Delightful. 5 spicy stars for Alexandra Vasti's "Earl Crush"
Lydia and Arthur are both socially awkward. One of my least favorite tropes in romance fiction is that of misunderstandings between the H&H. But in this case misunderstandings lead to deepening commitment instead of petty disagreements. Both Lydia and Arthur have the courage to face their fears, and to stay open to their blossoming relationship.

Their is lots of spice, plenty of humor, and a pile of characters for Vasti to develop in future books. Bring them on!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I can’t think of many things I don’t like about this book. I find the writing witty & smart, the storyline unique, & the characters engaging. There are loads of tropes intertwined into a really fun read. Lydia & Arthur have quite the adventure as they discover they are rather perfect for each other. I like that I didn’t have a clue how things would wrap up in the end. The letters are a perfect epilogue.
I was able to read an advance copy of this book via NetGalley. I’ll definitely be looking for more of the author’s work in the future. I’ve already picked up the previous book to discover more about Lydia’s friend Selina, who helps them out in this one.

UTTER PERFECTION! I swear, this is the best thing Vasti has written yet!

Take the sparkling dialogue and humor from Tessa Dare, mix it with the classic high stakes twists from Lisa Kleypas, and you get something amazing from Vasti. I'm also an absolute sucker for a big Scottish man who is just GONE on the love interest. Yes Please! From the "meet disaster" at the beginning to the big man being a loveable idiot at the end, I was hooked the entire way.

Arthur is just the sweetest man. And I loved how much he and Lydia grew over the course of the book, and each found strengths they didn't know they had. Learning to love themselves and each other was a delight to see. And the steam and spice! Whew! I wanted to smush them together like 2 dolls and make them just KISS very early on. And we were treated to some amazing spicy scenes as well.

Special mention goes to the spying, the zebras, the adorable meddling gay couple running the estate, and Lydia's pugnacious brothers! I loved every single minute.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the preview. All opinions are my own.

It’s been a hot minute since I’ve read a historical romance and what a book to dump me back in. Quite possibly my favourite historical romance ever? Angst, longing, espionage? And hot, single brothers who will hopefully be written about in the future? Immediately going back to read Ne’er Duke Well- bye!

Reminiscent of Bridgerton, this book had it all: adventure, intrigue, romance, and more. In secret, Lydia is an accomplished political writer but is still unmarried after several seasons. So, she decides to take matters into her own hands. This cute novel shows the resilience of one woman learning to be brave, follow her heart, and stand up for herself in society.
Arthur may be an earl, but his estate is in ruins; his brother has stolen from him, and now an English woman has shown up on his door proposing marriage. Is she the answer to his prayers or just another problem he has to deal with?
If you love strong female leads who also have a weakness and love spicy scenes and regency novels, this book is for you.

I loved this author's writing style! It was such an enjoyable book and the characters were well developed. The story was also very well paced and sucked me in from the beginning.

Regency Romance has a welcome second novel in the Belvoir Library series by Alexandra Vasti!

Lydia Hope-Wallace is another daringly independent female of the Regency era seeking her own path to happiness. Besotted by the letters from a not-so wealthy Scottish Earl, Lydia seeks him out, only to discover he is not exactly who he claims to be and the adventure begins. One deception leads to searching for the imposter and discovering traitorous activity among the gentile. A little spice adds to the reader’s enjoyment.

Earl Crush is a fun, quick paced read that can be read as a stand alone, but definitely worth reading in order to have the added insight into the background story of the Belvoir Library.

Definitely looking forward to the next story of the series!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Regency romance at its best!
Lydia has secretly published political pamphlets - calling for decent social reforms for both the poor and women.
Over years, her correspondence with Earl of Strathrannoch - pushing her to continue her political work while sharing details of her brothers' political activities.
Her parents pushing hard at matrimony forces Lydia to beg the Earl to marry - as companions. But it's all been a lie.
Spying. Lies, Chemistry. A romance novelist.
Loved this one!

Easily the best romance I've read that featured zebras, this story was an enjoyable ride. Just enough mystery to keep the reader engaged and not so many unknowns as to be annoying.

I thoroughly enjoyed Lydia and Arthur's journey from Scotland to London. This book was a quick paced delight.

The Earl's staff had me interested in maybe a below stairs prequel if we're lucky? Either way, I'm headed to read book one in this universe next.

This story is laugh out loud hilarious. Lydia, who is an heiress and a blue stocking heads to Scotland with the intention of getting a husband. When she meets Arthur, who is an Earl, the comedy of errors begin. Get ready to meet a menagerie of animals as well as a delightful cast of characters. They go on a two country jaunt across Scotland and England searching for answers and growing ever closer together. The author uses witty dialogue that sees the reader quickly turning the pages. This is a wild, romantic and funny adventure that is sure to entertain.

This author may become an auto-buy for me! She writes some of the most honest, emotional, and authentic characters that make the relationships she builds with them have so much more depth and longing. I like that she develops the relationships as the plot develops instead of just having an instant connection as many others do. Lydia was smart and passionate while also being quiet at times, which was relatable to me in many ways. I thought the plot was great and Author proved to be a great love interest too! Despite taking place in the regency era, this story felt modern in a way, which kept me hooked.

I loved this one so much! Alexandra Vasti truly has a gift and her incredible writing really shines in Earl Crush. This story had action, adventure, and a romance that couldn't have been swoonier. It started with a mistaken identity meet disaster, which then set the stage for two of my very favorite tropes - forced proximity and fake dating/marriage.

I adored Arthur and Lydia. The pining on both sides could have filled a forest! Seeing their relationship shift from strangers to adorkable friends and then to more was so satisfying. They truly saw and loved the other exactly as they were, and though they had trouble expressing their feelings, they showed that love in their actions over and over again. The slow burn build up was so well done and all their fumbling and awkwardness only made me love them more. Yes, they make some (incorrect) assumptions and poor decisions along the way, but it was understandable given their histories and struggles with feelings of inadequacy. I really enjoyed how all the pieces and characters came together in the end when all was revealed. This was such a well-crafted story, and the epilogue couldn't have been more perfect. My heart was so full when I finished, and this is definitely a new favorite for me. I can't wait for Georgiana's book next!

CW: espionage, guns, threats to safety, abusive and manipulative parent (past), financial concerns

i got my copy of this from netgalley, thanks!

ok so: i really liked this. i enjoyed the plottiness, the wonderful characters, the weird animals. i think that lydia is quite possibly the most perfect person out there? also this book is hilarious. arthur and lydia are for the most part excellent communicators and co-adventurers.

i have very few quibbles and they are as such: arthur is possibly... too tortured for me? which i can't believe i said. but alas, i found his lack of confidence a little fidgety sometimes. also, vasti's characters have no sense of timing when it comes to getting it on. this is true across all of her books and i love her for it but really they do just pick the worst times. honestly surprised they don't seem to get caught in compromising and reputation-ruining situations. like honestly i just feel like they have more important things to worry about? but they can't stop being horny i guess. lastly, and i assume this is just what heterosexual romance is like, but are the babylogues really necessary? i actually don't want to know how many children poor lydia birthed because all i can think of is how dangerous it was back then and how likely it is for all those children to die before their first birthday. i think maybe next time i just shouldn't read the epilogue.

but really, excellent read. hilarious. the characters are all so full of personality and in a way that feels real. alexandra vasti is an amazing writer, and this is a great book. absolutely recommend!

I think I, too, have a crush on the Earl...

I loved Alexandra Vasti's latest historical romance! Lydia was an amazing leading lady - not letting her social anxiety hold her back and playing to her strengths, only becoming more brave and strong with the support from Arthur. And Arthur! Asking Lydia to help him find his brother, never diminishing her feelings and following her lead as much as he did, they were truly partners and it was so refreshing to read. Their relationship progression felt natural over the course of the story, while the epigraphs gave more insight into Arthur's love for Lydia.

On top of the mystery around Davis and the budding romance between Lydia and Arthur, we are treated with an amazing cast of characters. Georgiana, Bertie, and Huw were some of the best co-conspirators and Lydia's brothers brought in some comedic relief during stressful times!

I highly highly recommend you pick this one up when it publishes January 21, 2025!!! Thank you so much to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC!

My second book by Alexandra Vasti and I’m hooked!!! I don’t pick up historical romance often but I have great luck when I do! The characters and emotional depths she writes are addicting! If you know my sub genre of choice it’s a mystery and this book had an investigative storyline to it which kept the pages turning! Looking forward to more books by Alexandra!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the ARC; this review is my honest opinion.

Ne'er Duke Well was the first book of Alexandra Vasti's I read, and I knew it wouldn't be my last. I was so glad to get to read Lydia's story after liking her so much as a supporting character; Vasti writes characters who are easy to like AND relate to, and Lydia is both.

Lydia is wonderfully relatable to anyone who's ever suffered from social anxiety. She's funny, she's impassioned ... and her initial reaction to Arthur is also incredibly relatable. (Good thing that his reaction to her is equally awestruck.)

The whimsical touches -- zebras? in regency Scotland? -- are so much fun. And someone please give the bedchamber door an award for best supporting character in a Very Important Scene.

Lydia and Arthur! I loved them: their pining for each other, their obsession with each other, the lengths which they’d go to for each other.

This is a regency romp of the highest caliber. I adored it.

Overall a good read with interesting plot. Could feel sympathy for the hero and heroine with their insecurities. I am always a fan of hero falling fast, particularly with a bluestocking. Loved the epistolary headers at the beginning of each chapter. Plenty of steam for those who like it, yet not gratuitous..

Despite not reading the first book in the series, I had no trouble understanding the connection between characters.

Would like a novella featuring Davis to flesh out his character.

3.7 Stars
One Liner: Mindless fun!

~1818
Lydia Hope-Wallace is a shy heiress who spent her life cocooned by her brothers. Her disastrous Seasons make it easy for her to become a wallflower and pen seditious pamphlets anonymously. This led to her correspondence with the Earl of Strathrannoch, a man with the same political ideas as her.
After three years of correspondence, the earl admits to financial troubles. Lydia goes to Scotland to offer help and support – a marriage of convenience (with herself) so that he can revive his beloved castle. However, a rude shock greets Lydia in Scotland. Arthur, the Earl of Strathrannoch, has no idea who she is. Turns out, it was his brother using his name. Moreover, the same brother has stolen an important item from the earl.
Together, they try to find where the missing man is. If only the attraction between them wasn’t so strong. ;)
The story comes in the third-person POV of Lydia and Arthur.

My Thoughts:
Firstly, this is a silly kind of read with some OTT elements. Don’t take anything seriously. Just enjoy the silliness, and you’ll have more fun that way.
Initially, I wasn’t sure if I’d like it much. But it was an easy read so I kept swiping the pages. After the initial 20% or so, I realized the book would be fluffy with a touch of absurdity. It was funny in its own way and made me happy. I can’t complain much if I’m enjoying it, right?
The plot has many elements but they are all surface-level stuff most of the time. This is a romance before anything else. The characters are attracted to each other pretty much from the start. It’s spicy too. There’s a Verity-inspired scene as well (IYKYK).
Each chapter starts with a short excerpt from a letter/ journal written by one of the characters. Some of these were so much fun, especially the ones by the side characters.
Apart from a pet dog (Bacon), this book happens to have some zebras and a degu (a rodent apparently) as well. We don’t meet the degu personally, though I wish we did. She has a name too!
There’s some drama in the climax and towards the end, which is expected. It does get sorted after a couple of scenes. It would have been nice to read a proper conversation between two certain characters which was only mentioned afterward. I feel it would have made a difference.
Anyway, the epilogue is well done. I won’t reveal spoilers but the presentation was interesting. I like it!

To summarize, Earl Crush is entertaining as long as you don’t think too much about the contents. The writing style is easy and light, so you can finish the book in a couple of sittings.
I think this will be a standalone series since the blurb for the next book is out on GR (it’ll be a Sapphic romance!) and some eligible bachelors are waiting for their turn.
Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Hoping to avoid another horrible London season on the marriage market and looking for a life of her own choosing, Lydia secretly travels to Scotland planning to propose to a man she's never met in person. Hopefully a marriage of convenience could benefit them both and be just the thing to give her the life of freedom she's looking for. However, arriving at the Earl of Strathrannoch's estate, she discovers that things aren't as they seemed, and though her hard-sought freedom may not be quite in reach, she accepts a request for aid of a different sort from the earl. His younger brother is missing, and with him, an important invention. While they work together to solve the mystery, will they also discover just what they need in love?

This is a very enjoyable romance of acceptance and found family, all put together with an adorable set of characters and some great emotional conversations about letting yourself love and be loved. I look forward to seeing more from this author.

This is a tough one to rate. I liked Lydia and Arthur. I loved the fun animal touches of the zebra herd, the degu, and the dog Sir Francis Bacon. I love the word Strathrannoch. I liked that the Earl of Strathrannoch’s stable manager and estate manager are allowed to love each other at the Earl of Strathrannoch’s estate in a (fairly) believable way for the times. I loved Lydia’s “ten thousand” overly protective brothers.

I didn’t love that both Arthur and his brother wanted to marry Lydia. I didn’t love what became boring, repetitive sex (can’t believe I’m writing that). The story was drawn out by the sex scenes, which were fine but not well spaced. And I really didn’t love the last 40 pages, which were a convoluted and unbelievable mess.

I read an advance reader copy of Earl Crush from Netgalley.