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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
Somehow Alyssa Cole took an amazing series, that started with A Princess In Theory (and which absolutely took my breath away with how beautiful it was), and completely blew everything out of the water. I cannot believe that she has made an even *better* sequel book; we are not worthy!!
Portia and Tav's dynamic was so pure, and absolutely adorable, that I was continually gushing and cooing the whole way through. Add in routine laughter at the comedic parts, and deep sympathy for the dramatic parts which hit much too close to home, and Alyssa Cole has earned a special place in my heart, always. I truly do not think another author could ever compete with her. And I love Rick Riordan and the PJO series, so that's saying something.
If you're reading this, wondering if you should read; GO BUY IT NOW! Heck, buy the audio version, because the narrator was so effortless in the transition between accents and I was dizzy with their talent. Added a whole new dimension for me.
Portia and Tav's dynamic was so pure, and absolutely adorable, that I was continually gushing and cooing the whole way through. Add in routine laughter at the comedic parts, and deep sympathy for the dramatic parts which hit much too close to home, and Alyssa Cole has earned a special place in my heart, always. I truly do not think another author could ever compete with her. And I love Rick Riordan and the PJO series, so that's saying something.
If you're reading this, wondering if you should read; GO BUY IT NOW! Heck, buy the audio version, because the narrator was so effortless in the transition between accents and I was dizzy with their talent. Added a whole new dimension for me.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Like A Princess in Theory this book is so so so cute! I love love love this kind of book. I love royal mess, and I really loved this book, It made me smile so much.
Maybe one of the best contemporary romances I've ever read. AND it has nerd jokes and a Ren faire. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
informative
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I liked this one so much more than A Princess in Theory! I think I just didn't enjoy the mistaken identity from that one. This worked so much better for me! So glad I didn't give up on Alyssa Cole, cause this one was so much fun. Medium steam but what chemistry between Tavish and Portia!
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
NOTHINGS RIGHT IM TORN Ahem... excuse me.
Listen. I wanted to love this book. I wanted to LOVE this book. But DEAR GOD!
Okay so, this is only the second book by Alyssa Cole that I've read so I'm gonna hold off judgement until I finish this series and maybe read a book or two in one of her other series' because... WHEW I am so conflicted!
On the one hand, Alyssa Cole's writing is engaging! The (ahem beginnings of) storylines are interesting and layered. The main characters in both the books of hers I've read were well drawn - nuanced, vibrant, complex, thoroughly enjoyable and compelling characters! But these damn LOVE INTERESTS?? Lord Jesus, I just wanna FIGHT! I won't compare the love interest in this book, Tavish, to the love interest in the first book of this series (Thabiso) because that's not what we're here for (and honestly, it wouldn't do either one of these love interests any favors). Let's just suffice to say that going by just these two books, Alyssa Cole has a problem writing good love interests.
Portia is MY GOOD SIS. She's a people pleaser to the max (due to a pair of Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad parents who talk to her like she's a piece of old gum stuck to the bottoms of their brand new Stuart Weitzman shoes). She has a thirst for knowledge that runs in all directions including but not limited to historical architecture, marketing, and sword-making. She's determined and works works works till she's literally passing out from exhaustion. She's been told her whole life by those toxic parents of hers that she's a fuck up which turned into a self-fulfilling prophecy for a while but now she's taking her life into her own hands, she's doing therapy, she's stopped drinking and she's moved all the way to Scotland to figure herself out. She TRIES SO HARD at everything that she does and, without even realizing it, makes the lives of everyone around her BETTER just by being there.
Tav on the other hand... Tav is an asshole. He's fully a decade older than Portia, he's her boss who is supposed to be teaching her bladesmithing as part of a 3 month apprenticeship, and what does he do? When he's not ignoring her he's outright abusive for about half the damn book. And why?? BECAUSE HE JUST CAN'T HANDLE ALL THE ERECTIONS HE KEEPS GETTING WHEN PORTIA WALKS INTO ANY BUILDING HE'S STANDING IN APPARENTLY. This piece of shit literally avoids teaching Portia ANYTHING because he just cannot control how turned on he is by his new employee. THAT'S IT!!! That's the whole reason! A 38 year old man refuses to do his damn job because his employee is just too damn hot and, I don't know, he just started puberty??? This woman is fully 1 month into her damn "apprenticeship" before this walking hard-on deigns to show her how to make ONE sword! And that's the only time he teaches her anything! The whole book!!! At one point he's giving Portia shit about how she's always badmouthing herself and how she doesn't believe she can do anything AFTER HE'S SPENT THE WHOLE BOOK UP TO THAT POINT TELLING HER WHAT AN INCOMPETENT INCONVENIENT WASTE OF HIS TIME SHE IS!! Like really, sir? Periodically throughout the first half of the book, Tav will have mini realizations that he's been an ass and Portia is actually extremely good at the random jobs she's been given that have nothing to do with the apprenticeship she actually moved to Scotland for, then he proceeds to go RIGHT BACK TO NOT DOING HIS DAMN JOB OF TEACHING HIS APPRENTICE. Every thought Tav has in his head is about how he wants Portia to throw it back on him and I DO NOT CARE! Honestly, I was glad when this dickhead found out he was a secret duke because at least he finally had something to think about besides where he was gonna hide all his crusty tissues.
After we find out Tav is a duke, Portia's entire life becomes about him. Because of who she is and how important it is to her to take care of everyone around her, and Tav's severe and unabashed selfishness, Portia runs herself ragged taking care of everything and anything Tav needs in order for him to become the most prepared duke he can be. She becomes his social media manager, his personal assistant-slash-secretary, his PR rep., his personal shopper, his damn etiquette coach (a role that requires her to RESEARCH Scottish noble etiquette, it's not like she knew these things beforehand). It takes a third party (a prince no less!) to step in and tell Portia to take care of herself and set boundaries so that she doesn't make her whole world about Tav and what he needs. The same person has to set Tav aside and tell him to stop taking advantage of Portia! How a romance springs up amidst all this is a complete mystery to me. There's a physical attraction (obviously) that the narrative talks about NON STOP, and Portia literally says "let's do it" and they decide to have sex. THAT'S THE WHOLE ROMANCE. Throw in a bunch of instances of Tav calling Portia an incompetent princess and Portia revolutionizing Tav's entire business and life and you have this book's romance.
After Tav fully takes on his title as duke, Portia is roofied at a party by Tav's rival, she's assumed to be drunk, passes out, the press take a bunch of pictures of her being carried out, and what follows the next day is a bunch of newspapers and social media spewing a shit ton of slut shaming and accusations of alcoholism. TAV, treasure that he is, immediately throws Portia out on her ass. He doesn't ask her how she is or what she wants, he just immediately decides that what's best for her is to be sent away out of the spotlight because reasons and she's left to believe that she's fucked up again and that's why he's rejected her.
You would think that all of these issues would take a few chapters to deal with, a lot of work and apologizing and in depth conversations to satisfactorily resolve. NOPE! Tav tells the press he loves Portia, Portia hears the whole thing because, surprise, she's there! And she tells the press that she was drugged and everyone gasps and Tav kisses Portia, the end! Oh and the queen is there. There's some vague hand waving about Sir Roofs-a-Lot getting his comeuppance via Scotland Yard but it's barely a sentence long.
Okay, I know it seems like I really hated this book. I didn't! I loved every single word spoken by or about Portia (minus the shitty things Tav and her family say about her). She is a WONDERFUL character and I want her to have all the things! Tav just DOES NOT deserve her and Alyssa Cole's attempt at making him a "grump with a heart of gold" failed SPECTACULARLY. Never at any point do I see why Portia would fall in love with this man. He's nice to kids and he likes some of the same historical dorkery that she likes, that's about it! Oh and he cares about immigrant rights. Other than that? His own family calls him a wanker! At one point a character asks Portia "what are you getting out of this?" and she never answers the question! Because the truth is, she's not getting much of anything out of her relationship with Tavish. He's mean and selfish (and weirdly chokes her the first time they have sex? Yes, she nods consent but?? HOW DID WE GET HERE?????) She never even learns how to make swords which is the one thing she came to Scotland for. I honestly feel like Cole ended the book as abruptly as she did because there's no where for this story to go? I cannot imagine these two in a happy, healthy, balanced relationship that involves Tav giving as much as he takes. I wanted so much more for Portia than what she got - more from the man who claimed to love her, more from the parents who treat her like a living regret, and more from this unfinished story.
Listen. I wanted to love this book. I wanted to LOVE this book. But DEAR GOD!
Okay so, this is only the second book by Alyssa Cole that I've read so I'm gonna hold off judgement until I finish this series and maybe read a book or two in one of her other series' because... WHEW I am so conflicted!
On the one hand, Alyssa Cole's writing is engaging! The (ahem beginnings of) storylines are interesting and layered. The main characters in both the books of hers I've read were well drawn - nuanced, vibrant, complex, thoroughly enjoyable and compelling characters! But these damn LOVE INTERESTS?? Lord Jesus, I just wanna FIGHT! I won't compare the love interest in this book, Tavish, to the love interest in the first book of this series (Thabiso) because that's not what we're here for (and honestly, it wouldn't do either one of these love interests any favors). Let's just suffice to say that going by just these two books, Alyssa Cole has a problem writing good love interests.
Portia is MY GOOD SIS. She's a people pleaser to the max (due to a pair of Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad parents who talk to her like she's a piece of old gum stuck to the bottoms of their brand new Stuart Weitzman shoes). She has a thirst for knowledge that runs in all directions including but not limited to historical architecture, marketing, and sword-making. She's determined and works works works till she's literally passing out from exhaustion. She's been told her whole life by those toxic parents of hers that she's a fuck up which turned into a self-fulfilling prophecy for a while but now she's taking her life into her own hands, she's doing therapy, she's stopped drinking and she's moved all the way to Scotland to figure herself out. She TRIES SO HARD at everything that she does and, without even realizing it, makes the lives of everyone around her BETTER just by being there.
Tav on the other hand... Tav is an asshole. He's fully a decade older than Portia, he's her boss who is supposed to be teaching her bladesmithing as part of a 3 month apprenticeship, and what does he do? When he's not ignoring her he's outright abusive for about half the damn book. And why?? BECAUSE HE JUST CAN'T HANDLE ALL THE ERECTIONS HE KEEPS GETTING WHEN PORTIA WALKS INTO ANY BUILDING HE'S STANDING IN APPARENTLY. This piece of shit literally avoids teaching Portia ANYTHING because he just cannot control how turned on he is by his new employee. THAT'S IT!!! That's the whole reason! A 38 year old man refuses to do his damn job because his employee is just too damn hot and, I don't know, he just started puberty??? This woman is fully 1 month into her damn "apprenticeship" before this walking hard-on deigns to show her how to make ONE sword! And that's the only time he teaches her anything! The whole book!!! At one point he's giving Portia shit about how she's always badmouthing herself and how she doesn't believe she can do anything AFTER HE'S SPENT THE WHOLE BOOK UP TO THAT POINT TELLING HER WHAT AN INCOMPETENT INCONVENIENT WASTE OF HIS TIME SHE IS!! Like really, sir? Periodically throughout the first half of the book, Tav will have mini realizations that he's been an ass and Portia is actually extremely good at the random jobs she's been given that have nothing to do with the apprenticeship she actually moved to Scotland for, then he proceeds to go RIGHT BACK TO NOT DOING HIS DAMN JOB OF TEACHING HIS APPRENTICE. Every thought Tav has in his head is about how he wants Portia to throw it back on him and I DO NOT CARE! Honestly, I was glad when this dickhead found out he was a secret duke because at least he finally had something to think about besides where he was gonna hide all his crusty tissues.
After we find out Tav is a duke, Portia's entire life becomes about him. Because of who she is and how important it is to her to take care of everyone around her, and Tav's severe and unabashed selfishness, Portia runs herself ragged taking care of everything and anything Tav needs in order for him to become the most prepared duke he can be. She becomes his social media manager, his personal assistant-slash-secretary, his PR rep., his personal shopper, his damn etiquette coach (a role that requires her to RESEARCH Scottish noble etiquette, it's not like she knew these things beforehand). It takes a third party (a prince no less!) to step in and tell Portia to take care of herself and set boundaries so that she doesn't make her whole world about Tav and what he needs. The same person has to set Tav aside and tell him to stop taking advantage of Portia! How a romance springs up amidst all this is a complete mystery to me. There's a physical attraction (obviously) that the narrative talks about NON STOP, and Portia literally says "let's do it" and they decide to have sex. THAT'S THE WHOLE ROMANCE. Throw in a bunch of instances of Tav calling Portia an incompetent princess and Portia revolutionizing Tav's entire business and life and you have this book's romance.
After Tav fully takes on his title as duke, Portia is roofied at a party by Tav's rival, she's assumed to be drunk, passes out, the press take a bunch of pictures of her being carried out, and what follows the next day is a bunch of newspapers and social media spewing a shit ton of slut shaming and accusations of alcoholism. TAV, treasure that he is, immediately throws Portia out on her ass. He doesn't ask her how she is or what she wants, he just immediately decides that what's best for her is to be sent away out of the spotlight because reasons and she's left to believe that she's fucked up again and that's why he's rejected her.
You would think that all of these issues would take a few chapters to deal with, a lot of work and apologizing and in depth conversations to satisfactorily resolve. NOPE! Tav tells the press he loves Portia, Portia hears the whole thing because, surprise, she's there! And she tells the press that she was drugged and everyone gasps and Tav kisses Portia, the end! Oh and the queen is there. There's some vague hand waving about Sir Roofs-a-Lot getting his comeuppance via Scotland Yard but it's barely a sentence long.
Okay, I know it seems like I really hated this book. I didn't! I loved every single word spoken by or about Portia (minus the shitty things Tav and her family say about her). She is a WONDERFUL character and I want her to have all the things! Tav just DOES NOT deserve her and Alyssa Cole's attempt at making him a "grump with a heart of gold" failed SPECTACULARLY. Never at any point do I see why Portia would fall in love with this man. He's nice to kids and he likes some of the same historical dorkery that she likes, that's about it! Oh and he cares about immigrant rights. Other than that? His own family calls him a wanker! At one point a character asks Portia "what are you getting out of this?" and she never answers the question! Because the truth is, she's not getting much of anything out of her relationship with Tavish. He's mean and selfish (and weirdly chokes her the first time they have sex? Yes, she nods consent but?? HOW DID WE GET HERE?????) She never even learns how to make swords which is the one thing she came to Scotland for. I honestly feel like Cole ended the book as abruptly as she did because there's no where for this story to go? I cannot imagine these two in a happy, healthy, balanced relationship that involves Tav giving as much as he takes. I wanted so much more for Portia than what she got - more from the man who claimed to love her, more from the parents who treat her like a living regret, and more from this unfinished story.
I actually shipped the couple more at the beginning that at the end. The main character just made some stupid decisions that didn't serve any purpose except to make more drama between her and the love interest and made me lose patience with the relationship.
Also I had to get past what I believe is a harmful trope, being that a woman can be so attractive to a man that he literally has to avoid her to keep from leering at her and he is physically incapable of treating her like a normal human being. Ew.
Other than that, though, I really liked it. I liked the setting of the blacksmith shop in the actively getting gentrified part of town, and I really enjoyed the secondary characters. The main character's sister was actually my favorite, though she has a fairly small part. I appreciated the ADHD rep (my sister has it, and it seemed fairly on point to me) and I found the relationship between the main character and her parents to be realistic (though personally I find expecting your parents to bankroll your expensive lifestyle past your late 20s without pushing you to get a job is a bit entitled).
I liked the Ren Faire, the local bookshop, the discussion of using social media in business, and everything having to do with the weapons being made and sold.
Also I had to get past what I believe is a harmful trope, being that a woman can be so attractive to a man that he literally has to avoid her to keep from leering at her and he is physically incapable of treating her like a normal human being. Ew.
Other than that, though, I really liked it. I liked the setting of the blacksmith shop in the actively getting gentrified part of town, and I really enjoyed the secondary characters. The main character's sister was actually my favorite, though she has a fairly small part. I appreciated the ADHD rep (my sister has it, and it seemed fairly on point to me) and I found the relationship between the main character and her parents to be realistic (though personally I find expecting your parents to bankroll your expensive lifestyle past your late 20s without pushing you to get a job is a bit entitled).
I liked the Ren Faire, the local bookshop, the discussion of using social media in business, and everything having to do with the weapons being made and sold.