Alexandra Vasti delivers the stunning first book in a Regency romance series with Ne'er Duke Well. In 1815 England, Selina is the seemingly respectable--if a little old--sister of a duke, and she loves a project. Peter is a duke whom nobody ever expected to inherit, and he hopes to become the guardian of his two half siblings. Selina decides to help his cause by finding him a wife. Why does he need help? He may have stolen some smuggled cognac to grant his dying grandfather's wish. He's also an American and an abolitionist. But why can't he marry Selina? She (anonymously) runs a scandalous lending library that provides racy and educational reading material and is patronized by hundreds of the female members of the ton.
Both Selina and Peter are delightful characters. They're modern but don't feel out of place in their setting. The dialogue also sparkles yet feels of its time. The chemistry between Selina and Peter is intense and ignites on the page. Spice lovers will not be disappointed in Ne'er Duke Well.
Vasti introduces a large cast of diverse supporting characters, many of whose stories readers can look forward to discovering in future books in the series. These include Lydia, a wallflower who struggles to speak with men but has a dazzling political intellect, and Georgiana, who conceals her own mysteries for readers to determine.
Perfect for lovers of Bridgerton or Lisa Kleypas, Ne'er Duke Well is a promising beginning to what will undoubtedly become a classic historical romance series. --Alyssa Parssinen, freelance reviewer and former bookseller