Alexander Vasti has nailed her debut novel. She has done so with an interesting and engaging plot. In Peter and Selina along with the rest of the characters she created a team that gives readers lots of opportunities for laughter and delight. The dialogue is simple and easy to understand. You will enjoy picking up some new jargon as you become familiar with Selina’s secret. It is romantic and lovely how these two unlikely people defy the odds and become a family.

"Ne'er Duke Well" by Alexandra Vasti is a refreshing take on modern historical romance. Vasti's debut novel shines with her unique voice, effortlessly blending whimsy, humour, and deep romantic emotions with richly nuanced characters.

The characters in this novel are vibrant and full of life. My favourite is Lu, Peter's 12-year-old half-sister, who knows what she wants and will stop at nothing to get it. Her spunk and personality leap off the page, making her utterly captivating. All of Vasti's characters are bursting with energy, making it impossible not to be drawn to them. Selina, the female protagonist, embodies a modern take on historical romance heroines in the best possible way. She exudes confidence, always fixes others' problems, and runs the highly successful Belvoir library, which features a specially curated collection of saucy and scandalous books for women in the Venus collection. Despite her confidence, Selina has a poignant sense of sadness and loneliness, as she often puts others' needs above her own and keeps Belvoir a secret from everyone in her life. Peter, on the other hand, is not your typical Duke. Raised in New Orleans, he is a bit of a walking scandal and a fierce abolitionist, which ruffles feathers within the Ton. Peter's character is brimming with heart. His devotion to his half-siblings, Lu and Freddie, drives him to do whatever it takes to secure their guardianship, even participating in a matchmaking marriage scheme arranged by Selina. His determination in the custody battle is captivating, even though, being a romance, we know it will end well. Peter's unwavering support and unexpected reactions to Selina add depth to his character, making him endearing and memorable.

The chemistry between Peter and Selina is electric. The matchmaker setup creates all the right feelings as they gradually realize that the person they want to be with is the one they're trying to marry off to someone else. Their history of antagonism adds a perfect touch. Watching their relationship progress throughout the book is a rollercoaster of humour, romance, emotion, and heartwarming moments—with a generous dash of sensuality.

"Ne'er Duke Well" is an exceptional and charming debut historical romance from Alexandra Vasti. With its refreshingly modern take on Regency England, a swoon-worthy romance, vivid characters, and an engaging story centred around family and love, this book is a must-read. I’m eagerly counting down the days until her second novel, "Earl Crush," hits shelves in January 2025!

This was so cute and quirky and feminist and sincere and I loved it. I can't believe it's a debut. One of my favorite things about it is it had the potential to be really annoying with a lot of the tropes it was putting into this book. Instead, it put a twist on all of them and it was actually really great and a huge relief—the love interests were consistently open and honest with each other throughout when they had the potential to withhold things for ages and drive me crazy. There was also no third-act breakup but still plenty of tension that made my heart hurt. It was all done so well. I can't wait to read more from this author!

A thoroughly engaging book from start to end! A formidable woman who is on a quest to have as many women educated as possible, who wants to take care of everyone and is very creative when it comes to solutions. A man who wants to be guardian and protector of his siblings and fighting for the right to do so. Together, they are unstoppable! I enjoyed this book so much but console myself, there are three more incredible women who will get their own stories to look forward to.

I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley and leaving my review voluntarily.

A fun romance story with a minimum amount of drama. Really a feel-good story that is perfect to relax and enjoy. Set in the regency era this would be perfect for fans of Bridgerton and the reader can see some definite similarities between the two.

4.5 stars! Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and St. Martin's Griffith for this advanced copy. You can pick up Ne'er Duke Well on July 23, 2024.

What an adorable Regency romance! Alexandra Vasti's writing really swept me away and immersed me in this world. I enjoyed the tension, the banter, and the romance between Lady Selina and Duke of Stanhope, Peter Kent. It was interesting to read a friends-to-lovers Regency story, but I think Vasti executed it well. I was slightly confused at times, since we seemed to get a lot of references to events that may or may not have happened in other books (I think this is an interconnected universe of standalones?). It only would have enriched the story more to see those scenes play out in this book.

But I feel like the stakes were perfectly high enough with Selina's involvement in the Belvoir library and Peter's fight for custody of his siblings. This created great tension and drama outside of the romance, though I love how all the storylines eventually intertwined. I'll definitely be looking into Vasti's books more!

This cute cover welcomes the reader to a good debut novel. Peter Kent grew up in New Orleans but now has inherited his father’s dukedom. He has two younger half siblings (boy and girl) that his father never provided for or acknowledged. Peter desperately wants to become their legal guardian and have them live with him. But his politics and some actions without thinking have turned the person making the decision against him. Lady Selina Ravenscroft suggests if he marries well it will help his cause and chooses some potential debutants. Half the book is his stumbling through possible partners and the second half focuses more on the kid storyline.

Selina is delicious. She secretly owns a successful circulating library. A small side of her business is only for women that includes everything from helpful information to steamy novels and erotica. Peter and Selina have great chemistry together with a few very well written passionate scenes. But Peter is the weaker link in the story. It may have worked better if he were lower rank (Earl or Baron) but who would believe someone would challenge a Duke about wanting to provide for and educate family members. Especially when he has other Duke’s on his side. It wasn’t a stressing plot point to me. And Peter seems to always turn to Selina to solve the problems, although he does come up with an idea in the end. I mean how is this guy running a dukedom? The main thing I know is that is handsome with naturally curly hair.

Even with a weaker hero I still found this story very fun to read and will gladly read more from the author.

This book was at times heartwarming and sweet, empowering and hot. It had a fun cast of characters that I want to know more about and would happily visit again and again. I even found the kids funny and engaging. I look forward to more from this author.

Shortly after Peter Kent’s arrival from New Orleans he learns he has two young half siblings and makes it his mission to become their legal guardian. He asks for help from Selina, a well connected debutant, who comes up with the idea that he should marry and become respectable. Selina makes introductions but he is only interested in her. She would be happy to marry him, but she is secretly running an erotic circulating library and knows if her secret gets out his reputation will be tarnished along with hers. However, when they are trapped alone due to a faulty lock forcing them to marry, they must figure out how to receive custody with their reputations intact.

This is the debut novel of Alexandra Vasti but her novellas have been available for a year or two via her newsletter. I have all three of Alexandra’s novellas and I think I have read one. Apparently Peter and Selina first met in one of the novellas I have not read. I wish there would have been some sort of explanation of that moment in this book, because it felt a piece of their relationship was missing without it. I loved Selina. She was so fun, smart, and practical, but unfortunately Peter fell a bit flat for me. I wish he would have had a title lower than a Duke as I think the sibling story line would have worked better, because let’s be real who is actually going to keep two kids from their duke brother who wants to raise and financially support them. I did really like Selina and Peter together and their intimate scenes were wonderfully steamy. I enjoyed all of Selina’s friends and hope that there will be future books involving them.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

This was so fun! So many things happened in this book that I continuously wanted to know what would happen next. How would they fix it, what new thing would they do, how would they support each other, what new thing would they learn about each other. It was beautifully written! I could feel the characters emotions right along side them easily as if I was in the room with them.
The MCs perfectly complimented each other! Both strong and supportive in their own way, and both vulnerable and needing support also. The circulating library was also GENIUS. Selina is so incredibly smart and this was the perfect solution. 4.5 stars

Rating: 2 stars
Thank you to the publisher for the e-ARC sent through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

****SPOILERS AHEAD****





Unfortunately this story did not work for me. To be honest I was bored so I skimmed parts of it. From what I read the MCs got together a little too early for my taste. There was drama involved with him wanting guardianship of his siblings and her being outed as the owner of some very smexy books being published, but it seemed that it all got a little too easily resolved, which is good but I would have liked to seen some conflict/drama/angst between them as a couple so I could root for them to be together.
Their love story fell a little flat for me because somehow before this story began they had previously met each other but as a reader we only get snippets of what they felt for each other in those moments when they would see each other.

Thank you to SMP Romance for the advanced reader copy and to Dreamscape Media and LibroFM for the complimentary audiobook. These opinions are my own.

Wow, this was so charming and fun. Alexandra Vasti is a new-to-me author, and I will definitely be reading more from her.

Ne'er Duke Well is a historical regency, but it departs greatly from the standard. Peter Kent, the Duke of Stanhope, was born in Louisiana. And his primary goal in the House of Lords is to speak out for abolition. His primary personal goal is to be able to formally adopt his half-siblings if he can be approved. He grew on me, as his steadiness of character slowly revealed itself.

Selina offers to help. And she's another fascinating character. I loved her right from the start. She started a women's only library to educate on all the topics considered taboo for women. This book highlights the importance of knowledge and books, and I am here for it.

And their chemistry is off the charts, even when she is trying to set him up with someone else. The book is quite steamy and so well done.

I loved that the other female characters were as well rounded, and not mere foils to Selina. This looks like it will be the first in a series, and I am so excited for further books about the other women in the book.

I love how the story depicts family and the depiction and demonstration of love. And the book has such an amazing conclusion. I know I am rambling, but I have so many positive thoughts. The book just kept getting better. And the audiobook was an excellent format with incredible narration.

4.5 stars rounded up

I picked this up when I was in the mood for historical romance and it didn’t disappoint! This is my first book by Alexandra Vasti but I’m already planning on going back to read her novellas. This book was really funny! The chemistry between Selina and Peter was hot and swoony, and I loved seeing the friends to lovers trope in a historical setting. Selina’s family was so loving and supportive and I hope we get to see more of them in future books. Even if you’re not typically a historical romance person, I highly recommend giving this one a chance!

This is not the review I wanted to be writing. I really love Alexandra Vasti's Halifax Hellions series, so I went into this book with definite expectations for her first trad published novel. I'm conflicted about how to review this because I think she is such a gifted writer, but the plot of this particular book just didn't work for me personally. I DNF'd at 65% because the only storyline that I was really interested in -- the romance between Selina and Peter -- had been told and resolved.

After Peter and Selina were married, the narrative cycled into a loop of Selina having moments of insecurity and catastrophizing about damage to Peter's reputation because she owns a scandalous circulating library for women, and Peter reassuring her that everything would be fine and that even if their secrets were exposed, he wouldn't care whatsoever. The subplot involving Peter's efforts to gain custody over his half-siblings didn't resonate with me, and seemed too unrealistic. (A Duke would need to fight in court over bastard kids no one wants? Really?)

Peter's character was more complex, better developed, and interesting than Selina's, who became fairly one-note to me as she was constantly in a state of melodrama of her own making, and over things that just weren't that serious. And because there wasn't a strong secondary cast of characters that I was invested in, that left all of my interest falling on Peter. Once he achieved his HEA and married his girl, and repeatedly demonstrated his unshakeable devotion to her, I was perfectly satisfied for the book to end there. Peter didn't have anything else going on that had high enough emotional stakes for me.

I'm going to rate this novel a solid 3 stars because it falls right there in the category of "I enjoyed what I read, but I won't revisit it,"

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review this novel.

I found this to be a very fun regency romance. I always enjoy when there is a strong female that doesn't necessarily need to be "saved" by a man, but she is enhanced by having a man in her life. Selina is strong and engaging and Peter is a different kind of regency male. He's got actual thoughts that differ from the ton and from England in general. Selina trying to match him up with other women was enjoyable to read as well as when the sparks fly between them. Overall this book was a great escape.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for advanced copy, and I give my review freely

(4.5 rounded up to 5)

Ne'er Duke Well by Alexandra Vasti is an charming historical romance featuring a debutant who runs an erotic circulating library and a duke who newly inherited and was raised in New Orleans.

I listened to the audiobook which was narrated by Mhairi Morrison. I really enjoyed listening to her, and appreciated her different character voices.

I'm always so happy to see feminist ideals explored in historical romance. I think the balance was handled really well here! I would have totally signed up for a library card for Belvior's.

Chemistry between Selina and Peter is on-point, and their banter (and the steam) is great. I also appreciated how openly communicative they are with one another. There isn't really a third-act breakup here, which is refreshing to see.

Found family is like catnip to me and this book does not disappoint. Peter's two younger half-siblings are a RIOT and they must be protected at all costs. And the friend group is great! I truly hope this is the start of a series, because I'd love to have a book each for Georgiana and Lidia, two of Serina's friends (one of whom I hope end up with her twin brother, Will).

This is my first book by the author but will certainly not be my last!

Alexandra Vasti is one of those writers that makes you happy that you're a romance reader. I absolutely love her voice and the way she mixes historical details and characters to make such a unique story!

Here are some of the things to expect in this book:
--funny kids
--matchmaking trope
--he's a newly-inherited duke from Louisiana
--she runs an erotic circulating library for women!
--steam that HITS HARD and it's beautiful
--fun hijinks
--Regency era

I loved all of it, especially that Peter is from Louisiana! I think it added something extra to the plot in the best way possible. Alexandra has a way of allowing her plots to flow as naturally as possible, and that is amazing. I've read so many HR authors whose plots and syntax are so stilted and unnatural. To me, Vasti is a breath of fresh air for the historical romance genre.

GAH I loved this book. I love both Peter AND Selina. That's rare for me. I either like one or the other, but rarely both. However, this author did the impossible for me. I thought both characters were so authentic and unique. (Also, please read Vasti's novellas. They're incredible.) I can't WAIT for her next book!

I found this author by listening to her novellas that are also regency romances. I couldn’t help but be excited about this one since the cover was amazing! Plus, I needed more regency after Bridgerton haha.

Peter and Selina have grown up differently but are still a part of the same circle and after he requests help in becoming the guardian of his half-siblings Selina gets the idea to help him find a bride. I have read a few books before with a plot like this and I knew where it was going to go but I was okay with it! They have great chemistry and the banter was top notch!

Selina is also in the business of selling some interesting books and I liked that she had power even if it was in secret. It gave her anxiety though because she didn’t want a scandal to come from it, especially if she got close to Peter. Peter was just a cinnamon roll and I loved that!

Overall, this was an enjoyable read. I liked the humor and the couple was perfect!

“Ne’er Duke Well” was the first book in months that I could not put down. Selina, the sister of a Duke, and Peter, the American duke, have been orbiting around each other for years. Selina doesn’t want to marry because she has a secret that could ruin her and her husband’s reputation. Peter needs a wife to convince a conservative judge he is seriously about the guardianship of his half siblings.

I could look past Selina throwing other women at Peter especially with how their own engagement comes from their stellar chemistry. They are unable to stay away from each other. Then begins a race to get custody of Lucas and Freddie while keeping her secret all while also falling in love. Such a great plot to this book, wonderfully written and the secondary characters were fun and funny. I loved the love story that unfolded between the two and though it was hinted at there was no third act break up! I loved this book from start to finish. I would recommend to anyone who likes a friends to lovers, Marraige of convenience adjacent story with lots of steam.

The most fun I’ve had in a LONG time! I was kicking my feet at this romance! Peter is everything and more! I loved the chemistry between these two… it was sizzling, charming, and just such a fun time! High recommend!