Harry, though a scoundrel, is charming and handsome. Ellie is a woman who is part of an investigative agency. When Harry, an ex-thief steps in to help, Ellie is very suspicious but taken with Harry. This is a fun and romance novel that will hold your attention and keep you reading to find out what happens.

How to Fall for a Scoundrel by Kate Bateman is a fun book for anyone who loves historical romance. This book was fast-paced and the romance was so adorable to read. I loved our main leads, they were relatable and had some great banter as they were trying to solve the crimes in this book. The mystery itself was solved pretty quickly, but I enjoyed the second one that came up because it added to the romance. Kate Bateman is a fabulous writer, and I will read pretty much anything she writes.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Kate Bateman for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to St Martins Press and Netgalley for this advanced copy!

I really liked the first novel in Bateman's new series and the second one continues the frothy fun of three ladies running a detective agency, solving crimes, and falling in love. I thought the timing of different reveals was interesting in this book, revealing a few choice spoilers earlier than I would have thought, but it was nice to see the characters just move on and keep up the detective work. It felt like things were low stakes because everything resolved easily, but Harry and Ellie are fun and Harry is such a rogue. It was great.

Oh how I adore Kate Bateman's books. This is my 8th read from her and she has cemented herself as one of my very favorite historical romance authors. She manages to keep coming up with the most creative plot lines, and her characters are always perfection. I particularly liked our hero in this one, Harry. While he is no doubt a scoundrel, he also says the sweetest things to our heroine, Ellie, making the bluestocking turn red. Every interaction they had together was filled with chemistry. I'm already anxiously awaiting Bateman's next release!

This was just so good from beginning to end! It was a quick, enjoyable read- I read it in one sitting on a rainy Saturday morning! The mystery was well written, the couple had chemistry, and it was just all around a good time! I will definitely be reading more by this author.

‘As a founding member of King & Co., London’s most successful private investigation firm, studious Eleanor Law delights in secretly proving that women can solve crimes just as well as men. When a charming con man pretends to be her fictional boss, "Charles King," Ellie knows he’s lying, but accepting the scoundrel’s offer of help might just be the key to cracking her new case and recovering a priceless manuscript.

“Henri Bonheur”—or “Harry” as he asks to be called—claims his criminal past is behind him, but a man who steals and seduces with such consummate ease can never be trusted. As the investigation draws them deeper into danger and desire, Ellie’s infuriated to realize she’s developed feelings for her law-breaking accomplice. How can she love the scoundrel when she doesn’t even know his real name? And what will happen when Harry’s past finally catches up with him?’
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3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars.

How to Fall for a Scoundrel is the second book in Kate Bateman’s Her Majesty’s Rebels series and is a historical romance and mystery.

A fun adventure, but this was not my favorite of Kate Bateman’s books. I still enjoyed it and Harry made up for any reservations on my part. He’s charming and cheeky, waltzing in and upending King & Co’s status quo. Ellie and her two best friends that run the investigative agency together under the supposed leadership of the fictional owner, ‘Charles King.’ In walks Harry, claiming more names than any honest man has the right to. And one of the names he claims? That of Charles King himself, declaring so in front of a difficult potential client. With his mysterious past and criminal reputation, Ellie is reluctant to trust him, but he has a case of his own to be solved and he needs the services of King & Co to set things to rights.

This is a quick read and one of those mysteries that you have to suspend belief a bit because it feels a bit madcap, but it’s a fun journey the whole way. The big reveal didn’t have the impact I was looking for, as you could see where it was leading and I wish there had been a bit more to unpack there.
Sounds like Daisy’s story is next, looking forward to reading it!
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I would like to thank St. Martin’s Press and NetGallery for sharing an eARC of How to Fall for a Scoundrel by Kate Bateman with me. This is my honest review.

I enjoyed this fun read. Ellie and Harry were likable characters with solid chemistry and boy did they generate plenty of sparks with every interaction. This wonderfully witty and effervescent book will have you most happily getting your read on.

How to Fall for a Scoundrel is such a fun read. Ellie and her friends, Tess and Daisy, are women of the ton, but also private investigators. When Harry , a scoundrel fresh from the continent, helps Ellie win a lucrative job at a ball, he joins the ladies in their investigation to gain their trust and ultimately to hire them to help him prove his true identity as the Lost Earl.

What I loved about this book is there’s no manufactured third act break up, only quests, heists, and near death experiences.

Kate Bateman does it again. How to Fall for a Scoundrel is book #2 in Her Majesty's Rebels series. I have enjoyed reading this series. The author making 3 women head of a detective agency makes for a great, steamy, sometimes comical read.

Ellie and Harry are the perfect couple. She is a co-owner of the all women detective agency King & Co., he is a conman trying to prove his identity. Together, they make a great team, not only as detectives; but, also steaming up the bedroom. Their witty banter and obvious love for each other, keeps you wanting more. Can't wait for Book #3 and see who captures Daisy's heart.

Thank you NetGalley.

This caper of hidden identities and mysterious pasts is sexy and charming and very entertaining.

Perhaps Ellie, Tess, and Daisy were too easily taken in by an enticing smile and handsome face, but it did lead to an adventurous investigation and lively romance. Ellie and Harry had spades of chemistry that also punctuated their conversational sallies. It was a lot of fun following the clues with these two, especially when it forced Ellie out of her comfort zone.

Harry and his uncle were two undeniably interesting characters. I didn’t always completely understand his uncle’s motivations for the way he raised Harry. But the investigation into his past and their happy-ever-after ended this story on a very satisfying note.

I can highly recommend this book if you like a steamy historical romance with some intrigue and drama. This is book two in the series, but it stands well on its own.

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

Always love a Kate Bateman romance, and I really loved the first in this series. This was a great addition to the series, and didn't feel like just a remix of the first the way a lot of historical romances can. Really looking forward to the third book!

I really enjoyed this spicy (🌶️🌶️) historical romance. I loved the instant connection of Ellie & Harry. I loved the mystery of Harry. This book hooked me right away and i finished it one day. I can't wait to read Daisy's story.

How to Fall for a Scoundrel has to be one of my favorite Bateman books! I loved how the story started right away with Harry pretending to be Charles King. Also, I loved how he was trying to become a reformed thief and how that affected Harry and Eleanor’s relationship. When you do find out who he really is, I was shocked! I loved seeing all the characters again and the mysteries they involve themselves in. I can’t wait for the next book!

4.5 stars! This was so much fun!! I absolutely adore Kate Bateman’s romances and this was no different. Mystery, a dash of danger, flirty banter, and an irresistible hero? What more could you want??

**thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review**

How to Fall for a Scoundrel is the second book in Kate Bateman’s Her Majesty’s Rebels series and while this is not my favorite series by her, I am having a fun time with it.

Eleanor and her friends are the co-owners of King & Co, London’s most private investigation company and their days are full of inquiry and detecting. One day, Eleanor meets Harry, a former con man who wants to retire and come work with the girls at their company. He argues that no one can solve crimes better than a former thief.

It’s been a while since I read book one, but I do know that I enjoyed this one better. I actually listened to the audio for this one which I think helped my enjoyment. My favorite part of definitely the romance because of how sexy it was. I’ve come to realize that spy/detective plots aren’t my favorite in historical romance, but I enjoyed this one. I will be reading the next one just so I can finish the series. I can’t wait to continue when the next one comes out!

I received this as an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

Kate Bateman is an autobuy author for me and if she's not for you...you're missing out. When I saw the summary for How to Fall for a Scoundrel I was excited to see that we were going to get Eleanor's story. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed book one and actually am looking forward to the next one too, but I loved how this one came together.

As one of the founding members of King & Co., Eleanor enjoys proving that women can solve crimes just as well as men. When a con man pretends to be her fictional boss Charles King, Ellie knows he is lying but he surprisingly pulls it off. Now she has to decide if she's willing to accept his offer of help to recover a priceless manuscript while also taking care to not fall for his games and seductions.

“Henri Bonheur”—or “Harry” claims his criminal past is behind him and he actually has an ulterior motive for seeking Ellie out but he needs to win her over but he didn't really count on falling for her at the same time. As Harry and Ellie work on the investigation together, their relationship pulls them together and when Ellie finds out what really is in Harry's past, she needs to figure out if she can trust him...and can she really love him if she doesn't truly know him?

I have to say that I loved these two together. Harry kept pushing Ellie outside of her comfort zone and she wasn't afraid to take on the challenge. Harry's backstory was an interesting twist and how it all came together was well done by Bateman. As I mentioned, I am looking forward to the next book in this series and if you haven't started this book/series, you should definitely consider picking it up!

Love this series and the Ladies.
Ellie is part of a private investigation team she gets involved with a case with Harry .
Some tense moments ,adventure and romance.
A good historical mystery romance .
Love Ellie and Harry.
Voluntarily reviewed.

Want an enjoyable read? How about “How to Fall for a Scoundrel” written by Kate Bateman. A thief and a scoundrel, Harry, is the lead male character in this story. He is charming, handsome, well dressed, and has the stickiest fingers in England. He inserts himself into an all female investigation company. Harry is totally smitten with bluestocking investigator Ellie Law. Ellie and her two best friends, Tess and Daisy, created King and Co., run by a fictitious Charles King. Harry takes on the role of Charles King as easily as he slips into other roles that serve his purposes. Harry and Ellie join forces in King and Co. endeavors and are pulled even closer. In the back of her mind, Ellie is concerned with Harry’s true identity and his motives. Once a thief always a thief? The story takes us on a merry hunt for a book, a jewel, and a name. The banter, steam, and building relationship between Ellie and Harry take center stage. The secondary players, Tess, Daisy, and even the aging scoundrel Hugo round out the well paced, well written story. This Regency romance is definitely recommended. Yes, there is a happy ever after and yes Harry’s identity is revealed so all is wrapped up by the very last page.

I was given a free copy of this book by NetGallery, my thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

I’m such a sucker for historical romances. I can’t get enough of them. This was another I enjoyed. It was a nice break from all the adult fantasy I’ve been reading lately.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this ebook and this is my freely given opinion.

This is book 2 of the series, which revolves around the trio of ladies who started an investigative/fixing agency, but because of the mysogynistic nature of Society at the time, they must hide behind the fictional owner and figurehead of the agency, Mr. Charles King.

Eleanor Law, one of the founding members of King & Co. is a studious, bluestocking with a laudable family history steeped in jurisprudence. Despite being more than capable, her gender prevents her from being able to become a barrister, so she fights crime through her work with King & Co.

Imagine her surprise one night when a charming scoundrel accosts her at a social function, and proceeds to introduce himself to a potential client as the fictitious Charles King, and then boldly proceeds to proposition Ellie with a bold plan. Henri Bonheur, or Harry, as the rogue names himself, is a self-professed rogue and retired professional thief, who is seeking an occupation and offers to work with the ladies as the figurehead of the company. Eleanor, despite his handsome charm, is more than skeptical of the scoundrel, but the trio of the company decide to give him a chance, when they are hired, thanks in part to Harry, to recover a valuable artifact.

To do so, Harry draws Eleanor out of her studious shell, and they work together, giving Eleanor a greater taste of his charm and attraction, which coupled with a growing desire to explore their physical attraction, and the headiness and excitement of danger and excitement as they play out the roles needed to achieve their ends, cause Harry and Eleanor to fall into a passionate affair.

But he adds a new twist to his story when he opens up to the ladies; that he is really a long lost nobleman, who was whisked away to the continent as a young child, and returning to reclaim his title, and needs for the ladies to prove his claim. So what is he - really the consummate conman trying to fake his way into wealth and nobility? Or is he really a lost peer seeking to reclaim what is rightfully his?

But if he really is a lost peer, what does that mean for his and Eleanor's relationship? Is she prepared to be left behind when he claims his title - despite her family's notable reputation as lawmakers, she would still too low on the social ladder for a titled nobleman.

This is a fun read with lots of intrigue and excitement that brings me to mind of a mix of shows like the 80s Charlie's Angels and Remington Steele. Harry really is a handsome, charming rogue, who while he is a reformed thief and conman, is also likeable scoundrel with what seems to be a heart of gold who falls for Ellie, seeing her warmth, intelligence, and beauty and falling for it.

Just a fun, lovely romance mixed with intrigue and charming roguishness with a Cinderella like happily ever after. I fell for the scoundrel too - but frankly, I *LOVED* Remington Steele as a girl... and Harry in my mind's eye was my Regency Remington.

4 stars out of 5