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

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The only word to describe it is beautiful, and yet that word is inadequate for how Viola and Gracewood’s unfolding love story will make you feel. Gracewood is upset that Viola didn’t trust him with her truth, and that he would never have known if he hadn’t figured it out on his own. I acknowledge that the ability to be ‘unclockable’, or unrecognizable, even by your closest pre-transition relationships, is wish fulfillment, and it isn’t objectively any less realistic than the many Cinderella heroines who are somehow unrecognizable out of their ball gowns. And of course, I absolutely loved that the principle conflict in the story was not Viola's being trans, but that she lied about not being dead, which of course was totally understandable for both sides in context, which only made the story even better. My only point of criticism would be that there were a few instances where I wasn't sure about the dialogue.

I also enjoyed the side characters quite a lot, even if some of their storylines were a little predictable. Viola Caroll was presumed dead at the battle of Waterloo and took the opportunity to restart her life and live as her truest self. It shows courage and dedication to overcome all obstacles and leaves you all warm and fuzzy with an ending to make you smile from ear to ear. But though this book was definitely historical, and there were certain specifics mentioned, like Waterloo and the Prince Regent. Hall doesn’t just blatantly have Viola say how hard living her new life has been, but instead shows the reader through Viola’s actions and interactions with both friends from her old life as well as her new.

That said, I thought it was a really beautiful love story crafted with care, featuring a trans heroine and her childhood best friend who thought she had died in the war. Viola is assumed dead at Waterloo and takes the opportunity to reinvent and restart her life the way she wants to live. Longing for the life you want but can’t have, for someone who is close enough to touch and yet far out of your reach, for someone you’ve lost.

Not only did I find the sister’s problems uninteresting, they also feel unrealistic; at one point, there is a deception involving correspondence which relies on a character never talking about the notes to their ostensible author. Again, this is something that we don’t talk about in history in this period, and I love that we actually get to see it and see someone starting to live with it and again be happy.There are so many times when Gracewood has to adjust what he thinks of as his "role" or "responsibility" just because he's a man.

Despite its tough topics, A Lady for a Duke is a comfort read, and I haven’t even mentioned the gorgeous side characters yet, especially Lady Marleigh, Miranda, and Lady Lillimere. is already incredibly allusive, but after reading and getting a depth of context, it is even more meaningful.

As for this particular story, well the trademark AH humour is back in full force, I cried real tears for Gracewood's PTSD and Viola's misery, and of course this story is joining several of the author's previous works on my Creme-de-la-Creme bookshelf here on Goodreads. From the moment, he finds out that his former best friend wasn't a man but a woman, he starts referring her as "She". But, then to see how she gained confidence in herself, how she learned to accept herself as she was, and to feel loved in Gracewood's eyes and her companions, it was exquisitely done that it moved me so. Alexis Hall wrote a story that speaks to the heart, tugs at the core and leaves you hoping for more! From the same article cited previously: “In May 1772, a French secretary in the service of the Secret allegedly came to London to investigate the claim that d’Eon was a woman; he left in June, fully convinced that d’Eon was indeed female because that’s what d’Eon told him”.

As a bonus, Hall also wrote the funny, insightful discussion questions at the back, allowing readers space to dwell a bit longer on the story. Except it was wholly different too: his fingers closing around hers in delicate possession, making her feel not fragile, precisely, but worthy of care. And if, like me, you’ve never read a historical romance before but the idea of a transfem lead in a historical romance sounds great, look no further.

His interactions with his aunt add so much depth to her character, it was beautiful to witness those intimate moments. Still, I struggled to believe that a transition without surgical or hormonal affirming treatments could produce someone Gracewood wouldn’t at least think looked familiar (when I do cross-gender makeup, everyone comments on my uncanny resemblance to my brother). So it can be very understandable to any queer person not just a trans person as to why she made the choices she did to be herself regardless of what it costs others. From the start I was emotionally invested in the characters, and believe me I went through *all* the emotions.