
A Duke by Default
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Narrated by:
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Karen Chilton
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By:
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Alyssa Cole
About this listen
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, LLCListeners also enjoyed...
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Good story, poor narration
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Talk About One HOT SCOT!
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The accents
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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!
Insert sword joke here
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Ok
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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!!!!
Love loved
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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 Fairytale for Every Woman
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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.
A Wanker Rules
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Confusing Accents
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bad performance
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