Penvale is desperate for the return of his ancestral and childhood home, Trethwick Abbey, even if that means buying it back from his uncle with an unusual addendum. He'll marry his uncle's troublesome ward, and then the house is his. This marriage of convenience means something to Jane, too. She's eager to get out from under her guardian's thumb and figures that she can worry about running off her husband once that first step is accomplished.

The two meet only once before marrying, solely because Penvale wants to verify that this mysterious young woman isn't being married off against her will. Nothing less would stop him from getting the house-- even his uncle's references to its newly haunted status. While it's apparent that Jane is entering into the union of her own free will, her awkwardness skewing into rudeness sets the tone between them. Neither aspires for something more romantic to develop once their vows are said. After the bare minimum of wedding festivities, they set off for their beloved home. On the road, they experience one of the least romantic "only one bed" scenarios I've yet come across, complete with cold feet and a fight for the blankets.

Jane takes advantage of her intimate knowledge of Trethwick Abbey's secret passageways to mount a haunting attack on her new husband, much as she did to rid herself of an irksome guardian. With help from the staff, she ruins Penvale's sleep and sends him running through hallways in the dead of night to chase ghostly wails. Meanwhile, Penvale adopts a "keep your enemies closer" approach to Jane during hauntings once he suspects her involvement, but her team of theatrical ghosts means that both of them are running on very little sleep. As they fake investigate together and settle in at the Abbey, their pointed dislike of one another (particularly from Jane's end) starts to soften. Though they continue to banter, it takes on more of a fun tone, and their arguments lead to resolutions.

I appreciated Jane's neurodivergent coded energy. While the characters conclude that she's shy, it strikes me as more than that. She avoids groups of people, eye contact, and charming small talk like the plague. When she can ignore her husband with a book, she does. When she can startle someone into leaving her alone, she does that, too. And even when she intends to win someone over, her blunt delivery and general displeasure in company lead to the same result.

I might love the Jane/Diana banter between reluctant sisters-in-law with matching acid tongues even more than that between Jane and Penvale, which I was certainly a fan of. It makes me eager to dive into the author's backlist and read Diana's tale. It's worth mentioning that my favorite bit of back-and-forth between our lovers has to do with whether Penvale needs spectacles (he does). A stubbornly near-sighted husband is certainly easier to fake haunt, though. This is such a bonkers, fun historical romance. Thanks to Atria for my copy to read and review!

*To Swoon and to Spar* by Martha Waters is a delightful Regency rom-com filled with witty banter, sizzling chemistry, and a unique marriage-of-convenience twist. When Viscount Penvale finally acquires his dream estate, he finds himself wed to its strong-willed mistress, Jane, who has her own plans—like scaring him away. As their battle of wills turns into something unexpectedly tender, they must decide if love is worth the risk. Waters’ sharp humor and engaging storytelling make this a charming, lighthearted read. Perfect for fans of historical romance with strong heroines, mischievous schemes, and a touch of emotional depth.

This was an entertaining read. I have loved the entire series. This was probably my least favorite installment. The banter was top notch and I enjoyed the couple. This whole series is a winner.

I enjoyed reading this book a lot. The entire series has such great vibes and the banter is always on point. This installment is not my favourite, but a very entertaining read nonetheless and definitely a book that I would recommend!

Thank you to Netgally, the publishers, and author Martha Waters for allowing me to read and review this book.

As an avid Bridgerton watcher/reader I quickly fell in LOVE with this series. Waters is able to write dialogue with her characters that is equally relatable and yet reflects a more sophisticated time and place.

While book 4 in the series does start out slower, the premise is fun and makes you laugh with each chapter. Tropes include: Foes to lovers, One bed and (all time favorite) Marriage of Convince! Pick up To Swoon and to Spar if you are a historical romance lover!

4 Stars!

3.5 / 5 stars

I've really enjoyed this series so far, and while this wasn't my favorite book in the series, it was a sweet little read. The falling in love felt real and the "haunting" aspect was a fun twist. The resolution at the end was super short and I wish we'd gotten a little more.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book!

As a big fan of Martha Waters, this was another brilliant and witty regency romance.

Our friend from the past novels, Penvale, is finally able to purchase his family home back from his uncle but under the condition that he marry his Ward, Miss Jane Spencer. Jane wants nothing to do with Penvale which is perfect because in the past he's been quite full of himself! Jane wants to make her own life choices and is sick of men thinking they know what's best for her. The two are scheming against one another to stop the marriage from happening with Janes method is bit more hilarious with staged hauntings around the property. Jane was every introvert personified and really loved her witty comments throughout the book.

Penvale grew up so much in this book! He was sweet and patient with Jane and once he fully appreciated Jane I do believe that these two were in love. A great marriage of convenience romance for sure and I'm excited for anything else Martha writes!

This book is a captivating and immersive read that hooks you from the first page. The writing is beautifully crafted, with vivid descriptions and strong character development that makes the story come alive. The plot is well-paced, balancing moments of tension with quieter, reflective scenes that allow the characters to grow. The themes explored are deep and thought-provoking, resonating long after the final page. Whether it's the emotional depth, the twists and turns of the plot, or the unforgettable characters, this book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys rich, engaging stories. Highly recommended

Well, another regency romance miss for me. I think as I've read more of the genre the more picky it get in terms of characters and the characters in this book didn't speak to me.

This was super cute. I enjoyed watching Penvale and Jane accidentally fall in love, despite finding one another frequently exasperating. The "haunted" house plot was really amusing to read about and added an opportunity for end-0f-novel misunderstanding that I actually wasn't mad at for once.

I really appreciated seeing all the other couples as well. It reminded me of how much I adore Diana and Jeremy and made me want to read their story again. Really it made me want to read all of their stories again.

I also really came to appreciate why both Penvale and Jane love Trethwick Abbey so much. It sounds just about perfect to me. I could do without the snow but a remote seacliff house with a large library and a quaint village nearby sounds pretty idyllic.

Overall it was a welcome light reading experience and the audiobook narrators did a great job bringing the characters to life and enhancing the story.

*Thanks to Atria Books for providing an early copy for review.

4/5 stars

Thank you to Netgally, the publishers, and Martha Waters for allowing me to read and review this book.

This is book four in a series. However, you do not have to read all of the books for this one to make sense. I did not read the others in this series before getting to this one, but I will be going back and reading them in the future.

There is a lot of sarcasm and back and forth between our two main characters. I really enjoyed reading from the perspective of both of these characters. Viscount Penvale only wants to buy back his ancestral home from his uncle. Jane just wants to be left alone. They get married, both hoping to accomplish their one goal. However, Jane wants to be left alone in the same house that Penvale is trying to buy back to live in. This results in schemes and a staged haunting. However, Penvale does not give up so easily.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a witty historical romance. There were times where I was laughing out loud. I can't wait to go back and read the others in this series and other books by this author.

I read the first volume in this series and enjoyed it. I was happy to find that same for this 4th volume. For anyone wondering if you have to read them in order to enjoy them, you do not. I felt the story was independent to be stand alone. This is a fun, witty, historical romance. Being a huge Downton Abbey fan, I found the main female character banter similar to a young version of The Dowager. She has some great one-liners that don't fit the norm for women of the time. I really liked the softness of the lead male. He was respectful of women and the author provides him a bold, honest and opinionated sister that serves him well for his bride. I really would recommend this as a way to cleanse the palate after a heavy, emotional read or a great vacation read that will leave you with a smile. Highly recommend.

I love this regency romance series and I’m sad that the next one is the last! I love that the author brings contemporary themes into the past era and how the male characters are so open to feminism. And not to mention the spice and chemistry between Penvale and Jane. It’s on fire!

I always enjoy Martha Waters's works. I love her characters so much and this was no different. After seeing Penvale in the background of 3 other books always fixing his friends' love lives it was fun to finally see him need some of his own advice. I really enjoyed the chemistry and slow-burn relationship grow between him and Jane. I love that she actually challenged him in a way, I think that's something he needed. I also loved seeing the other characters return and their takes on Penvale's relationship as well as how they've progressed with each other- it's always so much fun to return to beloved characters. This series is such a comfort space for me it was hard not to love and enjoy this book. This book was funny, fluffy, and heart-warming and everything I needed.

To Swoon and to Spar is a solid offer for fans waiting for the next Bridgerton installment. Like Waters' other offerings, this book is slightly more cutesy than your average Regency romance-- much of the plot here revolves around Jane faking a haunting to keep the house for herself. There is a marriage of convenience and plenty of misunderstandings. A quick and fun read for fans of the genre.

This was a cute book. I liked both the characters. I liked the relationship between them and how it formed. I thought it was really good. Now I want to read the previous 3 books.

This book wasn't for me. I liked the idea of the story, but it was slow and didn't grab my attention. I didn't care for the male main character.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this.

I really enjoyed this book! This is on of my favorite regency series and I was so excited to get an advanced copy. I really liked Jane's plan to scare Penvale off. It wasn't my favorite book in the series but it was still really good.

I didn’t enjoy this as much as I was hoping I would. I loved the setting in Cornwall but I found the plot to be very slow and very hard to believe. The female main character is shy but she is also often unkind, especially to her husband. We get a backstory for Jane that explains why she has a difficult type interacting with others but it doesn’t really explain why she is cold to Penvale even after she gets to know him better. We also don’t really get to see Penvale falling in love with Jane; we’re just told that he had fallen in love with her. There was very much a tell, don’t show aspect to this book.

Unfortunately, the characters and the plot weren’t working for me. I am sure this book will find many fans especially those who love a regency romance.

Another fantastic novel from Martha Waters! I will read anything she writes! I love how this novel took a little more of a gothic, Jane Eyre tone, and Waters still made it light-hearted yet deep with her witty writing.