A Wicked Game eARC Review
Well it’s been a real minute since I last posted an ARC review hasn’t it. But fear not, the growing pile of ARCs are finally being worked through. All that aside I couldn’t be more thrilled to be back here sharing the 3rd book in Kate Bateman’s brilliant Ruthless Rivals historical romance series. Having read and loved books 1 & 2, this one had some big shoes to fill and friends I’m really pleased to say fans of the series will love this instalment and probably fall a little bit in love with Morgan Davies (I know I did).
As always huge thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advance copy, thoughts below are my own, enjoy.
One of the things I like about historical romances, is the longing. Oh yes we love a slightly angsty hero (or heroine) that pines. And what I can tell you is that A Wicked Game has pining in spades. Morgan (brother of Gryff, Carys and Rhys) bets his sole survival on 3 kisses from his childhood antagonist (and long time crush) Harriet, the night before he’s set to sail in His Majesty’s naval fight against Napoleon.
After a stint in the navy, and the reckless use of a stolen map, Morgan and his crew not only live through a shipwreck (that sandbar came out of nowhere!), but become captured by a French general all too eager to inflict some pain. Spending a little over 6 weeks imprisoned, Morgan reflects enough on what he wants out of life, and that is the one woman who he has done battle with for most of his life: Harriet.
After being freed, and learning his map was a fraud, Morgan returns to London to take revenge on the mapmaker, and collect those kisses. Little does he know that Harriet is the mapmaker! Fans of earlier books will love seeing Morgan and Harriet finally become the focus of their own romance, as so many easter eggs are dropped throughout both Maddie and Tristan’s books respectively.
The romance here between the two is such DELIGHTFUL. There is genuine connection and playfulness between these two, a level of familiarity that only comes from knowing another person through your formative years. And like Carys’ book these two aren’t really enemies or really rivals, they are both deeply connected to and love each other (have for years really), but have spent a lot of that time fighting as extended foreplay.
I think this one also was probably the hottest as well. The three kisses act as a enticing backdrop to Morgan and Harriet exploring the passion and physical chemistry between them. And I almost fully combusted when Morgan was like, “oh no, no sweet summer child, these are not three chaste kisses on the lips, I will be choosing on your body where I collect them”. Well done Kate Bateman, well done.
There’s laughs, swoons, a little danger and of course a truly delightful happy ever after, that I was really pleased with. For folks looking for a quick, lovely, heartfelt historical romance look no further. A Wicked Game is landing on shelves December 27th 2022 and is the perfect end of year romance. Be sure to grab yourself a copy wherever you get your books!