I originally signed up for Alexandra Vasti's author newsletter because someone on Instagram posted about how amazing the first novella that she was offering for free was. Then she offered two more and all three lived up to the hype for me. So, I was really excited when she announced her first full-length novel because the premise sounded right up my alley. Selina, the FMC, secretly runs a circulating library with some more salacious offerings. Peter, the MMC, has recently found out that he is a duke and has moved from New Orleans to London to take up his role. He also found out that he has two half-siblings that he is trying to gain guardianship of. Selina believes that she can help him become "respectable" but you can guess how that all turns out. :)

I loved the focus on family relationships and how they shape us. I also appreciated the humor and joy that were evident in the story. While its early, I do think this will probably be one of my favorites of the year!

It was a little slow paced at the beginning, but was necessary to introduce all the characters. I really enjoyed the family dynamics and different personalities through the book. A few LOL moments from reserved characters, too. I can imagine how big of a scandal this could have been in those times, and I enjoyed the spice the author brought to the story.

I knew 2024 was off to a great start when I was able to read Alexndra’s newest title. After reading this, I became an auto-buyer for anything Alexandra puts out. #takemymoney

This story is described as a “steamy Regency romp” and it really is - in the best way. Peter and Selina witty banter was so good, I looked forward to every scene they had together. Honestly, I didn’t want the book the end?! 😩

I hope we get to see more of Selina’s friends in their own stories!

Definitely put this on your radar this year - you’ll be glad you did. 🤩🤩🤩🤩

Rating: 4.5/5
Spice:🌶️🌶️


Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for allow the ARC to be available for readers!

I really enjoyed this book! I’ve been trying to get more into historically themed romances and this book did not disappoint! The comedy in this story was very spot on and the dynamic between the characters even especially with the love interests made this such a fun read!

I will definitely be looking more into this author because I really enjoy the pacing and dialogue throughout the story.

Highly recommended if you enjoy your historic romance starting light and almost frothy in tone (though not silly, thank you)—and I do, though it has to win me over like this one did. A fan of Alexandra Vasti's Regency romances since i ran across her trio of steamy, amusing novellas about the Halifax sisters, I also enjoyed Ne'er Duke Well, appreciating that it deepened in tone as the story got steamier and even a little angsty. Still, even then, amusing events and observations, delightful characters, and the characters' clever solutions to their problems and their deepening connections outweighed the angst, keeping this fun as the story balanced its humor and substance.

Peter Kent, newly and unexpectedly the Duke of Stanhope, desperately wants custody of his recently discovered half-siblings, but needs to overcome his less-than-aristocratic origins and scandalous reputation. Selina, sister of a duke herself, decides to help him by finding him an appropriate wife. She knows, because of secrets she holds, that she cannot be that wife. Of course they have already fallen for each other. This story follows their complicated journey forward.

One of the deeper spots is key: when his young half-brother runs a long fever Peter panics because it reminds him too much of watching the half-brother he grew up dying of consumption while their father ignores his pleas for help. Selina is a helper, and of course she does, strengthening their growing relationship just when outside forces are at their most dangerous and both of them are risking everything.

What a fun, romantic, and emotional story! I first learned of this author via IG and read her free story stories via her newsletter. Those were truly fabulous, so the wait to read this full length novel was frustrating. How exciting to be able to read it early here! Selina is a strong, empathetic main character always trying to help others before herself to the point that she seems to doubt her own worth. Peter is light hearted and impulsive, but with a true heart of gold and his own personal demons. What a pair these two make. Selina, in her quest for feminine education runs a secret library for the ton with no one the wiser, but many, many patrons. Peter is on a fight to claim full guardianship of his half brother and sister with an empty house and a history of rialing up the house of lords. These two worlds collide when Selina decides Peter needs to be wed to gain the courts approval. Of course, a little bit of chaos and a whole lot of steamy situations result. Lovely HEA to end the story with a large cast of characters that could certainly hold a future book. Really enjoyed this book and this authors writing style overall. Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this one! Selina and Peter’s story was delightful (though somewhat predictable), the storyline about Belvoirs was fascinating, and I enjoyed all of the side characters too. Spicy scenes were great. I’ll look forward to more from this author, perhaps spin-offs featuring Lydia, Iris, and Georgiana’s love stories?

The very beginning of the novel was a tad bit slow, but the pace quickly picked up after the second or third chapter. I was surprised that the romance was established so early in the novel, as I figured it wouldn’t happen until the third act, or even until the very end. In doing so, I believe some of the spark was lost (at least on my part) and I didn’t feel as compelled to keep reading, since the obstacle of the guardianship of Freddie and Lu seemed very stereotypical and it was obvious that Peter would win his case in the end.

However, the characters played well against each other and were sufficiently fleshed out as well, which made it easier to finish the novel in spite of the lack of narrative drive.

A lusty and joyful love story between a newly appointed duke who's desperate to win custody of his young half-brother and sister, and a savvy society lady who runs a secret library full of bawdy texts aimed at reducing ignorance about sex among young women, and the pitfalls that can come with that ignorance. The prose is brisk and the scenes are full of light situational humour and sharp, wry banter as the heroine initially tries to set the duke up with one of her three friends, and later becomes focused on hiding her connection to the library, lest the scandal ruin the duke's custody case. The two are already well acquainted at the start of the story, so their bond develops quickly, and soon what everyone else can see becomes too hard for the duo to resist. Vasti blends popular romance tropes with the emotional weight of the legal struggle that propels the plot, along with lots of sweat-inducing steamy scenes and a refreshing inclusion of some of the darker politics of the time. The story never gets bleak though, as both leads are full of determination to achieve their goals, and not so full of determination to resist each other in the bedroom. The children also add humour and extra heart, while a bevy of fun side characters helps establish a broader world that's bound to expand into several sequels to come. Buoyant. Sexy. And tons of fun.

I've been trying to get more into historical romance and this one delivered. It had a nice flow and light humor which made it not have the seriousness some historical novels have. Selina is a more modern thinking woman of society trying to maintain her independence and willing to help those she really care about by any means. She saw the need and lack of sexual education among other women and decided to do something about it, risking discovery and scrutiny from society. Peter was also a more like minded and forward thinking character, standing up for others and seeing that there was more to some of the other characters like Georgina and Iris. He supported Selina's decisions and was also willing to do whatever it takes to ensure the well being of his siblings, really appreciate that about his character. There were very good spice scenes that showed the chemistry between Selina and Peter. Overall great romance and story.

Thank You to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press and Alexandra Vasti for the opportunity to read this ARC and leave and honest review.

Loved it! The wider cast of characters were lovable and fun. I prefer romance books where the main storyline isn't only the romance between the two leads, and Ne'er Duke Well hits the nail on the head. The author also skips the third act break up trope that I usually dread.

As a fan of Alexandra Vasti’s Halifax Hellion novellas, I was excited to read her full length historical romance debut. The characters and premise of Ne’er Duke Well were satisfying and felt fresh/ different from what I’ve read in historicals before, but the pacing felt a bit uneven. Overall, I enjoyed the book and hope to see more from this author! Thank you to St Martin’s and Net Galley for the advanced reader copy.

Title: Ne’er Duke Well by Alexandra Vasti
Publication Date- 07/23/24
Publisher- St. Martins Press
Overall Rating- 4 out of 5 stars

Review: Review copy given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Man, I do love a good regency romance and this hit the spot. There’s something about the scandal and rules of society that just makes these romances better in my opinion. The story is very compelling, we have a young man suddenly in charge of his two younger siblings and with that he needs to find a partner in order to get custody of them. So, there’s some marriage of convenience in there. The first half of the book was SO funny. In particular there is one scene about 4 percent into the book that I will never forget, it just had me rolling. When you get to it all you need to know its “hells bells,” I was gone.

I loved the characters in this story. Both MC’s are very likable and socially progressive for their time which was interesting to read about. There is also a strong sense of found family. The only reason this wasn’t a full five star is because I felt like after the first half of the book we didn’t get as much of the humor and connection with the kids. I will own this is a personal preference for me and I just felt like the first half really nailed and I would have loved to see more of that.

This is a promising new author in the regency space and I honestly can’t wait to see what else she puts out. As far as spice goes, the first half is pretty clean but as the two MC’s get closer it does ramp up. I would say it was pretty spicy for my taste and probably about mid for everyone else.

Thanks netgalley for allowing me to review this book!

Peter is an American thrust into british aristocracy and all its manners and trappings after the death of his grandfather, and dead beat absentee dad. He also is stumbling into siblinghood- finding that he has a brother and extra sassy little sister who need tending. He desperately wants guardianship if his siblings, but has angered the judge in their upcoming case and is desperate to show he would be a respectable and acceptable caregiver for his siblings. Enter Celina, a friends and fellow aristocrat, clever and cunning and with a plan- nothing makes one so respectable as a dazzling marriage. But through selling Peter on the marriage market, Celina finds she may want to be more than a matchmaker....

This book was just so utterly charming it defies belief. It was witty and delightful and features A SECRET EROTIC LIBRARY AVAILABLE TO EDUCATE WOMEN!? WHAT? What a damn treat. And the spice be spincin'. Vasti created characters i truly cared about, and wanted to desperately be friends with. Just an all around fantastic time. I look forward to reading many more of her books.

I discovered Alexandra Vasti last month thanks to Alix E. Harrow's "Third Annual Alix E. Harrow Gift Guide" newsletter. Harrow, who is another very talented writer, recommended Vasti's Halifax Hellions series in one of the newsletter sections, listing it as "a capital-R romance with strikingly sharp prose, a sense of humor, and a genuine love for messy bastards of all genders...recommended for: people who are sweet enough to want a happy ending for everyone, but mean enough to want them to really go through it, first; your aunt who claims she skips "those parts" but absolutely does not". I read all three of the Hellions' novellas and was anxiously awaiting Ne'er Duke Well. Huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In the world of the Hellions (perhaps before/during the adventures of the twins), Peter Kent is new to being a Duke. after having been born and raised and abandoned in New Orleans by his aristocratic father, This makes Peter's recent relocation to London and inheritance of the Duke title difficult to navigate and understand. He is constantly creating social faux pas and unintentional errors, and recognizes that the continued muddling of social norms will be the reason he is unable to take custody of his two younger half-siblings, whom were never recognized by their father. Selina Ravenscroft steps in to help Peter find a wife , a representation of a stabling force in a man. She cannot volunteer herself as she has her own buried scandal, one that would prevent Peter from keeping the children if discovered.

The story is so much more than the above blurb, which only covers the first 50% of the novel. From there we see both Peter and Selina reckon with their pasts and their future and what it means to find family, to love openly, and to face hard, impossible moments. Vasti also throws in a bit of spice here and there while still maintaining character depth (and hilariously explaining victorian sex imagery).

You can tell Vasti has fun with her characters and her stories and her plots - this was such an enjoyable read. I truly hope Vasti is planning more stories for the strong women Peter temporarily courted and for the return of Selina's twin brother.

This is my first book by Vasti though I've heard positive things about her Halifax books. Five star books are special to me, they offer something different in a genre that can tend to be formulaic. I was impressed by how much I enjoyed the comedy, often times I find comedy in HR to be cringy. The difference here is that the manner of writing was comedic, it wasn't just the exchanges with other characters. The inner monologue of the MC was really organic and self aware. The emotions translated well because of that.

It's one thing to create two MCs who are likable and want to root for, it's another feat all together to create a world and multiple characters that are interesting in their own way. I particularly liked Georgiana, her empty-headed routine was perfection. Some people would say that's distracting and that the novel should concentrate on the MCs, I disagree, I appreciate a fully developed cast and setting. I don't think that the intimacy and romance suffered at all.

There are a number of encounters between the MCs that we never see. Does it leave me wanting? Yes, a little. Although it doesn't spoil anything for me.

It's got heart, comedy, a great cast, and sex. I laughed and I cried, I couldn't have asked for more!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Exceeded my expectations and more!

I found this story to be an entertaining read filled with two main characters who are relatable and, more importantly, realistic. Outside of the love story, I loved the dynamic of the entire Ravenscroft family. "Ne'er Duke Well" portrayed "Family comes first" in the best way possible by showing unconditional love and acceptance (while still being hilariously relatable). I am coming off my "Bridgerton" kick, and when I was given the chance to read this book before its release, I JUMPED at the opportunity. I was NOT disappointed. The only thing I found (slightly) lacking was the romantic build-up of the two mains. We didn't receive a lot of backstory of the two together, just glimpses, and I wanted more time with them. Maybe some of the banter that I just know happened when they fell into the mud, & similar things like that. I am so thankful to have been given the chance to read this and hope to see a second book in the series for Will <3

If I could give this more star I would. As an avid romance reader I am always looking for characters that seem relatable. I was overjoyed to meet Selina and Peter. She a smart lady and him a loyal man. But more importantly they saw each other as more than looks but brains, personality, and okay maybe a tiny bit of looks.

Read this if: you think intelligence is sexy.

In this adorable new romance, Alexandra Vasti weaves together the perfect mix of fluff, scorch-your-face steam, and laugh-out-loud humor! Thank you, NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book, and this is my honest review.

While I enjoyed the book, some of the characters annoyed me, Selina [The FMC] being the worst, Selina was too overbearing, and I still fail to see how absolutely no one realized what she was doing. Do they lack ears? Eyes? Minds? Peter was ridiculously adorable, and his last name? Kent? I spent the whole book imagining him going to visit Kent, and I couldn't stop laughing.
And Peter's siblings were so cute! I mean, mischief makers with absolutely no idea what the words right or wrong mean? SIGN ME UP!
But while I enjoyed the book, some of the parts dragged on for a bit, and I feel like the whole length of the book could have been cut if some of the miscommunications were solved as easily as they appeared. In romances, the only reason I usually quit the book is if the miscommunications appear out of nowhere for no specific reason, simply because they can.

I have to rate this book a 3/5 for Selina and the dragging lack of communication, but otherwise, I loved it! I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good 1800s romance, perfect for fans of Shana Galen and Sabrina Jeffries.

This book was so much FUN to read! Vasti has a way of incorporating humor and wit into every line, and I completely adore it. Full of longing and pining, Selina and Peter are complete simps over each other, even while Selina is trying to marry him off to someone else! The spice was PERFECT and even in those scenes, there was a bit of humor sprinkled in. I just love a couple that can laugh with and at each other 🥰

All in all, the hijinks, the scandals, and the sexual education of the women of the ton was some excellent undercurrent to carry the romance along. I cannot wait to see what Vasti has in store for the side characters of this novel, too! The found family aspect (for both Selina and Peter) was so wonderful, fleshed out with characters I wanted more of. Five easy stars for this one!!