To Swoon and to Spar

A Novel

By: Martha Waters

Narrated by: Anais Inara Chase, Joel Froomkin

“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.

Critic reviews

"Listeners may be surprised by the lavish performances, but as time goes on and the encounters increase in wackiness, Chase’s and Froomkin’s exaggerated narrations become perfect fits for the romp. Though the humor is the highlight, there is also a charming chemistry between the characters. For listeners seeking a hilarious slow-burn romance, this performance has the goods."

The dry humor is lost with the narrators

I highly recommend buying this book and the entire series! It’s witty, dry, and interesting h so funny…the narrators don’t have the right inflection on the text and make the story drag.. I sped up the audio to 1.55 and it still feels like the story drags right through the humor. Imagine the clear eyes guy reading jokes from a promoter.

terrible narration

I struggled to get through this due to the narrator's, especially the male. The timing and inflection was bad and it just made me cringe at times. I picked up a copy at the library to cover the male narrator chapters.

Not her best

I was excited for this book as I enjoyed the other books in the series. It felt like I was stuck in a rinse and repeat cycle that never ended. The plot was stuck in the same place for the majority of the book.

Predictable

Everything about this novel was trite. I found myself longing for any sort of descriptive narrative rather than drone on about scowling faced insecurities.