A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall
Product Details
Web ID: 14462524Delightful
I enjoyed this book immensely! I was dubious about reading a book with a transgender heroine when I first started but that fades into the background. It is about being true to yourself, strength, love and joy.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Incredible
Loved the book. Wouldn't put it down.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
deep historical romance read
A LADY FOR A DUKE is an intriguing historical romance read. The book follows Viola, who has recently begun living the life she wanted to live, leaving her past behind her on the battlefield at Waterloo. She is now a lady's maid, having given up her former title to obtain the future she wants. In this capacity, she hears about her former best friend, Justin, who is in dire straights of grief and PTSD from the war. She travels with the lady she serves to help Justin and his sister. As she does so, she must confront his and her own demons around the past, the war, and determine how to move forward. This ended up being a deep and emotional historical read as much of their past circles around the horrors of the war and the ways that they have been suffering since. Viola has come out the other side, being able to embrace herself as she is, though war certainly changes things. Justin is still working his way through, and Viola's help is invaluable through his suffering. The background of friendship lays the stage for their future, but it is a twisty path, since Viola knows of their connection but Justin does not at first. This was really a unique romance story, and it is quite lengthy. I found it took me a bit to really get into the story and understand all the nuance, especially with the heavy topics, but it ultimately was a powerful and strong romance. I also appreciated some of the side characters who helped to make the story something special. This was ultimately a story of friendship, passion, healing, and love that will work for people who enjoy a heavier and deeper LGBT historical romance read. Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
One of the worst books ever
The best thing about this book was the vocabulary. It was confusing, and while the plot sounds good, it was not. You read page after page having no idea where the story was going (in a bad way) and it just kept going downhill. Nothing ever pulled it all together.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
A beautiful romance
CW: deadnaming; misgendering; ableist language; suicidal ideation; drug/alchol use; PTSD A Lady for A Duke has a beautiful love story at its center, and I would love to read more historical romances with trans characters as protagonists. And as much as I thought I would be giving this 5 stars at the start, the story did drag toward the end, which knocked my rating down a bit. When Viola Carroll was presumed dead at Waterloo, she took the opportunity to live, at last, as herself. But the freedom to be herself comes with a price as she lost her wealth, title, and her best friend, Justin de Vere, the Duke of Gracewood. Only when Gracewood and Viola’s family reconnect years after the war does she realize how deep the loss truly was. Without his best friend, Gracewood has retreated so far into grief that Viola barely recognizes her old friend as the lonely, brooding man he has become. As she strives to bring Gracewood back to himself, fresh desires give new names to old feelings, feelings Viola cannot deny even if they cost her everything again. Where this book shines is the romance between Viola and Gracewood. Their relationship is not an easy one, but it is filled with so much emotion, love and affection. The emotions are so earnest and raw that it packs a major punch to your feelings. Both Viola and Gracewood are so broken and damaged at the beginning of the book – finding each other again is exactly what they need to heal. Together, they bring out the best in each other – one of my favorite things to see in a romance. And while their path to getting their happily ever after is not easy – they both have a lot to work through individually to heal as well as have to deal with societal roles – it is so fulfilling to watch them get it. Both Viola and Gracewood are emotionally complex characters that they jump fully-fledged off the page. Both are hurt and broken in different ways and need the other to be restored. I loved seeing Viola try to pave a new role for herself while navigating her feelings for Gracewood, complicating the plan she had laid out for her future. And Gracewood – I just wanted to reach through the pages, hug this man, and not let go for a while. He’s filled with so much grief and pain at the beginning that my heart hurt for him. When Viola comes into his life, he begins to resemble the man he was before the war. I also love how he lets Viola just be Viola. He could easily judge her, but he handles her truth beautifully and is angrier that she let him think she was dead for two years than anything else. I think Alexis Hall’s writing was beautiful in this. There were so many romantic lines that had my heart squeezing. He does a great job with the romance and capturing all the characters’ emotions. Now, where the book lost a few points for me was the plot. This book is LONG as it is nearly 500 pages in paperback long. And the whole third act felt like a hard pivot and unnecessary to the central romance and themes of the book. This book was doing fine as a romance focused solely on Gracewood and Viola dealing with their pain, their emotions, their feelings towards each other and some of the obstacles in their way to being together. We didn’t really need a very dramatic subplot involving Gracewood’s sister in there at all. If anything, it distracted me from the main romance and had me scratching my head. I don’t think the plotting and length should deter you from picking up this story. It’s a beautiful love story that made me cry multiple times because the love Viola and Gracewood have for each other is on a whole other level. I think historical romance fans will really enjoy this one, especially if you’re looking for more LGBTQIA+ characters in the genre.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Absolutely Swoon-Worthy
I am not typically a historical romance reader, but when I read the premise for this one I knew I had to give it a shot, and oh am I glad I did! When I tell you I was swooning, I was crying, I was blushing at the tender sweetness of it all! The characters are incredibly written and handled with such gentle nuance I was genuinely blown away. A Lady for a Duke gave me the same heartwarming, smile-inducing good feelings that rewatching the 2005 Pride & Prejudice movie does, and that's saying something!
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Incredible trans regency romance!
I was so excited to read a trans regency romance, and this book exceeded all of my expectations! When Viola was presumed dead at Waterloo, she takes the opportunity to finally live as herself. Unfortunately, that meant leaving behind her best friend, the Duke of Gracewood. Years later, Viola learns that Gracewood is still struggling with her death, the PTSD from war, and chronic pain from his own injuries. So she returns and reintroduces herself to Gracewood in an attempt to bring him back to himself. But the old friendship changes into something more, something that may be impossible. It was delightful to read a trans romance where the fact that the heroine is transgender was not the heroine's main struggle! I also loved how the book discussed chronic pain through Gracewood's injuries from the war. I have chronic pain and could relate to some of his struggles throughout the book. This book is a masterpiece! It is the definition of a slow-burn as it is one of the longer regency romances I have read. But even though it was a long read, it did not drag. All the characters were so well developed, and I loved the side character's banter throughout the novel! This has quickly become one of my favorite regency romances, and I can't wait to read more books by Alexis Hall!
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
A Lady for a Duke
Trigger Warnings: Transphobia, deadnaming, misgendering, ableism, suicidal ideation, drug abuse, alcohol abuse, addiction, PTSD, nightmares, kidnapping, sexual content, war, sexual harassment, violence, mental illness, panic attacks, gun violence, abandonment, classism, death of a parent, body shaming Representation: Transgender, Disability A Lady for a Duke is a historical fiction, adult romance about Viola, who uses a mistaken presumption of her own death to live life as her true self. With this opportunity, Viola has to sacrifice everything from her previous life. After her “death,” her nearest friend, Justin is distraught. Years later, Viola learns of his grief and tries to restore him to his former self. Feelings begin to form between the two, but Viola knows they could cause her to lose everything again. Which will she choose? This story is absolutely beautiful! This book begins so sadly, but quickly becomes a comfort read! The depth, pain, despair, joy in these characters is everything! I am quickly learning that I love a character driven book and this one did not disappoint! I loved the joy that Viola experienced and seeing a Trans person thrive was fantastic! This was such an accurate depiction since we know that Trans people have existed for all of eternity. The author’s use of side characters creates a world with many layers and I loved how accepting the friends and families were! I also really loved the sex scenes! This was so significant with a Trans main character! And that epilogue! Overall, this book measures up to all of the applause it has received since its publication! I would say that the pacing for this book is a bit off. It sometimes feels incredibly long and the physical book- she thick! None of this should prevent a reader from picking up this book though. You will not be disappointed if you choose to read it!
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com