This spicy romance with a Scottish setting and a supernatural element makes a fabulous escapist read.

Both main protagonists arrive at Arden Castle determined to prove themselves professionally. Riley Rhodes is hoping that taking on a corporate client will help turn her curse breaking business profitable. Following a professional scandal, Clark Edgeware is desperate to rehabilitate his reputation as an archeologist. Upon arrival, When Clark fails to get Riley kicked off his survey site, he throws down the gauntlet and challenges Riley to do her worst...

I enjoyed Riley and Clark's attempts at sabotaging each other, and was entertained by the lows they brought out in each other initially. Their rivalry turned into attraction pretty quickly, and the two are not afraid to look below the surface to understand each other. I found the characters relatable, and enjoyed seeing Clark struggle with the fact that the curse breaker charlatan appeared to be using an analytical and methodical approach to curse breaking.

One point of contention for me was that there were a few hiccups in terms of local colour and providing an authentic Scottish setting. Some names for local characters felt like they were trying a bit too hard - although it is apparently used as a name, I haven't yet met an Eilean in over a decade of living in the Scottish Highlands, and even tough Ceilidh can apparently also be used as a name, I've only ever heard it used in the context of Ceilidh dancing... Also, Clark's Winnebago didn't feel like the most typical choice of motor home for an Englishman.

Overall, this was a diverting and enjoyable read. Pick this up if you like your romance with a dash of the supernatural and a fair bit of spice.

Thanks to Little Brown Book Group UK and Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. I'll be posting my review to my Instagram on November 14th.

Note: I will be posting my review to Goodreads on 1st November.

At the beginning of this book, it has to be said, I was a little unsure. I'm not a huge fan of books with the paranormal and the first few pages here really throw you in the deep end with that, in relation to curse breaking. That being said, I kept going because I was intrigued to see what happened and where it was going to take it with the curses.

If you like dual narrative books, and the enemies to lovers trope, then this is definitely a book for you! From the beginning it delves into the backstop of the characters and almost makes you feel a little sorry for them so you start rooting for them. It becomes abundantly clear that the 2 of them dislike each other and butt heads majorly throughout the book.

Generally, the book is an nice read that is easy to follow. I got over my pre-judgment about the fact it included curse breaking and the paranormal, and I actually ended up quite enjoying it. The characters really make it for me and I ended up liking their little quirks and eccentricities.

This review will be posted on Goodreads on 1st November.

Thank you to anetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Do Your Worst by Rosie Danan

8/10 ⭐️
3/5 🌶️

𝘚𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘴 𝘧𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘤𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘦𝘴-𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩-𝘣𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘺 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘙𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘦 𝘋𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘯, 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘰𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦.

𝘉𝘙𝘌𝘈𝘒 𝘊𝘜𝘙𝘚𝘌𝘚 . . . 𝘕𝘖𝘛 𝘏𝘌𝘈𝘙𝘛𝘚

Riley, tuned to paranormal forces and curse breaker, is hired to investigate and break the curse of Arden Castle before developers can start work, but Clark, archeologist and non believer, is there to redeem his reputation not deal with silly fairytales. Both are determined to prove themselves to others, but when science and magic mix, things get heated.

🔥 Slow burn
🇬🇧 Brit x American 🇺🇸
💅🏻 Sassy strong FMC
🦴 Stiff rule follower MMC
🔮 Supernatural forces and history
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Set in Scotland, Torrindon

This was a super cute and cosy Autumn read! It was a great Enemies with benefits / Enemies to lovers, forced proximity with a bit of magic and supernatural. I could predict the story and the clues but it’s not a twisty thriller so that’s OK ain’t it? This could definitely be a spicy Hallmark movie and I’d be there for it!

Super cute cover that would look great next to other witchy reads, and also my fave colour 💜

Do Your Worst is a swoony romance with a touch of fantasy and a whole lot of beautiful moments. Set against the backdrop of a cursed Scottish castle, it has everything that I could ever want from a light and easy read. Pick it up if you're looking for a few hours of pure escapism!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

This was a really good enemies to lovers book and perfect for autumn. I liked both the main characters and it was fun and chaotic watching them butt heads over conflicting opinions. He is a logic based Archaeologist who doesn’t believe in things that can’t be proven with science or physical proof whilst she is a curse breaker taught by her grandmother and is walking around the castle literally sniffing things and generally causing trouble for Clark. I enjoyed their inner dialogues and the banter between the two. Overall a good rom-com.

Thanks so much to Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for giving me an eArc copy for this book in exchange for my honest review.

This isn’t my first book by Rosie Danan as I have read both The Roommate and The Intimacy Experiment in her Shameless series. I loved this series and could not wait to see what she brought out next.

Do Your Worst is a little bit more of a paranormal romance, focusing on Riley who is a curse breaker and Clark who is an archaeologist. The romance in this book was pretty good, (you know how much I love an enemies to lovers trope) although it did have a few more cringe worthy parts that did throw me out of the story a little. Like if you aren’t attracted to someone, would you really ask to give them a massage to prove it? It just felt a bit out of the blue, and so random.

I did love the banter between the two main characters though, and loved how they communicated with each other. Especially during the beginning of the story when they really were enemies, and were doing all they could to sabotage each other.

The story was pretty fast paced and easy to read, however I did feel a bit bored coming towards the end and it was more of a struggle in the last 3/4 of the book. The spice level was pretty good, so would definitely recommend to any spicy romance readers out there!

I’ll be honest I think this may have been a losing battle for me from the moment I realised how involved the element of curse breaking was going to play a part in this story.
I’m not against a supernatural romance themed story but if I’m going to read one like that I want to go all in and this felt a little too real world with someone trying to have a career in the supernatural and so I wasn’t a massive fan of our main female character. However, I did enjoy their chemistry and how she held her ground, proved herself and didn’t become all about our main male character.
The book is lighthearted and fun and has some comedy value to some of the scenes.

I received this as an ARC in exchange for an honest review

I absolutely devoured this romantic suspense novel with some supernatural elements thrown in! Sexy and fun, this is a perfect easy read for all those who enjoyed Rosi Danan’s previous romance novels, and everyone who loves a spicy yet deep book.

If you're looking for a fun, supernatural, Scottish enemies to lovers steamy book this is absolutely for you! I really enjoyed the setting, the community feel and the folklore scattered throughout and how these two battle-scarred opposites found each other.
Perfect for curling up with in front of the fire with maybe a hot toddy

A really fun premise with a bit of mystery running through it. Loved the curse breaking aspect of the story and how the more grounded historical aspect also fed it. Clark’s scepticism and the how he and Riley clashed made for some very fun interactions. They had good chemistry and I liked how despite their differences and the tension caused by their differing attitudes to the whole concept of curses and curse breaking the connection between them just proved impossible to escape. Both had some difficult family history that also shaped how they reacted to each other but things between them played out in a very believable way, An enjoyable magical read. (3.5 ⭐️)

[ARC provided by NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group UK, Piatkus. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review Do Your Worst.]

Rating: 3.5/5

Do Your Worst is a fun and romantic adventure set in the Scottish Highlands that follows Riley Rhodes as she works to free an infamous castle from its curse. Looking to follow in her grandmother’s footsteps, Riley is determined to turn their family talent into a legitimate business and working on such a prolific castle could help her achieve this. Unfortunately for her, Clarke Edgeware, a very handsome archaeologist fresh off a professional scandal, has been tasked with surveying the site, and although they get along well enough when their work isn’t involved, it quickly becomes clear that coexisting in the castle will be a difficult task.

I feel this book did great in a lot of areas. For example, I genuinely liked the characters and being Scottish myself, I loved the setting and got a real sense of the Scottish landscape. I also really loved the plot and the way that the curse developed as the story progressed – I’m not sure how much of it was accurate in terms of actual history but it sounded pretty plausible to me! So, as there was so many elements that I liked, I really hoped that I’d finish this book by giving it a higher rating. Unfortunately, there was one area that I didn’t find believable, and it was one of the most important for a romance, which was the connection between the leading characters. Riley and Clarke as individuals were great, but together they didn’t have that spark that I was looking for.

Something else I struggled with was the writing style which didn’t work for me. This book has dual POV but as it’s in the third person, it was difficult to feel close to the characters at times. Pairing this with Riley and Clarke’s lack of chemistry left me feeling too distant from the story.

I still enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it to others as the pairing is a really interesting one and I especially loved everything we learn about the curse. If you like supernatural romances featuring an enemies to lovers romance then you should check this out.

Okay so first of all, I really enjoyed the enemies to lovers aspect in this book and Riley’s strong sense of independence as a main character, she was fun, light hearted and entertaining and whilst I wasn’t obsessed with Clark as a love interest, I did appreciate their dynamic together. I did think it was a bit insta-lovey too, almost like the author needed to find a quick way to get these two strangers to like one another before it all quickly falls apart within the first couple of chapters, it didn’t feel very natural. It was still, however, a fun read that didn’t take itself too seriously (like sex rituals unserious-ness) and the spice level was pretty tame and enjoyable for the plot of the book.
There were however, a few irks for me, one of them was how much I cringed when Riley was carelessly throwing around precious and very old artefacts found in the castle, not to mention in front of the love interest who just so happens to be an archaeologist, and yet this was glossed over and I feel as if it should have caused some reaction in Clark, the carelessness at times was a bit much and frustrated me. Also, can you please tell me why, in a pub in Scotland, they order burgers under Clark’s recommendation?? And tell me why Clark, an Englishman, is living in an RV Winnebago in Scotland?? It just didn’t make a lot of sense… oh and how Riley bought boxed Mac and cheese from the ‘grocery’ store when I know it’s not really a thing in the UK, Mac and cheese sure, but boxed Mac and Cheese I have never seen in my life.
Overall, it’s a fun book and I definitely enjoyed my time reading it but the minor details bothered me too much for me to rate this higher.

I thought this book was so cute! I loved the setting and the theme- a curse breaker and an archeologist at a castle in the Scottish Highlands- I thought it was perfect for spooky season.
This book also had several spicy scenes that certainly delivered. Definitely more spice than in The Intimacy Experiment which is my only previous experience with Rosie Danan,
All in all I would really recommend this as a cosy, spooky season romance read with plenty of spice!.

Thanks to NetGalley, Rosie Danan, and Little Brown Book for providing me with an advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In "Do Your Worst" Rosie Danan skillfully weaves a tale of enchantment and ambition against the backdrop of the scenic Scottish Highlands. Riley, our protagonist, is a curse-breaker striving to establish her business based on her extraordinary gift. Her journey unfolds when she embarks on a significant assignment in Scotland, brimming with anticipation and determination.
During her first evening in the small village, Riley's path crosses with Clark, a charming archeologist. Their initial encounter is marked by an instant rapport, but what Riley is unaware of the betrayal waiting for her from Clark. Clark is working in the same Castle as Riley, and is on a path of personal redemption and professional resurgence. He cannot afford distractions or blunders as he views this particular gig as his shot at salvation.

Danan's vivid descriptions bring the Scottish Highlands to life, enveloping the narrative in a mystical aura that makes "Do Your Worst" a perfect autumnal read. The dynamic between Riley and Clark is a compelling highlight, transitioning from a promising start to bitter enmity that feels fated. While this conflict adds a riveting layer to the story, I did find myself wishing for more depth in their relationship, as it often appears to be primarily physical in nature.

Overall, "Do Your Worst" is an enjoyable read replete with thrilling moments and well-crafted character development. It's a story that encompasses a diverse range of elements, from the enticing enemies-to-lovers trope to the compelling concept of forced proximity, and GREAT spicy contents!!
I wholeheartedly recommend this engaging novel.

This book is SO much fun. Riley, travelled from America to a remote Scottish castle to break its three-hundred year-old curse is hampered by buttoned-up, hot-as-hell British archaeologist Clark, who is trying to salvage his reputation and has no time for curses.

If you love enemies to lovers then this is the book for you. The fire and sizzle between Riley and Clark is amazing, and with the castle as a mischievous third party in their battle, every scene was a fun, sexy, passionate joy.

Rosie Danan always writes spice so well, and this book is absolutely no exception, especially with the spark between Riley and Clark tipping between lust, rage and something deeper. But she doesn’t sacrifice emotion, and I loved the parts where they opened up to each other, sharing their motivations and insecurities. Clark’s backstory is particularly heart wrenching, and gives him so many layers.

It’s a perfect blend of supernatural intrigue, fun, drama, spice and tenderness, and I finished it with a huge smile on my face. Rosie Danan is an auto-buy author for me, and I hope she writes more romcoms with a magical element because this was a pure delight.

Riley and Clark couldn’t be more opposite. I do not know much about Scottish culture or any of their references but that still did not deter my interest in this book. Authors these days fail to deliver a good romantic comedy but Rosie Danan really said “hold my beer” and gave us this absolute banger of a book.

This book gave justice to the enemies-to-lovers trope. In simple words, it ATE and devoured and left no crumbs. She cleared. The writing and the plot of this book really kept me hooked. If you want a romcom with mouth-watering spice, Do Your Worst is your best friend. The characters are fleshed out well and super realistic despite the supernatural theme of the book.

At some instance this book even reminded me of my go-to comfort read “The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches” by Sangu Mandanna.

Needless to say, I will definitely be tuning in to Rosie Danan’s future releases. Her craft is quite unique from the saturated mainstream stories we see today.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown Book UK for providing me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book is a captivating journey through the depths of imagination. Its rich storytelling and well-developed characters kept me engaged from start to finish. With its thought-provoking themes, it transcends genres and offers something for every reader. A must-read for anyone seeking a literary adventure.

Riley Rhodes can’t decide whether her family talent for curse breaking is a blessing or a burden, but, either way, she’s determined to at least make some money out of it. But breaking the infamous curse on Arden Castle won’t be easy, especially not with the site’s distractingly handsome archaeologist, Clark Edgeware, out to prove that she’s a fraud.

Do Your Worst was exactly the escapist, supernatural romance I was hoping for … but even steamier. I personally think a romance needs some clichés – after all, they’re clichés for a reason – and Do Your Worst has its fair share, but the story felt fresh and interesting, and I loved the original take on the enemies to lovers trope. I also loved the steamier scenes, which felt much more realistic and individual than such scenes sometimes do.

The magic at the heart of Do Your Worst – curse breaking – was new to me, and I enjoyed the way it was set out and thought through, but I just wasn’t quite convinced enough by the supernatural scenes to make this one a five-star read for me. I also thought that the ending dragged on for a little too long, although I completely see why this decision made sense for the plot. So not quite – but very nearly – a five-star read for me, and definitely an author I want to read more from. One of those books where you want to stay up late reading, and can’t stop thinking about the story until it’s time to pick it up again.

A fun, romantic mystery set in the Scottish Highlands, following a curse breaker and an archaeologist trying to break a 300 year old curse on a castle whilst being at odds with each other.

This was such a unique concept and I really enjoyed this! The spice was well done and everything wrapped up nicely at the end.

So up for old super natural read! This looks so good and I can’t wait to a quick and share my thoughts! I love the storyline and a good enemies to lovers vibe, plus with spooky season upon us this is the perfect book to curl up with on a cozy fall night! I really enjoyed Wednesday on Netflix snd this book is giving me similar vibes.