I'm so glad we get another opportunity to read something by Martha Waters. To Woo and to Wed was no different from her previous work in that they are entertaining and romantic reads. I always enjoy glimpsing into the lives of previous characters and this one offered a lot of that. Overall, a fantastic historical romance read.

I really enjoyed this one. The glimpses that we got of Sophie and Wes made me curious about their story, and I have to say that Ms Waters delivered.
While I prefer more angst in a second-chance romance (I want them to <i>suffer</i> and borderline exact revenge (lol)), I loved how Wes was in control all the time, except for when he was with Sophie.
Sophie was classic eldest daughter, especially in the historical romance setting where she felt that her every move and action had big consequences on the lives and prospects of her sisters. I loved it when she finally realised that she could go for what <i>she</i> wanted.
A fabulous ending to this historical romance series!

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

I really enjoyed To Woo and to Wed, the fifth and final novel in The Regency Vows series. To Woo and to Wed is a second chance romance for Sophie and West, who embark on a fake engagement. To Woo and to Wed is just as fun and sweet as the other novels in this series, and the previous couples are present throughout this book, so it is fun to get to see them again. I did think the novel got a bit long at times, and the characters (especially Sophie) were just too stubborn/unmovable in their decisions for just too long.

In To Woo and To Wed Waters provides us with the conclusion of her five book series, which features the highly anticipated romantic rekindling of Sophie and Wes. A couple very much falling in-love until Wes’ father intervenes. Wes impulsively lets his emotions run wild resulting in an accident which leaves him paralysed and Sophie wed to someone else. Their story was teased throughout the former books in the series and so there was a certain type of build-up, not only because of it would be the end of the series but the anticipation of these two finally getting their stuff together. The book begins long after Sophie’s first husband has died and the events of the first 4 books have taken place.

At the end of the day, it was a slow burn romance, topped to the brim with miscommunication. Well it featured the steamy, swoony moments with brilliant dialogue that I have come to expect from Waters, the novel just lacked the extraordinary amount of charm that its predecessors had.

I’m by no means saying that it wasn’t enjoyable, it just had big shoes to fill and large expectations and it didn’t quite land its entry in a (to me) near perfect series. Particularly choosing an “untraditional” ending for a heroine.

I very much still look forward to reading whatever Waters writes next.

I have only read one of the other books in this series and I did like this book more. However, I'm not a fan of books that go back and forth in time to tell a story. I enjoyed West as a character, but Sophie was just ok for me. She has a strong case of martyr syndrome and I got to the point I really couldn't see why she didn't think she could be with West...It was a weak excuse at best. I think offputting was her treatment of West as someone who was to wussy to stand up to his father even though she never even gave him the chance to!

Overall, a good book, but it was slow moving leading up to the ending which had a couple of twists that were enjoyable.

Thanks to the publisher for a review copy via Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

To Woo and to Wed by Martha Waters
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶
The last book of the series “The regency vows”

I have finished yet another historical romance/Regency-era book, this is the fifth book in the series and such a pleasure to read. If you like Julia Quinn you will definitely like Martha Waters' work. Her characters are so genuine and full of life!

This book has such a bittersweet taste and if you have followed the series will be able to keep seeing your favorite characters from the other books! Overall this is a lecture I would recommend and try to have a physical copy of!

I have enjoyed this series from Martha Waters a lot and am sad to see it come to an end. I’ve always said this series is historical romance that reads like contemporary so it’s a great and accessible on ramp to the genre. This last book is a second chance romance between West and Sophie. These two were nearly betrothed seven years ago before an accident, and West’s meddling father, came between them. Now, Sophie widowed and West still holding a flame for what they had, they two agree to fake an engagement to encourage Sophie’s widowed sister that it’s ok to remarry. West naturally uses their arrangement to win Sophie back.

These two had great chemistry and I was rooting for them all the way. I thought they could have cleared up some of their misunderstandings with just a conversation or two instead of years-long assumptions. I really loved how much of the couples from the previous books we get to see - it wrapped up the series very nicely.

Content flags: Sophie’s first husband dies in war; West has been injured in a racing accident that leaves him using a cane; West’s father is emotionally distant and manipulative

I voluntarily reviewed a gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I love this conclusion to the Regency Vows series. Fans of Martha Waters will have truly seen the development of her writing, her stories, and her beloved characters. The story of Sophie and West is a beautiful and intimate reminder that we are all deserving of love even when time and obstacles stand in the way. It's a story of personal ownership of actions and finding our dreams within a shallow world.

Love! Love! Love! Wonderful and witty! Definitely love it when the characters outsmart those who would prevent them being together! Will recommend!

This was a very nice conclusion to the series. I appreciated that a handful of chapters were flashbacks - it helped give context to the entirety of West and Sophie’s relationship. I had a hard time believing that the obstacles keeping them apart for so long were great enough, however. I think I needed higher stakes? Or a nastier “villain”? I was missing a sense of urgency.

I received a copy of this book from Atria Books.

Too Woo and To Wed is the sought after conclusion to the Regency Vows Series. Having met Sophie and West earlier in the series, I've been antsy while anticipating this release with all the little teasers and seeds the author has been laying for us along the way. As a fan of second chance romances, dual timelines, pining (oh so much pining), and fake engagements, this book brought together so many of my favorite tropes. The story was riveting, and I especially loved getting into West's head. Sometimes I find that the male MC in romances can sometimes feel a little cookie cutter, but West is as developed as Sophie.

This book was a roller coaster, with the highs of first loves and the lows of heartbreak, but skillfully cut with bouts of humours. The ending feels well-earned, for the main characters and also the ensemble cast from the previous novels and Waters handles some sensitive matters (that I will not spoil), very delicately. Truly a lovely end to this series.


Thank you to Netgalley and Atria fothe eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book was EVERYTHING I hoped for and MORE. I've been obsessed with this series since I stumbled upon the first book at my local library, and (along with everyone else) I was immediately wondering 'what about West and Sophie?!" Folks, they are here and they are perfect. This book was beyond my wildest dreams and an EXCELLENT way to end the series. I was absolutely blown away by this conclusion. The epilogue had me in tears because I was just so happy to see everyone so happy. I'll literally read anything Martha Waters writes. She could give me her grocery list and I'd be happy.

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Martha Waters for letting me have access to this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I really like this book! It's such a wonderful addition to the Regency Vows series! Martha Waters once again wrote a book with witty banter and the marriage of convenience trope but didn't make it be repetitive or boring. I give this a four out of five stars. It was a delight to finally read West and Sophie's story!

Martha Waters is great at easy-to-read, light, enjoyable romance. One thing I appreciate about this series is the books can be enjoyed as standalones. Sophie and West are interesting characters who are so clearly in love with each other but refuse to admit it. I liked learning the history of their relationship and watching them come back together. I will say the discussion of what happened 7 years ago did feel a bit repetitive as did the descriptions of West's character. I felt like a lot of the understanding of his character came from Sophie telling the reader what he was like instead of through his own thoughts and actions. But overall it was an enjoyable read.

3.5 stars rounded up. The much-anticipated West and Sophie book was a fitting conclusion to the series with all the usual suspects playing their parts. Add in Sophie’s sisters and the meddling was abundant.

Second chance can be a hit or miss trope for me, and this one fell somewhere in the middle. I liked seeing West and Sophie have to face their past. That said, some of the flashbacks that were included felt unnecessary and disrupted the flow of the book for me at times. Sophie’s repeated martyrdom was a bit frustrating as she refused to accept that those around her knew their own minds and could make their own choices. It was softened by the fact that her heart was always in the right place. I felt bad for West in his silent suffering and admired that when the important moments called for it, he stepped up in words and actions.

Overall, I mostly enjoyed the journey for Sophie and West. I also appreciated the epilogue to see all the characters living out their happily ever afters.

A very solid 4.5/5 (rounding up)

Finally we get a story for West and Sophie! This book was delightful to read and has all the same qualities as the previous four books in the series, especially the slow burn, humor, and good banter between the leads. To Woo and To Wed is a historical romance with second chance romance trope containing a fake engagement and forced proximity.

I appreciated the his and her perspectives and the flashbacks throughout that span the past seven years. This is the concluding book in the series, but Waters does a good job writing it to where you would enjoy it as a standalone (only the epilogue contains any potential spoilers for the previous books). I also love getting to see characters from the past books mentioned in this story as well.

Synopsis:
Young, widowed Sophie has long felt a responsibility over her four younger sisters and has allowed this to dictate many of her life decisions. So, naturally, when her younger sister mentions she has caught feelings for a earl but that she couldn’t possibly get married while Sophie is all alone, Sophie takes matters into her own hands and feigns an engagement to appease her sister into marriage. West has always held a flame for Sophie, and if not for a carriage incident seven years prior that resulted in a serious leg injury and the death of his best friend, he would have already asked for her hand in marriage. Sophie, thinking it very unlikely she will fall for West a second time, propositions him for a fake engagement, to which he quickly agrees hoping this opportunity will allow them to spend more time together.

Throughout this engagement both suffer reminders of the past, including the continued meddling of West’s father, the Duke, who caused Sophie to turn her back on West in the first place. Will this second chance give these two the opportunity to overcome the past seven years of hurt and secrets?

Thanks to Atria and NetGalley for this ARC.

West and Sophie, my absolute dearest!! So happy the got their happy ending and told the Duke to kindly leave them alone and let them be happy. The Duke has been a nasty side character since book one I couldn’t wait for him to be told off by his other son.

I had so much fun reading this book, like the other ones it was witty, funny with just right amount of angst between West and Sophie. I particularly liked how they communicated with each other and the big issue was laid out pretty much at the beginning of the book in order for them to work through it.

I haven’t read all of the books yet, but these characters have become very dear to me and it was bittersweet to say goodbye to all of them.

I received an ARC of this book by the publisher via Netgalley in an exchange for an honest review.

To Woo and to Wed is the final installment in Martha Waters' regency romance series, Regency Vows. I haven't read all 5 books in the series, merely the last two books. To Woo and to Wed is a second chance romance set almost a decade after their initial romance.

I've noticed that when I read romances I really respond to deep yearning. Some top examples that come to mind are Wentworth from Persuasion and Roman in Divine Rivals. And typically in second chance romances there's a lot of yearning. The male protagonist, West, definitely spends most of the book pining after Sophie and what could've been. He's earnest and stalwart in his devotion. But there's something about his character that didn't fully scratch the itch. I think at times his devotion skews a little on the pitiful side.

However, I enjoyed reading To Woo and to Wed and I liked that Waters doesn't always stick with the regular tropes that you see in period romance novels. I don't want to delve into this aspect too deeply in this review because I feel like all my examples would be classified as spoilers. It's very refreshing. If you read romances for the smut I don't think you'll leave satisfied from this book. In a similar vein as the only other Waters' book I've read, To Swoon and to Spar, smut feels like an afterthought. If I had a spicy scale to rate romance novels on with 5 being a Carolina Reaper and 1 being a bell pepper, To Woo and to Wed would be a poblano pepper at a level 2.

I'd rate To Woo and to Wed a 3.5 stars rounded up.

A fabulous end to a fabulous series. I really do need to get around to reading the earlier books. Sophie and West are hilarious. 10/10 would recommend.

Really enjoyed escaping to the world of Regency England with this romance. The main characters, West and Sophie, are smart, funny, and lovable, and their relationship felt three dimensional. Once I picked it up, I couldn't stop reading. I hadn't read any of the Regency Vows series before, but will definitely be checking the rest of them out soon.