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

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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. Justin de Vere, Duke of Gracewood, hides in the country, debilitated by symptoms of PTSD, terrible war injuries, and an addiction to laudanum and alcohol. The latter was sometimes a hinderance, especially in the middle where it felt like everything else happening distracted from the actual romance and it did fall a bit flat in the middle, but it picked right back up with a happy balance of sweet and angsty. Any of the issues facing Viola and Justin would make a great novel, but placing them in nineteenth century England adds a unique twist. Know, with certainty that only comes around a few times in one’s lifetime, that you have found a piece of your soul that exists outside of your body.

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. Viola Caroll was presumed dead at the battle of Waterloo and took the opportunity to restart her life and live as her truest self. Almost every single page of this novel set my heart racing, aching for Viola and Gracewood as individuals and as a couple. But this is also a world where queer people exist and thrive, where language isn't as stiff as it should be and where women are more outspoken than usual. I'm not trans myself so do check out own voices reviewers to hear their thoughts but I was definitely a fan.It was sad because we see Gracewood suffer, but we know that his mental illness won’t even get a name during his lifetime.

The side plots intervening in the central storyline had the most fabulous banter and made me fall even more in love with the story overall. I don't think I've read any new HR release that devotes this much page count in decoding an evolving relationship dynamic, as well as the psychological impact on the parties involved (the only comparable one I can think of is Flowers from the Storm by Laura Kinsale); the commitment wholeheartedly pays off as I was left wanting more after the epilogue wrapped up (which by the way was extremely joyful and poignant). She may have had to give up her title, her money, her lands, but she is free to be truly herself for the first time. I adored the side characters - they were hilariously refreshing, effortlessly charming, simply delightful parts of Viola and Gracewood's lives that just added such life to their moments. I feel like the initial plotline only stretched so far, and then side plots were brought in to flesh it out and then things felt watered down, if that makes sense.Another issue is that after Gracewood realizes the truth about Viola’s transition, the story has no momentum. It was a messy process of wavering back and forth, saying too much and too little, not having the right words and being unable to utilize the ones I do have in a way that does this book justice. Violet Sorrengail did all the normal things one would do as a first-year student at Basgiath War College: made new friends, fell in love, and survived multiple assassination attempts. He comes to understand that just because a woman had to support or fight for him, that doesn't make him any less of a man.

When Viola and Gracewood are reunited by their families, they are faced with rediscovering each other, figuring out how they fit together after so much has shifted within and between them, and overcoming the barriers that would seek to part them once more. It is an incredibly tender, slow-burn romance that is the absolute *epitome* of queer yearning, and it is the ultimate second chance romance. The loss of her wealth and title are trivial against the greater loss of her friend and closest companion, Justin de Vere, the Duke of Gracewood. The biographer views d’Eon’s transition as seemingly as much—or possibly more—having to do with d’Eon’s religiosity as gender. After a couple of years she has to face an old friend, Gracewood is grieving the loss of his best friend and Viola is the only person who can help him heal.I would be remiss if I didn’t mention how outstanding the sex scenes are: hot and tender all at once, with some negotiation about what is and isn’t okay, what the two characters do and don’t want, which frankly is something I could use more of in romance. 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”. So romantic, so emotional, so touching, so moving, so very perfect The words seeped into my heart - the love coursed through my veins - I was so so in love with Viola and Gracewood's story, this was just an absolute delight!

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