A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke

Starred review from December 13, 2024

On a summer evening in 1889, when physician Aurora Montalban Wright demands one evening of pleasure, on her terms, Apollo C�sar Sinclair Robles (the newly appointed Duke of Annan) readily agrees. What Apollo does not expect is to find himself yearning for the prickly woman who would rather risk her life and reputation to help women take control of their own bodily autonomy than live comfortably off her entitlement. When a dangerous man from Aurora's past threatens to destroy her practice and her freedom, Apollo whisks them both from Paris to the French Riviera, where he intends to prove that Aurora is his heart's desire and that she would make the perfect duchess, no matter what society may think. VERDICT Herrera caps off her mighty "Las Leonas" series (following An Island Princess Starts a Scandal) with a heartbreakingly timely showcase of love triumphing in a world full of dangerous injustices. Recommended for readers who are craving emotionally fulfilling and steamy historical romances that do not shy away from the realities of the era.--Elizabeth Gabriel

Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 16, 2024
A female doctor in 1880s Paris becomes entangled with a duke in Herrera’s breathless final Las Léonas romance (after An Island Princess Starts a Scandal). When Hispaniola-born Dr. Aurora Montalban Wright learns her brothers have cut her off from the trust fund she uses to operate her women’s health clinic, she heads to the Parisian apartment of British noble Apollo César Sinclair Robles, the newly minted Duke of Annan, seeking to blow off steam through casual sex. After establishing himself as the rightful heir to the dukedom, Apollo thumbs his nose at the aristocracy who struggle to accept him as a Black duke. His aunt, meanwhile, is determined to find him a proper bride who will ease his entry into high society. Though he submits to her matchmaking, he also agrees to a no-strings-attached affair with Aurora as he helps her gain funding for her clinic. Aurora secretly longs for more, but believes she’s an unsuitable candidate for marriage because of her illegitimacy. Apollo, meanwhile, is determined to win her heart. Herrera infuses their romance with her trademark sensuality while using their story to probe themes of racism, sexism, and abortion access. This is a worthy finale.

Starred review from February 1, 2025
A doctor and a duke who continually challenge the rules of society find that embracing love is one of the biggest risks of all. Aurora Montalban Wright operates a secret, not exactly legal, women's clinic in the backstreets of Paris, and when her estranged brothers cut off access to her trust, she needs to find other means of funding her operation. Desiring a distraction, she seeks out Apollo C�sar Sinclair Robles, the new duke of Annan, who has frustrated her since they first met, yet also reawakened her long dormant carnal desire. Apollo is captivated by the gutsy doctor and becomes determined to protect her from the dangerous situations she puts herself in for her patients, even if she doesn't want him--or anyone--to interfere with her independence. As he supports her work and she repeatedly winds up in his bed, she begins to recognize the similarities between them as Afro-Latine people using their power and skills to improve the lives of the disenfranchised and vulnerable; his aunt may be set on finding him a bride, but he's more concerned with creating better living conditions for those who live on the dukedom's land. As Aurora and Apollo's feelings for each other grow, what was meant to be a temporary relationship starts to feel impossible to let go of, even as they face prejudice and confront complicated personal histories. Bursting with passion, the final book in Herrera's terrific Las Leonas series is a masterclass in romance writing and plotting. There are heightened yet completely believable emotions and tensions throughout, with Herrera providing just the right amount of fascinating historical detail while still keeping the romance front and center. Conflicts concerning women's healthcare, particularly regarding reproductive choices, are frighteningly resonant today. This can be enjoyed as a standalone, but is even more powerful alongside the previous books. An extraordinary finale to a series that deserves to be esteemed as among the best in the genre.

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