A Reckless Match

Bateman (the Bow Street Bachelors series) launches a Regency trilogy with this pitch-perfect enemies-to-lovers romance centered on the feuding Montgomery and Davies families. Despite generations of bad blood, the two clans jointly own the land between their estates, and a fragile truce requires that representatives from each family shake hands once annually. This year, it’s aspiring archaeologist Maddie Montgomery and former soldier Gryff Davies who reunite for the handshake ritual—but Gryff surprises Maddie with a kiss instead, reigniting their long unspoken mutual attraction. Maddie’s feelings for Gryff aren’t her only secret: the Montgomery family is facing financial ruin, leading Maddie to consider a marriage proposal from the detestable Mostyn Drake, who’s offering £2,000 for her hand. Bateman further ratchets up the tension when Maddie falls into a cave on the shared Davies-Montgomery land and discovers a brandy-smuggling operation. She and Gryff hatch a plan to foil the smugglers, catapulting the two into danger and fanning the flames of passion between them. It’s tropey in the best of ways, with a palpable charge between the lovers and a good balance of darkness and light. Brimming with intrigue, passion, and humor, this is sure to win the author new fans. (Sept.)