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Reviews tagging 'Sexual harassment'

Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore

43 reviews

oceanelle's review

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medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

I’m not really sure how to feel. I liked the writing style—as far as romance authors go, Dunmore is decent on a line level—but I didn’t feel especially connected to either Annabelle or Sebastian, or the rather thin suffragette subplot (which Annabelle only halfheartedly connected to, and for her own selfish reasons). When a character claims to be able to “manage” different kinds of men, I expect someone bolder, more self-assured, more skilled at reading people. The sexual tension and spice was definitely there, but…I couldn’t find it in myself to care about the people having the sex. 

(Also, the number of times
Sebastian congratulates himself for not raping Annabelle is…disconcerting at MINIMUM, and this is coming from someone who loves an alpha romance
.)

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akswhy's review against another edition

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emotional informative tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

An interesting concept that turned surprisingly soapy by halfway through. I think there needed to be a little bit more plot that did not involve the love interest aspect of things. 

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bnielsen214's review

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emotional lighthearted relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0


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celery's review against another edition

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lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5


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garbage_mcsmutly's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

4.25

⭐ 4.25/5
🌶️ 3.25/5

📝 I really enjoyed this story. I think both FMC Annabelle's and MMC Sebastian's viewpoints were valid considering their backgrounds, and the things keeping them apart made sense to them. I loved Annabelle overall, being such a smart and resourceful and self possessed woman. And Sebastian's deep well of feelings beneath his stony exterior.

I liked that there were lots of political details (re: suffragists, and Tories v Liberals, and Queen Victoria). I really love a historical that's not afraid to take a side in favor of basic human rights/dignity, and shows some progressive views, however anachronistic that may make it.

🎧 This was dual POV but a single (female) narrator, Elizabeth Jasicki. She did a good job with the voices and intonations so that most of the time it was easy to tell, for example, when someone was thinking something versus saying it aloud (this is a constant peril of audiobooks), or which character was speaking at any time.

🌶️ There were a handful of steamy scenes with a medium level of detail. And there was great chemistry between these two.

🏳️‍🌈✊ There wasn't really any traditional diversity to speak of in the book. No mention of race or ethnicity or sexual orientation that differed from "the norm" (white, English, straight). And I would've expected at least one or two bi or lesbian characters in a story centered around the women's rights movement. There were different social classes represented, which kinda counts as a type of diversity, when we're talking British historicals?

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rxbynelena's review

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adventurous emotional fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This book suffered more from my high expectations than its own shortcomings. 

I read it very quickly, and I did enjoy it. However, my issues included:

1) his name being Montgomery. who could say that in bed ? sebastian is hardly better (can acknowledge this may be my own aversion to posh boys coming through) 

2) mr man acting far too predatory for the fact that this book was published in the year of our lord 2019 - was the author describing a horny man or a feral jungle cat ?? With all the talk of prowling and predators, we’ll never know. 

seriously though the initial intimate scenes felt very threatening. at one point Annabelle literally says how panicked she is to be alone with him (and not in a fun flirty way!)

3) i wanted more of the girlies! too much man, too little suffragist action xo



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kschmaltz's review

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lighthearted relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0


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agw622's review

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challenging emotional inspiring tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This was such an amazing read. The time period chosen was such a unique background for a romance book. I love how the line between being strong in yourself and finding love was managed so well. The charecters had depth, and I'm excited to read the next book!

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booksandteatime's review

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lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25


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welaneyding's review

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funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

3.25


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