Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the audiobook copy!

It's safe to say that this was my favorite book in the series. The tension and angst were on 10 and I just couldn't put this book down. If you aren't familiar with this series, we are following three women finding love in Paris. This specific story follows Aurora, a physician who is running an underground women's clinic. She has an encounter with Apollo, a new duke trying to make a name for himself. These two can't resist each other and end up in a pact that might put both at risk. I loved Aurora as a character and just wanted to see her succeed in both love and life. Apollo was the ideal guy to support her and I enjoyed his banter with Aurora as well. If I had any complaints, it would be that this could have been a bit shorter. Besides that, the story keeps readers engaged from beginning to end. Highly recommend it if you liked the previous books in this series or if you didn't.

This book was phenomenal and one of the best historical romance books of all time! I loved every minute of this book and it was basically perfect in my eyes. Apollo and Aurora's story was so wonderful and they fought for their love regardless of what society thought about them, 10/10!

Hispanic Bridgerton but make is SUPER spicy!!
I really enjoyed the audiobook and would DEFINITELY recommend this.

Read this if you loved Bridgerton but:
•wanted more spice
•love historical fiction but want it to feel relevant
•needed more diversity

Thank you so much NetGalley for this ARC! This book was funny, timely, steamy, and thought provoking! I absolutely love how Herrera stuck to the traditional romance tropes well simultaneously making everything about the plot very relevant to today’s women’s rights issues. Bonus: we love a romance series that can be read in any order!

4⭐️ This book was just what the doctor ordered (get it?). No really, this was a breath of fresh air when the real world feels pretty suffocating. The message was heartening and validating and made me feel a little less alone. I know many readers will feel similarly. I loved the writing style and overall, I think it was well plotted. The Duke was a delight, but the heroine was a little harder to love (by design). The spice was a delicious level of spicy, but will still be quite palatable for those with tender sensibilities (i.e., nothing too salacious).

There’s one big content warning for this one, so do be aware this book (very respectfully) discusses abortion and aftercare. The FMC is a doctor for neglected and underrepresented women after all. If these topics are a hot button for you, please don’t read it.

In terms of the audiobook, narrator Frankie Corzo was fantastic. She did a wonderful job of discriminating character voices and her portrayals of both the FMC and MMC were on point. I also really appreciated that instead of just reading that (for example) dialogue was spoken between gasps, she actually narrated it that way. It’s those little details that really set a narrator apart for me.

Consistent with the characters, this book has a fair sprinkling of Spanish words/phrases throughout. As a monolingual English speaker, I definitely think that my enjoyment of the book may have been altered by consuming it in the audio format. I know some limited Spanish, so not everything was lost on me, and I was often able to decode unknown words well enough to plug them into a translation app when I wanted to. But, some words/phrases went over my head. That said, hearing the words spoken so smoothly by the narrator was heaven. Had I read this as a physical or ebook the narrator in my own head would have really butchered that beautiful language. Sometimes, it’s more about the sentiment than the actual word, and I think the narrator did a phenomenal job of communicating the intent, too. I’m thinking of one particular passage in which a character was feeling passionately angry and threatening, and based on the vocal performance I didn’t need the translation to decode the meaning. I think in an ideal world, this is a book I would co-read as audio and kindle so that I could tap to translate when I felt it necessary to ensure I wasn’t missing anything. If you’re bilingual, I think you will freaking love the heck out of this as audio. If you’re a vibes person, or someone who is satisfied enough with using context clues, then again audio is the way to go. If you’re a monolingual English speaker who is clinical, literal, needs information, data, and precise answers then you might prefer reading this one in print.

Thanks to Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for an audio ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I tandem listened to the audio and read the ebook so I'm copying my full review below but the audio was just ... everything I needed to connect even deeper with the story. I look forward to many relistens in the future because this book feels like best of the year ... and the next few.
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This book is so important right now and always. I couldn’t recommend it more before I knew it was coming and now that I’ve gotten my hands on it WHEW. It is an absolutely beautiful way to finish a series that will always mean so much to so many.
Stories of women having to seek healthcare under the cover of night should stay historical. Tropical Rebel Get the Duke is a deliciously poignant example of a snapshot of a woman being a survivor, a healer, a source of strength for other women … and the man who is absolutely gone for her! He protects her without her knowing because he knows what her independence has cost her and how much she wants to hold on to it
I felt all the emotions, I laughed A LOT. Aurora is the right kind of bold for me. And who can’t love a woman that carries bladed gloves? Her and the duke are SO HOT. I’m genuinely in awe of a) the fact that my kindle did not overheat and self-destruct and b) my ability to keep a straight face.
I was so angry for them both so often. The amount of people who want to use the Black duke and also push him to the fringes is both realistic and infuriating. I can’t get into the entire list of people who attempted to (and did) hurt Aurora in the name of her reputation/race/gender or any other list of foolishness used to hold her back.
Nevertheless, these two fought for each other when it didn’t make sense. It felt like their souls were the perfect puzzle pieces and I can’t imagine a better existence for these two.
Brava!
I’m already preparing my wallet to own every copy in existence!

DNF’d at 57%
I received the audio arc from NetGalley. I’m not DNF-ing this because the book is bad, BECAUSE ITS NOT! I was just unaware when I requested this arc that the book was the third in a series. I really like the premise, and I may go back to it in the future if I find the time to read the other books in the series first, but as it is right now I’m unable to form any attachments with the characters. I love the plot and the story, but it’s just missing something. And I think that something is past context from the other books.

Thank you to The Hive, Harlequin Trade Paperback, and Harlequin Audio for the advance reader and listener copies. These opinions are my own.

This is book three of Las Leonas, an amazing historical romance series by Adriana Herrera. I have been simultaneously eagerly awaiting this and wanting to put it off because it's the end of the series.

I absolutely adore Aurora, our female main character. She took a bad experience as a 15-year-old and used it as motivation to become a doctor focused on helping women. So much of this book highlights women's health and just how essential reproductive healthcare is. Good historical romances always shine a light on current society, and this does so especially well.

And then there's the duke, Apollo. We saw him turn society on his head in previous books (I recommend reading this as a series in order). And somehow he's even hotter in this book?! It might be the shirtless capoeira that does it.

The two of them together are so amazing. There's such depth and character growth. I want to re-read the entire series at a single go now. And having loved the audio format here, I might choose audio for all three on a re-read.

4.25 stars

Thank you to Harlequin & Harlequin Audio for my arcs!

I love this spicy and deeply feminist series, and I think this was my favorite of the set. I love when we get to see the whole friend group together at the end of a series!

Be prepared for some feminine rage (and empowerment!) with this one - Dr. Aurora Montalban Wright runs an underground women’s clinic. I love a strong B-plot in a romance book, and this worked so well for me. I’m also passionate about women’s access to healthcare, and I loved how well researched this part was.

I absolutely love to see a down bad Duke who supports his love interest. Apollo and Aurora start as FWB, we can see how much Apollo wants to protect Aurora when he realizes how dangerous her work is. I love how their romance intertwined with Aurora’s work as a physician, it created some delicious romantic tension to balance the darker plot points.

As for why I rated this 4 starts instead of 5, it mostly comes down to personal preference. I tend to feel like a “this is just physical, no feelings!” trope goes on a little long for me. So I really liked it, but isn’t quite at that obsessed, immediately want to reread, 5 star vibe, if that makes sense.

🎧 Frankie Corzo did a fantastic job with this one! I really enjoyed all of the characters she created, they were each distinct and easy to understand. A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke is well suited to audiobook format!

When we talk about the healing power of romance this is it! Aurora's journey was so beautiful to read, and I really felt like in her voice is where Frankie Corzo truly shined, portraying a tenacious and brilliant woman who at her core needs love and acceptance for who she is. An incredible combination of story and performance!!

ALC Review: A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke
Pub Date: February 4, 2025
Narrator: Frankie Corzo

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.

The narration by Frankie Corzo was excellent - the Spanish was incredibly well done and I loved her accents - her voice for Apollo was pretty sexy!

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.

This trilogy is amazing. I have been waiting to see these two together. The doctor & the reluctant Duke. Each trying to change the world in their own way. Each having to accept that the family you are born into is not always the best fit.
Aurora is trying to provide health care to women in need. It’s dangerous and exhausting. She does not trust men and has no time for nonsense.
Apollo is now the Duke and as a brown man, the aristocracy is not accepting of him.
They have been sniping at each other for 2 books now and I knew they’d be incendiary.
I loved watching these two circle one another.
It’s sexy and beautifully written and reminds us that todays issues have been issues in the word before.

Adriana wrote a strong and engaging series. All three books were enjoyable and had strong FMCs that found their HEAs. Tropes include enemies to lovers, bedroom lessons, and a third-act breakup. I appreciate that she's able to write a historical romance while covering actual historical events or trends from the period.

Really impressed that a 14-hour book could maintain my interest. I enjoyed A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke. It’s the third in the Las Leonas series, so I was a little lost at the start because it opened on plot points from the previous books which led into Aurora and Apollo’s story, but afterward it read like a standalone .I’ll definitely go back to read the first two.

Aurora was the star of the show for me . I loved her character and how she was so passionate about protecting women and giving them the confidence to have autonomy over their bodies, her ruthless independence (that endangered her more often than not) and how she found her match in Apollo. It was a very hopeful story with themes that are unfortunately still applicable today.

Because I still feel like a visitor instead of a full-time resident of the historical romance genre, I don’t feel qualified enough to give critiques for this (I didn’t have any) . But even if I did, I wouldn’t be able to clearly articulate them like I would for a regular degular contemporary romance.

The narration was fine and suited the characters. Frankie Corzo isn’t my all-time favourite narrator, but she’s always a solid choice that I can depend on like, I know my ears won’t bleed listening to her.

Thanks to Harlequin audio for the ALC!

Listen, it really does take a lot to have me sobbing into my kindle at odd times of the day but this book did that repeatedly. What a damn journey.

Aurora, much like myself, is a “difficult” woman, if the societal ideal of a woman is passive and non-confrontational. She was an angry child, a lonely child, and an unprotected child who built armor around her heart to keep hurt out. She’s snappy, opinionated, and lashes out first so she can be the one to control the hurt. I loved her to bits. I cried for her, her childhood, her refusal to be anything but herself (shabby dresses and all!), and the way she slowly lets Apollo in knowing it’s going to hurt when she crashes.

So much of this story is Aurora and Apollo’s story. Obviously. This is a romance after all. But it’s a fierce love letter to every woman, especially women of color, that fought for something better and for the right to their own bodies. Aurora and Apollo don’t have an easy road to an HEA but it’s not because they don’t match each other perfectly (Apollo is her soft place to land and fiercest champion), but because they have an uphill battle to climb with the aristocracy and a society designed to keep white supremacy at the control panel. Neither of them are welcomed by a society controlled by white men, specifically violent white men, but they carve out a different legacy together. One where the women that birthed them are honored and celebrated (a midwifery!!!) and where they help women take control of their own destiny.

I don’t think Herrera could have written a more poignant or more relevant romance right now with bodily autonomy and the legacy of white supremacy and control at the helm. I wish it wasn’t as relevant as it is, but Herrera took the biggest middle finger in the world, wrapped it in a passionate love story, and gave the angry girl, the prickly girl, the difficult girl the happy ending she deserved. And I can’t thank her enough for writing a difficult woman finding a man that loves and champions her against the world.

All the snaps, Adriana Herrera. All the snaps.

Aurora and Apollo will break your heart and set you on fire, and then put it all back together again! They couldn’t be more wrong for each other on paper… but they can’t deny how together, everything just seems to fit!

You will love Aurora who is a fierce female doctor of color in the Victorian era. She is strong, and determined and principled - but I absolutely love the way that we got to see her soften without losing an ounce of her fire. As the story went on Aurora’s character seemed lighter and more playful as she got more comfortable with Apollo.

Apollo will have you swooning at every turn. My goodness. And he’s so helplessly gone for his little “Fiera” 🫠

I listened to the audiobook and the narration was perfect! 👌🏼

4.5 ⭐️ rounded up! such a great book and you can tell that the author did sooo much research on this subject. aurora who is a latina doctor, runs an underground clinic for women in need, regardless of any and all consequences, and along the way she very reluctantly falls in love with apollo, the first Black duke (afro-latino) that is also trying to find his way in society, and the story is set in paris, in 1889. it was steamy, and the banter and playfulness was there too. definitely a must read!

i listened to the audio and followed along in the ebook and i actually really loved doing this! i thought that frankie corzo was such a great voice actor for this book and her voice fit very well with the characters! definitely going to read the previous 2 books as this was the 3rd in the las leonas trilogy and i’ll likely grab the audio for those as well ☺️

themes:
feminism
women fighting for each other
reproductive rights
heroine run a women’s clinic
hero who fights for her 🥹

thanks so much netgalley and harlequin audio for this alc of a tropical rebel gets the duke!

✅ Aurora Wright, Physician running an underground women’s clinic & Apollo Cèsar Sinclair Robles, Duke of Annan
✅ Aurora & Apollo have a one night stand
✅ Black/Latina FMC & Black MMC
✅ a delightfully feminist book. If you’re in a “f*ck the patriarchy” mood, this is the book you’re going to want to read.
✅ LGBTQ+ rep with the supporting cast
✅ he falls first and falls harder
🌶️: yes, starting in the first 1/3rd. He has a 😈 mouth

The whole Las Leonas series is an absolute blast! This relationship was teased in Book 1 and I’ve been waiting for it to be released!

A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke is the third and final book in Herrera's Las Léonas series, which follows two headstrong individuals trying to make their corner of the world a little brighter. Aurora Montalban has her underground physician work giving healthcare to women, and Apollo César Sinclair Robles is wanting to right some wrongs with his new title of duke. Both are not wanting any serious romantic relationships yet can't seem to stay away from each other. When their past catches up with them, they Apollo has to convince Aurora that they can be more.

I was absolutely blown away with this book! (And would definitely recommend the audio!) Not only was the dynamic between Apollo and Aurora explosive from page one, but the way that they complement and build each other up was top notch. Everyone should read this book just based on the tension between these MC's BUT also because of the topics discussed. Aurora runs an undercover women's clinic that provides services that are illegal during the time period, which feels very relevant with the current politics happening in the US right now. Meanwhile, Apollo is dealing with racism as the first Black duke in this society, so various other's are just waiting for him to make a mistake. If you are looking for a romance book with depth and a stunning romance plot, please do yourself a favor and read A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke!

I don’t read much historical romance, but this author came highly recommended so I decided to give it a try.

I’m so glad that I did! A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke is the third and final book in the Las Leonas series. I’ve not read the prior books, so you can absolutely read this on its own and enjoy.

Thought-provoking and captivating, this book blends a scorching romance with political drama.

I primarily listened to this on audio, and I highly recommend this format. The narration was great.