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Reluctant Royals #2
A Duke by Default
Award-winning author Alyssa Cole’s Reluctant Royals series continues with a woman on a quest to be the heroine of her own story and the duke in shining armor she rescues along the way
New York City socialite and perpetual hot mess Portia Hobbs is tired of disappointing her family, friends, and—most importantly—herself. An apprenticeship with a struggling swordmaker in Scotland is a chance to use her expertise and discover what she’s capable of. Turns out she excels at aggravating her gruff silver fox boss…when she’s not having inappropriate fantasies about his sexy Scottish burr.
Tavish McKenzie doesn’t need a rich, spoiled American telling him how to run his armory…even if she is infuriatingly good at it. Tav tries to rebuff his apprentice, and his attraction to her, but when Portia accidentally discovers that he’s the secret son of a duke, rough-around-the-edges Tav becomes her newest makeover project.
Forging metal into weapons and armor is one thing, but when desire burns out of control and the media spotlight gets too hot to bear, can a commoner turned duke and his posh apprentice find lasting love?
New York City socialite and perpetual hot mess Portia Hobbs is tired of disappointing her family, friends, and—most importantly—herself. An apprenticeship with a struggling swordmaker in Scotland is a chance to use her expertise and discover what she’s capable of. Turns out she excels at aggravating her gruff silver fox boss…when she’s not having inappropriate fantasies about his sexy Scottish burr.
Tavish McKenzie doesn’t need a rich, spoiled American telling him how to run his armory…even if she is infuriatingly good at it. Tav tries to rebuff his apprentice, and his attraction to her, but when Portia accidentally discovers that he’s the secret son of a duke, rough-around-the-edges Tav becomes her newest makeover project.
Forging metal into weapons and armor is one thing, but when desire burns out of control and the media spotlight gets too hot to bear, can a commoner turned duke and his posh apprentice find lasting love?
374 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 31, 2018
730 people are currently reading
6275 people want to read
About the author
Alyssa Cole
43 books6,385 followersAlyssa Cole is an award-winning author of historical, contemporary, and sci-fi romance. Her Civil War-set espionage romance An Extraordinary Union was the RT Reviewers’ Choice Award’s Best Book of 2017 and the American Library Association’s RUSA Best Romance for 2018, and A Princess in Theory was one of the New York Times’ 100 Notable Books of 2018. She’s contributed to publications including Bustle, Shondaland, The Toast, Vulture, RT Book Reviews, and Heroes and Heartbreakers, and her books have received critical acclaim from The New York Times, Library Journal, BuzzFeed, Kirkus, Booklist, Jezebel, Vulture, Book Riot, Entertainment Weekly, and various other outlets. When she’s not working, she can usually be found watching anime or wrangling her pets.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,749 reviews
August 11, 2019
Who doesn’t love a novel about a hot Scottish guy with great politics who discovers he’s a duke! The ending was rushed and also the duke of Edinburgh is the husband of the queen so I am shocked that oversight made it through. Still. Fun, sexy, wildly implausible. Here for it.
August 15, 2018
ARC provided to me by the publicist in exchange for an honest review.
#1.) A Princess in Theory ★★★★
“We have a fantastic romance section,” she said. “Do you need recommendations? How do you like your dukes? Grumpy? Tortured? Alpha, beta, or alpha in the streets, beta in the sheets?” “Actually, I meant nonfiction”
Friends, this was nothing short of pure joy to read. Please, if you’re looking for a heartwarming, funny, and expertly crafted romance, please look no further. A Duke by Default follows the main character in A Princess in Theory, Ledi’s, best friend Portia! But this time, Portia is on a journey to change her life and be a different person, and what better way than with a change of scenery and career? And maybe she will cross paths with someone who is much more than meets the eye himself.
➽ Portia Hobbs - Black American woman, who is ready to risk it all, move across the world, and try her luck at being an apprentice for a swordsmith in Scotland, because she is in her late twenties and still hasn’t found the career that is right for her.
“Everyone acts like you’re just supposed to find what you love right away, and if you don’t, just do something you don’t love. And if you do neither of those things you’re being selfish.”
➽ Tavish McKenzie - Biracial (Chilean and Scottish) man, who was left Bodotria Armory and is currently running it with his brother and sister-in-law, even though its becoming harder and harder for him to turn a profit, but hopefully a new apprentice can turn things around.
“Pull out your sword,” she commanded and Tav was certain it was the sexiest thing a woman had ever uttered to him.”
And spoiler, she does. Portia and Tavish’s chemistry is out of this world. These two characters feel so real, and seeing them start out a little rocky, but slowly become friends, and maybe something more, was so beautiful.
But the entire cast of side characters are honestly magnificent as well. Like, I truly am going to say a prayer every single night that Alyssa Cole never stops writing, and that she never stops blessing us with more characters from this world. Seriously, I love them all with my entire being.
➽ Reggie - Portia’s twin sister, famous blogger, brain virus survivor, uses a wheelchair, and is my hero. Seriously, I’m ready for her book with her and her mystery man immediately. Please.
➽ Cheryl - Chinese, owns a freakin’ Doctor Who themed Chinese restaurant named Doctor Hu’s (honestly, goals), and is Tavish’s sister-in-law.
➽ Jamie - Jamaican, Tavish’s brother, and Cheryl’s partner! Also, the most lovable character in this book, seriously. I want him and Cheryl’s background story so badly!
“ . . . it’s just how your brain is wired. And maybe there’s nothing wrong with that. Maybe there’s nothing wrong with you.”
Throughout Portia’s trip she slowly is coming to terms with her having ADHD. ADHD is something that is very personal to me, and the spectrum is actually very large; from hyperactivity (me) to inattention, and everything else in-between. I struggled with putting all my time and energy into something to just stop caring about it shortly after, running in unhealthy and huge amounts, fidgeting constantly, and just feeling restless in general for most of my life, until I realized that maybe my actions weren’t as “normal” as I was lead to believe. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, along with most mental illness, is still hella stigmatized, but seeing Portia slowing coming to the realization that nothing is wrong her, that she was just a little different, that she’s the furthest thing from a failure, and her realizing her self-worth was an honor to read and brought me to tears so many times. Also, this is the third book in a row I’ve read with a main character living their best lives with ADHD, and damn, what a blessing.
“Something in her loosened with relief as the possible diagnosis repeated itself in a loop in her brain. ADHD! ADHD! ADHD! She had a word to use for her behavioral patterns. There were other people who felt the same way she did, maybe.”
We also get to see Portia dealing with the abusive things her parents say, while completely ignoring how their passive-aggressive jabs could hurt their daughter. From comparing her to her sister, to saying horrible things about how they wish the outcome of her sister’s medical emergency should have happened to her, to them just not caring about how Portia wishes to live her life and find something that makes her happy. And not to get too personal, but again, super relatable to me and my life.
“Just because your parents don’t appreciate what you do doesn’t mean it holds less value.”
This book also shines a heavy and bright spotlight on the refugee crisis going on today in Europe. America isn’t the only place that treats immigrants unfairly, and this book really shows how strongly fear tactics can work. People do horrible things in the name of a “border” and this book shows how children will mimic the terrible things their parents say. Oh, and how white people will say terrible things and make terrible jokes to people who they think are white, too. “It’s just a joke, brah!” No, you’re just racist.
Tavish and his loved ones always channel everything back positively and give back to the community and the kids who feel lost and helpless. This book also weighs in on Gentrification and how people will come in and buy a ton of low-income business and residences and then make them a profit while completely forcing the residence to seek other places to live their lives. Seriously, these books pack such a powerful punch.
“Here’s the thing with teasing. It might seem like torture now, sitting there wanting what you can’t have, but when you finally get it? It’ll be the best you’ve ever had.”
But even though this book has important issues, the romance is steamy perfection. Like, the sexual tension in this book starts right out of the gate, and it has the most rewarding payoff. And, I mean, this is a damn story about a girl falling in love with a damn swordsmith! Not only have I never read anything like that before, I’m not sure if I’ve even heard of a sexier premise. Also, this book has Portia and Tavish going to a renfest! Like, one of the saddest parts of me moving across the country is not being able to go to Michigan’s Renaissance Festival! I was living for every scene in this book, seriously.
Plus, this book is downright funny. I never laugh out loud from books, ever. This book and A Princess in Theory left my sides hurting. The banter in this book is perfection. And just in general, Portia and her friends are goals. Complete and utter goals. From unconditional love, to the best and most realistic banter.
“Portia: 😘
Ledi: Same thing I do every night: studying viruses and trying to stop them from taking over the world.
Nya: Playing a dating sim to make up for the real date I had earlier. Rognath the Vampire Lord is much better at courtship than Luke, who started the night by calling me Sexual Chocolate and went downhill from there.”
Overall, I loved this story so much. The writing is superb, the characters are to die for, and the messages mean more to me than I have words for. I completely recommend this series with my entire heart and soul. And I am so hyped to read all about Johan and my favorite texter in A Prince on Paper! And thank you so much, Alyssa Cole, for this story that I will keep close to my heart forever.
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The quotes above were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.
Trigger and content warnings for hurtful parents and their hurtful comments (who think they aren’t being hurtful), people being ignorant and gross to immigrants (always in a negative light and challenged completely), talk of past racist racial profiling from the police, a quick scene with assault, and for a human drugging another human.
June 8, 2020
Finally got around to carrying on with this series and it absolutely did not disappoint. This was SO GOOD.
April 11, 2019
4 stars
After listening to A Princess in Theory, I was dying to get to Portia’s book. I enjoyed A Duke by Default even more than the first!
Portia is a little all over the place. She is a self proclaimed hot mess, and is out to do something about it. She’s tired of disappointing herself and her friends and family so she’s out to do something about it. She accepted an apprenticeship in Scotland with Tavish McKenzie, but that doesn’t go exactly as planned. At least not at the start. The last thing Tavish wants is an apprentice. Especially one he can’t seem to keep his eyes off of. But what he wants and what he needs are two different things entirely. And the more time he spends with Portia, especially with everything going on in his life, he realizes he needs her more than he’d ever care to admit.
I loved the romance between Tavish and Portia. Their sexual tension was off the charts. I loved the banter and back and forth. My favorite thing about this book was watching Portia’s growth. She finds out there is an actual reason she is a bit of a hot mess and that reason is that she has ADHD. She finds ways to cope with it and I couldn’t be more proud of her.
This book made my romance loving heart so happy. It’s heartwarming, hilarious, sexy, and was a joy to listen to. I had the absolute pleasure of meeting Alyssa Cole this week and getting my copy signed and she was truly a gem of an author. I could listen to her talk all day. I will definitely be reading anything and everything else she writes! I’m looking forward to the next in this series and I need to grab Reggie’s novella asap!
^ Picture of me with Alyssa Cole at Joseph Beth Booksellers in Cincinnati OH on April 8th, 2019
After listening to A Princess in Theory, I was dying to get to Portia’s book. I enjoyed A Duke by Default even more than the first!
Portia is a little all over the place. She is a self proclaimed hot mess, and is out to do something about it. She’s tired of disappointing herself and her friends and family so she’s out to do something about it. She accepted an apprenticeship in Scotland with Tavish McKenzie, but that doesn’t go exactly as planned. At least not at the start. The last thing Tavish wants is an apprentice. Especially one he can’t seem to keep his eyes off of. But what he wants and what he needs are two different things entirely. And the more time he spends with Portia, especially with everything going on in his life, he realizes he needs her more than he’d ever care to admit.
I loved the romance between Tavish and Portia. Their sexual tension was off the charts. I loved the banter and back and forth. My favorite thing about this book was watching Portia’s growth. She finds out there is an actual reason she is a bit of a hot mess and that reason is that she has ADHD. She finds ways to cope with it and I couldn’t be more proud of her.
This book made my romance loving heart so happy. It’s heartwarming, hilarious, sexy, and was a joy to listen to. I had the absolute pleasure of meeting Alyssa Cole this week and getting my copy signed and she was truly a gem of an author. I could listen to her talk all day. I will definitely be reading anything and everything else she writes! I’m looking forward to the next in this series and I need to grab Reggie’s novella asap!
^ Picture of me with Alyssa Cole at Joseph Beth Booksellers in Cincinnati OH on April 8th, 2019
March 15, 2020
I listened to this on audio so take my review with a grain of salt, but it was just fine. My job title is the same as this main character's, and a first it was fun to read about someone who did the same thing as me, but then I realized that every day I came home from work and opened this book, it just felt like I was still at work and dealing with the same problems. I guess I'm just not a fan of workplace romances, so it's more of my fault than the book's. But this book was fine, and I've put off reviewing it on Goodreads just because I have very little to say about it other than it was just completely fine. I'm not sure if I'll read the third book in the series.
September 5, 2020
What happens when you give a miserable black girl a book about a rogueish biracial Scottish (unwitting) royal and a black New York socialite who fall in wuuuv? You make a miserable girl go
But what happens when you further make it about a black New Yorker who suffers from near-crippling ADHD and anxiety, and a big buff man who happens to be all marshmallow inside? You make a formerly miserable girl who's reluctantly smiling go
But what about when you go even further and add a colourful cast of characters and niche interests like swordmaking ? You make a previously miserable girl who was smiling now go
You may find Tavish the Bawbag slightly offputting if you don't like gruff but loveable assholes who are so afraid of their own feelings they'd rather act like a dick. However, I defy you to say you won't love him as he doesn't suffer from the toxic masculinity that so plagues most heterosexual male leads in contemporary novels. I adored Tavish. Hell I want my own kilt wearing sword maker now because the iron man kink is a thing. Trust me.
The main reason you should read this book though, is the ever so delightful Portia. Who harbours a talent for self-sabotage I've only seen greater in myself. She was so goddamn relatable and huggable and just- aaargh- my heart poured for her. And the thing of it is, she is told things that I am constantly told myself but fail to believe. I completely sympathised with Tav's impatience when Portia tried to argue against any paid compliments- I tend to do the same.
I haven't given this five stars because it has dual POV, not dual first, thank God, but dual limited third. I still hate that narration style. Portia should've been the sole narrator because, hello?
This is a delightful story that may or may not have gotten me out of my slump. Read it, if for no other reason than to see a black girl who is a hot mess get her happily ever after.
But what happens when you further make it about a black New Yorker who suffers from near-crippling ADHD and anxiety, and a big buff man who happens to be all marshmallow inside? You make a formerly miserable girl who's reluctantly smiling go
But what about when you go even further and add a colourful cast of characters and niche interests like swordmaking ? You make a previously miserable girl who was smiling now go
You may find Tavish the Bawbag slightly offputting if you don't like gruff but loveable assholes who are so afraid of their own feelings they'd rather act like a dick. However, I defy you to say you won't love him as he doesn't suffer from the toxic masculinity that so plagues most heterosexual male leads in contemporary novels. I adored Tavish. Hell I want my own kilt wearing sword maker now because the iron man kink is a thing. Trust me.
The main reason you should read this book though, is the ever so delightful Portia. Who harbours a talent for self-sabotage I've only seen greater in myself. She was so goddamn relatable and huggable and just- aaargh- my heart poured for her. And the thing of it is, she is told things that I am constantly told myself but fail to believe. I completely sympathised with Tav's impatience when Portia tried to argue against any paid compliments- I tend to do the same.
I haven't given this five stars because it has dual POV, not dual first, thank God, but dual limited third. I still hate that narration style. Portia should've been the sole narrator because, hello?
I'm not a geek, but I am a dork.Only a nerd would say that. And a nerd I'd have loved spending time with. The story felt a bit rushed as well because, while I know it's about reluctant royals, it seemed to forget the sword forging apprenticeship once the monarchy came into the picture. I also don't understand why Scotland gets to be real but the others don't. I'm sorry but I outgrew names like Genovia a long time ago. They just feel hilarious but not enough to take away enjoyment from a story. I also have a hard time believing a duke would attract as much attention as the book implied considering how much the British tabloids mostly harp on the Queen and her immediate brood. The story should also have been longer. There was a certain specimen I'd have liked to see taste the steel of Tav's swords but he just disappears??
This is a delightful story that may or may not have gotten me out of my slump. Read it, if for no other reason than to see a black girl who is a hot mess get her happily ever after.
February 15, 2021
Two weeks ago, when I learned that I'd be part of the blog tour for A Duke By Default, I was so excited. Everything about it sounded amazing : a black heroine with ADHD? A commoner turned duke? Scotland? My, my. It's as if this novel had been written for me, really. I posted elated tweets about it, messaged all my friends, wrote a prereview on Goodreads, and then,
I didn't read it.
Oops. I spent the next two weeks randomly looking at the cover, clutching my ereader, before reading something else entirely. And watching Anne with an E. And writing lists of what I need to do before I'm back to school in a month. Oh, and I also made charts listing the qualifications I need to acquire next year (I'm coming back to uni while keeping my job as an Elementary teacher). Yay, me.
I wouldn't say I stalled, because it's normal behavior to me. I have ADHD (combined type) and sometimes, it's so hard to do what I'm supposed to do when my new projects engross me. I just... wait for it to be the very last moment, even though that's something I want to do and I'm interested in. Sigh. Are you tired? Because I am.
Anyway. Yesterday (of course, YESTERDAY), I looked at the date and kind of freaked out. Leave it to me to wait for THE VERY LAST DAY, jesus. I opened my ereader, started reading, and never stopped for one moment until the end. A Duke by Default is that good. So don't be like me, and read it now, you won't be disappointed.
First : PORTIA. Oh my god, Portia. I adore her. I've spent four hours wanting to hug this amazing woman. See, Portia has always compared herself to others, especially her very organized and driven twin sister, Reggie. And she found herself lacking. Lacking purpose, perseverance, organization. Her parents don't support her choices, and she's blaming herself for not being who the world wants her to be. Calm. Reliable. Sensible. Her constant self-doubt was really hard to read, but oh so relatable. Like her, I've been diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, and you know what's funny? I decided to take the test after having watched a video, too. THIS ONE. (and a million more of hers, OF COURSE, because #hyperfixation)
It was a revelation , because like Portia, I've spent years asking myself what the fuck was wrong with me, if I really was just lazy, impulsive, and selfish. Why couldn't I stay calm at school, when it seemed so easy to others? Why couldn't I keep contact with my friends, when I very much loved them? Why was my office filled with piles of paper, when I had devised a whole new filing system? I just thought I was very bad at adulting, honestly, and why wouldn't I, when people around me kept telling me that my problem was immaturity? The thing is, I've always been good at what interests me. When I was in high-school, I spent my senior year skipping class and reading philosophy books in a café instead. After dropping out of uni the first time, I started again three years later and studied correspondence courses in French Lit.
I was finally successful. I could work at night, hyperfocus on my computer, and feed my (quite) obsessional character. Finding what to do with my degree was another trial entirely, but after a while I finally discovered teaching and now, six years after, I'm forever grateful to have found this amazing job that constantly captivates me (and also : I can spend my days standing up, woot). It doesn't mean that I'm perfect, of course. I still randomly obsess over new projects (lately I've been learning Swedish, because..... well, because), my house is still full of random cluster, i had to ask my friends to STOP giving me green plants because they kept dying, and I have to put alarms to remember to call my mum (annnnnnd for everything, really).
My ADHD will never disappear, but I'm kinda proud of this part of myself, now.
What I meant to say with all this personal rambling (sorry) (I forgot to mention that I did that a lot, oops) is : reading about Portia and following her while she realizes that she's a fantastic person and not a mess was a wonderful experience. I'm forever grateful to Alyssa Cole for having created a character I could see myself in.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
I think about all the fellow readers out there who might have ADHD, and I can't even express how happy it makes me feel, knowing that Portia exists.
What about the romance, then? Ahhh. It was the perfect slow-burn, without nonsensical obstacles but rather, understandable issues that prevent Tavis and Portia to be together. You see, Tavis, grumpy but with a heart of gold Tavis, is Portia's boss. As much as he's attracted to her (and trust me, he is), he doesn't want to be this guy. Not to mention that after a few bad experiences (I can relate to that, too), Portia really doesn't want to hook up with anyone. Add life-changing discoveries (Tavis is a duke, no less!), very realistic struggles due to social inequalities, and you'll get why their relationship isn't an easy one to start. They'll get there, though. They'll get there, and they'll win your heart along the way. Sure, you might be annoyed by Tavis at first, but trust me : he'll win you over. Our girl really has the best of tastes ;)
Filled with friendship and family, A Duke by Default is more than a romance : for me, it's also a sort of coming of age, whose kind we don't see enough : tell me, why should novels about teenagers the only ones that deal with getting our shit together? Why do we live in a society in which it's not okay to ignore what we want to do when we're 30? That's bullshit! There's no rush.
All in all, a great novel I'm very glad to have (finally) read. Please give it a chance.
Oh, and friends : ADHD symptoms aren't character flaws, and like Portia, you're probably full of talent. Don't sell yourself short. You're amazing <3 Not convinced? Why not watch this video about the AWESOME sides of ADHD?
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August 9, 2018
Scotland + sword fighting + salt and pepper duke + heroine with ADHD + Harry Potter and Doctor Who puns
I adored this.
Also bless Alyssa cole for not referring to female anatomy as a “pearl” or “mound”
I adored this.
Also bless Alyssa cole for not referring to female anatomy as a “pearl” or “mound”
August 6, 2018
I was surprised by how much I didn’t like A Duke by Default, because I LOVED the first book in this series, A Princess in Theory.
However, after loving everything in Princess, just about everything in Duke annoyed me:
-The armory – for all the talk about the intensity of the competition for the internship, not much sword-making ever takes place. This could have been replaced by any cottage industry from arrow fletching to heirloom zucchini growing and it wouldn’t have affected the plot.
-The hero – OMG, 38 is not old! When they advertised “silver fox romance” I was thinking he’d be, like, 50! And he might want to see a doctor as to why he is prematurely greying! And it was hard to believe that anyone under 40 would be that oblivious to how phones worked.
-The heroine – After stressing how many therapists she’d been too, I couldn’t believe an internet video was the first inkling she got that she might have ADHD. If her parents were so desperate to “fix” her, they should have been suggesting that as a diagnosis years ago. And how is this perpetual student and dedicated researcher so completely unfamiliar with major pop culture references like Harry Potter?
-The aristocratic title – The author falls right into the old romance novel cliché of thinking dukes are just thick on the ground in Britain. Worse, instead of making up a title, she used the title “Duke of Edinburgh” which oh so very TAKEN by the queen’s husband!
-The claim – You can’t just show up, pass a DNA test, and claim a title! The word “illegitimate” exists for a reason! It means you have no legitimate claim! Argh! Marriage actually still matters to these old systems!
-The former duke – The author has to make him a ridiculous mustache-twirling villain in order to make sure the audience doesn’t like him. ANYONE would be legitimately pissed off to be suddenly kicked out of their home and job!
-The ending – Um, I think a chapter or two got cut off at the end. How is that an ending?
Weirdly, the one thing I did like was the former duke’s sister, despite the fact she acts like Sadness from Inside Out. Which was the voice I imagined when she showed up all sad-face and announced, “I’m here to seduce you.” That gave me a chuckle.
But overall, so, so very disappointed. :-(
June 28, 2023
PER-FUCKING-FECTION
Truly gets better every time I read it🤷🏽♀️
Truly gets better every time I read it🤷🏽♀️
August 13, 2018
I'm not going to do a drawn out review for this one because I was stuck at the 15% mark of this book for dayyyyyys while I was out of town and also slumping and honestly I'm just glad to have finished something at this point. And I don't want to linger on this any more than I already have. I need to move on! But I do want to say that three-fourths of this is a solid four star read. We have diversity, an interracial romance where they both have their own issues with discrimination and privilege brought to the table, mental heath rep, and by throwing in a bit of an age gap and a silver fox who -- surprise! -- discovers the truth of his parentage, well. It's a lot of greatness.
My slump had nothing to do with what knocked this down a star and that can solely be dropped at the feet of the grumpy bawbag of a hero. I mostly loved Tav but he drank the stupid kool-aid near the end of this one that frustrated me and, also, unfortunately I felt Cole really rushed the wrap up. This was such a sweet, delightful, slowburn, though not easy or perfect, and then I really lost the love around.. oh, 75%? 80%? I did not love that the issues with Portia's parents weren't resolved (and maybe they aren't supposed to be but I needed some kind of closure or confrontation there). I didn't love that David's plot was left hanging (despite the fact that we can only assume he's going to get his). And there were a few other bits, too. Sure maybe I can (obviously can, no maybe) make these leaps but it just reinforced the rushed feeling of it all. I needed an epilogue at the very least.
So, yeah. Mostly amazing but with poor resolution. However this is eons away from my experience with book one so in that regard I'm very glad to have read on in this series. Portia is an absolute star of a heroine.
My slump had nothing to do with what knocked this down a star and that can solely be dropped at the feet of the grumpy bawbag of a hero. I mostly loved Tav but he drank the stupid kool-aid near the end of this one that frustrated me and, also, unfortunately I felt Cole really rushed the wrap up. This was such a sweet, delightful, slowburn, though not easy or perfect, and then I really lost the love around.. oh, 75%? 80%? I did not love that the issues with Portia's parents weren't resolved (and maybe they aren't supposed to be but I needed some kind of closure or confrontation there). I didn't love that David's plot was left hanging (despite the fact that we can only assume he's going to get his). And there were a few other bits, too. Sure maybe I can (obviously can, no maybe) make these leaps but it just reinforced the rushed feeling of it all. I needed an epilogue at the very least.
So, yeah. Mostly amazing but with poor resolution. However this is eons away from my experience with book one so in that regard I'm very glad to have read on in this series. Portia is an absolute star of a heroine.
January 1, 2019
This cover! Her dress! Her hair!! HIS Hair!!
July 27, 2018
4.5 stars!
Alyssa Cole delivered another sweet and heartfelt romance with A Duke by Default! She continues to be one of my go-to contemporary romance authors these days. There's just something about her stories and her characters that speaks to me as a reader. And this book, is a great example of what this talented author can do!
Portia Hobbs might be my favorite Alyssa Cole heroine to date. When she was introduced, she was a bit of a hot mess. She has a truckload of issues that made her an interesting character to me. I didn't like her that much in A Princess in Theory but I was curious about her. And I knew that Alyssa Cole is going to do her story justice.
I was so right. Alyssa Cole not only made me sympathize with Portia, she made me love her. I wasn't even halfway in when I knew without a doubt that Portia would become one of my favorite contemporary romance heroines. No joke. Cole did a fantastic job exposing all of Portia's wounds, her hopes and dreams, and things that make her what or who she is. And I loved everything I read about her.
But it wasn't just Portia who made this book for me. The hero, Tavish MacKenzie was Portia's boss, and he's grumpy and hot as hell. And if you've been following me for long enough, you'd know that I have a weakness for hot, grumpy heroes. Tav is a world-class grump, and he is perfect for Portia. Oh, he did some knuckleheaded things and had put his foot in his mouth a couple of times but he is a great hero.
Her boss acted like a gruff, annoying jerk, but dammit there was something about a man who could casually mention Middle Cornish at dinner conversation without sounding pretentious that Portia found irresistible. It didn’t matter—she would resist.
I loved these two characters individually and as a couple. Their romance was emotionally rich and compelling. It tugged at my emotions without being manipulative. The interaction between Tav and Portia is taut with sexual tension and chemistry, I had to stop and fan myself a couple of times because their chemistry was off the freaking charts.
But it wasn't just their chemistry that drew me in. It was also the fact that these two characters genuinely liked and respected each other. Their banter and how they related to each other was just as satisfying as their red-hot chemistry.
Not only that, I also loved the way Alyssa Cole wrote the secondary characters in this book. None of them felt like throwaways. Even that librarian who was in the book for like two pages, made me smile. Cole makes you notice them. She has a knack of elevating secondary characters that makes you genuinely interested in reading about them. I adored Jamie and Cheryl as well as Tavish's parents. His interactions with them is probably my favorites, outside of his interactions with Portia, of course.
We also get to know Portia's accomplished twin, Reggie. Although, I wish there was more of her. Two other standout characters that I really liked was Nya and Johann. Eeep! Oh my gosh, there's so much I want to learn about these two. Again, I don't want to spoil anything but, you guys, I'm even more excited to read the third book in this series. I cannot wait!
My only gripe about this book was the lack of epilogue. I mean, it doesn't even have to have an epilogue but I wish the ending was longer. It felt abrupt to me and there were some confrontations that I wanted to happen. I'm going to spoiler tag them, so enter at your own risk:
However, those things did not detract from my enjoyment of the book. Overall, A Duke by Default was fabulously charming read. You really won't want to miss this one. I know some readers are worried about Portia because of the things she did in the first book, but guys, trust. Alyssa Cole made me love this imperfect character and if she can do that to me, I reckon, she has a chance of making you love Portia as well.
An ARC was provided for review purposes.
“You’re my liege. You’re the person I’m fighting for.”
Alyssa Cole delivered another sweet and heartfelt romance with A Duke by Default! She continues to be one of my go-to contemporary romance authors these days. There's just something about her stories and her characters that speaks to me as a reader. And this book, is a great example of what this talented author can do!
Portia Hobbs might be my favorite Alyssa Cole heroine to date. When she was introduced, she was a bit of a hot mess. She has a truckload of issues that made her an interesting character to me. I didn't like her that much in A Princess in Theory but I was curious about her. And I knew that Alyssa Cole is going to do her story justice.
She was done with fuckboys, and fuckbosses for that matter, no matter how sexy their accents were.
I was so right. Alyssa Cole not only made me sympathize with Portia, she made me love her. I wasn't even halfway in when I knew without a doubt that Portia would become one of my favorite contemporary romance heroines. No joke. Cole did a fantastic job exposing all of Portia's wounds, her hopes and dreams, and things that make her what or who she is. And I loved everything I read about her.
But it wasn't just Portia who made this book for me. The hero, Tavish MacKenzie was Portia's boss, and he's grumpy and hot as hell. And if you've been following me for long enough, you'd know that I have a weakness for hot, grumpy heroes. Tav is a world-class grump, and he is perfect for Portia. Oh, he did some knuckleheaded things and had put his foot in his mouth a couple of times but he is a great hero.
Her boss acted like a gruff, annoying jerk, but dammit there was something about a man who could casually mention Middle Cornish at dinner conversation without sounding pretentious that Portia found irresistible. It didn’t matter—she would resist.
I loved these two characters individually and as a couple. Their romance was emotionally rich and compelling. It tugged at my emotions without being manipulative. The interaction between Tav and Portia is taut with sexual tension and chemistry, I had to stop and fan myself a couple of times because their chemistry was off the freaking charts.
But it wasn't just their chemistry that drew me in. It was also the fact that these two characters genuinely liked and respected each other. Their banter and how they related to each other was just as satisfying as their red-hot chemistry.
Not only that, I also loved the way Alyssa Cole wrote the secondary characters in this book. None of them felt like throwaways. Even that librarian who was in the book for like two pages, made me smile. Cole makes you notice them. She has a knack of elevating secondary characters that makes you genuinely interested in reading about them. I adored Jamie and Cheryl as well as Tavish's parents. His interactions with them is probably my favorites, outside of his interactions with Portia, of course.
“We were attracted to each other, we kissed, you humped my leg a little, and everything’s fine now.”
We also get to know Portia's accomplished twin, Reggie. Although, I wish there was more of her. Two other standout characters that I really liked was Nya and Johann. Eeep! Oh my gosh, there's so much I want to learn about these two. Again, I don't want to spoil anything but, you guys, I'm even more excited to read the third book in this series. I cannot wait!
My only gripe about this book was the lack of epilogue. I mean, it doesn't even have to have an epilogue but I wish the ending was longer. It felt abrupt to me and there were some confrontations that I wanted to happen. I'm going to spoiler tag them, so enter at your own risk:
However, those things did not detract from my enjoyment of the book. Overall, A Duke by Default was fabulously charming read. You really won't want to miss this one. I know some readers are worried about Portia because of the things she did in the first book, but guys, trust. Alyssa Cole made me love this imperfect character and if she can do that to me, I reckon, she has a chance of making you love Portia as well.
“You can think what you want about yourself, but I’ve two eyes and a brain in my head and the view right now? It’s bloody brilliant.”
An ARC was provided for review purposes.
September 26, 2018
Here for #swordbae
See me discuss it in my August wrap up: https://youtu.be/plrKGeYsG24
See me discuss it in my August wrap up: https://youtu.be/plrKGeYsG24
February 10, 2020
Even better than the first book!
April 26, 2019
Another fantastic novel by Alyssa Cole. This time it’s about Ledi’s (from ’The Princess in Theory #1’) best friend Portia. Portia is well-to-do and seen as the flighty, socialite of her family. Her twin sister, Reggie, is known as the one smart one while Portia is known for her party life.
To escape living under this heavy weight of feeling like she’s amounting to nothing and a disappointment to her family she takes an apprenticeship in Scotland for sword making. This will be her way to show her family that she really is serious about making a difference in the world.
Alyssa Cole does it again with another great meet-cute for this series. Portia meets her handsome boss, Tavish, in a fashion that leaves him not so impressed with her. Shortly after Portia has arrived in Scotland she is preparing to meet her boss when she overhears a woman in distress. It sounds and looks like this woman is trying to fend off an attacker. Portia flies into action trying to help the woman and ends up attacking her new boss, Tavish. She finds out that he wasn’t intentionally hurting this woman and that it was a class he was teaching. Also, this is when she realizes he is her new boss. That's one way of making a first impression. *LOL*
THE RELUCTANT DUKE is the second book in the 'Reluctant Royals Series'. It can be read as a standalone. The Reluctant Duke covers many different topics from racism to ADHD to labeling to parent-pleasing. I’m enjoying this modern day fairytale series. And of course, the audio is well done.
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To escape living under this heavy weight of feeling like she’s amounting to nothing and a disappointment to her family she takes an apprenticeship in Scotland for sword making. This will be her way to show her family that she really is serious about making a difference in the world.
Alyssa Cole does it again with another great meet-cute for this series. Portia meets her handsome boss, Tavish, in a fashion that leaves him not so impressed with her. Shortly after Portia has arrived in Scotland she is preparing to meet her boss when she overhears a woman in distress. It sounds and looks like this woman is trying to fend off an attacker. Portia flies into action trying to help the woman and ends up attacking her new boss, Tavish. She finds out that he wasn’t intentionally hurting this woman and that it was a class he was teaching. Also, this is when she realizes he is her new boss. That's one way of making a first impression. *LOL*
THE RELUCTANT DUKE is the second book in the 'Reluctant Royals Series'. It can be read as a standalone. The Reluctant Duke covers many different topics from racism to ADHD to labeling to parent-pleasing. I’m enjoying this modern day fairytale series. And of course, the audio is well done.
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March 6, 2019
I finished this in audio while traveling and cooking the last few days. I didn't care for the story in this one as much and felt like the major plot point in the third fourth was more of a distraction. The narrator, who I loved in previous books, seems to struggle with the Scottish brogue (which, let's be honest, I was surprised was needed and not where I expected this series to go, at all, at all.) .
November 2, 2024
I really enjoyed the first half of the book. I loved Portia and grumpy Tav. I loved the secondary characters (even if Mary basically disappeared after she had outlived her usefulness). I loved the Edinburgh armoury setting. All was going well.
But then the Duke-thing came up and I just couldn't suspend my disbelief. Too much of it was inaccurate and I just couldn't stop myself from picturing Prince Phillip every time the Duke of Edinburgh was mentioned. Which was a lot (though he never makes an actual appearance in the book but his wife the Queen does). This was also the point where I stopped believing in the chemistry between Portia and Tav; they're so caught up in Duking, there's just no space for a relationship to develop. The ending is rushed and not quite satisfying.
In general I'm not a fan of romances involving royalty, but I enjoyed the first book in the series. This one, however, didn't work for me. And that's a pity because Alyssa Cole is a great writer.
But then the Duke-thing came up and I just couldn't suspend my disbelief. Too much of it was inaccurate and I just couldn't stop myself from picturing Prince Phillip every time the Duke of Edinburgh was mentioned. Which was a lot (though he never makes an actual appearance in the book but his wife the Queen does). This was also the point where I stopped believing in the chemistry between Portia and Tav; they're so caught up in Duking, there's just no space for a relationship to develop. The ending is rushed and not quite satisfying.
In general I'm not a fan of romances involving royalty, but I enjoyed the first book in the series. This one, however, didn't work for me. And that's a pity because Alyssa Cole is a great writer.
January 27, 2025
This gets my vote for “Worst Book with the Best Cover.” Isn’t that cover absolutely gorgeous?
Portia: “I’m a screwup. I can’t do anything right.” Multiply that by 10,000 and zero character growth throughout this book, and you get tediousness out the storm-butt wallaby 🦘⛈️⛈️⛈️ At around the 40% mark, Portia figures out she has ADHD. How does that change things? Not at all. The next 60% is more of “I’m a screwup. I can’t do anything right.”
Tavish: “I’m a gruff, uncommunicative wanker who loved once and will never risk it again.” Multiply that by 5,000, add that he acted like a sulky child the first 30% of the book, followed by zero character growth and, again, you get tediousness out the storm-butt wallaby 🦘⛈️⛈️⛈️ At around the halfway mark, he finds out he’s the illegitimate but only child of a duke—yeah, right, like that could have been kept a secret for 38 years, especially since the mansion he lives in was a gift from his biological father—and apparently that means he is the rightful heir in modern times? Anyway, he’s now a duke. How does that change things? “I’m a gruff, uncommunicative wanker who loved once and will never risk it again” with paparazzi.
Add in tons of exaggeration and clichés, the FMC who only does one-night-stands while inebriated because MUST AVOID FEELINGS (seriously, is that a thing now? Why do I keep reading this ridiculous trope?), an extreme lack of communication which makes sexual attraction the only thing pulling the main characters together, and a horribly rushed ending, and this was a complete disappointment. With a very pretty cover.
My first—and probably last—book by this author, unless someone can recommend a much better one.
Portia: “I’m a screwup. I can’t do anything right.” Multiply that by 10,000 and zero character growth throughout this book, and you get tediousness out the storm-butt wallaby 🦘⛈️⛈️⛈️ At around the 40% mark, Portia figures out she has ADHD. How does that change things? Not at all. The next 60% is more of “I’m a screwup. I can’t do anything right.”
Tavish: “I’m a gruff, uncommunicative wanker who loved once and will never risk it again.” Multiply that by 5,000, add that he acted like a sulky child the first 30% of the book, followed by zero character growth and, again, you get tediousness out the storm-butt wallaby 🦘⛈️⛈️⛈️ At around the halfway mark, he finds out he’s the illegitimate but only child of a duke—yeah, right, like that could have been kept a secret for 38 years, especially since the mansion he lives in was a gift from his biological father—and apparently that means he is the rightful heir in modern times? Anyway, he’s now a duke. How does that change things? “I’m a gruff, uncommunicative wanker who loved once and will never risk it again” with paparazzi.
Add in tons of exaggeration and clichés, the FMC who only does one-night-stands while inebriated because MUST AVOID FEELINGS (seriously, is that a thing now? Why do I keep reading this ridiculous trope?), an extreme lack of communication which makes sexual attraction the only thing pulling the main characters together, and a horribly rushed ending, and this was a complete disappointment. With a very pretty cover.
My first—and probably last—book by this author, unless someone can recommend a much better one.
February 10, 2019
I looooved this so fucking much. It made me laugh out loud numerous times, it made me cry, it literally made me feel almost every single emotion there is. I JUST LOVED IT SO MUCH OH MY GOD 😭
February 25, 2020
[3.5 Stars?]
I didn't enjoy this one quite as much as the first one. The beginning of the first book just had me so hooked on finding out what would happen because I thought the emails from an African Prince asking for personal information was too funny. With Portia and Tav's story, I wasn't as immediately hooked on what was happening.
Granted, I did laugh as random interactions between characters, so I did eventually become invested in this set of characters. I think a lot of people will be able to relate to Portia's floundering and some of the problems that occur with overbearing parents that pit their children against each other, even when the parents don't know/don't intend to. It reminded me a bit of how Tahani Al-Jamil from The Good Place has a rivalry with her very successful sister.
Tavish is a bit of a pessimistic gruff. He screws up over and over, but it's hard to blame to him for being so painfully slow on the uptake when he does his best when confronted with his shortcomings.
I liked Tavish's brother and sister-in-law fine enough. I felt like I could have invested in this little family unit more, but they served mainly to just call out Tavish whenever he was being an arse. Honestly though, this can be a pretty big component of being in a family.
I listened to the audiobook for this one. The narrator does the accents in the first book well, but woah her Scottish accents fell short in here - not that I am good at doing accents either. They actually made me laugh because they are so off which could be pretty distracting from the story. The Scottish characters often sounded like they were African, so be aware of that when going in if that it going to throw you off.
I didn't enjoy this one quite as much as the first one. The beginning of the first book just had me so hooked on finding out what would happen because I thought the emails from an African Prince asking for personal information was too funny. With Portia and Tav's story, I wasn't as immediately hooked on what was happening.
Granted, I did laugh as random interactions between characters, so I did eventually become invested in this set of characters. I think a lot of people will be able to relate to Portia's floundering and some of the problems that occur with overbearing parents that pit their children against each other, even when the parents don't know/don't intend to. It reminded me a bit of how Tahani Al-Jamil from The Good Place has a rivalry with her very successful sister.
Tavish is a bit of a pessimistic gruff. He screws up over and over, but it's hard to blame to him for being so painfully slow on the uptake when he does his best when confronted with his shortcomings.
I liked Tavish's brother and sister-in-law fine enough. I felt like I could have invested in this little family unit more, but they served mainly to just call out Tavish whenever he was being an arse. Honestly though, this can be a pretty big component of being in a family.
I listened to the audiobook for this one. The narrator does the accents in the first book well, but woah her Scottish accents fell short in here - not that I am good at doing accents either. They actually made me laugh because they are so off which could be pretty distracting from the story. The Scottish characters often sounded like they were African, so be aware of that when going in if that it going to throw you off.
January 20, 2020
DNF at page 50.
I have a 50 page rule. You know - go into every book with the plan to make it to at least page 50. Make sure I get a good feel for the author, the story, the characters. If something truly offensive happens, I’ll jump ship beforehand. But I really don’t like to DNF. I search for the good in a book pretty hard in those 50 pages if I feel like I’m slipping.
Here the count down started at page 26. My ARCs lately have been good. Like good good. Interesting. Weird. New. Brave. Different. And this...this feels like crotchety, old-before-his-time, down-on-his-luck, manly man meets bright eyed, emotionally fragile, ingenue who he tries over and over to push away, damnit, but she’s got spunk and low self-esteem and “understands” him so she puts up with his rudeness and utter shit.
Maybe the book was going to head in an entirely different direction. Maybe there are zombies. Maybe she meets a nice chick and settles down. I could be completely wrong in my 50 page assessment. So don’t take my word on this one.
I have a 50 page rule. You know - go into every book with the plan to make it to at least page 50. Make sure I get a good feel for the author, the story, the characters. If something truly offensive happens, I’ll jump ship beforehand. But I really don’t like to DNF. I search for the good in a book pretty hard in those 50 pages if I feel like I’m slipping.
Here the count down started at page 26. My ARCs lately have been good. Like good good. Interesting. Weird. New. Brave. Different. And this...this feels like crotchety, old-before-his-time, down-on-his-luck, manly man meets bright eyed, emotionally fragile, ingenue who he tries over and over to push away, damnit, but she’s got spunk and low self-esteem and “understands” him so she puts up with his rudeness and utter shit.
Maybe the book was going to head in an entirely different direction. Maybe there are zombies. Maybe she meets a nice chick and settles down. I could be completely wrong in my 50 page assessment. So don’t take my word on this one.
July 3, 2019
Audiobook review: Great story, terrible audiobook. The narrator's Scottish accent was abysmal... actually that's not fair because there was NO Scottish accent to even be rated. The main male character is described as speaking with a Scottish brogue multiple times, and the whole book is set in Scotland with multiple Scottish characters who should have that accent and pronunciation. She read them with the same African accent that she gave Thabiso in book 1. It gets confusing. I'd recommend reading the print for this one if you can, but she's fantastic narrating Portia and the first book.
April 15, 2022
3.5 stars
This was another fun book by Alyssa Cole that started with a hilarious scene when Portia first arrives in Scotland and meets her new boss. I appreciate how Alyssa Cole's writing makes me laugh. Despite the good start, the story became a bit too focused on Tav when Portia discovered his dukedom and consequently dragged a bit for me. I wanted more focus on their romance instead.
I loved Portia's character and really felt for her when she would berate herself and be so hard on herself. It broke my heart. It is too bad her parents were not able to appreciate what an amazing person she is.
This was another fun book by Alyssa Cole that started with a hilarious scene when Portia first arrives in Scotland and meets her new boss. I appreciate how Alyssa Cole's writing makes me laugh. Despite the good start, the story became a bit too focused on Tav when Portia discovered his dukedom and consequently dragged a bit for me. I wanted more focus on their romance instead.
I loved Portia's character and really felt for her when she would berate herself and be so hard on herself. It broke my heart. It is too bad her parents were not able to appreciate what an amazing person she is.
January 30, 2019
Best book I’ve read this year. I should've written my review right after finishing it, but I had too many emotions!
I can't even tell you all the reasons I loved this. But I'll tell you the main reason: PORTIA HOBBS.
She appears in the previous book and to be honest, I wasn't her biggest fan. But I knew going into this book that she was a fav of a lot of reviewers whose opinions I trust, so I was ready to give her a chance. I shouldn't have worried--she won my heart in like, 2 paragraphs. And it's not because her character is retconned in any way from the first book (...not that she was terrible enough to need retconning, just a crappy friend at times). Portia INSTANTLY became one of my all-time favorite romance heroines.
I know the ADHD rep in this book was meaningful to a lot of people. I don't have ADHD (although I've had doctors suggest I get tested for this), but I know a lot of the symptoms that we associate with ADHD are for adolescent boys. So women--especially women of color--are less likely to be diagnosed. When Portia realizes she may have ADHD, after discovering a web series about it, she suddenly feels like maybe she's not a huge fuck-up. Her brain is just wired differently.
Being inside Portia's head was so great. She's brilliant, funny, oftentimes frustrating (in a relatable way), and really vulnerable to being hurt by other people, especially her family. And Tavish or #swordbae as he's known, is also wonderful. (I mean, no offense to him, but this book is The Portia Show to me.) He gets plenty of POV chapters as well (although this book is written in the 3rd person), and although he's a grumpy asshole, we know he's a good guy. When he's shitty to Portia, she gives it right back to him. They don't fall in love right away--in fact, I'd call this more of a slow-burn. And the employer/employee thing didn't bother me either because a) she's an apprentice, so it's temporary and b) she's also providing HIM services, so it felt equal. At no point was her livelihood in danger, for example. The title of the book should give you some idea of one of the main subplots of the book--Portia discovering Tavish is actually the son of a duke. The second half of the book deals more with this and Portia helping him learn etiquette and such.
Oh, and I LOVED the secondary characters in this book--Tavish's brother, Jamie; his sister-in-law, Cheryl; his parents (who appear in video calls); other townspeople who work at the armory and in nearby businesses; and reappearances of characters from the first book. Although the book is set in/near Edinburgh, it's in a neighborhood undergoing gentrification, so it felt like a small-town romance set in a big city.
I think this book works fine as a standalone, although I also recommend the first book, A Princess in Theory. Alyssa Cole is hands-down one of the best writers in the genre right now. I can't remember who said this, but someone pointed out that she can really write any subgenre, and I agree. I've read her historical romance, contemporary romance, and sci-fi romance. She can write any time period--I've read medieval, 19th century American (Civil War), Civil Rights era, and present-day. (I haven't read her entire backlog, but I'm getting close!) I can't recommend this book highly enough. It's her best yet.
I can't even tell you all the reasons I loved this. But I'll tell you the main reason: PORTIA HOBBS.
She appears in the previous book and to be honest, I wasn't her biggest fan. But I knew going into this book that she was a fav of a lot of reviewers whose opinions I trust, so I was ready to give her a chance. I shouldn't have worried--she won my heart in like, 2 paragraphs. And it's not because her character is retconned in any way from the first book (...not that she was terrible enough to need retconning, just a crappy friend at times). Portia INSTANTLY became one of my all-time favorite romance heroines.
I know the ADHD rep in this book was meaningful to a lot of people. I don't have ADHD (although I've had doctors suggest I get tested for this), but I know a lot of the symptoms that we associate with ADHD are for adolescent boys. So women--especially women of color--are less likely to be diagnosed. When Portia realizes she may have ADHD, after discovering a web series about it, she suddenly feels like maybe she's not a huge fuck-up. Her brain is just wired differently.
Being inside Portia's head was so great. She's brilliant, funny, oftentimes frustrating (in a relatable way), and really vulnerable to being hurt by other people, especially her family. And Tavish or #swordbae as he's known, is also wonderful. (I mean, no offense to him, but this book is The Portia Show to me.) He gets plenty of POV chapters as well (although this book is written in the 3rd person), and although he's a grumpy asshole, we know he's a good guy. When he's shitty to Portia, she gives it right back to him. They don't fall in love right away--in fact, I'd call this more of a slow-burn. And the employer/employee thing didn't bother me either because a) she's an apprentice, so it's temporary and b) she's also providing HIM services, so it felt equal. At no point was her livelihood in danger, for example. The title of the book should give you some idea of one of the main subplots of the book--Portia discovering Tavish is actually the son of a duke. The second half of the book deals more with this and Portia helping him learn etiquette and such.
Oh, and I LOVED the secondary characters in this book--Tavish's brother, Jamie; his sister-in-law, Cheryl; his parents (who appear in video calls); other townspeople who work at the armory and in nearby businesses; and reappearances of characters from the first book. Although the book is set in/near Edinburgh, it's in a neighborhood undergoing gentrification, so it felt like a small-town romance set in a big city.
I think this book works fine as a standalone, although I also recommend the first book, A Princess in Theory. Alyssa Cole is hands-down one of the best writers in the genre right now. I can't remember who said this, but someone pointed out that she can really write any subgenre, and I agree. I've read her historical romance, contemporary romance, and sci-fi romance. She can write any time period--I've read medieval, 19th century American (Civil War), Civil Rights era, and present-day. (I haven't read her entire backlog, but I'm getting close!) I can't recommend this book highly enough. It's her best yet.
July 27, 2018
I had seen a lot of talk over this series and I was eager to give this one a try.
I loved Portia and Tavish. She’s so smart and sassy and he’s a pretend stoic who is actually a gooey marshmallow. Together they have loads of chemistry. I really liked the secondary characters and I’m so excited that Johan is the next book.
Plot wise is was the slowest burn that ever burned in a contemp. I swear, this was like a regency book with the longing filled glances. My main complaints is that there just wasn’t enough conversation between Portia and Tav. This is sort of a part in the plot, but they have such fantastic banter than I would have loved more time with them pushing each other’s buttons.
Overall, it was a story that kept me interested and made me crazy when the ending felt so abrupt. I hope we get to see more of these two {and some idea of their future} in the next book.
**Huge thanks to Avon Books for providing the arc free of charge**
I loved Portia and Tavish. She’s so smart and sassy and he’s a pretend stoic who is actually a gooey marshmallow. Together they have loads of chemistry. I really liked the secondary characters and I’m so excited that Johan is the next book.
Plot wise is was the slowest burn that ever burned in a contemp. I swear, this was like a regency book with the longing filled glances. My main complaints is that there just wasn’t enough conversation between Portia and Tav. This is sort of a part in the plot, but they have such fantastic banter than I would have loved more time with them pushing each other’s buttons.
Overall, it was a story that kept me interested and made me crazy when the ending felt so abrupt. I hope we get to see more of these two {and some idea of their future} in the next book.
**Huge thanks to Avon Books for providing the arc free of charge**
August 4, 2018
This book good.
April 28, 2019
A Duke by Default by Alyssa Cole is the second romance in her Reluctant Royals series. It follows the adventures of Portia Hobbs as she journeys to Scotland for a sword making apprenticeship, only to find herself falling for her grumpy boss. I don’t know how anyone can resist a plot like that (and I certainly couldn’t!) so it was with high expectations that I started this story and found it to be as interesting and delightful as I’d hoped!
Portia is best friends with Ledi (heroine of A Princess in Theory) despite their friendship going through some rough patches. Portia is fully willing to admit that’s her fault – an excess of drinking, coupled with other bad decisions and a not very supportive family means she’s got a reputation for instability. It’s time to turn over a new leaf, and what better way than to swear off alcohol and sign up for a three month apprenticeship as a sword maker in Scotland. There she can start over, use her extensive knowledge of medieval and architectural history that would qualify her for any number of museum jobs if she could figure out how to stick them out, and perhaps give as much to the Bodotria armory as she’ll get out of it. She just doesn’t count on her grumpy, sexy, silver fox boss pushing all of her buttons.
Tavish McKenzie doesn’t quite know what to make of his American apprentice. She’s brash, she’s bold, she’s beautiful and …oh wait, she’s also his employee. With her social media skills, her plan to update his website, get the armory more recognition and clients, combined with her research into the building bequeathed to him by his biological but absentee father leads to some surprising other discoveries – namely, that’s he’s the heir to a Dukedom! Suddenly his quiet existence takes on new challenges, ones for which he’s happy to have Portia by his side to deal with the sudden fame and fortune. She comes from a wealthy society family and has the social skills to keep him from making a fool of himself. But even as they grow closer, becoming friends then lovers, there’s a clock ticking on their relationship with her three month apprenticeship flying by. Will they admit their true feelings for each other before it’s too late?
I was so enjoying the characters and the banter between Portia and Tavish (and the ‘Defending The Castle’ boot camp, and the sword making) that I forgot this was going to be a royal romance until it came up in the plot! Tavish’s mother was a refugee from Chile who had a relationship with an Englishman. She’d chosen to have Tav on her own, then subsequently married a man from Jamaica. Tav has a half brother, Jamie who works with him at the armory, and whose wife Cheryl of Chinese descent runs a local restaurant. (It’s called Doctor Hu’s (ha!) which has delicious food that pops up from time to time in the story). Because of Tav’s heritage, he is very conscious of refugee rights and current immigration headlines. The author does a great job of seamlessly weaving in these important contextual issues, and gives Tav a focus for where he’ll be able to make a difference with his new social status.
For Portia, being a black American from a wealthy background means she’s had different advantages in her life than some of her friends but makes her no less conscious of how people may treat her based on her skin colour. Tav sees only the smart, gorgeous woman in front of him who makes him lust after her, a feeling that is mutual. (Side note – the cover image captures them perfectly!) It’s a slow burn romance, leading to some very steamy scenes once they decide that they are on board with a no-strings attached fling. Of course, the strings grow pretty quickly and they are soon forced to choose what kind of relationship they’ll want moving forward. There are lots of laughs in this story, Tav’s grumpy Scotch phrases and character making for delightful scenes since Portia isn’t shy about calling him out. Dealing with the sudden fame of his new position, and the impact it has on his family and his business is stressful, and having Portia by his side to deal with it soon makes her indispensable. But Portia wants to know she’s wanted for herself, not just her skills, and they go through some ups and downs before they find that happy ending.
I enjoyed seeing Portia’s friend Ledi show up in a few scenes as well as other characters , including Ledi’s cousin Nya who has become friends with Portia, and a rogue Prince of a European nation who will end up as a couple in the next story. If you want a topical contemporary romance with a royalty theme and characters who are lively, believable, and fun to read about, you’ll want to pick up this series!
This review also appears at Harlequin Junkie: http://harlequinjunkie.com/review-a-d...
A copy of this story was provided by the publisher via Edelweiss for review.
Portia is best friends with Ledi (heroine of A Princess in Theory) despite their friendship going through some rough patches. Portia is fully willing to admit that’s her fault – an excess of drinking, coupled with other bad decisions and a not very supportive family means she’s got a reputation for instability. It’s time to turn over a new leaf, and what better way than to swear off alcohol and sign up for a three month apprenticeship as a sword maker in Scotland. There she can start over, use her extensive knowledge of medieval and architectural history that would qualify her for any number of museum jobs if she could figure out how to stick them out, and perhaps give as much to the Bodotria armory as she’ll get out of it. She just doesn’t count on her grumpy, sexy, silver fox boss pushing all of her buttons.
Tavish McKenzie doesn’t quite know what to make of his American apprentice. She’s brash, she’s bold, she’s beautiful and …oh wait, she’s also his employee. With her social media skills, her plan to update his website, get the armory more recognition and clients, combined with her research into the building bequeathed to him by his biological but absentee father leads to some surprising other discoveries – namely, that’s he’s the heir to a Dukedom! Suddenly his quiet existence takes on new challenges, ones for which he’s happy to have Portia by his side to deal with the sudden fame and fortune. She comes from a wealthy society family and has the social skills to keep him from making a fool of himself. But even as they grow closer, becoming friends then lovers, there’s a clock ticking on their relationship with her three month apprenticeship flying by. Will they admit their true feelings for each other before it’s too late?
I was so enjoying the characters and the banter between Portia and Tavish (and the ‘Defending The Castle’ boot camp, and the sword making) that I forgot this was going to be a royal romance until it came up in the plot! Tavish’s mother was a refugee from Chile who had a relationship with an Englishman. She’d chosen to have Tav on her own, then subsequently married a man from Jamaica. Tav has a half brother, Jamie who works with him at the armory, and whose wife Cheryl of Chinese descent runs a local restaurant. (It’s called Doctor Hu’s (ha!) which has delicious food that pops up from time to time in the story). Because of Tav’s heritage, he is very conscious of refugee rights and current immigration headlines. The author does a great job of seamlessly weaving in these important contextual issues, and gives Tav a focus for where he’ll be able to make a difference with his new social status.
For Portia, being a black American from a wealthy background means she’s had different advantages in her life than some of her friends but makes her no less conscious of how people may treat her based on her skin colour. Tav sees only the smart, gorgeous woman in front of him who makes him lust after her, a feeling that is mutual. (Side note – the cover image captures them perfectly!) It’s a slow burn romance, leading to some very steamy scenes once they decide that they are on board with a no-strings attached fling. Of course, the strings grow pretty quickly and they are soon forced to choose what kind of relationship they’ll want moving forward. There are lots of laughs in this story, Tav’s grumpy Scotch phrases and character making for delightful scenes since Portia isn’t shy about calling him out. Dealing with the sudden fame of his new position, and the impact it has on his family and his business is stressful, and having Portia by his side to deal with it soon makes her indispensable. But Portia wants to know she’s wanted for herself, not just her skills, and they go through some ups and downs before they find that happy ending.
I enjoyed seeing Portia’s friend Ledi show up in a few scenes as well as other characters , including Ledi’s cousin Nya who has become friends with Portia, and a rogue Prince of a European nation who will end up as a couple in the next story. If you want a topical contemporary romance with a royalty theme and characters who are lively, believable, and fun to read about, you’ll want to pick up this series!
This review also appears at Harlequin Junkie: http://harlequinjunkie.com/review-a-d...
A copy of this story was provided by the publisher via Edelweiss for review.
December 26, 2018
Ahhhh I got accepted for an ARC of this one. Thanks so much Edelweiss!!!
After reading A Princess in Theory earlier this year, I'm so hyped to read this.
After reading A Princess in Theory earlier this year, I'm so hyped to read this.
September 6, 2018
TAVISH 😍
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