Review: Bringing Down the Duke (A League of Extraordinary Women #1) by Evie Dunmore

Bringing Down the Duke
(A League of Extraordinary Women #1)
by Evie Dunmore

September 3, 2019
320 pages

Goodreads      Indigo

Goodreads Summary:

A stunning debut for author Evie Dunmore and her Oxford Rebels, in which a fiercely independent vicar's daughter takes on a powerful duke in a love story that threatens to upend the British social order.

England, 1879. Annabelle Archer, the brilliant but destitute daughter of a country vicar, has earned herself a place among the first cohort of female students at the renowned University of Oxford. In return for her scholarship, she must support the rising women's suffrage movement. Her charge: recruit men of influence to champion their cause. Her target: Sebastian Devereux, the cold and calculating Duke of Montgomery who steers Britain's politics at the Queen's command. Her challenge: not to give in to the powerful attraction she can't deny for the man who opposes everything she stands for.

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. He is looking for a wife of equal standing to secure the legacy he has worked so hard to rebuild, not an outspoken commoner who could never be his duchess. But he wouldn't be the greatest strategist of the Kingdom if he couldn't claim this alluring bluestocking without the promise of a ring...or could he?

Locked in a battle with rising passion and a will matching her own, Annabelle will learn just what it takes to topple a duke....

Review

Bringing Down the Duke was such a delightful read! I couldn't get enough of the story and its characters. The drama and the antics were such fun without being too over the top.

Normally I am not one for dramatics. But Bringing Down the Duke perfectly balances the outrageous gestures, extreme politics and fiery passion into one powerful story. From unconventional meetings to the women's suffrage movement to defying societal expectations, I loved every moment I spent inside this book.

Annabelle is a brilliant female protagonist. She didn't have much but she was determined to pursue a better life for herself. Despite her low station in life she spoke her mind and held her own against those who would belittle her- even someone as intimidating as a Duke ;) Annabelle was a force.

The Duke of Montgomery is smart, ambitious and good at everything he does. He recognized Annabelle's intelligence and treated her fairly. I loved watching them spar (with words). Their battle of wills was painful to watch but appropriate given the circumstances. When their passion ignited though, it burned stronger and hotter than anything. These two really lit up the pages!

I flew through Bringing Down the Duke in no time because of how fun, hilarious and empowering it was. I'm so glad this is only the start of this series. More, more more please!

*I received an Advance Reading Copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and not affected in any way. Any quotes included in my review were taken from the ARC I received.