I loved book two just as much as I loved book one. Waters has a level of banter that I absolutely adore, and she keeps me on my toes with character wit and excellent tension. I liked the change of trope in this one and the fact you can just about read these novels in any order. I do highly recommend starting with book one though, it will give you an excellent introduction into Templeton and Jeremy. The widow ready to mingle and the rake who refuses to let his ex slander his bed skill had me absolutely rolling.

I did go back and forth with the representation in this book and how it was handled. Mind you I recommend reading a few own voice reviews to better understand the perception in this case. Outside of that I have no qualms. Waters has a beautiful writing style that whisks you off into the dynamic of not only the main characters but of the side characters as well. It is easy to connect with each individual persona and watch your frustrations ease away as the banter and steam takes hold.

There is an excellent representation of women in this era and with Templeton. I appreciated her strength as a widowed woman in a time ruled by men. I feel the author didn’t breeze over this topic and actually took time to bring this struggle to light in an excellent manner that tied in really well with the plot.

I know when it comes to my romcoms that I want to laugh and fall in love with the people I am reading about. I don’t want to be boggled down with information or too much internal dialogue and hands down Waters delivers. She is a favorite author for me and I cannot wait for more! Absofreakinglutely recommend to all of my romcom lovers if you haven’t read her already!

Special thanks to Atria Books not only for the ability to read and review this gifted DRC but also for getting me hooked on this author last year!

Regency romances have for sure been more popular than usual since Bridgerton and I am all for them. To Love and to Loathe was a quick read for me that I was easily able to get through in one sitting. Though it started out a bit slow for me, it quickly picked up and the back and forth jabs between both main characters was quite entertaining.

This book truly cements the idea that a man and a woman can’t simply have any sort of friends with benefits situationship going without feelings developing at some point in time. Not only was this book humorous but the relationship between Jeremy and Diana was endearing all the way through the end.

Unfortunately this book didn’t work for me. I didn’t find Diana likable at all, so it was hard to root for her. Also outing an LGBTQ character for “humor” is never okay - there should’ve been repercussions for this.

3.5 stars

To Love and to Loathe is the second book in The Regency Vows series but worked very well as a stand-alone book for me.

The widowed Diana Templeton and Jeremy, Marquess of Willingham, members of the English High Society are both notorious for their bickering and flirting. One evening, at a ball, they enter a wager that Jeremy will marry within the year or Diana will give him 100 pounds. What is a little wager between frenemies? So, Diana is naturally shocked with Jeremy visits her at her home and proposes an altogether different wager - a mutually beneficial one. Jeremy recently had his manhood questioned by a recent lover who had criticism about his prowess in the bedroom. Jeremy wants Diana to help him soothe his ego, test his skills in the bedroom and Diana gets well, a lover with no strings attached. But what happens when feelings get in the way? What happens if Jeremy's marriage-minded grandmother, the formidable Dowager Marchioness of Willingham, finds a future wife for him?

This is a fun book with both characters engaging in witty repartee. They are the perfect frenemies - they bicker, have chemistry and are likeable. There is also a few twists and drama along the way. Both characters are engaging and there is more to both Diana and Jeremy than meets the eye. Will you be rooting for them to connect? Will you be hearing Marvin Gaye singing” Let’s Get it on” while reading this book as I did? Will their arrangement work? Will feelings get in the way? You will need to read and find out!

Another enjoyable fast read which is a perfect choice you want to escape the world and be entertained. I will admit I had some doubt going forward - a Romcom set in the past.... will it work for me???? Yes, yes it did! Quite nicely in fact. I will be on the lookout for book three in the series. I just hope it is as amusing, witty, and fun as this one.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

See more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com

Diana, a widow whose flirtatiousness has earned her a bit of reputation that isn’t true, has long been annoyed by her brother’s rascally rake of a friend, Jeremy. She laughingly wagers that she can get him married off within a year, and, surprisingly, he takes her up on it. So when Jeremy propositions that she tutor him in the boudoir after his recent paramour tells him he’s not that good, Diana may find herself in a very interesting position indeed.

The thing I love most about this book, and the previous book in the series, is the mix of banter and deep conversations. I love how cheeky Diana and Jeremy can get with each other, but it’s also so satisfying to see them drop their walls and have deeper, more emotional conversations. Diana can be a bit sarcastic and cynical, while Jeremy is more life of the party. I really enjoyed the way their relationship developed.

It was also really fun watching Emily’s possible relationship start on the side. The next book is hers and I appreciate how her story has been building in the background of these other two books.

I have just one critique of the book and it is a bit serious. Diana is told a secret, one that could cause a lot of problems for someone, and then immediately goes and tells her friends. Which, sure they would never say a word, but it was never Diana’s secret to tell. There were other ways to get the same point across, and I do wish the situation had been different.

Overall, I really loved the book. I can’t wait to read more in the series! 4.5 stars!

To Love and to Loathe is full of fun. It's an easy read: the banter is witty, the chemistry is fantastic, the cast has quirky and appealing characters. It's brother's-best-friend meets second-chance meets enemies-to-lovers and can be read as a stand-alone.
Diana and Jeremy are forever at odds. They don't really know why they get on each other's last nerve but their verbal sparring is something they look forward to and also can't stand. They come to a "gentleman's agreement" over a wager that Jeremy will marry within a year.
This is the first book I've read where the heroine is a scandalous widow, or so her reputation would suggest. I love this twist on a character who is typically the barely mentioned side piece of a wealthy member of the nobility.
I've read several books in this time period. There's something magical about the proper setting and rules of etiquette, the adjustment from arranged marriages to love matches, the Austen-esque ideas of romance. I adore those themes merged with a stereotypical romcom that allows for smirks and laughter. This historical romance and romcom mashup is delightful. I think this could be a gateway series for historical romance fans to love romcoms and romcom fans to enjoy historical romance.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.

Happy #PubDay, To Love and to Loathe! If you like regency romances then this one is for you. I definitely felt some P&P vibes and thought if you're a fan of Downton, Bridgerton and Evie Dunmore's series then you will want to read Martha Waters. I'm looking forward to reading more by the author in the future. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Happy #PubDay and REVIEW for To Love and to Loathe by Martha Waters! After watching Bridgerton on Netflix I discovered something about myself that I didn’t know before: I absolutely adore Regency Era romance novels. I had stayed away in the past because I believed the female characters would be restricted by the boundaries of their class and social norms and therefore I would be annoyed more than anything by any potential love story, but I was wrong. Waters has shown that strong, independent, witty women are ideal characters in any romance book no matter the time period in which it takes place. The main characters here are sweet, smart, entertaining, and swoon-worthy. This book is the second of a series in which I have not read the first but will definitely go back and read.

This does feel similar to A Rogue of One’s Own by Evie Dunmore but I still appreciated the writing and story nonetheless.


Thank you to @netgalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is just an excellent enemies-to-lovers, ill-conceived "we won't catch feelings, it's just physical" arrangement story set as a Regency novel. It was really a lot of fun, I love getting lost in the full-skirts and formal language of the time. I loved watching Jeremy and Diana discover each other's deeper emotional layers and come to understand the other's motivations and make-ups; it was a wonderful love story. The support cast and characters were colorful (can I have Jeremy's grandmother as my own, please?) and delightful. There were a few moments towards the beginning of this one that I thought "am I really only x% through this one?", but the pay-off and destination of the story is worth it (there were some things I did NOT see coming!) and I would absolutely recommend.

I give this one 4 stars and a moderate steam rating.

It started as a friendship. They'd known each other for a long time and they loved sniping back at each other with words. But now she's a widow and he's become the Marquess of Willingham after his older brother's death. They make a bet that he will be married in a year. He prefers having sex with no commitments, but he takes her bet sure he will win.

Atria Books and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you). It is being published today.

Diana has agreed to give him sex lessons. It seems the last lady he bedded shot him down as a lover. They are just going to enjoy their time together and will move on after it's over.

As they get to know each other now that they are older, they find their feelings changing. She was just a fun pest before but now Jeremy thinks she's a beautiful woman with more depth to her than he saw before. She finds he has further depth than she anticipated also.

The longer they are together, the more they are attracted to each other. They were never going to get married but things can change.

They have family and friends around them and they are observing their behavior. The only alone time they is late at night.

Will they admit what has happened or go on their separate ways?

Thank you to @atriabooks and @netgalley for my #gifted ARC.

So this was my very first ARC on Net Galley and I’m happy to report that I thoroughly enjoyed it!! Just so you are aware, this is the second in a series, but I wasn’t lost having not read To Have and To Hoax.

In this Regency romance, Diana is a young widow who finally has the freedoms that most men are born with: money, time, and independence. So when her brother’s best friend, Jeremy, suggests a little *arrangement*, Diana finds herself considering the offer, even though she’s pretty certain that the two of them are enemies.

This story was delightful and very enemies to lovers sass with a lil sexual healing on the side. I laughed a lot and swooned a bit too. It’s maybe 2 on the 🔥 scale, but a delicious slow burn at that. To Love and To Loathe is out TODAY!

CW: death, homophobia

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

This is the second book in the Regency Vows series, though it can be read as a stand alone novel, however, I think you miss out on some of their character development that way.

I was looking forward to reading this one because Diana and Jeremy were my favorite characters from To Have and to Hoax. The banter between the two was funny, as well as between Diana and her best friends Violet and Emily.

This was an enjoyable, light, fast paced read, great for fans of Bringing Down the Duke or regency romances in general. If you don’t like steamy novels, don’t let the synopsis put you off, there were only a couple steamy scenes.

I hope we get Emily’s story next!

Thank you @netgalley and @atriabooks for the advanced w-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Happy Publication Day! To say this was one of my most anticipated reads of 2020 would be an understatement. When Martha announced this title was on NetGalley I immediately requested it minutes later, when she announced giveaways I entered every single one (I NEVER enter giveaways), I even went so far as to enter a Goodreads giveaway (does anyone actually win those?!).I had come to terms with the fact I wasn’t getting an ARC before release day and then low and behold a few days ago my request was approved and I proceeded to squeal like a pig (thankfully there were no witnesses).

This book is the second book in the Regency Vows series and I think I liked it more than the first. Lady Diana Templeton is a widow and her experience is limited to that one-time with her husband to consummate the marriage. The idea of marrying again and forfeiting the freedoms her widowhood has awarded her is horrifying so she does what any respectable society lady would do and contemplates taking a lover. The Marquess of Willingham, her brother’s friend and thorn in her side, finds the idea of marriage equally as horrifying but requires some reassurances in the bedroom after receiving some harsh criticism. It doesn’t take long before the two come to an agreement and then have said arrangement falls apart.

I honestly think I would be besties with Diana. Actually on second thought probably not because I’m pretty sure we’re the same person. That’s probably why I rooted harder for her than I ever have for a character in a romance novel.

If this book resulted in one thing it is that I will never look at a game of hide and seek quite the same ever again.

I enjoy this series more than the Bridgerton books I have read. It’s fun, it’s light, and full of fun banter and sexual tension. If this particular book’s description doesn’t sound like something you’d enjoy I still encourage you to follow the author on Instagram. She’s a librarian and posts weekly recommendations. It was through her that I discovered the Bridgerton series (long before Netflix), Sarah Hogle and many other books I adore.

My thanks to #NetGalley and #AtriaBooks for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I was hooked from the first sentence. Diana, our protagonist, is frosty, which is so appreciated.
The writing can be a bit stilted and forced, attempting to sound of the period but coming across as not fitting the characters.
Initially, the plot comes across as being very similar to other popular romance novels of the last few years.
Some of the character names were distracting/ pulled me out of the story a bit (one named Toogood, for example). The plot is very similar to several popular recent books, so I was a bit disappointed.
I wished this book had gone with a friends-with-benefits plot instead of the usual friends to lovers trope. It could have been far more original. The middle of the book did get a bit stagnant with little in the way of development but finally picked up again around the 75% mark. I was not particularly fond of the MC’s interest in gossip but I’m sure many readers will enjoy that part of her personality. One instance that bothered me was how quickly the MC shared an extremely personal secret that was told to her in confidence. She quite literally shared it with two other people within moments of being told.
An enjoyable read but not a stand out for the genre.

While I don't read much historical or regency stories lately, I really enjoyed the push and pull of this enemies to lovers story. Diana set out to marry well, and she did. However, that didn't last forever. Now she is widowed and making her way through each season without the need to land a husband. Does she find a companion? Does she take a lover? Jeremy on the other hand, is quite the rake. He has no desire to marry although he knows he must at some point. These two seem to truly dislike each other, the banter between them is amazingly smart. What will happen when Jeremy makes a proposal unlike one Diana was expecting? Will she take him up on it? Or will Diana do what she must to win her wager?

I was given an Advance Release Copy of TO LOVE AND TO LOATHE from Atria Books via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I saw an ad for this book on Instagram touting it as a laugh out loud, sexy romp akin to the Bridgerton series. While it was cute and certainly steamy, it lacked the character development and depth of the more well-known series. It was a quick, fun read, perfect for poolside lounging this summer, but not a standout book by any means.

The Lady Templeton and Marquess of Willingham are infamous among English high society as much for their sharp-tongued bickering as their flirtation. One evening, an argument at a ball turns into a serious wager: Jeremy will marry within the year or Diana will forfeit 100 pounds. So shortly after, just before a fortnight-long house party (that’s two weeks for us normal people) at Jeremy’s country estate, Diana is shocked when Jeremy appears at her home with a very different kind of proposition.

After his latest mistress unfavorably criticized his skills in the bedroom, Jeremy is looking for reassurance, so he has gone to the only woman he trusts to be totally truthful. He suggests that they embark on a brief affair while at the house party—Jeremy can receive an honest critique of his bedroom skills and the widowed but still-young Diana can use the gossip to signal to other gentlemen that she is interested in taking a lover.

This was a predictable yet enjoyable tale. I enjoyed the banter between the two and all the house party shenanigans going on. If anything, it could have used more steam. There wasn’t nearly enough hanky-panky for a two-week house party. Also, I would have enjoyed an epilogue.

This was the second in a series but there is no need to read them in order. If you enjoy regency romances, be sure to check this one out!

I will admit that I wasn’t a big fan of this author’s first novel in this series, To Have and to Hoax. I am, however, thankful for having read it because her friends, including Violet the heroine from that novel, are again a big part of the plot in To Love and to Loathe. Unlike the fake illness Violet undertook to reel her husband back into their marriage, in this story Diana, is carrying on an affair while trying to win a bet by marrying him off before the year is done. You know how that’s going to turn out! I did really like the sense of humor written into these characters. They were a lot more fun to read about and I found myself a little bit more invested in the outcome. Of course, I wasn’t afraid the book would end without their falling in love, but the story was engaging and the antics of the house guests kept me turning the pages.

One of the more interesting side notes to this story were the societal mores that the ladies and gents of this time lived. Jeremy was known as a cad for all of his affairs. As a Marquess, and even in his younger days, the son of a Marquess, things came easily to him. Women threw themselves at him and when he was rated poorly by his previous lady love it was Diana who pointed out that women may have been faking it all along just because of who and what he was. An opinion that was eye opening and fun to read. Diana, as a widow could reveal to someone that she might be willing to have a liaison and in fact hoped that having one with Jeremy would go towards helping her gain more experience in that endeavor. However, if she became talked about then despite her being a “Lady” her reputation wouldn’t recover. It wasn’t a huge part of the story but a scene that stuck with me.

I wouldn’t call this novel a historical romance rom-com but it was more spirited than I expected and I did laugh a couple of times. If you are looking for a historical romance with a small twist give this one a try. I think you can read it without reading the previous novel so never fear! Purchase away! ❤️❤️❤️❤️

I receive a copy of this novel through NetGalley and the publisher for my honest review and it was honest.

I'm reading this a bit backwards. I haven't read the first book, but it's next on my list.

Diana was my favorite. I loved her carefulness, candor and drive to survive. She knew what was needed for her happiness and went after it. I appreciate that.

Both Jeremy and Diane are living different lives in public than in private. Keeping their true selves hidden has become second nature.

Little did they know that all the witty banter and hatred for each other was just some sexy foreplay.

I thought the story line was light and fun. While adding in some super relevant issues of the time.

Loved

I’m not usually a historical romance reader but this one was so compelling from start to finish!! It was funny, sassy, witty, and steamy!! I’m now on team Martha Waters all the way!!

The enemies to lovers vibe between the widowed, Diana, Lady Templeton and Jermey the Marquess of Willingham was full of chemistry, angst, and so much swoony romance. Their contentious relationship has been going on as long as they can remember which makes it all the better when their feelings start to change during a stay at Willingham’s country house.

This was a super fun fake-dating / short-term relationship of convenience that goes much further than either of these enemies ever thought possible in the best possible way. Their verbal jabs were hilarious and romantic and kept me turning the pages! The side characters were at times totally over the top with their scheming and secrets. I especially loved Lady Helen who was a total surprise and Toogood who even as Diana’s maid managed to levy some awesome zingers at her Lady.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who needs a fun and engaging read.