How to Fall for a Scoundrel

Written by Kate Bateman

Narrated by Beverley A. Crick

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?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Aug 20, 2024
• ISBN: 9798890595409

Kate Bateman

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 Ruthless Rivals series A Reckless Match, A Daring Pursuit, and A Wicked Game, 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 her on social media to learn more.

[Emily Lassiter Branch · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this new series from Kate Bateman, so was excited to jump into this, the second in the series. I'm happy to say that it did not disappoint. I enjoy the main characters in this series, a group of young ladies who have started a private investigation firm who are forced by societal rules of the time to come up with an imaginary male "leader" who always happens to be away on important business when his presence is requested. These are bright, witty women whose intellect and backgrounds make them good at what they do. The titular scoundrel in this installment is just the kind of man to test the limits of Ellie Law's wits - and patience. She knows he isn't who he pretends to be, but who is he really? And why is she so attracted to him? And can she trust "Harry", knowing that he hasn't been truthful about his identity? It's another fun, spicy, and engaging story - just what I've come to expect from Kate Bateman.
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing a copy for an unbiased review.

[Andrea Author · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Brilliant detective Eleanor becomes entangled with charming con man Harry, who’s impersonating her fictional boss. Forced to work together, they navigate a dangerous investigation and an undeniable attraction, all while confronting the secrets and lies that bind them.

Funny and irresistible, this book includes a twisty mystery along with a heartwarming romance. Eleanor and Harry are strong and fascinating characters on their own, but together, they’re combustible. I can’t wait for the next book in the series!

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[madison_fairbanks · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

How to Fall for a Scoundrel by Kate Bateman
Her Majesty’s Rebels series #2. Historical Detective agency romance. Alternating POV. Can be read as a stand-alone however the couple from the first book are included as minor secondary characters and the case is referred to in the epilogue.
Eleanor Law delights in secretly proving that women can solve crimes just as well as men. She’s shocked while refusing a potential new client access to her fictional male boss when a charming con man introduces himself as the head of the private investigation firm. The women created the name from a dog! What does this man think he’s going to gain by declaring himself someone else?
Forced to work with Harry Bobheur to find a missing manuscript, Ellie finds herself intrigued by the skills, knowledge and adaptability of the man. He’s glib and polished and charming and relatable all at the same time. It’s making Ellie a bit flustered. The longer they work together, the more she knows there are many layers under the surface he’s always careful to mask.

This was a delightful story with witty banter, a slight mystery and two personalities that click tightly together to capture the readers attention. Unlikely coincidence but one that you will fully buy into. With a slight leaning into benevolence, loved it.
Captivating and charming.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley.

[eyes92c · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Delicious!

An investigative wallflower, a thief and con man, a stolen bejeweled Book of Hours belonging to Bonaparte. Napoleon saw the book as his lucky charm. Someone wants Bonaparte’s luck to return!
Eleanor Law, daughter of the Lord Chief Justice, and co-founder of King & Company, London’s most discreet Investigative Agency, meets her match when firstly a tall dark stranger with interesting eyes kisses her under the mistletoe and then hustles her into making an appointment with him and one of her partners, Lady Dorothea Hamilton the next morning. The other partner is the Duchess of Wansford.
Who is this man who’s already made her heart beat faster, and who knows Charles King is a fictional invention, a cover for the three intrepid investigators. Now he’s proposed that he be Charles King!
A mystery! He’s given Ellie the name Henri Bonheur, Comte de Carabas, straight from Puss in Boots.
Known as Harry, for his part, finds this dowdy, hiding herself young woman enchanting. Why has no one else noticed her?
A pleasing romance with serious sleuthing high on the agenda. When Harry needs the help of the three King investigators, the stakes are high. The chemistry between Harry and Ellie is even higher.
Charming Regency mystery with teeth.

A St. Martin’s Press invite ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.

[grandmacootie · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Here we are back in the good old Regency Era, suffering once again from the hypocrisy, stifling morality, crippling rules, conventions and constraints of it and the Victorian age. The good news is that this is another Kate Bateman special so you know we’ll be in for a good time.

We learned in Second Duke’s the Charm, Book 1 in Bateman’s fantastic Her Majesty’s Rebels series, that Ellie, Daisy and Tess are perfectly capable of successfully running their London private investigation firm King & Co. without the help of a man. Unfortunately, however, not all potential clients (men!) think a “little woman” can be a businessperson. They often ask to meet with the “real boss” before they hire the firm. So there is certainly more business to be had – if Ellie, Daisy and Tess want to give up some control. Which they don’t.

Things get a little complicated, though when a stranger (side note: dimples . . . why do the best ones always have dimples?) catches Ellie under the mistletoe at a Christmas ball and kisses her. Whoa, did not expect the jolt of something like faint lightning that crackled through her. Handsome, clever, self-assured, a little rogue-ish and a lot irritating. Playfully refusing to identify himself except finally as Henri Bonheur, Comte de Carabas. Okay, then. Enough. This kiss was pretty wow but Ellie doesn’t expect or intend to see him again. So moving on . . . .

Except . . . a potential client approaches Ellie at the ball and insists he needs to meet with “Mr. King” and who conveniently pops up except Dimpled Henri, who says why yes, he is the mysterious Mr. King and promptly accepts the case.

That should be enough to have you hooked already. It was for me. If you’ve ever read anything by Kate Bateman before you know how much fun the rest of this book is going to be. Serious, studious Eleanor Law facing off against “Harry.” They do want the business and Harry is talented and clever. But who is this guy really? What does he want? What is he after? Well, after that kiss someone he is after is Ellie. And after that kiss – and being constantly exposed to those dimples – Ellie has a few wants of her own.

Sinfully silly, sexy, steamy, swoony. Ellie and Harry work well together, and also kind of “fit” together, but there’s a lot of head-butting going on, as well as some real danger and uncertainty about who is causing all this trouble. Truly delightful.

Thanks to St. Martin's Publishing Group for providing an advance copy of How to Fall for a Scoundrel via NetGalley, and for introducing me to the 8 Rules of a Gentleman Scoundrel. If Kate Bateman writes it I will read it, and I can’t wait for book three in this wonderful and wonderfully satisfying series. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own.

[barbararogers-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I loved every word of this delightfully entertaining, lighthearted, and totally improbable book. Our hero is definitely a scoundrel and you will love him – you won’t be able to help it, and our heroine is constantly wondering what he is going to pull next! Yet, they were made for each other and you will delight in seeing them work toward their HEA.

We met Eleanor (Ellie) Law in the first book of the series when we first learned about the establishment of King & Company private investigations. Ellie, along with her friends, Tess, Duchess of Wansford, and Dorothea (Daisy) Hamilton knew business wouldn’t come their way unless they had a male at the head of the firm. Therefore, Charles King came into existence. If you are old enough to remember, think of the old Remington Steele TV show.

Henri (Harry) Bonheur, Comte de Carabas – and many other names – is a gambler and a con man claiming to be Charles King, owner of King & Company. He is a charmer who has everyone eating out of his hand, even Tess and Daisy are fine with him taking on the role of Charles King. Ellie can’t believe it! She also cannot believe she is so attracted to a con man who cannot be trusted. What is he really up to?

When Harry finally confesses who he really is and why he has sought them out, the ladies cannot wait to help him. Even Ellie wants to help him though she is sure that if they are successful she will lose him – and she’s gone and fallen in love with the scapegrace n’er do well.

If you are looking for a fun, entertaining romance with a lovable, bad-boy hero and a straight-arrow spinster who wants to spread her wings, give this book a try. It will keep you smiling from cover to cover. You – and Ellie – will always be wondering what Harry will be up to next.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[bookworm_naida · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

How to Fall for a Scoundrel has everything you could want in a regency romance… a charming hero, fun banter and good chemistry between the hero and the heroine with some sleuthing mixed in.

This is book 2 in the Her Majesty’s Rebels Series and although it reads fine as a stand-alone, I would have preferred to have read the first book before diving into this one to get to know these characters from the start. Having said that, I enjoyed How to Fall for a Scoundrel very much without having read the first book.

This was a fun one, I liked Harry and Ellie and they complimented one another well. The chemistry between these two was nice and I really enjoyed the slow burn romance.

This was my first time reading Kate Bateman and I would read her work again. I enjoyed the writing, fun storyline and the romance. How to Fall for a Scoundrel was a fun regency romance with a smart independent heroine and a dashing hero who keeps surprising you, but in a good way. Lastly, the cover is perfect and is taken from a scene in the book. So cute.

[kmartin802_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This second book in the Her Majesty's Rebels series stars Eleanor Law. Ellie and her two best friends Daisy and Tess have formed King & Company, a most successful private investigation firm. However, they are about to lose the chance at a lucrative investigation for a missing valuable book because they can't introduce their prospective client to Charles King, their fictional boss.

In steps "Henri Bonheur" who claims to be Charles King. Ellie has met Henri at a ball and is very taken with him even though she knows he is a scoundrel and thief and a man who won't share his real name. He does prove his worth in the investigation into the lost manuscript. But Henri, or Harry, has a problem of his own.

He wants to hire King & Company to prove that he is Henry James Charles Brooke, the twelfth Earl of Cobham. He was taken to the Continent at age fifteen after the deaths of his parents by his uncle Hugo. There is a large change of appearance between fifteen and twenty-five and most who know him have passed away.

Luckily, Harry does have one unique feature - his eyes are two different colors. He was studied by an optometrist who wrote about his eyes in an article published in the Royal Society's annual book. They need to track down the optometrist to find his notes because his paper doesn't name Harry.

All along the way, as they search for missing manuscripts, win back a famous jewel, and try to find out the proof of Harry's claim. Ellie and Harry are falling in love.

This was an entertaining historical romance set in 1816. I liked the characters.

[libstaff2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Loved it! This book is part of a historical romance series, but can be easily read as a stand-alone novel. The setup and plot are fun and engaging. The female MC is intelligent and a bit sassy, while the male MC counterpart complements her well with his confidence and thoughtfulness. Witty and playful banter accompanies the cases the team are investigating. Looking forward to the following one. Think Charlie's Angels meets Regency England. For historical romance readers.

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[cats57_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I found that this novel was so well-written that I did not have to read the first book in order to understand it.

This was a charming romance centered around one of the founding members, Ellie, of King & Co., London’s most successful private investigation firm. Interestingly this company is run by women and the "king" person is fictional...until now!

There is plenty of intrigue, and we even have an unforeseen twist that makes this book even more interesting. There are plenty of sensual scenes between Ellie and 'Harry' as he prefers to be called. And they will curl your toes.

My only complaint that kept me from giving this book a four-star rating was the overuse of certain words, one of which is 'dimple'. Ugh!

This was a very fast read that you may be able to do in under 5 hours.

*ARC was supplied by the publisher St. Martin's Publishing Group/Macmillan Publisher, the author, and NetGalley.