A review by baronessekat
A Duke by Default by Alyssa Cole

4.0

3.5 but good enough to round up

++++

NY socialite and self proclaimed "f*ck-up", Portia is trying to find her place that does not revolve around booze and one-night stands. Despite being a amazing at research and highly knowledgeable regarding art history, her parents see her as the disappointment in comparison to her twin sister Reggie or her best-friend-turned-actual-Princess Lettie.

So Portia applies for and gets a position for a 3 month apprenticeship with a master sword maker in Scotland. But the sparks that are flying are not the ones Portia expected. And when a secret from his past comes to light, the world as they both know it might change... but will it be for the better?

++++

I liked the general story here... a lot of it was typical romance trope. The only thing for me that really could have been left out was the graphic sex. I honestly don't think the story needed it.

But I have found for contemporary romance I do like Alyssa Cole's writing and I will read more by her.