This was my first regency novel and I quite enjoyed it!!
There was angst and yearning and it was simply delicious!
This also had a pretty good plot.

I actually believe that Peter and Selina are end game. Their love is so sweet and pure.

Oh the pining! These two characters – Lydia and Arthur – were made for each other, if only they would let themselves be open to the possibility. Lydia is our lovely, intelligent, socially anxious heroine who has been secretly writing politically radical pamphlets for years under a pen name AND corresponding with a like-minded Earl of Strathrannoch. When the Earl writes of financial worries, this heiress does what any woman would do and takes off for Scotland to propose marriage! One small problem, the Earl has no idea who she is, AND he (Arthur) quickly figures out his brother has been impersonating him and writing to Lydia the whole time. What happens next is a road trip of epic proportions where Lydia and Arthur realize that love, respect, being seen for who you are and being loved for it is possible. Reasons why I loved this novel – 1) brilliant, emotive writing that makes these characters feel real 2) each chapter opens with a note written by Lydia or Arthur to the other, and the pining is next level 3) this story is sexy in a sly, understated way and you feel their attraction to each other. Earl Crush is why my love for historical romance is never-ending! Alexandra’s writing brings a contemporary sensibility to a historical setting and characters, and I am huge fan! Earl Crush is out now, and it is available as e-book, paperback and audiobook. This is an ARC review – thank you to NetGalley.

This story was so charming. I love how distinct and animated the characters were. I was laughing and tearing up, occasionally at the same time. And it had such a timely and poignant message about sex education and the stigma growing around writing romance and books with sexual content

Near Duke Well by Alexandra Vasti is a charming and sweet romance that blends slow-burn chemistry with likable characters. The story follows two very different people who find themselves drawn together, and while the chemistry is strong, the pacing can feel a bit uneven at times. The characters are well-written, though their development could have gone a bit deeper. Despite this, the book offers a heartwarming and enjoyable read that will appeal to fans of the genre. It’s a solid, feel-good romance with just enough tension to keep you hooked.

Ne’er Duke Well is a whole mood—clever, spicy, and chaotic in the best way. Alexandra Vasti came through with a historical that doesn’t take itself too seriously but still hits where it counts. The banter snaps, the chemistry simmers, and the vibe stays fun from start to finish.

Selina and Peter had that kind of tension that feels lowkey ridiculous and completely irresistible at the same time. One minute you’re laughing, next minute it’s getting hot, and somehow it all works.

It’s sharp, playful, and unexpectedly sweet. A solid four stars and a fun ride all the way through.

\\\\\ 4.5/5 \\\\\

Everyone told me I had to start with the first book for this series and after putting it off for so long (for no other reason that I’m the worst at managing my TBR) I listened and finally read it! And I’m happy I did. What an amazing one it was! While I’m sure you can manage to read each book on its own as a standalone, I agree that this first book lets you in on a lot of characters and plot elements that you will enjoy knowing about for the other books.

I absolutely adored our main characters. I cannot express how much I loved their relationship and how freaking unproblematic they were. They actually talked to one another and found solutions together and made it work, and it was wonderful. They had instant chemistry, and it was just the best thing to see them interact together. The premise was fascinating, and I stayed intrigued by this story till the end.

I absolutely loved Peter’s devotion to his family and how protective he was of everyone around him. The interaction between him and the kids were heartwarming, funny but also emotional at times. It was a perfect blend that made it all truly beautiful. And let’s not forget about Peter the cat, I laughed so much about that one. Selina is such a gem. From the first page, I wanted to be her friend, and as this story went it just made me want that even more.

There was also a great placement for future stories with her little group of friends, who got more and more captivating as this book went on. This is for sure a series I’m excited to continue in the future and an author I want to read more of!

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

I had a few issues with this, the pacing was off in the 2nd half. And I was hoping for Selina and Peter to have more bonding time with the kids or at least between Selina and Lu. I feel like the kids appeared so little in the story despite them being key characters to the entire plot. I would've loved to see more of Lu. I also thought the hearing was underwhelming. HOWEVER, I thought it was very entertaining.

I love the cover on this one - it's so vibrant and cute and made me gravitate towards this book.

I loved the found family, nonconformity, and "scandal". I'm usually not a fan of historical romances, but I did enjoy this. This was cute and sweet, and I enjoyed the writing style and felt elements like the pacing and characters were great.

Peter Kent lived in New Orleans for the vast majority of his life, until he suddenly found himself the new Duke of Stanhope, living back in England with his (surprise!) younger siblings (whom the old Duke wasn't interested in claiming). He's trying to gain guardianship of said siblings, but his progressive political views and inability to remain free from scandal are sort of impeding on his ability to get the judge from the opposing political party on his side. He enlists the assistance of Lady Selina Ravenscroft, who determines that the best way to facilitate Peter's goals is for him to find himself a wife of impeccable respectability. And despite the attraction and intrigue between them, Lady Selina cannot be said wife because she runs a rather scandalous lending library and it would be bad news bears if The Ton found out about it. Many hijinks ensue.

I listened to this audiobook after DNF'ing another on my drive to Charlotte and upon checking into my hotel, I promptly proceeded to press play again and color for another two hours until the audiobook concluded because I was having such a good time with this book. I did pause it to order Indian food via Door Dash, but aside from that, I was truly enraptured with this book. I loved the hijinks, the children, and the found family vibes of this book. I didn't always adore the way Lady Selina felt like she was not a good pick for Peter, despite the obvious way that the two cared for one another, but that's romance reasons for you, so I waved that annoyance away. Ultimately, this book was just so much fun and exactly what I needed at the time. I definitely recommend.

I liked this book a lot. I purchased 100 licenses on Overdrive and made it the library's selection for our monthly audiobook club and it has circulated very well. I will continue to watch Vasti's new books, which are popular at my library.

RATING: 3/5 STARS

This was a cute historical rom-com that lost a bit of steam for me at the end but was overall enjoyable.

This is a delightful romp featuring lovable characters with lots of personality spunk. The side characters are charmingly fleshed out, and the secret erotic lending library for ladies is such a fun idea!

Overall loved reading this, and can't wait for more from Vasti!

MMC with a Crush™ and a lot of Problems™ (and also is the distant and reluctant Duke from Louisiana.)
🖊 FMC who Handles All the Things™ (and also has a radical lending library where women of London are educating themselves about All Sorts of Topics.)
🥰 Side characters who I adore. (I spent So Long trying to figure out what books I had missed by Vasti...)
🥵 Lots of - That Can't Happen Again.
😘 Also - Who Needs a Bed.

TL/DR Review
Stars: Four!
Series: Belvoir Lending Library Book One (I started here accidentally - but am glad I did and suggest reading in order.)
POV: dual third
Steam: You know how authors go tamed when they go trad? Not Vasti.
Tropes: Opposites attract, pining MMC, golden retriever MMC, competence kink, bluestocking FMC (but socially powerful)
For Fans Of: Eva Leigh - specifically Forever Your Earl
Theme Song: Turn by the Wombats
Subgenre: Historical
CW/ TW: In the book (be still my heart!)

Feb 2025: I'm a mood reader and now I'm in the mood :3
4 ⭐
Peter and Selina working together to try to prove he is a worthy man in british society to take custody of his late father's illegitimate children. The best way to do that is to find a respectable wife for Peter to marry and become Duchess. In comes Selina to assist, having secrets of her own that would make her unsuitable.

As they spend time together their chemistry gets better and better until the tension was great. (I judged it wayyyy too soon). Alexandra Vasti is a must buy author from now on. It was such a fun read and I'm so excited for Lydia's book.

Georgiana, you are a baddie. Can't wait to see you thriveeee

✅ medium 🌶️🌶️
✅ matchmaking
✅ friends to lovers
✅ forced proximity
✅ feminist coded regency romance

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for this eARC of Ne'er Duke Well for an honest review!
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<s>August 2024: DNF @ 17%.

I loved the writing but honestly just got bored of the characters. The tension felt lacking and didn’t care enough to continue.</s>

I have been known to talk about @alexandravasti as ‘the master of first lines.’ I am a huge fun of any author that drops you in the middle of some crazy from the jump, and Vasti was by far the best at this with her Halifax twins novellas. So I had high hopes when I put on the audio of “Ne’er Duke Well” driving to Atlanta this weekend. Thankfully, it did not disappoint!

Selina, known for her ability to arrange any number of things among members of the ton, isn’t looking for love. In fact, as the secret proprietress of a library educating females on the more scandalous aspects of life through literature, she means to stay on the outside. That is until Peter comes along seeking a wife to help him win custody of his half siblings. When she tries to set him up with a number of eligible females, it soon becomes clear that he only wants her. But will her scandalous extracurriculars stand in the way of making a family for Peter & his siblings?

I highly recommend this one to fans of Tessa Dare. Vasti’s wit mixed with a heartfelt story and some serious heat makes for the perfect weekend read! And her underground library setting and mix of LGBTQ secondary characters seem especially timely these days.

If you love historical romance with a modern feel, Ne’er Duke Well by Alexandra Vasti is a must-read. The heart of this story lies in its delightfully goofy and utterly endearing male protagonist. Peter Kent is ardent, passionate, and deeply caring—I adored his unwavering devotion to his siblings and to Selina. His storyline was one of my favorite aspects of the book.
Selina, on the other hand, is a force of nature. Her mission to spread sex education among the ladies of the ton is both bold and moving, and the way she turns her determination into action is a testament to her single-minded, fixer-at-all-costs nature. She takes on others' burdens as if they were her own, sometimes to a fault, but that only makes her all the more compelling.
The plot took a little time to find its footing—I initially struggled to understand why Selina was so invested in helping Peter beyond his quest for guardianship. But once the story settled in, I was completely on board. Peter’s relationship with his younger half-siblings was beautifully developed, and Selina fit seamlessly into that dynamic.
Vasti has crafted a wonderful cast of characters and a world that champions female empowerment and knowledge. I can’t wait to see what comes next in this series!


Thank you to the Publisher and Netfalley for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review! Also a thank you to Libro.fm for providing a ALC in exchange for honest review!

Ne’er Duke Well is a beautifully written, emotionally rich historical romance that I will be recommending to every patron who walks into my library asking for a compelling love story. It’s perfect for fans of Tessa Dare and Evie Dunmore—full of sharp dialogue, deep emotion, and a love story that lingers long after the last page. If you love historical romance with heart and intelligence, this one is an absolute must-read!

Although I struggled a bit because regency era romance just isn't my usual read, this was still a good book and an intriguing story!

Received for free through netgalley for an honest review. I rated this 3.5 out of 5 stars. I enjoyed the story and the main love interest. I also loved the idea of making the female lead a standout in society who goes against the rules. Having her own library and helping make other woman both literate and knowledgeable about sexuality was fun. I did struggle with all the characters all being thrown at you to start. For some reason I had a really hard time with that. Cute ending.

This book is fantastic. I enjoyed absolutely everything (except for the narrator's voice of Peter). The plot, characters, and spice were phenomenal. I was so into this book, man. I want everyone to read it. I loved Selina and Peter and LOU. I can't wait to read the next two in the series. Vasti is totally an auto-read author now.