Ellie is part of a 3 women investigative team. She meets Harry by chance while hanging on the sidelines of a ball.Thus begins an adventure discovering a lost book, gems, and finally, the papers to prove Harry is the Lost Earl of Cobham. Along the way, they fall in love. Sweet book!

How to fall for a Scoundrel is book two in Her Majesty's Rebels series and if you're anything like me, after reading Second Duke's the Charm, you've been anticipating Ellie's story! And what a fun one it is!

Ellie is one of the founding members of King & Co- a PI firm the ton would not be happy to know is run by three women. So they've made up a fictional boss 'Charles King'. That is until a mysterious thief steals a kiss from Ellie and decides he's going to play Charles King. They decide to take advantage of the opportunity and work with him on a case. And as Ellie does so, the banter between them soon turns into serious chemistry and lust. But Ellie is sure he's keeping secrets of his own.

I really adored both Ellie and Harry. Ellie is a wallflower with so much more to her than meets the eye. And Harry, that charming scoundrel, he sees that in her and wants to learn more about her. The way he was with her, total swoon. There is definitely an attraction and lust that develops into some great steam. But I loved the verbal sparring that leads us there. These two couldn't be more perfect for one another and it was so fun to see them get their HEA. I really adore the friendships these women have as well and can't wait for Daisy's story!

*I received a complimentary ARC from St. Martin's Press via Netgalley. All opinions are my own and given freely.

vibes: charming fast talker, con artistry, fun and frothy

Heat Index: 6/10

The nerdy Ellie is determined to prove, with the help of her friends and their private detective agency, that women are just as good at investigating crimes as men. She knows that the mysterious man claiming to be her fictional boss Charles King is a con artist, but as she looks for a priceless manuscript, she thinks that he may just be able to help her find it anyway. The only problem is that fake Charles, who's actually Henri "Bonheur" (as if) who really just wants to be called Harry... truly is that charming. And Ellie may be falling for him. For real. Even though she probably doesn't even know his real name.

This was very fun--light, a little silly at times, very much a fun mystery versus a Mystery Mystery, and sexy. It may have been a little TOO light for me at points, but that's totally a taste thing. I am an angst girl. While there is is some "you lied to me!" shit here (naturally) it's very much on the romcom side of things. I mean, this is Charlie's Angels but make it historical (and not the first time I've seen that take--which isn't a bad thing, we should probably have multiple versions of that) and it's meant to be run and a romp.

One thing I really liked about this one was the pacing. It's fucking fast. From the jump, you get this really engaging, snappy repartee between Harry and Ellie. They have a lot of chemistry, they kiss pretty quickly, and they do Other Things pretty quickly too. Largely for fun! Like, they're falling in love, but they're also having. Isn't that nice?

Never does this book take itself too seriously, but the mystery does in fact make sense, and you do still feel your feelings. Could it have gone a little harder? Maybe, but again, that's me.

The Sex:

Similarly to the rest of the book, the sex is light and fun and quite hot. I really enjoyed the virginity loss scene. In so many romance novels, the couple maintains a playful edge everywhere except the bedroom, and this book thankfully avoided that. They stayed consistent! They stayed cute! They stayed sexy!

Also, really love the female friendships in this series and the way they support each other on issues like sex, and get excited when one of them has good sex, and so on. It adds to the sense of girls supporting girls.

This is a quick read and a good time--I have a feeling that it's going to be popular among the historical romance lovers who also enjoy a dash of mystery.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Loved reading the wonderfully written romance story. Eliie and her two friends are investigators for a company called King & Co with a fictional owner Charles King, and when Mr. Bullock wants to only speak with Charles King, a con man, Henri Bonheur "Harry" pretends to be Charles King. As Ellie and Harry work on the case, the chemistry between the two of them expands. Read the highly recommended and a must read riveting love story.

This regency series centers around King & Company, a London detective agency run by three very good friends; Tess, Daisy and Ellie. Mr. King is their fictitious boss, until someone overhearing a private conversation claims to be the elusive Mr. King. Henri Bonheur, Comte de Carabas seeks Ellie out a ball steals her first kiss and proceeds to steal her heart. This 2nd installment has a few twists, an expected turn and a "where did that come from". Bonheur knows who Ellie is before they meet. He's evasive in his name, occupation and family, but but she falls anyway. The storyline is good, well developed plot, enough backstory to connect the dots and loveable characters.

The friendship between Ellie, Daisy and Tess is present in every thing they do and may be my favorite part of this series. The love, support and grace they show each other is an example we should all emulate and hope for in our lives. They are different in station, but it is no matter, they can tell each other anything and there is no judgement.

This can be stand-alone, but better read in order. Patiently waiting for Daisy's story. .

This book was so good. I finished it in a day; I could not put it down. I just thought both characters were so compelling and it was just an all-around good time. No thoughts, just vibes with this one.

Ellie owns a detective agency with her two best friends. One day, while attending a ball, she stumbles upon Harry, a thief who offers to team up with her to recover a manuscript.


I feel like this is one of those books where the couple is together from the very first page. I loved Ellie and Harry's banter so much. There are lines in this that I kept repeating to myself they were so good. I also really enjoyed the investigation and the writing is one-of-a-kind (it really flows so well). There are whole passages full of details that were just wonderful, like Harry explaining different card tricks, I just liked that the author delves deep into different things just because it's interesting. The only reason I'm giving it four stars is that I feel there was no build-up at all, Ellie and Harry kiss almost immediately. I do appreciate the total absence of angst (the drama comes from elsewhere) but I like a bit of a slower burn. This is top notch, though, I'm always shocked at how much I enjoy Kate Bateman each time I read her.

My endless thanks to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC!

Kate Bateman's How to Fall for a Scoundrel is a traditional historical romance with a hint of mystery. The story follows Eleanor Law, an investigator and co-founder of London's most successful private detective agency, King & Co. When a charming conman named Henri Bonheur assumes the identity of her fictional boss, "Charles King," Ellie is thrown into a whirlwind of intrigue and undeniable attraction. It is reminiscent of a particular trio of angels with a fictional Charles. The story dives straight into the "fake boss" situation, creating a sense of urgency, but the lack of extensive discussion among the group seems a lost opportunity to get to know the characters better.
Nonetheless, Ellie is intelligent, independent, and fiercely determined. She's not afraid to break the mold of traditional Regency heroines. Henri has a mysterious and shady past but is charming and generous. The story hurries through his past, but despite its colorful nature, it fails to add any intrigue. The pace is fast, and any entanglements are quickly resolved. Perfect for those who like a quick romantic read. This might not be the best choice if you're looking for a book filled with twists and turns, but the romance is lovely.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing this book for review!

I have amazing luck with Kate Bateman’s books and this was no exception. Ellie works for King & Co., as a private investigator. Harry is a thief with a heart of gold. They team up on various cases while faking for each other more and more.

Like what’s not to love about that?!?! I actually loved both characters. Ellie is so practical and Harry makes her walk on the wild side. While Harry is a bit free and loose with rules but is turning over a new leaf. They truly compliment one another SO WELL.


The plot is filled with missions and this keeps you engaged the whole time. I was just waiting for what happened next. The two of them were also a perfect investigative team!


The side characters are all so good! Harry’s uncle Huge is great and I’m so ready for Daisy’s story.

This is such a fun series!

4.5 Stars

How to Fall for a Scoundrel is the second book in Kate Bateman's Her Majesty's Rebels series. I discovered Bateman a few years ago and she quickly has become a favorite HR writer of mine. Her plots are always such fun and the leads are swoon worthy.

Eleanor Law is cofounder of the mysterious private investigative agency King and Co. No one in the ton knows that the elusive Charles King is really a group of women investigators. When a strange man steals a kiss from Eleanor under the mistletoe. and then purports himself to be Charles King in front of a prospective client, Eleanor must figure out who is really is and not just the many characters he portrays.

I'm not one for a spy mystery story in my historical romance but Kate Bateman continues to make me eat my words. Both books in the Her Majesty's Rebel's series are fantastic and don't rely too heavily on the spy storyline. The mystery serves to further the plot but isn't the entire plot. It's a fun romp and the banter is top notch. I was genuinely surprised when the hero's true identity was revealed. It takes a lot to surprise me now a days. "Harry" is so fun and he and Eleanor played off each other so well. A lot of books purport to have a scoundrel hero but Harry truly was one, and I loved him for it.

Tropes included: mysterious backstory, bluestocking heroine, scoundrel hero, wallflower heroine, secret identity, undercover work, solving a mystery

Thank you to Kate Bateman, NetGalley, and St Martin's Press for this eARC. All opinions expressed are my own. #KateBateman #NetGalley #HowToFallForAScoundrel #StMartinsPress

This was great and very much true to Kate Bateman form. Fun characters, a mystery that was not super complicated but fun, a twist you could see coming but felt smart for figuring out. Highly enjoyable and I definitely want to see what happens for Daisy to finish out the trilogy.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was extremely fortunate to receive an ARC of this storyfrom Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Kate Bateman never fails to amaze me with her beautiful unique stories.  How to Fall for a Scoundrel is exactly what makes her a fabulous author. Eleanor Law is one of three women of an investigate team. However, poeple are always wanting to meet their imaginary male boss, Mr. King. Harry, a reformed thief introduces himself as Mr.King to a potential client and the world for Eleanor turns tipsy turvy from that point forward. The magnetic pull both have towards each other is so magnanimous that itbis hard for Eleanor to decide the true Harry who later claims to be a long lost Earl. A fabulous story!

4.5-5 Stars! Loved this book! Kate Bateman is such a talented author, she’s in my top 3 favorite authors of all time!! This is the second book in ‘Her Majesty’s Rebels’ series and can be read as a standalone. The main characters were Ellie & Harry and I loved both of them. I had a smile on my face for a majority of this book, with all the witty banter the main characters had. They were perfect for one another. Harry was charming and knew how to pull Ellie from her wallflower shell. A few surprises I didn’t see coming & absolutely enjoyed. I love when a book has surprises in it that I don’t see coming since a lot of romance books can all sound alike after a while. Definitely worth reading & I 100% recommend! You won’t be sorry with a Kate Bateman book!
*I received this book at no charge & I voluntarily left this review.*

What a delightful book! Ellie and her two friends run an investigative business. Henri is a scoundrel and gets involved in helping them solve a crime. There’s costumes, disguises, and everything you could hope for in a detective regency romance!

The dialogue between Ellie and Henri is so witty and I adore their verbal sparring. I found myself laughing out loud often. The pacing is perfect and I never had a moment where I felt like the book dragged. It felt like a quick read and I wish I got to see more of “Carlotta and Enrico.” Those were my favorite scenes. I could have read at least another hundred pages of them working together on solving crimes. I loved seeing not just a romance being built, but a true friendship of equals who respected each other.

The relationship between Ellie, Tess, and Daisy was also very sweet to read. It was nice seeing such a warm and supportive girl friend group.

This happened to be the first book I read from the series, and I didn’t feel lost at all, so it can be read as a standalone. Although now I definitely want to dive more into the different stories!

I received an advance copy of this book for my honest review. Thank you to the author and the publisher!

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the arc of this book. all opinions are my own.

I will post my full review once SMP address the insensitive comments of their employee.

Harry is a mystery with all kinds of skills. Ellie and Harry match so well they fall for each other fast. All the characters are great and add to the story so well your kept very entertained. Can’t wait for the next book.

I absolutely adore Kate Bateman's books and this was no exception. Harry and Ellie were just wonderful together and the story had me hooked!

Thank you for the early copy!

The three young women running the Charles King investigation agency are surprised when a man, using a pseudonym from Puss in Boots, steps into one of their investigations claiming to be Charles King. Ellie Law works with him on a case to retrieve a stolen gem encrusted gold book and sex blossoms. He is back in England to prove his identity after living as a con man and thief. Queen Charlotte even makes an appearance. Bateman's series will appeal to fans of Bridgerton.

This was a sweet continuation to the series, I enjoyed the story with its interesting challenge. The characters were interesting, the pace however was a bit slow

Really enjoyed this one, even more than the first of the Her Magesty’s Rebels book! Ellie and Henry are such a fun pair to follow.