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.

The way I wanted to love this book... I was so excited to pick this one up when St. Martin's Press offered it to me in exchange for an honest review, but unfortunately it fell flat.

The book started with a bang. I immediately fell in love with Tess and her spitfire group of friends. She made the best of a crappy situation and ended out on top. She spent 2 years as a widow, building her career with her best friends and living her best life. One night she seeks some adventure at a scandalous party and meets a mysterious man who woos her thoroughly... turns out he's the new Duke! I normally don't love insta-love (or maybe lust in this case?) but Tess and Justin's chemistry is undeniable, and the spice was definitely spicy!

But here's the catch, I found Justin pushy and annoying most of the time, and after they got married the book just seemed to drag. I felt like it could have been way shorter, or maybe reorganized a little so the big reveal in the plot (outside of the romance) happens before they fell in love? I just wasn't interested anymore after they got married! Also his big romantic gesture just didn't make sense to me???

4.5 Stars! This was such a good book! This is the first book in a new series ‘Her Majesty’s Rebels’ and can be read as a standalone. The main characters are Tess & Justin and I loved both of them! The ‘sexy times’ were hot but not too long, the relationship issues were believable, the HEA ending was goosebump inducing and I found the whole book interesting and entertaining. I’d definitely recommend this book and I can’t wait to read the next in the series.
*I received this book at no charge & I voluntarily left this review.*

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book 📖

I loved this book so much - it was the perfect marriage of convenience. I don’t always like second chance romances but this one was definitely worth it and reminds me that just because I don’t like a specific trope - it doesn’t apply to every book with that trope. Tess and Justin had phenomenal banter which was the icing on the cake. (Oh and there is also a masquerade) 🎭 #SecondDukestheCharm #NetGalley

I hate reviews that start with OMG!...but really, OMG! Second Duke's The Charm by Kate Bateman is a phenomenal historical romance. I was hooked on this book by page 2 and couldn't put it down. Tess and friends own King & Co. and secretly run investigations. Justin didn't want to take over as Duke when the solicitor tracked him down, but it was easier to just accept than fight it. Tess and Justin's story is loaded with drama, fantastic characters, humor, sexy bits, action and suspense. I loved this book and look forward to my next book by this talented author. Second Duke's The Charm is book 1 of the Her Majesty's Rebels Series but can be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliffhanger.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a fun quick read from a great author. I've read many of Kate Bateman's books and this one was just as expected - heartfelt, fun, and endearing with a touch of adventure. I love that most often her heroes are already besotted with the heroine (even if takes a minute for them to realize that too). Were there a few suspend disbelief moments? Sure - the queen hires them to solve a crime which is convenient, the main characters just happen to be at all the right places at the right times. But was this still fun book, a full of strong characters that I read it all in one sitting? Also yes.

I recommend this author to anyone looking for a fun historical romance, and I feel this one is no different.

It’s Tess’ wedding day to an older man that her father had arranged. On their wedding night, he suddenly dies and Tess is extremely relieved. She gets to keep the house and her Duchess title.
Years later they finally find the next man in line to take the Duke title for the estate. Tess is shocked to find out it’s Justin since she had an intimate moment with him just days before. He offers her a proposal and deal she can’t refuse. They get married a week later. As they are getting to know each other they are targeted in two different attacks. Is someone after Justin or is someone after Tess because of her business?
Justin swears to himself to never fall in love but he’s been thinking about Tess for years. Can he stick to their agreement in this marriage or will he fall in love with Tess?

I enjoyed this book and the story line. I liked hearing both point of views from Justin and Tess. Tess’ friends Ellie and Daisy were funny! This book had some spicy moments for sure!

Tess Townsend, has a drunk for a father who now is broke and selling her to the highest bidder. After trying to run away to get out of the marriage to a decrepit old duke, her father locked her in her room for a week.

Now on her wedding night, armed, she awaits his arrival. Her friends, Ellie Law and Daisy Hamilton whom we met at Miss Honoria Burnett’s Ladies Academy, are there to help protect her. However, she didn't need protecting not since he died of heart failure.

As the solicitor looks for the next in line; Tess, Ellie and Daisy make a plan as to what they will do the rest of their lifes. Two years later they find a gentleman a few generations removed, as the previous five died from excitement extended from being name the next duke.

This one, however, was not in the same category as the others. Justin Trevelyan Thornton took over the family shipping and trading business and grew it to a financial profit and to sustainability beneficial solvency. He is logical, pragmatic, blunt, and very skeptical.

As the new “The Duke of Wansford, Justin is not thrilled since he knows you get nothing for free. Howevsr, once he sees the former Duke's Duchess he devises a plan to kill two birds with one stone.

Meanwhile, Tests and her friends have their lives going the way they want until Justin's proposition. Will she accept or decline? Misconception center around what he believes and what she shows everyone.

So come join in and have a rip roaring good time as secrets and opinions gets mashes, tossed, and shattered. Dive into the lives of the sceptical and gets and education on truffles to boot!

If you like marriage of convenience love stories, you'll be a fan of Second Duke's the Charm.

Luckily I am a fan of this trope so I was a fan of the book. The reason for the main characters marrying makes sense for the characters so I was okay with their marriage of convenience. Plus it turns out they have meet before under disguises which always ups the steamy factor for me. The spice here certainly delivers. This book is hot hot hot!

I liked the friendship between the women. I liked how supportive they were and that they ran their own detective agency. How cool is that? Excited to see more of them in future books.

This is a steamy historical read filled with marriage of convenience, intrigue and female friendship. Recommend for sure!

The beginning of this book was great! Young virgin bride forced in to a wedding not of her choosing, but boy, did she have one heck of a backup plan for her wedding night! Circumstances favored her and she inherits the dukedom as a widow. Two years later, a new duke is declared through the family tree! Once he arrives though…

Overall, I like the general storyline, but I also wanted to feel more more oomph and emotional development between Tess and Justin. Something more than just the obvious attraction/physicality of their relationship. That aside, Daisy, Ellie, and Tess were their own core of entertainment with their side career choice and I do look forward to seeing where the other two girls end up!

I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book from the author/Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Totally absorbed in this book from page one. Tess is forced by her father to marry a decrepit Duke who dies on their wedding night leaving her a virgin. She has two best friends who support her and work with her in their investigative business. After a couple years, she ventures out as “Scarlet”, a masked woman in search of a steamy interlude of kissing. She encounters a stranger, Justin, whereupon the fun and games commence. She meets her stranger again in a ballroom, he recognizes her, and she finds out he is the heir to the Dukedom.
The character development with the chemistry and banter between the two, not to mention the steamy scenes makes it hard to put the book down.
Extra stars.

This book was my introduction to Kate Bateman's works, and I must say, I loved her writing style and her ability to weave romance and intrigue into one enrapturing plot! I couldn't put it down!

Tess, the (virginal) dowager duchess, is independent and courageous without being over-the-top or a man-hater. Her friendships with Elle and Daisy are the strong, unbreakable bonds we all strive for with our own relationships, and I am all for it! Their banter was quirky and funny and wonderful!

Justin is a confident but scarred man due to past trauma, and is convinced that all he needs to be happy is someone to warm his bed and, at best, to be a partner in a marriage of convenience. This is my favorite type of brooding hero because we get to follow along on their journey of healing as they fall (suddenly but not really) for the heroine.

The chemistry between Tess and Justin was superb! Add in miscommunications and catching feelings, it was *chef's kiss* amazing and I did not want their story to end.

Kate Bateman is one of my favorite historical romance authors. I enjoyed this book, although I personally prefer her Ruthless Rivals series, which was full of five star reads for me. I liked the spice and romance between the main couple. Marriage of convenience is one of my favorite tropes, and I liked that the characters were “self-made.” One of the highlights of the book was Tess’s strong friendships and her investigative efforts. I was intrigued by a female protagonist owning a business, as this can be rare in a historical romance. However, I wish that mission was explored more deeply. I appreciate how Bateman always adds some danger or intrigue to her novels. While I enjoyed the feminism and easy comraderie between Tess, Ellie, and Daisy, some of what they said didn’t seem to make sense for the historical context and pulled me out of the historical setting. Also, I found the deaths of so many heirs strange, but that was never officially resolved or explained. It felt like a loose end that was forgotten. Even acknowledging that it was a weird coincidence would have enhanced the ending.

title: Second Duke's the Charm

author: Kate Bateman

publisher: St. Martin's Paperback

publication date: December 26, 2023

pages: 320

peppers: 3 (on this scale)

warnings: on-page death, mean people, someone gets drugged to fall asleep, drunkenness, lechery

summary: Tess's greedy father forced her, at nineteen-years-old, to marry an elderly duke, who died on their wedding night. It takes two years for the solicitors to find the duke's successor, Justin, who realizes that it's to his great social advantage to marry the widowed duchess. They create a contract so that they're in no danger of falling in love.

tropes:

marriage of convenience
meeting while masked
virgin who pretends to have experience
rags-to-riches hero
heroine has a secret career

what I liked:

I'm not sure if Bateman based her heroine on Sarah MacLean's Hell's Belle's series, but this book has the same fun vibe. 
The way Bateman introduces the tropes but doesn't drag them out.
The banter between the duke and duchess.
The side plots and characters (*This is the beginning of a series, so that's a bonus.)
The book drew me in quickly and moved along without any backtracking.
Good chemistry.

what I didn’t like: nothing

overall rating: 5 (of 5 stars)

I adored this historical romance so much! It features one of my favorite tropes - marriage of convenience - and Tess and Justin made for such a fun couple. This book made me swoon multiple times (their first meeting! a bathtub scene! Scarlet!) and it also had me laughing out loud to myself too. Justin was such a charming hero and Tess was able to match him wit for wit; I loved their banter. I couldn't help but adore the way these two were determined to keep things business-like but alas, real feelings got in the way. And then the resolution to the third act conflict was absolutely fitting for this couple - a grand gesture that in some ways went slightly awry but all's well it ends well. I just loved these two fools in love.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's for the ARC.

Right off the bat the main characters had me laughing so hard. I was immediately drawn in. Then the Duke was introduced and I couldn’t read fast enough. It took me on an emotional roller coaster and the ending was perfect. It left me sad too, because I didn’t want the book to end. I can’t wait to read more from this author.