It is no secret that I am a huge fan of Kate Bateman, I love all of her work and have yet to find something lower than a 3-star. Typically, I always know how to rate her books but this one had me stumped. I wasn't sure if it was a 4 or 4.5 but after some thought I landed on a 4 star.

Overall, there was so much to love about this book and I am super excited for the other romances. Something that Kate always does is excel at plot but not only did she do that in this book but this was the first time I saw her create a strong girl gang. One of my favorite aspects of this novel was the female friendships and how these girls would do anything for each other! The friendship was so beautifully crafted and I think it set up the next books in the series nicely.

The mystery in this book was also super fun, I liked how we were trying to figure out who was blackmailing the queen's sister (?). The plot helped the novel move at a good pace and constantly kept me engaged.

I also loved the relationship between the hero and the heroine. Both characters were amazing and I really enjoyed their personalities and how they got along. This book is very insta-lust (might even be love to some) and that was something I didn't mind because they were obsessed with each other from the beginning and had some amazing chemistry. With that being said this was very steamy for a historical romance and might even be Kate's steamiest! Which I am in no way complaining about haha

However, some things were preventing me from giving it a 5 stars and unfortunately, that was the relationship. I think (again) the characters had amazing chemistry and I really loved them together but we didn't truly see them together until the second half of the novel which was a huge bummer. The female friendships were the main focus of this book, which I don't mind, I just wish the romance was better balanced.

I also wished we got more of Justin's POV since we only got a few chapters and I wanted to see them both fall in love with each other which we don't really get. I loved the last part of them together and truly loved how it was more than just them wanting each other but the pacing was just off? I am not really sure but I just wanted more and didn't understand why all their time together was in the second half.

I have seen some negative reviews of this book and I don't think it will be for everyone but I had an amazing time with it and if you go in with the right expectations I think you could too.

Some tropes: marriage of convenience, duke & widow pairing, grumpy/sunshine(ish)

Overall I really enjoyed this book and am so happy I got to read it. I am super excited for more in the series!

This was so enjoyable! Fun, lovable and intriguing all wrapped up in a new series that I can’t wait to read more of! Historical romance at its finest!

I requested this book before the boycott. I look forward to reviewing it when St Martin’s Press addresses the racism against Palestinians.

Kate Bateman's Second Duke's the Charm is the first book in her new series - Her Majesty's Rebels and if I haven't said it before, I'll say it now...Bateman is an auto-buy author for me. I know I'm going to get a story with fantastic characters, an interesting story, and plenty of romance.

Tess Townsend, the Dowager Duchess of Wansford is our heroine and I thought she was great. When her (much older) husband died on her wedding night she was greatly relieved. Unfortunately (but not really) the marriage wasn't consummated and the only people who know are her two best friends. They decide that they will keep the secret and use Tess' newfound freedom and wealth to start their own investigation company to solve London's most scandalous crimes.

Shipping magnate Justin Thornton never expected to inherit a dukedom but here we are and he will do his duty. When the woman he kissed at a party turns out to be the Dowager Duchess, Justin sees an obvious solution: a marriage of convenience with no danger of falling in love. As Tess works on a new case at the request of Queen Charlotte, her suspicious behavior makes Justin question her motives and past and he's not sure he can truly trust her.

I truly enjoyed this book and if you're looking for a new historical romance, definitely pick this one up. And if you haven't read her other books yet, go get them now. I'll be waiting for the next book from Bateman and can't wait to see where things go with this series.

‘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?’

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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!
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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.

I liked the characters in this story and I liked how the three friends decided to start an investigative agency to help women be taken seriously. I liked how Justin didn’t want to fall in love but as he got to know Tess he realized that there was more to her then just a pretty face. I liked how Tess and Justin’s relationship grew past just the physical attraction that they both felt. I enjoyed the story and would read the other books in the series when they come out.

I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors.  A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.

Our opinions of this book are a great illustration in how expectations can affect your perspective. We both really like Kate Bateman, so when we got a copy of her latest book and new series starter we were really looking forward to it. I read it first and was underwhelmed, to say the least. I let Laine know, and she went into reading it with adjusted (more appropriate?) expectations, and ended up thinking it was fine. ⁠
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So what's up with this book? What got me most was the emphasis on physical virginity. It was both offensive and illogical. I don't mind that she lied about not having consummated her first marriage. But to continue lying about her experience - AND that she'll take care of the contraception - annoyed me more and more as the book went on.⁠
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The conclusion was super fun but also made 0 sense with this book. I felt like I saw the Kate Bateman I liked but without any setup. ⁠But look. Laine absolutely loved that the conflict that is a marriage of convenience where the issue is that they both like and want to f*ck each other. Maybe it's TOO convenient a marriage!⁠

A generous 3.5 stars rounded to 4.

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.

I thought this read was highly entertaining and quite clever. Tess and Justin were easy to like and the chemistry between them was off the charts and undeniable. The story itself is intensely engaging with its enticing blend of drama, danger, emotion, heat, heart and twists. An excellent book and a terrific start to this intriguing new series.

Kate Bateman’s humor is incomparable! I laughed quite a lot while reading this book. And what about her lovemaking scenes? So gorgeous, so emotional, so very hot! I absolutely ADORED this book. The three young female detectives are wonderful characters, so very different from one another, but their friendship is precious and strong. And Tess in particular is so sweet, but also brave and smart. And Justin is my kind of hero, stern, forbidding, hot… and how I laughed when he said that he didn’t have a heart and would never fall in love! Just add a little mystery and an adorable puppy to the mix and you’ll get an unputdownable book!

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

"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.."
The Duke is convinced he can never fall in love until he meets Tess. .The Dowager Duchess of Wansford is a beautiful young woman who's first husband died on his wedding night. She wasn't even sure what marriage was about. This is a comical romance story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion of this book.

I actually finished this one the night before last and it was such a nice little historical romance. I have a lot of hope for this series even if I had a couple minor quibbles with this particular storyline. Highly enjoyed it! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I received this book for netgalley in exchange for a review.
Historical romance has always been something i been wanting to get into and read. I was not disappointed. Love at first site. Its very steamy which is a given but still a very intriguing read. There is passion and sweet moments of the romance between the MC's. I highly recommend if you like the historical romance books.

I adore this author and this book was just another amazing read. The main characters were so good and the story just brought me in and never let go. I wish I could be friends with these characters even during that time period. I just highly recommend this book. I mean I bought the irl book and the e book and the audiobook so that’s definitely saying something.

The Second Duke is the Charm by Kate Bateman is the first book in a new series called Her Majesty’s Rebels. The book centers around three women who run King and Co. The business is an investigative agency, only there is no Mr King. Tess Townsend is gladly a widow. The only little twist in her wedding night was her husband died before they consummated the marriage. This is a secret that will need to be kept as it could push her back into poverty.

After two years and a lot of research, the newest duke is finally found. Justin Thornton is so far removed from the line of the duke, he is astonished and quite frankly not interested in upending his life. He is convinced thinking he will just do this for a while and then go back to his real life. Only it didn’t work like he thought it should and he is the Duke of Wansford and he met Tess.

Meanwhile, King and Co. was hired by the Queen (secretly of course) to retrieve some of her daughter’s love letters that are out in public. They are hired to find the letters and the blackmailer. However, Tess can’t tell Justin what she is doing and why she is acting the way she is. Secrets are always a problem in this type of story, especially when the main two characters are so into each other.

The Second Duke is the Charm by Kate Bateman is a great read, I can’t wait until I can read the next one!

Tess and Justin engaged in a charming dance of avoidance and attraction that could only lead to one inevitable conclusion.

I just love that Justin proposed a marriage of convenience to Tess because he needed a duchess and also because he found her irresistible. As if the two were mutually exclusive, but he was lucky enough to find both in one woman. And so Tess found herself in a situation where she was trying to hang on to her secrets and Justin was equally determined not to fall in love with his captivating wife.

Kate Bateman consistently creates interesting, strong FMCs with stubborn ideas of their own, and wonderful men who stand by their sides and support them in their wild endeavors. This duke and duchess certainly didn’t disappoint, and Tess’s friends seemed equally fascinating. Justin and Tess were an excellent match in intellect and wits that was clearly communicated through the engaging writing style.

I can highly recommend this book if you like a steamy historical romance with some intrigue and drama. This is the first book in a new series and I cannot wait to read more.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

"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?"

I fell for this story, and believe in love!!!

The main characters stole my heart and the secondary characters were as engaging!

This is a series I will definitely be returning for!

FUN! Sexy! Engaging!

I loved it!

Second Duke's the Charm is a story about a hero who doesn't think he's capable of love completely losing his heart. It is a plot I always enjoy and Kate Bateman does it well!

I liked Tess and Justin as a couple. They both admired the other for their intelligence and they had good banter. I also liked that Tess was the one familiar with the estate. It was a nice reverse from most historicals.

For readers who like a mystery subplot this story had that as well. I am more interested in the romance but I think this would be perfect for fans of Manda Collins or other writers who combine mystery and romance!

This was a fun historical introduction to a group of heroines of King &Co starting with Tess Townsend.

Tess comes with an interesting back story that makes her role in the “ton” unique and gives her an element of freedom most women her age don’t have.
Justin comes into her life in an unexpected way and I loved how these two connected and flourished. One of the pieces I appreciated here was the “nuggets” of truth buried in the tale Justin spun for himself.

While the story is told from a dual POV, it is primarily driven by Tess and her friends/partners. Ms Bateman used Tess well to highlight how women could easily be underestimated in the time and how taking the time to get to know someone leads to deeper feelings that the first impression.

I am curious to see if her business partners will find romantic pairings as well!

This is a new-to-me author, but it seems she has more than a few books under her belt at this point. While I enjoyed this story for the most part, I wanted more. I adore the characters. The main characters of Tess and Justin are both unassuming, even if they may not come off that way to those who don’t know them. They are both very much in need of security and go to great lengths to protect themselves, both emotionally and financially. When they first meet, they are fire together. Yet I felt the author let that fall away as the story progressed.

The way these two agree to a marriage of convenience is unique and held a lot of promise. Shortly after their marriage, it seems there is a threat to their lives. Every time one of these dangers appeared, I was disappointed by Justin’s reaction. I could have let that fall away if, when given his POV, it was obvious he wanted to comfort Tess. That wasn’t the case, though. It seemed as though he wanted to find the culprit, but not that he was upset that Tess was traumatized. It was strange and caused the early flame of this relationship to start to peter out for me.

While I liked Justin in many ways, his regard for who and what Tess was was often disparaging. Regardless of her proclivities, even if she had been flitting from bed to bed, the way he spoke of that possibility was crude and degrading at times. He does get called out for it later in the book, but it gave me an icky feeling when it would happen.

As for Tess and her two best friends and their detective agency, that also fell flat. The friends I loved! The relationship these three women have is one of the best things about this story. But the way they went about their investigations left much to be desired and it seemed very hodgepodged together. They didn’t really seem to do much.

This story wasn’t bad, but it didn’t sell me on this author either. Because I do like the other characters I may give the next book a try. I always like giving an author more than one try. We’ll see.

ARC kindly provided through NetGalley but all mybthoughts are my own. Hot and romantic! Kate Bateman does 8t again giving us a superb friend group, a reluctant Duke and a marriage of convenience that is SCORCHING hot. Tessa and Justin's chemistry is off the charts and I loved the marriage negotiation. I loved this book!