Faux rivals...

Captain Morgan is back and looking for revenge, and kisses? From the same person?
Harriett is ready to get to the kissing, though she has fun bickering with Morgan. I liked the map making aspects, but maybe not the other shennanigans that Harriett is dealing with in the map making business.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (Rounded up to 4)

It’s always difficult to review a romance thoroughly. Is it predictable? Yes. Are parts of the plot convenient? Yes. Did I love it I spite of (or really, because of) that? Absolutely yes.

Harriet Montgomery and Morgan Davies are members of two families who’ve been feuding for generations. They taunt and tease each other, and they love to make bets and dare each other to do reckless things. There are also maps. And a villain. And a few relatives that have settled the feud between the two families by marriage. Can you read it for those? Certainly. But while you may come for the story, you’ll stay for the romance.

What Worked For Me:

This book has a lot of the things I’m looking for when I want a light and frothy romance. (Those words are both a description and a compliment.) It has one of my favorite tropes: rivals/friends to lovers. I can’t call this enemies to lovers because it’s clear from the jump that their goal is to one-up each other, not do actual harm. They have a great back and forth between them, and I love to see romances where the intelligence of the female is highlighted alongside her appearance. Her intelligence makes her a great “opponent” for Morgan, and the fun in this is watching them realize that family feuds don’t have to get in the way of passion.

I also loved the surrounding characters. This is the third in a series, and I’m already planning to go back and read the other two. I’m also looking forward to the next one, which is kind of hinted at. Morgan’s brothers are gloriously masculine and slightly rakish, while Harriet’s cousin Maddie is just delightful. There are aunts, and a father, and I love a romance where the family plays a role. Especially if they’re eccentric. I did also find the few details on cartography to be interesting, especially as regard war during that time.

What Didn’t Work For Me:

The portion dealing with a villain who is billed on the blurb as being “a threat from Morgan’s past.” This is misleading, as Morgan’s relationship to this person is secondary to the real reason the villain is present, which I won’t spoil. I would have liked more development of that part of the plot.

I also would have enjoyed more of the day to day of both Harriet and Morgan. Things are happening, but we are privy only to what has a direct effect on the romance, and I think there could have been depth added by taking a bit more time.

Summation:

This was fun, lighthearted, and fast. I would definitely read more by Kate Bateman, and I am very picky about what I look for in a historical romance. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I looking forward to reading the earlier two in the series.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin’s for giving me a free copy in exchange for an open and honest review.

Harriett and Morgan, rivals from birth, heat up the pages of A Wicked Game like no other. The cluelessness of feelings adds to the heat and witty banter as they travel to their HEA. They have been dancing around each other their whole lives. It’s time to dance together. And, we get visits from others in the series – always enjoyable. You will not want to put this one down; it’s a page turner!

Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

After reading A Daring Pursuit earlier this year, when I saw this one come out I knew I needed it. I was not wrong. It was lovely! There's built up tension between the two characters, mutual pining, banter, working class heroine, naval captain, cartography, delicious build up of intimacy, and a great secondary plot too. It was just the installment of enjoyment I needed. Although, this is not the book to sneak read at work... wow did I have to put this book down and save it for later because yeah...

Harriet and Morgan were spectacular in every scene together. From the first page to the last. I loved each bit of banter and how they made a bet out of everything. I especially loved how Morgan turned that bet around and how Morgan was the one that had the authority in each moment. It was beautiful.

Morgan's interactions with Harriet's father and the tenderness he showed with Harriet throughout the book was lovely as well. Just all of the small moments together were swoon worthy. Plus Harriet having a job as a cartographer was a great addition. I loved how passionate she was about her work. It met with some great character complexity moments which helped build some depth to the characters that had a certain level of fluffness to them.

Honestly just the playfulness and longing between the two characters was enough for me to fall in love. The chemistry was great as well. I adore friends to lovers and this was the heart of this novel. All of the jokes and memories between them. Be still my heart.

My only real issue with this book is a small one, I wish that Morgan had a bit more of a chip on his shoulder and didn't quickly "get over" being held captive and tortured for several weeks like it was nothing. That should have some lasting affects on a human!! Not just moving on real quick. I wanted some tender moments between him and Harriet dealing with this more. It's not really an issue more of a personal taste situation

Long story short I do recommend reading this book. I don't think that you have to read the first two in the series to get this one at all. I feel like you're only missing small pieces of knowledge and not entire plots or such. I think it would be a great read if you like banter filled historical romance books. That border between teasing and flirting perfection.

This was quite a delight. The romance was so fun take on enemies to lovers trope. I normally don't like this trip but Morgan and Harriet had stolen the show. Their chemistry was on fire and I like that they don't fully take their hatred for one another very seriously which is quite hard to find in this trope that is done well.

It was also quite fascinating to see how mapmaking was produced during that time and how like with art, people tried at every chance that gets to steal and profit off of someone else's work. The little side plot with HarrietWs father and how he trying to get his eyesight back was also fascinating to see how people who were recently visually impaired try to get some kind of help in getting help that they need if they want their sight back. who knew that a historical romance could be fun?

A charming, funny and romantic story. Harriet and Morgan are two characters you cannot help but grin with delight at their rivalry, teasing, and banter. All of their interactions hum with sexual tension. The pull between them is clear for all to see except for themselves.
I enjoyed Harriet. She's clever, independent and feisty. Morgan is adorable in his constant teasing and attempts to rile her up.
The results of the three kisses dare turned out to be quite hilarious in its execution. Morgan certainly had a devious plan in mind but my favourite scene was when Harriet turned the tables for the third kiss and made a new dare involving a race proving that Morgan wasn't the only one with a devious sense of humour.
A wonderfully entertaining story.

This is a bit of friends to lovers and enemies to lovers. They’ve played games with each other since they were young. And now that they’re older and wiser the games become more wicked.

I had a blast reading about these two. They way they both were clueless about the other’s feelings made this a page turner. I wanted to watch them fall in love and I wasn’t disappointed.

Having cameos from the previous books made it even more fun. I love interconnected standalones!

I initially loved seeing the flash back of Harriet and Moran so it gives us a taste how the banter has started between them. I also liked how things moved quite quickly in the beginning between our couple with the revelation of her being basically an "interim" map maker and Morgan finding out. Harriet's father condition was a unexpected, but it really added something extra to the plot. I truly have a hard time picking a fav out of this trilogy. I think its a more enjoyable read to read the series in order as characters/couples from the previous books appear. I have to say this cover is very beautiful! Ahhhh, ok so by that conversational hint at the ending about other Montgomery's are we getting a spin off?! I can't wait to see what Kate writes next.

Narrator Beverly A. Crick was amazing.

I received this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Kate Bateman, take all my money. I end up buying her books after netgallying them because I love them so much. They have the perfect mix of anticipation, fun, adventure, likeable characters, satisfying dialogue and spicy scenes for me. Always a yes for me.

Captain Morgan Davies had been shipwrecked thanks to an incorrect map but is now back in London and ready to face Harriet Montgomery. They'd bet three kisses in the past, and he means to collect. He also means to convince her that he's serious about marrying her, even though she's worried about her father's failing eyesight and a rival mapmaker trying to ruin her work.

The third book in the Ruthless Rivals series, we continue with the Davies and Montgomery families at odds. Of course, the two here had battled an attraction to each other since they were teens due to the family rivalry. The kisses are an excuse for proximity and accelerate the process of seeing different sides of each other, respecting the differences, and loving each other. We get glimpses of the man seeking the map around town, as he had buried treasure using the map Harriet crafted for the military. Morgan treats it as dangerous from the start, but it feels like only an annoyance to the reader in the first half.

Harriet and Morgan's book is finally here and it was EVERYTHING I wanted. All of that delicious rivals-to-lovers tension (it feels somewhat inaccurate to call them enemies when they were really mostly bickering children for most of their relationship and always seemed rather playful with each other) finally culminates in a bet that Morgan makes with Harriet shortly before setting sail with the Navy — and now he's come home to collect on the kisses that she's promised him. There's a less important sideplot involving an old military foe of Morgan's, but really, the crux of this book is about Harriet and Morgan's long-standing dynamic and how long it takes them to realize they're in love with each other (although she takes a little longer than he does, truth be told). The whole book is low-angst in that way, which makes for another wonderful installment to a series I have loved ever since the first. And is that a sequel or spinoff series featuring Rhys I spy in the epilogue — with even more Montgomerys for us to meet? YES PLEASE.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

While the premise is great and the writing is good, I never really felt the tension and the pining between the characters viscerally. I am a fan of dual POV, but in this book dual viewpoint of the same scene struck me as repetitive. I also never felt the stakes were high enough to justify the length of time for them to fulfill their kissing bet, but the main characters are fun and I did love that Morgan has basically had a crush on Harriet for forever.

Ultimately, I didn't love this book and it might just be a me problem. Maybe if I had read the first two in the series I would have been more invested in the story.

Maybe I'm out of practice reading romance novels, but I was disappointed in this one. The previous books in this series had more plot, as I recall; this one was nothing but seduction and foreplay from the first page. The conflict seems to be that each of them wants the other but thinks they have to convince the other to want them. Which would be fine but... I don't know. The writing isn't quite up to the standards of the other books. Or maybe it's so focused on the bedroom scenes and seduction that everything else suffers. I was willing to forgive it its flaws at first because there was a hint of plot beyond the seduction, but as it progressed I became more and more bored. And the writing became full of his "masculine" this and her "feminine" that and his large body looming over her and it just. Is not my style. At all. I finally gave up when I passed the 50% mark and no plot had shown up to distract from the seduction.

I did enjoy some of the banter and rivalry and one-up games Morgan and Harriet played, and the flashbacks to when they were younger, but I think this book could have been far, far better with some plot. There was a hint of some, in the beginning, with the maps and the treasure and the revenge... but it all gets swept away by lust. Since I don't actually read romance books for the bedroom scenes (and prefer to skip them most of the time), this book wasn't it for me.

I also never connected with either Harriet or Morgan. They both felt really flat to me and I was never convinced of their chemistry. They didn't have a lot to their personalities or motivations except lust for each other which left it all feeling sort of hollow.

*Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing an early copy for review.

Oh those Dastardly Davies!
In this fun and refreshing historical romance, Ms Bateman returns us to the post napoleonic “feud” between the Davies and Montgomery families - this time focusing on Morgan and Harriett.
While the “feud” has thawed, these two have a life time of needling each other and it was very entertaining to see that history play out.
Fantastic characters, light intrigue, and a great secondary cast all contribute to this unique read that stands alone in a series. These books are sequential, so a decent amount of the Morgan/Harriett world building takes place in other books. Don’t let that dissuade you though! You could easily start this series here- just be prepared for spoilers.

This generation has finally stopped the feud between the Davies and Montgomery families. After Harriet's cousins married a Davies, no one would be surprised if she married one of them. She has been in love with Morgan Davies since she was a kid, but they have always had a contentious relationship. Morgan has always loved Harriet but knew she wouldn't believe him. He likes her intelligence and her sharp wit. When he comes home from the war, he just wants to get on with his life. When he was imprisoned, all he could think about was Harriet. Can he convince her that he really does love her? Do they have a chance at a life together?

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A Wicked Game is book three in Kate Bateman’s Ruthless Rivals series. This was the best book in the series so far! Captain Morgan Davies and Harriet Montgomery have had a love/hate relationship since childhood. Coming home from war and surviving prison, Morgan has two objectives: find the man who made the erroneous map that found him in a French jail and convince Harriet to marry him. Harriet has fought her feelings for Morgan for a lifetime. When Morgan comes to collect on a scandalous bet, he must persuade Harriet to give him her heart; if not, they will be doomed to be enemies forever.

Morgan knew he wanted Harriet; he had loved her forever. Morgan had to persuade Harriet that their connection was more than just physical. He went all-out to get her. I love how unapologetic he was in wanting Harriet, and all bets were off in how he went about convincing her he loved her. Morgan had a larger-than-life personality and charmed me every time he was on the page. Harriet was clever and witty and held her own when verbally sparring with Morgan. Morgan and Harriet had a vulnerable side; they were hesitant to open their hearts and trust what was between them. I loved this vulnerable side to them both!

The couple’s connection was deep; they had danced around each other since childhood. I loved how Morgan owned his feelings toward Harriet. The passion they shared held a gritty, organic feel to it. Morgan and Harriet had much to lose but more to gain if they could learn to trust their feelings toward each other.

The plot was highly entertaining and engaging. It held my rapt attention throughout. The witty banter between Morgan and Harriet was spot-on comical. This was a fast-paced novel. I raced through this book, yet I never wanted it to end. Like the rest of these books, these star-crossed lovers stole every scene. Kate Bateman has created an outstanding series with intense verbal sparring, fiery passion, engrossing characters, and a unforgettable storyline. A Wicked Game checked all the boxes for a beautiful romance I never wanted to end!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book through Netgalley and the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Kate Bateman is writing some of the best historical fiction out there. I inhaled this book about two rivals who have had a lifetime of proving that each is better than the other. The Montgomerys and Davies are well known for being lifelong enemies. But Captain Morgan Davies has had enough of games with Harriet Montgomery and wants to play the ultimate battle to win her over for good. The tension and banter in this book is perfection. I loved every second these two were on the page. It is fun and steamy and delightful watching these two come together. Each dare thrown at the other is enticing and kept the pages turning way too late into the night. I enjoyed Harriet's story as a mapmaker and how Davies comes to reevaluate his life in the navy after being held as prisoner for months on end and deciding what he wants out of life. While this is the third book in the series, it can definitely be read as a standalone. Pick it up. Read it. You won't be sorry.

The Ruthless Rivals - I am loving this series by Kate Bateman! I was first introduced to it and the author when scrolling through upcoming ARCs on NetGalley, and now I'm hooked - she is a brilliant author, and this series has such well thought-out characters with great chemistry!

All of the characters from the previous books come together again in book 3, A Wicked Game - the Ruthless Rivals series being about two feuding, neighbor families (hundreds of years long feud), that have suddenly started to fall in love and marry - nothing like a great enemies to lovers spark to get the blood and love boiling! Siblings, cousins, you name it and the whole of each family seems to be falling under each others spells, between the Dastardly Davies' clan and the perfect Montgomery's, or so Harriet believes as she's been tricked into with another Bet.

Captain Morgan Davies bets Harry (Harriet) one more time before he leaves for war with the Royal Navy (against Napoleon's forces), that he can't stay alive to come back and bother her some more. The prize he'd win is 3 kisses. He's always been intrigued by her, as she is him, even though the families have this long-running feud and they can't stand each other (or so they always say). He figures the bet will be the big thing to keep him fighting to make it back home alive, and he'll do everything he can to win those kisses. He goes through a lot of terrible things in war, but upon his return the pair faces some huge obstacles that bring them even closer (and of course, fighting feelings). Maps, her profession, nearly tears them apart as unforeseen terrors follow him back from the Caribbean, but could just be the thing that brings them closest together.

Such brilliant writing, as with the previous books, and I'm a big new Kate Bateman fan! I can't wait to read the rest of her catalogue. A definitely recommendation for me if you enjoy enemies to lovers, steamy, regency romance - and even if you don't but are just looking for a fantastic and steamy read.

I received an advance review copy from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, and this is my honest feedback.

I'm loving this reckless rivals series—the not-so-rivalry between the Davies and Montgomery. Harriet and Morgan have been teasing each other for a long time and now that Morgan is back from life at sea. Morgan is prepared for revenge and seduction - he plans to have Harriet and he has a whole plan on how he is going to trick her into marriage.
Harriet is ready to pay up for the bet they had but she has no plans to marry Morgan. This makes for some funny and sensual.
Harriet and Morgan are in different places - he has had many adventures and he is ready to settle down and marry Harriet. Harriet doesn't want to get married and be stuck at home while her husband has adventures. They want each other but are in different places

I enjoyed the lightness of this story and the dynamics between Morgan and Harriet. I can't wait for more

I love this series and enjoyed Harriet and Morgan's story. It can be read on its own or together with the other books in the series (which I recommend!).

Morgan comes home and is after a map maker who got him in French prison, which turns out to be Harriet. The French prison master happens to be in London also looking for the map maker to locate some lost treasure that only one of the fake maps can locate. Along the way Morgan and Harriet finally give into their feelings before stopping the Frenchman and receiving their HEA.

I received an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.