SPOILER ALERT!

All In with the Duke by Ava March

All In with the Duke - Ava March

Well this proved less savory than expected. I remember quite enjoying Ava March's books. Yet this one didn't hold any special spark.

Perhaps I had too high expectations of this. I failed to understand Max. A duke no less, and he was resorted to fetching Tristan's clothes himself. Didn't he have trusted men to do that for him? The action felt too linear. All Max ever did was look over ledgers and work all day long. Tristan wasted time away until night could come. And there were hardly any other characters involved, other than Morgan, faithful driver and Rawling, sole friend in London (both who coincidentally happened to be gay). And since the book seems to be the first in a series, I imagined they were mentioned only to give rise to a second novel where they could be front center for the plot.I was also expecting something more definite for the BDSM style. But there were only a couple of scenes where they indulged in sexual variety. Lastly, both characters were slightly off than I imagined. Max started out strict and imposing, then ended up following Tristan everywhere and pleading for a second chance. And Tristan started out as this young man not excited with his profession as a whore but willing enough. Who then managed to get a position as kept man for a Duke and still he wasn't satisfied. Who played hard to get until he thought things over and reconsidered, agreeing to Max's solutions.

(show spoiler)

 

So bottom line, I couldn't align with the characters thus failing to truly feel the story and rejoice at the happy ending. A nice enough read but lacking inspiration to leave a mark on me.