Book review - Ne'er Duke Well

 * Thank You to Rachel's Random Resources for inviting me on this book tour and, thank you to Corvus Books for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Synopsis:

STRATAGEM FOR THE RESTORATION OF RESPECTABILITY TO THE DUKE OF STANHOPE:

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...

My review:

Successful matchmaker, Lady Selina Ravenscroft, agrees to help the new Duke of Stanhope, Peter Kent, find a respectable wife to make him more appealing when he tries to gain custody of his younger half-siblings. Selina and Peter have feelings for each other, yet Selina is sitting on a scandal, which if revealed, could play havoc with the custody battle!

Selina and Peter already know each other when the story begins, and their friendship grows into a fiery attraction. I liked how Peter and Selina were already friends and had mutual respect. They were a team throughout the story and believed in each other. Peter was a surprisingly modern regency man; he supported Selina as a working woman. (If only they had all been like that!)

Both characters had strong opinions and passions. Peter was passionate about gaining custody of his younger siblings and creating a loving family atmosphere - something that he had never experienced. He also had strong opinions surrounding the abolition of slavery. Selina cared about the women around her having access to information that could help them take control and make decisions for themselves. Ladies secretly accessed books from Selina’s library to gain knowledge about matters such as protection from unwanted pregnancies.

There were a few moments in the book that I would have loved more detail about. (I can’t say what because of spoilers!) Other than that, this was a fun historical romance; the story was fast-paced, and the characters were likeable - I was rooting for them throughout!

Buy your own copy here

Meet the author:

Alexandra Vasti loves coffee, beignets, and books, in no particular order. She is the author of the Halifax Hellions series. In between writing swoony Regency romances with hijinks and heart, she teaches British and Caribbean literature in New Orleans.

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