This was a fun, romantic, and sizzly historic romance. The characters are who have great chemistry, fun banter, and do a lot of sleuthing. Just fun times!

Great addition to the Her Majesty's Rebels series! I loved Ellie and her determination to prove that women are just as good at solving crimes as men are. She knows "Henri Bonheur" is lying about who he is, but can she figure out who he is? As their joint investigation continues she realizes that she has feelings for him, but how can she when she doesn't know who he really is? I can't wait to see the conclusion of this series with Daisy, I want to see what kind of man will "tame" her.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This review is based on an ARC from NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher.

Such a fun book! At first I wondered if Harry was too good to be true, but he really turned out to be a jem of a man. Ellie is smart and beautiful and his perfect partner. The romance was HOT. I look forward to book #3. Thank you to netgalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

This is an entertaining, well-written book. It was fun, steamy, witty and fast-paced. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more books by this author.

This book was an exciting, daring, lusty, adventurous, fun read; I’m loving the rebellious women of the King & Co PI firm!

THOUGHTS 💭
💎 Harry/Henri/Henry (our MMC with no name/many names) is a dimpled, flirty, playful rogue and I loved the mystery that surrounded him!
💎 The dialogue is quick and witty and the characters are so smart; Ellie and our MMC are a perfect match!
💎 Watching the straight and narrow Ellie bend her morals as an accomplice to Harry was funny and entertaining.
💎 Instalove isn’t really my jam - I wanted to see more build-up to the characters’ feelings! That being said, I loved the chemistry between these two.
💎 I love the found family that Ellie has in Tess and Daisy; I can’t wait for Daisy’s story next!

Thanks so much to Kate Bateman and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of this book!

Ellie and Harry were a cute couple and I enjoyed the story. I liked their banter and thoroughly enjoyed reading this book!

I adore reading anything Kate Bateman writes because she does sexy, witty banter so well. I am happy to say, Ellie and Henry were off the charts. Between Henry’s charm and Ellie’s spunk, how could they go wrong? Especially when Henry enjoyed their verbal sparring and teasing simply to see Ellie’s reaction.

I couldn’t help but root for these two. Henry couldn’t seem to help himself as he went around breaking his own “rules”. Which was a good thing! For example, Rule #8: What you take, you sell. What you’re given, you keep. Henry was determined to keep Ellie’s heart. He saw her as the intelligent, curious woman she is. Not like the other men who simply saw a wallflower, a woman to be ignored.

My heart was cheering for Ellie as she removed her cloak at the Willingham’s town house. Just once in her life she wanted to rob a man of his breath, and she did just that when she revealed the green gown. That smooth, charismatic man was suddenly at a loss for words at the sight of Ellie!

I thoroughly enjoyed How To Fall for a Scoundrel and recommend it to anyone who enjoys sexy, steamy, swoony, historical romances. Although this is the second book in the Her Majesty’s Rebels series, it can easily be read as a standalone. Wonderful characters from the first book have cameos in this book, adding to the fun! I can’t wait for book three in the series, Daisy’s book, to see what Kate Bateman has in store!

Thank you to Kate Bateman, St. Martin’s Publishing, and Netgalley for an advanced copy. I voluntarily read the book and gladly leave my unbiased opinion.

A riff on Charlie's Angels...

This was a historical spin on Charlie's Angels.
Eleanor is clever and bent on discovering who is pretending to be Charles King, ie, her boss.
Henri, Harry is a grifter, con artist. I wanted so much better for Eleanor. But nope, she gets a criminal, who is pretending to be Charles King.

Kate Bateman's books are always a fantastic read! This is book two in the Her Majesty's Rebels series, and I love everything about it!

I enjoyed the mystery and hidden identity storylines in this book. It's a great secondary plot, but the star of this story is the beautiful romance between Ellie and Harry. They're such a wonderful couple with amazing chemistry! I also adored the dynamic between Ellie, Tessa, and Daisy. Their friendship is a fun and utterly delightful addition to this book. I'm so looking forward to Daisy's romance!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This was a really entertaining, low angst, historical romance. It’s book 2 in the series, but can be read as a standalone (though it would be most enjoyed if read in order).

How to Fall for a Scoundrel has a bit of mystery and a hidden identity plot line, but the focus of the story is the romance between Ellie and Harry. I loved the slow burnish buildup and they had such wonderful banter and opposites attract energy. Their mutual respect and admiration for each other was clear and I loved that they both saw each other for exactly who they were (and loved each other for it, not despite it). The friend group of Tess, Daisy, and Ellie is always a delight and such a highlight in the books. I appreciated that there wasn’t any unnecessary drama at the end and I’m really looking forward to reading Daisy’s story!

*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*

Delicious!

An investigative wallflower, a thief and con man, a stolen bejeweled Book of Hours belonging to Bonaparte. Napoleon saw the book as his lucky charm. Someone wants Bonaparte’s luck to return!
Eleanor Law, daughter of the Lord Chief Justice, and co-founder of King & Company, London’s most discreet Investigative Agency, meets her match when firstly a tall dark stranger with interesting eyes kisses her under the mistletoe, and then hustles her into making an appointment with him and one of her partners, Lady Dorothea Hamilton the next morning. The other partner is the Duchess of Wansford.
Who is this man who’s already made her heart beat faster, and who knows Charles King is a fictional invention, a cover for the three intrepid investigators? Now he’s proposed that he be Charles King!
A mystery! He’s given Ellie the name Henri Bonheur, Comte de Carabas, straight from Puss in Boots.
Known as Harry, for his part, Harry finds this dowdy, hiding her light, young woman enchanting. Why has no one else noticed her?
A pleasing romance with serious sleuthing high on the agenda. When Harry needs the help of the three King investigators, the stakes are high. The chemistry between Harry and Ellie is even higher.
Charming Regency mystery with teeth.

A St. Martin’s Press invite ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

Last year I read the first book in the Her Majesty's Rebels series and ended up really enjoying it. Three intelligent women helping solve crime under a mysterious alias and look good while doing it. What's not to like? It's just like Totally Spies!, but in the 19th century. How to Fall for a Scoundrel featured my favorite member, the bookish Eleanor. Look, I love a bespectacled heroine. I only wear mine for driving, plays, and the cinema. It brings me great joy to see other fictional characters despise their glasses as much as I do. In comes a dashing con man named Henri who claims to be the fake Charles King, which is the secret codename of their business. He was incredibly charming and I couldn't get enough of his dimples. I read this book around the same time I saw Twisters and all I could think about was the film's equally dimpled villain. I knew he was a baddie, but I didn't care because ooh those cheeks!

I'm curious to see the conclusion of Her Majesty's Rebels. The final book features my least favorite character in the trio, but I know she's got plenty of pluck. She's the least like my own personality, yet I'm still determined to finish this series. I only discovered Kate Bateman last year, but she sure has packed a punch with her books. I may not have fallen for this particular scoundrel, but I was certainly teetering.

Ellie is the wallflower in her trio of friends, so she’s surprised when at a ball a handsome man comes over to give her a kiss under the mistletoe. Unfortunately for Ellie, the handsome and debonair Harry is more interested in her fictitious boss, Mr Charles King, at least at first. This was a quick, sweet yet sassy historical romance with a definite “Charlie’s Angels” vibe, especially with the costumes and intrigue. I loved that scoundrel Harry has a strong code of honor, while still able to have a good time and Ellie is strong and intelligent yet still flexible enough to adjust to Harry’s schemes. There is also quite a bit of steam and heat between the two. This is the second in the series and not having read the first book in the series did not hold me up in any way, although the characters are so likable I may have to go back to find out more about them. This author has a wonderful way of making her historical characters seem almost contemporary in their thinking ( no simpering fools which is so refreshing). 5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book. All thoughts are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kate Bateman, and St. Martin's Paperbacks for this advance reader copy of the book. Below is my honest review.

Publication date: ‎ August 20, 2024
Print length: ‎ 296 pages
Her Majesty’s Rebels Book 2

What fun. An enjoyable romp from the first page till the HEA. Part Charlies Angels and part Remington Steele, 1970's and 1980's terrific TV shows. Three ladies of the ton work as administrators (really investigators) with a fictious male, Charles King, as the investigation company owner. I imagine Harry looking like Pierce Brosnan, he was Remington Steele, he wound up playing James Bond.

Ellie Law is the daughter of a Chief Justice, her name fits, and knows a lot about law from a lifetime in the house of a judge. The other ladies have their special skills too, don't turn your back on Daisy. While at a Christmas-time ball she enjoys a mistletoe kiss with a handsome stranger. Turns out to be Harry, no idea who he really is but he's a good kisser. Long story short he needs the ladies help and they get a physical Charles King that clients can see, hear, and talk to. Ellie is smart and good at her job, she can trade quips and jabs with Harry leaving him impressed, intrigued and a bit lustful. A totally likeable lady that had me invested in her story from the beginning.

Harry is a hoot. He's a con man for sure. He has a regular past and then a grifter past and the grifter has to help Harry become a regular member of society again. Sounds complicated and it is. Following him, his strange life, and his train of thought is a pleasure, he keeps things lively. What can you say...handsome, interesting, intriguing, and rich, he's the perfect anti-hero/hero. He comes with an Uncle Hugo that you'll love. The 8 Rules of a Gentleman Scoundrel are actually good for anyone to know and follow.

I can't wait for the next story, Daisy. A hermit told her fortune and she'll meet her match on a dark highway. Sounds delicious.


#HowtoFallforaScoundrel #Her Majesty’s Rebels #KateBateman #St.Martin'sPaperbacks #NetGalley #historicalromance #romance

Ms. Bateman composes beautiful symphonies with her words!

I journeyed with Ellie and Harry through balls, soirees, righting wrongs!

It seems Harry, Henri, The Compte is a chameleon! It was exciting to discover his real identity!

I definitely loved how it seemed Harry was enamored with every facet that was Miss Law, Eleanor and Ellie!

And historical romance lovers, this one has some very delicious steam!

I loved "How to Fall for a Scoundrel!"

You know how you read a book where the author promises you a “scoundrel,” and the character ends up having done one or two relatively innocuous things and is otherwise upstanding and noble? Kate Bateman nicely avoids that trap in How to Fall for a Scoundrel. Harry is a true rapscallion—and he’s as irresistible to the reader as he is to his heroine, Ellie.

Ellie is one of three women working at an investigative firm owned by Charles King. But there is no Mr. King—Ellie and her friends are the company, full stop. And when she meets a man who calls himself the Comte de Carabas, she knows he’s up to no good, as that’s the moniker for Puss in Boots! So when Henri Bonheur (really? Good time?) suddenly introduces himself as Charles King not only to a potential client but also to Ellie, she knows she has to be wary of this—OK, I’ll say it—scoundrel.

Ellie and Harry are both utter delights and utterly delightful together. Ellie is serious, the daughter of a judge, trying to make her way in a man’s world however she can. And Harry is a wonder. He’s both caring and superficial all at once, someone who’s incredibly smart and thoughtful and yet also living for the moment. He shakes up Ellie’s life in more ways than one, and his unpredictability also means that readers have to expect the unexpected.

The other great thing Bateman does in How to Fall for a Scoundrel is have Ellie and company deal with multiple mysteries over the course of the book. There isn’t just one problem to solve, but many. And by the end, those mysteries get closer to Ellie, Harry, and their burgeoning relationship.

This story is charming, funny, and fiery as all get out all at once. I adored it, so take a risk just like Ellie does with Harry, and give How to Fall for a Scoundrel a chance!

Kate Bateman continues to delight with the second book in Her Majesty’s Rebels series. Eleanor Law is one of three women that run London’s most successful private investigation firms. Their firm is run by a fictional boss Charles King. Their positions in the ton allow them entrance to homes and balls. Elenor meets Harry when she steps under a mistletoe branch sparking a kiss. He claims to be a con man and thief and now is claiming to be Charles King himself. She likes him even though she isn’t sure of him. But he does prove useful in landing and solving the firm's next case. Meanwhile her partners are delighted that someone is catching her attention as she has his.

I don’t want to give away more of the plot. But this was fun, entertaining and I flew through the pages. Ellie is a confident woman at the ripe age of 22. Her friends, one now a Duchess, give the right amount of teasing and push. And Harry as her partner in solving the case and potential partner in love has the right amount of swagger without being too confident. I liked his rules for thieving and appreciated the amount of spice in the story. I liked Second Duke’s the Charm (Dec 2023) and enjoyed this story even more. I am looking forward to Daisy’s story next.

This was an exciting and very cute story written by one of my favorite authors. Ms Bateman gives the readers an exceptional book with lots of steamy romance. I like that the characters were fully developed with thoughts and feelings of their own. Even though this is a continuation of Her Majesty's Rebels, it can be read as a stand alone.
I really likes Ellie Law who is in business of King & Company private investigation. It's women who have talents (other than being a socialite etc) that help in solving crimes and do better than men.
It's so fun to read a book that I was wondering what Ellie was going to do when a man claims he's Mr King of said business. But Ellie knows different because the man is fictional.
Henri Bonheur”or “Harry” as he asks to be called is really a thief trying to put his past behind him.
When Harry and Ellie get mixed up in danger, she knows that to trust him is out of the question. But when she begins to see a side of Harry and her heart starts to fall for the scoundrel. Love and desire are about to get them a love that will last forever.
I appreciate Net Galley for this ARC title in which I gave an honest review.

Three ladies open a detective agency to prove that they can solve crimes as well as any man but have to invent a fictional man to head the agency a la Remington Steele. Eleanor is approached by a man who claims to be “Charles King”, her fictional boss. She knows he’s not but decides to use him to solve her new case.
Harry, a charming con man, claims his past is just that, the past. He needs the ladies to help him find out who he really is. They agree in exchange for his role playing “Charles King”. Ellie finds herself spending a lot of time with Harry and sparks fly.
A charming and funny story along the lines of Remington Steele and Charlies Angels.

“The stormy, wilder attractiveness of Dorothea Hamilton hinted at a restless spirit a little too similar to his own, but the instant attraction he’s felt on seeing Eleanor Law had been an unexpected shock. At first glance she appeared almost plain. Her physical beauty was subtle, as if she was deliberately hiding the full strength of it for fear of drawing unwanted attention, but he was man accustomed to spotting a single diamond amount a mountain of paste. Ellie reminded him of a Roman coin he’d once found in a field in Tuscany. It appeared dull, almost uninspiring, but a quick rub on his shirt had revealed its true nature; glistening, breathtaking gold.”

Eleanor Law is one-third of the successful private investigation firm, King & Co, where she teams up with her best friends, Tess and Daisy, to help solve London’s petty crimes. When a fictional and charming con man corners her and convinces her she needs his help, Ellie realizes he may be the key to solving her newest mystery. “Henri Bonheur,” or Harry as he is called for most of the book, is a reformed thief looking for a new way to make a living. These two unlikely partners team up to solve King & Co.’s latest mystery, but figuring out the riddle of Harry isn’t as easy.

Oh, this was so much fun! The writing was fun and engaging. Harry is a charming and debonair thief, but he truly has a heart of gold. He just charmed every single person in this book, even Ellie, who was leery about him at first. Her walls were no defense against his cheeky comments and flirtations. He always made her feel beautiful, desirable, and special. He builds up her confidence so much that she transforms throughout this story. The mystery was easy to follow, and even though it was easily wrapped up, it didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment of the story. Kate Bateman created a historical Charlie’s Angels and put out something full of humor and jolly good fun! I can’t wait for the next one.

If you’re a fan of historical romance, which is full of intrigue and romance, like those of Maddison Michaels or Anna Bradley, then definitely give this one a try. I promise you will eat this up.

~ Michelle