Riley Rhodes is a curse breaker. Didn't know that was a profession? Nether did Clark Edgeware, an archeologist with a chip on his shoulder. He believes she is a con-artist and will destroy the validity of his work for HES. Their forced proximity causes sparks to fly and tempers to flare. This book made me laugh out loud and also delivers on the spice. Oh, boy. It was an honest joy to read.

I was given this digital copy in exchange for an honest review by the publisher and NetGalley

A cursed Scottish castle. A disgraced archaeologist. A cursebreaker. Enemies to lovers. All exciting elements for a story and it did not disappoint - I finished this in one day!

Clark is working on a dilapidated Scottish castle, Riley is hired to break the curse at said castle. Riley is used to working on her arm, Clark is a scientist by nature, highly skeptical of Riley’s profession. But despite this, there is clearly a spark between the two and as they start warring against each other, they begin to realize maybe it is better to work together.

A very sexy and fun read.

Review: DO YOUR WORST by Rosie Danan https://bit.ly/3TOuaJe
Publication Date: 11/14/2023
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Reviewed by: Reading in Pajamas/ DonnaCori
Rated 4.5 Stars

I enjoyed this story. A contemporary Rom-com with paranormal undertones was rather fun. The curse breaking aspect was like an archaeology mystery. Which worked quite well with the archaeologist in residence and setting up the angst between them. Riley was the curse breaker and Clark the archaeologist. Pulling in the ancient myths and legends surrounding a castle in the Scottish Highlands, had both scrambling for answers and dismissing the other’s work. I don’t always like the enemies to lovers trope because they tend to drag on too long for me. This came close to that but saved itself as part of the story. At some points their actions seemed rather cruel, so I was glad when that got resolved. The romance was hot and sexy due to their mutual insta-lust. The enemy vow didn’t stand a chance.

Overall, it was a fun quick read that made me smile. I do hope this becomes a series so I can see what happens next.

*Review copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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Kindle https://amzn.to/48Cmcrj

i started Do Your Worst Again (this time on audio) and it was still moving slow for me, so I diverted to a print paperback. I liked it. It wasn't perfect (the whole curse breaker job wasn't set up in a way that made sense to me. it either needed to be not at all magical, or more). I did love Riley & Clark's romance and banter though, and the heat was superb! truly delicious chemistry.

pains me to do, but i got about 20 pages in and just, nothing for me. might be my mood but i'm moving on

*i received an ARC from the publisher, but also purchased an audiobook & checked out a print copy from the library

Ooof I did not like this one. The hate sex was so cringey like I get it’s enemies to lovers but you don’t have to be mean to someone especially after you have sex. The writing also wasn’t great. I probably won’t pick up this author again.

I didn't enjoy this one as much as her others or as much as I thought I would. I love enemies to lovers and I was interested since this one was more on the paranormal side of romance. I did enjoy the curse and curse breaking element of the book, but the rest just fell a little flat for me.

Well, this was certainly believable as an enemies-to-lovers story! It was incredibly antagonistic but coupled well with Riley and Clark standing up for each other and their slow growth of mutual respect. The jump to love felt a little forced, but it fits appropriately with the curse plotline. Overall, the story comes together nicely: growth for both characters, cleaning up the curse, and building a little life plan together.

Part of the writing that I loved was the throwback references. Jessica Simpson and Chicken of the Sea was hilarious! Maybe it's my millennial age, but I much appreciate this to the endless TikTok references that are dated by the time of publishing.

On the other hand, something about the story did drag a bit. Maybe because it isn't very dynamic? Heartfelt but a little slow.

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

This was a really fun one! Clark is disgraced archeologist and Riley is a curse breaker; both have been hired to work on the famed (and cursed) Arden castle in Scotland. Clark is not a believer and the two almost immediately butt heads, but are forced to work together both because of their assignments and also because the curse seems to demand it.

Things I liked: feminist energy, amazing steam, great chemistry and likeable leads, The Mummy/Indiana Jones feel, just overall really fun.

Things I didn't like: a little goofy, but easily forgivable.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the banter and the dynamics between them, but it felt a bit childish.

The plot was fun and perfect for Fall.

But definitely not a new favorite.

Thanks you NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy of this title.

I must admit, I was worried about this book. I loved the Roommate, but didn't care much for the Intimacy Experiment, and I thought this sounded fun, but really goofy. While it was a bit goofy, it was more adorable and sweet than I thought. I ended up loving it!

3.5 stars.
Pretty interesting but nothing to write home about.
It was super spicy in a really good way though.
I will definitely read from this author again but she won't be at the top of my list.

This book was so much fun. I loved all the lore and the mystery. The love story was predictable but in the best possible way! The main characters would fight and argue but them be so into each other it was hard not feel the chemistry hop off the page.

I was excited for this one, I really enjoyed The Roommate and was excited to see Rosie Danan do something a little bit different. So, I’m disappointed to report that I thought ‘Do Your Worst’ was so-so. This is a great idea in concept and just okay on execution.

Starting with the good. The setting is well done! It’s really vivid and easy to get a feel for. I loved the idea of the story and the ‘Castle in the Highlands’ schtick was a fun way to set the mood. The set up and meet-cute was clever. Where this missed for me was really just the characters. Their backgrounds made sense, so did the way the conflict laid out. But the chemistry just never clicked for me. It ended up feeling a bit flat. The insta-love was a little too insta, it was fun but not fun enough to have such little emotional draw.

This was fine, not bad, just also not great. Oh well.

Solid writing and ending that made up for the initial uncomfortable start to the relationship.

The scene in the camper was toxic and not remotely sexy, even with the enemies-to-lovers trope. Once Riley and Clark decide to work together, and that they actually like each other, it was like a whole different book with different characters.

Do Your Worst by Rosie Danan is a romance with a bit of a paranormal mystery on the side. 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.

Do Your Worst grabbed my attention from the beginning. I love an enemies to lover romance, and this gave me more than I expected. I liked the paranormal angle and that both Riley and Clark had their own emotional baggage to work out. I though the mystery surrounding the curse, and what happened in the past was well done- although I completely expected one more little twist in there. I thought the give and take between Riley and Clark was on point, and I loved both their banter and they way that had adult conversations about the important things. I loved that once they trusted each other and decided on a course of action they were both all in, regardless of outside forces and the family issues they each needed to unpack. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to more from the author.

Do Your Worst is an engaging and entertaining read with potential to turn into a great series.

This book was not really what I've come to expect from this author's works. Yes there was a lot of great steamy moments, yes there were some deeper conflicts at play, but it just didn't quite hit like The Roommate or The Intimacy Experiment.

Both of the characters were very frustrating to me and had their annoying moments. I think that the overall idea of a cursed castle in Scotland was so much fun! The setting really turned into a character as well which is something that I enjoy in a book.

Overall, a enjoyable book but it didn't have me super super hooked from page one.

I enjoyed this one! The idea of a cursebreaker and an archeologist tasked with working on the same project (an ancient Scottish ruin) technically at odds with one another leading to a perfect enemies to lovers trope story was original and refreshing.

Riley's family has always had an ability to connect with the supernatural so she jumps at the chance to legitimize her family name by breaking a curse on a Scottish Castle.

As luck would have it, Clark Edgeware is coming off a family scandal and is out to prove that the curse-breaker is a charlatan. Now the two are facing off in close quarters, both trying to prove themselves. This paranormal romance is a steamy one with hilarious moments as well! #gifted

This is a not a paranormal romance. There is a slight paranormalish aspect because the heroine is a cursebreaker, so the paranormal part depends on how much you believe in the things that go wrong being caused by the curse and not explainable by other means.

Rosie Danan's writing is great, but this was just a case of having the wrong expectations. I'd definitively still check this one out if you're a contemporary romance reader who loves opposites attract, forced proximity, or only one bed tropes.

Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for my ARC to review.

Do Your Worst by Rosie Danan is such a fun ride! The characters are a riot, and the story keeps you grinning. It's got that perfect combo of romance and laughs. Solid four stars for a seriously good time!