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Halifax Hellions #3
In Which Winnie Halifax Is Utterly Ruined
"Hot, smart, funny, and charming as hell" - Alix E. Harrow on THE HALIFAX HELLIONS series.
The final novella in Alexandra Vasti's Halifax Hellions series.
In 1811, Winifred Wallace told one lie. To secure her future as an independent sheep farmer, she invented an estranged husband named Mr. Spencer Halifax and forged their marriage record. Ten years later, her deception catches up with in the form of the disturbingly real, distressingly attractive earl on her doorstep.
Spencer Halifax wants to set a good example for his beloved hellion sisters. Ever since their father's death, he's tried to play the role of sensible earl - and involving himself with a felonious sheep farmer is decidedly not sensible. But Winnie's passion and fierce self-reliance draws him in, even as her closely guarded secrets keep him out.
When Spencer asks Winnie to travel with him to London to disentangle their semi-legal union, she's horrified. London is where her mother stole several lavish necklaces from noblemen. But she cannot pass up the chance to return the stolen jewelry.
Though returning the gems is more difficult than Winnie imagined, and she soon realizes that the only way forward is to trust Spencer with the truth of her past. Even if doing so threatens their pretend marriage and the all-too-real feelings between them.
The final novella in Alexandra Vasti's Halifax Hellions series.
In 1811, Winifred Wallace told one lie. To secure her future as an independent sheep farmer, she invented an estranged husband named Mr. Spencer Halifax and forged their marriage record. Ten years later, her deception catches up with in the form of the disturbingly real, distressingly attractive earl on her doorstep.
Spencer Halifax wants to set a good example for his beloved hellion sisters. Ever since their father's death, he's tried to play the role of sensible earl - and involving himself with a felonious sheep farmer is decidedly not sensible. But Winnie's passion and fierce self-reliance draws him in, even as her closely guarded secrets keep him out.
When Spencer asks Winnie to travel with him to London to disentangle their semi-legal union, she's horrified. London is where her mother stole several lavish necklaces from noblemen. But she cannot pass up the chance to return the stolen jewelry.
Though returning the gems is more difficult than Winnie imagined, and she soon realizes that the only way forward is to trust Spencer with the truth of her past. Even if doing so threatens their pretend marriage and the all-too-real feelings between them.
196 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 21, 2023
253 people are currently reading
2701 people want to read
About the author
Alexandra Vasti
12 books1,484 followersAlexandra Vasti is a British literature professor by day and USA Today bestselling romance writer by night. After finishing her PhD at Columbia University, she moved to New Orleans with her family. Her books have received starred reviews from Publisher's Weekly, Booklist, Library Journal, BookPage, and Kirkus, and have been featured in The New York Times, NPR, Entertainment Weekly, People, and elsewhere.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 538 reviews
August 23, 2023
Chaos. Pure, horny chaos. That woman was so chaotic and that man was so horny for her.
February 15, 2024
Like most of us, Winnie just wants to raise sheep in Wales. Unfortunately she accidentally manifests a hot, titled husband and he’s not super thrilled about their meet-cute being bailing her ass out of prison. Being the older brother of the Halifax Hellions, this is hardly the worst situation Spencer has been in recently although he must admit that it’s rather unique and remarkably delicate — and he doesn’t even know about the priceless jewels she’s trying to return. It’s fraught, that’s what it is, utterly fraught. Winnie and Spencer haul off to London to undo this terrible misunderstanding but she smells like lemons and he’s got freckled hands so they like, don’t even stand a chance. If only Margo was here to say what everyone is alre— oh, there she is.
September 6, 2023
Note: Some of my goodreads shelves can be spoilers
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥
Humor: Yes
Perspective: Third person from the hero and heroine
When mains are first on page together: Almost immediately (chapter 1)
Cliffhanger: No, this ends in a happily ever after
Epilogue: No
Format: voluntarily read an advanced reader copy from the author
(Descriptions found at end of my review)
Should I read in order?
You don’t have to but they are all AMAZING and happening concurrently – so you’ll get enjoyment out of seeing the events through each couple’s eyes a bit differently
Basic plot:
For her own security, Winnie made up a marriage – and ten years later finds out the man actually exists.
Give this a try if you want:
- Late Regency (1821)
- fake marriage
- huge hero/tiny heroine – though Winnie is average height, Spencer tops her by 8 inches
- character and relationship focused (no mystery or villains)
- protective hero
- working women – heroine has lived on a sheep farm for 10 years and makes her own thread
- medium to higher steam – 3 full scenes in a novella length
Ages:
- Hero is 28, heroine is 31
First line:
At twenty years of age, Winifred Wallace had to her name one dress, seventy-two pounds sterling, and three necklaces dripping with diamonds.
My thoughts:
I adooooooooooooooooooore Vasti’s writing so much. So, so much. She is such a delight and has the perfect mix of what I love in romance – she’s character focused, she’s steamy (and her scenes are emotional and developed!), her characters are so lively. There’s angst! I fall into her books so easily. I want to read more as soon as I put it down. I hide from my kids to keep reading...
I was worried as we got into this one I wouldn’t love it because our heroine has created some lies to get by in life. I struggle so hard with that because of some personal things I’ve gone through – I tend to be really sensitive to lying and it’s almost unforgivable to me. But...Vasti took Winnie and she made her relatable. Lovable. Understandable in her actions. She created a vulnerable, forgivable character that I loved.
And Spencer?? Oh. Spencer I LOVED. He was utter perfection with his sweet, understanding personality. So supportive. So kind. So tied up with longing over Winnie he finds himself jerking off near the bathroom door from the scent of lemons...All the things that came out of his mouth made me swoon.
Sigh. I love it.
Quotes/spoiler-y thoughts:
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Extra stuff like what my review breakdown means, where to find me, and book clubs
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥
Humor: Yes
Perspective: Third person from the hero and heroine
When mains are first on page together: Almost immediately (chapter 1)
Cliffhanger: No, this ends in a happily ever after
Epilogue: No
Format: voluntarily read an advanced reader copy from the author
(Descriptions found at end of my review)
Should I read in order?
You don’t have to but they are all AMAZING and happening concurrently – so you’ll get enjoyment out of seeing the events through each couple’s eyes a bit differently
Basic plot:
For her own security, Winnie made up a marriage – and ten years later finds out the man actually exists.
Give this a try if you want:
- Late Regency (1821)
- fake marriage
- huge hero/tiny heroine – though Winnie is average height, Spencer tops her by 8 inches
- character and relationship focused (no mystery or villains)
- protective hero
- working women – heroine has lived on a sheep farm for 10 years and makes her own thread
- medium to higher steam – 3 full scenes in a novella length
Ages:
- Hero is 28, heroine is 31
First line:
At twenty years of age, Winifred Wallace had to her name one dress, seventy-two pounds sterling, and three necklaces dripping with diamonds.
My thoughts:
I adooooooooooooooooooore Vasti’s writing so much. So, so much. She is such a delight and has the perfect mix of what I love in romance – she’s character focused, she’s steamy (and her scenes are emotional and developed!), her characters are so lively. There’s angst! I fall into her books so easily. I want to read more as soon as I put it down. I hide from my kids to keep reading...
I was worried as we got into this one I wouldn’t love it because our heroine has created some lies to get by in life. I struggle so hard with that because of some personal things I’ve gone through – I tend to be really sensitive to lying and it’s almost unforgivable to me. But...Vasti took Winnie and she made her relatable. Lovable. Understandable in her actions. She created a vulnerable, forgivable character that I loved.
And Spencer?? Oh. Spencer I LOVED. He was utter perfection with his sweet, understanding personality. So supportive. So kind. So tied up with longing over Winnie he finds himself jerking off near the bathroom door from the scent of lemons...All the things that came out of his mouth made me swoon.
Sigh. I love it.
Quotes/spoiler-y thoughts:
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Extra stuff like what my review breakdown means, where to find me, and book clubs
Read
February 27, 2026Enjoyable Regency m/f novella with a thoroughly (deliberately) daft premise carried out with verve. A very likeable heroine and supportive hero, both also ridiculous, but lots of heat and some real emotional oomph to it. Brisk, lively, thoroughly likeable and written with panache.
August 10, 2023
Thank you so much to Alexandra Vasti for this eARC! All thoughts/opinions are my own.
This book is absolutely perfect. It was so swoony and tender and sweet and steamy and comforting and wholesome and wow. Being autistic makes reading fiction an interesting experience -- and by interesting, I mean overstimulating. Things either go right over my head, or I become overwhelmed with the content. But with Alexandra Vasti's books, everything is accessible. The feelings of the characters are constantly analyzed and it makes the experience comfortable and calm.
The Halifax Hellions are like special friends. Each time I reread these books, I get to reread about my "friends" Margo, Matilda, and now, Winnie and feel safe with them as they venture into new realms of "life". And because I love history, the infusion of real historical elements in these books is just so lovely!! Like so wonderful!!!
Each book in this series is a 5-star read and each of them are special in their own way. In this book, I loved how much Winnie and Spencer were GONE for each other (in secret) from their first meeting. Vasti really knows how to do this because with Henry/Margo, Christian/Matilda, and now with Spencer/Winnie, I fully believe the longing and pining and sexual tension. LIKE I AM CONSUMED BY IT.
I really can't say enough good about this book, but I know I need to get my thoughts in order so that I can include some non-spoilery quotes in this. (those will be posted in here soon)
In short, the give me all the warm, fuzzy, tender feelings and I just love them with my whole heart.
ALSO: thank you so much to the author for posting my Halifax Hellions bookmarks on her instagram. WOW ahhhh!!!
This book is absolutely perfect. It was so swoony and tender and sweet and steamy and comforting and wholesome and wow. Being autistic makes reading fiction an interesting experience -- and by interesting, I mean overstimulating. Things either go right over my head, or I become overwhelmed with the content. But with Alexandra Vasti's books, everything is accessible. The feelings of the characters are constantly analyzed and it makes the experience comfortable and calm.
The Halifax Hellions are like special friends. Each time I reread these books, I get to reread about my "friends" Margo, Matilda, and now, Winnie and feel safe with them as they venture into new realms of "life". And because I love history, the infusion of real historical elements in these books is just so lovely!! Like so wonderful!!!
Each book in this series is a 5-star read and each of them are special in their own way. In this book, I loved how much Winnie and Spencer were GONE for each other (in secret) from their first meeting. Vasti really knows how to do this because with Henry/Margo, Christian/Matilda, and now with Spencer/Winnie, I fully believe the longing and pining and sexual tension. LIKE I AM CONSUMED BY IT.
I really can't say enough good about this book, but I know I need to get my thoughts in order so that I can include some non-spoilery quotes in this. (those will be posted in here soon)
In short, the give me all the warm, fuzzy, tender feelings and I just love them with my whole heart.
ALSO: thank you so much to the author for posting my Halifax Hellions bookmarks on her instagram. WOW ahhhh!!!
March 30, 2024
3.5 stars rounded up
Spencer (H) is my favorite of the Halifax siblings, he's a sweetheart of an earl who just wants to do what's best for others and honor his deceased parents. Winnie (h) was also a delightful character, she just clung a little too long to needing to do things on her own and took right up until the end to see that Spencer was right there with her because he adored her, rather than just because he was a decent guy. I loved her independence though and how she made a life for herself through sheer grit and will, she's a sheep farmer and creates a thread business. They're brought together thanks to a little white lie Winnie tells about being married and a possibly very real legal situation when the name she chose matches the very real Spencer. Written in third person, dual POV. No ow/om drama, H not a virgin (but states he has limited experience) and h was a virgin (with some limited experience).
Winnie did get herself into some interesting snafus, but Spencer was there to help pull her out when needed. And the chemistry between these two was so steamy. A couple of spicy scenes, including some "anything but the full act" moments. The ending is HFN, I don't know why the author didn't write extended epilogues for this series, but Margo and Henry do pop in at the end and are sweetly in love. I also wondered what happened with Winnie's farm and her business, but we at least know that these two are in love at the end and will face whatever else happens in the future together, they make a pretty amazing team. My favorite novella of this author's is still Chemistry of Familiar Objects, but I'm glad I circled back and did finish out the Halifaxes.
Spencer (H) is my favorite of the Halifax siblings, he's a sweetheart of an earl who just wants to do what's best for others and honor his deceased parents. Winnie (h) was also a delightful character, she just clung a little too long to needing to do things on her own and took right up until the end to see that Spencer was right there with her because he adored her, rather than just because he was a decent guy. I loved her independence though and how she made a life for herself through sheer grit and will, she's a sheep farmer and creates a thread business. They're brought together thanks to a little white lie Winnie tells about being married and a possibly very real legal situation when the name she chose matches the very real Spencer. Written in third person, dual POV. No ow/om drama, H not a virgin (but states he has limited experience) and h was a virgin (with some limited experience).
Winnie did get herself into some interesting snafus, but Spencer was there to help pull her out when needed. And the chemistry between these two was so steamy. A couple of spicy scenes, including some "anything but the full act" moments. The ending is HFN, I don't know why the author didn't write extended epilogues for this series, but Margo and Henry do pop in at the end and are sweetly in love. I also wondered what happened with Winnie's farm and her business, but we at least know that these two are in love at the end and will face whatever else happens in the future together, they make a pretty amazing team. My favorite novella of this author's is still Chemistry of Familiar Objects, but I'm glad I circled back and did finish out the Halifaxes.
September 10, 2023
The best in the series!
Other notes:
- steamy carriage scene
Other notes:
- steamy carriage scene
May 6, 2024
⭐⭐⭐
3 stars.
➕ What I liked :
“Older” heroine. (30)
Red-headed/ginger hero.
Older woman and younger man romance.
(The hero is 28)
A heroine that is Not a aristocrat/noblewoman but a working woman.
(Sheep farmer/thread maker)
Likable hero that is calm/rational and understanding.
Somewhat interesting beginning of the story.
➖ What I disliked:
Not a likable heroine.
(She was too stubborn and overwrought…. But also rather self-absorbed)
Too much focus on the necklaces and everything about them, but also too much emphasis/rehashing on the heroines past.
Somewhat jumbled in some parts of the story.
The romantic build up and chemistry was somewhat stilted/unconvincing and lacked some depth.
The ending felt kind of abrupt and unresolved because the main characters did not really address how they would resolve the heroines farm in Wales.
(She had a her own life and business in Wales… what happened with that?)
OTT believability/plausibility issues.
(That heroine did Everything on her own…. On the farm and with the animals and making thread etc. Managing/running a sheep farm is tough and hard work especially during the time period/era this story is set (Late Regency) it is not a One man or One woman enterprise/undertaking.)
Repetitive.
Formulaic in the character description/visual appearance/character choices.
(Especially the hero and heroes of this book and series… all are tall and muscular/big and very handsome… not many things sets them apart from each other when it comes to their visual appearance/description…..more or less just different eye colors and hair colors.)
3 stars.
➕ What I liked :
“Older” heroine. (30)
Red-headed/ginger hero.
Older woman and younger man romance.
(The hero is 28)
A heroine that is Not a aristocrat/noblewoman but a working woman.
(Sheep farmer/thread maker)
Likable hero that is calm/rational and understanding.
Somewhat interesting beginning of the story.
➖ What I disliked:
Not a likable heroine.
(She was too stubborn and overwrought…. But also rather self-absorbed)
Too much focus on the necklaces and everything about them, but also too much emphasis/rehashing on the heroines past.
Somewhat jumbled in some parts of the story.
The romantic build up and chemistry was somewhat stilted/unconvincing and lacked some depth.
The ending felt kind of abrupt and unresolved because the main characters did not really address how they would resolve the heroines farm in Wales.
(She had a her own life and business in Wales… what happened with that?)
OTT believability/plausibility issues.
(That heroine did Everything on her own…. On the farm and with the animals and making thread etc. Managing/running a sheep farm is tough and hard work especially during the time period/era this story is set (Late Regency) it is not a One man or One woman enterprise/undertaking.)
Repetitive.
Formulaic in the character description/visual appearance/character choices.
(Especially the hero and heroes of this book and series… all are tall and muscular/big and very handsome… not many things sets them apart from each other when it comes to their visual appearance/description…..more or less just different eye colors and hair colors.)
January 31, 2024
5 stars and another one for my top tier list!!!
I looooove the “made up husband is a real person” trope, and this was such a delightful take on it. Where else would you find a sheep farmer FMC who has accidentally claimed herself an Earl!?
Winnie and Spencer were just 😍 together. I loved their partners-in-crime energy, her hilariously harebrained schemes to secretly return some stolen jewels and him being all-in on her schemes (after some slight adjustments to make them less outlandish), how they seemed to have so much fun together, and the way they were both really tactile with all the casual touches.
And the less casual touches… whew. These two were hot for each other, to put it lightly! 🥵🥵🥵 Alexandra Vasti’s novellas have all been wonderfully sex positive, and I’m so here for it. (Side note: I can usually take or leave blowjob scenes, but the one here was veerrry sensual.)
Like in Matilda’s book, Winnie and Spencer fit so well together — he’s been trying to be sensible to set a good example for his younger sisters, and she’s the adventure he’s been missing in his life. She’s bad at asking for help, and he kind of snuck in under all her defenses. Something about their relationship was just heartachingly romantic. 😍😍😍
Not sure if you could tell, but I LOVED THIS SO MUCH.
I looooove the “made up husband is a real person” trope, and this was such a delightful take on it. Where else would you find a sheep farmer FMC who has accidentally claimed herself an Earl!?
Winnie and Spencer were just 😍 together. I loved their partners-in-crime energy, her hilariously harebrained schemes to secretly return some stolen jewels and him being all-in on her schemes (after some slight adjustments to make them less outlandish), how they seemed to have so much fun together, and the way they were both really tactile with all the casual touches.
And the less casual touches… whew. These two were hot for each other, to put it lightly! 🥵🥵🥵 Alexandra Vasti’s novellas have all been wonderfully sex positive, and I’m so here for it. (Side note: I can usually take or leave blowjob scenes, but the one here was veerrry sensual.)
Like in Matilda’s book, Winnie and Spencer fit so well together — he’s been trying to be sensible to set a good example for his younger sisters, and she’s the adventure he’s been missing in his life. She’s bad at asking for help, and he kind of snuck in under all her defenses. Something about their relationship was just heartachingly romantic. 😍😍😍
Not sure if you could tell, but I LOVED THIS SO MUCH.
September 4, 2023
5 stars for the story, 500 stars for Spencer.
All those bad boy antiheroes that I love so much will always have a special place in my heart, but they are only Mr-Right-Now.
Spencer? Mr Right… Mr Oh Yes… Mr Please Don’t Stop… Mr Oh-My-God-I’m-In-Love.
What a fabulous, feel-good, sexy, angsty, squeeze-your-heart gem of a story!
All those bad boy antiheroes that I love so much will always have a special place in my heart, but they are only Mr-Right-Now.
Spencer? Mr Right… Mr Oh Yes… Mr Please Don’t Stop… Mr Oh-My-God-I’m-In-Love.
What a fabulous, feel-good, sexy, angsty, squeeze-your-heart gem of a story!
Read
July 25, 2023Sometimes I struggle to articulate why I love a particular book, or a particular author's voice. But I'm going to try, because I truly believe that Alexandra Vasti is bringing something special to histrom.
I loved the first two Halifax Hellions novellas--which are available for free to her newsletter subscribers--and I have been eagerly awaiting this final installment. Vasti's characters are complex, quirky and often infuriating. The Regency setting feels somehow less constricting and heteronormative in her hands, more expansive and diverse. And at the same time, there are so many nods to beloved romance tropes and the genre in general.
As for Winnie, the premise is that she invents an estranged husband in order to escape her past and establish a sheep farm in Wales. She's never actually seen a sheep but has read lots of books and is confident she can do it (I loved her already at this point, obviously).
A decade later, after she's built a successful business in embroidery thread, it emerges that there is in fact a Spencer George Halifax, he's an earl, and they might actually be married (Spencer is the brother of Margo and Matilda Halifax, the hellions/heroines of the first two novellas).
Things I especially loved:
* The sex scenes are very sexy, perhaps especially so because they don't follow the typical formula. Winnie tells Spencer, anxiously/adorably, that they can't "have relations," can't "copulate," because they may need to get an annulment. I loved this whole exchange: we are in Spencer's POV and he observes that he'd never thought of that word "copulate" as arousing, but "now he wanted to make her say it again, wanted to watch the press and pop of her lips on the most erotic 'p' in all the material universe." And then they proceed to do, as Spencer puts it, "all kinds of things that are not 'relations.'"
* Winnie is obsessive about her business, and it's delightful to see how Spencer finds her enthusiasm infectious. The text really captures the way in which being captivated by someone can make you become interested in their passions just for the joy of seeing them light up. "He'd never before known that he cared what caused the color variation in single and double Gloucester cheese, but apparently he did." (Also, am I the only one who noticed that all these books have cheese references? It's amazing).
* I love how Vasti is so emotionally generous with her characters. They are flawed and they fuck up, but they show each other a lot of grace, and they don't hold grudges, and they accept each other for who they are ("he had felt more himself at her side than he could ever recall feeling.") I just found myself rooting so hard for them, from the jump.
I stayed up way, way too late reading this one and I don't regret it at all.
Thank you to the author (whom I have chatted with on social media) for the arc and for permission to include these quotes in my review.
I loved the first two Halifax Hellions novellas--which are available for free to her newsletter subscribers--and I have been eagerly awaiting this final installment. Vasti's characters are complex, quirky and often infuriating. The Regency setting feels somehow less constricting and heteronormative in her hands, more expansive and diverse. And at the same time, there are so many nods to beloved romance tropes and the genre in general.
As for Winnie, the premise is that she invents an estranged husband in order to escape her past and establish a sheep farm in Wales. She's never actually seen a sheep but has read lots of books and is confident she can do it (I loved her already at this point, obviously).
A decade later, after she's built a successful business in embroidery thread, it emerges that there is in fact a Spencer George Halifax, he's an earl, and they might actually be married (Spencer is the brother of Margo and Matilda Halifax, the hellions/heroines of the first two novellas).
Things I especially loved:
* The sex scenes are very sexy, perhaps especially so because they don't follow the typical formula. Winnie tells Spencer, anxiously/adorably, that they can't "have relations," can't "copulate," because they may need to get an annulment. I loved this whole exchange: we are in Spencer's POV and he observes that he'd never thought of that word "copulate" as arousing, but "now he wanted to make her say it again, wanted to watch the press and pop of her lips on the most erotic 'p' in all the material universe." And then they proceed to do, as Spencer puts it, "all kinds of things that are not 'relations.'"
* Winnie is obsessive about her business, and it's delightful to see how Spencer finds her enthusiasm infectious. The text really captures the way in which being captivated by someone can make you become interested in their passions just for the joy of seeing them light up. "He'd never before known that he cared what caused the color variation in single and double Gloucester cheese, but apparently he did." (Also, am I the only one who noticed that all these books have cheese references? It's amazing).
* I love how Vasti is so emotionally generous with her characters. They are flawed and they fuck up, but they show each other a lot of grace, and they don't hold grudges, and they accept each other for who they are ("he had felt more himself at her side than he could ever recall feeling.") I just found myself rooting so hard for them, from the jump.
I stayed up way, way too late reading this one and I don't regret it at all.
Thank you to the author (whom I have chatted with on social media) for the arc and for permission to include these quotes in my review.
April 28, 2025
“When you have a chance at happiness, you hold onto it. You don’t dither about and let it slip away.”
Somewhere between the previous book in the series and this one, Alexandra Vasti lost her amusing writing style.* It’s a shame, especially since her fine sense of humor was the strength of her books. What remains is a story that starts out intriguing but quickly falls flat.
Spencer Halifax, Earl of Warren, travels to Wales to confront a woman who claims to be his wife. As it turns out, the use of his name is just a silly coincidence and she didn’t know anything about him. Due to some complications, they have to go to London to petition for an annulment of their false marriage. The stay in London is also Winifred’s chance to hand back three necklaces stolen by her mother.
Once Spencer and Winifred arrive in London, it’s all about sex without penetration (because she can’t lose her virginity if they want the annulment) and the return of three necklaces stolen by Winifred’s mother. The sex goes well for them, the return of the necklaces not so much. The ladder is no surprise, as Win’s plans are unnecessarily complicated and the attempts end in disastrous and/or slapstick scenes. They still find the time to fall in love with each other, unfortunately I didn’t feel any chemistry or love. I was just extremely bored.
1.5
* Or I lost my humor.
Somewhere between the previous book in the series and this one, Alexandra Vasti lost her amusing writing style.* It’s a shame, especially since her fine sense of humor was the strength of her books. What remains is a story that starts out intriguing but quickly falls flat.
Spencer Halifax, Earl of Warren, travels to Wales to confront a woman who claims to be his wife. As it turns out, the use of his name is just a silly coincidence and she didn’t know anything about him. Due to some complications, they have to go to London to petition for an annulment of their false marriage. The stay in London is also Winifred’s chance to hand back three necklaces stolen by her mother.
Once Spencer and Winifred arrive in London, it’s all about sex without penetration (because she can’t lose her virginity if they want the annulment) and the return of three necklaces stolen by Winifred’s mother. The sex goes well for them, the return of the necklaces not so much. The ladder is no surprise, as Win’s plans are unnecessarily complicated and the attempts end in disastrous and/or slapstick scenes. They still find the time to fall in love with each other, unfortunately I didn’t feel any chemistry or love. I was just extremely bored.
1.5
* Or I lost my humor.
February 17, 2025
4.25 stars. What a fun book.
July 29, 2023
Up until maybe 60%, this was going to be a five-star read. I loved the beginning: it felt fresh, it was funny, and getting to know Spencer and Winnie was a delight. Spencer was a puppy dog and Winnie was a woman with such an interesting back story: a self-made woman with an encyclopedic knowledge of sheep and some baggage from a duplicitous mother.
But at some point, this started feeling like a different book. Spencer began to feel undefined — I guess you never know what lies beneath, but his sudden transformation into a lite-dom (cf the theatre scene, which really reminded me of a scene from another book; I can’t remember the title but there was a jade dildo involved?) felt a little out of character.
And Winnie became Romance Everywoman, not accepting that this man, who is so clearly head over heels for her, would love her for Reasons. One of my biggest pet peeves in romance is the “I am going to jump to my own conclusions and not let the other person get a word in edgewise to explain” plot device, and it’s present here.
Apart from that, I felt that Vasti sacrificed some story for sex scenes. Like, Spencer starts calling her Lady Warren, his countess, but there is practically no “what’s up with that?” questions about their marriage from his many friends, no hilariously awkward scenes as she tries to fill that role. Yes, Bookstagram will love that there’s so much steam, but I think a sex scene could have been cut and more real estate given to fleshing out their time in London.
3.5 stars rounded up — Vasti is a great writer and I look forward to what she will do in trad publishing.
Thanks to the author for the ARC!
But at some point, this started feeling like a different book. Spencer began to feel undefined — I guess you never know what lies beneath, but his sudden transformation into a lite-dom (cf the theatre scene, which really reminded me of a scene from another book; I can’t remember the title but there was a jade dildo involved?) felt a little out of character.
And Winnie became Romance Everywoman, not accepting that this man, who is so clearly head over heels for her, would love her for Reasons. One of my biggest pet peeves in romance is the “I am going to jump to my own conclusions and not let the other person get a word in edgewise to explain” plot device, and it’s present here.
Apart from that, I felt that Vasti sacrificed some story for sex scenes. Like, Spencer starts calling her Lady Warren, his countess, but there is practically no “what’s up with that?” questions about their marriage from his many friends, no hilariously awkward scenes as she tries to fill that role. Yes, Bookstagram will love that there’s so much steam, but I think a sex scene could have been cut and more real estate given to fleshing out their time in London.
3.5 stars rounded up — Vasti is a great writer and I look forward to what she will do in trad publishing.
Thanks to the author for the ARC!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 10, 2026
why are fictional men always so HOT
August 1, 2023
4.5 stars for the last of the Halifax siblings! I’m so sad this is the last book in these series. What do I do until 2024??
A fake marriage/fake relationship will always rope me in. Even better? A fake marriage where she thought she was making up a totally fake husband with a totally fake name. And instead she legit wrote out marriage banns with the name of a prominent Earl. And it’s probably not a fake marriage at all due to a Murphy’s law situation where everything that CAN go wrong WILL go wrong. Wrong? Right? I’ll let you decide.
Winnie and Spencer are so endearing and gentle. Spencer is the MOST earnest human being and, in a world of aristocratic know it all men, Spencer listens to Winnie and actively seeks to make her life better and help. Even though she’s made a muck of everything on accident. I mean he sees her in the jail for their first meeting (meet cute, amiright) and is a smitten kitten. If a man is smitten with you when you’re covered on sheep shit, make him a husband. I just adored Spencer and his blushing ears and inability to hide his emotions.
And Winnie?? I ached for her struggle. Can you imagine trying to fix the mistakes your parents made and starting a completely new life because you’re running from things that weren’t your mistakes to pay for? Winnie is such a strong character. And it’s very much because she had no choice. But instead of it making her bitter, she’s still tender hearted and yearns for love and family. She just doesn’t think she deserves it. Thankfully, there’s a Spencer there to, not fix everything for her, but to be a safe place to land. I loved them so much.
I was just a hair curious in the end about what would happen to Winnie’s farm because it’s not really resolved, but I’m going to assume she hires someone and continues to make her thread! Or maybe she doesn’t! The world is her oyster as the accidental Countess of Warren.
A fake marriage/fake relationship will always rope me in. Even better? A fake marriage where she thought she was making up a totally fake husband with a totally fake name. And instead she legit wrote out marriage banns with the name of a prominent Earl. And it’s probably not a fake marriage at all due to a Murphy’s law situation where everything that CAN go wrong WILL go wrong. Wrong? Right? I’ll let you decide.
Winnie and Spencer are so endearing and gentle. Spencer is the MOST earnest human being and, in a world of aristocratic know it all men, Spencer listens to Winnie and actively seeks to make her life better and help. Even though she’s made a muck of everything on accident. I mean he sees her in the jail for their first meeting (meet cute, amiright) and is a smitten kitten. If a man is smitten with you when you’re covered on sheep shit, make him a husband. I just adored Spencer and his blushing ears and inability to hide his emotions.
And Winnie?? I ached for her struggle. Can you imagine trying to fix the mistakes your parents made and starting a completely new life because you’re running from things that weren’t your mistakes to pay for? Winnie is such a strong character. And it’s very much because she had no choice. But instead of it making her bitter, she’s still tender hearted and yearns for love and family. She just doesn’t think she deserves it. Thankfully, there’s a Spencer there to, not fix everything for her, but to be a safe place to land. I loved them so much.
I was just a hair curious in the end about what would happen to Winnie’s farm because it’s not really resolved, but I’m going to assume she hires someone and continues to make her thread! Or maybe she doesn’t! The world is her oyster as the accidental Countess of Warren.
July 27, 2023
i’m very thankful that i was sent an arc of this by the author - alexandra vasti! i was a huge fan of the first two books and this one may have beaten those two. it’s fun, romantic, and i was able to relate to both characters easily
it follows winnie after a… strange set of circumstances. she became a sheep farmer in wales and, while there, she invented a husband. but it turns out he’s a real person and they end up meeting. i loved seeing spencer again along with the other characters in this series! and winnie was such a great addition, she’s so entertaining to read about and i love how sure she is in her values and what she wants out of life
the romance in this one is superb! there’s so much tension and it takes a little while for them to get together and i couldn’t wait. i love how supportive they are of each other and how they decide what to do about their future together. overall, it’s a sweet, warm, great historical romance and i can’t wait to see more from this author 💜 thank you again for the arc!
it follows winnie after a… strange set of circumstances. she became a sheep farmer in wales and, while there, she invented a husband. but it turns out he’s a real person and they end up meeting. i loved seeing spencer again along with the other characters in this series! and winnie was such a great addition, she’s so entertaining to read about and i love how sure she is in her values and what she wants out of life
the romance in this one is superb! there’s so much tension and it takes a little while for them to get together and i couldn’t wait. i love how supportive they are of each other and how they decide what to do about their future together. overall, it’s a sweet, warm, great historical romance and i can’t wait to see more from this author 💜 thank you again for the arc!
July 25, 2023
The amount of character development, longing, fun, and humor Alex can fit in a novella is honestly amazing. You *know* and love these chatacters so quickly, and their adventures together are just a delight. This felt like the rompiest of the three novellas, and I pretty much didn’t stop smiling the whole time. Watching Winnie and Spencer fall in love was an absolute joy!
May 14, 2025
How can such a great book be a novella? So much fun! Everything is just right, from the backstory to the sheep to the characters to the pacing, this story is comedy perfection. And so very sexy! So much to love!
August 1, 2025
This series is every 👏🏻thing 👏🏻
December 22, 2025
4.5 stars
Since this one was a novella, it was inevitable that the plot got condensed. But for a first read by this author, I thoroughly enjoyed the swift, mad ride. The beginning was just stellarly done: the humour, the romcom series of events was just pure ROTFLOL 😂. From there, the characters only grew in sympathy by their honest attitudes and it was satisfying to see them reach their happy ending. A light, charming novella - just what I needed today 😊!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 22, 2023
Is the premise of this novella a liiiiiiittle bit ridiculous? Yes, but I'm a bitch who can suspend disbelief. Did I love every second of it and read it in two hours? Also yes. Alexandra Vasti continues to have complete command of historical romance's pacing and tropes (not to mention, some very steamy scenes), and I'm more excited than ever for her debut novel next year.
I still can't believe we have forever to go until that book comes out! WHEW.
I still can't believe we have forever to go until that book comes out! WHEW.
August 8, 2024
3.5/5 ☆ Spencer🥺🥺🥺 nada realista aquí, pero imagínate inventarte el nombre, dirección y todo de tu “esposo falso” y que muy convenientemente coincida con un conde real aka Spencer aka el mejor marido
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Es una novela y lo entiendo, pero qué va a pasar con el negocio de Winnie, como se va a administrar ahora? Su granja? Necesito más páginas!!! Y UN EPÍLOGO.
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Es una novela y lo entiendo, pero qué va a pasar con el negocio de Winnie, como se va a administrar ahora? Su granja? Necesito más páginas!!! Y UN EPÍLOGO.
April 4, 2024
The final novella in this series is remarkably consistent with the other two, Once again charming and sexy, utterly historically absurd (really it is a historical romance with zero actual history.) The one place where this falls down a little for me is that there is simply no foundation for these two falling in love. It is 100% love at first sight, which is not usually satisfying for me, but I guess I fell a little in love with Winnie too, so I could understand Spencer's reaction.
May 6, 2025
Winnie Wallace of Wales runs her own sheep farm after forging marriage to a guy she made up. Unfortunately, Spencer George Halifax actually exists and he’s just arrived to confront her, but has to bail her out of jail instead. Winnie’s mom was a sticky-fingered seductress who stole a bunch of jewels from rich men, so Winnie voyages to London with Spencer to make amends and help him get their fake marriage annulled. He’s a reluctant Earl with a beguiling dimple and the bone structure of a Norse God, while she smells of lemonade and has him pondering the depths of her mouth. They engage in some lusty exhibitionism as they canoodle at the opera and dinner parties, which has Spencer hopelessly twitterpated by the sheep shearing milkmaid of his erotic dreams. It’s hot! It’s horny! It’s a little bit porny! At one point he calls her his ‘wicked little minx’ and Jesus bloody bollocking Christ, I came undone.
August 2, 2023
My enjoyment of these has increased with each novella, and this one was near perfection for me (I just wish the very ending didn’t feel quite so rushed, but it is a novella after all!). Alexandra Vasti is an incredible writer and achieves so much with these novellas that at times you forget you’re reading a novella and not a full-length novel. What she’s managed to accomplish with these is amazing! Her writing is romantic and exquisite, we get a bath scene of my dreams, sexy lace stockings that had me questioning if I should *add to cart*, steamy carriage rides, an opera scene, dinner party shenanigans that quickly turn 🥵🥵🥵 and don’t forget the sheep. And I just loved Winnie and Spencer!!!
July 31, 2023
ARC received from the author, thanks!
You know, MF romance doesn’t always work for me. There are so many gendered stereotypes, traditional gender roles, maybe not as much consent as I would like to be reading. So, I’m pretty picky, especially with histroms. But, my god, Alexandra Vasti writes some damn good MF histroms.
The characters are absolutely fantastic, and not at all what you would expect them to be.
In this instalment of the Halifax Hellions we meet Winnie Halifax, who is the daughter of a thief, but who has lived the past ten years raising sheep in Wales. A little lie and a forged document or two, and she has quite successfully become the third Halifax Hellion. Or, perhaps brought out the Hellion in Spencer Halifax (brother two the first two Hellions).
This book was a delight; from the zany antics of Winnie trying to do the right thing, to steamy scenes where the stockings most definitely stay on, this was so much fun to read.
As I said earlier, I am very picky when it comes to historical MF romances, but I will pre-ordering Vasti’s full length novel, Ne’er Duke Well, as soon as it’s available.
You know, MF romance doesn’t always work for me. There are so many gendered stereotypes, traditional gender roles, maybe not as much consent as I would like to be reading. So, I’m pretty picky, especially with histroms. But, my god, Alexandra Vasti writes some damn good MF histroms.
The characters are absolutely fantastic, and not at all what you would expect them to be.
In this instalment of the Halifax Hellions we meet Winnie Halifax, who is the daughter of a thief, but who has lived the past ten years raising sheep in Wales. A little lie and a forged document or two, and she has quite successfully become the third Halifax Hellion. Or, perhaps brought out the Hellion in Spencer Halifax (brother two the first two Hellions).
This book was a delight; from the zany antics of Winnie trying to do the right thing, to steamy scenes where the stockings most definitely stay on, this was so much fun to read.
As I said earlier, I am very picky when it comes to historical MF romances, but I will pre-ordering Vasti’s full length novel, Ne’er Duke Well, as soon as it’s available.
July 1, 2024
really good in the way of an excellent piece of buttered toast: not likely to be particularly memorable, and no matter how much you might try to shake it up, there's only so much you can do with the ingredients, but sometimes, what you really need is a good piece of buttered toast, and you sure as hell enjoy it while you're eating it (COMPLIMENTARY, I SWEAR)
April 13, 2024
spencer halifax is the embodiment of the best damn cinnamon roll you’ll ever eat - with mouthwatering soft brown sugary goodness, a tinge of spicy, and lathered with just the perfect amount of cream over the top 🤤
April 5, 2024
I really enjoyed all three of these novellas! I haven’t been into HR recently but these little cuties were just the thing for me. I’ll definitely be reading more from this author.
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