Extremely swoon-worthy, A Wicked Game is another satisfying entry to the Ruthless Rivals series. While for me it doesn't feel as well-rounded as the previous book (A Daring Pursuit), if what you're looking in historical romance is primarily the chemistry between the couple, and can careless about a plot, then this will still be a surefire win.

Following a 'frenemy to lover' scenario, the sexual tension is immediately apparent from chapter 1, and Kate Bateman continues to excel at making even the smallest interaction spark with magnetic desire. The author also does a great job at laying out the 'are we actually in love or is this still a game' dilemma, at no point did I feel like the book was simply dragging out the happy ending for page count — the characters had to untangle layers of mixed signals to discover whether there was concrete feeling beneath years of flirtatious teasing. With the hero being a sea captain, and the heroine a cartographer, A Wicked Game also goes to town with loads of love-tinted symbolism and reference to mapping and venturing into the unknown, some are cornier than others, but I enjoy every single one of them.

A Wicked Game does feel a little under-cooked when it comes to its non-romance related narrative. Not only is the central villain a bit of a joke, oftentimes major events are set up, and then unceremoniously resolved within a couple pages (The hero was heading into war, then he was back in the next chapter / A map was found being plagiarized, but it only took a couple more sentences to discover the culprit). The absence of process and easy answers is a pretty glaring difference when comparing to layers and nuances that are in place to tell the romance (especially when its predecessor A Daring Pursuit manages to have pretty balanced presence of both without drowning out its love story).

A Wicked Game is undeniably likable, even if the presentation as a whole is a slight step-down from my expectation, I still enjoyed my time back with the Davies and Montgomery families.

So this book was everything I ever wanted and everything I ever needed. Morgan and Harriet are one of my favorite couples of all time and I am just fully in love with this book and that literally makes me so happy because I have been <i>dying</i> for their book.

Overall, I don't really know how to form coherent thoughts about my love for this book but I am going to try.

The plot: there really isn't one, which I am fine with because I was obsessed with Morgan and Harriet but essentially you are following the hero and heroine as they proposal these wicked (and spicy) dares with each other but ultimately Morgan is on a mission to marry Harriet and win her heart.

This man is head over heels in love with her. Like he loves her, is not ashamed, and is determined to show her how much she means to him and I simply LOVE IT. He is so much fun. He's charming, he's loyal, reliable, funny, and he's so caring. I love how he isn't afraid of his feelings and love for her and knows what he wants and goes after it. There was no fighting it up from chapter 1 we know this man's intentions and I am here for it!!

Harriet is also an amazing heroine. She matches him in ever way and I love clever and bold she is. She literally never backs down and refuses to be bull-dozed and I love it! Shes a super strong heroine and I love how both of them were made for each other. I fell in love with Harriet and Morgan separately and together.

This book is so amazing and you need to go preorder it!!! Now my next thing is, when will we get Rhy's book?! This man needs his own romance Ms. Bateman!!!!

Morgan Davies has been back from war for some time now, and has yet to claim his prize from the bet he made with Harriet Montgomery all those years ago. But she need not wait much longer, for Morgan wants more than just his prize, he wants the girl.

*screams* It was stellar, it was a phenomenon, it was everything I wanted from a historical romance. I appreciate a man with his priorities straight, Morgan never doubted for a second that Harriet was the one for him. So true. It was fun, it was sweet. Harriet was an icon, always ten steps in front of Morgan even when he thought he had her all figured out. He was playing into the palm of her hand.

Bateman sleighs again with another wickedly hot compulsive read! This series hasn't let me down yet!

In the third book in Bateman's "Ruthless Rivals" series, another dreamy Davies man goes after his childhood love/nemesis, a Montgomery! At this point, the feud between these two families is well buried except for the flirty cat and mouse game that Harriet and Morgan have carried on for too many years. These are adults, betting each other for kisses. Of COURSE, they secretly love each other!

When Capt. Morgan Davies gets back from the Navy, he is determined to do two things - get revenge on the devious mapmaker that led his crew into captivity with a false map and win Harriet Montgomery's heart once and for all. What will he do once he learns they are one and the same?

Harriet is quite ready for her long-time crush Morgan to seduce her, but life's a little messy right now. She has a father who is going blind, a business to run, a rival mapmaker who has stolen her work and a French ex-soldier who also wants revenge for the false maps she made for the British Navy.

They must come to each other's rescue in this page-turning, open-door, spicy romantic read. **His final romantic gesture to prove his love!! GAH!**

In the epilogue, Bateman teases brother Rhys's story next with an even more eccentric member of the Montgomery's extended family. I can't WAIT!

One false map, a slight misunderstanding, one or more naughty dares, coupled with an attraction obvious to everyone but the two lovebirds themselves, and you’ve got A Wicked Game!

Harriet and Morgan’s book was adorable! I loved their banter best and with each dare issued? They just amped up their edgy, seductive game! I was delighted Morgan was playing for permanent keepsies, but no doubt about it, Harriet was running the show whether she realized it or not.

I didn’t feel this was an enemies to lovers tale; Harry and Morgan were too friendly for that plot device. They were frenemies whose touch of rivalry obviously came out in their challenging dares. There’s also a very thin devised suspense bit that I felt was lost in the book before reappearing to tie up, but I honestly forgot about it until the reveal! I was having so much fun seeing Morgan try to win Harriet over.

This is my favorite book of the set, but who knows what will happen to Rhys….

I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book from St. Martins and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is third in the Ruthless Rivals series, and it was a good, solid addition for the most part.

Harriet Montgomery has taken over her father’s mapmaking business as his eyesight is failing. Morgan Davies has returned home from war as a naval captain. The Montgomerys and Davies have been feuding for generations (think Hatfields/McCoys), yet Harriet and Morgan have been hiding their true feelings from the other ever since they were young teenagers. Morgan sets out to convince Harry that they belong together, but she thinks he’s playing with her feelings as part of their feud and needs convincing.

This was a fun, humorous romance that was equally sweet and steamy in parts. The drawback for me was an added bit of danger from a villain that was such a minuscule part of the narrative that I didn’t feel it had to be included at all. And also the storyline followed a fairly transparent path from start to finish.

Bateman is at her best, in my opinion, when she’s writing her love scenes. They involve a good mix of passion and tenderness and add a lot to the reader’s grasp of the characters’ personalities/motivations.

I’m enjoying this series.

My sincere thanks to the author, NetGalley and St. Martin’s for the free early arc of A Wicked Game for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

The story of Morgan Davies and Harriet Montgomery- members of two prior dueling families that have been brought together by the marriages of their relatives. Morgan is a younger Davies son who upon leaving to fight in the War, made a bet with Harriet that if he came back alive she would grant him 3 kisses. After the war, Morgan returned home and approached Harriet about fulfilling the bet. As they are socializing again, it becomes apparent that a villain known to Morgan from the War is in Britain. It soon becomes apparent that the person is looking for a particular map to find a treasure that was hidden in the Caribbean. Morgan finds out that Harriet is a mapmaker when he returns to his former office in an attempt to find out who made the map that landed them in the wrong place and resulted in their capture and torture during the war. He then has to assist her by providing protection when a competing mapmaker is known to be copying her maps without her permission. While they are working together to find the particular map that the villain is searching for they are provided the opportunity to exchange the promised 3 kisses- but not the way Harriet envisioned. This story is wonderfully written and provides the reader with romance, mystery, adventure, steam and a HEA.

I received an ARC from Netgalley and I am voluntarily leaving a review

Review in exchange for a free copy of Wicked Game via netgalley......
*** if spice is what you want then you will not be disappointed!***

What a delicious book! I'm normally not a fan of the miss communication romances. A woman's lack of confidence in her worth drives me insane. Not so say that one needs to be overly confident of herself ... it's a tricky balancing game. With that being said the way Kate Bateman gave her MFC Harriet a lack of confidence, due to Harriet's lack of knowledge in the world of love, allowed the reader to accept Harriet's ignorance of Morgan's motives with out the desire to strangle the ignorant woman .
The background build up of the mfc and mmc was done with the perfect amount of detail that left the reader able to understand the history of these two with out having so much detail that one wants to simply skip to the next part.
The spicy aspect of this book......ohhh boy this is not a read in public book unless you have an amazing pokerface ! (You have been warned)


*Over all review :
*Writing style 4/5

*Main character likeablity:4/5 ( 4 i stead of 5 simply because I prefer a more straightforward approach to issues )

* Spice 4/5

We continue the enemies to lovers of the Montgomeries and Davies in the third book of the Ruthless Rivals series, A Wicked Game.

The Montgomery cousin of Tristan and Maddie, Harriet, always found Morgan Davies, brother to Gryff and Carys, to be a challenge. His presence and banter both enrage and enlight her. With no one else does she feel such passion and want.

And he feels the same.

When Morgan returns from war he has one goal: to marry Harriet. Now that his siblings have shown the marriage is possible he has a plan to convince her he wants her forever.

There were many similarities with the first book of the series, but unlike the others, they both know they want each other. And Morgan plans to marry Harriet. He has a plan to convince her they can work and he doesn't need any outside force to make him realize how important she is to him. I think it can be summed up in one quote:

"He'd take a slap from Harriet over a kiss from another woman any day."

He is so so into her and I loved it! And she is into him! It's not one-side, but considering their background, Harriet thinks it can only be moments of pleasure - and she'll take whatever of Morgan she can get.

Add in a little drama from a French general bent on revenge and gold, and you have my favorite of the series.

This book was the epitome of historical romance with romance, action, spice, and historical nonsense that makes it fun and drives the relationship forward.

I loved the compromises they each make to gain each other and a life they can have together, one which they both want. It felt realistic and like their love would last.

Overall, they were just SO in love with each other from the beginning which made their journey to happy ever after all the more rewarding. Add in their banter, dares, and spice and they were completely made for each other.

Read for: rivals to lovers (they didn't hate each other in the slightest lol they could never be enemies), banter, spice, *any excuse to kiss you*, action, intelligent heroine, mutual pining, "I want you to annoy me for the rest of my life"

I think we can expect a Rhys/Tess book! Can't wait for more and enjoyed the cameos from the other couples. This book can be read as a standalone.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

4.75 stars
2 spice

Oh how I'm so enjoying this series! I just love a rival families stories a la Romeo and Juliet without the dying part. This is books three in the series and although you can read it as a stand alone, it is elevated by reading the previous two books.

Drive-by Summary:
Childhood sworn enemies, Morgan Davies and Harriet Montgomery, have a secret: they both are madly in love with each other. Here's the catch, they have been bickering and fighting for so long they don't know how to break that cycle and just come clean with their feelings. That's it....in a nutshell...that's the main point of the book. Yes- other shenanigans happen, but they are all side plots.

What I loved:
* I love when the MMC is just so honest about to himself about his feelings. Morgan wage a very strategic battle in order to win Harriet's heart.
* I always love when the brothers get together. They have the best banter.

What I thought was 'meh':
* At one point I was just frustrated with Harriet. I'm just so glad her cousin talked some sense into her.
* I thought there was a foundation to add more danger to the story. Add in some battles, kidnapping, hostage situation. I felt that the story needed more balance for a full 5 stars.

Thank you #NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

The chemistry between the Montgomerys and the Davies is so slay. I love how their families have been feuding and talking smack for hundreds of years yet all they're all just spending their childhoods playing and growing up together and then falling in love. It's all so lighthearted and the banter is witty and there's never any malice between any of them, it just warms my cold little heart.

Okay so I didn't love this book as much as I adored Tristan and Carys' book. Tbh I don't think I loved this one, it was more of a strong like. The plot wasn't as compelling as the second book's, although I did appreciate that this one attempted to tie in what was going on at the time with Napoleon. It wasn't as exciting or emotional as A Daring Pursuit, and I didn't find the characters as interesting. All Morgan and Harriet had to do was communicate and this book could have been like 5 chapters. Harriet in particular was annoying af, just accept that he's in love with you sis, a lady doth protest too much methinks. Also, if Morgan's been into Harriet since his teens, why has he been sleeping around? Not every male lead in a historical romance needs to be a rake.

The little tidbit at the end about the Montgomery's extended family has me so excited for Rhys' book. Can't wait. I hope there's a bit more banter in that one then there was in this. I live for the banter. I'm also living for the little porn book Morgan gave Harry, I love when men in HR are forward and willing to scandalize the little virgin socialites.

Rating: 4/5
Spice: 3/5

Characteristics:
- Historical romance
- Regency era
- Rival families
- Childhood rivals to lovers
- Duel pov
- Mutual pining
- Spicy bet
- Push/pull
- Tension

This third Montgomery-Davies story is just as cute as the first two, though the feud-to-forever storyline it's a little repetitive by this point. But the real feud been the two families hasn't been a real thing for quite some time. It's more of a pigtail-pulling back and forth between each Montgomery-Davies pair. Here, we have Morgan Davies, brother of the previous two protagonists, and Harriet Montgomery, cousin to their mates. They've been tangling wits their whole lives, but now, after a few years at sea and time imprisoned, Morgan is ready to come home and make Harriet his.

Harriet, however, is busy running her father's cartography business, especially since his eyesight has deteriorated. She admits, at least herself, that she's in love with Morgan, but she knows that she can't leave her father, and she doesn't want to be with someone who's going to head off to sea without her for months at a time. Morgan knows what he's dealing with, however, he sets out to sneakily woo her, while at the same time issuing dares much like they've done their whole lives.

I love the story where the hero is clear about how he feels about the heroine, even if he keeps that news to himself for some time. I'm not fully convinced that Harriet wouldn't have been open to his suit earlier if he tried, but I was willing to go along for the ride. And their banter doesn't get boring, which is a good thing since the supposedly suspenseful subplot involving Morgan's former jailer isn't much of a plot at all. I would've liked more done with that subplot because I do like my novels to have some excitement.

But overall, it's a cute read, and I'll definitely read Rhys's story when it's available.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher and Netgalley. I'm writing this review voluntarily, and it reflects my honest opinion. Thanks!

If you're looking to delve into the historical romance genre for the first time or on the hunt for a new favourite series, I implore you to start with this one.

A Wicked Game is book 3 in the Ruthless Rivals series which follows two rival families and their lifelong feuds which inevitably end up in love. This third book follows Harriet and Morgan who make a bet that if he survives the war, he gets to kiss her three times. Where might those kisses land? Anywhere he so chooses...

I loved these two so much. They instantly have this bickering, banter filled chemistry that is full of sexual tension so thick you couldn't see through it. It was so satisfying once the two of them finally got together even if Harriet was a wee bit stubborn at times.

I can't recommend this series enough! Full of wicked banter, sexual taunts and dares, the best chemistry and tension and the most fulfilling relationships at the end. I loooove them!

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Harriet took over her fathers map making shop after her fathers eyesight started failing. She enjoys working with maps until a competitor comes. When a friend returns from battle, he returns to collect on a bet they had before left. Even though there parents are enemies her feelings fir Morgan deepens. This was a quick read.

Oh boy.
Every single one gets better!! This was giving Leo and Catherine Ala Lisa Kleypas. I was here for every second.
Loved the pining, the enemies to lovers, the characters, BUT
MORGAN
He was basically giving me heart palpitations every time he was on the page. Like just kill me already and be done with it. I was so in love with him, just call me Harriet.
10/10, would absolutely fall in love again.

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

Shipwrecked and imprisoned thanks to an incorrect map, Captain Morgan Davies has returned to London to exact revenge on the cartographer responsible. His incarceration has clarified his feelings for Harriet Montgomery but when he learns she is the mapmaker, Morgan decides to combine revenge and seduction. This is third in a series about feuding families and even though I read the second I think you can jump in without reading the others. 

Harriet’s always wanted Morgan, but is now dealing with her father’s failing eyesight and her work with the navy making false maps as disinformation.

I struggled with how much revenge and challenge featured into Morgan’s plans. There wasn’t a lot of affection for Harriet in his thoughts. He made a lot of assumptions about her feelings without even bothering to ask. They liked to torment each other but I never felt they genuinely loved one another. It’s not Regency accurate, the map side plots are very weak, and in the end I cold the connect with Morgan or Harriet.

Wow, I read this book in one sitting. Like, I stayed up until midnight to finish it! I loved Morgan and Harriet and the Davies-Montgomery Feud! Full disclosure, this is book three of Bateman’s Ruthless Rivals series, and I have not read the first two books but I bought them the second I finished this one!

Captain Morgan Davies is a completely infatuated with Harriet Montgomery and has been since they were children, but it’s only after being kept prisoner during the war that he’s realized he loves her.

Harriet Montgomery is a strong, independent lady, and she is also infatuated with the tall, dark, and sexy, Captain Morgan Davies, much to her consternation.

On the eve of Morgan’s leave for the navy, Harriet makes him a bet, if he survives, she’ll grant him three kisses. Morgan does everything in his power to come back to Harry so he can take his kisses and convince her their perfect for each other. What ensues is a delicious battle of wills and a kissing game that brings the heat!!

My only complaint, the “bad guy” could have been written out. He didn’t add anything to the story and there wasn’t really any point to having him return. The suspense never built up, and the “dramatic reveal” seemed a bit silly and just unnecessary.

Overall rating: 4.5 stars!

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the copy of this e-arc. All opinions are my own.

In "A Wicked Game" Kate Bateman delivers another happy chapter in the Ruthless Rivals Series. The Montgomery-Davies feud isn't as big a deal by this third installment since there has been two marriages in recent times, and Harriet and Morgan have history going back to their childhood. The two love to tease and challenge each other, giving us delightful banter. I enjoyed that Morgan was aware that he loved Harriet from the beginning, instead of fighting a relationship. I look forward to what will befall Rhys in the next book!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read and give my honest opinion on this ARC.

Kate Bateman's books just make me feel happy, and A Wicked Game is no exception. Bateman continues to come up with new story ideas, but she never manages to lose her unique skill to make the couple the story is centered around feel romantic and in love. Here it is the third pair of Davies and Montgomerys that go from being adversaries to lovers, though in Harriet and Morgan's case the pair have loved each other almost as long as they've irritated each other. After a tour in the military, including a stint as a hostage in Martinique due to Harriet's clever mapmaking skills, Morgan is back in London and determined to convince Harriet to marry him. Not sure that Harriet will believe him, Morgan doesn't exactly tell her his intentions which leads to reclamation of a bet before he went off to war and various dares that have the two clashing and kissing. Harriet, not surprisingly, is also in love with Morgan, but isn't convinced that his actions aren't intended to get the better of her once again. In addition to coming clean about their feelings, the pair are in danger from the Frenchman that held Morgan hostage, and holds the maker of the map in his sights so he can reclaim the treasure left behind. The familiarity between the pair avoids the trap of trying to stage a first meeting and dialogue that feels uncomfortable. From the very beginning to the very end, every conversation Morgan and Harriet have feels intimate and reflective of the deep relationship they have with each other. If you're looking for a romance with love, laughter and adventure, you can't go wrong with Bateman's books. A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Kate!! Bateman!! You’ve done it again.
Regency romance, where he falls first AND harder.

Captain Morgan Davies has become shipwrecked, imprisoned and annoyed. His two goals upon freedom? return to London to extract revenge on the cartographer and claim his prize of three kisses from his long time adversary (and crush) Harriet. His imprisonment has fortified his love for her, he just needs to convince her that he means it this time.
Little does he know, she's always wanted him back. His return, looking as dashing as always, has set butterflies aloft in Harriet. She has enough on her plate without dashing Captains and romance.
When a threat from the past emerges, is it enough to pull these two love-birds together?

I had a blast with this read, a good regency read always warms my heart. Kate Bateman has mastered her craft and I must bow to her. Pick it up and you won't want to put it down