Member Reviews
To love and to loathe sounded like a cute read. I was not able to get into the historical romance plotline after all but I do have this book as a final version to give it a try again in the future.
To be brutally honest, this barely managed to hold my attention. This is pitched as a romcom, but I really can’t think of any parts I found funny or romantic. I skimmed the last few chapters and I seldom skim books. I loved Jeremy and Diana in the first book, but they felt like pod people here. Added to that, I was really unhappy with how a queer character was basically just a story prop and how Diana outed her to her friends (and apparently that’s fine because Diana loves gossip?). As a queer reader, I felt sucker-punched by Diana's behavior in that scene and the complete lack of consequences for her actions.
After loving the first book in this series, I'm tentatively holding out hopes for the next books in the series to be better. I’m invested in Emily/Belfry and West/Sophie and hoping that they fair better in the limelight than Diana and Jeremy did here.
Continuing in "The Regency Vow" series, Martha Waters writes another laugh out loud tale that includes all the enjoyable pieces of a modern regency noveol. For fans of Bridgerton, the wit and dialogue is superb.
This was so good! Such a fun premise - we have a hero who's unsure of his... prowess in bed, and he suggests an affair to his enemy (who's also the one who will be honest to him), and predictably, chaos ensue, Diana and Jeremy have had such amazing chemistry from the first book, and I loved getting to know them and seeing their relationship develop here.
I didn't find much to swoon over in this book. The banter between the two main characters is great until it becomes repetitive, but the break throughs and the simple fact that they talk to each other about problems instead of pretending they didn't happen made this a refreshing Regency romcom. It doesn't have the ridiculousness of the first in the series or much of the other characters that made the first book so much fun, but it's a solid story that I enjoyed reading. I just wouldn't prefer it to other, more fun titles.
this is definitely a fun and enjoyable story, perfect if you are looking for a easy going historical romance as it can be read as a standalone, but it just happens that ive already read another book that does this kind of story slightly better.
Diana, the Lady Templeton and a rich widow, shares a combative friendship with Jeremy, the Marquess of Willingham, wagering he will be married within a year. After receiving negative comments about his bedroom behavior from his former mistress, Jeremy is more concerned with finding a new paramour who will provide truthful feedback about his abilities. Diana is looking for a lover of her own, and the two begin an affair during Jeremy’s house party. After their first tryst, Diana fears she is falling for Jeremy and plots to force his engagement with another lady, who is secretly a sapphist. Diana’s scheming hilariously does not go according to plan, and eventually Diana and Jeremy pause their verbal sparring to reveal their true feelings.
VERDICT Waters excels at pitting Diana and Jeremy against each other with clever dialogue and comical situations to ensure a lively and steamy rivals-to-romance story. Readers of To Have and To Hoax will enjoy the return of Violet and Audley as supporting characters. A worthy addition to the trend for historical romantic comedies and highly recommended for fans of Evie Dunmore and Elizabeth Everett.
Am I the only one who feels like this could be the community next to the Bridgerton's? LOL Which probably just shows how un-educated I am about the time period and society.
The women in The Regency Vows series so far are so independent and fun. In the one, the widowed Lady Diana Templeton decides it may be time for her to take a lover, around the same time one of her brother's friends who she has known for years decides he needs an honest opinion regarding his...ahem...bedroom performance. Perfect fit, right? Of course, they usually thrive on insulting and riling each other, but they each think they can handle their distaste for one another for a month or so, while they both accomplish their behind-closed-doors goals.
The plot line becomes pretty obvious early on. That doesn't make their banter and chemistry any less fun. I'd give this book 4 out of 5 stars and look forward to more in the series.
Complex characters and an enemies to lovers trope? I am all about it! I don't normally read historical romance, but I'm glad I picked it up. Diana really stood out as a character due to her desire to pave her own path despite all the societal challenges and her female friendships. Jeremy was eh as a character though I appreciated his desire to improve, but his struggles as the second son being upgraded to the title doesn't seem to be so unique among historical romances. There was good chemistry between them, and I enjoyed the premise of a weeks long party at Jeremy's house. It dragged in places for sure, but I did like it alternated between the two characters points of view.
Martha Waters's sophomore book in the Regency Vows series is a delight to read. It has everything I enjoyed in the first book, outlandish premise written believably, society setting where everyone's failures are well known, much discussed, and never pointed out, witty dialog, slow-burn romance, and great enemies to lover's romance.
I could not put this book down and it was perfect reading during my Covid recovery. Nothing serious, but writing with enough meat that I wasn't left disappointed. I enjoy Waters' take on the etiquette of the Ton, the privileges and barriers of the gentry and wealth, and above all the sexual freedom women experience along with the constraints of society.
This book is light-hearted and fun and perfect for Regency romance readers who are looking for witty, fun dialog and interesting premises to spice up the enemy to lover's trope. Perfect for readers of Evie Dunmore's League of Extraordinary Women or Vanessa Riley's Rogues & Remarkable Women series.
Every character was annoying and it was obvious the mains interactions were supposed to be funny and interesting. They were mean-spirited and boring at best.
To Love and To Loathe is a quick and entertaining read. The plot overall is enjoyable, however the book has nothing that makes it stand out from all the other romances. It is just that. A regular reliable romance. I definitely enjoyed this more than To Have and To Hoax, I think the writing has improved immensely since then, which makes it much more tolerable. I wouldn’t write off Martha Waters just yet. I think she definitely has potential and seeing the development between these books definitely makes me want to read her future work.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for proving me a copy of the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
I actually read this title before reading book 1 and it holds steady as a standalone if need be. I really loved these characters and the entire series is just wonderful and a great contemporary take on historical romance.
I could not get into this book. The chemistry was off, the characters were flat minus one and the story was boring. Lady Helen provided some substance with an unlikely story and also her dramatic flair added something to the plot. This has too many names, too much down time and not enough dialogue and action.
This was such a fun read! Very reminiscent of all the classic period drama romances we all know and love. Would highly recommend to fans of Jane Austen!
Witty banter and verbal barbs are what make up Diana and Jeremy's relationship, until he approaches her with an offer that gives them both what they need. But can they both come out of the bargain with hearts intact? A quick and thrilling read! I absolutely love the characters and a peak behind the curtain of their social facades as Diana and Jeremy admit that theres more to their argumentative relationship than meets the eye!
This book will satisfy your Regency Romance cravings. I loved Diana and Jeremy’s chemistry and flirtations . I very much enjoyed this book that can be read as a stand alone .
If you aren’t into historical romance but want to get into it, this is your book! Funny, charming, a little tug at the heart strings, it really has it all.
This was a fantastic follow-up after To Have and to Hoax! I loved the witty banter between Diana and Jeremy. Their love story came about in a fun way and I felt invested in their happiness. Martha Waters does a great job of providing a realistic period romance and full character with life outside of the romance. This book made me excited for the third installment of the series!
Actual rating: 4/5 stars
The young widowed Diana Templeton and the charming rake Jeremy, are both members of English High Society and are known for their bickering and flirting. They've been at it for years because Diana is Jeremy's best friend's younger sister. At a ball, they make a bet that Jeremy will marry within the year or Diana will give him 100 pounds. Diana is shocked when Jeremy visits her at her home and proposes a different bet. Jeremy was recently questioned by a recent lover who criticized him in the bedroom. Jeremy wants Diana to help him test his skills in the bedroom and Diana gets a lover with no strings attached during a two-week-long visit. During this visit, Diana is simultaneously trying to fix Jeremy up with a woman while lusting after him herself, and developing feelings for him as she starts to get to know him better.
There was honestly too much going on in this book and I'm not really versed in historicals so I don't know if they normally have this much going on but I wasn't a fan. I liked a lot of the side plots but I think a couple could have been cut down on. I really liked the cozy setting in this book tho and it really added something.
The banter is what really saved this book for me because it was literally fantastic. It had me laughing out loud and Diana and Jeremy had so much chemistry it was radiating off the page. I also love how the author was self-aware and acknowledged a lot of issues of the time. It talked about heteronormative relationships, patriarchal norms, the lack of woman's autonomy, finances, and independence. It was also so sex-positive which I loved.
Thank you to Atria Books, Martha Waters, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.