ABOUT THE BOOK
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?
MY REVIEW
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.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kate Bateman, (also writing as K. C. Bateman), is a bestselling author of historical romances, including her RITA® nominated Renaissance romp, The Devil To Pay, the Bow Street Bachelors series (This Earl of Mine, To Catch an Earl, and The Princess and the Rogue), along with the novels in the Secrets & Spies series (To Steal a Heart, A Raven’s Heart, and A Counterfeit Heart).
When not writing novels that feature feisty, intelligent heroines and sexy, snarky heroes you want to both strangle and kiss, Kate works as a fine art appraiser and on-screen antiques expert for several popular TV shows in the UK. She splits her time between Illinois and her native England.
Follow Kate on her website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and Pinterest.
