I requested to read and review this book for free from St. Martin Publishing Company. This book has drama, mystery, romance and so much more! Tess wants love and freedom is that even an option for her? Justin wants to do what he wants have it his way and go. Can these two help each other out or will they just hurt one another instead. Can secrets stay a secret or will the truth always come out. You will also meet friends Ellie and Daisy. Will the trio of Tess, Ellie and Daisy help people out or not? I can't wait to see what happens with all of these ladies and the people in their life. This book can be read anywhere and by a mature reader.

The story opens with Tess's wedding night. She was forced in to a marriage to an awful old man but before the marriage is consummated he has a heart attack and dies (fortunately for her).

Fast forward a few years and she and her friends are working together investigating crimes. During this time the search was on for the new Duke to take the title from the dead awful old man.

He is found and he's young and handsome and in need of a wife. They enter in to a marriage of convenience which blossoms in to more.

He had already met her while she was in disguise for her investigation so comes to the wrong conclusion about her. I think the misunderstanding he had about who she was went on longer than necessary.

However this was a really charming story of two people who find their way together.

England - 18th Century

Tess Townsend has had an interesting wedding night. Forced to marry the elderly Duke of Wansford, Tess awaits her new husband in her bed, but when the old fellow arrives and beholds his young bride, he keels over and dies. So now, nineteen year old Tess is the Dowager Duchess of Wansford. Thanks to her two close friends, Ellie and Daisy, Tess will use her new title to open an investigative service, King & Company. And one of their first clients is none other than Queen Charlotte!

Tess, does, however, yearn to know what it's like to know physical pleasure. So, with Daisy and Ellie, she travels to an event where everyone wears a mask, thinking that if she can find a man who will kiss her she will at least know that feeling. Upon arrival, though, Tess is immediately attracted to the only man not wearing a mask. Her evening is very satisfying.

Justin Thornton, a wealthy businessman, is shocked to be informed that he is the new Duke of Wansford. Not particularly thrilled by this, Justin can not legally turn down the title. He's not interested in marriage, or producing an heir, and he supposes that he will have to meet the supposedly elderly dowager duchess. Attending a party thrown by a friend, he is greatly attracted to a masked woman in a red gown, and she makes it clear that she's fascinated by him, too. What ensues makes for quite a lovely evening.

It isn't until Justin travels to London to meet the duchess that he realizes that not only is she young and beautiful, but she is the woman in red! How convenient for him, and possibly her, if they wed, and, after some time in the city, Justin can return to his business, and his duchess can live on her own. No other commitments. At least that's the general idea.

Tess agrees to Justin's plan, hoping that she doesn't fall in love with him, as he's made it clear that he will not fall in love with her. Plus, she still has to finish investigating Queen Charlotte's issue. Can she work both, keeping her heart, and finding the items the queen wants retrieved?

SECOND DUKE'S A CHARM is a delightfully different premise with two protagonists who try very hard to stand by their standards. But it isn't easy for either of them. And then there is King & Company and their work. Don't miss the first book in this new series by Kate Bateman.

Thank goodness for an old, rich Duke with a weak heart! Tessa, the young Dowager Duchess, found freedom from her decrepit new husband on her wedding night when the man up and passed away from natural causes. Tessa has enjoyed building a private investigative business with her two best friends in her two years as a widow.

Justin was never meant to be a Duke and has made something of himself by becoming a merchant mogul. The news of his inherited title tips his world off of its axis, almost as much as meeting Tessa did in a clandestine, masked entanglement.

With no patience for the marriage market, Justin proposes a marriage of convenience with Tessa. A marriage with a sole focus on pleasure and never love, but it never does seem to be that easy, now does it?

Sparks fly and the plot thickens in: "Second Duke's the Charm" by Kate Bateman, book one of the Her Majesty's Rebels series
.
Cover Rating: 5/5
Story Rating: 3/5
Steam Rating: 🔥🔥🔥🔥 🔥 +
Ending: HEA
Series or Stand Alone: Easily read as stand alone.
.
Spring 1814. England.
Private Investigator Widow
Merchant Mogul turned Duke
Marriage of Convience
He Falls First
Insta-Lust
Blackmail Plot
Secret Identities
.
Kate Bateman is a new author for me, and I was looking forward to reading this title as she is a beloved author. I truly enjoyed her writing style and found myself highlighting many striking phrases throughout the entire book.
.
This story starts off SO strongly. I found myself laughing on page one over how Tessa's luck turned in her favor with her first marriage to a much older Duke. Even though Tessa and Justin's meeting (and then re-meeting!), the pacing was great, and I felt engaged with reading. However, once the pair married, I found myself losing interest and the pacing slowing down to a drag.
.
I do love a good marriage of convenience and found this to be an interesting take as Tessa marries the next Duke in line after the death of her first husband. I also enjoy a bit of mystery solving in an HR and found the blackmail subplot Tessa and Friends must solve to be more interesting than the main romance storyline. Largely, I finished the book to find out how the subplot would wrap up.
.
While Justin and Tessa CLEARLY lust after each other, I feel as though the emotional connection fell short with this title. If anything, Justin is way more in love with Tessa (and perhaps just the idea of her)than Tessa is in love with Justin. Justin feels like a side piece to Tessa's investigative profession, which might be her true love after all.
.
ARC reader copy from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley. Honest review being left voluntarily.
.
Content warning:
.
.
.
.
.
De*th of spouse (off page)
De*th of parent (off page)
G*n violence (on page- minor)
Physical vi*lence (on page, not between MCs. Not graphic)

This was an incredibly charming read with some of my favorite tropes: marriage of convenience, an unconventional (and unintentional) duke who is “incapable of love.” I mean can it get better? Yes…yes it can. Because our heroine, Tess, is one of a group of lady private detectives out there solving crimes that the authorities are ‘too busy’ to bother with… There was very much a Tessa Dare vibe in the banter between Tess and her friends which I loved!

This was a very fun read and I cannot wait to see where this series goes.

Second Duke’s the Charm is the first book in Her Majesty’s Rebels series by Kate Bateman. I enjoyed The Ruthless Rivals series immensely, and I’m hoping this new series is just as good.

At 19, Tess Townsend is forced to marry an ancient duke, who dies before the marriage is consummated. Tess and her two clever friends, Ellie and Daisy, run a covert investigative agency to assist women. As a widowed duchess, Tess has the freedom and means to continue her work. While undercover, Tess meets Justin Thornton, a shipping magnate. Justin is exasperated when he learns of unexpectedly inheriting a dukedom. Conveniently, Justin’s predecessors met with untimely, and at times, comical deaths. Justin is a bit too cynical, emotionless, and business-minded for my liking. Yes, I understand not all heroes are Captain Morgan Davis (A Wicked Game). Nevertheless, he’s supportive and thoughtful. I did like his efforts to prove his love to Tess in the end.

Anyhow, when Justin realizes Tess is the widowed duchess, he proposes a marriage of convenience, which would not only rid him of the lust, but will also keep the matchmaking mamas at bay. Unfortunately, the romance fell short for me. Firstly, it was primarily lust driven. Secondly, there were too many secrets and lies between them that lasted most of the book.

It was still a fun, frothy, and steamy read.

3.5 rounded up to 4.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the e-ARC. All opinions are my own.

This book was a delight. A clever, smart and savvy FMC who is truly living her best life (love to see it). The MMC who low key had a crush on her for years since he glimpsed her across the ballroom, but was too afraid to introduce himself at the time. There’s competence porn, lagotto romagnolos (the truffle-finding dogs!), and suspense. It was just fun and sexy all around. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Love love love this, Tess is such a delight to read. She’s smart and sassy and has the best besties. Now thorn he’s something. I enjoyed reading their slow fall for one another.

This was my first Kate Bateman book but it certainly won’t be my last. I thoroughly enjoyed this fun Regency romance. This felt like a tight, concise and quick read and I mean that in the best way possible. Some historical romances tend to meander or get lost in unimportant details. This one jumped right into the action with fun and engaging characters and kept pace all the way through. Tess and Justin’s chemistry was perfection. I generally don’t enjoy a miscommunication trope but this worked.
I can’t wait to see what else is in store for the ladies of King & Co.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!

Kate Bateman's books just make me happy. Sometimes I just need straight romance and her books hit the spot. Second Duke's the Charm isn't my favorite offering from her, but it's really enjoyable with likable leads. Tess is sold into marriage by her greedy father to a lecherous old man who conveniently drops dead on their wedding night, before he has a chance to consummate the marriage. Tess overcomes the perception of being a gold digger to live a happy and peaceful life running a detective agency with her two best friends, until two years later a living heir is found to her deceased husband's duchy. She has immediate chemistry with Justin Thornton - and then finds out he's the heir. A successful business man, Justin continues to be the luckiest man in England; he can marry Tess and avoid all the matchmaking he isn't interested in and spend time with the woman he desires until he gets bored, and protect his heart in the process. Except he quickly discovers that Tess is more than a pretty face; she's his equal in business acumen and a joy to be around. A mix of suspicious accidents and the fact that she's keeping the detective agency a secret from him could throw their chance at long term happiness into disarray. The chemistry between the pair (like in all of Bateman's stories I've read) is perfect. I wish there was more exploration of the secondary story of the detective agency. It feels like it is used more to create conflict in the romance and could women helping women during a time when women didn't have much of a voice. I definitely look forward to the next two books in the series - especially Daisy, who's a live wire in this story. A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Second Duke's the Charm is book 1 in Her Majesty’s Rebels series by Kate Bateman.
Y’all I’m so excited to have a new historical romance series to start!
And to top it it’s a Bateman book! I love Kate’s writing.
The story is well-written, and I enjoyed each character.
I thought the story was fun and captured me at the beginning. It is a charming historical romance
An engaging forbidden love and marriage of convenience.
One of the best historical romances indeed. I’m obsessed!
I can’t wait for the next Her Majesty’s Rebels installment!

I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this ahead of its publication date in return for my honest review.

I was really looking forward to this story because I have really enjoyed her last series. However, this one was meh. The beginning was slow....really slow. The good parts went too fast and then the conflict was not needed.

Summary:
Tess is a widowed (and virgin, shhh) Dowager Duchess who also runs her own investigating firm on the side with her two best friends, Ellie and Daisy. They recently took on a case for Queen Charlotte, when Tess meets the new Duke, and would you look at that, he is handsome and irresistible. They enter into a marriage of convenience, which soon turns into more.

Kate Bateman knows how to write supporting characters sooo well that despite my 'meh' review I would still want to read the next story in this series.

Thank you #NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Kate Bateman's witty dialogue and quick paced storytelling is on display in this one. Really fun, with the female friendship holding strong in the middle of everything. I can't wait to read the other women's books!

Tess Townsend was forced into a marriage with a geriatric duke by her odious father. On her wedding night, the old guy passes away leaving Tess a Dowager Duchess free to be her own boss for the most part, indulging in the clandestine London detective agency she runs with two friends of the ton under the pretense that it is run by a man. The group is known for their successes and discretion. She also manages the Wanford’s estate while a next man to hold the title is being sought. Two years pass as the solicitors of the late Duke’s estate, find the next viable heir.

A distant relation, Justin Thornton, is surprised to learn he has inherited the dukedom of Wansford. On his way to claim his new title, Justin meets a mysterious woman wearing a mask at a party for those wealthy elites interested in illicit behavior. When Justin discovers later that Tess was that woman, he offers her a business proposal: a marriage of convenience to both their benefits as he is not interested in affairs of the heart.

Tess is very attracted to Justin but is determined to go along with his plan of a no emotional attachment marriage while continuing her undercover work including an important job for Queen Charlotte. Justin suspects that Tess is up to something possibly going against their carefully worked out marriage terms. He is determined to figure her out while keeping his emotional distance. The relationship between the three women is the stronger part of the story rather than the romance. This story is first in a new series entitled Her Majesty’s Rebels. Fans of Kate Bateman’s other similar series will likely enjoy latest addition.

I really enjoyed this book! Kate Bateman has written a witty, romantic, story of intrigue, love and lust. Second Duke's the Charm is a book that you should start on a weekend since you will not put it down until you finish it. It is the story of Tess Townsend, Dowager Duchess of Wansford, forced into marriage to a man old enough to be her grandfather. On the wedding night the groom dies of a heart attack leaving Tess a widow and a virgin. She uses funds from her marriage settlement to start an investigation company with her two friends. After two years a new Duke of Wansford is found, Justin Thornton. The chemistry between the two characters is electric. I must say that I skipped over the explicit scenes but I enjoyed the banter between the characters. There was such a chemistry between the two characters and the back story was a wonderful build-up. This is a great book and I definitely recommend it.

I would like to thank St. Martin's Paperbacks for the advanced reader copy it in no way influenced my opinion of the book.

If you’re into series like Bridgerton or A League of Extraordinary Women, this new series by Kate Bateman is going to be right up your alley!

This book follows the love story of Tess Townsend. She’s young, beautiful, smart, witty, and entrepreneurial. Her first marriage to the old and crusty Duke of Wansford ends with his quick and untimely death on their wedding night (thankfully unconsummated). With her new found freedom, Tess opens an investigative agency with her two besties, which services mostly women… and their newest client is the Queen! And to throw more excitement into the mix, the next-in-line heir of the duchy has been found: Justin Thornton. Thornton is a practical man and when he sees Tess, he proposes that they enter into a marriage of convenience so that he is not bothered by the marriage mart and they can have their physical passions met. His caveat: they can’t fall in love. Her secret: she’s still a virgin.

Overall, I’d say this book is cute. I like that Tess is entrepreneurial and has her own interests. I also liked her friends, Ellie and Daisy. As for the romance… well, it’s a romance novel, so it’s predictable. LOL! Tbh, I read romance novels BECAUSE they are predictable and easy—sometimes I just need that. And I have a preference for regency era romance, so this was a nice, quick read. :)

I love Bateman’s books and Second Duke’s the Charm was no exception. From the intrigue to the romance, I ate it all up!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing a DRC of this title!

Kate Bateman is one of my favorite historical romance authors, so I was so excited to get the chance to review Second Duke's the Charm, the first book in a new series. Despite the second half of the book feeling a tiny bit rushed, I thought SDTC was a lot of fun, with charming characters, an engaging mystery, and crackling chemistry. Really looking forward to book 2 in this series, and I can see this one being a hit with our patrons who love historical romances with a bit of intrigue. 4.5 stars.

3.5 stars rounded up. As a general proposition, I really enjoy Kate Bateman's books, and I LOVED the Ruthless Rebels series, so that put her on my "will always read new ones when they come out" list. And this book and series is good, and enjoyable. The conceit is preposterous but entertaining, and I like Tess. I do think that the resolution of the conflict is drawn out and then resolved in a way that feels both a little too extended and too abrupt, and that the investigation that Tess is going was both a larger part of the plot than I would have thought but very easily resolved.

Free ARC received in exchange for potential review.

To be honest, I love the group of friends that are Tess, Daisy, and Ellie. I want to hear more about all of them! I think this friendship helps move the story forward and adds some conflict between Tess and Justin at just the right time.

Tess and Justin's relationship is electric from the start, and I do *love* a good marriage of convenience. Convenient this was!

While overall, I loved this book (and I WILL be reading more by this author), I do feel like the pacing was a touch off, and there was a plot point in the series that was wrapped up a bit off the page, and I wish we'd seen more.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this ARC.