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To Have and to Hoax

Book 1 in the series:The Regency Vows

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To Have and To Hoax by Martha Waters is a Regency romantic comedy novel that follows Lady Violet Grey and Lord James Audley, a couple who fell in love five years ago but have been estranged for the past four years due to a misunderstanding. Determined to end their stalemate, Lady Violet devises a plan involving pretending to be ill, leading to a series of miscommunications, missteps, and hilarious schemes in attempts to rekindle their romance. The book is filled with witty banter, charming characters, and a plot that explores the complexities of marriage and trust in a lighthearted and fun manner.

To Love and To Loathe is definitely the better book with lovely secondary characters, well-written love scenes, and a story about two people in love who have lost trust in each other but need to find their way back through hilarious tricks and schemes. The writing style is described as fun, sharp, and sassy, capturing the verbal jousting of polite society in the Regency period. The book offers a refreshing take on a married couple's relationship post-Happily Ever After, with an exciting cast of supporting characters that add depth to the story.

Characters:

The characters, particularly the main couple, often come across as immature, while supporting characters are more compelling and relatable.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style features sharp, witty dialogue that reflects the Regency era, though it suffers from some repetitiveness.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around a married couple's estrangement due to a misunderstanding, filled with comedic attempts at reconciliation through various absurd schemes.

Setting:

Set in Regency England, the story utilizes cultural norms and social manners to enrich its narrative.

Pacing:

The pacing is slow due to repetitive elements and drawn-out misunderstandings, making it hard for some readers to remain engaged.
“Really, Violet,” said Diana, Lady Templeton, reaching for the teapot. “Allow me.” Given Diana’s disinclination to exert herself when it was not strictly necessary, this was an indication of dire stra...

Notes:

To Have and to Hoax is Martha Waters' debut novel.
The story features an estranged married couple who have been living under the same roof.
Lady Violet Grey and Lord James Audley fell in love quickly and married after a short romance.
The couple's first year of marriage was great, but they faced a significant misunderstanding that led to four years of estrangement.
The narrative unfolds mostly in the fifth year of their marriage, with flashbacks to earlier events.
The book includes many humorous misunderstandings and hijinks as the couple navigates their relationship.
Critics noted a lack of character development and repetitive themes in the story.
The supporting characters in the novel are generally well-received and intriguing.
Many readers appreciated the witty dialogue that reflects the Regency period's societal norms.
The book has elements of a romantic comedy, including a focus on banter and humorous situations.

Has Romance?

Romance is a significant aspect of To Have and to Hoax, as the story revolves around rekindling a troubled marriage and dealing with unresolved feelings.

From The Publisher:

Named a Best Romance of April by Goodreads, Popsugar, Bustle, and more! "A laugh out loud Regency romp-if you loved the Bridgertons, you'll adore To Have and to Hoax!" -Lauren Willig, New York Times bestselling author In this fresh and hilarious historical rom-com, an estranged husband and wife in Regency England feign accidents and illness in an attempt to gain attention-and maybe just win each other back in the process. Five years ago, Lady Violet Grey and Lord James Audley met, fell in love, and got married. Four years ago, they had a fight to end all fights, and have barely spoken since. Their once-passionate love match has been reduced to one of cold, detached politeness. But when Violet receives a letter that James has been thrown from his horse and rendered unconscious at their country estate, she races to be by his side-only to discover him alive and well at a tavern, and completely unaware of her concern. She's outraged. He's confused. And the distance between them has never been more apparent. Wanting to teach her estranged husband a lesson, Violet decides to feign an illness of her own. James quickly sees through it, but he decides to play along in an ever-escalating game of manipulation, featuring actors masquerading as doctors, threats of Swiss sanitariums, faux mistresses-and a lot of flirtation between a husband and wife who might not hate each other as much as they thought. Will the two be able to overcome four years of hurt or will they continue to deny the spark between them? With charm, wit, and heart in spades, To Have and to Hoax is a fresh and eminently entertaining romantic comedy-perfect for fans of Jasmine Guillory and Julia Quinn.

Ratings (5)

Loved It (1)
Liked It (2)
It Was OK (1)
Hated It (1)

Reader Stats (17):

Read It (4)
Currently Reading (1)
Want To Read (9)
Did Not Finish (1)
Not Interested (2)

1 comment(s)

Loved It
6 days

I'm in quite a romance mood at the moment and thought the series looked fun but I wasn't expecting that I would enjoy it as much. It was a bid ridiculous at times but an easy enjoyable read. Intrigued to get to the next one

 

About the Author:

Martha Waters is the author of To Have and to Hoax, To Love and to Loathe, and To Marry and to Meddle. She was born and raised in sunny south Florida and is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She lives in coastal Maine, where she works as a children's librarian by day, and loves sundresses, gin cocktails, and traveling.

 
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