A quick read, not particularly well-written but entertaining nonetheless. Served the purpose of being fast and fun, to break up heavier, more thought-provoking reading.

We loved this book. The setup sounds hilarious: Jeremy is a typical HistRom rake who recently got some not-so-stellar feedback on his performance. To reassure himself that he's actually not all that bad in bed AND to take advantage of the persistent attraction between him and one of his longtime acquaintances, Diana, he proposes a friends with benefits situation. Diana decides that the benefits do sound enticing, so she agrees that they can start their FWB sitch at Jeremy's annual house party. (Side note: don't house parties sound great? It's like a vacation home with all your buddies except you're so rich you can pay for people to make your food and clean the rental.)

What really sets this book apart, though, is the critical eye Martha Waters casts on male privilege and communication skills in relationships. Of course we are reading this through a historical lens, but sometimes using that lens can allow us to see our own era more clearly. Great emphasis is placed on the facades women assume to succeed in their one lifepath (marriage), with a similar focus on the veneer of masculinity. This is exactly what we want out of Historical Romance: a fun story, a real romantic connection between the main characters, with a nuanced exploration of social issues that can be applied to the "real world" as well. We were entertained, impressed, and completely satisfied with the conclusion.

HJ Recommended Read

To Love and to Loathe is the second book in the Regency Vows series but was good as a stand-alone. It was an enemy to lover’s rom com with main characters that create sparks whenever they meet. Their banter was witty, and you could feel their attraction to each other under the elevated tension between them. It was a fast-paced, light historical romance full of humor and entertainment.

Widowed Lady Diana Templeton and Jeremy Overington, the Marquess of Willingham, were known to bicker constantly by Society. Adding a wager to their ongoing disagreements only increased the tension between them. Diana wagers that Jeremy will marry within the year which delighted his grandmother. Diana is shocked when Jeremy proposes they have a brief affair at his house party at Elderwild, his country estate. This will give Diana the opportunity to let other gentlemen know she is interested in having a lover once their affair is over.

Jeremy enjoys provoking Diana and intends to win this wager since he has no desire to wed. When he wants to know the truth about his bedroom skills after his last mistress criticizes him, he knows who to ask for a true opinion. His upcoming house party is the perfect place to have a short affair with Diana to learn the truth. His opinion on marriage changes when he realizes he wants more than a short affair, but can he convince Diana to change her mind?

This was a hilarious and light-hearted romance with charming characters that is a perfect book to put a smile on your face.

3.5⭐
While this historical romance series isn't my absolute favorite, I think they're really fun and witty regency rom-coms.

This sequel to To Have and to Hoax, is a hate to love/friends to lovers romance. Which sounds like a weird but really fun combination.

The hero, Jeremy, has been friends with Diana's brother since they were young. But during Diana's first season, the two strike and odd friendship that consists of endless banter and bickering. While neither is particularly trustworthy of the other, they can't help but acknowledge they also feel a magnetic pulled toward each other.

I thought this book had fantastic banter and chemistry between the main characters. I loved the forced proximity of the house party and I loved Jeremey. This definitely had some of my favorite romance tropes!

However, I did think the pacing was a little slow during throughout middle. This plot relies very heavily on the heroine's plotting, and I found it got to be repetitive in her scheming. BUT, I did appreciate that there was no ridiculous third act fallout. When the conflict did finally come to a head, it was discussed and resolved quite quickly which I appreciated.

Overall this series is fun, witty, and super charming.. Martha Waters writes fantastic banter, female characters, and strong but lovable heroes.

My review is live on Goodreads and will be posted to my blog on 3/22 at 9am

I never fully connected with this story - I found my mind wandering and attention span drifting. It was a good book, but not one that I fully could connect with.

If you've watched and enjoyed Bridgerton, like half of the rest of the world, then it is quite easy to slip into To Love and to Loathe and immerse yourself in the scheming and dreaming of the Ton. Predictable story line, but do sit back and enjoy the ride as you wait for the characters to do exactly what you are waiting for them to do.

To Love and To Loathe is the follow-up to Martha Waters’ 2020 début historical romance, To Have and To Hoax.  Our reviewer was less than impressed with it, citing problems with the premise and immaturity of the leads, and overall, reviews were mixed. With so many other books to review on my plate, I didn’t get around to reading it, so I can’t offer an opinion.  But I wanted to give the author a try, so I picked up this second book in The Regency Vows series, because I am a sucker for that whole Beatrice and Benedick sparring-couple-who-are-desperately-in-love-but-would-deny-it-to-the-death thing.  And I’m glad I did, because To Love and To Loathe is funny, clever and sexy, featuring complex, well-rounded characters and incorporating pertinent observations about the nature of privilege and the unfairness of the patriarchal norms and laws that deprived women of autonomy.

At the age of eighteen, the Honourable Diana Bourne is well aware that most men are fools, but a man doesn’t need to be clever to be possessed of a hefty fortune, which is exactly what she’s looking for.  Since the death of their parents, she and her brother have lived with relatives who have seen her as nothing but a burden and who resent the expense her presence incurs.  So Diana is determined to snare a wealthy husband so she will never have to worry about something as vulgar as money ever again.

The one tiny glitch in her plan is her brother’s best friend, Jeremy Overington, Marquess of Willingham, who while just as much of a fool as every other man, is nonetheless a massively enticing fool who has only to walk into a room to turn the head of every woman in it – and set Diana’s heart beating just a bit faster than would like.  But no matter how handsome and charming Jeremy is (or how strongly she’s attracted to him), he’s irresponsible,  overly fond of drink and women, and – most importantly – almost broke, so he won’t suit Diana’s purposes at all.

A few years later, Diana is a wealthy widow and Jeremy is still cutting a swathe through the beds of the bored wives and widows of the ton.  Their inability to agree on anything is widely known throughout society, as is the fact they’re engaged in a game of one-upmanship involving a constant barrage of well-aimed barbs and cleverly chosen put-downs.  On one particular evening when Willingham again scoffs at the idea of matrimony, Diana impulsively wagers him that he’ll be married within the year – or she’ll pay him the sum of one hundred pounds.  Of course, Willingham accepts – and only afterwards does Diana realise it was perhaps not the wisest thing she’s ever done, because honestly, she can’t see him marrying in the next twelve months, either.

Shortly after the wager is made – and just before Diana is to travel to Jeremy’s country estate for his annual house party – he comes to her seeking her help on a very delicate matter.  His most recent mistress implied he couldn’t satisfy her in bed – and Jeremy can’t get her accusations out of his mind.  Looking for reassurance, he turns to the only woman he knows he can rely on to tell him the absolute truth – and suggests to Diana that they embark on a brief affair during the house party.  Diana isn’t inclined to agree to this – until he points out that a discreet affair with him will send the right signals to other gentlemen that she is interested in taking a lover.

“I’m not certain that the signal I’m looking to send is that I’ve joined the legion of women who’ve lifted their skirts for the Marquess of Willingham.  I’m surprised they haven’t formed a society. With matching hats.”

She’s still not convinced – until Jeremy points out:

“If nothing else, it would finally dispel whatever this is between us,” he added, waving his hand at the space between them… “And don’t tell me you don’t know what I mean… Because I know you do.”

Of course as any romance reader knows, the old let’s-do-it-once-to-get-it-out-of-our-systems chestnut never works the way the participants intend it to.  Diana and Jeremy are obviously head-over-heels for each other from the get-go and have been that way for years, but there are obstacles preventing both of them from fully acknowledging the truth of their feelings for one another – obstacles that feel authentic to who these two people are; complex, flawed but immensely likeable characters who learn about themselves as they gradually reveal more of their true selves to each other.

I really liked that Diana and Jeremy were so clear-sighted about each other, even as they had things to learn about one another.  Jeremy viewed the younger Diana’s eagerness to marry as somewhat mercenary, but didn’t know the reasons behind it; Diana suspects Jeremy is hiding his intelligence behind the wastrel he presents to society, but hasn’t fully understood the depth of his grief and anger over the death of the older brother who left him with a title and responsibilities he’d not been brought up to and didn’t want.  They’re both perspicacious and fully up to each other’s weight when it comes to their ‘merry war’, and their chemistry as they snark and flirt their way towards their HEA is terrific.

I liked them individually and together.  Diana is clever and funny and her status as a widow means she’s allowed more freedom to do as she wants than an unmarried woman would be, so her reluctance to consider giving up her independence in another marriage is understandable. And I loved Jeremy, a decent, considerate, generous man who has spent years making certain no-one would ever expect anything of him or take him too seriously because of his deep sense of unworthiness.  Their inner conflicts are very well articulated and I loved watching them come to a greater understanding of one another.

I really enjoyed the book, but there are a few things that keep it just out of DIK territory.   Part of Diana’s plan to win the wager involves her trying to find someone else to get Jeremy married off to – and she decides to throw him together with Lady Helen, a young woman known to be desperate to find a husband and who is widely disliked.  Hints are dropped that Lady Helen is not what she seems, but Diana doesn’t know this and her determination to marry the man she loves (even if she isn’t ready to admit to it) to a young woman who is so patently wrong for him and would make him utterly miserable just didn’t sit right with me.  I get that it was a mark of Diana’s desperation not to admit to how she felt about Jeremy, but it felt childish and petty.

The Big Mis that occurs near the end is a misfire, and I wasn’t wild about the amount of time given to setting up a future book in the series, which interrupted the flow of the main narrative. It’s well done and skilfully integrated into conversation and multi-character scenes, but I could still have done with a bit less of it.

All in all however, To Love and To Loathe is great fun. The writing is crisp and clever, the characters are engaging and the dialogue sparkles.  For those of you who – like me -  have been struggling to find really good historical romance lately, I’m happy to say that it’s well worth a look.

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I stayed up until the wee hours of the morning, desperate to know how things were going to end between Diana and Jeremy. I could not put down To Love and To Loathe. If you love enemies to lovers tropes then this is a must read for you!

This novel alternates between Diana and Jeremy's perspectives. Both characters are trying so desperately to have a persona that is a complete facade. Jeremy: a flighty Casanova type. Diana: an independent woman who has no time for love. Once they get to know each other in a more intimate setting they realize that these personas are not the true versions of the other and then love begins to bloom.

What should have been a sexy proposal in the bedroom begins an actual relationship where they are able to divulge the deeper parts of themselves and become vulnerable to each other.

I did not know until the authors notes at the end of the book that this is a sequel. I'll admit that there was a scene that didn't make sense entirely that probably would have been more comical had I read the previous book. But even with that scene, reading the first book is not completely necessary to enjoy To Love and To Loathe. I certainly will be purchasing it now though! Martha Waters has found herself a fan!

Many thanks to Atria books and Netgalley for allowing me to read this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I typically enjoy enemies to lovers romance so was excited to pick this one up. I rarely read regency romance but got Bridgerton vibes early on which got me into it. Overall it was kind of boring. There was never a lot happening and it felt a bit repetitive with multiple references to Jeremy’s reputation, a friend’s reconciliation with her husband, and scheming to push Jeremy into a marriage.

There is some good banter between Diana and Jeremy and I liked seeing them bring out the vulnerable side in one another. I also appreciated Diana’s commentary around women’s roles in society and the sex-positive conversations. If you read regency romances this may be up your alley but not a memorable one for me.

DNF this one at 38%. Although I am a huge fan of the enemies to lovers troupe, this plot is all over the place and a little pedestrian.

I’m sorry. I had such high hopes for this one.

Diana intentionally married an older wealthy man and is now enjoying the freedom that has come with being a widow. Jeremy is Diana’s brother’s best friend. Since Diana’s coming out, they are at each other's throats more often than not, which leads to a bet between the two that Jeremy will be married within the year. Later, when Jeremy, a known rake, receives a poor review on his bedroom performance, he propositions Diana. He knows she will give him an honest response and give him pointers - if he needs them!

The set up of this book is fantastic. Diana and Jeremy are classic enemies to lovers who refuse to acknowledge that their love for arguing could actually be masking their attraction for one another. I really loved how sex positive this book is. Diana is unwilling to let Jeremy off the hook and has to explain to him why women have most likely not been willing to vocalize their physical needs. The revelation shocks Jeremy, but he is willing to put aside his hurt pride and learn.

This book lost me a little in the middle. I loved every aspect of Jeremy and Diana getting to know each other, but Diana’s mission to push Jeremy into a marriage with someone else became very frustrating to me at times. With that being said, this book is very charming and the ending is everything a romance reader could hope for! Thank you Net Galley and Atria Books for allowing me to read an advanced copy for an honest review!

If you love witty banter and Regency romances, definitely check this out. With tons of Bridgerton vibes and lovable characters, it was a fun and light read and a great escape! Plus, I love this book cover!

However, if you are looking for a more historically accurate Regency romance this probably isn’t the book for you. The characters are enjoyable by 2021 standards but would have been socially unacceptable in the time period.

3.5 stars

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Atria books for the advanced copy.

It started with a wager between two frenemies. As you know, I love enemies-to-lovers tropes and as a first-time reader of Martha Waters' works, I am a new fan. Her characters are smart, playful, and honest.

Widowed Lady Diana Templeton secretly enjoys her banters with long-time frenemy and rakehell Jeremy Overington, Marquess of Willingham, but he knows how to push her buttons. She is determined to find a woman for him to marry as she takes him up on his proposition to work with him on his skills as a lover. But the more time they spend with each other, the more they reveal their true selves making the attraction all the more difficult to deny.

The dynamic between Diana and Jeremy is volatile, frustrating, and very hot. Their vulnerability and honesty with each other are very refreshing. Watching them pretend to hate each other while trying to keep their hands off each other is what makes a good romance for me. The supporting characters are a great addition that brings that cozy family-like feel to the whole story. I can't wait to read more of this series.

I recommend this engaging Regency romance to those readers who love quick repartee, complex characters, and an enjoyable stay at a beautiful estate.

Thank you to Ms. Waters, Netgalley, and Atria Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.

This book was way too slow paced for me and it took me forever to finish because I just could not get into it. The romance of the main characters takes a back seat to constant rehashes of what I assume to be the first book and all the antics at the house party to push Jeremy towards another woman. There was a lot going on and so many characters, I’m not sure I kept them all straight.

Thanks to the publisher for a review copy via NetGalley.

tw: death of a sibling

As someone who hasn't read a lot of historically, I'm not sure if this was meant to be more over-the-top than most of them are but it definitely had that tongue in cheek feel to it. This is a bantering almost rivals to lovers, including a fake (but actually real) tryst meant to help out the both of them. While there is a lot of what feels like over the top behavior from some of the characters, it was overall enjoyable. There is a side character who is a lesbian and it is used a bit as a twist but overall I think the character is handled fairly well for the time period the story is set in. Cute but surface level for sure.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy of To Love and to Loathe by Martha Waters.

If you're a regency era fan and love witty banter and enemies to lovers you'll enjoy this book!

I'm not the biggest regency era fan, but this was funny enough to keep me entertained.

To Love and to Loathe is the second book by Martha Waters in The Regency Vows series. After the first novel I compared this series to be Downton Abby meets a Jasmine Guillory series ... and after this second book I would still agree.

Diana is a widow at the age of 23, after marrying young, for the freedom that it brought her. Jeremy is the heir to his families title, after the death of his brother, despite never wanting it. They are always at odds with each other. So when Diana decides to bet that Jeremy will be married in a year he takes her up on it, knowing he wants to be a bachelor for life. The bet comes with complications as they head to Jeremy’s summer house for a two week closing season party with friends. They both are surprised by what takes place when they finally get to know each other after all these years.

I love this group of friends. I love the era of these novels and when they take place. I love that the banter and fun than you don’t normally see with a historical romance book. I was so glad this book was about Diana and Jeremy, I loved their banter and friendship in the first book. There are so many other characters that deserve a story, I cannot wait to see which book is

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book is super cute. It's light, it's funny, the two main characters have fantastic chemistry, and I read it quite quickly. It's a nice salve for *gestures at everything.* To Love and to Loathe is the second book in The Regency Vows series. I did not know this! It makes me want to pick up To Have and to Hoax, but you don't need to in order to understand the plot of this story.

Is it the best romance you'll read? Probably not. It felt like the love child of Evie Dunmore's League of Extraordinary Women series and Julia Quinn's Bridgerton series (but way less steamy than either of those). However, Dunmore's and Quinn's are more captivating.

I totally recommend this book, but I also want to note that you'll see some pretty familiar tropes throughout the story.

Lady Diana is now a widow with little worries. She can finally be free and have the means to do so. She is a quick witted force of nature.

Jeremy Willingham has a title and many lovers. He has no desire to marry. He just wants to have fun.

Read this fun book to see what happens when Diana wagers with Jeremy that he will be married within a year, what Jeremy propositions Diana to scratch their itch, and to see some of the fun characters from Waters first book.

Thank you Atria and Netgalley for the advanced copy of this novel. All thoughts are my own.

In this historical romance, Diana, Lady Templeton, and Jeremy, Marquess of Willingham are known amongst their circle of friends as two hot heads who thrive on trying to best each other. Diana, now a widow, makes a bet with Jeremy that within a year he’ll be married, and if she wins, he’ll give her 100 pounds.

But hey…..Jeremy has something else in mind….Because Diana is seen to be sexually experienced since she was married, Jeremy goes to her for guidance in the affairs of the bedroom since he was told from a previous “liaison” that his bedroom skills weren’t up to par., so the two make an agreement that they’ll have a brief affair for the sake of “lessons and feedback”, and what Diana will get back in return is the reputation that she simply wants a lover and not another husband.

There were so many intricacies, background, and side characters involved in the story of course but to be honest I wasn’t really swept away until the last few chapters. It could have been just me but I feel there was soooo much narration when there could have been more dialogue. Like on one page Jeremy would say something and then appeared 2-3 paragraphs of backstory or his thoughts and then a page or so later he would finally continue. I’m all for slow burns, but it seemed way too slow for me.

Nevertheless, this was a good story with great flirting and banter, an interesting jaw-dropping twist (no pregnancy I promise), 2-3 sex scenes, and the last four chapters were sweet “n” swoony leading to an HEA.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review.