Hilarious. I found this to be such a delightful read. A mix-up of troupes, this one has a little something for everyone. Jeremy has something to prove after being disgraced in the bedroom and he thinks that Diana can help. Diana, for her end of the bargain, is ready to date again after the death of her spouse and hooking up with Jeremy just might signal that to potential suitors.

I'm not sure how it all works, but I enjoyed this one and look forward to what comes next from Waters!

My thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest review

I thought that this was an absolutely lovely story. The character of Diana is so well done, and her independent streak and witty retorts made me love her even more. This is the second Regency-era romance that I've read, and I love this period. Martha Waters does a very good job at setting the scene without too much description. It is very easy to feel like you're also spending the summer in the country along with the characters.

There are two narrators, Jeremy and Diana, and I found it a little bit confusing in the beginning to keep them straight. This is the second book in the series and while I did not read the first one, I was able to find my way and keep track of all the characters about 10 or so pages into the story. So don't let the fact that it's a sequel deter you from reading! I also wished that there was a little more dialogue among Violet, Emily, and Diana, but I guess I'll have to just read the other books!

3.5/5

I love a good historical romance. My first love for historical romance series was the Bridgestone series (which I read back as a freshman in college). Ever since then I have read as many historical romances as I could get my hands on. I came across this author’s book To Have and To Hoax last year. I read it at the beginning of quarantine around March 21. I loved that one and couldn’t out it down. I remember hoping it would be a series. My wishes came true!
Book 2 follows Diana (Lady Templeton) and Jeremy (Marquess of Willingham). Widowed Diana bets Jeremy that she can find him a wife without a year. A few weeks later, Diana is shocked to find Jeremy at her door when his latest mistress questions his skills in the bedroom. Jeremy trusts Diana to tell him the truth so he has an idea.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (If you read the first book in the series you will see some familiar faces! I love checking in with characters in earlier books! Best parts of a series)
Thanks to @atriabooks and @netgalley for a copy! It comes out April 6 and you can get your own copy!

Of late, there haven't been many books that compel me to stay up all night reading but this one caught me completely unawares. I knew I'd enjoy it as this kind of thing is right up my alley but I didn't realise quite how much I would enjoy it. I couldn't go to bed last night without finishing it.

It's one glorious, delicious seduction. The slow burn and sarcasm are perfectly balanced. Witty repartee and one-upsmanship are lovely when they're done well, and they're very well done here. But the story also has unexpected depths. I liked the peek behind the societal curtain but even more so, I liked the gravity of Diana and Jeremy. There's a richness to both of them that seems effortless. I well and truly enjoyed them.

I'd absolutely recommend this to anyone:
- adores the friends-with-benefits trope
- who likes smutty romance tempered with reality
- is an Austen fan but felt like moments were missing...

I am usually not a huge fan of regency novels BUT for some reason, the exception is Martha Waters. With my favorite trope of a somewhat enemies-to-lovers, we are given a historical romance with comedy, angst, and depth that can make even the most anti-historical romance reader weak in the knees.

I liked this story of a widowed Lady and the rakish Marquess that is reluctantly drawn to her. It was a fun cute story. A light read.
However there was a lot of “tell” not “show” in this book. The telling often contradicted the showing. One thing in particular was the constant telling of how clever a mastermind Diana was but her “schemes” didn’t feel like well planned out chess moves. And she often seemed unaware and unobservant. And so that characterization provided to the reader was never really portrayed in the character’s actions.
There were a few instances where some descriptions were repeated word for word on the very next page and that can be a bit disappointing, but not insurmountable to reader enjoyment.
Overall I liked it, but thought there was room for improvement. I will likely read this author again in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read in exchange of an honest review.

Wow! What an exciting new voice in historical romances! Martha Waters has created a lovely group of characters who are all interesting and test the limits of what they would've been allowed during that time period! I hadn't read the first book when reading this so I missed a little backstory but no overall impact on the story! Dian and Jeremy are a great couple and the will they won't they combined with their banter was top notch!
Can't wait to read more from Martha Waters!

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review!

Oh, my goodness, this book is as delightful (more so, even) as the first one. Diana and Jeremy's sexual tension crackles from the beginning and the mutual attraction was so fun to read about.

Martha Waters's debut novel To Have and to Hoax was one of the first books I read when lockdown began last year, and its wit, humor, and swoony second-chance romance were truly a saving grace at that time. I immediately was thrilled at the prospect of more stories about these characters, and as such was so happy to receive an advanced copy of To Love and to Loathe, the second book in the The Regency Vows series. I was even more thrilled when I dove into this book and realized that I loved it even more than its predecessor.

What seems to be a hallmark of this series are the hijinks its characters involve themselves in, and I love some good hijinks. In this book, Diana, a wealthy widow who values her independence, and Jeremy, a handsome rake, have been flirt-fighting across London for years. They come to two separate agreements that inform the plot: she bets him 100 pounds that he'll be married within the year, and he gets her to agree to a brief affair in order to reinvigorate his rakish reputation. Set primarily at a house party in the English countryside, these two try to out-scheme the other (helped along by Jeremy's grandmother, the ultimate schemer of the bunch), but as the two learn more about each other, they both need to reckon with their growing feelings for each other.

Enemies-to-lovers will forever be a favorite of mine and this book excelled at playing with a lot of the themes that are common in enemies-to-lovers stories. It's not quite correct to say that Jeremy and Diana are enemies, though; they enjoy pushing each other's buttons far too much to believe they actually hate each other, but this made the novel all the more fun. The banter and chemistry here leaps off the page, and I was invested in these two from the beginning. I also found the ending so lovely and sweet that I cried. To be fair, I'm a crier generally, but romances rarely, if ever, provoke that emotion in me, so I've got to tip my hat here. My only teensy tiny complaint is that I wish it had a few more steamy scenes, but that's a me problem, not a book problem.

Above all, what I really love about Waters's books is how accessible they are to a modern reader. Her characters are refreshingly forward-thinking, and while this may not be historically accurate, it makes it much more palatable than a lot of other historical romances I've read. I also enjoy how self-aware her books are about the tropes that they play with; this is really cleverly done.

All in all, this was a 5 star read for me, and Waters has cemented herself as an auto-buy author for me. I cannot wait to get more from this series - what is going on with Emily?! will we get West's story?! - and look forward to reading whatever Waters writes in the future.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria for the advanced copy!

I have never been a fan of regency romance. However, Waters fresh new approach in her writing of To Love and to Loathe has made me partial to story telling skills. I liked how she brought freshness and lightness to romance. The setting is over 200 years ago, but the themes are timeless. I was amused most of the time by the banter between Jeremy and Diane. Although I knew how the story would end (as it better have ended), the pleasure was in the journey.

Why was this book perfection!!!!!!!!! Was I the only one that read the whole book in a British accent? Because I was seriously doing that, lol. Anyway this book gave me all of the feels when it comes to romance, it gave me comedy, because Jeremy is too funny and so damn sarcastic, and full of himself, but we later find out he has way more to offer than we think. And then we have Diana, who appears stuck up, and super serious, but she is more than that, which I love. I know with their constant bickering they were gonna be that COUPLE. But when they both agreed on a bet, and it was for Jeremy to finally marry within a year, I was still thinking, I wonder who will loose this? There was one huge surprise in the book that I was not expecting, and I loved that. I didn’t know that there was a book before this one, it was a good stand alone book, and a true lover to romance novels, this book is recommended to read ASAP! Thanks Netgalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read this book.

What happens when a widow of the regency era realizes that she has freedoms beyond her imagination and is persistently annoyed by an infamous rake she has known since childhood? While it may seem obvious, this book has a lot of fun with the era and plays around with the dynamics behind closed doors that are often left out of Miss Austen with the humor and wit of a modern take. The characters were exceptionally human the characters were a lot of fun. I think the character of Helen was probably one of my favorite secondary characters because she managed to personality than first perceived. It’s a fun book. Enjoy!

Overall, an okay read. I had a real hard time warming up to Diana. What was supposed to come across as her witty, cheeky banter seemed mean and petty to me. She also comes across as very mercenary, when she has her first season and is only looking for a wealthy man. Luckily for her, she married an older, wealthy man who left her a widow at 20. Jeremy was a much more likable character and he saved the story. He is written as a typical rake, but you see his good side earlier on in the story. While it took me some time to warm up to Diana, I was pleased to see them get their HEA. I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley for my honest opinion.

Last year I read To Have and to Hoax when I was first starting to get into historical romances and remember thinking it was so funny and wonderful. I also was so ready to get more Diana and Jeremy - they clearly had some enemies-to-lovers vibes going on that I couldn't wait to see.

To Love and to Loathe was another lovely story - we've got a bet between frenemies, friends-with-benefits, and a scheming grandmother. All of this set up for a story with great chemistry and romance moments, but it also led to some really great conversations where you really see Diana and Jeremy start to understand each other better. The dialogue was witty and fun and the story took some delightful turns. I feel like Waters in particular does a great job of making historical romance characters and stories feel fresh and current. Really the only thing that fell a little short for me was wanting more from Jeremy's POV - it was just a little unbalanced towards Diana.

And like before, this story is setting us up well for the next - I'm so curious to see where Emily and (I'm assuming) Julian's story goes.

Thanks to the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a delightful and quick read. Others have described it as a romp, and I agree. The heroine is a widow, which is arguably the best thing you can be in Regency England, because you actually have some control over your own money and future. In the beginning of the book, she has no real desire to ever remarry, and who could blame her? It's always refreshing to read a historical romance where the woman isn't a clueless virgin, or when, despite her relative inexperience, she actually knows something about her own body and can teach the hero a thing or two. I did find certain *twists* to be very predictable, but maybe it was supposed to be, or maybe I just read a lot of romance and nothing can really shock me anymore. I did sort of want a tiny bit more about Jeremy's backstory/tortured past, because while we got a little, it didn't necessarily seem to be enough to apparently shape his entire adult worldview. What we learned of him came in bits and pieces, largely from other characters telling him how his past affected him, and I would've liked a bit more inner monologue or something from him. Regardless, this was a fun read.

4.5. What a delightful book! Waters' first book, To Have and to Hoax, was my first official historical romance and Waters has done it again...spoiled me for other historical romances (because once I started I couldn't stop). Diana, Lady Templeton, is a widow after marrying for practical reasons and makes a wager with the handsome rakish Jeremy, Marquess of Willingham -- one hundred pounds that he will be married in a year. Diana is smart and funny, but she has to tell herself a lot of different lies including that she is not interested in Jeremy. Jeremy is a rake, but there is more to him than meets the eye.

I adored this book. I think this book even more than her first is a really great bridge for those who love modern romance novels but are nervous about making the jump to historical ones. Waters is able to ground her books with modern sensibilities, but also not make them feel anachronistic for the regency time period. For lovers of the Netflix show Bridgerton in particular I think her books are the perfect gateway into the world of historical romance.

The chemistry crackles between Diana and Jeremy but they also get to know each other on a personal level and are the only ones who see how the other truly works. They have their own issues and insecurities, but they go well together and that is the kind of thing that always works for me in a great romance. I love the "friends with benefits" trope and Waters is able to avoid a lot of the things that bother me and are innate in the historical romance genre. I had the biggest smile on my face the entire end of this novel and highly recommend.

Is it too much for me to hope we get another book for Emily? There is definitely something going on there!

Thank you SO much to NetGalley and Atria books for this ARC and letting me review this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Amongst the elite in Regency England, Lady Diana Bourne and Marquess Jeremy Overington are infamous. The two are renowned for their witty, but biting, repartee- one would almost suspect that the constant need to one up each other covers up another fervent need...
Watching Diana and Jeremy simultaneously deny and indulge their attraction proves to be a riotous endeavor that results in a romance that is pure perfection!

I enjoyed this light-hearted romance. Perfect for today's historical romance fans, To Love and to Loathe will sweep readers away.

Having recently watched and very much enjoyed the Netflix series Bridgerton, I felt transported! Though this book is The Regency Vows #2, I hadn't read #1 and am sure it makes no matter.

The setting--"... a man and woman who never agree on anything—until they agree to a no-strings-attached affair in this Regency-era romp. The widowed Diana, Lady Templeton and Jeremy, Marquess of Willingham agree on a wager: "Jeremy will marry within the year or Diana will forfeit one hundred pounds." To add spice to the story--"After his latest mistress unfavorably criticized his skills in the bedroom, Jeremy is looking for reassurance, so he has gone to the only woman he trusts to be totally truthful. He suggests that they embark on a brief affair while at the house party—Jeremy can receive an honest critique of his bedroom skills and widowed Diana can use the gossip to signal to other gentlemen that she is interested in taking a lover." There are more people involved--Diana's friends and auspiciously Lady Helen [who figures prominently], Jeremy's friends [including her brother], his formidable grandmother Dowager Marchioness of Willingham, and others.

This was definitely a fast, easy read. And fun. And predictable--save--no spoiler from me--one item in the mix that I did not anticipate.

Two of the servants' names were amusing: Snuffgrove {Jeremy's valet] and Toogood {Diana's maid]!

New words: curricle, vingt-et-un, ratafia, addlepated {used frequently].

One disconnect for me--the book is primarily set in 1817. Nearly 2/3 in to the book, "You rang? Jeremy asked..." I know it's petty, but there were no telephones at the time and the expression just seemed so totally out of place that it threw me off. [It was asked of Diana, so not ringing a bell for a servant.]

This was basically a cat and mouse play--with much banter on steroids. And like those two critters--much [too much] toying. In the end, I felt the inevitable was becoming tiresome. Further, near the end, some of the prose turned me off it was so overly dramatic/overwroughtcringeworthy. Don't get me wrong--I did enjoy the read especially as it was mixed in after a few very serious tomes. And, there were some humorous moments. BUT, I found the repetition was wearing on me.

For much of the book I thought 3.5. But in the end, 3 stars. As promoted--a "romp." If you know that going into it, will will enjoy the ride.

To Love and to Loathe is a refreshing take on an enemies-to-lovers romance, using a contemporary lens to discuss nineteenth-century social mores. I knew I would enjoy the book after the main character boldly stated, "don't be absurd... the last thing I ever intend to do is something as unutterably foolish as to fall in love" (SURE, JAN) but I didn't realize that I would also absolutely heart-eyes emoji love it. Martha Waters created such enjoyable characters and such a lovely narrative voice—"a well-tied cravat IS nothing to take lightly"!!!!—with prose seeped in deliciously worded barbs and quips. I'm not usually a big historical fiction reader, but this novel saw that gif of Darcy foolishly proposing to Elizabeth in a gazebo drenched with rain and then expanded that look of UNBRIDLED LUST on his face and made it into a novel. Oh, and she also added sex. 4.5/5 stars