Thanks to Canary Street Press and Netgalley for this advanced copy!

Gah, this series just gets better and better with each book. Aurora and Apollo are so wonderful and delicious and I loved their story. Aurora has one goal and that's to help women and Apollo has one goal and that's to help Aurora with whatever she wants. And maybe get married? He'll think about it. These two are so much fun to read. She runs circles around him, and he gets exasperated (but loves it). It was great to see these two finally get together after sparking in an earlier book. I am legitimately sad this series is done, Herrera's Las Leonas have been a breath of fresh air in historical romance and I've loved how she combined the cultures of these characters with the Paris of the stories.

Herrera is a must read for me and A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke is just another reason while I can't wait for her next book.

Adriana Herrera is not playing around with this finale to the Las Leonas series! It had fantasticccc spice (there are leather gloves involved at one point), but no plot was sacrificed for the sake of the sensual scenes, and I really appreciated that.

I love how *planned* this book felt. This book was not an afterthought. Aurora and Apollo's story fit so well with the other two books and was imperative to this series. I don't always feel that with series that follow different main characters, so I really appreciated here how purposeful everything was. Aurora and Apollo's backstories were both SO SAD but also showed how they were MADE FOR ONE ANOTHER.

We also love a man who is Down Bad immediately and from the get gooooo Apollo is the definition of DOWN BAD.

There was some random action at the end that I rolled my eyes at a bit, but overall this book was everything you want in a historical romance: sensual, engaging, and a commentary on the time period. Do NOT skip the Author's Note on this one, ya'll!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

I have to give props to the author for writing an engaging historical romance set in something other than the English Regency period. This book and the two preceding books in the series follow three young women of color, Las Leonas, as they nicknamed themselves, who came from wealthy families in various parts of the Spanish colonial Americas and met in boarding school in Switzerland. They all rebel against the strictures of their time and find love in unexpected places.

In the final book, Aurora, a trained physician, has dedicated her life to helping women who often find themselves needing abortions or other medical care denied to them at the whim of the men in their lives. Apollo is a man of color who inherited a Dukedom and wants to use his newfound position to help those who have been oppressed in the colonies. He and Aurora met in Book 1 when her close friend married his half brother. It was pretty much pretty much hate at first sight, but the sparks between them were incendiary and not something either of them could resist for long.

There’s a lot of hate sex in this book and the spiciness meter is high. The social commentary and history are spot on and shine a light on conditions in late nineteenth century Paris that sadly still have relevance today. The book didn’t quite resonate with me as I would have preferred less antagonism and a bit less spice. Nonetheless, I admire the author for choosing to address these social issues head on and hope she continues to write historical romance that features lesser known settings and time periods. My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

In Adriana Herrera’s A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke, the third and final book in the Las Leonas series, Doctor Aurora Montalban Wright has founded a women’s health clinic in Paris. This comes with many dangers, and Aurora begrudgingly accepts help and protection from the Duke of Annan, Apollo César Sinclair Robles. She ends up in his bed, but she’s guarding her heart. Meanwhile, Apollo struggles to accept his newly elevated position in society amidst an aristocracy that is eagerly waiting to discredit him. Can Apollo convince Aurora that she’s his perfect match?

This book is fast paced, steamy, and grounded in history. It’s also extremely internal. You get to see both Aurora and Apollo’s thoughts as their relationship transforms from tense to passionate to romantic. The POV switches between them almost seamlessly in a scene, so you don’t have to wait for the next chapter to wonder what the other is experiencing.

I also loved how much code switching there was in the dialogue. Apollo and Aurora both use Spanish to convey their adoration for each other, and it is so, so hot.

One of the best parts of this book is how much rage there is. There is rage at the patriarchy and the ways men control women’s bodies, women’s access to capital, and women’s freedom. There is rage at Western Imperialism and the British Empire. And there is rage at the aristocracy. Herrera pulls no punches, and she does such thorough and meticulous research, so the rage feels all the more compelling. (The Author’s Note at the end made me cry.)

While I think it’s possible to read this as a standalone, I would recommend reading the first two books in the series first. The chemistry and steam between the two main leads starts off very quickly in these pages, but I prefer a slower burn, and you get to see their connection begin to build in the prior novels. There is also important backstory about Apollo in the first novel as well.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Canary Street Press for sending me this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

DNF at 34%

I balked at the fact that this book was over 400 pages, but I figured that the premise would be enough to carry me through this really timely romance. However, I've made it over a third of the way through the book and I am just really bored. I do appreciate what this book is doing and the fact that it is talking about such important issues that are still being fought for today; because I do not want to diminish the book by giving it a low rating, I am choosing to DNF instead.

Thank you to NetGalley and Canary Street Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review!

I appreciate a strong female lead in a book, even more so when she is a strong Latina like in Adriana Herrera’s novel, A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke.
 
This historical romance is the final installment in the Las Leonas series and follows Dr. Aurora Montalban and her mission to fight for women and their reproductive rights. Duke of Annan, Apollo, does everything in his power to keep her safe and satisfied 😉 while she does.
 
It’s so crazy, but unfortunately not surprising, that this book set in 1889, centers around the same rights women continue to fight for today. So, if you’re looking for some fierce and inspiring energy, this along with the other books in the series are for you.
 
I’d like to point out that Adriana Herrera does 👏🏽 her 👏🏽 research, she mentions this in her Author’s Note and on her various platforms. Aurora and other characters are inspired by real people. So, not only do you get a great story, you’re also gaining knowledge and that’s a powerful thing.
 
🐝 Thanks so much to the @htp_hive and @htpbooks for my advanced copy of the e-book and audiobook. I switched back and forth between both while reading and I gotta say, the narrators were perfectly chosen.

If you are looking for a historical romance that has yearning, FMCs who break society norms, and strong female friendships, the Las Leonas Series is for you! I loved how this book focused on Aurora’s journey as a doctor. It was eye-opening how the things she experienced in this book are still relevant to today’s world.

This book is an open-door romance, but those scenes can be skipped if you prefer not to read them. The romance between Apollo and Aurora was sweet, but the main conflict between them felt a little repetitive.

Even though this is the third and final book in the series, I think it can be read as a standalone.

Thank you NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and The Hive for this e-ARC!

For being my first Adriana's book she did leave me speechless, I love it from the variety of womens representation. As an woman from Uruguay I loved the Rioplantenses women representation (I totally need a book about Virginia!) and latinas women in this book and how we know now how we shaped the women's right movement.
Such a beatiful book that is an ode to fierce women and the men who loved them more for their fierceness, we need more book with this kind type. I'm not a latina woman of color, but we need to talk about them more specially as a white latina woman who only for the colorof their skin didn't suffered through slavery, because we owned to them to continuos remember ther legacy of blood their have suffered and how they were such courageus through what yhey have to live.
Totally a must read for any woman and latinx people out there and specially to any woman who is as fierce as the ones in this book.
If you like loved this book, I obviusly have to read all of Adriana's book, but totally recommend Evie Dunmore's book!

I really loved this book. Adriana Herrera does an excellent job of teaching her readers about important issues (this one is about reproductive health) while also writing a steamy Romance. The lovers in this book are Aurora, who is a doctor, and Apollo, a duke. We were already introduced to them in and earlier book in the series as two people who immediately get off on the wrong foot, and continue to antagonize each other. When Aurora is having a particularly rough day, she decides to act impulsively on her attraction to Apollo, and ask him if he will have a one night stand with her. The sex in this book happens almost immediately, and it's hot! What is most compelling about these two is that they are both fiery and determined, and they never back down from each other. I love a relationship when characters remain wholly themselves. Apollo is consistently supportive of Aurora's efforts to help as many women as she can (she puts herself in danger to see patients). There's some more plot here involving some bad dudes, but honestly, the best parts of this book are when Aurora and Apollo are together. Highly recommend.

Thank you to netgalley and htp books for the arc!

This book means so much to me as a woman of Caribbean descent and I’m so grateful to have received an arc. This is a perfect final installment to the trilogy where Apollo and Aurora finally get their time to shine. It’s a must-read for fans of historical romance filled with amazing characters, a love of Latine culture, and Latine people in places we don’t usually see them: running around high society France while kicking ass and taking names. A woman doctor in charge of an underground women's clinic and the duke who’s devoted to her? And both are Latine? I’ll take a million more of these, thank you.

The book is incredibly well-researched and Adriana Herrera took great care with both the historical details and the conversation about women's reproductive health. She even provided sources at the end (I love when authors do this like yes please I wanna learn more). You can really tell she poured her heart and soul into the series, especially this last book. She knows how to tell a compelling story, and this book has put her on my list of all-time favorite authors. She truly never misses.

If this is the historical romance scene, then I’m entering my historical romance era. Because this was fantastic! I highly recommend this book even if this isn’t your goto genre. We a have a physician FMC running an underground women’s health clinic and the issues addressed are highly relevant now. Including the sexism Aurora faces in her profession from men who claim to know more about a topic she is intimately familiar with. And the diversity! I need to read the previous two books ASAP.

Apollo is a walking green flag. He’s a duke but couldn’t care less about his reputation as he offers her a safe place to hold these clinics. He teaches her self defense. And he sends her desserts! Yes to all of that. The way he woos her…swoonworthy.

There are two love stories here, one between Apollo and Aurora and the other of Aurora and herself. There is trauma she has to overcome and though she is unapologetically herself, which I love, there is undeserved guilt she feels due to a society that blames women for a man’s actions. And I love how supportive Apollo is as she works through these emotions.

Now onto the spice! Because the spice is spicin’ and the chemistry is through the roof. The way they’re always eye f*cking each other 😂.

This was my first book from this author and you can bet I’ll be reading whatever else they write.

Thanks to HTP Hive for the eARC!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
This is the book and the energy we need in 2025. This book was empowering and I so loved the author’s note in the back. Women’s rights are under attack today and the author did a great job describing the parallels of now and then. Our FMC is badass and or MMC is a heartthrob who supports her badassery. This is everything you could want in a historical romance and is a great addition to this series! I enjoyed catching up with all the characters in the previous novels.

Herrera’s ability to write a historically informative yet spicy af romance is unparalleled. Aurora and Apollo are full of heat and chemistry, yet they are also full of righteous anger, and a desire to change the world. The diversity represented spans continents and skin colors, languages and royalties. I’m obsessed with Aurora’s medical prowess, her middle finger to societal norms, and her commitment to the contraceptive and marital rights of women. I’m also in awe of Apollo’s ability to learn, to grow, and to fight for what is right, and who he loves.

*sigh*

This book is a game changer, specifically in light of the current climate in all too many places in our world. We must take what we can from the mistakes of our past, and move forward in light and learning.

Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the chance to read and review this book!

Set against the closing of the 1889 Exposition Universelle in Paris, Physician Aurora Montalban Wright stays busy running an underground women’s clinic that provides many necessary services and resources for the women of Paris. Often tending to her patients in the shadows of night, Aurora begrudgingly accepts the protection of the Duke of Annan, who cannot help but care tremendously for the rebellious doctor. Apollo César Sinclair Robles is struggling to embrace his new title, and is very aware of those who wish to discredit him based on his ancestry alone. However, Apollo may consider throwing it all away once he gets Aurora in his bed. Aurora is keenly aware that her reputation would ruin the Duke, and she would never give up her independence. With all this in mind, can Apollo convince his fiera that their bond is stronger than any forces keeping them apart?

If you are a romance reader but you don’t think you would enjoy historical romance, please give this series a shot! The léonas are all fiercely independent yet loyal and compassionate. The subject matter dealt with in these stories is touching and relevant, especially Aurora’s work surrounding abortions, and what happens with women are forced to seek less than safe alternatives to the healthcare they deserve. I loved Apollo, he is so keenly aware of Aurora and all she has to offer, wanting everything she is and nothing less. The other two books in this series were practically perfect, but I think what kept me from feeling the same about the final book was the conflict that felt repetitive and present for too much of the story. Unrelated to the substance of the book, I wish they hadn’t changed the covers for the series mid-release, but I know marketing is all about what appeals to the masses.

I’m such a sucker for Adriana Herrera’s historical fiction because they are SO GOOD. Do you want yearning? Do you want to learn some stuff about history because it’s always so interesting? Do you want top tier spice? The most badass heroines?? THIS HAS IT ALL!!!

Aurora is living her dream which is to work as a doctor, running a clinic all over Paris and helping women who have to get medical attention without the government realizing. It’s hard and she’s running on fumes, but it’s what she’s always wanted. But after one night stand with Apollo, newly a Duke after the death of his absolute trash father, suddenly he’s everywhere. Cause he wants more than one night with feisty snarky Aurora, even though he’s supposed to be shopping for the perfect demure aristocratic wife. But he doesn’t want one, he wants Aurora, who is still hiding some of her past and is also incapable of asking for or receiving any kind of help.

I AM OBSESSED WITH THESE TWO. I love the snarky “enemies” to lovers vibes they have and verbal sparring as foreplay. I love the way Apollo refuses to not take care of Aurora, but still knows she’s strong. I love that they don’t want to change each other and instead just want all the crooked parts too. I love all the history in here, woven through Aurora’s doctor work. I love the found family of Aurora’s friends and their spouses. Anyway this was perfect?! And comes out next week?! You should buy it?!

It also has:
🪻pasteries to get to her heart
🪻shirtless workouts
🪻a pride and prejudice coded villain
🪻helping women escape dv
🪻who did this to you vibes
🪻cameos of all our faves
🪻reformed man hoe
🪻pretending it’s casual as you both fall in love

It’s so good.

I love this narrator, she knows how to go into character.

This historical romance is a beautfiul and brave story. I love the fact that we are putting Latinx all over Europe being part of the history happening there. Aurora is one of the most fearless female leads I have read in a very long time.

I like that Herrera writes such fearless FMCs. I also am obsessed on how she made the Duke a totaly simp that will oblige and show up for her in so many ways.
You can feel the countless research that went in to this story, to paint a factual setting in a fictional world.

Adriana writes some of the best tension I have ever read in a romance book. I love how passionate her characters are and their unwavering determination to get what they want and not cower at the face of opposition. Aurora and Apollo are a powerhouse and this book was an absolute delight to read from start to finish.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Audio, Harlequin Trade and Adriana Herrera for the chance to listen to this book in exchange for my honest review.

Well, that's the cap on this series and what a ride it has been. I absolutely give this series 5 stars!

This book has arrived in our laps at such a meaningful time. It is a great, informative reminder that when it comes to women's: equality, health, autonomy and so much more- the more things change, the more they stay the same.

Narration was incredibly well done. I appreciate hearing accents and pronunciations that I would never/could never get right in my head reading from the page.

GOD I LOVE THIS SERIES SO MUCH!

Aurora and Apollo are electric in this series finale. Aurora- taking on the world in order to protect her patients at the clinic she supports. Apollo- hell bent on proving to the aristocracy that he is a force to be reckoned with. These two strong personalities clash in the most delicious way as they embark on a mutually beneficial tryst. But their time is running out. Aurora, who has forsaken the traditional role of a society woman, is focused solely on her freedom and her clinic despite this infuriating man she cannot get enough of. Meanwhile, Apollo is on the hunt for the perfect Duchess to support his Dukely endeavors but unfortunately, none of the eligible ladies hold a candle to the spitfire that is Aurora Montalban.

I think this is a perfect ending to the Las Leonas series and I think Aurora & Apollo are my favorites? But I said that about all of the couples so who's to say, really? I laughed, I cried, I swooned. I fell in love with these women and their stories.

I jumped into this book not having read the previous 2 books in this series but I don't think it put me at too much of a disadvantage. Adriana did a great job of recapping the important plot points from the previous books for the reader. There were so many things I absolutely loved about this book. I loved how obsessed Apollo was with Aurora. He was full speed ahead from day 1 and never waivered for a second. I loved the powerful political undertones. Aurora is a doctor but her specialty is gynecology and women's health. More specifically she helps women, predominantly women of color, get the medical help they need. Most of her work is against the law so it comes at a significant risk to her person. She also comes with some heavy trauma caused by the men in her life, men who have never treated her or the women around her as human beings. Aurora is a strong, three dimensional character. She is unapologetic in her desires and unwavering in her convictions, but still emotionally lost. Of course it took a man as hard headed and single minded as her to get her to let down her guard.

There were some things I didn't like as well. At times, it felt like the transitions between scenes were rough, sometimes forcing me to reread a page to figure out how we got from point a to point b so quickly. Additionally, there was a lot of spanish dialogue which I enjoyed because it felt authentic to the characters but would've enjoyed more if translations were provided. I understood a fair amount but a lot went over my head.

Overall I had a great time reading this book and would definitely go back to read the rest of the series.