Second Duke's the Charm is a charming love story between Tess and Justin. Tess is a widow whose first husband (and a duke) who died before they could consummate their marriage. Justin is a wealthy businessman who learns he is distant heir to the dukedom. Between navigating a detective business whose client is Queen Charlotte and hiding her virginity and lack of sexual knowledge, Tess has a lot on her plate. The story is fun, and is the first in a series about the romantic lives of the women who secretly run a detective agency.

I was so pleasantly surprised with this book. I knew I would like it based on the description on the back but I didn’t realize I would like it as much as I did.

The book follows Tess who is able to enjoy her freedom as a young, wealthy widow but one that is still a virgin. She has a meet cute with the new Duke but doesn’t realize it is him as she gives him her first kiss. They meet again at a ball and Justin hatches a plan to have her become his duchess so that he can avoid meddling women trying to marry him and she is financially better off then before. So begins a friends with benefits agreement that is quite spicy.

The chemistry between these two was steamy, their love story is very sweet but also fraught with tension as Justin and Tess resist their growing feelings. Then their is a mystery happening in the background. All my favourite things wrapped into a book, I loved it! So happy it is part of a series as the secondary characters were awesome as well. Looking forward to the next book already.

I would like to send my thanks to NetGalley and the author for the eARC in exchange for my review.

I am a historical romance lover and this was a fascinating and refreshing read. Combining romance and mystery can be difficult but it was done well here. Really enjoyed the friendship between the women being well fleshed out and not just an afterthought!!

"Second Duke's the Charm" the first in the new series '"Her Majesty's Rebels" blends romance, mystery and friendship into a fast-paced engaging read.

I really enjoy reading stories that are centered around strong friendships and this group of women in my opinion really made this book stand out. I loved their dynamic and I'm definitely looking forward to reading future books to see where their storylines go .

The romance between the the FMC Tessa and MMC Justin ticked off everything I would expect in a historical Romance.

I think this book is a great fit for anyone who likes reading about opposites attracting, marriage of convenience, spice and playful banter.

Thank you Net Galley, Kate Bateman and St. Martin's press for providing me with an ARC of this book!

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.

4.5 Stars. On Tess’s wedding night her ancient husband drops dead at her feet. Two years later, Tess goes to London in search of a kiss and shares a passionate moment with a stranger. A few days later she learns her mystery man, Justin, is a distant relative of her husband and the new duke. Justin propose a marriage of convenience and after weighing here options, Tess agrees. The pair begin a physical relationship that leads to feelings. The B plot involves Tess and her friends trying to stop a blackmailer and someone trying to kill justin.

This is the first book in a new series and I assume that the other two books will be about Tess’s friends. I really liked this book. The plot moved a long quickly and I read the book in a single afternoon and was entertained, but I found the A and B plots a little disjointed and I found myself skimming when we got to the B plot chapters. I would have preferred to have just the main marriage of convenience plot but I also don’t enjoy mysteries. I absolutely love the cover as it so perfectly captures Tess and Justin’s first meeting. I do wish we had gotten more of Justin’s hard shell around his heart shattering because he was so cold at the beginning of the book. I absolutely loved Tess and her friends and am absolutely looking forward to the next books in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I knew I would really enjoy this book from the very first page when Tess's much older husband drops dead on their wedding night, saving her from a forced marriage to someone she hates. Now free to do what she likes, Tess and her two best friends open a detective agency and successively solve mysteries to help noble women avoid scandal. But when the new duke turns out to be the handsome man she had shared a secret passionate kiss with, she debates whether she can trust him with her independence and her heart. The main characters have such a great dynamic! Their constant banter is very engaging, and their genuine support for each other throughout the book, even when they were fighting, was very sweet! I absolutely adored the friendship dynamic between Tess and her two best friends! They were so fun, and I really hope the rest of the series follows their relationships! This was such a fun romance, and I can't wait to read the next books in the series!

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This was a fast-paced, swoon-worthy read, that I found I did not want to put down! The story was fresh, original and exciting with characters that are realistic and likable. It is everything you could want in a rousing romp through the pages of a historical romance and more!

*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.

3.25/5⭐️

First in the Her Majesty’s Rebels series centering around 3 best girlfriends who form an elite and discreet detective agency called King & Co.

This one revolves around Tess Townsend, a young dowager duchess whose much older husband dies on their wedding night. Obviously, she’d like to know what she’s missed out on. 😂

Justin Thornton is a successful shipping magnate who grumpily inherits the dukedom.

This story falls into the marriage of convenience trope with some trust issues thrown in and reminded me a bit of the Charlie’s Angels TV show with the leading ladies sharing similar characteristics, both physically and talent/personality wise.

I really wanted to like this more. It’s an interesting premise, but I really didn’t connect with either Tess or Justin and found them irritating at times (especially Justin). I might try the next outing. Just wasn’t bowled over by this one.

My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s for providing the free early arc of Second Duke’s the Charm for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

This book is a great read! I adored it. I will definitely be looking up more of Kate Bateman's stuff.

I love Tess, and Justin is a great foil for her. Tess forging independence and trying to be her best self while living in kind of limbo is very relatable- the society she lives in severely restricts her behavior and forces her into a mold that doesn't fit her. She's a great steward of the dukedom, and I love how much everyone around her wants her to be happy.

I am a sucker for the marriage of convenience, and also the "man who eschews romantic entanglement accidentally becomes a wife guy." Not sure if that has a name as a trope? But I love it. They had great chemistry and I love how you see both of them pulling the other towards a place that meets their needs.

I love Tess' friends, and I look forward to reading about them in the next books. I do occasionally find side-characters to be annoying, but these ladies are fun and clearly individuals with their own minds, not stock characters. I like their business, and though it's a bit fantastical it didn't bring me out of the story. I like that while the ladies' mission was a bit byzantine, it was ultimately

The only reason it isn't five stars is because I found the resolution to Justin's conflict to be a bit lack-luster. The assassination attempts are resolved off-page, and there wasn't any set up, just "Oh it turns out such and such was behind it. Bummer!" I don't mind a red-herring, and maybe I missed a line somewhere eluding to who was actually behind the plot? I feel like the story kind of lost steam there, despite being very strong up till there. I also didn't like that they floated the "is someone killing the heirs" thing and then dropped it? Like it felt like Chekov's plot to me.

I found this book to be a delight. I love the descriptions of the time period, places, and people. You feel like you are there. The story will keep you glued to your seat. It is such a wonderful love story with really two sets of forbidden love.

This is a masterfully written book, with strong female lead characters. The female lead, Tess, is forced into a wedding, by her father, with an elderly Duke. She enlists the help of her two best friends to create some kind of distraction/upheaval to keep the Duke from consummating the marriage. This is just the beginning...
Tess, Daisy, and Ellie are the best of friends and also business partners, as private investigators; quite an unusual profession for women at that time. They are very much the antithesis of the "normal" aristocratic females of their generation. This historical romance novel is well written and entertaining. I am looking forward to the next book in this series.

Tropes: marriage of convenience, Big Secret
Steam level: 3
First in a series

3.75 stars rounded up. This is a lighthearted, escapist HR that hits all of the expected notes. Like a sweet wine, it goes down smoothly with little fuss. The writing is rock solid (as usual with this author) and the spice is just the right level. The banter between the MC's and among the secondary characters, especially the King & Company ladies, is spot on. However, the trade-off is a lack of depth; I never really felt an emotional bond between Tess and Justin. Also, the mystery involving who might be trying to kill one or both of them was a bit of a letdown.

I would recommend this as a fast weekend read if you're looking for an amusing diversion with just enough open-door steam.

I read an advanced reader copy of this book and this is my voluntary review. Thanks to the author and Net Galley for this opportunity.

Whew, this was one steamy AF read! Goodness the chemistry and raw need between Tess and Justin just about burned up my Kindle! I really enjoyed this book and it showed me what I love about historical romance. The characters were well written and I adored Ellie and Daisy—Daisy the most with the absurd things that came out or her mouth. But Ellie was practical and I enjoyed her too. This book was so well done. Even with the breakup and getting back together I really had a good time reading this story. I truly hope Edward and Daisy get a story and Ellie too! I’m excited to jump into some more Kate Bateman reads!

Second Duke's the Charm
Second Duke's the Charm is the first book in a new series, Her Majesty's Rebels, by Kate Bateman. When I pick up one of her books, I know I am in for a good read. Her stories have fearless independent heroines and hunky-- but sometimes oblivious --- heroes. There is always suspense, romance, drama, humor, sex, fun and witty banter. Blackmail and attempted murder also make an appearance. This book is no exception. I just smiled and chuckled through the first couple chapters and couldn't wait to see what happened next! The fist chapter finds our young heroine Tess forced into marriage to a lecherous old man and it is their wedding night. Determined NOT to be bedded, Tess has a pistol under her pillow to ward him off. Her 2 best friends, Elllie and Daisy, have a back up plan, too. When the Duke of Wansford enters Tess's room, he leers at her and drops to the floor --dead! Ellie and Daisy arrive and the 3 of them figure out a plan. Tess is now the Dowager Duchess, but a VIRGIN!

Tess, Ellie and Daisy establish King & Co., a secret investigative agency, to help other women who have been bullied/manipulated by men and don't have the means to escape them. Her Majesty's Rebels refers to these three smart women who are not only close friends, but the owners and investigators. Queen Charlotte is one of their clients.

Two years later ...
Our hero, Justin Thornton, is a self-made rich shipping magnate. He is NOT thrilled to learn he's inherited the Wansford dukedom. It took 2 years to find a new duke. Thinking that the Wansford estate is in debt and the widow must be as old as the deceased duke, he finally accepts the responsibility. Added to that burden, Justin is not happy that he must marry some "empty headed chit to provide an heir'!

Daisy and Ellie convince Tess to attend a house party. In a scandalous red dress and wearing a mask, "Scarlet" is looking for a little sexy fun. Justin also attends this party. Tess notices a mysterious stranger and begins steamy rounds of kissing. Neither is aware of the other's identity.
Oh --- can you see the upcoming sparks flying and misunderstandings in the rest of the book????

I received an ARC from Net Galley for my honest opinion. I enjoyed reading Second Duke's the Charm. I can't wait to read Ellie's and Daisy's stories! Write faster, Kate!

I loved this book so much I read it in just one day! Tess and Justin are an enthralling couple, and their story is filled with passion and warmth, as well as many twists and turns! This is the first novel in a new series, and I look forward to reading the rest!

I ultimately found this to be a solid and nicely steamy series starter about a group of three females who own and operate a detective agency. Second Duke's the Charm focuses on Tess, a widowed duchess and Justin, the new duke who was formerly an accountant. I don't enjoy recapping a book or sharing spoilers, so I'll just say if you like…

*strong MFCs
*marriage of convenience
*fantastic chemistry
*historical romance series
*open door romance

…give this one a try.


I'm absolutely looking forward to reading more of this series. Kate Bateman is still a newish-to-me author and reading this reminded me to take the time and read the books of hers that I haven't yet.

Recommended series starter and author.



Thank you to St. Martin’s Paperbacks and NetGalley for the DRC

Kate Bateman has quickly become one of my favorite HR authors, and I was really excited by this one. The plot reminded me somewhat of Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage; the plot wasn't the same, but there were similar beats between H and h.
This was a really fun read, full of yearning, longing, sultry looks and actions.

I love a good Regency mysterious romance, or romantic mystery, so I was excited to see Kate Bateman's new series, Her Majesty's Rebels. The novel started out strong, with a gorgeous intelligent heroine and her spunky sidekicks solving a blackmail puzzle for Queen Charlotte. Enter the brooding self-made hero, and things were looking great! Now we have a shame marriage and virgin masquerading as a merry widow... even better! Here comes the steam! This is great! And then things grind to a crawl. The protagonists stop communicating. The mystery is tied up with no energy or intrigue. The hero wins back the heroine in a way that I found confusing rather than clever. Bateman is always fun to read, even with a lackluster second half. I have hopes for the rest of the series.

I love a romance with a mystery element, and this series is perfect for fans of Maclean's Hell's Belles. It was swoony, steamy, and page-turning. I read it in like two nights, which is exactly how I like my romance novels.