Series: Ruthless Rivals, #1
Traits & Tropes: enemies to lovers; titled hero; soldier; slow burn; forced proximity; bluestocking; feuding families
Publication Date: 09.28.21
Genre/Setting: Historical; Regency; English/Welsh border, London, England, 1815
Heat Level: 1.5
Rating: 4/5
With her family facing penury, Madeline Montgomery is hoping to avoid an unwanted marriage for financial gain and is resting that entire hope on a member of the neighboring Davies family missing their yearly good faith rendezvous on the strip of land between their two estates. Of course, Gryffud Davis, now the Earl of Powys and head of the Davies family arrives just in time to meet her.
Gryff is shocked by how much Maddie has changed in the four years he was off at war and finds his long-standing attraction for her is magnified. When Gryff and Maddie stumble upon a smuggling ring running on their shared land, they realize they have to work together for the benefit of both of their families. In the process, they find themselves in real danger from those behind the smuggling plot they’re working to unravel, and they must work together just to survive, learning along the way that their intense feelings aren’t quite as antagonistic as they thought.
Man, this was a slow burn. The action picked up a bit with the discovery of the smugglers, and I loved the banter between Gryff and Maddie, but I wanted less hostility from Maddie, and I came very close to losing my patience with these two because it took so very long for them to finally come together. Because of this long wait, I was also a bit disappointed that we didn’t get more steam occurring between them either; after such a long build up of tension and sizzling chemistry, I just don’t think it quite reached the potential it could have. Besides that, I adored the premise and the MCs being forced to work together for the greater good and then for their own survival and I especially loved the fact that the bulk of the story is set in Wales. We don’t see that location often and it gave this unique plot an even fresher feel. Overall, I wanted a bit more interaction between the MCs after the final declaration and a bit less time with them still either enemies or uncertain about one another and questioning each other’s intentions; this uncertainty went on a bit long and became slightly tedious for me. Otherwise, I really enjoyed the story and the setting, and I look forward to more installments in this series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3727397152
https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/3166767248
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