Oh, my goodness, this book is as delightful (more so, even) as the first one. Diana and Jeremy's sexual tension crackles from the beginning and the mutual attraction was so fun to read about.

Martha Waters's debut novel To Have and to Hoax was one of the first books I read when lockdown began last year, and its wit, humor, and swoony second-chance romance were truly a saving grace at that time. I immediately was thrilled at the prospect of more stories about these characters, and as such was so happy to receive an advanced copy of To Love and to Loathe, the second book in the The Regency Vows series. I was even more thrilled when I dove into this book and realized that I loved it even more than its predecessor.

What seems to be a hallmark of this series are the hijinks its characters involve themselves in, and I love some good hijinks. In this book, Diana, a wealthy widow who values her independence, and Jeremy, a handsome rake, have been flirt-fighting across London for years. They come to two separate agreements that inform the plot: she bets him 100 pounds that he'll be married within the year, and he gets her to agree to a brief affair in order to reinvigorate his rakish reputation. Set primarily at a house party in the English countryside, these two try to out-scheme the other (helped along by Jeremy's grandmother, the ultimate schemer of the bunch), but as the two learn more about each other, they both need to reckon with their growing feelings for each other.

Enemies-to-lovers will forever be a favorite of mine and this book excelled at playing with a lot of the themes that are common in enemies-to-lovers stories. It's not quite correct to say that Jeremy and Diana are enemies, though; they enjoy pushing each other's buttons far too much to believe they actually hate each other, but this made the novel all the more fun. The banter and chemistry here leaps off the page, and I was invested in these two from the beginning. I also found the ending so lovely and sweet that I cried. To be fair, I'm a crier generally, but romances rarely, if ever, provoke that emotion in me, so I've got to tip my hat here. My only teensy tiny complaint is that I wish it had a few more steamy scenes, but that's a me problem, not a book problem.

Above all, what I really love about Waters's books is how accessible they are to a modern reader. Her characters are refreshingly forward-thinking, and while this may not be historically accurate, it makes it much more palatable than a lot of other historical romances I've read. I also enjoy how self-aware her books are about the tropes that they play with; this is really cleverly done.

All in all, this was a 5 star read for me, and Waters has cemented herself as an auto-buy author for me. I cannot wait to get more from this series - what is going on with Emily?! will we get West's story?! - and look forward to reading whatever Waters writes in the future.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria for the advanced copy!

I have never been a fan of regency romance. However, Waters fresh new approach in her writing of To Love and to Loathe has made me partial to story telling skills. I liked how she brought freshness and lightness to romance. The setting is over 200 years ago, but the themes are timeless. I was amused most of the time by the banter between Jeremy and Diane. Although I knew how the story would end (as it better have ended), the pleasure was in the journey.

Why was this book perfection!!!!!!!!! Was I the only one that read the whole book in a British accent? Because I was seriously doing that, lol. Anyway this book gave me all of the feels when it comes to romance, it gave me comedy, because Jeremy is too funny and so damn sarcastic, and full of himself, but we later find out he has way more to offer than we think. And then we have Diana, who appears stuck up, and super serious, but she is more than that, which I love. I know with their constant bickering they were gonna be that COUPLE. But when they both agreed on a bet, and it was for Jeremy to finally marry within a year, I was still thinking, I wonder who will loose this? There was one huge surprise in the book that I was not expecting, and I loved that. I didn’t know that there was a book before this one, it was a good stand alone book, and a true lover to romance novels, this book is recommended to read ASAP! Thanks Netgalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read this book.

What happens when a widow of the regency era realizes that she has freedoms beyond her imagination and is persistently annoyed by an infamous rake she has known since childhood? While it may seem obvious, this book has a lot of fun with the era and plays around with the dynamics behind closed doors that are often left out of Miss Austen with the humor and wit of a modern take. The characters were exceptionally human the characters were a lot of fun. I think the character of Helen was probably one of my favorite secondary characters because she managed to personality than first perceived. It’s a fun book. Enjoy!

Overall, an okay read. I had a real hard time warming up to Diana. What was supposed to come across as her witty, cheeky banter seemed mean and petty to me. She also comes across as very mercenary, when she has her first season and is only looking for a wealthy man. Luckily for her, she married an older, wealthy man who left her a widow at 20. Jeremy was a much more likable character and he saved the story. He is written as a typical rake, but you see his good side earlier on in the story. While it took me some time to warm up to Diana, I was pleased to see them get their HEA. I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley for my honest opinion.

Last year I read To Have and to Hoax when I was first starting to get into historical romances and remember thinking it was so funny and wonderful. I also was so ready to get more Diana and Jeremy - they clearly had some enemies-to-lovers vibes going on that I couldn't wait to see.

To Love and to Loathe was another lovely story - we've got a bet between frenemies, friends-with-benefits, and a scheming grandmother. All of this set up for a story with great chemistry and romance moments, but it also led to some really great conversations where you really see Diana and Jeremy start to understand each other better. The dialogue was witty and fun and the story took some delightful turns. I feel like Waters in particular does a great job of making historical romance characters and stories feel fresh and current. Really the only thing that fell a little short for me was wanting more from Jeremy's POV - it was just a little unbalanced towards Diana.

And like before, this story is setting us up well for the next - I'm so curious to see where Emily and (I'm assuming) Julian's story goes.

Thanks to the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a delightful and quick read. Others have described it as a romp, and I agree. The heroine is a widow, which is arguably the best thing you can be in Regency England, because you actually have some control over your own money and future. In the beginning of the book, she has no real desire to ever remarry, and who could blame her? It's always refreshing to read a historical romance where the woman isn't a clueless virgin, or when, despite her relative inexperience, she actually knows something about her own body and can teach the hero a thing or two. I did find certain *twists* to be very predictable, but maybe it was supposed to be, or maybe I just read a lot of romance and nothing can really shock me anymore. I did sort of want a tiny bit more about Jeremy's backstory/tortured past, because while we got a little, it didn't necessarily seem to be enough to apparently shape his entire adult worldview. What we learned of him came in bits and pieces, largely from other characters telling him how his past affected him, and I would've liked a bit more inner monologue or something from him. Regardless, this was a fun read.

4.5. What a delightful book! Waters' first book, To Have and to Hoax, was my first official historical romance and Waters has done it again...spoiled me for other historical romances (because once I started I couldn't stop). Diana, Lady Templeton, is a widow after marrying for practical reasons and makes a wager with the handsome rakish Jeremy, Marquess of Willingham -- one hundred pounds that he will be married in a year. Diana is smart and funny, but she has to tell herself a lot of different lies including that she is not interested in Jeremy. Jeremy is a rake, but there is more to him than meets the eye.

I adored this book. I think this book even more than her first is a really great bridge for those who love modern romance novels but are nervous about making the jump to historical ones. Waters is able to ground her books with modern sensibilities, but also not make them feel anachronistic for the regency time period. For lovers of the Netflix show Bridgerton in particular I think her books are the perfect gateway into the world of historical romance.

The chemistry crackles between Diana and Jeremy but they also get to know each other on a personal level and are the only ones who see how the other truly works. They have their own issues and insecurities, but they go well together and that is the kind of thing that always works for me in a great romance. I love the "friends with benefits" trope and Waters is able to avoid a lot of the things that bother me and are innate in the historical romance genre. I had the biggest smile on my face the entire end of this novel and highly recommend.

Is it too much for me to hope we get another book for Emily? There is definitely something going on there!

Thank you SO much to NetGalley and Atria books for this ARC and letting me review this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Amongst the elite in Regency England, Lady Diana Bourne and Marquess Jeremy Overington are infamous. The two are renowned for their witty, but biting, repartee- one would almost suspect that the constant need to one up each other covers up another fervent need...
Watching Diana and Jeremy simultaneously deny and indulge their attraction proves to be a riotous endeavor that results in a romance that is pure perfection!

I enjoyed this light-hearted romance. Perfect for today's historical romance fans, To Love and to Loathe will sweep readers away.

Having recently watched and very much enjoyed the Netflix series Bridgerton, I felt transported! Though this book is The Regency Vows #2, I hadn't read #1 and am sure it makes no matter.

The setting--"... a man and woman who never agree on anything—until they agree to a no-strings-attached affair in this Regency-era romp. The widowed Diana, Lady Templeton and Jeremy, Marquess of Willingham agree on a wager: "Jeremy will marry within the year or Diana will forfeit one hundred pounds." To add spice to the story--"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 widowed Diana can use the gossip to signal to other gentlemen that she is interested in taking a lover." There are more people involved--Diana's friends and auspiciously Lady Helen [who figures prominently], Jeremy's friends [including her brother], his formidable grandmother Dowager Marchioness of Willingham, and others.

This was definitely a fast, easy read. And fun. And predictable--save--no spoiler from me--one item in the mix that I did not anticipate.

Two of the servants' names were amusing: Snuffgrove {Jeremy's valet] and Toogood {Diana's maid]!

New words: curricle, vingt-et-un, ratafia, addlepated {used frequently].

One disconnect for me--the book is primarily set in 1817. Nearly 2/3 in to the book, "You rang? Jeremy asked..." I know it's petty, but there were no telephones at the time and the expression just seemed so totally out of place that it threw me off. [It was asked of Diana, so not ringing a bell for a servant.]

This was basically a cat and mouse play--with much banter on steroids. And like those two critters--much [too much] toying. In the end, I felt the inevitable was becoming tiresome. Further, near the end, some of the prose turned me off it was so overly dramatic/overwroughtcringeworthy. Don't get me wrong--I did enjoy the read especially as it was mixed in after a few very serious tomes. And, there were some humorous moments. BUT, I found the repetition was wearing on me.

For much of the book I thought 3.5. But in the end, 3 stars. As promoted--a "romp." If you know that going into it, will will enjoy the ride.

To Love and to Loathe is a refreshing take on an enemies-to-lovers romance, using a contemporary lens to discuss nineteenth-century social mores. I knew I would enjoy the book after the main character boldly stated, "don't be absurd... the last thing I ever intend to do is something as unutterably foolish as to fall in love" (SURE, JAN) but I didn't realize that I would also absolutely heart-eyes emoji love it. Martha Waters created such enjoyable characters and such a lovely narrative voice—"a well-tied cravat IS nothing to take lightly"!!!!—with prose seeped in deliciously worded barbs and quips. I'm not usually a big historical fiction reader, but this novel saw that gif of Darcy foolishly proposing to Elizabeth in a gazebo drenched with rain and then expanded that look of UNBRIDLED LUST on his face and made it into a novel. Oh, and she also added sex. 4.5/5 stars

Advance copy received in exchange for an honest review.

To Love and to Loathe is a perfect read for fans of historical romance and the enemies to lovers trope. Neither of these are particularly my thing, but I thought the premise of this book sounded rather intriguing and I've been enjoying romance reads more and more lately. Overall this was a quick read with moments of laughter and romance, but I struggled to get into the plot and really connect with and cheer for the characters. They felt a bit too shallow for me. I did enjoy the witty back and forth banter, but ultimately was not invested enough in either of the characters to love this romance. I feel I'll be in the minority here and would encourage others who love these tropes or time periods to read this as it will likely be a big win for the,.

Diana and Jeremy, who have spent most of their lives arguing and flirting with each other, find themselves in a situation where their mutual interests align. The verbal sparring and bravado mask, for each of them, deep pain about their pasts. Can these two find what they need, with each other?

To Love and to Loathe is a delightful regency romance that has enough tropes, steam, and witty dialogue to keep you intrigued. For me, I appreciated how this book upended some of the tropes, with a fiercely independent and smart heroine, who finds an equal in a partner. I read this book not because I was looking for something light and fun, and while it certainly hit those notes, it wasn't without feminist leanings and some emotional depth. If you like regency romance, but want something a little different, this one is for you.

Considering that I felt lukewarm over the last book, To Have and to Hoax, this was a delightful book.

Diana, a bored widow, has had a flirtation/argument with Jeremy since they were children. One day an ex-lover questions his skills in bed, and he goes to Diana to seek confirmation. She says that she can enter a physical relationship without seeking marriage, but this is a romance.

Diana and Jeremy are hilarious. They bicker all the time in a way that makes you feel like you're watching a tennis match. Considering the book's premise is that they become lovers, most of their time is spent talking. There are many healthy conversations regarding sex.

Keeping my fingers crossed there will be more in this series because the side characters are equally as much fun, and it would be nice to see their own stories.

This review is based on an advanced reader copy provided through Netgalley for an honest review.

I loved this regency romance that felt like a contemporary romance set in the 1800s. I adored the couple in the first book To Have and To Hoax so I had to know what happened with them in the second. This is a humorous and adorable series that I want more of!

3.5 Stars
I was happy to receive this book as an ARC for a review! The beautiful cover was the thing that immediately drew my attention. This is the second in the series, but I had no problems following the story even having not read the first book. This book follows Jeremy, devilishly handsome Marquess, and Diana a young widow. I would definitely count this as enemies to lovers trope, but I will say even from the beginning there was some subtle flirting from these two.
The setting, the characters, the witty banter; I loved so many things about this book.
The primary chunk of this story takes place at a holiday party at the Marquess' country home, there are a lot of other house guests, picnics, horse rides, and a lot of other really beautifully described scenery. I have to say this was one of my favorite parts, I could almost see myself there!
The characters were great, I do think that Jeremey was more fleshed out than Diana, and tbh at times I could not relate to her she felt a bit too cold and detached. But the other side characters were great, you got enough of them to get a glimpse of them but not enough to distract from the main characters.
The banter between the two MCs was truly the best part, I found myself laughing aloud at what they were saying; both of them really played well off each other and it didn't feel overly mean. Just the perfect strike of sarcasm.

I found that the two things I didn't love, was one, that the pacing and romance aspects felt a bit slow; not a ton of action but there were some really swoon-worthy parts so I'll forgive it for that.
The second part was that I just did not like how Diana <spoiler>found out about Lady Helen (being a lesbian) and then immediately went to her friends to out her, even knowing what it could cost her</spoiler> For me that part just felt super unnecessary, she could have come to the same conclusions with an inner monologue or something; I had far more respect for Jeremy who kept it completely hidden.

Loved it! These two felt more relatable than Violet & Aubley from To Have & To Hoax.Will definitely be recommending to romance readers. I hope we get Emily & Belfry next!

In To Love and to Loathe, Diana and Jeremy have known (and bickered with) each other for a long time. Diana, a widow, loves the freedom of her position but bets the rakish Jeremy that he'll be married within a year. Shortly after that Jeremy asks Diana if she'll embark on an affair with him after his most recent mistress complains about his (lack of) skills. (As an aside, I really liked that Jeremy wasn't automatically amazing in bed - that's such a tired historical romance thing.) Of course their affair quickly becomes complicated by feelings. This was a fun, engaging book and I read it really quickly. That being said, I did have some issues with it that hampered my enjoyment. One is that this is a series, and while it works as a standalone there is a lot in it about Diana's friend group that is clearly set up for the next book, or a reference to the first. I also grew tired of Diana's antics, and this is where the book lost me, especially as I reflect on it. While I liked Diana's nemesis Lady Helen, Diana gives no thought to her feelings (or her as a person) on multiple occasions, just because she doesn't like her. I thought the wager would mean Diana was constantly introducing Jeremy to new potential fiancees and that it would be funny, but it was really just her throwing Lady Helen at him. Though Diana gives a lot of thought to her own previous desperation to get married, she never considers that Helen might have motives (or even an interior life) of her own. And then when she's entrusted with a secret about Lady Helen she immediately turns around and tells her two best friends and Jeremy. It was hard to sympathize with Diana and I kept fearing something terrible would happen to Helen. Helen ultimately is just used as a narrative tool for Diana to realize she should take a "risk" on Jeremy; she deserved a lot better and it was upsetting.