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. … 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….
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I had the opportunity to read an advance copy of the book and I loved it. Fresh historical romance voice, wonderful characters! Reminded me of Julia Quinn (you thought I was going to say Julia London, didn’t you). If you love historical romance, you will love this one, trust me
A wonderfully intelligent and deeply emotional debut from author Evie Dunmore. Bringing Down the Duke contains all of the things I love about Victorian romance: the history, the fashion, a courageous heroine fighting for independence, and a hero strong enough to admit when he needs to change. On a personal note, as the owner of an Andalusian horse, I was thrilled to discover that there’s an Andalusian in this story. I do believe this is the first time I’ve encountered one in a historical romance, which makes this novel even more impressive to me. Highly recommended for anyone who loves smart, sensual Victorian love stories with a firm sense of time and place. I read it in one sitting!
Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore was a hit! Just another reason to devour more historical romance books #yum
The setting is England, 1879. Annabelle Archer is the destitute daughter of a country vicar. She has been accepted to be among the first female students to attend the prestigious University of Oxford but first she needs to convince her cousin to give her permission. Her scholarship requires her to support the rising of the Women’s Suffrage Movement. Annabelle is charged to recruit men of influence to support the cause. She soon selects Sebastian Devereux, the Duke of Montegomery… This is when the fun begins y’all.
Annabelle is feisty, brilliant, and fearless. She fights for what she believes in. Her biggest fear is getting her heartbroken.
Sebastian comes off cold, calculating, and snobbish. He’s involved in politics. Favored by the Queen, he works to get back his property that his own father lost in gambling.
The moment Sebastian sees Annabelle: Instant attraction. They fight this push and pull. Sebastian is drawn to her but he knows because of her low status he can’t make her his wife. Hello angst, my old friend!
What a wonderful debut novel by Evie. Passionate, witty, and refreshing. I couldn’t get enough of the writing. Being transported to Regency England was timeless. I’m looking forward to book 2
I don’t normally read historical romances, so Bringing Down the Duke wasn’t really on my radar initially. After reading the blurb and seeing the beautiful cover around though, I decided to give it a chance and I’m so glad I did!
I enjoyed the hate-love/enemies vibe immensely between Annabelle and Sebastian. Their verbal sparring ramped up the anticipation so well and their chemistry was amazing. I would have loved even more scenes between them. The story started a little slow for me, as the world and characters were being established, but once things got going, I was hooked. My heart was fluttering and there were plenty of chest squeezes/turns thanks to the lingering, longing glances and brushes of physical contact. I love a good forced proximity and this trope played out perfectly between Sebastian and Annabelle. The secondary characters were just as wonderful and I enjoyed the strong friendships between all of the women as much as the romantic aspect of the story.
I really enjoyed the author’s writing style and wit, but I did have to stop from time to time because I wasn’t familiar with all the terminology/britishisms. A quick google search had me back in the story though. 😉 This was a fantastic debut and I’m very excited to see that Lucie’s story is next!
*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*
Loved Evie Dunmore s “revolutionary” historical romance Bringing Down the Duke so MUCH! I don’t usually read historicals, but this one pulled me in with its bluestocking suffragettes fighting for the vote…and to follow their hearts. Such a great story! I’m giving away my copy on my Instagram @author_toby_jane!
A suffragette and a Tory duke! Opposites attract…like magnets. Loved the historical details and the somewhat uncommon time period. I couldn’t read fast enough to see what would happen next.
This was great! I love the characters, and can’t wait for the next one! This author has obviously read a lot of Austen. Manners are important to the plot, and to the excellent dialogue. It’s so lovely!
My, oh My!! What a book, what a debut, what an author!! I was blown away by this, and if I didn’t know that this was Evie Dunmore’s debut I would have thought she had been writing for years, the quality of this is unbelievable, her writing is reminiscent of the likes of Gaelen Foley, Sarah McClean and Julia London. This book is easily one of the best I have read, it is stunning! Evie Dunmore is an author to watch, I know that she will go far, she will have a sparkling long career in writing and I endeavourer to devour every single book she writes in the future…..Hmmmm? That sounds a little stalker-ish.
I will admit, that I have been excited about this for an age, I loved the sound of it from the off, I knew that this book was so me – if your follow my reviews, then you may have an idea of why this book fascinated me so much. The heroine spoke to me in ways that not many heroines have before, her passion for her own rights, for the rights of women and her passion to educate herself and to be the very best she can be is utterly inspiring.
So, this is book one in the whole new ‘A League of Extraordinary Women’ series, that alone caught my attention before I had even opened the book. It follows as expected a group of ‘Extraordinary Women’ who are on the Suffrage path, who are starting their fight for their rights. In this book we meet the four ladies which I am hoping make up the series; their leader; Lucie (who is brilliant, I cannot wait for her book) Catriona, Harriet and off course Annabelle. Each as different as the next, each with her own story to tell and each with a thirst and a passion for women’s rights. I am also hoping for a story with Sebastian’s younger, rakish brother; Peregrin, he is a hoot and I can definitely see him having a story of his own.
Honestly, this series is going to be mind-blowingly great!
Set in 1879, country lass and destitute vicars daughter; Annabelle Archer has just been given a place at Oxford, she is amongst the first women to be allowed to attend university even though there are rules to her being able to study there. She really has to fight for her place to be there, she is brilliant scholar, she is intelligent, hardworking and ready to take her place and to prove to all those doubters that a woman can go on to further education, that her life isn’t all about being the unpaid servant that she is while at the home of her aunt and uncle’s. What a amazing character Annabelle is, she has such a great passion poring through her, she is kind, caring, loyal, she runs herself ragged for others and asks for nothing in return, but she has also a murky-ness lurking in her past, one which she has made her build a wall around her heart to protect herself from becoming hurt. As well as being the brilliantly educated woman, she is also passionate about women’s rights and she is apart of a ‘Radical’ Suffragist party who are campaigning for the amendment of the Married Women’s Property Act of 1870, along with her brilliant co-activists; Lucie, Catriona and Harriett. Annabelle’s task for the cause if to target the mighty Duke of Montgomery to persuade him to assist them, or to see where his loyalties lie.
Easy-peasy, right? – Wrong!
Powerful, cynical and slightly jaded; Sebastian Devereux; the Duke of Montgomery has been charged by none other then Queen Victoria herself to lead the Tories to victory in the up and coming election. Sebastian is renown for being the strategical mastermind who has the ear of the crown, a man who puts honour and duty over everything else which is why he accepts the Queens order, no matter his personal thoughts of the leader of the Tories, there is something worth risking his precious time and scruples for, something that the Queen can help him with. As well as steering the Tory ship to peaceful waters Sebastian has a rebellious younger brother and a bunch of Suffragists to contend with – honestly, this is not Sabastian’s week.
Sebastian – Oh Sabastian, talk about sex on legs!!. My goodness, this man…..sigh! Swoon!! You have stolen my heart, turned my head and made me into a melting mush of lusty want…If your ever in Yorkshire, you know where I am I may never be the same again… If he’d have propositioned me as he does Annabelle, well I wouldn’t have said no…#DoubleSigh!!
He is renown as the cool, straight-laced, commanding and heartless Duke, a man who has his own scandal which he has had to weather and which has hardened him, he see’s manipulating and calculating women – and men – where ever he goes. Which is more or less what he thinks of Annabelle when he finds her in his home, and not just her but a whole band of Suffragist’s. As much as he hates everything she stands for, he can’t deny that the moment he sees her, the moment her emotional green eyes alight on him, he is struck with her, as much as he is taken with her as much as his body and his heart are conspiring against him when it comes to her, and as much as he would like nothing better then to make her his, he knows that in reality that is impossible as he is a Duke and she is a commoner.
I love the relationship between them, the moment you meet Sebastian and Annabelle you know that these two are going to take you on a heart-breaking, and emotional journey. Their feelings for each is constantly simmering beneath the surface in everything they do, but my goodness they don’t half make life hard for themselves, they are both as passionate, as stubborn, as proud and as in need of love as the other. I love how independent Annabelle is, she knows that she has fallen head over heels for him and yet she repeat turns down him proposition not just to protect herself but for him too, she knows that a man in his position could never be with her common vicars daughter and Suffragist and she does all she can to spare him that scandal, even at the risk of her own heart.
Bringing Down The Duke is one of the best debut’s I have read, it is simply stunning! The character’s are beautifully written, each one sparkles with life, the story is fun and original, it is an exciting, gorgeous and mesmerising love story. Evie Dunmore captivates and enthrals the reader with her intelligent, passionate and dazzling writing.
I cannot wait for the next book; Lucie’s story, even though I do have to wait until next year, this is going to be torture, I will definitely pulling this off the shelf again just to immerse myself in it’s brilliance.
Evie Dunmore I bow down to you, I cannot express just how inspirational and captivating this book is, I am in utter awe of just how perfect this is.
What a fabulous romp through the world of suffragettes and nineteenth century England. I loved everything about this story: the characters, the setting, the history, the plot, the romance. It was pitch perfect, and it gave me such comfort and escape during a difficult time in my life. The moment I finished reading it, I pre-ordered book two. I’m a history major who was obsessed with Emily Pankhurst. I’m also a vicar’s daughter who grew up not far from Oxford. How could I not love Annabelle Archer? And Sebastian was totally hot. (Also, I hope to meet his brother again. I suspect I will!)
I will happily devour anything about the suffragists, but Evie Dunmore’s debut novel Bringing Down the Duke is one I’m already planning to reread. With just the right amount of romance and historical research, I was hooked on Annabelle and Sebastian’s story from the very first page. I can’t wait for the rest of League of Extraordinary Women novels!
I loved this debut Victorian romance from Evie Dunmore! I was intrigued when I heard the heroine was going to be one of first women going to Oxford. It’s little bits of ordinary history like that that usually make stories an interesting read for me. Ms. Dunmore’s lovely writing style and the refreshing premise of the story set this book apart from most of the Victorian romances I have read. I’m looking forward to reading more of this author’s books in the future.
These characters jumped right off the page! Miss Dunmore has a knack for creating super charged emotional scenes. I stayed up half the night to finish. Great read.
Loved every second of this book, from the bold and strong heroine, to the austere Duke, whose hidden passionate streak heated up the pages. The history around the suffragette movement was fascinating, and the romance had me glued to the pages. Fantastic read!
It is a special pleasure to read a delightful debut novel because the reader gets to anticipate more quality reading going forward.
Access to higher education for women is one of my favorite plot lines in historicals, and the Oxford setting of Bringing Down the Duke practically becomes a character itself. There is no place quite like it and the history lends itself to this tale of a young woman, a commoner, who earns a spot in the first programs for women.
The tension in the romance was realistic, the slow build to hot sex was handled well, and the resolution left the reader satisfied.
I’m very much looking forward to reading more of Ms. Dunmore’s work and her adventures of Extraordinary Women.
One of the best romances I have ever read. It’s a dazzling debut filled with strong, interesting heroic characters, simmering desire, and breathless, searing emotion. I cried more than once, and then felt such satisfaction at the end. A truly remarkable historical romance. Highly recommend!
A smart, spunky debut that is peppered with delightful characters, witty dialogue and true-to-life political and social issues of the Victorian era. The heroine is a commoner and a suffragist and the hero is a duke who has the ear of the Queen. Can two people be further apart in circumstance and ideology? Nope. Which made their coming together and HEA that much more sweeter.
Love, love, love!
I find it really difficult to write a glowing review of a book that simply engaged you from the very firts page. There are quite a few of them and Bringing Down the Duke, a debut novel at that, now belongs in the list. This is obviously a historical romance between a noble, Sebastian, the Duke of Montgomery and a suffragette, Annabel Archer. It’s obviously a smart romance, with both Sebastian and Annabel always engaged in conversations about either the political climate or philosophy and literature. It’s also about a class divide, men against women and maybe a little bit of opposites attract. But it’s also quite more, emotions, the characters thoughts, their dreams and their ambitions are quite palpable in the pages of the book. I was immediately engaged in both Sebastian and Annabel’s individual stories. I would still classify this as romantic comedy but with a lot of subtle angst. In other words perfection.
Clever, witty, romantic, and fun! Loved it.
Set against a background of women’s suffrage and the first female students at Oxford, this historical romance is filled with wonderful Victorian details, swoonworthy romance, heartache, and passion.
I adored this steamy, Pride & Prejudice-esque story about a seemingly cold duke and the headstrong, intelligent woman who falls for him, despite their differences in attitude and station. Evie Dunmore has quickly become one of my favorite authors.