Am I the only one who feels like this could be the community next to the Bridgerton's? LOL Which probably just shows how un-educated I am about the time period and society.

The women in The Regency Vows series so far are so independent and fun. In the one, the widowed Lady Diana Templeton decides it may be time for her to take a lover, around the same time one of her brother's friends who she has known for years decides he needs an honest opinion regarding his...ahem...bedroom performance. Perfect fit, right? Of course, they usually thrive on insulting and riling each other, but they each think they can handle their distaste for one another for a month or so, while they both accomplish their behind-closed-doors goals.

The plot line becomes pretty obvious early on. That doesn't make their banter and chemistry any less fun. I'd give this book 4 out of 5 stars and look forward to more in the series.

Complex characters and an enemies to lovers trope? I am all about it! I don't normally read historical romance, but I'm glad I picked it up. Diana really stood out as a character due to her desire to pave her own path despite all the societal challenges and her female friendships. Jeremy was eh as a character though I appreciated his desire to improve, but his struggles as the second son being upgraded to the title doesn't seem to be so unique among historical romances. There was good chemistry between them, and I enjoyed the premise of a weeks long party at Jeremy's house. It dragged in places for sure, but I did like it alternated between the two characters points of view.

Martha Waters's sophomore book in the Regency Vows series is a delight to read. It has everything I enjoyed in the first book, outlandish premise written believably, society setting where everyone's failures are well known, much discussed, and never pointed out, witty dialog, slow-burn romance, and great enemies to lover's romance.

I could not put this book down and it was perfect reading during my Covid recovery. Nothing serious, but writing with enough meat that I wasn't left disappointed. I enjoy Waters' take on the etiquette of the Ton, the privileges and barriers of the gentry and wealth, and above all the sexual freedom women experience along with the constraints of society.

This book is light-hearted and fun and perfect for Regency romance readers who are looking for witty, fun dialog and interesting premises to spice up the enemy to lover's trope. Perfect for readers of Evie Dunmore's League of Extraordinary Women or Vanessa Riley's Rogues & Remarkable Women series.

Every character was annoying and it was obvious the mains interactions were supposed to be funny and interesting. They were mean-spirited and boring at best.

To Love and To Loathe is a quick and entertaining read. The plot overall is enjoyable, however the book has nothing that makes it stand out from all the other romances. It is just that. A regular reliable romance. I definitely enjoyed this more than To Have and To Hoax, I think the writing has improved immensely since then, which makes it much more tolerable. I wouldn’t write off Martha Waters just yet. I think she definitely has potential and seeing the development between these books definitely makes me want to read her future work.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for proving me a copy of the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I actually read this title before reading book 1 and it holds steady as a standalone if need be. I really loved these characters and the entire series is just wonderful and a great contemporary take on historical romance.

I could not get into this book. The chemistry was off, the characters were flat minus one and the story was boring. Lady Helen provided some substance with an unlikely story and also her dramatic flair added something to the plot. This has too many names, too much down time and not enough dialogue and action.

This was such a fun read! Very reminiscent of all the classic period drama romances we all know and love. Would highly recommend to fans of Jane Austen!

Witty banter and verbal barbs are what make up Diana and Jeremy's relationship, until he approaches her with an offer that gives them both what they need. But can they both come out of the bargain with hearts intact? A quick and thrilling read! I absolutely love the characters and a peak behind the curtain of their social facades as Diana and Jeremy admit that theres more to their argumentative relationship than meets the eye!

This book will satisfy your Regency Romance cravings. I loved Diana and Jeremy’s chemistry and flirtations . I very much enjoyed this book that can be read as a stand alone .

If you aren’t into historical romance but want to get into it, this is your book! Funny, charming, a little tug at the heart strings, it really has it all.

This was a fantastic follow-up after To Have and to Hoax! I loved the witty banter between Diana and Jeremy. Their love story came about in a fun way and I felt invested in their happiness. Martha Waters does a great job of providing a realistic period romance and full character with life outside of the romance. This book made me excited for the third installment of the series!

Actual rating: 4/5 stars

The young widowed Diana Templeton and the charming rake Jeremy, are both members of English High Society and are known for their bickering and flirting. They've been at it for years because Diana is Jeremy's best friend's younger sister. At a ball, they make a bet that Jeremy will marry within the year or Diana will give him 100 pounds. Diana is shocked when Jeremy visits her at her home and proposes a different bet. Jeremy was recently questioned by a recent lover who criticized him in the bedroom. Jeremy wants Diana to help him test his skills in the bedroom and Diana gets a lover with no strings attached during a two-week-long visit. During this visit, Diana is simultaneously trying to fix Jeremy up with a woman while lusting after him herself, and developing feelings for him as she starts to get to know him better.

There was honestly too much going on in this book and I'm not really versed in historicals so I don't know if they normally have this much going on but I wasn't a fan. I liked a lot of the side plots but I think a couple could have been cut down on. I really liked the cozy setting in this book tho and it really added something.

The banter is what really saved this book for me because it was literally fantastic. It had me laughing out loud and Diana and Jeremy had so much chemistry it was radiating off the page. I also love how the author was self-aware and acknowledged a lot of issues of the time. It talked about heteronormative relationships, patriarchal norms, the lack of woman's autonomy, finances, and independence. It was also so sex-positive which I loved.

Thank you to Atria Books, Martha Waters, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was super cute. I think I liked it even better than To Have and to Hoax. I love Diana as a character. I did feel like Jeremy was entirely defined by his brother’s death and his subsequent philandering and I wish he’d had a bit more depth. However, the secondary characters were surprisingly interesting. I loved the Lady Helen subplot, and Jeremy’s grandmother and Diana’s maid were great characters.

Thank you NetGalley, author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I found this to be an enjoyable read, keeping me on my toes throughout. The storyline was written well and flowed seamlessly. I look forward to reading more by this author!

Diana, Lady Templeton, and Jeremy, the Marquess of Willingham, have always sparred with each other, since she was a child and he became friends with her older brother as a teenager.

Now, after two years of widowhood, Diana decides to make a wager with Jeremy, betting him she can have him married within the year. Not long after accepting said bet, Jeremy, a notorious womanizer of widows, asks Diana to become his bed partner in order to critique his performance. They are to partake in these activities for two weeks at a party at his estate. However, will their finally consummating their sexual spark make them realize there is something more to their rivalry than disdain?

Firstly, the banter between Diana and Jeremy is impeccable from the beginning. You can feel the heat between them, simmering just beneath their barbed words.

Diana found herself an old, agreeable husband to move out of her aunt and uncle's home (having felt her whole life as though she were a burden to them), but her husband soon died after, leaving her with the freedom she had always craved. She is level headed, honest, outspoken, and firm on her beliefs that women are completely mistreated by society.

Jeremy, on the other hand, is a womanizer. Jeremy inherited his title, after the unexpected and preventable death of his older brother. He feels as though he is not worthy, having never expected the role and having never had much expected of him. Because of this he believes he has no rights to burden a woman with himself, being a second prize. So, instead he partakes in pleasure from women who are already married or widowed (as he chooses not to follow in his father's footsteps of getting young maids pregnant). He is honest, loyal, caring, and oblivious to his place in society. He does not realize the power he possesses, or the lack of power the women of society are forced to hold.

This book talks a lo about a woman's place in Regency England. She is property, she has no ability to live her life freely. Any money she has is her families, and she must be married off, so as not to be a burden to them for life. If she cannot be married, than she is cloistered away with little money or frivolities. The novels highlights of this time has me so angry and sad. As well, it pointed out how completely out of tune aristocratic men are to a woman's situation. How even a poor aristocratic man has more power than the wealthiest woman (yuck)! Even worse, the use of young women in service as sexual playthings for wealthy lords, who then just throw them away.

I did wish for more intimate scenes, there was a lot of build up only to end with talking and holding off on the intimacy. Although, this lead to deeper connection and trust between Diana and Jeremy, I think that the same connection could have been achieved with both sexual and emotional intimacy.

I really liked the side characters as well. The friends of both Diana and Jeremy care deeply for them and try to steer them toward each other, observing the love between the two. They are honest, endearing, funny and sly. Each of them try to insert themselves into situations to help, which often does not go the right way. But they are doing it out of loyalty and love.

This novel does involve stupidity on both Diana and Jeremy's party, but they also work to be honest with one another and to honour the boundaries they set from the beginning of their sexual contract. It only happens that they realize they love each other along the way and are so emotionally stunted they do not know how to express themselves.

Adorable, easy to read historical romance! I really enjoyed To Have and to Hoax, and have been excited to read this book. It definitely lived up to expectations! This was a quick and happy read, making me laugh out loud and cry happy tears at points. Recommended highly, as I eagerly hope for Emily’s story!

3.5 stars. Young widow Diana is surprised by a visit from her brother’s best friend, Jeremy, a marquess with an unusual proposal. He’s recently had a bad review in the bedroom, and he’d like to have Diana critique his performance by embarking on a discreet affair during a house party he’s hosting. She shocks herself by agreeing. It should be a fun and harmless romp, unless of course feelings get in the way.

Like the first book in this series, this one felt redundant in parts. There were also some plot lines that never got resolved—beyond setting up not one but two couples for future books—and there was a missed opportunity for a satisfying payoff on at least one of them. Also like the first book, though, the secondary characters were entertaining and the main couple had great chemistry.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you for the advanced copy of this book. My reviews can be read on my GoodReads account here: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1335387-kelly

A very sweet read with a fun (although not unique) storyline where a wager about marriage ends with the two characters falling in love.

I'm a huge fan of the fake dating trope and To Love and to Loathe was absolutely perfect. The widowed Lady Templeton cannot help her nonstop banters with Jeremy, Marquess of Willingham. He always knows how to push her buttons which results with more fiery arguments, throwing meaningful insults, sizzling growing intimacy. But their reputations amongst the British elite is at stake - Jeremy needs to marry and produce an heir and Diana is looking to get her needs met after her much-older and dismissive husband dies.

After an encounter with his mistress leads to him being unable to perform in bed, Jeremy suggest to Diana that they start a tryst to 1. help him work on his skills in bed and 2. get the gossip to start that could signal the gentlemen of the ton of Diana's openness to take a lover.

This book was the perfect amount of steam and sweetness while also giving a nice build-up to Jeremy and Diana's romance. I love that the story included more modern issues set in historical times, and the side characters were the perfect sassy edition.

Thank you to Net Galley and Atria Books for the Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.