What an interesting twist on a regency romance! I’m excited to check out more from this author now. Diana is hilarious and such a relatable sister. “Infant country bumpkin” is a new insult I shall use! Hahahaha. Penvale was dreamy. Jane was a strong and sassy FMC and I loved her. I don’t want to give away too many details regarding the storyline but it was super fun and I highly recommend this one!

Penvale has been trying to reclaim his ancestral house from his uncle for several years, but in vain. Finally, his uncle appears and offers to sell the house to Penvale upon marrying his uncle's ward, Jane. Though Penvale agrees, he suspects that there might be a reason for his uncle's sudden willingness to sell the house, after years of refusal. It turns out that the house might be haunted, which is what Jane wanted her guardian to believe. Tired of being under male domination her whole life, Jane decides to frighten her guardian away. However, she ends up getting married to Penvale and now has to scare him off if she wants to rule the household she loves.

The story is not exactly a romance, although the main characters complement each other perfectly. Their idea of love is for Jane to scare Penvale. It's an enjoyable novel with amusing characters, but it lacks the romantic element. They can be adorable, but they come across more like good friends than lovers.

This review is based on an advanced reader copy provided through Netgalley for an honest review.

Completely delightful and hilarious Regency rom-com with a marriage of convenience plot containing more than a few nods to NORTHANGER ABBEY. What made TO SWOON AND TO SPAR especially fun was watching Jane's evolution from determined introvert seeking to be left alone into someone realizing that just *maybe* there's more to life than books and tea in the library. Penvale was completely charming, if a bit too good to be true—but then again, that's what novels are for. The writing was wry and vibrant, with lots of laugh out loud moments and well observed period details.

This is my first book from Martha Waters—I'm eager to explore the rest of the series. Many thanks to Atria and Netgalley for the advance read!

To swoon and to spar has that classic troupe of an arranged marriage with a ‘supernatural’ (lol) twist. Penvale has been determined to reclaim his family's ancestral home, Trethwick Abbey for ages. This leads him to accept a marriage of convenience with Jane Spencer, his uncle's ward. But as they settle into married life at the Abbey, they face unexpected challenges. Jane, a fiercely independent and headstrong woman, has her own reasons for wanting to keep the Abbey for herself and is determined to drive Penvale away with ghostly tricks. Meanwhile, Penvale slowly comes to realize that his new bride is more than just a reluctant partner in their arrangement.

This was a fun book! I am a sucker for good banter and this had in spades. I could not help rooting for Jane and Percival to see their ‘fake’ marriage was indeed the ‘real thing’.

Looking forward to the next in the series!

This book is the perfect book to read while we wait for Season 3 of Bridgerton. It’s a fun swoon worthy historical romance book.

Such a cute read! I blew through this in one day. I loved how Jane was prickly but overall independent. I would for sure read more from martha!

"To Swoon and To Spar" by Martha Waters is a delightful addition to the historical romance genre that offers a playful twist on the classic marriage-of-convenience trope. Set against the lush backdrop of Regency England, the heart of the story lies in the evolving relationship between the calculated Viscount Penvale and the fiercely independent Jane Spencer.

Waters's novel excels in crafting characters that are both endearing and exasperating in equal measure. Penvale's determination to reclaim his family's estate is well-portrayed, matching well with Jane's feisty determination to maintain her independence within the confines of the society they inhabit. Their initial impressions of each other are humorously off-putting, setting the stage for a series of interactions marked by banter and growing chemistry.

The premise of staging a haunting at Trethwick Abbey is an inventive plot device that not only engages the reader's imagination but also serves to create a vivacious storyline filled with comedic mishaps and misunderstandings. Jane's alliance with her housekeeper adds another layer of humor and intrigue to the narrative.

Where "To Swoon and To Spar" shines brightest is in Waters's writing style, which is imbued with a sharp wit and a nod to the quirkiness of human relationships. Her dialogue crackles with energy, making the exchanges between Penvale and Jane a highlight of the novel. The pacing is brisk and the prose is polished, ensuring that the story moves along swiftly without feeling rushed.

Despite its strengths, the novel may not break new ground within the genre. Some readers may feel that, while entertaining, the story adheres closely to the formulaic elements expected in Regency romps, offering few surprises. Additionally, the emotional depth of the characters could be further developed to add more weight to their eventual connection.

In sum, "To Swoon and To Spar" is a solid four-star read for fans of historical romance who appreciate a light-hearted and spirited narrative. Martha Waters skillfully combines humor, romance, and just enough intrigue to keep the pages turning. For those who enjoy a story that sparkles with charm and a cast of characters that will leave you smirking in delight, this novel is a worthy pick for an afternoon

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. I’ve loved every book in this series and this one was no exception! Penvale enters a marriage of convenience with outside-of-the-ton Jane, and the slow burn of this relationship is so fun. Predictable, but fun. Loved the Gothic elements and the haunting sub plot, although I expected a little more from the author’s note at the beginning. Overall a delightful and easy read.

I received this book from NetGalley and the publishers to read and review. All statements above are my true
opinions after fully reading this book. This was a quick & enjoyable read!

This was such a fun read! Martha Waters always has a way of creating romance that is relatable and fun while staying true to historical times! The enemy to lover’s relationship between Penvale and Jane was crafted so nicely. I absolutely love this series and I can’t wait for more from her!

This historical romcom is basically about the lengths and introvert will go to keep people from talking and interacting with her. And it’s stinking hilarious. Loved it.

This is my first book in the Regency series. I thoroughly enjoyed this. It follows a marriage of convenience between Jane and Penvale. I don't think I've read a gothic romance before but this was fantastic. The scenery of Cornwall was beautiful in my mind, written fantastically by Martha Waters. I loved seeing the relationship between the two blossom albeit somewhat slow at times. I look forward to reading more in this series.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All the above opinions are my own.

Oh, how I love Penvale and Jane! This is my favorite book in the series so far. Penvale is on a quest to reclaim his family estate. Jane wants to escape the city and her guardian. The way to make both of these things come to pass is for the two to marry. But Jane would rather be in the country alone, with a husband who spends his time in the city, so she constructs a plan to convince him the estate is haunted so he leaves. Of course, things go awry. The banter in this book is top-notch, and the conflict was an actual conflict this time. A few of these books have been about the worst kind of misunderstandings, and that can bug me. This book is about Penvale and Jane letting each other through the walls they've built and learning to trust each other, which is adorable to read!

This was a surprisingly funny read despite being a fairly standard marriage of convenience type of story. Jane is quite funny and her antics were very amusing. Fans of the Bridgerton books or tv series will enjoy this!

I had a hard time liking this book. The main reason was that Jane is so unlikeable. I never warmed up to her. She was immature and cantankerous. I liked Penvale and thought he deserved better.

2.5 stars

This book was fine, I guess? I couldn't quite bring myself to give it 3 stars, because I just didn't really like it that much. I don't know that there was really anything *wrong* with it, it just was boring and I didn't like either character.

I've read that a romance novel is supposed to be an argument for why the main couple should be a couple, and this just really didn't do that. I didn't care about either character, I didn't care about their relationship, I.just.didn't.care.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

I was super excited to read this one and it didn’t disappoint. I love regency romance and this author does the genre right. Super fun!

A swooney enemies to lovers, marriage of convenience, Regency romance. Fans of Bridgerton will love To Swoon and To Spar. Engaging banter and enough tension to move the plot along in a way that held my attention. Overall a solid read.

I really enjoyed this book! I think I've read every book in this series, primarily because Martha Waters writes such enjoyable characters and couples. She has explored a few different tropes throughout, and this one executes a delightful mixture of the "contract relationship" and "enemies to lovers" tropes. If you're already a fan of Regency romance, this book, as with any Martha Waters title, is a great addition to your TBR list.

Such a fun read! It was easy, entertaining, and swoony! It was a little cheesy at times, and the names sometimes get mixed up in my head, but I really enjoyed reading it!