This was an absolute delight! Second Duke's the Charm was super fun and sexy and I had a great time reading it. This was my first time reading Kate Bateman and it won't be my last. I can't wait for more in the series.
Second Duke's the Charm (Her Majesty's Rebels #1) by Kate Bateman
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?
4 out of 5 stars
Second Duke’s the Charm was an entertaining, sweet, and sexy story! I loved Tess and Justin and how their story unfolded with so many
fantastic scenes and witty moments. It moved along at a good pace that was
lively and quick and I found myself smiling while reading because it was so fun.
I loved Tess and how strong she was and how she was making
the most out of her life given the circumstances. I loved her and Justin
meeting, it was passionate and humorous all rolled into one. They had great
chemistry and a playfulness between them that I really enjoyed. I liked them meeting
again and how the marriage of convenience came into play. I really liked how it
evolved since neither of them thought they’d fall in love, it was highly entertaining. I liked them
getting to know each other, their playful conversations, and how they matched
wits.
This was a charming story that was exciting
to read. I liked Tess’s friends, the bonds they had, and how they wanted to
do good for others. This story is the first in the series and I plan on continuing
because I want their stories too. I liked the dual POVs and thought it flowed
well. There was a little conflict and drama involved, just enough to keep it moving along and me totally invested. This was a light, fun story with
great characters that made for an incredibly enjoyable read. This was my first time
reading this author and this story makes me want to delve into her back list. It
was definitely a winner!
Complimentary copy received from St. Martin's Press.
"Entertaining and charming story with great characters!" - About That Story
Thank you St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy of Second Duke's the Charm.
Connect with Kate Bateman
Kate Bateman is a new-to-me author and I'm thrilled to have found her. Did you read any new authors this year that you really clicked with? Let me know!
