A Lady For a Duke: a swoonworthy historical romance from the bestselling author of Boyfriend Material

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Viola Carroll is the heroine of this book. A trans heroine. And while this particular characteristic is so perfectly portrayed and used throughout the book, it is not the main focus of it. Justin de Vere, Duke of Gracewood, was overwrought with guilt over losing his best friend, 'the joy of his life'. Returning from war a cripple who suffers from bouts of PTSD and the overwhelming dependency of laudanum and completely ignoring his state of affairs and his sister, his life is unexpectedly turned by the graceful presence of Viola. 😢 He was charmed by her, swayed by her gentle tendencies, he fell in love with her - so utterly smitten with her and how she is able to bring out the side in him he had lost and long forgotten. And then to have the sudden realization that the one who he had held so dear was the same as the one who he wanted to have were one and the same - it made his love for her even stronger, his conviction to make her see that he loved her as she was. 🥰🥰 And the biggest, most dangerous moment in the book? Has NOTHING to do with their romance. And yet their romance AND their childhood friendship play a part in bringing about the expected happy ending.

A beautifully articulated queer romance that's completely worthy of its length, A Lady for a Duke feels like an old-school historical romance in the best way possible, with its lyrical writing, the near-obsessed dedication to capture every single emotional nuances, and the sense of sweeping scope and place.I can tell that there was a lot of care put into this story. The story involves a transgender woman but the story itself is NOT about being a trans woman, which I really appreciate it. It takes something that you don’t commonly see in books and normalizes it. It’s fantastic. I cannot (hopefully) wait to see more of this. Simply the best writer I’ve come across in years’– Laura Kinsale, New York Times bestselling author Justin’s journey in understanding Viola, is just as important as Viola’s understanding of herself. My hat is off to Alexis Hall with his handling of the physical romance scenes. It’s incredibly moving to witness the depth of Justin’s care for Viola, processing his own reactions to Viola’s body, and the sensations of what they can do together. Plus, Viola’s dysphoria is incorporated into the story in a simply masterful and sensitive manner. This story is going to stay with me for a long time, and I want many more books like this, with fearless trans protagonists getting the happily ever afters they so deserve. Thanks Forever Books for the review copy! This book is out 5/24 and I can’t wait for everyone else to fall in love with Viola, Gracewood, and their epic romance. Whatever it is,” she told him, her head turned away, her expression cast in shadow by the fall of her hair, “there is no place for it in the world.”

And the secondary characters. Alexis Hall just writes secondary characters who sparkle. How adorably in love Louise and Badger were, and the soft aunt moments with Little Bartholomew. And Mira (I am rooting she gets her own book so badly). How accepting and loving everyone was, all about building the family of your heart. From the bestselling author of Husband Materialcomes a lush, sweeping queer historical romance where sparks fly between childhood friends after a life-changing separation—perfect for fans of Bridgerton, Evie Dunmore, and Lisa Kleypas!​ When Viola Carroll was presumed dead at Waterloo she took the opportunity to live, at last, as herself. But freedom does not come without a price, and Viola paid for hers with the loss of her wealth, her title, and her closest companion, Justin de Vere, the Duke of Gracewood. I listened to an audiobook which was Narrated by Kay Eluvian. What a wonderful performance. From depression to joy and every emotion in-between, plus young children to adults, the vocalizing is clear, gripping and engulfing. I did speed this up to 1.5 for conversational comfort.Let's start this reaction off with some honesty: I am very conflicted about my star rating of this review.

There are only a few books in my life that I have reached the end of, closed, and immediately wanted to read again. A Lady For a Duke joins that list, and the second read is just as rich and gorgeous as the first. A swoon-worthy and touching queer romance, this novel is one to be savored. This is wish-fulfilment, and why not? Why not have nice things? While the book begins with Viola stewing in her fears of rejection, should her old friend Justin, Duke of Gracewood, recognize her, once that recognition is made, the drama isn't that she transitioned, it's that she let him think she was dead. And then further drama as the two try to carve out a place for themselves which takes into account the expectations of a Duke (that is, continuing the family line) and also the expectations of a lady's maid (to not be disgraced by an affair). Justinian de Vere, duke of Gracewood is a complete mess. He is scarred, both physically and mentally, by the war he's fought in alongside his oldest friend. He is in pain not only from his injured leg, but the loss of his best friend on that battlefield pushes him into the hands of alcohol and narcotics. He's suffering from severe PTSD while trying to fulfill his duty thrust upon him by the name he carries. He is constantly torn between following his heart and fulfilling his legacy, exactly as his strict father would have wanted.Rep: Viola is a trans woman who passes in society; and Gracewood is a former soldier disabled by the war who uses a mobility aid, experiences chronic pain, and is contending with both PTSD and related drug dependency The highly gendered expectations of what is appropriate or accessible for ladies and for gentlemen, and creative ways of recasting or defying those expectations; Action taking place in settings including a cold and severe ducal estate, and an airy and modern London townhouse, and a turn about Vauxhall Gardens;