Second Duke’s the Charm by Kate Bateman
Content Warnings: sexual content, sexual harassment, sexism, classism, and violence.

Loved the start of this book but once we roughly hit the halfway point I started to get a bit bored. Felt like it should have been a novella because after the halfway point it just felt like unnecessary things were added that weren’t needed.

Overall a cute historical romance. Hoping this is meant to be a series where each of the three bffs fall in love!

I love a Kate Bateman series and this one looks like it's going to be great. It starts with Tess as the main character. She has been basically sold into marriage to an old Duke. Fortunately for her, he keels over on her wedding night. Now she's a widow, which gives her much more freedom as a woman. She is free to continue her investigative work with her best friends, Ellie and Daisy. She manages to keep this role for a couple of years until finally someone is found that can take on the Dukedom. Justin is a shipping magnate that only has interest in physical pleasure and wasn't expecting to become a Duke as he is a distant relative. Justin and Tess have sparks from their first meeting and it's fun to watch their story develop. I also can't wait to read Ellie and Daisy's stories. Highly recommend starting this series.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley, and I give my review freely

A fun and sexy historical romance! This is the first book I’ve read from Kate Bateman and the group of girlfriends in this book, makes me want to seek out her backlist.
Tess is a widow - thankfully because her father basically sold her to an aging duke for money. He dies on their wedding night before they can consummate the marriage but luckily for her, no one knows. She’s living her life with her two best friends and the investigative company they created until the new Duke found. One night the girls go to a party in order for test to experience some passion, and she runs into a mysterious and sexy stranger and has some fun. And a twist of fate, he ends up being the new Duke.

This was a fun tale with some mystery, hilarious side characters, and romance. to be honest the central couple kind of bored me. I just didn’t feel the chemistry after their first initial meeting. I will continue the series because I would love to read about Daisy!

A silly, fun book, I enjoyed this start to a new series by Kate Bateman

Though not accurate for the time prod in terms of language, or actions, you expect to suspend belief a bit in rom-coms. This was a sweet and spicy take on regency romance. But I honestly was most invested in the PI agency that's lead by women for women. I'd love to follow more of the mysteries and investigations in the next installment!

What a fantastic book. I had the hardest time putting the book down. It captivated me. I'm really excited to see this is the beginning of a series. We have romance, spice and mystery. I loved Tess, Daisy and Ellie's banter and sarcasm. "Stabby week" and the list of things women can't resist. They had me laughing out loud numerous times. I can't wait to see what other mischief they get into next.

Rating: 4/5
I received an eARC for my honest opinion.

This was fun, and the two main characters were so great together. Also, the side characters were great too.

Tess wasn’t looking forward to her marriage to an ancient Duke, one that was many, many years her senior, but when he passed away on her wedding night. She might have dodged a bullet with that one. However, now she is a Duchess and still a virgin but with the help of her closest friends they come up with a plan to make sure that her father can’t rule her life again and she will have the choice to do whatever she would like now.

I loved that this author wrote this book showing that women back in the historical period still wanted some freedom and could get PI work down just as well as men did. I loved that this book was all set around Tess but then it had amazing sub plots throughout the book, but they did not take away from the greatness of the books main plot Tess and trying to convince her independence still but also the fact that she is still a woman that has needs as well. Justin was a great MMC for Tess; he was still caring in his way, but he also wanted the one woman that he thought he would never meet again. He met her at a masquerade one night and had a sizzling kiss that led to a little more but before things went further, she ran away, thinking she would never see him again… Little did they both know that they were going to meet again and what amazing passion they would have blooming.

Tess was a great FMC, she is strong, thoughtful, determined, hiding a few secrets, caring and she has brains. I enjoyed watching Tess’ characters grow throughout the book. She was a PI for King & Co, but really, she was running the business and then she was trying to take care of the issue of her virginity without someone knowing about it. Justin is a handsome man that becomes a Duke and finds out that the woman that he has been thinking about nonstop since that masquerade ball is the one and only Tess. He strikes up a deal with her so they both get what they want. He won’t have to go to balls and marry any woman and she will have a husband and do whatever she would like, but with the feeling of the heart it's never that easy. Justin is faced with his feelings that have grown over the 3 months that they have been married and not knowing how to handle them, Tess is wanting more but scared to ask for it and then the whole part that someone is out there trying to murder Justin and/or Tess together. Will this couple be able to have the peace that they both want? I guess you will have to pick up this great historical romance and find out for yourself.

I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to review this book.

Tess & Justin
This is a thoroughly charming love story of a woman who became a widow on her wedding night, and a new Duke who vows to never fall in love because it's not worth the pain. Neither believes that life has given them anything.. Tess now works with her two best friends at a private investigation company they started. Justin took his father's failing company and turned in to an international company that has made him one of the richest men in England. Living in a country where the 'Ton' and it's rules are everything, Tess and Justin decide the takes the best of both worlds and make the best of it for them both. These two are fire and water and the the story is sizzling!
Don't miss this one!

Tess Townsend, the Duchess of Wansford, never forgave her father for forcing her to marry the ancient duke. The duke disgusted her with his leery ways and she got a lucky break when he collasped on their wedding night before he could consummate the marriage and died. Now Tess was free and she planned to enjoy her new independence. No man had tempted her since until she meets Justin Thornton at a masquerade house party. Neither knew each other's names as passion flared between them. Before their encounter led to more than sizzling kisses, Tess ran away. Little did she know that Thornton was the new Duke of Wansford.

Justin had never forgotten the passionate woman he met at the house party and when he finds out that she's the Duchess of Wansford, he proposes a business deal. They marry, and he'll give her freedom and money she'll need to do what she wants and he'll leave her alone after three months, but Tess has a secret. How she can tell him that she's still a virgin. Each of them are hiding secrets and when a series of mishaps nearly kill them, Justin thinks Tess is out to have him killed. Of course, this leads to a series of misunderstandings and hurt feelings. Can these two come clean and build a life together or will their unwillingness to share their true selves force them to part forever?

I really enjoyed this story. Tess was a wonderfully complex character. She was more than her physical beauty. She had brains and wit to match. It was delightful to see her try, and explain away her lack of knowledge of their wedding night. Justin was a sexy, brooding character. He didn't believe in love and always kept his relationships for only 3 months before he ended them. There are no feelings involved, just pleasure. It was great to see him brought to his knees by Tess. There's a mystery running through the book that Tess helps to solve with her friends and that is quite interesting. I can't wait to read more in this series.

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.

Katie Bateman is one of my favorite authors. I have loved every book of hers that I have read. This story reminds me what an amazing writer she is. Her writing always catches me by surprise when I realize I am reading and not actually there. Her attention to detail makes me feel like I am part of the story watching it all unfold. In this charming story a widow who is enjoying her freedom and who helps her friends solve some very scandalous and fun mysteries. When Tess meets Justin things change quickly Justin didn't want his dukedom but knows to follow his duty. Now their passion is breathtaking but they fight falling in love. Can they follow duties, solve mysteries and give into love? You will love this adventure with Tess and Justin and all the characters involved. You won’t be able to put the book down. I received this as an ARC from NetGalley but it will definitely be bought to put on the shelf with my collection. Have a fun steamy adventure.
5 star author for me.

I started this book and couldn't put it down. It is the first book in a new series, so it does introduce a lot of characters. But this story is about Tessa and Justin. There is an immediate connection between the two, a legal one. But there's also an instant attraction.
I will say I found Justin to be a little arrogant and haughty. But as his feelings grew for Tessa and he had to learn how to deal with them, he became more vulnerable and likable.
I loved Tessa's strong character. She has endured so much in her young life but she hasn't let it stop her from doing what she loves (truffle hunting, investigation agency and being with her friends). These are all the things Justin falls in love with.
I really enjoyed it and look forward to the next in the series.
5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I want to thank Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book.

Second Duke's the Charm was my first read by Kate Bateman and I must admit that I was charmed. Tess and Justin's story featured one of my favorite tropes in historical romance, marriage of convenience.

Tess was raised by a ruthless father who at age 19 forced her to marry an ancient duke for money, but she plans to escape her impending doom with the help of her two closest friends, Daisy and Ellie. When Tess unexpectedly becomes a widow on her wedding night, she is left with a title and money that give her the freedom to live her life on her own terms. Two years later Tessa has joined forces with her best friends to start a business helping people, specifically women, who may find themselves in similar situations to hers.

It is on one of her work adventures that she meets a handsome stranger who takes her breath away and makes her feel more than any many ever has. After sharing a passionate encounter, Tess never expects to see him again. Fate has other plans; the handsome stranger is Justin Thornton, the heir to her late husband. Justin has not stopped thinking about Tess since their stolen moment and boldly proposes a marriage of convenience meant to benefit both.

There are rules of course; all physical and no feelings and an end date, but Tessa has her own concerns; mainly that Justin will find out that she never consummated her first marriage. Still, she agrees to his proposal and the two embark on a passionate affair. Attraction leads to deeper feelings soon into their new marriage and the two must figure out whether said feelings are worth the risk.

Second Duke's the Charm was a fun and delightful read and I cannot wait to read Daisy and Ellie's books.

Second Duke’s the Charm is a breath of springtime air. It is a book that accomplishes what it sets out to do, and is lovely and enjoyable as it does so. Tess and Justin are interesting characters with foibles and insecurities but who are endeavoring to improve themselves. There is humor and heat and a great trio of female friends. I really liked Second Duke’s the Charm, and look forward to the next book in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and the author for the advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.

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 had SUCH a strong start! I was so excited after reading the synopsis and I wanted to love this one so bad. Unfortunately, there was (dare I say) too much sex and not enough of character development for me to become invested in them and their relationship.

Absolutely delightful start to a new series!

I always adore Kate Bateman’s books, since they feature strong female characters, and in this book there was no shortage, as Tess, along with her friends Ellie and Daisy work as private investigators. This creates a little mystery for the reader that I really enjoy.

The chemistry between Tess and Justin is undeniable, and I loved that they decide on a marriage of convenience, with all of the good stuff.

Also shout out to the publisher/author/cover designer. The red dress was spot on. IYKYK.

I am so excited for the remaining two books in this series, this first book really set up the reader, especially with the foreshadowing the author provides!

Tess is engaged to a man old enough to be her grandfather. So after an endless ceremony she’s ready to get the rest of the night over with. To her utter shock and delight, she’s left a widow not a moment too soon. Being a widow she’s afforded a certain amount of freedom with men except this widow’s still a virgin. Determined to turn over a new leaf, she sets her eyes on Justin, a new arrival to town. It’s only after a few sparks fly that Tess learns the real reason behind Justin’s arrival and why that just might complicate things a little.

Our male hero doesn’t think he’s capable of loving anyone, not after watching his parents' love fall apart. She’s happy with her independence and isn’t about to compromise that for any man. They try their best to resist their feelings but as Lord Vader says, “Resistance is Futile.”

This book just had all the right vibes. It’s sexy, scandalous, cheerful while somehow packing a deeper meaning between its many lustful moments. From Tess and Justin’s first meeting (which may I add was not only fun but had me questioning how either of them were able to walk away) until the final pages I was absolutely hooked.

This book will be sure to land you on this year’s naughty list.

This is the second novel of Bateman’s that has me seeing stars, 5 stars in fact, and I’m positive I will be seeing more of them as I delve straight into her backlist.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for providing an ARC through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

When her first husband, a duke dies on her wedding night, it’s perfect. Tess never wanted to marry him and now she’s free. Her and friends create a detective agency for crimes the Bowstreet runners don’t have time for, mostly helping women. What Tess doesn’t expect is the new duke to be handsome and making her offering to become a duchess, again.

It’s to be a marriage of mutual pleasure and convenience. No feelings. So sets the tale of this fun story by Kate Bateman.

I was all in on this story from the beginning. The fast friendship of the three women. I felt for Tess. I wanted her to get her kiss and more. Justin was handsome and seductive. This book was a quick fun sexy read.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

This is a great start to what I hope will be a new series. I love Tess and her friends. What great , strong woman. This is a must read for all those who love historical fiction romance.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I really love Kate Bateman books and this first book in a new series did not disappoint. The series is called Her Majesty’s Rebels and after finishing the first book, it is a perfect name!!! This book is a charming balance between romance and mystery. The story revolves around Tess Townsend and Justin Thornton, who is a shipping magnate and just became a duke overnight. He inherited the dukedom from Tess’s husband, who dropped dead the night of their wedding. Tess had been forced to marry someone she did not want to marry and she gained her freedom with the death of her husband. Tess and her friends can now run their business, King & Co as London’s most exclusive investigative agency (and how all the fun happens).

I had to laugh at how practical Tess and Justin’s agreement was. The fun started when they realized they could not control themselves around each other and had some sexy times in unconventional places. *swoon*. Tess is smart, funny and independent. You are really rooting for her to have a happily ever after. If you love historical romance you will love this marriage of convenience, forbidden love, mystery, adventure and great friendships. This book will be out December 26, 2023. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. I highly recommend this book.