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If you’re in need of a comfort read, look no further!  Our next Virtual Book Club pick, Little Women, (despite that one bit that makes me cry every time) is like a warm blanket on a cold day.  I need more of that (physically and emotionally, as I sit here in sweats), so if you do too, please join us on Friday, December 11 at 7:30 p.m. CST.  Register here to let us know you’re coming, and check out our list of inexpensive Kindle options on this post if you don’t already have a well-loved copy, or just want another for your collection.  

Also, our country has a lot of healing to do for many reasons, so today we’re bringing you two tales of women working to gain legal status only 150 years ago.  Yes dear readers, in Britain, married women had no legal status until 1882, and then it took until 1918 for women to be able to vote.  Women in the US have been able to vote for (just) the last 100 years.  Today’s historical romance novels are light reads, but they contain serious themes including freedom, independence, found family, duty, women’s suffrage, persistence, the pursuit of right, family of origin struggles, and healthy romantic relationships.  These books remind me of all that we didn’t have 100 or 150 years ago as well as all the work there is still to be done.  Also within these pages is an example of how women made progress, with the support of men.  As you read our post, and perhaps these novels, consider how our cast of supporting men was helped to truly see the cast of women, and the difference that made, then consider how you can open your eyes and help others to open theirs to the perspectives of others, not for the sake of convincing anyone to change their perspective, but for the sake of understanding.  That is where the healing starts, with seeing and being seen, understanding and being understood.  Now, on to the novels at hand!  

I’ve been reading more debut novels lately (thank you recommendations + holds), and like most of those, 2019’s Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore, and the 2020 follow up A Rogue of One’s Own do not disappoint!  If you didn’t know, I 100% judge a book by it’s cover.  As I do enjoy reading a good open door romance novel (or as my Adam likes to call it – alternative Fabio cover), I know covers can give me a good indication of what’s waiting for me inside.  These covers have vibrant colors with a drawing of a couple, with the first couple is on horseback in front of British landmarks (or so they appear).  Based on that, I’m expecting a fun historical romance with serious aspects, which is flawlessly delivered.  One note to readers who prefer their content to be less racey: while these books do include open door scenes, they are definitely historical fiction with a side of bedroom scenes, as the emphasis is definitely on the historic part of historical romance. 

The basics for Bringing Down the Duke:  Set in 1879 England, we have a vicar’s daughter who earned a seat as part of the first group of female students at Oxford on a scholarship from a group of women engaged in the suffrage movement.  We also have a duke who is a political powerhouse.  Drama ensues.  I don’t want to spoil anything, but it’s a romance novel, so there’s that.  It’s more than that though, it’s about family, both blood and chosen; it’s about power and sacrifice; and it’s about learning to trust in yourself and others. These are some serious themes in this open door romance, but the tone of the book isn’t serious.  It’s fun and light, and isn’t even really heavy when some serious things happen in the lives of our main characters.  

The bottom line is I’d recommend this book for anyone who loves historical fiction or historical romance because it’s a really delightful blend of the two, complete with great notes from the author about where there were creative liberties and where there were not.  It’s a solid four stars from me, and I am likely to read this one again, and did reread large sections as I was reading A Rogue of One’s Own (mostly because I was reading #2 in dead tree form and wanted to stay with the characters while I was falling asleep).  I’m (still) looking forward to more from Evie Dunmore!

In A Rogue of One’s Own, we go back to our group of suffragettes and focus on Lucie, our suffragette chapter leader, and Tristan, the heir to an earldom, whose mothers are good friends and spent the summers together at Lucie’s family home.  If you read the first installment, you may remember that Lucie is a Lady, but she’s estranged from her family because of her political activities.  She has an inheritance from an aunt, so she makes her way on her own.  Lucie has concocted a scheme to purchase controlling interest in a publishing company (yes be still my history loving heart because I adore this glance into the publishing and journal industries from the nineteenth century) to help the cause.  Tristan, Lord Ballantine, has a personal stake in the same publishing house and has purchased the other half of the company from its two owners to pursue his own interests.  This feels so simplistic, but really that’s the set up.  Most of the book centers around these two characters and how they work to overcome their pasts as well as their present circumstances.  We see more of Lucie’s work to support women’s freedom, both publicly and privately.  Drama ensues and it is pretty fantastic how the grand gestures go down.  

Oh dear readers, as much as I thoroughly enjoyed the tale of Sebastian and Annabelle, I enjoyed Lucie and Tristan even more!  Gender aside, they are equals, they are fighting the drama and expectations of their families, and they both just want to be free.  Each of them has their own demons to fight, and how they do that, both together and separately, is glorious.  They both fight for what is right, and although they do differ at times how to do that, they are both seen by the other, and that is the ultimate freedom – to be truly seen by another person, without judgement, without the need to censor, and to be loved because of, not in spite of, who you are.  

I give A Rogue of One’s Own an enthusiastic four stars and am quite likely to reread both before Hattie’s story comes out in 2021.  I still have the library book checked out and I’m very torn as to whether or not I’ll read the teaser at the end. (Ashley’s gonna wait for the re-read!)  Sometimes (I’m looking at you A Court of Frost and Starlight) I read it and then lament that I have to wait another year plus before getting more of the story, so I may leave those pages until 2021, or they may get consumed later today.  We’ll see.  

~Nikki

Dear Readers, Nikki has covered much ground in her discussion about Evie Dunmore’s debut and sophomore effort historical romance novels Bringing Down the Duke and A Rogue of One’s Own, and I am here to balance her with a little knowledge about the author and some super fun anecdotes that can enhance your reading of these two titles.  According to her website bio, Evie Dunmore’s civilian job is working as a consultant as she has a Masters of Science in Diplomacy from Oxford.

It comes as no surprise that Dunmore’s knowledge of Oxford brings such an intimacy of place in both books. If I didn’t want to do the most grand walking tour of Oxford, both the city and University, then I would want to wear out my ballet flats after having read these books. The A League of Extraordinary Women series is inspired by her love of Oxford, the Victorian era, women pioneers, and, well, romance. I especially loved this line in her bio: “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.” [Nikki is also a fan of this walking tour, please and thank you!] It makes me think of how both Nikki and I appreciate a good cuddle with furry friends, a warm beverage, and a book. Tartan plaid not required but always highly appreciated.

Now, let’s talk about some really important things. Firstly, both books are enemies-to-lovers romances. Annabelle and Sebastian really and truly despise each other from the very beginning, and their story has a more opposites attract situation – because of the difference of their station in society. A Duke and a vicar’s daughter – quelle surprise! Tristan and Lucie, on the other hand, are both members of the peerage and have an animosity towards each other that began in childhood which has only grown as they’ve aged. I find both types of romantic tension highly entertaining. Secondly, we can make reservations at Oxford’s Randolph Hotel, have tea in their restaurant, and cocktails at their hotel bar when we stay for a long weekend. In addition to having tea just like the four friends in A League of Extraordinary Women, the hotel spa looks divine. Sign us up for couples massages. (Me and Nikki not us and our Adams – they don’t deserve a couples massage.) Thirdly, I got great joy in explaining to Nikki who the Celtic warrior queen Boudicca was in ancient history. Thank you to years of studying the Roman Empire for all my niche-knowledge that makes knowing Lucie’s cat’s name ever more amusing. And, lastly, thank you to Goodreads for informing Nikki that there is, in fact, a short story set between these books where we get to watch Annabelle and Sebastian get married. Worth all the pages on that pdf or sign up for Dunmore’s newsletter if you want it on your kindle. [That Annabelle and Sebastian get married is NOT a spoiler, people, this is a ROMANCE NOVEL, happily ever afters are REQUIRED.]

We wanted to bring you something fun and light to read, but that is also appropriately themed for Election Week, and the A League of Extraordinary Women delivers! Four stars from me on both books, but with a cat-loving heroine with a badass-named feline, Lucie, Tristan, and Boudicca’s story is mine and Medusa’s favorite! 😉

~Ashley

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