Curse breaking and enemies to lovers with an ample amount of spice (more risqué than I’m used to from Berkley)?! Could I ask for more?

This was such a fun read for me and I devoured it in a couple days.

While, sometimes I didn’t love how mean they were to each other in the enemies to lovers, the back history that Danan sets with these characters family makes it believable. How these two characters grew together and learned to trust each other made my heart melt.

I thought this was an easy and fun read and recommend it to those who want something different from Danan’s previous series and don’t mind a little kinky pain play in their spice.

I enjoyed this unique take on enemies to lovers.

Spice level is pretty intense. Doors are wide open and very descriptive although there aren't a ton of sex scenes.

This contemporary enemies to lovers rom com is (in my opinion) the one to read. This was my first book by Rosie Danan and it definitely won’t be my last.

In this book, we follow Riley and Clark. These two hit it off at a bar on Riley’s first night in town and they spend the whole night learning about each other and building the romance, until the next morning when Riley overhears someone trying to get her kicked off the site where she’s supposed to be breaking a very famous curse. It just so happened to be Clark who was trying to get her kicked off. From the point forward, they’re enemies but there’s always that lust feeling and tension that follows them with everything they do and how they interact with each other. The banter was amazing, the tension was written so well that you could literally feel it, and the depth these characters spoke about their lives to one another was amazing to see, especially paired with the growth they have that accumulated through the story.

This book was written in 3rd person, but it honestly feels like it wanted to be a dual perspective 1st person narrative. I also feel like if it had been written in 1st person, it would’ve been nice to see exactly how each person felt and what they thought about different events in the story. I still really enjoyed it and honestly, i’m hoping for a Patrick and Ceilidh book!

Riley's doing her best to make the family gift of curse-breaking her career and has been temporarily relocated to Scotland for a job. A castle in disrepair sits on grounds that seem to have been cursed for hundreds of years. On her first night in town she shares a steamy kiss with a handsome stranger, but all hopes of pursuing something with him come to a screeching halt when she overhears him calling her a fraud the next day. Clark is an archaeologist also working at the castle and clearly has no respect for the work Riley can do. I devoured this book. The tension between Riley and Clark is so well-written. The setting is expertly brought to life. The minor characters are interesting and developed. A great read!

Rosie Danan proves once again to have a real knack for crafting intriguing storylines with deeply complex characters that feel both wonderous and real, and in her latest novel, she pairs a tenacious expert in the occult with a wary archaeologist in need of professional redemption. Add a cursed Scottish castle to the mix, an ancient magic with its own cryptic agenda, and the result is downright spellbinding. I loved this book before I even read it, but I never expected it to become one of my favourite reads of the year. {Full review posted at: https://natashaisabookjunkie.com/2023/11/15/review-do-your-worst-by-rosie-danan/]

Okay, I loved it!!

Synopsis:
Riley is from a line of curse breakers and is trying to turn that into a profitable legacy, so cue the cursed Scottish castle in need of her services. Clark is a no-nonsense archaeologist trying to revive his career and repair his reputation on a job that isn’t entirely in his normal wheelhouse. When the two meet sparks fly ~ both the flirty kind and later the angry kind when they realize they’re working on the same site. Clark thinks Riley is a conwoman and Riley thinks Clark is a jerk. Will Clark get over his disbelief of the occult and accept that sometimes things have a more supernatural cause? And will the two make it out of this cursed castle with their bodies and hearts intact?

My thoughts:
Ooh the tension. The banter. The hilarious situations brought on by the curse. This book has it all! The main characters are both headstrong and looking for self validation in different ways. When they try to fight their attraction it just turns the heat up! They’re so likable despite their flaws which just serve to make them more relatable to readers. I loved their dynamic and they way they worked together from beginning to end even when they didn’t like each other very much. Clark is protective and serious ~ he gave me broody intellectual vibes and I am here for it. Riley is determined and confident and even when she’s not she’s willing to fake it and put herself out there. I just loved them both and this story so much!!

Recommended if you like:
🗡️Curses
🖤Forced proximity
🗡️Potential lovers to enemies to lovers
🖤Family dynamics
🗡️Personal growth

Rosie is also the author of The Roommate which I read a few years ago and I ate it up! She’s a queen at writing spicy scenes and tension so you will not be disappointed!

Thank you NetGalley & Berkeley Publishing Group for the eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own!

This review is posted on Instagram & Goodreads.

this was such a fun read!!!!! i enjoyed this so much!! will definitely recommend to friends! amazing

Rosie Danan always keeps it fresh. This steamy enemies to lovers story features a curse breaker (who knew) and the hot archaeologist who has no faith in her abilities or career, and I loved that it was something new and different from the charming careers in most rom-coms. Add on the atmospheric Scottish setting, and you have a recipe for a great read.

I love Rosie Danan and was so excited for this book, and even more excited that it lived up to my expectations! I love the way she writes her characters and I just wanted to hang out with all of them.

Quick Breakdown:

Enemies to Lovers
Workplace Romance
Forced Proximity
Opposites Attract
Stern Brunch Daddy
Insta Love
No 3rd Act Breakup
Set in Scotland
Dual POV
Open Door - Mild to Moderate Detail

Riley, who was taught by her grandmother to embrace their family tradition of curse breaking, has finally decided to attempt making a money making career out of it. She travels to Scotland in attempt to break the 300+ year curse haunting Arden Castle. The night before her first day of work, she meets a handsome Englishman at the local pub. Things are looking great for Riley until she walks into Arden Castle the next morning only to hear the same man from the night before trying to get her fired.

Clark, an archeologist like his famous father before him, was sent to Arden Castle to search for any hidden artifacts prior to its planned remodel. Trained to believe in science and to shun anything of the supernatural, he attempts to block Riley's presence at the dig so his work & reputation wouldn't be further tarnished by her. Problem is, as much as he's bothered by Riley, he was thoroughly charmed by her the night they met & can't seem to stop the urge to protect her as they continue to work side by side.

Honestly, I adored this book. I read it back in the beginning of October, but decided to refresh my memory prior to writing my review with the audiobook because @shaneeastreads - enough said. Listening only cemented my love further.

I completely fell for these characters & all their enemies to lovers vibes. The romance had a bit of a slow start as the story was set, but if you like to nerd out over history & the art of curse breaking, it's damn delightful. I completely GEEKED out over both, ontop of the old legends, bits of mystery and built in secondary historical romance.

As expected, the enemies to lovers aspect brought some fantastic banter as the supernatural touches added to the tension. I was very pleasantly surprised by the spice. It was deliciously intimate, leaning towards some gently written & mutually appreciated rough play 🫠 Yes, please!!

There was an insta love aspect since these two fell over the span of several weeks, but it felt realistically done. They’re both so similar, faced with family legacies and the pressure that brings. They’re truly two sides of the same coin.

Put this bad boy on your TBR, friends.

A Scottish love story?!?! Count me in!

A fast enjoyable read with lots of truly laugh-out-loud moments and excellent banter between out two main characters.

This book was a really fun take on strangers to enemies to workplace romance to lovers tropes all kinda mashed together in a really fabulous way that I really enjoyed! and of course Rosie Danan knows how to do those steamy scenes so so well!

I particularly liked the blend of adventure and romance in a way that really reminded me of Outlander with its legendary mystique and magical elements. The author really created a complete and immersive story that was hard to put down!

Happy pub day to Do Your Worst by Rosie Danan! If you’re looking for a steamy book about a cursebreaker and a skeptic, look no further. I’m so grateful to @berkleypub for an e-arc of this one and to @prhaudio for a free copy of the audiobook.

Riley Rhodes finally has the chance to turn her family’s knack for the supernatural into a legitimate business when she’s hired to break a century’s-long curse on a Scottish castle. And her good luck keeps coming when her first night in town she meets a handsome stranger and they completely hit off. Unfortunately the next day at the castle, she walks in on him trying to get her fired. Turns out her mystery man, Clark Edgeware, has been hired to work at the castle as their archaeologist. He’s fresh off a scandal and cannot allow Riley’s nonsense to further tarnish his reputation. Cue the sparks!

This was a really fun book with a lot of elements I love. Enemies to lovers is always a great trope and I love playing with the idea of belief and when it’s worth having faith in something you can’t see. As one would expect with a Rosie Danan book (she’s the author of The Roommate—which I was thrilled to read is currently being adapted for film, and The Intimacy Experiment), this one is definitely open door and the steamy scenes are not only steamy, but woven into the plot in an interesting way.

The audio is narrated by Saskia Maarleveld—who I know is a huge favorite for a lot of listeners, and Shane East, who’s sexy accent is pretty fabulous. Both narrators do a great job, and I eventually settled in, but this was such a different book from the ones I’ve heard Maarleveld narrate, that I was little distracted at first. For some reason, I associate her more with thrillers, but she did a great job giving life to Riley and the open-door scenes were even steamier when read in her husky, rich voice.

I’d recommend this one to readers looking for a romcom on the sillier side with great redemption arcs for both characters.

Book review: Do Your Worst by Rosie Danan 👻🧥⚔️🕸️

4 ✨

Tropes:

🪦 The Mummy (1999) vibes
😈 Enemies to lovers (with benefits)
🏰 Cursed castle in the Scottish Highlands
👻 Paranormal-ish romance
✨ Aspiring curse breaker & disgraced archeologist
🌶️ There’s two beds but they’re chained together

Thank you Rosie, Berkley and Netgallery for this ARC!

Paranormal romance taking place in Scotland with an enemies to lovers relationship between an American curse breaker and a mysterious English archeologist that can’t seem to stay away from each other? I’m sold.

I love when a romance takes place somewhere else than America just cause of the extra cozy vibes the book immediately gives off. This was def also the case with Do Your Worst by Rosie Danan. This book blends the alluring Highlands with a good mix of spookiness and modern day spice. It also has such amazing banter between the two leads and charms the story with everything from Scottish legends, charm curses, magic, mystic elements to a certain s.. ritual, iykyk. 😮‍💨

Riley Rhodes arrives to the Scottish Highlands to help break a curse on a very big infamous Scottish castle that’s known for being haunted. But on her first day working there she nearly gets fired by none other than the mysterious English delight of a man she was flirting with the night before, Clark Edgeware. Very unpleased with this, their relationship goes from flirty to hostile and these two enemies are forced to work together even though they both think each other are crazy and impossible to work with. But can a curse bring these two enemies together and turn hatred into love instead?

This is actually the first book of Rosie’s I have read. I have heard about her other books for sure, but just never got around to reading them. So when I saw the opportunity to read an early copy of this book I immediately jumped at the opportunity. I’m so pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed her writing and the way she writes her characters so effortlessly. What can I say? If you’re currently ‘cursed’ with some type of a reading slump, I highly recommend reading this one, because it’s bound to break sort of reading slumps just by how witty and fun it is!

Riley is a curse breaker who has been hired to break a 300-year curse at an infamous Scottish castle in the Highlands. Clark is an archeologist who's last chance at redemption is finding some of historical significance at the same castle. Their jobs and personalities are at odds, and both want the other gone. But the curse has other ideas and keeps bringing them together.

Rosie Danan has written a fun supernatural enemies-to-lovers romp in the Highlands. I'm sensitive to second-hand embarrassment, so some of the plot was a little cringey for me. However, overall, this was a really fun book and I'm excited to explore other titles by Rosie Danan.

Rosie Danan has done again with her latest book enemies to lovers book, Do Your Worst. Set in Scotland, sparks fly when an occult expert determined to break a 300 year-old curse comes face-to-face with a disgraced archeologist.

Riley Rhodes is an American occult expert who travels to Scotland to break the 300 year-old curse on Arden Castle. Born into a family of curse breakers, Riley sees this as a chance to finally put her and her skills on the map. Riley is up for any challenge that the curse throws at her, until she meets Clark Edgeware. Clark is a disgraced English archeologist also hired to work at the castle. He's determined to redeem himself and won't let Riley get in his way. But after Clark fails to get Riley fired from the job, they vow to avoid one another. But no matter what they do, the curse keeps driving them together.

What I LOVED:

Can I say everything? But truly there is so much to love about this book. I have to be honest when I read the blurb, I was like how is this going to work? And guess what, it does! I should no better than to doubt Rosie Danan.

The setting of this book is so good and places an important part of the story! I've only been to Edinburgh, but this book definitely has me wanting to visit the Highlands. I also really love the curse/mystery at Arden Castle. It added an extra layer to the story and it was fun to see how that particular part play out. Rosie did an amazing job weaving that into Riley and Clark's story -- and there are some well-crafted parallels!

I also think Rosie did an amazing job with both Riley and Clark's backstories and their arcs. It was such an emotional and fun journey for both of them. It was great to see them both start in such different places and see how their relationship helps them grow/change.

The characters were well developed and had interesting backstories/hangups. Curse breaking has run in Riley's family for years, but so have failed relationships. So it was really interesting seeing Riley break free of this notion that she has to choose between her calling or love. Clark has spent his whole life seeking the approval of his famous archeologist father and was also recently betrayed by someone close to him. So Clark's character arc was relatable (if you're a people pleaser) as he was able to stop seeking validation from others and he also learned to trust again. Both Riley and Clark had the similar issue of not fully being able to open up to people, but against all odds, they were able to do that with each other. And of course, watching their chemistry was fun too. It definitely gave me The Hating Game vibes in the very best of ways. You never knew what Riley or Clark was going to do next and I loved it! The book is VERY STEAMY and there is some light kink in it as well.

If you want a true enemies-to-lovers romance set in the Scotland, you need to read this book! It's funny, sweet, spicy and sexy! You won't be able to put this book down!

Tropes/things to expect:
* enemies to lovers (enemies with benefits)
* grumpy x sunshine
* forced proximity
*cursed castle in the Scottish Highlands
* down-on-her-luck curse breaker x disgraced archeologist
*hurt/comfort except she's also the one that hurt him.
* The Mummy (1999 vibes)
*paranorm-ish romcom
*10/10 banter
*Level 4 spice and a touch of kink (all with consent of course!!)


Just a few of my favorite quotes ( I had a lot):
- "Yikes. If she had to guess, she’d put his anger at a spicy 8 out of ten right now.”
-“I’m not like Magneto, I can’t control metal.”
- "It's call brooding and no one complained when Darcy did it"
-"No weirdo. But you can give me some guidelines and I'll consider them."
- "So, you get everything you want, and I get to spend money."
-“That’s where you threatened to stab me- this is sort of nostalgic. Look how far we’ve come.”
-"Let me leave a mark."
- “I think I’m saying that the horny Fae magic might not be satisfied until you rail me.”
- "Being this close. Knowing it was temporary. Everything about her undid him.”
- “An enemies-to-lovers sex ritual with a smoldering English man”

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Romance and NetGalley, for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was a fun romance. I am a sucker for the enemies to lovers trope and this definitely was one! I loved all of the elements the author added about Scottish legends and myths. The main characters had amazing chemistry from the very beginning. I loved their banter and how hard they tried to deny their attraction to each other.

My only issue with this book would have to be that I thought it was a little longer than it should have been. Either way, it is definitely worth the read!

This was great fun! Sexy, emotional, with well-developed characters. To my own surprise, the plot about the curse itself wasn't that interesting and caused things to drag just a little. But without spoiling anything, this has one of the best incidents of two characters being pushed together for "romance reasons" that I've ever seen.

Do Your Worst is simply the best! I enjoyed this gripping, rom com, set in the Scottish Highlands. I found this to be a fast and enjoyable read as I did not want to put it down. I loved the humor, the banter between the two main characters, the protective cat, the steam, and the atmosphere the castle and Highlands provided.

There is an infamous Scottish castle that has been cursed for hundreds of years. It is the stuff of legends. The locals believe it to be cursed as does curse breaker, Riley Rhodes. She comes from a line of curse breakers. When she is hired, she quickly flies to Scotland to do what she does best. Upon arriving in town, she meets Clark Edgeware, an English archeologist. He is intelligent, a firm believer in science and wants to redeem himself after his career took a hit.

Sparks fly between them when they meet, but when Clark learns that Riley is not a tourist but a curse breaker, he tries to get her kicked off the site. Riley is not going to be deterred that easily!

As I mentioned, I loved the atmosphere in the book. A castle in the Scottish Highlands with an interesting past! I was hooked right there! A curse put in place that is as strong as ever! I loved the paranormal vibe the curse brought to the book. I also enjoyed the two main characters. Riley is instantly likeable. She is bubbly, determined, quick witted and passionate about what she does. Clark comes off as grumpy and aloof but under all that is a nice, intelligent, hardworking, guy who hopes to redeem his professional reputation and make a name for himself. I found myself rooting for both characters.

This book had a little bit of everything: a mystery, family drama, romance, humor, steamy scenes, personal growth, and a sense of community. Romance books are all about the journey for me and I completely enjoyed the journey the two main characters went on during this book.

Well written, well thought out, gripping, steamy, entertaining, fun, and hard to put down! I look forward to what Rosie Danan writes next!


#DoYourWorst #NetGalley #BerkleyPub, #RosieDanan

Rosie Danan, you are the bees knees!!

What I thought I would get - a cute romcom that would give me a couple of giggles.
What I received - a laugh out loud, standout with lots of spice!!!

Danan, you are everything I never knew I needed!

I fell in love with both Riley and Clark, although It took me a bit longer to see past Clark's grouchiness. Riley, as quirky as she is, is impossible not to root for. I love how light hearted she is.

The whole haunted/cursed mansion gave a story within a story and I enjoyed the slight bit of paranormal that is thrown into this book.

Do Your Worst, will have you giggling, yelling, and completely turned on!!! Rosie Danan, delivers, and I promise, you do not want to miss this!

Check out this teaser!

Sparks fly when an occult expert and a disgraced archeologist become enemies-with-benefits in this steamy romance from "go-to author" Rosie Danan (The New York Times Book Review).

Riley Rhodes finally has the chance to turn her family’s knack for the supernatural into a legitimate business when she’s hired to break the curse on an infamous Scottish castle. Used to working alone in her alienating occupation, she's pleasantly surprised to meet a handsome stranger upon arrival—until he tries to get her fired.

Fresh off a professional scandal, Clark Edgeware can’t allow a self-proclaimed “curse breaker” to threaten his last chance for redemption. After he fails to get Riley kicked off his survey site, he vows to avoid her. Unfortunately for him, she vows to get even.

Riley expects the curse to do her dirty work by driving Clark away, but instead, they keep finding themselves in close proximity. Too close. Turns out, the only thing they do better than fight is fool around. If they’re not careful, by the end of all this, more than the castle will end up in ruins.

📣 a curse-breaker & an archaeologist walk into a bar…& share a magical kiss before realizing they’re at workplace loggerheads.

Thanks to the publisher for the complimentary ARC & inviting me to be part of a blog tour. All opinions provided are my own.

📖 what’s a job you’d want to have that’s in your current book? In this one, I would want to be an archaeologist. I’ve always been into history 🤓.

The description of Do Your Worst by Rosie Danan totally sucked me in—a curse breaker & an archaeologist who’s very skeptical of her work have to investigate a site together!?!?! Want.

The beginning of this book is particularly strong as strangers Riley Rhodes—aforementioned curse breaker—& the more reserved Clark Edgeware—aforementioned archaeologist—meet at a bar. The convo flows & they share a magical kiss outside…before realizing who the other person is & *definitely before* Riley overhears Clark trying to get her fired.

Clark’s backstory of betrayal & his urge for professional validation really makes it clear what his insecurities & fears are regarding this job & his involvement with Riley, who seemingly wouldn’t be widely accepted in his own scholarly community.

In contrast, Riley’s a force of nature guided by her intuition & feelings, a resilient & also warm person who wants to do the best she can to make use of her gift & to resolve situations that are troubling people.

The chemistry between them is great, the dislike vibes are strong & nuanced—particularly because we see how much Clark is still smarting from his past professional humiliation—& the dashes of history thrown in add some zest & unique appeal to this contemporary.

This is a fun one!

4.25 ⭐️. Out today.

Please see a trusted reviewer’s list of CWs.

[ID: Jess’s white hand holds the ebook in a greenhouse bursting with plants.]