Falling in love with her families bitter rival in the tranquil countryside answered every hope and dream. Although it was a reckless match, it would be the one that saved everything.

Madeline Montgomery and Gryff Davies hate each other. Despite the rivalry between their families, they soon learn there is more to each other than meets the eye. And that their is a fine line between hate and love. I very much enjoyed A RECKLESS MATCH. Kate Bateman knows how to write the enemies to lovers trope. I give it 3.5 stars.

Kate Bateman launches a fresh historical fiction/romance series, weaving the tapestry of the Montgomery and Davies families. The longstanding feud between these sworn family enemies, dating back centuries, takes center stage as Gryff Davies, the new Earl of Powys, clashes with the independent Madeline Montgomery. Sparks reignite, tracing back to their childhood, as they engage in a battle of wits.

Madeline's quest to restore her family's wealth intertwines their fates, sparking encounters that leave them both questioning their deepest desires. Navigating perilous situations, from thwarting smugglers to traversing dangerous underground caverns, the duo finds themselves in unexpected romantic entanglements that send shockwaves through their families.

I read this some time ago, but it seems my feedback didn't post. Anyway, it's a light, adventurous historical romance that manages to have a few unique features in this very popular domain. I liked the leads a lot, and loved the setting in Wales, and will look forward to more in this series!

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

I truly enjoyed Maddie and Gryff a lot. This book was funny, endearing, steamy, and hard pounding fun! The back and forth between Maddie and Gryff was the best and I liked getting to know the other Davies and Montgomerys as well. The added intrigue with the smugglers and the trapped in the cave part just made the book so much better! I’m excited to read Carys and Tristan’s book next!

I've had this one for awhile and decided to listen to the audiobook version and found it very well done.

It's an enemies-to-lovers story where Maddie Montgomery's family has been feuding with Gryff Davies' family for so long no one really remembered what they were fighting about, a pig or a woman?

I really enjoyed these two and their entire families. Lot of banter, wit and steam along with intrigue and adventure.

I enjoyed this story so much that I'm on to the next in the series, A Daring Pursuit, about Maddie's brother Tristan and Gryff's sister, Carys.

I was captivated from beginning to end. I love stories when the main characters were childhood friends, or enemies I should say in this case. The banter, mischief and chemistry was off the charts and the cave scene was one of my favorites. I read and enjoy everything Kate Bateman writes. I look forward to the next book in this series.

Madeline Montgomery and Gryffud "Gryff" Davies have had a tough relationship since birth, due to the long-standing rivalry between the Montgomery and Davies families. As the deadline for renewing the royal decree approaches, which binds both families to peace (if not friendship), Madeline is anxious and torn while waiting for the Davies family representative. She hopes that the Montgomery family can claim the coveted strip of land delineated between the two estates, establish peace, and save her father from financial ruin. At the same time, she longs to see Gryff, who has been absent for three years fighting in the Napoleonic war and then enjoying the privileges and pleasures of a new Earl in London.

When Gryff arrives at the last second and seals the truce with a handshake AND a kiss, Madeline is thrown off center as easily as she was as a young girl when he used to steal her shawl. Gryff is only planning to stay at his home estate long enough to let the scandal from an illegal duel in London die down. However, kissing Madeline Montgomery may have derailed those plans because the young girl he used to tease has grown into a beautiful woman whose buttons he can't wait to push. As the two get thrown together to explore secret tunnels and dangerous smugglers, will the hate between them shift to love?

This is a delightful historical romance read for fans of the enemies-to-lovers trope. Madeline's character is well crafted, with a full-fledged personality that makes her a likable protagonist. It is fun to see her use her interest and expertise to solve her family's financial problem. The point of view shifts between Madeline and Gryff and is really well done, giving readers a fuller picture of each character's motivations (although I wouldn't have minded getting into Gryff's head just a little more). The teasing between the two is fun and filled with romantic tension, while also helping deepen their relationship and understanding of one another. Both of them are afforded the opportunity to call one another out on some "bullshit," and it feels as though their relationship truly grows over the course of the novel.

Hello,

Apologies for the late notice, but I have decided not to review this title.

While I am certain it's obvious by now, I wanted to also clear this off NetGalley, so it's not showing as open for either of us.

I look forward to continuing to work with you in 2023 and beyond.

Laura

A good historical romance, which moves at a good pace. I enjoyed the interactions between the hero and heroine throughout the story. I found the parts to be called interesting and intriguing.

The first in a new series of enemies to lovers, this novel has adventure and spice to keep you coming back for more!

The Montgomery and Davies families have been feuding for centuries. Every year on the spring equinox a handshake must take place or one family forfeits a portion of their co-owner land.

Madeline "Maddie" Montgomery patiently waits this year, hoping that the Davies representative will not show. Her family is in dire straits, facing bankruptcy. Her only dream is to be an archaeologist, but with the family situation she needs to marry well. The local magistrate has asked for her hand, but he is a disgusting oaf that she has no interest in.

Gryffud Llewellyn Davies is recently returned from war against Napoleon and is also the new Earl. After years on the battlefield, all he wants is to enjoy London. After being involved in a duel, he was forced to leave London and return to his country estate. Just in time for the spring equinox meeting!

The story has witty banter, exquisite chemistry, an adventure for days. I thoroughly loved this book! The hero and heroine at one point jointly decide to explore a cave, which causes them to learn about a mystery in their small countryside area that they choose to solve together. The way these two work together is beautiful! They annoy each other, while also complimenting each other exquisitely.

My favorite lines come near the end of the book. "She ought to be in love with him. He'd saved her from almost certain death on several notable occasions, just like every bloody prince in every stupid fairy tale... He bloody well deserved to get the girl."

The ending is well worth the drama throughout. The steam is a slower burn on this novel, but once we get to the right setting all is glorious! I would never have thought of the location for where our hero and heroine finally come together to culminate their passion. It is brilliant!

I could not put this book down and finished it really quickly. I highly recommend you read it!

Such a charming and humorous read. The Davies and the Montgomery families have been feuding for centuries and the current generation continues the tradition with gusto. Maddie and Gryff are delightful in their good-natured teasing, competitiveness, and flirting. They take every chance they get to annoy one another but behind it all, they care for each other. Their attraction is impossible to hide once they start working together to catch the smuggling ring operating on their shared land.
There is an excellent mix of flirty banter and teasing along with the drama and suspense of the smuggling. There were a few hair-raising scenes that had me glued to the page.
Gryff ropes in his brothers to help catch the smugglers and introducing them in this book sets up their stories for subsequent titles in the series. I'm really looking forward to reading Morgan and Harriet's story.
I loved the relationships in this book. Even though the two families annoy each other they get an enormous amount of fun out of finding silly ways and dares to rile each other up and they've been doing it since childhood. It's a lot of fun to read. Highly recommended.

A Reckless Match by Kate Bateman
Subgenre: historical romance
Release date: 28 Sep 2021
Publisher: St Martin’s Paperbacks
Format: ebook and print
Length: 330 pages
RRP: $9.99 (ebook); $21.25 (print)

It is childhood frenemies. It is families at war. In the end it is love.

A member of each family has to meet on the equinox, at a particular place, because if a representative doesn’t turn up, the patch of land goes to the family who turns up.

Madeline Montgomery is the very essence of a ‘modern’ woman. She is fiercely independent and has an interest in archaeology. She has discovered her family has no money, but she also will absolutely not marry the local baron for a fee. She loves her family but does despair about her situation. After all, what would she do with her aunts and her father. (Oh, and her aunts are unmarried members of the family by choice, and are absolutely hysterical).

Gryffud Davies, Earl of Powys, is the newly minted Earl. He has returned from the war against Napoleon. He struggles with being back in England, but he was sent back to his estate by the Prince Regent after a duel. Gryffud has always annoyed Maddie especially when they were children. Supposedly his way of saying he liked her.

Maddie and Gryff discover a mine and smugglers. While there are plans afoot to disrupt the smugglers, Maddie and Gryff are caught in a mine explosion, get shot at and find gold in the mountains. The pair still squabble until they realise they actually really, really do like each other intensely.

As said in the introduction, this is a frenemies story. And it is a real slow burn. This couple do keep each other at a distance, until they realise there is an attraction and then the explosion of feelings and chemistry occurs. As Maddie is more in the country, she really has lots of independence and this comes through to the reader, much like a modern miss. So, she knows what she wants. When she realises she loves Gryff, she makes decisions to make sure her family is settled then she can hopefully get what she wants.

I really enjoyed this story and look forward to more in this series.

reviewed by Heather

A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher.

This is the start of a new series for Kate Bateman and I'm always so happy to read her stories. An enemies to lovers in the vein of Romeo and Juliet - the Davies and the Montgomery families hate each other. For many years they've been enemies. Madeline Montgomery has always despised Gryff Davies - but now they find themselves working together and fighting over treasures found on land that is in between the two families - so who stakes a claim? And can they work together rather than sabotage one another?

It's a bit outlandish but I don't read my historical romances for realism rather I read for escapism. And this certainly fits the bill.

Historical romance with a bite. That’s how I would describe Kate Bateman’s stories. I like how Kate’s historical ladies are no damsels in distress: they are feisty and funny.

In this first part of the new series we meet the Montgomery and the Davies family. They live next door, but they have a feud for als long as they can remember. And since the violence has grown out of hand, decennia ago, the mayor of their town has decreed that a strip of land between the two families is a joint ownership. And every year a member of both parties must come and shake hands. If not, they forfeit the land to their neighbor.

This year, Maddie Montgomery is doing the honours. Ever since the father of the Davies family died earlier this year, the Davies property has been empty. So, with any luck, no Davies will show up, since all the brothers were rumoured to be elsewhere.

To her shock, however, it’s her personal nemesis, who shows up: Gryff, the eldest of the boys and now the new Earl. Gryff nearly doesn’t recognize the beautiful woman at the border of his land. But he will recognize that sharp tongue anytime: Maddie, the only girl who kept his attention and whose vision kept him going in the war.

Too bad, Maddie still loaths him. Maddie doesn’t understand her contradictive feelings for Gryff. The boy used to tease her all the time. But the man he turned into, keeps entering her mind. However, Maddie doesn’t have time to explore her feelings about Gryff. Because her father is in debt and if she doesn’t find a solution soon, she may needs to accept the marriage proposal from one of her father’s business associates. Yuk!

But when smugglers appear to be using their shared land, Maddie doesn’t know who to turn to, except for Gryff. Together, they must find a way to uncover the truth. A great read, full of suspense, fun and feisty banter. Loved it!

Five out of five stars from me and a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc.

An edge of your seat thrill ride from beginning to end and so hard to put down. Really enjoyed this adventure. Action packed, emotional roller-coaster filled with witty and engaging charters, dangerous twists and heart racing turns.

I love reading from this author and this was no exception! I liked the characters and their banter/chemistry. It was a creative setting and plot. Would read again!!

This book was published in Sept of 2021! Yikes to me for not getting out a review sooner. I am a big fan of historical fiction by Kate Bateman. This 1st book in a new series did not disappoint. The main characters are Madeline Montgomery and Gryffud Davis. Their families have not gotten along and they have both kind of moved on with their lives at the point that the book starts.

Maddie stayed at her family’s home, while Gryff went off to war and then enjoyed the pleasure of London. Scandal forces him to come back home to Wales and he runs into Maddie. The family feud has made them childhood enemies, but now that they have reunited….

I think readers will love the sexy dialogue. They are fun, bold and adventurous. The historical details are always intriguing and well written. I can’t wait to move on to the next books.

One trope taking the romance world by storm is enemies to lovers, and Bateman’s A RECKLESS MATCH is a perfect entry into the growing list of recommendations. While it is a prominent feature of the series, the rivalry between the families does not loom over the couple’s heads. They are both fiercely independent and developed individuals along with members of their families. The balance between familial loyalty and romantic freedom is perfect!

I've never read Kate Bateman but am a big fan of historical romance. Reckless Match was entertaining and a good pick for anyone who need a bit of suspense in their romance novels. There is a bit of an enemies to lovers feel although it's pretty clear our main characters don't hate each other. In fact, they end up having to work together through smuggling drama and danger!

There's some heat but also lots of story and the plot is weaved together well. I like a spunky heroine and Bateman delivers that in spades. You'll also be pleased to watch our tough hero turn to mush as he falls in love.

Definitely recommended!