Publication: 5th April 2022 – Headline Eternal
Marriage isn’t always smooth sailing
Lady Emily Turner should really be married by now, but with a dowry of her father’s debts, her only suitor is the odious owner of her father’s favourite gambling house.
Lord Julian Belfry is the second son of a marquess, but has managed to scandalise polite society with his acting career and the fact that he owns a less than salubrious theatre.
Crossing paths at a house party, they discover that a marriage of convenience might benefit them both: Emily can use her society connections to add some respectability to Julian’s theatre, while also managing to escape the dubious world of her father.
With differing ideas on the roles each will play in their marriage, and an on-the-run actress, a murderous kitten, and some meddlesome friends adding to the complications, Emily and Julian will have to confront the fact that their marriage of convenience might be leading to some rather inconvenient feelings.
In the past year, thanks to Bridgerton, I have been reading and enjoying many historical romance novels and Martha Waters’ novels are some of my favourite.
Her novels follow a group of friends in Regency England in their romantic and often ridiculous and hilarious adventures. Each book follows a couple and even though they can easily be read as stand-alone I highly recommend you read all of them because they are engrossing and entertaining and all the characters are likable and engaging.
To Marry and to Meddle is the third book in the series and it follows the story of Emily Turner, a young woman who, because of her father’s huge gambling debts, is forced to enjoy the courtship of a vile man, and Julian Belfry, the second son of a Marquess who was disinherited when he opened his own scandalous theatre. They agree to make a marriage of convenience to get rid of unwanted suitors for Emily and gain respectability for the theatre for Julian.
This was such a fun and addictive read. I loved the characters, the story, and the setting. I really enjoyed the first two novels, but if I had to choose, I’d say that To Marry and to Meddle is my favourite so far. I really loved the characters of Emily and Julian, I loved their witty exchanges and their easy relationship, and their story is so beautiful and romantic. And let’s not forget the best characters of all, Cecil Lucifer Beelzebub, spoiler of wedding nights and adorable, kind of devilish, and way too smart kitten.
I finished reading To Marry and to Meddle a few days ago and I already want to reread it. It is hilarious, witty, and sexy and I can’t recommend it enough!
To Marry and to Meddle is out now (happy publication day to Martha Waters!).
A huge thank you to Headline Eternal and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of the novel.
Martha Waters was born and raised in sunny South Florida, and is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She works as a children’s librarian in North Carolina, and spends much of her free time traveling. To Have and To Hoax is her first novel. To discover more find her online at: www.marthawaters.com Twitter and Instagram @marthabwaters
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