I enjoyed this romantic historical fiction so much that I am impatiently waiting for the next in this series! I just love Evie Dunsmore's writing style: I'm definitely going to read the next book in this series! But things are destined to change when a shift in the course of action on the suffragists’ front brings these two rivals at close quarters. Moreover when it boils down to her fears, they were pretty much the same as any other woman in historical times, scandal, getting pregnant out of wedlock, being shunned, having to marry without love, and ending up as a mistress. In between all of his nonsense, there's also a great amount of ugly gender essentialist language in here about the heroine's Feminine Softness and the hero's Masculine Hardness.

Bringing Down the Duke (A League of Extraordinary Women)

I need to look up some more Historical Romance with kick ass feminists in like Annabelle Archer and Evie O'Neill! Untether him, and he would burn as hotly as he was cold, and the dark force of her own passion would crash against his like a wave against a rock rather than pull him under. In fact, Bringing Down the Duke seems to use its thin veneer of wokeness as an excuse to revel in gender essentialism. The blurb of this book would lead you to believe that the heroine, Annabelle, is this strong advocate for women’s rights, when in actuality, she’s quite passive and a complete pushover who can’t make up her mind about anything. In this fast-paced story, we are thrown right into the political fight for social reform in Oxford and London, England.Sebastian is appalled to find a suffragist squad has infiltrated his ducal home, but the real threat is his impossible feelings for green-eyed beauty Annabelle.

Bringing Down the Duke: swoony, feminist and romantic

While staying at Sebastian’s home as Annabelle recovers from a fever, the two begin to realize that while they are on opposite sides of the political issue, they appreciate each other’s strength of character.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. Her target: Sebastian Devereux, the cold and calculating Duke of Montgomery who steers Britain’s politics at the Queen’s command.

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

There are some throwaway lines where the Duke mentions he likes that Annabelle is smart, but it's constantly overridden by his - frankly - disturbing hyperfixation on how beautiful and sexy she is. I get that the romance genre must have Lust and Sex - but does it have to take over the entire plot? I mean, it's got a strong feminist vibe, good message about finding yourself, and main characters that aren't horrid.Annabelle has had her sights set one living an independent life so fervently that she doesn’t trust that a man can mutually be her husband and allow her the freedom to be herself. I expected this to be a story about a strong willed and driven woman who has a hate to love journey. com, Jane Austen Made Me Do It, and director of Austenprose PR, Laurel Ann is a champion of historical books, period drama, and Jane Austen. I never read romance books because I assumed they were too cheesy and poorly written to be considered worthy of my time. There's your cover blurb: This Book Turned Me Into (Even More Of) An Anti-Monarchy Communist: Save A Cow, Eat The Rich.

Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore | Waterstones

It’s the kind of chemistry that is only possible with good writing, and Evie Dunmore’s writing is solid for the most part. 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.Locked in a battle with rising passion and a will matching her own, Annabelle will learn just what it takes to topple a duke…. A wise and witty new novel that echoes with timely questions about love, career, reconciling with the past, and finding your path while knowing your true worth. This just may be targeted towards a different romance reader, and I maybe expected something different because of all the glowing reviews. And I'm ecstatic to see that not only are we guaranteed more from this debut author, but we're getting more from this series and set of characters. No decent woman would talk to a stranger in the street, certainly not while brandishing pamphlets that boldly declared The Married Women’s Property Act makes a slave of every wife!