Martha Waters has quickly become a must-read when it comes to historical romance with a bite. Could the conflict be solved with honest conversation instead of manipulation? Sure! But it wouldn't be nearly as much fun. This book is the perfect follow up to To Have and To Hoax telling the story of a notorious rake who wants his ego stroked in a no-strings-attached relationship with a widow who supposedly hates him. Enemies to lovers, widow and rakes, I never stood a chance.

Kudos to Waters for producing a funny but sweet book. I thought the chemistry between Jeremy and Diana’s was great. It was refreshing that their “disagreement” only lasted for a day unlike other books where it last for days or weeks. It was a nice historical romance with information that I didn’t know. Would have been nice if there had been an epilogue but I understand. Overall, a good book.

I didn't read the first in this series--admittedly I didn't know it was a series at all--so went into this a bit blind. The first couple of chapters were readable, but Diana and Jeremy were pretty flat and vaguely awful with few redeeming characteristics. Once the bets and the bargains are made and the scene is set at Jeremy's two-week hunting party, I found myself skimming through the book. I decided to put it down for the characters. Diana doesn't have much interesting going on--like reading about a regency mean girl--and Jeremy is a cad with little else to recommend him. They sound like they deserve each other, but I can't convince myself to watch them maybe become less terrible over a two-week romp. DNF at about 25%.

This was a sweet and short romance that was fun to read. For a book set in a historical time period, the characters were refreshingly modern and I appreciated the depth of our main protagonists. I enjoyed learning about Jeremy through his grandmother as well as through Diana. I think that, while it was frustrating that it took so long for these two characters to admit their feelings, the bickering and flirting that consumed the story was funny and charming and made it hard for me to put it down.

This ended up not being a love for me. I love the idea, but what it comes down to: I just didn't like any of the characters.

Diana is the main culprit for my teeth gnashing. I just didn't like her. At all. The slower pacing meant that I was forced with sit through her unrealistic matchmaking attempts on repeat while she dug her heels in on the romance. Jeremy just wasn't memorable enough for me to form more than a neutral opinion.

The good news: Character loathing is completely subjective so other readers may absolutely love this book.

The bad news: I don't think this is the series for me.

**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved both main characters and the authors wittiness. I haven’t read the first book but I will now! Thank you to netgalley for the ARC.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Atria books for giving me a chance to review this terrific regency romantic comedy. I love so many things about To Love and to Loathe. Diana and Jeremy have so much depth, and I was so invested in everything coming together for them. To me, this book feels like fascinating blend of “A Rogue of Ones Own” and “The Roommate.”

The sex positivity is my favorite part of this book. There is no shaming and the focus on female pleasure is great. The steamy scenes were super sexy while also being realistic and included certain things that aren’t often discussed in books. I loved that.

I continue to adore the friendship between Emily, Violet, and Diana. I really hope there will be a future book about Emily. She’s a fabulous character, and I want to know what’s going on in her head.

I really appreciated the representation in this book and how it was handled. It’s great to see gay characters in a regency romance.

Jeremy’s grandmother is an excellent character. She gives me major Diana Rigg vibes, and I love the way she handles what’s happening with Jeremy and Diana.

Overall, the chemistry here was hot and the banter was hilarious. I will read anything by Martha Waters from now on.

Disclaimer: I got this book from @NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

If you're a fan of enemies to lovers then this is for you!! I absolutely adored this book and can't wait to read more of Martha Waters books. If you liked 10 Things I hate about Pinky or The Hating Game, then this is for you!!

Martha Waters is the banter queen! This book is so fun and full of excellent dialogue. I’m not always a fan of historical romance, but this series is wonderful. Diana and Jeremy are old friends - frenemies really - who agree to an affair to help them both achieve different goals in the bedroom. Diana’s a widow, looking for experience and a lover, while Jeremy the rake is reeling from a “poor review” and needs some instruction from a trusted friend. To make sure neither catches feelings, they even bet on it. What a perfect set up!

I loved the witty banter between Diana and Jeremy, the scheming, and the side characters (here’s to hoping we see more of Lady Helen in this series!). This is the second in a series but works fine as a standalone.

Thanks to Atria and NetGalley for the early copy in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own.

This was a fun read! Thank you to Atria Books for the advanced copy.

I’ve never read a regency romance before, so this enemies-to-lovers romp was a lot more fun than I expected! I can see myself going back to read the first book to connect some small Easter eggs, but it was easy enough to follow on its own.

This may have made a regency romance fan out of me, looking forward to the author’s future work.

This book was absolutely delightful! I loved TO HAVE AND TO HOAX, but I think I loved this one even more. I could easily read 500 pages of Martha Waters banter.

I didn't realize this was the second book in a series and after a couple chapters the characters seemd very familiar. I then headed to Goodreads only to find out I had read book one (and loved it). After solving that little mystery I was able to dive in and I'm happy to report I enjoyed this book as much as the first.

What I loved about this book:

1. These great characters and great plot make this book an absolute must read. I'm a huge fan of Regency romcoms and this one definitely didn't disappoint. Lady Templeton and the Marquess of Willingham were such an enjoyable couple to read about. While it initially seems they can't stand each other (which creates such amazing tension), Jeremy's proposition of a brief fling to ensure he's as good as he thinks in the sack is definitely intriguing to Diana who wants a bit more experience in that department. While they put an expiration date on their filing, neither of them expected to develop feelings. The only problem is neither of them want to admit they're developing feelings.

2. The witty banter in this enemies to lovers romance was one of my favorite parts of this book. Anytime there is an amazing frenemies with benefits situation, sign me up!

3. This book is full of amazing and well developed secondary characters that leave me hopeful for many more installments in this series. I desperately need an Emily/Belfry book, but I'll read anything the author writes next.

After reading both of Waters books, sign me up for anything and everything she writes in the future. Her historical romances are full of witty banter, sizzling sexual tension, and amazing plots that are sure to suck you in. If you haven't read either, I highly encourage to get started ASAP!

What a fun follow-up to To Have and to Hoax. I really enjoy the way the author continues to subvert the classic romance novel tropes. And to throw in an LGBTQ subplot that is also a long game in avoiding the whole marriage mart was so, so delightful. Looking forward to more titles from this author. Hoping for West and Sophie's story next....

Okay, I have read a lot of Regency-era books and romances in the past but it's been a while. Maybe a year or so. This one sounded really fun – enemies to lovers, and based on the cover I expected it to be more of a rom-com than a romance.

Light spoilers ahead.

The premise was solid, but I found the execution a little bland. Widowed Diana seeks out a lover to indicate to other men that she's open for courting, while Jeremy pursues Diana because he had been given feedback about his bedroom skills and needs to work. A perfectly zany premise, but one that went too sappy and serious too fast. I think part of it is that they knew each other because of Jeremy's friendship with Diana's brother, but it just didn't have the pacing or emotional resonance I was looking for in a Regency read.

This book was good. This book was fun. But I’m not entirely sure this book was good fun.

Following a witty widow, Diana, try to navigate the romantic and sexual tension between her and an old friend, Jeremy, seemed like the absolutely perfect plot set up. Their banter was my absolute favorite part of To Love and To Loathe! Seeing the development of their relationship from both character’s point of view was enlightening.

However, I found everything in between the banter a little lacking. The lengthened descriptions left me counting the pages until the action resumed. I wanted more oomph from each of them — the small moments they shared left me craving something more that I never truly got.

I can’t complain too much about this book since I did stay up until 3 a.m. to finish it. I could have put it down had it really dulled me. I kept telling myself I put it down when I felt like they’d hit the plot climax. It unfortunately was only 2 chapters before the end, and thus the resolution was also a little lacking. I’ve realized this is because there was absolutely no other plot besides the fact that these two needed to get together.

This is strictly a romance book, if you do not expect any other substantial plot you may enjoy it immensely.

I loved the witty repartee between the main characters! The chemistry was off the charts for these two! Definitely recommended to any romance reader not just historical romance readers. My only negative was the ending was too rushed fir my taste and some of the ending seemed out of character for me. Please read this amazing book! I’ll definitely be reading more from this wonderful author.
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC to review.

This was an incredibly delightful book and I’m glad it was my first foray into historical romance. I loved how spicy the book was despite never having to use any jargon typical to contemporary smut. Diana and Jeremy were hilarious and sympathetic at the same time and their chemistry was off the charts from page one. Thoroughly enjoyed reading this into the wee hours of the night and I think the dialogue has worked its way into my every day speech patterns already.

If I could only sum up TLATL in 2 words? "Sparkling repartee." I can not remember the last time I read a romance novel that had so much witty banter. It is a total paragon of enemies to lovers, but there's a well-established (albeit grudging) friendship in between that is addictive to watch. I was literally cracking up every other page, and I'm not a softie. There was so much rank antagonism between the protagonists, but it was tempered by a heady mix of civility and frisson, and the result was truly delectable. Think "Pride and Prejudice", but sarcasm and steam are ramped up.

While the premise itself was novel, I really admired Ms. Waters for her depiction of the quintessential British female as a commodity and not a person, and the desperate struggles taken to ensure or obtain freedom for oneself. It was a daring POV that paid off. She also managed to portray a Victorian-era Sapphist in what I thought was a respectable light (sometimes LGBTQ+ characters in romance are just thrown in for shock value or as villains, and I greatly appreciated that pains were taken to actually explore this character's motivations and feelings). Also, the female friendships in this novel were #goals.

Here's a book about titled, wealthy, gorgeous people - and yet, they felt average, with normal insecurities and woes. Being able to make a reader have any sort of connection with a character so outside of their commonality is talent.

So, why isn't it a 5 star read? Honestly, it easily could be, and for many, it will be. Here are my few gripes (and they aren't really spoiler-y):

1) Repetition. Diana repeated the words/thoughts "I could feel his kiss...everywhere" more than 3 times in different scenes. I'd like some variation.

2) Despite Diana frequently being compared to a man for being upfront about her desires and not being missish, she succumbed to drama towards the end, which seemed out of character.

3) The ending felt rushed and some of the luster had worn off. I really think it could be more cleanly packaged, as it did feel like the dialogue was long-winded and kept going in circles at that point. It also felt like some characters (i.e., Penvale) had completely reversed their stance, with no build-up for doing so. I was a bit mystified.

Overall, this was a truly enjoyable read and I'm glad it graced my Kindle. I plan to buy it in print once it is published, and to support this writer as she grows as an author. She has already proven herself imminently capable. I think Jane Austen would be proud <3

Special thanks to NetGalley & Atria Books for the arc!

2020 has been such a wild year that I have been gravitating more and more towards romance books. I don't know what it is but I feel like I need all of the feel good stories that I can get. Thank you to Atria Books and the author for giving me a chance to read To Love and to Loathe. I would like to start off this review by saying that I read this one before reading To Have and to Hoax; although I think reading To Have and to Hoax would enrich the reading experience of To Love and to Loathe, I don't think that reading that one first is absolutely necessary to read the second one, so they can both be read as standalones. In To Love and to Loathe, we have the widowed Diana and Jeremy, Marquess of Willingham, who have wagered a bet. If Jeremy doesn't get married within a year, Diana will give up one-hunded pounds. These are characters whose bicker will literally have you laughing out loud. Martha Waters puts her humor and wit in these characters that you can't help but be entertained by them as you are reading the story. I'm not always a fan of historical romances, but I do feel that this one had the perfect mix of both history and romance that allows the reader to be swept up in the world that Waters creates in this novel. I will be posting a feature and review on my IG page @readingmama_reviews a little closer to its pub date!

This book is great! Would definitely recommend. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.