Second duke's the charm

Bateman (A Wicked Game) opens the Her Majesty's Rebels series with this suspenseful Regency romance. After being forced to marry a frail older duke who dies on their wedding night, Tess Townsend is left as the new Dowager Duchess of Wansford--and still a virgin. Relishing her independence, she dedicates herself to solving crimes with her friends Ellie Law and Daisy Hamilton as partners in the King & Co detective agency. Though Tess occasionally longs for romantic pleasure, her inexperience holds her back. Enter the magnetic Justin Thornton, the new duke of Wansford, with whom Tess shares a sensual encounter during a masked ball. Though Justin has sworn off love, he can't deny his lust for Tess and, after they discover each other's identities, he proposes a mutually beneficial marriage of convenience that would also advance the dukedom. The lovers' banter crackles and their sexual chemistry burns up the pages, but readers will long for more emotional development as their marriage progresses. More successful is the suspense plot as Tess and friends investigate a case solicited by Queen Charlotte herself. The camaraderie between Tess, Ellie, and Daisy as they flaunt the status quo is delightful and spells good things for future installments. Despite some hiccups, this is sure to appeal to Bateman's fans. Agent: Patricia Nelson, Marsal Lyon Literary. (Dec.)