Captain Henry Augustus Kincaid. his grandfather favorite and fixer of issues, sympathetic soul,
bohemian artistic parents, his sister who was more like them than he is.
Lady Flora Pendleton,his sister, her husband Lord Pendleton, the chikdren Felix. Marianne and Grace. Norbert shaggy mutt, is the new addition to the family.


Miss Georgina Rowe, her father died when she was a baby, her mother remarried the colonel who despised children, her mother died of smallpox when she was ten. The Colonel moved them from Army base to base. Georgia rebels at all the moves, the attitude of the Colonel, and refuses to adhere to military rules. At sixteen he deposited her at MISS PRENTICE’S SCHOOL FOR GIRLS,
Miss Prentice, code of conduct is duty, decorum, diligence, and discretion the 4 D's of a governess.

Lottie/Charlotte raised with 4 brothers on a farm, Portia, intellectual of the group the bluestocking, Kitty the daydreamer, adventurer. All four became quick friends. However, Georgia is the only one to have thirty-three interviews and rejections.

Now Lady Flora and her husband have decided to find the source of the Nile River, therefore have left the children with Captain Kincaid, without asking. As Flora believes freed thinking is the best education the children are wild, unruly, and very undisciplined. So to Miss Prestige he goes and to make sure Georgia gets the post she sits in on the interview, answers the few questions, and refuses to allow George to talk.

With a temporary position she can put her education ideals into action, once she sees the classroom, those ideals become a little hard to full fill. The captain has a blackboard, desks, books and the other education materials she asked for. However, they butt heads as their backs are to the window doors, their is a schedule posted on the blackboard, and ones noted. To make matters worse the big clock sitting above the blackboard has bold numbers.

Now you have a male that likes structure, a governess who speaks her mind plus abhors structure. Three children that manipulate their uncle, a butler who would rather be back at sea, a dog who has to have a tree not a bush to do his business, all under one roof.

Join the madcap schooling as learning philosophies collide and dog mayhem abounds. Add into that mix the Navy wants him at the shipyard to complete the newest ship building. A nasty neighbor who wants payment for Cuthbert, puppy and Norbert offspring. Will they all survived? Who's teaching style wins? How much structure, rules, timeline is adhered to? How long before George brings out her "St Joan De Arc" attitude.

The fun of combatants trying to win. This is such a fun, laugh out loud, sarcastic witty banter, and stubbornness to lovers read you will enjoy. Having been on both sides of these characters I can attest to the mindset of the characters are so accurate and spot on attitudes! But the dog does steal the scenes!

AHH IM ABSOLUTELY IN LOVE WITH HARRY!!!! This book was everything i hoped and more. i am such a huge virginia heath stan and im so happy that this book was as great and expected. i normally stay away from books with children but i found this crew totally endearing and i found myself wanting more. if this is the start of a new series, i will be reading every book!

I am a big fan of Virginia Heath’s Merriwell Sisters series and I’m very excited about this one too. So far it’s off to a great start! Georgina is so fun and caring towards the children even after the upbringing that she had. Harry is a bit of a stick in the mud but he is doing his best to do things right for his Sister’s children. Together Georgie and Harry have a slow burn opposites attract relationship with lots of funny situations along the way. I’m very excited to read more from the series! I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy.

All’s Fair in Love and War is historical fiction. It had comedic aspects and likable characters, and a sweet romance.

Harry needs a governess to teach and take care of his nieces and nephew while their parents are away. Georgie is a protege without a job, and her mentor happily sets her out to take this new and quickly needed position. Harry and Georgie first bump heads and have differing opinions on how to take care of the children. As time passes, their feelings toward each other change and attraction blooms.

I enjoyed the story, but the inner monologues and some of the parts explaining what was happening were a bit wordy for me to stay focused. That caused me to lose some interest and have to skim to get back into the story.

I did find the interactions amongst the characters to be funny, and laughed at the part about Harry needing “shore leave.”

This book gave Sound of Music vibes, and had a sweet, romcom premise. If some of the parts can be cut down to be a shorter, less wordy book, it would be even better!

Thank you to the author and Net Galley for the ARC!

A tight-laced Navy man must find a governess for his three wild nieces and nephews, and she ends up being much more than he bargained for in almost every way.

This was a fun, slow burn romance. The disparity between how the two main characters feel about themselves and each other at the start of the book was a good angle to add to their relationship, and it gave the characters more depth and reasons not to immediately jump into each other's arms. The child characters in the story were well-written and had their own distinct personalities, though as is often the case in adult fiction, they were a bit mature for their ages.

The beginning of the book was a little slow, but set the stage well for what followed. Once the pace picks up and all of the major characters are introduced, the book finds its footing and becomes an easy read. The writing is descriptive, the dialogue is witty, and the inner conflicts the main characters deal with were expressed in a realistic way.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC. This is my honest review.

A relaxed and sweet regency romance. 4/5

Such a lovely story! A wonderful love story about overcoming one's past & learning to follow your heart to true happiness is the premise to All's Fair in Love and War by Virginia Heath.
Set in historical England, this story is not only a historical piece, but a feel good romance that will leave you cheering on these characters throughout the entire story, as well as smiling at the end of the book.
Thank you, #NetGalley, for the ARC & I do hope to read more from Virginia Health again soon.

This is an enjoyed historical romcom. Not my favorite in the series but I did read it all.

Some of the things I think people would enjoy: 1) tension- if you like the give and take of love interests this book has that!

Delightful side characters- in spades!!!

Good teaching methods- okay this one may just be a me thing as I am a teacher. But I did like the messages this book sent about making a classroom more engaging.

I read the author's The Merriwell Sisters series and loved it so I knew I was going to like this one too!

This is book 1 of a new series featuring young ladies who are friends and governesses, and protegées of Miss Prentice. In this book, we see Georgie, who is desperate to get her first job, and Harry, a Navy captain saddled with his sisters children while she travels to Egypt.

From the get-go, I loved the whole cast of secondary characters: the friends, the children, the servants, the dogs. They all added a rich layer to the story and made it so much fun.

Georgie and Harry have some hiccups in the beginning, disagreements on how to discipline the children, but soon find a middle ground that develops.

Can't wait to read more in this series!

(Sexual content in the last third of the book.)

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

4.8⭐️
Don't normally do historical romances (yes, I haven't even read Pride & Prejudice!😨) but this was such a great experience, I will indeed be dabbling in it from now on, especially other Virginia Heath books!

Not having read any historical romances before, I really didn't know what to expect, except knowing that this was a romcom so that was that. But, I really really enjoyed it so much!

The main characters were so well written, and the SIDE CHARACTERS OMG so so good!
The slowest burn? Delicious!
And I love me a little enemies-to-lovers forbidden romance🤭🤭
Light, fun read with witty banter and tension to fill a whole room!
It's also closed door for those who prefer books that way.

Georgie was one of the best fmc I've read this year! Fierce, strong, outspoken, enchanting, out of the norms, young woman. Always fighting for what she believed in, even at a time when women should be compliant and opinion-less.

It's a 4.8 for me, only because:
1) I thought some scenes were overly detailed and didn't really need to be.
2) I wanted a little more interaction with the side characters (Tom, Ada, Simpkins, Mrs. Rigby, Flora, Miss P and the protégés, and even the kids).

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I absolutely adored this read! It is very “Bridgerton, but make it rom-com” .

There is perfect tension between the love interests and the predictability of the story made it a cozy, feel-good read. Some of the scenes and dialogue were laugh-out-loud funny and written so well that it was effortless to picture exactly what was happening.

The romance is closed-door in nature so this can appeal to a broad audience.

There were a couple of sentences that I think were missed in editing as they seemed like they needed a “not” added to make sense contextually, but hopefully those will be caught before the book is officially published.

Overall, a fun, cozy read that I will be recommending!

Cute, predictable and likable characters. A governess who has an inner Joan of Arc, a handsome, misguided Navy man, 3 children and a dog with military quotes thrown in. I almost gave up 2/3rds of the way through as the story seemed to go nowhere.

I can’t believe I didn’t like this. I absolutely loved her previous trilogy, so I was very much looking forward to her next books. However, I struggled to get into this one. The style of writing is my basic complaint. There is so much internal monologue that I struggle to get immersed into the story. A conversation can begin, but doesn’t continue till pages later. Personally I am not a fan of this style. Especially in an HR where I want/need to see the characters interact so I feel they are falling in love. I didn’t get that with this book. If that type of writing doesn’t bother you, I recommend this. However, if you’re like me, I would pass on this.

I've never read a Virginia Heath book before, and I really liked this one. Very classic, old school regency romance, with a good plot and nice main characters. Slow burn, the misdirection was plausible, and the cute children were not obnoxious or too twee. Just very well executed.

I received a free ARC of this novel from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was so fun and light! All of the characters were so lovable and endearing. I loved the banter, wit, and humor. Georgie was a force to be reckoned with and her and Harry were a perfect grump/sunshine match. As with most rom-coms, you know where the end leads but you enjoy getting there all the time. This was a slow-burn but an easy read and I read it all in one sitting. This was the first I’ve ever read of Virginia Heath but I would happily dive into her books again. Based on the title that this is the first volume in Miss Prentice’s Protégées, I assume that Georgie’s 3 best friends she grew up with to be trained as governesses will each get their own book. If that’s the case, sign me up to read the rest!

Thank you, NetGalley, Virginia Heath, and St. Martin’s Griffin for allowing me to read a copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

ARC review

The chemistry and the banter! Impeccable. From page one Harry was absolutely enchanted by Georgie and that alone told me that their romance was going to shine. They were very cute - and had the perfect amount of spice - to make a great and blossoming story.

Harry is left guardian of his nephew and two nieces for which he hires Georgie to be their governess. I loved the children and their spunky personalities, but more special is their dynamic with their uncle. My favorite scene was when Harry comforted little Grace when she was scared of a storm

All in all, a very fun read! Thank you NetGalley and the publishing company for this book!

"All's Fair in Love and War" by Virginia Heath is a delightful Regency romance that combines humor, romance, and a touch of heat in the enchanting backdrop of the Regency era. The story revolves around Georgina Rowe, a lively and unconventional governess, and Henry Kincaid, a former naval captain thrust into the role of guardian for his unruly nieces and nephew.

The plot takes an entertaining turn when Harry, in desperate need of a governess, reluctantly seeks the help of Miss Prentice’s School for Girls. Enter Georgina, with her refreshing and modern approach to child-rearing, ready to bring laughter and joy to the Pendleton children. The clash between Georgina's unconventional methods and Harry's strict adherence to rules sets the stage for a delightful romantic tension.

Georgina's character is a breath of fresh air, challenging the norms of the time with her belief in cultivating joy and adventure in childhood. Her interactions with the Pendleton children and the chemistry that develops between her and Harry add depth and charm to the story. The slow-burn romance between Georgina and Harry is well-executed, keeping readers invested in their journey from initial clashes to undeniable attraction.

The humor infused throughout the narrative, along with the bohemian charm of the Pendleton children, adds a lighthearted and enjoyable quality to the storytelling. The Regency setting is vividly depicted, immersing readers in a world of societal expectations, witty dialogue, and burgeoning romance.

Virginia Heath crafts a well-paced and engaging romance, blending traditional Regency elements with a modern twist. The "opposites attract" trope is executed with finesse, and the supporting characters, especially the Pendleton children, contribute to the overall charm of the novel. As the first in a series, "All's Fair in Love and War" sets a promising tone for future installments, leaving readers eager for more tales of governesses and romance.

In summary, Virginia Heath's "All's Fair in Love and War" is a delightful Regency romance that combines humor, romance, and a touch of spice. With well-developed characters and an engaging plot, it offers an enjoyable escape into the world of love, laughter, and unexpected connections during the Regency era.

This was a wonderful romance with such lovable characters. I do think the character development was a little one-sided and normally I prefer both characters to learn and grow a bit more, but Georgie and Harry were a delight. I'm excited this is the first of a series so we can hopefully get more glimpses of them as they settle into married life.

Virginia Heath is one of my favorite regency authors these days, so I was excited to see she was starting a new series about a group of governesses. The first book revolves around Georgie, who is having trouble securing a position with a family. Enter Harry, who is in desperate need of one to look after his nephew and nieces, who were dropped into his lap after his sister took off on an adventure with her husband.

I was a bit let down with this one. I didn’t really feel the pining that the author was building throughout the book, and there wasn’t much passion to me. Overall though, it was a decent romance read and I do think others will enjoy it.

Thanks as always to NetGalley for the ARC.

This was a fun read! I've grown to love Virginia Heath's zany historical romances, and this one was wonderful.
Harry is a stiff naval captain who falls head over heels for his nieces' and nephew's governess, Georgie. Both characters were delightful, and I loved the slow burn in this book. They had such great banter too.
If you, like me, love Sound of Music, you'll love the relationship Georgie had with the mischievous children in this book. The dogs were so lovable.
I'm looking forward to the rest of the series!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the eArc!

Virginia Heath has become one of my favorite regency romance authors. After loving the Merriwell Sisters series I was very happy to be invited to read the first read in her new series. My hopes for this one were high and I wasn’t disappointed in the slightest.

Georgie was a terrific MFC, and Harry (though a little dense) was a wonderful MMC. The secondary characters here give even more heart to the novel. I adored this series starter and look forward to reading more 😍

Recommended.



Thank you to St. Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley for the DRC!