All of the series is good, but I think this is my favorite so far. Not being a huge romance reader, I've been pleased to find them all so enjoyable.
Lady Emily has always deferred to a very proper mother who is full of (unreasonable) expectations for her daughter; Lord Julian is a ne'er-do-well who owns a theatre and is practically disowned by his father for doing so. A marriage of convenience ensues - he helps her escape her domineering family, she cloaks him in respectability - but will their relationship develop further, and will their families come to accept them as they are? I liked the sharp wit and also the gentle playfulness of the story - including antics involving a stray kitten nicknamed Cecil Beelzebub Lucifer by his lordship - and I especially liked the characters, who were winsome, appealing, and intelligent. The author does a great job of tying the series together through each set of lovers in a broader group of aristocratic friends, and I'll look forward to the next one - To Swoon and to Spar - which will feature Viscount Penvale and his uncle's ward, Jane Spencer.

The third installment in Martha Waters's set of historical rom-coms follows Emily and Julian, who were supporting characters in the previous 2 books, in a marriage of convenience romance. Marriage of convenience is not a trope that I am necessarily drawn to because personally I can't imagine entering a marriage for any reason other than out of love, but I enjoyed it here.
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Of course, knowing what I know about society in the Regency era, Emily and Julian's decision actually makes a lot of sense. Julian needs Emily to boost his reputation, and Emily needs an out from her overbearing parents' eyes and opinions. Even if I wouldn't do what they did even in this situation, it's hard to not feel empathy for both Emily and Julian.
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Something that I really like about this book is how Emily critically examines her people-pleasing tendencies. I think that historically and even now, women have been pressured to fit into neat little boxes and to worry about what other people think, so I appreciate the discussion around it here. We also see family drama issues.
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This is obviously a marriage of convenience romance, but the dynamic reads more like forced proximity. Emily, in particular, keeps inserting herself into Julian's life so they end up spending more time together than expected, and as a result the inevitable in a marriage of convenience story happens. It's a slow burn, but definitely worth it.
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Overall, a fun historical romance read.

To Marry and to Meddle by Martha Waters is the third installment in the Regency Vows series, offering a delightful blend of humor, romance, and societal intrigue. The narrative centers on Lady Emily Turner, a seasoned debutante burdened by her father's debts, and Lord Julian Belfry, a charismatic theater owner seeking respectability. They enter a marriage of convenience: Emily aims to escape an undesirable suitor, while Julian hopes to elevate his theater's standing in society. As their partnership evolves, both characters confront personal growth and unexpected feelings.

The narrative is simple and pretty much standard for a Regency romance. The characters while amusing and charming seem to lack a natural growth, as the transitions feel a bit abrupt at times in personality.

It is an entertaining read for a boring afternoon, but pretty much standard fare with nothing specific that makes it stand out from any other in the genre.

I do love a good marriage of convenience trope and this one was done very well! The characters were extremely likeable and I loved their banter! Overall a solid regency romance!

I feel like all of Martha Waters regencies have thus far been complete wins for me. I really enjoyed this one, even if there's some historical implausibility. It was fun, the main characters were super likable, and it scratched my 'need more Bridgerton' itch, big time! Definitely recommend this title, and also all of her other regency titles!

I enjoyed the first two books in this series, so I was looking forward to seeing Julian and Emily, who both appeared in the earlier books, finally get upgraded to starring roles.

The marriage of convenience trope is the historical romance antecedent of the more modern fake dating trope wherein a couple decides to enter into a marriage for Reasons. This is strictly a business arrangement and they aren’t going to develop feelings for each other at all, no sir, full stop.

What I liked about Lord Julian was that he was the “bad boy” of the group. Those quotation marks would be air quotes if I was speaking instead of writing because Lord Julian is hardly the dissolute rake he presents himself as. His misdeeds include defying familial expectations by owning a scandalous theatre. So it was interesting that he turned into a bit of a stick in the mud after getting married and returning to London to establish himself as a Not Scandalous gentleman.

Emily, however, is simply a delight. All she needed was to get away from her awful parents. The newfound independence suited her nicely as she established herself as a married lady.

Cecil Beelzebub the kitten stole the show at every possible opportunity.

I would absolutely recommend To Marry and to Meddle. I would recommend beginning with the first book in the series, as doing so will help gain a deeper understanding of the characters as events from the previous books shape their personalities over the course of the series. Martha Waters is quickly becoming one of my favourite historical romance authors.

I received a digital ARC of this book from Atria Books/NetGalley.

To Marry and to Meddle by Martha Waters is a delightful fit for readers who adore lighthearted, humorous Regency romances with a dash of wit and a strong focus on the blossoming of feelings between two charming protagonists, particularly those who enjoy marriage-of-convenience stories, friends-to-lovers tropes, and the whimsical world of 19th-century theater.

This was just okay. It's cute and simple, but it felt like this took me too long to get through.

Thank you, NetGalley and publishers, for this ebook.

I tried reading this book and unfortunately the story and romance didn't hold my attention. For me I am more picky when it comes to historical novels, whether they are romances, fantasies, etc., they need to be very engaging to keep me reading. Again for all of the historical romance fans out there I encourage you to give this book a try because the premise sounds amazing!

"To Marry and to Meddle" by Martha Waters is a delightful romp through Regency-era England, brimming with wit, charm, and clever matchmaking schemes. As Lady Theodosia Montague navigates the complexities of love and society, readers are treated to a hilarious and heartwarming tale filled with sparkling dialogue and endearing characters. Waters effortlessly blends humor and romance, making this novel a must-read for fans of historical fiction and romantic comedies alike.

I love Martha Waters' voice and this world! Each book is an immediate download for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Julian and Emily are just two great characters together and apart. I really liked that Julian operated his own theater and that he wanted to change the reputation of it. Even if that means a marriage of convenience to Emily.

I liked that through her marriage to Julian, Emily learned how to stand up for herself and not let the snobs of the ton dictate her behavior. I love how she got Julian's father to actually come to the theater so he could accept his son's chosen profession.

I think this was a great installment to this series!

This book is also all about the slow burn. This book felt a little long and not enough romance - a few swoon worthy scenes but I wanted more between the couple. Emily, the main heroine, seemed to have the most passion for the cat (an insult towards the cat is what made her finally stand up to her mom…what?). I like the idea of a marriage of convenience but this just didn’t do it for me.

This was exactly the adorable read I needed. Julian and Emily are the most beautiful couple, reading and watching their love grow made me so happy. I highly recommend it if you love Austen or any Regency romances. Martha Waters' entire series is the perfect set of historical romances.

I am a huge fan of Waters' sly, winking takes on popular tropes and marriage tropes in particular. Especially marriage of convenience which is what we see here. Indeed, I can sense the twinkle in her eye when she writes these. To Marry and to Meddle is no exception but made more delightful by a fringe of theatre-set content.

I loved that two extremely different people realize how to become the best versions of themselves together.

Also, there is a kitten.

I think I would have enjoyed this more had I read the author's previous books, since there were character stories interwoven into this one. But my bigger issue is that the FMC is quite manipulative and not very likeable--it's kind of hard to see why the MMC is so smitten. And her determination to reconcile with abusive parents is definitely not my cup of tea.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

I owe a very delayed thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me a digital arc of this book. I regret not having the time to read it prior to publication. I’ve loved each of the books in this series, and throughout I’ve been fascinated by Julian. Seeing him in a different light throughout this book was enjoyable, but it was even more enjoyable to see Emily truly come into her own. Throughout the rest of the series she was a wallflower slowly chipping away at her shell. She truly broke out of that role with her own determination and the support of this lovely cast of characters. This is a gem. I look forward to reading anything else that Martha Waters writes.

A marriage of convenience and comedy! Emily is tired of always having to be the perfect lady while being arm candy for a man she loathes - Julian is tired of being ostracized for his ownership of a bawdy (but popular!) theater. Maybe they can solve each other's problems by tying the knot - Julian gets a trophy wife to elevate him above society scandal and Emily escapes a life being used as a bargaining chip for her parents. But their contract never included a contingency plan in case they fell in love!
I love the characters and banter in this romantic comedy of the Regency period! Emily's delightfully forward friends and their happily lovesick beaus were delightful to experience!
I just reviewed To Marry and to Meddle by Martha Waters. #NetGalley

To be honest, "To Marry and to Meddle" had some really enjoyable moments that kept me engaged. The setup for the marriage of convenience and the witty banter between the main characters were fantastic. I loved how their relationship evolved, and the slow-burn romance added a delightful touch. Even the hijinks with the cat brought some lighthearted fun to the story.

However, I have to admit that the plot lost its steam once the couple arrived in London and settled into their married life. While I appreciated the exploration of how their parents' influences affected them as adults, it dominated the majority of the novel, and at times, it felt a bit repetitive and sluggish. I wanted to see more external conflicts or parallel plots to keep the story moving forward. Additionally, I would have liked a more detailed exploration of certain events that were glossed over. Nonetheless, if you're already a fan of this author's work, you'll likely enjoy this book as well. While it had its ups and downs, it still had its moments of charm and romance that made it a worthwhile read.

What a delight! Martha Waters always delivers witty romances that'll make you swoon. I always admire how she illuminates different parts of the traditional "historical" romance time periods and plays with tropes in unexpected but delightful ways.