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Do Your Worst
Sparks fly when an occult expert and a disgraced archeologist become enemies-with-benefits in this steamy romance.
Riley Rhodes finally has the chance to turn her family’s knack for the supernatural into a legitimate business when she’s hired to break the curse on an infamous Scottish castle. Used to working alone in her alienating occupation, she's pleasantly surprised to meet a handsome stranger upon arrival—until he tries to get her fired.
Fresh off a professional scandal, Clark Edgeware can’t allow a self-proclaimed “curse breaker” to threaten his last chance for redemption. After he fails to get Riley kicked off his survey site, he vows to avoid her. Unfortunately for him, she vows to get even.
Riley expects the curse to do her dirty work by driving Clark away, but instead, they keep finding themselves in close proximity. Too close. Turns out, the only thing they do better than fight is fool around. If they’re not careful, by the end of all this, more than the castle will end up in ruins.
Riley Rhodes finally has the chance to turn her family’s knack for the supernatural into a legitimate business when she’s hired to break the curse on an infamous Scottish castle. Used to working alone in her alienating occupation, she's pleasantly surprised to meet a handsome stranger upon arrival—until he tries to get her fired.
Fresh off a professional scandal, Clark Edgeware can’t allow a self-proclaimed “curse breaker” to threaten his last chance for redemption. After he fails to get Riley kicked off his survey site, he vows to avoid her. Unfortunately for him, she vows to get even.
Riley expects the curse to do her dirty work by driving Clark away, but instead, they keep finding themselves in close proximity. Too close. Turns out, the only thing they do better than fight is fool around. If they’re not careful, by the end of all this, more than the castle will end up in ruins.
317 pages, Paperback
First published November 14, 2023
About the author
Rosie Danan
5 books2,953 followersRosie Danan is the award-winning, bestselling author of The Roommate, The Intimacy Experiment, and the upcoming Do Your Worst. Her work has been optioned for film as well as translated into 9 different languages and counting. The New York Times describes her writing as "warmly funny and gorgeously sexy."
When not working on her next book, Rosie enjoys jogging slowly to fast music, petting other people’s dogs, and competing against herself in rounds of Chopped using the miscellaneous ingredients occupying her fridge.
To receive first look updates on Rosie's books as well as bimonthly musings on savoring the good stuff, looking respectfully 👀, and building a creative practice that embraces unapologetic striving, subscribe to her newsletter: https://rosiedanan.substack.com
When not working on her next book, Rosie enjoys jogging slowly to fast music, petting other people’s dogs, and competing against herself in rounds of Chopped using the miscellaneous ingredients occupying her fridge.
To receive first look updates on Rosie's books as well as bimonthly musings on savoring the good stuff, looking respectfully 👀, and building a creative practice that embraces unapologetic striving, subscribe to her newsletter: https://rosiedanan.substack.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,926 reviews
January 21, 2024
Well, that turned out to be disappointing and boring.
✔️ Forced proximity
✔️ Enemies with benefits paired with insta lust
✔️ Set in Scottish Highlands
✔️ Cursed castle
It had a fun premise on the surface but as I started reading more the less interesting it got. The whole plot of an occultist and an archeologist working together holds a lot of potential but unfortunately the storytelling was not executed well.
I found the characters- Riley and Clark to be quite immature and flat. The author tried to give Riley some depth with her background but she had little maturity to her and the fact she continues to force the whole enemy phase on Clark was off putting. Clark on the other hand is no one special. The only interesting thing about him is that he is a cat dad.
The romance was insta lusty and it was an immediate no for me. I admit that the spice is well written, so some points there but the lack of chemistry speaks volumes. Their whole "love story" is based around having sex and has no depth.
Another thing that irked me was it's marketed as having The Mummy vibes. It doesn't. I would say it's a classic case of "was not for me."
✔️ Forced proximity
✔️ Enemies with benefits paired with insta lust
✔️ Set in Scottish Highlands
✔️ Cursed castle
It had a fun premise on the surface but as I started reading more the less interesting it got. The whole plot of an occultist and an archeologist working together holds a lot of potential but unfortunately the storytelling was not executed well.
I found the characters- Riley and Clark to be quite immature and flat. The author tried to give Riley some depth with her background but she had little maturity to her and the fact she continues to force the whole enemy phase on Clark was off putting. Clark on the other hand is no one special. The only interesting thing about him is that he is a cat dad.
The romance was insta lusty and it was an immediate no for me. I admit that the spice is well written, so some points there but the lack of chemistry speaks volumes. Their whole "love story" is based around having sex and has no depth.
Another thing that irked me was it's marketed as having The Mummy vibes. It doesn't. I would say it's a classic case of "was not for me."
September 13, 2024
i usually adore rosie danan's books but this one was such a miss for me - it felt a bit cringe, a tad insta-lovey, and just overall a bit boring. think it would be a 2.75 star if i had to be super specific
April 25, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this arc in exchange for an honest review!
4.5 stars
This was a really fun read and perfect for the fall. I thought this was a good representation of enemies to lovers, and I liked the development of their relationship. I thought Clark's transition from thinking she's a scammer to somewhat believing her was a little abrupt, but I liked everything that came after that.
I enjoyed both character's inner dialogue. They were both funny in their own ways, and Riley was very entertaining, though she was temporarily quite a savage to poor Clark. And of course their banter when they were getting along was great.
I also enjoyed the back story of the curse they were trying to break and was a little disappointed that we really didn't get closure on that. Did they both just die there? Were they able to sneak out and live happily ever after?
Would recommend for any romance readers, and I kind of hope Rosie writes something else in these series!
4.5 stars
This was a really fun read and perfect for the fall. I thought this was a good representation of enemies to lovers, and I liked the development of their relationship. I thought Clark's transition from thinking she's a scammer to somewhat believing her was a little abrupt, but I liked everything that came after that.
I enjoyed both character's inner dialogue. They were both funny in their own ways, and Riley was very entertaining, though she was temporarily quite a savage to poor Clark. And of course their banter when they were getting along was great.
I also enjoyed the back story of the curse they were trying to break and was a little disappointed that we really didn't get closure on that. Did they both just die there? Were they able to sneak out and live happily ever after?
Would recommend for any romance readers, and I kind of hope Rosie writes something else in these series!
August 23, 2023
SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS MYSTICISM + ROMANCE. This is not-your-mother's scottish love story. It's a contemporary rom com set in the haunted highlands with all the amenities of modern day *spice.* If I didn't already have a literary obsession with Scotland, I do now because why else would I have ten browsers open about booking a flight to Inverness to find a cursed clan castle? Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
This is how you do enemies-to-lovers, folks. He's a logic based, straight shooting, no nonsense English archaeologist who doesn't believe in anything you can't prove with good ole science and facts. She's the granddaughter of a curse breaker, which is exactly what it sounds like: she comes from a line of women who can sense, smell, feel, and fix cursed places and things. Throw them inside a 300 year old haunted Scottish Castle together and sit back with a glass of glenfiddich scotch and watch as (spicy) chaos ensues. He's trying to make sure the castle doesn't have any ancient Gaelic artifacts that need collected. She's (literally) sniffing around trying to figure out why the castle seems to have a mind of its own. It's so fun and chaotic watching her unstoppable force meet his immovable object, ESPECIALLY when they figure out what the secret to achieving both of their goals might entail...wink wink WINK WINK. 😉🤍🏴🥃🔥🌶️
The writing is clever and interesting in its description of the art of professional curse-breaking. Rosie Danan weaves and parallels the romantic history of the castle with Clark and Riley's love story in a way that makes you forget this is simply a fictional rom com. Also, as an obsessive Outlander fan I loved feeling like I was back in the clan days reading about mystical standing stones, the fae folk, clan battles, and people with red hair speaking gaelic. I'm a simple woman okay? Anything that reminds me even slightly of Jamie Fraser will pull me in. And this book, while not similar in any other way besides the setting, gives you those highlander vibes.
Such a cute rom com. Would i have loved this even more if it were in first person POV? Probably. But the dual third person works okay. For this reason and the fact that I didn’t feel a *ton* of chemistry between the characters and felt that there were unnecessarily slow parts in this, so solid 3.5-4 stars. The rest of the plot more than makes up for this though. Here's to hoping the ending sets up another book about a certain couple that I definitely want to read about. Such a fun read!
This is how you do enemies-to-lovers, folks. He's a logic based, straight shooting, no nonsense English archaeologist who doesn't believe in anything you can't prove with good ole science and facts. She's the granddaughter of a curse breaker, which is exactly what it sounds like: she comes from a line of women who can sense, smell, feel, and fix cursed places and things. Throw them inside a 300 year old haunted Scottish Castle together and sit back with a glass of glenfiddich scotch and watch as (spicy) chaos ensues. He's trying to make sure the castle doesn't have any ancient Gaelic artifacts that need collected. She's (literally) sniffing around trying to figure out why the castle seems to have a mind of its own. It's so fun and chaotic watching her unstoppable force meet his immovable object, ESPECIALLY when they figure out what the secret to achieving both of their goals might entail...wink wink WINK WINK. 😉🤍🏴🥃🔥🌶️
The writing is clever and interesting in its description of the art of professional curse-breaking. Rosie Danan weaves and parallels the romantic history of the castle with Clark and Riley's love story in a way that makes you forget this is simply a fictional rom com. Also, as an obsessive Outlander fan I loved feeling like I was back in the clan days reading about mystical standing stones, the fae folk, clan battles, and people with red hair speaking gaelic. I'm a simple woman okay? Anything that reminds me even slightly of Jamie Fraser will pull me in. And this book, while not similar in any other way besides the setting, gives you those highlander vibes.
Such a cute rom com. Would i have loved this even more if it were in first person POV? Probably. But the dual third person works okay. For this reason and the fact that I didn’t feel a *ton* of chemistry between the characters and felt that there were unnecessarily slow parts in this, so solid 3.5-4 stars. The rest of the plot more than makes up for this though. Here's to hoping the ending sets up another book about a certain couple that I definitely want to read about. Such a fun read!
November 30, 2023
I am always on the lookout for a well-executed romance that employs the enemies to lovers trope. It's my guilty pleasure, and authors like Rosie Danan never fail to captivate me with their creative storytelling.
In her latest book, Danan masterfully blends the allure of Highlander and Outlander, infusing the story with Scottish legends, charm, curses, magic, and mystic elements. It's an irresistible combination that immediately piqued my interest.
The two main characters, Riley and Clark, hail from vastly different backgrounds. Clark is the son of a renowned archaeologist whose groundbreaking discovery caught the attention of movie makers, turning his story into a screen adaptation. He is well-educated, a believer in science and tangible evidence, and still reeling from a devastating betrayal that jeopardized his career and tarnished his family's reputation. On the other hand, Riley comes from a family of occultists and curse breakers, making her an outsider who was shunned by society during her childhood. When she seizes an opportunity to use her family's gift to alleviate their financial struggles, she finds herself unable to resist an offer to break a nearly 300-year-old curse, leading her to an infamous Scottish castle nestled in the Scottish Highlands.
Little does Riley expect to be stabbed in the back by the very same charming stranger with whom she shared a passionate kiss after a wonderful night filled with genuine conversation and a few drinks. The man who swept her off her feet turns out to be the same person who attempted to have her fired from her job, convinced that she is nothing more than a delusional fraud, dredging up painful memories of betrayal. Fortunately, the castle's owner sees things differently, and Clark's plans to remove Riley from his survey site are destined to fail.
Determined to prove the authenticity of the curse, Riley finds herself at odds with Clark, who is equally determined to debunk her claims. The knives are out, and Clark becomes a thorn in her side, but Riley is prepared to do whatever it takes to thwart his scheming ways. However, what neither of them anticipates is the undeniable sizzling attraction and growing chemistry between them. As their guards slowly come down, they realize that they may be able to help each other honor their family names and find a common ground, all while their palpable attraction intensifies with each passing moment.
Prepare yourself for a thrilling adventure that blends the essence of Outlander with the enchantment of A Discovery of Witches! I extend my gratitude to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for providing me with a digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
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In her latest book, Danan masterfully blends the allure of Highlander and Outlander, infusing the story with Scottish legends, charm, curses, magic, and mystic elements. It's an irresistible combination that immediately piqued my interest.
The two main characters, Riley and Clark, hail from vastly different backgrounds. Clark is the son of a renowned archaeologist whose groundbreaking discovery caught the attention of movie makers, turning his story into a screen adaptation. He is well-educated, a believer in science and tangible evidence, and still reeling from a devastating betrayal that jeopardized his career and tarnished his family's reputation. On the other hand, Riley comes from a family of occultists and curse breakers, making her an outsider who was shunned by society during her childhood. When she seizes an opportunity to use her family's gift to alleviate their financial struggles, she finds herself unable to resist an offer to break a nearly 300-year-old curse, leading her to an infamous Scottish castle nestled in the Scottish Highlands.
Little does Riley expect to be stabbed in the back by the very same charming stranger with whom she shared a passionate kiss after a wonderful night filled with genuine conversation and a few drinks. The man who swept her off her feet turns out to be the same person who attempted to have her fired from her job, convinced that she is nothing more than a delusional fraud, dredging up painful memories of betrayal. Fortunately, the castle's owner sees things differently, and Clark's plans to remove Riley from his survey site are destined to fail.
Determined to prove the authenticity of the curse, Riley finds herself at odds with Clark, who is equally determined to debunk her claims. The knives are out, and Clark becomes a thorn in her side, but Riley is prepared to do whatever it takes to thwart his scheming ways. However, what neither of them anticipates is the undeniable sizzling attraction and growing chemistry between them. As their guards slowly come down, they realize that they may be able to help each other honor their family names and find a common ground, all while their palpable attraction intensifies with each passing moment.
Prepare yourself for a thrilling adventure that blends the essence of Outlander with the enchantment of A Discovery of Witches! I extend my gratitude to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for providing me with a digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium.com
twitter<
February 14, 2024
𝕯𝖔 𝖄𝖔𝖚𝖗 𝖂𝖔𝖗𝖘𝖙 𝖇𝖞 𝕽𝖔𝖘𝖎𝖊 𝕯𝖆𝖓𝖆𝖓
Tropes & What to Expect
🤍enemies to lovers
🤍Scotland setting
🤍haunted castle
🤍instant attraction
🤍opposites attract(polar opposites)
🤍BANTER and TENSION
🤍she makes the first move
🤍 cursebreakerXarchealogist
🤍working together on mystery
”Enemies it is,” Clark said, all crisp consonants and barely leashed scorn. “Do your worst.”
The Main Characters
Riley is a cursebreaker and has come to Scotland on a job to break a curse in a haunted castle. She’s fierce, snarky, fun, and I was happy and laughing reading her dialogue. She’s a FIRECRACKER. Completely opposite of Clark but I love how she fires him up and gets under his skin.
Clark has many Type A personality traits and he wants to make a name for himself besides being the son of someone famous. He’s cautious and only can believe something if it’s proof or has concrete evidence. This makes it difficult for him to believe Riley’s career isn’t a farce and she’s not making the whole curse breaker thing up. There were super sweet moments when he would take care of her after getting hurt and you can feel him starting to care more.
The hair braiding scene 🥹🫠 I’m still swooning and kicking my feet 🤭
Spice Rating
3/5 🌶️
OMG!! the spice is so well written and it’s HOT 🥵 All I’m going to say is at the 70 percent mark I would read this at the privacy of your own home not on your lunch break 🤭 and I’m a professional smut reader normally but this was wheewwwww just trust me okay..
Overall thoughts: I really enjoyed this book—I love the setting and the amazing banter/tension. You’re probably thinking why is this a 3 star? Well the chemistry lacked imo. One minute it’s enemies to lovers then BOOM let’s get it on…I prefer a gradual buildup where we can see them slowly starting to fall for each other. I would recommend because the premise is unique, the spice is SPICING, and the banter is on point. Don’t read expecting a rom com masterpiece though.
Tropes & What to Expect
🤍enemies to lovers
🤍Scotland setting
🤍haunted castle
🤍instant attraction
🤍opposites attract(polar opposites)
🤍BANTER and TENSION
🤍she makes the first move
🤍 cursebreakerXarchealogist
🤍working together on mystery
”Enemies it is,” Clark said, all crisp consonants and barely leashed scorn. “Do your worst.”
The Main Characters
Riley is a cursebreaker and has come to Scotland on a job to break a curse in a haunted castle. She’s fierce, snarky, fun, and I was happy and laughing reading her dialogue. She’s a FIRECRACKER. Completely opposite of Clark but I love how she fires him up and gets under his skin.
Clark has many Type A personality traits and he wants to make a name for himself besides being the son of someone famous. He’s cautious and only can believe something if it’s proof or has concrete evidence. This makes it difficult for him to believe Riley’s career isn’t a farce and she’s not making the whole curse breaker thing up. There were super sweet moments when he would take care of her after getting hurt and you can feel him starting to care more.
The hair braiding scene 🥹🫠 I’m still swooning and kicking my feet 🤭
Spice Rating
3/5 🌶️
OMG!! the spice is so well written and it’s HOT 🥵 All I’m going to say is at the 70 percent mark I would read this at the privacy of your own home not on your lunch break 🤭 and I’m a professional smut reader normally but this was wheewwwww just trust me okay..
Overall thoughts: I really enjoyed this book—I love the setting and the amazing banter/tension. You’re probably thinking why is this a 3 star? Well the chemistry lacked imo. One minute it’s enemies to lovers then BOOM let’s get it on…I prefer a gradual buildup where we can see them slowly starting to fall for each other. I would recommend because the premise is unique, the spice is SPICING, and the banter is on point. Don’t read expecting a rom com masterpiece though.
March 25, 2024
4 ⭐️ This was such a fun read!!!
"It doesn't have to be a battle between us."
"I promise you," she said, "it does."
"Very well then. Enemies it is. Do your worst."
Summary:
Riley Rhodes is an American occult expert who recently arrived in Scotland to turn her family's knack for the supernatural into a legitimate business. She's hired to break the 300 year old curse at Arden Castle but runs into a bit of a problem: Clark Edgeware.
Clark is a disgraced English archeologist also hired for work at the castle, and he doesn't need a self-proclaimed 'curse breaker' threatening his last chance for redemption.
After failing to get Riley fired on day one, Clark decides to avoid her. But Riley, and the castle's curse, have other things in mind. Turns out the only way to get what they both want is by working together.
WHAT TO EXPECT:
✨ Scottish Highland setting
✨ curse breaker x archeologist
✨ curvy FMC
✨ instant attraction
✨ enemies to lovers
✨ opposites attract
✨ grumpy x sunshine
✨ forced proximity
✨ snarky banter
✨ dagger to throat (but not what you think)
✨ paranormal: curses and rituals
✨ mystery plot
✨ 3/5 🌶️
✨ HEA
✨ dual pov / third person
My Thoughts:
This was my first book by Rosie Danan and certainly won't be my last! I had no idea what to expect, but I truly had a wonderful time and only wish I could have stayed longer in this story.
What I liked:
I LOVED the Scotland setting and the overall atmosphere. I'm absolutely obsessed with Scotland, so from the moment I read the blurb, I knew I had to read it. From the moody weather to the creepy castle, the vibes were immaculate and I truly felt like I was there.
The curse/mystery plot was fun. While Arden Castle isn't real (at least after a quick Google search I don't believe it is), there are many castles in Scotland with interesting lore behind them that could easily have been the inspiration for it. Scotland is known for its myths, so it's interesting reading a story that features a castle with a romantic history featuring clans, fae, and curses.
The characters were well developed and had interesting backstories/hangups. Curse breaking has run in Riley's family for years, but so have failed relationships. So it was really interesting seeing Riley break free of this notion that she has to choose between her calling or love. Clark has spent his whole life seeking the approval of his famous archeologist father and was also recently betrayed by someone close to him. So Clark's character arc was relatable (if you're a people pleaser) as he was able to stop seeking validation from others and he also learned to trust again. Both Riley and Clark had the similar issue of not fully being able to open up to people, but against all odds, they were able to do that with each other.
The enemies to lovers romance was steamy. The tension between Clark and Riley was palpable. I legit didn't know half the time if they wanted to fight or f*ck. Honestly, it was a little bit of both. These two knew exactly how to get under each other's skin and hurt the other (their verbal sparring sometimes cut so deep it was painful to witness). But beneath all that hate was undeniable chemistry and lust. Jumping ahead to their love confessions . . . I couldn't help but smile like an idiot. They're so different, but have the same fear of opening up. So when they finally put their guards down and trust, it was lovely.
The spice was HOT. Enemies-to-lovers is the superior trope. I don't make the rules. And from the beginning, there is so much tension between Riley and Clark, you can cut it with a knife. Like I mentioned earlier, you don't know if they want to fight or f*ck. So when these two get together, it's explosive. They just can't help themselves. I knew the sex was going to be steamy, but it was also kinkier than I expected. There's some light choking, biting/marking, edging, a tiny bit of self-deprecation, hate sex, and sex in some public places. Oh, and the MMC eats p*ssy like a champ.
What I didn't like:
While I loved the hate/enemies aspect, sometimes it felt like they were forcing themselves to have these negative feelings even when you could tell there were things they liked about one another. Riley and Clark definitely say some hurtful things to each other and use their vulnerabilities as a weakness, which was so not cool and definitely added to the whole enemies vibe. However, there were also a lot of sweet, gentle, and vulnerable moment's between them that would immediately turn spiteful within minutes. I don't think this was even bad. They just went back and forth so much in such a short amount of time that I honestly forgot the specifics each time it happened and didn’t truly understand why. I think it would have been more memorable if there were fewer small fights and more big ones.
I'm not sure why, but the 3rd person POV made it a little challenging for me to connect with the characters. Both characters have a lot going on internally, so it probably would have translated better if it was 1st person POV. Because it wasn't, I sometimes felt a bit detached while reading.
Overall, if you want an enemies-to-lovers story that takes place in the Scottish Highlands, definitely read this book! It's highly entertaining, very fun, and sexy as hell. You don't want to miss out!
Thank you, Berkley Romance and NetGalley, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. As always, all opinions are my own.
Favorite Quotes:
Sometimes his face made her want to punch his mouth with her mouth.
_______
"I'm not your sweetheart."
"No. But you'll let me wreck you anyways, won't you?"
_______
"An enemies-to-lovers sex ritual with a smoldering Englishman? Why are the requirements of your job so much better than mine?" (I'm wondering the same thing lol)
_______
"You better keep that mouth occupied. If I see one hint of a smirk, I'll . . ."
"You'll what?"
"Fall in love with you."
_______
He'd been happy before. [But] none of it felt quite like Riley Rhodes in his arms, telling him she loved him, whispering it over and over against his lips, his cheek, his jaw.
_______
"You're cursed as long as you believe you're cursed."
_______
As it turns out, sometimes what you needed was someone who brought out the worst in you. There was a gift, she realized, that could only be exchanged between former enemies - permission to forgive yourself. Because if someone could see all your failures and somehow still come around in the end, well, maybe your worst wasn't so bad after all.
_______
"It doesn't have to be a battle between us."
"I promise you," she said, "it does."
"Very well then. Enemies it is. Do your worst."
Summary:
Riley Rhodes is an American occult expert who recently arrived in Scotland to turn her family's knack for the supernatural into a legitimate business. She's hired to break the 300 year old curse at Arden Castle but runs into a bit of a problem: Clark Edgeware.
Clark is a disgraced English archeologist also hired for work at the castle, and he doesn't need a self-proclaimed 'curse breaker' threatening his last chance for redemption.
After failing to get Riley fired on day one, Clark decides to avoid her. But Riley, and the castle's curse, have other things in mind. Turns out the only way to get what they both want is by working together.
WHAT TO EXPECT:
✨ Scottish Highland setting
✨ curse breaker x archeologist
✨ curvy FMC
✨ instant attraction
✨ enemies to lovers
✨ opposites attract
✨ grumpy x sunshine
✨ forced proximity
✨ snarky banter
✨ dagger to throat (but not what you think)
✨ paranormal: curses and rituals
✨ mystery plot
✨ 3/5 🌶️
✨ HEA
✨ dual pov / third person
My Thoughts:
This was my first book by Rosie Danan and certainly won't be my last! I had no idea what to expect, but I truly had a wonderful time and only wish I could have stayed longer in this story.
What I liked:
I LOVED the Scotland setting and the overall atmosphere. I'm absolutely obsessed with Scotland, so from the moment I read the blurb, I knew I had to read it. From the moody weather to the creepy castle, the vibes were immaculate and I truly felt like I was there.
The curse/mystery plot was fun. While Arden Castle isn't real (at least after a quick Google search I don't believe it is), there are many castles in Scotland with interesting lore behind them that could easily have been the inspiration for it. Scotland is known for its myths, so it's interesting reading a story that features a castle with a romantic history featuring clans, fae, and curses.
The characters were well developed and had interesting backstories/hangups. Curse breaking has run in Riley's family for years, but so have failed relationships. So it was really interesting seeing Riley break free of this notion that she has to choose between her calling or love. Clark has spent his whole life seeking the approval of his famous archeologist father and was also recently betrayed by someone close to him. So Clark's character arc was relatable (if you're a people pleaser) as he was able to stop seeking validation from others and he also learned to trust again. Both Riley and Clark had the similar issue of not fully being able to open up to people, but against all odds, they were able to do that with each other.
The enemies to lovers romance was steamy. The tension between Clark and Riley was palpable. I legit didn't know half the time if they wanted to fight or f*ck. Honestly, it was a little bit of both. These two knew exactly how to get under each other's skin and hurt the other (their verbal sparring sometimes cut so deep it was painful to witness). But beneath all that hate was undeniable chemistry and lust. Jumping ahead to their love confessions . . . I couldn't help but smile like an idiot. They're so different, but have the same fear of opening up. So when they finally put their guards down and trust, it was lovely.
The spice was HOT. Enemies-to-lovers is the superior trope. I don't make the rules. And from the beginning, there is so much tension between Riley and Clark, you can cut it with a knife. Like I mentioned earlier, you don't know if they want to fight or f*ck. So when these two get together, it's explosive. They just can't help themselves. I knew the sex was going to be steamy, but it was also kinkier than I expected. There's some light choking, biting/marking, edging, a tiny bit of self-deprecation, hate sex, and sex in some public places. Oh, and the MMC eats p*ssy like a champ.
What I didn't like:
While I loved the hate/enemies aspect, sometimes it felt like they were forcing themselves to have these negative feelings even when you could tell there were things they liked about one another. Riley and Clark definitely say some hurtful things to each other and use their vulnerabilities as a weakness, which was so not cool and definitely added to the whole enemies vibe. However, there were also a lot of sweet, gentle, and vulnerable moment's between them that would immediately turn spiteful within minutes. I don't think this was even bad. They just went back and forth so much in such a short amount of time that I honestly forgot the specifics each time it happened and didn’t truly understand why. I think it would have been more memorable if there were fewer small fights and more big ones.
I'm not sure why, but the 3rd person POV made it a little challenging for me to connect with the characters. Both characters have a lot going on internally, so it probably would have translated better if it was 1st person POV. Because it wasn't, I sometimes felt a bit detached while reading.
Overall, if you want an enemies-to-lovers story that takes place in the Scottish Highlands, definitely read this book! It's highly entertaining, very fun, and sexy as hell. You don't want to miss out!
Thank you, Berkley Romance and NetGalley, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. As always, all opinions are my own.
Favorite Quotes:
Sometimes his face made her want to punch his mouth with her mouth.
_______
"I'm not your sweetheart."
"No. But you'll let me wreck you anyways, won't you?"
_______
"An enemies-to-lovers sex ritual with a smoldering Englishman? Why are the requirements of your job so much better than mine?" (I'm wondering the same thing lol)
_______
"You better keep that mouth occupied. If I see one hint of a smirk, I'll . . ."
"You'll what?"
"Fall in love with you."
_______
He'd been happy before. [But] none of it felt quite like Riley Rhodes in his arms, telling him she loved him, whispering it over and over against his lips, his cheek, his jaw.
_______
"You're cursed as long as you believe you're cursed."
_______
As it turns out, sometimes what you needed was someone who brought out the worst in you. There was a gift, she realized, that could only be exchanged between former enemies - permission to forgive yourself. Because if someone could see all your failures and somehow still come around in the end, well, maybe your worst wasn't so bad after all.
_______
December 12, 2023
Clark fought to keep composure amid his rising internal temperature. “You’re saying this curse might have antiquated ideas about what acts would qualify us as paramours?”
Riley gave him a sardonic grin. “I’m saying I think the ancient, horny fae magic might not be satisfied until you rail me.”
“Jesus.”
Suspend your belief and brace your panties, Rosie Danan is coming!
***
🏰𝗗𝗢 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗦𝗧 - 𝗥𝗢𝗦𝗜𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗡𝗔𝗡🏰
★𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦: ⭐⭐⭐½
★𝗬𝗔/𝗡𝗔/𝗔: 🅰
★𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗦: 𝚂𝚃𝙰𝙽𝙳𝙰𝙻𝙾𝙽𝙴
★𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗥𝗘 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗥𝗧𝗢𝗡𝗘𝗦: 𝙿𝙰𝚁𝙰𝙽𝙾𝚁𝙼𝙰𝙻 𝚁𝙾𝙼𝙰𝙽𝙲𝙴 - 𝚁𝙾𝙼-𝙲𝙾𝙼 - 𝙷𝚄𝙼𝙾𝚁
★𝗣𝗢𝗩: 𝙳𝚄𝙰𝙻 𝙿𝙾𝚅 - 𝚃𝙷𝙸𝚁𝙳 𝙿𝙴𝚁𝚂𝙾𝙽 - 𝙿𝙰𝚂𝚃 𝚃𝙴𝙽𝚂𝙴
★𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗦: 𝙳𝙸𝚂𝙻𝙸𝙺𝙴 𝚃𝙾 𝙻𝙾𝚅𝙴𝚁𝚂 - 𝙲𝚄𝚁𝚂𝙴𝚂 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝙲𝚄𝚁𝚂𝙴𝙱𝚁𝙴𝙰𝙺𝙴𝚁𝚂 - 𝙽𝙴𝚆 𝙶𝙸𝚁𝙻 𝙸𝙽 𝚃𝙾𝚆𝙽 - 𝙶𝚁𝚄𝙼𝙿𝚈𝚡𝚂𝚄𝙽𝚂𝙷𝙸𝙽𝙴 - 𝚁𝙸𝙲𝙷-𝙿𝙾𝚂𝙷 𝙱𝙾𝚈/𝙿𝙾𝙾𝚁-𝙵𝙻𝙰𝚂𝙷𝚈 𝙶𝙸𝚁𝙻 - 𝚁𝙴𝙰𝙻𝙸𝚂𝚃/𝙳𝚁𝙴𝙰𝙼𝙴𝚁 - 𝙲𝚄𝚁𝚅𝚈 𝙵𝙼𝙲 - 𝙲𝙰𝚃 𝙳𝙰𝙳 𝙼𝙼𝙲 - 𝚁𝙴𝙻𝚄𝙲𝚃𝙰𝙽𝚃 𝙰𝙻𝙻𝙸𝙴𝚂 - 𝙵𝙾𝚁𝙲𝙴𝙳 𝙿𝚁𝙾𝚇𝙸𝙼𝙸𝚃𝚈 - 𝙵𝙸𝙶𝙷𝚃𝙸𝙽𝙶 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝚂𝙴𝚇𝚄𝙰𝙻 𝚃𝙴𝙽𝚂𝙸𝙾𝙽 - 𝙾𝙷 𝙽𝙾 𝚆𝙴 𝙷𝙰𝚅𝙴 𝚃𝙾 𝙵𝚄𝙲𝙺 𝚃𝙾 𝚂𝚃𝙾𝙿 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙲𝚄𝚁𝚂𝙴 - 𝙻𝙾𝚅𝙴 𝙲𝚈𝙲𝙻𝙴𝚂 - 𝙼𝙴𝚃𝙰 𝙹𝙾𝙺𝙴𝚂
★𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗘:
★𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗦: 👥👥👥½/𝟱
★𝗪𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ✍🏼✍🏼✍🏼✍🏼/𝟱
★𝗣𝗟𝗢𝗧: 📜📜📜/𝟱
★𝗦𝗘𝗧𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⛰️⛰️⛰️⛰️/𝟱
★𝗗𝗔𝗥𝗞 𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗦 & 𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗚𝗘𝗥 𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦: 💀💀/𝟱 (𝙰𝙽𝙲𝙸𝙴𝙽𝚃 𝙲𝚄𝚁𝚂𝙴𝚂 - 𝙾𝚂𝚃𝚁𝙰𝙲𝚈𝚂𝙼 - 𝙳𝚈𝚂𝙵𝚄𝙽𝙲𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽𝙰𝙻 𝙵𝙰𝙼𝙸𝙻𝙸𝙴𝚂 - 𝙰𝙱𝙰𝙽𝙳𝙾𝙽𝙼𝙴𝙽𝚃/𝙳𝙰𝙳𝙳𝚈 𝙸𝚂𝚂𝚄𝙴𝚂 - 𝙿𝙰𝚁𝙴𝙽𝚃𝙰𝙻 𝙿𝚁𝙴𝚂𝚂𝚄𝚁𝙴 - 𝙼𝙸𝙻𝙳 𝙸𝙽𝙹𝚄𝚁𝙸𝙴𝚂)
★𝗥𝗢𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘 𝗤𝗨𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗧𝗬: 🌻🌻🌻½/𝟱
★𝗥𝗢𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘 𝗤𝗨𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬: 🌹🌹🌹/𝟱
★𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘 𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗟𝗘: ❌
★𝗠𝗔𝗜𝗡 𝗥𝗢𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘: 𝙵/𝙼
★𝗘𝗡𝗘𝗠𝗜𝗘𝗦-𝗧𝗢-𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗦: 🖤🖤/𝟱
★𝗦𝗠𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗘𝗖𝗛𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗟 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗡𝗧/𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗡𝗦𝗜𝗧𝗬: 🔥🔥🔥/𝟱 (𝙺𝙸𝚂𝚂𝙸𝙽𝙶 - 𝙴𝚇𝙿𝙻𝙸𝙲𝙸𝚃 𝚂𝙼𝚄𝚃 - 𝚃𝙾𝚄𝙲𝙷𝙸𝙽𝙶 - 𝙾𝚁𝙰𝙻 𝚂𝙴𝚇 - 𝚁𝙾𝙼𝙰𝙽𝚃𝙸𝙲 𝚂𝙴𝚇 - 𝙿𝙰𝙸𝙽 𝙺𝙸𝙽𝙺 - 𝙸𝙼𝙿𝙻𝙸𝙴𝙳 𝚅𝙾𝚈𝙴𝚄𝚁𝙸𝚂𝙼)
★𝗦𝗠𝗨𝗧 𝗤𝗨𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬: 🚒🚒🚒🚒/𝟱
★𝗦𝗠𝗨𝗧 𝗤𝗨𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗧𝗬: 💣💣/𝟱
★𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗧𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗦: 🤐🤐🤐/𝟱 (𝙼𝙰𝚃𝚄𝚁𝙴 𝙻𝙰𝙽𝙶𝚄𝙰𝙶𝙴 - 𝙴𝚇𝙿𝙻𝙸𝙲𝙸𝚃 𝙳𝙴𝚂𝙲𝚁𝙸𝙿𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽𝚂 𝙾𝙵 𝚂𝙴𝚇)
★𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗟 𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗦𝗧 𝗟𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗟: 💔½/𝟱
★𝗧𝗬𝗣𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚:
★𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗘:
★𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗠𝗘 𝗦𝗢𝗡𝗚: 🎶𝙷𝙴𝚈 𝚂𝚃𝚄𝙿𝙸𝙳, 𝙸 𝙻𝙾𝚅𝙴 𝚈𝙾𝚄 - 𝙹𝙿 𝚂𝙰𝚇𝙴🎶
▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰
***I always try to be as objective as I can with my ratings for DARK THEMES & TRIGGER WARNINGS, SMUT TECHNICAL CONTENT/INTENSITY, SMUT QUANTITY, ROMANCE QUANTITY, ANGST LEVEL, ENEMIES-TO-LOVERSNESS; the ratings for CHARACTERS, WRITING, PLOT, WORLD BUILDING, SETTING, SMUT QUALITY, ROMANCE QUALITY, are instead tied to my own subjective reading experience and final opinion of the book.
If the penguin won't come to Scotland, then Scotland must come to the penguin.
Absurd, absurdly cute and absurdly spicy, Do Your Worst is one of those reads you'll either love or hate, but one that will definitely won't fail to make you laugh out loud if you decide to give it a chance.
It's an unpretentious book (even though, it has it's pretty interesting moments) and a rom-com that doesn't take itself too seriously, so I suggest extending it the same courtesy.
Let's just some coincidences are too convenient and the I love yous come a little too fast, but the humor is on point and the two main characters are adorable both in their own way.
What I'm saying is, don't expect it to change your life in terms of plot or substance; just get into it, enjoy the quality banter, bask in the warmth of a well placed spicy scene, and let it bright up your mood for a couple hours.
There were moments I felt a little unsatified because, in my opinion, some situations were too rushed or exaggerated to the point they felt a tad too ridiculous. For these same reasons, I don't feel like giving this book more than 3,5 stars, but that half missing star is probably more tied to my personal preferences than the book itself.
I'm a complete disaster when it comes to history so I can't tell you how many of the facts I've read were accurate, but I appreciated how Danan merged historical facts (true or otherwise) and romance so easily.
I love both Riley and Clark, love how they're close to my age, and rooted for them right from the start. I simply adore how they're so different on the outside yet so similar on the things that matter, and think they worked perfectly together as a couple, despite the insta-thing they had going on since the moment they locked eyes.
Plus homeboy, who's always so collected and tidy, surprisingly turned out to be a beast in the sheets (and one who likes to talk dirty and being watched, no less).
Call me romantic but unexpected spicy turn of events make me happy lol.
Rosie Danan writing is fresh and cute when it needs to be; the overall story, the romance and the mystery are wrapped up quite nicely and, mixed to the fiabesque Scottish Highlands setting, they've effortlessly given this little funny gem a place among the happiest 3-star reads of 2023, for me.
Definitely recommend it to the fans of the genre.
Read
October 27, 2023I tried again and while the audio is definitely 100x better (the narrators are fantastic like my man Mr. Shane East has a biblical voice), I did not pay attention at all and it was super instalust so combine the two and I was like WUT is happening so I’ll pick it back up later idk or maybe I won’t perchance it’s just not meant to be. I think maybe got to 10%?
_____
Well it did its worst in the 3% I managed to read before DNFing. It’s not a hard DNF bc the premise sounds fun, but I need the audiobook to bring these words to life bc rn the writing style is so choppy and oversaturated with filler.
I’ve read enough to where I’ve realized that unlikeable writing is worse for me than unlikeable characters, so I really don’t think my opinion was going to change if I kept reading. In my experience, the writing never gets better as the book goes along, it normally falls apart even more *womp womp*
It’s been so long since I read The Roommate that I’m not sure if the writing style is a feature or a bug. I think a sentence per paragraph at least could be removed…and that’s just 3% in lol. Also for some reason this read like third present rather than third past tense (which means it felt very unnaturally worded and I couldn’t get lost in the writing like I like to). But it also felt like it was trying SO HARD to be first person! Dare I say that would’ve been better?? The dialogue and dialogue tags were just so present, if that makes any sense. There was no flow and it was very telly not showy.
I simply have too many other ARCs to read and if there’s even a hope the audiobook will be better…I’m more than okay with hitting pause. It’s actually probably recommended by doctors. But if the audiobook has two narrators though…well then it’s a goodbye not a see you later :,)
,,,,,,,also if you’re literally traveling to Scotland to break a curse, you’d think you’d have researched the lore ahead of time. Bella researched vampires before jumping on that monkey man’s back!! Only a cursory internet search babes??? Way to give nothing 🫶
Thanks to the publisher for an eARC via NetGalley. All opinions are honest and my own.
_____
Well it did its worst in the 3% I managed to read before DNFing. It’s not a hard DNF bc the premise sounds fun, but I need the audiobook to bring these words to life bc rn the writing style is so choppy and oversaturated with filler.
I’ve read enough to where I’ve realized that unlikeable writing is worse for me than unlikeable characters, so I really don’t think my opinion was going to change if I kept reading. In my experience, the writing never gets better as the book goes along, it normally falls apart even more *womp womp*
It’s been so long since I read The Roommate that I’m not sure if the writing style is a feature or a bug. I think a sentence per paragraph at least could be removed…and that’s just 3% in lol. Also for some reason this read like third present rather than third past tense (which means it felt very unnaturally worded and I couldn’t get lost in the writing like I like to). But it also felt like it was trying SO HARD to be first person! Dare I say that would’ve been better?? The dialogue and dialogue tags were just so present, if that makes any sense. There was no flow and it was very telly not showy.
I simply have too many other ARCs to read and if there’s even a hope the audiobook will be better…I’m more than okay with hitting pause. It’s actually probably recommended by doctors. But if the audiobook has two narrators though…well then it’s a goodbye not a see you later :,)
,,,,,,,also if you’re literally traveling to Scotland to break a curse, you’d think you’d have researched the lore ahead of time. Bella researched vampires before jumping on that monkey man’s back!! Only a cursory internet search babes??? Way to give nothing 🫶
Thanks to the publisher for an eARC via NetGalley. All opinions are honest and my own.
September 10, 2024
Do Your Worst is a recent Adult Romance release from Rosie Danan. In this story we follow Riley Rhodes, a young American woman trying to make a go as a curse breaker, and Clark Edgewater, a disgraced young archaeologist trying to rebuild his tarnished reputation.
The setting is Arden Castle, an infamous Scottish castle known for its centuries-long curse. Riley gets the opportunity to travel there to try her best to break the curse before the new owners turn it into a luxury getaway spot.
Meanwhile, Clark is there working for the HES, surveying the site, making sure anything of historical significance is found, documented and handled properly.
There's instant attraction, but also a healthy dose of animosity. This is definitely an opposites attract scenario, with their personalities clashing hard and often.
They're both trying to drive each other away, but the chemistry keeps bringing them together. There are some silly moments, where you can hardly believe they're making the choices they are, but as they begin to open up to one another, their personalities truly blossom.
I loved both of these characters. Riley is head strong and determined. She's pushing to try to prove herself and I think she saw a bit of that reflected in Clark's personality.
Clark is such a sweetie. He's been hurt, so he has a bit of a wall up, but there's also an innocence about him that is so charming. You can tell how much he is intrigued by Riley. It's cute as heck.
I really loved this set-up and the setting. The story kicks off very quickly. I liked that Danan didn't waste time before getting us to Scotland. The idea of the curse and the history of the castle were both interesting. I would love to get an assignment like Riley had here.
I also really enjoyed how different these two characters were, but how well their personalities played off one another. The banter was great, as were the steamy scenes. I think Danan did a fantastic job building out the relationship dynamics. Their push-and-pull was enticing.
The conclusion to this was very cutesy as well. It got me in my feels, but I was also intrigued by how it left off. Could we be seeing more of Riley and Clark in the future? I definitely think it's a possibility.
Whether or not we are getting more with them, or maybe getting some stories with side characters involved, like Clark's brother, whatever it is, I will read it. This was a strong Romance for me. It had just the right mix of humor, steam, and inclusion of work and family issues, for my taste.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Berkley, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I had never read from Danan before, so this was a delightful surprise.
I am looking forward to picking up more of her work.
The setting is Arden Castle, an infamous Scottish castle known for its centuries-long curse. Riley gets the opportunity to travel there to try her best to break the curse before the new owners turn it into a luxury getaway spot.
Meanwhile, Clark is there working for the HES, surveying the site, making sure anything of historical significance is found, documented and handled properly.
There's instant attraction, but also a healthy dose of animosity. This is definitely an opposites attract scenario, with their personalities clashing hard and often.
They're both trying to drive each other away, but the chemistry keeps bringing them together. There are some silly moments, where you can hardly believe they're making the choices they are, but as they begin to open up to one another, their personalities truly blossom.
I loved both of these characters. Riley is head strong and determined. She's pushing to try to prove herself and I think she saw a bit of that reflected in Clark's personality.
Clark is such a sweetie. He's been hurt, so he has a bit of a wall up, but there's also an innocence about him that is so charming. You can tell how much he is intrigued by Riley. It's cute as heck.
I really loved this set-up and the setting. The story kicks off very quickly. I liked that Danan didn't waste time before getting us to Scotland. The idea of the curse and the history of the castle were both interesting. I would love to get an assignment like Riley had here.
I also really enjoyed how different these two characters were, but how well their personalities played off one another. The banter was great, as were the steamy scenes. I think Danan did a fantastic job building out the relationship dynamics. Their push-and-pull was enticing.
The conclusion to this was very cutesy as well. It got me in my feels, but I was also intrigued by how it left off. Could we be seeing more of Riley and Clark in the future? I definitely think it's a possibility.
Whether or not we are getting more with them, or maybe getting some stories with side characters involved, like Clark's brother, whatever it is, I will read it. This was a strong Romance for me. It had just the right mix of humor, steam, and inclusion of work and family issues, for my taste.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Berkley, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I had never read from Danan before, so this was a delightful surprise.
I am looking forward to picking up more of her work.
April 9, 2024
the premise of this one was great but the execution was pretty underwhelming. meh
November 14, 2023
Do Your Worst is simply the best! I enjoyed this gripping, rom com, set in the Scottish Highlands. I found this to be a fast and enjoyable read as I did not want to put it down. I loved the humor, the banter between the two main characters, the protective cat, the steam, and the atmosphere the castle and Highlands provided.
There is an infamous Scottish castle that has been cursed for hundreds of years. It is the stuff of legends. The locals believe it to be cursed as does curse breaker, Riley Rhodes. She comes from a line of curse breakers. When she is hired, she quickly flies to Scotland to do what she does best. Upon arriving in town, she meets Clark Edgeware, an English archeologist. He is intelligent, a firm believer in science and wants to redeem himself after his career took a hit.
Sparks fly between them when they meet, but when Clark learns that Riley is not a tourist but a curse breaker, he tries to get her kicked off the site. Riley is not going to be deterred that easily!
As I mentioned, I loved the atmosphere in the book. A castle in the Scottish Highlands with an interesting past! I was hooked right there! A curse put in place that is as strong as ever! I loved the paranormal vibe the curse brought to the book. I also enjoyed the two main characters. Riley is instantly likeable. She is bubbly, determined, quick witted and passionate about what she does. Clark comes off as grumpy and aloof but under all that is a nice, intelligent, hardworking, guy who hopes to redeem his professional reputation and make a name for himself. I found myself rooting for both characters.
This book had a little bit of everything: a mystery, family drama, romance, humor, steamy scenes, personal growth, and a sense of community. Romance books are all about the journey for me and I completely enjoyed the journey the two main characters went on during this book.
Well written, well thought out, gripping, steamy, entertaining, fun, and hard to put down! I look forward to what Rosie Danan writes next!
#DoYourWorst #NetGalley #BerkleyPub, #RosieDanan
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group, and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
There is an infamous Scottish castle that has been cursed for hundreds of years. It is the stuff of legends. The locals believe it to be cursed as does curse breaker, Riley Rhodes. She comes from a line of curse breakers. When she is hired, she quickly flies to Scotland to do what she does best. Upon arriving in town, she meets Clark Edgeware, an English archeologist. He is intelligent, a firm believer in science and wants to redeem himself after his career took a hit.
Sparks fly between them when they meet, but when Clark learns that Riley is not a tourist but a curse breaker, he tries to get her kicked off the site. Riley is not going to be deterred that easily!
As I mentioned, I loved the atmosphere in the book. A castle in the Scottish Highlands with an interesting past! I was hooked right there! A curse put in place that is as strong as ever! I loved the paranormal vibe the curse brought to the book. I also enjoyed the two main characters. Riley is instantly likeable. She is bubbly, determined, quick witted and passionate about what she does. Clark comes off as grumpy and aloof but under all that is a nice, intelligent, hardworking, guy who hopes to redeem his professional reputation and make a name for himself. I found myself rooting for both characters.
This book had a little bit of everything: a mystery, family drama, romance, humor, steamy scenes, personal growth, and a sense of community. Romance books are all about the journey for me and I completely enjoyed the journey the two main characters went on during this book.
Well written, well thought out, gripping, steamy, entertaining, fun, and hard to put down! I look forward to what Rosie Danan writes next!
#DoYourWorst #NetGalley #BerkleyPub, #RosieDanan
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group, and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
December 3, 2023
3.5 stars rounded up
A couple of friends really loved Do Your Worst and the premise is so unique and fun sounding, I had to pick it up! A curse over a castle and land to be developed in Scotland and both an archaeologist and a curse-breaker brought in to work in the area, it's so neat. This had a lot of humor and was bursting with character. I really thought both Riley (h) and Clark (H) were adorable and likable. They were brimming with secret self-doubts and family sensitivities. Their first interaction was insta-attraction, followed immediately by a rude awakening as they learned they were on opposing sides when it came to handling the project. Clark's trying to regain his professional reputation and feels like Riley threatens that (besides not believing in curses) and Riley's trying to prove herself and continue her family legacy (while battling all the non-believers). They sniped at each other, made sabotage attempts that each immediately felt guilty about and tried to make amends for, and generally fought off their attraction while fighting about the alleged curse. Written in third person, dual POV. No ow/om drama and neither are virgins (limited history given that I can recall).
Some of my friends love the bickering tension and having characters fight, while secretly wanting to tear clothes off. I'm more of the sappy type of romance reader that wants them to banter and bicker but start getting soft fairly early (usually). So the feeling of Riley and Clark being adversaries lasted longer than my preferences lie. Despite their fighting and betraying of each other, they also found ways to connect and peer beneath the other's protective walls. Riley was esp adept at digging into Clark's uncertainties and sad history, then feeling remorseful. They also cared for each other in sweet ways, even after riling the other up. It was adorable and slightly bizarre.
Even though there were these moments of reluctant sharing and bonding, I personally needed more of a transition from trying to get the other run off to exchanging exclamations of deeper feelings. Although some of how they tried to run the other off was really entertaining. There is on page explicit steam and both like a bit of roughness with their bedroom (or semi-public) activities, just FYI. It was all very consensual and came with a side of dirty talk. Again, this is my preference, but I generally like for spicy times to happen after characters have resolved more of their differences.
I thought the historical story surrounding the curse was more interesting honestly. Blame it on my love of history and that my early romance reading centered around Scottish romances mostly lol. The curse was fascinating and the paranormal aspects of how Riley sensed it, how it reacted and adjusted to the characters' actions, and the ultimate breaking of the curse all captured my attention completely. I did think it was pretty obvious early on how the curse needed to be broken and I wanted to shake Riley, but that's ok, her hang-ups hampered her a bit for sure.
Side-character wise, there were some fun locals who added to the story. Clark's family also played an important part, even when they weren't on page. So did Riley's family, although her grandma was gone and her mom was only on page over the phone. Clark's dad though was temple-poundingly frustrating and I loved that there was confrontation to call out his poor behavior. Also, there's a grumpy adopted cat of Clark's that Riley has some downright hilarious encounters with. I was dying laughing.
The ending was great and left me very satisfied. There's an epilogue that's a year later and both Clark and Riley are living the way they want, after choosing each other, and there's even a family meet-up happening at their current job site. I ended the book with a smile and I completely see why my friends recommended this read!
A couple of friends really loved Do Your Worst and the premise is so unique and fun sounding, I had to pick it up! A curse over a castle and land to be developed in Scotland and both an archaeologist and a curse-breaker brought in to work in the area, it's so neat. This had a lot of humor and was bursting with character. I really thought both Riley (h) and Clark (H) were adorable and likable. They were brimming with secret self-doubts and family sensitivities. Their first interaction was insta-attraction, followed immediately by a rude awakening as they learned they were on opposing sides when it came to handling the project. Clark's trying to regain his professional reputation and feels like Riley threatens that (besides not believing in curses) and Riley's trying to prove herself and continue her family legacy (while battling all the non-believers). They sniped at each other, made sabotage attempts that each immediately felt guilty about and tried to make amends for, and generally fought off their attraction while fighting about the alleged curse. Written in third person, dual POV. No ow/om drama and neither are virgins (limited history given that I can recall).
Some of my friends love the bickering tension and having characters fight, while secretly wanting to tear clothes off. I'm more of the sappy type of romance reader that wants them to banter and bicker but start getting soft fairly early (usually). So the feeling of Riley and Clark being adversaries lasted longer than my preferences lie. Despite their fighting and betraying of each other, they also found ways to connect and peer beneath the other's protective walls. Riley was esp adept at digging into Clark's uncertainties and sad history, then feeling remorseful. They also cared for each other in sweet ways, even after riling the other up. It was adorable and slightly bizarre.
Even though there were these moments of reluctant sharing and bonding, I personally needed more of a transition from trying to get the other run off to exchanging exclamations of deeper feelings. Although some of how they tried to run the other off was really entertaining. There is on page explicit steam and both like a bit of roughness with their bedroom (or semi-public) activities, just FYI. It was all very consensual and came with a side of dirty talk. Again, this is my preference, but I generally like for spicy times to happen after characters have resolved more of their differences.
I thought the historical story surrounding the curse was more interesting honestly. Blame it on my love of history and that my early romance reading centered around Scottish romances mostly lol. The curse was fascinating and the paranormal aspects of how Riley sensed it, how it reacted and adjusted to the characters' actions, and the ultimate breaking of the curse all captured my attention completely. I did think it was pretty obvious early on how the curse needed to be broken and I wanted to shake Riley, but that's ok, her hang-ups hampered her a bit for sure.
Side-character wise, there were some fun locals who added to the story. Clark's family also played an important part, even when they weren't on page. So did Riley's family, although her grandma was gone and her mom was only on page over the phone. Clark's dad though was temple-poundingly frustrating and I loved that there was confrontation to call out his poor behavior. Also, there's a grumpy adopted cat of Clark's that Riley has some downright hilarious encounters with. I was dying laughing.
The ending was great and left me very satisfied. There's an epilogue that's a year later and both Clark and Riley are living the way they want, after choosing each other, and there's even a family meet-up happening at their current job site. I ended the book with a smile and I completely see why my friends recommended this read!
August 11, 2023
This is such a darling, sweet, unique delight of a book!
I am a sucker for enemies to lovers. But this was a little bit different. They meet and are completely attracted to each other and then meet again at the worksite where they proceed to try to undermine each other at every turn.
I was really surprised that this book had some paranormal to it. I did not expect that but it was a lot of fun and it was a great vehicle for both of them learning about themselves and growing and falling in love. I really enjoyed both the character and relationship development and how the paranormal aspects pushed them into deeper sharing/vulnerability with each other.
The timeline is very short but I thought it was completely sweet and I loved it a lot!
This is one of those books that I was offered as an advanced reader copy and I have no regrets! I highly recommend this one. I really liked how decent and kind the hero was even when they were fighting. Here are a few quotes:
"Clark as a cat person made sense. He too was prickly, standoffish, and arrogantly territorial."
---
"No matter how many times she pushed him, how many ways she tried to prove she didn't want coddling, he always found a way to be careful with her."
---
"As it turned out, sometimes what you needed was someone who brought out the worst in you. There was a gift, she realized, that could only be exchanged between former enemies-permission to forgive yourself. Because if someone could see all your failures and faults, could actively seek out every possible reason to dislike you and somehow still come around in the end, well, maybe your worst wasn't so bad after all."
---
Safety deets
- There's an epilogue with them together.
- No OW/OM. And we don't hear about past partners.
- No third act break up.
- Consent done well!
- there is some spice and a wee bit of kink
I am a sucker for enemies to lovers. But this was a little bit different. They meet and are completely attracted to each other and then meet again at the worksite where they proceed to try to undermine each other at every turn.
I was really surprised that this book had some paranormal to it. I did not expect that but it was a lot of fun and it was a great vehicle for both of them learning about themselves and growing and falling in love. I really enjoyed both the character and relationship development and how the paranormal aspects pushed them into deeper sharing/vulnerability with each other.
The timeline is very short but I thought it was completely sweet and I loved it a lot!
This is one of those books that I was offered as an advanced reader copy and I have no regrets! I highly recommend this one. I really liked how decent and kind the hero was even when they were fighting. Here are a few quotes:
"Clark as a cat person made sense. He too was prickly, standoffish, and arrogantly territorial."
---
"No matter how many times she pushed him, how many ways she tried to prove she didn't want coddling, he always found a way to be careful with her."
---
"As it turned out, sometimes what you needed was someone who brought out the worst in you. There was a gift, she realized, that could only be exchanged between former enemies-permission to forgive yourself. Because if someone could see all your failures and faults, could actively seek out every possible reason to dislike you and somehow still come around in the end, well, maybe your worst wasn't so bad after all."
---
Safety deets
- There's an epilogue with them together.
- No OW/OM. And we don't hear about past partners.
- No third act break up.
- Consent done well!
- there is some spice and a wee bit of kink
Shelved as 'dnf'
June 19, 2023booktok will eat this up no doubt about it but me personally im gonna have to put the author on a blacklist bc girl just can’t write chemistry! insta love u will never be my thing
December 26, 2023
4.25
This has a lot of low ratings, but I found this one to be so fun!!! I wouldn't say it's like The Mummy like it says, but I loved the setting at the old Scottish estate that is haunted. The hero and heroine have obvious chemistry when they meet, and I loved how it quickly turned to hate when they realized they were working with each other. They both have a lot of baggage and I liked how they worked it out together and confided their fears with one another. They do use that information sometimes as weapons, but that forced them to work through their issues and really find the root of their problems. I had so much fun listening to this audiobook and I'm happy I gave it a chance!! Such a fun premise with an archeologist and curse breaker!
This has a lot of low ratings, but I found this one to be so fun!!! I wouldn't say it's like The Mummy like it says, but I loved the setting at the old Scottish estate that is haunted. The hero and heroine have obvious chemistry when they meet, and I loved how it quickly turned to hate when they realized they were working with each other. They both have a lot of baggage and I liked how they worked it out together and confided their fears with one another. They do use that information sometimes as weapons, but that forced them to work through their issues and really find the root of their problems. I had so much fun listening to this audiobook and I'm happy I gave it a chance!! Such a fun premise with an archeologist and curse breaker!
November 24, 2023
Look, I know your average reader probably doesn’t care about the accuracy of this book, but I guess it just really hits diff when, much like the MMC, you’re also an Oxford-trained ancient Mediterranean archaeologist who now works in country houses, including country houses which used to be medieval fortress castles. I really do wish the author had done a little more research into archaeological things, rather than just name-dropping random techniques and hoping for the best. You CANNOT carbon date inorganic objects - like, say, a silver filigree dagger. And even if this dagger did have a wooden handle, why would our lovely archaeologist MMC even want to carbon date it when he had already dated it stylistically to the 18th century? Your carbon dating is never gonna be more accurate than that. The most laughable bit for me, though, was when, while standing on the first floor of the building, he complains about how he’d love to dig, but he doesn’t have a permit. What are you gonna dig? The floorboards?? Clearly, though, he later thinks, ‘fuck it’, and goes down to the dirt floor dungeon and starts randomly digging with a shovel. A* archaeological technique there, babes.
I feel like when writing a book like this, you really need an archaeologist friend on hand to ask random questions (or a nice online forum). I will absolutely be giving the author credit for the palaeontology-isn’t-archaeology joke at the 45% mark, though.
As you may have gathered, the research for this book is lack-lustre. I mean, this isn’t literary fiction, so perhaps it doesn’t need to be perfectly researched, but I feel like a bit more of an attempt would have been good. As another reviewer pointed out, even the research into the setting - Scotland - was lacking. We’re set in a little village somewhere around Inverness and Loch Ness, yet we ping all across Scotland, visiting the Isle of Skye and St Andrews.
And when we get onto the LiDar, lost Temple of Hercules, and the Bay of Cadiz stuff, I was horrified to see that this is ripped from an article on the Smithsonian’s website, which seems a little shady to the real life archaeologist who did that work. And yet the information presented in this book about LiDAR still makes no sense, which is unfortunate, as a key plot point somewhat hinges on what a character did with some LiDAR scans.
But enough about archaeology. I also found the rest of this book confusing. The characters seemed to keep randomly changing their minds about things, including important things like what the curse was trying to do. I kept asking myself, am I stupid? Am I too tired to be reading this? Am I periodically blacking out? There were times when I felt I had whiplash from the interactions between the FMC and MMC… also, the melodrama and cliched phrases, my god. The book was also too long - strange twists kept happening just as we seemed about to wrap up, but rather than being pleased by these plot twists, I was just annoyed.
Does this book have potential though? Absolutely. I loooved the ambiguity of the original curse and the whole curse mirroring thing. And I’m obvs a fan of an enemies-to-lovers trope and spooky season ambience, which is why I picked this up. I also thought the dual POV was really well-executed and I loved each of the character’s voices.
So, all in all, it’s 2 stars from me, because I really do think it has potential.
Finally, a word to the publishers / NetGalley at large: please, for the love of god, sort out the formatting on the Kindle download ARCs. I simply cannot bear to read another ARC where the paragraphing is all over the place - often making me confused about who’s speaking - and the words randomly run together.
P.S. You don’t need LiDAR to take 3D scans of a cave and its paintings / inscriptions. There are much easier and cheaper ways of doing it.
P.P.S. Also I’m sorry but, as an academic, I simply cannot condone having sex in a rare books room.
I feel like when writing a book like this, you really need an archaeologist friend on hand to ask random questions (or a nice online forum). I will absolutely be giving the author credit for the palaeontology-isn’t-archaeology joke at the 45% mark, though.
As you may have gathered, the research for this book is lack-lustre. I mean, this isn’t literary fiction, so perhaps it doesn’t need to be perfectly researched, but I feel like a bit more of an attempt would have been good. As another reviewer pointed out, even the research into the setting - Scotland - was lacking. We’re set in a little village somewhere around Inverness and Loch Ness, yet we ping all across Scotland, visiting the Isle of Skye and St Andrews.
And when we get onto the LiDar, lost Temple of Hercules, and the Bay of Cadiz stuff, I was horrified to see that this is ripped from an article on the Smithsonian’s website, which seems a little shady to the real life archaeologist who did that work. And yet the information presented in this book about LiDAR still makes no sense, which is unfortunate, as a key plot point somewhat hinges on what a character did with some LiDAR scans.
But enough about archaeology. I also found the rest of this book confusing. The characters seemed to keep randomly changing their minds about things, including important things like what the curse was trying to do. I kept asking myself, am I stupid? Am I too tired to be reading this? Am I periodically blacking out? There were times when I felt I had whiplash from the interactions between the FMC and MMC… also, the melodrama and cliched phrases, my god. The book was also too long - strange twists kept happening just as we seemed about to wrap up, but rather than being pleased by these plot twists, I was just annoyed.
Does this book have potential though? Absolutely. I loooved the ambiguity of the original curse and the whole curse mirroring thing. And I’m obvs a fan of an enemies-to-lovers trope and spooky season ambience, which is why I picked this up. I also thought the dual POV was really well-executed and I loved each of the character’s voices.
So, all in all, it’s 2 stars from me, because I really do think it has potential.
Finally, a word to the publishers / NetGalley at large: please, for the love of god, sort out the formatting on the Kindle download ARCs. I simply cannot bear to read another ARC where the paragraphing is all over the place - often making me confused about who’s speaking - and the words randomly run together.
P.S. You don’t need LiDAR to take 3D scans of a cave and its paintings / inscriptions. There are much easier and cheaper ways of doing it.
P.P.S. Also I’m sorry but, as an academic, I simply cannot condone having sex in a rare books room.
November 14, 2023
I’ve been a fan of this author since her debut novel, The Roommate, so when I saw her new book was an enemies to lovers in a cursed castle in Scotland I knew I had to read it asap.
And Do Your Worst didn’t disappointed me, this book had everything I love in contemporary, a lovable main character, a grumpy love interest who deep down has a huge heart, amazing side characters that bring the book to life and a chemistry between the main characters that was off the charges.
Riley’s a curse breaker, her family has a gift of seeing and breaking supernatural curses, but Riley is the first one to make a business out of it, that’s why when a big company asks her to get hid of a curse on Arden Castle, she jumps right away on a plane and travels to a small village in Scotland, there she meets Clark, a disgraced archaeologist, who’s looking for a way to redeem himself after a scandal.
The banter between Riley and Clark was so much fun, I couldn’t stop smiling the whole time they interacted, Clark is absolutely convinced Riley is a charlatan and Riley is ready to make him see the errors of his ways by any means necessarily and that leads to a lot of fun scenes.
Overall Do Your Worst was a very entertaining book.
Thanks Netgalley and Berkley for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review
And Do Your Worst didn’t disappointed me, this book had everything I love in contemporary, a lovable main character, a grumpy love interest who deep down has a huge heart, amazing side characters that bring the book to life and a chemistry between the main characters that was off the charges.
Riley’s a curse breaker, her family has a gift of seeing and breaking supernatural curses, but Riley is the first one to make a business out of it, that’s why when a big company asks her to get hid of a curse on Arden Castle, she jumps right away on a plane and travels to a small village in Scotland, there she meets Clark, a disgraced archaeologist, who’s looking for a way to redeem himself after a scandal.
The banter between Riley and Clark was so much fun, I couldn’t stop smiling the whole time they interacted, Clark is absolutely convinced Riley is a charlatan and Riley is ready to make him see the errors of his ways by any means necessarily and that leads to a lot of fun scenes.
Overall Do Your Worst was a very entertaining book.
Thanks Netgalley and Berkley for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review
December 19, 2023
2.5 stars rounded up
This was a fine book, but for whatever reason didn't really work for me. Part of what I loved about Rosie Danan's other two books was how the felt very modern and included interesting and well-executed social commentary. This feels like a departure from that formula, and while I imagine it was a fun experiment (archaeologist vs. curse breaker in an enemies to lovers story) something about kind of fell flat for me. Their interactions were often entertaining and I think if you go in expecting a light take on this trope you might do better with it. I was just hoping for more from this author specifically. And I felt like their relationship was a lot more sexual than emotional. Which is fine, but I would have liked more emotional depth. I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
This was a fine book, but for whatever reason didn't really work for me. Part of what I loved about Rosie Danan's other two books was how the felt very modern and included interesting and well-executed social commentary. This feels like a departure from that formula, and while I imagine it was a fun experiment (archaeologist vs. curse breaker in an enemies to lovers story) something about kind of fell flat for me. Their interactions were often entertaining and I think if you go in expecting a light take on this trope you might do better with it. I was just hoping for more from this author specifically. And I felt like their relationship was a lot more sexual than emotional. Which is fine, but I would have liked more emotional depth. I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
October 9, 2023
Both of the Rosie Danan's I've read have been very good romances, and so while I might not have loved this the way I loved The Intimacy Experiment, this is definitely a good time. It also delivered the fall vibes I wanted from it when I held off on reading it until the fall months.
Here we are following Riley, a curse breaker from New Jersey as she's in Scotland to break a curse on a castle so developers can move forward with their plans. It's here that she meets Clark, an archaeologist there to ensure that the developers don't destroy anything. He's also licking his wounds from a previous project that would have made him an even bigger laughingstock of the archaeologist if his father wasn't archaeology royalty. Or that's what I took from the exchange.
Overall I think that this book did a fun job at throwing Riley and Clark together. I like their dynamic, it was fun and light and entertaining to read about. It's also the true strangers to lovers that I am always in favor of. Sure they're technically employed at the same location, and I guess you could call it workplace romance if you wanted to reach, but they didn't know each other and they had to come together to break the curse that Clark doesn't really believe in. I also thought that it incorporated the paranormal/supernatural/spiritual element of Riley being a curse breaker without ever feeling like it was going to veer into full-on fantasy romance territory. It felt like it made sense to be grounded in a contemporary setting.
The only con that I really had is I wish Riley could have had something going on outside the romance too. Clark has a whole family situation that is slowly parceled out through his section, and the way it relates back to the romance and the reason as to why he's at the castle in the first place is all very well and good, but it leaves Riley with nothing to do outside of Clark and the work they're doing together. It's not the biggest problem in the world. In some ways the story does mirror some of that back at her with the storyline with her mother, but it's not as prominent and it's not quite the same.
Overall I had a fun time with this, the smut was excellent, and while I do not believe that Clark and Riley are a couple that would last the test of time sometimes that's not as important as the fun we had getting to see them at this point in their shared journey.
Here we are following Riley, a curse breaker from New Jersey as she's in Scotland to break a curse on a castle so developers can move forward with their plans. It's here that she meets Clark, an archaeologist there to ensure that the developers don't destroy anything. He's also licking his wounds from a previous project that would have made him an even bigger laughingstock of the archaeologist if his father wasn't archaeology royalty. Or that's what I took from the exchange.
Overall I think that this book did a fun job at throwing Riley and Clark together. I like their dynamic, it was fun and light and entertaining to read about. It's also the true strangers to lovers that I am always in favor of. Sure they're technically employed at the same location, and I guess you could call it workplace romance if you wanted to reach, but they didn't know each other and they had to come together to break the curse that Clark doesn't really believe in. I also thought that it incorporated the paranormal/supernatural/spiritual element of Riley being a curse breaker without ever feeling like it was going to veer into full-on fantasy romance territory. It felt like it made sense to be grounded in a contemporary setting.
The only con that I really had is I wish Riley could have had something going on outside the romance too. Clark has a whole family situation that is slowly parceled out through his section, and the way it relates back to the romance and the reason as to why he's at the castle in the first place is all very well and good, but it leaves Riley with nothing to do outside of Clark and the work they're doing together. It's not the biggest problem in the world. In some ways the story does mirror some of that back at her with the storyline with her mother, but it's not as prominent and it's not quite the same.
Overall I had a fun time with this, the smut was excellent, and while I do not believe that Clark and Riley are a couple that would last the test of time sometimes that's not as important as the fun we had getting to see them at this point in their shared journey.
February 9, 2024
Hate smut to love in zero to sixty. Honestly I thought the MMC was kind of a red flag but BookTok will love it. This was alright but underwhelming and somewhat underdeveloped - 2.5 stars.
November 17, 2023
OK so. We liked a lot about this book, but were also frustrated by a lot of it.
The good:
Curse breaker + archaeologist pairing was very fun
Sexual compatibility was through the roof
Their bonding over similar (but different) family trauma
That said, we're both skeptics when it comes to the supernatural, so reading a book where one of the main ways the hero shows his love and support for the heroine is defending her curse breaking abilities was a little tough. But look, it's fiction, we can accept that /in this world/ curse breaking is a thing. (We can read about haunted houses and stuff, that's fine, it's fine.) But - and here's the hard part - Riley is supposed to be /good/ at curse breaking, right? So why (whyyyyyyy!?) did she have to be so stupid about it?
We've talked before about how we don't read mysteries with the expectation of figuring out whodunnit - we like being in the dark and maybe having a guess at the end. In this one, the answer to breaking the curse is so obvious that Riley's inability to get it was frustrating to the max. It also made her seem really dumb, meaning that when Clark defends her choice of career, it made HIM seem dumb.
Do we think this is a fun book? Sure! And we think in general, readers will like this one. But feeling frustrated with our characters is not usually the way to make us fall in love with their love story. 3.5 stars rounded to 4.
4-Word Summaries:
Meg: Opposite of enemy = conquered?
Laine: Capitalism can ruin hobbies.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
The good:
Curse breaker + archaeologist pairing was very fun
Sexual compatibility was through the roof
Their bonding over similar (but different) family trauma
That said, we're both skeptics when it comes to the supernatural, so reading a book where one of the main ways the hero shows his love and support for the heroine is defending her curse breaking abilities was a little tough. But look, it's fiction, we can accept that /in this world/ curse breaking is a thing. (We can read about haunted houses and stuff, that's fine, it's fine.) But - and here's the hard part - Riley is supposed to be /good/ at curse breaking, right? So why (whyyyyyyy!?) did she have to be so stupid about it?
We've talked before about how we don't read mysteries with the expectation of figuring out whodunnit - we like being in the dark and maybe having a guess at the end. In this one, the answer to breaking the curse is so obvious that Riley's inability to get it was frustrating to the max. It also made her seem really dumb, meaning that when Clark defends her choice of career, it made HIM seem dumb.
Do we think this is a fun book? Sure! And we think in general, readers will like this one. But feeling frustrated with our characters is not usually the way to make us fall in love with their love story. 3.5 stars rounded to 4.
4-Word Summaries:
Meg: Opposite of enemy = conquered?
Laine: Capitalism can ruin hobbies.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
November 13, 2023
So... this was a bit of a miss for me. I don't want to rag on about it. So here's a few things I liked and a few that I didn't.
Positives:
The location. Got to love a spooky, Scottish castle. I was here for it!
I also liked Clark and that he was an archaeologist. That was unique and fun. I also really liked that he had a camper on site. Practical and convenient. There were also a few fun side characters. I was also glad there was no 3rd act break up and the way that Clark had Riley's back.
What didn't work for me:
I just didn't feel the chemistry between these two.. and the "enemies to lovers" felt completely one sided. So it left me feeling a bit salty towards the Riley. Of course he's going to be skeptical about a "curse-breaker". So would I! Why did she need to "get even with him?
I was also very unsure if this actually had some paranormal elements or what... I just felt like whatever the author was going for in that regards felt lackluster to me.
There was some interesting spice and we had a few unique scenes.. but because the chemistry was lacking, they fell flat for me also.
I have liked Rosie Danan's previous works and I would still read her again, this just happens to be a miss for me.
3 stars
2.5 on the spice scale
Positives:
The location. Got to love a spooky, Scottish castle. I was here for it!
I also liked Clark and that he was an archaeologist. That was unique and fun. I also really liked that he had a camper on site. Practical and convenient. There were also a few fun side characters. I was also glad there was no 3rd act break up and the way that Clark had Riley's back.
What didn't work for me:
I just didn't feel the chemistry between these two.. and the "enemies to lovers" felt completely one sided. So it left me feeling a bit salty towards the Riley. Of course he's going to be skeptical about a "curse-breaker". So would I! Why did she need to "get even with him?
I was also very unsure if this actually had some paranormal elements or what... I just felt like whatever the author was going for in that regards felt lackluster to me.
There was some interesting spice and we had a few unique scenes.. but because the chemistry was lacking, they fell flat for me also.
I have liked Rosie Danan's previous works and I would still read her again, this just happens to be a miss for me.
3 stars
2.5 on the spice scale
September 18, 2024
Super cute, fluffy, enemies/dislike to lovers romance set in Scotland. This story follows our FMC who is a curse breaker trying to break a curse at a Scottish Castle, and our MMC who is an archeologist on site.
The two of them continue to bicker and get on each others nerves since he thinks she’s a con artist.
It’s also surprising spicy, which I didn’t expect from a traditionally published book.
I really enjoyed it, and the audiobook was done extremely well.
The only complaint I had was that I wish there was a bit more atmosphere and ambiance. Maybe even some spooky things involved, like a haunting.
The two of them continue to bicker and get on each others nerves since he thinks she’s a con artist.
It’s also surprising spicy, which I didn’t expect from a traditionally published book.
I really enjoyed it, and the audiobook was done extremely well.
The only complaint I had was that I wish there was a bit more atmosphere and ambiance. Maybe even some spooky things involved, like a haunting.
September 23, 2023
I’ll start off by saying I actually did like the characters and their banter was top tier, but their connection felt surface level to me — more sexual than romantic. the fmc and mmc both had jobs that I don’t see often in books (curse breaker and archeologist), so that was a fresh perspective that I liked. the cursed Scottish castle setting was fun as well as them trying to figure out how to break the curse, especially since Clark is a skeptic. even though the characters had met and liked each other beforehand, they actually do become enemies in a sense and there’s moments when they’re both genuinely trying to sabotage the other person. I just didn’t like the writing since it was dual pov, but in a third person narrative that felt very detached somehow. it delivered on the “enemies with benefits” 😏 .. but something about the story itself fell flat.
thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc, all opinions are my own.
thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc, all opinions are my own.
March 10, 2024
I zoned out 37288292 times😭😭😭😭
November 29, 2023
I wanted to give this book at least two stars, but I really couldn't find anything redeeming about it, and so this is the odd one-star read for me. I can say though that from reading a previous book from Rosie Danan, she is not an author I enjoy, and so I may be in the minority.
The romance is so painfully awkward and jarring from the very first pages when a brash and apparently "loud" American woman flirts with an upright British man in a village pub in Scotland. The man seems simultaneously confused, repulsed, and drawn to her. I had difficulty picturing this character. It's also a strange opening to this very strange novel, and nothing about the first chapter felt comprehensible. Riley arrives in a small Scottish town after having been paid by an environmental society to rid a local castle of an enduring curse to help improve the dire economic situation in the area. It's confusing right away why the apparent curse wouldn't be a tourist attraction, hence more economically beneficial. But the paranormal aspect of the novel is even more confusing since the book never reads as a paranormal story but rather a story in which a supposed curse is a source of skepticism for most people in the book, especially the hero. Clark is a pragmatic scientist working at the castle to preserve artifacts, and the loud American woman is an apparent curse breaker. She's also an angry curse breaker in that she is fed up with others' skepticism of her trade, which is weird for a non-paranormal story. Once Clark realizes that the woman he spent time with in the village pub claims to be a curse breaker, he tries to put the brakes on any further flirting, as he is skeptical of her supposed skills and then later annoyed by her presence at his work site. I was largely Team Clark for much of this story - except for the inexplicable instant attraction/lust he feels.
The fact that Clark continues to lust after Riley never felt believable, especially after he listens to her explanations for why curses are real and she is a pro at dispelling them. The two characters had nothing in common and no chemistry that I could discern. There are lots of references to Riley's lush body that is constrained within tight and inappropriate work clothing, which seemed odd too given that the castle is old and musty with precarious footing and unsafe floors. Also, the pranks they play in their competition to undermine each other are not nearly as clever as the story suggests they are. I found them tedious and silly, just as much as I found the romance tedious and silly.
The romance is so painfully awkward and jarring from the very first pages when a brash and apparently "loud" American woman flirts with an upright British man in a village pub in Scotland. The man seems simultaneously confused, repulsed, and drawn to her. I had difficulty picturing this character. It's also a strange opening to this very strange novel, and nothing about the first chapter felt comprehensible. Riley arrives in a small Scottish town after having been paid by an environmental society to rid a local castle of an enduring curse to help improve the dire economic situation in the area. It's confusing right away why the apparent curse wouldn't be a tourist attraction, hence more economically beneficial. But the paranormal aspect of the novel is even more confusing since the book never reads as a paranormal story but rather a story in which a supposed curse is a source of skepticism for most people in the book, especially the hero. Clark is a pragmatic scientist working at the castle to preserve artifacts, and the loud American woman is an apparent curse breaker. She's also an angry curse breaker in that she is fed up with others' skepticism of her trade, which is weird for a non-paranormal story. Once Clark realizes that the woman he spent time with in the village pub claims to be a curse breaker, he tries to put the brakes on any further flirting, as he is skeptical of her supposed skills and then later annoyed by her presence at his work site. I was largely Team Clark for much of this story - except for the inexplicable instant attraction/lust he feels.
The fact that Clark continues to lust after Riley never felt believable, especially after he listens to her explanations for why curses are real and she is a pro at dispelling them. The two characters had nothing in common and no chemistry that I could discern. There are lots of references to Riley's lush body that is constrained within tight and inappropriate work clothing, which seemed odd too given that the castle is old and musty with precarious footing and unsafe floors. Also, the pranks they play in their competition to undermine each other are not nearly as clever as the story suggests they are. I found them tedious and silly, just as much as I found the romance tedious and silly.
February 27, 2024
Not even Shane East could save this for me. It was BARELY paranormal and I hated the romance so so much.
My main problem was Clark who was of course a skeptic, but he was extremely annoying throughout the book, being so disbelieving of curses which immediately pushed me away from him. He was a jerk outside of that too, and not in a cute way. Though if the author was going for the "insufferable archaeologist" stereotype then she nailed it.
Is he even a good archaeologist? I think not!
I just couldn't find it in my heart to ship him and Riley. They were too different, I don't see it working beyond the physical level. Speaking of, I haven't read cringier steam in a hot minute, so there's that.
Riley I mostly liked. Not always, and definitely not when she was going ga ga over Clark, but she had more depth than he did. Also, I know that she was mean to Clark too, but not at the level he was to her, and he did start it by trying to get her fired soooo.
This is also not enemies to lovers, it's workplace rivals at best.
I was hoping we'd have more paranormal elements than curses too, or that the mc would turn out to be a witch, but no. The whole curse thing was in the background, and the way they finally broke it was...let's not go there.
I think it would've worked better for me as a real paranormal read, but even then I don't see it going beyond three stars.
My main problem was Clark who was of course a skeptic, but he was extremely annoying throughout the book, being so disbelieving of curses which immediately pushed me away from him. He was a jerk outside of that too, and not in a cute way. Though if the author was going for the "insufferable archaeologist" stereotype then she nailed it.
Is he even a good archaeologist? I think not!
I just couldn't find it in my heart to ship him and Riley. They were too different, I don't see it working beyond the physical level. Speaking of, I haven't read cringier steam in a hot minute, so there's that.
Riley I mostly liked. Not always, and definitely not when she was going ga ga over Clark, but she had more depth than he did. Also, I know that she was mean to Clark too, but not at the level he was to her, and he did start it by trying to get her fired soooo.
This is also not enemies to lovers, it's workplace rivals at best.
I was hoping we'd have more paranormal elements than curses too, or that the mc would turn out to be a witch, but no. The whole curse thing was in the background, and the way they finally broke it was...let's not go there.
I think it would've worked better for me as a real paranormal read, but even then I don't see it going beyond three stars.
June 27, 2024
I am generally not a romance reader, so I'm not sure how this book ended up on my TBR. I wasn't sure that I would finish it when I picked it up. To my surprise I read it in record time.
I require more complexity than just a romance plot line and the curse on a Scottish castle combined with Riley's attempt to break the curse provided the extra interest that cinched the deal for me. Riley comes from a family line of curse-breakers and needs a significant project to establish her bona fides and kick start her business. Clark, on the other hand, comes from a family of archeologists and has a firm belief in the scientific method. After a disastrous expedition, he is desperate to rehabilitate his reputation and putting up with a woman who believes in curses is unacceptable, even if she is distractingly attractive.
Having said that romance isn't really my thing, I have been lured to the dark side often enough to know that my favourite romantic trope is enemies to lovers. When I realized that Riley and Clark were set up by the author to clash, I knew I was going to enjoy the novel. Both parties have personal issues to overcome with help from the other. But Danan doesn't allow that to happen too quickly. They must struggle with the question of whether they hate each other or are wildly attracted to one another.
So, still unsure how this ended up in my reading queue, but quite glad that it did and that my library purchased it.
I require more complexity than just a romance plot line and the curse on a Scottish castle combined with Riley's attempt to break the curse provided the extra interest that cinched the deal for me. Riley comes from a family line of curse-breakers and needs a significant project to establish her bona fides and kick start her business. Clark, on the other hand, comes from a family of archeologists and has a firm belief in the scientific method. After a disastrous expedition, he is desperate to rehabilitate his reputation and putting up with a woman who believes in curses is unacceptable, even if she is distractingly attractive.
Having said that romance isn't really my thing, I have been lured to the dark side often enough to know that my favourite romantic trope is enemies to lovers. When I realized that Riley and Clark were set up by the author to clash, I knew I was going to enjoy the novel. Both parties have personal issues to overcome with help from the other. But Danan doesn't allow that to happen too quickly. They must struggle with the question of whether they hate each other or are wildly attracted to one another.
So, still unsure how this ended up in my reading queue, but quite glad that it did and that my library purchased it.
June 10, 2023
Rosie Danan could publish a shopping list and I'd read it. "The Roommate" and "The Intimacy Experiment" were two of the most wonderful, and unusual contemporary romances I've read in recent years. Her writing is full of heart and such refreshing sex positivity. I can't stress enough how invaluable it is to have a writer who can make sex sound like the absolute joy it is no matter what you're into. Danan makes sex a necessary, even vital component of a successful relationship. In a time when it feels like half the population would like us all to become Puritans again I truly feel like I can't emphasize enough what an incredible service she does with the subjects she writes about. That her books are never anything less than totally delightful, beautifully written, and genuinely entertaining just feels like an added bonus.
"Do Your Worst" is no exception and if anything it only proves that's there's no genre of romance Danan can't write in. I am the last person who would willingly read fantasy romance. When I learned that Danan's latest book would be about a "curse breaker" trying to learn the secrets of a haunted Scottish castle my first reaction was definitely "oh c'mon why can't she keep writing about the porn industry?"
But after reading this sweet, slightly kinky modern fairy tale I will never doubt again. Leave it to Danan to take an often corny as all hell trope and turn it into a modern day fable about personal growth and belief in things even when there isn't a logical explanation for them. Like love.
I adored her leads. Riley Rhodes, a take no prisoners, ass kicking curse breaker desperate to prove her magical gifts do have a place in the "real" world and curmudgeonly Clark Edgeware, a young archeologist desperate to come out from the shadow of his father's legacy are the perfect enemies to lovers pair. The charm of their witty tete-a-tetes is only matched by the scorching heat of their chemistry. The two of them tramping around the wilds of Scotland digging up fae secrets and mysterious artifacts sniping at each other the whole time is pure pleasure. The course to true love is of course never smooth but there's something so lovely about how hard and fast they fall for each other while totally failing to notice its even happening that just kills me.
Lest you be put off by the fantasy part I'm here to tell you that magic in this case is treated just as seriously as archeology. Riley is just as much a professional as Clark and we come to see magic in this case is more like "magick," something old and respected, part of the bones of the world and every bit as powerful and worth studying as chemistry or geology or archeology. There's no tinker bell here I can promise you.
The sex is hotter than the fire's of hell and tinged with a touch of tasteful (and totally consensual) bdsm which readers will be happy to know is handled with both delicacy and spice. I'd be lying if I said I didn't find some of it kind of inspiring...ahem.
If Ms. Danan would like to set her next novel in the midst of an intergalactic civil war or under the sea with a school of mermaids I will happily, happily come along. Clearly every genre she touches turns to pure gold.
"Do Your Worst" is no exception and if anything it only proves that's there's no genre of romance Danan can't write in. I am the last person who would willingly read fantasy romance. When I learned that Danan's latest book would be about a "curse breaker" trying to learn the secrets of a haunted Scottish castle my first reaction was definitely "oh c'mon why can't she keep writing about the porn industry?"
But after reading this sweet, slightly kinky modern fairy tale I will never doubt again. Leave it to Danan to take an often corny as all hell trope and turn it into a modern day fable about personal growth and belief in things even when there isn't a logical explanation for them. Like love.
I adored her leads. Riley Rhodes, a take no prisoners, ass kicking curse breaker desperate to prove her magical gifts do have a place in the "real" world and curmudgeonly Clark Edgeware, a young archeologist desperate to come out from the shadow of his father's legacy are the perfect enemies to lovers pair. The charm of their witty tete-a-tetes is only matched by the scorching heat of their chemistry. The two of them tramping around the wilds of Scotland digging up fae secrets and mysterious artifacts sniping at each other the whole time is pure pleasure. The course to true love is of course never smooth but there's something so lovely about how hard and fast they fall for each other while totally failing to notice its even happening that just kills me.
Lest you be put off by the fantasy part I'm here to tell you that magic in this case is treated just as seriously as archeology. Riley is just as much a professional as Clark and we come to see magic in this case is more like "magick," something old and respected, part of the bones of the world and every bit as powerful and worth studying as chemistry or geology or archeology. There's no tinker bell here I can promise you.
The sex is hotter than the fire's of hell and tinged with a touch of tasteful (and totally consensual) bdsm which readers will be happy to know is handled with both delicacy and spice. I'd be lying if I said I didn't find some of it kind of inspiring...ahem.
If Ms. Danan would like to set her next novel in the midst of an intergalactic civil war or under the sea with a school of mermaids I will happily, happily come along. Clearly every genre she touches turns to pure gold.
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