A Game of Hearts

The Cartwells, Book 1

By: Joanna Barker

Narrated by: Janna Fox

If you can't join them, beat them.

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.

©2022 Joanna Barker (P)2025 Rose Petal Press

Sweet enemies to lovers

I often read books labeled as enemies to lovers, when in reality only one of the MCs feel like it’s an enemies to lovers. Joanna Barker nailed the trope. Both of our main characters truly disliked each other at the beginning and it made it even more sweeter to see their love story unravel. An absolute joy of a read. The narrator did a great job too

A must listen!

The voice performance is amazing!. The story is amazing! I'm gonna buy the paperback just so I can read this story for myself as well. Such a great clean and wholesome enemies to lovers romance

Wonderful period romance

Love this! The stories and characters were so fun, the writer did a great job. And the performer did a great job of all the character voices. I loved that! What a great book.

I adored this!

I loved this fun story and the narration was enjoyable as well! The characters were great, the story was entertaining and engaging, and. The romance was perfect!

A Perfect Enemies to Lovers Story!

I wasn’t sure I would enjoy the bashing and banter between Marigold and Tristan. They are feircely competitive, have known each other since childhood and have sparred pretty much every time they are together. Beyond that, they really don’t know each other at all!

An incident occurs that demands they be together for time enough that they take notice. From then on, the story is delightful, Tristan is swoony and Marigold’s feelings continue shock her. Since the book is written in dual, first person POVs, we get to know their private thoughts and quandaries as they decide who they are and who they are to each other. Lovely!

Janna Fox excellently narrated this Regency romance with dedicated voices that brought the vast array of characters to life.

This book is suitable for teens and older with no inappropriate intimate scenes and no bad language.