"The sexual tension crackles as Portia and Tavish hide their attraction behind sarcasm, but the real emotional punch comes when they admit their feelings but need to decide if each really has a place in the other's life. With a multicultural cast and delightfully geeky details (Cheryl Hu, Tavish's sister-in-law, runs a food truck called Doctor Hu's), Cole's latest is pretty much perfect." -- Booklist (starred review)

"Cole includes just the right amount of sass, sex, and heart to satisfy romance readers." -- Publishers Weekly

"Multicultural characters, current social issues, a generous helping of Scottish weapons lore, a hero who learns to forgive the past, and a heroine who comes into her own make Cole's latest a lively, upbeat escapade rich with humor and heart." -- Library Journal

"Cole's romances are always smart, sexy, captivating reads..." -- Entertainment Weekly

"Alyssa Cole has rightfully garnered acclaim from all corners for the impeccable construction and emotional complexity of her romance novels. But her new novel, A Duke by Default, underscored something about her writing that I think deserves to be celebrated just as much--how joyfully and unrepentantly nerdy her work is." -- BookPage

"Alyssa Cole has presented another winner in her acclaimed Reluctant Royals series... A romantic Scottish armory and two unlikely characters with chemistry off the charts makes this book a rapid read." -- BookTrib

"Witty, heartwarming, and super sexy! A charming royal romance." -- Fresh Fiction

"This book not only has one of my favorite meet-cutes ever written, it also features a heroine who is strong and vulnerable in equal measure, a perfect Scottish curmudgeon hero (aka #swordbae), and a supporting cast that celebrates the importance of female friendship. The romance is swoon-worthy, and I particularly loved the thoughtful exploration of the pressures of living up to family legacies (royal or not)." -- Bookish (Favorite Books of 2018)