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Las Leonas #3
A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke
He's not like other dukes…
Paris, 1889
Physician Aurora Montalban Wright takes risks in her career, but never with her heart. Running an underground women’s clinic exposes her to certain dangers, but help arrives in the unexpected form of the infuriating Duke of Annan. Begrudgingly, Aurora accepts his protection, then promptly finds herself in his bed.
New to his role as a duke, Apollo César Sinclair Robles struggles to embrace his position. With half of society waiting for him to misstep and the other half looking to discredit him, Apollo never imagined that his enthralling bedmate would become his most trusted adviser. Soon, he realizes the rebellious doctor could be the perfect duchess for him. But Aurora won’t give up her independence, and her secrets make her unsuitable for the aristocracy.
When dangerous figures from their pasts return to threaten them, Apollo whisks Aurora away to the French Riviera. Far from the reproachful eye of Parisian society, can Apollo convince Aurora that their bond is stronger than the forces keeping them apart?
Paris, 1889
Physician Aurora Montalban Wright takes risks in her career, but never with her heart. Running an underground women’s clinic exposes her to certain dangers, but help arrives in the unexpected form of the infuriating Duke of Annan. Begrudgingly, Aurora accepts his protection, then promptly finds herself in his bed.
New to his role as a duke, Apollo César Sinclair Robles struggles to embrace his position. With half of society waiting for him to misstep and the other half looking to discredit him, Apollo never imagined that his enthralling bedmate would become his most trusted adviser. Soon, he realizes the rebellious doctor could be the perfect duchess for him. But Aurora won’t give up her independence, and her secrets make her unsuitable for the aristocracy.
When dangerous figures from their pasts return to threaten them, Apollo whisks Aurora away to the French Riviera. Far from the reproachful eye of Parisian society, can Apollo convince Aurora that their bond is stronger than the forces keeping them apart?
Audiobook
First published February 4, 2025
307 people are currently reading
16110 people want to read
About the author
Adriana Herrera
46 books1,658 followersUSA Today bestselling author ADRIANA HERRERA was born and raised in the Caribbean, but for the last 15 years has let her job (and her spouse) take her all over the world. She loves writing stories about people who look and sound like her people, getting unapologetic happy endings.
Her debut Dreamers, has been featured on Entertainment Weekly, NPR, the TODAY Show on NBC, The New York Times, The Washington Post and Oprah Magazine.
When she's not dreaming up love stories, planning logistically complex vacations with her family or hunting for discount Broadway tickets, she’s a social worker in New York City, working with survivors of domestic and sexual violence.
Her debut Dreamers, has been featured on Entertainment Weekly, NPR, the TODAY Show on NBC, The New York Times, The Washington Post and Oprah Magazine.
When she's not dreaming up love stories, planning logistically complex vacations with her family or hunting for discount Broadway tickets, she’s a social worker in New York City, working with survivors of domestic and sexual violence.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 588 reviews
March 19, 2025
2025 reread: SO GOOD!!!
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THIS is the romance we all need in 2025! A fiery female doctor running underground abortion clinics in 1880's Paris and reluctantly falling for a Black duke who can match her energy and makes her actually take care of herself. Or let him take care of her, in more ways than one...
It's very steamy with characters who are passionate not only about each other, but also about the change they want to see in the world. And they aren't afraid to to take risks and get their hands dirty along the way. I was cheering in a number of these scenes, but the romance is also swoon-worthy. Get your hands on this, and the rest of the series ASAP! I received a copy of this book for review, all opinions are my own.
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THIS is the romance we all need in 2025! A fiery female doctor running underground abortion clinics in 1880's Paris and reluctantly falling for a Black duke who can match her energy and makes her actually take care of herself. Or let him take care of her, in more ways than one...
It's very steamy with characters who are passionate not only about each other, but also about the change they want to see in the world. And they aren't afraid to to take risks and get their hands dirty along the way. I was cheering in a number of these scenes, but the romance is also swoon-worthy. Get your hands on this, and the rest of the series ASAP! I received a copy of this book for review, all opinions are my own.
March 5, 2025
In many ways, it simply felt like a book I’ve read several times before in the past few years. Both characters were nice and good people and they didn’t change much from start to finish. I love when a man is a simp, but I just think books right now are making them simp from page one which leaves little to the imagination. I also just wasn’t interested in the villain or waiting for him to show up and cause trouble.
I did love the women’s health rep and as always Adriana’s beautiful writing and vivid illustration of how history actually looked. But overall, I spent most of the book bored…even with the sex scenes. Like who am I to be yawning at facesitting?? Somebody fix me.
As far as the series goes, however, I still wholeheartedly recommend it! Especially book two. If you haven’t read a historical romance recently—or aren’t in a slump of recent ones—I do think this will have a different feel for you, so definitely give it a read.
I read the first half on my kindle and then the second half via audiobook. I definitely needed the audio to help me finish it, but I still haven’t decided if I liked the narrator’s hero voice or not.
I received a free book from the publisher. All opinions are honest and my own.
I did love the women’s health rep and as always Adriana’s beautiful writing and vivid illustration of how history actually looked. But overall, I spent most of the book bored…even with the sex scenes. Like who am I to be yawning at facesitting?? Somebody fix me.
As far as the series goes, however, I still wholeheartedly recommend it! Especially book two. If you haven’t read a historical romance recently—or aren’t in a slump of recent ones—I do think this will have a different feel for you, so definitely give it a read.
I read the first half on my kindle and then the second half via audiobook. I definitely needed the audio to help me finish it, but I still haven’t decided if I liked the narrator’s hero voice or not.
I received a free book from the publisher. All opinions are honest and my own.
January 20, 2025
A Tropical Rebel Gets The Duke, book three of the Las Leonas series by Adriana Herrera, is the historical romance I needed in my life in January 2025. Packed full of angst, yearning, enemies/dislike to lovers and well-done research into the plight of women in this time period, it was a deeply satisfying mix of romance and adventure that made it a breeze to speed read. I will absolutely be going back to read books 1 and 2, and while there are plot points from both (I’m assuming) in 3, it wasn’t necessary to read the first two to enjoy this one and I suspect that what is in book 3 will only make me enjoy the first two more. This book will have you screaming in equal measure at the injustices faced by anyone outside the straight, white, male European aristocracy as well as kicking-screaming-throwing up at how absolutely endearing and lovable both feisty main characters are. This is a romance that can’t be missed! Thank you to Harlequin and Netgalley!
September 26, 2025
Rating: 5, EXCELLENT ♥️✨
If you love Bridgerton this book will DEFINITELY interest you. 🤭♥️
This book is a 10/10. I loved everything about it.🤭
The fmc Aurora, is a trained doctor who sometimes helps women who can't afford treatment due to either their awful husbands or from fear.
She decides to have a one night stand with the Duke Annan Apollo 🤭 as a way of letting go but it turns out they'll both be obsessed with one another 😮💨.
The mouth on this man 😭 Jesus Christ if you want an mmc with a dirty mouth who whispers sinful things in your ear, Apollo is your guy 🤭. He made me blush and he's FICTIONAL 😭.
I love how obsessed he becomes with her and does everything in his willpower to be around her 👏🏾😭♥️. He's supposed to be searching for a perfect wife but instead he's thinking about HER 😮💨 I want that.
I also love how this talks about the oppression women faced back in the 1800s.
The fact that they couldn't even get contraceptives is crazy. 💀 Let's not begin with the fact that the midwives were basically being shunned for doing THEIR WORK!!!😐
I love when an author talks about such crucial facts in a book. 👏🏾🙂 Immediate 5 or 4 star 💁🏾♀️.
My favourite quotes;
Do you keep a record of everything I say?” she snapped back. He only grinned.
“I might.” Why did he say things like this when this could never be more than what it was now? Tonight only made that fact that much clearer.
🤭 This reminded me of Conrad. if yk yk.😏
But I didn’t do this for Virginia, I did it for you.” Her chest pounded, and howling, needy things that could never see the light of day almost tore out.
“You’re giving me an unfair advantage, then,” she tossed out, in a desperate attempt to rein in her emotions.
“That’s right, Bella Doctora.” He lifted a shoulder, his coffee-bean eyes shining with defiance and something much more volatile. She felt like he was looking right into her soul. “I’m the Duke of Annan, and I’m using my power, my position and my money to give you what you deserve. What about it?”
😭♥️.
I’m not Your Grace, carajo,” he told her, taking her chin in hand and forcing her to look at him. Even now, within that shroud of misery, he could feel that current of wanting running through her. “I’m your man, your lover.” She shivered in his arms. “I love you, and you are mine,” he insisted, and even as she shook her head
🙌🏾🗣️
If you love Bridgerton this book will DEFINITELY interest you. 🤭♥️
This book is a 10/10. I loved everything about it.🤭
The fmc Aurora, is a trained doctor who sometimes helps women who can't afford treatment due to either their awful husbands or from fear.
She decides to have a one night stand with the Duke Annan Apollo 🤭 as a way of letting go but it turns out they'll both be obsessed with one another 😮💨.
The mouth on this man 😭 Jesus Christ if you want an mmc with a dirty mouth who whispers sinful things in your ear, Apollo is your guy 🤭. He made me blush and he's FICTIONAL 😭.
I love how obsessed he becomes with her and does everything in his willpower to be around her 👏🏾😭♥️. He's supposed to be searching for a perfect wife but instead he's thinking about HER 😮💨 I want that.
I also love how this talks about the oppression women faced back in the 1800s.
The fact that they couldn't even get contraceptives is crazy. 💀 Let's not begin with the fact that the midwives were basically being shunned for doing THEIR WORK!!!😐
I love when an author talks about such crucial facts in a book. 👏🏾🙂 Immediate 5 or 4 star 💁🏾♀️.
My favourite quotes;
Do you keep a record of everything I say?” she snapped back. He only grinned.
“I might.” Why did he say things like this when this could never be more than what it was now? Tonight only made that fact that much clearer.
🤭 This reminded me of Conrad. if yk yk.😏
But I didn’t do this for Virginia, I did it for you.” Her chest pounded, and howling, needy things that could never see the light of day almost tore out.
“You’re giving me an unfair advantage, then,” she tossed out, in a desperate attempt to rein in her emotions.
“That’s right, Bella Doctora.” He lifted a shoulder, his coffee-bean eyes shining with defiance and something much more volatile. She felt like he was looking right into her soul. “I’m the Duke of Annan, and I’m using my power, my position and my money to give you what you deserve. What about it?”
😭♥️.
I’m not Your Grace, carajo,” he told her, taking her chin in hand and forcing her to look at him. Even now, within that shroud of misery, he could feel that current of wanting running through her. “I’m your man, your lover.” She shivered in his arms. “I love you, and you are mine,” he insisted, and even as she shook her head
🙌🏾🗣️
December 18, 2025
Aurora is a certified baddie, she’s a doctor running an underground women’s clinic and championing for women’s bodily autonomy, and doing her best to stick it to the patriarchy. Apollo is a duke, who took vengeance on his treacherous father and claimed his seat in the House of Lords, a place no one wants him. Aurora propositions Apollo for a one night stand that turns into something altogether…
What I loved…
- badass FMC
- feminist themes
- sex lessons
- The spice was spicing.
- MMC with a dirty mouth
- much needed diversity in historical romance! Black MMC + black/latina FMC, queer side characters + more!
- thoroughly researched - I was googling facts and learning more as I read (I LOVE that when reading historical fiction)
- MMC that is obsessed with the FMC
What I didn’t love…
- very very mild spoiler below....
-
🌶️- This was is hot hot hot. 5+ scenes wide open door.
Audiobook Narration: 5/5 - Loved the performance and the cadence of the narrator. I will say she talks a bit slow but thats what speed adjustments are for!
4.5⭐️| IG | TikTok |
Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade (Canary Street Press) for sending this book (eARC & ALC) for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
What I loved…
- badass FMC
- feminist themes
- sex lessons
- The spice was spicing.
- MMC with a dirty mouth
- much needed diversity in historical romance! Black MMC + black/latina FMC, queer side characters + more!
- thoroughly researched - I was googling facts and learning more as I read (I LOVE that when reading historical fiction)
- MMC that is obsessed with the FMC
What I didn’t love…
- very very mild spoiler below....
-
🌶️- This was is hot hot hot. 5+ scenes wide open door.
Audiobook Narration: 5/5 - Loved the performance and the cadence of the narrator. I will say she talks a bit slow but thats what speed adjustments are for!
4.5⭐️| IG | TikTok |
Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade (Canary Street Press) for sending this book (eARC & ALC) for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
March 6, 2025
4.5 stars! A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke is the 3rd and final book in the Las Leonas series! And I really loved this one, I feel like this historical romance series has just gotten better as the books go on (2 and 3 are my favs)!
“I want to burn the world down and rebuild it for you.”
Apollo and Aurora complement one another so well and are everything together! I loved the way he just wants to help her and take care of her and the yearning and pining. They do take quite a while to get it together and, she at least, takes a bit to just give in. He’s a Black Duke, she’s a female physician running underground abortion clinics in 1880s Paris. They both want (or think they want) different things than one another but finally figure out how to make it work together. Maybe a tad too long towards the end, but otherwise such a solid, fantastic book with steam, romance, and 2 people who truly care for one another.
“I’m a man from the tropics, Aurora. What use do I have for a gentle breeze of a girl, when my blood requires a storm.”
CW: this book discusses abortion and aftercare
“I want to burn the world down and rebuild it for you.”
Apollo and Aurora complement one another so well and are everything together! I loved the way he just wants to help her and take care of her and the yearning and pining. They do take quite a while to get it together and, she at least, takes a bit to just give in. He’s a Black Duke, she’s a female physician running underground abortion clinics in 1880s Paris. They both want (or think they want) different things than one another but finally figure out how to make it work together. Maybe a tad too long towards the end, but otherwise such a solid, fantastic book with steam, romance, and 2 people who truly care for one another.
“I’m a man from the tropics, Aurora. What use do I have for a gentle breeze of a girl, when my blood requires a storm.”
CW: this book discusses abortion and aftercare
February 16, 2025
3.5 stars
“I don’t want debutantes,” he told her, with a stubborn set of his jaw. “I want pugnacious physicians who threaten me with scalpels.”
I haven't read the other two books in the series, but this 19th-century romance set in Paris was sizzling. Doctor Aurora Montalban Wright and her friends came from the Caribbean months ago and found love and their purpose. Well, Aurora has certainly found her purpose in helping women in sticky situations. She isn't so clear on the love part. After all, Aurora, at a young age, caused quite a scandal. What type of man would be able to overlook that?
Enter Apollo César Sinclair Robles, a newly appointed duke who cannot deny that the beautiful doctor might just be the perfect duchess for him. But it will take a lot of convincing before these lovers take their relationship public.
Well, the spice was spicy, the banter was entertaining, and I liked both Aurora and Apollo. It's such a relief that we are living in a time where characters in historical romance novels are becoming more diverse. Also, this book gets points for having Apollo be the one who has fallen harder than Aurora. Although the "will they, won't they be together" went on a little too long, that is what the genre is all about.
If I did have a quibble, sometimes the spicy scenes tended to overshadow the important work that Aurora was doing. Her work helping her female patients was quite interesting and quite parallel to issues that exist even today.
Overall, I would be on the lookout to read other titles in the series and/or other books by this author.
Publication Date 04/02/25
Goodreads Review 16/02/25
#ATropicalRebelGetstheDuke #NetGalley.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
“I don’t want debutantes,” he told her, with a stubborn set of his jaw. “I want pugnacious physicians who threaten me with scalpels.”
I haven't read the other two books in the series, but this 19th-century romance set in Paris was sizzling. Doctor Aurora Montalban Wright and her friends came from the Caribbean months ago and found love and their purpose. Well, Aurora has certainly found her purpose in helping women in sticky situations. She isn't so clear on the love part. After all, Aurora, at a young age, caused quite a scandal. What type of man would be able to overlook that?
Enter Apollo César Sinclair Robles, a newly appointed duke who cannot deny that the beautiful doctor might just be the perfect duchess for him. But it will take a lot of convincing before these lovers take their relationship public.
Well, the spice was spicy, the banter was entertaining, and I liked both Aurora and Apollo. It's such a relief that we are living in a time where characters in historical romance novels are becoming more diverse. Also, this book gets points for having Apollo be the one who has fallen harder than Aurora. Although the "will they, won't they be together" went on a little too long, that is what the genre is all about.
If I did have a quibble, sometimes the spicy scenes tended to overshadow the important work that Aurora was doing. Her work helping her female patients was quite interesting and quite parallel to issues that exist even today.
Overall, I would be on the lookout to read other titles in the series and/or other books by this author.
Publication Date 04/02/25
Goodreads Review 16/02/25
#ATropicalRebelGetstheDuke #NetGalley.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
February 9, 2025
AHHHH I loved this book so much. If you haven't started this series what are you waiting for. This follows the fmc Aurora who is a latina doctor who is considered a rebel due to the fact that she a doctor and treats women in the society that need extra help. I loved her character so much, her braveness, sense of justice and wanting to help women despite the consequences and what had happened to her in the past. The mmc Apollo is the first black duke and is Afro Latino. He is thrust into a dukedom and trying to find out his role in the society.
The romance between them was so sensual and full of banter and I loved it. They start of having a one night stand and the mc in the midst of trying to find a duchess tries to keep her safe from the men that hate what she does. As they get closer to each other the fmc realizes that Apollo is not like other Dukes and Apollo falls more and more in love with Aurora. I really enjoyed the feminist and historical commentary as well as the societal issues that both main characters went through. Gosh they were both so hot and I love them so much. Thank you HTP for this arc for an honest review.
Read for:
- Historical romance
- Strong af fmc
- Lots of good banter
- Doctor fmc that fights for women
- Obsessed mmc
The romance between them was so sensual and full of banter and I loved it. They start of having a one night stand and the mc in the midst of trying to find a duchess tries to keep her safe from the men that hate what she does. As they get closer to each other the fmc realizes that Apollo is not like other Dukes and Apollo falls more and more in love with Aurora. I really enjoyed the feminist and historical commentary as well as the societal issues that both main characters went through. Gosh they were both so hot and I love them so much. Thank you HTP for this arc for an honest review.
Read for:
- Historical romance
- Strong af fmc
- Lots of good banter
- Doctor fmc that fights for women
- Obsessed mmc
January 6, 2025
*4.25
Thank you to Canary Street Press & Harlequin Trade Publishing for the free e-Arc in exchange for an honest review! 💜
What an unforgettable story!
I am a big fan of the Leonas, they are all inspiring, dedicated, and courageous. My favorite thing about them is that they each stand out in their own way and Dr. Aurora Montalban did that!
Meeting Aurora in The Caribbean Heiress takes Paris, I knew her book was gonna to be life changing. Especially knowing she's a Black Latina Doctor who runs her own clinic!
Aurora is passionate and resilient. She knows exactly what she wants and how to get it. I love her confidence but I truly enjoyed how we got to see her upbringing and how exactly she views herself.
Finding out her reason for her underground clinic and how despite society's expectations she chooses to continue to run it and saves hundreds of women's lives was truly so amazing. She literally is outstanding.
I want to take a moment and applaud Adriana Herrera because the amount of love and time she took to write this is so visible. I am simply in awe of her storytelling and admire her writing.
Auroras' story was so important to hear, I hope that everyone has a chance to read it! She not only is vulnerable but she gains even more confidence and becomes the best version of herself in this book.
I am Doctora Montalban biggest and loudest supporter, and you should be to!
As for Apollo... He is so charming and caring. He knows how to not only emotionally be caring but physically as well (iykyk ;)
Apollo sees Aurora for what she is and more. His love and admiration for her is so vibrant literally everyone in the room could catch glimpse of it a mile away!
He not only supports her endeavors but he encourages her passions. He is not intimidated by Auroras talents or by what she does. Everyone needs someone as devoted as him!
Their banter and chemistry is truly off the charts! if you guys like me were desperately hanging onto their tension ridden conversations in the past books... well guys...you will get SERVED exactly that and more!
this was such a perfect amount of angst, yearning, and pillow gripping concoction of a novel!
I am completely thrilled for everyone else to tune in!
Thank you to Canary Street Press & Harlequin Trade Publishing for the free e-Arc in exchange for an honest review! 💜
What an unforgettable story!
I am a big fan of the Leonas, they are all inspiring, dedicated, and courageous. My favorite thing about them is that they each stand out in their own way and Dr. Aurora Montalban did that!
Meeting Aurora in The Caribbean Heiress takes Paris, I knew her book was gonna to be life changing. Especially knowing she's a Black Latina Doctor who runs her own clinic!
Aurora is passionate and resilient. She knows exactly what she wants and how to get it. I love her confidence but I truly enjoyed how we got to see her upbringing and how exactly she views herself.
Finding out her reason for her underground clinic and how despite society's expectations she chooses to continue to run it and saves hundreds of women's lives was truly so amazing. She literally is outstanding.
I want to take a moment and applaud Adriana Herrera because the amount of love and time she took to write this is so visible. I am simply in awe of her storytelling and admire her writing.
Auroras' story was so important to hear, I hope that everyone has a chance to read it! She not only is vulnerable but she gains even more confidence and becomes the best version of herself in this book.
I am Doctora Montalban biggest and loudest supporter, and you should be to!
As for Apollo... He is so charming and caring. He knows how to not only emotionally be caring but physically as well (iykyk ;)
Apollo sees Aurora for what she is and more. His love and admiration for her is so vibrant literally everyone in the room could catch glimpse of it a mile away!
He not only supports her endeavors but he encourages her passions. He is not intimidated by Auroras talents or by what she does. Everyone needs someone as devoted as him!
Their banter and chemistry is truly off the charts! if you guys like me were desperately hanging onto their tension ridden conversations in the past books... well guys...you will get SERVED exactly that and more!
this was such a perfect amount of angst, yearning, and pillow gripping concoction of a novel!
I am completely thrilled for everyone else to tune in!
February 11, 2025
Listen, it really does take a lot to have me sobbing into my kindle at odd times of the day but this book did that repeatedly. What a damn journey.
Aurora, much like myself, is a “difficult” woman, if the societal ideal of a woman is passive and non-confrontational. She was an angry child, a lonely child, and an unprotected child who built armor around her heart to keep hurt out. She’s snappy, opinionated, and lashes out first so she can be the one to control the hurt. I loved her to bits. I cried for her, her childhood, her refusal to be anything but herself (shabby dresses and all!), and the way she slowly lets Apollo in knowing it’s going to hurt when she crashes.
So much of this story is Aurora and Apollo’s story. Obviously. This is a romance after all. But it’s a fierce love letter to every woman, especially women of color, that fought for something better and for the right to their own bodies. Aurora and Apollo don’t have an easy road to an HEA but it’s not because they don’t match each other perfectly (Apollo is her soft place to land and fiercest champion), but because they have an uphill battle to climb with the aristocracy and a society designed to keep white supremacy at the control panel. Neither of them are welcomed by a society controlled by white men, specifically violent white men, but they carve out a different legacy together. One where the women that birthed them are honored and celebrated (a midwifery!!!) and where they help women take control of their own destiny.
I don’t think Herrera could have written a more poignant or more relevant romance right now with bodily autonomy and the legacy of white supremacy and control at the helm. I wish it wasn’t as relevant as it is, but Herrera took the biggest middle finger in the world, wrapped it in a passionate love story, and gave the angry girl, the prickly girl, the difficult girl the happy ending she deserved. And I can’t thank her enough for writing a difficult woman finding a man that loves and champions her against the world.
All the snaps, Adriana Herrera. All the snaps.
Aurora, much like myself, is a “difficult” woman, if the societal ideal of a woman is passive and non-confrontational. She was an angry child, a lonely child, and an unprotected child who built armor around her heart to keep hurt out. She’s snappy, opinionated, and lashes out first so she can be the one to control the hurt. I loved her to bits. I cried for her, her childhood, her refusal to be anything but herself (shabby dresses and all!), and the way she slowly lets Apollo in knowing it’s going to hurt when she crashes.
So much of this story is Aurora and Apollo’s story. Obviously. This is a romance after all. But it’s a fierce love letter to every woman, especially women of color, that fought for something better and for the right to their own bodies. Aurora and Apollo don’t have an easy road to an HEA but it’s not because they don’t match each other perfectly (Apollo is her soft place to land and fiercest champion), but because they have an uphill battle to climb with the aristocracy and a society designed to keep white supremacy at the control panel. Neither of them are welcomed by a society controlled by white men, specifically violent white men, but they carve out a different legacy together. One where the women that birthed them are honored and celebrated (a midwifery!!!) and where they help women take control of their own destiny.
I don’t think Herrera could have written a more poignant or more relevant romance right now with bodily autonomy and the legacy of white supremacy and control at the helm. I wish it wasn’t as relevant as it is, but Herrera took the biggest middle finger in the world, wrapped it in a passionate love story, and gave the angry girl, the prickly girl, the difficult girl the happy ending she deserved. And I can’t thank her enough for writing a difficult woman finding a man that loves and champions her against the world.
All the snaps, Adriana Herrera. All the snaps.
February 17, 2025
This just really didn't work for me, even though I deeply respect Adriana Herrera and loved so many of the ingredients. I just need about 90% less duke, 90% more friends/history/abortion clinic/everything else.
I cannot stand alpha heroes unless they are using all their alpha tendencies to increase the heroine's agency at every turn, and boy was this guy not doing that. He never listens! He's intensely possessive! He doesn't communicate, just orders her around! He keeps calling her his little vixen, his little this, his little that (GAG), not as an endearment but in his endless internal monologuing. Not once does he apologize or see his own fuck ups, and there is not one grovel. I'm baffled by the instalust on her part.
Apparently she didn't get to work with her longtime editor on this one, and maybe that's part of what didn't work for me. There were very very few scenes with her friends, and it was hard to see their emotional connection here at all (unlike other great romances starring lady friendships, like Kennedy Ryan or Alexa Martin). There were also typos?? In a Big 5 pub book by a pretty important author? Like "bead" instead of "head" in a sex scene, and lots of awkwardly placed commas. And ... this might be my own lack of knowledge, but I kept being bothered that the Vietnamese character's name was spelled Mihn instead of Minh. I'm pretty sure this was a mistake? Minh is such a common name. Maybe it *was* spelled that way at that point in history tho? But it seems like an editing error, and not a great one. From a self pubbed book, I would def not nitpick copyediting stuff; but HarperCollins/Harlequin has lots of money to pay folks to catch those things, and Adriana Herrera deserves their full attention and investment.
The last 20% was better than the first 80%, and the author's afterword with the research notes and further reading was A++, can't wait to hunt down those books.
I cannot stand alpha heroes unless they are using all their alpha tendencies to increase the heroine's agency at every turn, and boy was this guy not doing that. He never listens! He's intensely possessive! He doesn't communicate, just orders her around! He keeps calling her his little vixen, his little this, his little that (GAG), not as an endearment but in his endless internal monologuing. Not once does he apologize or see his own fuck ups, and there is not one grovel. I'm baffled by the instalust on her part.
Apparently she didn't get to work with her longtime editor on this one, and maybe that's part of what didn't work for me. There were very very few scenes with her friends, and it was hard to see their emotional connection here at all (unlike other great romances starring lady friendships, like Kennedy Ryan or Alexa Martin). There were also typos?? In a Big 5 pub book by a pretty important author? Like "bead" instead of "head" in a sex scene, and lots of awkwardly placed commas. And ... this might be my own lack of knowledge, but I kept being bothered that the Vietnamese character's name was spelled Mihn instead of Minh. I'm pretty sure this was a mistake? Minh is such a common name. Maybe it *was* spelled that way at that point in history tho? But it seems like an editing error, and not a great one. From a self pubbed book, I would def not nitpick copyediting stuff; but HarperCollins/Harlequin has lots of money to pay folks to catch those things, and Adriana Herrera deserves their full attention and investment.
The last 20% was better than the first 80%, and the author's afterword with the research notes and further reading was A++, can't wait to hunt down those books.
April 21, 2025
Update: even better on audio.
This is the best Herrera book I’ve read.
It’s so perfect I don’t know how I can do it justice in a review. It’s sexy, pro-choice, smart, funny, political, progressive, feminist, so hot omg, anti racist, pro women, a great example of found family, insanely romantic, richly diverse, and the writing is even more spectacular than all that.
Apollo is a bad ass burn em down wealthy duke drowning in his obsession with/love for Aurora. Aurora is a doctor and women’s rights activist on a mission to use her privilege for good. When these two juggernauts combine forces, no one can hold them back.
Also the glimpses of the previous couples, the spouses of the Leonas ride or dying for each other, and the collective women owned farm community in France, are icing on top.
Herrera is rapidly becoming a HistRom giant and I hope the publishing world takes note.
This is the best Herrera book I’ve read.
It’s so perfect I don’t know how I can do it justice in a review. It’s sexy, pro-choice, smart, funny, political, progressive, feminist, so hot omg, anti racist, pro women, a great example of found family, insanely romantic, richly diverse, and the writing is even more spectacular than all that.
Apollo is a bad ass burn em down wealthy duke drowning in his obsession with/love for Aurora. Aurora is a doctor and women’s rights activist on a mission to use her privilege for good. When these two juggernauts combine forces, no one can hold them back.
Also the glimpses of the previous couples, the spouses of the Leonas ride or dying for each other, and the collective women owned farm community in France, are icing on top.
Herrera is rapidly becoming a HistRom giant and I hope the publishing world takes note.
September 30, 2025
This was so good! However, if you are looking for a clean historical romance, you will probably need to find a different book. The very first scene is smut.
July 9, 2025
I think this one was just not the romance for me. Aurora is a Black female doctor in 1889 who is separated from her family, used to being independent and taking care of things herself, and her main challenge is she needs to believe herself worthy of love and care from someone else. Apollo is a Black duke who basically strong-arms her into it. Even though it's clear he's heads over heels for her, it still felt pushy to me. And despite their very push-pull relationship, the two take literally every opportunity to bang. So you know, you definitely have the heat factor with this book if nothing else.
I also just have to say: literally EVERY piece of dialogue in this book has a bunch of description following it. There are exactly ZERO scenes where someone says something, immediately followed by someone answering them, with just simple "he said" "she said" identifier tags. This makes the book sooooo much loooonger than it needs to be. Not to mention, hard to follow the flow of a scene! Huge aspect that took me out of the story.
This book is the third in the series and I haven't read the first two. Reading the first two may have helped provide character context - and I still may do it, since I'm actually more interested in both those pairings more so than this one.
I also just have to say: literally EVERY piece of dialogue in this book has a bunch of description following it. There are exactly ZERO scenes where someone says something, immediately followed by someone answering them, with just simple "he said" "she said" identifier tags. This makes the book sooooo much loooonger than it needs to be. Not to mention, hard to follow the flow of a scene! Huge aspect that took me out of the story.
This book is the third in the series and I haven't read the first two. Reading the first two may have helped provide character context - and I still may do it, since I'm actually more interested in both those pairings more so than this one.
October 23, 2025
A strong 3? Maybe a 3.4?
There were aspects of this I liked a great deal. Strong independent Afro-Latinas don't show up in romance nearly enough. Aurora and the other two "Leonas" are great. I have not read the first two books in the series, but I am pleased to know these women are represented. There is also strong queer representation. In addition to the women who were apparently the central couple in the second book in the series, one of Apollo's closest friends and confidantes, as well as his capoeira instructor, is a Gay man living with his partner. The address of the ravages of colonialism and racism was so well done. And balancing that with sexy romance is not easy to do! And it was sexy. I also loved the focus on how women's safety and health were in the hands of men who could opt to hold them hostage. I loved that the author addressed the dangers of making abortion illegal, especially when we in America have, in the past years, made criminals of women controlling their reproduction. Scared little men who can only live in a world they control, and brainwashed women who would rather be led than be free, hate women having agency now just as they did in the 19th century. So why only 3 stars?
The biggest issue here was that it just went on way too long. The same personal uncertainty, Aurora's feeling of unworthiness was repeated too many times. Also, the repeated excuse that Aurora needed to leave Apollo and push him to marry a more appropriate woman, because "I can't bear to have my heart broken" annoyed me. Leaving now was going to have the same impact as being thrown over later; her heart would be broken. Also, the thing with Aurora's brothers was odd and had no place at all in the story. In addition, Apollo was too perfect, too devoted, for reasons unclear. Don't get me wrong, Aurora was a badass, but she treated him badly and went out of her way to appear unattractive, so it is hard to imagine what felled him. Some editing to tighten up the whole, and a few tweaks to explain why this sexually profligate hottie was felled by love would have upped the rating.
Note that the audiobook narration by Lola James was fantastic. Either she is amazing, or everything sounds sexier in Spanish.
I loved the afterword about bodily autonomy and the war on women, but it was not enough to get me to 4 stars. I like this author's stories though. I have liked her modern romances, though this was the first historical of hers that I have tried, and I will be back for more.
There were aspects of this I liked a great deal. Strong independent Afro-Latinas don't show up in romance nearly enough. Aurora and the other two "Leonas" are great. I have not read the first two books in the series, but I am pleased to know these women are represented. There is also strong queer representation. In addition to the women who were apparently the central couple in the second book in the series, one of Apollo's closest friends and confidantes, as well as his capoeira instructor, is a Gay man living with his partner. The address of the ravages of colonialism and racism was so well done. And balancing that with sexy romance is not easy to do! And it was sexy. I also loved the focus on how women's safety and health were in the hands of men who could opt to hold them hostage. I loved that the author addressed the dangers of making abortion illegal, especially when we in America have, in the past years, made criminals of women controlling their reproduction. Scared little men who can only live in a world they control, and brainwashed women who would rather be led than be free, hate women having agency now just as they did in the 19th century. So why only 3 stars?
The biggest issue here was that it just went on way too long. The same personal uncertainty, Aurora's feeling of unworthiness was repeated too many times. Also, the repeated excuse that Aurora needed to leave Apollo and push him to marry a more appropriate woman, because "I can't bear to have my heart broken" annoyed me. Leaving now was going to have the same impact as being thrown over later; her heart would be broken. Also, the thing with Aurora's brothers was odd and had no place at all in the story. In addition, Apollo was too perfect, too devoted, for reasons unclear. Don't get me wrong, Aurora was a badass, but she treated him badly and went out of her way to appear unattractive, so it is hard to imagine what felled him. Some editing to tighten up the whole, and a few tweaks to explain why this sexually profligate hottie was felled by love would have upped the rating.
Note that the audiobook narration by Lola James was fantastic. Either she is amazing, or everything sounds sexier in Spanish.
I loved the afterword about bodily autonomy and the war on women, but it was not enough to get me to 4 stars. I like this author's stories though. I have liked her modern romances, though this was the first historical of hers that I have tried, and I will be back for more.
February 7, 2025
I have loved this series from the start, but this one is definitely my favorite.
I love love loved Aurora and Apollo. They're both fiery, combative, and a bit arrogant (in the best ways). I loved reading their vague annoyance turn to chemistry to more. I especially loved how neither of them backed down from the hard stuff. And of course, it was lovely to see the Leonas all together.
Plot wise, it's good. There are a couple of plot threads that wind together so deliciously and the last few chapters are absolutely wonderful. My main complaint is that I just wanted more, but that's just me being greedy because the epilogue is absolute perfection.
Overall, this was a fun series that broaches real topics and it was so easy to root for all of these characters.
**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**
I love love loved Aurora and Apollo. They're both fiery, combative, and a bit arrogant (in the best ways). I loved reading their vague annoyance turn to chemistry to more. I especially loved how neither of them backed down from the hard stuff. And of course, it was lovely to see the Leonas all together.
Plot wise, it's good. There are a couple of plot threads that wind together so deliciously and the last few chapters are absolutely wonderful. My main complaint is that I just wanted more, but that's just me being greedy because the epilogue is absolute perfection.
Overall, this was a fun series that broaches real topics and it was so easy to root for all of these characters.
**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**
March 3, 2025
Romance tropes: Duke, enemies to lovers, one big secret, woman in peril, orphan
The duke was so insufferably high-handed, controlling, and stubborn.
Aurora is a doctor who performs gynecological surgery including illegal abortions, and she’s trying to keep her activities secret. Meanwhile, Duke Dumbshit decides that she, an adult woman and doctor, cannot possibly have anything under control and needs him to take over.
He repeatedly harasses her verbally when discovering her on the way to meet a patient, despite being told that she can’t say where she’s going/who she’s meeting—for patient safety reasons. Duke Dumbshit is too busy popping boners to listen, so he badgers her relentlessly and then shoves his tongue down her throat, while she’s supposed to be meeting a patient who has a fistula that needs surgery because of spousal sexual abuse.
Here’s how that scene went:
Aurora: Please leave; I’m waiting for someone.
Duke Dumbshit: No. Also, who?
Aurora: Fine, I’ll leave then. He’s here now anyway.
Duke: Him??? No. I have to meet him.
Aurora: No.
Duke: Too bad.
[Duke Dumbshit forces himself on medical escort]
Duke: Wait, you’re going to go visit a patient. At night? Absolutely not.
Aurora: Uh, that’s what the escort is for.
Duke: Nope, now I’M the escort.
[Duke Dumbshit squabbles with the escort until he gets his way]
Duke: So where are we going?
Aurora: No.
Duke: So where are we going?
Aurora: Still no.
[repeat x6]
Duke: Who’s the patient?
Aurora: A very scared woman who isn’t expecting you, a large moody man. Please leave.
Duke: No, where are we going? What are we doing? Let’s make out.
Me: [bangs head on table]
Husband: [hears banging, from a distant room] I’ll have what she’s having!
I made it 150 pages in, and I’m proud of myself for that.
The duke was so insufferably high-handed, controlling, and stubborn.
Aurora is a doctor who performs gynecological surgery including illegal abortions, and she’s trying to keep her activities secret. Meanwhile, Duke Dumbshit decides that she, an adult woman and doctor, cannot possibly have anything under control and needs him to take over.
He repeatedly harasses her verbally when discovering her on the way to meet a patient, despite being told that she can’t say where she’s going/who she’s meeting—for patient safety reasons. Duke Dumbshit is too busy popping boners to listen, so he badgers her relentlessly and then shoves his tongue down her throat, while she’s supposed to be meeting a patient who has a fistula that needs surgery because of spousal sexual abuse.
Here’s how that scene went:
Aurora: Please leave; I’m waiting for someone.
Duke Dumbshit: No. Also, who?
Aurora: Fine, I’ll leave then. He’s here now anyway.
Duke: Him??? No. I have to meet him.
Aurora: No.
Duke: Too bad.
[Duke Dumbshit forces himself on medical escort]
Duke: Wait, you’re going to go visit a patient. At night? Absolutely not.
Aurora: Uh, that’s what the escort is for.
Duke: Nope, now I’M the escort.
[Duke Dumbshit squabbles with the escort until he gets his way]
Duke: So where are we going?
Aurora: No.
Duke: So where are we going?
Aurora: Still no.
[repeat x6]
Duke: Who’s the patient?
Aurora: A very scared woman who isn’t expecting you, a large moody man. Please leave.
Duke: No, where are we going? What are we doing? Let’s make out.
Me: [bangs head on table]
Husband: [hears banging, from a distant room] I’ll have what she’s having!
I made it 150 pages in, and I’m proud of myself for that.
June 11, 2025
4.75 🌟
Absolute banger. Historical fiction is normally not my genre. But Herrera is just built different. Aurora is a fucking icon. A woman physician in the 1800s who is committing underground illegal abortions. My personal hero. I will say this book hit a little close to home. The main character being a female doctor who is too dedicated to her craft to even think about finding romantic love…couldn’t be me. It’s fine. I just need my Apollo to walk into my life. Back on track, Aurora and Apollo were fucking adorable. As I was telling April, it was certainly more scandalous than I expected. Mind you, I’m listening to this as an audiobook, at 1.9x speed, and there was a 30 minute sex scene. That’s like a full hour. I was scandalized in the best way. Ever since I read ‘An Island Princess Starts a Scandal’ I was dying to get my hands on this book and it did not disappoint. Herrera really is my queen of sexy feminist historical fiction. A genre I did not know I needed, but absolutely did. Aurora Montalban may be one of my favorite FMC of all time. I personally believe Herrera wrote this book just for me. And I would like to thank her greatly for her service. And now that I've read books two and three, I really need to read 'A Caribbean Heiress in Paris'. Like yesterday.
update: I didn’t put my full rating and needed to fix it. also I’ve read two more Herrera books since this and I need to read even more lol.
Absolute banger. Historical fiction is normally not my genre. But Herrera is just built different. Aurora is a fucking icon. A woman physician in the 1800s who is committing underground illegal abortions. My personal hero. I will say this book hit a little close to home. The main character being a female doctor who is too dedicated to her craft to even think about finding romantic love…couldn’t be me. It’s fine. I just need my Apollo to walk into my life. Back on track, Aurora and Apollo were fucking adorable. As I was telling April, it was certainly more scandalous than I expected. Mind you, I’m listening to this as an audiobook, at 1.9x speed, and there was a 30 minute sex scene. That’s like a full hour. I was scandalized in the best way. Ever since I read ‘An Island Princess Starts a Scandal’ I was dying to get my hands on this book and it did not disappoint. Herrera really is my queen of sexy feminist historical fiction. A genre I did not know I needed, but absolutely did. Aurora Montalban may be one of my favorite FMC of all time. I personally believe Herrera wrote this book just for me. And I would like to thank her greatly for her service. And now that I've read books two and three, I really need to read 'A Caribbean Heiress in Paris'. Like yesterday.
update: I didn’t put my full rating and needed to fix it. also I’ve read two more Herrera books since this and I need to read even more lol.
read-partial
December 19, 2024I read most of this; professional review to come from Library Journal <3
March 6, 2025
Happy I got the chance to discuss this book during book club! Our overall consensus was that this novel was overly ambitious. I rarely read historical romances, but this one was particularly difficult as Aurora is a doctor and runs a women’s clinic, and Apollo is a black duke and faces struggles and pressures with that role. Adriana clearly spent a lot of time researching for this book (shown by her inclusion of historical characters and situations), however, it was an awkward balance between the historical information and the romantic moments.
Summary of thoughts:
- Apollo was void of "dukely responsibilities" and instead spent the majority of the book running around after Aurora. A duke should have duties, and I would have liked to see him doing more, making me understand how revolutionary it was for him to be a duke.
- More showing instead of "telling" would have been appreciated. Adriana tells us that Apollo is a duke and that Apollo and Aurora have "history," but I would like to have seen that in flashbacks or in interactions. I understand it's part of a series of books, but I think books should be able to stand on their own to an extent. Further, how does Apollo struggle and fight against the racism he faces?! Like, that would have been important to see.
- Apollo and Aurora had some cute banter; however, Aurora was too much of a martyr (romance novels need to stop with this trope), and Apollo fell into the "not like other girls" trope, believing that Aurora was so different from the other inspid debutantes (his words, not mine).
Summary of thoughts:
- Apollo was void of "dukely responsibilities" and instead spent the majority of the book running around after Aurora. A duke should have duties, and I would have liked to see him doing more, making me understand how revolutionary it was for him to be a duke.
- More showing instead of "telling" would have been appreciated. Adriana tells us that Apollo is a duke and that Apollo and Aurora have "history," but I would like to have seen that in flashbacks or in interactions. I understand it's part of a series of books, but I think books should be able to stand on their own to an extent. Further, how does Apollo struggle and fight against the racism he faces?! Like, that would have been important to see.
- Apollo and Aurora had some cute banter; however, Aurora was too much of a martyr (romance novels need to stop with this trope), and Apollo fell into the "not like other girls" trope, believing that Aurora was so different from the other inspid debutantes (his words, not mine).
December 2, 2024
Thank you so much to Canary St. Press and HTP for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
WOW WOW WOW!!!! That was excellent omg. This is easily my new favorite Adriana Herrera book. I loved the snippets we saw of Apollo and Aurora in A Caribbean Heiress in Paris and I knew I would love their banter and back-and-forth arguments with each other! There were so many delicious scenes and dialogue in this book--I feel like tabbing and highlighting every single sentence. Aurora's ARC of being a doctor and running a secret women's clinic to help women achieve reproductive freedom was also so thoughtfully included!
Absolutely incredible. A million stars out of 5!! I'm going to miss the Leonas so much :(
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WOW WOW WOW!!!! That was excellent omg. This is easily my new favorite Adriana Herrera book. I loved the snippets we saw of Apollo and Aurora in A Caribbean Heiress in Paris and I knew I would love their banter and back-and-forth arguments with each other! There were so many delicious scenes and dialogue in this book--I feel like tabbing and highlighting every single sentence. Aurora's ARC of being a doctor and running a secret women's clinic to help women achieve reproductive freedom was also so thoughtfully included!
Absolutely incredible. A million stars out of 5!! I'm going to miss the Leonas so much :(
Follow me on TikTok | Instagram | Twitter for more book reviews & recommendations!
February 14, 2025
3.5
girl just let him love you!!!
girl just let him love you!!!
January 31, 2025
Oh, I loved this book SO much! I have read and adored each novel in this series as it was released. The first book, A Caribbean Heiress in Paris, featured the love story of Luz Alana & Evan, which introduced all of the players for future novels. The second book, An Island Princess Starts a Scandal, focused on the love story of Manuela & Cora. This novel, finally (!!!!) offers up both a backstory for Aurora and reveals that Apollo has a heart of pure gold.
This book is narrated by Lola James. She did a phenomenal job with the Scottish accents, but honestly, I missed the narrator of the first 2 novels of this series. Most especially for the Caribbean-Spanish accents. Overall, between both narrators, I think Nneka Okoye did a better job, and I deeply missed her narration in this third installment of the Las Leonas series.
Aurora and Apollo are easily my favorite couple in this series. It felt, in many ways, like this story flipped the conventional gendered romance expectations. Aurora got the treatment I wanted for Penelope on Season 3 of Bridgerton. Apollo sees Aurora beneath her split skirt and not traditionally fashioned clothing. He loves her appetite and lusts after her curvy body. Let me just say this is extremely spicy right from the beginning. The first 2 couples feature in this story just enough that you get to see how they are doing in their new lives. It's beautifully handled and adds so much to the overall narrative. I don't want to ruin the story, but I adored them together.
Aurora's backstory was complicated and unexpected. She was such a rich character full of pain, stubbornness, gumption, and grit. While she is a historical character and her practice fits with historical practices of the times, it's also horrifyingly relevant today. Human beings who give birth MUST have control over their bodies. Birth control and the right to terminate a pregnancy are both basic human rights. As is same sex marriage and for the right to exist as Transgender. These are basic human rights and MUST be protected. I also loved that this dealt with colorism and its long reach. So long, in fact, it's still a very real issue today. I wish more fiction treated this real-world issue with such realness. We can't defeat what we refuse to address.
I deeply hope that we'll get more books in this series. I'd love to read Clarita's story and perhaps that of other background characters. I'm not at all ready to let the charming world created in these novels and the people that populated it go.
Thank you to Adriana Herrera, Harlequin Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.
This book is narrated by Lola James. She did a phenomenal job with the Scottish accents, but honestly, I missed the narrator of the first 2 novels of this series. Most especially for the Caribbean-Spanish accents. Overall, between both narrators, I think Nneka Okoye did a better job, and I deeply missed her narration in this third installment of the Las Leonas series.
Aurora and Apollo are easily my favorite couple in this series. It felt, in many ways, like this story flipped the conventional gendered romance expectations. Aurora got the treatment I wanted for Penelope on Season 3 of Bridgerton. Apollo sees Aurora beneath her split skirt and not traditionally fashioned clothing. He loves her appetite and lusts after her curvy body. Let me just say this is extremely spicy right from the beginning. The first 2 couples feature in this story just enough that you get to see how they are doing in their new lives. It's beautifully handled and adds so much to the overall narrative. I don't want to ruin the story, but I adored them together.
Aurora's backstory was complicated and unexpected. She was such a rich character full of pain, stubbornness, gumption, and grit. While she is a historical character and her practice fits with historical practices of the times, it's also horrifyingly relevant today. Human beings who give birth MUST have control over their bodies. Birth control and the right to terminate a pregnancy are both basic human rights. As is same sex marriage and for the right to exist as Transgender. These are basic human rights and MUST be protected. I also loved that this dealt with colorism and its long reach. So long, in fact, it's still a very real issue today. I wish more fiction treated this real-world issue with such realness. We can't defeat what we refuse to address.
I deeply hope that we'll get more books in this series. I'd love to read Clarita's story and perhaps that of other background characters. I'm not at all ready to let the charming world created in these novels and the people that populated it go.
Thank you to Adriana Herrera, Harlequin Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.
November 11, 2024
Adriana does it again, wow. This was phenomenal! Now, I’ve loved every book in this series, and refuse to pick a favorite because I love each one for different reasons. But this one is so special to me. Particularly in light of recent political events in the US that occurred while I was reading this. There is something so powerful about a romance book with a Black/Latina woman doctor running women’s clinics and fiercely holding on to her independence. Aurora is highly intelligent, outspoken, unashamed of what she desires sexually, and doesn’t let anyone push her around. Then we have Apollo who is Black, & a Duke, and is grappling with being a part of the aristocracy that was, in his own words, built on the backs of his ancestors. And Apollo? He LOVES everything about her. In fact, every time she is prickly towards him, he falls even deeper in love. Which is so insanely hot to me.
If you couldn’t tell, I adored these characters and the story so very much.
Adriana’s books are spectacular and provide necessary diversity to the historical romance genre. She writes deeply liberating love stories and I can’t wait to see what she writes next, because this series has my entire heart and I’m so sad it’s over!
P. S. Don’t skip the authors note!
*I received and arc from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review*
If you couldn’t tell, I adored these characters and the story so very much.
Adriana’s books are spectacular and provide necessary diversity to the historical romance genre. She writes deeply liberating love stories and I can’t wait to see what she writes next, because this series has my entire heart and I’m so sad it’s over!
P. S. Don’t skip the authors note!
*I received and arc from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review*
January 20, 2025
The Vibes:
—dislike to FWB to lovers
—reproductive freedom
—he wants to prove society wrong; she’s outside society
—the rake to stupid in love pipeline
The Basics:
Controversial duke Apollo has never gotten along with doctor (and secret women’s health provider) Aurora—though this doesn’t stop them from wanting each other. But when he offers to help Aurora care for her patients—a task that puts her life at risk—their attraction gives way to an emotional connection that could be the ruin of both…
The Review:
Adriana Herrera’s Las Leonas series has been quite strong throughout, and she saved the best for last(?). There’s been this steady build to Apollo, the (understandably) embittered, seductive heir to a dukedom and Aurora, a strident do-gooder who wants nothing and everything to do with him. And trust me when I say they don’t take long to throw themselves at each other.
Which is a very, very good thing.
But Herrera gets exactly what makes my beloved “fuck first, feelings later” trope so good. Apollo and Aurora jump into bed together quickly, but then there’s all the emotional melting that needs to happen—and that takes a bit longer, in a sizzling tension of words left unsaid. All in all? This is a pretty damn romantic book. He’s smitten; she’s resistant. (And she has her reasons, very valid.)
The emotional piece here is really a web of character development, and Herrera makes each beat heartfelt and believable. It’s a feeeeeeelings book. But there’s a good chunk of plot in here as well. A lot of what has Apollo going—a chip on his shoulder, as he’s the son of a white, horrible duke and a Black woman who was essentially tossed aside by his father—was covered in A Caribbean Heiress in Paris, and I do recommend reading that book in particular first. (Though An Island Princess Starts a Scandal is extremely worth reading as well.) He wants to conquer English society because he hates it, wants to make them feel stupid and lesser. Again, totally valid.
But it’s not as much of a centerpiece as I expected—which isn’t a bad thing. Because the centerpiece, aside from the love story, is Aurora’s dedication to her calling as a doctor and a women’s healthcare provider. This novel deeply deals with reproductive freedom and the importance of a woman’s right to a safe and legal abortion. And I won’t lie—that aspect is pretty emotional, now more than ever.
One thing I loved as well was Apollo’s progression. Initially, he’s really just worried about Aurora’s safety and the risk of her getting in legal trouble. In other words, he’s a progressive man of his era, but he’s still a man of his era—and he isn’t vilified for that, but instead given the opportunity to grow and really come through for Aurora, providing himself.
This has all the things you want from an Adriana Herrera book—it’s funny, it’s scorching hot, it’s smart. But it’s also perhaps the most emotionally resonant book I’ve read by her, wherein I was just dying for these two to make it work. And that made it my favorite novel she’s released so far.
The Sex:
But also, this was super hot.
There’s honestly a lot of sex on the page here. Maybe 6ish full scenes, I think? And a lot of very, very well-written oral. You get no-strings sex, you get passionate hookups, you get in loooooooooooove sex. It’s all deliciously written, it’s all great, thank you for your service Adriana Herrera.
There was ONE thing she hinted at but didn’t go into (haha) that I wish would’ve been expanded on a bit…. But hey, I can’t complain too much.
Conclusion:
Right now, a lot of historical romances feel very safe. Very tame. They lack a punch. This not only packs a punch—it goes straight for your heart. Highly recommend.
Thanks to NetGalley and Canary Street Press for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
—dislike to FWB to lovers
—reproductive freedom
—he wants to prove society wrong; she’s outside society
—the rake to stupid in love pipeline
The Basics:
Controversial duke Apollo has never gotten along with doctor (and secret women’s health provider) Aurora—though this doesn’t stop them from wanting each other. But when he offers to help Aurora care for her patients—a task that puts her life at risk—their attraction gives way to an emotional connection that could be the ruin of both…
The Review:
Adriana Herrera’s Las Leonas series has been quite strong throughout, and she saved the best for last(?). There’s been this steady build to Apollo, the (understandably) embittered, seductive heir to a dukedom and Aurora, a strident do-gooder who wants nothing and everything to do with him. And trust me when I say they don’t take long to throw themselves at each other.
Which is a very, very good thing.
But Herrera gets exactly what makes my beloved “fuck first, feelings later” trope so good. Apollo and Aurora jump into bed together quickly, but then there’s all the emotional melting that needs to happen—and that takes a bit longer, in a sizzling tension of words left unsaid. All in all? This is a pretty damn romantic book. He’s smitten; she’s resistant. (And she has her reasons, very valid.)
The emotional piece here is really a web of character development, and Herrera makes each beat heartfelt and believable. It’s a feeeeeeelings book. But there’s a good chunk of plot in here as well. A lot of what has Apollo going—a chip on his shoulder, as he’s the son of a white, horrible duke and a Black woman who was essentially tossed aside by his father—was covered in A Caribbean Heiress in Paris, and I do recommend reading that book in particular first. (Though An Island Princess Starts a Scandal is extremely worth reading as well.) He wants to conquer English society because he hates it, wants to make them feel stupid and lesser. Again, totally valid.
But it’s not as much of a centerpiece as I expected—which isn’t a bad thing. Because the centerpiece, aside from the love story, is Aurora’s dedication to her calling as a doctor and a women’s healthcare provider. This novel deeply deals with reproductive freedom and the importance of a woman’s right to a safe and legal abortion. And I won’t lie—that aspect is pretty emotional, now more than ever.
One thing I loved as well was Apollo’s progression. Initially, he’s really just worried about Aurora’s safety and the risk of her getting in legal trouble. In other words, he’s a progressive man of his era, but he’s still a man of his era—and he isn’t vilified for that, but instead given the opportunity to grow and really come through for Aurora, providing himself.
This has all the things you want from an Adriana Herrera book—it’s funny, it’s scorching hot, it’s smart. But it’s also perhaps the most emotionally resonant book I’ve read by her, wherein I was just dying for these two to make it work. And that made it my favorite novel she’s released so far.
The Sex:
But also, this was super hot.
There’s honestly a lot of sex on the page here. Maybe 6ish full scenes, I think? And a lot of very, very well-written oral. You get no-strings sex, you get passionate hookups, you get in loooooooooooove sex. It’s all deliciously written, it’s all great, thank you for your service Adriana Herrera.
There was ONE thing she hinted at but didn’t go into (haha) that I wish would’ve been expanded on a bit…. But hey, I can’t complain too much.
Conclusion:
Right now, a lot of historical romances feel very safe. Very tame. They lack a punch. This not only packs a punch—it goes straight for your heart. Highly recommend.
Thanks to NetGalley and Canary Street Press for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
February 2, 2025
A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke is the third book in the Las Leonas series. Do you need to read the previous books in order to enjoy this one? Absolutely not. Should you read the previous books anyway? Absolutely yes. Adriana Herrera knows how to deliver strong and powerful women that question patriarchy while also giving us a diverse cast of characters in a well-researched story.
First off, I'm not a huge historical romance reader, but when it comes to topics that are relevant to our current state, I can be persuaded. Especially if it is Herrera writing it. She gives us the heat, angst and amazing characters who can vividly stand on their own.
Aurora is a woman that is one bada$$ doctor running an underground clinic that saves women medically when their lives are literally in the hands of others. Apollo meanwhile has recently been given the title of duke and is battling what that title means for himself and what he can do to help others with it. While it does seem that these two are focused on their jobs, I enjoyed seeing how their lives could intertwine and they could both help others in similar ways.
Men had so much to answer for...Aurora was saving mothers, daughters, sisters. Women who were at the mercy of callous men and an indolent society.
Herrera continues to give a voice to women in her stories that are all about standing up and taking their power back. Even if they have to do it quietly or illegally. This book really focuses on women and their body autonomy in a past that was riddled with horrible choices made by men. Combining something that is still relevant today with a scorching chemistry between two characters that displayed a bit of love/hate, this book was entertaining and had me cheering on the the unlikely pairing of Aurora and Apollo.
With a diverse cast, important topics even today and a true connection between Apollo and Aurora, this is a historical romance that will stay with you. The spice is spicing and the action scenes are breathtaking. And if you get the chance to listen to the audio narrated by Frankie Corzo, you'll get to hear it brought to life with the combination of English and Spanish speaking, making it even more realistic. I'm sad to have this series coming to an end, but I hope Herrera continues to write more historical romance that is timely.
"Aurora will never lie to me to save my pride, she won't ever turn a blind eye to an injustice because it's inconvenient. She will never choose her comfort over another's well-being. She's better than I could ever aspire to be."
First off, I'm not a huge historical romance reader, but when it comes to topics that are relevant to our current state, I can be persuaded. Especially if it is Herrera writing it. She gives us the heat, angst and amazing characters who can vividly stand on their own.
Aurora is a woman that is one bada$$ doctor running an underground clinic that saves women medically when their lives are literally in the hands of others. Apollo meanwhile has recently been given the title of duke and is battling what that title means for himself and what he can do to help others with it. While it does seem that these two are focused on their jobs, I enjoyed seeing how their lives could intertwine and they could both help others in similar ways.
Men had so much to answer for...Aurora was saving mothers, daughters, sisters. Women who were at the mercy of callous men and an indolent society.
Herrera continues to give a voice to women in her stories that are all about standing up and taking their power back. Even if they have to do it quietly or illegally. This book really focuses on women and their body autonomy in a past that was riddled with horrible choices made by men. Combining something that is still relevant today with a scorching chemistry between two characters that displayed a bit of love/hate, this book was entertaining and had me cheering on the the unlikely pairing of Aurora and Apollo.
With a diverse cast, important topics even today and a true connection between Apollo and Aurora, this is a historical romance that will stay with you. The spice is spicing and the action scenes are breathtaking. And if you get the chance to listen to the audio narrated by Frankie Corzo, you'll get to hear it brought to life with the combination of English and Spanish speaking, making it even more realistic. I'm sad to have this series coming to an end, but I hope Herrera continues to write more historical romance that is timely.
"Aurora will never lie to me to save my pride, she won't ever turn a blind eye to an injustice because it's inconvenient. She will never choose her comfort over another's well-being. She's better than I could ever aspire to be."
February 12, 2025
this book deserves all the flowers it’s getting! scorchingly hot and fiercely political - everything historical romance can and should be
May 27, 2025
Audiobook
Good narration but I wasn't a big fan of the narrator's voice for the hero. I really wanted to love this one, a tropical rebel!? I too am a tropical rebel 😎 But while I enjoyed the overall read, I never cared about them as a couple. The hero starts the book totally into her, saying and doing all the right things. He ends the same way. His character development is basically a straight line. He's more of an accessory than a fully fleshed character. Aurora fares better but her character arc is very slight.
I liked the history and Aurora doing Doctor things but mostly nothing she did helped move the plot or the relationship along. I also wasn't too sure what the plot was? The book definitely didn't need to be so long. I'm also quite convinced that while Spanish is the language of love, it is almost definitely not the language of sex. The word culo will never ever be sexy lol
⭐⭐⭐/5
🔥🔥🔥/5
Tropes:
Sex lessons
Good narration but I wasn't a big fan of the narrator's voice for the hero. I really wanted to love this one, a tropical rebel!? I too am a tropical rebel 😎 But while I enjoyed the overall read, I never cared about them as a couple. The hero starts the book totally into her, saying and doing all the right things. He ends the same way. His character development is basically a straight line. He's more of an accessory than a fully fleshed character. Aurora fares better but her character arc is very slight.
I liked the history and Aurora doing Doctor things but mostly nothing she did helped move the plot or the relationship along. I also wasn't too sure what the plot was? The book definitely didn't need to be so long. I'm also quite convinced that while Spanish is the language of love, it is almost definitely not the language of sex. The word culo will never ever be sexy lol
⭐⭐⭐/5
🔥🔥🔥/5
Tropes:
Sex lessons
January 12, 2025
Finished! And LOVED!
Adriana poured her heart into this story. I love when a romance book gives us so much more than the romance. Dont get me wrong, I'm always here for🍆🌶🔥 but when an author can do that while championing women's rights, healthcare advancements for the underserved, women paving the way in a patriarchal world, especially Women of Color! Now you have my full attention!
This book hit close to home in so many ways and I loved it! Hands down my favorite of the 3 books in the series.
My only reservation from this being a 5 star read is the constant back and forth of "are we doing this, are we not doing this" which became slightly repetitive for my liking, but that's a ME thing and has no bearing on this storytelling.
Adriana poured her heart into this story. I love when a romance book gives us so much more than the romance. Dont get me wrong, I'm always here for🍆🌶🔥 but when an author can do that while championing women's rights, healthcare advancements for the underserved, women paving the way in a patriarchal world, especially Women of Color! Now you have my full attention!
This book hit close to home in so many ways and I loved it! Hands down my favorite of the 3 books in the series.
My only reservation from this being a 5 star read is the constant back and forth of "are we doing this, are we not doing this" which became slightly repetitive for my liking, but that's a ME thing and has no bearing on this storytelling.
February 26, 2025
This book is an exemplar of what the best of HR can be, an almost perfectly crafted story with rich, compelling characters, a gripping plot, and chemistry between our mains to melt your socks off. Historical romances are a record of two times, the time they are set and the time they are written. Although I know Herrera finished this before the end of 2024, she could not have been more prescient. Aurora is a doctor providing women's health services (both legal and not as much) at a time when women have few options and recourses for their own bodily autonomy. Apollo is a new Duke, wanting to prove himself at the upper echelons of society resistant to a Black man holding the title, and to do some good.
In the prologue and first chapter Herrera lays out all the stepping stones of our plot and characters, then leads the reader on a path that doesn't always go where we think it will, but always is the perfect choice. Twice, TWICE, I gasped out loud when a character appeared on page after being referenced. At one point my kindle note was just "I'm so stressed" waiting for one of many shoes to drop. At another point I got mad at the book, thinking, "oh I get it, character A will step in to do B so character C will..." and Herrera said, nope, have some faith, my characters will stay true to themselves and their love and the tidy resolution most books would have provided instead went in a so much better direction.
Aurora has her guard up, walls built, moat filled and bridges drawn. She's been shown and told that she's too much, that any love given can be easily taken away, and treated poorly by those she thought loved her the most. She's keeping secrets from her best friends, her fellow Leonas from the previous books, she's working herself too hard. She and Apollo, who have been bickering/flirting since they met enter into a FWB arrangement. He's planning to marry someone connected into society, an Ideal Duchess who will help him carry out his master plan of infiltration and revenge through presence. "He'd enjoy her for as long as he could and then he'd do his duty. It was ideal." But all he can think about is Aurora and keeping her. He knows she's protecting herself, even if "she almost wished it was in her nature to put her guard down," and he's so Down Bad (crying at the capoeiragem fight club) that he's willing to do the slow build of trust and affection necessary to show her that she can rely on him.
As Aurora and Apollo fall deeply in love and their relationship goes from casual to more intimate to love realization and declarations, there is one constant: these two are crazy attracted to one another. Even as they squabble or the barriers to more seem insurmountable I love that Herrera never had the characters deny how they felt, they express their attraction so honestly throughout, and no one writes an intimate scene like Herrera. The reader wants so badly for their emotions to catch up, for them to bravely take that next step. This book really had it all.
It was great visiting with the other couples from the first two Leonas books, and seeing how all six characters have settled into friendships and built relationships. Cora is a Duchess, she's here to show Apollo how love can shift priorities. Evan from book one is the ultimate Wife Guy, "'My wife.' His brother loved saying those words, my wife. Like there was no higher cause a man could hope to achieve than that of being someone's husband." All three books take place in a tight 5 month period, I appreciated the (series) epilogue letting us peek into their continuing HEAs.
In the prologue and first chapter Herrera lays out all the stepping stones of our plot and characters, then leads the reader on a path that doesn't always go where we think it will, but always is the perfect choice. Twice, TWICE, I gasped out loud when a character appeared on page after being referenced. At one point my kindle note was just "I'm so stressed" waiting for one of many shoes to drop. At another point I got mad at the book, thinking, "oh I get it, character A will step in to do B so character C will..." and Herrera said, nope, have some faith, my characters will stay true to themselves and their love and the tidy resolution most books would have provided instead went in a so much better direction.
Aurora has her guard up, walls built, moat filled and bridges drawn. She's been shown and told that she's too much, that any love given can be easily taken away, and treated poorly by those she thought loved her the most. She's keeping secrets from her best friends, her fellow Leonas from the previous books, she's working herself too hard. She and Apollo, who have been bickering/flirting since they met enter into a FWB arrangement. He's planning to marry someone connected into society, an Ideal Duchess who will help him carry out his master plan of infiltration and revenge through presence. "He'd enjoy her for as long as he could and then he'd do his duty. It was ideal." But all he can think about is Aurora and keeping her. He knows she's protecting herself, even if "she almost wished it was in her nature to put her guard down," and he's so Down Bad (crying at the capoeiragem fight club) that he's willing to do the slow build of trust and affection necessary to show her that she can rely on him.
As Aurora and Apollo fall deeply in love and their relationship goes from casual to more intimate to love realization and declarations, there is one constant: these two are crazy attracted to one another. Even as they squabble or the barriers to more seem insurmountable I love that Herrera never had the characters deny how they felt, they express their attraction so honestly throughout, and no one writes an intimate scene like Herrera. The reader wants so badly for their emotions to catch up, for them to bravely take that next step. This book really had it all.
It was great visiting with the other couples from the first two Leonas books, and seeing how all six characters have settled into friendships and built relationships. Cora is a Duchess, she's here to show Apollo how love can shift priorities. Evan from book one is the ultimate Wife Guy, "'My wife.' His brother loved saying those words, my wife. Like there was no higher cause a man could hope to achieve than that of being someone's husband." All three books take place in a tight 5 month period, I appreciated the (series) epilogue letting us peek into their continuing HEAs.
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