A Reckless Match

I found this book quite enjoyable. Clever banter and sparks fly as this fun story unfolds. I really liked Gryff and Maddie. Their romance has a lot of heart, plenty of drama, some excitement and solid splashes of sweet and cute. I found it very easy to get caught up in this book and then look up and be amazed at how much time had passed. If this book is any indication to go by, this looks like it is going to be a very good series. I am posting a frank, independent review.

A Reckless Match by Kate Bateman Ruthless Rivals #1 Capulets and the Montagues, the Hatfields and the McCoys, and the Montgomerys and the Davies were all in feuds with one another so when Griff Davies returns from war and meets again with Maddie Montgomery…sparks fly, chemistry ignites and love just might be in the air. What I liked: * Maddie: strong, independent, interested in archaeology, nonconformist, curious, intrepid, modern thinking, loves her family. * Gryff: strong, wise, lethal, survivor, soldier, capable, caring, has a sense of humor, intrigued by Maddie, problem solver. * The legend of the feud * That the two families seem to have spent time together or at least time observing one another * The frenemy feel to the feud * The spelunking portions of the story * That the bad guys were dealt with handily * The teamwork between Gryff and Maddie * Wondering which of the frenemies will be paired up next as already Carys and Tristan and/or Morgan and Hariet have been indicated as potential soul mates…but then again…what about Rhys? * That I felt Maddie and Gryff were well suited to one another What I didn’t like: * The smugglers and what they were willing to do to achieve their aims * Exactly what I was meant not to like. Did I enjoy this book? Yes Would I read more in this series? I think so Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Paperbacks for the ARC – This is my honest review. 4 Stars

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary digital copy of A Reckless Match by Kate Bateman. I have voluntarily agreed to read and review this book prior to publication. My opinions are my own, and nothing has influenced my rating. A Reckless Match is a well written Regency novel with endearing characters. The setting put me in the era of the Regency period. The pacing of this tale didn’t keep my attention though, until I was well into the story, which is unfortunate. Maddie Montgomery is the heroine, and her determination to save her family appealed to me. While the last thing she wants to do is wed the disgusting old lecher, she will do it if she can’t find a way to get the funds to meet her father’s debts. I could feel her emotions going from hope that a Davies would not appear, and her despair when the Earl of Powyes shows up. Gryff Davies is the hero, and he’s a bit dashing and debonaire. The evidence he doesn’t detest Maddie is obvious when she sees the scarf she’d lost as a young girl. The feud between the families is not strong enough to keep their attraction from surfacing whenever the pair are together. The romance between Maddie and Gryff is delightful with sexual tension abounding between the pair. I enjoyed watching them fight the forbidden attraction. I wanted the couple to find a way to be together. This is what didn’t work for me. As I mentioned previously, the pacing took me until I reached the middle of the story. If I hadn’t agreed to read the complimentary copy, I would have given up and not finished the book. However, I’m glad I did because the second half picked up dramatically and pulled into the characters and the plot. If you enjoy historical romances set in the Regency period with engaging characters, I encourage you to hang in there, because as the story progresses, you’ll fall in love with the hero and heroine. I look forward to reading the next book in this series. Happy reading!