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.

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.