A fun rivals with benefits to lovers romance set amidst crumbling ruins in Scotland. Do Your Worst provides forced proximity tension between a curse breaker and archaeologist.

Riley and Clark's opposites attract in this third person dual POV while weaving in a local historical mystery. There is instant attraction and then next day subsequent realization that they will be working on the same site. The paranormal aspects propel the story and characterization. I liked the curse breaking concept a lot and thought it was very unique. There are open door scenes (with a hint of kink) and no third act break up.

Overall a fun and cute read with a haunted Scottish setting.

CW: abandonment, sexism, grief, emotional abuse

This one for the people who liked the Mummy for the archeology as much as for the attractive cast. Who see a guy who looks so beautiful it's tragic, and looks a bit miserable, and you think to yourself: I'm into that.

This is scientific archeologist versus intrinsic curse breaker, both trying to defend themselves and their families in various ways. They're alike but also wonderfully different, and they see each other so clearly even when they're desperate to hide.

Riley is strong, creative, and committed. Even when she does things she hates, or things you know will hurt, seeing her good heart makes it hard to hold it against her. Clark is deep, loving, and careful in the best way. I truly adored him. His emotional development when it came to Riley and to love made me kick my feet up in the air and burrow my face in a pillow.

This has all the fun history and drama of curses, the tease of figuring out puzzles and intricacies, while also giving the reader a love story that will make your heart grow.

I loved this book! I devoured it in only a few sittings and wish there was more to read. The story line was paced very well and the characters were easy to love!

Do Your Worst is an enemies-to-lovers good time set in small town Scotland with a castle that may (??) be cursed. FMC Riley is trying to get her curse breaking business off the ground and MMC Clark is trying to polish his tarnished archaeologist reputation. When they are both hired to cross the t’s for a new corporation that bought Arden Castle, they had no idea the other would be there - or be so much trouble. Clark is completely sure that Riley is a con-artist, but Riley is used to people underestimating her, and her family’s gift. They both have something to prove- if this pesky issue of being totally into each other doesn’t consume them first that is.
This was fun to read! The setting was idyllic. I loved the lore, townspeople, and scenery. The backstory of the curse was one of the most interesting to me, and I really liked the clan romance that unfolded. The tension between the MMCs was fantastic! The enemies-to-lovers connection was solid - even though they kept hooking up, they couldn’t give in. Spice level was 3 out of 5. I loved the wrap up and how both MMCs journeys concluded.
The only thing I didn’t love was the 3rd person POV. I was glad it was dual perspective, but think 1st person POV would have been the cherry on top.
Also, I’d be remiss if I didn’t bring this up, can we just talk about what a freaking awesome job title “curse breaker” is?? How Clark isn’t automatically bowled over by how cool “Riley: Curse-Breaker” is, I’ll never understand.
If you’re up for a spicy, enemies to lovers with a different setting this will be right up your alley! Check it out and add to your TBR!
Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for a free copy for an honest review.

Thank you to Berkeley Publishing, NetGalley, and Rosie Danan for an advance copy of Do Your Worst in exchange for an honest review. This was such a fun romance with such a different concept than I’m used to reading.
We start out in Scotland and I love that Riley takes a chance as a curse breaker and heads to the other side of the world to see if this is the career for her. Enter Clark, an archaeologist of sorts, who does not believe in curse breaking. Throughout the story we see them work together, work against each other, and work inside each other (too much?!). This was a fun read and I think most romance readers would enjoy it!

Do Your Worst by Rosie Danan is a fun read. It’s one that is a little difficult for me to review, because I don’t have too many strong feelings about it. Do Your Worst has a good story and fun characters, but it has a few issues that hold it back from being an amazing read.

Overall, Do Your Worst is clever and the premise certainly isn’t something you’ll have read about a bunch of times already. A curse breaker and a disgraced archeologist? Sparks fly immediately. The set up is spectacular, and I loved the setting. While there are few other characters, the Scottish highlands castle vibes are strong and really set the scene. Riley and Clark are both really well developed characters, and I felt like I could understand both of their motivations and actions. The banter between Riley and Clark is spectacular, and easily one of my favorite parts of the book. Plus, there’s some great sexy scenes (including sex in a library) to spice things up.

The thing I really enjoyed about Do Your Worst was watching Riley and Clark really see each other. Seeing Clark as he realized Riley wasn’t running some con, and that she genuinely had the skills she purported, and watching Riley realize Clark wasn’t just a stuck up asshole, was really great. It felt so natural, and I had some moments where I just felt really good about how Riley and Clark’s relationship was progressing.

However, I think the thing that was hardest for me to accept in Do Your Worst is that Riley and Clark say some pretty awful things to each other throughout the course of the book and it just didn’t feel like they ever addressed those situations with each other. They frequently bicker with each other, but there are a few instances where they seem to go for the jugular, and it didn’t seem to me like there were enough apologies for the really mean comments.

I really like Danan’s writing and I like the way she can make the characters feel so real, but similar to my issues with her previous book, I felt like the pacing in Do Your Worst was a little off. It somehow felt both slow and fast at the same time. I never really felt like I was being sucked into the story, even though I was invested and I did like it.

I would definitely recommend Do Your Worst for somebody looking for a slightly spooky read, or a banter-filled enemies to lovers. I think with the above caveats, it’s an enjoyable experience!

3.5 Stars

“As it turned out, sometimes what you needed was someone who brought out the worst in you. There was a gift, she realized, that could only be exchanged between former enemies- permission to forgive yourself. Because if someone could see all your failures and faults, could actively seek out every possible reason to dislike you and somehow still come around in the end, well, maybe your worst wasn’t so bad at all. The next morning, Riley and Clark woke up to find that for the first time in three hundred years, indigo angel’s trumpet had bloomed on the grounds of Arden Castle.”

Riley Rhodes is attempting to turn her family’s talent for curse-breaking into a certified career, and when she has a once-in-a-lifetime chance to break a long-standing curse on Arden Castle, she must take it. In Scotland, she finds a beautiful castle full of history and magic, but those aren’t the only things Riley discovers. She also finds pessimistic non-believer Clarke Edgeware, a down-on-his-luck archeologist who attempts to get Riley fired on her first day. They are sworn enemies, both taunting and tempting each other to do their worst, but neither can deny the desire sizzling between them.

After I read The Intimacy Experiment by Rosie Danan, I became a big fan of hers. Did I enjoy this one as much as that one? No. I didn’t hate it, though. I thought the plot was interesting and fun. I loved watching Riley and Clarke battle, both trying to one-up the other. The chemistry between them was scorching hot! Riley brought out the best in Clarke, got him to stand up to his dad, and made him see that he was worthy even with his mistakes. The curse used Riley and Clarke as conduits for the fated love that created the curse. In the end, their love breaks the curse on Arden Castle, and they join forces to become a curse-breaking team. Overall, a super fun and enjoyable read. I would recommend this one if you want something unique and different.

If you’re a fan of authors like Pippa Grant or Penny Reid, then I think you would enjoy this one!

~ Michelle

I was drawn to Rosie Danan’s new romance Do Your Worst because it features a fun and unexpected enemies-to-lovers pairing, an occult expert and an archaeologist. Danan is such a great storyteller and I couldn’t wait to see what she was going to do with these characters. I was not disappointed either!

Riley Rhodes comes from a long line of curse breakers and while most of her family has shied away from their talent for dealing with the supernatural, Riley decides to turn it into a legitimate business. When she is hired to break a curse on an infamous Scottish castle, she expects that she’ll be flying solo the entire trip and is pleasantly surprised when she meets Clark, a handsome archaeologist at a pub soon after her arrival. They hit it off quite well until Clark learns who she is and why she is in Scotland. It turns out that Clark is actually surveying the same site. He is reeling from a professional scandal that has tanked his reputation and feels this new job is his one shot at redemption. When he learns that Riley is a curse breaker, he assumes that she is running some kind of scam and tries to get her fired. Needless to say, sparks fly!

I love a good enemies-to-lovers story and had a really good time with this one, especially since the cursed castle seems to have a mind of its own when it comes to Riley and Clark. Somehow no matter how much the two of them try to stay far away from one another, they keep ending up together and can’t understand why. The snarky banter between them was hilarious, and oh boy, the steam once they finally stop trying to resist one another was off the charts! I also really loved the book’s setting. It doesn’t get much more atmospheric than a Scottish castle with paranormal vibes!

Do Your Worst is the perfect choice for readers who enjoy stories that are full of adventure, spice, snark, and a dash of the paranormal.

Do Your Worst is the story I didn't even know I needed. A curse-breaker and an archaeologist forced to spend time together at a Scottish castle, and with an added dash of enemies to lovers! This book checked all the boxes. There was witty back and forth, danger, a burning attraction, and even a sex ritual! The paranormal aspect add a flair to the book. In addition, Rosie Danan really gives us two fleshed out characters in Riley and Clark. Both have something to prove professionally with their work at the haunted castle. There is a good mix of history, archaeology, and mythology with Riley's curse-breaking.

This book calls back to the old school Scottish romances that got me into romance but with an enjoyable modern twist. The attraction between Clark and Riley is especially well-written and, wow, the scenes in Clark's camper really stand out. The focus of the story was on Clark and Riley, with not too many influential side characters, and with that, the reader needs a deep understanding of the characters. Rosie Danan succeeds really well at getting us into the heads of Clark and Riley and why these projects are so important to them. Riley is trying to build her business as a curse-breaker and this is her first big project. Clark has suffered a betrayal at his previous job and is in the process of rebuilding his faith in himself.

Honestly, this book got me back into romance after a stressful few months and it was exactly what I needed!

I love Rosie Danan, but ‘Do Your Worst’ just did not work for me quite the same way her other titles did. Danan’s bread and butter is creating complex characters with seemingly opposing world views who end up finding just enough common ground to fall in love. Unfortunately, I found the paranormal element didn’t work for me, despite it being what drew me in. The curse breaking vs archeologist mentality felt like a huge chasm Riley and Clark could never meaningfully overcome. Writing and spice on point as usual for Danan, but this one wasn’t as sweet as her other titles.

Do Your Worst by Rosie Danan was a fun read that proves Rosie can easily tell a new kind of story. Here, Riley works as a curse crasher, something that Clark thinks is a total hoax. Their banter was funny, and the whole will they or won't they kept the book full of tension. Fans will not be disappointed by her taking on magic and curses. She did a great job.

Riley Rhoades has always thought two things were unshakably true: 1. She’s a curse breaker. 2. She’s forever meant to be alone. Upon meeting archaeologist Clark Edgeware, however, those beliefs are called into question. With palpable chemistry, these two embark on a journey to break the curse of Arden Castle in Scotland, but can a scientific, factual rule-follower who’s faced professional disgrace work with someone who believes in mysticism and the occult?

I’ve been a big fan of @rosiedanan ‘a since reading The Roommate and The Intimacy Experiment, and while I didn’t love Do Your Worst quite as much as her previous two books, I still really enjoyed it! I loved the hijinks that ensued as Riley and Clark got under each other’s skin, and the banter was top-notch. I also appreciated the personal transformations both experienced as they grew emotionally.

I’m not a big fantasy/mysticism/occult reader, but the touches of it combined with Danan’s sex-positivity made this a fun read! If you’re a Rosie Danan fan, you owe it to yourself to give Do Your Worst a try! Thank you so much to @rosiedanan @netgalley and @berkleypub @berkleyromance for my gifted e-copy, and @prhaudio for my gifted ALC!

Do Your Worst hit shelves Nov. 14, so grab your copy today!

This was a really fun read!
If you like the Ex Hex and Enchanted to Meet You, I think you would like this.
it's fun kind of campy romance story.
I loved the banter between the two characters!

Maybe 3 and ½ Stars ✨

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Pub for my advanced copy of Do Your Worst!

I enjoyed this one. I did have some issues with the romance but overall it was a unique, fun and fast paced read for me.
I wasn't done reading this title in time for the publication day so I decided to purchase the audio.
Great decision on my part.
The audio was fantastic.

I look forward to reading more by this author.

This was my first Rosie Danan story, and let me tell you that it did not disappoint. I was intrigued by the concept of a cursebreaker and a disgraced archaeologist being forced to team up and solve a mystery that might have no logical solutions. The fact that it was also an enemies-to-lovers romance only added to the appeal.

This is a pretty good example of the trope because each one has a legitimate reason to hate the other, and they’re both constantly working to undermine the person they consider to be the one obstacle in the way of achieving the victory they so desperately want. It only complicates things that there’s an obvious attraction between the two of them.

I don’t often read paranormal romance, but the supernatural elements elevate the story and made it even more complex. Two rivals squaring off was fun enough, but throw in a curse manipulating your thoughts and feelings, and things really start to get interesting.

I liked both Riley and Clark, not only for their individual personalities and aspirations, but because of how they ultimately complemented each other once they got on the same page. It wasn’t easy for them, but Do Your Worst is a quick read, and you’ll find yourself laughing along with all the antics.

I'm a little late to the game to post this review but I think it's good I sat on this one a little bit. To be completely honest, I couldn't remember these characters' names without looking at the plot summary again LMFAO! Though I can't remember that, I do remember having a lot of fun with this book.

This type of romance falls into a different category than Rosie Danan's The Roommate does for me. I have two categories of romances I like: romances that are fun in the moment and those that i find myself itching to reread constantly.

This is the first category. And that's not a bad thing!! It's okay to have books that you read once for fun. I think this book leans into that first category because of the plot itself and the quality of relationship-building. Starting with the plot: there is a bit of excitement and paranormal action in this book that is really fun upon first read, though I don't know if long term it's as exciting after multiple reads. Additionally, there's a bit of mystery as you watch Riley try to break the curse. Though these characters are funny and feisty and HOT, I think the relationship lacks a bit for me. That's not to say that I didn't find myself ROOTING for them hard, I just think that there's a little bit of a lack of time spent liking each other. This is continually a problem for me in the 'enemies to lovers' in the contemporary world. More often than not, I find that the angry tension transitions to sexual tension, they bang it out, and then I miss the soft component. I'm a softie damnit!! and I want to see them being soft! Show me the love! Show me the animosity becoming softness!!! not just sex!!

That being said... Rosie Danan writes really good sex scenes.

Anyway... this was super fun!! I'm not going to say you absolutely have to 100% run out and get it immediately. But I do think it is a really fun really spicy, ACTUALLY FUNNY, paranormal romance read. definitely recommend if you're looking for a true spicy rom-com!!

First of all I am always immediately in when it comes to Scottish castles! Riley is a curse breaker, (I had no clue this was a thing!) She is hired to break a curse in said castle. She happily meets a handsome stranger her first night but by day 2 he becomes her enemy as he tries to kick her off the job site. This was a fun enemies to lovers story and I enjoyed the curse breaker and archeology storyline.

Huge thank you to @berkleypub @berittalksbooks @thephdivabooks @dg_reads and @netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
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This was overall a fun read! I LOVED Clark's character, and the enemies-to-lovers dynamic was *chef's kiss.* The Scottish setting and curse backstory made this story really lovely and interesting to experience.

I just wish there had been a bit more romantic buildup between the two. It felt like they had barely interacted postively before jumping to I love yous.

Riley Rhodes is a curse breaker and she is amazing at what she does, but does that pay the bill no. So when she gets a chance to break a curse on an infamous Scottish castle she quickly accepts. However, she may have more trouble breaking the historian that she has to share the site with. Do Your Worst is an enemies-to-lovers story seeped in Scottish folklore and will have you wanting more.

Do Your Worst is an enemies to lovers romance. Riley and Clark must set aside their differences to break the curse on a Scottish castle. The close proximity and banter between the characters turned up the tension between the two. This was an okay read for me, not great but not terrible.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the advanced copy.