Following the Battle of Waterloo, Viola Carroll abandoned her previous identity, as well as her aristocratic title, to finally embrace life as a trans woman. Allowing the world to believe she had been killed in action, Viola took on the role of companion to her sister-in-law, Lady Louise Marleigh. A trans heroine. A grieving Duke. Two old friends. A moving and beautiful historical romance. Alexis Hall has outdone himself! If he allowed himself to think beyond the moment, beyond her closeness, and their entwined fingers, he would have known she was right. But he had no wish to think.

Delightful trans historical romance, written very specifically to not centre the conflict on the heroine's transness. It starts off quite angsty anyway as the hero is deeply traumatised by his war experiences as well as his bereavement, and there's a meaty clash between Gracewood's entirely justified anger that he was let believe his only friend was dead, and Viola's equally justified reasons for restarting her life. (I really appreciate romances that face head on that sometimes there isn't a single right course of action, and that people's rights and needs sometimes come into direct conflict.) Simply the best writer I’ve come across in years’– Laura Kinsale, New York Times bestselling author When Viola learns of Gracewood's distress, she and her sister-in-law, the Lady Marleigh, decide to intervene. Viola knows she's playing with fire—how long can she hide her very-much-alive presence from her oldest friend?—but the choice is a done deal. She is going to help Gracewood no matter the cost.

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 Lady for A Duke" isn't very different from any other good historical romances out there. Lush setting, polished prose, noble society, friends, families, conspiracies, humor etc etc. But Alexis Hall adds an exceptional TWIST to the mixture. This book features a trans heroine. I didn't about it when the book first came out. So I didn't pay much attention to it. But when I found out that "A Lady for A Duke" casts a trans woman as the main character, I was absolutely mind blown. This is the first historical romance I have come across to where queer poeple are not only recognised but also are treated with utmost respect. I have read a lot of books featuring trans man. It might come as a surprise but I had never read a book with a trans woman as the main character before this one. And, I never thought I would find my perfect, desired scenario in a historical romance. I am mind blown will be a understatement to be honest. Eagerly looking forward to more fresh stories in the historical romance canon to join this one on the shelves.

The only spot of freshness in this story did not come from the main characters at all—it came from the side characters, Lady Marleigh (sister-in-law to Viola) and Lady Gracewood (Justin's younger sister). They were doing fresh things in this story, thank goodness, and Justin and Viola got to semi-react to those events throughout the novel. But that did make for awkward reading in a romance subniche that tends to rely on its main characters to provide the agency in a story. You know, I’m growing a bit tired of stories that are steeped in irony and a “wink-and-nod” type humor, where every moment of sincerity is undercut by a joke. It was such a relief to come by a book that isn’t afraid to be unapologetically itself. Also, I’ve never read an epilogue that actually improved the book until this one, just absolute perfection. There were so many parts I highlighted, so many moments that had me holding my breath at the tender displays of affections that both of them were experiencing and expressing for each other. The gentle way in which they gravitated from friends to acquaintances to re-acquainting and then lovers - it was too breathtakingly gorgeously and so gut-wrenching soft, that I was both swooning at their open affection and internally biting into my pillow at the level of softness that they both just felt. 💕💕💕 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.”

The perfect historical romance does exist, and Alexis Hall has not only proven that but achieved that with flying colors in this truly unforgettable book. He said it with such conviction, such hope, that it moved me that in a world where it was improbable, their love could make it possible. 🥺🥺 And it was agonizingly painful to see how long Viola fought his advances and the subtle hints of flirtations in their courtship only to be squashed under the plea of friendship, but when suddenly it could no longer be fought off anymore - they just fit together so perfectly, like it was inevitable - like it had always been meant to be. 🩷🩷 But Viola's new ability to explore life as her true womanly self has opened up yet another wrinkle when it comes to Gracewood: she can no longer ignore the fact that her feelings for him are considerably more than friendly. CWs: descriptions of PTSD and chronic pain; instances of deadnaming/misgendering (in the past tense); some references to dysphoria; brief mentions of suicide ideation; some exploration of drug addiction; references to past abuse; some misogyny; and explicit sexual content Every once in a while you read a book that you want to SCREAM FROM ROOFTOPS about. I’m screaming, people!’– Sonali Dev, USA Today bestselling author, on Boyfriend Material

Reading this book was like devouring my favourite cheese cake. Every moment was a treat; every second - sweet and delightful. "A Lady for A Duke" is ultimately a comfort read but still manages to make you shed some tears. At least, I CRIED. For those who were fans of Boyfriend Material, it's worth noting that A Lady for a Duke is tonally quite different. While this does have some funny moments, it's not a comedy and is much more serious in tone. 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. 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.CW: PTSD, ableism, self-medicating with alcohol and drugs, grief, abusive parent (past), use of a dead name, war injury, violence

Alexis Hall is giving us a historical romance with a trans heroine??? If god hates the gays WHY DO WE KEEP WINNING The Duke of Gracewood is in mourning for his lost best friend. He blames himself for the loss, the war, and for his disability returning from the warfront. Gracewood is slipping into an opium dependency and a depression with no light in sight. Things are dire. 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 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.

What do you want to hear? That I’ve imagined it? Countless times? You beneath me, with your legs around me, wearing nothing but your pretty shoes?” I was really excited to read this book, I’ve never read a historical romance with a trans main character. And while the concept and the characters in the book were wonderful, the actual plot and pacing of the book was a total snoozefest. I listened to the audiobook and while I normally love reading in that format, I was choosing to listen to music on my commute instead of the book because it was so boring. I’m actually genuinely upset that you can have a premise so interesting with the friends to lovers trope and just make it uninteresting.