A Lady for a Duke

I found this book through TikTok after a surge of booktokers started to recommend it.

I was instantly intrigued by the premise: presumed dead at Waterloo, a soldier decides to live as herself—trans woman Viola loses her wealth, her title, and her childhood friend Gracewood. But years later, fate draws them together again, and they must contend with their desires and their past together.

This book! I cried, I laughed, I had so many emotions reading this tale. Against all odds, they find each other, they communicate through the unique challenge of attraction after years and Viola’s new womanhood.

There… show more.

I was a little afraid to read this one at first but should have known better. I was afraid the main conflict would revolve around bigotry towards the heroine. Instead it’s a cozy exploration of self-acceptance. Lyrically beautiful writing paints a picture of the world almost as it should be, where bigotry is acknowledged as existing and that potential does drive some of the internal conflict, but not in an intrusive way. Unlike some of my other selections, Viola isn’t particularly experienced or worldly. She has closed herself off from the world and it’s up to Gracewood to draw her… show more.