ARC Review: A Wicked Game by Kate Bateman

A Wicked Game
Author: Kate Bateman
Series: Ruthless Rivals (Book 3)
Publication: St. Martin's Paperbacks (December 27, 2022)

Description: If there’s one thing impossible for a Davies to resist, it’s a challenge from a Montgomery. . .

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 . . .

My Thoughts: Harriet Montgomery and Morgan Davies have been friendly rival since childhood. They have made many bets with each other over the years. When Morgan was sailing off to fight Napoleon, Harriet bet him that he wouldn't come back safe, knowing he'd do anything to make her lose, with a penalty of three kisses. 

Morgan has come back to London with two goals: first, he wants to find the mapmaker whose inaccurate map caused him to wreck his ship and spend time captive in the Carribean, and second, to find Harriet and claim his kisses on convince her that he wants to marry her. One of his goals is met when he learns that Harriet is the mapmaker and the disinformation on the map was a planned technique to fool the enemy.

Harriet has been in love with Morgan for years, but never expected him to return her feelings. It will take a lot of convincing, and a lot of kisses, to bring Harriet around to the idea of marrying Morgan.

This was an engaging historical romance with lots of spicy love scenes and lots of strong emotions. There is an element of danger in that the man who imprisoned Morgan is in London and looking for a copy of a map Harriet made so that he can find treasure he stole from Napoleon but focus on the story was on the building romance between Harriet and Morgan.

Fans of historical romances will enjoy this latest in the Ruthless Rivals series.

Favorite Quote:

"Anything for you, my sweet. I'd raze cities to the ground if only you asked me to."

She snorted.

"Men always say things like that. But I'd rather have someone build me a city, not burn one down. Destroying something is the work of a moment. Creating somethi that will stant the test of time takes much more effort."

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.