If you are looking for a book filled with pure entertainment, some humor, some intrigue and a ton of sex go no further. Compared to some romance books this one had decent dialogue and I liked the 2 main characters although Arthur pretty much became useless with lust pretty quickly. I'd say pretty standard fare and what you would expect for a book in this genre.

Alexandra Vasti really knows Regency. I think she must have cut her reading teeth on the genre. This book is such an accurate, wonderful, updated Regency story that I have to go back and read Ne'er Duke Well!!

Sophomore slump who? Alexandra Vasti follows up the delightful Ne'er Duke Well with the even more assured and emotionally satisfying Earl Crush. This novel was perfectly paced and plotted, hitting the beats the reader looks for and wants in a historical romance, while feeling fresh and new.

Lydia, the "second-richest, I think" heiress in London, makes a clandestine trip to Scotland with her friend Georgiana and her Thames-rescue dog Bacon. Mission? To propose a friendly marriage to the Earl she's been exchanging letters with for three years - they get on well, he needs funds for his estate, and boy does she have them. Lydia has social anxiety (she seems to faint or vomit when forced to interact outside her trusted circle), and has loving family that protects her well. "If they could, her brothers would wrap her in cotton wool and set her upon a shelf like a doll: just as safe and just as lifeless." She has found her voice though, as the anonymous author of radical pamphlets, which is how she and the Earl start their warm correspondence. So. About that. Turns out the Earl had never written to her, had never read her work, had never heard of her, and his brother had been pretending to be him. Cue the fainting and vomiting.

What follows is one of the best Fake Marriage, Real Feelings books I've read in a while. The mystery of the brother's actions and surrounding events and the love story are perfectly balanced to make a super satisfying read. And there is the little issue of Chekov's Pining Love Letter Drafts that serve as chapter headers - the reader knows something happens, but what exactly and when isn't clear until it is.

While investigating the brother's motives, for Romance Reasons Arthur and Lydia pretend to be married, which predictably snowballs as they are both wish their hasty story was true. As feelings become real the scent of fresh pine is thick in the air. Arthur wants to be chosen for him, not second best to his charming brother! Lydia has trouble finding her voice and needs to be safe! The last quarter of this story had me locked in, anxious for the resolution of the mystery and the romance in equal parts. I won't spoil details of either, but Vasti brings it all home to a very satisfying conclusion.

I read an ARC of this book. I'm sorry to tell you it's not out until early 2025, but it's worth the wait.

I had an absolute blast with EARL CRUSH! Much like Vasti’s debut, this book is jam-packed with fun characters, hijinks, and a swoon-worthy love story. At times I did feel that the plot was overwhelming the romance or vice versa, but I thought this was paced well and overall, Lydia and Arthur’s romance dove tailed well with the main plot.

I absolutely loved Arthur (who doesn’t want a Scottish giant who will whisper sweet nothings to you but also has an ingrained fear of not being enough?) but really saw myself in Lydia and her journey from shy wallflower to someone secure and comfortable enough to take control of her own life. Now I really really can’t wait for Georgiana’s book!

I enjoyed this adventurous romance story as two unlikely comrades pair up in an unexpected journey to save the lives of others and track down a newly invented rifle scope to keep it from getting in the wrong hands. The romance, the mystery and the way the story unfolded had me turning page after page eager to see what came next every step of the way.

One of the things that I really enjoyed about this book was that the synopsis was not the only part of the story. The other thing I liked about it was that the synopsis describes what basically happens in chapter one so there’s no spoiler, there’s only hitting the ground running as the story continues to compel the reader forward with the momentum of this search for justice.

Intelligent but shy, Lydia shows up at the home of her penpal ready to propose marriage to save him from his financial woes at his Scottish estate. However, things soon become murky as he has no idea who she is or what she is referring to from their supposed correspondence. Quickly things began to unravel as Lydia‘s anxiety takes over and Arthur’s puzzlement gives way to urgency about tracking down the mutual acquaintance of them both. This is one of those stories that I think is beneficial to just go in blind and dive right into. I thought it was entertaining, fresh, and certainly unique in the way the story unfolded. I also appreciated that although there is a previous book with this fictional world, I read this as a standalone and had absolutely no problem following along with the characters or understanding the relationships between all of them.

Thanks so much to St. Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this story. All opinions are my own. I look forward to seeing what this author comes up with next.

Read this if you enjoy:
💜 forced proximity
💜 mistaken identity
💜 intelligent FMC
💜 introverted MMC
💜 pretending to be married
💜 investigating
💜 forbidden romance
💜 he falls first

Can be read as a standalone
Romance: open door

4.5 rounded up. This was a fun adventure and I liked the twist for the characters. I think I would have liked more backstory about Lydia and her politics just because she seems neat and that would have been fun to know more about. But it was a quick, enjoyable read. Also I will definitely be reading the first one in this series pronto.

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

Earl Crush is a delightful Regency romance that blends historical intrigue with modern wit. Lydia Hope-Wallace, a passionate activist with profound social anxiety, travels to Scotland for a marriage of convenience but finds herself involved in a dangerous adventure to find a missing invention. Vasti's writing is witty and informative, and the characters are engaging. The plot is filled with twists and turns, and the novel offers a glimpse into Regency England's political and social landscape. Overall, Earl Crush is a highly enjoyable read for fans of historical romance.

Alexandra Vasti's second novel winningly combines a sensitive romance with sizzling chemistry, entertaining capers, and some light intrigue. In other words, Earl Crush provided me with the exact kind of enjoyable escapism I look for in a historical romance novel and has cemented Vasti as an auto-buy author for me. Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

I couldn’t put this book down.

This book feels like it was written by someone who has been writing historical romance for a lifetime, not a sophomore novel! The prose is beautiful and descriptive with a litany of apt word choices. Scottish slang was peppered in which made the story feel authentic. (My two favorites were bampot and dinna fash.)

Also I’m not sure how she managed realistically to include zebras and degus but it was entertaining and the story is better for it.

I loved our heroine’s personality and found her extremely relatable. All of the characters felt well rounded and, of course there will be a HEA but I wanted immediately to know what happened next.

I can’t wait to get my hands on Vasti’s other books!

Thank you to NetGalley and to St. Martin's Press for the ARC of Earl Crush by Alexandra Vasti.

This is a great second book in the series! We pick up three years after the events of the first book, and shy Lydia Hope-Wallace is headed to Scotland to propose marriage to her political penpal, Arthur, Earl of Strathrannoch. The only problem is, when Arthur meets Lydia, he has no idea who she is, and it's been his brother posing as him for years for what could be very nefarious purposes. Hoping to piece together his brother's motives for impersonating him, and for his recent theft of one of Arthur's inventions that could have major national security implications, Lydia and Arthur team up. It's only when working in close proximity to each other that there may be more chemistry between them than either expected.

Again, this is a great second book in the series. It's still intense, though I'd say it's a bit more relaxed than Ne’er Duke Well, with more of the comic romp vibes from her Hallifax Hellions series. There is great continued character development, a strong plot, helpful side characters, and a romance that is easy to fall for with the characters.

Honestly, Alexandra Vasti is one of the best voices in historical fiction romance in 2024 - everything she writes has all the traditional elements of the genre, with well written spicy scenes and with strong plots that depend not just upon political/social issues of the time, but on the characters she creates being well-developed and competent enough to execute their plans. Her characters may stumble into adventures, but they also stand strong to find the ways out for themselves, for their loved ones, and for a larger purpose.

I LOVE Alexandra Vasti. Her writing is smart, swoony, and sexy. In Earl Crush, we meet the shy and clever Lydia, who writes political pamphlets under a pseudonym. She's determined to finally end her spinsterdom by proposing to the Scottish earl she has been corresponding with, but when she arrives at his castle, she discovers she has been mislead. Lydia and her earl are wonderful, three-dimensional characters whose love for each other jumps off the page. I love that Vasti balances high stakes with trust in her characters. I can't wait for the next book in this series!

The second installment in the Belvoir’s Library series is fantastic!! Alexandra Vasti takes her sophomore novel to new heights with laugh out loud humor, authentic character growth and an absolutely dreamy romance! Lydia and Arthur are incredible main characters with excellent banter and chemistry. It’s a joy to fall in love with them! This Scottish road-trip with forced proximity, found family, slow burn, with epistolary elements is a delight for new and experienced historical romance readers. I cannot wait to see what Vasti writes next.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This was cute and charming. I read Ms. Vasti’s first book, Ne’ver Duke Well, and couldn’t wait to read more about Lydia, who suffers from severe social anxiety.

For the past three years, Lydia Hope-Wallace has been writing seditious pamphlets about women’s issues. Her most scandalous piece about a woman’s right to sue her husband for divorce catches the eye of the Earl of Strathrannoch. Little does she know that for the past three years she’s been in correspondence with the Earl’s brother, Davis. When she reads the news that his estate is in shambles, Lydia decides to offer marriage so that she can use her dowry to repair the estate. But when she arrives to his home she is shocked to discover that Stathrannoch has no idea who she is. Upset by the idea that they’ve been duped, Arthur and Lydia decide to team up to get to the bottom of his brother’s deception.

One reviewer mentioned that Ms. Vasti’s stories “fill the Tessa Dare niche of hilarious, super sexy, and emotional” and they are spot on. There’s a sort of madcap energy to this novel that makes you want to follow along with the characters. It’s thrilling, and you know you will be in for a good adventure. The more they continue to work together to discover the whereabouts of Arthur’s brother, the closer they get. Cue fireworks!

I truly enjoyed this book. It was so funny and charming. The chemistry between the two leads was palpable. Ms. Vasti does a great job of building the tension and the yearning.

The story is action packed and the pacing was great. I couldn’t put it down. I’m excited for Georgiana’s story next! I’ve been curious about her ever since the first novel.

Alexandra Vasti has done it again! Earl Crush was one of my most anticipated reads of next year and it has 100% lived up to my expectations! This story is so full of heart. It had me laughing, tearing up, and swooning with every chapter. And Vasti’s hi-jinx is always top-tier!

Lydia is exactly the type of fierce and capable heroine that I love to route for - while simultaneously being realistically flawed in the most relatable ways. Every embarrassing, foolish, stubborn thing she did had me thinking “that’s so me”.

And Arthur is an absolute dreamboat. Who doesn’t love a man that is so head over heels for his girl? I want this quote tattooed on my soul: “If there is one thing I regret above all others, it is that. That I let you believe, even for an instant, that you were less than everything to me…”

As always, even the side characters are incredibly lovable and dynamic. Huw and Bertie stole the show, and I’d read the hell out of a novella of their love story!
The heartfelt moment between Arthur and Bertie towards the end truly had me in tears.

My only regret with finishing this book is that I’m now caught up on all Vasti’s work.
Absolutely can’t wait for Georgiana and Cat’s story!

I haven't read or consumed much historical romance, but this was so charming! For me, this has all the things I like about Bridgerton and the Veronica Speedwell series: steam, drama, and good banter. There's actually a fair bit of mystery and politics involved in the plot, and it's based on actual events, which is neat. I liked Arthur, but I really enjoyed Lydia as a character. I liked seeing her struggle with being more on the shy side, but she was still outspoken and brave when it counted. I would definitely read from Alexandra Vasti again!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the arc!

If the rating system allowed it, this would be a 4.75 star review for me. As in everything I have read by Alexandra Vasti, I sat and read this book in one sitting. Not only is Vasti's writing a pleasure to read, but once I start reading about her characters, I can not stop until they get their happily ever after.
Things that I loved about this book:
- It was, at certain parts, laugh-out-loud funny. There were certain lines that not only had me laughing, but had me elbowing my husband (who was next to me in bed) and reading the line aloud because I just had to share it.
- A giant, brooding, scotsman who happens to be an earl and an inventor (what's not to love there?)
- Vasti has a talent for writing very steamy books without having them feel crude. I really appreciate that.
- I love that for Lydia, our heroine, this is a story about finding her voice and able learning to have confidence in herself as she is, not as she might have wished she could be. Lydia has always felt her emotions strongly and physically -- her anxiety has caused her to faint or vomit, and she has viewed this as a negative part of herself. Learning to love and realizing the joy that feeling her emotions can bring her is a satisfying journey that we get to see as we read.
- I also love the inclusion of a wholesome, loving family in the Hope-Wallace's, Lydia's family. Those who enjoy the Bridgerton family dynamic will resonate with the Hope Wallaces.
- I appreciate the author's note at the end that provides some information about the historical inspirations for the book.

Why is it 4.75 stars for me instead of 5?
- The catalyst for a lot of the action in the book comes from the hero's invention of a rifle scope, but his motivation for inventing it in the first place feel flat to me. He isn't a hunter, and he gives what I felt was a half hearted explanation about trying to keep people from getting hurt in rifle accidents. For something that undergirded so much of the action, I wanted to that part to make more sense to me.
- For Arthur, the hero, a lot of this book is about the difficult relationship between brothers. While I enjoyed that, I wish we had gotten to see more of the resolution between the two of them on-page, instead of just referenced. This is more personal preference, I just like everything to end 100% happy and wanted a little more of a resolution between the brothers.
- This book has an espionage subplot, and the part where that came to a head and then got resolve felt a little muddy to me. There were a couple parts where I had some confusion about what was happening versus what the characters thought was happening. It was a lot of lies and misdirection that came unraveled very quickly and for me was slightly confusing to follow. However, I do want to mention this is a criticism I have of a lot of historicals that have espionage plots, so the fault may lie with me and not the author.

I definitely recommend this book, and Vasti remains one of the authors on my I'll-read-anything-she-puts-out list.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this complimentary eARC. My review is 100% honest and left voluntarily.

This was a really cute read! I loved the relationship between Arthur and Lydia, as well as their relationships with their friends/family. Everything felt very well rounded. Their relationship did seem to progress very fast, and I wish that we would’ve gotten a little bit of a slower burn. I wish we had seen more about the letters and more between them at the castle. I definitely think this was an improvement from Vasti’s previous book- which I also liked. I think this is an easy yes for anyone who likes historical romance.

A brooding Scottish Earl and a brilliant firebrand authoress go I search of the Earls brother who fooled her into thinking ,marriage was he answer to her problems.

The characters were interesting and fully developed but the story just did not keep my attention.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

This is my first novel I've read from this author and I throughly enjoyed it! Just off the bat let me say, oh my goodness zebras!

Lydia, a heiress who is plagued by social anxiety, has for a number of years been secretly writing and publishing political pamphlets. During this time she has been corresponded with Arthur, the Earl of Strathrannoch. After revealing his dire financial state, Lydia comes to the realization that she might have exactly what Arthur needs. She arrives unannounced and suggests they join together in a marriage of convenience. Arthur, in response is stunned. Who is this woman standing on his doorstep proposing to him??? They quickly discover Arthur’s brother, Davis, has been the one writing Lydia, posing as the Earl the entire time. Next thing you know, Lydia and Arthur have joined together to find Davis and get to the bottom of what is really going on.

What a wild ride!! I highly recommend buckling up and preparing yourself for a journey! This novel is fast paced adventure with good chemistry and fun surprises throughout. I really enjoyed the elements of mystery and historical fiction as well, they added nice depth to the overall plot.

I am definitely going to be keeping my eyes peeled for this authors next release!

Earl Crush is such a gosh darn delight, y’all!

I mean, there were so many laughs, so many swoons, and much mystery and action to behold!
One moment I’m wholly attentive to the beautiful love story developing, the next I’m making like Nancy Drew trying to figure out what the heck was happening! There’s fantastic charm to the book, and it hooked me right in.

I adored the rapport between Lydia and Arthur— their first meeting is one of the most memorable meet-cutes, albeit maybe not so much on the cute. I loved the natural-feeling development in their relationship. Strangers to friends to lovers. It’s all paced quite well.
I love how begrudgingly smitten Arthur becomes of Lydia, and how he eventually goes full man obsessed while having all these internal crises.

Their romance is beautiful— it’s also quite spicy! I wouldn’t have minded a bit less spice, surprisingly, but at the same time I ate up every scene, haha! And the epilogue! My goodness, I shan’t spoil it— but it’s one of the most lovingly crafted epilogues I have ever read.

And the notes and letter excerpts at the start of every chapter were so brilliant— from laughs to swoons to clues! I loved each one!

On a personal note, I appreciated seeing a character with social anxiety represented on the pages. Lydia suffers greatly from social anxiety, with it manifesting internally and physically— and it made me feel so incredibly seen. Sure at times it’s played for laughs, but that vulnerability was massively relatable. I felt such pride in Lydia as she navigated that anxiety as best as should could, doing all she could to take the reins of control back. Lydia’s struggle allows for a connection between reader and protagonist. It is a reminder of their humanity and relatable struggles, allowing the reader to become all the more engaged and immersed in the storyline. As well as allowing deeper care towards the protagonists. It certainly did for me anyways!

Lastly, let me exclaim how clever and thrilling I found the plot to be! It’s one that really makes the wheels turn as you try to outrace the leads in figuring out the mystery at hand. I felt very involved as a reader, which is honestly quite rare treat for me. That type of immersion makes the ride all the more enjoyable.

So, if you love historical romances that bring charm, laughs, swoons, spice, and a clever touch of mystery— be sure to check out Earl Crush!

I feel I’m returning to my historical romance era, and I am so here for it, let’s go!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this complimentary copy, I leave this honest review voluntarily.