Review: How to Fall for a Scoundrel (Her Majesty’s Rebels #2) by Kate Bateman

                                                    

Print Length: 304 pages

Publisher: St.Martin's Press (August 20, 2024)

From Goodreads.com: 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?

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My Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Although this is book number two in the series, I don't think anyone would have an issue picking it up and reading it as a stand alone. It is easy to see that the three women behind King & Co are not only highly intelligent, but also very close friends and I was pleasantly surprised to see how easily "Harry" fit in with the group. I also liked the way he kept Ellie on her toes, although sometimes it felt as if their banter bogged things down more than moved them along. 

As for the mystery portion of this novel, I will admit I struggled a bit as for the most part? It just seemed to easy. A book is stolen from the museum, and the first clue arrives almost immediately after (although I can see how that was done to show off how useful "Harry" can be to the company). And then a visit to an all-too-happy-to-help tailor later, and they have their man. No muss, no fuss. From there, it was too too easy for them to gain access to the man's house and find the stolen property. 

From there, we focus for a bit on the romance between "Harry" and Ellie. Now, I will admit they did have an undeniable chemistry together, and while I did see a bit of my least favorite trope (instalove) rear its ugly head, I also enjoyed the little moments between them while they were investigating the different cases that I wish would have been used instead. 

Of course, what is a romance novel without a little drama, and this one comes in the form of Hugo (first introduced as "Harry's" mentor) accidentally lets it slip that "Harry" is actually Henry. An Early that has been "missing" for years. And he needs help proving he is in fact, who he says he is. 

As the rest of the novel unfolds, King & Co finds a way to not only help Henry in his quest, but also recover a stolen gem as well. All while Ellie tries to resist her attraction to the man because she "knows" it won't end well. And honestly, that was another thing that annoyed me, but it's more a pet peeve of my own than a fault by the author. Why can't heroines ever believe that a man wants them? In this case it was because she had no connections, and no dowry, etc etc, but hadn't he already proven to her that he appreciated her mind above all else?

All things considered, I hope I get a chance to read the third novel in this series just to see if Daisy meets the highwayman I think she will in her story. And even if she doesn't? The fortune teller from the first book hasn't been wrong thus far so her story will still, no doubt, be interesting. 

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.