"Second Duke's the Charm" is the first book in Kate Bateman's "Her Majesty's Rebels" series. Having never read a book by Bateman, I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised! This book centers around Tess, whose father forces her into marriage with a much, much older man in order to obtain money for the family. Thankfully (for Tess!), her creep of a husband falls to the floor dead before things can really begin on their wedding night. Tess enjoys her newfound independence and freedom as a young widow, but is still looking for love and passion in her life. When she comes across Justin Thornton at a city ball, sparks fly. And when they discover that he is the rightful heir to her late husband's property, they develop a marriage of convenience that quickly becomes more than just a business arrangement.

I enjoyed following along with the romance of Tess and Justin, and look forward to reading about the supporting characters in their own books in this series. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Great story, very entertaining. I really love Kate Bateman's writing style. Her skill for laying down the plot and adding plenty of twists and turns keeps the reader engaged in the story.

This first book in a new series was a winner. The story was good, the women were strong without coming off as masculine (something many writers fail at IMHO) . Our heroine and her 2 friends have created a investigation company called King & Co since actually letting the world know that a woman is running the company would be very bad for business at this point in history. It seems the Queen herself has a small problem that needs solving and these 3 are just the trio to do it but along the way our heroine who has lived as a widow since they could never find the heir to the Duke has finally arrived and sadly, he is perfect. The relationship between the 2 of them was fun but a bit oversexed to the point it seemed just something to eat up pages in places but at the beginning it is necessary to the story. Overall, it was hard to put down and after a certain point I just started to skim through the sex scenes to get back to the story which was multi-faceted but included someone trying to kill one of them (a part of the story I was enjoying but the conclusion fell flat). So 4 Stars for a great story that could have been 5 Star with a bit of work and imagination.

Big thanks to St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy of this book via NetGalley. This review is being give honestly and all thoughts and opinions are my own

Kate Bateman is a recent find for me (if last year is recent lol) and after reading and loving A Wicked Game (which you should also read) I’ve been excited to see what she would come out with next and am happy to say I was not disappointed. Second Duke’s the Charm (title made me lol fr) follows Tess, a widowed duchess and Justin, a wealthy fur trader who inherits said dukedom. I do want to say that I loved how much the book purely focused on the characters and the romance, and you’d think that would be a given but, i did’t see a lot of filler text or descriptions and Bateman didn’t go into depth about the whole dukedom inheritance or estate stuff. She pretty much laid everything out quickly and in an easily digestible manner. I loved that we got both character’s POVs but did feel like sometimes I just couldn’t tell whose POV we were getting at first.

Tess and her friends were a lot of fun and I am hoping so hard that Bateman will give them books each (i mean she probably will). Daisy and Ellie were not only great friends to Tess but I loved the focus on their friendship and business as a whole. Also semi-spoiler BUT wouldn’t it be so fun and crazy if Daisy had a blast from the past as her love interest? IFKYK

Justin was a good hero who plays the perfect role of ‘I’ve seen how love ends and I don’t want it’ and then immeadiately falls first and harder for our heroine. I love a good boy obsessed book because Bateman really took ‘people in love do crazy things’ literally. Like he thought Tess was behind some hijinks and his main worry was if she was in love with someone else. Yeah he was also worried about the other thing he thought BUT he fr was like may beg her to not leave me.

This book was a lot of fun and I can’t wait for the next one!

I've read several from this author--and I think this is one of the best from her! The character dynamic, the relationship, the sprinkled in spice, the Lies that each main character believes in and how it impacts their relationship, plus the pacing?? It had me gripped from the start.

The wedding night death of her husband left Tess the Dowager Duchess of Wansford. She kisses Justin Thornton out of curiousity and he proposed a marriage of convenience. She agrees in order to continue her freedom to investigate London's crimes. j Will they end up falling for each other.

Kate Bateman always write terrific historical romance. This is another wonderful book. Lots of romance, independent female characters, great pacing. Totally enjoy it. The humour is great. Love the wedding night scene in particular.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

This was really good! I loved Kate's voice and I was pulled in from the very beginning. I couldn't put this down. I love the development of the story and characters. There was so much going for it, and I would highly suggest grabbing this one. Especially if you enjoy romance! The romance is so well done! I don't read historical romance often, but each time I read one, they just get better and better! It always reminds me how much I enjoy the genre. If you love historical romance- definitely put this on your list!

The first in a new series, this is not my favorite book by Kate Bateman. It’s a marriage of convenience that takes itself too seriously. I prefer laugh-out-loud humor, banter, and shenanigans, and there’s little of that here. There are some witty exchanges between Tess and Justin, but not enough to lighten the novel. The connection between them wasn’t believable and the ending felt rushed. The whole pace of the novel was uneven. I can’t help but feel too much of the original manuscript was cut, leaving a final version that is oddly choppy.

All that said, I love the idea of a Charlie’s Angels-esque private investigation firm owned and staffed by women and I will absolutely pick up the next book to learn more about Daisy and Ellie. I just hope their books have a little more humor.

Second chance sensual historical
Ms. Bateman pens a Historical with colorful characters, who find a way to achieve what they felt was impossible. The tale is told with bits of humor and erotic passages. If you like your historicals with a bit of intrigue and steam and a happy ever after, this one is for you.
I requested and received a NetGalley ARC gratis and offer my opinion in the same.

Tess was forced (sold) by her money-grubbing father to marry a decrepit old duke. Luckily, he dropped dead on her wedding night, and over the next two years, the authorities searched for a male relative to come and take the duchess' land, house, and holdings, because that's how they did it back then. Fortunately, all the men were dead, leaving her available to enter a marriage of convenience with Justin, a self-made shipping magnate. Justin is a feminist (although they didn't use that word, of course), so he lets Tess continue to run her estate. Secretly, she and her two best girlfriends are also running a detective agency. The story question is whether Justin will overcome his fear of attachment, since he and Tess fall in love after falling in lust. An enjoyable read.

An unloved lady, Tess + a heartless man, Justin is a recipe for disaster! I spent much of this book wanted to slap some sense into Justin. I spent a lot of time feeling so sorry for Tess and how her life was sold out from underneath her, but these two together make a swoon worthy couple! Oliver was adorable, Daisy and Ellie were a hoot. The climax was well written and different than what I anticipated. The author keeps you guessing through this entire story and that is just how I like it. The race was absolutely hilarious as well! Truly worth the time to read it!

I received this ARC for free and these are my own opinions

3.75/5

My review:

There's a lot I enjoyed about this book— the friendship between Tess, Daisy, and Ellie was a delight to read. They are truly Tess's ride-or-dies and can be relied upon for anything from moving a dead body to giving sartorial advice on lingerie. And I loved the detective agency aspect, which made for a fun subplot.

This book is pretty sex-positive as far as historical romances go, which I did appreciate. A lot of it is about Tess's sexual exploration as a widow all while her friends gleefully egg her on, and there's frank conversations about virginity being a social construct, contraception, and pregnancy.

Regarding the romance of it all, there isn't a lot of the conflict you'd expect between an upper-class aristocrat and a self-made magnate who is the heir to her late-husband's title, especially after their first encounter was anonymous. Justin is a very cool and rational sort, so he skips a the melodrama in the early stages of their relationship and immediately proposes a marriage of convenience (which, as one of Tess's friends points out, has as much to do with his dick as it does for "sensible" purposes, as he ostensibly claims). The drama only comes into play post-marriage as Justin starts to fall in love with Tess (which he swore he'd never do but... of course he does), all while growing increasingly paranoid about his wife's intentions towards him. Tess, on the other hand, is just vibing around truffle hunting and trying to foil blackmail plots lolol. Ultimately, Justin's big grovel (yes, there's a grovel) is about humbling himself by doing something extremely dumb and illogical after he spent the entire book trying to treat their marriage as a purely unemotional endeavour.

My one note regarding the plot is that there are lots of seemingly high-stakes situations initially set up there's a blackmail plot, a possible attempted murder plot, plus, Tess hasn't told her husband she co-owns a detective agency (similar to the subplots in many a Grace Callaway Lady Charlotte's Society of Angels book). They were set up well, but as the book went on, I feel like they grew increasingly low-stakes and the outcomes were somewhat underwhelming.

The sex:

There are plenty of hot and inadvertently funny moments during sex scenes because Tess is trying *so hard* to seem like a sexually-experienced woman when she's very much.... not, but the greatest thing is, it mostly works. Like, starting from their first encounter at the masquerade, Tess has Justin (allegedly the smooth, unemotional type) WHEEZING after a mid handjob. And that sets the stage for their sexual relationship through the rest of the book. Some of my favorite moments include:

a) Their wedding night for the reasons mentioned above I won't spoil it but Tess's plan was hysterical), plus, I love a good "say my name" moment.

b) There is a great carriage scene, and I will say, I do appreciate the inclusion of dirty print images as a form of (inadvertently hands-on) sex education

c) For those of us who felt *cheated* by that scene in A Wallflower Christmas by Lisa Kleypas where St. Vincent insinuates he's going to use a pearl necklace on Evie, except we never saw the follow-through... this is your book.

Overall:

If you're looking for a fun, light historical romance centered around sexual exploration and plenty of girl-gang shenanigans, this is your book!

A thoroughly enjoyable romantic romp through Regency London with a dowager duchess, her two best friends, a shipping magnate who's just inherited a dukedom, and queen with a mystery to be solved.

Justin Thornton has just been notified that he is the new, albeit reluctant, Duke of Wansford, whether he wants the position or not. He has made a fortune of his own with a shipping company he created and isn't interested in dealing with the hassles of nobility.
Tess Townsend is the very young and attractive Dowager Duchess of Wansford. Since her lecherous elderly husband died on her wedding night before he could seal the deal, she is also, unfortunately, a virgin. It is definitely not a state she wishes to endure forever.
This intelligent woman and her two lively best friends have formed their own enterprise, an investigative firm, under an alias, which is quite successful. The three together bring out the best, and sometimes the more impulsive, in each other. It is this that brings Tess is contact with Justin at an annual masquerade party that has a rather colorful reputation. Tess's friends hope to assist her in ridding her of her unwanted innocence.
I found the plot interesting, and the relationship between Tess and Justin had definite heat, as well as the requisite angst for a romance to keep me turning the pages. I especially enjoyed the three women and their alliance, as friends and business partners, as they were very entertaining. I look forward to their stories as I assume they are in the future.
I read this as an arc, but my opinions are my own. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity.

Second Duke's the Charm is a fun and charming historical romance sure to be loved by fans of Sabrina Jeffries and Julia Quinn. Tess was forced to marry a lascivious old Duke by her father when she was only 19. When he dies on their wedding night, she experiences freedom and financial independence for the first time in her life. Along with her best friends, she commits to using that independence to help other women...including Queen Charlotte. Despite all this, Tess is lonely. So, when the Duke's handsome successor gives her a somewhat scandalous proposal, she is ready to explore what marriage could really be like! I really enjoyed this story. Parts of it felt unbelievable at times, but Justin and Tess were such wonderful characters that I didn't pay too much attention.

Something about a trio of women willing to band together to break convention always draws me in. I would have loved to have more of that in the story, but I suspect each woman will get her own book. While I liked Tess and Justin, it felt all about the lust. I never really felt like Justin fell in love with her - only because the author told me he had.

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

I admit that Kate Bateman can be a hit or miss with. I just never know going into them which it’s going to be. Luckily after the recent two misses, this one was a hit. Tess & her two friends, whom I really liked, have their own investigation firm. Tess had only been married to her husband for a day when he dropped dead. Two years later “they” finally find the new Duke. Of course, Justin has no time for love, so he makes a business proposition with Tess. She accepts so she can still maintain her independence. I liked the characters, the premise, there were fun moments, a little danger, & some groveling. If you like marriage of convenience stories, this is a good one. The only thing I don’t like, is that I think Kate Bateman uses sex as a way of showing people falling in love. Not a fan of that, but this was a good start to a new trilogy.

I really enjoyed "Second Duke's the Charm", the first in a new series from Kate Bateman. The three women at the heart of this series are funny and smart, and a great example of a found family. Daisy is a particular favorite and I am already looking forward to her story. But this story belongs to Tess and Justin, and it is a good one.

Tess is a virgin widow, her lecherous ducal husband dropping dead on their wedding night, luckily before she had to shoot him. Justin is the very reluctant new duke who has secretly wanted Tess since seeing her across a ballroom years before. Justin almost immediately proposes a marriage of convenience, Tess resists at first as she does not want to cede control over her own self, and she doesn't want to give up the investigation agency she runs with her two best friends, especially now that they have been hired by the queen. But passion - and a lucrative marriage settlement - get her to the altar.

The love story is steamy and just the right amount of angsty. There are minor issues - the murder attempts feel like they were thrown in a little haphazardly just to create conflict for Tess and Justin; the idea that three ladies of the ton could all gather daily at a residence without gossip about seeing them go in or out seems a little nonsensical. The queen adds both drama but also a bit of farce. But the overall story is good, and this reader at least was thrilled to see Tess and Justin find their HEA.

4 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a complimentary ARC of this book. The opinions herein are my own.

Aww the ending was so sweet! I've read Kate Bateman before and also gave that four stars. This is a very solid read. On her wedding night, Tess's awful husband (forced upon her because he was a Duke) drops dead right when he sees her in her bedroom. Tess, along with her friends and colleagues Ellie and Daisy (they have a detective agency together), sets out to have some fun and comes across Justin Thornton (yes I did read this entire book thinking of Mr Thornton of North and South too), the ruthless businessman who's just inherited her late husband's estate, fortune, and title. They have an unforgettable encounter and he offers her a marriage of convenience to get rid of matchmaking mamas. The terms are simple - Tess would become his Duchess, they'd live together for three months and then he'd leave her to her own devices. No feelings, no love, no strings attached. Well, we all know how that goes :)

I enjoyed this! Justin and Tess's romance is very sexy and passionate. I love that she's a detective along with her best friends (there's a good side plot here as they try to solve a blackmailing mystery, frankly I could have read a whole book about their adventures together solving mysteries!) and the scenes with the three of them together were my favourites. I also liked that Tess has a good head for business that Justin can respect and this had four of my favourite things - French toast, maple syrup, truffles, and a Christmas scene. Perfect for this time of year!

My endless thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.