I really enjoyed reading the latest book by one of my favorite authors. Ms Bateman writes a titillating romance that had me at first page. Even though this is in a series, it can be read as a stand alone. The characters were fully developed with thoughts and feelings of their own. There is a lots of steamy and hot scenes that make the reader wanting more. You get a lot of it and wow.
Carys Davies is a woman who knows her power and shows it to the people around her. Life for her is being herself and not letting anyone rule her. Even if it means keeping any man who wants to be a suitor. Carys will remain single because of a scandal and wants to avoid anyone finding out. But there is one man who doesn't take the hint, and also makes her burn.
Tristan Montgomery and Carys family are suppose to be enemies since an ancient feud started many many years ago. But Tristan is really attracted to the fiery redheaded Carys and tells her what she's really missing in not being wed. She gives Tristan an brazen idea to show her. He accepts and they become lovers and then will separate after a few days. But once the lovers do the deed, it's hard not to kiss among other things. Theses two people were not looking for love, but it snuck in anyway.
I appreciate Net Galley for this ARC title in which I gave an honest review.

I am loving this series by Kate Bateman! What a fantastic second novel in the Ruthless Rival's series about two families who have held a grudge for years and now slowly this new generation is learning to compromise and love the other. Bateman's writing is so easily engaging, drawing the reader into the story with compelling characters and charming situations. Her writing feels conversational and the banter between the hero and heroine sparks with wit and delight. The chemistry bubbles throughout and watching these two find their happily ever after is so rewarding and heartwarming.

Carys has spent the last two years avoiding happily wedded bliss by showcasing her brazen ways and scandalous wardrobe in order to turn away suitors. After an initial failed engagement she has instead enjoyed the pleasures of society without the burden of finding a husband, plus the only person she is truly attracted to is Tristan Montgomery, from her family's swore enemies. Tristan is an architect who values propriety and knows he needs the perfect society wife to help him as his career advances. But he can't help to be drawn to Carys and her bold ways.

This is a quick witted, enemies-to-lovers romance that sparks with sensuality. Carys and Tristan are the absolute perfect balance to each other and their journey to discovering that sizzles with chemistry as they both dance around each other and their true feelings. I love that this novel both Carys and Tristan open themselves up to the other rather quickly. They both know that they should be enemies but throughout their interactions it is very obviously they are intrigued by the other and that their attraction is the true driving force to their constantly being in each other's paths. A great majority of this novel takes place during a country house party in which Tristan and Carys engage in an arrangement in which Tristan will show Carys the delights of the marriage bed. I really enjoy that any true animosity between these two does not exist, and that they both naturally trust the other which becomes very apparent throughout their interactions with each other. Bateman does a lovely job showing the romance between these two and the care and understanding in their physical relationship really makes for a beautiful love story.

I so highly recommend this romance and Kate Bateman's novels. This low angst story of two people realizing that they love each other was so beautifully crafted that you are sure to enjoy yourself and be eager for the next installment in this delightful series!

5 A Truly Delicious Enemies-to Lovers Stars!!

My love of Kate Bateman continues with this second book in this series. From the moment I started this book Carys had me intrigued as to what lengths she would go to to protect her family’s name, even if the façade she presents to the world that she doesn’t care… until her nemesis growing up ends up in the same carriage on the night of a ball that changes all her plans!

I loved the tension between Carys and Tristan. They’ve tormented each other for so many years because of their family’s feud even after their siblings married each other. When Tristan finds out what’s happening this man that pretends to not care about this woman decides he’s going to be her protector and so begins their love-hate relationship that truly proves hating someone can have the best side effect when it comes to the oh so intense sexy times!!

As the story progresses, I fell in love with the way these two changed their relationship as they realized that love is possible for both of them and they’re willing to do what it takes to have the greatest love neither expected to find… especially with each other!!

This is a great addition to this series and I cannot wait to read what Ms. Bateman has next for us in this world!!

Lady Carys Davis was a vision of contradictions. Bewitching. Breathtaking. Yet at the same time innocently ignorant. Carys’ confidence to wear clothing deemed undesirable to debutantes was nothing in comparison of her feelings toward obtaining a husband required of a woman of her stature.

Tristan Montgomery knew his duty as heir. Find a woman who will be a good wife and mother. He was sure he found the perfect debutante so why did he feel the need to continually torment Carys? But when he learns the reason behind her outrageous behavior, Tristan has to prove not all men are alike.

Enemies born of an ancient feud. Both with siblings who overcame huge obstacles. The fatal attraction draws them closer while both pursue different paths. Kate Bateman crushes the Montgomery-Davies feud one sibling at a time. Assuming the two stubborn fools acknowledge their true desires. FIVE STARS all around! Bateman’s version of fire and ice are perfectly perfect rivals.

I received this book as an advance review copy free from NetGalley . I have read and reviewed this book voluntarily.
--Brenda, JustViews

While Carys appears to court scandal and danger, she's hiding a secret and avoiding suitors for marriage.

Tristan knows something is up, and it intrigues him enough to agree to a secret pact with Carys.

Together their passion is amazing, but it's just for a week. Stumbling onto a plot against the Crown means they'll do what they can to unearth the truth, even if it puts their lives in danger.

A menagerie of animals, a beautiful new home, and lots of adventure could lead to love!

This book had me hanging on to each scene till the end!

**Received an ARC from Netgalley**

Lady Carys Davies is being blackmailed by Christopher Howe to an indiscretion she allowed with him some time ago. She pays him to keep his mouth shut. Carys does what she wants and appears to be carefree and daring on the outside, but scared on the inside.

Off to a costume party, Carys is dressed in a sheer Grecian style dress to be like Diana, Goddess of the hunt and moon. Like Diana, Carys has sworn to never wed, but her best friend knows she will fall in love one day. Secretly, Carys is in love with Tristan Montgomery but thinks he doesn’t feel the same way about her when actually he desires her. After her indiscretion, she fears marriage as her husband will learn that she is not a virgin.

One day, Tristen learns of Carys problem with Howe and he is determined to put a stop to her paying the man and to also show her that lovemaking can be nice.

Tristen and Carys were neighbors growing up and as he is a talented architect, he is building a new home. Carys loves animals and has some exotic creatures at her home that she cares for.

At a house party, Tristen and Carys come together to catch a man in the middle of espionage while discovering more about one another.

The plot here is good and I liked the characters. What I didn’t like was the constant “get-togethers” which were entirely over done. I know that readers like this in their historical romance novels, but I don’t care for it simply because I feel it didn’t happen this way. However, for those who do like it, this book is for you because it’s chock full. So, enjoy.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

When Carys Davies was young, she was taken advantage of and now is being blackmailed. She also has learned not to trust men and plans on never marrying. For that reason, she dresses outlandishly and is pursued by men but turns them away. Tristan needs a respectable woman to marry so that leaves Carys out but it still doesn’t stop him from wanting her. When he finds her in what he thinks is a clandestine meeting with a married man, he rails at her but when he finds out the truth, will things change between then and will he strive to take the bad guy down? A lot to the story and is hard to put down.
I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a complimentary copy.

I haven’t read any other books by this author, and I didn’t read the first book. I saw this as a ‘Read Now’ option on Netgalley. I saw the words “TWO ENEMIES” and I had to read it. I’m so glad I did because this was a really quick and fun read!

I got a lot of vibes from Jane Austen and Shakespeare in this one. We have two families that are enemies and rivals. Carys and Tristan are from each side of the families that don’t get along. All their lives they have disliked each other and constantly try to outwit each other. Carys is not your typical girl that fits into the tons mold. She is outspoken, outrageous with her outfits, and doesn’t care what people think of her. She has a past romance that is still haunting her. For this reason, she is dead set on never being married. Meanwhile, Tristan is the complete opposite and Cary’s thinks that Tristan hates her. It was so much fun seeing them try to get a rise out of each other. They say, it’s a fine line between love and hate, right?! I loved seeing how they are constantly trying to keep up the facade that they hate each other but deep down they don’t. They are not similar on the surface but under the surface they have so much in common.

I know there are characters from the first book. I haven’t read that one yet, but I plan to. I loved so many of them, especially her brothers. I really loved the relationship that Carys has with her brothers. Tristan’s aunts were hilarious, and I loved their meddling ways!

The pacing flows so well that it was a very easy and quick read. I think that Bateman did a fantastic job with the tension in this book. There are so many swoon-worthy moments!! The plot was interesting, but I felt like it was all mashed together at the end. The villain of the book kind of just gets away without any real repercussions and I didn’t love that. He’s slimy and I think he deserved worse! I adored the addition of the animals and how they contributed to the plot too.

Overall, I had so much fun with this one. I had a hard time putting it down and it was much needed after a chunky fantasy. I loved the enemies-to-lovers aspect. I liked the fact that these rivals are trying to change and do better. I have a feeling there’s more ways these rival families will end up coming together in the future. I can’t wait to read more from this author!

After reading and enjoying A Reckless Match, the first book in the Reckless Rivals series by Kate Bateman, I knew I needed to pick up book two, A Daring Pursuit. While it is part of a series, it stands on its own quite well.

This installment follows Tristan and Carys, two more members of the current generation of Montgomeries and Davies that would rather love than fight each other. These two are like fire and ice. They’re complete opposites—Carys is wild and outrageous while Tristan is more strait-laced. But even though there is a feud between their families, they’ve each harbored feelings for the other.

They’re both likable, and the fact that they’re opposites, well, it was fun to watch them both come to terms with the fact that their crushes really were more than just crushes. All the scenes with the two of them together just burned up the pages, and I was glad I was along for the ride.

One minor thing didn’t work for me, however. This is the second book in the series and the second book where members of each family have harbored crushes on members of the other family that are supposedly enemies. I’d totally buy one instance of both parties having had those feelings for years, but two? I would have liked a more traditional enemies-to-lovers story where the feelings are more recent rather than longstanding.

All in all, I enjoyed A Daring Pursuit. I was swept up in the story, curious how Tristan and Carys would find their happily ever after. I’d recommend this book and series to historical romance fans who enjoy the enemies-to-lovers trope.

Tristan and Carys are the best enemies to lovers I’ve read in a long time. Carys has a secret and when Tristan finds it out he uses it to strike a bargain of sort….he gets more then he bargains for with this one. They have chemistry and that thin line between love and hate is getting thinner. The slow build of these twos romance was great…..kept me wanting more. I couldn’t put this one down, I just needed to know what was going to happen next.

A Daring Pursuit by Kate Bateman is the Second book in the Ruthless Rivals Series. This is the story of Tristan Montgomery and Carys Davies. Tristan is the proper gentleman is wanting a proper wife who he thinks he has found but he can't seem to get Carys out of his thoughts. Carys has made a mistake and has been paying for it since through blackmail. So she knows that she can't marry and has went to outrages ways in dressing and other ways to keep herself singe. But Carys and Tristan can't seem to forget the other and when Tristan learns her secret he goes into protective mode.

Since the wedding between Rhys Davies and Maddie Montgomery (A Reckless Match, Ruthless Rivals #1), the Davies and Montgomery families have temporarily halted their hostilities between each other. With the season in full swing, the well-breed in society are flitting between parties and social gatherings in London. With a reputation for the outrageous, Carys Davies is again the talk of the ton, with her daring gowns and antics, as she continues to decline every marriage proposal as they happen. Back from fighting in the Napoleonic wars, neighbour, Tristan Montgomery needs a wife… neither sees each other as a compatible match….And besides, their families wouldn’t approve?

Carys Davies has no intention of getting married. A past indiscretion has come back to haunt her, and therefore, to avoid a scandal, she is resigned to living her life as a spinster. Only, her secret is revealed… to her enemy, Tristan Montgomery. However, when the gentleman understands her dilemma, he agrees to help…in a mutually agreeable way!

Tristan Montgomery relishes the challenge of playing cards with those he knows are poor at the game. It's an opportunity and a distraction and he's feeling lucky. The result … he wins a carriage! When he goes to collect his prize, he’s stunned when Carys Davies is sitting inside. He instantly presumes, she’s waiting for her lover… a married man. Curiosity piques his interest as he seeks to find out the truth… with life-changing consequences.

The interaction between Carys and Tristan is adorable and surprisingly honest. I admire how the pair conduct their communications; both are open and forthright, which is intoxicating. The highlight of the narrative is how these “enemies” turn a convenient arrangement into something greater than either of them could predict. Even though they come from rival families, it’s clear they have been aware of each other since childhood. Memories of childish antics quickly evaporate as Tristan offers to help Carys out of her predicament. It’s naughty, but oh so good, as combustible chemistry triggers more than lust between two people who are as different as chalk and cheese.

The author brings us back to familiar territory; the Welsh backdrop where the thaw between the two families began. It’s a chance for readers to catch up with familiar characters and become acquainted with those who are far friendlier than their ancestors, who tore these close neighbours apart. As with the first instalment in this series, this too can be enjoyed as a stand-alone… it comes highly recommended by myself.

Overall, this isn’t my favourite novel by Ms Bateman. While the push and pull of the relationship dynamics between Carys and Tristan are exceptional, the sub-plot where the villain gets his comeuppance didn’t hit the spot for me. This, however, is still a top rate novel... just a tad shy away from a full 5 stars.

***arc generously received courtesy of St Martin’s Paperbacks via NetGalley***

A lovely, scorching historical romance that you'll want to read in one sitting.
Carys gets a kick out of being scandalous and she absolutely delights in doing so in order to get a rise out of Tristan, her childhood enemy and the man she loves. Tristan can't help but respond and their verbal sparring is a joy to read. I loved how he challenged Carys on her behaviour but he wouldn't countenance anyone else causing her harm or upset, especially Lord Howe.
There's a whole cast of characters I want to get to know better. Carys has a large family of overprotective brothers and Tristan has a group of meddling aunts. There is a lot of humour in the book which made it lighthearted and fun to read.

I just loved this story of Carys and Tristan. Carys was known as being a bit wild and ready to shock people, there was nothing she wouldn’t try. However, Carys was only her true self when she was at home in Wales. Tristan was the complete opposite, he was very exact and prim and proper. He never did anything without thinking things through first of all. Tristan knew it was time he married but he wanted an obedient wife. They had known each other since childhood and had always teased each other. I enjoyed how they came to see each other in a new light. There are a number of other events that affect them both. I did chuckle at the things said by Tristan’s two eccentric aunts. This was an engaging read and I’m looking forward to reading next in the series. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

An incredibly entertaining book. It had me laughing and in awe of the escapades.. Both Hero and Heroine are muy sympatico as well. The villain is disgustingly hateful too.

I received an ARC of this book and leaving my review voluntarily.

This book is the historical equivalent of The Hating Game…. a stoic hero who hides the way he feels because deep down he knows the woman he’s secretly in love with could never see him that way. He purposefully buries his unruly emotions behind a mask of disdain. But Tristan is about to discover that Carys has been hiding things as well.

Carys loves to goad her stern, immovable neighbor to reveal what’s he’s thinking. She knows still waters run deep, (after all, he resembles nothing so much as a frigid Welsh stream), but she wants to know if she occupies his dreams. Because he definitely figures very prominently in hers. Even though they have been enemies their whole lives. He just returned from the battlefield, and he seems more fierce and more stern and more unapproachable than ever. And she wants nothing more than to ruffle his feathers.

Carys has been a thorn in Tristan’s side since they were children. She’s daring and fearless and completely impervious to the dictates of propriety. She has a style uniquely her own that accentuates her passionate nature and her recklessness. The diaphanous gown she wears to the masquerade of the season is the last straw. He can’t look away. And not because he wants to chastise her. Because he wants to devour her. Because he finally acknowledges that he is jealous of every other hand that touches hers. Every other pair of feet that tangles her into a dance.

Escaped bears, cunning ravens and muddy rescues bring them inexorably closer. The lines between what they should want and what they do want blur even more, until they are forced to admit they are each other’s perfect complement.

Kate Bateman’s “A Daring Pursuit”: The Ruthless Rivals (Ruthless Rivals, 2) is a wonderful book!

I absolutely adored this book.? Kate Bateman is amazing, she always surpasses herself. This enemies to lover’s story is both smart and exhilarating. I was caught between trying to savor and devour it at the same time. It’s the details that provide the vision that heightens the drama. This of course impacts the characters through each step of the story.

The characters are just amazing. I loved both Carys and Tristan! The author’s dialogue skills are extraordinary and the snappy, witty and clever banter and dialogue between the characters was so entertaining. They are authentic, animated and realistic with such depth and individuality. And yet despite the feud between their families there’s a magnetic pull between them. with a passion, when unleashed that singes the page.

I loved it, the mystery, the romance, the love story. It was all so well written and executed.. Well worth the read!

Thank you so much Ms. Bateman do this delightfully entertaining love story!

They both like the other...

But pretend they are adversaries. Lady Carys Davies only wants to get a rise out of the cold, disapproving Tristan. Tristan only wants to give her a dressing down. Inside, Tristan burns for Carys. Inside, Carys is a hot mess. She's being blackmailed and also wants Tristan's approval. The story is at its best when they are bantering. But takes a sideways turn with some unneeded distractions.

Recommend.

A Daring Pursuit: The Ruthless Rivals by Kate Bateman is a steamy romance that will leave you wanting more. The characters are well-written with heated chemistry. I can't wait to read more from the author soon.

I enjoy reading the historical romances by this author and A Daring Pursuit was another good read for me (minus a bit of a wacky ending that dropped my rating a bit). I liked the frenemy relationship between Carys and Tristan (their families have been long time friends and have properties in the country next to each other). Carys was taken advantage of by a suitor who promptly dumped her and married another, so she's admittedly leary of another relationship. Tristan has always had a thing for Carys and though at first he's a bit scandalized when he thinks Carys is dallying with a married man (the aforementioned cad who is is blackmailing her with her reputation on the line) he soon comes to find out the truth and defend her. Along the way they discover they are quite compatible and agree to see each other in secret for a sexual relationship that neither is ready to give up when the time comes. I got a bit lost with the end of the story (involving an escaped circus bear) but overall I liked the characters and the romance plot. Looking forward to more!