This was another great installment in the Montgomery/Davies series!
In A Wicked Game, Harriet and Morgan have been rivals since they were children just like the rest of the family.
They love to play games and one-up each other constantly, when Morgan goes off to the Navy Harriet knows that she has to do something to make sure he returns. So she bets him that if he comes back he gets three kisses. Morgan has known he has feelings for Harriet for a long time, and the thought of winning kisses from her is what keeps him going through the two years he is off to sea.

The chemistry between the two is sizzling, the banter is superb, and the fact that they both have secretly had romantic feelings and have been slowly falling for each other for years is just the icing on the cake. I loved the little ways that Morgan showed Harriet how much he cared for her, and when she realized his intentions were real it warmed me down to my soul and left me smiling.

I'm so excited for Rhy's story and to see which of the wild Mongomerys are going to catch his eye!

The thing I love about reading a series is that the buildup between characters can last for BOOKS before we see the culmination of that buildup; Morgan and Harriet’s love has been hinted at since the first book in this series and I LOVED seeing it play out.

Before Morgan went to war, Harriet threw down the gauntlet; return from war and she’ll give him 3 kisses. Unfortunately (or fortunately?), she didn’t specify WHERE those kisses were to be had on her body.

This is a feel-good book with spice. Morgan is roguish and know what he wants. Harriet has wanted a life of adventure. Together, they’ll both get what they want and, dang, they are explosive.

If I had to sum this one up? Anticipation, sensual, feel-good, all-around great book!

In a Wicked Game, Kate Bateman continues her series of Montgomeries (can I use that?) who fall for Davies (and vice versa), and this one sadly was my least favorite. A match between a sea captain, Morgan Davies, and a mapmaker, Harriet Montgomery who engage in my enemies to lover trope should have hit my buttons. Unfortunately, it kicks off with Morgan being imprisoned because he accidentally uses a map that Harriet has set up as bait for unsuspecting French sailors, and her cavailier oopsie attitude to his imprisonment did not establish a good tone for romance. Frankly, it was a turnoff, and I couldn't quite connect with this pair. This was a pick up, put down, try again, still not engaged kind of novel, which results in 3 stars for me. It is well written, and likely someone else's cup of tea. Sadly it wasn't mine.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

She had to give him something worth living for.

Even with their siblings and cousins crossing into enemy territory and getting married (A Reckless Match and Daring Pursuit) Harriet and Morgan still play into the family rivalry of never turning down a dare from a Montgomery or Davies. It's a tradition that goes back to their childhood days and while Harriet and Morgan's animosity may seem more provocative than combative, they both feel locked into their roles. When Morgan is getting ready to ship out to fight Napoleon, Harriet tries to hide her fear by making him a bet, if they win the war and Morgan comes home, she'll grant him three kisses. Morgan, of course, takes that bet and we have the bet that will finally bring these two together.

He’d returned to England with two specific goals: seduction, and revenge.

A Wicked Game is third in the series but new readers could pop-in here, you'd be missing some scenes that teased the chemistry between Harriet and Morgan and some history on why the Montgomery and Davies families have a low-angst combative relationship but otherwise, the only thing you need to know, is prepare for some spine-tingling moments. After the bet is made in the first chapter, the next chapter jumps us two years and Morgan is coming back home after having been imprisoned by a sadistic French general named Da Caen. Morgan was captured because he was using maps he'd lifted off a French vessel he'd previously took, unfortunately, those maps had been planted by the English. The English hired a mapmaker, Crusoe, to falsify maps to hopefully get French vessels lost or run aground on reefs they didn't know were there. Morgan spends six weeks as a prisoner before Napoleon is finally defeated and he and his crew can be let go back to the English. Morgan comes back to England bent on revenge on this Crusoe and to collect his three kisses from Harriet. While at sea and prisoner, he realized that he loved Harriet and is ready to convince her of not only his feelings but her own that he is sure she has.

Even if he hadn’t ruined her in strictly technical terms, she’d ruined him. For every other woman, ever. She’d won, and she didn’t even know it.

Within the first fifteen percent, Morgan learns that Harriet is “Crusoe” and that Da Caen has been spotted in London trying to find Crusoe maps. It's rumored that Da Caen stole Napoleon's treasure and ended up using one of Crusoe map to hide it, so in order to find the gold again, Da Caen needs another Crusoe map. This was a very low on plot angst story. Yes, Morgan was taken prisoner and tortured but we don't get flashback scenes, only short re-tellings of some of what happened and Morgan isn't overly broody over it. While Da Caen is brought up right in the beginning, the vast majority of the story forgets about him as the focus is solely on Harriet and Morgan's chemistry. There's actual fun little historical additives in this, mapmaking history, a shout out to Jeanne Baret, how cataracts was treated, and other time period placing trivia but I'm going to have to go back and reread to catch and appreciate them all, I was locked into every spine-tingling moment Harriet and Morgan had around each other.

He slid his fingers down her arm and caught her hand, then gently turned her so her back was to him. His soft exhale lifted the hairs on her exposed nape and she could feel the heat of his body all along her back, even though they weren’t touching. And then his lips pressed her shoulder and his arms slid around her waist, his fingers spreading across her stomach, and even through the fabric of her stays and chemise, it burned. A heavy pounding started in her blood.

Morgan already realizes he loves Harriet and wants to marry her, normally I like to “see” the falling in love but, again, The Chemistry. It was also just nice to have the male main character so focused on the female main character, Morgan delighted in their teasing, challenging relationship and clearly found her sexy, I love that in my romance couples. Morgan also realized that Harriet wasn't ready to believe in his love, this clearly was to keep them apart and you kind of have to go along with Harriet being so blocked from understanding what is between them. Morgan decides to use the three kisses to seduce Harriet but then gets uncomfortable thinking he is forcing her somehow and we get Harriet taking the reigns a little by making a new bet that she clearly set-up to win to show Morgan she wants this. By fifty percent the three kisses have been given and Morgan declares his love but Harriet doesn't believe he truly wants to marry her.

Still, she raised her brows. “And you can’t get to know me better because—?”
He flashed a glance at something over her shoulder and grinned as he leaned closer to whisper in her ear, “Because you’re the captain’s woman.”

The second half has Harriet dancing with a man who was under Morgan's command and learning that Morgan spoke of her all the time, using her to sometimes keep his men under control and inspire them, always with a sense of love and awe. At around 60% Harriet admits to herself that she loves Morgan but still can't quite believe he loves her. Past main couples also come in to point out and wake-up Harriet to how Morgan has been showing her how much he loves her, helping her father get the cataract surgery he needs, intimidating a rival mapmaker to stop copying her maps, and generally being there for her. At 80% Morgan makes one final push and asks her to give him one week to prove he loves her.

She opened it to find Morgan on the step, his broad shoulders made even broader by a heavy greatcoat, his face shadowed by a tricorn hat.

The last twenty percent has Da Caen coming back into the picture and interrupting our grand declaration of love. There's some danger, some taking care of business, and finally a quiet but incredibly sweet moment of I love yous (I hope there is an ordering campaign using the charming Map of the Heart). I remember thinking to myself around kiss three that I had lost the plot but, I think the book did, too. However, the chemistry is the star here and my god did Harriet and Morgan have it and thank you to the author that didn't follow the recent trend of fade-to-black or closed door; parlor and bedroom doors get blown open, folks. A Wicked Game has hot building tension and crackling chemistry, don't miss Harriet and Morgan's story.

I read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I honestly wouldn’t change a thing about this novel. Full of angst, intrigue and intellect, this story has everything you want in a regency romance.
Was great to return to the Davies Montgomery rivalry, it was wonderful to witness the love!

Kate Bateman has recently turned into an auto-buy because she really know how to write the best banter, chemistry, and some amazing heroes worth swooning over.

For this book, I just could not stop smiling from the beginning when we meet our besotted, pining, "I've Loved You Forever" Morgan. And the smiles never left my face till the end.

Morgan courts Harriet under the guise of playful games, and he's so effective that I felt like I was being courted. The book does sacrifice a more substantial plot in order to focus on their romance. But watching them cross the line from frenemies to lovers was so much more fun, and allowed me to get invested (more than usual in other books) in their happily ever after. It’s rare to find a good book that can stand on the romance alone versus a complex story-line, but this is one of those rare ones that I wouldn't want any other way.

This is book was so delightful and one to pick up when you want your cheeks to hurt from grinning too much,

I received an Advanced Reader Copy through NetGalley. All opinions in the review are my own.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved seeing how Morgan knew from the very beginning that he wanted to marry Harriet. There was something so heartwarming seeing Morgan so steadfast about marriage and love right out the gate. Like the other books in the series, the banter and flirting between the main characters was very entertaining. I was expecting there to be a bigger role for the villain, it was almost too neatly tied up in what seemed like a single chapter. Overall this was a great read and I cannot wait for Rhys’ book!

I received a free copy of this book for my honest review.

Thanks to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the opportunity to read and review @kc_bateman upcoming book, A Wicked Game, which is book three in the Ruthless Rivals series. I read the first book, A Ruthless Match, thanks to @therippedbodice recommendation.

It’s out on December 27, 2022.

Before leaving to fight Napoleon Bonaparte, Captain Morgan Davies accepts a bet from his nemesis Harriet Montgomery: if you don’t die, I’ll give you three kisses. When he returns two years later, injured but alive, he wants to collect on his bet. Harriet didn’t say where the kisses had to be, and he decides to use them to seduce her and convince her that they are made for each other.

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers

A Wicked Game is everything one could want in a historical romance: a pining hero, an independent and sassy heroine, and a little bit of intrigue.

Morgan Davies and Harriet Montgomery entered into a bet 3 years ago. If Morgan survived the war, Harriet would give him 3 kisses. Upon his return, the bet turns into a wicked game of seduction and courting. Morgan wants Harriet as his bride, but, with their heated rivalry, Morgan must slowly woo Harriet and show her that his feelings go beyond the mounting desire between them.

I loved the juxtaposition of Harriet's logical approach to life to Morgan's swashbuckling Captain energy. Morgan's confidence in Harriet being his wife, even when she didn't see it, was beautifully executed. There is definitely an undercurrent of bets, dares, and rivalry throughout the book, but I never felt like it was unskillfully managed (with maybe the exception of the first sex scene and the epilogue).

The intrigue of the false map and the villain wanting to find his hidden treasure, was a little heavy handed at the end. I would have been perfectly content without the hidden treasure and villain portion of this story.

This was my first Kate Bateman book, and it will definitely not be my last!

I read this without having read the two previous books in the series and can recommend that this book can be read and enjoyed as a standalone.


I received an Advanced Reader Copy through NetGalley. All opinions in the review are my own.

Kisses, Adventure, Wagers:
Wow, what a heart pounding passionate love story that had me reaching for my ladies fan several times. The pages are smoldering with passion and excitement. The third kiss scene is fantastic. Not a dull slow moment in this book.
Harriet a sharped tongue lady with secret desires who loves a challenge and Morgan the man of her desires who makes some tantalizing challenges to show her just what she wants but she doesn't know what that is yet.
The plot has many different situations. A desirous romance, hidden treasure, a vicious villain. Lots of sarcastic yet flirtatious banter, humor and a scary ending.
A thrilling romance story that I truly enjoyed reading. I would give this book more than 5 stars. I look forward to reading more books by this author.
Adult Advisory:

If you love snappy banter, witty characters, and a deep abiding love both characters have kept hidden for years, then you’ll love this book. The Montgomery and Davies families have been in a feud for centuries. While the earlier family members kidnapped each other, stole from each other, and saw to each other’s demise, the current family members' enmity is of a much more benign nature. Shux – the feud might even be considered over since two couples of the feuding families have married each other. Now, could there possibly be a third?

Harriet Montgomery and Morgan Davies have been challenging each other, daring each other, and besting each other since they were children. They’ve also secretly loved each other for that long as well. They each know nothing could come of it because they are sure the other sees them as nothing more than an enemy to taunt and challenge.

Growing to adulthood has a way of changing things for us – and that is certainly what happened with Morgan. As he grew to adulthood, he knew he loved Harriet – and after his experiences in the war, he knew he’d do what it took to make her realize she loved him too.

Morgan certainly put his training in battle strategies to good use in wooing and winning Harriet, but it was a near thing. Not that she didn’t love him – she did. It was that she was always looking for his ulterior motive. What did he have up his sleeve? What trick was he playing?

Harriet was vehemently opposed to marriage to a sailor. She wanted a husband who would be home and sharing her life every day and not just occasionally when he was home from the sea. How will Morgan get past that? His solution is perfect and I know you’ll love it.

So, why didn’t I rate it a 5-star read like I did the first two books? That is a bit hard to explain, but I’ll try. I was looking for more adventure – more excitement – more villains out to wreak havoc, etc. Harriet wanted adventure and I wanted her to have it, but it just didn’t materialize. Don’t get me wrong, it was a beautiful romance, it just wasn’t an exciting, on-the-edge-of-your-chair kind of adventure on the way to the romance. I know it couldn’t be like the first book of the series – now THAT was adventure and romance. No, we couldn’t have them trapped in underground tunnels while being chased by smugglers and discovering gold – but gosh – we could have more than some nut with a gun covering just a few short pages.

I loved the story and you couldn’t ask for a more enticing, romantic lead character than Morgan. He was witty, handsome, caring, honorable, intelligent – I mean – goodness – what isn’t to love about him? The same goes for Harriet. I loved her spunk, her wit, her intelligence – and she was exactly perfect for Morgan. They totally complemented each other in every way. I hope you’ll love the story as much as I did. Now – we’re going to have to wait for Rhys, the last Davies male standing, to find his Montgomery love. Can’t wait!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Is there anything more delicious than a couple who lives to challenge one another? Especially when that couple doesn’t realize they’re a couple? Kate Bateman gives romance fans an enchanting example of this Beatrice-and-Benedict dynamic in A Wicked Game.

Morgan and Harriet have been antagonists since childhood. After all, he’s a Davies and she’s a Montgomery, and their families have been feuding for years. Of course, now that Davies and Montgomerys have been marrying one another recently, a different picture is beginning to emerge, but Morgan and Harriet thrive when they dare one another to do something, particularly dares that challenge each other’s keen intellects.

But when one of those dares involves kisses—and it isn't specified where on the body those kisses will occur—things begin to shift between Harriet and Morgan....

This book is a delight from start to finish. Part of the fun is that Morgan has realized before A Wicked Game begins that he’s completely in love with Harriet and ready to make her his wife. Harriet isn’t there yet, and their competitive history works against Morgan, as Harriet has a hard time believing that anything he does for her doesn’t have an ulterior motive.

Bateman expertly weaves in elements of their lives, from Morgan’s naval experiences (including captivity) and Harriet’s expertise in mapmaking. One especially lovely touch is learning how everyone around them realizes that they’re gaga for one another when they can’t see that themselves.

I love it when a romance doesn’t fail me in any way, shape, or form. A Wicked Game is one of those delightful, enchanting reading experiences. Read this, read this, read this. It’s a perfect bonbon of a book for historical romance fans.

I have become a huge fan of Kate Bateman and her historical romances and this book is no exception. This is a wonderful fairly low angst, low stakes romance. It was a balm. Both characters were fun to read, fully developed and pushed the story along well.
I loved the whole concept and I can't wait to go and read even more of her backlist.

This is the third book in the Ruthless Rivals series by Kate Bateman which follows a two families who had been feuding for hundreds of years. Morgan Davies and Harriet Montgomery have been frenemies since childhood. As a navy caption, Morgan is about to leave and Harriet goads him with a bet to survive. It is now years later and not only has Morgan survived, he’s cashing in his winnings: 3 kisses.

One aspect I really appreciated was the approach to Harriet’s mapmaking. Too many times in historical romance, the heroines passion/occupation is almost framed as a hobby rather than an actual profession. This book didn’t do that. Harriet is a successful mapmaker, works in a shop with her father, and is conscripted by the government for her maps. It’s validating and I really appreciated it!

Overall loved this book. The previous ones in the series were also 5 star reads for me and this is no different. I’m just a sucker for an enemies-but-not-really to lovers story line. The banter, the relationship, and just the history these two have is amazing. The dynamic of “I like him but he probably just flirts with everyone” while at the same time his thoughts are “how can I convince her to marry me?” KILLS ME. EVERY TIME.

I’ve already read the novella in Duke in a Box which has the story of Caro Montgomery and cannot wait for Rhys’ story :)

A Wicked Game by Kate Bateman
Ruthless Rivals #3
Publication Date: December 27, 2023

Before Morgan left to fight Napoleon he bet his childhood nemesis, Harriet, that he could survive the war. If he did, he would get three kisses. To her secret delight, he has survived the war and now he’s back to claim his three kisses. Morgan decides to up the ante because he never stipulated when or where those kisses took place. All is fair in love and war, am I right?

Dear Kate Bateman, I know this is rather quick, and we were just introduced. This book is my only experience with you but, I was wondering.. Would you like to be in my top three favourite historical romance authors? Because A Wicked Game was perfect. Everything I look for in the genre could be found in this book from the steamy scenes to the witty dialogue, loveable characters, and a fun tension filled excuse for our characters to interact. These characters hated to love one another and you let that enemies-to-lovers trope shine in all its glory. You managed to find the most amazing method of groveling towards the end.

The absolute worst thing about this book is that it ended. So now I have your extensive back catalogue to look forward to. So no pressure or anything… I’ll just be over here reading your books and hoping if they let me down, they let me down gently (*sings a la Adele*).

If there are fellow Kate Bateman fans reading this, please let me know which of her books I NEED to read next!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for providing an advanced reading copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A Wicked Game is the story of Harriet and Morgan who have been nemeses since they were kids, always one-upping the other. Until they realise they have feelings for each other, and smartly use that one-upmanship-ness to get closer.
I haven't read Kate Bateman in years! This was a great one to start-again with. I really liked the story. I've never read about a woman being a map-maker, so I enjoyed this part of the story very much (I wasn't expecting to).
This book portrays the kind of intimacy that I like: physical attraction together with deep feelings.
One little thing that bugged me was that Morgan was portrayed as this ever-cheerful guy, which did not mesh with the fact that he was imprisoned and beaten. I'm not saying that he should have been the tortured hero, but merely that the way he didn't even seem upset about it was weird.
Other than that, I really liked every interaction between Harriet and Morgan, and was always waiting for the next time they'd (adorably) clash.

Thank you to the publisher and author for the ARC via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Harriet Montgomery and Morgan Davies have been friendly rival since childhood. They have made many bets with each other over the years. When Morgan was sailing off to fight Napoleon, Harriet bet him that he wouldn't come back safe, knowing he'd do anything to make her lose, with a penalty of three kisses.

Morgan has come back to London with two goals: first, he wants to find the mapmaker whose inaccurate map caused him to wreck his ship and spend time captive in the Carribean, and second, to find Harriet and claim his kisses on convince her that he wants to marry her. One of his goals is met when he learns that Harriet is the mapmaker and the disinformation on the map was a planned technique to fool the enemy.

Harriet has been in love with Morgan for years, but never expected him to return her feelings. It will take a lot of convincing, and a lot of kisses, to bring Harriet around to the idea of marrying Morgan.

This was an engaging historical romance with lots of spicy love scenes and lots of strong emotions. There is an element of danger in that the man who imprisoned Morgan is in London and looking for a copy of a map Harriet made so that he can find treasure he stole from Napoleon but focus on the story was on the building romance between Harriet and Morgan.

Fans of historical romances will enjoy this latest in the Ruthless Rivals series.

I received this book as an ARC from Netgalley and these are my opinions.
This is the third book in the series Ruthless Rivals and so far, is my favorite. Captain Morgan Davies returns from a voyage after being captured due to the fact that he had an incorrect map. He is out for revenge on the mapmaker only to find out that she is a family rival. Harriet's father is going blind, so she has been running the business. Harriet has always had feelings for Morgan. They made a bet before he went to sea, and he wants to collect on it.
I loved the interaction between these two. It was a wonderful read with a bit of intrigue.

I loved getting to spend an evening with the Montgomery and the Davis' families. Their feud has brought me much entertainment this year and it was so nice to wrap everything up. I do hope we get Rhy's story and see the other "wild" family members who were hinted at by the aunts.

Morgan is determined to win Harriet as his own after a near death experience caused him to re-evaluate his goals in life. He's always wanted her, but it took some danger to really show him what he was missing.

Harriet feels a desire for the rogue Captain that she can't even admit to herself. But she is secretly thrilled that he has returned and is calling in his debt of "three kisses" as payment for his safe return. Even though she'd NEVER admit it to him.

This was sweet as I said, but with just a hint of danger. I also loved Harriet's father and I'm so happy for what is able to happen for him.

I don't love this one quite as much as A Daring Pursuit... as I feel like this one was a bit too slow to start but overall, I'm happy how it played out.

4 stars
2 on the spice scale

I received a copy for review from NetGalley and my opinions are all my own.

Bateman captured my heart with A Wicked Game.
This is a character driven story and I absolutely loved Harriet and Morgan. The history between these two creates a love story that makes me believe these two are soulmates. The beginning with the promise of three kisses from Harriet to Morgan was a great way to bring these two back together after being separated due to a war.
Harriet and Morgan are a dynamic duo. I loved their banter and interactions. I also loved that their romance was forbidden love due to rivaling families. It added drama to their relationship and make the romance even more interesting. I also loved how head over heels in love Morgan is with Harriet. I love it when the hero falls first. I also liked that Harriet was a map maker! So cool!
The cover is gorgeous and really captures the mood of the story.
Bateman's writing is fabulous as always.