I dnf this title but I feel that it just wants right for me. I feel this would be great for someone who loves this genre.

Ne’er Duke Well is a regency romance set in 1815 London, in which a newly inherited Duke from New Orleans is trying to fight for custody of his half siblings with the help of a fellow Duke’s sister.

You can expect:
Recency Romance
Reverse Grumpy x Sunshine
American Duke
Single older brother
Matchmaking
Marriage of Convenience
Found Family
Pining & Banter
No 3rd Act Breakup
Mid-20s MCs
Dual, 3rd person POV

Peter has been trying to fit in to the ton for the past two years and not having much luck. Selina finds their awkward encounters annoying but can’t help but feel sorry for his situation and wants to help the children find a stable home. She tries to match him with her friends so he will appear more respectable to the courts, but won’t allow herself to be a candidate because she is afraid of causing him further scandal if her secret women’s library is exposed.

These tropes deliver and I enjoyed the pining and chemistry in this novel. While the author’s note explains that Selina’s library didn’t exist, I like the idea of it and how this novel explores women’s expectations at that time.

The first chapters jump right in to the situation and almost felt as though this was a sequel. I wasn’t confused, but it seemed like we should have already know about some of the experiences they were remembering. It does mention that Selina helped the Halifax twins, who are the subjects of the author’s prior novellas, but I haven’t seen anywhere that says they are connected or if these characters are mentioned in those.

I am interested in reading the author’s backlist novellas and excited to see which of the friends will be featured in the sequel.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Griffin for providing an eARC for my honest opinion.

This was a fun light-hearted historical romance. I loved that Lady Selina ran an underground erotic library. How scandalous! She was so kind hearted and was always looking to make the lives of people around her so much better. Peter was a great male lead. He was never willing to compromise and followed his heart. Together what a force to be reckoned with! A delightful read!

Peter Kent moves from Louisiana to England where he learns he has younger siblings, Freddie and Lu. Peter involves his acquaintance Lady Selina Ravenscroft to create a plan to ensure Peter can earn custody of his newfound family. There are plentiful adventures throughout this book as we get to know Peter, Selina, Freddie, Lu, and many of the lovable side characters, who are not always as they seem.

This book was such a fun read and had me laughing and smiling. I loved Peter and Selina as our main characters. I highly recommend this book as a fun regency era read.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Alexandra Vasti for the opportunity to read an eARC of this book.

If Alexandra Vasti writes it, I will read it! I loved her novellas and this, her first full length novel, didn’t disappoint.

Lady Selina decides to help Peter, the Duke of Stanhope, find a wife to bolster his chances of being awarded custody of his younger half siblings. These half siblings (ok, mostly just Lu) are chaos in the best, funniest way possible and are the perfect addition to the story without overshadowing the main couple and the overall plot.

Unsurprisingly, Selina is very picky about Peter’s list of possible matches. She also refuses to consider the possibility of filling the role herself, due to a secret role as the owner of a circulating library. The aforesaid library has a specific collection of erotic titles for women, to help educate them about sex in a time where most women were completely blindsided by this part of life, usually after marriage.

Of course their carefully laid plans go awry, and Selina and Peter find themselves drawn to one another in ways that make her reconsider taking that leap of faith.

This book is swoony, sexy and filled with Alexandra Vasti’s wonderful sense of humor and lighthearted moments. I loved that the miscommunication trope was mostly avoided. I highly recommend this one for fans of historical romance!

This is a debut novel and boy is it good! A reluctant American has just inherited a Dukedom and sets out to get guardianship of his younger 1/2 brother and sister his father kept from him. A lady from his past wants to help him find a suitable wife to make his case. The only problem is she is also falling in love with him. Ne’er Duke Well has all the makings of a gorgeous historical romance.

This book surprised me in some significant ways.

The children are delightfully hilarious and are far more central to the plot than I expected.

Our FMC Selena is a woman before her time on a mission to educate her feminine peers on all things sexual. It’s a wonderful exploration of how women lacked access to basic information in the time, and Vasti references real 18th century texts on the subject to allow Selena to get her “subversive” information to her peers.

The romance is top tier! I thought this would be another slow burn, but I thought wrong. 🔥Let’s just say Peter teaches her a thing or two she hadn’t found in her books.

Finally, I loved the way Vasti messes with tropes in general in this book. You think one thing is going to happen, but then it goes a different direction. I worried since the couple gets together so quickly we would have pages and pages of miscommunication. Instead, I loved the third act and the way we have tension without either Peter or Selena acting dumb. It’s wonderful!

I can’t wait to read more from this author! A fun, smart and sexy story you should definitely add to your summer reading list!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for access to an eARC for review purposes.

Well this was just a freaking delight! Fun, witty, perfect amount of spice, and full of so much heart. This was my first book by this author, and I will definitely be waiting eagerly to read more from her.

Ne’er Duke Well follows our newly inherited Duke, Peter Kent, an American (gasp!) He is patient, confident, and an utter catastrophe in the best way. Peter finds out he has two siblings and is trying desperately to become their guardian, and failing.

Enter one Selina Ravenscroft, who makes it her business to take care of everyone, including Peter, while crafting a plan for him to win the guardianship by finding him a respectable English wife. Selina is brilliant, witty, and oh yeah...also just wanting to revolutionize female education. A damn queen.

From the moment they meet, the banter is top tier, the chemistry is unmatched, and oh boy Peter is the definition of GONE FOR HER.

Read if you love:
📗strong FMC
💕swoon worthy chemistry
📗supportive MMC
💕spice that spices
📗adorable and slightly stabby children
💕kittens with human names
📗no third act break up
💕strong female friendships

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eArc in exchange for an honest review!

I devoured this book. Alexandra Vasti’s voice is so fresh and fun, and such a great addition to historical romance. I became a fan when she released her novelas, and her full length novel has solidified her as one of my favorite authors.

Peter Kent, current Duke of Stanhope finds himself on the back end of an inheriting a dukedom that plucked him from the only life he had known in New Orleans. Now he must attempt to remain respectable in order to gain the guardianship of his half-siblings he only just discovered. But he just needs to remain scandal-free (or as scandal free as he possibly can) prior to the guardianship hearing. So he employs the most respectable (and fellow ducal) family, the Ravencrofts, most noteable Lady Selina Ravenscroft, a societal fixer of sorts.

Selina knows how to fix anything, she may be a hairs breath away from scandal at all times (she secretly runs a circulating library which has a specific erotic section only for female patrons) but she has kept it under wraps while making matches for debutantes and smoothing the way for anyone who might need her help. Until she hatches a plan to marry off Peter Kent ASAP and finds that as he (catastrophically) courts his possible future wife, Selina herself can't stop her growing attraction to him.

I love a flawed hero who falls first and Peter Kent will be the first person to tell you he is flawed. But I love how Selina takes his perceived flaws and harnesses them, takes his honesty and joy and helps him realise that they are in fact strengths to be admired. And I love how Peter reciprocates by listening to Selina's confessions and being proud of what she has accomplished and offers to do whatever he can to support her. Goodness communication can be sexy! We need more of this and less of that miscommunication nonsense. I really enjoyed both characters and how they both had things they were terrified of, but how together they were able to figure out a path forward.

And let's give a shout out to the best set of side characters! Rarely do I find myself loving every single one, but I could not help it. Lu and her rapier will have a special place in my heart, Freddie those sick bed scenes had me emotionally gripped. Thomasin and Judith!!! That slightly covert hand on her back in the park made me squeal! Lydia and Georgina, ladies I cannot wait to read your stories!

Alexandra Vasti knows romance. And her love for historical romance in particular drips from the page with such nuance. Any lover of historical romance will catch her subtle nods to actions and tropes which we hold dear, even if they are just in passing when it comes to other couples and not even our MCs. I am looking at you Clermont with the Derek Craven coveting of something belong to the the woman you love. There is this wit and joy encapsulated within this novel and I can't wait to continue to read Vasti's work and to see where she takes the series!

I will mention that there were times when the snippets of the shared past (previous two years and off page) of the MCs made it almost feel as though there were previous books in the series that we had missed. I have not read the novellas written by Vasti, so I am unsure if Selina and Peter play any significant role in them. So basically, I was kind of wishing that the moments described of them in the past did not make it feel as though I was missing out on something - which happens sometimes if I dive in mid series. It just brought me out of the story a little bit and made me wish there were more books of hers to read. I love the notion of Clermont and Faiza's love story.

Thank you NetGalley, St Martin's Griffin, and Alexandra Vasti for the free ARC copy of this book.

Title: Unveiling the Depths of Human Resilience: A Review of "Neer Duke Well" by Alexandra Vasti

"Neer Duke Well" by Alexandra Vasti is a poignant exploration of the human spirit's unwavering resilience in the face of adversity. Through lyrical prose and vivid imagery, Vasti takes readers on a journey through the rugged landscapes of the Neer Valley, where the echoes of past traumas reverberate through the lives of its inhabitants.

At the heart of the novel is Duke, a young boy grappling with the weight of his family's legacy and the harsh realities of life in the Neer Valley. As he navigates the complexities of growing up in a world defined by hardship and sacrifice, Duke discovers the transformative power of love, friendship, and self-discovery.

Vasti's narrative is both intimate and expansive, weaving together the personal struggles of her characters with the larger tapestry of history and tradition. Through Duke's eyes, readers are transported to a world where every interaction, every decision, carries the weight of generations past and the promise of a better future.

"Neer Duke Well" is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring power of hope. Vasti's evocative prose and richly drawn characters linger in the mind long after the final page is turned, reminding us of the profound beauty that can be found in even the most desolate of landscapes.

In "Neer Duke Well," Alexandra Vasti has crafted a timeless tale of love, loss, and redemption that will resonate with readers of all ages. With its universal themes and unforgettable characters, this novel is sure to leave a lasting impression on anyone who has ever dared to dream of a better tomorrow.

Fun, steamy, and full of the best banter. I will continue to read anything Alexandra Vasti writes because this was absolutely delectable. I highly recommend.

I really enjoyed this book! It was tender, and sweet and made me smile multiple times. I have read most of this authors novellas and was excited to read this authors full length novel. Im so glad to have been given a arc of this title and I really had a good time. Its got found family, strong female characters, and men who support them and cute kids!

I absolutely adored this book. Peter and Selina’s romance was a delight. After reading Ne’er Duke Well and her Hallifax Hellions novellas, I’ll read anything Alexandra Vasti writes.

Vasti is a fresh new voice in historical romance. She’s skilled at crafting characters that feel like real people. She also deftly balances the more serious aspects of their stories with a sense of fun I feel has been missing from a lot of romance in general. Her writing is full of voice and heart, and she can write the hell out of a sex scene. This book needs to be on every romance reader’s TBR!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC, which was provided in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun, flirty, historical romance! It has some silly moments, some steamy scenes and some seriousness as well. I loved the fact that the FMC ran her own little smutty library. Peter had me swooning and blushing. I was rooting for Peter and Selina the whole time. The sexual tension and the witty banter were perfection. I'll definitely be recommending this one and I also look forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ne’er Duke Well
By Alexandra Vasti

This is the first book I have read by Alexandra Vasti and I am definitely a fan. A big fan. She writes in such an entertaining way. Her characters are vibrant and layered and definitely flawed which means they are all extremely interesting. In this book, Peter, the new Duke of Stanhope, is looking to gain guardianship of his half-siblings, Lu and Freddie. He comes to Lady Selina Ravenscroft and her family for help with his petition. Lady Selina has no desire to be married herself but is convinced that marriage is the answer to all of Peter’s problems. The only issue is Peter doesn’t want to dance with other women. He wants to « dance » with Selina.

This book was absolutely lovely. It had romance, action, drama, heart and sword play (get your mind out of the gutter…. But also yes…. Yes, there was.) I loved seeing the story unfold and watching these two communicate through their issues instead of running away. It was so refreshing.

This is a great book for anyone who loves historical romances, Bridgerton, or who enjoys a little action plot in their rom-com. I will definitely be reading more books by this author!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for the free e-arc in exchange for my honest opinions.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

I want to preface this by stating I was asked for my honest review of this book, and it was a huge miss for me. I love period romances, but in this book, I could not even get excited about the characters, they were so one noted that they just were words on a page. I didn’t feel like they had any real character or substance till more than halfway through the book, and by that point it was a bit to late personally. I did enjoy that Selina was able to create and maintain a library that allowed women to be more knowledgeable on the ways of the world. But there was just something overall about this book that lost me.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

Absolutely loved Ne’er Duke Well!!! I was hooked from the beginning. I love Selina and her mission to not let the women of the ton remain uneducated about their own sexuality. the scheme to get the Duke married so he can have custody of his siblings was adorable. This book was smart, fun, and steamy.

Ne'er Duke Well drew me in with its witty title and lovely cover, and didn't disappoint! I really enjoyed the modern romcom feel to this spicy Regency-era romance. Selina, the FMC, is bold and decisive, and runs a secret library for women of the ton. The MMC is a total golden retriever, loyal and loving. They have great banter and work well as a team to solve challenges. Definitely read the author's note, she added a fun historic detail about one of the characters.

I looked up other books by this author and am so excited to see her next book is about Selina's politically-minded friend Lydia!

This was my first Alexandra Vasti book and won’t be my last! Selina and Peter’s story is so fun…so many shenanigans to entertain you. Steam level is good.

I received an advanced reviewer copy of Ne'er Duke Well by Alexandra Vasti from St. Martin's Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

What It’s About: Peter Kent has just inherited the Dukedom of Stanhope and he is an outsider in every regard. He grew up in New Orleans and was never set up to live across the sea, and he has radical politics for parliament, but he must become respectable, because he wants to become a guardian to his half-siblings who he is seeking custody of, where his reputation might get in the way. Luckily for him, his friend, Selina Ravenscroft is ready to take on the mission. Selina is a proper debutante, except for the fact that she has a secret that if it got out would ruin her, and she is ready to use her connections to find Peter a future spouse of unimpeachable reputation (not, her, of course, not!). But as it does matchmaking goes awry and Selina finds herself pulled into Peter’s little world.

What I Loved: This book was truly a delight and I cannot wait to read more from the author. I love the trope of the true partner trying to match make their partner and realizing it won’t work out. It allows for some truly delightful humor and I loved the scenarios Peter and Selina fell into when Selina was serving as his match maker and all the ways these matches go awry leave me in stiches. I also like when children are involved in my historical fiction and this book allows for us to have children as side characters while not taking away from our plot. On a more romance note, the chemistry between Peter and Selina is fantastic and the book is steamy. I also liked having our Duke being an outsider, and be from America, that was really unique to me. Also, I need the book telling the story of the two grandma’s romance, thank you! It really had some of the best historical fiction has to offer.

What I Didn’t Like: I found Selina’s worry about ruining Peter to be a bit tiring, while legitimate since this book is not romantically a slow burn, it becomes really a driving force of the novel to the point where it got tiring. The pacing of the second half is a bit off.

Who Should Read It: People who love historical fiction.

Summary: Selina agrees to be a matchmaker for her dear friend, but what happens when feelings develop?