This was fun! It is low on angst and high on banter and matchmaking schemes.

Peter and Selina are pretty much attracted to one another from the start and they have delightful chemistry. (though it would have been nice to have more of a build up to their relationship). I loved how supportive Peter was of Selina's secret occupation. Overall, this is a charming read. 3.5 stars.

Thank you very much to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

As far as spicy Regency romcoms go, this one is pretty humorous. It’s fluff and fun. There were some scenes that I rolled my eyes a bit at how cheesy it was, but they were short lived because the antics just kept on rolling.

Genre: historical romance
England, 1815

Peter Kent, Duke of Stanhope, has recently moved to England to claim his inheritance and title. Little did he know that this also included two half siblings. Only it doesn’t quite, because Peter’s father never formally recognized them and left no provision for them in his will. But Lu and Freddie are family, and Peter will stop at nothing to gain custody rather than seeing them passed amongst poor relations. Lady Selina Ravenscroft has a brilliant idea: if Peter marries, he’ll have a stronger case for custody. But he can’t marry her. Selina carries a secret that could bring down even the most respectable of dukes: she owns a circulating library that distributes explicit books catering exclusively to ladies. That’s not to say they aren’t maddeningly attracted to each other.

Alexandra Vasti plays with familiar tropes, tweaking them slightly for her purposes. Single parent becomes older brother with siblings he doesn’t quite know how to handle but who he loves with all his heart. (This is more forgiving for the modern reader, who wants to assume that someone who is a single dad is not as aloof as may once have been considered charming.) The American-born duke charmingly bungles English manners, but respectful of the institution he now occupies, recognizing the power he can wield in parliament. Selina is a forward woman who prefers many things over needlework, but those things include running a library of explicit literature. Vasti writes an energetic and yet sympathetic heroine well situated within the regency era. Selina is a gossip, a do-gooder, staunchly loyal, a problem solver and a delight to read.

I knew this would be a spectacular full length debut from Vasti because her writing in her novellas is a joy to read. Every moment - from laughter to tears - in this book is fun, sweet, sensitive, and caring. And more than a little bit horny. I can count on Vasti to bring the right level of heat. With a curious but nervous virgin heroine, there’s both sensitivity to her needs and creativity as she questions what she’s read on pages and what’s physically possible in the bedroom. I love seeing well-matched couples on page, and it's clear to me that Peter and Selina evolve together to have such a supportive and loving relationship.

Ne’er Duke Well was a charming historical romance with two fascinating characters at its center.

Peter Kent, now the Duke of Stanhope, grew up in New Orleans before unexpectedly becoming the heir to the Dukedom. Additionally, he found out he had a younger brother and sister, “natural children” of his philandering father. His big challenge is being granted guardianship of his siblings.

Lady Selina Ravenscroft puts it onto herself to assist Peter in succeeding. Her big idea is to marry him off. Selena comes up with several possible wives except herself. You can imagine how well that goes! I enjoyed the romance but found the subplot of Selena’s scandalous library fascinating. I particularly enjoyed the character of Georgiana Cleeve, who Peter originally courts at the encouragement of Selena. Ne’er Duke Well is thoughtful dealing with several thorny issues - some specific to 19th Century Britain, and some that are relevant to this day. Peter and Selena were a terrific “you and me against the world” couple.

Thanks to the publisher for the gifted copy.

This was a lovely romance, and I’m so happy that Alexandra Vasti is being introduced to the larger romance world. After reading her regency novellas (the Halifax Hellions), I could tell that she had the touch for this, and I’m happy to confirm that with her first full length novel.

This novel alternates sweet and spicy at the perfect times. I loved how much the MCs truly fell for the character and personality of the other, in addition to feeling the chemistry. Vasti perfectly balances dramatic tension in the story without overusing the miscommunication trope.

Overall highly recommend!

I had been impatiently waiting for this book, and it was definitely worth the wait!! Every bit as well-written and wonderful as the Halifax Hellions series. The combination of sweet MMC plus chaotic children is in my opinion always a recipe for success and this book definitely has plenty of that. Not to mention how much I loved all of the side characters in this book—I’m really hoping we get stories for Georgiana, the Hope-Wallaces, and prequels for Clermont + Faiza and Judith + Thomasin. I can’t wait to get more from this author!!!

Spoilers ahead: <spoiler> I started to get a little frustrated with Selina because she started down the very common road of being paternalistic and deciding what was best for Peter despite what he clearly wanted. But in a lovely turn of events, instead of taking matters into her own hands and fleeing into the night without a word, she actually COMMUNICATED WITH HIM!! Practically unheard of in an HR and an absolute delight. </spoiler>

A big thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review! All opinions are my own.

Ne’er Duke Well is such a delightful, smart, and sexy read. It effortlessly drifts from laugh-out-loud funny to emotionally intense to red hot and back again in the most enjoyable way. Selina is admirable and lovable, and it’s so easy to root for her and Peter from the start. I wholeheartedly recommend Ne’er Duke Well and I sincerely hope we get sequels featuring some of the secondary characters (Georgiana, Will, maybe a grownup Lu?!). So glad I got a chance to read the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC for this book in exchange for my honest review.

The writing in this was pretty wonderful. Vasti has a very good understanding of the time period, in which is was very easy for me to fall into 1800s England. The characters were very likeable, and they had a certain charm about them, their manners, while proper, still very fun and exciting.

The book is a decent length, but I did get the feeling that the two main characters, Peter and Selina, did seem to have feelings for one another rather quickly (Though it was about a little less than half way through the book). In my mind, I would have liked more bonding time with them before they actually acted out on their feelings, even if poor Peter did get rejected at first.

The book did a good job at keeping my attention, but I do fear that romance books in this time period usually aren't for me. But I did love that both Peter and Selina had agendas that most people at the time didn't approve of. It brought more depth into their character.

This novel has a well crafted, if predictable, plot with some clever twists for the female characters that are refreshing. The story does drag at times and could be edited for a more compelling read.

Peter, the Duke of Stanhope, is a rather unconventional English duke. Raised in America by someone other than his mother, a third son, he is dragged back to the British island to fulfill his destiny. Peter became the heir when those ahead of him in his family line didn't make it.
Lady Selina is the daughter of a duke and a bit unorthodox herself. She has a secret she has shared with only one person, her twin, who is off to war on the continent. But this clandestine part of her life may have dire consequences some day, of which she is painfully aware.
Peter is in the midst of a custody issue regarding his two younger half siblings and about to go through the court system against a judge who doesn't look kindly on his claim. This chancellor has a number of reasons to think Peter is not exactly perfect parenting material, some of which made this reader laugh aloud.
Selina and Peter, when not engaged in verbal barbs, have a healthy attraction to each other, and Selina also likes his siblings. In her very managing ways, she wants to assist Peter in reaching his goal of obtaining his siblings. Selina comes up with a plan - Peter should marry. She also has a list of three possible candidates. The problem is Peter wants none of the candidates, and Selina wants Peter.
The trope is a familiar one in romance novels, and yet the way this story is told is so very, very good. There is a great deal of detail on both of the main characters' backgrounds, the secondary characters are well developed and entertaining, and the love scenes are very well done. They are never excessive or vulgar, but heated and very much into the realm of "lovemaking." The use of humor and detail is wonderful.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and read it in its entirety without putting it down. It is the first I have read from this author, and I hope to read more from her in the future. I will definitely recommend it to fans of historical romance.

This is one of my new favorite historical romances. It's a tender friends to lovers romance between two people who care more deeply for each other than they're brave enough to admit for much of the story. It has a few romcom elements, but it's also spicy and deeply loving.

Peter was not raised to be a future Duke. Abandoned by his father at a young age, he grew up in Louisiana, raised by his mother and then his father's mistress after his mother's passing. Neither he nor his father expected him to become a peer of the realm, but that's exactly where we find Peter at the beginning of this story. He's out of his depth, making plenty of political enemies as he stands for the abolition of slavery, and desperate to take guardianship of his younger half brother and sister.

Selina is the sister of a Duke. As a woman of generous means, she does not have the pressure to marry that her peers do. On the sirface she is a perfectly respectable lady, but she secretly runs a circulating library for women of the ton that features salacious books. She crosses paths with Peter when he's desperate to find a way to care for his siblings, and she decides the best way for Jim to make himself appear stable and respectable enough to parent two young children is to be married.

This book really highlights the importance of family, the value of being able to be vulnerable with those you care for, and being willing to lean on each other for help instead of trying to brazen out solutions alone. I love the way Peter and Selina grow throughout the story both together and individually.

Petwr is charming but impulsive, so the story has its fair share of romcom-y moments. There is definitely plenty of romantic tension, banter, and a handful of explicit intimate scenes, and it's also really sweet.

I really, really enjoyed this book, and I think you will also enjoy it if you love friends to lovers romance, books that illustrate strong family and sibling ties, and couples that show how much you can accomplish when you lean on each other for support.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Lady Selina takes it upon herself to find a wife for Peter, newly inherited Duke. Surprise! She’s his perfect match. An incredibly charming, joyful, swoony, heartfelt romance that stole my heart.
Alexandra Vasti is one of my favorite writers and is a fresh, talented voice in historical romance. Her characters are full of life. Peter and Selina are a joy to read and their love story is charming and romantic. I cannot wait to see what Vasti writes next as her secondary characters in this novel were just as wonderful as our main characters!

📚✨ Book Review ✨📚


"Ne'er Duke Well" by Alexandra Vasti is a delightful Regency romp filled with unexpected steaminess. Lady Selina's determination to find the Duke of Stanhope the perfect wife takes an unexpected turn when she starts considering herself for the role. The story unfolds with scandalous reputations, matchmaking gone awry, and scorching chemistry between the disreputable duke and his unconventional matchmaker. Vasti weaves a tale of romance and passion, adding a touch of scandal that keeps readers hooked. An enjoyable read that takes Regency romance to new and steamy heights.

🌹📖 #NeerDukeWell #AlexandraVasti #RegencyRomance #BookReview #SteamyReads #RomanticEscapade #BookishDelights" ✨📚

What an excellent debut novel for Alexandra Vasti! Her writing was witty, nicely paced, and hooked me from the first paragraph.

In “Ne’re Duke We’ll”, Peter Kent, newly inherited Duke of Stanhope, finds out that he has two younger siblings. They were appointed to live with a distant relative, but Peter wants to petition to be their guardian. The only problem is he’s a foreigner with radical ideals that not all English aristocracy agree with. He needs help if he wants to become their guardian.

Lady Selina is an old friend and a problem solver. She comes up with a plan to have Peter marry to seem more settled and prepared to take care of the children. It seems like a great idea, but she didn’t count on her feelings getting in the way. She’d love to marry him herself, but she has skeletons in her closet and is afraid that if they were to come to light, she would ruin Peter’s chance to get the children.

The story was nicely paced. It was a quick read and had many humorous parts, including but not limited to all the side characters. It dealt with more progressive topics for the time period, such as feminism and abolishing slavery. The main characters were like-able and the spice was nice and spicy. The only reason I didn’t give this a 5 star rating is because some of the end seemed a tad rushed. But I will definitely be looking for more books from this author in the future.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for releasing this arc to me in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 ✨

My first historical romance and it gave bridgerton vibes, so I automatically loved it. The tension and eventual spice between the two characters was absolutely chef's kiss!

Vasti’s books keep getting better and better. After devouring her novellas I was eager to get my hands on a copy of Ne’er Duke Well. It did not disappoint all of the characters are enjoyable and you’re rooting for them! I’m excited to see if any of the side characters get their own stories. This book will for sure be a reread in as many formats as possible!

I enjoyed this book, it was a very quick read and easy to get lost in the story. I think there are quite a few side characters that can get slightly confusing but I understand that the author is most likely fleshing out a whole universe. I enjoyed the direct language regarding slavery in this time period as well as the author’s inclusion of more diverse characters overall. I think that the main female character was a little underwhelming but still relatable.

This was such a delightful book. I was in the mood for a historical romance and this book did not disappoint. I would recommend this book!

4.5⭐️

A downright delightful, darling, and dazzling debut! I adored Vasti’s Halifax Hellions novellas and Ne’er Duke Well was one of my most anticipated releases for 2024, and it exceeded all my hopes! Before diving into the characters and story, I want to mention Vasti’s meticulous research. If you’ve read her previous work or follow her on social media, you’ll recognize her attention to detail when it comes to historical romance facts. Vasti’s passion and love for romance and kinky etymology and history is apparent in all of her work and I relished reading about her research in her author’s note.

Now to the characters! Vasti’s heroines are some of my most favorite characters to read about because they are brilliant, passionate, resourceful women with lives, love, and aspirations beyond the confines of societal expectations. They are unapologetically themselves and own their pleasure, and Selina is no exception. Selina’s character is fiercely loyal, immensely clever, and incredibly tenderhearted, though she reserves this side for those within her inner circle, and there is no problem she cannot solve. And then there’s precious Peter. This man is head over heels for and completely bewitched (body AND soul) by Selina. He has a heart of solid gold and I adored how supportive he was of Selina, in all of her endeavors… even her failed attempts at matchmaking. They complemented each other so beautifully and their love story was so soft, sweet, and damn sexy.

The entire cast was superb and it is truly a testament to Vasti’s writing how the side characters are just as endearing and memorable as the MCs. I need to know more about Lydia, Georgiana, and Thomasin ASAP. Then there’s darling Lu and Freddie who round out the cast and bring so much charm and humor (I laughed out loud so many times at Lu’s quick wit) to the story. If you’re a fan of a found family, you will adore this cast of characters.

The tension Vasti built between Selina and Peter was so damn delicious and she wasted no time delivering some spectacular spice. I loved the focus on the family and how it comes in many different forms, strong women shucking convention, and women taking ownership of their pleasure, education, and bodies. I also appreciated how the men in this story rallied around Selina, Lydia, and even little Lu when she wanted a rapier and fencing lessons. These men encouraged and supported the women and didn’t leave them to deal with the despicable titled men who sought to belittle and silence their progressive pursuits.

Basically, if you’ve been looking for a friends to lovers story where the MCs are super softies and totally smitten, the stakes are low, the matching-making is doomed from the start, and there’s an erotic lending library and a sexy bath scene, then you are in luck because Ne’er Duke Well is just the book for you!

If you like a good regency era romance THIS IS IT! Think Bridgerton but with less drama and so much more substance. Sibling custody battles, marriage set ups, scandal, and a FMC who came up with a brilliant way for the of society women to be educated on things that matter. So witty and so many good passages I highlighted while reading! I will be highly recommending this book to anyone who likes historical romances!