Star Quotient: ★★★★. Julian proposes a marriage of convenience - Emily can escape her family and unwanted suitor, and Julian will gain respectability with Society. My editor was like, "This might be too much for this one romance novel. We've been waiting for Emily and Julian's book since reading To Have and to Hoax, and their story didn't disappoint. Dull doesn't even begin to describe my experience. Work through issues vs breaking up plz!! She was a sympathetic and witty character and possibly one of my favourite romance mains. That's not exactly a thing. Synopsis: Lady Emily Turner has been a debutante for six seasons now and should have long settled into a suitable marriage. 3 To Marry and to Meddle 1. You have them either already be married or get married right at the very beginning of the book, then you can cheat and get around all the strict rules governing the heroine's behavior.
Content notes: on-page sex. The quiet moments where they get to know each other were endearing and made me smile. 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. Do you have a favorite research rabbit hole you've fallen down so far? For Martha Waters, who writes Regency-era romantic comedies, there's no shortage of dizzying plot possibilities within these well-loved tropes. Emily wants away from her suiter, Julian needs a respectable lady to refurbish his reputation. Paperback – 5 April 2022. Lord Julian Belfry, the second son of the Marquess of Eastvale, purchased a run-down theatre in a fit of youthful impetuousness and has since restored the building and the company, even going so far as to appear on stage himself when the mood takes him. The plot sounds unfuckupable right? To Marry and to Meddle: A sparkling marriage-of-convenience Regency rom-com! She was like WHOA WHOA WAHOO buddy they're my PARENTS I could NEVER just cut them off and tell them to Argo fuck themselves. FREE UK shipping for orders over £50.
It all felt a little too pat. From where I stand, there are certainly several possibilities, like West or Penvale, to get their happy ever after. Also the narrators weren't great. The two certainly were fond of each other before getting married, but they are still pretty much strangers at the beginning of their relationship. Pure fun on every page' Sarah Hogle. ' He didn't seem to realize that to save his reputation she would actually have to be out in society with him and at his debauched theater.
As for Emily, she was supposed to grow a backbone somewhere along the way. Given Diana's disinclination to exert herself when it was not strictly necessary, this was an indication of dire stra... It's kind of intimidating to write this book because I know so many people are so passionate about the theater, but it's been a really fun opportunity to learn more about something I don't know that much about, especially in a historical context. I love the relationship between the hero/heroine as it seemed so believable and not just words on a page…loved the idea of falling in love even though it wasn't there in the beginning. Julian and Emily's story charmed me and I left the book feeling happy and sappy. In this fresh and hilarious historical rom-com, an estranged husband and wife in Regency England feign accidents and illness in an attempt to gain attention -- and maybe just win each other back in the process. I'm used to books that have a heavier hand when it comes to smexy times, but this was written in such a way that I never missed the intense steam I'm accustomed to.
I wasn't interested in the pairing when they were first introduced in To Love and To Loathe (note: I didn't particularly enjoy that book either) and they proved to be so mind-numbingly boring here. Little did she know it would result in her accepting an offer for a marriage of convenience to Julian Belfry. If you love Sophie Ranald, Jo Watson and Julia Quinn's Bridgertons, you'll love Martha Waters' ingenious, laugh-out-loud rom-com, To Love and to Loathe! This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel. Amazon – The Book Depository – IndieBound. It was fun, easy to read, and with enough of the historic details but with some unique twists that I found it well served for a Regency setting. Laughs] We need to make Featherington-esque [a thing]. This felt far more realized in terms of plot, characters, and the trope it is building upon than the others, and Martha Waters is fast becoming a favourite in this genre for me. I loved the progression of watching Julian and Emily starting to develop feelings over the course of the story among their schemes to fool the public. Managing to attend a summer house party without her mother as her chaperone was an incredible. ISBN-13: 978-1472296177. Waters' latest is awash with light, witty banter, unadulterated confessions of love, and plenty of steamy, corset-unraveling sex scenes. Pub Date: Oct. 18, 2022. I've done some research on actual actresses from the Regency era and what their lives look like, and the way that polite society interacted with the theater world.
Definitely one I could find myself rereading in the future and one that I happily recommend to those who enjoy a lighthearted historical romance. This book was also incredibly hard to read. Despite the rumpled state of his suit and dirty blond hair, he steals the attention... A light in his eyes had suggested he'd known his brochure would not... She was in a crowded ballroom at the ho... The chemistry between Julian and Emily was pure magic. Fusty, dusty, and tiring. With a bit of Autumn backdrop, this may help you get in the mood for Fall. She has a pristine reputation despite familial money woes, scandalous brotherly escapades and an unseemly suitor that keeps others somewhat at bay. Thank you Atria and NetGalley for the ARC!
I can highly recommend the whole series (so far:) if you are looking for an escapist, feel-good historical romance, I highly recommend all three books. Unlike the previous two (granted, the first of those entirely rested on miscommunication, I found in the second, the angst felt contrived because of it). Possibly my favourite part of romance series is getting to see old main characters make appearances on page after their story is over. In the months following, an odd friendship has grown between them and Julian has danced with her at balls and escorted her to the odd musicale, but recently, his behaviour has changed somewhat, leading Emily to believe a marriage proposal may be imminent.
And really, the role that Julian would like Emily to play isn't so different than the one she's been playing for years for her mother. That was my editor's idea. I loved following Emily and Julian on their journey from hasty marriage to happy ever after. To clarify, this is steamy, just not explicit. Format: Paperback / softback. Fulfilling his dying wish of getting married and having an heir seemed impossible until my assistant volunteers for the jo... Read more about Terms and Conditions.
The next installment in her Regency Vows series, it follows Lady Emily Turner and Lord Julian Belfry. Do you have a theater background, either as a performer or just a fan? A marriage of convenience story between a seemingly scandal immune debutante and a scandal-brothed younger son turned theatre entrepreneur was delightful. I loved the characters and their roles blended perfectly into the story. Friends & Following. Her characters were witty, sometimes daft about their own emotions, and the scenes were funny (not laugh out loud, but I definitely was amused). Belfry was interesting and just a cinnamon roll under the disguise of a rogue but it was Emily was stole the show for me. Something I've noticed (and really appreciate! )
The windchimes left blossoming tunes in the wind, sunlight peeking through the small crevices in the vines. You joke, glad when you see another of Lucifer's smiles, contented and nearly entirely relaxed when he's with you. Truthfully, Y/B/N was the spine of who you were; your confidence, skill, and intelligence would be nowhere near the peak they were at now without him.
You were at an even tie, father sat at the end seat of the dining table, book in hand, head slightly bopping to the music playing from the record player a few feet away. Its high pitched, groggy voice sounded to you and you only, "I want to be inside you, " hissing sounds erupting from its every orifice before pressing against your face so hard you fought to breathe, screaming muffled by the spongy flesh. He's spent hours in his own head trying to assess every detail of the pigtailed girl, clutching at straws for reasons he always seemed to follow her every move like a lost puppy just to come up short handed. The sounds of your brother's chuckles and father's boots hitting the floor neared you and your mother. Obey me x reader he scares you quote. Wednesday sat at the small desk, returning to her reading of her large, dusty book as Xavier pranced around his room, doing who knows what, waiting for Ajax to arrive. She blindly reached around the cold cement above her, looking for the gun that was fired a mere seconds ago. His gaze landed on the familiar black braids, his face morphing into one of perplexity as his eyes traveled to your hands interlocked.
As Wednesday marched down the stone path on her way to take watch of the boy's dorm to make sure Xavier didn't wake, she pondered about all you had said back at the shed. A heavy thud hit the floor as his body dropped, metal of the gun clanking against the ground alongside him. Y/N's smile glared at Wednesday mockingly across the shed, swearing she heard the paling corpse whisper a rushed, quiet, "do it, " before she grinned as wide as her face could handle, cheeks straining so hard the highest points of her face dimpled under the tension, eyes wrinkling shut at the force. Obey me x reader he scares you want. I thought you said you had up to a week. What was it about you that had her wanting to turn around and convince you to wait and find a different solution? Their eyes were glued to one another's, tears streaming down their faces as they heard the bone chilling wails you let out inside. Throughout the couple hours of preparation she opened up to you about how Ajax hadn't asked her to go to the dance, trailing off to how she even caved and agreed to bring some stupid pilgrim normie kid.
His throat began to burn from the emotions being scratched open, scabs raw and bleeding in their wakening. Gilded lily, continued. Wednesday's eyes widened in horror at the sight of your wide, horrific smile and creepy eyes. She rushed towards you, face ghosting with a look of bewilderment at your blood covered, startled state.
Everywhere your mother went, her little best friend sauntered along, always finding a cosy spot next to her somehow, her doting husband and adorably needy son never not within ear-shot. You sat in her lap, chin placed on her shoulder, small arms around her waist. Stomach churning painfully as your reflection moved closer, hands pressing against the glass as if it were alive beyond the surface. Your mind slightly wanders from the sketch you're working on in your lap, body sinking into the couch as you submerge yourself in your daydreams of a love and tenderness as pure and genuine as your parents'. The song was melancholic, yet upbeat, swaying your hips to the tempo with Xavier following your lead, watching your every move. She even sat in the chair next to the familiar uncomfortable nursing bed, arm outstretched to not break her hold of your palm as you lay there, head pounding. She nodded at your confession, lips slightly pursing before she spoke, "I have no interest in Xavier.
Your mother and father swayed along to the piano that sounded from the jukebox that was cozy, snuggled up next to the fireplace on the wall. Or whatever the hell you called all this. His fingers dug a little harder when you slightly broke away from one another to catch your breaths. "No, it's the one I saw in my vision. " The air feels fresh in your lungs, mind quiet at ease, environment so serene you're left teetering on the edge of slumber. She motioned for you to walk as you celebrated your successful mission of convincing Wednesday to join your plan in your head. You complied, even convincing her to let you do some parts of her makeup for her as you giggled on the bench of her vanity. It's a feeling of thorns wrapping around your insides and squeezing so, so tight at the thought of losing them. Her eyes were glazed over, squinted from how widely she smiled, only this time, it lit a comforting, warm fire in you. Her eyes were wide with his descriptive, gut wrenching revelation. She watched silently, a plan forming in her mind as he entered the male dorm restroom through the pillars, falling back in her seat with a relieved breath. "Alright, alright, I regret giving you such a shock.
He asked, now taking place in the seat Wednesday had occupied seconds ago. Your muscles ached, straining with knots and pressure as the tension in your neck grew tighter. "It can only pass to someone else if they witness it. She asked, taking place next to you as she continued to stare at every brushstroke on the canvas, completely in awe. Her throat bubbled up with bile, fighting to swallow it down as she pulled away, gauging his reaction. The reflection mockingly sobbed, jokingly letting out a teasing, "I'm sorry, daddy! " You laughed harder, stomach beginning to painfully twist from straining muscles, chest heaving. Your fleshy, gorey pool of existence came to a simmering life, climbing into the existing creature's mutilated body to combine into one entity. You find it adorable how he's trying not to give too many hints, but at the same time wanting you to be really excited about it. He hadn't had this kind of moment with you in so long, unknowingly neglecting you for the deathtrap of a girl adorned in black attire. His chest heaved slightly at the painful burn he housed in his lungs, turning to the girl with the now soaked pigtail braids. You reassure him for as long as he needs, you wonder how you could ever have found him scary when he only ever looks at you like he adores you.
Loud sobs and deep pants left his mouth in rushed waves, composure completely crumbling as he fell to his knees, hands meeting the stone path below him, weakly holding his body up as he let an all-consuming painful scream out. You felt drained, not physically, but mentally.