Kate Bateman has recently turned into an auto-buy because she really know how to write the best banter, chemistry, and some amazing heroes worth swooning over.

For this book, I just could not stop smiling from the beginning when we meet our besotted, pining, "I've Loved You Forever" Morgan. And the smiles never left my face till the end.

Morgan courts Harriet under the guise of playful games, and he's so effective that I felt like I was being courted. The book does sacrifice a more substantial plot in order to focus on their romance. But watching them cross the line from frenemies to lovers was so much more fun, and allowed me to get invested (more than usual in other books) in their happily ever after. It’s rare to find a good book that can stand on the romance alone versus a complex story-line, but this is one of those rare ones that I wouldn't want any other way.

This is book was so delightful and one to pick up when you want your cheeks to hurt from grinning too much,

I received an Advanced Reader Copy through NetGalley. All opinions in the review are my own. ( )

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. ( )

It’s Kate Bateman. Read it now. End of review. Okay, just kidding. I’ll give you a few more words. But, really, if you’ve read even one of this author’s books you know before you crack it open that it will be wonderful and you will love it. No one can take the Regency Era and what we think is a very well-known, predictable plot and turn it on its ear like Bateman can, or give you characters that are such a mess, so blind, so stubborn they don’t see what is obvious to everyone else. Sometimes their behavior is so ridiculous that you can’t stop laughing, but they are also strong and heroic and brave and clever – and sweet and caring and so afraid that love is going to slip right out of their grasp.

In A Wicked Game, the third in the Ruthless Rivals series, the Davies and Montgomerys are at it again. They’ve had a feud going forever, but somehow a couple of them always manage to fall head-over-heels and have their HEA. We suspect Morgan and Harriet might be headed down that same hilarious path, but they don’t make it easy. Grew up together, fighting, teasing, playing tricks and absolutely never going to acknowledge that little flutter in their heart when the other is near, because they are certain those feelings are not and never will be reciprocated.

Captain Morgan Davies was shipwrecked and imprisoned because of an incorrect map, and he’s come back to London to make the man who made that map pay. Except that man is Harriet. And to make things really interesting, they had a bet before he sailed off: three kisses if he survived the war and returned home. She pretended not to care but hoped winning the bet would motivate him. It did, but what really kept him going was just the thought of her. We see how they feel, their friends and family see how they feel (even if they don’t know about this spicy, forbidden bet!) but Harry and Morgan are clueless. And that’s why this story is so much fun. He’s not about to declare his feelings because of course he knows she doesn’t feel that way. What he is about to do, though, is collect on those kisses – on his terms. She pretends to be aloof but she’s as eager as he is to get to the when, how and where (especially the where) those kisses will take place.

A Wicked Game has it all: rival families, enemies to lovers, dares, bets, teasing, flirting, danger, adventure – and some very serious feelings and lots (and lots and lots) of steam. I really enjoy Regency Era stories because of all those rules. Rules that seem foolish to us now but could have ruined a lady for an action we would consider insignificant today. But does Harriet feel ruined? Not hardly. More like she’s finally been brought to life. And she’s going to fight to keep that feeling.

I said at the beginning that Kate Bateman is the author is all you need to know. If you’re not completely convinced yet, read how Harriet felt after Morgan’s first kiss: “She didn’t care. Knowledge was power. This was power. She could feel it. Drugging her, coursing through her veins, making her weak and strong at the same time. She knew how to kiss this man. It was as if she’d kissed him a thousand times before, a path so familiar she must have walked it in another life.” If this doesn’t give you chills, make you swoon, and have you running, not walking to get this book, there is no hope for you. I received a free copy of A Wicked Game and am voluntarily leaving this honest review. I highly recommend this and every other thing Kate Bateman has written, will write, or is thinking about writing. She takes that familiar trope and twists it up to make it original, entertaining, and amazing. Every single time. All opinions are my own. ( )

I was excited when I was invited to review A Wicked Game. I had reviewed the previous two books in the series and wanted to read Morgan’s story. So, I did an odd sort of happy dance in my living room (I was dodging two kittens, two one years old and a six-year-old cat who were very curious about Mom going “Oh yeah, oh yeah” and fist-pumping). I was justified in my excitement about this book. It was the best book in the series.

A Wicked Game is the love story between Morgan Davies and Harriet Montgomery. Morgan is a Welsh naval captain who had been captured by the French for years before being freed. Harriet is Morgan’s childhood friend/nemesis. She is also the cartographer who drew the map that led to Morgan’s imprisonment. Now that Morgan is free, he is determined to win Harriet over. But that is easier said than done. Harriet is an independent woman who cares for her blind father and doesn’t trust Morgan. Add the Frenchman who captured and tortured Morgan, has eluded capture, and has been seen in London….looking for the cartographer who drew the map and Morgan. Will Morgan confess his feelings for Harriet? Will Harriet learn to trust Morgan and her feelings? Will the Frenchman find Harriet and Morgan?

I had gotten a glimpse into Harriet and Morgan’s characters in the previous two books. From what I saw, I liked them and couldn’t wait to see if they would end up together.

Morgan—-I don’t even know where to begin with him. As I mentioned above, I loved him in the previous two books and was looking forward to his story. It didn’t disappoint. I loved that Morgan was open about how he felt about Harriet. Even in the scenes at the ball (where he secured his three kisses), he knew he loved her. But the time spent in captivity brought those feelings more into focus. He was rare for a romance hero; he admitted his feelings pretty early on in the book and then spent the rest of the book trying to convince Harriet his feelings were genuine. That alone made this book so great to read.
Harriet—I liked Harriet, but there were times when I wanted to shake her. Like the night when Morgan promised her three kisses. I couldn’t believe that she thought he was joking. Harriet grew up with him. She should have known that he wasn’t playing with her. I liked that the author went in a different direction with her. Instead of making her part of the ton, she was a regular Miss who worked as a cartographer for the British government. It was an exciting change of pace from the usual Regency romances I read, and I loved it.
Several notable secondary characters added extra depth to the book. I loved seeing the characters from the previous books make appearances.

I am obsessed with Regency romance and can’t read enough of them. A Wicked Game fits perfectly into the historical romance genre. So it is a bonus when a book written in that genre is as well-written as this one was.

The storyline with Morgan, Harriet, and their love story was well written. I was 100% on team Morgan and loved that he was so much in touch with his feelings. He was willing to do anything to show Harriet that his feelings were genuine.

The storyline with Harriet, the copycat, her working for the government, and the Frenchman was riveting. The author did a fantastic job of showing how Harriet did her job, mainly how she drew the maps that would end up in the enemies’ hands. The author also showed that while she successfully ran her business, it was a male-dominated society, and she had to hide behind a male identity. That led to her issues with the rival printer, and in turn, that led to the Frenchman.

This wouldn’t be a good review if I didn’t mention the sex. There are a lot of sex and sexual situations in A Wicked Game. When Morgan started collecting his three kisses, he didn’t say what type. That first sexual situation was out of this world. The other sexual situations and sexual acts were either just as good or better than that first scene. I kept thinking, “Dang, Harriet, he’s a keeper.“

The end of A Wicked Game kept me on edge. The author kept me guessing what would happen with Harriet and Morgan (even though I knew they would end up together). She wrapped up all the storylines in a way that satisfied me as a reader. I hope she will write more books in this world.

I would recommend A Wicked Game to anyone over 21. There are sex, sexual situations, mild violence, and no language. ( )

A Wicked Game by Kate Bateman
Ruthless Rivals series #3. Historical romance. Can be read as a stand-alone.
The Davies and the Montgomerys have a long-standing contentious relationship. Morgan Davies and Harriet Montgomery play the role in public, but each secretly have romantic feelings for the other. A bet for three kisses turns their arguments to passion.

🎧 I listened to an audiobook version of this book narrated by Beverley A. Crick. The performance was done with an English / London accent. This narrator is popular in the historical romance genre across many different authors. The diction was clear and easy to understand. Emotions were evident and while male/female voices were relatively the same, it was easy to hear the switch between the two and follow along. I thought the narration was pleasant and easy to listen to although I did push the speed up to 1.5 which is my standard these days for conversational comfort.

Engaging and sexy. I loved that the heroine was self supporting, smart and willing to ask for help in support of publishing rights. She was willing to do more than just sit on the sidelines.

I received a copy of this audiobook from NetGalley and RB Digital. ( )