I just love this author and couldn’t wait to read DO YOUR WORST. Her writing pulled me in right away, as we meet Riley Rhodes, a generational curse breaker that is hired to rid the occult in an historic Scottish castle alongside skeptical archeologist Clark. When the two meet at a bar as strangers, they have a connection and chemistry right away, not realizing they will soon be working together to rid the castle of the curse.

WHAT TO EXPECT
-enemies to lovers
-grumpy x sunshine
-Scotland setting
-plenty of spice

*many thanks to Berkley Romance, prh audio and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

This was so much fun and solidified that Rosie Danan will always be an insta-read author for me.

Do Your Worst drew me in from the start, and while there were some slow parts for me, I still had a hard time putting it down. I loved the dynamic between Riley and Clark, especially when we go from their first time meeting to then meeting a little later and realizing who the other is...a curse breaker and an archeologist tasked with working together to fix whatever is going on at a cursed Scottish castle. I'll be honest, I was hooked just reading the description of this book, and after reading it, I can say I was not disappointed!
Definitely recommend for people who are looking for an open-door romance with lots of angsty moments and sassy quips.

The main trope of this novel is enemies to lovers, but I found the female love interest job too u realistic. It is good for romance fans, but a bit to instalove or lust.

This was so much fun and suspenseful! Reminded me a bit of Romancing the Stone or The Mummy but with a more gothic setting.

This was disappointing given how fun the concept is. There's an old castle in Scotland, which is already cool. She breaks curses, please tell me more. He's a grumpy guy, I'm in.

But neither of them felt particularly great together or at their jobs. Even with some of my favorite tropes propping this book up, I didn't really like it.

I thought this was such a fun fall romance! I loved the tension between the characters and their interactions and chemistry. I would have loved to see them soften up to each other a smidge sooner, but overall it was a super fun read!

If you are a fan of Rosie this is her best yet in the most complimentary way. It’s heartfelt and endearing, but still 5 spice bottles out of 5. So,if that floats your boat, this is the book for you. Seriously. My friends and I joke that this was a book literally written with me as the target audience, but it more than delivered. I laughed. I cried. I blushed on public transport. I did a lap around the room. I giggled and kicked my feet. I gasped dramatically. Plus, Rosie sneaks in some pretty deep points about the general human experience which I think is why Romance as a genre is so beloved and important. I will 100% be picking up a hard copy at the bookstore on release day. <3 <3 <3

It felt like this book wasn't committing to the fantasy or romance aspects enough. The relationship felt disconnected and I wanted more from the magical/fantasy side of the curse breaking business. I included a link to the podcast discussion we had at Feminist Book Club about this book.

Sparks fly--sometimes literally--in Rosie Danan's steamy contemporary romance Do Your Worst, when a feisty curse-breaker meets a skeptical archeologist in a cursed castle in the Scottish highlands.

Riley Rhodes was born into a family with a "unique talent for vanquishing the occult," a skill Riley has tried to make good on in the years since her grandmother's death. She's now trying to turn curse breaking, "a mysterious and often misunderstood practice," into a proper consulting business, so Riley is thrilled to receive an invitation to work at the long-cursed Arden Castle in Scotland, which has driven off dozens of owners over the decades. Clark Edgeware, meanwhile, is at Arden for quite the opposite reason--not to launch a career, but to salvage his name and reputation after a spectacularly public controversy at his last archeological dig.

When Riley learns that the skeptical, yet drop-dead gorgeous, Clark has tried to get her fired from working at Arden, she vows revenge. Her attempts keep going sideways, though, and the two find themselves thrown together in increasingly tense situations in the castle, involving ladder falls, fire sparks, and freak storms, to name a few--all of which leave them both more than a little breathless. ("Her body was just confused from the whiplash of meeting him, kissing him, swearing... revenge, and then having him kinda sorta save her from, if not death, then at least disfigurement.")

In these increasingly inexplicable and seemingly inescapable situations, Danan (The Roommate) shows off her skills working with tried-and-true romance tropes in new and exciting ways: opposites attract, forced proximity, enemies-to-lovers. The two decide to work together to break the curse Clark still refuses to believe in, ultimately leading up to an "enemies-to-lovers sex ritual with a smoldering Englishman," as Riley's friend so accurately sums up. With no small amount of heat and the perfect smattering of steamy bedroom scenes throughout, Do Your Worst offers up a deliciously tense and perfectly believable romance with just a hint of the occult, as two unlikely lovers learn to let their guards down and let each other in. What starts in the name of breaking the curse of Arden Castle becomes a romp through history and modern romance, with a fascinating and entertaining exploration of just what is involved in forgiving one's enemies--and oneself. Full of witty banter, flirtatious provocation, occult matters, Scottish accents, and satisfying character development, Do Your Worst is a perfect read for spooky season. Or, frankly, any season in need of a little extra spice. --Kerry McHugh, freelance writer

Shelf Talker: A steamy enemies-to-lovers romance puts an occult curse-breaker in close proximity with a grumpy, disgraced archeologist in an ancient Scottish castle to great effect.

This was very fun. I loved the premise and the chemistry was just perfectly written. The spice was great - and it made it all the better because it was *spicier* than expected from the characters. This one is already on the shelves of our library and has circulated quite a bit (even making it's round through the staff).

Excellent chemistry, and a very cute premise. I am the biggest fan of Rosie Danan and I was eagerly anticipating this book and it definitely lived up to the expectation

I found it absolutely fascinating and captivating watching the way their mutual attraction and romance slowly blended into reality. The transition was so powerful. Though, there are all these subtle details that if you read carefully, you’ll catch and they’ll take your breath away. It’s a truly stunning piece of writing.

DO YOUR WORST is Rosie Danan at her best! When a curse breaker is hired to work alongside a skeptical archaeologist at a historic Scottish castle, neither can stand each other. But mysterious events keep pushing them closer until their chemistry - and their curse - is undeniable. Laugh out loud funny, steamy, and tender.

This is a contemporary rom com set in the haunted highlands in a castle with a curse and all the amenities of modern day *spice.*

THE 411...

Two strangers meet at a Scottish bar and share a drink, their attraction is instantaneous. They each go their separate ways not thinking their paths would cross again. Riley has traveled from New Jersey to Scotland in hopes of continuing the family business of curse breaking. There's an infamous Scottish castle with a three hundred year old curse no one has been able to break, enter Riley. "Text Book Capricorn" Clark is an archaeologist trying to bounce back and clean up his reputation from a previous project that resulted in a scandal. The last thing he's expecting is to have to have to work with a believer of the paranormal/curse breaker. When his attempt to have her removed from the project goes left and Riley learns of his attempts, she decides to get even.

What I Loved? the interactions between curmudgeonly Clark and optimistic/determined Riley provided comedic relief and grade A banter. The little ways Riley executed her pay back and had Clark wondering if she had some type of magic made me giggle on a few occasions. There's a ton of steam between them that Clark tries his hardest to tamper down. Riley on the other hand embraces her undeniable attraction to Clark and what we get treated to dear readers is hot as hell. From sweet tender moments of hair braiding to the not explored enough if you ask me....edging. Mhm you get a little of everything between these two, Clark being the right amount of confident I like to see in a main love interest. 

Their romance isn't without its challenges, Riley is very aware of his disregard for her profession. This is very triggering to Riley who spent her younger years as an outcast for following in her grandmother's footsteps studying the occult. It almost seems impossible these two could ever make it work with their opposing beliefs. While it was fun seeing them make their way to a HEA, the emotional connection fell a bit short for my liking. They had the physical chemistry/opposites attract down packed but it all seemed to stay surface level. In part I believe it's because Clark's character was so well developed with a backstory that drives the story, he's seeking redemption. Riley's character got some back story with her childhood years but it wasn't as fleshed out as Clarks. Still, I had fun reading Riley and Clark's story. Any time spent in a Scottish castle in the mix there's a HIGH likelihood of time well spent 😉

3.5
I was surprised by this one overall. It delivered on the premise for me overall but didn't deliver in other elements.

I liked our MCs and the rivalry they had going. The pay off of their banter was deligthful.

I loved The Roommate when I read it so I knew I had to pick this one up and read it as well.

I just love Rosie's couples they are so cute. My bisexual heart loves both characters so much.

I loved the little bit of magic in this one as well with the curses. Also that this was set in Europe (I want to go there so badly.)

Though I felt like this couple may have said I love you a little to fast it all circling around an old love story was cute and brought it together.

The spice scenes.just like in the roommate were just 🥵.

A paranormal romcom isn't usually up my alley but I will read anything Rosie Danan writes. This opposites attract romance was funny and also had great tension and chemistry. I loved the growth throughout the novel and the ending was really satifsying.

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

The location of the story, a cursed Scottish castle, was awesome, but the story was just okay. While banter was cute, the characters just didn’t hit with me.  You’ve got a scholar, Clark Edgeware, who does everything by the book and Riley Rhodes, who is a self-proclaimed “curse breaker”.  As a professional, Clark is very precise and calculating.  Riley, she’s grasping at straws and throwing things in the air hoping it’ll stick.  I just couldn’t really connect with either one of them.

Overall, the book was entertaining and there were some pretty spicy scenes but the story-line itself missed the mark.