To Love and to Loathe was remarkably light and fun. Our cast of characters is thus:

Diana, Lady Templeton: widow to her much older husband, pragmatic, sharp wit, and can’t stop bickering with Jeremy
Jeremy, Marquess of Willingham: rake (that’s a manwhore to you historical romance noobs), doing his best to live an easy life with no expectations, and does his best to push Diana’s buttons

Here’s where I was surprised: when Jeremy’s latest mistress criticizes his skills in the bedchamber, he proposes a “frenemies with benefits” situation with Diana. Not your typical historical romance plot. Diana is widowed and has been single since her marriage, but this faux relationship with Jeremy could get the rumor mills going and gain her some naked action, and thus, they agree to a short term, no strings attached relationship.

I am starting to get really bored of the manwhore trope, and yet it didn’t seem to bother me as much in To Love and to Loathe. Likely because we didn’t meet many of his previous ladies, so I could bury my head in the sand about his varied sexual history. Side note: in Regency England, when you are constantly going to house parties with the same people, wouldn’t that just be so uncomfortable? To know your husband or partner has had sex with half the women in the room? ICK.

But I digress.

To Love and to Loathe was funny and lighthearted, without being too emotionally shallow. There were some interesting and deeper themes discussed that were complex. The banter between Diana and Jeremy was definitely smile inducing and the side characters all added to the general feel to the story without overpowering the leads.

I’m hoping for more from this author. Perhaps one starring Emily and Julian, hmmmmm?!?

Diana and Jeremy know each other when both are young. She is on the marriage mart and already knows that her best hope at a bright future is going to be a brilliant match. Therefore, she has little interest in Jeremy who is a fine enough gentleman but he is often drunk and doesn't seem to be building the family coffers.
Five years later, Lady Templeton is now widowed and is a good friend of Jeremy. In fact, they are well-known for making a series of bets with each other. Their latest wager is that Jeremy will be married within a year. It is somewhat hobbled by the fact that Jeremy, though known to have hopped into the beds of most of the married women of the ton, is now doubting his own prowess based on comments from his last mistress... er, lover. While he could have broken it off with her in a better manner (while still in bed with her after making love), he still wonders if she is telling the truth. Jeremy thinks they could have some mutual gain by embarking on an affair. He can find out the truth of his skill in bed and Diana can let other men know that she is accepting lovers. A house party at Jeremy's seems the perfect place to begin an affair and to get Jeremy set up with the perfect woman... Lady Helen.
However, this is a romance so not all goes as expected.
Diana was delightful. She knew (for the most part) what she wanted in life and she went for it. Jeremy was also built out really well and I enjoyed seeing them go from friends to lovers. So much that I might even check out Waters' first book which I didn't think I'd enjoy but I'm curious about the characters.
I really hope that we get a story with Emily and her beau, Julian Belfry.

Four stars
This book come out April 6th
ARC kindly provided by Atria Books and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Martha Waters’s ‘To Love and to Loathe’ is a bright and witty romantic romp through regency England. Fans of classics like ‘Pride and Prejudice’ and/or contemporary historical romances like Waters’s ‘To Have and to Hoax’ or Evie Dunmore’s ‘Bringing Down the Duke’ will be swept up in the witty dialogue and the delightful stubbornness of two protagonists who have an extremely difficult time mining the depths of their feelings.

Diana always knew that she’d need to marry for money. Orphaned as a child and raised on the good graces of her aunt and uncle, she finds her match, only to be widowed shortly thereafter. Jeremy never wanted to be the Marquess of Willingham, but after his brother’s death, the title is thrust upon him. Whenever Diana and Jeremy are in a room together? Sparks fly. Their banter is legendary, and their irritation with each other obvious… but after a marriage wager and an (in)decent proposal, they’ll find there’s a thin line between irritation and affection.

I’m not an immersive reader of historical romances, but I found ‘To Love and to Loathe’ delightful. There’s witty banter, low stakes miscommunication, and hijinks galore. To anyone who is looking for a lighthearted, entertaining read, this just might fit the bill. I appreciated how Waters injects an acknowledgement of the inequities of the day and an empowering depiction of her female characters. I also enjoyed how both protagonists are so similar and thus can see the other for who they truly are. And I loved the way that both the hero and the heroine are kind of smacked in the face with their true feelings.

All told, this will be a novel I will revisit for all of its mischievous antics and its delightful character development. If this story doesn’t put a smile on your face, I don’t know what will.


Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for supplying me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I should probably start by saying it's not the book, it's me. I know too much about the period to be able to sink into vaguely regency-ish romances, especially when the banter really isn't witty but all about sex. This was an experiment to dip back into Regency romances after dropping them some years ago.

I think the reader who will enjoy this romance most will be those who want plenty of bedroom action, don't mind (or are new to) the formula, because this is very formulaic, and who don't know anything about the period and won't mind all the errors in language, custom, and historical detail--or who don't care about that stuff.

I enjoyed the female characters, and would love to see something by this author in a modern setting, where the historical errors won't trip up the story.

For anyone who knows me knows I'm not particularly picky about what I read. Unlike movies where I am very picky books and I have an understanding of good or bad, I love to read the written word. Then once in a while, a bright shining star falls into my outstretched hands. This book was that shining star.

When it first came to me I was nervous knowing it was the second book in a series. I don't always do well with this because authors write as though you have read the previous book. However with Martha Waters that wasn't the case. I delved into this book like it was an original. Yes, other characters were mentioned but you don't need to have read their full stories t appreciate them in this one.

I must say I fell immediately in love with Diana the was smart, beautiful, and out-spoken. She knows what she wants and she gets it. When we meet Diana she is determined to find a rich husband so she never has to worry about money again. She is very thoughtful in her process.

With Jeremy, he is a devil may care young man. He is living life like most titled men of his generation enjoying life, alcohol, and women. What I like about him is he knows how to get under Diana's skin and isn't afraid of her or her strong will.

Their story starts with a childhood friendship that leads to them sparring as adults. This sparring leads them to make a bet that will have them both trying to win but failing epically. Their journey together is one of charm, cheekiness, and love. This was a story that truly exceeds my expectations in all the right ways.

Book Review:  To Love and to Loathe (ARC) by Martha Waters
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When I received my ARC copy of this book from #netgalley, I was so stoked!  This engaging rom-com is right up my alley, and it did not disappoint!
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The story follows Diana and Jeremy, two members of elite society in England.  The characters have a fiery attraction to each other from the first page, but timing is everything for this dynamic duo.  Both Diana and Jeremy like to be in control of every situation, albeit Jeremy’s need for control is less front and center than Diana’s.  I really enjoyed getting to know the two main characters in the book as well as the engaging and entertaining banter between them.  The continuous teasing and aggravating between Jeremy and Diana really added to their chemistry, and I felt like their relationship was really well-written.  I believed their attraction to each other from the very beginning, and I was on the edge of each page as I waited for that attraction to combust.  
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I really liked that Diana helped Jeremy come to terms with his vulnerabilities, and that Jeremy helped Diana let go of everything that was holding her back.  Both characters are real and honest, and I felt like those qualities really made the story jump off the page.  I also really enjoyed the side-characters in the book, especially Emily and Belfrey.  I would love to know more about both of them in future books!
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Overall, this book is a winner, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.  I finished it in about 24 hours, and it’s only the second book this year I’ve finished that quickly.  I am so grateful for the ARC of #ToLoveandtoLoathe from @netgalley, @marthabwaters, and @simonandschuster in exchange for an honest review.
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Diana, Lady Templeton and Jeremy, Marquess of Willingham are frenemies. Jeremy went to Eton with Diana's older brother. Diana is fiercely independent and rather enjoying widowhood. Hers was a marriage of convenience to a much older gentleman, and she was not particularly saddened by his unexpected death. She does, however, enjoy the financial benefit of widowhood. However, she is ready for some male companionship.

Jeremy never expected to be the Marquess. The title belonged to his elder brother, who died in an accident. Jeremy has led a footloose and fancy-free lifestyle - never lacking for female companionship and avoiding any entanglements.

Jeremy holds a hunting party at his country estate - a two-week long affair. There, he and Diana decide to become no-strings-attached lovers. But, will their deepening feelings allow them to remain so?

The start of this book was a little slow because it is set in Regency-era England. The writing is a bit more formal than contemporary novels. However, once I got past the titles, it was a fun read. Lots of banter between the two main characters. Lots of tension. I found myself with a big grin at the ending.

I'd give it 3.5 stars, maybe 4.

Thank you Netgalley for the digital ARC in return for an honest review.

I was super excited to read this book. I heard really good things about it, and I am always a fan of Historical Romance.

I did really enjoy reading this book, however, I did not love it as much as I wanted to. I think the reason it turned out to be 3 stars instead of 4 stars was that I felt bored in some areas of the book. The plot was not as fast paced as I wanted. I really only found myself caring about Lady Helen and the two main characters Jeremy and Diana. I did not get enough information or time with the other characters to really care that much about them. In the end, I thought the book was good, but I would have liked a bit more world building. However, the romance was super fun and I loved it a lot!

After being thoroughly dissed by a woman he dumped, perpetual rake Jeremy, the Marquess of Willingham needs help. The diss? That he’s lousy in bed. Jeremy refuses to believe it and asks to prove himself on the one person he knows won’t lie to him: his frenemy Diana, Lady Templeton. At first appalled, the widowed Diana, whose marriage bed wasn’t as warm as she would have liked, decides this proposal may be just the thing to gain the practice she needs before taking a lover of her own choosing. But all the bickering and teasing that took place over years of acquaintance soon turns into a kind of foreplay that the two weren’t expecting.
A cute premise with cute, bickering characters. The writing was great, but yikes were there a lot of characters. In fact, that is what I remember most about this book. At a house party, the story would sometimes turn towards the minor characters, all clearly from earlier in the series or who will soon be getting their own books. This really broke up the momentum of the story and I caught myself wondering more about the other characters than the main ones.

A highly enjoyable Regency romance firmly set in the period. This enemies to lovers story takes Diana, Lady Templeton, and Jeremy, Marquess of Willingham, from engaging in a no-strings-attached affair to their happily ever after. Complex characters, surprising twists and weighty subplots (regarding same-sex marriage and how it was unheard of during the time), and an exploration of the constraints placed upon women fill out the story. Readers will rejoice when Diana and Jeremy finally realize they love each other; and curse Jeremy when he mucks it all up. Then rejoice again, when the Happily Ever After comes true! A must-read.

This was fun and had a lot of good banter. I liked Diana's wit and fierceness. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC.

Waters' second novel, To Love and to Loathe is--for lack of a more flowery turn of phrase--a damn delight. While I took issue with some of the pacing, the overall plot, the characters, and the dialogue all felt fresh and worked very well. This book got me through the long wait line for a COVID test: I can think of no higher compliment for a book in 2020 :)

To be clear, I have never been the biggest Regency romance reader, mostly because the genre felt samey to me, though I know enthusiasts of the period will likely hate me for that observation. But, rest assured, Waters has given me new, fresh hope and I plan to go back to some of the most-recommended Regency romance historicals and correct my previous understanding.

But back to the book. I appreciated how fresh the idea felt, of a historical woman, Diana, taking her sexuality into her own hands, of her disinclination to marry again and give up freedom. I also liked Jeremy, the hero of the story. Often the bickering in these stories can read one-note, but each conversation sparkled between these two in a way that felt natural but also so much fun. Their individual realizations of their feelings were well done and never felt insta-lovey, but organic in the best of ways.

I will certainly be going back to Waters' first book, To Have and To Hoax, though To Love and to Loathe contains massive spoilers for it. You definitely don't need to read the first to enjoy this one, so I say read it as soon as you can.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an ebook copy of To Love and To Loathe in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are mine alone.

Let me start by stating two things. 1) I haven't read To Have and To Hoax prior to picking up this book and 2) I used to love historical fiction yeaaaars ago. Granted, I was a whole lot younger then, reading YA books.

So, when I saw "To Love and to Loathe," I thought- why not give it a try? I thought, I'm in my mid-twenties, I can handle not YA for sure. Pride and Prejudice is basically my favorite written work on the face of the planet, so what could go wrong?

Well. Ends up that I don't really like historical romances. So much so that I couldn't really finish this book. I tried multiple times throughout the past few weeks, but just was never quite too pulled into it.

However, there are some things I enjoyed about this read. I enjoyed the witty banter between the two characters, especially in the beginning. I can honestly see this all play out like a good tv drama. I love how Diana just does her own thing and doesn't care- very Elizabeth like from P&P, if you ask me. Jeremy is hecka charming, and right off the bat, I knew he was already smitten with her. Obviously- they're meant to be, even if Diana doesn't want to admit it.

My drawbacks with this book mainly rests on the content. Yes, their banter was great, but at times I just felt like the whole book was drawn out. Yes it was steamy, but I didn't expect it to be that steamy and mostly consist of steam, so that was one big reason why I put it down. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind steam. Buttttttt when it seems that the book is mostly revolved around it, I'm not a huge fan. Give me depth! Give me realistic struggles! Inward battles! Give me a slow burn! Give me a guy with a deeper personality, with his own deep struggles, a guy who cares more than just about what happens in the bedroom! A guy who's passionate- and not just /that/ kind of passion!

*Sigh*

I think this book will definitely have some readers loving it- but it just wasn't for me, and that's alright! Give it a shot, and who knows, maybe you'll love it!

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for sending me a digital ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Fun & clever, this Pride and Prejudice storyline with modern updates is sure to delight! Charming characters with some steamy feels and witty dialogue.

To Love and to Loathe started off strong for me, love a good enemies-to-lovers trope but did start to drag a little bit on for me towards the end.

Diana and Jeremy are complicated characters with emotions they don't know how to express. Making them a volatile but perfect match. After making a wager that Jeremy will marry in the next year, the two establish an arrangement that will suit them both in the bedroom and in society. Their arrangement is going well for both of them until *gasp* feelings come into play. Diana and Jeremy have to work through their own issues and try to learn more about each other in the process.

If you enjoyed Bringing Down the Duke, I think you'd like this one too.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love both enemies-to-lovers tropes and regency romance, and this was an overall entertaining and well-written combination of the two. The characters are charming, and had clear chemistry even though I hadn't read the first book in this series - always a concern of mine when reading something that had a prior context. I liked this book a lot, but ultimately ended up feeling unsatisfied with it. The relationship was the perfect amount of intense and I loved HOW the book ended - just not the pacing of the end. I was very much enjoying the ride of this book, and then felt like it suddenly ended. I was so eager to see how their relationship progressed in the latter part of the book, but it was suddenly over! Ultimately though, I would be interested in reading future books in the series and have been interested enough to check out the first book in the series too.

A fun take on enemies to lovers. I liked the glimpses into Violet and Audley’s reunion. The development and pacing were fun. Like To Have and To Hoax, there was some awkward word usage and some terms that were repeated a little too often such as raising an eyebrow. But nonetheless a fun and entertaining read.

If you are a fan of the Bridgerton series, you'll definitely fall head over heels for this new Regency-set romance. Here, Diana and Jeremy are enemies of sorts in their upper echelon of English society. The banter and poke each other quite a bit. So much so, that they agree to a wager the eligible playboy bachelor must marry within the year or she'll forfeit one hundred pounds. However, he has a counterproposal for her. Embark on a no-strings-attached, secret, affair during his fortnight-long party so she can prove he's not bad in the bedroom as a former paramour yelled at him. Hahaha, oh I love this book already. The widow Diana and Jeremy have so much banter that's so delicious as a reader. This whole book is so freaking juicy, like by the prologue alone, I was so into this story! Told through back and forth perspectives, this very enjoyable book is full of witty, captivating language and all the tropey romance goodness. These two characters have a certain level of tension between them, told through all their banter, that's so delicious to watch play out on the page. It's a compelling read, and one I just couldn't put down. Sure, it ends quite predictably yet it's still fun and cute.

To Love and to Loathe is a fun and refreshing read and I'm so glad I took the chance to read it! I love and enemies-to-lovers romance but wasn't sure how it would work with a historical romance. But work it DID! This is a must read book for 2021 and I recommend it to all romance readers!

Regency-era romance? High society schemes? Flirtatious frenemies? Yes please!

“To Love and to Loathe” by Martha Waters was a delightful, fun, and steamy read that will charm any rom-com or period romance reader. The book hits many classic rom-com plot points—a friendly wager, characters thrown together for an extended house party, heartfelt confessions, and old friends becoming something more. I was pleasantly surprised by the female protagonist, Lady Diana Templeton, who Waters wrote with such care and attention so that the reader deeply understood her internal battling desires for her independence and for the male protagonist, Jeremy the Marquess of Willingham. The scenes with Diana and Jeremy, whether flirting on the dance floor or getting intimate after hours, did not disappoint. I did not think the supporting cast of characters were fleshed out enough, though a few did stand out and provided some much-needed story progression. “To Love and to Loathe” quite funny and much more provocative than I expected. Quips like, “Of course Diana would read some sort of pornographic poetry about fellatio and, rather than being horrified, would think to herself, I can be good at that, too.”

Though a little formulaic, overall, I thought “To Love and to Loathe” was an entertaining read with a few surprising character elements and witty writing. I recommend this book for anyone who enjoyed “A Rogue of One's Own” by Evie Dunmore, “A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem” by Manda Collins, or “Red, White & Royal Blue,” by Casey McQuiston.