A Lady’s Beastly Duke: A Historical Regency Romance Novel (Courtships of Acceptance Book 1)
“Scars and wounds can heal through the power of love and acceptance, or maybe not?”
Lady Anastasia Gray, the daughter of the Earl of Graystone, longs for a love match in a world where status and wealth dictate her fate. With a kind heart and a passion for dance, she dreams of a future filled with joy and a husband who will cherish her. But as societal expectations and familial duty close in around her, Anastasia fears she may have to sacrifice her own happiness for the sake of obligation.
An elusive Duke of Willowick, Sidney Markham, hides behind a life shrouded in secrecy and pain, his heart walled off by the shadows of a past too painful to confront. But when Anastasia, with her quiet strength and unwavering warmth, enters his world, something stirs deep within him. The walls he’s so carefully built begin to tremble, and for the first time, Sidney dares to imagine that love might find him, even in the darkest corners of his soul.
In a world where appearances reign supreme and secrets threaten to shatter their bond, Anastasia and Sidney must fight for their chance at happiness. Against all odds, they will discover that true love has the power to create a masterpiece out of even the most broken of canvases.
* Step into the world of A Lady’s Beastly Duke, where grand estates, whispered secrets and unyielding passion set the stage for an unforgettable love story. This isn’t just another historical romance—it’s a tale where strong-willed characters face the rigid expectations of Regency and Victorian society, all while hiding desires too powerful to ignore.
No cheating, no frustrating cliffhangers, and a deeply satisfying happily ever after, this book offers a pure, heart-stirring romance that will leave you swooning and smiling long after the final page.
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Customer Reviews
R*****a
lovely story
Don’t judge a book by its cover. This story is very well written. You can feel the angst and the love.May 21, 2025
A*C
Kept apart?
Cute easy read. Of course, villainous suitor vs. sweet if not scared one. Good afternoon, distraction. Clean. Dad was a bit much, though.May 16, 2025
H*L
3.6 stars
Barnet delivers a lovely Regency tale that teens and adults can enjoy. I really liked the well written story and the plot. It was a good escape but I found the last few chapters to be a bit immature in dialogue and mannerisms between the main characters. Teens and YA will eat it all up. Read and enjoy.May 16, 2025
K**a
MY FAVORITE AUTHOR
I absolutely love Emily Barney’s writing. It feels historically accurate and so descriptive I feel I am sitting there in the scene! I’ve read this genre for years and her stories are original. Keep them coming, because I can’t get enough!May 1, 2025
D*********n
An Enjoyable Read
I really enjoyed this clean, well-written story. Duke Sidney had been badly scarred in an accident. He assumed that no-one would like him or love him because of his disfigurement. However, when he met Lady Anastasia, she did not seem to be afraid of his scars. There was an instant attraction but the members of society gossiped about him and Anastasia’s father told him to stay away from her. When Anastasia’s father arranged a marriage to Lord Ridley, she was very unhappy. Would Sidney realise he needed to fight for her, if he wanted to win the love of his life? Fortunately, friends and family recognised true love and worked to ensure that all was right in the end. An enjoyable read.March 15, 2025
M**************l
A Lady’s Beastly Duke
The story was great. I was partly annoyed though. It some stuff was skimmed over. The Duke knew her father was offering a dowry to the other guy. He didn’t warn her.January 31, 2025
M*G
Boring
I barely made it past the first ball . I skipped some paragraphs and did not miss anything. The build up was horrible. Just for nothing to happen. This was a waste of time I can’t get back.October 9, 2024
V*****k
Enjoyable
I have read many regency romance novels. This had a cute plot. However, the language was unusually formal which may have been what was used at the time but is not usually used in romance novels. I found it interfered with my enjoyment of the story.September 17, 2024
T******.
This is the story of Anastasia and Sydney.
I enjoyed this book. It is about a lady named Anastasia and a man named Sydney. Sydney had a riding accident, and he had scars on his face. He thought no one would want him bec of the scares. Then he met Anastasia. They met by talking about pictures they were looking at a public display. They enjoyed that first meeting. Every time they saw each other, they always talked, and feelings for each other grew. There was a bad guy who her father wanted to Anastasia to . It has a great ending.September 11, 2024
B***y
Look within for what is important
A Lady’s Beastly Duke is about Sidney, Duke of Willowick, who is treading water after his father died. He was having trouble dealing with his father’s death and the responsibilities of the Dukedom. While riding back from visiting his father’s grave, his horse bolted and would not settle down. The horse eventually bucked him off into a yard with glass. He sustained several cuts to the face. He was not seen by the Ton for about a year. This is where our story begins. It has been a year since the accident. The scars have healed but Sidney has not. He is having trouble accepting the changes in his appearance. The Ton has given him the moniker of Beastly and talks in audible whispers behind his back when he is in public. Sidney loves to paint, and his sister has talked him into going to an art exhibit with her and gives in reluctantly. While studying a painting, a young lady came up alongside (Spoiler Alert!). They began to discuss the painting, and Sidney relaxed. When they moved away from each other, he was in two minds whether he could want to meet with her again. The young lady is our heroine, Anastasia, the daughter of the Duke of Graystone. Thus begins the journey to Anastasia’s and Sidney’s rocky HEA. Along the way… (Spoiler Alerts!!) 1-Her best friend does not approve of Sidney. 2-Her father is pushing Anastasia to be her best. He also does not approve of Sidney. 3-Her father arranges a marriage for Anastasia who does not approve of the idea. 4-Sidney has some concerns about his current heir. 5-Sidney starts unofficially courting Anastasia. 6-Sidney told Duke Graystone and Anastasia’s intended about what he heard in a club one night. 7-HEA goal accomplished. Ladies and gents, this is a great book. It is a page-turner and difficult to put down. It is clean – no oven mitts needed. Keep the tissues handy. Thank you, Ms. Barnet, for this book.September 11, 2024
e***5
A Lady’s Beastly Duke
This is my first time reading this Author and I look very much forward to reading many more by her!!! Loved all of the characters. They were well developed.September 10, 2024
j*****s
Sweet quick story
Sidney, Duke of Willowick, suffered an accident that left him scarred and unappealing to the ton. Anastasia looks past the scars and sees his heart, but her father has ideas of gradeur. This is a sweet quick romance.September 9, 2024
A*************r
A Lady’s Beastly Duke
What a lovely story, Anastasia and Sidney are perfect for each other, but it is so sad to think even now day people stare at people who have scared or have a de formality. A beautiful lady very story. Thank youSeptember 8, 2024
KB
Great Story
Very good story, I enjoyed it.September 8, 2024
M************r
Excellent
This story kept me captivated and I stayed up late to finish it. The reclusive duke fears the reactions of others until he meets a woman who changes his outlook and his life. The ending was very good.September 8, 2024
L*****G
Enjoyable
I enjoyed the story and characters and how it unokded. Keep my interest. I can recommend this book!September 6, 2024
S****n
Amazing
This was a great story. I started reading and couldn’t put it down until it was finished. If you’re looking for a period piece that is authentic and riveting this is the one.September 5, 2024
k*********e
Will keep you reading!
The title was a misnomer! There was no beast in Sidney… just a very kind hearted man shunned by the ton for reasons beyond his control. I had a hard time to put this book down! I was rooting for Sidney from page one and I had to hold on to the very end. Some dastardly characters in the mix made for a nail biting ride… great job in keeping up the suspense. Thank you for a great read!September 5, 2024
R*********e
Dazzling Regency Love!
This author really knows how to paint scenes in regency England with words. It’s easy to get into her books and feel transported to that time and place. I noticed how Sidney was a man that cried when feeling a lot of emotion which I found endearing. Whenever Sidney and Anastasia were in a room with each other, the love between them was described dazzlingly, taking my breath away. The author conveyed how dire Giles’ (Sidney’s cousin’s) situation had become so his eventual new spark for life and love was very satisfying! From start to finish, I loved this story and look forward to Emily’s next book!September 5, 2024
E******e
Sweet sweet romance
This is the love story of Lady Anastasia and Duke Sidney. This is a sweet love story that has a lot of twists and turns. It starts out with an accident that leaves Sidney scared and closes off his heart. Lady Anastasia is very kind and looks beyond the scars. I love how their friendship developed into love. This story has it all Love, drama, and HEA. This is a very good read.September 4, 2024
T************d
Good story showing how people act, both positively and negatively.
Editing was not terrible, also not perfect.September 4, 2024
M**K
Sweet main characters
I really appreciate this book with sweet characters and a good clean romance! The title threw me off at first, but the ‘beastly’ refers to his looks and not to his kind, true nature.September 3, 2024
J*d
Sweet live story.
This story had the usual romance plot with no surprises. But it is a sweet love story that makes you feel good. Very engaging characters and a few surprises along the way. It also had the best extended epilogue I’ve ever read tying up all the loose ends of the story.September 3, 2024
G**********y
Great story
I really like the story and the characters have so many obstacles to overcome. It was hard to put the book down. I absolutely loved the fact that the epilogues were included and gave an insight into the future of the couples live.September 3, 2024
A**********n
Cool
FunSeptember 3, 2024
L******e
Anastasia And Sidneys Love Story
What a riveting beginning. A sad death. Then, an extremely horrific accident. Life begins a new with hardships and trials of body and mind. On a chance of luck or fate, everything changes upon a wonderful encounter. The characters were delightful and interesting. Their compassion and friendship that led to romance was beautiful. I absolutely enjoyed this dramatic and entertaining love story that ended with such a perfect ending. I highly recommend reading!September 3, 2024
Jo
Overcome
Sidney and Anastasia lovely story of dreams, overcoming mental and physical scars from the horrible treatment of others. This story demonstrates the need to show kindness to everyone even if they don’t fit into your perfect ideal box.September 3, 2024
r**e
Sweet book
Well written, very sweet read. Full of drama, love, romance, trauma, emotions with lots of twists. Has a great storyline/plot to get all these fabulous characters to where they need to be for their happily ever after. Has lots of captivating scenes for both Sidney and Anastasia. Both of them have dreams that need to be worked on before coming true. Curl up with your favorite drink and chair and enjoy their story. Would recommend to everyone. I received this free book and leave an unbiased, honest review.September 3, 2024
B*****************n
Enjoyed
Good plot developmentSeptember 2, 2024
c**********3
Romance
Well written. Love the characters.September 2, 2024
B***Y
Good book
I’ve read many books by this author and they have never failed to catch my interest and to entertain me. This book is interesting and entertaining. I enjoyed it very much.September 2, 2024
E****************y
Too much like another book
The plot is almost the same as a previous book I read this year.September 2, 2024
B***y
Very Good Story
I absolutely love Emily Barnet Regency romance stories, and this one is no exception. I especially enjoy reading stories where one of the main characters is fighting the battle of overcoming scars, either physically, mentally, or emotionally (and possibly all three at the same time). Overcoming the bullying and taunts of others is no easy feat, and I appreciate the struggle and the eventual victory that overcoming finally brings. Sidney and Anastasia both have kind hearts and are a testament to what our world could be like if people were always judged by their character, rather than their appearance. I’m grateful for authors like Ms. Barnet who remind the reader of that fact. I received this book as an ARC preview and am leaving a voluntary, honest review.September 2, 2024
T**i
A Beastly Duke and a gentle Lady
Sidney the Duke of Willowick has horrible facial scars that creates fear and ostracized by the London high society. Lady Anastastia is gentle beautiful and able to see beyond his appearance. Much like Beauty and the beast they fall in love. Of course there is plenty of opposition and mishaps to keep you engaged. Another delightful historical romance . Characters are well developed and their emotions portrayed well. I would recommend this story.September 2, 2024
