This is a delightful story. It has humor, adventure and love. Gryff and Maddie are neighbors and sworn enemies. They have grown up with generations of stories to support their antagonism. This year everything changes when Maddie falls down a hole. The story remains lighthearted throughout with plenty of opportunities to laugh out loud at the antics of the characters. No matter what the situation they find a way to make it fun. It is a great start to a new series that is sure to bring a lot more pleasure.

Two feuding families, insufferable rivalries, what a fun scenario for an impossible romance! Bateman weaves bits of scientific facts throughout the adventure which lends it an interesting flair. The characters are likable and the plot thrilling. I’ll be picking up more in this series as I’m sure it’s not over yet!

Gryff and Maddie's families have been feuding for centuries. Growing up, they loathed each other—yet were inexplicably drawn to one another. Now, meeting for the first time as adults, the attraction between them is combustible. When they stumble upon a smuggling ring, their lives are soon in danger. As the situation becomes more desperate, will they give in to passion?

There is so much chemistry between this couple. The banter is smart and fun. Despite the superficial sparring, it's clear that they deeply care about the well-being of the other. Maddie is clever and independent, while Gryff is competitive but kind. The frenemies to lovers plot is well done, and the adventure plot never overwhelms the romance. The underground tunnels provide a unique and memorable setting.

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

I received this book for free from Netgalley. That did not influence this review.

Romance author Kate Bateman has a new series, Ruthless Rivals, and book one is soon to be released, A Reckless Match. The premise sounded lively and I was pleased to receive a review copy.

Maddie Montgomery and Gryff Davies (the new Earl of Powys) live on estates on either side of the English/Welsh border. Their families have been feuding since the beginning of time. Although no longer violent (they live in more civilized times), the fathers of these two protagonists continued the feud by baiting one another over anything they could think of. Unfortunately, the old Earl of Powys has died, leaving Maddie’s father bereft of a rival.

Also unfortunately, Maddie’s father has lost a significant sum of money on bad investments. They are near bankrupt. The family’s only hope is to marry her off to someone wealthy– most likely Sir Mostyn, a wealthy, lecherous old goat, who has offered her father 2000 pounds for her. He’s twice Maddie’s age. Everyone in the village dislikes him. Maddie is in a quandary.

Moreover, Maddie has been secretly intrigued by her neighboring enemy, Gryff, since they were tussling children. And he has been fascinated by her. Because of the family history, and because of their own personalities, they can only show their mutual interest by teasing and fighting one another. Certainly, Maddie can’t look to Gryff for marriage and economic salvation.

It’s been a while since they’ve seen one another. Gryff was off fighting Napoleon, returning only when he inherited the title and had to abandon his regiment. As for Maddie, she’s been involved with archaeological explorations on the Montgomery lands. But when Gryff does return, sparks fly. Their bickering picks up where it left off, as does their mutual unacknowledged attraction. While maneuvering to meet up with one another to bicker more, they stumble across a smuggler’s cache of brandy. The plot proceeds as they work together to catch the smugglers and bring them to justice.

This all has the makings of an entertaining romance, but I was not particularly entertained. While there was evidence of an underlying affection between the two, mostly there was a lot of ogling of one another’s body parts and fierce denial of any possibility of mutual regard. It seems that the sparring in their youth consisted of rather intense bullying performed by Gryff, later explained by the fact the he “liked” her, and that’s how boys show they like girls. As an adult, his teasing/bullying takes the form of injecting sexual innuendo into every conversation. Maddie has to pretend she is not intimidated–or titillated– by his suggestive talk. And that was what passed for witty banter. It seemed immature on his part and got tedious to read through.

There was enough to hold my interest in the smuggling plot to finish the book. However, the sibling and cousin pair-ups that were introduced in this book to set up the next books in the series appeared likely to be more of the same, and the romance in this novel was not convincing enough to draw me into the series.

According to the Montgomerys, the pig was stolen. According to the Davies clan, it got lost.

For over 500yrs the Montgomerys and the Davies have had a contentious neighborly relationship. Whether it was a pig or woman who started it, Madeline Montgomery and Gryff Davies have kept the feud going. Teasing and pranks were pulled while kids and while Gryff was away fighting Napoleon for three years, both have actually missed each other. When Maddie learns that her father has lost the family fortune in a stock scam, she's hoping that the Davies siblings all stay in London and don't show up for the handshake Henry VII decreed to try and stop the feuding between the two families. On the Spring Equinox, a member from each family must meet on the strip of no-man's-land between the two estates and shake hands, if someone from a family's side doesn't show up, the other family gets the land. Maddie needs the money that could come from owning the land but with minutes to spare, the worst Davies shows up.

“Well, well. Maddie Montgomery. Did you miss me, cariad?”

With a light and sweet tone, A Reckless Match starts off the Ruthless Rivals series. I enjoyed the set-up of the English Montgomery's endlessly feuding with the Welsh Davies and loved how the author gave our couple's fathers an undercover friendship from it. From the start, it was obvious that Gryff liked Maddie, he's candid in his thoughts of how much he cares and missed her. Maddie was struck by lightening and he thinks about how when he heard this, how shaken he was. Their teasing and back and forth always had a lightness and little sizzle that made you want them to never leave each other's side because they were a fun couple to be with.

He shouldn’t be goading her, of course. It could only lead to trouble. But teasing her was a pleasure he’d missed out on for three long, miserable years. The memory of her face was something he’d fallen back on when times were particularly hard. Wounded, exhausted after battle, he’d often reminded himself to stay alive, if only to spite her. To tease her just one more time.

The plot has the two discovering an underground cave on their no-man's-land and while exploring it, learning that smugglers are using it to hide their barrels. It's a lighter mystery that works to keep them together and pulls in some side characters, Gryff's brothers, Maddie's cousin, and an unwanted suitor of Maddie's. I usually like a little tease alluding to future couples but this had some overkill in that department. Gryff's brother Morgan and Maddie's cousin Harriet and Maddie's older brother Tristan and Gryff's younger sister Carys, are obviously future couples and they seem to have an extremely similar relationship and set-up as Maddie and Gryff. Did I enjoy Maddie and Gryff's relationship? Yes. Do I want to read the exact same dynamic three times in a row in the same series? Not really.

The expression in his eyes was one of undisguised admiration and Maddie’s heart missed a beat. He’d called her remarkable.

There wasn't a lot of exploring of our character's make-up, I know Maddie's mother died when she was ten and Gryff was off soldiering for three years, the focus is solidly on the here and now and the teasing with wanting more between the two. I greatly enjoyed the first 60% of this but started to get a little restless, especially when I hit 70%. Maddie and Gryff are trapped in a cave and even though we're in the back-half of the book, their relationship felt exactly the same. They still are doing the fun teasing and I still felt the sizzle but where was the relationship growth? The last 40% just didn't give me the development between the two that I was looking for, their relationship felt exactly the same as when I was reading in chapter one.

Ten years of teasing and flirting— yes, that’s what it had been, she could admit it now— had always been coming to this. This bonfire.

The all too easy match-ups have me a bit worried for the future couples' stories and Maddie and Gryff's relationship didn't really change from the start to the end enough for me. However, the majority of this story was plain fun with it's light tone and the little bit of sizzle to their teasing. There were also numerous interesting tidbits included about the times that were engaging and had me going off to read more about. If you're looking for light sweet teasing with a sizzle, this would be one to pick up.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's for the chance to read an early copy of this book!

A breath of fresh air in historical romance! I was a little worried when I read the prologue that this was going to feel like a knockoff of Pennyroyal Green, but my fears were assuaged as soon as the first chapter started. I adored everything about this book, especially the major Beatrice-and-Benedick-banter vibes and the elements of action and adventure, as well as the little touches that made this book unique, like Welsh folklore or the heroine's skin patterns from being struck by lightning. The setups for future books in the series are not subtle (there's even a brief 3rd POV toward the end), but I was 100% in and can't wait to read more.

This type of story is usually a go-to for me, kind of like a comfy sweater or comfort food when I'm feeling bad. This time around, something just felt off...most likely because of "real world" issues (hurricane season, having to move because of hurricane season, etc 😞.

For some reason, Madeline was a very annoying character to me, but I LOVED the Gryff character. When life settles down a bit more, I'd like to do a re-read because I'd also like to see what happens farther along in this new series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this ARC! 😊

An entertaining look into the feuds that spanned the English/Welsh border. A feud that has gone on for decades. Our hero and heroine have been playing tricks on each other for years, each secretly harboring a crush on the other. They are thrown together when they are sent to meet for the annual peacekeeping, only for them to accidentally find a secret tunnel and smugglers. Can't wait for the next book, which I'm guessing is about Maddie's cousin, Harriet, and I can't wait!

This review is based on an ARC from NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥 (Though it feels a touch steamier)
Humor: Yes!

Basic plot
The Montgomerys and Davies have been rivals forever. The Davies estate was on the Welsh side, the Montgomerys on the English. To put an end to their fighting, King Henry VII decreed they would each send a representative on the spring equinox to show their goodwill towards each other. If either didn’t attend, the land between the families would be forfeit to the other. Our representatives in 1815 are Maddie Montgomery and Gryff Davies...

Give this a try if you want:
- Enemies to lovers feel – though it’s on the light side, as they quickly work together towards a common goal. They toast to being “Friendly enemies” and I think that’s a perfect term to describe it!
- Forbidden love/rival families – Everyone stares when a Davies and Montgomery are in the same room, awaiting the explosion
- Regency time period – This takes place in 1815, though much of it is at their country estates, a touch at the end is in London
- Lower to mid steam – One full scene, but also kisses and a hot almost scene in a library
- A perfect mix of action, danger, humor, and relationship
- A bit of unrequited love from the hero – they have known each other since they were children

My thoughts:
Ohhhhh I loved this book. It’s been quite awhile since a book just grabbed me from the very beginning and Bateman’s lovely prologue titled “The Legend” did just that. These characters have a bit of a past, growing up together and attempting to torment each other. We know if either of them really examined their feelings of the other, they would see how badly they want each other.

This book gave me the butterflies I crave. Those small things between in a romance that build their wanting, that I sometimes find missing and want them so badly to be there. Moments like when the heroine finds delight in a bite of food and it makes the hero’s jaw twitch. The touch of his hands on her neck while he playfully describes a ‘cravat snake’. His thoughts as he carries her between his thighs on his horse. Her mind as he walks in front of her in a cave and she notices his firm backside. All those little things in the beginning of falling in love that make you breathless. Sitting near someone and feeling their knees almost touching yours. Eyes sliding over exposed bosom in a dress. I LOVE that stuff, so so much and I found it here.

The banter between Maddie and Gryff is just glorious. It’s funny and snappy and sexy and I adored every minute they were on page together. This book had me smiling through many parts and my heart melting during others.

Both characters delighted me. Maddie has survived being struck by lightning. She has an independent streak and cares deeply about her family. She’s a problem solver and will do what she can to help her family’s financial distress, though she simply must find an alternative solution to an undesirable marriage.

Gryff is strong, protective and naughty. He’s tormented Maddie since childhood, and has no plans on stopping now that they are grown. He loves to get a rise out of her. As they shared more of their life with each other and began to trust, it was lovely to see his transformation to partner.

Some romances I am left at the end so happy. I just know they will have the best life together as I close the book and I am certain of that here. I am also left eager to read the other stories in the series. It’s set up here for Morgan and Harriet, Tristan and Carys...Soon the Davies and Montgomeries will be so enmeshed you won’t be able to tell them apart 😛

I know that I have mentioned this here before, but I adore historical romance. I love reading about how people back in Regency England (or any era, to be honest) courted. Among my favorite authors is Kate Bateman. So, when I saw that she had a new book out, I knew I had to read it!!

A Reckless Match is the first book in the Ruthless Rival series. This book has set the tone for the rest of the series. I can’t wait to see how the other books are going to be.

I was thrilled to see that the author had decided to set A Reckless Match on the border of England and Wales. If you think of Regency romances, you automatically think of England and Scotland. Ireland and Wales are not even mentioned unless there is a villain involved. So, yes, I was happy to see that the book was set on the border and that Gryffud (aka Gryff) was Welsh.

An enjoyable family feud (I never thought I said those two words together) explains why Maddie and Gryff’s family hates each other. Because of a King’s decree (200 years previously), a representative from each family must meet at the shared property boundary and shake hands. The meeting happens every five years. If someone doesn’t show up, the land automatically forfeits to the other family. This time around, it was up to Maddie and Gryff to present and shake hands.

The romance angle of A Reckless Match was wonderfully written. It was your typical enemies to lovers trope. What I loved it that Gryff was the first one to realize that he loved Maddie and that it was fairly early in the book. What made the romance angle for me was Maddie realizing that she loved Gryff and all the shenanigans it caused.

Maddie wasn’t your typical English miss. She wasn’t interested in getting married. Instead, she was interested in archeology and getting a specific tome for her father. I liked her and connected with her.

I loved Gryff. Not only was he tall, dark, and handsome, but he was in touch with his feelings. He knew how he felt about Maddie reasonably early in the book. Because of the feud, he decided to keep a lid on his feelings and help her find out about the smugglers. He also wanted to help her, moneywise (her father went into debt with gambling) but couldn’t figure out how to do it without her getting prickly. It was fantastic to read the book from his perspective and to see Maddie through his eyes.

There is a suspense angle of the book that was very well written. The smugglers, who are mentioned throughout the first half of the book, were brought into the storyline in a shocking way towards the end of the book. Everything that happened after the explosion made one of the most sexually charged sex scenes I have ever read (no light, just sensations, was perfect).

The end of A Reckless Match was your typical HEA. In the next book, I haven’t figured out if Hattie and Rhys or Tristan and Carys will be. But I can’t wait to read it regardless of who will be next.

I would recommend A Reckless Match for anyone over the age of 21. There are explicit sex scenes, mild language, and moderate violence.

I loved everything about this book. The main characters were interesting, their banter amusing, and their steamy scenes perfectly rendered.

The story - a centuries old feud between neighboring families - is nothing new, but the back-story of the feud, as well as how the current generations handle things, is entertaining and a joy to read.

Gryff & Maddie have clearly liked each other since childhood, but naturally they don't see it until it is almost too late. I loved watching their relationship bloom with each argument followed by heated looks. Truly a delight.

As this is the first in a new series, there were also introductions of secondary characters - all of which deserve their own HEA. I am looking forward to future installments, especially if they are as good as this one.

Kate Bateman is such a good storyteller. Her writing style is just wonderful. It kind of reminded be of Enid Blython’s books from when I was a child. She builds up tension and she develops it well. Since most of the book are scenes in caves and also in his castle, the attention to detail in descriptions is quite important but even though that left me mind-blowing, it is not the strongest feature in the novel; it is the conversations, the dialogues.

A border between counties is an imaginary line and the border that caused all the troubles between the Montgomeries and the Davies no one really knows why or when (some says the feud was already there even before the Wars of the Roses) is the one that divides England and Wales. The Davies estate is on the Welsh side of the border and the Davies are English. Troubles are always bothersome who suffer the consequences this very ancient enmity. So a medieval king established a truce that had to be renewed every equinox. On a piece of land that lies between both estates a Davies and a Montgomery should mee to shake hands, both should be there otherwise the ownership of said land would go to the family who didn’t fail to attend. Now, the land is rich and luscious, and probably full of ancient treasures, for Madeline Montgomery is quite the archaeologist and also quite ruined… but Gryff Davies, her nemesis and childhood crush turns up just in time. They banter, they shake hands, he pulls, she falls into his arms, he kisses her.

Gryff hasn’t been interested in his estate or in the feud, but his father died and now he is the earl of Powys. He’s got a castle, three siblings and a beautiful and interesting woman for an enemy. A woman he has lusted since forever. This very woman runs from him but he feels he should not leave her alone until she reached her family’s lands. Maddie stops at a wishing well and he tries to talk to her but she falls into a hole, and when he tries to help her, they discover a cave… they’re both in for an adventure.

“A Reckless Match” is a story of Enemies to partners in crime to lovers. If this trope didn’t exist yet, it does now. For there is no better way to describe this book. It’s so exciting and so much fun! In this adventure Maddie and Gryff form a bond, them both against the world, as they are alone together most of the book. In their adventure the couple have to deal with lecherous suitors, nosy doctors, a grumpy father, two mischievous aunts, corruption and smugglers. More than once they put themselves in front of the other to save their life, and that and the endless conversations that they have, slowly but surely lead them to discover that they are in love, that they always have been in love, but the stupid feud wouldn’t let them see that.

Gryff and Maddie talk, all the time, endlessly. But they’re not at all boring. Of course there’s action and the right amount of it, this is an adventure romance after all, but it is their talking what makes you keep reading. It all starts as a battle of the wits but soon they start talking about many subjects: his days as an officer at the wars in Spain, her dreams of discovering some historical treasure, his brothers and sister, the way her father misses his archenemy (Gryff’s late father), his four years of scandal in London, their childhood bullying towards each other… their hopes and dreams. They get to know each other and see beyond the name, they get to be Maddie and Gryff instead of a Montgomery and a Davies. And I love the way he calls her “cariad” (I believe it’s sweetheart or darling in Welsh) right from the start.

First off I adore this cover! One of my favorite fall covers. I enjoy Kate Bateman’s writing and I had high hopes for this one, but it just didn’t grab me. I’m hoping to try again when I’m in more of a historical romance mood.

Cute and funny. I haven't been loving regency romances as much lately but this one appealed to me. I would read more by this author.

I am a fan of Kate Bateman's historical romances, and I was very excited about her new series, Ruthless Rivals. A Reckless Match is the first book in the series. It's an enemies-to-lovers romance with strong Romeo and Juliet vibes.

The Montgomery and the Devies clans have been rivals for generations. The rivalry started either over a pig or over a woman, no one remembers any longer, but the feud has lasted centuries, and each family doesn't miss a chance to antagonize the enemy. Maddie Montgomery and Gryff Davies continue their families' tradition of bitter rivalry while secretly harboring feelings for each other. They rekindle their antagonistic relationship after Gryff returns back home to Wales from the war.

I loved Maddie and Gryff's banter, their chemistry, and their adventures together. Their romance is simply delicious! I also loved that the story is set in Wales and not London like most Regency romances. I highly recommend A Reckless Match to historical romance readers, especially to fans of the enemies-to-lovers trope!

Maddie Montgomery and Gryff Davies have been enemies since they were children, mostly due to the family feud that has divided their families for generations. They teased and tortured each other while they were growing up, but now that they’re older and maybe a bit wiser—is their teasing now more like flirting and attraction? I loved their wit, their banter, and their competitiveness, all building up to undeniable passion and love! There is humor, there is fire, and there is also heart and warmth. There is also a bit of danger and intrigue that adds an extra element to this wonderful book! This is the first of a series, and I’m already anxious to read the next installment!

Thank you NetGalley for a fun read. The Davies and Montgomery families have been at war with each other for centuries. There is a strip of land that one person from each family must show up to claim their part of each year. This year are two who have had an attraction for each other for years. They are down in the caves of this area and find some smuggling going on. They have to work together to stop the smuggling from continuing. Can they find love enough to wed along the way?

A feud that has lasted over the centuries between a family on the English border and the other on the Welsh border. The real source of this feud is a mystery. There are different theories.

Glynn Davies is the new Earl of Powis. As a child, he took great delight in tormenting his neighbour, Maddie. They are enemies after all.

Maddie Montgomery is the daughter of a Baron. This time, it's her turn to shake the hand of her neighbour to keep a truce between the two families. The truth is that, she is hoping no one will turn up. If there is a no show, it works to her advantage.

The time has come to get it over with for another year. When Glynn makes a late appearance, she is mortified and pleased at the same time. He has grown into a fine man. As for him, he is pleasantly surprised that the young tom boy is now a beautiful woman. They seal the truce with a kiss. A handshake would have been sufficient. Neither of them can help rubbing the other the wrong way. Now that the yearly agreement is settled, they can each go on the merry way. They are thrown together when they discover a cave which belongs to both sides. While exploring they discover that there is smuggling afoot. Together they set out to discover the source. Despite being enemies, they work well together, except for the intermittent barbs from both parties. They get lost together. They get shot at. They find themselves caring?

Gryff and Maddie are worthy main characters. Their jabs at each other are sharp and fun. Realising their true feelings is a wake up call. It's all very entertaining. A splendid read. It will be interesting to see who is next.

Finally got to write my review. I’ve read this awhile back already. This author is one of my fave historical romance authors. I think I’ve read all her books now. I think. 😂 So I was happy to get an arc of this.

Maddie and Gryff are neighbors, whose families have a major rivalry. Inherited hate. But as much as they tried, they couldn’t ignore the pull they feel for each other. And that made this book a nice little escape.

I really enjoyed this one. It’s sweet and light and cute and just fun to read. Of course there’s a HEA and what’s great is that the story of these two families don’t end with Gryff and Maddie. They aren’t the only ones who’ve crossed the boundaries. And I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

Thank you St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the arc of this book. Can’t wait for the next.

Be still my heart! This book sucks you in from the first line and doesn’t let go. It has everything! There are dastardly smugglers, slimy suitors, pitch-black caves, explosions, snappy banter, equally strong lead characters, fantastic supporting characters who will hopefully have their own books, a family feud to rival the Hatfields and McCoys, and an enemies-to-lovers romance that is wonderful.

The Davies and Montgomery families have been feuding for hundreds of years – and it all began with a pig – or a woman. Nobody is actually sure anymore; they just know they are enemies. These sworn enemies are neighbors even though the Davies’ estate is in Wales and the Montgomery’s estate is in England. Whatever the issue, they’ll choose opposite sides – even if it is in their best interest to be in agreement.

The Davies children – Gryff, Rhys, Morgan, and Carys – and the Montgomery children – Tristan, Maddie, and cousin Harriet – all grew up playing tricks on each other and taunting each other. The author has included nods to a number of old movies like Bringing Up Baby, as well as the snappy banter from Moonlighting. You will be laughing out loud at the descriptions of some of the things they did to each other when they were children. You’ll also give out a big heartfelt sigh when you read the story of the shawl.

Gryffud Llewellyn Davies returned from the Napoleonic wars as the new Earl of Powys because his father passed away while he was at war. He couldn’t even return for the funeral. He decided he’d spend time in London to relax and enjoy himself before returning to his country home – and that worked well until there was a duel and he decided it would be in his best interest to leave London. He really doesn’t want to be back at Trellech Court with its quiet boredom. The only thing he had to look forward to was annoying his neighbor. He wonders how much she’s changed in the three years he’s been gone. Of course, he firmly believed that “Spending time with her was the mental equivalent of beating himself over the head with a shovel.”

Madeline (Maddie) Montgomery has certainly followed Gryff’s exploits in London and is fully expecting that he will not be at the required annual meeting between the families. Hundreds of years ago, a king had gotten so tired of the feud between the families that he’d made an edict that required them to meet and shake hands each year at noon on the summer equinox. If one family doesn’t have a representative, the other family wins total ownership of a parcel of shared land. Maddie just knows this will be the year they get that land – and they really need it. But … then she sees the horse and rider …

I loved Maddie and Gryff together because they were absolutely perfect for each other. I loved seeing them come to realize that they really didn’t hate each other at all and never had. Their admiration for each other grew and grew as they worked to explore the caves, round up violent smugglers, thwart a slimy suitor – and save Maddie’s family from financial ruin. The book is non-stop excitement! I read it straight through because I just couldn’t put it down. It is a well-written set-up and introduction to what promises to be a wonderful new series.

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