(4.25 stars)
Fans of historical romance will adore this book and this series. I’d read the second book (Earl Crush) and loved it, before going back to read this first one, Ne’er Duke Well. Alexandra Vasti writes strong female characters who have to work within the confines of their times. And the times (1815 or so) were definitely confining for women! (See also the situation in The Secret Book Society which takes place near the end of the 1800s.)

Lady Selina Ravenscroft is not married and doesn’t plan to get married. Her financial situation is comfortable so she doesn’t need to wed for that reason, as many women had to do. She is hiding a huge secret, one that will ruin her reputation in “the ton” if it gets out. She runs a lending library called Belvoir’s, which is bad enough for the times, but she also has a secret “Venus catalog” of erotic and informative books available to library members, which will enlighten them on all things intimate. Her twin brother is the official owner but Selina runs the place. In secret. I loved that she started the Venus catalog after learning what a “mistress” was and after a young woman of her acquaintance found herself pregnant with absolutely no idea how that had happened. Selina was determined that no other English woman would be so ignorant.

Peter Kent was born and raised in New Orleans but is now the Duke of Stanhope - due to deaths in his extended family. He is having trouble adjusting to life as a wealthy duke, and is trying hard to fit in to English society. He also is trying to get custody of his young half-brother and half-sister, who are currently living with their great-great-aunt. To do that, he needs to be above reproach, which is a difficult goal for him. Selina thinks he should marry quickly so that he presents a stable home life to the court, and will more likely gain the desired custody.

There were a lot of very funny moments in this story, as Peter tries to court the women chosen for him by Selina. But of course, he really only has eyes for Selina. And vice versa. But she’s afraid that if her secret comes out, she will ruin Peter’s chances at custody forever. Peter’s young siblings were great: Freddy and Lu. They provided a lot of comic relief as well as poignant moments.

Warning: there are some steamy moments once Peter and Selina get together.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

There isn’t a single book by this author that I haven’t absolutely loved. I’ve been a fan since the Halifax Siblings novella and I can’t get enough of these historical romances!

Such a fun, cute read! I admit that period romances aren't typically my thing, but I was completely immersed in the world and the two main characters. I adored the writing style, giving it a modern twist so it didn't feel like i was reading a period romance. Definitely can't wait to read more from this author.

3.5 stars


A very good first novel from Alexandra Vasti! While I didn't love it quite as much as Vasti's novellas, this is still a fun romp with very engaging characters. (I want to know more about the supporting characters! even the ones I don't think will get their own novels in the series!) I wish there had been more focus on the development of the main characters' relationship; I'd say this one is lighter on the relationship building & heavier on the plot, which is fine, but I like more of a balance of the two in my romance reading.

Absolutely do recommend (particularly as a beach read), & I'm looking forward to continuing the series!

A cutie little historical romance. Love that Peter stood by Selina even when she didn’t believe in herself. A great lesson in asking for help when you need it even if you are an independent badass woman.

Unfortunately, I don't think this one was for me. It started out fun and had its fun moments, but it got overly complicated towards the end, so I just couldn't keep up. The romance took a back seat to the other drama, which I didn't care about, because the synopsis makes it seem like the romance is the main focus. Overall, it wasn't bad, just misleading, and wasn't for me.

vasti does regency romance right! Even though the main plot of the book is resolved around the 60% mark I really appreciated the time we got go see of Peter and Selinas marriage and that Peter never treats her like she is a burden because of the Belvoirs library he gives her the praise and pride it deserves and I feel like it dealt really well with the women's rights issue in the 1800s in a way that felt realistic but hopeful.

This was my first Alexandra Vasti, but it won't be my last! The book was smart, funny, and did a lovely job setting up the rest of the series, which I'm really looking forward to. I love that the FMC, Selina, secretly runs a lending library. I also love the MMC's younger sister Lu, who was absolutely hilarious.

I will say that this wasn't second chance or friends to lovers, but Peter and Selina did know each other already and he was super into her already. Which on the one hand, hot, but on the other hand we didn't get to see them meeting and getting to know each other initially which I'm kind of sad about.

I have been very behind in diving into Ms Vasti’s full length novels but I was looking for an audio book and this was available at the library. So glad I took it out. Mhairi Morrison is a great narrator
Her Louisiana accent for Peter was spot on and she handled a few of the servant accents perfectly.
I love the premise of the story and we slowly find out the reason that Lady Serena is the secret owner of a salacious lending library. I love that we don’t have to wait until the end to see Peter and Selena together and the plot moves quickly once this happens. As with most 1st books in a series we are introduced to a host of characters and sometimes this is overwhelming. But Selena’s friends are featured as possible spouses for Peter in Selena’s matchmaking quests. Their quirks are mentioned without taking away from the main romance. Peter’s half siblings which are the catalyst for Selena’s matchmaking for Peter so he can become a better prospect for guardianship. This is where I feel the story is a bit lacking. As the “natural born” children of Peter’s father I don’t think the courts in that era would put as much emphasis on who gets legal guardianship of them even though they were never recognized as Peter’s siblings. But it makes for a good story and a dramatic ending so I’m okay with it. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

This romance was so good and was so fresh in the way it handled well-loved tropes and themes! 20/10, and I absolutely fell in love with these two characters as individuals and a couple. Peter was such a chaotic and eager simp, and Selina finally found the one person with whom she feels safe. I LOVED how much he adored her and how proud of her he was, and it's truly every man we wish we could have. He was also the most wholesome in his endeavours to gain custody of his young half-siblings, and this part of the story was just so tender and sweet.

The social themes were also beautifully present with Selina's quest to make sure women had access to information and couldn't be taken advantage of with her circulating library and especially the erotic literature. I loved her ambition and her gumption, and it was so lovely to see her arc evolve to a place where she didn't try to do everything by herself and leaned on the people who loved her. Her friendships with other society ladies had so much heart.

As usual, Vasti does an impeccable job in balancing heart with humour and just the right amount of spectacle that makes a historical romance pop. This book is a damn good time, and I highly recommend it!

CWs: Mentions of parental and sibling death in the past; brief mention of a wife and child dying at birth in the past; brief mentions of adultery, abandonment and grief; misogyny

CNs: This is a Regency romance featuring themes of friends-to-lovers, found family and matchmaker to lover. This is high-heat romance with on-page sex scenes.

I loved this book. It is so cute and I just love all the side characters. It’s a quick moving story and found once I started I couldn’t stop. I love regency romances and this has the Bridgerton vibes with contemporary language (I put that in there because I know some people don’t like that). It is open door and the spicy scenes are in there just enough to satisfy what you need. There’s more than what the Bridgerton books have if that makes a difference. I love Peter and Selina and the children. Everyone balances each other so well and the antics would border on ridiculous if they didn’t have that balance. Selina’s love for those around her and Peter’s protective and steadfast nature make them quite the couple. I would read a whole series with just them and the children. This is the first book in a series and I can’t wait to read the other ones.

This book was okay. I can’t quite figure out what it is that didn’t quite work for me? Maybe it was a bit too much not-like-other-girls? I really don’t know.

I adored Vasti’s Halifax Hellions novellas, so was really looking forward to a full length novel, but for whatever reason this one just didn’t hit the same way as those ones did.

Overall, there was very little relationship drama, no third act breakup, Selina runs a library with an erotic section for women because she wants to educate them and Peter is a an abolitionist. All of these are things that should have made me love it, but it just fell flat.

The story is that Peter Kent, the new Duke of Sanford has fallen into the title, being an illegitimate son of the former Duke, who was raised in New Orleans. This obviously makes him an outsider in parliament and the ton. He is also trying to get custody of his two much younger siblings, as their mother has died. It is decided that it would look better for his petition if he’s married. And so starts his sort of courting of three different not-like-other-girls, when Selina is the not-like-other-girls that he actually wants.

Anyway, I’ll likely read Vasti’s other books, in hopes of getting something closer to the Hellions books. And this book wasn’t bad, it was just kind of blah, imo.

I've loved Vasti's novellas so much, so I was excited to see what she did with a full length novel. It was just as funny, as spicy, and as endearing.
However, some personal preferences of mine led me to not enjoy it QUITE as much, but I think others will love the book a ton.
I learned I have a personal ick for Southern accents in audiobooks. (I'm so sorry, I'm from Alabama and I just have a hard time listening to the accent). I also don't LOVE books with children/guardianship as a plot point. I know tons of people love that, and again, it's just a personal thing.

Definitely 4+ stars and I think this will be super popular and well-loved.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the preview. All opinions are my own.

Secret erotic library. Matchmaker falls for her “client.” Rambunctious children. Alexandra Vasti packed it all in and it’s amazing. I read this book awhile ago and am just getting to write the review, but I remember the comedy and hijinks in this book, as well as the strong female characters. 4.25 stars.

I was excited to read this book, based on the premise and the author, but I found that the pacing was distracting. Some parts of the book read well and others lagged or were mired in conversation without much plot development. It felt like, after the initial set up, the novel dragged. I enjoyed the novel, but it wasn't my favorite by this author.

I thought this was a super cute historical romance book. I loved the main characters and their romance together!

This was the start of a fun filled series, and I am here for it!

The banter, the chemistry, the secondary characters! All of it had me hooked from the beginning, and I cannot wait to see what these characters get up to in the interconnected books! There is so much going for Peter and Selina, and I couldn't help but cheer for them. Both of them have a lot going on separately, but I loved how they were there for one another along the way.

I definitely recommend this book if you are looking for a historical romance 💕

I enjoyed this book so much! I wish there had been more exploration/explanation of the relationship between the two prior to the on-page interactions, but I found that detail easy to ignore because of their interactions. I loved the representation of the two half-siblings and the naughty library. I'm excited to follow this series!

Alexandra Vasti could write anything and I would read it :")

I first came across Alexandra Vasti’s writing when I found out about her Hallifax Hellions novellas. And god, did I fall in love with my chaotic and lovely Hallifax siblings :”) Since then, Mrs Vasti has been one of my auto-pick authors. So needless to say, my expectations and excitement for her debut novel have been high. And honestly, she did not disappoint!

Ne’er Duke Well follows our feisty and badass(and secretly a softie who takes care of everyone with everything she has) Selina, and our kind and charming(and a secretly determined brother and newly appointed duke stumbling through his responsibilities) Peter. When Peter is in need of a Bride, our Lady Selina comes forward to help him find the proper young lady. Which can’t be Selina herself, despite what the flutterings in her heart make her feel. Peter needs a a proper and scandal-free wife who will help Peter’s cause to attain guardianship for his young siblings. Not Selina, who is a breath away from causing the biggest scandal in town, if the secret of her owning “womens’ only” circulating library comes out to society.

I went into this book hoping for a good romance, and it surprised me with not only that,but also one of my favourite tropes "found family" done soooo wonderfully. Every single characters,including side characters our shy bestie Lydia and lovingly chaotic Lu, were incredibly lovable. And honestly, Peter is the most cinnamon roll male protagonist that have ever cinnamon rolled :') And how can we forget our Lady Selina, who I found soooo relatable with her soft heart and big ambitions :')

With her signature witty and addictive writing, and incredibly adorable cast of character, Alexandra Vasti gives you a warm, funny and charming historical romance. If you are looking for a read that'll make you smile and make your stomach flutter the whole time, this is the one!

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C69A6Gzys6g/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

This is a solid debut romance. Some of the steamy sciences fell short for me but over all a very enjoyable novel