To Swoon and to Spar by Martha Waters

Martha Waters has a talent for making readers imagine want to be in this group of friends. Readers have read about Violet and Audley, Diana and Jeremy, and Emily and Julian (they are anticipating a baby, how exciting) now we get to read about Penvale and Jane. For all their meddling and match making efforts this group could not have predicted what would happen when Penvale agrees to marry his uncle’s ward, Jane, in order to buy back Trethwick Abbey. After living at Trethwick Abbey for 2 years and falling in love with the house, Jane devised a plan to rid herself of the man who was controlling her life, and arranged a haunting of the Abbey with the plan backfiring to make him sell and marry Jane off to his nephew Jane realizes she cannot over do it when she tries to scare off Penvale. Penvale has waited his entire life to be back in the house that he remembers from childhood and he wont let a little thing like an arranged marriage to a slightly rude woman keep him from buying it from his uncle. Penvale doesn’t believe in ghosts especially when he starts to suspect his wife is trying to scare him off. Jane originally wanted to scare off Penvale but they she realizes he is not like his uncle, nor is he like she thought he would be, and her plan starts to shift to stopping his friends from coming to visit (she is incredibly shy). Misunderstands occur and a hiccup happens on their way to a happily ever after, but it happens in the most wonderful way. It is great that Audley finally gives Penvale the same advice he once gave Audley. The tease for the tease for setting up the next book To Woo and to Wed is great and leaves the reader wanting more.

Character List/Book Summary:
Peter Bourne aka Viscount Penvale – became the Viscount at age 10 when forced to sell the Abbey and he and Diana were sent off to live with family that did not want them. Does not want to marry Jane if she is being forced into the marriage. After meeting and discussing the marriage with Jane they agree to revisit discussing children quarterly as they recognize they are both marrying to stay with the Abbey. After their wedding Penvale is eager to get to the Abbey and start seeing what improvements might help his purse and keep the Abbey and tenants thriving. Penvale increases the salary of staff and starts making friends in the town, making them like Jane who had kept her distance when she was a ward. Starts to suspect his wife is behind the haunting, and comes to head when they argue in the ocean when he wants to go for a swim. Agrees to let Jane have a building that appears to be his for a library she wants to start for the town.

Jane Spencer – agrees to marry Penvale so she does not have to make a debut and so she can live at the Abbey forever. Jane is painfully shy and her efforts to interact with others come off as awkward and vengeful at times. Admits to Penvale she never learned how to swim and starts to care about him as she realizes he does care about people, including her, and that is just who he is. Does repeatedly tell him he needs glasses. On a trip into the town together she offers to bring books to the school house so the children can have more to read, starts to become friendly with the teacher. The teacher also tells Jane how Penvale pays for the kids to have cinnamon rolls once a week. Scared of Penvale’s friends visiting, but is made comfortable by Sophie. Is responsible for some of the haunting, but not for all of the events.

John Bourne – Penvale’s uncle, never got along with Penvale’s father and did not sleep in his bedchambers when he stayed at the Abbey for all those years.

Diana – Penvale’s younger sister, brutally honest in her assessment of people. Married Marquise of Willingham aka Jeremy. Tells Jane she can see how much Jane and Penvale love each other and she should tell him so he does not go back to London without her.

Lord James Audley – friend to Penvale and gives him advice in London about making decisions for his wife without talking to her about it first. Makes Penvale see that he made the same mistake James made with his wife, Violet. His wife’s dinner party is the only reason he does not go back to the Abbey that day and Jane is able to tell him she loves him during Violet’s dinner.

Sophie – is a new comer to the group of friends, but is a great observer and tells Jane that Penvale does care about her and she can tell from his interactions with her. She also makes Jane feel comfortable by changing topics at hard times for Jane, but her keen observational skill also makes Jane a tad nervous. Diana, Violet, and Emily think she should be with West (Audley’s brother) and hope the weeks at Penvale’s new country home will help the two get closer.

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