Title: How to Fall for a ScoundrelAuthor: Kate Bateman
Series: Her Majesty’s Rebels #2
Pages: 304
Publication Date: Aug. 20, 2024
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Historical
Synopsis:
Two unlikely allies team up to solve a case in this novel filled with Kate Bateman’s signature sparkling voice, exciting adventures, and steamy chemistry.
As a founding member of King & Co., London’s most successful private investigation firm, studious Eleanor Law delights in secretly proving that women can solve crimes just as well as men. When a charming con man pretends to be her fictional boss, “Charles King,” Ellie knows he’s lying, but accepting the scoundrel’s offer of help might just be the key to cracking her new case and recovering a priceless manuscript.
“Henri Bonheur”—or “Harry” as he asks to be called—claims his criminal past is behind him, but a man who steals and seduces with such consummate ease can never be trusted. As the investigation draws them deeper into danger and desire, Ellie’s infuriated to realize she’s developed feelings for her law-breaking accomplice. How can she love the scoundrel when she doesn’t even know his real name? And what will happen when Harry’s past finally catches up with him?
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This is the second book in the Her Majesty’s Rebels series, and it’s just as fun as the first one! The story follows Ellie who owns and runs King & Co., a highly successful investigative firm with two of her friends. After an unexpected encounter at a ball, Harry claims to be the infamous King, and though it’s a total lie, Ellie goes along with it to help him solve a mystery and to gain a client who will only hire men.
Harry’s a self-proclaimed thief, and Ellie knows she shouldn’t trust him. But the more they work together, the harder she falls for the enigmatic man. There’s definitely more to Harry than he’s saying, and the unraveling of secrets is fantastic. I also love the strong friendship between Tess, Ellie, and Daisy. They are all strong intelligent women who defy societal stereotypes, and the way they support and respect each other is friendship goals.
Harry and Ellie are total opposites in so many ways, yet they fit so perfectly together. Harry is a shameless flirt who exudes charisma and charm, and Ellie is a self-conscious bluestocking who prefers to blend into the background. Ellie is a rule follower and the daughter of a barrister, and Harry is a thief with a murky past. It seems like they would have nothing in common, but they actually complement each other well. I love how Harry gets Ellie to let loose a bit as they start investigating together. Sneaking into the Tower of London, pretending to be lovers, the pair go on an exciting adventure, and Ellie changes so much because of it. She becomes much more confident and sure of herself, and it’s so good to see her gain a sense of worth.
Some of the tension in Ellie and Harry’s relationship stems from Harry’s mysterious past. He goes by many names, and Ellie struggles with the fact that she’s falling for a man she really doesn’t know. He is so gone for her. My word it’s wonderful! There are some scenes that had me melting because they were so romantic, and others made me melt because they were pretty steamy! lol Theirs is definitely a swoon-worthy love story!! And the banter? Perfection! You can feel the sparks between them from their very first meeting and in every conversation they have. Bateman always has the best dialogue and banter in her stories.
I always enjoy Kate Bateman’s historical romances, and this is no exception. It’s such a fun and sexy story, and the banter, wit, and suspense are fantastic! Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
“To acquire knowledge, one must study; but to acquire wisdom, one must observe.”
“You are remarkable. Never forget it.”
- opposites attract
- reformed rake & wallflower
- secret identity
- found family
- long lost earl
Kate Bateman, (also writing as K. C. Bateman), is the #1 bestselling author of Regency, Victorian, and Renaissance historical romance. Her Renaissance romp, The Devil To Pay, is a Romance Writer’s of America 2019 RITA® Finalist and her Regency-set A Counterfeit Heart (Secrtes & Spies series) won the 2018 Book Buyer’s Best contest for Best Historical Romance.
Kate wrote her first historical romance in response to a $1 bet with her husband who rashly claimed she’d ‘never finish the thing.’ She gleefully proved him wrong. Her books feature her favorite intelligent heroines, (badasses in bodices!) wickedly inappropriate banter, and heroes you want to both strangle and kiss.
When not traveling to exotic locations ‘for research’, Kate leads a not-so-secret double life as a fine art appraiser and on-screen antiques expert for several TV shows in the UK, each of which has up to 2.5 million viewers. Before writing romance, Kate was director and valuer at her own UK Auction House, Batemans in Stamford, Lincolnshire. She currently splits her time between Illinois and her native England and writes despite three inexhaustible children and that husband… who still owes her that dollar.
