Back to Diana Gabledon for me. Two pages in and I can't. ( )

Back to Diana Gabledon for me. Two pages in and I can't. ( )

This was an amusing and lovely book and I am glad I read it as I didn't quite enjoy the antics in the first book of the series.

Diana as a female lead was a character I really liked. I appreciated her independent spirit, meddling, smarts, and most of all, her self awareness. Once she realizes something she doesn't like about herself, she takes care to try and be better and that was awesome. Jeremy was a fun flirt and I liked how the book peeled off his layers to make him more 3-dimensional (though not quite enough).
Anyway, these two firecrackers have always had a bit of frenemies vibe and a truly amusing proposition later, find themselves entangled. Everything finally comes to a head in a 2 week house party.

One thing I really appreciate is although they make their arrangement for "lessons" pretty early on, the actual act doesn't come till much later in the book and I indeed feel they had had time to build their relationship by then. I was so happy they did get their HEA and the end scene was pretty swoony, different, and felt authentic.

The supporting cast was also stellar especially Helen (who made me laugh so much).
I am now excited for Emily and Belfry!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC. ( )

Wasn’t a big fan of this book. I thought the plot was weaker than the first book in the series and I really didn’t like the audiobook narration. The same narrators were used for the first book and I wasn’t crazy about them there either, but this time I found them to be even worse. I assume that they’ll be used for the next book which is a shame as I don’t know if I could face listening to them again. ( )

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*

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