I think this is very much a case of it's not the book, it's me. I had heard such glowing reviews about Vasti's novellas from book friends with similar taste that I jumped at the chance to read her novels. Book one was okay but didn't really work for me but I was very intrigued by Lydia and eager to try again. Alas, it's clear that the author's voice doesn't really work for me so in the end this was just fine for me.

Earl Crush by Alexandra Vasti was so much FUN to read!
A delightful, steamy, slightly silly regency romance.
Alexandra Vasti is amazing and will definitely be an author on my continuous radar!

Happy publication week to Earl Crush! Lydia Hope-Wallace and Arthur Baird, the Earl of Strathronnach – you have my heart!

“I am built for you, Lydia-Hope Wallace. My body and my heart were formed for the loving of you.” – From the unsent papers of Arthur Baird

“Today is the twenty-second of November in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and eighteen. Yesterday in front of several witnesses, I vowed to love you reverently, discreetly, advisedly, and soberly. And this morning, for you alone, I vow this: I will love you indiscreetly and unadvisedly, fearlessly and without reservation, with all my body and all my heart, today and tomorrow and until the end of time.” – From the papers of the Countess of Strathrannoach, left upon her husband’s pillow

Alexandra Vasti’s second entry into her Belvoir’s universe is romantic, sexy, adventurous and funny, with great balance between character moments and plot. The first book, Ne’er Duke Well, was only enjoyable for me, but Earl Crush hit it out of the park.

The book isn’t hurting for action; Lydia first meets Arthur when she appears on his doorstep to propose a marriage of convenience, after what she thinks is a yearslong correspondence with him about political ideas. It turns out it was Arthur’s brother sending the letters; the younger Baird was masquerading as Arthur as part of a larger plot. From there endless twists and turns unfold – a carriage run off the road by a herd of zebras! Hijinks! Spies! An assassination plot! A fake marriage as investigative cover! With plenty of sexy moments in between.

Lydia is a wallflower with a secret life as a political writer; she pukes when overwhelmed by social anxiety, but on the page she knows how to challenge political and social norms without holding back. She is kind, intelligent, principled, brave and a loyal friend. As Arthur describes her, she possesses a “bewitching combination of timidity and raw courage.”

Arthur is a gruff but caring Scottish earl who is creative and tender. He is a skilled blacksmith and inventor committed to his home and his tenants. His family estate is in a difficult financial place and he’s passionate about improving conditions for everyone under his care and isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty. He has a sweet and scheming found family of staff members.

Both Arthur and Lydia struggle with self doubt. Lydia believes that her social anxiety will make her a deficient countess, while Arthur struggles with feelings of not being good enough, specifically in comparison to his brother. Those feelings stem from a troubled relationship with his late father, who attempted to pit his sons against each other. Lydia and Arthur’s doubts do get in the way of their relationship, but over the course of the novel they help each other grow into stronger and more assured people.

Lydia and Arthur have great chemistry. Their romantic moments are full of yearning, passion and connection. A faked hookup in a stairwell to cover up espionage? Hot! Hooking up against doors at a house party – twice? Hot! Hooking up on the forest floor after escaping spies? Hot!

“The muscles of his arms flexed beside her head, as though all the power in his body was held in check by the barest thread of his control. She had done that. Power of a different sort mounted inside her, and it made her dizzy and reckless. When would she have this chance again? When would she have this man – this man, whom she wanted beyond anything she’d imagined possible – trembling with desire before her?”

In addition to the romance, I loved the inclusion of Lydia’s four brothers (Theo, Jasper, Gabe and Ned) who provided comic relief and a different perspective into Lydia’s personality and background. The scenes with Lydia’s brothers, multiple of whom try to fight Arthur (bless them, lol), were some of the funniest of the book.

“...I’ve four separate letters from Lydia in Sussex assuring me that she is well. Does that strike you as…ominous?” – From Theo Hope-Wallace to Jasper Hope-Wallace

“Arthur wrestled himself out from underneath the shortish blond fellow who was doubtless one of Lydia’s ten thousand brothers. Despite his significant disadvantage in both height and reach, this particular Hope-Wallace fought like a deranged tiger. Arthur had felt teeth, for God’s sake.”
Expanding on the family idea – without giving too much away – I appreciated that the central mystery/conspiracy involved both Lydia and Arthur’s families because it gave the situation real tension and stakes. It made me even more invested in the action.

For those who love it, there is an epilogue that shows glimpses into Lydia and Arthur’s married life down the line, and it is very sweet.

As with Vasti’s first book set in this world, Ne’er Duke Well, side character Georgiana remains a standout. We get to see more of her talent for acting/subterfuge and investigation in this book. It’s made me even more excited for her starring turn in September, when her MMC moment comes with Ladies in Hating – a WLW romance described by Vasti as a “rivals-to-lovers, funny, sexy Gothic-ish romance.”

On the looks front, I love this cover! I love that it’s an action moment, capturing the tone of the plot and some emotional color between the characters. Something about the combination of colors just scratches my brain in the best way.

A special shoutout to Vasti, a south Louisiana-based author! I love seeing hometown authors achieve success and I’m so excited to get my signed physical copy in the mail from Blue Cypress Books in New Orleans.

Some other favorite moments:

“There was something in her voice at odds with the crisp words. A kind of – wistfulness, perhaps? A ribbon of yearning that wound itself round and round his chest. That pulled tight with a tension that felt like heartache.”

“She felt revealed, every eye in the room fixed upon her. And yet, strangely, there was none of the squirming discomfort that usually filled her in such a moment. Somehow, she felt not pinned to a wall, examined like a trapped and wriggling thing, but recognized. Seen.”

“Theo, Jasper, Gabe, Ned: all four of her brothers accepted her exactly as she was … She was grateful to them – always and endlessly. But some part of her was resentful too, a creeping dissatisfaction that made her feel guilty and a little ashamed. It had always been the same: Lydia did not need to speak for herself because someone was always there to speak for her. She had let them build a wall around her life, thinking it protection, and somehow that shield had become a cell.”

“She’d had in mind a marriage of convenience, a financial and political partnership with a man she’d considered a friend. Her heart had not been involved. Her pride would have been stung, to be sure, if her proposal had been rejected, but she also would have understood. She would have been disappointed. She would not have been crushed. But now – as she sat across from Arthur, her gaze flickering to him and then away again as though the sight of him burned her eyes – she felt a new and present danger. A risk she had not anticipated. A consequence incalculably great.”

“Do you know when it started for me, love of mine? It was that first moment. The very first instant that I saw you on the doorstep, in your green dress and your green shoes and your hair the color Nature uses for things so sublime you cannot hold them in your hand. Autumn. Sunset. A flame.” – From the papers of Arthur Baird, written upon the back of an envelope, never sent

“He thought about her all day: her bravery and wit and fortitude, her nervous, busy fingers. And then he thought about her all night as well. He could sense her in the bed – God, he could not have been more aware of her if they were mid-coitus. He could feel every time she shifted or turned; he knew the weight of her body on the mattress. He could smell the warm vanilla scent that clung to her, and he wanted to taste it. Lick it. Lick her.”

“He scarcely knew what he wanted. Ridiculous things. He wanted to march into her family home with her on his arm and declare her his wife. But he did not know how to speak to her now, here in this beautiful house. He didn’t know how to tell her that he’d gone about everything backward, that his heart was hers to keep or trod upon, that he wanted her, in every possible way, forever.”

“‘Your smile is my light,’ he murmured. ‘Your laugh is my shelter. If you’ll’ – he hesitated, then steeled himself, looking for all the world like a man facing the gallows – ‘if you’ll allow it, Lydia Hope-Wallace, I will spend the rest of my life trying to be worthy of you. I will never leave you again. I will stand at your side when you need a partner and I will shield you when you need a place to rest.’”

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫(3.5)

For three years, Lydia Hope-Wallace has secretly penned seditious pamphlets—and unknowingly fallen for the wrong man. When she arrives in Scotland to offer a marriage of convenience to the Earl of Strathrannoch, Arthur Baird is furious to discover his brother was writing to her in his name. But as espionage and attraction ignite, resistance may be futile.

Utterly dainty, deliciously cheeky. Alexandra Vasti’s writing has this soft, sophisticated charm that makes even the most mundane emotions feel like poetry. Maybe it’s Mhairi Morrison’s impeccable narration, but I ate up every delicate detail. And Arthur—this burly, brooding Scotsman who’s actually a giant teddy bear? His obsession with Lydia made the chemistry absolutely insatiable.

Plot-wise, I loved the mystery-meets-road-trip vibes—think Nancy Drew, but make it Regency, as Lydia pieces together the truth about Arthur’s brother. The historical depth was a delightful surprise, and I adored the author’s note tying everything to real events! That said, the book ran a little long for me, mostly because of some intimacy scenes that felt less like tension and more like speed bumps- trying to rush to the physical attraction but making it feel like a gilt. Take out those humps and I think this could have been 5⭐️

Thank you @dreamscape_media @netgalley @smpromance for the gifted books 💚

Perfect for you if you like:
Brooding, reclusive Scottish earl
Family secrets and espionage
Sharp, independent heroines with big ideas
Modern twists on regency period
Zebras

Similar to:
The Wrong Lady Meets Lord Right by Suzanne Allain (closed door)
To Sir Philiip, With Love (Bridgerton #5) by Julia Quinn
Ne’er Duke Well by Alexandra Vasti

⛔️chapters 13, 16, 19, 22 & 24 contain explicit romance scenes (open door)
⚠️explicit language, mild threats to safety, espionage, abusive and manipulative parent (past), gun violence (minor)

Earl Crush, Alexandra Vasti’s second novel, is a delightful mix of rom-com, mystery, and romance. For a story designed to be zany, this book truly delivers.

Lydia, from a wealthy family, is socially anxious and awkward. At 26, with seven failed seasons behind her, she's ready to take her life into her own hands. Under the pseudonym "H," she's been writing radical political pamphlets and corresponding with Lord Arthur Baird, Earl Strathrannoch, over shared political beliefs. Knowing the Earl’s Scottish estate is impoverished, Lydia sets out with her trusty friend Georgiana to reveal herself as "H" and propose a marriage of convenience. However, it turns out Arthur did not write the letters; it was his charming younger brother Davis, who has recently disappeared. Davis has stolen one of Arthur’s important and dangerous inventions, and now Lydia must help Arthur discover where Davis has fled.

What follows is a cooperative mystery-solving adventure that evolves into a road trip, a fake marriage, numerous passionate moments, and a madcap race to untangle multiple mysteries (no spoilers here). Woven into the novel's zany feel is a menagerie of rescued exotic animals, including a herd of zebras, and a delightful array of side characters. Huw and Bertie were heartwarmingly portrayed and instrumental at the novel’s conclusion, while Lydia’s brothers also provided much comic relief.

I love how both Lydia and Arthur find their confidence as the story progresses, much of which comes from the strength they draw from each other. The plot twists are well-executed, the steamy moments are plentiful, and the delightful epigraphs at the start of each chapter add to the narrative’s charm. The sincerity of the many discarded letters Arthur tries to write to Lydia about his feelings adds depth and foreshadowing. Although the third act breakup felt somewhat forced, Vasti did an admirable job explaining it and making it work. I absolutely loved the epilogue featuring letters between Arthur and Lydia over the course of several years. Brilliant!

Overall, Earl Crush is a great addition to historical romance. I highly recommend it to readers who enjoy lighter romance novels that still pack an emotional punch. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

🦓 Earl Crush 🦓

“He had not tried to do whatever he imagined best, or swept her out of the room, or attempted to solve her difficulties for her. He had asked.”

Oh my HEART. I absolutely adore Lydia and Arthur. Lydia and her strong, quiet ways to fight for what she believes in. Dear Arthur and his heart as big as he is, who just wants to love her as she is. I’m obsessed with them.

Lydia is on a mission. She is about to propose a marriage of convenience to the Earl she has been corresponding with through a pen name for the past three years. Unfortunately, said Earl (Arthur), has no idea what she’s talking about because he didn’t write the letters signed in his name. What follows is a bumbling adventure to find the man who did write them, solve a crime, thwart some spies, fake marriage and also fall in love along the way (naturally). The banter is top notch, the characters are delightful, and the chemistry is SPICY. Highly recommend this one, you cannot go wrong! It’s all that and a herd of zebras. 🦓

Check this one out for:
🦓Scottish cinnamon roll MMC
🦓 Socially anxious, passionate political writer FMC
🦓 Road trip adventure turned espionage?
🦓 Hilarious cast of supporting characters
🦓 Incredible banter and spice
🦓 Fake marriage
🦓 A herd of wild zebras

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for this ARC! My opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I give this 5 stars annd 3.5 chili peppers for spice. Another beautiful book from Alexandra. I seriously loved Earl Crush! I loved this unique plot of catfishing and spies. It’s just the perfect amount of adventure, comedy, and romance. Arthur is such a lovable teddy bear golden retriever and Lydia is wonderfully independent and smart. I don’t necessarily love regency politics but it is blended in so nicely that you don’t feel burdened by it. I wish we would have gotten a little bit more of what happens at the end between Lydia and Davis. I really hope Jasper and Georgianna get a book, crossing my fingers it’s them together. But I can’t wait for the next book in this series. It really is so refreshing to read historical romances with unique plots.

Earl Crush by Alexandra Vasti is a delightful Regency rom com, perfect for readers who enjoy mistaken identity, instant attraction, found family, and humor filled adventures.

Lydia sets off with her friend Georgina to find the Earl with whom she has been corresponding through letters. She is not just an ordinary traveler and a member of the ton. Lydia is also the author of seditious pamphlets. In a bold act of chivalry, she hopes to save the impoverished Earl. What she does not expect is a twist of fate that could finally change her "wallflower" status after three long years.

This was such a fun, escapist Regency romance! The chemistry between Lydia and the Earl is wonderfully steamy, and the side characters are supportive and well developed. Lydia’s strength, intelligence, and introverted nature make her a refreshing and relatable heroine, not a damsel in distress.

If you're in the mood for a story that offers pure joy and a break from darker, heavier reads, Earl Crush is the perfect pick.

Thank you to St. Martin's Griffin for providing this delightful book!

YEARNINGGGGGGGG. THIS is what I’m talking about when I say I want yearning. They delivered for me.
The snippets of Arthur’s letters at the start of chapters were among my favorite parts of this book. He was very precious and most things he did pulled at my heartstrings. Then of course, I’d already loved Lydia from the previous book. The way they admired each other was very convincing and I was just sold, simply put. I could already see this being one of my favorite romances of the year.

Earl Crush follows the story of Lydia, the physical embodiment of the phrase “do it scared”, and Arthur, an idiot who is also an Earl and gentle giant with a deep inferiority complex regarding his younger brother. Bad dads strike again!

Hijinx ensue, including but not limited to:

- Mistaken identity/(Attempted) Marriage of convenience
- Zebras
- Miscommunication, but the fun kind!
- Fake engagement
- Meddling side characters
- Overprotective MMC
- Miscommunication, but not the fun kind! ☹️

Regency romance is usually not my genre of choice, but Alexandra Vasti can do no wrong and this is (unsurprisingly) a total romp!

I am in a bit of a coma, trapped in my feelings with this book. What a joyous and jubilant ride this was! Alexandra Vasti captivates again with another wild escapade. I mean, seriously, a zebra stampede?! Who could’ve guessed? It is these crazy, inane thoughts that take her stories to another level. I could not love them more.
Arthur & Lydia captured my entire heart with their hesitant, wounded souls. Two people isolated in their own lives. Arthur in his reclusive, lonely life and Lydia in her shy, quiet reserve. When they come together it shines a light on their hidden qualities enabling them to be better versions of themselves.
When with Arthur we see Lydia embrace her courage, her boldness, in ways she didn’t know possible. Arthur in turn, opens up his heart to embrace the family he’s always had and allow in the vulerability of trust. You can’t help but feel for these two as they fumble their way to love surrounded by a wonderful cast of characters that abound with love and support. This truly is a story of heart, bravery and boldness.

Lydia has a fortune but is deeply socially anxious. She’s the one on the edge of ballrooms throwing up in plants instead of speaking to people. But that’s ok, because she’s having an amazing correspondence with the Earl of Strathrannoch who she has decided to marry, because he’s in need of funds. They’ve had such incredible correspondence for so long that clearly they must be in love.

Lydia, of course, finds herself immediately in trouble when she learns that the quiet and brooding earl, Arthur, has NOT been writing her, but rather it’s his vagabond brother. Arthur is worried why his brother is writing to Lydia, but more importantly just wants to get her back to London and out of his hair. Of course, the only way to get her home safely is to escort her. Mishaps and mysteries happen. Is Arthur’s brother a spy for France? Why is Lydia’s brother showing up at random house parties? Does Lydia’s mother think Arthur and Lydia are married? Lydia, while shocked to find out that Arthur isn’t the brother she’s writing, still falls deeply for his sensitivity and intelligence. Arthur is doing his best to keep his distance, especially has he fears Lydia has true feelings for his brother, and Arthur is so mad at the hurt David has caused her. How could she possibly care for him? The tension ratchets tightly until they have to do something about it. Just to get it out of their system.

I love Lydia and Arthur, they fall for each other, faults and all. Neither puts their best foot forward throughout their relationship, but rather they cheer for their flaws rather than their facets of perfection. Lydia is strong, smart and knows her value. Society is the one that does her wrong, and she’s not afraid to share her beliefs. If you read Ne’er Duke Well, the first in this series, then you will see many familiar faces throughout the story. I think you can read these as standalone, but frankly the characters are a delight and you should read them so you can see the growth and delightful community Lydia has around her.

Lydia and Arthur are hot because of their focus on learning about each other. They are thrown into a situation that neither expected and plunged into a hot water situation that has them frankly running for their lives, and through it all, they are drawn to one another. Arthur is tormented and tortured – his upbringing was not kind and he and his brother have some long-standing daddy issues they really need to work out. Throughout his time with Lydia, Arthur realizes he doesn’t’ have to be alone to work those out, and to be strong doesn’t mean to be alone.

Lydia is frankly a delightful heroine: she’s way too smart for her own good, loves her family that doesn’t quite understand her, and is loved by them as well. She is supported through her supposed flaws instead of expected to change, and has found kindred spirits who build her up rather than tear her down. Watching her come into her own power will have you cheering as you race through the pages.

Alexandra writes with a deep love of the time period, as a history professor I would expect nothing less. However, she also creates a world filled with action, mystery and suspense. I love the added storyline that has you wondering, will everyone make it out of this novel alive?

Alexandra Vasti has become a must read author for me. She is, in my mind, a current queen of historical romance who’s reign is just beginning.

After I read Ne'er Duke Well, I had a strong feeling that I would love whatever Alexandra Vasti writes and with the success of Earl Crush, I know I was definitely right. It's only taken two books to send her into auto-buy status for me, which doesn't happen that often. But she's just that good at spinning compelling stories, characters you love, couples who work so well together, and obstacles for them to hurdle together.

Earl Crush opens with Lydia Hope-Wallace traveling to Scotland to propose to her longtime correspondence, the Earl of Strathrannoch. Unfortunately for Lydia, she soon finds out that she's been writing letters not to Arthur, but to his brother, who no one can locate after he ran off with a rifle scope Arthur invented. Shy Lydia and closed-off Arthur agree to team up to try to locate Davis, his brother, but along the way, Lydia begins to get to know the real Earl and develops feelings for him. We go back and forth between Lydia and Arthur's points of view, and while this is very much a "he falls first" story, it's great to see these two strong individuals slowly begin to lower their guards for each other.

Filled with amazingly-written secondary characters like Huw, Bertie, Georgianna, and Lydia's many brothers, as well as a cameo from Selina (my Queen forever), Earl Crush expands the canon of the view of historical life Alexandra has created. What I love is that she doesn't shy away from hard topics, like Lydia's politics (which were considered radical at that time), queer people existing, and women's sexuality being explored in a healthy way.

I flew through this book, at once unable to stop and sad that once I finished, I'd be done. However, there are always re-reads to tide me over until Alexandra's next book releases. : ) Earl Crush was a solid four stars for me and a book I greatly enjoyed.

I adore historical romance newcomer Alexandra Vasti and look forward to all her releases. This story fell a little bit short compared to her other books. As soon as the leads meet in Chapter 1, there is really no reason for them not to be together. If you partake in the "Insta-Love" trope then you need to have some romantic tension and/or obstacles to overcome (identity, confidence, love triangle, distance, etc). Instead the obstacles in Earl Crush are a missing proper and invention - not obstacles to love. I'd recommend picking up Ne'er Duke Well instead.

Not read a bad Vasti yet! This one blends romance, humor, and espionage in a most entertaining way. Featuring Lyds (our painfully shy heiress), Arthur, a proposal gone awry, some catfishing, and several madcap adventure that'll leave you in stitches, this was a hoot to read.

Huge Thanks to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for the ARC.

A delightful historical romance with an outwardly grumpy, but truly softie of a male lead and a smart, shy feminist female lead determined to take her future into her own hands.

This book was such an amusing case of mistaken identity. Toss is some mystery, intrigue, and spice and you get a delightful treat of a book.

I enjoyed this more than the author’s first book, which speaks to growth on the author’s part, so huzzah for that.

Overall, this book is a quick, easy read. It takes two individuals who have never fully felt comfortable in their skin on a journey to learn to step outside their comfort zones - to take a chance on each other and bet on themselves. It's a positively enjoyable time.

I’m excited to see what she’ll give us next.

Earl Crush by Alexandra Vasti
Belvoir’s Library series #2. Historical romantic comedy. Can be read as a stand-alone.
Heiress Lydia Hope-Wallace travels to Scotland to propose marriage to the Earl of Strathrannoch. She’s been corresponding with him for months under an assumed name and feels she knows him from his letters. Plus he needs her money to update his moldering castle. But when she arrives and meets the giant of a man, he denies writing any letters. She promptly faints.
Arthur Baird, the Earl, doesn’t know what the gorgeous redhead is doing at his home but he’s vested when she faints in his arms. As they talk, he realizes she been trading letters with his traitorous brother, whom he’s desperate to find. They work together to track him down when matters get even more complicated by their attraction, her family and possible espionage.

Zebras, well meaning servants, interfering family, and lust.
A wonderful romp of a historical romance.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley.

The ladies of the Belvoir Library have gotten themselves into a real pickle now! It was supposed to be a surprise marriage proposal by one of the ladies to her pamphlet correspondent- but turned into a mad dash back to London to foil a terrorist attack!

Lydia Hope-Wallace resigned herself to spinsterhood until she decides to take the leap and ask the only man she believes her true self, her anonymous pamphlet correspondent, the Earl of Strathrannoch to marry her. He needs an error and she’d like to have a husband and family- a great deal! Except for when she arrives at his castle, she finds that the Earl, her erstwhile husband to be was not her correspondent, but his brother… and he might also be on the lamb and an act of attempting domestic terrorism…

I had a lot of fun seeing Lydia and Arthur get to know each other and fall in love as they stand together to save England! He wasn’t the Earl she was looking for, but he turned out to be the Earl she needed!

Both of these characters were such sweethearts and so deserving of love that it was a real treat, watching them find it right before their eyes!

As the second book in the series, I really enjoyed seeing the characters who met in the first book, especially Selena and Peter and of course Peter’s half siblings!

Alexandra Vasti has a fun way of bringing her characters together and unique circumstances. It really makes her book stand apart!

This was an entertaining, well-written historical romance. It was fun, charming, steamy, action-packed and held my interest. I enjoyed this historical romance and will continue to look for new books by this author.

If you had told me that delightful, pukes-at-parties Lydia from Ne’er Duke Well would be involved in an ersatz arms race, all the while charming a broke but handsome Scottish earl, I would have… believed you, but only because Alexandra Vasti is a delight like that.