My favorite book to date from this author! The plot and story line was well developed and flowed in a natural way. The slow burn romance was sizzling by the end of this one. The language was appropriate to the time period the book is set, but clear enough to understand meaning even though some words are uncommon to our language now. If you’re a fan of the Bridgerton series, you’ll love this one!

It had promise but ultimately this was a disappointment for me. It was so slow that I slogged through it. It felt a bit like two different people wrote the story because it wasn’t very cohesive. I liked Selina and Peter better separately than together. Additionally, the sex scenes were way over done.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Ne’er Duke Well is a historical romance that starts pretty mild but the last half of the book really heats up the pages. Peter Kent, Duke of Stanhope, is an American who never thought he would inherit a title. Now he wants custody of his siblings but his birthplace is a cloud over his name. Enter Lady Selina Ravenscroft who is determined to find him a proper bride to help him win custodianship even if she can’t help help dreaming of him herself. A comprising position finds Selina and Peter engaged and wed. Selina is facing a scandal of her own and is prepared to give up everything to protect her Duke and his siblings. The characters are unconventional, fun, and watching more than meets the eye. The story is romantic and compelling with a little bit of heat for a satisfying historical romance with the expected HEA. My voluntary, unbiased, and non mandatory review is based upon a review copy from NetGalley.

This was such a delightful read! It’s always a good book for me when I finish it and continue wondering about the characters. I would love to see more of Selina as she was such a lovely, witty, and strong character. I wanted more of Selina and Peter’s backstory, not because it was lacking in the book for the sake of the story, but because these characters were so interesting and enjoyable that I selfishly wanted more 😄.

Hopefully we get another book in this world, as Lu will be a force to be reckoned with and I want to know what Lydia goes on to do!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

This was pretty disappointing. So much telling, barely any showing. We're simply told that Peter likes Selina and vice versa and we just accept that as a fact from the start, rather than actually seeing why and how they like each other. The plot feels very threadbare in a way that made this a bit of a slog to read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book to be reviewed. All opinions are my own.

This delightful novel shares the story of Selina, a woman who owns a library that also happens to circulate books intended for women to educate them on the true ways of society, and Peter, a newly titled duke who wishes to gain custody of his two half-siblings. Selina makes it her mission to make him presentable to society and deemed worthy and capable of taking on the two children.

Historical romances have a very special place in my heart, and this book has found a place there too. It takes the beloved format of a good ole bodice ripper/historical romance and adds a flare to make it unique. For a good portion of the book, I was on the edge of my seat, unsure of what will happen next while these two people danced around their tension and chemistry in an effort to be “acceptable.” I appreciate the slow-ish burn in this, where we got to see the characters get to know each other and really build on their tension (the tension was so so juicy). The cast of characters was even lovely to get to know. The girl-power energy was so perfect. Selina’s character really resonated with my own fear of disappointing the people I love and Peter was the most charming gentleman.

My only fault was at about 70% in, the romance took a backseat and went an entirely different direction. While we needed that closure from the other plot line, the romance seemed to have halted and lost some chemistry.

But in the end, it picked back up and I had the most lovely time in the ton that Alexandra Vasti created. I would love to visit again!

I am reading as much Bridgerton-esque romance as I can get my hands on these days, they're just SO GOOD! and this book just justifies my argument.

I loved our MMC Peter, he was just SO SWEEt & funny
Also I love a man who FALLS HARD for his woman, truly think it may be one of my new favorite tropes in my books.
He's trying to do the right thing and get custody of his younger siblings so Selina says she will help him. Her solution is that they need to find him a wife to show that he can provide the life his siblings would need.
but you know everything is not as it seems <333

I loved the journey this story took us on & to see the development of their feelings and their relationship it was beautiful.
I really enjoyed this story and I cant wait to read more by Vasti.

I enjoyed this book!! This was a quick read for me and a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon. I would recommend this book to other to read and enjoy!! I would read more books by the author. Looking forward to the next book.

The book felt a little slow at points but with good banter (the lake scene was very entertaining). Selina is ahead of her time, super strong, but isolates herself to take on all risk and misses out on support which is a bit irritating. I do enjoy that Peter isn’t perfect but is incredibly supportive of Selina.

The Duke of Stanhope, newly titled, is trying to get custody of his half-siblings, but knows the judge overseeing his case is not fond of him. His friend, Lady Selina, is determined to help him by finding him a wife. After creating a list of three eligible women, she helps him court them, though none of them seem to be working as she'd hope. And it doesn't help that she seems to be wishing to fill the role, except for the secret she's hiding. After giving in to passion and unwittingly forcing the Duke to marry her, she's determined to do what she can to help him - even if that means leaving.

A fun regency romance with lots of spice.

Having read this authors initial free novellas, I was highly anticipating her first full-length novel and I was not disappointed. All of the hijinks, pining, and opposites attract goodness from the Halifax Hellions find their way into Selina Ravenscroft and Peter Kent's marriage of convenience romance. Selina, sister of a duke and secret purveyor of an erotic library, is a "fixer." She is notorious for having a hand in proposals and is just generally dead set on making everyone else happy. Along comes Peter, who never expected to inherit a dukedom, let alone two younger half-siblings whom he is desperately trying to gain custody of. A new project for Selina! And the solution to gaining that custody is of course for Peter to find a suitable wife--but certainly not Selina (due to the erotic books of course). However, even as Peter makes a valiant effort to court and woo an appropriate bride, it becomes clear to both parties that they're actually.... in love with each other. I loved this not only because of the excellent banter, supportive side characters, and steamy love scenes, but also because the couple refuses to fall for the third act break up that is so nicely set up. It's a great balance of internal and external conflict. I can't wait to read more from this author!

One of the most heartfelt and joyous histroms I've read in a while! I loved Peter and Selina, and the way they both strived to make the worlda better place. Funny and emotional, I adored this story and can't wait to see what Vasti does with all the other fascinating characters she introduced in this book. NE'ER DUKE WELL is definitely going to stick with me.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the eARC of this book! I have been so excited to read more Alexandra Vasti after finding the Halifax Hellions series, and Ne'er Duke Well did not disappoint! Lady Selina, and her entire family, are delightful in their relationships with and support of one another. The Duke of Stanhope is really the perfect foil for her strength and subversiveness. I loved them both, and reading their banter and interactions was such a delight! I loved it!

A very fun steamy Regency romance! I couldn't put this one down! Peter, the newly inherited Duke of Stanhope must become respectable if he has any hope of becomming the guardian to his half siblings. Lady Selina Ravenscroft is just the person to help him find a suitable wife to help with that endeavor. Peter and Selina become closer and realize they want each other but a union with her might cause more issues than it would resolve due to her secrets.
The kids are adorable troublemakers and sometimes stole the show. Overall a great summer read!

Fun, entertaining, sexy, heartwarming, gut wrenching times and so full of intriguing characters that with just a few chapters into "Ne'er Duke Well" I was not only deeply invested in this story but was kind of frustrated that I now had to wait for a while to get all the stories of the other character's stories written and published.

4.5/5
Can't wait for more.

This read started out well for me. I like a strong female character and Lady Selena is presented as one. I enjoyed the male character, Peter, and found the addition of children in the story adorable. The writer, however, lost me when it came to the sex scenes - they were way over the top!

Ne'er Duke Well is the debut novel by Alexandra Vasti featuring a reluctant duke, a secretly scandalous lady, and the aim of winning the duke custody of his young siblings.

The story begins with Salina, a headstrong lady in good standing who has a secret. As a friend of the Duke, Peter, she is sympathetic to his cause and endeavors to find him a wife, which she is sure will tip the custody tide in his favor. A match making process begins, and we're introduced to several interesting friends of Salina. However, almost immediately Salina discovers she wants Peter for herself.

Pros for me:
•The characters•
I found Peter and Salina to be strong, likeable main characters. The supporting characters were well rounded and added to the story. I would love to read more about Salina's friends in future novels. Her family was loving and nurturing and a breath of fresh air. The children were delightful little beasts, and didn't overtake the book at all.

•The steam•
The tension could have been wound tighter between our leads, but when it did snap it was quite steamy. Salina and her desire is represented as evenly as Peter's. There are several open door scenes.

Cons for me:
•The pacing•
This felt like two books. The first half being the matchmaking and subsequent marriage, which was settled before the middle of the book. The second half then involved the custody stakes, the secret our Lady is hiding, and an anxiety laden doom-spiral about when the one was going to ruin the other. I felt this part dragged along a little bit, but maybe that's because the beginning felt too short. Which brings me to

•Our main couple's history•
Salina and Peter met off page and have known each other a couple of years before the matchmaking begins. We don't get their meet-cute or their first infatuations with one another. We do get a couple of morsels that sound quite tempting, but are never given the full story. I feel this tamed a little of the tension and romance stakes between the two.

Overall I really enjoyed this book! I love the writing style, the diversity, and the laughter infused within. I will definitely read the next book from this author.


**Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my thoughtful and honest review**

What a spectacularly binge-able debut! I’m not a huge historical romance reader, but this may be the book that convinces me to more significantly dip my toe in the subgenre.

I loved Peter and Selina, and I loved them together, but my favorite part of this book was the vivid world around them. Our MCs families and friends and the hijinks they get into over the course of the story made for some excellent pacing as Peter and Selina fell for each other. Also hooray for no third act breakup!

Oh my! Selina and Peter had all of the workings for a funny, fantastic courtship. However, this book just didn't have the wow factor I was expecting. There were some clever parts, but overall I just felt bored. I probably wouldn't recommend this title, but would be willing to try again with this author.

**Thanks NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

3.5⭐️

<blockquote>"He could tell her that she was extraordinary. He could tell her that when she walked into a room, all the candlelight gathered itself upon her face."</blockquote>

Peter Kent, the newly minted Duke of Stanhope, needs a respectable wife by his side to help in being granted guardianship of his two half-siblings. Enter Selina Ravenscroft, a respectable lady of the ton. She helps him in finding and courting ladies of her acquaintance- and I think we all know where this goes.

The entire first half of the book Selina tells herself that she can't be the respectable wife Peter needs (she secretly runs a library) but then, after having him court her friends for weeks, she pretty much gives up that position after one conversation? This was cute though, Peter and Kent had believable chemistry and I really felt that they both cared about the children.

My issue with this book is that it felt like I had picked up the third or fourth in a series, and was missing all of that backstory. People and events were mentioned offhandedly as if the reader should know who and what was involved. I actually stopped to check Alexandra Vasti's other novels to see if I had missed something, but as far as I can tell these characters are new. Like when our story begins, Selina and Peter already know each other well- but we're never given the context of <i>how</i> or <i>when</i> they first met? We find out he's been to her families country seat but again, not told why he was ever there. It was just disorienting, like we were being given or part of the story

Thank you to Netgalley and publishing team for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.