I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for a review.

I've read the others in the series, and thought that like the rest of them, this was also adequate. It was a nice, quick read, and I generally liked the characters. There wasn't anything spectacular for me, but I didn't hate it either. I don't think the romantic tension between the two main characters was as much as I wanted: I've seen it done better in other books, but it still wasn't bad.

This whole series is just a delight and I was so looking forward to Penvale’s story.

The premise for this books is fun and hilarious and insane. A reluctant wife haunting her house to scare away an unwanted husband? Give it to me.

This was a bit slower than the previous three but I felt like we were treated to a lot of character development and tenderness from both Penvale and Jane.

4.5 stars

Superb as ever! Martha has created this idyllic little series that I absolutely adore. Each character quickly becomes my new favorite and yes I am able to still read about past characters with brief glimpses in the newest book.

Viscount Penvale has been determined to purchase back his ancestral home on Cornwall and his opportunity has finally arrived. His uncle is willing to sell it, with one stipulation, marry his ward.

Jane Spencer is tired of having her life dictated by men. She is already under the care of her father’s longtime friend who is now ready to marry her off to his nephew. Sick of having her life run for her, she devises a plan…. Make the house seem haunted and scare off her future husband.

Only problem is, the more time they spend together, the more unsure Jane is that she wants to be alone. I absolutely adored these two characters. Jane comes across as abrasive when she is deeply shy. And Jane’s perceived notion was that Penvale was one who rather enjoyed his time in London. How very wrong were they both about their perceived notions of the other. You have to one-click this immediately, you won’t be disappointed.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This book reminded me of why I like historical romance books and that I need to read more of them. It was so wholesome fun and an easy read. Our main characters, Penvale and Jane, were really interesting. They both agree to a marriage of convenience so they could buy a home that was supposed to come with Penvale's title but was withheld from him by his uncle. After Penvale and Jane get married, the plot gets crazy; to push Penvale away, Jane stages a house hunting to make him leave. The house hunting is kind of wild because Jane goes all out with a lot of elaborate schemes to make the house seem haunted and it was so fun. I kinda wish there had been a little more steam in this book but the character development makes up for it i think.

The slow burn in this romance was perfect. The way they both developed a friendship and enjoyed their company was great. I loved that Jane loved to read and was always reading, and I also loved the bit where she tried to convince Penvale to get glasses because of his poor eyesight. The main and side characters were adorable like yall the glimpses of Diana and Jeremy convinced me that I needed to read their book because I am obsessed with them. I don't know why it's taken me this long to find out about this author, but I will be reading more of her books.

Tropes/Themes
- Marriage of Convenience
- Enemies to lovers
_ Crazy haunted house plot
- Slow burn

Thank you Atria Books for this arc for an honest review.

A cute and delightful marriage of convenience story. It was funny and sweet and the romance enjoyable. A great addition to this series.

thanks to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review

⭐️=3.25 | 😘=5 | 🤬=3 | 18+

To Swoon and to Spar is a marriage of convenience historical romance where our female love interest (Jane) tries to scare her new husband (Penvale) out of his own house by pretending it's haunted. shenanigans, drama, kissing, etc. ensues.

I love love LOVE how this took inspiration from gothic novels as well as just historical romance––like, it's more than just references to Jane Austen (although obviously we love her), but also Anne Radcliffe and Fanny Burney and other authors that are precursors to Austen and set up not just the historical romance genre but also a precedent for female novelists and writers in general!! like they aren't acknowledged enough, and I love that To Swoon does this. it's great. it was very "if Catherine Morland was actually self-aware" energy, and obviously I ADORE Catherine Morland.

aside from this, the characters were fine, the romance was okay, pacing was fine––like every other element was just meh and a bit disappointing, and while I loved the gothic elements, I can see how other readers who aren't as invested in that element of romcom history might be turned off by it. overall, this is a fun read, but I would honestly only recommend it if you're as obsessed with early nineteenth century gothic novel vibes as I am.

I loved this book! It was a fun and wild ride!

Sophie is a fiercely independent character who wants to finally be in control of her own actions. So she does what any of us would do, fake a haunting. Penvale has almost shut off his emotions towards romance due to seeing his friends so happy. He tells himself he doesn't need to find love but Sophie changes all that. The fact that he loves Sophie despite her quirks and would do almost anything to make her comfortable just warmed my heart! Oh, and the banter was just incredible!

I loved getting to see all the past couples again! It so fun to read about all the friends shenanigans. It was amazing that they knew he was in love before he even did.

The setting of this book was incredible. Waters did a wonderful job with the imagery.

I highly recommend this book!

Fun, fresh, definitely one too look for, this tegency novel was so good, great plot lines and amazing characters, definitely a fresh read for romance readers

Such a delightful book! The book is aptly named, as we have loads of arguing and swoony moments. Their enemies to lovers story was one filled with care and love. The slow blossoming of their friendship to more was everything you can want. Both were lonely, thrust into this life that neither of them particularly wanted. Using the loneliness as a shield to protect the heart. That is why the slow progression to trust and friendship at the very base was heartwarming. It is part of a series, and characters from other books make appearances, but it isn't integral to the story to read the previous books. It is a stand alone if you want it to be. I didn't feel like I was missing anything by not having read the previous books.

AGH HOW CUTE! This story was such an adorable historical romance that I just sped through to reach the best possible happily ever after. I definitely recommend to romance readers of all kinds!

I swooned when I read this charming, wonderfully executed histfic romance, fourth in the author's Regency Vows series. Martha Waters knows how to capture the heart, make you guffaw, and give you a story with characters you cheer for. And her writing is scrumptious:

"And she certainly liked everything about the way he kissed her, with his other hand at the nape of her neck, the warmth of his palm on her bare skin sending sparks coursing up her spine. His fingers slid into the silky mass of her hair, pinned back in a windswept knot, and she heard the faint plink of a hairpin falling to the floor."

TO SWOON AND TO SPAR can be read solo, but you will want to read the first three in the series for the thrill of it. Highly recommended for fans of histfic romances with steam, smarts, and heart!

This was my first Martha Waters book, and I absolutely loved it! She brings a fresh voice to beloved Regency romances. The chemistry between Jane and Penvale was delicious. I ate it up. I loved the way they teased each other and how their relationship bloomed over time. I can't wait to go back and read the first books of this series.

3.5 rounded up to 4 ⭐️
This book was cute! A little slow throughout, but a cozy rom-com mystery. I’m not a huge historical fiction person, but it was a fun ride.

Thank you to First Atria and NetGalley for the ARC! All opinions are mine alone.

Okay, I’m a Martha Waters completist, so getting the email approving my request for an #arc of her newest romcom was THRILLING. And y’all, she does NOT disappoint. I laughed out loud so often my husband had to ask if I was feeling okay. You have to love an homage to gothic romance, right? (I might even go so far as to say parody of?? We’re definitely in lighthearted romp territory though). If you’re into tropes, we’re talking a lot of marriage of convenience with some “snowed in” thrown in for fun, plus a house party and a little bit of deliberate haunting. Because she can. 10/10 recommend if romancelandia is your favorite weekend getaway.

Viscount Penwick has wanted to regain ownership of his family's unentailed home who went to his uncle after his father died. After years of failing to negotiate buying his family home from his uncle, he quickly agrees when the uncle offers him the home. The uncle has one caveat to selling the home to Viscount Penwick, he must agree to marry his ward, Jane. Penwick accepts but wants to meet the ward before determining if they could have a successful marriage. Penwick and Jane agree to have a marriage of convenience and while visiting their home in the country, Penwick starts hearing ghostly sounds and screams and occasionally witnesses a ghost wandering in the halls. As he and Jane try to find out what is causing the sounds and ghostly ocurrences they get to know each other better. This story was a slow burn given which eventually ended with the couple coming together for a HEA.

I received the story as an ARC and I am voluntariliy leaving a review.

Loved this historical rom com that was a nod to gothic novels. So funny and charming! I‘ve really grown to love this chosen family of friends and how they challenge and support each other. And ghosts! Highly recommed, it came out this week.

All in all, turned out great! From the other books, I did not remember much about MMC Penvale and I liked getting to know their character. It was very hard and slow for me to enjoy Jane the MFC. So, as I read I was conflicted if I was going to end up enjoying in the end. I sure did! The story was was, nice to be away from London at an estate, I always enjoy that break in a series.

Book can be read as a stand alone, but to fully enjoy the characters I would recommend starting from the beginning. Excellent read!

This is my first book by Martha and now I have HAVE to get the others. This was such a fun romance. This is also my first regency romance and I’m like oh no, another romance troupe and type I need in my life.

I am also very biased because it takes place in Cornwall and I grew up in Cornwall, NY.

I need to go back and read the other 3 books and then come back to this one. But I loved this one and I want to read the other love stories now!

Penvale and Jane need to marry. He wants his ancestral home back and she wants to stay there without a guardian. But she also doesn't want a husband interrupting her solitude and reading. So with help from the staff, she haunts the house. But Penvale isn't a bad guy. Maybe the marriage isn't as bad as she thinks. Fun read.
Thank you NetGalley! Great suggestion.

Viscount Penvale will do anything to get his family home in Cornwall back into his hands. Even paying the price his uncle wants and marrying his ward, Jane Spencer. He is not too concerned about the marriage, it's not a real one. His friends tell him it will be otherwise. Once he and Jane are living in Trethwick Abbey, Penvale thinks he has everything he's ever wanted and will be happy, but he's not. It's more to do with his wife, than with the house. The noises in the night are making him more angry than scared. The last thing he wants is to leave, but maybe that's what Jane really wants. Interfering friends may know more about marriage than he does after all. Humor, a little heat and a Viscount who needs glasses.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.