I am really enjoying this series about two feuding families from Kate Bateman. The Montgomery and Davies families have been feuding neighbors for generations, but now they keep falling in love! That is no way to keep a feud going! However, Morgan has always carried a flame for Harriet and after being away at war, he realized he wants her for a wife. They continue their bickering ways, but since each carry a flame for the other, it is only a matter of time. Shenanigans ensue, but in the end, we get the happily ever after we were hoping for. I enjoyed this book, but the other books of the series have set a very high bar, and this was my least favorite of the three so far. Still a highly enjoyable read!

Tropes/Themes:
-MF historical romance
-Feuding families (think Romeo and Juliet but less death and HEAs)
-Frenemies to lovers
-Mutual pining
-Sexy bargains/bets
-Snarky banter and scorching chemistry
-Book #3 in an interconnected standalone series

“You’re etched into me like one of your maps. Engraved upon my heart. You’re a fire in my brain that I never want to put out”.

This is the 3rd installment to Kate Bateman’s Ruthless Rivals series (and likely my new favorite book by Bateman!). This story follows the next star-crossed Davies x Montgomery pairing, Morgan & Harriet. Morgan and Harriet and their dynamic had been previously introduced earlier on in the series, so I already knew that their romance would have all my favorite elements.

Fueled by their feuding families, Morgan and Harriet have always held a mutual animosity towards each other. They have been teasing and pranking each other for years…all while secretly pining for each other! Even when they didn’t know the truly meaning behind their feelings, Morgan and Harriet couldn’t deny the scorching hot chemistry between them and how they knew there was something special there.

After following an incorrect map and getting shipwrecked/imprisoned in enemy territory, renowned Navy Captain Morgan Davies returns to London for two things: (1) To seek revenge on the mapmaker that led him astray, and (2) To claim the 3 kisses he’s owed from a previous bet with his longstanding rival Harriet Montgomery. However, Morgan quickly finds out that the dastardly mapmaker and childhood rival are one in the same!

I loved absolutely everything about this book. Morgan and Harriet were incredibly well-matched and complimented each other so well. I loved how it took Morgan and Harriet time to navigate their feelings…all while everyone in their lives already knew that they were destined to be together. If you love a shamelessly smitten hero, Morgan is your kind of guy. He had been pining over Harriet for YEARS and his memories of her were what him through his tough years at sea. I loved how the moment he decided there would be no other woman for him, he stopped at nothing to make Harriet his. He was so incredibly proud and in awe of Harriet, he was always the first to brag about her in public or defend her honor. Also, can we talk about that grand gesture at the end? Real men could NEVER.

As always, I really like the way that Kate Bateman writes her heroines. Harriet was a very strong, smart and independent heroine. She didn’t need Morgan to feel whole and worthy, but also recognized that she couldn’t picture her life without him. There was one fleeting moment during the (minimal) 3rd act conflict where I wanted to shake her and yell “obstinate, headstrong girl!”, but thankfully that was short lived.

The suspense subplot very much took a back seat to the romance (and honestly only came into play during the last 15% or so of the book). However, I actually didn’t mind that at all. I was so invested in the romance and watching Morgan and Harriet orbit around each other, I almost didn’t want to the mustache twirling villain to come in and detract from it. I felt like the suspense elements that were included were done well and added to the story.

All in all, this was a delightfully romantic read and I can’t wait to read more from Kate Bateman. Books like this are what keep me falling back in love with historical romances over and over again.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest
review. A Wicked Game by Kate Bateman comes out December 27th 2022 and you’re not going to want to sleep on this one!

Book number three in Kate Bateman’s Ruthless Rivals series features sea captain Morgan and his love interest/rival map maker Harriet. A Wicked Game follows the format of its predecessors in that it sees the pairing of members of the Montgomery and Davies families, who pretend to dislike each other, whilst harboring a profound love for one another.

Both Morgan and Harriet are likeable – Morgan is sweet in his long-held devotion to Harriet and in his first-class treatment of men under his command. Harriet is in turn is unselfish and caring, putting her dreams of traveling the world on hold to care for her blind father.

In terms of the plot, you won’t find much action or suspense, I’m afraid. Most of the story is devoted to Morgan winning over Harriet. What you will get is witty banter, comedic bets, and a couple of steamy love scenes.

There is a villain, but his presence in the story is rather brief and quite unremarkable. The only reason this isn’t a five-star read for me – Kate Bateman’s writing is certainly solid – is that I would have liked a bit more action and danger. However, I understand this book is meant to be a fun and light, so I understand the deficiency in that area.

All in all, this an enjoyable read!

Another great read from Kate Bateman. In this perfect enemies to lovers story they share adventures and fun. I love the way the story flows. You are hooked from the beginning and holding on tight till the very end. Her writing keeps you begging for more. Now I need the other books from this series that I have missed out on. I highly recommend this book and any others by Kate Bateman. She reminds me why I love historical romance.

The Davies and the Montgomerys are at it again. This time, it's Morgan and Harriet and a little bet involving three kisses...

Just like the previous installment in this series, A Wicked Game was a great time to read. The chemistry between Morgan and Harriet crackles in all of their scenes, and their teasing banter made me laugh more than once. I also enjoyed the brief glimpses into their shared pasts, which really hit home just how long these two have been pining after each other.

But even though the romance element was really strong, I felt like the actual plot of this book was a little light. Sure, there's the business with De Caen, but the book often seemed to forget about that threat. And while there was Morgan's pursuit of the Three Kisses - and Harriet's resolve to seduce Morgan in return - I couldn't help but feel like this story could have used a little more movement or drama rather than solely relying on the leads' chemistry to drive things along.

Still, that chemistry does plenty of the heavy lifting, and reading A Wicked Game was more than entertaining enough!

3.75/5

I simply adore this story. I love the characters and the witty banter. The centuries old feud between the Mongomery and the Davies families has pretty much ended with the union of both Gryff Davies and Maddie Montgomery, followed by Carys Davies and Tristan Montgomery. It didn't hurt that Griff and Maddie found a way for the two families to build a business together. This story is about cousin Harriet Montgomery, the mapmaker and Morgan Davies. The two of them have been snipping at each other since they were young, sharing pranks, adventures, and witty repartee. Morgan realizes before he leaves for the Navy that she is the woman for him, but to make sure she will be there when he gets back, he goads her into a bet. When he does return, he must strategize a campaign, much as he would for a naval battle, to convince her that he wants her forever and not just to continue their game of one-upmanship. Now Rhys is the last Davies standing.

I read an ARC provided by th publisher through NetGalley.com This is my unbiased and voluntary review.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Publishing Group for the ARC.

This is my first book from Kate Bateman and I'm happy to say it was swoon-worthy and fun! A Wicked Game is book 3, but can be read as a standalone. The author does a great job of setting up the history and character dynamics between Harriet Montgomery and Morgan Davies. I adored their banter, teasing, and the grant of "three kisses" that started it all. I also admired Harriet being a cartographer, it was intriguing to read about.

My favorite aspect had to be the chemistry and attraction between Harriet and Morgan. The mutual pining, their pent up desire, and when the moment they finally became lovers came-it was so hot! I could not tear my eyes off the page.

We also see all the characters from the previous books (Which I haven't read) and the interactions were refreshing and heartwarming. It definitely made me intrigued to go back and read the prior books in the series. There is a bit of suspense/mystery happening with the central villain of the story that I wasn't invested in. The pacing was excellent and the only time I thought it dipped was when its non-romance narrative.

Anyways, this was a fun introduction to the series, low-angst and with a well deserved happy ending. I love the rivalry between the families and I'll be coming back for more! I'll be backtracking to book one and I can't wait for Rhys’ story next!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the eARC.

This is the third installment of the Ruthless Rivals series, which follows the Davies and Montgomery families, who have had a rivalry for five hundred years. However, this new generation is interested in breaking all the rules.

I enjoyed this one so much that I went back to read the first two, which are also very fun with strong-willed FMCs.

I enjoyed the byplay between Harriet and Morgan, and we learned more about their history than the couples in the previous books. It allowed me to understand their backstories, making the current story much sweeter.

The only reason this one lost a star is that each book in this series has followed somewhat of a formula, and I wish they varied a bit more.

The third book by Kate Bateman detailing the romantic interactions between the Davies and Montgomery families. After a feud that lasted years the young unweds on both sides appear to have taken a strong liking to each other. While trying to be aloof and ignore the mutual desires they find themselves drawn even closer to each other. This book, like the two before, A Reckless Match and A Daring Pursuit, draws the reader more deeply into both families. The author displays a talent that is able to follow a common theme but at the same time broaden the readers desire to learn more about the families interactions. I have reviewed all three of these books and rate this one 4 stars.

I received an ARC from Netgalley for my unbiased review.

*Received a copy for review*
I adore a book with low angst. Harry & Morgan have been annoying one another since childhood. Their families were feeding before they were born but with the recent marriages of cousins & siblings, is it time for a more pleasurable future.
Morgan has been in love with Harry for as long as he can remember. She’s smart & funny and never backs down from a challenge.
Harry cannot believe the audacity of Morgan and his bets. However, trying to get him out of her system is not working.
This book is delicious in all the best ways.
I loved the bets and the collection of winnings. These two are the perfect blend of adventurous & challenging.
I love a man who pays attention and knows how to win his lady’s heart.

Captain Morgan Davies returns home to London on a mission to get revenge on a mapmaker and get the girl he love to fall for him. When he finds out Harriet is both the woman he loves and the mapmaker he begins to form a new plan.

I have absolutely fallen in love with Kate Bateman's writing and A Wicked Game is no exception. While it can be read as a standalone, you will get a better understanding of the famous feud if you start from the beginning. I loved seeing previous characters and I cannot wait for the next book in the series. A Wicked Game is the perfect mix of historical romance and adventure that will keep you turning the pages as fast as you can.

Morgan and Harriet are my favorite couple out of this series. They’re chemistry was off the wall and I loved all the witty banter they had with each other. Also, I loved all the dares they used enable to get closer to each other and how Morgan didn’t want to shelter Harriet. He knew she would want to travel the world and didn’t stop her from her dreams. I really really want Rhys to have a book, so I really hope Bateman is writing that one next!

This as a cute book. The characters played well off of each other. It was an easy flowing book, with a little danger, good banter, and low angst. The Davies and Montgomerys are fun clans to follow. I look forward to the next book.


Thank you to Kate Bateman and the publisher for the arc via Netgalley.

The Davies and Montgomery family have been in a feud for decades, so when Morgan Davies comes back from his life at sea he isn’t THAT surprised that the mapmaker who made his life hell is no other than Harriet Montgomery. Growing up together, they were constantly torturing each other, but what if that torture was really flirting all along?

This book was a lot of fun all around. Morgan and Harriet’s banter was witty and entertaining. The characters felt fully flushed out and while they were both members of the Ton, they worked as well. Harriet’s life as a mapmaker and Morgan’s as a sailor only made the story better.

I would definitely recommend this one for any historical romance fans. Even wit the out reading the first two in the series, this novel was a good, quick read. I’ll definitely be going back to look at the rest of the author’s catalogue.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

I just love this series. Each couple is my new favorite and their adventure to find love is what just makes regency romances my favorite. The way they long for each other. The way they pine. Just chef’s kiss perfection and I am always willing to read more and more like this. Top shelf romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC of this title. All opinions are my own and are honestly given.

In A Wicked Game, Morgan Davies and Harriet Montgomery have always been particular sparring partners amidst the larger Davies-Montgomery feud. Naval captain Morgan returns home after being imprisoned and shipwrecked due to an incorrect map, vowing two things: to marry Harriet and to find ‘R. Crusoe’— the cartographer behind this faulty map. When he discovers that Harriet was the creator of this map, he vows his revenge, which he will take in the form of three kisses. As the the long-simmering rivalry between them burns into something hotter and threats from Morgan’s past resurface, Morgan and Harriet find that the line between love and hate might be thinner than they thought.

Wow, this was sooo good. I loved A Daring Pursuit — the second book in The Ruthless Rivals series— so much when I read it earlier this year, and I worried that A Wicked Game might not live up to its predecessor. I’m so thrilled that A Wicked Game was every bit as wonderful as A Daring Pursuit, and both books are in my top five reads of 2022. Bateman has a way of writing fully-rounded characters, with perfectly balanced development, chemistry, banter, romance, and intrigue, that gets me every time. I firmly believe that Bateman is one of the best historical romance writers at the moment, and A Wicked Game (and the rest of The Ruthless Rivals series) shows her at the top of her game. 5 stars and a definite purchase for our collection.

3.5 stars, but not quite enough to round up. I did generally enjoy reading A Wicked Game and really liked Harriet and Morgan as individuals and a couple. They are adorable together and seeing the flashbacks to their dares and exploits over the years was a fun addition. The love scenes were also unexpectedly very hot (unexpected in the context of the couple -- not the author, who always does an excellent job writing them).

My main issue with the story is that it lacked any real conflict for 99% of it. Even more so than Tristan and Carys in the previous book, Harriet and Morgan are never really in an "enemy" stage of enemies-to-lovers, which was supposed to be the central theme of the series. They both love each other, and have for years, but won't believe that the other also feels that way. Morgan's brief annoyance about the purposefully misleading map that's mentioned in the synopsis -- one which unintentionally caused him and his crew serious harm -- disappears within the first 10 pages, and the supposed villain of the book felt like an afterthought.

I think my own expectations of the book based on the synopsis and Bateman's past books (which tend to have more action and/or tension, from the ones I've read) might have led to my rating this one slightly lower than the other books in the series. I kept waiting for a plot twist or some big drama that never happened and felt a little disappointed as a result. That said, I am still looking forward to reading Rhys's story and meeting the black sheep of the Montgomery family.

Thank you to St. Martin’s and a Netgalley for providing an ARC for review!

Love Morgan and Harriet! Since childhood, they have driven each other crazy with bets and teasing. Before he left for war, she bet him if he came home, he would get 3 kisses. Now back, he is here to collect and he intends to prove they are meant to be together.

Morgan and Harriet have great chemistry and I loved the story from start to finish. While part of a series, it can be read as standalone.

Thanks to the publisher for a review copy via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

So much fun! Each book in this series has been one adventure after another. Bateman brings such originality and wit to her writing that makes this series really stand out. And in this story, Harriet and Morgan are engaged in a never ending cat and mouse game of dares/teasing/battle of wits. It’s all longing and desire and miscommunication - and it’s delightful.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

This book is a steamy, sexy, fun time. I have zero complaints! There is such a lovely build up between Harriet and Morgan. They have both been secretly pining for one another since their teenage years, and they have grown up together. They have been in a “dare you” type of competition’s for years, and now their are higher stakes. I’ll be honest, there is little plot, but the romance is so sweet and steamy at the same time that it pulls the story forward wonderfully. This is a great historical romance, highly recommend! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to provide my honest review.