To Love and to Loathe: A Novel
(Libby/OverDrive eAudiobook)

Five years ago, Diana Bourne turned down a proposal from Jeremy Overington, so why on earth would she accept one now? It turns out that Jeremy's current offer is not a proposal but rather a proposition. Jeremy's latest paramour implied that his romantic technique leaves much to be desired. If Diana agrees to a brief affair with Jeremy, she could offer her unbiased opinion of his amorous skill set. As if a romantic fling isn't enough, Diana and Jeremy also agree to a side wager regarding his matrimonial future; a wager that Diana, with some help from Jeremy's grandmother, the Dowager Marchioness of Willingham, intends to win. But while both Diana and Jeremy think they have gamed everything out, neither one factored in the possibility of falling in love. In her second superbly entertaining Regency-set historical, following To Have and to Hoax (2020), Waters once again rewards readers with a comically clever love story that blithely blends engaging writing spiked with deliciously dry wit and a beguiling cast of characters.

Waters's irresistibly irreverent second Regency Vows romance (after To Have and to Hoax) pairs young widow Diana Bourne with Jeremy Overington, the Marquess of Willingham, an infamous rake with whom she's always sparred at society functions. Their rivalry escalates when Diana wagers that Jeremy will be married within a year, planning to use Jeremy's upcoming house party as an opportunity to hurl eligible ladies at him. But when Jeremy, seeking reassurance about his prowess as a lover after a bad review, requests that Diana join him in a brief, educational affair, the two must confront what their increasing intimacy means for their bet--and their relationship. Hero and heroine alike are delightfully unsentimental, and Waters takes obvious glee in prodding at genre conventions. (Notes Diana, "It was of course incumbent on every aristocratic man to have at least a somewhat tortured relationship with his own father.") This winking awareness is used to great effect during the lovers' first romp, when Diana does not immediately convulse with pleasure and instead must school Jeremy on his technique. This dynamic is such fun that it's almost a shame when Diana and Jeremy's feelings deepen and the plot becomes more conventional, but the journey to their happy ending is worth every step. Agent: Taylor Haggerty, Root Literary. (Apr.)

Diana, the Lady Templeton and a rich widow, shares a combative friendship with Jeremy, the Marquess of Willingham, wagering he will be married within a year. After receiving negative comments about his bedroom behavior from his former mistress, Jeremy is more concerned with finding a new paramour who will provide truthful feedback about his abilities. Diana is looking for a lover of her own, and the two begin an affair during Jeremy's house party. After their first tryst, Diana fears she is falling for Jeremy and plots to force his engagement with another lady, who is secretly a sapphist. Diana's scheming hilariously does not go according to plan, and eventually Diana and Jeremy pause their verbal sparring to reveal their true feelings. VERDICT Waters excels at pitting Diana and Jeremy against each other with clever dialogue and comical situations to ensure a lively and steamy rivals-to-romance story. Readers of To Have and To Hoax will enjoy the return of Violet and Audley as supporting characters. A worthy addition to the trend for historical romantic comedies and highly recommended for fans of Evie Dunmore and Elizabeth Everett.--Eve Stano, Ball State Univ. Muncie, IN

The second in a series of Julia Quinn--like sensuous rom-coms. Diana Bourne decided at age 18 that in order to make her way in the world, a viscountess with no significant dowry had better marry money. And since Diana never really expected much more from the "addlepated" male gender, it really didn't matter who. Of course, her cheeks blush in the presence of Jeremy Overington, the Marquess of Willingham. But though he's blond and beautiful, he's also broke, a notorious rake, and a very poor candidate. Besides, when they're together, they spend all their time trading witty insults. Five years pass, and Diana, who succeeded in marrying well, is now Lady Templeton, a widow and--with her ample bosom and "elegant slouch"--the toast of the ton. But Diana's older husband, the viscount, was never much in the feathers, and she wonders how she can gain some new passionate experience. Diana doesn't want to marry again. Why would she? She's young, free, and wealthy. As romantic novels would have it, Jeremy also needs some help. The married mistress he just spurned has intimated that he might not be the lover he thought he was. Jeremy asks Diana to spend time at his country pile, Elderwild, with a bunch of fashionable 20-something couples and his grandmother, the outspoken Marchioness of Willingham. And would she mind giving him her opinion of his bedroom technique? Interestingly for romance, though Lady Di loves his kisses, she's critical of his finger work. And she guides him on how best to make sure his future lovers are not faking it. Through traded barbs and some overly frenetic plotting, the lovers come to understand that the uncaring faces they present to society are not the people they really are. Waters introduces an interesting rival for Diana, the desperate-for-marriage sister of an earl, who turns out to have different gender goals. A try for a sexier Beatrice and Benedick that occasionally becomes overdone. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

*Starred Review* Five years ago, Diana Bourne turned down a proposal from Jeremy Overington, so why on earth would she accept one now? It turns out that Jeremy's current offer is not a proposal but rather a proposition. Jeremy's latest paramour implied that his romantic technique leaves much to be desired. If Diana agrees to a brief affair with Jeremy, she could offer her unbiased opinion of his amorous skill set. As if a romantic fling isn't enough, Diana and Jeremy also agree to a side wager regarding his matrimonial future; a wager that Diana, with some help from Jeremy's grandmother, the Dowager Marchioness of Willingham, intends to win. But while both Diana and Jeremy think they have gamed everything out, neither one factored in the possibility of falling in love. In her second superbly entertaining Regency-set historical, following To Have and to Hoax (2020), Waters once again rewards readers with a comically clever love story that blithely blends engaging writing spiked with deliciously dry wit and a beguiling cast of characters. Copyright 2021 Booklist Reviews.

Diana, the Lady Templeton and a rich widow, shares a combative friendship with Jeremy, the Marquess of Willingham, wagering he will be married within a year. After receiving negative comments about his bedroom behavior from his former mistress, Jeremy is more concerned with finding a new paramour who will provide truthful feedback about his abilities. Diana is looking for a lover of her own, and the two begin an affair during Jeremy's house party. After their first tryst, Diana fears she is falling for Jeremy and plots to force his engagement with another lady, who is secretly a sapphist. Diana's scheming hilariously does not go according to plan, and eventually Diana and Jeremy pause their verbal sparring to reveal their true feelings. VERDICT Waters excels at pitting Diana and Jeremy against each other with clever dialogue and comical situations to ensure a lively and steamy rivals-to-romance story. Readers of To Have and To Hoax will enjoy the return of Violet and Audley as supporting characters. A worthy addition to the trend for historical romantic comedies and highly recommended for fans of Evie Dunmore and Elizabeth Everett.—Eve Stano, Ball State Univ. Muncie, IN

Waters's irresistibly irreverent second Regency Vows romance (after To Have and to Hoax) pairs young widow Diana Bourne with Jeremy Overington, the Marquess of Willingham, an infamous rake with whom she's always sparred at society functions. Their rivalry escalates when Diana wagers that Jeremy will be married within a year, planning to use Jeremy's upcoming house party as an opportunity to hurl eligible ladies at him. But when Jeremy, seeking reassurance about his prowess as a lover after a bad review, requests that Diana join him in a brief, educational affair, the two must confront what their increasing intimacy means for their bet—and their relationship. Hero and heroine alike are delightfully unsentimental, and Waters takes obvious glee in prodding at genre conventions. (Notes Diana, "It was of course incumbent on every aristocratic man to have at least a somewhat tortured relationship with his own father.") This winking awareness is used to great effect during the lovers' first romp, when Diana does not immediately convulse with pleasure and instead must school Jeremy on his technique. This dynamic is such fun that it's almost a shame when Diana and Jeremy's feelings deepen and the plot becomes more conventional, but the journey to their happy ending is worth every step. Agent: Taylor Haggerty, Root Literary. (Apr.)