Read if you like: marriage of convenience, enemies to lovers
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I am loving this series by Martha Waters. Each book is so fun with loveable characters, witty banter, and a bit of steam!
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Perceval is told he will get his family estate back if he marries his uncle's ward, Jane. They both agree to the scheme, but when they reach the Abbey, it would seem that it is haunted. The two have to investigate the source of the haunting and it was so fun to read them on this adventure. The chemistry between Jane and Perceval was believable and I liked the development of their relationship!

Another great entry in the Regency Vow series. I have enjoyed that each book focuses on a couple in the friend group. Violet and Audley are still my favorite but Penvale and Jane are a close 2nd.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for an e-galley of To Swoon and to Spar.

I was thrilled to finally get my hands on Penvale's story, and Waters did not disappoint. I loved this story from start to finish.

Penvale has had a singular goal since he was 10 - buy back his family's estate. Jane has had a sole focus for the last 5 years - not let a man dictate her life. What happens when the two cross paths? Both Jane and Penvale realize the other is a means to an end - Jane to her life of not being controlled by a man, and Penvale, a way to finally purchase back the estate in Cornwall.

Enter a haunted house (or is it?), a relationship that begins to grow, and ultimately, a couple that reconciles their similar but differing goals.

To Swoon and to Spar is everything you would expect by now from a Martha Waters historical: goofy hijinks (heroine attempts to scare hero away from ancestral home by making it seem like it is haunted) underlaid by deep character work that gives you all the feels. I would describe this book as an homage to Northanger Abbey, but instead of Catherine Morland you get Jane, who is prickly and obstinant and so in need of love it makes you want to reach through the pages to give her a hug. It's sunshine and grump at it's finest --a perfect spring/summer read.

To Swoon and to Spar was another very fun historical romance from Martha Waters. In this book we follow Jane and Penvale and their marriage of convenience turns into more? Throw in a cast of nosy friends, a haunted house and social anxiety makes for a fun use of the miscommunication trope! I really enjoyed Jane and Penvale's path to happiness and getting to see all the characters reactions and relationships. I look forward to reading Martha Waters' next book!

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review!

This was mixed for me, I've been waiting for Penvale's story for quite a while, and this didn't quite do it for me unfortunately, but was glad to see all the other friends back!

This whole series is built around the fact that men and women do ridiculous things to get each other's attention, and they often get so caught up in the games that they lose sight of what it is they were really trying to accomplish. Hijinks ensue, and then they both have to bend a little (and end up not not being that upset about doing it) because that's what you do for the people you love. While To Swoon and To Spar isn't my favorite about this group of characters, it's still a lot of fun.

Penvale has long hoped to buy back his ancestral family home, and his jerk of an uncle finally gives him the opportunity...as long as Penvale also agrees to a marriage of convenience with his ward, Jane. The two don't really get along all that well at first, but neither cares much since Penvale gets his house and Jane gets out of London (she has social anxiety and all the balls and gatherings in town are her worst nightmare). Jane enlists the staff to help make it look like the house is haunted, hoping to scare Penvale into leaving. But in the meantime, she's also starting to get to know him...and she doesn't actually dislike him as much as she thought. She might even love him. So when he does end up going back to London, did she get what she wanted or end up breaking her own heart?

I love all of these characters and how sarcastic they are while still pretending to be classy and genteel. They give each other so much shit but do it with love and humor, and I love every minute. Can't wait for the next one!

**Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!**

Alright, this was a whacky one, and I mean that as a compliment. I was belly-laughing my way through this latest title by Martha Waters, and I loved it. Was it what I would would consider a historical romance? Yes, but also no? Was it gothic? No, but also a little bit yes? I just know that I was having a good time as I was dragged along by these two crazy kids. I think it does a fairly good job of standing alone from the rest of the series, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes humor mixed in with their countryside historical romances.

A comforting regency read. This was my first Martha Waters and my first Regency Vows book. I do not suspect that my reading suffered from jumping into the series at number four.

Penvale makes a great artistocratic hero and I was somehow left wanting more from him. This book is banter filled and has a great setting.
Jane and all her misguided attempts to make the haunting believable really saved this book for me. I did not love it so much for the romance plot, but for the humor that arrises from the haunting.
I love that Jane's idea to run Penvale off is a ghost! That is a woman after my own heart.
I wanted to love this way more than I did, but I enjoyed having read it and it was a real mood lifter.

Thanks to Atria books and NetGalley for my ARC.

Such a fun read! So swoony and full of fun! With the marriage of convenience, it's just great vibes. Pretending that your house is haunted so your husband leaves... LOVE IT!!

I received “To Swoon and To Spar” as an advanced reader copy from #netgalley. This is my third attempt at reading a Martha Waters’ novels. The former books “To Have and To Hoax” and “To Love and To Loath” were good but not captivating. I ended up skipping her third book “To Marry and To Meddle” because I had thought I had given up on her books. However, I can say that Martha Waters’ novels get better as she goes! “To Swoon and To Spar” was lovely, hilarious, and swoon worthy. I loved the golden retriever-esq character of Penvale, a complete opposite of what a Viscount would except to be. And then the slightly severe, awkward, and clever love interest Jane Spencer.

Normally, I would never encourage a reader to skip books a part of sister series, however I would say Matha Waters’ fourth novel is by far my favorite. (3.75 stars)

Such a lovely historical romance that will keep your interest from the very first meet cute to the hea.

First off, thank you, Netgalley, and the publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read this ARC (I hoped to get to it much sooner). I have become a devoted fan to this series, and this one is by far my favorite; had I lived in this era, I would've been a Jane. I love the gothic vibe, hidden staircases, and love of novels, but still encompassing the Martha Waters humor. I would agree with some home unlikely it could seem for these two to actually fall in love given their circumstantial marriage, but I'm here for it.

As always - such a readable book from MW. I enjoyed the setting and the ghost pranks. I wish there was a bit more tension between the MCs but I felt there was a natural progression into affection and appreciated that.

Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much to Atria Books and Netgalley for letting me read an eARC of To Swoon and To Spar! This is the fourth book in the Regency Vows series and I have loved allll of the books in this series, so I was the most excited to read this one!
To Swoon and to Spar 4/5 Stars
Summary from Goodreads: 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.
I really, really liked To Swoon and To Spar! I’ve loved all of the other books in this series and I was the most excited to read Penvale’s story! I feel like we didn’t know as much about Penvale as we did the others, so it was so nice to get to know him better and I really liked Jane a lot too. Trethwick Abbey was such a cool house and it was definitely understandable why Penvale worked so hard to get it back. The whole haunting story was a fun plot point and I definitely enjoyed seeing Jane and Penvale get closer due to that. Plot and pacing wise, I thought To Swoon and To Spar was really well done- I got through it so fast and was so engaged throughout. Overall, I definitely think y’all should pick up To Swoon and To Spar and all of the other books in the Regency Vows books today!

I have read most of the books in this series and have enjoyed all of them. When I saw that Penvale was getting a story of his own I knew I had to grab a copy as soon as I could.

This is the story of Penvale who after many years has been finally given the opportunity to repurchase the family country estate from his uncle. There is one condition, Penvale has to marry his uncle's ward Jane. Jane is a country girl who has spent most of her life alone and has a plan to drive her husband away from the country estate and leave her be. As they spend more time together Jane's plan is enacted and she learns that Penvale is not like the others.

What I loved:
- Jane's plan, I am such a big fan of shenanigan's and the plan Jane concocts made me giggle throughout the story
- Reading, something that brings Jane and Penvale together is Jane's love for reading novels and her encouragement for Penvale to give it a try
- Library, I love that Jane pushes herself outside her comfort zone and spends more time in the village around the estate for the sole purpose of creating a lending library for those living there
- Friends/Family, one of my favorite things about this series is the friends group and with each story it grows and the humor increases

Overall this was a great addition to an already amazing series. This is a great historical romance with a enemies to lovers vibe and lots of shenanigans and hilarity between the two main characters. There is a lot of growth for both Jane and Penvale as individuals and as a couple. Any of my historical romance fans out there who love a story with humor, strong women, patient men and amazing locations I would absolutely encourage you to pick up this book.

to swoon and to spar by martha waters

thank you netgalley and atria publishing for this arc!

this book is about Viscount Penvale who needs to marry in order to inherit Trethwick Abbey, the property he grew up in. Jane who is set to marry Viscount Penvale pretends the house is haunted to get rid of Penvale. this was this is a super cute historical romance. I haven’t read many historical romances, but it definitely gave me bridgerton vibes!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.

I really enjoyed this romance novel. I liked the gothic theme that reminded me so much of Northanger Abbey, building suspense but also somewhat mocking the supernatural a bit. I also really lived the FMC so much. I really related to her social awkwardness and dislike/exhaustion with company. I highly recommend this book and the whole series.

A super quick, easy read with Regency charm and overt Austenian roots. This book is a twist on Northanger Abbey which is itself a twist on the Gothic novel, so all around a very fun read. It was a little rushed at the end with the two main characters quickly resolving their minor miscommunication to have their happy ending. However, I still found it completely entertaining and fresh.

Thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for the ARC of this!

I’ve loved this series so far and this marriage of convenience didn’t disappoint. The characters read as relatable neurodivergent, I loved the “ghost” subplot and the banter. I loved the ending! Super sweet and I recommend if you’re looking for a regency rom-com!