A review by sarahesterman
Second Duke's the Charm by Kate Bateman

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

It’s almost funny to me that if you’d asked me a month ago if I liked regency romance, I would’ve said, “Not really,” but with a few exceptions. Because if you asked me the same question today? It’d be the exact opposite. There’s just something about stories where women find their power and agency in systems that make them powerless; I cannot get enough. 

 

Second Duke’s the Charm by Kate Bateman was a delight. Three young women running a detective agency? Sign me up. A marriage of convenience with a rakish self-made man who doesn’t believe he can fall in love? Yes please. A misunderstanding that actually makes a ton of sense because both characters have good reason to keep information from each other? Give. Me. More. 

 

The only thing that didn’t work for me was the third-act conflict. The misunderstanding I understood,

but her ending the agreement didn’t make sense to me. It felt like an easy way to wedge them apart so that he could have a big grand gesture for a dramatic happy ending… but the grand gesture also didn’t add up for me.

 

 

But overall: adorable. Would definitely recommend, and I will be reading the rest in the series when they come out.