Member Reviews
This was a really great read! it kept me hooked and I flew through it in a day! The plot twist was absolutely great! I also love the strength the characters show
I loved this book. This has only further solidified this author as one of my new favorites and all of her books as must reads.
This book had the perfect amount of romance and suspense.
Ahh, Ms. Vasti. I heard you describe this book as if "Dickens and Lisa Frank had taken ecstasy" and it FITS. Trust me, in the best way possible. It was super-fun from the very first chapter, with spicy scenes, LOL moments, and swoon-worthy guys.
Firstly, I absolutely fell head-over-heels for our hero, Arthur. When he falls, he falls HARD. I love that in a hero. I love when the guy is like "Ugh she's the worst, who would ever fall for her?" then he does. *chef's kiss* He was supportive of Lydia from the beginning. And that Scottish brogue?!? YESSSS. I also love that he rehabilitates animals (even though he pretends to gripe about it) and that he's so determined to help out the tenants that he's responsible for. I love a competent member of the aristocracy.
And Lydia? What an awesome heroine. Super introverted and panicky, she's such a relatable woman. (I, too, would probably throw up after the events of that first day.) She's fiercely determined, and although she knows how smart she is, I love when Arthur makes her feel smart and special. The exotic animals were also adorable. And I loved the road-trip aspects and the spicy scenes were top notch. Ms. Vasti can write a spicy scene like nobody's business.
If you're looking for a fun, kinda zany, HOT historical romance, this one is perfection.
First book I have not finished. Got around 10% in and the book is just not for me. The writing style is okay, but I do not think Regency rom-coms are the story type for me.
Alexandra Vasti is quickly becoming a historical romance favorite of mine.
Lydia is a bookish suffragette with social anxiety who happens to have a fortune. Arthur is a penniless earl who could really use a wealthy wife. It seems like a no brainer, but how they come together is the fun part. I love how the characters are so three dimensional and you really root for them to get past their anxieties and stay with each other.
There’s definitely intrigue and subplots that keep the story going, which I appreciate - it’s not all just romance, and lots of intelligence.
Definitely one of the smartest historical romances I’ve had the pleasure of reading, and I can’t wait for the next one!
Thanks for Netgalley, St Martin’s Press and Alexandra Vasti for the ARC.
Wit, humor, heart, spice...and a third act reveal that I was absolutely dying to get to! Vasti is immediately joining my permanent re-read collection, and is one to watch in the Romance Book Community.
As a fan of Alexandra Vasti's self-published novellas, I was excited to be given an ARC of "Earl Crush", her latest Regency-era romance novel. The book revisits some characters from her last full-length novel and it was fun to follow their storylines.
"Earl Crush" centers on Lydsia, a rich heiress with extreme social anxiety but secretly writes political pamphlets, and Arthur, a penniless Scottish earl who is an inventor and blacksmith. Arthur and Lydia have great chemistry and their growing relationship is the star of the book. There were a lot of side characters and Vasti tied in some political events happening at the time in England, but I was distracted by these and felt the pacing was off. It could be because I am so used to Vasti's novellas and her tighter, fast-paced plots.
Fans of Vasti will enjoy this and I look forward to her next novel about Georgiana.
This was a review for NetGalley.
The Vibes:
—epistolary romance to fake engagement pipeline
—golden retriever och aye hero
—batty but intellectual heroine
Heat Index: 7/10
The Basics:
After corresponding with the eccentric and cash-poor Earl of Stratrannoch, writer of seditious pamphlets Lydia sets out to offer her hand in a marriage of convenience. Except she wasn't writing the Earl, but his mess of a brother. The actual Earl, Arthur, is thrown off... but isn't upset with the idea of being with Lydia. Unfortunately, there's the matter of his missing brother, espionage, and her radical views to contend with—can he turn this sham engagement into a real one?
The Review:
I really, really wanted to love this one.
I loved Alexandra Vasti's Halifax Hellions novellas. I liked Ne'er Duke Well, though I'll admit it doesn't stick out in my mind these days. This... I'd describe this book as a "me, not you" problem, or like... The only parallel I can really think of is that it's a nice guy. And not a Nice Guy, but a genuinely nice guy, and I have some friends who would LOVE him, but for me he's just a bit bland.
Which is probably how I could describe our hero Arthur, too.
To me, what made Vasti's novellas so great was that they had this sparkling tone and briskness I really couldn't resist, coupled with a really fun approach to characterization that somehow made the leads feel so tangible, despite existing in a short book. So why do I not feel that way about Arthur and Lydia?
In truth, I think there's more of a care for likability in these trad published books, so Lydia has the right politics (and it's not that I disagree with her politics at all, or that I want politics out of romance—the opposite. I just feel that there's a way to do it organically, and this honestly doesn't feel very organic to me) and Arthur is very harmless and like... Aggressive in the bedroom (to an extent) but not at all truly aggressive outside of it, because we wouldn't want him to seem like an Alpha.
Whereas... In my favorite Vasti work (In Which Matilda Halifax Learns the Value of Restraint) she definitely wrote an alpha. A soft alpha, and alpha we could all like, but an alpha nonetheless.
And that's okay.
I think that Vasti's novellas also allowed her and encouraged her to snap straight to the point. Here, the pacing felt kinda too fast and kinda too slow for me. Arthur and Lydia have sparks way too quickly, and then I was like "But her novellas also had sparks early, you like early sparks". And I think the issue is that I do like early sparks, but there has to be more conflict. In In Which Margo Halifax Earns Her Shocking Reputation, the leads have known each other a long time, we feel it, and the hero just can't spit it out (and he's lowkey a freak, but that's another thing). In Matilda, the hero and heroine genuinely clash and he's truly baffled by her. Here, they get along, and I don't super get why they aren't together fairly early on.
However, there are gems here. Vasti writes a great sex scene, it must be said; there are a lot of fun side characters (and in fact, I kept thinking, "Damn, the messy brother is probably more my type of hero even though he totally isn't one"); I really liked the letter writing elements, which I don't usually; and I loved the epilogue. Loved it.
So while this was too much sugar for me, and not enough of the snap I want from a Vasti book, it's not bad. It's a nice guy.
The Sex:
I mean, like I said. She writes a damn good sex scene. They're hot, they're sweet, there's a bit of fun you don't necessarily get in every historical... I was happy.
Overall, I can't say this thrilled me, but I also am looking forward to Vasti's next book (it sounds super promising). I do think she might benefit from trimming these a little more. Here's the thing: I find writing a great novella super impressive... Possibly more impressive than writing a great novel. She's so good at using a short pagecount to pack a punch. Whether her next work is longer or shorter, I just want to see more of that punch.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
4.5 stars.
Lydia Hope-Wallace has been corresponding anonymously with the Earl of Strathrannoch for a few years. When his latest letter reveals his dire financial straits, Lydia does what any sensible woman would do. She sets off for Scotland to offer Arthur her hand in marriage.
Upon arrival, it is clear the the Earl of Strathrannoch has no idea who she is.
Lydia has been corresponding with Arthur’s brother under false pretenses. The Earl is desperate to track his traitorous brother down, and can’t seem to do so without Lydia’s assistance.
As the two team up to find Davis, they embark on an adventure of espionage, deception, and an unlikely case of romance.
Read if you like:
- regency romance
- fake marriage
- one bed
I loved this so much. Alexandra Vasti has solidified herself as a must read author.
Lydia was so relatable to me - she suffers from social anxiety which manifests itself both physically and mentally. I appreciated her character and her vulnerability. I also loved seeing her character growth and her bravery as the story progressed.
Arthur and Lydia’s relationship from strangers, to friends, to more than friends was lovely and very well done. They balance each other so well and their relationship is incredibly sweet.
This was such a fun book. I found myself laughing out loud at the antics of Lydia and Arthur. This book is nothing short of swoon-worthy, hilarious, and heartfelt. I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys the regency romance genre.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a free digital copy of this book. This is my honest review. Publication date: January 21, 2025.
Alexandra Vasti once again delivers a fun, charming historical romance with plenty of heat and heart. I adore her writing and really enjoyed the progression of Arthur and Lydia’s relationship.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC, which was provided in exchange for an honest review.
This is my second Alexandra Vasti Regency Era Historical Romance and Earl Crush did not disappoint. I just love her strong female leads who know who they are and the unconventional male leads who fully support them.
Lydia and Arthur are great and fun working together on the mystery. There is also a fun cast of side characters that you get to really enjoy and add a fun element to the story.
Thank you Net Galley , St. Martin’s Griffin and Alexandra Vasti for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
3.75 stars
I struggled with this in the beginning but you know what? I ended up really liking it.
At first, everything was a bit too ridiculous and over the top for me.
The romance felt rushed. They were lusting after each other from the start. The story was kind of all over the place.
But it was a very easy read, so I just kept going and once I got past the first like 20%, the characters grew on me, I got used to the ridiculousness of it all, and I found myself invested.
And that led to me finishing this in three days, which is basically unheard of for me lately.
If you like regency romances, I think you'd probably really enjoy this!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
Alexandra Vasti continues to prove herself to be a shining light in historical romance. This was honestly a delight, packed full of great Regency tropes: he's Scottish, there's a castle, mistaken identity, assumed identity, a house party, a fake marriage, a kidnapping, spying. And that sounds like it could be a lot, but the story rollicks along deftly--it's a ROMP. And super crackling chemistry between the lonely Scottish earl and the brilliant but shy pamphleteer. There was a bit of a rush at the end in not quite wrapping up some family dynamics, but the whole thing was really just so enjoyable. 4.5 stars.
This book was a fun, quick, and easy read as I was traveling! It was so hard to put it down because the plot was thicc and apparently, so was the tension between Arthur and Lydia!!
I love a good love letter and the way this book seems filled with all sorts of them? Amazing.
The two MCs are simps for each other in the best of ways and while miscommunication may have brought them together, it is never a reason to KEEP them apart!!
Not only does the author give us compelling MCs, I’m sitting here aching for the next books on the other characters that have made their appearance!
Thank you Alexandra Vasti for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
This was a thoroughly enjoyable historical romance! It incorporates many of the usual romance tropes, but Vasti still manages to make it feel fun and keeps the reader wanting more. I am a fan of Ne'er Duke Well so this was a welcome read!
Alexandra Vasti does it again!! I loved living in the Hellions universe again for a little while. She makes every MMC so delicious and lovable. This is a giggling and feet kicking book 100%. There were parts of the story when I felt a little lost as they bounced from place to place, but it didn't bother me enough to impact the storyline or my enjoyment of the book. Lydia and Arthur would die for each other and reading their journey was a treat. I'm sad I have to wait again for the next installment.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the ARC. My opinions are my own and are completely honest.
If you love regency romances, this is the perfect read.
Lydia is like a lot of us. She struggles in social situations to the point of getting sick in plants. She befriends a broke earl in Scotland through years of correspondence and political pamphlets. She devises a plan to travel from London to Scotland to propose marriage to the earl for their mutual benefit. Things go south when she finds out the her pen pal was pretending to be his older, grumpy brother- the actual earl. Thus begins the adventure of Lydia and Arthur as they try to find Davis, the lying, scoundrel of a brother, in a race against the clock. This book has an inn with one bed, grumpy/sunshine, a FMC with relatable social anxiety, who is also smart and brave when it matters, dual POVs and one of the sweetest love stories I have read all year.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this ARC!
Once again, I had real trouble getting into one of Vasti's full length novels. There's just something about these characters being so in love so fast that doesn't work for me in a novel. I can accept it in her novellas, but I need more build up. I'll keep at it, but I'm already feeling a bit bored and may end up DNFing.
Alexandra Vasti's second full-length novel is just as funny, adventurous, romantic, and sexy as her debut, Ne'er Duke Well! No sophomore slump here.
Lydia has spent the past several Seasons barely making a ripple in society, but her anonymous political pamphlets have made a splash (published by the heroine of Ne'er Duke Well, the first in the series!). After the Scottish Earl of Strathrannoch writes a letter in response to one of Lydia's writings, the two start a correspondence that gets increasingly familiar. When Lydia discovers that Strathrannoch can barely afford to keep his crumbling estate afloat, she heads to Scotland to propose marriage. Although she's incredibly shy, he has the liberal politics and personality she wants in a husband, and he needs her sizeable inheritance.
The book begins as Lydia, her friend Georgina, and Georgina's dog arrive at Strathrannoch's estate. They quickly discover that Arthur, the Earl, spends his time blacksmithing and inventing, not involving himself in politics. And certainly not writing to Lydia's political writer alter ego!
After Lydia recovers from the mortifying ordeal of proposing to a complete stranger--a notably handsome, brawny one--she and Arthur deduce that his brother, Davis, is her penpal.
Arthur throws some more wrenches into Lydia's plan. He reveals that Davis's public political views are very different from what he told Lydia in his letters. Moreover, Davis disappeared a few years ago, along with a rifle scope prototype that Arthur invented. The two realize Davis is up to something suspicious and his letters to Lydia hold the clues to finding him.
Arthur, Lydia, Georgina, and a cast of fun side characters (including Lydia's multiple brothers, Selina from the previous book, and Arthur's gay land stewards) set off on a cross-country road trip to find Davis and foil whatever he's plotting. There's a fake marriage, an unplanned stay at a house party, and all sorts of unexpected mishaps.
It sounds plot-heavy, but there's a lot of very well-done character building and internal conflict. Arthur's brother and father issues were a little more interesting to me, but I also generally have a harder time identifying with shy heroines.
Don't let the cover fool you (it's beautiful but I know some people are turned off by "cartoons"), this is definitely a very sexy book with emotional depth. Although this is only Vasti's second full-length novel, her wonderful novellas honed her skills well.
Highly recommend for fans of Sarah MacLean, Martha Waters, Julie Ann Long.
Thanks NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the pleasure of an early copy!!
he Duke Who Wasn’t is a delightful romp that combines mistaken identities, fiery chemistry, and a dash of rebellion, all served with a healthy helping of Scottish charm. Lydia Hope-Wallace, an heiress who’d rather pen seditious pamphlets than sit primly in society’s lap, decides to take matters into her own hands by proposing marriage to a duke. Only problem? The duke she’s been corresponding with isn't the duke at all. Enter Arthur Baird, the penniless Scottish Duke of Strathrannoch — or, as Lydia soon discovers, the wrong man for the job.
What follows is a delightful dance of honor, family obligations, and plenty of sizzling tension as Lydia and Arthur try (and fail) to keep their hands off each other. The story cleverly weaves together personal ambition with the heady mix of romantic chemistry, and the characters push each other out of their comfort zones in the best possible way. Lydia’s wit and Arthur’s reluctant charm make for a pairing that feels like the perfect storm — and who doesn’t love a good storm?
If you’re looking for a witty, heartwarming story of self-discovery, mistaken identity, and a romance that sparks hotter than a summer in the Highlands, this one’s for you. Just be prepared for an ending that will make you wonder if true love is the ultimate act of rebellion.