Thank you St.Martin's and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this ARC.
This is the first book in a new Series based on two old families that have a long standing feud going on. Kate Bateman once again produces a delightful story with strong female characters who don't fit the mode of well brought up young ladies. I enjoyed meeting the "stars" of the upcoming books and getting to know something about them. 4-1/2 stars

I finished A Reckless Match! If you're looking for a book with lots of action, never a dull moment, flirty conversations and lots of kisses, this one is definitely for you.

Maddie and Gryff's families have been enemies for centuries. Literally next-door neighbors, they can't see each other without fighting. Now Gryff is back and he's the new Earl after his father has passed away. But his bickering with Maddie is still going strong. When they discover a plot of contraband, they team-up to get at the bottom of this!

This also has the "has loved her for all his life" trope. Gryff literally thought of Maddie whenever he felt like giving up. He was all "I need to do this so I can see her again" and ofndjgn they WERE ENEMIES STILL. He has loved her from kids to teens and now to adults. They have a simmering attraction that no one can deny.

- Smol and tol
- Kissing bc lost a bet
- Hero has a term of endearment for her

I'm very excited for this series to continue! It seems all of them or the majority of these books are going to be enemies to lovers or hate to love in a way.

A Reckless Match by Kate Bateman is a truly fantastic historical romance book. Full of adventure, longing, and wit, it's a book that's just a joy to read from start to finish.

Madeline Montgomery and Gryff Davies' families have been enemies for centuries. Gryff has been antagonizing Maddie since they were children, and now that he's returned from the war, nothing has changed. When Gryff and Maddie stumble across a nefarious plot, however, they'll have to work together, and who ever heard of a Montgomery and a Davies working together?

Honestly this book is great, it was so much fun to read, I couldn't put it down. This is childhood enemies to lovers done perfectly right. There is a ton of action and plot in the book, but it doesn't ever feel like it overpowers the romance, which is really the story. Bateman has set up several other couples as well, and I can't wait to find out whose story we'll get next!

Delightful regency. Maddie has to clean up the mess of the family's coffers, which comes with few options yet a lovely twist. Upholding the feud tradition is a pivotal moment for these childhood enemies. It rekindles old memories, ignites undisclosed attractions and inspires a new perspective to their rivalry. I love that Maddie is forthright, independent, resourceful and courageous. I love that, as experienced as Gryff is, she still challenges him, tempts him and drives him to distraction as he's swept up into the adventurous chase of miscreants and the matters of his heart. They make a great team, I thoroughly enjoyed every page and can't wait to read the next one.

This was the first Kate Bateman novel I've read, and I will definitely be reading more of her work. A Reckless Match was a thoroughly enjoyable and engaging historical romance, and I'd recommend it to anyone who is a fan of the genre.

I started and finished this novel on the same day; the fast-paced plot and likable characters kept my attention. I thought the enemies-to-lovers storyline was well-written and I never felt like the romance was forced or moved too quickly, which is a common issue I have with books in this genre. I also enjoyed the hints at future relationships between secondary characters and they have me excited for the next books in this series. If you like action, romance, and historical fiction, this book is for you.

Such a wonderful story! It kept me entertained from start to finish. The storyline is great and the characters are entirely believable, I've always loved this author and she didn't let me down this time. A story worth reading and adding to your reread pile because you'll want to go back and rediscover this gem.

Who doesn’t love a family feud?! This one began in the days of William the Conqueror and continues on. But each year the families must meet and shake hands or they forget their land. Maddie is hoping the new earl won’t post because her family is in debt and needs some funds.However, Gryff arrived just in time. He had delighted in teasing Maddie since they were children. Can this feud turn into a live story? One must read of their adventures a find out! Great fun!

Kate Bateman is on point as always with another funny, sexy romance in the first book of her latest series. Gryff and Maddie are perfect counterpoints in a long-standing "feud" between their families with Gryff swanning back in from London after a tour in the military against Napoleon, and Maddie trying to find a way around marrying and old and odious man to pay off her father's debts. Naturally within minutes the bickering and attraction begins, and continues merrily throughout the story - just enough to take the reader on a when will they ride that is fun and not overdone. The side plots of debts being called on Maddie's father and the smugglers Gryff and Maddie discover while exploring the "shared" land of the two families help move the story and the romance along without seeming out-of-place, and the teasers with other members of their families are just enough to leave the reader wanting to know more without overtaking the current story. The setting, story and characters are all perfect and Bateman leaves me eagerly anticipating her next story!

I love books about family feuds. Kate Bateman did a wonderful job with this story. It was exciting, had a great plot and I finished it in one sitting. Would recommend to others.

I loved this book! I loved the teasing between Maddie and Gryff and the competitiveness between the two families. The sensuality between two enemies from the get-go was enticing and intriguing. Also with the supporting characters, it sets up the rest of the series well and I can’t wait to see how the others get together and how they overcome the feud between the Montgomery’s and Davies’s.

When Maddie and Gryff meet to shake hands on the one day a year the feuding families call a truce, their attraction is instantaneous. Maddie rides off, and Gryff discreetly follows because he’s a gentleman. Maddie falls down a well, he follows, and the adventure begins. Although the beginning of this regency romance veered too much toward cliche’, I was soon hooked. I liked both characters very much, as well as the supporting cast. They’re straightforward about their growing friendship, there’s no fake drama. And the sexual attraction is compelling. It’s a good story, well told, and I’m interested in reading the rest of the books in this series.

A delightful read with good character and clever wit! My favorite! The feud/truce and constant goading was so fun and I loved the adventure and scrapes our characters got into. I look forward to the other books!

I was provided with an ARC of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A Reckless Match is a fantastic read for anyone that loves feuding families and childhood enemies whose hatred turns into love. It's also a fun adventure through the countryside filled with mystery, suspense, and intrigue. Montgomery and Gryffud Davies are not your typical enemies to lovers couple. They bicker, banter and sizzle all at the same time. I highly recommend this book and I can't wait for the next book in the series.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review,

Excellent! I'm not usually a fan of enemies to lovers, but this is an exception. Just the right amount of "enemies" and an excellent secondary adventure with smugglers at the same time. I really enjoyed this and can't wait for the (nicely set up) next two couples!

I was so excited when I was given a chance by NetGalley to review this book. I adore Kate Bateman’s work because it has a balance to it and such a joy to read.

One would think this is a Romeo and Juliet type of story but it is far from tragic and dramatic. There is humor and such sweet and cute moments. There is adventure with smugglers but that was not the main focus of the story. It is hundred percent about the hero and heroine. Yes, there were sub characters with a hint towards their own stories in a separate book but the developing romance between the hero and heroine was the highlight and main focus. I enjoyed reading the opening scene of this book. The hero and heroine meet after years of not seeing each other but keeping each other in mind not only because their families are in a feud and they constantly annoy each other but because there was an underlying attraction. This book has clever dialogues and just fun and feel good all over. There is a lovemaking scene but nothing erotic. Or offensive but sexy enough to out that sensual touch in the story. There is an epilogue too which I wish included more of their situation in their future but the story is just fun to read as it is.

A R Match by K. Bateman is book one and a stand-alone in this new series. It's a historical fiction/romance, published by St Martin's Press.
The storyline is set in 1815 and tells the story of Gryff Davies and Maddie Montgomery.
Both families are rivals, nobody knows why or how long, only that tey have to meet once a year, or loose against the other.
And now it's the children's turn.
Gryff just inherited the title, he's back from the field, and Maddie is about to be married, and she takes no joy in it.
Both meet and they have this insta-connection again they already developed as kids. But they are both deeply in denial and love to hate each other.
An entertaining read with just the right amount of danger and drama, a great read, well written, 4,5 stars.

Thank you netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I was not particularly in love with this historical romance. While I loved the free spirited, stubborn Madeline I did not particularly care for her nemises Gryff. He is not only arrogant but makes inappropriate passes at Madeline that seems more predatory than romantic. Their generational family animosity made for an interesting twist to their story but Gryff just came on too strong for my taste.

4.5 Stars! I really enjoyed this book! Gryff and Maddie are lovable, most of the time, and I became so invested in these characters. At times, things that Gryff said or did, had me wanting to slap him - he could be a total ‘Richard’ at times! However, I let him slide since I liked him most of the time & well, he is a man, so its ingrained in his DNA to be a ‘Richard’. This book has a mixture of danger, secrets, action, mystery, romance and heated hate/love flirting. I’d classify this as an enemies to lovers with an HEA ending. I 100% recommend this book. And I absolutely can NOT wait for the next book in this series! This can be read as a standalone and is the first book in the ‘Ruthless Rivals’ series.
*I received this book at no charge from NetGalley & I voluntarily left this review.*

Thanks to Netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review!

This was the first book for me to read by Kate Bateman, but it will definitely not be my last. The story was engaging and adventurous. It took me only a weekend to read. The writing style was witty and fun.

This is book one of a new series. However, based on some references, it seems to be a spin-off series. My guess is that Gryff Llewellyn Davies, Earl of Powys, was introduced in another story. I'm not sure if that would have changed my opinion of him or not, but this was easy to read as a standalone.

The H/h are lifetime arch enemies due to a centuries only grudge between their households. Rather than stay apart, they constantly played tricks on each other as children; yet secretly each had a longtime crush on the other. I don't know how they didn't figure it out, but they each thought he/she alone in the attraction.

I really liked Madeline Montgomery. She was an intelligent and self-educated archaeologist who was also fun, pretty, and loyal. She enjoyed her debut season until it became too repetitive and behaved like a lady with decorum in public. She was not the typical wallflower bluestocking. She just did not feel in a hurry to get married. Unfortunately, her beloved father's debts recently increased the urgency to marry someone with money.

Gryff was also loyal and physically attractive. He was brave and willing to face danger for those he cared about. With a little less detail here and there, I could have liked him. However, I personally could not get over his attitude towards women as sex objects for his pleasure. As usual in HR, he was a rake. He always wanted Maddie, but he sated his lust with many other liaisons instead. He found them empty and unfulfilling; yet he didn't want to get married because as the new earl, he could get the must beautiful and sexually skilled women. He compared Maddie to a whore though she came to him a virgin and waited WAY too long to consider if he loved her.

In spite of the fact that I did not like Gryff, I still enjoyed the story as a whole. Considering authors usually write a variety of heroes and heroines, I definitely plan to try another by this author and will likely continue this series next year. It seems like the next two will also be enemies to lovers stories between the Montgomerys and the Davies.

This is the first book in the new series, Ruthless Rivals, and I am already salivating for the next in the series with the characters we were introduced to in this book.

The Montgomery and Davies families make the Capulets and Montagues look like amateurs. They have held grudges against the other for centuries. Their lands border each other and every year they meet at the border to shake hands, in agreement to keep the peace between the two families. Griff and Maddie are this year's tributes, and immediately sparks fly.

This is a definite enemies to lovers trope, as I assume the next books in the series will also be, and had a very well through out plot. The characters were well developed and you can tell where the next books are heading, which I loved. This was a fantastic read and I highly recommend.

It's low steam but lots of adventure and angst...and when they do get together it's incredible.