This is not part of a series, however, there are characters featured here that also appeared in Ne'er Duke Well.
Heiress, Lydia Hope-Stanton has been writing seditious pamphlets for over 3 years. She uses Belvoir's Library (run by the Duchess of Stanhope, Selina Kent, to publish these papers. However, Lydia, herself, is painfully shy and has trouble speaking her mind in public. She has, however, been corresponding with the Earl of Strathrannoch, Arthur Baird, regarding all her political leanings and she believes they would suit in marriage. She shows up at his front door to offer herself. (Quite out of character for our Lydia.) However, when the earl answers the door, he has no clue who she is.
It seems his brother, Davis, has been using Arthur's persona to gather espionage, but for who? Lydia and Arthur get dragged into a madcap adventure to find Davis and stop a possible assassination. Falling in love was not part of this plan.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this digital audio e-arc.*

Many thanks to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for the free audiobook.

I was unaware that this was the second book in a series as the books are not linked on Goodreads, nor is it specifically mentioned in the synopsis of the book. This is a significant oversight on the publisher's part. That said, it can be read as a standalone, which is what I originally did.

Ya'll, I just loved this smart, funny, and oh-so-steamy regency romance. The audiobook narrator does such a great job bringing the story to life. I also love the literary nature of the series. If you want a sexy, silly, and sweet regency romance I highly recommend this one!

This book was so good that I looked up the author to find one of her backlist titles to read only to discover this book follows <i>Ne'er Duke Well</i> (of which I had received a free audiobook from Libro.fm [thank you!] and had it sitting in my library waiting to be read). Read it I did. I will write a separate review for that book but I will mention here that I think <i>Earl Crush</i> is a slightly better book. I only say that in case readers decide to read the new series in order: just know that it goes from good to great! I already can't wait for the next one!

This book was so much fun. The story was so cute and romantic and funny without taking away from the connection between Lydia and Arthur. It was such a delight to listen to and the narrator did a great job. I look forward to the next book.

Hot, steamy regency romance! Earl Crush is now one of my new favorite historical romance books! I found Lydia and Arthur’s story to be so juicy and unputdownable! It has refreshed my enjoyment for this specific genre. I of course loved the moments such as “my wife” and the fighting between Arthur and her brothers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ARC

Earl Crush is a fun historical romance with a political mystery twist. I really enjoyed our FMC and was invested from the very first page. I found the letters the MC's write to each other as a brilliant part of the plot. The humor and the romance were equally great and I had a through time with the book.

This was a really sweet book. I have only read two of Ms Vasti's books, but enjoyed them both immensely. I loved the grumpy Scottish earl, who has no idea who Lydia is, even though they have been corresponding for three years. And Lydia was a great character, overcoming her social anxiety. In all it was a really great feel-good book that I will highly recommend to my library patrons, especially the ones who enjoy Bridgeton.

The audio version was very well made and I enjoyed the narrator.

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.

If you are a fan of audiobooks, Mhairi McFarlane excellently narrates this story. I loved her Scottish brogue for Arthur and felt she captured Lydia’s shyness. She is who I automatically associate with Vasti’s books and hope she continues to narrate them in the future.
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
Narration: 📣📣📣📣

Thanks for Netgalley and dreamscape media for a gifted copy of Earl Crush.

I really enjoyed the narrator. She brought the story to life. And made it hard to put it down.

I loved the story. There was a mixture of mystery and romance which kept the story intriguing the entire time. I loved Lydia for being the badass that she was.


Read Earl Crush if you like
•Fake marriage of convenience
•Regency Romance
•Espionage
•Mistaken Identity
•Botched proposals
•Zebras

Alexandra’s writing just speaks to me. She makes historical romance more interesting by adding radical and outspoken female protagonist’s who value women’s rights and venture outside the norm for that time era. I adored Ne’er Duke Well and have now enjoyed Earl Crush.

Lydia Hope-Wallace has been corresponding via letter with the Earl of Strathrannoch, Arthur Baird. She creates a plan to propose a marriage of convenience to him after finding out about his financial problems. She has the money but no romantic prospects due to her social anxiety, he has the title and a supposed familiarity with her. She goes to Scotland and comes face-to-face with Arthur only to find out she hasn’t been corresponding with him, but with his brother who has gone missing. They work together to find him and uncover the mystery of what his brother is up to.

This was more action-packed with adventure than I originally thought. I loved how the plot always kept me on my toes, but also was full of yearning and angst between Lydia and Arthur. They both worked together in proximity to find Arthur’s brother which helped them find the bravery and confidence to overcome their own obstacles in their path. I loved the way they supported each other & would always lift each other up when needed.

I was lucky enough to listen to an ALC while reading an eARC and can confirm that the narration was so good! the British and Scottish accents while also upholding the 1800s ‘ladylike’ facade was amazing. It made my reading experience more immersive and I found myself getting lost in the story.

read if you like historical romances with a marriage of convenience and some strong, stubborn, outspoken fmc’s. plus SO much tension and yearning from a man who would do anything for her!!! Releases january 28th! Thank you St. Martin’s Press, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for an eARC and ALC in exchange for an honest review :)

This book was everything! Arthur and Lydia were just perfect for each other! I loved the mystery element ans how that played into their love story. His Scottish brogue and the way he falls for her....I was melting! Loved the little inserts of letters and writing and how that came full circle. Narration was so well done and she did amazing even with Arthur's voice and accent. Just loved everything about this book and cannot way for the series to continue!

Alexandra Vasti's Ne'er Duke Well was one of my favorite romances last year! It was the perfect combination of regency romance meets feminist history as Vasti introduces the existence of underground libraries where women are able to access both reproductive health information and erotica for their enjoyment. What makes this so fascinating is that this practice, and the very texts referred to in the story, are real, and I loved how Vasti was able to incorporate what I assume to be her scholarly work with these types of texts into a romance novel that gives us fully realized female characters exercising what agency they have at this time to push against the marriage market system they live in.

Earl Crush is just as smart and interesting, but surprisingly delivers a different kind of story. I love that Lydia is the character from the fist novel who is now taking control of her life. After corresponding with an Earl who embraces her activist ideas, she decides to travel to Scotland to propose a marriage of convenience, only to find out the man was pretending to be his brother. So talk about embarrassing, as the book opens with Lydia proposing to the wrong guy! (who may actually be the right guy!).

I just loved the dynamic, the chemistry, and the humor in this book. It turns into a mystery as the two team up to find the missing brother and become embroiled in a much larger plot involving spies and a possible political assassination attempt. It is crazy fun, and it works!

I listend to the audiobook in tandem with reading an e ARC and it added so much to the experience. The narrator does a great job switching between the different accents of the Scottish and British characters. The humor and the spice were both made all the more intense as much of the dialogue is contrasted between what characters want to say and what they actually say. It was simply a great time. If you like regency romance, feminist characters, solving mysteries and Scottish Earls, don't miss this one!

I finished listening to this audiobook last night & it is all I can think about. This was my first ready by Alexandra Vasti, but I've looked into her growing list of books & have added ALL OF THEM to my TBR list. Starting a story with a proposal between strangers (of sorts) was a unique way to begin any story, but it worked its magic with Lydia & Arther.
I enjoyed the time era, Scottish heritage, and the easy banter between the two as they worked together to solve a mystery & to save hundreds against espionage.

Earl Crush is a fantastic Historical Romance set in the Regency period that delivers all the feels!

The story follows Lydia, a wallflower who’s spent seven seasons in society without securing a husband. By day, she’s just another eligible heiress, but secretly, she’s been writing political pamphlets and corresponding with the Earl of Strathrannoch for three years—only to discover she hasn’t been writing to him at all.

Lydia, determined and on the verge of being labeled a spinster, heads to Scotland to propose marriage to the Earl, thinking it will solve both their problems (hers: social standing, his: financial struggles). But when she gets there, the real Earl has no idea who she is—or what she’s talking about. Turns out, his brother has been impersonating him in the letters. Ouch.

What follows is a journey filled with twists, danger, and sizzling chemistry as Lydia and the Earl team up to find his brother, who’s clearly up to no good. Along the way, fake marriage and forced proximity lead to real feelings, and the romance is just chef’s kiss.

This book is sweet, funny, and full of suspense. If you’re into Historical Romance with tropes like Fake Marriage and Forced Proximity, you’ll love this one!

Earl Crush is a delightful and spicy historical romance and mystery. The setting is 1818 in England and Scotland. Lydia has been writing political tracts (anonymously) and a man has been corresponding with her for a few years. She knows his name and where his Scottish estate is, and when the book opens, she and a close friend are arriving there, to surprise him with a marriage proposal (she’s got money and he doesn’t; they have a good relationship on paper). But it turns out that she hasn’t been corresponding with whom she thinks she has. Things get wild from there!

I loved the relationship that Lydia and Arthur (the real Earl) built. There were a lot of funny instances along the way, and a mystery to solve, involving Arthur’s brother and some French ex-pats.

Mhairi Morrison did a marvelous job with the narration on the audiobook, seamlessly switching between an English accent and a Scottish accent.

Don’t skip the Author’s Note where she explains that various plot points are based on actual historical events.

Somehow I missed reading the first book in this series, Ne’er Duke Well. (This wasn’t a problem, proving that this can easily be read as a standalone.) I will have to remedy that as soon as possible.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of this book and to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

The narrator was amazing! Her Scottish accent was fantastic! I can’t believe she played all those characters! I would listen to her audiobooks anytime!

Hopelessly anxious Lydia Hope-Wallace has decided to offer herself for marriage to the one man she seems to be able to talk to - penpal Earl of Strathrannoch. Only, when she shows up on his doorstep, he has no idea who she is. What follows is a fun story full of adventure, love, and growth.

Vasti might be my new favorite historical romance author. This book was stunning from beginning to end. A few highlights for me was seeing the growth of each main character, both separate and together, and the mix of adventures and romance was included in the story. I was not sure what to expect going into this story but I was happily surprised! The narrator really added to the story, bringing you in to the plot and character's feelings. If you are looking for a new historical romance to fall in love with, you should check out Earl Crush or anything Alexandra Vasti writes!

4.5/5⭐️ 2/5🌶️ 1/5😢

PROTECT MY BABY ARTHUR AT ALL COSTS

Earl Crush was a magnificent regency-era romance romp (say that five times fast)—ridiculously sweet, a bit spicy, with mystery and political intrigue and just plain ol’ FUN!

The premise felt unique and fresh with two quieter/shy MCs who showed great character development throughout the book. The romance was incredibly sweet and honestly had me tearing up a few times (I was so down bad for Arthur, I’m not gonna lie) 😭😭

However what I loved most was how clearly well-researched it is, with many part of the story drawn off real people, events, and historical writings. I found this to be incredibly engaging and gave the book more depth than anticipated.

I highly recommend Earl Crush whether you’re a seasoned historical romance reader or looking to dip your toes in the genre for the first time! The audiobook narration was wonderful and really brought the story to life.

tropes & themes:
→ regency/historical romance
→ fake marriage
→ wallflower but secretly politically vocal FMC
→ recluse scottish earl/inventor MMC
→ shenanigans & SUSPENSE! 💥
→ grade A groveling 🙇🏼
→ “tell me to stop” 🥵🥵
→ 16 zebras??? 🦓

As with every Vasti book I’ve read, I had an amazing time reading this. The characters were delightfully awkward paired with an engaging mystery plot. The entire plot was wild, and I love how it took Lydia and Arthur all over the place trying to track down Arthur’s brother. I was surprised in the best way how detailed and involved the plot was including the great plot twists and a daring carriage escape. Lydia and Arthur had wonderful chemistry paired with great banter. Arthur was so sweet especially with a certain horse scene. One of my favorite moments was when Arthur met Lydia’s brothers. I loved the entire family dynamic scene and watching how each family member interacted with him. I also just loved how wild and over the top this book was at times. I was not expecting zebras but they made for a great time. I cannot get enough of Mhairi Morrison’s narration. She is such a perfect fit for these regency reads. She brings so much energy and emotion to the role, and I can’t imaging anyone else narrating one of Vasti’s regency tales. I highly recommend reading this story.

We get to mix a little bit of road trip with a little bit of fake identity and throw in a bit of fake marriage in this romp! The social awkward and painfully shy Lydia has shown up at an earl’s castle in Scotland to propose a marriage of convenience after three years of secret correspondence with the man. Except Arthur the earl is not who she had been writing to, it was his younger brother pretending to be the earl. And then the brother might be in some sort of scheme with a rifle part and Arthur needs Lydia’s help to track him down. It was so fun reading these two work together to solve the case and Arthur was just so impressed by Lydia’s cleverness. All the best kind of chaos, yearning, and steam.

Earl Crush is already an excellent book, and Morrison’s narration pushes it over the top! Arthur and Lydia’s story is filled with heart and hope, as well as just enough political intrigue to keep readers interested. I can’t wait to read whatever Vasti writes next!