Item: A Duke by Default
Rating: 2.00
Author: celinenyx

by Alyssa Cole

An NPR Best Book of the Year - A Bookish Favorite Book of the Year - A Bookpage Best Romance of the Year

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?

DNF at 24%

The male love interest is a dick who only thinks with his penis. Because he gets turned on by his apprentice, he completely ignores her and doesn't teach her anything, even though she just moved continents for her apprenticeship. I have no patience for men that can't get over themselves (in a work environment, what the hell). Perhaps he'll improve, but I don't feel like sticking around to find out.

Portia deserves better, even though I found her point of view pretty oppressive as well. After a delightful first book in the series, this was a complete bummer.

A Duke by Default (Reluctant Royals, #2)

by Alyssa Cole

Reviewed by celinenyx on Sep 28, 2020

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