A great conclusion to the Las Leonas historical romance series featuring three strong, independent women of color finding love and living their lives how they want despite conventional society dictates. This book features Aurora, a physician dedicated to helping women in need with all their health related ailments (including abortions). Her one-time fling with Apollo, the new Duke of Annan turns into much more and the two have to figure out if they are willing to take a chance on love and a life together. Great on audio and perfect for fans of authors like Vanessa Ridley and Evie Dunmore. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you to @The Hive and @Htpbooks for this audiobook as part of the Hive Influencer program in exchange for my honest review. I did an immersive read with this and the ebook. I really enjoyed this audiobook! I loved hearing the Spanish words and overall dialect. I loved everytime Apollo said “Fiera”! The narrator was great! I highly recommend listening to the audio while reading!

This is a 5 star read! I can’t believe this is my first time hearing of this. Now I must go back to read the other 2 in the series!

See full review of the book on separate posting!

✨this book made me cry on the bus!✨

A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke is exactly the book I needed right now. Aurora is a kick-ass heroine who takes zero shit and fights for what she believes in, and getting to read about her passion for women’s health care was delightful, albeit emotional at times. When Apollo, the Duke of Annan, offers to support Aurora’s underground women’s health clinic, she’s skeptical. And, to be honest, she continues to be skeptical for most of the book. Which is so fair! But gosh darn it when she finally decides to trust him, it is SO worth the wait.

A Caribbean Heiress in Paris and An Island Princess Starts a Scandal are two favorites of mine (you don’t need to have read them to read this one, but, like, you SHOULD want to read them). But dare I say Aurora’s book was my favorite of the three???

Increasingly niche things I loved in this book:
💜 fields of lavender as a romantic setting
⛲️ drama at the garden party
🥐 tasty pastries used as bribery
👊 martial arts training
🧴 gifting bougie hand cream to your beloved
🧤 gloves being used for multiple purposes

A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke comes out this Tuesday, February 4! ✨

🔥 A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke is a historical romance that brings the heat—and I mean serious heat. Adriana Herrera delivers a fiercely independent heroine, a broody duke who falls hard, and enough passion to set your headphones on fire. Frankie Corzo’s narration is phenomenal, making every moment feel alive, from the sharp banter to the extra-spicy romance.

If you love historical romance with contemporary-level steam, this one’s a must-listen. Full review on my blog! 🔥 [The Soft and Slow Life]

A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke is the third book in the Las Leonas series. Do you need to read the previous books in order to enjoy this one? Absolutely not. Should you read the previous books anyway? Absolutely yes. Adriana Herrera knows how to deliver strong and powerful women that question patriarchy while also giving us a diverse cast of characters in a well-researched story.

First off, I'm not a huge historical romance reader, but when it comes to topics that are relevant to our current state, I can be persuaded. Especially if it is Herrera writing it. She gives us the heat, angst and amazing characters who can vividly stand on their own.

Aurora is a woman that is one bada$$ doctor running an underground clinic that saves women medically when their lives are literally in the hands of others. Apollo meanwhile has recently been given the title of duke and is battling what that title means for himself and what he can do to help others with it. While it does seem that these two are focused on their jobs, I enjoyed seeing how their lives could intertwine and they could both help others in similar ways.

Men had so much to answer for...Aurora was saving mothers, daughters, sisters. Women who were at the mercy of callous men and an indolent society.

Herrera continues to give a voice to women in her stories that are all about standing up and taking their power back. Even if they have to do it quietly or illegally. This book really focuses on women and their body autonomy in a past that was riddled with horrible choices made by men. Combining something that is still relevant today with a scorching chemistry between two characters that displayed a bit of love/hate, this book was entertaining and had me cheering on the the unlikely pairing of Aurora and Apollo.

With a diverse cast, important topics even today and a true connection between Apollo and Aurora, this is a historical romance that will stay with you. The spice is spicing and the action scenes are breathtaking. And if you get the chance to listen to the audio narrated by Frankie Corzo, in third person, you'll get to hear it brought to life with the combination of English and Spanish speaking, making it even more realistic. From each male character to female character, Corzo knocked her performance out of the park! I'm sad to have this series coming to an end, but I hope Herrera continues to write more historical romance that is timely.

"Aurora will never lie to me to save my pride, she won't ever turn a blind eye to an injustice because it's inconvenient. She will never choose her comfort over another's well-being. She's better than I could ever aspire to be."

A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke by Adriana Herrera is out next week on February 4th! Thank you @Harlequin_Audio for the ALC! This is book three in her Las Léonas series.

The audiobook is narrated by Frankie Corzo (which is what the audiobook says but retail sites say Lola James, same person) and it was great. I actually didn’t initially request an arc because I knew I wanted to listen to this and that the audiobook would be good but then it popped up on NetGalley and here we are.

Now it’s been two years since I read the first book, but I remember LOVING it so I’m going to go ahead and say that it’s still my favorite of the three. But this is close second, it was great. Could read them out of order like most romance series but they are best enjoyed in order and have minor spoilers for the previous books.

I loved Aurora, she was a fantastic heroine! Apollo was great too. They were a good couple and the pining was excellent. The spice was spicy. Really though, Aurora is the best part, I loved her.

I am unfortunately just too busy at work today to write out that long of a post today but know that the book was great! Swipe to the second photo to read the synopsis! Absolutely would recommend it and the series.

💜💜💜

#ATropicalRebelGetsTheDuke #AdrianaHerrera #HistoricalRomance #Audiobook #AudiobookReview #Bookstagram #RomanceBooks #BookReview #BookRecommendations

I had such a great time listening to the audiobook. The humor, angst, and possessiveness...yes! The passion between Dr. Aurora Montalban and duke, Apollo César Sinclair Robles Wright was EVERYTHING. The narrator did a wonderful job in bringing the story to life. I did not want to put this down.

This was the third book in Las Leonas series.
💚A Caribbean Heiress in Paris
💖An Island Princess Starts a Scandal
💜A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke

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 Harlequin Audio for an ARC of this audiobook in exchange for a fair and honest review!

Oh, I loved this book SO much! I have read and adored each novel in this series as it was released. The first book, A Caribbean Heiress in Paris, featured the love story of Luz Alana & Evan, which introduced all of the players for future novels. The second book, An Island Princess Starts a Scandal, focused on the love story of Manuela & Cora. This novel, finally (!!!!) offers up both a backstory for Aurora and reveals that Apollo has a heart of pure gold.

This book is narrated by Lola James. She did a phenomenal job with the Scottish accents, but honestly, I missed the narrator of the first 2 novels of this series. Most especially for the Caribbean-Spanish accents. Overall, between both narrators, I think Nneka Okoye did a better job, and I deeply missed her narration in this third installment of the Las Leonas series.

Aurora and Apollo are easily my favorite couple in this series. It felt, in many ways, like this story flipped the conventional gendered romance expectations. Aurora got the treatment I wanted for Penelope on Season 3 of Bridgerton. Apollo sees Aurora beneath her split skirt and not traditionally fashioned clothing. He loves her appetite and lusts after her curvy body. Let me just say this is extremely spicy right from the beginning. The first 2 couples feature in this story just enough that you get to see how they are doing in their new lives. It's beautifully handled and adds so much to the overall narrative. I don't want to ruin the story, but I adored them together.

Aurora's backstory was complicated and unexpected. She was such a rich character full of pain, stubbornness, gumption, and grit. While she is a historical character and her practice fits with historical practices of the times, it's also horrifyingly relevant today. Human beings who give birth MUST have control over their bodies. Birth control and the right to terminate a pregnancy are both basic human rights. As is same sex marriage and for the right to exist as Transgender. These are basic human rights and MUST be protected. I also loved that this dealt with colorism and its long reach. So long, in fact, it's still a very real issue today. I wish more fiction treated this real-world issue with such realness. We can't defeat what we refuse to address.

I deeply hope that we'll get more books in this series. I'd love to read Clarita's story and perhaps that of other background characters. I'm not at all ready to let the charming world created in these novels and the people that populated it go.

Thank you to Adriana Herrera, Harlequin Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.

I just love a regency romance! This one was very good and scratched that regency itch for me. Lots of contemporary issues parallels that I quite enjoyed. Narrator did an excellent job with different accents for different characters. Can’t wait to read more from this author.

I received an arc from Netgalley and the publisher.

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.

After reading the first two books in this trilogy, I was very excited to finally read Apollo and Auroras story. And it did not disappoint! I adored all aspects of this book. The romance between Apollo and Aurora was swoon worthy! I adored how Apollo adored her, and how he just wanted to take care of Aurora without trampling on her independance. I also love how the author did not shy away from the darker sides of history, but really took the time to explore what it meant to be a person of color and/or a woman in this time period. It was truly enlightening.
It was also great to see the Leonas together again, and check back in with our first two couples.

The audiobook narration was also spectacular!

A refreshing historical romance with lots of diversity, a badass Dr FMC and a Duke simp. I loved this one and the audiobook was great. Also the Herreras spice is top tier, I can’t wait to read more of her backlist books!

4.5 stars! A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke is the 3rd and final book in the Las Leonas series! And I really loved this one, I feel like this historical romance series has just gotten better as the books go on (2 and 3 are my favs)!

“I want to burn the world down and rebuild it for you.”

Apollo and Aurora complement one another so well and are everything together! I loved the way he just wants to help her and take care of her and the yearning and pining. They do take quite a while to get it together and, she at least, takes a bit to just give in. He’s a Black Duke, she’s a female physician running underground abortion clinics in 1880s Paris. They both want (or think they want) different things than one another but finally figure out how to make it work together.

“I’m a man from the tropics, Aurora. What use do I have for a gentle breeze of a girl, when my blood requires a storm.”

CW: this book discusses abortion and aftercare

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.

Adriana Herrera delivers another unforgettable installment in the Las Leonas series with A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke, a historical romance that refuses to conform to expectations. Set against the glittering backdrop of 1889 Paris and the French Riviera, this story is a spicy, feminist delight that tackles heavy topics while serving up sizzling romance and high-stakes drama.

What I Loved:

Aurora Montalban Wright: She’s a powerhouse—an unapologetic, brilliant physician running an underground women’s clinic while challenging societal norms with every step she takes. If you love a badass FMC who is equal parts brains and fire, Aurora is your girl.
Apollo César Sinclair Robles: The Duke of Annan is a man with a dirty mouth, a tender heart, and an unwavering obsession with Aurora. He’s got a tough exterior, but his vulnerability and determination to support Aurora (even when she doesn’t want it) are swoon-worthy.
The Chemistry: Aurora and Apollo’s dynamic sizzles from the start, with tension, sex lessons (yes, please!), and a slow burn that ignites into five-alarm spice. Their love scenes are hot, heartfelt, and unforgettable.
Diversity Done Right: Herrera brings much-needed representation to historical romance. With a Black MMC, a Black/Latina FMC, and queer side characters, the story feels authentic and inclusive.
The Research: Every historical detail is on point. I found myself Googling as I read, soaking up fascinating tidbits about the era.
Themes That Resonate: Feminist themes and the fight for bodily autonomy take center stage, giving the romance a deeper, more powerful context.
What I Didn’t Love:

The slow emotional pacing between Aurora and Apollo had me yelling, “Just admit your feelings already!” But let’s be honest—this level of angst is half the fun.

Audiobook Note: The narration is stellar, with a cadence that suits the story perfectly. If you find the pacing a tad slow, speed adjustments are your friend.

Herrera has crafted a gem with A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke. It’s not just a romance—it’s a love letter to resilience, independence, and the strength it takes to fight for what’s right. Whether you’re new to the Las Leonas series or a longtime fan, this book is a must-read. Prepare to laugh, cry, and scream at the injustices of 19th-century society while rooting for two characters who truly deserve their hard-won happily ever after.

Final Verdict:
This book is everything—angst, yearning, enemies-to-lovers, and historical depth, all wrapped up in a love story that will make your heart race. Don’t sleep on this one—or on Las Leonas as a whole.

Spectacular audiobook!
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.

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.