Martha Waters

A Novel

To Swoon and to Spar

I've loved the Regency Vows series since the first book, so I hate to say that this latest installment was a bit of a letdown. It had such a fun premise-- who doesn't love a bit of Gothic flare and a supposed ghost haunting a manor on the moors? It was mainly the characters that didn't work for me. I liked Penvale right away and thought he had that dry sense of humor that I'm always a fan of. But it was Jane that ruined it for me. She was constantly described as shy, but instead of endearing me to her, she spent the whole book being defensive and downright rude. Normally, I like a bit of a prickly character, but she took it too far. Her plan of faking a haunting so she could live alone was also a little bananas. Had the chemistry between her and Penvale been better, I could've overlooked it, but even that was shaky. I still think Waters' writing is charming and entertaining, but unfortunately, this is my least favorite in the series.

Heather Harrington

I love historical romances so much. Every book is this series has just gotten better and better. This one involved a newly married couple (they met like once before getting married and it was so he could get his family house back) where the wife was faking their country house being haunted to scare away her husband and have him return to London but (spoiler) they fall in love. It was just very fun and cute and I loved it. 

To Swoon and to Spar A Novel

Reviews