I received an ARC from Netgalley for an honest review

This is the second book in the Ruthless Rivals series and if you're a lover of the Enemies to Lovers trope then this is another good book to pick up from Kate Bateman.

Carys and Tristian grew up on opposite sides of a 'friendly' family feud. What's different about this book is that we don't see as much of the banter and fighting as we did with their siblings in the previous book. I feel that this was a good idea on the author's part so that it did not have too many similarities to the first book outside of what they already have in common.

Carys Davies is a woman with a secret and who is very aware of what she can and especially can't do as a woman of her time. I was able to instantly connect with her and root for her. She never wallowed in self-pity, even though I would not have blamed her if she did at all.

Tristian Montgomery is a perfect gentleman, until he is around Carys. It was easy to see why he was teased for always being perfect and proper but he was still a very likeable and relatable character and anyone could like. Some of their interactions with each other had me laughing out loud and wanting to skip ahead to scenes of them one on one.

One thing that I enjoyed about this book was that there were secrets that lead to misunderstanding/miscommunication that could have easily dragged out longer but it thankfully did not. I hate when I read a book and I want to scream the characters "Just tell them!". While I did have a moment or two of that, it did not last for long or make the book drag on because of it.

Carys and Tristian's story was a a sweet romance about how opposites can and do attract in the best ways possible and how you can know someone your whole life and still not know there nearly as well as you think you do.

I rate this book a 4.5 because the plotline outside of the couple was a little farfetched and predictable.

This book also made me eager to read the final book in the series. <spoiler> to me it is obvious that cousin Harriet was the mapmaker that caused Morgan to be imprisoned, or at the very least she is involved in some way. Morgan either knows that she is responsible or Harriet is so worried that he's going to find out some way that she avoids him at all costs. I feel that this story will make itself stand out because the hero and heroine have reasons outside of their family feud to war with each other. Since we haven't seen any mention of a love interest for Rhys yet, I wonder if his book will be the start of another series like Gryff was for this one.</spolier>

Yay! A worthy sequel to the first wonderful book! This is like finding a unicorn and I am so happy! The author did it again: successful, witty banter between two fabulous characters. Carys caught my eye in the first book and thank goodness she was just as great in this book. Tristan was exactly who she needed without being a jerk; brilliantly written.

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

Here we have action, adventure and lots of sizzling encounters all wrapped up in another Kate Bateman original plot. I always know I'm in for a good read when I pick up this author's book. This is the second book in the series and is a standalone novel, however the first book in the series A RECKLESS MATCH is also a uniquely plotted book. I can highly recommend this book.

Kate Bateman's Ruthless Rivals series is so fun! She is swiftly becoming one of my favorites! 

A Daring Pursuit launches an all out amazing story from the first page. Carys is a heroine one easily identifies with and rallies behind. I adored her from page one. Tristan is the same. There was ever a time I was frustrated or annoyed. The characters leap off the page. Their chemistry is off the charts. They have just the right amount of angst as to titillate without torturing the reader. I loved this book! 

This story is just the palette cleanser I needed. I wholeheartedly recommend this book.

💕Release date May 24💕

For hundreds of years before they were born, Carys Davies and Tristan Montgomery’s families have been enemies. True her brother marrying his sister has thawed the ice (a little) but the feud is still alive and well. When Tristan finds out Carys’s deep dark secret he can’t help but begin to admit what he feels for her isn’t all hate. When Carys asks him to teach her that having a lover isn’t all bad, the thin line between love and hate becomes almost transparent. But will they be able to admit their feeling for each other before it’s too late?

Full of heat, humor, and heart, this second book in the saga of the Davies/Montgomery feud is a book that was impossible to put down. I couldn’t wait to get home from work to finish it!

Preorder it now so it’s yours on the release date. You will not be disappointed!

*thank you to netgalley and St. Martin Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review*

Every time I read a Kate Bateman book it becomes my favorite! Always something new and special to be discovered. I loved Carys wild ways and Tristan's so called control - until he encounters her. Carys ton-defying fashion sense and her love of wild animals made her the perfect heroine. The background story of enemies to lovers was credible and her brothers made it all the more dangerous when they discover that a Montgomery has once again infiltrated the Davies family. Tristian is so controlled that when he loses it with Carys it is hard to put down the book until you turn the last page. I can't wait for the next book!

I received the first book in The Ruthless Rivals series by Kate Bateman and I absolutely loved it. I was beyond excited when I found out I was able to read the second as an arc! Let's just say Kate Bateman did not disappoint. This was everything that a historical romance needs to be successful and more. Having read several books under this category, this book stood out to me because of the unique plotline. Typically, these books can share very similar plot points, however, this one was extremely unique and I loved that. I fell in love with both of the characters and really enjoyed the split POV. This was definitely my favorite of the series so far and I cannot wait to see what else Bateman will give in the future! If you enjoyed the first I would highly, highly recommend the second.

4 Stars! An enemies to lovers historical romance with an HEA ending. This is the second book in the ‘Ruthless Rivals’ series but can be read as a standalone. Opposites attract between Carys and Tristan, the main characters. I loved the bickering banter between them and enjoyed the obstacles they had to overcome. The bad guy was easy to hate and the main characters were lovable. Enemies to lovers, secrets, mystery, danger, unrequited love, secret crushes, bad guys, protective brothers, blackmail, good ‘sexy times’, love and a happily ever after! What’s not to love?!
*I received this at no charge & I voluntarily left this review.*

Bateman has written a fantastic frenemies to lovers tale! There was a lot going on between the pages, but my absolute favorite bits was Carys and Tristan’s bickering! It was total fun, giving contrast to his staid personality and her live wire one while also helping add definitive believability to their steamy chemistry. Overall, this was a solid read!

I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book from St. Martins/Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I loved the second book of this series because I was absolutely fascinated by Carys’ free spirit and her modernism set in a historical environment. The rivalry and the bickering between Carys and Tristan is so passionate that one can feel the tension growing through the pages of the book. I’m giving it a four star review because the story slowed down a little bit towards the end but all well that ends well.

Wow! Witty, electric, romantic, sexy, fun, steamy, and yes, daring are just a few of the words to describe this book! Kate Bateman has found a way of making it fun to have an enemy. In A Daring Pursuit Carys Davies has a bold, in-your-face, always finding trouble style that Tristan Montgomery wants nothing to do with. The feud between the Montgomery's and the Davies is legendary. The only problem is that Kate's brother married Tristan's sister and now they are stuck together for a whole week. This book will make you laugh out loud at the hijinks of Carys. If therre is ever a time you would love to see what the characters look like, this is the time. Kate immerses you into the story and you feel as if you can feel the electricity between the characters. This is definitely a must-read book.

* Received a copy for review*.
Carys & Tristan’s story. I really love Cary’s and how she is determined to live her life by her rules. She’s a free spirit and loves to aggravate the very proper Tristan.
It could be called enemies to lovers but it’s more of a “my god I want you but our families hate one another.”
Enjoyable, fun and a really easy read.

Carys, the heroine, is being blackmailed by her one time seducer Howe. She has also decided that she cannot look for a husband since she is sure no one would want to marry a non-virgin. She has become a daring debutante, that says things and dresses in ways that are shocking to the edge of acceptability. Tristan is a man she has always had a contentious relationship with. They are attracted to each other but have never been able to get along. These two are obviously getting together. Unfortunately, I could not like Carys. Her bad decisions seem to be made out of a lack of reasonable judgement instead of understandable vulnerability. Her reasons for being seduced don't inspire much sympathy nor does her behavior afterward, One would expect a member of her family to say something about her non-debutante like behavior. Tristan's behavior isn't much better. He seems more concerned that Carys didn't enjoy her seduction than the seduction and blackmail itself. While it is realistic, I suppose, taking sexual advantage of a young woman who was already taken advantage of once, isn't very admirable. There is plenty of heat in the their affair, so there's that. and of course you know they will end up with a HEA. I didn't like how they got there, but maybe that's just a matter of personal taste.

Carys is out there. She's beautiful, opinionated, dresses with all the flair of RuPaul, and will never ever let a man close enough to guess her secret: that while a naïve girl, she was essentially raped by a man in their set. Now, she acts crazy to keep the other men away. Besides, if sex is that unpleasant, why bother? But then along comes Tristan Montgomery, architect and former soldier (sigh). The two of them have caught each other's eye for years, but he's appalled by her behavior, and she thinks he's an arrogant jerk. Tristan is on the verge of becoming engaged to a proper girl (with all the personality of a marble column). When he and Carys find themselves together unexpectedly in a dark carriage one night, the heat is undeniable. They enter into an agreement: for the week her family will be hosting a big party at her country house, Tristan will demonstrate for her the ways of love. Because who better to teach you than your enemy? There's no danger of falling in love.

Of course, you know where this is going.

Like Book 1 in this series (A Reckless Match), the main characters are strong, good people, and there's a surprising amount of outdoor athletics. The getaway scene in Pursuit is quite breathtaking. A fine story. Thanks to St. Martin's and Netgalley for the advance read in exchange for an honest review..

The first book in this series seemed a little more fun, we'll see who the next character will be, maybe the third one will be the right one.

Il primo libro di questa serie mi era sembrato un po' piú divertente, vedremo chi sará il prossimo personaggio, magari la terza é la volta buona.

I received from the Publisher a complimentary digital advanced review copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.

I really enjoyed this book by Kate Bateman. It was very well written and I would definitely recommend this to anyone.

“A Daring Pursuit” (Ruthless Rivals #2) the second installment in the Davies and Montgomery families and the ongoing love and hate between them.

This is again another trope of frenemies to lovers. Carys Davis has her reasons for not getting married. As a young woman, she had an indiscretion with a gentleman whom she thought would make an offer, however the gentleman in question proposed to another. She now must hide her secret of ruination to save her family from scandal and the only way to do that is to scandalize herself among the ton and scare away any prospects. Her problem…Tristan Montgomery, a rival of her family, who sees straight through her façade and one makes her heated every time she sees him.

Tristan Montgomery is a gentleman that has a passion for architect. He has always had a penchant for Carys and wants her in his bed. After finding out that she is being blackmailed by her ex-lover, she challenges him to show her how a woman should be loved as she did not experience anything great when she was ruined. Tristan takes her up on her challenge and they decided to meet during a one week stay at her brother’s country estate.

The story started off to a slow start and my guess was to establish the feudal lines between the family. There was quite of bit of angst in the beginning to around a third of the book that I got bored just a bit although it kept my interest. Finally, I got excited when and unexpected kiss initiated a deeper attraction between the MCs. The story was well-written and enjoyed the slow building attraction between the H/h. I think I enjoyed the first book more than this but this one was just as nice. Recommend this read and looking forward to more from this author.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for my fair and honest review. All opinions in this review are my own.

This book is a treat. Carys and Tristan are the perfect rivals, and I LOVE a grumpy/sunshine trope. It was a fun and fast read, and I think it’s one I’ll reread again and again. Thank you SMP Romance and Netgalley for my advance copy!

A Daring Pursuit is book 2 in Kate Bateman’s Ruthless Rivals series. After book 1 jumped onto my favorites list of last year, I could not wait to dive into this book. And this enemies-with-benefits was such a great time! The Montgomery and Davies families have been feuding for centuries, but it is a thin line between love and hate…

Carys Davies has spent the past two seasons doing everything in her power to avoid marriage. Known for her outrageous outfits amongst the ton, Carys has actually been trying to hide a secret that could ruin her and her family. With her scandalous outfits and carefree, confident attitude, Carys has been able to keep potential suitors at bay. The only one who seems to see through her act is Tristan Montgomery, her neighbor from her rival’s family and also the man who makes her heart race. Tristan has spent years trying to appear cool and indifferent to Carys, but he’s equally as aware of her whenever they’re around. So when Tristan finds Carys in a scandalous position, he makes an assumption that leads to a proposition…he will show her every delicious thing she’s missing out on by denying herself a marriage. For one week they’ll give in and explore their mutual attraction and then go their separate ways. Because enemies-with-benefits is definitely the way to go! But when blackmail and a treasonous plot try to get in their way, Tristan and Carys have to have trust in one another.

This book instantly grabbed my attention and I had the best time reading it. I really enjoyed Tristan and Carys’ chemistry, their banter was so fun and how much he loved her wit and sass was great. We also really get a sense of the history they share of growing up next to one another and I loved when they reminisce about childhood moments in their past. I really loved how they both were pining for one another over the years and come to realize just how deeply they have wanted one another in their life. Carys shares her secrets with Tristan pretty early on and the amount of trust between them was so nice to see. Other moments I enjoyed: Carys and her love for animals, Huginn and Muninn the ravens, the week-long house party in Wales, Tristan is an architect and building a new house, Buttercup the bear, a celadon green painted room, meddling aunts and their poison, costume parties, we see Gryff and Maddie (from book 1, A Reckless Match), and Carys’ other brothers Rhys and Morgan.

Thank you to the publisher (St. Martin’s Press, SMP Romance) for an e-ARC via NetGalley. All thoughts in this honest review are my own. A Daring Pursuit has a publish date of May 24, 2022.

This is a second in a series and while the first one is still my favorite this was a lot of fun. Uptight Tristan meets his match in wild at heart Carys.

I saw homages to old movies like Arsenic and old Lace and Bringing up Baby. This is a madcap story that brought a smile to my face.