I really enjoyed this installment in The Regency Vows series. Emily and Julian are definitely more of a slower burn. They establish a friendship of sorts before agreeing to a marriage of convenience and they spend a lot of time coming to terms with how they want to live their lives and how to free themselves from the desire to please their parents. Though this story had its moments of steam, it was definitely more on the sweet end of romance. Less of the angst of James and Violet and less of the overwhelming physical attraction and verbal sparring between Diana and Jeremy. Don’t get me wrong there is a good amount of funny quips back and forth. Emily and Julian’s relationship feels more solid to me because they were friends first. Though I liked that the book was quick and short, it almost felt a little too quick. I think it could have been a teensy bit longer with a little bit more cute interactions between them before we got the declarations. But that’s just personal opinion. Overall, it was a really fun romance and I’m excited to read the next book in the series.

I really enjoyed this series from Martha Waters! It is a historical romcom BUT reads super modern and fun! The supporting cast are so good and add so much to the story! I could read sequels as long as Martha wants to right them!

Thank you to Atria Books for providing an eARC for review.

Quick unedited thoughts

I'll rate it 3.5 stars. For me the third book is my least favorite. I see that my fellow Goodreads readers found it to be their most favorite. I enjoyed Emily and Julian's story, but felt the wrap up of what ailed Julian and propelled him to marry Emily wrapped up to quickly and neatly. The scenes that brought back Diana were always the best and Violet too. I realized that they are the reasons why I enjoyed the previous books better. Emily just isn't a strong enough character.

Emily did show growth/independence in the story and Julian found worth. Julian was trying to win the approval of the ton to be seen as valuable in his father's eyes. His prolonged stubbornness kept him apart from his family.

I enjoyed listening to the SCRIBD audio and following along with the ARC from the publisher.

5 stars = Outstanding!

This book was a perfect fit for me - fake-ish relationship (marriage of convenience), sassy and funny, romantic, with characters I really enjoyed. There was enough conflict to move things forward but never so much that I felt stressed while I was reading. This was lovely! I would buy this and re-read it.

Martha Waters has become an auto-add author for me. To Marry and to Meddle is the latest installment in her Regency Vows series and I thoroughly enjoyed this one as much as the previous two.

The book delivers a marriage of convenience trope that was executed perfectly! I loved the slow-burn romance between Lady Emily and Lord Julian, and it was such a joy to follow in their journey as their relationship transitioned from friends to lovers. The writing is as fantastic as ever, full of witty banter, well-developed characters, and a swoony romance. There's always so much emotion within the pages and it made my reading experience so much more immersive and enjoyable. If you are a fan of historical romance and haven't had the chance to check these books out yet, here is your sign!

It was really slow moving for what should have felt like a quick and happy read. There was nothing about it that was groundbreaking, and the characters, interactions and plot overall felt very recycled. Fans of Julia Quinn will enjoy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for the ARC.

Martha Waters is the whole reason I'm into historical romance, and she delivered again! I love the way she writes, and her characters are just so delightful. Every book, I get more and more sucked into her charming world and To Marry and to Meddle is no different.

Lord Julian Belfry is a known rake and theater owner looking to improve his and his establishments image by marrying Lady Emily Turner. Emily is practiced the art of being the perfect debutante. Expecting to be married off to help ease the pain of her fathers debts, a marriage of convenience to the handsome Lord Belfry seems like the perfect answer to her struggles.
As expected with a romance however, marriages of convenience are never that... well convenient. Filled with delightful banter and and adorable little kitten, this couple's honesty and heart are felt in every one of their conversations. I loved their dynamic and their honesty throughout the novel.

A feisty, yet tender love story that helps give me a “Bridgerton” fix whilst waiting for the next season. It’s the third book in “The Regency Vows” series, but can be read as a stand-alone. Filled with all the crazy and lovable characters from the previous books, it’s a charming romance packed with comedic relief, endearing friendships, and a fiery hero and heroine!

Lady Emily Turner and Lord Julian Belfry decide on a marriage of loveless convenience. Emily will help Julian promote his theatre and bring in a more respectable crowd, while Julian will pay off Emily’s family debt. The pair soon find that they have very different expectations for marriage and that they both must learn to navigate the feelings and emotions that come with having a spouse.

This series reminds me so much of Bridgerton, with its mix of drama, comedy, and steam. Emily and Julian were a surprise pairing for me, but I loved watching their relationship develop. I wish their had been a touch more steam, but all in all, it was a cute and whip-smart read that galloped along smoothly!

Thanks to Atria (via NetGalley) for the ARC!

This was a fun, super quick read, and if you liked the other two books in the Regency Vows series, I think you'll like this one.

I haven't read a lot of marriage of convenience romances because I usually read contemporary romance, and (personally) think the trope doesn't always make a lot of sense in a modern context. But it obviously makes a lot more sense in a Regency setting when marriage could be more of a contract than a love match, especially among the aristocracy.

I think it was done well in this book, and I enjoyed the story as well as the characters. I don't have a lot of deep thoughts on it, but I liked how both Julian and Emily's feelings changed over the course of the book. And I enjoyed the "oh crap, I'm in love with my husband/wife" moment that always comes with a marriage of convenience romance.

There was nothing particularly mind blowing about this book, but it was an enjoyable, quick read and a fun distraction for a couple days. But that's all I expect out of these books, so I can't complain!

I was excited to hear that there would be two more books (at least) in this series, because I enjoy Waters' writing, so I'm looking forward to Penvale's book next year, and then Sophie and West's the year after

Perfect for fans of the Bridgertons, this regency marriage of convenience between second son of Marquis, Julian and 'long in the tooth' Emily was so entertaining. The witty banter, the loveable characters, the way the story is set in the world of theatre where women can take on roles they wouldn't normally be allowed to occupy in the strictures of the Ton. I think this was my favorite book in Martha Waters's Regency vows series. Highly recommended! Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance review copy.

To Marry and to Meddle by Martha Waters is a fun regency romance filled with laughter and a fun dash of sexual tension. Emily Turner and Julian Belfry are an absolute DELIGHT. When Emily’s family is setting her up for a rather uncomfortable relationship due to dept and Julian is looking to elevate the reputation of his theater, these two embark on a marriage of convenience. I know that this was also a product of the time the book takes place, but I’m a whore for characters that refer to each other by their last name. There were so many endearing moments between Emily and Julian as they fell for each other throughout the book. They both encourage each other to advocate for themselves and have instant comfort in speaking their mind around one another. Julian actively encourages Emily to speak her mind and reassures her that it’s okay to disagree with him. ALSO !!! JULIAN BELFRY WHAT A MAN. I know the bar for men is low because I got SO excited when Julian made it a point to make Emily as comfortable as possible when consummating their marriage.

One of my favorite bits from To Marry and to Meddle is the wonder that is Cecil Lucifer Beelzebub. That cat is a wonderful character all on his own. Wreaking havoc off the bat and live, laughing, loving his way to victory.

Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for giving me access to an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. I was very excited to read this one since I rather enjoyed the first two.
To Marry and to Meddle follows Lady Emily Turner who, early in the story, is proposed to by Lord Julian Belfry. Emily agrees, but with a few conditions. They marry right away and then return to London soon after.
This was a slow-burn story that starts with a marriage of convenience. I liked both Emily and Julian, so this was an enjoyable story for me. We follow the two flirt and kiss and slowly fall in love. I liked seeing Emily figure out how to be free of her mother’s constant instructions and expectations. Julian was a really good influence on her breaking her out of those habits and doing whatever she wanted. I also really liked seeing Julian work on moving from the issues in his past. The two were a great couple that repeatedly made me laugh out loud while I was reading.
I absolutely recommend this one if you like slow-burn romance and character-focused stories. It’s also not a super smutty book. But it has a whole lot of heart and was really so much fun for me to read.

Another fantastic historical romance from Martha Waters! I've been on a major historical romance binge since season 2 of Bridgerton came out, and this one definitely fit the mood!

This was a fun book and the first one I've read in this series. But I had no problem jumping right into the story and characters. The author did a great job of incorporating the other characters' pasts into this story so I knew what other shenanigans had taken place for the other couples. I instantly loved Julian and how he stood up to himself and risked his reputation and family status to do what he was passionate about. Emily was also surprising because at first I didn't know if she would be too shy and naive, but she despite how her parents treated her and the perfect face she had to put on every day, she was actually sassy and funny. Yes she was still naive, but she embraced new experiences and challenges and learned to speak her mind and standup for herself. I loved the strangers to lovers story and how they accidentally fell in love without realizing it. Also Cecil was so adorable with his little maniacal entrances and plot spoilers. The steam was mild, but felt just right for this couple. I enjoyed it and would love to read more books in this series.

Emily and Julian!

I’ve been waiting for these two since book one and I was not disappointed! Emily finally gets to be herself after agreeing to a marriage of convenience with Julian. Julian is one step closer to brining respectability to his theater and his name by having Emily as his wife. Neither expected that what they truly wanted and needed was each other!

I loved that Julian immediately tried to straighten himself up when he met Emily and that she finally started to come out of her shell after meeting him. Their chemistry was wonderful and their caring for one another was so endearing. Their journey from alliances to friends to lovers to partners was so delightful to read. And I loved getting to catch up with Violet and Diana and get glimpses of what’s to come for Sophie!

My one dislike was the multiple flash backs to just a day or so ago at the start of a new chapter rather than just staring at that point.

I received a complimentary review copy of this book but all opinions are my own.

I loved this story and Martha Waters really knows how to write a great historical romance! It was so fun to read this book around the same time I watched Bridgerton, because I cannot get enough historical romance lately! Emily is definitely one of my favorite characters in this little series and I loved getting to know more about her character throughout this book. Seeing her and Julian falling in love in this book was so sweet and I just loved these characters so much. This book made me laugh and swoon and gosh it was a good one. And the cat was a funny addition to the characters. And it was also fun to see Violet and Diana in this book since the others in the series were more focused on them and their relationships. Definitely recommend this book and this author!!

I have to say, this series just gets better and better with every book. I was honored to receive an eARC thanks to Atria Books + NetGalley, and beyond thrilled to be able to read and review it since this was one of my most anticipated reads AND even more excited to have it be one of our loveARCtually book club reads - huge thanks to Shelby @whimsyreadswithshelby for hosting our series readathon this month, cannot wait to talk to Martha herself about this one!

This month I succumbed to the Bridgerton trend, reading the first book in the series AND starting the series on Netflix, and when I tell you I have devoured an unordinary amount of historical romance for me I mean it. THIS book though may just be my favorite in the series, it was an absolute delight to read, and of all of the historical romances I've picked up Waters' writing style makes me swoon the most. From the characters she creates to the way she incorporates banter and empowered women in all of her stories I am always instantly hooked on each of her titles.

There was something extra special with the built-up tension and compatibility between Emily and Julian that I had been waiting for since the first book. Being able to finally read their love story had me SO excited. It did NOT disappoint, giving me exactly what I wanted and more with how each of them stood up for themselves, the way their friends came together, and the way this historical fiction mixed so perfectly with a modern vibe and all the feels.

Plus, Cecil the cat is clearly a STAR, and worthy of reading the book just for his appearances!

Obviously, now I am even more eager to see where the author will take us with the newly announced book 4 & 5, YAY for more in this world!

Lady Emily Turner has strived to be the perfect debutant, even if only so she can secure a suitor to pay her parents' debts. Lord Julian Belfry is determined to make his theater into a respectable establishment that the ladies of the ton will want to visit--and not run into their husbands' mistresses. Enter a marriage of convenience between the two, but this marriage of convenience seems much more like a love match than anything else.

Historical romances can be really hit or miss of me, but I immensely enjoyed the second book in this series, To Love and To Loathe, so I had high hopes for this one. And it did not disappoint! It was a joy to read--full of laughs and romance, fun characters, and a plot that felt modern in a good way. I can't wait to go back and read this first book in this series.

Thanks to Atria for my eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

5 stars - 9/10

Yay, we finally got Emily and Julian's story... and it's a marriage of convenience plot!! I think this might have been my favorite of the Regency Vows series so far. The romantic plot wasn't perfect, but I love Emily and Julian so much that didn't bother me. I really enjoyed the subplot of Emily helping with the theater and really embracing her autonomy. The humor that I appreciate Martha Waters for shines through this whole story while still providing plenty of depth. This one was not as steamy as some of the others in the series, but I didn't feel that took away from my overall enjoyment. Finally, if you need any further push to pick this one up, do it for Cecil the kitten. He is perfection and helps to induce much of the hijinks in this one!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in return for a fair and honest review.