ARC Review: To Swoon and to Spar (The Regency Vows #4) by Martha Waters
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Series: The Regency Vows #4
Author: Martha Waters
Published April 11th 2023 by Atria Books
Goodreads Synopsis
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.
Goodreads
Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This in no way impacted on my view.
Ever since he lost his ancestral home at the same time as losing his parents, Peter, Lord Penvale has sought to get it back. Now owned by his estranged uncle, Penvale knows that it won't be easy, and when his uncle turns up in London stating he'll sell it, Penvale wonders at the catch. So when it's revealed that to buy the house, he'll also have to marry his uncle's ward, Jane, Penvale is relieved that that is all. Marrying Jane wasn't in his plan, but he'll do it for the house, and it's helped by how beautiful she is. However, Jane has no intention of living in London, and will do everything to have solitude in her home - even if that means masquerading as a ghost to force Penvale to flee.
Well, I loved this book! Every book in this series has been so good, but I think they are getting better and better. Jane and Penvale's relationship was hilarious. Their first meeting, and subsequent marriage, was not the best, and both went into it knowing that they were marrying for the house. Jane had lost her parents and came to be in the uncle's care due to his friendship with her father, and she hated the three years with him. Not the house though, or the servants, who became close friends to her in her solitude. Together they created the illusion of a haunted house, going so far as to place a bloody christening gown in his bed to force him to leave. Jane was overjoyed, until it was revealed that Penvale would buy it, and marry her. Even so, Jane thought that a London lord would be bored soon enough in Cornwall, and she could push him over the edge a little.
I adored the way that Penvale and Jane rubbed each other up the wrong way, while also revealing parts of themselves to each other without truly realising it. Penvale was quite smart - though he refused to admit he needed spectacles - and he saw through Jane's ruse, and her shyness, quite quickly. The fact he let her have her fun, though, and does what he can to make her happier with her new position as Viscountess, proved that he was a good man, and was in the marriage for the long run. This was definitely a slow burn romance, and there were plenty of moments where I was neigh on shouting 'just kiss'! The last quarter had me on the edge of my seat, and I was worried that there was too much between them for Jane and Penvale to be able to love each other, and be together properly! A fantastic book, and I hope Sophie and West's story is soon!
Dates Read:
December 28-29, 2022
Rating
4 Stars
Dates Read:
December 28-29, 2022
Rating
4 Stars
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