Martha Waters

"The widowed Diana, Lady Templeton and Jeremy, 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 one hundred pounds. So shortly after, just before a fortnight-long house party at Elderwild, 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 widowed Diana can use the gossip to signal to other gentlemen that she is interested in taking a lover. Diana thinks taking him up on his counter-proposal can only help her win her wager. With her in the bedroom and Jeremy's marriage-minded grandmother, the formidable Dowager Marchioness of Willingham, helping to find suitable matches among the eligible ladies at Elderwild, Diana is confident her victory is assured. But while they're focused on winning wagers, they stand to lose their own hearts"--

A Novel

To Love and to Loathe

Winona 

DNF'ed @ 30% 

I've read some really bad Historical Romances, but none that I couldn't bring myself to finish. Maybe my patience has worn thin, but TLaTL was just so jarring. It opened well with the prologue, but rushed into the rest of the story so fast it stumbled over itself. Where's the tension? That prologue promised me yearning, angst, complicated feelings. But instead its just a constant barrage of superfluous  banter  with the main characters thinking about their so-called attraction. Which, I don't really see, because the banter is so vacuous the leads end up having no chemistry. 

There's also all of these unnecessary diversions to other characters. The author is clearing flagging them up because they're going to be important characters in future books, but she spends so much time describing so-and-so, their backstory, current relationship status, etcetera, in the most awkward of places. It throws off the pacing, stalling meaningful development between the main characters, and the transitions back to them are never seamless. The writing is just overall very clunky and bland.

celene

can’t believe im saying this but screw diana for saying things she shouldn’t be saying to anyone,,,, and to think she said those things twice like ??? that doesn’t sit right w me sorry

Ari Gold

This was a cute read.
I hadn't read To Have and to Hoax so the beginning was a little difficult to follow with all of the characters. There were references to that book so I'd highly recommend you read it first.

The premise of the story was great, however I didn't feel like there was a the witty banter I was promised. I wanted to laugh and feel the tension between the two, but it was very muted. 
I also felt that many scenes dragged on and I skipped a lot of the characters internally babbling. 

While the two characters had known each other for 6 years - the insta-love was a little quick. (view spoiler)[The fact that they had sex twice and then realized they loved each other was a little quick. (hide spoiler)]

The widowed Diana, Lady Templeton and Jeremy, 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 one hundred pounds. So shortly after, just before a fortnight-long house party at Elderwild, Jeremy's country estate, Diana is shocked when Jeremy appears at her home with a very different kind of proposition.

Sheena

The excellent follow up to ‘To Have and to Hoax’, we follow the widowed Diana, Lady Templeton and Jeremy, Marquess of Willingham who are infamous among English high society as much for their sharp-tongued bickering as their flirtation.
 
After an argument ensues that turns into a serious wager—Jeremy will marry within the year or Diana will forfeit one hundred pounds. Shortly after, just before a fortnight-long house party at Elderwild, 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 bedsport (it’s great seeing a woman destroy a man’s ego!), Jeremy is looking for reassurance, so he suggests that they embark on a brief affair because he knows Diana can provide him an honest critique of his bedroom skills and the widowed can use the gossip to signal to other gentlemen that she is interested in taking a lover.
 
Diana thinks taking him up on his counter-proposal can only help her win her wager. Now cue in the swoon worthy moments, funny banter, unexpected twists and turns, and most importantly (in any romance) panty melting chemistry that had me going woo-wee!
 
I am more than pleasantly surprised by how much I actually liked this considering my dislike for the friends to lovers trope (only a few have succeeded) and after finding ‘To Have and to Hoax’ to be just an okay read. It didn’t exactly leave a lasting impression on me so when I received this ARC, I was a bit apprehensive. But thank the book Gods above for this was better than my wildest dreams. Marta, you've nailed it girl!
 
I will mention that the only drawback to this novel was the lack of sex scenes. Considering that the main characters entered an 'arrangement', we've received hot moments but what I was really anticipating were some steamy erotica or borderline erotica. Based on the premise, I had assumed we would have gotten more.
 
Nevertheless, the underlying attraction and sexual tension between Diana and Jeremy was everything. The characters were strong, fearless, shameless, bold, don’t give a fuck attuide had me wanting more. This couple honestly made this one of the best historical romcoms I have read all year and it’s well worth the wait, especially if you didn’t care much about the prequel. 
 
Side note, with a premise such as this—this would make a great historical (romance) erotica piece in case there are some authors out there looking for inspiration. *hint hint*

Aundreya Rich

" For all you know, you've never left a woman truly satisfied in all your years of raking? Rakedom? Rakehood? Is there a proper word to use to describe this activity?" 

First off thank you to Simon and Schuster for my ARC of TLATL.

Martha Waters does an amazing job writing regency romance with a dash of a few modern topics.

Diana and Jeremy are ready to strike a deal. 1oo pounds he is married within the year and he pays up.
But neither of these bullheaded individuals expected their own arrangement come to fruition.

By my chosen quote you can presume that Jeremy is... oh how would we modern women say?... A  
PLAYA 
With his nice jawline, gorgeous hair and insufferable confidence, Diana rolls her eyes more often than night at his side smirks.
We all know what makes a good Regency Romance is the "I'm a man with baggage who cannot give you all of himself outside of my body" theme and MW nailed it.
Well... until she gets to be the women to set Jeremy straight and show him what it is to truly "care" for a woman.


Also I've always wanted to use this GIF in a review.... and now is the TIME TO SHINE




What I Loved:
-the BANTER, enemies to lovers... that's all you need 
-the side characters and "girl talks"
-the time period
-easy, quick and full and smiles
- 🏳️‍🌈 side story
- Diana thinks feelings are icky... therefore Diana is me.

What was missing:
-ummmm more 🔥🔥🔥

Rating:
Trope- enemies to lovers
Characters-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Story-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Steam level- I would call it educational... 🔥🔥/5
song- Close to You- DayGlow

Liz Whitehead

Sahi K

Definitely more of a 3.5.

Now that I think a bit after finishing this book, I realize that I haven’t actually read a romance novel in almost four months. And it has mostly been because I seem to have totally lost interest in reading anything contemporary. But today, I was just in the mood for some love and decided it was better to choose a historical romance instead and it was definitely a better decision. 

I haven’t read the previous book by the author and I have no idea if the two are companion pieces, but I had no trouble understanding the world this was set in and all the important players. The author is good at writing banter full of tension and humor, and I was really looking forward to the conversations, not just between Diana and Jeremy, but between the side characters as well. I liked how both of them were not afraid to go toe to toe with each other, whether verbally or in bed and it made for an interesting dynamic. The author also has written good female friendships, and I particularly was pleased to see her avoid pitting two women against each other. Jeremy’s grandma was another colorful character and I was truly hoping she had more of a role to play coz she was loads of fun. 

This was an overall fun and entertaining romance and probably just the right thing I needed to take my mind off other things in my life. It’s always nice to see intelligent and independent thinking women characters in historical romances and I think this couple are well matched in that sense. While the sexual tension was there, I just wish there was more to convince that they were actually in love. As a very rare reader of this genre, I would probably keep a lookout for the author’s next work, because it just might be the perfect one based on my mood.

Summer Stanley

2.5/5 cute, but nothing to write home about. I’ve read a couple of really great contemporary romances recently, and this one paled in comparison. 
The empowering/feminist *steamy* scenes were the highlight, but not enough to make this one I’ll recommend.

Sophia De La Garza

This was a cute romance but not my favorite in terms of historical romances. 
3.5 out of 5 stars

Linda Quintanilla

I am so glad that I actually enjoyed reading To Love and to Loathe. I am usually picky about historical romance books that I often don't like a lot of. Diana and Jeremy have always bickered with each other that makes you wonder when you're going to admit your feelings for each other. But you know that it's never simple when you have become friends/enemies for so long, it's harder to admit your feelings especially when it comes about the heart. Good thing, life throws you a curveball anywhere you go especially in Diana and Jeremy's case. And you are going to love how Diana and Jeremy fall in love with each other without realizing it.

Alexis 

3.5/5 Stars

** I received this as an E-ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review, Thank you!** 

I have a few mixed feelings about this book. I did enjoy my time reading it. The chemestry was good, The characters were ok. I just feel like the story went on a little too long. I found that after a little while I got a little bored because there wasnt much happening plot wise. Overall it was an cute, easy to read and I had a great time.

Heather Harrington

*I received a copy of this via Netgalley in exchange for an honest 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.

ashley larsen

This book was a very cute romance. A perfect read for when your craving some extra Bridgeton or Jane Austen. The only problem i had was it felt a little insta lovey. But other than that it was a great book!

b.andherbooks

First off, truly loathed the male audiobook narrator, and I was very sad the files I received to listen to I could not speed up. Nasally and snooty sounding.

Secondly, I get on the exterior this is a glossily packaged historical that seems fun, light, and frothy. The bickering and banter between the two love interests was catchy and spurred the story on, and Diana taking advantage of her widowed status to find a paramour on the surface seemed fun, but underneath was a thread of mean-spirited actions.

Both main characters, as the blurb says, are infamous for being flirts and for fighting with each other. Fine, do that. And sure, have Jeremy, Marquess of Willingham request his frenemy Lady Diana to help rate his performance in bed after he was told he wasn't good. But for a book with this premise, it was really slow-burn.

What lost me was the mean actions of Lady Diana towards a secondary character, Lady Helen, who she decides is insufferable and worth throwing at Jeremy and convincing that Jeremy wants to marry her, to win a wager Diana has with Jeremy about being wed by the end of the year. Yes, Lady Helen seems annoying, but no more so than Lady Diana and her gossiping friends. And when the reader discovers Lady Helen is sapphic, and Lady Diana outs her to her gossiping friends despite knowing how afraid Lady Helen is about being discovered, that's so awful. 

Overall I found this contrived and tired, and it was a slog to listen to at normal speed. I would have DNF'ed but alas, it was assigned to me for LJ.

Alicia Haws

3 STARS
⭐️⭐️⭐️

First off, much thanks to Martha Waters and Atria Books for gifting me with an eARC of this book through NetGalley.

 I enjoyed reading this one! It had my favorite trope which is a plus. The characters were great, the storyline is good, I just felt that the story really focused a lot more on the lustful aspects of the relationship more than the actual romance.

The actual romance was maybe the last... 50ish pages? Maybe not even that many, that may be generous. I wish that Martha Waters would have written this so that these characters would have understood their feelings a lot sooner, and we could have explored their character growth and relationship more.

Overall, the story’s premise is good, I like the writing style, and the overall story works well. Just wish that the romance would have been longer or we had seen more in that aspect.



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Amy Arthun Lorton 

This is a fine & pleasant book. Nothing wrong with it but I didn’t lose sleep to listen to it. I really appreciated that the “conflict” part of the book, which is often a dumb misunderstanding that could be solved in one quick conversation, was a little more clever than the typical romance novel. I listened to it and would recommend reading the physical book instead because the male character’s voice inside your head would likely be better than the male narrator’s voice.

To Love and to Loathe A Novel

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