Angie Cox's Reviews > Do Your Worst

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.
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"You're cursed as long as you believe you're cursed."
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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.
_______