Such an interesting combination of the worldly, outgoing curse breaker and the reserved down on his luck archaeologist, and set in idyllic Scotland! I loved the tension and the chemistry! I hope this leads to a series!!!

I am always on the lookout for a well-executed romance that employs the enemies to lovers trope. It's my guilty pleasure, and authors like Rosie Danan never fail to captivate me with their creative storytelling.

In her latest book, Danan masterfully blends the allure of Highlander and Outlander, infusing the story with Scottish legends, charm, curses, magic, and mystic elements. It's an irresistible combination that immediately piqued my interest.

The two main characters, Riley and Clark, hail from vastly different backgrounds. Clark is the son of a renowned archaeologist whose groundbreaking discovery caught the attention of movie makers, turning his story into a screen adaptation. He is well-educated, a believer in science and tangible evidence, and still reeling from a devastating betrayal that jeopardized his career and tarnished his family's reputation. On the other hand, Riley comes from a family of occultists and curse breakers, making her an outsider who was shunned by society during her childhood. When she seizes an opportunity to use her family's gift to alleviate their financial struggles, she finds herself unable to resist an offer to break a nearly 300-year-old curse, leading her to an infamous Scottish castle nestled in the Scottish Highlands.

Little does Riley expect to be stabbed in the back by the very same charming stranger with whom she shared a passionate kiss after a wonderful night filled with genuine conversation and a few drinks. The man who swept her off her feet turns out to be the same person who attempted to have her fired from her job, convinced that she is nothing more than a delusional fraud, dredging up painful memories of betrayal. Fortunately, the castle's owner sees things differently, and Clark's plans to remove Riley from his survey site are destined to fail.

Determined to prove the authenticity of the curse, Riley finds herself at odds with Clark, who is equally determined to debunk her claims. The knives are out, and Clark becomes a thorn in her side, but Riley is prepared to do whatever it takes to thwart his scheming ways. However, what neither of them anticipates is the undeniable sizzling attraction and growing chemistry between them. As their guards slowly come down, they realize that they may be able to help each other honor their family names and find a common ground, all while their palpable attraction intensifies with each passing moment.

Prepare yourself for a thrilling adventure that blends the essence of Outlander with the enchantment of A Discovery of Witches! I extend my gratitude to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for providing me with a digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

This is your perfect fall read. Scotland castle, mystical undertones, and witty banter - the perfect recipe for a cozy read. While they may have said “I love you” too quickly for my taste, the chemistry was incredible. I think this may be Rosie’s best!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

CW: parental abandonment (past), family tensions, betrayal by a loved one (past)

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)

-m/f light paranormal romance
-rivals to lovers
-insta attraction
-forced proximity
-starchy archaeologist in the streets animal in the sheets
-this is sex is entirely due to the curse we are trying to break and not at all because of my feelings for you
-Mummy vibes
opposites attract
-chemistry and banter for days

The only thing that this book makes you want to do when you finish it is start it over again, because it will just ruin you for other books. Rosie's prose is luscious, romantic, tender, hilarious.

Riley is a curse breaker on her first big job, which happens to be at a crumbling castle in Scotland. But who she thought was the hot British guy from the bar the night before ends up being the archaeologist digging on the site with something to prove and how definitely doesn't believe in curses (and oh yeah that cat is definitely not his).

The absolute banter between these two as they tried to deny their continued sexual attraction and also get the other to leave the job behind. the way this book maximized the tropes, the curse, to just make this a horny and fun good time. These two pushed each other's buttons in the best ways. One step forward two steps back that will have you screaming but then turning the page to know what happens next.

I will commit murder for Clark. Nerdy, falling for Riley before he wanted to admit it to himself, a bit damaged and hurt, and just so protective her chaotic and wild adventurous ways. These two were the perfect balance for each other. And gosh the sex. These two may struggle to communicate at first but that doesn't mean they can't ask for what they want in the bedroom (and in public, and the sex ritual I mean OMG sign me up for whatever Scottish tour this is seriously). Every twist and turn of the curse as these two tried to disprove their attraction by you know touching each other.

This is an incoherent mess of a review but this is one of the best books I've ever read, an instant favorite and I can't wait to read it again. A romantic adventure masterpiece that had me reading with a huge smile on my face in between the screaming over the sexual tension and just the major pay off. There's no way to not root for Riley and Clark to get together. A banger premise, a banger romance, that is swoony, steamy, and just plain fun.

Steam: 4