Joined in 2023 
82 
63 About this deal
Do you ever read the first chapter of a book and just… know? Know in the deepest part of you that you will never be the same. Know that those words are going to be an intrinsic part of you from that moment on. 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. The Most Noble", which is an abbreviation of "The Most High, Potent, and Noble", [1] is rarely used by Dukes and Duchesses; when used, the forenames of the peer or peeress can be used after "His Grace" but before "The Duke of [...]". [2] This style is also sometimes used without "His Grace". [3] Names and territorial designations [ edit ]
In my view, this book exists in three parts - The Reunion, The Pursuit, and The Random Side Story with the Sister. (Btw, while it seemed unnecessary as I was reading it, upon reflection, that Random Side Story absolutely served a purpose). For the most part. Viola's thoughts around being trans rung true to me based on my own experience as an agender person. However, while reading this I was very aware that it was a cis gay man writing the inner life of a trans woman and I wondered if that man (AJH) had a right to tell this story, and if trans women would find that he told that story well. And in the same vein, do I, who is not a trans woman, really have the right to judge this story's merits? The second theme is that of masculine vs feminine "roles". There are so many times when Gracewood has to adjust what he thinks of as his "role" or "responsibility" just because he's a man. He was gravely injured in the war and has been left with a bad leg. There are times when he cannot be as strong as he would like, and even times when Viola has to support him and even fight for him. 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. And the reverse is also true for Viola. After embracing her womanhood, there are certain things she is afraid to do again because she is worried about embracing her "masculine" traits. From riding a horse to sword fighting to protect the Duke, she also comes to understand that just because she is able to do "manly" things, doesn't' make her any less of a woman. It was important to me . . . that neither the text nor really anyone in the text should meaningfully question that Viola is a woman.” Eldest sons of dukes, marquesses and earls use their father's most senior subsidiary title as courtesy titles: note the absence of "The" before the title. [c] If applicable, eldest sons of courtesy marquesses or courtesy earls also use a subsidiary title from their (great) grandfather, which is lower ranking than the one used by their father. Eldest daughters do not have courtesy titles; all courtesy peeresses are wives of courtesy peers. [d] Position
In some respects, it isn’t. The philosophy I tend to take about writing in a historical setting is to keep clear sight of the fact that I’m still a modern writer writing a modern book for a modern audience. And how far I’ll steer into that will vary quite a lot. For example, my other Regency series is unabashedly, absurdly modern in pretty much all of its sensibilities, and some readers don’t like that, and that’s fine. But I don’t think there’s anything intrinsically wrong with writing historical fiction like A Knight’s Tale instead of The Lion in Winter.
When Viola Caroll 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. I also loved The Stand-In by Lily Chu, another contemporary rom-com. This one has a zany “Oh, you look exactly like a famous film star” premise, but it’s actually incredibly grounded and tender, exploring the importance of all kinds of relationships, not just romantic ones. Some sources do not recommend the use of the definite article before certain courtesy titles (particularly those who have prospects of promotion within the family's titles), but it is used by official Court publications such as the Court Circular.The rough seam between the life she used to live and the life she lived now" Here is where we need the perspective of a trans woman. For Viola though, there is a clear line of demarcation between the life she lived before presumed dead in the war and the authentic life she lives now. And it's her interaction with Gracewood, who knew her before and after transition, that forces her confront the place where her "old life" and her "new life" intersect. In the book, AJH calls this intersection a "rough seam". I would like to know how this - the description of a demarcation and the reference to a "rough seam" weaving the two lives together - lands with trans women readers. Simply the best writer I've come across in years' - Laura Kinsale, New York Times bestselling author As a cis woman I can't speak to the authenticity of Viola's thoughts and feelings, but Alexis Hall wrote her with a great deal of respect and compassion. There's a lot to love in this novel. A Lady for a Duke could not have come at a more perfect time for me, fresh off the historical romance bing From the bestselling author of Husband Material comes 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!
Viola grew up with her best friend, Duke Gracewood. They spent summers together, went to school together, and then went to war together. They were the closest that any two people could be, and yet Viola was keeping a secret. She had been born the Viscount Marleigh, but she was in fact a woman. When the two friends go off to war, Viola was injured and finally saw an opportunity. She let everyone believe her dead, and returned to London finally as herself. From the bestselling author of Husband Material comes 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. I don’t think there’s anything intrinsically wrong with writing historical fiction like A Knight’s Tale instead of The Lion in Winter.” A judge's first name only forms part of their judicial style if, at the time of their appointment, there is a senior judge with the same or a similar surname. Thus, if there is a "Mr Justice Smith", subsequent judges will be "Mr Justice John Smith", "Mrs Justice Mary Smith", etc. High Court Judges and above who are King's Counsel do not use the post-nominal letters following appointment or after retirement.
eBook Details
Speaking of, the secondary characters are as important to this story as our main characters. Lady Marleigh who is insufferable and yet I loved her. Her and Badger's relationship was wonderful and unapologetic. Then there's Miranda who is delightful and hilarious in such an unassuming way. Lady Lilimere is ruthless and I love her. And my fave of all time is Little Bartholomew. Honestly I would have happily read about him in every chapter. Also the repairing of Gracewood's and Miranda's relationship was also so lovely. I have been looking forward to A Lady for a Duke since I first read the synopsis. Alexis Hall has such a profound way of writing characters who are so authentic, so beautifully queer that it makes me wish I could dive into each and every world.
From the bestselling author of Husband Material comes 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!
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. The first thing I’d say is that it’s worth remembering that the Regency is an incredibly tiny bit of history both spatially and temporally. Like, not only did it cover just nine years of actual time (1811–1820), but if we’re talking about the specific community that people are usually talking about when they’re talking about the Regency, we’re talking about the 10,000 richest people in England. And, in fact, if you narrow it down to the subset of people that historical romance tends to focus on (which is to say, dukes and people who directly interacted with dukes), you’re getting into the low hundreds.
Great Deal 
New Comment