Hall, Alexis. A Lady for a Duke. Forever, 2022. 480 pp. ISBN 978-1538753750 $15.99

***

Presumed dead at Waterloo, Viola takes this opportunity to emerge as her true self, leaving behind not just a title and wealth, but best friend and companion the Duke of Gracewood. Reunited after many years, he doesn’t recognize his old friend and she is distressed at his decline from war wounds, PSTD and his grief over her loss in his life. There is a LOT of angst (but not so much around gender/acceptance), a small amount of drama and above all, acceptance in a “the heart wants what the heart wants and parts don’t matter so much” kind of way. Lush, romantic and swoon-worthy, with excellent period details, and finely drawn secondary characters.

I received a free advance reader’s review copy of #ALadyForADuke from #NetGalley.