About the Book:
Title: Second Duke’s the Charm
Author: Kate Bateman
Series: Her Majesty’s Rebels
Page Length: 320
Publication Date: Dec. 26, 2023
Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks
Synopsis: The wedding-night death of her much older husband left Tess Townsend the Dowager Duchess of Wansford—and still a virgin. Now she and her two best friends investigate London’s most scandalous crimes, and while Tess longs to experience physical pleasure for herself, she can’t risk losing her treasured independence…
Cynical shipping magnate Justin Thornton never expected to inherit a dukedom, but he’ll do his duty. When the ravishing woman he kissed at a party turns out to be the Dowager Duchess, Justin sees an obvious solution: a marriage of convenience that will suit them both.
But the passion that sparks between them is anything but convenient. As Tess works on a new case at the request of Queen Charlotte, her increasingly suspicious behavior makes Justin question her motives—and her past. The infuriating woman clearly can’t be trusted, but Justin doesn’t believe in love, so there’s absolutely no danger of him falling for his own wife…is there?
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, including Amazon, and I may earn a small commission, at no cost to you, if you purchase through my links.
My Review:
Kate Bateman is such a great historical romance writer, so I was super excited to hear she had a new series in the works. Second Duke’s the Charm is the first book in Her Majesty’s Rebels and follows Tess, the first rebel and one of the owners of King & Co, a private investigation company. Tess was forced into an unwanted marriage with a significantly older man who died on their wedding night before he could consummate the marriage. After two years of mishaps, Justin Thornton, a wealthy shipping magnate, inherits the title, and Tess quickly realizes Justin is the man she had a passionate moment with not long ago.
Tess longs to experience intimacy and passion, and she’s eager to lose her virginity to maintain her reputation as a free and experienced widow. And when Justin offers a marriage of convenience with no emotions attached, she agrees, believing this is her best option for maintaining her freedom. But secrets between them and people with murderous intent put their lives and futures at risk. It’s such an entertaining story with the perfect mix of mystery, drama, and romance, and it’s a great start to Bateman’s new series!
Tess and Justin have an incredible amount of chemistry, but Justin doesn’t believe in love, and Tess wants to keep her independence. They both hold each other at arm’s length, which becomes increasingly more difficult as they spend time together. Both characters also struggle to trust, which makes sense considering their histories. They have compelling stories and arcs, and I loved how they broke down each other’s walls. There were times when I wanted to shake Justin, though. He was a little oblivious and judged Tess harshly even though he was totally smitten with her. I think he did this partly to keep his walls up, much like Tess does when she isn’t completely forthcoming with Justin.
The investigation is intriguing too, and I love the women of King’s & Co. Intelligent and brave, they work really well together and prove that women are as capable as men in a society where women are considered the inferior sex. I’m excited to see who will be the focus of the next story and what kinds of investigations will come their way in future books in the series!
Thanks to St. Martin’s Paperbacks and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
Rating:
Favorite Parts:
- The romance!
- The characters.
Favorite Line:
“You, Justin Thornton, are a man who knows the cost of everything, and the value of nothing.”
Tropes:
- marriage of convenience
- opposites attract
Ooh, mystery, drama, and romance!? It sounds so good 😍 This is going on the TBR now, lol. Great review!
Yay! Thanks, Dini. I hope you enjoy it when you read it. 🙂