Such a great installment in Martha Waters series! All of the fun, joy, and hijinks you've come to expect from this series are present here. These are truly fun historicals that deserve attention.

To Marry and To Meddle is a perfect addition to this series. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Emily and Belfry in their turn as the main characters. Their love story suits their personalities and blends so well with the storylines that have already been developed. I particularly enjoyed reading the author's note describing the real like woman who inspire Emily's character. Emily's story is one of struggle and privilege that would have been all too common during this time when women has little to know personal autonomy.

Once again Waters has managed to write a historical fiction that still feels fresh and even feminist. I often find historical fiction to either be wildly inaccurate or repressive and abusive to women but that is never the case with this series. There is enough truthfulness to the time period to allow for a few liberties of dialogue and attitudes that update the story and overall tone. I'm very much looking forward to Penvale's story next.

There is just something about Martha Waters writing that just speaks to me. Her stories are always funny and witty and every time I read them they make me soooooo happy. It's always a comfort. When I'm transported into her stories the characters and setting feel like coming home. I've been intrigued by Julian and Emily's story for awhile now and I was really curious to see how their story would come about, and it was so sweet! I was expecting a bit more angst and sexual tension in their dynamic, and will admit I would have liked to have seen a bit more in this regards to their story, but the growth between the two characters was phenomenal. Emily always seen as demure, finds her voice and her place through her marriage to Julian and in turn, Julian finds love and acceptance through his marriage to Emily. Their relationship was mature and beautiful, and ultimately they became better people as a result of their marriage and commitment to each other.

Thank you to Atria Books for allowing me to read an E-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own.

I really loved this. Emily's journey from the perfect untouchable innocent to her true self - determined, fiery, with a quick wit - was so, so very satisfying to watch. Julian was also great. I loved the family dynamics and the message of acknowledging how your upbringing affected you and then growing and asserting your independence.

Emily's friends were wonderful and I loved their gatherings. And her interactions with Julian, as they both fell in love, were perfection. And the grand gesture at the end? Swoon-worthy.

Really, I just loved it all. I spent the entirety of the book with this huge smile on my face. It was so sweet and swoony and romantic and funny. The perfect romantic comedy. I will be rereading this one for sure and Martha Waters is now a must-read for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing an e-arc for review.

VERDICT Waters stays true to the humor and wit that characterize the series’ first two installments.

Full review via link below.

Fantasic. This book was so good. Just a as good as book 2. If you are looking for something after the hangover of Bridgerton Season 2 than you need to pick this up.

This was so completely enjoyable and charming. The great part of series romance is that not only do you get to catch up with the characters from prior books, but I feel that we already knew a bit about Belfry and Emily, which made seeing them get their HEA even sweeter. This was filled with witty banter and situations, and also great romance, steam, and heart. Emily getting to come into her own after being stepped on and mistreated by her parents for years, discovering what she actually liked and being able to take charge of that was really nicely done.

I loved it! Martha Waters is now a favorite author of mine. I hope everyone picks up a copy. You can see my review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4550339274

I was so excited to receive this book! I loved To Have and To Hoax and To Love and To Loathe. I was always curious about Emily the demure debutante and Julian the scandalous theater owner and rake. I knew I would I enjoy this book, but I wasn't quite expecting to enjoy it as much as I did.

I loved the way the relationship unfolded between Emily and Julian. I loved how Emily grew so much as a character especially because my biggest concern when entering this book was that I wouldn't like her as much as I liked Violet and Diana. But I loved her. I found myself relating to her quite a bit and wanting to hug her constantly.

And Julian, his character growth is also something I enjoyed quite a bit. The overall feel of this book was a lot like the others and I adore a marriage of convenience trope that is done incredibly well. Overall a wonderful read!

Love this series and love the continuation! This series has the best characters that you love cheering for and this book didn't disappoint!

Lady Emily has been a debutante for the past 6 seasons but because of her father’s debt her only suitor is the owner of her father’s favorite gambling house. Lord Julian has scandalized society by being an owner of a theater. Lord Julian comes up with a plan that will benefit them both and before they know it they are married. Emily will use her connections to promote the theater to a more respectable clientele and Julian will get Emily out of her father’s clutches. Pretty soon their marriage of convenience has some inconvenient feelings.

I am totally in the marriage of convenience trope!! It is one of my favorites so I adored this book. This was totally ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me!

I just finished this ARC this morning! It is my first book from this series and WOW! I have had my eye on the other books but just wasn't sure, but when I received this book, I took a chance and am so glad I did.

Julian approaches Emily with an offer of marriage that would be mutually beneficial. Her family needs assistance with a situation and he needs her to provide him with a more favorable reputation and respectable crowd to his theater. He expects typical society wife and she is not that.

The best part of this book is the relationship dynamics. Whether it be Emily or her friends or Julian and his siblings, there is a love and loyalty that is evident. Of course, my favorite relationship was between the two main characters. While they didn't marry for love, that loyalty was there from the beginning and it was evident that they wanted what was best for the other, even if it meant at their own discomfort.

I will definitely check out the other books in the series. Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this ARC in exchange
for an honest review!

A marriage of convenience.

It all felt a bit lackluster to me. Mainly because Julian is written to cavalierly. He truly doesn't care much about anything and always takes the easiest way out. He's the feckless second son living exactly how he wants, drinking, banging and annoying his father. Ph, and he has a sordid theater that he's somewhat making a lackluster attempt to be less sordid. So, his solution is to wed Emily, why waste all the work of casually courting her.

Emily is self aware enough to accept the lesser of two evils, but I wanted better for her. I wanted more for her.

3.5 rounded up to 4 stars. This was a very sweet book. I like my historical romances to be a bit steamier and less cutesy but overall there was nothing wrong with this. Julian and Emily were adorable and I really enjoyed how both stood up against their parents in the end. This was your typical marriage of convenience storyline as Julian was looking for a respectable wife so his theatre could attract a more reputable audience and Emily was avoiding having to marry a horrible man her parents had chosen for her. There was some history there from the previous books so this avoided the insta-love trope. The main characters are very likable and it was nice to see Diana and Jeremy again (especially getting to see their hilarious wedding). Also, Cecil was an adorable addition. Overall, a really cute, though light on the steam, romance that I think most people will enjoy.

Lady Emily is trying to ditch a persistent suitor who is entirely unsuitable and Lord Julian is trying to gain respectability for his theater. They meet at a party and a plan is hatched. A marriage of convenience to get rid of the suitor and gain respectability. What could go wrong? A great deal of witty banter and the chemistry between the two main characters makes this a good read. You will laugh out loud at this one.

To Marry and To Meddle is my favorite of the Regency Vows series so far! I loved the sweet, sexy chemistry and witty banter between Emily and Julian, plus they were just so darn honest with each other that I was overjoyed to see them fall in love. This is the third installment of the series and you could read it as a stand alone, but I think you’d miss so much fun between the other previous couple. I could not put it down or keep the smile off my face while reading. I think you’d enjoy it, too!

I began this title, unaware that it is book three of the series, ……. Having not read the other two novels, I found myself a bit lost from time to time but not to the point where it impeded my enjoyment of this one.

Since I haven’t read either of the other titles in this series, I can’t say if it’s my favorite, but I can say that I absolutely loved this novel. Charming, sweet, and wonderfully decadent romance, I liken this to a chocolate mousse and raspberry Chambord cake, rich and sweet, all at once.

A couple of the many things appreciated about this novel.
1) how consent is a part of intimacy,
2) how the concept of loss of virginity without pain is presented (this is such an important bit of awareness for young people, to know that penetrative vaginal sex for someone born female doesn’t have to result in pain and/or bleeding for that first time).

I really and truly enjoyed this and I can’t wait to read more of the author’s work.

Definite recommendation!

I just finished watching the first season of Bridgeton and was in the mood for more historical romance and let me tell you this one hit the spot. I loved Julian as the hero so much!

Even though this is the third book in the series, and I haven't read the first two, I followed along very easily and now really want to go back and read the first two. I loved Emily and Julian's friendship to romance and all the bumps along the way.

The book starts off with a good premise: Julian needs a wife who not only makes him look respectable, but he needs make his theatre's reputation above reproach. Meanwhile, Emily needs a husband to not only get out from under her parents' thumb, but also away from a less than savory suitor. A marriage ( of convenience ) sounds like the perfect solution to their problems! But - is this marriage more complicated and burdensome? Or have they found their perfect match in each other?

As I've read the other books in this series, and was looking forward to this relationship coming to fruition, I have to say - I'm disappointed in it's actual progression. Normally, when two people are meant to be, it just feels natural. This felt forced and unconvincing. I did not find the story very compelling. There was not much angst - which I adored because I like my romantic leads to be true to life and somewhat believable. But, I didn't feel that there was much in the way of their ultimate happiness ( other than the unsavory suitor ). I did not find the story very enthralling either ( it took me time to get into the book ). It may be due to the lack of plot, but I've enjoyed plenty of plotless romances before ( as the author provides good character development ). I also felt that the stakes for Julian & Emily never reached a real high - I don't need death to be on the line - but I need to feel that whatever is at risk to their relationship mattered ( separation, misunderstandings, outside conflict, etc). Unfortunately I didn't get that impression with this story and was left somewhat unfulfilled.

I did enjoy the natural banter, quick whit, and overall LOL moments in the book, but the relationship part was lacking. I'm glad I saved reading this for last in my TO-DO list.

Julian's reputation is in tatters and only the fact that he's the son of a marquess has allowed him to stay in the good(ish) graces of society. His dreams lie within the walls of his theater and he knows he needs to make some changes in order to attract the attention of the nobility and gentry to patron his theater. Meanwhile, Lady Emily's father is in severe debt. Her reputation may be above reproach, but her marriage prospects are dire. Julian concludes a marriage of convenience will solve both of their problems.
Even though this is the third in the series, To Marry and To Meddle can easily be read as a standalone. It's a perfect rom-com historical romance mash-up. Martha has such a deft hand at balancing both humor and chemistry. I think it might just be my favorite of the series to date.
I read the e-arc for the first 20% and finished the rest with the audiobook. The narration by Anais Inara Chase and Joel Froomkin was a fun escape. The combination of the dual narration was a delight to listen to. Joel' voice lent a pompous air and inflection to Julian's character that I found hilarious. His inflection cracked me up a handful of times.
Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for the advanced copy and Simon Audio for the alc. All thoughts in this review are my own.
Romance - open door (skippable)