#alexandravasti

[bucolicbook]

Earl Crush: A Novel by Alexandra Vasti 

US pub date - 1/21/25

4.5 stars,

She’s an on-the-shelf spinster (at 26). Lydia Hope-Wallace is a political writer (secretly), an heiress, and has been in correspondence with the Earl of Strathannoch, who’s estate is fairly destitute. The communication is such that Lydia makes her way to Scotland, accompanied by her friend, to propose marriage. When she arrives at the estate, and proposes to the earl - he’s stunned and has no idea of who she is.

*Lydia is a terrific MFC (and so relatable to this reader with social anxiety)

*Arthur ❤️ *wonderful (and wonderfully intrusive) household help 

*a menagerie of animals 

*mystery 

*swoony longing 

*oh, those declarations - please, excuse me while I go find a fainting couch

I loved Earl Crush - a purely fun read and wonderfully romantic 😍

This is the third novel I’ve read of the author’s and I’m definitely a fan now - can’t wait to read more of her work 🙂

Thank you to St. Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley for the DRC

Earl Crush: A Novel by Alexandra Vasti

[darlenefblog]

Ne'er Duke Well - a 5 star book review

"In this steamy Regency romp, Lady Selina is determined to find the Duke of Stanhope the perfect wife—the only problem is she's starting to think that might be her. The main characters: Peter Kent—newly inherited Duke of Stanhope and recently of New Orleans, Louisiana and Selina society’s most proper debutante, save one tiny secret: she runs an erotic circulating library for women."

A rare 5 stars. I don't give them out very often, but this story was well written and had me from start to finish. Peter and Selina are well-rounded characters, they have depth. The secondary characters are well done but the standouts are Peters half siblings, Lu & Freddie. The kids are adorable. Even the devilish kitten is entertaining.

Peter is a walking disaster, if something can happen it will; he draws it like a magnet and is always surprised that it's such a big deal. Anything outside society's stodgy rules is going to wind up in the gossip pages and Peter is a regular. Selina is a perfect ton lady with a big secret. Her lending library for ladies is full of what would be considered smut. It's really more educational tomes for innocent ignorant young ladies but there are some racy novels too. One woman checked out a book so many times, and kept it overdue, that Selina wrote it off and bought another!

A big part of the story involves illegitimate or natural born children, a father who didn't care about them or his own heir. Peter spends a lot of time and energy trying to make things right as we would see it today but shocking in historic England. Why it's not shocking to everyone in the book is a mystery, it's taken in stride that a duke wants custody of his father's by-blows. A sad story about one of them will break your heart. My opinion is that you'll enjoy the easy fun read as much as I did.

Publisher‏: ‎ St. Martin's Griffin (July 23, 2024) Publication date‏: ‎ July 23, 2024 Print length: ‎ 345 pages

[bucolicbook]

Ne’er Duke Well by Alexandra Vasti

US pub date - 7/23/24

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*The Duke, Peter, is an American, out of place in England 

*Lady Selina secretly runs an erotica lending library

*Matchmaking gone awry 

*Charming much younger half siblings the Duke is trying to gain custody of

*No third act breakup 

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Full of charm and steam, I adored Ne’er Duke Well; it’s the second book I’ve read by the author and I can’t wait to read more of her work. 

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Thank you to St. Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley for the DRC 

Ne’er Duke Well by Alexandra Vasti