I absolutely loved the first book of this series from the new to me author Kate Bateman. In the first book, "A Reckless Match" we first meet the Davies and Montgomery families. Sworn enemies a la the Montagues and Capulets in Romeo & Juliet. It was an enemies to lovers story with a happy ending with a dash of suspense from the antagonist, but unlike Romeo & Juliet, our hero (Gryff Davies) and heroine (Maddie Montgomery) did not die. It was a great read from beginning to end and this reader gave it a five star rating.

Readers are first introduced to Carys Davies, the sister of the Davies brothers in book one. She is the wild one, the daring one, liking to ruffle feathers of the ton. She has always harbored feelings for the straight laced and staid Tristan Montgomery. This is another family feud enemies to lovers story and I did enjoy the story. Carys is judged harshly by Tristan in the beginning for her crazy antics. She is being blackmailed and so there is that element to overcome together. Carys must also overcome her doubts of love. The banter and chemistry is good, the blackmail is overcome, but I felt like this story was slower, an echo of the first book. Maybe I would have liked this one more if I didn't read the two books in there series back to back. "A Daring Pursuit" is a solid historical romance, I do love the author's detail of scenery and lets the characters drive the story. I give this one a solid three stars and look forward to the next book in the series.
*Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley.

Carys doesn't want marriage, and to keep all proper gentleman away, she's brazen, and almost scandalous!

Tristan is the proper gentleman, who challenges Carys. One week of liaisons, banter and kisses.

Those kisses! Could it be that they will be both Tristan and Carys' downfall?

Is marriage in their future!

Will the rivalry between the two be over!

Great, fun read! Bateman fan here!!!

This second book in the Ruthless Rivals series finds the young Carys Davies finally meeting her match in Tristan Montgomery. That the two clans are sworn rivals makes their laison even more interesting, and unexpected...that is by them...as others surrounding them can see their attraction to each other long before they can. Carys has a flair for the dramatic - wanting to shock people with her dramatic wardrobe choices and independent ways.
Even her brothers, Gryff, Ryhys and Morgan, find that letting her do what makes her happy...ultimately makes them happy. Tristan has returned from the war in Europe and his desires are to return to his dreams of architecture and building his own home for his future bride, along with having an organized and peaceful life. When these two make a deal that sends sparks spiraling all around them, they each are afraid that their deal may ruin any possible future they may have. Very entertaining story with heated exchanges that will make the reader cheer for their continued romance. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review this advance reader copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #ADaringPursuit #NetGalley.

Carys Davies love to shock society with her wardrobe choices and carefree attitude. As this book opens, she is wearing her most scandalous outfit yet and many notice. One in particular is Tristan Montgomery, while he's her enemy because of a feud that spans generations, the attraction is still there.

Tristan is hoping to find a wife this season, but Carys isn't on his radar. She's not the wife he needs, he needs someone who is not on the borderline of scandal at every turn.

Carys has always had a bit of a crush on Tristan, and she doesn't know what to do about it. Unfortunately, she's being blackmailed for something that she can't change. She was to meet Howe at his carriage at midnight, however he loses that carriage to Tristan gambling. It's Tristan who enters the carriage and assumes she's having an affair with the man. While she admits she's been 'ruined' she doesn't spill about the blackmail.

As these two are thrown together for family events thanks to her brother Gryff and Tristan's sister Maddie, some interesting things occur. First, he says he's helping her screen potential husbands, then he finds out about the blackmail.

A family gathering has been planned and both Carys and Tristan are thrown together again, but this time there's a twist. Carys agrees that she needs to discover if a marriage without anything other than intellectual compatibility is the right way to go. Tristan while a bit shocked at her agreement is more than willing to show her what she's missing. He doesn't anticipate falling for her though.

At her home in Wales there's a famous menagerie that she cares for. She is quite knowledgeable of animals and is ahead of her time with regard to fighting animal cruelty.

All of these things intwine into a delightful tale of enemies to lovers. With suspense, intrigue and sizzling heat.

I really liked this story for its strong, feisty heroine and proper and handsome hero. I liked their chemistry and the “indecent proposal trope”. There is also a forbidden love aspect to the story because their families are rivals.

Carys is the star of this book. She is unique and doing her best to forge her own path. She loves animals and rescues several exotic pets…bears and peacocks, oh my! She is also avoiding marriage which would be scandalous for the time period.

This was another fun, adventurous, and steamy book in the series. There are more siblings to come and I am looking forward to their stories.

I truly enjoyed the relationship between Carys and Tristan. I found myself laughing out loud at times. Snickering at other parts. And had my breath taken away at others.

Carys Davies has done her best to avoid marriage. Especially when she has a secret that could ruin her if it is ever revealed. She's used outrageous outfits and carefree confidence to keep potential suitors away. The only man who's captured her attention is also one of her family's greatest rivals, Tristan Montgomery.

His goal is to marry a proper wife but that hasn't stopped him from wanting Carys. When he finally discovers her secret she challenges him to show her what she'd miss if she doesn't get married. Amazingly he agrees. One kiss and things will change between them. They enjoy sneaking off to share moments with one another until they find themselves in the middle of a treasonous plot.

Thank you so much to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC to review.

Carys Davies needs to avoid marriage at all costs to hide the secret that could ruin her and her family. She’s scandalized the ton with her clothing and behavior in a bid to deter potential suitors. Despite outward appearances she’s disillusioned with both men and love. There’s only one person who’s never bought her act, Tristan Montgomery, one of her family’s greatest rivals.

Tristan Montgomery needs a respectable woman to wed and that’s not Carys Davies. When she challenges him to show her what she’s missing, Tristan shocks them both by accepting her proposal.

Great enemies to lovers story. Fabulous banter and of course a villain to be vanquished by our hero and heroine.

The "sight of his exposed wrists did something strange to her insides"...Oh my....brilliant!
Tristan and Carys are such a delightful couple. Kate Bateman has created 2 sharply written, intellegent characters that I enjoyed getting to know. After years of being blackmailed for a youthful mistake she finally opens up to Tristan about it. He promises to show her how loving someone should be. Her brother is having a week long house party so they decide to take that time for just the two of them. Somehow they must deal with stolen gold, a traitor and an escaped bear before they find their happily everafter. So much fun! This is a classic enemies to lovers romance that I can't recommend highly enough.
I read across several genres so I try and limit the authors I read to just a few that I trust will give me an excellent story in each genre. Kate Bateman is one of my go to authors in historical romance. This book does not disappoint!.

I LOVED THIS BOOK. Let me start off by saying that after reading the first book in the series (A Reckless Match) I had kind of wanted a story about a different pair, rather than Carys and Tristan. But I needn't have worried, because THIS BOOK WAS GREAT. The Davies and Montgomery families have been longtime rivals - enemies, even. Yet somehow when Tristan and Carys are together, sparks FLY. Tristan, who needs a wife, can't seem to make himself interested in any other female, except for the inappropriate Carys. And Carys flirts shamelessly with many men, but the only time it actually means something is with Tristan. Carys uses her persona to protect her true self, but somehow Tristan sees her for who she is. They decide on a, er, mutually beneficial bargain, which Tristan believes will allow him to get Carys out of his system. But maybe the opposite will happen... And when Carys finds herself at a low point, to her great surprise Tristan becomes her staunch defender. Maybe a future for these two isn't out of the question...but you'll have to read the book to get the deets! And you won't want to miss a THING, because this book is amazing! I cannot WAIT for the next book in the series, either. Ms. Bateman has become one of my favorite authors, you should definitely read the first book in this series and other works she's done, too. I got a copy of this book in order for me to provide an honest review, which you just read. Happy reading!

4.5
Awesome story. This is the first time I’ve read a book by Kate Bateman, and it won’t be the last. The characters are very well done, and their romance is easy to fall in love with. The banter, oh man the banter was fun and well done. I had heard that Bateman does banter well, and she delivered in this book. There were moments when I laughed out loud and others where I cheered. This was a book that I couldn’t put down because I wanted to see how Carys and Tristan got their HEA. It was well worth pulling a late night to finish in one sitting.

I really enjoyed watching as both Carys and Tristan realized that some of their decisions for years had been done because of their feelings for the other person. It caused a lot of angst and sweet moments. The only thing in the book I didn’t like was one of the subplots didn’t feel connected to the main characters for me – more like parts of it were rushed and out of no where.

Overall, an excellent read and I highly recommend.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I loved this book. I'm starting to think that the enemies to lovers storyline is my favorite. This is book 2 in the series. It's the Montgomery's versus the Davies. Two clans who have hated each other for centuries
Tristan is a Montgomery. Carys is a Davies.
They have a very live hate relationship. Two people who are extremely attracted to each other but couldn't be more opposite of each other. And then you add in the clan war.
But when Tristan's sister marries Carys brother that throws the two of them together much more often. And the fireworks begin to fly.
Both books in this series were great. You don't have to read the first but it would add to the story if you did.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I want to thank Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
This book was PHENOMENAL! I wasn't sure I would like this as much as the first book, but I was wrong...I liked this one even more!

Carys has no problem being a little scandalous and Tristian enjoys her wild side.

The mutual pining was perfection!

A Daring Pursuit is the second book in the Ruthless Rivals series. This was a wonderful enemies to lovers romance! It was delightfully entertaining. These characters were funny with many laugh out loud moments. The sparing and banter between them was deliciously clever, intriguing and witty. The plot twists are extremely unique. And the steam level is off the charts. I loved it! I couldn’t put it down.

Carys Davies is always causing a spectacle wherever she goes. She dresses scandalously for every event that she attends. She knows she is the talk of the ton, but it is all part of her plan to stop potential suitors and to avoid marriage. Staying single is the only way to hide her secret that could ruin her and her family. But there’s one person who seems to see her, who sees right through her. The only man who still makes her heart race. One of her family’s greatest rivals.

Tristan Montgomery is very reserved and is in need of a respectable woman to marry, if only he could get the bold, red-headed Cary’s out of his mind and stop wanting her in his arms. But once he finds out her secrets will he help her?

What a match these two characters are as their encounters are so very engaging and create such perfect friction. Constantly teasing and annoying one another. Watching him protect her as well as school her in the art of intimacy. I couldn’t stop smiling. I couldn’t stop reading. And I’m positive that I will be reading this again.

I received an early copy and this is my honest review.

A wonderful addition to this series which brims with fantastic characters, witty banter, a villain who needs to be put in his place and an attraction that cannot be denied!

Carys Davies is on a mission to show herself as bold and unfettered.. That way she will seem carefree and fun, while inside she is a mess. A secret she is hiding is about to become unbearable, because she is being blackmailed. But that does not keep her from being attracted to a Tristan Montgomery, part of a family who has been rivals with hers for years.

Tristan has established himself as a gentleman, upstanding and an architect. He has picked out the perfect bride for himself, who makes him feel calm, none of the feelings Carys ignites!

When these two come together, the journey is sizzling and he has to protect her from harm at all cost.
Cannot wait for the next in this series!

The Montgomery-Davies feud claims another pair!

In the first book of this series, we learned of the generations-long feud between these two neighboring families and how that was instrumental in bringing Maddie and Gryff together. In this installment, Gryff's sister, Carys, known to be quite daring and impervious to scandal, matches wits with Maddie's elder brother, Tristan, whose aloof demeanor keeps him from admitting he's entranced by the fiery Carys. Their push-pull combat romance tactics were a lot of fun to watch and their banter only underscored the current of electricity pulsing between them whenever they're in the same room.

I loved this particular quote:

Why was needling him her favorite occupation? It was like poking a tiger with a stick— or a leopard with a parasol. One day the big cat would pounce.

Quite what would happen when— if—Tristan Montgomery ever did pounce was a mystery. But a wicked, perverse part of her really wanted to find out. She had a suspicion it would be thrilling, and probably dangerous too. At best it would be wounding to her pride. At worst it could be fatal to her heart.

Still, she couldn’t seem to stop.


I adored Tristan, especially when he was able to admit the depth of his attraction to her even when he believed the worst of the misconceptions about her. He admires her intellect above all else, and that is so very sexy in itself.

There's quite a story woven throughout about her past that spills over to involve her menagerie, a traveling circus, a truly dastardly villain, and a wild chase that will leave you breathless. I was hooked right from the start and absolutely swooned at the HEA. This book was everything I could hope for. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

Thanks #NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read #ADaringPursuit before it was released in exchange for an honest review!

I really liked this book. Carys and Tristan have been lifelong enemies having grown up nextdoor to each other. The banter is incredible and the longing from both is so thick you can cut it with a knife. Carys is a relatable heroine who has been burned by love and now she won't let anyone close so she's skirted the edge of propriety in order to keep serious suitors far away. She also has this side of her where she fights for the rights of animals. Tristan has watched her from a far and knows that he wants her but doesn't want to want her because she goes against everything he thinks he wants until a chance meeting has her sharing a deeply held secret with him and he wants to help her. Throw in a good old house party, two matchmaking aunts and a mess of overprotective big brothers and you have a lot of fun wrapped up in this story. This book is part of a series but can be read as a standalone but after you read this one, you are going to want to read the rest of the series.

A Daring Pursuit is the second book in the delightful Ruthless Rivals series by Kate Bateman. Do you love enemies to lovers stories? If so, this one will be right up your alley! Ms. Bateman has a marvelous gift for combining wit and steam for simply engaging storylines.

The Davies and Montgomery families have been feuding for centuries, though there was a ceasefire when Gryff Davies and Maddie Montgomery recently got married. Feisty redhead Carys Davies is hiding a secret that could ruin the reputations of both her and her family, so she is determined to remain single; she acts forward and wears outrageous outfits to scare off suitors. Only one man has ever excited Carys anyway: Tristan Montgomery, from the rival family. Tristan is a proper architect who needs to marry a respectable women to help build his career, yet he's always secretly wanted bold Carys. Carys challenges Tristan to show her what she's missing if she doesn't marry. To the shock of them both, Tristan agrees. He will teach her about physical pleasure for a week, then the two shall part. However, they didn't realizes just how much they'd sizzle together. Can facing danger show them what their stubborn hearts really desire?

~Sigh~ I just love a steamy hot book mixed with humor. When there is some turmoil in one's personal life (yeah, talking about myself, here), humor is a definite must! That's a wonderful lesson my family has taught me. In addition to being an enemies to lovers story, this is also an opposites attract one. Carys was absolutely enchanting, someone you'd want as a best friend. She made a youthful mistake and is now paying for it, wanting to protect her family. She's witty, brave, loves animals and isn't afraid to get her hands dirty. She's quite the foil to proper Tristan, who is a very talented architect trying to make a name for himself. He's picked out a proper woman to wed, but it's Carys who really holds his heart, even though he's too stubborn to admit it to himself. When Tristan and Carys agree to their one-week tryst, Maddie's house party is the perfect setting; the home Tristan is building is close by, so the two have plenty of private spots available. Things become more charged between them when Carys's nemesis shows up at the party. Tristan and Carys are both spicy and sweet together, but I also adored their playfulness. (Tristan describes Carys's body parts using architectural terms; she threatens his life if he uses the words "flying buttresses".) When the two fall into a plot with an attacking bear and treason (let that rattle around in your brain for a bit), Tristan shows he can let his hands get dirty, too, if it's for Carys. I loved everything about this fun Regency romance. I can't wait to read Rhys and Morgan's stories!

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.

The Montgomery and Davies families have been in a feud spanning centuries. Tristan Montgomery is a buttoned-up man who’s recently been looking for a wife; preferably someone who won’t cause his emotions any upheaval. Enter Carys Davies - a young woman who has tried to shun both love and marriage, doing her best to deter potential suitors. Only one man has ever touched her heart - Tristan. After some discussion they decide to embark on a one week affair. One week only. But Tristan Montgomery has never not thought of Carys and passions ignite.

I really love a well done enemies-to-lovers story and A Daring Pursuit was just that. This was just fantastic. All the way around, an excellently told and utterly enjoyable tale.

When I began reading this, I was unaware that it was part of a series - I’m glad that it is, because now I can’t wait to read the first book and other stories by the author! I absolutely adored this one ❤️

This is a story combining enemies (who secretly & unknowingly like and are attracted to the other) turned lovers and opposites attract. Carys and Tristan grew up neighbors but due to the ancient family feud tormented each other and considered the other the enemy, even if they secretly admired the other. An interest and admiration they’ve each managed to hide well over the years. That is until Tristan discovers a secret Carys has been guarding well for years and comes to her aid. It provides the excuse to let masks slip a little and sparks to fly. While I felt that the story progressed at a more relaxed pace that suggested by the blurb and the “embroiled in a treasonous plot” is more minor plot twist than suggested, the story was well balanced, the pace worked well for story as it was told and had nice mix of wit, humor, and heat. I enjoyed reading Carys and Tristen discover each other and a bit about themselves as well on the way to satisfying HEA.

The author does a good job with writing A Daring Pursuit. This enemies to lovers had the perfect blend of a feisty redhead, a determined playboy and a little blackmail.
Carys was sweet and naive but that quickly fell by the side when circumstances thrust her into adulthood.
Tristan is back home and building his future after the war and regardless of their past history he's looking to make a future with Carys.
The story was light and held a little mystery. I liked this pair together and how they fought together as a team until the end.