3.5 stars - I'm so sad this series is ending! But this was a worthy finale, considering we've been waiting for these 2 to get together for the last 4 books. This was a bit too angsty for my tastes (I'm not a huge fan of 2nd chance romance) and I think the flashbacks really undercut the pacing of the story. However, the banter was still bantering, the fake engagement was fun, and I really liked where Sophie & West ended up.

Looking forward to whatever comes next from Martha Waters!

🌻The 5th and final book of the Regency Vows series. I'm sure many have been begging Martha or patiently waiting for West and Sophie's story, and you will be able to read it February 6th!! A perfect love story for Valentine'sDay. This book has all the same characters we have come to know and love. The frustration I felt with Sophie being a bit hard-headed in this book was softened with all the funny banter and friendships. I think this series is better read in order so as not to spoil the previous books.

🌻Read this if you like:
Regency romance
Second chance troupe
Good supporting characters you know well
Witty conversations
Books in a series

A fitting end to a wonderful regency series and Persuasion inspired to boot!!

The Marquess of Weston and Lady Sophie Bridewell have quite the past. First they were almost engaged, then Sophie somehow ended up married to one of his friends shortly after a tragic accident, and now, years later they’ve been seen quite frequently in each other’s company! Can we finally see a happily ever after for these deserving characters??!

We’ve all been waiting for Wes and Sophie’s story and it was a doozy! The story takes its time revealing just how slow the burn of their romance truly was, taking us down little twists and turns of their longing. A truly satisfying finale. A fake engagement, a mysterious past, meddling family and friends…. There’s not a better recipes for a dash of regency romance to last.

What I liked:
-The past revealing itself
-Quick paced dialogue
-Plot Twist

What I didn’t Like:
- too much meddling from the friend group even though it’s West. (My own preference though)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

To Woo and To Wed will hit our shelves February 6,2024!
My thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

4.5 stars --- usually when the breadcrumbs of two characters have been tastefully sprinkled across the first four books of the series, the long anticipated novel of their romance ends up being a disappointment. I am so happy to say that was NOT the case for our dear Sophie and West, whose tortured interactions have been taunting me throughout the remainder of this series and leaving me dying for the full story.

Seven years ago, Sophie and West had a love match. They were practically engaged and already envisioning their life together, until West's father, the horrid Duke, and a tragic curricle accident intervened. West was stunned when he finally recovered from his accident to learn that not only had Sophie not visited him -- she had taken the month he was incapacitated to marry someone else. Tragically, her husband died four years ago leaving her an available widow, and yet there is a bridge of hurt between them that neither can seem to cross. But that is because he never had the full story for why Sophie did what she did -- until now.

Sophie is the eldest of five daughters and carries all the emotional baggage that comes with caring about her charismatic sisters. All she wants is for them to each be happily married, even if it comes at the cost of her own happiness. So when her widowed sister indicates she would like to remarry but won't do so until her sister is also happily remarried, Sophie launches a faux-engagement with the one person crazy enough to listen to her proposal -- West.

Their group is surprised but elated to see their friends finally admit they still love each other. But of course they can smell a scheme a mile away and will continue to pour on the outrageous hijinxs until Sophie and West admit their engagement is a sham but their feelings aren't. All the while, West realizes this is the perfect opportunity to do what he has been unsuccessfully trying to do since Sophie was widowed -- convince her to marry him.

Sophie's family adds some lovely and vibrant characters to this group that already has a lot of big personalities. I love the way that Martha has kept us in the loop with each of these couples as the series has continued -- not in a way that outshines the main characters but really shows how much this group of friends loves one another. And of course, there is no shortage of antics and plotting and goading involved.

The relationship between Sophie and West was worth the wait -- and I loved how modern and real it felt as they navigated their feelings and their hopes for the future. I love when regency characters break the mold and Sophie and West have certainly done that. I am so sad to see this series go because the books just keep getting better, but it concluded brilliantly and I cannot wait to be the first person in line for whatever project Martha Waters gives us next!!

"To Woo and to Wed: A Novel" by Martha Waters is a delightful and witty exploration of romance and societal expectations set against the backdrop of the Regency era. The book stands out for its engaging storytelling, humorous tone, and the author's adept portrayal of complex characters navigating the intricacies of love and social norms.

One commendable aspect of the novel is Martha Waters's ability to capture the essence of the Regency era with authenticity and charm. The book immerses readers in a world of ballrooms, societal expectations, and clever banter, reminiscent of classic romance novels. The historical setting is vividly portrayed, providing a delightful escape for fans of the genre.

Waters's writing style is both witty and engaging, infusing the narrative with humor and clever dialogue. The characters are well-drawn, each with their own quirks and vulnerabilities, adding depth to the romantic dynamics. The author's exploration of societal expectations and the characters' attempts to navigate love and propriety adds a layer of thematic richness to the story.

However, some readers may find the plot to be formulaic, adhering to familiar tropes of the genre. While the novel embraces the conventions of Regency romance, those seeking a more unconventional narrative may find the storyline predictable.

In conclusion, "To Woo and to Wed" is a charming Regency romance novel that successfully captures the spirit of the era. Martha Waters's engaging storytelling and witty prose make the book an enjoyable read for fans of historical romance. While the plot may follow familiar patterns, the delightful characters and the humorous exploration of societal expectations contribute to the novel's appeal as an entertaining and heartwarming story.

What an epic conclusion to The Regency Vows series!

This love story between Sophie and West was years in the making. He's been besotted with her since the day he met her, only his father had other plans for his love life which didn't include Sophie. The sacrifices each faced shaped them for now, and their moment.

This story had the perfect balance of witty banter and angst for a second-chance romance. The flashbacks to their chance encounters through the years also sets the stage for honest conversations and revelations about love. This group of friends, the romances and hi-jinx will forever hold a place in my heart.

This whole series is worth a re-read!

Thank you, Atria Books

Another amazing book in this series. This gives brigerton vibes. I was recommended this by the top upcoming books through NetGalley. I loved it. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley

Loved the banter between the characters and overall adored their personalities, laughed a lot which is a given with this author. Would definitely recommend this one.

thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC

Regency era books are my jam, and Martha Waters knows how to write them. To Woo and to Wed brings you the historical romance with an amazing group of friends.

This was a great ending to the "The Regency Vows" series! One of my favorite things about reading multiple books from a single author is seeing the growth of the writing, plot structure. and everything in between. I initially read Martha Waters' first book "To Have and to Hoax" 4 years ago, and I was a bit disappointed by writing. The storyline was interesting and fun, but I didn't connect with the writing as much as I should have considering I was so excited about the plot. Gradually, reading the other three (I haven't had a chance to read "To Marry and To Meddle") I saw so much improvement in the writing! I felt more engaged with the stories and characters. The dialog was top tier, and the plots were delicious! I would definitely give Martha Water's ago. "To Swoon and to Spar" and "To Woo and To Wed" were my favorite of the bunch.

this book was so cute! It had humor, banter, and some really sweet moments. I'm not a huge second chance romance person, but this one did not disappoint. I was hooked from the start and can't wait to go back and read the rest of the series.

A second chance romance commences between two ex lovers as they fake an engagement... but the feelings from the past are all coming back, can they work out why they didn't work in the past and make a future with each other? West, the Marquess of Weston and Sophie, Lady Fitzwilliam Bridewell were lovers about to get married... until a fatal accident that left West injured... only to recover a few weeks later to discover that the woman he loved had married one of his friends... yet she never told him why and they've been estranged until now... years later when Sophie is widowed but in order to convince her younger sister that it is okay to get remarried, Sophie must fake an engagement and who better to do it with than the one man who was going to be her fiancee right? Before Sophie and West were about to get married, West's grandfather had threatened Sophie and her family and after his accident she had married someone else to secure the happiness of her other sisters and enable them to get married... but now she is a widow. Sophie is content being a widow... but she still misses West. West is grieving not only the death of his friend who was with him during the accident but the lost of the one woman he loved and he never even knew why she broke it off. West and Sophie have a complicated history, they can barely even be in the same room as one another, yet when West's grandfather threatens him and demands he get married and Sophie, the woman who still holds his heart, proposes a fake engagement, he thinks it's the perfect opportunity to try and win her back and also figure out why she broke up their relationship in the first place. This was a really cute second chance historical romance, Sophie and West both love each other, and continued to love each other despite everything. They really kept coming back to each other and no matter what happened, they only wanted to do what was best for the other. I loved how sweet West was, he really was such a great love interest. I think this one was definitely my favorite out of all the books! If you enjoy second chance romances with lots of yearning then give this one a go!!

*Thanks Netgalley and Atria Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Cute, sweet and a gorgeous romance between these two stubborn balls of romantic tension. Thanks for the arc.

This is the first book I’ve read by Martha Waters. I really enjoyed the book. I didn’t know that it was the final book in a series though. Sophie was my favorite character, but I loved her interaction with all of her friends and sisters. This is a great period piece full of romance and comedy. I look forward to reading more by Martha Waters in the future.

I have been eagerly awaiting west and Sophie’s story and I am disappointed. The miscommunication is exhausting and the reason for them being apart just didn’t make sense.

This was an entertaining read, there was SO much chaos from their fake engagement 😭 I really loved the entire friend group

TWs - accident that led to death of one person and permanent leg injury for another, blackmail, discussions of infertility

-- ty to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy!

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of to woo and to wed.

I have read this whole series and loved it. This book is no different. Read this in one sitting and completely loved it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

💍 The vibes:
- regency
- dual timeline
- Second chance

💍 My thoughts:
I have loved West since he was mentioned in book 1, and I’ve eagerly awaited for this book! West is just a favorite and this book furthered that for me ! While I like Sophie - I really wanted her to just give me a happy story and stop making it so difficult for West. Knowing her reasonings gave me some understanding on why she kept rejecting him- but I still felt so terrible for West and did judge Sophie for most of the book. I still loved her though, so I feel like this book was well written- as all the books in this series have been.

I loved the ending and the conclusion. This series by Martha has been such a huge joy for me to read through. I’ve loved every couple, and I’m so sad that this is the last one. I really look forward to whatever Martha writes next!

I’m planning a series review coming soon where I cover a few thoughts for each book. But until then- just know I LOVEDDD.

Release date: February 6, 2024.

Thank you so much to Martha Waters, Atria Books, and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of this book to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC of To Woo and to Wed by Martha Waters. I've been looking forward to this one forever! If you haven't read The Regency Vows series, I highly recommend it -- it's such a fun one! To Woo and to Wed would be amazing on its own, but, in my opinion, if you've read the series, it truly shines. This one is sweet, sexy, and nostalgic. I loved the callback of all the previous books' characters and finally getting to see Sophie and West's love story come to life. I highly recommend -- don't miss this one, it publishes on February 6, 2024!

I wanted to love this book because I have loved this series. When I first got back into reading, I read To Love and to Loath and To Marry and to Meddle, book 2 and 3 of the series. These books helped get me hooked on reading historical romances again. I love Sophie and West’s back story that occurred in previous books even though second chance romances are not my favourite trope and so I came into this novel with high hopes.

As always the book is wonderfully written, witty and the characters are wonderfully developed. I loved Sophie and West as characters and how they interact with others. Their chemistry was spicy and I was rooting for their love story even before the book began.

This is what makes reading this final book tricky. I loved both characters so much that I found the resentment and hurt a bit hard to read for me as a reader. I had to take breaks from reading because I was too emotionally invested and there was too much friction between the characters for most of the story. I also struggled with Sophie’s rejections of West’s feelings because of her fears with regards to his position and a potential relationship with his dad. It was hard to see her hurt him and herself repeatedly. Overall it was really nice to see the storylines of all my favourite character come to an end but the last journey was a bit bumpy for me.