I really enjoy Alexandra Vasti's writing. In fact, as soon as I finished this title, I went and checked out all of her old novellas from the library. Something about the way she writes her cast of characters just hits all the right notes. I was never bored, there was always someone on the page who was entertaining. Definitely a good fit for anyone who loves a historical romance with a strong cast of characters.

I'm so delighted Alexandra Vasti is now writing full-length books. I fell in love with her writing through the Halifax Hellions novellas, and seeing her transition into a full-length series set-up is so exciting. This hit all the right notes - a guardianship conflict that feels realistic (and doesn't overly rely on child drama), a newly minted (American) Duke with radical politics, entrepreneurial heroine (running a salacious lending library), near-miss ruination (gasp!), and pining-while-married. This is fairly low angst, with most of the conflict operating outside the couple, and features several absolutely delicious open-door scenes that feel Just Right for these characters. I particularly enjoyed a few of the plot twists that set up future books in the series and can't wait to see these characters get their own happily-ever-afters.

Come for the spicy regency comedy and stay for the author's note, because as always, Vasti evidences how deeply researched and historically authentic these characters are - a great reminder that there have always been women clawing their way to self-determination with the tools available to them, and feminism is not anachronistic.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

This was such a fun regency romance novel.

Peter is an American from Louisiana who moves to England to become guardian to his two siblings. While there he runs into an old acquaintance Seline who is secretly running an Erotica library. The two hit it off and Seline decides he needs a bride and she is just the person to help him. But the person he needs just might turn out to be her.

I did feel like there was a lot of unnecessary extra talking in this book and it took the main characters a bit to warm up to each other. However, it was very fast paced and ended up being a fairly quick read once you got going.

Solid 4/5 stars and I would recommend this one.

Thank you so much to the Publisher and Netgalley for an arc of Ne’re Duke Well by Alexandra Vasti.
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This was such a fun historical regency romance. I enjoyed it so much and was invested in the characters. I loved Lady Selena and was rooting for her ! I loved how Peter loved her, and the children were so great! I loved the cast of characters and the story of educating women. I felt like some themes / conflict was stretched out a bit much and could have been involved sooner, but I loved the writing and will definitely read from this author again!

Ne’er Duke Well by Alexandra Vasti
Historical romance.
Peter Kent is a surprise Duke reluctantly accepted by the ton since he has both money and the title. He’s found out that he has a young brother and sister that his father never acknowledged but Peter wants custody of the two to be part of his family. His reputation is suffering because he often acts without thinking how it would look to the London high society so he turns to Lady Selina Ravenscroft for help. He’s noticed her clever, hidden manipulations at parties and events such as pulling an extra pair of gloves from somewhere to help another with protocol. Selina agrees to help Peter find a wife among the ton and introduces three women to him. Peter tries but he really only has eyes for Selina. She won’t consider herself since she manages an erotic circulating library for women and doesn’t want that ownership to be exposed. Oh but, watching Peter and those three ladies socialize doesn’t sit too well with Selina either. Could there be another solution?

Charming and steamy romance as Peter and Selina try to ignore their feelings until the inevitable happens. The children are precocious, especially Lu who seems to be planning a pirate future for herself. I really loved Selina’s mission to teach the women about themselves, both in high society and the servants behind the doors. Lots of humor, banter and romance.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley.

Peter Kent has just become the ninth Duke of Stanhope. He has lived in New Orleans, Louisiana in America for most of his life which is where his mother was from. He was not close to his father who had many mistresses and now there are two half-siblings for whom he wants to gain custody. They are Lucinda (Lu), 12, and Freddie, 10. They have been living with their Great-Great-Aunt Rosamond. He hopes to adopt them but there is one man in the government who looks upon this with disdain. Peter realizes he must convince this man that he will be good to these children. However, Peter’s fight for ending slavery has also not set well with this man. Therefore, he has his work cut out for him.

Lady Selina Ravenscroft is the sister of the Duke of Rowland. Peter knew Selina when they were children so when he runs into her, she knows what he is up against and offers to help him. She thinks that if he marries, that will look good for him to get custody of his siblings. However, the women she introduces him too are just not suited for him.

Selina is hiding her own secret as the owner of Belvoir’s, a lending library, which also offers erotic memoirs and scandalous novels. But she has not let anyone know that she is the owner. As the time comes closer to the hearing on the fate of Peter’s siblings, he and Selina agree to marry. Will this be what it takes to get custody of his siblings?

This is a very good book that I enjoyed. I had to laugh at one of the young women that Peter tried to get to know. She is simply an adorable twit! There are a lot of interesting characters in this book and they all add something to the story. My only cringe here is that this is a very steamy novel. So, if you like those books, you will truly enjoy this one.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Alexandra is an incredibly smart and charismatic author, and I can't wait to read more of her books. the ONLY reason this book isn't 5 stars is because this is a matchmaking plot. however, the prose here is stunning, spicy times fantastic (hello bath scene), and the found family is touching as hell. I want all her books.

I received a complimentary copy of this through NetGalley, but I also bought it from an indie seller and can't wait for it to arrive.

I confess that, despite being mightily intrigued by the blurb, I did not expect to like this book as much as I did--probably because I struggle with illustrated covers of this type for historical romances. But we all know the thing about books and covers; what's beyond this cover is truly delightful: three dimensional protagonists, a well-constructed world for them to move in, a fully-realized cast of secondary characters, and believable conflict.

And the narrative voice is so engaging, I read the book in one long sitting.

Beware: death of children in the past; explicit sex on page; swearing; violently abusive fathers; gravely ill child; grief; social anxiety.

The only legitimate offspring of a third son, Peter Kent never expected to inherit a thing from the father who abandoned his family in Louisiana so many years ago; between illness and war, however, the unthinkable happened: he is a duke now. Which, as unprepared for the role as he is, is bad enough; the real problem is that his late and unlamented father managed not only to sire two more children with one of his mistresses, but also to not acknowledge them publicly or in his will.

Now their mother is dead, and so is the guardian she appointed, and as the children are shunted off to yet another distant relative, Peter petitions the court for their guardianship. Unfortunately, between his politics and his lack of social know-how, which has landed him on the front pages of London's scandal sheets more than once over the past couple of years, the outcome is uncertain.

Fortunately for Peter--and the children--he happens to be acquainted with Lady Selina Ravenscroft, and there is no one he trust more to come up with a plan to ensure a favorable resolution: in the time he's known her, he has witnessed her maneuvering people and events to her satisfaction with precision and elan, while leaving everyone else with the impression that it was all their own idea.

Selina is the much younger sister of the Duke of Rowland; after the untimely death of her parents when she and Will, her twin, were but six, Nicholas left university to access his own title, and to ensure his much younger siblings knew they were safe and loved. Now she is determined to help Peter do the same for his siblings.

The first step is to turn Peter from scandalous to respectable; no more reckless escapades or irregular behavior, no matter how pure his intentions. And, in case that alone is not enough to convince the current Lord Chancellor of Peter's suitability as a guardian to two impressionable and vulnerable young children, there's always marriage to a social paragon.

That conversation alone is worth the price of admission. To wit:

"You think I should find a woman to marry in the next six weeks so that I might be more popular with a capricious old baron who dislikes me because I had the temerity to be born in Louisiana and to say outright that slavery is an abomination?" "Um," said Selina, and she looked somewhat agonized. "That's...it...It sounds much worse when you put it like that." "How would you put it?" (Peter and Selina, chapter 5)

The narrative makes it clear from quite early on, that Peter would happily propose to Selina; from his perspective, the only obstacle there is that he is lacking in every respect, and not at all good enough for her.

He may be a duke in name, she's a lady--and the sister of a proper duke--by breeding and upbringing. She's also brilliant at helping people, through manipulation of events and circumstances, or outright material support--and she cares, deeply, for those around her.

Selina's refusal to even consider a marriage between them is actually very logical: she secretly owns and operates a circulating library, which is essentially a front for a catalog of texts--only available to the female membership--which range from courtesan memoirs to anatomical and medical tracts. Her mission is to educate women about their own bodies, and the fact that she's been engaged in trade (and making a fortune) for years, is a scandal of gargantuan proportions waiting to break over her head.

As a single woman, independently wealthy and with a supportive and powerful family, Selina could weather the storm eventually. Married to Peter, it would surely end any hope for the guardianship--and Selina will not put the children's welfare at risk.

Of course, despite Selina's best laid plans, there's the matter of chemistry--as in, she and Peter have it in spades, and shenanigans of course ensue. Their relationship unfolds in fits and starts at first, but soon they learn to communicate better, and from there to trust each other.

I particularly appreciated how each time they share something intimate with the other is a conscious, considered decision; Selina tells Peter about her involvement in the library, and potential damage to his position, because she can't let him make an uninformed decision. He supports her wholeheartedly and is willing to throw his own weight behind her.

There are several explicit sex scenes in the book, with frank discussions of consent, experience, the possibility of pregnancy, and more, in a way that matches the characters personalities and motivations perfectly.

There is a whole world of background characters with well-defined personalities and full lives in the novel; from the members of Selina's family to the three candidates for Peter's hand, from his lawyer to his valet-cum-manservant-cum-general factotum and Selina's very discreet lady's maid, there's just enough information given to infuse them with life, without cluttering the narrative with extraneous detail. And, I cannot stress this enough, when talking about clothing, it's to indicate a character's situation, the importance--or lack thereof--of the occasion, their level of comfort, and so forth.

I particularly appreciated the author's note at the end clarifying a couple of historical facts, as well as the acknowledgement in text of many of the less palatable realities of the period, from domestic abuse to the wealth produced by slavery and colonization. And while Selina and her closest friends are "not like other girls" in their interests, I appreciated the explicit acknowledgement that there is also nothing wrong with being just like everyone else.

"There's nothing wrong with embroidery. I am simply very poor at it." (Selina to Lydia, chapter 18)

Selina's family is still mourning the sudden death, less than a year prior, of Will's wife and young son, and trying to accept his decision to buy a commission and travel to Brussels. Her widowed aunt's and her companion's relationship is wholly accepted by the family even if it's never openly discussed. Her close friend Lydia has an incisive political mind, and suffers from paralysing social anxiety. The most lovely Georgina has more than fluff between her ears, and even Lord Eldon, the putative villain of the piece, is more than a political affiliation.

Twelve year old Lucinda "Lu" and ten year old Freddie Nash, aren't cute plot moppets, but grieving children; traumatized as much by their mother's death as by the uncertainty of their lives since, they're afraid to trust Peter at the same time they want to love him.

"He had no frame of reference for what it could be like to bring up a child like Lu and protect her from the realities of their world. But he wanted to. He wanted better for her than to wake up each morning gripped by the unpredictability of her future." (Peter, chapter 6)

There is a lot of heartfelt, unashamed sentiment in the book, as well as great banter, and just as many funny moments as heartbreaking ones; the best part is that raging asshats get a taste of their own medicine, and the universe is righted at the end.

In fact, my only complaint is a very petty peeve: hair styles. At one point there's a reference to Selina's hair being down her back, and, "Bridgerton" the tv show notwithstanding, no respectable woman over fifteen would have been seen in public with her hair down in the 1800s.

(I told you it was petty.)

I am very invested in the fate of the rest of the characters, and therefore delighted to learn that this is the first in a trilogy set around Selina's famous Belvoir's Library.

Ne'er Duke Well gets a 9.00 out of 10.

Ne’er Duke Well is going to be one of my favorite books of the year. It’s only July and I’ve aleady read it twice. I am not a re-reader so for me to have read this book twice in 6 months is unheard of. It’s just that good!

I mean I read it in March and LOVED it and then when the audio was up for review I snagged it so quick and OMG the audio is FANTASTIC. @mhairicmorrison brings this book to life. I am still drooling over her Louisiana accent for Peter. 🥵

This book has everything you could want in a #historicalromance - scandal, shenanigans, fighting the patriarchy, just everything.

So please, please, please go read this story. Selina and Peter are just #goals.

Special thanks to @dreamscape_media for the ALC. This one comes on July 23.

“And he had the strangest thought then: that he’d been right every time he’d thought of her. That every time she had crossed his mind—her keen wit and her capable manner and even, if he were being honest with himself, the plump curve of her mouth and the tender spot at the nape of her neck—every time, it had been right. That she belonged exactly there, inside his head.”

Picture it, London 1815: you’ve spent your entire life in Louisiana, only to wake up one day and find out you’ve inherited a British title and are now, the Duke of Stanhope. You’re half way around the world, taking your place in the House of Lords, advocating for change and fighting to become guardian of your half-wild half-siblings, and you need serious help. Who better to assist you than the sophisticated and bright, Lady Selina Ravenscroft. Except she suggests you marry a respectable woman of society {not her} which would be spectacular if it weren’t for the fact you are half in love with her already.

Lady Selina is a problem solver and the newly appointed Peter Kent, Duke of Stanhope made the right choice when he approached her for help. Of course she has a plan, of course he should marry and of course it absolutely cannot be her. Unbeknownst to Peter, Selina is the proprietor of an erotic circulating library that provides a sexual education to women on the ton. And when that scandal eventually hits the gossip sheets, every ounce of her respectability will be sunk to the bottom of the Serpentine.

First of all, marriage to Peter Kent? I volunteer as tribute. And Selina? A society darling using her privilege to secretly advance an important cause? A queen.

I love when two already good characters, come together and become ✨great✨ characters. Peter & Selina truly bring the best of one another with plenty of heart, heat and laughs along the way. The side characters compliment the romance arc without overpowering it and gives us sub themes you can really sink your teeth into {yes, even the kiddos} Oh, & there’s a cat.

I received this free eARC directly from the publisher which did not affect my review. All opinions are my own. Ne’er Duke Well is available now, go grab it from a bookstore near you!

Selina is excellent at fixing things. When Duke Peter Kent needs to become more respectable to become the guardian of his younger siblings, Selena decides to fix the situation by getting him married to someone very respectable. Someone who isn't secretly running a circulating library like she is.

I really enjoyed this book. I particularly liked Georgiana and hope I can read more about her in future books.

Peter and Selina seemed made for each other from the first, only they didn’t see it. The book finally got interesting once they were forced into marriage. There were several side stories that kept it interesting; Selina’s lending library and Peter’s guardianship efforts of his half brother and sister. I didn’t really understand why they would not give Peter guardianship, he was a duke and there were no other family member’s stepping up so that drama seemed a bit overdone. 3 stars.

"Ne'er Duke Well" by Alexandra Vasti is a delightful romp through the complexities of societal expectations and scandalous escapades. The story centers around Peter Kent, the newly minted Duke of Stanhope, who hails from New Orleans, Louisiana. Tasked with the challenge of becoming respectable to gain guardianship of his half-siblings, Peter's reputation is already marred by his radical politics and an unforgettable incident involving a royal wedding and a flock of sheep. The societal complexities in the story will surely intrigue you.

Desperate for assistance, Peter seeks out Lady Selina Ravenscroft, a woman renowned for her propriety. However, Selina harbours a secret of her own: she operates an erotic circulating library for women. When Peter proposes that she help him find a suitable bride, Selina suggests that he court a woman of impeccable reputation, implicitly ruling herself out.

A delightful misadventure follows as Peter's siblings wreak havoc on Bond Street. Selina finds herself in the Serpentine, and their undeniable chemistry continually disrupts their best-laid plans. Vasti masterfully weaves humour and romance, creating a narrative where falling in love becomes the ultimate scandal for the disreputable duke and his unorthodox matchmaker. The humour in the plot will keep you entertained throughout the book.

Alexandra Vasti's "Ne'er Duke Well" perfectly blends wit, charm, and heartfelt moments. The dynamic between Peter and Selina is electric, making this a must-read for anyone who loves a good historical romance with a twist.

This book was the perfect treat for my Bridgerton-obsessed heart. The romance had me squealing and kicking feet. The scandal had me on the edge of my seat and biting my nails. The cast of characters was highly entertaining, and I howled at the last indiscretions...so unexpected. I loved Peter and Selina...from the matchmaking stage to their own love story. It was beautiful. I loved every minute. And I'm eager to read everything Alexandra Vasti writes. Do you think she'd send me her grocery lists?

Peter Kent is not your typical Duke. He grew up in New Orleans and reluctantly took his place when his father passed away. He wants to be named the caretaker of his illegitimate younger half-sister and brother, but his unmarried, outsider status stands in the way. He asks his friend Lady Selina to help him find a match before the hearing on the guardianship. The problem is that Peter likes Selina, and she also has eyes for him. Selina and Peter were great as a couple, especially as he calmed her mind about being a wife and keeping her independence as the owner of the Belvoir’s library. There was a little too much focus on the children, but it still was a great romance.

This was an extremely cute and clever romance. Peter and Selina's story really brightened my day and had me smiling big as I read this charming book. The blend of spice, sweetness, humor, emotion, drama and heart was potent and when paired with this couple's snappy banter and incandescent chemistry it was all simply irresistible.

Ne'er Duke Well is the debut novel of Alexandra Vasti and introduces Peter Kent of New Orleans, Louisiana, the newly minted Duke of Stanhope (after inheriting the duchy directly from his British paternal grandfather) and Lady Selina Ravenscroft, younger sister of the Duke of Rowland. The two meet two years before the start of this novel, when Peter first arrives in England, but the two meet again serendipitously when Peter is out in London with his two younger siblings, Lu and Freddie. Selina has never met a problem that she hasn't been able to solve when she puts her mind to it, and when she learns that Peter must undergo a guardianship hearing for his half-siblings, who have never been acknowledged by Peter's reprobate father, she decides to help him find a bride who will make him more deserving and respectable in the eyes of the lord chancellor who is reviewing his petition for custody. Peter, who finds Selina irresistible, would much rather marry her (and secretly she finds him captivating as well), but Selina has a secret which if ever revealed would bring scandal to her family and to Peter, thus ruining his chances of becoming Lu and Freddie's guardian.

What follows is a poignant, heartwarming love story, as Selina and Peter initially try to fight falling in love and then attempt to work around the obstacles in their path that threaten to push them apart once married. They are lovable, entirely fallible, well-drawn characters that are easy to root for, and I enjoyed their story, which packs in so much heart and - in the words of the author - love, so much love. For me the only part missing was the resolution for Will Ravenscroft, Selina's twin brother (unless this is coming in later books). I also wanted Selina to trust Peter a bit more as the story was winding down, knowing down to her bones, without any doubt, that their future lay together and not apart. I am looking forward to potentially forthcoming stories for Selina's supportive, smart and loyal friends, Lydia, Georgiana, and perhaps even Iris Duggleby.

Ne'er Duke Well is a really solid, enjoyable first full-length novel from this author - and she is one to watch, as she writes additional delightful stories for her readers.

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley, and I am leaving my honest review voluntarily.

Fun and easy read. Enjoyed, the characters were fun, the setting was well done and executed, the story was easy to follow and to enjoy, overall easy fun read.
Omg this!!!!!!!!!!!! So damn good. Audio marvelous, the voices so well picked . Loved both . The book premises a delight. This had me giggling all the time I was reading, and the sibling 😍. Definitely recommending

Peter has recently come from New Orleans to become the Duke of Stanhope. Upon his arrival, he learns he has two half-siblings, and wishes to gain guardianship of them. That shouldn’t be hard, right? First, his politics don’t mesh well with many in the Lords. Second, his brother and sister are a bit wild, and really don’t trust him enough to want to live with him. Enter Selina Ravenscroft. She decides that Peter needs a wife, not her of course, to add in his cause. The campaign for a wife and domesticating his siblings is, well, a circus. The Ravenscroft do everything they can to help. The prospective brides are nice, but not what Peter wants. He wants Selina. With the courtships, rescued dogs, a little girl with a rapier, a frightened little boy, a new duke, and a harsh Ton, how will Peter convince Selina to become his duchess, and the courts to grant him guardianship of the children. The story is filled with emotion, a bit of drama, fun, rambunctious children, a naughty lending library, and a courtroom scene worthy of Perry Mason. Enjoyable read.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

This started as a three star read for me, as it was such a friends-to-lovers cliche. Then suddenly around a third into my read, the author turned it into so much more with the drama of the library scandal and it became a meaningful reflection of true love and friendship. I loved the chemistry between Peter and Selina and the character growth from Lucinda and Freddy. And spice…there was so much heat between Peter and Selina, I thought my kindle would catch fire. Definitely a great regency romance read for me!