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nina_chan01 's review for:
Second Duke's the Charm
by Kate Bateman
Kate Bateman continues to deliver some of the best historical romances with the first volume in a new series that pits the smart ladies of the ton against the roles society sets for them.
We meet Tess Townsend, the new Dutchess of Wansford, on her wedding night after she was basically sold off to the ancient Duke by her dissolute father in order to get money. But luck is on her side and the Duke dies of a heart attack as soon as he sees her in her nightclothes, and Tess is free to continue unmolested and living as the Dowager Duchess. The freedom of her new situation lets her create a PI company with her closest friends that lets them help those with cases that the police don't.
Justin Thornton has spent his life working hard to get where he is in life and isn't too happy to be burdened with the responsibility of a title. His plans to set things in order and leave London as soon as possible quickly change when he discovers that the Dowager Dutchess isn't the old woman he expected but the gorgeous Ms. Townsend he remembers seeing years ago and knowing that he could never even approach her.
They quickly get pulled together but Tess has her virginity and profession to keep secret and Thornton has sworn off love as nothing but pain. And it's a pleasure to read about them opening up and discovering sides to each other they didn't suspect. Even when Thornton has his bullheaded moments, it's a pleasure to read about them becoming a real couple.
The characters are fun and breathe life into the story in a way that kept me turning pages and looking forward to spending more time with them. I'm really excited to see what Bateman does with Tess' friends.
My one gripe is that the case and another mystery get resolved bit too easily and neatly for my tastes. I get keeping the page count low and the plot moving, but I would have enjoyed reading more about that.
Delighted thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Paperbacks for the wonderful read!
We meet Tess Townsend, the new Dutchess of Wansford, on her wedding night after she was basically sold off to the ancient Duke by her dissolute father in order to get money. But luck is on her side and the Duke dies of a heart attack as soon as he sees her in her nightclothes, and Tess is free to continue unmolested and living as the Dowager Duchess. The freedom of her new situation lets her create a PI company with her closest friends that lets them help those with cases that the police don't.
Justin Thornton has spent his life working hard to get where he is in life and isn't too happy to be burdened with the responsibility of a title. His plans to set things in order and leave London as soon as possible quickly change when he discovers that the Dowager Dutchess isn't the old woman he expected but the gorgeous Ms. Townsend he remembers seeing years ago and knowing that he could never even approach her.
They quickly get pulled together but Tess has her virginity and profession to keep secret and Thornton has sworn off love as nothing but pain. And it's a pleasure to read about them opening up and discovering sides to each other they didn't suspect. Even when Thornton has his bullheaded moments, it's a pleasure to read about them becoming a real couple.
The characters are fun and breathe life into the story in a way that kept me turning pages and looking forward to spending more time with them. I'm really excited to see what Bateman does with Tess' friends.
My one gripe is that the case and another mystery get resolved bit too easily and neatly for my tastes. I get keeping the page count low and the plot moving, but I would have enjoyed reading more about that.
Delighted thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Paperbacks for the wonderful read!