I enjoyed this second in the series following three smart, sassy women who launch their own detective agency in regency London. Their agency uses the aegis of the name of the fictional "Charles King" to add a man's name to their work, which works well until a client insists on meeting Mr. King face to face. Enter Harry of-the-many-last-names who offers to act as Mr. King while seducing Eleanor Law, the wallflower with the quick mind who is one of the women behind the agency. Add some banter, smoldering attraction, and a long lost earl and you have the makings of a scandal. 3.5 stars for some pacing issues and a bit of the weary "just talk to each other!" trope in the third act conflict.

Kate Bateman’s Her Majesty’s Rebels series follows the women behind King & Co., a successful private investigation agency in London. How to Fall for a Scoundrel is the second installment of the series about Eleanor Law, the daughter of the Chief Justice who definitely thinks his child is some sort of secretary or research assistant for King & Co.’s owner and namesake, Charles King. Unfortunately for pops, Ellie is not only a detective, but she co-owns the business with her two best friends. Oh and also Charles King is a totally fictional man created to give their firm legitimacy. Because patriarchy.

Ellie gets smooched by a mystery man at a holiday party just before receiving a job inquiry to recover a stolen artifact. This customer absolutely refuses to speak to anyone but Charles King himself. Before she can decline the job, Ellie’s mystery man swoops in and introduces himself to the potential customer as [insert gasp here] Charles King!

Henri Bonheur (d/b/a one million different identities but we’ll call him Harry) is a recently reformed thief who has given up a life of crime to assist King & Co. By assist I mean he inserts himself directly into their business without asking first, but who are they to turn down a human willing to pretend to be their boss when he has access to means of information a woman never could. Harry knows how to think like a criminal, and could potentially offer a completely new perspective to their agency.

This is one of those novels that is so captivating that suddenly you’ve have hit the epilogue and you’re completely BEREFT that it’s over. There are mysteries, delightfully supportive female friendships, a couple that is down real bad…it will engage you from cover to cover. This is probably my favorite Kate Bateman series so far. If you’re a fan of Sarah MacLean’s Hell’s Belles series, this one is right up your alley.

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this eARC via NetGalley! All opinions are my own.

Release Date: August 20, 2024

4.5 stars
This is a fun, entertaining read. I love the exchanges between Harry and Ellie. They are each other’s perfect foil 😊. The path to their HEA is full of twists and turns, and very entertaining to read. These two will keep you on your toes. I love that we get to see so much of Daisy and Tess in this story and am looking forward to Daisy’s story. The secondary characters added to the fabric of the story and my enjoyment. The story is easy to read and get into.

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

Three strong female characters running a Private Investigation business with a titled non-existent owner. Two are nobles with connections to the aristocracy. Having solved a previous crime for the Queen and the willingness to interact with all levels of society gives them an edge. The hero is handsome and intelligent, but his stories are questionable. The attention to detail and historical references are well done. All in all a good romp through Regency England.

This was the low-angst read I needed, with the cheeky scoundrel noticing the plain bespectacled woman even before she becomes more adventurous in her dress and more confident in herself, like She’s All That, no makeover needed. It did feel like they fell in love a little quickly, but I really enjoyed how they became a mystery-solving team with multiple cases to solve, and especially how the Robin Hood character respected his female colleagues and deferred to their own experience.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Eleanor enjoys her job and is surprised when she meets a man who says he can help. She doesn't trust this person, but her feelings for him deepen. A nice read.

What a wonderful and fantastic time I had reading How to Fall for a Scoundrel. It’s just as amazing as the title sounds and it’s one to miss!

Many thanks to the publisher for this e-arc!

Last year, when I read the first book in this series, I was excited to meet a new group of ladies in business for themselves and unashamedly living their best lives. This story adds a fun and exciting twist to the series.

With fabulous characters who have an electric chemistry between them, we are treated to effortless banter and a charming, sexy criminal who is the definition of insta-lust. Bateman brings the heat in this one and it is perfect for the storyline.

How to Fall for a Scoundrel is fun and unique, and I think it is one of my favorite books by her so far. Beautifully plotted with great supporting characters that bring a lovely balance to the story. Plus, strong main characters who are fun, witty, and smart to solve the crimes of the day.

A delightful story that is sexy, steamy, and worth every second of your precious reading time.

I loved Harry because he handled each situation so smoothly but remained a mystery man. He definitely set Eleanor back on her heels but she came back fighting and showed she could handle each situation that they encountered. Great characters along with mysteries, adventures and love stories equals such an entertaining read. I am looking forward to the next book in the series!

Kate Bateman has created a really fun world with this series- an investigative agency secretly run by three women, all friends from growing up.

I’ve really enjoyed Kate Bateman books in the past, but this one fell a little flat for me. The insta-love that was established on the first page never really gets thoroughly explored or supported. It was simply- he saw her, he loved her.

While I really liked the male and female leads, their characters never became fully formed for me. They remained a bit flat.

I still enjoyed this book and think a lot of regency romance readers will enjoy this low angst, pleasing read.

This story was so brilliant and is my new favorite novel by Kate! I absolutely LOVED the dynamic and chemistry between Harry and Ellie. By all accounts they should not have been attracted to each other as the daughter of the Chief of Justice and a self-proclaimed criminal, but their chemistry was instant and constantly simmered between them as they work to solve the case of the stolen artifact. The mystery surrounding Harry's true identity frustrated and intrigued me equally, but just like Ellie, I couldn't help but be swept up in his easygoing nature and charming dimples. The banter and humor between Ellie and Harry was so effortless, while their passionate interludes were so steamy, and I cannot wait for Daisy's book🖤

Tropes: opposites attract, hidden identity, mysterious charming hero, bluestocking heroine, meet-cute, instalust, mystery-to-solve, STEAMY🔥

4 Stars for Harry and Ellie!

The way that this romance starts with a kiss, literally, was the best thing ever! Harry and Ellie meet under the mistletoe at a ball and from there, they are swept up in each other.

Kate Bateman certainly knows how to draw a reader in! Ellie was adorable and spunky! "Harry" was a  mysterious, sexy rogue.

According to Harry, "Rule #4: Never mix theft with seduction". And boy oh boy, do Harry and Ellie mix work and pleasure.

The banter between Harry and Ellie is the best part of the whole story. I love that Ellie doesn't back down and holds her ground. Harry has such a way woth words and has everyone blushing!

Harry and Ellie's first real kiss was incredibly spicy! I love how it played out and I loved seeing Ellie come out of her shell! Have your fans nearby! My favorite person was definitely Carlotta, heehee! What an amazing singer ;)!

How to Fall for a Scoundrel is a must read for historical romance lovers! It is a fun and romatic read! Kate Bateman creates such an original world with Tess, Ellie and Daisy and King & Co.! I will definitely be buying a paperback copy when the book officially releases! And I can't wait for Daisy's story!!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of Kate Bateman's, How to Fall for a Scoundrel.

This was a fun and light read for me. I enjoyed this second in the series more than I did the first book. This can be read as a stand-alone as not knowing the story of the first book’s couple doesn’t hinder you from understanding what’s going on in this book. One thing I would say is that I was hoping to see more of the romance develop between Harry and Eleanor. I didn’t find myself as invested in their relationship as the story progressed faster than their relationship did.

** Thank you St.Martin’s Press for providing this ebook for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

ARC BOOK REVIEW: How To Fall For A Scoundrel by [author:Kate Bateman|14031754]Kate Bateman

Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Spice: 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️
Banter: 💬 💬 💬 💬 💬

Summary: Ellie is swiftly taken with a strange man whom she meets at a ball seems to be a thief at first glance, but this scoundrel has some rules of his own that make what he does morally sound. Being a man of many names, Ellie decides to use him to her advantage in her investigator business when women are not meant to do men's work. Not only does she swoon at the kiss he plants on her at the ball, but this mysterious scoundrel is hiding something, so she has to keep on her toes. Will she fall for this handsome and charismatic scoundrel? Or will she send him to the gallows?

What I Loved: I became instantly obsessed as soon as Ellie was kissed. The ultimate page-turner for romance lovers, Kate Bateman knows exactly what she is doing and I cannot wait to read more of her books in this series! I love that this book was a standalone and was easy to get into. Ellie and her two best friends Tess and Daisy have a very dynamic and fun relationship in this book which helps the fact that Ellie is a little self-conscious and not at all 100% confident with her looks and brains. I loved this book because it also had multiple points of view from both Ellie and her scoundrel. There is a great mixture of romance and sex in this book and the author even gives you a little bit of a bonus at the end.

What I Did Not Like: I wished for more of this couple working together to solve more mysteries and wished it would have been longer or even for Kate to write more on this couple and their future adventures if any.

Good/Bad Ending: SPICY ending, with an opening for the next book in this series. Loved the closing.

Vibes: Bit of a slow-burn, <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8270592/">Miss Scarlett & The Duke (PBS Masterpiece)</a>, If Pride & Prejudice were Robin Hood

Special thanks to the Publisher and the Author for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest, and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.

not for me. this just didnt have the depth I'm used to (from other historical romances! comparing apples to apples), it felt stilted to read, and I wasn't fully connecting with the characters. barely finished. wasn't really satisfied. It very much felt like it was written heavily influenced by the perspectives in modern times. If you like the premise of this book, I'd recommend the Hells Bells series by Sarah MacLean instead.

"How To Fall For A Scoundrel" was the first book I read by Kate Bateman, but it certainly will not be the last.

I absolutely enjoyed all the banter and sleuthing in this fun, light-hearted lovestory that follows law-abiding Ellie who, together with her two friends, runs a private detective agency, and reformed thief Harry. Together, they have to solve a case, but the real mystery is Harry's true identity.

Although this is the second installment of the "Her Majesty's Rebels" series, it can easily be read as a stand-alone novel.

Kate Bateman once again has written a compelling love story with characters that you root for and a mystery that carried the reader through the pages without wanting to put the book down. The ladies of King and Co are bold and unapologetically themselves in a time when that would have diminished their prospects, yet they continue to find men who find this just as alluring as the reader does. I eagerly anticipate the final installment in this trilogy.

I adore Kate Bateman books and "How to Fall for a Scoundrel" is one of the best ones yet. The chemistry between our shy wallflower Eleanor and the ever charming Harry was so much fun. I loved Harry's easy-going style and how he gave Ellie the confidence to come out of her shell. Ellie and her crime-fighting partners have another case to solve, but what they find out along the way of solving one case leads them directly to solve another case involving Harry. The plot flows along nicely with a couple of good twists and turns, and can be read as a stand alone story. I love this series and am looking forward to reading the next book.

Kate Bateman’s second book in Her Majesty’s Rebels series, How to Fall for a Scoundrel, delightfully continues where book one ends with the story of three devoted, female friends, Tess, Ellie, and Daisy, and their own private investigations firm, King & Co. One of the founding trio, Eleanor Law, known as Ellie, is practical, level-headed, non-titled, and fixated on the rule of law. Unexpectedly, she is kissed under the mistletoe by a charming scoundrel who mysteriously has a vague handful of names when asked, but hangs onto “Harry” with Ellie and her world. Harry involves himself in King & Co.’s investigations and is drawn to Ellie, with one becoming more adventurous and the other eschewing a colorful past.

While none of us would want to give up the bold, brawny, breathtaking, and brooding males so often in this genre, Harry is a hero just as enticing with his dimples, handsome presence, cheerful approach to life, Shakespeare-quoting comments, and panoply of talents – some lawful, some not so much. Harry and Ellie closely work together and even pursue an investigation regarding Harry. He also brings out Ellie’s own beauty and zest for life. This writer makes a love story captivating and memorable by letting her characters’ strengths play freely. One can even forgive the “abuse” of a basil plant and relish a trip to the Tower of London with such a delectable and sensual story. The proposal scene is unbelievably fun and sweet, and I had to read it twice for the sheer joy of it.

To review this book, I reread book one, and that was no hardship. It was enjoyable and brought back how much I enjoyed it the first time. It was a pleasure being in their lives once again. This writer is one of my favorites, and I impatiently look forward to the third book and hope it is about Daisy and her dagger.

I am grateful to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley, and Kate Bateman for giving me an opportunity to read this book early. I enjoyed every page of it. This opinion is all my own.

What a fun book!

Ellie is part of a trio of women crime solvers helping to seek justice in the world. Our hero, whatever his name may be at the time, is her exact opposite. When they unexpectedly team up, everything becomes a bit chaotic, for the best reasons.

I had SO much fun reading “How to Fall for a Scoundrel.” Kate Bateman is always one of my go-to writers, and this may be my favorite of hers so far. The chemistry and banter between our hero and heroine are fan-freaking-tastic. The friendships of Ellie and her co-workers, Daisy and Tess, are well built and add to the humor and heart. I had a smile reading so much of this book.

Another great book by Kate Bateman!