Do Your Worst
by Rosie Danan
Pub DATE: Nov.14, 2023
Berkely Romance
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
I really enjoyed this book although you did have to suspend some beliefs.
4 stars

"They’d been in a constant power struggle since they met.
He thought she was beneath him.
She wanted to be."

"Sometimes his face made her want to punch his mouth with her mouth."

These two definitely were opposites attract; an archeologist and a curse breaker.
This was a fun mix of enemies to reluctant lovers as they tried to figure out how to break a curse on a Scottish estate/castle. Going from thinking they were a con artist to believing in her abilities.
There were a lot of open door scenes just be aware they had a lot of testing to do.
Loved the cat! There was also tension with his successful father.

Thank you berkleyromance for the e-ARC for my honest and voluntary review.

Thank you @berkleyromance @prhaudio for a copy of this audiobook. I love the author's previous books and was excited to get a new book in a totally different setting. The cursed Scottish castle added a fun element to the story. You just have to suspend your belief and enjoy the ride with the story since Riley is a curse breaker. I thought Shane East was the perfect voice for Clark and really brought out the grumpiness in him. Saskia Maarlevld did a great job as Riley as well. I enjoyed their tension and banter but the characters did not have the development I wanted like Danan's other books. Overall a fun read.

Riley is determined to turn the family talent for curse breaking into a briskness, and the first step in that plan is removing the 300-year-old curse on a famous Scottish castle. But she doesn't expect a surly and straight-laced British archeologist, Clark, trying to get her fired as a charlatan--just the day after they kissed outside a pub. Clark is determined to stick it out, despite her pesky presence and the "curse," to regain his reputation in the archeology community. But the forced proximity and initial attraction may be too much for these two, no matter how much they claim to hate each other.

Twenty pages in, and I was skeptical. It was a lot of telling rather than showing, spending so long explaining to me Riley's backstory and current situation, and I can't say I'm a fan of the occult. But once we got to the actual meat of the story, when Riley meets Clark and we see the push and pull between them, I changed my tune. Clark is #bookboyfried goals, and his chemistry with Riley was off-the-charts. This was a fun spin on a classic enemies-to-lovers trope, and I really did truly believe the two hated each other for a time. The book really turned around after a weak start and became a five-star read!

Thanks to Berkley for my eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

5 stars - 8/10

When occult expert Riley Rhodes makes the trek to a famously cursed Scottish castle, she sees it as an opportunity to break more than just the curse that haunts it. Riley also sees the trip as the chance to break free of her family’s reputation, and set a professional path all her own.

After an embarrassing professional fallout, archaeologist Clark Edgeware has his own set of demons to contend with. For Clark, the excavation of the mysterious castle might be his one chance at redeeming his pride, and his stature.

Once Riley and Clark realize the others mission, the two quickly find themselves in a cutthroat competition of credibility. But the more they try to upend one another, the more they realize they’re better off joining forces. Can they unearth the truth while burying their burgeoning feelings for one another?

Do Your Worst is the latest romance from popular steamy scene penner, Rosie Danan. The uniqueness of the castle and its curse drew me in, but after awhile it felt like this angle served as window dressing rather than the real focus. Mixed in with adventure was a sexy one-upmanship that spilled over into open door sex scenes that bordered on overzealous. This is a cringey signature trait of Danan’s writing that will make many romance readers want to dig in. However, I personally find some embedded innuendo makes the romantic discovery all the sweeter.

A hilarious romp through a Scottish castle with two spicy MCs! Do Your Worst was such a fun read!

An autumnal delight full of like-to-dislike-to-love, forced proximity (MANACLES!!!), lovely scenery, cursed objects, a splash of magic, and more. I laughed out loud and didn't want it to end; I felt like I was on a mini-expedition right alongside Riley and Clark.

I also happened to enjoy their dirty mouths and sneaky dealings, but I'll let you find out more about that by yourself. Hehe.

**Thank you NetGalley, Rosie Danan, and Berkley for an ARC of Do Your Worst and the opportunity to leave my honest, voluntary review!**

Thank you so much to Berkley Romance, Negalley, and PRH Audio for providing an advanced copy of this. All thoughts and opinions are still my own.

I absolutely loved Rosie Danan's debut series, especially The Intimacy Experiment. So I was insanely excited to see that she was not only releasing a new romance, but a slightly speculative one too! Unfortunately, I thought this was fun but not particularly memorable.

Our heroine is a curse breaker who is trying to make a career out of her one skill and passion. And she thinks she's finally on her way when she gets a big project at an infamous Scottish castle. But after a magical night with a guy she met at a bar, every crumbles when she hears that same man calling her a con artist.

Now, forced to work together, despite their animosity, sparks still fly while they bicker and argue. I thought the tension and chemistry between was done really well and I definitely bought into the enemies side of their enemies to lovers romance.

And I thought the folklore interwoven into the curse was a fun twist to an otherwise contemporary romance.

But in the end I never really bought into the romance side of their relationship. I could not tell you one reason these two liked each other beyond sexual chemistry. Which left me feeling detached from their relationship as a whole.

Also, some of the conflict resolution was a little fast and glossed over.

Overall this was fun. Just not a story that will stick with me. Rosie Danan writes fantastic chemistry though and I'm definitely interested in picking up more from her in the future.

A light, fun read, with lots of banter and sex. The curse-breaking storyline is cute, although attempts to give the characters more emotional depth aren't entirely successful. It works as silly, sexy entertainment.

Curses and archaeology? 100% sold, love it. Complicated, stubborn, kindhearted characters who are so diametrically opposite that the only possible solution is for them to fall in love? Excellent. This book has a lot of fun banter and a fascinating plotline, though one of the main reveals was pretty predictable.
{Spoiler: I immediately knew “end to enemies” meant love.}
The spice level was entirely too much for my taste, but if you’re into that, go for it.

I absolutely love The Mummy so when I saw this was The Mummy vibes, I had to request it.

I love when the enemies-to-lovers/enemies-with-benefits actually hate each other and actively do things against the other instead of just having a strong dislike.

This book was cute and the curse was so intriguing. This started a bit slow, but once we got to know Riley and Clarke a little and got into the curse more I enjoyed it a lot.

Highlights:
- Romance: MF
- Paranormal-ish
- Romcom
- Enemies-with-benefits
- Forced proximity
- Hurt/comfort (but she’s who hurt him)
- Broody MMC

⭐️⭐️⭐️.75/5

Thank you NetGalley and Berkeley for the advance copy!

While I LOVED both of Danan's first books, this was a bit of a letdown. The paranormal aspect of the story was just not very interesting, and the romance didn't feel believable to me. They went from enemies to lovers way too fast and for seemingly no reason.

This was just a big miss sadly

Thank you Berkley for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.

Do Your Worst by Rosie Danan is….different for lack of a better word but not in a bad way. The story of a curse-breaker and an archaeologist in the Scottish Highlands was whimsical, adventurous and full of shenanigans.

But, chemistry between Riley and Clark felt more like sexual tension than romantic love all the way to the end. Plus the breaking of the curse felt anticlimactic.

Read Do Your Worst if you love:
• enemies to lovers
• castles
• banter
• no third act break up

Thank you to Berkeley Publishing Group and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

3.5⭐️ rounded up.

This was a solid romance book! It hooked me with a really unique plot. The paranormal aspect was developed really well and held true to the plot throughout the book. Also, any book set in the Scottish Highlands has me sold tbh. I enjoyed both Riley and Clark as characters. I do wish we had gotten a bit more development across the book from the both, but it honestly didn’t take away from the enjoyment. I did struggle to grieve them as “enemies”, because the reasoning felt a little flimsy and if anything it was more of “adversaries”. But, the tension between the two was written well regardless. I don’t think this topped with The Roommate or The Intimacy Experiment for me, but it’s also hard to compare the three because Do Your Worst was a very different type of book. Overall, this was a fun romance to read.

I loved The Roommate and was excited for Do Your Worst. We all know they say not to judge a book by it’s cover but I love that cover!!! Also was drawn in by an archaeologist, a Scottish castle that was possibly cursed - yes, yes, yes - I’m here for it!!!

Unfortunately the execution just didn’t work for me. I wasn’t buying the sexual tension between Riley and Clark. I felt like their “enemies” barbs sometimes crossed the line to too mean. It was just all falling flat for me so I ultimately decided to DNF.

Thank you Berkley and PRHaudio for the free ebook and audiobook.

Sweet romance with a bit of the supernatural and a nice dash of graphic spice! Visually rich in description of place and neither too long or too short. Just right for the reader who just needs a little escape.

I adore Rosie Danan’s writing style and think her tension is chef’s kiss! I didn’t love this book as much as her two contemporary novels — this one is paranormal but still very contemporary feeling. It’s her first enemies to lovers and though that’s my favorite trope I think her friends to lovers books work a bit better.

Enemies to lovers, a Scottish castle, and a centuries old curse? This book was so much fun! I absolutely love the relationship between Riley and Clark-the animosity between them was so well written (as was the sexual tension that thrummed through every interaction they had!) I also loved the personal growth that happened for each of the characters as well. I really believed the character development for each of the protagonists, and that translated into really believing the romance between them. I also really liked the curse aspect and how that tied into their relationship.
Also- the sexy scenes in this book were HOT. Like, smoking hot. Rosie Danan writes sexual tension and intimacy so well.
I really really enjoyed this book, I just would have loved to see a bit more of the side characters from the town. They were hilarious when they were on page!
Rating-4.5/5

Thank you to the publisher for this eArc.

Do Your Worst had moments that worked for me but unfortunately I finished feeling meh.

I think my biggest issue was the switch from “enemies” to lovers. Many of the scenes where they were still enemies felt forced and unnatural, like individual scenes put together to cover the basics of the trope. As well, the progression of the relationship felt very rushed once we were out of “enemy” territory.

Once the couple was established I did like their dynamic and it started to feel more believable. Also, the spice was done well as I think this is the author’s strength.

Overall I would recommend this book to anyone okay with insta-love who wants a light paranormal romance with a unique setting and good spice.

Literally enemies to lovers but add a bit of dark magic. This didn't quite live up to the other Rosie Danan books I've read, but it was fun. Spice level is high. The story is unique. It would make a good spooky-season romance.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing and Netgalley for the electronic advanced copy.

DNF @ 30%

This just wasn't for me. I didn't like it from the start and I should have stopped reading even sooner than I did, but I was hoping it would get better. The two main characters had zero chemistry and I wasn't buying the hate/lust thing they supposedly had going on.