A thoroughly enjoyable romp of a historical romance! I loved how Selina is a planner, a fixer, an acts of service kind of person, and the golden chaos retriever Peter literally crashes into her life. The push pull between these two is so delicious. Peter is so gone for her and "I want this one" from the beginning. Lu is so fierce and Freddie precious they were such great characters not just plot points. I loved Belvoir’s and the Venus catalog so much, I wish they were real. Vasti has had my adoration since the Halifax Hellions and I’m so excited to see what she brings us next!

Thanks to @stmartinspress for an advance copy of Ne’er Duke Well by Alexandra Vasti!

After reading and loving the Halifax Hellions novellas last year, Vasti’s debut novel has been on my radar. Ne’er Duke Well follows Peter, who has returned to London to fight for guardianship of his half siblings; he enlists Selina, his childhood friend and the most capable person he knows, to help. It has one of my favorite tropes in a historical, which is when a character helps another character find a partner, and lovers of Forever Your Rogue by Erin Langston will find a lot to love in this book (at least, I did!) One of my favorite things is that even before anything romantic happens between Peter and Selina, he has such respect and admiration for her. This story is simultaneously smart and funny and sexy and sweet — Vasti writes truly special characters that you can’t help but want to love and protect.

Ne’er Duke Well comes out July 23rd, and if you’re a historical romance reader, you should absolutely pick it up.

This was, unfortunately, a dnf.. that too at 75%. I just could not read any of it anymore, I had no interest in any of the characters or what would happen to them.
This story does have some great parts, but just not enough to keep me going. The main characters were blah. The side characters were more interesting, case in point:
- Lu (the Duke's half-sister) was certainly the highlight of this story. I was charmed within the two first chapters. I love how she was the more frank one between her and her brother Freddie. Freddie was the more cautious one.
- Georgiana (Selina's friend and one of the Duke's potential bride) was such an interesting character. A future lead perhaps?

Lots of telling vs showing in this story, which got me bored pretty quickly. Also, where was the romance? I did not see them fall in love at all. The romance was overshadowed by subplot.s. so I was skimming a lot.

I wanted to love this (proof: I made it to 75%). This author has written some of the most loved novellas, and I was curious to see how a full-length novel of hers would be. Regrettably, her stories are just not for me.

2 stars bc I actually liked the writing.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

4.5 rounded up. Thank you so much to Alexandra Vasti, St. Martin’s Griffin, and NetGalley for this ARC! All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed the hell out of Halifax Hellions series and *knew* I had to download the ARC of Ne’er Duke Well as soon as it appeared on NG. This was such a fun book, featuring the hallmark of a Vasti historical romance - a strong and independent woman living in Regency England but isn’t letting social constructs stop her from being a badass.

Selina is not only a businesswoman, but also circulated erotic literature for women in society, providing much needed sex education for the members of the ton. And Peter, like Vasti’s other MMCs, is a delight of support and lack of toxic masculinity that makes him think he should have control over Selina’s actions and choices. As a history girlie, I love how Vasti writes historical romance with a strong eye for the history and standards of the time while also adding a feminist spin for all her heroines.

This book was a blast, and I’m excited to recommend it when it comes out on July 23!

POV: dual third person

You can expect: marriage of convenience, spicy library, businesswoman FMC, societal sex education, scheming, defending reputation (his and hers), family and found family, he falls first, an American turned British Lord.

Rep: anxiety, queer side characters.

Spice: 2/5

CW: ill child, death of a sibling, mentions of slavery, domestic violence (implied, not described in detail)

I wanted to love this one so much. I adore historical romance, but this was one was a miss for me. I never really got hooked by the story. I struggled with the pacing. A few aspects of the characters and conflict grated.

Peter Kent may have just become a Duke, but that doesn’t mean he is guaranteed to get custody of his younger half siblings, especially when the judge making that decision dislikes him for his radical abolitionist position. He decides to ask the smartest person he knows for help, but since she is the unmarried sister of an earl, he gets the earl and his wife involved as well. It becomes a whole family project. Selina Ravenscroft, the smartest person Peter Kent knows, decides he must marry before the hearing date. Initially, Peter is very excited, because he thinks Selina means that he should marry her. He likes that idea a lot. But no, she has three other women in mind for him to court. It becomes quickly apparent that Peter isn’t going to be proposing to any of the three women she selects for him. They don’t want to marry him, and he really is in love with her.

Selina has her reasons for feeling like marriage is not an option. She is the owner of a lending library, and publisher of a series of books that through memoir and fiction, teach women about sex. She is sure that someday she will be discovered and doesn’t want to deal with a husband’s embarrassment. As readers, we know that Peter, a being of sweetness and chaos, is never going to be embarrassed by some sex education, especially not if Selina is the one doing the education.

There is a lot going on, plot-wise and character-wise. I really enjoyed Peter, Selina, their friends and families. I also wished the middle had been tightened up a bit, but my quibbles there are pretty minor. I have but still haven’t read the Halifax Hellions books, and now I really want to find time to get to them.

I received this as an advance reader copy from St. Martin’s and NetGalley. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.

<i>I received a copy of this story from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.</i>

4.25 stars

Oh did this grab hold from the very beginning and refuse to let go! I love a good historical romance but this one is fantastic.

Selina and Peter are wonderful characters. Their flaws and insecurities are front and center. So much of the conflict is driven by them. It's lovely to see them work through them individually and together. They make a great team.

This story tackles some heavier topics in a beautiful way. It leaves you feeling hopeful and charmed. And the spicy scenes are SPICY for a historical fiction. They're not usually so reckless and inventive; I loved them. It's giving Bridgerton vibes on that front.

I want Lu to have her own story. I can only image all the shenanigans she could get up to!

I definitely recommend this book. I can't wait to read the next installment!

Ne’er Duke Well by Alexandra Vastie is about an American Duke Peter Kent who comes to London to try and gain custody of his half siblings Lucinda and Freddie. They are on an outing to buy Lucinda who goes by Lou a sword so she can learn how to fence when they run in to lady Selena Raven Croft and she remembers the American Duke only too well because the last time they met he stole her horse and abandoned her in a mud puddle. She at first wants to flee but after speaking to him she is amazed that he not only claims his half siblings but wants to care for them. It isn’t long before she is helping him find a spouse to better help him gain custody of his half siblings The only issue is it seems every time he goes out in public he cannot make it home without causing some type of scandal. Things only get worse when she finds herself thinking about him when he’s not around and little does she know he is falling for her as well. Them getting together however is just the beginning of a great book it is mainly about learning to forgive yourself but OMG there’s so much more to the story just be warned they have a sick child talk of slavery another child who is deceased and how love can overcome or at the very least soften the hard blows of life. Oh I love this book this was such a sweet endearing romance but not only about a man and woman who fall in love with each other but about a family that falls in love and becomes just that a family this is such a great book I’ve never read a book by Alexandra Vastey before but I will not pass up another one. I don’t know if it was her writing style the wonderful characters the great story but whatever magic this author has produced and turned into this book I feel so privileged I got to read it did I mention I absolutely love this book! With historical accuracy a great romance laugh out loud moments and a wonderful story it comes together to make a book any regency fan should want to read. Please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.#SaintMartin’sPress, #NetGalley, #AlexandraVastey, #NeerDukeWell,

A five-star, extra spicy historical page-turner and a scintillating series starter! You'll be adding the rest of Vasti's books to your TBR before you're halfway through.

If you like marriage of convenience tropes, feminist heroines, comical situations and lots of spicy open-door scenes - Vasti's new "Belvoir Library series" will check all your boxes. Fun and compelling romance mixed with scandal and characters who support each other abound in this book.

Selina is the sister of a duke and Peter is the new American heir to a dukedom. Peter finds out he has two illegitimate siblings and wants to adopt them, but his bachelor status may hinder his chances. (This is where I was like, "Really? He's a Duke and their only living relative. How is he NOT getting these kids?" but I digress...) In steps his friend Selina with a solution. Marry him off to one of her wallflower friends!

I'm so glad it didn't take too long for these two to realize they loved each other and there wasn't excessive drama involved. They were a team - a VERY passionate one that had me turning pages well into the night. #relationshipgoals

Big thanks to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the chance to review with an ARC. Can't wait for Lydia's book in January!

This review is in exchange for an ARC from NetGalley. I loved the story line and the extra 🌶️. The main characters were a delight and I can’t wait to read more by Alexandra Vasti.

These loveable characters, this gorgeous book! We've got Selina, who is everyone's manager/coordinator/matchmaker and just wants to be truly needed by someone. In comes fish-out-of-water American duke: Peter! This cinnamon roll might be the most delicious, breakfast pastry to ever be GONE for the heroine! So much swoon. But in order for Peter to gain custody of his half-siblings, he needs a bride with a flawless reputation and Selina has a secret that makes her a scandal waiting to happen--she runs an erotic circulating library for women!!

• I love that Selina's passion is sexual health/education!
• I die at: wait, is she proposing to me right now, better just say yes to whatever she says just in case! (She was not, but Peter is very much politely down bad for this woman at all times)
• Selina and her efficient scandal management. She's amazing.
• I love the letters and quotes at the start of each chapter! Will, her brother 🥺🥰 I hope he gets his own book!
• Peter's half siblings are so precocious and loveable and add plenty of humor without being over the top. Lu and her rapier, demanding satisfaction from the world--you'll love them even if kiddos in romance novels aren't always your thing!
• Peter's like, Sorry everyone, but there will be no third act conflict between Selina and I. I simply refuse! (👏👏👏)
• The whole cast of characters are fantastic and I cannot wait CANNOTWAIT for the next book!

Thanks so much Netgalley and St Martin's Press

This was a fun, swoon-worthy romance. I loved both main characters, as well as the children (Lu is so relatable). One of my favorite things was the gender-role reversal compared to so many romance books. The female lead having the scandalous secret business? Having to protect her husband from said scandal and trying to run away to save his reputation? Excellent.

NE’ER DUKE WELL is one that surprised me. I put off reading it and I honestly am unsure why because this is the best historical romance book I’ve read in a while. I stayed up to read this because I was so invested in the story. From the characters to the story to the writing, this book is a must read.

I loved every part of this book. I found the characters, Selina and Peter, to have amazing chemistry, while also fully flesh out their own personalities. Selina is a fixer who uses her privilege to run an erotica bookstore in the 1800s to support other women by providing them knowledge. And Peter, the American duke just wants to gain custody of his siblings (who are a highlight of the book, especially Lu) while also unintentionally being a walking scandal. They have witty banter and fun high jinx. The plot itself also lends itself well to these concepts, moving along at a great pace. I honestly didn’t know where the book was going and that was fun for someone like me who reads a lot of romances.

I also found the writing to be well done. The spicy scenes were spicy, but they were intermixed with a great balance. All of the scenes, the dialogue, and the tension was perfect, and can be hard to do in a romance novel sometimes.

Overall, this was a great book. If you’re looking for your Bridgerton fix, want a story with well fleshed out main characters, fun banter, drama, developed side characters, a good plot, and well written, pick this up immediately.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I have read Alexandra Vasti's novellas before, and have absolutely loved them, so I was so excited to read her first full length novel. And it did not disappoint! This book is hilarious. I laughed out loud so many times while reading. The banter and wit the characters have is top tier. I absolutely loved the characters in this book. Peter and Selina 's romance was everything. I absolutely loved the way they love and support each other, in all things. The way Peter wouldn't give up on Selina was especially swoonworthy! The children in this book were also fantastic. I adored Lu, especially. Her fierce heart was my favorite. I also adored all the side characters in the book. I cannot wait to read their stories in the future!

I had read this authors previous novella and enjoyed them and Ne’er Duke Well felt very similar to those. It was a cute, spicy historical romance. There was a lot going on but the drama didn’t feel super high stakes. It’s an easy and enjoyable read, just not very memorable. Which is fine with me and I’ll be looking forward to her next book.

Regency romances can be hit or miss, especially when involving characters from southern US states during slavery. However, this book not only delivered an MMC who is a staunch abolitionist, it also blew my expectations out of the water and is easily a new favorite of mine.

With Peter being a new duke after inheriting a title and estate and Selina being the undercover owner of an explicit library catered to women, it's a fun match from the start. Peter is trying to solidify his reputation to gain custody of his half siblings who have been in care of different relatives and Selina decides to help him find a wife so that the local government finds him to be a steady and reliable guardian who is ready to settle down and care for a family. Despite trying to find him a wife elsewhere, Peter only has eyes for Selina and she can't help but give in and marry him. The drama that ensues when Selina's library's ownership comes to question as Peter fully supports her is a fun and adorable adventure.

I loved finding out that the books referenced from the Venus catalog are real publications from the time period and the attention to detail the author put in. It was well researched and based on real characters and books, even with the many liberties taken. I adored Peter's character and how he worshipped Selina. They certainly brought the heat and this was easily one of the spiciest regency romances I've ever read. I loved all of the side characters and how everything came together at the end, even the dramatic court scene that is a microtrope I've come to enjoy since first watching the one in "Legally Blonde".

I really enjoyed this book and will be looking into the author's backlist as this was a fun and memorable read. Any fan of regency romances, particularly those with some spice, will absolutely love this book!

4.75 stars!

This was an arc I put off reading for so long and now I'm kicking myself for it. It was absolutely stunning! If you're devestated by the fact that Bridgerton S3 is already over then pick this book up! It's sexy, romantic, and hilarious. Of course there's romance and lots of spice, but it also has a geat plot with just the right amount of dramatic flair.

SYNOPSIS:
Peter, an American, has just become the new Duke of Stanhope. He asks Selina for help gaining custody of his two younger half-siblings as his reputation is not up to the ton's expectations. Selina's solution? Get him married to a respectable woman, of course. The catch? Selina is his perfect match, and they both know it. The problem? Selina owns and operates a library with a secret line of books exclusively for female educational purposes (*ahem* erotic novels). And if her secret is revealed, it would destory any chances of Peter gaining custody of his siblings.

REVIEW:
Peter and Selina were some of the best romance heros/heroines I've read in awhile. Peter was absolutely adorable and oh so awkward. He had such a knack for getting himself into scandalous situations without even trying. I love how smitten he was with Selina from the very second he saw her. And Selina was a superior mfc. Girly pop decides to run a whole ass erotica library in the 1800s? We love to see it.

I was super nervous about how quickly the romance was developing in the book but it WORKED. Having plot that wasn't just about the romance is something I appreciated immensely. The only reason it's not a full 5 stars for me is because I listened to the audiobook and wasn't a fan of it. But when I switched to e-book only I was way more invested.

TROPES:
Single Guardian
American MMC
English MFC
Historical Fiction (Bridgerton vibes!)

Loved it! What could be more unique than a good natured American duke born in New Orleans of an English peer and a French heiress? That is our sweet, impulsive Peter Kent. Selina is wondrously organized and who better to help him gain guardianship of his half-siblings, Lu and Freddie? His inability to act ducal is a stumbling block, as is his inexperience with children and his unmarried state. Trust Selina to throw potential brides at him. This is a lovely story with so much humor, good intentions, and love.

This was kinda slow for me in the beginning but it really picked up in the second half. I liked that the stakes and the conflict didn’t feel over the top, as they often do in historical romances. The two main characters were definitely a highlight. I’d read more by this author.

Thank to SMP for sharing this ARC (via NetGalley) with me.

I simply adored Ne’er Duke Well. It was an absolute delight from the get-go. It was impossible not to fall in love with Peter and Selina. While they had known each other for years, witnessing them see each other with a different focus was pure magic for me. Add to the mix two orphaned siblings and you have a brilliant story.

I want more from this world. The supporting characters are so good, they must have their own books! Lydia, Georgiana, Iris, Gabe and the characters, that are spoken of, but never seen - Selina’s brother Will and her dear friend Ivy.