Kind of a childhood enemies to lovers. I really liked both of the characters, but it felt too short. The books are kind of interchangeable, but I still did enjoy this.

4.5 ⭐️ for Morgan and Harriet!

I’ve been DYING for their book and KB delivered such a delightful entry into her Ruthless Rivals series!

I’m a sucker for “I’m actually saying what’s on my heart, but you think I’m joking so I can get away with it”. A Wicked Game had this in spades. Someone plant a tree, because Morgan Davies is pine city. He’s so in love with Harriet and how she didn’t see it is beyond me. “He’s looking for a wife”. Harriet!! You’re the wife, you dingus. I loved it.

Sex dares/bets are sorta iffy for me, because if it’s not done just right, it can come across icky or manipulative on one or the other MC’s part. But it totally worked for me here. Having Harriet instigate a challenge where Morgan HAS to come home from war to get his three kisses because she can’t say “I love you, you big dummy. Don’t die and leave me.” was just what I wanted.

Watching these two makes googly eyes at each other from across the room was so delightful. And everyone in their sphere knows what’s going to happen. Except these two birdbrains.

I don’t think this one is really a stand-alone because it really requires reading the first two books to understand our MC’s dynamic and buildup (which I suggest anyway because I love them!). I do wish the bad guy plot had been threaded in a bit more to the story. It’s sorta dropped at one point and kicked back up towards the end. But all in all, I cannot wait for the next installment! Rhys is going to have his hands full and I cannot wait.

Huge thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own!

A Wicked Game is Kate Bateman’s third book in her Ruthless Rivals series and is just as amazing as the first two. Harriet and Morgan were delightful and their witty flirtatious banter, searing passion, and long-time teasing shows, again, how Bateman is a master at the enemies-to-lovers trope.

Harriet Montgomery and Morgan Davies have been attracted to each other since . . . well, as teenagers, but neither was willing to admit the truth. As Morgan is set to sail off and fight Bonaparte, Harriet challenges him with the gift of three kisses if he returns from war. When he returns to England, he knows he wants Harriet is his life forever and he is determined to cash in on his prize kisses. Oh, and there was one important catch with the kisses – Morgan gets to choose where on Harriet’s body he kisses! And he relishes each kiss, as does Harriet to her surprise and joy. Although Harriet thoroughly enjoys their kisses, can Morgan convince her to settle down and marry him?

I loved Harriet and Morgan’s story! The story was well-written and kept me quickly turning the pages to see what was going to happen. Morgan is a wonderful hero – honorable, intelligent, humorous, and swoon-worthy. Harriet is a perfect match for him – intelligent, clever, strong, and courageous. The story had everything: humor, fantastic banter, a mysterious cartographer, foot races, costume balls, adventure, love, and steamy romance. I have come to love the Montgomery and Davies rivalry and can’t wait for the next book in the series!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Publishing, NetGalley, and the author for an Advanced Reader Copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Captain Morgan Davies has known Harriet Montgomery for their whole lives. They grew up together, harassing and joking with one another and their rival families. What they each did not know was that they each had a crush on the other. This book is about their adult selves coming to realize that they were meant to be together,

This is the third book in the Ruthless Rivals series by Ms Bateman and the first of the series and hers that I have read. I really liked that this could be easily read as a stand alone and that it hooked me to want to read the first two and excited for the fourth.

Thank you to Kate Bateman, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read this ARC for free.

The Montgomery/Davies Feud never disappoints! I utterly adore the wicked banter, the constant battling of wits and the ever present passion. Morgan & Harriet may just be the hottest union yet with their series of bets resulting in scandalous kisses all across town. After years of taunting one another, it is easy to understand why Harriet might have her doubts about love. But watching Morgan’s quest to capture her heart was beyond enjoyable. Their heat burned through the pages and left you hungering for more. I cannot say enough how much I enjoy this book and the series as a whole.This story is pure perfection from start to finish and will definitely find a home on my forever shelf.

I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

"He was so much larger than her, surging and pulling at her body like a tide, but she felt sheltered in his arms. He was both the port and the storm., the safe haven and the treacherous deep. And God, she was drowning."

I have been desperately looking for a book like this for so long, and low and behold it was sitting on my Kindle just waiting for me to open it. I wanted romance, real true romance, and where I felt the hero was unabashedly in love with the heroine and couldn't live without her. Morgan Davies, you are exactly the type of hero I was looking for.

Morgan Davies and Harriet Montgomery have always been at odds. They could blame the family feud going back generations or they just enjoy goading each other. When Morgan is about to leave for the Navy, and Harriet wants him to come home safe; she bets that she will give him three kisses if he returns unharmed. Just what Morgan has been dreaming about, but he has plans to turn three small kisses into forever. He just has to convince Harriet that a marriage between them would be full of love and happiness.

To say I loved this book would be an understatement because it's one of those books I would wish I could read again for the first time. I can't wait till it is published so I can get a physical copy because it earned itself a place on my keeper shelf. I have felt so much lately that the romance in a lot of books seems so fickle, mere infatuation instead of true love, and it has made reading so hard. This book gets love right. Morgan does so many things to prove he loves Harriet, even when she rebuffs him. It's not just his big grand gesture, which is perfect, but also what he does every day. The way he respects her, protects her, and even helps with her father. It was just so swoon worthy. Harriet and Morgan were a perfect match, and never gave the other the upper hand. A lot of heroines are advertised as strong, but when push comes to shove, they don't stand the test. Harriet isn't like that, and I would rank her up their next to my favorite heroine of all time. Jessica. She is smart as a whip, takes no crap from Morgan, and loves with her whole heart.

This book is easily the best one in the series thus far, even though they are all really great, and I can legitimately say it's probably my favorite book released in 2022. I can't wait to find out what Kate Bateman is going to do with Rhys.

This book is enemies-to-lovers at its absolute best. I positively devoured it in one sitting. Kate Bateman is at the top of her game. Don’t miss this!

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A Wicked Game by Kate Bateman is the third stand alone in the Ruthless Rivals series. A historical romance series that brings together rival family members.

Captain Morgan Davis and Harriet Montgomery have spent their lives in playful competition. When he returns from being held prisoner while overseas, he returns determined to make Harriet his wife after he gets revenge on the mapmaker who lead him off course in his travels. It turns out the mapmaker is Harriet, and he uses this to his advantage while cashing in on the three kisses she wagered him to return safely from the army. Harriet is looking forward to Morgan claiming his kisses and dreams for more but she knows she'd never be happy left behind as a sailors' wife. When he makes his intentions clear, she doubts his genuine feelings, and he must prove that she's the only adventure he needs in his life.

I simply adore this series, and Kate Bateman's writing always has me smiling. Morgan and Harriet have endless banter, shameless flirtation, sexual tension and delicious steam between them. I enjoyed ever minute of their relationship evolving as they both finally gave in to their yearnings. Especially Harriet, who embraces her desires and brings their kisses to the next step with a bold dare that Morgan wouldn't dream of refusing.

A Wicked Game is a historical romance between playful rivals that's filled with delicious steam, flirting, costume balls , foot races, a dash of danger and a happy ending. I can't wait for the next Davies man to fall in love with a Montgomery.

I really enjoyed A Wicked Game. The banter between Morgan and Harriet is witty. The games they play with one another are full of passion. Morgan is sweet and loyal underneath his ornery charm, while Harriet is a very smart woman that enjoys the adventure of life. The conflict in this story mainly arises directly between the two of them, though there is a side plot of a threat. The intimate scenes are well done and move the plot forward. If you enjoy a vivacious hero and heroine that love to challenge one another, then this is a great book to read. I highly recommend it!

I got the ARC from netgalley. This book is a great addition to the series. I liked how Harriet had a job and was independent. I loved that Morgan was the 1st one to come to terms with his feelings. The external conflict could have had more space in the book and made it more fun read .

My last read was an ARC of A Wicked Game and I hadn't read the other books in the series before. Actually, it's my first reading this author's work and I was pleasantly surprised!❣️✨ This one was really good and hit all the right notes for me! 😍 Also, let's take a moment to admire that cover as that's the thing that caught my eye at first! I was thinking this one was going to be about two enemies falling in love but it turned out to be different - and in a good way!😆 It's two rivals(the type of playful rivals not the mean ones!) who've been lusting after each other for so long!🤣 This is definitely a favorite of mine this month - just for being so lovely, steamy and not giving me any tension! I mean, I always have something to nitpick about the characters in almost all of my reads but not in this one!😌⁣
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Harriet Montgomery and Morgan Davies have been rivals since childhood mainly because of family history, but it has never stopped them or their siblings from interacting with each other and engaging in bets! And just before Morgan sails off, Harriet puts forth a daring bet and now Morgan is back to claim the three kisses that she promised him. But it's upto him to decide the logistics of it 😉 He does get a surprise when he finds out that she's the mapmaker who was indirectly responsible for his imprisonment, but it wasn't really her fault so he doesn't care. And his experiences have made him determined to marry Harriet, but convincing her to believe him is the challenge. Luckily, he has three unclaimed kisses and a way to make her realize that she's just as attracted to him as he is!⁣
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If you're looking for an angst-free, steamy historical romance with two rivals and adorable family members this is the one for you! In the meantime I'll be checking out the author's other books and waiting for Rhys' story!

A lightweight story about childhood mates who find it impossible to stop making and taking dares. He introduces her to naughtiness and impropriety until she agrees to his proposals. A light diversion with a brief foray into post-war conflicts.

A wickedly charming romance with a bite of suspense, a couple who snipe and banter as good as any I’ve read, and all the feels. I could not have loved it more.

I really do love Kate Bateman’s writing—she has a way of drawing you in and making you fall in love with her characters, all while keeping you on the edge of your seat. A Wicked Game is indeed wicked, as in fun, feel-good, engaging, and enticing. Morgan and Harriet continue the centuries-long feud between their neighboring families in true Montgomery-Davies fashion—with bets and flirtatiousness and moments so heated it’s a wonder my Kindle didn’t start to steam up.

The truly winning thing here is Morgan’s support of Harriet; he cares for and protects her, yes, and he uses his wiles to get his way and make her fall in love (she never did say where those kisses were meant to go, right?!), but he never diminishes her. He trusts and cares for her enough to offer his support and is ready to step in at a moment’s notice while recognizing that what he loves about her is her strength. It’s enough to make a girl swoon, I tell ya.

Between the chemistry, all the ways Morgan shows Harriet she’s his one, her slow recognition of his truth, and the specter of war that haunts them, this truly is a wonderful read. One of my favorites of 2022, in fact.

4.5 stars! A delightful low-angst romance featuring a couple who've been gone on each other for years, but can't admit it for two big reasons:

1. Their families are feuding, so revealing a preference for each other would be a betrayal!
2. Their entire relationship has been defined by a not-so-friendly rivalry, so a confession of feelings would mean a huge change in their world view.

That said, some things have changed: Morgan has been fighting for his country in the Caribbean for years. Before he left, Harriet wagered him that he wouldn't come back, and if he did, she would grant him 3 kisses. Well, he's back now and ready to collect! In addition to that, their families have also basically moved from a serious feud to a more casual rivalry, mostly because the current generation is intermarrying.

Morgan is ready to settle down, and he just has to convince Harriet that he's serious about her. So yeah, basically the book is about Harry and Morgan redefining their relationship while also indulging in physical intimacy based on the kissing bet. It's sexy and fun, and we had a great time reading it!

I came into this book blind, having not read the first two books in the Ruthless Rivals series, but if they're anything like this one, I'll happily give them a read!

I've read a lot of romance this year and character chemistry is definitely a high need on my wish list. I love the Harriet is her own person: strong, clever, and quick witted. Her feud with Morgan evolving into a "enemies to lovers" -esque moment was *chef's kiss*. The constant daring/challenges/wagers between the two only intensifies the chemistry between them and I was absolutely enraptured by the pacing, story and characters.

My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Publishing Group for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Love it! The series is a winner and the plots are all different but the feud continues between the Montgomery’s and Davies. Harriet has been secretly in love with Morgan since childhood. They grew up together and keeping to tradition had teased and played tricks on Morgan. As time had pass and Morgan is off to war against the French only a dare could guarantee his return. Three kisses.
Morgan has lusted for Harry still he was 16, now a man and returning from the war he is ready to claim his reward. The dare of 3 kisses kept him alive while a prisoner of war, but she never said where those kisses should be placed. And Morgan plans to use it to his advantage, hoping that time has softened Harry hate for the Davies. And the the kisses could become more……..maybe she could love him as he realizes he loves her.
A real page turner again, beware there is a steamy factor. 4.5 🌟……….I can’t wait to read Rhys story. Thank you NetGalley for this eARC. I am voluntarily posting an honest review after reading an Advance Reader Copy of this story. #NetGalley #AWickedGame

If you're a fan of the Ruthless Rivals series by Kate Bateman, you'll love A Wicked Game. It's a thrilling regency romance novel that will leave you wanting more.

A Wicked Game (Ruthless Rivals, #3) by Kate Bateman
This is the book in the Davies and Montgomery "feud". The first two ended in weddings, will this one between Morgan Davies and Harriet (Harry) Montgomery have a different ending? There is angst, teasing, dares, attraction, danger, wonderful family and friends, and some good steamy stuff to get us to a very HEA. Here's hoping there will be a (Ruthless Rivals, #4).
Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Informative Wonderful characters Happily Ever After Funny Easy-to-read Unpredictable Page-turner Steamy Entertaining Great world building Scary Romantic Tear-jerker Action-packed.

What a cute and fun read. Harriet “Harry” Montgomery has always been at odds with Morgan Davies. So when he takes off for war, she wagers three kisses on his return alive. When Morgan returns to collect the debt, Harry has no idea what’s in store for her. She’s harbored a thing for Morgan for years, and luckily the feeling is mutual.

I really enjoyed the banter, the writing, and the plot itself. This was such an easy and fast read and I was ten times better than a famous Netflix show featuring the ton. 😉

This is book 3 in the Ruthless Rivals series. I have read all 3 books and have enjoyed them all. It is a stand alone but it's all the better for having read the first two.
This is the story of Harriet Montgomery and Morgan Davies. They're two families have been rivals for years. But since her cousins have married Davies, the long term feud has lessened. But Harriet and Morgan have been going at each other for years, so why stop now. Or is there more to it?
This story had everything in it. It was funny, sad, heroic, and hot 🔥🔥🔥. There was always something going on to keep the story flowing. Once I started it, I couldn't put it down.
5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I want to thank Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book.