A Game of Hearts

About the Book: 

Marigold Cartwell has only one goal: to defeat her long-time rival on the archery field. She knows she can outshoot irritating, cynical Tristan Gates, but the local bowmen’s society—the one he belongs to—refuses to allow women to compete. Spurred on by their rejection, Marigold decides to start a new society. Naturally, it has only one rule: no men.

Tristan Gates is used to Marigold Cartwell always getting her way, so he is far from surprised when she forms her own society. He knows how relentless she can be, something he learned firsthand facing her at the targets. But Tristan has enough worries of his own, what with his bachelor uncle falling in love with a fortune hunter. He has no time to entertain Marigold’s ambitions.

However, after a visit to the seashore ends in disaster—and scandal—Marigold and Tristan soon realize how little they know about each other. The strained tension between them quickly turns to simmering attraction, but an important archery competition looms ahead. Lines are drawn all around them, with Marigold and Tristan on opposite sides, and neither can afford to lose. Yet winning might be the very thing to tear them apart.

 My Review: 

A highly competitive female archer during the Regency period? Yes, please! Enemies that call a truce and have a happily ever after? Absolutely! I wanted to read this as soon as I saw the cover and read the description. 

I normally don’t like the banter that is written in enemies to lovers tropes because I find it annoying. But… the crazy things that Marigold Cartwell and Tristan Gates say about and to each other had me laughing so much that my husband asked me what was so funny. Do I stop and tell him and interrupt the scene? Nope, I just keep laughing and point to the book. 

The rivalry between Mari and Tristan had been going on for years and neither of them could really look past their stubbornness and prejudice to see the other person. That is, until something happens to force Tristan to propose. The growth and transformation that both of them experience as they begin to learn about each other was sooo good. 

Ugh! Lord Beauford was so arrogant, obnoxious, and egotistical that I could’t wait to see how Mari was going to beat him. It all came down to the archery tournament and everything that she was trying to prove to not only Lord Beauford, but to their society. I loved the ending, it couldn’t have been any better! Three cheers, a round of applause and thunderous clapping for Mari and her ladies archery team.

Tristan was the perfect match for Mari. At first, he was just as prideful as Lord Beauford, but as I learned more about him I realized he was covering up for the extreme loss that had occurred in his life. I loved that he set out to find ways to court Mari. 

I highly recommend this book to readers of historical romance. It’s wonderfully written and one that I will read again and again. 

I was given a complimentary copy of the book. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.