This historical romance was exactly what I needed nowadays. Kate Bateman rarely fails to enthral with her story telling and she did her magic once again with Harriet and Morgan's love journey.

Very shallow, quick read, consumed like a candy bar (somewhat enjoyable in the moment, becomes one-note/cloying, and instantly forgotten as soon as it's done). Starting from page one, it's clear that there isn't going to be a single conflict in the entire book. It's mostly just a question of how quickly the H/h will get together and that's about it. I love that Harriet is a mapmaker - that was very cool and different - but it mainly just felt like a plot point toward the one "conflict" in the story. The villain and that whole storyline was laughable. What the? 98% of the book is them thinking about/acting on their relationship with its faux obstacles, and the last 2% felt like it was thrown in at the end when someone read this and said, hey, shouldn't there be a plot or a villain or a twist or something? Even that final out-of-left-field scene with the villainous Frenchmen (name already forgotten) was undeveloped. Where did he appear from? How did he guess the truth? Wha?? I know it's silly to complain about anachronisms (I am usually more than willing to suspend disbelief!) but Harriet's level of freedom and independence, plus her casual acceptance of the turn their relationship takes and lack of consequences, felt contrived and unrealistic. I could almost accept the villainous Frenchman plot as being a more believable storyline, heh. It looks like I'm the outlier among reviewers and I'm glad so many others enjoyed this book, but it was not for me.

My thanks to the publisher for providing an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

there's nothing like a good historical romance to get you out of a reading slump.

if you love historical romances, check this book out! the characters are fun to read about, as is their history. it was really entertaining, though i wish there was more to the plot

I really enjoyed Harriet and Morgan’s romance, but it’s also not a new favorite Kate Bateman book for me unfortunately.

As usual, I love Bateman’s ability to write fantastic banter. I also really enjoyed the “wicked game” going on between Harriet and Morgan throughout. I think this felt a little lackluster bc the two MCs were already in love with each other at the beginning of the book. We didn’t get to see them fall for each other.

I’m really looking forward to Bateman’s next series after reading that Epilogue! I can’t wait to see what she does with the “crazy” side of the Davies family.

**thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review**

This is the newest book in Kate Bateman's series The Ruthless Rivals. This series just keeps getting better, and A Wicked Game is a wonderful addition. Harriet and Morgan have been rivals since childhood, just like the rest of their family. From the beginning these two have wonderful chemistry, and Morgan can't wait to return to cash in on the three kisses he won from Harriet in a bet. However, Morgan is unaware that the mapmaker he is searching for to enact revenge on is actually Harriet. I was initially worried this book would be high angst, however like the rest of the series the 'rivalry' and 'revenge' is definitely low stakes and not nearly as angsty as I anticipated. Lately I've been leaning towards low-angst books, and this is perfect for that. Their chemistry is wonderful, and I love seeing how various members of these two rival families finally cave to the sexual chemistry between each other! Kate Bateman always writes wonderful steamy scenes and this book is no different.

So the only problem that I found with this book is that there really isn't any plot besides the dares that are being proposed. That was a minor problem though. I really did enjoy this book and will be picking up other books by this author for sure!

Another incredible entry from Kate Bateman. At this point, she's am autobuy author for me.
I was eagerly anticipating Morgan and Harriet's book, and this one did not dissapoint. You've got long-term longing, revenge, mind games and more.
There's a great balance of romance-plot and sub-plot that are inextricably linked so I did not feel either got dragged down.
Thank you to the publisher, the author, and Netgalley for the ARC.

Out of the three books in this series so far, this was definitely my favorite. I loved that I already knew the characters so they weren’t complete strangers to me and that we’ve already seen the intense tension between them. And the fact that Harriet knew Morgan so well to give him a concrete reason to come home to stop him from being a hero and dying because of it? Amazing.
I also really loved that Morgan went into this knowing that he wanted to marry her instead of figuring it out at the end was my favorite part of him. Like, he wasn’t just trying to play around with her or treat her as a mistress. He knew what he wanted and went for it. This book balanced the romance and tension expertly with the lurking danger from their past. Can’t wait to see if Rhys will get his own book (and I think he will!)

I have truly enjoyed this series of family rivals and A Wicked Game is no exception. Morgan and Harriet are delightful characters that entertain you as you hold your breath hoping Morgan doesn't end up scaring Harriet away. There was great banter without going overboard, just the perfect amount for the book and the characters. It's refreshing for the hero to work hard to convince the heroine to believe in love & marriage, especially with the complication of caring for her father. Add in the French villain and you have a great story. I liked the way the new group of characters were introduced at the end making Rhys very nervous before his book is released. I'm looking forward to him twisting in the wind over more women from the rival family coming to visit. I can't wait for his book. He's so laid back I hope he really gets tied up in knots over his match. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for this ARC.

What a lovely HEA for Harriet and Morgan. The love that had blossom during the years was wonderful to see. Childhood frenemíes to lovers is a wonderful concept.

When Harriet Mongomery really didn't know what she was getting into with her last dare to Morgan Davies. She dared him to come back to her safe and sound and he does just that. His prize, three kisses the choice of place and time is Morgan's. Harriet just didn't realize Morgan wasn't exactly speaking of geography with regard to where.

These two are crazy about each other, and in denial about that as well. The verbal sparring is quite amusing as is all the subterfuge in order to get the kisses.

I loved being transported back in time for this tale. Harriet's intelligence and skills at cartography is delightful. Add in some intrigue from the government and a touch of suspense with their dares and you have this book I couldn't put down.

I can't wait for more of this series. There appears to be another branch of the family heading to town.

This book was everything I wanted and more! I loved just how gone Morgan was for Harriet. Who doesn’t love the man falling first and just waiting for the heroine to realize that she loves him too!!!! Gah this book was perfect! I will definitely have to read the rest of Kate Bateman’s backlist! Can’t wait to see what’s next!

Thanks Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!!!

Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to read this title. This was such a fun historical, and is my current reigning best historical for 2023. I thought that the characters were fun, and had amazing banter. The political intrigue was exciting. It had everything that made it a well rounded and developed historical. I read this as part of a reading vlog with other historical, and it was one of the highlights for me.

Rivals growing up on adjoining estates, Harriett and Morgan have a unique way of daring each other. A bet always makes it more interesting. As they grow up, the wicked dares become more of a sexual nature. Morgan is determined to have Harriett as more than a friend, he wants her for his wife and is not afraid to seduce her. The lady doth protest too much when Morgan confesses his love. He has one week to prove he loves her.
An open bedroom door with steam.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

Omg this book was soo good!! Enemies to lovers in the Regency period.. YES PLEASE! The Davies and the Montgomerys are rival families but when Harriet challenges Morgan to 3 kisses he can’t pass it up! Meanwhile Harriet has no idea that Morgan wants to Marry and not anyone but her and her alone! The male lead has a bit of trauma from being kidnapped during war which is heartbreaking to read about. True love can beat anything even long standing family fueds! Morgan tells Harriet pretty early in his intentions and feelings which makes the family the bigger problem but the banter, intriguing characters and engaging story telling make for an amazing lighthearted read I really enjoyed this book and will definitely and going back and reading the other brothers stories!

The witty sparring from the two main characters were the perfect amount of spark for this frenemies to lovers regency book. I feel that it was the third in a line of stories, but that did not distract from the boom that can be read as a stand alone. This was a relatively quick and fast pace read and it sucked you in from the prologue.

I recommend it for fans of Tessa Dare and Sarah MacLean. I will be seeking out more from this author.

Usually I enjoy a story more after the characters have acknowledged that they've fallen in love, but one of these two was just so stubborn, that it actually made it less fun. Enemies to Lovers is on the lower end of my favorite tropes though, so others will likely be more predisposed toward it. At times I thought this might end up as a 4, I did enjoy when both were maneuvering around the other, wary that maybe they were the only one who felt like that, but things were kind of drawn out and less plausible toward the end, so overall a 3 is more fitting for me. That makes this my least favorite of the 3 so far, but overall it's been a good series, and I will continue on with it. *I received this book as an advance copy and am leaving this review voluntarily.

I genuinely don't think it gets better than Kate Bateman when it comes to historical romance. This newest addition to the Ruthless Rivals is perfection.

It had me going from the first chapter.

Morgan Davies was completely in love with Harriet, and I'll go as far as to say a simp for her. But Harriet wasn't as unfazed as she tried to be.

The plot, the return of well-loved characters, the romance, all top tier. I don't even know how to review this without giving spoilers. I'm a firm believer that you should start at the first in the series and I stand by this. You won't be disappointed because every book in the Ruthless Rivals series gets better and better.

After reading the first two books in this series, I was excited to get to Morgan and Harriet’s story. From the beginning, you knew that they would get together but how? Morgan and Harriett had been friends (or maybe enemies) since they were kids. Harriett took after her father and became a mapmaker, while Morgan was Captain of a ship in the Navy. When Morgan returns to London after being shipwrecked and imprisoned, he vows revenge on the mapmaker who led him astray. When the person turned out to be Harriett, they continue their verbal sparring. Before leaving on his voyage, Harriett and Morgan made a bet where Harriett owed him 3 kisses if he came home safely. Harriett assumes these kisses would be chaste pecks on the list, but Morgan has other ideas. I enjoyed the suspense as Morgan seduced Harriett. You wanted them together, even though Morgan seemed too good to be true!

Thank you to NetGalley and SMP for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

CW: gender essentialism, death of a parent (past), attempted murder/violence, secondary character briefly catches on fire, brief mentions of: imprisonment during war, torture, war, death (past),

This is the third book in the series but can be enjoyed entirely as a standalone

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)

-m/f historical romance
-rival families
-frenemies to idiots to lovers
-a kissing bet
-mutual pining

This series is just low-angst and fun as these two rival families are getting matched up one by one. Morgan and Harriet both have long standing crushes on the other that they would never admit to. So what do you do but come up with a kissing bet? Neither of these two wanted to say boo as they tried to reconcile their pasts with what they both clearly wanted, each other.

I really appreciated how Morgan supported Harriet's career. he was just gone on her and ready to make an idiot out of himself to prove he loved her.

I'm excited to see what's in store for Rhys.

Steam: 3.5