Let me start by saying that there wasn't a single second of this book that I didn't love!!

From the beginning, I was having a blast! The way the characters weee introduced worked wonders for me.

Selina was a damn GEM. Peter was wonderful. The way they stood up for their families no matter the cost. Their traumas shaped them but they made sure to better themselves in spite of it. I loved their communication, I loved their banter, the spice was SPICY. I loved their friends and their family. The resolution had me clapping and kicking my feet.

I am so exited about this debut and I cannot wait for everything else Alexandra Vasti is going to come out with next!

Thank you SMP and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A new favorite historical rom-com! Ne'er Duke Well was such a delight! I was entertained from the very beginning with the fabulous cast of characters and their hijinks. Peter and Selina had such a wonderful relationship, and I really appreciated how they supported one another throughout the novel. I can't wait to read whatever Vasti comes out with next!

*Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks #NetGalley for the advanced copy of #NeerDukeWell by Alexandra Vasti in exchange for an honest review.

What a great debut novel for Mrs. Vasti! This book is fun, heartwarming, and sexy - a great combination for a romance book. I enjoyed the characters and the story of Ne'er Duke Well and it sets us up for a great series of books. If you read this one and love it like I did, you should definitely check out her novellas - they are all great as well.

This was my first Alexandra Vasti book and I can’t wait to read the rest in the series (when they come out of course). In the mean time I already have her novellas on my tbr with the library 😬

Selina is a fixer. She fixes situations, circumstances and sometimes people. She is well loved by her family and the Ton. So when she meets Peter (the new Duke of Stanhope) and realizes she can help fix his guardianship situation she jumps right into planning. But her plan doesn’t go as she expected and she is about to need her own fixer for the scandal of the season.

This was really good! I truly enjoyed every minute of this story! Peter is the best kind of cinnamon roll MMC and there was no 3rd act breakup!!

This was really fun to read.

It started differently from a regency romance story. Instead of being only from her point of view, it was a dual POV. Instead of her wanting to get away from her family and marrying, she didn’t want to marry. Instead of the lady being a sunshine character, the Duke was.

The funny siblings were an added bonus.

Fun quick read. Quirky and cute and so much love!!!

What a fun summer read!
I don’t want to give too much away but I SO enjoyed this storyline. I loved Selina’s strength and the chemistry she shared with Peter. I’m a sucker for a good friends to lovers story plus the dialogue had me laughing out loud! I found the writing to be easy to read and entertaining. My only issue with the book is that there seems to be a lot going on, I would have liked more focus on their romance. That being said, I can’t wait to read what Vasti puts out next!
4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this one. Selina and Peter were a lovely couple, and they faced a unique obstacle (being vague so as not to spoil). I really appreciated what Selina was trying to do for other women and enjoyed reading about a FMC who was smart and driven. At times I did feel the book’s pacing was a bit slow, but overall, this was a fun read. I’m excited to read the next one by this author!

Thanks to the publisher for providing an eARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This was everything I wanted in a historical romance. It was sweet, with a good amount of pining, followed by a quick marriage because of a compromising situation, only to find out that you both love each other and it all works out! Honestly, this was a pleasure to read and I really enjoyed it. Highly recommended for the historical romance reader.

Ne'er Duke Well by Alexandra Vasti is a perfect summer lighthearted read. The romance was perfection. The characters are well thought out and so much fun. You can tell that Vasti is a fan of the romance genre because she puts such care into creating this swoony romance read. The writing draws you in and keeps you hooked. I loved it and I know a lot of romance readers will love it, too!

Peter Kent has recently moved from New Orleans to England after unexpectedly inheriting a dukedom from his estranged father. Without trying, Peter's radical way of thinking and easygoing nature have garnered him quite a scandalous reputation amongst the ton. Peter wouldn't mind people gossiping about him behind his back, but all the talk is hindering him from his goal of gaining guardianship over his two half-siblings. So, Peter turns to his good friend, Lady Selina Ravenscroft, to help make him respectable.

To the eyes of the beau monde, Selina is the picture of what a respectable genteel woman should be, but she harbors a salacious secret of her own: she owns and runs a popular erotic lending library for women. When Peter comes to her for help, she tells him he must marry a lady of impeccable breeding. But Selina's matchmaking doesn't go as planned, and the more time Selina and Peter spend together, the more they fall for one another. Selina knows her secret would ruin Peter if it got out, but what's love without a little scandal?

I've only recently gotten into Vasti's work, but I'm having a great time. Her writing is witty, well-researched, and has the perfect balance of sweetness and steaminess. I love how she writes about headstrong women who aren't afraid to shirk conventions and live a life of their own. Selina is loyal and cares deeply for those around her. She'll stop at nothing to help them achieve their goals and is clever enough to make it happen. Watching her and Peter's relationship blossom was such a treat. Peter was such a stand-up guy. Not only would he do anything for his siblings (who are such a delight, especially Lu), but how he stood by Selina's side and encouraged and supported her endeavors proved what a class act he was, and how completely smitten he was from the start. If you're a fan of the friends-to-lovers trope, I can't recommend this one enough.

I dnf this title but I feel that it just wants right for me. I feel this would be great for someone who loves this genre.

Ne’er Duke Well is a regency romance set in 1815 London, in which a newly inherited Duke from New Orleans is trying to fight for custody of his half siblings with the help of a fellow Duke’s sister.

You can expect:
Recency Romance
Reverse Grumpy x Sunshine
American Duke
Single older brother
Matchmaking
Marriage of Convenience
Found Family
Pining & Banter
No 3rd Act Breakup
Mid-20s MCs
Dual, 3rd person POV

Peter has been trying to fit in to the ton for the past two years and not having much luck. Selina finds their awkward encounters annoying but can’t help but feel sorry for his situation and wants to help the children find a stable home. She tries to match him with her friends so he will appear more respectable to the courts, but won’t allow herself to be a candidate because she is afraid of causing him further scandal if her secret women’s library is exposed.

These tropes deliver and I enjoyed the pining and chemistry in this novel. While the author’s note explains that Selina’s library didn’t exist, I like the idea of it and how this novel explores women’s expectations at that time.

The first chapters jump right in to the situation and almost felt as though this was a sequel. I wasn’t confused, but it seemed like we should have already know about some of the experiences they were remembering. It does mention that Selina helped the Halifax twins, who are the subjects of the author’s prior novellas, but I haven’t seen anywhere that says they are connected or if these characters are mentioned in those.

I am interested in reading the author’s backlist novellas and excited to see which of the friends will be featured in the sequel.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Griffin for providing an eARC for my honest opinion.

This was a fun light-hearted historical romance. I loved that Lady Selina ran an underground erotic library. How scandalous! She was so kind hearted and was always looking to make the lives of people around her so much better. Peter was a great male lead. He was never willing to compromise and followed his heart. Together what a force to be reckoned with! A delightful read!

Peter Kent moves from Louisiana to England where he learns he has younger siblings, Freddie and Lu. Peter involves his acquaintance Lady Selina Ravenscroft to create a plan to ensure Peter can earn custody of his newfound family. There are plentiful adventures throughout this book as we get to know Peter, Selina, Freddie, Lu, and many of the lovable side characters, who are not always as they seem.

This book was such a fun read and had me laughing and smiling. I loved Peter and Selina as our main characters. I highly recommend this book as a fun regency era read.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Alexandra Vasti for the opportunity to read an eARC of this book.

If Alexandra Vasti writes it, I will read it! I loved her novellas and this, her first full length novel, didn’t disappoint.

Lady Selina decides to help Peter, the Duke of Stanhope, find a wife to bolster his chances of being awarded custody of his younger half siblings. These half siblings (ok, mostly just Lu) are chaos in the best, funniest way possible and are the perfect addition to the story without overshadowing the main couple and the overall plot.

Unsurprisingly, Selina is very picky about Peter’s list of possible matches. She also refuses to consider the possibility of filling the role herself, due to a secret role as the owner of a circulating library. The aforesaid library has a specific collection of erotic titles for women, to help educate them about sex in a time where most women were completely blindsided by this part of life, usually after marriage.

Of course their carefully laid plans go awry, and Selina and Peter find themselves drawn to one another in ways that make her reconsider taking that leap of faith.

This book is swoony, sexy and filled with Alexandra Vasti’s wonderful sense of humor and lighthearted moments. I loved that the miscommunication trope was mostly avoided. I highly recommend this one for fans of historical romance!

This is a debut novel and boy is it good! A reluctant American has just inherited a Dukedom and sets out to get guardianship of his younger 1/2 brother and sister his father kept from him. A lady from his past wants to help him find a suitable wife to make his case. The only problem is she is also falling in love with him. Ne’er Duke Well has all the makings of a gorgeous historical romance.

This book surprised me in some significant ways.

The children are delightfully hilarious and are far more central to the plot than I expected.

Our FMC Selena is a woman before her time on a mission to educate her feminine peers on all things sexual. It’s a wonderful exploration of how women lacked access to basic information in the time, and Vasti references real 18th century texts on the subject to allow Selena to get her “subversive” information to her peers.

The romance is top tier! I thought this would be another slow burn, but I thought wrong. 🔥Let’s just say Peter teaches her a thing or two she hadn’t found in her books.

Finally, I loved the way Vasti messes with tropes in general in this book. You think one thing is going to happen, but then it goes a different direction. I worried since the couple gets together so quickly we would have pages and pages of miscommunication. Instead, I loved the third act and the way we have tension without either Peter or Selena acting dumb. It’s wonderful!

I can’t wait to read more from this author! A fun, smart and sexy story you should definitely add to your summer reading list!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for access to an eARC for review purposes.

Well this was just a freaking delight! Fun, witty, perfect amount of spice, and full of so much heart. This was my first book by this author, and I will definitely be waiting eagerly to read more from her.

Ne’er Duke Well follows our newly inherited Duke, Peter Kent, an American (gasp!) He is patient, confident, and an utter catastrophe in the best way. Peter finds out he has two siblings and is trying desperately to become their guardian, and failing.

Enter one Selina Ravenscroft, who makes it her business to take care of everyone, including Peter, while crafting a plan for him to win the guardianship by finding him a respectable English wife. Selina is brilliant, witty, and oh yeah...also just wanting to revolutionize female education. A damn queen.

From the moment they meet, the banter is top tier, the chemistry is unmatched, and oh boy Peter is the definition of GONE FOR HER.

Read if you love:
📗strong FMC
💕swoon worthy chemistry
📗supportive MMC
💕spice that spices
📗adorable and slightly stabby children
💕kittens with human names
📗no third act break up
💕strong female friendships

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eArc in exchange for an honest review!

I devoured this book. Alexandra Vasti’s voice is so fresh and fun, and such a great addition to historical romance. I became a fan when she released her novelas, and her full length novel has solidified her as one of my favorite authors.

Peter Kent, current Duke of Stanhope finds himself on the back end of an inheriting a dukedom that plucked him from the only life he had known in New Orleans. Now he must attempt to remain respectable in order to gain the guardianship of his half-siblings he only just discovered. But he just needs to remain scandal-free (or as scandal free as he possibly can) prior to the guardianship hearing. So he employs the most respectable (and fellow ducal) family, the Ravencrofts, most noteable Lady Selina Ravenscroft, a societal fixer of sorts.

Selina knows how to fix anything, she may be a hairs breath away from scandal at all times (she secretly runs a circulating library which has a specific erotic section only for female patrons) but she has kept it under wraps while making matches for debutantes and smoothing the way for anyone who might need her help. Until she hatches a plan to marry off Peter Kent ASAP and finds that as he (catastrophically) courts his possible future wife, Selina herself can't stop her growing attraction to him.

I love a flawed hero who falls first and Peter Kent will be the first person to tell you he is flawed. But I love how Selina takes his perceived flaws and harnesses them, takes his honesty and joy and helps him realise that they are in fact strengths to be admired. And I love how Peter reciprocates by listening to Selina's confessions and being proud of what she has accomplished and offers to do whatever he can to support her. Goodness communication can be sexy! We need more of this and less of that miscommunication nonsense. I really enjoyed both characters and how they both had things they were terrified of, but how together they were able to figure out a path forward.

And let's give a shout out to the best set of side characters! Rarely do I find myself loving every single one, but I could not help it. Lu and her rapier will have a special place in my heart, Freddie those sick bed scenes had me emotionally gripped. Thomasin and Judith!!! That slightly covert hand on her back in the park made me squeal! Lydia and Georgina, ladies I cannot wait to read your stories!

Alexandra Vasti knows romance. And her love for historical romance in particular drips from the page with such nuance. Any lover of historical romance will catch her subtle nods to actions and tropes which we hold dear, even if they are just in passing when it comes to other couples and not even our MCs. I am looking at you Clermont with the Derek Craven coveting of something belong to the the woman you love. There is this wit and joy encapsulated within this novel and I can't wait to continue to read Vasti's work and to see where she takes the series!

I will mention that there were times when the snippets of the shared past (previous two years and off page) of the MCs made it almost feel as though there were previous books in the series that we had missed. I have not read the novellas written by Vasti, so I am unsure if Selina and Peter play any significant role in them. So basically, I was kind of wishing that the moments described of them in the past did not make it feel as though I was missing out on something - which happens sometimes if I dive in mid series. It just brought me out of the story a little bit and made me wish there were more books of hers to read. I love the notion of Clermont and Faiza's love story.

Thank you NetGalley, St Martin's Griffin, and Alexandra Vasti for the free ARC copy of this book.

Title: Unveiling the Depths of Human Resilience: A Review of "Neer Duke Well" by Alexandra Vasti

"Neer Duke Well" by Alexandra Vasti is a poignant exploration of the human spirit's unwavering resilience in the face of adversity. Through lyrical prose and vivid imagery, Vasti takes readers on a journey through the rugged landscapes of the Neer Valley, where the echoes of past traumas reverberate through the lives of its inhabitants.

At the heart of the novel is Duke, a young boy grappling with the weight of his family's legacy and the harsh realities of life in the Neer Valley. As he navigates the complexities of growing up in a world defined by hardship and sacrifice, Duke discovers the transformative power of love, friendship, and self-discovery.

Vasti's narrative is both intimate and expansive, weaving together the personal struggles of her characters with the larger tapestry of history and tradition. Through Duke's eyes, readers are transported to a world where every interaction, every decision, carries the weight of generations past and the promise of a better future.

"Neer Duke Well" is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring power of hope. Vasti's evocative prose and richly drawn characters linger in the mind long after the final page is turned, reminding us of the profound beauty that can be found in even the most desolate of landscapes.

In "Neer Duke Well," Alexandra Vasti has crafted a timeless tale of love, loss, and redemption that will resonate with readers of all ages. With its universal themes and unforgettable characters, this novel is sure to leave a lasting impression on anyone who has ever dared to dream of a better tomorrow.