Alexandra Vasti has done it again and give me ALL THE THINGS! Arthuur is an impoverished, sad, broody Scotsman that thinks he’s an unlovable wreck. Lydia is brilliant political mastermind wallflower, firmly on the shelf, that is three anxieties in a petticoat (also known to cast up her accounts if the center of attention). We’ve got loose zebras, a missing brother, a mystery to solve and all the intrigue I didn’t know I wanted but absolutely needed!

If Peter & Selina (Ne’er Duke Well) couldn’t make it to a bed, Arthur & Lydia couldn’t make it past a wall, door or stairwell without accosting each other. I know a room entrance hated to see these two coming!

If Alexandra Vasti isn’t going to write anything else, she’s going to write some yearning, unrelenting horny beans! Also, the found family elements in this story are chef's kiss. I hope the author will give us a glimpse into Bertie & Huw's story.

Earl Crush is a delightful Regency in which Arthur, a grumpy, somewhat reclusive, and close to broke Scottish earl finds his solitude and his moldering castle invaded by Lydia, an Englishwoman from a wealthy, prominent political family who suffers from crippling social anxiety and hence is a considered a spinster at age 25. Much to his surprise, he learns that Lydia has been corresponding with a person she thinks is him for the past 3 years and has arrived to offer him a marriage of convenience. They quickly sort out that she’s actually been writing to his younger, apparently traitorous brother, who disappeared from the castle a month ago along with a prized and dangerous invention of Arthur’s, a long range rifle scope.

Lydia is crushed by all of this as she honestly thought she had a real connection with Arthur and had gathered up every last ounce of courage to come north, without her family’s knowledge, to try to forge a new, more independent life for herself. However, as she finds herself working closely with Arthur to track his brother down, not only is she discovering feelings for him, she’s also finding that brave and independent spark deep within herself and having adventures she never dreamed were possible.

This was an adorable romance. Arthur was a total sweetheart, absolutely lost for Lydia soon after he met her and never saw her as anything but strong and courageous while Lydia discovered a depth of character in herself as she navigated situations that forced her to rely on her own strength. There are references to the first book, Ne’er Duke Well, but I think this book stands perfectly well on its own. My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

Alexandra Vasti has quickly become one of my favorite HR authors. Her ability to balance humor, romance, spice, and character development is just the perfect combination for me in this book and her previous in the series, Ne'er Duke Well. I have recommended this book countless times the past few months and look forward to reading more from her!

Imagine going to propose a marriage of convenience, but find out that you were catfished. That sums up Earl Crush. Lydia and Arthur find each other in a time when they both need to figure out how to love themselves and happen to fall in love with someone else. It's a touching story with dashes of humor that help bring the story along. (Every scene with Lydia's brothers were funny and I looked forward to seeing them on page)

It was a little long for me, with many details and emotions along the way. I do enjoy how Alexendra Vasti crafts a story. I can't wait for the next book.

4 stars

After DNFing Ne'er Duke Well, I wanted to give Alexandra Vasti another try; I had enjoyed her humorous voice despite the problems I had with her pacing, tendency towards telling rather than showing, and characterization that felt more convenient for plot than intrinsic to character.

For the first 30% of Earl Crush, I noticed these aforementioned issues continuing to abound and I did contemplate DNFing this one as well. However, as the plot started gaining steam, I felt like Vasti began to lock into the heart of this love story and I found myself getting swept away with it. I even shed a few tears at the epilogue! While I definitely wouldn't call this a five-star read due to the few gripes that I have with the writing style, I really enjoyed this sexy, heartfelt romp and I'm excited to pick up more from Vasti in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review!

Epistolary masterpiece!

With the lovely use of short notes as chapter headings, this book capitalizes on the use of letters that lends authenticity to the time period. Lydia can best express herself with the written word, as does Arthur, which opens up new facets of their selves that are difficult to see face to face.

Lydia has a backbone of steel, despite her terrifying lack of social confidence stemming from years of her family protecting her due to her shyness, and I really enjoyed watching her find her inner strength to pursue her dreams, wherever they may lead.

The breathtaking action starts in the very first scene and sets a fine pace for this charming story. There's a complex mystery surrounding Arthur and his brother, as well as a bit of long-standing competition that appears to stand in Arthur's way, though he tries hard to overcome it. There's truly never a dull moment on this outrageous adventure and I loved every exciting step on the way to their exquisite HEA.

If you've read the earlier book in this series, you'll note that this one is set three years later, giving us a delightful update on the familiar characters. I absolutely adored this author's writing style as she crafted truly memorable characters and unforgettable scenes. I can't wait to read what she's got next. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

4.5 stars. This is absolutely delightful! It’s been a while since I’ve read historical romance, but books like Earl Crush are exactly why I do! A friend told me this book is perfect for fans of Lisa Kleypas and Tessa dare, I o couldn’t agree more. It’s funny, smart, and sexy all at the same time. I love how both the heroine and hero really come into their own. I love the hijinks. And I even loved the zebras! Zebras? Yes, zebras! This is my first book from Vasti, but I am officially a fan!

Thank you so much to Vasti, smp romance, and netgalley for the ARC!

I read an arc of the first book in this series so when I saw the arc for this one was available I jumped at the chance together it! I loved the characters and the plot! There was even a bit of mystery and a plot twist at the end! This is a open door romance so if that is not something you enjoy this might not be the book or you or you can skip those parts. Will definitely continue reading this series and other books by this author!

Adventure. Romance. Spice. An unlikely heroine that charms her way into your heart and a Scottish love interest that respects her. Swoon. I could not put this book down. It was cute, fun and steamy. This author had a way with creating relationships and love stories that make you feel like you’re a part of it. I loved it!
Romance: 💜💜
Spice: 🔥🔥

If you are a fan of Bridgerton, you will love this series! Alexandra Vasti writes some of the most fun and three-dimensional characters I've ever read. There's lot of action, banter, romance, and spice. You don't want to miss out on this series!

I love when women find their courage and someone who appreciates them for who they are.

I really loved this story. Vasti is an excellent writer and beautifully wove in a plot and romance. It was sweet, it was steamy, it was adventurous, it truly has everything!

Adult historical romance with a fake marriage and lots of spice. I enjoyed this book! The main characters, Lydia and Arthur, were so charming and an absolute delight. This book was entertaining and romantic with rich historical contex and a touch of mystery. I also love when there are animal cameos, especially when they are uniquely exotic ones!

If you’re looking for a fun, laugh out loud funny, and spicy historical romance, definitely check this one out! And also check out this authors debut, Ne’er Duke Well! It’s one of my favorites!

4.5 stars -

A solid second novel from Alexandra Vasti, Earl Crush sees Lydia determined to marry the Scottish Earl she's been exchanging letters with for years. There's just one problem, the Earl has never heard of her. Realizing his brother is the one she's after, Arthur and Lydia set out to find the man and demand some answers.

I enjoyed this book so much! I loved Lydia from Ne'er Duke Well, so I was excited to see her journey. Arthur was delightfully grumpy and reclusive, and I was immediately intrigued by the plot.

The chemistry was crackling! The plot moved at a steady pace, and the mystery kept my attention all the way through. In short, I ate this book up.

This is definitely my favorite of the two novels, and I'm excited to read the next book. Thank you Net Galley and SMP for the arc.

Earl Crush by Alexandra Vasti was such a fun read!!

I really enjoyed her first book and this one did not disappoint!

You really can't go wrong with a fake marriage trope! It was perfectly written and had the perfect mix of sweet and steamy!

If you haven't read her books yet I definitely recommend for a feel good book!

Thank you Netgalley and St Martins press for this ARC!

With some references to the first book in the series but still lighthearted and with low angst about a case of mistaken identity, Earl Crush was a satisfying and quick read. The connections to Belvoir's Library and previous book did not add much for a reader new to the series, but perhaps the plot's travel aspect makes that understandably harder to tie in--and I'm glad it was referenced, but not shoehorned in. I enjoyed the main characters' wit and determination.

I appreciate Vasti's effort to make the book fun and engaging. I would've liked more character development and learning how challenges Lydia and Arthur faced in the past regarding their chosen callings (radical pamphlet-writing and inventing, respectively) influenced them up to the point that the book starts. In this aspect, the world-building felt less rounded as it could be, given the author's writing skill. While I liked the epistolary elements sprinkled in throughout, the (not-quite) resolution with Davis, Arthur's brother, motives felt fell flat for me.

Pacing was interesting. It's medium-paced, with plot events intermixed with sometimes lengthly looks at the characters' internal lives (especially Arthur). I just did not enjoy the book as much as I would've liked.

Ya know, I too would “choose the abyss” if I fainted in front of the man I’d written letters to for three years, only to find out he had no idea who I was. Just send me to glory while I’m down there too because there’s no way I could come back from the embarrassment!
In Earl Crush by Alexandra Vasti, Lydia Hope-Wallace is rich and wants to keep writing political pamphlets, so she works up the nerve to travel to Scotland to propose a marriage of convenience to the Earl of Strathrannoch who could use funds for his dilapidated castle. She meets Arthur instead, who realizes Lydia has been writing to his younger brother. They set off to find him, thinking he’s part of an assassination plot that would use Arthur’s stolen rifle scope.

I loved this one so much! There’s plenty of funny moments with Lydia’s theatrics plus a random herd of zebras, a dog named Sir Francis Bacon and Arthur’s fisticuffs with Lydia’s brothers. Plus each chapter has a snippet of a letter, and the notes from Arthur to Lydia are very sweet. I need to go back and read the first book, and am looking forward to Georgiana’s book in September!

Fake marriage
Found family
Moderate steam
WDTK? Chapter 13

Earl Crush by Alexandra Vasti was an adventure filled with mistaken identity, espionage, romance, zebras, and of course some spice.

Truly I didn’t realize how much this book would grab me so completely that I devoured it. Although I shouldn’t be surprised because this author always delivers. I mean who knew a stampede of Zebras would lead to one of my favorite couples starting their romantic journey?

I absolutely loved every minute of this chaotic romance, and it reminds me how much fun historical romances are (and addictive so publishers listen up…WE STAN A HISTORICAL ROMANCE). I adore the way they mix fact and fiction and give us some of our favorite couples.

One thing I love about Vasti’s writing is she creates characters who are lovable and impactful. Lydia was such a fun character who had tremendous growth in this book and we love to see it. Our shy, yet radical wallflower took it upon herself to find a husband that would give her freedom she is not always afforded as a woman. And who better than the Scottish Earl she has built a friendship with through exchanging letters…except when she shows up and learns he is not who she’s been writing to all along.

We see her flee at first but then decided to take the chance to assist the Earl she has met in his search for his brother who is involved in some espionage. And Lydia taking that chance is what starts a new journey for herself that allows her to blossom. She finds comfort with Arthur and learns that she deserves more than just a mutually beneficial marriage, in fact she deserves someone who loves and desires her.

Arthur also has a long journey of learning to let someone close to him again after feeling betrayed by his own blood and Lydia pushes him to take his own risks and open his heart again. I absolutely fell hard for Arthur as he had all my favorite attributes of a historical romance hero: Scottish, a bit broody, and a heart of gold. Plus all he wanted in life was family, because his father did everything to push the brothers apart and he longed to mend what was broken. After the betrayal of his brother (stealing an important invention of his and pretending to be him while conversing with Lydia) he has to learn how to open himself back up to others and who better to do this than a wallflower who is a bit of a rebel?

Not only are our two main characters lovable but so are all our side characters. And we love them even more when they decide to meddle and play matchmaker.

But more importantly this novel was extremely fun because mixed with romance we saw danger, adventure, and espionage. It truly left me on the seat of my pants trying to figure out what exactly felt like the truth and what was fiction. It was a wild ride and by the end I worried for our characters and was so grateful they were all safe. I think a lot of this also lead to our characters admitting to themselves what they wanted and deciding they deserved the life they wanted and not the ones they thought they needed.

Spicy, male female, 3rd person dual point of view, historical romance. This was a fun romp with a side of mystery. I loved all of the characters and was rooting for the leads. I look forward to reading more from this author!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.
Unfortunately, this book was not my cup of tea. With that being said, I may try to read this book again at a later date to see if I like it more.

Lydia has decided that the best course of action is to save her long time pen pal, the Earl of Strathrannoch, from his financial woes is to offer him a marriage of convenience. However, when she shows up at his castle, she quickly realizes that her pen pal is Davis, the younger brother of Arthur, the actual Earl of Strathrannoch, and Davis is missing. Lydia and Arthur embark on a quest to find Davis and prevent him from committing a crime before it's too late.

I loved this sequel just as much as I loved Ne'er Duke Well. I loved Lydia and Arthur and the way their relationship developed despite their insecurities about themselves. There were so many wonderful side characters, and I would have happily read even more. I really enjoyed that the epilogue was told entirely through letters.