This was such a fun and adventurous story and I loved every page of it. The storyline that takes Lydia and Arthur on their roadtrip through the Scottish Lowlands and to London was more urgent and serious than I’d expected but I enjoyed the humor the author was able to work in to lighten the tone.

My favorite part of this book though, was the vulnerabilities of both the MC and how they proved to themselves that they’re more than that. Lydia is a wallflower that failed in her seven seasons due to her social anxiety. But has found herself in writing political pamphlets. I found her brave and the courage she finds in the moment of adversity was admirable. Arthur was raised to be the Earl but still brought up to think that he’s not suited for the role and that it should’ve gone to his younger brother. He has a hard time asking for help and that people wouldn’t choose him for himself. The internal thoughts Arthur and Lydia have are relatable and I highlighted so many quotes throughout. While Arthur struggles the longest, I wasn’t frustrated and found it fitting to his character.

All this blends so well into their romance. Arthur falls hard for Lydia but still struggles with his insecurities whereas, Lydia has always struggled in new situations and people but with Arthur and during their adventures she really shines. I loved this in how this was told, that we are not defined by our perceived weaknesses.

The road trip storyline balanced well with the romance and I liked that they worked together throughout and they didn’t fight their feelings for most of the book.

There are three encounters plus scenes of grinding and a fade to black. I found these scenes to be higher heat. Lydia and Arthur also took full advantage of the walls provided.

Earl Crush is the second book in the Belvoir’s Library trilogy. This could be read as a standalone. It takes place three years after book one.

I received an advance reader copy from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Vasti's newest historical romance is a joy to read. Well-paced and featuring characters that bring rich depth of thought to the page, it wouldn't surprise me if readers were so absorbed into Earl Crush that the epilogue appears as a surprise. (I know it certainly did for me!)

Lydia was my favorite character in the previous book, so I loved seeing her story come to life in this installment. Though I didn't agree with every choice he made in the third act, Arthur was a kindhearted love interest who made for a doting partner for Lydia. Earl Crush was much spicier than I was expecting given it's a historical, and I was loving their chemistry and banter throughout.

Alexandra Vasti has become my favorite new historical romance, author. And this one is at the top. Lydia is a spinster, a wallflower, a mess of anxiety, but also brilliant in politics and strong in her own way. On the outside looking and everyone sees her just as the embarrassing spinster that can’t talk in public but her friends see and know so much more is behind the mask. After years of corresponding with the Lord in Scotland, she decides to take control of her life with lady Georgiana by her side she runs off to Scotland to propose marriage of convenience to the Lord. She’s been sending letters to. With an absolutely hilarious meet cute - do we find out that the Lord that she thought she was sharing all of her political brilliance with is not the same Lord she proposed to. Craziness ensues, fake marriage ensues and all the fantastic tropes you can hope for. Grab this book and keep historical romance coming.

Literally five stars! I had very high expectations for this because Ne’er Duke Well was one of my absolute favorite books last year and Earl Crush did not disappoint. I love Vasti’s writing style and how funny but moving her writing is. She made me a huge fan of historical romance and I love the authenticity in her stories (even reading the note at the end about what certain scenes were based on). Lydia is such a mess but endearing at the same time. I often argue that female main characters are insufferable, but Lydia is able to be such a beautiful main character while having her quirks. I love that this romance was also about coming to terms with self identity and personal growth. It was funny, witty, and so entertaining. I was so sad when I finished this book, I wanted it to go on forever.

I enjoyed this one. I always love a good historical romance on audiobook, so I decided to listen to it that way. Admittedly, I was distracted at times listening due to the fires that happened in Los Angeles the week I was reading it. I live in LA, and (I hope understandably so) was distracted.

So I did miss the part about Arthur's brother and what exactly they thought he was up to. Thankfully, it came together in the end and I was able to follow along.

I liked the two main characters – Lydia and Arthur. Their rapport was great and I liked how they opened up and trusted each other. The fake marriage aspect was fun too ◡̈

Overall, a fun read. I'll definitely read more by Vasti. I liked the narrator's performance too.

Oh the pining! These two characters – Lydia and Arthur – were made for each other, if only they would let themselves be open to the possibility. Lydia is our lovely, intelligent, socially anxious heroine who has been secretly writing politically radical pamphlets for years under a pen name AND corresponding with a like-minded Earl of Strathrannoch. When the Earl writes of financial worries, this heiress does what any woman would do and takes off for Scotland to propose marriage! One small problem, the Earl has no idea who she is, AND he (Arthur) quickly figures out his brother has been impersonating him and writing to Lydia the whole time. What happens next is a road trip of epic proportions where Lydia and Arthur realize that love, respect, being seen for who you are and being loved for it is possible. Reasons why I loved this novel – 1) brilliant, emotive writing that makes these characters feel real 2) each chapter opens with a note written by Lydia or Arthur to the other, and the pining is next level 3) this story is sexy in a sly, understated way and you feel their attraction to each other. Earl Crush is why my love for historical romance is never-ending! Alexandra’s writing brings a contemporary sensibility to a historical setting and characters, and I am huge fan! Earl Crush is out on January 21, and it will be available as e-book, paperback and audiobook. This is an ARC review – thank you to NetGalley.

📖: Earl Crush, The Belvoir's Library Trilogy Book #2

✍🏾 Author: Alexandra Vasti-I read Ne'er Duke Well and gave it 4⭐

📅Publication date: 1-21-25 | Read 1-14-25

📃 # of pages: 352 e-book

Genre:
*Historical Fic/Romance
*Regency Rom-Com
*Women's Fic

Tropes:
*fake marriage
*secret identity
*marriage of convenience
*mutual pining
*journey companions/a quest
*same bedroom
*close proximity
*family drama
*pen pals

👆🏾POV:3rd person dual

⚠️TW: death of parents, virgin h

🌎 Setting: London

Summary: After corresponding via letters Lydia decides to visit Arthur and propose marriage to help him financially. He has no idea who she is but needs her help to find his brother Davis.


👩🏾 Heroine: Lydia Hope-Wallace- 26, wallflower heiress w/ social anxiety. Has 4 brothers (Theo, Jasper, Gabe, and Ned) +her mother/father deceased, writes feminist radical pamphlets about abolition of England's aristocracy and universal suffrage

👨🏾 Hero: Arthur Baird- 33, Earl of Strathrannoch, a Scottish recluse. Both parents deceased and inventor of rifle telescope among other things.

🎭 Other Characters:
* Georgiana Cleeve-A gothic novelist, Lydia's BFF
* Davis Baird-Arthur's younger brother
* Lady Selina Kent/Duchess of Stanhope-runs the Belvoir's Library (features erotic novels for women)
*Jasper-Lydia's brother pretending to be Mr. Joseph Eagermont

🤔 My Thoughts: Lydia was a great heroine with progressive beliefs to change the world. Arthur was instantly attracted to Lydia and became very protective as they looked for his brother. Lady Georgiana was a great wingwoman doing "research" for her next book.


Rating: 4/5⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice level 4/5🔥🔥🔥🔥

🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin, and Alexandra Vasti for this ARC! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions are my own.

Another fantastic historical from Alexandra Vasti! I really enjoyed the first book in this series, and loved the continuation we got with Lydia's story in this one. Can't WAIT for Georgiana's story next!

I saw Earl Crush described as beauty and the beast without the stockholm syndrome and I think that is the perfect description for it. Arthur is a grumpy but kind earl just trying to keep his family estate afloat and Lydia is a bluestocking who just wants to make her own decisions in life.

I loved Lydia’s family especially her brothers and how they interacted with Arthur and the house staff who were devoted to Arthur as his employees and found family. I can’t wait for Vasti’s next book in this series, which is sapphic, to come out! READ THIS BOOK WHEN IT COMES OUT JANUARY 21ST!

Beauty and the Beast but not in a "stockholm syndrome" way but in an "all of the servants ship them together and he's a grump but has a sweet spot for her and she stays in his dilapidated mansion" way. It's perfect. I loved it.

The romance was swoonyyyyy. The tensionnnn. The steammm. The spiceeee. All of it was 10/10 so so good.

There was also a great spy and intrigue and mystery element to this story that had me invested in more than just the romance (although the romance was, of course, the focus).

I loved this and am excited for more from this author!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

There is nothing I love more than breaking up my fantasy books with a good bodice ripper and Earl Crush by Vashti Hardy absolutely fit the bill this month.

I am always down for a Scottish MMC and throw in some exotic animals and a plot to kill the Duke of Wellington and I am hooked.

I read this in one sitting and was laughing and even crying at some of the moments. One horse and one bed tropes abound and the hijinks involved in tracking down a rogue brother led to some truly iconic moments.

I do feel like I wanted a bit more emotional development from the characters. With the plot-heavy storyline in this book, I felt that some of the emotional beats of the character development didn't land as well as I wanted.

Overall though, this was a tremendously fun read and I will continue to devour whatever Hardy comes out with next!

This was a cute historical romance that has some fun with the time period. I think those who enjoy cozy, but at times spicy romance will enjoy this one!

Lydia is a super shy, politically inclined lady who has been penning anonymous political pamphlets. This started a correspondence between herself and the Earl of Strathrannoch. She finally decides that she is done with trying to find a husband in society and is going to travel to Scotland to propose to the Earl of Strathrannoch - they agree politically and she has money that she has.

Upon arriving in Scotland, she learns that she has not be corresponding with the Earl, but the Earl's brother who has disappeared with an important invention of the Earl's. Now, she and the reclusive, but kind Earl must team up to figure out where his brother has gone and what is going on before it is too late.

Thank you to #NetGalley for an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was so much fun! I couldn't get enough of these two and the trouble they got into. Already want to read Vasti's next book and was THRILLED to see it's Georgiana's sapphic love story!

Lydia suffers from debilitating social anxiety and publishes radical pamphlets to have her voice heard. She has been exchanging letters with the Earl of Strathrannoch for three years, sharing their political beliefs with each other. Or so she thinks. When the Earl mentions he's having financial difficulties, the wealthy Lydia heads to Scotland to propose. The problem? Arthur has never heard of her! His missing younger brother has been posing as him. Lydia and Arthur's self doubt interferes with their romance. Lydia has always felt small and overprotected from her boisterous family, while Arthur was verbally abused by his father, always told he wasn't good enough. Exciting espionage, spice, and Arthur's sweet letters make for a great read.

Alexandra has officially converted me to a historical romance girlie 🫡

Earl Crush has all the things we love:
- quirky side characters (and creatures 🦓)
- pining MMC 🤌🏻
- intelligent and relatable FMC 🧠
- loud and lovable family (bio and found!) 💖
- romance AND plot ⚠️

Lydia was such a fun character, I loved her complexities and the unexpected growth she found in her journey to Scotland and back! The yearning from Arthur was top tier, every "my love" and "my Lydia" got me right in the heart 🥹

The plot was also really exciting here, especially towards the end. I loved reading the author note on what was taken from actual historical events!

This fast-paced historical romance had me jumping into Alexandra's backlog to read the Halifax Hellions novella series, and I'd recommend you do the same! Can't wait to read more, I hope someday we'll hear more of Davis' story 😊

This is my second book from Alexandra Vasti and she’s becoming a quick favorite! She has a very refreshing take on historical romance without losing any of the things we’ve loved about reading the genre. Lydia is for sure my new favorite heroine in a Vasti novel and I hope we get to see her again 😄.

This is the exciting story about Lydia Hope-Wallace, who is a wealthy "spinster" that for the last years has anonymously written controversial pamphlets about politics. She also has been corresponding with the Earl of Strathrannoch, they share the same ideas and when she learns he is financially strangled she begins a journey to Scotland to offer him a deal, to get married so he gets the money he need and she gets the freedom she longs for.

The thing is Arthur, the Earl of Strathrannoch, doesn't know who she is and has never written to her. When they learn Arthur's younger brother is the one behind the letters and maybe an attack to the British government they set out to find him before is too late.

I loved the characters development and I can assure you this book will give you all the feels. Definitely Alexandra made me fall in love with the regency romances.

My rating: 5 stars. (My first 5 star read of the year)

Thank you to Netgalley and St Martins Press for the e-ARC.

Yet another excellent regency romp by Alexandra Vasti. After discovering her writing via an ARC of Ne’er Duke Well last year is was thrilled to be approved for the sequel. My favorite things about her style are that no matter how outlandish the incidents seem, most are grounded in literary or historical fact. Just because we have an image of the past as buttoned up or prim and proper doesn’t mean that that was actually the case. And her books are truly romcoms. The romance is equally as important as the humor. So we get a Jane Austin style comedy of manners that’ll keep you laughing all the way through.

Insofar as Earl Crush specifically is concerned, I enjoyed it even more than the first in the series. To me at least, I think the Arthur and Lydia were more relatable than Selina and Peter, so I was more invested in their story. Absolutely a must read in the genre, because the best bodice rippers will also keep you laughing the whole way through.

In this regency romance, wealthy introvert Lydia has been leading a secret life of publishing radical political pamphlets and exchanging letters with a Scottish Earl who seemingly would be a perfect match for her intellect. When he reveals his financial straits, Lydia concocts the scheme of showing up on his doorstep to propose a marriage of convenience and friendship. Unfortunately, the letter writer was not entirely as he presented himself and Lydia must rapidly reassess her situation!

I wasn't certain at first that I would like this one. Our heroine is filled with so much anxiety and self-doubt; she faints, screams, and vomits onto her slippers when faced with stressful situations. She soon won me over, though, as she forced herself to overcome her fears and her confidence grew.

I loved the romance of this that was based on so much more than just chemistry, and the spicy scenes were quite well done. Just an overall delightful quick read.

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

Delightful. From the catfishing plot to the epistolary epilogue, I thoroughly enjoyed Earl Crush. To be honest, I was a little nervous going in because Ne’Er Duke Well was so different from Vasti’s novellas that I felt like I was missing something I couldn’t put my finger on. My worries were unfounded because Earl Crush captured everything I love in historical romance: Vasti’s well researched historical connections, two imperfect MCs who are perfect for each other, a catchy plot that surprised me with its ending, and the steamy intimacy scenes Vasti’s novella lovers have yearned for.

I would tell you to go in blind because I loved the opening meet cute and would hate to ruin the unexpected humor of it. It is from that moment that I was hooked. This is not your typical fake-marriage-of-convenience, but it definitely works wonders at bringing Arthur and Lydia together. Nothing is better than requiring two characters to unexpectedly team up, and I delighted in reading Lydia and Arthur’s “forced” marital interactions. This book was fast paced enough to keep things fresh and interesting and readers that enjoy a bit of a mystery to their romance will enjoy it for the storytelling just as much as the love story. I also think the book got better and better and what could have been a third act break up felt like a love declaration instead (ladies, you know you all want your dunderheaded fellow to realize he’s lost without you).

And at the heart of it all, I truly loved spending time with Lydia and Arthur and felt that their love story is one that would continue long past the end of this book. The epilogue itself is so swoony and a perfect characterization of Arthur and Lydia’s love. I received an early copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Steam: 🪭🪭
Can it be read as a standalone?: 🙌🏼, but there are plenty of 🐣 for Vasti fans