A Duke by Default

By: Alyssa Cole

Narrated by: Karen Chilton

Length: 12 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

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. And it turns out that 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?

©2018 Alyssa Cole (P)2018 Dreamscape Media, LLC

Good story, poor narration

Good story premise with engaging characters but the narration made me skip to the end. The narrator has an African-American accent for a Scottish laird and a auburn haired heroine with freckles. The “Scottish “ accents sound like Caribbean instead. I just couldn’t get around her accent.

Talk About One HOT SCOT!

In book 2 of this series, which is my personal favorite, Portia was redeemed and Tav, oh my my my, First Class SEXY!

The accents

Why did the Scottish people sound Jamaican? Where was Tav’s mother from? The narrator’s accents were so far off it was really off putting.

Insert sword joke here

This is an enjoyable read. Or listen, I suppose.

First things first: Tavish has reawakened my love of imaginary Scotsmen something fierce. He’s not as fleshed out as Portia, but he’s not underdeveloped either. He’s hot, smart, loves his family, and is much less of a wanker (Tavish/Cole’s word, not mine!) at the end than he is at the beginning.

Portia is an interesting character— I like that she is complex. I haven’t read the first book in the Reluctant Royals series, so I didn’t know anything about her coming in. I didn’t have any trouble following anything. The book definitely works as a standalone, though I could tell that I’d probably know more about Portia and Ledi’s dynamic (and Portia’s self-loathing) if I’d read Princess in Theory. Which I might go back and do.

The subplot about the roots of Portia’s hot-mess-ness was surprising and a bit eerie, since I’ve recently been coming to similar conclusions about myself.

The story is mostly very sweet. I tend to have a low tolerance for extended misunderstandings, but it isn’t too overdone. I like the way the technically-her-boss thing is handled and love that consent is front and center.

I’ll definitely check out more by Alyssa Cole!

Ok

I really liked this book and would recommend this book. I wish the author wouldn't have used God's name in vain. You don't have to use " GD " to have a great book. If not for that I would have given it 5 stars. I wish this book was a movie or TV show. The narrator was good. This odd couple was great. I would have liked to hear more about their future.

Love loved

Ohh my, I laughed so much and so hard! The story is so well written and composed. Such a fan of the storylines crossing international boundaries!!! I love Tav!

I’m so in love with this series!!! I hope too see Reggie get love!
This really would be a great movie, more like a mini series on Netflix or something!!!! So in love!!!!

A Fairytale for Every Woman

Alyssa Cole has so much insight into the insecurities that women feel no matter what their socioeconomic status. In a Duke by Default she weaves a realistic portrait of Portia an American socialite who is running from her family's low expectations and the behavior that she can no longer tolerate within herself. She's looking for a step in the right direction ghat will allow her to be more grounded. One that will paint a more realistic portrait of who she is instead of the social persona that follows her wherever she goes.

Enter Tavish, her new sword master. The Hot Scot who has a weakness for those he loves. A man who'll move heaven and earth to protect family and the tight community he is trying to save from being destroyed by real estate developers.

Can Portia and Tavish find what they need from one another as they navigate their master apprentice relationship? Will they see something within the other person that has been overlooked by those closest to them?

A Wanker Rules

I started out a bit put off by the accent that narrator Karen Chilton applied to the reading of this story, I eventually got used to the brogue she applied.
The main character Portia Hobbs I found unlikable at first but as the story progressed her redeeming qualities began to unfold. Tavish McKenzie on the other hand was down right delicious from the get go.
What I really liked was the background. The images of the township, The detailing of the weaponry and armor, the forging of metal into swords was really interesting.
The story was different from anything I've read before, so that was refreshing. But the ending felt a bit rushed.

Confusing Accents

Great story and I generally enjoyed the narration. However, it was initially very confusing why a Scottish accent sounded distinctly Jamaican.

bad performance

next time get someone who at least tries. the accents were horrible. it really hurt the book