Title: Ne’er Duke Well
Author: Alexandra Vasti
Genre: Regency Romance
Publication Date: 1 Aug 2024
Publisher: Corvus Publishing
Comment: I received a copy from Rachelsrandomresources, Corvus Publishing and the author. I give honest reviews and all opinions are my own and in no way influenced by secret libraries of smut.
Synopsis
Step 1: Find perfect wife
Step 2: Save reputation from ruin
Step 3: Do not, at any cost, fall in love with Selina Ravenscroft
Peter Kent, newly inherited Duke of Stanhope, has developed quite the scandalous reputation – which must be overturned if he is to win the guardianship of his young half siblings.
For help he turns to Lady Selina Ravenscroft, society’s most proper debutante (save one tiny secret…). She suggests courtship and marriage to a lady of unimpeachable character – which due to the aforementioned secret is definitely not Selina herself.
But her matchmaking goes awry when the scorching chemistry between them proves impossible to resist. For the disreputable duke and his unpredictable matchmaker, falling in love might just be the ultimate scandal…
Review:
Many historical romance books today claim they are “just like Bridgerton” when they have no other similarities except for being set in the same period. It’s like saying “If you liked Mulan, you’ll love The Poppy War”.
Having read Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton series back when they were first published (book hipster- I totally read it before it was cool!) they were actually quite a change from other Regency romance books at the time.
I’m ignoring Jane Austen here when I talk about Regency Romances as she wrote about the time she was living in and so, technically, her books were contemporary romances.
Georgette Heyer’s books (The O.G and GOAT) were engaging and witty without falling to slapstick. There was also no spice other than the occasional kiss. Stephanie Laurens, Mary Balogh and Lisa Kleypas all had spice and slightly more modern acting women, feisty and forward, but it wasn’t until Julia Quinn that we had wit and banter and overt comedy in Regency romance. I like to think she gave us the Regency RomCom.
Since then there have been a plethora of writers, all attempting, with various success, to write Regency RomComs.
Alexandra Vasti is one of the more successful ones.
Her debut novel Ne’er Duke Well is witty, engaging, heartfelt and delightful.
Peter Kent just wants to be able to have custody of his half-siblings. As bastards in the literal sense, Lucinda and Freddie were not acknowledged by their father, and therefore he has no legal right to care for them. They have been shipped from relative to relative since the death of the Duke and all Peter wants to do is give them a steady home.
But, as he was raised as an American, political and moral issues put him at odds with the very men who hold sway over the children’s future.
Well aware of Selina Ravenscroft’s unique ability to fix everything for everyone, he asks for her help in securing the guardianship. Her fantastic solution is for him to marry a woman of impeccable manners and an unimpeachable reputation.
Peter is increasingly convinced that Selina herself would make the best Duchess. She is bold, beautiful and makes his blood rush. Yet she refuses to consider him. Unbeknownst to Peter, Selina has a scandalous secret that could destroy all his chances at guardianship.
I loved this book. Everything was perfect and if it weren’t for the few Americanisms that crept in it would have merited 5 stars.
One of my least favourite tropes is misunderstandings due to secret-keeping. The fact that Alexandra Vasti managed to write a real relationship with drama and hurdles to overcome without the characters lying to each other and keeping secrets was just wonderful.
Selina was quietly subversive as regards female expectations without turning into a feminist stereotype of a regency heroine. Her motivations and abilities were well within period limits and it felt real.
Vasti’s characters were all superbly written with different voices, well-rouned personalities and lovable traits. Lu’s hesitancy to trust Peter was heartbreaking, while Lydia’s inability to speak to men was endearing. Even Eldon had his moments.
Personally, in regards to his personality, ability to make Selina smile and his love for his half-siblings, Peter Kent is a better book boyfriend than Colin Bridgerton. He was aware of her capabilities, accepted her boundaries and supported her in all her endeavors.
He loved her because she violated society’s expectations, he didn’t hold it against her. Unlike SOME people I could mention.
I couldn’t help but feel for Will even though we never met his character and it is a skill for an author to make us long for someone who doesn’t have a line of dialogue.
I really hope that her next book follows on and we get to give Selina’s brother a happier ending.
I intend on reading any books that Alexandra Vasti releases and I would highly recommend this to anyone, not as “like Bridgerton” but as “better than Bridgerton”.
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