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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
[a:Kate Bateman|14031754|Kate Bateman|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1621202026p2/14031754.jpg] introduces three young intrepid investigators who run King & Co—London’s most exclusive private investigative agency in [b:Second Duke's the Charm|127280018|Second Duke's the Charm (Her Majesty's Rebels #1)|Kate Bateman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1686588409l/127280018._SY75_.jpg|148388206], the first book in her new series Her Majesty’s Rebels. The novel focuses on a marriage of convenience between the reluctant and still virginal Dowager Duchess of Wansford Tess Townsend and shipping magnate Justin Thornton, who inherits her late husband’s dukedom.
I’m drawn to novels and stories where women work in professions that are unusual or considered beyond their reach because of societal limitations. I love the idea of King & Co. not only because it reminds me of a favorite TV show from my youth—Remington Steele—but also because it’s an intriguing idea that gives Tess and her two best friends the chance to use their innate skills to solve mysteries and conduct investigations on behalf of the Queen. I love her friendship and partnership with Ellie and Daisy and am excited to read their novels.
Forced by her father to marry, Tess Townsend became the Dowager Duchess of Wansford upon her much older husband’s death on her wedding night, but she still is a virgin. Tess investigates London’s most scandalous crimes with her two best friends and partners in their detective agency, King & Co. She values the independence she’s finally gained and will not sacrifice or risk losing it despite her longing to experience physical pleasure and intimacy. Tess has a passionate encounter at a party while masked with a stranger—never expecting to see him again.
Despite never expecting to be the long-lost heir to a dukedom, shipping magnate Justin Thornton reluctantly accepts the title and its duties. When Justin discovers that the stunning woman he kisses at a party is the Dowager Duchess, he convinces her to enter a temporary marriage of convenience. However, the chemistry and passion sparking between Justin and Tess is intense, fiery, and inconvenient. Tess’s work on a new case on behalf of Queen Charlotte draws Justin’s attention to her increasingly suspicious behavior, causing him to question her past, reason for marrying him, and motives. This reinforces his fear that she can’t be trusted, which shouldn’t be a problem for Justin, who doesn’t believe in love. But could he be in danger of falling for his own wife?
I love Tess and Justin’s passionate, sexy, funny, steamy, intimate interactions and love scenes full of banter that develop their characters and further the story. Intelligent, kind, witty, and innocent, Tess is a young, beautiful, independent, and clever businesswoman. Unfortunately, people only see her beauty. While she wishes things were different and she could be valued and loved for who she is and not just her looks, Tess uses it to her advantage in her investigations. Her relationship with Justin allows Tess to explore her sexuality safely. A self-made, work-obsessed, ruthless, clever, decisive, and cynical businessman, Justin is devastatingly handsome, tenacious, and used to being in control. He believes love is foolish and illogical. Neither is prepared for how they begin to develop feelings for each other that feel much deeper than passion and sex, especially Justin.
Bateman balances the secondary suspense plots well with her romance. However, I wouldn’t have minded more exploration of these suspense elements/plots. Her vibrant description, deft character development, colorful language and storytelling, and well-constructed action and suspense scenes draw readers in and keep them glued to the novel.
[b:Second Duke's the Charm|127280018|Second Duke's the Charm (Her Majesty's Rebels #1)|Kate Bateman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1686588409l/127280018._SY75_.jpg|148388206] is a sexy, funny, steamy, suspenseful, and fast-paced romance recommended for historical romance, marriage of convenience, and light mystery fans.
An advanced review copy was provided by St. Martin’s Paperbacks via Netgalley for review.
I’m drawn to novels and stories where women work in professions that are unusual or considered beyond their reach because of societal limitations. I love the idea of King & Co. not only because it reminds me of a favorite TV show from my youth—Remington Steele—but also because it’s an intriguing idea that gives Tess and her two best friends the chance to use their innate skills to solve mysteries and conduct investigations on behalf of the Queen. I love her friendship and partnership with Ellie and Daisy and am excited to read their novels.
Forced by her father to marry, Tess Townsend became the Dowager Duchess of Wansford upon her much older husband’s death on her wedding night, but she still is a virgin. Tess investigates London’s most scandalous crimes with her two best friends and partners in their detective agency, King & Co. She values the independence she’s finally gained and will not sacrifice or risk losing it despite her longing to experience physical pleasure and intimacy. Tess has a passionate encounter at a party while masked with a stranger—never expecting to see him again.
Despite never expecting to be the long-lost heir to a dukedom, shipping magnate Justin Thornton reluctantly accepts the title and its duties. When Justin discovers that the stunning woman he kisses at a party is the Dowager Duchess, he convinces her to enter a temporary marriage of convenience. However, the chemistry and passion sparking between Justin and Tess is intense, fiery, and inconvenient. Tess’s work on a new case on behalf of Queen Charlotte draws Justin’s attention to her increasingly suspicious behavior, causing him to question her past, reason for marrying him, and motives. This reinforces his fear that she can’t be trusted, which shouldn’t be a problem for Justin, who doesn’t believe in love. But could he be in danger of falling for his own wife?
I love Tess and Justin’s passionate, sexy, funny, steamy, intimate interactions and love scenes full of banter that develop their characters and further the story. Intelligent, kind, witty, and innocent, Tess is a young, beautiful, independent, and clever businesswoman. Unfortunately, people only see her beauty. While she wishes things were different and she could be valued and loved for who she is and not just her looks, Tess uses it to her advantage in her investigations. Her relationship with Justin allows Tess to explore her sexuality safely. A self-made, work-obsessed, ruthless, clever, decisive, and cynical businessman, Justin is devastatingly handsome, tenacious, and used to being in control. He believes love is foolish and illogical. Neither is prepared for how they begin to develop feelings for each other that feel much deeper than passion and sex, especially Justin.
Bateman balances the secondary suspense plots well with her romance. However, I wouldn’t have minded more exploration of these suspense elements/plots. Her vibrant description, deft character development, colorful language and storytelling, and well-constructed action and suspense scenes draw readers in and keep them glued to the novel.
[b:Second Duke's the Charm|127280018|Second Duke's the Charm (Her Majesty's Rebels #1)|Kate Bateman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1686588409l/127280018._SY75_.jpg|148388206] is a sexy, funny, steamy, suspenseful, and fast-paced romance recommended for historical romance, marriage of convenience, and light mystery fans.
An advanced review copy was provided by St. Martin’s Paperbacks via Netgalley for review.
I never miss a Kate Bateman release, this book is an excellent example of why!
Oh man, Kate Bateman has done it again! Her historical romances are my absolute favorite; always an instant buy!
You had me at marriage of convenience! This book was a lot of fun! Fast paced and easy to get through, I really enjoyed reading this! I've never read anything by Kate Bateman before, but I will defineltly be contiuning this series, and checking out Kate Bateman's other books. This was a lovely historical romance, and I really liked the main characters Tess and Justin, they had great chemistry. I also liked how there was a light mystery thrown into the plot, along with the romance.
Overall, this was a light fluffy read, and was just what I needed to get out of a reading slump.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!
Overall, this was a light fluffy read, and was just what I needed to get out of a reading slump.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is a great first-in-series historical romance that appears to be setting up at least two more stories. This book belongs to widow (and secret virgin) Tess and Justin, the man who succeeds her dear husband as duke. What started as one clandestine tryst becomes a marriage of convenience situation. It’s always fun to watch as very real feelings develop in these fake relationship situations. I’m adding the rest of the series to my TBR.
Thank you Netgalley for the advanced reading copy! Kate Bateman is a must read for me, and this book overall did not disappoint in this new series. Tess is a widow after her first husband, an elderly duke, dies on their wedding night. Her friends and her start a women’s detective agency, and she also decides to enter into a marriage of convenience with the new Duke Justin. So overall this is a romance, combined with a mystery/friendship/adventure plot. I liked this book, but it was not my favorite Kate Bateman novel. The things I liked about it were that it’s swoony, sweet groveling at the end, nice steam between the two main characters, great female friendships, and a fun adventure plot with the female detective agency. My problems with it were that the ending felt rushed, there was a lot of talk about her virginity (not ever a fan of that), the Duke was kind of mean towards Tess and his misconceptions of her, and the grand gesture at the end was sweet, but fell a little flat for me - though the groveling was good. Overall I definitely recommend this for fans of historical romance and Kate Bateman, it just wasn’t my favorite of hers (she has really written some amazing historical romances).
I adore this author and this book was just another amazing read. The main characters were so good and the story just brought me in and never let go. I wish I could be friends with these characters even during that time period. I just highly recommend this book. I mean I bought the irl book and the e book and the audiobook so that’s definitely saying something.
Men had looked at her admiringly before, but Thornton stirred something inside her, a desire to look back, just as closely. He was a fascinating creature; a mysterious, beckoning unknown. She wanted to know everything about him.
4.25 stars
Kate Bateman has quickly become one of my go-to authors for brilliantly written and intriguing historical romance, so even though I don't normally enjoy the 'widow trope', I took a chance on this story. Fortunately, the heroine is widowed in the very first chapter and there is definitely no love lost between the duchess and her duke, so I was able to dive into the story and follow along easily.
I really loved the beginning half of this novel; the friendship between Tess, Ellie, and Daisy was so amazing as they truly supported and loved each other. I also loved the buildup and sexual tension between Tess and Justin as they muddle through their growing attraction for each other in the face of their marital arrangement. However, I do feel as though it got a bit repetitive towards the end as I waited for the resolution of Tess's investigation and for her relationship with Justin to finally evolve into a true love match. Overall, this was another fantastic story by Kate, and I look forward to Ellie and Daisy's books
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced