Captain Morgan Davies is back in London after being out at sea for the past two years. He's got two goals on his mind: the first is to find the mapmaker that lead him the wrong way to an imprisonment, and the second is to collect on a bet which he made with his enemy/love of his life, Harriet Montgomery. Harriet on the other hand, is nervously anticipating just when he's going to take what's his.

We're introduced to Morgan and Harriet in the first book in this series. From their interactions in that book, I just knew this would have been such a great storyline, and Kate Bateman did not disappoint!! This was the perfect enemies to lovers story. Morgan does everything he can to prove his love for Harriet. He's patient with her and allows her to come to her decisions herself, without being overbearing. He even finds a way to get her dad the help he's been needing. What I loved the most was that while expressing his love for her, their quick witty banter and challenge in each other never left.

Do yourself a favor and read this book. And though this book could be read as a stand alone, the full effect is much better by reading the first two equally entertaining books in this series!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Publishing Group for this e-ARC! All opinions are my own.

Two weeks ago I had never heard of Kate Bateman. Fast forward to now, I have read the whole Ruthless Rivals series so far and rated all the books five stars! Bateman is quickly becoming a favorite author and I can't wait to start reading her back catalogue.

Harriet and Morgan have been rivals since childhood. They verbally (and sometimes physically) spar at every opportunity. Morgan becomes a Captain in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic war but before he leaves Harriet issues him a challenge. If he comes back alive from war he will win three kisses from her. We jump to two years later, Morgan is home from the war but was captured in Martinique because the map her was following caused him to run aground. He has two things on his mind: punishing the mapmaker and marrying Harriet.

I loved this book! I read eighty percent of it in one sitting and had to force myself to stop and go to sleep. This is the third book in the series. It can be read as a standalone but has a much more rich reading experience if you read the other two prior books. They are fabulous as well and give a lot of insight into the Davies/Montgomery feud. The prior hero/heroines are included in this plot so it's nice to catch up with them. Rhys is the last Dastardly Davies unmarried. I can't wait to see what Montgomery relation he becomes attached to.

The banter between Harriet and Morgan was just perfection. They are snarky without being mean spirited. You can see all the little things Morgan has done for Harriet since they were children that really shows how much he has always loved her. The story of the pen in the river made me teary eyed. The mystery/intrigue portion of the storyline didn't take over the plot too much. I feel like the main focus was on Harriet and Morgan's relationship. I adore when a hero has a special pet name for the heroine that only he calls her. Morgan calling her Harry was just the sweetest. He may be one of my all time favorite heroes. Harriet is strong, confident, and quick witted. She excels at her job as a cartographer and longs for adventure. They were a perfect match for each other.

Tropes: mutual pining, childhood rivals, enemies to lovers, bluestocking heroine, costume ball, family feud, kissing games, war hero, protective hero

Thank you so much to Kate Bateman, NetGalley, and St Martin's Press for this eARC. All opinions expressed are my own. #katebateman #awickedgame #stmartinspress #netgalley

Now that’s more like it!

The Davies and Montgomery family feud has seen the resurgence of the banter and sparkle that’s been missing from some of her recent books, and has produced some of her best work. A Wicked Game, which takes a unique, fresh approach to that old childhood-friends-to-adult-lovers trope, is the best Bateman I’ve read yet, and the best historical romance I’ve read this year so far.

Captain Morgan Davies and Harriet – Harry - Montgomery have been frenemies since they were small children. In adulthood their teasing has taken on a sexual dimension, but all interplay ends when Morgan heads off to the War of 1812 to battle the French. But before he goes, Harriet and Morgan make a bet – if he comes back alive, she’ll give him three kisses and if she wins she’ll say in public that he’s her favorite Davies. As he notes, that’s like saying he’s her “favorite strain of cholera.”

Morgan serves with honor in the Royal Navy two years, but he ends up following a poorly-etched map (which he not incidentally stole) on a journey that washes him and his crew ashore in the wrong place and results in him being kept prisoner for six weeks in Martinique by a sadistic French general. Subsequently rescued and returned to British soil and having been given plenty of time alone to reflect, Morgan has two things on his mind. The first is claiming revenge on the man who etched the map that put his ship off course. The second is seducing Harriet into marrying him. She does, after all, owe him three kisses. The question is, will Harriet - who doesn’t believe that her childhood rival suddenly loves her - give in to his seductions? Things get very complicated when Morgan figures out that Harriet – who has entered the family business as her father’s eyesight has faded - is the very mapmaker upon whom he’s looking to wreak revenge. Or is she? After all, Harriet has an evil rival who keeps poorly copying her maps, and now someone from Morgan’s dangerous past wants to put an end to both of them…

A Wicked Game sees Kate Bateman back at the top of her form. Filled with banter and a heroine and hero who have excellent, well-earned and well-worn chemistry, the end result is an adventuresome romance that has emotion and a sense of frolicsome passion that will delight the reader.

Harriet wants to get out of London. She’s spent her whole life drawing maps while dreaming of long journeys and adventures in the great wide somewhere. This has given her an independent sense of spirit (sometimes to her detriment, as it’s made her less likely to trust Morgan’s change of heart.)

Morgan is roguish and funny, in the best of ways. He is a sailor who loves the sea and loves Harriet. His inner banter had me smiling, and he’s well-set upon what he wants from Harriet throughout the book.

The combination of long, long history between these two (they remember childhood taunts and rivalries quite clearly, but also the good parts and the secret sacrifices they made for one another) and strong chemistry makes for good, bracing stuff with the right amount of spice.

If you’ve been following along with Bateman’s Ruthless Rivals series you can take comfort in the fact that you’ll be meeting a whole lot of Montgomery cousins and Davies’ siblings as the adventure progresses. The book itself is a great pay off for the many hints we’ve been given over the series about how Harriet and Morgan get along.

This Wicked Game is also a fun one, a deliciously banter-filled romance that was a delight from the very first page. This is, without doubt, one of Bateman’s best romances.

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Captain Morgan Davies has recently returned to London in search of revenge on the mapmaker who is responsible not only for his shipwreck, but imprisonment for several months in the Caribbean by a cruel enemy Frenchman. Morgan’s other reason for being in London has to do with his childhood playmate and longtime rival, Harriet Montgomery. Prison brought clarity to Morgan’s feeling for the feisty and often infuriating, Harriet, so he is determined to marry her though he knows it will not be an easy task to win her over. When Harriet turns out to be the mapmaker in question, and since Morgan cannot take his desired retribution, Harriet agrees to enter a challenge with him, the prize being three kisses.

Harriet is unusual for her Regency time period as a member of the ton in that she has taken over her father’s map making trade since his eyesight is failing. She was part of the war effort against Napoleon after he escaped from Elba providing falsified maps that were then given to the French by means of subterfuge. Harriet is quite dismayed to find that her work caused Morgan real suffering; however, Harriet does not want the man in question to know how long she has been in love with him.

The Davies and the Montgomery’s have had centuries of rivalry and although the two families have become joined in recent marriages, the games are still on between some of them. Morgan has formulated a plan to win over Harriet knowing full well she is a worthy opponent and will need careful handling. Danger is lurking around them while Harriet and Morgan do their complicated dance where the time spent together becomes more intimate as the kisses progress. This book is the third in the Ruthless Rivals series, but can be read as a standalone. Ms. Bateman’s stories are for fans of Regency Romance, strong women who go beyond the traditional roles of their times, and spicy stories of rivals to lovers.

The feuding Davies and Montgomery families are at it again in this third book of the series. Morgan and Harriet have been teasing and bickering since they were children. The night before Morgan is to leave for war, Harriet tells him "I bet you'll do something stupid and end up dead." She knows if there's a bet involved he'll do anything to win, including staying alive. She's right. Two years later he returns after a faulty map causes him to be captured and imprisoned in Martinique as an English spy. His win gets him three kisses from Harriet. She's surprised to find where he wants to give them! Harriet is the cartographer who deliberately created the erroneous map for the government. This doesn't really matter. The book is actually a series of bets and dares as neither admits their true feelings to the other. A mostly forgotten bad guy pops up for a little action scene and is forgotten again. There is an interesting subplot of Harriet's father undergoing cataract surgery after going blind

A Wicked Game is a fantastic frenemies-to-lovers historical romance! Kate Bateman writes the best romances with stories that are always so interesting and layered and swoon-worthy! This one follows Morgan and Harriet, and I’ve been dying to read about them!

Morgan has returned from war and intends to claim his prize from a bet he made with long-time nemesis Harriet. Since childhood, this pair has teased and tormented each other, and now Morgan wants to claim the three kisses Harriet bet him. Morgan wants to prove to Harriet that he loves her, but Harriet questions his sincerity.

Morgan and Harriet have amazing chemistry! They have loved each other for years, though neither realizes it, and their connection is filled with humor, exceptional banter, spice, and some lovely, tender moments. The couple challenges and antagonizes and teases each other, and they both thoroughly enjoy it. They make these sexy dares that Morgan uses to prove his feelings. I love that Morgan works so hard to show Harriet how good they would be together. It’s super swoon-worthy when the hero falls first and works to woo the reluctant heroine. I also love that Harriet realizes all the little ways Morgan has shown his feelings over the years. Without ever saying it, he proves his love for her. And their love scenes are off the charts. Steamy, romantic, and beautiful!

Something else I really enjoyed is the inclusion of cartography. It was so interesting, and I learned a bit about mapmakers and the use of cartographers during war. Other intriguing historical elements, like a certain optical surgery and happening with the French and Napoleon, are also introduced and offer insight into society at that time. And, like the other books in the series, this one has a bit of intrigue. The man who imprisoned Morgan is now seeking a map that was made by Harriet. Known for his vile and sadistic cruelty, he is a threat to both characters.

The main characters, and some of the secondary ones, in the first two books are minor characters in this book, which is great. I love that they are so important in each other’s lives. Morgan and his brothers are fantastic together, and Harriet and her father have a lovely relationship as well. They both have such strong family bonds and friendships, and even their ties to their enemies seem more like antagonistic friendships than true hatred for each other. I also thought it was funny that everyone knows how Morgan feels about Harriet. He’s loved her for a long time, and he didn’t hide his feelings as well as he thought.

I’m loving this series, and A Wicked Game is no exception. It’s clever and fun and entertaining, there’s a little bit of intrigue and a lot of wonderful relationships, and the romance is positively swoon-tactic! Special thanks to St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

This is the 3rd book in Kate Bateman's Ruthless Rivals series. The Davies and Montgomery families have been sworn enemies for as long as anyone can remember. In each of these books a Davies and Montgomery find themselves enemies who fall in love. This book was the story of Captain Morgan Davies and Harriet Montgomery. Morgan has been in love with Harriet since they were children. He has no idea that love is reciprocated. He's survived being shipwrecked and held prisoner and is now back from war, ready to make Harriet fall in love with him and become his wife. First he's got a score to settle with the map maker whose inaccurate map caused his ship to be taken prisoner and tortured. That little mystery leads back to Harriet and her father who are mapmakers. Of course there are reasons they each think the other is not interested in a relationship and of course obstacles to a HEA abound but this couple is meant to be. I fell in love with each character from the beginning. Harriet is the perfect strong heroine and Morgan is the perfect hero who isn't afraid of an independent female love interest. He wants to protect her but never dull her shine! This book had good banter, excellent character development, mystery, some danger and the perfect amount of spice. I loved this book! Kate Bateman has quickly become a favorite author for me!

Wonderful continuation to this series. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. Wondering who was going to win in the end. Times less love story

I loved Morgan and Harriet's banter and their sort of friendship. The way that they both were in love with each other for the longest time was really enjoyable, and I liked it even more because it seemed like Morgan fell first. All of the small actions that Morgan did really proved his loved for Harriet and had me swooning. I loved how their careers complemented each others and led to an interesting dynamic.

With thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was so much fun and I had the best time reading it.

There was:
*great banter
*a delightful "we hate each other but not really" vibe
*so much mutual pining

I loved how playful this romance was between Harriet and Morgan - they had such good chemistry and I really enjoyed watching their relationship blossom. I also really enjoyed that Harriet was a map maker - she was so passionate about it - and Morgan was just as enthusiastic about her work. I always love to see that. And the moment Morgan took her "love" map and used it for a specific purpose? So swoony and romantic.

I haven't read (yet) the first two books in this series but that had no impact on my understanding and enjoyment of this book. I'm so glad I picked this up.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5

Wicked Game

When I open a Kate Bateman book, I know I will be entertained. Her stories have feisty females, hunky heroes and vile villains. I enjoy the plot, romance, intrigue, witty dialogue and spice. . A Wicked Game is the 3rd book in the Ruthless Rivals series and it lives up to my expectations! The Davies and Montgomery families have been feuding for years. Harriet Montgomery and Morgan Davies have had secret feelings for each other. Harriet has a bet with Captain Morgan if/when he returns from war.

Harriet has joined her father in the map making business. He is going blind and Harriet now draws most of the maps—especially ones for the British Navy. Morgan returns seeking revenge on the map maker who drew fake maps that led to his imprisonment AND to wed Harriet. Can you see where this is going? Ah, but the plot thickens …..a rival map maker has stolen Harriet’s work. Add a French ex-soldier who also wants his revenge on the map maker. Sparks fly in several directions!

I was happy to read that another Davies is about to get his story. Can’t wait to see Rhys’s adventures!

I received an ARC from Netgalley for an honest review.

I was so excited when I received this book because I am a big fan of the 2 previous books in the series. Kate Bateman is 3 for 3 with writing a wonderful 'enemies' to lovers story that made it difficult to put down until I was finished.

Harriet and Morgan have been attracted to each other since childhood and with their family members marrying each other, they around each other more than ever before and their attraction is getting harder to deny. Morgan's slow seduction of Harriet and the tension building between them was perfectly paced and I love seeing the hero being head over heels and pursuing the the heroine and this book absolutely delivered. I really enjoyed that while we got to see more of the childhood antics from both sides of the family, the story wasn't bogged down by reasons why they shouldn't be together because of the family feud.

Something that I really enjoyed about this book was that it didn't fall into the trap that a lot of books where the couple has history together falls into. We were able to see their relationship grow realistically into love without the over-reliance of things that happened in their past as a way to move the story along.

The only complaints that I have about the story is that I felt that the side plot in the story didn't have much build up so the climax of it wasn't very important to me. I had the same issue with the first book as well but it left more time for more interactions between the couple so I'm ok with that. The second complaint is that I do feel that the as the series has progressed the intensity of the feud has been watered down to fit more of the storyline. What started out in the first book as an intense fued became watered down to a friendly rivalry by this book. Even with that being said, it doesn't detract from the story at all.

<spoiler>I enjoyed the little peak that we got of what could possibly be Rhys's story. I assumed that his story would be a tie in to another series the way Gryff was introduced in another book but he might get a Montgomery of his own if the aunts are correct and I'm excited to read it if it does go that way.</spoiler>

“I’d rather have someone build me a city, not burn one down.”

A mapmaker and a sailor make a perfect combo in this delicious journey!

What a fun book! I loved this couple from page one! He’s a rogue who’s completely head over heels for her, my favorite thing ever. It’s so refreshing to have the hero start the book in love and determined. The tales of their childhood antics add such a sweet layer to their relationship.
There are a lot of cool historical details here, especially about mapmaking. It’s such a fast paced read that I could hardly put it down. One small critique is I would have enjoyed more chapters from his POV.
Slight spoiler, but I really really want a novella or something of their treasure hunting adventures!

Star Rating: 3.75/5
Tropes: Childhood enemies to lovers, second chance
CW: Violence, imprisonment, medical content

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for this Arc in exchange for an honest review ❤️

“It’s finding someone to do nothing with, that’s the real test. Someone with whom to just sit and read by the fire. Someone to eat dinner with. To converse with, or not converse, as the mood takes us.”

In the third entry of Ruthless Rivals, Harriet Montgomery and Captain Morgan Davies rekindle their young love after Davies returns from false imprisonment during the Napoleonic war. Morgan and Harriet fall deeper in love through a series of bets, dares and challenges.

This is a very fast read but I didn’t think it really had a lot of depth. I love historical romances filled with banter and while this had some I think the most redeeming factor was the quality of intimate scenes. I thought family would play a larger factor but it was something talked about but not shown which isn't my preferred way to read back story’s.

Overall this is a very approachable historical perfect for newer readers to the genre but wasn’t my favourite by any means.

3.5*

What can I say? A Davies and a Montgomery that’s a match fated by the gods. I love love love this book in the series. Harriet is such a great female lead, and it’s so fun to read her and Morgan’s journey.

I personally wasn’t getting into the story but anyone who enjoys historical romance is likely to find it a romp.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.

This story is one delicious treat for the senses! Bateman ups the ante when it comes to heat and spice in this tasty recipe for success.

The setting is perfect; the theme is unique and interesting. This is no cookie-cutter story! Family rivals always make for a delicious story and this one has it all. The fact it is part of a series has no bearing on this one as it is easy to follow and you can happily read the other stories.

Bateman created her main two characters with spunkiness and fun. The heat and tension are rolling off in waves that effectively beg you to not stop reading. I could not stop reading this one!

A perfect blend of everything we love in a historical romance, A Wicked Game is one not to be missed!

I love Kate Bateman and this series so much. The first book of the series is still my favorite, but this is a close second. It's got everything - romance, a bit of adventure, a villain, a copyright claim...

Harriet and Morgan had great chemistry and the romantic conflict between them felt genuine rather than just being there because that's part of the formula. I could have done with a touch more adventure - that's part of why I love the first book in this series so much - but I really appreciated the intrigue that was included in the story. Kate Bateman is always a win for me, and I'm finding myself sad that this book is over but excited that it seems there will be at least one more!

Amazing banter, families at odds but these 2 have a smoldering attraction that is irresistible.
Morgan wants Harriet with passion. Harriet is fascinated by him but they are The “Davies & Montgomery” families.
I enjoyed the evolution of their relationship as well as the steamy fun parts.
Need to read every book in this series.

I received a copy of this from Netgalley and this is my freely given opinion.

This is book 3 of the Ruthless Rivals series and a continuation of the Montgomery-Davies feud with the relationship between Davies brother Morgan, who was recently released after 6 months of imprisonment and torture when his ship was seized by the French because of an error on a nautical map he was using. After he returns to London, he is determined to seek the mapmaker R. Crusoe to confront and get justice for his imprisonment.

He was stunned to discover that the person he is seeking is actually Harriet Montgomery, the object of his childhood rivalry and his secret affections. She is the daughter of a mapmaker and printer, and a talented mapmaker in her own right, and had been working with the Navy to produce nautical maps with purposeful errors which they then snuck onto French ships to undermine their ability to navigate. That takes the wind out of Morgan's sails for vengeance, but gives him a chance to renew his relationship with Harriet and follow up on his winning a wager made with her prior to his leaving for the Navy previously...

His winnings are three kisses from Harriet and he fully intends collecting them. He had determined during his 6 months in prison that when he gets out, he would do what he could to win her heart and her hand in marriage, and uses the wager to get closer to Harriet, overcome her natural suspicion of him as a Davies and try to win her heart.

I loved this story and the fact that their so-called feud is really hiding a sweet frenemies to lovers theme that started from childhood. I really enjoy Kate Bateman's writing because there is such lovely prose and wonderful descriptions that are not just beautifully descriptive and but also so laugh out loud funny at times. Remember how in book 1, the feud all started with a pig... well, I have noticed there have been pig references in the books that follow, and that brings a smile to my face each time I see it. I love the little tidbits about their past and childhood rivalries, including the hide and seek episode and the lost chance of a kiss. I also enjoy the verbal sparring between the MCs and the other secondary Davies/Montgomerys. I also enjoyed the little medical tidbits thrown in about Harriet's father's cataract surgery.

4.75 stars out of 5