To Swoon and to Spar: A Novel (The Regency Vows #4) (Paperback)
![Staff Pick Badge](https://www.boswellbooks.com/sites/all/modules/custom/aba_staff_reviews/is_staff_pick_small.png)
$17.99
On Our Shelves Now
Other Books in Series
This is book number 4 in the The Regency Vows series.
- #1: To Have and to Hoax: A Novel (The Regency Vows #1) (Paperback): $16.00
- #2: To Love and to Loathe: A Novel (The Regency Vows #2) (Paperback): $16.99
- #3: To Marry and to Meddle: A Novel (The Regency Vows #3) (Paperback): $17.99
- #5: To Woo and to Wed: A Novel (The Regency Vows #5) (Paperback): $17.99
Staff Reviews
After years of trying to regain his ancestral home from his estranged uncle, Penvale finally gets his lucky break, with one condition - he has to marry his uncle's ward Jane, an ill-tempered young woman who just wants to be left alone with her books. Oh, and the house might be haunted - or at least that's what Jane wants Penvale to think if she's ever going to be rid of him. A Martha Waters book is an insta-read for me, and this might be my new favorite! Nobody mixes farcical comedy with heartfelt romance quite like her. Jane's blunt grumpiness and Penvale's gentle amusement had me laughing from start to finish.
— Rachel CopelandDescription
“Bridgerton fans will like this one.” —Julia Quinn, #1 New York Times bestselling author
The Regency Vows series that is “sure to delight Bridgerton fans” (USA TODAY) 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.
With her trademark “arch sense of humor and a marvelously witty voice” (Entertainment Weekly), Martha Waters crafts another delightful romp for all historical romance fans.
About the Author
Martha Waters is the author of the Regency Vows series, which includes To Have and to Hoax, To Love and to Loathe, To Marry and to Meddle, To Swoon and to Spar, and To Woo and to Wed. She was born and raised in sunny south Florida and is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She lives in coastal Maine, where she works as a children’s librarian by day, and loves sundresses, gin cocktails, and traveling.
Praise For…
"Sweet and swoon-worthy"
—Woman's World
“I simply could not put [it] down . . . . Bridgerton fans will like this one.” —Julia Quinn, author of the Bridgerton series
"The Regency Vows series has given us some unforgettable romantic endeavors, and To Swoon and to Spar provides both laughter and endearment."
—B&N Reads
“With a refreshingly acerbic sense of wit Jane Austen might have admired as well as a plot that gives a clever nod to the screwball spooky delights of Austen’s Gothic-tinged Northanger Abbey and the novels of Mrs. Radcliffe, Waters (To Marry and to Meddle, 2022) proves she is in fine literary fettle as she dexterously delivers another sublimely satisfying addition to her completely charming Regency Vows series.” —Booklist
“Satisfying, slow-burning... the goofy faux ghosts and Jane’s hilariously blunt personality set this apart. Series fans won’t be disappointed.” —Publishers Weekly
“A romantic comedy through and through… [Readers will] be pleased that Jane ultimately decides to make room for Penvale in both Trethwick Abbey and her heart.”
—Library Journal
"I loved this book more than I can say. It was instantly endearing, hilariously witty, and an absolute joy to read. Jane was the most wonderful heroine, and Penvale was a hero truly deserving of her. The delightful narration had me constantly smiling when I wasn't outright laughing, and the slow burn, marriage-of-convenience romance melted my heart. To Swoon and to Spar will be joining Waters' other books on my favorites shelf, just as soon as I've finished rereading it!"— India Holton, bestselling author of The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels