Blog Tour Review: Earl Crush (Belvoir’s Lending Library #2) by Alexandra Vasti

I received this book for free from Rachel's Random Resources, the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Earl Crush by Alexandra Vasti
Published by St. Martin's Griffin on January 21, 2025
Genres: Adult Historical Romance
Pages: 352
Source: Rachel's Random Resources, the publisher
Format: E-galley
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My Rating:

Blurb:

Right girl. Wrong Earl.

Lydia Hope-Wallace’s secret life as the anonymous author of rebellious political pamphlets has led her into a correspondence with the charming Earl of Strathrannoch. When she learns he’s in dire financial straits, Lydia sets out for Scotland to offer him a marriage of convenience – to, erm, herself.

Arthur Baird, Earl of Strathrannoch is stunned when a bewitching stranger offers him her hand in marriage. But when he realizes that his traitorous brother has been writing to her under his name, he’s bloody furious.

Desperate to track down his estranged sibling, Arthur needs Lydia’s help. What he doesn’t need? The attraction that burns hotter each moment they spend together. As Lydia slips past his defences, Arthur will have to risk everything to keep her safe – even his heart…

Purchase Links

https://www.waterstones.com/book/9781805464006

https://www.foyles.co.uk/book/earl-crush/alexandra-vasti/9781805464006

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1805464000

My Review

I really wanted to read the first one in the series, but wasn’t able to fit it into my review schedule at the time. But when I saw this one pop up, I immediately signed up and fit it into my schedule. And I will now have to go back and read the first one since I really enjoyed this.

Of course my Outlander obsessed self loved that this took place in Scotland for a lot of the story. I mean, yes, I definitely want my own Scottish Earl with a castle, lol. However my brain/tongue kept stumbling over how to pronounce Strathrannoch every time it came up in the story. I enjoyed both characters, Arthur’s grumpy, not shy – but not a perfect flirty smooth gentleman, and Lydia’s shyness/social awkwardness, yet wanting to be able to make her own way. I loved seeing the two of them fall in love, and how her family took him in almost straightaway. Being around her big, boisterous family was so much fun, and it was heartwarming to see how they accepted him.

There was a lot of intrigue along the way to figuring out exactly why Arthur’s brother Davis had been writing to Lydia. Was he really a bad guy, stealing Arthur’s invention for nefarious purposes? And then there was Lydia’s brother’s appearance at a gathering, but he was calling himself by a different name. What was he up to? Was he in cahoots with Arthur’s brother? And could it all be culminating in a plan to assassinate someone? I also am wondering if Lydia’s friend Georgiana snuck off to find her brother Jasper, and if that might be a future story in this series.

The story was really fun, totally what my brain pictures as a historical romance type of story, including all the very steamy scenes with our couple. A few times I was a bit irritated with both Lydia and Arthur doubting the other one for very minor things. That’s what kept it as a 4 star read for me. But still this is worth a read for anyone who enjoys a good spicy historical romance with some funny bits along the way!

About the Author

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

Social Media Links –

https://x.com/CorvusBooks – @CorvusBooks

https://www.instagram.com/alexandravasti/ – @alexandravasti