I really loved the plot of this. Selina was a great character and I loved that she ran a library and the plot of the Venus catalogue. Peter was also good and I really like his motivations and relationship with his siblings. The romance was well done and the spice was good. I liked the resolution to the conflicts and would read more in this world.

This was an absolutely fantastic historical romance, with great characters. I look forward to reading what Alexandra Vasti writes next!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher.

I primarily listened to the audiobook for this, which I think really added something to the story. The narrator was fantastic. As for the story, I liked it, but felt like it got a bit long. I appreciated that the big secret wasn't nearly as big of a deal to the people in her life (which is great anxiety rep), but her constant trying to run away because no one could love her for it was a drag.

I’ve made it my mission this year to go through all available Alexandra Vasti books/novellas and I’m so so so happy that I was sent Ne’er Duke Well by her publisher. This book is everything I would hope to find in a historical romance (charming leads who are well matched in intellect and chemistry, libraries with secret owners, close knit friendships, and a pair of absolutely very amusing children). I’m so glad to have stumbled upon Vasti’s books and I’m very excited to read everything and anything she does in the future! I’ve recommended this novel to all of my friends.

I'm giving this 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

Alexandra Vasti writes such fun books filled with humor, great characters, and amazing romance! This one was sweet lighthearted and with just the right amount of spice.

Peter and Selina were absolutely delightful together in this charming historical romcom. I'm so looking forward to the next book in this series!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This ended up being a really fun, sweet book. For a bit, I wasn’t sure how I was enjoying it, because the main characters get together so early on (compared to the majority of rom-coms). Here really isn’t much of the initial tension between them. It almost feels as though there was another book before this where they were side characters. They get married more quickly than I expected, but in the end, I actually liked that they were able to go through some difficult times together. They were completely supportive of one another and as a reader you get to experience them truly falling in love. Both of the main characters are very likeable and their interactions are fun to read. I hope the author makes this a series with Lydia as the main character next.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s for providing me access to this eARC for my honest opinion!

Adorable characters! I liked the premise of the lending library and the Venus Catalogue and appreciated the agency and education it tried to give women as that is often something I have to overlook in other historical romances. I did enjoy the book overall, but was confused enough about references to events that take place before this story and other characters that I stopped reading to look up if I accidentally started in the middle of a series. For example, how Selina and Peter met is referenced in detail which made me wonder if I missed a book before this one that set them up as the next pairing. I kept reading after learning that this is Alexandra Vasti's debut novel, but I still felt like I was missing a previous book or prequel at times. This would be understandable if I started in the middle of a series, but was confusing with this book being labeled Book 1 in the Belvoir's Library Trilogy. I probably would have given this book 4 stars, but took off one star for this confusion. I consider 3 stars to be a good rating and will definitely read more of Alexandra Vasti's books in the future, I just hope some of the references that it seemed like I should already understand are explained in book 2. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A fantastic full-length debut from one of my favorite Historical Romance authors! I eagerly await any new writing from Vasti.

Well this was unexpectedly delightful. A southern gentleman becomes a duke in England and must find a wife but falls for his best friend who is trying to find him a wife. Said woman also runs a sexy book library for female liberation and pleasure. Yes yes yes! This was steamy AF and such a treat to read!

Ne'er Duke Well by Alexandra Vasti is a historical, regency romance that follows Peter Kent and Lady Selina Ravenscroft.

A little bit of background information: Peter, who is a newly appointed Duke, has developed a scandalous reputation that he needs help turning around if he wishes to become guardian of his half siblings. So, he turns to Lady Selina for help. She then embarks on helping him find a reputable woman to marry.

From the start, I could see the chemistry between these two and how perfect they were for each other. From how Peter cared for his younger siblings and how Selina cared for her own friends and family. How they both are strong and willing to do what it takes for those they love. How they both stand up for what they believe is right. This was a love story that I will be rereading.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: @alexandravasti was my first, and will remain, my favorite historical romance author.

Her characters are believable and lovable, her dialogue is fun and fast-paced, and the amount of lovely female friendships is 🥹🙌🏼🙌🏼

This book is no different.

I love Peter and Selina. (Peter is from the American South!)
The spice was spicing 🥵🌶️🔥
And the stakes were sweetly high 🙌🏼

So yes, as I recommend @alexandravasti novellas (the Halifax Hellions!), I'll also recommend this novel.

Thank you to Netgalley and for the ARC. ❤️

An enjoyable read. Loved the characters and the story. The setting was also enjoyable. The two leads were perfect. The spice was just what I was needing and expecting. This author is great look forward to reading more.

Peter Kent, the man that you are. I just want to give him the biggest, most grandmotherly smooch on the forehead.

"Ne'er Duke Well" is an utter fucking delight. Lighthearted and funny, but also carefully thoughtful regarding some of the heavier themes. Also, shockingly open door. Which I should have guessed since Selina literally runs a circulating erotic library, but the cover is goddamn cute. This scratches every itch for a historical romcom; a MMC who hearts his wife, a fiery FMC, a sweet found family. Absolutely worth the read.

The funnest, most magical romp of a book! I love Selina and Peter SO much. Pick this book up to watch the sweetest of babes fall in glorious, heartwarming love.

I absolutely loved this book and I’m so sad it took me so long to get to it! I had the opportunity to read the ebook and the listen to the audio and they were both incredible. The narrators were great and really brought life to the characters!

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Intimate Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Humor: Yes
Perspective: Third person from both hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: soon in, the end of chapter 1
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, six months later

Should I read in order?
This is the first in the Belvoir’s Library but there is brief mention of the Halifax characters.

Basic plot:
Selina helps Peter stay respectable and find a worthy wife to gain custody of his siblings.

Give this a try if you want:
- Regency – 1815
- American hero (Louisianian), English heroine pairing
- Duke hero
- pets in the story – the hero’s siblings have a cat
- children in the story – the hero is fighting for guardianship
- heroine runs a naughty circulating library
- compromised heroine
- matching making
- mid to higher steam – 4ish full scenes

Ages:
- heroine is 23, hero is 29

My thoughts:
It took me a little bit to get into this book, but soon in I was finding so many of my favorite tropes – a matchmaking aspect, longing from the hero, and adding a compromised heroine I was totally in love. I loved the heroine and her naughty library. I loved Peter and his zeal for life and his siblings and what’s right in the world. I loved them together! The banter was so cute and playful and their longing and spiral towards each other was just swoony. The steam was perfection. Super, super sweet. I felt the love in this one – a believable HEA that just felt true 😍

This was a first time read for me by this author and I found it to be a fun and enjoyable story. The storyline flowed nicely and kept me engaged from start to finish. It's a heartwarming story that will give you all the feels and also give you plenty of fun and laughs along the way. Peter is a newly inherited duke and has come from New Orleans to take up his responsibilities. He is also trying to get guardianship of his younger siblings, and becoming respectable will go a long way in helping him achieve his goal. Selina decides to help him find a respectable wife, which will help him show he can provide a stable home for his siblings. She wants to help him find a love match, but the only problem is she is falling for him herself. But she has a secret that is certain to alert the gossip mongers and cause scandal, so she is the last person he should marry. Her mind is clear on that fact, but her heart hasn't gotten the memo.
Filled with heartfelt moments and charming and endearing characters, this book was such a delight to read! I will certainly look for future books from this author! I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

A charming historical romance! The characters were fun to get to know. The story feels original and fresh. I enjoyed reading and like how the author described the setting and characters. Lots of fun! Very enjoyable book.

Thank you very much to the author Alexandra Vasti, St. Martin's Griffith, and NetGalley for the great opportunity of reading and reviewing this book.

3 stars

As a self-proclaimed Alexandra Vasti fangirl and a devourer of her novellas, I spent quite some time gathering my thoughts about <i>Ne'er Duke Well</i>.

Unlike her previous works, this book suffers from a lack of tension, and a whole lot of plot just plods along without any table stakes.


Pros :

- An introduction to a charming ensemble cast.

- The feisty and take-charge Selina <3 The heart of this story - planner and fixer extraordinare! I'm so so glad to meet a heroine who not just rebels and meddles, but also faces consequences for her actions.


Cons :

- The editing choices of a big publishing house. There's no other explanation on how the precursor novellas, perfect in pacing and characterization led to this ..
The candidates for the first half courtship were obviously unsuitable, and the custody battle in the second half so bland, even the spark in the main Peter - Selina pairing was missing. I skimmed and skimmed, hoping for the book to end.

- Some weird writing choices. A curator of erotic libraries acting like a wide eyed ingenue during the sex scenes.

My thanks to the author and St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin for the eARC, all opinions my own!

Honestly, I had really high hopes for this book, but it just did not hit the mark for me. I felt that the couple fell in love way too instantly and I never like an Insta love I really needed more of a buildup. I lost interest in the characters by the halfway point, and none of the side characters really felt enjoyable in anyway. The ending was boring and in all honesty if I did not have the audiobook, I probably would have DNFed this.

I don’t think this is a badly written book. It just wasn’t enjoyable to me.

Thank you to McMillan publishers for sending me an E ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.