#Alexandra Vasti

[monomatica]

Review : Earl Crush by Alexandra Vasti

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars

This is the 2nd Regency rom-com set in the world of Belvoir’s Library. The MCs are Lydia Hope-Wallace, who is one of Selina’s besties from London that you meet in Ne’er Duke Well, and Arthur Baird, the Earl of Strathrannoch in Scotland. Lydia is an heiress with a lot of money and no marriage prospects, and Arthur has a title, a rundown castle and a lack of funds to make repairs. After a miscommunication meet-cute, they develop the hots for each other.

💚 A FEW HIGHLIGHTS:

- Fake Married - Politics & Schemes - Longing & Lust - Vulnerability & Care - Love Letters - Can’t stop kissing - Only one bedroom - Too many brothers These two are so sweet together! Arthur understands her shyness and anxiety and wants to protect her. Lydia feels strength from him and loves his massive torso. He falls hard and is the biggest cinnamon roll. She is a smart politico with a talent for writing opinion pamphlets. Together they pretend to be married for “reasons” and they keep up the ruse for quite some time and is a lot of fun.

Aside from the romance I really loved getting cameos of characters from the 1st book when Selina & her besties put their wits together to solve the case. I honestly would watch a Masterpiece Theater series about the Belvoir’s Library and its female patrons solving crimes. Also, I may or may not have been teary-eyed at the ending.

I’ve read all of Vasti’s books so far and have liked every one, but am especially loving this Belvoir’s Library series. If you’re in the mood for a Regency rom-coms you’ll love this one too. I’m so excited for Georgiana’s book coming next! Her dog is named Sir Francis Bacon, Bacon for short, and I laughed so hard! 🥓

OUT: January 21, 2025

—Thank you to NetGalley & St. Martin’s Griffin for the ARC—

(No Zebras were harmed in the writing of this review 😉)

[triviareads]

What is your favourite "oops, I banged my brothers best friend and caught feelings" book?

I am looking for a fun read.

Here are my favorites and they're all fun :D

Historical:

Bed Me, Earl by Felicity Niven: Phineas is Caroline's brother's Edmund best friend (Edmund is a future hero with a worryingly large dick apparently); Caro shows up in Phin's bedroom in the middle of the night and wordlessly conveys that she'd like to have sex with him (and by wordlessly i mean she lets him grope a tit), and the way Phineas is so down and ready..... he's one of the true rake heroes I've recently read. ALSO the funny thing is he doesn't recognize her??? She's a recluse and she just lets him believe she's a maid or something when he deflowers her lolol.

Sold to the Duke by Joanna Shupe: Actually so underrated because how many historicals do you know begin with VIRGINITY AUCTIONS? Eliza has always had a crush on her dead brother's friend Lucien and he ends up "buying" her but refuses to sleep with her and obviously the logical thing for Eliza to do is to reject his charity and be very pissy about him not banging her until he agrees.

When The Viscount Wanted Me by Lydia Lloyd: In which former slutty hero's best friend is *horrified* that his friend's sister has apparently lost her v-card and is all "HOW COULD YOU" but then when Henrietta asks Trem to sleep with her he hesitates for another half-second before agreeing. Guiltily.

The Good Girl's Guide to Rakes by Eva Leigh: Biiiiig huuuuge enormous Dom Kilburn's sister Celeste agrees to help Dom's friend Kieran find a wife in exchange for him showing her the *scandalous* side of London and obviously witnessing borderline sex parties leads to fucking around, which leads to Feelings.

A Rogue's Rules for Seduction by Eva Leigh: Dom may be Willa's brothers' best friend but the dumbass brothers in question helped Dom jilt Willa on their wedding day for Reasons and now Dom's sooooo cut up about it and finds himself accidentally stranded on an island with Willa...... whatever will they do.......... So I guess the banging comes after feeling here but it's too good to not include.

In Which Margo Halifax Earns Her Shocking Reputation by Alexandra Vasti: Henry is a starchy lawyer who's always been in love with Margo, his friend's sister, and they're stuck on a road trip together to "rescue" Margo's fellow disaster twin Matilda. There's some erotic cherry stem knotting with one's tongue in this.

All the Ways to Ruin a Rogue by Sophie Jordan: Aurelia was actually friendly with her older broher's friend Max until she sees him with another girl at a party and now she's upset and draws a revenge cartoon that insinuates he has a small dick, making Max, uh, kind of unpopular for a minute. It's a light, zany enemies-to-lovers situation.

Sidenote I met Sophie Jordan the other week!?!?!? I was not expecting to but she was sitting like 2 rows behind me at a book event.

Contemporary:

Sinner by Sierra Simone: Sean is Zenny's MUCH OLDER brother's BFF :D; she's training to be a nun and asks him for sex lessons before she fully becomes a bride of Christ. So many "teach me daddy" moments it's so great.

Saint by Sierra Simone: And in an ironic twist of fate, Sean's brother Aiden dates, then breaks up with Sean's friend Elijah... who is also Zenny's brother. Now it's 5 years later, Aiden is a MONK and Elijah shows up engaged to a other man, ostensibly to write about trappist beer and they go on a European beer tour, together. Spoiler, cock cages and chastity are involved.

Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey: Georgie has always been in love with her older brother's friend Travis but he always saw her as an annoying little sister type. Now he's a washed up baseball player trying to get a commentating job that involves them fake dating to make him look "respectable" and to signal to the world Georgie is a big girl now lol.

The good thing about these books is that none of them do that obnoxious thing where they're all "your brother's gonna kill me" very much, but the age-gap ones lean into the taboo-ness more or less which is appreciated.

[hardcovernights]

In Which Matilda Halifax Learns the Value of Restraint

Alexandra Vasti

[readtilyoudie]

Working was out of the question. He had retrieved his spectacles and put them on to read through some reports from his estate managers -- and then he had caught a glimpse of Matilda's face.

Her mouth had fallen open. "You... wear spectacles?" she said faintly.

He glared at her through them. "Yes. To read. Because I am old."

He had, in fact, worn spectacles to read since he had first learned to read, but he did not tell her that.

She had nodded, her lips still parted, the daft woman. And then he'd felt the heat of her fixed stare as he'd tried to work. It was impossible not to feel it. He rubbed the back of his neck, stared blindly at the reports, and then yanked off his spectacles and shoved them brutally into his jacket pocket.

Matilda had let out the tiniest, breathiest sigh.

In Which Matilda Halifax Learns the Value of Restraint by Alexandra Vasti

[overflowingshelf]

January 2025 Reading Recap

First month of the year. Done and dusted!  While I have yet to formalize any reading goals, I’ve once again set my default goal of a hundred books read in 2025. I fell woefully short last year as it was a not-so-great year for me personally, but I’m feeling as optimistic as one can be about 2025, given everything else going on in the world right now (particularly here in the States). January…

[alrightsnaps]

alexandra vasti’s next release is a sapphic regency romance about two gothic author rivals?? DOES THAT WOMAN EVER MISS OMG

[theb00kshelf]

Earl Crush by; Alexandra Vasti

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Review: I absolutely adore this book! Get ready, because I have plenty to share.

Earl Crush tells the enchanting tale of a Scottish earl and a wealthy London heiress. For three years, Lydia Hope-Wallace has been crafting bold political pamphlets under the alias 'H,' distributing them anonymously through the Belvoir library. It’s the second pamphlet that catches the attention of the Earl of Strathrannoch, sparking a lively exchange of letters filled with their differing political views. When Lydia discovers the earl is facing financial difficulties, she decides to travel to Scotland with a surprising proposal of marriage. To her shock, the Earl of Strathrannoch has no clue who she is.

Arthur Baird, the Fifth Earl of Strathrannoch, is taken aback when a fiery redhead proposes to him. After realizing that his brother, Davis Baird, has been corresponding with Lydia under Arthur's name, he’s furious and enlists her help to track him down.

Lydia is quite the character—shy and easily flustered, she often finds herself fainting or feeling nauseous when put in the spotlight. Writing anonymously is her way of expressing herself without the anxiety. But don’t let her shyness fool you; Lydia is incredibly intelligent, kind-hearted, organized, and brave. She’s determined and relentless in her pursuits.

Arthur, on the other hand, is more reserved and has a penchant for loving things that are hard to love. From the moment he sees Lydia, he’s drawn to her like a moth to a flame. Even though he feels he has little to offer—perhaps just a crumbling castle—he’s ready to give her his heart. His biggest fear is that he won’t be enough for her. Honestly, this guy is so smitten with Lydia, it’s almost comical. All he wants is for someone to choose him for a change.

This story is a rollercoaster of emotions, from hearty laughs to a few tearful moments. The developing romance between Lydia and Arthur is truly heartwarming. I especially enjoyed how each chapter begins with letters exchanged between the characters, adding a unique touch to their story. The characters in this story are wonderfully developed, each bringing their own unique flair to the narrative. The steamy scenes are perfectly timed, adding just the right amount of spice. I was genuinely surprised by the plot twists, especially regarding the mystery surrounding Davis. I found myself completely absorbed in this tale. Overall, I absolutely adored this historical romance and will definitely be on the lookout for more from Ms. Vasti.

Earl Crush by Alexandra Vasti is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a blend of historical romance, intrigue, political drama, and a charming Scottish Earl.

[rainbowofcrazy]

Ne’er Duke Well, by Alexandra Vasti (Narrated by Mhairi Morrison)

I am newish to regency romances. Still deciding if it's for me. (Recs welcome!) This had charm, humour, & a lil spice but was lacking something for me

Full review: https://rainbowofcrazy.wordpress.com/2024/12/03/book-review-neer-duke-well-by-alexandra-vasti/

[jolieeason]

August 2024 Wrap-Up

Here is what I read, posted, won, received, and bought in August. Let me know if you have read any of these books and what you thought of them. Books I Read: Did Not Finish Books Reviewed: Ami (Guardians of the Dawn: Book 2) by S. Jae Jones—review here Agony Hill by Sarah Stewart Taylor—review here Shock and Paw by Cate Conte—review here The Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki—review…

[somewherelostinbooks]

Ne'er Duke Well- Review

Ne’er Duke Well By Alexandra Vasti Genre: Historical Romance Series: Belvoir’s Library Trilogy #1 Publisher: Corvus Publication Date: July 23,2024 Source: Received an ARC in exchange for an honest review Rating: 4.5 Stars Description: Step 1: Find perfect wifeStep 2: Save reputation from ruinStep 3: Do not, at any cost, fall in love with Selina RavenscroftPeter Kent, newly inherited Duke…

[blueysbookshelf]

2024: Book 29 - The Chemistry of Familiar Objects

The Chemistry of Familiar Objects by Alexandra Vasti My rating: 5 of 5 stars A virginal childrens book author and a chemist with a sharp tongue butt heads over and over and over, until the chemists laboratory is broken into and a dangerous item is stolen. This novella contained way more than I could have dreamed for the few pages it ran and I am not mad at it. The role reversals of the heroine being experienced and scientific and the hero being a sexually inexperienced creative was delightful. Sprinkle in some forced proximity due to dangerous circumstances, her eccentric family, some spicy spicy moments in a shed and you've got everything you need for a sweet and delightful romp. I use the CAWPILE Review method for my reviews (see explanation here), just to keep me honest and help me understand what exactly I liked/didn't like. My ratings are below. Characters: 9/10 Atmosphere/Setting: 9/10 Writing: 10/10 Plot: 10/10 Intrigue: 10/10 Logic/Relationships: 10/10 Enjoyment: 10/10 Total rating 68/70 divided by 7 = 9.7 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 🌶️ 🌶️ View all my reviews

[monomatica]

Type Map for Ne’er Duke Well by Alexandra Vasti 💚🩵

A portrait of Lady Selina Ravencroft, one of my favorite clever and savvy Regency heroines. The Duke of Stanhope never had a chance.

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[triviareads]

Hello, sorry to bother, can you recommend historicals where the hero or heroine play an instrument? Or even don't play but like music

Always Be My Duchess by Amalie Howard: Montcroix a cellist and there's an EXCELLENT scene where he's hard after watching Nève dance and he's trying to play his cello to exercise his frustrations but then she shows up and he proceeds to play her like a cello, vibrato and all.

Theory of Earls by Kathleen Ayers: Maggie plays the piano so stirringly that apparently it borders on wanton for her Victorian audience. The hero Tony is also a gifted pianist and this book features piano fingering, piano oral, and a ruination... on a piano.

Nine Rules to Break When Romancing A Rake by Sarah MacLean: Ralston is secretly a great pianist and he's playing very angstily when Callie sneaks into his house to request that he give her her first kiss.

Patience by Lisa Valdez: Both Matthew and Patience are cellists, I think they duet at some point, and there's a this super hot scene where she's in his lap with her legs spread and they're both playing his cello which leads to more.

Marrying Winterborne by Lisa Kleypas: Helen is an accomplished pianist and plays for Rhys in the prior book while he's recovering from his injuries and he's *entranced*. In Marrying Winterborne, Rhys also tries to bribe her into sleeping with him by offering to buy her a new piano. It does work. Kind of.

An Island Princess Starts A Scandal by Adriana Herrera: I mean, they must enjoy the opera enough for Cora to go down on Manuela in their private box during a performance.

In Which Winnie Halifax is Utterly Ruined by Alexandra Vasti: Ditto for Spencer and Winnie ^^

And if you wanna read about endearingly shitty musicians, there's always the Smythe-Smith Quartet series by Julia Quinn.

EDIT:

M is for Marquess by Grace Callaway: Thea and Tremont first meet after she plays the piano and he's super stirred by it and he later admits he wanted to take her on said piano.

[hardcovernights]

In Which Matilda Halifax Learns the Value of Restraint

Alexandra Vasti

[thebooklovebot]

Cover Reveal for Earl Crush by Alexandra Vasti & Get a Sneak Peek

Cover artist: Petra Braun PUBLICATION DATE: January 21, 2025. GENRE: Historical Romance / Romance / Fiction Within the last year Alexandra Vasti has proven what a strong new voice in romance she is with her novellas following the Halifax Sisters and again with her debut–Ne’er Duke Well. I fell in love with her writing and the delicious tension and chemistry she builds between her main…

[overflowingshelf]

ARC Review: Earl Crush by Alexandra Vasti

Earl Crush Alexandra Vasti Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin Publication Date: January 21, 2025 Series or Standalone: Belvoir’s Library Trilogy Links: Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Goodreads – StoryGraph Rating: CW: Gun violence; vomit; references to homophobia and death of a parent Mistaken Identity! Road Trips! Fake Marriage! Spies! Zebras?  You get all this and more in Alexandra Vasti’s…