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Member Reviews

I loved the premise of this book, and the issues it tackles, especially in this day and age. I appreciated it even more after hearing Adriana Herrera talk about the book on tour! Unfortunately I found myself not invested in the characters and felt things were moving too slowly, so I decided to DNF at 37%. I'm definitely the minority here, and know many people who loved this series! I would recommend starting with book 1, as I did not, and may have missed some character building.

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✨New Release✨

I have been anticipating this release FOR YEARS!

This book is the perfect example of learning through imagination…

Adriana Herrera shows historical aspects of the late 1800’s in such a vibrant, unique way through her characters, dialogue, fashion, and setting. She weaves serious matters of that time seamlessly with wit and lust.

This is not just a romance, it’s a window to the past and gateway to the future of what romances SHOULD be.

This serious is my favorite! EVERYONE should read this series!

#adrianaherrera #atropicalrebelgetstheduke #readingreyna

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What a wonderful wrap up to Las Leonas. I thought it would be difficult for Adriana to top Manuela's book but I was so so excited about Apollo and Aurora. And to start the book the way she did?! Apollo is MESSED UP for her. He said "Aurora or no one" and I absolutely love love love that.

Adriana has a way of making you get caught up in a beautiful story while wanting to pause to google the amazing history she brings in. She talks about real historical issues like medical and reproductive care for women while giving you an unbelievably swoony hero. I loved how Aurora and Apollo grew together - fell in love despite themselves. It was beautiful to watch.

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A beautiful conclusion to the series! I think these might have been my favorite characters so far. Aurora's motivations for her work are especially important given the current political climate and really reflect how some themes (specifically attacks on women) are always relevant. Apollo secretly doing all these things behind the scenes to help women's causes was also heartwarming.

I'm also grateful that the almost breakup only lasted a couple pages and they got to live happily ever after.

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One of the best historical romanceTruly, this is one of the best historical romances--if not one of the best romances, period--that I've ever read. Adriana Herrera is at the top of her game, and (although I'll read her work regardless) I'll be devastated if this is her last foray into historicals.

You can read a blurb elsewhere--let me tell you why this book sparkles. The whole series (which you could read in order, but I don't think it's necessary) is SEXY, funny, emotional, thought-provoking, even adventurous. Adriana hasn't just thrown these Latinx characters into a wallpaper historical--they feel realistic and authentic, grounded in the mountains of research she's done. Aurora and Apollo are perfectly matched, and it really feels like their HEA is hard-won. Their scenes are full of playful bickering, deep emotional connections, and some of the hottest, spiciest sex scenes you'll read. Those scenes really do feel so essential to their journey, especially considering Aurora's work in womens' health.

This book is definitely a Romance-with-a-capital-R. But it feels so different, so fresh. The non-romance plots (Aurora's clinic work and Apollo's ducal vengeance) are just as integral to the book as they are to the characters themselves. It's impossible to resolve the romantic plot without integrating successful, believable resolutions for the "side" plots. Adriana weaves it all together so skillfully. A master!!!

In short, this probably isn't the book for you if you want something light and fluffy, without a lot of conflict. Aurora's clinic work can be very heavy, and there's a lot of racism in the present and in their backstories. There's a lot of joy and a really lovely HEA, but be aware it's not all easy.

I'm going to be pushing this book on everyone I know, and hopefully finding myself a copy of the gorgeous Canadian/UK edition with Aurora in the lavender field.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!s--if not one of the best romances in general

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A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke is my favorite book in the series. The Afro-Latine representation is deeply felt through the duke's character. Aurora is a rebel with a cause, a passionate doctor dedicated to her work. The story perfectly balances love and activism, and Adriana Herrera once again delivers amazing storytelling.

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In the third brilliant book in the Las Leonas historical fiction series, readers return to 1889 Paris where physician Aurora Montalban Wright continues to risk her career, but not her heart, by running underground women’s clinics for the women of Paris. As this chosen occupation exposes her to new dangers, she must begrudgingly accept the help, support, and protection of Apollo Cesar Sinclair Robles, Duke of Annan, who is still getting used to his title and society’s judgement. As he falls for Aurora, however, their relationship becomes strained because she will not give up her independence, nor will she be a suitable duchess as figures from their pasts return to threaten their safety and their chances at happiness. In returning to this fantastic historically-inspired setting and the stories of these brilliant women, readers will love the new corners of Paris and the dangers, secrets, and romance in Aurora’s future. A brilliant, complicated, and passionate heroine, Aurora’s female friendships and romance with Apollo are the emotional heart of the novel and will draw readers into this fantastic story. Immersive, spicy, entertaining, and unexpected, readers will love the latest book following Dr. Montalban and her duke in Adriana Herrera’s brilliant historical romance series.

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4.25 🌟
Such a fun historical romance. I love that this series showcases strong black/Latina women in male dominated fields and brought with it factual societal issues of the times for the readers to learn from. There were strong feminist themes that I loved.

In this book, I really enjoyed that our main character, Aurora, was a doctor who focused on bringing medical treatments to women who were usually denied it or put in unsafe situations in order to receive said treatments. The writing was fun, and the banter between Apollo and Aurora was so entertaining!

Thank you, NetGalley and Harlequin Trade, for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

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⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️

I love that these books have introduced me to stories of women I've never known about. These are fictional characters of course, but Herrera obviously does her research about real-life historical women. The love stories are great in her books, but this book in particular also made me think and feel about what women have gone through to get where we are now.

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Well plotted, entertaining, a cute historical romance that made me root for the characters
ecommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

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Um, hello, this book was so so very good. Definitely my favorite out of the three. The duke was obsessed with his rebel, and like, who can blame him? Their chemistry was electric, the politics were heartbreaking, and I absolutely devoured this storyline. I have it rated as 4.75 stars, and that .25 was because of the end of Ackworth's storyline. So rushed, so... out of place? Very clumsy, when the rest of the book was a page-turner. If you loved the Leonas, this ending will be just what you need. If you crave more representation in your historical romances, this fits the bill as well. Such a good read.

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This book took me by surprise. I normally don't read books with historical romance type vibes but this one caught my attention- and im glad it did! I enjoyed the passion and fiery attitudes of both the main characters as well as their banter.

I absolutely loved the representation in this book- yaaasss! You don't need to read the other 2 books to enjoy this one. I have this book 4 stars

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley

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First, thank you for the chance to read this early. What a way to end the Leonas series. Aurora is the perfect bad-ass doctor(a) helping women and her duke does the right thing and changes himself to accommodate her. Yay for strong characters. I love Aurora so much, I just want her to be happy forever.

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This was actually everything to me!!! The Leonas have been such a delight to read and we really ended with a bang with Aurora and Apollo. I loved it!!!

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I have really enjoyed this whole series but this one was my favorite. I really admired both Aurora and Apollo. Aurora was risking her safety to help women who needed assess to reproductive healthcare. As a woman living in a country where reproductive healthcare access has been under threat, I love to see this kind of storyline. It's good to be reminded that woman are brave and have been taking care of each other for hundreds of years even when men try to get in their way.

Apollo is a Duke but he's also an outsider. Being part of the peerage gives him power but it also means he has to deal with racism and being away from the place he grew up. I admired that he was brave enough to make that choice. I also loved how much he supported Aurora. It was also really fun to watch him fall for her and occasionally act like an idiot in the process.

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4.5 stars

What an amazing way to end the Las Leonas trilogy. Adriana Herrera is a gift to the historical romance genre, and I'm so glad I was able to read this. It touches on so many themes that are more relevant than ever, and doesn't shy away from showing the harsh realities that women continue to face. Doctora Montalban is a badass, and Apollo is the hottest Duke to ever live. There were a few moments where I found myself a bit bored because this is a slow burn story, but those didn't last long. Overall, I'd definitely recommend this book, and the trilogy, to just about anyone. This is the first historical romance series I've read where I really felt a connection to our main characters and where I could really see people who looked like me forging new paths. I'm looking forward to whatever Herrera has up her sleeve next.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my e-Arc of this book. These opinions are all my own.

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Final 4.5

Really enjoyed this! I love that Adriana uses the Las Leonas series to challenge the time in which they occur. Here, the FMC is challenging the way that women weren't allowed autonomy over their bodies and reproductive health. It is a timely thing to challenge, considering what's going on right now in the real world. Aurora was unwavering in her commitment to helping young women, and I really loved that.

Obviously, the romance was great as well. The chemistry between Aurora and the Duke jumped off the pages, and the spice was good.

I would rank this book number 2 in my series ranking

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I’m always down for a spicy historical romance and this one certainly fit the bill. While you can read it as a stand alone, there’s significant context from prior books in the series that deepens the story. I loved having a heroine who was exceptionally competent and cared deeply about women’s health. Herrera wove a solid individual plot, but clearly used this book to tie up numerous threads from the entire series. A highly readable and satisfying book.

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This book did not disappoint. This is the third book in the Las Leonas series. And while the other two are amazing, this book can be read on its own.

Aurora is a female physician determined to help women get the care that they need during this time. She is a strong woman that stands up for what she believes in but doesn't believe that she deserves it for herself. Apollo is a duke that is working hard to dismantle the aristocracy. The two find themselves drawn to each other despite all that is pulling them apart.

This was a beautiful story of two people falling in love while doing all that they can to help society. I could not get enough of these two and their passion.

Thank you to NetGalley for my eARC. All thoughts and opinions are honest and my own.

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4 stars.

I loved "A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke" by Adriana Herrera! Talk about a strong female main character... Aurora is one of THE BEST main characters I have ever read!!! She is intelligent, independent, and incredible. I adored her, her dirty mouth, her extraordinary smarts, her vast heart. And Apollo.... ohhhhh my god... he *loves* her, just as she is, in all her headstrong attitude and cocksuredness. Apollo is a former rogue new to the aristocracy but has something tremendous to prove with his newly-found title. Their banter together is fiery and wonderfully delicious. Their love starts as something purely physical (for Aurora's gain, on her terms!!), but feelings quickly start to happen for both of them, and goodness, what deep, meaningful feelings they are. I also loved reading about the historical aspects of this story, about women in medicine and women's rights, about how patients could not get proper care if their husbands deemed it unnecessary, how Aurora's bad experience in her teens formed her opinion moving forward and guided her career path regardless of the potential consequences. These issues perfectly mirror what we are going through today in 2025. And then, of course, there's the spice. Adriana Herrera is one of the best spice writers in the entire romance genre, and she does not disappoint here. I found myself blushing fiercely from time to time! Her spice is as good as it is because Aurora and Apollo have stunning chemistry with one another. Finally, Frankie Corzo is one of the best audiobook narrators in the business right now. Her narration is FABULOUS here!I She brings these characters to life in unique, distinct ways. I am sad to see the Las Leonas series end, but wow, what a way to end the series: on the highest note possible!

Thank you to NetGalley, Adriana Herrera, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Canary Street Press for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

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