Review: A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall

A Lady for a Duke
Alexis Hall
Release: May 24, 2022
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A lush, sweeping queer historical romance from the bestselling author of Boyfriend Material—perfect for fans of Netflix’s Bridgerton, Evie Dunmore, and Manda Collins!

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.

Review:
Y'all! My heart! This book was everything I could have ever wanted in a historical romance! In fact, I would say it's probably the best regency romance I've ever read. It was incredibly tender and unapologetically queer and so full of hope and joy. The banter and humor was absolutely delightful and had me cackling in places! And y'all! The yearning and the pining was so well-written that you can't stop reading once you start. You have to know what happens next and if they will be able to get their happily ever after. This story made me feel all of the emotions.

I'm becoming more and more convinced that Alexis Hall can write anything they want and will make it totally fabulous. This book was no different. The amount of heart and vulnerability in this story is both astounding and beautiful. I was a bit worried that this would be really angsty given the premise. But while Viola is worried about being judged for choosing to live as her most authentic self, it wasn't the whole plot of the book and I can't tell you how much I appreciated that. There are still some heavy topics discussed in this book and some angst but it was so perfectly balanced out with sweetness and joy. It was heartwarming that everyone who Viola came out to not only accepted her but supported her so fully in her quest to live the life she was meant to.

Viola and Gracewood are war veterans and we see how that has affected them. Gracewood was shot in the leg and has to use a cane for the rest of his life. He also suffers quite severely from PTSD. I am grateful that the author didn't gloss over or minimize those affects like I have seen in several of the Regency romances over the years. Viola does not have PTSD in the same way that Gracewood does but how her actions and choices in the war haunt her is never seen as being less than his trauma.

The romance between Viola and Gracewood was everything! This book is a master class in how to write a romance novel. I saw it described in someone's review that described this romance as a second chance at first love which is a wonderfully apt description. The romance is full of instant attraction but manages to still be a slow burn and very intimate and tender. Watching Viola and Gracewood discover that there is so much more to the other that they didn't know was *chef's kiss*. They aren't perfect but they are perfect for one another. I adored watching them fall in love so much!

It was mentioned in the author's note that this could be the beginning of a new series and I really really hope it is! I loved so many of the secondary characters! And I cannot tell you how much I need a Mira book and a Lady Lilimere book in my life! I can't recommend A Lady for a Duke enough! If you want to read a truly unique and well-written queer historical romance, this is the book for you.

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley.

    

  5/ 5 Stars!

Review: The Queer Principles of Kit Webb by Cat Sebastian

The Queer Principles of Kit Webb
Cat Sebastian
Release: June 8, 2021
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Critically acclaimed author Cat Sebastian makes her trade paperback debut in a stunning historical romance about a reluctantly reformed highwayman and the aristocrat who threatens to steal his heart.

Kit Webb has left his stand-and-deliver days behind him. But dreary days at his coffee shop have begun to make him pine for the heady rush of thievery. When a handsome yet arrogant aristocrat storms into his shop, Kit quickly realizes he may be unable to deny whatever this highborn man desires.

In order to save himself and a beloved friend, Percy, Lord Holland must go against every gentlemanly behavior he holds dear to gain what he needs most: a book that once belonged to his mother, a book his father never lets out of his sight and could be Percy’s savior. More comfortable in silk-filled ballrooms than coffee shops frequented by criminals, his attempts to hire the roughly hewn highwayman, formerly known as Gladhand Jack, proves equal parts frustrating and electrifying.

Kit refuses to participate in the robbery but agrees to teach Percy how to do the deed. Percy knows he has little choice but to submit and as the lessons in thievery begin, he discovers thievery isn’t the only crime he’s desperate to commit with Kit.

But when their careful plan goes dangerously wrong and shocking revelations threaten to tear them apart, can these stolen hearts withstand the impediments in their path?

Review:
I've been trying to figure out how to review this book ever since I read it besides yelling at you all to go read it through the computer. One of my friends described this book as a historical coffee shop AU set in Georgian England and no truer words have been spoken. An even better description of this book came from the author who described it as "Be Gay, Do Crimes: Cozy Edition" and I'm 100% in agreement.

Like with every other Cat Sebastian book I've read, I completely and utterly adored this book! The story is about a retired highway man, Kit Webb formerly known as Gladhand Jack, who gets persuaded into helping an aristocrat, Edward Percy aka Lord Holland, with robbing their father. But instead of doing the robbery himself, Kit teaches Percy how to hold up a coach. They start to fall for each other as they plan and train Percy for the robbery. 

The whole premise of this novel was everything and I loved that Kit's coffee shop with its little lending library was the main setting of most of this novel. Both Kit and Percy are not what they seem and I loved how we discovered how soft each of them were under their tough exteriors as the story progressed. Also, I'm always game for the sunshine and the grump trope in romance and this was a master class study for it! I quickly fell in love with Kit and Percy from the start and I could barely stop reading it. I have never been so mad about one of my flights arriving on time than when I had to stop reading this book at the 85% mark. It also has a small hint of enemies-to-lovers which added some delightful tension. 

And oh the pining! The way the main characters pined for each other was everything! In my opinion, Cat Sebastian writes some of the best pining in the genre. Both Kit and Percy have to decide whether the robbery is the only crime they want to permit or if they wanted to commit the crime of pursuing a relationship with each other.

I loved everything about this book and I need you all to go read it and come squeal with me in the comments! I can't wait to get my hands on the sequel next year!

ARC provided by the publisher via Edelweiss

    

  5 / 5 Stars!

 

My reviews of other books by this author:
It Takes Two to Tumble (Seducing the Sedgewicks #1)

A Gentleman Never Keeps Score (Seducing the Sedgewicks #2)

Two Rogues Make a Right (Seducing the Sedgewicks #3)
Hither, Page (Page & Sommers #1)

Review: Two Rogues Make a Right by Cat Sebastian

Two Rogues Make a Right
(Seducing the Sedgewicks #3)
Cat Sebastian
Release: June 23, 2020
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Will Sedgwick can’t believe that after months of searching for his oldest friend, Martin Easterbrook is found hiding in an attic like a gothic nightmare. Intent on nursing Martin back to health, Will kindly kidnaps him and takes him to the countryside to recover, well away from the world.

Martin doesn’t much care where he is or even how he got there. He’s much more concerned that the man he’s loved his entire life is currently waiting on him hand and foot, feeding him soup and making him tea. Martin knows he’s a lost cause, one he doesn’t want Will to waste his life on.

As a lifetime of love transforms into a tender passion both men always desired but neither expected, can they envision a life free from the restrictions of the past, a life with each other?

Review:
Before I get into the review for this book I want to point out that it's important to read this series in order. This book doesn't work well as a standalone. There's quite a bit introduced in the previous books that helps you to understand Will and Martin as characters and how they got to where they are in this book. I originally started it without having read the second book in the series and was confused within the first couple chapters. I put it down and read the second book first and it helped immensely. That being said, this review will most definite have spoilers for the previous books in it.

Now let me tell you some of my thoughts about Two Rogues Make a Right. I have a lot of them but I'm only going to talk about a few of them because I think this is one of those books that you should go into kind of blind after reading the previous books. And I'm not even going to be sorry that this is going to be rambly.

I thought this book was adorable! I wasn't sure about how this story would go since they quite literally found one of the main characters deathly ill hiding in the attic at the end of the last book. I loved the romance between Will and Martin! Y'all! It's a slow burn friends-to-lovers romance. And my dear reader! There's only one bed! I was all in! Plus, the banter was truly brilliant in that way that comes from two characters knowing each other for years.

This book is a bit different from the previous books in the series. This was pretty light on the plot side of things and was mostly character driven. It read like the best kind of slice-of-life fanfiction where you watch two characters who have very obviously loved each other for years come to realize that they really do love each other. It's also part hurt/comfort fic with a nice helping of the nursing your love back to health trope. And they read so many stories to one another! It was a sweet and highly intimate romance that involved lots of time spent together with no one else disturbing them in the countryside. This book is seriously one of my forms of book catnip. It was lovely!

There are so many great things about this book I adored but I loved all of the diverse rep it contained! One of the leads is bisexual (and possibly pan) and the other main character read to me as being demisexual or on the ace spectrum which was awesome! I really want to see more demi/ace rep in romance. One of the main characters has a chronic illness (consumption) and the other is still recovering from being an opium addict and has severe PTSD and both have been subjected to abuse at some point in their lives.

The main characters are messy and have clearly been dealt a crappy hand in life but those things are part of what makes their romance so great. And I loved that the fact that they were a same sex couple in Victorian England was just a side note in the drama. I was rooting for them to be together. Also, I loved that we got a romance where the main character doesn't magically get cured of his disease but still got a Happily Ever After. Martin's illness impacted their relationship and it was refreshing to see that impact portrayed in their romance. And I seriously loved how Will didn't shy away from it. We need to see more of that in fiction.

The story is a bit slow but that added to its charm in my opinion. I loved watching both Will and Martin (especially Martin) realize they loved each other. The two idiots really were adorable. I loved watching them learn how to live in the country and found it hilarious when they messed up and their neighbors criticized their "farm work". They were exceedingly terrible at so many things. Also, their interactions with Daisy and Mrs. Tanner were amazing! I seriously loved the banter between surly Martin and Daisy as well as the banter between Daisy and Will who is a legit softie.

Cat Sebastian has quickly become one of my favorite authors and I find myself rereading her books when I need a comfort read. If you're looking for a sweet queer historical fiction novel, then Two Rogues Make a Right is the book for you. Actually, the whole series fits that description. I'd highly recommend reading It Takes Two to Tumble and A Gentleman Never Keeps Score before picking this one up though.

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley

   

  4 / 5 Stars

Book #20- Spring- Read a Book With a Green or Yellow Cover

My reviews of other books in this series:
It Takes Two to Tumble by Cat Sebastian
A Gentleman Never Keeps Score by Cat Sebastian

Short Reviews: It Takes Two to Tumble and A Gentleman Never Keeps Score

It Takes Two to Tumble
(Seducing the Sedgewicks #1)
Cat Sebastian
Release: December 12, 2017
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Some of Ben Sedgwick's favorite things:

Helping his poor parishioners
Baby animals
Shamelessly flirting with the handsome Captain Phillip Dacre

After an unconventional upbringing, Ben is perfectly content with the quiet, predictable life of a country vicar, free of strife or turmoil. When he's asked to look after an absent naval captain's three wild children, he reluctantly agrees, but instantly falls for the hellions. And when their stern but gloriously handsome father arrives, Ben is tempted in ways that make him doubt everything.

Some of Phillip Dacre's favorite things:

His ship
People doing precisely as they're told
Touching the irresistible vicar at every opportunity

Phillip can't wait to leave England's shores and be back on his ship, away from the grief that haunts him. But his children have driven off a succession of governesses and tutors and he must set things right. The unexpected presence of the cheerful, adorable vicar sets his world on its head and now he can't seem to live without Ben's winning smiles or devastating kisses.

In the midst of runaway children, a plot to blackmail Ben's family, and torturous nights of pleasure, Ben and Phillip must decide if a safe life is worth losing the one thing that makes them come alive.

Review: 
It's hard to believe that I read my first Cat Sebastian book only a couple years ago and it was this book that started my obsession. While, in my opinion, this wasn't as good as the Turner series, it was still a cute m/m historical romance. 

I loved that the romance was between a grumpy sea captain and the mild-mannered vicar who ends up caring for the captain's rambunctious children. Ben and Phillip are about as opposite as you can get but it works. The chemistry is there and I was living for their interactions. I also loved the foil that the children added to the development of their relationship. They are a bunch of hellions and I want to see more of them just to see what kinds of shenanigans they'll get up to.

What I love the most about Cat Sebastian's books is their focus on family. While Ben and his brothers didn't have the most normal upbringing, they care about each other and it shows through with their brief interactions on the page. Ben's and the Dacres' interactions with his father were kind of adorable and he lived up to the flighty description Ben gave of him but a bit more perceptive and caring.

I actually just reread this after getting caught up in the series and I feel like this is one of those books that makes more sense as you continue the series. Something felt off about this one when I first read it and I couldn't figure out what. I found upon rereading that that feeling was gone. The questions I had were answered in the next book.

If you're looking for a cute queer historical romance that will make you happy reading it, I'd highly recommend this book and this series. All of Cat Sebastian's books kind of feel like a little ray of sunshine while you're reading them.

   

  4 / 5 Stars

A Gentleman Never Keeps Score

(Seducing the Sedgewicks #2)

Cat Sebastian

Release: August 21, 2018

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Once beloved by London's fashionable elite, Hartley Sedgwick has become a recluse after a spate of salacious gossip exposed his most-private secrets. Rarely venturing from the house whose inheritance is a daily reminder of his downfall, he’s captivated by the exceedingly handsome man who seeks to rob him.

Since retiring from the boxing ring, Sam Fox has made his pub, The Bell, into a haven for those in his Free Black community. But when his best friend Kate implores him to find and destroy a scandalously revealing painting of her, he agrees. Sam would do anything to protect those he loves, even if it means stealing from a wealthy gentleman. But when he encounters Hartley, he soon finds himself wanting to steal more than just a painting from the lovely, lonely man—he wants to steal his heart.

Content Warning from Author: This book includes a main character who was sexually abused in the past; abuse happens off page but is alluded to.

Review:

I was a bit unsure if I would enjoy this book based on what we learned of Hartley in the first book but I loved it so much! It's very much a story about found family and Hartley and Sam and the others dragged me into the story and didn’t let go until it was over. I loved Sam and Hartley but I loved Alf, Sadie, Kate, Nick, and the dog just as much!

One of the things I enjoy a lot about Cat Sebastian's books is the amount of research she does. I loved that Sam was a free Black man because he brought into the story a perspective we don't normally see in Victorian England historical romances. We got to see pieces of the Free Black community and the hardships they had to endure and the prejudices Sam has to deal with when it comes to the constabulary and his past as a boxer.

And poor Hartley! I just wanted to reach through the pages and give him a hug. He was abused by his godfather and it has gotten out what he let him to do him to better his brothers' life. Hartley has walls so high around himself that it seems that it would be impossible to reach him. I loved seeing his walls break down as he lets people in. His growth as a character was heartwarming to watch.

That ending was a bit weird though, right?!? But, also oddly captivating? I was so glad that I had an ARC of the next book as soon as I finished this one because I would have been dying to know what happened next with Will and Martin! Overall, this was a fantastic book and is probably my favorite of the series so far.

   

  4 / 5 Stars

Review: Stages of the Heart by Jo Goodman

Stages of the Heart
Jo Goodman
Release: May 4, 2020
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Love guides even the most cautious of hearts home as USA Today bestselling author Jo Goodman returns to the trails of the Colorado frontier.

Experience has taught Laurel to be suspicious of the men who pass through Morrison Station. She's been running the lucrative operation that connects Colorado's small frontier town of Falls Hollow with the stagecoach line since she inherited it from her father, and she's not about to let some wandering cowboy take over the reins. But newcomer McCall Landry isn't just any gunslinger. He seems to genuinely care for Laurel, and with his rugged good looks and mysterious past, he could be the one man to finally tempt her off track...

Call Landry doesn't expect much from Falls Hollow. He doesn't expect much from anything anymore. But Laurel Morrison took him by surprise when she put in a good word for him, a virtual stranger, after the stagecoach was robbed--and she keeps taking him by surprise. Charmed by her clever wit and fierce loyalty, Call finds himself falling hard. Now all he has to do is convince her he means to stay--in her bed, in her life, and in her heart.

Review:
I grew up reading westerns with my dad so reading a western romance feels like coming home in a way. Over the years I've come to love the romances put out by Jo Goodman. They always have interesting settings that just embody what I picture the Old West to be like and they're always filled with intriguing characters. The thing I love the most about Jo Goodman's books is that even if I don't love them, I enjoy them. I haven't read one of her books that I haven't liked but I do love a few more than the others.

While I didn't love love Stages of the Heart, I enjoyed the heck out of it. It's set a few year after the end of the Civil War in a station town on a stagecoach line that's hoping to be a station or close to a station on the inevitable railroad line. I loved the glimpse we got of how a stagecoach line was run with the switching of the teams and drivers! I was intrigued with the day-to-day operations of Morrison Station as I was the stagecoach line. And it was refreshing to see the impact the Civil War had on the West. It was a major event in the US but we often don't see the effects it had on the frontier towns compared to the East Coast where the majority of the battles were fought. It added a unique spin to the story.

This book has a mystery/suspense plot that kept me guessing to the end. At first, it seemed like it was a run-of-the-mill robbery and an easy case to solve but it turned out to be more way more complex. I spent most of the book trying to figure out the whodunit as the story progressed and I was only successful at guessing a small part of the overall scheme before it was revealed.

As for the characters, I loved Laurel and how down-to-Earth, no-nonsense she is. She's had to be tough and smart to keep Morrison Station running and successful. I loved that about her! Her interactions with her employees who she considers family were intriguing and heartwarming. Call, for a newcomer, fit in splendidly with everyone. I quite enjoyed Call's easygoing manner and how he conducted the investigation into who stole the mine's payroll. He's seen a lot between the war and his time working for different stagecoach lines. It was fun watching him and Rooster interact and how he slowly became more confident in the work he was doing outside of the investigation and handling the horses.

The thing I wasn't sold on was the romance between Call and Laurel. Overall, the romance was okay. It worked for me by the end but I was pretty skeptical of their feelings for each other most of the book. There's just something about how their romance evolved that didn't sell me on it and I haven't been able to pinpoint why that is. But that's a small thing compared to how much I loved everything else about the story.

When I'm asked for western romance recs, I always recommend Jo Goodman. If you're looking for a quick western romance with a unique setting that has an awesome historical fiction vibe and an excellent mystery, then Stages of the Heart is the book for you. You won't regret picking it up!

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley

   

  4 / 5 Stars

Book #21- The Cobbles- Read a Historical Romance Not Set in London
 

Release Day Review: Never Kiss a Duke by Megan Frampton

Never Kiss a Duke
(Hazards of Dukes #1)
Megan Frampton
Release: January 28, 2020
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ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley

A disinherited duke and a former lady are courting much more than business in the first novel in Megan Frampton's newest titillating series, Hazards of Dukes.

Everything he had ever known was a lie…

Sebastian, Duke of Hasford, has a title, wealth, privilege, and plenty of rakish charm. Until he discovers the only thing that truly belongs to him is his charm. An accident of birth has turned him into plain Mr. de Silva. Now, Sebastian is flummoxed as to what to do with his life—until he stumbles into a gambling den owned by Miss Ivy, a most fascinating young lady, who hires him on the spot. Working with a boss has never seemed so enticing.

Everything tells her he’s a risk she has to take

Two years ago, Ivy gambled everything that was precious to her—and won. Now the owner of London's most intriguing gambling house, Ivy is competent, assured, and measured. Until she meets Mr. de Silva, who stirs feelings she didn't realize she had. Can she keep her composure around her newest employee?

They vow to keep their partnership strictly business, but just one kiss makes them realize that with each passing day—and night—it becomes clear to them both that there's nothing as tempting as what is forbidden… 

Review:

Never Kiss a Duke is my first Megan Frampton book and I really enjoyed it. It puts a historical twist on the office romance, which is one of my faves. Admittedly, this might be because I've never really worked in an office. I just love the whole making out on the desk thing!

I also loved how self-aware Ivy is. She chose to make her gambling hall somewhat revolutionary by welcoming people from all classes as long as they could pay their debts. But she's also conscious of how carefully she has to manage its image because she is a woman, which is so relatable. Sebastian is similarly self-aware, which was maybe not as believable. He handles the loss of his title surprisingly calmly and is quite thoughtful about what it means to him, to his family, and to Society even immediately after it happens.

In addition to the charming workplace flirtation, I feel like their story is about Identity - how often we let wealth, careers or relationships define who we are. Both Ivy and Sebastian have to relearn who they are without a title, though she has already done that by the time the story starts. And I think that's why Sebastian behaves as he does at the end of the book, because Ivy refuses to let their relationship define her. I had to stop and think about his actions in that context to avoid getting mad at him.

Honestly, my biggest complaint is that I didn't find any Dukes of Hazard references. Such a missed opportunity with that series title! No one would notice if you slipped in a cousin named Beau or Luke.

I did enjoy the cousin in the story though, tragically named Thad, who takes over as Duke. But the real stars are Ivy and Sebastian's sisters. They are both hilarious! Sebastian's sister and his best friend, the broody, hotheaded duke, star in the next book in the series which I'm really looking forward to.

Recommended for fans of: Tessa Dare

    

4  stars

Review: Hither, Page by Cat Sebastian

Hither, Page
(Page & Sommers #1)
Cat Sebastian
Release: June 18, 2019
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A jaded spy and a shell shocked country doctor team up to solve a murder in postwar England.

James Sommers returned from the war with his nerves in tatters. All he wants is to retreat to the quiet village of his childhood and enjoy the boring, predictable life of a country doctor. The last thing in the world he needs is a handsome stranger who seems to be mixed up with the first violent death the village has seen in years. It certainly doesn't help that this stranger is the first person James has wanted to touch since before the war.

The war may be over for the rest of the world, but Leo Page is still busy doing the dirty work for one of the more disreputable branches of the intelligence service. When his boss orders him to cover up a murder, Leo isn't expecting to be sent to a sleepy village. After a week of helping old ladies wind balls of yarn and flirting with a handsome doctor, Leo is in danger of forgetting what he really is and why he's there. He's in danger of feeling things he has no business feeling. A person who burns his identity after every job can't set down roots.

As he starts to untangle the mess of secrets and lies that lurk behind the lace curtains of even the most peaceful-seeming of villages, Leo realizes that the truths he's about to uncover will affect his future and those of the man he's growing to care about.

Review:
I have made it one of my 2020 goals to catch up on all of Cat Sebastian's backlist this year. I read five of her books last year and I adored four and enjoyed the fifth. The first book I picked up of hers this year was Hither, Page and I made the mistake of starting it before bed and read the whole thing in one sitting. It was SO good! I loved it so much!

I was sold on this book as soon as I read the first sentence of the synopsis:

"A jaded spy and a shell shocked country doctor team up to solve a murder in postwar England."

Once upon a time, I read a lot of WWII historical fiction novels. The small English village post WWII setting is not one I’ve read much in historical romances and I found it intriguing! Also, all of the WWII fiction I've read never had two gay men falling for each other. The spy angle and the doctor with PTSD were unique too.

Just like all of the other Cat Sebastian books I've read, I loved the characters! The two leading men stole my heart from the beginning. James and his struggle with PTSD and him trying to find a new normal even though he knows that most days he's not fine. Leo is not used to being a spy in a post-war world and doesn't know what to do with discovering things that HE likes and not one of his many assumed identities. What I loved even more is them together. I kept muttering "Just kiss already" to the book for a good portion of it.

I loved all of the supporting characters! I want to see more of the Vicar and his family and I especially need to see all of the ladies of Little Briars again. One of the things I loved the most about this was that nobody ignored what was happening. Some of the characters were slow to catch on to some things but then again so was I.

The mystery was clever and surprising and left me both in shock because I didn't see who did it coming but it totally made sense once I could look back after the reveal. This book was full of humor and great characters! I’m so glad this is the first in a series because I just want more of this romance, these characters, and really just everything about this book. I highly recommend it if you're looking for a queer historical romance that is set outside the Regency time period.

    

  4.5 / 5 Stars

 Book #4- Courtship Row- Historical Romance Where the H/H is a Spy or Soldier

 Book 3/12- Read a Book a Book by an Author You Want To Meet

Book 2/12