Bringing Down the Duke: swoony, feminist and romantic, perfect for fans of Bridgerton (A League of Extraordinary Women)

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Evie Dunmore strikes a perfect balance in Annabelle's character of her being quick witted, strong minded and intelligent without that annoying "sassy-ness" that a lot of strong female leads get dragged down by in my opinion.

You can change your choices at any time by visiting Cookie preferences, as described in the Cookie notice. I expected this to be a story about a strong willed and driven woman who has a hate to love journey. Follows the same basic pattern as Pride and Prejudice, a copy of which the heroine borrows from the duke’s library, but the elements are more exaggerated.

And then there's Annabelle, who repeatedly acts like an idiot, but whom we're told is very smart because she's read Thucydides; whose political and moral principles seem to be based on the best interests of whomever she last spoke to; and who never once seemed like the impoverished but genteel daughter of a rural Victorian clergyman whom she purported to be.

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. A deliciously romantic story firmly grounded in the late Victorian setting, but posing some timeless questions about love against duty and honour or about reputation and safety against freedom and passion, questions that transcend the historical declinations and contingencies while making the tangible inner struggles of the characters deeply resonate. It’s the kind of chemistry that is only possible with good writing, and Evie Dunmore’s writing is solid for the most part.She simply wanted the life she could have had if she were a man, inheriting her family home and money, being able to go to Oxford at any time if she so wished. There is implacable opposition to this from all corners, not just from men alone but other women too, and including the Tory party and Queen Victoria. Annabelle Archer is excited to be moving to Oxford to study and support the women’s suffrage movement. It's uplifting and thought-provoking to read about what strong women went through back in the day to ensure we have the rights we do today. These characters were all so well developed, some you will love and others you will want to punch, but they’re all brilliantly used to further the relationship between our two MC’s.

Now mind ye the only reason Annabelle is involved with the political movement is exchange for them paying her tuition.There was a finely calibrated intensity that never lapsed into self-indulgent drama and an underlying opposites attract scenario able to go beyond the well-worn trope while renewing it through an intelligent and rounded leading couple.