Once again Alexandra Vasti manages to create relatable characters that jump off the page. In Lydia we have a heroine that is capable of so much more than even she thinks possible. It's beautiful to see how she starts managing her social anxiety with Arthur's silent support. I enjoyed that Arthur is supportive without being overbearing and how he also has trouble communicating with others. This story has humor, independent female, a supportive and caring male lead, a sprinkle of suspense and some Zebra's, which I'm still wondering about. I mean, did they have proper food? Perhaps it was the espionage element, but this book did feel more fast paced than Ne'er Duke Well. Still a very enjoyable read that had me hugging my kindle. " In all my life, the greatest thing I will ever do is this. Wake up each day and love you down to the depth of my soul."

Tropes:

strangers to lovers
pretend marriage
botched proposal

Alexandra Vasti has a real talent for writing historical romcoms that feel fresh and updated. Lydia, the socially awkward but extremely lovable and opinionated best friend from book one in the series (Ne'er Duke Well) makes a rash decision to offer her hand (and her dowry) to a pen pal she's formed a close bond with over the last three years - the Earl of Strathrannoch. When she surprises the handsome stranger at his doorstep to propose marriage, he claims to have never heard of her or corresponded with her. Together, they set off to discover the man who fooled her.

I enjoyed this lighthearted romance that toyed with its own tropes - a gothic mystery, a spy novel - but I felt that the characters lacked some depth. The story is very romantic but on what foundation does the couple launch into love? They go from utter strangers to banging in like 50 pages. I love spice in my books but I fear we as a romance community are losing the plot, the angst, the connection, the storyunfoldingness of it all, in favor of more and more and more spicy scenes. If that's all we're here for, I would love to introduce readers and publishers to this fancy thing called... ~*,*~erotica~*,*~. But I digress. I read the first book more than a year ago and so I can barely remember the characterization of Lydia that was built into that book. I would expect her book to build more of her character and backstory out but really beyond a few mentions of being overprotected by her brothers, I don't know what makes Lydia the way that she is. The earl was a bit better, I will admit, what with his familial trauma, But alas, I feel we went from strangers to lovers to undying earth-shattering obsession too quickly.

There were a few other story components that I felt were sacrificed for the sake of more romance/boning. For instance, why is the earldom going to hell? Did we ever get any insight into what's going on up there beyond 'hard land to till'? Do the rescued animals have, like, the things they need? DO they spend time in London with her family?? I would have liked to have seen him adopted into the fold of her family as well as realizing the strength of his own.

I am not an unbiased reviewer of Alexandra Vasti’s work given that I have read everything she’s put out and adored it all enough that she is squarely on my list of “auto read authors”.
With that being said, I truly did not think I could love a couple more than I loved Margo Halifax and Henry Mortimer. I certainly never expected to read about Lydia Hope Wallace and adore her more than her bff Selina Ravenscroft. On both counts I was 100% wrong.
Lydia in this story is such a lovely mix of passionate and considered. She feels emotions easily and deeply, and that includes fear. However, she also has a strong sense of morality and justice which helps her to overcome the understandable desire to stay safe and quiet and small that we don’t often see in a romance heroine. Watching her find her footing while also grappling with a yearning for safety and security was very satisfying.
Then, add in Mr. Arthur Baird, Earl of Strathrannoch, and *whew* am I completely and utterly lost. Notations around Arthur are just me writing “this man🩷” over and over again.
The story in this one is less a familial drama like Ne’er Duke Well and centers more on a mystery that involves CAPERS and HIJINKS and MANY FUN SHOES.

TLDR: I loved this even more than its predecessor. Come for the clever glimpses into the background happenings that you get in each chapter heading and stay for the road trip adventures, meddling staff who are like family, meddling family who create chaos in their wake, spying, and identify theft. Also, SCOTLAND.

Thanks to St Martins press for the opportunity to review this ARC prior to publications!

earl crush | alexandra vasta

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🔥🔥🔥


▫️ let's talk about it

"He didn’t know how to tell her that he’d gone about everything backward, that his heart was hers to keep or trod upon, that he wanted her, in every possible way, forever."

_____

I've officially decided I will read anything Alexandra writes, from now on, forever.

This one had all the things we loved about Ne'er Duke Well; a woman with her own mind, hilarious dialogue & laugh out loud scenarios, amazing banter, and swoony depth and feeling. But! This one also had a bit of mystery and danger, and it was SO FUN.

I flew through this book in less than 2 days, and once again will be requesting the audio arc as well so I can listen to it asap!

It's sweet, it's SPICY, it's an adventure.

“Daft woman. Don’t ever do that again.”
“Do what, precisely? Watch as you are accidentally abducted?”
“Go away from me.”

THINGS TO LOVE:
+ a botched proposal
+ a controversial political writer with crippling social anxiety
+ a gruff but sensitive giant
+ zebra fiascos
+ oops we must pretend we're married
+ espionage
+ kissing to hide their identity
+ he saves her
+ she saves him
+ a couple of mistaken identities
+ love letters
+ found family

"You are the summer and the winter, the spring and the fall. When you change, I want to change alongside you. I want to discover you anew every morning. I want to forget what dawn looks like except in your eyes."

_____

{a gigantic thank you to @alexandravasti and @netgalley for the early copy!! Earl Crush is out 1/21/25}

Alexandra Vasti is an auto read author for me now- her books are highly entertaining, deeply felt romances, with great humor throughout. Earl Crush was no exception to that excellent track record, but! I do think this book suffered from a feeling of hurry or being rushed. On the part of Arthur, it felt too close to instalove/lust for my romance tastes- I like to see the process of falling in love play out over some period of time. The plot as well felt- rushed, and at times forced or contrived- there were times when scenes jumped forward and I wanted a bit more closure to the action, or clear explanation of what just happened. For example when they are separated to steal away in a carriage tracking suspects, but then Arthur escapes and they’re reunited dramatically immediately it’s sexy times but wait! What happened to the suspects? Wouldn’t Lydia want to know that right away? How the mystery is unfolding? There were several points like this where it felt like the crux of the book is “Arthur is obsessed with Lydia” as the Main Plot and driver of most of the book happenings. This is romance, and is totally acceptable, but there were some … really big plot elements and a mystery involving brothers going on at the same time and I found the main characters’ distractibility a bit implausible or even offputting. I think this needed to just *slow down,* let things develop, let people react. My biggest point on this was at the very end, with Davis. I needed some reaction scenes and development immediately, not a jump to Arthur’s obsessive monologuing again.

I am critical in this way because I know how talented Alexandra Vasti is as a writer. The book was highly readable, entertaining, romantic, sexy- a solid 4 stars absolutely. I just needed more showing, less telling, on character growth and plot development.

This author and her books 😍. Vasti has created another five star read and I am here for it. This had intrigue, suspense, pining, and alll the spice. The main characters were delightful and the side characters were just as fun. I’m eagerly awaiting for the next book in the series and excited to see who the main characters will be!

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC.

Summary: Earl Crush follows Lydia Hope-Wallace, wealthy spinster and political writer, as she travels to Scotland to propose a marriage of convenience to an earl that she’s corresponded with for years via letters. However the earl has no idea who she is. They find out that she had been writing to his brother the whole time under the earl’s name. His brother is up to no good and had stolen something from his estate. Together Lydia and Arthur have to track him down and retrieve the item.

I love Lydia and Arthur as the main characters. Lydia is intelligent and loyal and Arthur is a sweet caring marshmallow. Some of the events seem over the top but it’s managed well with dry witty humor. I would highly recommend for readers looking for a delightful romance romp with fun hijinks and some mystery.

I loved this book. I’ve read everything Vasti has put out and really enjoyed it all. Her work feels fresh while drawing in beloved tropes. Her characters are lovable and relatable. Her plots are fun rom-coms with real depth to them. This book is no exception. The plot is wonderfully fun - a wealthy spinster has been penpals with an Earl for three years. She heads to Scotland to offer to marry him but he has no idea who she is. Hijinks follow. The female main character has severe social anxiety but a core of steel. The male main character is fraught with insecurities. They fall for each other but neither can believe the other is interested. There is adventure and spies and a road trip and beautiful dialogue. I couldn’t put this book down and I have a serious book hangover now.

This book - wow, I devoured it. I am typically a romantasy reader but love a good period piece, and Vasti knows how to write one. I loved her book Ne’er Duke Well but this book surpassed it for me! It follows the story of Lydia, who is outwardly shy and a wallflower, on her trek to Scotland to seek out an earl she has been corresponding with secretly for the last three years. What begins as a mix up of identity becomes a beautiful romance and story of discovering one’s own inner strength and voice. It is also about family and forgiveness. This story contained a mystery that had me guessing until the very climax of the book. It had me laughing and crying during multiple scenes. Vasti’s writing is incredibly witty, heartfelt, and romantic. I can hear the characters dialogue (both inner and outer) in my head as they come alive off the page. If I could give this more than 5 stars, I absolutely would. I loved this story and hope to read another one of her regency romances in the future!

Alexandra Vasti proves yet again that she's one of the best in the romance game. Her characters are vivid, developed, and act like real people. The hero and heroine of this novel are delightful, people you actually can root for and spend time with happily. Side characters, while not deeply sketched, are instantly recognizable and charismatic. There are so many intriguing moments--you can't decide who you want to have a book next! The longing in this book is unmatched--truly, this author knows what readers want and she serves it up!! It's a book that you will read, re-read, and then re-read again. A winner.

Although the characters and plot were a bit archetypical (excepting the assassination plot towards the end, which I found a bit sudden and disarming -- no pun intended), I very much enjoyed reading this book. Well-written and vivid.

THOUGHTS ON A BOOK | EARL CRUSH by Alexandra Vasti

Earl Crush follows Lydia Hope-Wallace, a smart, rich, English spinster, and Arthur Baird, Earl of Stratrannoch in Scotland. Over the last 3 years, Lydia has been writing political pamphlets. For nearly as long she has been corresponding with the Earl of Stratrannoch. When his last letter mentions his poor financial situation, Lydia decides that they get on well enough and travels up to Scotland to propose marriage. However, when she introduces herself by her pen name, Arthur has no idea who she is. They both soon realize that Arthur’s brother, Davis, has been writing to Lydia under Arthur’s name. And he stole something dangerous from his brother the last time he came home to visit. Together, Lydia and Arthur embark on an adventure to find out what Davis is up to and to retrieve the item he stole, before it’s too late.

My goodness!!! What an absolute ride!!! This was my first time reading anything by Alexandra Vasti and it definitely won’t be my last! There were so many hilarious moments! I don’t usually annotate, but I had to highlight every time I laughed out loud.

This is also my first time reviewing an ARC and I’m glad it was a good one! Can’t wait for the final copy to be released on January 21, 2025. If you’re a fan of historical romance and hijinks, this book is for you!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

62/?

4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Alexandra Vasti has such a fantastic talent for writing regency romance. I just absolutely love our female lead. Lydia is quite relatable- quiet, not quite so confident in social situations, and easily embarrassed (me too). When it's time to stand tall and do her thing, though, she does it. If she needs help, her sweet loving Arthur is there in a flash.

The relationship between Arthur and Davis, as well as the suspenseful part of the plot, were very interesting to me. I loved how Vasti weaved everything together and managed to surprise me! Romantic suspense is just the best, and it was served well here with an array of dynamic, lovable characters.

Once again, I loved reading about the historical references in the Author's Note. Thank you for including this! I am extremely pumped for Georgiana's book, and cannot wait to read more. Crossing my fingers for Jasper Hope-Wallace..

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC copy!

Earl Crush starts out as a fast-paced road trip story, with the MFC fainting, vomiting and driving a runaway coach in an attempt to outrun a herd of stampeding zebras – all within the first few chapters. This comedy of errors begins when Lydia Hope-Wallace, a painfully introverted wall flower who secretly pens radical pamphlets, travels to Scotland. She plans to propose a marriage of convenience to the Earl of Strathrannoch, with whom she believes she has been corresponding under her pen name for three years. Lydia comes from a wealthy family so has a large dowry which she thinks will make her appealing to the earl who inherited an estate in very poor condition.

When Lydia and her friend, Georgiana, arrive at the earl’s estate, they discover that his younger brother, Davis Baird, has been the one writing to Lydia, using his older brother’s identity. This means that the earl, Arthur, has no idea who Lydia is or what letters she is talking about.

Arthur, a reclusive, responsible, creative landowner, also has no idea where his brother is. Davis is missing, along with a rifle scope that Arthur invented in an effort to help his tenants improve their hunting. Arthur is concerned that Davis may be involved with espionage and may sell the scope to the highest bidder, enabling its usage to kill people.

Once Arthur accepts Lydia’s help to track down Davis, the two of them with Georgiana, take off in an outdated, creaking coach on a road trip across Scotland and England, eventually dropping off Georgiana along the way.

The story is over the top at times, however, the author’s dry sense of humor saves it from descending into farce. The narrative is also anchored by the relationship blooming between Arthur and Lydia, neither of whom is certain they are deserving of love. Despite their individual insecurities, each of them is willing to sacrifice and protect the other person. They are a well-matched pair: intelligent, thoughtful, generous and honorable.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for the ARC.

I could not put this book down. I devoured this book in under a day. I kept sneaking chapters at work because I was dying to know what happened next. I was not expecting the twists and turns. I’ve enjoyed other works by this author but I LOVED this one. I will be purchasing a physical version in January as a trophy for my bookcase. I’m hoping the audiobook has a Scottish narrator. I need it.

Lydia is so shy that she can't speak to any man. Her closest male friend is Arthur, the Earl of Strathrannoch, who she speaks to only through letters. She wants to help him by marrying him when she finds out that he needs money.

The first book in this series was terrific and I was looking forward to Lydia's story. Love how political savvy she is yet shy at the same time. The humour is subtle and truly funny. Really enjoy it.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

Thank you to Net Galley & St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Genres, settings, categories, themes: historical romance (M/F), politics, feminism, found family, Regency England

💗 Tropes: 💗
> Danger
> Forced Proximity (Cohabitation & Only One Bed sub-tropes)
> He Falls First
> Lords & Ladies
> Marriage Tropes (Marriage of Convenience proposed early on, doesn't unfold this way)
> Mistaken Identity (corrected early on)

POV: 3rd person, with open window into their thoughts all along

Series/Sequencing Style: standalone (so far - hoping for an anthology of other characters from this world)

Format: ebook (ARC)

🔽🔽🔽

Overall ratings

🌋 Heat level: 4/5 light red hot 🌋
(from Ampersand’s guide to heat levels in romance novels – (0) sweet, (1) mild sizzle, (2) sensual steam, (3) spicy seduction, (4) red hot, (5) erotic) - link on Goodreads review

~ Heroine (Lydia) ~ 5/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕 A character focused around bravery and overcoming her fears, she is a fiercely loyal, strong feminist, who quietly affects change behind the scenes. The H describes her perfectly in his thoughts as clever, open hearted, sympathetic, organized, & brave.

~ Hero (Arthur) ~ 5/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕 He’s a marshmallow and I love him. A quieter type, smart & hardworking, devoted to his people, with a soft spot for animals & his tenants. He’s drawn to her in a way that gives *all the feels* and I appreciate that his devotion that doesn’t waver with any fuckery like many romance novels that thrive on angst. He’s supportive of her (in everything including her feminism & own ideas), and he actively accepts and loves people who would otherwise be ostracized by society (including gay employees who are more like family).

~ Side characters ~ 5/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕

~ Pacing ~ 5/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕 devoured it

~ Plot ~ 4/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑 not the most interesting or complex plot, but it worked for what this was

~ Romantic connection ~ 5/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕 They just work really well together and the sparks are hot 🔥🔥 They bring out each others' best and operate as an equal functioning partnership.

~ Writing ~ 5/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕

~ Reading enjoyability & fun ~ 5/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕

~ Depth & tone (light & fun --> more serious, addresses heavier topics?): 2/5 politics
~ Diversity & representation: an MC with social anxiety; M/M side couple (part of a found family)
~ Angst level: low
~ Sadness level: none

🔽🔽🔽

📝 Review/Notes 📝

Just a really solid historical romance with great characters, vivid chemistry, and a HEA. Not super complex or convoluted, not dark or angsty. The letters in the epilogue are pretty sappy, but whatevs. A lovely read-in-all-one-sitting romantic romp to recommend to any spicy romance lovers. Loved it.

I feel like it’s being set up to be an anthology series? Here for it, I wanna see these other characters we’ve glimpsed in their own stories!

Earl Crush is basically what would happen if Jane Austen and Shonda Rhimes had a love child. we’re talking Regency era scandal with a side of modern sass, and trust me, i am here for it. Lydia and Arthur captured my heart from their first interaction. this book has drama, espionage, the sweetest love letters and ZEBRAS!!! it’s basically my dream historical romance checklist all wrapped up in a package with a nice little bow on top.

This book was SO delightful. A romp, if you will. The characters were beautifully human and charming and the bit of mystery in the plot (I won’t spoil it) was just fun. I’m extremely excited to read more books in this series, and will be reading everything Vasti writes. Read this if you like Erica Ridley or Lisa Kleypas!

4.25 stars. A fun romp of a book, with two great MCs and some fantastic spicy scenes. Lydia was a great FMC — she is strong in her values, but has social anxiety, so she is truly herself with her friends, family, and, eventually, Arthur. She writes political pamphlets under a pseudonym to argue for the causes she supports! Arthur is just very into supporting Lydia, which was adorable. He also helps rescue exotic animals! They were a great couple, and most of the conflict was external (a spy plot!). I do think the plottiness of the caper overshadowed their relationship development at times, especially for early-on in the relationship, when they were in forced proximity together at Arthur’s castle. However, overall the book was very enjoyable, well-researched (duh, the author excels at this) and a great addition to Vasti’s œuvre 😊

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