A Wicked Game Review

Author: Kate Bateman

Series: Ruthless Rivals #3

Publisher: St. Martins Press

Release Date: Dec. 27, 2022

Order Link: Amazon

Special thanks to the publisher for an arc.

Review:

The feud between the Davies and Montgomery families has gone on for decades and yet interestingly enough, no one has ever been hurt in this feud . . . unless you count the sharp retorts tossed back and forth between the younger family members.  Take Morgan Davies and Harriet Montgomery for instance - since childhood they have teased each other without mercy and challenged each other to endless games one trying to up the other.  Then Morgan was leaving to fight for his nation and in an effort to hide her true feelings, Harriet aka "Harry" challenged him to come home safe.  The bet was for three kisses.  Morgan survives enemy prison and returns home to claim his kisses, but it's not that simple.  He has realized he wants so much more from his nemesis Harry - he wants forever.  Harry doesn't believe he's sincere and so their games continue with each challenge getting a little more wicked.  She owes Morgan three kisses, and she'll pay up.  She just doesn't realize that he never said all three kisses would be on the lips. 

A Wicked Game is a sizzling game of seduction and romance between two rivals who secretly love each other, but are afraid to admit it.  Each wants the other to go first.  The sexual chemistry in this one is blistering set-the-pages-on-fire hot and grows more so as they begin a game of secret rendezvous with a whole lot of naughty banter and touching.  Fans of the series will love catching up with the other couples and family members as they do all they can to egg these two on. I appreciated the fact that Morgan is more in touch with his true feelings and willing to do what it takes to win Harriet over.  Harriet takes a bit more convincing, but thankfully Morgan is a man with a whole lot of patience and determination to go after what he wants.  With lots of banter, teasing and a seductive dance, A Wicked Game is for everyone who loves a good Enemies to Lovers romance with lots of sizzle.  Highly recommended for fans of historical romance and enemies to lovers romance!

Synopsis:

A teasing bet.

Shipwrecked and imprisoned thanks to an incorrect map, Captain Morgan Davies has returned to London to exact sweet revenge on the cartographer responsible for his suffering. He’s also vowed to claim the winner’s prize―three kisses―in the bet he made with his long-time nemesis, the prickly, smart-mouthed Harriet Montgomery. His incarceration has clarified his feelings for her, but convincing the infuriating woman he wants to marry her is going to be his greatest challenge yet. When Harriet’s revealed to be the very mapmaker he seeks, Morgan decides to combine revenge and seduction into one delightful package. . .

A dangerous enemy.

Harriet’s always wanted witty scoundrel Morgan, and now he’s back; as handsome and as taunting as ever. She has enough on her plate dealing with her father’s failing eyesight and a rival mapmaker copying her work to play wicked games with a dastardly Davies―however tempting he might be. But when a threat from Morgan’s past puts them both in danger, Harry discovers that she and Morgan might not be enemies at all . . .