A Reckless Match

Madeline "Maddie" Montgomery and Gryffud “Gryff” Davies, the new Earl of Powys families have been rivals for years. They spent their childhoods pulling pranks on each other. When Maddie's family comes into hard times, her father wants her to marry some older man for the money. Maddie would rather do anything else than marry Sir Mostyn Drake. When Maddie goes to meet with a Davies family member on the designated bridge that her family is required to do once a year, the last person she expects to see is Gryff. From the moment their hands touched in their handshake, electricity ran through both of their bodies and Gryff decides to take things further and kisses Maddie on the lips! This starts a fun cat and mouse game. When Maddie and Gryff stumble upon some hidden tunnels and smuggled goods, things get really fun! As these two continue to make their way through all of the danger around them, real feelings start to emerge until they both realize that they are in love with the other. Now all they have to do is convince their families that two rivals should be together. I just loved this super sexy rivals to lovers story. The chemistry between Maddie and Gryff was just off the charts. I enjoyed how headstrong Maddie was and how that trait seemed to bring Gryff to his knees. I also really enjoyed the mysterious smuggler story that happened. It was fun watching these two try and figure out what was happening. Overall this was a wonderful book in the start of a new series by Kate Bateman.

I enjoyed Maddie and Gryff’s love story in A Reckless Match by Kate Bateman, book one in her Ruthless Rivals series. This fantastic Regency romance about a boy and a girl from neighboring households on the Welsh/English border, who’s families have been feuding for centuries. Gryff Davies and Maddie Montgomery are lifetime arch enemies owing to a centuries old grudge between their households. Rather than stay apart, they constantly played tricks on each other as children; yet secretly each had a longtime crush on the other. Somehow they didn't figure it out as they each believed they were alone in the attraction. Despite not being interested in marriage, Madeline needed to find someone with money to wed, because of her father’s debts. Gyff was a rake, having no respect for women; believing they were merely beautiful objects, for his pleasure. Ms. Bateman wrote a wonderful, amazing, and emotional story that is not to be missed. She provided a tale rich with sizzling chemistry, witty banter, endearing character, twists and turns, as well as a swoon worthy romance giving Maddie and Gryff a chance at love, happiness, and a future neither expected. I highly recommend A Reckless Match to other readers and look forward to reading the next book in this series. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

I adored this sweet, suspenseful romance! What a delightful setup! A family feud spanning centuries sets the stage for this wonderfully charming enemies-to-lovers romance. Gryff and Maddie have known each other forever, but they've each buried their attraction to the other underneath their loyalty to their families and the historical obligation to hate each other on sight. The storyline crackles with their simmering chemistry and shared desire for adventure. Each family keeps the feud going more from the joy of the competition than from any deep-felt animosity. I loved the twists and turns in this story as Gryff and Maddie have to work together to stop an operation that threatens both their ancestral estates. This author's gift with words drew me in immediately and kept me flipping through my reader all night long. The vibrant characterizations and expansive, precise vocabulary added delicious depth and scope that culminates in a visceral reading experience that completely captivated me throughout. There are more than a few wonderfully enticing hints about the futures in store for several of the secondary characters, and I am looking forward to seeing where the author takes this series. I am once again reminded why Kate Bateman is one of my all-time favorite historical romance authors. I highly recommend this story as well as everything she has written. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.