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.

This was amazing! Loved the banter, the chemistry, the hero. So sweet. It had all I love in a historical romance. I highly recommend this author

3.5 🌟's

the blurb for this on netgalley immediately hooked me in so i decided to read it -- the beginning was so strong for me and i was loving it!!! but then the middle started dragging with the MC's just sort of having dates and sex (which is fine normally!!) but i didn't see enough character/couple development.. especially when the hero randomly said the ily even tho up until that point, he hated the idea of love??? it just didn't add up so alas :/

strong start but not so much the rest :/

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to the publisher St. Martin's for the e-ARC via Netgalley. Releases December 26, 2023.

I pretty much love much everything about this book; from the plot to story, to characters, literally everything. But the thing that I seem to have loved and adored the most? It's the way Bateman has written the character, 'Tess', her arc and the ultimate journey to have her very own and well deserved HEA is commendable!

Female spies, Oh my! What a fun start to a new series. I loved these independent women and I can't wait to read the other stories. This love story was a bit of a slow burn, but once it got going it was good and spicy. I did think the ending was a bit abrupt, the bows were tied a little too neatly. That aside it was a fun book and I really enjoyed getting to know Tess and Justin. They had fabulous banter and were perfect for one another. All in all, it was a great start and I look forward to more in the series.

I enjoy Kate Bateman's books and the "Second Duke's the Charm" is no exception. There was plenty of romance, humor, intrigue and mystery. I particularly enjoyed that Tess, the widowed Duchess of Wansford, unintentionally put herself in a position where Thornton, the unexpected new Duke of Wansford, believes that she is well versed in the intimate arts, even though she has no experience at all. Therefore, during their regular intimate encounters, when Tess is experiencing unknown and unexpected degrees of pleasure, and sometimes engaging in intimate acts she had never previously heard about, she has to find a way to enjoy these new pleasures without letting on that everything is new to her. I also liked that Thornton's grand gesture to prove he was a "fool for love" both spectacularly failed and succeeded. Tess's friends and business partners, Daisy and Ellie, provided a great supporting cast.

Tess Townsend finds herself widowed after her much older husband dies on their wedding night. And still a virgin. She starts an investigation firm with her two friends to help less fortunate women. After much deliberation, Tess agrees to a marriage of convenience with the new duke. However, her latest case – a request from the Queen – may cause trouble for Tess and Justin’s budding relationship. Will Justin interfere in Tess’s latest investigation? Can she catch the culprit without destroying her marriage?
Justin Thornton owns a successful trading company. Much to his disgruntlement, he learns that he inherited a dukedom. Justin is shocked to discover the Dowager Duchess is not some crone but a beautiful young lady. And she happens to be the mystery woman he encountered at his friend’s party. Justin proposes a solution that could benefit them both, a marriage of convenience. However, he knows his new wife is keeping secrets. Will Justin learn Tess’s secrets? And will they cost them their marriage?
I love the deep bond that Tess shares with Ellie and Daisy. The three women are willing to go to the extremes to help and protect the other. Ellie and Daisy also help Tess become are of the pros of her new windfall. What I admire the most about Tess is her decision to use her independence to help other women in need. She and her friends know what little rights or help women received in that era. They wanted to help others escape bad fates or situations.
I understand Justin’s cynicism towards love. He had witnessed his father’s deterioration after his mother’s passing. For a young child that would form a lasting impression. What I love the most about Justin is how he admired and approved of Tess’s business sense. He knew there was more to her than just looks. Justin even encouraged her to continue than holding her back.
SECOND DUKE’S THE CHARM is the first book in Kate Bateman’s brand-new historical romance series, HER MAJESTY’S REBELS. I decided to try out the author’s latest series since I adored her RUTHLESS RIVALS books. It did not disappoint me! I found myself quickly immersed in the storyline and characters. I cannot wait to see who Bateman will pair Ellie and Daisy, Tess’s two best friends, up with. I am kind of hoping Daisy will be paired up with Ellie’s cousin, who happens to be Justin’s friend, Edward Hussey. It feels like it would be a recipe for disaster or fun.

Great story with a strong woman and her friends. She gets a second chance at love with the new Duke. Lots of action and romance keeps you glued to the story.

Her Majesty's Rebels is a new series from Kate Bateman that feels like MacLean's Hell's Belles meets Quinn's Bridgertons, and I'm so excited for the next few books. Second Duke's a Charm delivered on some of the best tropes historical romance has to offer: marriage of convenience, forbidden love, intrigue and strong female friendships. I ate it up.

Thanks to SMP, NetGalley, and the author for the eARC in exchange for my review.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I am a Kate Bateman fan and have read her previous series Bow Street Bachelors, Secrets & Spies, and Ruthless Rivals. I was ready to love this one immediatly but it fell a little short in the middle, but it didn't stop me from loving it. The premise of a Virgin bride on her wedding night was made even better for it to be her 2nd wedding night. She gets all the benefits of being a duchess without having to sleep with the old, decrepit Duke. Bateman has a way with weaving the "feels" throughout her books. Justin seeing Tess across a room before she married the old Duke, becoming the Duke and finally getting the girl. What I didn't like was Justin's apparant lack of care for Tess. When she needed his comfort he didn't comply, and his lack of comfort wasn't addressed like I expected it to be. Or maybe it was and I missed it. He does go to te extreme to prove his love for her, and it backfires (but in a good way)
I really enjoyed the banter between Ellie, Daisy and Tess and how they have created their own way to independence. Stories hinted at for Daisy and Ellie and I look forward to reading them. I'd love one on Edward too

A big thank you to St. Martin’s Press for proving me the arc via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I live for new Bateman releases, so I was ecstatic to receive this arc and to see her new series.

This one was fun, but I didn’t love it as much as I’ve loved the Bow Street Bachelors or The Ruthless Rivals. The pacing of this was slightly off, and I missed Bateman’s signature banter or lighthearted tension. Generally, with Bateman novels, I’m completely sold on the couple, but they just didn’t have the fleshed out chemistry that I’ve come to expect from her. I wanted some bigger plot points that never came - though there were definitely some fun moments.

Though, will I read the rest of the series? Without a doubt.

This delightful read is an absolute gem, offering a refreshing escape with endearing characters and a generous dose of girl power.

The Plot:

Tess finds herself in a peculiar situation when the Duke her father had arranged for her to marry passes away on their wedding night, sparing her from a life of misery. Embracing her newfound freedom, she joins forces with her two best friends to establish an investigative agency, reveling in her status as a widowed bride. However, there's a small detail that complicates matters—Tess is still a virgin, untouched and un-kissed. Determined to explore her desires, she attends a scandalous masquerade in a striking red dress, hoping to satisfy her curiosity. To her astonishment, when the new Duke arrives to take over the estate, he immediately recognizing her as the mysterious woman he intimately kissed (and engaged in a few other memorable encounters) at Careby's masquerade.

The Good:

One of the things that truly captivated me about "Second Duke's the Charm" is the portrayal of strong female friendships. The bond between Tess and her friends Ellie and Daisy is simply wonderful, and I found myself eagerly anticipating their own stories. I have no doubt that their journeys will be just as compelling, and I'll be eagerly diving into those books as soon as they're available. There's an undeniable allure in witnessing strong, independent female characters defy societal norms, overcome obstacles, and, amidst it all, find love. It's a theme that never fails to resonate with me.

The Bad:

Now, I must admit, this is a rather nitpicky point, but it's worth mentioning. The male main character's name, Justin, didn't quite click for me. It felt out of place in the Regency setting, and I couldn't help but associate it with the numerous Justins of the 1980s. It became a slight distraction as I immersed myself in the story.

Additionally, I found the development of the main characters' romantic relationship a little lacking. The progression from intense physical attraction to sudden realization of love felt somewhat rushed. I would have appreciated a deeper exploration of their connection and the gradual blossoming of their affection.

Despite these minor concerns, "Second Duke's the Charm" remains a delightful and engaging read. The strength of the female friendships and the allure of defying expectations still shine through, making it a worthwhile journey. While I would have loved to see a more nuanced portrayal of the protagonists' love story, the book still holds its own as an enjoyable Regency romance.

This was such good fun, from the very first chapter! I was rooting for Tess and her amazing friends from the very start! I love their investigations and their friendship and their love for each other. How perfect to be able to go into business with your best friends and do such good work! But with Tess agreeing to marry Justin, everything becomes muddled and possibly dangerous. Watching Tess and Justin navigate their new relationship was so lovely (even if I wanted to shake them a few times)! I can't wait for the next in the series!!

I am constantly in awe of romance authors who skillfully strike the delicate balance between love and mystery, and Kate Bateman is undoubtedly one of them. In this captivating novel, she flawlessly intertwines the thrilling tale of a courageous heroine and her life as a spy with a heartwarming romance that blossoms between her and the hero. The intricate dance of passion and suspense within these pages is truly indispensable to the overall narrative.

Good book. It has a lot going on so it’s fast moving. There’s a bunch of different mysteries happening at once but it flows nicely. The romance was good and I liked the main characters. A must read!

I’m always amazed by romance authors who manage that perfect balance between romance and intrigue and Kate Bateman is one of them. She perfectly weaves the plot in this book of the heroine and her spy life with the romance between her and the hero. Both the romance and the drama are essential to each other. Tess is such a sweet and fun heroine. And I loved her friends and can’t wait to see their stories in the future! Justin (sigh I hate that name lmao sorry to any Justins out there. It just feels extremely modern. I know it isn’t but, all I think of is the slew of Justins we’ve had in pop culture haha) is the typical “I’m not falling for my wife of convenience” husband that immediately falls for his wife of convenience. It was delicious to see.
Props to the final climax of the story. Edge of my seat fun hehe 🐎

This book was so fun! I loved the friendship between Tess, Ellie, and Daisy, and they were super funny. I also enjoyed the banter between Justin and Tess, and I thought they were cute together. I was never bored during this book. My only complaint it that I was hoping that there would be more investigation into who tried to kill Justin. Overall, this was a really good book and I would definitely recommend it!