Member Reviews
4 stars! To Marry and to Meddle is a fast-paced and witty regency rom com, excellent for fans of Julia Quinn's Bridgerton series. The book follows Lord Julian Belfry and Lady Emily Turner as they enter into a marriage of convenience. Lord Julian seeks to improve his reputation, and more importantly, the reputation of the theatre he owns amongst the ton, and believes the scandal impervious Lady Emily is the key to his desires. Lady Emily stands to gain her freedom from the marriage mart, she has been a debutante for six seasons yet the only suitor she has entertained is a man to whom her father owes great gambling debts. This seems to be a mutually beneficial agreement indeed - in more ways than one! I really enjoyed the friendships that are explored in this novel amongst Emily and the heroines of Martha Water's other books in this series - I haven't read them yet but I've added them to my tbr! I thought the banter in this book was excellent and the book kept me engaged the whole time I was reading.
Thank you to Aria Books and #NetGalley for an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review!
I really like the entire plot of this book. One of my favorite tropes in historical romance is a guy with a bad reputation finds a nice girl. I appreciate the twist that this author provided to a common trope, which was to have her help him bring up his reputation. I previously read the second book in the series and I really enjoyed it so I was glad to have the opportunity to read this book.
Characters:
Julian is very funny as a character. He had a lot of funny retorts and lines in general. I liked how caring he was with Emily and how he defended her to her parents. I also loved Julian's sister, that relationship was written so realistically.
Emily was also a well fleshed-out character. I could understand her motivations and the pressure she felt from her family to be perfect and shut down the unique parts of herself. I also loved that Julian was able to see all of those parts that she kept hidden.
Overall I really loved the book and it is probably one of my favorite romances of the year so far!
"To Marry and to Meddle" by Martha Waters
Friends AND Family
I loved this Regency romance. If it were a movie rather than a book; I would say this is a steamy romance where the sizzle takes place off screen. Thus, you get the steam without having to enter the sauna. This is an easy reading fun story with nary a dull moment. Hope you enjoy this story as much as I did. Happy Reading ! !
NOTE: I received an ARC of this story from the publisher via NetGalley.
This review expresses my honest opinion.
I think the actual progression of the romance wasn't fully convincing, but damn it, I just really loved these characters! They were both so charming & easy to cheer for, and these books consistently make me laugh... with the world in the state that it is, this is the kind of book I need to just smile & escape for a bit.
I love this series so much and I hope we get more! This book was so cute and I just loved every moment of it. I seriously smile the whole time while reading these books. Martha Waters writing is the best. Highly recommend this series to everyone!
It’s a very cute, very empowering story of a woman who finds her voice and a man who finds himself. They’re supportive and kind to each other, they model excellent relationship habits. It’s refreshing to find that their conflict was not one of miscommunication but of repressed fears and traumas that they help each other through. It was a bit predictable but ultimately a nice, easy, fun read.
*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC!*
My favorite in the Regency Vows series! Julian, owner of a scandalous theatre, and Emily, daughter of controlling indebted parents, make a marriage of convenience intended to give them both what they need. And of course we know what happens next. Fake relationships are my favorite trope, and it’s done very well here. Both the chemistry between then and the situation itself feel real. Moments of miscommunication or disagreement aren’t drawn out overlong, and the dialogue is fun. I really like Emily as a character and enjoyed watching her gain her voice. My only criticism is that there are a lot of characters, and it can be hard to distinguish between them all, but it’s not too distracting. I read this series out of order, going 2, 1, 3, but it was fine. The first book does have an impact on this one, but it’s explained so not super necessary to read first. I enjoyed this and will look out for what author Martha Waters writes next.
Witty enough to make it a romantic comedy, this regency is a fun read full of smiles. Readers won’t be disappointed.
Another Waters trademark! The banter is impeccable as usual. Witty, sweet, entertaining. I read it in a day. I feel like this is one of the first romance books in a long time where I read an actual story written about two people as opposite to three tropes on top of each other wearing a trench coat, if you know what I mean.
Such a fun Regency romance! Sweet and funny with plenty of spice! Fans of Brigerton and Tessa Dare will love this 3rd installment in the series!
Once in a great while I will dip into the Regency Romance genre. To Marry and Meddle is set in England prior to 1820. Everything is so prim and proper with societal conventions prevalent with the ton.
That’s why I like that Julian owns a theater, which is terribly scandalous. London society needs rattling and Julian has always been a rogue member.
Emily is a bit long in the tooth for the marriage market, but Julian likes her. A marriage of convenience is a plot theme I’ve been reading since Harlequin romances we’re my main books back in the 1980s.
I liked the pushback Emily gave her parents and of course the progression of the relationship between Julian and Emily.
I liked how Waters writes and the appealing covers for her books.
Carry on.
I’ve read the three books in this series and I have to say that this one is definitely my favorite. Julian and Emily were wonderful, thought-out characters and I very much enjoyed the character development of these two. It’s a cute story and the cast of characters are very much entertaining. I think the only thing I might have had an issue with was that there really wasn’t much of a plot or at least there wasn’t much of a conflict in the story besides the issue that is brought up right at the beginning of the book. I would say this story was more character-driven and internal conflict rather than plot-driven.
Still, I enjoyed this very much and will continue to read anything that Martha Waters writes and I would recommend this book to those looking for a fun, entertaining and quick read.
This is the 3rd book in a series. I have read them all, but I do believe this is the best one yet. I hated for it to end, and I'm hoping there will be another one.
This book was so cute! Martha Waters' writing is often laugh-out-loud funny, and I think she threads the needle just right of building the characters book to book and having them each stand alone. Emily and Julian's story--a marriage of convenience--was charming and immersive.
This may have been my favorite book from this series yet! After reading the second novel in the series, I was hoping Martha Waters would continue with Lady Emily and Lord Julian's story, and it did not disappoint. To get more of the backstory, I recommend reading the series in order, but I think Waters does a great job keeping you up to speed if you read this one on its own. A marriage of convenience turned into an actual love match. I loved the banter between main characters, Lady Emily and Lord Julian. Their discovery of their feelings for one another felt natural, and I enjoyed seeing it all play out throughout the novel. If you enjoy regency romance, I recommend adding this one to your TBR. Heads up for some open door scenes that are not overly descriptive.
Thank you NetGalley and Atria books for the opportunity to read this e-ARC. Thoughts and opinions are all my own.
Lady Emily has been promised to a repulsive gambling hell owner due to her father's debts. Lord Julian needs a respectable wife to rehabilitate his image as a debauched theater owner. They decide a marriage of convenience is the solution to their problems.
This was a cute story and a quick read. However, not much has stuck with me as the days passed since finishing it. It you need something upbeat and frothy, definitely give this one a read.
To Marry and to Meddle, the third book in Martha Waters’ Regency Vows series, is a delightfully entertaining novel, rounding out a wickedly fun and enjoyable series. Fans of these period books will not be disappointed in the adventures of Lord Julian and his high society, married for convenience, new bride Emily. Laugh-out-loud funny, with charming details and hilarious banter, these ‘socialites’ will definitely have you hoping for a happy ending.
Another great addition to the Regency Vows series!
Martha Waters is quickly becoming one of my favorite regency romance writers with her memorable and intelligent heroines, swoon-worthy love interests and stories that have you rushing to the end.
This is particularly true for To Marry and To Meddle. Lady Emily and Lord Julian are a fantastic pairing. He is interested in her impeccable reputation and she is enticed by his non-traditional career as a theatre owner. When they agree to a marriage of convenience Julian wants to be taken seriously and is hoping that Emily’s respectability will help bring in a different audience to his theater’s shows. Emily wants anything but to sit idly by as a society wife. When they realize that their assumptions about their marriage was so misaligned sparks fly. Once they get past their initial pretenses, Emily and Julian push each others boundaries and it was so fun to read! They were definitely a couple that I was rooting for the whole way through. I would definitely recommend this story and cannot wait to read future books in this series.
Thank you to Atria and Martha Waters!
For those that don't want to read period romances, or "regency romances" this would be the book for you! It's going to take all the doubt out of your mind! And! It's a series (can be read as a standalone.)
The author always writes brilliant and quirky characters. Smart and strong women are always front and center. They are always capable, and not afraid to be outspoken and take control. Special shoutout to Cecil the Cat!
While most of her books are a bit of a slow burn, it keeps you intrigued and turning the pages. The relationship between our heroine (Emily) and hero (Julian) is strong and believable. Scenes that made me laugh out loud, and smile. The banter is witty and there are definitely some sexy moments. Premise: Marriage of Convenience. My favorite type of read! While the characters are married quite early in the book, it does lead to a beautiful story and watching a romance grow. What could go wrong? These Regency Romances are fun, fresh and inviting, even if it isn't your favorite type of read. I have to admit the side characters are amazing as well!
This book was a STUNNING conclusion to the trilogy by Martha Waters. The humour never fails to make me laugh out loud. I love how modern this book feels despite being a historical. The romance was swoony and the slow burn was the perfect amount of hurts so good. Immaculate!