I received an E-Arc from Netgalley and the publisher for an honest review! Thank you!!

The beginning of the story immediately held my attention! I had to know what was going to happen with Peter and his younger half siblings. Would he get them? Would he find the lady he needs? Will he realize he fancies Selina? What will happen?

It's a must read for historical rom com romance. It had sweet moments such as saving a puppy and more (I can't give it all away, you need to get this book)... some spicy moments... and a bit ...*Gasp*....of a drama regarding to your reputation and the ton! The story revolved around caring for family. That seemed to be the major theme along with all the other bits that I have mentioned up above. I loved this story.

I will say I love the communication and sparks between Peter and Selina. In my opinion it is so good.  

I hope you will go pick up this sweet, fun, cute book when it comes out in July 2023!!

this book was such a delight. I fell in love with selina and her scheme to find a wife to cure all of the dukes problems but ultimately found herself in love with him! Funny, Sweet, Sexy, this book is everything ive ever wanted. I cant wait for more from vasti

I’ve absolutely loved everything Alexandra Vasti has written, and this was no exception! You can imagine my excitement when, after reading her three debut novellas about the Halifax Hellions, this full-length novel was announced!
Selina, the FMC, and Peter, the MMC, were both such lovable and believable characters. Peter was the perfect hero and such a cinnamon roll; I’ll be the first to admit, I’m a sucker for a hero like that. Selina was very likable, and her insecurities were so real.
I found myself tearing up at parts due to pure sweetness! There was a point near the end where I was afraid there would be a “third act breakup,” which I personally am not a fan of, but the way she handled that particular scene and flipped it around was very nicely done.
I really hope there will be more books written about some of the side characters, like Georgiana and Lydia, and maybe even Selina’s twin brother, Will, perhaps? (Second chance romance? Given his situation, it could be possible, but I trust Alexandra Vasti to handle it superbly!) We can only hope!
I’ve already preordered this book. Alexandra Vasti is on my “instant buy” list forevermore!

(I was provided a free copy of this arc book by Netgalley and all thoughts are my own)

This was a nice easy read. The main characters were likable, the trope I was expecting ended up being subverted, and, best of all, communication ended up saving the day! It was building towards a big "and then they didn't communicate and everything went to shit" moment but instead they talked! And worked together! It was so refreshing to see in a romance. Thank you for the ARC NetGalley!

Alexandra Vasti has quickly become an auto-buy author for me. She is such a talented writer with a charming and clever voice that’s perfect for historical romance. She takes all the classic histroms that have come before her and whips them into a modern take giving us all what we want–lots of romance, humor, complex characters, hijinks and steam set in a regency world. With a few curse words thrown in for good measure. After reading her Halifax Hellions novellas, I was so excited to receive an ARC for her first full novel.

I absolutely adored this book. The story is set in 1815 London and is dual POV between Lady Selina Ravenscroft and Peter Kent, the ninth Duke of Stanhope. Peter asks Selina for her help in getting guardianship for his newly discovered half brother and sister, Lucinda (12) and Frederick (10), and she decides to engage in matchmaking so he will marry before his court hearing. Of course Peter is a Ne’er Do Well, which is someone who’se a bit irresponsible and finds himself embroiled in scandals he never meant to cause. This set-up provides some hilarious moments and since it is friends-to-lovers they catch feelings for eachother and it becomes quite steamy.

But my favorite part of this book is the romantic conflict because it’s so unique. Selina owns a members-only library called Belvoir’s and she publishes books with emerald green covers to cover what’s actually inside. They are part of the Venus Catalog which only women are allowed to check out consisting of titillating novels, radical philosophy and erotic memoirs. Since women during that time have no clue about sex or how it works, she has taken it upon herself to help educate women of the ton with an erotic library! It’s so fun!! I love this idea so so much.

If you are a fan of historic romance novels and particularly regency romance full of charm, this is the book for you.

Thank you to NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press for the ARC

Since Bridgerton I’ve become a huge historical romance fan and this book definitely fulfills this. Peter the reluctant American Duke and Selina the society guru who can fix any society disaster. Their romance was especially spicy when there are two lovable, adventurous main characters. I dare you to not fall in love with Lu and her spunk. This is a well suited couple who have to overcome societal norms and the opinions of the ton and how all of this can negatively impact their future together and individually. When I started this book I had just read a book I really disliked, this book was the prefect palate cleanser.

I requested an early copy of this book (many thanks to Net Galley!) when I heard that Alexandra Vasti would be publishing a full length book. As a fan of her Halifax sisters novellas, my only complaint being that I didn't get to spend enough time with the wonderful characters due to the length, I was so glad to get an opportunity to read it early. That said, Vasti does it again in Ne'er Duke Well by creating characters you want to root for even when they aren't always making the most solid choices or communicating. Without spoiling, I will say the second half of the book when Selina and Peter are working as a team was my favorite.
I am a big fan of this author and I would gladly recommend and read any and all of her books. Thanks again to Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity.

Alexandra Vasti is quickly becoming my favorite writer of historical romances. Her writing is impeccable, with fully developed characters and fresh takes on traditional tropes. It's light but serious, fast-paced, and at times quite funny.

The main characters of <i>Ne'er Duke Well</i>, Peter and Selina, are both intelligent and kind, with highly developed social consciouses. He's a wonderful cinnamon-roll hero and she is clever and extremely competent. Together they become quite a force. Their chemistry sizzles, their communication is excellent, and they form a charming and sexy couple.

Vasti also handles the secondary characters well, especially the kids (Peter's half-siblings). I loved the found family. There's a sense of this being the first in a series, with some of the current secondary characters coming forward for stories of their own. I particularly liked Georgiana. She was laugh-out-loud funny and definitely deserves her own HEA.

At one point Vasti begins a possible miscommunication plot line, but as fitting with her excellent writing, she fixes it before it becomes annoying. And there's no 3rd acts break-up!

This book made me very, very happy. It was loving, funny, sweet, serious, and sexy.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of the ebook. My opinions are my own.

I read an ARC for this book and LOVED it- I genuinely laughed out loud on multiple occasions. The characters are the main stars- radical, rebellious, feminist, loving, and hilarious each in their own ways. There was a bit too much internal conflict on Selina's part, and not giving others the credit they deserve- but even this aspect of the novel WAS very relatable (if you're a highly anxious woman in particular). Overall, a wonderful, sweet read. If you want a cozy historical romance where women take matters into their own hands while being supported by the men in their lives (as best as can be done in this time), this is for you.

I love that this is a steamy romance that also discusses steamy romances of the time- nothing beats a main character with a love for books.

I was intrigued first by the cover of this book, and then by the premise. It sounded so cute, and it did not disappoint.

Things I liked:
- Excellent cast of characters that are interesting and drive the story forward.
- Easy to read writing style that keeps things moving along at a good pace.
- Swoon worthy male main character who says all the right things at the right times.
- Strong female characters determined to break with the then social norms/inequities of their society.
- A good amount of steamy/spicy scenes.
- An amazingly clever and fun overall premise that is unique and hasn’t been overdone in the genre.

Things I didn’t like as much:
- I wish there had been more scenes with the two love interests before they became “official.” It felt like things went from 0 to 100 between them so fast. I wish there had been a little more tension/build up between them and watch their fondness for one another grow and develop.

Overall, a very fun and pleasant read that I would recommend for lovers of romance/historical fiction. I haven’t posted my review to social media yet, but will see if I can update with links when I do!

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC. I will update it I can with the link to my review when I share it on Instagram later today.

In order to become respectable, a newly appointed Duke and American transplant must find a reputable bride. He receives assistance in his search from the very knowledgeable and cultured Lady Selina. Selina spends her days anonymously running an erotic circulating library while trying to keep her respectable image intact. She’s happy to impart her wisdom on Peter until it becomes apparent that she’s perhaps his best match.

I’m a huge fan of Vasti’s novellas. They are a perfect blend of short, spicy and packed full of romance. Matilda Halifax’s book still lives rent free in my head. Transitioning her writing to a full-length novel only made sense and I welcomed this development.

As of now, I still prefer her novellas. There were a lot of moments in Ne’er Duke Well that I felt like I knew the destination but the characters were just standing in the same place and not getting anywhere. The custody plot felt endless and unsatisfying. The relative dies and they just take the kids out for the day. NBD. No further thought to the fact the person raising them was dead?

The book sets out to tackle a number of side plots in addition to the romance of the main couple and the details that felt distracting and unnecessary. Not to say this wasn’t without some charming moments. There were certain scenes involving potential candidates that had me snickering. Ultimately, I just wanted the swooning moments between Peter and Selina. Their romance was cute and sweet but lacked Matilda and Christian’s spice. Perhaps it is more preference of main character energy over the actual quality in writing?

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for providing an ARC through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Oooh I just love it when the MCs are drawn together in a plot to get one of them a partner. This is one of my favorite tropes ever! If you enjoyed Bridgerton s1 you'll enjoy this for sure! It had lots of scheming together and heartfelt conversations. It also included a "let's practice your flirting" scene which is always so fun. Besides the inclusion of old favorite tropes this book also was incredibly unique! This genre can feel a bit repetitive sometimes but I did not feel that way about this book at all. It's not every day that you read about a FMC who runs a sex education library or a MMC who fell into dukedom after growing up in America and actually feels very out of place. I wouldn’t have thought to ask for these aspects but dang I so enjoyed them! This book does have kids so YMMWV with that. For me, I really enjoyed watching Peter fight for guardianship of his half-siblings. It was really compelling how much he cared about building this family. Honestly I felt for both of them because it was clear that they both had so much love to give that I was very invested. I will say the ending wasn't the most realistic thing in the world to me but I love books that are low stakes (that's why I come to this genre) so it didn't ruin my enjoyment of the book by any means.

If you prefer modern historicals where the heroine has agency and is deeply respected and supported by the hero this is the book for you! This was such a sweet, soft book with some ridiculous shenanigans and adorable pining. I had a wonderful time and absolutely recommend this book for those looking for a unique historical that isn't too heavy😊

I really liked the storyline, it’s a little different than the average historical romance. I liked the banter and the characters, they’re well developed. A must read!

After delighting in the author’s Halifax Hellions novellas, I’ve been eagerly anticipating her trad pub debut, and it did not disappoint. Ne’er Duke Well is the story of Peter Kent, an unexpected Duke who returns to England from Louisiana upon inheriting. He’s seeking guardianship of his siblings, but faces opposition because—to oversimplify—they’re illegitimate and were unacknowledged. Also he has a fondness for radical politics. 😉

Selina Ravenscroft takes it upon herself to help Peter find a wife to make his candidacy more appealing. And we all know what happens next, but Vasti makes it feel fresh in so many big and small ways. The conflict centers around Selina running a secret erotic library for women—she’s worried it will become public and cause scandal for Peter. And it’s all so sexy, and sex-positive, and also hilarious at times and heartwarming at others. Oh and per the author’s note, the (many) books referenced are all real.

As was the case with the Hellions, I find the historical setting Vasti creates here to be a refreshingly inclusive and kind one. To me, she thoughtfully crafts the neurodiverse and queer characters in her books, and while this one is an M/F romance, it doesn’t strike me as heteronormative. (I ADORED grandmother and grandmama Judith and Thomasin).

If I had to quibble I’d say that Vasti excels at novellas, and there were a few points where this, her first full-length novel, dragged a tiny bit to me. But, I mean, I read it in two days, so.💜

<i> She felt vulnerable and quite thoroughly wrecked as he stared down at her. Her nose was running. He could see—oh, every messy broken part of her. All the depths of want and hope that she tried to keep hidden, the catastrophic desires that drove her. He saw it all with that clear-eyed relentless gaze, saw it all and wanted her anyway.</i>

*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc.
* Disclaimer: The author and I are friendly on social media.

I want to say up front that I am not normally a fan of historical romance. This book is one of the very few exceptions. I was influenced to seek this book out by someone I trust, and it was superb! Romantic, steamy, and very, very swoonworthy. The author was able to weave a tale that included just the right amount of tension, introduce a sexy element to a time in our world when it was difficult to authentically portray such a thing, and that tension was resolved in a way that was both believable and avoided some of the typical tropes one sees in the genre. Overall, this was a great representation of a historical done in an absolutely smashing fashion.

"Ne'er Duke Well" by Alexandra Vasti is an engaging regency romance that brings a fresh perspective to the genre. The American Duke, Peter, provides a twist to the traditional English setting, and Selina is a delightful match with her feminist ideals and strong will. The book's lighthearted humor and the warm dynamic of the Duke's family add to its charm. However, the story's brisk pace and the countless side plots can be overwhelming, at times overshadowing character development. While the novel is a commendable debut, those looking for a more in-depth character exploration might find it lacking. Nonetheless, Vasti shows promise, and I'm curious to see her future works.

This was without a doubt a beautiful 4-star read! I had so much fun reading about all of these characters from the haunted ninth Duke of Stanhope who knows little to nothing of the politics, given that he’s grown up in Louisiana, to the Feminist Sexual Health Educator Selina, who fights for what is right.

It was a bit too fast-paced for me, but I loved that there was no miscommunication, no third-act breakup, and such a fantastic set of side characters that made sure the book was never boring.

What a breath of fresh air in historical romance. Can’t wait to check out the rest of Alexandra Vasti’s work!

This book is such a delight. It's funny, tender, warmhearted, and sexy. I loved the tension that built even as characters made good choices and were honest with each other. Definitely recommend!

In this story we follow Peter, an American Duke who unexpectedly inherits a Dukedom back in England. He returns to discover he has two younger half-siblings and decides to get custody of them in court. Worried about his reputation amongst the ton, his friend Selina comes up with a plan to help rehab his image by marrying a nice English girl to be his Duchess and help smooth over any rough edges. (His American childhood, general awkwardness, and his abolitionist political views aren't winning him many friends.) As Selina's matchmaking scheme begins, the two friends begin to realize there might something more than just friendship between them.

This is my first book by this author and I'm looking forward to checking out more! I thought the characters were very likable and sweet, and I thought the family dynamics were incredibly warm and sweet. I really loved the ideas about family presented in this book. The Ravenscrofts were adorable and I enjoyed seeing their loyalty and acceptance of one another.

I really loved Peter and felt like we got a really great understanding of his difficult childhood and how that helped shape him to be the man he's become. He was a dreamy romantic hero!

The book contains a lot of themes about equality and feminism and that was handled well and certainly refreshing to see in an historical romance.

While the book was sweet, I do wonder if there was a little bit too much packed into it. I found some of the side characters a little tricky to keep track of. It also felt like characters were introduced without serving a huge impact on the story (ie Faizah and Will). I kept expecting Will to show up, for example, and he didn't aside from a letter at the beginning of one of the chapters. I actually checked Goodreads to confirm this was either a standalone or the first in a series as I felt like I got dropped into the middle of something and I was missing information that was previously revealed.

I also wish there was more about Belvoir in the first part of the book. I felt like Selina's storyline (the library) got sidelined for the matchmaking, to the point where I actually forgot entirely about the library until it was reintroduced at the 50% mark and then it became the primary plot.

Having said that, it was a very sweet family and I loved the characters. If this is intended to be a series (it very much felt like it did) I would definitely check out subsequent books.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Ne'er Duke Well by Alexandra Vasti

Naturally, the second I saw this book was Read Now I abandoned my library books so I could unhinge my brain and dump Alexandra Vasti goodness into it immediately! From her Halifax Hellions (Winnie, I'm saving you for my next day off so I can read in one sitting!), I knew with my logical mind that Vasti was a talented writer. I'd been genuinely afraid to read a full length book by this woman because she's already LETHALLY ROMANTIC in novella format!

I'm here to say I was right. I'm dead now, writing this rave review as a ghost.

Selina is a Minnie Lane, Jessica Trent-style heroine and watching Peter chaos-tornado his way through her path at every step of her matchmaking journey was a sheer delight. Then things took a turn I didn't expect!!! I won't spoil it because y'all, you MUST ingest this book, but I loved it.

Liked:
😀Selina and Lydia's friendship
😀Ass man rep

Loved:
❤️GAY AUNTS!
❤️Found family and healing family and all the family 😭
❤️GEORGIANA GODDAMN CLEEVE
❤️Third act conflict that you won't want to stop reading

Lol'd:
😂Lu, immediately and throughout

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