A trans heroine. A grieving Duke. Two old friends. A moving and beautiful historical romance. Alexis Hall has outdone himself!

Longing for the sequel of Boyfriend Material? Wanting to be back with Luc and Oliver? STOP! Husband Material can wait. First, pick up this moving and beautiful story! In my opinion, A Lady for a Duke is Alexis’ best so far.

After reading the first sentence of this book, I knew this would be a five-star read. This book! OMG! This book is LOVE! Two beautiful people, grieving in different ways. Viola, who decided to leave her old life behind, choosing herself first to finally be who she wanted to be, who she really was. Gracewood, who thought his oldest friend died and searched for comfort in alcohol and opium use. From the moment those two people met again, the love splashed off the pages and found a place in my heart—the tenderness, the grief, the intimacy, the craving, the heartbreaking moments, all so vivid and palpable, imbued with Alexis’ humor, and again love, so much love.

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. And how Alexis brings historical queer characters to life and lets people back then accept queer family and friends so easily. Our current world (think of Florida and Texas) could learn so much from this book. Because it keeps coming back to that one word: LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!

This book is wonderful. I am slowly becoming a historical romance lover. A queer historical romance with a trans heroine? Sign me up. Love to see it. Viola and Justin are so good together. I love friends to lovers and a good slow burn. I’m happy I read this and will continue to read anything Alexis Hall releases because he hasn’t done me wrong yet.
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the advance copy of the book. Release date is 5/24!
This will be posted on my Instagram @katebrownreads as well!

I’m a big fan of regency romance and when I found Alexis Hall had written one - I was all in. True to form Alexis Hall delivers in spades.
Viola has known Justin all their lives. In Waterloo when, there is an attack where she is presumed dead, she walks away to be her true self. Unfortunately she had no idea how much Justin is going to spiral with her loss.
I liked how Alexis formulated the story, the language used is perfect for the times as also there is a touch of modernisms with the jokes that will appeal to readers. The angsty start gives way to hope, discovery and love that was always there but now in a newer form, perfect for a regency romance. If you are a fan of Historical romance this will be your cup of tea.. A unique and enjoyable read.

This is one of the sweetest romances I have ever read. Regency romances are by no means my jam, but when I realized this was a trans Regency Romance, I had to read it. I am so glad I did. It is so sweet and hopeful and loving and I hope this book is a super ginormous best seller and blows open the door for more mainstream trans romances.

A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall is a wonderful read with plenty of swoon and humor. As someone who does not typically read regency romance, I was pleasantly surprised to find how quickly I devoured this book. The author purposefully uses modern language and style in some moments, which I think is an excellent choice and draws the reader in. The side characters in this book are delightful and well-rounded. I especially love Hall's depiction of children and how different characters interact with them. The book is divided into three separate parts of a story and each contains a very separate feel and tone. I especially loved the first section because Viola and Gracewood are both so clearly hurting and the angst and yearning are palpable. I highly recommend this title to fans of regency romance and fans of Alexis Hall.

4.5 rounded up. I hope to have a more in depth review before publication date but this really worked for me. I thought Viola's gender was handled very well and appreciated that it added conflict without being THE conflict. The yearning levels were off the charts and made my heart ache in the best way. The sex scenes were super emotional and wonderful and their communication as a couple was fabulous. I also appreciated how different sorts of trauma (whether war or from being forced to grow up presenting as the wrong gender) were treated with equal weight.

Not to mention that there is a character who is clear sequel bait that I think has the makings of being this decade's Sebastian, Lord St. Vincent which is just.... yes.

A must read for historical romance fans

Being presumed dead at Waterloo offered Victoria the chance she needed to live life as she was meant to be. This caused her to lose her title, her footing in society, and, most importantly, her best friend, Justin de Vere, the Duke of Gracewood.

The families reconnect when Viola and her sister-in-law take it upon themselves to convince Gracewood that his sister needs to have a season in London. As Viola and Justin reconnect, feelings shift and blossom from friends to lovers.

Over the last few years I have become an avid Alexis Hall fan. No matter the time period or genre, Hall has an unmistakable voice that shines through. Viola and Justin are lifelong friends who find their way back to each other and then, in Justin's case, back to himself after horrific traumas of war. While this book has some deep, dark moments it is entirely hopeful. They find each other and make space for each other regardless of the way the world would keep them apart. The epitome of what I love about romance novels.

I loved it and will recommend it to anyone.

What a wonderfully handled historical romance featuring a trans woman ladies’ companion and a disabled duke—both veterans of the Napoleonic wars. Viola Carroll and the Duke of Gracewood were the closest of friends until the war ripped them apart. When left injured on the battlefield Viola chose to let her previous life go and begin to live as she was always meant to—but at the cost of the most important person in her life. Gracewood is shattered by injury, war, guilt, and loss. When news of his illness reaches Viola, she’s encouraged by her meddling family to try and help him find his footing again—but at what cost to them both? It’s a sweet and moving tale told with wit and heart. Fans of Bridgeton and Cat Sebastian take note.

I love love LOVED this book! Alexis Hall is such a talent—his books are funny, romantic, brilliantly assembled—and A LADY FOR A DUKE is no exception. It’s a book that celebrates being trans without diminishing the struggles of living in a transphobic society, that identifies the way queerness amid heteronormativity (in its excesses in Regency England) can feel alienating while recognizing that queer people are everywhere and always have been, and offers a tendres story of friendship, family, and romantic love.

Also it was SO ROMANTIC. Viola and Gracewood, who have been separated for years by circumstances and choices, make so many romantic declarations that will make you swoon over and over again. Hall also sets up a cast of characters that heralds a series (PLEASE give it to me IMMEDIATELY). This book is GOOD please preorder it right now.

CWs can be found here (linking because they're a bit complicated): http://quicunquevult.com/books/a-lady-for-a-duke/

I've been sitting with this book all day, having finished it last night, and I still don't know how to write a review of it...
This book is absolutely beautiful. The writing is just gorgeous, I was crying by chapter 4 (thankfully, there wasn't a ton of crying throughout the rest of the book, only a bit), but it wasn't really sad crying. I mean, it sort of was, but it was more that my emotions were overwhelmed and leaking out of my eyes.
The premise is that Viola Carroll was thought to have died in the battle of Waterloo, but she didn't, she was able to escape her old life and live as her true self. However, her best friend, the Duke of Gracewood, whom she went to war with, thought her dead and has been grieving for her for the past 2 years. Viola and her sister-in-law end up going to visit Gracewood and his sister, but he doesn't recognize Viola, and when she sees how absolutely destroyed he is, she tries to bring him out of his grief.
As I said earlier, the writing in this book is beautiful. The way Gracewood describes his friendship with Viola (when he still thinks she's dead) is absolutely heart wrenching, and it is clear why he has become so lost in his grief. But as he starts to come around, the banter between him and Viola is excellent. They both sort of pick at each other and are so playful with each other, it is truly lovely.
There are also several incredible scenes, that are just so beautiful and show how much Viola and Gracewood care for each other, I basically swooned all over the place. I would love to go into all the details about these scenes, but I also don't want to spoil any aspect of this book for anyone.
The level of angst, pining, and aching in this book, is almost painful, but it's also for completely legitimate reasons. Viola is a trans woman in Regency era England, so basically every aspect of traditional society and relationships are not available to her. She has also given up her title in order to be her true self, so there is also the question of class, where she is now living as a Lady's companion (lower class) and Gracewood is a Duke. Just the differences in class would make a relationship virtually impossible, never mind anything else.
And again, in true AJH fashion, he has his MCs just being the best to each other and supporting each other. Gracewood has PTSD and is disabled, and Viola helps and supports him through all of it, constantly challenging him when he is being ableist towards himself. I just love how he writes these characters who completely support each other and accept each other just as they are. It's truly wonderful to see.
Now, this is completely out of my wheelhouse, but I wanted to say that I thought the way the sex scenes were written was really well done. He has written trans sex scenes before, but this wasn't really like those, probably because of it being historical as opposed to contemporary? I loved how open Gracewood is about sex and different kinds of sex and how he helps to reassure Viola when she's feeling uncertain. I also loved Viola's wonder the first time they're together.
I highlighted so many passages in this book, I can't wait to get the actual ebook so that I can go through and highlight it all over again and share the highlights all over here. Seriously, there are some gorgeous passages and I honestly can't get over how gorgeous the writing in this book is.
I've now read just about everything AJH has written (with the exception of a couple of short stories), and I don't know that I can compare this book to anything else he has written. The emotional gravity could be sort of close to the Spires books, but I think it's even more so, probably because the subject matter is so much more serious.
The epilogue was pretty much perfect, I loved it so much. It just wrapped everything up so nicely. The joy is practically bursting from the pages, which is so nice after so much angst.
Something to take note of that I think is amazing is that the model of Viola on the cover of the book is a trans model and the person narrating the audiobook is a trans woman. This book just feels really groundbreaking on a lot of levels, and I am so here for it.
There are so many more things that I want to scream about this book, but won't because this is already kind of long and I don't want to spoil anything. Just, pre-order this book, read this book, and then scream at me about how great it is.

There are a lot of very serious themes in this book, and yet every heavy thing is held so kindly, with such compassion and care, that it is not a heavy story. Indeed, it is delightful, full of wit and humor. It evokes beauty at every turn: in the personal empowerment expressed in the detail of an embroidered glove or a pretty pair of shoes; in the strength and courage that it takes to be a better person than you were; in the ways that simple expressions of care can create breathtaking intimacy.

This is a historical romance, featuring a trans heroine, set in England in 1818. We learn that before the book opens, its main characters were close friends who met at school, grew up together, then fought together against Napoleon. Both were grievously injured at Waterloo, and one presumed dead. For the latter, this turns out to be an opportunity for a new life, and Viola Carroll recovers from her injuries and discreetly returns to her family under her new name, taking on the role of paid lady’s companion and leaving her old identity dead on the battlefield. She assumes her friend, the Duke of Gracewood, will mourn his lost friend and move on, but two years later, Gracewood is mired in grief and drink and laudanum. This is where the book begins.

End to end, this was an impeccable and exquisitely executed historical romance. Not only did I adore this book, but it made me better love every book I’d read before which gave me the context to appreciate this one. If you are not a reader of historical romance, the key to the genre (apart from the romance) is that it takes characters whose desires and motivations are familiar and recognizable to a contemporary audience, then places those characters in a reasonable facsimile of a historical setting. And that setting frequently serves to allow the characters to swan around in pretty clothing and cast heated looks across candlelit libraries and so forth, but it also permits authors to do some interesting things with social dynamics to explore some unseen or forgotten bit of history, or to illustrate parallels to today’s world, or both. With this book, Hall fulfills that promise to the fullest.

Here are just a few tropes of the genre which were employed beautifully in this story:
- A lady with a secret, who must choose to be true to herself;
- A man grappling with an unloving upbringing, learning how to give and receive love — as a friend, as a brother, and as a lover;
- Characters returned from war, having seen things and done things they now must live with;
- 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;
- The threat of compromised virtue and a midnight chase to avert disaster;
- Definitely some swanning around in pretty clothing, to excellent effect;
- And the triumph of love, in all the ways.

I also loved it that there was no sense of imminent threat at every turn that Viola might be outed, and that she was known to and accepted by the people most important to her. In the reading group guide appended to the book, Hall notes that it was one of his goals “to write a historical romance with a transgender heroine in which the fact that the heroine is transgender is not the main source of conflict or narrative tension.” I thought this was brilliantly done, not heavy-handed or artificial, not disregarding the challenges faced by Viola but not playing them up for dramatic effect, and building tension and story in other dynamics between the characters and in the challenges they face.

A Lady for a Duke releases May 24, 2022 and is currently available for pre-order. It is really good.

Viola Carroll, a veteran of Waterloo, has taken advantage of her presumed death in battle to begin publicly living her gender. She has given up a great deal to do so -- no longer heir to a viscountcy, stripped of wealth and rights, she has resigned herself to life as a spinster companion to the woman who is in truth her sister-in-law. The greatest thing she has given up, though, is her deep and long-lasting friendship with the Duke of Gracewood. Thinking his friend dead, Gracewood is living in isolation, pain, and grief in Northumberland.

Then circumstances (and that sister-in-law, who is very determined in arranging other people's lives) force the two of them back into each other's company and emotions of many sorts come to the fore. The first section of the book is very much steeped in ghosts, memory, and phantasm, the past an eerie overlay on the present. The action eventually transfers to London, and the milieu becomes less gothic and more what we expect from a Regency romance: talk of the ton, gowns, balls, and the marriage mart.

But, depending on which Regency romances you have read, this may not be quite what you expect. This is a Regency England where there are Black people, where there are queer people, where sex toys exist and so do people of rich and varied sexual experience. Also, there are women who drop F-bombs. If you've been reading K.J Charles or Lex Croucher, this will be a Regency you recognize, but if you have other sources, it may seem unfamiliar. I encourage you to open yourself to its enchantments and to realize that it has more historical accuracy than a world of nothing but white noblemen and pretty, innocent white women with fans.

I love so many of the characters in this book. Viola is fierce and making her way against quite a few obstacles and treading carefully as she negotiates a new relationship with an old friend who does not recognize her. I don't have personal standing to comment on trans representation, but as far as I can see the text always treats her with respect. Gracewood is struggling to heal from, or at least live with, his loss, his grief, his stern upbringing, his memories of war, and his wounds. He means well but, like so many of us, sometimes manages poorly. Together they make a couple who face great challenges and for whom I was rooting all the way with bated breath.

And the side characters! Viola's younger brother, affectionately called Badger, has become the viscount and is adorably buffleheaded and devoted to his forthright, managing (one might even say interfering) wife. His son, Young Bartholomew, is seven years old, possibly precocious, and given to having oddly philosophical discussions with Viola that shine a different light on the twists, turns, and challenges of relationship and identity she's going through. And Lady Lillimere is bold, ribald, and unstoppable.

The writing is everything we have come to expect from Alexis Hall: erudite, playful, and deeply kind. Besides a compelling romance, the book has a complex, multilayered approach to gender, power, society, and identity that I am certain will repay rereading. And, of course, as it is a romance, there is a touching Happy Ever After.
I recommend this book with all my heart, especially to those who want to see stories of a variety of people, who want a queer history where tragedy is not inevitable, and need to know that, then and now, queer joy is real.

Big thanks to Read Forever for the advanced e-ARC via NetGalley. This review is being given honestly and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Overall 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Lady for A Duke by Alexis Hall is a queer romance between a transgender heroine and her childhood best friend. There are a few instances of deadnaming using the heroine’s old title.

Other CWS: PTSD, ableism, abusing alcohol and opioids, addictive behavior, relapse, signs of withdrawal, grief, slightly graphic war flashbacks, war injury, abusive parent (dead), kidnapping,

Read if you enjoy:
- childhood friends to strangers to lovers
-We can’t be together/forbidden vibes
-Let’s bone it out

This historical romance was honest to god, about soulmates. There is no way that Viola and Gracewood weren’t meant for each other. I swear every time ANYTHING happened between them, a conversation, a kiss, a LOOK, it was so emotionally charged and hit me right in my own soul. This was an emotional read that will gobble you up then spit you out and all you will be able to say is ‘thanks’.

This was a very emotional, but very beautiful reading experience. There's quite a lot of angst, but it balances out really well with Alexis Hall's signature humour, and the fact that there's no direct transphobia in this book (although indirectly it does exist in the society). There were so many beautiful quotes in this book, full of yearning, and I absolutely adored the romance.

So buckle up because I’m about to rave about how much I loved this book and why I would give it 1,000 stars if I could. A queer (m/f, trans heroine), historical romance with pining and angst and heart and love!!!

Viola Carrol died at Waterloo. Well, who she used to be died and Viola rose from the ashes, taking it as the sign and opportunity she needed to live her life the way she was always meant to. After starting over anew, Viola is reunited with her old friend, Justinian de Vere, Duke of Gracewood, her fellow soldier and best friend. I don’t want to give too much of the plot away, but their reunion starts us on an emotional, beautiful path to love and acceptance.

Viola. My god. What is there to even say about her. She’s strong and fragile at the same time. Brave and terrified. Confident and unsure. She’s finally living her truth, but when confronted with the devastation her choices left in their wake, she has to face some hard truths and reconcile the life she knew with the life she wants. Her pining for Gracewood, y’all. It made my heart lurch. There’s a moment when our H and h have what my mama would call a “come to Jesus” with each other and I was so emotional, I started crying. You can FEEL Viola’s emotions bleeding out on the page and it was just…so multifaceted and beautiful and despairing and hopeful and longing all at the same time. I cannot imagine what it would have been like to live in this time period and try to live as you truly are, but Viola scrapes and claws her way to it and it’s so good. Seeing her joy at being who she’s always known in her heart was so freaking beautiful and emotional.

Gracewood. My darling, darling Gracewood. This man has struggled so much since the death of his best friend at Waterloo. Trying to deal with his grief and devastation with anything he can find to numb it. Reading about his pain and insecurities after an injury left him with scars made me cry for him. Until Viola comes along. And brightens his world and changes his life. The way he loves Viola, y’all. He lives and breathes for that woman. Y’all know I love pining, especially when it’s the hero pining, and Gracewood delivered on every front. He’s so determined to have Viola in any way she’ll allow. Even after learning her secrets and truths and fears and hopes. He just…is so steadfast and earnest in his love for her. Knowing he’ll have to make sacrifices to be with her, he doesn’t even care. I just….love this man so much my god.

This way just so beautiful. I think it really does show a beautiful journey to love and happiness and joy and contentment. The way that their relationship is written is so honest and loving and a little bit angsty is just delicious. I love a queer romance. The more rep the better. You hand me a queer, historical romance and I’m going to love it. But this book. THIS BOOK. I just cannot stop thinking about it. Alexis’s Instagram caption says “from mutual pining to the most in love” and that sums this book up so perfectly. I’ll share some of my favorite quotes below because I’m just in love with these two and their love story. The epilogue had me an emotional, blubbery, happy mess. (I’m a happy crier, okay. Don’t judge me.)

“What he would never find peace with was having driven her from him. For allowing his sense of being wronged to overwhelm his sense of her. A woman trying to navigate an impossible situation who was, and had always been, his truest friend. Perhaps it was already too late. Perhaps he had erred too grievously. And she would want none of him. He would not blame her for it. But even so. She had always come to him. It was time for him to go to her.”

“There is nothing I will not stoop to when it comes to
your happiness. We both went to war. And we returned bearing different wounds. Not all of yours may be visible. But none of them make you any less the man that you are.”

“And it was strange because it could have been anyone.
Any couple reflected there. But it wasn't.
It was the Duke of Gracewood and Viola Carroll.
And they were dancing.”


Please read this book. It’s so good. That is all.

A Lady for a Duke seems to be almost three books in one, which makes it a little bit difficult to properly review. The first book it contains is the first half of the book, where Viola visits the estate of her former best friend, who believes her dead after Waterloo (and after her transition) and seeks to help him through his PTSD and laudanum addiction, while also attempting to get him to bring his sister to London for a season. This was a very complex section that deals heavily with grief and Viola's changing feelings towards her former friend. The second section is a more conventional historical romance where Viola is chaperoning Gracewood's sister, Mira, through her London season and refusing to act as Gracewood's mistress or wife despite them being in love with each other. The third section is more of a rescue story but to delve into that would be a spoiler.

Because of how disjointed all of these parts felt, I had a hard time really delving into this book and embracing the love story. I really enjoyed the sections that just involved Viola and Gracewood being honest and open with each other, especially involving her transition and self-worth issues, and his PTSD and addiction problems. These were the strongest elements of the entire book and sustained throughout the more meandering bits.

ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

CW: PTSD, ableism, self-medicating with alcohol and drugs, grief, abusive parent (past), use of a dead name, war injury, violence

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)

-m/f (trans heroine) historical romance
-childhood best friends to estranged to lovers
-mutual pining
-amazing secondary characters
-this is just a hookup
-elements of forbidden romance

I'm going to do my best to review this book but honestly words fail me to describe how beautiful it was. It is not a light read, my heart broke for Viola and Gracewood. Viola making a difficult choice, live her life as her authentic self but leave her old life behind in a lot of ways, including Gracewood. I loved their transition from friends to lovers this story was so full of love and joy but also angst.

How they loved each other for themselves. The use of the historical setting to make the separation of the sexes so much clearer, their different classes, ugh this book was just so beautifully done and you can tell that each choice was just intentional, with Alexis Hall's sharp wit. The slow burn as these two just kept PINING for the other in the best way. Both dealing with inner demons and doubts, realizing they had to love themselves in order to trust and be able to love someone else.

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.

Just please read this book and get ready for the journey your heart will take with this beautifully and tenderly written love story that wrecked me in the best way.

Steam: 3