Lovely rompy story with likable characters, some mystery and a good dose of sizzle! Peter and Selina make a good pair and the siblings are simply hilarious

Wow! I absolutely LOVED Ne’er Duke Well! What an engaging book, with a unique storyline, lovable FMC and MMC, adorable supporting characters, delicious spicy moments, no third act breakup, great chemistry and so much more! I could not put this book down, almost rushing to the next page to see what would happen next. Selina is so relatable. Always worried about everyone else, trying to solve their problems, seeing herself all alone in her personal adventures so as not to burden others. All the while, because of her fierce desire to help others and show them their worth, she had been building (outside her knowledge) a group of supporters that would be there for her at the drop of a hat. Peter on the other hand, had been through so much and was convinced he had the opposite of the midas touch, he was so afraid to be just another thing for Selina to fix. It was clear that they had a connection and a desire to be together but they were stubborn and unwilling to act on those actions because they were afraid of how it would affect the other. THANK GOODNESS for compromising situations, am I right?! I’m so glad that these two found each other, that they complimented each other, that they brought out strength and good and the best in each other. This book was an absolutely GEM and Alexandra Vasti has secured a place in my must-read authors category! Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this ARC.
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P.S.- I’m crossing my fingers that Georgiana will have a chance at love in a future book? She is so interesting and would make a great second book in the series ;)

I adore a cinnamon roll hero. Peter was a perfect balance of radical and progressive. I'm never disappointed with an Alexandra Vasti read and was so happy with her first full-length novel.
Selina herself is a woman worth idolizing for her daring act of running an erotic literature circulating library. These two have great chemistry. I appreciated that Peter's younger siblings did detract from the hero/heroine. I'm not the biggest fan of kids in romance novels, so I thought the author handled this well.
I also think that Alexandra Vasti writes some of the best steamy scenes in historical romance.

Read this. You'll love it.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book is a hoot! Peter and Selina are so likable and so well matched. I love how they were a united front against everything that came their way.

There were a few times when I thought things were going one way, and they went another better way instead. The basic premise is that Peter is trying to get custody of his illegitimate brother and sister. Selina decides to help him by finding him a respectable wife. Of course, she realizes she wants him for herself, but she has a secret that will cause a scandal and doesn't want Peter to lose his chance of getting custody.

There are tons of side characters and tons of series potential here! I know I'd love to see Lydia and Georgiana find their people. And we need to know more about Will!

While I'm not typically a huge fan of kids in romance, watching Peter try to bond with them was sweet and sometimes hilarious. And they are actually written as kids instead of the weird Stepford kids you find in books way too often.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one. It was sweet, spicy, and funny, which is a wonderful combination.

I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.

This was a lovely debut from Alexandra Vasti— it was sweet and light-hearted, but still got across some very important messages, and I'd recommend it to any historical romance reader. This was a charming romance with some excellent, if not timely messaging regarding censorship and sex education. I appreciated the diverse characters and absolutely fell for them. Thank you for the opportunity to read this beauty of a book.

Fun and steamy historical romcom with a fun cast of characters. Selina and Peter had great chemistry, I just wish we would have gotten more backstory. I felt at some points like I missed a first book in the series that had some of those past scenes. I really loved the premise of the Venus catalog and I hope something like this existed back then for all those naive women. I hope we get more books in the future with Selinas friends!

Although entertaining, this isn’t really a book that I would enthusiastically recommend to friends. I enjoyed the author’s novellas and thought they were fun to read so I was excited for this one to come out. Unfortunately, there was very little chemistry between the MCs and it felt like I was missing part of their story. The way they got together felt very sudden even though the plot involved the FMC trying to find a wife for the MMC. There was no build up to their relationship or even their friendship. The spicy scenes were also meh. It was kinda in-between a closed-door romance and a semi-explicit one so it was fairly anti-climactic. I wish the author spent more time developing their relationship so I could’ve given this 4 stars.

ARC was provided by Net Galley.

Ne'er Duke Well. I liked it. I didn't love it.
It's a historical romance with a little steam, lots of quirks, and typical friends to lovers romance. I read the book in a day. It was quick paced, the characters were likable, it was sweet, sexy and funny.

There's nothing bad I can say about it. It's not a book I'll remember, but it was a book I read in a day because it was so enjoyable at the moment.

Thank you Alexander Vasti, St Martins Press, and Netgalley for the chance to read this arc for an honest opinion.

Ne'er Duke Well by Alexandra Vasti is a hot Regency romp!
I adored this gorgeous story. Ne'er Duke Well is a delight of a historical romance and reminded me why I love this sub-genre so damn much.
It has a really sparkly, enchanting almost fairy-tale feel to it, that I really enjoyed. The characters are brilliantly written and the chemistry is perfect, overall a fun and utterly romantic book that any historical romance reader will love to get their teeth into.
Alexandra has written a charming historical romance and I can’t wait to see what she creates next!
This is definitely one of my favorite historical romances I've read recently, and I cannot wait for everyone to read it when it comes out.

Thank You NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

This book felt like three books in one- the first part was a romance between Selina and Peter, the second part was about a scandal and a book publisher, and throughout the whole thing there was a custody battle. I don’t know if it’s because I primarily read romances, but I felt like the romance between Peter and Selina was so short- I wanted more from them and their backstory. It’s implied that they know each other before the events of this book, and I wanted to know more about that. The rest of the book however, kept me hooked. I was so interested in Selina’s involvement at Belvoir’s and the impending scandal that could drop at any second. Georgiana’s character was one of my favorites and I loved what part she played in the end of the book (Although I wish we had more of her!). Overall, I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to see more from this author.

What an absolutely delightful read. One of the best historical romance books I've read lately. Friends to lovers trope executed perfectly.I enjoyed the antics and the humour. I was also pleasantly surprised with the spicy scenes. Honestly a great fun read and I think you should definitely pick it up and give it a go.You won't be disappointed!

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

thank you St. Martin's Press for the arc in exchange for an honest review

solid historical romance with a friends to lovers storyline. in my opinion, it was so fast-paced that we lost sight of the depth of the characters.

✧ 3 stars

I was excited to read this after reading the Halifax stories, and it did not disappoint. I laughed out loud, cried, enjoyed the spicy bits, and generally rooted for for Peter every step of the way. Don’t get me wrong, I loved Selina too, but for me Peter was the heart of the book. And Lu.

Peter is an American who inherits a Dukedom and has a very hard time adjusting to the new expectations. I’m not quite sure he ever really gets it “right” but by the end of the book, I was definitely hoping he never would. He was perfect as he was.

Selina is the sister of a Duke and also struggles with expectations, as is more typical of a Regency romance. She is fiercely independent and tries to manage her friends’ lives into happiness. Peter is somewhat of a bigger task than expected.

Peter wants guardianship of his illegitimate half brother and sister. He’s afraid he won’t get them, and Selina tries to help him manage his reputation so he can win his court case. Even the children are wonderful characters, and I am looking forward to Lu getting her own book in (several) years. To hold us over until then, please bring Will home, and maybe have him meet Lady Georgiana?

I am hoping for more very soon from Alexandra Vasti.

🌊 In this fish-out-of-water tale, our dashing Duke (who is freshly arrived in England from Louisiana), Peter, finds himself in uncharted waters as the smart and sassy heroine, Selina, sets out to find him the perfect bride. But wait, the plot thickens when she realizes the perfect bride might just be herself! 😱💘

💑 And oh, did I mention the scorching hot chemistry between our dynamic duo? 🔥🔥 Brace yourself for steamy scenes that will leave you reaching for a fan and wishing your local library had a "Romance" section as intense as the Venus section in Selina's lending library! 😍🔥

🌟 I give "Ne'er Duke Well" a solid four stars for its witty plot, clever heroine, and those oh-so-sizzling romance scenes. 🌟

What can the reader do with a main character described as having “all the moral rectitude of a ham sandwich” ? Maybe take a bite of her story?

My thanks to NetGallery for providing an ARC copy; what follows are my honest opinions.

Ne’er Duke Well invites readers into a world that is comic chaos and realistic poignancy, an uncommon combination to be sure. Depending on the chapter, the main characters’ actions are as likely to incite the reader to giggles as they are to cause them to weep...with a few swooning sighs thrown in between. Alexandra Vasti opens the pages to the American-born Duke Peter Kent and English Lady Selina Ravenscroft’s romance, and from their first interaction, they capture the readers in their lives and problems, but the real power of Vasti’s writing is illustrated by the number of times I “snuck” peeks at the last pages to be sure the story ended the right way -- with a Peter & Selina HEA.

The hero is Peter Kent, a reluctant American transplant with little surviving family and a heart bruised by a nasty father and the pain of loss. He shares misfortune with Selina, whose family is warm and supportive and welcoming but has also experienced loss. Selina has rough edges, kept hidden by sheer will. Every action for her is in service to others. While she silently bemoans the absence of her twin, she vocally stomps through life in aid especially to the innocent. That she has chosen to operate on the periphery of ton standards is known to few. Selina is who we might imagine most women wanted to be: in control of their own lives. She works to share the kind of information that women want before they agree to marriage. Economics and a loving brother make this possible for her and she becomes a crusader for others without the money, opportunity, or strength. In contrast, Peter is frequently a “hot mess” — or in one — as fists and arrows fly. His family life is fragmented. He’s been separated from everyone who would support him including the siblings who need him the most until he stumbles into Selina’s territory and their rough edges fit together smoothly like puzzle pieces.

The strongest writers seem to consistently offer something we value as readers. Vasti writes a character-driven story in which who Peter and Selina are as characters is more important than the plot of how they get to the end of the story. Selina wants a relationship; she wants someone to whom love is important — not simply duty, security, or social position. She also wants to help other women to achieve the same even when doing so is an obvious risk to her own reputation. In contrast, Peter is who everyone wants and no one has. He describes Selina by what she is to him, a light that makes finding his way in an unwelcoming society possible. She is his mythological Selene, goddess of the moon. That is not to suggest the plot is simplistic; it delivers, too, with its own share of unexpected twists. For instance the sex scene a quarter of the way in is more dream than reality but is satisfying nonetheless.

But Vasti implements techniques less common in other writers. For instance, she likes literary devices. The first chapters are ripe with sensory words which evoke their actions: pop, ouch, mew, murmur, whomp to name a few. She references the empresses of Regency romance when she alludes to two Austen heroines, and in another section she incorporates a Classical allusion, historically apropos for that period. Vasti likes imagery and she writes it well. Her early descriptions are so gorgeously detailed that the setting becomes 3D; the reader doesn’t need to imagine the words, they’re streaming right in front of her face. Clearly I’m an Alexandra Vasti fan. I have been since the Halifax twins barreled into my library. Vasti cruelly references them here a couple of times but never lets them into the story, understandable really given the level of chaos they bring with. Ne’er Duke Well is a delight of a book! I’m hoping down the road for Lydia, Georgianna, and Will’s stories, too.

I’m fairly new to reading historical fiction/romance, but was so interested in this book’s description and cover. I’m so glad I read this story. It was so sweet. The characters were immensely likable and the plot was exciting and unique. I loved that it was a romance with other elements explored. It was also extremely spicy and overall one of the best books I’ve read in a while. If you like historical romances, I think you’ll love this. And if you haven’t read much historical romance, but want to read a romance book you can’t put down, I think you’ll love this, too!

This is the only Author's newsletter I follow, so when she suggested signing up for NetGalley to get an advanced copy of her book I jumped at the chance.

First off this is quite a modern Regency romance. The upstart American, Peter - the little golden retriever puppy that he is - shrinks convention at every turn. He's a very likable unconventional character. Selina is conventional. She plays the games the Ton demands and manipulates events to her liking. Both are likeable characters who work well together. So why 2 stars?

Mainly, the romance. The characters were in love with each other before the book started. They've known each other for 2 years. They've had multiple little meet-cutes that we're told about but never get to experience. There is no watching two people fall in love because they're already there. There's nothing to anticipate or care about really. The point of a romance book is done before it even begins.

Sure, sure there's the whole we need to make this stodgy old man fall for Peter so that he can get guardianship of his half-siblings. If we'd left it at, Peter messed up and stole all the man's cognac great, but he goes on to complain about Peter being unfit to care for his siblings because he's going to ship them off to be cared for at boarding school and by nursemaids. Is that not exactly what happened at that time though? Rich boys go to Eton, a boarding school, girls get taught at home by a governess. There are a lot of modern opinions in this that I just don't think fit the time period.

Either way, I like this author's Halifax Hellion series and I won't hesitate to pick up anything else by her. This was just a miss for me, unfortunately.

I recommend this book highly to romance readers. It is lively, fresh, and fun. At first, I expected a fake-relationship trope but Vasti turns that on its head when the heroine, Selina, denies her feelings and tries to the get Peter, the duke, to marry someone else. The plot twists and I was happily along for the entire ride.

Gosh you guys, this book is SO GREAT!!! I've been an avid reader of Alex Vasti's works since her newsletter novellas and there is something so special about what she is writing. Her writing is so engaging, sweet, and sexy! If this is the future of historical romance, I truly cannot wait to see what she and others do with the genre because I really think this has SUCH broad appeal.

Selina runs a secret erotic library aimed at educating women and Peter is a fairly new Duke who is attempting to gain custody of his previously unknown half-siblings. Peter is fairly progressive politically and worried that the older judge his case has been assigned to won't accept his petition. Selina finds out about this and suggested that Peter marry an acceptable aristocrat and offers to assist him. As they continue to spend more time together, Selina realizes that this matchmaking role may not be for her...

This book has everything I've come to expect from the author - it's really funny, super sweet, and incredibly sexy! I was rooting for Selina and Peter the whole time and was really curious how they were going to get their HEA. I loved all of the found family vibes. Children in romance novels are incredibly hit or miss for me but Alex really brought these kids to life and they felt really authentic - and were really funny! (The fact that they named their kitten Peter still makes me laugh)

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Very fun book! Short, sweet, everything you want in a historical romance. Minimal conflict (am I recalling no third act breakup ? IDK, potentially !!