There are some books you just know you aren't going to click with and this one and I will never be friends. The dialog is too modern and vapid, the suffragettes are too giggly and silly. My dislike was almost immediate and visceral.

Bringing Down the Duke is the best historical romance I've read in a while. Annabelle is penniless and eager to get out of her cousin's house, where she works as a maid. Accepted into the first class of women students at Oxford, she finally sees a chance for a new life. She wins a stipend from the suffragettes, and joins the bluestockings in their crusade. Meanwhile Sebastian, the Duke of Montgomery, is fighting to gain everything his father lost to gambling and drink. Annabelle tries to win Sebastian to the suffragist cause, but he is a) not interested and b) trying to help the (anti suffrage) Tories win the upcoming election. I loved Annabelle. She is smart and funny, and is surrounded by truly wonderful friends at Oxford. (I'd love a book about each of them.) I also loved her backstory (which I won't spoil here), and thought it was handled really well. I appreciated that the class differences between Annabelle and Sebastian are treated as seriously as they would have been - Annabelle's status as a commoner is a serious obstacle for the pair. I also liked Sebastian. He is too tough on his brother (and himself), but he is under so much pressure it's understandable. Historical romances often skip over the realities of the time period, or feel very unrealistic. This one felt like it was really well researched but at the same time was very entertaining. I was also so happy that Annabelle was a student as opposed to a member of the ton - this book felt much different than a lot of what is currently being written. I highly recommend this and am eagerly looking forward to Evie Dunmore's next book!

Bringing Down the Duke gave me all the best Pride and Prejudice vibes. I loved sinking into this suffragette story teeming with so many swoony scenes. I also loved the well-rounded characters and emphasis on female friendships. I can't wait to read future installments form Evie Dunmore!

I really enjoyed Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore! This book was a delightful forbidden love story. I loved the characters of Annabelle and Montgomery. They were each layered and I enjoyed learning more about each of them as the book progressed. I also liked how the arc of the story didn't just rely on waiting for the Annabelle and Montgomery to get together at the ultimate plot point. Instead there was a lot of back and forth and multiple obstacles throughout the book that really had me wondering how things would wrap up in the end. This most definitely is a ROMANCE novel so be prepared for all the romantic scenes--I loved it but its definitely an open door romance as apposed to a closed door romance. The set dressing of this book was also really enjoyable--I loved the time and place and many of the supporting characters, especially Annabelle's classmates and friends. If you love historical fiction and romance, this book is a MUST.

Okay this is hands down one of my favorite historical romances I've read this year! It's been a long while since I've sacrificed my sleep and stayed up way too late to finish devouring a book, and I gladly gave it up for this one.

Every aspect of this book just really worked for me. I loved our heroine Annabelle and that she wasn't from the aristocracy. She was such a smart and driven person and that made her struggle with trying to figure out what to do about our hero even more enjoyable. Sebastian was everything I look for in a good hero and even when he was making a quote 'bad' decision I could understand where he was coming from. These two find themselves in what seems like an impossible situation and watching them figure out how to solve it was such a joy!

I can't wait to see what this author does next and until then I will for sure be giving Bringing Down The Duke a re-read!

I really enjoyed this intelligently written historical romance! Annabelle was a delightful heroine and through her eyes, I learned so much about the women’s suffrage movement in the Victorian era. The character who I thought was the most well-crafted, however, was the Duke himself. The author had obviously done her homework, and effectively showed the immense responsibilities that being a high peer came with, and also how few opportunities were afforded to women. The romance was believable and unfolded at a nice pace. I did feel that Lord Ballantine should have played a little more of a role.... he seemed sort of randomly stuck in there. I’m so excited this is going to be the beginning of a series!

I highly recommend for fans of Lisa Kleypas, Jo Beverly and Loretta Chase.

Thank you so much to Berkeley and Netgalley for my free digital copy!

The marketing notes made me think this would be a battle of wits romance rather than a battle of hormones vs. social expectation. But it's not the book's fault I expected something more like E.F. Benson's DODO: A DETAIL OF THE DAY, published in the late Victorian era, and rife with wit, complex social gamesmanship, and intense UST, or Anthony Hope's THE DOLLY DIALOGUES.

In this debut romance, Dunmore hits all the expected marks of contemporary historical romances--the 'contemporary' signaling mostly modern language with the occasional nod to period terms, and modern behavior mixed with period, such as everyone getting on a first name basis fairly soon. The hero and heroine are in lust from the gitgo, and that lust takes up most of the book's real estate, driving the plot toward the HEA.

Along the way Dunmore weaves in some of the political issues of the time, including somewhat one-dimensional glimpses of Queen Victoria and Disraeli. Two highpoints were the female friendships our heroine makes, and also her experience, rather than the customary virginal "why do I feel this way O no!" Her struggle between 500-horsepower desire and a clear-eyed look at what happens to women who don't play by the constraining rules was one of the best aspects of an otherwise standard romantic arc.

Some sparkling humor here and there, added to the above, makes this author one to watch.

Wow. I'm absolutely blown away that this is a debut novel.

I couldn't read this book fast enough. The plot, characters, and writing were perfection. This is a true five-star novel and I am desperate to read more by this author.

I adored this book. Smart female characters, sweet spot in women's history, sharp dialogue and super sexy. Plus, Ancient Greek archaeology which made this Classics major very, very happy. A total delight with the unexpected storyline of the opening of Oxford to female students converging with the Suffragette movement. Brilliant, I look forward to the rest of the series.

An absolutely delightful debut!

I love me a good historical romance. A smart, strong, independent woman who knows what she wants, coupled with an attractive, somewhat emotionally stunted man whose stubbornness is rivaled only by the heroine herself? Yup. That's my kind of tea.

Filled with banter, sexual tension, and charm, I adored Annabelle and Sebastian even when I was annoyed and wanted to hit them over the heads with a rake.

Though this took place in Victorian England much like many other historical romances, it took place during a time I personally have not read much about. The woman's suffrage movement, which served as an interesting backdrop and definitely allowed our heroine to be surrounded by other like-minded, forward-thinking women.

The book itself entertaining and easy to read. I, for one, read it all in one sitting. And I look forward to more from this author.

First off, thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read this book early!

A healthy 3 stars for this one! It was quite the fun historical romance romp! I adored that it was set in the later 1800’s, during the suffragette movement in England. Had this book been without that aspect, it wouldn’t have been as fun.

I enjoyed the main characters (what a feat!) and this was overall just an adorable and fun historical ride!

This is one of my favorite historical novels of all time! It was such a funny and easy read, and I loved the suffragettes of Oxford! I can't wait to read the follow-up books--it will be hard to wait until next year. Many thanks to Berkley and Netgalley for the preview copy.

Bringing Down the Duke has everything a feminist romance should-- a dark and brooding (but progressive!) Byronic hero, the wonderful setting of Oxford and English estates of the Suffragist era, and, most importantly, a smart and self-possessed heroine. Annabelle is an excellent reminder that well-behaved women rarely make history.

I just adored the writing-- a historical fiction romance that is not stuffy nor hard to relate to. It feels supremely timely (which is another sad conversation). The characters are the best part-- flawed and lovable. I recommend this to lovers of romance, history, kick-ass women stories, and anyone looking for a higher quality women's literature pick.

Review excerpted from my blog post over at FanSciHist (https://fanscihist.wordpress.com/2019/08/02/bringing-down-the-duke-by-evie-dunmore/)

My Rating: 5 stars

Library recommendation: Recommended for public library historical romance collections.

Warning: Hereafter, you chance spoilers. I will try never to reveal major plot points, but to review any book, you must reveal some parts of the story.


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Number of titles I have read by this author: 1

Love story speed: Medium burn

Relationship dynamics: The Reserved Duke (H) / The Well-Educated Commoner Suffragette (h) ; elements of the Love triangle

Sexual content: Some, both “on-screen” and explicit

Triggers: Some historical misogyny; some violence against women (not by H)

Grammar/Editing: Several typos, hopefully to be resolved in the published version.

Review: This is an excellently written, evenly paced novel that proved to be a quick and extremely satisfying read. It is set in Victorian England (circa 1880) and is both meticulously researched and presented, particularly how the author captured the atmosphere of the Suffragist movement in England, and how well Sebastian’s interactions with Queen Victoria were written (with one notable exception where the queen slips out of using the royal “we” when reminiscing about Prince Albert). All instances of artistic license are admitted and noted in the author’s notes that follow the main text.

Our main characters are Annabelle and Sebastian, who are immediately captivating and whose relationship is equally engrossing. Annabelle is a strong, adept, whip-smart woman, and Sebastian is a cool, unflappable, and intense politician. Such was my emotional investment in these characters that I could not wait to pick the book back up when I had no choice but to put it down and stayed up all night to finish it, which is an increasingly infrequent occurrence for me as a reader. The supporting characters were well-developed and excellent in that they largely served as they should (as supports to the hero and heroine), while still revealing themselves as intriguing candidates for future novels. Further, the villainous characters are vividly described (reference the succinct, but visually rich description of cousin Gilbert in the first chapter), which greatly enriches the narrative. My only complaint about this novel is in how long we have to wait for the next one to arrive!

Campaign version: Vote now! A spectacular read; your vote will not be wasted on this candidate!



Full disclosure: I received a free advance review copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book. The time period was new-not the usual setting. I liked all the characters and hope to read more about them.

Clever, independent Annabelle Archer is suffocating in her role as maidservant to her oppressive cousin and his large family in the country. When she learns about Oxford's brand-new college for women, she cannot let the opportunity pass her by. She pays her cousin to let her go, and receives a stipend to cover her tuition. The catch is that her stipend has come from a suffrage group, so Annabelle is obligated to participate in women's suffrage activities on top of her schoolwork. During one such activity she makes the mistake of targeting one of England's most powerful men, the frosty Duke of Montgomery. As a result she is assigned to get the duke on the women's side, and what follows is a fun tale of independence, persistence, friendship, and love.

This book was a delight. I was pulled into the story almost immediately and had a hard time putting it down. There are a lot of parallels to Pride and Prejudice, but it still feels unique. There is good character development, and the romantic intensity starts early and doesn't let up. Though lighthearted, this book also makes you think about what women have had to endure to get the rights they have today. A great read for anyone who likes romantic historical fiction.

Please see my Goodreads review here:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2790011717?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

I think historical fiction romances just aren't my jam. They're often so inescapably modern feeling no matter their setting, because the way we talk and think has changed so radically over the centuries. Just the idea of how crushing social pressure could shape and destroy your life can be difficult to convey. There was no way to opt out, particularly if you were a single woman with no protector.

But if you love the Victorian era and early suffragettes, you'll definitely be well-served by this debut novel. Life sucked for women in olden times, in spite of having a female monarch - not all women are feminist allies!

One part I honestly loved about this novel is Annabelle Archer's backstory. So often women in historical novels are depicted as inexperienced virgins, but Annabelle's history means that she views sex quite differently than most Victorian romance heroines in novels I've read. And yet her perspective doesn't feel anachronistic, but perfectly in line with her strong, stubborn character.

I loved this book. LOOOOOVED this book.

Annabelle Archer is studying at Oxford and knee deep in the suffragette movement, having been told to recruit men of influence and standing to their cause so that they can be taken more seriously. Enter, Sebastian Devereux, Duke of Montgomery. The Duke is wary of supporting a cause that isn't in the crown's best interest, but he can't deny the attraction he feels towards Annabelle.

What I loved: The enemies to friends to lovers is always a good trope and this one was done so well. I loved the passion between Sebastian and Annabelle and the fact that they communicated with each other the whole time. When Annabelle was initially offended that Sebastian wanted her for a mistress, she knew that would be the only way to truly be with him, due to their different stations in society.

What I didn't love: THAT IT ENDED

This is one of the strongest historical romances I've read in a long time. I'm a sucker for prickly heroes like Sebastian, especially when they're paired with strong, intelligent heroines like Annabelle. I enjoyed seeing their relationship develop amidst the political turmoil of the Married Women's Property Act, with Annabelle on the side of women's suffrage (somewhat reluctantly, though in this book she proves that she's more of a feminist than she realizes) and Sebastian on the conservative Tory side (for a while, at least). I can't wait to see what Evie Dunmore will write next!