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A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall
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.
Only when their families reconnect, years after the war, does Viola learn how deep that loss truly was. Shattered without her, Gracewood has retreated so far into grief that Viola barely recognises her old friend in the lonely, brooding man he has become.
As Viola strives to bring Gracewood back to himself, fresh desires give new names to old feelings. Feelings that would have been impossible once and may be impossible still, but which Viola cannot deny. Even if they cost her everything, all over again.
Why you should read it: I enjoyed this book voraciously. What a lovely cast, lovely romance, lovely story. So many of my favorite tropes and elements of the genre, with a trans lead who deserves ALL the happily-ever-afters. This book does a remarkable job of walking the line between escapist fantasy and believable reality, and the result is this warm hug of a book that I could not bear to put down.
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The Duke Who Didn't by Courtney Milan
Miss Chloe Fong has plans for her life, lists for her days, and absolutely no time for nonsense. Three years ago, she told her childhood sweetheart that he could talk to her once he planned to be serious. He disappeared that very night.
Except now he’s back. Jeremy Wentworth, the Duke of Lansing, has returned to the tiny village he once visited with the hope of wooing Chloe. In his defense, it took him years of attempting to be serious to realize that the endeavor was incompatible with his personality.
All he has to do is convince Chloe to make room for a mischievous trickster in her life, then disclose that in all the years they’ve known each other, he’s failed to mention his real name, his title… and the minor fact that he owns her entire village.
Only one thing can go wrong: Everything.
Why you should read it: This book was so charming and sweet and good, and I just want to live in it forever. I loved the setting—the little town and the people who live there are so vividly painted that I didn't struggle at all with my usual confusion over large supporting casts. The chemistry between Chloe and Jeremy is so sparkling and perfect, and I loved the fact that their easy banter never entirely concealed the more complicated layers of history and feeling between them. Chloe's dad is a protective delight, and the revenge story arc was so satisfying to watch play through. What a wonderful book. Ferociously recommend.
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When a Scot Ties the Knot by Tessa Dare
On the cusp of her first London season, Miss Madeline Gracechurch was shyly pretty and talented with a drawing pencil, but hopelessly awkward with gentlemen. She was certain to be a dismal failure on the London marriage mart. So Maddie did what generations of shy, awkward young ladies have done: she invented a sweetheart.
A Scottish sweetheart. One who was handsome and honorable and devoted to her, but conveniently never around. Maddie poured her heart into writing the imaginary Captain MacKenzie letter after letter … and by pretending to be devastated when he was (not really) killed in battle, she managed to avoid the pressures of London society entirely.
Until years later, when this kilted Highland lover of her imaginings shows up in the flesh. The real Captain Logan MacKenzie arrives on her doorstep—handsome as anything, but not entirely honorable. He’s wounded, jaded, in possession of her letters… and ready to make good on every promise Maddie never expected to keep.
Why you should read it: This was unreasonably charming. Also funnier than I expected, even with the delightful trope setup. Sweet characters, both main and peripheral, and a supporting cast that includes a remarkably integral pair of lobsters. I really enjoyed the stakes of this story, and the balance the author achieved between two wildly different sets of priorities without making me feel like either character had to compromise something central to their being.
A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall
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.
Only when their families reconnect, years after the war, does Viola learn how deep that loss truly was. Shattered without her, Gracewood has retreated so far into grief that Viola barely recognises her old friend in the lonely, brooding man he has become.
As Viola strives to bring Gracewood back to himself, fresh desires give new names to old feelings. Feelings that would have been impossible once and may be impossible still, but which Viola cannot deny. Even if they cost her everything, all over again.
Why you should read it: I enjoyed this book voraciously. What a lovely cast, lovely romance, lovely story. So many of my favorite tropes and elements of the genre, with a trans lead who deserves ALL the happily-ever-afters. This book does a remarkable job of walking the line between escapist fantasy and believable reality, and the result is this warm hug of a book that I could not bear to put down.
- — - — - — - — -
The Duke Who Didn't by Courtney Milan
Miss Chloe Fong has plans for her life, lists for her days, and absolutely no time for nonsense. Three years ago, she told her childhood sweetheart that he could talk to her once he planned to be serious. He disappeared that very night.
Except now he’s back. Jeremy Wentworth, the Duke of Lansing, has returned to the tiny village he once visited with the hope of wooing Chloe. In his defense, it took him years of attempting to be serious to realize that the endeavor was incompatible with his personality.
All he has to do is convince Chloe to make room for a mischievous trickster in her life, then disclose that in all the years they’ve known each other, he’s failed to mention his real name, his title… and the minor fact that he owns her entire village.
Only one thing can go wrong: Everything.
Why you should read it: This book was so charming and sweet and good, and I just want to live in it forever. I loved the setting—the little town and the people who live there are so vividly painted that I didn't struggle at all with my usual confusion over large supporting casts. The chemistry between Chloe and Jeremy is so sparkling and perfect, and I loved the fact that their easy banter never entirely concealed the more complicated layers of history and feeling between them. Chloe's dad is a protective delight, and the revenge story arc was so satisfying to watch play through. What a wonderful book. Ferociously recommend.
- — - — - — - — -
When a Scot Ties the Knot by Tessa Dare
On the cusp of her first London season, Miss Madeline Gracechurch was shyly pretty and talented with a drawing pencil, but hopelessly awkward with gentlemen. She was certain to be a dismal failure on the London marriage mart. So Maddie did what generations of shy, awkward young ladies have done: she invented a sweetheart.
A Scottish sweetheart. One who was handsome and honorable and devoted to her, but conveniently never around. Maddie poured her heart into writing the imaginary Captain MacKenzie letter after letter … and by pretending to be devastated when he was (not really) killed in battle, she managed to avoid the pressures of London society entirely.
Until years later, when this kilted Highland lover of her imaginings shows up in the flesh. The real Captain Logan MacKenzie arrives on her doorstep—handsome as anything, but not entirely honorable. He’s wounded, jaded, in possession of her letters… and ready to make good on every promise Maddie never expected to keep.
Why you should read it: This was unreasonably charming. Also funnier than I expected, even with the delightful trope setup. Sweet characters, both main and peripheral, and a supporting cast that includes a remarkably integral pair of lobsters. I really enjoyed the stakes of this story, and the balance the author achieved between two wildly different sets of priorities without making me feel like either character had to compromise something central to their being.
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