Entertaining historical romance. Funny kids and amusing characters. Dialogue is also fun. I think I enjoyed the Duke as a hero more than Selina as a heroine.

Very cute story and a lot of favorite tropes! I enjoyed the characters, especially Selina. The book felt fairly quick paced at times and I think that seemed startling to me. But overall enjoyed!

I have a new book boyfriend, and he is a Duke and wonderful and sweet and the absolute best. The secrets were intense, especially for the time period. This was my first time reading a regency novel, and now I want more! The demure of the women and the way they decided they were more than just homemakers. Selina was such a force and the way she took control of her own life was lovely. She was Peter's match in every way. Their sense of humor was on point!

In Ne’er Duke Well, the Duke of Stanhope, trying to gain custody of his father’s “natural” children, enlists the help of Lady Selina, who decides the solution is to find him a wife. She, of course, could not be the wife, for important secret library reasons. Selina and Peter are excellent, and I really enjoyed the plot and the secondary characters, especially the possible wives and the children. Vasti is a must-read author for me.

A great read!! It was hilarious and heartwarming all at the same time! It was different than other regency rom-coms in the best way. I loved that Peter has a tie to American wealth because you don’t typically see that in a regency romance. Selina is an amazing lead and the chemistry between the too is wonderful! A great read with lots of laughs and love. I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy.

This book was an absolute delight. We have Peter Kent, a new unconventional duke looking to have guardianship of his half siblings who have never been recognized. He asks his friend and neighbor Lady Selina for help with the fight for custody. He's seen and admired Lady Selina for being very resourceful and caring in various social situations. She agrees to help and decides he needs to marry to secure the children. She finds him suitable prospects, but the problem is she would like to be on that list but she is hiding a scandalous secret that would affect the Duke's chances if it got out.

The chemistry between Peter and Selina is off the charts. The Duke's siblings Frederick and Lu were so much fun. I love how they kept the Duke on his toes.

Thank you to St. Martin's press for the advanced reader's copy. I really enjoyed this book and hope Alexandra Vasti makes this a series, I'd love to get a book for Selina's brother Will. I highly this recommend this book it was very fun and heart warming.

What a joy to read! From the very beginning you are hooked by the witty and original writing, the story is charming and the chemistry between the characters keeps you wanting more.

In Alexandra Vista's debut full-length, she shows why she's already a rising star in historical romance. It's fun, it's fast, it's witty, and both the hero and heroine are likeable and are doing interesting things for their society. I wish that she had spent more time building up their attraction to each other because it felt a bit fast. I also really wished we could have seen more of Peter's escapades and near-scandals instead of just being told about them--told is the right way for most of them as they become increasingly ridiculous, but it would have been fun to see an example or two and the fallout from them, since reputation is such a key issue in this story.

It's a delightful historical romance and definitely one to read.

Thanks to St. Martin's and NetGalley for the ARC.

Ne'er Duke Well by Alexandra Vasti was one of my most anticipated 2024 releases, and I'm so grateful I got to read it early, and that it certainly did not disappoint. I fell in love with the author's Helifax Hellions novella series - these are already out and they're incredible, so you all need to pick them up if you haven't already before this book comes out. They're entertaining, sweet, steamy, funny, and romantic. And Ne'er Duke Well is no different. I was excited to see what Alexandra Vasti could do with a full-length novel, and she killed it, of course. So, let's talk about it.

This book follows Lady Selina and Peter, the Duke of Stanhope. Peter recently inherited the dukedom along with the property and two half-siblings. So he moves to England from New Orleans, where he meets Selina. He asks her for advice on how he could make sure he gets custody of his siblings, and she suggests he find a respectable wife. She'll help him find her and secure the custody - the one problem? Peter has eyes only for her, and he barely wants to look at any other woman. He goes along with it but can never stay away from her for long. As they grow closer, it gets harder and harder for Selina as well, but she forces herself to pull back because she doesn't consider herself respectable because of one little secret. She runs an erotic library for women so she can ensure they can have access to sex education and the freedom to choose how they live their life in that way. She thinks that all will be ruined if anyone finds out, and therefore, it can never come to that.

I loved the way the two of them couldn't stay away from each other. The relationship Peter has with Lu and Freddie, his siblings, and the one Selina builds with them as well. The romance is pretty slow-burn but so worth the wait, and I adored every second. It's sweet, sexy, emotional, and filled with so much love and care. Peter never once wavered when it came to how much he wanted Selina and every messy part of her. Selina always felt the need to take care of others while dealing with all her baggage alone, and he gently helped her carry it the whole way. I adored them, and I related to so many parts of Selina's journey.

The only thing that frustrated me in this book was the first 30% that were most focus on finding the perfect bride. But I can't even say it's poorly written at all because I was mostly impatient for Selina and Peter to spend a lot of time together. I think it was also influenced by the fact that I read Alexandra Vasti's novellas first, which were obviously a lot more fast-paced.

Also, I won't say too much to avoid spoiling anything, but the conflicts and angst in this book mainly come from the outside world, which I thought was wonderful. I have been finding out that I much prefer 'us against the world' than 'us against each other' when it comes to these things. It's beautiful to see them get closer as they try to find ways to their happily ever after.

Overall, this is an incredible, swoon-worthy, funny, sweet, and emotional historical romance that I'm sure readers are going to fall in love with. It has everything a historical romance needs while feeling fresh, exciting, and fun. You all need to pre-order it and add it to your TBR! I absolutely cannot wait for Alexandra Vasti's next releases.

If you are a fan of the Halifax twins and their sister in-law, you will LOVE this book. Peter and Selina are simply the best. Selina runs a secret lending library that offers more risqué novels and Peter is a new to town Duke. The whole book was a joy from start to finish and I experienced the full spectrum of human emotions while reading. I was giddy and kicking my feet, crying and laughing. You should check TWs before reading!

This was the first historical romance I’ve ever read and I quite enjoyed it! I thought it was super swoony, sexy and all of the above. I thought a historical romance would be boring but the plot in this book was gripping and I thought the children in this book were such a lovely addition, when usually I hate that. I could absolutely believe that Peter and Selina are in love, because I fell so deep into their story. Great read!

The premise of this book sounds delightful and I have heard wonderful reviews from friends who thoroughly enjoyed the story. However, it was unfortunately not for me and I decided not to finish reading it. The introduction of characters felt too expository, as if the author was trying build the backstories very quickly by telling rather than showing whereas I prefer a slower buildup and getting to discover the characters' personalities, relationship dynamics, and motivations over time. It felt abrupt and information heavy from the beginning and while I am sure I would have grown to love the characters if I had been able to stick with it, I am sorry to say that the writing style did not appeal to me personally.

Adorable historical romance featuring a reluctant Duke and a plucky lady of the Ton. The story follows the Duke, Peter, as he tries to gain guardianship over two younger half-siblings that his no-good father abandoned and refused to recognize as his offspring. Peter relies on the help of Selina, the younger sister of another well-respected Duke and the secret owner of a library with a scandalous “ladies only” catalogue. The story presents with so much heart and is sweet without being too saccharine. It’s an uplifting read and I feel like we may be seeing more of Selina’s friends we meet in the book via adventures of their own. At least I hope we will! Can’t wait to read more from this author.

Peter Kent, the new Duke of Stanhope, is at his wits' end. He was estranged from his English family and living in New Orleans when he received word that his father had passed, and he suddenly inherited the title. Not only that, he has recently discovered the existence of two half-siblings also unacknowledged by his late father, and is determined to do right by them. But first he must pass the guardianship hearing and be granted custody of Lucinda ("Lu") and Freddie, and to do that, he must avoid all scandal.

Enter Lady Selina Ravenscroft, an extremely competent and proper lady of the ton--at least by outward appearances. (She also secretly runs a steamy circulating library for women which would cause quite the stir if anyone were to find out.) Selina is convinced that Peter's hearing will go in his favor if only he is married. Luckily, she is fantastic at matchmaking and knows everyone who might be a suitable wife--which definitely isn't her, with her potential for scandal. However, her matchmaking schemes seem to throw her and Peter together more than anyone else, and although Selina can fix any problem, she can't seem to wrestle her emotions under control as she realizes she may be falling for the duke.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I absolutely loved the characters, especially Selina and Peter's young siblings, Lu and Freddie. The author did a great job of characterization and Selina especially was particularly strong. I also appreciated the open communication between the two main characters and the author avoided using any frustrating miscommunication tropes--at exactly the point where you start to get worried that someone (I won't say who!) is going to go off and do something self-sacrificing on their own, where you want to shake them and say, "Just talk to each other!", they do, in fact, talk to each other. It was quite refreshing. I will say the first half of the book was a little bit slow, but we get to see Peter and Selina's relationship develop much more in the second half of the book (including a lot of steamy scenes). The book was well-written and quick to read. I believe this is the author's debut, but I definitely would read more by her.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I've only dipped a toe into historical romance, but I loved this one! Vasti's characters face real and understandable inner demons, as well as the challenges of living in a more restrictive society. I loved Selina and Peter's romance, and how their love brought together an unconventional but adorable family. Can't wait to read Vasti's next works, as well as her recently pubbed novellas!

Such an incredible novel! This was my first novel by Alexandra Vasti and it won’t be my last. I have read quite a few regency romances and this one was top tier with its humor and love story. Peter was a dream MMC with his unwavering support and love for Selina. I loved the vulnerability and communication between the couple. The Ravenscroft family were a joy as well, and I’m hoping this will be the start of a series following the other characters introduced, like Will. There were a few steamy scenes, including one involving a bathtub! 🌶️

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

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC! 3.5 stars rounded up.

Definitely some strong points... and not as strong points. This book is a debut, so a great start for Alexandra Vasti; however, it also felt as if the author was trying to juggle too many plot points (the matchmaking, the children, the pseudo-courtships, and the brother...). The plot and chemistry could have been stronger if Vasti chose to focus on fewer hurdles for the protagonists. Still really enjoyable, and dual POV!

I had seen the author posting about this book on Facebook and I have been eager to read it. I was so happy when I received the ARC and definitely was not disappointed. I love a good matchmaking story. Alexandra’s writing style drew me into this work super quick and kept me turning the page. Both her MMC and MFC were super likable. I especially enjoyed Peter, the Duke of Stanhope’s backstory. I have a love for an American hero in my regency stories. And his New Orleans background made it especially interesting. Lady Selina was enjoyable to read because of the love for those around her. There was nothing malicious or offensive about her character. While I felt it took her a while for her to see the light, it was all well worth it in the end. I really can’t wait for others to read this amazing debut novel!

I'm usually a contemporary romance kind of gal, but every so often I like to read a fun historical romance . This light Regency romance fit the bill, and the sense of humor from the main characters made this an enjoyable read. The charming Peter Kent is an American and the new Duke of Stanhope. After his father's death, he is struggling to gain custody of his two much younger and illegitimate half-siblings. Our heroine, the independent and intelligent Lady Selina Ravenscroft, secretly runs a circulating library for women, specializing in scandalous books that educate and sexually empower women. Some predictable moments of angst with their relationship progression but a fun read nonetheless. Also, I would absolutely read an entire book about Freddie and Lu! New-to-me author, but I will enjoy reading her other books. Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. I gave this 3 stars if only for predictability, but it's actually more like 3.75 stars.

I feel like this author is very quickly going to become one of my favorites. I first discovered Alexandra Vasti because of her first three novelas, which were all amazing. So when I saw her debut novel I was so excited to read it and it 100% lived up to my expectations.

Selina was such a great FMC, who is the perfect regency era eligible woman on the outside but owns a secret sex education and spicy novel library. Peter was also an amazing MMC, he was funny, and charming but still had very real fears about his ability to keep his two younger siblings. The spice level of the novel worked incredibly well too. Which did not surprise me considering this authors wonderful novelas.

I would highly recommend this new historical romance to any romance reader.