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

I read so many amazing reviews about Bringing Down the Duke when it first came out so I was really excited to read it... and it did not disappoint! It was exciting and fresh with really great characters. I am looking forward to more from this author.

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

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....

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

4.5 out of 5 stars

Bringing Down the Duke was a unique and refreshing story and I enjoyed it all! It was a witty, entertaining, and engaging read that was incredibly well told.

Annabelle and Sebastian were wonderful, likable characters. I loved Sebastian. He's seemed so grumpy and cold, but I loved getting to see the man behind the mask as he got to know Annabelle and opened up. He was sweet, protective, and seductive. I thought Annabelle was such a great character. She was strong-willed with a very intriguing past, and I loved her tenacity and attitude. I love how hard she’s worked to better herself and everything she was fighting against. I really enjoyed learning both of their histories, especially hers. I loved watching these two come together, and fight their feelings as their attraction grew. It felt like a fun game of cat and mouse. I loved them butting heads and how Annabelle challenged Sebastian, it was awesome. I loved the build to them coming together and the growth they both experienced.

This book had such a different feel than any others I have read from the time period and I loved how it made me feel. I really enjoyed the writing and all the descriptions. There's a lot to take in in the beginning so it took me a few chapters for everything to really click but after that I really hit my stride and was engrossed in the story. There were a lot of entertaining moments that had me smiling, some mild drama, and a lot of angst happening. I was tense at times because of the time period and politics and was aggravated on Annabelle and pretty much women's kinds behalf on several occasions. I liked the different dynamics happening and I enjoyed Sebastian's relationship with his brother and liked how much it evolved. I really loved the relationships that Annabelle formed with the women involved and hope they each get their own stories.

This was a great introduction to a new series and a fantastic way to introduce a new author. After the initial start, I was totally pulled in I'm looking forward to reading more. This is not to be missed!