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Her Majesty’s Rebels #1
Second Duke's the Charm
Meet Her Majesty’s Rebels: three brilliant women who run King & Co., London’s most exclusive investigative agency...
The wedding-night death of her much older husband left Tess Townsend the Dowager Duchess of Wansford—and still a virgin. Now she and her two best friends investigate London’s most scandalous crimes, and while Tess longs to experience physical pleasure for herself, she can’t risk losing her treasured independence...
Cynical shipping magnate Justin Thornton never expected to inherit a dukedom, but he’ll do his duty. When the ravishing woman he kissed at a party turns out to be the Dowager Duchess, Justin sees an obvious solution: a marriage of convenience that will suit them both.
But the passion that sparks between them is anything but convenient. As Tess works on a new case at the request of Queen Charlotte, her increasingly suspicious behavior makes Justin question her motives—and her past. The infuriating woman clearly can’t be trusted, but Justin doesn’t believe in love, so there’s absolutely no danger of him falling for his own wife...is there?
The wedding-night death of her much older husband left Tess Townsend the Dowager Duchess of Wansford—and still a virgin. Now she and her two best friends investigate London’s most scandalous crimes, and while Tess longs to experience physical pleasure for herself, she can’t risk losing her treasured independence...
Cynical shipping magnate Justin Thornton never expected to inherit a dukedom, but he’ll do his duty. When the ravishing woman he kissed at a party turns out to be the Dowager Duchess, Justin sees an obvious solution: a marriage of convenience that will suit them both.
But the passion that sparks between them is anything but convenient. As Tess works on a new case at the request of Queen Charlotte, her increasingly suspicious behavior makes Justin question her motives—and her past. The infuriating woman clearly can’t be trusted, but Justin doesn’t believe in love, so there’s absolutely no danger of him falling for his own wife...is there?
318 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 26, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 481 reviews
November 24, 2023
✨Kate Bateman’s the Charm✨
Perfection. I can’t wait to reread and experience that grand gesture all over again. I loved the way they met, I loved the marriage of convenience, and I especially loved how he found out she was a virgin (I was waiting for it the entire book). It truly had all of the elements I’ve come to expect from Kate Bateman: humor, sexiness, and a hero who once he’s down, he’s down BAD.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Thanks so much to the publisher for an eARC via NetGalley. All opinions are honest and my own.
Perfection. I can’t wait to reread and experience that grand gesture all over again. I loved the way they met, I loved the marriage of convenience, and I especially loved how he found out she was a virgin (I was waiting for it the entire book). It truly had all of the elements I’ve come to expect from Kate Bateman: humor, sexiness, and a hero who once he’s down, he’s down BAD.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Thanks so much to the publisher for an eARC via NetGalley. All opinions are honest and my own.
February 29, 2024
I have enjoyed reading Bateman's books and looking forward to reading this one as I won it by entering a give-away on goodreads. The story stared off with a great opening of a bride being forced to marry an elderly duke who dies on his wedding night. Tess quips that the old Duke's heart gave out when he saw her naked. The plot started off fun and we are introduced to Tess's 2 friends (I KNOW they will have books) who added a bit more humor to the wedding night that went wrong.
The mystery that the 3 women are "hired" to solve is not very complex.
The rest of the book takes place a little over a month after meeting Justin and I never felt the connection (but there is steamy sexy parts) between the couple or why they would trust each other. The second mystery is a head scratcher as to why was it even included.
The mystery that the 3 women are "hired" to solve is not very complex.
The rest of the book takes place a little over a month after meeting Justin and I never felt the connection (but there is steamy sexy parts) between the couple or why they would trust each other. The second mystery is a head scratcher as to why was it even included.
December 26, 2023
Second Duke’s the Charm by Kate Bateman
Her Majesty’s Rebel’s series #1. Historical regency romance.
Tess Townsend, the Dowager Duchess of Wansford, needing something to keep her busy after her first husband died before their wedding night, is part owner of an exclusive investigative agency. Their current case is to find the blackmailer that is threatening the Queen. Undercover, Tess wears a scarlet dress and mask to a party hoping to identify the blackmailer but instead runs into Justin Thornton, her soon to be next husband. Their marriage, for Justin, is a way to have his cake, and leave when he’s had enough. He doesn’t trust his wife, considering where he first met her, as well as the fact that someone seems to be trying to kill one or both of them.
Justin fell in love at first sight with Tess, but his station at the time meant he had no chance at all with her. Sigh. If only he’d tell her rather than keep his distance.
Of course, she goes off the rails too when the unexpected happens.
It’s an intriguing and multifaceted story with steamy interludes, romantic outings and dangerous accidents. His grand gesture is comical.
The undercover agency added a bit of mischief along with the often bawdy humor between the women.
Captivating and engaging. A historical romance that will keep you breathless and entertained.
4.5
I received a copy of this from NetGalley.
Her Majesty’s Rebel’s series #1. Historical regency romance.
Tess Townsend, the Dowager Duchess of Wansford, needing something to keep her busy after her first husband died before their wedding night, is part owner of an exclusive investigative agency. Their current case is to find the blackmailer that is threatening the Queen. Undercover, Tess wears a scarlet dress and mask to a party hoping to identify the blackmailer but instead runs into Justin Thornton, her soon to be next husband. Their marriage, for Justin, is a way to have his cake, and leave when he’s had enough. He doesn’t trust his wife, considering where he first met her, as well as the fact that someone seems to be trying to kill one or both of them.
Justin fell in love at first sight with Tess, but his station at the time meant he had no chance at all with her. Sigh. If only he’d tell her rather than keep his distance.
Of course, she goes off the rails too when the unexpected happens.
It’s an intriguing and multifaceted story with steamy interludes, romantic outings and dangerous accidents. His grand gesture is comical.
The undercover agency added a bit of mischief along with the often bawdy humor between the women.
Captivating and engaging. A historical romance that will keep you breathless and entertained.
4.5
I received a copy of this from NetGalley.
December 26, 2023
This is a well-written, entertaining, steamy, fast paced, historical romance novel. It has a likable and intelligent female protagonist, an engaging male protagonist, wit, a touch of humor, supportive friends, mystery, intrigue, sizzling chemistry, a heart-warming romance, an exciting finale, and a happily ever after ending. I am looking forward to reading the next entry in Ms. Bateman's outstanding, new "Her Majesty's Rebels" series with great anticipation.
Many thanks to St. Martin's Press, Ms. Bateman, and NetGalley, who kindly provided me with an ARC of this wonderful novel. This is my honest opinion.
Many thanks to St. Martin's Press, Ms. Bateman, and NetGalley, who kindly provided me with an ARC of this wonderful novel. This is my honest opinion.
December 23, 2023
Kate Bateman is one of my favorite Historical-Romance writers. You always get a wonderful story and very interesting characters. Here is a tale of love at first sight and two star-crossed lovers determined to hide not only their true feelings but some significant secret from each other. Both are intelligent people, except when it comes to dealing with each other. Love the dash of suspense/mystery that adds to the misunderstandings these two already have with each other. As Grand Gestures go this one was wonderful.
Tess Townsend's father sold her to the highest bidder and now she is facing life with a lecherous old coot, the Duke of Wansford. To her everlasting thanks and great good fortune, he drops dead on their wedding night leaving her still a virgin and the wealthy Dowager Duchess of Wansford. Life is good, except Tess really wants to experience what lust is all about but doesn't particularly want to get married to do so. She likes her independence and being able investigate crimes against women with her two best friends, Daisy and Ellie.
Justin Thornton, through the death of several other heirs, now finds himself the new Duke of Wansford. He doesn't need the money; he has a fortune earned with hard work in the shipping business and the title is more an annoyance since it will attract attention he could do without. As a diversion he stops at a house party where he meets and has a delightful encounter with a woman he named Scarlet for her enchanting red dress.
Meeting again in a ballroom in London, Tess, the Dowager Duchess of Wansford and Justin, the Duke of Wansford, come face to face with the reality of their prior encounter. Justin needs a wife and Tess could use the continued protection as the Duchess of Wansford, so they strike a bargain and make an agreement suitable to both. Love has no place in this bargain, but passion in abundance is a given. Unfortunately, the omissions and lies and a nasty thing called jealousy invades their passion filled nights and blows up this perfect arrangement only to make both realize that love and trust are two very precious things not to be taken lightly.
My thanks to the Publisher and the Author for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.
Tess Townsend's father sold her to the highest bidder and now she is facing life with a lecherous old coot, the Duke of Wansford. To her everlasting thanks and great good fortune, he drops dead on their wedding night leaving her still a virgin and the wealthy Dowager Duchess of Wansford. Life is good, except Tess really wants to experience what lust is all about but doesn't particularly want to get married to do so. She likes her independence and being able investigate crimes against women with her two best friends, Daisy and Ellie.
Justin Thornton, through the death of several other heirs, now finds himself the new Duke of Wansford. He doesn't need the money; he has a fortune earned with hard work in the shipping business and the title is more an annoyance since it will attract attention he could do without. As a diversion he stops at a house party where he meets and has a delightful encounter with a woman he named Scarlet for her enchanting red dress.
Meeting again in a ballroom in London, Tess, the Dowager Duchess of Wansford and Justin, the Duke of Wansford, come face to face with the reality of their prior encounter. Justin needs a wife and Tess could use the continued protection as the Duchess of Wansford, so they strike a bargain and make an agreement suitable to both. Love has no place in this bargain, but passion in abundance is a given. Unfortunately, the omissions and lies and a nasty thing called jealousy invades their passion filled nights and blows up this perfect arrangement only to make both realize that love and trust are two very precious things not to be taken lightly.
My thanks to the Publisher and the Author for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.
November 21, 2023
Awwww fun story and these two are adorable together.
~~~~~~~~~~
Sometimes I read historical romances and I tell myself I am so thankful I was not born in those times. I would definitely be on the naughty list and talked about daily. Having to live up to constant expectations is exhausting.
That is why I am thankful for the stories that Bateman brings to us. She crafts strong characters that live life as they see fit, not for how others see them. In this story, we meet so many wonderful characters that will become the basis of a new series.
The plot is fresh and fun. I love how she develops the main characters to find and fall for each other while adding the marriage of convenience trope to it too. These characters are burning up together and Bateman brings the heat too.
Second Duke’s The Charm is a fun story that is sweet, and romantic, and these two are adorable together! I cannot wait for more in this series.
~~~~~
* copy received for review purposes
* full review - https://amidlifewife.com/second-dukes...
~~~~~~~~~~
Sometimes I read historical romances and I tell myself I am so thankful I was not born in those times. I would definitely be on the naughty list and talked about daily. Having to live up to constant expectations is exhausting.
That is why I am thankful for the stories that Bateman brings to us. She crafts strong characters that live life as they see fit, not for how others see them. In this story, we meet so many wonderful characters that will become the basis of a new series.
The plot is fresh and fun. I love how she develops the main characters to find and fall for each other while adding the marriage of convenience trope to it too. These characters are burning up together and Bateman brings the heat too.
Second Duke’s The Charm is a fun story that is sweet, and romantic, and these two are adorable together! I cannot wait for more in this series.
~~~~~
* copy received for review purposes
* full review - https://amidlifewife.com/second-dukes...
January 7, 2024
Second Duke’s the Charm is the start of a new series by Kate Bateman and this is a marriage of convenience historical!
Tess is 19 when the story starts and already a dowager duchess. She also happens to be a virgin since her very-much older husband, that she was forced to marry, ended up dying on their wedding day! We catch up to her two years later and she’s the most wanted lady of the ton. But she’s busy running her investigative agency with her two friends. Around the same time, Justin, who had made a fortune shipping fur from Canada, finds out he has inherited the Dukedom and comes to London to figure out all he needs to know and meet the dowager duchess. But at a house party, Justin and Tess end up meeting without knowing who one another is. She’s wearing a mask and they share a passionate night together before going separate ways.
Shortly after, they meet again at another party and she of course immediately knows who he is since he wasn’t wearing a mask that night and then surprisingly he recognizes her as well too! I did think this would be dragged out a bit more and maybe have some tension added from it, but there really isn’t any. He ends up proposing an arrangement with her, he wants to keep meddling mamas away from him, wants to enjoy himself without needing to find a mistress, and assumes she’s down too. So he proposes a marriage of convenience where they give into their passion for one another, but their marriage is a business arrangement for the next year.
I really liked the premise of this one and enjoyed the first half more. Once they get married it felt like a lot of extra plot bits were thrown in that I wasn’t as interested in. She’s working with her friends at their agency to help Queen Charlotte, who comes to them needing help regarding her granddaughter being blackmailed. I also felt like Tess keeping secrets from him for so long just added to a lot of unnecessary drama between them and them both assuming something wrong about one another for too long.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley, all thoughts in this review are my own.
Tess is 19 when the story starts and already a dowager duchess. She also happens to be a virgin since her very-much older husband, that she was forced to marry, ended up dying on their wedding day! We catch up to her two years later and she’s the most wanted lady of the ton. But she’s busy running her investigative agency with her two friends. Around the same time, Justin, who had made a fortune shipping fur from Canada, finds out he has inherited the Dukedom and comes to London to figure out all he needs to know and meet the dowager duchess. But at a house party, Justin and Tess end up meeting without knowing who one another is. She’s wearing a mask and they share a passionate night together before going separate ways.
Shortly after, they meet again at another party and she of course immediately knows who he is since he wasn’t wearing a mask that night and then surprisingly he recognizes her as well too! I did think this would be dragged out a bit more and maybe have some tension added from it, but there really isn’t any. He ends up proposing an arrangement with her, he wants to keep meddling mamas away from him, wants to enjoy himself without needing to find a mistress, and assumes she’s down too. So he proposes a marriage of convenience where they give into their passion for one another, but their marriage is a business arrangement for the next year.
I really liked the premise of this one and enjoyed the first half more. Once they get married it felt like a lot of extra plot bits were thrown in that I wasn’t as interested in. She’s working with her friends at their agency to help Queen Charlotte, who comes to them needing help regarding her granddaughter being blackmailed. I also felt like Tess keeping secrets from him for so long just added to a lot of unnecessary drama between them and them both assuming something wrong about one another for too long.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley, all thoughts in this review are my own.
December 5, 2023
The wedding-night death of her repulsive older husband has left Tess Townsend with a title, and her virginity still intact. Shipping magnate Justin Thornton never expected to inherit a dukedom but, when the woman he kissed at a party turns out to be the Duchess, Justin sees a solution: a pleasurable marriage of convenience that will suit them both.
This is the first book in a new series about three close friends who secretly run King & Co., London’s most exclusive investigative agency. First up is Tess, the beauty. Tess was bartered off in marriage by her father, and saved by her husband's timely death. She attends a masked house party, hoping for a little flirty fun, but gets more than she bargained for when her fling turns out to be the new duke. I loved the set up for this story and the execution was great, too. There was wonderful chemistry between Tess and Justin, and just enough of the investigative story to balance the romance. Two thumbs up for the higher steam!
Tropes: Widow, Secret Virgin, Disguised Character/Masquerade, Unexpected Inheritance, Marriage of Convenience, Secret Crush, Working Heroine
Steam: 5
* I received an ARC and this is my honest review.
This is the first book in a new series about three close friends who secretly run King & Co., London’s most exclusive investigative agency. First up is Tess, the beauty. Tess was bartered off in marriage by her father, and saved by her husband's timely death. She attends a masked house party, hoping for a little flirty fun, but gets more than she bargained for when her fling turns out to be the new duke. I loved the set up for this story and the execution was great, too. There was wonderful chemistry between Tess and Justin, and just enough of the investigative story to balance the romance. Two thumbs up for the higher steam!
Tropes: Widow, Secret Virgin, Disguised Character/Masquerade, Unexpected Inheritance, Marriage of Convenience, Secret Crush, Working Heroine
Steam: 5
* I received an ARC and this is my honest review.
February 1, 2024
Read: 1/31/24
3.5 stars
Tess is sold to a 70 year old Duke. Luckily, he dies on their wedding night before consummating the marriage. 2 years later, Tess is a virgin widow that longs for physical pleasure. Her friends talk her into going to a masked courtesan party. There, she is drawn to the handsome man at the gambling table.
Justin is shipping magnate that discovers he's the new Duke of Wansford, much to his disdain. He decides to stop at a party for some fun before facing the duties of a duke. He has an instant connection to the beautiful masked woman in the scarlet dress. She leaves before he can discover her identity. To his delighted surprise, he discovers that Tess was the woman in red. Justin proposes a marriage of convenience that would suit them both.
Tess and her two best friends have a secret detective agency for women. Their newest case is from the Queen of England (very realistic). She needs them to retrieve some letters and discover who is blackmailing her. Tess does not trust Justin with her secret yet. This leads to complications.
The chemistry between these two characters was great! Unfortunately, I found the story lacking. Why have Tess part of a mystery only to have it so easily solved? Someone is also trying to kill Justin, but that too was quickly solved. Why introduce these elements and not follow through?
KB needed to pick a plot and stick with it!
I love her books but this was not up to her standards! She missed a great opportunity for a great story.
3.5 stars
Tess is sold to a 70 year old Duke. Luckily, he dies on their wedding night before consummating the marriage. 2 years later, Tess is a virgin widow that longs for physical pleasure. Her friends talk her into going to a masked courtesan party. There, she is drawn to the handsome man at the gambling table.
Justin is shipping magnate that discovers he's the new Duke of Wansford, much to his disdain. He decides to stop at a party for some fun before facing the duties of a duke. He has an instant connection to the beautiful masked woman in the scarlet dress. She leaves before he can discover her identity. To his delighted surprise, he discovers that Tess was the woman in red. Justin proposes a marriage of convenience that would suit them both.
Tess and her two best friends have a secret detective agency for women. Their newest case is from the Queen of England (very realistic). She needs them to retrieve some letters and discover who is blackmailing her. Tess does not trust Justin with her secret yet. This leads to complications.
The chemistry between these two characters was great! Unfortunately, I found the story lacking. Why have Tess part of a mystery only to have it so easily solved? Someone is also trying to kill Justin, but that too was quickly solved. Why introduce these elements and not follow through?
KB needed to pick a plot and stick with it!
I love her books but this was not up to her standards! She missed a great opportunity for a great story.
January 15, 2024
4 stars
An effortlessly readable, charming start to a new historical romance series, Second Duke's the Charm showcases all of Kate Bateman's strength as an author: charming banter, sharp, contemporary writing (I would say her books are a great place to start for readers new to the genre), and a good balance between plot and romance.
I particularly enjoyed the all-females, 'Charlie's Angels', detective agency setup, and the novel actually put this aspect to good use with some decent sleuthing sequences. The arranged marriage trope was also well-executed, even though the resolution to the third act conflict felt abrupt and rather inconclusive (however it was definitely 'grand'), and one could argue this novel leaned into the recent 'spicy romance' preference with its abundance of steam—while I appreciated the variety, it did feel a bit excessive and indulgent at times.
Second Duke's the Charm doesn't break any new ground, and it isn't the most memorable historical romance I've ever read, but it's overall well-crafted (I was hooked from the very first paragraph), lighthearted, and filled with plenty of endearing details—and sometimes that's really all one needs.
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**
An effortlessly readable, charming start to a new historical romance series, Second Duke's the Charm showcases all of Kate Bateman's strength as an author: charming banter, sharp, contemporary writing (I would say her books are a great place to start for readers new to the genre), and a good balance between plot and romance.
I particularly enjoyed the all-females, 'Charlie's Angels', detective agency setup, and the novel actually put this aspect to good use with some decent sleuthing sequences. The arranged marriage trope was also well-executed, even though the resolution to the third act conflict felt abrupt and rather inconclusive (however it was definitely 'grand'), and one could argue this novel leaned into the recent 'spicy romance' preference with its abundance of steam—while I appreciated the variety, it did feel a bit excessive and indulgent at times.
Second Duke's the Charm doesn't break any new ground, and it isn't the most memorable historical romance I've ever read, but it's overall well-crafted (I was hooked from the very first paragraph), lighthearted, and filled with plenty of endearing details—and sometimes that's really all one needs.
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**
September 29, 2023
I’m always amazed by romance authors who manage that perfect balance between romance and intrigue and Kate Bateman is one of them. She perfectly weaves the plot in this book of the heroine and her spy life with the romance between her and the hero. Both the romance and the drama are essential to each other. Tess is such a sweet and fun heroine. And I loved her friends and can’t wait to see their stories in the future! Justin (sigh I hate that name lmao sorry to any Justins out there. It just feels extremely modern. I know it isn’t but, all I think of is the slew of Justins we’ve had in pop culture haha) is the typical “I’m not falling for my wife of convenience” husband that immediately falls for his wife of convenience. It was delicious to see.
Props to the final climax of the story. Edge of my seat fun hehe 🐎
Props to the final climax of the story. Edge of my seat fun hehe 🐎
January 20, 2024
I was surprised at how . I'm kind of glad that the two mysteries were easily resolved.
February 10, 2024
I've given this a C- at AAR, so 2.5 stars.
It’s never pleasant to write a critical or negative review of a book by an author whose work you’ve previously enjoyed, but I have to do that now, because Kate Bateman’s Second Duke’s the Charm (book one in her new Charlie’s-Angels-in-the-Regency Her Majesty’s Rebels series) was a big disappointment. With one exception, the things I usually enjoy about her books – such as sizzling sexual chemistry and genuinely witty banter – are absent, and what’s left is a bunch of hackneyed tropes and stereotypical characters faffing around in an uninteresting and somewhat peripheral plot.
After the elderly ducal husband her father forced her to marry kicks the bucket on their wedding night, Tess Townsend, the nineteen-year-old (and still virginal) Dowager Duchess of Wansford is left with the kind of independence she’d never dared dream of. For the next couple of years, she divides her time between Wansford Hall, where she does a much better job of managing the estate than the previous dukes ever did, and London, where she and her two best friends, Ellie Law (whose father is England’s top barrister – Law by name, Law by nature, eh?) and Daisy Hamilton have established King & Co., an agency that has become known for its discretion in dealing with “sensitive matters” for members of society’s elite, whose proprietor, Mr. Charles King, is entirely fictional.
After two years of widowhood, Tess has begun to realise that while she may be content to remain a widow for the rest of her life, she doesn’t particularly want to remain celibate. But she can’t seek a lover from amongst the ton because then word will spread that, contrary to what she’s allowed society to believe, she and her late husband did not, in fact, consummate their union, and this would, for reasons that made no sense, be a problem.
So Daisy comes up with the idea that Tess should attend one of the famously lascivious parties hosted by Thomas Careby at his Bedfordshire estate. It’s unlikely anyone of her aquaintance will be there, and anyway, it’s the kind of affair where people are masked, so she’ll be able to remain incognita while indulging in some “passionate experimentation”.
Justin Thornton, owner of Thornton Shipping & Trading in Bristol, is not particuarly impressed by the news that he’s the new Duke of Wansford. It’s taken nearly two years to find him, thanks to Justin’s very distant connections to the dukedom, but there’s no doubt about his right to claim the title and all that goes with it. Viewing the whole thing as a massive inconvenience and disruption to his business, he agrees to go to London to receive his letters patent, set the duchy’s affairs in order, and find a wife he can bed, then leave at Wansford while he continues with his business in Bristol. Justin decides to blow off some steam on the way to London and makes a detour to the party being hosted by his friend Thomas Careby, whose parties are always reliably debauched and where there is always plenty of female company available in the form of bored wives, widows and courtesans.
No prizes for guessing that Tess and Justin meet or that Justin is the one to give Tess her first kiss – and several more. (Plus – her first experience of giving a hand job.) Justin has no idea who the siren in the red dress is, of course, and Tess is unaware of the identity of the tall, dark and handsome stranger whose kisses make her knees weak and her blood pound. Neither of them expects to see the other again – although, of course, they do.
And when they do, it doesn’t take Justin long to work out that his partner in that memorably passionate tryst was none other than the Duchess of Wansford or to decide that she’ll suit his purposes perfectly. To that end, he proposes a marriage of convenience, but one in which sex is most definitely on the table; being wed will keep the match-making mamas away from him, and seeing Tess has already made one marriage for money and position he assumes she will have no problem making another one, especially as his terms will leave her even better off financially than she already is. He makes it very clear that he has no time for love and that his business is his sole interest and occupation, then suggests they spend three months together after which they will go their separate ways – that should be long enough to prevent boredom setting in for each of them.
Second Duke’s the Charm is predictable, the pacing is off, the characters are bland and barely two-dimensional, and there’s no chemistry or sense of emotional connection between them. Justin is your stereotypical Self Made Man who Does Not Want to Become a Duke, and who Will Not Love because of how devastated his father was when his mother died. Tess is the Virgin Widow Who Longs to Experience Physical Pleasure, and who is Fed Up with being Judged On Her Looks, and Daisy and Ellie are the sequel-bait friends, one the Clever, Bookish One who is prone to coming up with Interesting Facts at the drop of a hat, and the other the Hellion who doesn’t give a Fig for Convention. (Apologies for all the random capitalisation!)
There’s a tacked on mystery plot – two, actually – neither of which is particularly well executed. The first is the more interesting, when King & Co. is approached by none other than Queen Charlotte herself who requests their help with tracking down a blackmailer; the other appears in the second half when it becomes apparent that someone is out to kill Justin and/or Tess. The blackmail plot provides the opportunity for a bit of jealousy on Justin’s part when he notices Tess behaving suspiciously, but that seems to be its sole purpose, really, and I don’t know why the second subplot is even there – Justin solves it and deals with the perpetrator off-page and for all the impact it has, it might as well not have been there at all.
I normally love a darkly brooding hero, but Justin is basically a walking trope with no real personality. I liked that he appreciaties Tess for more than her looks and is impressed with the job she’d done running the estate, but I never saw him actually falling in love with her; his volte face about love is whiplash-inducing and his grand gesture at the end is completely ridiculous. Tess is likeable enough, but again, I never saw anything but lust between her and Justin – he’s such a personality vacuum that I couldn’t understand why she fell for him other than his looks and skill between the sheets.
The one thing I referred to at the beginning as being present in this book is a decent sense of time and place – the author knows her history. The trouble is, that most of the information imparted comes in the form of info-dumps from Ellie, who knows something about pretty much everything, from marriage settlements to divorce to seduction to racehorses to romantic poets and their tolerance to opiates.
I’ve enjoyed this author’s work in the past and had hoped for more of the same here, but Second Duke’s the Charm is tanked by poor characterisation, a lack of chemistry and a weak plot. Kate Bateman is capable of much better and I hope to see a return to form soon.
This review originally appeared at All About Romance .
It’s never pleasant to write a critical or negative review of a book by an author whose work you’ve previously enjoyed, but I have to do that now, because Kate Bateman’s Second Duke’s the Charm (book one in her new Charlie’s-Angels-in-the-Regency Her Majesty’s Rebels series) was a big disappointment. With one exception, the things I usually enjoy about her books – such as sizzling sexual chemistry and genuinely witty banter – are absent, and what’s left is a bunch of hackneyed tropes and stereotypical characters faffing around in an uninteresting and somewhat peripheral plot.
After the elderly ducal husband her father forced her to marry kicks the bucket on their wedding night, Tess Townsend, the nineteen-year-old (and still virginal) Dowager Duchess of Wansford is left with the kind of independence she’d never dared dream of. For the next couple of years, she divides her time between Wansford Hall, where she does a much better job of managing the estate than the previous dukes ever did, and London, where she and her two best friends, Ellie Law (whose father is England’s top barrister – Law by name, Law by nature, eh?) and Daisy Hamilton have established King & Co., an agency that has become known for its discretion in dealing with “sensitive matters” for members of society’s elite, whose proprietor, Mr. Charles King, is entirely fictional.
After two years of widowhood, Tess has begun to realise that while she may be content to remain a widow for the rest of her life, she doesn’t particularly want to remain celibate. But she can’t seek a lover from amongst the ton because then word will spread that, contrary to what she’s allowed society to believe, she and her late husband did not, in fact, consummate their union, and this would, for reasons that made no sense, be a problem.
So Daisy comes up with the idea that Tess should attend one of the famously lascivious parties hosted by Thomas Careby at his Bedfordshire estate. It’s unlikely anyone of her aquaintance will be there, and anyway, it’s the kind of affair where people are masked, so she’ll be able to remain incognita while indulging in some “passionate experimentation”.
Justin Thornton, owner of Thornton Shipping & Trading in Bristol, is not particuarly impressed by the news that he’s the new Duke of Wansford. It’s taken nearly two years to find him, thanks to Justin’s very distant connections to the dukedom, but there’s no doubt about his right to claim the title and all that goes with it. Viewing the whole thing as a massive inconvenience and disruption to his business, he agrees to go to London to receive his letters patent, set the duchy’s affairs in order, and find a wife he can bed, then leave at Wansford while he continues with his business in Bristol. Justin decides to blow off some steam on the way to London and makes a detour to the party being hosted by his friend Thomas Careby, whose parties are always reliably debauched and where there is always plenty of female company available in the form of bored wives, widows and courtesans.
No prizes for guessing that Tess and Justin meet or that Justin is the one to give Tess her first kiss – and several more. (Plus – her first experience of giving a hand job.) Justin has no idea who the siren in the red dress is, of course, and Tess is unaware of the identity of the tall, dark and handsome stranger whose kisses make her knees weak and her blood pound. Neither of them expects to see the other again – although, of course, they do.
And when they do, it doesn’t take Justin long to work out that his partner in that memorably passionate tryst was none other than the Duchess of Wansford or to decide that she’ll suit his purposes perfectly. To that end, he proposes a marriage of convenience, but one in which sex is most definitely on the table; being wed will keep the match-making mamas away from him, and seeing Tess has already made one marriage for money and position he assumes she will have no problem making another one, especially as his terms will leave her even better off financially than she already is. He makes it very clear that he has no time for love and that his business is his sole interest and occupation, then suggests they spend three months together after which they will go their separate ways – that should be long enough to prevent boredom setting in for each of them.
Second Duke’s the Charm is predictable, the pacing is off, the characters are bland and barely two-dimensional, and there’s no chemistry or sense of emotional connection between them. Justin is your stereotypical Self Made Man who Does Not Want to Become a Duke, and who Will Not Love because of how devastated his father was when his mother died. Tess is the Virgin Widow Who Longs to Experience Physical Pleasure, and who is Fed Up with being Judged On Her Looks, and Daisy and Ellie are the sequel-bait friends, one the Clever, Bookish One who is prone to coming up with Interesting Facts at the drop of a hat, and the other the Hellion who doesn’t give a Fig for Convention. (Apologies for all the random capitalisation!)
There’s a tacked on mystery plot – two, actually – neither of which is particularly well executed. The first is the more interesting, when King & Co. is approached by none other than Queen Charlotte herself who requests their help with tracking down a blackmailer; the other appears in the second half when it becomes apparent that someone is out to kill Justin and/or Tess. The blackmail plot provides the opportunity for a bit of jealousy on Justin’s part when he notices Tess behaving suspiciously, but that seems to be its sole purpose, really, and I don’t know why the second subplot is even there – Justin solves it and deals with the perpetrator off-page and for all the impact it has, it might as well not have been there at all.
I normally love a darkly brooding hero, but Justin is basically a walking trope with no real personality. I liked that he appreciaties Tess for more than her looks and is impressed with the job she’d done running the estate, but I never saw him actually falling in love with her; his volte face about love is whiplash-inducing and his grand gesture at the end is completely ridiculous. Tess is likeable enough, but again, I never saw anything but lust between her and Justin – he’s such a personality vacuum that I couldn’t understand why she fell for him other than his looks and skill between the sheets.
The one thing I referred to at the beginning as being present in this book is a decent sense of time and place – the author knows her history. The trouble is, that most of the information imparted comes in the form of info-dumps from Ellie, who knows something about pretty much everything, from marriage settlements to divorce to seduction to racehorses to romantic poets and their tolerance to opiates.
I’ve enjoyed this author’s work in the past and had hoped for more of the same here, but Second Duke’s the Charm is tanked by poor characterisation, a lack of chemistry and a weak plot. Kate Bateman is capable of much better and I hope to see a return to form soon.
This review originally appeared at All About Romance .
January 11, 2024
I’m a big fan of the mistaken identity trope (not sure if that’s actually what it’s called, but that’s what I’m going with LOL) and Kate Bateman gave it such a fun twist by adding in the marriage of convenience trope. There’s nothing like a jaded and cynical hero falling head over heels for the heroine who happens to be his wife ;) Justin’s assumptions about Tess and her sexual exploits (and her creative ideas to conceal her level of experience) had me laughing so hard. I loved the reveal about their actual first “meeting” and the build up between them was so good. The steamy scenes definitely left me fanning myself.
As much as I loved the romance between Tess and Justin, it’s the female friendships that stole the show. Tess, Ellie, and Daisy were amazing and everyone needs ride or die friends like these. They also added some wonderful comic relief throughout.
Unfortunately, the story started to derail at the end and the final conflict and resolution just didn’t fully work for me. I actually think the groveling should have gone both ways on this one. Second Duke’s the Charm was still a very enjoyable read though and I’m looking forward to more books in the series. Ellie’s cryptic note has me very intrigued!
CW: forced marriage, financial problems (past), blackmail, theft, drugging, attempted murder, threats to safety
*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*
As much as I loved the romance between Tess and Justin, it’s the female friendships that stole the show. Tess, Ellie, and Daisy were amazing and everyone needs ride or die friends like these. They also added some wonderful comic relief throughout.
Unfortunately, the story started to derail at the end and the final conflict and resolution just didn’t fully work for me. I actually think the groveling should have gone both ways on this one. Second Duke’s the Charm was still a very enjoyable read though and I’m looking forward to more books in the series. Ellie’s cryptic note has me very intrigued!
CW: forced marriage, financial problems (past), blackmail, theft, drugging, attempted murder, threats to safety
*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*
October 6, 2023
3.5 🌟's
the blurb for this on netgalley immediately hooked me in so i decided to read it -- the beginning was so strong for me and i was loving it!!! but then the middle started dragging with the MC's just sort of having dates and sex (which is fine normally!!) but i didn't see enough character/couple development.. especially when the hero randomly said the ily even tho up until that point, he hated the idea of love??? it just didn't add up so alas :/
strong start but not so much the rest :/
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to the publisher St. Martin's for the e-ARC via Netgalley. Releases December 26, 2023.
the blurb for this on netgalley immediately hooked me in so i decided to read it -- the beginning was so strong for me and i was loving it!!! but then the middle started dragging with the MC's just sort of having dates and sex (which is fine normally!!) but i didn't see enough character/couple development.. especially when the hero randomly said the ily even tho up until that point, he hated the idea of love??? it just didn't add up so alas :/
strong start but not so much the rest :/
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to the publisher St. Martin's for the e-ARC via Netgalley. Releases December 26, 2023.
December 18, 2023
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Second Duke's Charm is the first book in Her Majesty's Rebels, the series looks like it is going to follow three society ladies on their journey to find love and adventure. First up is Tess, a beautiful bell of the Ton she was basically sold by her father to the highest bidder on the marriage mart. Her first husband died on their wedding night, while they locate the next in line for the dukedom, Tess will play the role of the dowager and let everyone assume she was bedded by her first husband. Meanwhile she is free to live her life and only she and her closest friends know she is still a virgin.
Justin Trevelyan has been a shipping magnate since leaving London years ago, traveling to Canada for trade. He didn't ever expect to inherit a dukedom and really doesn't want it. But duty is duty, he has a plan go to London, settle the affairs of the dukedom and be back at sea in three months. On the way to London, Justin stops at a friend for a night of debauchery, where he meets Tess. They have instant chemistry, she has come to take part in some of the passions she has only heard and read about, in disguise far from London she feels safe in exploring some passion with Justin, thinking to never see him again.�� Until he ends up being the new Duke. His plan is to wed her, bed her for three months and then go on with their separate lives. This is a great offer for Tess, she doesn't want to lose her independence and this deal will keep her safe. Plus Justin is definitely someone she would like to explore passions with.
Tess has secrets though, not only about being a virgin, but also about the detective agency she and her two best friends started. Justin knows she is keeping secrets; he just can't tell if they are about another man or something else. He will get to the bottom of it though, because he didn't prepare his heart for the whirlwind that is Tess and he has been swept away.
A marriage of strangers is one of my favorite tropes and so this story was already on the plus side for me. Tess is fun and I had a great time with her and her best friends. You can tell they are going to get themselves into all kinds of trouble. Tess and Justin's chemistry was fantastic; you could see why they were going to make a great couple once Justin learns to trust both his heart and Tess. There is a very cute I will prove my love for you event that I quite enjoyed.
This is exactly the kind of story I'd expect from Kate Bateman. She delivers some hot sexy times between the couple, an interesting side plot and a very cute HEA.
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Second Duke's Charm is the first book in Her Majesty's Rebels, the series looks like it is going to follow three society ladies on their journey to find love and adventure. First up is Tess, a beautiful bell of the Ton she was basically sold by her father to the highest bidder on the marriage mart. Her first husband died on their wedding night, while they locate the next in line for the dukedom, Tess will play the role of the dowager and let everyone assume she was bedded by her first husband. Meanwhile she is free to live her life and only she and her closest friends know she is still a virgin.
Justin Trevelyan has been a shipping magnate since leaving London years ago, traveling to Canada for trade. He didn't ever expect to inherit a dukedom and really doesn't want it. But duty is duty, he has a plan go to London, settle the affairs of the dukedom and be back at sea in three months. On the way to London, Justin stops at a friend for a night of debauchery, where he meets Tess. They have instant chemistry, she has come to take part in some of the passions she has only heard and read about, in disguise far from London she feels safe in exploring some passion with Justin, thinking to never see him again.�� Until he ends up being the new Duke. His plan is to wed her, bed her for three months and then go on with their separate lives. This is a great offer for Tess, she doesn't want to lose her independence and this deal will keep her safe. Plus Justin is definitely someone she would like to explore passions with.
Tess has secrets though, not only about being a virgin, but also about the detective agency she and her two best friends started. Justin knows she is keeping secrets; he just can't tell if they are about another man or something else. He will get to the bottom of it though, because he didn't prepare his heart for the whirlwind that is Tess and he has been swept away.
A marriage of strangers is one of my favorite tropes and so this story was already on the plus side for me. Tess is fun and I had a great time with her and her best friends. You can tell they are going to get themselves into all kinds of trouble. Tess and Justin's chemistry was fantastic; you could see why they were going to make a great couple once Justin learns to trust both his heart and Tess. There is a very cute I will prove my love for you event that I quite enjoyed.
This is exactly the kind of story I'd expect from Kate Bateman. She delivers some hot sexy times between the couple, an interesting side plot and a very cute HEA.
December 21, 2023
Another new series from Kate Bateman and I think this one will be great fun.
Second Duke's a Charm starts with a wild wedding night, but not for the reasons you might think. Said wedding night leaves Tess a widow and a Dukedom in search of a Duke. Two years later, Justin is discovered to be that long lost heir. When he finds Tess as the duchess and he himself needs to marry. He proposes she keep her position, this time as HIS wife. They are both attracted to each other, so what could go wrong?
There are of course many other delightful details, but that's the gist of it.
Justin and Tess were quite the pair and their chemistry is there, right from the first forbidden meeting. However, my main disconnect is that we took so long getting them to the altar and then after only a week or two... they are completely in love? I don't know, I was missing a few steps.
This was a fast paced and fun Historical Romance and I think many will find it quite "charming". Pardon the pun. I was just hoping for a bit more than purely physical chemistry.
4 stars
2.5 on the spice scale
Second Duke's a Charm starts with a wild wedding night, but not for the reasons you might think. Said wedding night leaves Tess a widow and a Dukedom in search of a Duke. Two years later, Justin is discovered to be that long lost heir. When he finds Tess as the duchess and he himself needs to marry. He proposes she keep her position, this time as HIS wife. They are both attracted to each other, so what could go wrong?
There are of course many other delightful details, but that's the gist of it.
Justin and Tess were quite the pair and their chemistry is there, right from the first forbidden meeting. However, my main disconnect is that we took so long getting them to the altar and then after only a week or two... they are completely in love? I don't know, I was missing a few steps.
This was a fast paced and fun Historical Romance and I think many will find it quite "charming". Pardon the pun. I was just hoping for a bit more than purely physical chemistry.
4 stars
2.5 on the spice scale
September 15, 2024
I enjoy Kate Batemen’s writing. This book started off strong? With Tess forced to marry an old Duke. And he happens to pass away in their wedding night before they consummate the marriage. Tess than got to live her life and and open a business with her two friends where they investigate and solve cases, mostly dealing with women. When they finally find the next Duke in line, it happens to be Justin who was away in Canada creating is fortune and name for himself. When they meet he proposes an arrangement where they get married and then can live separate lives.
The first half this book was good and had that bit of mystery. But once they were married I felt like they really didn’t connect. And then there was another mystery thrown in there that didn’t need to be in last half of the book. I also felt that Tess kept holding onto her secrets too long and caused more drama. Overall this was an easy read.
The first half this book was good and had that bit of mystery. But once they were married I felt like they really didn’t connect. And then there was another mystery thrown in there that didn’t need to be in last half of the book. I also felt that Tess kept holding onto her secrets too long and caused more drama. Overall this was an easy read.
November 13, 2023
I voluntarily read and reviewed an eARC of this book via NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Paperbacks. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Publishing: December 26, 2023
Series: Her Majesty’s Rebels #1
Pages: 320
There is not too much I can say about Kate Bateman except that I truly love her novels that I have read thus far, and the author’s writing style. This new series “Her Majesty’s Rebels” brings a mixture of romance and mystery to the pages that leaves you captivated with all the nuances that draws you into the characters of the story. Heroine, Tess who is widowed, empowered and very much a novice in the ways of intimacy due to her husband dropping dead at her feet on their wedding night embarks on experiencing passion with a total stranger. She ventures to a known club and shares a kiss with a stranger who happens to be Justin Thornton, the next duke in line. The two enter a marriage of convenience that leads to an intimate relationship.
On the flip side, Tess, Daisy, and Ellie own a private investigative agency under the guise of a male proprietor. The plot thickens when they are hired by the Queen to investigate a blackmail scheme that late includes someone trying to kill Justin. I really enjoyed this story from beginning to end. It was fast paced and moved effortless on the pages. I also loved the strong, independent female characters. The hero and heroine are likeable characters and pit against one another well. Looking forward to the next in the series…Daisy or Ellie’s story. Highly recommend the read.
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Publishing: December 26, 2023
Series: Her Majesty’s Rebels #1
Pages: 320
There is not too much I can say about Kate Bateman except that I truly love her novels that I have read thus far, and the author’s writing style. This new series “Her Majesty’s Rebels” brings a mixture of romance and mystery to the pages that leaves you captivated with all the nuances that draws you into the characters of the story. Heroine, Tess who is widowed, empowered and very much a novice in the ways of intimacy due to her husband dropping dead at her feet on their wedding night embarks on experiencing passion with a total stranger. She ventures to a known club and shares a kiss with a stranger who happens to be Justin Thornton, the next duke in line. The two enter a marriage of convenience that leads to an intimate relationship.
On the flip side, Tess, Daisy, and Ellie own a private investigative agency under the guise of a male proprietor. The plot thickens when they are hired by the Queen to investigate a blackmail scheme that late includes someone trying to kill Justin. I really enjoyed this story from beginning to end. It was fast paced and moved effortless on the pages. I also loved the strong, independent female characters. The hero and heroine are likeable characters and pit against one another well. Looking forward to the next in the series…Daisy or Ellie’s story. Highly recommend the read.
June 23, 2024
This was a fast, fun read with minimal angst. I love the overall premise of aristocratic women secretly working as investigators and getting hired by the Queen for a job. It’ll be interesting to see this through the series.
Tess is a character you initially feel sorry for - her husband drops dead, she has no family, and her girlfriends are just trying to get her to a party where she can have her first kiss without being exposed. Of course, it’s expected that the man she meets while masked at the “scandalous” party where she’ll have this first kiss (and more) winds up inheriting the title of the dead husband. And of course they’re going to fall in love!
There was a nice balance between the romance and the investigation, with the romance being the main storyline (of course).
Tess is a character you initially feel sorry for - her husband drops dead, she has no family, and her girlfriends are just trying to get her to a party where she can have her first kiss without being exposed. Of course, it’s expected that the man she meets while masked at the “scandalous” party where she’ll have this first kiss (and more) winds up inheriting the title of the dead husband. And of course they’re going to fall in love!
There was a nice balance between the romance and the investigation, with the romance being the main storyline (of course).
October 20, 2023
*I received a copy of this via the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
*4.5
Tess Townsend wasn't looking forward to marrying the ancient Duke of Wansford, so she couldn't be more relieved when he dropped dead on their wedding night. That may have left Tess as the Dowager Duchess, but it also meant she was still a virgin. Determined not to fall back into her father's clutches, Tess played up the ton's gossip, and with her new independence, she and her two best friends opened up an investigations office. It doesn't leave much pleasure in her personal life, but it's still a satisfaction whenever she closes a case.
Justin Thornton is already a shipping magnate, but it turns out he's also a Duke. As the next in line to inherit Wansford, Justin is ready to do his duty, but he can't stand the thought of scheming mamas trying to throw their daughters at him. When he kisses a masked woman at a house party that turns out to be Tess, Justin has a brilliant idea: a marriage of convenience that would suit both their needs. Tess knows she must keep her job a secret, and her latest case for the Queen causes Justin to question his new wife's motives. Justin has always sworn he would never give his heart away, so it's not like he's in danger of falling for his wife, right?
Kate Bateman said, "Let's take Charlie's Angels and make it historical," and I'm a fan. I love picking up her books because I'm guaranteed a fun time, and this fits the bill. I loved the premise of this group of women working to take down criminals. Tess and her friends are a bunch of spitfires, and I loved their dynamic. I wished we got to see more of the case they were working on because I felt like that fell by the wayside in the middle. I liked the relationship between Tess and Justin. Their chemistry was off the charts. They had such playful banter, and I loved how they poked fun at one another. Justin was your stereotypical histrom love interest who swore off love only to find himself head over heels for the main character, but I'll eat that trope up every time. I thought this was a solid start to a new series, and I can't wait to see what comes next.
*4.5
Tess Townsend wasn't looking forward to marrying the ancient Duke of Wansford, so she couldn't be more relieved when he dropped dead on their wedding night. That may have left Tess as the Dowager Duchess, but it also meant she was still a virgin. Determined not to fall back into her father's clutches, Tess played up the ton's gossip, and with her new independence, she and her two best friends opened up an investigations office. It doesn't leave much pleasure in her personal life, but it's still a satisfaction whenever she closes a case.
Justin Thornton is already a shipping magnate, but it turns out he's also a Duke. As the next in line to inherit Wansford, Justin is ready to do his duty, but he can't stand the thought of scheming mamas trying to throw their daughters at him. When he kisses a masked woman at a house party that turns out to be Tess, Justin has a brilliant idea: a marriage of convenience that would suit both their needs. Tess knows she must keep her job a secret, and her latest case for the Queen causes Justin to question his new wife's motives. Justin has always sworn he would never give his heart away, so it's not like he's in danger of falling for his wife, right?
Kate Bateman said, "Let's take Charlie's Angels and make it historical," and I'm a fan. I love picking up her books because I'm guaranteed a fun time, and this fits the bill. I loved the premise of this group of women working to take down criminals. Tess and her friends are a bunch of spitfires, and I loved their dynamic. I wished we got to see more of the case they were working on because I felt like that fell by the wayside in the middle. I liked the relationship between Tess and Justin. Their chemistry was off the charts. They had such playful banter, and I loved how they poked fun at one another. Justin was your stereotypical histrom love interest who swore off love only to find himself head over heels for the main character, but I'll eat that trope up every time. I thought this was a solid start to a new series, and I can't wait to see what comes next.
December 30, 2023
‘Meet Her Majesty’s Rebels: three brilliant women who run King & Co., London’s most exclusive investigative agency...
The wedding-night death of her much older husband left Tess Townsend the Dowager Duchess of Wansford—and still a virgin. Now she and her two best friends investigate London’s most scandalous crimes, and while Tess longs to experience physical pleasure for herself, she can’t risk losing her treasured independence...
Cynical shipping magnate Justin Thornton never expected to inherit a dukedom, but he’ll do his duty. When the ravishing woman he kissed at a party turns out to be the Dowager Duchess, Justin sees an obvious solution: a marriage of convenience that will suit them both.
But the passion that sparks between them is anything but convenient. As Tess works on a new case at the request of Queen Charlotte, her increasingly suspicious behavior makes Justin question her motives—and her past. The infuriating woman clearly can’t be trusted, but Justin doesn’t believe in love, so there’s absolutely no danger of him falling for his own wife...is there?’
___________________________
Second Duke’s the Charm is the first book in Kate Bateman’s new series, Her Majesty’s Rebels and is a historical romance with a bit of a mystery as well.
I love Kate Bateman’s books, I’ll read anything she writes. Seeing that this also had a bit of a mystery and the potential for danger with the inclusion of an investigative agency, I’d been looking forward to this new series.
Tess, Daisy, and Ellie are best friends and run the agency together under the name of a fictitious Mr. King. They are hilarious together and their interactions togethers are gold. I am looking forward to Daisy and Ellie’s stories to read more of the trio. Running this agency and looking into a matter at the request of Queen Charlotte herself leads to suspicion from Justin. He can tell she’s keeping secrets, but he isn’t what she’s hiding. He tends to assume the worst of her though which was unfortunate. I would have liked to see him have to do more to earn her forgiveness. The whole point of his plan to earn her forgiveness wound up being a big win for him instead of a loss, so I was a little disappointed and didn’t feel like the characters were at the grand declaration stage yet. I still enjoyed it, but it has not been my favorite by this author so far this is the first of a new series, so that could certainly be a factor.
Ready to read Daisy and Ellie’s stories and some more investigating and possible danger, so I’m looking forward to the next book!
____
I would like to thank St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for sharing an eARC of Second Duke’s the Charm by Kate Bateman. This is my honest review.
The wedding-night death of her much older husband left Tess Townsend the Dowager Duchess of Wansford—and still a virgin. Now she and her two best friends investigate London’s most scandalous crimes, and while Tess longs to experience physical pleasure for herself, she can’t risk losing her treasured independence...
Cynical shipping magnate Justin Thornton never expected to inherit a dukedom, but he’ll do his duty. When the ravishing woman he kissed at a party turns out to be the Dowager Duchess, Justin sees an obvious solution: a marriage of convenience that will suit them both.
But the passion that sparks between them is anything but convenient. As Tess works on a new case at the request of Queen Charlotte, her increasingly suspicious behavior makes Justin question her motives—and her past. The infuriating woman clearly can’t be trusted, but Justin doesn’t believe in love, so there’s absolutely no danger of him falling for his own wife...is there?’
___________________________
Second Duke’s the Charm is the first book in Kate Bateman’s new series, Her Majesty’s Rebels and is a historical romance with a bit of a mystery as well.
I love Kate Bateman’s books, I’ll read anything she writes. Seeing that this also had a bit of a mystery and the potential for danger with the inclusion of an investigative agency, I’d been looking forward to this new series.
Tess, Daisy, and Ellie are best friends and run the agency together under the name of a fictitious Mr. King. They are hilarious together and their interactions togethers are gold. I am looking forward to Daisy and Ellie’s stories to read more of the trio. Running this agency and looking into a matter at the request of Queen Charlotte herself leads to suspicion from Justin. He can tell she’s keeping secrets, but he isn’t what she’s hiding. He tends to assume the worst of her though which was unfortunate. I would have liked to see him have to do more to earn her forgiveness. The whole point of his plan to earn her forgiveness wound up being a big win for him instead of a loss, so I was a little disappointed and didn’t feel like the characters were at the grand declaration stage yet. I still enjoyed it, but it has not been my favorite by this author so far this is the first of a new series, so that could certainly be a factor.
Ready to read Daisy and Ellie’s stories and some more investigating and possible danger, so I’m looking forward to the next book!
____
I would like to thank St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for sharing an eARC of Second Duke’s the Charm by Kate Bateman. This is my honest review.
November 25, 2023
4/5 stars
I am afraid she cannot write a bad track, we have in our hands another hit.
One thing I love about Kate Bateman’s book is that they have an inexplicable humor that’s built in the dialogue between the characters that makes all of her books simply perfect.
I enjoyed the fact that she didn’t beat around the bush too much with the plot and it moved along a good pace and the romance as well progressed without getting too stuck around the middle. I loved the girls so much oh my God they are three icons! I cannot wait to read Ellie and Daisy’s books.
I didn’t know a pearl necklace could be used for naughty things eheh.
I always have a jolly good time with Kate Bateman’s book and they always leave me with a satisfied smile at the end.
I am afraid she cannot write a bad track, we have in our hands another hit.
One thing I love about Kate Bateman’s book is that they have an inexplicable humor that’s built in the dialogue between the characters that makes all of her books simply perfect.
I enjoyed the fact that she didn’t beat around the bush too much with the plot and it moved along a good pace and the romance as well progressed without getting too stuck around the middle. I loved the girls so much oh my God they are three icons! I cannot wait to read Ellie and Daisy’s books.
I didn’t know a pearl necklace could be used for naughty things eheh.
I always have a jolly good time with Kate Bateman’s book and they always leave me with a satisfied smile at the end.
December 26, 2023
I adore everything Kate Bateman writes, and once again, I was not let down. This book was just as wonderful as I hoped it would be!
Second Duke's the Charm is the first book in the new Her Majesty's Rebels series. It features a marriage of convenience trope, which I absolutely love.
Tess and Justin are an amazingly hot couple. Some of the scenes in this book were truly swoon worthy. There was a bathtub scene (I won't go into detail), but just know I won't stop thinking about it for a very long time. Justin is a captivating and magnetic hero, and all of his interactions with Tess were extremely seductive.
There was just the right amount of angst and conflict to make things dramatic. With a resolution and grand gesture that didn't quite go as planned, but that made it all the more charming.The next book in this series can't come soon enough!
Thank you, Netgalley, and the publisher for allowing me an ARC of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Second Duke's the Charm is the first book in the new Her Majesty's Rebels series. It features a marriage of convenience trope, which I absolutely love.
Tess and Justin are an amazingly hot couple. Some of the scenes in this book were truly swoon worthy. There was a bathtub scene (I won't go into detail), but just know I won't stop thinking about it for a very long time. Justin is a captivating and magnetic hero, and all of his interactions with Tess were extremely seductive.
There was just the right amount of angst and conflict to make things dramatic. With a resolution and grand gesture that didn't quite go as planned, but that made it all the more charming.The next book in this series can't come soon enough!
Thank you, Netgalley, and the publisher for allowing me an ARC of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
October 17, 2023
SECOND DUKE'S THE CHARM is the first book in a new series, Her Majesty's Rebels, by author Kate Bateman. Her Majesty's Rebels refers to three smart women who are not only close friends, but the secret owners and investigators of King & Co., one of London's most exclusive investigative agencies. It's unheard of for women to indulge in such brash behavior given the times, but Tess Townsend and her friends are good at what they do, and they enjoy the independence it affords them. After having been forced into marriage by her father to a much older man who died on their wedding night, Tess is now the Dowager Duchess of Wansford . . . and remains a secret virgin. Being a widow gives Tess the freedom to do as she pleases, and she's vowed she'll never marry or give up her independence to anyone again.
Justin Thornton is a self-made rich shipping magnate who's not happy to learn he's inherited the Wansford dukedom, but he'll do his duty to become the overseer of the estate and find a suitable woman to marry. He's certain the present duchess is too old to continue running things so imagine his surprise when he meets the beautiful and deliciously wicked Tess. Soon, the answer is obvious - a marriage of convenience that solves an issue for both. The deed is done. Now all they have to do is figure out how to control the fiery hot chemistry sparking between them. Justin doesn't believe in love and trusts no one. Tess wants to keep her independence and refuses to submit to any man. What will they do?
SECOND DUKE'S THE CHARM is simply irresistible. Kate Bateman has such a talent in gifting readers heroes and heroines that you can't help but love and pull for. The chemistry between opposites always sizzles even as they fight the attraction. The story line is intriguing with a mystery to solve, and the setting is perfect. This one moves at a brisk pace as one disaster after another threatens to derail this couple. I'm looking forward to each of the other women's stories. Highly recommended to fans of historical romance and marriages of convenience tropes.
Special thanks to St. Martins Press for an arc of this title which is scheduled for release Dec. 26,2023. All opinions expressed are my own. This review is available on my blog Cross My Heart Reviews.
Justin Thornton is a self-made rich shipping magnate who's not happy to learn he's inherited the Wansford dukedom, but he'll do his duty to become the overseer of the estate and find a suitable woman to marry. He's certain the present duchess is too old to continue running things so imagine his surprise when he meets the beautiful and deliciously wicked Tess. Soon, the answer is obvious - a marriage of convenience that solves an issue for both. The deed is done. Now all they have to do is figure out how to control the fiery hot chemistry sparking between them. Justin doesn't believe in love and trusts no one. Tess wants to keep her independence and refuses to submit to any man. What will they do?
SECOND DUKE'S THE CHARM is simply irresistible. Kate Bateman has such a talent in gifting readers heroes and heroines that you can't help but love and pull for. The chemistry between opposites always sizzles even as they fight the attraction. The story line is intriguing with a mystery to solve, and the setting is perfect. This one moves at a brisk pace as one disaster after another threatens to derail this couple. I'm looking forward to each of the other women's stories. Highly recommended to fans of historical romance and marriages of convenience tropes.
Special thanks to St. Martins Press for an arc of this title which is scheduled for release Dec. 26,2023. All opinions expressed are my own. This review is available on my blog Cross My Heart Reviews.
October 23, 2023
This starts very strong, with a heroine who very much deserves to have a happy ending and her two equally deserving friends, who hopefully (and presumably) will be the heroines of the rest of the trilogy. Tessa's alcoholic father forced her to marry a wealthy, elderly duke for the money, and the best thing to happen to her is when he drops dead before consummating their marriage - and the second best is her father's unlamented demise shortly thereafter. Newly wealthy, Tessa and her friends Daisy and Ellie launch an investigative service aimed at helping women escape bad situations. Things get rough when a new duke is (finally) found, and that's when the romance plot kicks off, with Justin and Tessa falling madly in lust at first encounter.
Sadly, once they've met the book peters out a bit. Tessa and Justin as a couple just aren't quite as compelling as Tessa and her friends, which is a definite issue in a romance novel. Their chemistry is good, but between the anachronistic underwear (no drawers during the Regency, people, or at least not how they're always described) and Justin's bland insistence that he won't fall in love, things become much more by-the-numbers than in other Bateman books I've read. It's still good, don't get me wrong, but it also isn't as good as it could be. That, however, will not stop me from reading the rest of the series.
Sadly, once they've met the book peters out a bit. Tessa and Justin as a couple just aren't quite as compelling as Tessa and her friends, which is a definite issue in a romance novel. Their chemistry is good, but between the anachronistic underwear (no drawers during the Regency, people, or at least not how they're always described) and Justin's bland insistence that he won't fall in love, things become much more by-the-numbers than in other Bateman books I've read. It's still good, don't get me wrong, but it also isn't as good as it could be. That, however, will not stop me from reading the rest of the series.
September 24, 2023
I admit that Kate Bateman can be a hit or miss with. I just never know going into them which it’s going to be. Luckily after the recent two misses, this one was a hit. Tess & her two friends, whom I really liked, have their own investigation firm. Tess had only been married to her husband for a day when he dropped dead. Two years later “they” finally find the new Duke. Of course, Justin has no time for love, so he makes a business proposition with Tess. She accepts so she can still maintain her independence. I liked the characters, the premise, there were fun moments, a little danger, & some groveling. If you like marriage of convenience stories, this is a good one. The only thing I don’t like, is that I think Kate Bateman uses sex as a way of showing people falling in love. Not a fan of that, but this was a good start to a new trilogy.
November 4, 2023
This book starts off very strong. It has what I want: a likable heroine, an intriguing mystery element, and marriage of convenience trope. The banter of Tess and Justin was enjoyable and the spice was giving but sometimes, was a bit excess on the steam. Justin also isn’t my type of hero so I couldn’t root for the couple as much as I’d hoped. Also, by the half-way-point, my interest in them as a couple peters out. Overall, this is a well-crafted and charming book but isn’t the most memorable historical romance I’ve ever read. Yet, I still would read the rest of the series!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Publishing Group for the ARC.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Publishing Group for the ARC.
September 25, 2023
Something about a trio of women willing to band together to break convention always draws me in. I would have loved to have more of that in the story, but I suspect each woman will get her own book. While I liked Tess and Justin, it felt all about the lust. I never really felt like Justin fell in love with her - only because the author told me he had.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
December 4, 2023
Kate Bateman writes good books! They always have high quality writing and compelling characters. This book is no exception.
The opening scene is fantastic (won’t spoil it here) and hilarious. Throughout the book, there were a number of times I laughed out loud. While overall I think this book is a light read and low angst, there is depth to the book. I wouldn’t call it a rom com at all. It hits a nice middle point between light and heavy read.
I was very fond of Tess - the female main character- and even more fond of her friends, Daisy and Ellie. (I hope we can expect subsequent books with their stories!). They are really compelling and hilarious women with a beautiful friendship.
I really liked Rowan, but did find him a bit less complex, sometimes not as 3-D as the other characters.
Some small aspects of the plot didn’t fit for me. I wasn’t totally clear on why Tess had to be the one to go meet the blackmailer every time. And Rowan’s grand gesture in the end didn’t make a ton of sense to me.
All considered, this is a very enjoyable historical romance novel and I recommend it !
This is an honest review based on an ARC received by St. Martins Press.
The opening scene is fantastic (won’t spoil it here) and hilarious. Throughout the book, there were a number of times I laughed out loud. While overall I think this book is a light read and low angst, there is depth to the book. I wouldn’t call it a rom com at all. It hits a nice middle point between light and heavy read.
I was very fond of Tess - the female main character- and even more fond of her friends, Daisy and Ellie. (I hope we can expect subsequent books with their stories!). They are really compelling and hilarious women with a beautiful friendship.
I really liked Rowan, but did find him a bit less complex, sometimes not as 3-D as the other characters.
Some small aspects of the plot didn’t fit for me. I wasn’t totally clear on why Tess had to be the one to go meet the blackmailer every time. And Rowan’s grand gesture in the end didn’t make a ton of sense to me.
All considered, this is a very enjoyable historical romance novel and I recommend it !
This is an honest review based on an ARC received by St. Martins Press.
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