All's Fair in Love and War is such a fun sweet lil story. I thoroughly enjoyed the dynamic between both Georgie and the children and Georgie and Harry. It was such a heartfelt story that encompassed many types of love.

This is the first in a series so there is a little set up of characters, friends of Georgia who I assume will be the main female characters of subsequent books, and that extra set up gives the story additional emotional depth. Seeing Georgie struggle to find her footing in the world and the found family she discovered at school really set the tone for her time at the Captain's house.

Lastly I have to commend Heath on such well written and age appropriate children. As a teacher and mom I often struggle with children who do not match their ages or development levels and it often takes me completely out of a story but all of the children really added to my enjoyment of the story and helped to move along the plot and set up the relationship between Harry and Georgie. I will definitely continue this series.

I think this was a solid start to a series however I wish there wasn’t so much inner monologue and a bit more dialogue. It was boring at most times but I did like the ending.

ALL'S FAIR IN LOVE AND WAR - Virginia Heath

#1 in the Miss Prentice's Protegees historical romance series

SO CUTE! - 4 stars

Plot - 4 stars - When naval captain, Henry Kincaid, finds himself left in the lurch with his sister's three unruly children and her giant, mad dog, he has to hire an emergency governess to ensure that everything in his ordered house continues to run shipshape. In desperation, he goes to Miss Prentice’s School for Girls prepared to pay whatever it takes to get a governess quick sharp to bring order to the chaos. Fledgling governess Georgina Rowe believes childhood should be filled with laughter, adventure, and discovery, but she often has trouble keeping her mouth shut about perceived problems. Thankfully, the children she has been hired to look after are already delightfully bohemian and instantly embrace her unconventional educational ethos. Their staid, stickler-for-the-rules uncle, however, is another matter entirely.

Writing - 4 stars - Heath is a new-to-me author, and she caught my attention from the first and kept my interest throughout. She writes in an easy-to-read style, with great characters.

Characters - 4.5 stars - This is where the story shone for me. Georgie is headstrong and opinionated (not good qualities for a governess), but she actually is an excellent governess since she is able to adapt to the children's needs and personalities. It would have been a good idea for her to learn a little tact, but her lack is what made her entertaining. Harry is the typical hero--rich, handsome, and successful. He is a career Navy man, a little stodgy, and still trying to overcome his chaotic childhood. But underneath he is kind, adores his nieces and nephew, and apparently (to his own dismay) a dog-lover. He and Georgie seem like opposites, but they bring out the best in each other.

Title - 4 stars - I suppose this saying is appropriate (especially since Harry is often quoting famous people) since he is in the Navy and would be required to head off to war as needed. The love part of the phrase is obvious.

Cover - 3.5 stars - I'm not a fan of the current trend of cartoon-y covers, although this one has bright colors that draw the eye. And the scene represents an important part of the story.

Overall - 4 stars - This is a thoroughly entertaining and enjoyable read. Heath is a new-to-me author, and she grabbed my attention from the first and kept me turning the pages throughout. I particularly liked the two main characters, and I felt that all of the secondary characters filled out the story very well, adding fun and interest. As we all expected, the HEA was inevitable, but the problems between Georgie and Harry made sense within the confines of their time period. It was fun to watch Georgie in action in her governess role, adapting to the children's needs and personalities. I also found it fascinating to get a brief look at how the British navy administration works through Harry's eyes. All in all, this was a quick and easy book to read and enjoy.

Georgina Rowe has been sent away by her stepfather to train to become a governess at Miss Prentice’s School for Girls located in Mayfair. Georgina doesn’t think that children should have a strict upbringing, but be allowed to enjoy life as they learn. After graduating, Georgina is the last one of the girls left as she has been rejected before.

Harry works for the Admiralty trying to ensure that ships get built. Arriving home one day, he finds his sister there with her three children and a large dog in tow. She has decided to follow her husband to Egypt for several months and is leaving the children and dog with Harry. The children are high-spirited as is the dog. Knowing he needs to do something fast, he heads to Miss Prentice’s School and seeing that Georgina is the only governess available, hires her to start immediately. Harry can’t help but be skeptical of her as she is short with bright red hair and freckles.

When she arrives, she meets Felix, 10, who likes cricket and insects. Next is Marianne, 9. who loves to dance and sing opera. Lastly, is Grace, 5, who is full of energy. To top it off, there is Norbert, a big, naughty dog.

Harry sets up a strict classroom with every acoutrement needed. He has also set up a schedule of how the children should be taught. Georgina is horrified and quickly allows the children to have a day outside discovering nature. When Harry returns, he finds the classroom in disorder and, in his opinion, nothing accomplished. Therefore, Georgina realizes she will have to follow his schedule.

As Harry and Georgina get to know one another better, she realizes the he is quite conflicted about being made captain of a huge ship that will head out to war. It is not something he wants to do. Besides, he finds himself falling in love with Georgina and doesn’t want to leave her. In addition, she is also attracted to him but refuses to be a military wife waiting for her husband to return. Is there any hope for them to become a couple?

I really loved this book. The children are typically mischievous and the dogs add so much fun to the mix. I was kept on edge as to how this scenario would turn out and it did, indeed, have a happy ending. Enjoy!

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Ultimately I ended up liking this book, but it lacked the spark and hunor that Virginia Heath's books usually have. It took me a long time to get through this, as the first 3/4 or so seemed to drag along with no real romantic chemistry between Georgie and Henry. They certainly were attracted to each other physically from the start, but the fundamental antagonism between them (even for an enemies to lovers plot) seemed to take too long to transition into something more. Henry often came off as misogynistic, with his constant rehashing of being dumped by his former fiancee and labeling all women he was attracted to as evil "sirens." Georgie, on the other hand, felt very immature (or perhaps appropriately her age since she was only 23), and her temper tantrums grew tiring. Overall, much of the story just felt repetitive without real progress in the plot or characters.

In the last 1/4, the pieces started coming together more and it improved significantly - hence the 3 star rating. The ending was well done, which also bumped up the rating. Georgie's classmates at Miss P's academy seem like promising future protagonists, so I'll definitely check out the next book and hope that it's a return to Heath's usual writing style.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for providing an ARC for review!

Virginia Heath is so good at writing historical romance that is entirely accessible for readers, and I love this series starter. If you also enjoyed her Merriwell sisters series, you won't be disappointed with this one! Governess Georgina with her takes on education and individuality, and reluctant guardian and curmudgeon Henry are excellent characters, and their banter is great. The humor in this book makes it feel really fresh, and the rambunctious children and the over-the-top antics of the giant dog had me giggling. The conflicts between them are authentic to their characters, their backstory, and their lives and the time. It's a slow burn on the romance front and while it is open door it's relatively limited. Georgie's fellow governesses are interesting and charming, and I look forward to what I assume will be their stories in future books!

All’s fair in love and war
By Virginia Heath
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Georgie is a spinster governess who can’t seem to get past the interview process due to her inability to hold her tongue. Captain Henry “Harry” Kincade is desperate find someone (anyone!!) to look after his two nieces and nephew. Georgie fits the bill and miraculously moves in with them. The only problem is that the Captain values order and structure and Georgie believes that learning requires curiosity and flexibility. Their two ideals clash but their intense chemistry draws them together time and time again.

I loved this story. The characters were brilliantly written, flawed and emotional with real challenges. I loved seeing the two of them grow as people and also together. Harry’s absolute inability to be dishonest with Georgie was so incredibly refreshing in a world full of people pretending. I adored the children too. They felt like real kids. Of course the ten year old boy knows best and takes pride in refusing to listen to their teacher. Of course the youngest has so much energy she doesn’t know how to sit still. All of the characters had a distinct personality like that without being cliché.

I can’t wait to read more from Miss Prentice’s protégés soon!

A former naval captain, Henry Kincaid, is suddenly left in charge of his sister's three unruly children and their giant dog when she leaves for Egypt. Desperate for help, he hires Georgina Rowe, a governess who believes in joyful, adventurous learning rather than strict discipline. Georgie, raised in a strict environment, is determined to give the children the happy childhood she never had. The children quickly embrace her methods, but Harry, valuing order and discipline, initially disapproves. Despite their differences, Harry and Georgie gradually respect and understand each other, leading to unexpected romantic feelings. Their journey is filled with humor, tenderness, and intimacy, transforming their lives and bringing joy to their chaotic household.

Free-spirited governess Georgie Rowe clashes with strict naval captain Harry Kincaid over the care of his unruly niece and nephews. Despite their differences, Georgie's joyful approach to education and Harry's need for order create unexpected sparks, leading to a delightful romance.

I was not expecting this story to be so giddy and precious 🥹 Harry is a brute of a navy captain and yet the most cinnamon-y cinnamon roll there ever was? And George’s cheeky governess ways brought bunches of joy. While the setting is firmly planted in regency England, so many elements read like a contemporary romance and I looked forward to picking this up every chance I got. Harry’s nieces and nephew bring the funniest charm and the author couldn’t have picked a better name for Norbert the goofy dog. But the part that truly got me giggly? Harry’s ill fitting dress breeches (need I say more?) Well there was also the moment when the kids snickered at their uncle ogling Georgie while she wasn’t looking 🤭

I read the book but I’ve seen great reviews of the audiobook!

Thank you @smpromance @netgalley for the eARC 💚💛I can’t wait for the next in the series!

Perfect for you if you like:
Family centric relationships
Funny kids and dogs
Smart governess + rugged navy captain
Slow burn

Similar to:
The Belle of Belgrave Square by Mimi Matthews (closed-door)
An Offer From a Gentleman by Julia Quinn
The Ladies Rewrite the Rules by Suzanne Allain (closed-door)

⛔️chapters 20 & 30-32 contain explicit romance scenes (open door)
⚠️language, previous child maltreatment, previous cheating

4.5 stars really!

I’ve wanted to read this author for a bit now, and when the publisher sent me a widget to read an advance copy I immediately grabbed it! It took me a little longer to read than it should have, but that is by no fault of the story itself. I just had too many things going on and not enough reading time. Not to mention being tired from said things.

I don’t read a ton of historical romance, but have been picking up a few here and there as they grab my attention. For one thing of course is enjoying Bridgerton, another is that these are rom-coms as well and I really do like a rom-com more than a series romance almost every single time. I think that I just need more fun in my life and don’t want to read too serious of stories most of the time.

The characters were really enjoyable in this too. I loved Georgie’s fun teaching methods as I feel like some of them were similar to how I liked to teach back when I was in the classroom. Henry’s issues with not falling in love made sense from what he’d experienced, and I like the way the break up at the end happened. Georgie was much smarter than I might have been in that situation, realizing what his asking her to “ask him” would end up becoming in the end. And his nephew and nieces were adorable! I loved all of their little quirks and they made such a fun story.

As this is going to be a series, I think following the other governesses from the school that Georgie went to, I will be very excited to see how their stories go, especially Lottie who was close friends with Georgie.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with a copy of this book.
All opinions are my own.

Solid 3.5 ***

I love a new series from an author I already enjoy and this book did not disappoint. A charming introduction to the ladies that make up Miss Prentice's Protegees. I am already looking forward to the next character, hoping it is Lottie, and fleshing out of the side characters introduced.

Georgie Rowe, our intrepid heroine, was sent to a prestigious school for governesses by her vile step-father who has in their brief time with him made Georgie and her mother miserable. Now that her mother has died, Georgie is shipped off quickly. The "real" story begins several years later, as she is the last of her friends to find a governess position. In walks handsome Captain Harry Kincaid, who's household has been thrown into chaos after his sister ceremoniously drops her three rambunctious children and their equally charming dog as she hightails it to Egypt. Harry, overcoming a "wild" childhood and a "wrong girl, wrong time" situation has been focused on rebuilding his naval career and due to his past mistakes laser focused on order and time management. (Harry's use of two watches is adorably nerdy.) Georgie does not necessarily subscribe to a traditional way of learning but is of course exactly what Harry and the children need.
Surprise, they fall in love! I love a slow burn, however this is a long wait. Their romance is cute, not very spicy, as they both overcome shadows from their past. I love Ms. Heath's word choice and phrasing. When you read the phrase "strangle his wedding vegetables" in regards to a too tight pair of pants you know you are in for a good laugh. There is miscommunication but the forced proximity and opposites attract vibes make up for it.

A great beach read with a balance of humor and romance.

The first in the Miss Prentice's Protegees series, All's Fair in Love and War is a delightful, slow-burn. We meet Georgie, a student of Miss Prentice, learning the skills necessary to become of beloved governess. Her sharp tongue hasn't helped her secure a lasting position until Harry appears with an URGENT request for a governess in his household. He's a stickler for order, and doesn't appreciate chaos in his life and lives by the rules of the Royal Navy, even in his house.

Harry finds himself caring for his three nieces and nephew for the summer. The best course of action in his prescriptive life is to bring on a governess to manage the meanly tasks of children. These two-opposites find what their hearts been missing after challenging upbringings.

Grumpy x Sunshine and fun loving dog.

Thank you, St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin

Virginia Heath became a must-read author for me after I discovered her "Merriwell Sisters" trilogy. Her knack for blending swoon-worthy love stories with headstrong, independent, and witty women creates the perfect Regency romances.

"All's Fair in Love and War" meets my high expectations for a Virginia Heath book and is a stellar start to her new "Miss Prentice's Protegees" series. The story follows Harry Kincaid, who finds himself unexpectedly caring for his sister's three children. He hires Georgina Rowe, a highly trained governess from Miss Prentice's School for Girls. Georgina's belief in untraditional child-rearing methods, including plenty of outdoor adventures, clashes with Harry's strict Admiralty training and rigorous schedules. Despite their differences, they are drawn together by the unruly but sweet children, raising the question of whether opposites really do attract.

Funny, heartwarming, and filled with memorable characters, "All's Fair in Love and War" is a must-read for romance fans!

This was a fun slow burn read, but I didn't really think that Georgie was as strong a female character as those in previous books I have read by Heath. She was definitely outspoken, but just didn't seem as strong.

Harry was a kind of mixed up guy. He didn't really know what he wanted until it slapped him in the face. The children and the dogs were a nice addition to the story. Harry's soft spot was definitely seen in his interaction with the children and the puppy.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ebook. All thoughts are my own.

This was a very fun, if mildly forgettable, read.

All's Fair in Love and War follows Georgie, a young woman who attended a prestigious school for governesses. For her first job, she is hired by Harry Kincaid, a navy captain whose flighty older sister has just dumped her three children on him while she goes on a spur-of-the-moment trip to Egypt. As Georgie and Harry clash over the best approach to raising three children unaccustomed to structure, sparks fly between them and they (of course) end up falling for each other).

Going into this, there were a lot of aspects that I was looking forward to. I love regency romances, I thought that the conflicting attitudes between Georgie and the captain sounded so fun, and I always adore books with children as significant characters (especially when romance book protagonists are thrust together to take care of children, à la The Long Game and Things We Never Got Over). It definitely did deliver on all of those points, and there certainly wasn't much that I disliked about the book. My only real complaint is that the romance is a little insta-love-y for my taste, but even that didn't bother me as much as it usually does.

Georgie is a wonderful protagonist—I loved her values, her conviction and confidence, and her rebellious streak. I also ended up really enjoying Captain Kincaid—he grew on me a lot more than I expected, and becomes much more likable once you understand how his childhood made him the way that he is. The children are all adorable and established as distinct characters, and I really enjoyed the dog character as well.

I think that my primary issue here is just that I can't with all honesty say that I will ever think about this book again. It's an enjoyable read, and I certainly had fun with it, but it's just not going to stick with me. There wasn't quite enough chemistry between the protagonists, character development, or plot to make this book something I will return to. I would still definitely recommend it if it sounds up your alley—I truly do not have any real complaints about it. It just did not click with me enough to make it memorable, and for that I can't give it any more than 3.5 stars.

Harry, an admiral in the navy, hires Georgina, a trained governess, to watch over his nieces and nephew. Many scenes of banter and tension between Harry and Georgie make up this enemies to lovers, forced proximity regency romance. I also appreciated the addition of the plot lines involving the children and their very large dog-it added a familial depth to the main characters and humor to the story. It’s been a hot minute since I’ve read a regency romance with a contemporary writing style…I am so happy to have spent a few days with these characters and be reintroduced to the lifestyle back then.

This is the first book of a new series. It was cute & quaint. Georgie starts a whole new life, but has feelings that about raising children that don’t always mesh with others. Harry is no different. But where there is a will, there’s a way…and a lot of sparks lol

The prologue alone hinted at four books in a series, which is something to look forward to..The next chapters have me laughing out loud as “feral” children and their dog and antics create humorous incidences. I also enjoy the main characters trying to cope with having their lives upended where in the end, to find their HEA, what matters most needs to be determined.

All’s Fair in Love and War is Virginia Heath‘s first story in her new Regency series, a follow-up to her bestselling Merriwell Sisters series. It’s an opposites-attract historical romantic comedy that’s not historically accurate.

Harry Kincaid was raised in a bohemian environment until his grandfather stepped in to raise him. Harry thrived in the Royal Navy and rose to Captain. Now this rigid stick-in-the mud is left in charge of his older sister’s three unruly children and their giant dog while she is in Egypt for an unknown period of time. The chaos in his household is more than he can take so he goes to Miss Prentice’s School for Young Ladies to hire a temporary governess.

Aspiring governess Georgina “Georgie” Rowe was raised in a strict environment dictated by her Navy stepfather and was miserable. She believes childhood should be filled with laughter, adventure, and discovery, which has made finding a suitable position difficult. She is happy to be hired by the handsome Harry Kincaid. While the Pendleton children take to Georgie immediately, their staid uncle does not. Harry and Georgie have to figure out how t
o get along until Harry’s sister returns from her trip to Egypt. They fight their mutual attraction while they sort out their differences.
While not historically accurate in terms of speech and women’s freedom, All’s Fair in Love and War is fun to read. The characters are engaging, and the reader can’t help but root for them to find their happily-ever-after. The plot is well-paced, and I had a hard time putting it down. The mischievous Pendleton children and their dog added extra humor to the story. All’s Fair in Love and War is even better than the outstanding Merriwell Sisters series.

I received an Advance Review Copy (ARC) from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's for the ARC of this book. I typically love regency romance and wanted to love this one but it honestly fell a little flat for me. The romance was such a slow burn that I found myself fairly bored for most of the book. Ther were some sweet moments and I did enjoy the characters but I don't think I could recommend it.