Loved the first one, and loving this one too. I definitely hope there are at least three more. Can't wait to hear stories for West, Emily, and Penvale

Huge thank you to Atria Publishing, Martha Waters, and Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

To Love and to Loathe is a fun and inventive historical romp featuring a fantastical assortment of characters, set against the backdrop of a familiar historical town. This was a super anticipated April release and it did not disappoint! It was witty, heartfelt, and included some of the best characters written!

I read To Have and to Hoax last year and fell in love with Diana and Jeremy as side characters and could not wait to read about them from their point of view. Martha Waters definitely delivered on this story and exceeded my already sky high expectations!! This is a dual perspective book (my favorite!) and I loved getting to read about both Diana and Jeremy’s interactions with each other! Diana is such a fiery character and I loved being able to see her vulnerable side whenever she was with Jeremy or painting. I also adored their quick witted banter and always get the last word attitudes! Even with most of Jeremy and Diana’s interactions being playful, there were still heartfelt moments in there that really made me connect with the characters and fall in love with them even more.

I’ve never been a huge historical romance reader but authors like Martha Waters are game-changers! To Love and to Loathe is a book that I think should be on everyone’s April TBR! It’s fun, flirty, and full of the best banter and group of characters! A must read for all readers!

Thank you to Atria (via NetGalley) for the ARC!

This was a lot of fun. A great follow-up to To Have and To Hoax, and I might actually like it better! Just because romances with established relationships, like the first one, are never my favorite. This one, though, is about Diana and Jeremy (who have many more names and titles that I couldn't always keep straight) who have known each other for ten years. Diana is a widow at 23 and Jeremy is determined never to marry, and at 28 has been successful thus far. They travel in the same social circles and have always enjoyed picking on each other, in a good-natured way. But, of course, things change when they enter into a wager: Diana bets Jeremy 100 pounds he will be married within a year, a wager he gladly accepts. Then, however, things get messy when Jeremy approaches Diana with a proposal of his own: he wants to enter into an affair with her after receiving some rather harsh criticisms from his last fling and what starts out as something purely physical doesn't stay that way for long.

Diana and Jeremy are both super sarcastic, which I love. They are both also idiots. They think they actually hate each other, when everyone around them can even tell that there is something going on beneath the surface. One of my favorite dynamics in romance novels! I like to call it idiots to lovers because they're not actually enemies to begin with. There's no real hate or malice there, it's just that neither of them really understand their own feelings for the other person.

I like that both of them used their sarcasm as kind of a shield. Both of them had pain in their pasts that they hid from even their friends, and it was only around each other that they were able to take off the masks they wore in polite society and really examine how those respective pasts may have affected the people they had become.

As I said before, a great follow-up, and a super quick read! I read most of it in one cold, blizzard-y day, and it was the perfect book to curl up on the couch with. Best enjoyed with a cat in your lap and a mug of tea nearby.

This releases April 6th, so pre-order it now or request it at your library! I'm excited to see what comes next in this series :)

I truly wanted to love this one more than I did. I mean a sex pact with sex lessons with the roles reversed from what has been typical in the genre? Yes, please. While I enjoyed the banter at times, I just had a hard time getting into it like I normally would have with a romance, especially an enemies-to-lovers romance. I also had a hard time looking past the use of outing another character (and supposed friend) as a plot device. This is not something to take lightly or use to help a character grow. There are real consequences and often very dangerous ones. It just felt so utterly wrong.

Overall this one just wasn't for me but I truly appreciate the publisher providing an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Diana, Lady Templeton, and Jeremy, the Marquess of Willingham, are always at odds. One particular argument leads to Diana betting Jeremy that he will be married before the year is out. After getting a bad review from one of his bed partners, Jeremy seeks Diana out because he knows she will tell him the truth. The wager and the agreement come to a head when both attend a house party.

Waters is a good writer, and while I normally enjoy an enemies to lovers story, this one just wasn’t my cup of tea. The dialogue between Jeremy and Diana led to bickering and I prefer bantering. I also found myself wanting to know more about each of them and what made them tick. I did appreciate that the first time the two made love, it wasn’t perfect from the start. I’d like to see more of this in romance.

I have to start by saying that I would've DNF this book around the halfway point had it not been for the fact that I received a copy on NetGalley.

I went into this book wanting to love it. The premise was super interesting and it contains everything I love in a regency romance. However, the execution wasn't up to par and I ended up being disappointed.

I love the "enemies-to-lovers" trope, but it didn't work for me in this instance. I didn't really believe that they hated each other (despite them repeating constantly that they dislike each other *sigh*) and I couldn't connect with them and their relationship.

One aspect of the book I really liked was that, for once, the hero isn't a sex god who knows everything about pleasuring women.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

One of the things I really enjoy in historical romance is when we have female characters who know and do their best to survive the male dominated world they live in.

These characters are fresh, and the ability of both Diana and Jeremy to be open to each other in the bed room, is not something we see often in historical romance.

I did not love that the main character essentially outed another character to the heroines friends. Up to that point I was very pleased with the representation in the book, and then my view of the heroine took a dive.

I really wanted to love this book since I'm a historical romance fan, but I didn't like the characters from the beginning or quite frankly, the entire premise of the story.

I would still recommend this to fans of the historical romance genre. Just because it didn't work for me doesn't mean it won't work for another reader. The story does have some lighthearted, fun moments.

The second book in Martha Water's The Regency Vows series, To Love and to Loathe features two side characters from the first book and their love story. Diana Templeton is a widow, and currently in the market for a super secret love affair. Jeremy recently was given a negative critique on his bedroom performance, and is looking for an ego boost with someone he trusts to give it to him straight. These two have always had a hot and cold relationship, fraught with sexual tension, so it seems they both suit the other's current needs. But are they both in danger of falling for the other as well?

The plot of this book is very similar to Evie Dunmore's second novel in her regency series, A Rogue of One's Own, which wasn't my favorite of her two. However, I enjoyed To Love and the Loathe even more than To Have and to Hoax. Loathe brought everything that I was missing from Rogue. I loved both of the characters so much, and there were even more antics and societal intrigue (along with a secret LGBTQ love affair!), and Loathe seemed to set up a love story for a third book - which I would be super excited to read.

You also got to see Violet and James in this story, and see bits and pieces of the aftermath of Hoax. I do think the plot line of Jeremy needing to be reassured on his bedroom prowess was a touch cheesy at times, but it led to interesting, feminist dialogue between the two in regards to relations between men and women in this time period - or what I would imagine they were like! I also just love the idea of a 2 week house party?? Like YES, sign me up now.

I highly recommend this romance, regency series by Martha Waters and I will just be here, impatiently waiting and hoping to hear that another will be coming!

**Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review**

Like the rest of the world, I’m suffering from a severe Bridgerton hangover. Heck, even my iPad and iPhone are suggesting that title anytime I type a “b” word in a text! I have been hankering for historical romance my whole life, but even more so now. They provide the BEST escapes, be it in book, tv, or movie form. That said Martha Waters’ debut novel To Have and To Hoax was one of my favorite romantic reads last year and her sophomore novel To Love and to Loathe featuring once again some of the characters from To Have and to Hoax, filled the Bridgerton sized gap.

Going into this one, I honestly wasn’t 100% sure this wouldn’t be anything more than a friends with benefits story focused on the physical aspects of Diana and Jeremy’s relationship, but it actually is so much more. For one thing, yes, the chemistry is off the charts, but the easy conversations and banter just make the leap from friends to lovers more believable! Also, I won’t spoil it, but the ending in the gallery room is hella romantic. BRB, am swooning.

Did I mention the supporting characters? Jeremy’s absolutely fabulous meddlesome grandmama? If you are a Lady Danbury stan, rejoice! There are also a few secondary relationships with a few additional characters that I’m intrigued by and hope to see expanded in detail in future books. I’m kind of sad that I read an arc of this in January since that means I’ll have to wait that much longer for book 3. :(

4 out of 5 stars

* I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not obligated to provide a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.*

Oh my gosh! This book, with all it’s originality in a genre that can be repetitive at times, was absolutely wonderful!

I adore a friends-to-lovers trope so I was instantly interested in this one after reading the blurb. There is no way I could have known how unique this story was going to be. With a hero and heroine that didn’t hesitate to say what was on their minds to each other. I was gobbling up the banter between them as fast as I could.

Once Diana had been married and soon widowed, she really came into herself. She embraced the freedom her place in society gave her and along with it came the opportunity to accept a scandalous proposition. Gah! I love scandalous propositions! And I loved Diana. She was bold and feisty, never hesitating to speak her opinion. She was exactly what Jeremy needed.

I struggled just a tad with Jeremy’s reason for the proposition. Afterall, here’s a man who has been horn-dogging around for years and the premise didn’t feel authentic for either him or Diana. However, I’m a lenient reader and I pushed that aside and had no trouble at all embracing everything else about these characters and the plot.

With secondary characters that I became just as invested in as Jeremy and Diana, I was pulled completely into the story. The laugh out loud moments were frequent, the chemistry believable and absolutely sizzled when this hero and heroine were alone together, and the ending absolutely perfect.

This is my second book by this author and I’m finding her writing to be fresh and original. These are not your typical historical romances. With characters that feel very modern in their behavior and beliefs, they, nonetheless, still fit very well in the historical setting where they’ve been created giving this a new, edgy feel. I love it!

I did not enjoy this book because the characters were too divisive and predictable. I enjoy a enemies to lovers trope, but the characters were not willing to let go of their hate towards each other for the sake of their happiness.

Oof. I thought this was going to be just another romance that I didn’t love but I didn’t hate and was maybe a victim of my pandemic brain. At the 78% mark, Waters turned it around to an “I cannot recommend this book at all.”

Right up top I’m going to address my main issue. Waters has a side character who is revealed to be a lesbian and then the main character immediately tells her friends after swearing them to silence. And then she does it again! The best way to keep something secret is to not tell anyone. Don’t out gay people in situations where that knowledge puts them in danger. I understand she’s using the subplot to brake Diana out of her cowardice, but that made it worse in my opinion. I was already gritting my teeth at other elements of the subplot, but this was a big no for me. I don’t think a secret gay relationship should be a plot device for the straights to figure out their feelings. I hated almost everything about this subplot.

Aside from that rather large issue, it took me over four months to read this book. My inability to focus is partly a byproduct of the pandemic. To Love and to Loathe should be my catnip – Diana and Jeremy agree to have a discreet affair at a house party so that Jeremy can get an honest assessment of his sexual technique. I love the “we’re just having sex, oh no we caught feelings” trope and it’s even better when the sex pact involves sex lessons. Furthermore, Waters switches it so that the rake is the one receiving the sex lessons. I wanted to love this. There are so many great possibilities in this scenario. The best parts of the story are when Jeremy and Diana are making out or having sex. And I don’t mean because of the descriptions of the physical activity, but that’s when they are the most emotionally intimate. Sadly, Waters doesn’t include many of these scenes. For a book about a sex pact it is remarkably tame.

My other complaint is that the characters spend so much time on musings and asides that I felt disconnected from the heart of the story. To quote Emperor Joseph II, there were simply too many notes. I get that this is a romantic comedy of manners and masks, but it didn’t work for me.

I received this as an advance reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley and Atria for the ARC of this book. Small disclaimer, I read the first book in this series after seeing and hearing good reviews, but I didn't *love* it. I wanted to read this one, because I felt the first one was mostly suffering First-bookitis... Trying to introduce too many people and sequels at one time.

While I do enjoy the writing and silly situations as much as the next person, this didn't happen to work for me at this time. Maybe if it had been a little shorter. There were a lot of repetative dialogue and scenarios.

I personally do not have a lot of time or patience for men in general most days. Diana, our heroine, is much the same. She has a snarky comment for every occasion. It's funny at first but gets a little worn. There is a certain condescension and self-righteousness about her that grates on me as the book goes on.

Jeremy is a more likeable character, but I found his choices lacking reason. For example, he's a notorious rake and generally regarded as frivolous, but it's a mask he's carefully constructed for REASONS. None of which can be found, hinted at at or understood in any way. Until the second to last chapter by which time I was kinda over it.

The side plots developing into their own books are thankfully less in this book, but they are simmering in the background. West and Sophie are my favs, and I would be up for reading their story.

I think the cover is cute and really tells you this is fluff read.

#ToLoveAndToLoathe #NetGalley

***Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books and Martha Waters. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own.***

Lady Diana Templeton enjoys her independence thanks to an advantageous marriage that left her widowed soon after. Marquess Jeremy Willingham is being pressured by his grandmother to marry and sire an heir. Diana and Jeremy make a wager about it. Jeremy enjoys his no-strings lifestyle, at least he used to before his last lover questioned his skills in the bedroom. He wants a second opinion. He propositions Diana, knowing she’ll be honest and straightforward. It doesn’t hurt that there has always been an undercurrent of tension between them. He hopes it will translate to passion between the sheets, and maybe he’ll get her out of his system.

I thought this book had a great setup, and I’m a big fan of enemies-to-lovers stories, but this one was just middle-of-the-road for me. There was so much potential between Diana and Jeremy, but too many side characters and side plots got in the way. I didn’t care about the wager concerning whether Jeremy would marry or not. I didn’t care about many of the side characters. I honestly found myself bored at one point. It took longer than I would have liked for our pair to get together, and then the realization of love between the MCs felt too sudden. The balance was off for me. Lastly, I didn’t care for how Lady Helen’s story was handled.

I DNF'd this book, but I want to stress that it is me - not the book. I didn't realize it was historical romance, or I wouldn't have downloaded it. Historical romance is not a genre I am interested in at all. I do encourage fans of the genre to pick up this book, despite this review.

Lady Diana Templeton and Jeremy, the Marquess of Willingham, have been at each other's throats for most of their lives. They are well-known in society for their verbal sparring matches (and flirtations), and each takes pride in being able to one-up the other. During one such argument, Diana challenges the rakish Jeremy to find a wife within a year or she'll forfeit a hundred pounds. Thinking she has this bet in the bag, Diana is thrown for a loop when Jeremy approaches her with a very different proposition.

Jeremy has always had a way with the ladies. He's never been shy about his bedroom activities, but after his latest partner implied he wasn't as talented as he thought, he seeks out the one person he knows will always be brutally honest: Lady Diana. As the pair are about to spend time at a house party, he suggests that they use this opportunity to test his prowess in the bedroom. She can give him an honest critique of his abilities, and the gossip they'll churn up will show to other gentlemen that the widowed Diana is interested in taking up a lover. Believing this will be the perfect way to ensure she wins their bet, Diana agrees but quickly learns that it's not only money on the line but her heart as well.

I really enjoyed To Have and to Hoax, so I jumped at the chance to read this and it was just as fun. Waters has such a way of making slightly messy/petty characters so entertaining and investing. I'm always a sucker for a hate-to-love romance, so I was completely hooked on Diana and Jeremy from the very first page. Their bickering was delightful and you could feel the tension between them increasing with every teasing comment. There were so many times I found myself smiling or laughing at their antics. Though I will admit, Diana did get on my nerves slightly at times just due to her scheming/manipulations. There were also some moments where I found the writing to be a bit repetitive, but not enough to diminish my enjoyment. Overall, this was a solid follow-up and I can't wait to see where this series goes next.

"To Love and To Loathe" by Martha Waters
A page-turner Regency-Era romance that is a pure joy to read. Diana and Jeremy two souls who seem to have the world at their feet. And then the story begins. If you like sweet romance stories, I am quite sure you will enjoy your time within this story. Happy Reading ! !
NOTE: I received an ARC of this story from the publisher. This review is my honest opinion.

To Love and to Loathe has a great setup and I thought I would really enjoy it, but it does some things I find irritating and it very poorly handles the existence of a queer side character, including the heroine privately outing them to people SHE finds trustworthy without the consent of the person in question. Outing someone to your friends, especially in a time when things were incredibly dangerous for queer people is NOT okay and I'm not sure how this made it through the editing process.

The heroine is a widow who is determined to maintain her freedom and financial independence, but is interested in casual affairs though she's not sure how to show she's "open for business" so to speak. The hero is her childhood friend and a notorious rake, but after ending things with his last mistress who gave him a bad review of his bedroom skills, he's seeking affirmation that he's as good as he thinks he is before moving on to a new mistress. And so they decide to conduct a brief affair during a house party for both their sakes. Not realizing they have actual feelings simmering beneath the surface.

The setup for this is fantastic and I thought I would love it, but I ended up finding the characters and their actual romance a bit lackluster, wasn't convinced the ending made sense given the personality and concerns of the heroine, and really disliked everything surrounding the treatment of this queer side character. I think the author was trying to say something about how LGBT people found ways to exist during that time, but it was very poorly handled. Others will likely enjoy this more than I did, but ultimately I just couldn't get on board with several elements of it. I received an advance copy for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! To Love and to Loathe was a largely predictable yet exceptionally enjoyable read. I was immediately drawn in by the story and especially by the character of Diana. There was not as much conflict as I was expecting, but I was pleasantly surprised by a few developments throughout the book. As in her first book, Martha Waters’s characters are extremely lovable and the banter is sharp and ever-flowing. I also really appreciated the feminism and sex-positivity infused throughout. I would definitely recommend To Have and to Hoax and To Love and to Loathe and am looking forward to reading whatever Martha Waters writes next.