If you’re looking for a Blair&Chuck-like dynamic where you can enjoy the characters without worrying about the objectively terrible things they’ve done, To Love and To Loathe is the perfect book. Recently-widowed Diana always saw marriage as a way to liberate herself from the pressures of the Victorian society. She becomes a viscountess and once her husband dies, she realizes she loves her freedom. So, instead of finding another husband, she vows to never settle down and flirts around. Jeremy, on the other hand, is your regular rake and of course, he is acting like he doesn’t have a heart. There’s a lot of chemistry between the characters and sometimes the plotline gets maybe too contemporary but what’s a better way to escape 2020 than reading a story that takes place in the 1820s? Also, this is to Dorota fans out there: THERE IS A DOROTA IN THIS STORY. Her name is TooGood, and as you can imagine, she is too good. (I struggle with Goodreads’ scoring system so I’ll give it a 4 but this book is 100% a 3.75.)

Excellent Book 2! I enjoyed the characters immensely, mainly because they weren't the most likeable people in the beginning. Their natures were, IMO, more self-serving and unapologetic and it was a lot of fun watching them fall for each other against their wills. What cracked me up was the blunt assessment of the hero's sexual prowess that almost sent him packing with his tail between his legs! A fun read all around.

I'm not typically a historical romance fan but oh my goodness, I LOVED "To Love and to Loathe." The enemies to lovers trope is by far my favorite and the tension between Diana and Jeremy was just delicious and I devoured every single word. It was sweet, sexy, and funny all at the same time and I would highly recommend it to any romance lover and I can't wait to see what else Martha Waters has in store!

⭐️ 𝐓𝐎 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐎 𝐋𝐎𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐄 ⭐️ @marthabwaters follow up to TO HAVE AND TO HOAX is a similarly fun regency romance romp (how’s that for alliteration?) taking place in the same universe - this time with childhood frenemies Diana and Jeremy. Diana is a young widow finally enjoying the social and financial freedom widowhood allows a woman of title and fortune, and Jeremy is a seemingly feckless eternal bachelor,
resentful of the title (and responsibility) his older brother’s death has afforded him. Diana wants to win her bet that Jeremy will wed within a year, and Jeremy wants Diana to help him get his mojo back after a jilted lover disparaged his bedroom performance. Their “relationship” is supposed to be transactional and nothing more, but what if it becomes something more anyway? I enjoyed TO HAVE AND TO HOAX quite a bit, but I might have liked TO LOVE AND TO LOATHE even more - and I can’t wait to see what comes next in this series. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for this advance review copy; all opinions are my own.

Everything I liked about To Have and to Hoax was even stronger in To Love and to Loathe. Sharp banter, dynamic characters, fast-paced and deliciously domestic setting. There's something cozy about Ms. Waters' writing--while she keeps the narrative moving and engages you with the plot, you know you can rest easy in her hands, that happily ever after is coming, with plenty of laughs along the way along with the satisfying journey through both main characters' growth toward their realization of their true-love-feelings.

I'll also say how deeply I appreciated the self-awareness infused in the dialogue--be that about the privilege of heteronormative relationships, the unfairness of patriarchal norms, the despicable misogynist laws that wiped away a woman's autonomy, finances, and independence. Historical romances often gloss over this, and I really valued seeing it included.

19th century England is possibly my favorite time period/setting to read about and I'm so excited that I can add this one to my list of favorites for the year! The setting paired with a hate to love romance made for such a great read for me. I loved the characters and the plot and I honestly just had all the feels after picking this one up. One of my favorite things about the book was the dynamic and chemistry between Diana and Jeremy. They spent so much time just trying to convince themselves they actually hate the each other when the tension and romantic connection between them was so evident.
This book had wit, banter, engaging characters and a historical setting that is always so immersive.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Atria books and the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I was excited to get the opportunity to read the next book in this series by Martha Waters. I like to change up my reading habits by dabbling in a bit of historical romance. This story is about Diana and Jeremy. If you read To Have and to Hoax, then you have met them. And don't worry, Violet and Audley make appearances in this as well.

Diana has always felt a burden since her parents died. Her goal was to marry wealthy. Her first season, she had a list of potential suitors and settled on Viscount Templeton. Since he was older, it was a short marriage. 5 years later she is out and about and loving her independence. But there is something about her brother's life long friend, Jeremy Overington, Marquess of Willingham, that riles her up. There is always an undercurrent of attraction but his playboy ways always has Diana dismissing him as a possible suitor,

Jeremy is definitely more than meets the eye. And while he enjoys his dalliances, he's never been one to want to settle down; even if he half joked with Diana during her first season. Now Diana has made him a bet, that she could find him a match and that he will be married within a year. But Jeremy has a side bargain for Diana.

But hijinks ensue during a fortnight party at Jeremy's country estate. So will Diana and Jeremy realize they are a match? Definitely one click to find out.

To Love and to Loathe was remarkably light and fun. Our cast of characters is thus:

Diana, Lady Templeton: widow to her much older husband, pragmatic, sharp wit, and can’t stop bickering with Jeremy
Jeremy, Marquess of Willingham: rake (that’s a manwhore to you historical romance noobs), doing his best to live an easy life with no expectations, and does his best to push Diana’s buttons

Here’s where I was surprised: when Jeremy’s latest mistress criticizes his skills in the bedchamber, he proposes a “frenemies with benefits” situation with Diana. Not your typical historical romance plot. Diana is widowed and has been single since her marriage, but this faux relationship with Jeremy could get the rumor mills going and gain her some naked action, and thus, they agree to a short term, no strings attached relationship.

I am starting to get really bored of the manwhore trope, and yet it didn’t seem to bother me as much in To Love and to Loathe. Likely because we didn’t meet many of his previous ladies, so I could bury my head in the sand about his varied sexual history. Side note: in Regency England, when you are constantly going to house parties with the same people, wouldn’t that just be so uncomfortable? To know your husband or partner has had sex with half the women in the room? ICK.

But I digress.

To Love and to Loathe was funny and lighthearted, without being too emotionally shallow. There were some interesting and deeper themes discussed that were complex. The banter between Diana and Jeremy was definitely smile inducing and the side characters all added to the general feel to the story without overpowering the leads.

I’m hoping for more from this author. Perhaps one starring Emily and Julian, hmmmmm?!?

Diana and Jeremy know each other when both are young. She is on the marriage mart and already knows that her best hope at a bright future is going to be a brilliant match. Therefore, she has little interest in Jeremy who is a fine enough gentleman but he is often drunk and doesn't seem to be building the family coffers.
Five years later, Lady Templeton is now widowed and is a good friend of Jeremy. In fact, they are well-known for making a series of bets with each other. Their latest wager is that Jeremy will be married within a year. It is somewhat hobbled by the fact that Jeremy, though known to have hopped into the beds of most of the married women of the ton, is now doubting his own prowess based on comments from his last mistress... er, lover. While he could have broken it off with her in a better manner (while still in bed with her after making love), he still wonders if she is telling the truth. Jeremy thinks they could have some mutual gain by embarking on an affair. He can find out the truth of his skill in bed and Diana can let other men know that she is accepting lovers. A house party at Jeremy's seems the perfect place to begin an affair and to get Jeremy set up with the perfect woman... Lady Helen.
However, this is a romance so not all goes as expected.
Diana was delightful. She knew (for the most part) what she wanted in life and she went for it. Jeremy was also built out really well and I enjoyed seeing them go from friends to lovers. So much that I might even check out Waters' first book which I didn't think I'd enjoy but I'm curious about the characters.
I really hope that we get a story with Emily and her beau, Julian Belfry.

Four stars
This book come out April 6th
ARC kindly provided by Atria Books and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Martha Waters’s ‘To Love and to Loathe’ is a bright and witty romantic romp through regency England. Fans of classics like ‘Pride and Prejudice’ and/or contemporary historical romances like Waters’s ‘To Have and to Hoax’ or Evie Dunmore’s ‘Bringing Down the Duke’ will be swept up in the witty dialogue and the delightful stubbornness of two protagonists who have an extremely difficult time mining the depths of their feelings.

Diana always knew that she’d need to marry for money. Orphaned as a child and raised on the good graces of her aunt and uncle, she finds her match, only to be widowed shortly thereafter. Jeremy never wanted to be the Marquess of Willingham, but after his brother’s death, the title is thrust upon him. Whenever Diana and Jeremy are in a room together? Sparks fly. Their banter is legendary, and their irritation with each other obvious… but after a marriage wager and an (in)decent proposal, they’ll find there’s a thin line between irritation and affection.

I’m not an immersive reader of historical romances, but I found ‘To Love and to Loathe’ delightful. There’s witty banter, low stakes miscommunication, and hijinks galore. To anyone who is looking for a lighthearted, entertaining read, this just might fit the bill. I appreciated how Waters injects an acknowledgement of the inequities of the day and an empowering depiction of her female characters. I also enjoyed how both protagonists are so similar and thus can see the other for who they truly are. And I loved the way that both the hero and the heroine are kind of smacked in the face with their true feelings.

All told, this will be a novel I will revisit for all of its mischievous antics and its delightful character development. If this story doesn’t put a smile on your face, I don’t know what will.


Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for supplying me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I should probably start by saying it's not the book, it's me. I know too much about the period to be able to sink into vaguely regency-ish romances, especially when the banter really isn't witty but all about sex. This was an experiment to dip back into Regency romances after dropping them some years ago.

I think the reader who will enjoy this romance most will be those who want plenty of bedroom action, don't mind (or are new to) the formula, because this is very formulaic, and who don't know anything about the period and won't mind all the errors in language, custom, and historical detail--or who don't care about that stuff.

I enjoyed the female characters, and would love to see something by this author in a modern setting, where the historical errors won't trip up the story.

For anyone who knows me knows I'm not particularly picky about what I read. Unlike movies where I am very picky books and I have an understanding of good or bad, I love to read the written word. Then once in a while, a bright shining star falls into my outstretched hands. This book was that shining star.

When it first came to me I was nervous knowing it was the second book in a series. I don't always do well with this because authors write as though you have read the previous book. However with Martha Waters that wasn't the case. I delved into this book like it was an original. Yes, other characters were mentioned but you don't need to have read their full stories t appreciate them in this one.

I must say I fell immediately in love with Diana the was smart, beautiful, and out-spoken. She knows what she wants and she gets it. When we meet Diana she is determined to find a rich husband so she never has to worry about money again. She is very thoughtful in her process.

With Jeremy, he is a devil may care young man. He is living life like most titled men of his generation enjoying life, alcohol, and women. What I like about him is he knows how to get under Diana's skin and isn't afraid of her or her strong will.

Their story starts with a childhood friendship that leads to them sparring as adults. This sparring leads them to make a bet that will have them both trying to win but failing epically. Their journey together is one of charm, cheekiness, and love. This was a story that truly exceeds my expectations in all the right ways.

Book Review:  To Love and to Loathe (ARC) by Martha Waters
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When I received my ARC copy of this book from #netgalley, I was so stoked!  This engaging rom-com is right up my alley, and it did not disappoint!
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The story follows Diana and Jeremy, two members of elite society in England.  The characters have a fiery attraction to each other from the first page, but timing is everything for this dynamic duo.  Both Diana and Jeremy like to be in control of every situation, albeit Jeremy’s need for control is less front and center than Diana’s.  I really enjoyed getting to know the two main characters in the book as well as the engaging and entertaining banter between them.  The continuous teasing and aggravating between Jeremy and Diana really added to their chemistry, and I felt like their relationship was really well-written.  I believed their attraction to each other from the very beginning, and I was on the edge of each page as I waited for that attraction to combust.  
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I really liked that Diana helped Jeremy come to terms with his vulnerabilities, and that Jeremy helped Diana let go of everything that was holding her back.  Both characters are real and honest, and I felt like those qualities really made the story jump off the page.  I also really enjoyed the side-characters in the book, especially Emily and Belfrey.  I would love to know more about both of them in future books!
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Overall, this book is a winner, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.  I finished it in about 24 hours, and it’s only the second book this year I’ve finished that quickly.  I am so grateful for the ARC of #ToLoveandtoLoathe from @netgalley, @marthabwaters, and @simonandschuster in exchange for an honest review.
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Diana, Lady Templeton and Jeremy, Marquess of Willingham are frenemies. Jeremy went to Eton with Diana's older brother. Diana is fiercely independent and rather enjoying widowhood. Hers was a marriage of convenience to a much older gentleman, and she was not particularly saddened by his unexpected death. She does, however, enjoy the financial benefit of widowhood. However, she is ready for some male companionship.

Jeremy never expected to be the Marquess. The title belonged to his elder brother, who died in an accident. Jeremy has led a footloose and fancy-free lifestyle - never lacking for female companionship and avoiding any entanglements.

Jeremy holds a hunting party at his country estate - a two-week long affair. There, he and Diana decide to become no-strings-attached lovers. But, will their deepening feelings allow them to remain so?

The start of this book was a little slow because it is set in Regency-era England. The writing is a bit more formal than contemporary novels. However, once I got past the titles, it was a fun read. Lots of banter between the two main characters. Lots of tension. I found myself with a big grin at the ending.

I'd give it 3.5 stars, maybe 4.

Thank you Netgalley for the digital ARC in return for an honest review.

I was super excited to read this book. I heard really good things about it, and I am always a fan of Historical Romance.

I did really enjoy reading this book, however, I did not love it as much as I wanted to. I think the reason it turned out to be 3 stars instead of 4 stars was that I felt bored in some areas of the book. The plot was not as fast paced as I wanted. I really only found myself caring about Lady Helen and the two main characters Jeremy and Diana. I did not get enough information or time with the other characters to really care that much about them. In the end, I thought the book was good, but I would have liked a bit more world building. However, the romance was super fun and I loved it a lot!

After being thoroughly dissed by a woman he dumped, perpetual rake Jeremy, the Marquess of Willingham needs help. The diss? That he’s lousy in bed. Jeremy refuses to believe it and asks to prove himself on the one person he knows won’t lie to him: his frenemy Diana, Lady Templeton. At first appalled, the widowed Diana, whose marriage bed wasn’t as warm as she would have liked, decides this proposal may be just the thing to gain the practice she needs before taking a lover of her own choosing. But all the bickering and teasing that took place over years of acquaintance soon turns into a kind of foreplay that the two weren’t expecting.
A cute premise with cute, bickering characters. The writing was great, but yikes were there a lot of characters. In fact, that is what I remember most about this book. At a house party, the story would sometimes turn towards the minor characters, all clearly from earlier in the series or who will soon be getting their own books. This really broke up the momentum of the story and I caught myself wondering more about the other characters than the main ones.

A highly enjoyable Regency romance firmly set in the period. This enemies to lovers story takes Diana, Lady Templeton, and Jeremy, Marquess of Willingham, from engaging in a no-strings-attached affair to their happily ever after. Complex characters, surprising twists and weighty subplots (regarding same-sex marriage and how it was unheard of during the time), and an exploration of the constraints placed upon women fill out the story. Readers will rejoice when Diana and Jeremy finally realize they love each other; and curse Jeremy when he mucks it all up. Then rejoice again, when the Happily Ever After comes true! A must-read.

This was fun and had a lot of good banter. I liked Diana's wit and fierceness. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC.

This book was the perfect escape. It was lovely and fun. It was my first book by this author and I will definitely be on the look out for more!!

Waters' second novel, To Love and to Loathe is--for lack of a more flowery turn of phrase--a damn delight. While I took issue with some of the pacing, the overall plot, the characters, and the dialogue all felt fresh and worked very well. This book got me through the long wait line for a COVID test: I can think of no higher compliment for a book in 2020 :)

To be clear, I have never been the biggest Regency romance reader, mostly because the genre felt samey to me, though I know enthusiasts of the period will likely hate me for that observation. But, rest assured, Waters has given me new, fresh hope and I plan to go back to some of the most-recommended Regency romance historicals and correct my previous understanding.

But back to the book. I appreciated how fresh the idea felt, of a historical woman, Diana, taking her sexuality into her own hands, of her disinclination to marry again and give up freedom. I also liked Jeremy, the hero of the story. Often the bickering in these stories can read one-note, but each conversation sparkled between these two in a way that felt natural but also so much fun. Their individual realizations of their feelings were well done and never felt insta-lovey, but organic in the best of ways.

I will certainly be going back to Waters' first book, To Have and To Hoax, though To Love and to Loathe contains massive spoilers for it. You definitely don't need to read the first to enjoy this one, so I say read it as soon as you can.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an ebook copy of To Love and To Loathe in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are mine alone.