The latest installment of Waters' Regency Vows series visits well-behaved Emily and rakish Julian as they navigate a marriage of convenience. At 26, Lord Julian Belfry is perfectly content as "the black sheep of an aristocratic family" and owner of the rowdy Belfry theater…but his father isn't happy about it. The Belfry is no stranger to promiscuity, and as "little more than a brothel," it is hardly the place any reputable people would spend a night out. His father gives Julian an ultimatum: Sell the Belfry and restore his disgraced public image, or never set foot in his family's home again. Four years later, the once undeterred Julian believes it's time to rekindle his relationship with his father and upgrade the Belfry into an honorable establishment worthy of the ton's approval. Luckily, he's just asked the scandal-proof, golden-haired Emily Turner for her hand in marriage. Despite her own family's blackened reputation, Emily's respectability remains unscathed, which could elevate Julian's status and free Emily from spending three more seasons on the arm of the detestable Mr. Cartham, her only suitor. Also, the past couple of months have helped Julian and Emily strike "an odd sort of friendship," and he hopes their marriage can serve as a sort of symbiotic business transaction. She says yes, but in time the two come to realize that maybe this relationship is less about convenience and more about actual love…if only they each knew whether or not their feelings were returned. Waters' latest is awash with light, witty banter, unadulterated confessions of love, and plenty of steamy, corset-unraveling sex scenes. Emily's happy ending mercifully involves a lot less plotting than those of Waters' previous heroines, and all the feline hijinks brought about by Cecil Lucifer Beelzebub Turner-Belfry adds to the sweet, cozy feelings you can't help but revel in while reading this book. A charming London romp perfect for theater nerds, cat lovers, and hopeless romantics. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Waters's third Regency Vows romance (after To Love and to Loathe) is more than the marriage of convenience story line that sets up its plot, meshing the classic Regency theme of defying societal expectations with all the wit and humor of a rom-com. Lady Emily Turner is well into her sixth season on London's marriage market. Despite her beauty and spotless reputation, her father's extensive debts ensure she'll never receive a suitable proposal. Indeed, her only suitor is his father's horrid creditor--until theater owner Lord Julian Belfry offers her a way out. Though Julian is the black sheep of his family and his theater's known for courting scandal, his marriage proposal would free Emily's family financially and she readily accepts. Meanwhile, Julian hopes his faultless new bride will improve his theater's reputation. Neither is prepared to fall in love, but as Julian treats Emily as his equal and Emily takes an interest in his theater, romance blooms. Waters makes them an easy couple to root for by highlighting the unconditional support that comes with love. The result is a fun romp full of smiles. Agent: Taylor Haggerty, Root Literary. (Apr.)

For Julian Belfry, marriage is the key to rehabilitating his rakish, devil-may-care reputation and convincing the oh-so-proper ladies and gents of London to patronize his theater. Emily Turner has proved that she is practically immune to scandal and is therefore number one on Julian's list of matrimonial prospects. Convincing Emily to accept his marriage proposal proves surprisingly easy, and Julian immediately begins implementing his plan to use his wife's sterling society reputation to take his theatrical business to the next level. When Emily suddenly begins expressing a desire to step outside the polite boundaries of society, Julian is stunned. Is this the end of his business dreams or the start of a marriage the likes of which he never dreamed? With the latest splendid addition to her Regency Vows series, Waters (To Love and to Loathe, 2021) gracefully infuses her dazzlingly droll sense of humor into another swooningly romantic plot composed of equal measures of hilarious moments and heartfelt emotions and graced with a captivating collection of characters, including possibly the romance world's most devilishly cute kitten.

Fans of Waters's "Regency Vows" series will be thrilled to see oh-so-proper Emily, the third member of a trio of friends, come into her own and attain her much deserved happily-ever-after in this latest installment (following To Love and To Loathe). After six years on the marriage mart and being forced to court a seedy gambling den owner her father is indebted to, Lady Emily Turner sees no way out of her predicament, until Lord Julian Belfry suggests a marriage of convenience. He shocked the aristocracy by purchasing a theater and performing on the stage, but he is now determined to attract high-society crowds to his shows and make his disapproving father proud. Emily is to use her impeccable character to improve Julian's standing and his theater's reputation; in return, Julian will free her family from debt and blackmail. However, once they are married, not all goes according to plan; while dealing with unexpected events, they discover just how delightful and passionate a marriage of more than convenience can be. VERDICT Waters stays true to the humor and wit that characterize the series' first two installments.--Eve Stano