This was a really fun book. Sometimes I find that books where the couple gets married early in the story can get a little boring, but that definitely wasn’t the case here. The “haunting” and all of the effort that went into it made for a funny story, and I really liked the romance between the characters.

I also appreciate Jane’s struggles. “Shy” heroines in HRs aren’t uncommon, but they’re usually just quiet and sweet and bookish with one or two very close friends. Whereas Jane’s crippling shyness that makes her horribly anxious in crowds and makes it really hard to make friends isn’t something that’s portrayed very often, and as someone who can relate it was nice to see.

That being said, I do think Jane went too far sometimes. It makes sense, to an extent, that she lashes out when she feels uncomfortable and self-conscious. But there were definitely times where she was way meaner than was reasonable, which is the only reason I knocked off a star.

And lastly… ALL HAIL THE LINE “It’s all a bit…sticky.” So many books completely ignore that part, especially when gravity gets involved. And I get it, it’s not “romantic” or whatever, but it is nice to see a realistic portrayal of this….logistical difficulty

I was so happy to read an early copy of Martha Waters' latest book! I really liked the characters and especially Jane, who is different from your typical heroine. I recommend it and am looking forward to purchasing a copy!

The marriage of convenience trope is a favorite of mine and I was very excited to see Martha take it on! Penvale and Jane reluctantly marry for their own reasons and move to their residence in remote Cornwall. Prickly Jane would much prefer to be alone in her home and conspires to get Penvale to decamp back to London by pretending a ghost haunts the house. Penvale proves to be made of sterner stuff and Jane becomes less and less convinced that she wants him to go. Before any happily ever after can be achieved there are plenty of assumptions, miscommunication, and one ghost that must be overcome. Thank you Martha for this swoony romance!

I can't remember the last time I had so much fun while reading a historical romance story!
It is an unusual premise - Jane stages hauntings to drive away her husband, but they end up falling for each other. I went in with low expectations and didn't expect to like it as much as I did!
I love characters such as Jane. She's frank, waspish, easily irritated towards all the high-society brouhaha, does not stand on ceremony, and is not hesitant to blurt out her thoughts. All of these hide a vulnerability that she's reluctant to show the world.
Penvale is not the lazy, indolent man she thought he would be. He actually cares about the estate, it's people and the village nearby. I love how he needed glasses but pretended that he did not 🤣
Their love story is a slow-burn (my favorites). I loved that they built some kind of friendship before it slowly developed into more.
I really enjoyed seeing characters from the previous books, and hope to read Sophie and West's story next!
Martha Waters is a refreshing voice in the histrom world. She keeps getting better - To Swoon and to Spar is definitely her best work.

Thank you to the publisher and author for the ARC via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

This book is just what any Bridgerton fans need to get through this drought between seasons. The characters are hilarious and fun and I really enjoyed their little journey together. Love this series.

To start - I am a big Martha Waters. If you’ve read her others you already know this, but her books are full of banter, smart and likable characters, and fresh plots. This book is no different. On its face I didn’t think I’d enjoy the lying regarding the staged “hauntings”, but Waters’ writing has a way about it that keeps the story fun, genuine, and believable.

My only quibbles were that I wished we had more screen time with Penvale and Jane together and I wish the book was altogether longer. Their affection felt like it developed off the page, and I wish we’d had more banter between them in the interim, and maybe less interaction with the outside characters from the previous books on the series.

3.5 Stars To Swoon and to Spar is the fourth book in Martha Waters' Regency Vows series. Like the previous books, there is plenty of romance, banter, hijinks, conspiring, and matchmaking.

Ever since Viscount Penvale inherited his title and lost his ancestral home at the age of ten, he's been determined to buy back Trethwick Abbey from his estranged uncle. Finally, his uncle agrees to sell Trethwick to Penvale, on the condition that Penvale marry his uncle's ward, Miss Jane Spencer. A surly woman who despises polite society and would rather be tucked up in Trethwick's library with a book rather than be in London, she agrees to the match with her own plan in mind. After they marry and return to Trethwick, Penvale and Jane begin to hear strange moaning, shrieking, and thumps in the night--all part of Jane's plot (along with the servants) to drive Penvale back to London so she can live alone in peace, without another man controlling her. Penvale is not so easily scared by the supposed haunting and his actions while they live together cause Jane to rethink her initial impression of Penvale. Namely, that he's more caring and thoughtful than most men of his status are believed to be.

This was a quick and delightful read. The banter between Jane and Penvale was hilarious, and Jane could really hold her own when he was being rude without thinking. Both grew to reconsider the hopes and dreams they had carried for so long, rethinking what it is that they truly wanted from life in the long term. If you are a fan of Bridgerton and witty rom coms, you'll like this one!

Such a unique book, I loved the plot and oh my god the characters we're so amazing!! I definitely will be recommending it!!

This was predictable and formulaic but honestly, that's what I needed. This series is always fun and it was exciting to see some familiar characters from a new perspective.

I've been a longtime fan of Martha Waters and this series holds a special place in my heart, so I was very excited to read this next installment, and boy did it not disappoint! This book follows Penvale as he returns to his ancestral home, which he will finally be able to repurchase, but only on the condition that he marry his uncle's ward Jane. Penvale and Jane fell at best lukewarm towards one another, but regardless they enter a marriage of convinence. Jane longs to return to the bliss of living on the country estate alone and hatches a plan to get rid of Penvale for good. And how does one get rid of their husband? By pretending to be a ghost of course.

At first I was a little skeptical with the premise, because honestly a woman pretending to be a ghost to scare her husband can only be described as kooky (in the best way possible). But I was quickly won over by this novel's charm. In the snippet's I've seen of Penvale in the previous books he came across a tad dramatic and overbearing, but he is given a very compelling inner world in this novel which made me a big fan of his character. Jane is truly a delight, her wit and schemes makes this book a blast. Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun time, though the premise is definetly outlandish. This book doesn't take itself too seriously and neither should you! Have some fun and pick this up!

I'd like to thank NetGalley and Atria Books for kindly sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review (all opinions are my own).

I have loved every single book in this series so I truly hope it is not the end. Penvale and Jane’s story has become my favorite of the 4. Hopefully - we get to find out if West gets his story. I just reviewed To Swoon and to Spar by Martha Waters. #NetGalley

Oh dear. To Swoon and to Spar is my absolute least favorite installment of this series by far.

The plot is quite thin. The conflict never came across as high stakes. I know this is a romance novel--love will prevail in the end--but it is clear immediately that Penvale is neither a bore or a monster.

The ghost aspect promised in the premise was not used to what I thought could have been the full effect. The plot is already fairly ridiculous. Might as well go all out. It would have made the story drag less.

The humor in this book felt toned down to the story's detriment. The title promises (verbal) sparring, but the witty dialouge and silly arguments I've come to expect from previous installments are missing. I don't believe there was any swooning either.

Jane as a character felt entirely surface level. She's bookish and hides her shyness behind an aloof exterior. I have read so many books with such a character. There is nothing that makes her spark on the page. As an Austen lover and a reader, I thought I'd feel more of a connection to her, but I never did.

I did enjoy getting to know Penvale more in this installment. He shows himself to be more thoughtful and patient than previous books lead me to believe. I preferred him over Jane as a main character.

A disappointing read, but I'm not giving up on Waters. Afterall, I genuinely enjoyed the other books in The Regency Vows series. Hopefully, Sophie and West's book will he back up to the author's previous standard.

I just love this series. I'm impressed with Martha Waters' ability to play with tropes, and To Swoon and to Spar is a fun twist on the marriage of convenience trope. Viscount Penvale (brother to Diana from To Love and To Loathe) has had one goal since he was ten years old - to buy back his ancestral estate in Cornwall from a crappy uncle. Said uncle is finally ready to sell, but there's a catch - in addition to overpaying for Trethwick Abbey, Penvale must also agree to marry Jane, his uncle's ward. Penvale agrees, and he and his new awkward, socially anxious. and plain-speaking bride head back to the Abbey. Soon after his arrival, Penvale starts to see and hear signs that seem to indicate that the house is haunted, just as his uncle had warned him (after the sale of course). Jane, a big fan of novels and tired of having her fate determined by men, is behind the haunting, but as she and Penvale get to know each other, things get complicated. The haunting storyline was very funny to me and I appreciated Jane's acid wit and her banter with Penvale. I hope Sophie and West are getting their story next!

Thank you Atria for my Gifted copy

CW: death of parents (past), grief, family tensions

The fourth book in the series it can be read as a standalone, with slight spoilers for the series

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)

-m/f historical romance
-marriage of convenience
-idiots to lovers
-threatening to maim you is my love language
-spectacular banter
-found family
-a maybe haunted house
-sloooow burn

I adore this series and honestly never want it to end. This was just what I needed. It was light, frothy, and set two people who were two sides of the same lonely coin together.

This has the best premise. Two people who marry out of convenience, and in order to be left alone Jane decides to spook her new husband to believe the estate is haunted. It is ridiculous bonkers and just hilarious as she and the staff set up scenarios and fake wailing throughout the house while straight shooter Penvale tries to figure out what the heck is going on.

These two are idiots to lovers in the best way. They accidentally fall in love with each other without even realizing it through banter, a bit of softness, a lot of teasing, some threats to maim, and just forced proximity goodness. I loved how these two slowly saw the inner parts of the other and fell in love with the estate and each other. They both fought the attraction and was just the most delicious slow burn that had me laughing and swooning in the best way.

I never want this series to end. I love reciting the past couples, the hints at future couples. this series just always delivers.

Steam: 3

Review:
To Swoon and to Spar is the fourth book in Martha Waters The Regency Vows series that I am obsessed with. I love the women and their friendships and I love the guys and their abaility to have a conversation with themselves and others about their feelings without getting mired too much in the rules of their society.
In this book, we see Penvale getting the chance to take back his ancestral home but the price is marrying the current owner's ward. Jane is used to being passed around from on man to another from father to guardian and now to husband, but all she wants is the chance to make a life for herself and to make her own choices. Penvale isn't the immediate stupid socialite she thinks he is, but he's all the things she hates. He like people and and wants to hole up in Cornwall far away from town, but sometimes through hunting for a ghost they might find some common ground.
Like the other books in the series, you don't have to read the previous works to get the plot of this companion book and the characters and story are engaging enough on their own. The setting of Cornwall was a nice change of London society and is full of references for any Poldark fan. This book is light on the spice, so this is the perfect place to start for anyone who isn't sure about reading a historical romance.

Synopsis:
The Regency Vows series returns with this story about a viscount and his irascible new wife who hopes to chase her husband from their shared home so that she can finally get some peace and quiet—only to find that his company is not as onerous as she thought.
Viscount Penvale has been working for years to buy back his ancestral home, Trethwick Abbey, from his estranged uncle. And so he’s thrilled when his uncle announces that he is ready to sell but with one major caveat—Penvale must marry his uncle’s ward, Jane Spencer.
When the two meet in London, neither is terribly impressed. Penvale finds Jane headstrong and sharp-tongued. Jane finds him cold and aloof. Nevertheless, they agree to a marriage in name only and return to the estate. There, Jane enlists her housekeeper for a scheme: to stage a haunting so that Penvale will return to London, leaving her to do as she pleases at Trethwick Abbey. But Penvale is not as easily scared as his uncle and as their time together increases, Jane realizes that she might not mind her husband’s company all that much.

This is the third novel I have read of Martha Waters and I have to say "Too Swoon and to Spar" was the best of the three. I think I have the others 2.5 stars out of 5. This is about where this one lands for me as well but I will bump it to 3 since the writing has improved. I am huge fan of historical romance novels but I just can't connect with Ms. Water's writing style or characters. I found Penvale and Jane to both be completely unlikable. I find it hard to root for them in this novel. It was a slow starter for me and I felt like it had pacing issues. The chemistry was non existent. I give it 3 stars because I do appreciate how the author has made attempts at giving a contemporary feel to regency romance and her books have improved.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Our man Penvale gets a house, a wife, and a wife playing a ghost in the house in this gothic RomCom romp.
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True Historical Romantic Comedy is a rarity. Sure, many historicals have the occasional quip or two, but cut the jokes and the narrative wouldn’t suffer.

In Martha Waters’ The Regency Vows series, however, humor and love are inextricably linked. Her characters tease, cajole, needle, and yes, spar their way into falling in love.

To Swoon and to Spar keeps up the tradition of bantering toward happily ever after, but throws in a curve –– a pinch of gothic romance.

Viscount Penvale has been a favorite secondary character in the series. Buttoned up, smart as a whip, and goal focused, he thinks that a love match isn’t something he requires. Enter Jane Spencer.

Jane shares far more in common with Penvale that she knows (or would ever admit). They both are cerebral, cagey, uninterested in events of the ton, and driven to find a home of their own.

In Penvale’s case, that means he’s willing to marry a woman he isn’t particularly interested in to get back his ancestral home. In Jane’s case, she’s up for a little light haunting to send her husband away long enough to get some quiet time to read.

To Swoon and to Spar pulls from some of the great gothic novels like Northanger Abbey. But the comedic elements bring to mind contemporary fare. In Susan Elizabeth Phillips’ Heroes Are My Weakness, a quirky heroine and a reclusive writer tangle inside a creepy mansion on the Maine Coast. The heroine is a ventriloquist and she uses her skills of voice throwing to drive the hero half mad. In To Swoon… Jane employs secret passageways to the same effect. As expected, both women’s results do not match their plans, but are what drive them together with their great love in the end.

I’d recommend the Regency Vows series to contemporary romance readers looking to test the historical romance waters. While each can be read as a standalone, the characters appear in every book and reading in order means you get to visit with old friends. (And yes, Diana and Jeremy of To Love and to Loathe are still the most delightfully hot for each other couple ever.)

To Swoon and to Spar is perfect for fans of Tessa Dare’s Spindle Cove series, Manda Collins’ Ladies Most Scandalous series, and India Holton’s Dangerous Damsels.

Spice Level: 1/5, open door
Tropes: Marriage of Convenience, Forced Proximity, Gothic
__________
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster - Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Expected publication date April 11, 2023.

Martha Waters really said I am going to write a better book each and every single time, and I respect that.

No joke, this is her best book yet. All throughout the first three of the series, seeds kept being planted in my brain that made me hope, hope, <I>hope</i> for a Penvale story, so I was thrilled when I heard the news that it was coming. And a haunted ghost story to boot?! You could not have kept this out of my hands, so thank you Atria Books for letting me read an advance copy.

I thought the premise for this was so entertaining! Penvale has spent his entire adult life trying to build up his personal fortune to buy from his dreaded uncle the home that should have come with his Viscount title. When said uncle shows up out of the blue and offers to sell it, Penvale doesn't even bat an eye at the condition he marry his uncle's ward too. The reason his uncle wants to sell after refusing his offers for years? The house is haunted.

And it was so much fun to read! Perhaps even a little tongue in cheek homage to the gothic writers of the 19th century? The house is, of course, not actually haunted, but I loved reading about Jane trying to scare Penvale while he tries to rationalize everything out of sheer stubbornness. Dressing up in a ghostly nightgown and enlisting the servants to scream bloody murder in the halls is certainly one way for a woman to get her husband out of the house. I have no choice but to stan.

Jane's and Penvale's marriage of convenience was an excellent slow-burn. Neither is particularly interested in the marriage. Penvale thinks his life won't change one whit, and Jane would rather not have a single man make any choices for her. All either of them wants is the house they both love in their own way, not the other person. But eventually, they do come together, and I thought it was so darn sweet. Jane is a shy, taciturn little bookworm who begrudgingly comes to accept that Penvale isn't the lout his uncle was. And Penvale, well, he's in for a rude awakening of what it's like to have someone else in your life that might matter to you. There's an adorable little thread throughout where Penvale refuses to listen to Jane when she says he needs glasses, and it made my heart burst each time.

So, I subconsciously manifested a Penvale book, and this is me loud and clearly requesting a Sophie and West book. I feel like they're the last two characters floating through this series, and I need it desperately.

can i just say that I'd wreck my life for jane? so unapologetic and herself. her motive and how deep her drive to commit to her plan was very applaudable, especially in the era this world is set in. penvale also made a good impression on me. he's your average down to earth, minds his own shit type person which I love. it was good to see a common folk in him. seeing the two come together in this slowburn romance was just half the treat. the story itself besides the romance was very tangible and exciting. the family dynamics and the stakes that were in place to make both the character's goals settle into place before losing their hearts to each other midway will get me every time. never mind the story which unfolded in such a beautiful way that i was cheesing at every page.

anyone who wants to take break from contemporary or fantasy, this one is a great palate cleanser.

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for proving the arc; i am eternally thankful to the team over there. all opinions are my own :)

“I assure you, I’m nothing like the young ladies you have experience with,” Jane said, and Penvale offered a crooked grin as he reached out to shake her hand.

“Of that, Miss Spencer, I am already well aware.”


-historical romance, forced marriage, marriage of convenience
-Penvale can finally purchase his beloved Trethwick Abbey from his uncle, the only catch? To marry head strong Jane Spencer
-Jane was a bit difficult to like at first since her character is a quite blunt 😮‍💨
-Pervale was just a sweetie through and through 💞
-I enjoyed this read and thought the story flowed so well!
-Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review ✨

4.5⭐️