It was a thing of beauty to watch him turn from this seemingly cold-hearted bastard into a man, who felt deeper than anyone would have ever expected he was capable of. Sure the book has lots of clichés, tropes, and silliness but rather than being annoyed, I kinda felt like I was meeting an old beloved friend.

Bringing Down the Duke (A League of - Austenprose Bringing Down the Duke (A League of - Austenprose

In this fast-paced story, we are thrown right into the political fight for social reform in Oxford and London, England. He is honorable, considerate, more than he let on when we first meet him, arrogant, high-handed, controlled and incredibly private and emotionally stunted.

But it is equally important that we remember the women of colour who are too often erased from history for their contribution to women’s rights. But her features were arranged exactly how some primal aesthetic blueprint in his head envisioned beauty.

Bringing Down the Duke Quotes by Evie Dunmore - Goodreads Bringing Down the Duke Quotes by Evie Dunmore - Goodreads

Because she could never, ever be anyone other than plain Miss Annabelle Archer, and now she’d forever know how dearly that had cost her. I can count on one hand the number of romance novels I've read, and this is actually my very first historical romance novel. I wish they had connected this way first and the physical attraction came in slowly later, as that would have been more natural. There were so many instances where it made me feel genuinely bright and happy, with its wry humor and strange anachronisms.I think the most crucial point for me was that even though I love modern and trail-blazing heroines, I didn’t feel that Annabelle was extraordinary for her time, not like the series promised. The widowed Diana, Lady Templeton and Jeremy, Marquess of Willingham are infamous among English high society as much for their sharp-tongued bickering as their flirtation.

Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore | Book of the Month Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore | Book of the Month

I think could have probably gone with the I-love-you-because-true-love stuff if the book hadn't been so realistic-ish in other areas. I'm going to be clamouring for more A League of Extraordinary Women books and likely seriously regretting my decision to read this early because now the wait will feel even longer than just a year. Woven throughout Sebastian and Annabelle’s story is the struggle to pass an amendment to the Married Women’s Property Act in 1882. She got in trouble early in life for fornication and destroyed her prospects and here she is again being even more stupid by not learning from her prior mistake. It's the perfect companion and back story to this romance, as it mirrors the value Annabelle places on her independence and her reluctance to hand over any powers to a man.Scotland and the great outdoors have a special place in her heart, so she is frequently found climbing the Highlands and hunting for woolly tartan blankets. He was, of course, a brilliant man, and an eligible bachelor, too, not too old and with nice teeth and a good set of shoulders…he had taken her to a concert. She has resigned herself to a life of caring for her extended family and dedicating herself to her studies.

Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore | Hachette UK

I deliberately did not watch any of the movies or series about Queen Victoria (or any of the monarchy for that matter) because she was viciously and vehemently opposed to the advancement of women in any way, including admission to higher education. However, the story, this deliciously angst-filled plot, the yearning, the complex characters so reminded me of McNaught's. Something tore inside his chest, something vital, and briefly, he wondered if a man could die from it.It's uplifting and thought-provoking to read about what strong women went through back in the day to ensure we have the rights we do today. I raced through this novel; there was something about the quality of writing and atmosphere that hooked me from page one, and simply wouldn't let me go.