Queen B’s Decree: 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?!?
Book: To Love and to Loathe by Martha Waters
Series: standalone, we first met the characters in To Have and to Hoax
Genre: Historical
Hotness: mild-medium salsa
Plot Devices/Tropes: enemies-to-lovers