ARC Review: Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore
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I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. |
Book Info
Released: September 3, 2019
Genre: Historical Romance
Series: A League of Extraordinary Women #1
Published by Berkley
Pages: 320
Format: eARC
“Bringing Down the Duke is Evie Dunmore’s debut novel and it’s a solid addition to the historical romance genre”
~ Under the Covers
Annabelle Archer is an impoverished daughter of a vicar. Sebastian Devereux, is the Duke of Montgomery and a master strategist, with the respect, and fear, of the entire peerage. Annabelle is one of the first female students of Oxford University and part of the suffragist movement. Sebastian is mired in the traditions of the aristocracy and focussed on rebuilding his family legacy. When Annabelle is chosen to target the Duke of Montgomery to try and get him to champion the suffragist movement in parliament, neither one of them expect the powerful but impossible attraction that blooms between them.
I did it again! My eyes had decided that I was going to read this book before my brain engaged. I couldn’t help it I love this cover. Luckily my brain and I are pretty happy with the results. Bringing Down the Duke is Evie Dunmore’s debut novel and it’s a solid addition to the historical romance genre. I didn’t necessarily knock my socks off, but it was an enjoyable read.
If you’re a fan of a slow burn, then you will enjoy this book. The relationship between Annabelle and Sebastian grows relatively slowly as they find themselves reluctantly drawn to one another. For me, it was a bit too slow. It then fell into the trap of everything happening very quickly at the end, when the rest of the book had been a gradual and fairly plodding build up. However, Dunmore did do a good job of showing the chemistry between them. I also liked that she outlined some of the realities of Sebastian marrying ‘down’, even if it was ultimately ignored in the end in pursuit of a HEA.
As well as our hero and heroine, there was an interesting cast of secondary characters. I especially liked Sebastian’s younger brother. Of all the secondary characters I felt like his was the most well fleshed out and I particularly liked how it showed the brothers contentious relationship as their very disparate personalities clash.
This was a good start to this series and I will certainly be picking up the next book.
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About Evie Dunmore
Evie wrote The League of Extraordinary Women inspired by the magical scenery of Oxford and her passion for romance, women pioneers, and all things Victorian. In her civilian life, she is a strategy consultant with a M.Sc. in Diplomacy from Oxford. Scotland and the great outdoors have a special place in her heart, so she is frequently found climbing the Highlands and hunting for woolly tartan blankets. She is a member of the British Romantic Novelists' Association (RNA).
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Annnnnd I will stop myself there, before I start waxing lyrical about my love of historical romance and fantasy as well; no one needs to know about my elf fantasies. As you can tell, I adore and day dream about most romance genres, and my three big loves are 1) reading about romance 2) writing about romance and 3) talking about romance with my gals. Which, is why I love Under the Covers so much, I get all my bookish needs satisfied and don’t get judged when I talk about my favourite characters like they are real people. Which they are right?
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I was the opposite in that I didn’t like the cover. The slow burn is ok sometimes but I think I’ll pass on this.
I don’t like the cover, but it’s irrelevant. I loved all the authentic “feminist” stuff but I didn’t like the hero, and the romance left me cold. What bothered me was the author’s lack of knowledge regarding the use of titles, particularly with regard to the exceptional research. My favourite character was Sebastian’s younger brother. Oh well… Great review!
Thanks for the review, you had me until you mentioned slow burn which is not something I enjoy.
This is on my wishlist. Thanks Suzanne for the review