Ne'er Duke Well - by Alexandra Vasti (Paperback)

About the Book

"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. Peter Kent-newly inherited Duke of Stanhope and recently of New Orleans, Louisiana-must become respectable. Between his radical politics and the time he interrupted a minor royal wedding with a flock of sheep-not his fault!-he's developed a scandalous reputation at odds with his goal of becoming guardian to his half siblings. For help, he turns to the cleverest and most managing woman of his acquaintance, Lady Selina Ravenscroft. Selina is society's most proper debutante, save one tiny secret: she runs an erotic circulating library for women. When Peter asks for her help, she suggests courtship and marriage to a lady of unimpeachable reputation. (Which is to say, definitely not herself.) But matchmaking doesn't go according to plan. Peter's siblings run rampant on Bond Street. Selina ends up in the Serpentine. And worst of all, the scorching chemistry between Peter and Selina proves impossible to resist. For the disreputable duke and his unpredictable matchmaker, falling in love just might be the ultimate scandal."--

Book Synopsis

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Featured in Entertainment Weekly, New York Times, Good Housekeeping, NPR, Oprah Daily, and more...

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.

Peter Kent--newly inherited Duke of Stanhope and recently of New Orleans, Louisiana--must become respectable. Between his radical politics and the time he interrupted a minor royal wedding with a flock of sheep--not his fault!--he's developed a scandalous reputation at odds with his goal of becoming guardian to his half siblings. For help, he turns to the cleverest and most managing woman of his acquaintance, Lady Selina Ravenscroft.

Selina is society's most proper debutante, save one tiny secret: she runs an erotic circulating library for women. When Peter asks for her help, she suggests courtship and marriage to a lady of unimpeachable reputation. (Which is to say, definitely not herself.)

But matchmaking doesn't go according to plan. Peter's siblings run rampant on Bond Street. Selina ends up in the Serpentine. And worst of all, the scorching chemistry between Peter and Selina proves impossible to resist. For the disreputable duke and his unpredictable matchmaker, falling in love just might be the ultimate scandal.

"As hot as it is heartfelt, this will have historical romance fans hooked." - Publisher's Weekly, starred review

"An irresistible delight from a remarkable new talent." - India Holton, USA Today bestselling author of The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love

Review Quotes

"As hot as it is heartfelt, this will have historical romance fans hooked." --Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

"Vasti deftly builds a lovely world to set her story, full of endearing characters to cheer for, born and found families, plenty of good feeling, and details of libraries, book covers, and catalogues." --Library Journal

"A historical romance with the energy of a Parks & Recreation episode. Like the iconic sitcom, the characters in this are all so darn loveable, you can almost see the twinkle in their eyes." --NPR

"[T]he genuine humor and solid character development will keep readers turning the pages. A sparkling launch to a promising new Regency series set at a woman-run library." --Kirkus

"Ne'er Duke Well is a delightful, quicksilver romp with unforgettable characters that readers will be rooting for from start to finish." - Deanna Raybourn, New York Times bestselling author of The Veronica Speedwell series

"Ne'er Duke Well by Alexandra Vasti is an irresistible delight from a remarkable new talent. Every page inspires a smile, laugh, or pause in reading while one hugs the book because it's just so lovely, witty, and benevolently clever. Vasti does really interesting things with genre tropes, making the historical romance fresh and exciting. I felt so enlivened after reading, I want to run around waving it at people, saying "read this now!" Vasti has quickly earned her place on my list of favourite writers." - India Holton, author of The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels

"A witty, page-turner with two adorable leads whose funny banter and chemistry is off the charts! I didn't want their antics to end." - Virginia Heath, author of Never Fall for Your Fiancée

"If it were socially acceptable for blurbs to be in all caps, I'd do it for Ne'er Duke Well and Alexandra Vasti. In fact, all caps doesn't seem strong enough to convey how much I loved this book. Vasti has quickly made her way to my list of top historical romance authors with the kind of writing that makes me scream and kick my feet in public places. Outrageously hot, tender, and brimming with wit, Vasti has secured herself as an auto-buy author in my book, one that I will stay up way too late reading and be glad for the lack of sleep come morning. This opposites attract historical romance brims with delicious restraint required of our lead characters in a society they end up defying that ends up exploding in exceptionally steamy moments. Vasti's story-telling is this season's incomparable, a title she'll hold for years to come with the care and craft she deftly applies to her incredible novels." - Mazey Eddings, author of The Plus One

"Utterly delicious and undeniably clever, Alexandra Vasti's Ne'er Duke Well was unputdownable. I'm absolutely certain that Regency romance fans everywhere will love this warm, wonderfully witty, and oh-so-sexy novel just as much as I did. What a spectacular debut!" - Amy Rose Bennett, author of Up All Night with a Good Duke