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The Regency Vows #5
To Woo and to Wed
The final installment in the Regency Vows series follows the heir to a dukedom and a young widow, once very much in love, as they reunite years later to fake an engagement for the benefit of her sister.
West, the Marquess of Weston, and Sophie, Lady Fitzwilliam Bridewell, have lately been spending a considerable amount of time together. But West and Sophie are not new acquaintances. In fact, years ago, they had once been nearly engaged until West’s almost fatal curricle accident and his meddling father threw them off course.
Now recently widowed, Sophie has put aside all thoughts of romance. But when her widowed sister, Alexandra, mentions a fondness for an earl, Sophie realizes that she may be holding her sister back. Alexandra won’t move forward with an engagement until Sophie, too, settles down again, and so Sophie approaches West with a plan. They will announce their engagement and break things off once Alexandra is happily married. It’ll be simple. After all, it’s not like she is going to fall for West a second time, not when Sophie has sworn not to risk her heart again.
West, the Marquess of Weston, and Sophie, Lady Fitzwilliam Bridewell, have lately been spending a considerable amount of time together. But West and Sophie are not new acquaintances. In fact, years ago, they had once been nearly engaged until West’s almost fatal curricle accident and his meddling father threw them off course.
Now recently widowed, Sophie has put aside all thoughts of romance. But when her widowed sister, Alexandra, mentions a fondness for an earl, Sophie realizes that she may be holding her sister back. Alexandra won’t move forward with an engagement until Sophie, too, settles down again, and so Sophie approaches West with a plan. They will announce their engagement and break things off once Alexandra is happily married. It’ll be simple. After all, it’s not like she is going to fall for West a second time, not when Sophie has sworn not to risk her heart again.
334 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 6, 2024
208 people are currently reading
12949 people want to read
About the author
Martha Waters
9 books1,648 followersMartha Waters is the author of To Have and to Hoax and To Love and to Loathe. She was born and raised in sunny South Florida and is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. By day, she works as a children's librarian, and loves sundresses, gin cocktails, and traveling. Sign up for her newsletter for periodic book news and reading & travel recs: http://tinyletter.com/marthawaters
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 943 reviews
May 5, 2024
celibate simp waits 4 years to marry his dream girl & give her that good dick? delicious
January 2, 2024
I've been begging Martha for West and Sophie's book since the beginning of this series when their chemistry first crackled on page and a whisper of their tragic falling out promised angst galore, looong-term pining, and a swoony, hard-earned happily ever after. Wow, did their story deliver. I loved them so much.
(Thank you Atria and NetGalley for the review copy; all opinions are my own!)
(Thank you Atria and NetGalley for the review copy; all opinions are my own!)
May 12, 2024
Story time! In this book, Sophie leaves her almost-fiancé while he’s recovering from a near-fatal curricle accident (this is in the prologue, it is not a spoiler). This is somewhat similar to a family member of mine (let’s call her my dad’s sister because she will never be my aunt) who dumped her fiancé while he was in the hospital because he had become paralyzed in a hang gliding accident and she didn’t want to “marry someone like that”. Anyway Sophie is awful but maybe not as awful as my not-aunt. (If she didn’t want to be vilified in book reviews, she shouldn’t have been so vile her entire life.) There are too many adverbs and West deserves better.
February 12, 2024
You know... this might be my fave of the five books in this series. Sophie and West? ICONIC. This couple is 100% all yearning, longing, pining across the ballroom for SEVEN FREAKING YEARS. Like Martha Waters came and hit it out of the park. Loved every second I spent reading this book!
I do highly recommend reading this series, it's one of the best historical romance series I've read and you know, I had fun with each and every book. And it was so nice to see all the couples in this final book and they're found family and close friends and they are always hanging out and I love to see it ngl.
I do highly recommend reading this series, it's one of the best historical romance series I've read and you know, I had fun with each and every book. And it was so nice to see all the couples in this final book and they're found family and close friends and they are always hanging out and I love to see it ngl.
February 26, 2024
I have been waiting for this story since we were introduced to all the characters in book1. I couldn't wait to find out what had lead to the estrangement we find Sophie & West engulfed in that first instalment and trying to navigate in the subsequent volumes as their expanding friendship circle keeps bringing them into each others orbit.
It was obvious from interactions, longing glances and other characters dropping tidbits that there was the makings of second chance romance to sprout from the ashes of the unfortunate events of years prior. And while this was expounded upon here in one of my favourite forms of storytelling, alternating timeline, which allowed for some pleasantly surprising reveals - in all honesty the way Sophie navigated her widowhood was more in line with what I had expected from Diana's book and while not the book I had thought to find this storyline in I am glad for its appearance 😏
However the interactions sadly got rapidly repetitive as it felt like these MCs kept having the same round about conversation during every encounter in this book 🙄
This is in spite of the entertaining quips from their meddlesome friends and the callbacks to how all of their relationships fell into place. Sophie's family were also a treat, despite the somewhat too good to be true vibes from them all considering the time period and setting. Although I suppose some light was needed to counteract the overall big bad vibes exuding from the Duke of Dovington - it was all still a bit #lite 🥱
The set up alluded to in the blurb of a feigned engagement to help her widowed sister get down the aisle again - while an interesting concept in theory fell flat in practice because of how little time is actually spent with this sister; who embarks on her own outlandish escalating plot which was sadly nowhere near as enjoyable for me as I had thought it would be when I read the blurb 😑
I would like to rate this higher than the first book in the series as that one drove me batty in a different way - I was just left so frustrated by the characters circular conversations for so much of this story that combined with my pet peeve of Americanised spelling (sneaky "z" in words when this is set in 1800s England) and the frankly repetitive writing style which is not something I typically notice but the amount of "ands" & the reoccurring conversations added to my frustrations which really took much of the enjoyment I had hoped to find out of this couple's reconciliation 🫤
3.25*
It was obvious from interactions, longing glances and other characters dropping tidbits that there was the makings of second chance romance to sprout from the ashes of the unfortunate events of years prior. And while this was expounded upon here in one of my favourite forms of storytelling, alternating timeline, which allowed for some pleasantly surprising reveals - in all honesty the way Sophie navigated her widowhood was more in line with what I had expected from Diana's book and while not the book I had thought to find this storyline in I am glad for its appearance 😏
However the interactions sadly got rapidly repetitive as it felt like these MCs kept having the same round about conversation during every encounter in this book 🙄
This is in spite of the entertaining quips from their meddlesome friends and the callbacks to how all of their relationships fell into place. Sophie's family were also a treat, despite the somewhat too good to be true vibes from them all considering the time period and setting. Although I suppose some light was needed to counteract the overall big bad vibes exuding from the Duke of Dovington - it was all still a bit #lite 🥱
The set up alluded to in the blurb of a feigned engagement to help her widowed sister get down the aisle again - while an interesting concept in theory fell flat in practice because of how little time is actually spent with this sister; who embarks on her own outlandish escalating plot which was sadly nowhere near as enjoyable for me as I had thought it would be when I read the blurb 😑
I would like to rate this higher than the first book in the series as that one drove me batty in a different way - I was just left so frustrated by the characters circular conversations for so much of this story that combined with my pet peeve of Americanised spelling (sneaky "z" in words when this is set in 1800s England) and the frankly repetitive writing style which is not something I typically notice but the amount of "ands" & the reoccurring conversations added to my frustrations which really took much of the enjoyment I had hoped to find out of this couple's reconciliation 🫤
3.25*
January 1, 2024
What a lovely ending to the series! Frustrating but fun too.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have to say that West was one of my favorite characters and I was anxiously waiting for his story! I also have to say I have a little bit of love/hate feelings happening with this book too! Gasp…
One of the awesome things about Waters stories is that she humanizes the characters so well that you can be personally affronted by quirks and issues that arise.
In other books where Sophie and West appeared, I liked Sophie… In this book, I found myself becoming frustrated with some of her backward ideas and how hard she made it for West and their relationship to blossom. She was breaking his heart again and I hated it.
To ease my pain was plenty of humor and banter. The friend’s circle is tight and fun. Her family, sister’s mainly, tended to be a bit frustrating, but that is mainly stemming from Sophie’s inability to communicate throughout the book.
West is a sweetheart and all in with anything that entails Sophie’s happiness. His character is fabulous as he grows to overcome his pain and guilt. Together they truly are a delight. The steam is delicious and fits perfectly into the narrative of this saucy second-chance romance.
Overall, To Woo and To Wed is a humorous and electric story full of spark and energy that will beg for re-reads of this entire series over and over.
~~~~
* I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
* Full Review - https://amidlifewife.com/to-woo-and-t...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have to say that West was one of my favorite characters and I was anxiously waiting for his story! I also have to say I have a little bit of love/hate feelings happening with this book too! Gasp…
One of the awesome things about Waters stories is that she humanizes the characters so well that you can be personally affronted by quirks and issues that arise.
In other books where Sophie and West appeared, I liked Sophie… In this book, I found myself becoming frustrated with some of her backward ideas and how hard she made it for West and their relationship to blossom. She was breaking his heart again and I hated it.
To ease my pain was plenty of humor and banter. The friend’s circle is tight and fun. Her family, sister’s mainly, tended to be a bit frustrating, but that is mainly stemming from Sophie’s inability to communicate throughout the book.
West is a sweetheart and all in with anything that entails Sophie’s happiness. His character is fabulous as he grows to overcome his pain and guilt. Together they truly are a delight. The steam is delicious and fits perfectly into the narrative of this saucy second-chance romance.
Overall, To Woo and To Wed is a humorous and electric story full of spark and energy that will beg for re-reads of this entire series over and over.
~~~~
* I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
* Full Review - https://amidlifewife.com/to-woo-and-t...
January 12, 2024
3.5 stars - I'm so sad this series is ending! But this was a worthy finale, considering we've been waiting for these 2 to get together for the last 4 books. This was a bit too angsty for my tastes (I'm not a huge fan of 2nd chance romance) and I think the flashbacks really undercut the pacing of the story. However, the banter was still bantering, the fake engagement was fun, and I really liked where Sophie & West ended up.
Looking forward to whatever comes next from Martha Waters!
Looking forward to whatever comes next from Martha Waters!
February 5, 2024
Note: Some of my goodreads shelves can be spoilers
Overall: 3.5 rounded to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥
Humor: Yes – Waters has some delightful humor and dialogue!
Perspective: third person from both the hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: They are together in the prologue, and then once the current story begins, at the end of chapter 1
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, one year later
Format: voluntarily read an advanced reader copy from NetGalley in e-book form
(Descriptions found at end of my review)
Should I read in order?
I don’t think it’s 100% necessary for rebel readers – I’ve only read one other in the series – but the family is close knit the characters do overlap in the stories. I think it will up the enjoyment to read the series in order :)
Basic plot:
Sophie realizes her sister won’t move on in love until she stops worrying about her, so she stages a fake engagement with West.
Give this a try if you want:
- Regency (1818)
- London setting
- second chance – with a 7 year separation
- disability rep (hero has a leg injury)
- fake relationship
- widow heroine
- child free HEA
- you like the slow progression of a past relationship over flashbacks
- celibate hero
- lower to mid steam – 2 full scenes
Ages:
- I believe the hero is 31 and the heroine is 26
First line:
Sophie Wexham was quite convinced that a future duke was the worst possible man to fall in love with.
My thoughts:
I really enjoy Waters writing. I love her character focus and witty, funny dialogue. I love how she brings her characters to life so well. Her relationships feel so real and have such depth.
I struggled a bit with this one purely because it’s a trope I struggle with. Second chance is one of my least favorite tropes. I find it just misses a lot of what I really love in romance. I did like that this one gave us the beginning of their story. That is something I’m a bit sad if we don’t get when watching a second chance reconnection. Buuuuuut I also tend to dislike flashbacks. And their story is given throughout flashbacks throughout almost the whole story. Also, mini complaint, maybe it’s repetitive but I really like when we’re jumping time if the chapters are all labeled. For these, the past events were but then we would start the next chapter and I’d wonder for a minute if we were still in the past or present day – so I like when those are all labeled.
I loved both of these characters but did start to get a bit irritated with Sophie towards ¾ ish mark. I thought she just refusing to budge when it came to West and it was really heartbreaking to see. West was such a wonderful hero and the way he was just hurt by her over and over was frustrating – until he realizes what Sophie’s fear is. And I ended up being really placated and in love with the end of their story. Sophie’s fears made sense and made me understand why she was acting the way she was.
Quotes/spoiler-y thoughts:Any mistakes/typos are my own
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Extra stuff like what my review breakdown means, where to find me, and book clubs
Overall: 3.5 rounded to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥
Humor: Yes – Waters has some delightful humor and dialogue!
Perspective: third person from both the hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: They are together in the prologue, and then once the current story begins, at the end of chapter 1
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, one year later
Format: voluntarily read an advanced reader copy from NetGalley in e-book form
(Descriptions found at end of my review)
Should I read in order?
I don’t think it’s 100% necessary for rebel readers – I’ve only read one other in the series – but the family is close knit the characters do overlap in the stories. I think it will up the enjoyment to read the series in order :)
Basic plot:
Sophie realizes her sister won’t move on in love until she stops worrying about her, so she stages a fake engagement with West.
Give this a try if you want:
- Regency (1818)
- London setting
- second chance – with a 7 year separation
- disability rep (hero has a leg injury)
- fake relationship
- widow heroine
- child free HEA
- you like the slow progression of a past relationship over flashbacks
- celibate hero
- lower to mid steam – 2 full scenes
Ages:
- I believe the hero is 31 and the heroine is 26
First line:
Sophie Wexham was quite convinced that a future duke was the worst possible man to fall in love with.
My thoughts:
I really enjoy Waters writing. I love her character focus and witty, funny dialogue. I love how she brings her characters to life so well. Her relationships feel so real and have such depth.
I struggled a bit with this one purely because it’s a trope I struggle with. Second chance is one of my least favorite tropes. I find it just misses a lot of what I really love in romance. I did like that this one gave us the beginning of their story. That is something I’m a bit sad if we don’t get when watching a second chance reconnection. Buuuuuut I also tend to dislike flashbacks. And their story is given throughout flashbacks throughout almost the whole story. Also, mini complaint, maybe it’s repetitive but I really like when we’re jumping time if the chapters are all labeled. For these, the past events were but then we would start the next chapter and I’d wonder for a minute if we were still in the past or present day – so I like when those are all labeled.
I loved both of these characters but did start to get a bit irritated with Sophie towards ¾ ish mark. I thought she just refusing to budge when it came to West and it was really heartbreaking to see. West was such a wonderful hero and the way he was just hurt by her over and over was frustrating – until he realizes what Sophie’s fear is. And I ended up being really placated and in love with the end of their story. Sophie’s fears made sense and made me understand why she was acting the way she was.
Quotes/spoiler-y thoughts:Any mistakes/typos are my own
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Extra stuff like what my review breakdown means, where to find me, and book clubs
November 5, 2024
Mild spoilers.
I liked a lot of this, most particularly the unconventional-for-the-times attitudes towards relationships, parenting, etc. I also liked West, though he seems almost too good to be true.
I struggled with understanding Sophie for most of the book, though, because although obviously I've read a million "we can't get married because of this" romances, it just didn't feel convincing enough or dramatic enough here. I also didn't love the one-night stand in their past right after her husband died, because it muddles things a bit with the numerous flashbacks (they had an understanding and were almost engaged, he is injured, he wakes to find she's married someone else, her husband dies, they have a one night stand, part again, then they meet up again years later and she asks him to pretend they are engaged)--the additional one night stand just didn't seem necessary or added much to the plot. Anything accomplished there could have been relegated to their past.
Idk. I realize I'm coming into the 5th book in a series, but books still need to be coherent on their own. I would've preferred less time spent on the many other couples as well. Overall, it was an enjoyable read, but other than West's declarations and actions, there's not enough swoon. I just didn't come away feeling as though the romance gave us enough to justify the amount of time spent apart, especially as that time didn't even feel particularly angsty. I need angst in my separations!
Audio Notes: I'm curious about the beginnings of their relationship, as other reviews have talked about how they found West the standout from the beginning.
I might check the other books out sometime, but it won't be on audio. Anais Inara Chase's voice is calm and pleasant (though I wish she would interject just a touch more emotion when the situation called for it), but Joel Froomkin's reading has pompous-second-cousin-opining-at-a-country-picnic energy.
I liked a lot of this, most particularly the unconventional-for-the-times attitudes towards relationships, parenting, etc. I also liked West, though he seems almost too good to be true.
I struggled with understanding Sophie for most of the book, though, because although obviously I've read a million "we can't get married because of this" romances, it just didn't feel convincing enough or dramatic enough here. I also didn't love the one-night stand in their past right after her husband died, because it muddles things a bit with the numerous flashbacks (they had an understanding and were almost engaged, he is injured, he wakes to find she's married someone else, her husband dies, they have a one night stand, part again, then they meet up again years later and she asks him to pretend they are engaged)--the additional one night stand just didn't seem necessary or added much to the plot. Anything accomplished there could have been relegated to their past.
Idk. I realize I'm coming into the 5th book in a series, but books still need to be coherent on their own. I would've preferred less time spent on the many other couples as well. Overall, it was an enjoyable read, but other than West's declarations and actions, there's not enough swoon. I just didn't come away feeling as though the romance gave us enough to justify the amount of time spent apart, especially as that time didn't even feel particularly angsty. I need angst in my separations!
Audio Notes: I'm curious about the beginnings of their relationship, as other reviews have talked about how they found West the standout from the beginning.
I might check the other books out sometime, but it won't be on audio. Anais Inara Chase's voice is calm and pleasant (though I wish she would interject just a touch more emotion when the situation called for it), but Joel Froomkin's reading has pompous-second-cousin-opining-at-a-country-picnic energy.
February 23, 2024
⭐⭐⭐⭐
4 stars
➕ What I liked :
Second chance romance.
Child-free couple.
Disability rep (the hero)
Celibate hero.
Good and interesting hero.
Good banter.
That there is No quick fix to the relationship between the hero and his father, and that they are more or less still estranged from each other.
OK steam.
Some funny parts.
Good chemistry/tension.
➖ What I disliked:
Toxic family member.
(The heroes father bullies and manipulates both the heroine and the hero, and sabotages their relationship)
Somewhat annoying heroine.
(The heroine was too stubborn about not wanting anything but an affair with the hero, and not really letting their love and relationship blossom until it was almost too late.
Some of the heroines fears/issues were somewhat understandable, but many other things were just her being stubborn/selfish and not willing to communicate with the hero, and by not communicating with the hero and making abrupt decisions she hurt him over and over again.)
Kind of vague character description/visual appearance of the heroine. (Mostly eye color/hair color…. Most other characteristics were rather vague.)
The miscommunication or/and lack of communication and misunderstandings.
The steam was a little sparse.
(Some more scenes and a little more detail would have been great.)
The heroine was a little too self-sacrificing and she also made decisions for the hero and her sisters without consulting them about it first.
February 4, 2024
This story is told in third person and follows West & Sophie. This is the fifth book in The Regency Vows series. You can read the stories standalone but keep in mind that the characters in the series are all friends and attend events together across the series, so their circumstances are alluded to in the separate books. I’ve been fascinated throughout the series with the history between West and Sophie and was happy to finally get more details about what happened between the couple in the past and their reasons for reconnecting.
I also was looking forward to hearing more of the details surrounding the accident that preceded their earlier breakup, West’s injury and ongoing grief over the loss of his best friend, David. I was initially frustrated with some of the tidbits but as the story progressed with flashback chapters full of emotional struggles and secretive events that only certain characters were privy to along the way, I started to get a full picture of what happened in the past as the story continued in the present timeline. I still feel like some of it was a little ambiguous, but overall, I really enjoyed the story.
This couple has been through the wringer and while some of it could have been resolved with more communication and less secrets, I understand Sophie’s decisions given the worries about both the threats against her family and the regrets West might have felt. Still, watching his heartbreak over and over was a bit hard to take at times.
Recommended to Regency romance lovers
Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for a copy provided for an honest review.
I also was looking forward to hearing more of the details surrounding the accident that preceded their earlier breakup, West’s injury and ongoing grief over the loss of his best friend, David. I was initially frustrated with some of the tidbits but as the story progressed with flashback chapters full of emotional struggles and secretive events that only certain characters were privy to along the way, I started to get a full picture of what happened in the past as the story continued in the present timeline. I still feel like some of it was a little ambiguous, but overall, I really enjoyed the story.
This couple has been through the wringer and while some of it could have been resolved with more communication and less secrets, I understand Sophie’s decisions given the worries about both the threats against her family and the regrets West might have felt. Still, watching his heartbreak over and over was a bit hard to take at times.
Recommended to Regency romance lovers
Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for a copy provided for an honest review.
February 7, 2024
hey
hey.
TL;DR- what a pleasure to send off a series I've so enjoyed with such a delightful finale. how often do we get to say that? West and Sophie still slayed me with this entire book.
-----------------------
There's so much history to be unpacked in this second-chance romance, but I appreciated that the flashbacks Waters used were only when necessary. When a past event needed to be shown, instead of the characters telling each other, we went back in time, but we didn't spend too much page time just getting to know our h and H. We already know and love them, so I was thrilled that we spent the bulk of our time seeing them fall in love (again? more? you be the judge). This was not a story of their youthful romance, but of two mature people who have made sacrifices, made mistakes, and live in the real world finding out if they can overcome the obstacles before them.
The pacing was fantastic. I read it in one sitting, and the balance between angst and joy was on that perfect razor's edge. I'm not usually a fan of second chance, (actually, between this and The Lily of Ludgate Hill I'm converting) but this was a journey of learning and growth for both West and Sophie, giving them the chance to fight for each other and for their future. As to that future- I won't spoil anything, but I loved the way that Sophie and West had open discussions about what that future looked like.
The role that the friend group played was also very balanced- they were present, but didn't take over the story with cameos and updates. This book was all about West and Sophie finally finding their happy ending, and Waters couldn't have done them more justice. You can feel the love she has for these characters on every page, and as a reader since To Have and to Hoax, it was incredibly satisfying to send this series off on such a strong note.
---PRE-REVIEW---
WEST
AND
SOPHIE
THEY SLAYED ME WITH A *SINGLE LOOK* IN THE LAST ONE JWJDIDICHWND
and it's a FAKE ENGAGEMENT ASKJSHDLKJHALKSJ I'M GONNA THROW UP
i just got approved for an arc and i might have to skip everything i have lined up to devour this
hey.
TL;DR- what a pleasure to send off a series I've so enjoyed with such a delightful finale. how often do we get to say that? West and Sophie still slayed me with this entire book.
-----------------------
There's so much history to be unpacked in this second-chance romance, but I appreciated that the flashbacks Waters used were only when necessary. When a past event needed to be shown, instead of the characters telling each other, we went back in time, but we didn't spend too much page time just getting to know our h and H. We already know and love them, so I was thrilled that we spent the bulk of our time seeing them fall in love (again? more? you be the judge). This was not a story of their youthful romance, but of two mature people who have made sacrifices, made mistakes, and live in the real world finding out if they can overcome the obstacles before them.
The pacing was fantastic. I read it in one sitting, and the balance between angst and joy was on that perfect razor's edge. I'm not usually a fan of second chance, (actually, between this and The Lily of Ludgate Hill I'm converting) but this was a journey of learning and growth for both West and Sophie, giving them the chance to fight for each other and for their future. As to that future- I won't spoil anything, but I loved the way that Sophie and West had open discussions about what that future looked like.
The role that the friend group played was also very balanced- they were present, but didn't take over the story with cameos and updates. This book was all about West and Sophie finally finding their happy ending, and Waters couldn't have done them more justice. You can feel the love she has for these characters on every page, and as a reader since To Have and to Hoax, it was incredibly satisfying to send this series off on such a strong note.
---PRE-REVIEW---
WEST
AND
SOPHIE
THEY SLAYED ME WITH A *SINGLE LOOK* IN THE LAST ONE JWJDIDICHWND
and it's a FAKE ENGAGEMENT ASKJSHDLKJHALKSJ I'M GONNA THROW UP
i just got approved for an arc and i might have to skip everything i have lined up to devour this
November 5, 2024
Where was the tension? Where was the banter? Where was the substance? Where was anything?? I'm a little upset, I was planning on reading the first 4 books of this series and now I don't know whether to go on. Maybe it's because I haven't read any of the other couples stories, so I didn't have any pre-existing affection for West or Sophie, but I've genuinely never read a historical romance with LESS chemistry than this couple.
October 21, 2023
This was a good read and conclusion to this series. I love when historical romance gives me exactly what I need with banter, humor, and feels. This is a second chance romance between Sophie the fmc and West the mmc and is told in both present and past timelines. We see West and Sophie at the beginning of their relationship when they almost got engaged and why they didn't. Sophie ends up marrying a friend of Wes, becomes a widow, and comes into contact with Wes again. There is a fake engagement plot, a great friend group, good humor, and banter. The chapters in the past helped me to understand the heartbreak, grief, and tragedy that the main characters went through. The tension and chemistry were also well written, and two steamy scenes were steamier than I expected which was nice. I loved seeing all the friend groups and couples together it made for a good ending. Thank you, Atria for this arc.
Read if you like:
- Historical romance
- Second chance
- Forced proximity
- Fake engagement
Read if you like:
- Historical romance
- Second chance
- Forced proximity
- Fake engagement
January 29, 2024
Second chances—possibly!
Second chance romance that has a history of endless possibilities, tragic circumstances and being blackmailed by a Duke.
Sophie, Lady Fitzwilliam Bridewell had given up the man she’d loved to protect her sisters. Drunk and despairing her almost fiancé, West, the Marquess of Weston, had been involved in a curricula race that had ended in tragedy.
Now seven years later, a widow, and it seems Sophie is still trying to give her remaining widowed sister an HEA at the cost of her own happiness.
When West walks back into her life, Sophie decides to embroil him in a mad scheme, only to face the wrath of West’s father the Duke once again.
Will history repeat itself?
A pleasant Regency Romance, if not a tad absurd at times.
An Atria Books ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)
Second chance romance that has a history of endless possibilities, tragic circumstances and being blackmailed by a Duke.
Sophie, Lady Fitzwilliam Bridewell had given up the man she’d loved to protect her sisters. Drunk and despairing her almost fiancé, West, the Marquess of Weston, had been involved in a curricula race that had ended in tragedy.
Now seven years later, a widow, and it seems Sophie is still trying to give her remaining widowed sister an HEA at the cost of her own happiness.
When West walks back into her life, Sophie decides to embroil him in a mad scheme, only to face the wrath of West’s father the Duke once again.
Will history repeat itself?
A pleasant Regency Romance, if not a tad absurd at times.
An Atria Books ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)
November 14, 2023
I was so excited when I got the ARC of this book and I read in just two days.
It's the final book in the series and I have enjoyed all the books quite a lot.
This is a second chance romance and we have already met and gotten to know both West and Sophie from the previous books. It's finally their turn to shine, and wow, did they shine, West in particular. We get flashbacks to the start of their relationship and other momentous events in the seven year since they fell in love and were torn apart.
I would say the beginning, first 30% of the story was absolutely riveting. It made me cry and I am usually not a crier at books. I found their reunion really emotional. And I was struck by the sense of longing, of an chance at happiness that's missed and gone forever. Even with the logical knowledge that they will eventually get together, I found their pain of these seven years they lost, the fact that they were not there for each other at the most difficult times, the fact that they could barely see the other without a sense of loss, it was all very powerful and moving.
Their fake relationship went the way of all fake relationships in romance, with the added bonus of confessions about the past that made. Then around the middle of the book, 60-70%, I felt the story lost its momentum. There was this going back and forth on Sophie's part that I found annoying. After all the secrets were revealed, all the attraction and feelings admitted, she still refused to give them a chance with the argument of saving him from his father's anger, from potential disappointment with her . She was really making decisions for him very much out of fear of being hurt herself and he was right to call her on it.
The final 30% saw everything resolved to a rather satisfying ending. The over-the-top families and friends shone brightly on the page and brought so much fun and levity to the story. The wedding planning verged on the absurd which very much fits in with the shenanigans from the previous books.
A proper epilogue that brings the whole series to a close - funny and full of love and care and babies (for the couples who want them).
Overall, I quite enjoyed this series and highly recommend it.
CW: grief, near-fatal incident (in the past), hero uses a cane as a consequence of said incident, blackmail,
It's the final book in the series and I have enjoyed all the books quite a lot.
This is a second chance romance and we have already met and gotten to know both West and Sophie from the previous books. It's finally their turn to shine, and wow, did they shine, West in particular. We get flashbacks to the start of their relationship and other momentous events in the seven year since they fell in love and were torn apart.
I would say the beginning, first 30% of the story was absolutely riveting. It made me cry and I am usually not a crier at books. I found their reunion really emotional. And I was struck by the sense of longing, of an chance at happiness that's missed and gone forever. Even with the logical knowledge that they will eventually get together, I found their pain of these seven years they lost, the fact that they were not there for each other at the most difficult times, the fact that they could barely see the other without a sense of loss, it was all very powerful and moving.
Their fake relationship went the way of all fake relationships in romance, with the added bonus of confessions about the past that made. Then around the middle of the book, 60-70%, I felt the story lost its momentum. There was this going back and forth on Sophie's part that I found annoying. After all the secrets were revealed, all the attraction and feelings admitted, she still refused to give them a chance with the argument of saving him from his father's anger, from potential disappointment with her . She was really making decisions for him very much out of fear of being hurt herself and he was right to call her on it.
The final 30% saw everything resolved to a rather satisfying ending. The over-the-top families and friends shone brightly on the page and brought so much fun and levity to the story. The wedding planning verged on the absurd which very much fits in with the shenanigans from the previous books.
A proper epilogue that brings the whole series to a close - funny and full of love and care and babies (for the couples who want them).
Overall, I quite enjoyed this series and highly recommend it.
CW: grief, near-fatal incident (in the past), hero uses a cane as a consequence of said incident, blackmail,
November 5, 2023
What an end to a fantastic series! I've been waiting for Sophie and West's story since we first got an inkling of what it might be, and I'm so happy that it lived up to my expectations. Given that this is a second-chance romance (not usually my favorite), there was just the right balance of angst, banter, friendship, and hilarious situations. I really love the found family aspect of this series, and I think it's worth it just for that alone. I'll miss it so much, and I can't wait for this book to come out in audio so I can reread the entire series!
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC!
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC!
October 21, 2023
3.5 stars
This series has been fun.There was quite a bit going on this one and it was more of a slow-burn, but I did enjoy the characters.This series has always had a nice balance of history and romance, I’m looking forward to reading whatever she writes next.
A special thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This series has been fun.There was quite a bit going on this one and it was more of a slow-burn, but I did enjoy the characters.This series has always had a nice balance of history and romance, I’m looking forward to reading whatever she writes next.
A special thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 31, 2024
I won’t lie to you this is one of the most frustrating books I’ve ever read. Everyone here is either stupid, annoying or an asshole. But you managed to keep my interest up to chapter 15. Congratulations book, you manage to get 2 stars instead of 1.
Sophie was AN AWFUL protagonist and I was never once on her side or thought “Hmmm, maybe she has a point”. She was incredibly stupid and hurt the man she “loved” over and over again by rejecting him because she didn’t want to hurt him in the first place.
The writing was fine. I like it for what it was.
West deserved better and it was stupid he kept going back to her but that’s love I guess. Idk man, this is my first actual book to get into romance and believe it or not I’ve read better on Wattpad.
Martha Waters I’m sure you’re awesome, it was great in the beginning but in the end I just flew over everything because I was so done with it
2 STARS. THIS WAS SO BELOW MID.
Sophie was AN AWFUL protagonist and I was never once on her side or thought “Hmmm, maybe she has a point”. She was incredibly stupid and hurt the man she “loved” over and over again by rejecting him because she didn’t want to hurt him in the first place.
The writing was fine. I like it for what it was.
West deserved better and it was stupid he kept going back to her but that’s love I guess. Idk man, this is my first actual book to get into romance and believe it or not I’ve read better on Wattpad.
Martha Waters I’m sure you’re awesome, it was great in the beginning but in the end I just flew over everything because I was so done with it
2 STARS. THIS WAS SO BELOW MID.
February 4, 2024
A wonderfully funny romantic novel!!! I became enamored with West and Sophie instantly. Their witty banter made me smile. Of course it can’t be a romance novel without the required obstacles to their happily ever after.
If you are a fan of Bridgerton then this is definitely a book for you. I will have to go back and read all of the books in this series now!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
If you are a fan of Bridgerton then this is definitely a book for you. I will have to go back and read all of the books in this series now!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 25, 2024
This was the perfect conclusion to the series! I laughed, I cried, I squealed (I screamed "WHAT!?" out loud at that beautiful plot twist). I've wanted a West and Sophie book since To Have and To Hoax, and this was everything I needed it to be and more. So well worth the wait
I'm sad the series is over, but look forward to more from Martha Waters, I'm excited to read whatever she has to offer next
I'm sad the series is over, but look forward to more from Martha Waters, I'm excited to read whatever she has to offer next
October 13, 2023
The Marquess of Weston (West, to his friends) was nearly engaged to Sophie when a tragic accident changed both of their lives forever. Sophie ended up married to one of West's childhood friends and she and West spent those ensuing years staunchly avoiding each other in society. Sophie has since been widowed and their friend group has gotten closer. West and Sophie have just spent time together at a house party when they return home and Sophie realizes that her sister (who is also widowed) is in love and wants to remarry, but hesitates due to Sophie's lack of attachment. Sophie proposes a fake engagement to West and then they'll break off their engagement when her sister is married...there definitely aren't any lingering feelings that would affect this plan, after all!
Martha has been teasing us with this West and Sophie relationship from the very first book in this series and I can confidently say that the anticipation has been worth it! I absolutely devoured this book in about 24 hours and have no regrets.
This series has always balanced humor so well within their plots and this book is no exception - while there's quite a bit of pining on West's end (I mean he literally tells her that she ruined him for anyone else) there's still quite a bit of humor that had me chuckling regularly throughout the book.
I think what this book in particular does quite well is how it surprises readers - there were multiple moments that happen that I absolutely wasn't expecting, but was truly delighted by. I was so sure that the reason they didn't get married years ago was going to be due to a miscommunication but was so pleased that that wasn't really the case!
Read this for:
- Second Chance Romance
- Fake Engagement
- Forced Proximity
- A Great Friend Group
- Pining
This is also I think the steamiest book of the Regency vows series! These books are a bit less detailed in their spicy scenes than some historical romances but I think it fits the general tone pretty well and in this book the scenes really do propel their relationship forward.
To Woo and to Wed publishes February 6 and I wholly recommend this whole series! (read in order for the best payoff!)
Thank you to Netgalley and Atria for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Martha has been teasing us with this West and Sophie relationship from the very first book in this series and I can confidently say that the anticipation has been worth it! I absolutely devoured this book in about 24 hours and have no regrets.
This series has always balanced humor so well within their plots and this book is no exception - while there's quite a bit of pining on West's end (I mean he literally tells her that she ruined him for anyone else) there's still quite a bit of humor that had me chuckling regularly throughout the book.
I think what this book in particular does quite well is how it surprises readers - there were multiple moments that happen that I absolutely wasn't expecting, but was truly delighted by. I was so sure that the reason they didn't get married years ago was going to be due to a miscommunication but was so pleased that that wasn't really the case!
Read this for:
- Second Chance Romance
- Fake Engagement
- Forced Proximity
- A Great Friend Group
- Pining
This is also I think the steamiest book of the Regency vows series! These books are a bit less detailed in their spicy scenes than some historical romances but I think it fits the general tone pretty well and in this book the scenes really do propel their relationship forward.
To Woo and to Wed publishes February 6 and I wholly recommend this whole series! (read in order for the best payoff!)
Thank you to Netgalley and Atria for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 19, 2024
After reading about Sophie and West in the other books, I knew I had to have their story. I am a sucker for second chances and these two never stopped loving one another. After his father threatens her, Sophie goes on to marry another for the sake of her family as much as for West. Now they are both free and he is determined to show her that nothing else matters. West is perfectly in love. He doesn't waiver and he has his sights set on forever and has since he met Sophie 7 years ago.
There was a lot of back and forth in this one and I'm also glad that Sophie was able to share with West why she left all those years ago and it didn't take the whole book to get there. I fell lin love with both of them.
Thanks to Atria, Netgalley and Martha Waters for an early copy.
There was a lot of back and forth in this one and I'm also glad that Sophie was able to share with West why she left all those years ago and it didn't take the whole book to get there. I fell lin love with both of them.
Thanks to Atria, Netgalley and Martha Waters for an early copy.
June 6, 2024
In a word, underwhelming. I think these characters were done a disservice by having their storyline done through the other books so by the time we got to their own book they were just so… boring
February 23, 2024
Sophie and West fell in love seven years ago. But, between West’s father threatening Sophie, and West nearly dying in a carriage accident, she ended up married to someone else and they both retained plenty of bitterness. Now she’s a widow and they both need a fake engagement for different reasons.
The writing is clever and witty, and there are some truly hilarious parts of the book. Unfortunately, that’s about all that I liked. Even though I’m usually a ducker for fake relationships, To Woo and to Wed employs just about every romance trope that I hate—in particular, the miscommunication/secret-keeping trope and the I’m-going-to-make-your-decisions-for-you trope. If the characters acted like adults and gave each other some credit for knowing their own minds, there wouldn’t even be a story.
The entire book is West trying to get Sophie to actually marry him, and Sophie rejecting him at every turn even though she loves him. A huge chunk of the book goes something like this:
West: I love you and want to marry you.
Sophie: But your dad is mean and threatened you.
West: I don’t care. I’m 31 years old and know what I’m doing.
Sophie: I still can’t marry you.
West: Why?
Sophie: [insert truly ludicrous reason]
Repeat throughout most of the book. There is no other plot, and nothing other than the back-and-forth between Sophie and West with the occasional intrusion of West’s father and the comic relief of the other characters. Just not my favorite book.
Rating: 2
Steam: Low to Medium
Themes and Tropes: Second Chance, Fake Relationship, Miscommunication, Secrets, Making the Other Character’s Decisions
Pair With: Regency Wines
The writing is clever and witty, and there are some truly hilarious parts of the book. Unfortunately, that’s about all that I liked. Even though I’m usually a ducker for fake relationships, To Woo and to Wed employs just about every romance trope that I hate—in particular, the miscommunication/secret-keeping trope and the I’m-going-to-make-your-decisions-for-you trope. If the characters acted like adults and gave each other some credit for knowing their own minds, there wouldn’t even be a story.
The entire book is West trying to get Sophie to actually marry him, and Sophie rejecting him at every turn even though she loves him. A huge chunk of the book goes something like this:
West: I love you and want to marry you.
Sophie: But your dad is mean and threatened you.
West: I don’t care. I’m 31 years old and know what I’m doing.
Sophie: I still can’t marry you.
West: Why?
Sophie: [insert truly ludicrous reason]
Repeat throughout most of the book. There is no other plot, and nothing other than the back-and-forth between Sophie and West with the occasional intrusion of West’s father and the comic relief of the other characters. Just not my favorite book.
Rating: 2
Steam: Low to Medium
Themes and Tropes: Second Chance, Fake Relationship, Miscommunication, Secrets, Making the Other Character’s Decisions
Pair With: Regency Wines
January 7, 2024
screaming crying thank you Atria (and NetGalley)
This was literally perfect, I’m going to miss these characters so much🥲
Full rtc
This was literally perfect, I’m going to miss these characters so much🥲
Full rtc
March 15, 2024
disliked the heroine
The h married the H’s friend, and slept with ANOTHER one of his friends… while H was healing from an accident.
He deserved better.
The h married the H’s friend, and slept with ANOTHER one of his friends… while H was healing from an accident.
He deserved better.
March 11, 2024
I've given this a B+ at AAR, 4.5 stars
Martha Waters brings her enjoyable Regency Vows series to a rousing close with To Woo and to Wed, a charming and witty second-chance romance between two characters who have been dancing around each other for some time. The Marquess of Weston and Sophie, the widowed Lady Bridewell, clearly have a history together and have been crying out for their story to be told. Well, this is it, and although I found one aspect of the novel a bit frustrating, I can say that on the whole, it was worth the wait.
When, in her third London Season, Sophie Wexham met the Marquess of Weston it was… if not exactly love at first sight, something fairly close to it. West is attractive, kind, funny and – unlike so many other men of his ilk – as happy to listen to Sophie’s thoughts and opinions as he is to voice his own. They’ve reached an ‘understanding’ and all it wants is for West to speak to her papa so they can become officially betrothed – but before West can do that, his father, the Duke of Dovington – who has already made clear his opposition to his son’s choice of bride – not so subtly threatens to ruin the marital prospects of Sophie’s four younger sisters should their engagement take place. Furious, Sophie finds West to tell him what his father said; West is equally angry and insists he won’t be deterred – he doesn’t need his father’s permission to get married. But fate and tragedy intervene; West doesn’t meet with Sophie’s father, and not long afterwards, she marries someone else.
Seven years later, and Sophie has been a widow for almost as long as she was married. She and West move in the same circles and have mutual friends – his (late) best friend David was the brother of Jeremy, the Marquess of Willingham ( To Marry and to Meddle ) who is married to Sophie’s friend Diana – but they’ve taken care to treat each other like mere acquaintances and have never spoken about their past relationship. On the surface, there’s nothing keeping them from rekindling their romance should they wish, but there are a lot of strong feelings running beneath – guilt, resentment, anger, grief – that are easier to ignore than to address.
Then Sophie learns that her sister Alexandra – who, like her, is a widow – is likely to turn down a proposal of marriage from the man she loves because Alex doesn’t want Sophie to feel lonely or left out. Well. Sophie didn’t gave up her own chance at real happiness seven years earlier so her sisters could sacrifice themselves for her. If the only way she can make sure Alex accepts Lord Blackthorn’s proposal is by becoming engaged herself, then that’s what Sophie is going to do. Unfortunately, however, she knows only one man who a) is likely to go along with her scheme for a short-lived fake engagement and b) her family will find a believable choice as her partner in a whirlwind romance.
While West’s better judgement tells him it’s a bad idea, he agrees to go along with Sophie’s plan. All he’s ever wanted is her happiness, and if seeing Alex married is the way to do it, then he’ll do whatever he can to help. It’s clear he’s still in love with Sophie but is so wrapped up in layers of guilt and sorrow that he’s kind of stuck in place and unsure how to act around her. Sophie, meanwhile, has learned to present a face of supreme confidence and unflappability to everyone around her that is hard to penetrate. But with their ‘engagement’ providing an excuse for them to spend time together, they slowly begin to let the other in and to realise that while seven years have passed, the connection they felt to each other back then has never lessened or gone away. They have things they need to work through – and I liked that the author includes some flashback chapters here and there to fill out the backstory – and they have some very honest conversations about their feelings for one another – then and now – and about what they want.
West is a charming cinnamon roll hero - kind and funny with a dry sense of humour and so obviously head-over-heels for Sophie. I liked the way the two of them fall so easily back into their old patterns of teasing and banter – they really know how to push each other’s buttons – and the way West very quickly sets out to prove to Sophie that they are meant to be together, despite everything.
I enjoy second chance romances when they’re done well, and that’s definitely the case here. The chemistry between West and Sophie is electric and there’s just enough pining and angst to keep things interesting and moving at a fair clip. But then at around two-thirds of the way through, things start to flag and begin to feel a little repetitive – and that there is really only one thing keeping West and Sophie apart becomes glaringly apparent. And it’s the same thing that has been keeping them apart for the entire book – Sophie. Or, rather, Sophie’s tendency to think and act for others in what she believes is their best interest and without consulting them first. Even after West has made it very clear that he still loves her and wants to be with her, Sophie persists in trying to save him from himself – whether from his father’s threats (no surprises that the disapproving Duke still disapproves) or trying to save West from disappointment because she might not be able to bear children – but doesn’t explain why she’s refusing him. West eventually realises what she’s doing and that she’s doing it because she’s scared of being hurt; I was pleased that he calls her on it, but frustrated because she was willing to risk their happiness simply because she wouldn’t have a simple conversation.
That’s my only real complaint about the story and is the reason I couldn’t award To Woo and to Wed DIK status. There’s a great bunch of secondary characters here - mostly friends and family from the previous books – who bring a lot of warmth, humour and affection (and, sometimes, common sense!) to the story (I had to chuckle at the absurdity of the wedding plans) and the not-too-sweet epilogue rounds out the series nicely. Martha Waters is one of the few authors of historical romance whose books I still look forward to reading, and I’m eager to see what she comes up with next.
This review originally appeared at All About Romance.
Martha Waters brings her enjoyable Regency Vows series to a rousing close with To Woo and to Wed, a charming and witty second-chance romance between two characters who have been dancing around each other for some time. The Marquess of Weston and Sophie, the widowed Lady Bridewell, clearly have a history together and have been crying out for their story to be told. Well, this is it, and although I found one aspect of the novel a bit frustrating, I can say that on the whole, it was worth the wait.
When, in her third London Season, Sophie Wexham met the Marquess of Weston it was… if not exactly love at first sight, something fairly close to it. West is attractive, kind, funny and – unlike so many other men of his ilk – as happy to listen to Sophie’s thoughts and opinions as he is to voice his own. They’ve reached an ‘understanding’ and all it wants is for West to speak to her papa so they can become officially betrothed – but before West can do that, his father, the Duke of Dovington – who has already made clear his opposition to his son’s choice of bride – not so subtly threatens to ruin the marital prospects of Sophie’s four younger sisters should their engagement take place. Furious, Sophie finds West to tell him what his father said; West is equally angry and insists he won’t be deterred – he doesn’t need his father’s permission to get married. But fate and tragedy intervene; West doesn’t meet with Sophie’s father, and not long afterwards, she marries someone else.
Seven years later, and Sophie has been a widow for almost as long as she was married. She and West move in the same circles and have mutual friends – his (late) best friend David was the brother of Jeremy, the Marquess of Willingham ( To Marry and to Meddle ) who is married to Sophie’s friend Diana – but they’ve taken care to treat each other like mere acquaintances and have never spoken about their past relationship. On the surface, there’s nothing keeping them from rekindling their romance should they wish, but there are a lot of strong feelings running beneath – guilt, resentment, anger, grief – that are easier to ignore than to address.
Then Sophie learns that her sister Alexandra – who, like her, is a widow – is likely to turn down a proposal of marriage from the man she loves because Alex doesn’t want Sophie to feel lonely or left out. Well. Sophie didn’t gave up her own chance at real happiness seven years earlier so her sisters could sacrifice themselves for her. If the only way she can make sure Alex accepts Lord Blackthorn’s proposal is by becoming engaged herself, then that’s what Sophie is going to do. Unfortunately, however, she knows only one man who a) is likely to go along with her scheme for a short-lived fake engagement and b) her family will find a believable choice as her partner in a whirlwind romance.
While West’s better judgement tells him it’s a bad idea, he agrees to go along with Sophie’s plan. All he’s ever wanted is her happiness, and if seeing Alex married is the way to do it, then he’ll do whatever he can to help. It’s clear he’s still in love with Sophie but is so wrapped up in layers of guilt and sorrow that he’s kind of stuck in place and unsure how to act around her. Sophie, meanwhile, has learned to present a face of supreme confidence and unflappability to everyone around her that is hard to penetrate. But with their ‘engagement’ providing an excuse for them to spend time together, they slowly begin to let the other in and to realise that while seven years have passed, the connection they felt to each other back then has never lessened or gone away. They have things they need to work through – and I liked that the author includes some flashback chapters here and there to fill out the backstory – and they have some very honest conversations about their feelings for one another – then and now – and about what they want.
West is a charming cinnamon roll hero - kind and funny with a dry sense of humour and so obviously head-over-heels for Sophie. I liked the way the two of them fall so easily back into their old patterns of teasing and banter – they really know how to push each other’s buttons – and the way West very quickly sets out to prove to Sophie that they are meant to be together, despite everything.
I enjoy second chance romances when they’re done well, and that’s definitely the case here. The chemistry between West and Sophie is electric and there’s just enough pining and angst to keep things interesting and moving at a fair clip. But then at around two-thirds of the way through, things start to flag and begin to feel a little repetitive – and that there is really only one thing keeping West and Sophie apart becomes glaringly apparent. And it’s the same thing that has been keeping them apart for the entire book – Sophie. Or, rather, Sophie’s tendency to think and act for others in what she believes is their best interest and without consulting them first. Even after West has made it very clear that he still loves her and wants to be with her, Sophie persists in trying to save him from himself – whether from his father’s threats (no surprises that the disapproving Duke still disapproves) or trying to save West from disappointment because she might not be able to bear children – but doesn’t explain why she’s refusing him. West eventually realises what she’s doing and that she’s doing it because she’s scared of being hurt; I was pleased that he calls her on it, but frustrated because she was willing to risk their happiness simply because she wouldn’t have a simple conversation.
That’s my only real complaint about the story and is the reason I couldn’t award To Woo and to Wed DIK status. There’s a great bunch of secondary characters here - mostly friends and family from the previous books – who bring a lot of warmth, humour and affection (and, sometimes, common sense!) to the story (I had to chuckle at the absurdity of the wedding plans) and the not-too-sweet epilogue rounds out the series nicely. Martha Waters is one of the few authors of historical romance whose books I still look forward to reading, and I’m eager to see what she comes up with next.
This review originally appeared at All About Romance.
January 17, 2024
I loved this book! It was so much fun to read. I loved all the characters, especially since many are old friends from the previous books. But I absolutely adored West and Sophie.
Sophie was easy to connect with and her attempt to make sure her sister was moving forward in life endeared her to me. West’s story line often had me welling up with emotion. He had been through more than any one person should ever have to endure and I longed for him to find his perfect “happily ever after”.
This is a second chance romance with flashbacks to the beginning of things and then following through the years afterwards. They were clearly marked and I found them to be the perfect tool to connect me with the struggle and angst that each character had suffered. Along with those moments of deep emotion, this is filled with the perfect amount of humor and plenty of steam making this a well rounded read and deeply satisfying.
This can be read as a stand alone bu better understood with the series.
Dual POV
Safe
Triggers
Steam
Sophie was easy to connect with and her attempt to make sure her sister was moving forward in life endeared her to me. West’s story line often had me welling up with emotion. He had been through more than any one person should ever have to endure and I longed for him to find his perfect “happily ever after”.
This is a second chance romance with flashbacks to the beginning of things and then following through the years afterwards. They were clearly marked and I found them to be the perfect tool to connect me with the struggle and angst that each character had suffered. Along with those moments of deep emotion, this is filled with the perfect amount of humor and plenty of steam making this a well rounded read and deeply satisfying.
This can be read as a stand alone bu better understood with the series.
Dual POV
Safe
Triggers
Steam
February 9, 2024
This is my second dive into this series (I hadn't realised this was the fifth in the series) and To Woo and To Wed was just as enjoyable. Martha Waters has proven herself as an exemplary writer of the Regency Rom-Com with witty characters, fun banter and everything needed to make an amazing Historical novel. Reading up for Valentine's Day, Water's novel was just the book I needed to fill up my Valentine's reading goal.
Overall, To Woo and To Wed was a fun, witty Rom-Com that shows Waters as a must-read author if you want a dash of romance in your daily life.
Thank you, NetGalley and Headline for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Overall, To Woo and To Wed was a fun, witty Rom-Com that shows Waters as a must-read author if you want a dash of romance in your daily life.
Thank you, NetGalley and Headline for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
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