I received an ARC from the publisher, thank you Atria Books!

I've been waiting for this one, and it was well worth the wait. It gives Persuasion a new edge, and, as usual, Martha Waters takes regency romance tropes and infuses them with more contemporary concerns. I am grieving, because this is the last book in this series, but I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in romance (even if you haven't gotten through the rest of the series).

Finally - Sophie and West!! This was such a good conclusion to the series. The other stories were reminisced just enough so as not to overpower the main plot and the ending house party makes me wish I could spend a fortnight hanging with this crew!

Thank you Martha Waters for taking us on this journey!

**Thank you to Atria Books via NetGalley for this advanced copy in exchange for my opinion.

I enjoyed this book, but it does touch on all the characters from the first four books enough that I think I would have enjoyed it more if I had read them all closer together. I had trouble at times keeping the characters straight (most of them have a title name and a familiar name to make it more confusing) and remembering what their story was.

3.5

This is the fifth and final of the Regency Romance series. As with the others, it’s absurd and cute and a bit more absurd. I hate that I can’t remember all the couples because they really throw the names around and I try to remember who is with whom and the backstory of each of their unions. I’ve vaguely remembered West and Sophia case. I went back to all of the summaries of the other books, but it didn’t cover the details I sought. I guess that’s the trouble with reading a series as it comes out.

Anyway, this is another cute book, though a bit too predictable, if you can even say that. We obviously know what happens in all of them, but this was a little too linear. Still, it wasn’t as annoying as some romances tend to be, so I still enjoyed it.

I don’t remember quite as graphic sex scenes in the previous book. There aren’t many in this (they can’t even be around each other long enough to do that) but the descriptions were a little more vulgar and some of the things they did would not be as common then especially for women. That’s all I’ll say about that.

Still, you know what you’re in for already if you’ve read the others. If not, consider yourself lucky that you can read them all at once and don’t have to try to remember who everyone is. You also get some updated info on the other characters. It’s hard to believe that this all was supposed to have happened within a year where everybody finds the love of their life.

Still, it was enjoyable. I kept going back to reread the previous paragraphs where something especially cute or swoon-worthy happened so that must be a good sign, well, unless you are trying to get through it. I read it within about 24 hours When I needed a positive distraction.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for providing an unbiased review.

I've read a few of the books in the Regency Vows series and this one was my favorite. I love the story building that Waters has made within this series and the interactions between characters in her other books. It can easily be read as a standalone, but having read the full series allows you to see some of your previous favorite characters (Hi Jane!) I enjoyed that the book followed an "older" (she was like 25 so cmon now) widow who has experienced love and lost. This book is more than just a flimsy light romance. There is depth. West's accident left him with a cripple and some tragedy to hold on to. This aspect of his life is brought up to express concerns in self confidence and in a sexual aspect, showing that you can have a physical disability and still be seen as this sexy, powerful love interest. With Sophie, one aspect of her story that I loved was her opinions on having children. She mentioned how she never had them with her ex husband, but was not terribly disappointed in it. That is a vulnerable side of women that we don't usually get to see. We don't pity Sophie, instead we understand her on a deeper level. Their love was so clear and the tension was so strong. I have just adored this entire series and I'm upset that it is done.

The final installment of The Regency Vows, To Woo and to Wed *finally* brings the story readers are been waiting for: West and Sophie.

Once again Waters is pitch perfect with her humor, snark, and swoony second chance romance. I’m so sorry to see this series end but, man, what an excellent note to go out on!

Sophie and West have a complicated past--one that involves a near-betrothal, a near-death, a marriage (though not between the two of them), and a very brief dalliance once Sophie was widowed. But now, Sophie is facing the fact that her (also widowed) sister is worried about Sophie being lonely, and won't remarry until Sophie does, too. The only way she can think of to get her sister to marry the man she is so obviously in love with is to fake an engagement with West, who has his own reasons for agreeing to the scheme: to protect his mother's family home from his father's spite.
I love a fake relationship, and the fact that these two have a romantic history was a really fun addition to the trope. Watching Sophie fall deeper and deeper into planning the double-wedding of her nightmares, while certain she's not going through with it, and knowing that she and West have feelings for each other was absolutely delightful. This was the perfect ending to the Regency Vows series.

While I’m not ready to say goodbye to this series, Martha Waters did justice to her characters, and we can all rest easy now that Sophie and West are finally happy. I appreciated that the two of them had not just hurt to work through but also awkwardness with each other– they've been through A LOT in the seven years since West’s accident and Sophie’s marriage to someone else. This book is very Persuasion-coded and the second-chance romance plus fake dating is exactly my cup of tea.

Per usual, the wonderful friend group of the soon-to-be-couple act as absolute menaces every chance they get; hinting, raising eyebrows, and generally causing chaos all in service of getting the couple to admit they love each other. Every book has me fondly musing, I love these dummies.

Man it is so sad that this series is finally over because I love Martha Waters and her regency books so much! I've been waiting for Sophie and West's story since the start of this series and they did not disappoint. There was so much tension, just ugh!! I love a good "he falls first and harder" and I think the entire plot could be boiled down to that, which I mean in a 100% positive sense. Bop of a book. Easy to read regency romance. Read it y'all!!

If you're looking for a second chance romance, the hilarious drama between two exes, and all steamy love scenes, yes this is the book for you. Martha Waters, "To Woo and to Wed" is the first book I read from her, and honestly, I wanted to kick myself for never selecting her books. Absolutely amazing writing and a beautiful storyline. I love an all-out battle of the sexes, this is definitely a book for the ages.

10/10

Martha Waters does it again!! Love her humor and banter so much-- I really didn't want this entertaining series to end. I love the drama and mess of a second chance romance and oh boy, this was *messy*, big on the feelings. As a reader, I was relieved when we didn't jump back and forth in the flashbacks every single chapter because that can get old. This was a fitting happy ending for West and Sophie as well as the rest of the friend crew and I can't say enough how much I enjoyed this whole series. Will read anything Waters wants to write next!!

I would like to thank Net Galley and Atria books for th opportunity to read this book as an ARC. This is the fifth, and sadly, last in the series. I have really enjoyed reading these books and getting involved in the lives of the characters. This was probably my least favorite of the books. I enjoyed it, but it did not seem to have, to me at least,the verve and fun of he other books. I think part f it was Sophie- sometimes I just wanted to shake her. Anyway. this book , like the others, is set in the fashionable "ton" of Regency England. All of the characters have been in and out of the previous books, with a new couple the center of each one. This one focus's on Sophie, and West. Sophie and West had a relationship 7 years ago, and it was thwarted by the machinations of West's father. Sophie married , and was widowed. West was in an accident which left him with a limp. Sophie and West have been dancing around each other for 7 years. Now Sophie's sister Alexandra, also a widow, wants to remarry, but doesn't want to until Sophie is happy. So Sophie and West fake an engagement. It is the usual, will they or won't they, with family entanglements. Everyone is friends with everyone and everyone wants to know the "true " story. It is very much in the mold of the first 4 books, which is good. I think , however that the central piece it a bit too contrived. I am sorry that this is the end of this series!

I was waiting for Sophie’s story. Waters has done it again and To Woo and to Wed did not disappoint.

This story was the perfect mix of tension, lovable characters, and Waters’ fantastic writing style. As with her other books, I found this book to be both hard to put down and it was hard to keep myself from smiling while reading. While this book could technically be read as a standalone, I would definitely suggest reading the others in this series prior to reading this one. Key characters’ backstories are integral to fully appreciating the story, and To Woo and to Wed operates as a loving conclusion to the previous books in the series.

Sophie and West used to be lovers before blackmail got in their way. To see her sister Alexandra happy with the man of her choosing, Sophie offers marriage to West, a marriage of convenience but still - the very thing West has been dreaming of his entire life.

This was very convoluted - I had trouble even summing up the plot for myself. There’s a lot of good witty dialog and the chemistry between the leads is undeniable but it was way too much. The flashbacks, the guilt after, the best friend the accident, the fake engagement, the affair, the horrible father. I was so lost reading this and I couldn’t find the comedy advertised in marketing.

I’m sure this book will appeal to a lot of people but it wasn’t for me sadly.

My endless thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I’m not sure why, but for some reason the cooler, moodier weather of the fall and winter seasons in New England always leave me wanting to settle in for a good historical romance read.

I was immediately drawn to this newest (and final book) in the same interconnected, stand-alone series, Regency Vows - by the bright and beautiful cover art. Then upon seeing it was both a second chance romance and involved a fake engagement, I knew this was exactly what I was looking for.

I enjoyed both our mains, Sophie and West, it was fun to see their situation unfold as well as glimpses back as yo what happened to lead them to where they were in the present. I liked Sophie’s independence and West’s more serious, yet still caring attitude. I enjoyed the banter between the two and the pining - obviously you’re rooting for them and waiting for each to get it together.

The secondary cast of characters was filled with good ones too, and if you’ve read others in the series, you’ll note some familiar persons making appearances.

This was a fast and easy read, I found myself wanting to keep reading. It flowed and the pacing was such that I would have (and wished I could have) read it in an afternoon had work not gotten in the way. I found the ending to be very satisfying and while I’m sad to see the end of the series, it did make me eager to go back and read through from the beginning…and obviously excited to see what Ms Waters comes out with next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read an early copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own and freely offered.

To Woo and To Wed is the fifth and final book of The Regency Vows set. With nods to Jane Austen's Persuasion, and with many years of meddling, separation, and pining in the mix, I thought this was a delightful conclusion to the beloved series.

Seven years ago, Lady Sophie Fitzwilliam and The Marquess of Weston met and fell in love. They were almost engaged when West was in a curricle riding accident which resulted in the death of his friend, sustained him a life-altering leg injury, and caused the woman he loved to rush off and marry someone else without an explanation. They have interacted little since.

However, all that changes when Sophie's sister, Alexandra, also a widow, wishes to marry again but won't until she has found matrimonial bliss of her own. Sophie is unnerved by this, afraid that she is holding her sister back. So in order to get her down the aisle, she hatches a scheme with West: they will fake a betrothal and call things off once Alexandra is happily settled.

Of course, nothing is that simple, and before long, old feelings as well as past revelations come rushing to the surface, showing Sophie and West that maybe love can blossom between them for a second time.

I've been looking forward to Sophie and West's story since the beginning and this was everything I could have wanted for them. Whether it was forced proximity, second chance romance, interfering parents, or fake engagements, there were a bevy of tropes to entice and enthrall me. Granted, the miscommunication between Sophie and West could be frustrating at times, but the reasons for it always made sense. Added to the charm of the novel. It provided depth to the love they both carried for one another and, ultimately, could not conquer. While I'm saddened to see this series come to a close, I'm looking forward to seeing what Martha Waters creates in the future!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for my review.

3.5 stars

Secrets are revealed and hearts are healed in the final installment of the delightful Regency Vows series.
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The Regency Vows group of Lords and Ladies have schemed, plotted, flirted, and stumbled into their love matches over the course of five novels. From the start, however, there were two people always on the outside looking in.

Lady Fitzwilliam Bridewell, aka Sophie, is a young widow with no intentions of marrying again. After all, she lost what she believes to be her only chance at a love match through the machinations of a bad Duke years before. Why would she give up her freedom to marry another man she doesn’t love? Especially not when the Marquess Who Got Away is still unmarried and haunting the periphery of her life.

The Marquess of Weston lost more than his best friend and a pain free life in an accident seven years earlier. His chance to marry the woman that he loves, Sophie, was also ripped from him. As quiet revenge on his meddling Duke father, West then chose not to marry or produce an heir, even though Sophie was married to another man.

Among the hi-jinx perpetrated by their friends, Sophie's sisters, and West’s brother, they remained distant and cautiously aware of each other. However, little is said in previous books about why the couple didn’t end up together or, most important, why they can’t be together now.

The first three novels lean strongly into Historical Romantic Comedy and To Woo and To Wed still contains Waters’ crackling dialogue. The tone of the novel is decidedly more emotional, which is a shift that feels utterly appropriate for these two wounded characters.

Though the main trope is fake engagement, there is nothing fake about their love for each other, in spite of all the heartache. As if often the case, Sophie’s sisters and West’s family and friends all see clearly what they two of them cannot and plot to bring the couple together.

To Woo and To Wed is ultimately a story about forgiveness - not just of each other but of themselves. When Sophie and West first fell in love they were starry-eyed youths. Seven years later, they know how a great love is delicate and precious. They hold no illusions that the mistakes of the past do not affect their future and they tackle the final obstacles together.

Waters throws in one last twist at the end which is a sheer delight and feels right to cap off this joyful and heartfelt series.
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Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster - Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Expected publication date Feb 6, 2024.

3.5 Stars I’ve been waiting for West and Sophie’s story ever since I read the first book in this series. I could already tell at that point that it would be a great second chance romance and it was built up even more over the following books. I was expecting them to rekindle their romance more organically rather than it being the result of a fake engagement plot, but it was still enjoyable. Something about it fell a little flat for me and their argument about why they couldn’t be together seemed to go round and round. I did like the little twist they pulled at the end and the epilogue with all of the series’ couples was a perfect cherry on top.

The Marquess of Weston, known as West to his friends, was once on the verge of an engagement with Sophie until a tragic accident reshaped their destinies. Sophie ended up marrying one of West's childhood companions, and they both distanced themselves from each other for years. Now, as widows and with their friend group growing closer, West and Sophie's paths have converged once again. After a house party, Sophie realizes her sister, also a widow, is in love and eager to remarry but hesitates due to Sophie's perceived lack of attachment. In a bold move, Sophie suggests a faux engagement to West, with the intention of ending it once her sister is wed. Of course, there are absolutely no lingering feelings that could complicate this plan, right?

Martha has been tantalizing us with the West and Sophie dynamic since the inception of this book series, and I can confidently assert that the anticipation has been entirely justified! I devoured this book in roughly 24 hours, and I have no qualms about it.

This series has consistently struck a balance between humor and drama, and this book is no exception. While West grapples with a fair amount of pining (he even tells Sophie she's ruined him for anyone else), there's still plenty of humor that had me chuckling throughout the story.

One of the standout qualities of this book is how it keeps readers on their toes. Unexpected moments arise that I absolutely didn't foresee, yet they delighted me. I was convinced that their failure to marry years ago would be due to a miscommunication, but I was pleasantly surprised that this wasn't the case!

Furthermore, I believe this is the most sizzling book in the Regency Vows series. These novels are a bit more restrained in their intimate scenes compared to some historical romances, but it suits the overall tone well. In this book, these scenes genuinely propel the relationship forward.

I have loved this series so much. It was my introduction to historical/regency romances and remains my favorite series I’ve read so far. I have waited for West and Sophie’s book this entire time and it really did not disappoint. It was so cute and chaotic and just so so good! I definitely recommend!!