Title: Second Duke’s the Charm (Her Majesty’s Rebels #1)
Author: Kate Bateman
Published: December 26, 2023 by St. Martin’s Paperbacks
Source: Received from the Publisher in exchange for a review
Type: e-ARC
Blurb:
Meet Her Majesty’s Rebels: three brilliant women who run King & Co., London’s most exclusive investigative agency…
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?
Check it on Amazon & Goodreads
Happy Release Day!!! A new series by this beautiful writer! I read her Bow Street Bachelors and half of the Ruthless Rivals series and all were so fun to read. When the publisher reached out to offer me an ARC of her first book in Her Majesty’s Rebels series, I immediately jumped at the opportunity.
Even from page 1, this story delivered. I was laughing my heart out at the mischiefs the three best friends were plotting. Tess Townsend found herself a widow on her wedding night no less. Forced by her father into a marriage with a seventy two year old duke at the age of nineteen, the man’s heart gave out before the marriage was consumed, luckily. Now Tess, a young dowager must struggle to show her new employees and tenants that she is more than a fortune hunter. The desire to experience her first kiss leads her in the arms of Justin Thornton, recently invested as the eight Duke of Wansford. A marriage of convenience, a man who sees love as idiotic and a woman with a secret vigilante life are the ingredients that make this book a great read.
“That’s rather romantic, for someone who claims not to believe in love.” His smile was bittersweet. “I didn’t say I didn’t believe in it. I said it was stupid and illogical.”
I loved the first part of the story, how Tess and Justin enticed each other and as well her attempts at faking her experience in intimate matters. The second part of the book seems more focused on the side story that gets mixed into Tess’ marriage. The three best friends try to help the Queen avoid a major scandal.
The author, as per usual, created strong female characters, brave and smart who want to defy the rules of society, discretely. She did not shy away from showing even the indiscretions and even the short minded men who only viewed women as tools or pretty things to keep at home. Precisely because of that, Justin was oblivious to the innocence his new bride possessed.
I enjoyed my time with this book so, so much. Even though the love confession was out of the blue (a lot of time dedicated to the action and not so much to building feelings). I am so happy for this story being release! There is the promise of so much more at the end of the first installment and I cannot wait to discover what’s next.
Cover Review: Oh, the red dress, so fitting for this cover. Yup, I like it and it goes well with the story.
Favorite Quote: “It’s the antithesis of reason and logic. History’s littered with fools dying for love, going to war for love. Ruining themselves for love. That’s not romantic. It’s imbecilic. Look at Lady Caroline Lamb, smashing a glass and making a scene when Byron ended their affair.” He shook his head. “Ridiculous.” Tess bit back a laugh at his fervency. For someone who claimed to be dispassionate, he seemed to have very strong views on the subject. “And what about the Trojan War?” he continued. “That all started because Paris thought he was in love with Helen, another man’s wife. He wasn’t in love, he was in lust. And he dragged thousands of men to their death because of his unruly loins.”
Let me know in the comments below what books have you read by Kate Bateman and if her new series sound exciting to you. Until next time, happy reading 🙂
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