Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore - Bookin' It With Jen

In 1879 England, women don't have many options outside of the home. Until Oxford University opens its doors to their first class of female students that is. Annabelle Archer sees this as her big chance to escape the bleak future she has before her, especially upon receiving a scholarship from the suffragists movement, if she can only convince her close minded and tight fisted cousin to let her go. He eventually relents on the condition that she pays him each month to compensate for the help he will need with her gone.

University suits the brilliant Annabelle but as part of the condition of her scholarship she must petition and recruit men of influence to their cause. When she unknowingly dares to approach the notoriously cold Sebastian Devereaux, the Duke of Montgomery she is set upon an impossible path to bring him to their side, just as hes been appointed to bring their opposition, the Tory party, to victory by the Queen.

I loved this book more than I expected to. While technically it is a historic romance it isn't all skirt chasing and fainting ladies, there is some real meat to the story. The women are all strong and determined and intelligent which really frames just how unjust the societal expectations for women really were at the time.