This book is the historical equivalent of The Hating Game…. a stoic hero who hides the way he feels because deep down he knows the woman he’s secretly in love with could never see him that way. He purposefully buries his unruly emotions behind a mask of disdain. But Tristan is about to discover that Carys has been hiding things as well.

Carys loves to goad her stern, immovable neighbor to reveal what’s he’s thinking. She knows still waters run deep, (after all, he resembles nothing so much as a frigid Welsh stream), but she wants to know if she occupies his dreams. Because he definitely figures very prominently in hers. Even though they have been enemies their whole lives. He just returned from the battlefield, and he seems more fierce and more stern and more unapproachable than ever. And she wants nothing more than to ruffle his feathers.

Carys has been a thorn in Tristan’s side since they were children. She’s daring and fearless and completely impervious to the dictates of propriety. She has a style uniquely her own that accentuates her passionate nature and her recklessness. The diaphanous gown she wears to the masquerade of the season is the last straw. He can’t look away. And not because he wants to chastise her. Because he wants to devour her. Because he finally acknowledges that he is jealous of every other hand that touches hers. Every other pair of feet that tangles her into a dance.

Escaped bears, cunning ravens and muddy rescues bring them inexorably closer. The lines between what they should want and what they do want blur even more, until they are forced to admit they are each other’s perfect complement.

Kate Bateman’s “A Daring Pursuit”: The Ruthless Rivals (Ruthless Rivals, 2) is a wonderful book!

I absolutely adored this book.? Kate Bateman is amazing, she always surpasses herself. This enemies to lover’s story is both smart and exhilarating. I was caught between trying to savor and devour it at the same time. It’s the details that provide the vision that heightens the drama. This of course impacts the characters through each step of the story.

The characters are just amazing. I loved both Carys and Tristan! The author’s dialogue skills are extraordinary and the snappy, witty and clever banter and dialogue between the characters was so entertaining. They are authentic, animated and realistic with such depth and individuality. And yet despite the feud between their families there’s a magnetic pull between them. with a passion, when unleashed that singes the page.

I loved it, the mystery, the romance, the love story. It was all so well written and executed.. Well worth the read!

Thank you so much Ms. Bateman do this delightfully entertaining love story!

They both like the other...

But pretend they are adversaries. Lady Carys Davies only wants to get a rise out of the cold, disapproving Tristan. Tristan only wants to give her a dressing down. Inside, Tristan burns for Carys. Inside, Carys is a hot mess. She's being blackmailed and also wants Tristan's approval. The story is at its best when they are bantering. But takes a sideways turn with some unneeded distractions.

Recommend.

A Daring Pursuit: The Ruthless Rivals by Kate Bateman is a steamy romance that will leave you wanting more. The characters are well-written with heated chemistry. I can't wait to read more from the author soon.

I enjoy reading the historical romances by this author and A Daring Pursuit was another good read for me (minus a bit of a wacky ending that dropped my rating a bit). I liked the frenemy relationship between Carys and Tristan (their families have been long time friends and have properties in the country next to each other). Carys was taken advantage of by a suitor who promptly dumped her and married another, so she's admittedly leary of another relationship. Tristan has always had a thing for Carys and though at first he's a bit scandalized when he thinks Carys is dallying with a married man (the aforementioned cad who is is blackmailing her with her reputation on the line) he soon comes to find out the truth and defend her. Along the way they discover they are quite compatible and agree to see each other in secret for a sexual relationship that neither is ready to give up when the time comes. I got a bit lost with the end of the story (involving an escaped circus bear) but overall I liked the characters and the romance plot. Looking forward to more!

I absolutely loved the first book of this series from the new to me author Kate Bateman. In the first book, "A Reckless Match" we first meet the Davies and Montgomery families. Sworn enemies a la the Montagues and Capulets in Romeo & Juliet. It was an enemies to lovers story with a happy ending with a dash of suspense from the antagonist, but unlike Romeo & Juliet, our hero (Gryff Davies) and heroine (Maddie Montgomery) did not die. It was a great read from beginning to end and this reader gave it a five star rating.

Readers are first introduced to Carys Davies, the sister of the Davies brothers in book one. She is the wild one, the daring one, liking to ruffle feathers of the ton. She has always harbored feelings for the straight laced and staid Tristan Montgomery. This is another family feud enemies to lovers story and I did enjoy the story. Carys is judged harshly by Tristan in the beginning for her crazy antics. She is being blackmailed and so there is that element to overcome together. Carys must also overcome her doubts of love. The banter and chemistry is good, the blackmail is overcome, but I felt like this story was slower, an echo of the first book. Maybe I would have liked this one more if I didn't read the two books in there series back to back. "A Daring Pursuit" is a solid historical romance, I do love the author's detail of scenery and lets the characters drive the story. I give this one a solid three stars and look forward to the next book in the series.
*Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley.

Carys doesn't want marriage, and to keep all proper gentleman away, she's brazen, and almost scandalous!

Tristan is the proper gentleman, who challenges Carys. One week of liaisons, banter and kisses.

Those kisses! Could it be that they will be both Tristan and Carys' downfall?

Is marriage in their future!

Will the rivalry between the two be over!

Great, fun read! Bateman fan here!!!

This second book in the Ruthless Rivals series finds the young Carys Davies finally meeting her match in Tristan Montgomery. That the two clans are sworn rivals makes their laison even more interesting, and unexpected...that is by them...as others surrounding them can see their attraction to each other long before they can. Carys has a flair for the dramatic - wanting to shock people with her dramatic wardrobe choices and independent ways.
Even her brothers, Gryff, Ryhys and Morgan, find that letting her do what makes her happy...ultimately makes them happy. Tristan has returned from the war in Europe and his desires are to return to his dreams of architecture and building his own home for his future bride, along with having an organized and peaceful life. When these two make a deal that sends sparks spiraling all around them, they each are afraid that their deal may ruin any possible future they may have. Very entertaining story with heated exchanges that will make the reader cheer for their continued romance. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review this advance reader copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #ADaringPursuit #NetGalley.

Carys Davies love to shock society with her wardrobe choices and carefree attitude. As this book opens, she is wearing her most scandalous outfit yet and many notice. One in particular is Tristan Montgomery, while he's her enemy because of a feud that spans generations, the attraction is still there.

Tristan is hoping to find a wife this season, but Carys isn't on his radar. She's not the wife he needs, he needs someone who is not on the borderline of scandal at every turn.

Carys has always had a bit of a crush on Tristan, and she doesn't know what to do about it. Unfortunately, she's being blackmailed for something that she can't change. She was to meet Howe at his carriage at midnight, however he loses that carriage to Tristan gambling. It's Tristan who enters the carriage and assumes she's having an affair with the man. While she admits she's been 'ruined' she doesn't spill about the blackmail.

As these two are thrown together for family events thanks to her brother Gryff and Tristan's sister Maddie, some interesting things occur. First, he says he's helping her screen potential husbands, then he finds out about the blackmail.

A family gathering has been planned and both Carys and Tristan are thrown together again, but this time there's a twist. Carys agrees that she needs to discover if a marriage without anything other than intellectual compatibility is the right way to go. Tristan while a bit shocked at her agreement is more than willing to show her what she's missing. He doesn't anticipate falling for her though.

At her home in Wales there's a famous menagerie that she cares for. She is quite knowledgeable of animals and is ahead of her time with regard to fighting animal cruelty.

All of these things intwine into a delightful tale of enemies to lovers. With suspense, intrigue and sizzling heat.

I really liked this story for its strong, feisty heroine and proper and handsome hero. I liked their chemistry and the “indecent proposal trope”. There is also a forbidden love aspect to the story because their families are rivals.

Carys is the star of this book. She is unique and doing her best to forge her own path. She loves animals and rescues several exotic pets…bears and peacocks, oh my! She is also avoiding marriage which would be scandalous for the time period.

This was another fun, adventurous, and steamy book in the series. There are more siblings to come and I am looking forward to their stories.

I truly enjoyed the relationship between Carys and Tristan. I found myself laughing out loud at times. Snickering at other parts. And had my breath taken away at others.

Carys Davies has done her best to avoid marriage. Especially when she has a secret that could ruin her if it is ever revealed. She's used outrageous outfits and carefree confidence to keep potential suitors away. The only man who's captured her attention is also one of her family's greatest rivals, Tristan Montgomery.

His goal is to marry a proper wife but that hasn't stopped him from wanting Carys. When he finally discovers her secret she challenges him to show her what she'd miss if she doesn't get married. Amazingly he agrees. One kiss and things will change between them. They enjoy sneaking off to share moments with one another until they find themselves in the middle of a treasonous plot.

Thank you so much to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC to review.

Carys Davies needs to avoid marriage at all costs to hide the secret that could ruin her and her family. She’s scandalized the ton with her clothing and behavior in a bid to deter potential suitors. Despite outward appearances she’s disillusioned with both men and love. There’s only one person who’s never bought her act, Tristan Montgomery, one of her family’s greatest rivals.

Tristan Montgomery needs a respectable woman to wed and that’s not Carys Davies. When she challenges him to show her what she’s missing, Tristan shocks them both by accepting her proposal.

Great enemies to lovers story. Fabulous banter and of course a villain to be vanquished by our hero and heroine.

The "sight of his exposed wrists did something strange to her insides"...Oh my....brilliant!
Tristan and Carys are such a delightful couple. Kate Bateman has created 2 sharply written, intellegent characters that I enjoyed getting to know. After years of being blackmailed for a youthful mistake she finally opens up to Tristan about it. He promises to show her how loving someone should be. Her brother is having a week long house party so they decide to take that time for just the two of them. Somehow they must deal with stolen gold, a traitor and an escaped bear before they find their happily everafter. So much fun! This is a classic enemies to lovers romance that I can't recommend highly enough.
I read across several genres so I try and limit the authors I read to just a few that I trust will give me an excellent story in each genre. Kate Bateman is one of my go to authors in historical romance. This book does not disappoint!.

I LOVED THIS BOOK. Let me start off by saying that after reading the first book in the series (A Reckless Match) I had kind of wanted a story about a different pair, rather than Carys and Tristan. But I needn't have worried, because THIS BOOK WAS GREAT. The Davies and Montgomery families have been longtime rivals - enemies, even. Yet somehow when Tristan and Carys are together, sparks FLY. Tristan, who needs a wife, can't seem to make himself interested in any other female, except for the inappropriate Carys. And Carys flirts shamelessly with many men, but the only time it actually means something is with Tristan. Carys uses her persona to protect her true self, but somehow Tristan sees her for who she is. They decide on a, er, mutually beneficial bargain, which Tristan believes will allow him to get Carys out of his system. But maybe the opposite will happen... And when Carys finds herself at a low point, to her great surprise Tristan becomes her staunch defender. Maybe a future for these two isn't out of the question...but you'll have to read the book to get the deets! And you won't want to miss a THING, because this book is amazing! I cannot WAIT for the next book in the series, either. Ms. Bateman has become one of my favorite authors, you should definitely read the first book in this series and other works she's done, too. I got a copy of this book in order for me to provide an honest review, which you just read. Happy reading!

4.5
Awesome story. This is the first time I’ve read a book by Kate Bateman, and it won’t be the last. The characters are very well done, and their romance is easy to fall in love with. The banter, oh man the banter was fun and well done. I had heard that Bateman does banter well, and she delivered in this book. There were moments when I laughed out loud and others where I cheered. This was a book that I couldn’t put down because I wanted to see how Carys and Tristan got their HEA. It was well worth pulling a late night to finish in one sitting.

I really enjoyed watching as both Carys and Tristan realized that some of their decisions for years had been done because of their feelings for the other person. It caused a lot of angst and sweet moments. The only thing in the book I didn’t like was one of the subplots didn’t feel connected to the main characters for me – more like parts of it were rushed and out of no where.

Overall, an excellent read and I highly recommend.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I loved this book. I'm starting to think that the enemies to lovers storyline is my favorite. This is book 2 in the series. It's the Montgomery's versus the Davies. Two clans who have hated each other for centuries
Tristan is a Montgomery. Carys is a Davies.
They have a very live hate relationship. Two people who are extremely attracted to each other but couldn't be more opposite of each other. And then you add in the clan war.
But when Tristan's sister marries Carys brother that throws the two of them together much more often. And the fireworks begin to fly.
Both books in this series were great. You don't have to read the first but it would add to the story if you did.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I want to thank Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
This book was PHENOMENAL! I wasn't sure I would like this as much as the first book, but I was wrong...I liked this one even more!

Carys has no problem being a little scandalous and Tristian enjoys her wild side.

The mutual pining was perfection!

A Daring Pursuit is the second book in the Ruthless Rivals series. This was a wonderful enemies to lovers romance! It was delightfully entertaining. These characters were funny with many laugh out loud moments. The sparing and banter between them was deliciously clever, intriguing and witty. The plot twists are extremely unique. And the steam level is off the charts. I loved it! I couldn’t put it down.

Carys Davies is always causing a spectacle wherever she goes. She dresses scandalously for every event that she attends. She knows she is the talk of the ton, but it is all part of her plan to stop potential suitors and to avoid marriage. Staying single is the only way to hide her secret that could ruin her and her family. But there’s one person who seems to see her, who sees right through her. The only man who still makes her heart race. One of her family’s greatest rivals.

Tristan Montgomery is very reserved and is in need of a respectable woman to marry, if only he could get the bold, red-headed Cary’s out of his mind and stop wanting her in his arms. But once he finds out her secrets will he help her?

What a match these two characters are as their encounters are so very engaging and create such perfect friction. Constantly teasing and annoying one another. Watching him protect her as well as school her in the art of intimacy. I couldn’t stop smiling. I couldn’t stop reading. And I’m positive that I will be reading this again.

I received an early copy and this is my honest review.

A wonderful addition to this series which brims with fantastic characters, witty banter, a villain who needs to be put in his place and an attraction that cannot be denied!

Carys Davies is on a mission to show herself as bold and unfettered.. That way she will seem carefree and fun, while inside she is a mess. A secret she is hiding is about to become unbearable, because she is being blackmailed. But that does not keep her from being attracted to a Tristan Montgomery, part of a family who has been rivals with hers for years.

Tristan has established himself as a gentleman, upstanding and an architect. He has picked out the perfect bride for himself, who makes him feel calm, none of the feelings Carys ignites!

When these two come together, the journey is sizzling and he has to protect her from harm at all cost.
Cannot wait for the next in this series!

The Montgomery-Davies feud claims another pair!

In the first book of this series, we learned of the generations-long feud between these two neighboring families and how that was instrumental in bringing Maddie and Gryff together. In this installment, Gryff's sister, Carys, known to be quite daring and impervious to scandal, matches wits with Maddie's elder brother, Tristan, whose aloof demeanor keeps him from admitting he's entranced by the fiery Carys. Their push-pull combat romance tactics were a lot of fun to watch and their banter only underscored the current of electricity pulsing between them whenever they're in the same room.

I loved this particular quote:

Why was needling him her favorite occupation? It was like poking a tiger with a stick— or a leopard with a parasol. One day the big cat would pounce.

Quite what would happen when— if—Tristan Montgomery ever did pounce was a mystery. But a wicked, perverse part of her really wanted to find out. She had a suspicion it would be thrilling, and probably dangerous too. At best it would be wounding to her pride. At worst it could be fatal to her heart.

Still, she couldn’t seem to stop.


I adored Tristan, especially when he was able to admit the depth of his attraction to her even when he believed the worst of the misconceptions about her. He admires her intellect above all else, and that is so very sexy in itself.

There's quite a story woven throughout about her past that spills over to involve her menagerie, a traveling circus, a truly dastardly villain, and a wild chase that will leave you breathless. I was hooked right from the start and absolutely swooned at the HEA. This book was everything I could hope for. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.