Kate Bateman is officially on my "I will read whatever she writes always & forever until the end of time" list. The ladies of Charles King & Company are at it again and this time it is bespectacled Ellie who her man. Bateman's characters are always interesting and engaging and Henri/Harry is no exception. A charming rogue with a mysterious past? I mean what's not to love?! I have thoroughly enjoyed the built in mysteries in the series and so much. I can't wait for Daisy's story and to revisit these characters in the next book.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the ARC.

There's nothing Eleanor Law loves more than proving she's just as intelligent as any man. She and her two closest friends are the founders of King & Co., London's most successful PI firm. While they tell everyone the real work gets done by their boss, Charles King, the girls are the brains and muscle behind the operation. So, when a mysterious man claims to be their fictitious boss, Ellie knows he's lying, but his fib could help them crack their latest case.

Harry has had many names throughout his life, his most recent being Henri Bonheur, but what he wants more than anything is to regain his real name. Harry is ready to ditch his criminal past and reclaim what's rightfully his, but to do so, he needs proof, and for that, he needs Ellie. The pair come to a mutually beneficial arrangement, and soon, their proximity leads to a desire that can't be snuffed out. There's no way Ellie can let herself fall for a conman, but will her feelings change once Harry's past comes to light?

Kate 👏🏻 Bateman 👏🏻 never 👏🏻 misses. She's one of my top histrom authors for a reason. Every time I pick up her books, I know I'm guaranteed a good time. Everything from the writing to the characters to the banter is always on point. I was living for how cheeky Harry was. He was a perfect balance of playful and caring. I loved how he loosened Ellie up a bit. It wasn't hard to piece together his backstory, so I didn't find his big reveal all that dramatic, but it was fun watching it all play out. Another thing I love about this series is the friendship between our three MCs. Ellie, Tess, and Daisy are friendship goals, and I love watching them solve crimes and be total badasses together. If you're looking for a fun, steamy new historical romance series to get into, I can't recommend this one enough.

I read this whole thing in a day and I loved every minute, it was hard not to fall for our MC’s and who doesn’t love a regency romance?!

Delightful, delicious, flirtatious fun! Kate Bateman is my go-to when I want to see a heroine who can hold her own be swept off her feet by a scrumptious man who will tantalize, tease, and only slightly torment her, and this second in Her Majesty's Rebels series is completely adorable from start to finish. Ellie Law, daughter of the Lord Chief Justice and one third of King's Investigative Agency, knows that the rogue who kissed her at the ball gave her an alias from the Puss in Boots story. But Harry also offers to help pose as Charles King to help secure a major client, and Harry's criminal background proves useful in recovering a stolen Book of Hours. Ellie knows she's in over her head when Harry starts bringing out her naughty side--next thing she knows, she's lying, thieving, and playing the role of an experienced lady of the night--but there's a reckoning in store when she learns the real reason Harry has returned to London after all this time. With entertaining supporting characters, though Daisy steals every scene she's in, a rich historical setting--if you've ever toured the Tower of London, you'll be able to follow along with the characters when they visit--and snippets of Italian, which is only my favorite language for scoundrels to croon in a heated moment, this swift, entertaining read is simply FUN. No need to read the first to follow along, but why wouldn't you want to read more Kate Bateman? Her books are an absolute delight.

Kate Bateman does not miss! She is so talented and I would honestly read her grocery list!!! There was steam, a mystery and banter was phenomenal!

Another hit by Kate Bateman! I've really been enjoying this series and the second installment is no exception. Bateman consistently weaves a perfect balance of romance and mystery/action but the heart of the story is always the romance. This book focuses on Ellie, the studious wallflower of our gang of lady investigators. A mysterious -and handsome- stranger steals a kiss from Ellie under the mistletoe and after that he's pretty much impossible to shake off. He convinces Ellie to let him work with them and -later- to take on one of his own mysteries as a case for King & co.
I loved the dynamic between Ellie and Harry -I'm always a sucker for opposites attract and Harry's outgoing scoundrel is a perfect match for Ellie who is level-headed and pragmatic.
I am waiting eagerly for Daisy's story and can't wait to see who her love interest is going to be! (I keep theorizing we've already met him but I'm probably wrong haha)

Big improvement over the first book in the series!
Really enjoyed this one start to finish, had a really good sense of who the characters were, they had good chemistry, and within pages I was also falling for the scoundrel.
It was a fun, light read with a few moments of suspense but overall low stakes.
Bateman is setting up book three real nice, can't wait!

I am a huge fan of Kate Bateman and am always excited to read anything she writes, so I wasn't surprised that I enjoyed this one. I can say that it probably wasn't my favorite of hers, though the bar for a Kate Bateman favorite is incredibly high for me. This has the typical KB components that I love - a smart and engaging female main character, a male main character who is a bit of a rogue but is also obviously redeemable and is delighted by the heroine's intelligence and sense of humor, a bit of mystery, a bit of adventure. My only real complaint with this one was that I wanted the adventure elements to be a bit more developed. This series features King & Co., a private investigation firm that is actually run by three women, and so my expectations for adventure and intrigue are pretty high. It was here, but I wanted more! But that didn't detract from the excellent character development, fun banter between the leads, and, of course, a great romance.

An absolute delightful book!

The owners of Charles King & Company are exceptionally resourceful detectives with a great solve rate. How to Fall for a Scoundrel was Ellie Law & Henri Bonheur’s story that included white hot chemistry between the two and some brilliant capers that lead even hotter celebrations!!

I do love Kate Bateman’s storytelling. Because of her experience as a fine art appraiser and owner of an auction house, Kate shares her wealth of knowledge with her readers. It is a wonderful way to learn just a little more about that period in history.

I can’t wait for Daisy’s book! It absolutely promises to be thrilling and action packed!!

How to Fall for a Scoundrel, the second installment in Kate Bateman's series Her Majesty's Rebels, is an easy read, both entertaining and mysterious. Set in Regency England, three friends, Eleanor "Ellie" Law, Daisy Hamilton, and Tess Townsend, the Dowager Duchess of Wansford, form a private investigation firm called King & Co. Much like the TV series Remington Steele, Charles King, the head of the firm, does not exist. The three women made him up to give their firm credibility. However, a mysterious gentleman steps into Ellie's life and assumes the role of Charles King. The similarities between the TV program and Kateman's tale stops there.

Bateman weaves an intriguing story around the man playing Charles King. He is a thief, a playboy, a high stakes gambler, and the Earl of Cobham. At least, once he can prove his inheritance and take his rightful position in society. In the center of the tale is a charismatic Englishman, who meets an intelligent English maiden, who inspires him to become an honest man. Their romance is charming and pulls the reader to cheer for their union. The writing is smooth and the pace of the story keeps the reader engaged.

How to Fall for a Scoundrel follows the first book in the series, Second Duke's the Charm, featuring Tess. Book three in the series will focus on Daisy and the entanglements of her happily ever after story.

Loved it! This book is part of a historical romance series, but can be easily read as a stand-alone novel. The setup and plot are fun and engaging. The female MC is intelligent and a bit sassy, while the male MC counterpart complements her well with his confidence and thoughtfulness. Witty and playful banter accompanies the cases the team are investigating. Looking forward to the following one. Think Charlie's Angels meets Regency England. For historical romance readers.

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Thank you, St Martin's Press and Netgalley, for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Ellie and her 2 friends run an investigation business that only works because they lie and say it's run by a man, Charles King. Charles King doesn't exist, but when a client wants to meet him, a scoundrel who goes by many names pretends to be him. He promises Ellie that he's turning over a new leaf and leaving behind his thieving past and wants to help her business. Ellie is suspicious that he has other motives, but she starts to really like working with him. Can she trust him?
I loved this book! The tension between Harry and Ellie was great. I like how much Harry loves Ellie's intelligence and lets her speak her mind. I also liked all the action and excitement of solving their cases. Overall, this was a really fun read, and I really want to go back and read book 1.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/MacMillan for access to a review copy.

This is a fun historical and an excellent follow-up to Second Duke's the Charm. The two books in this series are the only bookes of Bateman's I have read to date. I think Ineed to start looking into her back catalog.

Harry and Ellie are delightful and I liked the Remington Steele vibes (to date myself). Fast-paced with great flow. Can be read as a stand alone.

Recommeded!

This is an entertaining, well-written, steamy, historical romance novel. It is fast paced with short chapters, and has a likable, strong and intelligent female protagonist, an appealing, kind and caring male protagonist, engaging banter, wit, a touch of humor, supportive friends, mystery, intrigue, sizzling chemistry, a heart-warming romance, and a happily ever after ending. This is an excellent addition to Ms. Bateman's outstanding "Her Majesty's Rebels" series, and it can be read as a stand alone.
Many thanks to St. Martin's Press, Ms. Bateman, and NetGalley, who kindly provided me with an ARC of this delightful novel. This is my honest opinion.

In How to Fall for a Scoundrel, Ellie and Harry are initially complete opposites. Ellie is prim and proper, and Harry lives up to the title of scoundrel, with a well-earned reputation for cheating and thieving. His acting skills put him in a perfect position to help Ellie and her friends take on a case that sets them on the path to recover a valuable book and romantic overtures. Admittedly, even though it's an enemies to lovers trope and it's fun, it feels a bit more unrealistic than other romance stories Bateman's written. This book is a little bit different than some of the others in that there's two secondary storylines, with one transitioning into the other - a chance for Harry to reclaim his identity. Naturally, this is also the responsibility of Ellie and her friends. I still loved this story, but there are love stories that Bateman's written that feel more convincing, and give a little more depth to their male character than Harry gets in this one. I also kind of like the single secondary storyline better too. And I'm definitely looking forward to Daisy's story. A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was such a fun book! The chemistry between Ellie and Harry was hot but also believable—the attraction was well-grounded in the story. I loved the intelligence of all of the characters and that we see women as ambitious, smart, complex characters. Such a great mix of romance and mystery/adventure, with just the right amount of steam.

Thanks to the publisher for providing an eARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

A fantastic series that had plenty of intrigue and just the right amount of steam. I can't wait for Daisy's turn.

How to Fall for a Scoundrel
by Kate Bateman
Pub Date: Aug 20 2024

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?

Loved it! Kate Bateman has yet to disappoint. This time, she has created a loveable scoundrel in the person of Harry. He's easy on the eyes, brimming with charm, and oozing masculine sensuality...it makes perfect sense that Eleanor (Ellie) falls for him. He makes her step out of her comfort zone, and in doing so, she steps into her true self.

The romance is great, the mystery/crime-solving quite enjoyable....there is nothing not to like about this book. I'm already anticipating the next book in the series!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for access to this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Huge thanks to NetGalley for the eARC. I've been a huge fan of Kate Bateman's work for years, particularly her Ruthless Rivals Series, and I must say Her Majesty's Rebels is giving that series a run for its money! Most if not all of Miss Bateman's heroines are out of the norm when it comes to Regency social norms and Ellie is no exception. I loved how competent and resourceful Eleanor was throughout the book and how Harry respected and appreciated her as her own independent and capable woman. "Second Duke's a Charm" might still be my favorite book in the series so far, but How to Fall for a Scoundrel is a solid addition to the series.