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A review by kelseyreadshr
Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore
emotional
inspiring
tense
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
Bringing Down the Duke is book one in the League of Extraordinary Women series.
Annabelle had accepted her lot in life as an unpaid drudge to her cousin until she receives a stipend from the National Society for Women’s Suffrage to attend Oxford. Handing out pamphlets for reforming the The Married Women’s Property Act one day Annabelle is bumped into and kept from falling by Sebastian, Duke of Montgomery. The one person of influence that could sway those in the House of Lords their way. However, having the Queen’s ear as the Tory’s party chief strategic advisor for the upcoming election, and his family’s seat being returned to him on the line, winning Sebastian over to the suffragists side is near impossible. A chance encounter at a house party leads to an extended stay and an additional invitation to another house party for Annabelle at Sebastian’s country estate. Even with a strong growing attraction between the two, despite their political goals, is it enough for a Duke who could lose all politically and a daughter of a vicar who stands to lose everything else.
This is a new to me author that I hadn’t had a chance to read yet. The beginning was a bit of a slow start but a few chapters in and I couldn’t put it down. I loved how strong Annabelle was holding to her principles but also the hard decisions she had to make. Her concerns were very valid and brings to light how far women’s rights have come in the last 145 years and how much further there’s still to go. I enjoyed the transformation of Sebastian with Annabelle and his brother and also the political banter throughout.
There are four encounters that are delightfully steamy, though the fourth is brief.
Annabelle had accepted her lot in life as an unpaid drudge to her cousin until she receives a stipend from the National Society for Women’s Suffrage to attend Oxford. Handing out pamphlets for reforming the The Married Women’s Property Act one day Annabelle is bumped into and kept from falling by Sebastian, Duke of Montgomery. The one person of influence that could sway those in the House of Lords their way. However, having the Queen’s ear as the Tory’s party chief strategic advisor for the upcoming election, and his family’s seat being returned to him on the line, winning Sebastian over to the suffragists side is near impossible. A chance encounter at a house party leads to an extended stay and an additional invitation to another house party for Annabelle at Sebastian’s country estate. Even with a strong growing attraction between the two, despite their political goals, is it enough for a Duke who could lose all politically and a daughter of a vicar who stands to lose everything else.
This is a new to me author that I hadn’t had a chance to read yet. The beginning was a bit of a slow start but a few chapters in and I couldn’t put it down. I loved how strong Annabelle was holding to her principles but also the hard decisions she had to make. Her concerns were very valid and brings to light how far women’s rights have come in the last 145 years and how much further there’s still to go. I enjoyed the transformation of Sebastian with Annabelle and his brother and also the political banter throughout.
There are four encounters that are delightfully steamy, though the fourth is brief.
Content Warnings
Minor: Miscarriage