (spoiler alert) while it happens far too fast and improbably conveniently, in the end our heroes do get there. Whether I liked the journey enough to read the next book in the series Dunmore comes up with, I'm not sure.

I was up and down on this book, but there is potential in it.


I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Destitute daughter of a vicar, Annabelle Archer earns a place as one of the first female students at the illustrious University of Oxford. In return for her scholarship she must join the women’s suffrage movement and try to gain the backing of a man of influence. Her target? Sebastian Devereaux, Duke of Montgomery and political advisor to the queen. Her beauty catches his eye and despite her fellowship with independent women he’s drawn to her. Can she hold him at arms length while still earning his backing of their movement? Can he convince her to become his without the promise of marriage? Evie Dunmore’s debut novel is atypical of other historical novels in that it dives into the politics of this time and the societal divide a lack of income and good background creates between a man and woman. Bringing Down the Duke was an intricate love story, but also a historical eye opener.

Despite the fluff that the word “Duke” brings to a historical romance title, this novel was anything but. The intricate love story between Sebastian and Annabelle was revealed a piece at a time and was enthralling, don’t get me wrong, but it was the history of the time and how that impacted these two characters that held my attention. I can only recall having read one other novel set during the women’s suffrage movement and as an independent woman myself (even though American), I’m very interested in how and when women’s rights were fought and granted In England. The fact that Evie Dunmore chose this time for a romance gave it a more modern feel.

Sebastian started off the novel as you would expect. Frigid Duke taking all of his responsibilities very seriously gets upended by a beautiful woman. BUT because of the setting we get to see how his thoughts change about women’s rights as Annabelle is threatened through her actions while fight for them. That makes Sebastian different than other historical romance heroes giving the story more impact. In real life a Duke couldn’t consider a woman for his wife if she wasn’t in the correct societal rank without throwing away his own livelihood and lands. Of course in romance novels there are no rules and Dukes marry whomever they want, but this novel doesn’t seem to throw away those societal rules and the Duke’s decisions propel not just the romantic side of the story but the historical plot as well.

I liked Annabelle a lot. She was smart, educated, pretty, but also had a head on her shoulders. She was no innocent and new how her actions would affect her future, but also the future of those around her. She was always thinking ahead. Her attraction to Sebastian was HUGE, but she was no ninny. She knew what it meant if she became a mistress or a wife. Her decisions were based upon real life plot lines and not romance novel plot lines. That made her so much more interesting and real!

Bringing Down the Duke is one of those novels where you pick it up not knowing what you are going to get. The only hint is from the picture on the front where the woman is seated in the saddle of the horse and the Duke is behind her when usually their placement would be in the reverse. A very subtle hint at her independence. I don’t want to give the impression that there isn’t any tension or romance between these two characters. There is plenty of food for the bodice ripping romantic! These two have heat, and their romance was riveting. Even more so because of everything that was happening that I mentioned above! Also, Annabelle’s friends in the movement were interesting and fabulous and hopefully their stories are to come in future novels in the series.

Bringing Down the Duke was everything I love in a historical romance. Riveting characters, sexual tension, and interesting details about the time they are living in. This is a novel that I can easily recommend to anyone who enjoys a great historical romance!

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I received a free copy of this ARC through NetGalley for my honest review and it was honest!

This book took a bit of reading to get into, but once the plot started rolling, I was really hooked! I loved the attention to detail in the historical aspects of the book, the focus on the woman's movement in England and the intricacies of politics and social status.

The characters were another shining feature in this story. I really liked Annabelle and wanted her to succeed. She was spunky, strong-willed, and a go-getter. And Sebastian was very Dacy-eque. Up-tight, formal to excess, and stuffy...until you get to know him. I liked the gentle reveal to see how caring and loving he could be.

Overall, I think the pacing of the book, the number of twists and surprises, and the level of high-stakes was good. I was kept entertained throughout and I felt that the ending, while a bit fanciful, was mostly warranted.

Bringing Down the Duke has been generating a fair amount of buzz, and while I enjoyed it, I didn’t find it as amazing as the reviews made me expect.

A plus is that the book steps a bit outside some of the conventions of historical romance. Annabelle Archer is part of the first group of women admitted to Oxford as students. Because her way was paid for in return for her support for women’s causes, Annabelle is also a suffragette. That’s how she first meets her duke, Sebastian, as she tries to give him a pamphlet protesting the Married Women’s Property Act. So, the story revolves around an intelligent woman who questions the power men have over woman and who is actively involved in a campaign to do something about it. Annabelle’s not at all in the market for a wealthy husband (although she obviously manages to find one anyway).

The thing is, I’ve been spoiled by reading Courtney Milan’s historicals, which are chockful of intelligent women leading unconventional lives. She’s even got one about featuring a suffragette, The Suffragette Scandal, which might be my favorite of Milan’s novels. Given that, I wasn’t quite as blown away by the story as I might have been otherwise.

If you are looking for romance, though, this book does it well. There’s witty banter, sexual heat, and heartfelt emotion—all the elements of a good romance novel. Some of the things Sebastian says to Annabelle—well, they’d make me swoon!

Just a side note: I did wonder at the author’s insistence that Sebastian marrying Annabelle would be a huge scandal. Annabelle is a vicar’s daughter, not an actress or a woman with a notorious past. It certainly wouldn’t be ordinary for her to marry a duke, and people would gossip about it. But there’s nothing known about her that would put her beyond the pale, so calling their marriage a “scandal” seems like an exaggeration to me.

Annabelle has an interesting group of friends who will clearly also have their own books in the future. I liked this one well enough that I’ll be keeping an eye out for their stories--particularly Lucie’s, because her love interest sounds like a rogue. And I love a good rogue!

A copy of this book was provided through NetGalley for review; all opinions expressed are my own.

Evie Dunmore’s debut novel Bringing Down the Duke is a wildly entertaining historical romance with a feminist twist. Set in England during the late 19th century, it follows protagonist Annabelle Archer. Annabelle is a brilliant young woman who has been accepted into the first class of female students to attend the prestigious University of Oxford. Annabelle, the daughter of a country vicar, comes from a poor family, however, and can only afford to attend the university because she was awarded a scholarship.

To keep her scholarship, Annabelle must meet a few requirements, one of which being that she must play an active role in the up and coming women’s suffrage movement. She begins attending meetings and learns that the primary strategy for the movement is to start recruiting men of influence who are willing to support their cause. Annabelle is assigned perhaps the most challenging target of them all, Sebastian Devereux, the Duke of Montgomery. Sebastian is politically opposed to everything the suffragists are fighting for. He also serves at the Queen’s command, and the Queen is also opposed to the suffrage movement. Trying to change the Duke’s mind is a daunting task, but Annabelle thinks she is up for the challenge…as long as she can ignore the growing attraction she feels for him.

Annabelle is not the only one fighting this attraction, however. As Annabelle spends more and more time with the Duke, he finds himself more and more interested in her as well. The problem: she is well below his social status and a relationship between them would be considered scandalous and could quite possibly cost him his legacy.

All’s fair in love and politics, but the question is which will win out in the end? Can Annabelle get the Duke on her side? Is the Duke willing to possibly give up everything to claim Annabelle as his love?

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I truly adored Bringing Down the Duke. I loved the chemistry between the fiercely independent Annabelle and the stuffy Duke of Montgomery. The evolution of their relationship not only felt authentic, it was also just flat out sexy! It was fun watching the cold and calculating Duke thaw toward Annabelle as he got to know her better.

I also really liked that the story was presented from both of their perspectives. I liked being in both of their heads as they’re trying to fight their mutual attraction. Seeing those internal struggles play out added so much depth to the story.

As much as I enjoyed the romantic angle of the story, I also very much enjoyed the exploration of 19th century England. The author also does a brilliant job of capturing the social and political climate of that time as well as the opposition to suffrage movement. The author does a very nice job of balancing the politics and the romance, which makes the story move along at a nice clip. I was able to finish it easily in two sittings because I was so invested in seeing what would happen between Annabelle and the Duke and if the suffragettes would get what they wanted.

All in all, I was completely delighted by Bringing Down the Duke and would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading about feminism and to fans of historical romances. You won’t be disappointed!

What a lovely little romance! Interesting characters and a great setting with the suffrage movement going on. The romance was drawn out just enough and teased you with steamy bits thrown in. Will definitely be reading more by Evie!

Evie Dunmore blends fact and fiction together beautifully in Bringing Down the Duke. Like a good many women throughout history, Annabelle Archer is a scholar with an unsupportive family. She’s dependent upon her cousin, who works her until she is about to drop. When the chance to attend Oxford on a scholarship arrives, Annabelle snatches it. In return for the scholarship, she must support the women’s suffrage movement. It sounds simple, but the reality of what suffragists were up against shows just how extraordinary these women were. Annabelle’s work for the cause throws her in the path of the Duke of Montgomery, a man who is considered to be cold as ice. Sebastian inherited a dukedom at the age of nineteen and the burden of responsibility and the role he has played in politics for so long has made him almost an automaton. Annabelle sparks something long buried in him and, likewise, he sparks long-buried passions in her.

The romance between Sebastian and Annabelle is slow to build, and I admit the beginning of the story dragged a bit until the characters and romance started to develop. But once it got going, I adored Bringing Down the Duke. Annabelle is no stranger to passion, but she is very aware of the risks it brings. And Sebastian, a duke with the ear of Queen Victoria, is a man who cannot afford to follow his heart. Class differences mean something in this book; they’re not trivial obstacles to be batted out of the way. As much as I was rooting for Sebastian and Annabelle, I enjoyed the dose of reality that threatens to keep them apart. I liked that they had to work for the happily ever after, that marriage between a duke and commoner wasn’t something they took for granted, and that reputations, unplanned pregnancies, and politics aren’t concerns to simply be tossed aside.

Bringing Down the Duke kicks off the League of Extraordinary Women series and introduces four very different, very interesting women who all have their own reasons for joining the suffragist movement. I adored Hattie, Catriona, and Lucie, and I cannot wait to see what Ms. Dunmore has in store for them. Between the fight for women’s rights and the admission of women at Oxford, there’s enough (incredibly interesting) history in Bringing Down the Duke to keep it grounded in reality while the romance has just enough fantasy to keep the book light on its feet.

Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore is easily going to feature on my Best Books of the Year list. I loved it for its brightly intelligent observations, finely nuanced emotions, smart pacing, and engaging writing.

Dunmore has built an unforgettable protagonist in the Duke of Montgomery. He reminded me again and again of Jo Beverley’s Marquess of Rothgar in his intelligence, integrity, self-confidence, sense of self-worth, power over people around him including royalty, and quiet vulnerability beneath the seemingly unbreakable armor of his personality. And Annabelle is the perfect foil for such a man with her intelligence, confidence, and self-esteem that successfully hide her own vulnerabilities.

In Victorian England, class played a big role in how society worked. Annabelle and Montgomery are deeply enmeshed in their love for each other but also in their place in society and culture. He cannot consign his politics, his life’s work (bringing his country’s seat back into the dukedom), and his hereditary title to the flames in order to marry a nobody. He desperately wants to, she wants him to, but how can he? Each thinks: I love you more than my own happiness. Yet he is a powerful man of his times and his world. I marveled at how realistic Dunmore makes his struggles seem, for as Dunmore says in her author’s note, “[Every person] needs a place to call home, someone to hold dear, someone who cherishes them for who they are.” And so while the conclusion of the story comes as a shock, it is as stunning as it is inevitable.

This is a book worth savoring.

More here: https://frolic.media/book-of-the-week-bringing-down-the-duke-by-evie-dunmore/

Well, I’m a sucker for tandem horseback rides through the snow, I guess. Sebastian and Annabelle have a ton of chemistry that kept me reading. While all the obstacles between them (he’s a lord, she’s a suffragette nobody—the scandal!) are brushed aside by finally just...not caring about scandals?...I still really enjoyed this read. Will look for the sequels.

This was a delightful historical romance. Very well written for a debut novel. A couple of plot lines did make me roll my eyes because it did not seem feasible that they would have occurred in Victorian England. I expected more humor based on the cover but it leaned more towards the serious side. I will definitely check out the next book as I love reading about these suffragettes.

Bringing Down the Duke is historical romance set in England in the late 1800s. Annabelle is one of the first women admitted to attend Oxford and is able to attend on a scholarship from the National Society for Women’s Suffrage. In their attempt to get men of influence to support the cause - Annabelle approaches the Duke of Montgomery.

Meanwhile, Montgomery is desperately trying to get his ancestral home back from the Queen. In order to do so, he’s been charged with helping the current Prime Minister stay in power - leading him to oppose Annabelle’s efforts. When the two come together - both feel the sparks fly.

I really enjoyed that Annabelle is a strong feminist and willing to go after the things that matter to her. Unfortunately, this book didn’t really draw me in. I liked it but it’s not something that will stick with me or that I would be likely to recommend.

Thank you very much to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance reading copy.

Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore is a delightful historical Romance that manages to spotlight the “historical” as well as the “romance.” It is set in 1879, during Queen Victoria’s reign, rather than the typical Regency period, but many of the same society customs and restrictions apply.

Annabelle Archer is the twenty-five-year old, impoverished daughter of a deceased vicar, forced to live with a cousin as a drudge because she has no other options. She is a commoner. She is too beautiful for her own safety/reputation. And she is extremely intelligent, not just intelligent in a witty, able-to-fend-for-herself way, but academically intelligent, intelligent enough to be frustrated by the lack of opportunity available to studious women and the inevitable “blue-stocking” label. If all this isn’t bad enough, she has a scandalous past.

When an opportunity arises for her to leave her cousin’s household to attend Oxford College with a stipend, she finds a way to do it. There is a condition on the stipend, however. It is provided by an organization of suffragists, and she is expected to take part in the women’s lobbying efforts. She immediately inadvertently lobbies the wrong man: the duke of Montgomery.

Sebastian, the duke of Montgomery, is known to be a cold-hearted efficient Tory who gets things done. A favorite of the queen, he has been tasked with ensuring the election of Prime Minister Disraeli in the next election. In truth, Sebastian has Liberal leanings, but he serves the queen with unquestioning determination because she is the only person with the authority to grant what he wants most: the return of his ancestral seat. The previous duke, Sebastian’s father, lost it in a card game. An ineffective duke, he frittered away much of the Montgomery holdings by neglect, drink, and gambling. Sebastian has spent his life trying to rebuild the legacy his father lost.

Annabelle’s assignment from the suffragist leader is to follow up on the initial encounter with the duke. Annabelle, desperate to avoid further scandal, is reluctant but complies. Typical developments for the genre--mistaken identity/motivations, miscommunication, prideful rebellion, and simmering passion--propel the story along as the two learn to understand one another and then fall in love.

Annabelle’s strength as a heroine is not simply her striking beauty and strong personality. Annabelle is a fascinating character because of her intelligence. She challenges the men around her with a brain and an education that more than equals theirs, despite all the advantages of their situations. Sebastian’s character impresses because even though he is a snob, his privilege has not blinded him to the plight of those lower in the pecking order. Even more importantly, he is not threatened by or made uncomfortable by Annabelle’s intelligence. He is able to recognize her as an intellectual equal and that doesn’t bother him. (What bothers him is her social inferiority.)

The two lovers have a number of hurdles to overcome. Each has to learn what is truly important to them and what goals can be sacrificed. It makes for a page-turner of a Romance.