📣 a fantastic historical with a supportive, golden retriever duke & a warm & competent sister of a duke who gives him butterflies

Thanks to the publishers & Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

📖 What’s one of your Wednesday numbers? Some of mine are: 33%, about how far I am into my current read, Long Live Evil; 1 kid awake & I’m getting him to practice home row typing while I finish this review 🤣; 1 Cinderella dance class I’m taking my daughter to this morning.

This book!

I freaking love a book that doesn’t go where you think it will go, that gives you the cool relief of acceptance & love instead of the stress you might have anticipated.

Alexandra Vasti’s Ne’er Duke Well offers that & so much more to its readers:

🙌🏻 a well-intentioned duke who has a heart & sometimes gets himself into scrapes bc of it. Peter is an abolitionist, an American, wants to get custody of his two half-siblings, & has had feelings for Selina for so long even if he doesn’t recognize them for what they are right away.
🙌🏻 comedic moments that shine, from a fierce sister to a nervous friend who’s constantly trying to escape Selina’s matchmaking efforts.
🙌🏻 a social fixer, businesswoman heroine who runs her own circulating library for women featuring erotic, philosophical, etc. books that are often denied to women. YESSSSSSS.
🙌🏻 when he could denounce or abandon her, he cleaves more strongly. He supports her & is proud of her when she feels at her lowest!
🙌🏻 the same for her. She knows what his heart wants & from the beginning, she wants to help. She’s so silly in thinking she wants to marry him off to someone else 😆😍.
🙌🏻 my goodness, the steam is good!

Ne’er Duke Well has my heart. A total winner & this author makes me really excited!

5 ⭐️. Out 07/23.

Please see a trusted reviewer’s list of CWs.

[ID: Jess holds the ebook in front of a mural of two exhausted people seated at a table, leaning over each other.]

Omg such a great fresh take on historical romance! I loved Peter as a MMC. He represents a unique part of the aristocracy at the time. I loved Selina’s fierce independence and desire to make sure the women of the time weren’t kept in the dark.

I received this book for free from Netgalley. That did not influence this review.

Ne’er Duke Well is a recently released Regency Romance by Alexandra Vasti, a new-to-me author.

The hero, Peter Kent, had been abandoned by his father, a duke, and raised in Louisiana, far from the entanglements of London Society. However, two years earlier, upon discovering that he was the heir presumptive to the dukedom, he returned to England to learn the ropes. Now, he is the Duke of Stanhope. He wants to use his position for good. He has liberal ideas and is not hesitant to proclaim them. But there is a problem. He has two young half-siblings, Freddie and Lu, and he is determined to take custody of them and raise them in a caring environment. Unfortunately, he has made a bad impression on the judge who will rule on his case. Peter needs help.

The heroine, Lady Selena Ravenscroft, wants to provide that help. They are friends of a sort. She thinks his suit will be aided by his taking a wife with an impeccable pedigree. The children need a mother, after all. She has a few ladies in mind. But not herself. Definitely not. Because she has a secret that she knows will come out one day, and the scandal would be ruinous to her and to Peter’s chances. Selena is part owner of a well-known publishing company. The company is especially successful because of its “Venus” line, racy novels for ladies to help them learn a little of the world so they won’t be so disadvantaged when dealing with men.

Whenever one member of a pair in a Romance tries to help the other find a perfect match, readers know what to expect. But the journey to love—how they get to the point of realizing they are meant to be together—is what makes the novels fun. Peter and Selena are well suited, and the obstacle is a formidable one, making this a very enjoyable read.

This is a charming, moderately steamy Romance with likeable protagonists and a well-constructed plot. It’s a standalone novel, as far as I can tell, but I look forward to more from this author.

I was very excited to read a book by this new author. She definitely was able to craft an appealing story with action, humor and plenty of steam. I was very sympathetic towards the hero Peter. His family background was tragic and he was doing everything in his power to give his family a better future. The heroine Selina was really something. She was cool and competent--exactly the kind of wife Peter needed. Unfortunately, she had a big secret that, if found out, would overshadow all of her good qualities and potentially ruin her future with Peter.
There was one thing in this book that bothered me. Rather than depicting the English society of the time, with standard HR characters, the author went with the current "Bridgerton" trend. There was a diversity of characters which were there to tick off some boxes on the modern-day checklist. This didn't have any actual bearing on the plot and I found it distracting.
I do give the author credit for bringing this book to a happy ending. The story was careening towards the dreaded third act break-up and the author navigated her way through it quite nicely.
I received a free ARC from NetGalley and this is my honest review.

Fantastic historical fiction! The characters stole my heart. It’s sweet, swoony, funny and a great time start to finish. The writing is fresh, humorous and the historical aspects feel well researched.

Ne'er Duke Well is a delightful, steamy, and slightly silly Regency romance with a social conscience. Set at a woman-run library, the story introduces an American duke, Peter Kent, who unexpectedly becomes the Duke of Stanhope. Lady Selina Ravenscroft, the secret power behind Belvoir's Library, becomes his matchmaker. Their hasty marriage gets off to a steamy start, but Selina's secrets are on the verge of being exposed.

With wit, humor, and solid character development, Vasti has crafted a charming Regency series around Belvoir's Library. The book's spicy scenes would feel right at home in Belvoir's Venus catalog—a ladies-only collection with a combination of radical philosophy, erotic memoirs, and titillating novels. A promising start to a new series!

This clumsy Duke means well but has a knack for getting stuck into scandalous situations, I wasn't sure of Peter at first but he grew on me as the story went on, however, Selina definitely runs this household! I did feel like I was almost missing a previous book with these two characters, as they had a backstory that was referenced but not fully explained, leaving me to wonder if I missed something or if I just wanted more knowledge of that beforehand. I liked that Selina was progressive and had her secret library to run, it added to the plot of the story and was a fun addition to a historical romance... I did think (in the beginning) that the sexual tension between Peter and Selina was a bit odd though. Overall, this was a fun historical romance that had multiple storylines to follow, which was a nice break from the romance!

Goodreads review 7/18, Instagram @evelynlainebooks 7/17 and in the future!

Ne’re Duke Well is an amazing historical romance. In addition to a radical Duke, it has everything I love about historicals: strong women who won’t be confined to society’s boxes and the men who are absolutely gone for them. Alexandra Vasti creates fantastic, realistic characters that I couldn’t get enough of.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Peter Kent never expected to become the Duke of Stanhope while growing up in New Orleans. But now he’s a peer in London, and will do anything to be named guardian of his precocious half siblings. Lady Selina Ravenscroft, who makes it her business to help people when she can, determines Peter should marry to show just how responsible he is. But after meeting Selina’s candidates, Peter just wants Selina. Which is great, since the feeling is mutual. Only, Selina’s secret project running an erotic lending library for the ladies of the ton won’t help Peter’s case for guardianship if the truth comes out. Can these two figure out a way to be together, and protect the kids too?

I adore this book! Selina is strong and spunky, and finds ways to work around the limits society places on women. For Peter’s part, he wants her from the beginning, even if that’s not her plan. He supports her no matter what she does, even when Selina thinks he won’t. There’s really no question that he’s all in when it comes to Selina, and their chemistry is sizzling.

Another plus is welcome on the page diversity that doesn’t always appear in regency romance. From queer aunts to a South Asian attorney, these are all characters that would be a part of 19th century London, even if they aren’t usually mentioned, and I love the role they play here.

Alexandra Vasti writes wonderful unconventional characters in seemingly conventional settings. Selina and Peter are smart, responsible, and engaging, along with being super hot for each other. Ne’er Duke Well is the amazing start to this new historical romance series, and I can’t wait for all my favorite characters to get their own HEAs.

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

I have loved all of the novellas from this author so I was super excited for this full length book and it definitely did not disappoint!

Peter Kent(who grew up in Louisiana) has just become the new Duke Of Stanhope and he needs some help to get the guardianship of his two half siblings(as they're illegitimate). His radical opinions along with some accidental incidents have given him a scandalous reputation and this will hinder his case. When he runs into Lady Selina Ravenscroft, he decides to ask her for help and she comes up with an excellent idea - to marry him off to a lady with an excellent reputation 😆 Much to Peter's disappointment she doesn't include herself on the list of his prospects lol😂(she has her reasons). But, things don't always go according to plan, do they?

Both Selina and Peter were amazing protagonists! Selina was so intelligent, efficient and strong while Peter was loyal, caring and optimistic! They complemented each other so well and I loved the romance between them(and how Peter was utterly gone for her🤣). Their little family with the two siblings - Lu and Freddie was perfect, and there were so many hilarious moments with them. Selina's family was equally amazing and I loved their friends and how everyone came together for them! I think I loved almost all of the characters in this one!

“You are the heart of us, Selina. There is no family without you.” 🥹

My favorite part was definitely the fact that there wasn't any unnecessary drama in this one - no secrets or misunderstandings. Selina is very honest with Peter and in turn, he's very supportive. I loved the fact that they worked together and figured out a solution without any unnecessary angst! Also, I don't think I need to mention how steamy this one was 😆
Mhairi Morrison's narration was excellent and I enjoyed listening to the way she voiced the different characters and their accents - it was so vivid and fun!

This one comes out next week so make sure to grab it if you're looking for a fun historical romance with amazing characters and a cute found family!❣️✨

I'm still fairly new to the subgenre of historical romance, but this is the most fun that I've had while reading one and now I fully understand its appeal. I thoroughly enjoyed both Peter and Selina as main characters, who felt very much of this time period while holding refreshing opinions that made them rebels tending to attract scandal. Vasti's writing is warm and accessible, doing incredible work building up the attraction between these two so it feels palpable to readers and paying this off so satisfyingly in the story. The synopsis only covers the book's first half, and I was delighted that there were so many fun and interesting developments left to discover in the second, even if the plot becomes overly busy at a few points. The entire cast of characters is wonderful, and I look forward to reading future books that either include or are centered on them.

Alexandra Vasti has a magical way of making everything feel light and airy, so you don’t even notice the way that deep emotions and weighty issues are sneaking up on you until you’re crying happy tears for her characters. And the spice is as on point as you'd expect from her Halifax novellas. A charming and polished debut that announces the entrance of a singular new voice into Historical Romance! Can’t wait to read the next one in the series.

“𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘠𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵, 𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵. 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘮, 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯’𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘶𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘧 𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘧 𝘢𝘴 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘢𝘴 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶.”

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Right off the bat, the book cover and the title caught my attention. For a debut historical romance novel, this was a delightful read! I’ve read one of Vasti’s novellas before that are very steamy so I was expecting the same for this book, which the spicy scenes definitely did not disappoint. I also loved the plot lines of Belvoir’s and Peter’s siblings. Just watching Selina and Peter’s romance blossom from working together to take care of his siblings was heartwarming. Though, I do wish there were more interactions with the children and the MCs.

Though the MCs do face difficulties dealing with their personal lives, I enjoyed how open their communication was with each other. They were able to fix the biggest conflicts in the book together instead of breaking apart during it. This deepened my love for Selina and Peter together, furthering their chemistry and cementing how healthy and happy they are with each other. This was a fast-paced and charming read that lifted my spirits. Overall, this book contained an excellent romance, lovable and fun characters, and exciting story lines. This charming book comes out soon on July 23rd!

Ne’er Duke Well is the story of Peter, a man desperate to gain custody of his siblings, and Selina, a lady with a secret. A plan is hatched that Peter may be able to gain custody if he gets married. Is this possible with his unintentionally scandalous reputation? Selina will have to work overtime to help Peter succeed while keeping her own secrets close.

Ne’er Duke Well is a fun and fast-paced regency romance. The banter between Selina and Peter was excellent. There are lots of hilariously failed encounters as Selina tries to find a match for Peter. Selina also has an important secret that takes her out of the running, at least in her mind (I loved her library!). When Peter and Selina finally give in to the attraction between them, the chemistry is fantastic. I absolutely loved the scene with the dog in the river! Georgiana was a particularly hilarious side character and I hope that we get to see her story as well.

This is my first book from Alexandra Vasti but definitely not my last! Ne’er Duke Well is perfect for readers who enjoy witty banter, hilarious shenanigans, and regency romance.

Thank you to Alexandra Vasti, St. Martin’s Griffin, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on Instagram, Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, and Barnes & Noble etc.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press, Dreamscape Media, and Libro FM for my gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

I’m not sure I have enough words to adequately describe how much I loved this book. I was hooked from the very beginning and didn’t want to put it down. Peter, the new Duke of Stanhope and Lady Selina become more than mere acquaintances when she steps in with a plan to help him gain custody of his step siblings. She develops a plan for him to wed and choose a respectable bride which should help his chances in the upcoming hearing. Peter is from Louisiana and has only recently moved to England to assume his title of Duke.

Oh this book! Selina tried so hard not to fall for Peter. She didn’t want her erotic library to hurt his respectability and guardianship, but she just couldn’t help falling for him. Peter had me swooning. He was so gone for Selina and so determined to support her no matter what. I loved how they built a family together. There were moments that had me crying and others where I was laughing out loud. This is without a doubt, my favorite historical romance in quite some time.

I adored the narration by Mhairi Morrison, especially her voice for Peter. I loved this enough that I immediately preordered Ne’er Duke Well and Earl Crush. I absolutely cannot wait for more books from Alexandra Vasti!

Sweet, swoony sexiness, I have a new favorite Duke and his name is Peter Kent.

”You bring the morning with you. You’re the light, sweetheart.”

*Sigh* I enjoyed this charming romp through Regency England so very much and I am honestly sad that it’s over. Did the ending go big before it went home? Yes. Did I eat it up regardless? Also yes.

The characters were likable from the jump and the story sheer fun with a dash of emotion—a woman wanting to make her own way, a brother who fears failing his siblings, various secondary characters with still waters running deep. I smiled and even shed a quiet tear or two for Peter, Selina, Lu, and Freddie (and their friends) as they fumbled their way to happily ever after, and really, all I can say is that I hope to see much more from this unique universe of Alexandra Vasti’s creation.

Highly recommend…though maybe not for those who prefer complete historical accuracy to a more modern-moral spin.

I was really looking forward to this one because I had read so many great reviews but sadly I dnf'ed this one at 80%. It wasn't a book that pulled me to continue reading. While there were parts that were enjoyable, I really dislikes the main of the characters but enjoyed the secondary characters!

This short, romance novel is a perfect book for those looking for historical era, women/feminism books, and happy endings. While I did feel like the book was a little too short -- there could have been more elaboration on characters -- I did enjoy the plot. I did however feel that the conflict was not true conflict. It felt resolved too easily. I enjoy when the conflict stretches a bit longer to make the audience question the happy ending. In this book, I had no doubt it would end happily.

Ne'er Duke Well is an amusing enough tale of an eldest brother trying to gain custody of his two younger siblings and find love at the same time. Set at the beginning of the 19th century, the references to circulating libraries, abolition, and the Napoleonic Wars provide an authentic feel for the period. Some of the rebellious females, however, feel much more like 21st century creations as they brazenly stand up to the patriarchy.

To say that I had a smile on my face the entirety of this story would not be a stretch. Ne'er Duke Well was a very refreshing Regency read. Yes, it is steamy, but it is delightfully laugh out loud worthy! It has been an age since I enjoyed a novel so much.

Peter Stanhope recently inherited a dukedom and realized he has two younger half siblings that have no official guardian. He is determined to take care of them, but in order to win their guardianship, it appears he needs a wife. Enter Selina Ravenscroft, the younger sister of a duke, who has determined to never marry lest her secret be revealed and ruin them. She cannot deny the attraction she has to Peter, but she is determined to help him find the perfect wife to save the children.

The supporting characters make this story so much more enjoyable. They are loyal, they are absurd, and they can be sure to reveal little secrets of their won. I look forward to many more escapades that Alexandra Vasti will unveil.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for a free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this regency romance as, while it utilized a number of romance tropes, it did it in a unique and unpredictable way. This feels new while still being an excellent addition to a beloved genre. Selina, the female main character, runs a secret library, with a secret collection of books that only women are allowed to take out to either amuse or educate themselves - which even as the sister of a Duke, is a risky move for a woman of that time. When the newly inherited Duke of Stanhope, Peter Kent, goes to her family for help with his own familial issues, Selina dives head first into problem-solving (aka finding him a wife to make him "respectable enough" to put a case forward to get guardianship of his half-siblings) while clearly harbouring feelings for him. It was a nice mix of tropes with two-thirds focusing on the love story, and one-third focusing on the guardianship and the impacts it has on Selina and Peter's relationship. The only gripe I had about the love story is that there appeared to be some history between the main characters that the readers are just dropped in the middle of, rather than seeing it progress from the first day they meet.

Overall, though, I'd definitely recommend this book if you're looking for a historical fictional romance with amazing chemistry between main characters.