ARC Review: A Daring Pursuit (Ruthless Rivals #2) by Kate Bateman
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Series: Ruthless Rivals #2
Author: Kate Bateman
Published May 24th 2022 by St. Martin's Paperbacks
Goodreads Synopsis
The Davies and Montgomery families have been locked in an ancient feud. But it’s a thin line between love and hate in Kate Bateman's A Daring Pursuit.
TWO ENEMIES
Carys Davies is doing everything in her power to avoid marriage. Staying single is the only way to hide the secret that could ruin her—and her family—if it was revealed. For the past two seasons she’s scandalized the ton with her outrageous outfits and brazen ways in a futile bid to deter potential suitors. Outwardly confident and carefree, inside she’s disillusioned with both men and love. There’s only one person who’s never bought her act—the only man who makes her heart race: Tristan Montgomery, one of her family’s greatest rivals.
ONE SCANDALOUS BARGAIN
Wickedly proper architect Tristan needs a respectable woman to wed, but he’s never stopped wanting bold, red-headed Carys. When she mockingly challenges him to show her what she’s missing by not getting married, Tristan shocks them both by accepting her indecent proposal: one week of clandestine meetings, after which they’ll go their separate ways. But kissing each other is almost as much fun as arguing, and their affair burns hotter than either of them expects. When they find themselves embroiled in a treasonous plot, can they trust each other with their hearts, their secrets…and their lives?
Goodreads
Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This in no way impacted on my view.
For Carys Davies and Tristan Montgomery, their family's have been at war for as long as they can remember. Since childhood, they've always annoyed each other, but each has a secret - they've secretly been in love with the other for just as long. But Carys is the wild child of the family, whereas Tristan is very proper and buttoned. Tristan is returning home to the house party his newly married sister, Maddie, is hosting, and the closeness to Carys is nearly too much, especially when she challenges him to show her why she should get married. After their agree that they will spend a week together, in secret, before going their separate ways, it's soon clear that forgetting about the affair is easier said than done.
Well, this book just blew me away. I adored the first one, and knew there was a story between Carys and Tristan, and couldn't be happier with this book. Because they were from rival families, it was always assumed that they hated each other, but while they enjoyed annoying the other person, both had always harboured strong feelings, which they had tried to keep hidden from everyone. Carys' kept up her reputation as the wild child partly for her own sake, but also to hide the secret she had, and the fact she was being blackmailed. Only Tristan was the one who could see she was hiding something, and during the party, he discovered the truth. As a war hero, and respected architect, Tristan was expected to marry well, but he couldn't find himself looking at anyone other than Carys, who wouldn't be right - or would she? Clearly, the idea of having a week long affair, exploring the positive of intimate relationships, and being vulnerable to one another was doomed to fail before it had even began, but it was perfect to read, and we learn so much about the couple that they've kept to themselves. The mystery was a great secondary plot line, and I don't know about you, but I'm desperate for book 3, A Wicked Game. Kate has written another fantastic book!
Dates Read:
April 30, 2022
Rating
5 Stars
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