This is the book that got me hooked on Martha Waters’s Regency Vows series. If you love a second chance, not-quite-enemies to lovers story with lots of banter and witty, lovable characters—this is the one. Diana is a unique heroine in that she can be pretty prickly, and Jeremy is so charming.

Waters is doing something with Regency romance that I think is really new and fresh. The setting is distinctly Regency, but the characters all feel like they could be your friends. I genuinely want to hang out with this group. Does it slip into anachronism? Sure, but not as much as you’d think.

In sum: I adored this book, and I think anyone who loves Regency Romance and wants something light and fun will appreciate it! This is book 2 of the series, but I read this one first and didn’t have any issues getting into the story. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I started this but didn’t continue. It was fine, but just wasn’t the book for me right now. I don’t know if I’ll come back to it.

I love a good enemies with benefits situation, but unfortunately this one didn’t quite work for me. I thought the writing was good, but I just wasn’t invested in the romance, Definitely would read more by this author though!

Rated 3.5/5, rounded up to 4/5.

At the center of this historical romance are young widow Diana and reluctant Marquess Jeremy; they have known each other since they were young children and are constantly bickering. The plot of the novel is set in motion due to a wager: Jeremy will marry within the year or Diana will forfeit one hundred pounds. Diana begins to shamelessly push marriageable women into his path, more concerned with besting Jeremy than she is about potentially losing a decent sum. At the same time, Diana is attending a house party at Jeremy's estate, at the beginning of which he approaches her because his latest mistress told him he's horrible in bed and he's looking for honest feedback/tutelage and trusts her to not artificially inflate his ego. Thus, they embark on what is supposed to be a brief affair but is quickly complicated due to suppressed feelings.

I struggled quite a bit in rating this one, because while it was well-written and witty, it failed to rope me in as expected. I usually love a historical romance with common tropes and character archetypes (which this installment is full of!) There usually has to be something that sets it apart from similar stories in the genre to earn enthusiastic praise. Perhaps I have just read too many books similar to this one that I've burnt myself out. Either way, I'd still recommend it to fans of the genre, particularly those who enjoy enemies-to-lovers.

What I enjoyed
-The writing overall was stellar - charming and witty throughout.
-Jeremy and Diana were just unique enough to be enjoyable as the main couple. Jeremy was a classic rake, but not an insufferable jerk like many in the genre. They're both emotionally stunted but in different ways and due to different reasons; it was rewarding to see them make great progress in overcoming these flaws. I loved how Diana did not seem to care about being likeable and wanted to take full advantage of the power widowhood provided her
-Jeremy's grandmother made the perfect number of appearances, in my opinion. She was very much the omniscient older presence that often pops up in the genre, who knows the hero and heroine will end up together before anyone else.
-I was extremely invested in the side plot between Emily and Belfry... I was living for every update on their situation and will have to read To Marry and to Meddle to get the full picture. The author is definitely talented at teasing the next installment!

What could have been better
-For a novel whose premise revolves around "sex lessons", I found there was a disappointing amount of actual sex. There is a heavy makeout session at the beginning of the arrangement that makes you think the rest of the book will be steamy, but it takes a considerable amount of time for the main couple to actually have sex. Even the first heavy petting session is more clinical than sexy as Diana had to give Jeremy constructive feedback which he did not take well at first.
-The whole side plot with Lady Helen was not properly executed in my opinion. I feel like the author didn't quite have a handle on who Helen actually was as a character, especially considering how much she features in the story.

Tropes to expect
-Enemies to Lovers - although enemies-to-friends-with-benefits is probably a more accurate description
-Mutual pining that is majorly suppressed
-Regency House Party
-Hero is a notorious rake
-Hero is a second son to an impoverished estate who absolutely did not want to inherit his title
-Young widowed heroine who was in a marriage of convenience with a much older man
-Hero is the close friend of the heroine's older brother
-The meddling and snarky grandmother figure


Overall, this was an enjoyable, light read. Definitely give it a try if you like enemies-to-lovers set in the regency period with sharp banter.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a cute regency read! I enjoyed the dynamic between FMC and MMC. Their dislike-to-lovers banter made the story the most enjoyable for me. I appreciated having a strong, unapologetic FMC who knew what she wanted! And while I do believe there was potential in the story, I struggled at times to continue reading. The pace of the storyline wasn’t working for me and I had to lean on certain scenes and dialogue to end up pulling me through.

This was my first novel by Martha Waters and while I didn’t love it, I am intrigued enough that I may give her other books a try.

Synopsis:

Jeremy and the widowed Diana are infamous for their bickering and flirtation. One evening an argument turns into a serous wager - Jeremy will marry within a year or Diana will pay him 100 pounds. After his latest mistress unfavorably criticized his skills in the bedroom, Jeremy goes to Diana suggesting they embark on a brief affair so he can receive an honest critique and Diana can use the gossip to signal she's interested in taking a lover. Diana takes him up thinking it will help her win the wager but while they’re focused on winning wagers, they stand to lose their own hearts.

Review:

A lighthearted regency romance that was easy to read. While this is the second in a series, it was perfectly fine as a standalone. I loved that Diana was a strong and liberated FMC who knew what she wanted. Friends to lovers is one of my favourite tropes and this book did it well. It made me laugh, it made me blush, I enjoyed this book from start to finish!

Thank you to Atria for my digital copy!

I liked this second entry in Martha Waters’s series quite a bit better than the first. I really liked both the main characters in the previous book, and I was excited to read their story. I thought Waters did quite a good job with character development in this novel. Jeremy and Diana’s relationship was particularly satisfying. I would have liked to see more steam in the book given its plot, but I went in prepared for the steam level this time. I highly recommend this book.

Thanks to NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions are my own.

To love and to loathe had such potential, but unfortunately I wasn’t a fan of it. The characters dialogue went on for ages sometimes and I felt like the main character, Diana, was not a great character and I had a hard time reading her.

That being said I did love the flirting between her and Jeremy so I did give a three star review.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for letting me give my professional opinion of this book.

thanks to netgalley & atria books for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked the beginning of this book, especially the prologue portion. Diana is smart, funny, and sharp, if a bit too mean. As a young woman, she wants financial stability above all else. Waters writes Diana with excellent clarity and there's a lot I like about her point of view. Comparatively, our hero, Jeremy, is a bit less defined. Diana definitely has a crush on him, but it feels unwieldy especially in light of his less encouraging financial situation. So the book starts with her firmly rejecting him. And that scene was the best part of the book.

Most of the book takes place several years later. Diana is now a widow and is looking to explore the option of seeing some men romantically in casual way. Jeremy has been seeing women and unexpectedly gets some criticism of his sexual abilities. He seeks a enemies-with-benefits situation with Diana in the hopes of finding out the truth. And so it goes. For the most part they have a friendly dynamic, but sometimes say things in a kind of mean way. There's a good scene specifically around Diana critiquing Jeremy's lack of attentiveness to her cues in bed. But it all just sort of blends together without much happening. Towards the end there's a bit of a step up in the conflict, but it's a scene that should have happened a lot sooner because otherwise the conflict is pretty contrived throughout. Ultimately disappointing, especially given a strong start.

Finally - there's a big authorial mistake when Diana outs a LGBTQ side character. This is presented as a completely normal and okay thing to do. It's off putting and makes it harder to continue being invested in her as a main character to root for.

This book is all about the slow burn. Diana is a strong independent heroine and I loved her sharp tongue. I liked the frenemies to lovers angle and there were a few unexpected twists I didn’t see coming. But overall, it was somewhat of a middling historical romance. I did not read book #1 - I didn't feel like I was missing anything but I do think it would've provided more insight to their personalities.

Thank you to the author Martha Waters, Atria Books, and Netgalley for providing me the eARC.

3.75 STARS

After the reading the previous book in this series, To Have and to Hoax, I was excited to read Diana and Jeremy’s book. They had appeared as friends and also the most interesting characters in the broader cast to me. To Love and to Loathe did not disappoint.

Here we have the widow and the rake who have long had a simmering attraction but are now both free. Diana and Jeremy agree to a no-strings affair limited to their time at his country estate for an extended house party. When the sparks fly, though, they cannot get enough of each other.

(There’s surprisingly little and late spice given the premise. That said, I liked the slow burn throughout the book and felt it gave richer, gradual relationship development than I had initially expected.)

Diana was one of my favorite types of heroines to read: self-assured and strong but not overly antagonistic. The banter is light and teasing, never mean. Jeremy as the hero, however, was my favorite! He’s carefully created the carefree rakish facade but possesses hidden depths. He’s discreet with his affairs, honorable in general, a good friend, and protective of his family legacy. I liked that while Jeremy was not always ready for a commitment, he shows signs of uncharacteristic softness and truthfulness toward Diana—and only for Diana. The author makes it clear that Jeremy respects and admires Diana’s intelligence and fieriness, not just her looks. Diana challenges Jeremy. Jeremy recognizes in Diana an equal, and it’s beautiful.

Kudos to Martha Waters. While I enjoyed the previous book, this one showed such improvement in the writing craft. The pacing seemed more even throughout (although we still get telling not showing and navel-gazing). The contained setting and forced proximity allowed for a more tightly written plot. The comedic rompy elements of the plot were entertaining. Also, the dowager marchioness as the shrewd matchmaker was a hoot. The side characters surrounding the main couple at this house party played significant roles as nuisances, sounding boards, and humor additives.

This is not a standout historical romance but a perfectly fun time and nice historical rom-com.

I just love Martha Waters' plots so much. They're a little ridiculous and a little "okay but why on earth would you do this" but sometimes that's just what the heart wants. 3 stars is typically a little low for me but I didn't like how the main character outed a queer side character without her input, which would have been insanely dangerous in this time period and also just a shitty thing for someone to do. If this had been a plot point where the mc learned more about this stuff that would have been one thing but I really didn't like it.

I remember being worried if To Love and to Loathe would live up to my feelings about To Have and to Hoax and somehow, it surpassed them. I can't exactly pinpoint what it is about Diana and Jeremy that is so perfect to me - they're funny and kind and complicated and so, so wonderful together. This book was such a joy to read, and I know that it's one that I'm going to come back to over and over again.

I didn't realize that this was actually book #2 but it's not entirely necessary to read the first before this one. The dialogue and plot were enjoyable and made this a quick and easy read.

To Love and to Loathe is a hilarious historical romcom set in the Regency period in England. Diana and Jeremy were frequently in each other’s company due to the pairing of their very close friends, and were well known among the ton for their bickering. After an argument at a ball, they wagered that Jeremy would marry within the year or Diana would owe him one hundred pounds. Jeremy then received an unfavorable critique of his bedroom skills from his mistress. He approached Diana, a widow, with a counter proposal. He trusted her to give him honest feedback on his prowess during a brief affair during a house party, and Diana could use the gossip from their liaison to signal to other gentlemen that she was interested in taking a lover. Diana somehow believed that accepting this scheme would increase the likelihood of winning her wager. However, while the two were each focused on winning, they might have won something even better. I adored this book. The witty banter between these two resulted in a lively read with plenty to laugh about. It was interesting to see how the constant bickering between Diana and Jeremy translated into red hot chemistry and two people who fit together better than anyone can expect. I couldn’t put this book down and couldn’t wait for the next book in the series. This author has made me a bonafide fan. I recommend this book for lovers of regency romance. It is not one to miss! I am voluntarily leaving this honest review after reading an advanced complementary copy thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books.

I have read books 1, 3 and 4 and wanted to catch up on this one before reading book 5.
Well, I didn't expect to not like it as much as the rest of the series (that I have read). It seemed that there was a lot going on without actually anything profound going on. There were a LOT of musings in this one, one of my least favorite things.
Sadly I did not enjoy this one as much.

In the captivating historical romance 'To Love and to Loathe' by Martha Waters, the witty banter and flirtation between the widowed Diana, Lady Templeton, and Jeremy, Marquess of Willingham, add a delightful layer to their notorious reputation in English high society. What begins as a lighthearted wager escalates into an unexpected proposition, leading to a unique arrangement between the two characters.

Amid the lush backdrop of Jeremy's country estate, Elderwild, the narrative takes a twist when Jeremy seeks reassurance from Diana after a critique of his bedroom skills. The ensuing proposal for a brief affair intertwines with Diana's strategic use of gossip to signal her interest in taking a lover, setting the stage for a complex game of hearts and wagers.

As the characters navigate the intricacies of their arrangement, Martha Waters weaves a tale where the pursuit of victory in wagers becomes a catalyst for unexpected emotions. Against the backdrop of matchmaking grandmothers and the allure of a house party, the stakes are raised not only for the wager at hand but for the vulnerable hearts of the protagonists.

'To Love and to Loathe' unfolds with a blend of humor, sensuality, and unexpected twists, making it a compelling exploration of love, trust, and the unpredictable nature of the heart.

I’ve been on a historical fiction kick and when you throw in romance I can’t get enough!!

Lady Diana Templeton and Jeremy, the Marquess of Willingham, have been childhood friends, they are known for their quarreling and jabbing at one another. Now, Diana is a wealthy young widow who has no intentions of marrying ever again, and Jeremy is a player who has gotten some bad reviews in the bedroom. A group of family and friends meet at Elderwild, which is also Jeremy’s estate, for a two-week-long party. As usual Diana and Jeremy are going back and forth with each other, which then turns into a wager on whether Jeremy will marry in the next year or not. But Jeremy decides to take it further with an illicit proposal. Jeremey and Diana should become lovers, but only to help each other’s cause. Diana can offer Jeremy some tips in the bedroom and Diana will look like she’s ready to see to other gentleman suitors. Diana agrees, but she continues to push suitors Jeremy’s way to win her bet. Everyone seems to have their own motives here, but can emotions be controlled in this tangled predicament?

I decided to read To Love and to Loathe because the premise sounded fun considering the time period and I want to get more into historical romance. After becoming a widow Diana had no desire to remarried and just wanted to relish in her newfound freedom and just have casual lovers. Enter the Marquess of Willingham, who is known for his horde of lovers and aversion to getting married. When one of The Marquess’s lovers left with a less than stellar review of his bedroom skills he proposes Diana a deal. Sleep together and get Diana’s honest opinion on his skills and she gets the word out that she’s open to no strings attached bedroom fun.

I did like the banter between Jeremy and Diana, they were more like reluctant lovers than enemies. Diana more so in trying to deny the attraction she felt for him. Some parts dragged a bit much, with secondary characters that dind’t add much to the plot. Definitely a slow burn but the anticipation of them getting together sets for a nice ending. Overall it was an ok and easy read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books and Martha Waters for the opportunity to read this book.

“To Love and to Loathe” by Martha Waters is the second book in The Regency Vows series. This book can be read as a stand-alone. This book was okay. There were some great lines by the main female character, Diana, and some great retorts by the main male character, Jeremy. But this book had so many odd twists - or maybe convoluted twists - that at times I felt underwhelmed. However, that being said, the plot of this book wasn’t as far-fetched as the first book, so that is a positive.