Reviews

Second Duke's the Charm by Kate Bateman

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sarahesterman's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

It’s almost funny to me that if you’d asked me a month ago if I liked regency romance, I would’ve said, “Not really,” but with a few exceptions. Because if you asked me the same question today? It’d be the exact opposite. There’s just something about stories where women find their power and agency in systems that make them powerless; I cannot get enough.

Second Duke’s the Charm by Kate Bateman was a delight. Three young women running a detective agency? Sign me up. A marriage of convenience with a rakish self-made man who doesn’t believe he can fall in love? Yes please. A misunderstanding that actually makes a ton of sense because both characters have good reason to keep information from each other? Give. Me. More.

The only thing that didn’t work for me was the third-act conflict. The misunderstanding I understood,

but her ending the agreement didn’t make sense to me. It felt like an easy way to wedge them apart so that he could have a big grand gesture for a dramatic happy ending… but the grand gesture also didn’t add up for me.

But overall: adorable. Would definitely recommend, and I will be reading the rest in the series when they come out.

theeclecticreview's review

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4.0

A gorgeous, sexy man with a smirk who loves maple syrup and puppies? Yes, please. Not to mention he gives a new meaning to bath beads… Sigh.

Kate Bateman’s first book in a new series is about three female friends who run King & Co., London’s most exclusive investigative agency. The book, which revolves around Tess and Justin, is a tale of love, passion, and intrigue.

Tess Townsend is a beautiful woman who was forced into a loveless marriage by her father. However, fortune smiles on her when her repulsive husband dies on their wedding night, leaving her with a title and her virginity intact. Enter Justin Thornton, a shipping magnate with an aversion to love, never expected to inherit a dukedom with a widowed Duchess included. But when he attends a masked house party and kisses Scarlet aka Tess, he realizes later that she is the Duchess and proposes a marriage of convenience that will benefit them both. Tess will get to keep her title and own her own business, while Justin can secure his position in society and continue his life as before. However, what starts as a business arrangement soon turns into something more.

Tess is a strong and independent woman who has faced numerous challenges in her life. She is not afraid to take risks and is willing to fight for what she wants. Justin, on the other hand, is a man of power and influence who is used to getting what he wants. However, as he gets to know Tess, he realizes that there is more to life than just business and that maybe he has a heart after all.

Add in Tess’s closest friends and business partners, the intelligent and reasonable Ellie Law, and the straight-talking and naughty Daisy Hamilton and the entertainment is complete. I can’t wait to read their stories.

This delightful story is a perfect balance of sweet and spicy leaving readers feeling satisfied and eager for more. Bateman has created a world that is both captivating and intriguing. The romance between Tess and Justin is heartwarming, and the premise surrounding King & Co.’s mission to help unfortunate women is compelling. If you are looking for a good historical romance, this one is worth checking out.

Thank you to Ms. Bateman for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.

absterlee's review

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3.0

Typically love love love Kate Bateman but to me this one lacked depth on all fronts and the idea of the plot was infinitely more interesting than it turned out to be. Also the conflict is contrived and it has the worst case of “I broke up with you but you’re respecting my decision so obviously you never loved me at all” that I’ve ever seen. I do, however, love a HR spy, even more so when it’s the FMC. So props for that.

onmyown's review against another edition

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4.0

Oh, she's goood

justinkhchen's review

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4.0

4 stars

An effortlessly readable, charming start to a new historical romance series, Second Duke's the Charm showcases all of Kate Bateman's strength as an author: charming banter, sharp, contemporary writing (I would say her books are a great place to start for readers new to the genre), and a good balance between plot and romance.

I particularly enjoyed the all-females, 'Charlie's Angels', detective agency setup, and the novel actually put this aspect to good use with some decent sleuthing sequences. The arranged marriage trope was also well-executed, even though the resolution to the third act conflict felt abrupt and rather inconclusive (however it was definitely 'grand'), and one could argue this novel leaned into the recent 'spicy romance' preference with its abundance of steam—while I appreciated the variety, it did feel a bit excessive and indulgent at times.

Second Duke's the Charm doesn't break any new ground, and it isn't the most memorable historical romance I've ever read, but it's overall well-crafted (I was hooked from the very first paragraph), lighthearted, and filled with plenty of endearing details—and sometimes that's really all one needs.

**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**