A review by katemc7
Ne'er Duke Well by Alexandra Vasti

funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This was my first historical romance in a while and what a delight! This was a lighthearted, fast read with fun characters and a great setting. I am wondering if it will become a series because of everyone we might, but that might just be wishful thinking on my end. 

Peter Kent has just been named Duke of Stanhope. he has relocated from New Orleans to England and is on a mission to get custody of his younger brother and son who said father never acknowledged. He has a bit of a problem though because he is creating unintentional scandals. He has a differing opinion from most of the people in the House. He hasn't made any effort to get a wife. He doesn't really get the way of life as a Duke. And to top it off the man who he needs to convince to allow him guardianship doesn't have a fond opinion of Peter at all. Somehow his "friend" Selina Ravenscroft gets wind of this and decides to help him. The same Selina who continue to catch Peter's eye and intrigue him. He is summoned to the Ravencrosft mansion to discuss options and when Selina throws out that Peter needs to get married he immediately think she means to her and he finds himself ok with that. Then she pulls the rug out from under him and says no not her, she will make a list of eligible women for him to court. So Peter goes along with it, and it is one disaster after another. 

Selina also finds herself surprised by the possibility of her and Peter getting married but she has a secret. She runs a library in the ton that holds some very salacious material. Material that almost the entire ton of women read! So she she can't marry Peter because that scandal would hurt him in this instance, but they find themselves in a predicament and Selina thinks on her feet and says that Peter is her newly fiance. She is determined to help him get guardianship of his family. Now that she is his wife, she finds herself wanting to explore this HOT chemistry that they can't seem to ignore. One thing leads to another and she realizes that she doesn't want this to be fake anymore. She wants to tell Peter how she really feels, and she hopes that he feels the same. 

Like I said, this was a light easy read. I liked the chemistry between Selina and Peter which was almost instantaneous. The spicy scenes were great. I liked the dynamics with his younger siblings. I also liked when some of Peter's past trauma came into play and how Selina and Peter honestly handled it. It helped solidify their feelings for one another and felt genuine. I do hope that this becomes a series- I could see us getting a story about Will, Selina's brother whose heart is broken. As well as Selina's friends that played a part in the beginning of their relationship. 

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! This is my first book by Alexandra that I have read, but it will not be my last.