⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really enjoyed Look Before You Leap! The second book in the series brings back all the charm and chemistry I hoped for—and then some. The female lead is spunky, bold, and easy to root for, while the male lead brings that steady, sexy energy that perfectly balances her out. Their dynamic had me hooked from the start. Great pacing, strong dialogue, and just enough tension to keep things interesting. I’m loving where this series is going and can’t wait to see what comes next!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for advanced copy, and I give my review freely

Absolutely loved the second of the series by Heath! Lottie is a spunky governess who cannot keep a position because of her restlessness and penchant for borrowing horses for thrilling rides. One such ride introduces her to Guy, a Lord that is grumpy due to being publicly embarrassed in his past. He wants nothing to do with society, especially this Valkyrie who now works for his aunt.

We get glimpses of Lottie’s family and how close knit they are, as well as see the softer side of Guy. They both are headstrong but have honorable intentions towards their families. They want to do right by them even if it means telling little white lies.

This tale will have you rolling with laughter and cheering for more one-liners. There’s chemistry galore and antics that will keep you turning the page. I cannot wait for the next episode that will involve another of Lottie’s friends.

Thank you for St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

3 Stars

This one in the end just ended up being ok. It had a lot of promise in the beginning. I absolutely adored the meddeling mom and aunt in this book. They were so delightful and I loved how they just wanted Guy to have a huge birthday party and meet his love of his life. However, he has no interest and is under the impression they'll have a small get together.

Meanwhile there is also this unruly woman that is helping his mom and aunt. Their banter in the beginning was fun and I enjoyed their interactions. Unfortunately at the half way point this book lost me. It all the sudden turned very lustful and instant lovey. It lost that tension and yearning, I just kind of lost interest. However the side characters are till fantastic.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martins Press for this advanced reader copy. My review is voluntarily my own.

Look Before You Leap is my new favourite of this new series! I love love love Heath's writing. Her strong FMCs and Lottie is definitely a character to be reckoned with! The fact that the FMCs in this series have a class difference with the MMCs always draws me further into the story. (I guess that forbidden aspect of it all.)

Lottie Travers has a will of her own and what she desires above all else is riding. Having grown up on a farm and working within a neighbouring stables, she knows her horseflesh; often going for clandestine dawn rides in the park. Her last one leading to her dismissal as a governess. Now back at the school where she was a student, she now finds herself needing to figure out a way to help her family's failing farm. So when Miss. P pushes her towards being companion to a known 'dragon' of the ton, it is Lottie's honesty and wit which lands her the position. What she doesn't know is that her new employer is the aunt of the man she recently gave a very harsh (threatening to whip) dressing down when they nearly collided in the park.

Guy Harrowby, Viscount of Wennington, is still smarting from being thrown from his horse in Hyde Park. The rub being that the woman who so carelessly unseated him, managed to not only wrangle his willful horse but gave him a talking to that bruised his ego (besides is already bruising backside). Which is another reason why he detests London. So he returns to the country to find his mother begging that he allow her to throw him a 30th birthday party (which he instantly knows is a bid to marry him off). He stipulates a small gathering and no more to which is mother acquiesces. Little does Guy know, when his aunt and her latest companion arrive there is a lot of hidden matchmaking behind the scenes and Lottie's connection to the area provides mother and aunt the ability to make the small dinner party a week long house party.

I loved the enemies to lovers vibes between Lottie and Guy. How their misunderstandings of each other are confronted in ways that made me laugh out loud. I adored the side characters (and maybe not all their actions) but I loved head groom Bill so much and how his not so gentle teasing aided in fuelling the connection between Guy and Lottie.

Guy was one of those reclusive, curmudgeon characters I always adore as an MMC. How he had believed he had made such a fool of himself in his youth that he could never truly trust anyone again. So when he fell for Lottie it was increasingly hard for him as events unfolded throughout the novel. But that end scene was everything I needed from him and brought me to tears. How his reaction was not one anyone (including Lottie) believed it would be and how he went to such lengths to make things right. Definite book boyfriend material there. I can't go into detail without possibly spoiling things but I highly suggest reading this book for those fellow readers who love (its not necessarily a grovel) but a public declaration!

Goodness! I LOVED THIS BOOK! Grumpy Guy is still nursing old wounds after a monumentally embarrassing moment a decade earlier. Having retreated to his large estate, he's perfectly content with the life he leads as a farmer and horseman and tries not to overthink or worry about his "duty" to produce an heir. Between his sneaky mother and even more devious aunt, he is blindsided by and furious about a weeklong house party whose sole purpose is to find him a young "appropriate" bride. What he never expected was Lottie: his aunt's newest companion. Lottie is a beautiful farmer's daughter, rides horses as well as he does, engages him intellectually and despite being as strong-willed as he is, soon becomes an obsession. Watching Guy and Lottie fumble through all the challenges of society's "rules" is high entertainment. Guy's mother and aunt are hilariously cunning as Guy and Lottie journey to one very excellent HEA. HIGHLY recommend.
WHAT I LOVED: Witty-Funny-Entertaining-Wonderful Characters-Steamy-Romantic-HEA

I received a complementary copy of this book and am voluntarily providing my honest review.

I just finished an ARC of this. I liked this book better than the first in this series. The characters were relatable and the pacing of the plot was well done. I was apprehensive to read this, but I’m glad I did. I look forward to the next one. I enjoyed Lottie and Guy, but I also very much enjoyed Lady Frinton. I hope to see them all in future books in this series.

This is an entertaining, well-written, historical romance novel. It has a bold, likable female protagonist, an engaging male protagonist, witty banter, humor, amusing secondary characters, a heartwarming romance, and a satisfying conclusion. This is the second entry in Ms. Heath's Ms. Prentice's Protegees series, and it can be read and enjoyed as a stand alone. I am looking forward to reading more entries in this series. Many thanks to St. Martin's Press, Ms. Virginia Heath, and NetGalley, who provided me with an advanced reader copy of this delightful novel. This is my honest opinion.

Look Before You Leap by Virginia Heath

Rating: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 1/5 🌶️

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Netgalley, and the author for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was such a fun, lighthearted historical romance read! A fast-paced, entertaining story that is sure to make you smile!

Look Before You Leap is the second book in the Miss Prentice's Protegees series, however it can also be read as a standalone! Lord Guy Harrowby, Viscount of Wennington, who is the MMC, has given up on love despite his mother's insistence that he marry. Now that he is turning thirty, his mother is forcing him to find his future wife by throwing him a weeklong houseparty. Guy does not want the party and he isn't interested in any of the debutantes. His aunt's new lady's companion unexpectedly catches his eye even though he does everything he can to make her dislike him. Lottie Travers, the FMC, has not succeeded as a governess and is now a lady's companion. With her family’s farm in trouble, she’s determined to present herself properly.

Even though Guy and Lottie are immediately attracted to each other, they don’t get along well. As Lottie helps Guy’s mother and aunt throw the party, some trust begins to build between them. Nonetheless, Guy has to figure out how to navigate his past troubles when it comes to romance if there is any chance of them becoming a couple. Also, some debutantes begin to stir up trouble and Lottie and Guy have to work together to make a way for it all to work out.

Overall, this was a great read! Seeing the character growth and development was amazing and the plot was fantastic. A witty and charming historical romance!

3.5 stars

Look Before You Leap by Virginia Heath is book two in the Miss Prentice's Protogees series and if you haven't read book one yet, you don't have to in order to read this one as this is a new set of characters, however there is a connection and I enjoyed book one so you should check it out!

In this book, our mmc is Lord Guy Harrowby, the Viscount of Wennington. After being publicly humiliated during a romantic gesture, he has written of love and romance much to his mother's dismay. Now that he is turning thirty, she is determined to throw him a birthday party and force him to find his future wife and if he won't go to London to do it, she will bring it all to him in the form of a weeklong houseparty. Guy's biggest problem, outside of not wanting the party, is that he isn't really interested in any of the debutantes his mother invited. Instead, he can't seem to keep his eyes off of his aunt's new lady's companion even though he does everything in his power to make her dislike him.

Lottie Travers is our fmc and she is failing at being a governess. Having grown up in an all male household, she isn't like other women. And her biggest issue recently is that she doesn't stop to think about what her actions now will lead to in the future. Which is why she lost her most recent governess position and is now a lady's companion. Lottie was an interesting character. At first I wasn't sure how I felt about her as it was clear she only thought about things in the moment but as the book progressed she grew on me.

Despite the attraction Guy and Lottie have for each other, they clash immediately. He's grumpy and she's not. And as Lottie helps his mother and aunt throw this surprise party, the small bit of trust that Lottie and Guy have eventually built crashes and Guy has to figure out a way around his hang-ups from the past. Add to that, some malicious debutantes and Lottie and Guy find they have to work through some things both individually and together.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and if you're looking for a quick historical romance to pick up, consider this one. It has interesting characters and a solid story. I'll definitely be picking up the next book in the series.

4 stars. Virginia Heath really knows how to write a flawed protagonist. Our heroine often feels guilty but rarely remorseful; she knows that her impulsivity and recklessness can and have hurt the people she loves, but can’t bring herself to be someone other than who she is. In a lesser writer’s hands, Lottie would be absolutely insufferable, the “free spirit” who would rather gallop a stallion than do respectable and ladylike activities—yet Heath writes her so warmly, and with such down-to-earth humility (and common feeling with her female friends) that she completely avoids falling into the moderner-than-thou, not-like-other-girls cesspit of bad historical fiction romantic heroines. She’s genuinely fun to read about, and you end up rooting for her even when she makes mistakes.

Guy is a well-suited hero for Lottie, a broody and painfully crowd-shy nobleman prone to pre-judging others and keep them at arm’s length to prevent being hurt as he was by a lover in his past. He’s nonetheless a genuinely good man and a devoted advocate for the farmers of both his estate and the surrounding community. He has a habit of letting his mother drag conversations on for pages longer than they need to be, but we all have our flaws.

The ending is a little ridiculous, but nicely lighthearted. The story is fast-paced and the obligatory third-act crisis mercifully brief, the lovers’ good sense prevailing in the end. Overall, it’s a delightful romp of a historical rom-com and I’d highly recommend it to anyone wanting some good flirty fun.

I love Virginia Heath's books. You can be guaranteed some fun banter, meddling family or friends, and an exasperated main character (usually the man). This book is no different. Guy is classically "once bitten, twice shy" and has basically hidden away from society much to his Mama's dismay. Lottie is a high energy protégée of Miss Prentice and can't help but get her energy out with riding horses. She's also basically surrounded by men growing up, with 4 brothers (I think) and her father, a farmer. So OF COURSE they meet when crashing into each other on horses. Anyway, it's enemies to friends...and then lovers after a bit of a surprise. At first I was really put off by Guy's absolute rudeness but started to grow on me with his intentions and struggle. I don't know if there was much character growth on Lottie's part, more about her finding a good fit for her skillset. I enjoyed their chemistry as it didn't seem forced and the pacing was good, if a bit slow at the beginning. Guy's mom and aunt were hilarious and I love the bonding that was had with Lottie. An overall enjoyable read and can't wait for the next one!

Steam: 🔥🔥
Heart flutters: ❤️❤️

A very fun Grumpy meets Sunshine book! Guy and Lottie are great together. The secondary characters are endearing, hilarious, and maddening! I’d love a book with Longbottom! Second in a series, but you won’t miss anything by beginning with this book.

This book was so sweet and fun. I loved how the MMC, Guy, was so vulnerable and tender-hearted, so scared of being rejected again—it made my heart hurt for him, which is what. you want from a good romance. The FMC, Lottie, was delightful and spunky and it was so entertaining watching the two of them come together in the midst of Guy's scheming mother and aunt and all the obnoxious husband hunters hounding him at every turn. I'm excited to read more from this series!

Does it get better than the timeless enemies-to-lovers trope? Not for me, and not for Lord Guy Harrowby, Viscount of Wennington, and the source of the majority of his current and overall-in-general frustration, Lottie Travers. This book was a relaxing pleasure to read. None of the stakes felt too serious, and the cast of characters was perfect for this story about a week-long surprise house party gone wrong when Guy's mother and aunt ambush him with a gaggle of giggling debutantes hoping he'll finally choose a bride.

Lottie has tried and failed at governess positions due to her headstrong nature and independent spirit, and finds herself at a career crossroads. When she finds out that her family's farm is suffering from blight and in desperate need of financial help, she decides to accept a job as lady's companion to the notoriously crabby dowager Lady Fenton. Little does she know she's about to drafted into the plotting and planning of Guy's birthday celebration. As it turns out, she'd met Guy before, under less than flattering circumstances.

Just as crabby as his aunt, and sworn off of romantic entanglements, Guy is furious when he walks in the door after a day working on the estate to find his manor taken over by a bevy of women who are the antitheses of what he actually wants in a wife. Lucky for him, Lottie is also present, shadowing Lady Fenton and planning activities for the house party, if she isn't sneaking away to the stables to indulge in her favorite pastimes as a talented equestrienne.

There were some pacing issues in the first and second acts, and it took awhile for the plot to take off, but I greatly enjoyed the story when it did. Guy and Lottie are at each other like two hissing cats through most of the novel, and I loved their mutual animosity and frustration. Lottie is fearless and outspoken, and always getting into scrapes, only for matters to get even worse when Guy tries to help. When they realize that they work much better as partners than as combatants, a sweet and earnest blooms. And Guy's grand gesture? I loved it.

I would recommend to anyone looking for a light and escapist hist-rom summer read.

Thank you Netgalley and SMP for the opportunity to read and review this novel prior to publication. I was not compensated in any way for this review, and all opinions are my own.

*Received as a free ARC*
The short of it is that I enjoyed it. I liked the ending, I enjoyed Guy more than Lottie weirdly. But I liked them together. But I really disliked how much they bitched at each other. They needed to take a chill pill. Once they did, I enjoyed the book significantly more. Also, horses! Always a plus. Oh, and I disliked how manipulative Guy's mom and aunt were. It was coming from a good place, but still.

It’s been far too long since I read a Virginia Heath book, and she didn’t disappoint with a delightful enemies-to-lovers story.

Miss Charlotte “Lottie” Travers is a governess with a penchant for short-lived positions. Her current job is as a companion for a notoriously difficult employer, and it’s a role she eagerly accepts especially since the wages help keep her family’s farm afloat. The story is a little slow at the beginning, but takes off during a house party designed to introduce Lottie to her employer’s handsome nephew, Lord Guy Harrowby, Viscount of Wennington, to eligible young women. The catch is that Lottie met Guy a few days earlier by knocking him off his horse and finds him insufferable, but as the party unfolds, their interactions offer glimpses of warmth amid the cheeky banter.

What I really appreciate about Virginia Heath’s writing is her ability to craft characters that tug at your heartstrings. Lottie and Guy are both scrappy, but vulnerable navigating a world that often seems stacked against them. Lottie’s ties to her family’s struggling farm add a level of depth and urgency to her story. Meanwhile, Guy, is equally at a loss of trying to live his life without feeling persecuted by a very embarrassing public spectacle that ruined his reputation and put him off conniving women.

I loved that both characters shared a love for animals and the outdoors. It’s a sweet backdrop that brings them together, despite the societal expectations keeping them apart.

Look Before You Leap is a witty and charming love story. I found myself laughing out loud and cheering for Lottie and Guy every step of the way. If you’re in need of a new favorite author for your historical romance fix, look no further than Virginia Heath.

I enjoyed this so much! Even better than the first in the series. And even though I love Lottie and Guy and they are perfect for one another, despite having more of a meet disaster than a meet cute, where Virginia Heath shines is in her side characters. Vastly different players serving different roles, but well drawn and memorable for good and bad reasons depending on the character.

Look Before You Leap is a lovely regency romance that shifts the focus away from the ton and their simpering and backbiting. I like that Guy thinks of himself more as a farmer than as a viscount, and he puts his money where his mouth is on that front.

Laugh out loud at points and one particular quip had me almost in tears I was laughing so hard. Absolutely worth a read, and now I’m very curious about which of Miss Prentice’s protégés gets to take center stage next.

-grumpy/sunshine
-class difference
-open door but not explicit
-house party
-dragon lady dowager
-equestrianism

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

Look Before You Leap by Virginia Heath
🌶️🔥📚💅 4/5 stars

Okayyy, Diana Merriwell is THAT girl — feminist icon, doesn’t take crap from anyone, and basically a Regency-era boss babe. And Giles? Grumpy sunshine energy. He’s all buttoned-up chaos control while she’s out here dismantling the patriarchy in a petticoat.

This book is giving:

✨enemies-ish to lovers

✨forced proximity (you already know the vibes)

✨top-tier banter

✨a man lowkey down bad but trying to act chill

It’s a rom-com with corsets and chaos, and I was living for every moment of Diana outsmarting everyone in the room while Giles just stands there like “how did I fall for this woman???” (Answer: easily. obviously.)

Pacing dragged just a smidge in the middle, but the vibes stayed immaculate. The Merriwell sisters are ICONIC and honestly? I would watch a Netflix show about them yesterday.

Would def recommend if you’re into:
📖 Bridgerton energy
📖 girlboss leads
📖 men who pine quietly and suffer beautifully

Run, don’t walk.

What I loved:
Lottie and Guy. Sometimes a lead is a hit or miss, or the love interest is dry/dull/stereotypical. Here, Lottie and Guy are both delightfully fleshed out. I love their banter, the actual robust backstories and personal histories each receive, and the competitive spirit. A perfect grumpy/sunshine trope done right.

Lady Fenton (and the butler). Lottie’s employer and Guy’s aunt Lady Fenton is the most delightful dragon auntie I have seen in a while. Any chapter with dialogue between her and Lottie, Guy, or Guy’s mom is an absolute gem. Paired with her relentlessly cheerful butler, who “embraces the suck” with aplomb, I could read a whole book dedicated to her early years.

What Worked Less Well:

The Lack of Smut. I have had a recurring issue with Heath’s books, where her characters are phenomenal but then do not really get to do much *behind doors* action. The result feels a little prim, when we are told that these characters yearn for each other.

The Debutantes. I know the hyperbolic debutantes vying for Guy’s affections were purposefully annoying, but their characterizations were so flat that it felt like a farce. It would have been nice to show them as individuals with wants and desires, and not just foils for how great Lottie is.

[ARC REVIEW]
LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP by Virginia Heath is a delightful Regency romp.

Reports of the death of historical romances have been greatly exaggerated. They're still coming out, and I'm still reading them!!

This is actually the second in a series of interconnected standalones. I haven't read the first one, but I want to go back and read it, because this was cute. The series follows young ladies trained to be governesses at a prestigious school. In this one, Lottie is a country girl who misses the horses she grew up riding, and has the bad habit of borrowing horses to go for early morning gallops. One of these gets her fired, and another leads to her collision with the viscount Guy. She gets a job as a lady's companion, and when they go to her employer's nephew's country estate for a house party, whom does she find buy the irritating Guy.

It's very fun, as they both have to overcome their first impression of the other, especially as she feels the need to step in and save him from the debutantes throwing themselves at him. I love a good hate-to-love, because it keeps so much tension in the story, and you get to see them slowly soften to each other. Top tier plot, delightful execution.