The third and final installment in the Las Leonas trilogy, A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke is as much an ode to 19th century medicine and access to care for women as it is a romance. Doctora Aurora Montalban cares for women in a clinic setting in Paris. Newly minted Duke of Annan, Apollo César Sinclair Robles really ought to be looking for a wife, but instead he has eyes only for the third Leonas, Aurora, with her fiery temper and determination. She's been running away from a spotted past for over a decade and has eyes only for her work.

I enjoyed the chemistry in this final installment a lot - Aurora and Apollo sizzle on page together, and Herrera doesn't shy away from being explicit! It's a book that like Las Leonas themselves is passionate, fiery, and in relentless pursuit of female freedoms and defining their own lives. This is all possible in La Belle Epoque, in the late 19th century, where Continental Europe, and Paris at the time of the Worlds Fair, is bustling with people from all around the world. Paris feels less insular than the books we read in England, and it's refreshing to have Spanish speaking main characters in France. It's even better to have untranslated Spanish on page, too! (Tbh a lot of that is curse words, and words said in the throes of passion, so it works even better!)

I find that Herrera's writing for me is best suited to audiobook, so while I read an eARC, I generally recommend her books on audio.

4/5 stars: This is the third entry in Herrera's Las Leonas series which is a BIPOC Historical Steamy Romance set in Paris 1889 that follows a physician, who runs an underground women’s clinic, and a Duke, who's new to his role, as they begin a relationship but first must face their pasts and society's expectations. Heartfelt and humorous, Herrera's writing and character work are great; the characters are well-rounded, complex and yet remain likable. Aurora's tough and it's great to see her open her heart to Apollo, who's dealing with his own demons. I really loved seeing these two get their HEA. The romance is top notch with plenty of swoony banter and the OPS sex scenes are incredibly steamy and very hot. Overall, Herrera's look at the minority experience during the historical setting of 1889 Paris is deftly tackled with in-depth historical research and superb writing. With tact and sensitivity, Herrera takes on some very serious and sensitive issues; so take care and check the CWs. While you could read this as a stand-alone, you'll gain so much more by reading the series from the beginning; so be sure to pick up book one, A Caribbean Heiress in Paris.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

Thank you to Canary Street Press and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Herrera does it again!!! This was phenomenal 😭 I loved EVERY second of this. Aurora and Apollo are two of the most stubborn people with tension hotter than the inside of a volcano. I was clutching my pearls, babes. Every moment that they are in each other’s vicinity was foreplay.. and their first encounter in this book?!?! Screaming, crying, throwing up. They were made for each other, and you cannot convince me otherwise!!

I loved getting to know more about Aurora and her profession. She is such a badass, and it reflects in everything she does. She knows what she wants and she goes after it!! And the Duke… 😮‍💨 this man is incredible. Everything that came out of his mouth made me swoon.

I love how their lives intertwined so perfectly. They both met their match, and they could not escape the other!! UGH. So so so perfect. I needed this book like I needed air. I’m obsessed!!

CW: sexual content, racism, medical content, abortion, injury/injury detail, violence

Our grumpy stuffy doctor friend Aurora gets her romance here with Apollo, the half-brother of Evan from Book 1 of the series. The set-up here is mostly a no-strings attached affair, since Aurora is busy running her illegal women’s clinics and Apollo is trying to cement his place into the English aristocracy. Except they catch all sorts of feelings and are insanely protective of each other. We get all sorts of drama in the form of Aurora’s traumatic past and Apollo’s political ambitions, which is interesting to read about. The book is super steamy, and I especially loved Apollo’s caretaking of Aurora. Great conclusion to the Las Leonas series.

This may have become my favourite of the Las Leonas series! I read this book over a 24-hour period as I could not put it down!

I love a headstrong FMC and Aurora fit the bill for that so perfectly. Through her story the author gives you a lens into how women subverted oppressive systems and the danger they faced in doing so even from positions of power/wealth. I have quite enjoyed the way in which the history and story have been interwoven so well in the series and this book was no different (you can tell there was much research done).

There was such depth of character for both Apollo and Aurora. They both grew by way of their interactions with each other throughout the story and also by way of the friendships/ family in their lives. Aside from the romance, the story's plot points were exciting and had me on the edge of my seat.

It was also such a treat to see the main characters from the previous stories in this book.

Kudos to Adriana! This is what historical romance should be!

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for facilitating an eARC of this book.

AMAZING. I didn’t think it could get better than Manuela and Cora’s love story, but I WAS WRONG. Such a great finale to the Leonas’ stories.

This book started out really shaky and slow for me. My brain felt all over the place and I felt checked out. It took a while for the plot to really move and I only felt locked in when Aurora finally had an interaction with a patient. I also felt interactions were like a ballon constantly rising with tension but bursting at inopportune moments. I'm all about balance. Sometimes it was all bluster at times, which gets draining at points in the story. I understand Aurora's need to be protective, but as a reader I needed more inner monologue from the character to explain their actions (the same applies to Apollo). I'm appreciative of the commentary on women's health, colonization, and feminine freedom. It was all framed really well in this narrative.

Thank you Harlequin and Canary Street Press for the ARC!

Five Stars. Possibly a new all time favorite.

Las Leonas have a wonderful conclusion here in A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke. This is a book that is timely despite being historical romance. It is a pro-choice, reproductive freedom and feminist text.

This is a hot romance that literally starts with a bang. Aurora and Apollo have been shown in the past two books to dislike each other, but there is a "let's get it out of our system" tryst at the beginning of the novel and then of course they continue with a FWB situation because Aurora's friends and colleagues tell her, "Doctora, you need to have other things to do other than the work." So in between caring for women all over Paris and providing reproductive care that includes abortions, Apollo and Aurora get to know each other deeply in his "den of iniquity."

Apollo falls first and hard. Aurora has to learn to let her walls down. In fact, as a reader I felt like I didn't know Aurora very well from the previous books. While that makes sense because they were not her stories, it also goes to show the great character work done here by Herrera because it all comes together her. Aurora has to learn to be loved - and once you have her whole backstory, everything makes sense. Very fun moments from Evan and Cora talking with Apollo and teasing him at times for how hard he's fallen in love. Las Leonas are one of the best female friendship groups in a historical romance series. They may outrank the Wallflowers, I'm SERIOUS.

We need more historical romance like this. I laughed. I loved this. I cried. Gracias Las Leonas. <3

Finished! And LOVED!

Adriana poured her heart into this story. I love when a romance book gives us so much more than the romance. Dont get me wrong, I'm always here for🍆🌶🔥 but when an author can do that while championing women's rights, healthcare advancements for the underserved, women paving the way in a patriarchal world, especially Women of Color! Now you have my full attention!

This book hit close to home in so many ways and I loved it! Hands down my favorite of the 3 books in the series.


My only reservation from this being a 5 star read is the constant back and forth of "are we doing this, are we not doing this" which became slightly repetitive for my liking, but that's a ME thing and has no bearing on this storytelling.

OMG!!! I love all of the Leonas but Aurora has my heart. This book was everything and more. I cried several times reading this book - out of so many different emotions. Aurora’s strength, bravery and compassion is just overwhelming. The representation is beautiful.

You NEED to read this book (and series)!! Adriana did her thing with this series.

Thank you to Canary Street Press and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

4.5*

I loved this book so much. The banter between Aurora and Apollo was next level—I adored that they both gave as good as they got. Watching Apollo turn into a total simp for Aurora was exquisite and I was just living for every moment (and the mouth on that man, goodness gracious I was into it). I also have to note that Aurora was a total badass; everyone should have someone as fierce as her on their side. She's definitely a new all-time favorite heroine.

This whole series from Adriana Herrera has been a total stand out and I cannot wait to see what she writes next.

4.5/5

How do I even begin to review the epic conclusion to one of my all-time favorite historical romance series? Let me just say: WHAT. A. START. From the very first page, I was completely hooked and couldn’t put this book down.

Aurora—Aurorita! This fierce, fiery, unstoppable woman owned every page she was on. Her strength and determination were the heart of the story, and let me tell you, she had me feeling everything. Life has thrown her the worst possible hand, but Aurora rose above it all with grit, intelligence, and an unyielding will. A doctor. A revolutionary. An independent woman ahead of her time. She didn’t just survive—she thrived, challenging society, her family, and those infuriating aristocrats every step of the way.
And then there’s Apollo. Oh, Apollo. His chemistry with Aurora? Absolutely unmatched. His devotion to her—his obsession, really—was captivating. I loved how fiercely he wanted to protect her, even when she didn’t think she needed saving. Their connection was electric, and their journey together was nothing short of breathtaking.

As always, Adriana Herrera’s writing is phenomenal. She weaves a story so compelling and vibrant, it’s impossible to look away. I was torn between devouring this book in one sitting and savoring every word because I knew it was the end of one of my favorite series. Ultimately, I couldn’t resist—I finished it in under two days.

Adriana Herrera gave us the perfect sendoff. It’s an unforgettable finale to a bold, passionate, and empowering series.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

I LOVED this romance! It's a very steamy book about a female doctor running an underground abortion clinic and a duke. The duke wants to take such good care of the doctor, which made me love his character. Their passion about change and love and life was addicting and I was cheering them on all the way through.

Massive thanks to my friends at Canary Street Press and Harlequin Publishing for the great honor of reading this book early. All thoughts are my own!


I feel like I need some time to process how otherworldly this book is. Adriana Herrera weaves so much history and care into these stories. I was genuinely a sobbing mess by the end. There’s so much to say about these masterpieces, but I fear I will never have a vocabulary big enough to encapsulate my love and adoration for these characters. Adriana is a magnificent writer, and her ability to weave these stories together with so much truth and raw emotion is truly remarkable. I cried reading all three of these books, but this one really tugged at my heart.

I binged this entire series over the course of a week, and it’s clear to me that this is my favorite book in it. There’s just something so special to me about a woman who has taken on as much as she can, caring for everyone around her, and the man who sees her so clearly and cares for her.

Aurora needing to be strong and not sharing her emotions or letting anyone in WRECKED ME. Apollo pushing his way in and putting down roots in her heart? Yeah I was done for. The big and small ways he loved her were just SO GOOD!! They’re so hot; I was BLUSHING! I will never get over them. She’s taken so much responsibility and guilt for what happened to her, things that were not her fault. Watching her grow to accept his love and care for her and watching them build that trust and love was one of the most wonderful things I’ve read ever. I genuinely think this is going to be in my top favorite books ever, just because of how much I loved Aurora and Apollo together.

I love these women so much. Luz Alana, Manuela, and Aurora are so so special to me, and I desperately need everyone to read these books immediately. They’re truly sisters who care so deeply for each other. They have such a lovely relationship, and I love how they’re not afraid to call each other out, even when they do it with love.

I loved getting to see them with their partners again too. Part of why I love to read an interconnected series like this is seeing the couples we spent time with before again being all happy and in love. I adore them, and I will carry them with me. Their strength and love and tenacity are so admirable. They know what they want, and they get it.

I cannot wait to read more from Adriana Herrera!!

This was hands down my favorite book in the Las Leonas series! Aurora is an iconic female lead, fighting tirelessly to ensure women have access to healthcare and resources to escape abusive marriages, an uphill battle in a time when such efforts were almost impossible. Sadly, this story reflects the influence of recent political shifts, highlighting the continued policing of women’s bodies and limited access to life saving care, which added a powerful layer to the narrative.

Apollo faces his own challenges as the first Black duke navigating acceptance in the House of Lords, grappling with the immense pressure and prejudice that comes with it. From their first meeting, Aurora and Apollo share undeniable chemistry what seems like disdain is really a “I’d like to jump your bones” vibe, haha.

Their journey is a beautiful one, as they tackle both personal struggles and external challenges, ultimately supporting each other while making lasting impacts on the communities they care about. The pacing was spot-on, drawing me in with every twist and turn. I highly recommend this book and the entire series!

I liked the concept, I love that it’s a diverse historical romance but I don’t think historical romances are for me.

I received an ARC from Netgalley and I am leaving a voluntary review.

**

This is the third book in the series Las Leonas and it tells the story of Doctora Aurora Montalban and Duke of Annan. These two have met before in the previous books and there is a lot of tension between them, tension that pretty much starts the book off with a bang (wink wink). As they keep getting closer physically, Aurora especially struggles emotionally over her connection to Apollo while he has already fallen hard. Their HEA feels earned and perfect.

I haven't read the previous two books in the series before but that is something I need to remedy stat after reading this book. I loved the tension, the character arcs and the spice in this book a lot. And there is plenty of spice and none of it feels repetetive which is amazing. Each time Aurora and Apollo came together I was definitely feeling it. The emotional slow burn also worked well here, there was a lot to unpack from both of them and how they got to the end felt worthy of a trip.

I also really like how the book covered a lot of sensitive subjects around women's health, the need to be perfect and composed at all times, the prejudice of mixed heritage and Black people and all of that really highlighted the unjustness of the world in that time. I love how Aurora was fighting against the path set out for her and the moments where she was passionate about changing the world, even in small ways, were some that struck deep with me. I feel the author did a fantastic job at incorporating social commentary to her work, applause for that.

I'm off to read about Ethan and Luz Alana as well as Manuela and Cora next because I really fell in love with this historical romance series and the strong women making waves.

*4.25

Thank you to Canary Street Press & Harlequin Trade Publishing for the free e-Arc in exchange for an honest review! 💜

What an unforgettable story!

I am a big fan of the Leonas, they are all inspiring, dedicated, and courageous. My favorite thing about them is that they each stand out in their own way and Dr. Aurora Montalban did that!

Meeting Aurora in The Caribbean Heiress takes Paris, I knew her book was gonna to be life changing. Especially knowing she's a Black Latina Doctor who runs her own clinic!

Aurora is passionate and resilient. She knows exactly what she wants and how to get it. I love her confidence but I truly enjoyed how we got to see her upbringing and how exactly she views herself.

Finding out her reason for her underground clinic and how despite society's expectations she chooses to continue to run it and saves hundreds of women's lives was truly so amazing. She literally is outstanding.

I want to take a moment and applaud Adriana Herrera because the amount of love and time she took to write this is so visible. I am simply in awe of her storytelling and admire her writing.

Auroras' story was so important to hear, I hope that everyone has a chance to read it! She not only is vulnerable but she gains even more confidence and becomes the best version of herself in this book.

I am Doctora Montalban biggest and loudest supporter, and you should be to!

As for Apollo... He is so charming and caring. He knows how to not only emotionally be caring but physically as well (iykyk ;)

Apollo sees Aurora for what she is and more. His love and admiration for her is so vibrant literally everyone in the room could catch glimpse of it a mile away!

He not only supports her endeavors but he encourages her passions. He is not intimidated by Auroras talents or by what she does. Everyone needs someone as devoted as him!

Their banter and chemistry is truly off the charts! if you guys like me were desperately hanging onto their tension ridden conversations in the past books... well guys...you will get SERVED exactly that and more!

this was such a perfect amount of angst, yearning, and pillow gripping concoction of a novel!

I am completely thrilled for everyone else to tune in!

I read and enjoyed the first two books of Las Leonas. They were a fresh kind of historical romance, taking place during the exposition in Paris instead of London and featuring Black, Caribbean women as the heroines. A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke felt different from the two previous books in the series, though, because it is doing my favorite thing in historical romance: it engages in a dialogue about our modern predicament through the lens of a historical setting. This is the kind of stuff I live for. You find it in the best works of the early 90s which engage with The Year of the Woman, the historicals of the Great Recession that dive into discussions of class and it's evident recently in LGBTQ historical romance.

Dr. Aurora Montalban and Apollo Cesar Sinclair Robles, now the Duke of Annan, have been at each other's throats since they met back in book one of this series. She is a focused, serious medical practitioner while he has a reputation for being a rake and a flirt. Aurora is irritated by everything Apollo says and he can't help but provoke her. Aurora is one of the key players in an underground women's clinic in Paris that works with community practitioners (midwives) to assist women with reproductive care, contraception and other women's health issues. They perform both legal and illegal procedures, which leaves them open to arrest and assault. Apollo follows Aurora one night as she goes to see a patient and decides he wants to help her with a building and some protection, but Aurora also wants something from him: lessons in passion. The two enter into an affair but they can't help but fall for each other.

Most of the newer historical romances I have read that try to do something Important come off as preachy or pedantic. It takes a lot of skill to enter into one of these complicated, nuanced conversations about what's happening in our current world in a novel because you still have to tell a compelling story. And in the case of genre fiction, you have to follow the conventions of your genre. Adriana is one of the best in Romance right now because she is able to do both of these things at the same time. She writes the compelling romance– with a big helping of spice in this one– but is able to weave the political and social commentary in seamlessly. Aurora's character is inextricably tied to the work she does, including abortion care, because of her history. Aurora never feels like she is preaching about bodily autonomy or explaining the basics to the reader because this is her life's work.

If you've read the previous books in this series, you understand where Apollo has come from– he is a Black man who was left for dead by a prejudiced father but has come back to claim his place in a largely white (and racist) society. His position as "the first" impacts every choice he and his family make in the book. Especially his aunt. I found her to be compelling because she is both fiercely proud of Apollo but also pushes him to conform. In my reading of this, it came from a place of fear, that he would not achieve his potential after she has made it her mission to get him to this place. It was an interesting dynamic.

I'm going to be thinking about this one for a while. Historical romance is being dropped left and right by traditional publishing and that makes me really frustrated because I want more books like A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke. I want more books that feature "unconventional" main characters (AKA non-white characters that trad publishing has often ignored). I want to see conversations about our world through the lens of the past, but it becomes harder to write and publish these books when the main apparatus of the industry refuses to put money or effort behind them. If you are a historical romance fan or if you are interested in engaging in a conversation about the rollback of bodily autonomy in this country, you should read A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke.

ARC Review: A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke
Pub Date: February 4, 2025

Newly minted Duke, Apollo, is struggling to assert his place in society. He needs to find a bride and decides to come to Paris for a multitude of reasons - one of which is Aurora, who he had a one time tryst with and now can't stop thinking about. Aurora has too much going on with her work as a doctor to have time for Apollo's antics, but no one can deny that their chemistry is explosive.

Holy Crap I LOVED this book!!! Apollo is down SO BAD for Aurora and she is so prickly and standoffish. Man I just ate this up with a spoon and would do it again! This book starts out with a bang and the heat level just gets higher and higher as the book goes on. He is just so irrevocably obsessed with her - the literal definition of heart eyes. Their banter is just *chef's kiss* good - I didn't want to stop reading.

One of the things I want to point out here is Adriana's use of language. Both Apollo and Aurora are Afro-Latine and speak Spanish and utilize quite a bit of Spanish with each other, which makes total sense. I don't speak Spanish but never ever did I feel like I was missing out on something. In many cases, Adriana gives us clues to what is being said and in others you just get the context. It helped me be even more immersed in the book even though I don't speak the language. They've both experienced racism and being on the outskirts of society and while Aurora is content with the place she has created for herself, Apollo is fighting for recognition as a Duke. This is the crux of the conflict between the two - even though Aurora may have more feelings than she cares to admit, she knows she could never be the Duchess that Apollo needs.

The author's note regarding reproductive rights today is absolutely worth reading. Aurora helps run an underground clinic for women - providing necessary care (including abortions) in a time that doesn't feel all too different from our own in some ways. I loved how, though Apollo was concerned for her safety, he never suggested she stop her work. In fact he provides the things that she needs (such as a location) to do her job more efficiently and effectively.

This was my first 5 star read in 2025 and I will be thinking about it for a long time! Thank you to Canary Street Press for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.