Another fun, exciting romance from Kate Bateman that had me hooked right from the start all the way to the end.

The Montgomery and Davies clans have been rivals for as long as time itself. Maddie and Gryff were the appointed representatives sent out to meet on a specific day to fulfil the requirements of the peace treaty between the families. They find themselves smack in the middle of a smuggle operation and the very dangerous people running it. And hiding behind their animosity, is a very strong attraction.

Right from the start the writing and the story had me in its grip. I just couldn't put it down. The entire premise of the feud is intriguing and sets the tone of the book so well. Gryff and Maddie are very likable and together they make magic happen. I loved the action, intrigue, and passion. I can't wait to read more from this brand new series. I am a huge Kate Bateman fan, and this one cemented it even further for me.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The first line in this novel set the tone, and I grinned. The Davies and Montgomerys had been the ultimate "enemies next door" for centuries. Forced by a long ago king into a truce with specific rules, they lived on properties that adjoined each other. They fought like the proverbial Hatfields and McCoys. Gryff Davies is the new Earl and head of the family, just back from London (there were reasons for his return, as he IS a reputed rake), and he's forced to deal with Madeline Montgomery regarding their notorious truce. But the question is, does he want to continue it or does he have another motive? Perhaps a more romantic intention? How would Madeline feel about a change in course? So much to consider- especially with a dangerous situation lurking in their village that must also be confronted. This is a wonderful story with an interesting plot, a group of colorful, engaging characters and two people who make the tale. I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it for an afternoon or evening read of pure fun.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book since I have never read a Kate Bateman novel, but I walked away so pleased! I loved this book so much and it had so many things I didn't even know I loved in a romance novel until now.
The Montgomery and Davies families have had a long-standing feud between their families. Some say it started over a stolen pig, others say a woman. They meet every year on the neutral land between their two properties on the Welsh and English border to shake hands. If someone from one family does not show their face to shake hands, then the other family gets their land. This year Madeline Montgomery has gone in her family's steed and is pretty sure that no one is going to show since it's down to the minute. But then her childhood tease, Gryff Davies, shows up and seals this year's handshake with a kiss as well.
Oh, I how I loved this book from the start. Gryff starts teasing Maddie by calling her cariad, which translates to my darling/love. I could just hear his tone in my head calling her this, but mostly doing it just to see the aggravated look on her face that he has come to adore since childhood. I loved the way they poke at each other constantly and the dialogue between them. The majority of the book is just the two of them on an adventure that I didn't see coming, but that I enjoyed immensely.
I absolutely loved Maddie and Gryff's backstory and their characters together. He let her be the woman she was and wanted to be. This story sets up more characters for the rest of the series to come and I am quite looking forward to the next book. As I said prior, I haven't read any Kate Bateman books in the past, but I am now an avid fan!
I ended up giving it four stars instead of five because I felt that the epilogue left a lot to be desired and could have either been omitted or lengthened quite a bit. I also wish that at some point Gryss had said some more reassuring words to Maddie about the scaring she has on her body. I felt like that could have been a great addition to his character.
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All of the above opinions are of my own.

Set in nineteenth-century Wales, Kate Bateman’s A Reckless Match is an entertaining frenemies-to-lovers romance between scions of two noble families who have been enemies for so many hundreds of years that no-one now alive can remember the reason for that enmity.  The humour and effortless banter between her leads are things I’ve always appreciated about the author’s work, and her ability to create strong chemistry and palpable sexual tension is once again in evidence here, as her two protagonists – Gryffud Davies and Madeleine Montgomery - continue both the family rivalry and the relationship built on verbal sparring and one-upmanship they engaged in as children.

The prologue explains the feud and why, for centuries, it’s been necessary for a Davies and a Montgomery to meet at noon on the summer equinox on the disputed stretch of land that lies between their estates. A representative from each family must shake hands as a show of good faith  at that time and place every year, and if one of them doesn’t show, then the land is forfeit to the other. On day of the spring equinox of 1815, noon is getting closer and closer and there’s not a Davies in sight – and Maddie Montgomery is gleeful at the thought that her father will finally be able to take possession of the land and the rich deposits within it she’s sure will replenish the Montgomery coffers.  Not having to marry the lecherous Sir Mostyn Drake (who’s sixty if he’s a day) is an added bonus, as is finally getting the upper hand over the insufferable Gryffud Davies, an irresponsible rakehell who hasn’t been home since he inherited his father’s estate and title - and her nemesis since childhood.

Sadly, however, Maddie is destined for disappointment, as with just minutes to spare, a lone horseman appears, galloping furiously towards her – and there’s no mistaking that broad silhouette or the effortless grace of the rider.  Her pulse pounding, Maddie hopes that perhaps Gryff has lost some of his appeal or his looks – but no such luck.  If anything he’s even more handsome than he’d been the last time they’d seen each other three years earlier, and his wicked green eyes and gently mocking smile turn her knees to water and make her insides lurch as much as ever.  Maddie steels herself for confrontation, telling herself she doesn’t care a whit what Gryff thinks of her.

Gryff, who has recently returned from the war on the continent, inherited the title of Earl of Powys while he was still serving in the army and wasn’t even able to return home for his father’s funeral.  Since returning to England, he decided to spend a bit of time in London and have some fun; he knows it’s his duty to take a wife and set up his nursery, but he’s not ready to settle down quite yet;  he’s decided to give himself a year to get to grips with how his life has changed  before taking a wife.  This is the first time he’s been home since his return and he’s delighted to see Maddie waiting for him, his spirits soaring at the thought of resuming his verbal battle with the beautiful, tart-mouthed thorn in his side and noting with appreciation that she’s no longer the skinny tomboy he’d left behind.  The sexual tension thrums between them from the start, but of course, neither is ready to admit to the attraction they feel for one another and attempt to hide it behind cool disdain (her) and flirtatious teasing (him) while waging their “merry war” of verbal darts and well-aimed barbs.

When they accidentally discover a network of caves and passages that lead to the coast, they realise they’ve uncovered a large-scale smuggling operation – and their attempt to put an end to the illegal trade leads them into great danger… and unprecedented discoveries.

Maddie and Gryff are a great couple who light up the pages whenever they’re together.  The adventure plot is well-crafted and unusual, with never a dull moment as the pair banter their way through their various exploits while it becomes harder and harder for them to deny the pull they feel towards each other. The characters are engaging and well-defined; I liked that Maddie, who is something of an amateur archaeologist, is not your typical wallflower bluestocking; she’s very knowledgeable and passionate about her subject, but is also a convincing woman of her time, concerned about her reputation and loyal and loving towards her father.  And while Gryff has been labelled a rake by the gossips, he isn’t really; he’s a young man blowing off steam after years at war, who is sensible of his responsibilities - and it’s very clear he’s always had a soft spot for Maddie.  He’s another of Ms. Bateman’s delicious heroes; smart, gorgeous, determined, and obviously head-over-heels for his lady-love once he’s ready to admit it.

There were, however, a couple of things that dinged the grade on this one a bit.  The whole ‘I don’t want to die a virgin’ thing was a cliché too far, there are a couple of places where the pacing lags a little, and towards the end, there’s a bit of very obvious set up for the next book(s) that felt rather out of place.

Otherwise however, the book is a delight. Well-plotted, fast-paced and devoid of over-the-top drama, A Reckless Match is a charming romance full of adventure, sexual tension and great banter, and it gets Kate Bateman’s new Ruthless Rivals series off to a strong start.

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Yes! I adored this book! What a wonderful start to a new series. I look forward to reading subsequent books and getting the stories on the other siblings and relatives.

Enemies to lovers is one of my favorite tropes. The description of this book indicating Maddie and Gryff were from feuding families lured me in. Once I started reading A Reckless Match, I was quickly engrossed in the storyline. The Montgomery and Davies families have been at odds for years. Many believe it's over a pig - - however, others say it was definitely due to a woman. Regardless, Maddie and Gryff have known each other since they were children. Gryff continually teased and made fun of Maddie, making her think he didn't like her. But is that really the case?

As fate would have it, they keep getting thrown together in various ways. They each have a crush on the other. However, their pride and the family rivalry keep them both denying it.....until they can't deny it anymore.

There is a great deal of tension in this book where the couple is pining over each other. By the time they finally succumb to temptation, they are both at the breaking point. Both of their characters are likable and you can't wait to see them acknowledge their feelings for one another. But how will the feuding families respond??

This was a wonderfully written and addictive read. As I said earlier in my review, I look forward to future books in this series. I became very attached to several other characters and hope to see them get stories as well.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

I received an ARC of this book to read through NetGalley. All opinions are my own. A Reckless Match by Kate Bateman is the first book in her delightful new series Ruthless Rivals. The Montgomerys and the Davieses have been warring with each other in a feud that has lasted centuries. The feud may or may not have started with a pig and generations later on the day of the spring equinox a representative from each family has to meet the bridge in the strip of no-man’s-land between their estates and shake hands as a gesture of good will. Madeline Montgomery is hopeful that this year the Davies representative won’t show up because her childhood nemesis Gryffud Davies, now the Earl of Powys is rumoured to be in London and she will be able to claim the land for her family and repair their fortunes. Unfortunately Gryff shows up and instead of a handshake claims a kiss. Determined not to marry the elderly suitor her father has chosen as a means to refill the family coffers Madeline has been exploring the surrounding countryside hopeful of discovering treasure buried beneath the earth when she encounters Gryff and together they discover a series of tunnels that lead to a smugglers stash. Danger and adventure ensue and Maddy and Gryff discover that what they feel for each other may not be hatred at all. I enjoyed this book immensely, it’s a nice mix of angst, steam and humour with an enemies-to-lovers storyline that is entirely believable. Steam Level: Medium. Publishing Date: September 28, 2021, #ARecklessMatch #KateBateman #SMPRomance #StMartinsPress #StMartinsPaperbacks #HistoricalRomance #EnemiesToLoversRomance #HistoricalRomanceReader #RomanceReader #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #NetGalley

I have enjoyed all of Kate Bateman's previous series. I think this one is going to exceed those. This first novel was exciting, entertaining, & fun. Gryff & Maddie's story is worth getting into as they are intriguing characters in their own rights but together, they make sparks fly. I loved all the nuances of their story & can't wait to read the next book. Wonder who it will be???

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for advanced copy in exchange for my honest review

A fantastic start to a new series. This story is full of witty (really witty) dialog and sexual tension with a capital S and T. You can feel the tension through the entire book and it kept you on edge the entire read. The Montgomerys and Davies rival the Hatfields and McCoys and the Capulets and Montagues. When Gryff and Madeline are playing the word game I was laughing out loud. Kate knows how to write a story that will keep you up at night. The characters are whip-smart. There is a little mystery but the crux of this story is the romance and how rivals can come to learn that love knows no boundaries.

3.5 stars
This is not my first book by Kate Bateman and it certainly won't be the last, I mean: a forbidden romance between sworn enemies from two rival families? I couldn't ask for more.
The first half of the novel was really good and promising, it was entertaining, dynamic and the chemistry and banter between the heroine and hero were fantastic; that said, the second half was a bit more flat, while it didn't lack adventure and such, something was still missing: there wasn't that spark that made me sigh dreamily. I didn't struggle to read it - the prose flowed easily and the chapters weren't too long but I did find some parts boring.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an early copy of this.

DNF at 35%

This book took me forever to even reach 35%. I really like the set up of the book. But only 24 hrs passed till we reach 35%. There is a small mystery starting, and sadly, I couldn't care less about that. I don't see much of a build up in the relationship. He's teasing. She's glaring, but inside, she's loving the teasing. And on and on.

Maybe I'll pick it up later. But it isn't for me right now. The writing is pretty good though. So, no complaints there.

I really liked this new series.
I love Maddie and Gryff. They are flirty and fun and before I knew it I was at the end of the book. They gave great flirty banter while they were "enemies" when really these have been into each other since they were children. But their families have been rivals for years, going back generations.
They team up together when they discover a tunnel under their shared property. Maddie is hoping to make an archeological find to help get her family out of debt and out of marrying an older gross man.
Adventure ensues and Maddie finds her attraction to Gryff growing. But she's sure it will never work. Forcing Gryff to show her otherwise because now that he's spent time with her he doesn't want to let her go.

I'm looking forward to the other books in this series. Whose book will we get first?

The professional blurb:
The first in a new regency romance series about two feuding families and reunited childhood enemies whose hatred turns to love.

Maddie Montgomery's family is in debt, and her hope rests on the rival Davies clan missing their yearly “pledge of goodwill,” ceding the land that separates their estates. With Maddie's teenage nemesis, Gryffud “Gryff” Davies, Earl of Powys, away, hope is in reach.

But then, Gryff shows up and is stunned that the tomboy he once teased is now a woman. When Gryff and Maddie discover contraband on their land, they realize it can benefit both families. But they've also uncovered a dangerous plot, and they need to work together to get out alive. Soon, their hatred for each other starts to feel more like attraction.

A Reckless Match by Kate Bateman is a satisfying historical romance filled with humor and wit. I enjoyed the characters & ongoing development between the two families. (3.5 stars)

This Regency Romance was such a pleasant surprise: a witty and fun enemies to lovers story.

I really liked this story for its strong, feisty heroine and handsome hero who lives to tease his longtime crush. The story takes an interesting turn when they embark on an adventure where they have to work together in dangerous circumstances. When these enemies spend prolonged time together, their feud turns into steamy attraction and I’m here for it!

This was a fun, adventurous, and steamy start to the series. There are more Montgomery and Davies siblings introduced in this book and I am looking forward to their stories.

This book was so enjoyable. I really liked Maddie and Gryff. I'm a sucker for feuding family stories. I can't wait for the next book in this series.

A wonderful historical romance, this one involves a women who despises, yet loves a family rivals son. Think Romeo and Juliet without the suicide. This is a fun romance about rival families and true love that doesn't see the rivalry.

Could I love this book more? I can’t imagine so—it was Kate Bateman writing at her best, with characters that are wholly enjoyable, a story that echoes the ultimate star-crossed lovers, and action-packed suspense blended with a sweet and sexy romance.

Gryff and Maddie’s relationship is built on a centuries old family rivalry, a strip of contested land, and a childhood rife with tricks and teases. Their enemies-to-lovers shtick as adults kicks off this book and is amusing and entertaining—especially Maddie’s tough exterior which is beautifully mixed with deep vulnerability . Bateman manages to convey this couple’s yearning for one another and their resentment for the position they are both in, while keeping the reader rooted in place, desperate to see how the story ends.

With some out-there (in a fun, exciting way) antics and plenty of setup for books to come in this new series, A Reckless Match is the kind of book that satisfies while leaving you wanting more, more, more. I can’t wait to see future rivals go head to head!

The Davies and Montgomery families have been feuding for 500 years. Somewhere along the line, the King pronounced a strip of land between their properties as neutral ground belonging to both families. Every year, on the day of the spring equinox, a member from each family must meet and shake hands. If ever someone doesn't show up, the land goes to the other family. This year Gryff and Maddie are the designated family members. They've known each other since childhood. I have some problems with Gryff. He's been her relentless tormenter for years. Always "teasing." Isn't that what a bully and abuser would say? He says boys always torment girls they like. Maybe a five-year-old, but a grown man? Other words used to describe him in the book, mocking, smirking, and smug. When he discovers Maddie may have to marry a distasteful old man, he tells her she's no better than a whore in Covent Garden and was she pregnant looking for a father for her bastard? He's a sweetheart, isn't he? There is an adventure involving smugglers and a cave which I found funny <spoiler> After an explosion traps them in a cave, they are knocked unconscious, awaken in the complete dark of course covered in rock dust. Gryff's leg is sliced open and covered in blood and he has broken ribs (these broken ribs are mention once, never to be referred to again), Maddie somehow lights a candle and they climb through water and rocks for hours looking for a way out. But wait, they stop to have sex on the rock floor (Maddie's first time). All I could think is - this is some candle!</spoiler> When they don't see each other for a few days, Maddie goes from hating the way he treats her to missing the teasing she loves. Other family members are introduced, obviously future couples and I'm curious enough about them to read the next book in the series.

I absolutely loved the last series by Kate Bateman, Bow Street Bachelors, and was sad to see it end. So I was super excited to get my hands on A Reckless Match, the first book in her new Ruthless Rivals series. And I LOVED it! The last book I read was wonderful and I gave it 5 stars, but it was quite emotional; I needed some levity. I got it here in spades. Some of it was a bit emotional and there was plenty of steam, but the teasing humor is what really drew me in.

The feud between the Montgomery and Davies families has been ongoing for centuries, and still it continues in 1815. Maddie Montgomery has hated/secretly loved Gryffud “Gryff” Davies since she was a child; he teased her relentlessly. He no doubt didn't feel the same yearnings for her...but three years ago he left to fight in the Napoleonic war, then went to London after he became the Earl of Powys with plans to enjoy post-war life. What did Maddie care? She'd probably never see him again anyway; besides, she was busy trying to figure out how to save her family from punery. She did not expect him to return to his family's Welsh castle due to an illegal duel! Gryff thought of Maddie to keep him hanging on during the war. When he returns home, he discovers she is now a beautiful - and stubborn - woman, and still seems to hate him. There's quite a spark between them, though. Will they survive a family feud, hidden caves and murdering smugglers long enough to realize what they truly mean to each other?

I spent just about this entire book with a silly smile on my face! The dialogue throughout the entire story was a hoot. Their discussions went everywhere from witty to asinine to sexy. How could they not know how they really felt about each other? I could see it a mile away, with their constant teasing and incredible attraction! Maddie was a great heroine. She was doing everything she could to try to figure out how to help her family pay their creditors before they had to sell their home. She was interested in archeology and dreamed of finding treasures to save them. She would not, however, marry the old magistrate who basically wanted to buy her from her father! And did I mention she was incredibly stubborn? She wouldn't let Gryff leave her out of adventures. I absolutely freaking loved Gryff! I adored his teasing and sense of humor. He was very protective of Maddie and would do everything he could to keep her safe. You could tell just how much he loved his siblings. Though he was always picking on Maddie, you could see how much he cared for her well-being. Their attraction was through the roof and couldn't be contained, even after being trapped in tunnels. I couldn't get enough of the romance, but I also got caught up in the adventure and danger. And seriously, how can you resist a book that starts with the line, "It started with a pig"? I can't wait to see who gets their HEA next!

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

A misfire.

At least, for me. Oh, I wanted to to relish this book. Only, I didn't. There was a lot going on. Like, a lot.
Gryff was not great. Pretty lackluster and stereotypical.
I had hope for Madeline, but she let me down.

I will hope for more connection, as I do enjoy Kate Bateman.

3.5 STARS

This was a cute read, but nothing remarkable. While it was historical, it fell inline with the trend of 21st century ideals plopped into the early 1800s. The banter and frenemies relationship was the highlight. I adored the secondary characters and would read more from this world.