The second book in the Ruthless Rivals romances stars Carys Davies and Tristan Montgomery. They have secretly been fascinated with each other since they were children, but the Davies-Montgomery feud has kept them apart.

Carys is built herself quite a reputation in London for her outrageous outfits and bold nature. After a distressing encounter with a man she thought would be marrying her, Carys needs to hide that she is no longer a virgin. That and blackmail from the blackguard who seduced her, has kept her from any thought of marriage. Besides she knows that sex just isn't that great.

Tristan Montgomery is back from the war with Napoleon and trying to build his career as an architect. He's looking for the perfect woman to be his wife. She should be someone who will support his career. He's found a candidate even though she doesn't interest him nearly as much as Carys.

When he comes upon Carys after a brief encounter with her blackmailer, he discovers that he has major protective instincts where she is concerned. He also proposes that he would be an excellent teacher for the amatory arts. After all, she doesn't know what she would be missing if she remained unwed or married one of her suitors who preferred men.

As they two explore each other, each becomes more in love than they were before, but neither is thinking of marriage, until one encounter goes too far, and her blackmailer threatens to destroy her reputation. It helps their cause that the blackmailer is being blackmailed into funneling money to Napoleon which would do a lot more than ruin his reputation if it came out.

This was an entertaining and romantic story. I enjoyed both main characters.

I read and loved the previous book in this series and this one was even better.

I love love loved Carys and Tristan. She’s carefree and he’s straight laced and together they have banter and button pushing for days. I loved the chemistry and longing they each had for the other. Of course, it was fun seeing the other family members and the Aunts stole every scene they were in.

Plot wise, it was good. These two are together for nearly the entire book and that was perfection. I loved reading their prickly relationship shift and change (all while still staying prickly) and appreciated the open conversations. The build up to the conflict was slight and resolved in a fun way. Extra kudos for not making the couple break up for the conflict.

Overall, I think I may like this series more than Kate’s previous one and I know this will be a book I read again.

**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**

A Daring Pursuit is a fun, sexy read with a little bit of everything. Enemies to lovers? Check. An iconoclastic heroine and an uptight hero? Check. Seduction lessons? Check. Feuding families? Check. A little bit of intrigue and treason on the side? Check!

I had a great time reading this book, devouring it in about a day and a half because I was so drawn into the back and forth between Carys and Tristan. They're long-time enemies thanks to the centuries-long feud between their two families, but they've also been nursing crushes on each other since childhood. It's a perfect setup for a romance where both parties fight hard to ignore their growing feelings, making the ultimate payoff all the sweeter. Their long relationship made for some excellent banter, as well as for references to the past that helped to add fuel to the fire. The end result was crackling chemistry and passion that was a delight to read.

A lot of times, romances stumble with their B plot, but I felt that this one - Carys being blackmailed by the man she had slept with once year ago - delivered, providing a little something extra to bring Carys and Tristan together, as well as a tangible villain to root against. Howe is just generally kind of the worst, and I was extremely pleased to see him get what was coming to him - as well as how Tristan stepped up to threaten him if he bothered Carys ever again (what can I say, I'm a simple woman who likes to see a man stand up for the woman he loves in dramatic fashion).

My biggest complaint with this book was that it could have used more Tristan. He had far fewer POV scenes and chapters than Carys, and it ended up feeling unbalanced. There were several moments that I would have preferred to see from his point of view, and I ultimately ended up feeling like we didn't know him nearly as well as Carys. It's not often I'm clamoring to hear more of a man's voice, but in this case, I really do think it would have added something.

Overall, though, this was a really fun read, that stands alone really well, despite being second in a series. Can't wait to see what's next for the Davies and the Montgomerys!

4/5

have a confession to make: I read the first book in this series, A Reckless Match, when I craved a historical romance rather this year. While I didn't find it remarkable, it still fit the bill for my mood for fluff, sex and romance. I think it's okay when books are mediocre but satisfy an emotional itch.

So when I had the opportunity to grab an ARC second book in the series, A Daring Pursuit, I jumped at the opportunity.

I wouldn't be in the mood to read it until this week in the aftermath of Roe Vs Wade getting overturned when I needed something a little more cheery than I normally gravitate toward.

I found the characters charming in this sexy read and the setting of the different time period to be escapist. It was a revelation to me with this series of books and season 2 of Bridgerton that friends to lovers romances can provide fun chemistry between characters. (Although I've never been as smitten by Pride and Prejudice the way others have; I still prefer the Gothic stories like Jane Eyre and Rebecca)

Also, the quality of the second book in this series surpassed the first one. In the first book, the sex scenes were the best part. However, in A Daring Pursuit the characters were more interesting AND there are wonderfully racy sex scenes.

As a light historical romance isn't the type of book I usually read, it definitely gave me the brief opportunity to get a brief mental respite. When I am in the right mood I'll definitely check out more of Kate Bateman's books!

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC!

A good enemy to lovers story that made me root for the characters and had a lot of fun.
It's fast paced, compelling, and entertaining.
Kate Bateman can surely write entertaining books and this is another one she wrote.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This book was such a delightful treat!

I always enjoy reading this author because I know there will be an adventure storyline somewhere along the way!

Tristan and Carys definitely have that unresolved tension between the two, that always toes the line of pure attraction.

Carys definitely is one of my favorite kind of historical romance heroines, she loves to make a splash, and does it her way. Tristan is the grumpy to her sunshine, and I truly appreciate that he heeded her wishes, and also helped her along the way with her issues with Howe.

These two families are rife with antics, which makes this series so fun! Tristan’s aunts are my favorite, and Carys’ nanny a close second. I’m very much looking forward to reading the next book in the series!

The second book in Kate Bateman’s RUTHLESS RIVALS series continues the stories of the Montgomery-Davies families feud of over 500 years. Neighbors and enemies still, Carys Davies and Tristan Montgomery are as different as fire and ice and drawn to each other (for years). Both Carys and Tristan wear their emotional armor, be it fire or ice, for multiple reasons – family honor, fear, the feud, their hearts. Bateman creates richly developed characters, a perfect review of the feud without it becoming paramount or quirky to the story, a balance of lightness in excellent wit and dialogue with the perfect weight in themes (i.e., the imbalance in power and property between men and women at that time) so it neither turns to farce nor melodrama, and woven allusions to mythology and Shakespearean plays…even to the point that Tristan and Carys wonder in the midst of the wild Welch countryside and forests with unfolding danger if they are in a Bard’s tragedy or comedy. A clever and effective touch to the story. Kate Bateman blends it all superbly, even to the last page when we are spared any of the customary saccharin wrap-up in this genre.

A DARING PURSUIT had a high bar to reach after book one, A RECKLESS MATCH. It more than achieved it. I downloaded the book yesterday morning, read it from virtual cover to cover, and didn’t want it to end. I rarely reread books, but this one I will soon, to dig out the nuggets and gems perhaps missed in my reading frenzy as well as to slowly savor it, page by page. This was a book I eagerly awaited, and I’m grateful to NetGalley and Saint Martin’s Paperbacks for providing me this early-reading experience. I am also grateful to the author, Kate Bateman, for writing a book that was enjoyable and well written. I read everything Kate Bateman writes, and I eagerly await the next book(s) in this series.

A classic "opposites attract" story - the staid and serious boy-next-door who pines for the fiery, wild-child girl of the enemy family.

The description of fashions that our intrepid heroine dons were the absolute highlight of this book!

This was really great! The characters are fleshed out really well, the banter is OFF THE CHARTS, and the chemistry between leads is believable. I really can't rave about this enough, it's Peak Romance.

4.5/5⭐️

I’m a fairly recent Bateman fan, and this is the 2nd in her Ruthless Rivals series centered around two long-feuding families, the Davies and Montgomerys.

Carys is the only female in the Davies family and thus is adventurous and free spirited. She made a mistake and is now being blackmailed for her naïveté. She turns to Tristan Montgomery, her frenemy, for instruction. And though neither is aware, they’ve secretly always been drawn to the other. High jinks and sweet moments ensue.

I enjoyed this one, especially for the well-drawn, lovable main characters. It’s a sweet love story while also being very sensuous and yes, steamy. Looking forward to more in this series.

My thanks to the author, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing the free early arc of A Daring Pursuit for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

4.5 stars

The second book in her Ruthless Rivals series, A Daring Pursuit gives us another pairing across the battle lines of the Montgomery-Davies feud. While I wasn't the biggest fan of the first book due to a preponderance of plot at the expense of the romance, the small glimpse that we got of this couple in that book had me super excited to pick this installment up.

This romance executed so many of my favorite tropes well - rivals-to-lovers, mutual pining, forced proximity, lessons in seduction! Getting to watch these two people who shouldn't care about each other begin to slowly acknowledge that they have always loved each other was a delight, a joy, and definitely a pleasure. If Morgan and Harriet's book follows the upward trajectory, I will be as happy as a clam!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Paperbacks for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review!

Lady Carys Davies is widely known for raising the eyebrows of the ton. After her first season ended without the expected proposal, she decided that abandoning the marriage mart and acting like a “walking scandal” was best suited for her personality.
Tristan Montgomery is the epitome of control and prefers order and symmetry in all aspects of his life. Architecture is his passion and, now that he is back from his travels in the continent, he wants to get as many commissions as possible before having to assume the title that is unavoidably in his future.
The feud between the Montgomery and Davies families might have been cast aside for Maddie and Gryff’s wedding, but being cordial doesn’t mean all is water under the bridge for the other members of either family. Tristan and Carys are still trying to get the raise of each other like they did as children and moving in the same social circle will have them meeting more frequently than either of them wants.
This is another enjoyable story in the series. I really liked the rivalry and banter between orderly Tristan and passionate, more than irreverent Carys. They have the makes of a great couple and I just loved them together.
The same goes for most of the secondary characters, though I’d have liked more interaction with some of them. Still, I found the book nicely written and it keeps a great pace making it light and fun as well as daring and romantic.

This was a stellar addition to the Ruthless Rivals series. Tristan Montgomery and Lady Carys Davies' story is delightful. The characters jump off the pages and come to life in your imagination. Lady Carys is always pushing the boundaries of polite society and has become quite the sensation in the Ton with her outrageous outfits; but she is hiding a terrible secret. Tristan Montgomery; recently returned from the Napoleonic war and an architectural trip around the continent, presents an unruffled and stern demeanor to the world. Lady Carys loves to see if she can break Tristan Montgomery's control and see if he'll lighten up any.

These characters are well written and fully developed. One of Lady Carys' delights is taking care of the menagerie of wild animals on their estate. Tristan Montgomery likes order and aesthetics. These two are constantly butting heads. I loved watching their relationship evolve and how; what they thought was animosity towards one another was actually NOT; and how the realization comes to them. This was a page-turner of a story and quite an enjoyable tale with some nefarious goings on added in....

I enjoyed the continuation of this series very much. Carys was a wonderful heroine, and her chemistry with Tristan was amazing. I loved the dynamics of their relationship. As in the previous book in the series, the supporting characters were vivid and often hilarious, especially the aunts. Can’t wait for the next book!

I've come to depend on Ms. Bateman to always deliver a good, sweet historical romance and she didn't disappoint with A Daring Pursuit either.
I really liked the heroine Carys and the hero Tristan as characters on their own and also as a couple. Tristan is interesting and very smart and Carys is strong and stubborn, she is a delight! She is strong and spirited, and holds her own with Tristan quite well. They make a good pair. The chemistry and repartee between them was excellent. I loved the richness of the characters and the story line. And the ending made me happy.
It can almost be tedious wading through all of the historical romance titles to hopefully find one with a little originality and depth. A Daring Pursuit is one of the rare finds. And on top of that, Ms. Bateman's writes with a seamless and compelling style, she draws me into the story from the very first page and hooks me until the end.
So in conclusion, if you ever need a book that'll satisfy your need of happy ending then this is it. It is a romance very much worth reading.

I gave five stars to the first book in the Ruthless Rivals series and this sequel is even better. The opening line is perfect and sets the tone for the book. Carys Davies has no plans to marry. She loves to scandalize the ton with her wild dresses and does not want to give up control of her life to anyone. Little does anyone know her confidence is a facade. She is being blackmailed by someone she trusted and is disillusioned by love. Tristan Montgomery has alway been fascinated by Carys when their families were rivals. He accepts a challenge from her to show her what she is missing by not marrying and the fun begins.

The banter between these two is quick and funny. They know how to tease and provoke each other. For all her worldliness Carys is delightfully naive. During a weeklong house party he gets a glimpse of the simpler Carys who loves and protects her bear and birds. Underneath you know they are pining. I love the moment he realizes he painted his bedroom the color he loves seeing her in. And I like that although he knows the ton would judge her for her past he never does. And because they are a perfect couple their “lessons” are beyond steamy. The book has some other subplots that help fill out the book. It also makes it so there doesn’t need to be a late in the story angst moment.

The book can be read as a standalone but if you have time read them in order. The first book, “A Reckless Match”, focuses on Carys brother and Tristan’s sister and gives the details on the feud between the families that has gone on for generations. I went back and skimmed the first story and was surprised at how much Carys and later Tristan are in that book. Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and the author for eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest. This is book 2 in A ruthless rivals series. This was fun read and I loved the characters. Looking forward to book 3!

4.5 stars

A Daring Pursuit by Kate Bateman follows Carys Davies and Tristan Montgomery - they’re neighbors in Wales and on opposite sides of a long standing family feud. Carys is seemingly wild and goes out of her way to scandalize the ton in an attempt to deflect from a scandal from her past. Tristan is a straight-laced architect and former military man who is looking to settle down with a proper young lady. When Tristan discovers Carys’ secret they come to a naughty agreement that forces them to acknowledge their feelings for each other.

This book was so much fun. I loved Carys…I loved how unapologetically free and fun and good she was. She was a loving sister, a good friend, and an even more epic animal rescuer. The playfulness and deep love (even when they both didn’t acknowledge it) Carys and Tristan had for each other shined through in this story. It made the angst and back and forth so much more fun!

Tristan is hot hot hot! I love a reserved man that is super passionate in the bedroom or outdoors. The steamy scenes we’re not only super sexy but were really sweet and I just loved that. Honestly, I just really loved this book and highly recommend it!

Thank you to NetGalley, Kate Bateman, and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC. This review is my honest opinion of this book.

This series is so much fun. The tension created by a years long feud, even after book one "broke" the feud, is just so good. I enjoyed this " I am going to show you what pleasure actually is" trope so much. It was fast paced and steamy and made me love these two characters so much. The banter and connection between Tristan and Carys kept me reading when life was busy and minutes were few and far between.

Carys Davies, challenger of convention, feels that she is ruined and therefore cannot marry. Tristan Montgomery wishes to marry a respectable and proper woman.
When Tristan discovers Carys' reasoning for not wanting marriage, the two come to an agreement- he will show her the pleasurable side of marriage she will be missing before going their separate ways. The blurb for the book then mentions them becoming embroiled in a treasonous plot.

Normally, when faced with books about treasonous plots, I put them back on the shelf and cheerfully walk away. I do not need my anxiety triggered by spy stories and my hero and heroine constantly in danger. No thanks. However, since I was provided this copy by Netgalley in exchange for a review, I grabbed some coffee and settled in for a morning read.

OMG. Am I so glad I did. This book was very, very good. This has been one of the best books I have read all year.

Despite my not having read the prior book in the series, I still felt I understood the family dynamics and understood the characters of both Tristan and Carys.

Carys - a bit eccentric but not to the point of ridiculousness - was a delight to read about. I enjoyed getting to know her character.

Tristan had enough alpha male about him without being an utter *ahem* that he was a good fit for the heroine.

Their mutual longing for each other was enough to keep me interested but not frustrated.

The embroiled in treason stuff was happily a *tiny* part of the story and in no way overshadowed the romance - and this story was definitely romantic.

Three 🔥🔥🔥 for those who want to know :)