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About The Book

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

Photograph by Ryan Chamberlain
Martha Waters

Martha Waters is the author of And Then There Was The One, Christmas Is All Around, and 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. Originally from South Florida, she is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and currently lives in London.

About The Readers

Anais Inara Chase

Joel Froomkin

Why We Love It

“Martha Waters writes some of my favorite novels, and her Regency Vows series is the very definition of a historical rom-com: witty, warm, and swoony. But what makes Martha’s books so singular is their sense of fun—a screwball sensibility that elevates what could be a staid romance into something much more entertaining. And this book goes a step further, incorporating a fake haunting to perfect comedic effect here. Martha is known for turning tropes on their head, and she does it again here. To Swoon and to Spar is the perfect addition to fans of her previous books and series like Bridgerton.”

—Kaitlin O., Editor, on To Swoon and to Spar

Product Details

  • Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio (April 11, 2023)
  • Runtime: 9 hours and 32 minutes
  • ISBN13: 9781797152226

Raves and 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."

– AudioFile Magazine

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More books from this author: Martha Waters

More books in this series: The Regency Vows