What do you think?
Rate this book
Loch Morven #1
Duke It Out
Edie Jones throws caution to the wind for a one night stand with a hot bartender in New York. She’s a struggling writer who finally catches a break with a three month contract in the Scottish Highlands, writing the memoirs of the late Duke of Kinnaird.
There’s just one problem: the new Duke of Kinnaird.
The last thing she expects is to find the man she slept with in Manhattan owns half of Scotland. And he’s not exactly happy to see her.
Rory Kinnaird is a brooding, buttoned-up billionaire, determined that Edie won’t get anywhere near his secrets - or his self-control. But now she’s living down the hall, digging through his father’s diaries and charming everyone from the cook to the stablehands.
Set against the backdrop of a remote Highland estate, with a cute seaside village, a castle full of skeletons (literal and emotional) and a cast of characters (and animals) to fall in love with.
(Oh, and kilts.)
There’s just one problem: the new Duke of Kinnaird.
The last thing she expects is to find the man she slept with in Manhattan owns half of Scotland. And he’s not exactly happy to see her.
Rory Kinnaird is a brooding, buttoned-up billionaire, determined that Edie won’t get anywhere near his secrets - or his self-control. But now she’s living down the hall, digging through his father’s diaries and charming everyone from the cook to the stablehands.
Set against the backdrop of a remote Highland estate, with a cute seaside village, a castle full of skeletons (literal and emotional) and a cast of characters (and animals) to fall in love with.
(Oh, and kilts.)
354 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 1, 2025
399 people are currently reading
3934 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 261 reviews
August 1, 2025
“You’re the first person who saw him for who he really is. Not the duke, not the castle — just my uptight, overthinking brother who needs someone to tell him he’s being a monumental idiot from time to time.”
✔️grumpy x sunshine
✔️one night stand
✔️forced proximity (in a castle)
✔️enemies to lovers
✔️workplace romance
✔️billionaire romance
✔️class difference
✔️small town vibes
1.75⭐️ rounded up
This book didn’t really work for me, but I think a lot of the issues I have with it are just personal preference, it is a well written book overall but not what I was hoping for. I love the setting and the overall premise of the book, but I feel that too much time was spent on all of the side issues (the terrible best friend, issues with the MMC’s dad, the attempted OW drama, the FMC’s lack of self-esteem) and side characters (and the set ups for potential future stories) and not enough time building the relationship between the MCs.
They go from a one night stand, to enemies (kind of, it’s more like he is standoffish and she is awkward around him) to lovers, however they are “together” for a total of one (additional) night before the third act breakup derails their “relationship” for a couple of months. I have a hard time believing what we see in their HEA because not enough time was spent building the relationship in the first place. The entirety of the time between the ONS and the second time they hook up (which is a few months) they are only in the same room together for random dinners and fleeting run-ins because the MMC is actively avoiding her and/or working out of the country. How they believe they have something worth fighting for after the breakup is beyond me because there is no relationship, just the potential idea of one.
In the end I think the pacing is strange and the relationship just feels off to me. I wanted to DNF a couple of times but convinced myself to power through because the setting has a sort of magic to it and I love the MMC’s brother and one of the FMC’s new friends that she made at the castle, but in the end those things weren’t enough for me.
*Thank you so much to the author (Bella James) and Love Notes PR for the opportunity to ARC read this book! All opinions are my own*
✔️grumpy x sunshine
✔️one night stand
✔️forced proximity (in a castle)
✔️enemies to lovers
✔️workplace romance
✔️billionaire romance
✔️class difference
✔️small town vibes
1.75⭐️ rounded up
This book didn’t really work for me, but I think a lot of the issues I have with it are just personal preference, it is a well written book overall but not what I was hoping for. I love the setting and the overall premise of the book, but I feel that too much time was spent on all of the side issues (the terrible best friend, issues with the MMC’s dad, the attempted OW drama, the FMC’s lack of self-esteem) and side characters (and the set ups for potential future stories) and not enough time building the relationship between the MCs.
They go from a one night stand, to enemies (kind of, it’s more like he is standoffish and she is awkward around him) to lovers, however they are “together” for a total of one (additional) night before the third act breakup derails their “relationship” for a couple of months. I have a hard time believing what we see in their HEA because not enough time was spent building the relationship in the first place. The entirety of the time between the ONS and the second time they hook up (which is a few months) they are only in the same room together for random dinners and fleeting run-ins because the MMC is actively avoiding her and/or working out of the country. How they believe they have something worth fighting for after the breakup is beyond me because there is no relationship, just the potential idea of one.
In the end I think the pacing is strange and the relationship just feels off to me. I wanted to DNF a couple of times but convinced myself to power through because the setting has a sort of magic to it and I love the MMC’s brother and one of the FMC’s new friends that she made at the castle, but in the end those things weren’t enough for me.
*Thank you so much to the author (Bella James) and Love Notes PR for the opportunity to ARC read this book! All opinions are my own*
September 29, 2025
Potential Squandered
This book had potential, then the main characters had all of like 4 conversations across several months and apparently were supposed to be invested in them?
Then the FMC is dumber than a box of rocks with the spine of a jellyfish which causes her to completely betray the MMC’s trust and then hide it. He had every right to kick her and her “friend” out of his house and he shouldn’t have let her back in. She lacked basic judgement.
The MMC was literally almost never around and boring as a piece of string. He was also kind of a jerk in almost every interaction he has with the FMC.
Also, Jamie showed he’s an idiot with no taste or self-preservation and I have 0 interest in reading his future story.
This book had potential, then the main characters had all of like 4 conversations across several months and apparently were supposed to be invested in them?
Then the FMC is dumber than a box of rocks with the spine of a jellyfish which causes her to completely betray the MMC’s trust and then hide it. He had every right to kick her and her “friend” out of his house and he shouldn’t have let her back in. She lacked basic judgement.
The MMC was literally almost never around and boring as a piece of string. He was also kind of a jerk in almost every interaction he has with the FMC.
Also, Jamie showed he’s an idiot with no taste or self-preservation and I have 0 interest in reading his future story.
August 8, 2025
This was adorable! I'm a sucker for the grumpy/sunshine book trope, I needed a light romcom to read, and this delivered! The one-night stand trope was a great way to kick off this connection between the two MC's, and I loved to ship them!! I will definitely be reading more by Bella James in the future!
Thank you so much to Love Notes PR for my ARC!
4/5
Thank you so much to Love Notes PR for my ARC!
4/5
August 8, 2025
ARC review
Based on the description, I was expecting a fun and engaging story, but unfortunately it didn’t quite work for me. I found it hard to stay invested and couldn’t connect with the characters.
Based on the description, I was expecting a fun and engaging story, but unfortunately it didn’t quite work for me. I found it hard to stay invested and couldn’t connect with the characters.
August 11, 2025
“𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙣𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙉𝙚𝙬 𝙔𝙤𝙧𝙠 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚. 𝙎𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙭𝙩 𝙛𝙚𝙬 𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙝𝙨, 𝙨𝙝𝙚’𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙞𝙩. 𝙄 𝙘𝙖𝙣’𝙩 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙝𝙚𝙧. 𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙄 𝙘𝙖𝙣’𝙩 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙥 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙝𝙚𝙧, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩’𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙨𝙚.”
What an incredible debut novel by Bella James!! I absolutely adored this book! It was a mix of everything I love. Grumpy x Sunshine, enemies to lovers…all wrapped up in a pretty Scottish highlands bow 🥰🥰🥰
Edie is our author FMC…trying to break her way into the trad publishing world. She’s sweet but I’d very unsure of herself…there’s a lot of self doubt and self criticism. Same girl…same. It was nice to see an FMC that felt REAL…she wasn’t sugar coated…she had real issues and insecurities like we all do.
While continuing her writing journey, she gets offered a job in the Scottish highlands and is SHOCKED to see that the Scottish Duke that she was hired to is assist is none other than the hot bartender she met and had a one night stand with MONTHS AGO! 🤭🤭 Why do royals always pose as bartenders when they want some normal time ?🧐
Rory is our deliciously handsome yet ridiculously grumpy, MMC. He’s a Duke and he pretty much hates Edie and wants her home. Except he really doesn’t 🤭 He hasn’t been able to stop thinking about her since that one night stand, but now that he sees her standing before him, he feels lied to and betrayed. And he vows to make her life hell until she leaves.
This is a VERY SLOW BURN…but it works. There’s a lot of underlying secrets and mystery that play out in the book…but we also see the evolution of Rory and Edies relationship. I loved seeing how Edie grew. She was so unsure of herself…and the way Rory was treating her was awful. But…she didn’t let it stop her…she stood her ground and stood up to him. Letting him know that she is not just some girl he can use and toss away and then treat like trash. Yassss girl!!!! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Rory finds himself even more intrigued with Edie the more time they spend together. He realises that he’s not going to be able to get rid of her as quickly as he thought and maybe he doesn’t really want to. He begins to see the real Edie and realises that she’s more than he thought and begins to bring his walls down.
There IS a 3rd act breakup. And I cried 😂 LOOK! These two worked so hard to get where they did and then it just implodes and now I’m screaming and sobbing at the top of my lungs at 3 am and my dog is looking at me like maybe I need a Xanax. It was a lot. But they do find their way back to each other. And it’s with some much deserved male grovelling. And let me tell you…it was PERFECTION…I almost forgot why I was mad at Rory…ALMOST! I’m not as forgiving as Edie 😤😤 but I still love them both and was so happy they got their HEA.
This is the beginning of a series and I loved the groundwork Bella laid for the characters to come. The side characters are just as amazing as the main and I loved love love Rory’s family. I want them to adopt me. Ok? Ok 🥰
Thank you so much to Bella James and Love Notes PR for the opportunity to ARC read this amazing debut book! 🩷
🐶RomCom
📚Grumpy x Sunshine
🐶Scottish Duke MMC
📚Writer FMC
🐶One Night Stand
📚Enemies to Lovers
🐶Workplace Romance
📚Forced Proximity
🐶Found Family
📚Billionaire Romance
🐶Class Difference
📚Small Town Vibes
🐶OW Drama
📚Self Conscious Heroine
🐶Control Freak Hero
📚Grovelling
🐶Family Secrets
📚Emotional Growth
🐶BANTER
📚3rd Act Breakup
🐶Dual POV
📚HEA
What an incredible debut novel by Bella James!! I absolutely adored this book! It was a mix of everything I love. Grumpy x Sunshine, enemies to lovers…all wrapped up in a pretty Scottish highlands bow 🥰🥰🥰
Edie is our author FMC…trying to break her way into the trad publishing world. She’s sweet but I’d very unsure of herself…there’s a lot of self doubt and self criticism. Same girl…same. It was nice to see an FMC that felt REAL…she wasn’t sugar coated…she had real issues and insecurities like we all do.
While continuing her writing journey, she gets offered a job in the Scottish highlands and is SHOCKED to see that the Scottish Duke that she was hired to is assist is none other than the hot bartender she met and had a one night stand with MONTHS AGO! 🤭🤭 Why do royals always pose as bartenders when they want some normal time ?🧐
Rory is our deliciously handsome yet ridiculously grumpy, MMC. He’s a Duke and he pretty much hates Edie and wants her home. Except he really doesn’t 🤭 He hasn’t been able to stop thinking about her since that one night stand, but now that he sees her standing before him, he feels lied to and betrayed. And he vows to make her life hell until she leaves.
This is a VERY SLOW BURN…but it works. There’s a lot of underlying secrets and mystery that play out in the book…but we also see the evolution of Rory and Edies relationship. I loved seeing how Edie grew. She was so unsure of herself…and the way Rory was treating her was awful. But…she didn’t let it stop her…she stood her ground and stood up to him. Letting him know that she is not just some girl he can use and toss away and then treat like trash. Yassss girl!!!! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Rory finds himself even more intrigued with Edie the more time they spend together. He realises that he’s not going to be able to get rid of her as quickly as he thought and maybe he doesn’t really want to. He begins to see the real Edie and realises that she’s more than he thought and begins to bring his walls down.
There IS a 3rd act breakup. And I cried 😂 LOOK! These two worked so hard to get where they did and then it just implodes and now I’m screaming and sobbing at the top of my lungs at 3 am and my dog is looking at me like maybe I need a Xanax. It was a lot. But they do find their way back to each other. And it’s with some much deserved male grovelling. And let me tell you…it was PERFECTION…I almost forgot why I was mad at Rory…ALMOST! I’m not as forgiving as Edie 😤😤 but I still love them both and was so happy they got their HEA.
This is the beginning of a series and I loved the groundwork Bella laid for the characters to come. The side characters are just as amazing as the main and I loved love love Rory’s family. I want them to adopt me. Ok? Ok 🥰
Thank you so much to Bella James and Love Notes PR for the opportunity to ARC read this amazing debut book! 🩷
🐶RomCom
📚Grumpy x Sunshine
🐶Scottish Duke MMC
📚Writer FMC
🐶One Night Stand
📚Enemies to Lovers
🐶Workplace Romance
📚Forced Proximity
🐶Found Family
📚Billionaire Romance
🐶Class Difference
📚Small Town Vibes
🐶OW Drama
📚Self Conscious Heroine
🐶Control Freak Hero
📚Grovelling
🐶Family Secrets
📚Emotional Growth
🐶BANTER
📚3rd Act Breakup
🐶Dual POV
📚HEA
July 26, 2025
DUKE IT OUT by Bella James is stunningly beautiful and amazing, it's easy to fall in love with Edie and Rory right away, and even more so in the end of the book! This book is a poignant and thought-provoking novel that ripped my heartstrings! Bella James' Duke It Out is a beautifully written contemporary romance that intelligently delivers a story that is entertaining and unexpectedly tender, while the premise, a one-night stand become aristocratic complication, may allude to romantic comedy tropes, Bella James anchors the story in psychological truth, giving the characters and their situations a thrilling level of emotion, her style is crisp and sharp, with a self-awareness that steers clear of tenderness!
.
The novel's main characters which I loved, Edie Jones, is rendered with remarkable sharpness and level of detail, as a character she emerges as a woman with significant interiority, professionally uncertain but emotionally lucid, attentive, and unwilling to submit for plot convenience, her antagonist, Rory Kinnaird, the cautious Duke, is written with discipline, his brooding define punctuated by moments of stunning emotional sincerity! Their connection, which is based on forced proximity and unresolved relationships, evolves carefully and convincingly as personal boundaries are broken down, this pacing is one of the book's marvelous features, I just loved how each chapter was connected to one another, and how the details unfolded and elaborated making the character's personalities even more vibrant!
.
The intergenerational conflict between private life and public role is essential to Rory's hesitancy and Edie's insistence on honesty, Bella James also loads her imagined Highland setting with secondary characters that are fabulous characters, their voices, various, hilarious, and occasionally elegiac, ground the plot in a larger social details! The dialogue is consistently well-written, typically flavoured with many elements and the conversations between Edie and Rory were outstanding! Perhaps the most important aspect of Duke It Out accomplishes an unforgettable feeling of coordinate in atmosphere. Duke It Out has a literary sensibility, one that is attentive to character psychology, societal delicateness, and the ethics of emotional exposure, to rate this five stars is a romantic crime, I also frel like 10 stars is low for this fascinating debut romance book!
.
The novel's main characters which I loved, Edie Jones, is rendered with remarkable sharpness and level of detail, as a character she emerges as a woman with significant interiority, professionally uncertain but emotionally lucid, attentive, and unwilling to submit for plot convenience, her antagonist, Rory Kinnaird, the cautious Duke, is written with discipline, his brooding define punctuated by moments of stunning emotional sincerity! Their connection, which is based on forced proximity and unresolved relationships, evolves carefully and convincingly as personal boundaries are broken down, this pacing is one of the book's marvelous features, I just loved how each chapter was connected to one another, and how the details unfolded and elaborated making the character's personalities even more vibrant!
.
The intergenerational conflict between private life and public role is essential to Rory's hesitancy and Edie's insistence on honesty, Bella James also loads her imagined Highland setting with secondary characters that are fabulous characters, their voices, various, hilarious, and occasionally elegiac, ground the plot in a larger social details! The dialogue is consistently well-written, typically flavoured with many elements and the conversations between Edie and Rory were outstanding! Perhaps the most important aspect of Duke It Out accomplishes an unforgettable feeling of coordinate in atmosphere. Duke It Out has a literary sensibility, one that is attentive to character psychology, societal delicateness, and the ethics of emotional exposure, to rate this five stars is a romantic crime, I also frel like 10 stars is low for this fascinating debut romance book!
October 28, 2025
Absolutely adorable, dreamy setting, and a hunky grumpy duke! I just smiled and enjoyed every single bit! Best served with a dram [or coffee] and a teacake!
August 8, 2025
4.5⭐️
It's a great day when you come across something by happenstance and end up loving what you've newly discovered. This is such the case with Bella James and her debut novel, Duke It Out
Opening up Instagram for the first time on a random day less than three weeks or so ago, front and centre in a sponsored ad--who clearly hit its target audience in me--, was a kilted man and his lass on a book cover.
I'm a simple woman, I see a man in a kilt (illustrated or not), and all else around me is insignificant.
After taking a bit of a browse as to what the book sporting the kilted man and his lass was about, imagine my joy when I realised that not only was it a book that was due to. be released, but it was a debut author to-boot!
A win-win situation if there ever was one, for a reader such as myself.
If you count that the author herself, Bella James, is a total sweetheart who takes the time to not only converse with you but check out your own account when not posting about her content? That's a mark of an author who CARES, who is genuine and wants to engage with her current and potential reader base. This isn't to say that authors who can't always do that aren't caring or genuine, of course they are, but its always noticed when an author wants to step outside of their profession and bridge the gap between author and reader. I truly hope that I can continue this new connection with Bella as time goes on. Fingers crossed, she hopefully feels the same.
Now that we've met the author and her work, it's time to meet her character. Edie and the Duke. Aka, Rory.
Endearing Edie is a budding author, a FMCs profession I won't ever tire of reading about, who while waiting for her literary dreams to come true is offered employment as a researcher/historian. Who for, though? A university? A museum? No, a Duke. One that needs her help in organising important and private family records.
This is an amazing opportunity which anyone would be a fool to pass up and luckily for Edie, she is no fool. Taking on the job and the requirements thereof, she goes into it with grit and determination to do exactly what needs to be done. Only when on the job, she doesn't expect to see the subject of her one night stand there. Let alone said one night stand and her new employer, being one and the same.
That's right, Edie found out that his title isn't the only thing that the Duke knows how to use.
With this newfound discovery, Rory (aka, said Duke in question), takes it upon himself to be the one to decide that she can no longer be trusted now that Edie knows who he really is. Their one night stand allowed him to have freedom and anonymity that has no gone as swiftly as it came, but for how long?
Decisions, those of the hasty and ill-thought out kind, usually come with regrets. Something Rory soon finds out for himself as the days pass and he gets to know Edie for who she really is at her core. Soon enough, he comes to the realisation that not only does she harbour feelings for him, which have been slowly building inside her, but that they have also been doing the same within his own head and heart.
This is a fragile, incomplete bridge that might not get the chance to fully build and strengthen. For a friend-come-enemy within their midst makes it their mission to obliterate everything that has built between the two of them during their time together.
Between the fragility of their relationship foundations, lack of trust and potential wedge that might come between them, now more than ever is the time to see if the old adage of lover conquering all is enough for Edie and Rory to weather the storm and truly Duke It Out.
Bella James is the perfect example of a good first impression and a debut author, both. Her slow burn, Scottish Highland romance was right up the alley where I knew it belonged in good company with other such novels within my favourite sub-genre of romance. The instant connection between her characters allowed for an instant, steadfast one between us and them and thus, made them beloved and treasured in a heartbeat.
Team that with the witty banter between both main & supporting characters, warm friendships (namely in Edie, Kate and Janey), found family, adorable animals that you want to reach into the page and pet for yourselves, the subtly nuanced element of mystery at there being something 'not quite right' which gave us just the right amount of tension (that didn't distract us from Edie & Rory's budding romance), the madness that is ball organisation, big gesture grovelling done brilliantly with an epilogue that was as tasty as Scottish tablet and you've got a winner of a novel.
If this is the calibre of a story we can expect from Bella James, then I'm surer now than I was when I first came across her, that I'm going to stay in it for the long haul and consume, heartily so, all of her future novels.
Bella, I'm raising a wee dram to you with a big Slàinte mhath not only to you and your debut novel, but for the journey you've been on to get here. It's not been easy and there has been a speed bump along the way, but you've stuck it out and made us very proud of you.
Keep going, we're right behind you!
It's a great day when you come across something by happenstance and end up loving what you've newly discovered. This is such the case with Bella James and her debut novel, Duke It Out
Opening up Instagram for the first time on a random day less than three weeks or so ago, front and centre in a sponsored ad--who clearly hit its target audience in me--, was a kilted man and his lass on a book cover.
I'm a simple woman, I see a man in a kilt (illustrated or not), and all else around me is insignificant.
After taking a bit of a browse as to what the book sporting the kilted man and his lass was about, imagine my joy when I realised that not only was it a book that was due to. be released, but it was a debut author to-boot!
A win-win situation if there ever was one, for a reader such as myself.
If you count that the author herself, Bella James, is a total sweetheart who takes the time to not only converse with you but check out your own account when not posting about her content? That's a mark of an author who CARES, who is genuine and wants to engage with her current and potential reader base. This isn't to say that authors who can't always do that aren't caring or genuine, of course they are, but its always noticed when an author wants to step outside of their profession and bridge the gap between author and reader. I truly hope that I can continue this new connection with Bella as time goes on. Fingers crossed, she hopefully feels the same.
Now that we've met the author and her work, it's time to meet her character. Edie and the Duke. Aka, Rory.
Endearing Edie is a budding author, a FMCs profession I won't ever tire of reading about, who while waiting for her literary dreams to come true is offered employment as a researcher/historian. Who for, though? A university? A museum? No, a Duke. One that needs her help in organising important and private family records.
This is an amazing opportunity which anyone would be a fool to pass up and luckily for Edie, she is no fool. Taking on the job and the requirements thereof, she goes into it with grit and determination to do exactly what needs to be done. Only when on the job, she doesn't expect to see the subject of her one night stand there. Let alone said one night stand and her new employer, being one and the same.
That's right, Edie found out that his title isn't the only thing that the Duke knows how to use.
With this newfound discovery, Rory (aka, said Duke in question), takes it upon himself to be the one to decide that she can no longer be trusted now that Edie knows who he really is. Their one night stand allowed him to have freedom and anonymity that has no gone as swiftly as it came, but for how long?
Decisions, those of the hasty and ill-thought out kind, usually come with regrets. Something Rory soon finds out for himself as the days pass and he gets to know Edie for who she really is at her core. Soon enough, he comes to the realisation that not only does she harbour feelings for him, which have been slowly building inside her, but that they have also been doing the same within his own head and heart.
This is a fragile, incomplete bridge that might not get the chance to fully build and strengthen. For a friend-come-enemy within their midst makes it their mission to obliterate everything that has built between the two of them during their time together.
Between the fragility of their relationship foundations, lack of trust and potential wedge that might come between them, now more than ever is the time to see if the old adage of lover conquering all is enough for Edie and Rory to weather the storm and truly Duke It Out.
Bella James is the perfect example of a good first impression and a debut author, both. Her slow burn, Scottish Highland romance was right up the alley where I knew it belonged in good company with other such novels within my favourite sub-genre of romance. The instant connection between her characters allowed for an instant, steadfast one between us and them and thus, made them beloved and treasured in a heartbeat.
Team that with the witty banter between both main & supporting characters, warm friendships (namely in Edie, Kate and Janey), found family, adorable animals that you want to reach into the page and pet for yourselves, the subtly nuanced element of mystery at there being something 'not quite right' which gave us just the right amount of tension (that didn't distract us from Edie & Rory's budding romance), the madness that is ball organisation, big gesture grovelling done brilliantly with an epilogue that was as tasty as Scottish tablet and you've got a winner of a novel.
If this is the calibre of a story we can expect from Bella James, then I'm surer now than I was when I first came across her, that I'm going to stay in it for the long haul and consume, heartily so, all of her future novels.
Bella, I'm raising a wee dram to you with a big Slàinte mhath not only to you and your debut novel, but for the journey you've been on to get here. It's not been easy and there has been a speed bump along the way, but you've stuck it out and made us very proud of you.
Keep going, we're right behind you!
July 30, 2025
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
This was such a good debut novel by Bella James. I was looking for a grumpy/sunshine romance to cure a book hangover and this book was just the answer! Edie is an aspiring author, who has been ghost-writing for years while she waits for her own book to catch a publishers eye… in the meantime though she’s offered a role as a historian, researcher, and writer for a Scottish Duke that needs some help sorting through some family records. What Edie wasn’t prepared for is to run into a one night stand that had been on her mind for longer than she’d like to admit. A man who just so happens to be the Duke himself and who has zero interest in trusting her now that he knows who she is. As time passes though it seems the Duke is beginning to see Edie for who she really is and maybe might even be feeling for her the same things she’s feeling for him… that is until a frenemy sets out to destroy everything Edie has worked so hard to build. But will love conquer all or will a lack of trust send everything crumbling down? If you’re looking a book that starts off with an amazing instant connection between characters that leads to the slowest of slow burn romances then look no further than Duke It Out by Bella James. But if that’s not enough to snag your attention than this book also includes some great banter, amazing characters, found family, cute animals, a splash of spice and a happily ever after you’re bound to love.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
This was such a good debut novel by Bella James. I was looking for a grumpy/sunshine romance to cure a book hangover and this book was just the answer! Edie is an aspiring author, who has been ghost-writing for years while she waits for her own book to catch a publishers eye… in the meantime though she’s offered a role as a historian, researcher, and writer for a Scottish Duke that needs some help sorting through some family records. What Edie wasn’t prepared for is to run into a one night stand that had been on her mind for longer than she’d like to admit. A man who just so happens to be the Duke himself and who has zero interest in trusting her now that he knows who she is. As time passes though it seems the Duke is beginning to see Edie for who she really is and maybe might even be feeling for her the same things she’s feeling for him… that is until a frenemy sets out to destroy everything Edie has worked so hard to build. But will love conquer all or will a lack of trust send everything crumbling down? If you’re looking a book that starts off with an amazing instant connection between characters that leads to the slowest of slow burn romances then look no further than Duke It Out by Bella James. But if that’s not enough to snag your attention than this book also includes some great banter, amazing characters, found family, cute animals, a splash of spice and a happily ever after you’re bound to love.
July 26, 2025
3.5⭐️
Duke It Out is a fun one-night stand, forced proximity, billionaire romance, except this time, he’s not only a billionaire, he’s a literal duke. Set against the stunning backdrop of the Scottish Highlands, the story starts off strong with a one-night stand between a charming mystery man and a down on her luck ghostwriter who’s aspiring to get her romance book published. When she gets an all-expense paid trip in order to ghostwrite about a Scottish aristocratic family, she sets off for Scotland, only to realize the duke who’s hired her is very same man she slept with.
The setup has all the classic tropes: hidden identities, grumpy-sunshine tension, forced proximity, with some added groveling and a healthy dose of found family (the side characters were delightful!).
The writing is engaging, and the setting is absolutely swoon-worthy. However, after their initial encounter, the romance itself lacked a bit of buildup. There’s minimal emotional or physical tension between the leads, so when the love declaration arrived, it felt a little sudden. I would have wanted more chemistry and interaction between the leads to really sell the romance. Still, I really appreciated Edie’s character growth!
If you're looking for a funny, quick, romantic escape with a billionaire romance trope, gorgeous Scottish setting, and a broody duke trying to win back his girl, this one is for you!
Thank you to Love Notes PR and Bella James for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Duke It Out is a fun one-night stand, forced proximity, billionaire romance, except this time, he’s not only a billionaire, he’s a literal duke. Set against the stunning backdrop of the Scottish Highlands, the story starts off strong with a one-night stand between a charming mystery man and a down on her luck ghostwriter who’s aspiring to get her romance book published. When she gets an all-expense paid trip in order to ghostwrite about a Scottish aristocratic family, she sets off for Scotland, only to realize the duke who’s hired her is very same man she slept with.
The setup has all the classic tropes: hidden identities, grumpy-sunshine tension, forced proximity, with some added groveling and a healthy dose of found family (the side characters were delightful!).
The writing is engaging, and the setting is absolutely swoon-worthy. However, after their initial encounter, the romance itself lacked a bit of buildup. There’s minimal emotional or physical tension between the leads, so when the love declaration arrived, it felt a little sudden. I would have wanted more chemistry and interaction between the leads to really sell the romance. Still, I really appreciated Edie’s character growth!
If you're looking for a funny, quick, romantic escape with a billionaire romance trope, gorgeous Scottish setting, and a broody duke trying to win back his girl, this one is for you!
Thank you to Love Notes PR and Bella James for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
August 5, 2025
The way I ate this UP! Lust at first sight followed by grumpy x sunshine, forced proximity slow burn?? Excuse me?!
This was an instant fave for me!
I really loved Edie as a FMC. Our sunshine writer who wants to catch her big break but hasn’t been able to get published traditionally; I really enjoyed the conversation around trad v indie publishing in this!
And Rory, suspicious of strangers and duty-bound to the castle and its employees. A grump to the MAX (unless you stand him next to his brother Finn 👀). The chemistry between him and Edie was off the charts. And it all felt so real!
I know this is one I’m going to reread in the lead up to Finn’s story in the next book! 🥹
Read if you love
-Grumpy x sunshine
- forced proximity
- found family 🥹
- witty side characters (I’m looking at you Jamie and Kate!!)
- cosy settings (the castle and the surrounding village!!)
Oh and we got two epilogues. Bella James, I am feeling well FED after this. What a debut!!
This was an instant fave for me!
I really loved Edie as a FMC. Our sunshine writer who wants to catch her big break but hasn’t been able to get published traditionally; I really enjoyed the conversation around trad v indie publishing in this!
And Rory, suspicious of strangers and duty-bound to the castle and its employees. A grump to the MAX (unless you stand him next to his brother Finn 👀). The chemistry between him and Edie was off the charts. And it all felt so real!
I know this is one I’m going to reread in the lead up to Finn’s story in the next book! 🥹
Read if you love
-Grumpy x sunshine
- forced proximity
- found family 🥹
- witty side characters (I’m looking at you Jamie and Kate!!)
- cosy settings (the castle and the surrounding village!!)
Oh and we got two epilogues. Bella James, I am feeling well FED after this. What a debut!!
August 3, 2025
Arc review 🥹💜🏴
I do love a one night stand turned into a long term romance!!! Edie and Rory are the epitome of grumpy sunshine. She is so loving and full of life and Rory is just buried under pressure of his estate.
I loved how Edie made a name for herself and found what she was looking for. She grew into herself and when she stood up for herself, she STOOD UP!!
Not going to lie I hated Edie’s “friend” that girl is devious and mean. I was yelling at Edie to send her packing.
I’m so excited to see if Rory’s brothers get books oooh that’d be so good!!!
Tropes:
🖋️ forced proximity
🖋️ grumpy x sunshine
🖋️ found family
🖋️ one night stand
🌶️🌶️🌶️
I do love a one night stand turned into a long term romance!!! Edie and Rory are the epitome of grumpy sunshine. She is so loving and full of life and Rory is just buried under pressure of his estate.
I loved how Edie made a name for herself and found what she was looking for. She grew into herself and when she stood up for herself, she STOOD UP!!
Not going to lie I hated Edie’s “friend” that girl is devious and mean. I was yelling at Edie to send her packing.
I’m so excited to see if Rory’s brothers get books oooh that’d be so good!!!
Tropes:
🖋️ forced proximity
🖋️ grumpy x sunshine
🖋️ found family
🖋️ one night stand
🌶️🌶️🌶️
August 1, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
A one night stand, a grumpy Scottish Duke, a castle, and a bit of spice🌶 what more could you want!
I fell in love with the story and characters 😍
Edie is a ghost writer with a dream of one day having her stories published. She is shy, strong-willed FMC that is full of ambition. Throughout the story, we see her confidence grow and believe in herself, that she belongs, and she WILL write her narrative!
Rory, the sexy grumpy Duke with a heart of gold, takes his role very seriously, but he feels the weight of it on his shoulders. He's worried what secrets Edie will uncover while searching through his late fathers diaries. Thinking the worst of her!
I loved the small town setting in the Scottish Highlands. It made me want to visit!
A one night stand, a grumpy Scottish Duke, a castle, and a bit of spice🌶 what more could you want!
I fell in love with the story and characters 😍
Edie is a ghost writer with a dream of one day having her stories published. She is shy, strong-willed FMC that is full of ambition. Throughout the story, we see her confidence grow and believe in herself, that she belongs, and she WILL write her narrative!
Rory, the sexy grumpy Duke with a heart of gold, takes his role very seriously, but he feels the weight of it on his shoulders. He's worried what secrets Edie will uncover while searching through his late fathers diaries. Thinking the worst of her!
I loved the small town setting in the Scottish Highlands. It made me want to visit!
August 29, 2025
Buradaki toksik kişi de sözde arkadaş 😒
July 26, 2025
Knowing full well I was reading an ARC, I checked Goodreads twice to see if more books about side characters had been announced. There are so many fun scenes, and nothing felty overly trope-y. I adore the path we took to the ending.
The moment in the cafe when Edie doesn’t back down— I was yelling (positive.) I only wish we had seen Anna get her due ourselves!
Thank you to Love Notes PR and Bella James for the ARC! 💗
The moment in the cafe when Edie doesn’t back down— I was yelling (positive.) I only wish we had seen Anna get her due ourselves!
Thank you to Love Notes PR and Bella James for the ARC! 💗
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 21, 2025
Wow. What a beautiful story! I haven’t been invested in a romance book like this for some time. The concept is such an interesting idea and really gave me Cinderella story vibes (somehow!). I really enjoyed the way Edie and Rory’s story started, it was authentically messy and I feel like it was portrayed very realistically for the modern day. The Duke concept also was done really well so it never felt like it was cringey or unrealistic. There was a little bit of a mystery element to it too which was super interesting! The found family in this book was 10/10 and had me giggling and kicking my feet so often. Can’t wait to get a physical copy for my shelves when it comes out on the 1st of August!
ARC copy received by the author & lovenotes.pr ☺️
ARC copy received by the author & lovenotes.pr ☺️
September 25, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25/5
Thank you to Love Notes PR and Bella James for an advanced early reader copy in exchange for my review!
A phenomenal debut novel set in the Scottish Highlands.
Duke it Out, is the first book in the Loch Morven series and follows Edie Jones, a ghost writer with dreams and aspirations of seeing her OWN name on the books she writes; specifically to see the regency romance she has spent years writing, on bookshop shelves. Her editor thinks her work needs more…dragons - in the meantime she can record the life and exploits of the rich.
At the release party for her most recent book, the memoirs of Annabel Findlay, a former model with QUITE the life story, she meets a rather handsome and charming bartender, Rory. After a passionate one-night stand, he leaves before she even wakes, leaving her with only the memory of their night together.
Her life (career) seems to be falling apart, until she is offered a three-month contract at a castle in the Scottish Highlands, writing the memoirs of the late Duke of Kinnaird. However, everything screeches to a halt when the Duke of Kinnaird turns out to be the man she spent one night of bliss with back in Manhattan. The last time they met, she had lied about her career - leading the Duke to immediately distrust her - determined to make her life at Loch Morven hell.
The LAST thing Rory Kinnaird expected was to have the woman he has spent the past three months thinking about to turn up on his doorstep. Duty demands that each duke leaves a legacy in the form of memoirs of their tenure. However, the previous Duke of Kinnaird, Rory’s father, was… not ideal - leaving only ramblings in notebooks filled with filandering and less than reputable misdeeds. It is Rory’s responsibility to make something of his father’s life that won’t reflect poorly on the family. He is harbouring his own secrets - which very well may come to light now that the beautiful, yet frustrating woman his godmother recommended is now residing in his estate and digging into his family’s dirty laundry and charming EVERYONE.
Now they both must face the consequences their past dalliance, while ensuring they remain professional. Surely that can’t be too hard.
This book features:
🩷 Forced Proximity
🩷 Grumpy/Sunshine
🩷 One Night Stand
🩷 Found Family
🩷 Grovelling
🩷 Yearning and ANGST
🩷 Hidden/Mistaken Identity
🩷 Enemies to Lovers
🩷 Workplace Romance
🩷 Billionaire Romance
🩷 Class Differences
🩷 3rd Act Break-Up
🩷 Rakish Side Character
Potential Trigger Warnings include:
🩷 Parental Death
🩷 Emotional Abuse
🩷 Financial/ Class Differences
🩷 Complex Family Relationships
🩷 Financial Insecurity
I adored this book! It was the perfect mix of yearning and brooding that led to inevitable yet delightful encounters between the two main characters.
Edie is the consummate people pleaser; she desperately wants to break into the trad publishing world with HER book; sans dragons. She is sweet and thoughtful, but also wholly unsure of herself and her place in the publishing world. Her character is one that is entirely relatable - rife with self-criticism and imposter syndrome. She felt real; alone in the world apart from her editor and her so-called best friend; she is simply working to pave the way to her dream.
Rory on the other hand, is the ideal broody, grumpy MMC. A Duke who is very much so, new to the dukedom; he holds himself accountable to his duty and responsible for fixing and repaying for his father’s sins. As such, he holds himself apart from attachments that are likely to effect or impact upon his duty. This can, at times, come to the detriment of his character. Above all he wants to protect his estate and the family legacy he has spent his life trying to ensure remains reputable. Nonetheles, he cares deeply for those close to him - namely those who work at the estate and his brothers. And as time goes on, he finds himself becoming attached to Edie; going out of his way to spend time with her, where he learns there is far more to her than he originally thought.
I adored the relationship between the two main characters, very much so built upon the forced proximity of their arrangement. It is a SLOW burn romance - the yearning and angst between Edie and Rory is palpable. There is also a good amount of miscommunication and eventually MALE GROVELLING 😏 That being said the chemistry and conflict between Edie and Rory make their relationship all the more realistic and eventually stronger for it.
In addition to our main couple, this book features a wealth of lovable (and not so lovable) side characters.
The relationship between Edie, Kate and Janey was everything I love about a found family trope in books. The bond between these female characters made this book truly wonderful, moving away from being PURELY an angsty romance between the FMC and MMC, into something truly meaningful - proving the importance of true friendship.
Similarly, the bond between Rory and his brothers, Jamie and Finn, allowed for a side of him that otherwise would not have been seen. Jamie is Rory’s opposite, as the rakish younger brother who seemingly takes very little seriously, besides his reforestation project. Meanwhile, Finn takes everything TOO seriously and has fled the duty to the family name and title in favour of running to the island of Benraur to run his whiskey distillery.
I also adored the blatantly obvious crushes Kate and Janey had on Jamie and Gregor (the cook) respectively 💕
One side character in particular, I found myself immediately drawn to, was Annabel. For some reason, she immediately felt familiar - it was then that I realised why and immediately messaged the author to ask - I have confirmation. Annabel is heavily inspired by Alex Kingston/River Song. As many people of my generation who grew up watching Doctor Who, I was immediately drawn in by and attracted to Professor River Song, the older, HOT AF woman who ends up being the Doctor's wife! Annabel gives off the exact sassy energy and flirtatious manner, which I ABSOLUTELY ADORED.
The primary antagonist of this book is Anna - Edie’s flatmate/landlord and alleged best friend. Without spoiling too much, I feel it is suffice to say the manner in which she treats and manipulates Edie from the first instance she is mentioned, is despicable. The toxicity and narcassism with which she treats Edie has led Edie to view their friendship as “normal”. This in turn contributes significantly to Edie’s self-criticism and feelings of inadequacy. I cannot begin to explain how much I HATED this character - which goes to show how well written she was.
The secondary antagonist, is obviously the previous Duke of Kinnaird. While a character that does not feature on page - his previous actions and misdeeds go a long way in shaping Rory’s personality and own feelings of inadequacy.
As mentioned, there is the dreaded 3rd Act Break-Up (kind of). Whilst there is some element of a break-up/separation, technically, the couple had yet to actually talk about their feelings or discuss their relationship, so I feel it is difficult to quantify it as a "break-up".
Overall, I enjoyed this book IMMENSELY - the only issues I personally had were in relation to the initial deception and miscommunication, which I detest. Nonetheless, I cannot wait for the sequel entitled Whiskey and Roses, following Finn. I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking book with rom-com vibes but with more serious and pressing themes, particularly if you are partial to found family, the beauty of female friendship and finding kinship in somewhere that feels like you belong.
Thank you to Love Notes PR and Bella James for an advanced early reader copy in exchange for my review!
A phenomenal debut novel set in the Scottish Highlands.
Duke it Out, is the first book in the Loch Morven series and follows Edie Jones, a ghost writer with dreams and aspirations of seeing her OWN name on the books she writes; specifically to see the regency romance she has spent years writing, on bookshop shelves. Her editor thinks her work needs more…dragons - in the meantime she can record the life and exploits of the rich.
At the release party for her most recent book, the memoirs of Annabel Findlay, a former model with QUITE the life story, she meets a rather handsome and charming bartender, Rory. After a passionate one-night stand, he leaves before she even wakes, leaving her with only the memory of their night together.
Her life (career) seems to be falling apart, until she is offered a three-month contract at a castle in the Scottish Highlands, writing the memoirs of the late Duke of Kinnaird. However, everything screeches to a halt when the Duke of Kinnaird turns out to be the man she spent one night of bliss with back in Manhattan. The last time they met, she had lied about her career - leading the Duke to immediately distrust her - determined to make her life at Loch Morven hell.
The LAST thing Rory Kinnaird expected was to have the woman he has spent the past three months thinking about to turn up on his doorstep. Duty demands that each duke leaves a legacy in the form of memoirs of their tenure. However, the previous Duke of Kinnaird, Rory’s father, was… not ideal - leaving only ramblings in notebooks filled with filandering and less than reputable misdeeds. It is Rory’s responsibility to make something of his father’s life that won’t reflect poorly on the family. He is harbouring his own secrets - which very well may come to light now that the beautiful, yet frustrating woman his godmother recommended is now residing in his estate and digging into his family’s dirty laundry and charming EVERYONE.
Now they both must face the consequences their past dalliance, while ensuring they remain professional. Surely that can’t be too hard.
This book features:
🩷 Forced Proximity
🩷 Grumpy/Sunshine
🩷 One Night Stand
🩷 Found Family
🩷 Grovelling
🩷 Yearning and ANGST
🩷 Hidden/Mistaken Identity
🩷 Enemies to Lovers
🩷 Workplace Romance
🩷 Billionaire Romance
🩷 Class Differences
🩷 3rd Act Break-Up
🩷 Rakish Side Character
Potential Trigger Warnings include:
🩷 Parental Death
🩷 Emotional Abuse
🩷 Financial/ Class Differences
🩷 Complex Family Relationships
🩷 Financial Insecurity
I adored this book! It was the perfect mix of yearning and brooding that led to inevitable yet delightful encounters between the two main characters.
Edie is the consummate people pleaser; she desperately wants to break into the trad publishing world with HER book; sans dragons. She is sweet and thoughtful, but also wholly unsure of herself and her place in the publishing world. Her character is one that is entirely relatable - rife with self-criticism and imposter syndrome. She felt real; alone in the world apart from her editor and her so-called best friend; she is simply working to pave the way to her dream.
Rory on the other hand, is the ideal broody, grumpy MMC. A Duke who is very much so, new to the dukedom; he holds himself accountable to his duty and responsible for fixing and repaying for his father’s sins. As such, he holds himself apart from attachments that are likely to effect or impact upon his duty. This can, at times, come to the detriment of his character. Above all he wants to protect his estate and the family legacy he has spent his life trying to ensure remains reputable. Nonetheles, he cares deeply for those close to him - namely those who work at the estate and his brothers. And as time goes on, he finds himself becoming attached to Edie; going out of his way to spend time with her, where he learns there is far more to her than he originally thought.
I adored the relationship between the two main characters, very much so built upon the forced proximity of their arrangement. It is a SLOW burn romance - the yearning and angst between Edie and Rory is palpable. There is also a good amount of miscommunication and eventually MALE GROVELLING 😏 That being said the chemistry and conflict between Edie and Rory make their relationship all the more realistic and eventually stronger for it.
In addition to our main couple, this book features a wealth of lovable (and not so lovable) side characters.
The relationship between Edie, Kate and Janey was everything I love about a found family trope in books. The bond between these female characters made this book truly wonderful, moving away from being PURELY an angsty romance between the FMC and MMC, into something truly meaningful - proving the importance of true friendship.
Similarly, the bond between Rory and his brothers, Jamie and Finn, allowed for a side of him that otherwise would not have been seen. Jamie is Rory’s opposite, as the rakish younger brother who seemingly takes very little seriously, besides his reforestation project. Meanwhile, Finn takes everything TOO seriously and has fled the duty to the family name and title in favour of running to the island of Benraur to run his whiskey distillery.
I also adored the blatantly obvious crushes Kate and Janey had on Jamie and Gregor (the cook) respectively 💕
One side character in particular, I found myself immediately drawn to, was Annabel. For some reason, she immediately felt familiar - it was then that I realised why and immediately messaged the author to ask - I have confirmation. Annabel is heavily inspired by Alex Kingston/River Song. As many people of my generation who grew up watching Doctor Who, I was immediately drawn in by and attracted to Professor River Song, the older, HOT AF woman who ends up being the Doctor's wife! Annabel gives off the exact sassy energy and flirtatious manner, which I ABSOLUTELY ADORED.
The primary antagonist of this book is Anna - Edie’s flatmate/landlord and alleged best friend. Without spoiling too much, I feel it is suffice to say the manner in which she treats and manipulates Edie from the first instance she is mentioned, is despicable. The toxicity and narcassism with which she treats Edie has led Edie to view their friendship as “normal”. This in turn contributes significantly to Edie’s self-criticism and feelings of inadequacy. I cannot begin to explain how much I HATED this character - which goes to show how well written she was.
The secondary antagonist, is obviously the previous Duke of Kinnaird. While a character that does not feature on page - his previous actions and misdeeds go a long way in shaping Rory’s personality and own feelings of inadequacy.
As mentioned, there is the dreaded 3rd Act Break-Up (kind of). Whilst there is some element of a break-up/separation, technically, the couple had yet to actually talk about their feelings or discuss their relationship, so I feel it is difficult to quantify it as a "break-up".
Overall, I enjoyed this book IMMENSELY - the only issues I personally had were in relation to the initial deception and miscommunication, which I detest. Nonetheless, I cannot wait for the sequel entitled Whiskey and Roses, following Finn. I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking book with rom-com vibes but with more serious and pressing themes, particularly if you are partial to found family, the beauty of female friendship and finding kinship in somewhere that feels like you belong.
August 5, 2025
✨️✨️ ARC Review ✨️✨️
Edie, a struggling writer from New York, throws caution to the wind and has a one-night stand with a very attractive bartender. She thinks that’s that, until she turns up for a new job in the Scottish Highlands and finds out the bartender is actually a Duke. Of course he is.
Rory Kinnaird is grumpy, snappy and definitely not thrilled to see her again. It’s hard to tell whether it’s just his personality or if he’s overwhelmed with everything being thrown at him. Either way, he’s not exactly welcoming.
Their meet cute was great and I loved how much tension was bubbling under the surface between them once they’re face to face again. Rory is a bit of a control freak and a total pessimist and pushes Edie away at every turn.
What I really liked though was how Edie grows throughout the story. She starts off a bit uncertain but quickly finds her voice and holds her ground. She doesn’t let Rory swoop in and be the hero and she refuses to be walked over. I was rooting for her the whole way through.
The friendships in the story are a real highlight too. Edie, Kate and Janey’s bond adds a lot of warmth and humour. It’s a lovely contrast to her so-called friendship with her roommate-landlord, who is selfish, doesn’t respect boundaries and would happily step over Edie if it suited her.
There’s also a subtle thread running through the book that hints something isn’t quite right. It keeps a little tension bubbling in the background and adds an extra layer without taking away from the romance.
The ball-related scenes were beautifully written; they really showed the madness behind the magic of those events. It was easy to imagine it all playing out.
I do love a grovel, especially when it comes with a big gesture, and this one definitely hit the mark. Rory’s grovelling was spot on and so satisfying to read.
The epilogue was the cherry on top, rounding off their story in the best way.
All in all, *Duke It Out* is a great romance with heart, spice and a bit of Highland magic.
If you like grumpy dukes in kilts and strong, determined heroines rewriting their stories, this one’s for you.
Edie, a struggling writer from New York, throws caution to the wind and has a one-night stand with a very attractive bartender. She thinks that’s that, until she turns up for a new job in the Scottish Highlands and finds out the bartender is actually a Duke. Of course he is.
Rory Kinnaird is grumpy, snappy and definitely not thrilled to see her again. It’s hard to tell whether it’s just his personality or if he’s overwhelmed with everything being thrown at him. Either way, he’s not exactly welcoming.
Their meet cute was great and I loved how much tension was bubbling under the surface between them once they’re face to face again. Rory is a bit of a control freak and a total pessimist and pushes Edie away at every turn.
What I really liked though was how Edie grows throughout the story. She starts off a bit uncertain but quickly finds her voice and holds her ground. She doesn’t let Rory swoop in and be the hero and she refuses to be walked over. I was rooting for her the whole way through.
The friendships in the story are a real highlight too. Edie, Kate and Janey’s bond adds a lot of warmth and humour. It’s a lovely contrast to her so-called friendship with her roommate-landlord, who is selfish, doesn’t respect boundaries and would happily step over Edie if it suited her.
There’s also a subtle thread running through the book that hints something isn’t quite right. It keeps a little tension bubbling in the background and adds an extra layer without taking away from the romance.
The ball-related scenes were beautifully written; they really showed the madness behind the magic of those events. It was easy to imagine it all playing out.
I do love a grovel, especially when it comes with a big gesture, and this one definitely hit the mark. Rory’s grovelling was spot on and so satisfying to read.
The epilogue was the cherry on top, rounding off their story in the best way.
All in all, *Duke It Out* is a great romance with heart, spice and a bit of Highland magic.
If you like grumpy dukes in kilts and strong, determined heroines rewriting their stories, this one’s for you.
August 6, 2025
The first thing I knew about this book was "romance set in the Highlands" and i was already sold as I always wanted to visit Scotland (crossing fingers to 2026🤞🏼). Then I saw the tropes and I couldn't contain myself from asking for the ARC. Thank you Love Notes (and obviously Bella) for accepting and letting me read this book. I really enjoyed the journey.
First things first: If you're into brooding dukes, witty banter, and castle vibes (don't hate me for repeting myself but) in the Scottish Highlands, run, don't walk to read this novel. Bella did such an amazing job in keeping you hooked and letting you feel the Scottish air🥹🫶🏼
"Duke it out" is the story of Edie, a writer who's trying to catch a break and ends up having a one-night stand with a sexy bartender. You don't see the problem? Well, this man she met on NY turns to be Rory Kinnaird, a scotish duke and her new boss since she ends up ghostwriting his late father's memories. All of this while living in his castle (yes, you can cut the tension with a knife). I really love forced proximity as a trope so I really enjoyed this part of the story.
Okay, now seriously, have I said that it is located in the Highlands? jk, but the scottish charm was definetly there.
Also, Rory is the kind of character that has this grumpy side (for everyone but her) and a heart of gold when you take the time to know him a little more. I won’t lie: I wanted to hug him all the time cause he was going through a lot and Edie was the last thing he expected.
Edie, on the other side, starts a little uncertain about herself but at the right time she really stood up for herself. I really rooted for Edie since the begining as she is really resilient even when she has been knocked out more times than she can count but seeing the change in her was just amazing.
Maybe the third act breakup is not my cup of tea and I would have enjoyed more interactions between the main characters (especially on the first half of the book) but overall I really liked the story.
To sum up, ‘Duke it out’ has all the right ingredients: a sweet story with the right amount of spice and drama to keep you hooked. I really recommend it.
July 30, 2025
Oh my goodness this was such a cute book!! I loved reading this one, and it just overall a great book! I loved how we got to see Edie grab the bull by the horns with her work projects and work to, not only do her best at her current projects, but push to achieve her career dreams! She was so real and seeing her vulnerabilities through the whole story was so beautiful! And Rory was such a sweet MMC, and seeing him accept his own insecurities and relearn how he feels about himself, and rebuild his confidence was just so great! I loved getting to see him in his element of being the Duke as well as being with Edie! These two were so sweet together, and I really loved getting to watch them dance around each other and eventually come together in such a sweet way! And the whole world of the Loch and the village was just perfect! The side characters made everything so funny and so heartwarming! I loved this one and overall it was just really such a fun, sweet, emotional, and exciting read!! 4.75 stars; 3 chili peppers
Tropes:
- One Night Stand
- Secret Identity
- Small Town
- Family Secrets
- Grumpy x Sunshine
- Forced Proximity
Tropes:
- One Night Stand
- Secret Identity
- Small Town
- Family Secrets
- Grumpy x Sunshine
- Forced Proximity
August 4, 2025
Set in a charming Highland estate full of emotional skeletons (yes, literal and figurative) and hidden family truth, this grumpy/sunshine billionaire-duke romance wins big.
Edie’s sassy warmth slowly breaks through Rory’s guarded exterior, leading to unexpected healing and steam. I absolutely adored the setting: the castle, the village, the emotional stakes.
As an ARC reader (Thank you, Love Notes!), I felt completely immersed in Bella James’ writing style and world. This book is delightful, a tad sexy, and full of heart.
Edie’s sassy warmth slowly breaks through Rory’s guarded exterior, leading to unexpected healing and steam. I absolutely adored the setting: the castle, the village, the emotional stakes.
As an ARC reader (Thank you, Love Notes!), I felt completely immersed in Bella James’ writing style and world. This book is delightful, a tad sexy, and full of heart.
August 8, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️🌶️
This was a fun grumpy x sunshine read! Rory & Edie come from very different worlds but have a lot in common especially with their core values. Their meet-cute & one night stand in NYC was very out of character for Edie but I think it really became the impetus her to start doing things for herself (finally!). I love that the Scottish Highlands was almost its own character in the book and the descriptions of how it made both Rory & Edie feel - relaxed, at home, normal even - spoke to how right for each other they really are.
Thanks to Love Notes PR and the author for the chance to ARC read and review!
🌶️🌶️
This was a fun grumpy x sunshine read! Rory & Edie come from very different worlds but have a lot in common especially with their core values. Their meet-cute & one night stand in NYC was very out of character for Edie but I think it really became the impetus her to start doing things for herself (finally!). I love that the Scottish Highlands was almost its own character in the book and the descriptions of how it made both Rory & Edie feel - relaxed, at home, normal even - spoke to how right for each other they really are.
Thanks to Love Notes PR and the author for the chance to ARC read and review!
Read
August 8, 2025Sometimes what you really need is a fun little rom-com about a struggling writer who has a one-night stand with a man she thinks is a bartender and who, months later, she learns is a duke when she shows up at his castle to write his father's life story.
DUKE IT OUT absolutely would have been greenlit as a rom-com in 2006, which is to say that it is a pretty cozy (and sometimes spicy!) delight. It's quick and fun and very likely what you're looking for, be it a palate cleanser, a binge, or the first book you've picked up in a while.
DUKE IT OUT absolutely would have been greenlit as a rom-com in 2006, which is to say that it is a pretty cozy (and sometimes spicy!) delight. It's quick and fun and very likely what you're looking for, be it a palate cleanser, a binge, or the first book you've picked up in a while.
August 8, 2025
Duke It Out by Bella James is a fun, flirty, and heartfelt romance that blends witty banter, emotional growth, and seriously steamy moments. It follows Edie, a sarcastic and struggling ghostwriter, who ends up at a remote Scottish castle to write a memoir—only to discover the brooding bartender she had a one-night stand with is actually a duke. With great chemistry, lush setting vibes, and a heroine you can’t help but root for, this book is equal parts cozy and spicy. A little predictable in places, but overall a charming, satisfying read. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆
July 30, 2025
Absolutely ADORED the world Bella James created here! From the gorgeous Scottish landscape to the charming supporting characters, you’ll want to visit Loch Morven after reading. You know a book is great when you’re reading it and thinking “wow I hope she writes that character their own book next.” Equal parts swoony and adorable, grounded in strong and humorous writing. Highly reco!
August 8, 2025
This book is so cute. I love the whole humble Duke vibe and a shy writer. They were so cute together. And seeing how they got through each other's walls after literally going from strangers to lovers and then enemies to lovers. Enemies is such a strong word for it but you get the picture.
I can't remember the last time I read about a castle but the author did such a great job with giving details. And the side characters added a spark to the story.
🌶️🌶️/5
I can't remember the last time I read about a castle but the author did such a great job with giving details. And the side characters added a spark to the story.
🌶️🌶️/5
September 5, 2025
She’s cute! This book was fun and fast read. Small town vibes, broody Scotsman, cute dogs, and minimal spice. I do wish we would have gotten a little bit more of a build up between Edie and Rory. We had some tension, but I wanted a touch more with a sprinkle of yearning. I will say I absolutely loved all of the side characters. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a fun grumpy-sunshine read!
September 18, 2025
I definitely loved the setting and idea of this book! I loved feeling like I was in a castle in the Scottish Highlands with a hot cup of tea nestled up by a warm, cozy fire!!! However, the book felt rushed to me. I kept waiting for a “big, secret reveal,” but it never seemed to come. Overall, it was an easy read, and I loved the characters!
August 5, 2025
I was lucky enough to get an e-arc for Duke it Out and I thoroughly enjoyed it. 4.5*
It starts with Edie, a ghostwriter from London having a one night stand after a book event in New York, and then being talked into a 3 month research/writing job in a castle in Scotland, and I'm sure you can guess who the Duke is, none other than the hot guy she hasn't stopped thinking about since NY.
The characters feel very thought out and real, with real insecurities and friendships that come alive off the page...and I'm sure we all know an Anna character or two.
There's found family, humour, grit and determination from the whole cast, but especially Edie.
Without given any spoilers, there's elements after the 3rd act breakup which don't follow the "normal" story beats and I loved that, and think it's true to the characters.
The only reason I'm not giving it 5☆ is that I would have loved even more Edie/Rory banter and on-page interactions throughout more of the first half of the book too.
I'm looking forward to the next Loch Morven book and falling for Finn 🤣
It starts with Edie, a ghostwriter from London having a one night stand after a book event in New York, and then being talked into a 3 month research/writing job in a castle in Scotland, and I'm sure you can guess who the Duke is, none other than the hot guy she hasn't stopped thinking about since NY.
The characters feel very thought out and real, with real insecurities and friendships that come alive off the page...and I'm sure we all know an Anna character or two.
There's found family, humour, grit and determination from the whole cast, but especially Edie.
Without given any spoilers, there's elements after the 3rd act breakup which don't follow the "normal" story beats and I loved that, and think it's true to the characters.
The only reason I'm not giving it 5☆ is that I would have loved even more Edie/Rory banter and on-page interactions throughout more of the first half of the book too.
I'm looking forward to the next Loch Morven book and falling for Finn 🤣
Displaying 1 - 30 of 261 reviews